PANDU CERMAT, SAYANGKAN NYAWA

PANDU CERMAT, SAYANGKAN NYAWA
INGAT ORANG YANG TERSAYANG

INGAT ORANG YANG TERSAYANG

INGAT ORANG YANG TERSAYANG
PASTIKAN ANDA DAN SEMUA PENUMPANG MENGGUNAKAN TALI PINGGANG KELEDAR

20100930

High-tech war on cybercrime

Police from the cybercrime unit will be equipped with the latest high-tech gadgets to effectively combat online offences.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar said this was necessary, especially in the wake of recent postings on social networking sites such as Facebook and YouTube.

He said combating cybercrime would be a priority as police realised that the force had to adapt to an era where information travelled at rapid speed and was circulated locally as well as globally.

“We will come up with a new mechanism and procedures to deal with cases involving the Internet, especially on Facebook,” he told reporters after his inaugural visit to the Johor police headquarters here yesterday.

“We are especially concerned with news or information on the Internet that can disrupt racial relations and the country’s harmony.”

He was responding to a video on YouTube where a preacher in Kuching, Sarawak, allegedly insulted Islam.

Ismail said the police would cooperate with other agencies such as the MCMC to get to the bottom of the matter.

On Tuesday, pro tem president of the Muslim Bloggers Association Zainol Abideen drew attention to the video clip of a “priest” delivering a talk at a church in Kuching and allegedly insulting Islam and Prophet Muhammad.

“If there is an element where the police can act, then we will take action against the culprit,” Ismail said.

“The matter could be investigated under the Sedition Act.” Every­­­one needed to be mindful of the impact their statements could have, he added.

On another matter, Ismail said the police would act on unsolved cases if full cooperation was given by the complainant or victims of crimes.

“We will act on old cases if new evidence or leads are discovered,” he said.

“We urge the public who want the police to act on old cases to come forward and give us their full cooperation.”

He also wanted people to go straight to the police if they had any grievances and not highlight the matter in the media.

The Star Online 29/09/10

20100923

Watch Your Email - A curse on junk mail

THE invention of electronic mail has brought great benefits to mankind, as it ensures instantaneous communication through the Internet, at the touch of a button. We can stay connected with the rest of the world at all times.But with the convenience of instant communication, we have to put up with the pain of receiving an enormous amount of unwanted messages from the rest of the cyber-universe. One of the things that irks me most, in this new age of the electronic media, is the ugly phenomenon of the tons of junk emails that assault our electronic mail boxes every day.

These emails all promise millions in income from anonymous sources. All I have to do is supply them with my banking details and presto – astronomical sums of money will be deposited into my account, without my having to work for it. Naturally there is a catch to the promise of wealth: we have to put up a sum of money first, and deposit it into the sender’s anonymous account.

I am sure you receive this kind of email daily, as I do. There are never major variations and a sample of this con email will read like this:

“Dear Friend, I am a (Banker) Assistant Directeur General Adjunct at the Foreign Remittance Department in BANQUE COMMERCIALE DU BURKINA (BCB), Ouagadougou-Burkina Faso. During my secretarial/auditing services in the bank, I discovered a deceased (Lateman) dormant account figure sum of SEVEN MILLION, TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS (US$7,200,000). Millions only belonging to a late foreigner who died since the year 2000 ago. Upon the receipt of this finding/discovering, I found out that the account owner (late Mr Kurt Kahle) died among those involved in the 2000 plane crash event as the website record reads as follow: (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/859479.stm).”

I know of a gullible person from Sarawak who was almost attracted by this promise of instant and undeserved wealth. He was positively livid with rage when I suggested to him this was part of a con game. I can only imagine the large number of people throughout the world who are so ignorant as to succumb to this, the simplest con game in the world.

The anonymity afforded by email must be irresistible for Internet users to attempt fraud. The other type of fraudulent email may even be sent to you in the name of somebody you know quite well. The message tells of sudden misfortune from a friend who requires immediate remittance of funds, usually in the region of a few thousand US dollars or euros. This type of email, usually tells of a traveller in distress in some foreign country, such as Spain, and our traveller has the misfortune of having had his passport, wallet, money and all his identification documents stolen.

This is not sent by a friend. This bogus email must have been sent by somebody who has been able to trace my email address. The best way to treat these imposters is to ignore them. A counter check with the real friend will immediately expose the vacuous plea for help by this so-called friend.

Another form of Internet abuse is the use of the cyber media to propagate negative messages of hate and distrust. In Malaysia’s highly charged political atmosphere, the Internet offers a quick conduit for the spread of negative news and hate mail, without proof. This type of hate email is usually ethnic or religious in nature.

The rule of ethics in journalism is largely ignored on the Internet. Frankly, I think there is way too much freedom in the cyber-sphere and there is too much confusion as to the authenticity of the sea of information that goes through the Internet.

Generally, Internet users just do not bother to practise the journalistic technique of double checking the source and facts. When used unmonitored and unchecked, the Internet resembles a garbage dump.

When using the Internet, I have a few rules of thumb. I will not open an email from any person I do not know at all. In fact, opening that unknown email may allow a vicious virus to infect my machine. I delete in bulk daily senders and useless emails without the slightest hesitation.

The wonderful thing about email is the freedom of expression. You can say anything you like without anybody being able to censor your speech. But like in other spheres of human activities, this freedom tends to be abused by humankind, ending up with the anarchy that we now have on the Internet.

That we humans are not worthy of our freedom of thought and speech is a long known fact. The great philosopher, Plato, has taught us this in his dialogue, the Republic, through the tale of the Ring of Gyges.

In that myth, Plato observed that whenever the wrongdoer of an unkind act is not liable to be caught because of his invisibility, he is more likely to use his magical power to commit crime. Frankly put, when people know that they are not going to be brought to justice, they are more likely to bring harm to their neighbours. The anonymity given by the Internet is a reason why its abuse is rampant.

The widespread abuse of freedom on the Internet is a reason why we should forever be watchful, when surfing the net. As one great man used to say, the price of freedom is eternal vigilance. The next time you go on the Internet do be careful, and exercise due caution.

Bp 23/09/2010

(The author can be reached at kenyalang578@hotmail.com. All comments are welcomed.)

20100921

Tuntutan Penan ditunai

Sembilan perkampungan Penan di Ulu Baram yang pernah mengadakan sekatan jalan balak bagi menuntut Tanah Hak Adat Bumiputera (NCR) tahun lalu kini boleh menarik nafas lega berikutan komitmen kerajaan untuk menunaikan permintaan itu.

Pada September tahun lalu, kaum Penan dari perkampungan tersebut mengadakan tiga sekatan jalan balak di Simpang Empat, Long Belok dan Long Bangan menyebabkan aktiviti pembalakan lumpuh selama 10 hari.

Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (ADUN) Telang Usan, Lihan Jok berkata, kini genap setahun peristiwa itu berlalu, kerajaan sedang melakukan yang terbaik untuk menunaikan permintaan mereka termasuk memberi tanah seperti kaum Bumiputera lain di negeri ini.

“Pada masa ini, kita sedang memberi taklimat dari kampung ke kampung di kawasan Telang Usan mengenai kerja menyukat dan mengukur tanah NCR sebelum ia dapat diberikan kepada pemilik secara sah (dengan geran tanah).

“Kita mahu kaum Penan sedar bahawa kerajaan tidak pernah mengabaikan atau lupa akan janji untuk menyelesaikan perkara ini dengan saksama. Justeru kita bertemu dengan mereka dan menjelaskan mengenai kerja penyukatan NCR,” katanya kepada Utusan Borneo, selepas mengadakan taklimat mengenai penyukatan NCR di Long Belok pada Sabtu lalu.

Lihan memberitahu, melalui penyukatan NCR ini, ia memastikan kaum Penan di Telang Usan akan memiliki tanah dan dapat membangunkannya untuk meningkatkan sosioekonomi mereka.
Katanya, usaha ini membuktikan komitmen dan kesungguhan kerajaan negeri dan persekutuan untuk memastikan tiada kaum peribumi di negeri ini terpinggir daripada menikmati pembangunan.

“Selepas taklimat ini, kita berharap Penan di sini dapat mengenal pasti tanah milik mereka. Untuk memudahkan proses, mereka boleh mendapatkan rujukan daripada kaum lain yang tinggal berhampiran seperti kaum Kayan di Long Bedian,” katanya.

Selain Long Belok, Lihan yang diiringi beberapa pegawai polis turut mengadakan taklimat yang sama di Long Nen.

Dalam pada itu, penduduk Penan di situ melahirkan perasaan teruja dengan langkah kerajaan menyukat tanah NCR dan menyifatkan ia satu lagi dimensi baru dalam mengubah masa depan mereka.

Mengenai permintaan kaum Penan di Long Belok dan Long Nen di Simpang Empat yang memohon sebuah tadika di kawasan rumah panjang, Lihan beri jaminan akan membawa perkara itu kepada pihak berkaitan di peringkat negeri dan pusat.

20100920

Rakyat kena jelas idea 1Malaysia

Pemahaman menyeluruh pastikan proses transformasi benar-benar berjaya: PM

Datuk Seri Najib Razak mahu rakyat mempunyai pandangan yang jelas dan menyeluruh terhadap gagasan 1Malaysia supaya mereka dapat turut serta menjayakan transformasi Malaysia.

Perdana Menteri berkata, ini kerana dalam gagasan 1Malaysia beliau memutuskan untuk memastikan seluruh rakyat menjadi sebahagian daripada proses transformasi Malaysia besar-besaran.

Ia bagi memastikan pada akhir perjalanan proses itu, kita menjadi negara progresif, dinamik dan benar-benar berjaya pada abad ke-21 bernama Malaysia menerusi pembabitan seluruh rakyat, katanya pada majlis makan tengah hari Komuniti Malayali 1Malaysia anjuran Persatuan Malayali Malaysia Bersatu (AMMA) di sini, semalam. Hadir sama, Presiden MIC, Datuk Seri S Samy Vellu; Pesuruhjaya Tinggi India di Malaysia, Vijay K Gokhale dan Presiden AMMA, Tan Sri Ravindran Menon.

Najib berkata, pelbagai usaha dilakukan kerajaan untuk menjayakan transformasi Malaysia seperti mewujudkan Rancangan Transformasi Kerajaan (GTP), Rancangan Transformasi Ekonomi (ETP) dan Model Baru Ekonomi (MBE).

Namun katanya, semua rancangan hebat kerajaan itu akan menjadi sia-sia jika tiada idea yang menyeluruh diterima kerajaan daripada pelbagai komuniti di negara ini.

Perdana Menteri berkata, segala kekuatan, kemahiran, sumbangan, pengetahuan dan idea yang dimiliki setiap komuniti di negara ini perlu dikenal pasti serta diperkasa dalam semangat 1Malaysia bagi membolehkan negara mencapai proses berkenaan.
Saya mahu melihat Malaysia dan rakyatnya mempunyai hak serta tempat di negara ini bagi membolehkan segala kekuatan, kemampuan dan keupayaan rakyat dijana untuk menjayakan transformasi Malaysia, katanya.

Najib berkata, dalam melaksanakan transformasi Malaysia, kerajaan perlu memastikan setiap dasarnya bersifat menyeluruh, memberi manfaat dan keuntungan kepada seluruh rakyatnya.

Maka, kita memerlukan sistem yang adil. Kita perlu memastikan setiap rakyat menyedari bakat dan potensi mereka. Kita sebenarnya bersifat menyeluruh dan dalam konteks 1Malaysia, kita mampu mengangkatnya ke tahap lebih strategik, katanya

Potong gaji bayar PTPTN

Usaha pastikan pinjam dijelas secara konsisten mulai Jun depan

Semua peminjam Perbadanan Tabung Pendidikan Tinggi Nasional (PTPTN) diwajibkan membuat bayaran pinjaman menerusi potongan gaji mulai Jun tahun depan, kata Pengerusinya, Datuk Ismail Mohd Said.Beliau berkata, ia usaha terbaru perbadanan berkenaan bagi memastikan peminjam membayar balik pinjaman secara konsisten pada masa depan.

Kita akan memperhalusi perkara ini pada mesyuarat ahli lembaga hujung bulan ini, termasuk aspek teknikal dan pindaan Akta PTPTN 1997 yang akan dibentangkan di Dewan Rakyat selewat-lewatnya awal tahun depan.

Kita juga akan menunggu keputusan kerajaan berhubung gaji minimum yang akan ditetapkan kepada peminjam sebelum potongan gaji dilakukan, katanya kepada media pada Rumah Terbuka Aidilfitri Parlimen Kuala Krau dan UMNO bahagian itu, di sini, semalam.

Hadir sama Pemangku Ketua Eksekutif PTPTN, Wan Ahmad Wan Yusuf.

Ismail yang baru dilantik jawatan itu pada 1 September lalu berkata, cadangan itu perlu memandangkan konsep pembayaran balik secara sukarela oleh peminjam sebelum ini gagal mencapai matlamatnya.

Malah, katanya, potongan gaji menerusi Lembaga Hasil Dalam Negeri (LHDN) secara sukarela juga kurang menggalakkan dan hanya menyumbangkan kira-kira 20 peratus daripada jumlah pembayaran balik daripada peminjam.

Beliau berkata, sehingga Julai lalu, bayaran balik yang diperoleh PTPTN daripada RM23 bilion yang diperuntukkan sejak 1997 ialah RM1.8 bilion berbanding RM3.6 bilion sepatutnya diterima.

Dalam tempoh sama, hanya 600,000 peminjam membayar balik daripada 1.6 juta peminjam PTPTN dan masih ramai peminjam yang kurang komitmen untuk membayar balik pinjaman masing-masing, katanya.

Compulsory salary deduction

The National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) will carry out compulsory salary deduction to recover loans from defaulters from June next year.

Its chairman, Datuk Ismail Mohamed Said, said that effective June next year, all PTPTN borrowers, especially the more than 46,000 defaulters, would be required to make their loan repayments through salary deduction to the Inland Revenue Board (IRB).

He said its implementation would involve amendments to the National Higher Education Fund Act 1997, adding that a proposal to amend the law would be tabled in Parliament next year.

“We will discuss the proposed amendments to the PTPTN Act at the end of the month with the IRB and the proposal will be tabled in Parliament in March next year,” he told reporters at a Aidifiltri gathering here yesterday.

He said the corporation would also wait for the government’s decision on the minimum salary requirement for the compulsory salary deduction on PTPTN borrowers.

Such a move had to be taken so as not to deprive others the opportunity to obtain PTPTN loans to further their studies, he added.

He said about 46,000 of the 1.6 million people who had obtained PTPTN loans had yet to make their repayments despite the facilities made available for them, like through salary deductions, at bank counters and through on-line payments.

Ismail said that since 1997 until July this year, PTPTN had given out loans totalling RM23 billion.

“As of last July, we should have collected RM3.6 billion in loan repayment, but the collection was only RM1.8 billion,” he added.

He said only 42 per cent or 600,000 of the 1.6 million PTPTN borrowers had repaid their loans so far. — Bernama


Compulsory salary deduction

20100919

Welcome to 'homestay without package' in sabah

The Beautiful view of Mt. Kinabalu at sunrise
Natural undisturb beach

Nowdays the 'homestay' programme is getting popular in Malaysia's local tourism industry including that in Sabah which is also known as 'Land Below The Wind'. Among the districts in Sabah that offers this programme is Kota Marudu where some 1,000 people from 12 ethnic groups are taking part in the homestay programme that began in 2008. Sabah National Unity and Integration Department (JPNIN) officer Jessica Basat said the homestay programme in Kota Marudu can be seen as a positive move to enhance relations between the guests and hosts. The guests who are Malaysians from the peninsula can also exchange cultures and traditions with their Sabah hosts. "This programme is on demand by the local community and it is unique as the programme is devoid of any packages as the activities are decided by the hosts and visitors. "We encourage the villagers to be involved in the homestay programme as Kota Marudu has the potential to be developed as a key tourist destination," she said. HOMESTAY WITHOUT PACKAGE The 'without package' homestay programme refers to activities that have no limits and the hosts as well as guests take part in drawing up the activities during the stay. These activities are suited to the guests needs and requests. What is important is the understanding and experience on the culture and socio-economy of the local community which is made up from people of various ethnic groups. This helps to preserve unity among the population. Via the integration visits organised by JPNIN, the homestay programme can act as the platform to enhance relations between the people of Sabah and those from nationwide. The homestay programme also creates positive impact by improving the economy of the rural community in Sabah. HOLIDAY PACKAGE IN SABAH Meanwhile, Sabah is well known for its rich natural treasures right from the state's mountains and down to its valleys. As well as the expanse of land between its lush forests to its off-shore attractions. Its life forms include insects as small as ants right until mammals as big as the Orang Utan and pygmy elephants. Apart from the homestay packages in Kota Marudu, visitors can also go to Kudat, located some 190 km from Kota Kinabalu. They can visit Tanjung Simpang Mengayau in Kudat which is known as the Tip of Borneo, the tip of land at the most extreme north in Sabah's map. It is located some 200 km from Kota Kinabalu and 30 minutes drive from Kota Marudu. Tanjung Simpang Mengayau is formed by a 'chain' of hills that headed towards Laut Sulu. It offers breathtaking scenes during dawn and dusk. In the language of the Rungus in Kudat, Tanjung Simpang Mengayau is called 'Tanjung Sampang Mangazo'. 'Tanjung' means cape, 'Sampang' means junction and 'Mangazo' means war. The three-hour drive from Kota Kinabalu to Tanjung Simpang Mengayau is definitely not boring as visitors can enjoy the enchanting and panoramic view of the coast at Pantai Kelambu and Pantai Kalampunian. Another interesting feature of Tanjong Simpang Mengayau is that this is the meeting point between South China Sea and Laut Sulu which at one time ago, was the key route for traders from China to reach this area onboard junks. It was learnt that many of these trading junks sank into the ocean and later became reefs that serve as the habitat and breeding ground for marine life. Indeed standing on the 'Tip of Borneo' is a lifetime's experience. SHOPPING HAVEN AT FILIPINO MARKET If one is in Sabah, then it would be a waste without visiting the handicraft market or more popularly dubbed as the Filipino Bazaar by locals and visitors alike. This bazaar is located at Jalan Tun Fuad Stephen adjacent to the Sinsuran Complex. It is a well known spot here and sells various handicrafts. It is also the best place if shoppers are looking for crystals, pearls and gemstones. The pearls came from the Philippines. Many of the traders at this market are from that country. Local handicraft items such keychains, T-shirts and wood carvings as well as items from other Asian countries are available at this bazaar. Also on offer are sarung batik, rattan mats, caligraphic creations and brooches. However pearls are the main items sought by tourists. According to a trader who wished to identified as Suzy, all the pearls on offer at the market are authentic. But the price depends on quality and type of pearls. "Freshwater pearls are sold at cheaper prices as they are cultured in freshwater in contrast to the salt water pearls who grow in the wild", said Suzy who sells various pearls sourced locally and also from Indonesia. According to traders, the market receives tourists from worldwide.

20100918

68 Tahun : Tiada keputusan naikkan umur pesaraan penjawat awam

Menteri Sumber Manusia, Datuk Dr. S. Subramaniam

berkata, cadangan Kesatuan Pekerja Dalam Perkhidmatan Awam (Cuepacs) agar umur pesaraan penjawat awam dinaikkan daripada 58 kepada 60 tahun telah dibincang pada peringkat tertinggi kementeriannya namun belum ada keputusan dibuat.

Ini kerana katanya, kajian terperinci perlu dilakukan memandangkan terdapat

kebaikan dan keburukan jika umur pesaraan dinaikkan lagi.

"Jika kita terus melanjutkkan tempoh perkhidmatan golongan berusia, generasi muda tidak akan dapat peluang bekerja," katanya.

Selain itu, beliau berkata, adalah sukar untuk kerajaan menaikkan umur pesaraan dan pada masa yang sama mengecilkan saiz sektor tersebut yang sehingga kini mempunyai sekitar 1.2 juta tenaga kerja.

- Bernama

Utusan Malaysia 18/09/10

20100903

Sarawak: 50 lokasi kemalangan

5,000 polis pantau jalan raya KUCHING: Sejumlah 50 kawasan dikenal pasti sebagai lokasi kerap berlaku kemalangan di negeri ini dengan tumpuan akan diberikan kepada kawasan berkenaan bagi memastikan kadar kemalangan dan kesesakan dapat diturunkan sepanjang tempoh Ops Sikap Ke-22 berlangsung.

Pesuruhjaya Polis Sarawak, Datuk Mohmad Salleh, berkata hampir 5,000 anggota polis di seluruh negeri akan terbabit dalam Ops Sikap bermula 3 hingga 17 September, membabitkan pelbagai penugasan seperti kawalan statik, rondaan di lokasi panas, kumpulan pemantau kesesakan dan kerjasama melalui Pasukan Tindak Balas Kecemasan.

Katanya, sasaran pihaknya pada tahun ini adalah penurunan lima peratus dari jumlah kadar kemalangan maut berbanding Ops Sikap terdahulu selain memastikan kelancaran trafik menjelang Aidilfitri.

"Berbeza di Semenanjung, Ops Sikap di Sarawak turut membabitkan Pasukan Gerakan Marin (PGM) yang akan memantau pergerakan bot ekspres yang menjadi pengangkutan utama di kalangan orang ramai ketika musim perayaan. "Selain itu kawalan dan pemantauan lebih rapi akan dibuat khususnya di kawasan lokasi kemalangan maut bagi memastikan pengguna jalan raya mematuhi semua peraturan yang telah ditetapkan," katanya ketika sidang media selepas melancarkan Ops Sikap Ke-22, di sini, kelmarin.

Antara laluan lokasi kemalangan maut adalah di Jalan Kuching-Sri Aman; Jalan Lundu-Bau; Jalan Sri Aman-Sarikei; Jalan Betong-Simpang Pusa; Jalan Mukah-Sibu; Jalan Pesisir Pantai Miri; Jalan Oya-Mukah; Jalan Bintulu-Tatau dan Jalan Beluru-Bakong. Mohmad berkata, selain memastikan kelancaran trafik, anggota polis yang terbabit terbabit dalam Ops Sikap juga bertanggungjawab melakukan penugasan pencegahan jenayah.

"Di Sarawak terdapat kira-kira 1.29 juta kenderaan dengan ia dianggap banyak berbanding dengan jumlah penduduk. Pertambahan jumlah kenderaan ini didapati tidak sejajar dengan pertambahan jaringan jalan raya.

"Disebabkan itu kadar kemalangan di negeri ini masih agak tinggi walaupun pelbagai usaha dan pendekatan mengurangkan kemalangan termasuk kehilangan nyawa telah dilakukan banyak agensi kerajaan," katanya. Beliau berkata, kesalahan yang kerap dilakukan pengguna jalan raya ialah memotong di barisan berkembar; melanggar lampu isyarat; memandu secara merbahaya; memotong barisan dan melebihi had laju.

"Berdasarkan kajian yang dilakukan Institut Penyelidikan Keselamatan Jalan Raya Malaysia (MIROS), 60 peratus punca kemalangan adalah disebabkan sikap pemandu yang cuai seperti mabuk atau mengantuk, manakala bakinya disebabkan faktor jalan serta yang lain,” katanya

BH 3.9.2010