PENANG MAHU HARAMKAN RUMAH KOS RENDAH

Wednesday July 21, 2010
Penang may ban low-cost homes
By IAN MCINTYRE ianm@thestar.com.my
GEORGE TOWN: The Penang Housing Department is mulling over a move to ban the construction of low-cost units with a built-up area of less than 700 sq ft, said committee member Sim Tze Tzin.
He said this was because the flats eventually became slums due to poor infrastructure and crammed living conditions.
“I feel that low-cost units should not be built on Penang island to prevent these places from becoming ‘unliveable’ areas,” he said here yesterday.
Sim, who is Pantai Jerejak assemblyman, was commenting on development issues on the island arising from mounting problems of squatters and shortage of land.
Jelutong MP Jeff Ooi had recently said residents at eight urbanised villages were facing eviction due to rapid development in his constituency.
He had labelled them the “eight big headaches” of the state government, adding that they were “long-drawn affairs” that began during Barisan’s rule.
Sim said there was a need for the state government and developers to think “out of the box” when it came to meeting housing needs and commercial demand.
He added that there were about 1,000 people who were technically defined as squatters in Penang.
Sim proposed that monetary compensation given by developers to squatters should be replaced with offers of housing for them near the site of their original homes.
“For example, if the squatters are accorded RM40,000 compensation, the money can be used as down payment to the developer for them to purchase the new units near their original homes.
“This would generate a chain reaction for a better quality of life on the island,” he said.
Sim urged the state government not to approve applications to build triple-storey bungalows which are sold at RM1mil and above as it was a wastage of land.
He also hoped that the relocation of squatters was not politicised.
“All political parties need to work towards resolving the problem,” he said, urging the Federal Government to allocate money for Penang to establish a housing fund to help address the issue of squatters.
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/7/21/nation/6694234&sec=nation

Pecat Nor Yakcop, Zarinah

Pecat Nor Yakcop, Zarinah

KUALA LUMPUR 15 Julai – Perdana Menteri diminta supaya memecat Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri, Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop dan Pengerusi Suruhanjaya Sekuriti, Tan Sri Zarinah Anwar daripada portfolio masing-masing ekoran penjualan dan pembelian saham berkepentingan negara beberapa tahun lalu.Wee Choo Keong (Bebas-Wangsa Maju) berkata, sebagai contoh, pengambilalihan Hospital Pantai daripada Pantai Holdings Bhd. (Pantai) oleh syarikat Singapura, Parkway Holdings Ltd. (Parkway) pada 2005 melalui pembelian saham bernilai RM312 juta sepatutnya tidak berlaku dan dihentikan oleh Suruhanjaya Sekuriti.Lebih mengejutkan, dakwa beliau, penguasaan Pantai kemudiannya ditebus (bail out) oleh Khazanah Holdings Bhd. (Khazanah) selepas Nor Yakcop menyatakan pengambilalihan bernilai RM800 juta itu bukannya satu penebusan, sebaliknya merupakan kesediaan pembeli dan penjual dalam pasaran.“Ini adalah kenyataan bekas Menteri Kewangan II (Nor Yakcop) yang memperbodohkan rakyat Malaysia. Khazanah terpaksa membayar RM800 juta untuk mengambil alih Pantai daripada Parkway.“Tidak semena-mena sebuah syarikat asing (Parkway) membuat keuntungan sebanyak RM500 juta daripada wang rakyat dan lebih teruk, Khazanah tidak menguruskan Hospital Pantai sebaliknya melantik Parkway menguruskannya. Mengapa?” tegasnya.Beliau percaya ia berlaku dengan pengetahuan Nor Yakcop dan Zarinah.Beliau berkata demikian semasa membahaskan Rang Undang-Undang Antipemerdagangan Orang (Pindaan) 2010 di Dewan Rakyat hari iniSelain dakwaan itu, Choo Keong memberitahu, Nor Yakcop dan Zarinah juga perlu dipecat kerana:
* Nor Yakcop mempunyai sekurang-kurangnya 500 peti besi mengandungi wang tunai berikutan setiausaha politiknya, Hasbie Satar ditahan Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia (SPRM) selepas didapati menyimpan 48 peti besi mengandungi wang tunai.* Pelupusan 10 peratus saham Telekom Bhd. yang dijual kepada syarikat Singapura, Temasek Holdings dan tindakan Maybank Bhd. membeli saham Bank International Indonesia pada harga yang amat tinggi.* ‘Gangguan’ terhadap empat wartawan perniagaan berkaitan penjualan saham Kenmark Industrial Co. (M) Bhd. bertujuan melindungi skandal Zarinah dan suaminya, Datuk Azizan Abdul Rahman.Choo Keong mendakwa kes-kes tersebut membuktikan Nor Yakcop dan Zarinah sengaja ‘membutakan’ mata untuk melindungi para pengkhianat serta perompak negara.“Ini adalah contoh klasik kepada peribahasa Melayu, harapkan pagar, pagar makan padi,” tegasnya.

NINE CHINESE SCHOOLS IN PERAK TO GET LAND FOR PALM OIL ESTATE

Nine Chinese schools in Perak to get land for palm oil estate
BY IVAN LOH
IPOH: The Perak Government has allocated a 1,012ha piece of land to nine Chinese independent schools here to be developed as a palm oil estate.

The estate will help the schools earn income in order to be self-sustainable.

The piece of land in Besout, Sungkai, will be managed by Semangat Suwa Sdn Bhd, a company set up by the nine schools' board of governors.

Semangat Suwa chairman Tan Hau Swee said a private company had expressed interest to pay RM3.6mil annually for rights to develop the palm oil estate.

"The revenue from the private company can cover about 30% to 40% of the annual expenses for each of the schools," he said during a press conference called by Perak executive council member Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon here on Tuesday.

"Each school spends an average of about RM200mil annually.

"About RM400,000 to RM600,000 are spent on management fees alone each year," he said, adding that this figure did not include the expenditure of building and education development costs.

The nine schools are SM Shen Jai, SM Yuk Choy and SM Poi Lam - all in Ipoh - , SM Nam Hwa in Sitiawan, SM Yik Ching in Pantai Remis, SM Pei Yuan in Kampar, SM Hua Lian in Taiping, SM Sam Min in Teluk Intan and SM Tsung Wah in Kuala Kangsar.

However, Tan said the schools would still need support and donation from the public to help with their education development needs.

"We hope the public will continue to support us," he added.

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/7/20/nation/20100720170226&sec=nation

Ketua Umno Cawangan Kampung Ubai tawar diri tanding Naib Presiden

Isnin Oktober 6, 2008
Ketua Umno Cawangan Kampung Ubai tawar diri tanding Naib Presiden
KUANTAN:Ketua Umno Cawangan Kampung Ubai, Pekan Mohammad Hanapi Salleh mengumumkan hasrat bertanding jawatan Naib Presiden pada pemilihan parti Mac tahun depan, sekiranya mendapat pencalonan.

Mohammad Hanapi, 53, yang memegang jawatan Ketua Umno cawangan itu sejak 32 tahun lepas berkata pertandingan dalam parti mencerminkan demokrasi masih hidup di dalam Umno dan ia merupakan satu perkembangan positif.

"Setiap ahli berhak bertanding bagi manamana jawatan jika mempunyai kelayakan dan sokongan mencukupi," katanya dalam kenyataan di sini hari ini.

Beliau berkata Barisan Nasional (BN) dan Umno memerlukan perubahan dan diperkukuhkan supaya seluruh lapisan masyarakat dapat menerima dan memberi sokongan padu kepada parti itu.

Mohammad Hanapi pernah membawa usul tergempar supaya Timbalan Presiden Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak bertanding jawatan Presiden Umno pada mesyuarat cawangan itu sebelum ini. BERNAMA

http://www1.mstar.com.my/cerita.asp?file=/2008/10/6/mstar_berita/20081006215145&sec=mstar_berita

CONCERNS OVER POLITICS CONTINUE TO RISE - MERDEKA CENTER SURVEY

News Release
September 29th 2008
Concerns over politics continue to rise – Merdeka Center Survey

BANGI - One month after the Permatang Pauh by-elections and amidst talk of crossing
over of Barisan Nasional MPs to the opposition, Malaysian voters cite increasing
concerns over the state of politics in the country. At the same time, reductions in fuel
prices over the period did little to dampen public worries over inflation and the economic
outlook of the country in general, as found in the opinion poll conducted by Merdeka
Center released today.

The opinion poll, 3rd Quarter 2008 Peninsular Malaysia Voter Opinion Survey was
carried out by the Merdeka Center for Opinion Research between 11th and 22nd
September 2008 to gauge voters’ perceptions of current issues, the state of the economy
and leadership.

The poll’s findings hopes to improve the quality of public debate over issues and inform
policymakers, politicians, and grassroots advocacy groups as they respond to citizens.

This opinion poll also provides a snapshot of the state of affairs approximately six
months after the general elections. The survey is a part of Merdeka Center’s series of
opinion polls intended to be carried out on a quarterly basis on top voter concerns and
current issues. The first poll in the series was released in April 2008.

The survey reveals that despite the on-going political developments in the country, onehalf
of Malaysians remained concerned about the state of the economy. This is followed
by an increasing number, now one in every five, who are concerned about political
developments involving the country’s top leaders and government.

Following up on the matter of the leadership transition, the poll also found 43% of voters
reported satisfaction with Dato’ Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s performance as prime
minister while 40% felt that Dato’ Seri Najib Tun Razak would make a good prime
minister.

With respect to Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim, the survey found that the swearing on the
Quran by his accuser did little to change perceptions about the opposition leader – only
15% believed in the allegation of sexual misconduct. On wider public perceptions about
Anwar Ibrahim’s leadership, the poll found that 21% believed in allegations that he was
an “agent of the US” and only 13% believed that he was a “sexual criminal” as alleged by
his detractors. At the same time, 51% felt that he was both “a strong and visionary
leader” and “a competent manager of the economy”.


The poll also found that 55% of Malaysian Chinese voters stated awareness of the
upcoming MCA party elections. The survey also noted that one-third of Malaysian
Chinese respondents wanted BN component parties to be ‘outspoken’. The poll also
asked Chinese respondents to state their favorability towards several of candidates vying
for top posts in the party elections.

The Peninsular Malaysia wide telephone survey of 1002 randomly selected registered
voters was carried out between 11th and 22nd September 2008 was funded via Merdeka
Center’s internally generated resources. Respondents were selected using the random,
stratified sampling method and structured along the national electorate profile and
specifically proportional to gender, ethnicity, and state of residence.
About Merdeka Center for Opinion Research

Merdeka Center for Opinion Research was formally established in 2001 as an
independent organization focused on public opinion research and socio-economic
analysis. Its members comprise social scientists and professionals with qualifications in
economics, communications, marketing and law. Merdeka’s mission is to act as a bridge
between ordinary Malaysians and other stakeholders with the leading members of the
nation – by collecting public opinion studies and expressing them through survey results,
analysis and position papers. For details, visit: www.merdeka.org

Contact:
Ibrahim Suffian
Mobile: 012 379 1940
Email: ben@merdeka.org
http://www.merdekacenter.uni.cc/download/News%20Release%20-%20Opinion%20Poll%20Sept%202008.pdf

HISHAM GETS EXTRA TIME TO SPEAK AT UNESCO MEET

Monday October 6, 2008
Hisham gets extra time to speak at Unesco meet
PARIS: Two Unesco executive board members from Asean -- Thailand and the Philippines -- will give up a minute each of their speaking time for Malaysia to voice the region’s issues and concerns when the board meets here today.

The mandate will be shouldered by Malaysia’s Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein, who now has 10 minutes of speaking time.

“Malaysia is honoured and obliged to carry this mandate for both countries,” said Kenneth J. Luis, Malaysia’s permanent delegate to Unesco, the United Nations Educational, Scien­tific and Cultural Organisation.

Traditionally, the 58 board members are given eight minutes each to deliver their speech at the meeting.

The board meets twice a year to examine the work programme for the organisation and corresponding budget estimates. Unesco has 193 members.

Luis said that the move to “surrender” speaking time was a first among Unesco’s board members from Asean, although it had been a practice among the European Union (EU) members.

He said the development was a recognition for Malaysia, particularly Hishammuddin, as they believed that the minister, who is South-East Asian Ministers of Education Organi­sation (Seameo) president, would be able to make a positive impact at the meeting.

“He understands the region well, particularly in the education area. They have faith in him to deliver the regional message effectively,” Luis said.

He said Hishammuddin was expec­ted to spend about three minutes on regional issues and the remaining time on Malaysia’s achievements and its recommendations for Unes­co.

Hishammuddin would likely highlight, among other things, the South-East Asian countries’ mission to achieve the Education for All goals by 2015. - Bernama

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/10/6/nation/2196318&sec=nation

PULAI CHIEF MULLS RUNNING FOR UMNO NO 2

The Malaysian Insider

Pulai chief mulls running for Umno No 2
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 5 - Umno Pulai chief Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed, who audaciously asked Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to quit after the March 8 electoral debacle, is joining the slowly crowding race for the party deputy presidency.

The two-term Pulai MP's advisers floated the idea with him at his family Hari Raya dinner last night in light of Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Datuk Seri Ali Rustam's declared interest in the post.

"Umno needs to consider making a generational change in leadership. I want to represent the younger generation who will succeed Najib," Nur Jazlan told The Malaysian Insider.

If he does get the 39 nominations for a tilt to be the Umno No 2, the 42-year-old chartered accountant will be the youngest candidate thus far for the post that brings in tow the country's deputy premiership in a Barisan Nasional government.

Umno supreme council member and former Youth chief Zahid is 55 while vice-president Ali is 59. A candidate for the deputy job needs 20 percent of nominations from the 191 Umno divisions.

Nur Jazlan is defending his divisional post against his deputy and was said to be eyeing a supreme council seat until the two announced their intention to replace Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak who is set to take over from Abdullah next March.

Abdullah, whose June 2010 power transition plan has been shredded by the supreme council last month, is now not likely to defend his post.

The strong favourite for the deputy presidency is still vice-president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, 61, who said he will decide after Abdullah's announcement. At least four divisions have said they will nominate Muhyiddin.

Nur Jazlan, who joined Umno in 1988 at the behest of his father - former Umno secretary-general Tan Sri Mohamed Rahmat - was an Umno Youth exco member between 1996 and 2004, when he first stood in Mohamed's Pulai stronghold.

"Why not? Any Umno member can offer themselves for any post," Mohamed told The Malaysian Insider when contacted about his son's candidacy.

Nur Jazlan was tipped to be the Johor Mentri Besar earlier this year but Umno decided to keep him in his federal seat in the March 8 polls.

Umno officials expect a few more to contest the No 2 post after Abdullah's expected statement to step aside before divisional meetings begin on Oct 9.

Only Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah has said he will contest the Umno presidency thus far but Najib is seen to have a better chance of winning the post and become Prime Minister.

Up to 15 are expected to contest for the three vice-presidential slots opened up by Muhyiddin and Ali's expected tussle for Najib's post.. Another vice-president Tan Sri Isa Samad was stripped off his post when he was found guilty of money politics.

Party officials also forecast some 100 candidates will vie for the 25 supreme council seats.