NST Online: Topnews

Posted: 22 Sep 2011 10:34 AM PDT

2011/09/22
By Masami Mustaza
masamimustaza@nst.com.my

KUALA LUMPUR: Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop said it did not make sense for him to clarify on Sime Darby Bhd's purchase of RM776 million worth of shares from property development company Eastern & Oriental.

"I am not with the Finance Ministry. I am now the minister in charge of the Economic Planning Unit. This incident happened after I left the Finance Ministry but people say I must answer as the former minister.

"This doesn't make sense. I have nothing to do with it," he said after launching the Malaysian Institute of Management's (MIM) national talent summit yesterday.

Nor Mohamed said he had "zero knowledge" of the share purchase and "nothing to do with Sime Darby directly or indirectly" and suggested that those who were trying to implicate him had "bad intentions".

He was commenting on a call by a non-governmental organisation Gagasan Anti-Penyelewengan Selangot (GAPS) on Tuesday urging Nor Mohamed to clarify his involvement in the share purchase.

The call from GAPS came about after Malay group Perkasa first made the allegation.

Earlier, Nor Mohamed spoke on the factors that drew in foreign direct investment into the country.

"There are a few things that foreign investors ask before investing here or elsewhere. The first is whether the country has political and social stability and whether we have enough capable and skilled workers to work in their companies."

He said the 10th Malaysia Plan had given a bigger focus to the production of talented workers through the vocational stream, whereby students who lacked an interest in academic disciplines were equipped with the necessary skills for skilled work.

"The vocational stream can be lucrative. For example, the wages of a chargeman is high, nearly RM6,000. You don't need to study sociology, philosophy or history to be one. You just have to take the course to be a chargeman."

Nor Mohamed added that as the country needed workers who were highly knowledgeable and skilled, steps must be taken to ensure such groups were keen to work here.

"It will take more effort to woo those currently working overseas but, more importantly, we must ensure that those who are here will not migrate."

The summit is a two-day event, which brings together stakeholders, including top industry leaders, to discuss matters pertaining to talent shortage in the country.

Najib: Don't fear changes

Posted: 22 Sep 2011 10:34 AM PDT

2011/09/22
By Minderjeet Kaur
mkaur@nst.com.my

KUALA LUMPUR: Details of the two new acts to replace the Internal Security Act (ISA) will be made public soon, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said.

He said this was necessary so that everyone would understand the steps taken by the government and hoped the people, especially Barisan Nasional members, would not be afraid of the changes.

"Repealing the ISA is part of my promise to review the act two years ago. This shows BN is bringing about tremendous changes," he said at the Wanita, Youth and Puteri Umno open house at the Putra World Trade Centre here yesterday.

The new acts are related to anti-terrorism measures and national security.

Najib said the changes would show that BN and Umno were modern, progressive and inclusive, adding that BN would be able to defend its position as the leading coalition because of its enlightened policies.

For instance, he said while some countries gained independence through bloodshed, Malaysia had peace talks among various races.

"Other countries such as Northern Ireland are still in conflict after so many years. But Umno and BN are ahead of the times.

"We have been working together to achieve harmony."

Another example was the country's victory over communism.

"We won by winning the hearts and minds of the people."

On the Bukit Kepong incident, he said Malaysians knew the true heroes were from Umno, the police, army and several nationalists.

As such, Umno and BN would defend the names of those who died protecting the country from communist attacks.

"We will make sure they remain the country's true heroes," he added.

Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin said Umno Youth supported the repeal of the ISA.

"The youths support its abolition. But some grassroots members think the country's security will be jeopardised.

"We will go to the grassroots and explain that the nation's security is not affected."

Khairy said Umno Youth also wanted the two new acts to have provisions, among others, for judicial review, a shorter detention period of less than 60 days and access to lawyers.

"The new acts should be specific. Very detailed. They should provide the definition of terrorists, or people will say it is the same drink in a new bottle.

"We need acts that will protect the country but at the same time, uphold the rights of the people."

Kredit: www.nst.com.my

Khamis, 22 September 2011

NST Online: Topnews

NST Online: Topnews

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