Guru ajar tuisyen boleh dibuang kerja?? YAU MOU GAU...CHOR!!

KUALA LUMPUR: Guru yang mengajar tuisyen tanpa kebenaran Jabatan Pelajaran Negeri dan beroperasi di pusat yang tidak berdaftar, boleh dikenakan tindakan tatatertib termasuk diberhentikan kerja.

Pengarah Bahagian Sekolah, Kementerian Pelajaran, Noor Rezan Bapoo Hashim, berkata, guru terbabit juga boleh dipindahkan ke sekolah lain, tidak dinaikkan pangkat dan gaji atau diturunkan pangkat.

Katanya, semua pegawai JPN sudah diarah memantau kegiatan guru mengajar tuisyen di peringkat negeri dan daerah. Jabatan Pelajaran juga akan mendapatkan kerjasama ibu bapa untuk membantu menangani isu itu.

“Kita tidak mahu guru bertugas di sekolah sekadar untuk meraih kemudahan kerajaan seperti perubatan dan pinjaman tetapi tidak menjelaskan cukai hasil pendapatan tambahan mengajar tuisyen,” katanya ketika dihubungi di sini, semalam.

Sebelum ini, Menteri Pelajaran, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein meminta guru yang memberi lebih tumpuan kepada kelas tuisyen di luar waktu sekolah, berbanding ketika mengajar supaya berhenti saja daripada profesion perguruan.

Laporan media menyebut, ada guru sekolah mampu memperoleh pendapatan sehingga mencecah RM10,000 sebulan hasil mengendalikan kelas tuisyen.

Ada antara mereka hanya mengajar perkara asas dan tidak menyeluruh di bilik darjah kerana selebihnya digunakan sebagai modal untuk kelas tuisyen bagi menarik ramai pelajar.

Mengikut peraturan, guru boleh memohon untuk kerja tambahan seperti mengajar di kelas tuisyen untuk tempoh empat jam seminggu tetapi beliau percaya tidak semua guru mengemukakan permohonan rasmi kepada Jabatan Pelajaran masing-masing.

Noor Rezan berkata, pihaknya pernah memberi kata dua kepada guru terbabit membuat pilihan sama ada berhenti menjadi guru kerajaan atau guru tuisyen bagi memastikan hanya pendidik yang ikhlas kekal dalam sistem pendidikan negara.

Pihaknya sedia menyiasat sebarang aduan yang diterima daripada ibu bapa bagi memastikan guru tidak mengabaikan tanggungjawabmereka ketika mengajar di sekolah.

“Jangan berlengah untuk melaporkan kepada kami terutama jika ada guru yang secara terbuka meminta pelajar menghadiri kelas tuisyennya untuk mendapat penjelasan atau maklumat lanjut berhubung sesuatu subjek yang diajar.

“Kami sedia menyiasat, malah kerjasama dengan pihak berkuasa tempatan turut dijalin untuk mengesahkan sama ada pusat tuisyen itu memiliki lesen atau sebaliknya,” katanya.

This one MOU GAU...CHOR!!!

Express service from Immigration Department

PUTRAJAYA: The Immigration Department is going on an information technology push, which will enable electronic tracking of applications for Permanent Residence, on-the-spot maid application approvals and Visa On Arrival (VOA) for almost all foreigners.

Immigration director-general Raja Azahar Raja Abdul Manap said this was in addition to the one-hour passport renewal service already available at selected Immigration offices in the country.

“This is part of the department’s efforts to improve our delivery system to better serve the public and also improve our efficiency,” he told The Star.

On PR applications, which have come in for criticism from the public, Raja Azahar said that from next year all applications would be keyed in electronically and the applicants would be able to know the status at any given time during the processing period.

“Immigration officers have had difficulty tracking files. From next year, at the click of the mouse, we will be able to know the status of a PR application and which government agency was reviewing it.

“The applicant will also be able to know whether the application is undergoing security vetting, being processed at the Immigration Department or Home Ministry level or whether it has been approved.

“Hopefully, with this in place, the processing time can be shortened to maybe a year.”

PR application has been a bane for many foreign spouses married to Malaysians, with many claiming to being given the run-around whenever they checked on the status of their applications.

Another complaint is that PR status is still not being granted despite waiting for more than 15 years.

On applications for foreign domestic maids, Raja Azahar said that if the documentation were in order, the department would approve them within a day or immediately.

The Immigration Department Electronic Application System (Ideas) also allows for online applications and extension of passes for maids.

“All applications can now be done using Ideas and registered agencies may submit their applications online via www. imi.gov.my.

“Some of the state offices and our head office here are already approving the renewal for maids immediately,” said Raja Azahar.

He said the department was also working on providing Visa on Arrival (VOA) for most tourists, except those from Israel and 21 African countries.

Biggest 1-day fall in 3 years for baht

PETALING JAYA: South-East Asian currencies, other than the baht, largely recovered or were unaffected by the Thai military coup that took place yesterday.

The ringgit ended almost unchanged against the US dollar as the local currency slowly retraced after a sharp “gap-up” weakening in early morning in reaction to the previous night’s dollar-baht movement, dealers said.

In reaction to the coup, the baht - which can be traded round the clock in Singapore - experienced its largest one-day fall in three years yesterday, as tanks rolled on the streets in Bangkok.

The baht experienced a drop of 1.2% against the dollar yesterday.

During the day the baht initially recouped some of the losses incurred in overnight trading but had weakened back to 37.7 against the dollar at 5pm yesterday, not much changed from 37.77 at 5am.

At 5pm, other South-East Asian currencies remained relatively unchanged, with the rupiah marginally lower and the peso higher than the previous day.

The peso was at 50.16 to the greenback against Tuesday’s closing of 50.36.

The rupiah was 9,168 to the dollar against Tuesday’s 9,160.

The ringgit closed at 3.6780/6830 to the greenback from 3.6800/6830 on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the Singapore dollar rebounded from its overnight weakness in muted response to the coup.

At 5pm, the Singapore dollar was trading at 1.5862 to the US dollar, up from yesterday’s close of 1.5920.

Although the baht had experienced a sell-down, a local foreign exchange dealer pointed out that trading volumes were very thin as the Thai stock market was closed.

“The market is waiting for Bangkok (stock market) to open to gauge the internal reaction,” he said.

A head of research contacted agreed, saying that anything affecting a neighbouring country could potentially affect other countries in the region.

Fund managers would likely be re-looking at their portfolios in the region with the market remaining cautious of the situation in Thailand.

RAM Consultancy Services Sdn Bhd managing director and chief economist Dr Yeah Kim Leng said the contagion effect of a weakening of the baht was likely to be limited with the sharp appreciation in the renminbi having more impact on Asian currencies.

“Although there is a counter-balance effect, the spillover (from Thailand) would be limited at this point,” he said.

Coup disrupts Japanese carmakers’ production

TOKYO: Production at Japanese automakers’ factories in Thailand was disrupted yesterday after the country’s armed forces seized power in Bangkok, with Nissan Motor Co, Mazda Motor Corp and others calling off work for the day.

Most Japanese automakers have major manufacturing and export bases in Thailand, which has welcomed foreign assemblers in a bid to build up a strong auto components industry.

“There has been a strong recommendation to stay indoors,” a Nissan spokeswoman in Tokyo said, adding that the company had confirmed that 33 Japanese employees at Nissan and affiliated companies were safe. She said a decision on whether to reopen its plants, on the outskirts of Bangkok, on Thursday would be made later.

Nissan’s two factories build about 200 Frontier pickup trucks, Teana sedans and Tiida compact cars a day.

Mazda, which owns a 50:50 joint venture factory with controlling shareholder Ford Motor Co in Rayong, about a three-hour drive from Bangkok, has also cancelled work for the day, including at its sales and regional offices in the capital.

Toyota Motor Corp, Japan’s top automaker and the number one seller in Thailand, had earlier told employees to stay at home but later lifted that order. A spokeswoman said the directive to stay away had not reached many of the workers, and the three factories had been operating as usual from their 7.30am start.

Rival Honda Motor Co cancelled work for the first shift at its car plant in Bangkok but said it planned to resume for the second shift starting at 8pm local time. Its motorcycle factory was operating as usual, a spokeswoman said.

Honda builds about 480 units of the Accord, City, Civic and other cars daily at the factory.

Truck maker Isuzu Motors Ltd, which has a major production base in Thailand, shut down its two truck factories outside Bangkok at 9am local time after 90 minutes of work. A spokesman said Isuzu was studying how to proceed today, gauging the flow of components and distribution capabilities.

Mitsubishi Motors Corp’s factory in Chonburi, southeast of Bangkok, was running as usual, reporting no impact on exports.

Singapore state investor Temasek Holdings, which controls Thailand's top telecoms group Shin Corp, said yesterday it was watching developments in Thailand, but had no further comment.

“We continue to monitor the situation, and at this stage it would be premature for us to comment,” a Temasek spokeswoman said in an e-mailed statement.

Shin was founded by ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. He and his relatives sold a controlling stake in the company to a Temasek-led consortium in January in a US$1.9bil deal that triggered a political crisis

United Overseas Bank, Singapore’s second largest bank, said yesterday it was committed to its investments in Thailand after the military took power in a coup and dismissed the government.

“United Overseas Bank is committed to being a long-term investor in Thailand as we see enormous economic potential there,” a spokeswoman said in an email. She said the bank expected “business as usual” for its operations.

The company did not say how much its Thai business contributes to earnings.

Stock broker CIMBGK Securities said in a note yesterday that UOB derives an estimated 3% of group earnings from Thailand, while 8% of its assets are based in Thailand.

UOB said its 300 ATMs and other self-service machines in the country were operating yesterday, which was declared a bank and market holiday by the military. According to the bank’s annual report, it has 155 branches in Thailand.

Tesco Plc, the UK’s biggest retailer, said its stores in Thailand and Hungary haven’t been affected by political unrest in the countries.

The retailer has 87 stores in Hungary, where protesters demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany clashed with riot police for a second night. Tesco also has 220 outlets in Thailand.

Greg Sage, a spokesman for the Cheshunt, England-based company, said its stores in Budapest were on the edge of the city, away from the protests. He also noted the Thai coup had so far been peaceful. – Agencies

Dr M blames loss on bribery??? YAU MOU GAU..CHOR!!

PUTRAJAYA: Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who failed in his attempt to be elected a Kubang Pasu Umno delegate to the Umno general assembly, has cited bribery as one of the reasons for his defeat.

Some delegates, he alleged, were given RM200 each in an envelope which also contained a piece of paper listing the favoured candidates.

“I admit I will not be able to provide ample proof, but one of the delegates who was casting her vote passed on this piece of paper when we were shaking hands,” he said, holding out a piece of paper containing the numbers of the seven favoured candidates out of 15 people vying to be the division delegates to the assembly in November.

The former Umno president said he kept the paper; and when the results were out, six favoured numbers were selected while his son, Muhkriz, although his number was not listed, won a place.

“This is the price of the dignity of the Malays – RM200. I am sad because I know the existence of money politics in the party.

“However, I can’t believe that the party leadership used money to ensure my defeat,” he told a group of supporters who turned up at the Perdana Leadership Foundation here after his defeat over the weekend.

Another reason he cited for his defeat was the massive use of federal and state government machinery.

He said Kubang Pasu Umno members were not willing to lodge a report because “they will be subjected to all kinds of questioning.”

“Three cheers for this Government, they have succeeded because they used the biggest sledgehammer to kill one tiny mosquito,” he said.

The former prime minister said he would continue to expose the misdeeds of the present administration.

“I don’t care if they don’t like me, these people who run the Government. I care for the ordinary people. I think they have not rejected me,” he said.

“They are still friendly, they still want to kiss my hand. From the smiling faces, I can assume they don’t hate me. But I hear many people do not like the present Government.”

He said the Government could try to shut him up.

“I have a big mouth and am going to use this big mouth to expose the misdeeds of the Government. They can try to stop me from talking; the only way they can stop me is to throw me in jail,” Dr Mahathir added.

Teachers warned against doing business without approval

PETALING JAYA: Teachers doing business without the approval of the Education Ministry are a disgrace to the profession and could face disciplinary action.

“It is against their professional ethics to do so,” said Schools Division director Noor Rezan Bapoo Hashim.

“Although the ministry understands that some teachers need extra income, bearing in mind the high cost of living in the Klang Valley and some places, they must go through the proper channels she told The Star when commenting on a press report that some teachers could earn up to RM10,000 by giving private tuition and, because of this, were not giving their best in school.

“We are not insensitive to the teachers’ plight but everything should be above board.

“Why work with the Government if you can make so much money outside?

“I am disgusted with the action of such teachers. They lack integrity and are taking advantage of their situation and parents’ anxiety over examination results to make money.”

“Teachers intending to do part-time jobs must first apply through the service division of their respective state education departments,” she said, adding that permission was usually granted subject to several conditions.

“Generally, they are only allowed to do up to four hours of work per week.”

For example, the work they do must not jeopardise or be in conflict with their jobs as teachers.

Furthermore, it must be done outside school hours and must not interfere with school, including co-curricular, activities.

Related Story:Union: Many complying with rules on tuition

Comment:
Totally agreed to what the G proposed! This one MOU GAU....CHOR!!

Rapist taunts victim??? YAU MOU GAU....CHOR!!!

KUALA LUMPUR: A psychopathic rapist – who also claimed to be a murderer – hand-delivered three letters to a 21-year-old woman two weeks after raping her.

In the letters written in Mandarin and English and printed on a laser printer, the rapist asked: “Do you remember me? How is my sexual ability? Do you know how much I miss your body scent?”

He also boasted that he was a genius and that nobody could catch him.

Last month, the married woman was abducted outside a mall in Bukit Bintang after being coaxed by the man into helping him deliver packages to an outlet next to her workplace at the mall.

She agreed to follow him to his car parked outside the mall but when they reached his Honda Civic, she was bundled into it.

According to the woman, she was rendered semi-conscious by what she believed was a chloroform-like substance and was then taken to Kajang where the man raped her before she was dropped off in a housing area near her home in Cheras at about 11pm.

A passer-by helped her contact her husband, who then took her to lodge a police report in Kajang.

Last Saturday and Tuesday the letters were slipped under the front door of her house.

“I suspect the rapist could be someone who knows me,” she said, adding that the letters brought back painful memories.

She said the rapist was in his 30s, with a big mole on the right side of his face.

The woman told a press conference organised by MCA Public Services and Complaints Department head Datuk Michael Chong yesterday that the rapist had also written:

“I am a genius. No one can catch me! If you see yourself in the nude, don’t be disappointed. I will find a chance to take your nude pictures again.

“I am a doctor as well. I am expert at disguising one's looks.”

He added that he had been observing her for over two months.

“Do you know why I found you? Because you have a good heart and your cheerful self has reminded me of her. Very much like her!

“She was dead. I killed her. You did not die because I released you. I also did not hurt you. But not next time around! Game number two is coming!” Ha ha ha,” he signed off.

Chong said the incident had made him recall the cases of five under-aged girls who were raped and murdered.

He urged the police to stop the psychopath from raping more victims. He advised women to beware of strangers and not be easily coaxed into following strangers anywhere.







3周前掳奸少妇 色魔上门送恐吓信: 南洋商报

隆坡７日讯-一名色胆包天的色魔上个月在某购物广场停车场掳走及迷奸一名已婚少妇后，竟然在三个星期后找上少妇的家门，递送内容淫猥的书信恐吓少妇，导致她惶惶不可终日。
这名可怜的少妇，挨受了不幸的阴影后，如今再一次掉入恐惧恶梦中。-->-->受害者是一名２１岁已婚少妇。她９月２日开始，在住家收到变态色魔的信件后，感到害怕，因此在丈夫的陪伴下前往马华公共服务及投诉部向拿督张天赐求助。

该名少妇如今无法脱离被迷奸的阴影。她今天在报界前提起不幸的经过时，眼泪还是不停的流。少妇的丈夫（２６岁）说，他太太在不幸的遭遇后，已辞掉该分广场的工作。最近因为要帮补家用就开始觅找另一份工作。可是，当她收到该变态色魔的信件后，已不敢再踏出家门，而没有到新环境工作。南洋说:警方当然要参与伤了良家妇女的人渣还玩变态游戏，警方当然要主动参加一份，而且是总动员的参加，捉到人时一人轻轻踢一脚就好了，不过都要瞄准同一个部位。

色魔上门送恐吓信 09/07 18:38

Chan: Surprised over move to reduce traffic fines

KUALA LUMPUR: The Transport Ministry, tasked with reducing road accidents and improving road safety, was not consulted over the reduction of traffic fines.

Minister Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy, who expressed surprise over the move by the police, said the reduction of fines could send a wrong message to road users, especially habitual offenders.

“It came as a surprise to me. I was never consulted by the police on the matter. I only knew about it through the media,” he told reporters at the Parliament lobby here yesterday.

Chan said he would ask for an explanation and a briefing from the police to find out more about the matter.

He said he would also raise the matter at the next Cabinet meeting and discuss it with the Prime Minister.

Chan had directed Road Safety Department director-general Suret Singh to find out if the reduction of fines would affect the ministry’s road safety campaign.

“I really want to know the reasons behind this major decision. There should have been some consultation,” he said.

“The police are a very important partner in the ministry’s effort in reducing road accidents.”

The Road Safety Department, which comes under the ministry, was set up in 2004 to improve road safety.

On Monday, the police announced that traffic fines have been reduced by as much as RM200 to encourage offenders to settle their fines as well as discourage motorists from offering bribes.

Chan said the move could lead hardcore traffic offenders to think that there would be further relaxation of rules.

He said traffic fines were meant to deter motorists from breaking rules and not to generate income for the Government.

“We do not want your money. Keep your money. We only want you to behave and drive safely. We do not want a single sen from you,” he said.


Related Stories:
We have powers to cut fines, say police ????

PETALING JAYA: We can reduce them when or how we want to. We do not have to consult the Transport Ministry.

That was Internal Security and Public Order Director Commissioner Datuk Mustafa Abdullah’s answer when asked about Transport Minister Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy’s surprise at the move by the police to reduce traffic fines.

“We have the power to do so,” he said when contacted yesterday.

He said the police were not answerable to the ministry and had the powers to reduce traffic fines if necessary.

On Monday, Comm Mustafa announced that the police would slash traffic fines by as much as RM200 to encourage offenders to pay up.

The lower fines, he added, would also result in less corruption as offenders would have fewer reasons to offer bribes to traffic policemen.

It does not cover non-compoundable offences such as reckless driving, driving without insurance and illegal racing.

The biggest cut went to fines for motorcyclists involved in road accidents. Having to pay RM300 previously, they now have to pay only RM100.


Comment:
Not only Chan and I was surprised too. I personally agreed with what Minister said, why Police department need those fines??? For what?? What is the objective of fines? It is to keep motorist following the rules and make sure drive safely and not for making money from it.

This shows that the most of the POLICEMEN are all corrupter and they had agreed on this statement now. To prevent corruption??? WHAT THE F@*%$%K is this?? This Mustafa should be FIRED as he doesn't know what is IMPORTANT and which is NOT.
YAU MOU GAU.....CHOR!!!!

Here is previous link
http://yaumougauchor.blogspot.com/2006/09/lower-traffic-fines-yau-mou-gauchor.html

Muszaphar, Faiz calon akhir angkasawan pertama negara Malaysia

SEPANG 4 Sept. – Pegawai perubatan Hospital Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (HUKM), Dr. Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor dan pegawai pergigian Angkatan Tentera Malaysia (ATM), Kapten Dr. Faiz Khaleed dipilih sebagai calon angkasawan negara untuk mengikuti latihan di Rusia selama 12 bulan.

Hanya seorang daripada mereka akan mengikuti ekspedisi ke Stesen Angkasa Antarabangsa (ISS) pada 2 September 2007 - dua hari selepas negara menyambut ulang tahun ke-50 kemerdekaannya.

Pemilihan mereka diumumkan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi di Kompleks Bunga Raya, Lapangan Terbang KL, di sini hari ini.

Dr. Sheikh Muszaphar, 34, yang masih bujang, berkelulusan ijazah perubatan MBBS dan penuntut tahun akhir sarjana Surgeri Ortopedik di UKM, sementara Dr. Faiz, 26, pula memiliki ijazah sarjana muda pergigian akan menjalani latihan di Pusat Latihan Angkasawan Yuri Gagarin, Star City, Rusia mulai hujung bulan ini.

Di situ mereka akan menjalani latihan sebelum seorang daripada mereka dipilih untuk ke angkasa lepas.

Latihan profesional yang akan mereka jalani di Rusia ini akan melayakkan mereka menjadi angkasawan profesional dan membolehkan mereka menyertai program yang dianjurkan Amerika Syarikat atau negara Eropah lain.

Angkasawan pertama negara dijadual berlepas ke ISS bagi program penyelidikan dan pembangunan (R&D), termasuk penyelidikan kanser dan bioteknologi.

Calon berjaya akan berlepas dengan pesawat Soyuz 2 Rusia yang akan bercantum dengan Stesen Angkasa Antarabangsa (ISS).

Di situ, angkasawan negara akan berada enam hingga lapan hari dengan melaksanakan aktiviti penyelidikan sains, teknologi dan industri Malaysia, sebelum pulang ke bumi.

Pada 27 April lalu mereka bersama dua lagi calon ke peringkat akhir pemilihan angkasawan negara - juruterbang Penerbangan Malaysia (MAS) Mohamed Faiz Kamaluddin, 34, dan jurutera yang juga calon wanita tunggal, S. Vanajah, 35, telah berlepas ke Moscow, Rusia untuk menjalani ujian di Agensi Angkasa Rusia (RSA)

Bagaimanapun Mohamed Faiz dan Vanajah tidak dipilih kerana Mohamed Faiz gagal dalam ujian perubatan sementara Vanajah pula mengalami tekanan ketika ujian daya tindakan graviti yang dijalankan di situ.

Ketika mengumumkan calon angkasawan negara itu, Perdana Menteri berkata, Malaysia berjaya mengorak langkah baru dengan membuktikan kemampuan untuk menghantar angkasawan ke angkasa lepas.

‘‘Ini adalah satu detik penting dalam sejarah. Kerajaan dan seluruh rakyat mengucapkan tahniah dan syabas kepada mereka yang terpilih dalam usaha memartabatkan nama negara di pesada dunia.

‘‘Daripada 10,000 pemohon dan melalui tapisan ketat, panel pemilihan angkasawan sebulat suara memilih kedua-duanya untuk menjalani latihan di Rusia,’’ katanya.


Dilancarkan

Dalam pada itu, Menteri Sains, Teknologi dan Inovasi, Datuk Seri Dr. Jamaluddin Jarjis berkata, setelah perbincangan dijalankan dengan Rusia dan dipersetujui oleh Perdana Menteri, tarikh yang diputuskan untuk angkasawan pertama negara berlepas ialah 2 September tahun depan.

Katanya, ia merupakan tarikh yang bersejarah kerana Malaysia akan menyambut Hari Kemerdekaan ke-50 pada tahun itu dan dua hari selepas itu, negara akan mencipta sejarah dengan menghantar rakyat Malaysia ke angkasa lepas.

‘‘Ia juga merupakan tarikh di mana hubungan diplomatik antara Malaysia dan Rusia mencapai 40 tahun dan pada tarikh itu juga, genap 50 tahun kapal angkasa pertama dilancarkan ke angkasa lepas,’’ katanya.

Menurutnya, sama ada Dr. Sheikh Muszaphar atau Dr. Faiz yang dipilih akan ditentukan di peringkat akhir dan Pengerusi Panel Pemilihan Calon Angkasawan Negara, Tun Mohamed Hanif Omar akan terlibat hingga ke akhir sebelum pelancaran ke angkasa lepas.

Sementara itu Mohamed Hanif memberitahu, pada mulanya Dr. Sheikh Muszaphar dan Mohammed Faiz merupakan dua calon yang dipilih namun disebabkan Mohamed Faiz tidak melepasi ujian perubatan maka tempatnya diganti oleh Dr. Faiz

Jelasnya, biarpun Dr. Faiz adalah calon simpanan, kedua-duanya mempunyai peluang seimbang dan mereka akan menjalani latihan yang sama di Rusia kelak.

Program angkasawan negara ini adalah timbal balas Kerajaan Rusia-Malaysia yang membabitkan pembelian 18 jet pejuang jenis Sukhoi SU-30MKM bernilai AS$1 bilion (kira-kira RM3.4 bilion), dengan kerajaan Rusia menawarkan tempat untuk seorang angkasawan Malaysia menyertai ekspedisi angkasawan Rusia ke ISS.

MAS revises fuel surcharges for certain sectors

Malaysia Airlines (MAS) has revised its international flights fuel surcharges for payments and tickets issued in Malaysia effective Sept 4.

In a statement on Sept 2, it said the revised rates per sector were for travel on MAS and flights operated by its code-share partners.



It lowered the fuel surcharge for the Penang-Medan flight to US$18.70 (RM68.43) from US$21.70, while raising those of certain routes per sector by between US$2 and US$20.

Lower traffic fines?? YAU MOU GAU....CHOR!!

Source NST:

KUALA LUMPUR: Police have slashed traffic fines by as much as RM200 to encourage offenders to pay their summonses.

Another effect of this reduction will be less corruption as offenders will have fewer reasons to offer bribes to traffic cops.

The new rates came into effect yesterday.

With the exception of non-compoundable offences such as fatal accidents, drink driving, underage driving, reckless driving, driving without insurance and illegal racing, the fines for most offences have been reduced.

The biggest cut went to fines for motorcyclists involved in road accidents. Having to pay RM300 previously, they now have to shell out only RM100.

The fine for cars, taxis, vans and 4WD vehicles involved in road accidents is now RM150, and for lorries and buses RM200.

A speeding ticket will now cost the driver RM90 for lorries and buses; RM70 for cars, vans, taxis and 4WD vehicles; and RM50 for motorcycles. Previously the fine was RM150.

Drivers and front-seat passengers who don’t fasten their seatbelts face a fine of RM50. Previously it was RM150 for taxis, RM80 for vans and, RM70 for cars and 4WD vehicles.

As for those who talk on their mobile phones while driving (without a hands-free set), the fine is now RM90 for lorry and bus drivers (previously RM200), RM70 for drivers of cars, taxis, vans and 4WD vehicles (RM100), and RM50 for motorcyclists (RM70).

Internal Security and Public Order director Datuk Mustafa Abdullah, who announced the new rates at a press conference in Bukit Aman yesterday, was asked whether the cheaper fines would backfire and result in more people flouting traffic rules.

“It is up to the individual to behave responsibly and not abuse the system. The police have good intentions in reducing the fines,” he said.

Commissioner Mustafa said the police had taken into account the rising cost of living due to escalating oil prices.

“With the lower rates, we hope that offenders would be able to settle their summonses.

“At the same time, we want the people to stop offering bribes to traffic policemen,” he said, adding that the rationale was, if the fine were not high, the offender would be less inclined to bribe his way out of a ticket.

Now that the police have “softened” the fines, Comm Mustafa warned, the police would come down hard on defaulters.

Warrants of arrest would be issued against offenders who failed to settle their summonses within two months. At the same time, the fines would

be doubled or increased to the maximum RM300. An offender taken

to court would be liable for a jail term.

“We are also working with the JPJ on blacklisting offenders. They will not be able to renew their road tax without settling their fines,” he said.

Comm Mustafa said the new rates were only applicable to tickets issued from yesterday, while those with outstanding summonses had to pay the old rates; but added that they could appeal for a reduction.

He said the last review of fines was two years ago, when fines were increased.

“We found that even when fines were increased, it was no deterrent to traffic offenders,” he said.

The police will review the situation in six months’ time to verify the effectiveness of this “soft approach.”

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Dr M alleges moves to stop him from being elected

PUTRAJAYA: Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has alleged that Umno leaders, including party secretary-general Datuk Seri Radzi Sheikh Ahmad, have made attempts to stop Kubang Pasu Umno division members from electing him as a delegate to the Umno general assembly in November.

The former Umno president, who has received nominations from 16 branches in the division, said he would continue with his plans to be a delegate and hoped he would secure the votes.

“They are going all out. Even Radzi seems to be there all the time, telling them not to choose me because my glorious position as ex-president will be lowered, and that they were trying to save my dignity,” he told a press conference at the Perdana Leadership Foundation here yesterday.

“But their intention is to show my own division does not want me, which they can use later to tell the whole of Umno.

“The cause of losing my dignity is the act of the Umno leadership stopping me from meeting party members and likewise.”

Expressing surprise at the intensity of the “campaign” to stop him from being a delegate to the assembly, Dr Mahathir said he believed the party was afraid he might say certain things that would not be good for it.

“I fail to understand this, I am not going to be 'lowered' in any way by being a delegate. All I am trying to do is to get an opportunity to attend the assembly and to speak if I am allowed to,” he added.

He also said that at first he thought it would be an easy win.

Asked about his intentions for attending the assembly, Dr Mahathir said he wanted to hear the debates, and if given an opportunity, he would clarify matters that might be raised.

On efforts to get him to meet his successor, Dr Mahathir said: “I can sit down to it provided it is a serious discussion and open to all. What I have to say is not a secret, he can refute.”

Hisham: Leaders who make racial comments will not last long

UNITED FRONT: Gerakan Youth chief Datuk Mah Siew Keong, Hishammuddin and Koh raising their hands at the confernece in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

KUALA LUMPUR: Young leaders who make racial and religious statements to be popular with a particular community will not go far in a multiracial and multicultural Malaysia, said Barisan Nasional Youth chief Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein.

Anyone could make popular statements to gain popularity from a particular race or to gain support from their delegates, but their popularity would be short-lived, he said.

“They must be far-sighted because when it is time for them to be selected as ministers or party presidents, they must not only be smart, they have to be wise too,” he said.

He noted that the top leadership was mature enough to know who was sincere, honest and had held to the Barisan principle of multiracialism.

“The top leadership will not forget – and in a multiracial Malaysia the people will also not forget – those who have taken advantage to be popular for short-term gains,” he said after attending the opening of the 19th Gerakan Youth and Wanita national delegates conference yesterday.

Hishammuddin, who is also Education Minister, said the top leadership would not select those who fought for only one race.

“Their future will be tainted, and that applies to all young leaders who have aspirations to be national leaders,” he said.

Regarding the ongoing unhappiness over the statement made by his deputy Khairy Jamaluddin, who had reportedly said other communities would take advantage of the situation by making demands if Umno was weak, Hishammuddin said: “When the temperature lowers, it is incumbent for my deputy to explain the misunderstanding.”

No one should exploit or gain from cheap publicity, he added.

Clarify stand on other races, Mah tells Khairy

KUALA LUMPUR: Umno Youth deputy chief Khairy Jamaluddin must make clear his stand on other communities in a multiracial and multicultural Malaysia, said Gerakan Youth chief Datuk Mah Siew Keong.

“We know KJ’s stand in Umno. But in a multiracial country, we want to know his stand towards other communities,” he said.

Mah said the wing needed to know Khairy’s stand to decide if it could work and cooperate with him in future.

He noted that Gerakan was a non-racial party and it was important for the wing to know Khairy’s views.

“We don’t want a hero for one community only,” Mah told a press conference at the 19th Gerakan Youth and Wanita national delegates conference yesterday.

Khairy was reported to have said that Umno must stand united or else other communities would take advantage to make demands.

On whether Khairy should apologise, Mah said: “I am looking at the future. We need to know his position towards other communities. He has to state his stand clearly.”

Earlier in his speech, Mah said a real hero was one who was a hero to all communities in the country.

“If you need to play racist sentiments for yourself, you are not a hero,” he added.

“It is good to fight for your own community but it should not be at the expense of other communities.”

Mah noted that there were times when Gerakan Youth disagreed with Umno leaders but they could still sit together to discuss issues in line with the spirit of Barisan Nasional.

He said they must understand history and not take the past for granted, adding: “We must also not take our future for granted.”

Mah also hit out at those who had been attacking Penang Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon by demanding his resignation as Penang Water Corporation chairman.

“It is rude and unbecoming of a Barisan leader. Don’t just be a hero in the papers,” he said.

“We are trying to move forward but it looks like some of our leaders are behaving like ‘L’ drivers and using the reverse gear instead.

“We have gone into first gear and have moved on to fourth, but we have leaders who are in reverse gear. I think they need more driving lessons,” he added.

On implementation of the Ninth Malaysia Plan, Mah said red tape, corruption and inefficiency must be eradicated.

He cited an instance of a consortium that was given a monopoly to conduct pest control work despite it having no experience at all.

He said another example was a civil servant who had been making a lot of mistakes in his work but got promoted.

“This may sound like a joke, but it did happen. All these people must be punished and sacked,” he said.

Wanita chief Datuk Tan Lian Hoe said certain quarters should not raise issues that would cause unhappiness among Barisan component members.

“They must respect the Barisan set-up and not only Umno,” she said.

The people must reject leaders who were willing to sacrifice the country’s peace and harmony for their own gains, she added.

Tan also expressed concern that the spat between former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi could be taken advantaged of, by not just the opposition but also Barisan component members.

“As such, the two leaders should take steps to resolve their differences immediately,” she added.

Goodies for almost every sector

Click here for the full text
of the Budget 2007 speech by the Prime Minister

Economic Report 2007

Economic Report commentary:
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Budget Report
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BUDGET 2007 contains a bag of goodies that very few can complain about. Almost every sector of society, from the rakyat to corporations, walked away with incentives.

The lower income group enjoys some of the best perks in the form of scholarships, bonuses for civil servants, housing, school allowances, a RM4bil poverty eradication programme and others.

Considerable focus is on education, which should be a source of delight for school-goers and parents.

An allocation of RM33.4bil has been set aside for education and training which is in line with the government’s vision of a caring society and development of a skilled labour force. So is the provision of incentives for the purchase of computers and books.

The general public gets to enjoy a better lifestyle via measures to improve safety and the public transportation system. Pensioners are also taken care of.

The other big winners are:

# THE business community, which gets a 2% corporate tax cut, the first time in nine years;

# AGRICULTURE, biotechnology, halal food, Islamic banking and other priority sectors;

# CONSTRUCTION sector and real estate investment trusts (REITs).

Sin taxes, which have been heavy in the past few years, were light this time. Nevertheless, they are among the three main categories in which taxes went up.

The other two involve smuggled and copyright goods.

#

The government’s financial position is strong, on increased revenue especially from higher dividends from Petronas.

It can afford an expansionary Budget with a development expenditure of RM46.5bil, an increase of 31%.

Other service sectors that the Government is promoting in a big way are tourism and Islamic finance. A total of RM149mil is allocated for tourism campaigns under Visit Malaysia 2007.

Islamic finance receives major breaks in the form of:

# A 10-YEAR tax exemption on Islamic banking;

# TAX breaks for takaful players;

# TAX relief for Islamic finance studies;

# TAX deduction on sale of Islamic products.

For some time, the REIT market has been attracting a new class of investors, not only in Malaysia but also all over Asia.

The Budget proposals to reduce withholding tax on REIT dividends on foreign investors from 28% to 20%, and tax on REIT dividends on domestic investors to 15% are expected to augur well for the sector.

In line with the trend of going global, the Government has also outlined several measures, especially for the banks to generate income beyond Malaysian shores.

Further measures to improve the public delivery and tax administration systems, promote the private sector as the engine of growth and intensify R & D augur well in the government’s drive towards a more conducive business climate.

This also helps to attract more foreign direct investment and bring about a more robust workforce.

At the same time, new sources of growth and job opportunities are created, while maintaining a sustainable level of growth.

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