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Rally video 'a boon for police' Posted: 23 Jul 2011 08:40 AM PDT 2011/07/23 By Rozanna Latiff news@nst.com.my AYER KEROH: The credibility of the Bersih 2.0 video released by police cannot be questioned, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said yesterday. He said the video, which was screened to 200 members of the media and the public on Friday, answered many of the questions raised by the opposition regarding the behaviour of policemen during the illegal rally on July 9. "(The public) cannot be sceptical of what the authorities release to the public, and yet believe in the accusations made by the alternative media." He said this after launching the National Crime Prevention Month 2011 campaign here. He said the video proved that some opposition leaders, such as Pas deputy president Mohamad Sabu, had been untruthful about injuries he had incurred that day. "He (Mat Sabu) said police tried to hurt him, but we know now that they were not true." He said Mat Sabu, who had threatened to sue the police after allegedly being hit by a police car during the rally, was free to do so. Muhyiddin lambasted the opposition for taking advantage of the death of rally participant Baharuddin Ahmad by claiming he had died after being beaten by police. "I believe it's wrong to take advantage of someone's death, especially as all the evidence, including the post-mortem results, shows that he (Baharuddin) died as a result of a heart attack and not because he was abused by police." He said policemen would not have acted thoughtlessly as they knew many people were watching them. He said the video should be televised so people could judge the truth for themselves. Muhyiddin said: "This is not about politics. We simply do not want people to be taken in by lies and allegations." Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar said police had given copies of the video to Radio Televisyen Malaysia and TV3. "It is up to the networks to decide when to broadcast the video." Present at the launch were Malacca Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam, Deputy Home Minister Datuk Wira Abu Seman Yusop, Malaysia Crime Prevention Foundation vice-chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye and Deputy Inspector-General of Police Datuk Khalid Abu Bakar. Full Feed Generated by Get Full RSS, sponsored by Used Car Search.

Najib's wish for lasting peace Posted: 23 Jul 2011 08:39 AM PDT 2011/07/23 By Noor Adzman Baharuddin and Sharanpal Singh Randhawa news@nst.com.my Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, accompanied by his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor (third from right), cutting a pulut kuning cake during the ceremony organised by Kedah Umno to celebrate his 58th birthday at the Sultan Abdul Halim Airport in Kepala Batas yesterday. — Picture by Syaharim Abidin KANGAR: "I wish for Malaysia to continue being peaceful and that all our plans to develop our country are successful." This was Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's wish as he celebrated his 58th birthday here yesterday. Instead of a birthday bash with his family, Najib, accompanied by his wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, spent the day on a working visit to Perlis. "It may be my birthday but it is a normal day for me. That is why I have decided to come and meet the people in Perlis," he said when asked about his birthday wish. Najib had earlier been surprised with a small birthday party, complete with a pulut kuning cake, on his arrival at the Sultan Abdul Halim Airport in Kepala Batas, near Alor Star. The birthday do was organised by Kedah Umno at the airport's Bunga Raya complex. Perlis Mufti Dr Juanda Jaya recited a doa after which Najib, who was accompanied by his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, cut a three-tiered pulut kuning cake. Asked to elaborate on his birthday wish, Najib said Malaysians have, over the years, subscribed to a unique security and value system that has helped promote peace and prosperity. "That is why the majority of us reject all forms of aggression and extremism." To another question, he said Malaysians' passion for peace and harmony was one reason the Global Peace Index had ranked Malaysia as the most peaceful country in Southeast Asia and the fourth safest in the Asia Pacific region after New Zealand, Japan and Australia. Earlier, Najib approved the Perlis government's plan to develop a new township on a 1,262ha sugar plantation in Chuping, as well as a RM350,000 allocation to renovate a nat (morning market) while visiting Balai Baru in Berseri, near here. The prime minister also had an audience with the Raja of Perlis, Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Putra Jamalullail, at Istana Arau. Before joining some 5,000 people for a luncheon, Najib attended a "Jalinan Mesra Rakyat" meet-the-people session at Dewan 2020. Later, he chaired a closed-door meeting with state Barisan Nasional leaders, and also met with more than 100 imam in the state. During his visit to SRJK (C) Hwa Aik in Arau, Najib announced a special allocation of RM70,000 for six Chinese primary schools and a Tamil primary school. Before leaving for Kuala Lumpur yesterday evening, the prime minister called on veteran Umno members Ibrahim Mat, 93, and Wan Teh Wan Abdullah, 90, at their homes in Kampung Belat Batu and Padang Nyu, respectively. In George Town, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop yesterday announced that the prime minister had approved an allocation of RM2.45 million to improve facilities at the Rifle Range and Kampung Melayu flats. He said of the amount, RM1.8 million would be to improve the water pressure at all nine blocks of the Rifle Range flats, RM150,000 for the upgrading of food stalls, toilets and the pedestrian walkway at the same flats, and RM500,000 for the upgrading of food stalls at the Kampung Melayu flats. "Work will commence soon since we already have the allocation. "Flat dwellers can look forward to much-improved facilities once everything is in place," he said after chairing a state Bumiputera Development Council meeting yesterday. Nor Yakcop said the Implementation Coordination Unit, under the Prime Minister's Department, would oversee the projects. The prime minister, during his walkabout in Penang on April 2, had promised to help improve facilities at both flats after hearing complaints from grassroots leaders and flat dwellers. Nor Yakcop also said that over the first seven months of this year, RM15.1 million had been spent on various programmes for the development of Bumiputeras in the state. The money was used to, among other things, provide extra classes, tuition classes and other support facilities that benefited 30,155 students from 240 schools in Penang. A sizeable amount was also used for affordable housing projects, currently in various stages of construction, by Federal agencies. Full Feed Generated by Get Full RSS, sponsored by Used Car Search.

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Football: Former AFC chief lauds Bin Hammam ban Posted: 23 Jul 2011 10:53 PM PDT FIFA's life ban on Asia's football chief Mohamed bin Hammam for corruption was a "fair decision" ending the reign of a polarising figure within the game, a former top official said Sunday. Peter Velappan, Asian Football Confederation (AFC) general secretary for 30 years, said many of the continent's members would welcome bin Hammam's punishment — meted out for offering bribes for votes from FIFA members. "It is a fair decision. Justice is done. There is no better alternative," he said. "Now the whole world will know how Qatar won the hosting rights of the 2022 World Cup." Bin Hammam, the 62-year-old head of the AFC, was instrumental in winning the bid for his tiny Gulf state. Velappan left the AFC in 2007 after a public falling-out with bin Hammam, and the two have a long-standing rivalry. On Saturday FIFA's ethic committee Bin Hammam banned the Qatari from all football-related activity at national or international level after being found guilty of graft during the ruling body's presidential elections in June. He had been accused of trying to buy votes with $40,000 cash gifts to Caribbean football officials. Velappan said he disagreed with the AFC's acting president Zhang Jilong who described FIFA's decision as a "sad day" for the sport. "It is the best news for Asian football and FIFA. I think most AFC members would be happy. It will be damaging for Asia to have a corrupted leader," he said. "I have worked with bin Hammam. He totally polarised the Asian football family and marginalised big players like Japan, South Korea and Saudi Arabia." Velappan said he expected the AFC's 46 member countries to vote for a new president within three months as stipulated by its constitution. "The AFC must redeem its image and battle the huge challenges Asia faces especially against corruption among officers and match-fixing which is rampant in most countries," he said. In June a Singaporean and two Malaysian coaches were charged with match-fixing in connection with a national football tournament. FIFA has singled out Malaysia and Singapore as centres of match-fixing, while teams in China, Thailand and South Korea have also been associated with the throwing games. Zhang, the favourite to succeed bin Hammam in the AFC hot-seat, said that the controversy had come at a terrible time for the Asian game. "This is a difficult period for us because Asian football is currently facing multiple challenges, the biggest of which is match-fixing," he added. "I, in my capacity as the acting AFC President, am aware of the urgent need to provide a strong leadership that will work closely with the Member Associations towards creating a climate of trust and confidence." - AFP Full Feed Generated by Get Full RSS, sponsored by Used Car Search.

6 winners of PM's birthday postcard/essay contest announced Posted: 23 Jul 2011 10:50 PM PDT Perlis student Pija Shafiza,11, was among six winners of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak''s 58th birthday postcard and short essay contest held online yesterday. The contest was held jointly by Akademi Digital Rakyat (ADR) and Yayasan Media Sosial Malaysia. Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam launched the contest in Melaka on July 8. Ali is also chairman of ADR. Pija won in the short essay category, said a statement from the organiser. The other winners were Yacob Pon Pon, 39, from Sarawak and Lemuel Ong Chin Shan, 18, from Kuala Lumpur. Putrajaya student Md Amirul Md Amidon,15, was among three winners in the creative postcard category. Anizah Sahrin,32, from Sabah and Nor Salim Mohamed Dawam, 36, from Kuala Lumpur were the other winners. The winners will receive 1Phone4 mobile phones at a prize presentation ceremony. --Bernama Full Feed Generated by Get Full RSS, sponsored by Used Car Search.

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PM's Kluang visit: A commentary Posted: 27 Mar 2011 03:59 AM PDT 2011/03/27 By Shahrum Sayuthi news@nst.com.my I WAS quietly amused when my hometown friend Fiona reacted with much enthusiasm when I told her that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak was making a stopover at her alma mater, the Chong Hwa High School, during his visit to Kluang on Saturday. She is after all a DAP supporter and had not made it a secret to me who she voted for when she had cast her vote for the first time in the 2008 general election. "Oh my God! That's so great of him!" was what she text messaged me in return before proceeding to relate how when as a student she had, along with others, lined the street leading to her school when then prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad went there in 1987. "That was the last time a prime minister visited our school. I remember it was a very hot day and we were sweating, but we were all so happy that a prime minister visited our school," she added. If Fiona was at the school on Saturday, she may have thought she had been transported back in time to that day. The over 2,000 students, in their all white uniforms, were equally enthusiastic in welcoming Najib. The highlight of Najib's visit to the school was when he mentioned in his speech the government's "landmark decision" to allow Unified Examinations Certificate holders with three credits including passes in Bahasa Malaysia and English, to take part in the special intake for the Chinese language degree course to become Mandarin teachers. The students cheered as he made the announcement. "We (the government) are committed to being fair to everyone and will continue to strive for this. Dreams will not be realised until we are at peace with one another," Najib had said. My colleague Chuah Bee Kim interviewed some of the students and teachers on how they felt about Najib's visit. Seow Yu Sheng, 15, a Form Three student said it was a memorable day as it was the first time he had seen the prime minister in person. "I am happy to see him. Furthermore, he was here today to launch our school's green programme which my teachers have always promoted among us," he said. Another Form Three student, Dana Lim, 15, echoed Seow's sentiment but lamented that Najib's hour-long visit was such a brief one. "My classmates and I nonetheless feel very honoured to have the prime minister at our school," Lim said. Liong Kok Kiong, 32, a geography teacher at the school for the past six years said the announcement made by Najib regarding UEC holders was very uplifting as it was a step towards the success of the 1Malaysia policy. "I also hope that Najib's visit will encourage more English language teachers to join our school as we need more of them here," he said. Later in the night, Najib attended a "dinner with the people" function at down town Kluang which was attended by more than 10,000 people. Such was the overwhelming response given by the crowd when Najib arrived at the function that Menteri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman had to pause several times to compose himself while delivering the welcoming speech. Expressing his pleasure, Najib in his speech, suggested that judging by the crowd's response at the function and during his walk-about in several parts in Kluang earlier in the day, Barisan Nasional may probably recapture the lost ground it suffered during the coalition's disastrous outing in the 2008 general election. He told the crowd how an old Chinese lady gave him a 51-year-old Jalur Gemilang during the walk-about. "I was so touched because she told me that it was a gift for my effort in initiating 1Malaysia," he said to thunderous applause from the crowd. The prime minister probably had in mind that Kluang, with its huge Chinese community, was the DAP's first stronghold in Johor before it was overwhelmed there by BN in the late 1970s. However, in 2008, DAP captured the Mengkibol state seat there when its Ng Lam Hua defeated Gan Ping Shou of MCA by a majority of 1,281 votes. Ng had got 13,538 votes while Gan received 12,257. When Najib announced an allocation of RM105 million for the construction of a dam in Kahang to ensure no recurrence of a water supply problem which hit Kluang during last year's Chinese New Year, I immediately sent a text message to Fiona. After all, she was the one who had pushed for me to initiate extensive news coverage about the problem in the first place. Full Feed Generated by Get Full RSS, sponsored by Used Car Search.

Gamis students released after statements taken Posted: 14 Mar 2011 03:24 AM PDT Gamis students released after statements taken 2010/10/31 By Aidi Amin aidiamin@nst.com.my GUA MUSANG: Police today recorded statements from four university students who were detained for several hours yesterday for allegedly distributing political pamphlets in the Galas state constituency. Inspector-General of Police, Tan Sri Ismail Omar said the students, aged between 18 - 25 years old were taken to the district police station and released soon after. "We are investigating if the students are from Gua Musang or outsiders," he said after a briefing at the police operations centre here. He said they would also work with the Election Commission and the students' universities during their investigations. The students are from a group, calling themselves Gabungan Mahasiswa Islam SeMalaysia (Gamis) and were allegedly distributing brochures urging the locals to exercise their democratic right to vote. A spokesman yesterday said the group represented students from various universities and had come to Galas to observe the campaign process and also explain to the people certain national issues, including the 2011 budget and how it effects them. Higher Education Minister, Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said the detention of the students should not be politicised as they were merely detained for not possessing a valid permit to distribute the pamphlets. "The students were not aligned to any political party and were merely there to urge the people to come out and vote. They are acting on their own and nothing to do with their respective universities. "However, I would like to advise these students to go home and concentrate on their studies instead," he said when contacted. On another issue, Ismail also said the police had to date received four reports on minor incidents involving the parties contesting the by-election here. "I urge all parties to adhere to the laws and prevent any untoward incidents," he added. Air your comment on this issue: Gamis students released after statements taken Log in with your Facebook account or use the form below to comment. New Straits Times reserves the right not to publish offensive or abusive comments and those of hate speech, harassment, commercial promos and invasion of privacy. Your IP will be logged and may be used to prevent further submission.The views expressed here are that of the members of the public and unless specifically stated are not those of NST. Full Feed Generated by Get Full RSS, sponsored by Used Car Search.

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Thriller at Malaysia's expense Posted: 23 Jul 2011 12:01 PM PDT SINGAPORE: The good news is that the battle is not over yet for Malaysia in their quest to qualify for the third round of the Asian Zone World Cup Qualifiers. However, the sloppy defending against an inspired Singapore, which saw the AFF Cup champions going down 5-3 in their second round, first leg match at the Jalan Besar Stadium yesterday is a cause for concern ahead of the return leg on Thursday. Malaysia's Safee Sali may have scored one of the fastest goals - after 29 seconds - in the Asian Zone qualifiers history but once Singapore turned on the heat, the national defence collapsed and they scored four past Malaysia goalkeeper Sharbinee Allawee to take a healthy lead into the break. It could have been worse but Malaysia redeemed themselves with a second half fightback to keep the tie alive with the only blemish being the fifth goal they conceded late in the match. National coach K. Rajagobal admitted that his team were let down by poor defending. "We managed to get a dream start but our defence collapsed when Singapore attacked at a furious pace. We allowed them to score silly goals," said Rajagobal after the match yesterday. "I told my boys in the dressing room at half time to raise their game as away goals count in this tie. We scored from two well-executed attempts. It could even have been 4-4 after that but we let Singapore score their fifth. "Singapore's naturalised players, especially striker (Aleksandar) Duric and flankers Shi Jiayi and Qiu Li made a lot of difference. Duric used his aerial ability to good effect inside the penalty box while the China-born flankers were quick." Rajagobal, however, is confident that his team will bounce back in the second leg in Kuala Lumpur to claim a victory on aggregate. "We played 90 minutes here and lost but we have another match in KL. If we want to qualify, we have to score two goals without conceding any. My team are capable of doing it in Bukit Jalil," added Rajagobal, who handed Terengganu's Ismail Faruqi Ashari his first international cap yesterday. Singapore coach Radojko Avramovic was not pleased with his team's second half performance. "My players used their heads in the first half but they threw everything away after the breather. We will need to fight on in the second leg," he said. Safee's early strike failed to deter Singapore as they levelled proceedings after seven minutes through Duric, who sneaked away from his marker before slotting home from a Qiu Li free kick. Malaysia conceded another free kick at the edge of the penalty box after 22 minutes. Qi Li stepped up and curled the ball around the Malaysian wall for the lead. The visitors switched off again after 44 minutes, allowing Singapore to add two more goals through Shi Jiayi and Mustafic Fahrudin before the breather. The frustrated Malaysian fans showed their anger by throwing empty plastic bottles on Singapore supporters after the fourth goal but enforcement officers managed to control the situation. Matters threatened to turn even worse for Malaysia when skipper Safiq Rahim was sent off four minutes into the restart for a brutal foul on Harris Harun. Thankfully for Malaysia, the numerical disadvantage only lasted four minutes as referee Nawaf Shukralla then sent off Sinagpore's Ismail Yunos for a second bookable offence. However, Rajagobal had made what turned out to be a master stroke at the restart when he sent on Abdul Hadi Yahya and Amirulhadi Zainal, who injected more pace into Malaysia's game with the former reducing the deficit with a superb goal in the 69th minute. Safee then made it 3-4 with a powerful strike from inside the box a minute later and Malaysia were back in the tie. An equaliser eluded Malaysia though as Duric then made it 5-3 in the 81st minute but it could have been much worse and Malaysia have to believe that they can still do it. Full Feed Generated by Get Full RSS, sponsored by Used Car Search.

Wallabies rip apart Boks Posted: 23 Jul 2011 08:24 AM PDT SYDNEY: The Wallabies rebounded from their shock loss to Samoa to spectacularly launch their Tri-Nations campaign with a 39-20 win over South Africa in Sydney yesterday. The Australians hit back from their humiliating 32-23 defeat to the Samoans to hammer the injury-hit Springboks five tries to two in a dynamic attacking performance at the Sydney Olympic Stadium. Reinforced by seven big guns missing from last weekend's humiliation, the Wallabies ripped apart the South Africans in a bonus-point demolition as they search for their first Tri-Nations trophy in a decade. The Wallabies will also keep the Mandela Plate they won last year with their fourth win in five tests against the Springboks. South Africa left behind 21 injured front-line players for their Australasian leg of the Tri-Nations. Sparked by halves Quade Cooper and Will Genia, the Wallabies were unrecognisable from their sloppy performance against Samoa and were always in command against the world champions. The Springboks have yet to win in five encounters at the Sydney Olympic Stadium and have only won four of their last 23 internationals in Australia. The committed Wallabies showed they meant business from the outset and were 12-0 ahead after two tries in the opening 10 minutes. Mercurial flyhalf Cooper broke the line to link with Kurtley Beale and James O'Connor, and off the next ruck the ball was quickly moved to the opposite wing where skipper Rocky Elsom got outside his man to send Alexander charging over. O'Connor converted and Australia crossed the line again two minutes later when scrumhalf Genia made a break from inside his own quarter and sent flying winger Digby Ioane racing downfield. Ioane stepped inside Springbok fullback Gio Aplon to score a try in his first Tri-Nations test with the Wallabies on fire in the opening stages. Flyhalf Morne Steyn reduced the deficit with a 30th-minute penalty but O'Connor restored the 12-point advantage with a penalty off a South African scrum infringement. Steyn kicked his second penalty to have the Springboks trailing 15-6 at halftime. Three minutes after the resumption South Africa's centres Wynand Olivier and Juan de Jongh held off Cooper allowing the unpredictable Wallaby playmaker to spear through a gap for winger O'Connor to score a scrambling try. O'Connor's conversion lifted the Wallabies to a 22-6 lead. The Wallabies grabbed their bonus-point fourth try and a 29-6 lead five minutes later when hooker Stephen Moore charged over off a Genia pass. O'Connor kicked Australia further in front with a penalty and the points kept flowing when outside-centre Adam Ashley-Cooper scored after a cheeky tap-on from Cooper. The Springboks claimed their first try in the 59th minute through replacement prop Chiliboy Ralepelle but they were well out of it at 39-13. South Africa got a second try through skipper John Smit four minutes from full time. -- AFP Full Feed Generated by Get Full RSS, sponsored by Used Car Search.

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'Findings should dispel negative perception' Posted: 22 Jul 2011 10:43 AM PDT 2011/07/22 By Minderjeet Kaurand Koi Kye Lee news@nst.com.my Hishammuddin Shiyudin reading a copy of the report which he bought at the Legal Affairs Division in Putrajaya yesterday. — NST picture by Izhari Ariffin KUALA LUMPUR: The findings of the Royal Commission of Inquiry should end all accusations and negative perception on the cause of death of Teoh Beng Hock, said Puteri Umno chief Datuk Rosnah Rashid Shirlin. The public should not doubt the 124-page report, she added in a statement yesterday. "If there are doubts, certain parties might ask for another RCI to be conducted." She urged the government not to bow to unnecessary pressure to form another RCI because "there will always be people who are unhappy despite doing everything possible". She felt that this was clear from the initial investigation that showed that Teoh was not murdered, and which was reinforced by the RCI findings. Criminal lawyer Datuk N. Sivananthan said the RCI findings exposed the interrogation technique by MACC during the questioning sessions. "Did the officers act within the scope of the standard operating procedures? "If they did, the RCI has recommended for the interrogation methods to be changed. "It should be more civilised." He said the family now had specific findings with definite answers to what had transpired in Teoh's death. "It may or may not be the answer the family is looking for. "But at least there are some definite answers." Meanwhile, the Consultation and Prevention of Corruption panel chairman Datuk Johan Jaaffar said they would examine thoroughly the RCI report and propose suggestions for improvements to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission. "Admittedly, there are weaknesses in any agency and this would provide room for improvement for the commission," said Johan, who is also Media Prima chairman. The RCI report, which was presented to the public on Thursday, had said that Teoh was driven to suicide due to the aggressive questioning by MACC officials. Copies of the report also went on sale to the public yesterday. A total of 800 copies, in English and Bahasa Malaysia, were printed and were sold at the Legal Affairs Division in Putrajaya. Its public relations officer Mahani Mohd Yusoff said 200 copies of the report were sold and most of those who bought it preferred the English version. Each copy costs RM45. Full Feed Generated by Get Full RSS, sponsored by Used Car Search.

New plan to boost franchises Posted: 22 Jul 2011 10:14 AM PDT 2011/07/22 By Eileen Ng news@nst.com.my Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin chatting with Smart Reader kids during the launch of the Franchise International Malaysia 2011 at the PWTC in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. — NST picture by Ghazali Bujang KUALA LUMPUR: The government is coming up with a blueprint to boost the country's franchise industry. The National Franchise Development Blueprint will outline new policies and directions, including strategies and action plan, to spur development in the industry. Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the government was finalising the blueprint, which was expected to be launched later this year. He was delivering his keynote address at the launch of the Franchise International Malaysia 2011 yesterday. Present were Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, his deputies Datuk Tan Lian Hoe and Datuk Rohani Abdul Karim, and Malaysian Franchise Association president Abdul Malik Abdullah. Muhyiddin said besides new strategies to further boost the franchising industry, the government was also considering tax incentives to promote franchise as the preferred business expansion model. He said the government was also collaborating with industry players to have new franchise businesses in specific sectors such as green technology, early childhood education, personal and healthcare services. "Another niche the government is developing with the private sector through the cooperatives is the healthcare service; a dialysis franchise developed through government support." He felt the innovative franchise models would ensure that the local franchise industry would be able to capture markets and expand the nation's franchise brands locally and abroad. The government had allocated RM8 million this year, under the 10th Malaysian Plan, as a soft-loan scheme to assist the lower-income group to engage in small and micro franchises as franchisees. The scheme offers loans from RM5,000 to a maximum of RM50,000, with a low interest rate of three per cent. "I hope the lower-income group will take this chance to venture into the micro franchise businesses to supplement their income. This is one way franchising can help the rakyat raise their income level," he said, adding that if successful, the scheme would be extended. He also said that Malaysia was one of the few countries, if not the only, where the industry was given full government support. So far, he said the industry contributed more than 2.2 per cent to the nation's Gross Domestic Product but that was a conservative figure as he believed there were many businesses adopting the franchise system without registering with the Registrar of Franchise. He said for the next five years, contribution from the industry was expected to increase by twofold, or 4.3 per cent of the GDP, providing more than 2.5 per cent to the national employment. This will continue to increase by more than fourfold to 9.4 per cent by 2020. Full Feed Generated by Get Full RSS, sponsored by Used Car Search.

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Top suspect in China's smuggling case repatriated from Canada Posted: 22 Jul 2011 10:47 PM PDT VANCOUVER: Chinese fugitive Lai Changxing, the prime suspect in China's largest smuggling case in recent history, left here Friday for his home country under Canadian police escort. A source who declined to be named told Xinhua news agency that police had escorted Lai onto a civilian flight before the plane departed from Vancouver International Airport for China in the afternoon. The repatriation, executed a day after a Canadian federal court upheld Lai's deportation order, ended Lai's fugitive life in Canada 12 years after he fled to the North American country. Lai, 53, was the alleged mastermind of a notorious smuggling gang believed to have smuggled billions of dollars' worth of various products in the 1990s. The case is listed as the largest of its kind in China since 1949. Since Lai's runaway, Chinese authorities had repeatedly demanded his extradition. - Bernama Full Feed Generated by Get Full RSS, sponsored by Used Car Search.

Attacks in Norway draw strong condemnation from international community Posted: 22 Jul 2011 10:45 PM PDT BEIJING: The deadly attacks in Norway, which claimed at least 87 lives, have drawn strong condemnation from around the world, reports China's Xinhua news agency. United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon voiced his shock Friday over the attacks in Norway. "The Secretary-General was shocked to learn about the large explosion in central Oslo and the shooting that took place in Utoya today. He condemns this violence and expresses his condolences to the Government of Norway and the families of the victims," the UN Chief said in a statement issued by his spokesperson. "The United Nations stands together with the people of Norway at this terrible moment," he said. UN General Assembly President Joseph Deiss also expressed shock and strongly condemned these attacks. "President Deiss is particularly distressed that one of the attacks has targeted young people, and that this has happened on the eve of the High-Level Meeting on Youth convened by the General Assembly in New York on July 25 and 26, 2011 to mark the International Year of Youth," his spokesperson Jean-Victor Nkolo said. Deiss also "strongly condemns these attacks and offers his condolences to the people and government of Norway." In Washington, United States President Barack Obama on Friday sent condolences to Norway, calling on the world to work together to fight terrorism. Obama pledged to provide support to the investigation and said the attacks were a reminder that the whole world has a "stake" in stopping this kind of terror from happening. In Ottawa, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper said he was "shocked and intensely saddened to learn of the attacks in Oslo and Utoya." Condemning the terrorist activities, Harper said in a statement that he was also horrified to learn that a gunman opened fire at a youth camp at Utoya. New Zealand Prime Minister John Key denounced the attacks as an act of global terrorism. "I think it shows that no country is immune from that risk," Key said after a meeting with Obama at the White House on Friday. In Copenhagen, Danish Prime Minister Lars Loekke Rasmussen expressed sympathy and solidarity with Norway and conveyed Denmark's readiness to assist in handling the situation. "On behalf of Denmark and the Danish government I express my deepest condolences, sympathy and solidarity with the Norwegian people and the Norwegian government in this difficult time," said Rasmussen in a press statement. In Bucharest, the Romanian Foreign Ministry strongly condemned the attacks and expressed its full solidarity with the Norwegian government and people at this difficult moment. In Latin America, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Costa Rica and El Salvador sent condolences to the victims of the attacks and expressed solidarity with Norway through various channels. The twin attacks hit the northern European country on Friday. A bomb exploded in downtown Oslo near government offices, killing 7 people and injuring more than 19 others. Hours later, a gunman dressed in police uniform opened fire at a youth camp of Norway's ruling political party on Utoeya, an island south of Oslo, killing at least 80 people. - Bernama Full Feed Generated by Get Full RSS, sponsored by Used Car Search.

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<b><small>ZUBAIDAH ABU BAKAR:</b></small><br>Pas goes 'under the radar' Posted: 15 Mar 2011 03:57 AM PDT 2010/10/30 Zubaidah Abu Bakar news@nst.com.my Even the presence of Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat at a ceramah in Pas stronghold Sungai Terah on Thursday failed to draw the crowd. Many blamed the heavy rain which started to pour earlier but the rain had stopped before the Tok Guru took the microphone. There was an estimated crowd of about 200 people; its usually not the case as Pas supporters would braved the rain, willing to be soaked to the skin to listen to the party's spiritual leader and Kelantan menteri besar speak. The Sungai Terah polling district has about 95 per cent of Malay voters; in the 2008 general election, Barisan Nasional only managed 78 votes compared to Pas' 215 votes. That was how strong the Islamist party's influence there then. But Umno leaders are anticipating that the situation could change, they believe the level of support to Pas may dip when some 300 registered voters there go to the ballot again on Nov 4 to pick their new representative in the state legislative assembly. "Our candidate Abdul Aziz Yusoff had done a good job in the area, the people know him well because he had served the area as a manager in the South Kelantan Regional Development Authority (Kesedar). "He could well be the reason behind the positive signs we are getting in the area," says Umno information chief Datuk Ahmad Maslan. The "ceramah perdana" in Sungai Terah are among the few big public rallies that Pakatan Rakyat had outlined for its bigwigs to speak -- the other speakers at the ceramah that day were Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng. Pas is adopting a "low profile, below the radar" campaign strategy for Galas and this had somewhat toned the otherwise heated campaigns like during the Manik Urai by-election, which is the first by-election in Kelantan, last year. Pas leaders wanted more direct contacts with voters be carried out; opting for small group ceramah and door to door campaigning, which ironically the same strategy that Umno and BN has adopted. No big rally had been planned on BN's side either, including the "Pentas Pemuda" that usually make its appearance in past by-elections. Only eight mini ceramahs involving between 30-40 people and similar number of 'salam sayang" programmes (chit chat sessions) by wanita Umno are being organised daily. Umno youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin and his troops have been knocking on doors of those identified as fence-sitters in several areas daily. They even bumped into their opponents during their campaign trails, like the on in Kampung Mentara where Pas had won by 11 votes in the area in 2008. A source also revealed there is a list of do's and dont's for Pas campaigners and that include not touching the Kelantan oil royalty issue and on Gua Musang MP Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, who is also the BN by-election director. Canvassing for votes in whatever forms will continue until the eve of polling. For Abdul Aziz and his opponent from Pas, Dr Zulkefli Mohamad, the days ahead will be long and tiring. Full Feed Generated by Get Full RSS, sponsored by Used Car Search.

BN aims for smaller, but effective meetings Posted: 15 Mar 2011 12:34 AM PDT BN aims for smaller, but effective meetings 2010/10/30 By NST team in Gua Musang, Kelantan news@nst.com.my GUA MUSANG: Barisan Nasional candidate Abdul Aziz Yusoff said he would continue with his plan to personally meet as many voters as he could although such an approach could slow down his campaign trail. "I want to know them apart from introducing myself as BN candidate. I also want to know the problems faced by the voters here," he told a press conference at BN operations centre in Bukit Cekati here. Aziz, who is Gua Musang Umno division secretary, also refuted claims that the BN election machinery for Galas by-election was too slow. He said the party machinery was actually giving more focus on small gatherings which would enable them to understand the people's problems and needs. "From the feedback that I personally gathered from voters, they are frustrated with the Pas state government's failure to issue land titles and provide affordable homes for them," he said. Umno information chief Datuk Ahmad Maslan who was present said BN would continue with its present approach, which was to hold dozens of small gatherings at different polling districts daily. "We will use these gatherings to explain on BN government's development plan and counter all the allegations made by the opposition. "It's more effective compared to big ceramahs," he said. However, he said no gatherings would be held tonight as to allow BN campaigners and voters here to watch the Malaysia Cup final match between Kelantan and Negeri Sembilan. He said BN would put giant projector screens at 14 locations as to allow the people here to watch the final match live. Air your comment on this issue: BN aims for smaller, but effective meetings Log in with your Facebook account or use the form below to comment. New Straits Times reserves the right not to publish offensive or abusive comments and those of hate speech, harassment, commercial promos and invasion of privacy. Your IP will be logged and may be used to prevent further submission.The views expressed here are that of the members of the public and unless specifically stated are not those of NST. Full Feed Generated by Get Full RSS, sponsored by Used Car Search.

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