M`SIA REMAINS ON HIGH ALERT FOR INFLUENZA A (H1N1) - PM

JOHOR BAHARU (Malaysia), May 21 (Bernama) -- The government will remain on
high alert for Influenza A(H1N1) even though the country has been declared free
of local transmission of the virus.

Prime Minister Najib Razak said that checks at entry points would continue,
especially on those arriving from affected countries such as the United States.

He was speaking to reporters after visiting the Kota Iskandar, the new Johor
administrative capital in Iskandar Malaysia near this southern city.

Earlier, he was briefed on the Iskandar Malaysia development by Iskandar
Region Development Authority chief executive officer Harun Johari.

On Wednesday, Health Director-General Dr Ismail Merican declared Malaysia
free from local transmission of Influenza A(H1N1) virus as there had been no
infection among those who came in contact with two infected patients.

The prime minister was also asked on complaints among members of the public
that the Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Complex at the Sultan Iskandar
Building here was not consumer-friendly.

Najib said the government would look into the matter and implement the
necessary improvement to address the problem.

Earlier when opening the central cooling facility for government buildings
at the Kota Iskandar, Najib said the country was giving emphasis to green
technology.

Citing as example the central cooling system set up by the Jana DCS Sdn Bhd,
which would cater for the need of all government buildings in Kota Iskandar,
Najib said the system was not only cost-effective in terms of maintenance but
also environmental-friendly.

"All in all, I am told that the Johor government will be able to save up to
15 per cent in cost compared to using the conventional cooling system," he said.

Najib later left for Singapore for a two-day official visit starting
Thursday, his first to the republic since becoming the prime minister last
month.
-- BERNAMA