Minyak ikan jadikan kanak-kanak bijak

LONDON: Kanak-kanak yang mengambil makanan tambahan minyak ikan setiap hari dikesan lebih bijak dan cemerlang dalam peperiksaan mereka, menurut kajian.

Penyelidikan oleh Majlis Mukim Durham mendapati pelajar yang mengambil kapsul Omega-3 dalam masa setahun sebelum peperiksaan GCSE memperoleh keputusan lebih baik berbanding mereka yang tidak mengambilnya.

Lebih 3,000 pelajar tahun 11 di seluruh negara mengambil kapsul minyak ikan setiap hari.

Aidilfitri esok

Tarikh Aidilfitri ditetapkan pada Rabu, 1 Oktober, demikian diumumkan oleh Penyimpan Mohor Besar Raja-Raja Malaysia.

Beliau berkata demikian menerusi satu kenyataan yang dikeluarkan oleh Pejabat Penyimpan Mohor Besar Raja-Raja Malaysia.

– Bernama

RM6.9mil ransom paid for release of second ship

The MT Bunga Melati Dua, the second Malaysian tanker hijacked by Somalian pirates, has been freed.

Sources said US$2mil (RM6.9mil) in ransom was paid for each of the tankers.

The vessel and its crew are now on the way to the East African country of Djibouti, the sources said.

The release comes two days after the MT Bunga Melati Lima was freed by the pirates on Saturday night. MT Bunga Melati Dua, with a crew of 29 Malaysian and 10 Filipinos, was hijacked on Aug 19 in the Gulf of Aden.

One of the Filipino crew members was killed when he was hit by a stray bullet.

Ten days later, the MT Bunga Melati Lima, with 36 Malaysian and five Filipino crew members, was also hijacked while sailing from Yanbu in Saudi Arabia to Singapore.

The sources said the MT Bunga Melati Dua was released at 4.14am yesterday and that all its crew was safe.

They added that the ship, together with the MT Bunga Melati Lima, was being escorted by Malaysian Navy ships KD Lekiu and KD Sri Inderapura to Djibouti.

“The crew change over for both ships is expected to take place in Djibouti on Friday,” the sources added.

It is not known if the crew, who have been held captive on board both vessels for more than a month, would return to Malaysia.

A relative of one of the crew of MT Bunga Melati Lima said MISC had contacted her and said some of the crew were in Yemen.

Norazlina Mat Salleh, the sister of Mohamed Nazeri, said her brother had also undergone medical checks in Yemen.

She was not told when they would return.

East African Seafarers Assistance Programme head Andrew Mwangura, said the ransom for the MT Bunga Melati Dua had been paid on Sunday.

“I want to thank the Malaysian government for talking things out (with the pirates) and not using force,” he said when contacted yesterday.

Mwangura, who is based in Mombasa, Kenya, said he was kept informed of what was happening in the region by local fishermen and officials.

MISC has refused to comment on the issue, apparently for fear that any comment could jeopardise the safety of the ships.

Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas) president and chief executive officer Tan Sri Mohd Hassan Marican is expected to hold a press conference today on the matter.

Tuesday September 30, 2008

Cadbury recalls China chocolate over tainted milk fears

Agence France-Presse - 9/29/2008 11:22 AM GMT


British sweet maker Cadbury said Monday it ordered a recall of China-made chocolates over safety fears in the latest fallout from the ever-widening scandal over tainted Chinese dairy products.

The company issued the recalls in Hong Kong, Taiwan and Australia after internal tests "cast doubt" on the safety of chocolates made in the company's Beijing plant, it said in a statement.

"As a result of these tests... we have received results that cast doubt on the integrity of a range of our products manufactured in China," said the statement from Cadbury Asia Pacific.

It was not clear if the tests had shown the products contained traces of melamine, the industrial chemical blamed for sickening 53,000 Chinese children and killing at least four.

AFP could not reached company officials in Beijing or at its Asian headquarters in Singapore.

The products are the latest in a list, expanding by the day, of China-made foods and drinks that have been removed from stores around the world since the scandal was first exposed earlier this month.

More than a dozen Asian and African countries, plus the 27-member European Union, have taken steps to ban or otherwise limit consumption of Chinese milk-product imports.

Laos and Mali on Monday became the latest to order such measures.

The crisis is among the most serious in a litany of product-safety scandals emerging from China's chaotic and corrupt manufacturing industries in recent years.

Besides the toll in mainland China, five children in Hong Kong, one in Macau, and four people in Taiwan have reportedly developed kidney stones after drinking tainted Chinese products.

Chinese premier Wen Jiabao vowed over the weekend to work to restore his country's reputation, saying it was facing the problem "candidly".

However, a Chinese human rights group said Monday the government was suppressing media coverage vital to assigning blame and preventing a recurrence.

"China has tightened its grip on media freedom to contain rising nationwide outrage at tainted milk products," China Human Rights Defenders, a network of domestic and foreign human rights activists, said in an emailed report.

It cited several instances of reporting by Chinese media censored or banned by authorities. AFP could not immediately verify the allegations.

Normally used in making plastics and fertiliser, melamine is believed to have been added to milk to give it the appearance of higher protein content.

The rights group said the central government had ordered all Chinese media to toe the official line on the issue, thereby preventing exposure of "deep-seated problems in the system."

Xinhua reported last week that officials at Sanlu Group, the dairy firm at the centre of the scandal, knew as far back as December that babies were falling ill but did not report the problem to local authorities until August.

The report, citing a Cabinet investigation, said those local officials then waited one month to pass the concerns onto higher authorities.

Police in northern China have detained 22 people in raids on a ring that made and sold the industrial chemical melamine and added it to milk, Xinhua said.

Nineteen of those detained in Hebei province were managers of "pastures, breeding farms and milk purchasing stations," the news agency reported.

The detentions came after more than 800 police raided 41 "pastures, breeding farms, and milk purchasing stations" in and around the city of Shijiazhuang.

Shijiazhuang is the headquarters of Sanlu.

Saluran TV Sabah, Sarawak mulai 2011

Siaran khusus tonjol budaya unik penduduk

Saluran TV Sarawak dan TV Sabah dijangka dapat menemui penonton menjelang 2011 selepas kerajaan bersedia menyediakan siaran khusus bagi mengetengahkan budaya penduduk di kedua-dua negeri berkenaan.

Menteri Penerangan, Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek, berkata saluran berkenaan seiring dengan penstrukturan semua rangkaian di bawah Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) dari sistem analog kepada digital.

"Melalui program penstrukturan ini, tidak mustahil akan ada TV Sarawak, TV Sabah dan TV Wilayah kerana kita dijangka akan mempunyai lebih banyak saluran televisyen berbanding dua ketika ini.

"Persediaan ke arah itu (TV Sarawak dan Sabah) memang sudah ada namun perancangan rapi termasuk menentukan isi kandungan harus difikirkan mulai sekarang," katanya ketika merasmikan Anugerah Muzik Dayak 2008 anjuran Dewan Perniagaan dan Perindustrian Dayak di sini, semalam.

Seramai 87 penyanyi, komposer dan penulis lirik mengambil bahagian dalam majlis yang pertama kali diadakan membabitkan 29 kategori yang dibahagi mengikut suku Iban, Bidayuh dan Orang Ulu.

Shabery berkata, beliau sudah mengarahkan RTM Sarawak dan Sabah bersiap sedia memulakan siaran saluran televisyen berkenaan yang akan menjadi kekuatan kepada RTM bagi bersaing menarik penonton di sana.

"Saya menyuruh mereka bersedia kerana dalam tempoh tiga tahun lagi kita akan ada TV Sarawak yang menyiarkan berita mengenai negeri ini dengan harapan tidak timbul lagi isu penduduk di sini meminta setengah jam masa siaran bagi lagu Dayak.

"Saluran televisyen berkenaan akan hanya menyiarkan program berkaitan penduduk peribumi termasuk suku Dayak yang mengetengahkan pelbagai bahasa serta budaya supaya persefahaman dan perpaduan kaum dapat dikekalkan," katanya.

Beliau berkata, ini penting kerana rakyat tempatan mahukan maklumat dan melihat perkara yang berlaku di sekeliling termasuk aktiviti pihak berkuasa tempatan, masalah kemiskinan serta budaya tempatan lebih dari bahan pada peringkat nasional atau antarabangsa.

Katanya, banyak negara sudah menghentikan siaran analog dan RTM perlu memberhentikan sistem terbabit menjelang 2015 dengan usaha memulakan sistem digital sebelum tarikh itu sedang dilakukan.

"Sistem digital akan mampu menyediakan 18 hingga 20 saluran televisyen, tetapi saya memberitahu bahawa penstrukturan ini bukan bertujuan memasukkan lebih banyak kandungan luar. "Idea kreatif dari Amerika dan Eropah adalah bagi industri mereka tetapi kandungan industri tempatan mestilah dihasilkan orang kita sendiri dan ia diyakini cukup kuat," katanya.

'Mercun bola' causes 40pc burns to boy's face

Muhd Nur Amzar Nordin didn’t hear the fuse burning. When he turned his head the firecracker exploded in his face.

An 11-year-old boy suffered 40 per cent burns on his face while playing with firecrackers at his house near Istana Anak Bukit on Saturday.

Mohd Nur Amzar Nordin had just lit the fuse to the mecun bola, a firecracker the size of a golf ball, when he got injured.

"I turned my face after lighting the firecracker but I thought it had died because I did not hear the fuse burning.

"When I turned to look, it exploded."

The Year Five pupil of SK Alor Merah said he was playing with his cousin in front of his house after breaking fast.

The boy's mother, Noraini Mat Jam, rushed him to Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital.His father, Nordin Ahmad, who was working at the time of the incident, said: "I don't know where he got the firecrackers.

"I had reminded my son on many occasions not to play with firecrackers."

866 food items, suspected of containing melamine, confiscated

A total of 866 food products in the local market suspected of containing melamine, worth RM318,742.10, have been confiscated, Health Ministry food quality and safety department director, Noraini Datuk Mohd Othman said today.

The confiscated included cereal worth RM2,284.09, solids worth RM6,469.30, confectionery (RM236,099.33), chocolate products (RM34,397.11) and milk (RM39,492.27).

She said, up till today they have updated 994 food products from 35 companies not affected by melamine.In a press statement, she said food samples had been taken and analysed by the Chemistry Department to ensure they were up to standard before being sold in the market.

She said the results of tests on 10 more product samples had been obtained, all proven to adhere to the standards, raising the number of product samples to 26.

She advised consumers not to worry about the melamine issue as the ministry had taken appropriate action to handle the situation.She said consumers were also advised to read the labels before buying food products in the market.

Noraini said if there were still uncertainties, consumers could contact the Food Safety and Quality Division at 03-88833655, 88833503, 88833652 and 88833500.

The line would be open from 8 am to 9 pm, including on public holidays and Hari Raya. Consumers could also obtain information at http:fsq.moh.gov.my.

BERNAMA

Melamine fears unfounded

Monday September 29, 2008

The recent melamine-in-milk scare has caused another round of panic among consumers, who worry that using melamine made utensils would poison their food.

While experts have said there should be no cause for undue concern, consumer officials advised the people to stop using plastics to wrap food.

Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) adviser Dr T. Jayabalan, who is a member of the National Poison Centre, said melamine ware such as plates and ladles were safe for use, “and would not result in death.”

“Even if the melamine utensils leach residue due to extremely high temperatures, it is in a very tiny quantity,” added Dr Jayabalan, who likened this amount to a cube of sugar in a lake.

Melamine is used to make plastic kitchen utensils and plates which are similar in appearance to porcelain.

It is a thermosetting plastic which does not modify in form until exposed to a temperature of above 200°C.

However, Dr Jayabalan urged consumers to avoid using plastic bags, polystyrene boxes and cling wrap to package their food.

“When exposed to high heat from food, the plastic could leach and release chemicals which may disrupt the human reproductive system and affect hormone production,” he said.

“We may not be able to see the effects immediately, but our children will be at risk of mutation and even sex changes,” added Dr Jayabalan, who is also a National Poison Centre member.

Muslim Consumer Association of Malaysia secretary-general Datuk Dr Ma’amor Osman advised consumers to stay away from plastic completely, be it dining in restaurants or buying back food.

“Consumers should use their own containers such as stainless steel tins if they want to bring food home and request for clay or glass cutlery in restaurants,” he said.

“It is our right as a consumer to be served in a good and healthy way,” added Dr Ma’amor.
He said labels should be placed on containers to clearly state any warnings, what it is made of and whether it is microwave-safe.

Fomca chief executive officer Mohd Yusof Abdul Rahman hoped the authorities would conduct more research to determine what is safe for consumers to ease their doubts.

“The Government could also ask hawkers and traders to abstain from using plastic for the time being as it may be hazardous to health,” he added.

Penduduk minta Ketua Menteri atasi isu tanah

Beberapa penduduk kampung memegang poster dan risalah yang menunjukkan bahawa tanah tersebut adalah tanah NCR milik mereka, semasa protes secara aman di Simpang Kampung Beraya

Penduduk dari 13 buah kampung di sini mengadakan protes secara aman untuk meminta Ketua Menteri Sarawak, Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud turun padang dalam menyelesaikan isu pemilikan tanah hak adat bumiputera (NCR) rakyat di negeri ini.

Protes yang diadakan pada pukul 8 pagi ini, di Simpang Kampung Beraya kira-kira 40 minit dari bandar raya Miri, disertai penduduk dari Kampung Batu Satu, Kejapil, Keluru Tengah, Keluru Jaya, Subak, Sepurau, Selanyau, Opak, Tusan, Uban, Terhad dan Beraya.

Penduduk terbabit merayu, Ketua Menteri dan Kerajaan Negeri Sarawak supaya bertindak segera terutama bagi menyelesaikan isu tanah NCR termasuk milik mereka yang kini dituntut oleh sebuah syarikat pemaju di sini.

Penghulu Sahar berkata, syarikat terbabit menerusi notis yang dikeluarkan pada 15 September lepas telah meminta penduduk mengosongkan tanah NCR mereka dalam tempoh 14 hari.

Tindakan syarikat terbabit, katanya, amat mengejutkan penduduk memandangkan tanah yang dituntut oleh syarikat itu merupakan tanah NCR milik penduduk dari 13 buah kampung tersebut.

''Justeru kita merayu Ketua Menteri dan Kerajaan Negeri Sarawak supaya campur tangan pada kadar segera bagi menyelesaikan isu tanah penduduk di sini.

''Lagipun tanah yang dirampas syarikat tersebut kini sudahpun diusahakan penduduk dengan pelbagai tanaman yang kini sudahpun mengeluarkan hasilnya," katanya kepada pemberita di sini, hari ini.

Beliau berkata, syarikat terbabit sudahpun melakukan kerja-kerja pembersihan tapak yang merangkumi keluasan 5,500 hektar.

Sementara itu, Ketua Kaum Kampung Keluru Jaya, Bingkil Bangkol memberitahu kawasan tersebut sudah diduduki masyarakat Kedayan yang berhijrah dari Brunei sejak tahun 1910.
Katanya, antara bukti yang boleh mengesahkan dakwaan penduduk itu termasuklah tanah perkuburan Islam yang masih lagi terdapat di kawasan berkenaan.

''Tanah perkuburan yang terdapat di situ termasuklah tanah perkuburan Isla Kejapil, Kubit Butir, Kubur Sungai Jalil, Uban dan Kubur Sungai Payau," katanya.

Sehubungan itu, katanya, kerajaan negeri harus mencari jalan penyelesaian segera bagi menjamin keselamatan tanah NCR penduduk daripada dirampas pihak lain.

Dalam pada itu, pemerhati politik melihat isu pemilikan tanah NCR yang kini semakin menjadi tekanan besar bagi rakyat khususnya di kawasan luar bandar akan menjadi senjata utama pembangkang menjelang pilihan raya negeri akan datang.

Isu tanah NCR amat sensitif dan dekat di hati rakyat disebabkan ia sebahagian daripada aset yang telah diwariskan daripada nenek moyang kepada mereka.

Utusan Malaysia 28/09/08

Kapal tangki Bunga Melati dibebaskan

Kapal tangki Malaysia, MT Bunga Melati 5, sebuah daripada dua buah kapal milik MISC yang ditawan lanun di Teluk Aden di perairan Somalia, telah dibebaskan, kata Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. Beliau berkata, kesemua anak kapal MT Bunga Melati 5 berada dalam keadaan sihat dan kapal itu kini belayar menuju Djibouti (Timur Afrika).

“Di atas kapal ada satu pasukan perubatan dari Kementerian Pertahanan terdiri daripada doktor, pembantu perubatan dan kaunselor,” katanya selepas rakaman perutusan Hari Raya Aidilfitri di kediaman rasmi Perdana Menteri, Seri Perdana, di sini hari ini.

Abdullah, yang juga Menteri Pertahanan berkata rundingan untuk pembebasan sebuah lagi kapal, MT Bunga Melati 2 masih lagi diteruskan.

Beliau berkata terdapat tanda positif berkaitan rundingan itu dan beliau berharap rundingan itu akan mencapai penyelesaian segera supaya kapal berkenaan dapat meneruskan perjalanan menuju ke destinasi lain.

- Bernama

Semua sokong peralihan awal

PERDANA Menteri Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi ketika mengadakan sidang media mengenai Mesyuarat Khas Majlis Tertinggi Umno di PWTC kelmarin. Turut kelihatan Timbalan Presiden Umno Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Tun Abdul Razak (kiri). Majlis Tertinggi Umno hari ini menunda tarikh pemilihan pucuk pimpinan tertinggi parti ke Mac tahun depan bagi melicinkan proses peralihan kuasa yang lebih awal. - Foto Bernama

Pemimpin Umno pelbagai peringkat berpendapat keputusan Majlis Tertinggi (MT) Umno menunda tarikh perhimpunan agung parti dari Disember kepada Mac tahun depan bagi mempermudahkan pelan peralihan kuasa setahun lebih awal, sebagai tepat dan bukti permuafakatan pada peringkat tertinggi parti. Mengikut persetujuan sebelum ini, pelan peralihan kuasa antara Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi dan Timbalannya, Datuk Seri Najib Razak adalah pada Jun 2010.

Keputusan ini juga dikatakan akan memudahkan kebanyakan Umno bahagian yang menunggu isyarat lebih jelas sebelum mencalonkan nama dua pemimpin tertinggi parti pada pemilihan parti Mac tahun depan.

Perdana Menteri pada sidang media selepas mesyuarat khas MT kelmarin membayangkan pelan peralihan kuasa itu akan berubah tanpa menyatakan dengan jelas tarikh sebenar beliau akan melepaskan jawatan berikutan penangguhan perhimpunan agung itu. Ahli MT, Datuk Shahrir Samad, ketika diminta mengulas keputusan MT itu berpandangan bahawa proses peralihan kuasa sudah berlaku walaupun Abdullah belum menyerahkan jawatan Perdana Menteri secara rasmi.

Dari segi politik dan psikologi, katanya, Abdullah sudah menyerahkan sebahagian kuasa kepada Najib dan ini diperkukuhkan dengan penangguhan perhimpunan agung dan pemilihan parti.

"Sesetengah pihak sebelum ini meminta Perdana Menteri mempercepatkan peralihan kuasa, tetapi proses itu sudah pun berlaku, terutama selepas beliau menyerahkan jawatan Menteri Kewangan kepada Najib," katanya ketika dihubungi Berita Minggu.

Pengerusi Badan Perhubungan Umno Kelantan, Tan Sri Annuar Musa, berkata keputusan Abdullah untuk mempercepatkan peralihan kuasa amat tepat bagi membolehkan parti itu membuat persediaan awal menghadapi pilihan raya umum ke-13. Beliau berkata, berdasarkan keadaan sekarang, banyak perkara perlu dilakukan Umno bagi mendapatkan semula kepercayaan rakyat.

"Kita lihat banyak perkara perlu dilakukan oleh Umno sebab itu kita mahu Najib mendapat sokongan padu dan walaupun berundur, kita berharap Pak Lah akan terus memberi sokongan.

Kita mahu semua tenaga Umno digemblengkan baik Pak Lah, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad atau Tun Musa Hitam," katanya kepada pemberita di sini, semalam.

Pengerusi Badan Perhubungan Umno Kedah, Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid, berkata keputusan MT dilakukan secara berhemah dengan mengambil kira persetujuan pemimpin dan ahli akar umbi.

"Keputusan ini diambil menerusi perbincangan kedua-dua pemimpin tertinggi Umno dan saya yakin ia mengambil kira pelbagai faktor, terutama menjaga kestabilan politik parti," katanya ketika dihubungi di sini, semalam.

Mengulas pelan peralihan kuasa dijangka lebih awal, Mahdzir berkata, perkara itu wajar diserahkan kepada Perdana Menteri dan timbalannya dan yakin proses itu akan dilaksanakan pada waktu yang sesuai. Ketua Umno bahagian Rasah di Negeri Sembilan, Datuk Hashim Rusdi, berkata keputusan mesyuarat khas MT penting bagi mengelakkan pemimpin atasan parti dilihat tidak bermuafakat dan bercakaran sesama sendiri yang menyebabkan ahli biasa bertambah keliru.

Katanya, kebanyakan Umno bahagian kini menunggu isyarat lebih jelas mengenai peralihan kuasa sebelum mencalonkan nama untuk dua pemimpin tertinggi parti dalam pemilihan parti Mac tahun depan.

"Pemimpin tertinggi parti perlu berkompromi terlebih dulu. Saya percaya ini akan memudahkan bahagian Umno seluruh negara untuk mencalonkan nama pemimpin bagi jawatan penting parti dalam mesyuarat bahagian mulai Oktober ini," katanya.

Sementara itu penganalisis politik dari Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Dr Ahmad Nidzammuddin Sulaiman, berpandangan peralihan kuasa lebih awal mencerminkan kesediaan Presiden Umno mendengar pandangan pemimpin dan ahli akar umbi Umno.

Katanya, walaupun ada desakan daripada beberapa pemimpin kanan parti dan ahli MT untuk mempercepatkan proses peralihan kuasa, tetapi faktor kesediaan Abdullah sendiri adalah penting bagi menjamin proses itu berjalan lancar.

Saya percaya keputusan mempercepatkan proses peralihan dapat meredakan ketegangan dalam Umno dan membolehkan parti itu menangani cabaran parti pembangkang, terutama Parti Keadilan Rakyat," katanya. Di PASIR PUTEH, Pengerusi Persatuan Veteran Umno Kelantan Datuk Rozali Ishak berkata, keputusan itu menunjukkan Abdullah lebih mengutamakan perjuangan daripada diri sendiri apabila mengambil kira pandangan orang ramai, sayap Puteri dan Umno bahagian.

"Pak Lah lebih sensitif dengan pandangan ahli parti dan ini satu pengorbanan besar yang ditunjukkan seseorang pemimpin," katanya.

Rozali bagaimanapun berharap selepas ini tidak ada lagi pihak yang mendesak Perdana Menteri mengundurkan diri kerana tempoh yang diambil sudah cukup untuk melakukan peralihan.

80 penguat kuasa turun padang

Tumpuan di pasar raya, kedai pastikan peniaga patuhi harga barang terkawal

Seramai 80 kakitangan Kementerian Perdagangan Dalam Negeri dan Hal Ehwal Pengguna (KPDNHEP) akan memantau semua pasar dan kedai di seluruh negeri ini bagi memastikan peniaga mematuhi harga barang terkawal yang ditetapkan.

Pengarah KPDNHEP Sarawak, Ahmad Nasir Khosri berkata, terdapat 17 barang terkawal ditetapkan sempena sambutan Aidilfitri bermula hari ini (24 September) sehingga 8 Oktober sebelum ia disambung kembali pada 20 Oktober sehingga 3 November bagi sambutan Deepavali.

Katanya, peniaga tidak dibenarkan menjual 17 barang berkenaan melebihi harga yang ditetapkan di dalam senarai dengan pegawai penguatkuasa boleh menyaman mereka kerana kesalahan itu.

"Saya meminta peniaga tidak menaikan harga 17 barang terkawal ini dengan sesuka hati kerana ia boleh menjejaskan suasana perayaan berikutan orang ramai terpaksa membayar lebih bagi sesuatu barangan.

"Adalah menjadi kesalahan mengikut Akta Kawalan Harga 1946 dengan peniaga yang dikesan sengaja menaikan harga barang kawalan boleh didenda maksimum RM7,500 mengikut setiap barangan berkenaan," katanya ketika selepas melakukan tinjauan di Pasar Batu 7, Kota Sentosa, di sini, semalam.

Turut hadir Timbalan Pengarah KPDNHEP Sarawak, Mohd Khalis Kasim serta kakitangan Bahagian Penguatkuasa KPDNHEP. Sejumlah 30 gerai dan kedai menjual pelbagai barangan keperluan diperiksa dalam lawatan berkenaan yang diketuai sendiri Ahmad Nasir.

Ahmad Nasir berkata, harga 17 barangan yang dikeluarkan pihaknya adalah harga maksimum yang ditetapkan namun sekiranya peniaga mahu menjual barang berkenaan dengan harga lebih murah ia adalah dialukan.

"Contohnya harga ayam yang ditetapkan di Kuching adalah RM8.20 namun sekiranya peniaga boleh menjualnya pada harga RM7.50 kami tidak akan menghalang kerana ia memberi orang ramai lebih banyak pilihan.

"Orang ramai juga ketika musim perayaan diminta membuat perbandingan harga sebelum mengambil keputusan membeli sesuatu barang agar mereka tidak tertipu dengan terpaksa membayar lebih," katanya.

Mengulas mengenai harga sesetangah barangan yang tidak sekata antara pasar di Kuching, Ahmad Nasir berkata, barangan di luar senarai kawalan sememangnya akan berbeza mengikut yang ditetapkan peniaga.

"Begitu juga dengan harga barang kawalan kerana ada sesetengahnya murah dan ada juga yang mahal namun kita akan meminta peniaga menurunkan harga barangan berkenaan secepat mungkin. "Melalui pemantauan yang akan dilakukan dari masa ke semasa, saya yakin harga semua barang dapat diselaraskan di bawah harga yang ditetapkan jabatan," katanya.

Fuel price cuts to ease burden

The fuel price cuts will hopefully ease the burden of the people as they celebrate Hari Raya, says Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad.

Shahrir said the Government would be paying slightly more in fuel subsidy as the average crude oil price would be only seven sen cheaper but the Government had decided to absorb the difference and lower petrol and diesel prices by 10 sen.

Asked whether the Government would implement a free float system for fuel prices, Shahrir said it was too early to think of that although it was one of the matters discussed.

Earlier, Shahrir announced that the consumer price index (CPI) from January to August increased by 4.8% to 110.4 compared with that of 105.3 in the same period last year.

The CPI for this August registered an increase of 8.5% from 105.9 last year to 114.9. The CPI for August increased by 0.2% when compared with July, he added.

Shahrir noted that the drop in fuel prices on Aug 22 was not reflected in the CPI in August.
Shahrir said the September CPI may not be lower as the Government had allowed an increase of 30% surcharge for buses during the festive season.

On the issue of tainted milk products, Shahrir said his ministry was assisting the Health Ministry.

“We should not only rely on en-forcement officers but wholesalers and retailers familiar with the products from China should also highlight those items which may contain melamine. Then we will be able to solve the problem effectively,” he said.

Pan Malaysian Bus Operators Asso­ciation president Datuk Ashfar Ali said that while the 10 sen reduction was good for the public it would not make any difference to bus operators.
“We still get subsidised diesel at a set price,” he said.

Fomca president N. Marimuthu said consumers should continue to remain thrifty.
“For the Government, they must con­tinue to plan for better public transportation as the fuel issue will continue to affect us in future,” he said.

He said he did not expect prices of goods and services to drop in line with the reduction as the cost of production and raw materials had risen.

Pan Malaysian Lorry Owners Association president Er Sui See said: “The reduction should have been more. But nevertheless, it is better than nothing.”

Kebudayaan : Bermukun meriah keramaian

Apabila gendang dipalu, rentak tari bermula, maka bertingkah pantun antara pemalu gendang terdiri daripada wanita dengan si penari lelaki yang menandakan majlis Gendang Melayu Sarawak atau 'bermukun' memasuki arenanya.

Dengan direntangi kain sebagai tabir untuk sempadan antara si penggendang dan si penari, para hadirin pula duduk-duduk secara santai di sekeliling, baik di lantai atau di atas kerusi dan ada yang berdiri di beranda rumah menunggu aksi-aksi pantun dimulakan.

Apabila penggendang sudah mendapat isyarat penari yang dikenali sebagai 'penandak' bahawa mereka sudah sedia menjawab pantun maka penggendang pun berpantun berbunyi;

Bukan mukun sebarang mukun,

Mukun kamek berisi beras;

Bukan pantun sebarang pantun,

Pantun kamek minta dibalas.

Mendengar pantun itu, sudah pasti penandak lelaki dicabar untuk berbalas pantun dan ia membuka peluang mana-mana lelaki yang bersuara merdu dan bijak berbalas pantun menonjolkan diri dengan menunjukkan kehebatannya.

Maka berbunyilah pantun si penandak seumpama ini;

Api apa di Tanjung Jambu,

Api Pak Jenal di hujung perahu,

Anak siapa berdua itu,

Saja kenal nama tak tahu.

Dalam majlis bermukun, terdapat pelbagai telatah boleh disaksikan malah ada yang mencuit hati dengan pantun-pantun bertemakan cinta dan kasih sayang, menggoda serta cuba menarik perhatian orang ramai, walaupun bukan semua penandak boleh menari dengan baik.

Malah di kalangan penandak terdapat satu atau dua mereka yang mempunyai peminat tersendiri dan sentiasa dinanti-nantikan kedatangannya ke majlis gendang atau bermukun itu disebabkan bijak dalam membalas pantun si penggendang.

Mendalami perihal bermukun, Utusan Malaysia berpeluang berbual-bual mengenainya dengan seorang aktivis seni, Hassim Tahot yang dikenali ramai sebagai Bang Acim kerana bergiat aktif dalam seni dan budaya di Bumi Kenyalang ini.

Hassim memberitahu, 'bermukun' merupakan persembahan tradisional Sarawak yang membabitkan persembahan tarian dan pantun berlagu yang diiringi gesekan biola dan gendang.

Menurutnya, dalam dialek Melayu Sarawak, bermukun adalah berbalas pantun antara penggendang dan petandak disusuli dengan bunyi gendang malah acara itu juga dikenali sebagai nopeng atau main kulit kambing kering.

''Ada yang menyebut acara itu sebagai bergendang, bermukun atau nopeng dan persembahan itu kebiasaannya diadakan pada majlis-majlis kenduri kahwin dan menyambut ketibaan orang kenamaan di kampung-kampung.

''Dahulu, acara itu dipanggil nopeng adalah disebabkan si penandak yang menari itu memakai topeng dan waktu berlangsungnya majlis tersebut kebanyakannya apabila hampir tengah malam," katanya di sini baru-baru ini.

Hassim memberitahu, dalam persembahan bermukun itu, ia mempunyai disiplin yang ketat dan dipelihara dalam mengawal sebarang gerakan.

Sebelum ini katanya, bermukun hanya membabitkan dua orang atau sepasang lelaki menari di hadapan tabir sambil berbalas pantun dengan si penggendang dan pasangannya.

Tambahnya, dahulunya penari di kalangan wanita tidak dibenarkan sama sekali, namun setelah memasuki zaman moden ini, kaum itu mula diberi peluang sebagai memperkembangkan lagi seni budaya Gendang Melayu Sarawak itu.

''Kebiasaannya yang 'bertandak' (menari) hanya lelaki yang selalunya berpasangan," katanya.

Dalam pada itu, pengalaman penulis sendiri sebelum ini yang pernah menghadiri majlis bermukun dalam tahun 1990-an mendapati para pemuda bertandak beramai-ramai secara serentak.

Dalam ruang yang sederhana, bertandak beramai-ramai akan menyebabkan keadaan nampak sesak, namun ada yang bersikap tolak- ansur bagi mengelak sebarang tindak balas meskipun ada yang berlaga bahu atau memotong barisan.

Ada juga si penandak yang tidak suka dipotong atau diambil-alih tempatnya sehingga sekurang-kurangnya sekali berbalas pantun dan sesiapa yang memotong giliran sebelum habis atau sebelum sempat berbalas pantun dikira melanggar adat dan pergaduhan boleh berlaku.

Ini kerana, majlis bermukun bukan hanya dihadiri oleh mereka yang datang dari satu kampung, namun ia disertai oleh para pemuda dari kampung-kampung yang berdekatan.

Apabila waktu rehat, ada orang yang akan menghidang kopi dalam gelas 'kampung' beserta dengan biskut 'keben' iaitu sejenis biskut tawar-masin sebelum acara itu diteruskan malah ada yang tamat sehingga subuh pukul 4 atau 5 pagi.

Bagaimanapun, budaya bermukun di kampung-kampung di Sarawak semakin lama semakin hilang ditelan zaman malah majlis-majlis keramaian atau kenduri pada hari ini mulai kurang serinya dan ada yang digantikan dengan acara konsert atau karaoke yang kurang mendapat sambutan.

Harga minyak turun 10 sen mulai esok (Khamis)

Kerajaan mengumumkan harga runcit petrol RON97 dan 92 dikurangkan sebanyak 10 sen iaitu daripada RM2.55 kepada RM2.45 seliter dan RM2.50 kepada RM2.40 seliter, berkuat kuasa mulai esok.

Health Ministry's additional list of safe milk products

The Health Ministry on Wednesday released an additional list of dairy products not contaminated with melamine

Nestle
(Milk ingredient sourced from Australia, New Zealand, United States and Europe)

Nestle Dairy Sterilised Reduced Cream
Purell Mashed Potato Granules with skim Milk
Nestle Prebio 2 Rusk Banana
Nestle Prebio 2 Rusk Original
Nescafe Cappuccino, Nescafe Mocha
Nescafe Latte, Coffeemate Lite
Nestle Complete Mashed Potato
Nestle Pre-nan, Nestle Nan 1
Nesvita with Actifibras
Nestle Omega Plus
Everyday Instant Filled Milk Powder
Lactogen 1 with DHA
Lactogen 2 with DHA
Lactogen 3
Nan 2
Nan HA 1
Nan HA 2
Nan 3
Nan 2 with Probiotics
Nan HA Alcalese
Honey Stars breakfast cereal
MILO Balls / MILO BFC
Cappuccino Topping
Nestomalt
Whole Water Soluble MILO
Coulis De Tomato tomato sauce
Nutren Junior Vanilla
Nutren 1.0 Vanilla
Nutren Diabetes
Nutren Optimum
Nutren 1.0 with Fiber Vanilla
Peptamen Junior
Peptamen Vanilla
Coffeemate
Nestle Tea-Time Creamer


Dutch Lady
(Milk ingredient sourced from Australia, Thailand, Indonesia and Netherlands)

Friso range of products
Dutch Lady Langkah 1 & 2 range of products
Dutch Lady Growing Up Milk 123 range of products
Dutch lady Growing Up Milk 456 range of products
Dutch Lady Full Cream Milk Powder (plain)
Dutch Lady Instant Filled Milk Powder range of productsDutch Lady Sterilised Milk range of products
Dutch Lady UHT Milk range of productsJOY Fruit Juice range of products
Dutch Lady Iced Latte range of products
Sweetened Creamer range of products
Completa Evaporated Milk
Dutch Lady Pasteurised Milk range of products
Dutch Lady Low Fat Eating Yoghurt range of products
Shine 0% Fat Cup Yoghurt range of products
Dutch Lady 0% Fat Drinking Yoghurt range of products
Dutch Lady 0% Fat Cup Yoghurt range of products

Abbott Laboratories (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd
(Milk ingredients sourced from countries other than China)

Similac Advance EYEQ
Similac Advance EYEQ with Iron
Similac Advance Shield (NEW)
Similac Gain Advance Shield (NEW)
Similac LF, Similac Neosure
Similac Gain Advance EYEQ
Isomil Advance EYEQ
AlimentumGain Plus Advance EYEQ
Gain Kid Advance EYEQ
Gain Plus EYEQ Advance Shield (NEW)
Gain Kid EYEQ Advance Shield (NEW)
Grow 3+Grow 6+Isomil+ Advance EYEQ
Pediasure
Pediasure Complete
Ensure
Glucerna
Prosure

Yakult Malaysia
(Milk ingredients sourced from Australia)

Yakult Ace

* Health Ministry's safe list released on Tuesday

Malaysia cuts fuel price by 3.9 percent

Malaysia Wednesday announced another 3.9 percent cut in petrol prices, following recent declines in world oil prices.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said the price of petrol will be cut by 10 sen to 2.45 ringgit (0.72 dollars) while diesel prices will be cut by the same amount to 2.40 ringgit effective Thursday.

It is the second time the government has cut fuel prices since a 41 percent hike in June on the back of soaring crude costs -- a 5.6 percent cut was introduced last month.

The massive rise in June sparked angry street protests and calls for Abdullah to quit. The PM later said prices will be reviewed periodically based on the cost of oil.

Wednesday's cut comes ahead of next week's Eid al-Fitr celebrations in the mainly Muslim country.

"In the last month global oil prices have been fluctuating but on an average it is lower than the previous price average (in August)," Abdullah said in a statement.

"The government is aware that many will be travelling back to their home towns for the festive season from this weekend,"

"(We) hope that this price reduction will alleviate the people's burden, especially while celebrating Eid al-Fitr," he said.

June's hike saw inflation skyrocket, with the August price index reaching a 26-year high of 8.5 percent, driven by the escalating cost of food and fuel.

Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, who is mounting an aggressive challenge against Abdullah's leadership, has promised to cut fuel prices substantially if he wrests power from the ruling coalition.


Agence France-Presse - 9/24/2008 10:17 AM GMT

Malaysian inflation at 26-year high for August

Malaysia's inflation rate jumped to a 26-year high of 8.5 percent in August, driven by the escalating cost of food and fuel, according to official data released Wednesday.

"The result was slightly higher than expected but the central Bank Negara would not raise interest rates to ensure growth," said Wan Suhaimi Saidi, an economist with Kenanga Investment Bank.

"It is slightly above my expectation. I was looking at 8.4 percent. I don't think the government will increase the key interest rates. It will be maintained at 3.50 percent till the year-end to support growth," he told AFP.

The Department of Statistics revised downwards the inflation figure for July to 8.3 percent.

It said the cost of food and non-alcoholic drinks rose 11.7 percent in August compared to a year ago. The high inflation is already hurting consumers with many Malaysians cutting down on their food bill.

"The increase (in inflation for August) was shown in the selected main groups, namely food and non-alcoholic," it said in a statement.

The August data showed escalating prices in most categories, including transport which jumped 21.8 percent, and restaurants and hotels which rose 6.5 percent.

Malaysia's government hiked the fuel price by 41 percent in June, in a move to rein in the ballooning cost of subsidies but it has indicated prices could be lowered soon.

High inflation was one of the factors that led to an unprecedented humiliation at March general elections for the ruling coalition, which lost five states and a third of parliamentary seats.

Bank Negara has said it expects inflation to moderate in the second half of 2008 as economic growth is likely to slow down.

Agence France-Presse - 9/24/2008 9:15 AM GMT

School year to start Jan 5

Students will go back to school on Jan 5 in all states next year except for Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu, where classes start a day earlier.

There will be an extra school day next year making it 208, compared to this year (which has 207 school days).

Students will have 77 days of holidays in 2009, which is seven days less than in 2008.
An Education Ministry official explained that there is no mistake to the start of the last term on Aug 31 (in the second term).

She said the ministry counts it as the start of the school week although it happens to fall on National Day.

“Students will actually start the term on Sept 1 but we look at the start of the week which happens to fall on Aug 31,” she said when contacted.

Schools can apply for cuti peristiwa (occasional holidays), which need not be replaced, or for cuti ganti (replacement holidays) for an extended break during the festive seasons.

Malaysia widens China ban to milk, biscuits, chocolate

Malaysia has widened its ban on Chinese dairy products to include candies, chocolates and all foods containing milk, a top official said Tuesday.

Noraini Mohamad Othman, director of the health ministry's food safety and quality division, said scores of officials have been deployed nationwide to enforce the ban on foods from China, an important trading partner.

"All food products with Chinese milk are banned," she told AFP.

"(Health officials) are also on the ground to seal the sale of the products," Noraini said, adding that the ministry was urging manufacturers to carry out voluntary recalls.

Noraini said Malaysia has banned Chinese milk and infant formula since the 1990s because of foot and mouth disease in cattle, and those measures were reaffirmed in a health ministry directive on the weekend.

The expanded ban comes after neighbouring Singapore found the potentially deadly chemical melamine in the popular White Rabbit Creamy Candy from China, she said.

Melamine is at the centre of a widening food safety scandal in China.

Around 53,000 Chinese infants have become sick after drinking formula laced with melamine, a chemical used in plastics which can also make milk appear to be full of protein.

Four children in China have died. Melamine can cause kidney stones and lead to kidney failure.

Milk scare: Checks on retail outlets begin

The Government has started checks on retail outlets all over the country for dairy products produced in China.

It has also started advising retailers to withdraw from sale certain items which were deemed suspicious until it could be confirmed that they were safe to be consumed.

The Health Ministry on Tuesday released a list of dairy products deemed safe and not contaminated with melamine to ease consumer worries.

The list contains over 170 items across 11 brands which consist of milk powder, chocolates, yoghurt and various other dairy products.

According to the ministry’s food quality and safety department director, Noraini Mohd Othman, releasing the list was done to allay the worries consumers may be having.

“We will be preparing two more lists in the days to come. One will list out dairy products from China that are safe to consume and another will be a list of products that are not safe at all,” she said.

Noraini said time was needed to prepare these lists as tests had to be done on the various dairy products, while reiterating that there had been an existing ban on milk and milk powder from China.

In a statement, the ministry also warned all importers or agents importing milk or dairy products from China to stop immediately.

It advised importers and retailers that any remaining stock was to be reported to the nearest district health office.

The statement also added that dairy products were defined as: milk, pasteurised milk, UHT milk, flavoured milk, full cream milk, skim milk, evaporated, condensed milk, butter, cheese, ice cream, yoghurt and ghee.

Consumers are advised to call 03-88833655 to make complaints or for further information.
On Monday, the Government extended its ban on dairy products imported from China to include confectionery which contain milk, chocolate (including white chocolate) and other food which contain milk.

On Friday, Singapore’s Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority suspended the import of all milk and milk products from China and instructed retailers and importers to recall such products.

Three products were found to contain melamine “ ‘’White Rabbit Creamy Candy’’, ‘’Yili Brand Choice Dairy Fruit Bar Yogurt’’ and ‘’Dutch Lady’’ strawberry-flavoured milk.

Health Ministry's list of safe milk products

Mead Johnson
(Milk ingredient sourced from Australia, New Zealand, United States and Europe)

Enfalac A+
Enfalac Routine Infant Formula Enfapro A+
Enfapro Routine Follow Up Formula Enfagrow A+ Vanilla
Enfagrow A+ Original
Enfagrow A+ Honey
Enfakid A+ Original
Enfakid A+ Honey
Sustagen Junior Honey
Sustagen Junior Vanilla
Sustagen Junior Chocolate
Sustagen Kid HoneySustagen Kid Vanilla
Sustagen Kid ChocolateSustagen School Honey
Sustagen School Vanilla
Sustagen School Chocolate
Enfamama A+ Chocolate
Enfamama A+ Vanilla
Enfalac A+ AR
Enfalac A+ HA
ProsobeeEnfalac LF
Enfalac A+ Premature Powder

Dumex
(Milk ingredient sourced from Australia and New Zealand)
Mamex Gold Step 1

Dulac Infant Formula
Bebelac Step 1
Mamex Gold Step 2
Dupro Follow Up Formula
Bebelac Step 2
Mamil Gold Step 3
Mamil Gold Step 4
Dugro 1 PlusDugro 3 Plus
Dugro 6 Plus
Bebelac Kid Step 3
Bebelac Kid Step 4
Bebelac FL
Bebelac EC
Mamex LF
Nutrakids Cereals
Mamil Mama

Nestle
(Milk ingredient sourced from Australia, New Zealand, United States and Europe)
Nestle Yogurt Drinks
Nestle Bliss Zero Fat Yogurt Drink
Nestle Premium Fruit Yogurt
Nestle Natural YogurtYoco range
Nespray InstantEveryday Instant filled milk powder
Nestle Omega Acticol
Nespray CergasNesvita High Cal Non Fat
Nespray 1+ Original
Nespray 1+ Honey
Nespray 3+ Original
Nespray 3+ Honey
Nespray 5+Neslac 1+ Original
Neslac 1+ HoneyNeslac 3+ Original
Neslac 3+ Honey

Milo range of products
Kit Kat range of products
Nestle Potong red bean
Nestle Milky Bar and Crunch
Mat Kool range of products
Nestle Tropicana Lime/Vanilla
Nestle Crunch Nestle Original Lime/Vanilla
Sundae cup KFC Vanilla
Nestle Sundae Cup Vanilla
KFC dessert orange sherbet
Nestle range of ice cream
Favorita range of products
Nestle Drumstick range of products
Maggi fixes and Maggi soup containing milk
Nestle Full Cream Milk, Low Fat Milk
Omega UHTNesvita UHT
Nesquik UHT
Nespray UHT
Nesvita Hi Cal UHT
Nescafe 3 in 1
Nescafe Mocha Freeze
Nestle Prebio 1 (infant cereals with milk)
Nestle Teh Tarik
Nescafe Body Partners
Nestum Sarapan Berkhasiat
Nestum Cereals 3 in 1
Nesvita 3 in 1
Nestle Cereals (premium infant cereals)
Nescafe range of can drink products
Cap Junjung sweetened beverage creamer
Ideal Full Cream Evaporated Milk
Carnation Evaporated Creamer

Fonterra Brands
(Milk ingredient sourced New Zealand)
Anlene Gold Milk Powder
Anlene Regular milk powder (plain/chocolate)
Fernleaf Kuat milk powder
Fernleaf Instant milk powder
Anmum Materna milk powder
Anmum Lacta milk powder
Anlene Concentrate UHT
Anlene Yogurt
Fernleaf Calciyum yogurt
Fernleaf full cream milk powder
Fernleaf growing up milk powder 1+
Fernleaf growing up milk powder 3+
Anmum growing up milk powder 1+
Anmum growing up milk powder 3+
Anmum Infacare infant formula
Anmum Infacare follow on formula
Chesdale slice cheese
Anchor butter
Anchor cream cheese
Anchor mozzarella cheese
Anchor Colby Cheddar blend shred
Anchor processed cheddar cheese
Anchor whipping cream (UHT)
Anchor culinary cream (UHT)
Anchor full cream milk powder

Kilang Makanan Mamee
(Milk ingredient sourced from Australia)

Nutrigen Cultured Milk
Nutrigen IQ3 Cultured Milk
Nutrigen Liteyo Yogurt Drink
Nutrigen Liteyo Stirred Yogurt

Dutch Lady
(Milk ingredient sourced from Australia, Thailand, Indonesia and Netherlands)
Frisolac 1 Gold
Frisolac 2 Gold
Dutch Lady UHT
Frisolac Comfort
Completa Brand
Yes! Tutti FruitiYes! Grape
Yes! Strawberry
Yes! OrangeDutch Lady 2

Ace Canning Corporation
(Milk ingredient sourced from New Zealand)

Drinho Rose Bandung
Dutch Mill
Nugrow

Maestro Swiss Food Sdn Bhd
(Milk ingredient not sourced from China)
VicoVochelleDarry’s

Wyeth Malaysia
(Milk ingredient not sourced from China)

SMA
S26
S26 Gold
NursoyPromil
Promil GoldProgress
Progress Gold
Promise
Promise Gold
Wyeth Mama
Enercal Plus
S26 LBW
S26 HMF

Malaysia Milk Sdn Bhd / Cotra Enterprise Sdn Bhd
(Milk ingredient sourced from Australia and New Zealand)
Vitagen cultured milk drink
Marigold HL Milk
Marigold Pasturised Milk
Marigold UHT Milk
Marigold Cream yogurt
Marigold Yogurt drink
Marigold sweetened condensed filled milk
Marigold sweetened creamer (from Singapore)
Vitagen Collagen cultured milk drink
Marigold sweetened creamer
Marigold evaporated filled milk
Marigold evaporated creamer

GlaxoSmithKline
(Milk ingredient sourced from UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand)

Horlicks Malt Food Drink
Horlicks Malties
Horlicks 3 in 1
Horlicks Instant cereal drink

The Star - Tuesday September 23, 2008 MYT 8:01:38 PM

Raja Petra to be detained 2yrs under ISA

Malaysia Today editor Raja Petra Kamarudin was served with an order Monday night that would see him detained in Kamunting for two years under the Internal Security Act (ISA).

Raja Petra will be held without trial under Section 8(1) of the ISA, reporters were told by his lawyers, who were at the High Court hear to argue their habeas corpus application on Tuesday.

The detention order was signed by Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar on Monday night.

On Tuesday, DPP Abdul Wahab Mohamad raised a preliminary objection over the blogger’s habeas corpus application saying that Raja Petra’s detention by the police under the Section 73(1) of the same Act has become academic.

DPP Abdul Wahab confirmed that he had been informed Tuesday morning of Raja Petra’s detention under the minister’s order which was effective Monday.

“The applicant is no longer detained under Section 73 (1) of the Act and we strongly contend that all the issues pertaining to the said detention have now become academic since the detention order under Section 8(1) of the Act came into effect,” he said.

DPP Abdul Wahab said the police no longer have authority on the applicant and that the burden has shifted to the Home Minister.

“Thus, any illegality in the prior arrest and detention cannot be the subject matter of inquiry. Any previous issues which transpired before the issuance of the detention order cannot be subject to judicial inquiry.

“I seek your indulgence to strike out the application,” he submitted before High Court judge Suraya Othman when the case was mentioned Tuesday.

Raja Petra had filed a habeas corpus application on Sept 16 to get a court order for his release. The blogger named the Inspector-General of Police as the respondent in the application.

In a supporting document affirmed by Raja Petra’s wife, Mable @ Marina Lee Abdullah said she believed that Raja Petra was detained under ISA on Sept 12 to silence him as well as to extract information concerning his sources.

His lead counsel Malik Imtiaz Sarwar argued Tuesday that the minister’s action was only to defeat the wrongful detention application by his client and it was unacceptable.

Malik argued that Raja Petra’s detention by the police under Section 73(1) of the same Act was without basis, unconstitutional and in bad faith.

He submitted that the minister’s order was inter-related with the detention order by the police and that the applicant could still challenge the validity of the said order. “It is a very urgent matter and there is no evidence to suggest that he (Raja Petra) is a threat to national security. He just put in his comments,” he said.

Justice Suraya asked both parties to file in further written submissions before hearing the matter again on Oct 28.

Speaking to reporters later, Malik said he would file another application for his client under Section 8 of the Act.

Earlier, Raja Petra’s wife Marina and Seputeh MP Teresa Kok were spotted chatting with former de facto Law Minister Senator Datuk Zaid Ibrahim as they sat at the public gallery.

Ther Star, Tuesday September 23, 2008 MYT 4:48:45 PM

Dutch Lady, F&N, Mars say products safe

Dutch Lady Milk Industries Berhad, F&N Dairies (M) Sdn Bhd and Mars Malaysia have assured that their products in Malaysia are safe to consume and do not contain melamine.

Dutch Lady Milk Industries Berhad's managing director Hans Laarakker said within Dutch Lady Malaysia, there are no Dutch Lady products or dairy raw materials sourced from China.

Dutch Lady Malaysia manufactures and distributes milk products ranging from infant formula, growing up milk powder, UHT (ultra high temperature) milk, sterilised milk, pasteurised milk to yoghurt products.

Laarakker stressed that the company’s milk powder was mainly sourced from the Netherlands, Australia and New Zealand.

“Whatever is being distributed within Malaysia is manufactured within our factories in Petaling Jaya itself or mainly imported fully-packed from countries like the Netherlands and New Zealand.

“On this score, my message to all Malaysians is a strong assurance that Dutch Lady Malaysia’s products are safe and fit to consume,” he said Tuesday at a press conference here.

Laarakker also urged consumers to start reading labels on every food item for self-assurance and to check where the products originated from.

About the withdrawal of Dutch Lady’s strawberry flavoured milk in Singapore, Laarakker said it was an isolated case, where the strawberry flavoured sterillised milk in plastic bottle was tested and found to contain melamine, as it was produced in China.

He explained that the particular flavoured milk packed in plastic bottle was the only product from China and sold in Singapore for the past 20 years without a problem.

He however reassured that strawberry flavoured milk in boxes were safe to drink and 95% of Dutch Lady products in Singapore came from Malaysia.

“As a precaution, all sterilised products from this factory in China have since been withdrawn from the Singapore market.

“For similar reasons, all sterilised milk in plastic bottles from the same factory in China has also been withdrawn from the Hong Kong market even though their testing did not reveal any contamination,” he said.

Laarakker also said he was aware of all the e-mail and short message service (SMS) circulating among the public about contaminated milk, including Dutch Lady brand of sterilised milk, and he believed the messages started from Singapore.

He urged consumers to visit www.dutchlady.com.my or call 1-800-88-1191 for further clarification.

Meanwhile, F&N Dairies (M) Sdn Bhd has assured consumers that dairy ingredients in its products in Malaysia are safe for consumption and not sourced from China.

F&N Dairies general manager Edward Liew said all its dairy products are subjected to rigorous tests and hygiene standards at every stage of the food chain right from the receiving of dairy ingredients to storage, processing, manufacturing and delivery to customers.

“Comprehensive systems and regulations are in place in place to ensure their quality, safety and integrity,” he said.

F&N Dairies portfolio of dairy products include F&N sweetened condensed milk range, F&N evaporated milk range, Magnolia milk and ice-cream, Farmhouse, Daisy, F&N aLIVE, TeaPot Carnation, Ideal and Cap Junjung.

Mars Malaysia, the company that produces M&Ms, Snickers and Dove chocolates, has also assured customers that its products are safe for consumption.

Mars South-East Asia managing director Ahmed Amer said Mars does not source any milk powder or ingredients for any of its products from any company which has been found to be selling melamine-contaminated dairy products.

“Just last week, the Chinese food safety watchdog tested product samples of Mars China’s domestic powder suppliers and found them to be free of melamine.”

Ahmed said Mars had a close relationship with its suppliers in China and advised them on a regular basis on the quality of the products supplied to Mars.

“We are confident that none of our chocolate or confectionary products that are made in China include any dairy ingredients adulterated with melamine.”

In other developments:

MANILA: Officials say the Philippines has banned all milk imports from China as a precaution against the spread of contaminated baby formula that has killed four and sickened more than 53,000 Chinese infants.

A Tuesday order by Bureau of Food and Drugs chief Leticia Barbara Gutierrez says the temporary ban on importation, distribution and sale of China-made milk products has been imposed "in the interest of protecting public health and welfare.''

She says her office has no record of baby formula imports from China, but advised consumers not to buy infant milk that might have entered the country from China illegally.

The industrial chemical melamine has been found in infant formula and other milk products from 22 of China's dairy companies.

Beijing: The stock price of a company at the center of China's tainted milk product scandal plunged Tuesday as more countries expanded bans on Chinese milk products to include candies and other goods.

Tainted baby formula has sickened nearly 53,000 Chinese infants and has already cost the head of the country's food safety watchdog his job.

Four deaths have been blamed on the contaminated milk powder.

One of China's biggest milk producers, China Mengniu Dairy Co., saw its stock price plummet almost 60 percent in Hong Kong trading Tuesday after its products were found tainted with the industrial chemical melamine.

Mengniu, China's No. 1 dairy producer in total volume, said only a small portion of its products were contaminated and blamed the contamination on "the illegal acts of some irresponsible milk collection centers and raw milk dealers.''

"The board wishes to sincerely apologize for the inccident and any inconvenience caused to the public,'' the company said in a statement to the Hong Kong stock exchange.

The resignation Monday of Li Changjiang, who headed the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine since 2001, comes a year after he and the government promised to overhaul the system in response to a series of product safety scares.

New regulations and procedures were introduced in an attempt to restore consumer confidence and preserve export markets after a string of recalls involving tainted toothpaste, faulty tires, contaminated seafood and in March 2007, pet food containing melamine that was blamed for the deaths of dogs and cats in the United States.

Li's resignation came as investigators revealed that China's biggest producer of powdered milk, Sanlu Group Co., had received complaints as early as December 2007 linking its infant formula to illnesses in babies.

Months later, tests revealed the milk was tainted with the industrial chemical melamine, which causes kidney stones and can lead to kidney failure.

Even then, Sanlu delayed ordering a product recall until Sept. 11, after the close of the Beijing Summer Olympics and in the face of rising concern from New Zealand partner Fonterra, which owns a 43 percent share in Sanlu.

Melamine, used to make plastics and fertilizer, has been found in infant formula and other milk products from 22 of China's dairy companies.

Suppliers trying to cut costs are believed to have added it to watered-down milk because its high nitrogen content masks the resulting protein deficiency.

Baby formula and other milk products have been pulled from stores around the country and Chinese dairy products have been recalled or banned in Japan, Singapore, Brunei and Hong Kong.

Taiwanese officials said they were conducting a sweeping food inspection to assure consumers that local milk supplies are free of chemical contamination.
Premier Liu Chao-shiuan said Taiwan's Health Department would send experts to China to better understand how the contamination occurred. - AP

Tuesday September 23, 2008 MYT 4:30:04 PM

China goods ban widens : Malaysia

The Government has widened its ban on dairy products imported from China to include confectionery which contain milk, chocolate (including white chocolate) and other food which contain milk.

The decision was based on the latest information received from Singapore’s Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) which found melamine in “White Rabbit Creamy Candy”, the Health Ministry said in a statement.

The ministry’s food quality and safety department director Noraini Mohd Othman said the widened ban would include “White Rabbit Creamy Candy” and flour-based confections like biscuits.

“The ministry will seize such products found in the local market,” she said.

Noraini said Malaysia already had an existing ban on any milk or milk powder from China, adding that although the country had imported dairy products from China, the milk in these goods was sourced from Australia and New Zealand.

“As a preventive measure, the ministry has also imposed a Level 6 or automatic rejection on all imported baby milk powder, milk and dairy products via the Food Safety Information System.”
Noraini advised consumers to be aware of the types of items which have been banned and to dispose of any existing goods they might already have.

“Retailers are also advised to report to the nearest state health department or office if such products are sold on their premises,” she said, adding that importers and agents have to stop distributing such products and immediately contact her department.

Noraini said the ministry would also take food samples from across the country to check for the presence of melamine, adding that if it were detected, those involved in the distribution chain could be fined up to RM100,000 or jailed a maximum of 10 years, or both.

Consumers can contact the ministry at 03-8883-3503 for more information.

On Friday, Singapore’s AVA suspended the import of all milk and milk products from China and instructed retailers and importers to recall such products.

Three products were found to contain melamine - “White Rabbit Creamy Candy”, “Yili Brand Choice Dairy Fruit Bar Yogurt” and “Dutch Lady” strawberry-flavoured milk.

Tuesday September 23, 2008 The Star

Kabinet kaji turun harga minyak

Kabinet akan membincangkan keputusan kerajaan untuk menurunkan harga minyak serta pelaksanaannya Rabu ini, kata Menteri Perdagangan Dalam Negeri dan Hal Ehwal Pengguna, Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad.

Beliau berkata, kerajaan akan membincangkan kadar penurunan harga minyak serta tempoh sesuai untuk diumumkan kepada orang ramai.

"Kami perlu mengambil kira pelbagai aspek sebelum harga minyak diturunkan... kerana kerajaan tidak mahu berlaku kekurangan bekalan di stesen minyak lebih-lebih lagi menjelang sambutan Aidilfitri," katanya selepas merasmikan Majlis Penyampaian Sumbangan Kebajikan Fakir Miskin, Anak Yatim, Ibu Tunggal Miskin dan Orang Kurang Upaya di Flet Sri Stulang di Johor Bahru

Beliau berkata demikian ketika ditanya sama ada harga minyak akan diturunkan sebelum perayaan itu akhir bulan ini.

Mengulas kepada penggunaan dua pam di stesen minyak, Shahrir berkata, pihaknya sudah mendapatkan pandangan syarikat minyak terutama di sempadan negara termasuk dari segi kadar serta tempoh pelaksanaan yang sesuai bagi perkhidmatan baru itu.

Beliau berkata, selain itu, pihaknya turut mendapat cadangan sebuah syarikat untuk menjalankan perkhidmatan itu secara elektronik.

"Selepas mengambil kira semua pandangan serta cadangan kementerian akan membentangkannya dalam tempoh kira-kira tiga minggu lagi sebelum mendapat keputusan pada pertengahan November ini," katanya.

1.4 juta kereta di jalan raya

Jumlah kenderaan diramal meningkat dua kali ganda sepanjang Aidilfitri

Kira-kira 1.4 juta kenderaan dijangka berada di atas jalan raya sehari sepanjang musim perayaan Aidilfitri ini iaitu peningkatan dua kali ganda berbanding kepadatan trafik 700,000 hingga 800,000 kenderaan sehari pada hari biasa.

Peningkatan kenderaan berganda dengan jalan padat serta sesak akan mengundang pelbagai kerenah, sikap dan masalah pemandu yang mampu membawa kepada risiko berlakunya kemalangan di jalan raya.

Mahathir: Peg the ringgit again

Malaysia can withstand the global economic pressure if the ringgit is re-pegged, former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said.

“Stabilising the exchange rate is among some of the immediate measures the Government could implement to cushion the impact of global economic slowdown,” he said.

Malaysia had the capacity to determine the value of the ringgit because it had enough holding of foreign currencies and substantial savings, with the Employees Providence Fund alone having more than RM200bil in its coffers, he said.

“We shouldn’t float the currency. The country would lose money if the currency is vulnerable to external forces,” Dr Mahathir said at a press conference after presenting a keynote address at a national-level seminar on Development of Higher Learning Institutes.

He was asked on what advice he had for newly-appointed Finance Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to cushion the impact of any economic slowdown in developed countries such as the United States on Malaysia.

He said if Malaysia could strengthen the value of the ringgit by 10% (by pegging the ringgit to the US dollar), the import value should depreciate by 10%.

The impact would be immediately felt by the rakyat, when the price of imported goods is reduced, he said.

Dr Mahathir said when he was in power he had set up a panel about a decade ago to tackle the economic slowdown that affected the country when Asian currencies were attacked by rouge speculators.

He advised the authorities to set up a similar panel comprising professionals, including economists, to help ascertain the root causes of problems, scrutinise all data that have impact on the nation’s economy, and suggest ways to tackle the problems.


The Star Sunday September 21, 2008

Malaysia to resort to nuclear energy by 2023: minister

Malaysia will turn to nuclear energy to generate electricity by 2023 as supplies of fossil fuel eventually run out, a minister said according to Saturday news reports.

Energy, Water and Communications Minister Shaziman Mansor said the use of nuclear energy was also an alternative to counter high global oil prices, the Star newspaper reported.

"I will be briefing the cabinet in a fortnight. We have no choice but to start the ball rolling," he was quoted as saying.

"You cannot say you want to use nuclear power in the next few months, and expect everything to be in place," the minister said.

Malaysia in June raised electricity tariffs after coal prices surged but Shaziman said the price of coal was now much higher than the government's estimate of about 75 dollars per tonne.

"The increase in coal prices had been exceptional and we need to act now," Shaziman said.

State utility Tenaga has said it could construct the country's first 1,000 MW nuclear power plant at a cost of 3.1 billion dollars after being asked by the government to look at the option amid surging global oil prices and the country's limited supply of oil and natural gas.

Currently, half of Malaysia's power plants run on gas. Other sources include coal and hydropower.

The government last year said it would build Southeast Asia's first nuclear monitoring laboratory to allow scientists to check the safety of atomic energy programmes in the region.

Agence France-Presse - 9/20/2008 5:24 AM GMT

Abdullah, Najib swap portfolios

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and his deputy Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak at the press conference in Putrajaya on Wednesday where Abdullah announced he and Najib would be swapping portfolios.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and his deputy Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak have swapped ministry portfolios.

Abdullah is now the new Defence Minister while Najib takes the Finance Minister post.

In making the announcement to the media on Wednesday, Abdullah said their new posts took effect after he disclosed it to his Cabinet members during the weekly meeting.

He added that the decision to pass the finance portfolio to Najib was part of the transition of power which is planned to take place by 2010.

He also indicated that the transition of power could happen earlier than 2010 depending on the situation, adding that it would not exceed that year.

“We are both committed to our plan which we have spoken to Umno leaders about where I will remain as president and Najib will be the deputy.

“During this period, I will gradually hand over to him (Najib) my duties and responsibilities and now it is time for me to pass on the finance minister post (to him),” he said.

Abdullah said the Finance Minister portfolio was an important one as it implemented plans to strengthen the country’s economy and especially during the current global economic situation.

He added that Najib would soon play his new role when he attends a United Nations conference in New York where he would meet front managers and American investors including chief executive officers of US companies set up in Malaysia to exchange information.

With the new portfolio, he said Najib was also appointed the new deputy chairman for Khazanah Nasional Berhad.

Abdullah said he would be taking over the Defence portfolio and would complete tasks that he had started such as reform of the law and the judiciary and also agencies like the Anti-Corruption Agency.

Matters on race relation, religious affairs and eradication of the hardcore poor are also on his agenda to be completed before he is ready to pass the premiership to Najib, he said.

“The transition is flexible, I will decide when I want to go and will tell Najib but will not stay any longer than June 2010 naturally; if I want to go earlier it is possible,” he said, adding that the matter would be discussed at the Umno Supreme Council meeting on Thursday.

Abdullah said both he and Najib had offered themselves as president and deputy president of Umno and would let the party decide during the general assembly this year.

Najib, who was also at the press conference, thanked Abdullah for his “magnanimous” gesture and was grateful for the trust put in him to handle such a big portfolio.

“It is the Government’s practice that the portfolio is held by the Prime Minister. I will give full attention to my new job and will continue to get his opinion on crucial issues,” he said, admitting that he would need time to be briefed on the current economic situation.

The Star - Wednesday September 17, 2008 MYT 6:10:16 PM

Defiant Malaysian PM rejects fresh opposition claim on power

Malaysia's Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on Tuesday rejected the opposition's declaration that it has signed up enough defecting lawmakers to seize power, accusing it of "political lies."

Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim said more than 31 government lawmakers were willing to switch sides, enabling him to form a new administration with a slim majority, and demanded a meeting with Abdullah to discuss a handover.

But Abdullah was defiant, despite signs of cracks in the ruling coalition which has been in disarray since March elections that saw the opposition dramatically increase its numbers in parliament.

"This is a waste of our time. It is a game of political lies by Anwar Ibrahim and the people are choosing to believe him," Abdullah said at a press conference, adding he did not feel compelled to step down.

"Why should I be pressured? It is mere dreams. If at all it is true, (Anwar) would have announced it by now. The whole world would have known," he said, challenging the opposition leader to release the names of the defectors.

"Do you think he would ask for a meeting with me to discuss a transition? He would storm into my room with hundreds behind him, shouting victory. This is Anwar's style."

Anwar said he would give Abdullah a few days to agree to a meeting before exploring other options. That could include seeking an audience with Malaysia's king, Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin, to claim a mandate to rule.

"We now have the required numbers to form a government. The PM cannot deny us and refuse to engage with an alternative government. I appeal to the government to allow a smooth transition," he told a press conference.

Abdullah ruled out talks with his nemesis, setting up a showdown between the pair.

Anwar urged the government not to arrest his new ministers under draconian internal security laws, or declare a state of emergency in an attempt to prevent him from seizing power.

His comments came after a crackdown last week when three people -- an opposition politician, a prominent blogger and a reporter -- were arrested under tough security laws that allow for detention without trial.

"I wish to emphasise that the change in the process should be peaceful. We do not want documents and other assets of the government destroyed. I would like to advise the Barisan Nasional leaders not to abuse their powers, not to arrest or torture our leaders," Anwar said.

The 61-year-old opposition leader, a former deputy premier who was sacked and jailed a decade ago, said it was difficult for members of the ruling coalition to accept that "their ship is sinking."

In March elections Anwar's three-member opposition alliance gained 80 seats in the 222-seat parliament, with the coalition holding 140 and losing its two-thirds majority for the first time.

Anwar then set himself a target of September 16 to secure the support of at least 30 government lawmakers needed to topple the government.

Abdullah also dismissed suggestions he faces a revolt from within his cabinet, after six ministers spoke out against last week's crackdown on dissent.

Zaid Ibrahim, the minister in charge of legal affairs, quit over the arrests and in departing remarks painted a damning picture of the coalition as paralysed by internal strife and racial divisions.

"They were giving their views and this is because I allow ministers to express their views," Abdullah said. "This will not compromise the government's position."

The premier refused to discuss his plan to transfer power to his deputy Najib Razak in mid-2010, which both Najib and influential trade minister Muhyiddin Yassin have now questioned.

The opposition has said Najib and Muhyiddin may be preparing to challenge Abdullah and install themselves as the new premier and deputy.

The political uncertainty has paralysed investment in recent months and depressed trading on the stock market, which dropped 2.5 percent over last week and another 1.9 percent Tuesday.

Agence France-Presse - 9/16/2008 9:57 AM GMT

Khir Toyo tetap tanding jawatan Ketua Pemuda Umno

Bekas menteri besar Selangor, Datuk Seri Dr Mohamad Khir Toyo tetap dengan pendirian awalnya menawarkan diri bertanding jawatan Ketua Pergerakan Pemuda Umno Malaysia pada pemilihan parti Disember ini.

Ahli Majlis Tertinggi Umno itu berkata beliau menerima maklum balas menggalakkan daripada pimpinan Pergerakan Pemuda Umno bahagian dan cawangan sejak beliau mengumumkan hasratnya pada April lalu.

“Diharap Pergerakan Pemuda Umno bahagian di seluruh negara dapat mencalonkan saya sebagai Ketua Pergerakan Pemuda Umno Malaysia,” katanya dalam satu kenyataan hari ini.

Sehingga kini, Ahli Parlimen Jerlun, Datuk Mukhriz Tun Mahathir dan Ketua Umno Bahagian Padang Besar, Datuk Zahidi Zainul Abidin secara terbuka menawarkan diri bertanding jawatan itu.

Pada 3 April lalu, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein mengumumkan keputusannya untuk tidak mempertahankan jawatan Ketua Pemuda Umno lantaran ingin memberi laluan kepada muka baru selepas menerajuinya selama 10 tahun.

- Bernama

MUTAKHIR : Abdullah terima peletakan jawatan Zaid Ibrahim

Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi hari ini menerima peletakan jawatan Datuk Zaid Ibrahim sebagai Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri. Abdullah berkata beliau menerima panggilan telefon daripada Zaid hari ini yang memaklumkan bahawa beliau tetap mahu meletakkan jawatannya.

"Dia (Zaid) beritahu pada saya pagi tadi dalam telefon yang dia tidak dapat teruskan kerja dia dan dia hendak letak jawatan. Sekiranya itulah pilihan dia yang tegas hendak letak jawatan, silalah letak jawatan... saya tidak ada komen apa-apa," katanya.

Perdana Menteri bagaimanapun belum membuat keputusan mengenai pengganti Zaid. Abdullah berkata demikian dalam sidang media selepas menyampaikan dermasiswa kepada 82 pelajar daripada 16 buah Institusi Pengajian Tinggi (IPT) di Dewan Seri Endon, Yayasan Budi Penyayang sini hari ini.

Hadir sama ialah isterinya, Datin Seri Jeanne Abdullah, anaknya Nori serta menantunya, Khairy Jamaluddin dan Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif yayasan itu Datuk Leela Mohd Ali.

Dalam sidang akhbar di pejabatnya di Putrajaya hari ini, Zaid tetap dengan keputusannya untuk melepaskan jawatan sebagai Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri walaupun diminta Abdullah supaya memikirkannya semula.

Ditanya mengenai alasan Zaid bahawa beliau tidak mendapat sokongan untuk melakukan perubahan, Perdana Menteri berkata apabila menjadi Menteri, pasti ada masalah dan kesusahan yang terpaksa dihadapi. Sebagai menteri, katanya mereka perlu bersabar kerana bukan senang untuk melakukan sesuatu perubahan.

"Bila kita bekerja sebagai menteri ada masalah yang kita hadapi dan kesusahan yang kita hadapi, kita kena sabar, bukan senang untuk buat sesuatu perubahan dalam hal apa juga pun," katanya.

Mengulas mengenai keputusan Mahkamah Persekutuan di Putrajaya hari ini yang mengisytiharkan kerusi Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) kawasan Sanglang di Perlis dimenangi oleh Pesuruhjaya Pas negeri itu, Hashim Jasin, Perdana Menteri berkata Barisan Nasional menerima keputusan yang diputuskan oleh mahkamah. - Bernama

PM: Reveal list of MPs crossing over

Anwar Ibrahim claims more than 31 Barisan MPs will cross over to Pakatan. Prime Minister Abdullah wants the Opposition Leader to make public the names

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has described Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s claims of having enough numbers of Barisan Nasional MPs to form a Government as a mirage and a dream.

Abdullah also threw a challenge to Anwar to reveal the names of the Barisan MPs that had agreed to support him.

“I don’t think he has the names. If he does, I don’t think he would wait to inform the people (of the names).

“If he has the names, he can reveal it and let all Malaysians know. They want to know because the people voted them as MPs and they want to know whether the MPs are running away, doing something else or joining another party,” he said.

He told this to reporters after handing out Hari Raya Aidilfitri aid to the poor and students at Kepala Batas in Penang on Tuesday.

When asked if he would entertain Anwar’s request to have a meeting to ensure a smooth and peaceful transition of power, Abdullah rejected the idea.

“There is no reason for me to meet him because I don’t think he has the names. He is just getting the people to focus on him and his political ploy. I do not need to see him,” he reiterated.

He also scoffed at Anwar’s suggestion that Barisan MPs would be detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA) if they crossed over to Pakatan Rakyat.

“How can he suggest that? It is crazy that I would arrest and put these people under ISA simply because of their decision (to crossover).

“No such thing. It is just to portray me as using force and as a dictator,” said Abdullah.
The Prime Minister also denied receiving a letter from Anwar about a smooth transition of power.

“He sent me a letter about current issues in the country. That is a different matter and should not be lumped together (with the letter of smooth transition),” he said.

Earlier in Putrajaya, Abdullah said he did not feel pressured by Anwar’s threat.

“Pressured? Why should I be pressured, this is Anwar’s mirage, he sees something but it is nothing, there is nothing there, it is only a dream,” he told reporter after meeting with secretaries-general of ministries at his office.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak also attended the meeting.

Stating that he has known Anwar and his style for a very long time, Abdullah added that when Anwar wants to make known something, he would ensure there are many people gathered to hear it.
“That is his behaviour and later the whole world would know his message. You think he will be requesting me to discuss? He will storm into my room with hundreds of people screaming ‘victory’ behind him,” he said.

Abdullah said he was sure that the date of takeover would be constantly changed until there was actually nothing in the end.

“After this, he will think of another date and then another date; that is “Sang Anwar” in this case.
“At the end what is left is nothing, we will continue to be fascinated (with all these),” he said, adding that the public should not be worried with all the threats and promises made by Anwar.

The Star Tuesday September 16, 2008 MYT 9:55:12 PM

Anwar claims more than 31 MPs will cross over

Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has claimed that more than 31 Barisan MPs have agreed to cross over to Pakatan Rakyat.

He, however, refused to reveal the names of the 31 MPs.

Anwar told a press conference at the PKR headquarters in Petaling Jaya on Tuesday that he would give the list of the names to the Prime Minister when he meets him.

The Permatang Pauh MP also claimed that the transition to the new Government has been delayed a few days pending the meeting with Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to ensure a smooth and peaceful transition.

“The numbers are increasing by the hour, but as of now, it is in excess of 31 MPs.

"This is not empty talk. I am fully responsible for my statement but we have choose to be patient and use the conciliatory way,” the PKR adviser said.

He called on Abdullah to meet with him, where he said he would even give the Prime Minister the names of Barisan MPs wanting to defect to the Pakatan Rakyat alliance of opposition parties.

“I am appealing (for this meeting) in the name of political stability and a smooth transition. It will be preposterous for the Prime Minister to deny me this meeting,” said Anwar, who was flanked by leaders from PKR, DAP, PAS and even non-member Parti Sosialis Malaysia.

Asked why he still refused to give the exact number of defecting MPs or their names, Anwar said there was a fear the MPs would be detained or harassed if their names were released.

Asked what he would do if Abdullah refused to see him, Anwar smiled and replied: “Why assume he will refuse to see me? I am his friend. I believe we will meet.”

He said Pakatan would give Abdullah some time to consider because the latter was having problems within his own party.

Pressed for a deadline for a meeting with Abdullah, Anwar said he did not like to give any ultimatum but it should be within the next few days or “other options would be considered.”

He said he would refer to his coalition partners in Pakatan to discuss the next course of action, but was committed to ensuring the takeover was constitutional.

Anwar was non-committal when asked if he would seek an audience with the Yang DiPertuan Agong to present himself as commanding a majority in Parliament, or if he would seek a motion of no-confidence against Abdullah at the next Parliament sitting in October.

He said these options would be discussed with other Pakatan leaders.

Anwar said that in a letter submitted to Abdullah on Monday, Pakatan had made four demands to ensure a smooth transition:

1) That Barisan does not hinder or prevent the MPs from acting in accordance with their conscience, constitutional rights and independentjudgement;
2) That the Barisan government should not invoke the Internal Security Act to detain the MPs or any other current Pakatan MPs;

3) That the Barisan government does not invoke emergency laws or police powers or suspend the Constitution or dissolve Parliament; and

4) That the Barisan government shall not impose roadblocks or impede MPs from going to Parliament or any institution of government.

The Star Tuesday September 16, 2008 MYT 7:15:13 PM

Zaid sticking to his decision to resign

Datul Zaid Ibrahim has set his mind on resigning from the Cabinet, citing his disappointment with “meeting a brick wall” from his own colleagues and party members on many of his suggestions for reform.

The former de facto Law Minister also said he did not want many of the problems arising from his proposals earlier to be a burden on Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi at a time when the latter had to grapple with party conflict and other challenges.

“I don’t want the PM to be beset by problems involving me and it’s better for him to focus instead on other more important matters. Let me not be the problem. Although I thanked the Prime Minister for his suggestion that I go on leave instead, I am not tired. I’m just disappointed so I don’t have to rest.

“I have decided to quit and I pray that the PM will be able to overcome all the problems he is facing, and that he remains as Umno president and Prime Minister to accomplish what he has set out to do.

“I apologise to all Malaysians because of my weaknesses, I have failed. This is my decision as well as that of my wife and my family,” he told reporters Tuesday in a 40-minute press conference at his office here.

Zaid said his decision to quit was thus “best for his party, the country and for everyone”, adding that he had told Abdullah, when he first took up the post, that he would be doing so based on his desire to help the PM and change Barisan Nasional.

“It has not been a mistake to take up the offer,” he stressed.

He however maintained that Abdullah had been supportive of his initiation for legal reforms “within his own constraints” and that he was not disappointed with the premier.

“He’s a nice man. I hope my departure will trigger some change and some feelings of positive reaction from my party,” he said to a question on why he was giving up now when he had been so adamant before on bringing about legal and judiciary reforms.

Describing himself as a “man of deep responsibility”, Zaid pointed out that in the six months he had been Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, he had “gone through a lot”, ranging from having been hurled with accusations of not standing up for his own race and religion to being criticised in Parliament.

“In this short time, I was facing a brick well. I cannot translate what I want to do, particularly on issues such as equal rights for everyone as stated under the Constitution. I think I have failed to convince those in authority and positions of power to effect those changes which will allow this Government to move forward,” he said.

However, Zaid stressed that he harboured no hard feelings for his Cabinet colleagues, many of whom had also been harsh in their criticism of him, and said he hoped to maintain a good rapport with them.

Zaid had tendered his resignation to Abdullah in a meeting at Seri Perdana on Monday but was told to “take two weeks’ leave instead”.

In his resignation letter, the Senator had enumerated his frustrations in achieving the reforms he had been tasked with doing; the straw that broke his back was the arrest of three civilians under the Internal Security Act on Friday

Asked if he would now leave Umno and join opposition party PKR as speculated, Zaid admitted that he had not been “treated well” by Umno - even suspended once on charges of money politics.

“Many of those who have criticised me are from Umno. Sometimes, I feel that I should change, instead of them. I don’t know PKR well. It’s too early to say, I have an open mind. But I haven’t made any decision to join PKR or anybody else,” he said, adding that he however had not been courted.

Asked for his advice before leaving the Cabinet, Zaid said the Government must overcome a psychological barrier and start trusting its own people it if were to build “one country, one system.”

“If you can’t bring yourself to that level of trust, you will always worry which policy benefits which group. You can have race based party but you don’t have to be racist bigots,” he said.

Zaid said there might be “somebody else” now more suitable for the task and denied being a “hero” as claimed by many of his supporters and fans. “I don’t care who the PM is. I just want to see transformation,” he said.

The Star Tuesday September 16, 2008 MYT 7:15:13 PM