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PM announces release of 125 held under Restricted Residence Act

Posted: 04 Oct 2011 11:07 PM PDT

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak today announced the immediate release of 125 people held under the Restricted Residence Act 1933 and the cancellation of more than 200 warrants yet to be served.

The announcement comes in the wake of the motion to repeal the act tabled for
second reading in the Dewan Rakyat today by the prime minister.

"I stand in this august house today to launch the process to deliver the
government's promise. In this world, very seldom does a ruling government
voluntarily relax the power it wields," he said.

When tabling the Restricted Residence (Repeal) Bill 2011 for second reading,
Najib said the repeal of the act and several other acts was part of the

beginning of the country's Political Transformation Programme (PTP) which
complemented the ongoing Government Transformation Programme (GTP) and the
Economic Transformation Programme (ETP).

"I and my colleagues will not shy away from going forward and, in fact, are all
the more committed to doing the best for national harmony. Indeed, this is just

the beginning," he said.

Najib, in his special message on the eve of Malaysia May on Sept 15, had
announced the repeal of the Emergency Proclamation 1969, the Internal Security
Act 1960 and the Banish Act 1959, and a review of the Restricted Residence Act
1933, the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984 and Section 27 of the
Police Act 1967.

The prime minister said the main thrust of the PTP took into account the
national aspiration to build a modern and progressive Malaysia with a
functioning democracy.

He said this was to balance the needs of national security and individual
freedom by taking into consideration the complex national pluralism and the
threat of global terrorism in a post-9/11 world.

Najib also hit out at the opposition parties which claimed that the government
had implemented their proposed plan to abolish the ISA and other laws if they
come to power.

"These people are crowing that the government stole their plan. In fact, we
were influenced by no one ... we were pressured by no one. The government made
the decision on its own will by launching the reform and improvement process.

"The test was whether we kept our promises. Others can claim these to be their
ideas or views, but they are not the government given the mandate by the
majority of the people to deliver on its promises," he said.

Najib said the transformation measures initiated by the government were not
born out of internal or external pressure or due to fears and concerns.

Instead, they were drawn up by the Barisan Nasional government as a responsible
government which had concern for the people at heart and understood their
aspirations, he added. -- Bernama

Muhyiddin warns schools barring students from taking exams

Posted: 04 Oct 2011 08:34 PM PDT

KUALA LUMPUR: Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin today warned of action against schools which deliberately prevented any pupil or student from sitting for important examinations.

Muhyiddin, who is also education minister, said the Education Ministry was
scrutinising the reports it had received on the matter.

There have been reports recently that some schools prohibited pupils weak in
their studies from sitting for examinations so as to maintain a high pass rate.

Muhyiddin said the teachers could not be blamed if the pupils or students
themselves did not wish to sit for the examinations.

The deputy prime minister spoke to reporters after a visit to Sekolah Menengah
Kebangsaan Seri Hartamas near here to have a first-hand look at the students
sitting for the 2011 Penilaian Menengah Rendah (PMR) examination which began
yesterday.

The PMR students were taking their English Language Paper 1 examination

then. Muhyiddin reiterated that schools should not be too obsessed with attaining academic excellence to the extent that they denied any pupil or student his or her right to sit for important public examinations.

"No one should be denied his or her right to sit for a public examination,"
he said. He reminded schools not to repeat the mistake and to ensure that every pupil or student was provided ample opportunity to get a proper education and sit for examinations to gauge their achievement.

Muhyiddin also said that an award would be introduced this year to accord
recognition to parent-teacher associations which helped to raise the achievement
of pupils or students.

He said an evaluation would be made of these associations which actively
collaborated with the school administration to elevate the achievement of the
pupils or students. -- Bernama

Kredit: www.nst.com.my

Selasa, 4 Oktober 2011

NST Online: Topnews

NST Online: Topnews

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