404 pemilik tanah di Samarahan terima pampasan

WAKIL penduduk lima kampung di Bahagian Samarahan menunjukkan surat hak milik tanah yang diperoleh daripada Awang Tengah Ali Hassan (barisan kedua, tiga dari kiri) di Dewan Suarah, Kota Samarahan.

KOTA SAMARAHAN 30 Jan. – Sebanyak 404 pemilik tanah di negeri ini menerima pampasan berjumlah RM18.5 juta selepas tanah mereka digunakan oleh kerajaan negeri untuk melaksanakan 12 projek di Bahagian Samarahan di sini.

Pampasan tersebut melibatkan pengambilan sebanyak 338 lot tanah seluas 198 hektar dan projek paling tinggi menerima bayaran tersebut adalah projek pembesaran Institut Tadbiran Awam Negara (Intan).

Pada majlis itu juga, sebanyak 231 penduduk di lima buah kampung tradisi iaitu Empila, Tanjung Parang, Tanjung Bundong, Pangkalan Kuap dan Stakan Kuap menerima surat hak milik tanah masing-masing

Majlis penyampaian pampasan dan surat hak milik tanah disempurnakan oleh Menteri Perancangan dan Pengurusan Sumber II serta Menteri Kemudahan Awam, Datuk Seri Awang Tengah Ali Hassan di Dewan Suarah, di sini hari ini.

Terdahulu dalam ucapannya, Awang Tengah meminta rakyat supaya memahami dasar kerajaan berhubung isu pengambilan tanah yang bertujuan untuk pembangunan.

Menurutnya, matlamat kerajaan mengenai dasar berhubung isu tanah adalah pragmatik dan realistik dengan mengambil kira kepentingan rakyat serta pembangunan di Sarawak.
“Kerajaan tidak mengambil tanah begitu sahaja tetapi membayar pampasan kepada pemilik tanah mengikut harga pasaran semasa.

“Kerajaan bukan merampas tanah hingga menyebabkan kepentingan rakyat terabai,” katanya.
Sehubungan itu, Awang Tengah meminta kerjasama rakyat dalam usaha memastikan proses pelaksanaan projek-projek kerajaan berjalan dengan lancar.

Pemaju serah kompleks penjara baru Kuching

Selepas lebih 10 tahun dan tiga kontraktor utama bertukar, akhirnya Penjara Kuching di Jalan Puncak Borneo, bernilai RM98 juta diserahkan kepada kerajaan secara rasminya semalam oleh pemaju.

Penjara baru yang mula dibina pada 1997 bagi menggantikan Penjara Pusat Kuching, Jalan Tabuan itu dijangka dapat digunakan antara Mei dan Jun depan. Timbalan Menteri Keselamatan Dalam Negeri, Datuk Fu Ah Kiow, berkata pihaknya gembira dengan siapnya kemudahan baru itu bagi menggantikan Penjara Pusat, yang menempatkan hampir 300 banduan ketika ini.

"Ketika ini, kita dalam proses terakhir pembinaan pencawang substesen yang dapat membekalkan tenaga elektrik berjumlah 33 kilowat (kW) bagi kegunaan penjara dan kawasan sekitar Mambong dan Padawan sebelum kakitangan Jabatan Penjara dan banduan dapat dipindahkan sepenuhnya.

“Setakat ini, pihak Kementerian Keselamatan Dalam Negeri (KDN) berpuas hati dengan kualiti dan tahap keselamatan yang dibina menepati perancangan serta boleh dianggap antara yang terbaik di negara ini," katanya kepada media selepas menghadiri taklimat khas kompleks berkenaan di sini, kelmarin.

Taklimat selama hampir sejam turut dihadiri Pengarah Penjara Sarawak, Zawawi Ab Rahim disampaikan jurutera dari Jabatan Kerja Raya, yang memantau pembangunan kawasan berkenaan sejak beberapa tahun lalu selepas ia terbengkalai.

Penjara Kuching, Jalan Puncak Borneo sebelum ini mencipta pelbagai spekulasi dan kritikan berikutan mengambil masa yang panjang untuk disiapkan sehingga Badan Pencegah Rasuah (BPR) terpaksa membuka kertas siasatan ke atas pemaju awalnya.

Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, dalam lawatannya pada 2006 menegur masalah berkenaan, termasuk mengarahkan pembinaan penjara itu dipercepatkan bagi menampung kesesakan di Penjara Pusat, yang hanya memiliki dua blok sel banduan. Kompleks penjara baru ini mampu menampung sehingga 500 banduan lelaki dan perempuan yang ditempatkan di 30 blok sel dengan ciri pagar besi menjangkau ketinggian lima meter.

Ia turut menempatkan kompleks perumahan bagi 216 anggota dan pegawai penjara. Mengulas siasatan BPR terhadap kelewatan pembinaan penjara itu, Fu menyerahkan hal berkenaan kepada pegawai BPR bagi meneruskan siasatan serta melakukan pendakwaan ke atas pihak yang terbabit.

"Sehingga kini, pihak saya masih belum menerima sebarang laporan.

Namun, kami sedia maklum BPR sedang menyiasat kes ini secara agresif dan berharap ia dapat diselesaikan dalam tempoh terdekat,” katanya.

Selain itu, beliau berkata tapak penjara lama di tengah bandar raya Kuching akan diubah suai untuk dijadikan Pusat Latihan Jabatan Penjara Sarawak untuk melatih kakitangan di negeri ini.

Bagaimanapun, katanya, perancangan itu bergantung kepada peruntukan kerajaan.

Prepare for polls: Najib

DPM asks BN to be fully prepared to give PM more room to pick best time to dissolve parliament

Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has called on all the Barisan Nasional (BN) election machinery throughout the country to intensify preparations to face the 12th general election before the dissolution of Parliament.

“I notice (preparations in) the states that I have visited are satisfactory but there is still time (to make improvement). They must make all preparations so that the Prime Minister will have a lot of room to think of the best time to dissolve Parliament,” the Deputy Prime Minister told reporters after launching the Federal Territory BN Election Machinery here on Saturday night.

He said the directive received currently was to make preparation although the date of the general election would be determined by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
Najib, who is also BN deputy chairman, said the BN component parties had also been directed to be prepared and hoped that their machinery at the polling station level were ready to move to look at the ballot boxes and so on.

When asked whether the BN machinery would be able to sustain until the polling day if it were to start early, he believed it would be able to carry out its task. Earlier in his speech, Najib described Parti Keadilan Rakyat or PKR as ‘Parti Kurang Relevan’ (Irrelevant Party) as it was bragging that it wanted to contest everywhere when in actual fact it had won only one parliamentary constituency with a small majority.

He also said that the BN was not championing the cause of the rich only but was looking after the interests of all strata of society regardless of race.

“We have fulfilled our pledges. The BN machinery must tell the people this. This is our commitment,” he said in his speech to about 3,500 members of the Federal Territory BN election machinery at Dataran BN Wilayah here. Najib said the BN also did not want to be a party that won by cheating the people, and this was proven when the BN lost by only two votes in the Kemuning state constituency in Kelantan.

“The BN will also field only candidates of calibre and nobody should go around lobbying for candidacy, even if you book your bush jacket, better do it quietly and don’t start booking posters with your picture on it,” he said. Najib said now party members should put aside petty problems they might be facing and focus on working hard on ensuring BN candidates chosen scored big victories.

As for the Federal Territory BN, he said its leaders had pledged to retain all nine seats won in the last election apart from dislodging the opposition in Cheras, Kepong, Bukit Bintang and Seputeh.

–Bernama

Are you well prepared for retirement? : Point To Ponder

Effective Feb 1, EPF will have three options for contributors reaching 55 to withdraw their savings — total, partially or monthly

WRITTEN on the wall of a coffeeshop at Poh Kwong Park in Kuching is a Mandarin graffiti that sums up the philosophical wisdom of financial security in life probably better than most text books.

Its translation reads: A man’s greatest regret is to die before spending his wealth; a man’s greatest tragedy is to spend all his wealth and go on living.

The second part of this wise statement puts in a nutshell the greatest fear of the aging population — living without any income or savings and depending on others to survive.

With the present life expectancy in Malaysia at 71 for men and 76 for women, and the present retirement age at 55, the average man now has to go through the last 16 years of his life without income, totally reliant on his savings and support from his family while a working woman will have to go without income for 21 years … if both stop working after 55.

hose in government service will have the cushion of a life-long pension to fall back on although with rising inflation, many pensioners are complaining of difficulties in making ends meet on half their last full pay.

However, they are luckier than many public sector workers who rely solely on their Employees Provident Fund (EPF) contributions in their twilight years.

The bad news for this group is that studies by banks and insurance companies in Malaysia have shown generally, their total EPF contributions up to 55 years will be enough to sustain them for only three to five years if they were to live the lifestyle of their working years.

Even more alarming is the recent EPF finding that 60 per cent of those who with drew all their contributions at 55, spent all of it within three years, leaving them destitute if they did not have other forms of savings or support from their children or other immediate family members, and if they did not work after retirement.

To help retirees manage their savings better, EPF has worked out three options for 55-year-old contributors to withdraw their money. (See table on the right)

A senior EPF officer from the Kuching headquarters said the withdrawal options were flexible in that a contributor who opted to withdraw his savings through monthly payments could also take up the partial withdrawal option at the same time.

“A person who opts for a fixed monthly withdrawal can also apply for partial withdrawal of not less than RM2,000 if there is sufficient fund in his account,” she said.
She pointed out that this was to allow the contributor to meet emergency expenses or take out a larger sum for holidays.

According to her, those who have withdrawn all their contributions but are continuing to work or have been re-employed after a break, can elect to re-contribute before Feb 1 on the present ratio of 11 per cent from the employee and 12 per cent from the employer.

Those who still have funds in their account (because they opt for partial withdrawal or monthly payment) will automatically continue to contribute on the same percentage ratio if they continue working or have been re-employed after a break before Feb 1.

However, those who are re-engaged, or have reached 55 after Feb 1 but continue to work, the contributions will be halved — meaning the employee will contribute 5.5 per cent of his pay while the employer needs only pay six per cent.

Those above 55 who were employed before Feb 1 would not be affected by this new ruling, she said.

“Employers must pay their share of EPF contributions to their employees who are above 55 as they are bound by law to do so,” she warned.

The officer disclosed the age limit of EPF contributors was 75 and those who did not withdraw their contributions after that age would not be entitled to any dividend and if the contributions were not withdrawn five years after their 75th birthday, the money would be transferred to Bank Negara as unclaimed monies.

A person will also cease to be an EPF member after he withdraws all his contributions for the second time.

This means if he remains employed after 55, he can only withdraw partially or opt for monthly payment to continue saving with EPF … that is if he has already made one total withdrawal.
While EPF contributions go a long way towards providing financial security for senior citizens, many would still be in a precarious position if they were to depend solely on their EPF savings.

Financial analysts calculate that an estate of RM300,000, invested with a return of eight per cent and factored by a four per cent inflation rate on the living expenses, will last only 14 years if the survivors need RM30,000 to live on a year.

The vast majority of retirees do not have RM300,000 in their estate. Even if they were to scale down their living expenses, unemployed retirees could reasonably expect to live on their savings (yielding an invested return of eight per cent interest) for slightly more than 10 years before going broke if they did not receive any help from their families.

EPF contributions and government pensions provide financial security, albeit in many cases barely adequate, to retirees who are employed in the government service and private sector but daily paid labourers in the informal sector, farm-hands employed without contracts, hawkers and small-business operators do not have such protection in their old age.

Another group of workers very vulnerable to financial distress in their twilight years are housewives who slog most of their lives looking after the family and have to rely solely on their children for support after their husbands have died or are no longer in a position to provide for them.

Alas, many life stories do not have happy endings and senior citizens, abandoned at old folks’ homes, bear testimony to the harsh reality that life’s expectations are often unfulfilled.

There are many options for people who are not covered by EPF or pensions to prepare for their retirement but all these financial plans do not necessarily involve forced savings and to a large extent, require self-discipline to carry through to retirement.

Generally, Malaysians do not seriously plan their retirement and this is reflected by the fact that only 30 to 35 per cent of the population is insured or has taken up retirement plans.

However, this figure does not reflect the actual number of people covered by insurance or retirement plans since the statistic is derived from the ratio of the number of insurance policies and retirement plans signed and the total population.

A senior insurance manager pointed out that most of these policies and retirement plans were taken up by the higher income group who often had more than one policy while the lower income group, especially those in the rural areas, were very poorly covered.

Sadly, it is the lower income group who are most in need of insurance protection and retirement plans and are also the ones who fail to plan for the future.
Their usual excuse is they could hardly make ends

Better connectivity from Jan 21: MASwings

MASwings connects the world to Sabah and Sarawak.

MASwings, a subsidiary of Malaysia Airlines (MAS), will increase its flight frequencies and improve connectivity come Jan 21 when the seventh Fokker F50 joins its existing fleet.
With 12 aircraft (seven Fokker F50 and five Twin Otters), MASwings will offer 85 additional weekly flights in East Malaysia, living up to its tagline ‘Connecting the world to Sabah and Sarawak’.

MASwings managing director Dr Amin Khan said that for 2008, MASwings would make 27,000 trips per annum or just over 2,000 per month.

“So in terms of flight, we have more than 70 per day while in terms of projection we expect to carry just over 700,000 passengers this year. Our strategy is to improve that number and one way is to bring in more tourists to Sabah and Sarawak,” he told reporters at a hotel here yesterday.

He said the 12 aircraft was timely for MASwings to gear up for the upcoming Chinese New Year and school holidays.

It was learnt that the fleet will enable MASwings to mount an additional 42 weekly flights within Sarawak, 11 services a week within Sabah and another 32 weekly flights between the two states.
MASwings took to the sky on Oct 1 last year with four Fokker 50 and four Twin Otter aircraft.
There will also be a revision of its weekly schedule to incorporate these 85 additional flights and also a review of the overall flight timing.

Amin said among the significant improvements in the airline’s network was an increased weekly Fokker 50 flights from seven to 14 on the Kuching-Sibu route and similar increase on the Kota Kinabalu-Sandakan and Sandakan-Tawau route.

He said the Kota Kinabalu-Sibu flights also increased from seven to 14 times a week and the current 10 weekly Kinabalu-Miri flights will be increased to 21.

“This is well-received by the business sectors and traders who especially want to make day trips. As for our Twin Otter, there will be a slight change in its schedule by March 28,” he said.
Recalling when MASwings first started, Dr Amin said the biggest challenge was in operations, so that was what the airline focused on initially to minimise cancellations and delays.
Fortunately, by the end of Dec last year MASwings was able to overcome the problems and moved on to its second and third phase of planning which encompassed the community and marketing strategy, he said.

He revealed that in terms of on-time performances, MASwings initially started with a target of achieving 86 per cent of on-time departures and in the first month of Oct, it achieved 84 per cent.
Come November, the airline topped that by achieving 88 per cent and this month it achieved 94 per cent, which pleased the Transport Ministry, he said.

Besides, to meet another request of the government, MASwings also provides complete interlining and good connectivity by making travelling less of a hassle as customers need only to go to one travel agent to book their tickets whether they travel all the way from London to Mulu or stop somewhere in between.

He said whether they travel by different airlines per sector, customers need only one booking reference and one ticket.

The ticket would also be an electronic one which would be an advantage if one were to lose the paper copy, he said.

The airline would have an image of the ticket in its database and allowed customers to fly or changed their flights even after they had lost their printed tickets, he said.

As for long distance travellers like those from London to Mulu, for example, they only need to check in their luggage once in London and vice versa, he said, adding that at one time this was not possible and passengers had to re-check their luggage during transit.

Amin stressed that MASwings was dedicated to providing excellent air services and would be replacing its Fokker 50 in the near future with a 70-seater ATR72-500.

MASwings, through MAS, has signed a memorandum of understanding pertaining to the purchase of 10 ATR72-500 and expected to receive at least one of the aircraft by this year.
These new aircraft will enable MASwings to expand its capacity by 150 per cent to meet future demand in Sabah and Sarawak.

Amin said customers were encouraged to go online to MASwings booking engine www.maswings.com.my for better offers that were lower by 30 per cent or more. No service fee is charged.

Launched on Dec 15, MASwings now registered a penetration of 10 per cent of its total bookings online, he said.

He said MASwings would soon have a new web engine by the end of next month, offering two virtual cabins (different prices) - flex saver and full flex.

“We will be branding the fares for better pricing. If you go by the internet booking, we guarantee the lowest fares on MASwings and the discounts could easily be 30 per cent and more,” he said.
He said that MASwings would be promoting its ‘Click n Go’ ticketing online very soon

Don’t use our logo: Police

Police logos displayed on private cars must be removed immediately so as not to cause public confusion.

The head of the State Traffic and Public Order, Superintendent Najmi Mustaffa, issued this statement as the department has been receiving a lot of complaints from the public about the misuse of the logos on private vehicles.

“Even the State government has voiced this matter.

“So we clarify that using police logos on private cars, whether in miniatures or in the form of stickers, is an offence,” he told reporters at a press conference here yesterday.

He said orders will be given out to all district police chiefs regarding this matter and individuals found displaying the logos on their vehicles will be asked to remove them immediately.
If they refused, then action would taken against them action under the Police Act.

Quoting a part of the Act, Najmi said: “Any person using any symbols without the permission from the authority, illegally using and displaying any badge or signs to show that he or she is part of the police force is susceptible to a fine or jail sentence.”

The minimum fine is RM500, and imprisonment is not more than six months.
Najmi stressed that the logo can only be displayed on police vehicles.

Even police officers are not allowed to display them on their private vehicles without permission.
Retired police officers were also not allowed to display the logo on their vehicles because they were no longer in the force, he said.

“There are several reasons why people use the police logo on their vehicles. Some use them to avoid detection and get through road blocks,” he said.

He said only certain shops are registered and authorised to issue the logo. To obtain it a person must show his or her registered authority card.

“Somebody must be selling the logo. We will monitor the shops selling them,” he said.
He said so far there were no cases of people using the logo to commit crime, but the possibility that the logo could be misused did exist.

He said the move to warn the public about the logo was the first step in controlling its misuse.
If the warning is not effective, the force will have to take other more effective steps.

“I urge those who know about the illegal sales of the logo to the public to report the matter to the nearest police station,” Najmi added.

bp 18/01/08

Sarawak: Kedai runcit hadapi masalah tepung gandum

Beberapa kedai runcit di negeri ini mendakwa kekurangan bekalan tepung gandum, walaupun Kementerian Perdagangan Dalam Negeri dan Hal Ehwal Pengguna (KPDNHEP) Sarawak memberi jaminan bekalan tepung gandum mencukupi untuk kegunaan harian serta Tahun Baru Cina akan datang.

Seorang pemilik kedai runcit di Jalan Matang di sini, yang enggan namanya disiar berkata, kedainya sudah mengalami kekurangan tepung gandum sejak awal bulan ini.

Beliau berkata, masalah itu pernah berlaku pada Oktober dan November lalu walaupun pada waktu itu KPDNHEP Sarawak memberi jaminan bekalan tepung gandum mencukupi.

Katanya, kini masalah serupa berulang dan harga tepung yang dibungkus sendiri RM2.00 sekilogram berbanding RM1.70 sebelum ini.

"Ada harinya, kedai saya langsung tidak mempunyai bekalan tepung gandum menyebabkan ramai pelanggan terutama pembuat kuih pulang dengan tangan kosong. Ini yang menghairan saya kerana KPDNHEP memberi jaminan bekalan tepung gandum mencukupi," katanya.

Tinjauan Berita Harian ke beberapa kedai runcit di Jalan Gambier di sini, mendapati ada kedai yang sudah kehabisan bekalan sejak beberapa hari lalu.

Seorang pengguna Ahmad Drahman, 45 meminta pegawai KPDNHEP turun padang segera bukan hanya berpandukan rekod yang diberi oleh pemborong barangan itu.

Katanya, kekurangan bekalan berlaku mungkin disebabkan ada pihak yang ingin mengambil kesempatan untuk menaikkan harga barangan itu.

"Pegawai KPDNHEP perlu turun padang lebih kerap dan awal pagi dan sebelah petang di beberapa kedai runcit di Jalan Gambier di sini bukan hanya berpandukan rekod yang diperolehi dari pemborong.

"Rekod bekalan tepung gandum mungkin memang mencukupi, namun apa yang berlaku, ia tidak dihantar ke kedai runcit seperti sepatutnya," kata beliau.

Kelmarin Ketua Pegawai Penguat Kuasa KPDNHEP Sarawak, Abdul Rosik Yaacob berkata, pemantauan anggota penguat kuasa mendapati tidak berlaku gangguan bekalan di pasaran pada masa ini.

Apapun katanya, pegawai kita tetap melakukan rondaan bagi memastikan tiada peniaga yang cuba mengambil kesempatan.

"Sehingga kini kita belum menerima sebarang aduan mengenai kesukaran mendapatkan bekalan tepung gandum. Pengguna yang berhadapan dengan kesukaran mendapatkan tepung gandum boleh segera melaporkan pekara itu kepada kami," katanya ketika dihubungi di sini, semalam.

BH 14/01/08

1.6 million jobs by 2030

The proposed development of Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE) was expected to create 1.6 million jobs by 2030, Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud said yesterday.

As such, he stressed, there was a need for the State to embark on a drive to encourage self-learning starting from pre-school.

Taib said the key in this would be the massive usage of broadband networks as the development of the central region required a huge pool of quality human resources to meet demand beyond 2020.

He made the remarks at the joint launch of Miri WiFi City at Curtin University of Technology here with Water, Energy and Communications Minister Datuk Seri Dr Lim Kheng Yaik.

Welcoming federal assistance to facilitate the development of the knowledge-driven younger generation, Taib said starting a pre-school with a WiFi environment conducive to self-learning culture and pursuit of knowledge would be a step towards the more sophisticated infrastructure and environment of the future.

He said Sarawak was on the fast lane of broadband coverage with Sacofa-Denawa Resources establishing the infrastructures for Internet connectivity and broadband applications.
Taib said the State took the initiative to start the broadband coverage last year, and provided RM2 million for the company to pay for the purchase of bandwidth for the two-year free service for the public.

“The conventional lines could take another century to reach our rural areas. There has to be another way of increasing Internet penetration rate and connectivity,” he said.

For the pilot project, he said he sought the blessings of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to avoid being misconstrued as being disrespectful of federal policies.

“The RM2 million forked out by the State government was peanuts compared to the free benefits for the people who rushed by the thousands to sign up,” he said.

Taib said Sarawak was optimistic of achieving 50 per cent coverage in all flat terrain in the State by 2009.

“But I worry about mountainous areas like places in Bario where we still have to depend on the federal government for subsidies,” he said.

He said priority would be given to Internet connectivity for all schools in the State to bridge the rural-urban digital divide by 2010 or 2011.

He commended Miri City Broadband Stakeholders Group led by chairman Lee Kim Shin, who is Infrastructure Development and Communication Assistant Minister, for their efforts and initiatives which had put the city in the driving seat of the broadband bandwagon.

The results of the broadband drive had impressed Dr Lim, who said he would be telling the other states and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to learn from the State.

He said Sarawak could even apply for quadruple play in broadband services by adding mobility into the data, voice and video communication through Internet protocols.

Dr Lim commended the State for its strong support of the national broadband plan (NBP), calling for fast roll out of high speed broadband services, wireless and wired, which form one of the main “pillars” of the government’s Malaysian Information, Communications

Pandangan : Teliti cadangan lanjut umur persaraan

CADANGAN Kongres Kesatuan Pekerja-Pekerja Dalam Perkhidmatan Awam (Cuepacs) untuk membuat rayuan kepada kerajaan bagi mendapatkan sagu hati khas menggantikan bonus bagi 2007 sebanyak RM2,000 kepada setiap kakitangan awam adalah wajar.

Ini memandangkan kebanyakan ibu bapa baru saja menyelesaikan pelbagai yuran dan keperluan peralatan persekolahan anak mereka. Dalam pada itu diharap pihak persatuan pesara janganlah berdiam diri tanpa membuat sebarang rayuan untuk mendapatkan imbuhan sewajarnya kepada kerajaan. Aktifkan sedikit pergerakan dan minda anda, jangan hanya merancang untuk membuat lawatan rombongan saja.

Dengan kadar kenaikan taraf hidup sekarang ini bukan saja mereka yang bekerja dengan pendapatan tetap setiap bulan bermasalah, malah pesara kerajaan juga menghadapi masalah sama.

Syor Cuepacs untuk melanjutkan umur bersara bagi kakitangan awam daripada 56 tahun kepada 60 tahun perlu dikaji sedalam-dalamnya oleh Jabatan Perkhidmatan Awam (JPA) atas beberapa faktor.

Pertama, kakitangan awam apabila sudah lanjut usia didapati prestasi pekerjaannya menurun dan selalu memerlukan rawatan perubatan kerana mengalami pelbagai penyakit terutama sekali kerja yang memerlukan tenaga dan pemerasan otak.

Kedua, negara kita masih mempunyai kadar pengangguran meruncing terutama sekali bagi lepasan pengajian tinggi yang memerlukan pekerjaan.

Ketiga, ialah faktor kelemahan daya berfikir yang selalu saja mudah terlupa apa yang dibuat apabila menjangkau umur 56 tahun ke atas dan ini boleh menjejaskan perkhidmatan awam itu sendiri. Saya mencadangkan hanya kakitangan yang mempunyai rekod kesihatan yang baik saja dipertimbangkan. Mereka yang tidak kerap mengambil cuti sakit serta hanya pegawai kanan kerajaan peringkat tertinggi yang berkelayakan dipertimbangkan dan begitu juga kakitangan teknikal. Pengambilannya pula biarlah secara kontrak mengikut tahun, bukannya hingga umur 60 tahun yang dicadangkan.

Petikan BH 9/1/08

Apa Pandangan dan Komen Anda ??

Bahasa Inggeris perlu ditekankan di sekolah

Isteri Tunku Mahkota Johor, Raja Zarith Sofiah Sultan Idris mahu bahasa Inggeris diberi penekanan dalam sistem pendidikan negara bagi menyediakan golongan muda dengan tuntutan globalisasi.

Baginda yang merupakan Felo Diraja Pusat Pengajian Bahasa dan Linguistik, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) berkata, generasi muda perlu disediakan dengan kemahiran bertutur dan menulis dalam bahasa Inggeris seawal usia prasekolah.

Titah baginda, rakyat yang mahir dalam bahasa Inggeris bukan setakat mampu bersaing di negara serantau bahkan merupakan pesaing di persada antarabangsa.

Raja Zarith Sofiah juga mahu rakyat melihat kepentingan bahasa Inggeris di sekolah dan institut pengajian tinggi dalam konteks yang lebih luas daripada politik.

Menguasai bahasa Inggeris, menurut baginda, tidak bermakna rakyat mengagung atau memartabatkan bahasa asing melebihi bahasa kebangsaan.

“Kita perlu melihat makna semangat sayangkan negara dari sudut berbeza iaitu setiap ahli masyarakat perlu menguasai bahasa antarabangsa itu supaya negara tidak ketinggalan dalam ilmu,” titah baginda.

Baginda berkata demikian pada sidang akhbar selepas menyampaikan Syarahan Umum Felo Diraja bertajuk Menjadi Global : Penggunaan Bahasa Inggeris dalam Abad Ke-21 Malaysia di Dewan Senat UKM di sini hari ini.

Turut hadir Naib Canselor UKM, Profesor Datuk Dr. Sharifah Hapsah Syed Hasan Shahabudin dan Naib Canselor Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM), Profesor Datuk Dr. Ismail Bakar.

Raja Zarith Sofiah bertitah, keupayaan menguasai bahasa Inggeris menunjukkan rakyat mengambil berat mengenai hala tuju negara kerana ilmu wujud daripada bahan bacaan berkualiti yang kebanyakannya di dalam bahasa Inggeris.

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2008

SELAMAT TAHUN BARU 2008

‘A touch of Sarawak style’ for Mr International 2007

MR INTERNATIONAL 2007: Ong (first row, second right) and Sim (first row, third right) with the contestants of Mr International 2007 in Edric Ong’s creations.

Contestants in Mr International 2007 to be held in Kuching on Dec 31 will showcase a touch of Sarawak style when they parade men’s wear created by internationally renowned Malaysian designer, Edric Ong.

The winner becomes a modern ambassador of today’s men and is given opportunities to travel the world over, participating in official charity and social events, appearing on television, speaking on a variety of topics, and getting the education, experiences and values to fulfill his career goals.

Mr International pageant was founded in 2006 by the organisers of Mr Singapore. Since then, it has become an international event with countless men all over the world vying to be the titleholder.

Mr. International contestants are in Kuching for the past week. They are from 17 nations namely Brazil, Canada, Costa Rica, Egypt, Greece, Guatemala, India, Italy, Korea, Latvia, Lebanon, Malaysia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, USA, and Venezuela. The current Mr International 2006 is Wissam Hanna of Lebanon.

The Mr International 2007 pageant final will be held in the Sarawak Chamber Ballroom of the Crowne Plaza Riverside Hotel on Dec 31.

53. National education system a success

More outstanding students produced as reflected by 27,668 PMR straight A students

total of 27,668 or 5.9 per cent of the 469,401 students who sat for the Penilaian Menengah Rendah (PMR) examination last year obtained Grade A in all the subjects they took, compared with 4.5 per cent last year and 4.9 per cent in 2005.

Director-General of Education Datuk Alimuddin Mohd Dom, who announced the analysis of the results yesterday, said this showed that the national education system had succeeded in producing more outstanding students.

“This is in line with the government’s aspiration to produce more first-class human capital through education,” he said.

Alimuddin said 559 candidates obtained Grade E, denoting that they have not achieved the minimum level, in all subjects compared with 524 last year and 569 in 2005.

“This figure is very small compared with the total number of outstanding candidates,” he said.

Of the 968 disabled students who sat for the examination - five obtained Grade A and 23, Grade E.

Alimuddin said that in terms of command of language skills, 83.1 per cent of the candidates obtained grades A, B, C and D compared with 82.3 per cent in 2006 and 83.5 per cent in 2005.

“On average, the percentage of students who obtained Grade A in language skills was 21.0 per cent compared with 19.5 per cent in 2006 and 20.1 per cent in 2005,” he said.

On Mathematics, he said the percentage of students who obtained grades A,B, C and D rose to 87.0 per cent from 82.8 per cent last year.

A total of 25.5 per cent obtained Grade A in the subject compared with 22.3 per cent last year while those who obtained Grade E dropped to 13.0 per cent, from 17.2 per cent last year.

The percentage of students who mastered scientific skills in the PMR was stable at 89.1 per cent, from 90.2 per cent last year, while 17 per cent obtained Grade A, up from 16 per cent last year.

A total of 10.9 per cent obtained Grade E compared with 9.8 per cent last year.

Alimuddin said this showed that the teaching and learning of science and mathematics in English did not affect the students’ command of the two subjects and was in fact beneficial to them.

On the performance between the urban and rural areas in Mathematics and Science, he said although there was a difference overall, the gap was narrowing, especially for Mathematics.

He said urban candidates achieved 88.2 per cent this year compared with 84.5 per cent last year while in the rural areas, the success rates were 84.5 per this year and 79.2 per cent last year.

For Science, he said, the data showed that there was no discernable difference between the performance of students in the two areas this year with 89.4 per cent passes in the urban areas and 88.2 per cent in the rural areas.

— Bernama 28/12/07

Sarawak - 1,524 pelajar dapat A semua subjek, peningkatan seramai 274 orang berbanding 1,250 tahun lepas

Seramai 1,524 pelajar sekolah menengah kebangsaan yang menduduki Penilaian Menengah Rendah (PMR) tahun ini mendapat A dalam semua mata pelajaran yang diambil.

Pengarah Pelajaran Sarawak Dr Julaihi Bujang menerusi kenyataan akhbar di sini semalam memberitahu, ia merupakan peningkatan seramai 274 orang berbanding 1,250 pada tahun lepas.

Seramai 36 pelajar mendapat 9A pada PMR 2007 berbanding 29 tahun lepas, manakala 927 orang mendapat 8A berbanding 847 pada 2006, dan 561 orang memperolehi 7A pada tahun ini berbanding 374 pada tahun lalu.

“Lima sekolah mencapai 100 peratus penguasaan minimum D bagi semua mata pelajaran diambil iaitu Sekolah Menengah Sains Kuching, Sekolah Menengah Sains Miri, Kolej Tun Datuk Patinggi Tuanku Haji Bujang Miri, Maktab Rendah Sains MARA Kuching dan sebuah sekolah swasta, iaitu Sekolah Menengah Pei Min Miri,” katanya.

PMR 2007 menyaksikan se-ramai 42,147 calon di Sarawak menduduki peperiksaan berkenaan. Daripada jumlah itu, 41,387 merupakan calon sekolah menengah kebangsaan, sementara 605 merupakan calon sekolah swasta dan 128 adalah Maktab Rendah Sains MARA, serta 27 orang ialah calon persendirian.

Julaihi berkata lagi, dari segi mata pelajaran, peratusan pelajar Sarawak yang mendapat A menunjukkan peningkatan ketara menerusi tujuh mata pelajaran.

Tahun ini, peratusan pelajar mendapat A bagi Bahasa Melayu ialah 19.22 peratus berbanding 16.92 peratus pada tahun lepas. Mata pelajaran Sejarah pula, 12.03 peratus berbanding 11.06 peratus. Pendidikan Islam 15.84 peratus berbanding 15.46 peratus. Matematik, 19.40 peratus berbanding 17.91 peratus, manakala Sains 13.29 peratus berbanding 11.91 peratus.

Manakala bagi Kemahiran Hidup Satu, seramai 30.64 pe-ratus pelajar mendapat A pada tahun ini berbanding 28.03 peratus, dan bagi Kemahiran Hidup Dua, 9.17 peratus pada 2007 berbanding 9.11 peratus pada tahun lepas.

“Pada keseluruhannya seramai 25,085 calon PMR 2007 Sarawak mencapai tahap penguasaan minimum D bagi semua mata pelajaran diambil berbanding 22,490 calon pada tahun 2006,” katanya.

bp28/12/07

52. Tindakan tegas jika graduan menipu

Ijazah ditarik balik bagi sekat kegiatan upah penulis profesional siapkan tesis SEREMBAN: Kerajaan memberi amaran akan menarik balik ijazah sarjana dan doktor falsafah (PhD) pelajar institusi pengajian tinggi (IPT) yang menipu dengan mengupah penulis profesional menyiapkan tesis mereka. Ketika memberi amaran itu, Menteri Pengajian Tinggi, Datuk Mustapa Mohamed, berkata ia perlu demi memelihara dan menjaga nama baik bukan saja universiti tempat mereka mengikuti pengajian, malah imej negara. Beliau berkata, kementerian memandang serius gejala itu dan kegagalan menanganinya boleh menjejaskan hasrat kerajaan menjadikan Malaysia sebagai hab kecemerlangan pendidikan serantau.

"Kita tidak boleh berkompromi dengan penuntut yang terbabit. Sekiranya reputasi universiti tercemar dengan isu ini, ia akan menjejaskan hasrat kita melahirkan lebih ramai graduan berkualiti," katanya. Beliau berkata demikian selepas merasmikan Pusat Pembelajaran Open University Malaysia (OUM) Negeri Sembilan, di sini semalam. Hadir sama Presiden dan Naib Canselor OUM, Profesor Tan Sri Anuwar Ali. Mustapa berkata, kementerian juga berharap pihak universiti dan pensyarah memainkan peranan membanteras kegiatan itu daripada berleluasa dengan mengambil tindakan tegas terhadap penuntut terbabit.

"Mereka mesti sentiasa memantau dan mengambil tindakan terhadap penuntut yang menggunakan penulis profesional. Tidak kira sama ada dari universiti awam atau swasta," katanya. Mustapa bagaimanapun berharap orang ramai tidak bimbang dengan kegiatan itu kerana pihaknya akan sentiasa memantau dan yakin bilangan penuntut yang terbabit adalah kecil. "Kementerian berjanji akan mengambil tindakan tegas bagi menangani perkara ini. Kita juga berharap mereka yang mempunyai maklumat tampil bagi membantu siasatan," katanya. Sementara itu, di KUALA LUMPUR, Kementerian Pengajian Tinggi menggesa masyarakat tidak mudah terpedaya atau cuba mengambil jalan pintas dengan membeli sijil Ijazah Sarjana Muda, Sarjana atau Kedoktoran 'ekspres' yang ditawarkan beberapa laman web berpangkalan di luar negara.

Ketua Pengarah Jabatan Pengajian Tinggi, Prof Dr Hassan Said, berkata tindakan tegas boleh dikenakan sama ada kepada IPT atau individu yang cuba menawarkan, membeli atau mempunyai sijil berkenaan. Beliau menasihatkan masyarakat tidak tertipu biarpun laman web berkenaan mendakwa sijil yang ditawarkan mendapat akreditasi antarabangsa serta mampu dikeluarkan dalam masa lima hari. "Kementerian sukar mengawal sijil pengajian yang dikeluarkan di luar negara lebih-lebih lagi menerusi internet berbanding sijil dikeluarkan IPT dalam negara yang tertakluk kepada peraturan undang-undang pengajian tinggi. "Malah, sijil dalam negara ini menepati prosedur standard kementerian dan sukar untuk diciplak selain mendapat akreditasi daripada Agensi Kelayakan Malaysia (MQA)," katanya ketika dihubungi, Berita Harian, di sini, semalam.

BH 28/12/07

"MERRY CHRISTMAS" EVERYONE

Wishing all surfers and readers

"Merry Christmas"

From:

PMR Kuching

Sarawak, Malaysia.

51. Indian shallot more than double in price

The price of grade one shallots from India has more than doubled in Sarawak to RM12 per kilogramme from the ceiling price of RM5.
The Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry’s state enforcement director Rodin Mamat said this was due to a shortage of the commodity owing to bad weather in India and further compounded by the recent floods in Sarawak.


“We expect the shortage of the commodity and the price hike to be temporary in nature and the situation will return to normal after the Christmas celebration,” he said. He said bad weather in India had caused the import price of onion to increase from US$1,300 (RM4,355.78) per tonne early this month to US$1,660 (RM5,562) per tonne currently.


Rough seas had also slowed down the shipment of shallots to Penang and Kuching ports, damaging almost 20 per cent of the supply, he said.
He advised consumers to use big red onions from Holand and China to replace Indian shallots in their cooking. The Dutch red onion fetches RM2.60 per kg while shallots from China cost RM5 per kg and garlic costs RM3.20 per kg.


Rodin said the next consignment of 30 tonnes of Indian shallots, due to reach Kuching on Dec 27, would alleviate the shortage and stabilise the price. He said the ministry’s enforcement division would monitor the prices of 284 goods including flour, sugar and cooking oil (one kg) during the festive season to prevent price hike.


— Bernama BP. 25/12/07

50. Kuching mungkin bebas banjir

Penduduk di bandar raya ini mungkin terlepas daripada ancaman banjir pada Krismas ini jika awan hujan yang kini berkumpul di selatan Sarawak ditiup ke arah Laut China Selatan.

Timbalan Ketua Menteri Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr George Chan berkata, gambar satelit pada masa ini menunjukkan arah tiupan angin menghala ke Timur Laut.

“Jika kejadian air pasang besar sahaja kita tidak risau kerana baraj mampu mengawal aliran masuk air laut ke Sungai Sarawak.
“Tetapi jika hujan berterusan untuk beberapa hari, ia boleh menimbulkan kebimbangan,” katanya sambil menambah arah tiupan angin juga boleh berubah pada bila-bila masa.

Dr Chan ditemui ketika melawat baraj dan diberi taklimat ringkas oleh Pengurus Besar Kuching Barrage Management Sdn Bhd Goh Chin Guan.
Turut serta, Timbalan Setiausaha Kerajaan Negeri Datuk Morshidi Ghani.

Pasang besar bermula semalam dan berakhir pada 29 Disember dengan catatan tertinggi 6.1 meter pada 24 dan 25 Disember.

Dr Chan yang juga Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Bertindak Bencana Alam Negeri menambah kata, baraj akan ditutup sehingga kejadian pasang besar berakhir.

Manakala cuaca untuk tujuh hari bermula semalam diramalkan hujan sepanjang hari.

Bagi Sibu, beliau berkata kawasan berkenaan diramalkan tidak mengalami banjir untuk kali kedua.

Dalam pada itu beliau mahu semua penduduk di kawasan rendah berwaspada dan peka dengan maklumat terkini berkaitan banjir.

49. Pencerobohan kawasan kerajaan serius

Sarawak mencatatkan kerugian sebanyak RM1.24 juta dalam kejadian pencerobohan dan pecah masuk ke kawasan kerajaan (pejabat dan premis milik kerajaan) bagi tempoh empat tahun, bermula 2003 hingga 30 Jun 2007 sekarang.

Timbalan Setiausaha Kerajaan Negeri Datuk Morshidi Ghani berkata daripada jumlah itu, kes membabitkan kehilangan aset dan kebocoran maklumat adalah yang paling tinggi direkodkan.

Pegawai keselamatan yang telah dilantik perlu diberi penekanan terhadap aspek latihan bagi memastikan maklumat kerajaan bebas daripada sebarang ancaman, kecurian dan kebakaran dengan mangambil kira langkah-langkah untuk melindungi selaras dengan undang-undang keselamatan yang ditetapkan.

Sebagai pegawai keselamatan, mereka bertanggungjawab melaksanakan arahan-arahan keselamatan kerajaan dengan mendapatkan nasihat daripada pegawai-pegawai keselamatan lain bagi membolehkan mereka memperolehi pengetahuan sewajarnya.

48. Penyakit mental: Bomoh lebih dipercayai

Kepercayaan masyarakat kepada hantu, jin dan semangat jahat menyebabkan rawatan bomoh dan pawang lebih dipercayai oleh masyarakat untuk mengubat penyakit mental berbanding rawatan moden.

Ketua Jabatan Sosiologi dan Antropologi Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas), Dr. Ling How Kee berkata, rawatan moden di hospital kerajaan dan swasta menjadi pilihan terakhir untuk mengubat penyakit jiwa, gila dan gangguan perasaan.

‘‘Penyakit mental sering dikaitkan dengan perbuatan sihir, ilmu hitam oleh pihak-pihak tertentu atau rasuk oleh semangat jahat.
‘‘Ada yang menolak sama sekali kaitan faktor kesihatan dengan penyakit itu,” katanya ketika membentangkan kertas kerja bertajuk ‘Pelbagai Rawatan dan Bantuan Penyakit Mental’ pada Persidangan Kesihatan Mental, di sini, hari ini.

Persidangan tiga hari yang berakhir hari ini disertai oleh 300 peserta dari seluruh negara termasuk dari Indonesia dan Brunei.
How Kee berkata, kepercayaan itu yang masih tebal di kalangan masyarakat khususnya di negeri ini menyebabkan khidmat bomoh dalam masyarakat Melayu, manang (Iban), pimpuri (Bidayuh), abayoh (Melanau) dan tangki (Cina) masih dipegang kuat.

Petikan UM 16/12/07

47. Kuching City’s first giant Christmas tree officially lighted up

WHAT A SIGHT: Revellers gather around the awesome Christmas tree (a gift from Celcom) looking up at the night sky over Padungan which erupts in a riot of multi-coloured fireworks

Kuchingnites marvelled at the sight of ’snow’ in the form of white foam and bubbles falling gracefully over a beautifully lighted gigantic Christmas tree – the city’s first - set up at Kuching Travillion.
Christmas is a week away, but the spirit of it came early here, made possible by Celcom (Malaysia) Berhad.

A political secretary to the Chief Minister, Alan Sim, who switched on the lights on the 50-foot-tall tree, talked about a culture of tolerance in his speech.

“It’s a special thing that a community must have,” he said, adding that if this was the norm, then everything and everyone would flourish as tolerance begets trust and trust is the foundation of innovation and entrepreneurship.

“Multi-racial Malaysia has practised this culture and excelled tremendously in maintaining racial harmony that has paved the way for us to live in peace,” he said.

He said not once must this be broken and this called for the people to not be overwhelmed by racial sentiments. He said letting racial sentiments get the better of them would only bring about failure to maintain racial harmony which would not bring them any good.

“Just recently it was reported that racial strife broke out in Pontianak all because of a minor road accident. Several lives were lost and a few people injured,” he said.

Sim stressed that this incident should serve as a reminder that the people must not destroy the racial harmony which they had been enjoying for many years. He said Malaysia was very fortunate not to be plagued by conflicts like certain other countries and the people enjoyed political and socio-economic stability, adding that this was what captivated many from abroad.

He hoped the people’s unity would continue as it was essential for the maintenance of harmony in the country.

In connection with this, he lauded Celcom for being socially responsible as shown yesterday when they showered Christmas cheer on the people of Kuching, and at the same time helped some less fortunate children from various charity homes.

He hoped that more corporate bodies would do more charitable activities and fulfill their social obligations.

Earlier on, Celcom regional general manager, Choo Meng Chung, said as the company always strove to make a difference in whatever it did, it came up with the idea that the people should have a giant Christmas tree, snow flakes and Santa Claus all in one location - the Travillion.

“We imagined what Christmas would be like without a Christmas tree, without Santa Claus, without snow. Then we imagined what it would be like for people of Kuching to have something they have not had before. I hope many prayers and wishes are answered by Celcom this evening as you await a truly eventful Christmas with a giant tree,” he said.

He pointed out that Celcom had been in Sarawak for many years and this holiday season the company would reach out to its many supporters and users, and what better way to say thanks than to give them and the people of Kuching and Sarawak in general a giant Christmas tree.

He said Celcom was very much a part of Sarawak and tried to give back to society what it had earned through the community’s support.
This time, he said, Celcom would create an exciting cityscape filled with Christmas ambience and music and motorists who drove past would have a good view of the skyline.

Celcom also wished to spread this excitement to the special people especially children from the various charity homes in the city, he said.
“Nothing can be more joyful than to see them having fun and enjoying themselves around the Christmas tree and making a wish. Nothing can compare to the feeling of compassion and love for our special children,” he said.

Choo said they had set up Sarawak Children Cancer Society’s ‘wishing well’ for well-wishers to place their donations in.
The Salvation Army’s Children’s Home, Cheshire Home, and School for Mentally Retarded Children (Perkata) are the other charity organisations who were part of last night’s Christmas event.
The one-month-long event which will run till Jan 15 will be filled with many exciting activities. Among them is a contest called ‘Guess the Number of Xpax Ornaments’ on the tree.

borneopost 16/12/07

46. Coming polls may see more PBB Youth faces

SIGNATURE CAMPAIGN: Fadillah was the first to put his signature for the ‘Bersatu Malaysia’ campaign as Daniel (first right) and others look on.

Enlisting of more young leaders as candidates good for BN’s endurance: Fadillah

Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) may field more candidates from its Youth Wing in the coming parliamentary election.

At the moment, only its newly-elected Youth Chief Fadillah Yusof is a member of parliament from the wing.

Fadillah said the wing was still hopeful that capable leaders within its midst would be considered as new faces for the parliamentary election expected anytime soon.

“We leave it to the party’s top leadership to identify and decide the younger leaders within PBB who are suitable to be fielded as candidates in the coming election,” he told reporters here yesterday after a PBB Youth meeting at the party headquarters at Jalan Bako here.
Fadillah chaired the Youth Wing’s meeting for the first time since last month’s general assembly in Miri.

Almost all the new office-bearers were present for the meeting including new Pemuda deputy chief Daniel Jubang Kanyan and new vice president Ensaring Suel

The two-hour meeting also appointed Gerald Rentap Jabu as the wing’s new secretary general, a post formerly held by Fadillah. Mohd Kamaluddin Mohd Effendi will be the assistant secretary general.
Awangku Jenal Abidin is the new treasurer, Alvin Runggah Jimbun (assistant treasurer), Narudin Sidi (information chief) and Cr Dennis Ngau Jok (assistant information chief). Seven new supreme council members of the wing were also appointed, four from the Pesaka wing and three from Bumiputera.

Fadillah, who is Petra Jaya member of parliament, said he was ready to defend his seat and continue as its representative in the Dewan Rakyat for the second consecutive term.

“If entrusted as BN candidate in the coming election, yes, I am ready and well prepared,” he said. However, he hoped he would not be alone from PBB Youth and hoped more from the wing would also be listed as election candidates.

Insisting that the BN top leadership in the State and in Kuala Lumpur had the final say, he said the enlisting of more younger leaders as candidates would be a positive move.

He said in this way the voices of today’s youth would be heard and shared collectively in the country’s policy-making process.
There was no mention of who the other election-hopefuls would be, although some political observers are speculating PBB Youth vice president and corporate figure Dato Sri Sulaiman Abdul Taib could be one of the new faces.

There would be 31 parliamentary constituencies in Sarawak, including three new ones - Sibuti, Igan and Limbang.

Meanwhile, on another issue, Fadillah said PBB Youth condemned any form of street demonstration or unrest that could disrupt the prevailing peace and stability among the multi-racial society in the country or in the State.

Commenting on the unlawful assembly staged by the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) held in Kuala Lumpur recently, he said PBB Youth also fully supported the stern action taken by the government to arrest the culprits under the Internal Security Act (ISA).

In view of this, he said a signature drive initiated by PBB Youth would start today to state the State’s stand against people and parties who were threats to the nation’s peace, harmony, stability and prosperity.
Themed ‘Bersatu Malaysia’, the campaign aimed at collecting 50,000 signatures by next week and this would be handed over to national Barisan Nasional (BN) Youth chief Datuk Hishammudin Hussein before it is submitted to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
“We in Pemuda PBB protest what had been done by Hindraf and any other party who took to the streets, forsaking our peace and harmony on the basis of racial and religious sentiments.

He said there were proper channels for the people to voice whatever grievances they might have against the government as provided for in the constitution.

Fadillah then became the first signatory of the campaign.

borneopost 16/12/07

45. Brace for worse floods!

Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr George Chan yesterday warned the people to expect the worse as the flood situation was forecast to deteriorate on Dec 16.

He also called for extra precaution as heavy rain was expected in Kapit.
“I was made understand that heavy rain occurred in Kapit last night (Thursday), with more than 100 ml of rainfalls, and the water is expected to flow down to Sibu in two days’ time.

“Unfortunately during this period, the King Tide at 3.5-metre water level is expected to occur here, and therefore, the flood level here is predicted to be higher,” he said when visiting the 53 evacuees at Malay Union Club’s Hall in Jalan Bandung noon yesterday.
He was accompanied by Deputy Minister of Housing and Local Government Datuk Robert Lau, Sibu Municipal Council Datuk Tiong Thai King, Nangka assemblyman Awang Bemee Awang Ali Basah, Sibu Resident officer Chai Moi Fong.

Chan cautioned those areas hit by the recent floods, especially the low-lying areas, was expected to be hit again, and he hoped the people would be more careful, and be prepared of higher water level in their surroundings.

The King Tide, between 3.5m and 3.6m, would be expected from Dec 21 - 29, he said, adding that the water level here would usually be between 2.2m and 2.3m. “The water level is a bit higher. We have to prepare for the worst. For example, if the flooding gets bad here, we would seek assistance from other divisions such as Mukah, Bintangor, Sarikei, Bintulu and Miri to help the flood victims here,” he said.

Chan,who is also the chairman of Sarawak Disaster and Relief Action Committee, said the people could contact the direct line of the main operation room here at 084-334852 if they have any inquiry or needed help during the floods.

The people were also reminded to be calm and not to panic during the floods as the local assemblymen and the Members of the Parliament would do their best to assist them, he said.

Chan disclosed that the local council had at least RM24 million to start the flood mitigation project here soon, and noted that the whole project was estimated to cost RM400 million.

He also reminded parents to ensure that their children refrain from playing in the flood water to prevent any undesired incident.
“I also would like to remind the people not to play around the power sub-stations as it could endanger their lives, and also to make sure all electric appliances were kept in a safe place,” he said.

He also urged operators and the boat owners to slow to prevent high waves hitting houses along the Sungai Rajang. “I have asked the Sarawak Rivers Board (SRB) to put a sign along the river to warn the operators to slow down their vessels, especially from Sungai Antu to the town centre,” he said.

borneopost 16/12/07

44. Isu : Dadah mudah bolos?

KEBELAKANGAN ini sering kita terbaca di dada akhbar yang menyiarkan rakyat Malaysia terutamanya gadis-gadis yang ditahan di lapangan terbang luar negara kerana membawa dadah.

Gadis-gadis ini terpedaya dengan janji- janji manis kenalan atau orang yang baru dikenali untuk membawakan beg atau barang untuk mereka tanpa mengetahui bahawa barang yang dibawa adalah dadah.

Simpati saya melihatkan ibu bapa gadis- gadis terbabit terpaksa bertungkus-lumus mencari wang untuk menampung kos membiayai khidmat peguam di negara asing. Pihak kerajaan serta NGO di negara kita turut membantu untuk menyelamatkan gadis-gadis kita yang ‘terpedaya’ ini.

Tetapi tidakkah kita lihat dari sudut keselamatan iaitu masih wujud kelemahan di pintu keluar masuk sempadan kita terutamanya di lapangan-lapangan terbang.

Difahamkan gadis-gadis tersebut ditahan setelah berlepas melalui lapangan terbang negara kita.

Ini baru di tempat yang menggunakan kecanggihan sistem keselamatan secara sepenuhnya, bagaimana pula di sempadan-sempadan di sebelah utara dan Pantai Timur negara yang masih menggunakan sistem kawalan manusia.

Saya amat yakin bahawa senjata api dan dadah terlarang telah banyak dibawa masuk ke negara kita.

Baru-baru ini berlaku tembak-menembak antara penjenayah dengan anggota polis sehinggakan menyebabkan kematian kepada anggota keselamatan kita dan daripada laporan yang diberikan oleh akhbar bahawa penjenayah tersebut menggunakan senjata yang canggih dan automatik.

Adakah negara kita pengeluar senjata api? Jika tidak, ini bermakna senjata-senjata api yang lebih baik atau canggih telah berada di tangan penjenayah kerana berpunca daripada kelemahan sistem kawalan sempadan negara kita.

Kerajaan telah berhabis berjuta ringgit untuk menangani masalah dadah dan jenayah, tetapi ianya masih berleluasa antaranya disebabkan kawalan di pintu masuk negara mudah dibolosi.

Kerajaan harus menyediakan dan membeli sistem imbasan yang terkini yang dapat melihat dan memberitahu sekiranya ada benda terlarang melaluinya.

Saya amat yakin jika kawalan sempadan di seluruh negara kita diperketatkan lagi, maka jenayah-jenayah berat dan pengedaran dadah dapat dibanteras. Kerajaan jangan hanya mengharapkan iklan-iklan yang disiarkan dapat mengurangkan jenayah atau penggunaan dadah tetapi ia mudah diperoleh di negara kita.

Ahli-ahli Parlimen harus melihat perkara ini lebih kerap serta mendalam dan jangan hanya membincangkan perkara remeh-temeh atau bergaduh sesama sendiri di dewan yang mulia itu.

Gerakkan cadangan dan usul mengenai perkara-perkara yang dapat mengurangkan perbelanjaan kerajaan daripada jenayah berat ini terutamanya pengedaran dadah. Dan harus diingat, Malaysia bukan pengeluar atau penanam tanaman menghasilkan dadah tetapi persoalannya kenapa bahan itu amat mudah diperoleh.

Ahli-ahli Parlimen perlu bentangkan di Parlimen mengenai bagaimana dan macam mana untuk menyelesaikan.

Ahli-ahli Parlimen juga harus membuat lawatan mengejut di semua sempadan negara dan melihat sendiri apa yang ada di sempadan kita dan perlu cadangkan mekanisme terbaik untuk keselamatan sempadan kita.

Jika terdapat alat imbasan yang rosak, harus cepat diperbaiki. Jangan simpan sehingga setahun, baru hendak diperbaiki. Pengarah-pengarah keselamatan dan penguat kuasa sama ada polis, tentera, Jabatan Kastam harus kerap membuat lawatan mengejut.

Cuba uji sistem keselamatan di sempadan dengan membuat penyamaran dan menyeludup barangan terlarang. Jika mudah lepas dari pintu sempadan, mantap dan perkemaskan mekanisme penyelidikan keselamatan sempadan atau tukar pegawai-pegawai di sempadan negara dengan pegawai yang baru.

Bertindaklah sebelum semakin ramai lagi belia kita dirosakkan oleh ketagihan dadah dan jenayah. Belia pewaris takhta pemerintahan negara. Hukum harus ditegakkan meskipun langit akan runtuh.

– GHAZALI ZAINAL
Bandar Sri Permaisuri,
Kuala Lumpur. (Utusan Malaysia 15/12/07)

43. Isu - Elak Malaysia jadi pusat lambakan dadah

TERDAPAT 53 kes penahanan rakyat Malaysia di luar negara berhubung kesalahan dadah yang dilaporkan sehingga bulan lalu. Ironinya, 72 peratus daripadanya membabitkan golongan wanita yang terperangkap dalam jerat percintaan serta tawaran kerja palsu.

Fenomena sosial yang membimbangkan ini adalah petunjuk jelas bahawa telah wujud rangkaian sindiket pengedaran dadah antarabangsa di negara kita. Tambahan pula, kedudukan Malaysia terletak di kawasan yang dipanggil Segi Tiga Emas iaitu kawasan yang ‘subur’ dengan aktiviti pemprosesan dan pengedaran dadah di rantau Asia Tenggara membabitkan Burma, Laos dan Thailand.

Dalam konteks benua Asia pula, negara kita berhadapan dengan ancaman lambakan dadah antarabangsa dari kawasan Bulan Sabit Emas di sekitar pedalaman Pakistan, Afghanistan dan Iran.

Terdapat dakwaan bahawa wujudnya kaitan seorang rakyat kita yang berpengaruh di Sabah dengan Raja Syabu Asia, Chin Soon Goon yang telah diberkas di Filipina pada 21 November 2007 lalu.

Apa yang lebih penting, setiap daripada rakyat negara ini mesti memiliki jati diri yang kuat untuk tidak mudah terpengaruh dengan sebarang janji manis tetapi palsu yang akan menggelapkan masa depan.

Nasib malang yang menimpa Umi Azlim Mohamad Lazim, 24, dan Raja Munirah Raja Iskandar, 22, seharusnya menjadi titik tolak kesedaran semua pihak untuk tidak menjadi mangsa penipuan seterusnya.

Dalam masa yang sama, pihak kerajaan serta kedutaan negara di luar negara seharusnya konsisten memantau nasib rakyat kita yang ditahan di luar negara. Kementerian Penerangan dan Kementerian Luar misalnya perlu menyebarkan maklumat terhadap masyarakat terutama generasi muda berhubung penipuan ini.

Hakikatnya, modus operandi aktiviti pengedaran dan penyeludupan dadah antarabangsa di negara ini perlu segera dicantas agar tidak melumpuhkan modal insan golongan muda Malaysia yang menjadi harapan negara masa depan