ACA to adopt intelligence-based investigation method

PUTRAJAYA: The Anti-Corruption Agency hopes to adopt the “intelligence-based investigations” approach with the aim of being more effective in the criminal justice system.
ACA deputy director-general I Datuk Abu Kassim Mohamed said the approach had been successfully adopted in several countries.
“We have to go beyond our current method of investigation and adopt this new approach, where the information is gathered and placed in a systematic manner,” he said, declining to elaborate on the details.
Abu Kassim said previously, the agency relied on the public to lodge a report before commencing investigations, while some people had volunteered information but refused to go to court.
“We took this into consideration and began exploring other methods on how ACA could revise our work culture so that corruption can be identified more easily and the offender brought to court,” he said.
On the new form for ministers and deputy ministers to declare their assets, Abu Kassim said various format had been looked into and the best option would be presented to the Prime Minister by the end of the month.
“We have already completed it and it requires some fine tuning,” he said.
Last week Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said he had directed ACA to find out the practice of asset declaration in other countries to ensure Malaysia could come up with a proper way of doing it.
On the public perception towards the judiciary, Abu Kassim said many judges were of high integrity but several incidents might have created a negative view of the judiciary.
Overall, he said, the judiciary ranked quite high in the Corruption Perception Index (CPI) by Transparency International between 2005 and 2007 compared to several other countries.

Karpal: Make it easier for converts to renounce Islam

PETALING JAYA: Converts who want to renounce Islam should be given an easier course of action in the process, says lawyer Karpal Singh.
He said in a statement that while he lauded the Government’s move to introduce new regulations for those wanting to convert to Islam, it was more important to address this issue.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi announced yesterday a regulation requiring non-Muslims wishing to convert to Islam to inform their family first, so as to prevent any disputes when they died.
Karpal Singh said that no obstacle should be placed in the way of Muslim converts who wished to return to their original religion.
“As the position stands, converts are required to resort to the Syariah Court to renounce Islam, and are further required to undergo rehabilitation,” he said.
He called for the Government to relax the requirements of this move, adding that that there was considerable concern and disquiet among converts on the issue.

The Star

ELECTION 2008:

The 13-day campaign period for the general election is adequate for all the political parties contesting in the polls, Election Commission chairman Tan Sri Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman said today.

He said the commission took into account internal security and public order when deciding on the campaign period.

He said there are 30 registered political parties in the country.

“If we were to extend the campaign period, there are many sensitive issues in the country which may be manipulated by the parties (to whip up support),” he told a press conference called to announce the nomination and polling dates for the general election.

Polling is on March 8 and nomination on Feb 24, providing 13 days for political parties to campaign, an additional five days compared to only eight days in the 2004 general election, .

A total of 10,922,139 electorate, including 221,085 postal voters, are eligible to exercise their electoral rights to elect their representatives for the 222 parliamentary and 505 state seats except for the 71 state seats in Sarawak.

The Sarawak state election was held on May 20, 2006. The state assembly’s five-year mandate will only lapse in 2011.

Abdul Rashid said about 600,000 additional voters are eligible to vote in this election from the 10.3 million in the last election.

He said the commission had been officially informed by Istana Negara that the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin, gave royal assent to the dissolution of Parliament yesterday.

The commission had also received the notices of dissolution of the state assemblies except for the Sarawak state assembly, he said.

Following the dissolutions, the commission met today to decide on the nomination and polling dates for the general election which must be held within 60 days from the date of dissolution of the Parliament as stipulated under Article 55(4) of the Federal Constitution.

Abdul Rashid said the commission will tomorrow issue the election writ to the returning officers in all the 222 parliamentary constituencies.

The notice for the election will be issued on Saturday, he said.

Abdul Rashid hoped that more than 75 per cent of the electorate would exercise their electoral rights in this election to elect the government and their elected representatives as the polling date falls on a Saturday, a weekend holiday for civil servants and the start of the first-term school holidays.

Abdul Rashid said he hoped to conduct the election fairly and openly, taking into account the security factor.

“We want to continue to maintain the clean, fair and peaceful election record of this country as in the past 11 general elections,” he said.

He said the commission will spend RM200 million for the election, deploying 149,000 staff and 50,000 casual staff including helicopter pilots and boat navigators.

Transparent and durable plastic ballot boxes, indelible ink and ballot papers without serial numbers would be used in this election, he said.

Abdul Rashid said voting secrecy was guaranteed without the voter serial numbers on ballot papers as was implemented in the Sarawak state election in 2006.

“Nobody will know whom you have voted for,” he said.

He said no election observers from foreign countries have been invited to monitor the election process as the commission had no powers to issue accreditation to them.

On allegations of phantom voters, Abdul Rashid said: “It’s impossible that names of people not listed in the electoral roll can vote. If there are claims, show me the proof and we will investigate. So far, there are no phantom voters.”

Abdul Rashid said the commission would soon issue guidelines on the do’s and don’ts for the election campaign.

He urged political parties, candidates and individuals involved in the election to observe the election rules and campaign ethics and new procedures to be announced from time to time.


The new Straits Times

Malaysians Go To The Polls On March 8

POLLING DATE… Election Commission Chairman Tan Sri Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman stressing a point at a press conference to announce the nomination and election dates. Polling for election will be held on March 8 and nominations on Feb 24. Pix: Mahayudin Mohamad

PUTRAJAYA, Feb 14 (Bernama) -- Polling for the general election will be held on March 8 and nominations on Feb 24, the Election Commission (EC) announced today.

EC chairman Tan Sri Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman said the election would involve 222 parliamentary and 505 state seats in 12 states except for Sarawak which held its state election in 2006.

He said 10,922,139 were eligible to cast their votes based on the electoral roll gazetted on Feb 5.

Abdul Rashid made the announcement at the EC headquarters here at 11.40am. The announcement was carried live by RTM dan TV3.

-- BERNAMA

Sarawak CM keeps mum on parliamentary seat

KUCHING: Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, the country's longest serving Chief Minister, is keeping mum on whether he will defend the Kota Samarahan parliamentary seat in the 12th general election.

“Let see what the people of Samarahan say. There is a lot of movement in Samarahan. I have not called them,'' he said when asked on Wednesday if he would seek another term.

Taib, 71, who returned to Sarawak and became the Chief Minister in 1981 after serving in different ministerial portfolios in the federal cabinet, won the Kota Samarahan seat uncontested in 2004.

Also state Barisan Nasional chairman, Taib has received the lists of recommended candidates from component parties Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP), Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) and Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS).

He agreed to the candidates, with the exception of two or three which he asked the parties concerned to reconsider. However, he did not specify which party they were from.

He said PBB's list of candidates was ready.

There are 31 seats available in the state. The coalition won 27 of the 28 seats contested in 2004, losing Bandar Kuching to the DAP.

The Star

Parliament Dissolved Today For 12th General Election

Parliament Dissolved Today For 12th General Election

DISSOLUTION OF PARLIAMENT... Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi at noon today announces the dissolution of Parliament at his office in Putrajaya with effect from today until 16 May 2009; 15 months earlier than the expiry of its five-year term, to pave way for the 12th general election. Pic: Mahayudin Mohamad

PUTRAJAYA, Feb 13 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi today announced the dissolution of Parliament to pave the way for the 12th general election.

The announcement was made at a media conference at his office here and telecast live on RTM1 at noon.

The prime minister also advised all the state governments, except Sarawak, to dissolve their state assemblies to enable the state elections to be held simultaneously.

He said he had an audience with Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin this morning and had received his consent to dissolve the 11th Parliament.

The dissolution of this Parliament was made 15 months before the expiry of its five-year term on May 16, 2009.

The Election Commission (EC) is expected to meet soon to fix the dates for nominations and polling.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Abdul Razak, who was present when the announcement was made, expressed the hope that the general election would run smoothly.

He said the Barisan Nasional (BN) hoped to retain the two-thirds majority that it received in the 11th general election in 2004.

He said the BN machinery was ready for the general election.

"The list of candidates has been fixed," he said, adding that the BN would field new faces as well as the old guard and would announce the names in a day or two.

Political observers had forecast that the polls would be held early next month, with nominations expected in the last week of February, based on the EC practice of fixing only 10 days for campaigning in several past elections.

Under Article 55(4) of the Federal Constitution, a general election must be held within 60 days of the dissolution of Parliament. However, the EC practice after 1969 has been to hold the election within 16 to 20 days of the dissolution.

The 11th general election was held on March 21, 2004, 17 days after the dissolution of Parliament.

A total of 222 parliamentary seats will be contested this time, three more than in the last election due to the new seats in Sarawak following the electoral delineation in 2006. At the state level, 505 seats will be contested.

Before today's dissolution, the BN held 199 seats in the Dewan Rakyat and the opposition 20, with the DAP holding 12, PAS six and Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) and an independent, one each.

Abdullah said the government dissolved parliament 15 months before the current mandate ended as it wanted a new mandate to continue its development programmes.

He hoped that voters would show strong support for the BN in the general election for their own benefit.

"I hope the voters understand the issues in the country, evaluate them objectively and give their votes to BN," he said.

Abdullah was confident that BN would win big based on the government's performance and its ability to fulfil its promises to the people.

Furthermore, he said, the programmes implemented had benefited the people.

Abdullah said BN's record was good as it had managed to continuously raise the living standard of the people.

"The BN government has also managed to improve on its successes, besides having the experience to effectively administer the country."

On his denial yesterday that parliament would be dissolved today, the prime minister said: "I could not give any clue to the date as I needed to get the consent of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong first before I could make the announcement."

The Yang di-Pertuan Agong gave his consent to the dissolution of parliament this morning.

Abdullah said: "It is not wrong to dissolve parliament well before the current mandate ends on May 16, 2009."

The prime minister also said that the dissolution of parliament would not disrupt the Chinese New Year celebrations.

Asked on the significance of Feb 13 to dissolve parliament as No. 13 is also Abdullah's favourite number, he said: "Don't need to comment on this."

On BN's candidates for the general election, Abdullah who is also BN chairman, said he had not received the complete list.

According to the Election Commission (EC), the country has 10.9 million voters including about 700,000 new voters who can vote in the upcoming elections.

For the first time, the EC will introduce transparent ballot boxes and staining of voters' thumb with indelible ink in the voting process.

-- BERNAMA

Immediate ban to ensure government subsidies only for Malaysians

PUTRAJAYA: Ten items, including sugar, flour, cooking oil and petrol, will not be allowed to go out of the country to ensure the millions of ringgit the Government spends annually on subsidies is enjoyed by Malaysians, and that supply of these goods remain ample always.

The ban, which is immediate, will see stricter surveillance, monitoring and checking at Malaysian borders in Kelantan, Perlis, Kedah, Perak, Johor and Sarawak.

Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Shafie Apdal said the list of 10 items was endorsed by the Cabinet in its weekly meeting on Tuesday, adding that some of the items were price-controlled (ceiling price fixed by the Government to ensure it remained affordable).

The subsidised items in the list are flour, cooking oil, petrol, diesel and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) while the price-controlled items are sugar, cement and clinker, mild steel round bars, chicken and fertiliser.

“I must stress that even though these items are barred from being taken out of the country, the ruling does not apply to those with export permits. They can continue to export these goods because the items purchased from factories are meant for export. They are not subsidised, nor do we fix ceiling prices for this purpose.

“However, those without permit who fail to adhere to the ruling will be severely dealt with, even if it is only a kilogram of sugar or a packet of flour,” he told a press conference yesterday.

First-time offenders face a fine of up to RM100,000 or jail not exceeding three years, while subsequent offenders would be fined up to RM250,000 or jailed for a maximum of five years.

Shafie declined to comment on what was discussed during the National Price Council’s inaugural meeting on Tuesday, chaired by the Prime Minister.

The council was set up following a Cabinet proposal for a national stockpile of essential goods and a call centre for consumers to lodge complaints.

The Star

Don't Waste Educational Facilities, Says Pak Lah

KEPALA BATAS, Feb 8 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi today advised the people to take full advantage of the educational facilities provided by the government and to strive for educational excellence.

He said the government had given emphasis on education ever since the country gained independence and provided various facilities to churn out a pool of professionals to develop the country.

In the past, educational opportunities were limited and depended on the ability of the family to pay for their children's education, he said.

There were students who had to end their schooling after the Sijil Rendah Pelajaran (SRP) as their parents were poor and the highest position then was only as teachers, he said.

Abdullah was speaking at the 2007 PMR Excellence Award 2007 presentation of the Poor Students Trust Fund (KWAMP) and scholarships for the Kepala Batas Parliamentary constituency at the Dewan Millenium today.

"But now, the government is providing all the necessities including subsidies for uniforms, supplementary food, school fees, examination fees and the Parent/Teacher's Association (PTA) fees as well as text books for all students so that they can study properly," he said.

Abdullah, who is also the member of parliament for Kepala Batas, said everyone should be thankful for the facilities provided by the government and its concern in developing the educational sector to churn out more professionals in the country.

With the facilities available, he wanted teachers, parents, the PTAs and students to carry out their responsibilities with determination so that there would not be any dropouts before Form Five.

Abdullah said the pursuit of knowledge was obligatory in Islam and as such the enhancement of knowledge, which could eventually be used to eradicate poverty and generate development, was the most important element under Islam Hadhari or Civilisational Islam.

Out of the RM2.8 million allocation under the KWAMP fund for Penang, the Kepala Batas constituency received RM430,200.

-- BERNAMA

Votes will no longer be recounted at tallying centres

KUALA LUMPUR: There will be no more vote recounts at tallying centres in the upcoming general election. Instead recounts will be done at the polling stations.

A recount is allowed by law upon a request from an aggrieved party - usually agents of candidates contesting in an election.

"We are reverting to the old system and have amended the regulation pertaining to this matter," said Election Commission deputy chairman Datuk Wan Ahmad Wan Omar.

He said recount of votes at the polling station would be allowed if the majority votes secured was four per cent or less than the total number of votes cast, excluding rejected and spoilt ballot papers.

Recounting at vote tallying centres was introduced in the 2004 general election after an amendment was made to the Elections (Conduct of Elections) Regulations, 1981 in 2002.
It was thought to be a good idea but consumed a lot of time because all votes cast had to be recounted even if a dispute involved only a single ballot box.

Prior to 2004, vote recounts were conducted at polling stations and was only allowed if the minimum majority vote received was two per cent or less than the number of votes cast.

Wan Ahmad explained that the EC decided to amend the regulation again in 2006 as past experience found the process to be too cumbersome.

"There is a lot of inconvenience to carry out recounting at tallying centres. The process was messy.

"Tension was always high because supporters from parties involved in a contest tend to gather at the tallying centres to witness the process," he said, citing the highly-charged recounting process of the Permatang Pauh parliamentary constituency in 2004.

A recount was carried out for Permatang Pauh following a protest by Barisan Nasional's Datuk Pirdaus Ismail after he lost to Parti Keadilan Rakyat president Datuk Seri Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.

Wan Azizah was eventually declared the winner.

"After our experiences in the 2004 general election and subsequent by-elections, we feel it is better to revert to the old mechanism," Wan Ahmad said.

He also said recounting process would also be faster at the polling stations

The New Straits Times

Sarawak committed to fighting gangsterism

KUCHING: New Sarawak Commissioner of Police acting DCP Mohmad Salleh has pledged to continue the crackdown on gangsterism in the state.

"To me, there should be zero tolerance towards gangsterism. I see it as a serious problem and we will tackle it fully," he told a press conference after officially taking up his post at state police headquarters on Monday.

He pointed out that the anti-gangsterism Ops Cantas Kenyalang, which was launched in the state early this year, was an ongoing operation and police would continue to identify and take action against anyone involved in gangsterism.

He also urged the public to come forward if they had information on gangster-related activities.

"I hope the public will not just talk behind our backs but will come to see us. They can even meet me personally. My number is 019-6000 148," he added.

Earlier Mohmad described his new post as a challenging task as Sarawak has the biggest police contingent with 27 districts statewide.

"I'm confident that with the cooperation and support of the various department heads and OCPDs, we will be able to work together to carry out our duties," he said.

Previously the deputy police chief in Selangor, Mohmad took over as the 18th Sarawak Commissioner of Police from DCP Datuk Talib Jamal, who retired from the force in October.

The Star

Switch In Opening Show At LIMA 2007 Following Mishap

LANGKAWI, Dec 3 (Bernama) -- The airfield seizure simulation planned for the opening tomorrow of the airshow segment of the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace (Lima) 2007 exhibition has been called off following the mishap during training yesterday that resulted in three paratroopers killed and 11 injured.

In its place will be an air assault exercise using aircraft, which will be preceded by a free-fall parachute jump by nine commandos of the Royal Malaysia Air Force (RMAF) and not paratroopers of the 10th Para Brigade of the army.

This was disclosed today to reporters by Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak after he had visited several of the paratroopers injured in yesterday's mishap, at the Langkawi Hospital here.

He said the 11th hour decision to switch the opening demonstration was made in view of yesterday's accident and due to the unpredictable strong winds that occurred often in the parachuting area at the Langkawi International Airport here.

"They (the commandos) performing the free-fall parachute jump can manoeuvre their parachutes and this will ensure better safety," he said.

During yesterday's training at about 10.30am, several of the 138 paratroopers of the 10th Para Brigade who jumped of their planes were blown off course, some by more than 500 metres, from the targeted area of the airport after they were caught in a gust.

Some of the paratroopers landed outside the perimeter fence of the airport, some got entangled in trees, some had a hard landing on the airport tarmac and some got blown way out to sea, among them the three who were killed.

The dead paratroopers were Ranger Siti Hajar Yakub, 24, Private Nurul Wahida Mohamad Yunus, 20, and Trooper Raimond Duncan, 25.

Twenty-two other paratroopers were ordered not to make the jump once it was learnt that some of those who had jumped earlier had gotten into difficulties.

Najib said that though highly skilled commandos would be engaged in the free-fall parachute jump tomorrow, any sign of unfavourable weather or strong winds could cause the event to be called off as well.

He said that unlike the 10th Para Brigade paratroopers, who would not be allowed to jump when the wind velocity exceeds 10 knots, the commandos could perform a parachute jump safely in winds of up to 25 knots.

This morning, the commandos and the relevant aircraft engaged in a training stint that went without a hitch.

Nevertheless, he said, personnel from the 10th Para Brigade would still be involved in the opening show as they would be aboard the aircraft engaged in the air assault exercise.

Asked on the investigation into yesterday's mishap, Najib said the board of inquiry chaired by Chief of Air Force Gen Tan Sri Azizan Ariffin was set up immediately, and that it had one month to come up with a report.

The members of the board and their number were being worked out with the assistance of the Chief of Army Gen Tan Sri Muhammad Ismail Jamaluddin, he added.

Earlier, Najib, accompanied by his wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, and the chiefs of army and air force visited the injured paratroopers at the Langkawi Hospital.

"They said they were able to save themselves as they were able to follow the stipulated procedures.

"If they should fall into the sea, there were certain procedures they had to follow.

"Although they were unable to fulfil all the procedures, they were at least able to execute some of them. This was what saved them," he said.

-- BERNAMA

Scratch-And-Win Contests Banned With Immediate Effect

PUTRAJAYA, Dec 3 (Bernama) -- Scratch-and-win contests, normally used by direct selling companies to deceive consumers into buying their goods, have been banned with immediate effect.

Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Shafie Apdal, in announcing this today, said the trade gimmick, which has spread to the rural areas, was banned because it was harmful to consumers, many of whom had been deceived into buying sub-standard goods.

Speaking to reporters after attending the ministry's monthly assembly here today, he said a total of 6,903 cases were filed with the Consumer Claims Tribunal in the first 10 months of this year with the highest number -- 1,393 cases -- being related to scratch-and-win contests, followed by 529 cases involving vehicle purchases.

Meanwhile, a statement issued by the ministry today said the licences of 20 direct selling companies were revoked between 2005 and October 2007 for organising such contests.

It said the ministry would form a special task force to eliminate gimmicks such as scratch-and-win contests, get-rich-quick schemes and direct selling by companies intending to make quick profits.

The ministry will also step up consumerism campaigns, it said.

Complaints on unscrupulous trade practices could be forwarded to the ministry through e-aduan.kpdnhep.gov.my, toll free number 1-800-886-800, SMS to 32255 or the ministry's enforcement offices nationwide.

-- BERNAMA

Batu Kawa Bazaar aiming to strike for a new image

KUCHING: Batu Kawa Bazaar near here is entering a revolutionary phase.

Instead of just being a business centre, the bazaar known for many years as ‘Batu Kawa old town’, also aims to draw tourists to the area.

He said the bazaar, which had a history of its own, had a lot to offer to tourists including local food and other products.

“You have a lot of things to offer. You just need to know how to promote your products well,” he added.

He said although there had been great improvement to roads and other infrastructures in the area, many people were more familiar with MJC - the new Batu Kawa township - compared to the ‘main bazaar’.

Hence, he called on the local community to step up promotional activities, and be more creative to attract visitors to the area.

Yong, who is Stampin member of parliament, assured that the government would continue to help the local community by implementing more projects in the area in the near future.

Earlier, Batu Kawa assemblyman Tan Joo Phoi hoped there would be a good synergy between developers and the local community to enhance the ‘main bazaar’s’ attractiveness.

Tan, who is Padawan Municipal Council chairman, also urged the people to cooperate with the council in the upkeep of the area’s surrounding given it was what made the place attractive to visit.

The signage project, and also the beautification of the roundabout at the entrance to the bazaar were initiated by the Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) Batu Kawa sub-branch, SUPP Segobeng Youth Section, and funded by the Tourism Ministry.

The Borneo Post

Danger looming in palm oil industry

PETALING JAYA: Even as Malaysia’s palm oil industry basks in an era of prosperity and continued growth, a looming danger is threatening to derail it — shortage of qualified people to manage it, Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities Peter Chin Fah Kui said yesterday.

Speaking at the Palm Oil Refiners Association (Poram) 2007 Annual Forum and the launch of its revised contracts and arbitration here yesterday, he called on the industry to take steps to resolve the matter urgently, urging them to target particularly the young as well as the experienced.

“With the continuous expansion of the Malaysian palm oil industry and in the light of retirement of many senior experienced personnel and the migration of younger experienced personnel to other competing countries or other industries there is an urgent need to strengthen and enlarge the pool of our human capital,” Chin said.

He said proper training and strengthening of human capital were vital towards long-term sustainability.

“I hope that these type of courses (Poram’s) will attract the young as well as the experienced personnel who are eager to learn and equip themselves with the latest knowledge and skills that would further contribute towards the continued enhancement of the palm oil industry in the future,” he said.

Earlier in his speech, Poram chairman Richard Cheang Kwan Chow said the association would organise an Introductory Course on Marketing and Trading of Palm Oil next May together with Malaysia Palm Oil Board.

He said the course was needed by the industry to train their new personnel and also to attract new entrants to the industry.

Cheang also said Poram had introduced the revised contracts and arbitration rules for palm oil exporters which would be effective from Jan 1 next year.

“Taking cognisance of the inputs from industries the contracts and the rules of arbitration have been updated to facilitate trade,” he said.

He said in 2005, there were major distractions in the market where default in payments and non-delivery of shipments have affected the country’s export business.

“The revised contracts and arbitration were expected to minimise the impact on industry players if any disruption happens,” he said.

– Bernama

Malaysian-made rockets in 15 years

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysians building their own satellite or rocket in their garage?

This will be possible in the future as the National Space Agency is intensifying efforts to develop its capacity in satellite technology and teaching the skills to youths.

"It can happen if people at that time reach a certain level of technical expertise as well as have a desire to do something different," said its director-general Datuk Dr Mazlan Othman in a public lecture at the Academy of Sciences Malaysia yesterday.

The way to achieve that level, she said, was to expose schoolchildren and university students to satellite and rocket-building.

"Hopefully, in the next 15 to 20 years, the idea will not be so alien to them, as they would have touched or even built a satellite while studying," she said.
The National Space Agency has started going to schools and universities to raise awareness and to help develop certain skills among the children and undergraduates.

Mazlan added that it was not difficult to build satellites. "Only the sophisticated satellite needs to be built in a sophisticated place."

She said the agency planned to develop a centre to build satellites locally.

"We must provide jobs for the best brains in Malaysia to stay in the country so as to create a 'brain retention' of these space experts," she said.

Also present at the public lecture, which was entitled "Space: Its Value Proposition for Malaysian Security, Enterprise and Science", were Malaysia's first astronaut Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor Sheikh Mustapha and Academy of Sciences of Malaysia honorary treasurer Datuk Ahmad Zaidee Laidin.


Source : New Straits Times

Three Paratroopers Drowned During LIMA Training Session

LANGKAWI, Dec 2 -- Three paratroopers, two of them women, drowned while 11 others were injured during a training session that went awry at the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace (LIMA) Exhibition 2007 here today.

A police spokesman said strong winds pushed them away from the intended landing spot in the 10.30am incident.

"Strong gusts of wind pushed them out to sea near the Kuala Muda beach, not far from the Langkawi International Airport," he said.

Meanwhile, Langkawi OCPD Supt Mohamed Ali Jamalludin identified the victims as Siti Hajar Yaakob, 24, Nurul Wahida Yusof, 20, and Raymond Duncan, 25.

He said the bodies were now at the Langkawi Hospital morgue and would be released to the military after post-mortem.

A check showed that the hospital was guarded by military personnel and the morgue was off-limits to members of the media.

Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) public relations officer Major Zulkiflee Abdul Latiff said those involved were among 138 members of the 10th Para Brigade from the Terendak Camp in Melaka who were training for the opening of LIMA 2007 tomorrow.

He said that erratic wind patterns during the exercise caused some of them to stray off course.

"The search and rescue team was mobilised. The rest of the paratroopers are safe," he said in a statement, adding that further updates would be provided from time to time.

Mohamed Ali said that some of the paratroopers became entangled in tree branches near the beach.

The injured, comprising seven women and four men, were being treated at the Langkawi Hospital, he told reporters.

One of them, Suraya Ali, 23, was said to be in critical condition at the hospital's intensive care unit (ICU) while the rest were doing fine.

Mohamed Ali said the paratroopers boarded two RMAF C-130 aircraft at 10.15am and 10.20am for the jump.

"However, between 18 to 20 of them fell into the sea," he said.

He said a rescue operation involving several helicopters and planes was immediately mounted by the Malaysian Armed Forces, Fire and Rescue Department, Marine Police and the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency.

According to him, Siti Hajar died while she was being winched out of the sea.

-- BERNAMA

‘English only’ ruling for Maths and Science in secondary schools put on hold

KLUANG (Johor): Following the Government's decision on the Mathematics and Science papers in the UPSR, secondary school students will not be forced to use English for these subjects in their examinations in the next two to three years.

The Education Ministry will review the teaching and learning syllabus as well as the co-curriculum and teachers’ education before deciding whether Malaysian students are ready for “English only” examinations.

The initial plan was to have Year Six pupils answer their Mathematics and Science papers completely in English from next year.

However, said minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein, he had promised MCA leaders and Chinese educationists that he would make a decision by this year as to whether to go ahead with the plan.

“I am glad to have fulfilled that promise,” he told reporters at a Hari Raya open house at his home in Taman Sri Lambak here yesterday.

Present was Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman, who had also voiced the view of the state Umno committee last year to put on hold the implementation of the “English only” ruling.

On Saturday, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi announced that UPSR examination candidates would continue to have the choice of taking the two subjects in either English or Malay (or the vernacular language of their school.)

The Prime Minister explained that the schoolchildren had yet to attain proficiency in English.
Hishammuddin said secondary students would also continue to have the dual-language option although many of them have a “decent command” of English.

He said the weak students were mostly from the rural areas.

“I will not do things on an ad hoc and piecemeal basis. I want to do it (using English) as a whole.
“I want the foundation to be solid (at the primary level) before we look at the secondary schools,” he said.

He added, however, that many secondary students chose to do the papers in English. Citing matriculation students, he said 95% of them did their papers in English. Abdul Ghani, who is Johor Umno chairman, said putting on hold the implementation of “English only” papers for Mathematics and Science would allow students to master both English and Malay.

At its state convention last year, the party voiced its concern over the use of English for the two subjects. This drew comments from some quarters that it was a backward move and would not encourage young Malaysians to learn English. Asked about this, Abdul Ghani said: “Sometimes, it is a misconception. Sometimes, it is just some people trying to create issues.”

The Star

Funeral procession to draw 5,000 people

GENTING HIGHLANDS: More than 5,000 people are expected to follow the cortege of Genting Bhd founder Tan Sri Lim Goh Tong today.

The funeral procession will comprise family members, friends, business associates and well-wishers.The three-hour procession will start at 10am from Hotel Gohtong Jaya, about 2km from Gohtong Villa, and will end at the Gohtong Memorial Park.Prior to the procession, a private funeral service for family members, registered guests and non-governmental organisations will be held at Gohtong Villa from 7.30am to 9.30am.

During the private service, eulogies for the late tycoon will be given by MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting, Genting Bhd group deputy chairman Tun Hanif Omar, Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation chairman Michael Thomas, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman president Tan Sri Ng Lay Swee and Tan Tat Chin of Tung Shin Hospital.

The cortege will leave Gohtong Villa at 9.30am, and family members and guests following the cortege from Hotel Gohtong Jaya will walk to the memorial park located 600 metres away.There, religious rites will be performed before the cortege heads for the Chin Swee temple as a sign of respect to the Chin Swee deity. The deity had apparently appeared to Lim in a dream and encouraged him to press ahead with the development of Genting Highlands Resort.

The cortege will then proceed to the Genting Hotel where all the company’s staff, led by Resorts Bhd president Lee Choong Yan, will bow as a sign of respect.The procession will then double back to the memorial park for the burial.Roads leading from Gohtong Jaya to the Genting Highlands Resort will be closed from 9am to noon today.

The New Straits Times

Teary homecoming for angkasawan

SEREMBAN: A flight delay stopped astronaut Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor from seeing his brother Sheikh Mustapha one last time before he was buried.

Dr Muszaphar comforting his sister-in-law Haryati Mohd Redza.Dr Muszaphar, who rushed home from Moscow where he was under quarantine after returning from space, was scheduled to arrive at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport at 2.10pm yesterday.But bad weather held up his flight in Moscow which caused him to miss his connecting flight from Bangkok to Kuala Lumpur.He had to take the next flight which arrived at KLIA about 5.30pm. He went straight to the state mosque where his father, Datuk Sheikh Mustapha Abdul Shukor, was waiting before he was taken to the Tuan Haji Said cemetery where his younger brother was buried just hours earlier.It was an emotional scene at the cemetery when Dr Muszaphar hugged his mother Datin Zuraida Sheikh Ahmad and consoled his brother’s wife, Haryati Mohd Redza.

The family recited prayers at Mustapha’s grave before Dr Muszaphar, who planned to return home today to visit his brother in hospital, sprinkled petals and scented water on the grave.Dr Muszaphar said that although he was sad with his brother’s passing, he accepted it as a test from Allah.“I have to be strong for my family’s sake, especially my mother.”He dedicated his space mission to his brother “Ajil” whom he described as “a catalyst for his spirit and backbone of his success".“It can be said that Ajil was my fanatic fan. Since the start of my participation in the space programme, he had given me solid support,”

Dr Muszaphar said.Mustapha, 32, a project planner, fell unconscious after knocking into a pillar outside a restaurant last Friday in Jalan Klang Lama, Kuala Lumpur. He died at 6pm on Saturday without regaining consciousness. Some 250 family members, relatives and friends attended the funeral. Sheikh Mustapha said he spoke with Dr Muszaphar in the morning and it was decided that the funeral would proceed without him.“He was calm when informed of the death. He asked me to take care of his mother.”Sheikh Mustapha said his astronaut son would stay for a few days to attend the official homecoming reception before returning to Moscow for an inauguration ceremony scheduled for Nov 9.

Haryati, 28, said her husband was looking forward to Dr Muszaphar’s return.“He was really excited and was talking a lot about the space programme. “However, a few days before the accident, he was very agitated and kept asking where abah (father) was,” said Haryati.She said Mustapha had initially said that he did not want Dr Muszaphar to go to space.“It was as if he knew that they would never meet again,” said Haryati, who has two children with Mustapha, aged 3 and 2.At the airport, Dr Muszaphar was whisked into a waiting Proton Perdana moments after stepping out of the VIP arrival hall.

Waiting for him was a group of Umno Youth and Putera Umno members, who formed a barricade around him, and some 50 Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia students. As photographers jostled for pictures, Dr Muszaphar, asked for comments, said: “I feel very empty, very sad but this is God’s will. What comes from Allah must go back to Him.”

The New Straits Times

MASwings takes off today

MIRI: Malaysia Airlines’ (MAS) subsidiary MASwings will take to the skies today under great expectations from the people of Sarawak, especially the tourism industry, which would now have no excuses not to work harder for the State.

The industry is hopeful that MASwings will solve the uncertainties that they faced, particularly in promoting destinations served by the rural air service (RAS) in Sarawak.
Much of this optimism lies in MAS’ experience with the RAS service before the rationalisation of domestic air services last year. As part of the rationalisation exercise, Fly Asian Express (FAX) operated the RAS from August last year.

Sarawak Tourism Federation (STF) president, Wee Hong Seng, told The Borneo Post yesterday: “We have high hopes for Maswings. I believe this is the moment all tourism members are looking forward to.

“They (MASwings) are going back to the same routes that MAS had mastered before. We hope that they will not only maintain what they have taken over from FAX, but they will also improve on their connections.”

Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud will launch MASwings’ inaugural flight in Mulu this morning, where he will also unveil its logo. Transport Minister Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy is also expected to be at the event.

The STF had been very vocal about the problems faced by the industry because of air accessibility in the State. Travellers faced with cancellations, delays and lack of interlining between flights.

Wee thanked the State Urbanisation and Tourism Ministry for its efforts in solving the air accessibility woes and also for being receptive to STF’s complaints and recommendations.
He was also pleased that in the run-up to the launching of MASwings, the company had sought the views of both the private and public sectors, and it had given the assurance that its doors will always be open to them.

“Before the implemention of their operations, they have the collective view from the tourism industry people. They talk to the top people and the people on the ground, because of that I am confident that not much will go wrong.

“If there is anything the industry wants to be improved, they have stated that they will give their full assistance,” said Wee.

Asked what MASwings can learn from Sarawak’s past experience, he replied: “I think they have seen how the industry had suffered. Learning from each other is the key thing. Whatever it is, we are in this together.”

In this respect, he said the industry members must now work harder to regain the ground that Sarawak had lost. He conceded that the industry, particularly in the State’s northern region, had suffered huge losses.

“We should now take up the opportunity to sell hard; no more excuses. Now we cannot say we have this and that problems. Everybody should work hard to push to gain lost ground,” Wee said.

When asked what STF had done to boost tourism in the State’s northern region, he said that it had last year signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Sabah Tourist Association to introduce the “concept of sharing tourism.”

He said that under the MoU the association’s members in Sabah would promote Sarawak to tourists that they could not accommodate. Having said that, Wee believed that with the improved air accessibility in Sarawak, the Borneo Package can be revived once Royal Brunei Airlines resume its service in the State. The package was disrupted when the airline ceased operating in the State. MASwings is Malaysia’s first commuter airline service, which would cater both the intra and interstate air travel needs of East Malaysia. It is expected to commence operation with four Fokker 50 and four Twin Otters.

This would serve a network of 23 destinations in East Malaysia as well as the Federal territory of Labuan. The number of aircrafts would then add up by October 28 to seven Fokker 50 and five Twin Otters.

The Borneo Post