Can a Family Man with Monthly Salary of RM3,000 survive in Malaysia?

i receive a very interesting email this morning.it's reality that are faced by millions of malaysian people.goods are so damn expensive nowadays.we are all struggling to survive and many of us are in debts.Lets read the email i received today.

Can a Family Man with Monthly Salary of RM3,000 survive in Malaysia?

Let's do some simple calculation here.
In Malaysia , the average family income is RM3,000 /month
(where father works, mother doesn't).
I understand there are many families whose
monthly income do not reach RM3,000,
but, to make things simple,
let's take RM3,000 as the figure. Ok , right?
Okay, let's start rolling with a family which has
Papa, Mama, 1 daughter and 1 son. Ngam-ngam ....
Calculation starts...
Electricity and water bill: RM100
(No air-con, No home theatre, No water heater ... ok?)
Phone bill (Telekom): RM100
Meals for a happy family: RM775
(3 meals on RM25/day, RM25 for 4 persons...?)
Papa makan / teh-tarik during working hrs: RM155
(RM5/day, RM5 ... can eat what?)
Car repayment: RM400
(A proton saga aeroback, 7 yrs repayment)
Petrol (living in city, traffic-jam) : RM300
(go to work, bring son to school,
only can afford one car running)
Life Insurance: RM650
(kids, wife and myself)
House repayment: RM750
(low cost housing repayment for 30 yrs,
retired still have to work to pay!)
Tuition: RM80
(got that cheap meh? i don't think so)
Older children pocket money @ school: RM20
(RM1/day, eat bread?)
School fees: RM30
(enough ah?)
School books and etc: RM100
(always got extra to pay in school)
Younger children milk powder: RM50
(cannot have the DHA, BHA, PHA one, it is expensive!!)
Miscellaneous: RM100
(shampoo, rice, sauce, toilet paper)
Oh wait!!! I have to stop here, so...
No Astro,
no movie @ cinema,
no DVD,
no CD,
no online internet,
cannot eat KFC,
cannot eat McDonald,
cannot go to Park walk during weekend (petrol expensive),
no chit chat on phone with grandparents, and etc...
Let's use a calculator to total up... WALAO EH! ALAMAK! RM3,610 already...
EPF belum potong, income tax lagi........ already RM3,610 ....
How to survive lah tuan-tuan dan puan-puan sekalian ???
Our Prime Minister asked us to change lifestyle?
How to change? Don't eat? Don't work? Don't send children to school and study?
Besides that, I believe in Malaysia population, there are millions of rakyat Malaysia which still don't earn RM3,000/month! !!
What is this? Inilah Malaysia Boleh... Sorry ... it should be Malaysians Boleh , because we're still alive and kicking!!

General Election More Important, Says Najib

SEPANG, July 22 (Bernama) -- Umno has postponed the party elections this year as it is giving priority to preparations for the 12th general election, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
"In terms of the party, our priority is to strengthen Umno as an organisation and preparations to face the coming general election must be given priority (over the election to choose party leaders)," said Najib, who is also Umno deputy-president.
He said although the date for the party elections had yet to be decided, there were leaders who were already "making the rounds".
"It's usual for them to make the rounds, (the lobbying) hasn't started... (it is) still under control," he told reporters after opening the Sepang Umno divisional delegates meeting, here today.
Asked if there were complaints received by the party against the leaders, he said: "Not openly, but there have been whispers...it's normal, nothing surprising," he said.
Earlier in his speech, Najib said that although Umno was the largest political party in the country with a membership of 3.3 million, the party had to ensure that all its members were of quality, committed and what was more important was that they upheld the party's cause.
He said that in the global era, only those with quality would succeed in their struggles and this was not only confined to business but also for a large political party like Umno.
"We must have members of quality to continue the party's cause. They must join Umno to champion this cause and not because they want something from the party. The principles of the party's struggles can only be upheld by members who are committed," he said.
Najib reminded Umno members that if they chose party leaders who practised "money politics", then Umno would disintegrate as these leaders did not have credibility.
"We must have strong spirit and principles in our struggles. The party's founders and past leaders have proven that the Malays can succeed if we are truly committed to our cause. We have beaten the British (in attaining the country's independence) not through armed force but through our strong spirit in championing our cause. The spirit of our struggles will determine our future," he said.

tunku : it's a waste of tax payers money to do election now especially this year as we just had one only 3 years ago. we have another 2 years to go.the government should concentrate on nation building as there's still many of it's promises have not been delivered yet.the economics only looks good on paper but not in reality.the property market, automative industry is at a very slow pace and this does not reflect with the good economy that the government claims.so please concentrate more on the economy rather than putting all the efforts on the election.

Pak Lah on holiday AGAIN

Pak Lah is believe to have gone to australia with family. May be they wanted to see how the house look like in melbourne after the renovation.by the way khairy said that house belongs to kamaludin and the actual fact belongs to some malaysian businessman.khairy has not clear this matter till today.i believe he can't clear it up as he had messed it.whenever there is disaster or tragedy, pak lah is always abroad on leave. last time was the flood in johor and now with the nuri tragedy where we lost six army personnel.the King and Queen makes the afford to console the victim's family and give moral support but our pm having good time in australia.

Kelantan: No foreign visitors, thank you

KOTA BARU: Kelantan is claiming it does not need foreign tourists. This is because most of its tourism ventures are designed for domestic visitors, it said.
State Tourism Committee chairman Datuk Anuar Tan Abdullah said the state wanted to uphold its strong cultural and religious customs, and the state government would not turn Kelantan into a Johor, Penang or Kuala Lumpur, where there are plenty of entertainment outlets.
Such facets of tourism would only lead to social ills and crime, which was why the state preferred a low-key approach in managing tourism, said Anuar.
Anuar was responding to the call by Deputy Tourism Minister Datuk Donald Lim Siang Chai for the PAS Government to change its hard-line and restrictive attitude or lose out on tourist dollars.
Malaysia recorded 17.5 million tourist arrivals last year, but Kelantan only tapped a small percentage of the arrivals, according to the Tourism Ministry.
Anuar said that tourism promotions were under the purview of the federal ministry and not the state.
He said agencies such as Tourism Malaysia and the state tourism action council were under the ministry, so if not many tourists were coming to Kelantan, it was Federal Government's fault.
He added that last year, Kelantan received 4.4 million domestic tour-ists who mostly shopped and sampled the local cuisine, culture and arts.

tunku : nik aziz government is one of the best islamic government in the world, that's why they don't rely on federal government and also foreign tourist to boost their economy. every state should follow their example.but in reality, this kelantan government is one of the worst in the world.if not because of federal help, they are beggars by now.how can an exco member of a state make such statement, never mind, i guess we should put signboard at kelantan borders, foreign visitors are not welcome.

Opposition pact losing faith and direction

DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng says DAP's door are closed to PAS but PAS wants to cooperate with DAP especially in Penang so that the opposition will have stronger chance.PAS does not seems to bother to cooperate more seriously with PKR as they know PKR is having cancer on the third stage and waiting to die soon. As for DAP, a cooperation between them and PAS is just like committing suicide.They tried in 1999 where DAP was almost R.I.P ( rest in peace ).All the opposition parties are trying to fools their supporters. By the way it's going, come this august or after april 2008, BN will wins the election again with very big mandate and that's a sure case as for now.

EARLIER NEWS

PAS may work with DAP to seize Penang

KEPALA BATAS: PAS may consider working with DAP to capture Penang in the next general election.
State PAS commissioner Mohd Salleh Man said the move would be considered if it was found to be the best way to beat Barisan Nasional in the state.
“So far both parties have not formally discussed such a pact. But any pact for the best interest of the Opposition would be considered.
“Hopefully, we will get the blessings from the PAS central body before going ahead with the pact,” he told reporters at a joint press conference by PAS and Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) here yesterday.
Mohd Salleh said the proposed co-operation would be based on current political developments in the state.
In the 2004 general election, DAP objected to forming a pact with PAS after PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang called DAP a “dinosaur” and “expired medicine” a day before nomination day.
During the 2004 general election, DAP won four parliamentary seats while PKR won only one. PAS and DAP also won a state seat each in the election.
State PKR liaison chairman Datuk Zahrain Mohamed Hashim said the party and PAS would form a joint election machinery in the next general election to ensure a straight fight with the Barisan.
”Both parties also have capable candidates to represent the people,” he said.

Nalla: I pity Anwar

Former PKR member KS Nallakaruppan said the opposition party is in danger of losing steam ahead of the general election expected to be held early next year, after losing hundreds of its members recently.
“I feel pity for the party and its leaders, especially Anwar Ibrahim. I don’t know how they are coping after losing a stream of members and leaders over the past few months,” he told malaysiakini today.
“The party looks like it is headed for a disastrous defeat in the coming election.”
He said members should ask themselves why this is happening to the party, formed in 1999 mainly to fight for the release of Anwar after he had been sacked from government and Umno and then jailed for corrupt practice and sodomy. The latter conviction was overturned on appeal.
“Are these leaders and members leaving because Anwar has failed to lead the party properly? Is this a reflection of Anwar’s leadership?” asked Nallakaruppan.
"Or is it because they realise that Anwar is being wrongly influenced by certain people in his inner circle?”
Nallakaruppan said that, despite leaders putting on a brave front in saying that everything is fine, the fact remains that many grassroots leaders and members who had been with the party from its inception have deserted it.
The most recent high-profile departure involved former Youth chief and a close Anwar confidante Ezam Mohd Noor, who said he was leaving after losing faith in his former mentor.
Other leaders too have left on similar grounds. Nallakaruppan himself quit in May claiming that he felt betrayed because Anwar had marginalised the Indian members.
On its part, the party has said it will not stop disgruntled members and leaders from leaving and denied that there are problems within the party. It, in fact, believes that it is stronger than before and is in a position to improve its electoral performance.
Nallakaruppan, however, claimed that grassroots sentiments paint a different picture, with “members saying that the party seems to have stagnated...they want to know why people are leaving”.
“PKR leaders, especially Anwar, must not just remain quiet. Anwar and (vice-president) Azmin must openly respond to allegations made by those who have left,” he said.
'Baseless accusations'
Nallakaruppan also warned several Indian leaders in the party to stop levelling baseless accusations against him.
Recent reports quoted them as saying that Nallakaruppan had not done anything for the party.
“Anwar knows the total number of members I brought into the party. For some of these Indian leaders to now dispute this only shows their ignorance,” he countered.
He said vice-president R Sivarasa and several other leaders have previously commended him for the number of new members he had recruited.
“Is Anwar instigating these immature politicians to attack me? If that is the case, I will then have to respond to these attacks to defend my reputation,” he said.
Nallakaruppan was brought into the party by Anwar in August last year and was asked to increase support among the Indian community.
Since his departure from PKR, Nallakaruppan has kept a low profile on his political future apart from saying he would make an announcement soon.
“I want my supporters to just be patient with me. I will definitely do something which is good for the community,” he said without elaborating.

Zakaria faces 13 charges

PETALING JAYA (July 18, 2007): For constructing a mansion without approval and defaulting on assessement fees for 11 years, all he got was a slap on the wrist; for serving as a senator while a bankrupt, he got away scot free. But it seems that luck is running out for Port Klang assemblyman Datuk Zakaria Md Deros.
On Friday (July 20), he is expected to appear in a Kuala Lumpur sessions court to face 13 charges under the Companies' Act 1965.
Each charge comes with a fine of up to RM30,000 and five years jail.
Zakaria will be charged with four other directors of Harvest Court Industries Bhd with not notifying the Companies Commission (CC) of Harvest Court's change of address under Section 120 of the act.
Harvest Court will be charged separately with the same offence.
Zakaria, who is also a director of Titi Steel Sdn Bhd, will also be charged with another director of the company with not holding the annual general meeting from 2002 to 2005, an offence under Section 143.
The two Titi Steel directors will also be charged with failure to submit financial statements from 2002 to 2005 under Section 165, and failure to submit profit and loss accounts from 2001 to 2004 under Section 169.
Titi Steel will be charged separately with all the above offences relating to Sections 143, 165 and 169.
Officers from the CC served the summons on Zakaria and the other directors yesterday..
It is learnt that the CC is also preparing prosecution papers against Zakaria for not vacating his post as a director of Masmanis Sdn Bhd, despite being declared a bankrupt.
Zakaria was declared a bankrupt between Sept 10 and Nov 24, 1992, but continued to hold the post of director of Masmanis.
He was also a senator during that period but did not vacate his seat in the Dewan Negara then.
The Kuala Lumpur High Court (commercial division) had on June 21, allowed an application brought by two secretaries of Masmanis to declare Zakaria's position as director null and void.
Justice Datuk Kang Hwee Gee had remarked in his judgment that Zakaria had committed a crime under the Companies Act for not vacating his post.

tunku : people like zakaria brings embarrassment to party like umno. if he has pride and self respect etc, he should quit mainstream politics.he as one of the law broke so many laws.

Tun Mahathir not contesting to be delegate to UMNO assembly

PUTRAJAYA: Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad confirmed that he will not contest to be a delegate in the next Umno general assembly.
This was despite obtaining three nominations from the Kubang Pasu division.
The former Prime Minister said being nominated did not mean he could win to be a delegate.
Last year, Dr Mahathir received 15 nominations from a total of 138 branches to contest for the post.
However, he lost, coming in ninth out of the 15 aspirants who vied for the seven seats.
Mahathir was speaking to reporters after a meeting with Somali Land vice-president Ahmed Yusof Yasin at the Perdana Leadership Foundation here on Wednesday.
Dr Mahathir added that he would attend this year’s Langkawi International Dialogue but would not present any working paper.

Dr Mahathir tak bertanding, 'nak jimatkan duit orang'


PUTRAJAYA: Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad mengesahkan tidak akan bertanding untuk menjadi perwakilan Umno ke perhimpunan agung di mesyuarat perwakilan bahagian Kubang Pasu, dengan alasan Umno bukan lagi sebuah parti yang boleh dipercayai.
Dr Mahathir mendakwa Umno sudah menjadi sebuah parti yang membenarkan rasuah kerana menurut beliau, parti tersebut tidak mengambil tindakan terhadap perlakuan rasuah sesetengah anggotanya walaupun perbuatan itu dibuat secara terang-terangan.
Dengan nada sinis, Dr Mahathir juga berkata beliau tidak mahu bertanding kerana mahu “menjimatkan duit” sesetengah pihak supaya tidak perlu memberi sogokan kepada perwakilan di mesyuarat bahagian itu.
Pada mesyuarat perwakilan bahagian itu tahun lalu, Dr Mahathir gagal dalam pertandingan untuk menjadi salah seorang perwakilan ke perhimpunan agung. Berikutan itu, beberapa perwakilan daripada bahagian itu membuat laporan kepada jawatankuasa disiplin mengenai kegiatan pihak tertentu yang terbabit dengan politik wang bagi memastikan kekalahan bekas presiden Umno itu.
“Nak bertanding buat apa, saya nak jimatkan duit orang tertentu supaya tidak payah lagi tumbuk rusuk orang supaya tidak undi saya. Tidak usah cakaplah tidak ada rasuah, semua orang tahu kredibiliti jawatankuasa disiplin Umno sudah tidak ada lagi.
“Orang tidak percaya lagi kerana benda yang terang-terang libatkan rasuah tapi kata bersih. Kalau inilah jawatankuasa disiplin, Umno dan majlis tertinggi sendiri adalah satu badan yang membenarkan rasuah,” katanya kepada pemberita di pejabatnya di Yayasan Kepimpinan Perdana di sini hari ini.
Beliau sebelum itu menerima kunjungan beberapa pemimpin dari Somali Land, satu kawasan yang merupakan sebahagian daripada Somalia.
Beliau juga mendakwa kini semua pihak, daripada pegawai kerajaan, ahli akademik hingga kepada pemimpin-pemimpin Umno semuanya takut untuk dilihat berbaik-baik dengan beliau kerana bimbang dituduh sebagai “orang Dr Mahathir”.
“Nak dekat dengan saya pun tidak boleh. Orang yang saya kenal baik dulu, yang puji saya sampai naik asap, sekarang duduk jauh, tak berani datang dekat,” katanya.
Dr Mahathir berkata, Umno bahagian juga tidak dibenarkan menjemputnya, walaupun untuk bercakap pada mesyuarat mereka, bukannya untuk membuka mesyuarat masing-masing kerana MT telahpun membuat keputusan hanya ahlinya sahaja yang boleh dijemput untuk tujuan itu.
Ditanya mengenai langkah penasihat Parti Keadilan Rakyat Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim memfailkan rayuan terhadap keputusan Mahkamah Tinggi Kuala Lumpur yang mengetepikan saman fitnah RM100 jutanya terhadap beliau, Dr Mahathir berkata itu adalah haknya.
Katanya, undang-undang membenarkan pemimpin PKR itu berhak membuat rayuan dan jika mahkamah mendapati beliau (Dr Mahathir) bersalah, beliau akan menghormati keputusan itu dan bersedia menerima apa sahaja hukuman yang diputuskan kelak.
Pesuruhjaya Kehakiman, Datuk Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat awal bulan ini mengetepikan saman fitnah itu tanpa perbicaraan penuh selepas membenarkan bantahan awal Dr Mahathir berhubung dakwaan homoseks terhadap Anwar pada sidang media anjuran Suruhanjaya Hak Asasi Manusia Malaysia (Suhakam) pada 2005.

photo courtesy of http://minaq-jinggo.fotopages.com/

Altantuya Murder Case 18/07/07

Judge Visits Scene Of Altantuya's Murder

SHAH ALAM, July 18 (Bernama) -- The prosecution Wednesday took judge Datuk Mohd Zaki Md Yasin and members of defence team to the site where Mongolian woman Altantuya Shaariibuu was said to have been killed.
All those involved in the murder trial were taken in 10 police vehicles including eight four-wheel-drive, escorted by seven police outriders, to a hill near Puncak Alam at about 3.10pm.
There, Deputy Public Prosecutor Noorin Badaruddin told the judge, during heavy rain, that a bush with trees averaging three metres in height was where the "object" was believed blown up.
She also showed a clearing where the "object" was believed placed before it was taken into the bush.
She also showed the trees where Altantuya's hair and flesh were found when bomb and forensic experts conducted investigations after Chief Inspector Azilah Hadri and Constable Sirul Azhar Umar disclosed the location.
Witnesses would be called to produce all the evidence, she said.
Azilah, 31, and Sirul Azhar, 36, are charged with murdering Altantuya, 28, between 10pm on Oct 19 last year and 1am the following day. Political analyst Abdul Razak Abdullah Baginda, 47, is accused of abetting them.
The three accused, who were taken to the site separately, did not get down from the vehicles. Azilah and Sirul Azhar still had their faces covered while Abdul Razak looked calm.
The visit took about 15 minutes. All those who were there wore slippers because of the rain. Only judge Mohd Zaki had an umbrella over his head while Noorin covered hers with a plastic bag.
Lawyer Karpal Singh who holds a watching brief for the Mongolian government and Altantuya's family, was not there but was represented by his son, Ram Karpal Singh.
In the area, there was a tree with a long blue shawl tied around it. Also seen were several joss sticks, candles and two gold-coloured broken sticks.

Altantuya Murder Trial Accused To Be Taken To Crime Scene

SHAH ALAM, July 18 (Bernama) -- The accused in the Altantuya Shaariibuu murder trial will be taken to the crime scene Wednesday.
High Court judge Datuk Mohd Zaki Md Yasin, who is hearing the trial, and the prosecution team headed by deputy public prosecutor Tun Abdul Majid Tun Hamzah and the defence team will also be going there at 2pm.
Tun Majid told the court that only four-wheel-drive vehicles could access the area.
Yesterday, Kuala Lumpur police special investigation officer Supt Zainol Samah told the court that the accused, Chief Insp Azilah Hadri and Cpl Sirul Azhar Umar, had led police to the murder scene on the fringe of an open area in Puncak Alam heading towards Kuala Selangor.
Azilah, 30, and Sirul Azhar, 36, are charged with murdering Altantuya, 28, at a location between Lots 12843 and Lot 16735 in Mukim Bukit Raja between 10pm on Oct 19 last year and 1am the following day.
Political analyst Abdul Razak Abdullah Baginda, 46, is accused of abetting them in the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur between 9.54am on Oct 18 and 9.45pm on Oct 19 last year.

Porsche stolen again

BUKIT MERTAJAM: The RM963,000 sports car that was stolen from a showroom here yesterday was stolen again – this time from right under the noses of the police.
And police believe it was the same man who pulled it off again, because he had the car keys.
The thief stole the Porsche 911 Targa 4 from the compound of the police headquarters here at 10.45pm yesterday.
The car had been stolen from a showroom at Auto-City in Juru about nine hours earlier.
Police recovered the car an hour near Maktab Tuanku Bainun in Mengkuang Titi, about 15km away. But this time, unlike in the first incident, the car had fuel.
State police chief Deputy Comm Datuk Koh Hong Sun said disciplinary action would be taken against policemen who were found to be negligent in their duties.
“We have the suspect’s fingerprints and are confident of arresting him soon,” he said after attending a ceremony for the transfer of 42 police personnel from the North Seberang Prai district to the Central Seberang Prai district at the police headquarters.
In the first incident, the man, said to be smartly dressed man who flashed a cheque book, coolly asked for the key of the car, started it and sped off after crashing it through the showroom’s glass pane.
Police recovered the car some 2km away, at Hujung Perusahaan Dua in Prai.

tunku : what happened to our police, if a car can be stolen right under their noses what about far away from their noses.this is very big negligence by the police.they should be given very hard punishment.

Defiant Malaysia football coach refuses to quit

Defiant Malaysia coach Norizan Bakar on Tuesday refused to contemplate quitting after his team's disastrous Asian Cup, despite admitting even the best psychologists can't help his players now.
Norizan said he was concentrating on the final match with Iran on Wednesday, when the co-hosts will attempt to salvage some pride after their 5-1 and 5-0 maulings by China and Uzbekistan.
"At the moment I'm only thinking about the match against Iran," the coach said.
The displays have left Malaysian football in disarray with the sport's deputy president stepping down along with two independent council members.
The New Straits Times back page Tuesday ran completely black with the sombre headline "Malaysian football R.I.P" after Sultan Ahmad Shah, who has led the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) since 1984, rejected calls to quit.
Norizan said he was doing his best to prepare the team to face Iran but admitted morale among the players was rock-bottom.
"With all the criticism and all the humiliation I don't think the best psychologists could help the team now," he said.
"I just told the players it's part and parcel of football. We have to face it and maybe it will make us stronger."
He admitted Malaysia had no hope of beating Iran, the triple champions who are seeking a hatful of goals to guarantee top spot in Group C.
"Everybody's expecting Iran to go all out on us," Norizan said.
"We have to be realistic -- we can't win against Iran but we have to make sure that they don't score too many goals."
The Asian Cup has shone the spotlight on Malaysian football's steady demise blamed on poor management, cronyism and also corruption.
Malaysia were once a significant force in regional football, qualifying for the 1972 and 1980 Olympics and two Asian Cups.
But they have been in decline and entered the Asian Cup -- their first since 1980, and thanks to being co-hosts -- as the lowest ranked team at 149.
In May, the FAM was embarrassed over the botched attempt to organise a Manchester United visit during the Asian Cup, flouting an agreement with the Asian Football Confederation.
Malaysia has also been hit by bribery scandals with more than 100 players banned for life in the mid-1990s and a Malaysian betting ring caught tampering with floodlights during English Premier League matches in 1999.
Public disillusionment has been highlighted by dreadful attendances for the Asian Cup, with only a handful of fans turning out for Malaysia's second match.

tunku : i don't want to add any more critics on FAM as it's an open book so everyone knows about it. i would just like to comment on our attitude, we always give up before we fight, we don't have the spirit to fight the heart out of us. just look what norizan bakar said that we know that we can never win over Iran, i know we have to be realistic but we should always give courage to the team that we can do it if we want it.it seems that the coach is preparing the team just not to concede to many goals, so i suggest lineup all the players in front of the goal, you'll succeed in your mission not conceding to many goals.

Astro Prima To Select Malaysia's Distinguished Son

KUALA LUMPUR, July 17 (Bernama) -- Two former prime ministers are among 10 people shortlisted for the posthumous Malaysia's Distinguished Son title by Astro Prima in conjunction with the country's 50th independence anniversary celebrations.
The two are second Prime Minister, the late Tun Abdul Razak Hussein and his successor, the late Tun Hussein Onn.
Their contributions to the nation will be honoured along with that of nationalist Datuk Onn Jaafar, footballer Mokhtar Dahari, entertainer extraordinaire Tan Sri P. Ramlee, unionist P.P. Narayanan, economist Raja Tun Mohar Raja Badiozaman, artiste Sudirman Haji Arshad, MCA founding figure Tun Tan Cheng Lock and linguist Zainal Abidin Ahmad (Zaaba) at a function in early September.
Anak Gemilang Malaysia (Malaysia's Distinguished Son) selection panel chief Tan Sri Ahmad Sarji Abdul Hamid said the highlight of the programme would be telecast live from the Putrajaya International Convention Centre where a debate and panel discussion would be held to select one of them as Malaysia's Distinguished Son.
"However, the first Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj is not included as he was already accorded the Father of Independence title, a special recognition by itself," he told reporters here today.
He said the 10 people who were shortlisted from the political, sports, arts, professional, educational and economic fields had contributed enormously to the success and development of the country.
"They were selected based on their background and achievements in their respective fields, besides various sources and the unanimous decision of the panellists."
Meanwhile, Astro Entertainment Sdn Bhd executive director, Zainir Aminullah said Astro Prima would be screening a documentary in the run-up to the award presentation, depicting the sacrifices, determination and success of the eminent persons, in conjunction with the independence anniversary.
The documentary, to be aired through August over the Astro Prima channel, is meant to instil noble values among the young generation and spur them to emulate the eminent persons.
"Anak Gemilang Malaysia is not only aimed at honouring the eminent persons but also to inject patriotism among the young generation," he said.
Astro Prima will also be screening a one-hour documentary on Tunku Abdul Rahman on Sept 2.

tunku : astro should not includes the former prime ministers of malaysia in such voting contest.it's an insult to them. just imagine that Tun Abdul Razak lost it to mokhtar dahari or zaaba, is it not insulting for Tun Razak? i hope astro will think in the future before doing such stupid things.Astro said that the first Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj is not included as he was already accorded the Father of Independence title, a special recognition by itself, well Tun Razak also had the title,Bapa Pembangunan Malaysia dan Tun Hussein had the title of Bapa Perpaduan Malaysia and it's also a special recognition by itself.Don't disgrace them,please.

Altantuya Murder Case 17/07/07

Defence Disputes CCTV Recording In Altantuya Murder Case

SHAH ALAM, July 17 (Bernama) -- The defence in the Altantuya Shaariibuu murder trial in the High Court here today questioned the authenticity of the Hotel Malaya closed-circuit television (CCTV) recording of the images of two men, believed to be the accused.
Hasnal Redzua Merican, counsel for the second accused, Cpl Sirul Azhar Umar, said it was bizarre that the video tape with the recording also contained images captured on Nov 11 last year, when the 17th prosecution witness, Jimmy Loo Mow Chan, had testified earlier that he handed over the video tape to a police officer the day before, that is Nov 10 2006.
However, in the afternoon session, Loo, 50, Hotel Malaya's operations manager, explained under re-examination by deputy public prosecutor Manoj Kurup that the discrepancy was due to a technical fault.
Manoj: You notice that at the beginning of the tape it is printed 11-11-06 at time 17:04. Can you explain why that recording is on the tape if it had been handed to the police on the Nov 10 2006?
Loo: My opinion it that it could be a technical fault as to the timer.
Manoj: Timer or date?
Loo: As far as I know, it is the same.
Earlier, Loo admitted that he did not have the technical expertise to explain why there was a discrepancy in the CCTV recording.
Sirul Azhar, 35, and the other accused, Chief Insp Azilah Hadri, 30, are charged with murdering Altantuya, 28, at a location between Lots 12843 and 16735, Mukim Bukit Raja, between 10pm on Oct 19 last year and 1am the following day.
Political analyst Abdul Razak Abdullah Baginda, 47, is accused of abetting them.
Yesterday, Loo testified that there was a discrepancy in the time displayed on some of the images as the audio visual equipment used to play the tape in court was not compatible.
However, today he agreed that he was guessing when he said that.
Loo also said that on Nov 10 he handed three videotapes containing the footages and 20 sheets of guest folios to one Sgt Amran but the tapes were taken without the equipment.
"From Nov 10 2006, when the tapes were handed over to the police, until the time they came back to my office sometime in May 2007, the three tapes had all along been in the custody of the police," he said.
Prior to that, he had never viewed the tapes using another system, he said, adding that because the CCTV system was an important feature in the hotel, it was kept running for 24 hours.

Azilah, Sirul Agreed To Bring Police To Crime Scene, Court Told

SHAH ALAM, July 17 (Bernama) -- C/Insp Azilah Hadri and Koperal Sirul Azhar Umar agreed to bring and show to the police the place where Mongolian part-time model Altantuya Shaariibuu was killed in Puncak Alam, Shah Alam on Nov 6 last year, the High Court here was told today.
Supt Zainol Samah, 42, a special investigations officer attached to the Kuala Lumpur Police, said he was informed by ASP Tonny Lunggan on Nov 5 that the two accused had "confessed".
Supt Zainol, the prosecution's 19th witness on Day 20 of the Altantuya murder trial, said he then contacted Supt Amidon Adnan of the forensics department to arrange a team to be ready at the UITM building in Shah Alam.
He said he then left his office and followed Tony's car to Shah Alam in his.
Zainol told the court that in Tony's car were Sirul Azhar, DSP Gan Tack Guan and other police officers, names of whom he could not remember.
During examination-in-chief by Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Tun Abdul Majid Tun Hamzah, Zainol said he left from the Kuala Lumpur police headquarters at 5.30 pm on Nov 5, 2006.

Nuri wreckage found, no survivors

GENTING HIGHLANDS: All six on board the RMAF Nuri helicoper which was reported missing last Friday are confirmed dead, according to search-and-rescue teams which found the wreckage on Tuesday.
RMAF's public relations officer Mejar Zulkiflee Abdul Latiff said rescue teams found the helicopter at about 1.24pm. He said preparations were underway to retrieve and airlift the bodies to KL Hospital.
The Royal Malaysian Air Force helicopter went missing at 9.35am on July 13, about 10 minutes after taking off from the Sungai Besi airbase on the way to the Gambang base in Pahang.
Those on board were pilot Kapt Nor Azlan Termuzi, co-pilot Kapt Nor Intan Asykeen Mohd Arof, air quartermaster Sgt Khusnizam Ariffin, Sgt Azmie Md Yassin, senior airman Saifulizam Alias and airman Muhammad Ridzuan Ahmad.

tunku : Innalillahiwainnailahirojiun. may Allah bless their souls.

Now everyone can fly , is it true?

AirAsia makes flying harder for the disabled

A coalition of 18 disabled groups are crying foul over low-cost carrier AirAsia’s terms and conditions which they claim are discriminatory.
Presently, AirAsia does not accept passengers who are completely immobile while individuals who require assistance to scale the boarding stairs must not travel unaccompanied.
This has led to some 20 members of Barrier-free Environment and Accessible Transport Group (Beat) holding a short demonstration at the Low Cost Carrier Terminal in Sepang yesterday.
Speaking to reporters later, Beat assistant coordinator V Murugeswaran described AirAsia’s terms as “blatant discrimination”.
He said the disabled persons were being denied access to the low cost carrier ever low cost fligh services moved from Kuala Lumpur International Airport last March.
“Contrary to their (AirAsia) tag-line, it seems not everyone can fly,” said Murugeswaran (photo), adding that senior citizens and pregnant mothers were in the same predicament too.
Another Beat assistant coordinator Peter Tan believes that AirAsia’s policy was a set back for Visit Malaysia Year 2007.
“By disallowing those with limited mobility to use their services, they are discouraging (certain type of) tourists from visiting our country” he said.
Part of larger problem
The protest yesterday was held more than two years after Murugeswaran, representing the Damai Disabled Persons Association (Damai), received a letter from AirAsia promising to look into the matter.
In a letter dated 10 May 2005 and signed by AirAsia Branding and Service Quality Regional Director Joyce Lai, the company promised that the same grouses raised by Murugeswaran during a previous dialogue earlier that year “will not go unnoticed”.
Meanwhile, Beat coordinator Christine Lee said the AirAsia’s policy was among the many examples of challenges faced by the disabled community to commute.
“There is a growing trend where the disabled are increasingly left out (in development plans),” said Lee, citing reluctance to make bus and rail services completely disable-friendly as an example.
She urged Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to form inclusive policies in the future, enacting a Disabled Persons Act and ratifying the “UN Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities”.
Contacted today, AirAsia’s corporate communications officer Mazlan Rashid said his company would not comment on the matter for the time being.

tunku : NOW EVERYONE CAN FLY EXCEPT FOR HANDICAPPED PEOPLE, that's the new airasia slogan.how can this "golden boys" company do such thing, they are intolerate lots.i hope the government should put stop to all these indiscriminate acts by the "big boys/golden boys.

Khairy Chicken Out, Shahidan eyeing for FAM deputy president

KANGAR, July 16 (Bernama) -- As the guessing game begins on who will fill the deputy president's post in the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) vacated by Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, Perlis Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim was suddenly mentioned as a probable candidate.
The man himself, however, declined to comment when asked whether he was interested to take over.
"I am afraid to give comments or the FAM may penalise me," said Shahidan, who is also Perlis Football Association president, when met at the Utama Stadium here today.
His name was mentioned as among the "probable" qualified candidates for the post by Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said when launching the national-level Rakan Cinta Alam in Gua Kelam here today.
Shahidan is also the president of the Malaysian Amateur Athletics Union, Amateur Swimming Union of Malaysia and Kabbadi Association of Malaysia and said he that he was presently focusing on these sports.
However, he nodded repeatedly when pressed further whether he agreed to offer himself for the second most important post in the country's football governing body.

FAM President Stays Put, Khairy Decides To Quit

KUALA LUMPUR, July 16 (Bernama) -- Sultan Ahmad Shah wants to remain as Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) president despite growing public outcry that the top brass of the association quit over the dismal performance of the Malaysian national team in the ongoing Asian Cup.
Instead, the Sultan of Pahang merely wants to carry out what he calls a massive "overhaul" of the beleagured association and also conducts an inquiry on the national team's performance, described by many football fans as a national shame.
"Upon completion of the national team's final match in the competition, we will call for an inquiry," he told reporters who were anticipating that he would announce his resignation after 23 years at the helm of FAM on arrival at the Subang Air Base here today.
Calls for heads to roll in FAM have gathered momentum following yesterday's surprise announcement by his son Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah that he had resigned with immediate effect as Deputy President and all other posts in the football governing body.
Asked by reporters today why he decided to stay put, he replied: " I"m not a coward."
Sultan Ahmad Shah added that he would also chair a meeting next week to seek the "best solution" for the current state of affairs in the association.
Malaysia who host Group C matches of the Asian Cup, lost their first match 1-5 to China on July 10 and suffered another 0-5 defeat to Uzbekistan on Saturday.
The national team's ranking has also dropped to 149 in the FIFA world rankings after climbing to 118 a few years ago.
Sultan Ahmad Shah said he had also received a letter from general secretary Datuk Seri Dr Ibrahim Saad stating his intention to step down next month when his two-year term expires.
Politician Dr Ibrahim himself had last year indicated that he wanted to quit but curiously he stayed on.
Newspapers today were awash with scathing criticisms of the entire FAM leadership for overstaying and mismanaging football given the fact that Malaysia was once an Asian football power, even ranked higher than South Korea, a semi-finalist in the 2002 World Cup.
The attack against the FAM leadership this time around was unprecedented in its intensity.
These included comments like: "It has become a national shame. FAM mismanaged the sport for so long that they crippled it; They must all be held accountable and quit for the good of the game; Get the professionals in. Keep out the politicians and those who are in it for self-gain. Malaysian football and the fans have suffered long enough; It might already be too late. Malaysian football has lost it all -- no respect, no credibility, no money, no fans".
Speaking of his son's decision to quit, he said: " Although he is my son, I have to respect his decision".
But responding to further questions, Sultan Ahmad Shah said he was ready to hand over the presidency if there was a willing candidate.
"I will continue to serve but if there is someone willing to take over, they are welcomed," he said.

Meanwhile, FAM's independent council member Khairy Jamaluddin today quit his post with immediate effect.
In a letter to the FAM general secretary Dr Ibrahim, Khairy who became an independent council member in 2005 said he made the move as a mark of respect to Tengku Abdullah's decision to resign from the association.
"This is because Tengku Abdullah is the man responsible for bringing me into the FAM Council.
"I take this action on the basis of collective and shared responsibility for the deteriorating performance of the national football squad," he said.
Sources said Tengku Abdullah's quit decision was expected spark more resignations among the FAM Council members over the next few days.

tunku : i have said earlier that if shahidan is too keen to head "hundreds" of sport associations then he better quit politics and most of all the mb post. how can a mb holds post in so many sport associations.he supposed to give full attention to perlis development and the people's well being.
as for kayjay, the man chicken out.when he was in it was like he is the man who will change the football future of our country, but when the football future is dark, he chicken out, i wonder how he held the position of umno deputy youth head...oh i forgot he won it unopposed as he is the son in-law of the prime minister of malaysia in other term the de facto pm of malaysia.i guess the best man to fill the deputy president would be datuk basri akil.

Malaysiakini.com a liar

Taib Breaks Silence Over Australian Visit And Health Condition

KUCHING, July 16 (Bernama) -- Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, who had been reported as "seriously ill" and undergoing treatment in Australia by an online news portal last week, finally broke his silence on the matter today.
Looking jovial and cheerful when approached by reporters, Taib joked with the group and asked them to judge for themselves his health condition and even sportingly took off his cap to show his forehead.
Asked about the Malaysiakini story, Taib, who returned to Kuching from Brunei shortly after midnight, said he would not comment on it.
"I don't want to comment. Do you trust your eyes or do you trust the propaganda of some political parties?," he told the reporters after a officiating a tree-planting ceremony in conjunction with the construction of a new building for Cats FM, a private radio station here owned by Sarawak-based Kristal Harta Sdn Bhd.
Asked on his visit to Australia, Taib explained that he went there on the invitation of South Australia Governor Marjorie Jackson-Nelson to attend a farewell reception.
He said that he could not turn down the invitation due to the long-standing relationship between the state and South Australia.
Taib said that after his official visit to Australia ended, he went to attend Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah's 61st birthday celebration in Bandar Seri Begawan before flying back to Kuching.
On Thursday, Malaysiakini reported that Taib was seriously ill to the extent that an acting chief minister would be appointed while he received medical treatment overseas.
The report also stated that some Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) leaders had rushed to Australia to visit him, further adding fuel to the rumours.
On Saturday, PBB deputy president Datuk Seri Abang Johari Tun Openg confirmed that Taib had held a meeting with them in Australia and that he was "well and fine".

earlier reported in malaysiakini.com

Taib ill, acting CM to be appointed?
Tony Thien
Jul 12, 07 1:50pm

Is Sarawak Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud seriously ill? And will an acting chief minister be appointed while he is receiving medical treatment overseas?
These are the questions being asked in Sarawak over the past 24 hours on Taib, a strongman who has helmed the state for more than a quarter of a century.
Top leaders from Taib’s ruling party PBB have rushed to Australia to meet the chief minister amid rumours that he is about to announce his succession plan and that an acting chief minister is to be appointed soon.
Malay PBB leaders, including deputy president Abang Johari and senior vice-president Awang Tengah Ali Hassan and State Assembly speaker Awang Asfia Awang Nassar, have left for Australia earlier this week.
Also in the same delegation is state assemblyperson for Tanjung Datu, Adenan Satem, a man once considered the frontrunner to take over from Taib.
Taib, who celebrated his 71st birthday in May, is reported to be in Adelaide where he is said to have been invited to attend a farewell reception for South Australia governor Marjorie Jackson-Nelson, who is retiring at the end of the month.
Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister Alfred Jabu has also left Kuching for Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday night, and he is reportedly on his way to Australia to meet Taib.
Taib has been chief minister for the resource-rich state since 1981 after taking over from his uncle, Abdul Rahman Yakub.
‘Taib is sick’
Sources close to both Taib and Rahman family members said that “Taib is sick”.
The chief minister had underwent an operation last year to remove a suspected cancerous colon in Singapore
While in recent months he was often seen in public, lately he has disappeared from the scene.
“It looks like there are signs that an acting chief minister may be appointed soon,” sources said.
Many Sarawakians, however, are still unaware of that most of their top leaders are currently overseas. Calls to many of key PBB politicians have gone unanswered.
Even former senior PBB leaders, who have got wind of what might be brewing in Australia, do not know exactly what is happening.
“One thing is for certain - something is happening. Either Taib is seriously ill suffering from a relapse or that for some reasons he has decided the time may have come for him to step down,” a former senior PBB leader told malaysiakini today.
There are also rumours that Taib's relations with top federal leaders have not been at its best, and that there are signs that Kuala Lumpur is putting pressure on him to quit and hand over power to a new and younger leader.
A former Taib political aide told malaysiakini that “Taib may merajuk (upset) over certain matters with federal leaders.”
Important announcement soon
There is little secret that Taib has been clearly agitated by the increasing activities of a local group led by Malay businessman Affendi Jeman to promote Umno in Sarawak - the only state where Umno does not have a foothold.
PBB leaders have stopped short of condemning such a move, other than to say as far as they are concerned, the move has not received the blessings of top Umno leaders.
In the Sarawak Umno promoters' office in Matang Jaya, just outside of Kuching, Effendi has a photograph on his desk showing him and certain top Umno leaders during their campaigning at recent by-elections in Peninsular Malaysia.
The Sarawak Umno promoters group has sent their people to help the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition in the campaigning.
Umno flags are flying in many Malay and Dayak kampungs throughout Sarawak where more than 100 protem branches have been set up.
“Container loads of Umno flags, which are printed in China, have been shipped to Sarawak,” said a source.
Local newspapers have not reported on the current happening in PBB or the flurry of visits to Australia by top PBB leaders and ministers.
But many local editors are aware that something is brewing and they are expecting an important announcement soon.

tunku : well it's a clear thing that malaysiakini.com is not a credible source of news, the lies a lot. by right as a so called alternative (internet)news agency and always called themselves as not bias it has proven that the don't walk the talk. they just listen to some rumours and make news out of it. it's a very shameful act.by the way i'm not taib supporter but what is right, is right.

Altantuya Murder Case 16/07/07

Altantuya Did Not Complain, Hotel Employee Tells Court

SHAH ALAM, July 16 (Bernama) -- A Hotel Malaya employee in charged of the front office told the High Court here today that he had never received any complaint from Altantuya Shaaribuu when she was staying there in October last year.
N. Haridharan, 22, said if the Mongolian woman lodged complaints, he surely had recorded them and informed the hotel manager on duty.
He also said that Altantuya checked into the hotel on Oct 9 at about 2am but because of the hotel policy, the registration form showed that she checked in on Oct 8.
He said this in reply to Abdul Razak Abdullah Baginda's lawyer, Wong Kian Kheong, on the 19th day of trial for Altantuya's murder.
Two policemen from the Special Action Squad -- 30-year-old Chief Inspector Azilah Hadri and Cpl Sirul Azhar Umar, 35, -- are charged with the murder while political analyst Abdul Razak, 46, is alleged to have abetted them.
In previous proceedings, two Mongolian women who were with Altantuya, Uuriintuya Gal-Ochir and Namiraa Gerelmaa, said Abdul Razak's private detective, Suras Kumar, had harassed and threatened them at the hotel.

Images Of Two Men- Believed To Be Azilah And Sirul Captured On Hotel's CCTV

SHAH ALAM, July 16 (Bernama) -- The Altantuya Shaariibuu murder trial was shown eight images of two men believed to be the accused, Chief Insp Azilah Hadri and Corporal Sirul Azhar Umar, which were captured on the closed-circuit television (CCTV) of Hotel Malaya, where the Mongolian stayed.
The images were shown on the screen of a 21-inch television placed on the prosecution's bench in the High Court here.
They revealed the two men, respectively wearing a white T-shirt and a yellow-blue striped T-shirt and pants, roaming the hotel lobby, the lift area, entering the lift and on the 7th and 11th floors between 4pm and 5pm on Oct 18 last year, a day before Altantuya was allegedly killed.
Another television set was placed on the judge's bench for Justice Datuk Mohd Zaki Yasin who is presiding over the trial which entered its 19th day.
Based on observation of the images which were not clear, the man in the yellow-blue striped T-shirt resembled Sirul Azhar, from the shape of his face and the physical aspect. At a glance, the other man looked like Azilah.
Azilah, 30, and Sirul Azhar, 35, are charged with murdering Altantuya, 28, at a location between Lots 12843 and 16735, Mukim Bukit Raja, between 10pm on Oct 19 last year and 1am the following day.

Mukhriz Denies Going For UMNO Youth Chief Post

KUALA LUMPUR, July 16 (Bernama) -- UMNO Youth executive committee member Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir Monday denied having announced his intention to contest for the movement's top post as reported by an English language daily.
He said the news report with the heading, "Mukhriz may go for Youth chief post" implied that he would contest for the post which was not true.
"I feel that it's not the time yet for anyone including myself to make such an announcement as it would deviate from the focus right now, which is, preparing for the coming general election," he said in a statement issued here.
Mukhriz who is Umno Youth International Relations and Non-Governmental Organisations Bureau, said he would give full attention to helping the movement's head Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein in preparing for the general election which could be held anytime.

tunku: very well said dato mukhriz. not like some people already mentioning kayjay's name as the successor for hishamuddin. as for me, you're a better person to head the youth than mr kayjay.

Najib Asks Bumi Entrepreneurs To Shed Old Thinking Patterns

KUALA LUMPUR, July 15 (Bernama) -- Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak Sunday advised Bumiputera entrepreneurs to shed their old thinking patterns and emerge as new Bumiputera entrepreneurs who are able to stand on their own feet and not depend on mere handouts.
It would be more honourable and comforting when the new Bumiputera entrepreneurs emerge, having 100 per cent control of their companies and not having to seek 30 per cent equity in the companies of others, he said.
They should be bold enough to accept change by drawing up business strategies and not depend on contracts derived through direct negotiations with the government or through the "know who" concept, he said.
"Our people (Bumiputera entrepreneurs) prefer to go for direct negotiations. I have received many letters myself. And also has the prime minister (Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi). If we only depend on the `know who' principle, life is going to be difficult," he said when opening the Wangsa Maju Umno Division delegates meeting here.
Also present were Federal Territory Umno Liaison Committee Chairman Datuk Seri Zulhasnan Rafique and Wangsa Maju Umno Division acting chief Major (Hon) Datuk Zainal Nazeri Zainuddin.
Najib said Umno does not discriminate against the other communities in its efforts to champion the Malay agenda because the other communities also contribute to the success of Malaysia which has earned recognition as a model nation and a benchmark for developing countries.
"We cannot refute Umno's deeds to the Malays and the nation, which are invaluable. The Malays need a quantum leap in terms of progress and merely running fast in catch up with progress is not enough," he said.
Najib, who is Umno deputy president, said Umno in the urban areas should play a role in places where it is unrepresented and where there are fewer Malay voters.
"Even when there are no Umno elected representatives, Umno's presence (in these areas) must be respected and the Malays, despite the smaller percentage, are the determinant," he said.
Najib said this was because Umno had greater wisdom in garnering the cooperation of all the other communities in making Malaysia a model nation in the eyes of the world.
Najib also said that Umno members should ask themselves what they could do for the party and not the other way round.
"I have heard people saying they have been in the party for 30 years and have not benefited in any way. You have also heard such talk. Such thinking must change. What we want is the spirit of the struggle and quality at all levels," he said.
He said the spirit of the struggle for the people, religion and nation must sweep through the 3.3 million membership of Umno and the spirit should be embedded in all aspects and not politics alone.
Najib said that in its struggle, the party should adhere to principles and moral values as these would eventually bring success.

tunku : that's the problem, if the government make every project an open tender then life would be much easier for us,every "good" project is always a direct nego project and the price could fetch 30-50% higher if it's done through open tender.an the culture of "know who" is a must in today's world otherwise you just do small business.it's so sad that sometimes there are people who have the knowledge,skill etc but no "cable" can't go further.

BN Focusing On Taking Over Kelantan - Radzi

KUALA LUMPUR, July 15 (Bernama) -- Umno's election machinery is ready for the general election and the focus this time is to take over Kelantan from Pas, Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Mohd Radzi Sheikh Ahmad said.
He said the current atmosphere in the state showed Barisan Nasional (BN) was in a comfortable position under Datuk Annuar Musa's leadership and it had gained better confidence compared to previously.
"The divisional leaderships also are ready for elections. They show willingness to work as a team. This is a good sign. I will continue to go there to maintain solidarity.
"If we can win in Kelantan, it's a big bonus for us," he told reporters after opening Seputeh Wanita Umno delegates conference here.
Radzi, who is BN secretary-general and home affairs minister, said he had gone on a nationwide tour, except to the Federal Territories, to strengthen Umno's election machinery at the grassroot level.
During the visit, he said, he had handed over copies of the Electoral Roll for all 6,850 polling districts and it was divided according to age groups. "With this, it is easier for us to set targets," he said.

tunku : for bn to win over kelantan under the leadership of annuar musa is quite impossible although i do wish for bn to win for the betterment of kelantan itself. though pas is not strong but kelantan's umno is not strong enough to put on the challenge.kelantan umno need some fresh faces and most of all sincere leaders. i still think it should be mustapha mohamad who should lead kelantan umno not annuar musa.

Zahid Hamidi rayu Pemuda Umno sokong WPI

KUALA LUMPUR: Pergerakan Pemuda Umno di semua bahagian diminta untuk menyokong Pemuda Umno Johor membidas kenyataan Menteri Mentor Singapura Lee Kuan Yew kononnya pemimpin Umno Johor tidak mengalu-alukan pelaburan republik itu di Wilayah Pembangunan Iskandar (WPI).
Ahli Majlis Tertinggi Umno Datuk Ahmad Zahid Hamidi berkata ini kerana isu tersebut melibatkan nama baik Malaysia.
"Pemuda bahagian dan cawangan perlu memberikan respons, apabila tiada sokongan daripada ahli yang lain kita tidak mahu Johor ditinggalkan bersendirian kerana ia melibatkan masalah nasional bukan masalah Johor sahaja," katanya kepada pemberita selepas merasmikan mesyuarat perwakilan Pemuda Umno bahagian Wangsa Maju di sini hari ini.
Ahmad Zahid yang juga Timbalan Menteri Penerangan berkata kenyataan Lee itu dilihat seperti mempunyai agenda tersendiri dan menunjukkan ketidakpuasan hati beliau terhadap kemajuan negara.
"Kita tidak boleh ikut cara negara luar kerana mereka sentiasa ada `political threat', kita perlu buktikan kepada mereka perkhidmatan dan kesungguhan kita di tahap terbaik," katanya.
Terdahulu dalam ucapannya Ahmad Zahid berkata Pemuda Umno perlu bersikap versatil bagi membuktikan diri mereka mampu menjadi pemimpin yang disegani dan dihormati oleh generasi muda. BERNAMA

tunku : don't worry zahid, pemuda umno under kj influence will give full blind support to anything.by right is the pm who answer lky not pemuda umno.but why pm bother to answer, he wants very good relationship with neighbour till let the neighbour do anything, he just smiles.

Lancar Portal Atau Rasmi Pecah Tanah Projek Juga Pembohongan Terancang

SHAH ALAM, 13 Julai (Bernama) -- Pelancaran portal internet atau majlis pecah tanah sesuatu projek hartanah juga boleh menjadi satu "pembohongan terancang" sekiranya ia tidak disusuli dengan tindakan berterusan, kata Menteri Besar Selangor Datuk Seri Dr Mohamad Khir Toyo.
"Saya agak curiga jika nak merasmikan projek pecah tanah atau portal internet kerana ia melibatkan tindakan yang berterusan. Kalau saya rasmikan dan kemudian bagitau sesuatu portal itu bagus tetapi selepas itu tidak di kemaskini atau diteruskan, ini sesuatu yang dianggap tidak betul," katanya.
Beliau berkata demikian dalam sidang media selepas merasmikan Ekspo ICT Selangor dan Anugerah Saintis Muda Selangor 2007 sempena Bulan Teknologi Maklumat Selangor 2007 di sini hari ini.
Dr Mohamad Khir sebelum ini membuat kenyataan bahawa pemberian anugerah khdimat cemerlang dalam perkhidmatan awam di Selangor adalah satu "pembohongan terancang" kerana diberikan secara giliran iaitu semua pegawai akan mendapat pengiktirafan tersebut tanpa menilai prestasi kerja yang sebenar.
Beliau berkata sepatutnya apabila sesuatu portal internet mengenai sesebuah organisasi dilancarkan, ia perlu dikemaskini setiap masa untuk memberi manfaat kepada rakyat.
"Sebab itu saya tak berapa gemar merasmikan portal internet kerana selalu terjadi ia tidak dikemaskinikan. Bagi saya tak ada maknanya kita ada portal tetapi berita atau maklumat tidak dikemaskinikan dan saya harap perkara ini tidak berleluasa," katanya.
Katanya perkara sama juga berlaku dalam hal majlis perasmian pecah tanah sesuatu projek yang dianggap hebat semasa pelancaran tetapi akhirnya selepas itu projek tidak berjalan dengan lancar.
"Kita pecah tanah hari ini tetapi kontraktor tak buat kerja lepas itu...dan saya pula sudah bagitau masa pelancaran projek itu bagus dan sebagainya tetapi tak jalan..itu pun satu pembohongan juga.
"Sebab itu saya lebih suka jika merasmikan majlis pemberian kunci rumah contohnya kerana projek telah siap dan lengkap serta ada kualiti jadi kita nampak ia telah selesai. Saya lebih melihat kepada apa yang kita cakap. Kita buat jangan kita cakap bagus lepas itu orang tunggu juga, ini juga bermakna kita berbohong kepada rakyat," katanya.

tunku : khir toyo is right.this ground breaking ceremony should be banned totally.let the project completes and satisfactory then only call the vvip to officiate it.we have seen so many projects where the ground breaking ceremony done but the project never completed and some are completed but with defects and problems.i guess all the leaders take note of khir toyo's statement.

Kofi Annan: Malaysia better than many regional nations

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has its own problems, but the situation is better of than that of many other countries in the region, former United Nations secretary-general Kofi Annan said.
He said there might be tensions but Malaysia had managed the ethnic mix better than many other societies.
"I have no doubt that there are difficulties. There are problems in Malaysia but look around you and compare it with other situations. I think Malaysia can claim that the country has been relatively peaceful.
"It's a lesson that you need to share with others. With all the difficulties you see but compare that with other countries in other region. I think you put things into perspective," he told a press conference here on Friday.
Annan said the world was divided where extremist minority groups often exploited religion to support their cause.
"What is sad is that the majority don't speak up. The impression is given that these extreme elements speak for the religion and represent the religion. I wish the majority will also speak up."
He proposed that Malaysia's leadership not just be involved in peacekeeping operations but also be involved in debates of the so-called "clash of civilization".
"The debate today is between those who see the West as threatening their beliefs, their future, their political aspiration and the elements in the West who seem to see Islam as an extremist religion.
"We live in a much wider world and an interdependent one and the kind of leadership that I am encouraging Malaysia to take on is not limited to the conflict between the Israelis and the Palestinians."
He said Malaysia was one of the countries, which offered troops to put a peacekeeping force in the south of Lebanon after the war between Lebanon and Israel.
"That kind of leadership is essential but it should not be limited to peacekeeping operations, but where we have debate between coexistence of different religions, different creeds and different people, I think Malaysia has a voice and it should use it more often."
On the issue of Hamas, he said Malaysia could involve in the discussions of the establishments of two states, Israel and Palestine.
"It can work with other countries in the region and the quartet. Malaysia's voice must be heard."
He said Malaysia's leaders had always responded on issues, which needed support and leadership from certain Islamic countries.
On Asean's non-interference policy, Annan said Governments could not use the excuse of sovereignty to stay out of certain crimes such as those against humanity and violation of human rights.
"Certain crimes, we cannot say they are somebody else's problem. We should all be compelled to act. Asean needs to be a bit more active in the neighbourhood."
Citing the Myanmar conflict as an example, he said Asean could use peer pressure to steer things right.
He said regional organisations such as the European Union and the African Union which had initially adopted non-interference policy now started to realise that crisis would not remain internal or geographically limited for long because it tends to spread.

tunku : it's sad that some of our own people doesn't realize this, that malaysia is much far better than other multiracial country.

IGP: What's there to worry about

KUALA LUMPUR (July 12, 2007): "What is there to worry about? I have nothing to worry. This is normal."
This was Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan's response to the probe by the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) on allegations of corruption and malpractices made against him in a weblog.
He however declined to elaborate on the investigations and told reporters to speak to the ACA if they wanted to know more.
"They are investigating the report. Why ask me, ask the ACA." he said when asked if the ACA had obtained a statement from him.
However, sources said ACA officers from Putrajaya had gone to Bukit Aman about two weeks ago to record a statement from Musa.
On Tuesday (July 10), Deputy Internal Security Minister Datuk Johari Baharom had revealed in Parliament that he had lodged a report with the ACA on the allegations against Musa which were posted by Raja Petra Kamaruddin on his weblog Malaysia-today.com last month.
The highly-detailed posting claimed Musa had close links to underworld lords and had protected their interest in criminal activities such as vice and illegal 4D-lotteries.
In earlier comments, Musa had described the claims as "wild slander".
Musa had earlier attended a joint function with the National Achives to commemorate the struggles and contributions of the Royal Malaysian Police in achieving and retaining the country's independence at the Police Officers' College in Cheras today.
In his speech, Musa touched on the challenges and obstacles faced by the police force since it was formed by the British 200 years ago.
He said the Emergencies between 1948 and 1960 and the battle against the Communist were among the police's toughest and most demanding periods.
Musa said the people must be cautious about instigators and those who make slanderous claims to discredit the government as this can affect the security and peace of the country.
"We hope the public will report these undesirables to the authorities, especially the police, so that their activities can be eradicated."

tunku : let the ACA investigate and pass the report to AG. AG will announe whether Tan Sri Musa should be prosecuted or not.Well one person is really hoping he'll be prosecuted that is johari baharom.

Proton Will Never Die, Government Assures

KUALA LUMPUR, July 12 (Bernama) -- The government gave an assurance today that it will never allow national car maker Proton to close down even though its performance is deteriorating for now.
Finance Ministry parliamentary secretary Datuk Seri Dr Hilmi Yahaya told the Dewan Negara that the government is scouring all avenues to bring about Proton's financial recovery and enable its products to be globally competitive.
"The government will never let Proton die, not only to protect our nation's image but also because it is our national car, and it is still in a good position except that its performance has dropped," he said.
He was replying during Question Time to a supplementary question from senator Datuk Norraesah Mohamad who wanted to know if Proton will die if a strategic partner cannot be found for it.
Hilmi said Proton was continuing its negotiations with Volkswagen and General Motors on such a strategic partnership, with the outcome likely by year-end.
To the original question from senator Tan Bon You on the possibility of Proton merging with Perodua as a final option if no foreign strategic partner is found, Hilmi said Proton has no intention for now to have talks with other parties, including Perodua.
He explained that the factors leading to Proton's deteriorating sales and performance were its low output rate and limited market.
"In terms of production, car makers like Toyota and Honda turn out about a million units a year of each model compared with Proton's 200,000 units, which of course means higher production cost," he said.
"In terms of sales, Proton's market is predominantly domestic and only a few units are exported, while imported cars have incentives such as very low hire purchase interest rates, plus rebates," he said in reply to a question from Senator Wan Ubaidah Omar.

tunku : first of all, i thank the government for their assurance that proton will never die but hope that the government assures us that it will come back very strong.
again i'm stressing that the current management has failed and need to be replaced.

Altantuya Murder Case 12/07/07

Azilah, Sirul Azhar Were Never Relieved Of UTK Duties - Sri Kumar

SHAH ALAM, July 12 (Bernama) -- Chief Inspector Azilah Hadri and Corporal Sirul Azhar Umar, the first and second accused in the murder of Mongolian Altantuya Shaariibuu, were never relieved of their duties as Special Action Force (UTK) operatives, a UTK training officer testified Thursday.
DSP M.V. Sri Kumar told the murder trial that Azilah, 30, and Sirul Azhar, 35, would be relieved of their duties only if they had failed in the monthly physical, shooting skills and swimming tests or had continuously skipped training while in service.
UTK operatives are considered experienced and knowledgeable the longer they served in the force and underwent a lot of training, said Sri Kumar, 41, who joined the UTK on June 20 1992, on the 18th day of the high-profile trial.
Questioned by DPP Noorin Badaruddin whether a UTK operative with long service and had never been relieved of duties showed he was consistent in his performance, he said: "Yes, in all fields of training, including in handling firearms."
Azilah, 30, and Sirul Azhar, 35, are charged with murdering Altantuya, 28, between 10pm on Oct 19 and 1am on Oct 20 last year while political analyst Abdul Razak Baginda, 46, is accused of abetting them.
Earlier, Sri Kumar, told the High Court that policemen and police officers were required to attend an interview before they were picked for a two-week initial selection test.
The successful candidates would then undergo a three-month basic training, he said.
It was during the basic training that they would be exposed to handling of bombs and other weapons.
After completing the basic training, they would be absorbed into the force and would undergo in-service training under their respective unit heads.
Saying that explosives were not used in all in-service training, he said there was a possibility that Azilah and Sirul Azhar underwent the training (handling explosives under their respective heads).
He said unit leaders would decide whom to collect and return the explosives to the armoury after they are used for in-service trainings.
The UTK has stringent conditions to take out explosives from the armoury, he added.
The trial resumes on Monday.

Prosecution To Play Hotel Malaya CCTV Tapes In Court On Monday

SHAH ALAM, July 12 (Bernama) -- Recordings of closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras at Hotel Malaya where Mongolian woman, Altantuya Shaariibuu, was staying before her murder, will be viewed in court on Monday.
Lead prosecutor Tun Abdul Majid Tun Hamzah told the High Court that the earlier arrangement for the court to view the recordings at the hotel's control room has been called off.
This was because the hotel's office where the monitor screen is placed was too small and cannot accommodate all the parties involved in the trial to view the recordings.
As a result, he said, a new arrangement has been made for the recordings to be played and viewed in court. Setting up of the equipment for the viewing will be ready by Monday, he said.
Meanwhile, the high-profile trial before Judge Datuk Mohd Zaki Md Yasin continued, with the 17th prosecution witness, Jimmy Loo Mow Chan, Hotel Malaya operations manager, testifying.

Azilah Was Never Instructed To Perform Detonations, Says Witness

SHAH ALAM, July 12 (Bernama) -- Chief Insp Azilah Hadri, the first accused in the murder of Mongolian Altantuya Shaariibuu, was never instructed to perform detonations in any operation since his service with the Special Action Force (UTK) four years ago, the High Court here was told Thursday.
DSP M.V. Sri Kumar, 41, training officer of the UTK, said Azilah did not have the skill to breach explosives and only experts were allowed to do the job.
Sri Kumar, the prosecutions' 16 witness, said the second accused, Corporal Sirul Azhar Umar, who is also a UTK member, also did not have the skill to handle explosives.
They only had basic training in handling explosives when they joined the UTK but they could have undergone training in explosives at other times during their service, he said.
During basic training, they were exposed to the handling of explosives under the supervision of a team leader, he added.
Sri Kumar, who joined the UTK on June 20 1992, was testifying under cross-examination by Azilah's counsel, Hazman Ahmad on the 18th day of the trial.
Azilah, 30, and Sirul Azhar, 35, are charged with murdering Altantuya, 28, between 10pm on Oct 19 and 1am on Oct 20 last year while political analyst Abdul Razak Abdullah Baginda, 46, is accused of abetting them.
Earlier, when examined by deputy public prosecutor Noorin Badaruddin, Sri Kumar said that during basic training, after completing the theory which covered explosives, wiring and safety, the trainees would be taken to the bombing range and given some explosives to detonate before a trainer.
Noorin: During operations who decides gets the explosives?
Sri Kumar: The respective team leaders would choose the trainees who would handle the explosives and the type of explosives to bring along.
Noorin: What is the procedure after training or an operation involving explosives ends?
Sri Kumar: When all the explosives are used up, it ends there. If there is any left over, the officer who filled the form or the personnel who took out the explosives should return them to the store.
Asked whether the group members could take away any leftover explosives or accessories without anyone's knowledge, he said that if the officer requested 500gm of plastic explosive, for example, and did not use it, then the amount returned to the store must be 500gm.
He said that if the explosives had been used and there was excess, it should be returned to the store.
"For plastic explosives of PE, they are not taken in their raw form during operations. Normally they are shaped before they are taken for operations.
"So the officer supervising the explosives will take the shaped charge for the operation. If it's not used, the shaped charge will be returned to the store in the same shape," he said.
Sri Kumar said that during training and operations under his supervision, there was no possibility of loss of explosives, "not even a single bit".
However, he was not sure whether losses occurred under the supervision of other officers.
Earlier, the court was told of the types of explosives used by the UTK and how they function. Justice Mohd Zaki Md Yasin even commented that today's session was like "learning the theory of explosives".
Sri Kumar said the explosives used and stored in the UTK store included PE, Cutting Liner Charge (CLC), detonating or det cord, detonator and sound devices like flash bang.
On the C4 explosive, he said it was a composition of four substances but was not available at the UTK
Asked whether any of the explosives could be detonated without the help of accessories he said that only the detonator could blow up by itself.
Sri Kumar said the PE found in the UTK was like plasticine, pink in colour and packed in 500gm slabs like butter and could be could be easily shaped with the hand.
He said that except for the flash bang (which only let out a sound) the others were categorised as high explosives with speed of 1000-9000m per second.
He added that the claymore mine wire was a explosive which could be detonated with a electrical charge, including from a car battery with 12 volt power source.
Throughout Sri Kumar's testimony, Azilah and Sirul Azhar were listening attentively.
When Noorin asked about the quantity of PE needed to blow up an object like a door or grille, Sri Kumar said: "It depends on the door or grille and the degree of explosion. It is enough to break a solid wooden door with only 100gm."
He said a detonator must be used because it was the life of the explosion and for a more effective explosion, if the PE was insufficient, CLC could be used to add strength.
"A wire will be used for safety purposes. It is connected to the fuse.
Under cross-examination by Sirul Azhar's counsel, Ahmad Zaidi Zainal, on whether the military also used the explosives used by the UTK, Sri Kumar said: "They are also used in other units of the Royal Malaysia Police like the bomb disposal squad and the general forces team but I don't know whether they are used in the military."
On the effect of CLC if detonated above ground, he said it would form a crater and if the CLC was directed towards the earth, then it would head earthwards but the power of the explosion was spread overall.
He said CLC must be used together with a detonator and the wire must be connected to a clicker and after the explosion, the wire near the CLC could be shattered and frayed but the end far away from it would be intact.
The hearing continues tomorrow.

Witness Says Azilah Never Had Any Specialised Training On Handling Explosives

SHAH ALAM, July 12 (Bernama) -- Chief Insp Azilah Hadri, the first accused in the murder of Mongolian Altantuya Shaariibuu, had never been instructed to perform detonations in any operation, the High Court here was told Thursday.
DSP M.V. Sri Kumar, 41, training officer of the Bukit Aman Special Action Force (UTK), said that throughout his service, he had never instructed Azilah to perform detonations because Azilah did not have any specialised training on handling explosives.
He also confirmed that the second accused, Corporal Sirul Azhar Umar, also had no such training and that both only underwent basic training when they joined the force.
He said that each officer tasked with taking explosives from the armoury had recorded the amount taken and when the remainder was returned, the amount had also to be recorded.
"They had no opportunity to take away the remainder on the sly," he said at the trial of Azilah, 30, and Sirul Azhar, 35, both from the UTK, charged with murdering Altantuya, 28, between 10pm on Oct 19 and 1am on Oct 20 last year.
Also in the dock was political analyst Abdul Razak Abdullah Baginda, 46, charged with abetting them. The trial entered its 18th day today.
Sri Kumar said there was no likelihood at all of explosives going missing during training and operations under him.
However, he was not sure whether there had been such losses during training and operations under other superior officers.

Another possible Asia Financial Crisis

Ex-RBA man warns of second Asian financial crisis

AN ASSET bubble in Asia could cause another financial crisis like the one a decade ago, a former deputy governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia said yesterday.
Stephen Grenville, a member of the central bank's board during the 1997 Asian financial crisis, said Asia's financial sector was still fragile and he predicted Asian nations would be reluctant to seek help from the International Monetary Fund if another crisis emerged.
Dr Grenville said a shortage of foreign currency reserves in Asian economies was still a problem. "There's the possibility when exchange rates come under par, they [investors] will change their behaviour in a way that's most inconvenient," he told the Lowy Institute think tank in Sydney.
Volatile capital flows, fragile financial markets and "less anchored" exchange rates added to the risk of another Asian financial meltdown, he warned.
"They [the Asian economies] are going to have current account deficits if they get capital flowing again," he said.
"They'll have to have higher exchange rates. When you have more investment, you have the possibility of an asset bubble."
However, Dr Grenville said another financial crisis in the near-term was unlikely. "There seems to be no chance of another crisis like that any time soon," he said.
In July 1997, the "tiger" economies of Indonesia, South Korea and Thailand were plunged into economic turmoil after capital investments were abruptly withdrawn as investors lost faith in corporate governance.
Malaysia, the Philippines, Hong Kong and Laos were also affected.
The battered Asian economies had previously kept interest rates high to attract foreign investors seeking high returns.
Dr Grenville said the International Monetary Fund had not made much progress with its governance in the decade since the Asian financial crisis and Asian economies would probably delay asking for help if another emergency arose.
"You do need an international lender of last resort but the countries have said 'never again'," he said, before advocating the creation of a regional Asian monetary fund.
After the 1997 financial crisis, Asian economies turned current account deficits into current account surpluses. As foreign debt levels fell, so did economic growth rates.
To grow again, Dr Grenville said Asian economies would have to run current account deficits as a price for attracting foreign investment.
He said the Indonesian and Thai economies should be growing much faster than they were. "If China can grow by more than 10 per cent, then the countries of South-East Asia should be growing by more than 5 per cent," Dr Grenville said.
He said Indonesia's gross domestic product would be a third higher than what it is now if the 1997 crisis had not curbed its previously higher economic growth rate of about 7 per cent.
Agencies

tunku : i hope this won't happen(i pray to God that this will never come true)but the possibilities are there. we are much dependent on foreign investment as our majority businesses are only in oil and palmoil.we are suffering now even when the pm said that our economy are booming.Ask most of the businessman, they are all crying except for fews.goods are so expensive nowadays, everything is up except for income.i really hope that the government really look into this and put all efforts to avoid or minimize the crisis.