FMT News |  |
- Reuters polls show scope of the challenge facing Romney
- Protests as Philippine cybercrime law takes effect
- SPAD meets with angry cabbies
- ‘Pakatan’s floor wage a win-win situation’
- Jamaluddin Jarjis terima elaun MP tertinggi
- MB S’gor: Pendirian Azmin, bukan Pakatan
- K’jaan masih kaji guna telefon bimbit di sekolah
- Sidang khas bincang 3 isu utama
- Anwar jemput peguam Scorpene beri taklimat di Parlimen
- Share prices close lower
- PM: Domestic economy will be engine of growth
- Women’s rights: Azalina defends Najib
- Saman Petronas: Mahkamah putuskan sama ada bicara penuh
- Spin kings set for battle royal
- Blaine’s electrifying stunt
- Kes saman fitnah Nizar terhadap TV3 2 Jan
- One year later, Apple marches on without Jobs
- No support for cabbie protest
- Belanjawan 2013 Pakatan: Tee Yong keliru dengan angka
- Aussies depending on aging players
- SMI group rejects Pakatan’s floor wage
- Israeli media, ministers float early elections
- Design for Titanic II to be unveiled in New York
- Women go on Twitter blitz against Najib
- IMF chief: China, Japan ‘too important’ for row
- India in talks to buy first bullet trains
- Graft confab a sandiwara, says Robert Phang
- Obama, Romney gear up for first debate
- Hong Kong seeks answers after deadly ferry crash
- Report: Nokia might sell HQ
- Najib gets drubbing from Pakatan women
- PKR MP promoting MIC leader?
- Asian markets higher, Spain worries cap gains
- Umno: Unfair to say Sabah is lagging
- Kemelut politik, agama boleh ancam kestabilan negara
- NGO offers to tutor S’wak leaders on laws
- ‘Only RM10 paid to settle Talam debts’
- M’sia on track to trim budget deficit in coming years, says Rafidah
- Kingfisher may face prolonged shutdown
- ‘RM272m not just for crime perception’
- Akta lapuk SPRM bebaskan ‘jerung besar’
- Food security not a problem, but…
- ADB cuts growth estimates for Asia
- Press flay Dhoni after India exit
- Cow makes anti-allergy milk
- Hamilton says ‘nothing changed’ in title bid
- Foo Fighters not splitting
- Fitnah dan berniat jahat, kata presiden Gaps
- Fight crime, not perception, ‘thick skull’ minister told
- Pakatan to hold demo on poll reforms
| Reuters polls show scope of the challenge facing Romney Posted: 03 Oct 2012 08:39 AM PDT
During the next five weeks – and three debates – Romney will make an appeal to voters aimed at overcoming an Obama campaign that has outflanked his own for much of the past four months. Romney enters the final sprint to the November 6 election behind in national polls and trailing in most of the nine or so politically divided “swing” states that are likely to decide the election. Just as important, Romney trails Obama among likely voters on a broad array of issues and personal ratings that reflect the scope of the challenge Romney faces in trying to come from behind and snatch the presidency from the Democratic incumbent. A series of Reuters/Ipsos tracking polls through Sunday indicated that Obama has 7-point leads over Romney on separate questions about which candidate would best handle the economy and who could create more jobs, even though Romney has made his business experience as the head of a private equity firm the centerpiece of his campaign. Obama held double-digit leads on who would do better on taxes, 45 percent to 34 percent, and on dealing with the Social Security retirement program for seniors, 44 percent to 29 percent. Likely voters are particularly supportive of Obama on more personal issues. Romney, who has been portrayed by Obama’s campaign as an out-of-touch millionaire, trails Obama by about 30 points among likely voters who were asked which candidate was more likable. Romney trailed by 20 points on the question of which candidate best understood voters. Such questions touching on Romney’s likability and empathy might pale in importance to questions about the economy and other domestic policies but taken together they present significant hurdles for Romney, whose difficulty in connecting with voters has been a constant theme of his campaign. “Those personal attributes are soft metrics,” Ipsos pollster Julia Clark said. “But they contribute to how much a voter trusts and feels comfortable with a candidate.” An important opportunity Today’s debate is expected to be seen by about 50 million television viewers and will give voters a chance to compare Obama and Romney side-by-side for the first time. The Denver debate will focus on domestic policy and will be followed by a town hall-type session on October 16 in Hempstead, New York, and a session on foreign policy in Boca Raton, Florida, on October 22. The events will offer the candidates a way to cut through the considerable political noise surrounding a campaign in which more than US$2 billion is being spent, much of it to attack the opposition. For Romney, the debates represent his best chance to reverse voters’ views of how he stacks up against Obama by pressing his argument that Obama is a failure in managing the economy. The debates also will give Romney a chance to bolster his personal image, which has taken a beating in polls as Obama’s team has cast him as an out-of-touch rich guy who, while leading Bain Capital, sent thousands of U.S. jobs overseas. “The debates are absolutely the right forum to move those numbers” in the polls, Clark said. “If Romney can gain ground on some of those personal questions, it could help him.” Romney, a former Massachusetts governor, has been taking time off the campaign trail for weeks to prepare for the debates, which a campaign adviser acknowledged on Monday represent an “important opportunity.” “I think that focusing on the issues that people care about can make you more likable,” Romney senior adviser Kevin Madden said. “And people will come away from the debates saying, ‘You know what, Governor Romney, he understands some of the problems I’m facing every single day and he’s got solutions to help overcome the country’s challenges. And as a result I feel better about my vote for him,’” Madden said. Defining Romney Obama’s rise in recent nationwide and state polls has been aided by what several polls have identified as increasing optimism about the direction of the country, even as the economy continues to struggle. Reuters/Ipsos data, taken through Sunday, showed Obama ahead of Romney 43 percent to 36 percent on the question of who would better lead the economy and 44 percent to 37 percent on who has the better plan to create jobs. Obama’s campaign spent much of the summer and millions of dollars on ads that portrayed Romney as unable to relate to the concerns of middle-class Americans and criticized his leadership at Bain Capital, which critics say plundered some of the companies it took over and cut jobs in the name of profits. The Reuters/Ipsos polling of nearly 1,700 likely voters indicates the tactics seemed to work. On the question of which candidate has the right values, Obama led, 49 percent to 36 percent. On which candidate is tough enough for the job, Obama led by 47 percent to 36 percent and on the question of which candidate better represents America, Obama led 48 percent to 38 percent. “The White House has done the most effective job I’ve seen in negatively defining an opponent,” said Peter Brown of the nonpartisan Quinnipiac University poll. “They have made Romney, in the eyes of many voters, a rich, unfeeling elitist who does not understand how Americans live their lives.” Romney will have a chance to turn around that perception in Wednesday’s debate. A Quinnipiac poll released on Tuesday found nearly one in 10 voters believed they could see something in the debates that would change their vote – a potentially significant number in a tight race. It also showed that a solid majority of voters expect Obama to win the debate, giving Romney an advantage in expectations heading into the encounter. “Romney does have a low bar,” Brown said. “The public expectation is that Obama is going to clean his clock.” - Reuters |
| Protests as Philippine cybercrime law takes effect Posted: 03 Oct 2012 07:55 AM PDT
Major news outlets, bloggers, rights activists and other critics turned their social media profile pages black to express their outrage over the law, which also allows the government to close down websites without a warrant. Thousand of furious tweets were posted on Twitter, with the hashtag #notocybercrimelaw becoming the top trend on the microblogging site in the Philippines on Wednesday, according to two trend mapping websites. “They signed and implemented this law because government officials can’t handle criticism,” said one tweet from @PmlFlrs. Senator Teofisto Guingona, one of the few members of parliament who opposed the bill that President Benigno Aquino signed into law last month, also stepped up his campaign to have it overturned. “The implementation of the law… will take back our citizens to the Dark Ages where freedom of speech and expression were not recognised,” he said in a statement. Many provisions of the cybercrime law aim to fight a range of online crimes not deemed controversial, such as fraud, identity theft, spamming and child pornography. However one provision makes any libellous comments posted online a criminal offence, with the penalty of up to 12 years in jail much tougher than for traditional media. The Department of Justice also now has the power to close down websites and monitor online activities, such as email or messaging, without a warrant. The Philippines has one of Asia’s most vibrant democracies. But critics say the law echoes tactics to silence and monitor critics used by dictator Ferdinand Marcos when he imposed martial law in the 1970s. Aquino’s spokespeople have repeatedly defended the law as necessary to fight cybercrime, while insisting his administration would uphold freedom of speech online. But amid the backlash, some of the politicians who voted for the bill said they were willing to get rid of the controversial provisions. “At the end, we should be humble enough to admit we may have made a mistake and we can still amend the law,” said Congressman Sonny Angara, whose father, Senator Edgardo Angara, authored the cybercrime bill. Critics have also filed petitions to the Supreme Court calling on it to rule that the law is unconstitutional. - AFP |
| Posted: 03 Oct 2012 06:00 AM PDT
The meeting followed a five-hour protest which blocked off most of Jalan Bukit Bintang – one of KL’s busiest streets – yesterday. Bestari Taxi Drivers of KL Association (Bukit Bintang) president Mohamed Asharaf Yasin (photo) told FMT that he and his colleagues were satisfied with the discussions with SPAD officials. “It was all okay. We met with [SPAD chairman] Syed Hamid Albar,” he said, adding that the meeting took place at the SPAD’s KL Sentral headquarters. Mohamed Asharaf said nine points were raised, some of which were claimed to have adversely affected the cabbies’ incomes. In a press release, Syed Hamid listed the points as:
Syed Hamid said that SPAD would also call for a meeting with relevant government agencies and find a solution to the cabbies’ grouses. According to Mohamed Asharaf, SPAD would speak to KL City Hall over the building of a taxi stand at Bukit Bintang. The RM2 coupon charge, he added, would also be removed. The other issues, he said, would be raised by Syed Hamid in Parliament in due time. He also said that SPAD would get back to the cabbies on the matter within two weeks to a month. “We will look at their commitment. We also hope to meet with Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak. “But if they don’t want to listen to us, maybe we will do something bigger. A larger strike. That’s what we can do. Yesterday was only a small thing,” he said. Meanwhile, the Metered Taxi Driver Action Group urged Syed Hamid to step down immediately. Its chairman, Amran Jan, claimed that SPAD had failed to take care of KL’s cabbies. He said that taxi drivers had suffered for many years without various benefits, including social security (Socso), insurance protection schemes and the rent-buy agreement terms slapped on their cars. Meanwhile, KL CID chief Ku Chin Wah said that the taxi drivers violated the Peaceful Assembly Act by staging their protest. He said that the cabbies not only gathered illegally, but were found to have obstructed government servants. Ku added that the police will investigate the matter further. Also read: |
| ‘Pakatan’s floor wage a win-win situation’ Posted: 03 Oct 2012 05:34 AM PDT
Kuala Langat MP Abdullah Sani Abdul Hamid told reporters that the opposition pact was ready to implement the minimum pay and that it would bring about a win-win situation for all sides. "Pakatan is ready to implement [the minimum wage of RM1,100]," he said at the Parliament lobby in an immediate reaction. "We are confident that big companies are capable [of implementing the floor wage]. Small companies will be given an additional boost," he said. Earlier today, the president of the SMI Association of Malaysia, Teh Kee Sin, expressed concerns that Pakatan's floor wage would destroy the economy and leave millions unemployed. "It is highly possible that it will lead to many SMEs going bankrupt," he said. "We are also worried that it would result in a huge unemployment problem, especially as the world economy is going through difficulties. If this happens, it is highly possible that millions will be left unemployed in Malaysia." But Abdullah assured that would not be the case as the minimum wage would benefit all sides. The Pakatan-led Selangor has already implemented a floor wage of RM1,500 to government-linked companies with an allocation of RM10 million. "We advise the SMI association to read our budget carefully so that they are confident they will not be cheated and experience loss of income should we rule," said Abdullah. He also said the concerns raised by the SMI Association was a result of the Umno-Barisan Nasional propaganda which he claimed did not give Pakatan a chance to explain its budget in detail. Umno Youth Chief Khairy Jamaluddin claimed today that Pakatan's floor wage was "brainless populism" that would destroy the economy, and that the latter had not conducted any research before setting the figure at RM1,100. SMI group rejects Pakatan's floor wage |
| Jamaluddin Jarjis terima elaun MP tertinggi Posted: 03 Oct 2012 05:02 AM PDT
Ahli Parlimen Rompin itu menerima jumlah elaun bulanan selaras dengan tugasnya sebagai Duta Khas Amerika Syarikat di bawah Pejabat Perdana Menteri. Perkara itu dinyatakan Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Aziz mengenai senarai agensi kerajaan, syarikat berkaitan kerajaan (GLC), Suruhanjaya, Perbadanan dan Lembaga yang melibatkan Ahli Parlimen atau bekas Ahli Parlimen serta jawatan dan elaun yang dibayar. Dalam jawapannya kepada Ahli Parlimen DAP-Batu Gajah Fong Po Kuan, Nazri berkata sebanyak 16 orang serta bekas Ahli Parlimen terlibat sebagai angota agensi kerajaan, GLC, Suruhanjaya, Perbadanan, dan Lembaga dalam pelbagai kapasiti di bawah Jabatan Perdana Menteri. Jamaluddin bagaimanapun menurut Nazri tidak menerima sebarang elaun dengan menjadi Pengerusi Program Perumahan 1Malaysia (PR1MA) Berhad. Selain Jamaluddin, turut tersenarai bekas Presiden MIC Datuk Seri S Samy Vellu yang menjadi Duta Khas ke India dan Asia Selatan dalam Manakala bekas Presiden MCA Tan Sri Ong Ka Ting yang juga Ahli Parlimen Kulai itu menerima elaun RM20,000 apabila dilantik sebagai Duta Khas Perdana Menteri ke Republik Rakyat China. Selain itu, bekas Menteri Besar Perlis Datuk Seri Dr Shahidan Kassim turut dinamakan dengan menjadi Penasihat Khas kepada Perdana Menteri Mengenai Wilayah Ekonomi Koridor Utara (NCER) dengan elaun RM24,022. Turut tersenarai Ahli Parlimen Besut Datuk Seri Dr Abdullah Md Zin yang memegang jawatan sebagai Penasihat Agama kepada Perdana Menteri dengan pendapatan elaun RM25,106 sebulan. Sementara itu, bekas Menteri Dalam Negeri Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar yang juga Ahli Parlimen Kota Tinggi turut tersenarai menerima elaun RM20,000 sebulan atas kapasitinya sebagai Pengerusi Suruhanjaya Pengangkutan Awam Darat (SPAD). Tidak ketinggalan bekas Perdana Menteri Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi yang menjadi Penasihat Pembangunan Wilayah Ekonomi di bawah Unit Kerjasama Awam Swasta (Ukas) dengan pendapatan RM10,000 sebulan serta RM3,000 sebagai Pengerusi Institut Kefahaman Islam Malaysia (Ikim). |
| MB S’gor: Pendirian Azmin, bukan Pakatan Posted: 03 Oct 2012 04:54 AM PDT
Bagaimanapun, Khalid memandang kenyataan Azmin itu dari sudut positif kerana beliau dilihat boleh bekerja di peringkat Persekutuan maupun Negeri. “Saya baca kenyataan (Azmin) dari sudut positif dan nampaknya saya boleh bekerja dalam kerajaan Persekutuan dan Negeri,” katanya kepada pemberita selepas mempengerusikan mesyuarat mingguan exco di sini hari ini. Tegas Khalid, “keputusan mengenai siapa akan bertanding dalam pilihan raya, siapa akan jadi (MB), hanya akan diumumkan sekiranya perlu. Tapi kebiasaannya komen ini bukan dari Pakatan Rakyat sebagai satu kumpulan. Beliau berkata demikian bagi mengulas kenyataan Azmin yang dilaporkan akhbar Sinar Harian bahawa kemungkinan beliau akan ditukar ke pentadbiran Persekutuan jika Pakatan menang PRU13. Sementara itu, menyentuh mengenai desakan segelintir pembeli rumah agar kerajaan negeri mengambil alih hutang mereka seperti dilakukan ke atas Talam Corporation Berhad, beliau berkata terdapat beberapa usaha untuk membantu. Menurutnya, kerajaan negeri meminta Perbadanan Kemajuan Negeri Selangor (PKNS) memberi senarai nama pembeli rumah yang miskin untuk dibantu. “Kita bukan ambil alih hutang mereka tetapi jika fakir miskin kerajaan negeri ada beberapa usaha untuk tolong mereka ringankan masalah,” katanya. |
| K’jaan masih kaji guna telefon bimbit di sekolah Posted: 03 Oct 2012 04:34 AM PDT
Menteri Pelajaran Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin berkata, pihaknya kini masih dalam peringkat mengkaji sama ada keperluan penggunaan gajet teknologi itu relevan kepada pelajar sekolah. “Satu sesi perbincangan meja bulat telah diadakan pada 25 Ogos lalu yang melibatkan kumpulan pengetua, guru besar, guru, ibu bapa dan Beliau berkata demikian dalam soalan lisan Ahli Parlimen BN-Simpang Renggam Liang Teck Meng mengenai hasrat kerajaan membenarkan para pelajar membawa telefon bimbit dan alat elektronik ke sekolah. Menurutnya, buat masa ini kementerian sedang meneliti secara menyeluruh semua pandangan ahli masyarakat termasuk tokoh akademik, pemimpin badan bukan kerajaan (NGO), guru, ibu bapa dan murid-murid sebelum satu keputusan muktamad diumumkan. Timbalan Menteri Pelajaran, Datuk Dr. Wee Ka Siong sebelum ini mengumumkan pelajar sekolah berkemungkinan dibenarkan membawa telefon bimbit ke sekolah mulai tahun depan. Katanya, perkara itu terkandung dalam Draf Pendidikan Disiplin Murid 2012 yang kini diperingkat akhir sebelum di bawa ke pejabat Peguam Negara untuk diluluskan. |
| Sidang khas bincang 3 isu utama Posted: 03 Oct 2012 04:26 AM PDT
Antara perkara lain yang akan dibincangkan termasuklah hasil pelaksanaan Selangorku Bersih (program pendemokrasian) dan isu penyusunan semula industri perkhidmatan air di negeri itu. Perkara itu diumumkan Menteri Besar Selangor, Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim dalam sidang media selepas mempengerusikan mesyuarat mingguan exco di sini hari ini. Bagaimanapun Abdul Khalid berkata, Sultan Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah belum memberi kata putus mengenai hasrat tersebut. “Sidang khas ini bagi membolehkan kerajaan negeri membentangkan ketiga-tiga isu secara lebih terperinci di samping memberi peluang kepada rakyat Selangor mendapat maklumat tentang isu dengan jelas dan tepat. “Sekiranya hasrat ini (sidang khas) mendapat perkenan Tuanku Sultan, saya jangka ia akan diadakan dalam tempoh dua hingga tiga minggu akan datang,” katanya. Katanya, kertas putih Talam telah disiapkan dan pembentangan itu akan dikendali beliau secara terperinci tentang kaedah pengutipan hutang yang digunapakai serta transaksi dilakukan Menteri Besar Incorporated (MBI) untuk mengutip hutang berjumlah RM392 juta. Bagi isu kedua iaitu laporan di bawah program pendemokrasian, kerajaan negeri yang menemui seramai 110,000 nama pengundi diragui dan gagal dikesan sehingga kini. Manakala menyentuh tentang perkhidmatan industri air, beliau berkata semua surat menyurat dan fail antara kerajaan negeri dan Persekutuan sejak 2008 akan dibentang bagi membuktikan komitmen melaksanakan penyusunan semula air. |
| Anwar jemput peguam Scorpene beri taklimat di Parlimen Posted: 03 Oct 2012 03:59 AM PDT
Naib Presiden PKR R Sivarasa berkata, taklimat itu bagi membolehkan ahli parlimen Barisan Nasional (BN) dan Pakatan Rakyat mendengar penjelasan mengenai dokumen hasil siasatan polis Perancis kepada badan kehakiman negara itu. Surat jemputan yang ditujukan kepada peguam mewakili Suaram yang mengendalikan kes Scorpene di Perancis, William Bourdon dan Joseph Breham, menjemput mereka supaya datang dalam tempoh sehingga Parlimen tamat bersidang pada 22 November depan. Turut dijemput peguam mewakili syarikat pertahanan Perancis yang terlibat dalam penjualan Scorpene iaitu Direction des Construction “Rakyat Malaysia nak dengar tentang skandal bayaran 114 juta Euro kepada Syarikat Perimekar Sdn Bhd yang dimiliki Abdul Razak Baginda bagi tujuan ‘logistical support for training’. “Tapi semua orang tahu Perimekar tidak layak dan tiada pengalaman langsung tentang kapal selam tapi diberikan kontrak bernilai lebih RM500 juta,” katanya dalam sidang media di Parlimen di sini hari ini. Ahli Parlimen Subang itu berkata, taklimat itu juga membolehkan ahli parlimen mendengar kes mantan pengarah kewangan syarikat DCNS membuat tuntutan pemotongan cukai sebanyak 32 juta Euro atas alasan duit itu digunakan sebagai bayaran rasuah kepada pegawai. Anwar kini di Paris Sementara itu, Ahli Parlimen Batu Tian Chua berkata Anwar yang berlepas sejak malam semalam bagi menerima satu anugerah khas kini “Harap mereka terima dan boleh tetapkan tarikh…jika semuanya berjalan lancar Ahli Parlimen BN dan Pakatan dijemput hadir mendengar taklimat,” katanya. Tian Chua berkata, taklimat itu perlu dijadikan satu peluang kepada semua mendapat gambaran jelas sekali gus dapat membetulkan persepsi “Kalau ada sasuatu yang tak betul kerajaan Malaysia wajar ambil tindakan susulan,” katanya. Berbeza dengan sistem perundangan Malaysia yang mengikuti undang-undang British, Sivarasa berkata badan kehakiman Perancis mempunyai agensi penguatkuasa tersendiri untuk menyiasat sesuatu kes tanpa perlu bergantung kepada hasil siasatan daripada pihak polis. |
| Posted: 03 Oct 2012 03:22 AM PDT
The FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) fell 1.28 points to end at 1,649.75, after hovering between 1,653.80 and 1,640.44 throughout the day. A dealer said Asian markets were dampened by the weaker-than-expected data from China and Australia. “China services sector grew at a slower pace in September while Australia’s trade deficit widens as export earnings from industrial commodities shrank,” he said. The key index, however, managed to mitigate the losses at the end of trading, helped by gains in telecommunications counters like Axiata, Maxis, Telekom Malaysia and DiGi, he said. Axiata rose five sen to RM6.67, Maxis gained seven sen to RM7.01, Telekom Malaysia was up 10 sen to RM6.28 and DiGi earned 15 sen to RM5.47. The Finance Index fell 8.369 points to 14,632.65, Industrial Index declined 24.87 points to 2,796.80 and the Plantation Index eased 178.99 points to 8,080.88. The FBM Emas Index lost 15.989 points to 11,183.65, FBM Mid 70 Index fell 45.47 points to 11,983.69 and the FBM Ace inched down 15.57 points to 4,291.20. Losers beat gainers by 434 to 295 while 317 counters were unchanged, 594 untraded and 19 others suspended. Turnover rose to 864.828 million shares worth RM1.744 billion from 812.823 million shares worth RM1.253 billion yesterday. Among actives, Naim Indah and Compugates earned half sen each to 21 sen and nine sen, respectively while Sime Darby dropped 33 sen to RM9.41. Of the heavyweights, Maybank and CIMB Group fell three sen each to RM9.09 and RM7.56 respectively and Petronas Chemicals earned a sen to RM6.44. Volume on the Main Market rose to 661.751 million units valued at RM1.716 billion from 567.193 million units valued at RM1.218 billion yesterday. Turnover on the ACE Market fell 109.325 million shares worth RM21.251 million from 192.127 million shares worth RM28.172 million previously. Warrants increased to 91.479 million units valued at RM5.689 million from 48.555 million units valued at RM3.692 million yesterday. Consumer products accounted for 42.950 million shares traded on the Main Market, industrial products 98.154 million, construction 19.533 million, trade and services 327.297 million, technology 27.946 million, infrastructure 18.696 million, finance 36.649 million, hotels 54,400, properties 36.868 million, plantations 33.941 million, mining 104,000, REITs 19.547 million and closed/fund 6,500. - Bernama |
| PM: Domestic economy will be engine of growth Posted: 03 Oct 2012 03:17 AM PDT
He said that creating a stronger domestic economy and consolidating subsidies are among pivotal thrusts of the government as evidenced by proposals made in Budget 2013. “There is always a downside risk of the external environment to the local economy for which pro-active steps should be taken to address them. “It is not within our control. The external global economy is beyond us, you’re absolutely right and we have to take that into account,” Najib, who is also Finance Minister, said when asked on the downside risks of the external environment on the country’s economy despite having good economic growth numbers, increased foreign direct investments (FDIs) and ringgit appreciation. “We are trying to develop, first of all, a very strong domestic economy that will persevere and the engine of growth will come from the domestic economy,” he said during a pre-recording of the CNBC Conversation programme here today anchored by well-known anchor Martin Soong. “That is why we have done everything that is possible to encourage business and facilitate domestic investments in this country,” Najib said. Getting a fresh mandate from the upcoming general election is crucial to ensure continuity of the Economic Transformation Programme (ETP) and Malaysia achieving its high-income nation status, he said. The prime minister said the next five years would be very crucial for his government in delivering these promises. Through implementation of projects under the ETP, Malaysia would be able to reduce the country’s dependency on resources like oil as the major source of revenue while developing other sectors that can generate new revenues, he said. Besides diversifying the income stream for the country, Najib said that it was important to rationalise subsidies and deliver targeted subsidies to certain groups. He said that it would not be right to raise prices of subsidised items just after getting a mandate for the next five years as the people might question the government’s sincerity. Measures to lower subsidies and raise prices for subsidised goods were the correct steps to take which should be beneficial to the people in the long run. Lofty positions “The key is targeted subsidies. “There’s a lot of leakages out of the system and you’ve got to plug these holes. You need to tell people what is good for them and what is good for the country by focusing on targeted subsidies,” he said when asked whether reducing subsidies and the implementation of Goods and Services Tax (GST) are among the first agenda on the table once his government wins the election. Najib also pointed out the importance of having free trade agreements on the back of global uncertainties and strengthening trade relations between Asean countries and East Asian countries to build a strong domestic economy. “We know that the engine of growth will come from the domestic economy in the short term but we see Asean and East Asia as very important markets for us, both in terms of exports as well as sources of FDI. “Making Asean and East Asia more regionally integrated will be the key,” said Najib. Asked on the real risks Malaysia might face in participating in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), the prime minister said: “Again, there is a need to strike a right balance between what would be considered as acceptable. “The message I’ve relayed to the United States and the US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Vladivostok was (that) we have to come down from our rather lofty positions and become more practical because if we get 70% of what we want, it’s better than no deal at all,” he added. The TPP is a free trade agreement initiative involving nine countries comprising Australia, Brunei, Chile, Malaysia, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, the United States and Viet Nam. The 30-minute recording will be aired at 12pm on Saturday. - Bernama |
| Women’s rights: Azalina defends Najib Posted: 03 Oct 2012 02:55 AM PDT
Azalina said that Najib, who is also Women, Family and Community Development Minister, had not been quoted properly and that he meant something entirely different. "No, he didn't say it like that. What he meant was historically women have been participating for equal rights, even from the beginning," she told reporters at the Parliament lobby. "The prime minister emphasised that so many women, especially from Wanita Umno, have participated aggressively." Najib said yesterday that Malaysia was way ahead of developed nations in terms of women's rights, and that Malaysian women was well known "to the extent that the men are said to be an endangered species". But the Women's Aid Organisation (WAO) took strong exception to his comments, pointing out that it was not up to the prime minister to proclaim there is no need for women's movement. WAO executive director Ivy Josiah told FMT yesterday that there was still more work to be done by the women's movement, and that discrimination against the fairer sex continued to this day. "Najib was trying to emphasise that in Malaysia, most of the community have accepted women's role and participation," Azalina said. "What he's trying to say is that you don't need a quota when it comes to [women's] struggles. It's not an issue of quota. "To be fair, you have to quote him properly," she added. Also Read: Najib gets drubbing from Pakatan women |
| Saman Petronas: Mahkamah putuskan sama ada bicara penuh Posted: 03 Oct 2012 02:46 AM PDT
Ia berikutan selepas mahkamah memberi kebenaran untuk mengemukakan rayuan kepada plaintif iaitu kerajaan Kelantan, selepas peguam Thommy Thomas memaklumkan kepada panel hakim lima anggota iaitu peguam yang mewakili Petronas dan peguam kanan persekutuan yang mewakili kerajaan tidak membantah berhubung permohonan itu. Panel hakim lima anggota yang diketuai Presiden Mahkamah Rayuan Tan Sri Md Raus Sharif juga membenarkan permohonan plaintif untuk penangguhan prosiding di Mahkamah Tinggi Kuala Lumpur sementara menunggu keputusan akhir rayuan mereka berhubung isu awal sebelum perbicaraan sebenar bermula. Thommy kemudian memberitahu pemberita plaintif mempunyai 14 hari untuk memfailkan rayuan di Mahkamah Persekutuan berhubung keputusan Mahkamah Rayuan. Empat lagi anggota panel hakim ialah Datuk Seri Sulong Matjeraie, Datuk Ahmad Maarof, Datuk Zainun Ali dan Datuk Jeffery Tan Kok Hwa. Pada 26 April lepas, Mahkamah Rayuan menolak permohonan kerajaan Kelantan bagi mengetepikan keputusan Mahkamah Tinggi Kuala Lumpur yang memutuskan saman itu ditentukan secara isu perundangan. Mahkamah itu turut menolak permohonan kerajaan negeri untuk dibekalkan dokumen-dokumen kes berikutan keputusan Hakim Datin Zabariah Mohd Yusof memerintahkan pihak-pihak berkenaan terlebih dahulu meneruskan mengikut Perintah 14A Peraturan Mahkamah Tinggi 1980 tanpa perlu melalui perbicaraan penuh. Dalam saman yang dikemukakan pada 30 Ogos 2010, pihak plaintif menamakan Petronas sebagai defendan pertama. Bagaimanapun, kerajaan persekutuan berjaya dalam permohonannya untuk mencelah dan dinamakan sebagai defendan kedua dalam tuntutan saman tersebut. Dalam pernyataan tuntutannya, kerajaan Kelantan menuntut Petronas supaya membuat pembayaran tunggakan dan bayaran tunai seterusnya bagi petroleum dihasilkan di luar pantai Kelantan seperti ditetapkan dalam perjanjian petroleum. Kerajaan negeri itu juga menuntut ganti rugi dan kos. Bagaimanapun ia tidak menetapkan jumlah keseluruhan yang dituntut daripada Petronas. Dalam pernyataan tuntutannya, kerajaan negeri menyatakan bahawa Perjanjian Petroleum Kelantan dimeterai pada 9 Mei 1975, jelas menyebut bahawa Petronas perlu membayar tunai lima peratus daripada hasil minyak sama ada daripada usaha carigali di kawasan pantai atau luar pantai. Ia menyatakan satu perenggan daripada perjanjian itu menyebut bahawa pembayaran hendaklah dibuat secara tunai dua kali setahun pada atau sebelum 1 Mac atau pada atau sebelum 1 Sept. Pada prosiding hari ini Petronas diwakili peguam Tan Sri Cecil Abraham manakala Peguam Kanan Persekutuan Datin Azizah Nawawi, mewakili kerajaan persekutuan. - Bernama |
| Spin kings set for battle royal Posted: 03 Oct 2012 02:42 AM PDT  COLOMBO: Former champions Pakistan and hosts Sri Lanka clash in the first semi-final of the World Twenty20 in Colombo on Thursday, banking on the quality spinners in the two camps. The pre-match focus revolved around Sri Lanka’s unorthodox spinner Ajantha Mendis and Pakistan’s prolific Saeed Ajmal, both of whom have been the highest wicket-takers for their respective teams in the competition. While Mendis has taken nine wickets, Ajmal has eight. Mendis achieved the best figures in Twenty20 internationals with six wickets for eight against Zimbabwe in the preliminary league and remains the trumpcard for the hosts despite conceding 40 runs in four overs against England in Super Eights. Pakistan had 18 overs of spin during their 32-run win over Australia on Tuesday as Ajmal was ably supported by Shahid Afridi, 20-year-old left-armer Raza Hasan and skipper Mohammad Hafeez. Sri Lanka has the added bonus of sling-arm fast bowler Lasith Malinga, who grabbed a career best 5-31 against England and remains one of the most destructive wicket-takers in the game. Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene said he was confident about his team reacting well to Pakistan’s challenge. “We have played each other quite frequently and it’s been a good contest,” Jayawardene told reporters on Wednesday. “They’ve got some quality spinners but we just need to make sure that we execute our things well against them. “Both Ajmal and Mendis have shown how good they are in this competition. It’s going to be a big game for everybody, not just for those two guys. It’s a huge game for both sides.” The semi-final is a repeat of the 2009 final in England when Pakistan beat Sri Lanka at Lord’s to win the title. The hosts will also depend on a seasoned batting line-up led by Jayawardene to win their first major tournament since the 50-over World Cup in 1996. But the seasoned skipper was not looking too far ahead. “We need to get to the final first before thinking of the title,” he said. “We may not have won too many finals but getting there itself shows that we have played consistent cricket.” Pakistan captain Hafeez played down the hype around spinners. “We are blessed with world-class spinners but I think we have to play good all-round cricket to win the semi-final and we will look for that once we enter the field,” said Hafeez, who regarded Sri Lanka as tough opponent. “Sri Lanka is playing good cricket and I am happy the way we have played so far and hope that we keep the intentions positive,” said Hafeez, who said crowd support for Sri Lanka will not matter to Pakistan. “We have been playing our cricket away from home, so we are quite used to of it and I think the Sri Lankan crowd is sensible enough to support good cricket from both the teams,” said Hafeez. “It will surely be a good contest.” International cricket has been suspended in Pakistan since terrorists’ attacks on the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore three years ago. -AFP |
| Posted: 03 Oct 2012 02:34 AM PDT
The event – an unusual sort of press conference at which journalists were asked to stop their ears with foam plugs – was a preview of a stunt he will undertake starting on Friday, when he plans to stand on a 20-foot-high platform for 72 hours without food amid an artificial lightning storm crackling between low-current, million-volt Tesla coils. “I had wanted to do this for years,” he said. The magician’s past endurance stunts include sitting in a box suspended above the River Thames in London for 44 days with only water, and standing unharnessed on a 100-foot-high pillar in New York City for 35 hours. He described how this latest idea grew out of an image he had of himself at the center of a giant plasma globe. Realizing the idea would require him to exist in an airless vacuum – a feat beyond even Blaine’s prowess – he adapted the idea to instead use Tesla coils. “Being in the middle of a lightning storm, it feels so amazing, being in an environment you shouldn’t be in,” he said. Blaine’s stainless steel chain-mail suit is a so-called Faraday suit, an adaptation of the principle of the Faraday cage in which an enclosure of highly conductive material shields whatever is within the enclosure from an electric field. It is a version of the sort of protective suit some linemen wear when working on high-voltage power lines or hobbyists make for themselves when playing with homemade Tesla coils. 72 hours of standing Stuart Weiss, Blaine’s doctor, said the main risks of the stunt include exposure to the ozone and nitrous oxides that are a byproduct of ionized air, which humans should not inhale in large quantities. A ventilation system will ensure Blaine has breathable air and a special visor in his helmet will protect his eyes from the ultraviolet radiation of the arcing electricity.
Intel Corporation is sponsoring the event to promote notebook computers that use its processor technology. Blaine said he hoped to inspire children to learn about physics – for example, it is not the volts, even a million of them, that can kill, but the amps. The electric current, measured in amps, produced by a typical Tesla coil is low. William Allen Zajc, chairman of the physics department at Columbia University, applauded the magician for making physics seem exciting. He said the stunt was basically safe, though could prove risky if the suit deteriorated from the exposure. “To me, the amazing thing is that he plans to stand there for 72 hours, not that there’s a million volts or these impressive lightning bolts passing through the Faraday cage that surrounds him,” Zajc said.—Reuters |
| Kes saman fitnah Nizar terhadap TV3 2 Jan Posted: 03 Oct 2012 02:32 AM PDT
Hakim Datuk Yeoh Wee Siam menetapkan tarikh itu di dalam kamarnya dengan dihadiri peguam Mohd Fitri Asmuni yang mewakili Mohammad Nizar dan peguam Lim Qi Si mewakili pihak TV3. Lim, ketika ditemui pemberita memberitahu beliau mendapat arahan daripada anak guamnya untuk meneruskan perbicaraan kes itu walaupun Mohammad Nizar bersedia untuk menyelesaikan kes berkenaan di luar mahkamah. Mahkamah turut menetapkan 10 Dis untuk pengurusan kes tersebut. Mohammad Nizar memfailkan saman itu terhadap TV3 kerana menerbitkan pernyataan fitnah berhubung pembelian nombor plat kenderaan WWW 1 yang dibida pada harga RM520,000. Sementara itu, bagi saman berjumlah RM50 juta yang difailkan Mohammad Nizar terhadap Utusan Melayu berkaitan pernyataan fitnah yang sama, mahkamah menetapkan 24 Okt ini untuk mendengar permohonan Utusan Melayu bagi mengetepikan penghakiman ingkar yang diperintah oleh mahkamah pada 8 Ogos lepas. Mohd Fitri memberitahu pemberita bahawa pendengaran kes itu ditetapkan oleh Hakim Mahkamah Tinggi Datin Zabariah Mohd Yusof. Pada 10 Julai lalu, Mohammad Nizar memfailkan dua saman tersebut secara berasingan (terhadap Utusan Melayu dan TV3) dan dalam pernyataan tuntutannya beliau menamakan Utusan Melayu dan TV3 sebagai defendan. Katanya beliau telah mengeluarkan satu kenyataan melalui akaun Twitter miliknya pada 28 Mei lepas berhubung nombor plat itu. Mohammad Nizar yang merupakan Anggota Dewan Undangan Negeri Pasir Panjang mendakwa pada 30 Mei lepas, TV3 telah mengeluarkan berita melalui Buletin Utama pukul 8 malam, berhubung kenyataannya itu. Beliau berkata keesokannya pada 31 Mei, Utusan Melayu menerbitkan satu artikel di halaman 11, akhbar Utusan Malaysia berhubung kenyataannya itu. Mohammad Nizar mendakwa pernyataan fitnah itu antara lain membawa maksud bahawa beliau adalah seorang penderhaka kepada sultan amnya, dan Sultan Johor khususnya, beliau adalah ahli politik yang anti-sultan dan seorang ahli politik yang cuba menghasut rakyat untuk membenci Sultan Johor. - Bernama |
| One year later, Apple marches on without Jobs Posted: 03 Oct 2012 02:29 AM PDT
Now, as a botched launch of the iPhone 5 coincides with the first anniversary of Job’s passing, technology pundits are no closer to an answer. Jobs died on Oct 5, 2011 at the age of 56 after a long battle with cancer, but left in place hand-picked successor Tim Cook, as well as Jonny Ive, the British designer behind all Apple’s great Until the recent launch snafu, everything had been going superbly. Under Cook, Apple continued to sell millions of new iPhones and iPads every week, even in the face of ever-stronger competition. Under Cook, Apple stock has soared from around US$378 at the time of Jobs’ death to more than US$650 now, giving Apple the mantle of the world’s most valuable company in history. It is also worth more than double its biggest competitor Google. But one of the most embarrassing stumbles in Apple’s history has many pundits asking if Apple can still execute as consistently as it did under Jobs. Cook’s decision to ditch Google Maps in Apple’s latest smartphone in favour of the company’s own in-house maps brought howls of derision with the launch of the iPhone 5 and Apple’s new operating system iOS 6. Users complained, wrote blogs and launched website ridiculing the new programme’s misplaced or missing cities, disappearing landmarks, faulty directions and warped images. Cook apologised and advised users to use competing products. The best one – Google Maps – however was unavailable. And pundits warned that in its absence Google’s Android operating system could gain a decisive advantage in the battle for mobile supremacy. Even some self-confessed Apple devotees like John Pavley are warning of Apple’s demise. On the wane “There’s a tremendous amount of speculation about where Apple is headed but it’s clear to me that the age of Apple’s dominance on our collective imaginations is on the wane,” noted Pavley, the chief technology officer of the Huffington Post. “Every era has an expiration date and Apple’s is about to come due.” Apple still has a huge range of opportunities, including a massive expansion into China, and an iPad mini that should keep at bay the growing competition at least for a while. But as happened with the That’s why the challenge for Apple is to continue to dominate by re-imagining technology in the same way that the iPod, iPhone and iPad did under Jobs, notes Tim Bajarin a noted Silicon Valley That’s a tall order to live up to, but not impossible with technologies such as augmented reality, flexible screens, ever more bandwidth and improved processors coming down the development line. In the shorter term the most frequent speculation focuses on a successful implementation of everything Apple has learned into an Apple TV device that will become as popular as Apple’s other hits. It’s a device that will have Jobs’ finger prints all over it. Jobs acknowledged not only working on the device – but also perfecting the way it would work. “I’ve cracked it,” he told his biographer Walter - dpa |
| Posted: 03 Oct 2012 02:29 AM PDT
Their five-hour demonstration on Jalan Bukit Bintang yesterday did not seem to win many Malaysians over to their side. A glance at FMT’s comments section showed that KL cabbies had a poor reputation as the city’s ferrymen, earning them little sympathy in the process. “I have little or no sympathy for these taxi drivers,” said Facebook user Hazri Haili. “I know life is hard as a taxi driver, but the majority of you at Bukit Bintang are the ones that rip me and tourists off. Tough luck.” Users were also critical of the cabbies’ opposition towards the free-to-ride GO-KL bus service, which was recently set up on two routes in the city. One user, James Ak Sakai, said: “Sorry, I have no sympathy with the budget cabbies especially. Last time, they asked for a hike on the taxi fare with the promise of using the meter, but what happened after that?” Another, Ryan Shanker Rajasekar, said: “GO-KL is better, because they’re not going to rip-off customers. Drivers not only want to cut the throats of tourists but also the locals. “They can protest all they want. All I can say is they deserve it and please maintain the GO-KL bus service.” Other users also praised the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) for coming down hard on errant cabbies in recent months. A Facebook user, Choo Eng Hong was one of them: “They charge hefty prices according to their whim and fancies… I may agree to some of their issues. However, I support SPAD in taking action against them…" Though supportive of taxi drivers, Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel (MATTA) president Mohd Khalid Harun appeared at wits’ end with them. He said he did not know why cabbies would protest against the GO-KL service, adding that it was a benefit for everyone in KL. “You can claim that we’re best in a lot of things, but when it comes to taxis, what number are we in the world? Bangkok, Manila and Jakarta’s taxis are better than ours,” he told FMT. Mohd Khalid added that more people would have a better opinion of KL’s cabbies if their drivers were more well-mannered and their cars kept in good condition. He added that he, too, had been brushed off by disinterested cabbies before. “I wanted to go from Putra World Trade Centre to KLCC (a 6km trip), but they didn’t want to take me,” he said, relating an experience. Mohd Khalid said that the cabbies then said that there were traffic jams in the city, and told him to go take the train instead. “This is very bad. Why are the taxis so choosy of getting customers?” Association for the Improvement of Mass Transit spokesman Rajiv Rishyakaran had similar sentiments. Disapproving of yesterday’s protest, he said: “Taxi drivers must use the meters and SPAD must act, for it is in the interest of the people [for them to do so].” |
| Belanjawan 2013 Pakatan: Tee Yong keliru dengan angka Posted: 03 Oct 2012 02:18 AM PDT
Chua yang juga timbalan menteri Pertanian dan Industri Asas Tani dalam kenyataan akhbar hari ini menuduh Belanjawan 2013 Pakatan mengandungi angka-angka yang menipu dan hasil dari penyelidikan yang kucar-kacir. Beliau juga mendakwa Belanjawan Pakatan memerlukan peruntukan tambahan sebanyak RM5.1 bilion dalam bentuk emolumen, tidak termasuk kenaikan gaji penjawat awam serta untuk membiaya dasar-dasar yang lain. Ahli Jawatankuasa Dasar dan Manifesto Pakatan yang dianggotai oleh Ahli Parlimen Kuala Selangor Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad, Pengarah Strategi PKR Rafizi Ramli dan Strategis Pilihanraya DAP Dr Ong Kian Ming dalam kenyataan media mereka hari ini menangkis dakwaan tersebut. Pakatan menganggarkan, kesan kewangan 2013 adalah satu pertiga dari jumlah kenaikan gaji RM745 juta bagi kesemua kakitangan, iaitu sekitar RM250 juta. Kerajaan Pakatan akan meneliti bentuk-bentuk faedah bukan gaji untuk mengelakkan pembaziran, dengan memastikan hanya faedah bukan gaji kepada kakitangan awam disediakan pada kos yang berpatutan. "Kami yakin penjimatan dari semakan terhadap perbelanjaan faedah bukan gaji boleh menampung kesan kewangan bagi tahun 2013 yang dianggarkan RM250 juta itu. Jawatankuasa Dasar dan Manifesto Pakatan memutuskan bahawa kenaikan ini boleh dibiayai dengan menyemak semula perbelanjaan untuk ‘Faedah-faedah Kewangan Yang Lain’ (Kod Akaun: 15000) yang telah mencecah RM1.04 bilion dalam tahun 2013. Mengambil kira pertimbangan ini, kenaikan peruntukan gaji kakitangan kerajaan hanyalah RM4 bilion seperti yang terkandung di dalam Belanjawan Pakatan 2013, dan bukanlah RM5.1 bilion seperti yang didakwa oleh Chua. "Seharusnya Chua membaca sepenuhnya keseluruhan dokumen Belanjawan Pakatan 2013 yang menerangkan pendekatan Pakatan untuk menggunakan jumlah anggota polis sedia ada bagi memenuhi tuntutan melindungi keselamatan awam tanpa perlu menambah tenaga kerja melalui pengambilan baru. Ini berbeza dengan pendekatan Barisan Nasional (BN) yang ingin meningkatkan pengambilan baru sehingga mencecah 30% menjelang 2015, yang sudah tentu akan meningkatkan tanggungan gaji. "Cadangan Pakatan adalah dengan memfokuskan anggota polis sedia ada kepada kerja-kerja membanteras jenayah dengan menukar anggota Cawangan Khas ke Jabatan Siasatan Jenayah. Tiada pengambilan baru Penjimatan dari langkah ini (kerana tiada pengambilan baru menjelang 2015) bolehlah digunakan untuk menaikkan gaji anggota polis", kata mereka dalam kenyataan itu. Menurut mereka lagi, ia satu proses yang akan berjalan dalam satu tempoh, bukannya kenaikan gaji serentak kerana proses penukaran anggota Cawangan Khas melibatkan latihan dan lain-lain. Sebab itu di mukasurat 8 Belanjawan Pakatan 2013 ada menyebut bahawa Pakatan mengunjurkan kenaikan gaji 15% sekiranya proses ini berjalan. Oleh kerana ia melibatkan satu proses, maka ia juga melibatkan kenaikan berperingkat dalam satu tempoh masa kerana kenaikan gaji itu perlu dibiayai dari penjimatan kerana tiada pengambilan baru dalam tempoh tiga tahun. "Kami mengucapkan tahniah kepada Chua kerana mengambil sedikit masa untuk meneliti angka-angka yang dibentangkan di dalam Belanjawan Pakatan 2013. Namun, beliau perlu lebih berhati-hati apabila ingin berhujah menggunakan angka kerana reputasi beliau sebelum ini pun terjejas teruk apabila angka-angka yang digunakan sering bertukar-tukar. |
| Aussies depending on aging players Posted: 03 Oct 2012 02:16 AM PDT  MELBOURNE: – Australia’s hopes of qualifying for a third successive World Cup must again rest on ageing shoulders because there are few young players pushing for selection, according to embattled coach Holger Osieck. Osieck, under huge pressure after the Socceroos’ stuttering start to the final round of Asian qualifying, has kept faith with Australia’s core of World Cup veterans for the Socceroos’ crucial away tie to Iraq on October 16. Captain Lucas Neill, attacking midfielder Tim Cahill, and goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer are among eight players over 30 years old in the 22-man squad and will be relied upon to turn the Socceroos’ fortunes around in the searing heat of Doha. With Australia’s seasoned campaigners failing to fire in two draws and a demoralising loss to 87th-ranked Jordan in Asia’s Group B, Osieck has come under fire for failing to inject new blood to revive the team’s flagging World Cup campaign. But the 64-year-old German said he had little choice but to back his ageing brigade, given the selection cupboard was bare. “I’m definitely a supporter of getting in fresh blood, however I can’t find it at present. There are not too many young players who knock at the door and say ‘I want to come in’,” Osieck told reporters on a conference call on Wednesday after naming the team. “The young ones who are pretty good and promising are already in the squad. “Right now, there’s no real pressure from other youngsters. Those who play in Europe don’t make the first team and that is definitely what stops their development in a way.” Australia, currently ranked 25th in the world, sailed through the previous phase of qualifying but have hit a brick wall in the final round, escaping with a lucky home draw against group leaders Japan before scrounging a goalless draw away to Oman. Their 2-1 defeat to Jordan ended the honeymoon for Osieck, who had hitherto drawn praise for his calm stewardship and emphasis on attacking play, in contrast to the stodgy, defensive game instilled by his unpopular predecessor Pim Verbeek. The Socceroos farewelled a clutch of experienced players after the team’s first-round exit from the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, but the next generation have struggled to fill their shoes while toiling for second-string teams in Europe. Osieck, a former assistant coach to Franz Beckenbauer during Germany’s 1990 World Cup triumph, said Australia’s top domestic league was hardly helping his cause, given its scheduling was leaving players rusty and unfit for international duty at the sharp end of the season. “The players have to play. Look at the domestic league, the break is way too long,” he said of the A-league, which kicks off its eighth season this weekend. “Now, it’s already the final quarter of the year and they’re just start their competitive playing. If things go wrong and (their teams) don’t make the playoffs, their season is already over in early March. “So in the time in between, what does it do to your development? You need to have a competitive environment and people here in Australia have to make sure they grant this more competitive environment. “(But) to go to Europe is not the ideal solution if they don’t play first-team football there. “So we are in a kind of predicament here.” Australia are third in Group A with two points behind Japan (10) and Jordan (4). The top two teams in each group book their places for the 2014 finals in Brazil, while the third-placed teams meet in a playoff before the winner of that tie plays the fifth-placed South American team for a place at the tournament. -Reuters |
| SMI group rejects Pakatan’s floor wage Posted: 03 Oct 2012 02:15 AM PDT
"It is highly possible that it will lead to many SMEs going bankrupt," its president Teh Kee Sin told reporters in the Parliament lobby. "We are also worried that it would result in a huge unemployment problem, especially as the world economy is going through difficulties. If this happens, it is highly possible that millions will be left unemployed in Malaysia." He said these problems would not be due only to businesses being unable to pay their workers, but also a possible drop in foreign direct investment (FDI). "Most of us are in the supporting industries, and if FDI is not forthcoming, we are worried that SMEs may lose jobs." Teh submitted a memorandum to Hulu Selangor MP P Kamalanathan and Umno Youth Chief Khairy Jamaluddin today expressing the hope that Pakatan's floor wage proposal would not be implemented. He said his organisation conducted a quick survey among the SMI community to gauge their opinion on the proposal after last week's announcement of Pakatan's shadow budget by Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim. "We found from their feedback that they do not agree or support a minimum wage of RM1,100," he said. Khairy, who was at the press conference, said there was a certain irony in proposing a high minimum wage with the intention of helping workers. "If the minimum wage is too high, many companies will go bankrupt. And when that happens, people will not be able to find work as the economy will be bogged down by a huge problem," he told reporters. "Economic growth stalls and we are not able to generate jobs. So there is an irony there. We want to help the people, but we set the minimum wage too high." He said that a high minimum wage would also result in high inflation. "The inflation will happen because too many people are earning a higher salary in one shot. So demand will rise and prices of goods will increase." He also said the law would not allow for wage discrimination between foreign and local workers. "So if the pay is high and we cannot reduce our dependence on foreign workers, we will witness money flowing out of Malaysia and into the countries which those workers belong to," said Khairy. Khairy accused Pakatan of setting the minimum wage without consulting stakeholders or carrying out research. Kamalanathan said Barisan Nasional could also promise an equally high minimum wage to win votes but would not do something so "irresponsible". Referring to the figure proposed by Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak, he said: "This RM900 is not done just because the prime minister likes the number. We consulted the National Wages Council, six workers' representatives, six employers' representatives, five government representatives, five individual representatives." |
| Israeli media, ministers float early elections Posted: 03 Oct 2012 02:11 AM PDT
In recent weeks, speculation has been rife that Netanyahu, who continues to ride high in the polls, might bring forward elections scheduled for next October, rather than try to pass a controversial new budget before the vote. Media reports pointed out that the premier himself, during a closed meeting on Tuesday, said he would not hesitate to call early elections if it looked impossible to pass the budget beforehand. Multiple media reports cited February 12 as the likeliest date. Netanyahu is trying to pass an austerity budget, prepared by Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz, that commentators say has virtually no chance of being adopted by the end of this year. “The prime minister is still trying to present a responsible budget, but if it isn’t possible there will be elections in mid-February,” Transportation Minister Israel Katz, a Netanyahu confidant, told Israeli public radio. He said parliament could be dissolved just a few days after it begins its winter session on October 15. Interior Minister Eli Yishai, head of the ultra-Orthodox Shas party, told military radio that early elections “are a fait accompli given that discussions on the budget haven’t even started yet.” Other signs pointing to early elections include unprecedented criticism by Netanyahu of Defence Minister Ehud Barak, who left the Labour party to form his own faction and enter the government. For nearly four years, the two politicians have presented a united front, but in recent days Netanyahu has reportedly accused Barak of “maneouvering behind his back” with the United States in a bid to present himself as a “moderate” compared to Netanyahu’s “extremist” positions, local media said. And Israel’s Channel 10 reported on Tuesday that Netanyahu had rejected a request by Barak that be guaranteed the defence portfolio in the country’s next government. Katz offered his own criticism of Barak on Wednesday, saying the defence minister “plotted against the prime minister in recent discussions with the United States, where he wanted to present himself as a better partner,” he said. - AFP |
| Design for Titanic II to be unveiled in New York Posted: 03 Oct 2012 02:08 AM PDT
The flamboyant Palmer, who announced plans in April to construct the replica Titanic with exactly the same dimensions as its ill-fated predecessor, will hold a gala dinner on December 4 on the retired aircraft carrier USS Intrepid. Those attending will include the former US president’s daughter, his sister Jean Kennedy Smith and New York Senator Ruth Hassell-Thompson along with leading US business leaders, Palmer said. They will be treated to a dinner from the same menu as Titanic passengers on the day it sank on April 12, 1912. “It will be a chance for the business community of the United States and indeed the world to see the wonderful progress that’s been made on our Titanic II project,” Palmer said. “Since we announced our plan in April we’ve had a huge amount of interest, particularly from people wanting to know how they can secure a booking for the maiden voyage, along with commercial sponsors.” The first voyage remains set for 2016, with the boat due to sail from China, where it will be built, to Southampton in England ahead of her maiden passenger journey to New York. The new ship will mirror its predecessor’s dimensions — measuring 270 metres long, 53 metres high and weighing 40,000 tonnes. It will have 840 rooms and nine decks and retain the first, second and third-class divisions of the original. Palmer extended an invitation for James Cameron to sail on the ship, saying the Titanic director had complained there were no Titanic-related experiences left for him. “Well James, this is something you can do,” he said. The original Titanic, which was built in Belfast, sank on its first trip from Southampton to New York, killing more than 1,500 passengers and crew. - AFP |
| Women go on Twitter blitz against Najib Posted: 03 Oct 2012 02:03 AM PDT
The Twitter drive, which uses the #WhyWomensRights tag, is part of a campaign begun yesterday by the Women’s Aid Organisation (WAO). Najib, who is also Women, Family and Community Development Minister, said yesterday that women’s rights groups were not necessary because the government provided equality to all, regardless of gender. The women on Twitter highlighted various issues of concern to women, such as gender inequality at work, marital rape, statutory rape, domestic violence, underage marriages, physical abuse and sexual harassment. The tweets also referred to the low representation of women in the judiciary, politics and decision-making positions. Najib gets drubbing from Pakatan women Tags: Najib Tun Razak, WAO, women’s rights |
| IMF chief: China, Japan ‘too important’ for row Posted: 03 Oct 2012 02:02 AM PDT  TOKYO: The shaky global economy needs Japan and China to be fully engaged, the head of the IMF said, warning the world could not afford to have the two countries distracted by their bitter territorial dispute.The warning came as the Asian Development Bank (ADB) slashed its growth estimates for the continent, saying the days of double-digit expansion were over. Speaking to Japanese media ahead of the annual IMF meeting in Tokyo next week, Christine Lagarde said two of the world’s biggest economies needed to show a bit of neighbourly tolerance for the good of everybody. “Both China and Japan are key economic drivers that do not want to be distracted by territorial division,” Kyodo News agency quoted Lagarde as telling reporters in Washington, in an interview published Wednesday. “The current status of the economy and the global economy needs both Japan and China fully engaged,” she said. Meanwhile the ADB cautioned Wednesday that developing Asia was seeing a slowdown in its previously blistering growth. The bank said China’s gross domestic product (GDP) would expand just 7.7 percent this year, well below the 9.3 percent achieved last year. Fellow regional standout India would see GDP growth cut to 5.6 percent. “Developing Asia is slowing down much more than we expected,” ADB chief economist Changyong Rhee told reporters in Hong Kong. “The years of two-digit growth in Asia are coming to an end,” he said. China and Japan, the world’s second and third largest economies, have been at loggerheads for months over a group of uninhabited islands in the East China Sea. Tokyo administers the chain under the name Senkakus, but they are claimed by Beijing, which calls them the Diaoyus. Chinese government ships regularly venture into waters around the islands, routinely ignoring orders to leave from Japanese coastguard vessels. Three vessels were in the area on Wednesday. Increasingly vitriolic diplomatic exchanges, including at the United Nations in New York last week, and mass anti-Japanese protests in several Chinese cities have further unsettled the already fractious relationship. Japanese firms operating in China were forced to shutter or scale back their operations when mobs attacked factories and shops. Some companies also complained of tightened customs inspections and difficulties obtaining visas for their foreign staff. Lagarde said neighbouring countries must display “a certain degree of tolerance” if they were to rub along effectively. The IMF managing director was speaking ahead of her trip to Japan next week when Tokyo hosts meetings of the IMF and the World Bank, in what will be the world’s largest single gathering of finance officials, bankers and non-government organisations. Dow Jones Newswires reported late Tuesday several big Chinese banks had cancelled their participation in events connected to the meetings, in what it said was a sign of the row spreading into the broader economic realm. Most of the banks have not given a reason for their last-minute pullouts but one unidentified person was explicit. “Quite frankly, it’s Japan-China relations,” Dow Jones quoted an official at the Tokyo branch of the Agricultural Bank of China as saying. The bank will withdraw from both IMF-related events and another financial industry conference planned in the western Japanese city of Osaka at the end of October. The global economy has struggled to shrug off the effects of the sovereign debt crisis in Europe, slowing growth in China and lingering concerns over the faltering US economic recovery. Lagarde said European countries “have made huge progress” already on the road to recovery but “more needs to be done”, according to Kyodo. She said the “fiscal cliff” in the United States – the anticipated termination of income tax cuts and a massive spending reduction in early 2013 – also poses a threat to the global recovery. “My dearest objective is that the countries participating in the IMF annual meeting in Tokyo would be prepared to come together, act together and try to go beyond the crisis to sustain the recovery,” she was quoted as saying. - AFP |
| India in talks to buy first bullet trains Posted: 03 Oct 2012 01:55 AM PDT  NEW DELHI: India is in talks to buy its first bullet trains for the nation’s creaking and accident-prone network, but the new fleet will run at only a fraction of its top speed, a report said on today.The government is speaking to Japanese, French and German manufacturers to purchase six new trains, which are capable of running at speeds of up to 325 kilometres per hour, the Hindustan Times newspaper reported. “Such projects have a long gestation period, but one has to start somewhere,” the newspaper quoted an anonymous official as saying in its report headlined: “Soon: Bullet trains for tortoise tracks”. India’s fastest train, the Bhopal Shatabdi, which carries passengers between the capital Delhi and the central Indian city of Bhopal, runs at a maximum speed of 150 kilometres per hour. The dilapidated railways, still the main form of long-distance travel in India despite fierce competition from airlines, run thousands of passenger and freight trains and carry millions of people daily. India’s train system has a notoriously bad accident record, with a recent official report revealing that almost 15,000 people are killed each year while crossing rail tracks – a figure the government described as a “massacre”. Derailments, collisions and other accidents are also common. - AFP |
| Graft confab a sandiwara, says Robert Phang Posted: 03 Oct 2012 01:55 AM PDT
Robert Phang, who resigned from the MACC advisory panel last year, said today that the sixth conference of the International Association of Anti-Corruption Authorities would be worthwhile only if the Malaysian delegation were to use it as an opportunity to address long-standing allegations against Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail. The conference "looks good on the macro scale”, he told FMT. "But when it comes down to the real deal, the micro, it doesn’t address anything. It will put on a good show, pretending that the MACC and government mean business in combating corruption. “The message from Malaysia has to be clear. Under current practices, the AG’s powers seem absolute. There are corruption allegations against him, but how can MACC act properly when prosecution powers lie solely with the AG’s Chambers?” Phang has been openly critical of Gani since early last year, after the Malaysia Today blog published allegations that latter had gone on his Haj pilgrimage with Shahidan Shafie, who was said to be a proxy of former MAS chairman Tajudin Ramli. Tajudin was under investigation by the MACC. Frightening He has also criticised Gani over allegations that he enjoyed close links with Vincent Lye, a director of construction giant Ho Hup, and that he had a hand in investigations against one of Lye's rivals. “Is the AG answerable to the Prime Minister, or Parliament, or the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Nazri Aziz?" Phang said in today's interview. "Is he answerable to anyone? To think about it, it is very frightening that he seems invulnerable.” He also referred to lawyer Zainal Abidin Ahmad's recent book, “Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail: Pemalsu, Penipu, Penjenayah (Fraud, Liar, Criminal)?” He complained that no investigation had been carried out to verify Zainal Abidin's allegations. “This book is widely available. I’ve lodged a police report on it. But what action has been done to investigate if these allegations against the AG are true? Why is he keeping mum if they are not true?” Phang said police had interviewed him over his report and the first thing he was asked was: “What’s your motive?” Conspiracy He also criticised Dewan Rakyat Speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia for rejecting a question from Cheras MP Tan Kok Wai on the status of police investigations into allegations contained in the book. “I’m surprised that even Parliament is not bothered. People are asking if this was a conspiracy or cover-up.” Phang, a well-known philanthropist, said he had no personal agenda against Gani, that he was merely fighting for justice in his capacity as the head of the Social Care Foundation. He also alleged that the current MACC Advisory Board includes a member who is a legal consultant for the AG’s office, which he said amounted to a conflict of interest. "He should step down,” he said, without naming the individual. “The MACC commissioner Abu Kassim, if he is not aware, should take note of this.” |
| Obama, Romney gear up for first debate Posted: 03 Oct 2012 01:53 AM PDT  DENVER, (Colorado): President Barack Obama and Mitt Romney at last stand face-to-face today to duel for the White House in the first of a trio of debates just 33 days before American voters decide their fates.Obama heads into the showdown in Denver with a narrow lead in his bid to defy historic omens sown by a stubbornly sluggish economic recovery, and to become only the second Democrat since World War II to win a second term. Republican Romney, down in almost all the key battleground states that will decide who wins the 270 electoral votes needed to win on November 6, seeks a sharp change of momentum in a race that seems to be slipping away. The rivals will step up to podiums at the University of Denver in the Rocky Mountain state of Colorado, at 7:00 pm (0100 GMT) to clash over the economy and other domestic issues. But veteran anchor Jim Lehrer, who will steer the debate for tens of millions of viewers at home, has leeway under rules thrashed out by the two campaigns to bring up other burning issues. That means Obama, 51, could face a grilling on his administration’s shifting account of the attack on the US consulate in Benghazi, Libya on September 11. Romney, 65, a multi-millionaire former venture capitalist, could come under scrutiny over his complex offshore tax arrangements, which Democrats have highlighted to press the case that he is indifferent to middle class struggles. Romney badly needs to reset the narrative of the election, after a secretly filmed tape emerged of him branding 47 percent of Americans as “victims” who pay no taxes and depend on government for handouts. Obama and Romney, who have rarely met or spoken, have spent days in seclusion honing debate techniques, offensive parries and comebacks. Ohio Senator Rob Portman has been playing the role of Obama in Romney’s shadow debates and Democratic Senator John Kerry, the defeated 2004 Democratic nominee, has been standing in for Romney. Asked by reporters Tuesday if he was ready, Romney replied: “I’m getting there.” Obama ignored reporters’ questions about the debate as he ducked out of a plush Nevada resort to tour the Hoover dam. Both sides have been indulging in the usual wild game of expectations setting, with Obama’s team predicting Romney will fire off some pre-baked “zingers” at the president. Republicans have praising Obama’s debating skills to the skies, hoping that a stronger-than-expected Romney can emerge from the first showdown with the momentum to chew into the president’s polling lead. Several national polls released before the debate showed a tight race, with Obama ahead by a few points. The new Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll gave Obama a lead among likely voters of 49 percent to 46 percent, consistent with a RealClearPolitics poll average showing the graying US leader up by 3.5 percent. A Washington Post-ABC News poll out Monday gave Obama a slimmer 49 to 47 percent lead, but likely voters in swing states — who are expected to decide the election — sided with the president by 52 to 41 percent. The president also led in Virginia, Ohio and Florida, which may prove decisive. On the eve of the debate, the campaigns traded red meat, pouncing on perceived liabilities of the other side in a daily battle to win news cycles. Several conservative media websites published stories and footage of a speech in 2007, in which a sermonizing Obama — then a senator — praised his controversial former pastor Jeremiah Wright. The speech, which had been extensively reported before, shows Obama in a more hard-edged mood than he is usually seen, decrying slow federal responses to Los Angeles riots and Hurricane Katrina, which harmed the black community. “Much of what we saw on our television screens 15 years ago was Los Angeles expressing a lingering, ongoing, pervasive legacy – a tragic legacy out of the tragic history this country has never fully come to terms with,” Obama said. Democratic aides dismissed the tape as a “lame” attempt to dig up old stories, and it appeared unlikely that the issue of the fiery Wright, whom Obama repudiated in 2008, would emerge as a key campaign issue this year. Republicans were meanwhile delighted by a verbal slip by Vice President Joe Biden, who said the middle class had been “buried” for the last four years. Democrats said Biden was talking about how president George W. Bush’s policies continued to hurt the middle class deep into Obama’s term. Romney’s running mate Paul Ryan issued a scathing response. “Unemployment has been above eight percent for 43 months. Our economy is limping along right now. Vice President Biden, just today, said that the middle class, over the last four years, has been ‘buried.’ We agree,” he said. Debates are often billed as decisive, but they rarely change presidential races. Some incumbent presidents, however, including Gerald Ford in 1976 and George H W Bush in 1992, have stumbled and ended up losing in November, so Obama will have to be on guard despite leading in the polls. - AFP |
| Hong Kong seeks answers after deadly ferry crash Posted: 03 Oct 2012 01:49 AM PDT  HONG KONG: The wreck of a boat that sank in a collision off Hong Kong, killing 38 people, was examined today after being hauled to shore as the city sought answers to its worst maritime accident in decades.The Lamma IV was towed to a beach to reveal a gaping hole in its left rear from Monday evening’s collision with the Sea Smooth ferry, which caused its stern to fill with water within minutes. More than 120 passengers and crew were on the Hong Kong Electric company vessel to watch a huge National Day fireworks display in Victoria Harbour when the accident occurred just off Lamma, an island to the west of Hong Kong. The stricken ferry limped to Lamma where its shaken but relatively unharmed passengers disembarked before it took on too much water from a hole in its left hull, which was sheared off in the impact. Investigators pored over the pleasure boat Lamma IV as they tried to piece together how such an accident could have occurred in one of the world’s busiest ports, which prides itself on its state-of-the-art transport infrastructure. Police arrested the captains of both vessels on Tuesday along with five crew. All of the detainees were released on bail. Police chief Tsang Wai-hung said the suspects “did not exercise the care required of them by law to ensure the safety of the vessels they were operating and the people on board”, pointing to human error as the likely cause. Hong Kong chief Leung Chun-ying announced three days of public mourning starting Thursday, when funeral services for the victims are expected to begin. He also called for an independent inquiry, as the accident raised questions about whether the regional banking hub’s maritime transport infrastructure had kept up with the huge growth in demand from mainland visitors. Prakash Metaparti, an assistant professor in Logistics and Maritime Studies at Hong Kong Polytechnic University, said the deadliest maritime accident in the territory since 1971 was probably a case of human error. “They should be able to navigate even in zero visibility with the radar. It’s surprising that they didn’t see each other… they should have seen each other,” he told AFP. “Most likely they misunderstood each other’s intentions.” He said the crew of the stricken Lamma IV may not have followed basic safety procedures. “I don’t think the children were wearing life jackets, and obviously there was no passenger list,” he said. Passengers on both vessels described scenes of panic and chaos as scores of people were thrown into the water from the Lamma IV. On the Sea Smooth, passengers said crew appeared to have no idea how to respond to the emergency. At least five children were killed in the collision, officials said. Scores were injured, including some who remain in critical condition in hospital. “Given our love and dependence on the sea, good has to come from this calamity. The investigation has to lead to even higher standards than the present ones,” the South China Morning Post said in an editorial. “We cannot help but be shocked an angry. Disasters on such a scale are what we expect in places less developed than ours,” it added. Ferry operator Hong Kong and Kowloon Ferry Holdings, in its first comments on the collision, said its captain was a 20-year veteran and it would cooperate with the investigation. General manager Nelson Ng, who lost two relatives aboard the Lamma IV, rejected allegations from Hong Kong Electric executives that the ferry abandoned the sinking pleasure craft. “We stopped at the scene and did not leave immediately, but what actually happened is up to the investigation to determine,” he said. - AFP |
| Posted: 03 Oct 2012 01:36 AM PDT
“We are exploring different options for our property assets. This includes a possible sale of our headquarters,” Nokia’s financial director Timo Ihamuotila told the Finnish daily Helsingin Sanomat. “However we have no plans to move our head office,” he added. The sale of property by a company which then rents the same assets from the buyer is a well-established strategy used by companies needing to raise cash. Nokia, once the leader in mobile phones, has been losing market share as consumers move to smartphones powered by Apple’s iOS or Google’s Android operating system. It has tied its future to using Microsoft’s Windows Phone smartphone operating system, but has yet to produce a major hit with consumers. The company, in the midst of a major restructuring plan, posted a net loss of 1.4 billion euros (US$1.8 billion) in the second quarter of this year, but had a cash pile of more than 4.0 billion euros. The company built its steel and glass “Nokia House” head office on the coast in the Helsinki suburb of Epsoo in the 1990s when it was enjoying spectacular growth. The Finnish daily Ilta-Sanomat said without citing sources that the building is worth between 200 million and 300 million euros. - AFP |
| Najib gets drubbing from Pakatan women Posted: 03 Oct 2012 01:21 AM PDT
PKR Wanita chief Zuraida Kamaruddin, speaking to reporters at the Parliament lobby, described Najib’s speech at the National Women’s Day celebration yesterday as an insult to women and “ill-advised”. The Ampang MP said the prime minister was apparently unaware of Malaysia’s poor rating in the Global Gender Gap index which ranked Malaysia at 95th among 135 countries, far below its regional neighbours like the Philippines and Thailand. “He had failed to differentiate between the right to vote and national participation. We are now at a point where we want to empower and mainstream women’s role. “But the empowerment process is poor and this is proven in the Global Gender Index Gap 2011,” she said. Najib sparked an uproar yesterday when he dismissed the need for a women’s right movement in the country, saying the community had been treated equally “since the start” and that Malaysia was more advanced than others in that aspect. “In some developed countries, the men were allowed to vote before women but, in Malaysia women had the right to vote from the start,” said the prime minister, who also holds the Women, Family and Community Development portfolio. Zuraida said the fact that Najib was holding that position and failed to improve the gender-gap added to the insult. DAP Wanita chief Chong Eng said Najib’s control over the portfolio also suggested that the Umno chairman saw no capable leaders from the ruling party’s women’s wing to take over the post. The post was vacated by current Umno Wanita chief Shahrizat Abdul Jalil after she was forced to step down following her family’s involvement in the National Feedlot Centre scandal. Chong, who is also Bukit Mertajam MP, added that women's issues had been raised many times in Parliament and it was hoped that Najib would address it in the committee stage of the budget debate. |
| Posted: 03 Oct 2012 01:01 AM PDT
The senior BN leader, claiming anonymity, said this was proven when incumbent Manickavasagam promoted Sakthivel at a function on Monday at the Hoe Tian Keong Temple. "Manickavasagam said that he would like to see Sakthivel contesting for the Kapar seat in a speech at the function attended by about 1,600 people, and they all heard it," claimed the leader. Disappointed, the BN leader accused Sakthivel of using Manickavasagam to promote his own political agenda. "Manickavasagam was promoting Sakthivel because both are friends, but the latter must understand that seats allocation for the general election is decided by the BN leadership. "I don’t know how Pakatan Rakyat works, but in BN we must abide by party decisions. People may get confused by Manickavasagam’s announcement," said the leader. I was being sarcastic, says Manicka Manickavasagam, however, dismissed the BN leader’s accusation, saying he was just being sarcastic with his remark. He said that many aspirants for the seat came to the function, including Kapar MIC division chief P Ganesan and Pemandu committee member D Ravindran. "These people just showed up. Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Deputy Minister Chua Tee Yong and Kapar MCA division chairman Song Kee Chai also attended the function. "All I said was that Ganesan and Sakthivel should pray hard so that their party leadership will choose either one of them to contest in Kapar. I was being sarcastic," said Manickavasagam. He also said that most of his speech on the day was about Pakatan’s leadership in the state and its achievements. Meanwhile, Sakthivel also dismissed the BN leader’s accusation, saying Manickavasagam was not promoting him for Kapar. "He didn’t mean it that way. He was merely addressing the people there. As for me, I just had my meal and left the function soon after," he said. |
| Asian markets higher, Spain worries cap gains Posted: 03 Oct 2012 12:45 AM PDT
The dollar and euro held on to recent gains against the yen on talk of another round of stimulus by the Bank of Japan (BoJ). Hong Kong, which was returning after a two-day holiday, rose 0.14% in the afternoon. Sydney climbed 0.13%, or 5.6 points, to 4,438.6 but Tokyo fell 0.45%, or 39.18 points, to 8,746.87. Shanghai and Seoul were closed for public holidays. With Wall Street unable to provide a spark, regional trade was tepid as investors await policy meetings by the central banks of Europe and Japan as well as closely-watched US jobs figures later in the week. The eurozone crisis continued to weigh after Spain’s Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said he was not planning any time soon to ask for a rescue package despite the parlous state of the country’s finances and its dangerously high borrowing costs. Spain, the eurozone’s fourth biggest economy, is required to make a formal demand for help in order to trigger the release of eurozone rescue funds and supportive action from the European Central Bank. Analysts had expected it to formally ask for help within days after last week unveiling an austerity budget widely seen as a precursor to a request. “There was little to encourage a bounce across the risk spectrum overnight with moderate weakness from US equities alongside easing expectations Spain will imminently seek financial aid,” said Melbourne-based Chris Gore, currency analyst at GO Markets in a note, according to Dow Jones Newswires. In Sydney the S&P/ASX 200 at one point rose 0.49% to a 14-month high of 4,454.6 before easing, with traders extending Tuesday’s advances after the Reserve Bank of Australia cut interest rates. “There is also some anticipation of another interest rate cut and it’s certainly our view that the RBA will cut again next month,” Macquarie Private Wealth division director Martin Lakos said. However, figures showing the trade deficit had soared to more than US$2 billion in August owing to the slowdown in China tempered risk sentiment. In currency trade investors speculated about the possibility of another round of monetary easing by the Bank of Japan, with pressure from new Economy Minister Seiji Maehara to do more raising expectations, said Hideyuki Ishiguro of Okasan Securities. Maehara, a senior ruling party lawmaker who was appointed as economy minister when Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda reshuffled his cabinet Monday, has been advocating aggressive credit easing and more measures to guide the yen lower. The BoJ holds a two-day rate-setting meeting from tomorrow. The dollar was at 78.22 yen in afternoon trade, against 78.15 yen in New York late yesterday. The euro bought US$1.2900 and 100.90 yen against US$1.2920 and 100.96 yen in US trade. On Wall Street the Dow dropped 0.24%, but the S&P 500 was up 0.09% and the Nasdaq gained 0.21%. Oil prices fell. New York’s main contract, light sweet crude for delivery in November, shed 19 US cents to US$91.70 a barrel in the afternoon and Brent North Sea crude for November delivery slipped 46 US cents to US$111.11. Gold was at US$1,772.95 at 0700 GMT compared with US$1,779.60 yesterday. In other markets, Taipei fell 0.44%, or 34.05 points, to 7,684.63. Hon Hai Precision dropped 0.33% to Tw$91.4 while TSMC was 0.22% higher at Tw$89.8. Wellington finished 0.47%, or 18.35 points, higher at 3,889.60. Fletcher Building added 2.5% to NZ$7.34 and Nuplex surged 5.5% to NZ$3.09, while Air New Zealand was up 0.4% at NZ$1.22. - AFP |
| Umno: Unfair to say Sabah is lagging Posted: 03 Oct 2012 12:42 AM PDT
"It would not be fair to say that there has been a lack of development when a huge chunk of the state budget, supplemented by federal funding, goes into all sorts of development,” he said. He said this in reference to a Merdeka Centre survey done with a regional consultancy firm from Sept 6 to 17 to gauge perception of current developments in Sabah. A total of 829 registered voters were interviewed. Some of them complained about the lack of development and infrastructure as well as the illegal immigration problem in Sabah. Salleh said that the development and infrastructure in Sabah is localised. “Rural water and electrification programmes have picked up pace over the last few years and it is only the exceptionally remote areas with small communities that are still without piped water and electricity. "Even then, the government is doing its best to provide water tanks and gravity water as well as generator-powered electricity to the remote villages in the interim,” he added. Contrary to the survey, Salleh listed the Kota Kinabalu airport extension, ammonia and urea plant and power plants as some examples of development projects in Sabah. He also dismissed complaints over the lack of development and infrastructure as common issues. Salleh, however, did not completely dismiss the survey because it gives the Sabah BN leaders an opportunity to know the ground sentiments. "If what has been reported is correct, then the Sabah BN must take stock of the situation and take steps to correct the misperception that development is lagging. "Our elected representatives should point out the inaccuracies to the people and highlight various development and infrastructure projects in the local media or using their own efforts, such as community newsletters, Facebook or their own blogs,” he said. On the issue of illegal immigrants within the state, Salleh said it would be best for the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) to investigate allegations that illegal immigrants are in possession of identity cards and citizenship. The RCI that began its investigation on Sept 21 is expected to present its report to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong in six months time. |
| Kemelut politik, agama boleh ancam kestabilan negara Posted: 03 Oct 2012 12:39 AM PDT
Panglimanya Jen Tan Sri Zulkifeli Md Zain berkata sebagai benteng hadapan keselamatan negara, ATM memberi perhatian serius terhadap isu itu kerana percaya jika tidak ditangani dengan berhemah mampu memberi impak negatif kepada kesejahteraan rakyat. ATM amat peka kepada perubahan iklim politik semasa negara dan mengenal pasti permasalahan sosio-ekonomi serta polemik perkauman yang keterlaluan boleh menjadi ancaman keselamatan awam, katanya kepada Bernama di sini baru-baru ini. “Ancaman dalaman yang dihadapi negara ketika ini ialah berkaitan dengan keselamatan dan ketenteraman awam namun, ATM sebagai benteng pertahanan telah dan sentiasa bersedia untuk menghadapi perkara itu,” katanya. Katanya bagi menyekat situasi itu daripada menular dan menjadi ancaman, ATM telah meningkatkan lagi kerjasama sedia ada dengan beberapa agensi kerajaan yang berkaitan. Beliau berkata ATM turut meningkatkan pengawasan di beberapa kawasan sempadan negara yang dikenal pasti berisiko menularnya ancaman itu, dengan memperkemaskan tahap kesiapsiagaan agar dapat memberi tindak balas segera apabila diperlukan. Zulkifeli berkata landskap serta senario keselamatan negara ketika ini telah mengalami perubahan yang cukup ketara dan untuk itu ATM juga melakukan beberapa transformasi bagi memastikan anggotanya sentiasa bersedia bagi berdepan ancaman tersebut. |
| NGO offers to tutor S’wak leaders on laws Posted: 03 Oct 2012 12:24 AM PDT
Save Rivers Network, which is spearheading the struggle against state’s plans to build 12 dams in Sarawak's interior, has offered to teach government officials about indigenous rights as guaranteed in the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Save Rivers Network chairman, Peter Kallang: "It is unfortunate that government leaders do not understand the international UN declaration that Malaysia has signed. We would therefore like to explain to them the rights of indigenous peoples under the country’s laws." His offer comes in the wake of a massive blockade of the access road into the construction site of the Murum hydroelectric dam project mounted by the Penan and Kenyah communities. Since last Wednesday, over 200 over them, from seven villagers, have been taking turns to block the access road to the dam at Seping River Bridge, about 40km from the Murum Dam project site. The villagers, representing 1,500 Penan and Kenyah communities who are scheduled for resettlement because of the project, are up in arms over a leaked Resettlement Plan report. According to Swiss-based Bruno Manser Fund (BMF), the compensation offered by the state government to the communities is “anything but fair and will impoverish them”. “The monthly allowances to be paid to the villagers after resettlement falls below the poverty level and ends after four years. “Their new farmland is covered with oil palms owned by large companies and there is hardly any forest left to sustain their traditional livelihood based on products from the wild,” it said. BMF also said the Penans and Kenyah were never consulted and had never given their consent as demanded by international standards. “They are willing to keep up the blockade until the Sarawak Energy Berhad, the agency in charge of the dam, and government authorities agree to their demands concerning resettlement and compensation,” said the BMF statement. The communities are demanding to meet Sarawak Energy’s Norwegian CEO, Torstein Dale Sjøtveit, as he is one of the persons responsible for the 12-dam complex in Sarawak, of which the Murum Dam is the first one to be built. The impoundment of the 944 MW Murum dam is meant to start in early 2013. According to the Sarawak Conservation Alliance for Natural Environment (SCANE) the Murum Dam will flood almost 250 sq kms of forest and will require the forced relocation of about 1,500 Penans as well as the 18 Kenyah-Badeng families in Long Umpa village, near Long Malim in Danum River, the upper course of the Murum River. It was previously reported that worried representatives from the affected communities had met on Sept 25 and came up with an open memorandum, detailing their issues, problems and demands. The memorandum for Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak and Sarawak Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud also listed issues involving native customary rights land, compensation for their land and the place where they are to be resettled. |
| ‘Only RM10 paid to settle Talam debts’ Posted: 03 Oct 2012 12:14 AM PDT
Pointing to 2009 documents, MCA Young Professionals Bureau Chua Tee Yong said that both Universiti Selangor (Unisel) and Permodalan Negeri Selangor Bhd (PNSB) were given these amounts. This, he alleged, was despite Unisel being owed RM248 million and PNSB RM28 million. “Assignment of Debt Agreement” documents dated Nov 3, 2009 read: “Now therefore this agreement witnesses… the sum of RM10 now paid by the assignee to the assignor." With this, Chua claimed that Unisel’s financial condition had worsened, and that PNSB was made to service a RM230 million loan with an RM86 million interest. Asked if he knew of the current payment status to these two companies, he said: “You have to ask the Selangor government.” The Labis MP also came up with new figures to the Talam matter, in a claim that the Selangor government over-valuated the Talam land. He said that assets acquired through the debt settlement came up to RM676 million. Also, he included the total interest cost borne by PNSB (RM86 million) and a discount given to Talam by the state government (RM36 million). Altogether, he estimated the cost of the Talam deal to be RM798 million. In July, Chua started on several exposé against the Selangor government, claiming that the administration had used RM1 billion to bail out Talam Corporation Bhd. He claimed that Selangor had done so via a RM392 million supplementary budget passed in the State's Legislative Assembly in 2009. Chua added that the state bought an additional RM676 million worth of assets from Talam. Both Pakatan and the state vehemently denied these claims, and have since appointed independent audit firms to check the Talam matter in a show of transparency. |
| M’sia on track to trim budget deficit in coming years, says Rafidah Posted: 03 Oct 2012 12:05 AM PDT
deficit level, a former senior minister said today. Rafidah Aziz, the former International Trade and Industry Minister, said the deficit index was only one of the elements used to judge the economic performance while taking into consideration other indices such as domestic consumption, inflation rate and external trade volume. She said the present government under the leadership of Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak has taken a multi-professional approach to grow the economy, taking into account the country’s very diverse cultural background. “Our deficit level is very manageable. Never compare Malaysia with any other neighbouring countries as we have a very different demographic. “Look at the economy with a holistic approach. I don’t understand why the government is being judged from budget by budget as well as the deficit level. “The budget is only a detailed explanation on the government’s income and expenditure. There is much more than that,” she told reporters after opening the inaugural Asian Business Seminar Circuit 2012. Rafidah said Malaysians should judge a government through its long-term policies and track record in governance. She said they should not be fascinated with the short-term and populist announcements by Pakatan Rakyat, the opposition coalition. “Their proposed budget is just an ‘orange pamphlet’. It is putting wrong things on the people’s mind,” she said. Rafidah said Malaysia was now on the verge of transforming herself into an innovation-driven economy from an efficiency-oriented economy. She said Malaysia was nearing the peak of achievement to be regarded as a “matured economy” in the near future. “If compared with many countries with similar demographics and population, Malaysia is at the peak of development,” added Rafidah, who is also AirAsia X chairman and Kuala Kangsar MP. - Bernama |
| Kingfisher may face prolonged shutdown Posted: 02 Oct 2012 11:51 PM PDT
The government is taking a tougher stance after allowing the airline to operate for months without paying salaries, although it has stopped short of forcing a closure of the heavily indebted carrier. Kingfisher has debt of US$1.4 billion, owed mostly to government-controlled banks including State Bank of India, the country’s top lender. The airline, controlled by liquor baron Vijay Mallya, won’t get the government’s approval to resume flying before it pays staff salaries and submits an acceptable recovery plan, a senior official at the aviation regulator told reporters yesterday, declining to be identified as the negotiations are private. Unhappiness among the rank and file came to a head over the weekend when technicians and engineers staged a protest that the airline said turned violent. Kingfisher has halted all flights since Monday due to the labour unrest and said it will decide tomorrow whether to lift a partial lockout of staff on Friday. “This is going to last for a long time,” said Sharan Lillaney, an aviation analyst at Angel Broking in Mumbai. The airline loses 40 million rupees (US$760,100) a day if it flies and twice that if it doesn’t, according to a senior government source. The airline declined to comment on its daily losses. While shutting down saves the embattled airline money, the grounding of its fleet deals a further blow to its ability to win back passengers should it resume operations. “Even if they start, nobody is going to buy their tickets now. People cannot afford inconvenience at such a time when there are other options available with similar service and at the same price,” Lillaney said. Shares in Kingfisher were down 4.9% today, after slumping nearly 5% – their daily limit – in each of the previous two sessions. No profit Kingfisher, which as recently as last year was India’s No 2 airline by market share, has never earned a profit since it was founded in 2005 and has defaulted on payments to airports and oil companies. Kingfisher has been scrambling to find investors. While it has said it is in talks with global airlines for a potential investment, nothing has materialised and no airline has publicly expressed interest in investing in it. Its banks have refused to lend it more without an additional funding infusion. “As far as we are concerned this is something which is not entirely shocking or unanticipated,” S Vishvanathan, deputy managing director at State Bank of India, the airline’s lead lender, told Reuters today. “We have known that Kingfisher is having increasing problems. So the final solution hinges on how the capital will be infused, how the cash flow will improve,” he said. The latest crisis at the ailing carrier started when disgruntled engineers responsible for aircraft safety checks threatened other employees reporting to work. Before the shutdown, Kingfisher was operating just 10 planes out of a fleet that once numbered 64, according to the regulator. According to Indian rules, an airline has to fly at least five planes to retain its status as a scheduled carrier. - Reuters |
| ‘RM272m not just for crime perception’ Posted: 02 Oct 2012 11:39 PM PDT
"It is not right to say that the RM272 million is only for handling perception. There will be a breakdown actually focused on the details," he told reporters at the Parliament lobby. "To say it’s just to handle the perception will only confuse the public," he added. On Monday, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng had said that the RM272 million would only benefit politically-linked consultants and advertisers. "Instead of spending taxpayers’ money to improve the police force and to decrease actual crime, BN has decided to allocate money for an empty public relations exercise," he had said. It was reported that the exact amount of RM272,541,900 was listed under the Home Ministry’s budget as a one-off payment to “improve the safety perception index” under the NKRA on combating crime. This was in contrast to four other one-off payments under this NKRA – RM20.4 million to reduce overall index crime, RM26.4 million to reduce street crime, RM2.9 million to increase public satisfaction on police performance and RM45,000 to increase the charge rate of investigation papers opened. "It's not just about handling perception, but getting omnipresence down on the ground," Hishammuddin said today. "It's about cost for management, cost for deployment of Bukit Aman employees to the streets, redeployment of people from the border. "All that is from omnipresence which now has been debated as though it were just to manage perception. That we will give a detailed response later," he added. The minister suggested that the exact figures could be disclosed during the budget debate, and further pointed out that the inspector-general of police would give "exclusive interviews" based on the budget. "These are all occasions where we can clarify to the public that we have nothing to hide," he said. "Crime changes according to the times and we must have the flexibility to tailor our approach according to the demands of the ages. "Because what determines whether we succeed or not is not the index but the rakyat; whether they feel that they are safe or not," said Hishammuddin. Also Read: Fight crime, not perception, 'thick skull' minister told |
| Akta lapuk SPRM bebaskan ‘jerung besar’ Posted: 02 Oct 2012 11:36 PM PDT
Naib Presiden PAS itu berkata, terdapat kelemahan dalam Seksyen 23 dan 50 Akta Pencegahan Rasuah 2009 yang menyukarkan SPRM menjalankan pendakwaan. Akta tersebut menyentuh undang-undang yang membabitkan pengakuan saksi semasa soal siasat, namun tidak boleh diterima pakai dalam pendakwaan mahkamah. “Ini menyebabkan beberapa kes yang membabitkan tokoh ternama dan individu tertentu tidak dapat dituduh di mahkamah kerana kekurangan bukti walaupun mereka mengakui terlibat dalam perbuatan rasuah. “Setiap pendakwaan dalam mahkamah perlu mempunyai bukti, walaupun pengakuan dibuat, ini memberikan kesukaran kepada SPRM,” katanya yang juga Ahli Jawatankuasa Khas Mengenai Rasuah. Salahuddin berkata, disebabkan kelemahan ini juga satu kes membabitkan seorang pemimpin negeri terkenal yang memiliki aset puluhan juta tidak dapat diteruskan walaupun enam kertas siasatan SPRM telah dibuka. Beliau berkata, jawatankuasa khas itu pernah mengemukakan cadangan dan laporan kepada Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak sejak tahun 2010 supaya kedua-kedua seksyen tersebut digubal namun tiada respon. “Sebab itu kami nak bawa kedalam Dewan supaya undang-undang ini dapat diperbaharui kerana banyak kes membabitkan ‘jerung besar’ tidak dapat dibawa ke mahkamah. “Maka undang-undang yang lemah ini hendaklah diperbaharui dan memerlukan komitmen kerajaan untuk tubuhkan suruhanjaya. “Harap Kabinet dapat menggubal yang baru dan gantikan undang-undang lapuk ini,” katanya. Enggan debat dengan Azalina “Saya tetap mahu berdebat dengan Menteri Besar, bukan dengan dia (Azalina) kerana dia takkan memberikan apa-apa jaminan terhadap 10 kampung yang dimusnahkan atas nama RAPID. “Ini adalah kali pertama dalam sejarah Petronas membina industri dengan mengambil kampung tradisi. “Mengikut standard antarabangsa syarikat cari gali minyak tak boleh memusnahkan penempatan yang diduduki manusia,” katanya. |
| Food security not a problem, but… Posted: 02 Oct 2012 11:26 PM PDT
Deputy Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Minister Chua Tee Yong said that the government was looking to increase food production nationwide. “It’s not an emergency situation [right now]. Paddy is not at an emergency situation. We are just hoping to increase the production,” he told a press conference. Nevertheless, despite government efforts, Chua admitted that there was not enough food to feed Malaysians, which required imports. He attributed this to Malaysia’s growing population, which he said would call for more food imports in the future. Chua was responding to claims that the recently-announced Budget 2013 had not addressed food security. He said that the budget had allocated RM120 million for irrigation and RM147 million for the opening of four new areas for paddy farming. He also said that more government funds were allocated to help paddy farmers and fishermen . At the same time, he found that the budget had not covered fruit and vegetable farmers. He also said he would raise the matter with his ministry and hoped for more MCA ministers to highlight the issue. |
| ADB cuts growth estimates for Asia Posted: 02 Oct 2012 11:22 PM PDT
The bank also warned of significant risks caused by the effects of the European debt crisis and continued weakness in the United States, both of which are major export markets. China’s gross domestic product (GDP) was tipped to expand 7.7% this year before bouncing back to 8.1% in 2013, but still well below the 9.3% achieved last year, the bank said in an update to its Asian Development Outlook 2012 report. India would see GDP growth slow to 5.6% in 2012 before picking up to 6.7% next year. “Dimming global growth prospects and soft domestic demand in the region’s two largest economies are slowing the pace of developing Asia’s expansion,” the Manila-based lender said. The bank cut its 2012 growth forecast for developing Asia, which comprises 45 nations, from 6.9% in April to 6.1% – the lowest since 2009 when the region expanded 6.0%. It also revised downward the 7.3% growth outlook for 2013 to 6.7%. The region expanded 7.2% in 2011. “Developing Asia is slowing down much more than we expected,” ADB chief economist Changyong Rhee told reporters in Hong Kong as the bank released the report. “The years of two-digit growth in Asia are coming to an end,” he said, but added that there was no need for “panic”. “This is a natural adjustment to a more sustainable growth pace,” he said. The eurozone debt crisis and a looming fiscal cliff in the United States – a predicted huge cut in the budget deficit and corresponding slowdown in the economy – could have “disastrous spillovers” to the rest of the world, and remain the biggest risks for emerging Asia, he said. Rhee added that the region – long seen as an oasis of opportunity on the gloomy global economic landscape – “must brace for a prolonged period of moderate expansion” after years of rapid growth. He urged countries to diversify their revenue sources, paying particular attention to job-creating services. The service sector accounted for almost half the region’s GDP in 2010. East Asia was still the fastest-growing sub-region, with forecast growth of 6.5% this year and 7.1% in 2013. Growth in Southeast Asia would be resilient, mainly due to Thailand’s recovery from the severe flooding in 2011 and higher government spending in Malaysia and the Philippines. “Overall we are very optimistic that Asia will maintain its growth momentum, even though we may not be able to expect two-digit growth rates as we have seen in the past two decades,” Rhee said in a statement on the ADB’s website. The ADB said the projected slowdown however was likely to ease price pressures, with inflation expected to fall from 5.9% in 2011 to 4.2 percent in 2012 and 2013, if there are no spikes in commodity prices. - AFP |
| Press flay Dhoni after India exit Posted: 02 Oct 2012 11:17 PM PDT
“Every captain’s term has a shelf life and after five years at the helm, Dhoni’s seems to have come to an end,” said the Mail Today in a blistering review of his “mind-boggling decision-making” during Tuesday’s game with South Africa. “The entire match was littered with his mistakes,” it added. Although India scraped a one-run victory over the Proteas in Colombo, they fell well short of the run rate required to reach the semi-finals. Much of the criticism levelled at the captain revolved around the dropping of spinner Harbhajan Singh, who had been the team’s most economical bowler. The Times of India accused him of committing “a major captaincy gaffe” by dropping a player who finished with figures of 4-12 when India crushed England in the opening round. “Dhoni will have much answering to do about why he didn’t play veteran off-spinner Harbhajan Singh on a wicket on which Pakistan played four spinners against Australia with much success,” said the paper. “The Proteas are as bad players of spin as anybody in the world.” Dhoni has been one of the most successful captains in Indian history, leading the team to victory in the inaugural World Twenty20 in South Africa in 2007 and at last year’s 50-over World Cup. He also steered them to the top of the Test rankings. However, the team has slipped to number five in the Test rankings and India have failed to reach the final stages of the past three Twenty20 tournaments. “Ultimately, Dhoni can’t escape scrutiny. He has been a remarkable leader on many accounts. But some of his selections and tactics on the field have been perplexing,” wrote Sambit Bal on the Cricinfo website. “Tough questions and tough decisions can’t wait forever.” Dhoni, whose top score in the tournament was just 23, was one of host of big-name Indian batsmen who failed to spark in Sri Lanka. Apart from Virat Kohli, the entire Indian team only managed one half century in the whole tournament. Openers Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag once again flopped against South Africa as the team slumped to 36-3. “India’s batting not for the first time in the tournament struggled to make an impact,” said the Indian Express. In his post-match press conference, Dhoni acknowledged his team’s batting failures. “It was tragic to see India crash out despite the batting line-up that they possess,” said The Times of India, adding that they only “had themselves to blame”. -AFP |
| Posted: 02 Oct 2012 11:13 PM PDT LONDON: Researchers in New Zealand have genetically engineered a cow to produce milk with very little of a protein that causes an allergic reaction in some children. They hope the technique, which uses a process called RNA interference that reduces the activity of certain genes without eliminating it completely, can be used to control other traits in livestock. With mothers breastfeeding less, cows’ milk is an increasing source of protein for babies, but the different composition of cows’ milk can cause an allergic reaction.
Anower Jabed and colleagues at the New Zealand government-run AgResearch company said their genetically modified cow produced milk with a 96 percent reduction in the protein beta-lactoglobulin (BLG), a component known to cause allergic reactions. While there are dairy industry processes that can reduce the allergenic potential of normal milk, they are expensive and can result in a bitter taste. Another gene manipulation technique using a process called homologous recombination could theoretically knock out, rather than suppress, the gene that produces BLG but the researchers said that, so far, this has not worked. Bruce Whitelaw, professor of animal biotechnology at the University of Edinburgh, said the New Zealand research “offers a good example of how these technologies can be used to provide alternative strategies to current manufacturing process”. He said that although RNA interference has been shown to work in manipulating plants and worms, “it has not worked in livestock before”. Whitelaw told Reuters that aside from accentuating or reducing genetically determined characteristics in farm animals, such as growth rate, the technique could be used to improve defence against infection. “Time will tell how widely applicable RNA interference will be in GM livestock. But this is certainly a milestone study in this field,” he said.—Reuters |
| Hamilton says ‘nothing changed’ in title bid Posted: 02 Oct 2012 11:06 PM PDT
The 27-year-old Briton, who has agreed a three-year contract with Mercedes starting in 2013, pledged to attack this year’s last six races as he bids to overhaul Fernando Alonso’s 52-point championship lead. “Nothing has changed. Just as in Singapore, I’ll come out fighting at Suzuka and I’ll just be hoping for a better result next weekend,” Hamilton said. “In terms of the championship, there’s nothing to be gained by analysing the points tables. From now on, it’s simply gloves-off! Bring it on!” The 2008 world champion was the centre of attention at the last race in Singapore as speculation swirled over his team switch, and he will again be in the spotlight after confirming the dramatic move. Hamilton has raced with the distinguished British team for his entire Formula One career but was lured to Mercedes by racing guru Ross Brawn and the prospect of greater freedom to pursue personal sponsors, according to reports. The move has triggered a domino effect with seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher ushered to the Mercedes exit and Sauber’s Sergio Perez set to replace Hamilton at McLaren. Hamilton showed his quality by storming to pole position in Singapore, and looked a certain winner as he led after 22 laps. But a gearbox failure put him out and allowed Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel to claim his second win this year. Ferrari’s Alonso finished third and now sits on 194 points, ahead of defending champion Vettel on 165, Lotus’s Kimi Raikkonen on 149 and Hamilton on 142. Hamilton’s team-mate Jenson Button will start with a five-place grid penalty for installing a new gearbox, but also said McLaren were in position to extend a record which includes three wins in the last four races. “We go to Japan with a car that I feel convinced can fight for victory — it should be another good weekend,” said the Briton. Meanwhile veteran Schumacher, 43, gave assurances he’s still motivated to finish the season in style despite his axing by Mercedes, a move that left his future undecided and could bring his racing career to an ignominious end. “My motivation is completely intact after the news last week, especially because Suzuka is one of the season’s highlights for me,” Schumacher said. The German, who has been linked with a move to Sauber or a Mercedes management role, admitted that a 10-place grid penalty for rear-ending Toro Rosso’s Jean-Eric Vergne had left him with little chance of winning. But he said he will be rekindling fond memories at Suzuka, where he ended Ferrari’s 21-year wait for a title by clinching the drivers’ crown in 2000. “Of course, I would love to do something like that again, but it is not likely,” he said. Ferrari number two Felipe Massa has also promised to put thoughts about his future aside after months of whispers that he could be replaced by the Italian team next year. “Of course my future is important, but right now it’s the results that are the most important thing,” said Massa. “The best plan is to race without worrying about the future.” Ferrari are understood to have cut their choice of drivers to partner Alonso next year down to three men: Massa and the two Force India men, Nico Hulkenberg of Germany and Britain’s Paul Di Resta. Massa, however, has raised his game in the last month. He finished fifth in Belgium, fourth in Italy and produced a strong comeback drive in Singapore to close in eighth after a first-lap puncture. “I know what I can do, what I can give to the team and what are my talents,” said Massa. “The team also knows this, because I’ve been here with them for rather longer than a day or even a year! I have to concentrate on each race as it comes.” – AFP |
| Posted: 02 Oct 2012 10:55 PM PDT
Grohl, 43, fueled speculation about a split by telling fans at a New York festival on Saturday that “this is the show where we come out and we play as many songs as we can … I don’t know when we’re going to do it again,” according to MTV News. But in a public letter sent by Foo Fighters’ representative Dana West, Grohl said the band was taking a break but had no intentions of disbanding. “I can’t give up this band. And I never will. Because it’s not just a band to me. It’s my life. It’s my family. It’s my world,” Grohl said. The singer said he did not know when Foo Fighters was going to play again, but added that “it’s a good thing for all of us to go away for a while. It’s one of the reasons we’re still here.” Foo Fighters was founded in 1994 by Grohl, the drummer for grunge band Nirvana, following the death of Nirvana’s lead singer Kurt Cobain. During the hiatus, Grohl said, he will be releasing a documentary and album project called Sound City. “It could be the biggest, most important project I’ve ever worked on,” he said. The band, which also includes bassist Nate Mendel, drummer Taylor Hawkins and guitarists Chris Shiflett and Pat Smear, has released seven studio albums led by singles such as “Everlong,” “Times Like These” and “Learn To Fly.” It has won 11 Grammy awards.—Reuters |
| Fitnah dan berniat jahat, kata presiden Gaps Posted: 02 Oct 2012 10:10 PM PDT
Presiden Gagasan Anti Penyelewengan Selangor (Gaps), Hamidzun Khairuddin menyifatkan dakwaan tersebut sebagai usaha terancang bagi melemahkan NGO yang diketuainya untuk terus membongkar perlakuan rasuah dan penyelewengan di negeri ini. Sambil menegaskan dakwaan itu sebagai fitnah, Hamidzun berkata ia berniat jahat dan dirancang untuk mempertikaikan kredibiliti beliau sebagai presiden Gaps. “Kedua-dua kes yang didakwa melibatkan Perbadanan Kemajuan Negeri Selangor (PKNS) telah diselesaikan dengan baik dengan mengikut terma-terma dan amalan biasa perundangan oleh firma guaman saya. "Maka tidak timbul persoalan salah guna kuasa dan pecah amanah," katanya melalui satu kenyataan kepada FMT hari ini. Beliau kesal dengan pendedahan maklumat korporat seperti surat itu dibocorkan oleh pihak tertentu untuk menakut-nakutkannya dan menambah, tindakan undang-undang turut dikaji terhadap mereka yang cuba menjatuhkan kredibiliti beliau. Sabtu lalu, FMT melaporkan mengenai seorang pemimpin NGO yang lantang dan sering membongkarkan isu penyelewengan di Selangor didakwa telah melakukan pecah amanah bernilai RM200,000 pada tahun 2010. Dakwaan itu membabitkan bayaran wang stakeholder kepada PKNS serta kegagalan beliau menyempurnakan urusan pindah milik pembeli rumah yang sepatutnya diselesaikan pada tahun 2009. |
| Fight crime, not perception, ‘thick skull’ minister told Posted: 02 Oct 2012 10:02 PM PDT
DAP national publicity secretary Tony Pua expressed disbelief that RM272 million has been allocated to specifically improve the "crime perception index" under the National Key Result Area (NKRA). “Why is the Home Minister obsessed with crime perception when it should be crime prevention that we should be concerned with?” he asked in a statement today. Yesterday, Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein reportedly announced that the government was switching its focus to managing public perception in the second phase of its NKRA to lower growing concern. The Petaling Jaya Utara MP said that he “almost could not believe my eyes” when he read about what the minister said, and had to turn on the TV to hear it himself. Hishammuddin had also reportedly said: “The issue now is not the index. That we are quite confident. The issue is not from the point of targeting street crime but the goal post has changed according to current demands. This will all be discussed and announced in the second phase of our NKRA.” Pua said that he was “at a complete loss” as to how to “knock it into the minister’s thick skull” that if risk of crime was reduced, then perception would automatically improve. “The perception on the risk of crime is a derivative of the incidence and likelihood of being an actual victim of crime… A doctor will not cure cancer by prescribing pain-killers for the pain but by dealing with the misbehaving cells. “No matter how much money the government decides to throw into improving the ‘perception’ of crime, whether through advertisements or a sales and marketing pitch by perception consultants or other brainwashing attempts, the outcome will not change unless actual crime declines, and not some manipulated statistics,” he said. Pua highlighted the recent controversy over allegations that crime statistics were manipulated through a re-classification of “index crime” to “non-index crime”. He said that this allegation was further confirmed by the “index crime” declining 24.7% from 2007 to 2011; while "non-index crime" increased by “a whopping” 68.7% over the same period. Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak had announced in his Budget 2013 speech that RM591 million would be allocated for crime fighting. According to the Federal Expenditure Estimate (FEE) 2013, the Home Ministry was to spend RM272,541,900 as a one-off payment to “improve safety perception index” under NKRA on combating crime. The amount contrasted with four other one-off payments under this NKRA – RM20.4 million to reduce overall index crime, RM26.4 million to reduce street crime, RM2.9 million to increase public satisfaction on police performance and RM45,000 to increase the charge rate of investigation papers opened. However, the FEE also stated that RM158.2 million was allocated to boost the police force with new positions, while RM125.3 million was allocated for “NKRA – Reducing Crime Rate”. Recently, the government had to defend itself after a series of reported crime incidents left the public wondering if official police crime statistics, which showed a decline in crime, were true. The government's efficiency unit Pemandu had in July released figures to show that index crime in Malaysia dropped by 10.1% from January to May this year compared to the same period last year. |
| Pakatan to hold demo on poll reforms Posted: 02 Oct 2012 09:56 PM PDT
PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu told reporters in Parliament building here that Pakatan is expecting a crowd as big as 500,000 while the venue chosen for the event is the Bukit Jalil National Stadium. “The government has yet to meet the eight core demands made by (poll reform group) Bersih, especially on the need to clean up the electoral roll and media fairness. “Because Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak had suggested that if we want to hold any gatherings we should do it at Bukit Jalil, so we have decided to choose that place to hold our gathering,” he said. Bersih and opposition leaders have repeatedly accused the Election Commission (EC) of deliberate inaction over allegations of discrepancies in the voters’ roll, calling it a conspiracy to help the present government restore its two-thirds mandate in the upcoming polls. EC officials denied the allegations, saying its move to adopt the recommendations made by the parliamentary select committee (PSC) on polls reforms proved it was sincere in ensuring a clean and fair election. The PSC was set up by Najib after several protests held by Bersih and backed by the opposition threatened to shake his government, but he maintained that elections in Malaysia had always been fair. A national threat Just recently a Sabah daily published a report on the admission by a foreigner that he had purchased a Malaysian identity card for only RM1,000 and he was also a registered voter. Opposition election monitoring group Jingga 13 said today this strengthens allegations of bias against the EC and there is a continuous joint effort between the EC and the BN to ensure the ruling coalition retain power. “This is a very serious case. It is a national threat and swift action must be taken,” Fariz Musa, the group’s chief coordinator, told the same press conference. PKR vice-president Tian Chua said the rally was not only to voice opposition demands but the “aspirations” of all Malaysians who want clean and fair elections. The gathering will be themed “People’s Uprising” and Pakatan said it will adopt yellow as the event’s main colour. Yellow was also the official colour of the Bersih movement. |
| You are subscribed to email updates from Free Malaysia Today To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
| Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610 | |
0 comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.