Education Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin says the education department should look into Makrof Abdul Mutalib, husband of Tenang PAS candidate Normala Sudirman's medical leave claim.
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Muhyiddin: Look into sick leave of PAS candidate's husband
Education Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin says the education department should look into Makrof Abdul Mutalib, husband of Tenang PAS candidate Normala Sudirman's medical leave claim.
PKR says Najib more concerned with Anwar than own duties
PKR flayed Datuk Seri Najib Razak today for “abusing” diplomatic channels to allay his fears over his political foes’ source of election funds when he had ignored reports on the Malaysia’s staggering illicit fund outflows.
In a statement today, the party said it was shocking that the prime minister had so easily dismissed Global Financial Integrity’s (GFI) recent report on Malaysia’s RM888 billion in illicit capital leakages.
Finance ministers in any other country, it added, would have been alarmed by the sum.
Mediation fails between Bi Anne father and mom
The mediation process in the case of 11-year-old Low Bi-Anne, who is caught in a custody battle, has failed to reach a settlement.
Azmin taunts Najib over highway toll freeze
Azmin Ali has claimed victory in Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s decision to freeze and abolish the tolls for several highways today, saying that it was a concession on the part of the prime minister that Pakatan Rakyat’s reform proposals are workable.
The PKR deputy president also suggested that Najib’s refusal to participate in a debate over the latter’s allegations that the Pakatan Rakyat reforms would bankrupt the country is another sign of admission on the part of the prime minister.
“Now that the prime minister has quietly conceded on the practicality and economic viability of Buku Jingga’s promises, I can fully understand his refusal to take up the challenge for a debate with Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim,” said Azmin (picture).
Pakatan launches FT manifesto
Pakatan Rakyat (PR) announced its manifesto today aimed defending its parliamentary seats in Kuala Lumpur following the launch of the coalition's 100-day reform plans last month.
In the 2008 general election, PR captured all 10 parliamentary seats in the federal territory.
The manifesto is seen as PR’s strategy in countering Barisan Nasional’s Greater KL/Klang Valley National Key Economic Area (NKEA) plan.
The manifesto will concentrate on the economic disparities among the urban population and the increased cost of living.
PR lawmakers said salaries had only risen by 4.7 per cent while fresh graduates in KL have an average starting salary of only RM1,600.
They also added that the price of a home has increased to an average of RM500,000 which has led to an increase in the urban poor population.
1Malaysia celebrate Chinese New Year in Labis
The 'Malam Mesra 1 Malaysia Sambutan Tahun Baru Cina', which was held just 600 metres away at Dataran Labis and featured local artistes and deejays from national Mandarin radio station AiFM, attracted only some 500 locals.
The festive concert organised by the Pekan Labis village security and development committee (JKKK) and other local Chinese NGOs, had invited MCA president Dr Chua Soi Lek, deputy president Liow Tiong Lai and Labis MP Chua Tee Yong as VIPs.
tenang by election 280111 fireworks at 1 malaysia new year partyMCA campaign leaflets lambasting PAS' Islamic state agenda were distributed during the concert.
Laptops, mobile phones and hampers were among the prizes given away in a lucky draw. Chua also handed out letters of compliment, signed by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, to seven students from SJK(C) Labis who scored 7As in the UPSR last year.
The crowd was entertained to two rounds of two-minute fireworks as a curtain raiser and to mark the end of the concert.
In a short speech, Chua reiterated the MCA stance that voting for the PAS candidate would be seen as supporting an Islamic state.
Discounts on toll rates
Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak announced today that concession agreements for three tolled highways will be restructured to reduce the burden of the people.
Travellers using the PLUS Expressway on Feb 3 and 4 will get a 20% toll rebate between 7am and 11.59pm – and a 30% rebate between midnight and 7am in conjunction of Chinese New Year.
However, PLUS Expressway Bhd corporate communications assistant general manager Khalila Mohd Talhar said motorists must first obtain a PLUSmiles card to enjoy the rebates.
Khalila said that PLUSmiles members were also entitled to a 5% toll rebate for their total monthly toll usage of RM200 and above on the North-South Expressway, ELITE, BKE and Linkedua highways on other days.
Traffic during the Chinese New Year is expected to swell to at least 1.4 million vehicles daily.
Hisham: Cops probing Anwar's 'terror links'
Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said that he has issued an order for the police to investigate PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim's alleged links with international terrorists.
He claims that a report by CNN had implicated Anwar in having links with terrorist groups. He however admits that he had yet to read the report.
Merlimau state seat by-election on March 6
The Election Commission (EC) fixed Feb 26 for nomination day for the Merlimau state seat by-election, and if there is a contest, polling will be on March 6.
EC Chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof said the EC had received official notification from the Melaka State Assembly Speaker on Jan 21 concerning the vacancy in the Merlimau state seat following the death of the incumbent Assemblyman, Datuk Mohamad Hidhir Abu Hassan on the previous day.
"Subsequently, the EC had held a special meeting on the matter tonight and decided that a by-election must be held within 60 days of the date of the vacancy," he said in a statement, released here tonight.
Ali to head Merlimau by-elections operations
Barisan Nasional Deputy Chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin says Malacca Chief Minister Datuk Wira Ali Rustam will head the Merlimau by-election’s operations.
Man receives over 130 nasty calls on poodle abuse case
Businessman Johnson Kang , 44, had the shock of his life when he received a phone call on Wednesday accusing him of abusing a poodle.
Kang’s wife Christina Ng, 40, said her husband told the caller that he had the wrong number.
That was the beginning of a nightmare for Kang and Ng who live and work in Johor Baru.
“Johnson has received more than 130 calls since, with some even threatening to kill him for allegedly abusing the dog,” said Ng.
Meanwhile, Kang, who is an SPCA Malacca life member, said the calls started coming in after someone created a Twitter account with his phone number under the name of an individual believed to be the one who had abused the poodle called Sushi.
“I don’t know who did it. But I have lodged a police report and I’ve also gone to the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission,” he added.
A YouTube video showing a man using brute force to train the poodle to stand on its hind legs recently has raised public ire.
Many people tracked down Kang through the Twitter account created with his number, but bearing the alleged perpetrator’s name.
Kang, who owns two dogs adopted from the SPCA, said he too wants the culprit caught and be dealt with.
Mum wants Bi-Anne with her
After being separated from her daughter Low Bi-Anne for eight years, London-based restaurant manager Tan Siew Siew is hoping to be reunited with her soon.
After being separated from her daughter Low Bi-Anne for eight years, London-based restaurant manager Tan Siew Siew is hoping to be reunited with her soon.
“I love Bi-Anne most dearly and can’t wait to begin a new life with her,” Tan in an e-mail interview.
Since she won custody of Bi-Anne in 2008, Tan, 38, has been checking out the primary schools near her flat in London.
“I want to provide her with all motherly love and care that she has not had previously,” said Tan, breaking her silence over the tussle with her ex-husband Low Swee Siong, 41, for custody of Bi-Anne.
On Friday, the Court of Appeal ordered for a full hearing of an appeal in the custody battle of the 11-year-old next month after a closed-door video conferencing mediation between Bi-Anne, her real-estate negotiator father Low and Tan reached a deadlock.
Tan expressed hope that the dispute could be settled quickly.
Royal Commission of Teoh Beng Hock to wrap up by April 25
The Royal Commission of Inquiry into Teoh Beng Hock's Death in Custody is expected to wrap up its inquest and present its report to the Agong by April 25 at the latest.
teoh beng hock royal commission first meeting 290111 james foongCommission chairperson James Foong said they will conduct the inquiry from Monday to Friday every week starting this Feb 14.
"According to our calculations, the inquiry must be completed and the report handed to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong by April 25. That means we don't have much time," he said at a press conference after the commission's first meeting at the Kuala Lumpur courts complex in Jalan Duta today.
teoh beng hock royal commission first meeting 290111 james foongCommission chairperson James Foong said they will conduct the inquiry from Monday to Friday every week starting this Feb 14.
"According to our calculations, the inquiry must be completed and the report handed to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong by April 25. That means we don't have much time," he said at a press conference after the commission's first meeting at the Kuala Lumpur courts complex in Jalan Duta today.
Polling day: Live updates - Voters gather in heavy downpour
08.25am: Groups of police officers stationed outside polling areas are helping to direct traffic slowly building up in the heavy rain.
8.20am: Several voters enter Sek Kebangsaan Tenang where PAS candidate Normala Sudirman is expected to make her first visit. Normala will not be casting a vote as she is not registered in the constituency.
08.10am: First stream of voters arrive at Sek Kg Paya Merah where Barisan Nasional candidate Mohd Azahar Ibrahim will cast his vote.
08.00am: All polling stations open.
07.50am: Groups of supporters and voters are already gathering outside some of the polling stations within the Tenang constituency.
07.45am: It’s raining heavily in Tenang.
TENANG: It’s polling day in the Tenang state seat which is a straight fight between Barisan Nasional’s Mohd Azahar Ibrahim and PAS’ Normala Sudirman.
Polling begins at 8am and will end at 5pm. Official results are expected to be out before 8pm.
There are 14,753 voters including 18 postal voters, in the constituency.
They are made up of 47.5% Malay, Chinese (39%), Indian (12%) and others at 1.5%.
The Tenang state seat fell vacant following the death of Datuk Sulaiman Taha on Dec 17.
Sulaiman had won the seat by a majority of 2,492 votes in the 2008 general election, defeating PAS’ Md Saim Siran.
This time, Barisan wants to increase its majority to above 5,000 votes. Pakatan is all out to cut the 2008 majority. The other state seat in the area is Bekok, held by Tan Kok Hong, also of Barisan.
The MP is Chua Tee Yong, who is the son of MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek.
Commission of Inquiry into Teoh's death to report to King
The Commission of Inquiry into Teoh Beng Hock’s death will present its report to the King on April 25. The proceedings is set to start on Feb 14.
BN can win Tenang by 3,000 votes, says poll
Election Commission officials check the ballot papers for tomorrow’s polling in Tenang.
A survey by the Ilham Centre released today revealed that Barisan Nasional (BN) would retain the Tenang seat tomorrow with a majority of around 3,000 votes.
The survey, conducted between January 26 until yesterday, also showed that PAS would not succeed in getting more Chinese support as expected.
Gobalakrishnan quits PKR
Renegade PKR leader N. Gobalakrishnan today quit all party posts, and said he would focus on a new organisation, after months of agitating party leaders.
The announcement by the Padang Serai MP was made this morning on micro-blogging site Twitter.
“Good morning to all Malaysians. I hereby resign from all PKR party posts. I will continue my work through a new NGO,” Gobalakrishnan said.
No drought for campaigning at Tenang despite wet weather
While the incessant rain is hampering the last day of campaigning for the two Tenang by-election candidates, their machinery hasn’t suffered much drought with regards to creativity.
In a clever attempt to woo Chinese voters, Teresa Teng’s classic favourite ‘The Moon Represents my Heart’ is the background music for a slide-show of PAS candidate Normala Sudirman meeting with Tenang constituents during her campaign trail.
The last line of the song chorus, which is accompanied with subtitles, says: “Bulan melambangkan cinta saya" (the moon represents my love).
This slide-show is a common sight around Tenang and is usually played before ceramahs.
Normala, 38 a former teacher who is PAS Labis Muslimat chief and mother to a 13-year old daughter, and two sons aged 10 and eight, resigned from her job in December to serve PAS full time as a state representative in Johor.
Cikgu Mala, as she is affectionately known, has taken her campaigning efforts a notch down today.
Tenang polling results announcement by 8pm
Election Commission Chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof says, the announcement for the Tenang state by-election result this Sunday is expected by 8pm.
Size of BN majority only surprise in Tenang poll
Polling for the Tenang by-election opens at 8 this morning with the size of Azahar Ibrahim’s majority over PAS’s Normala Sudirman being the only surprise in the Barisan Nasional (BN) stronghold state of Johor.
PAS and their Pakatan Rakyat (PR) colleagues have faced an uphill battle in the country’s 14th by-election since Election 2008 but they hope to cut BN’s majority as an inspiration of possible snap polls later this year.
Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has set a 5,000 majority target but DAP’s Lim Kit Siang said PR would score a moral victory if they could limit BN to below the 2,492 majority received in the 2008 general elections.
PR is hoping for more than 55 per cent of the vote from the Chinese, who form 39 per cent of the electorate while BN has campaigned to keep a majority of the Malay votes, especially the 3,800 from the three Felda schemes in the state seat.
Monday, January 3, 2011
Gender segregation bid at New Year do slammed
The Kedah government has come under fire for trying to impose gender segregation at its state-level New Year’s eve countdown celebration in Sungai Petani.
Kedah MCA chairman Datuk Chong Itt Chew said he received many complaints from revellers who were unhappy that men and women were “advised” to sit separately during the gathering near the clock tower at Jalan Ibrahim.
He said a large LED screen had displayed words advising couples not to sit together but to sit in the arrangement which segregated men and women.
Speaker mum on amending Selangor constitution
Teng said the matter was between Khalid and him
Selangor state assembly Speaker Datuk Teng Chang Khim refused to comment today on Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim’s call for an emergency sitting to amend state laws to allow Selangor to appoint its own top civil servants.
Khalid’s Pakatan Rakyat (PR) government does not, however, have the necessary two-thirds majority as they only control 35 out of the 54 votes — including Teng’s — making it difficult to make amendments to enable the state ruler and the mentri besar have a say in top state civil posts.
“At this point of time, I do not want to comment on anything concerning the state secretary, I am not saying anything. The matter is between me and the MB, not with the media. I will talk when I am ready,” Teng told The Malaysian Insider.
Today, state ruler Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah acknowledged the fact that he has no power in accepting or rejecting any appointments made by the Public Service Commission.
Khalid had revealed earlier today that the Sultan had agreed with the state government that previous amendments to the state constitution had effectively “transferred” all power of appointment of the state secretary to Putrajaya.
Reproductive health and social education module for NS trainees
The long-deliberated reproductive health and social education module will be introduced in the National Service Training Programme in May.
Aussie scientists in bid to wipe out dengue fever
Australian scientists have developed a bacterium that will wipe out dengue fever.
The bacterium acts as a vaccine for mosquitoes, which could in turn stop the disease spreading in humans, the Australian Associated Press (AAP) reports.
Professor Scott O'Neill, from the University of Queensland, said he is "incredibly excited" as a 12-week field trial starts in the Cairns suburbs of Yorkeys Knob and Gordonvale in Queensland.
Samy Vellu begins special envoy duties
Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu, who assumed duties as Malaysia's special envoy, with ministerial rank, on infrastructure to India and South Asia on Saturday, will begin his tour of duty on Thursday, starting with New Delhi.
The former MIC president will be leading a 150-strong Malaysian Indian delegation to the ninth Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, an annual conference that brings together people of Indian origin from throughout the world, according to a statement from his office here Monday.
Khusrin: I have no political agenda
Newly appointed Selangor state secretary Datuk Mohd Khusrin Munawi says he has no personal or political agenda and will carry out his duties as a civil servant.
Speaking at his office at the state secretariat building today, he denied that his appointment, which has been marred by controversy, was part of the Barisan Nasional’s agenda to topple the Pakatan Rakyat state government.
"As an SUK (state secretary) I don’t have much power. The power lies with (state) exco to implement policies.
Nik Aziz confirms Christmas Eve meet with Najib
PAS spiritual advisor Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat today confirmed he met with the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, but refused to disclose what transpired at the Christmas Eve dinner.
The Kelantan mentri besar said the meeting was private in nature and should not be discussed publicly.
“There were discussions. It is not possible to meet the prime minister without discussing anything,” he was quoted as saying by Harakah Daily.
“I can’t reveal the content because it was a closed door meeting, we have to adhere to the rules when meeting senior leader, so how can I comment?” said Nik Aziz.
Wee: Honour the promise
Deputy Education Minister Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong wants the Selangor government to provide a piece of land to SRJK (C) Rasa as promised.
Khusrin barred from attending meetings
The Selangor government will not allow state secretary Datuk Mohd Khusrin Munawi (pix) to attend the state executive and economic council meetings as ex-officio.
Mentri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim said he will not witness Mohd Khusrin taking the oath of secrecy, which is necessary for the state secretary to sit in at these meetings.
The state government will convene an emergency state assembly meeting to amend the state constitution to return the power to appoint the state secretary, state financial officer and state legal adviser to the sultan and MB, Abdul Khalid said at a press conference today.
He said the state government will investigate the provisions of the laws to carry out these amendments. The whole process will take two to three weeks.
On the tasks that Mohd Khusrin would be able to carry out, Abdul Khalid said he would handle issues related to the district offices and land matters.
Khalid acting unconstitutionally, says BN lawyer
Umno lawyer Datuk Hafarizam Harun today said Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim has exceeded his authority in barring the new state secretary from carrying out his job, in a move he said could disrupt the state’s civil service.
The Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition’s legal advisor added that the MB was treading on dangerous ground by doing so and could be challenged in court.
“If it is true that the MB will stop the state secretary from being in the exco or legislative assembly sitting, my answer is that he has no power to do so because the power to sit [in on the meetings] is a constitutional power granted to the state secretary upon his appointment.
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