Projek empangan diterus

Kerajaan Negeri akan meneruskan pembinaan 12 empangan hidronya walaupun kumpulan pencinta alam sekitar dan NGO membantah

Sarawak akan meneruskan projek pembinaan 12 empangan hidro elektrik meskipun kumpulan pencinta alam sekitar dan pertubuhan bukan kerajaan (NGO) menyuarakan kebimbangan jika projek itu diteruskan bakal memusnahkan alam sekitar.

Timbalan Ketua Menteri Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu yang menyifatkan dakwaan itu sebagai pembohongan, berkata golongan terbabit hakikatnya tidak mengetahui berkenaan geografi, topografi, kawasan tadahan dan sungai yang terdapat di Sarawak.

“Semua dakwaan dan kebimbangan mereka terhadap projek pembinaan empangan hidro elektrik di Sarawak adalah satu pembohongan. Ini bertujuan memberi gambaran buruk kepada Sarawak.

“Kerajaan negeri tahu apa yang kita lakukan dan setiap projek akan diberi penilaian mendalam dari pelbagai aspek tanpa mengabaikan perspektif alam semulajadi,” katanya.

Beliau diminta mengulas mengenai laporan akhbar The Star kelmarin yang memuatkan kebimbangan pencinta alam sekitar dan NGO jika projek itu diteruskan. Katanya, kedudukan projek empangan Tutoh adalah jauh dengan Taman Negara Mulu yang diiktiraf sebagai Tapak Warisan Dunia oleh UNESCO.

Jabu juga tidak menolak kemungkinan beberapa negara akan mempercayai dakwaan itu memandangkan ia disebarkan di media internet secara meluas.

“Kita tidak boleh mengawal atau menyekat mereka daripada menyebarkan pembohongan kepada seluruh dunia,” katanya.

The Star melaporkan, Pengerusi Pusat Teknologi dan Pembangunan Alam Sekitar Malaysia (CETDEM) Gurmit Singh berkata, pembinaan empangan hidro elektrik yang banyak tidak perlu.
Katanya, Suruhanjaya Empangan Dunia mengkelaskan empangan yang menjana tenaga sebanyak 30 megawat dan ke bawah adalah memadai manakala yang berkapasiti lebih tinggi dikelaskan sebagai ‘tidak lestari’.

Sarawak merancang untuk membina 12 empangan secara berperingkat-peringkat sehingga mencapai kapasiti tenaga antara 54 megawat dan 1,000 megawat.

“Kami juga berharap kerajaan persekutuan akan memberi nasihat kepada Sarawak agar tidak meneruskan projek,” katanya.

Ditanya adakah kerajaan negeri akan mengadakan perbincangan dengan NGO dan pencinta alam sekitar, Jabu membayangkan ia tidak perlu.

Katanya, kerajaan telah dipilih oleh rakyat menerusi pilihan raya dan oleh itu rancangan kerajaan adalah rancangan yang akan memanfaatkan rakyat.

Malah, tenaga yang murah selepas semua projek itu dibangunkan kelak akan dikongsikan dengan Semenanjung Malaysia atau dijual kepada negara-negara jiran.

“Dari aspek ekonomi, tenaga yang murah akan menggalakkan pelaburan dari luar masuk, apatah lagi kita merancang untuk membina syarikat melebur aluminium dalam kawasan Koridor Tenaga Diperbaharui Sarawak (SCORE),” katanya.

Rising water warning issued

Rise in water level in Sibu over past few days just normal occurrence and is not worrying: Committee

SIBU: The chairman of Sibu Divisional Disaster and Relief Management Committee yesterday issued a notice to the relevant authorities and members of the public concerning the rising water level here.

The notice, issued by acting Resident Ismail Mohd Hanis, reads as follows:

“The rise in water level in Sibu division over the past few days is just a normal occurrence, and is not worrying. Heavy rain in the upper reaches of Rajang River over the past few days is the culprit. However, the high water level has receded and that many affected roads are now passable by small vehicles.

“The Divisional Disaster and Relief Management Committee, together with district-level committees are on alert and are fully prepared to face any eventuality.

“Officers in every district office are also monitoring the situation, especially on areas prone to flooding, in order to have a better picture of the situation, particularly in and around Sibu town.
“Since the weather is fair and water level in major rivers here are at manageable level, the disaster operation rooms in all district offices in Sibu Division are only operational during normal office hours.

“For emergency purposes, members of the public may contact the followings: Sibu District Office (084-330219/330244) - Wong See Meng (019-8152727), and Chumang Nyambong (019-8781001), Kanowit District Office (084-752963) - Bobbie Yamoh (013-8410577), and Sandin Ajah (019-8759401), Selangau District Office (084-366035) - Kamaludin Alkap (014-8807785), and Maria Nadja Jimmy Jalil (019-8345432).”

Malaysia gets medical boost

For the first time, Malaysia has been invited to send a speaker to the World Medical Tourism and Global Health Congress -- a tremendous boost and recognition for the country's growing medical tourism industry.

National Heart Institute (IJN) chief executive officer Datuk Mohd Radzif Mohd Yunus will attend the four-day congress in San Francisco, in the United States, from Sept 9.Mohd Razif, who is one of 50 international speakers, said he would sell Malaysia's medical facilities and services to the 1,000 participants from all over the world.

"We meet international standards and we are comparable with any super speciality care in the world. We have specialists and surgeons in a variety of specialities.

" The number of foreign patients seeking medical treatment increased to 341,288 last year, contributing a revenue of RM253.84 million. Foreign patient admission is estimated to grow at an average rate of 27 per cent annually.

Most seek cosmetic and reconstructive surgery, general and cosmetic dentistry, gynaecology and urology treatment.Mohd Radzif said many foreigners were turning to IJN for heart problems and surgeries.

This was not surprising as IJN had carved out a name for itself internationally for its achievements, including being the first in Southeast Asia to perform coronary bypass surgeries and the complex thymectomy procedure on conscious or "awake" patients without general anaesthesia.

Dewan Negara: Judges' payments may be revealed

De facto law minister Zaid Ibrahim says judges asked that the amount not be announced


THE government may reveal the quantum of ex gratia paid to former judges in about three to six months, said Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Zaid Ibrahim yesterday.

He said the government had agreed not to announce the quantum following a request from the judges.

The recipients are former lord president Tun Salleh Abbas, former Supreme Court judges Datuk George Seah, Tan Sri Azmi Kamaruddin, Tan Sri Wan Hamzah Mohamed Salleh and the families of the late Tan Sri Suleiman Pawanteh and Tan Sri Eusoffe Abdoolcader.

"It is not our intention to keep it secret... maybe in time we will announce it. Maybe in three or six months," Zaid said when replying to points raised during the debate on the Judges' Remuneration (Amendment) Bill 2006.Several senators while debating the bill had attacked the decision not to disclose the amount of ex gratia.

Datuk Syed Ali Syed Abbas Alhabshee said as the money belonged to taxpayers, "the public has a right to know".

"What is the public to make of this?" asked Datuk Musa Sheikh Fadzir.

"On one hand we promote transparency but on the other we are doing our best to keep the information under wraps.

"Zaid told senators the government had the right to keep the payment under wraps if it chose to, adding: "There are some areas where the government does not have to divulge information."

2008/07/25 NST Online

Malaysia demands US stop 'interfering' in Anwar case

Malaysian Foreign Minister Rais Yatim Friday demanded the United States stop "interfering" in an investigation into sodomy allegations against opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice Thursday urged Malaysia to ensure a "transparent" investigation into the sexual misconduct allegations against Anwar -- the same charge that saw him jailed a decade ago.

"Whatever others say from outside Malaysia is irrelevant. Ultimately it is the decision of Malaysians that will be counted in this case," Rais Yatim told AFP.

"Anwar may have many friends overseas to prop him up for his image and for his present situation but Malaysia has its own laws and domestic constitution," he said.

"The US has got this larger-than-life image in assuming the position as policemen of the world. They want to project this all along but they have to stop interfering and making comments such as these," the minister said.

"After a certain point, if they keep interfering with the internal affairs of other countries, then the US has got to answer to the big question of responsibility and whether they have the jurisdiction to do that, as powerful as they may be," he said.

Malaysia has accused the US of meddling in its internal affairs by raising concerns over Anwar's arrest last week.

Rice however said the US would continue to speak out on cases involving human rights and politics although it did so "in a spirit of respect for Malaysia".

Three former world leaders -- former Canadian prime minister Paul Martin, ex-World Bank chief James Wolfensohn, and Michel Camdessus, the former head of the International Monetary Fund -- also urged the sodomy allegations be dropped.

They also reiterated their "full confidence," in Anwar's moral integrity.

Anwar spent a night in custody last week after being arrested over accusations that he sodomised a 23-year-old male aide. He was released on bail and must report back to police on August 18.

The allegations threaten to derail Anwar's spectacular political comeback, after March elections that handed the opposition a third of parliamentary seats.
He has said he plans to seize power soon with the help of government defectors.
Anwar was sacked as deputy premier in 1998 and jailed for six years on corruption and sodomy charges.

The sex conviction was overturned by the nation's highest court in 2004.

Thursday July 24, 2008 : Dad and kids found dead

A factory worker was found hanged in his house in Kampung Parit Kasa here, with his two children lying dead nearby.

Shaari Hamid, 34, believed to be in the midst of a divorce, was found hanged from a wooden beam with the bodies of Muhammad Shamir, four, and one-year-old Nor Ameelia Shafiqahin lying on a mattress in their bedroom.

South Seberang Prai OCPD Supt Shafien Mamat said the case was being investigated under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder and suicide.

Shaari's wife Norhanizah Ahmad being escorted by a policewoman at the Sungai Bakap Hospital mortuary in Nibong Tebal Wednesday.

He said police received a call from a relative at 12.45pm.

“Early investigations show that they had been dead for more than seven hours before the police were called,” he said when met at the scene.

Supt Shafien said the post-mortem results showed that there were traces of poison in the children’s bodies.

“We are not sure if they consumed the poison through a drink or food but there was poison in their bodies,” he said.

Earlier, policemen were seen removing bottles of weedkiller from the compound of the house.

“Police are looking into several possibilities on how the children died. We also found some documents which would help with the investigation,” Supt Shafien said, but declined to say whether it was a suicide note.

It is understood that Shaari’s elder sister, who lives next door, had gone over to his house in the morning to wake him up for work when she found him dead.

The grieving sister did not want to talk to the press.

A family friend, Abdullah Hashim, 46, said he could not believe that Shaari, who was a doting father, would kill his children.

“He loved his children. He was having problems with his wife and they have been separated for the past six or seven months.

“He did not want a divorce as he was worried about the children. Just the day before, he attended marriage counselling at the Religious Department with his wife,” he said, adding that the couple had taken turns to care for the children since their separation.

Abdullah added that Shaari was very sad over the separation and would always call him to pour out his woes and ask for advice.

At the Sungai Bakap Hospital mortuary, Shaari’s wife could not stop sobbing over the fate of her two young children.

Norhanizah Ahmad, 27, was earlier seen at the house before proceeding to the mortuary.

“I received a call from a relative at 2pm yesterday who told me about the deaths. Shaari picked up the children from my mother’s house yesterday at around 11pm.

“He seemed normal and I did not notice anything amiss,” she said between sobs.

Norhanizah is currently staying with her mother in Titi Serong, Parit Buntar, Perak.


Marital problems said to be cause of murder, suicide

Police consider the murder-cum-suicide of a father and his two children here solved with marital problems being the probable cause for the case.

South Seberang Prai OCPD Supt Shafien Mamat said Shaari Hamid, 34, fed poison to his two children - Muhammad Shamir, four and one-year-old Nor Ameelia Shafiqah - before hanging himself at his house in Kampung Parit Kasa.

Supt Shafien said Shaari and his wife, Norhanizah Ahmad, 27, who are living separately, had been attending marriage counselling at the Religious Department's district office but they missed their appointment the day before his death.

He said the poisons found in the house and the blood and stomach contents of the children had been sent to the laboratory to determine the type of poison.

“The results are expected in a month,” he added.

Supt Shafien said police could not determine if the poison was slipped into the children’s milk bottle but it is believed that the father laced a drink with poison.

“Police have seized a milk bottle and glasses to help with investigations,” he said.

When asked if a suicide note was found at the scene, Supt Shafien replied that the police found documents that helped in the investigation of the case.

He said police had recorded the statements of Norhanizah and close relatives to help with the investigation.

Earlier in the morning, Shaari's family members were seen holding tahlil prayers at his house.

They declined to speak to reporters.

Man with a golden gun

The bullets, guns and other weapons seized from the suspect's house on display at the police press conference in Shah Alam Wednesday (23/7/08)

The man killed in a shootout in Subang Jaya on Tuesday had been involved in at least nine goldsmith shop robberies in the Klang Valley since early this year, escaping with jewellery worth RM3.2mil, Selangor police said.

Police who raided his house in SS14 later the same day found two sub-machine guns, a .38 Smith & Wesson semi-automatic pistol, a .22 and a 9mm pistol, hundreds of rounds of bullets, hammers, parang, a Yamaha motorcycle, two helmets and a car, which were all seized.

One of the sub-machine guns was overlaid in gold, believed to be from the robberies committed.
The bullets, guns and other weapons seized from the suspect's house on display at the police press conference in Shah Alam Wednesday.

The suspect, known as “Beem Boy” to friends, was high on the wanted list for robbery and murder.

(Beem Boy was a bodyguard character in a 1991 Tamil movie.)

“He was wanted for at least nine robberies in the Klang Valley. We were also looking for him in connection with another heist in Negri Sembilan,” state police chief DCP Datuk Khalid Abu Bakar told a press conference at the state police headquarters here yesterday.

“The suspect was also linked to the murder of a man at a restaurant in Taman Sri Muda here on April 20. The man was shot 14 times.

“We also arrested a 21-year-old woman, believed to be the suspect’s wife.”
Police are on the lookout for at least one more member of the robbery gang, DCP Khalid said, adding that several suspects have been identified.

On Tuesday, a team of police officers had blocked the suspect in SS14 at 1.45pm as he was on his way home and asked him to stop. But he responded with a hail of bullets. The cops returned fire, killing him.

In an unrelated case, Selangor police arrested two men and seized 3.1kg of heroin worth RM84,000 at the Rawang industrial area on Sunday.

DCP Khalid said the suspects, a 41-year-old mosaic worker and a 45-year-old lorry driver, were behaving suspiciously. The drugs were found when a team from the state Narcotics Department stopped their car and checked them.

He said both suspects had been remanded. He added that the drugs were believed to be for the Klang Valley, adding that they had a street value of RM510,000.

IHP Jun naik 7.7 peratus, inflasi diramal kekal tinggi

Indeks Harga Pengguna (IHP), pengukur kadar inflasi pada Jun lalu meningkat kepada 7.7 peratus daripada 3.8 peratus pada bulan sebelumnya berikutan kenaikan harga petrol dan diesel pada 5 Jun lalu dengan purata IHP bagi enam bulan pertama tahun ini 3.7 peratus.

Menteri Perdagangan Dalam Negeri dan Hal Ehwal Pengguna, Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad, berkata peningkatan IHP disebabkan kenaikan indeks makanan, minuman bukan alkohol, perumahan, air, elektrik, gas, kesihatan, pengangkutan, pendidikan, restoran, hotel dan pelbagai barangan dan perkhidmatan. Katanya, indeks kumpulan makanan dan minuman bukan alkohol pada bulan lalu meningkat 10 peratus dan bukan makanan naik 6.7 peratus.

"Kenaikan disebabkan peningkatan harga barangan keperluan seperti beras, roti, susu, sayuran, daging dan ikan. Ini juga berpunca daripada ketidakcekapan sistem pengedaran barangan keperluan harian subsidi tidak sampai kepada pengguna di kawasan luar bandar," katanya pada sidang media bagi mengumumkan data itu di pejabatnya, di sini semalam.

Shahrir berkata, kelemahan sistem pengedaran menyebabkan harga barang keperluan seperti tepung gandum biasa, beras Super Special Tempatan (SST) 15 peratus hancur, minyak masak di kawasan luar bandar meningkat.

"Saya sering mendapat aduan bahan makanan subsidi sukar diperoleh dan jika ada pun cepat habis. Ini biasanya berlaku di luar bandar akibat sistem pengedaran di semua peringkat hingga kepada peniaga," katanya.

Sehubungan itu, kertas cadangan menubuhkan syarikat berkaitan kerajaan (GLC) untuk menjadi pengedar utama bekalan barangan keperluan di negara ini bagi menangani masalah sistem pengedaran akan dibentang-kan ke Kabinet tiga minggu lagi.

"Perbadanan Kemajuan Negeri Melaka dan Mara menunjukkan minat untuk memainkan peranan secara langsung dalam sistem pengedaran supaya pengguna berpendapatan rendah mudah memperoleh barang keperluan harian subsidi," katanya.

Sementara itu, Ketua Ahli Ekonomi Malaysia Rating Corporation Bhd (MARC), Nor Zahidi Alias, berkata kenaikan tinggi IHP bulan lalu sudah dijangka susulan penstrukturan semula subsidi bahan api serta kenaikan harga barangan makanan.

"Kami menjangka inflasi pada bulan ini (Julai) kekal tinggi sekitar tujuh peratus sebelum susut sedikit antara enam hingga tujuh peratus menjelang akhir tahun ini," katanya

Semalam, Singapura mengumumkan kadar inflasi bagi Jun meningkat 7.5 peratus, tertinggi dalam tempoh 26 tahun, manakala Korea Selatan merekodkan peningkatan 5.5 peratus, kadar tertinggi dalam tempoh 10 tahun. Kelmarin Bank Pembangunan Asia (ADB) mengunjur kadar inflasi Asia tahun ini secara umumnya dijangka meningkat, didahului Vietnam 19.4 peratus, Indonesia (10.1 peratus), Filipina (7.2 peratus), China (tujuh peratus), Thailand (6.1 peratus), Singapura (5.8 peratus), Hong Kong (4.7 peratus), sementara Malaysia dan Korea Selatan masing-masing 4.1 peratus.

Tabung Haji tidak benar buat pinjaman tunai haji

Lembaga Tabung Haji tidak membenarkan mana-mana individu membuat pinjaman bagi menunaikan haji seperti yang termaktub dalam Akta Tabung Haji 1995, kata Timbalan Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Dr Mashitah Ibrahim. Beliau berkata ibadah haji perlu dilakukan mengikut kemampuan.

“Mengikut Akta Tabung Haji 1995, tidak boleh memberi pinjaman kepada mana-mana individu bagi pinjaman peribadi dan untuk menunaikan haji dan umrah,” katanya semasa menggulung perbahasan Kajian Separuh Penggal Rancangan Malaysia Kesembilan (RMK-9) pada persidangan Dewan Negara di sini, hari ini.

Beliau berkata demikian merujuk kepada cadangan Senator Mumtaz Md Nawi semasa sesi perbahasan lalu yang mencadangkan Tabung Haji dan institusi kewangan Islam lain memberikan pinjaman kepada golongan muda yang ingin menunaikan haji bagi menggalakkan mereka menunaikan ibadah itu pada usia muda.

- Bernama

Pemasangan tanda jalan bahasa Cina tidak perlu

Pemasangan papan tanda jalan dalam bahasa Cina di Pulau Pinang oleh sebuah parti politik semalam, dianggap pelbagai pihak sebagai usaha mencabar kedudukan bahasa Melayu sebagai bahasa kebangsaan dan satu percubaan untuk mengorbankan jati diri negara.

Menteri Pelancongan, Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said berkata: “Perlembagaan negara dengan jelas menyatakan bahasa Melayu adalah bahasa kebangsaan, maka dengan itu semua tanda rasmi hendaklah menggunakan bahasa Melayu.”

“Ini adalah sebahagian daripada kontrak sosial yang telah dipersetujui oleh datuk nenek kita dahulu dan adalah diharap tiada sesiapa yang cuba mencabar perkara ini,” katanya ketika dihubungi di sini hari ini.

Azalina turut menegur pihak terbabit yang cuba mengaitkan kementerian itu dengan tanda jalan berkenaan. Beliau yang memandang serius tindakan itu berkata, pihak terbabit juga tidak pernah mendapat kebenaran dari kementerian berkenaan berhubung penggunaan logo ’Visit Malaysia’ pada tanda jalan itu.

“Kita akan meneliti tindakan yang perlu diambil pihak terbabit berhubung penyalahgunaan logo tersebut,” katanya. Sementara itu, tokoh bahasa Melayu Profesor Emeritus Datuk Dr Nik Safiah Karim berkata, beliau tidak bersetuju sama sekali dengan pemasangan tanda jalan itu dan menyifatkan tindakan itu sebagai mengorbankan jati diri negara.

“Sesebuah negara harus mencerminkan jati diri masing-masing. Bahasa kebangsaan kita adalah bahasa Melayu, jadi kenapa harus ditonjolkan bahasa lain yang diangkat hampir sama tinggi dengan bahasa kebangsaan?” katanya. Dr Nik Safiah berkata, sekalipun ingin menarik perhatian pelancong, bahasa kebangsaan haruslah diutamakan.

Setiausaha Agung Gabungan Pelajar Melayu Semenanjung (GPMS), Mohd Nordin Awang pula berkata pihak yang terbabit dalam pemasangan tanda jalan tersebut harus jelas bahawa kedudukan bahasa Melayu sebagai bahasa kebangsaan dan bahasa utama dalam perlembangan.

“Saya rasa apa yang mereka lakukan itu mencabar kedudukan bahasa Melayu dalam negara yang berbilang bangsa ini. Menjadi amalan dan praktis selama ini, semua tanda jalan di negara ini adalah dalam bahasa Melayu,” katanya.

Setiausaha Agung Pemuda MCA yang juga Timbalan Menteri Pelajaran, Dr Wee Ka Siong berpendapat tindakan pemasangan tanda jalan itu tidak harus dijadikan satu isu. Katanya, sebagai sebuah negara berbilang kaum tidak salah sekiranya papan tanda dibuat dalam bahasa lain.

“Saya rasa perkara ini bukan untuk menimbulkan sensitiviti mana-mana pihak,” katanya.

- Bernama

Rizab BNM berjumlah RM408.8 bilion pada 15 Julai

Rizab antarabangsa Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) berjumlah RM408.8 bilion setakat 15 Julai, rendah sedikit daripada RM410.9 bilion pada 30 Jun. Dalam satu kenyataan hari ini, BNM berkata kedudukan rizab itu mencukupi bagi membiayai 9.9 bulan import tertangguh dan 5.1 kali hutang luar negara jangka pendek.

- Bernama

Malaysia's inflation could spike in June: minister

Malaysia's inflation rate could hit seven percent in June in a "one-off" hike, a senior minister warned Monday following the recent 41 percent rise in fuel prices.

Nor Mohamed Yakcop, second finance minister, said for June and July, inflation could be slightly higher, reflecting the rise in the cost of goods, after June's fuel price increase.

"This is a one-off inflation as oil prices have gone up ... food prices have gone up. It is a cost-pushed inflation," he said.

But Nor Mohamed was confident inflation for 2008 would be contained at five percent.
"My own feeling as a whole is that inflation will be contained. In my own expectations -- not more than five percent for the year as a whole," he was quoted as saying on private TV3 television.

The central bank has said the June inflation rate is expected to surge above six percent due to the fuel price hike, raising speculation that rates will be hiked.

Economists expect the central bank to announce an increase in borrowing costs by 25 basis points at the end of July to counter a jump in inflation, when it holds its monetary policy.
Malaysia's key interest rate now stands at 3.50 percent.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi last month announced a deeply unpopular 41 percent increase in petrol prices to cut the country's subsidies bill, which would have reached 17 billion dollars this year.

May's inflation rate rose to a 22-month high of 3.8 percent from 3.0 percent in April and 2.8 percent the month earlier, driven by higher food prices, while for the first four months of the year, it averaged 2.7 percent.

Agence France-Presse - 7/21/2008 11:15 AM GMT

Sarawak: Graduan cemerlang mampu jana negara

Kokurikulum boleh seimbang mental, fizikal pelajar

Semua pelajar pengajian tinggi di Sarawak perlu membabitkan diri dalam kegiatan kokurikulum dan kemasyarakatan bagi memastikan pembangunan mental dan fizikal mereka seimbang.

Menteri Perumahan, Datuk Sri Abang Johari Tun Abang Openg, berkata langkah itu adalah selaras dengan hasrat untuk melahirkan graduan cemerlang serta mampu membawa negara ke arah pembangunan mantap pada jangka masa panjang.

“Dalam era globalisasi pada masa ini, pelajar akan menghadapi pelbagai cabaran dalam bidang politik, ekonomi dan sosial yang tidak menentu, malah turut berhadapan dengan kemajuan bidang lain antaranya teknologi maklumat yang perlu diterokai supaya tidak ketinggalan dengan negara lain,” katanya pada Malam Anugerah Pelajar Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) di sini, semalam.

Pada majlis itu seramai 16 anugerah diberikan bagi mengiktiraf dan sumbangan siswa siswi sama ada secara individu dan berkumpulan yang berjaya dari segi akademik, kokurikulum serta menghargai pembabitan pelajar dalam mengharumkan Unimas sama ada di dalam atau di peringkat antarabangsa.

Majlis itu turut dihadiri Naib Canselor Unimas, Profesor Dr Khairuddin Ab Hamid, Setiuasaha Bahagian Sukan, Kementerian Pengajian Tinggi Malaysia, Dr Saharudin Ismail dan Dekan Pusat Pemajuan Pelajar Unimas, Dr Othman Bojo. Johari berkata malam anugerah yang dianjurkan seperti ini perlu dijadikan penyuntik semangat pelajar menjadi lebih tekun, gigih dan mahir pelbagai bidang supaya mampu menghadapi cabaran akan datang atau sebaik saja ke luar melangkah ke alam pekerjaan.

“Anugerah pada malam ini adalah malam anugerah pra graduan menamatkan pengajian masing-masing dan ini adalah satu kelebihan kepada mereka untuk terus memotivasikan diri mencapai impian masing-masing,” katanya.

Justeru itu, beliau berkata dengan adanya kemahiran dan kepakaran yang diperoleh sewaktu menimba pengajian sebelum ini, pelajar tidak perlu gusar berhadapan sebarang kemungkinan kerana mempunyai pengalaman yang mencukupi.

Bagaimanapun beliau berkata dengan adanya sokongan tenaga pengajar dan kakitangan berwibawa di Unimas, ia banyak membantu serta menggilap bakat siswa siswi hingga mereka mencapai ke tahap yang boleh dibanggakan.

“Saya percaya hasil daripada usaha semua pihak, siswa siswi yang menimba pengajian di Unimas mempunyai potensi untuk menjadi pemimpin yang berjaya pada masa akan datang,” katanya.

Britain percaya Amerika seksa tahanan

LONDON: Kerajaan Britain seharusnya tidak lagi menerima jaminan Amerika Syarikat bahawa ia tidak lagi melakukan penderaan, kata anggota Jawatankuasa Pemantau Parlimen dalam laporan meluas mengenai dasar hak asasi manusia di sini, semalam.

Menteri Britain sebelum ini diberi kenyataan terus daripada rakan sejawatan Amerika mereka, termasuk Setiausaha Negara, Condolezza Rice dan Presiden George W Bush, bahawa Washington tidak melakukan amalan sedemikian.

Namun, jawatankuasa hal ehwal asing Parti Buruh dan Konservatif berkata, pendirian itu sepatutnya diabaikan berikutan pengakuan daripada Pengarah Perisikan Kebangsaan Amerika, Michael McConnell, bahawa teknik seksaan 'water-boarding' atau melemaskan tahanan, digunakan ke atas suspek pengganas.

Setiausaha Luar Britain, David Miliband, memberitahu Parlimen dalam dua kejadian tahun ini bahawa amalan itu, yang sama dengan kaedah melemaskan ketika soal siasat adalah sama dengan seksaan.

"Pendirian Miliband mempunyai kesan serius terhadap dasar kerajaan," kata jawatankuasa itu dalam Laporan Tahunan Hak Asasi Manusia 2007-8 setebal 214 muka surat.

"Kami membuat kesimpulan, berdasarkan definisi perbezaan jelas, Britain tidak lagi boleh bergantung terhadap Amerika berhubung jaminan bahawa ia tidak melakukan kekejaman, dan kami mencadangkan kerajaan tidak sepatutnya bergantung kepada jaminan itu pada masa akan datang," tambahnya.

Britain turut menandatangani konvensyen Pertubuhan Bangsa-Bangsa Bersatu yang mencegah ekstradisi suspek ke negara yang mana seksaan digunakan.

- AFP

Sekat import ikan dari tiga negara

Myanmar, Indonesia dan Kemboja risiko tinggi hadapi pencemaran arsenik dalam air

Kementerian Kesihatan mengenakan sekatan terhadap semua import ikan dari Myanmar, Indonesia dan kemboja berikutan negara terbabit berisiko tinggi menghadapi pencemaran arsenik dalam air.

Pengarah Bahagian Keselamatan dan Kualiti Makanan, Noraini Mohd Othman, berkata sekatan itu dikenakan serta merta selepas menerima maklumat, Ahad lalu dan dilaksanakan di bawah Tindakan Pemeriksaan Tahap 5 (Tahan, Uji & Lepas) melalui Sistem Maklumat Keselamatan Makanan Malaysia (FoSIM).

Katanya, kementerian melalui pemantauan berterusan di setiap pintu masuk negara akan memastikan bekalan itu hanya dilepaskan ke pasaran selepas memperoleh keputusan makmal yang membuktikan tahap pencemaran arsenik mematuhi Peraturan-Peratutan Makanan 1985.

"Sebelum ini, kita tidak pernah menerima laporan pencemaran bahan itu dari negara terbabit. Sejak 2001 hingga kini kementerian hanya merekodkan enam data waspada makanan (food alert) yang dikesan mengandungi arsenik melebihi tahap dibenarkan tetapi ia tidak termasuk ketiga-tiga negara itu," katanya kepada Berita Harian, semalam.

Beliau berkata, kawasan yang dipercayai berisiko tinggi adalah bahagian timur Sumatera di Indonesia; Delta Irrawaddy di Myanmar dan Tasik Tonle Sap di Kemboja.

Mengikut data tahun lalu, Malaysia mengimport ikan dari Myanmar bernilai kira-kira RM104 juta, manakala import ikan dari Indonesia lebih RM310 juta. Ahad lalu, akhbar melaporkan Delta Irrawaddy yang musnah teruk di Myanmar akibat taufan kini berisiko tinggi pencemaran arsenik dalam aliran air bawah tanah yang boleh menyebabkan kanser serta penyakit lain kepada penduduk.

Sementara itu, Pengerusi Persatuan Pemborong dan Pembekal Ikan Melayu Wilayah Persekutuan dan Selangor, Ariffin Zakaria, berkata berlaku kekurangan bekalan ikan yang teruk di pasaran sejak seminggu lalu.

Usir pendatang Ogos

TINDAKAN TEGAS: Najib mempengerusikan taklimat operasi mengusir pendatang tanpa izin kepada pemimpin Barisan Nasional Sabah di Bangunan Parlimen, semalam. Turut hadir Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri, Tan Sri Bernard Dompok (kiri), Menteri Pelajaran, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein dan Menteri Keselamatan Dalam Negeri, Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar.

Operasi hantar pulang rakyat asing di Sabah diperhebat

Kerajaan memperuntukkan RM50 juta bagi operasi besar-besaran mengusir pendatang asing tanpa izin di Sabah yang dianggarkan 150,000, bermula awal bulan depan.

Timbalan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Razak, berkata peruntukan itu diperlukan bagi melancarkan tindakan berkesan membabitkan semua warga asing yang sudah dikenal pasti tidak mempunyai dokumen sah atau tamat tempoh untuk dikeluarkan dari negara ini.

"Kabinet dalam mesyuarat minggu lalu meluluskan permohonan Jawatankuasa Khas Kabinet Mengenai Pendatang Asing Tanpa Izin Sabah mendapatkan peruntukan itu.

"Ia untuk membeli pelbagai peralatan dan keperluan operasi," katanya pada sidang media selepas taklimat khas dengan ketua parti komponen Barisan Nasional (BN) Sabah berhubung penyelesaian masalah pendatang asing di negeri itu, di Bangunan Parlimen, di sini, semalam.

Beliau yang juga pengerusi jawatankuasa berkenaan berkata, dianggarkan antara 100,000 hingga 150,000 pendatang asing akan dihantar balik ke negara asal dalam operasi berterusan itu.

Katanya, jawatankuasa juga menetapkan Kementerian Dalam Negeri (KDN) sebagai penyelaras operasi pendatang asing tanpa izin peringkat Pusat dan penguatkuasaan diserahkan kepada polis.

"Setiausaha Kerajaan Negeri Sabah dilantik mempengerusikan jawatankuasa penyelaras peringkat negeri," katanya.

Beliau berkata, operasi akan bermula di Pantai Barat Sabah yang ada kem tahanan sementara iaitu Kem Paradise, Kota Belud sebelum diteruskan di Pantai Timur negeri itu.

"Kem tahanan sementara di Pantai Timur Sabah akan disiapkan hujung tahun ini. Anggota polis juga akan ditambah bagi menjalankan operasi itu dan memastikan tiada peningkatan jenayah," katanya.

Najib berkata, operasi turut memberi perhatian terhadap masalah kanak-kanak jalanan warga asing. "Keputusan yang dibuat ini melambangkan komitmen bagi menangani masalah pendatang asing tanpa izin seperti dikehendaki rakyat dan pemimpin parti politik Sabah," katanya.

Pejabat perwakilan Malaysia di Nunukan, Indonesia dan Zamboanga City, Filipina, diwujudkan bagi memudahkan permohonan visa warga negara terbabit bekerja di Malaysia.

Dept asked to control prices of fertilisers

The Agriculture Department was on Tuesday night urged to control the prices of fertilisers and pesticides to relieve the burden of farmers.

“We are now in an era where various commodities are priced at a higher rate compared to before and they include fertilisers and pesticides which we need in agriculture cultivation,” Kuching Area Farmers’ Organisation (Kafo) chairman Penghulu Sebi Masran said.

Kafo, which has about 4,500 members, is a body which helps to improve the income and productivity of the farmers.

“Previously, a bag of fertiliser was only priced between RM90 and RM100 but now it is at a staggering RM180 per bag,” he said when speaking at the dinner held in conjunction with the 21st annual general meeting of the association.

He also appealed to the authorities to take the necessary measures to help the farmers to cope with the increase in the prices of various items.

At the same time, he also told the crowd of more than 150 people which included unit chiefs, assistant unit chiefs, and members of the board of directors to look for possible alternatives that would help to cut down their costs.

Agriculture Farmers Institution Division acting senior assistant director Othman Hamdan, who also spoke at the dinner, stressed that members could compose their own fertilisers if possible to sail through the hard time.

He added that the farmers should work strategically to achieve better business prospect.
“Vision to look ahead is crucial and it is wise to make a five-year or even 10-year strategic business plan coupled with good implementation,” he advised.

Speaking on implementation, he said someone with leadership qualities would be a calibre candidate in carrying out projects thus generating more business volume as desired.

At the dinner, certificates and souvenirs were presented to outstanding members.
Joji Nabiau, who was adjudged the excellent unit chief, said he was only providing assistance to the farmers whenever he could.

“I am just performing my duty as a unit chief. It is a responsibility I shoulder and I always make an effort to interact with them to see if they had encountered any problem,” he said.

The AFO’s general manager Saibee Dael, project manager Leo Mamba and assistant chief clerk Norjanah Fauzi were among those present.

Money Lenders Act 1951 here

Act adopted on May 1 but enforcement officially began yesterday with briefing for 100 money lenders

The ‘along’ or illegal money lenders will not have it easy in the days ahead now that the Money Lenders Act 1951 has been extended to Sarawak.

Consequently, all money lending activities are now governed by the Act.

Its enforcement was officially launched yesterday by Second Finance Minister Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh during a briefing at the Kuching City South Council auditorium for more than 100 money lenders.

Wong said with the extension of the Money Lenders Act 1951 to the state, the High Court would no longer handle, administer, manage and issue money lenders licence.

“Previously, the activities of money lenders in Sarawak were governed by the Sarawak Money Lenders Ordinance 1912 (Chapter 114).

“Back then, the management and administration (of money lending) was handled by High Courts in Kuching, Sibu and Miri and the revenue collected belongs to the federal government,” he explained.

Wong, who is also Urban Development and Tourism Minister, disclosed that the state government had in 2003 requested for the Act to be extended to Sarawak given that the century-old ordinance (Sarawak Money Lenders Ordinance 1912) was obsolete.

To implement the Act, he said state officers namely the State Secretary and 11 Residents of the respective divisions had been appointed as “Deputy Registrar” of money lenders.

“The reason why Residents are appointed as Deputy Registrars is because they are the heads of every division and they can monitor better on the ground,” Wong said.

He added that 72 council enforcement officers were appointed as inspectorate of money lenders and these inspectorates were among the existing council enforcement officers who would be able to perform their duties well given their familiarity with enforcement duties on the ground.

With the appointment of officers from the existing administrative institution, he said the state government need not recruit any new officers to handle the money lending activities.

“Thus, there is no financial implication involved,” he said, adding that there were 310 licensed money lenders throughout the state.

Wong appealed to those involved in the money lending business to conduct their activities according to the Act as part of the efforts to eradicate the problems arising from illegal money lenders.

“It is hoped that all money lenders will give full cooperation and abide by the existing law so that the business will prosper and everyone involved will benefit,” Wong said.

When asked by reporters later if the ‘along’ problem was serious in the state, Wong replied: “I suppose it is quite serious to a certain extent.”

He, however, hoped that the extension of the Act would help regularise all the money lenders so as to better enlighten Sarawakians on the proper channel to get loans.
“We will make it (the Extension of the Money Lenders Act 1951) better known for the people who would like to borrow some money.

“They should borrow the money from the properly licensed money lenders,” he said.
He said ‘along’ activities could certainly be minimised if people only borrow from licensed money lenders.

“In the past, perhaps some of them may not know who the money lenders are but now with the 11 residents appointed as the Deputy Registrars of these money lenders, those who want to borrow money should go to these people.

“It is safer for people to approach licensed money lenders rather than (going for) exorbitant interest rates charged by the illegal money lenders,” he said, hoping that the 11 Residents would fulfil their roles as expected.

Asked if those illegal money lenders were encouraged to register, he said they should do so if they could meet the basic requirements of the application for licences and permits.

He, however, pointed out that it was not easy since the Act stated that all applicants must have a paid up capital of RM1 million and they must pay a fee of RM2,000 for two years in order to apply for a new licence.

(Under the old legislation, an applicant needs only to pay RM50 for a licence).
On the interest rate charged by the legal money lenders, Wong said: “I really don’t know but there are guidelines as to what sort of interest they should charge and this is within the regulation.”

Meanwhile, of the 310 licensed money lenders, Sibu tops the list with 97 operators while Miri (92), Kuching (79), Bintulu (25), Limbang (14) and Sri Aman (3).
Under the Extension of the Money Lenders Act 1951, all fees collected will be deposited as state revenue.

Officers and representatives of Bank Negara and the Association of Licensed Money Lenders Malaysia gave the briefing which was divided into several sessions.

Sarawak: Bank Rakyat hulur zakat RM1.48j

Bank Kerjasama Rakyat Malaysia (Bank Rakyat) semalam menyampaikan sumbangan zakat berjumlah RM1.48 juta kepada kerajaan negeri, hasil operasi perniagaannya di negeri ini.

Sumbangan disampaikan Pengerusi Bank Rakyat, Tan Sri Dr Syed Jalaludin Syed Salim kepada Ketua Menteri, Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud di pejabat Ketua Menteri, Tingkat 22, Wisma Bapa Malaysia, Petra Jaya di sini.

Jumlah zakat yang disampaikan itu meningkat sebanyak 8.5 peratus berbanding yang dikeluarkan Bank Rakyat bagi 2006 iaitu RM1.368 juta.

Ia adalah berdasarkan operasi perniagaan Bank Rakyat di lapan cawangannya di seluruh Sarawak iaitu cawangan Kuching, Pending, Sibu, Miri, Bintulu, Sri Aman, Sarikei dan Samarahan.

Bank Rakyat dalam kenyataannya berharap sumbangan itu dapat disalurkan kepada golongan yang memerlukan, sekali gus mengembangkan lagi syiar Islam.

Keseluruhannya Bank Rakyat memperuntukkan sejumlah RM31.937 juta zakat perniagaan pada tahun ini, hasil daripada keuntungannya sebanyak RM828.8 juta.

Sarawak: Tambang bas naik 100 peratus

Cadangan sudah dikemuka kepada LPKP bagi kurangkan kos operasi

Tambang bas awam di Sarawak akan dinaikkan seratus peratus jika cadangan mengenainya diluluskan ibu pejabat Lembaga Pelesenan Kenderaan Perdagangan (LPKP).

Cadangan itu sudah pun dikemukakan kepada LPKP di Kuala Lumpur oleh Persatuan Syarikat-Syarikat Bas Sarawak, bulan lalu. Naib Pengerusinya, John Ling Lai Seng, berkata pihaknya tidak ada pilihan jika mahu meneruskan operasi, kecuali menaikkan kadar tambang sehingga seratus peratus.

Katanya, kadar tambang perlu dinaikkan sekali ganda untuk mengurangkan impak kenaikan harga minyak dan alat ganti kenderaan termasuk bateri dan tayar, yang turut mengalami kenaikan harga.

"Kenaikan tambang perlu untuk kami menampung kos operasi yang semakin meningkat atau kami terpaksa gulung tikar. Harga bateri naik daripada RM150 kepada RM400, manakala harga tayar bas naik daripada RM400 sebiji kepada RM800 sebiji.

“Kalau tambang bas tidak dinaikkan, kami terpaksa meneruskan operasi dengan menanggung kerugian," katanya ketika dihubungi di sini, semalam.

Beliau berkata, pihaknya juga sudah menaikkan gaji kakitangan antara 20 hingga 30 peratus, selari dengan kenaikan harga minyak dan barangan keperluan di pasaran, supaya kakitangan mereka tidak terlalu dibeban.

Ling berkata, pada masa sekarang ada kira-kira 5,000 bas awam beroperasi di seluruh negeri ini, dikendalikan oleh lebih 20 syarikat bas.

Persatuan itu turut meminta supaya kuota subsidi diesel dinaikkan kepada 100 peratus daripada keperluan pengusaha bas awam di negeri ini. Beliau berkata, setiap bas yang beroperasi di negeri ini memerlukan kira-kira 2,500 liter diesel sebulan, manakala bagi bas yang beroperasi jarak jauh memerlukan 9,680 liter diesel sebulan.

Bagaimanapun, setakat ini pihaknya hanya memperoleh 1,440 liter diesel subsidi (dengan harga RM1.43 seliter) untuk setiap bas beroperasi di bandar dan 2,880 liter diesel subsidi untuk bas jarak jauh.

Ini menyebabkan pihaknya terpaksa membayar pada kadar harga biasa untuk baki keperluan diesel iaitu RM2.58 seliter.

Beliau juga mendakwa Menteri Perdagangan dalam Negeri dan Hal Ehwal Pengguna sudah bersetuju terhadap cadangan memberikan subsidi seratus peratus dalam perjumpaan dengan mereka sebelum ini, namun sudah sebulan berlalu ia belum lagi dilaksanakan.