'Stop citing technical problems for delayed flights'

SUNGAI PETANI: Information Minister Datuk Seri Zainuddin Maidin today called on the management of Malaysia Airlines (MAS) to stop citing “technical problem” as the reason every time there is a flight delay.

It was not a good reason to give in terms of public relations practices as it affected public confidence in taking MAS flights, he said.

“MAS is the national carrier and it should not project a bad image by citing ‘technical problem’ every time there is a delay. This excuse is often given regardless whether the flight delay occurs within the country or outside,” he told reporters after attending the delegates conference of the Merbok Umno division, here.

The minister was among the 139 passengers who were stranded for more than two hours at the Sultan Mahmud Airport in Kuala Terengganu yesterday on his return flight to Kuala Lumpur.

‘Arranged’ car theft

Vehicles end up in Indonesian streets; at home S’wakian owners make money out of insurance claims

KUCHING: Some Sarawakians are known to have “arranged” for their vehicles to be stolen and then sold across the Indonesian border in order to claim their insurance.

This was revealed by West Kalimantan district police chief Brigadier-General Zainal Abidin Ishak at a joint press conference with State Police Commissioner Datuk Talib Jamal, which was attended by local and Indonesian media.

The press conference was held after a meeting between members of the State police and their West Kalimantan counterparts at the police contingent headquarters here yesterday morning.

Zainal said the owners would sell their vehicle at a low price on Indonesian soil before reporting it as being stolen here and profiting from their insurance claim.

However, he acknowledged that these incidences were not the norm as there were genuine cases of vehicles, both cars and motorcycles, being stolen and smuggled across the border by syndicates.

“Very serious,” he replied simply, when asked about the severity of the smuggling of stolen vehicles.

On the issue of Indonesians crossing the border and committing crimes here, Zainal said that such cases usually involved those who entered the State illegally.

Talib concurred, saying that legal migrants usually stayed clear of crime as they were already making “good money”.

Both Talib and Zainal also reiterated their commitment to cooperate in fighting crime involving the issue of illegal logging, narcotics and terrorism by beefing up security along the Malaysia-Indonesia border.

Earlier, senior police officers from both law enforcement agencies attended a meeting aimed at fostering closer ties and better cooperation between the two sides.

Talib and Zainal also agreed on a resolution to improve the level of cooperation, sharing of intelligence and coordination between the State police and their Indonesian counterparts.

Both said these are vital elements in the fight against trans-boundary crime.

Zainal and his delegation of senior police officers from the Polda Kalbar (West Kalimantan district police) arrived here on Thursday night.

The annual meeting was held not only to foster better relations amongst the police from both sides of the border, but to also discuss various issues regarding crime in the State and in West Kalimantan.

The two sides met last year in Pontianak.

Talib said that past meetings between the two sides had created an air of understanding and cooperation which enabled the police to effectively combat crimes occurring along the border of the two countries.

Touching on the issue of human trafficking involving the smuggling of Indonesian nationals into the State, Talib said that local police and immigration officials were closely coordinating with their Indonesian counterparts to patrol the border to prevent such incidents from occurring.

In terms of illegal logging, Talib said the police, together with the General Operations Force (GOF), had launched “more aggressive” operations resulting in a number of arrests and seizures.

Talib also commended the Kalimantan police for their excellent cooperation in handing over stolen vehicles seized on Indonesian soil.

He said such actions enabled the police here to solve many cases of car theft in the State.

Zainal, in his speech, touched on the need for better coordination in conducting joint patrols along the border to combat activities of illegal logging, drug smuggling and terrorism to create a more peaceful and safe border for the people on both sides.

At the end of the meeting, the two police chiefs beat a gong to signify mutual goals and commitments for the wellbeing of both countries.

Source : The Borneo Post

All Six Nuri Crew Died On Impact Of Crash

KUALA LUMPUR, July 20 (Bernama) -- The six crew members of the Nuri helicopter crash in Genting Sempah, near Genting Highlands, last Friday, died on the spot upon impact.A post-mortem at the Kuala Lumpur Hospital mortuary also revealed that the victims had sustained multiple injuries in the head and body.Armed Forces chief Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Zainal said the six were killed instantly when the helicopter crashed against a ravine before ending up lodged in its steep contours.

When the search and rescue team (SAR) arrived at the site of the crash on Tuesday, it found the bodies highly decomposed," he told reporters.Pilot Capt Nor Azlan Termuzi, 29, co-pilot Capt Nur Intan Asykeen, 27, quarter-master Sjn Khusnizaim Ariffin, 34, Sjn Mohd Azmie Md Yassin, 35, Senior Airman Saifulizam Alias, 28, and Airman Muhammad Ridzuan Ahmad, 27, were killed in the crash.On the wreckage, Aziz said the authorities were doing their level best to salvage what was left of the Sikorsky S-61 Nuri helicopter.

We need to look into the geographical aspects before mounting an operation to winch the wreckage."It may be time-consuming and depends on the investigation team's report on the crash," he said.In a related matter, Aziz said the authorities would have better liaison with the media in future SAR operations.

From now on, the media could refer to me or Defence Ministry officials for confirmation on any emergency involving armed forces personnel."However, there are times when we might not be able to divulge information as requested by the media, due to circumstances," he added.

-- BERNAMA

Nuri crash: No survivors... Four found in wreckage, two outside

GENTING HIGHLANDS: The S61-A4 Sikorsky Nuri helicopter that went off the radar on Friday with six crew members aboard was found in a 300-metre-deep ravine about 5km from Genting Sempah here yesterday.

Searchers found the S61-A4 Sikorsky Nuri helicopter in a 300m deep ravine in Genting Highlands, Pahang.

Four of the crew were found inside the wreckage by a Senoi Praaq team at 1.24pm.

Two others were found outside the helicopter.

They were Capt Nor Azlan Termuzi, 29, from Kuala Lumpur; co-pilot Capt Nor Intan Asykeen Mohd Arof, 27, from Butterworth; air quartermaster Flight Sergeant Khusnizam Ariffin, 34, from Kelantan; avionics technician Flight Sergeant Mohamad Azmie Md Yassin, 35, from Batu Berendam, Malacca; airframe technician Leading Aircraftsman Saifulizam Alias, 28, from Muar, Johor; and engine technician Leading Aircraftsman Muhammad Ridzuan Ahmad, 27, from Pokok Sena, Kedah.

Senoi Praaq trackers who had been scouring the area around Gunung Buah for hours finally discovered twisted and broken metal parts shortly before they came upon the wreckage.
The site of the crash, off Km36.3 of the Kuala Lumpur-Karak Highway, is inaccessible to vehicles and can only be reached after a three-hour trek through thick foliage.

"It is believed the two bodies were flung out of the Nuri by the impact of the crash.

"The rotor had yet to be found," a spokesman for the search-and-rescue team said.

He said the crash site was a three-hour walk from the KL-Karak Highway and 5km from Genting Sempah.

The bodies would be airlifted today as efforts to do so yesterday failed due to diminishing light.

It is understood that the remains would be sent to the Kuala Lumpur Hospital.

About 1,600 search-and-rescue personnel were involved in the search operation which began soon after the helicopter disappeared, after taking off on Friday.

At press time, army rangers were still searching for alternative routes to the crash site.

Scores of people had reported seeing the helicopter flying low in the vicinity of Hulu Yam, Genting View, Genting Bidai and Goh Tong Jaya on Friday.

---

CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS

Day One: July 13

- Took off from RMAF Sg Besi base around 9.25am heading for RMAF base in Kuantan

- Lost radio contact with tower at 9.35am

- One of the victims contacted the control tower at 10am before the call was cut off

- RMAF launched search-and-rescue operation comprising 130 personnel from the navy, Fire and Rescue Department, General Operations Force and police from Kuantan

- Witnesses saw the helicopter flying low and heading towards direction of Awana Hotel and disappearing

- Aerial search was called off at 8.30pm while the ground S&R continued.

Day Two: July 14

- S&R operations intensified with aerial and ground scouring in wider area including Genting Sempah, where the helicopter last appeared on radar

- Special air unit Paskau of RMAF,VAT 69 police commando unit and Orang Asli joined in the search

- Scanning using Airborne Hyperspectral Imaging Sensor was used to help trace the missing helicopter

- Crew transmitter of the missing helicopter was reported to be malfunctioning

- The satellite system could not be used to trace the missing Nuri as the aircraft did not emit any signals

- RMAF set up an inquiry board headed by Lt-Col Said Islam to carry out investigation once the helicopter was found

- S&R operations were hampered by the dense forest, steep incline and thick mist enveloping the area

- Aerial search called off at 6pm.

Day Three: July 15

- A Sea Hawk helicopter from the US navy, which is equipped with infrared cameras, joined the aerial search.

- Sultan of Pahang Sultan Ahmad Shah made an aerial tour of the area and offered his personal helicopter,a Eurocopter E-C155, for the S&R operations.

- Thick mist hampered operations.

Day Four: July 16

- Some 1,000 personnel and more than 15 helicopters andplanes involved in the S&R operations covered the hilly terrain and the Ulu Yam area

- Bad weather again hampered the S&R operations in the evening after fine weather in the morning

- Witnesses claimed to smell stench engulfing Tanah Rimba in Janda Baik

- Police and Rela personnel were despatched to investigate the area at 7pm, but could not detect any signs to support the claim that the helicopter had crashed there

- S&R operations called off at 10pm due to darkness and dangerous hilly terrain.

Day Five: July 17

- S&R operations expanded to cover Batang Kali

- Data from the airborne hyperspectral imaging sensor showed the aircraft might be in the vicinity of Bukit Tinggi

- Wreckage of the helicopter, with its rotor blades detached, was found by the ground S&R team at 5km northwest of Genting Sempah at 1.24pm

- All six RMAF crew on board were killed and their bodies were found. - Bernama

---

Nuri helicopter crashes in the past

- April 25, 1969: Four killed in Kuching, Sarawak

- March 11, 1972: Four killed in Gambang, Pahang

- April 26, 1976: 11 killed in Gubir, Kedah

- July 19, 1980: 18 survived in Ipoh, Perak

- April 25, 1981: Two, including the pilot, killed at Kuching Airport with 13 survivors

- July 11, 1981: 11 survived in Batu Melintang, Perak

- Nov 14, 1989: 16 killed in Lundu, Sarawak

- Aug 28, 1990: Nine survived during Merdeka Day rehearsals in Rawang, Selangor

- Jan 16, 1991: 12 survived at Kampung Parit Zin near Muar, Johor

- June 11, 1991: Six killed in Banding, Perak

- July 11, 1991: Seven killed in Banding, Perak

- Oct 16, 1996: Two killed and three go missing while rescuing cargo ship sailors at sea in Muka Head, Penang

- March 19, 1997: 11 in two Nuris killed at Bukit Batangga, Mandulong in Sipitang, Sabah

- March 6, 2004: Two killed at Permatang Tengah in Butterworth, Penang

- March 30, 2004: Three survivors at Bukit Kalam near Labuan

- Aug 15, 2004: Three killed with seven survivors at Long Seridan, Sarawak

Source : New Strait Times

Porsche stolen again... from police station

BUKIT MERTAJAM: Just hours after abandoning a RM1 million sports car which he had driven away from a showroom, the thief is believed to have struck again. This time, he drove the same car out of the district police station compound, and just like in his previous attempt, he abandoned the vehicle.

The Porsche 911 Targa 4 is back in the police station, this time under lock and key in one of the garages. But the incident has left Penang police stumped and red-faced as this attempt occurred right under their noses.

Penang police chief Datuk Koh Hong Sun has ordered an investigation to ascertain how the suspect gained entry into the district police headquarters compound.
Initial investigations revealed that the suspect got in by cutting the perimeter fence at the back of the police station. The suspect, police believe, had the car keys and came with a container of petrol.

On Monday afternoon, after the suspect had stolen the car, it stalled two kilometres away as there was no petrol.

The suspect abandoned the car but took the ignition key. The car was towed to the police station. At 11pm, the suspect returned for the car.

After filling the petrol tank, he drove out slowly but when he reached the guardhouse, he almost ran over the sentry who tried to stop him. The sentry raised the alarm and police immediately mounted roadblocks. At least 10 patrol cars were involved in the hunt.

The car was found abandoned in a secluded spot near Maktab Perguruan Tuanku Bainun, in Mengkuang, about 10km away. Police believe the suspect may have got cold feet when he realised that roadblocks had already been set up.

Koh said police have lifted fingerprints from the car.

Police have also distributed a photo-fit of the suspect and urged those with information to contact the nearest police station. The Porsche was stolen from a Naza Premier Auto Bhd showroom at Juru Autocity here about 1.30pm.

The suspect went to the outlet on the pretext of buying the car. He took out a cheque book to pay the booking fee, but before that asked the saleswoman for the car key, saying that he wanted to hear the roar of the engine.

The saleswoman obliged but to her horror, the suspect stepped on the accelerator and crashed through the glass panel before driving away. The suspect, however, was forced to abandon the car when it ran out of petrol not far from the showroom.

New Strait Times

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.

-- BERNAMA

Two Bodies Still Trapped In Nuri Cockpit

KUALA LUMPUR, July 18 (Bernama) -- The bodies of two of the victims in the Royal Malaysia Air Force (RMAF) Nuri crash are still trapped in the cockpit of the helicopter at the crash site at Genting Sempah near Genting Highlands.

RMAF Chief General Tan Sri Azizan Ariffin said the bodies were those of the pilot and the co-pilot while the bodies of four others had been retrieved.

"Efforts are being made to retrive the bodies of the two pilots," he told reporters at the Kuala Lumpur Hospital (HKL) here.

So far, three bodies had arrived at the hospital and two of them had been brought out of the HKL's Forensic Department in two separate hearses at 4.45pm and 5.04pm, respectively. They were then seen heading towards the Sungai Besi RMAF base.

All the six crew members in the helicopter were killed in the crash. The wreckage of the ill-fated helicopter was found about noon, 5km North-West of Genting Sempah yesterday, after a five-day search.

Those killed were pilot Capt Nor Azlan Termuzi, 29; co-pilot Capt Nor Intan Asykeen Mohd Arof, 27; Sgt Khusnizam Ariffin (air quartermaster), 34; Sgt Mohd Azmie Md Yassin, 35; Senior Airman Saifulizam Alias, 28, and Airman Muhammad Ridzuan Ahmad, 27.

Asked on a claim by a friend of Nor Azlan that the pilot had felt uneasy about flying the helicopter on the fateful day, Azizan said the RMAF had not received any report on the matter.

According to the flight procedures, he said, the pilot could decide not to take off the ground if he/she felt that there was something wrong with the aircraft.

"If the pilot has accepted the duty to fly, it means the aircraft is in good condition," he added.

He said normally, the technician, pilot and co-pilot would conduct preliminary checks on the aircraft and only after giving their approval would the aircraft be flown.

-- BERNAMA

Ministry Bans 14 Books

KUALA LUMPUR, July 12 (Bernama) -- The Internal Security Ministry has banned 14 books under the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984 and it was gazetted effective May 31.

The ministry's Publication and Quranic Text Control Division secretary Che Din Yusoh said some of the books were found to contain facts that deviated from the Islamic teaching to the extent of possibly endangering the moral of readers and causing public disorder.

He said the rest were banned because they contained explicit sexual descriptions and were not suitable for public reading.

"If the publications are allowed it can give rise to confusion and anxiety among the Muslims and hence can endanger public moral and order," he said in a statement Thursday.

Three of the books are published by Usnie Publisher from Setapak here. They are "Al-Kafilah Siapakah Yang Dikatakan Gadis" authored by Mohamd Abdul Hamid, and "Rahsia Di Kamar & Kunci Wanita" and "Rahsia Nombor 1 Untuk Wanita II" by Tok Nujum.

The rest are:

* "Rahsia Kenikmatan Rumahtangga" published by Tabib Haji Anwar Khan Enterprise;

* "Masalah Seksual Lelaki & Rawatan Alternatif" published by Teguh Ringgit Publishing House;

* Works by Jaafar Salleh and published by Al-Hidayah Publisher comprising three titles, namely "Pendidikan Seks Rumahtangga Kemuncak Rahsia Kebahgiaan", "Kasih Sayang Sejati Rahsia Menguatkan Tenaga Batin" dan "Teknik Bercumbu dan Berjimak";

* "Onward Muslim Soldier" written by Robert Spencer;

* "Islamic Aesthetics: An Introduction" written by Oliver Leaman;

* "Islamic Fundamentalism Since 1945" written by Beverley Milton-Edwards;

* "Who Can Be Saved? And World Religions" written by Terrance L.Tiessen;

* "War, Terror & Peace In The Quran And In Islam: Insights For Military & Government Leaders" written by T. P. Schwartz-Barcott;

* "The Qoran: Selected Suras" by Arthur Jeffrey and published by Dover Publications, New York;

* "The Qur'an" by M. A. S. Abdel Haleem and published by Oxford Universiti Press Ins, New York; and

* "The Koran" by M. H. Shakir and published by Goodword Books.

-- BERNAMA

Altantuya Murder Trial: Azilah was never instructed to perform detonations, says witness

SHAH ALAM, Thu.:

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 today. 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, had no such training as well, 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 also had 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.

Source : New Strait Times

City runs out of hotel rooms

Overseas music lovers hoping to attend RWMF cancel trip due to accommodation snag: STB

KUCHING: A number of ethnic music enthusiasts from overseas have cancelled their trip here for the Rainforest World Music Festival due to accommodation problems. Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) chief executive officer Gracie Geikei said the affected visitors from places like Hong Kong, Australia and even Peninsular Malaysia had confirmed flight tickets to Sarawak but discovered that hotels had been fully booked.

“We’re monitoring the situation, including two-star lodgings and inns. We could do with more rooms but hopefully it’ll be better next year,” she told reporters after a book launch here yesterday. The book, titled “Thrills and Treasures of Historical Landmarks Sarawak” by Swiss-born local writer Heidi Munan, was launched by State Urban Development and Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Wong Soon Koh. Geikei was confident that foreigners would constitute 50 per cent of ticket buyers, with about 16,000 tickets already snapped up for the festival which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year.

Listed as one of the top 50 Malaysian events under the Visit Malaysia 2007, the music festival runs from Friday to Sunday at the Sarawak Cultural Village in Santubong, about 45 minutes’ drive from here. Geikei said safety was also a priority at the venue which can accommodate up to 24,000 people, including television and media crews, vendors and volunteers.

–Bernama

News Focus: 50 unique items on heritage list

KUALA LUMPUR: The Perak Man, the national anthem, the hibiscus flower and Batu Caves are among 50 items on the National Heritage list unveiled yesterday. Others on the list announced by Culture, Arts and Heritage Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim include the Mulu National Park, the joget melayu and the open house concept, which is unique to Malaysia.

Significantly, the announcement was made at a building included in the list — the Parliament House.

Rais also launched the Online Heritage Register System, which holds information about the items on the list.

Only 50 items out of 500 nominated were initially chosen in line with the nation’s 50th year of independence. Other items will be added later to the list.

The selection was based on the importance of the items to the nation’s history. Rais said the declaration that these items were national heritage indicated a concerted move to protect and preserve the nation’s treasures.

"How we protect and preserve our heritage is a reflection of how we respect and appreciate ourselves," he added.

Saying some people emphasised the preservation of buildings while others gave importance to intangible assets, he added that Malaysia gave equal emphasis to all areas. He said the ministry was carrying out various projects to instill a love of heritage and culture among the younger generation.

He hoped there would be more activities to promote consciousness of heritage and culture in schools and universities. Speaking at a press conference, Rais said the relationship between Unesco and Malaysia needed to be improved. He hoped that Penang and Malacca would be placed on Unesco’s heritage city list soon.

He announced that memorials and monuments would be built in honour of political leaders such as Tun Tan Cheng Lock, Tun V. T. Sambanthan, Tun Ghafar Baba and Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

"The memorials will reflect the government policy of appreciating those who have contributed to politics and arts in the country," he said.

Describing heritage as the life of a nation and "an anchor to safeguard our culture and integrity," Rais said the 50th year of independence was an opportune time to begin preserving the nation’s heritage in all earnestness.

Also present were the speaker of parliament, Tan Sri Ramli Ngah Talib, and National Heritage Department heritage commissioner Datuk Professor Zuraina Majid.
After the launch, 300 students started off on a one-day visit to heritage sites and museums here to learn about the nation’s history.

Source : NST

National Population Policy Under Review

KUALA LUMPUR, The National Population Policy is undergoing a review to take into consideration recent demographic trends such as changes in the fertility rate, migration and ageing population."Our future population programme should not operate in a vacuum," said National Population and Family Development Board (LPPKN) acting director-general Rohani Ab Razak.

was an urgent need to fine-tune the policy and develop an action plan that would determine the demographic pathway for the next two decades, she said in her closing speech at the three-day National Population Conference 2007, here Thursday.She said LPPKN wanted to ensure that the action plan would be as comprehensive as possible and practical, which could be referred to and be used as an important tool in development planning by any agency.

said it was important that demographic factors and considerations were not left out in the planning and implementation of policies."We should never build a big school which can cater for thousands of students in an area that can supply only a few hundred or even a lesser number of students."We should never build a huge complex or building which is later under-utilised because people have difficulty accessing it," she said.

, Mat Nor Nawi, Deputy Director of the Distribution Section in the Economic Planning Unit of the Prime Minister's Department, said issues related to income inequality were among the challenges Malaysia had to tackle in the next five to 10 years in its efforts to balance social and economic development.Presenting a paper on "Balancing Growth with Distribution in Malaysia", he said these challenges included the need to address widening income inequality, tackling high inequality between different ethnic groups, and addressing the increasing inequality between the urban and rural areas and among regions and states.

The government plans to conduct a study with the help of Universiti Malaya to determine if there is any significant relation between growth and inequality," he said.He said the mean monthly gross household income in 2004 for Bumiputeras was RM2,716, Chinese RM4,439 and Indians RM3,453. The mean gross household income for the urban areas in 2004 was RM3,964 and the rural areas RM1,876.Another challenge on the table was eradication of poverty where, according to Mat Nor, pockets of poverty still remained, especially among the Orang Asli and the minorities in Sabah and Sarawak.

incidence of poverty in Malaysia in 2004 was 5.7 per cent.Mat Nor said the government's poverty-eradication strategies for 2001 to 2010, among others, were aimed at eradication of hardcore poverty and halving overall poverty by 2010.He also said that other issues that needed to be addressed were restructuring of society and regional distribution.

-- BERNAMA

Paying with one-sen coins is okay – up to RM2

PENANG: It may be cumbersome to count 200 pieces of one sen coins when a customer is paying for an item that costs RM2. But the receiver cannot refuse the money.
If you prefer to pay for a RM10 product in 50 sen coins, the seller also cannot reject the payment.

It was provided for under Section 24 of the Central Bank of Malaysia Act that you can use one sen, five sen, 10 sen and 20 sen coins to pay for a transaction of up to RM2, a Bank Negara official said. The Act also allows a buyer to pay for a product or service worth up to RM10 in 50 sen coins.

“You can use the coins up to the stated limit and the recipients should not reject them,” the official said. She was commenting on an e-mail complaint to The Star by sales and marketing executive Eddie Lim that a drink stall attendant in Tanjung Bungah had refused to accept the two pieces of five sen coins that he wanted to use to pay for a drink.

Legal tender: Under the Central Bank of Malaysia Act, a seller cannot reject payment comprising one sen, five sen, 10 sen or 20 sen coins for a transaction of up to RM2.State Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs committee chairman Lau Chiek Tuan agreed that traders should accept the small coins for the limited amount.

“The one sen and five sen coins are legal tender; it should be okay for the consumer to use them,” he said. A check by The Star showed that such coins are accepted at most retail outlets, especially in fast food outlets, shopping centres and supermarkets.

Federation of Hawker Penang chairman Lam Tong Ying said most hawkers were more than happy to collect the coins from customers. “The one sen and five sen coins come in handy for payment of electricity and water bills and also for shopping,” he said.

Aeon Co (M) Bhd public relations manager Shirly Chan said the company’s chain of Jusco supermarkets provide one sen coins for customers at each counter. "It was at their suggestion and for their own convenience that we provide the one sen coins,” she said.

Source : The Star