FMT News |  |
- Planned rally not an opposition ploy, says Nurul
- Share prices close higher on continued buying interest
- Stop using the term ‘fixed deposit’
- Getting to the core of stateless issue
- MIC NS tampil diri mahu selesai isu Gatco
- Serangan ke atas BJ Habibie: Zam berprasangka keji
- Dr M: Rosmah’s biography good move
- Apple Australia map glitch
- Australian DJs break silence over UK royal prank tragedy
- Survey: Mobile news a hit with users of all ages
- Who’s living past 100 in the US?
- HSBC to pay US$1.92b to settle US laundering probe
- Turkey ‘world’s worst jailer’ of journalists
- Things that ruin your self-esteem
- US lottery winner ‘only played twice in year’
- Asian markets mostly up, eyes on US fiscal talks
- Boosting your health with gadgets
- Cruise defends role as ‘Jack Reacher’
- No smile, no booze for Cathay Pacific passengers
- In pixel wars, LCD has staying power
- Lynas says TOL remains valid
- Rural masses can spur change, says Anwar
- Pampered pets get obituaries
- US women make slow progress into boardrooms, executive jobs
- Philippines typhoon toll tops 700, hundreds missing
- Paper trails show Musa-Chia link
- Share prices end morning session on positive note
- PM launches LCS Blueprint to promote Iskandar
- Hydro Tasmania pullout: SEB contradicts Taib’s statement
- End of Mayan calender, or end of the world?
- Petronas engines to power Proton cars
- ‘Hentikan sikap suka merajuk’
- Give credit where it’s due
- Voters must decide on ‘frogs’
- Negara perlu kepada politik baru
- Mah Sing Group proposes rights issue to raise RM400m
- Thai tycoon gets extra time to bid for Singapore’s F&N
- Share prices remain in positive territory mid-morning
- Fallout of US fiscal cliff fiasco ‘is global’
- P&O to sell 49% stake to Sanlan for RM270m
- ‘Lapor polis terhadap Ismail, Phang’
- JV with China’s Naton Medical for wider orthopaedic market
- Intel sees business growth with greater IT spending
- Food viruses can be spread by kitchen knives
- Naza Bikes to boost Naza Blade sales in 2013
- Stop hoodwinking the Indian community
- BN – the lame copycat
- Rolling out a dirty carpet
- Pay heed to public perception
- In search of greater civil liberties
| Planned rally not an opposition ploy, says Nurul Posted: 11 Dec 2012 04:15 AM PST
"It is disappointing that instead of resolving the issue, the Barisan Nasional once again falls back on the racial bogey," she said in a press statement today. Nuzul, who is Lembah Pantai MP, was rebutting Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein’s allegation that the planned rally was a mere political ploy of the opposition. Hishammuddin also dismissed the opposition’s claim that there are 300,000 Malaysian Indians in the country who are stateless. Said Nurul: "Hishammuddin is directly responsible for the National Registration Department, which has failed to resolve the longstanding issue of stateless Malaysians." She also claimed that statelessness is not only a problem plaguing the Indian community, but also other Malaysians as well. Stateless people are deprived of the opportunity to work, to attend school and to receive basic healthcare besides being unable to vote although they were born and raised here all their lives. Nurul also said the government has unlawfully refused to issue MyKad to these people. She also took a swipe at BN parties which only speak for their own respective races. "The BN has been and remains the greatest danger to the unity of all peoples and races in Malaysia," she said.      |
| Share prices close higher on continued buying interest Posted: 11 Dec 2012 02:30 AM PST
The benchmark FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) rose 9.24 points to close at of 1,641.57, lifted by gains in plantation stocks. The index moved between 1,633.82 and 1,642.23 today after opening 1.67 points higher at 1,633.82. Kuala Lumpur Kepong was placed among the gainers’ counters today, rising 24 sen or 1.5% to close at RM21.10, while another top gainer, Genting Plantations, jumped 17 sen or 2.1% to end trading at RM8.35. Mercury Securities Sdn Bhd research head, Edmund Tham, said local fund managers expect to remain active through this week, finishing all the trading before clearing their annual leave. “However, for the global factor, investors are still eager on the ongoing US fiscal cliff negotiations in Washington,” he told Bernama. Gainers led losers by 370 to 281 while 331 counters were unchanged, 658 untraded and 18 others suspended. Volume rose to 899.63 million shares worth RM1.6 billion from the 812.07 million shares worth RM1.37 billion yesterday. The Finance Index gained 9.26 points to 15,109.44, the Industrial Index added 3.8 points to 2,705.25 and the Plantation Index surged 56.97 points to 7,946.61. The FBM Ace Index lost 17.99 points to 4,157.07, the FBM Mid 70 Index perked 26.61 points to 12,092.29, and the FBM Emas Index surged 56.72 points to 11,148.67, with the FBMT100 chalking up 55.81 points to 11,003. Among actives, Tiger Synergy earned half-a-sen to 38 sen, Permaju added 7.5 sen to 43 sen, while DSC Solutions and Patimas Computers were flat at 16.5 sen and two sen, respectively. Of the heavyweights, Maybank was one sen lower at RM9.05, CIMB was flat at RM7.60, while Sime Darby rose seven sen RM9.12 and Axiata added 14 sen to RM6.33. Volume on the Main Market strengthened to 734.14 million units worth RM1.57 billion from 641.9 million units valued at RM1.34 billion yesterday. Turnover on the ACE Market declined 124.4 million shares worth RM19.72 million from 136.67 million shares worth RM22.12 million yesterday. Warrants widened to 38.79 million units worth RM3.89 million from 28.08 million units worth RM1.6 million. Consumer products accounted for 49.17 million shares on the Main Market, industrial products 182.42 million, construction 25.03 million, trade and services 296.45 million, technology 59.08 million, infrastructure 12.55 million, finance 38.93 million, hotels 166,000, properties 42.76 million, plantations 18.67 million, mining 37,000, REITs 8.84 million and closed/fund 25,100. - Bernama    |
| Stop using the term ‘fixed deposit’ Posted: 11 Dec 2012 01:48 AM PST
It's communications chief, S Vell Paari said that the opposition, Pakatan Rakyat, had in fact used it even before Najib did. "It is the opposition who first started using the term fixed deposit in reference to a particular segment of the voting community," he said. Yesterday Najib received flak from Indian community leaders over a speech that he made at the 66th MIC AGM on Sunday. In his speech Najib said: "In the 11th general election (2004), the BN had its fixed deposit in the Indian voters. In the 12th general election, the Indian fixed deposit moved from the BN bank to the opposition bank. "Maybe our interest rates were not good in 2008 for the Indian fixed deposit votes but over the last three years I have raised the interest rates and they are making a comeback to the BN bank. The confidence on the BN government is back." This speech resulted in three Indian community leaders – S Ambiga of Bersih, K Arumugam of Tamil Foundation and A Jayanath of Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia – to dispute the notion of Indians being a fixed-deposit for BN. Elaborating further, Vell Paari said that DAP leaders had used the term "fixed deposit" after the DAP won 12 state seats in Sarawak last year. "If you feel that it is insulting, you should take the opposition to task as well," he said. He added that Najib was merely quoting Palanivel who had used the term "fixed deposit" during the latter's address on Sunday and questioned why the people are not talking about Najib's readiness to recognise the contributions of the Indian community. Personally, Vell Paari felt that the term "fixed deposit" should not be used by either side of the political divide. "Let's get rid of this term from our political vocabulary," he said. Stateless Indians On the issue of stateless Indians, the MIC leader extended an olive branch to PKR vice -president, N Surendran. "I'm not here to argue about the numbers. MIC is registering stateless Indians through the MyDaftar program and PKR has found stateless Indians. Let's work together and resolve the issue once and for all," he said. Surendran claimed that there are 300,000 stateless Indians. The number is disputed by Najib and MIC. In connection to this Surendran, who is a lawyer, would be leading a sit-in protest in front of National Registration Department tomorrow at 10am in Putrajaya. Vell Paari also welcomed the protest tomorrow, saying that protests were essential for good governance. “We also need people like Surendran so that we (BN) are not complacent,” he said. He added that the number of stateless Indians can be reduced if the National Registration Department provides citizenship documents to children who have one Malaysian parent. Also read: Fixed deposit remark insulting Indians    |
| Getting to the core of stateless issue Posted: 11 Dec 2012 12:44 AM PST
As we well know, the politics of statelessness is tied to the politics of race in this country. It is unacceptable that the bugbear that was thrown into the Independence struggle to put the anti-colonial forces on the defensive – viz. who are the 'pribumi' (indigenous people) and who are the 'pendatang' (immigrants) and therefore not qualified for citizenship – continues to determine the political agenda in 2012. We never fail to be bemused by the antics of the Barisan Nasional government which gives out a few citizenship certificates to several erstwhile stateless Malaysians just before every election. The media coverage of grateful beneficiaries hugging the benevolent Home Minister only adds to the parody. We do not accept such tokenistic attempts to appease the stateless and we demand to know once and for all exactly how many stateless persons there are in this country? The stateless cannot accept a fate in which they are doomed to wait in line for an election to arrive and hoping for a few lucky draws to bear fruit. Race has played a key role in Umno’s policy to reduce the number of non-Muslim voters and at the same time increase Muslim voters in order to maintain "Malay dominance". East Malaysian leaders have alleged that ‘Project M’ was implemented to ensure Filipino Muslims and Pakistanis were granted citizenship’s in large numbers to dilute the non-Malay majority of Sabah. In west Malaysia, Indonesians have for years been obtaining citizenship with relative ease compared with many non-Malays who were born in Malaysia. Committee needed PKR and Hindraf have claimed that there are as many as 300,000 stateless Indians in this country while the MIC says that they have only registered 9,000 or so. According to the Development of Human Resources in Rural Areas (DHRRA), Malaysia, 'Southeast Asia – Human Rights Watch' 2011: "It is estimated that there are around 40,000 Indian children in the state of Selangor alone who do not have their birth certificates. Similarly, based on the number of cases we received at our 10 community centres from 2003 – 2006, we estimated that at least 20,000 Indian women do not have identity documents. These figures could be much higher if their children are taken into account. Therefore, they become 'stateless' in their own country and as a result they been denied of protection and care as a citizen of the nation state, and thus vulnerable to abuse and exploitation." What about the stateless Chinese and the stateless indigenous peoples in Sarawak and Sabah? We know that there are considerable numbers of them as well. We therefore call on the government to set up a credible Committee for Citizenship Registration with enough resources to solve the plight of the stateless once and for all. This committee must be seen to be independent and professional. It is too important a task to be entrusted to any political party. The Department of Statistics and the Registration Department should be involved in this exercise in order to give us the correct numbers of the stateless in the country. The right to a nationality Every person has the right to a nationality. Yet statelessness continues to be a fundamental cause of discrimination, exploitation, and even forced displacement. The stateless have no legal protection or the right to participate in political process; poor employment prospects and poverty; little opportunity to own property; travel restrictions, and inadequate access to healthcare and education. To date, only 57 states have become party to the 1954 Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons and even fewer states, just 29, are party to the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness. It is time for Malaysia to take the plight of the stateless seriously instead of treating them like a political football to score a few at a time during elections. Kua Kia Soong is human rights watchdog Suaram’s adviser.    |
| MIC NS tampil diri mahu selesai isu Gatco Posted: 11 Dec 2012 12:22 AM PST  SEREMBAN: MIC Negeri Sembilan hari ini mengumumkan bahawa MIC Negeri Sembilan bersedia menampil diri untuk menyelesaikan krisis hak milik tanah perladangan peneroka Kampung Serampang Indah (Gatco) yang berlanjutan sejak 30 tahun lalu. Dalam kenyataan media eksklusif kepada FMT sebentar tadi, Pengerusi MIC Negeri Sembilan, Dato' T Rajagopalu berkata seramai 283 peneroka asal Gatco telah ditawarkan empat ekar tanah perladangan. Sementara 115 peneroka peringkat kedua yang membeli tanah perladangan daripada peneroka asal telah ditawarkan dua ekar tanah perladangan. "Kos penanaman getah semula akan ditanggung sepenuhnya oleh kerajaan sama ada melalui Risda atau Felcra. "Kerajaan juga akan menanggung kos mengukur semula tanah perladangan tersebut untuk diagih-agihkan kepada peneroka mengikut kategori peneroka Gatco. "Selain daripada itu Kerajaan Negeri Sembilan juga telah melanjutkan tempoh pajakan (leasehold) tanah perladangan Gatco yang sepatutnya berakhir pada tahun 2042 ; untuk tempoh 99 tahun lagi. "Dalam mesyuarat MIC negeri yang diadakan malam tadi yang turut dihadiri oleh wakil peneroka Gatco; kami juga telah memutuskan agar surat tawaran hak milik tanah perladangan Gatco harus diberikan kepada peneroka dengan kadar segera. "Justeru itu esok, saya dan delegasi MIC Negeri Sembilan akan mengadakan pertemuan dengan Menteri Besar Negeri Sembilan, Mohamad Hasan selepas beliau selesai mempengerusikan mesyuarat Exco Kerajaan Negeri di Wisma Negeri. "Saya akan memohon kepada Menteri Besar untuk menyegerakan pemberian surat tawaran hak milik tanah perladangan peneroka Gatco", kata Rajagopalu. Berhubung isu ada peneroka Gatco yang tetap mahukan lapan ekar tanah perladangan, Rajagopalu berkata MIC Negeri Sembilan akan melantik sebuah syarikat Jurunilai untuk menilai pasaran semasa setiap ekar tanah perladangan tersebut. "MIC Negeri Sembilan akan menanggung kos perunding Jurunilai untuk mengetahui nilai sebenar setiap ekar seperti yang dituntut oleh sebahagian peneroka tertentu. "Selepas itu saya akan berunding dengan Syarikat Thamarai Holdings untuk urusan jual beli tanah perladangan tersebut. "Maka mana-mana peneroka yang ingin memiliki lebih daripada empat ekar tanah perladangan, maka mereka perlu membayar nilai atau harga pasaran semasa tanah di situ untuk empat ekar tanah selebihnya. "Peneroka yang mampu, boleh membeli enam, tujuh atau lapan ekar tanah perladangan setiap seorang mengikut kemampuan masing-masing," jelas Rajagopalu. Penantian 30 tahun berakhir Sementara itu penantian 19 keluarga di Kampung Keretapi dan 30 keluarga di Kampung Melur; masing-masing di Jempol selama 30 tahun berakhir pagi tadi apabila Rajagopalu dan Exco Kerajaan Negeri, Dato' VS Mogan (MIC) menyerahkan Surat Hak Milik (Borang 5A) kepada penduduk tersebut di Dewan Besar Pejabat Daerah Jempol. "Selepas saya berunding dengan Menteri Besar, seramai 13 keluarga India dan enam keluarga Melayu dari Kampung Keretapi menerima se ekar tanah kediaman setiap seorang. "Seramai 26 keluarga India dan empat keluarga Melayu dari Kampung Melur juga menerima se ekar tanah kediaman setiap seorang. "Kerajaan Negeri juga memberikan se ekar tanah lagi untuk pembinaan kuil untuk kemudahan penduduk beragama Hindu dari kedua-dua kampung tersebut. "Penduduk cuma perlu membayar premium tanah sebanyak RM566.00 setiap tahun dan tempoh pajakan (leasehold) tanah kediaman tersebut adalah 99 tahun", ujar Rajagopalu lagi.    |
| Serangan ke atas BJ Habibie: Zam berprasangka keji Posted: 11 Dec 2012 12:18 AM PST
“Tulisan beliau itu sememangnya diketahui dangkal (mediocre) dan beliau mewakili sosok elit Umno yang berprasangka keji terhadap negara Indonesia,” kata Ketua Pembangkang Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim dalam satu kenyataan media hari ini. Anwar berkata, ramai sedia maklum tentang latar belakang Zainudin atau Zam ini. “Beliau (Zainudin) merupakan mantan editor akhbar Utusan Malaysia milik Umno, juga mantan menteri penerangan yang sering menuding jari dan melabel kelompok yang tidak sehaluan dengan Umno sebagai 'pengkhianat'. Menurut beliau, Zainudin merupakan satu-satunya menteri kanan yang tewas dalam pilihan raya umum lalu kepada calon dari Parti Keadilan Rakyat. “Justeru kita bisa memahami keresahan, dendam dan motif beliau dalam melancar serangan sebegini,” ujar Anwar. Katanya lagi, kenyataan Zainudin sewajarnya tidak perlu dilayan dan ianya tidak mewakili massa di Malaysia. “Zainudin adalah sosok angkuh (arogan) dan rasis yang merupakan salah satu antara penyebab tercetusnya krisis bilateral membabitkan Malaysia-Indonesia,” ujar Anwar.    |
| Dr M: Rosmah’s biography good move Posted: 11 Dec 2012 12:15 AM PST
He said Rosmah had the right to make corrections to all negative issues concerning her by certain irresponsible quarters. “She (Rosmah) is not going high profile. Only those people made her a high profile figure by all sorts of accusations and she has the right to reply. “Although she is the prime minister’s wife, it does not mean that she has to keep quiet to all sorts of accusations,” Mahathir told reporters after witnessing the RM63 million Assets and Technologies Acquisition Agreement signing ceremony between Proton Holdings Bhd and Petronas Bhd, here today. On Monday, the pre-launch of the biography was officiated by the Sultan of Pahang, Sultan Ahmad Shah who was accompanied by the Sultanah of Pahang, Sultanah Kalsom and Prime Minister Najib. The 164-page book which is priced at RM150, was written by Siti Rohayah Attan and Noraini Abdul Razak, and slated to be launched and distributed next month. - Bernama    |
| Posted: 11 Dec 2012 12:12 AM PST
Police in southeast Victoria state said they had been forced to rescue a number of motorists who had become stuck for up to 24 hours “without food or water” after being directed to the arid Murray Sunset National Park, instead of the tourist town of Mildura, 70 km away. “We had a fellow trapped in there just on Friday night after his car became bogged. He saw a snake, a goat and a fox, and he was too scared to get out of the car,” Mildura police Inspector Simon Clemence told Reuters on Tuesday. The Murray-Sunset National Park is in Victoria’s far northwest, a relatively untouched semi-arid region accessible only by four-wheel-drive vehicle. Clemence said at least six vehicles had become stuck on the desert park’s sandy tracks after being directed by the iOS mapping system to turn off a long and infrequently sign-posted stretch of highway between South Australia state and Victoria. “These people have still been rescuable. But we’ve just had a 46C day. If they were out there in that temperature and out of phone range, they would have been in serious trouble,” he said. Clemence said police had contacted Apple over the issue. But while the world’s most valuable company had now rectified Mildura’s location for people travelling from South Australia, motorists seeking directions from Melbourne city were still being directed off course by iOS. “If you punch in Melbourne to Mildura, it still puts you in the middle of the park,” he said. “So they’ve got it half right.” Police said people should not blindly rely on technology to get them to their location, although in fairness he said people could easily become misdirected over long stretches of road along the 377-km Mallee Highway. “There’s nothing to signpost, and people are just driving and driving when their GPS phone suddenly says turn,” Clemence said. “But anyone who has used a GPS would know, they all make mistakes. You have to use your common sense and your eyes, and if it doesn’t look right, then it probably isn’t right.” Apple’s chief executive Tim Cook apologized to customers in September for problems with the new mobile mapping application and suggested they use a rival product from Google until the multitude of errors could be ironed out. Apple also sacked the executive behind the mapping software, and handed responsibility for hardware and software design to the company’s industrial design guru Jonathan Ive.—Reuters    |
| Australian DJs break silence over UK royal prank tragedy Posted: 10 Dec 2012 11:52 PM PST
The 2DayFM Sydney-based announcers, Mel Greig and Michael Christian, said the tragedy had left them “shattered, gutted, heartbroken”. Greig and fellow presenter and prank mastermind Christian have been in hiding since nurse Jacintha Saldanha’s death and the subsequent social media outrage at their prank. Their show, “Hot 30,” has been terminated, the station’s parent company, Southern Cross Austereo (SCA), said in a statement on Monday. SCA also announced a company-wide suspension of prank calls. Greig told Australian television her first thought when told of Saldanha’s death was for her family. “Unfortunately I remember that moment very well, because I haven’t stopped thinking about it since it happened,” she said, amid tears, her voice quavering with emotion. “I remember my first question was ‘was she a mother?’” “I’ve wanted to just reach out to them and just give them a big hug and say sorry. I hope they’re okay, I really do. I hope they get through this,” said Greig when asked about Saldanha’s two children, left with their father Ben Barboza. Saldanha, 46, was found dead in staff accommodation near London’s King Edward VII hospital on Friday after putting the hoax call through to a colleague who unwittingly disclosed details of Kate’s morning sickness to 2DayFM’s presenters. The nurse’s family travelled from their home in the western English city of Bristol to meet with politician Keith Vaz in London on Monday. British Prime Minister David Cameron said news of the Saldanha’s death was “shocking”. “I just feel incredibly sorry for her and her family. It’s an absolute tragedy this has happened, and I’m sure everyone will want to reflect on how it was allowed to happen,” he said. The hospital at which Saldanha worked told the BBC it had not disciplined her for taking the prank call. On Monday, it announced the launch of a memorial fund in Saldanha’s memory to benefit her family. A post-mortem examination would be conducted today, police said. Firestorm A recording of the call, broadcast repeatedly by the station, rapidly became an Internet hit and was reprinted as a transcript in many newspapers. But news of Saldanha’s death sparked a firestorm of vitriolic comments towards the DJs on Facebook and Twitter. Christian said his only wish was that Saldanha’s grief-stricken family received proper support. “I hope that they get the love, the support, the care that they need, you know,” said Christian, who like Greig struggled to talk about the tragedy. Both Greig, 30, and Christian were relatively new to the station, with Greig joining in March and Christian having been in the job only a few days before the prank call after a career in regional radio. Greig said she did not think their prank would work. “We thought a hundred people before us would’ve tried it. We thought it was such a silly idea and the accents were terrible and not for a second did we expect to speak to Kate, let alone have a conversation with anyone at the hospital. We wanted to be hung up on,” she said. SCA, 2Day’s parent company, has received more than 1,000 complaints from Australians over the actions of the popular presenters, who have both been taken off air during an broadcasting watchdog investigation. “SCA and the hosts of the radio program have also decided that they will not return to the airwaves until further notice,” SCA said in a statement. Shares in SCA fell 5 percent on Monday after two major Australian companies pulled their advertising with the radio station in protest and other advertising was suspended. The station said it had tried to contact hospital staff five times over the recordings. “It is absolutely true to say that we actually did attempt to contact those people on multiple occasions,” said SCA chief executive Rhys Holleran. “No one could have reasonably foreseen what has happened. I can only say the prank call is not unusual around the world.” Australia’s Communications Minister Stephen Conroy sought to deflect calls for more media regulation, telling journalists that a looming investigation by Australia’s independent regulator should be allowed to happen without political interference. - Reuters    |
| Survey: Mobile news a hit with users of all ages Posted: 10 Dec 2012 11:47 PM PST
The Pew Research Center study, in collaboration with The Economist Group, found that around a third of Americans with tablets or smartphones use them for news on a daily basis. The survey found 33% of tablet owners in the 18-29 age group got news on their device daily, as did 38% of those aged 30-49, along with 43% of those in the 50-64 age group and 32% of those over 65. Similar percentages of smartphone owners use their devices to check daily for news. The report said younger people “are much lighter news consumers generally” and “have largely abandoned the print news product". “At the same time, nearly half [49%] of those with lower education levels say tablets are adding to their overall news consumption rather than just replacing news they used to get in other ways,” Pew said. “That compares with 36% of college graduates who say this.” Overall, according to the survey, 58% of mobile news consumers prefer a print-like experience, a preference that tends to hold up across age and gender. Men are heavier mobile news consumers than women: the survey found 43% of male tablet owners consume news daily on their device versus 32% of female tablet owners. The gap is nearly identical on smartphones – 41% to 30%. On the tablet, men check in for news more frequently, and are more likely to read in-depth news articles and watch news videos. Mobile news users in lower-income households are more likely to watch video on both smartphones and tablets, the survey found. Women were more likely to get news through social media on both types of devices. “The study provides a snapshot of the emerging differences among mobile news users,” said Amy Mitchell, the study’s lead author. “Understanding these patterns is important for news organisations as they try to engage their audiences – and build new revenue streams to support journalism.” The report was based on a survey conducted June 29 to Aug 8 among 9,513 adults. An earlier Pew survey found around half of US adults now own mobile devices and a majority use them for news. - AFP    |
| Who’s living past 100 in the US? Posted: 10 Dec 2012 11:40 PM PST
Of the 53,364 Americans age 100 and older, more than 80 percent are women, a US Census Bureau report released yesterday showed. The agency’s findings, based on data collected from its 2010 census, also found those who make it past 100 are also more likely to be white city-dwellers in the Northeast and Midwest. “Due to sex differences in mortality over the lifespan, the proportion of females in the population increases with age. This is especially true in the oldest ages, where the percentage female increases sharply,” Census researchers wrote. “For every 100 centenarian females, there were only 20.7 centenarian males,” they added. While reaching 100 years of age may not attract as much fanfare as it did a few decades ago, the public still marvels at those who reach “super centenarian,” status.
Guinness announced on its website that the new person to certified to be the oldest anywhere on the globe is 115-year-old Dina Manfredini, an immigrant from Pievepelago, Italy, who has lived in Des Moines, Iowa, since 1920. She is just 15 days older than Japan’s Jiroemon Kimura, Guinness World Records said. Although still rare, the number of people living past 100 can have an impact as policymakers consider and plan services and programs that affect older adults, Census said in its report. The findings are not necessarily all rosy for women. Living longer can mean greater medical and retirement expenses, among other issues. And the number of those living past 100 continues to grow. Just 32,194 Americans reached 100 or older in 1980, far below the current level, according to the Census Bureau. Still, centenarians in the United States remain relatively rare compared to those in other developed countries. There were 1.73 centenarians per 10,000 people in the United States in 2010 compared to 1.92 per 10,000 people in Sweden, 2.70 per 10,000 in France and 3.43 per 10,000 people in Japan, Census said.—Reuters    |
| HSBC to pay US$1.92b to settle US laundering probe Posted: 10 Dec 2012 11:34 PM PST
“HSBC has reached agreement with US authorities in relation to investigations regarding inadequate compliance with anti-money laundering and sanctions laws,” the Hong Kong-listed lender said in a statement. The London-based but Asia-focused bank also vowed to continue to cooperate fully with authorities to strengthen its compliance policies after the so-called “deferred prosecution agreement” with the US Department of Justice. “We accept responsibility for our past mistakes. We have said we are profoundly sorry for them, and we do so again,” group chief executive Stuart Gulliver said in the statement. “The HSBC of today is a fundamentally different organisation from the one that made those mistakes. “We are committed to protecting the integrity of the global financial system. To this end we will continue to work closely with governments and regulators around the world,” Gulliver added. US lawmakers accused the global bank in July of giving Iran, terrorists and drug dealers access to the US financial system. The firm soon afterwards apologised for failing to apply anti-laundering rules, and a senior executive resigned. David Bagley, the head of group compliance for London-based HSBC, was forced to step down from his post in the wake of a US Senate subcommittee’s damning report on the bank’s operations. In early November HSBC said it had set aside US$1.5 billion for fines linked to money-laundering in the United States. - AFP    |
| Turkey ‘world’s worst jailer’ of journalists Posted: 10 Dec 2012 11:29 PM PST
The number of journalists in prison reached a record high this year, as critical reporters and editors were charged with “terrorism” and other crimes against the state, the New York-based group said. “We are living in an age when anti-state charges and ‘terrorist’ labels have become the preferred means that governments use to intimidate, detain, and imprison journalists,” CPJ executive director Joel Simon said in a statement. “Criminalising probing coverage of inconvenient topics violates not only international law, but impedes the right of people around the world to gather, disseminate, and receive independent information.” Turkey had jailed at least 49 journalists as of Dec 1, including dozens of Kurdish reporters held on terrorism-related charges and other journalists accused of plotting against the government, the group said. Iran had jailed at least 45 journalists by the start of this month, followed by China with 32, the report said. In all, the group identified 232 writers, editors and photojournalists imprisoned as of Dec 1, a “snapshot” that does not include many journalists imprisoned and released over the course of the year, it said. The total marked an increase of 53 from the same day in 2011 and the highest since the organisation began its survey in 1990. The previous record of 185 journalists imprisoned worldwide was set in 1996. Rounding out the top five jailers of journalists were Eritrea, with 28 reporters behind bars, and Syria, with 15. They were followed by Vietnam (14), Azerbaijan (9), Ethiopia (6), Saudi Arabia (4) and Uzbekistan (4). The group identified a total of 27 countries as imprisoning journalists. - AFP    |
| Things that ruin your self-esteem Posted: 10 Dec 2012 11:22 PM PST
Colleague gets a promotion Why? Well, it highlights your current position and if you're not happy about your role or wage then it can make you wonder why your colleague got promoted over you. Are they better at their job? Are you not as valued as your colleague? So, even though you might initially be happy for your work friend, your colleague getting a promotion can easily ruin your confidence. Fall out with your gay BFF A study conducted by researchers in Canada found that women who have a gay friend have better self-esteem when it comes to the way they look and their body confidence. So, if you've just had a fight with your best friend and you don't want to ruin your confidence, it might be wise to whip up some humble pie, swallow your pride and apologise ASAP. You share a creative idea This is because having a creative idea rejected feels like a creation of who you are because creative thinking is very personal. Yet, never hold back on these creative ideas, even if they may cause a backlash for your self-esteem. Remember, this setback will be temporary and creative ideas are often unusual by their very nature, so rejection is commonplace. One day, those creative ideas might get you noticed and for all the right reasons; so keep them coming. Your brother or sister is going to be a parent This is because according to your life plan you were always going to be the one that settled down and got their life in order before your younger sibling. They've always been the one following in your footsteps, so how have they suddenly got out in front and become the leader? This family announcement is fantastic, but nonetheless it can make you look at your life in a new light and cause your confidence to plummet. You didn't even fancy them Yet even though you had no intention of ever calling your date up and arranging another date, when they don't bother to get in contact with you either, you can't help but be a little bit hurt. Plus when you hear from your friend who set you up that they weren't interested you can guarantee that this will badly affect your confidence. When someone you didn't even like doesn't like you back, it can make you feel like you will never even have a chance with someone you actually fancy. However, remember, if you don't want to ruin your confidence forever, when you like someone you'll give them signals and signs, so that the chances are they'll like you back this time around. LINKS    |
| US lottery winner ‘only played twice in year’ Posted: 10 Dec 2012 11:20 PM PST  LOS ANGELES: A lucky player in Arizona, a married man in his 30s, has claimed the second winning ticket in the US Powerball lottery’s near-record jackpot of US$587.5 million, said organizers.The unidentified man, who said he would like to keep working, had only played the lottery twice in the last year when he struck lucky with tickets bought at the last minute last week, winning him US$192 million. “He has lived in Arizona for a year. He and his wife moved from Pennsylvania,” said Arizona Lottery spokeswoman Karen Bach. “He said that he used to play Powerball regularly in Pennsylvania, but in Arizona only played twice,” she added. The man — who came forward after a Missouri mechanic claimed the first winning ticket last week — will actually take home about 70 percent of US$192 million, or US$135 million, after tax, organizers said. He bought 10 dollars’ worth of tickets at a local store in Fountain Hills, northeast of Phoenix, last Wednesday, hours before the winning numbers were drawn for the second biggest jackpot in US lottery history. “The winner then placed the ticket in his vehicle, and he put it on the sun visor in his car and left it there,” she said. The next morning, after he heard that there was a winner in Arizona, he checked the Arizona Lottery website. “He discovered that he had a winning ticket. He and his wife couldn’t believe it. They checked the numbers over and over again, and were just absolutely shocked.” After immediately seeking legal and financial advice, “he spent last weekend just taking it all in, and trying to recover from the shock,” before finally coming forward Friday to claim his winnings. The US$587.5 million jackpot was the largest in Powerball history, with a cash option of US$384.7 million before taxes, and the second biggest in US history, after a US$656 million payout in the Mega Millions lottery last April. Lottery fever in the lead-up to last week’s drawing was such that 160,000 tickets per minute were sold. Another 8.9 million players won smaller prizes totaling US$131 million. The odds of winning stood at one in 175.2 million — compared to the one in a million chance of being struck by lightning in a given year. Lottery winnings in the United States are subject to taxation, with winners typically getting a choice between an annuity spread over many years or a reduced amount paid out in a lump sum.
Friday’s winner could have waited but decided to come forward this calendar year, “because he did have concerns about the uncertainty with the fiscal cliff in 2013,” which might cost him more in tax, said Bach. “He is truly an amazing individual,” she added, saying “he is intelligent, he is outgoing and he is very engaging. “I have no doubt that he will use the money to do wonderful things.” Arizona Lottery executive director Jeff Hatch-Miller said the man wanted to keep working. “The winner said ‘I like my job, I’d like to continue working,’” but at the same time was realistic about how his life would change. “I gather from his manner and general discussion that he would prefer to have the kind of lifestyle that he had … not necessarily the same house or the same car, but in general the same kind of anonymity,” he added.—Reuters    |
| Asian markets mostly up, eyes on US fiscal talks Posted: 10 Dec 2012 11:18 PM PST
The dollar edged up slightly against the yen after falling in New York trade ahead of a US Federal Reserve meeting that begins later in the day, with expectations it will announce more monetary easing. Tokyo ended flat, edging down 8.42 points to 9,525.32, Sydney gained 0.4%, or 18.1 points, to end at 4,576.0 while Seoul added 0.37% ercent or 7.2 points to 1,964.62. In the afternoon Shanghai shed 0.10% while Hong Kong was up 0.18%. In Hong Kong, banking giant HSBC rose 0.38% despite news it will pay a record US$1.9 billion settlement in the US over allegations of money laundering. And fellow British lender Standard Chartered was up 0.60% after being told by the US Treasury to pay the United States US$327 million to settle charges it violated US sanctions on Iran, Myanmar, Libya and Sudan. Talks in Washington aimed at agreeing a plan to avoid hundreds of millions of dollars in tax hikes and spending cuts taking effect on Jan 1 were said to be progressing, with President Barack Obama saying he was open to compromise. If there is no deal the US economy will likely tip back into recession. Buoyed by last month’s re-election, Obama has said a deal will not be done unless there are tax rises for the rich – an idea his Republican rivals have previously set themselves dead against. However, reports said he and Republican House Speaker John Boehner were making headway. Joe Bracken, BT Investment Management head of macro strategies in Sydney, said traders were buying higher yielding assets, reflecting their confidence. “There is a mild risk-on sentiment because of expectations that the fiscal cliff situation will be resolved,” he told Dow Jones Newswires. “If it does get resolved, you are going to have a very good start to 2013.” Wall Street ended in positive territory. The Dow rose 0.11%, the S&P 500 was flat and the Nasdaq gained 0.30%. The Federal Reserve’s policy committee begins its two-day meeting today and traders are keeping an eye on what it will do as the end approaches of its “Operation Twist” – selling short-term debt to buy longer-term debt. There are signs policymakers will replace it with more outright bond purchases, or “quantitative easing”, aimed at lowering interest rates to encourage businesses to invest and hire. On forex markets the dollar eased in New York as traders bet there would be more cash flooding the markets as a result of further easing but it rose slightly in Asia. In afternoon trade the greenback bought 82.36 yen, up from 82.33 yen in New York late yesterday, while the euro bought US$1.2953, from US$1.2939. The euro was at 106.68 yen from 106.53 yen. Oil prices rose, with New York’s main contract, light sweet crude for delivery in January, gaining a cent to US$85.64 a barrel and Brent North Sea crude for January delivery up nine US cents to US$107.34. Gold was at US$1,709.42 at 0600 GMT compared with US$1,708.09 late yesterday. In other markets, Taipei was flat, adding 4.19 points to 7,613.69. TSMC rose 1.87% to Tw$98.3 while HTC fell 2.34% to Tw$271.5. Wellington fell 0.11%, or 4.59 points, to 4,026.18. Telecom was down 1.32% at NZ$2.235, Chorus fell 0.37% to NZ$2.72 and Fletcher Building added 1.44% to NZ$8.45. - AFP    |
| Boosting your health with gadgets Posted: 10 Dec 2012 11:17 PM PST
Fitness apps Food logging Training gadgets Online health boosts Share your story Brain development Keeping you connected LINKS    |
| Cruise defends role as ‘Jack Reacher’ Posted: 10 Dec 2012 11:11 PM PST
Cruise told Reuters Television at the world premiere in London yesterday of “Jack Reacher” that he would not have taken the part if British thriller writer Child had been unhappy. Child’s version of Reacher – a military sniper – is 6 foot 5 inches tall and weighs over 91 kilograms. Cruise, 50, is just 5 foot 7 inchestall according to the Internet Movie Database, and has a trim physique. “You know, he (Child) created the character, I had my own opinion that I didn’t say to Lee and then he came back and pretty much reflected what I had felt about it. But had he said ‘look I’d rather not’, I would not have played the character,” Cruise said. Cruise described Reacher’s size as a “characteristic” rather than a “character.” “Jack Reacher,” to be released later this month, is based on “One Shot” – one of the series of best-selling novels by Child about the eponymous former soldier turned drifter who travels the United States dealing out his own brand of justice. British actress Rosamund Pike, who plays the female lead, said she hoped there will be many more Reacher movies. “We hope this is going to be a great big new franchise for Tom and for Paramount and so to be in the first one is always kind of cool … It’s witty, it’s fast-moving, the plot is … puzzling and incisive and quite dark in places. You know the humor and the violence in this film is pretty edgy and I like that about it,” Pike said. Cruise was also a producer on the Paramount Pictures movie, which is due for release in the United States on Dec 21.—Reuters    |
| No smile, no booze for Cathay Pacific passengers Posted: 10 Dec 2012 11:05 PM PST
The Cathay Pacific Airways Flight Attendants Union, which is demanding a 5% salary increase from Hong Kong’s flagship carrier, said the “work-to-rule” measures could also throw flight schedules into chaos. “We will be selective in providing our services,” union general-secretary Tsang Kwok-fung told AFP, adding that the form and date of the action approved in yesterday’s vote is yet to be decided. “This could include not smiling at passengers, not providing certain types of beverages – such as alcohol – or stop serving meals,” he said. “In a nutshell it means passengers will still be able to reach their destinations except they are paying a five-star price to get a three-star service,” Tsang said. Work-to-rule is a form of industrial action in which employees do no more than the minimum required by the rules of their contract, sometimes adhering to safety or other regulations precisely in order to cause a slowdown. “We will follow the rules strictly, such as offloading oversize luggage, that could cause a slowdown or even delay of flights,” Tsang said. The protest was sparked by Cathay’s announcement last month that it was giving a two percent pay rise to its employees in 2013, on top of a discretionary one-month bonus for 2012, falling short of the union’s demand. The 6,000-strong union at a special meeting yesterday told the carrier to resume negotiations or face the Christmas action and a possible full strike during the New Year holiday. Cathay has insisted the union withdraw the threat to strike before re-opening talks, and asked its staff to be “considerate and understand the difficult situation” the airline is facing. The carrier has been trying to trim costs after it fell into the red in the first half of this year with a HK$935 million (US$121 million) loss, partly due to high fuel prices. Photo: Members of Cathay Pacific Flight Attendants Union staging a protest yesterday. – Courtesy of China Daily.    |
| In pixel wars, LCD has staying power Posted: 10 Dec 2012 10:59 PM PST
But LCD is refusing to go quietly as its picture quality keeps getting better. At the same time, the major backers of credit card-thin OLED panels – led by Samsung Electronics Co and LG Electronics Inc – are struggling to make the technology cheap enough to mass produce. The two South Korean firms this year showcased 55-inch OLED TVs, but priced at around US$10,000 – 10 times that of an LCD equivalent – they have yet to reach store shelves. OLED displays, used on Samsung’s Galaxy S and Note smartphones, have been touted as the future display model to replace LCDs across the consumer electronics spectrum – from TVs to computers, laptops, tablets and smartphones. OLED is more energy efficient and offers higher contrast images than LCD, and is so thin that future mobile devices will be unbreakable, and will be able to be folded or rolled up like a newspaper. But OLED panel makers such as Samsung Display and LG Display have yet to address major manufacturing challenges to lower costs to compete against LCD panels. At the same time, LCD panels, which are used on 9 of every 10 television sets, are still evolving and show no sign of giving way in this latest battle to set the global standard – less than a decade since LCD effectively killed off plasma screens. “OLED still has a long way to go to become a mainstream display, as it has to become bigger and improve picture quality,” said Chung Won-seok, an analyst at HI Investment & Securities. “The use of OLEDs will continue to be confined to small displays at least for the next 2-3 years. Its usage as a mainstream TV panel is only likely in 2014, but even then there’s a possibility of intense competition with LCD TVs as that technology keeps improving.” According to DisplaySearch, it will take another four years for OLED screens to capture less than a tenth of the global TV screen market. Pixel war Far from fading, LCD panels now offer better picture quality – up to four times better than OLED – and use less power, creating robust demand from smartphone and tablet makers. As has often been the case, Apple Inc moved the goalposts by upgrading the display resolution for its iPhone and iPad, still the high-end LCD market’s gold standard, prompting rivals to upgrade their display panel qualifications. Analysts at Macquarie predict Apple will adopt high-resolution screens for the MacBook Air and iMac monitor next year, accelerating the industry’s shift to high-resolution displays.
Rivals are taking note. Taiwan’s HTC Corp has introduced the Droid DNA smartphone with a 440 pixel per inch (ppi) density – the sharpest smartphone screen yet, with far higher resolution than the iPad’s 330 ppi and the iPhone 5′s 326 ppi. Samsung’s Galaxy S III, which uses an OLED screen, has 306 ppi density. “The pixel war is an absolute bonanza for LCD makers,” said Kim Byung-ki, analyst at Kiwoom Securities. “Manufacturers from LG Display to Samsung, Sharp Corp, AU Optronics Corp and Chimei (Innolux) all will gradually convert their traditional lines into more high-end product fabs, and that will curtail supply and boost profitability.” These higher-resolution panels cost more than double the commodity-type LCD screens, boosting panel producers’ profits. Even Samsung, the standard bearer for OLED panels and also a major LCD manufacturer, is actively promoting LCD screens for tablets and laptops over OLED, said a person familiar with the matter, who was not authorized to talk to the media so didn’t want to be named. Sharper resolution LCD TV screens also mean OLED is struggling to make inroads in that market. Both Sony and LG Electronics now sell ultra HD (high definition) LCD sets that boast four times the picture quality of HD TVs. The two firms, which are selling 84-inch TVs, aim to reduce that size to cater for more popular smaller sets. In tight supply? To squeeze more pixels per inch, panel makers are upgrading their thin-film transistor (TFT) panel production facilities to new IGZO or LTPS processing technologies that require almost twice as many processing steps and which suffer higher faulty product rates and lost output. Japan’s Sharp is the frontrunner in IGZO technology, which uses indium gallium zinc oxide instead of amorphous silicon, in panel manufacturing. LG Display, a major supplier to Apple, is investing 1.2 trillion won ($1.1 billion) by end-2013 in its production of low-temperature poly silicon (LTPS) panels – a technology used to make screens for the iPhone and iPad. While new technologies can be game-changers, these panels are not simple to produce, limiting availability and driving up manufacturing costs. Some warn of an LCD supply shortage. “The LCD industry is improving more strongly than expected and panels are likely to be in short supply from 2013, as manufacturers upgrade their lines to increase high-end products. This requires more processing time and steps, reducing total output,” said Kim Dong-won, an analyst at Hyundai Securities. Converting a line to IGZO and LTPS processing can cut LCD output by 30-70 percent, according to BNP Paribas. As LCD prospects improve, LG Display, the world’s top LCD maker, swung to a quarterly profit in July-September, ending a run of seven straight quarterly losses. LG Display is expected to continue its solid performance, as Apple buys fewer parts from rival Samsung and moves more to high-end displays on a wider range of its products. LG Display shares have risen by around a third in 3 months, double Samsung’s gains. In Taiwan, AU Optronics shares are up 41 percent over that same period and Chimei is up 45 percent. Shares in cash-strapped Sharp hit a 2-month high on Wednesday after the company secured an up to $120 million cash injection from Qualcomm Inc, which will help it fund development of its IZGO technology. As the global TV market is forecast to shrink 1-2 percent next year, panel makers with higher exposure to the booming mobile markets will lead a recovery, say analysts, though some caution that shares may be rising too fast. “LG Display and its peers are actually sowing the seeds of the next cycle downturn by doing what they always do – wherever they see a profit opportunity, they focus on it, adding capacity and dissipating the excess returns,” said Stanford Bernstein analyst Alberto Moel.—Reuters    |
| Posted: 10 Dec 2012 10:55 PM PST
Lynas must export by-product created by operations at the Malaysian plant or risk having its operating licence revoked, four Malaysian ministers said yesterday. The TOL remains issued and valid, and there is no legal impediment to Lynas carrying out its operations at the plant, the company said in a stock exchange filing. Lynas will ensure all residue material is converted into co-products and exported from Malaysia if the co-products are not approved for use in Malaysia as per the terms of its operating licence, the company said. Lynas’ executive chairman Nick Curtis told reporters the company had received “significant commercial interest” from potential buyers of the by-product or residue, which emits naturally occurring, low-level radiation. “But we need to produce it before we can commercialise it,” Curtis said. Lynas has been embroiled in lengthy environmental and safety disputes with local residents since construction began two years ago. Its US$800 million (RM2.4 billion) plant, which opponents say is environmentally hazardous, began operations late last month after long delays caused by legal challenges and safety disputes. Located in Gebeng, near Kuantan, it had been ready to fire up since May. The Malaysian High Court will hear an application for judicial reviews to block operations of the plant on Feb 5 next year. Lynas shares, which last traded at A$0.605, were placed in a trading halt today, having traded as high as A$1.63 in February. - Reuters Also read: Lynas must remove residue from M'sia    |
| Rural masses can spur change, says Anwar Posted: 10 Dec 2012 10:50 PM PST
At a forum here last night to commemorate the protest in Kedah which led to several activists including Anwar being detained under the Internal Security Act, he brushed off notions that only the middle-class and educated could bring about changes. He said when the farmers in Baling decided to rise up against the authorities, it was because they were ridden with poverty, coupled with the lack of agrarian lands and the nosedive of global rubber price. "The special branch and Umno thought that we the students and urban people were the ones who instigated them to protest, but it wasn’t the case. Uprising doesn’t only come from the middle class and the educated, it could be led by the rural masses," he said. The forum was organised by PKR Youth and featured speakers such as PKR senator Syed Husin Ali, PKR member Syed Hamid Ali, environmentalist and academician Gurdial Singh and activist Kamarazaman Yaakob. While there was no official record of the incident, Syed Husin in his memoir "Dua Wajah", noted that the uprising started with Baling peasants staging a hunger strike on Nov 22 and Nov 25, 1974 to highlight their plight. Rumours soon spread to the capital city that a peasant’s child had died after consuming a poisonous jungle yam, triggering a wave of emotions among students, NGO activists and intellectuals. On the other hand, residents of Tasek Utara, Johor Baru, who were asked to move to the area before the 1974 general election, had their houses demolished by the authorities after the polls. Upset by the action, the residents camped outside of the Johor MB’s office in protest. The situation was not helped by the decision of the federal government led by Tun Abdul Razak to raise the civil servants’ allowance from RM1,000 to RM1,500, noted Syed Husin in the book. On Dec 3, thousands of Universiti Malaya students led by Anwar and others staged a mass demonstration against the government at Kelab Sultan Sulaiman in Kampung Baru. Syed Husin claimed that police fired tear gas at the protesters and more than 1,000 students were arrested at Masjid Negara where they sought refuge. Anwar and Syed Husin were subsequently detained under the ISA for two and six years respectively. ‘Reject tyranny and abuse of power’
He said that it was more important for people to have the "inner conscience of struggle" against repression and leaders could play a role in imparting the values. Citing the American War of Independence, he said the late French political thinker Alexis de Tocqueville had pointed out that the Americans’ "habits of the heart" were their strength against the colonial master Britain. "Likewise, our people must accept the fact that we need to defend our freedom, reject tyranny and abuse of power," he told an applauding crowd. Meanwhile, Guardial drew laughter from the floor when he recounted his trip to the police station to bail out his students after the mass arrest. "The police asked me my name. I said Guardial Singh. The policeman said it’s good for me to come to the police station because they had been looking for me for days. Then I was arrested. "I was put in a remand center with four cells. I slept in one of the cells. The next day when I woke up, I saw Anwar and Syed Husin around me," he said. Syed Hamid said that the Baling protest was not an isolated incident but a manifestation of socio-politic repression. "As long as there is repression, there would be a public uprising. As long as Baling is there, people would keep fighting," he said in an energetic speech.    |
| Posted: 10 Dec 2012 10:45 PM PST
From Sunday, The Straits Times pets section will let pet owners publish goodbye messages to their favorite non-human companions along with an accompanying photo. The memorials will be part of a “pets’ corner” in the paper’s classifieds section, along with notices by the SPCA (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) and other animal groups about pets available for adoption.
Though dogs and cats once roamed free around neighbourhoods in Singapore, pet owners today are extremely protective of their pets. In addition, the 80 percent of the population that lives in government-run flats is restricted to just one dog, of a small breed. Research firm Euromonitor, in a recent report on Singapore’s pet care market, said people are spending more on premium pet food as well as accessories such as strollers for dogs and designer pet clothing. “Many pet owners are increasingly treating their pets as household members and are therefore pampering their pets with luxurious food, products and services, just as they would dote on their family,” it said. “This trend led to a shift in consumer spending towards premium categories, such as premium pet food, hence driving growth in the pet care market.” Needless to say, the obituaries too are not free – they will each run S$50 (US$40.96), with a goods and services tax of 7 percent on top of that.—Reuters    |
| US women make slow progress into boardrooms, executive jobs Posted: 10 Dec 2012 10:41 PM PST
The Catalyst 2012 F500 Census, which annually tracks women in top positions in companies, showed progress is painfully slow for women seeking the top spots in corporate America, with only a 0.5% rise from the previous year. “What we found is that the needle barely budged for women aspiring into corporate board service or into top-level leadership at these very prominent American companies,” said Rachel Soares, a senior research associate at Catalyst, a non-profit group. “In 2012 women held only 16.6% of board seats and only 14.3% of executive officer positions.” The number of women executives last year was slightly lower than in 2010 and only marginally better than in 2011. During the past two years more than a quarter of US companies had no women executive officers, according to the research, and just one-fifth had 25% or more. Snail’s pace of improvement Women’s advancement into boardrooms and executive offices has been slow since Catalyst, which works to expand opportunities for women and businesses, started with the F500 Census in 1993. In 2005 it slowed to a snail’s pace, with half or less than half of a percentage point gain each year. “It is not meaningful. It is not significant,” Soares said of the lack of progress in closing the gender leadership gap. For women of colour, the situation is even worse, with 3.3% holding board seats in 2012, up 0.3% from 2011. “It just underscores the challenges that women face, particularly at the intersection of different dimensions of diversity, in this case gender and race/ethnicity,” said Soares. In 2011 and 2012 two-thirds of companies did not have any women of colour serving on their boards. Catalyst compiled the results by studying the top 500 US companies ranked by revenues by Fortune magazine and counting everyone on boards and in top executive positions, noting their gender and race/ethnicity. Three companies were excluded because data was not available. Although many barriers block women’s entry to boardrooms and executive offices, Catalyst research showed that sponsorship is critical to advancing women, as is the commitment of current leadership. “Our data shows that between 2009 and 2011, 81% of board seats that were filled went to men. The pool that companies were drawing from is not taking advantage of the full range of women with their skills that are available,” Deborah Gillis, chief operating officer of Catalyst, said in an interview. To pry open the door further and break through the relationship barrier, Catalyst is compiling a directory of board-qualified women based on recommendations from sponsors and companies. “What we are saying with this list is that the under-representation of women on corporate boards is not about a lack of supply. That’s a myth,” said Gillis. “In fact, if we look at the executive officer pool, we see 710 women executive officers in Fortune 500 companies. It is an extensive pool of women with skills and experience in critical areas that corporate boards could tap into.” - Reuters    |
| Philippines typhoon toll tops 700, hundreds missing Posted: 10 Dec 2012 10:16 PM PST
Typhoon Bopha, which unleashed floods and landslides across the main southern island of Mindanao on December 4, has killed at least 714 people and obliterated entire communities, the civil defence office said. It said nearly 115,000 houses were destroyed and more than 116,000 people remain in crowded government shelters, where they face months of waiting for new housing to be built. A total of 890 people remain missing, but officials have said some of them could be among the 257 corpses that have been retrieved by rescuers but remain unidentified and unclaimed by relatives. The missing also include 313 deep sea fishermen who set off from the country’s main tuna processing port of General Santos in Mindanao days before Bopha hit land, and were never heard from again. The United Nations launched an US$65 million global aid appeal Monday for the victims of the typhoon, the deadliest natural disaster in the Philippines since Tropical Storm Washi killed 1,200 people on Mindanao’s north coast last year. - AFP    |
| Paper trails show Musa-Chia link Posted: 10 Dec 2012 10:12 PM PST
Its director of strategy, Rafizi Ramli, revealed the documents to the press today showing fund transfers between 2005 and 2008 from supposed logging firms to overseas accounts linked to Chia. Rafizi will lead a second team to meet with Hong Kong’s graft-busters tomorrow. The documents included copies of telegraphic transfer credit receipts indicating payment of hundreds of thousands of US dollars to Chia's HSBC account in Singapore, which the PKR whistleblower said would likely be payments from timber kickbacks. The money transfers were described as “deposit for concession”. Rafizi pointed out that Sabah timber laws expressly state that any matter related to logging activity was the sole jurisdiction of the state government, led by its chief minister. “These transaction slips all show the transfer of money to Chia's accounts from these firms linked to Sabah timber concessions, apart from further transfers made to purchase luxury items for Chia's wife or cars, or transfers to Musa's son,” he said. Fall-out partners? The papers were said to have been provided by Chia’s own partners in Hong Kong due to a possible fall-out, he added.
“I trust that they are genuine and this is what we will surrender to the ICAC tomorrow,” he said at the party’s headquarters here. He claimed the partners are ready to testify and meet with the island state’s Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) should it open another probe on Musa and Chia. Recently, the government claimed Musa had been cleared of any wrongdoing by the ICAC after it found insufficient evidence to link him to the RM40 million “donation” money to Sabah Umno. Reopen the case The letter by ICAC dated December last year was used by Umno to deflect accusations that the money belongs to the long-serving Sabah chief minister Musa's alleged link with Chia first exploded in the media following an April article by whistleblower site Sarawak Report, which claimed that the latter was caught trying to leave the Hong Kong International Airport with the RM40 million in Singapore currency. At the time, Chia had allegedly told the authorities that the money was meant for Musa, kicking off a probe on the series of fund transfers from Malaysia to Hong Kong that was then believed to be the possible laundering of monies generated from illegal logging activities in Sabah. Following a first meeting with Rafizi, the ICAC was said to have agreed to reopen the investigations if the PKR leader could provide fresh evidence. Rafizi said the evidence he has should fulfil the ICAC's request for more information to reopen the case.    |
| Share prices end morning session on positive note Posted: 10 Dec 2012 10:07 PM PST
The FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) gained 6.33 points to 1,638.48 after opening at 1,633.82. Bluechip counters like Axiata and Maxis ended the morning as one of the active counters. Maxis earned half-a-sen to RM6.55, while Axiata surged 11 sen or 1.78 per cent, to close the morning trade at RM6.30. The Finance Index moved up 17.71 points to 15,117.89 but the Industrial Index declined 2.58 points to 2,698.87, with the Plantation Index rising 28.82 points to 7,8918.46. The FBM Emas Index jumped 37.56 points to 11,129.51 and the FBM Mid 70 Index added 7.73 points to 12,073.41, with the FBM Ace shedding 25.07 points to 4,149.99. Advancers led decliners by 286 to 246, while 286 counters were unchanged, 822 untraded and 18 others suspended. Turnover stood at 454.62 million shares worth RM644.7 million. Among actives, Permaju Industries improved 5.5 sen to 41 sen and DSC Solutions rose 1.5 sen to 18 sen, while GlobalTec Formation and Karambunai earned one sen each to eight sen and 12 sen, respectively. Of the heavyweights, Maybank and CIMB added one sen each to RM9.07 and RM7.61 respectively, with Sime Darby advancing two sen to RM9.07 and Petronas Chemicals improving seven sen to RM5.94. - Bernama    |
| PM launches LCS Blueprint to promote Iskandar Posted: 10 Dec 2012 09:58 PM PST
Najib, who is also the Finance Minister, endorsed the launch of the LCS Blueprint at the 13th Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA) Members of Authority (MoA) meeting at his office here. “We believe this effort has reinforced the investor value proposition of Iskandar Malaysia and will certainly spur interest in and attract even more investments into Malaysia,” he said in a statement after chairing the meeting here today. The LCS Blueprint, launched at the 18th session of the Conference of Parties (COP 18) in Doha on Nov 30, outlines the implementation plan to reduce Iskandar Malaysia's carbon intensity emissions by 50 per cent as it reaches maturity in 2025. The Blueprint is the result of a joint effort between Japan and Malaysia, and initiated in July last year. The project, “Development of Low Carbon Society Scenarios for Asian Regions”, was initiated by the Science and Technology Research Partnership for Sustainable Development (SATREPS). This is in line with Malaysia's voluntary commitment to reduce the country's carbon intensity by up to 40 per cent by 2020 (based on 2005 levels) and the research project began with a pilot study of Iskandar Malaysia. Pilot projects Meanwhile, IRDA Chief Executive, Ismail Ibrahim said the 12 actions outlined in the blueprint would begin to be implemented in the first quarter of next year. He said some of the initial programmes launched, included the pilot project for a Low Carbon Village at Felda Taib Andak, the use of CASBEE tools to assess Iskandar Malaysia's regional environmental performance, and the launch of the Iskandar Malaysia Smart City Framework. “We are in discussions with several Japanese companies with an intention and interest in conducting pilot projects relating to smart city concepts in Iskandar Malaysia. “The launch of the LCS Blueprint for Iskandar Malaysia is timely because many countries are now re-focusing their economic visions towards a green economy and low carbon green growth,” he added. He said IRDA intends to adopt a similar approach in the development of the Iskandar Malaysia region. Ismail said he was pleased to note that Iskandar Malaysia's potentials continue being recognised at an international and global platform by successful and more develop countries such as Japan. He hoped the blueprint would be a rallying call for all Malaysians as well as foreign friends and partners to play a proactive part in its implementation, to achieve a society that is low carbon, and a development region that is based on a green economy, alongside sustainable and green economic growth. - Bernama    |
| Hydro Tasmania pullout: SEB contradicts Taib’s statement Posted: 10 Dec 2012 09:47 PM PST
According to Sarawak PKR chief Baru Bian, Taib's "unscripted comment" at the sitting indicated that Hydro Tasmania had been contracted for the long haul and not as suggested by SEB. "I note that Sarawak Energy and Hydro Tasmania assert that their staff are here for the purpose of 'transfer of knowledge and skills that SEB requires' and insist that the exit of Hydro Tasmania was pre-planned. "They maintain that the actions of NGOs and other pressure groups had nothing to do with the announcement of their withdrawal. "However, the statement by the chief minister that the withdrawal 'has nothing to do with technology but is part of NGO politics' and that the state could find a replacement to continue its plans to build more dams contradicts SEB and Hydro Tasmania's stance. "The CM's unscripted comments suggest that Hydro Tasmania had actually signed on for the long haul and that the government needs continuing help to build the planned dams of his dreams," Bian said. Bian, however, lauded Hydro Tasmania for distancing itself from the project, having now realised that holding on to its role in the scheme would become increasingly untenable. "Whatever the case may be, the fact that Hydro Tasmania has announced its intention to distance itself from a project that is tainted with immoral, illegal, inhumane and reprehensible elements is, to my mind, a reflection of the company's realisation that it had to make an ethical decision upon being confronted with the uncomfortable realities on the ground. "It made a sensible decision to quit, " he said. Taib won’t stop But Bian reminded Sarawakians that Hydro Tasmania's pullout was not the end of the dam projects. "Let me remind the people that the CM indicated in his winding-up speech in the state assembly last month that he would not yield to opposition to the dams, saying 'opposition to a dam does not mean that the dam should not be built at all'. "This government is hell-bent on forcing its own idea of 'development' on the people instead of giving them what they want. "There is no reason to build 12 dams in this land. If elected we [Pakatan Rakyat government] will definitely revoke all the proposed dams. To us and Sarawakians, I think this [dam construction] is madness. "We cannot do much about Murum Dam, because it is 75% completed but we can scrap the 11 other proposed dams, " he said. Hydro Tasmania, an Australian government-owned agency had been at the receiving end of a national level campaign in Australia mobilised by a coalition of Sarawak NGOs, Save Rivers and supported by the Australian Greens, a political party in alliance with the Australian Labor Party in the Tasmanian Parliament. The campaign was aimed at pressuring the Australian government to compel Hydro Tasmania to pull out of Sarawak. It obviously worked because Hydro Tasmania CEO Roy Adair subsequently announced a phased-out withdrawal ending in December 2013. He said his company was not “essential" to SEB, which is the main contractor in dam development project. The Murum Dam project has displaced thousands of Penans. SEB had also allegedly failed to adhere to international standards and practices in relation to the project.    |
| End of Mayan calender, or end of the world? Posted: 10 Dec 2012 09:46 PM PST
“We came to party and to get ready for the beginning of a new era,” said the 39-year old architect, as he gathered his luggage from a baggage carousel at Cancun’s airport. Alvarez had travelled to Mexico from Florida to witness firsthand the beginning of a new Mayan era on Dec 21, 2012, which will be marked with celebrations throughout southern Mexico and Central America. Mexico is one of five countries preparing to observe the date, which marks the end of a more than 5,000-year era, according to the Mayan “Long Count” calendar, which began in 3114 BC. For many people in this region, Dec 21 will be a date for celebration. The start of the new Mayan calendar also is big business in this region, with tourism offices in no fewer than five countries aggressively promoting the date. Millions of tourists are expected to flood into the region for celebrations that will include fireworks, concerts and other spectacles held at more than three dozen archaeological sites. In addition to Mexico, celebrations will be held in Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador or Honduras, and at least two heads of state – President Otto Perez of Guatemala and President Porfirio Lobo of Honduras – have confirmed that they will take part in festivities in their respective countries. But while some prepare for the end of the Mayan calendar, others fear with trepidation the date will usher in the end of the world. Some New Age spiritualists are convinced of a Dec 21 “doomsday” foretold by Mayan hieroglyphs – at least according to some interpretations. Sensational misreadings The prophesy they refer to is found in an ancient Mayan monument in Tortuguero, Mexico, and is believed to have been left by a Mayan ruler. The Mayan leader, fresh from defeat on the battlefield, declared that the military setback was but one event in a larger cycle of time that would end in 2012. Many scholars say the prophesy was misinterpreted, however, and was not meant to suggest the end of all time, but simply the end of the old Mayan calendar and the beginning of a new one. Indigenous experts scoff at the faulty and sensational misreadings of the Mayan calendars. “The Mayans had a cyclical concept of time, not one that ever focused on the end of the world,” Mexican archaeologist Jose Romero told AFP. Romero based his conclusions on his studies of the carved stone known as the Tortuguero Monument, which now is broken into six pieces divided between Mexico and the United States, including one piece which is housed in a museum in New York. Nevertheless, the current doomsday panic has spread far beyond Meso-America. The trend has been fueled in part by movies like “2012″ by Roland Emmerich and books like the novel “The Mayan Testament” by Steve Alten that have cashed in on the fad. Romero blames Hollywood for a rather fantastical interpretation of the hieroglyphs “without much knowledge of the facts” of Mayan history and culture. Apocalypse kit Meanwhile, the belief that the world will end on Dec 21 has travelled to the far reaches of the globe. In the Russian city of Tomsk, for example, a company is selling an “Apocalypse kit” that includes food and medicine with a bottle of vodka – or tequila if the customer prefers. In the French Pyrenees, authorities have temporarily closed access to a mountain in the southwest of the country to avoid throngs of people fleeing from apocalypse. Indigenous leaders in Mexico, critical of the way the date is being commercialised, have convened a Mayan Peoples Council to focus more on the cultural significance of the new era. “Like native cultures throughout the world, we want to maintain our cultural identity and preserve our ways of speaking, thinking and seeing the cosmos,” said Mary Coba, a tribal council representative. “Above all, we want to realise the possibility that, wherever we live, we are respected, and live free of discrimination, violence and poverty.” She said native people have prepared dignified observances for the new Mayan era, and that ceremonies marking the date would be simple but profound. “There are no real requirements,” she said. “We just ask that people arrive before five in the morning wearing white clothing and carrying a white candle.” - AFP    |
| Petronas engines to power Proton cars Posted: 10 Dec 2012 09:31 PM PST
Proton chairman Khamil Jamil said the national car maker will have immediate ownership of a more powerful yet fuel efficient family of naturally aspirated and turbocharged 2.0L engines, as well as a 2.2L turbocharged version to complement its existing Campro engine line-up. “Proton and Petronas initiated the engine technology exploration in 1996. So, it is time now to take over from Petronas, since the company decided in 2010, to exit completely from all engine development activities. “Proton Holdings, through Perusahaan Otomobil Nasional Sdn Bhd, is taking over seven engine technologies with 117 technology patents from Petronas,” he told reporters after the Assets and Technologies Acquisition Agreement signing, here today. The exchange of documents was witnessed by the adviser to Petronas and Proton, Dr Mahathir Mohamad. Khamil said Proton expects mass production of the new engines to begin in the third quarter of next year, with Proton cars given priority. “We have undertaken testing with the Proton Exora and Preve. Proton cars will be given the priority,” he added. He said after Proton establishes itself as a successful engine maker, the company is open to doing business with any other car company or original equipment manufacturer (OEM). The sports car brand under Proton, Lotus, may also spot the new engines from the Petronas technologies and expertise. “Proton now has the Campro engine, which we are continuing to improve on. “With this agreement, we have a new type of engine which is environmental friendly, while providing a lightweight solution,” Khamil said, adding that Proton customers would have better choices in future. Khamil said Proton will honour all commitments or deals done by Petronas prior to the acquisition. Petronas, through Petronas Technology Ventures, had previously entered into a deal with a China-based company, to start the mass production of engines in the third quarter of 2013. Meanwhile, together with the technologies, Proton has also acquired a Petronas facility in Bangi and technological equipment from the national oil giant. “Two personnel from Petronas have joined us. Talks are being held with Petronas to secure the remaining manpower of 60,” he said. - Bernama    |
| Posted: 10 Dec 2012 09:30 PM PST
Beliau berkata pengalaman Umno dan BN Kedah pada 2008 perlu dijadikan pengajaran apabila kalah Pilihan Raya Umum Ke-12 (PRU-12) akibat ada pemimpin dan anggota Umno yang tidak terpilih, tidak membantu calon pucuk pimpinan. Katanya semua orang akan cuba menonjolkan diri untuk menjadi ‘calon boleh menang’ tetapi apabila keputusan mengenai calon dibuat, mereka perlu akur. “Ini boleh berlaku kepada sesiapa sahaja termasuk diri saya sendiri. Mana tahu, itu hak perdana menteri. Kadang-kadang kita rasa kita terbaik. Kadang-kadang kita rasa diketepikan, seolah-olah jasa kita tak dikenang. Ini (menjadi calon) adalah soal giliran. Jadi orang parti, jadi pemimpin tak boleh merajuk. “Kita cakap kita calon boleh menang, tapi kalau orang ramai, pengundi tak cakap, tak juga. Kalau kita tak cakap kita calon boleh menang, tapi orang yang cakap, itu lebih baik. Biar pengundi cakap, bukan kita,” katanya. Katanya di Kedah, pakatan PAS, Parti Keadilan Rakyat dan DAP yang membentuk kerajaan negeri ketika ini tidak kuat dan kerana itu Umno dan BN perlu menggunakan kesempatan ini untuk menang pada PRU-13 nanti. ” … dengan keadaan bercelaru dalam kerajaan (negeri), dalam Pakatan Rakyat, kalau pemimpin Umno tak nampak, itu satu kerugian yang cukup besar. Kalau dalam keadaan hari ni tak boleh ambil Kedah, jangan mimpi dalam pilihan raya lain boleh,” katanya. Bagaimanapun, beliau yakin hari ini kebanyakan pemimpin atau wakil rakyat di Kedah sudah bersedia untuk menghadapi perkara itu. “Mereka selalu cakap minta diberitahu awal (tidak dipilih jadi calon), jangan pada hari itu (pengumuman calon). Kita akan buat itu. Jangan ada sabotaj. Kalau lekat, Alhamdulillah kalau tak, bukan rezeki. Yang penting parti menang, kerana kita ada maruah diri. Dulu waktu jadi calon kita perlu orang sokong kita, baru kita boleh menang. Kali ini tak jadi calon, sebab giliran orang lain, kita sokong untuk dia menang,” katanya. Sementara itu, Ahmad Bashah berkata berkata Umno dan BN Kedah secara berterusan menjalankan usaha menarik sokongan pengundi muda untuk menunjukkan golongan itu tidak diketepikan termasuk dalam soal menjadi calon pilihan raya. “Pengundi muda 40 peratus daripada kira-kira satu juta pengundi iaitu kira-kira 400,000 orang di bawah 40 tahun. Kita mesti buat sesuatu yang anak-anak muda boleh nampak kita bersama mereka…kita memerlukan mereka dan kena beritahu, masa depan negara juga memerlukan mereka. Yang lama pula jangan iri hati kerana kita kena berkongsi,” katanya. - Bernama    |
| Posted: 10 Dec 2012 09:25 PM PST
FMT columnist Selena Tay recently wrote an article called ‘Political blockbuster: Dragon vs Dinosaur’. In that article, she compared Malaysia's economic growth during the time when Anwar Ibrahim was the finance minister from 1992 to 1997 to the time when Najib Tun Razak is prime minister from 2009 to 2011. Basically, what the columnist says is that Malaysia performed better when Anwar was the finance minister compared to when Najib is prime minister. Note, and I repeat, the analysis that Selena did compares Anwar as finance minister to Najib as prime minister. Now, when Anwar was finance minister, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad was the prime minister. So, should not Mahathir be credited for the good performance instead of Anwar? Okay, let us assume that Mahathir had no hand in this. Let us assume that it was the finance minister, Anwar , who should be credited for this good performance. However, during that same period, 1992 to 1994, Malaysia also lost RM30 billion 'playing' the Forex market. So, who is to be blamed for this? Since the good economic performance of the country during the period when Anwar was the finance minister must be credited to Anwar, should not Anwar, therefore, also take the blame for whatever bad that happened? In this case, no! The RM30 billion Forex losses are Mahathir's fault. Mahathir was the prime minister so he must take all the blame — just like Najib, the present prime minister, must take all the blame for whatever happens to Malaysia today. Who, therefore, is at fault here? Najib is both finance minister and prime minister. When something bad happens to Malaysia we blame Najib. But do we blame him because he is the prime minister or because he is the finance minister? If we blame Najib because he is the prime minister and hence the prime minister must take all the blame — and hence take all the credit as well — should not Selena credit Mahathir rather than Anwar for Malaysia's good economic performance from 1992 to 1997? Assuming Selena feels that the finance minister, Anwar , and not the prime minister, Mahathir, should be credited for Malaysia's good economic performance from 1992 to 1997, then why is Mahathir and not Anwar being blamed for the RM30 billion Forex losses during that same period? We need to be clear as to who we put the blame on — or give credit to — for what happens in Malaysia. On the one hand we say that the blame must go all the way to the top. On the other hand we say that the buck stops at the bottom and the top is not to be blamed. Why do we change the rules as and when it suits us? Also read: Political blockbuster: Dragon vs Dinosaur    |
| Posted: 10 Dec 2012 09:17 PM PST
In Malaysian politics, there is a long line of those who can be classified as “katak” (frog). It starts with Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim, who joined forces with Umno’s arch rivals just days after suffering a fallout with the Umno leadership, said state Umno liaison committee deputy chairman Musa Sheikh Fadzir. He said such leaders have selfish aims and survived politically based on public empathy and Malaysia’s inclination to often support the underdog. He said they vented their frustration on Umno or Barisan Nasional and when they were no longer entertained, they defect to the other side. Nothing which they have done or plan to do has the interest of the people at heart. It is just all about their own selfish aims and an undying thirst for power until they become consummate political animals, he said. Rubbishing the opposition’s contention about mooting an anti-party hopping law, he said PAS was pinching any personality willing to join them even if they could be tainted with issues. Outright betrayal Musa said those who defect to either side politically should look at the common villagers who stayed loyal to Umno or BN, despite remaining poor or continue to struggle in life. “That is the measure of loyalty. We should have such attitude ingrained in the hearts and minds of every politician before they began on this endeavour of service to the community,” he added. He said the most effective way to overcome defections, which is an outright betrayal, is for the voters to reject such persons. Musa was responding to reports that the former long-serving Penang Malay Chamber of Commerce president Abdul Rahman Maidin has handed over a membership form to join PAS. Abdul Rahman made the pledge to PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang last month in a brief ceremony in Johor. The Penang-born businessman is considered a heavyweight in the corporate circles, having once helmed the government-linked company-Malaysian Resources Corporation Bhd (MRCB). Musa also took a dig at his elder brother Abdul Kadir Sheikh Fadzir, an ex-senior Umno leader and former Cabinet minister, who has been seen at various PAS gatherings. It is believed that Abdul Kadir is trying to warm up to the Islamist party but so far, there is nothing formal about him joining them. Spoilt brat To this, Musa said Abdul Kadir is behaving like a spoilt brat, who is angry with the family and decides to rebel. The Umno man said that his brother was once a minister, criticising PAS at every opportunity and now, he is seen with them. “Can the people accept this? It is up to the voters to decide,” he added. It is learnt from a PAS leader that the Islamist party is on a recruitment drive of potential candidates ahead of the general election, expected within the next three to five months. After fishing for senior police officers, among them – Fauzi Shaari, a former number three in the Bukit Aman hierarchy rank, who is expected to be fielded as a candidate in Perak – PAS has turned its attention towards corporate leaders. Abdul Rahman is one of them. His entry into PAS is bound to raise eyebrows since he was a former corporate leader with vast understanding of Umno’s business empire. Musa said voters are likely to place emphasis on candidates now after they were dismayed by the political turmoil in BN and Pakatan Rakyat.    |
| Negara perlu kepada politik baru Posted: 10 Dec 2012 08:08 PM PST
Politik sekarang amat membingungkan kita. Ini disebabkan situasinya sekarang merupakan situasi yang tidak pernah kita lalui sebelumini. Oleh kerana keadaan politik kali ini terlalu jauh perbezaan maka sudah tentu ia memerlukan cara dan kaedah penyelesaian yang agak 'unorthodox'. Maksud saya ia tidak boleh di selesaikan dengan siapa kalah siapa menang semata-mata. Apa yang penting sekarang ini seperti yang pernah saya sebutkan, penyelesaiannya ialah dengan mewujudkan situasi yang baru dan mewujudkan politik yang baru. Politik 'yang menang ambil semua dan yang kalah hilang semua' seperti yang kita amalkan selama ini sudah agak ketinggalan kerana ia tidak akan membawa apa-apa keuntungan kepada rakyat dan negara. Pihak yang untung hanyalah pemimpin-pemimpin yang berjaya membaiki kedudukan sosial mereka sahaja. Formula yang baru terpaksa kita wujudkan kerana kita tidak lagi menerima kegagalan untuk pencapaian matlamat yang 'ultimate' bagi negara, iaitu perpaduan rakyat semua kaum. Perpaduan semua kaum ini tidak boleh kekal jika politik itu tidak berada di premis yang adil dan saksama. Pendapat saya yang amat penting sekarang ialah seorang pemimpin yang berstatus Law Maker (bukan dikalangan pemimpin dalam kerajaan sekarang) yang di hormati oleh semua pihak dan diyakini tentang kejujuran dan bersifat 'magnanimous' tampil kehadapan untuk memulakan politik dan kepimpinan yang baru. Pemimpin itu mestilah berupaya untuk membawa semua ke meja perundingan terutamanya pimpinan yang mewakili kaum yang terbesar di negara ini. Keadaan ini pernah berlaku di negara ini semasa negara menghadapi krisis di antara kaum selepas trajedi 13 Mei dahulu di mana Tun Razak sebagai Pengerusi Majlis Tindakan Negara (Mageran) telah berunding dengan semua pihak untuk mencari formula untuk mendapatkan penyelesaian kepada kemelut ketegangan di antara kaum semasa itu. Hasilnya wujudlah Barisan Nasioinal (BN) dengan beberapa dasar penting yang digubal untuk mencapai matlamat perpaduan kaum di negara ini. Sokongan rakyat Jika rundingan itu di adakan sekarang perbezaannya hanya satu sahaja. Kalau dahulu usaha penyatuan itu berlaku selepas kejadian berdarah, yang sekarang ia di lakukan sebelum keadaan bertambah parah yang mungkin mewujudkan kecenderungan untuk insiden itu berlaku. Sekarang ini kita nampak jelas 'pattern' sokongan rakyat terhadap parti-parti yang sedang bergiat di negara ini. Jika kita pandang dari sudut sokongan berdasarkan kepada kaum, kita nampak jelas kaum Cina sedang berada di belakang DAP misalnya. Orang Melayu sekarang sedang berada di belakang PAS dan tidak kurang ramainya dibelakang PKR. UMNO pula masih berkeyakinan yang mereka juga masih mempunyai saki baki sokongan dari orang Melayu Islam. Oleh kerana ini keadaannya sekarang amat perlu bagi kita untuk memanggil ketua-ketua parti yang saya sebutkan tadi untuk mewakili kaum-kaum tersebut untuk duduk semeja dalam rundingan yang serius untuk membentuk negara yang baru yang lebih progresif dan memandang kehadapan dengan penuh optimis. Situasinya sekarang amat bersesuaian bagi DAP, PAS dan UMNO dengan pimpinan yang baru untuk duduk bersama-sama beserta dengan PKR yang juga merupakan sebuah parti yang mempunyai 'consequence' yang tidak kurang besarnya didalam politik dan siasah negara sekarang ini. Dalam keadaan sekarang Pakatan Rakyat agak mendahului dari sokongan rakyat yang ramai. Kekuatan ini di dasarkan oleh keinginan rakyat melakukan perubahan kerana mereka (rakyat) sudah terlalu tidak berkeyakinan dengan segala apa yang dilakukan oleh pemimpin UMNO dan BN dalam kerajaan sekarang. Rakyat sudah terlalu sensitif dengan kegiatan rasuah serta penyalahgunaan kuasa yang tidak ada batasnya pada hari ini. Malahan keinginan rakyat untuk melakukan perubahan pada hari ini telah menjadikan pemimpin-pemimpin dalam UMNO terutamanya menjadi begitu kecut perut untuk menghadapi kekalahan di dalam pilihanraya kali ini. Ramai berpendapat tidak ada sebab pimpinan hari ini takut jika kalah dalam pilihanraya kali ini kerana itu adalah kehendak demokrasi yang sebenarnya. Mana-mana pihak yang berkuasa mesti mempunyai pemikiran dari awal-awal waktu mendapatkan mandat itu bahawa kuasa itu adalah pinjaman dari rakyat dengan izin Tuhan yang Maha Berkuasa ke atas segala-galanya. Banyak parti-parti kerajaan dalam dunia ini mengalamai kekalahan kerana penolakan rakyat mereka. Sekarang mungkin sudah sampai masanya giliran UMNO dan BN pula untuk menghadapi kekalahan itu, yang bukannya kejadian yang tidak biasa yang kita lihat dan tontoni sejak dari dulu lagi. Kelompok ramai ini mempunyai pendapat yang ketakutan yang sepatutnya tidak bersebab ini wujud kerana keresahan dari 'consequence' kekalahan itu sendiri, iaitu terbongkarnya banyak perkara sumbang dan jenayah yang telah dilakukan oleh UMNO selama ini, dan itu memang perkara yang biasa berlaku oleh kerana berkuasa terlalu lama. Masuk penjara Bukan sedikit di dunia hari ini bekas Presiden dan Perdana Menteri masuk penjara apabila kehilangan kuasa semata-mata kerana banyak kesalahan yang mudah di kenalpasti oleh pimpinan sebelumnya. Bagi negara kita perkara itu juga tidak mustahil kerana itu pun isu terbesar yang dihadapi oleh pimpinan kita. Adalah mudah bagi pihak yang mengambilalih itu mengenali segala kesalahan yang dilakukan oleh barisan pimpinan UMNO dan BN itu. Untuk penyelesaian tentang isu ini dendam-mendendam wajar di ketepikan jika kita mahu melihat kerajaan yang bersih dan telus di alami oleh rakyat setidak-tidaknya selama 50 atau enam puluh tahun yang akan datang. Pimpinan yang ada pada hari ini perlu berani menghadapi keadaan ini dengan meletakkan jawatan en bloc dan memberikan usaha melakukan rundingan yang sangat penting ini kepada seorang Law Maker Melayu yang secara relatifnya di hormati oleh Ahli Ahli Dewan Rakyat sekarang ini. Kalau kita selidik, bukan tidak ada pemimpin yang berkualiti seperti ini di dalam Dewan Rakyat sekarang ini bagi menggalas tanggungjawab itu. Seseorang yang dipertanggungjawabkan itu mestilah tidak ada sifat dendam-mendendam terhadap barisan pimpinan yang di cadangkan untuk berhenti itu dan yang telah mengaku di atas kesilapan yang lalu. Itu sebabnya saya amat tertarik dengan ucapan YBM Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah di ucaptama beliau di satu Majlis anjuran Kelab Rotary baru-baru ini supaya di adakan 'Truth and Reconciliation Commision'. Suruhanjaya ini di wujudkan untuk mengenalpasti semua kesalahan dan jenayah yang dilakukan oleh pimpinan kerajaan sekarang ini dengan tidak mengambil tindakan terhadap kesalahan itu tetapi merundingkan segala penyelesaian terhadap semua kesalahan tersebut. Misalnya jika ada rasuah wang di ambil secara besar-besaran oleh mereka yang terlibat mereka wajar mengembalikan semuanya kepada rakyat dalam jangkamasa tertentu, misalnya selama enam bulan atau setahun untuk melakukannya. Segala-galanya diurus dan di tadbir oleh suruhanjaya ini. Jika mereka yang terlibat tidak mahu serta enggan untuk melakukannya dalam tempoh yang telah di tetapkan itu, barulah penguatkuasaan undang-undang itu dilaksanakan secara telus dan terbuka di lakukan oleh suruhanjaya ini. Dengan memberikan tugas kepada seseorang yang berwibawa yang tinggi, maka semua pihak tidak akan menjadi mangsa dendam kecuali mereka ini degil dan tidak sedar-sedar dengan kesalahan yang mereka lakukan itu. Sistem satu parti Selain dari itu jika sistem berbagai dan berbilang parti ini sudah tidak boleh bertahan lagi mungkin sistem satu parti perlu di wujudkan dalam negara ini. Dalam sesuatu sistem satu parti wujud negara mesti berwajib untuk mendapatkan dan mencari kepimpinan yang kuat dan 'magnanimous' terus-terusan untuk mengambil alih warisan kepimpinan setidak-tidaknya selama 50 atau 60 tahun yang akan datang atau lebih lama dari itu. Masanya sudah sampai untuk semua pihak untuk melakukan usaha penyatuan rakyat yang sudah terlalu berpecah belah oleh kerana politik perkauman yang kini sangat menebal di dalam negara kita ini. Kita sudah nampak 'pattern' sokongan politik berdasarkan kepada perkauman. Seperti yang saya sebutkan di atas wakil-wakil dari berbilang kaum ini sudah dikenalpasti. Kita nampak rakan kita kaum Cina memang tidak syak lagi boleh mewakilkan pimpinan DAP untuk melakukan transformasi politik yang besar-besaran ini. Kaum Melayu yang merupakan penduduk teramai di negara ini ada PAS dan pemimpin gantian di dalam UMNO (lain dari pemimpin pemimpin kerajaan hari ini) dan India boleh di wakilkan oleh parti yang mewakili kaum itu. Mulakan politik dan sistem kenegaraan yang baru. Apa yang penting kita mesti mencapai perpaduan kaum yang sejati dalam negara ini dan tanpa penyalahgunaan kuasa oleh pemimpin kerajaan seperti kegiatan rasuah dan menjahanamkan harta rakyat yang ada di dalam perbendaharaan rakyat itu. Perkara ini bukan satu usaha yang mudah tetapi ia tetap akan mampu dilakukan dengan baik dan jayanya asalkan sahaja semua pihak jujur dan ikhlas untuk melihat negara kita yang kaya raya dengan anugerah Tuhan ini kekal sebagai negara yang mempunyai daulat dan 'integrity' yang tinggi sampai bila-bila. Apa yang penting ialah kemahuan yang kuat serta sikap berkorban yang tinggi serta tidak ada sifat dendam mendendam lagi. Jika usaha seperti ini tidak mahu di lakukan maka di dalam pilihanraya yang akan datang ini, peralihan kuasa akan dilakukan dengan sistem perundangan akan terlaksana terhadap mereka yang telah melakukan kesalahan besar terhadap negara ini. Bagi rakyat mereka mahu melihat perubahan. Jika perubahan boleh dilakukan dengan rundingan semua pihak tidak ada siapa di kalangan rakyat tidak mahu menerimanya. Kita utamakan keharmonian sistem politik negara dan dalam melaksanakannya banyak pihak wajar berkorban semata-mata untuk negara. Laksanakan sumpah dan janji untuk berjuang bagi kepentingan negara dan bukan untuk yang lain. Apa yang terpenting sekarang ini rakyat sudah jemu dengan politik retorik dan tipu helah dan membudayakan politik menghina dan memperlekehkan pihak yang ingin menuju kemajuan. Berfikir dan bertindaklah dalam ketenangan kerana segala masalah akan terlerai hanya dalam keadaan pemikiran kita yang tenteram dan aman. Let's go back to basic. - http://wwwaspanaliasnet.blogspot.com    |
| Mah Sing Group proposes rights issue to raise RM400m Posted: 10 Dec 2012 08:00 PM PST
KUALA LUMPUR: Property developer Mah Sing Group Bhd has proposed a rights issue together with free detachable warrants to raise RM400 million to increase its landbank and working capital. The company is also proposing to issue bonus shares on a one bonus share for every five shares held in the company. The issue price of the rights issue will be determined at the entitlement date which will be fixed later. Mah Sing is also seeking an exemption from undertaking a mandatory general offer by the substantial shareholder, Mayang Teratai Sdn Bhd, if its shareholding exceeds the threshold of 33% of the issued and paid capital of the company post the exercise. As at Oct 31, Mayang Teratai holds a 34.8% stake in the company. Leong Hoy Kum (photo), the group managing director of Mah Sing and a major shareholder of the company, via his shareholding in Mayang Teratai, has indicated that Mayang Teratai will subscribe to 50% of the rights issue. The remaining shares will be fully underwritten prior to the implementation of the rights issue. The proposed bonus issue will be capitalised from the share premium account of the company. The RM350 million of the intended gross proceeds will be utilised for land acquisitions, working capital (RM45 million) and RM5 million will be used to defray expenses related to the exercise. The company said the exercise will ensure that it has a continuous supply of landbank for its long-term growth. It said financing the acquisition through equity financing will result in interest saving compared to bank borrowings and enable Mah Sing's shareholders' funds to better reflect its current scope of its activities. In addition, the proposed rights issue will also strengthen the company's balance sheet. This content is provided by FMT content partner The Malaysian Reserve.    |
| Thai tycoon gets extra time to bid for Singapore’s F&N Posted: 10 Dec 2012 07:57 PM PST
In a media statement, TCC Assets – controlled by Thai beverage tycoon Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi (photo) – said the closing date for the F&N offer had been extended to Jan 2 from Dec 11. This is the second time TCC has been granted an extension after its plans to acquire F&N through a S$8.7 billion (US$7.12 billion) bid for the shares it does not yet own were stymied by Overseas Union Enterprise (OUE). OUE, a property firm controlled by Indonesia’s Lippo Group, offered S$13.1 billion in mid-November. Lippo’s founder is Indonesian tycoon Mochtar Riady, and his son Stephen is OUE’s executive chairman. F&N, whose businesses range from property to soft drinks and publishing, is one of Singapore’s oldest homegrown groups, tracing its origins to an aerated water business founded by two British entrepreneurs in 1883. It became a takeover target after selling off its most prized asset, Tiger Beer maker Asia Pacific Breweries, to Dutch giant Heineken in September. OUE’s offer for F&N was backed by Japanese brewer Kirin Holdings, which holds about 14.8% of F&N and is interested in its food and beverage business, with the property interests of F&N going to OUE if they succeed. - AFP    |
| Share prices remain in positive territory mid-morning Posted: 10 Dec 2012 07:54 PM PST
As at 11am, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) gained 8.39 points to 1,640.54, after opening at 1,633.82. The Finance Index surged 16.68 points to 15,116.86, the Industrial Index rose 2.35 points to 2,703.8 and the Plantation Index advanced 32.98 points to 7,922.62. The FBM Emas Index soared 50.73 points to 11,142.68 and the FBM Mid 70 Index jumped 28.57 points to 12,094.25 but the FBM Ace lost 21.92 points to 4,153.14. Gainers led losers 240 to 185 while 256 counters were unchanged, 959 untraded and 18 others were suspended. Turnover stood at 297.33 million shares worth RM373.53 million. Among actives, Global Tec Formation earned half-a-sen to 7.5 sen, Karambunai and DSC Solutions rose one sen each to 12 sen and 17.5 sen, respectively, and Permaju added seven sen to 42.5 sen. Heavyweights, Maybank advanced one sen to RM9.07, Sime Darby increased two sen to RM9.07, Axiata improved eight sen to RM6.27 but CIMB shed two sen to RM7.58. - Bernama    |
| Fallout of US fiscal cliff fiasco ‘is global’ Posted: 10 Dec 2012 07:44 PM PST
KUALA LUMPUR: The growing intransigence over fiscal issues in the US is posing a danger to economies in both the developed and emerging markets, a leading London-based business intelligence firm has warned. "The continued political obstinacy could contribute to further economic uncertainty not just in the US but also in many of the global economies that are its trading partners," Euromonitor International said. The fear of a worldwide impact should be considered because the US remains the world's largest economy and a further slowdown could "threaten the fragile global economy". News reports are already saying that regions that face exposure to a possible fallout include those in Asean, the eurozone (many of which are already in recession), South Asia and economies facing slowing growth in the Pacific rim. To questions raised by The Malaysian Reserve, the Euromonitor's lead economist Daniel Hunter said if the US goes over the fiscal cliff the impact will be felt not only in the US but also in global economies that trade with it. "In a scenario where the cliff is not avoided, real gross domest ic product (GDP) growth would decline by around 1.3% returning the economy to recession. The political shadow hanging over the US economy in 2012 has no precedent and there is no denying the effect uncertainty can have on an economy," Hunter said. Most global economies have trade and commercial ties with the US and they are currently viewing the ongoing fiscal crisis with concern because of a number of key factors that have a direct impact on their growth rates. "Current debates over the fiscal cliff are likely to further delay business investment and consumer spending as American corporations wait for a resolution to the ongoing problem by the end of the month," he said. Hunter's greater concern is not that the issues surrounding the US fiscal cliff question will not be eventually resolved, even as they look less promising, as the days draw closer to the Dec 31 deadline. "It is important to note the US economic woes are not set to end with the fiscal cliff issue. Another increase in the federal debt ceiling is required in early 2013, as the country continues to run a budget deficit, providing further opportunity for political conflict and global financial market disruptions," he said. Stressing the need for a resolution to ongoing congressional disputes that relate to deficit spending, tax on the rich, debt ceiling and reforms to the existing and highly problematic Tax Code, Hunter said if there are further delays to business investment and consumer spending (which is 70% of the national economy), the possible consequences of a slowing domestic economy on global economies may not be easily avoided. Euromonitor International is a 25-year-old firm that provides up-to-date market research and business intelligence reports to a variety of global industries. This content is provided by FMT content partner The Malaysian Reserve.    |
| P&O to sell 49% stake to Sanlan for RM270m Posted: 10 Dec 2012 07:17 PM PST
KUALA LUMPUR: Pacific & Orient Bhd (P&O) has agreed to sell a 49% stake in its wholly-owned Pacific and Orient Insurance Co Bhd (POI) to South Africa-based Sanlan Emerging Markets Proprietary Ltd (SEM) for RM270 million cash. The final transaction price of the deal will be adjusted to reflect POI's latest balance sheet with the assumption that net assets value of POI is not less than RM224 million and the internal capital adequacy ratio is not less than 173%. Upon the close of the deal, P&O will retain a 51% stake in the general insurer. P&O's total equity investment in POI amounted to RM59.23 million made in March 1995. The group stand to make a net gain of RM173.54 million or 71 sen a share on the sale, according to notes filed to the exchange yesterday. What management intends to do with the sale money was not determined at the time of writing. The deal is part of a wider move by the regulator, Bank Negara Malaysia, to consolidate the number of players in the industry driven by the need to strengthen the financial ability of the industry players through compliance with risk based capital framework. For SEM, the deal allows the Sanlan Ltd controlled unit to expand into Malaysia along with its presence in India and across Africa. This content is provided by FMT content partner The Malaysian Reserve.    |
| ‘Lapor polis terhadap Ismail, Phang’ Posted: 10 Dec 2012 07:15 PM PST
Ketua Penyelaras Jingga 13, Fariz Musa dalam satu kenyataan media hari ini menggesa bekas KPN Tan Sri Musa Hassan membuat laporan polis terhadap mereka berdua. "Tindakan Phang dan Ismail adalah merupakan satu tindakan jenayah yang amat serius. Sebagai warganegara yang bertanggungjawab dan bekas KPN, Musa Hassan seharusnya lebih memahami peraturan undang-undang negara. "Musa wajar dipersalahkan sekiranya beliau gagal bertindak melaporkan kepada pihak polis dan SPRM terhadap perlakuan jenayah yang dilakukan oleh Phang dan Ismail,” Tegas Fariz. Semalam Musa mendedahkan bahawa beberapa pegawai polis di Bukit Aman telah dipindahkan apabila tidak memberi kelulusan untuk projek pembekalan alat komunikasi mudah alih yang gagal bernilai RM1 bilion sekitar penghujung tahun 2008. Beliau turut mendedahkan bahawa Phang menjadi juru runding di dalam projek dan bertindak sebagai orang tengah di antara pihak polis dan syarikat telekomunikasi tersebut. Semasa sidang media semalam Musa mendakwa bahawa Phang mengugut untuk memindahkan pasukan teknikal polis dalam usaha mendapatkan kelulusan dan Phang juga menawarkan dirinya sebagai penasihat tetapi tawaran itu ditolak. "Beliau yang mempunyai maklumat yang cukup lengkap untuk melakukan tindakan yang sewajarnya lebih-lebih lagi ianya melibatkan dana awam bernilai ratusan juta ringgit iaitu projek komunikasi Motorola dari sistem analog ke digital PDRM. "Projek itu disub-kontrakkan kepada syarikat bernama Asiasoft Malaysia. Dua pemegang saham dalam syarikat berkenaan ialah B System Sdn Bhd dan Asiasoft PLC. Asiasoft PLC didaftar di Singapura, dikuasai oleh Asiasoft Global PLC yang berpangkalan di Israel," kata Fariz. Lihat juga: Musa reveals more, implicates businessman    |
| JV with China’s Naton Medical for wider orthopaedic market Posted: 10 Dec 2012 07:09 PM PST
PUTRAJAYA: Local medical device producers OSA Niaga Sdn Bhd and Straits Orthopaedics (Mfg) Sdn Bhd have entered into a joint venture (JV) with Beijing-based multinational medical supplier Naton Medical to produce a wider range of Malaysian-made orthopaedic products. This JV move is expected to generate RM4.5 billion in gross national income (GNI). It is also expected to elevate Malaysia's position as the regional production centre for orthopaedic devices. "We have identified about RM11.4 billion in GNI under medical devices by the year 2020. Under orthopaedics alone, we should be able to generate about RM4.5 billion in revenue each year. "With Naton coming in to invest, we should be able to become the regional orthopaedic hub," said Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai at a signing ceremony held here yesterday. Orthopaedics has been identified as one of the most attractive segments because of the large size of its global market, which is estimated to be worth about US$40 billion (RM122.32 billion) with a growth of 9% to 10% per annum, said Liow. Currently, more than 90% of orthopaedic solutions in Malaysia are imported. The JV will provide a larger proportion of orthopaedics devices at affordable prices, according to a press statement. Under the JV with Naton, OSA Niaga will gain a larger range of international standard orthopaedic implants and instruments, a joint collaboration in research and development, and allowing the products to be labelled as a Malaysian brand. To contract manufacturer Straits Orthopedics, Naton will transfer its technologies and capabilities in areas of orthopaedic manufacturing and processes Malaysia does not currently have. The JV company, which will begin operations in the first-quarter of 2013, will market products to the Asean and Middle East markets within the next five years. "If we are more successful than what we are expecting today, the Asean and Middle East regions are not the only markets we want to capture. We want to hit Europe, Japan and the US," Straits Orthopedics senior vice-president TH Su told a press conference. OSA Niaga is a wholly-owned subsidiary of OSA Technology Sdn Bhd which produces orthopaedic implants used in surgical procedures and treatment of fractured bones at all private and government hospitals in Malaysia. This content is provided by FMT content partner The Malaysian Reserve.    |
| Intel sees business growth with greater IT spending Posted: 10 Dec 2012 06:56 PM PST
KUALA LUMPUR: Intel Electronics (M) Sdn Bhd is confident that increased consumer spending and the growth of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) will drive its business in Malaysia, country manager Malaysia and Brunei, Prakash Mallya , said. He said the increasing number of SMEs coming onstream and many of them embracing technology at faster pace will see increased business opportunities for Intel in Malaysia. Prakash did not reveal growth estimates. In addition, Prakash said that the Malaysian government's initiatives of encouraging entrepreneurs and innovation with its focus on education will see the country embracing technology at a faster pace and this would see more business opportunities for Intel here. "The recently announced education blueprint is set to see the creation of skilled workforce and increased gross domestic product [GDP] in Malaysia. We see a strong correlation between information technology [IT] spending and increase in GDP," he said at a press briefing here yesterday. Meanwhile, Uday Marty, managing director of Intel Technology Asia Pte Ltd, said the Asia-Pacific region represents an important earnings contributor to Intel because there are a lot of people demanding connectivity and are increasing investment in IT spending. He said corporations in the region are devoting large portions of corporate budgets to IT-led innovations. "The higher expenditure in IT in Southeast Asian countries to drive their productivity is likely to augur well for Intel," he said. Photo: Intel Technology Asia Pte Ltd managing director Uday Marty addressing the crowd at the media briefing in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. – The Malaysian Reserve This content is provided by FMT content partner The Malaysian Reserve.    |
| Food viruses can be spread by kitchen knives Posted: 10 Dec 2012 06:47 PM PST  PARIS: People preparing food are advised to wash their hands to prevent the spread of disease, yet an unseen threat may well lie on their kitchen knife, a new study says.Researchers at the Center for Food Safety at the University of Georgia used new knives and graters on six types of fruit and vegetables that had been smeared with minute doses of hepatitis A virus and a “vomiting” bug called norovirus. More than half of the utensils became contaminated by this contact — and in turn often handed on virus to non-contaminated produce. The experiment was conducted on cucumbers, strawberries, tomatoes, carrots and cantaloupe and honeydew melons. The type of knife, whether serrated, sharp or dull, did not matter, according to the paper, published in the latest issue of the journal Food and Environmental Virology. Co-author Marilyn Erickson told AFP the findings could be important for people with a weak immune system. As for recommending what to do, she acknowledged that it could be impractical to wash a knife or grater between each vegetable.
Previous research into contamination of kitchen utensils and surfaces has focussed on bacteria, not viruses. A 2011 study found that the norovirus is the leading cause of foodborne illnesses in the United States. Ingesting as few as between one and 100 norovirus particles can cause vomiting or diarrhoea.—AFP    |
| Naza Bikes to boost Naza Blade sales in 2013 Posted: 10 Dec 2012 06:44 PM PST
SHAH ALAM: Naza Bikes Sdn Bhd aims to sell three times more of its Naza Blade motorcycles in 2013 on the back of strong demand for the 250cc to 500cc sportsbike. The company is targeting sales of the bike to reach about 3,600 units next year from 1,000 units sold this year, said Naza Two Wheels Division vice-president Nik Danial Nik Mahmood. He told reporters here yesterday at the launch of Naza Blade TBR 2013 edition that Naza Bikes aims to sell 2,400 units of 250cc and 1,200 units of 500cc of Naza Blade next year, targeting "enthusiasts bikers", in line with its goal of achieving a 60% market share in the local motorcycle market. "The Naza Blade 250cc sports bike has been the best seller in the market since its introduction in September 2012, with more than 120 units sales monthly capturing almost 50% market share," he said. Nik Danial said in line with this, Naza World will spend RM500,000 in a new production line dedicated for the Naza Blade range that is expected to be ready by March 2013. Naza Two Wheels Division is the motorcycle division of Naza Group of Companies. Meanwhile, Naza Group joint group executive chairman SM Faisal SM Nasimuddin said Naza Bikes aims to intensify its focus in the Asean countries, such as Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam, as the Asean motorcycle market offers great potential of growth in the future. "The Asean motorcycle market in 2012 is expected to reach 13 million units. The 250cc to 800cc range has experienced the biggest unprecedented growth in the Asean market. "It is a great opportunity for Naza to become one of the key players in this range of bikes and we are taking every possible measure to ensure that we keep up with the trend," he said. On the other hand, SM Faisal said Naza World also plans to export the Naza Blade 250cc to Cambodia by first-quarter (1Q) of next year and the Naza 250cc and 650cc to Indonesia by the 2Q of next year. "Particularly in Indonesia, there is a great potential market for 650cc as the medium earners seek to upgrade from the underbone bike," he said. Besides the Naza Bikes brand, Naza World sports a long list of internationally recognised brands such as Harley Davidson, Ducati, Aprilia, Vespa, Gilera and Piaggo and an Indian motorcycle. "Naza Bikes is in the final stage of planning for local assembly of one of the international brands currently in our stable and we aim to commence operations within the 3Q or 4Q of 2013. "We are also delighted to share that the international principal for this brand is giving us the opportunity to explore becoming brand distributor in some Asean countries including Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia and Brunei," he said. This content is provided by FMT content partner The Malaysian Reserve.    |
| Stop hoodwinking the Indian community Posted: 10 Dec 2012 06:40 PM PST
Sometimes numbers do not matter. What’s shocking is the fact that Indians are stateless in their own homeland. So let’s not fight about whether there are 9,000 Indians with no documents or 300,000. And since Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak has admitted, by default I must say, that there are thousands of stateless Indians, he must mobilise a special team to ensure they are registered immediately. Making promises to look into the problem cannot be accepted anymore. And this is more so when Indonesians hold Malaysian papers and are able to obtain them easily. Indians came to this country a century ago to work the tin mines and rubber plantations and have contributed greatly to the building of Malaysia. They were instrumental in the clearing of land for infrastructure, established rubber plantations, built the roads, set up transmission lines as well as managed early Malayan railways, ports and airports. But fast-forward to 2012 and thousands of Indians would go to the streets of Putrajaya on Wednesday to demand the government recognises their inherent rights as citizens of this country. And all Najib does is hold out an olive branch at MIC’s AGM and insult the community by referring to them as ruling Barisan Nasional’s fixed deposit. Najib has clearly got it wrong. If he thinks Indians are going to throw their support behind him and his coalition unthinkingly, he better think again. It may be true that with Malaysia’s politics firmly divided along racial lines and Indians not having a majority in any parliamentary seat, many had resigned themselves to their plight. But that has changed in recent years. In 2007, tens of thousands of Indians took to the streets demanding reforms. That call has not disappeared. Indians have been vocally airing their dissatisfaction with the ruling government, which has been too complacent to look into their rightful demands. So I won’t be all that wrong if I conclude that the permanent smile plastered on Najib’s face at the recent MIC AGM and his sweet words were just a ploy to further hoodwink a marginalised community. I wonder if he can stoop lower than this to hold on to power. Despite most Indians being here three of four generations, they are now emerging as the new underclass with relatively high levels of hardcore poverty as a large section of Malaysian Indians sharing less than 1.6% of the country’s wealth. And that too after making this country their home since the 19th century. Therefore Najib shouldn’t be offering false promises of citizenships to the Indians. He must instead walk the talk as it is the only fair thing to do. Charles Santiago is DAP’s MP for Klang.    |
| Posted: 10 Dec 2012 06:40 PM PST
Pakatan has been championing human rights, freedoms and equality since its inception. It took over the battle cry of "reformasi" and used it against a lame, decrepit and out-of-touch BN. In reply to Pakatan’s successful campaigns, the BN has simply decided to copy Pakatan like lifting some ideas from its shadow federal budget. It is devoid of real ideas of its own. In the meantime, the ruling coalition has become a bully and has failed to listen to the demands of the public, especially the minorities. How will this help the BN continue running the affairs of the country, one dare not ask. But the point is, the BN has lost its nerves. It has copied the opposition’s recommendations but has failed to implement the true spirit of the proposals. When Parliament passed new laws without even debating them thoughtfully, many observers from abroad and locally dismissed these laws as irrelevant. Little did they know that the Malaysian authorities intended to use such laws to punish political rivals. With the arraignment of both Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim and PKR deputy president Azmin Ali in May this year under freshly brewed laws that replaced the infamous Internal Security Act (ISA), the real intent of the incumbent regime in Putrajaya was made clear. Turning a deaf ear It was a clear attempt to limit the political freedom of its opponents. This was what it had all along been doing not too long ago when it brandished the ISA to arrest its opponents. While the BN insisted it was protecting the interest of the nation, it turned a deaf ear to the public’s outrage of its manhandling of the protesters during Bersih 3.0 rally. It was also not as "friendly" as it claimed to be with its continued attacks on its opponents. The opposition has campaigned for the removal of most toll booths and the renegotiation of the deals with the toll companies. In quick response, the BN suspended the launch of new toll booths and also granted meagre "discounts" during the holiday season. In most cases, these discounts did not have any impact on the public. Recently, Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak spoke fondly of his affection for the younger generation, saying he wants to engage with the young minds but the BN was just trying to copy the opposition. Pakatan has also made clear its intention to abolish the National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN), with Anwar labelling it "PTPTIPU N". The response of the government: handouts to the youth! The question to be asked is: does BN really care for the youth of Malaysia? Engaging the youth Giving RM250 to the young generation to acquire "smartphones (outdated phones?) is a ridiculous way of showing affection for the young ones. These smartphones cost nearly RM1,500 to RM2,500 and the pittance offered is laughable. Is BN really keen to engage with the young generation? No, it is just bluffing since it has been shown that the BN can become aggressive when the younger ones protest. The crackdown on Bersih 3.0 and Occupy Dataran protesters and the attacks against pro-opposition rallies are such examples. Apparently, the "engagement" that the BN is interested in is to throw shoes in mosques and stones at the elderly in Pakatan rallies. It has been said that the BN is generous and has offered another round of RM100 handouts to schoolchildren. But it appears the less fortunate, large families are the ones who will benefit from the RM100. The children barely get to hold the cash. Whistleblower charged Opposition leaders – Anwar, Nik Aziz Nik Mat and Abdul Hadi Awang – are known for leading prayers, giving speeches in mosques and even acting as the "khatib" or speaker during Friday prayers. Now the prime minister is also turning to "prayers" with the "crowd". Anwar started a bus campaign, with flashy PKR and Pakatan’s logo and slogans painted on its sides. Now the government has jumped into the act with its own bus in Johor. The PKR started the ball rolling about reducing car prices. The BN tried to follow suit but apparently made a U-turn. The BN took action on the National Feedlot Corporation debacle, but at the same time charged whistleblower Rafizi Ramli with revealing a massive scandal. Under Pakatan, the "whistleblower" would probably be rewarded. The list of missteps by BN in its attempt to copy the opposition campaign is very long. It is definitely not a positive sign for the ruling coalition. KL-based Amir Ali works for an Indonesian NGO called the Warisan Melayu Riau, which is based in Bengkalis, Riau.    |
| Posted: 10 Dec 2012 06:38 PM PST
There is carpet trader Deepak Jaikishan, the bit player, who, seemingly stricken by conscience, dusted off the cover on Altantuya Shaariibuu and revealed his role in this sordid affair. According to his own admission, he was the one who persuaded private investigator P Balasubramaniam to retract his first statutory declaration about the murdered Mongolian national. He claimed he did it "on the behest of a female friend" and to protect the "interests of Najib Tun Razak". His confession whipped up a storm and threw the spotlight again on the scene of infamy. Balasubramaniam had made a second declaration which reversed the first one, which meant letting Najib off the hook. Najib, then the deputy prime minister, even swore on the Quran at a mosque that he did not know the Mongolian woman and had nothing to do with her murder. His political career emerged unscathed from the storm swirling around him and he went on to become the most powerful man in the country. A statutory declaration is a legal document and is similar to a statement made under oath. What is written in the document is as good as speaking the truth. Balasubramaniam’s first declaration contained the most explosive revelation. In it, he implicated Najib in the murder of Altantuya, a tragic figure in the play. Deepak’s admission of his involvement reopens the case because it implies that Najib is not innocent. The link to the murder meant that Najib knew the victim. Najib was the defence minister at the time when Malaysia was negotiating to purchase two French submarines. Altantuya, who was said to be working as a French translator, came onto the stage to allegedly help the Malaysian government buy the submarines worth some RM3.4 billion. She was reportedly playing the role of a broker with the French company for Abdul Razak Baginda, the political analyst, and Najib’s close friend. Deep suspicion The Mongolian woman was supposed to pocket a hefty RM540 million in commission. She returned to Malaysia to allegedly hound Abdul Razak – her lover – for payment. Balasubramanaim was then hired by Abdul Razak to keep tabs on Altantuya’s movements when she was in Kuala Lumpur. But she met a horrible death – blown to smithereens in a jungle clearing in Shah Alam. Who murdered her? This is what Deepak wants to know – and this is also what the whole country wants to know. Although two former policemen, once the bodyguards of Najib’s wife, Rosmah Mansor, were found guilty of the heinous crime and were sentenced to death, the verdict did nothing to erase the deep suspicion surrounding the circumstances of Altantuya’s death. What possible motive could have driven the two cops, who never knew Altantuya in all their born days, to snuff out her life in such a cruel manner? Abdul Razak, who was charged with abetting them, was let off without his defence being called but the nagging question remains: was there a conspiracy to cover up the blood stain? Deepak came out to expose the dirt under the carpet and vowed to reveal more. Who is Deepak? He is mainly a carpet trader and said to be close to the Najib family, especially the "female friend", who is probably Rosmah, an important figure in the drama. Is Deepak working for the opposition to discredit Najib in time for the general election? Or is he a shady, unreliable person as alleged by his critics? Was Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim the culprit behind the Deepak exposé? Anwar has everything to gain if incriminating evidence is found on Najib. It appears Deepak is playing with fire in trying to resurrect the ghost of Altantuya. But he wants to come clean and he will not be silenced and thus inviting potential danger to his safety. Besides, ever since he got entangled with the Altantuya case, his business dealings took a dive. He has apologised to Altantuya for his role in the mucky affair, but will the country also say sorry and bring the real perpetrators of the crime to justice? This drama, which is blot on the country, cannot go on forever. Najib must step forward and answer all the allegations hurled at him. He cannot allow his minions to act and think on his behalf. Even his cybertroopers will not be able to shield him from the gathering tempest. His high office cannot save his skin if the voters decide they had had enough of deceit and villainy. He is the protagonist who must bring the curtain down – and get the spirit of Altantuya off the chest of the country once and for all. Also read: Deepak to reveal more dirt from under the carpet    |
| Posted: 10 Dec 2012 06:34 PM PST
Just take the latest Corruption Perception Index (CPI) released by TI-Malaysia, on behalf of Berlin's Transparency International, with a pinch of salt. The TI finding is derived from statistics provided by the Malaysian government. This is why Malaysians find TI's announcement that the country's CPI had improved unbelievable. Also, there cannot be a compatible comparison with the previous year's CPI report because the scoring system this year had been revised. A comparison would likely be misleading. I need not dwell into the hundreds of financial scandals exposed over the years by the media and political parties to prove my point. Also, many of the fiascos are backed with credible evidence. I only need to highlight five high profile examples. But, before I state the cases, let me first take you back to 1983. The first billion-ringgit financial scandal in Malaysia, which came with a murder suspense, unfolded in 1983. Do you remember what it was? It's the Bumiputra Malaysia Finance (BMF) financial scandal cum murder of its internal auditor Jalil Ibrahim who was found dead in a banana grove in Hong Kong in July 1983. The federal government had to bailout BMF three times to a tune of RM2.5 billion to keep it afloat. After 29 years, has anyone been punished for the financial scandal? Has anyone been convicted for the murder? Now I wish to highlight the five high profile cases: 1. Does anyone know why Mongolian interpreter Altantuya Shaariibuu was murdered, despite the convictions of two police security officers who served Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak and his wife? Why is the Barisan Nasional (BN) government so fearful of the French court's ongoing probe on alleged corrupt practices over Malaysia's Defence Ministry's purchase of two French-made second hand Scorpene submarines at an inflated price of RM6.7 billion? 2. How did former Women, Family and Community Development Minister Shahrizat Abdul Jalil's family secure a RM250 million cattle breeding project from the government without any experience and failed the project, but spent tens of millions of ringgit buying condominiums, luxury cars, land and failed investments, etc; 3. How businessman Michael Chia was caught carrying RM40 million in Singapore currency in Hong Kong and then claimed that the money belonged to Sabah Chief Minister Musa Aman who then claimed that the money was a donation to Sabah Umno; 4. No plausible explanation by Prime Minister Najib on the Global Financial Integrity Report that over the last decade, Malaysia's illicit capital outflow was the fourth largest in the world amounting to RM1.08 trillion! Similar results were also found in a study commissioned by Tax Justice Network (TJN), a London-based organisation of professionals including economists and tax consultants; and, 5. Disclosure of the Manser Bruno Fund of Sarawak Chief Minister Taib Mahmud's family wealth at RM65 billion which begs the question of what is the true wealth of Umno's prime ministers from Dr Mahathir Mohamad onwards and their top leaders. Independent surveys needed Just these five examples are enough to tickle the funny bone of Malaysians and laugh until their ribs hurt to hear that the country's CPI has improved by moving up six places to 54. The fact that the TI findings are probably based on statistics provided by the federal government is enough to raise biasness. The assertion by Pemandu that Malaysian crimes had gone down, based on government statistics, also gave us a good placing in the World Peace Index. When this was announced, the people rebutted by showing that crime had actually increased based on their own experience and of the perception of the people. Obviously the report was based on police's own statistics which the people did not believe and rejected outright. Both government and the police had to withdraw and agreed with the overwhelming public outcry. Now, even a retired inspector-general of police, Musa Hassan, is disputing the police force's crime statistics and also made damning accusations that ministers had interfered in police work and investigations. The TI finding would have been more credible if it was based on independent surveys conducted with the public. Chua Jui Meng is PKR vice-president and Johor state chief. He is also a former MCA vice-president and an ex-Cabinet member.    |
| In search of greater civil liberties Posted: 10 Dec 2012 06:00 PM PST
He went on to say that BN had kept to its word of adapting to growing demands for greater civil liberties. Human Rights Day was commemorated throughout the world yesterday (Dec 10): dare Najib as head of the nation and BN take credit that he has done his best to allow the basic rights of the rakyat to flourish? Reality on the ground does tells a different story. Freedom of expression, freedom of assembly, freedom of the press, freedom of religion were never allowed to exist – in short, the rakyat are languishing, their efforts in reclaiming their fundamental rights being thwarted by the ruling government. Getting rid of draconian laws like the Internal Security Act does not mean Malaysia has embraced the fundamental rights of the people; on the contrary, the abuse of human rights continues in every realm of the rakyat's life. From the continuous persecution of leaders of electoral reform activist Bersih to punishing designers for "thinking out of the box", the federal government has done all it can to quash any semblance of human rights in this country. The people have no freedom to speak their minds; just look at how the federal government treats academicians who dare "call a spade a spade". One such example was that of constitutional law expert Professor Abdul Aziz Bari, formerly with the International Islamic University who was suspended after he publicly expressed his opinion regarding the decree by the Sultan of Selangor over the controversial JAIS raid on the Damansara Utama Methodist Church on Aug 3, 2011. Abdul Aziz spoke his mind without fear or favour and was forced to pay a price for that but not before learning that academic freedom is not cherished by the powers-that-be. So much for Najib's claim of wanting to make Malaysia "the best democracy in the world". ‘Best democracy’ a hogwash In Malaysia's "Bolehland", there is always place and space for corruption and cronyism but not for emancipation of the people. The BN government has never been fond of seeing the rakyat emancipate and so ways and means are continuously devised to undermine the people's determination to exert their fundamental rights. Even a basic gesture of appreciating the monarchy is not welcomed by the federal government, as was the case with celebrity designer Bernard Chandran. On May 9 this year, eight plainclothes cops walked into his boutique and confiscated 52 T-shirts bearing the image of the current king. They also arrested two of Chandran's staff. The cops mumbled that Chandran had breached the "percetakan" (printing laws). Last month when PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar shared her thoughts that everyone is deserving of religious freedom, including the Malays, the powers-that-be were appalled and went on a mission to condemn Nurul, who is also the Lembah Pantai MP. Taking a cue from Nurul Izzah's earnest remarks, a letter was penned on the topic by one Steve Oh and published by online portal Malaysiakini. And what followed next was shameful for instead of allowing the writer the freedom to express himself, "top orders" came for the police to confiscate all materials pertaining to the issue. Unlike the eight cops who walked into Chandran's workplace, this time the number that made their way to Malaysiakini's office was double. Is this how "democracy" works in Malaysia or is this BN's way of making democracy work? Malaysia has a long way to go The reverence for human rights is unthinkable to the BN leadership; to it, respecting the basic rights of a person would be "life threatening" to its existence. That explains why the government, as foolish and insecure as it appears, tries hard to bar the rakyat from gaining access to materials that challenge the norm, be they in the form of books or movies. For that reason too, the government has created a political quagmire when it decided to embark on a never-ending persecution of marginalised communities like the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgenders whom it has labelled as deviants. The same fate is suffered by the natives of Sarawak who continue to lose both their lands and dignity to unscrupulous timber loggers and gluttonous development. The fact that human rights apply to everyone across the board is lost to BN and the scenario will remain unchallenged as long as the party wields power. In the meantime, the cry for the federal government to uphold the fundamental rights of the people will find no sympathy with the BN. Jeswan Kaur is a freelance writer and a FMT columnist.    |
| 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.