THE overall economic scenario will be taken into account in preparing the budget proposals. It is now clear that the world economy is not sliding further but that the green shoots of recovery can already be seen. The Malaysian economy is also slowly picking up.
We would now need to step up the pace of economic growth, employment and better income distribution. But with the rising budget deficits we have severe constraints.
Thus, the budget strategy should be to stimulate private consumption and investment and not depend unduly on the public sector or Government to lift and push the economy forward. Therefore, there should be even more liberalisation of socio-economic policies and administrative procedures for Government approvals to be more speedily given.
Personal income tax and corporate tax could be marginally reduced to give the right economic expansionary signals and to raise the incentives to increase short-term consumption on goods and services and the long-term investment on infrastructure.
To compensate for the loss of revenue due to lower income and corporate taxes, the much delayed value-added tax (VAT), which is an indirect tax, could be introduced. Thus only those who buy goods that bear a VAT need to pay the tax. The present sales tax could be incorporated in the new VAT.
The VAT could be designed to apply more heavily on the goods and services consumed by the more wealthy. Basic needs that are necessary for the low income groups can be exempted from the VAT.
The budget should definitely reflect the Prime Minister’s call for 1Malaysia and its realisation through the national key result areas as follows:
● Reducing crime can be achieved by providing more human and financial resources to the police, Immigration and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC). Expenditure incurred in residential areas to hire private security guards could be made tax exempt. The more responsible larger companies can be allowed to employ their own auxillary police to protect their private property and equipment. This would relieve the police to do more sophisticated and less routine police work.
● Fighting corruption will contribute to greater efficiency and saving of public expenditure. The MACC budget will have to be substantially raised according to international norms to make it more effective in catching the bigger fish and not mainly the small fry. Savings could be made in other lower priority areas such as lavish ceremonies and functions.
● Widening access to quality education is vital to raise our national competitveness, our meritocracy and upgrading our human resources. The private sector school and university system has to be given tax incentives like the manufacturing and any other industries. We need more and better qualified graduates to help Malaysia break out of our present middle-income trap.
● Raising living standards of the poor is paramount in building 1Malaysia and national unity. The poorest states like Sabah, Sarawak, Kelantan and Terengganu will need more budget allocations over and above the inadequate present capitation and road grants. It is time to introduce a basic minimum wage. This would help reduce the high number of immigrant labour. The budget should regard poverty as both a rural and urban phenomenon by providing more facilities like housing, transport and basic amenities like water and electricity to many areas that don’t have these basic needs. Budget 2010 has to show that we care for all the poor regardless of race, religion and geography.
● Improving infrastructure in the rural areas need not be at the expense of the urban areas. The balance in Government facilities has to be improved between rural and urban communities. However, there are now serious pockets of poverty in the urban areas that have to be addressed. Otherwise, we will undermine national unity and inadvertently lay the grounds for social unrest as in the case of Kampong Medan.
● Improving public transport. There should be a national master plan to ensure a holistic multimodular transport system in the country. The wastage in resources due to the inefficient public transport system is horrendous and must be reduced soon – even with more subsidies for public transport users.
Finally, this budget can be very challenging as we have to balance the large and growing deficit with the goal of ensuring a steady economic recovery. More deficit means more debt and the risk of inflationary pressure if not now, then certainly in the near future.
Let’s hope the Budget 2010 proposals will show the rakyat that the Government means real business in implementing the laudable 1Malaysia policy. We would all like to be able to make good judgments on the Budget come Friday!
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Anwar Ridhwan Sasterawan Negara Ke-10
Anwar Ridhwan bersama anugerah selepas menerima Anugerah Sastera Negara Ke-10 di Kuala Lumpur
20 Okt. 2009 - Dekan Fakulti Penulisan, Akademi Seni Budaya dan Warisan Kebangsaan (Aswara), Datuk Dr. Mohd. Anuar Rethwan, 60, atau nama penanya Anwar Ridhwan diumum sebagai penerima Anugerah Sastera Negara Ke-10.
Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin menyampaikan anugerah tersebut kepada tokoh sastera dan bahasa itu yang membawa gelaran Sasterawan Negara.
Turut berangkat pada majlis yang diadakan di Palace of the Golden Horses, Seri Kembangan dekat sini malam ini ialah Raja Permaisuri Agong Tuanku Nur Zahirah.
Hadir sama ialah Timbalan Perdana Menteri merangkap Pengerusi Panel Anugerah Sastera Negara, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin dan isteri, Puan Seri Noorainee Abdul Rahman.
Pemilihan tersebut membolehkan anak kelahiran Sungai Besar, Selangor itu menerima warkah penghormatan negara, wang tunai RM60,000 serta pelbagai kemudahan untuk kegiatan mencipta karya sastera.
Kerajaan turut membeli 50,000 naskah karya beliau untuk diedarkan ke sekolah-sekolah, perpustakaan, jabatan dan agensi kerajaan.
Dalam ucapannya pada majlis penyampaian anugerah tersebut di sini malam ini, Muhyiddin berkata, pemilihan Anuar berdasarkan sumbangan kreatif dan kesan pemikiran sehingga membentuk tradisi persuratan tersendiri bagi masyarakat negara ini.
Beliau berkata, ketegaran dalam mendalami dan mempertahankan nilai pembinaan negara bangsa yang diperjuangkan menjadi penilaian utama ahli panel untuk memilih penerima anugerah.
''Di samping itu, komitmen sasterawan dalam kegiatan sastera secara berterusan sehingga membentuk tradisi persuratan yang tersendiri serta didukung dan diteruskan oleh generasi penulis juga dijadikan asas penilaian," katanya.
Beliau berkata, pengurniaan Anugerah Sastera Negara merupakan iltizam berterusan kerajaan untuk memberikan pengiktirafan terhadap sumbangan sasterawan dalam usaha memperkukuh dan memartabatkan karya sastera kebangsaan.
Berikutan itu kata beliau, sebagai tanda penghargaan, kerajaan bersetuju untuk menaikkan jumlah ganjaran daripada RM30,000 kepada RM60,000.
Muhyiddin juga menyarankan agar penterjemahan karya Sasterawan Negara dan karya-karya besar yang lain diusahakan dengan lebih terancang.
Menurutnya, akhbar-akhbar berbahasa Melayu juga perlu memberikan ruang lebih luas kepada penyiaran tulisan-tulisan ilmiah berkaitan sastera.
''Karya-karya ini boleh disiarkan di akhbar-akhbar vernakular dan diuar-uarkan di media baru sebagai salah satu kaedah pengembangan dan pemasyarakatan sastera kebangsaan sekali gus mengukuhkan lagi semangat perpaduan 1Malaysia," katanya.
Anuar yang dilahirkan pada 5 Ogos 1949, merupakan pemegang Ijazah Doktor Falsafah dari Universiti Malaya sebelum memulakan tugas sebagai Pegawai Penyelidik di Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) dan bersara selaku Pengarah Penerbitan pada tahun 2005.
Antara cerpen beliau yang popular ialah Parasit, Sesudah Perang, Sangkar dan Dunia Adalah Sebuah Apartmen manakala drama pula seperti Orang-orang Kecil serta Yang Menjelma dan Menghilang.
Novel terkenal beliau ialah Hari-hari Terakhir Seorang Seniman dan Ogonshoto
Institutions to get funds to make grads marketable
Public institutions of higher learning will receive a RM1mil allocation each to organise programmes designed to make graduates more marketable to industry players, said Higher Edu-cation Minister Datuk Khaled Nordin.
Khaled said the programmes should be based on strategic sectors that could improve innovation based industries and guarantee graduates job opportunities.
“It is not enough to just acquire knowledge in universities because the working world needs graduates who are able to compete and there are constant changes taking place in these industries.
“Universities can bring up suggestions for these types of programmes to the ministry,” he said after witnessing the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding for the Centre of Domain Expertise Acceleration in ICT with Mimos Berhad here yesterday.
The memorandum was signed by the ministry’s secretary-general, Datuk Dr Zulkifle A. Hassan, and Mimos CEO and president Datuk Abdul Wahab Abdullah.
Khaled said the ministry had carried out various joint efforts with industry players and spent RM48mil on such programmes.
— Bernama
Khaled said the programmes should be based on strategic sectors that could improve innovation based industries and guarantee graduates job opportunities.
“It is not enough to just acquire knowledge in universities because the working world needs graduates who are able to compete and there are constant changes taking place in these industries.
“Universities can bring up suggestions for these types of programmes to the ministry,” he said after witnessing the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding for the Centre of Domain Expertise Acceleration in ICT with Mimos Berhad here yesterday.
The memorandum was signed by the ministry’s secretary-general, Datuk Dr Zulkifle A. Hassan, and Mimos CEO and president Datuk Abdul Wahab Abdullah.
Khaled said the ministry had carried out various joint efforts with industry players and spent RM48mil on such programmes.
— Bernama
New rules for river buffer zones
KUCHING: Sarawak’s Natural Resources and Environment Board (NREB) plans to recommend new guidelines for determining suitable buffer zones along rivers to reduce water pollution.
It has just completed a study on the effectiveness of buffer zones in improving river water quality and reducing the incidence of silt entering waterways, NREB controller Peter Sawal said after opening a workshop yesterday.
He said the study, which was jointly conducted with Chemsain Konsultant Sdn Bhd, also developed tools to determine the optimum size of buffer zones based on soil type, slope steepness, vegetation cover and river width.
Buffer zones are areas on both sides of the river which are left intact with vegetation cover such as grass or secondary forest to trap silt from entering the waterway.
Wednesday October 21, 2009- The Star
It has just completed a study on the effectiveness of buffer zones in improving river water quality and reducing the incidence of silt entering waterways, NREB controller Peter Sawal said after opening a workshop yesterday.
He said the study, which was jointly conducted with Chemsain Konsultant Sdn Bhd, also developed tools to determine the optimum size of buffer zones based on soil type, slope steepness, vegetation cover and river width.
Buffer zones are areas on both sides of the river which are left intact with vegetation cover such as grass or secondary forest to trap silt from entering the waterway.
Wednesday October 21, 2009- The Star
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Auditor General: Poor forest management in 4 states
Poor management of forests has led to river pollution, erosion, landslides and destruction of flora and fauna in Kelantan, Pahang, Johor and Sarawak, according to the Auditor-General's Report of 2008.
It cites illegal logging, logging in forest reserves or national parks and poor enforcement as some of the factors responsible.
For Kelantan, the report says the Kelantan Department of Forestry is said to be focused more on the revenue derived from the logging concessions compared to the environment.
"The department has failed to gazette all permanent forest reserves as protected forests as proposed.
"This can undermine the safety and protection of forests which should be protected to maintain the quality of the environment, especially the protection of highlands of more than 1,000 metres above sea level," the report says. For Pahang, the report finds the Lesong forest plantation project, though undertaken with approval, to have a serious impact on the environment.
"The Pahang Department of Forestry has to draw up a specific and comprehensive plan before implementing the project by taking into consideration the impact on the environment and also on the permanent forest reserve being developed," it says.
- Bernama The Star 20/10/2009
It cites illegal logging, logging in forest reserves or national parks and poor enforcement as some of the factors responsible.
For Kelantan, the report says the Kelantan Department of Forestry is said to be focused more on the revenue derived from the logging concessions compared to the environment.
"The department has failed to gazette all permanent forest reserves as protected forests as proposed.
"This can undermine the safety and protection of forests which should be protected to maintain the quality of the environment, especially the protection of highlands of more than 1,000 metres above sea level," the report says. For Pahang, the report finds the Lesong forest plantation project, though undertaken with approval, to have a serious impact on the environment.
"The Pahang Department of Forestry has to draw up a specific and comprehensive plan before implementing the project by taking into consideration the impact on the environment and also on the permanent forest reserve being developed," it says.
- Bernama The Star 20/10/2009
Monday, October 19, 2009
Malaysia Day now a public holiday. says PM
Beginning next year, Sept 16, which is Malaysia Day has been declared a public holiday.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the day would involve activities that would foster the 1Malaysia spirit.
He added this meant Malaysians would have a twin celebration, to commemorate the country’s independence starting next year
Najib said National Day on Aug 31 would be celebrated with formal events such as a parade to commemorate the historical moment and it would remind the people about the struggle in achieving independence from the colonists.
He made the announcement during the question-and-answer session at Parliament on Monday.
Najib said Sabah and Sarawak, which joined Malaysia in 1963 and the formation of Malaysia as an independent country was a very important moment in history.
“We want the joy and sorrows of the people in Sabah and Sarawak to be felt by the people in the Peninsula,” he said.
“Therefore, I would like to announce to the people of Malaysia that the Cabinet has recently made the decision to celebrate Hari Malaysia on Sept 16 starting 2010.”
Malaysia Day would be celebrated with events that would foster closer unity, understanding between the different races and community success and achievement through sports, social culture and arts, to spur the 1Malaysia spirit, he added.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the day would involve activities that would foster the 1Malaysia spirit.
He added this meant Malaysians would have a twin celebration, to commemorate the country’s independence starting next year
Najib said National Day on Aug 31 would be celebrated with formal events such as a parade to commemorate the historical moment and it would remind the people about the struggle in achieving independence from the colonists.
He made the announcement during the question-and-answer session at Parliament on Monday.
Najib said Sabah and Sarawak, which joined Malaysia in 1963 and the formation of Malaysia as an independent country was a very important moment in history.
“We want the joy and sorrows of the people in Sabah and Sarawak to be felt by the people in the Peninsula,” he said.
“Therefore, I would like to announce to the people of Malaysia that the Cabinet has recently made the decision to celebrate Hari Malaysia on Sept 16 starting 2010.”
Malaysia Day would be celebrated with events that would foster closer unity, understanding between the different races and community success and achievement through sports, social culture and arts, to spur the 1Malaysia spirit, he added.
Ekonomi negara positif 2010
18 Okt. - Ekonomi negara ini dijangka mencatat pertumbuhan positif tahun depan berdasarkan trend pertumbuhan ekonomi dunia sekarang.
Timbalan Menteri Kewangan, Datuk Dr. Awang Adek Hussein berkata, Malaysia yakin tidak lagi mengalami kemelesetan ekonomi tahun depan seperti yang berlaku pada suku pertama dan kedua tahun ini.
Katanya, walaupun pertumbuhan ekonomi negara pada suku pertama dan kedua tahun ini mencatatkan penguncupan namun kadarnya kian menurun.
Justeru, katanya, kerajaan menjangka prestasi pertumbuhan ekonomi pada suku tahun ketiga tahun ini akan mencatatkan pertumbuhan yang baik.
''Setakat ini, kita masih belum dapat memastikan sejauhmana prestasi pertumbuhan ekonomi negara namun ia merupakan satu andaian yang agak kukuh, pertumbuhan ekonomi dunia juga kini bergerak ke arah yang sama," katanya selepas merasmikan Majlis Konvokesyen Kolej Islam Sains dan Teknologi (KIST) kali kedua di Pusat Konvensyen, Taman Tamadun Islam (TTI) di sini hari ini.
Mengulas lanjut Awang Adek berkata, pertumbuhan ekonomi negara yang positif itu akan membantu menarik kembali pelaburan ke negara ini.
Katanya, apabila pelaburan di negara ini kembali meningkat, ia secara tidak langsung membantu menyelesaikan masalah kehilangan pekerjaan oleh rakyat tempatan yang berlaku baru-baru ini.
''Syarikat-syarikat yang dahulunya memberhentikan pekerja kerana pengeluaran produk yang menurun sudah tentu akan mengambil semula pekerja apabila keadaan ekonomi pulih," jelasnya.
Justeru, beliau menasihatkan mereka yang kehilangan kerja mengikuti pelbagai kursus kemahiran yang ditawarkan termasuk dari Kementerian Sumber Manusia ketika ini bagi meningkatkan keupayaan dan kebolehan masing-masing.
''Dengan kemahiran ini, mereka akan lebih mudah mendapat pekerjaan apabila ekonomi negara pulih," katanya.
Timbalan Menteri Kewangan, Datuk Dr. Awang Adek Hussein berkata, Malaysia yakin tidak lagi mengalami kemelesetan ekonomi tahun depan seperti yang berlaku pada suku pertama dan kedua tahun ini.
Katanya, walaupun pertumbuhan ekonomi negara pada suku pertama dan kedua tahun ini mencatatkan penguncupan namun kadarnya kian menurun.
Justeru, katanya, kerajaan menjangka prestasi pertumbuhan ekonomi pada suku tahun ketiga tahun ini akan mencatatkan pertumbuhan yang baik.
''Setakat ini, kita masih belum dapat memastikan sejauhmana prestasi pertumbuhan ekonomi negara namun ia merupakan satu andaian yang agak kukuh, pertumbuhan ekonomi dunia juga kini bergerak ke arah yang sama," katanya selepas merasmikan Majlis Konvokesyen Kolej Islam Sains dan Teknologi (KIST) kali kedua di Pusat Konvensyen, Taman Tamadun Islam (TTI) di sini hari ini.
Mengulas lanjut Awang Adek berkata, pertumbuhan ekonomi negara yang positif itu akan membantu menarik kembali pelaburan ke negara ini.
Katanya, apabila pelaburan di negara ini kembali meningkat, ia secara tidak langsung membantu menyelesaikan masalah kehilangan pekerjaan oleh rakyat tempatan yang berlaku baru-baru ini.
''Syarikat-syarikat yang dahulunya memberhentikan pekerja kerana pengeluaran produk yang menurun sudah tentu akan mengambil semula pekerja apabila keadaan ekonomi pulih," jelasnya.
Justeru, beliau menasihatkan mereka yang kehilangan kerja mengikuti pelbagai kursus kemahiran yang ditawarkan termasuk dari Kementerian Sumber Manusia ketika ini bagi meningkatkan keupayaan dan kebolehan masing-masing.
''Dengan kemahiran ini, mereka akan lebih mudah mendapat pekerjaan apabila ekonomi negara pulih," katanya.
Kembalikan caruman 11%
18 Okt. – Kongres Kesatuan Sekerja Malaysia (MTUC) hari ini meminta kerajaan membenarkan 2.2 juta pekerja yang memilih potongan lapan peratus bagi caruman Kumpulan Wang Simpanan Pekerja (KWSP) untuk kembali kepada 11 peratus berkuat kuasa serta merta.
Sambil merujuk kepada keadaan ekonomi yang semakin pulih, Naib Presiden MTUC, A. Balasubramaniam memberitahu, caruman KWSP merupakan simpanan untuk hari tua bagi pekerja sektor swasta dan adalah penting peratusan simpanan itu dikekalkan.
Berikutan krisis ekonomi, pada November lepas, kerajaan telah membenarkan para pekerja untuk memilih sama ada kekal dengan caruman 11 peratus atau mengurangkannya sebanyak tiga peratus kepada lapan peratus untuk tempoh dua tahun mulai 1 Januari tahun ini.
Menurut KWSP, sejumlah 2.2 juta atau 40 peratus daripada pekerja telah memilih untuk mengurangkannya kepada lapan peratus.
Balasubramaniam berkata, MTUC kini prihatin dengan 2.2 juta pekerja kerana mereka kini kerugian dalam bentuk dividen dan bayaran akhir apabila mereka mencapai umur persaraan.
Katanya, walaupun pilihannya adalah dua tahun, kerajaan perlu membenarkan mereka untuk kembali kepada caruman yang asal sekarang.
– Bernama
Sambil merujuk kepada keadaan ekonomi yang semakin pulih, Naib Presiden MTUC, A. Balasubramaniam memberitahu, caruman KWSP merupakan simpanan untuk hari tua bagi pekerja sektor swasta dan adalah penting peratusan simpanan itu dikekalkan.
Berikutan krisis ekonomi, pada November lepas, kerajaan telah membenarkan para pekerja untuk memilih sama ada kekal dengan caruman 11 peratus atau mengurangkannya sebanyak tiga peratus kepada lapan peratus untuk tempoh dua tahun mulai 1 Januari tahun ini.
Menurut KWSP, sejumlah 2.2 juta atau 40 peratus daripada pekerja telah memilih untuk mengurangkannya kepada lapan peratus.
Balasubramaniam berkata, MTUC kini prihatin dengan 2.2 juta pekerja kerana mereka kini kerugian dalam bentuk dividen dan bayaran akhir apabila mereka mencapai umur persaraan.
Katanya, walaupun pilihannya adalah dua tahun, kerajaan perlu membenarkan mereka untuk kembali kepada caruman yang asal sekarang.
– Bernama
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Kawalan pintu masuk Sarawak diperketat
Jabatan Imigresen negeri akan mengetatkan lagi kawalan di semua pintu masuk sempadan di negeri ini bagi menangani isu pemerdagangan manusia serta eksploitasi pekerja asing.
Pengarahnya, Datuk Robert Lian berkata, pihaknya tidak akan berkompromi dengan mana-mana pihak yang cuba menjadikan pintu sempadan negeri ini sebagai laluan penyeludupan manusia.
"Kita tidak mahu perkara itu berlaku di Sarawak. Jabatan Imigresen negeri akan bertindak tegas untuk mengatasinya. Ia adalah cabaran yang besar dan perlu ditangani segera secara teratur dan berkesan," katanya.
Beliau berkata demikian pada Majlis Penyampaian Sumbangan Hari Raya Aidilfitri kepada golongan kurang berkemampuan serta Penyampaian Sumbangan Kuih Raya kepada pengawal Pos Imigresen Sungai Tujuh di sini semalam.
Robert menjelaskan, kakitangan imigresen perlu meningkatkan komitmen, kemahiran dan pengetahuan untuk menangani isu pemerdagangan dan penyeludupan manusia yang merentasi sempadan.
"Difahamkan terdapat kekangan dalam langkah menangani buruh paksa, pelacuran, mangsa keganasan seks dan eksploitasi pekerja asing serta kesukaran mendakwa mereka di bawah Akta Anti-Pemerdagangan Orang 2007," katanya.
Jelas beliau, agensi yang berkaitan dengan isu itu harus menggembleng tenaga untuk memastikan akta berkenaan dapat dilaksanakan dan dikuatkuasakan secara berkesan.
"Peluang pekerjaan serta ekonomi yang kukuh di negeri ini telah menarik kehadiran warga asing untuk datang ke negeri ini.
"Maka, ada pihak tertentu mengambil kesempatan mencari keuntungan dengan cuba menjual manusia ke negeri ini," tambahnya.
Robert juga turut meminta kerjasama dengan Jabatan Imigresen negara jiran seperti Brunei bagi menjalinkan kerjasama erat bagi memerangi dalang kegiatan menjual manusia.
"Menerusi kerjasama ini mangsa akan dapat diselamatkan dan dalangnya akan dihadapkan ke mahkamah untuk mendapat hukuman yang setimpal," tegas beliau.
Mengenai majlis itu, Robert melahirkan penghargaan terhadap usaha Kelab Rekreasi Imigresen Sarawak (Keris) kerana menyumbang serta mengagihkan kuih raya kepada semua pengawal yang bertugas di pintu-pintu masuk Imigresen pada musim perayaan ini.
Pengarahnya, Datuk Robert Lian berkata, pihaknya tidak akan berkompromi dengan mana-mana pihak yang cuba menjadikan pintu sempadan negeri ini sebagai laluan penyeludupan manusia.
"Kita tidak mahu perkara itu berlaku di Sarawak. Jabatan Imigresen negeri akan bertindak tegas untuk mengatasinya. Ia adalah cabaran yang besar dan perlu ditangani segera secara teratur dan berkesan," katanya.
Beliau berkata demikian pada Majlis Penyampaian Sumbangan Hari Raya Aidilfitri kepada golongan kurang berkemampuan serta Penyampaian Sumbangan Kuih Raya kepada pengawal Pos Imigresen Sungai Tujuh di sini semalam.
Robert menjelaskan, kakitangan imigresen perlu meningkatkan komitmen, kemahiran dan pengetahuan untuk menangani isu pemerdagangan dan penyeludupan manusia yang merentasi sempadan.
"Difahamkan terdapat kekangan dalam langkah menangani buruh paksa, pelacuran, mangsa keganasan seks dan eksploitasi pekerja asing serta kesukaran mendakwa mereka di bawah Akta Anti-Pemerdagangan Orang 2007," katanya.
Jelas beliau, agensi yang berkaitan dengan isu itu harus menggembleng tenaga untuk memastikan akta berkenaan dapat dilaksanakan dan dikuatkuasakan secara berkesan.
"Peluang pekerjaan serta ekonomi yang kukuh di negeri ini telah menarik kehadiran warga asing untuk datang ke negeri ini.
"Maka, ada pihak tertentu mengambil kesempatan mencari keuntungan dengan cuba menjual manusia ke negeri ini," tambahnya.
Robert juga turut meminta kerjasama dengan Jabatan Imigresen negara jiran seperti Brunei bagi menjalinkan kerjasama erat bagi memerangi dalang kegiatan menjual manusia.
"Menerusi kerjasama ini mangsa akan dapat diselamatkan dan dalangnya akan dihadapkan ke mahkamah untuk mendapat hukuman yang setimpal," tegas beliau.
Mengenai majlis itu, Robert melahirkan penghargaan terhadap usaha Kelab Rekreasi Imigresen Sarawak (Keris) kerana menyumbang serta mengagihkan kuih raya kepada semua pengawal yang bertugas di pintu-pintu masuk Imigresen pada musim perayaan ini.
Monday, September 14, 2009
Traffic noise linked to blood pressure: Study
People whose homes are within earshot of engines rumbling, horns honking and brakes screeching have an increased risk of high blood pressure.
China's Xinhua news agency said that according to a study appearing in the September issue of Environmental Health published in the United States, living next to busy roads may be hazardous to health, especially those who are young and middle-aged.
To determine how much traffic noise they were exposed to on a regular basis, researchers at Lund University Hospital in Sweden analysed data from nearly 28,000 questionnaires about people's living arrangements in Scania, a province in southern Sweden.
They found that young and middle-aged people who lived in homes where they were exposed to traffic noise above 60 decibels were more likely to have high blood pressure, which over time can lead to cardiovascular disease and stroke, Xinhua cited the study as saying.
The association with hypertension got stronger as the decibel level went up.
Among older people aged 60 to 80, higher decibel levels weren't linked to more hypertension. One reason for the finding could be that younger people are less likely to have high blood pressure, making the impact from traffic noise more evident.
"The effect of noise may become less important, or harder to detect, relative to other risk factors with increasing age," said study author Theo Bodin.
"Alternatively, it could be that noise annoyance varies with age."
About 30 percent of Europeans live in areas where traffic noises average 55 decibels or higher, the researchers noted."
Road traffic is the most important source of community noise," Bodin said.
-Bernama
China's Xinhua news agency said that according to a study appearing in the September issue of Environmental Health published in the United States, living next to busy roads may be hazardous to health, especially those who are young and middle-aged.
To determine how much traffic noise they were exposed to on a regular basis, researchers at Lund University Hospital in Sweden analysed data from nearly 28,000 questionnaires about people's living arrangements in Scania, a province in southern Sweden.
They found that young and middle-aged people who lived in homes where they were exposed to traffic noise above 60 decibels were more likely to have high blood pressure, which over time can lead to cardiovascular disease and stroke, Xinhua cited the study as saying.
The association with hypertension got stronger as the decibel level went up.
Among older people aged 60 to 80, higher decibel levels weren't linked to more hypertension. One reason for the finding could be that younger people are less likely to have high blood pressure, making the impact from traffic noise more evident.
"The effect of noise may become less important, or harder to detect, relative to other risk factors with increasing age," said study author Theo Bodin.
"Alternatively, it could be that noise annoyance varies with age."
About 30 percent of Europeans live in areas where traffic noises average 55 decibels or higher, the researchers noted."
Road traffic is the most important source of community noise," Bodin said.
-Bernama
Friday, August 21, 2009
10 years to get OP!
Decade-long delay because property developer absconded
After a 10-year wait, 21 homeowners from Taman Stapang Emas, Jalan Sg Tapang finally received their occupation permits (OP) yesterday.
The decade-long delay was because the irresponsible developer of the property had absconded.
Padawan Municipal Council (PMC) chairman Tan Joo Phoi, who presented the documents yesterday, said the houses were “practically completed” in 1999, but the developer had absconded in 2003, leaving the housing estate without a proper road.
Tan said a proper road was among the requirements for the issuance of OPs.
“This is the third such case and each time the council has to waive some of the requirements (for the issuance of OP) on humanitarian grounds to help the house owners,” said Tan during the handover ceremony at PMC’s premises in Kota Padawan.
Tan, who is also Batu Kawah assemblyman, said two previous cases which the council solved involved Capitol Garden (40 homeowners) and Stapok Garden (20 homeowners).
He hoped housing developers would act responsibly and not abscond from projects.
“It is my hope and the council’s hope that housing developers carrying out projects in the PMC area would be more disciplined and responsible,” stressed Tan.
Meanwhile, council secretary Michael Saweng said the OPs were supposed to be presented about three months ago. It was postponed because the council wanted the authorities to locate the developer of the housing estate but unfortunately failed to do so, he said.
After a 10-year wait, 21 homeowners from Taman Stapang Emas, Jalan Sg Tapang finally received their occupation permits (OP) yesterday.
The decade-long delay was because the irresponsible developer of the property had absconded.
Padawan Municipal Council (PMC) chairman Tan Joo Phoi, who presented the documents yesterday, said the houses were “practically completed” in 1999, but the developer had absconded in 2003, leaving the housing estate without a proper road.
Tan said a proper road was among the requirements for the issuance of OPs.
“This is the third such case and each time the council has to waive some of the requirements (for the issuance of OP) on humanitarian grounds to help the house owners,” said Tan during the handover ceremony at PMC’s premises in Kota Padawan.
Tan, who is also Batu Kawah assemblyman, said two previous cases which the council solved involved Capitol Garden (40 homeowners) and Stapok Garden (20 homeowners).
He hoped housing developers would act responsibly and not abscond from projects.
“It is my hope and the council’s hope that housing developers carrying out projects in the PMC area would be more disciplined and responsible,” stressed Tan.
Meanwhile, council secretary Michael Saweng said the OPs were supposed to be presented about three months ago. It was postponed because the council wanted the authorities to locate the developer of the housing estate but unfortunately failed to do so, he said.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Sarawak Sana Sini Menjelang Aidil-Fitri
Sarawak: Masalah kekurangan gula di Limbang, Lawas diatasi
Masalah kekurangan gula yang berlaku di dua daerah paling terpencil di Sarawak dan dipisahkan negara jiran Brunei iaitu Limbang dan Lawas, sudah dapat diatasi minggu lalu.
Ahli Parlimen Limbang, Hasbi Habibollah, berkata bekalan gula sudah dihantar menggunakan kapal ke dua daerah berkenaan sekali gus mengakhiri masalah itu. Beliau berkata, sekarang kebanyakan premis perniagaan di Limbang dan Lawas mempunyai stok bekalan gula mencukupi untuk penduduknya.
“Tiada lagi masalah mendapatkan bekalan gula di Limbang dan Lawas. Orang ramai boleh memperoleh bekalan berkenaan di kedai runcit terdekat dengan kawasan mereka,” katanya ketika ditemui di sini, semalam.
Beliau berkata, bekalan gula berkenaan mencukupi untuk keperluan sehingga menjelang musim perayaan Aidilfitri yang bakal tiba. Hasbi berkata, orang ramai tidak perlu bimbang mengenai stok bekalan gula berkenaan dan tidak perlu membeli dalam kuantiti banyak.
“Jika semua orang membeli gula dalam kuantiti banyak sudah pasti ia akan mengakibatkan stok bekalan gula habis. “Justeru, tiada sebab untuk membeli gula untuk disimpan kerana ia akan memburukkan lagi keadaan,” katanya.
Pada masa sama, beliau mahu supaya pegawai penguat kuasa kementerian berkaitan melakukan pemantauan lebih kerap terhadap harga barangan kawalan di daerah itu. Langkah itu, katanya, dapat mengelakkan peniaga melakukan penipuan dan menaikkan harga barangan sewenang-wenangnya.
“Lagipun kebanyakan harga barangan yang dijual di Limbang dan Lawas lebih mahal jika dibandingkan dengan daerah lain di Sarawak,” katanya.
Bekalan beras di Sarawak cukup
Sarawak dijangka tidak akan mengalami sebarang masalah bekalan beras berikutan stok sedia ada yang bernilai RM100 juta mampu menampung permintaan penduduk yang dianggar memerlukan kira-kira 10,000 tan beras setiap bulan.
Berbeza dengan Semenanjung, pengguna di Sarawak menggunakan 65 peratus beras yang diimport dari Vietnam dan Thailand menjadikannya antara negeri di negara ini yang paling tinggi bergantung kepada beras import.
Namun dengan jumlah simpanan lebih 50,000 tan dan penghantaran stok baru menepati jadual setiap bulan, Beras Corporatian selaku wakil Padiberas Nasional Berhad (Bernas), menjamin pengguna akan mendapat bekalan sehingga hujung tahun depan.
Jumlah berkenaan belum lagi ditambah dengan pengeluaran beras dalam negeri yang dianggar berjumlah hampir 60,000 tan setahun yang kebanyakannya digunakan penduduk luar bandar. Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif Beras Corporation, Mohd Kamaluddin Mohd Effendie, berkata langkah menambah stok bekalan beras di Sarawak bagi menjamin dan melindungi pengguna dari masalah kekurangan stok seperti yang berlaku pada tahun lalu.
Katanya, pihaknya mendapat pengajaran apabila tidak bersedia menghadapi kenaikan harga beras dunia antara Mac hingga Jun tahun lalu yang menyaksikan harganya melebihi RM3,000 bagi setiap satu tan.
"Bayangkan harga semasa ketika itu sekitar RM1,500 melambung dua kali ganda menyebabkan kerajaan terpaksa menanggung kos tinggi bagi memastikan bekalan terus dibawa masuk.
"Oleh itu Bernas bertindak memastikan bekalan dalam negeri mencukupi sekurang-kurangnya bagi tempoh enam bulan kerana bimbang berlaku keadaan di luar jangkaan seperti serangan perosak padi dalam negeri," katanya kepada Berita Harian. Dianggarkan setiap pengguna di negeri ini memerlukan purata 82 kilogram beras setahun dengan jumlah beras dijual tahun lalu ialah 197,127 tan. Dari jumlah itu 137,641 atau 70 peratus adalah import sementara bakinya beras tempatan.
Bernas sentiasa mengutamakan keselamatan sumber makanan dengan di Kuching saja mereka ada tujuh gudang untuk menyimpan stok beras bernilai jutaan ringgit.
Selain di Kuching, Bernas turut mempunyai gudang simpanan beras di Sibu dan Bintulu selain mendapat kerjasama dengan pembekal di Limbang, Lawas dan Miri untuk menyimpan bekalan mereka di kawasan terbabit. Mengulas mengenai proses penghantaran beras ke kawasan pedalaman, Kamaluddin berkata, ia berjalan lancar namun harganya lebih mahal berbanding di bandar berikutan pemborong terpaksa menanggung kos pengangkutan.
Masalah kekurangan gula yang berlaku di dua daerah paling terpencil di Sarawak dan dipisahkan negara jiran Brunei iaitu Limbang dan Lawas, sudah dapat diatasi minggu lalu.
Ahli Parlimen Limbang, Hasbi Habibollah, berkata bekalan gula sudah dihantar menggunakan kapal ke dua daerah berkenaan sekali gus mengakhiri masalah itu. Beliau berkata, sekarang kebanyakan premis perniagaan di Limbang dan Lawas mempunyai stok bekalan gula mencukupi untuk penduduknya.
“Tiada lagi masalah mendapatkan bekalan gula di Limbang dan Lawas. Orang ramai boleh memperoleh bekalan berkenaan di kedai runcit terdekat dengan kawasan mereka,” katanya ketika ditemui di sini, semalam.
Beliau berkata, bekalan gula berkenaan mencukupi untuk keperluan sehingga menjelang musim perayaan Aidilfitri yang bakal tiba. Hasbi berkata, orang ramai tidak perlu bimbang mengenai stok bekalan gula berkenaan dan tidak perlu membeli dalam kuantiti banyak.
“Jika semua orang membeli gula dalam kuantiti banyak sudah pasti ia akan mengakibatkan stok bekalan gula habis. “Justeru, tiada sebab untuk membeli gula untuk disimpan kerana ia akan memburukkan lagi keadaan,” katanya.
Pada masa sama, beliau mahu supaya pegawai penguat kuasa kementerian berkaitan melakukan pemantauan lebih kerap terhadap harga barangan kawalan di daerah itu. Langkah itu, katanya, dapat mengelakkan peniaga melakukan penipuan dan menaikkan harga barangan sewenang-wenangnya.
“Lagipun kebanyakan harga barangan yang dijual di Limbang dan Lawas lebih mahal jika dibandingkan dengan daerah lain di Sarawak,” katanya.
Bekalan beras di Sarawak cukup
Sarawak dijangka tidak akan mengalami sebarang masalah bekalan beras berikutan stok sedia ada yang bernilai RM100 juta mampu menampung permintaan penduduk yang dianggar memerlukan kira-kira 10,000 tan beras setiap bulan.
Berbeza dengan Semenanjung, pengguna di Sarawak menggunakan 65 peratus beras yang diimport dari Vietnam dan Thailand menjadikannya antara negeri di negara ini yang paling tinggi bergantung kepada beras import.
Namun dengan jumlah simpanan lebih 50,000 tan dan penghantaran stok baru menepati jadual setiap bulan, Beras Corporatian selaku wakil Padiberas Nasional Berhad (Bernas), menjamin pengguna akan mendapat bekalan sehingga hujung tahun depan.
Jumlah berkenaan belum lagi ditambah dengan pengeluaran beras dalam negeri yang dianggar berjumlah hampir 60,000 tan setahun yang kebanyakannya digunakan penduduk luar bandar. Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif Beras Corporation, Mohd Kamaluddin Mohd Effendie, berkata langkah menambah stok bekalan beras di Sarawak bagi menjamin dan melindungi pengguna dari masalah kekurangan stok seperti yang berlaku pada tahun lalu.
Katanya, pihaknya mendapat pengajaran apabila tidak bersedia menghadapi kenaikan harga beras dunia antara Mac hingga Jun tahun lalu yang menyaksikan harganya melebihi RM3,000 bagi setiap satu tan.
"Bayangkan harga semasa ketika itu sekitar RM1,500 melambung dua kali ganda menyebabkan kerajaan terpaksa menanggung kos tinggi bagi memastikan bekalan terus dibawa masuk.
"Oleh itu Bernas bertindak memastikan bekalan dalam negeri mencukupi sekurang-kurangnya bagi tempoh enam bulan kerana bimbang berlaku keadaan di luar jangkaan seperti serangan perosak padi dalam negeri," katanya kepada Berita Harian. Dianggarkan setiap pengguna di negeri ini memerlukan purata 82 kilogram beras setahun dengan jumlah beras dijual tahun lalu ialah 197,127 tan. Dari jumlah itu 137,641 atau 70 peratus adalah import sementara bakinya beras tempatan.
Bernas sentiasa mengutamakan keselamatan sumber makanan dengan di Kuching saja mereka ada tujuh gudang untuk menyimpan stok beras bernilai jutaan ringgit.
Selain di Kuching, Bernas turut mempunyai gudang simpanan beras di Sibu dan Bintulu selain mendapat kerjasama dengan pembekal di Limbang, Lawas dan Miri untuk menyimpan bekalan mereka di kawasan terbabit. Mengulas mengenai proses penghantaran beras ke kawasan pedalaman, Kamaluddin berkata, ia berjalan lancar namun harganya lebih mahal berbanding di bandar berikutan pemborong terpaksa menanggung kos pengangkutan.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Protect S’wak from peninsula politics
Minister says West Malaysia’s parochial politics should not be allowed to rear its ugly head here
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz said he is touched by the racial harmony and religious tolerance enjoyed by Sarawakians.
He said he was proud of the political situation here which he described as being “very relaxed” compared to what was found in West Malaysia.
He said such a situation must be safeguarded against the unhealthy political culture found in West Malaysia.
He went on to say that West Malaysians were narrow-minded in as far as politics and religion were concerned and that their negative political culture must not be allowed into Sarawak. He said he would try to prevent “at all costs” the intrusion of this negative political culture from Peninsular Malaysia into the state.
“I must tell you that actually the 1Malaysia concept originated from Sabah and Sarawak with their political stability and people of different races and religions living harmoniously together.
“I will not allow the Peninsular Malaysia kind of political culture to be brought into Sarawak because it will cause disturbances to the people and pollute the state’s political scenario,” Nazri said.
He said this at a dinner held to welcome him and his senior officers, which was hosted by Second Minister of Planning and Resource Management Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hassan, who is also Minister of Public Utilities.
Nazri said Peninsular Malaysia should learn from Sarawak’s form of peace and harmony. The minister also said he was attracted by the state’s development plan, describing it as being properly studied into by the state leaders.
Meanwhile, he said he was happy with the performance of Sarawak MPs who had spoken in parliament about the need to bring more development to the state.
He assured that what were raised and requested by MPs from the state would be taken into consideration, adding that he would visit the state frequently to see to the needs of the local people.
According to him, he had visited almost every part of the state, including travelling by land to see for himself the needs of the state, particularly with regard to infrastructure development.
“I will again visit Sarawak in October and I will go to Ba Kelalan to see what can be done there,” he said.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz said he is touched by the racial harmony and religious tolerance enjoyed by Sarawakians.
He said he was proud of the political situation here which he described as being “very relaxed” compared to what was found in West Malaysia.
He said such a situation must be safeguarded against the unhealthy political culture found in West Malaysia.
He went on to say that West Malaysians were narrow-minded in as far as politics and religion were concerned and that their negative political culture must not be allowed into Sarawak. He said he would try to prevent “at all costs” the intrusion of this negative political culture from Peninsular Malaysia into the state.
“I must tell you that actually the 1Malaysia concept originated from Sabah and Sarawak with their political stability and people of different races and religions living harmoniously together.
“I will not allow the Peninsular Malaysia kind of political culture to be brought into Sarawak because it will cause disturbances to the people and pollute the state’s political scenario,” Nazri said.
He said this at a dinner held to welcome him and his senior officers, which was hosted by Second Minister of Planning and Resource Management Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hassan, who is also Minister of Public Utilities.
Nazri said Peninsular Malaysia should learn from Sarawak’s form of peace and harmony. The minister also said he was attracted by the state’s development plan, describing it as being properly studied into by the state leaders.
Meanwhile, he said he was happy with the performance of Sarawak MPs who had spoken in parliament about the need to bring more development to the state.
He assured that what were raised and requested by MPs from the state would be taken into consideration, adding that he would visit the state frequently to see to the needs of the local people.
According to him, he had visited almost every part of the state, including travelling by land to see for himself the needs of the state, particularly with regard to infrastructure development.
“I will again visit Sarawak in October and I will go to Ba Kelalan to see what can be done there,” he said.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Internet: 3 kementerian bekerjasama
Tiga kementerian akan bekerjasama mengenal pasti pendekatan dari sudut perundangan dalam menangani isu penyalahgunaan Internet di negara ini.
Menteri Penerangan, Komunikasi dan Kebudayaan, Datuk Seri Dr. Rais Yatim berkata, selain kementerian beliau, ia turut membabitkan Kementerian Dalam Negeri (KDN) dan Jabatan Perdana Menteri (Hal Ehwal Perundangan dan Parlimen).
''Kami telah ditugaskan untuk melihat perkara itu dan perlu menyediakan satu pendekatan terbaik dalam menangani isu tersebut.
''Bagaimanapun ia bukan bermakna kerajaan akan mewujudkan elemen tapisan tetapi ia lebih kepada penguatkuasaan undang-undang terhadap mereka yang didapati melanggarnya," katanya.
Beliau berkata demikian kepada pemberita selepas menyaksikan pelancaran Kempen Kibar Jalur Gemilang sempena sambutan Hari Kemerdekaan ke-52 oleh Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak di sini hari ini.
Turut hadir Timbalan Perdana Menteri, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
Dalam pada itu, menyentuh konsep 1Malaysia, Rais berkata, semua lapisan masyarakat di negara ini diseru menjadikan gagasan itu sebagai amalan dan gaya hidup setiap hari.
Beliau berkata, seruan itu perlu sebagai usaha yang berterusan untuk menyemaikan semangat patriotisme dan kecintaan kepada negara.
''Kali ini kita mahu melihat supaya 1Malaysia dapat benar-benar dilanjutkan ke dalam cara hidup kita dan terjemahan ini seharusnya dapat kita zahirkan dari segi amalan setiap hari.
''Oleh itu kita mohon supaya setiap pejabat, rumah dan lain-lain institusi mengibarkan Jalur Gemilang sempena sambutan hari kemerdekaan ke-52," katanya.
Menteri Penerangan, Komunikasi dan Kebudayaan, Datuk Seri Dr. Rais Yatim berkata, selain kementerian beliau, ia turut membabitkan Kementerian Dalam Negeri (KDN) dan Jabatan Perdana Menteri (Hal Ehwal Perundangan dan Parlimen).
''Kami telah ditugaskan untuk melihat perkara itu dan perlu menyediakan satu pendekatan terbaik dalam menangani isu tersebut.
''Bagaimanapun ia bukan bermakna kerajaan akan mewujudkan elemen tapisan tetapi ia lebih kepada penguatkuasaan undang-undang terhadap mereka yang didapati melanggarnya," katanya.
Beliau berkata demikian kepada pemberita selepas menyaksikan pelancaran Kempen Kibar Jalur Gemilang sempena sambutan Hari Kemerdekaan ke-52 oleh Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak di sini hari ini.
Turut hadir Timbalan Perdana Menteri, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
Dalam pada itu, menyentuh konsep 1Malaysia, Rais berkata, semua lapisan masyarakat di negara ini diseru menjadikan gagasan itu sebagai amalan dan gaya hidup setiap hari.
Beliau berkata, seruan itu perlu sebagai usaha yang berterusan untuk menyemaikan semangat patriotisme dan kecintaan kepada negara.
''Kali ini kita mahu melihat supaya 1Malaysia dapat benar-benar dilanjutkan ke dalam cara hidup kita dan terjemahan ini seharusnya dapat kita zahirkan dari segi amalan setiap hari.
''Oleh itu kita mohon supaya setiap pejabat, rumah dan lain-lain institusi mengibarkan Jalur Gemilang sempena sambutan hari kemerdekaan ke-52," katanya.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Teroka laluan lasak Sarawak-Sabah
KUCHING 11 Ogos - Seramai 16 pelancong Itali menggunakan motosikal lasak memulakan ekspedisi 'Borneo Raid 2009' menjelajah Sarawak hingga ke Sabah.
Penjelajahan selama 21 hari itu merupakan julung kali diadakan membabitkan pelancong dari Itali yang mengambil kesempatan meneroka laluan lasak di sekitar Sarawak sebelum ke Sabah.
Pelancaran disempurnakan oleh Pengarah Lembaga Penggalakan Pelancongan Malaysia Sarawak, Ahmad Johanif Ali.
Ekspedisi tersebut merupakan satu kaedah baru untuk menikmati keindahan negeri Sarawak yang kaya dengan budaya dan keindahan flora serta fauna.
''Lembaga Penggalakan Pelancongan Malaysia sentiasa mengalu-alukan usaha ejen pelancongan yang kreatif membawa pelanggan mereka ke negeri ini.
''Dalam hal ini, saya memuji tindakan ejen tempatan yang membawa konvoi motosikal lasak dari Itali ke Sarawak. Ia satu pendekatan baru," kata Ahmad Johanif.
Sarawak mampu menawarkan pelbagai destinasi pelancongan yang menarik dan ia bukan sekadar destinasi mewah tetapi juga menawarkan destinasi lasak untuk mereka yang sukakan cabaran.
''Pelbagai cabaran lasak boleh diadakan di negeri ini memandangkan faktor geografi Sarawak yang berbukit-bukau dan dikelilingi lembah," katanya lagi.
Menurut beliau, ekspedisi seperti ini akan menjadi perintis kepada kedatangan pelancong Itali yang suka dengan cabaran bermotosikal lasak.
Selain itu, pelancong Itali ini diberi kesempatan untuk melawat tempat-tempat tarikan pelancong seperti rumah panjang, pusat pemuliharaan orang utan dan lain-lain, katanya.
Ahmad Johanif memberitahu, kebanyakan pemilik motosikal lasak atau berkuasa besar di Eropah suka melancong dan golongan itu biasanya tidak kisah untuk berbelanja besar.
Pelancong Itali ini katanya, suka tinggal lama di Malaysia kerana keunikan negara ini yang berbeza dengan negara-negara di Eropah.
Tambah beliau, di Sarawak ejen pelancongan lebih gemar menghantar pelancong Itali ke Mulu dan pada masa kini terdapat lapan kumpulan pelancong yang telah berada di Sarawak.
Pada tahun lepas, seramai 38,945 pelancong Itali berkunjung ke Malaysia dan kedatangan mereka bertambah ramai pada bulan Ogos.
Ini kerana pada bulan Ogos, Itali mengalami musim panas dengan cuaca yang sangat panas sehingga mereka lebih suka melancong daripada berada dalam negeri.
Pelancong Itali secara puratanya membelanjakan RM2,881 seorang ketika berada di Malaysia dan menginap secara purata selama 8.5 malam.
Pada tahun lalu juga menyaksikan pendapatan pelancongan daripada pasaran Itali sebanyak RM112.2 juta setahun berbanding RM90.5 juta pada tahun sebelumnya.
Sementara itu, Ketua Ekspedisi Borneo Raid 2009, Vittorio Kulczycki berkata, ini merupakan pengalaman pertama beliau bermotosikal lasak dari Sarawak ke Sabah.
Sebelum ini katanya, beliau telah sampai ke Malaysia dan pernah beberapa kali mendaki Gunung Kinabalu.
Tambah beliau, jalan lasak di Sarawak ini hanya diketahuinya melalui laporan dalam Internet dan juga melalui pengendali pelancong tempatan di Malaysia.
''Kebanyakan daripada kami ini merupakan ejen pelancongan dari Itali dan memiliki kelab motosikal lasak yang meneroka tempat-tempat menarik di seluruh dunia," katanya.
Beliau yang juga Pengarah Urusan Viaggi Nel Mondo Tour Operator berkata, ekspedisi kali ini juga mengundang pelbagai cabaran kerana selain menguruskan peserta, mereka juga menguruskan kargo iaitu motosikal masing-masing.
Apabila ekspedisi itu selesai, motosikal tersebut akan dimuatkan kembali ke dalam kapal untuk dihantar ke Itali dan ia merupakan satu proses yang agak cerewet, katanya lagi.
Bagaimanapun katanya, kumpulan mereka ini cukup berpengalaman kerana pernah menjelajah beberapa negara Asia dengan menunggang motosikal lasak.
Beliau berkata, Borneo Raid 2009 akan membuka lembaran baru dalam pengembaraan bermotosikal merentas kepulauan Borneo yang kaya dengan flora dan fauna.
Dengan membabitkan pelancong dari Itali, pengembaraan itu mampu untuk membuka mata dunia tentang keunikan pulau Borneo yang selama ini tersimpan rapi tanpa diketahui umum.
Usaha selama dua tahun memujuk dan berbincang dengan penganjur, Viaggi Adventure Nel Mondo, syarikat terbesar pelancongan lasak di Itali, akhirnya berjaya meyakinkan mereka untuk mengadakan Borneo Raid 2009.
Ekspedisi yang bertujuan memperkenalkan Sarawak sebagai sempadan terakhir Borneo yang menampilkan keunikan suku kaum yang pelbagai, hutan hujan khatulistiwa dan yang paling istimewa iaitu dua tapak warisan dunia iaitu Taman Negara Mulu dan Taman Nasional Kinabalu.
Jika ekspedisi ini berjaya, ia akan dijadikan acara tahunan oleh MASWings Adventures Holidays dan sekaligus memperkenalkan Sarawak dan Sabah di mata dunia.
Borneo Raid 2009 ini juga merupakan asas untuk Penjelajahan Borneo 2010 dengan menggunakan motosikal dan Viaggi Avventure Nel Mondo bersedia untuk memperkenalkan pakej tersebut dalam brosur mereka.
Monday, August 10, 2009
9 lagi korban H1N1
Sembilan lagi kematian akibat Influenza A (H1N1) disahkan di seluruh negara semalam, menjadikan angka korban wabak itu meningkat kepada 27 orang - satu keadaan yang disifatkan Datuk Seri Najib Razak sebagai semakin meruncing.
Berikutan itu, Perdana Menteri akan mengadakan pertemuan dengan Kementerian Kesihatan dan Jawatankuasa Influenza Antara Kementerian yang dipengerusikan Timbalannya, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, hari ini bagi merumuskan langkah terbaik untuk mengawal penularan virus itu.
Berikutan itu, Perdana Menteri akan mengadakan pertemuan dengan Kementerian Kesihatan dan Jawatankuasa Influenza Antara Kementerian yang dipengerusikan Timbalannya, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, hari ini bagi merumuskan langkah terbaik untuk mengawal penularan virus itu.
Friday, August 7, 2009
Buang tabiat tunggu kematian
Ketua Pengarah Pertubuhan Kesihatan Sedunia (WHO), Dr. Margaret Chan memberi amaran kepada penduduk dunia tentang gelombang kedua wabak selesema babi atau influenza A (H1N1).
Ketika itu virus HINI baru tersebar. Belum ada yang terkorban manakala kebanyakan mangsa yang dijangkiti selesema babi merupakan kes import.
Selepas lebih dua bulan amaran wakil badan dunia itu berkumandang, wabak selesema babi yang dulu berada pada tahap sederhana kini mencetuskan kebimbangan.
H1N1 bertukar menjadi pandemik. Korban yang dicatatkan akibat wabak tersebut meningkat secara mendadak.
Jumlah kematian di negara seperti Amerika Syarikat (AS) dan Argentina mencecah ratusan, sementara kes kematian (sekurang-kurangnya satu) mula dilaporkan di beberapa negara baru.
Laporan WHO juga menunjukkan tidak kurang 30,000 kes selesema babi di seluruh dunia dan angka itu pantas menokok.
Paling menarik perhatian adalah trend kematian – kebanyakannya berpunca daripada jangkitan tempatan. Bermakna wabak yang bermula dengan bawaan dari luar kini tersebar di sesebuah negara secara dalaman.
Mangsa yang menyebarkan virus tersebut tidak lagi terdiri daripada pelancong atau rakyat sesebuah negara yang baru kembali dari negara lain di mana telah ada catatan kes H1N1.
Virus itu juga telah membuktikan bahawa ia mampu merebak dengan cepat dan tidak mustahil dalam masa yang singkat mengalami mutasi sehingga menjadikan wabak selesema babi berada pada tahap serius.
Apatah lagi dalam keadaan simptom wabak tersebut kini semakin pelbagai dan ia tidak terhad kepada ciri-ciri biasa seperti selesema, demam atau sesak nafas.
WHO mengesan ada kes di mana pesakit H1N1 tidak mengalami demam sebaliknya hanya cirit-birit. Perkembangan itu menyukarkan usaha untuk mengenal pasti mangsa wabak tersebut.
Di Malaysia, graf kematian akibat selesema babi selepas korban pertama pada bulan lalu menunjukkan peningkatan ketara. Bermula dengan kes kematian penuntut warga Indonesia yang kemudian diikuti rakyat Malaysia yang baru pulang dari Belgium. Korban seterusnya adalah kes tempatan termasuk yang terbaru kanak-kanak berusia enam tahun di Pahang semalam.
Perkembangan itu sememangnya kurang menyenangkan. Angka kematian turut dicatatkan di negara jiran – Brunei dan Thailand.
Usaha membendung wabak ini telah dilaksanakan sebaik-baik sahaja H1N1 muncul di negara ini. Amaran dan garis panduan mengenainya telah dikeluarkan.
Biar pun kerajaan dikatakan tidak bersungguh-sungguh namun pembendungan wabak ini hakikatnya tidak menunggu lama untuk dimulakan.
Cuti kakitangan Kementerian Kesihatan dibekukan. Antivirus diimport menggunakan peruntukan berjuta ringgit. Setiap hari amaran dikeluarkan kepada rakyat Malaysia supaya berhati-hati, menjaga kebersihan, segera mendapatkan rawatan dan jangan berkunjung ke negara-negara berisiko kecuali atas urusan yang tidak boleh ditangguhkan.
Namun rakyat negara ini kurang prihatin, tidak responsif dan ambil mudah. Jika mahu dikatakan wabak selesema babi masih baru dan kurang diketahui bahayanya menyebabkan rakyat tidak peka, senario yang sama berlaku dalam usaha membasmi wabak denggi.
Sangat terbukti denggi masih menjadi ancaman dalam masyarakat. Setiap hari ada saja nyawa yang terkorban akibat gigitan nyamuk aedes yang melarat membawa kepada demam denggi.
Puncanya hanya satu. Orang ramai alpa dan tidak pernah serius terhadap usaha serta ratusan juta ringgit yang telah dibelanjakan untuk menghapuskan aedes.
Persekitaran tidak dijaga, tapak-tapak pembinaan tidak diselia sehingga menarik minat nyamuk aedes untuk bersarang di situ.
Begitu juga dengan kawasan perumahan, pusat perniagaan, pasar-pasar gagal dipastikan paras kebersihannya menjangkau piawaian yang ditetapkan menyebabkan denggi terus menjadi wabak dan ancaman maut kepada rakyat negara ini.
Perkara yang sama jelas dilihat dalam kes selesema babi. Kebanyakan kematian disebabkan oleh kegagalan mangsa mendapatkan rawatan segera. Biar pun telah berkali-kali diingatkan (cuma tidak dibawa rotan dan dipaksa) sesiapa sahaja yang mengalami simptom-simptom H1N1 mendapatkan rawatan segera. Namun sindrom tidak kisah, tidak apa dan tunggulah – membawa kepada pengabaian yang berakhir dengan maut.
Ada juga pesakit yang cukup dengan sekali sahaja mendapatkan rawatan. Demam berpanjangan dibiarkan begitu sahaja, manakala nasihat supaya menjaga kebersihan diri langsung tidak diberi perhatian.
Begitu juga dengan nasihat supaya ditangguhkan perjalanan ke luar negara bagi tujuan yang tidak penting. Tidak ramai rakyat Malaysia mahu akur arahan tersebut menyebabkan usaha kerajaan membendung wabak itu tidak berjaya menampakkan kesannya.
Nasihat supaya memakai penutup hidung dan mulut juga kurang mendapat sambutan, menyebabkan virus yang tersebar menerusi udara khususnya di tempat tumpuan ramai itu merebak pantas terutama di kalangan mangsa yang berisiko tinggi dijangkiti wabak itu.
Begitu juga tahap pematuhan arahan kuarantin di rumah. Ramai yang ingkar dan memandang ringan arahan tersebut sebaliknya mengambil kesempatan berjalan-jalan dan membeli-belah.
Lebih memburukkan keadaan apabila sambil lewa itu berlaku juga di kalangan pengamal perubatan apabila ada pesakit dengan simptom selesema babi gagal diberi rawatan segera.
Ada pesakit H1N1 selamba disuruh pulang atas alasan dia menghidap demam dan selesema biasa. Sedangkan diketahui itu adalah ciri-ciri selesema babi yang mesti diberikan rawatan segera dan disusul perkembangan pesakit dari semasa ke semasa.
Sebab itu rakyat Malaysia mesti responsif. Bukan sahaja terhadap nasihat dan garis panduan yang disediakan oleh kerajaan malah bertindak balas dengan melaporkan segera sebarang pengabaian kepada pihak yang berkenaan.
Untuk menjadi responsif, rakyat mesti mempunyai pengetahuan dan peka terhadap perkembangan semasa. Lebih penting daripada itu segala-galanya mesti disusuli dengan tindakan segera tanpa memberi ruang kepada pengabaian masa.
Buang sikap tidak apa. Jauhkan juga tabiat ‘menunggu kematian’ (melibatkan darah daging sendiri) baru hendak bertindak. Sering kali kalangan rakyat Malaysia tidak menginsafi paparan angka nyawa yang terkorban baik disebabkan wabak, kemalangan mahu pun penyalahgunaan dadah.
Sebab itu jugalah angka-angka itu terus meningkat tanpa ada ruang untuk menoleh ke belakang. Jalan singkat adalah dengan menyalahkan kerajaan sebagai punca segalagalanya.
Kesanggupan para petugas di hospital untuk mendedahkan diri mereka kepada jangkitan maut yang dibawa oleh pesakit-pesakit yang dirawat tidak pernah diabaikan daripada ingatan.
Bukan hendak disimpulkan langkah-langkah kerajaan menangani wabak selesema babi lengkap dan sempurna kerana ruang penambahbaikan masih terbentang, namun segala usaha itu akan sia-sia jika rakyat tidak memainkan peranan.
Ketika itu virus HINI baru tersebar. Belum ada yang terkorban manakala kebanyakan mangsa yang dijangkiti selesema babi merupakan kes import.
Selepas lebih dua bulan amaran wakil badan dunia itu berkumandang, wabak selesema babi yang dulu berada pada tahap sederhana kini mencetuskan kebimbangan.
H1N1 bertukar menjadi pandemik. Korban yang dicatatkan akibat wabak tersebut meningkat secara mendadak.
Jumlah kematian di negara seperti Amerika Syarikat (AS) dan Argentina mencecah ratusan, sementara kes kematian (sekurang-kurangnya satu) mula dilaporkan di beberapa negara baru.
Laporan WHO juga menunjukkan tidak kurang 30,000 kes selesema babi di seluruh dunia dan angka itu pantas menokok.
Paling menarik perhatian adalah trend kematian – kebanyakannya berpunca daripada jangkitan tempatan. Bermakna wabak yang bermula dengan bawaan dari luar kini tersebar di sesebuah negara secara dalaman.
Mangsa yang menyebarkan virus tersebut tidak lagi terdiri daripada pelancong atau rakyat sesebuah negara yang baru kembali dari negara lain di mana telah ada catatan kes H1N1.
Virus itu juga telah membuktikan bahawa ia mampu merebak dengan cepat dan tidak mustahil dalam masa yang singkat mengalami mutasi sehingga menjadikan wabak selesema babi berada pada tahap serius.
Apatah lagi dalam keadaan simptom wabak tersebut kini semakin pelbagai dan ia tidak terhad kepada ciri-ciri biasa seperti selesema, demam atau sesak nafas.
WHO mengesan ada kes di mana pesakit H1N1 tidak mengalami demam sebaliknya hanya cirit-birit. Perkembangan itu menyukarkan usaha untuk mengenal pasti mangsa wabak tersebut.
Di Malaysia, graf kematian akibat selesema babi selepas korban pertama pada bulan lalu menunjukkan peningkatan ketara. Bermula dengan kes kematian penuntut warga Indonesia yang kemudian diikuti rakyat Malaysia yang baru pulang dari Belgium. Korban seterusnya adalah kes tempatan termasuk yang terbaru kanak-kanak berusia enam tahun di Pahang semalam.
Perkembangan itu sememangnya kurang menyenangkan. Angka kematian turut dicatatkan di negara jiran – Brunei dan Thailand.
Usaha membendung wabak ini telah dilaksanakan sebaik-baik sahaja H1N1 muncul di negara ini. Amaran dan garis panduan mengenainya telah dikeluarkan.
Biar pun kerajaan dikatakan tidak bersungguh-sungguh namun pembendungan wabak ini hakikatnya tidak menunggu lama untuk dimulakan.
Cuti kakitangan Kementerian Kesihatan dibekukan. Antivirus diimport menggunakan peruntukan berjuta ringgit. Setiap hari amaran dikeluarkan kepada rakyat Malaysia supaya berhati-hati, menjaga kebersihan, segera mendapatkan rawatan dan jangan berkunjung ke negara-negara berisiko kecuali atas urusan yang tidak boleh ditangguhkan.
Namun rakyat negara ini kurang prihatin, tidak responsif dan ambil mudah. Jika mahu dikatakan wabak selesema babi masih baru dan kurang diketahui bahayanya menyebabkan rakyat tidak peka, senario yang sama berlaku dalam usaha membasmi wabak denggi.
Sangat terbukti denggi masih menjadi ancaman dalam masyarakat. Setiap hari ada saja nyawa yang terkorban akibat gigitan nyamuk aedes yang melarat membawa kepada demam denggi.
Puncanya hanya satu. Orang ramai alpa dan tidak pernah serius terhadap usaha serta ratusan juta ringgit yang telah dibelanjakan untuk menghapuskan aedes.
Persekitaran tidak dijaga, tapak-tapak pembinaan tidak diselia sehingga menarik minat nyamuk aedes untuk bersarang di situ.
Begitu juga dengan kawasan perumahan, pusat perniagaan, pasar-pasar gagal dipastikan paras kebersihannya menjangkau piawaian yang ditetapkan menyebabkan denggi terus menjadi wabak dan ancaman maut kepada rakyat negara ini.
Perkara yang sama jelas dilihat dalam kes selesema babi. Kebanyakan kematian disebabkan oleh kegagalan mangsa mendapatkan rawatan segera. Biar pun telah berkali-kali diingatkan (cuma tidak dibawa rotan dan dipaksa) sesiapa sahaja yang mengalami simptom-simptom H1N1 mendapatkan rawatan segera. Namun sindrom tidak kisah, tidak apa dan tunggulah – membawa kepada pengabaian yang berakhir dengan maut.
Ada juga pesakit yang cukup dengan sekali sahaja mendapatkan rawatan. Demam berpanjangan dibiarkan begitu sahaja, manakala nasihat supaya menjaga kebersihan diri langsung tidak diberi perhatian.
Begitu juga dengan nasihat supaya ditangguhkan perjalanan ke luar negara bagi tujuan yang tidak penting. Tidak ramai rakyat Malaysia mahu akur arahan tersebut menyebabkan usaha kerajaan membendung wabak itu tidak berjaya menampakkan kesannya.
Nasihat supaya memakai penutup hidung dan mulut juga kurang mendapat sambutan, menyebabkan virus yang tersebar menerusi udara khususnya di tempat tumpuan ramai itu merebak pantas terutama di kalangan mangsa yang berisiko tinggi dijangkiti wabak itu.
Begitu juga tahap pematuhan arahan kuarantin di rumah. Ramai yang ingkar dan memandang ringan arahan tersebut sebaliknya mengambil kesempatan berjalan-jalan dan membeli-belah.
Lebih memburukkan keadaan apabila sambil lewa itu berlaku juga di kalangan pengamal perubatan apabila ada pesakit dengan simptom selesema babi gagal diberi rawatan segera.
Ada pesakit H1N1 selamba disuruh pulang atas alasan dia menghidap demam dan selesema biasa. Sedangkan diketahui itu adalah ciri-ciri selesema babi yang mesti diberikan rawatan segera dan disusul perkembangan pesakit dari semasa ke semasa.
Sebab itu rakyat Malaysia mesti responsif. Bukan sahaja terhadap nasihat dan garis panduan yang disediakan oleh kerajaan malah bertindak balas dengan melaporkan segera sebarang pengabaian kepada pihak yang berkenaan.
Untuk menjadi responsif, rakyat mesti mempunyai pengetahuan dan peka terhadap perkembangan semasa. Lebih penting daripada itu segala-galanya mesti disusuli dengan tindakan segera tanpa memberi ruang kepada pengabaian masa.
Buang sikap tidak apa. Jauhkan juga tabiat ‘menunggu kematian’ (melibatkan darah daging sendiri) baru hendak bertindak. Sering kali kalangan rakyat Malaysia tidak menginsafi paparan angka nyawa yang terkorban baik disebabkan wabak, kemalangan mahu pun penyalahgunaan dadah.
Sebab itu jugalah angka-angka itu terus meningkat tanpa ada ruang untuk menoleh ke belakang. Jalan singkat adalah dengan menyalahkan kerajaan sebagai punca segalagalanya.
Kesanggupan para petugas di hospital untuk mendedahkan diri mereka kepada jangkitan maut yang dibawa oleh pesakit-pesakit yang dirawat tidak pernah diabaikan daripada ingatan.
Bukan hendak disimpulkan langkah-langkah kerajaan menangani wabak selesema babi lengkap dan sempurna kerana ruang penambahbaikan masih terbentang, namun segala usaha itu akan sia-sia jika rakyat tidak memainkan peranan.
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Sarawak wujudkan kereta api
Sarawak akan mewujudkan rangkaian sistem pengangkutan kereta api bagi memantapkan lagi aktiviti ekonomi di kawasan Koridor Pembaharuan Tenaga Sarawak (SCORE).
Timbalan Ketua Menteri Sarawak, Tan Sri Alfred Jabu Numpang bagaimanapun berkata, sistem rangkaian kereta api itu masih di peringkat cadangan dan mungkin akan dimasukkan dalam Rancangan Malaysia ke-11 (RMK 11).
Menurutnya, pengangkutan kereta api itu akan memudahkan lagi urusan penghantaran bahan-bahan mentah dan logistik di dalam kawasan SCORE dengan melibatkan kos yang rendah.
''Kita melihat kemungkinan ini selaras dengan hasrat Ketua Menteri, Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud yang mahu Sarawak mempunyai kereta api bagi tujuan pengangkutan yang lebih ekonomi," katanya.
Jabu berkata demikian kepada pemberita selepas menerima kunjungan hormat Timbalan Menteri Pengangkutan, Datuk Abdul Rahim Bakri di pejabatnya di Wisma Bapa Malaysia di sini hari ini.
Dalam pada itu, Jabu yang juga Menteri Pembangunan Infrastruktur dan Perhubungan berkata, Sarawak akan memberi penumpuan pada usaha menaik taraf sistem perhubungan di kawasan SCORE dalam RMK 10.
Katanya, usaha menaik taraf itu amat penting berikutan masih banyak kawasan dalam SCORE yang sukar untuk dihubungi.
''Penyediaan kemudahan yang baik seperti jeti yang sempurna dan terminal bas akan dapat membantu usaha menjadikan SCORE sebagai sebuah kawasan yang mempunyai pembangunan yang sempurna," katanya.
Sementara itu, Abdul Rahim berkata, pelaksanaan sistem pengangkutan kereta api di Sarawak akan membawa banyak pembangunan di negeri ini.
Tambahnya, sistem pengangkutan yang baik merupakan tulang belakang kepada kemajuan industri sesebuah negara maju di dunia.
Timbalan Ketua Menteri Sarawak, Tan Sri Alfred Jabu Numpang bagaimanapun berkata, sistem rangkaian kereta api itu masih di peringkat cadangan dan mungkin akan dimasukkan dalam Rancangan Malaysia ke-11 (RMK 11).
Menurutnya, pengangkutan kereta api itu akan memudahkan lagi urusan penghantaran bahan-bahan mentah dan logistik di dalam kawasan SCORE dengan melibatkan kos yang rendah.
''Kita melihat kemungkinan ini selaras dengan hasrat Ketua Menteri, Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud yang mahu Sarawak mempunyai kereta api bagi tujuan pengangkutan yang lebih ekonomi," katanya.
Jabu berkata demikian kepada pemberita selepas menerima kunjungan hormat Timbalan Menteri Pengangkutan, Datuk Abdul Rahim Bakri di pejabatnya di Wisma Bapa Malaysia di sini hari ini.
Dalam pada itu, Jabu yang juga Menteri Pembangunan Infrastruktur dan Perhubungan berkata, Sarawak akan memberi penumpuan pada usaha menaik taraf sistem perhubungan di kawasan SCORE dalam RMK 10.
Katanya, usaha menaik taraf itu amat penting berikutan masih banyak kawasan dalam SCORE yang sukar untuk dihubungi.
''Penyediaan kemudahan yang baik seperti jeti yang sempurna dan terminal bas akan dapat membantu usaha menjadikan SCORE sebagai sebuah kawasan yang mempunyai pembangunan yang sempurna," katanya.
Sementara itu, Abdul Rahim berkata, pelaksanaan sistem pengangkutan kereta api di Sarawak akan membawa banyak pembangunan di negeri ini.
Tambahnya, sistem pengangkutan yang baik merupakan tulang belakang kepada kemajuan industri sesebuah negara maju di dunia.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Empat langkah tambahan bendung penularan H1N1
Kerajaan hari ini memutuskan empat langkah tambahan menangani wabak selesema babi atau influeza A (H1N1) yang sehingga kini telah mengorbankan sembilan nyawa.
Langkah-langkah tersebut adalah:
*Meningkatkan simpanan stok antivirus dari 10 kepada 20 peratus melibatkan kos sebanyak RM20 juta.
*Memberi rawatan antivirus serta merta kepada enam kategori pesakit yang berisiko dan mempunyai simptom selesema babi.
Enam kategori pesakit itu adalah:
*Wanita mengandung
*Obesiti
*Penghidap asma
*Pesakit paru-paru kronik
*Pesakit diabetes
*Pesakit yang mempunyai
imuniti rendah
*Melaksanakan saringan suhu badan ke atas semua pelajar sebelum kelas bermula. Semua guru kelas akan dibekalkan dengan alat penyukat suhu. Pelajar yang didapati kurang sihat akan diasing dan dinasihat berehat di rumah serta mematuhi nasihat kesihatan.
Menambah jumlah katil di Unit Rawatan Rapi (ICU) di hospital-hospital terbabit sekiranya tidak mencukupi.
Langkah tambahan itu diputuskan Jawatankuasa Kebangsaan Antara Kementerian Mengenai Pandemik A (HINI) yang bermesyuarat di sini, hari ini.
Timbalan Perdana Menteri, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin berkata, kesemua pesakit yang berisiko dan mempunyai simptom HINI tidak perlu menjalani ujian pengesahan.
Katanya, rawatan antivirus akan diberi untuk kes-kes yang dikesan dalam tempoh 48 jam selepas menunjukkan tanda dijangkiti H1N1.
Beliau menjelaskan, keputusan itu dibuat berikutan jumlah kehadiran orang ramai yang mahu menjalani pemeriksaan H1N1 di hospital agak ramai.
“Semua kes yang mempunyai simptom jangkitan influenza dan mempunyai faktor risiko akan diberi rawatan antivirus serta-merta tanpa perlu membuat ujian pengesahan H1N1,” katanya kepada pemberita selepas mempengerusikan mesyuarat tersebut di sini, hari ini.
Muhyiddin memberitahu, sebanyak 14 kes baru H1N1 melibatkan jangkitan tempatan dan warga Malaysia dilaporkan hari ini di mana 13 daripadanya merupakan kejadian daripada tiga kluster baru serta satu kes terpencil.
Katanya, jumlah terkumpul kes H1N1 di negara ini adalah sebanyak 1,460 kes terdiri daripada 574 kes import dan 886 jangkitan tempatan dengan angka kematian masih lapan orang.
“Daripada jumlah itu, seramai 1,410 pesakit telah sembuh. Hanya 27 orang sedang menerima rawatan antivirus di hospital dengan 10 pesakit di Unit Rawatan Rapi (ICU) dan 23 pesakit lain menerima rawatan antivirus di rumah.
“Daripada 10 kes di ICU, tiga orang mempunyai faktor risiko iaitu obesiti (1), wanita lepas bersalin (1) dan imuniti rendah (2),” ujarnya.
Timbalan Perdana Menteri menambah, berdasarkan situasi global, sehingga hari ini sebanyak 189,155 kes dengan 1,319 kematian dilaporkan membabitkan 168 negara dengan Pakistan melaporkan kes pertama.
Jelas beliau, statistik tersebut meningkat sebanyak 3,301 kes dengan 12 kematian berbanding hari sebelumnya.
Langkah-langkah tersebut adalah:
*Meningkatkan simpanan stok antivirus dari 10 kepada 20 peratus melibatkan kos sebanyak RM20 juta.
*Memberi rawatan antivirus serta merta kepada enam kategori pesakit yang berisiko dan mempunyai simptom selesema babi.
Enam kategori pesakit itu adalah:
*Wanita mengandung
*Obesiti
*Penghidap asma
*Pesakit paru-paru kronik
*Pesakit diabetes
*Pesakit yang mempunyai
imuniti rendah
*Melaksanakan saringan suhu badan ke atas semua pelajar sebelum kelas bermula. Semua guru kelas akan dibekalkan dengan alat penyukat suhu. Pelajar yang didapati kurang sihat akan diasing dan dinasihat berehat di rumah serta mematuhi nasihat kesihatan.
Menambah jumlah katil di Unit Rawatan Rapi (ICU) di hospital-hospital terbabit sekiranya tidak mencukupi.
Langkah tambahan itu diputuskan Jawatankuasa Kebangsaan Antara Kementerian Mengenai Pandemik A (HINI) yang bermesyuarat di sini, hari ini.
Timbalan Perdana Menteri, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin berkata, kesemua pesakit yang berisiko dan mempunyai simptom HINI tidak perlu menjalani ujian pengesahan.
Katanya, rawatan antivirus akan diberi untuk kes-kes yang dikesan dalam tempoh 48 jam selepas menunjukkan tanda dijangkiti H1N1.
Beliau menjelaskan, keputusan itu dibuat berikutan jumlah kehadiran orang ramai yang mahu menjalani pemeriksaan H1N1 di hospital agak ramai.
“Semua kes yang mempunyai simptom jangkitan influenza dan mempunyai faktor risiko akan diberi rawatan antivirus serta-merta tanpa perlu membuat ujian pengesahan H1N1,” katanya kepada pemberita selepas mempengerusikan mesyuarat tersebut di sini, hari ini.
Muhyiddin memberitahu, sebanyak 14 kes baru H1N1 melibatkan jangkitan tempatan dan warga Malaysia dilaporkan hari ini di mana 13 daripadanya merupakan kejadian daripada tiga kluster baru serta satu kes terpencil.
Katanya, jumlah terkumpul kes H1N1 di negara ini adalah sebanyak 1,460 kes terdiri daripada 574 kes import dan 886 jangkitan tempatan dengan angka kematian masih lapan orang.
“Daripada jumlah itu, seramai 1,410 pesakit telah sembuh. Hanya 27 orang sedang menerima rawatan antivirus di hospital dengan 10 pesakit di Unit Rawatan Rapi (ICU) dan 23 pesakit lain menerima rawatan antivirus di rumah.
“Daripada 10 kes di ICU, tiga orang mempunyai faktor risiko iaitu obesiti (1), wanita lepas bersalin (1) dan imuniti rendah (2),” ujarnya.
Timbalan Perdana Menteri menambah, berdasarkan situasi global, sehingga hari ini sebanyak 189,155 kes dengan 1,319 kematian dilaporkan membabitkan 168 negara dengan Pakistan melaporkan kes pertama.
Jelas beliau, statistik tersebut meningkat sebanyak 3,301 kes dengan 12 kematian berbanding hari sebelumnya.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Law to regulate online gambling under study
The Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry (Mosti) is studying a proposal to regulate electronic gambling on the Internet.
Its deputy minister Fadillah Yusof said yesterday the ministry was currently in its third phase of studies on the enforcement of law to bring down illegal gambling websites to prevent the public from becoming victims of electronic scams.
“We have set up a taskforce to deal with this issue and I’m one of the taskforce committee members. As far as cyberlaw is concerned, we are studying how to enforce it.
“Sometimes, the operators (of illegal gambling) can be outside Malaysia. It is a question of enforcement on the criminals,” he told reporters during a talk on cybercrime awareness by CyberSecurity Malaysia at the State Library here.
He said co-operation from international bodies was needed to deal with the problem.
When asked when the proposal would be finalised, he did indicate a date, but said the studies still had a long way to go.
“The proposal is yet to be submitted to the cabinet.
“The ministry is looking at the loopholes in the laws of Malaysia as far as cyber security is concerned,” he said.
He said the ministry would require feedback, especially from members of the public, industry players, human rights movements, the taskforce and consultants before
the proposal could be finalised.
Fadillah, however, said the present law was sufficient to protect the public from being cheated on the Internet, but the government would conduct detailed studies to safeguard public interest.
Its deputy minister Fadillah Yusof said yesterday the ministry was currently in its third phase of studies on the enforcement of law to bring down illegal gambling websites to prevent the public from becoming victims of electronic scams.
“We have set up a taskforce to deal with this issue and I’m one of the taskforce committee members. As far as cyberlaw is concerned, we are studying how to enforce it.
“Sometimes, the operators (of illegal gambling) can be outside Malaysia. It is a question of enforcement on the criminals,” he told reporters during a talk on cybercrime awareness by CyberSecurity Malaysia at the State Library here.
He said co-operation from international bodies was needed to deal with the problem.
When asked when the proposal would be finalised, he did indicate a date, but said the studies still had a long way to go.
“The proposal is yet to be submitted to the cabinet.
“The ministry is looking at the loopholes in the laws of Malaysia as far as cyber security is concerned,” he said.
He said the ministry would require feedback, especially from members of the public, industry players, human rights movements, the taskforce and consultants before
the proposal could be finalised.
Fadillah, however, said the present law was sufficient to protect the public from being cheated on the Internet, but the government would conduct detailed studies to safeguard public interest.
Friday, July 24, 2009
Nation’s first A(H1N1)-related death
The nation had its first Influenza A (H1N1)-related death Thursday.
An Indonesian patient died of underlying conditions and health authorites said the cause of death was cardiac arrest.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said the 30-year-old first-year student from the International Centre for Education in Islamic Finance, Kuala Lumpur, had died from cardiac arrest due to ventricular fibrillation (irregular heart rhythm).
“The Influenza A (H1N1) was not a direct cause of his death,” he said at a press conference.
The patient went back to Indonesia for a holiday and returned to Malaysia on July 5 and was reported to be suffering from a mild fever and cough, he said.
On July 21, the patient fainted while waiting for his medication after consulting a doctor at a private medical centre in Kampung Baru, Kuala Lumpur, Liow said.
He was given emergency treatment but he passed away at 11.50am. “A post mortem was carried out at the Kuala Lumpur Hospital on the same day and the results showed that the patient was obese, had pneumonia, an enlarged heart and liver and pus-like material at the bottom of the trachea,” he said.
Liow said 20 specimens had been taken to carry out virology, bacterialogy, histopatology, bio-chemical and toxicology tests.
The virology and bacteriology tests on lung tissues and the trachea showed the presence of Influenza A (H1N1). “We are still waiting for other test results and the cause of death will be confirmed once all the tests are completed,” he said.
Liow said 25 staff members of the medical centre were ordered to self-quarantine themselves for seven days while seven of his room mates and study group were identified and one of them had sought treatment for influenza symptoms.
The ministry also carried out health checks yesterday at the college, he said.
Eighteen new cases were reported yesterday and 17 of them were the result of local transmissions and one imported where a Malaysian had returned from London.
From the local transmissions, 13 were from four clusters in Malacca while the rest were isolated cases.
In Kuala Terengganu, Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) campus in Dungun will cease classes for a week when several of its students were tested positive for the virus.
In Malacca, three colleges were ordered to be closed for a week. They are Maktab Perguruan Perempuan Melayu in Durian Daun, Kolej Professional Mara in Jalan Hang Tuah and Kolej Yayasan Melaka in Bukit Sebukor.
Several students of the women training college were placed under quarantine at the dorms by health authorities since Monday.
A check at Kolej Professional Mara in Jalan Hang Tuah and Kolej Yayasan Bukit Sebukor revealed that classes had been called off.
In Sabah a school in the Lahad Datu district was shut down yesterday after two students were tested positive for the virus. Another 108 students were quarantined at the school hostel.
An Indonesian patient died of underlying conditions and health authorites said the cause of death was cardiac arrest.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said the 30-year-old first-year student from the International Centre for Education in Islamic Finance, Kuala Lumpur, had died from cardiac arrest due to ventricular fibrillation (irregular heart rhythm).
“The Influenza A (H1N1) was not a direct cause of his death,” he said at a press conference.
The patient went back to Indonesia for a holiday and returned to Malaysia on July 5 and was reported to be suffering from a mild fever and cough, he said.
On July 21, the patient fainted while waiting for his medication after consulting a doctor at a private medical centre in Kampung Baru, Kuala Lumpur, Liow said.
He was given emergency treatment but he passed away at 11.50am. “A post mortem was carried out at the Kuala Lumpur Hospital on the same day and the results showed that the patient was obese, had pneumonia, an enlarged heart and liver and pus-like material at the bottom of the trachea,” he said.
Liow said 20 specimens had been taken to carry out virology, bacterialogy, histopatology, bio-chemical and toxicology tests.
The virology and bacteriology tests on lung tissues and the trachea showed the presence of Influenza A (H1N1). “We are still waiting for other test results and the cause of death will be confirmed once all the tests are completed,” he said.
Liow said 25 staff members of the medical centre were ordered to self-quarantine themselves for seven days while seven of his room mates and study group were identified and one of them had sought treatment for influenza symptoms.
The ministry also carried out health checks yesterday at the college, he said.
Eighteen new cases were reported yesterday and 17 of them were the result of local transmissions and one imported where a Malaysian had returned from London.
From the local transmissions, 13 were from four clusters in Malacca while the rest were isolated cases.
In Kuala Terengganu, Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) campus in Dungun will cease classes for a week when several of its students were tested positive for the virus.
In Malacca, three colleges were ordered to be closed for a week. They are Maktab Perguruan Perempuan Melayu in Durian Daun, Kolej Professional Mara in Jalan Hang Tuah and Kolej Yayasan Melaka in Bukit Sebukor.
Several students of the women training college were placed under quarantine at the dorms by health authorities since Monday.
A check at Kolej Professional Mara in Jalan Hang Tuah and Kolej Yayasan Bukit Sebukor revealed that classes had been called off.
In Sabah a school in the Lahad Datu district was shut down yesterday after two students were tested positive for the virus. Another 108 students were quarantined at the school hostel.
Private pension go-ahead
The much talked about private pension funds will kick off by the middle of next year.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop, who announced this, said the new scheme would target the two million self-employed and those who were outside the current pension scheme.
He said the new pension funds could either be operated by new fund management firms to be licensed by the Securities Commission, or by existing firms.
The funds would be regulated by the Securities Commission.
“Several fund managers have already shown keen interest,” he told a press conference after delivering his keynote address at the Forum on Private Pension Industry Retirement Funds here yesterday.
Nor Mohamed said the scheme would target self-employed individuals who currently did not contribute to the Employees Provident Fund or those who wanted to contribute more than the EPF’s statutory requirements.
“We have to ensure it is well managed as it is a pension fund, a fund for individuals in their old-age,” he said.
He said the EPF had a government guarantee of 2.5% return.
“The private pension funds should be able to provide a ‘market return’ at any point of time,” Nor Mohamed said when asked on investment returns.
“The EPF has RM340bil in assets now. These private pension funds have huge potential,” he said, adding that there were currently 5.7 million active EPF members.
Nor Mohamed said the funds were part of the Government’s effort to reform the pension fund industry.
“This is crucial as Malaysia moves towards a developed and high income nation,” he said, adding that such funds would be a boost to the nation’s capital markets.
He said the SC had been tasked to prepare a report containing further details within the next six months.
“The Government at the same time will look at its own pension scheme and the Employees Provident Fund (EPF), and head a committee to coordinate all aspects of the pension reform,” he said.
In a survey by the EPF, it was found that around 90% of members have less than RM100,000 in their accounts and more than 70% would have exhausted their money within three years of withdrawing the lump sum upon retirement.
“This underlying trend reflects the sole dependence of retirees on their EPF savings as a safety net and as such, the inadequacy of sustainable levels of income after retirement,” he noted.
He said Malaysia had pension coverage via EPF, the Public Sector Pension Scheme and Lembaga Tabung Angkatan.
“However, there are gaps in the existing pension framework,” he said.
SC chairman Tan Sri Zarinah Anwar said the regulator would make capital preservation and investor protection top priorities when it came to the funds.
“We are gathering input from successful private pension funds models in other countries. We will then try and adopt the best practices to start off on the right footing,” she said.
Areca Capital Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Danny Wong said it “would take some time” to see the impact of the funds on the capital market.
“It all depends how individuals respond,” he told The Star.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop, who announced this, said the new scheme would target the two million self-employed and those who were outside the current pension scheme.
He said the new pension funds could either be operated by new fund management firms to be licensed by the Securities Commission, or by existing firms.
The funds would be regulated by the Securities Commission.
“Several fund managers have already shown keen interest,” he told a press conference after delivering his keynote address at the Forum on Private Pension Industry Retirement Funds here yesterday.
Nor Mohamed said the scheme would target self-employed individuals who currently did not contribute to the Employees Provident Fund or those who wanted to contribute more than the EPF’s statutory requirements.
“We have to ensure it is well managed as it is a pension fund, a fund for individuals in their old-age,” he said.
He said the EPF had a government guarantee of 2.5% return.
“The private pension funds should be able to provide a ‘market return’ at any point of time,” Nor Mohamed said when asked on investment returns.
“The EPF has RM340bil in assets now. These private pension funds have huge potential,” he said, adding that there were currently 5.7 million active EPF members.
Nor Mohamed said the funds were part of the Government’s effort to reform the pension fund industry.
“This is crucial as Malaysia moves towards a developed and high income nation,” he said, adding that such funds would be a boost to the nation’s capital markets.
He said the SC had been tasked to prepare a report containing further details within the next six months.
“The Government at the same time will look at its own pension scheme and the Employees Provident Fund (EPF), and head a committee to coordinate all aspects of the pension reform,” he said.
In a survey by the EPF, it was found that around 90% of members have less than RM100,000 in their accounts and more than 70% would have exhausted their money within three years of withdrawing the lump sum upon retirement.
“This underlying trend reflects the sole dependence of retirees on their EPF savings as a safety net and as such, the inadequacy of sustainable levels of income after retirement,” he noted.
He said Malaysia had pension coverage via EPF, the Public Sector Pension Scheme and Lembaga Tabung Angkatan.
“However, there are gaps in the existing pension framework,” he said.
SC chairman Tan Sri Zarinah Anwar said the regulator would make capital preservation and investor protection top priorities when it came to the funds.
“We are gathering input from successful private pension funds models in other countries. We will then try and adopt the best practices to start off on the right footing,” she said.
Areca Capital Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Danny Wong said it “would take some time” to see the impact of the funds on the capital market.
“It all depends how individuals respond,” he told The Star.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Johari uses Facebook to reach out to grassroots
Housing Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg revealed yesterday that he has an account with social networking site Facebook to enable him to reach out to the grassroots.
Johari, who has been in politics for over two decades, said the site enabled interactive networking.
“Of course I encourage leaders of today to have such accounts for interactive networking, but having said that, we should be cautious too when dealing with cyberspace,” he told reporters after opening a management workshop for community leaders at a hotel here.
Facebook, which is operated and privately owned by Facebook Inc, allows users to join networks organised by city, workplace, school and region to connect and interact with others.
Users can also add friends and send messages apart from updating personal profiles.
“Nowadays, its Facebook. No more exercise book. The latest is Netbook… the voters now are different, if you are not up to date, they could lose confidence in you and you are out,” he said.
The key point, Johari said, is to be well versed with current technologies and to use them to facilitate one’s work and keep up with society.
He said all community leaders in the state must realise that they are now dealing with more sophisticated and knowledgeable members of society who demand efficient delivery service.
“Our delivery must be in line with our policies because we are dealing with an educated society now.
They know what the government is doing or if the government is trying to hide (something),” he said.
As such, he said community leaders should be alert at all times and well-versed on their responsibilities.
He said administrative practices should move in tandem with advancements in technology and leaders should learn to adapt.
Technology in the form of a simple camera phone, he said, could also help in the delivery system.
He cited an example where community leaders could document any case of vice happening in their respective areas with their camera phones to help the authorities with their investigations.
Aside from being technology savvy, he said community leaders should also update themselves with global situations and the cultures of other countries.
He explained that as an open economy would see foreign investors flocking to Sarawak, community leaders should know how to interact well with them and at least be able to speak English.
Johari said it was also important for community leaders to monitor happenings in their area and work closely with the Resident’s office or district office to help incidences of crime and vice.
Meanwhile, he lauded organisers for helping the state’s community leaders perform better in their duties through the workshop.
The two-day workshop was organised by the Human Resource Management Unit of the Chief Minister’s Department and Angkatan Zaman Mansang Sarawak (Azam).
Also present at the opening were Deputy State Secretary Datu Abdul Ghafur Shariff and Azam chief executive officer Datu Aloysius Dris.
Johari, who has been in politics for over two decades, said the site enabled interactive networking.
“Of course I encourage leaders of today to have such accounts for interactive networking, but having said that, we should be cautious too when dealing with cyberspace,” he told reporters after opening a management workshop for community leaders at a hotel here.
Facebook, which is operated and privately owned by Facebook Inc, allows users to join networks organised by city, workplace, school and region to connect and interact with others.
Users can also add friends and send messages apart from updating personal profiles.
“Nowadays, its Facebook. No more exercise book. The latest is Netbook… the voters now are different, if you are not up to date, they could lose confidence in you and you are out,” he said.
The key point, Johari said, is to be well versed with current technologies and to use them to facilitate one’s work and keep up with society.
He said all community leaders in the state must realise that they are now dealing with more sophisticated and knowledgeable members of society who demand efficient delivery service.
“Our delivery must be in line with our policies because we are dealing with an educated society now.
They know what the government is doing or if the government is trying to hide (something),” he said.
As such, he said community leaders should be alert at all times and well-versed on their responsibilities.
He said administrative practices should move in tandem with advancements in technology and leaders should learn to adapt.
Technology in the form of a simple camera phone, he said, could also help in the delivery system.
He cited an example where community leaders could document any case of vice happening in their respective areas with their camera phones to help the authorities with their investigations.
Aside from being technology savvy, he said community leaders should also update themselves with global situations and the cultures of other countries.
He explained that as an open economy would see foreign investors flocking to Sarawak, community leaders should know how to interact well with them and at least be able to speak English.
Johari said it was also important for community leaders to monitor happenings in their area and work closely with the Resident’s office or district office to help incidences of crime and vice.
Meanwhile, he lauded organisers for helping the state’s community leaders perform better in their duties through the workshop.
The two-day workshop was organised by the Human Resource Management Unit of the Chief Minister’s Department and Angkatan Zaman Mansang Sarawak (Azam).
Also present at the opening were Deputy State Secretary Datu Abdul Ghafur Shariff and Azam chief executive officer Datu Aloysius Dris.
Monday, July 20, 2009
125,000 kids out of school: DPM
About 125,000 children of school-going age in the rural and interior areas of Malaysia were still not attending primary school, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said.
He called for extra effort to ensure that all children attended school, adding that this was necessary to close the divide between rural and urban students.
Muhyiddin, also the Education Minister, also called for focus to be given to creating adequate numbers of quality teachers to be posted to rural areas, in line with the Government’s objective to close this divide.
He also said it was time to stop choosing heads of school based on seniority and to instead pick them on merit, based on ability and dynamic leadership qualities.
“There is also a need to look at creating holistic students with a strong command in Bahasa Malaysia and the English language as we move towards creating human capital that is knowledgeable, creative and innovative,” he said at the launch of the Education Development Masterplan Review workshop here Monday.
He added there was a need to upgrade the information technology (IT) infrastructure in schools and to provide know-how on its usage to rural students to ensure they can make use of it.
He said there rural and interior schools with poor buildings that lacked proper water and electricity supply, and these too needed to be upgraded.
Muhyiddin also urged his colleagues at the Education Ministry to contribute to promoting the 1Malaysia concept.
He called for extra effort to ensure that all children attended school, adding that this was necessary to close the divide between rural and urban students.
Muhyiddin, also the Education Minister, also called for focus to be given to creating adequate numbers of quality teachers to be posted to rural areas, in line with the Government’s objective to close this divide.
He also said it was time to stop choosing heads of school based on seniority and to instead pick them on merit, based on ability and dynamic leadership qualities.
“There is also a need to look at creating holistic students with a strong command in Bahasa Malaysia and the English language as we move towards creating human capital that is knowledgeable, creative and innovative,” he said at the launch of the Education Development Masterplan Review workshop here Monday.
He added there was a need to upgrade the information technology (IT) infrastructure in schools and to provide know-how on its usage to rural students to ensure they can make use of it.
He said there rural and interior schools with poor buildings that lacked proper water and electricity supply, and these too needed to be upgraded.
Muhyiddin also urged his colleagues at the Education Ministry to contribute to promoting the 1Malaysia concept.
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