by Zaharom Nain. Posted on February 20, 2011, Sunday
On my way home from picking up my children from make-up classes yesterday, I got caught up in the regular – and infamous – USJ jam. I’ve never really gotten used to these traffic snarls, despite having moved down from laidback Penang more than a year ago, hence consciously try to avoid travelling during peak hours for the sake of my sanity.
This is, after all, Malaysia (or, rather, Peninsular Malaysia) where all those myths of the lazy, laidback, lemah lembut (gentle) native get thrown out the window the moment we get into our cars.
Indeed, many has been the time when I’ve been tailgated by irritated (and damn irritating) small Malaysian cars driven by tudung-clad mak ciks determined, I’m sure, to mow me down in their haste to get home, switch on the TV and possibly watch Datuk Siti Noor Bahyah bashing fellow Malaysians and their beliefs.
Granted, many of us may not honk as loud and as long as our parents used to, but we sure as hell find it unthinkable still to give way to other motorists when caught in a jam, even when we know that giving way would invariably ease the jam.
Indeed, oftentimes it becomes a crazy case of might is right, with the bigger vehicles calling the shots and threatening to destroy the rest.
And such was the case yesterday when, virtually out of nowhere, this lorry moved into my lane from the left – without the indicator light being turned on, of course. Invariably I had to give way since I’m not a crazy mak cik driving a souped-up Kancil or Viva.
As it arrogantly settled itself in front of me, I noticed that this monstrosity had only one rear light working, with a couple of the others being broken – they actually had holes in them, as if having been riddled by bullets in some previous car – or lorry – chase movie.
But, of course, this is quite a common sight on the roads in Malaysia, where you’ll find on a daily basis these unwashed and rust-infested heavy vehicles looking as if they’d come out of those classic Mad Max movies.
What’s tragically funny about these vehicles – and this was certainly true of the menacing-looking lorry in front of me – is that, apart from carrying all these `scars’, they nowadays also carry seemingly-obligatory contact details (from the Road Transport Department, I think) for anybody to call of sms to register a complaint.
Seeing this heap of junk in front of me, and having seen many others which really looked as if they belonged in the scrap metal dealer’s yard, with the RTD form plastered prominently on them, inviting anybody to register complaints, raised a number of questions in my mind.
First, do people really register their complaints with the authorities using the numbers given? While I don’t have the statistics, I’m quite sure some do – or at least try to.
Which leads on to the second question: Is anything then done once these complaints are received or is this all yet another one of those not-so-great Malaysian public relations exercises?
An exercise that our political leaders especially have become rather adept at while kidding themselves that `the fools out there’ can’t see through it all.
Indeed, if something is being done, then why are these vehicles still on the road, risking the lives of many and also often polluting the environment with their black smoke and killer carbon emissions?
I guess in the end it’s the problem of enforcement – or the lack of . After all, we have innumerable rules, regulations, even laws, but, when push comes to shove, if the enforcers can’t – or refuse to, or even, are paid not to – enforce all this, nothing much is going to change.
Indeed, you’ll probably remember, as I do, that awhile ago there was all this talk about government departments, even ministries, having KPIs (that’s key performance indices for you naughty ones not in tune with SatuMalaysiaBoleh).
Lately I’ve heard numerous airheads declaring that their KPIs had been achieved, often without providing concrete evidence, even basic statistics, to support their assertions. Aiyah, that one my 8 year-old child also can do. So let’s stop all this kelentong-ing, ok?
But, the sad thing is, kelentong (bull, spin, lie, bs – take your pick) they still would. And would you want to know why?
Essentially because we have become an extremely tolerant people, bordering on being passive and cowardly, evidently with our tidak apa (never mind) culture.
An incident that affected my expatriate colleague just a couple of days ago will help to illustrate this.
It was 11 o’clock on the night of Chap Goh Mei. His two little kids, both babies still, were asleep. Suddenly the sky lit up and all hell broke lose, with the sound of screaming rockets and other missiles shattering the silence of the night. His neighbour, with friends and family in tow, had set off the firework celebration.
Not so funnily (or politely) the missiles were trained away from the launchers – and directly into his compound.
There was a lull, during which time he tried to calm down his clearly distraught kids. But, of course this was all too brief because no sooner had it stopped when the missile attacks started again.
Clearly upset this time, and with one child in his arms, he marched straight to his neighbour’s, and launched into a tirade aimed at his neighbour. The fact that he’s a Cambridge graduate in English, I’m sure, made the lecture he gave to his suddenly-silent neighbour all the more `show-stopping’, shall we say?
When he asked me, clearly fearing for his life for his outburst, if he’d done the right thing, unhesitatingly I told him that he had. If anybody had lost face, I thought, it was clearly his neighbour. And, of course, all this was proven right when he told me later that his neighbour had the next day delivered a huge bunch of orchids, together with a note of apology.
When I discussed this with my wife, Jackie, her immediate response was that it would have been quite unusual for a Malaysian to have reacted the way that Sean did.
Indeed, for Jackie, him being an expatriate – and one with a family, not prone to having noisy , late night drunken parties, an image which expatriates often are stereotyped or labeled with – made him a `visitor’ who would be respected by someone like his neighbour.
But it probably would have been quite different if both parties were Malaysians.
Many Malaysians, indeed, would have cursed and sworn in the privacy of our homes and silently tolerated the noise principally because we don’t want to `look for trouble’ and fear for our own safety should we be confrontational. We would have privately cursed the neighbour and even the authorities for not enforcing the law. But we would then leave it at that.
Such, indeed, is the nature of our `tolerance’, I guess.
Outsiders and visitors, like my expatriate friend, used to a more open environment, evidently more easily articulate their opposition and dissatisfaction.
We, on the other hand, are continuously berated for `not counting our blessings’ and openly warned not to even consider asking for reforms and change the way the Tunisians and Egyptians (and many others in the region now) have done so.
Hence, we find it difficult, if not well-nigh impossible, to raise objections.
We kid ourselves that it’s all part of our culture when, instead, it’s very much due to a deliberate and sustained programme of socialization, through education , media spin and the (mis)identification of a majority of issues with religion and ethnic identity.
And, sadly, the poorer we have become for all that.
PANDU CERMAT, SAYANGKAN NYAWA
INGAT ORANG YANG TERSAYANG
INGAT ORANG YANG TERSAYANG
PASTIKAN ANDA DAN SEMUA PENUMPANG MENGGUNAKAN TALI PINGGANG KELEDAR
20110220
We are too much depending on other for Rice- Do we realize that ?
by Sidi Munan. Posted on February 20, 2011, Sunday
MY favourite grocer at Kota Sentosa shook his head saying, “Haven’t got, boss.”
Since last month, the Beras Nasional 15 has disappeared from the market, he said, pointing to the Chrysanthemum variety. Only RM38 per 10kg bag bah!
I replied, “I see.”
Actually I didn’t.
I still didn’t understand why the rice went out of stock until Monday evening when I heard it over the radio.
One official from the Ministry of Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism was explaining the situation: the restaurants and eateries had allegedly snapped up all the rice, and there was nothing the authorities could do because there was no regulation to prevent these businesses from buying the subsidised rice too.
Gahat Mawang rice
Earlier in the day, the headline in The Borneo Post screamed, ‘Bright future for 80,000 padi planters’.
It was the officials from the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation talking about the results of research done by Mardi on hill padi in Gahat Mawang. Though the research project will only be completed at the end of August this year, the results are already known to them.
“Through the research we can now enable the smallholders to increase the yield from their farms. If they produce more than they need for subsistence, they can sell and improve their income,” the chairman of the taskforce on food security of the ministry was reported to have said.
He revealed that the project was in line with the economic transformation programme to achieve a high income economy because the PM and the CM want every Malaysian to earn better income, adding that “the transformation programme is not empty talk because we are serious in helping everyone from the big corporations to the smallholders”.
Asked if there would be similar studies carried out in other areas in Sarawak, yes, there would be studies done in Sri Aman, Kapit and Sarikei soon.
Such is the wonder of science that results of research are already known before completion, like the sex of a baby is known before its delivery. The variety has even been christened ‘Gahat Mawang Rice’.
Thirty years ago, I heard of research on planting padi on terraces. Not a word about its success or failure ever since.
While flying by helicopter over the Lower Batang Lupar, our first Prime Minister had a bright idea: there, down below is a vast country, the next rice bowl of Malaysia. Excitedly, he announced this to reporters waiting for him at the old Kuching Airport.
This was sometime in 1965.
Since then talk about this rice bowl has cropped up from time to time whenever VIPS visit the Lupar.
While waiting for the Gahat Mawang Rice to be marketed, may we ask what has happened to the many padi schemes in the state? How productive are they and when can we be self-sufficient in rice?
Millions of ringgit have been poured into the drainage and irrigation of those schemes from Tanjung Purun in Lundu to those in the northern region of Sarawak.
These schemes were part of the self-sufficiency policy in rice because Sarawak has been a net importer of rice since the end of the Second World War. According to the Sarawak Annual Report 1951, we imported some 31,709 tons of rice that year to feed a population of 546,385 (Census 1947). Now to feed a population of 2.1 million (2001), the state needs some many more tons of rice — you work it out for yourself.
How successful is that policy?
Month of dry spoons
This period — December, January and February — is dubbed by rural padi planters as ‘bulan begantong senduk’. It’s that time of the year before harvest, in fact a time of hunger. For the fishermen, it’s a period of rough seas and incessant rains (landas) and time to take a rest from sea fishing. For these fishermen, all would be well after the Chap Goh Meh; for the padi planters, however, harvest time will not be until March or early April.
This is the time to resort to the BN and its disappearance from the grocer’s at this critical juncture adds insult to injury.
Some explanation I heard over the radio ran something like this: The government has classified rice consumers into two broad groups: the lower income are to eat the subsidised BN 15, while the higher income earners, restaurants, and eateries, ought to buy the fragrant variety imported from Thailand and Vietnam. For the past couple of months, these eateries have allegedly snapped up all the rice meant for ordinary mortals.
Hence the shortage.
And there is no law to prevent these food outlets from buying the staple food of the lower income groups. Even if there is such a regulation, it would be almost impossible to impose unless you employ the Japanese style of food control by allowing the lower income groups to get the rice direct from the government’s godowns.
That’s the explanation. I see.
But I’m more interested in getting my BN immediately rather than waiting for the new brand discovered by Mardi. Too old to wait too long.
Rice producers stockpiling
The news about scrambling to stockpile by many rice producing countries does not help; the poor harvests in Thailand and Vietnam — two sources of Malaysian imports — do not make good reading.
Spare a thought for those farmers in Baram
In Sarawak, at this time of the year, paddy fields are murai (blooming) but many farmers in the Baram have experienced bad floods and their fields were destroyed.
The Penans and the longhouse folk in the Baram, especially in the Tinjar-Bakong areas, are in for a long ‘begantong senduk’ unless help comes between now and the following harvest in March 2012.
Once there were green fields
Though the country has been a net importer of rice, mainly for people in town, most rural people, especially those farmers in the Lower Batang Lupar in Tanjong Bijat, Stumbin and Banting, used to have enough rice, even spare for sale, unless there were bad floods, long dry spells or bad attacks by pests (empangau) or rats or sparrows (pipit banda).
But now there is a scramble for land for oil palm plantations at the expense of land for padi cultivation. Those farmers in the Lower Batang Lupar are lucky to sit on fertile land; in the rest of the state, the terrain is either hilly or not suitable for wet padi, which yields more than the hill variety does. Hopefully, Mardi’s research on hill padi will translate into real grains soon.
Have we enough land for rice cultivation, swamp and hill varieties, on a large scale?
You would remember seeing acres and acres of green fields of rice at Siburan and Beratok. No longer – now most of the area has been developed for housing estates.
In the past, you saw vegetable plots everywhere; now you don’t. The vegetable cultivators have moved to the Batu Gong area and even that area will be converted into housing estates in no time.
Driving along that offshoot of Penrissen road on the way to join Jalan Stephen Yong was pleasant at this time of the year, admiring the green fields turning yellow with beautiful grains and flags of all colours acting to scare away the naughty birds. No longer – shop houses have now taken over a large area opposite the junction to Kampung Sudat and more houses are being built there on padi land.
Other competitors
The padi farmers have other competitors, more formidable: the oil palm plantation owners, some of whom have even encroached on peat swamp land. In the 1970s, estate crop developers were not allowed to plant oil palms on such areas. Nowadays anything goes.
This is development, we are told.
Before I get overwhelmed by the thoughts of expensive rice as a result of the shortage in the market and of a scramble for stockpiling by rice producing countries, I must stop for my porridge.
As a state, when will we ever be self-sufficient in the staple food?
Contribution of Mr. Sidi Munan- Borneo Post Online
MY favourite grocer at Kota Sentosa shook his head saying, “Haven’t got, boss.”
Since last month, the Beras Nasional 15 has disappeared from the market, he said, pointing to the Chrysanthemum variety. Only RM38 per 10kg bag bah!
I replied, “I see.”
Actually I didn’t.
I still didn’t understand why the rice went out of stock until Monday evening when I heard it over the radio.
One official from the Ministry of Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism was explaining the situation: the restaurants and eateries had allegedly snapped up all the rice, and there was nothing the authorities could do because there was no regulation to prevent these businesses from buying the subsidised rice too.
Gahat Mawang rice
Earlier in the day, the headline in The Borneo Post screamed, ‘Bright future for 80,000 padi planters’.
It was the officials from the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation talking about the results of research done by Mardi on hill padi in Gahat Mawang. Though the research project will only be completed at the end of August this year, the results are already known to them.
“Through the research we can now enable the smallholders to increase the yield from their farms. If they produce more than they need for subsistence, they can sell and improve their income,” the chairman of the taskforce on food security of the ministry was reported to have said.
He revealed that the project was in line with the economic transformation programme to achieve a high income economy because the PM and the CM want every Malaysian to earn better income, adding that “the transformation programme is not empty talk because we are serious in helping everyone from the big corporations to the smallholders”.
Asked if there would be similar studies carried out in other areas in Sarawak, yes, there would be studies done in Sri Aman, Kapit and Sarikei soon.
Such is the wonder of science that results of research are already known before completion, like the sex of a baby is known before its delivery. The variety has even been christened ‘Gahat Mawang Rice’.
Thirty years ago, I heard of research on planting padi on terraces. Not a word about its success or failure ever since.
While flying by helicopter over the Lower Batang Lupar, our first Prime Minister had a bright idea: there, down below is a vast country, the next rice bowl of Malaysia. Excitedly, he announced this to reporters waiting for him at the old Kuching Airport.
This was sometime in 1965.
Since then talk about this rice bowl has cropped up from time to time whenever VIPS visit the Lupar.
While waiting for the Gahat Mawang Rice to be marketed, may we ask what has happened to the many padi schemes in the state? How productive are they and when can we be self-sufficient in rice?
Millions of ringgit have been poured into the drainage and irrigation of those schemes from Tanjung Purun in Lundu to those in the northern region of Sarawak.
These schemes were part of the self-sufficiency policy in rice because Sarawak has been a net importer of rice since the end of the Second World War. According to the Sarawak Annual Report 1951, we imported some 31,709 tons of rice that year to feed a population of 546,385 (Census 1947). Now to feed a population of 2.1 million (2001), the state needs some many more tons of rice — you work it out for yourself.
How successful is that policy?
Month of dry spoons
This period — December, January and February — is dubbed by rural padi planters as ‘bulan begantong senduk’. It’s that time of the year before harvest, in fact a time of hunger. For the fishermen, it’s a period of rough seas and incessant rains (landas) and time to take a rest from sea fishing. For these fishermen, all would be well after the Chap Goh Meh; for the padi planters, however, harvest time will not be until March or early April.
This is the time to resort to the BN and its disappearance from the grocer’s at this critical juncture adds insult to injury.
Some explanation I heard over the radio ran something like this: The government has classified rice consumers into two broad groups: the lower income are to eat the subsidised BN 15, while the higher income earners, restaurants, and eateries, ought to buy the fragrant variety imported from Thailand and Vietnam. For the past couple of months, these eateries have allegedly snapped up all the rice meant for ordinary mortals.
Hence the shortage.
And there is no law to prevent these food outlets from buying the staple food of the lower income groups. Even if there is such a regulation, it would be almost impossible to impose unless you employ the Japanese style of food control by allowing the lower income groups to get the rice direct from the government’s godowns.
That’s the explanation. I see.
But I’m more interested in getting my BN immediately rather than waiting for the new brand discovered by Mardi. Too old to wait too long.
Rice producers stockpiling
The news about scrambling to stockpile by many rice producing countries does not help; the poor harvests in Thailand and Vietnam — two sources of Malaysian imports — do not make good reading.
Spare a thought for those farmers in Baram
In Sarawak, at this time of the year, paddy fields are murai (blooming) but many farmers in the Baram have experienced bad floods and their fields were destroyed.
The Penans and the longhouse folk in the Baram, especially in the Tinjar-Bakong areas, are in for a long ‘begantong senduk’ unless help comes between now and the following harvest in March 2012.
Once there were green fields
Though the country has been a net importer of rice, mainly for people in town, most rural people, especially those farmers in the Lower Batang Lupar in Tanjong Bijat, Stumbin and Banting, used to have enough rice, even spare for sale, unless there were bad floods, long dry spells or bad attacks by pests (empangau) or rats or sparrows (pipit banda).
But now there is a scramble for land for oil palm plantations at the expense of land for padi cultivation. Those farmers in the Lower Batang Lupar are lucky to sit on fertile land; in the rest of the state, the terrain is either hilly or not suitable for wet padi, which yields more than the hill variety does. Hopefully, Mardi’s research on hill padi will translate into real grains soon.
Have we enough land for rice cultivation, swamp and hill varieties, on a large scale?
You would remember seeing acres and acres of green fields of rice at Siburan and Beratok. No longer – now most of the area has been developed for housing estates.
In the past, you saw vegetable plots everywhere; now you don’t. The vegetable cultivators have moved to the Batu Gong area and even that area will be converted into housing estates in no time.
Driving along that offshoot of Penrissen road on the way to join Jalan Stephen Yong was pleasant at this time of the year, admiring the green fields turning yellow with beautiful grains and flags of all colours acting to scare away the naughty birds. No longer – shop houses have now taken over a large area opposite the junction to Kampung Sudat and more houses are being built there on padi land.
Other competitors
The padi farmers have other competitors, more formidable: the oil palm plantation owners, some of whom have even encroached on peat swamp land. In the 1970s, estate crop developers were not allowed to plant oil palms on such areas. Nowadays anything goes.
This is development, we are told.
Before I get overwhelmed by the thoughts of expensive rice as a result of the shortage in the market and of a scramble for stockpiling by rice producing countries, I must stop for my porridge.
As a state, when will we ever be self-sufficient in the staple food?
Contribution of Mr. Sidi Munan- Borneo Post Online
20110216
Rise in scams targeting e-banking accounts
If you have an Internet banking account, like many do in this modern IT era, take immediate notice.
The number of Malaysians falling prey to Internet banking scams is increasing by the day.
Cyber criminals are on the prowl looking for account holders gullible enough to reveal the two most vital pieces of data — their username and password.
They use fake banking websites, known as “phishing” sites, to try and trap the account holders.
If you fall for it, you can have your entire account wiped out in minutes, depending on the amount of money you have and the transfer limit set by the bank.
According to CyberSecurity Malaysia, a total of 1,426 reports were made last year compared to 634 received in 2009.
It said at least 900 unique phishing sites targeting local financial institutions have been discovered.
The body said those who fell prey are usually new Internet banking account holders and people who don’t understand Internet security
The number of Malaysians falling prey to Internet banking scams is increasing by the day.
Cyber criminals are on the prowl looking for account holders gullible enough to reveal the two most vital pieces of data — their username and password.
They use fake banking websites, known as “phishing” sites, to try and trap the account holders.
If you fall for it, you can have your entire account wiped out in minutes, depending on the amount of money you have and the transfer limit set by the bank.
According to CyberSecurity Malaysia, a total of 1,426 reports were made last year compared to 634 received in 2009.
It said at least 900 unique phishing sites targeting local financial institutions have been discovered.
The body said those who fell prey are usually new Internet banking account holders and people who don’t understand Internet security
20110118
Politeknik, kolej swasta akan dipantau dalam usaha meningkat kualiti
Penarafan MyQUEST, PolyRate dilaksana tahun ini: Khaled
Mulai tahun 2011 ini, semua politeknik dan kolej swasta di negara ini akan dipantau dan diberi penarafan selaras hasrat kerajaan untuk meningkatkan kualiti institusi pengajian tinggi (IPT) negara, kata Menteri Pengajian Tinggi, Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin.
Beliau berkata, semua 402 kolej swasta akan dinilai menerusi Sistem Pengukuran Kualiti dan Kesetaraan Kolej Swasta (MyQUEST) manakala politeknik akan diukur menggunakan Sistem Penarafan Politeknik (PolyRate).
Dua sistem ini dibuat bagi mengukur tahap pencapaian politeknik dan kolej swasta di negara ini, selaras hasrat kerajaan untuk meningkatkan kualiti IPT negara.
Kita sudah mempunyai SETARA (Sistem Penarafan IPT awam) untuk mengukur pencapaian universiti dan kolej universiti, tidak lengkap jika kita tidak melihat kualiti kolej swasta dan politeknik
Mulai tahun 2011 ini, semua politeknik dan kolej swasta di negara ini akan dipantau dan diberi penarafan selaras hasrat kerajaan untuk meningkatkan kualiti institusi pengajian tinggi (IPT) negara, kata Menteri Pengajian Tinggi, Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin.
Beliau berkata, semua 402 kolej swasta akan dinilai menerusi Sistem Pengukuran Kualiti dan Kesetaraan Kolej Swasta (MyQUEST) manakala politeknik akan diukur menggunakan Sistem Penarafan Politeknik (PolyRate).
Dua sistem ini dibuat bagi mengukur tahap pencapaian politeknik dan kolej swasta di negara ini, selaras hasrat kerajaan untuk meningkatkan kualiti IPT negara.
Kita sudah mempunyai SETARA (Sistem Penarafan IPT awam) untuk mengukur pencapaian universiti dan kolej universiti, tidak lengkap jika kita tidak melihat kualiti kolej swasta dan politeknik
Kadar caruman berkanun KWSP 11 peratus mulai 2011
Kadar caruman berkanun bahagian pekerja Kumpulan Wang Simpanan Pekerja (KWSP) dinaikkan kepada 11 peratus berbanding lapan peratus ditetapkan sebelum ini berkuat kuasa tarikh pembayaran gaji bagi Januari 2011.
Pengurus Besar Perhubungan Awam KWSP, Nik Affendi Jaafar berkata, majikan perlu memastikan jumlah caruman yang betul dipotong daripada gaji pekerja berdasarkan kadar caruman baru ditetapkan dan dibayar kepada KWSP bermula daripada caruman bulan Februari 2011.
Sebelum ini kadar caruman berkanun bahagian pekerja diturunkan daripada 11 peratus kepada lapan peratus untuk tempoh dua tahun bermula gaji Januari 2009 hingga Disember 2010.
Pengurus Besar Perhubungan Awam KWSP, Nik Affendi Jaafar berkata, majikan perlu memastikan jumlah caruman yang betul dipotong daripada gaji pekerja berdasarkan kadar caruman baru ditetapkan dan dibayar kepada KWSP bermula daripada caruman bulan Februari 2011.
Sebelum ini kadar caruman berkanun bahagian pekerja diturunkan daripada 11 peratus kepada lapan peratus untuk tempoh dua tahun bermula gaji Januari 2009 hingga Disember 2010.
20110117
RM100m for Belaga
Prime Minister announces eight mammoth projects which will directly benefit some 28,000 villagers
Belaga District and its population of 28,000 people yesterday received tremendous benefits from the government.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak announced eight projects there worth over RM100 million when he declared open the town’s new health clinic costing RM46 million.
Najib, accompanied by Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud and Belaga assemblyman Liwang Lagang, was here for a one-day visit, following which he flew to the Sungai Asap Resettlement Scheme for a meet-the-people session at Uma Belor longhouse.
To loud cheers from the over 1,000 people present, he first announced the government’s approval for the 35-km Belaga Town-Bakun Dam Road project, saying the project would be undertaken by the army under its ‘Projek Jiwa Murni’ (community project) to save cost.
“The government is aware this is a very important project for the 15,000 people who now cannot travel by express boat to Kapit Town because of certain shallow stretches along the Rajang River due to the Bakun Dam impoundment process.
“The federal government will allocate a sum of RM62 million for its construction which will begin by next month,” he said.
He said a RM35 million project to provide treated water supply to the people in the town and its immediate surrounding areas was implemented in November last year and is expected to be ready by October next year.
Najib also said the government, through the army, would construct a prefabricated steel bridge crossing the Linau River in Lusong Laku soon while a kindergarten would be built in this Penan settlement area.
On the request by the people for a commercial bank, he said Malayan Banking Group had agreed to set up a Maybank counter in three to four months’ time while Bank Simpanan Nasional would set up its branch by end of this year.
Meanwhile, he said a new contractor would be appointed to complete the construction of the boarding house for SMK Belaga.
He said the service of its current contractor had been terminated due to its inability to complete the project as scheduled.
Najib said all these indicated that the government was very serious and committed in bringing development to all rural areas.
“We have allocated a very big budget for rural development under the Tenth Malaysia Plan as well as under the National Key Result Areas projects,” he said.
He added the government too was aware that the rural people had been very strong supporters of Barisan Nasional since the country’s independence.
At the function, Najib also advised the people to take good care of their health and not to take things for granted.
He also said the government would send an X-ray machine as well as medical officers to be stationed at the new clinic.
Among those present were Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Minister of Rural and Regional Development Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal and Deputy Health Minister Datuk Rosnah Rashid Shirlin.
January 16, 2011, Sunday
Belaga District and its population of 28,000 people yesterday received tremendous benefits from the government.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak announced eight projects there worth over RM100 million when he declared open the town’s new health clinic costing RM46 million.
Najib, accompanied by Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud and Belaga assemblyman Liwang Lagang, was here for a one-day visit, following which he flew to the Sungai Asap Resettlement Scheme for a meet-the-people session at Uma Belor longhouse.
To loud cheers from the over 1,000 people present, he first announced the government’s approval for the 35-km Belaga Town-Bakun Dam Road project, saying the project would be undertaken by the army under its ‘Projek Jiwa Murni’ (community project) to save cost.
“The government is aware this is a very important project for the 15,000 people who now cannot travel by express boat to Kapit Town because of certain shallow stretches along the Rajang River due to the Bakun Dam impoundment process.
“The federal government will allocate a sum of RM62 million for its construction which will begin by next month,” he said.
He said a RM35 million project to provide treated water supply to the people in the town and its immediate surrounding areas was implemented in November last year and is expected to be ready by October next year.
Najib also said the government, through the army, would construct a prefabricated steel bridge crossing the Linau River in Lusong Laku soon while a kindergarten would be built in this Penan settlement area.
On the request by the people for a commercial bank, he said Malayan Banking Group had agreed to set up a Maybank counter in three to four months’ time while Bank Simpanan Nasional would set up its branch by end of this year.
Meanwhile, he said a new contractor would be appointed to complete the construction of the boarding house for SMK Belaga.
He said the service of its current contractor had been terminated due to its inability to complete the project as scheduled.
Najib said all these indicated that the government was very serious and committed in bringing development to all rural areas.
“We have allocated a very big budget for rural development under the Tenth Malaysia Plan as well as under the National Key Result Areas projects,” he said.
He added the government too was aware that the rural people had been very strong supporters of Barisan Nasional since the country’s independence.
At the function, Najib also advised the people to take good care of their health and not to take things for granted.
He also said the government would send an X-ray machine as well as medical officers to be stationed at the new clinic.
Among those present were Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Minister of Rural and Regional Development Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal and Deputy Health Minister Datuk Rosnah Rashid Shirlin.
January 16, 2011, Sunday
Wedding of 2011 - A truly glittering wedding
KUCHING: Amidst slight drizzle and an army of security personnel, the mood inside the new State Legislative Assembly complex last night was thoroughly festive with lavish decorations as Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud and wife Puan Sri Ragad Waleed Alkurdi held their wedding reception.It was indeed a ceremony full of pomp and pageantry as some 500 dignified VVIPs, along with an impressive list of ‘who’s who’ in Sarawak, rub shoulders with the nation’s key public and corporate figures in attendance at the reception which was held at the DUN’s Dewan Santapan.
The guest list included Head of State Tun Datuk Patinggi Abang Muhamad Salahuddin, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and federal and state Ministers.
Arriving at 8.15pm, Taib was handsomely clad in a black tuxedo while his bride Ragad looked radiant in a stunning white wedding gown. The newly-wed couple was welcomed by deputy chief ministers Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr George Chan and Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu Numpang, along with Taib’s daughters Jamilah Hamidah and Datin Hanifah Hajar.
Najib and his wife Datuk Seri Rosmah Mansor were the next to arrive at 9pm, followed by Salahuddin and his wife Toh Puan Datuk Patinggi Norkiah about 10 minutes later.
Although not on the same scale as the fairy tale wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer back in 1981, the Chief Minister’s wedding was certainly a class on its own.
Taib’s eldest son Dato Sri Mahmud Abu Bekir, in his appreciation speech, started off by wishing Ragad a ‘Happy Birthday’ as yesterday also marked Puan Sri’s 29th birthday.
“This unification would not have happened if not for Datuk Raziah Mahmud (Taib’s sister) and husband Datuk Robert Geneid. It was Robert’s cousin Iqbal who introduced Puan Sri to my father.
“About five months ago, Puan Sri dreamt that she married King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia and he took her away in a Rolls Royce. Coincidentally, a year ago Robert’s niece Rasya also dreamt to have met King Abdullah.
“In her dream, Puan Sri had asked Robert to help Rasya. He gave her (Ragad) a piece of paper and a pen to write her wishes down. Then Puan Sri saw her late father smiling at her,” said Mahmud, adding that now Ragad had moved to Kuching to be with the family and the people of Sarawak.
Among the highlights of the night, apart from the cake cutting ceremony by the couple, were cultural performances by the Ministry of Social Development and Urbanisation troupe.
Entertainment for the evening included orchestral music led by Safie Obe Haruni, while Sarawak Imam Besar Jorji Suhaili led the prayers for the couple.
Held only the second week into the new year, the ‘Wedding of the Year’ was auspiciously marked as the first of many grand events anticipated in 2011. Taib and Ragad’s `akad nikah’ (marriage solemnisation) was held last Dec 18.
Born in Damascus, Ragad is the youngest of four children to Waleed and Khayami Alkurdi. Along with her brothers Samer and Mohamad, and sister Samar, the family moved to Riyadh when Ragad was still young. Sadly, their father passed away in 2003.
Tracing her roots, Ragad’s great great grandfather was a ‘Wari’ from Orfa, Turkey. His name was Khalil Orfali but only to change it to Alkurdi upon moving to Syria.
Having a background in interior design, Ragad loves singing, dancing, fishing and driving.
20101028
EPF: Withdraw savings at 75
All contributors to the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) should withdraw their savings upon reaching the age of 75.
This is because no contribution would be accepted upon contributors reaching that age and no dividend would be paid on their savings.
EPF Corporate Communications Unit head Nik Affendi Jaafar said contributors’ savings would also be transferred to the Registrar of Unclaimed Monies when they reached the age of 80.
“The EPF is not like a bank. That’s why we don’t encourage contributors to continue saving with the EPF because after the age of 75, we will no longer pay any dividend.
“We will also transfer the money to the Government if it is not claimed when the contributor reaches the age of 80,” he said yesterday.
Nik Affendi was asked to comment on the confusion relating to EPF contributions after members reach 75. — Bernama
This is because no contribution would be accepted upon contributors reaching that age and no dividend would be paid on their savings.
EPF Corporate Communications Unit head Nik Affendi Jaafar said contributors’ savings would also be transferred to the Registrar of Unclaimed Monies when they reached the age of 80.
“The EPF is not like a bank. That’s why we don’t encourage contributors to continue saving with the EPF because after the age of 75, we will no longer pay any dividend.
“We will also transfer the money to the Government if it is not claimed when the contributor reaches the age of 80,” he said yesterday.
Nik Affendi was asked to comment on the confusion relating to EPF contributions after members reach 75. — Bernama
20101026
DUNIA 26.10.2010 : Muntahan Merapi tunggu masa
AKTIVITI seismik dan peningkatan lahar gunung berapi Merapi, di Yogyakarta yang meningkat mendadak menandakan letusan akan berlaku pada bila-bila masa.Penduduk diarahkan pindah
YOGYAKARTA: Indonesia semalam meningkatkan amaran berjaga-jaga peringkat tertinggi bagi menghadapi kemungkinan gunung berapi Merapi meletus dan mengarahkan penduduk yang tinggal berhampiran untuk segera berpindah ke kawasan selamat.
Aktiviti seismik dilaporkan meningkat secara dramatik di kawasan gunung berapi terbabit yang meningkatkan pengeluaran lahar serta kira-kira 500 gempa akibat aktiviti terbabit direkodkan sepanjang hujung minggu lalu.
Pegawai yang memantau gunung berapi itu meningkatkan tahap berjaga-jaga ke merah pada 6 pagi semalam, memberi amaran kemungkinan letusan berlaku.
“Lahar sudah mula naik ke atas berikutan kuasa seismik yang semakin meningkat dan kira-kira satu kilometer di bawah kawah,” kata pakar gunung berapi, Surono.
Penduduk diarahkan untuk berpindah dari kawasan zon bahaya kira-kira 10 kilometer dari kawasan kawah gunung berapi setinggi 2,914 meter berkenaan.
Gunung itu terletak 26 kilometer ke selatan Yogyakarta adalah paling aktif daripada 69 gunung berapi yang mempunyai sejarah letusan di Indonesia.
Kali terakhir ia meletus adalah pada Jun 2006 yang mengakibatkan dua orang maut, tetapi kejadian letupan paling banyak meragut nyawa adalah pada 1930 apabila lebih 1,300 penduduk dilaporkan terbunuh.
Awan panas daripada letupan lain pada 1994 dilaporkan membunuh lebih 60 penduduk.
“Ia kini mempunyai lebih tenaga berbanding letusan sebelum 2006. Kami belum menemui petunjuk kuat bahawa ia akan meletup seperti yang berlaku pada 1930, tetapi ada kemungkinan ia akan berlaku,” kata Surono. – AFP
BH 26/10/2010
Wajib lulus subjek Sejarah mampu pupuk minat generasi muda
2010/10/26
KEPUTUSAN kerajaan menetapkan mata pelajaran Sejarah sebagai subjek wajib lulus bagi Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) mulai 2013 dan menjadikannya mata pelajaran teras dalam Kurikulum Standard Sekolah Rendah (KSSR) mulai 2014 adalah tepat. Dalam KSSR, subjek ini akan diterapkan dengan unsur kewarganegaraan, patriotisme dan Perlembagaan bagi memastikan pelajar memahami serta menghayati sejarah negara secara mendalam. Kita tentunya tidak mahu anak yang mempelajari sejarah negara sekadar mahu lulus peperiksaan, tetapi gagal menghayati, mengambil pengajaran dan teladan apa yang tersirat daripada peristiwa yang berlaku. Keputusan menjadikan Sejarah, subjek wajib lulus itu diumumkan Timbalan Perdana Menteri, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin merangkap Timbalan Presiden UMNO ketika menggulung perbahasan pada Perhimpunan Agung UMNO Ke-61 baru-baru ini jelas mengungkap ketegasan kerajaan untuk memastikan generasi hari ini tidak buta sejarah. Keputusan itu juga menjelaskan bahawa sesuatu perlu dilakukan sebelum masyarakat lupa sejarah bangsanya sendiri. Apatah lagi akhir-akhir ini, ada kumpulan tertentu yang mempersoalkan fakta sejarah negara, walaupun ia sudah termaktub dalam Perlembagaan Persekutuan. Kumpulan ini berani mencabar hak dan keistimewaan orang Melayu, institusi Raja-Raja Melayu dan agama Islam sebagai agama Persekutuan. Persoalannya, kenapa mereka mempertikaikannya sama ada secara sedar atau tidak. Semuanya kerana mereka buta sejarah, pada masa sama cuba mengangguk di air keruh menghasut rakyat mempercayai apa yang mereka bangkitkan demi kepentingan politik sempit mereka. Sejarah adalah satu subjek penting bagi membolehkan setiap individu mengetahui asal usul bangsa mereka. Sistem pendidikan hari ini yang lebih mengutamakan mata pelajaran berteraskan sains menyebabkan minat dalam subjek Sejarah diabaikan sehingga ia dianggap tidak penting.
Mata pelajaran Sejarah ketika ini hanya subjek teras pada peringkat sekolah menengah yang wajib diambil, tetapi tidak wajib lulus. Oleh itu, tidak hairanlah mengapa ramai pelajar tidak menguasai subjek itu. Pengajaran subjek Sejarah perlu diubah dan tidak hanya di dalam kelas menggunakan buku teks, tetapi perlu dilaksanakan dengan pendekatan menyeronokkan. Ketegasan kerajaan melaksanakan wajib lulus subjek Sejarah perlu disokong semua pihak, terutama ibu bapa. Kita tidak mahu ada memandang mudah perkara itu dengan menganggap mata pelajaran lain lebih penting dan menolak subjek Sejarah dijadikan wajib lulus. Justeru, kerajaan perlu tegas melaksanakannya dengan tidak membenarkan mana-mana pelajar atau sekolah terkecuali mempelajarinya. Pada masa sama, kerajaan tidak wajar terlalu akomodatif atas desakan pihak tertentu untuk mengubah fakta sejarah bagi memenuhi kepentingan mereka. Sejarah adalah fakta dan hakikatnya, tiada sesiapa boleh mengubahnya. Jika dulu kita mempelajari sejarah Inggeris dan Barat bagi kepentingan politik penjajah British, sudah sampai masa kita kembali mempelajari sejarah bangsa dan negara sendiri. Memahami sejarah tempatan dapat meningkatkan semangat cintakan negara dan perjuangan bangsa, seterusnya dapat memupuk perpaduan dan semangat patriotisme generasi muda. Kita bimbang tanpa pengetahuan sejarah, generasi muda tidak dapat memahami semangat dan roh gagasan 1Malaysia dan pentingnya perpaduan antara kaum. Kita akui langkah ini sepatutnya sudah lama dilaksanakan, tetapi masih belum terlambat demi kelangsungan keamanan untuk generasi akan datang.
Petikan Minda Pengarang BH 26/10/2010
KEPUTUSAN kerajaan menetapkan mata pelajaran Sejarah sebagai subjek wajib lulus bagi Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) mulai 2013 dan menjadikannya mata pelajaran teras dalam Kurikulum Standard Sekolah Rendah (KSSR) mulai 2014 adalah tepat. Dalam KSSR, subjek ini akan diterapkan dengan unsur kewarganegaraan, patriotisme dan Perlembagaan bagi memastikan pelajar memahami serta menghayati sejarah negara secara mendalam. Kita tentunya tidak mahu anak yang mempelajari sejarah negara sekadar mahu lulus peperiksaan, tetapi gagal menghayati, mengambil pengajaran dan teladan apa yang tersirat daripada peristiwa yang berlaku. Keputusan menjadikan Sejarah, subjek wajib lulus itu diumumkan Timbalan Perdana Menteri, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin merangkap Timbalan Presiden UMNO ketika menggulung perbahasan pada Perhimpunan Agung UMNO Ke-61 baru-baru ini jelas mengungkap ketegasan kerajaan untuk memastikan generasi hari ini tidak buta sejarah. Keputusan itu juga menjelaskan bahawa sesuatu perlu dilakukan sebelum masyarakat lupa sejarah bangsanya sendiri. Apatah lagi akhir-akhir ini, ada kumpulan tertentu yang mempersoalkan fakta sejarah negara, walaupun ia sudah termaktub dalam Perlembagaan Persekutuan. Kumpulan ini berani mencabar hak dan keistimewaan orang Melayu, institusi Raja-Raja Melayu dan agama Islam sebagai agama Persekutuan. Persoalannya, kenapa mereka mempertikaikannya sama ada secara sedar atau tidak. Semuanya kerana mereka buta sejarah, pada masa sama cuba mengangguk di air keruh menghasut rakyat mempercayai apa yang mereka bangkitkan demi kepentingan politik sempit mereka. Sejarah adalah satu subjek penting bagi membolehkan setiap individu mengetahui asal usul bangsa mereka. Sistem pendidikan hari ini yang lebih mengutamakan mata pelajaran berteraskan sains menyebabkan minat dalam subjek Sejarah diabaikan sehingga ia dianggap tidak penting.
Mata pelajaran Sejarah ketika ini hanya subjek teras pada peringkat sekolah menengah yang wajib diambil, tetapi tidak wajib lulus. Oleh itu, tidak hairanlah mengapa ramai pelajar tidak menguasai subjek itu. Pengajaran subjek Sejarah perlu diubah dan tidak hanya di dalam kelas menggunakan buku teks, tetapi perlu dilaksanakan dengan pendekatan menyeronokkan. Ketegasan kerajaan melaksanakan wajib lulus subjek Sejarah perlu disokong semua pihak, terutama ibu bapa. Kita tidak mahu ada memandang mudah perkara itu dengan menganggap mata pelajaran lain lebih penting dan menolak subjek Sejarah dijadikan wajib lulus. Justeru, kerajaan perlu tegas melaksanakannya dengan tidak membenarkan mana-mana pelajar atau sekolah terkecuali mempelajarinya. Pada masa sama, kerajaan tidak wajar terlalu akomodatif atas desakan pihak tertentu untuk mengubah fakta sejarah bagi memenuhi kepentingan mereka. Sejarah adalah fakta dan hakikatnya, tiada sesiapa boleh mengubahnya. Jika dulu kita mempelajari sejarah Inggeris dan Barat bagi kepentingan politik penjajah British, sudah sampai masa kita kembali mempelajari sejarah bangsa dan negara sendiri. Memahami sejarah tempatan dapat meningkatkan semangat cintakan negara dan perjuangan bangsa, seterusnya dapat memupuk perpaduan dan semangat patriotisme generasi muda. Kita bimbang tanpa pengetahuan sejarah, generasi muda tidak dapat memahami semangat dan roh gagasan 1Malaysia dan pentingnya perpaduan antara kaum. Kita akui langkah ini sepatutnya sudah lama dilaksanakan, tetapi masih belum terlambat demi kelangsungan keamanan untuk generasi akan datang.
Petikan Minda Pengarang BH 26/10/2010
20101025
Wajib lulus Sejarah di peringkat SPM mulai 2013 : TPM
Kementerian Pelajaran memutuskan untuk menjadikan mata pelajaran Sejarah sebagai mata pelajaran wajib lulus di peringkat peperiksaan Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) mulai tahun 2013.
Timbalan Perdana Menteri Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin berkata syarat wajib lulus itu sama seperti mata pelajaran Bahasa Malaysia drbagai syarat untuk mendapat SPM.
"Kita kena bagi masa sedikit masa kalau tidak dia (pelajar) terkejut.. jadi ini memerlukan tempoh masa untuk kita melatih guru dan juga meneydiakan pelajar-pelajar kita untuk menghadapi sistem baru ini, " katanya yang juga Menteri Pelajaran ketika mengulung perbahasan di Perhimpunan Agung Umno 2010 di sini semalam.
- Bernama (Utusan Borneo 24/10/2010)
Teliti dulu subjek Sejarah syarat wajib lulus SPM
NGO mahu kerajaan fokus kaedah pengajaran, pembelajaran
Aktivis sosial, ahli akademik dan badan bukan kerajaan (NGO) mahu pengisian subjek Sejarah diteliti terlebih dulu sebelum ia dijadikan subjek wajib lulus dalam peperiksaan Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) bermula 2013.
Ini bagi memastikan matlamat pembinaan negara bangsa melalui subjek itu dicapai dan pelajar bukan hanya menghafal tarikh untuk lulus peperiksaan tetapi tidak memahami dan menghayati apa yang mereka pelajari di bilik darjah
Presiden Majlis Permuafakatan Persatuan Ibu Bapa dan Guru Nasional (PIBGN), Prof Madya Datuk Dr Mohamad Ali Hassan, berkata langkah mewajibkan mata pelajaran Sejarah sebagai syarat mendapat SPM akan menjadikan pelajar lebih serius dan mengambil perhatian terhadap subjek itu.
“Saya berharap perancangannya perlu berhati-hati, telus dan berhemah, serta tidak akan undur ke belakang.
“Ia kerana sejarah adalah roh bagi pendidikan warga negara, tanpa mengetahui sejarah maka warga negara itu akan buta sejarah, dan jika buta sejarah takkan tahu asal usul, menyebabkan individu itu tak tentu arah serta kabur masa depan negara,” katanya semalam.
Beliau mengulas pengumuman Timbalan Perdana Menteri, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, kelmarin bahawa mata pelajaran itu akan dijadikan subjek wajib lulus dan subjek teras dalam Kurikulum Standard Sekolah Rendah (KSSR).
Muhyiddin yang juga Menteri Pelajaran berkata ketika ini elemen sejarah diajar dalam subjek Kajian Tempatan di sekolah rendah sebelum diterapkan sebagai subjek teras di bawah KSSR bermula 2014.
Kenyataan Mohamad Ali disokong aktivis sosial, Dr Chandra Muzaffar yang mahu kerajaan memberi fokus kepada kaedah pengajaran dan pembelajaran subjek Sejarah.
“Kaedah pembelajaran dunia bersifat ‘dari atas ke bawah’ kini dikritik dan ia seharusnya bersifat komunikasi dua hala melalui per-bincangan terbuka bilik darjah. Kaedah pembelajaran penting bagi memastikan pelajar memahami serta menerima apa yang diajar.
“Pada hemat saya, pengisian subjek itu perlulah lebih daripada sekadar menghafal tarikh untuk lulus peperiksaan dan lebih penting mereka memahami falsafah di sebalik subjek Sejarah yang bertujuan meningkatkan kefahaman di antara kaum di negara ini,” katanya.
Profesor Sosio-linguistik Bahasa Melayu Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Prof Dr Teo Kok Seong, berkata penekanan dalam subjek Sejarah tepat pada masanya kerana sebilangan generasi muda kini semakin ‘buta sejarah’ dan ini dibuktikan melalui perdebatan beberapa isu seperti kontrak sosial tersirat dalam perlembagaan negara.
“Sebab itu kita nampak kontrak sosial dicabar terutama dalam media baru, nampak sangat mereka jahil mengenai sejarah,” katanya menegaskan sejarah Malaysia bukan bermula dengan kemerdekaan 1957, tetapi dengan Kesultanan Melaka sebelum itu yang gagal difahami, malah diputar-belit segelintir pihak.
Pensyarah Fakulti Pengajian Islam UKM, Prof Zakaria Stapa, berkata penekanan sejarah penting dalam membentuk jati diri rakyat berbilang kaum dengan menghayati latar belakang dan perkembangan Malaysia yang bermula dengan sebuah kesultanan di Nusantara Melayu.
“Sejarah akan merungkaikan kenapa perlembagaan negara digubal begitu, adanya kedudukan istimewa Melayu dan Bumiputera dan pada masa sama hak kaum-kaum lain juga terbela,” katanya.
BH 25/10/2010
Timbalan Perdana Menteri Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin berkata syarat wajib lulus itu sama seperti mata pelajaran Bahasa Malaysia drbagai syarat untuk mendapat SPM.
"Kita kena bagi masa sedikit masa kalau tidak dia (pelajar) terkejut.. jadi ini memerlukan tempoh masa untuk kita melatih guru dan juga meneydiakan pelajar-pelajar kita untuk menghadapi sistem baru ini, " katanya yang juga Menteri Pelajaran ketika mengulung perbahasan di Perhimpunan Agung Umno 2010 di sini semalam.
- Bernama (Utusan Borneo 24/10/2010)
Teliti dulu subjek Sejarah syarat wajib lulus SPM
NGO mahu kerajaan fokus kaedah pengajaran, pembelajaran
Aktivis sosial, ahli akademik dan badan bukan kerajaan (NGO) mahu pengisian subjek Sejarah diteliti terlebih dulu sebelum ia dijadikan subjek wajib lulus dalam peperiksaan Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) bermula 2013.
Ini bagi memastikan matlamat pembinaan negara bangsa melalui subjek itu dicapai dan pelajar bukan hanya menghafal tarikh untuk lulus peperiksaan tetapi tidak memahami dan menghayati apa yang mereka pelajari di bilik darjah
Presiden Majlis Permuafakatan Persatuan Ibu Bapa dan Guru Nasional (PIBGN), Prof Madya Datuk Dr Mohamad Ali Hassan, berkata langkah mewajibkan mata pelajaran Sejarah sebagai syarat mendapat SPM akan menjadikan pelajar lebih serius dan mengambil perhatian terhadap subjek itu.
“Saya berharap perancangannya perlu berhati-hati, telus dan berhemah, serta tidak akan undur ke belakang.
“Ia kerana sejarah adalah roh bagi pendidikan warga negara, tanpa mengetahui sejarah maka warga negara itu akan buta sejarah, dan jika buta sejarah takkan tahu asal usul, menyebabkan individu itu tak tentu arah serta kabur masa depan negara,” katanya semalam.
Beliau mengulas pengumuman Timbalan Perdana Menteri, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, kelmarin bahawa mata pelajaran itu akan dijadikan subjek wajib lulus dan subjek teras dalam Kurikulum Standard Sekolah Rendah (KSSR).
Muhyiddin yang juga Menteri Pelajaran berkata ketika ini elemen sejarah diajar dalam subjek Kajian Tempatan di sekolah rendah sebelum diterapkan sebagai subjek teras di bawah KSSR bermula 2014.
Kenyataan Mohamad Ali disokong aktivis sosial, Dr Chandra Muzaffar yang mahu kerajaan memberi fokus kepada kaedah pengajaran dan pembelajaran subjek Sejarah.
“Kaedah pembelajaran dunia bersifat ‘dari atas ke bawah’ kini dikritik dan ia seharusnya bersifat komunikasi dua hala melalui per-bincangan terbuka bilik darjah. Kaedah pembelajaran penting bagi memastikan pelajar memahami serta menerima apa yang diajar.
“Pada hemat saya, pengisian subjek itu perlulah lebih daripada sekadar menghafal tarikh untuk lulus peperiksaan dan lebih penting mereka memahami falsafah di sebalik subjek Sejarah yang bertujuan meningkatkan kefahaman di antara kaum di negara ini,” katanya.
Profesor Sosio-linguistik Bahasa Melayu Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Prof Dr Teo Kok Seong, berkata penekanan dalam subjek Sejarah tepat pada masanya kerana sebilangan generasi muda kini semakin ‘buta sejarah’ dan ini dibuktikan melalui perdebatan beberapa isu seperti kontrak sosial tersirat dalam perlembagaan negara.
“Sebab itu kita nampak kontrak sosial dicabar terutama dalam media baru, nampak sangat mereka jahil mengenai sejarah,” katanya menegaskan sejarah Malaysia bukan bermula dengan kemerdekaan 1957, tetapi dengan Kesultanan Melaka sebelum itu yang gagal difahami, malah diputar-belit segelintir pihak.
Pensyarah Fakulti Pengajian Islam UKM, Prof Zakaria Stapa, berkata penekanan sejarah penting dalam membentuk jati diri rakyat berbilang kaum dengan menghayati latar belakang dan perkembangan Malaysia yang bermula dengan sebuah kesultanan di Nusantara Melayu.
“Sejarah akan merungkaikan kenapa perlembagaan negara digubal begitu, adanya kedudukan istimewa Melayu dan Bumiputera dan pada masa sama hak kaum-kaum lain juga terbela,” katanya.
BH 25/10/2010
20101022
Menara Warisan Merdeka 100 tingkat tidak sentuh duit pelabur – PNB
Permodalan Nasional Berhad (PNB) hari ini berkata, pembangunan projek Warisan Merdeka yang mempunyai menara tertinggi di Malaysia, akan dibiayai melalui dana dalamannya sendiri tanpa ‘menyentuh’ langsung dana pemegang unit amanahnya.
Ketua Eksekutif Kumpulan, Tan Sri Hamad Kama Piah Che Othman (gambar) berkata, PNB, sebuah firma pelaburan terbesar di Malaysia, memiliki dana operasinya sendiri yang dikendalikan secara berasingan dengan portfolio dana para pemegang unit amanah.
‘‘Kami akan menggunakan dana sendiri yang dikumpul daripada keuntungan PNB sejak mula operasi (penubuhannya),’’ kata Hamad Kama Piah dalam satu taklimat tentang projek Warisan Merdeka di sini hari ini.
Pada taklimat itu, beliau menyangkal spekulasi bahawa projek milik PNB akan menggunakan dana amanah saham dan juga dibiayai oleh kerajaan.
Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak dalam pembentangan Bajet 2011 pada Jumaat lalu mengumumkan bahawa PNB akan membina projek bersepadu melibatkan pembinaan menara setinggi 100 tingkat dengan mengekalkan Stadium Merdeka dan Stadium Negara, dua bangunan sejarah negara, yang turut terletak di kawasan yang sama.
Keseluruhan projek itu bernilai RM5 bilion, dijangka siap pada tahun 2015.
Hamad Kama Piah tidak menolak kemungkinan PNB mendapatkan sumber pembiayaan lain tetapi ia tertakluk kepada sejauh mana usaha berkenaan mampu memaksimumkan pulangan daripada projek tersebut.
Katanya, projek pembangunan itu yang bakal disepadukan dengan dua bangunan warisan sejarah itu, akan dimajukan oleh PNB dan juga anak-anak syarikatnya tanpa menolak kemungkinan penyertaan mana-mana pelabur asing,
Beliau menambah, projek Warisan Merdeka yang dimiliki sepenuhnya PNB melalui PNB Merdeka Venture, adalah melibatkan pembangunan bercampur berkonsep bangunan hijau, di atas tapak seluas 19 ekar untuk tempoh pembangunan selama 10 tahun.
Katanya, selain menara yang bakal menempatkan ibu pejabat baru PNB, projek yang akan dimajukan dalam tiga fasa, akan turut mempunyai unit-unit kondominium dan kompleks membeli-belah.
‘‘Ibu pejabat PNB sedia ada yang terletak di Menara PNB (Jalan Tun Razak) akan mencapai usia 30 tahun pada 2016 dan ia perlu dinaikkan tarafnya,’’ tambah Hamad Kama Piah.
Beliau menegaskan, projek Warisan Merdeka bukanlah baharu dirancang dan dimasukkan dalam Bajet 2011 tetapi telah dirancang sejak 2004 selepas kawasan tanahnya dibeli daripada Pengurusan Danaharta Nasional Bhd. pada tahun 2000.
Katanya, sejak itu keperluan projek berkenaan terus dikaji dan Lembaga Pengarah PNB merasakan sekarang adalah masa terbaik untuk melaksanakannya setelah lama tertunda dan ketiadaan banyak projek besar dijangka memudahkan usaha mendapat kelulusan.
Selain itu, kata Hamad Kama Piah, projek berkenaan akan membantu menggalakkan pertumbuhan ekonomi negara.
Beliau juga berkata, projek itu merupakan usaha PNB menukar kelas aset dan mempelbagaikan portfolio berbanding hanya tertumpu kepada pelaburan ekuiti.
Beliau mengakui projek itu kecil saiznya untuk dilaksanakan selama 10 tahun tetapi menyatakan tempoh masa yang ditetapkan dalam memajukan projek itu adalah strategi ke arah memaksimumkan pulangan.
Hamad Kama Piah menjelaskan, tidak timbul soal projek itu berdaya maju atau sebaliknya berikutan lambakan semasa ruang pejabat kerana sukar untuk menentukan masa yang dianggap benar-benar sesuai.
‘‘Pembinaan projek ini tidak disegerakan sebelum ini bagi mengambil faedah tidak banyak bangunan hijau yang ada,’’ kata beliau.
Hamad Kama Piah menambah, pelaksanaan projek ikonik adalah bertujuan mencetuskan minat ramai terhadap pembangunan di kawasan berkenaan dan serusnya meraih pulangan yang diharapkan.
Ketua Eksekutif Kumpulan, Tan Sri Hamad Kama Piah Che Othman (gambar) berkata, PNB, sebuah firma pelaburan terbesar di Malaysia, memiliki dana operasinya sendiri yang dikendalikan secara berasingan dengan portfolio dana para pemegang unit amanah.
‘‘Kami akan menggunakan dana sendiri yang dikumpul daripada keuntungan PNB sejak mula operasi (penubuhannya),’’ kata Hamad Kama Piah dalam satu taklimat tentang projek Warisan Merdeka di sini hari ini.
Pada taklimat itu, beliau menyangkal spekulasi bahawa projek milik PNB akan menggunakan dana amanah saham dan juga dibiayai oleh kerajaan.
Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak dalam pembentangan Bajet 2011 pada Jumaat lalu mengumumkan bahawa PNB akan membina projek bersepadu melibatkan pembinaan menara setinggi 100 tingkat dengan mengekalkan Stadium Merdeka dan Stadium Negara, dua bangunan sejarah negara, yang turut terletak di kawasan yang sama.
Keseluruhan projek itu bernilai RM5 bilion, dijangka siap pada tahun 2015.
Hamad Kama Piah tidak menolak kemungkinan PNB mendapatkan sumber pembiayaan lain tetapi ia tertakluk kepada sejauh mana usaha berkenaan mampu memaksimumkan pulangan daripada projek tersebut.
Katanya, projek pembangunan itu yang bakal disepadukan dengan dua bangunan warisan sejarah itu, akan dimajukan oleh PNB dan juga anak-anak syarikatnya tanpa menolak kemungkinan penyertaan mana-mana pelabur asing,
Beliau menambah, projek Warisan Merdeka yang dimiliki sepenuhnya PNB melalui PNB Merdeka Venture, adalah melibatkan pembangunan bercampur berkonsep bangunan hijau, di atas tapak seluas 19 ekar untuk tempoh pembangunan selama 10 tahun.
Katanya, selain menara yang bakal menempatkan ibu pejabat baru PNB, projek yang akan dimajukan dalam tiga fasa, akan turut mempunyai unit-unit kondominium dan kompleks membeli-belah.
‘‘Ibu pejabat PNB sedia ada yang terletak di Menara PNB (Jalan Tun Razak) akan mencapai usia 30 tahun pada 2016 dan ia perlu dinaikkan tarafnya,’’ tambah Hamad Kama Piah.
Beliau menegaskan, projek Warisan Merdeka bukanlah baharu dirancang dan dimasukkan dalam Bajet 2011 tetapi telah dirancang sejak 2004 selepas kawasan tanahnya dibeli daripada Pengurusan Danaharta Nasional Bhd. pada tahun 2000.
Katanya, sejak itu keperluan projek berkenaan terus dikaji dan Lembaga Pengarah PNB merasakan sekarang adalah masa terbaik untuk melaksanakannya setelah lama tertunda dan ketiadaan banyak projek besar dijangka memudahkan usaha mendapat kelulusan.
Selain itu, kata Hamad Kama Piah, projek berkenaan akan membantu menggalakkan pertumbuhan ekonomi negara.
Beliau juga berkata, projek itu merupakan usaha PNB menukar kelas aset dan mempelbagaikan portfolio berbanding hanya tertumpu kepada pelaburan ekuiti.
Beliau mengakui projek itu kecil saiznya untuk dilaksanakan selama 10 tahun tetapi menyatakan tempoh masa yang ditetapkan dalam memajukan projek itu adalah strategi ke arah memaksimumkan pulangan.
Hamad Kama Piah menjelaskan, tidak timbul soal projek itu berdaya maju atau sebaliknya berikutan lambakan semasa ruang pejabat kerana sukar untuk menentukan masa yang dianggap benar-benar sesuai.
‘‘Pembinaan projek ini tidak disegerakan sebelum ini bagi mengambil faedah tidak banyak bangunan hijau yang ada,’’ kata beliau.
Hamad Kama Piah menambah, pelaksanaan projek ikonik adalah bertujuan mencetuskan minat ramai terhadap pembangunan di kawasan berkenaan dan serusnya meraih pulangan yang diharapkan.
20101021
20.10.2010 : Foundation of houses not affected by low water level
River Bank as on 20.10.2010 ( Sibu)
Kapit
BakunSIBU: The low water level in the Rajang River following the impoundment of water in Bakun Hydroelectric Dam will not affect the foundation of houses in low-lying areas here.
Department of Irrigation and Drainage’s chief engineer Ting Sing Kwong said the situation had not come to such a critical stage.
“This is because of the tidal effect. Water from the seas comes up the river and fills the slack in our water level.”
On the concern that the water level at Tua Pek Kong Wharf here had become so low that the riverbed has become visible, Ting said it was because of the low tide.
“There is nothing to worry about. There have been instances when water level was lower than the one now during low tide.”
The residents in low-lying areas are worried that the low water level would adversely affect the foundation of their houses.
If the water level goes lower to expose the mangrove wood in the foundation, the wood would rot and the foundations would become unstable.
Houses in low-lying areas from Hua Kiew Road to Kapor Road were built three decades to half a century ago on mangrove wood foundations.
Ting said as long as there is water in monsoon drains, houses would still be stable.
“This means the water beneath the houses will keep the buildings intact.”
He said until today, there have been no instances of dry drains in the residential areas.
Records provided by Ting showed that the level has dropped only slightly.
On Oct 13, the water level was 0.30 metres above sea level during low tide and 1.43 meters during high tide.
On Oct 18, the level was 0.14 metres during low tide and 1.40 metres during high tide.
Department of Irrigation and Drainage’s chief engineer Ting Sing Kwong said the situation had not come to such a critical stage.
“This is because of the tidal effect. Water from the seas comes up the river and fills the slack in our water level.”
On the concern that the water level at Tua Pek Kong Wharf here had become so low that the riverbed has become visible, Ting said it was because of the low tide.
“There is nothing to worry about. There have been instances when water level was lower than the one now during low tide.”
The residents in low-lying areas are worried that the low water level would adversely affect the foundation of their houses.
If the water level goes lower to expose the mangrove wood in the foundation, the wood would rot and the foundations would become unstable.
Houses in low-lying areas from Hua Kiew Road to Kapor Road were built three decades to half a century ago on mangrove wood foundations.
Ting said as long as there is water in monsoon drains, houses would still be stable.
“This means the water beneath the houses will keep the buildings intact.”
He said until today, there have been no instances of dry drains in the residential areas.
Records provided by Ting showed that the level has dropped only slightly.
On Oct 13, the water level was 0.30 metres above sea level during low tide and 1.43 meters during high tide.
On Oct 18, the level was 0.14 metres during low tide and 1.40 metres during high tide.
It was 1.45 metres yesterday when the tide was high
Kapit Disaster Management Committee on full alert
KAPIT: The Kapit Disaster Management Committee is now on full alert following the low level of the Rajang River and the current dry spell
On Tuesday, Kapit Resident Dahim Nadot chaired an emergency meeting attended by heads of government departments here.
“We’ve received all sorts of reports that have yet to be verified. Reports from below Belaga saying people can walk across the Rajang River and in upper Baleh,” said Dahim.
He explained that the low water level meant it was not possible to travel to the areas involved to verify the reports.
Kapit District Officer Simon Japut Tiok said the suspended express boat service between Pelagus and Belaga, due to the low river level, has adversely affected the mobility of the people, supply of school rations and medical supplies to the rural clinic.
“Our concern is the Nanga Merit sub-district. We’re very worried because we received reports the water is very smelly.
“As water transport has been suspended, we must look for alternative means of transport,” said Simon.
He added that a company has been requested to improve the access road from Pelagus to Nanga Merit as well as to construct an access road of around 3km to upper Pelagus to allow for the transportation of goods.
Another company has also been asked to help transport school rations.
Kapit Engineer Etin Langit @Abdul Malik Abdullah assured that the Kapit Water Treatment Plant was operating as usual.
“Even though there’s very low water at the water pump house opposite Seputin, there are six hoses and we can always connect the hoses to reach the water,” he said.
However, he still advised consumers to conserve water. At present, Kapit requires some 10 million litres of treated water a day. Kapit health officer Dr Ngian Hie Ung said the Health Department has put a helicopter on standby for medical evacuations, to assist rural folk who are unable to reach the nearest clinic where the river is impassable.
She also gave her assurance that there is sufficient medical supply for rural clinics and the Flying Doctor Service.
According to the Sarawak Rivers Board (SRB), the water level recorded at the Kapit waterfront on Oct 13 was 6.7 metres above sea level.
This dropped to 2.9 metres at 8am on Oct 18 and by 5pm it had dropped to 1.85 metres. The normal water level is eight metres above sea level.
The Meteorological Department records show that 0.4 millimetres of rain fell in Kapit on Oct 17.
Intermittent rain is forecast over 10 per cent of Kapit on Saturday (Oct 23).
20101015
SARWAK : Bakun jana elektrik Jun 2011
EMPANGAN Bakun mampu menghasilkan kuasa elektrik 2,400 Megawatt
Empangan boleh mulakan operasi apabila air takungan cecah 195 meter
PROJEK empangan elektrik hidro Bakun di Sarawak akan menjana 300 megawatt (MW) bekalan elektrik pada Jun tahun depan susulan bermulanya proses takungan air untuk empangan itu semalam
Sarawak Hidro Sdn Bhd, dalam kenyataannya berkata, pihaknya berjaya menutup pintu empangan di terowong pecahan air pada jam 10.00 pagi semalam selepas ia memperoleh Sijil Takungan daripada Kementerian Kemudahan Awam Sarawak.
“Dengan bermulanya proses takungan air itu, banjir akan mengambil masa tujuh bulan mencecah paras operasi minimum 195 meter (daripada paras laut) untuk ujian basah turbin,” katanya dalam satu kenyataan semalam. Sarawak Hidro, anak syarikat milik penuh Kementerian Kewangan Diperbadankan, adalah pemaju Empangan Bakun yang akan menjana 2,400MW bekalan elektrik apabila kesemua lapan turbin beroperasi pada 2012.
Kawasan yang dibanjiri meliputi 69,500 hektar tanah, iaitu seluas saiz Singapura dan Empangan Bakun itu dijangka siap menjelang Disember ini. Projek itu terletak di Sungai Balui di lembangan Sungai Rajang, iaitu 37 kilometer ke hulu bandar Belaga.
Sarawak Hidro berkata, sepanjang proses penutupan pintu empangan di terowong pecahan air itu, aliran air ke hulu empangan itu akan dikekalkan menerusi satu mekanisma untuk melepaskan antara 150 meter dan 260 meter padu air bergantung kepada tahap di takungan air empangan itu. Langkah itu katanya, dikawal menerusi injap pelepasan bagi mengekalkan aliran minimum asas di sungai yang mana pengurangan tahap air di hulu dapat diperhatikan.
“Oleh kerana ia mengambil sedikit masa sebelum projek elektrik hidro Bakun boleh beroperasi pada tahap maksimum, pelepasan air limpahan secara biasa akan dilakukan bagi meningkatkan tahap air di bahagian hulu sungai bagi membantu pengangkutan air beroperasi di Sungai Rajang terutama di bahagian antara Kapit dan Belaga ketika musim kemarau,” katanya.
Sarawak Hidro berkata, kajian hidrologi di bahagian hulu sungai yang dilakukan di bawah Penilaian Mendalam Impak Alam Sekitar menunjukkan bahawa bakal terdapat pengurangan tahap air di Kapit masing-masing antara 0.25 meter hingga 2.6 meter ketika aliran tinggi dan perlahan.
Justeru katanya, menerusi kaedah dilaksanakan itu, sistem pengangkutan air di Kapit masih boleh digunakan bagi penumpang bot ekspres ketika musim kemarau, tetapi pergerakan di bahagian hilir Kapit ke Belaga tidak boleh digunakan kecuali bagi penumpang bot laju kecil.
“Pengangkutan sungai menggunakan bot ekspres dari Kapit ke hilir sungai yang ketika ini terganggu semasa musim kemarau akan boleh digunakan sepanjang tahun apabila projek empangan elektrik hidro Bakun ini beroperasi sepenuhnya menerusi air yang dilepaskan daripada limpahan empangan,” katanya.
BH 15/10/2010
14.10.2010 : Getah cecah RM11.90 sekilogram
Harga catat sejarah, pekebun kecil RISDA mampu peroleh RM3,000 sebulan
Peningkatan harga getah SMR 20 secara konsisten dengan mencatat paras tertinggi RM11.90 sekilogram pagi kelmarin membolehkan 380,000 pekebun kecil RISDA memperoleh pendapatan sehingga RM3,000 sebulan.
Pengerusi RISDA, Tan Sri Rahim Tamby Chik, berkata kenaikan itu juga dijangka menarik perhatian orang ramai menoreh getah secara sambilan untuk menambah pendapatan, walaupun kegiatan menoreh getah semakin kurang popular sekarang.
"Pada 2008, apabila harga getah RM10 sekilogram, ada kakitangan awam dan swasta sanggup mengambil cuti tahunan untuk menoreh getah dan ada yang bangun awal pagi menoreh dulu sebelum pergi kerja. Berita baik ini juga dapat menarik perhatian belia untuk menjadi penoreh getah moden yang berjaya memandangkan ketika ini pekebun kecil majoritinya berumur 55 tahun ke atas.
"Kenaikan harga getah dan pendapatan yang diperoleh pekebun kecil pada masa ini boleh menarik minat mereka daripada bekerja di pejabat," katanya selepas merasmikan Kelab Keusahawanan RISDA Pahang, di sini semalam.
Sementara itu, Rahim ketika dihubungi berkata setakat jam 5 petang semalam harga SMR 20 ditutup RM12.02 sekilogram, iaitu yang tertinggi dalam sejarah industri getah negara dan dijangka akan terus memberi manfaat kepada pekebun kecil. Katanya, berdasarkan harga semasa, pekebun kecil yang menjual getah sekerap mampu memperoleh 50 sen bagi setiap mangkuk susu getah yang dihasilkan dan memperoleh pendapatan sehingga RM170 sehari bagi setiap dua hektar kebun.
Pada tengah hari semalam, harga fizikal rasmi Lembaga Getah Malaysia untuk gred tayar SMR 20 mengukuh 31 sen kepada RM12.02 sekilogram, manakala susu getah pukal menambah 8.5 sen kepada RM7.74 sekilogram.
Harga penutup jualan tidak rasmi untuk gred tayar SMR 20 naik 27.5 sen kepada RM12.14 manakala susu getah pukal menokok 7.5 sen kepada RM7.78. Selain itu, Rahim meminta pekebun kecil sentiasa mengamalkan langkah berjimat-cermat memandangkan harga komoditi itu banyak dipengaruhi faktor ekonomi global.
Sehubungan itu, beliau berkata, pihaknya bercadang mewujudkan skim simpanan khas bagi pekebun kecil bagi membantu mereka untuk jangka masa panjang.
"Malah, ia bertujuan menggalakkan pekebun kecil berjinak-jinak dalam bidang perniagaan supaya tidak hanya bergantung kepada pendapatan menoreh getah," katanya.
BH15/10/2010
Peningkatan harga getah SMR 20 secara konsisten dengan mencatat paras tertinggi RM11.90 sekilogram pagi kelmarin membolehkan 380,000 pekebun kecil RISDA memperoleh pendapatan sehingga RM3,000 sebulan.
Pengerusi RISDA, Tan Sri Rahim Tamby Chik, berkata kenaikan itu juga dijangka menarik perhatian orang ramai menoreh getah secara sambilan untuk menambah pendapatan, walaupun kegiatan menoreh getah semakin kurang popular sekarang.
"Pada 2008, apabila harga getah RM10 sekilogram, ada kakitangan awam dan swasta sanggup mengambil cuti tahunan untuk menoreh getah dan ada yang bangun awal pagi menoreh dulu sebelum pergi kerja. Berita baik ini juga dapat menarik perhatian belia untuk menjadi penoreh getah moden yang berjaya memandangkan ketika ini pekebun kecil majoritinya berumur 55 tahun ke atas.
"Kenaikan harga getah dan pendapatan yang diperoleh pekebun kecil pada masa ini boleh menarik minat mereka daripada bekerja di pejabat," katanya selepas merasmikan Kelab Keusahawanan RISDA Pahang, di sini semalam.
Sementara itu, Rahim ketika dihubungi berkata setakat jam 5 petang semalam harga SMR 20 ditutup RM12.02 sekilogram, iaitu yang tertinggi dalam sejarah industri getah negara dan dijangka akan terus memberi manfaat kepada pekebun kecil. Katanya, berdasarkan harga semasa, pekebun kecil yang menjual getah sekerap mampu memperoleh 50 sen bagi setiap mangkuk susu getah yang dihasilkan dan memperoleh pendapatan sehingga RM170 sehari bagi setiap dua hektar kebun.
Pada tengah hari semalam, harga fizikal rasmi Lembaga Getah Malaysia untuk gred tayar SMR 20 mengukuh 31 sen kepada RM12.02 sekilogram, manakala susu getah pukal menambah 8.5 sen kepada RM7.74 sekilogram.
Harga penutup jualan tidak rasmi untuk gred tayar SMR 20 naik 27.5 sen kepada RM12.14 manakala susu getah pukal menokok 7.5 sen kepada RM7.78. Selain itu, Rahim meminta pekebun kecil sentiasa mengamalkan langkah berjimat-cermat memandangkan harga komoditi itu banyak dipengaruhi faktor ekonomi global.
Sehubungan itu, beliau berkata, pihaknya bercadang mewujudkan skim simpanan khas bagi pekebun kecil bagi membantu mereka untuk jangka masa panjang.
"Malah, ia bertujuan menggalakkan pekebun kecil berjinak-jinak dalam bidang perniagaan supaya tidak hanya bergantung kepada pendapatan menoreh getah," katanya.
BH15/10/2010
20101013
Palm oil exports to hit RM65.2 bln this year
Malaysia’s palm oil exports are expected to reach RM65.2 billion this year from RM49.5 billion in 2009.
Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Tan Sri Bernard Dompok said the forecast was based on the growth in output and export volumes.
In the first nine months, palm oil production rose two per cent to 11.10 million tonnes while exports increased nearly 6 per cent to 10.94 million tonnes compared with the corresponding period last year.
The palm oil industry’s rapid advancement has contributed towards the country’s economic development and prosperity through growth in output and exports, supported by competitive market prices.
The government had allocated RM50 million through MPOB to encourage smallholders’ involvement in sustainable palm oil production.
BP 12/10/10
Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Tan Sri Bernard Dompok said the forecast was based on the growth in output and export volumes.
In the first nine months, palm oil production rose two per cent to 11.10 million tonnes while exports increased nearly 6 per cent to 10.94 million tonnes compared with the corresponding period last year.
The palm oil industry’s rapid advancement has contributed towards the country’s economic development and prosperity through growth in output and exports, supported by competitive market prices.
The government had allocated RM50 million through MPOB to encourage smallholders’ involvement in sustainable palm oil production.
BP 12/10/10
Still at 80s mind : The granny authoress salute
Yong putting her signature on one of her books.Eight is enough although 10 will be perfect, says 80-plus Angela Yong who could have gone on to write more books but for a fall she suffered recently.
AT 84, and way beyond her retirement age, Angela Yong Mee King could have taken life easy and spent time with her grandchildren.
Instead, the indomitable octogenarian chose to write books and it was this passion that had earned her the record as one the oldest female authors in the country.
In all, she has written eight story books, including one in Mandarin titled One Thing Good But Not Both and another in English called 160 Foochow Proverbs and Idioms (solely on Foochow proverbs). Some of the idioms are still commonly used.
The rest of her books are Through The Back Door (her first published in 1997); Different Lives, Different Fates; Green Beans and Talking Babies; Sarawak Rojak, 888 — All the Way Prosper and Inai Maram
These books carry the Rejang flavours of yesteryear and all are true stories that she either heard of or encountered when she was young.
Her direct writing style from the ordinary citizen’s perspective also paints a convincing picture of the period covered by her narratives.
For instance, Through the Back Door told of the time she migrated here from China in the 1920s. She retraced the events in her life with a keen sense of irony and humour.
This book is more than an autobiography as it chronicles a time in Sarawak history through the eye of the man in the street. It depicts the struggles of the common men and women, their courage and hardships — from clearing the jungles in the early years to facing the horrors of the Japanese Occupation.
Inai Maram is her latest work — a title she chose as a tribute to the people of Kanowit who called her by that name in the early 60s.
Inai, according to Yong, means mother in Iban while Maram is a type of citrus fruit. And because the people have a deep respect for her, they nickname her Inai Maram.
She has actually dreamt of producing 10 books but a fall two months ago put paid to that. She now has to stop writing altogether.
“There is no way for me to continue. The terrible fall had not only impeded my movement but also severely affected my health,” she told thesundaypost.
Yong said Inai Maram would be her last book due to her health and old age.
“Eight is enough although 10 will be perfect. But as far as my health is concerned, that’s about it. I’m not going to write anymore books.”
Recalling the accident, she said she was walking towards the back patio of her kitchen to turn off the tap when she slipped.
“It was about midnight — I heard the sound of dripping water and since it was late, I didn’t bother calling my daughter. As I was walking towards the back, I slipped. Luckily, I managed to grab hold of a big container nearby to cushion the fall.”
Since then, she said her health had deteriorated and she could no longer concentrate on her writing.
“Initially, the fall only affected my movement. Now, my hearing is worsening and my vision also getting blurry.”
Even though her heart is willing, Yong admits her concentration power is dwindling.
Born in 1926 in Nanping, China, she arrived in Sibu with her family including two siblings, when she was barely one year old.
Two years later, her rubber-tapper father died of tuberculosis and she together with her siblings, were given to the late Mother Alphonsus for adoption.
Mother Alphonsus was head of Sacred Heart Convent Mission School (now SMK St Elizabeth School) and under her care and guidance, Yong grew up to be both educated and humble.
Those were the difficult years. Yong recalled she would occasionally follow one of the Sisters to the town to buy rations. Along the way, she would stop at shops and recite all the English words in the pictures hanging on the wall — and if she made a mistake, the Sister would correct her.
“Once, when I told the Sister it was 11 o’clock and the half, she corrected me and said it was half past 11.”
One time, she was bitten by a mosquito but did not know how to describe the effect, so the Sister taught her it was called ‘itchy’.
Gradually through constant reading, she acquired a good command of English.
Yong only studied up to Standard Five at Sacred Heart Convent Mission School. She landed a teaching job at St Francis Xavier Primary School, Kanowit, when she was about 20.
One of her students was former Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Tan Sri Leo Moggie.
In a preface on one of her books, Moggie described her as a responsible teacher who would go to great length to ensure the success of her pupils.
“It’s very easy to take for granted many of the things we enjoy today. By reading her little books, one feels a sense of gratitude for not having to go through the hard times, especially the Japanese Occupation.”
Moggie pointed out that the Japanese Occupation was something people of his generation and those younger had no direct experience of although they did hear about the difficult times.
He also commended the Catholic Mission for providing education and basic medical facilities to needy even up to the late 1950s.
Yong who grew up in Kanowit, married James Hii Mee Chiong and they had 13 children — eight daughters and five sons, all born in Kanowit.
Yong’s interests in writing story books came quite by coincidence when she was about 70. She was reading a story on the history of Nyonya by an author-friend when she suddenly felt like writing a book.
“I was thinking since my friend could write a book, so could I.”
Encouraged by children, she decided to give it a try and within months, came up with her first book Through The Back Door.
“There wasn’t much fanfare when my first book was launched. But somehow, it spurred me to write more.”
At first, it was challenging as she had to ask her children for advice and to help with the translation.
She also had to learn the art of writing simple English.
Yong said she drew inspiration from Father Muhren of the Roman Catholic Church.
“Father Muhren often told me to write my little stories using simple English — he said not all readers liked flowery English. That was the best advice.”
BP 10/10/10
Junga — a brave soldier forgotten
ONLY PRIDE: Junga Kassim showing the Bentara Angkatan Tentera (BAT) medal, the only medal received throughout his 21 years of service in the militaryThe Ex-Servicemen Association Sarawak Branch was shocked and could not believe that an ailing ex-soldier who was almost killed in the battlefield while serving the country was left to suffer all by himself without anyone coming to his aid.
The association’s treasurer-general Capt (Rtd) Mohd Handeri Hashim said that it was very strange and it should not happen when the government had repeatedly announced that the welfare of ex-servicemen who had sacrificed their own lives to defend the country would be well taken care of.
“The policy of the government in giving special attention to less fortunate former soldiers and not giving any help to an ailing ex-serviceman who almost got killed in an operation is something unbelievable. I can’t believe that and I will personally look into the matter,” Handeri said yesterday.
He told The Borneo Post this at the presentation of minor rural project (MRP) grants from the Ministry of Social Development and Urbanisation to various non-governmental organisations (NGOs) where the association was among the recipients.
Handeri was commenting on the case of Junga Kassim, 56, who could hardly walk for the past two years following the recurrence of an injury on his left leg sustained during an ambush by the communists in Gubir, Perak on April 7, 1975.
Met at his residence recently, Junga said he was supposed to be admitted to the Sarawak General Hospital today (Tuesday) and undergo a second operation tomorrow.
According to him, the injury returned after he was forced to work extra hard in the paddy fields besides gardening after his retirement in 1994 so as to support his three school-going children.
Junga said he had no other choice but to struggle to make ends meet as his monthly pension of RM320 and RM107 from the medical board was too little to survive on.
He had written to the Veterans Affairs Department (JHEV) for help, including applying for a study incentive for his eldest son when he achieved 4As in his SPM but all were rejected.
After his pleas to the department were not entertained, Junga was forced to work hard to earn a living until he could not move because of the pain in his left leg.
The Borneo Post had a one-to-one interview with Junga recently on the April 7, 1975 Perak incident where he recounted that seven soldiers were killed and 10 wounded, including him.
Thrown into a ravine by a bomb explosion, Junga ended up pinned under the bodies of two fellow soldiers, one barely alive with his intestines dangling down to the ground and the other dead and bleeding.
Junga’s one fateful day in the army will be published in the next issue of thesundaypost on Oct 17
BP 13/10/10
World’s tiniest frog found in Matang, Kuching, Sarawak
DWARF SPECIES: Measuring between 10.6 and 12.8mm, the Microhyla nepenthicola is the smallest frog in the world.— Photos courtesy of Dr Indraniel Das, Unimas FOR any city-slicker, the noise of the jungle is just that — noise. To herpetologist Dr Indraneil Das, each sound is as unique as its owner.
It’s this extensive knowledge of frog-calls that brought him and his co-discoverer Dr Alexander Haas face to face with what has been hailed around the world as the tiniest frog ever found — the Microhyla nepenthicola.
Much like the small Whoville community in Dr Seuss, the M. nepenthicola calls the simple Nepenthes Ampullaria pitcher plant home — which is where part of its name derives from.
It feeds on the leaf litter collected in the pitcher, lays its eggs, hatches and completes its life cycle there.
Its unique call was what attracted Dr Das and Dr Haas when they went to Kubah National Park in Matang, on Sept 4, 2004 on a field trip with his students.
“I’d never heard that call before. At first, I thought it was a different frog entirely,” Dr Das told thesundaypost.
Where scientists had previously mistaken the call for that of a juvenile, the fact that it was making ‘advertisement’ calls, told Dr Das this was an adult.
“Only adult males make mating calls. Of course, there are other kinds of calls to mark their territory or distress calls to alert other frogs of a predator nearby.”
This kind of call, according to Dr Das, shows that some species of frogs are capable of altruistic behavior.
“Even if they may die, at least, they save other frogs in the area.”
It takes about 10 days for the tadpoles to morph into adults. Even though they can be seen with the naked eye, they only measure 3-31/2 mm and bury themselves in the sediments at the bottom of the pitcher to hide from predators.
When they’re adults, they measure between a diminutive 10.6 to 12.8 mm, hardly bigger than a teardrop. But what they lack in size, they make up for in volume.
Adult males have a harsh rasping call that can be heard as early as dusk all year around, except on the driest of nights. And much like its call, it has a huge jump which makes it all the harder to catch.
“We had to make several trips. Since it has cryptic camouflage, it was almost invisible to spot where it landed,” Dr Das said.
So he and Dr Haas worked with what they had in hand. Laying diapers in a patch around the pitcher plants, they disturbed the nearby foliage and flushed the frogs onto it, catching several of them.
While the microhylid may be newly discovered, it’s not in danger of extinction yet. Nepenthes Ampullaria grow profusely in Bornean heath or Kerangas forests where the soil is moist.
“You can probably find the Ampullaria along slopes or patchy and dense forest edges where there is nutrient-poor soil,” Dr Das explained.
Between studying its habitat and growth pattern, and comparing it with other species, including a 100-year-old specimen collected previously, it may have taken a number of years for co-discoverers Dr Das and Dr Haas to verify that it is a unique species but the rest of the world has fallen in love with it overnight. It has certainly put Borneo on the map. The first three days after they announced their discovery to the world, Dr Das’ phone was ringing off the hook. So much so he had to turn it off.
“I have also been receiving a lot of crazy emails, one of which was from a guy who hates automobiles,” he said, explaining that since his research was supported by the Volkswagen Foundation, a lot of people mistook the Foundation for the car manufacturer.
Despite its name, the Volkswagen Foundation is a non-profit organisation that funds projects from all disciplines.
“When it comes to ‘fans’, you can never predict what’s going to happen,” he added.
After the discovery of the tiniest ‘Old World Frog’, Dr Das isn’t sitting on his laurels. His ongoing project is Conservation International’s ‘Search for Lost Frogs’ expedition which spans 20 countries over five continents.
Over the years, a number of environmental factors, including loss of habitat, climate change and illness have caused some frog species to decline or go extinct, making the expedition all the more crucial. Dr Das is now with the Institute of Biodiversity and Environmental Conservation at the Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) while Dr Haas is with the Biozentrum Grindel und Zoologisches Museum in Hamburg.
BP 13/10/10
AirAsia named Best Asian Low-Cost Carrier
AirAsia has been named the Best Asian Low-Cost Carrier by TTG, Asia-Pacific’s leading travel news publisher.
AirAsia was unanimously named for the award by the readers of TTG Asia, TTG China, TTGmice, TTG-BTmice China and ttgasia eDaily who cast 48,000 votes in a poll held from June to August.
“The award reflects the airlines’ popularity among travel trade insiders and travelling public,” it said in a statement yesterday.
The award was received by AirAsia chairman Datuk Aziz Bakar at the 21st Annual TTG Travel Awards 2010 ceremony and gala dinner in Centara Grand and Bangkok Convention Centre at CentralWorld in Bangkok.
BP 13/10/10
AirAsia was unanimously named for the award by the readers of TTG Asia, TTG China, TTGmice, TTG-BTmice China and ttgasia eDaily who cast 48,000 votes in a poll held from June to August.
“The award reflects the airlines’ popularity among travel trade insiders and travelling public,” it said in a statement yesterday.
The award was received by AirAsia chairman Datuk Aziz Bakar at the 21st Annual TTG Travel Awards 2010 ceremony and gala dinner in Centara Grand and Bangkok Convention Centre at CentralWorld in Bangkok.
BP 13/10/10
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