Assemblymen wears RM4,000 outfit

Chong (DAP – Kota Sentosa) tried to seek clarification from Speaker Datuk Mohd Asfia Awang Nasar  whether the ceremonial outfit for the House was paid for by assemblymen themselves or the government. The full outfit reportedly costs RM4,000 and none of the six DAP representatives have made it. 

Asfia, however, did not allow the question to be asked.  

The Star

Fewer cops on the take

The Anti-Corruption Agency investigated fewer police officers and other ranks last year than in the previous two years, the Dewan Negara heard. The slogan, I Hate Corruption, introduced by the police last year had contributed to the decline, said Internal Security Deputy Minister Datuk Mohd Johari Baharum said. 

……..

Replying to Senator Fatanah Ahmad, he said 56 police officers and other ranks policemen were investigated for corrupt practices last year, compared with 78 in 2004 and 85 in 2003. 

The Star

Badawi lashes out at Musa for destroying environment

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi lashed out at Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Musa Aman for going ahead with the RM4.5mil clubhouse project at Pulau Sipadan despite his objection. “I was very angry with Musa. I told him not to build it. I said so many corals are dying and he promised that he would look into the project,” said Abdullah, who openly expressed his disappointment and frustration with Musa.

The Star

Read also Musa’s guarantee on the logging

Adnan says not realistic for Malaysia to have woman prime minister

It may be quite a while yet before Malaysia has a woman prime minister.

That was the opinion of Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob, who felt that the country was not ready for a female premier.

He said while he supported gender equality, women’s organisations had to “be realistic”.

“I fully support the idea that men and women are equal, but those
striving towards this must not ask for unreasonable things,” he said in
his speech at a seminar attended by more than 1,000 women at the
Diamond Jubilee Hall here.

At a Press conference later, Adnan said the Malaysian society was not
ready to have a woman at the helm of the country’s administration.

“That is the reality. Women should fight for their rights, but in
doing so, they should not, at least for now, ask for things which do
not make sense, such as wanting to be prime minister.”

New Straits Times – Malaysia News Online

MCA blasts Distributive Trade guidelines

The MCA Youth Economic Bureau has hit out against the Domestic Trade
and Consumer Affairs Ministry’s proposed trade guidelines that will
affect some 400 types of retail businesses.

Describing some of the requirements of the guidelines as
“ludicrous”, the bureau’s chief, Datuk Henry Wong, said the matter
should be viewed seriously as it would have far reaching implications.

He objected to the ministry’s proposed Guidelines to Foreign
Participation in the Distributive Trades as it was contrary to the
spirit of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and appeared restrictive,
especially to young entrepreneurs.

The guidelines aim to regulate the businesses that have at least a 15% foreign equity.

According to Wong, the guidelines states that all retailers,
wholesalers, and specialty stores would be asked to restructure to meet
a minimum 30% bumiputra requirement, to raise its paid-up capital to at
least RM1 million and to ensure the composition of the directors and
employees reflect the racial composition of the country.

“The requirement that the composition of the directors, managers and
employee structure reflect the racial composition is also ludicrous,”
he said in a statement today July 24, 2006).

Wong said the guidelines was contrary to the spirit of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), to which Malaysia was a signatory.

“It is understood that to be part of the global trade nowadays, we
can’t shift policies from liberal to non-liberal – this is literally
reversing the traffic,” Wong said, adding that the bureau would take up
the issue when it meets on Wednesday (July 26, 2006).

“We need a clear stand on this because among the Barisan Nasional component parties, we have already agreed that there should not be enforced micro-restructuring.

“We are here to grow new businesses together,” said Wong.

Souce: The Sun

MPAJ solves 90% of complaints

THERE were 142 complaints received during the Public Problems Inventory Dialogue at Menara MPAJ on July 20.

Dr Khir said there were a number of complaints involving poor drainage systems and potholes, which would cost millions of ringgit to upgrade and repair, but the government would take action according to its importance.

He also said that all the complaints received monthly would be monitored and the government’s aim was to solve 80% of them, adding that it usually had a record of solving 90% of them.

Dr Khir all ears at Ampang dialogue

Pulic Transport glitch

Hundreds of commuters were stranded when the Putra LRT stopped due to a computer glitch along the Kelana Jaya line.

At least four trains came to a halt between stations when the system broke down at 6.16pm yesterday.

The most affected stations were between KL Sentral and Ampang Park, and it took more than an hour to evacuate passengers.

Trains at other stations were able to proceed to their destinations as soon as the system resumed at about 7.15pm.

The problem resulted in at least 30 trains bunching during the evening rush hour in the central business district. The system returned to normal at about 8.30pm.

………

Many passengers complained that the company did not provide any contingencies or safety measures for such emergencies.

“There was no electricity or air in the cabin. Some passengers had to force open the doors, disregarding the constant reminders on the train by Rapid KL representatives not to do so,” he said.

Rapid KL chief operating officer (Rail) Nor Hassan said they had to deal with two problems.

“First, we had a computer glitch. The system was working but at a slower pace. This is not a major problem as trains were still in operation.

“The only setback was that we were not able to track the trains on our computer monitor,” he added.

Nor said the second challenge they faced was at 7pm, when a stalled train between Dang Wangi and Masjid Jamek stations had a “door problem”.

Computer glitch affects LRT service

Najib approved UK sports center concept only

The cost of the proposed high performance sports training centre in London will be reasonable and the Government wants local athletes to get into a competitive environment while training there.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, who chairs the Cabinet committee on sports, said the concept of the centre had been approved but details had yet to be worked out.

“The proposal is under the 9th Malaysia Plan. No amount has been approved by the Cabinet committee pending our discussion with the Finance Ministry,” Najib said when asked on the status of the proposed RM490mil project, which had come under fire from various quarters.

“We will only allow an amount that is considered reasonable. Don’t worry, when we decide, we will take into account the people’s views.”

Cost of centre will be realistic

Read the approval history:

Najib denies approving RM490m UK sports center, shifts responsibility to Ministry of Youth and Sports

who approved the UK sports center

The economic status of the Malays will decline ….

The economic status of the Malays will decline if
there is no strategic, effective and clear direction of their future
amid globalisation and the opening up of the country’s economy. 

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak warned that if market
forces were allowed to continue to dictate, the Malays would be further
pressured. 

“It does not mean we will be unfair to the non-Malays. We will continue
with policies fair to all races as I believe in balanced progress for
all, especially in the economic sector,” he said in his speech during a
meeting with the Federation of Malay Economic Bodies (Gabem) here
yesterday.

Needed – new clear direction for Malays

Read UMNO must take on itself first

Samy personally monitors 9MP implementation

Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu said Wednesday he would
personally monitor the implementation of all infrastructure projects
under the Ninth Malaysia Plan (9MP) to ensure their success.

“I will personally monitor the implementation through the
ministry-level Special Committee on Monitoring of 9MP Infrastructure
Projects chaired by me,” he said in a statement issued here.

…..

He said he had instructed PWD director-general Prof Datuk Dr Wahid Omar
to ensure that the tender documents for all infrastructure projects
under the 9MP are issued on or before June 30 next year.

“I will ask the Works Ministry secretary-general Datuk Syed Jamal Syed
Jaafar to hold discussions with his counterparts in the other
ministries on the infrastructure projects that will be entrusted to the
PWD for implementation,” he said.

Syed Jamal would also be asked to instruct the PWD and the
Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) to advertise all
information pertaining to the tenders for infrastructure projects in
the local newspapers and their respective websites as soon as possible,
he added.

Malaysian National News Agency :: BERNAMA

Read Samy’s  adherence to timelines