Tag: Focus

Dayangku Intan Wants the Rakyat to Rise Up and Tumble Umno-BN

KUALA LUMPUR, 14 Nov: The full support from artists to Umno-BN for more than 50 years has oppressed them and their welfare has been ignored.

41 year old popular 90s singer, Dayangku Intan Tengku Hamid, better known as Dayangku Intan, shared her experience.

“As an artist I am experiencing such a fate while all this time I’ve been supporting Umno-BN.”

“They take advantage of us. Umno-BN only cares about themselves and elite groups involved with them,” she said in her speech at the Pakatan Rakyat talks in Setapak last night.

She said that Umno-BN only puts effort into caring about artists’ welfare when they see how many from the group has risen and are opposing their rule.

“Now with the people’s uprising, they realise that they have to look after the rakyat’s welfare including the artists’ by giving aid and promising various things to ensure further support,” she said.

Because of that, she said, the rakyat has to rise up and topple the Umno-BN government in the upcoming elections to ensure that their future is taken care of.

Dayangku Intan also entertained the 3, 000 attendees of the talks with several of her popular songs like “Berpaut Di Dahan Cinta”.

Dayangku Intan joined PKR last April.

The Number of Flood Victims in Selangor Rises

SHAH ALAM, 12 Nov: Selangor recorded an increase in flood victims amounting to 1,327 victims in three districts, Kuala Langat, Sepang and Kuala Selangor in comparison to 1,273 people victims last night.

According to the National Security Council (MKN) flood web portal, Kuala Langat district recorded the highest number of victims, 954 victims, who have been placed in four evacuation centres till 9 o’clock this morning.

A total of seven evacuation centres have been setup to accommodate the increasing number of flood victims with the highest number of victims in Sekolah Kebangsaan Rancangan Tanah Belia Bukit Changgang amounting to 772 victims.

Meanwhile, heavy rain in Bestari Jaya since a few days has caused the total of flood victims to increase from 15 to 33 people until 12 o’clock noon yesterday.

All the victims have been placed in Kampung Seri Makmur Evacuation Centre, Bestari Jaya involving eight families.

Meanwhile, the Department of Irrigation and Drainage (JPS) web portal reported, water levels of the two main rivers, Sungai Langat in Bukit Changgang and Sungai Selangor in Kuala Badong, have exceeded the warning levels and people in the surrounding areas have been asked to be careful.

Apostasy Happened in the Umno-BN Era, They Should Blame Themselves, says Tuan Ibrahim

SHAH ALAM, 12 Nov: The Umno-BN government should blame themselves on the issue of Muslim apostasy because as history proves it happened at the time of their administration when some Muslims’ applications were approved for the very same purpose.

PAS Information Chief, Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said apostasy in Islam is a big offence and should not be allowed.

According to him, the statement made by the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom, that last year there were 168 apostasy applications approved, and should be seriously contemplated by the Umno-BN government before blaming others with issues of which legitimacy is still unconfirmed.

“We too feel strange at how religious councils can approve apostasy because if taken from the viewpoint of Islam, apostasy is a capital offense and it should not be religious departments or ministers that are responsible for making the approval.”

“Instead those who want to renounce should be guided and faith should be preserved through guidance councils or faith strengthening programs. We feel disappointed with the statement when their application is approved, that is precisely the clarification we need from him (Jamil Khir),” he told TV Selangor when contacted here today.

Tuan Ibrahim said, for PAS leaders, the issue regarding PKR Vice-President, Nurul Izzah Anwar, was suddenly amplified by Umno-BN leaders with reports in mainstream media that is under their control.

He said that the issue should not be politicised and Nurul Izzah herself should respond to clarify the statement she made.

“What exactly was said? When we reviewed the report by Utusan Malaysia, Utusan Malaysia clearly slandered and manipulated the truth.”

“I think this issue is not to prevent and preserve the faith because previously Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek who insulted Islam, was not criticized by Umno-BN leaders at all and the also statement by the Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Najib Razak) who reject Hudud law,” he said.

In a forum entitled “Islamic State: Which version? Whose responsibility?” that took place recently, Nurul Izzah as a panelist was alleged for making a statement that freedom of religion should apply to all, including the Malays.

Nurul Izzah, however, denied the matter and appeared to clarify things at the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (JAIS) last Saturday.

CM: No Need for Elections to Help the Rakyat

KLANG, 12 Nov: Improving the quality of life of the rakyat should be done completely without alienating or denying the rights of certain races, says Chief Minister, Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim.

He said that only with a balanced development, racial and cultural harmony can exist and be enjoyed together.

“The people of Selangor are feeling the economic development made by Pakatan Rakyat (PR). Selangor people have already been feeling the distribution of allocation consistently to each race since 2008.

“We do not need to wait for the elections to allocate funds, but it is given every year because it is the right of the people,” he said while attending the Deepavali Celebration at Jalan Tengku Kelana, here yesterday evening.

The ceremony was organized by the Selangor State Government in collaboration with Digi Telecommunications.

Also present, was Selangor Excos, Dr Xavier Jayakumar, Ronnie Liu and Dr. Yaakob Sapari, MPs and Selangor assemblyman as well as the Head of Klang Municipal Council (MPK), Ikhsan Mukri and MPK Council members.

At the same event, the State Government also contributed a total of RM1.2 million to a number of non-Muslim places of worship around Klang.

In the meantime, the Chief Minister said that the State Government along with several non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have devised strategies to implement programs for the development of Tamil schools in Selangor.

“Hopefully, the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) and the Tamil Schools Board of Governors make use of the opportunity and the space available to help these governmental initiatives for the benefit of children who are studying in Tamil schools,” he said.

Farmers Should Practice Eco-Friendly Farming

SUNGAI BESAR, 12 Nov: Farmers are encouraged to implement eco-friendly paddy farming using organic fertilizers in an effort to reduce the cost of using chemical fertilizers that are increasing in price from time to time.

Sekinchan assemblyman, Ng Suee Lim said that Selangor has taken first steps in the implementation of environment-friendly farming by encouraging farmers to use the System Rice Intensification (SRI) technique to reduce the cost of rice cultivation and water pollution.

“Farmers who dare to start using organic fertilizers in stages will abandon the use of chemical fertilizers,” he said.

According to him, when farmers use organic fertilizers it would indirectly reduce the level of chemical wastage that exist in rivers and irrigation channels.

“Ultimately by using eco-friendly methods, the fish will return to the fields, fishes have reduced due to usage of different types toxins that are poisonous,” he said during the SRI Rice Seeds opening ceremony at Tali Air 14, Simpang Lima here.

Meanwhile, Kedah Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Exco, Datuk Amiruddin Hamzah said, the nature of sustainable agricultural practices will provide long-term benefits to future generations.

He said, the SRI method will be extended throughout the state of Kedah and efforts to provide explanation and guidance to farmers, will be extended.

“Environmentally sustainable practices are more approachable and have won the hearts farmers who are from areas of poor communities because the materials to make fertilizer can be attained around them,” he said.

He said the use of environmentally friendly methods is to ensure environmental sustainability in the long run in the paddy fields which are the source of food.

“This method that we are presenting to the community is so that they can utilise this knowledge for the welfare of the people and ensure sufficient food production due to the increase in population and the shortage of agricultural land,” he said.

ANAK to Launch Women’s Division This December

SHAH ALAM, 12 NOV: The National Felda Children’s Association (Anak) will launch a women’s division as another fighting branch which will raise issues regarding Felda women.

This matter was informed by its chairman, Mazlan Aliman, who sees this effort as an important focus for Anak after entering the second phase of its establishment on 4 November 2007.

According to him, this step was decided as a result of the briefing made at the Anak Strategy Workshop which was held in Gombak on 9 and 10 November.

“To give a better life to women in Felda, we will launch Anak’s women’s division on this December as a mechanism for how the role of intellectual women inside and outside Felda (can be expanded) for a better and secured life.

“All this while their roles were small and seemingly ignored in Felda,” he said when contacted by TV Selangor.

Commenting on the establishment of Anak which has entered its sixth year, Mazlan said the first five years were the period of introducing Anak’s fight and seeing how far it can contribute to the people of Felda.

He explains that the strategy workshop which was participated by 30 senior leaders of Felda briefed four matters which gave focus to housing issues and the plight of the second and third generations of Felda.

“We came to a decision that for this second phase, is the process of the direction of the settler’s children such as settlers’ farms, acquisition process which will lead to how the settler’s children can contribute.

“The matter of living comfort, namely accommodations (were also discussed). When we fought for housing issues, it succeeded in pressuring the government with the announcement which was made yesterday (Felda New Generation Assembly),” he said.

State Government Channels RM40, 000 for Drainage Upgrade in Combating Flood

SHAH ALAM, 11 NOV: Flood problems that have struck Kampung Jenjarum will be fully resolved when an allocation of RM40, 000 is channelled by the State Government to solve the problem.

The allocation channelled through the office of Teluk Datuk Assemblyman Datuk Bay will be used to upgrade and maintain the drainage along Jalan Kampung Jenjarum in the village concerned.

According to Teluk Datuk Assemblyman, Philip Tan Swee Choon, although works will only start next month, latest, early action to control flooding from further occurring has been taken.

“Previously, when it floods, the water will only recede in four to five days, but now it rarely happens because we had previously cleaned the drains and opened blockages near the stalls there.”

“It’s just that lately because of heavy rain every day in addition to the high tide the water level has risen, but not as bad as before and it takes about two to three hours only to recede, it does not take days like before.”

“Once the upgrade project is completed I am certain that flooding will not be an issue anymore,” he said.

Additionally Swee Choon has also requested for the Kuala Langat District Council (MDKL) to meet with a developer who is actively completing a housing project near the area that has been prone to flood.

“I have asked that an MDKL Officer meet with the developer and instruct them to build a more suitable and proper drainage system for their housing project “

“Usually developers will build the building first, drainage system later and this causes water in the area to flows easily to the rural areas,” he said.

SPAD Fails Main Responsibilities regarding ‘Arab Touts’

SHAH ALAM, 11 NOV: The Metered Taxi Drivers Action Group (BBPTB) expressed the regret to the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) which has been accused of washing their hands off the issue of curbing the ‘Arab touts’ that are becoming common in the capital.

Chairman, Amran Jan in a press statement said, BBPTB supports the Association of Bestari Taxi Driver’s action in fight against the increasing problem of ‘Arab touts’ that are stealing the livelihood of taxi drivers here.

But what is most regrettable, he said, that the association had acted alone, only assisted by the police, without any follow-up action from the SPAD.

“The SPAD should take more responsibility regarding this case instead of just taking the report lightly without any follow-up action. Such stance clearly shows that the chairman (Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar) is really not interested in addressing the problem or should we say the crisis that has troubled the taxi drivers for decades.”

“It also indirectly confirming the BBPTB insistence for Syed Hamid Albar to resign as Chairman of the SPAD, well founded,” he said.

He added that now the primary focus of the SPAD is being directed more towards the Mass Rail Transit (MRT) mega projects.

He added that the SPAD has been unable to solve existing problems in the taxi service industry in this country.

“This is in addition to the dilemma faced by lorry drivers who have already started to go on strike, like in Malacca recently. This is a fact that the SPAD has to face. It’s sad to say that perhaps Syed Hamid Albar has chosen the wrong ‘retirement plan’, “he insisted.

State Government Distributes Deepavali Hampers to Poor Families

SHAH ALAM, Nov 10: The state government will be providing 39,000 food hampers to be distributed to the 56 State Legislative Assembly (DUN) across Selangor in conjunction with Deepavali celebrations this.

Health, Plantation Workers, Poverty and Caring Government Exco, Dr Xavier Jayakumar said almost all the items will be donated to the low-income Indian community.

He said each constituency (DUN) would receive between 500 to 700 hampers depending on the population of the DUN.

“Amongst the contents of the hamper is five kilograms of rice, two kilograms of cooking oil, meehun, maruku flour and packets of chicken curry powder, goat curry powder and Kurma powder,” he said in a press statement here today.

According to him, the distribution will be carried out by officers and personnel of the Section Sectoral and Macro Unit, and the Privatisation Unit of the State Economic Planning Unit (Upen) of Selangor.

“The State Legislative Assembly and Service Centre will distribute all hampers to residents within their area when the hampers are received.”

5th December Assembly at Putrajaya for MyKad, Birth Certificate Issue

SHAH ALAM, 9 NOV: An assembly organised by Pakatan Rakyat (PR) will be held in the compound of the National Registration Department (JPN) headquarters in Putrajaya, 5th December next year if the government does not solve the case of missing MyKads and birth certificates involving the Indian community in this country soon.

Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Vice President N. Surendran said there are almost 300,000 reported cases of the missing documents among the community so far.

“We will allow a period for the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak and the government to solve this matter as soon as possible or we will go through with this large assembly,” he said when contacted by TV Selangor here today.

He said many Indian communities are denied the ownership of MyKads and birth certificates even though they were born in this country and are citizens.

Following that, he added that the community had to face many problems, such as children not being able to participate in the school environment.

“In one case, 10-year-old S. Logeswaran’s mother has a MyKad, but her father does not even though he is born in this country. As a result the government refused to issue Logeswaran a birth certificate.

“Logeswaran was not able to participate in the school environment. In three years she has only attended school for three weeks when she was forced to stop,” he said, convinced that there are still many cases like this involving other children who are denied the right to education.

Surendran said his party demands that the UMNO-BN-led government solves the matter immediately or they will face the people’s resurgence.

“Today, we are announcing that PKR, together with other PR allies, will have a large assembly at JPN Putrajaya next December. We will not leave until we receive a clear answer from the authorities at JPN,” he further added.

Selangor Government Denies Developing Selangor Foundation Land.

Klang, 09 NOV: Chief Minister, Tan Sri Abdul Khalid deniesd charges of former Selangor Foundation alumni regarding a plot of land belonging to the said Foundation in Klang which is to be developed as a Chinese Cultural Centre.

According to him, the State government has yet to decide on any plans regarding the development of the said land.

Also, it is clear that the 7.49 hectares of land officially belongs to the State government.

He explained that previously, the land had been given to a private company in 2002 by the Umno-BN government at the time.

Since the company failed to develop the land, the Selangor government nullified the deal and reclaimed the land.

Abdul Khalid also denied permission had been given to develop the land into a Chinese Cultural Centre.

“The company empowered by the Selangor Foundation failed to develop the land privately.”

“Additionally, five to six people including individuals from Umno has written letters to me requesting to develop the land,” he explained in a press conference following the opening of the Halal Fest at Masjid As Syariff, here.

Obviously, the deal was nullified due to its one-sided nature.

“It is stated in the deal that the Selangor Foundation had transferred its powers to the company.”

“We will develop the land except that we have no plans at the moment,” he said.

One newspaper reported that the Children of Selangor Foundation Acting Members Chairman, Badrulzaman claimed that the said land belongs to the Foundation and will be developed as a Chinese Cultural Centre.

They also claimed that permission had been given in a rushed manner to back up the Selangor Foundation.