Entertainment outlets told to observe noise level threshold of 65 decibel within a distance of 100 metres
Operators of entertainment outlets should strictly observe the noise level threshold of 65 decibel within a distance of 100 metres to avoid causing noise pollution to nearby residents.This was stressed by Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) deputy chairman Daniel Ngieng yesterday, adding that this was also done for health reasons and to safeguard the well-being of the public.
“We want to impress on operators of karaokes, pubs and night clubs that the level of noise should not exceed the threshold of 65 decibel within a distance of 100 metres.
“Otherwise, it will cause disturbances to the residents.
“And too loud a noise is actually not good for the ears in the long run,” Ngieng said when met after a dialogue session between SMC and ‘Persatuan Karaoke, Lounge, Pub Dan Kelab Malam Sibu’ yesterday.
He said the association had given the assurance that they would help remind their members to rectify the shortcomings if there was a complaint from the public.
Nevertheless, he pointed out that the best policy with regard to the control of noise was to exercise self control.
This meant that operators would keep the noise in check so as not to cause disturban-ces to others, he said.
Earlier during the press conference, Ngieng said the council would consider issuing karaoke licence to operators if their proposed premises were within the central business district (CBD).
Explaining, he said CBD covered areas such as Lanang Road, Kingwood Hotel, Kawan Hotel down to Orchid Hotel and Paramount Hotel.
“The council will consider their applications if their operation are within this zone.”
He, however, clarified that this did not mean that they would approve their licence straight away.
Operators, he said would still need to satisfy other requirements such as fire safety, security, cleanliness and hygiene.
On those operating outside the CBD area, he cautioned that the council might review their licence if there was complaint with regard to loudness or their operation.
On another issue, he reminded operators to strictly adhere to the operating hours.
He added that this was a state wide requirement whereby during weekdays, operators can operate up to 1.30am and 2.30am on weekend.
With that said, he disclosed that a new sample for the ‘Anti Dadah’ signboard which carried a new design and message would be communicated to them in due course.
He was pleased to note that karaoke operators were giving their full cooperation towards saying ‘no’ to drugs.
Towards this end, he revealed that there were 73 karaoke licences here, adding that another four were still being processed.
He said for new applications, the council would require operators to operate their karaoke business at the ground floor.
The existing ones, he said were given a grace period to comply with the requirement.
Among those present were SMC general purpose and community services standing committee chairman councillor David Lau, honorary president of ‘Persatuan Karaoke, Lounge, Pub Dan Kelab Malam Sibu’ Dato Hii Hua Seng and chairman Sim Lih Ping.
PANDU CERMAT, SAYANGKAN NYAWA
INGAT ORANG YANG TERSAYANG
INGAT ORANG YANG TERSAYANG
PASTIKAN ANDA DAN SEMUA PENUMPANG MENGGUNAKAN TALI PINGGANG KELEDAR
20100121
Oral sex the main cause of STD, says specialist
ORAL sex is the cause of most incidents of sexually transmitted diseases (STD) in the country.
China Press quoted specialist Datuk Dr Low Bin Tick as saying that many people believed they would not contract STD when indulging in this activity.
STD that could be transmitted via oral sex and kissing included AIDS, especially when there are wounds on the genitals, Dr Low said, adding that STD like cervicitis could lead to cervical cancer.
He said the number of people suffering from STD in the country was not known as the Government had never conducted research on it.
The report also quoted him as saying that there were fewer than 10 STD specialists in the country as the course was not promoted locally.
China Press quoted specialist Datuk Dr Low Bin Tick as saying that many people believed they would not contract STD when indulging in this activity.
STD that could be transmitted via oral sex and kissing included AIDS, especially when there are wounds on the genitals, Dr Low said, adding that STD like cervicitis could lead to cervical cancer.
He said the number of people suffering from STD in the country was not known as the Government had never conducted research on it.
The report also quoted him as saying that there were fewer than 10 STD specialists in the country as the course was not promoted locally.
20100120
Merokok - Penguatkuasaan lemah
Seorang lelaki sedang menghisap rokok tanpa menghiraukan tanda larangan di sebuah pusat perubatan di Kuala Lumpur
SEKURANG-KURANGNYA 20 kawasan telah diwartakan sebagai tempat larangan merokok di negara ini tetapi para perokok seolah-olah mendapat ‘kebebasan’ melanggar peraturan itu.
Tinjauan sehari Unit Khas Utusan Malaysia mendapati, di beberapa kawasan hospital dan pusat perubatan masih kelihatan petugas dan orang awam menghisap rokok.
Kegagalan pelbagai kempen kerajaan termasuk Klinik Berhenti Merokok dikaitkan dengan ‘kedegilan’ atau kurangnya kesedaran para perokok terhadap bahaya menghisap rokok.
Lebih baik jika perokok ini berhenti dan menabung wang itu untuk menunaikan fardu haji kerana ia merupakan satu kewajipan bagi umat Islam
Warta segera rokok haram di semua negeri
MERUJUK artikel ruangan rencana Utusan Malaysia 19 Januari 2010, sememangnya sudah sampai ke tahap di mana memujuk dan merayu bagi memberhentikan tabiat merokok tidak lagi berkesan.
Bahkan ia dilihat sebagai suatu pembaziran sumber tatkala berhadapan dengan mereka yang kalis nasihat ini. Sekarang sudah tiba ketikanya segala penguatkuasaan yang diwartakan dikotakan dengan perbuatan denda dan hukuman.
‘Perokok Malaysia tidak makan nasihat’ serta artikel-artikel lain seumpamanya yang pernah diterbitkan di merata-rata media. Saya menyokong penuh sikap dan pandangan yang diutarakan oleh mufti dan ulama serata dunia, yang menunjukkan kesepakatan telah wujud dalam memperjuangkan isu ini. Bukan hanya para petugas sektor kesihatan yang bermati-matian mengelakkan para pesakitnya mati akibat merokok, sekurang-kurangnya suara daripada agensi lain telah membuktikan semangat 1Malaysia harus diguna pakai dalam kesepakatan kita memerangi tabiat buruk ini.
Malah pewartaan di semua negeri perlu dilakukan dengan kadar segera bagi mengelak lebih banyak pembaziran wang bukan sahaja wang perokok, bahkan wang kerajaan dalam bajet yang terhad dewasa ini.
Wang kerajaan banyak dibazirkan bukan sahaja dalam konteks membuat promosi kesihatan dan program pendidikan, bahkan kos- kos perubatan akibat penyakit yang berkait rapat dengan rokok juga bukanlah satu jumlah yang sedikit.
Bermula daripada kanser yang pelbagai seperti kanser paru-paru, peti suara, mulut, tekak dan namakanlah apa sahaja sehinggalah kepada masalah kerosakan paru-paru akibat iritasi bahan berbahaya dalam rokok sudah cukup untuk memberikan kos rawatan yang nilainya amatlah banyak bagi seseorang pesakit.
Jika didarabkan dengan jumlah pesakit yang menderita penyakit akibat rokok di Malaysia ini, angkanya begitu mudah mencecah berbilion ringgit.
Selagi ia tidak diwartakan maka selagi itulah mereka akan berselindung di sebalik bayang makruh yang entah dari mana asal-usul hukumnya ini. Kenapa kita masih ingin menggunakan pandangan yang tidak ‘updated’ sedangkan dalam hal-hal yang lain, semuanya mahu ‘up-to-date’?
Sekarang, pakar-pakar perubatan sepakat berdasarkan hasil kajian dalam jurnal berimpak tinggi, ulama muktabar seluruh dunia termasuklah para mufti di Malaysia juga telah memutuskannya dalam Muzakarah Jawatankuasa Fatwa, Majlis Kebangsaan Bagi Hal Ehwal Islam Malaysia (MKBHEAI) Kali ke-37 pada 1995 bahawa tabiat merokok adalah haram menurut pandangan Islam. Jadi, apakah lagi yang ditunggu.
Namun sehingga hari ini, hanya dua negeri sahaja yang mewartakannya. Lupakanlah dahulu soal penguatkuasaan, hendak mewartakannya pun memakan masa hampir 15 tahun.
Penangguhan pewartaan ini atas apa juga alasan akan memberikan imej buruk kepada semua termasuklah agama, bangsa dan negara Malaysia.
Di Israel sekalipun, jumlah perokok berumur lebih 18 tahun hanya 27 peratus ( petikan artikel ‘Israel bans smoking from almost all public places’, British Medical Journal 2001). Di negara itu, peruntukan undang-undang antimerokok telah dilaksanakan dengan begitu intensif sehinggakan pada tahun 2008, kajian menunjukkan hasil jualan produk rokok mencatatkan kejatuhan dan trend ini diramalkan akan semakin berterusan dengan langkah-langkah susulan dan penguatkuasaan yang akan dilaksanakan dari semasa ke semasa. Tidak malukah kita?
20100118
Ministry ensuring prompt sugar supply to retailers
KUCHING: The Ministry of Domestic Trade, Co-operatives and Consumerism (KPDNKK) Sarawak is pumping up its efforts to curb the sugar shortage problem faced by local retailers.
Its director Wan Ahmad Uzir Wan Sulaiman said this to thesundaypost yesterday, adding that it was one of his priorities following his appointment last December.
“In our effort to curb the sugar shortage problem, we are assigning two enforcement officers at every wholesaler to ensure that sugar will reach the retailers. We don’t want wholesalers stocking up sugar supply.”
Further, Uzir urged local retailers to report the matter by calling its KPDNKK Sarawak Hotline at 082-466052, which opens daily from 8 am to 7 pm. Alternatively, they can also log on its website at http://kpdnhep.gov.my.
“Local retailers who have trouble getting their supply can always inform our office through our hotline number or via e-Aduan in our website, after which we will issue a letter immediately to the wholesalers, prompting them to deliver the supply to the retailers. However, this is subjected to whether the wholesalers have the stock or not. If they have it, they must deliver, no matter what.
“Failure to do so on the wholesaler’s part, we will take stern action under the Control of Supplies Act 1961 (Section 21).
“The retailers, however, should also provide details of their problems so we can take appropriate and immediate actions.”
Under the act, a wholesaler is liable to a fine not exceeding RM15,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years, or both, upon conviction. For repeat offenders, they may face up to RM25,000 in fine or imprisonment for a term not more than five years, or both.
Uzir said the ministry is also keeping checks on sugar supply in the borders, adding that a licence from KPDNKK has to be obtained by retailers to sell sugar within 10 kilometres from the border.
Earlier, he officiated the Shell Carnival held by IES Shell Station at Jalan Tun Razak, in conjunction with Shell’s ‘Weekly RM100,000 Cash’ contest. The event was organised to celebrate the second-week prize winner Teo Lee Choo, who was picked from the station’s lucky draw.
Also present were Shell Timur Sdn Bhd’s regional retail manager Kenny Ku and IES Shell Station operator Ivana Tjong.
On the consumer side, Uzir also highlighted KPDNKK’s Consumerism Programme as one of his priorities for this year.
“Consumerism programme will also be our focus, in which it will centre more on health. We have allocated about RM208,000 for the programme this year,” he said
Its director Wan Ahmad Uzir Wan Sulaiman said this to thesundaypost yesterday, adding that it was one of his priorities following his appointment last December.
“In our effort to curb the sugar shortage problem, we are assigning two enforcement officers at every wholesaler to ensure that sugar will reach the retailers. We don’t want wholesalers stocking up sugar supply.”
Further, Uzir urged local retailers to report the matter by calling its KPDNKK Sarawak Hotline at 082-466052, which opens daily from 8 am to 7 pm. Alternatively, they can also log on its website at http://kpdnhep.gov.my.
“Local retailers who have trouble getting their supply can always inform our office through our hotline number or via e-Aduan in our website, after which we will issue a letter immediately to the wholesalers, prompting them to deliver the supply to the retailers. However, this is subjected to whether the wholesalers have the stock or not. If they have it, they must deliver, no matter what.
“Failure to do so on the wholesaler’s part, we will take stern action under the Control of Supplies Act 1961 (Section 21).
“The retailers, however, should also provide details of their problems so we can take appropriate and immediate actions.”
Under the act, a wholesaler is liable to a fine not exceeding RM15,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years, or both, upon conviction. For repeat offenders, they may face up to RM25,000 in fine or imprisonment for a term not more than five years, or both.
Uzir said the ministry is also keeping checks on sugar supply in the borders, adding that a licence from KPDNKK has to be obtained by retailers to sell sugar within 10 kilometres from the border.
Earlier, he officiated the Shell Carnival held by IES Shell Station at Jalan Tun Razak, in conjunction with Shell’s ‘Weekly RM100,000 Cash’ contest. The event was organised to celebrate the second-week prize winner Teo Lee Choo, who was picked from the station’s lucky draw.
Also present were Shell Timur Sdn Bhd’s regional retail manager Kenny Ku and IES Shell Station operator Ivana Tjong.
On the consumer side, Uzir also highlighted KPDNKK’s Consumerism Programme as one of his priorities for this year.
“Consumerism programme will also be our focus, in which it will centre more on health. We have allocated about RM208,000 for the programme this year,” he said
20100115
Sarawak: Pos Limbang sesak kronik
JAMBATAN Sungai Trusan dalam pembinaan dijangka atasi masalah kesesakan di sempadan Sarawak-Brunei apabila siap tidak lama lagi.
Kenderaan keluar masuk di sempadan terpaksa tunggu hingga empat jam
MIRI: Dua hingga empat jam dihabiskan hanya untuk menunggu.
Tempoh menunggu itu adalah perkara biasa bagi kenderaan yang keluar masuk pintu sempadan di utara Sarawak, khususnya di kawasan Limbang dan Lawas.
Masalah itu sudah berlarutan sekian lama dan berlaku di hampir semua pos kawalan Imigresen dan Kastam sama ada di kawasan Limbang (Sarawak) atau Kuala Lurah (Brunei).
Masalah sama juga dihadapi di dua kawasan feri menghubungkan pekan Limbang dan Lawas yang dipisahkan daerah Temburung, Brunei, terutama di kawasan feri Sungai Padaruan, Temburung dan Sungai Trusan di Limbang.
Walaupun, kerajaan negeri sudah berusaha mengatasi masalah itu dengan membina pos kawasan Imigresen dan Kastam yang baru di Limbang dan Lawas, usaha itu belum menampakkan hasil kerana kesesakan yang berlaku di pos kawalan di negara jiran memberi impak serupa.
Walaupun Sarawak membuka banyak kaunter imigresen di pintu sempadan berkenaan, pengguna masih terpaksa menunggu giliran yang lama ketika menunggu di pos kawalan Imigresen dan Kastam di Brunei.
Keadaan itu sukar diatasi tanpa persepakatan kedua pihak untuk menanganinya.
Penduduk Limbang, Maria Hasnan, berkata usaha yang lebih padu diperlukan antara kerajaan kedua-dua negara bagi menangani masalah kesesakan kenderaan di pintu sempadan Limbang dan Lawas.
“Langkah ini perlu supaya pergerakan kenderaan sama ada dari Brunei atau Sarawak berjalan lancar, sekali gus meningkatkan ekonomi penduduk kedua-dua negara.
“Penduduk Limbang dan Lawas mahu supaya isu ini terus dibincangkan pada peringkat atasan supaya ia tidak terus berlarutan,” katanya kepada Berita Harian.
Sarawak sudah mulakan langkah untuk mengatasi masalah ini dengan membuka lebih banyak laluan keluar masuk kawasan sempadan. Kita harap Brunei mengambil langkah serupa,” katanya kepada Berita Harian.
Ketika ini, antara kawasan sering berlaku kesesakan yang kronik ialah di Kuala Lurah (Brunei), feri Sungai Padaruan dan feri Sungai Trusan.
Ketika ini Sarawak sedang membina sebuah jambatan baru di Sungai Trusan dan dijangka siap tidak lama lagi.
Apabila jambatan di Sungai Trusan siap perjalanan kenderaan ke Lawas, terus ke Kota Kinabalu akan terus meningkat dan semakin lancar.
Beliau berkata, masalah kesesakan di kawasan pintu masuk berkenaan menjejaskan sektor pelancongan di Limbang dan Lawas yang sedang meningkat kerana semakin ramai penduduk negara jiran berkenaan mengunjungi pekan itu.
Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (Adun) Bukit Kota, Dr Abdul Rahman Ismail, berharap kerajaan negeri dapat mencari jalan untuk menangani masalah berkenaan.
“Saya berharap pemimpin atasan dapat menyelesaikan isu ini menerusi hubungan dua hala yang baik antara Brunei dan Malaysia. Masalah ini tidak akan selesai jika hanya satu pihak mengambil tindakan,” katanya.
Beliau yakin Malaysia dan Brunei tidak mempunyai masalah untuk mengatasi masalah ini kerana sudah mempunyai hubungan baik sejak sekian lama.
Pada masa yang sama, beliau mahu pihak Lembaga Penggalakan Pelancongan Malaysia sentiasa memastikan Limbang dan Lawas tidak dipinggirkan dalam program pelancongan yang dirancang lembaga itu.
“Kita mahu supaya industri pelancongan di Limbang dan Lawas turut mendapat manfaat daripada program yang dirancang lembaga berkenaan,” katanya.
20100114
Nearly 40,000 Indian nationals ‘missing’ in M’sia
A total of 39,046 Indian citizens are ‘missing’ in Malaysia after their tourist visas expired and it is a worrying issue for the country, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said yesterday.The prime minister said they had gone missing from the Immigration Department’s records, according to an estimate drawn up in June last year.
That was why the department was not keen on visa-on-arrival for Indians as the facility had been abused, especially by those from Chennai, he said.
“These people who came to Malaysia through the visa-on-arrival facility, could be back in India or be among people here…(maybe) working in the Indian restaurants. We just don’t know where these people are now…probably still in Malaysia for economic reasons,” he said in a interview with visiting Indian journalists at his office here on Monday.
Najib indicated that he might take up the issue during his three-day official visit to India, beginning Jan 19.
The prime minister said Malaysia had been quite liberal in allowing priests and barbers from India to come and work in the country.
“We would like the Indian people to visit Malaysia as tourists. We have been quiet liberal. We want genuine ones. They are most welcome.
“We are willing to consider reintroducing the visa scheme for people coming from cities like Bangalore, Mumbai and Delhi but not from Chennai. The problem of overstaying is only from Chennai,” he said.
Asked whether the government would hold any dialogue with the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf), Najib said many people had realised that the group had “really exaggerated and manipulated the whole situation” of the ethnic Indian minority.
He said that most Indians in the country wanted the government to be sensitive to their needs and the government had been responsive.
“We have attended to a lot of the Indian problems and I don’t see that Hindraf has been an important force in Malaysian politics,” he said.
Asked on the move by the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) to appoint a special envoy for Jammu and Kashmir, Najib said any follow-up action would be possible only if India and Pakistan were agreeable.
“Malaysia feels that the issue should be settled through peaceful negotiations,” he added.
— Bernama
That was why the department was not keen on visa-on-arrival for Indians as the facility had been abused, especially by those from Chennai, he said.
“These people who came to Malaysia through the visa-on-arrival facility, could be back in India or be among people here…(maybe) working in the Indian restaurants. We just don’t know where these people are now…probably still in Malaysia for economic reasons,” he said in a interview with visiting Indian journalists at his office here on Monday.
Najib indicated that he might take up the issue during his three-day official visit to India, beginning Jan 19.
The prime minister said Malaysia had been quite liberal in allowing priests and barbers from India to come and work in the country.
“We would like the Indian people to visit Malaysia as tourists. We have been quiet liberal. We want genuine ones. They are most welcome.
“We are willing to consider reintroducing the visa scheme for people coming from cities like Bangalore, Mumbai and Delhi but not from Chennai. The problem of overstaying is only from Chennai,” he said.
Asked whether the government would hold any dialogue with the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf), Najib said many people had realised that the group had “really exaggerated and manipulated the whole situation” of the ethnic Indian minority.
He said that most Indians in the country wanted the government to be sensitive to their needs and the government had been responsive.
“We have attended to a lot of the Indian problems and I don’t see that Hindraf has been an important force in Malaysian politics,” he said.
Asked on the move by the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) to appoint a special envoy for Jammu and Kashmir, Najib said any follow-up action would be possible only if India and Pakistan were agreeable.
“Malaysia feels that the issue should be settled through peaceful negotiations,” he added.
— Bernama
Nightmarish ride on road to Teku Bazaar
URGENT REPAIR NEEDED: Driving through this potholed road to Teku Bazaar is like riding on horseback
SIBU: For almost a decade, motorists using the old road leading to Teku Bazaar have to gallop through its nightmarish road surface.
A resident said he had been hoping that the authority would one day come to upgrade the road.
“This hope has fizzled out,” he lamented.
Heavy vehicles like lorries and cargo trucks are damaging the road surface.
“These road giants roll up and down the road almost everyday,” he noted.
And when there were damages, the authority did nothing more than make piece-mill repairs, he said, pointing to the patches lining the road.
“We’re like straddling down the road on a horse,” said another resident, tongue in cheek.
He added: “Road in Chinese is called `ma lu’ (horse road). It’s indeed fitting for our road.”
The resident, who only wished to be identified by his surname Wong, said the road was getting narrower due to erosion on both sides.
Wong also felt that the road was not well lit, rendering the use of the road at night dangerous.
He acknowledged that they had another route to the Teku Bazaar, but that should not be good reason to leave the old road in a state of disrepair.
20100113
Pelajar terdedah kepada bahan khayal, lucah
Lambakan pil dan serbuk khayal murah, bahan bacaan berunsur seks dan lucah serta pil perangsang seks masih didapati dijual secara terbuka kepada pelajar sekolah menengah dan belia di sekitar ibu negara, menurut Persatuan Pencegahan Jenayah Malaysia (MCPA).
Berdasarkan pemantauan pertubuhan bukan kerajaan itu, cakera padat lucah, pemetik api dan kad permainan daun terup yang memaparkan imej wanita separuh bogel turut dijual. Juga alat renjatan elektrik dan pistol mainan berkualiti tinggi juga boleh didapati dengan mudah dan murah di pasar-pasar awam dan kedai runcit
Berdasarkan pemantauan pertubuhan bukan kerajaan itu, cakera padat lucah, pemetik api dan kad permainan daun terup yang memaparkan imej wanita separuh bogel turut dijual. Juga alat renjatan elektrik dan pistol mainan berkualiti tinggi juga boleh didapati dengan mudah dan murah di pasar-pasar awam dan kedai runcit
20100112
Harga Minyak Sawit lepasi RM3,000
11 Jan. - Harga minyak sawit mentah (MSM) diramalkan mampu melonjak ke paras RM2,500 setan sehingga melepasi paras RM3,000 setan pada suku pertama tahun ini berikutan peningkatan permintaan dari China, India dan Kesatuan Eropah.
Menurut Pengerusi Kumpulan Perladangan Felda, Tan Sri Dr. Mohd Yusof Noor, jangkaan ini adalah berdasarkan analisis pelbagai pihak dan aliran harga yang menunjukkan prospek baik menanti tahun ini.
Pada pukul 3.55 petang ini, harga minyak sawit berada pada paras RM2,570 setan.
Musim pengeluaran yang agak rendah disebabkan hujan antara November dan Mac tahun ini turut menjadi faktor yang bakal merangsang kenaikan harga komoditi sawit ini, kata beliau pada majlis perasmian seminar pengurusan Kumpulan Perladangan Felda 2010 di sini.
Mohd Yusof berkata, pengeluaran minyak sawit pada 2010 dijangka berjumlah 17.3 sehingga 17.8 juta metrik tan berbanding 17.5 juta metrik tan bagi tahun 2009.
"Pada masa ini mereka yang terlibat dalam industri sawit merasa lega kerana prospek harga minyak sawit kekal pada RM2,400 setiap tan pada Disember 2009," katanya.
Biarpun harga yang pernah mencecah RM4,4438 pada Mac 2009 sukar diulangi, paras harga minyak sawit bakal bertambah baik, katanya lagi.
Pada minggu lepas harga minyak sawit mentah meningkat kepada RM2,626 manakala harga buah tandan segar (BTS) ialah RM516 satu tan.
Kumpulan Perladangan Felda mensasarkan pengeluaran BTS sebanyak 8.63 juta tan metrik dan sebanyak 15 juta metrik tan BTS turut dijangka diproses oleh Kilang Felda.
Manakala katanya, pengeluaran MSM adalah dijangka sebanyak 3.13 juta metrik dan ini melibatkan kos pengeluaran BTS sebanyak RM198 setiap tan.
Katanya, purata harga jualan MSM adalah RM2,100 setiap tan.
Dalam perkembangan lain, Felda melalui anak syarikatnya, Felda Palm Industries (FPI) akan melaksanakan Projek Loji Janakuasa Biomass kedua di Jengka yang dijangka siap pada Disember 2011.
Katanya, ini memerlukan 300,000 tan tandan kosong kelapa sawit (EFB) sebagai bahan bakar dari tujuh buah kilang sawit.
Ini adalah bagi menyokong usaha dan saranan kerajaan supaya industri komoditi di negara turut serta dalam menyumbang kepada industri tenaga.
Sebelum ini, FPI mempunyai sebuah lagi kemudahan, Biomass Power Plant, di Sahabat, Sabah, yang berjalan lancar sejak 2006. - Bernama
Eksport minyak sawit merosot
11 Jan. - Eksport minyak sawit Malaysia merosot 19.47 peratus kepada 1.21 juta tan metrik pada Disember daripada catatan November berjumlah 1.501 juta tan metrik, kata Lembaga Minyak Sawit Malaysia hari ini.
Pengeluaran minyak sawit mentah susut 4.73 peratus kepada 1.520 juta tan metrik pada Disember daripada 1.595 juta tan metrik yang dicatatkan pada November.
Lembaga itu berkata, stok minyak sawit meningkat 15.72 peratus kepada 2.238 juta tan metrik pada bulan itu, daripada 1.934 juta tan metrik yang dicatatkan pada bulan sebelumnya.
Daripada jumlah itu, stok minyak sawit mentah meningkat 7.13 peratus kepada 1.197 juta tan metrik sementara minyak sawit diproses meningkat 27.47 peratus kepada 1.041 juta tan metrik pada Disember.
Ia menambah bahawa import minyak sawit mentah meningkat 224.66 peratus kepada 153,797 tan pada Disember daripada 47,372 tan metrik pada November dan import minyak sawit diproses meningkat 26.95 peratus kepada 11,441 tan metrik daripada 9,012 tan metrik pada November.
Import minyak sawit meningkat 193.06 peratus kepada 165,237 tan metrik pada Disember daripada 56,384 tan metrik pada November.
Sementara itu, MPOB berkata, eksport minyak isirong sawit pada Disember menyusut 4.94 peratus kepada 104,576 tan metrik daripada 110,009 tan metrik pada November.
Pengeluaran isirong sawit menyusut 4.19 peratus kepada 391,814 tan metrik pada Disember daripada 408,959 tan metrik pada November sementara stok menyusut 12.94 peratus, pada Disember, berbanding 129,249 tan metrik pada bulan sebelumnya.
Jumlah stok minyak isirong sawit meningkat 9.46 peratus kepada 305,912 tan metrik pada Disember berbanding 279,483 tan metrik pada November. - Bernama
Menurut Pengerusi Kumpulan Perladangan Felda, Tan Sri Dr. Mohd Yusof Noor, jangkaan ini adalah berdasarkan analisis pelbagai pihak dan aliran harga yang menunjukkan prospek baik menanti tahun ini.
Pada pukul 3.55 petang ini, harga minyak sawit berada pada paras RM2,570 setan.
Musim pengeluaran yang agak rendah disebabkan hujan antara November dan Mac tahun ini turut menjadi faktor yang bakal merangsang kenaikan harga komoditi sawit ini, kata beliau pada majlis perasmian seminar pengurusan Kumpulan Perladangan Felda 2010 di sini.
Mohd Yusof berkata, pengeluaran minyak sawit pada 2010 dijangka berjumlah 17.3 sehingga 17.8 juta metrik tan berbanding 17.5 juta metrik tan bagi tahun 2009.
"Pada masa ini mereka yang terlibat dalam industri sawit merasa lega kerana prospek harga minyak sawit kekal pada RM2,400 setiap tan pada Disember 2009," katanya.
Biarpun harga yang pernah mencecah RM4,4438 pada Mac 2009 sukar diulangi, paras harga minyak sawit bakal bertambah baik, katanya lagi.
Pada minggu lepas harga minyak sawit mentah meningkat kepada RM2,626 manakala harga buah tandan segar (BTS) ialah RM516 satu tan.
Kumpulan Perladangan Felda mensasarkan pengeluaran BTS sebanyak 8.63 juta tan metrik dan sebanyak 15 juta metrik tan BTS turut dijangka diproses oleh Kilang Felda.
Manakala katanya, pengeluaran MSM adalah dijangka sebanyak 3.13 juta metrik dan ini melibatkan kos pengeluaran BTS sebanyak RM198 setiap tan.
Katanya, purata harga jualan MSM adalah RM2,100 setiap tan.
Dalam perkembangan lain, Felda melalui anak syarikatnya, Felda Palm Industries (FPI) akan melaksanakan Projek Loji Janakuasa Biomass kedua di Jengka yang dijangka siap pada Disember 2011.
Katanya, ini memerlukan 300,000 tan tandan kosong kelapa sawit (EFB) sebagai bahan bakar dari tujuh buah kilang sawit.
Ini adalah bagi menyokong usaha dan saranan kerajaan supaya industri komoditi di negara turut serta dalam menyumbang kepada industri tenaga.
Sebelum ini, FPI mempunyai sebuah lagi kemudahan, Biomass Power Plant, di Sahabat, Sabah, yang berjalan lancar sejak 2006. - Bernama
Eksport minyak sawit merosot
11 Jan. - Eksport minyak sawit Malaysia merosot 19.47 peratus kepada 1.21 juta tan metrik pada Disember daripada catatan November berjumlah 1.501 juta tan metrik, kata Lembaga Minyak Sawit Malaysia hari ini.
Pengeluaran minyak sawit mentah susut 4.73 peratus kepada 1.520 juta tan metrik pada Disember daripada 1.595 juta tan metrik yang dicatatkan pada November.
Lembaga itu berkata, stok minyak sawit meningkat 15.72 peratus kepada 2.238 juta tan metrik pada bulan itu, daripada 1.934 juta tan metrik yang dicatatkan pada bulan sebelumnya.
Daripada jumlah itu, stok minyak sawit mentah meningkat 7.13 peratus kepada 1.197 juta tan metrik sementara minyak sawit diproses meningkat 27.47 peratus kepada 1.041 juta tan metrik pada Disember.
Ia menambah bahawa import minyak sawit mentah meningkat 224.66 peratus kepada 153,797 tan pada Disember daripada 47,372 tan metrik pada November dan import minyak sawit diproses meningkat 26.95 peratus kepada 11,441 tan metrik daripada 9,012 tan metrik pada November.
Import minyak sawit meningkat 193.06 peratus kepada 165,237 tan metrik pada Disember daripada 56,384 tan metrik pada November.
Sementara itu, MPOB berkata, eksport minyak isirong sawit pada Disember menyusut 4.94 peratus kepada 104,576 tan metrik daripada 110,009 tan metrik pada November.
Pengeluaran isirong sawit menyusut 4.19 peratus kepada 391,814 tan metrik pada Disember daripada 408,959 tan metrik pada November sementara stok menyusut 12.94 peratus, pada Disember, berbanding 129,249 tan metrik pada bulan sebelumnya.
Jumlah stok minyak isirong sawit meningkat 9.46 peratus kepada 305,912 tan metrik pada Disember berbanding 279,483 tan metrik pada November. - Bernama
20100111
Two new H1N1 cases in 24 hours
January 11, 2010, Monday
SIBU: Two new admissions to hospitals for suspected Influenza A (H1N1) were recorded in the state within 24 hours, from 12pm on Jan 4 to 12pm on Jan 5.
Five Influenza A (H1N1) cases are being treated in hospital with the latest case reported on Dec 29 last year in Bintulu, according to statistics from the state Health Department.
A total of 725 cases were found positive from the overall 1,659 suspected cases of Influenza A (H1N1) in the state as reported to the department until Jan 4 this year.
For Influenza Like Illness (ILI), it said until Jan 4 a total of 208 clusters were reported in the state since the start of the Mitigation Phase.
On the Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD), it stated in 2009 until Jan 2, there were 9,547 cases reported in the state with Sibu recording the highest cases at 3,103 followed by Miri (1,805), Kuching (1451), Bintulu (944), Kapit (762), Sarikei (373), Sri Aman (340), Samarahan (325), Betong (199), Mukah (177) and Limbang (68). The total cases reported included new cases recorded in Sibu with six cases, Bintulu (6), Sri Aman (4), Sarikei (3), Betong (2) and Kuching (1).
A laboratory results from Universiti Malaysia Sarawak showed three samples were positive for EV71-type virus with three from Sarikei division.
So far, according to the statistics, a total of nine pre-schools and daycare centres in the state were issued closure notice or have volunteered to close temporarily after two or more students were discovered infected.
SIBU: Two new admissions to hospitals for suspected Influenza A (H1N1) were recorded in the state within 24 hours, from 12pm on Jan 4 to 12pm on Jan 5.
Five Influenza A (H1N1) cases are being treated in hospital with the latest case reported on Dec 29 last year in Bintulu, according to statistics from the state Health Department.
A total of 725 cases were found positive from the overall 1,659 suspected cases of Influenza A (H1N1) in the state as reported to the department until Jan 4 this year.
For Influenza Like Illness (ILI), it said until Jan 4 a total of 208 clusters were reported in the state since the start of the Mitigation Phase.
On the Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD), it stated in 2009 until Jan 2, there were 9,547 cases reported in the state with Sibu recording the highest cases at 3,103 followed by Miri (1,805), Kuching (1451), Bintulu (944), Kapit (762), Sarikei (373), Sri Aman (340), Samarahan (325), Betong (199), Mukah (177) and Limbang (68). The total cases reported included new cases recorded in Sibu with six cases, Bintulu (6), Sri Aman (4), Sarikei (3), Betong (2) and Kuching (1).
A laboratory results from Universiti Malaysia Sarawak showed three samples were positive for EV71-type virus with three from Sarikei division.
So far, according to the statistics, a total of nine pre-schools and daycare centres in the state were issued closure notice or have volunteered to close temporarily after two or more students were discovered infected.
20100105
Don’t exploit sugar price hike: Ministry
Food, drink outlets told not to increase prices of goods arbitrarily
Food and drink outlets risk facing the music if they increase the prices of goods indiscriminately.The warning came from the Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry which is keeping a hawk’s eye on the situation following the recent increase in the price of sugar in the country.
“Eating outlet operators must not simply hike the prices of their drinks and food as they wish,” the ministry’s enforcement chief here Zakari Awang warned yesterday.
He said stern action awaited errant operators.
Zakaria added that the ministry viewed the matter seriously, thus offenders would not be spared the compounds.
He said they were focussing on the matter and carrying out daily inspections at eating outlets in Miri Division including Bekenu and Marudi.
“Any trader found flouting the trade laws will face a compound of RM300 (for sole proprietor) and RM500 (for companies) under the Price Control Act 1946,” he cautioned.
He added that those who failed to settle the compound fees would be brought to court.
The enforcement chief saw no reason why the price hike in sugar would affect their business, especially in the sale of drinks.
He noted that in coffeeshops the operators often used condensed and ideal milk in drinks like tea, coffee, Milo and Horlicks.
“The prices of these sugar-based items are stable with no increase in costs, so there is no excuse for the operators to hike the prices of their drinks; besides, they do not need much sugar for that matter,” he said when contacted by The Borneo Post yesterday.
When asked, Zakaria assured that there was sufficient sugar for the festive season.
He said although the monthly consumption of sugar in the division was about 500 metric tons, the supply was enough to meet the needs here.
He reminded the public not to over-buy the commodity simply to stock up, adding that this would create unnecessary demand.
“The people should buy according to their needs,” he said.
Effective Jan 1, the price of sugar has increased by 20 sen per kg.
Prior to the rise, the item was sold at RM1.60 per kg.
Sugar is a controlled item and as such traders should not raise the price indiscriminately.
Zakaria said his enforcement teams and price monitoring officers would go to the ground to check the shops in the division from time to time to ensure traders did not break the law by increasing the price of sugar and other sugar-based products anyhow because the impact on their prices was minimal.
“We also want to make sure that consumers do not buy sugar in great quantities unnecessarily just to stock them at home,” he said.
To a question, he said they would carry on with the monitoring and inspection work “until we are satisfied with the situation.”
Meanwhile, traders who face sugar shortage problem are advised to inform the ministry’s office.
Food and drink outlets risk facing the music if they increase the prices of goods indiscriminately.The warning came from the Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry which is keeping a hawk’s eye on the situation following the recent increase in the price of sugar in the country.
“Eating outlet operators must not simply hike the prices of their drinks and food as they wish,” the ministry’s enforcement chief here Zakari Awang warned yesterday.
He said stern action awaited errant operators.
Zakaria added that the ministry viewed the matter seriously, thus offenders would not be spared the compounds.
He said they were focussing on the matter and carrying out daily inspections at eating outlets in Miri Division including Bekenu and Marudi.
“Any trader found flouting the trade laws will face a compound of RM300 (for sole proprietor) and RM500 (for companies) under the Price Control Act 1946,” he cautioned.
He added that those who failed to settle the compound fees would be brought to court.
The enforcement chief saw no reason why the price hike in sugar would affect their business, especially in the sale of drinks.
He noted that in coffeeshops the operators often used condensed and ideal milk in drinks like tea, coffee, Milo and Horlicks.
“The prices of these sugar-based items are stable with no increase in costs, so there is no excuse for the operators to hike the prices of their drinks; besides, they do not need much sugar for that matter,” he said when contacted by The Borneo Post yesterday.
When asked, Zakaria assured that there was sufficient sugar for the festive season.
He said although the monthly consumption of sugar in the division was about 500 metric tons, the supply was enough to meet the needs here.
He reminded the public not to over-buy the commodity simply to stock up, adding that this would create unnecessary demand.
“The people should buy according to their needs,” he said.
Effective Jan 1, the price of sugar has increased by 20 sen per kg.
Prior to the rise, the item was sold at RM1.60 per kg.
Sugar is a controlled item and as such traders should not raise the price indiscriminately.
Zakaria said his enforcement teams and price monitoring officers would go to the ground to check the shops in the division from time to time to ensure traders did not break the law by increasing the price of sugar and other sugar-based products anyhow because the impact on their prices was minimal.
“We also want to make sure that consumers do not buy sugar in great quantities unnecessarily just to stock them at home,” he said.
To a question, he said they would carry on with the monitoring and inspection work “until we are satisfied with the situation.”
Meanwhile, traders who face sugar shortage problem are advised to inform the ministry’s office.
20091223
Skim persaraan 1Malaysia diperkenal
22 Dis.2009 – Kumpulan Wang Simpanan Pekerja (KWSP) hari ini memperkenalkan Skim Simpanan Persaraan 1Malaysia bagi menangani ketidakcukupan simpanan semasa bersara bagi golongan yang bekerja sendiri.
Cadangan Skim Simpanan Persaraan 1Malaysia yang diumumkan oleh Perdana Menteri ketika pembentangan Bajet 2010 pada Oktober lalu, sebagai satu tanggungjawab sosial untuk mengambil berat kebajikan semua peringkat rakyat yang bekerja sendiri iaitu kategori individu yang tidak mempunyai skim simpanan persaraan secara formal.
Skim itu yang mula ditawarkan 3 Januari ini, bertujuan memberikan perlindungan kewangan kepada individu yang tidak mempunyai pendapatan tetap apabila mereka mencapai usia tua.
Menurut Jabatan Perangkaan, bilangan rakyat Malaysia yang berkerja sendiri adalah seramai kira-kira 2.5 juta.
Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif KWSP, Tan Sri Azlan Zainol berkata, kerajaan sentiasa prihatin terhadap ketidakcukupan simpanan sewaktu persaraan yang menjadi kebimbangan sebahagian besar rakyat Malaysia terutamanya golongan bekerja sendiri tanpa pendapatan tetap bulanan.
“Skim Simpanan Persaraan 1Malaysia menawarkan golongan terpilih berkenaan fleksibiliti dalam menentukan berapa jumlah yang mampu disimpan untuk simpanan persaraan mereka,” kata beliau dalam kenyataannya di sini hari ini.
Beliau berkata, tidak seperti skim simpanan KWSP yang biasa, jumlah yang dicarumkan ke dalam Skim Simpanan Persaraan 1Malaysia bergantung kepada tahap kemampuan pencarum.
Beliau menjelaskan, ahli boleh memilih untuk mencarum jumlah minimum antara RM50 dan RM5,000 sebulan sebagai simpanan persaraan mereka.
“Caruman adalah secara sukarela dan pencarum juga tidak perlu membayar caruman setiap bulan, ia bergantung kepada tahap kemampuan mereka.
“Bagaimanapun, ahli digalakkan untuk mencarum sejumlah wang secara berterusan tidak kira berapa jumlahnya ke dalam skim persaraan ini kerana disiplin amat perlu apabila menyimpan untuk persaraan,” ujarnya.
Simpanan di bawah skim itu akan menerima dividen tahunan mengikut kadar yang diumumkan KWSP sebagai tambahan kepada sumbangan kerajaan sebanyak lima peratus dan tertakluk kepada jumlah maksimum sebanyak RM60 setahun, selama lima tahun bermula dari tahun depan hingga 2014.
Skim itu terbuka kepada individu bekerja sendiri seperti penjaja, peniaga pasar malam, ejen hartanah, deejay, pengajar di pusat kesihatan dan kecergasan, penyanyi dan pelakon, serta pemilik perniagaan dalam talian.
Individu yang berminat menyertai skim itu perlu mengisi Borang KWSP 16G(1M) yang boleh diperoleh di cawangan KWSP seluruh negara atau memuat turun borang itu menerusi laman web myEPF di www.kwsp.gov.my mulai 3 Januari tahun depan dan mengembalikannya ke cawangan KWSP yang berhampiran atau melalui serahan mel.
Bagaimanapun, individu yang berminat tetapi bukan ahli KWSP perlu berdaftar sebagai ahli terlebih dahulu dengan mengisi Borang KWSP 3 dan mengemukakannya sebelum memohon untuk menyertai skim itu.
Simpanan boleh didepositkan secara tunai atau cek menggunakan Borang KWSP 6A(2) di kaunter bayaran KWSP seluruh negara.
Ahli KWSP sedia ada yang bekerja sendiri juga layak menyertai skim baru tersebut.
Cadangan Skim Simpanan Persaraan 1Malaysia yang diumumkan oleh Perdana Menteri ketika pembentangan Bajet 2010 pada Oktober lalu, sebagai satu tanggungjawab sosial untuk mengambil berat kebajikan semua peringkat rakyat yang bekerja sendiri iaitu kategori individu yang tidak mempunyai skim simpanan persaraan secara formal.
Skim itu yang mula ditawarkan 3 Januari ini, bertujuan memberikan perlindungan kewangan kepada individu yang tidak mempunyai pendapatan tetap apabila mereka mencapai usia tua.
Menurut Jabatan Perangkaan, bilangan rakyat Malaysia yang berkerja sendiri adalah seramai kira-kira 2.5 juta.
Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif KWSP, Tan Sri Azlan Zainol berkata, kerajaan sentiasa prihatin terhadap ketidakcukupan simpanan sewaktu persaraan yang menjadi kebimbangan sebahagian besar rakyat Malaysia terutamanya golongan bekerja sendiri tanpa pendapatan tetap bulanan.
“Skim Simpanan Persaraan 1Malaysia menawarkan golongan terpilih berkenaan fleksibiliti dalam menentukan berapa jumlah yang mampu disimpan untuk simpanan persaraan mereka,” kata beliau dalam kenyataannya di sini hari ini.
Beliau berkata, tidak seperti skim simpanan KWSP yang biasa, jumlah yang dicarumkan ke dalam Skim Simpanan Persaraan 1Malaysia bergantung kepada tahap kemampuan pencarum.
Beliau menjelaskan, ahli boleh memilih untuk mencarum jumlah minimum antara RM50 dan RM5,000 sebulan sebagai simpanan persaraan mereka.
“Caruman adalah secara sukarela dan pencarum juga tidak perlu membayar caruman setiap bulan, ia bergantung kepada tahap kemampuan mereka.
“Bagaimanapun, ahli digalakkan untuk mencarum sejumlah wang secara berterusan tidak kira berapa jumlahnya ke dalam skim persaraan ini kerana disiplin amat perlu apabila menyimpan untuk persaraan,” ujarnya.
Simpanan di bawah skim itu akan menerima dividen tahunan mengikut kadar yang diumumkan KWSP sebagai tambahan kepada sumbangan kerajaan sebanyak lima peratus dan tertakluk kepada jumlah maksimum sebanyak RM60 setahun, selama lima tahun bermula dari tahun depan hingga 2014.
Skim itu terbuka kepada individu bekerja sendiri seperti penjaja, peniaga pasar malam, ejen hartanah, deejay, pengajar di pusat kesihatan dan kecergasan, penyanyi dan pelakon, serta pemilik perniagaan dalam talian.
Individu yang berminat menyertai skim itu perlu mengisi Borang KWSP 16G(1M) yang boleh diperoleh di cawangan KWSP seluruh negara atau memuat turun borang itu menerusi laman web myEPF di www.kwsp.gov.my mulai 3 Januari tahun depan dan mengembalikannya ke cawangan KWSP yang berhampiran atau melalui serahan mel.
Bagaimanapun, individu yang berminat tetapi bukan ahli KWSP perlu berdaftar sebagai ahli terlebih dahulu dengan mengisi Borang KWSP 3 dan mengemukakannya sebelum memohon untuk menyertai skim itu.
Simpanan boleh didepositkan secara tunai atau cek menggunakan Borang KWSP 6A(2) di kaunter bayaran KWSP seluruh negara.
Ahli KWSP sedia ada yang bekerja sendiri juga layak menyertai skim baru tersebut.
24-hour JPJ operation in Sibu from Jan 4
SIBU: It’s round-the-clock operation for Road Transport Department (JPJ) enforcement officers from Jan 4 next year, an intensified effort to curtail the number of road accidents.JPJ Sibu chief Rosilan Md Sari said the new arrangement would hopefully bring down the number of traffic offenders as well.
“Towards this goal, our enforcement ought to be carried out 24 hours a day and on seven-day weeks,” he said, adding that enforcement on festive season only was not enough.
“Our operations include setting up of roadblocks and patrolling,” he told reporters after the launching of a road safety campaign near the Lanang bridge yesterday.
The campaign, organised by the Resident’s Office and the National Road Safety Council, was officiated by Resident Sim Kok Kee and witnessed by, among others, traffic police chief ACP Vincent Tang.
Rosilan said his officers would be working on shifts to overcome the problem of manpower shortage.
For this year until Dec 11, JPJ Sibu has issued some 8,600 summonses for various traffic offences.
Offenders who settled their compound fines promptly were given discount up to 30 per cent.
“Those who paid up within the 15 days after the issuance of the summonses got 30 per cent discount while those who paid up within the next 15 days got 15 per cent discount.
“No more discount after the 31st,” he said.
On pirate taxi operation, Rosilan said his men were still going after these illegal operators though the number of pirate taxi operators seemed to be dwindling.
Under Section 33 of the Road Transport Act 1987 and/or Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board Act 1987, a convicted pirate cabby is liable to a fine not exceeding RM10,000 or one year’s imprisonment or both.
More than 100 goody bags were distributed to motorists during the campaign yesterday.
“Towards this goal, our enforcement ought to be carried out 24 hours a day and on seven-day weeks,” he said, adding that enforcement on festive season only was not enough.
“Our operations include setting up of roadblocks and patrolling,” he told reporters after the launching of a road safety campaign near the Lanang bridge yesterday.
The campaign, organised by the Resident’s Office and the National Road Safety Council, was officiated by Resident Sim Kok Kee and witnessed by, among others, traffic police chief ACP Vincent Tang.
Rosilan said his officers would be working on shifts to overcome the problem of manpower shortage.
For this year until Dec 11, JPJ Sibu has issued some 8,600 summonses for various traffic offences.
Offenders who settled their compound fines promptly were given discount up to 30 per cent.
“Those who paid up within the 15 days after the issuance of the summonses got 30 per cent discount while those who paid up within the next 15 days got 15 per cent discount.
“No more discount after the 31st,” he said.
On pirate taxi operation, Rosilan said his men were still going after these illegal operators though the number of pirate taxi operators seemed to be dwindling.
Under Section 33 of the Road Transport Act 1987 and/or Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board Act 1987, a convicted pirate cabby is liable to a fine not exceeding RM10,000 or one year’s imprisonment or both.
More than 100 goody bags were distributed to motorists during the campaign yesterday.
20091221
FACE BOOK CRAZE - ITS THE TREND AND COMMUNICATION BRIDGE TODAY
I am on Facebook, therefore I am?
OK. This is a youth talking. If you ain’t got no Facebook account, go live in a cave. With more than 200 million strong followers worldwide and still counting, Facebook has and continue to entice just about any men and women, old or young, working adults or even school children. Currently ranked as the leading social networking site, Facebook is a force to be reckoned with.What is so compelling about Facebook is its entertaining Features that offers everything under the sun.
Feel the need to proclaim your love to someone today? Status Update is just what you need.
Long to reunite with your high school clique? Then invite them for a spanking good night out through Events.
Want to share some Kodak moments with your distant relatives or long lost friends? Uploading yesteryears or current photos into Photos would be both nostalgic and fun at the same time.
You know those games Applications? I’m not averse to all those. I don’t get the whole brouhaha about people’s fascinations for these Applications.
Are you one of those games addicts who are guilty as charged? Squander all your time on harvesting, levelling up or feeding, getting completely engrossed with the adventure that these games have to offer?
There’s FarmVille for the failed farmer gone awry.
There’s also Mafia Wars. No, we’re not talking about the first high-profile conflict between Mafia clans in post-war Italy. We’re talking games that offer inspiring Mafia to play Don Vito Corleone at the comfort of their home or workplace.
For those with ultra deep motherly instinct, Baby Adopter trains you to become a good mother in the future. We do hope virtual training helps.
Apart from the youth, the Facebook community today includes professionals, politicians, celebrities, businesses, and just about any sector of the society.
The plus points are that constituents are getting more connected with their Yang Berhormats, as so are fans with their favourite Idols, students with their teachers and, clients with their service providers. It’s also been amazing to witness old schoolmates who have been out of touch for decades suddenly updating each other on just about any aspect of their lives; cousins who barely had the time of day for each other in real life suddenly have tonnes to say to each other. The possibilities seem endless.
These are all acceptable and within the norms of Facebooking. But what happens when Facebookers, particularly as employees, cross the boundary of work ethics conventions?
Addiction to social networking has never been so pronounced. It is the cutting-edge kind of addiction, if I could put it that way that has caused the enslavement of our society, so much so that for many, everything but Facebook has taken a back seat in their lives. People are spending less quality time with their family and friends; forget how important it is to socialise outside of the virtual world, neglecting outdoor activities and worse still, paying less attention to work.
England’s top Catholic bishop once issued a warning on the downsides of social networking sites. It could lead to the decrease in work productivity, damage relationships between family members and friends.
The challenge at the workplace is that we have two personas. One is our personal persona and the other, a work persona. Managing this in online networking is tricky.
While some establishments banned ‘Facebooking’ at the workplace, there are those who chose to invest in the positive potentials of the facility for larger and longer term goals of the organisation. The issue is whether the staff has the integrity to ensure that the facility is utilised to create added value to the work of the organisation. After having taken the position to allow online networking at the workplace, employers cannot entertain the illusion that it will be used for work-related activities 100 per cent of the time. While employers need to exercise some flexibility, the onus is on each employee to ensure that the trust given is justified through at least high work productivity.
Ultimately Facebook may follow Friendster, and other early online social networks that have become saturated and stale. Whatever the next new thing may be, the rules of engagement will remain similar and there will always be pitfalls. Although online networks and their influence on the modern society are here to stay, genuine happiness cannot be pursued through such networking alone. I’m sure too much Face
booking can leave one feeling jaded and lethargic. So, be smart in managing your virtual life, and get in touch with reality. Get a life already!
By Marcella Gider and Rosalind Yang
OK. This is a youth talking. If you ain’t got no Facebook account, go live in a cave. With more than 200 million strong followers worldwide and still counting, Facebook has and continue to entice just about any men and women, old or young, working adults or even school children. Currently ranked as the leading social networking site, Facebook is a force to be reckoned with.What is so compelling about Facebook is its entertaining Features that offers everything under the sun.
Feel the need to proclaim your love to someone today? Status Update is just what you need.
Long to reunite with your high school clique? Then invite them for a spanking good night out through Events.
Want to share some Kodak moments with your distant relatives or long lost friends? Uploading yesteryears or current photos into Photos would be both nostalgic and fun at the same time.
You know those games Applications? I’m not averse to all those. I don’t get the whole brouhaha about people’s fascinations for these Applications.
Are you one of those games addicts who are guilty as charged? Squander all your time on harvesting, levelling up or feeding, getting completely engrossed with the adventure that these games have to offer?
There’s FarmVille for the failed farmer gone awry.
There’s also Mafia Wars. No, we’re not talking about the first high-profile conflict between Mafia clans in post-war Italy. We’re talking games that offer inspiring Mafia to play Don Vito Corleone at the comfort of their home or workplace.
For those with ultra deep motherly instinct, Baby Adopter trains you to become a good mother in the future. We do hope virtual training helps.
Apart from the youth, the Facebook community today includes professionals, politicians, celebrities, businesses, and just about any sector of the society.
The plus points are that constituents are getting more connected with their Yang Berhormats, as so are fans with their favourite Idols, students with their teachers and, clients with their service providers. It’s also been amazing to witness old schoolmates who have been out of touch for decades suddenly updating each other on just about any aspect of their lives; cousins who barely had the time of day for each other in real life suddenly have tonnes to say to each other. The possibilities seem endless.
These are all acceptable and within the norms of Facebooking. But what happens when Facebookers, particularly as employees, cross the boundary of work ethics conventions?
Addiction to social networking has never been so pronounced. It is the cutting-edge kind of addiction, if I could put it that way that has caused the enslavement of our society, so much so that for many, everything but Facebook has taken a back seat in their lives. People are spending less quality time with their family and friends; forget how important it is to socialise outside of the virtual world, neglecting outdoor activities and worse still, paying less attention to work.
England’s top Catholic bishop once issued a warning on the downsides of social networking sites. It could lead to the decrease in work productivity, damage relationships between family members and friends.
The challenge at the workplace is that we have two personas. One is our personal persona and the other, a work persona. Managing this in online networking is tricky.
While some establishments banned ‘Facebooking’ at the workplace, there are those who chose to invest in the positive potentials of the facility for larger and longer term goals of the organisation. The issue is whether the staff has the integrity to ensure that the facility is utilised to create added value to the work of the organisation. After having taken the position to allow online networking at the workplace, employers cannot entertain the illusion that it will be used for work-related activities 100 per cent of the time. While employers need to exercise some flexibility, the onus is on each employee to ensure that the trust given is justified through at least high work productivity.
Ultimately Facebook may follow Friendster, and other early online social networks that have become saturated and stale. Whatever the next new thing may be, the rules of engagement will remain similar and there will always be pitfalls. Although online networks and their influence on the modern society are here to stay, genuine happiness cannot be pursued through such networking alone. I’m sure too much Face
booking can leave one feeling jaded and lethargic. So, be smart in managing your virtual life, and get in touch with reality. Get a life already!
By Marcella Gider and Rosalind Yang
‘Panic buying’ of sugar goes on
SIBU: There seems to be no end to ‘panic buying’ of sugar here as several supermarkets had their stock gone barely hours after getting their fresh supply.
A brief market survey yesterday observed that several outlets in town had their stock of the commodity had run out as early as 11am.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, a staff of a supermarket here told thesundaypost that their stock of sugar was gone shortly after getting the supply.
“There seems to be a lot of demand for sugar these days and I have not seen anything like this before - not even during festive celebrations,” she said.
She added that their stock of sugar was gone in a matter of hours.
Meanwhile, a bulk shipment of 586 metric tonnes of sugar arrived here earlier this week. Asked for clarification on the situation, a spokesperson from the Ministry of Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism here figured that this could be due to the panic buying spree spawned by the fear of possible sugar shortage.
“Wholesalers here had distributed their stock of sugar to supermarkets, retailers and so forth for public consumption.
“My guess is that people here are still worried despite the repeated assurance given about the availability of
the commodity in the market.
“This perhaps, prompted them to stock up sugar at their homes,” he said.
Towards this end, he advised the public to refrain from panic buying as there was no need to purchase sugar in bulk.
He reiterated that this would deprive others of the opportunity to obtain their supply of sugar. He also warned traders from manipulating the situation through
hoarding, refusing to sell or even hiking the price of sugar.
“We will not hesitate to mete out stern action against them if they are found to be guilty of such an offence,” he cautioned.
bp21/12/09
A brief market survey yesterday observed that several outlets in town had their stock of the commodity had run out as early as 11am.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, a staff of a supermarket here told thesundaypost that their stock of sugar was gone shortly after getting the supply.
“There seems to be a lot of demand for sugar these days and I have not seen anything like this before - not even during festive celebrations,” she said.
She added that their stock of sugar was gone in a matter of hours.
Meanwhile, a bulk shipment of 586 metric tonnes of sugar arrived here earlier this week. Asked for clarification on the situation, a spokesperson from the Ministry of Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism here figured that this could be due to the panic buying spree spawned by the fear of possible sugar shortage.
“Wholesalers here had distributed their stock of sugar to supermarkets, retailers and so forth for public consumption.
“My guess is that people here are still worried despite the repeated assurance given about the availability of
the commodity in the market.
“This perhaps, prompted them to stock up sugar at their homes,” he said.
Towards this end, he advised the public to refrain from panic buying as there was no need to purchase sugar in bulk.
He reiterated that this would deprive others of the opportunity to obtain their supply of sugar. He also warned traders from manipulating the situation through
hoarding, refusing to sell or even hiking the price of sugar.
“We will not hesitate to mete out stern action against them if they are found to be guilty of such an offence,” he cautioned.
bp21/12/09
20091218
SUGAR PRICES GONE UP TO RM1.80 PER KILO??
Sugar are getting scared in Sibu town and most shops are known to be out of stocks. But some who have are selling only 2 kilos per customers but at a 'special price'that is RM1.80 per kilo. Is this a 1Malaysia price or had the sugar price gone up or government fixed new price ??
Elektrik percuma bawah RM20 dilanjut Disember 2010
17 Dis. - Berita baik untuk rakyat berpendapatan rendah apabila kerajaan bersetuju melanjutkan program pengecualian pembayaran bil elektrik berjumlah RM20 dan ke bawah untuk tempoh setahun lagi iaitu sehingga Disember 2010.
Menteri Tenaga, Teknologi Hijau dan Air, Datuk Seri Peter Chin Fah Kui berkata, secara purata seramai 1.05 juta pengguna domestik yang kini menikmati pengecualian itu setiap bulan terus menerima manfaat.
Jelasnya, program itu sepatutnya tamat pada hujung bulan ini, namun disebabkan kedudukan ekonomi yang belum pulih selain keprihatinan kerajaan terhadap rakyat berpendapatan rendah, ia dilanjutkan setahun lagi.
''Program ini telah diperkenalkan pada Oktober 2008 iaitu semasa pembentangan Bajet 2009,'' katanya dalam satu kenyataan yang dikeluarkan di Parlimen, hari ini.
Menurutnya, sejak program itu diperkenalkan kerajaan telah menanggung kos purata sebanyak RM11.95 juta setiap bulan.
''Sehingga September tahun ini, sebanyak RM143.4 juta telah dibayar oleh kerajaan untuk menampung kos pengecualian bil ini.
''Dengan persetujuan kerajaan melanjutkan program ini, ia bermakna kerajaan akan menanggung sejumlah kos tambahan iaitu sebanyak RM143 juta lagi," katanya.
Menteri Tenaga, Teknologi Hijau dan Air, Datuk Seri Peter Chin Fah Kui berkata, secara purata seramai 1.05 juta pengguna domestik yang kini menikmati pengecualian itu setiap bulan terus menerima manfaat.
Jelasnya, program itu sepatutnya tamat pada hujung bulan ini, namun disebabkan kedudukan ekonomi yang belum pulih selain keprihatinan kerajaan terhadap rakyat berpendapatan rendah, ia dilanjutkan setahun lagi.
''Program ini telah diperkenalkan pada Oktober 2008 iaitu semasa pembentangan Bajet 2009,'' katanya dalam satu kenyataan yang dikeluarkan di Parlimen, hari ini.
Menurutnya, sejak program itu diperkenalkan kerajaan telah menanggung kos purata sebanyak RM11.95 juta setiap bulan.
''Sehingga September tahun ini, sebanyak RM143.4 juta telah dibayar oleh kerajaan untuk menampung kos pengecualian bil ini.
''Dengan persetujuan kerajaan melanjutkan program ini, ia bermakna kerajaan akan menanggung sejumlah kos tambahan iaitu sebanyak RM143 juta lagi," katanya.
Police identify mastermind behind prostitution ring
SIBU: The police have identified the mastermind behind a prostitution ring that they smashed on Tuesday.When contacted yesterday, acting police chief Supt Zamani Hamdan said the man is a foreigner.
He also disclosed that this was the first time they came across such a ring whose members were all foreigners.
He said the leader brought young women from his country to work as prostitutes here.
The police stormed his den on Tuesday at Jalan Tuanku Osman where a pimp and 10 foreign call girls in their 20s were arrested.
“But the ring leader was not there because he was taking his pregnant wife back to his country.”
Zamani said police would launch a hunt for the leader using information they had received.
He confirmed that when the foreign call girls were brought in using social visit passes, the leader hid them on the upper floor of a shop where the women were placed under the care of an elderly foreign woman.
He further confirmed that the pimp, a local youth in his early 20s, was hired by the ring leader.
He was arrested together with the 10 call girls.
The police are expected to charge the pimp and the call girls, but Zamani would not confirm what possible charges would be at this stage of the investigation.
“After our investigation is completed, we shall hand the case to the deputy public prosecutor.”
Zamani said the police did not regard the case as human trafficking because the women were not forced to come.
“They willingly followed the ring leader into Sarawak and willingly got involved in the flesh trade. They were not smuggled in.”
He said the police were also investigating the allegation that these women had violated their social passes.
It is said that when the women arrived here, they would stay at a rented place in Jalan Tuanku Osman, and the pimp would take them to meet their clients in budget hotels.
Chinese dailies reported yesterday that the pimp charged the clients RM60 each for an encounter with one of the women.
On whether there were other foreign call girls in Sibu, Zamani said some had been arrested before.
“But we have not arrested such foreigners in a group like what we did on Tuesday.”
On complaints by women in Sibu about their husbands having relationships with call girls from China, he said the police were looking into the matter.
“On cases like this, we must establish the evidence of their involvement in immoral activities, like what we are doing in the current investigation.”
He also disclosed that this was the first time they came across such a ring whose members were all foreigners.
He said the leader brought young women from his country to work as prostitutes here.
The police stormed his den on Tuesday at Jalan Tuanku Osman where a pimp and 10 foreign call girls in their 20s were arrested.
“But the ring leader was not there because he was taking his pregnant wife back to his country.”
Zamani said police would launch a hunt for the leader using information they had received.
He confirmed that when the foreign call girls were brought in using social visit passes, the leader hid them on the upper floor of a shop where the women were placed under the care of an elderly foreign woman.
He further confirmed that the pimp, a local youth in his early 20s, was hired by the ring leader.
He was arrested together with the 10 call girls.
The police are expected to charge the pimp and the call girls, but Zamani would not confirm what possible charges would be at this stage of the investigation.
“After our investigation is completed, we shall hand the case to the deputy public prosecutor.”
Zamani said the police did not regard the case as human trafficking because the women were not forced to come.
“They willingly followed the ring leader into Sarawak and willingly got involved in the flesh trade. They were not smuggled in.”
He said the police were also investigating the allegation that these women had violated their social passes.
It is said that when the women arrived here, they would stay at a rented place in Jalan Tuanku Osman, and the pimp would take them to meet their clients in budget hotels.
Chinese dailies reported yesterday that the pimp charged the clients RM60 each for an encounter with one of the women.
On whether there were other foreign call girls in Sibu, Zamani said some had been arrested before.
“But we have not arrested such foreigners in a group like what we did on Tuesday.”
On complaints by women in Sibu about their husbands having relationships with call girls from China, he said the police were looking into the matter.
“On cases like this, we must establish the evidence of their involvement in immoral activities, like what we are doing in the current investigation.”
20091216
WATCH OUT! : Pet crocodile released into Rajang River
FREE AT LAST: The crocodile prepared for release into the river
A man at Jalan Lada yesterday finally decided to set free a young crocodile that he has been rearing in his backyard for eight years.
According to snake catcher Lai Lee Siew, the man sought his help to release the reptile into Rajang River.
And so with a group of ten men, they accomplished the task yesterday morning.
He said the man was given about 30 newly hatched crocodiles to keep as pets eight years ago, and he kept them in his backyard pond.
“Over the years, some of the reptiles disappeared during extremely high floods. Eventually only one was left and that was the one we just released into the river.”
Lai said after tying up the eight-foot-long reptile, he took it to Rantau Panjang where it was released.
Bp Online 16/12/09
‘Increase free electricity rate from RM20’
One would think that Sarawakians would be jumping with glee when it was announced that electricity bills of less than RM20 would continue to be borne by the government.They are happy, but they are not jumping, preferring, it would appear, to reserve the celebration for something better – if it does happen, although the chances are slim.
They are urging the government to increase the free electricity rate from the current RM20 to a higher rate because, according to them, the majority of the people’s power usage bills are above RM20.
If the government can do that, then there is every reason to celebrate, they said.
Recently, Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Datuk Seri Peter Chin stated that those with monthly power usage of RM20 and below per month would continue to benefit from the free electricity till the end of next year.
Seruji Tahip, 56, who is vocal about increasing the RM20 rate, said only the truly poor people have bills less than that.
“But I can tell you for sure there are many poor people who use up electricity worth more than that,” Seruji said when asked to comment on the government’s decision to extend the period of free electricity to end of 2010.
Seruji’s opinion is supported by entrepreneur Norshiah Rajow, 39, who said that bills below RM20 are not a burden to the people, not even the poor.
“What can be burdening are bills more than RM20!” Norshiah said.
“Below RM20 ruling is not a good step because only a few would benefit as the use of refrigerators, lamps and television alone runs bills well beyond RM20,” Norshiah said.
Meanwhile, Leslee Ronjig, 35, from Kampung Punau of Jalan Puncak Borneo said extending the ruling is a welcomed step which should be applauded.
Leslee said it has made him more determined to save on electricity usage and as a result he has enjoyed several exemptions already.
He, however, admits that he has to forego a lot of things to be able to enjoy the exemption. He also said he would certainly welcome a higher exemption rate so that he could watch the TV or be at the computer longer.
Alsie Sia, 27, a teacher also said the ruling has been of great relief to many poor people and any length of extension will certainly bring more relief. She said saving on electricity usage will hopefully contribute to slowing down the global warming rate.
She, however, admitted that even how much she tries to save on electricity usage she is still burning a big hole in her pocket paying for her power bill.
Apparently, she forgets that it would seem that only the poor are expected to help slow down global warming while the well to do continue to do what they can pay for at the expense of the environment.
Like Alsie, Edna Dungi, 35, is also happy with the extension decision, saying: “Even though we are a developing nation, there are still many people who are poor and need help from the government. Such incentive will definitely make the people happy.”
The extension will benefit up to RM1.5 million consumers or house owners after the government agreed to allocate about RM11.9 million per month to support the ruling.
They are urging the government to increase the free electricity rate from the current RM20 to a higher rate because, according to them, the majority of the people’s power usage bills are above RM20.
If the government can do that, then there is every reason to celebrate, they said.
Recently, Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Datuk Seri Peter Chin stated that those with monthly power usage of RM20 and below per month would continue to benefit from the free electricity till the end of next year.
Seruji Tahip, 56, who is vocal about increasing the RM20 rate, said only the truly poor people have bills less than that.
“But I can tell you for sure there are many poor people who use up electricity worth more than that,” Seruji said when asked to comment on the government’s decision to extend the period of free electricity to end of 2010.
Seruji’s opinion is supported by entrepreneur Norshiah Rajow, 39, who said that bills below RM20 are not a burden to the people, not even the poor.
“What can be burdening are bills more than RM20!” Norshiah said.
“Below RM20 ruling is not a good step because only a few would benefit as the use of refrigerators, lamps and television alone runs bills well beyond RM20,” Norshiah said.
Meanwhile, Leslee Ronjig, 35, from Kampung Punau of Jalan Puncak Borneo said extending the ruling is a welcomed step which should be applauded.
Leslee said it has made him more determined to save on electricity usage and as a result he has enjoyed several exemptions already.
He, however, admits that he has to forego a lot of things to be able to enjoy the exemption. He also said he would certainly welcome a higher exemption rate so that he could watch the TV or be at the computer longer.
Alsie Sia, 27, a teacher also said the ruling has been of great relief to many poor people and any length of extension will certainly bring more relief. She said saving on electricity usage will hopefully contribute to slowing down the global warming rate.
She, however, admitted that even how much she tries to save on electricity usage she is still burning a big hole in her pocket paying for her power bill.
Apparently, she forgets that it would seem that only the poor are expected to help slow down global warming while the well to do continue to do what they can pay for at the expense of the environment.
Like Alsie, Edna Dungi, 35, is also happy with the extension decision, saying: “Even though we are a developing nation, there are still many people who are poor and need help from the government. Such incentive will definitely make the people happy.”
The extension will benefit up to RM1.5 million consumers or house owners after the government agreed to allocate about RM11.9 million per month to support the ruling.
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