No delay in action against principals: Nazri

The government said today it did not delay taking action against two school principals who allegedly uttered racist remarks but stressed that it needed to follow the due process before making a decision.

"As the saying goes, better late than never, but I must stress that it’s not late," Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz in the Dewan Rakyat today.

"This is the first time in the history of our civil service that government officials are being cited for racism, so it takes time."


Nazri, who is also the Padang Rengas MP, said this in reply to Lim Guan Eng (DAP-Bagan), who asked what action is being taken against individuals and organisations "who are extreme in their views" such as Perkasa, Utusan Malaysia, and the two principals in Johor and Kedah .

Government may paid upto RM5 billion to Plus for not raising toll rates for 5 years.

Toll highway operator PLUS Expressways Bhd could be compensated as much as RM5 billion over the next five years for not raising toll rates.

The highway concessionaire is also owed about RM2.5 billion from previous compensation as at June 30.

The Employees Provident Fund (EPF) and UEM Group Bhd (UEM), which have proposed to privatise PLUS for RM23 billion, are also opening discussions with the government to restructure the toll concession agreement.

The deal to privatise PLUS could be completed within 8-12 months.

New palace bill rises to RM935m

Putrajaya has approved a further RM147 million for the new Istana Negara, more than double the initial bill of RM400 million to RM935 million for the palace along Jalan Duta.

In a written reply to Lim Lip Eng (DAP-Segambut) in Parliament today, Works Minister Datuk Shaziman Abu Mansor explained that the additional allocation was to bear costs that were not included in the original contract which was set at RM650 million.

They include costs to increase the palace’s security system, capital contribution payments to utility companies and interior decorations.

“The contract cost for the construction of the Istana Negara complex on Jalan Duta on a 100,000 square feet area was set at RM650 million.