Tag: Equitable Distribution

KUALA LUMPUR, NOV 5: Teja State Assemblyman, Chang Lih Kang is throwing down a gauntlet to the Minister of Transport, Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha to deny allegations that there exists an element of cronyism in the Automated Enforcement System (AES) camera installation tender to Beta Tegap Sdn Bhd.

In a press interview at the Parliament lobby, Chang alleged that the AES camera installation tender was dominated by UMNO cronies.

According to him, the CEO who is also the biggest shareholder of Beta Tegap Sdn. Bhd, Rozana Redzuan has connections with UMNO leaders in Johor.

He said that Rozana was the eldest daughter of Tan Sri Redzuan Salim and Puan Sri Atikah Abdullah, two of the most prominent UMNO leaders in Johor.

‘Tan Sri Redzuan is a former State Assemblyman of Peserai and an UMNO leader of Parit Sulong constituency, while Puan Sri Atikah was once a State Assemblywoman in the Sri Medan constituent for two terms, a Deputy Wanita UMNO Chairlady in Johor and an Exco for Wanita Pusat.

‘Apart from that, Rozana is also a cousin of Machap State Assemblyman, Datuk Abdul Hamid Abdul Rahman’, he said in the company of Selayang MP, William Leong.

Beta Tegap Sdn Bhd is one of the two most prominent private companies to have qualified for the AES camera installation tender endorsed by the Ministry of Transport aside from ATES Sdn Bhd.

Previously, William alleged that the second biggest shareholder in Beta Tegap, Dr. Andreas Teoh was connected with MCA when the latter had also struck a deal with the Ministry of Health in 2005 through Mediharta Sdn. Bhd.

The allegation was however denied by the MCA President, Datuk Seri Chua Soi Lek who, at that time, was holding a Minister of Health portfolio.

SHAH ALAM, NOV 5: Starting next year, funding for Pusat Wanita Berdaya (PWB) or Women’s Empowerment Centre will be increased to stimulate socio-economic activities following a positive feedback in all 44 centres in Selangor.

Its Welfare, Women’s Affairs, Science, Technology and Innovation Exco, Rodziah Ismail said that there would be numerous exciting programs to be introduced soon including organised programs to generate income and financial management for the medium-sized entrepreneurship.

For the non-organised program, it would range from courses on cooking, sewing to information technology that could be taught or on a sharing basis amongst them at the centre.

Previously, the State Government of Selangor had allocated approximately RM 1.33 million through Geran Selangorku as well as an allocation on other necessary equipments for cooking, computers, and sewing.

‘Such allocation was given in stages, but as a Batu Tiga State Assemblywoman myself, I have personally donated RM 150, 000 or one third of the allocation for the program in my constituent’, she said during an interview after the opening ceremony of Program Pemeriksaan Kesihatan Percuma (Free Health Check-Ups Program) at the PWB Hall in Seksyen 24.

She added that most of those, especially women who came forward to contribute to the program were not money-motivated. Rather, they were there with sincere intent of developing and sharing their expertise.

‘We are here as a knowledge-sharing group of women and not a bunch of quidnunc. I am expecting to see every centre with such input starting next year. Therefore, accommodating facilities must be well planned.’

It is expected that all 56 constituents will have one PWB at the end of this year.

SHAH ALAM, 5 NOV: Lembah Pantai MP, Nurul Izzah Anwar expresses her frustration when her statement regarding the aqeedah (firm belief and conviction in Islam) of Moslems was quoted out of context by certain parties.

In a press statement, she emphasised that education and knowledge-sharing were always her priority in further strengthening and enhancing the understanding of Islam.

Her disappointment was due to some attempts to manipulate her statement to make it seem as though she was taking the issue of morality amongst Moslems for granted and that she supported apostasy.

During an interview, when asked of her stand about the issue on coercion into embracing the Islamic faith, she quoted Surah Al-Baqarah, verse 256 insisting that there should not be compulsion in Islam and that the verse ought to apply to all humankind.

‘It is note-worthy however, that I personally hold a general view that once a person has professed Islam, he is subsequently subjected to the rules and regulations that Islam has stipulated as much a citizen of Malaysia who would have to abide by the Federal Constitution of Malaysia’, she added in response to a question while sitting on a panel in a forum ‘Islamic State: Which version? Whose responsibility?’ recently.

She added that she would always pray that Allah grants guidance unto all for everyone’s sake.

KUALA LUMPUR, NOV 5: Jerai MP, Firdaus Jaafar expresses his frustration over the imminent possibility of fellow Malaysian citizens having to deal with two fines.

The first fine is issued by Polis Diraja Malaysia (PDRM) or Royal Malaysian Police, while the second one is issued by Jabatan Pengangkutan Jalan (JPJ) or the Road Transport Department.

Such reaction was elicited in response to the stand taken by the Ministry of Home Affairs during the Questions and Answers Session in the Dewan Rakyat (House of Representatives) that it would not axe the postal fine (Notis Pol 170A) even though the Automatic Enforcement System would be implemented.

‘These [two] ministries are making issuing fines to road users a concomitant agenda. By right, PDRM should be focusing more on crimes.’

‘Out of the number of fines issued, almost half of those whose fines are issued upon do not understand the nature of the offence, but would nevertheless proceed to pay because they want to avoid the hassle of court procedure they have to go through. The government has to explain how it operates, not simply give them the ticket’, he said.

Deputy Minister, Datuk Wira Abu Seman Yusop said that the postal fine was intended to create awareness among road users to drive carefully and to decrease the number of accident cases.

Postal fine is one that is issued by PDRM to owners of registered vehicles.

Failure to provide sufficient information on the notice within a specified period of time will subject the owner to the fine for the said offence.

Abu Seman revealed that as many as 180, 062 postal fines had been issued during the Ops Selamat during the Hari Raya season starting from the 12th until the 26th August 2012.

Out of the above-mentioned number of fines issued, as many as 52, 362 fines have been cleared up.

SUBANG JAYA, NOV 5: Shepherds in Selangor have been asked to abide the law stipulated by the State Government to relocate their livestock to the land that has been provided in Hulu Selangor.

Selangor Menteri Besar (Chief Miister), Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim said that the State Government had made a systematic planning in its endeavour to deal with the issue of their animals being let loose to graze on near housing areas.

‘They have to move where they will be given a piece of land. They will also be able to manage their livestock in an organised way.’

‘The State Government has initiated a program where more than 100 acres of land in Hulu Selangor have been designated for the said purpose.’

‘So far, there are more than 10 shepherds who have relocated their animals to Hulu Selangor’, he said during a press interview after the surrendering of title ceremony to the Lesteri Perdana purchasers here, yesterday.

Responding to the allegation made by a number of shepherds who claimed to have been served with a notice to move, Abdul Khalid said that a round-table discussion would be held with them to resolve the issue.

‘Some of them used to rear their animals near the reserved river. We no longer encourage that because there are several housing estates in that area.’

‘House owners also complained that the animals are causing nuisance’, he explained while adding that most of the shepherds do not have their own piece of land.

SHAH ALAM, NOV 5: Although the issue of Hudud has often been politicised by MCA and UMNO, it has been garnering more support from non-Moslems, especially the Chinese community.

This is because non-Moslems are starting to understand the foundation of Islamic criminal law.

Apart from that, the ever increasing crime incidences lately is also the primary reason for non-Moslems to accept Hudud should it be implemented.

Such was the statement made by Shah Alam MP, Khalid Samad to TV Selangor when commenting on the study carried out by University of Malaya Centre of Democracy and Elections (UMCEDEL).

“Praise be to Allah that our efforts have been proven fruitful in explaining to the public at large, including non-Moslems, that Hudud is just to all.”

“They are also equally concerned about the increasing crime rate in this country, so much so that they have to choose between increased crime rates or Hudud”, he said.

He also believes that non-Moslems are becoming receptive of the idea that Hudud is capable of curbing crimes in this country.

In a recent study undertaken by UMCEDEL, it was revealed that more and more of the Chinese community in this country support the implementation of Hudud.

According to the study which was conducted from the 1st to the 16th of September this year, support from Chinese voters has increased from 12% to 24% compared to the same study conducted nine months ago.

The conclusion that was reached in the study involving 385 respondents from the Chinese community revealed that there was only an increase of 1 percent vote against it with a decrease of a 13 percent vote of those who are uncertain about the effectiveness of the Hudud law implying that Chinese voters are becoming more aware of the issue.

The study also indicates that the younger generation of the Chinese community are showing deep interest in understanding the implementation of Hudud law compared to the older ones.

SHAH ALAM, NOV 5: All 16 individuals that were arrested during a raid by Selangor Islamic Religious Department (JAIS) in Bandar Tasik Puteri, Rawang last week will be tried in the Shariah Court on the 20th December 2012.

The raid resulted from information gathered by JAIS Enforcement Department officers; that there was an attempt to revive the Al-Arqam Group at a ceremony organised by Global Ikhwan Sdn. Bhd.

Global Ikhwan is a company that has been said to be connected to the Al-Arqam movement that was declared heretic in 1994.

The Director of JAIS, Datuk Marzuki Husin, in a press conference today, told that all 16 were arrested under Section 12 (C) of the Syariah Criminal Enactment of Selangor 1995.

“All 16 are suspects (OYDS) and will be brought before the Kuang Syariah Court for first mention.”

‘They were however released on a RM 1000 bond with one surety’, he said.

He was accompanied by the Head Deputy Director of JAIS Enforcement Department, Mohd Shahzihan Ahmad during a press conference at the JAIS building here this afternoon.

JAIS Enforcement Department had previously traced an attempt to revive the teaching of Al Arqam held at the Dataran Global Ikhwan Celebration Hall from the 30th October till the 1st of November.

The event was also alleged to have been held in commemoration of the birthday of the Al Alqam founder, Ashaari.

Impersonating as guests at the event for two consecutive nights proved successful when the JAIS officers managed to discover that there were elements of the teaching of Al Alqam.