Putrajaya aborts plan to put PTPTN defaulters on bad credit list

Putrajaya agreed today to shelve the proposal to list PTPTN defaulters on Bank Negara’s bad credit list, bowing to widespread criticisms that the move would only add further strain on the livelihoods of Malaysia’s young graduates.

Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin confirmed the decision via his Facebook and Twitter accounts, saying Cabinet rejected the proposal during its weekly meeting this morning.

“Baru selesai mesyuarat Jemaah Menteri. Alhamdulillah, PTPTN tidak akan meneruskan cadangan untuk menyenaraikan peminjam dibawah CCRIS. Terima kasih pada PM & Menteri-menteri Pendidikan kerana mendengar suara-suara orang muda,” he wrote on Facebook.

[Translation: Just finished Cabinet meeting. Alhamdulillah, PTPTN will not proceed with the proposal to list borrowers on CCRIS. Thank you to PM and the ministers of Education for listening to the voices of the youths.]

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After stadium switch for Barcelona friendly, minister slams original choice

Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin told the Malaysian Handball Federation on July 7, 2013 to suspend all those involved in the alleged gang rape of the Sukma games

Minister Khairy Jamaluddin today criticised the choice of Bukit Jalil national stadium for the national team's friendly with the Barcelona football club, following a last-minute venue switch to Shah Alam stadium for the event.

Khairy said the venue switch would harm the country's reputation and inconvenience the fans, pointing out that he had himself previously said the Bukit Jalil stadium's turf conditions were unacceptable.

"So here, as the minister responsible for SBNJ, I once again explain that I am also not satisfied with the SNBJ field and I have moved to order the closure of SNBJ in October so its turf can be replaced," Khairy (picture) said, referring to the Bukit Jalil national stadium by its Malay initials.

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In uproar over pre-Merdeka film, Guan Eng points out BN’s communism link

Lim Guan Eng today labelled Umno Youth and Utusan Malaysia “hypocrites” for criticising local flick “The New Village” over its portrayal of communism, reminding them that one of its own, Khairy Jamaluddin, had once established an alliance with the Communist Youth League (CYL) of China.

The DAP secretary-general said Khairy, now a minister and Umno Youth’s chief, had in his capacity as the Barisan Nasional (BN) Youth chairman, announced the formation of a permanent secretariat in October 2009 to strengthen ties with the CYL.

At the time, Lim claimed Khairy had said that the secretariat was a “party-to-party” direct linkage between both movements and would serve as a platform to facilitate continuous bilateral programmes and promote a stronger bond between BN Youth and the CYL.

“And yet no action is taken when Khairy knowingly, consciously and intentionally establishes a direct linkage through a permanent secretariat with the CYL,” the Penang chief minister said in a statement.


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Sukma scandal: Three handball players claimed trial to raping chaperone at UPM dorm

Sukma handball players - Adib Adha Ismail, 18, Megat Farzeril Faiz Megat Razali and Mohammad Shaizzad Md Shafie, both are 19, - claimed trial to a charge of raping a 20-year-old chaperone.

They were charged separately before three Sessions judges on Thursday. Each were granted bail of RM10,000.

They were alleged to have raped the girl in a room in Second College, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, at about 4.10am on July 4.

The alleged rape during the just-concluded games at the Universiti Putra Malaysia Games village saw the detention of three athletes.

Reporters and photographers were waiting outside the court since morning for the suspects to be produced.

The victim was said to have gone out for drinks with the boys earlier that day and the alleged rape took place in the dormitory at the Games village

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Sukma scandal: Female athletes may be barred from future games if safety not assured, says Penang CM

Female athletes from Penang may not be allowed to take part in future Sukma Games if their safety is not assured, said Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng on Tuesday.

He said an independent inquiry should be carried out on the “shameful” rape incident at the just concluded Games.

“This is to ensure there will not be a repeat of such shameful incidents or else Penang may reconsider sending its female athletes to future Sukma Games,” he said in a statement here.

Lim said the state government wants clear assurances from Youth and Sports Khairy Jamaluddin on adequate security and that action would be taken against those responsible for lax security in University Putra Malaysia.

“If Khairy fails to provide such assurances, then the state government may reconsider sending female athletes to future Sukma Games,” he said.

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Sukma scandal: Alleged rape victim a chaperone for team

New revelations have unfol­ded in the alleged rape at the recently concluded Sukma – the girl has been revealed to be a chaperone for the Federal Territories women’s handball team.

The girl, who was a communications liaison to the girls’ team, was in charge of informing the athletes who were housed in a dorm in Second College in UPM on team instructions as the team’s head coach was male and thus, not allowed to enter the dorm.

A source close to the victim said the 19-year-old girl was “doing okay” and was now accompanied by her mother.

The source, however, claimed that security was not tight, adding that those in charge did not bother to inspect vehicles entering the Games Village. He said there was also no security personnel stationed at the dorm’s entrances.

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Sukma scandal: Khairy upset by report of coach consuming alcohol with players and rape occur

Athletes alone are not to be blamed.

Yesterday, Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin also took coaches and sports officials from the handball team to task for allo­wing alcohol to be consumed in the Malaysia Games Village at University Putra Malaysia during the just-concluded Sukma, which was rocked by an alleged rape.

A disappointed Khairy said he had received fresh reports on the incident yesterday, which revealed that a coach had joined the handball team in their boozing session.

“The case of the alleged rape is being investigated by the police. On our side, we have asked the relevant parties to submit a report. We want to know why it happened and what were the security measures taken,” said Khairy.

“I found out that alcohol had been consumed inside the Games Village and I am really saddened and shocked to find out that a coach had been party to it.


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Daylight robbery in Khairy's home

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City Criminal Investigation Department chief Datuk Ku Chin Wah says the suspects gained access to the premise through the front door which was unlocked.



Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin has become the latest victim of robbers when his home was hit on Saturday afternoon.

A minister's house was broken into by four men in Bukit Damansara, here, yesterday.

In the 5pm incident, the suspects were believed to have entered the house by climbing up the side fence.

City Criminal Investigation Department chief Datuk Ku Chin Wah said the suspects gained access to the premise through the front door which was unlocked.

"At the time of the incident, the minister's maid was in the kitchen and the rest of the family was out.


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KJ all riled up over state of stadium

It was once touted as the “Wembley of Malaysia”, a venue where all the Cup finals and international stature matches would be played.

But the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil, built for the 1998 Commonwealth Games, has now become the butt of jokes among football players, coaches, officials and fans.

Built at a cost of RM800mil, the stadium has a seating capacity of 90,000 and was viewed as the pride of the nation.

Fifteen years later, the pitch, once in pristine condition, is all cut up.

And this has got the new Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin all riled up. He has ordered the field to be closed for six months from October for repairs.

Khairy was spot on when he said the field did not meet international standards.

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Khairy says ‘not one shred of evidence’ to suggest polls fraud

Khairy Jamaluddin has defended the manner in which Elections 2013 was conducted, arguing in a letter to international current affairs magazine The Economist that there was not “one shred of evidence” of fraud in the polls.

The newly-appointed sports minister also took a swipe at Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, by accusing the opposition leader of not accepting the results because “of his own personal, lifelong ambition to become prime minister.”

“Allegations that foreign nationals were paid as ‘phantom voters’ have proved to be false, with not even one recorded case on polling day. All votes were cast and counted in front of representatives from all the contesting parties who signed off on the results.

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It was Ahmad Zahid’s personal view, says Khairy

Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin said the recent remarks by Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi against dissenters of Malaysia’s electoral system should be taken in the entire context of his article in Utusan Malaysia.

Khairy, who is Youth and Sports Minister, said Dr Ahmad Zahid was giving his personal views when he told those who cannot accept the country’s electoral system to emigrate.

He added that the view of the Umno vice-president – first carried in the paper before it went viral – did not reflect the government’s stand.

“It is his own personal view and it does not reflect the government’s views,” he said here yesterday.

Khairy said Dr Ahmad Zahid’s statement should be seen in the context of the entire article in the paper.


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Najib’s new Cabinet to have ‘familiar faces’, more Umno men

 Khairy

 Hishamuddin

Tengku Adnan

The new Cabinet to be announced tomorrow will have a familiar look and loaded with Umno lawmakers, with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak having one eye on this year’s party polls.

One likely to make a comeback is Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Mansor, the Barisan Nasional (BN) and Umno secretary-general who gained notoriety several years ago for allegedly fixing judicial appointments during the Mahathir era.

Also on the shortlist is Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh, the former Terengganu mentri besar who together with Tengku Adnan is a member of the BN war room that planned the coalition’s Election 2013 campaign.


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Many laud idea of merging BN coalition parties

: The idea of ending race-based politics by merging Umno, the MCA and MIC as part of Malaysia's reconciliation effort after the general election should be explored by Barisan Nasional, said Rembau MP Khairy Jamaluddin (pic).

Khairy, also the Umno Youth chief, said Barisan should explore all possibilities, including the merging as part of reconciliation efforts to make the coalition more relevant post-GE13.

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GE13: Many factors caused swing, say Umno duo

Stop pointing fingers and playing the race card in the aftermath of the general election, said Umno leaders Khairy Jamaluddin and Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah.

Khairy, who is Umno Youth chief, called for calm emotions to lead the way and said no one should “jump the gun and blame one community”.

He also urged leaders to speak out against any person trying to racialise matters.

“Cool heads must prevail in the next couple of weeks. There are too many emotions running wild and it is important we do not escalate the situation,” he said.

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Khairy prefers to not contest GE13

Khairy Jamaluddin prefers to not contest in Election 2013 and had informed Datuk Seri Najib Razak of his intention, the Umno Youth chief said today through a status update on his Facebook page.

The Rembau MP also reiterated his commitment to ensure Barisan Nasional’s (BN) victory in the polls even if he is not nominated.

“I’ve informed the BN Chairman, Datuk Seri Najib, of my preference. That is I’m more keen to not contest in GE13. I’ve also told the public about this once upon a time,” Khairy said here, referring to his speech during the Umno’s 66th general assembly.

Khairy says will debate Rafizi, Ambiga

 


Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin today accepted PKR strategy director Rafizi Ramli’s challenge to debate on education and agreed to debate with Bersih 2.0 co-chair Datuk Ambiga Sreenavasan on electoral reforms.

“I have agreed to debate @ambiga_s on 25 April re electoral reforms & @rafiziramli on 3 May re PTPTN. Details to come,” he said on Twitter today.

Change to meet demands of generational shift

Umno must understand the importance of "generational transition" that is taking place and actively change to fulfil the demand for renewal and progress, said Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin.

List still pending

Pemuda Umno chief Khairy Jamaluddin says candidates list yet to be fine-tuned.

Kg Buah Dada Gobala told to leave Dewan Rakyat

Former PKR MP N Gobalakrishnan (Independent-Padang Serai) was asked to leave the Dewan Rakyat this morning by deputy speaker Wan Junaidi Wan Jaafar after raising a ruckus in the House today.

He was asked to leave and return only after the lunch break, after he refused repeated orders by the deputy speaker to stand down.

A shouting match had broken out after Gobalakrishnan interrupted Karpal Singh (DAP-Bukit Gelugor) as the DAP leader was seeking clarification from Wan Junaidi over the rejection in chambers of his motion to censure Khairy Jamaluddin (BN-Rembau).

Karpal's motion was to discuss Khairy's tweet poking fun at allegations of sexual misconduct by the son of Penang Chief Minister and DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng.

Azizan: Mat Sabu should debate with Muhyiddin, not Khairy

Azizan has likened a Khairy-Mohamad debate to a football match between world champions Brazil and Kedah’s team in Tokai, a small village in the northern state.


Kedah Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Azizan Abdul Razak scoffed at Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin today for putting himself forward as a possible candidate to debate with Mohamad Sabu over the Bukit Kepong tragedy, saying the former could not match up to the PAS deputy president.

Instead, Azizan agreed with Mohamad that he should take on Umno deputy president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin for the challenge.