Tag: News

SHAH ALAM, 25 Nov: A new fund will be established to realise the granting of the Chief Minister Scholarships will be officially launched in February 2014.

The Chief Minister, Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim, said that the fund is separate from the RM8 million tabled in the Selangor Budget 2014, which is the state scholarship.

He said that the State Government in currently discussing to appoint a scholarship selection panel which will consist of academics, human resources and those who are experienced in such selection processes.

“The Chief Minister Scholarship will be given to children of Selangor who are capable and are able to reflect good leadership in the future.

“An example is someone who has very good results in their studies, with a first class degree, and at the same time is an athlete who represents Malaysia internationally,” he said.

According to him, among the main conditions to qualify for the scholarship is that not only must the applicant excel academically and in education, but must also excel in other extra-curricular activities.

In September, the Executive Councillor in charge of Higher Education, Dr Halimah Ali, said that the State Government has allocated RM1.1 million as a starting point for the success of the Chief Minister Scholarship programme.

She said that the scholarship will be awarded to Postgraduate students through bonds in effort to form a Selangor Brain Bank.

SHAH ALAM, 25 Nov: Selangor intends to have fiber optic linkages to establish an effective communications system in effort to link the people with state leaders.

The Chief Minister, Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim, said that the plan is still undergoing thorough research and is under consideration with Telekom Malaysia.

“We have plans to use social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook as a medium for the said system.

“If this plan becomes a reality, perhaps we may be able to control reporting, however it does not meet the freedom of expression code in accordance with international views,” he said.

He said this in reply to supplementary questions from Gan Pei Nei (PKR-Rawang) regarding the state government’s plans to use smartphone apps to transmit news more effectively.

Earlier, Abdul Khalid (PKR-Port Klang) answered questions from Lee Kee Hiong (DAP-Kuala Kubu Baharu) on the membership list and spending of the Communication Corporation Sdn Bhd (CCSB) which manages the state’s weekly newspaper, Selangor Kini.

He explained that CCSB has 61 employees at a cost of RM840,000 in 2009 and 84 employees with spending reaching RM3.4 million (2010).

CCSB recorded a total of 91 employees at a cost of RM3.7 million (2011), 67 employees at a cost of RM3.4 million (2013) and 58 employees involving spending of RM2.5 million as of September.

SHAH ALAM, 25 Nov: About 120 delegates from the Sabah Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) attended the Special National Congress 2013 which was celebrated with a dinner at the Chief Minister’s residence yesterday.

The Chief Minister, Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim, said that the event aims to strengthen ties between the two states and how Selangor’s success after taking over the state administration can be made an example and disseminated to the people of Sabah.

He said that he believes in the success shown will provide opportunities and success in the 14th General Election (GE-14).

“After five years, we have built a more and more advanced state and this effort shows the strength of Pakatan Rakyat (PR).

“I believe this opportunity can be shown to our friends in Sabah and we can achieve the success,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Sabah PKR Chief, Datuk Seri Lajim Ukin, said that Abdul Khalid’s leadership should be emulated by the delegates from Sabah and Selangor’s success can be an inspiration to the state’s PKR to work hard in order to achieve victory in the GE-14.

“We need to emulate Selangor and we must fully believe that we will be able to obtain victory in the upcoming election.

“I believe with this new chapter, we will be able to emulate Abdul Khalid’s leadership and hope that he will visit us to help achieve success like Selangor. We are also ready to help him in his fight for reforms in Malaysia,” he said.

SHAH ALAM, 2 Nov: Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) believes that the National Feedlot Corporation (NFC) scandal will be be trialed seriously and will become like the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) scandal, where former Transport Minister Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik was free of charge.

PKR Vice-President, N Surendran, assumes that the trial is being carried out because of insistence from the opposition, who wants the thief of public funds to be punished.

He said this when asked to comment on the case when the NFC Executive Chairman, Datuk Seri Mohamad Salleh Ismail, failed in his appeal to quash both charges of breach of trust involving RM49.7 million recently.

“I welcome the decision and what is important here is that the charges were carried out because of insistence from the opposition.

“So, I ask for the prosecution to be carried out to ensure that justice is done and the offender does not escape, like what has happened in many cases, among them being the PKFZ case,” he told Selangor Kini yesterday.

He said that the scandalous case will be released because of Barisan Nasional’s (BN) refusal to punish their leaders who are involved in fraud cases involving public funds.

He said that this has been proved by the retaining of Mohamad Salleh’s wife, Datuk Seri Shahrizat Jalil as the Wanita Umno Chief.

Recently, the Sessions Court Judge, Norsharidah Awang, rejected the Mohamad Salleh’s appeal upon finding that the charges faced by the accused was not flawed and and basis to be heard through a trial process, and the court set for two days, beginning 20 January 2014, to trial the case.

On 12 March 2012, Mohamad Salleh, as the director of NF Corp, was charged of breach of trust amounting to RM9,758,140, to pay for part for the purchase of two condominium units and transferred RM40 million to the National Meat & Livestock Corporation Sdn Bhd company account in 2009.

SHAH ALAM, 24 Nov: The administration of Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim in Selangor is still outstanding if compared to the state government under Barisan Nasional’s (BN) administration.

The General Chief of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, said that his criticism to Abdul Khalid was aimed to improve the state government administration to focus on the needy.

“The criticism was perhaps because I was hasty and forgot that under the Selangor administration there is a more controlled leadership, finance and wastage. The difference is much if we took a closer look at the economic management accounts during the BN era compared with that of Pakatan Rakyat (PR),” he said.

Anwar said this at his winding up speech at the Special National Congress 2013 at the Raja Muda Musa Hall in the Selangor Youth and Culture Complex today.

Also present at the congress was the Central Leadership Council (MPP) and 885 PKR delegates from across the country.

The delegates present unanimously approved several amendments to the party constitution which will be sent to the Registrar of Societies (ROS) to be officialised.

Previously, Anwar advised Abdul Khalid because the state government failed to use state reserves to help the needy in Selangor.

Anwar said that Abdul Khalid is among the PR leaders who are open and always receives criticisms.

“I advised as a friend by praising his good record, however there were some things that needed to be improved,” he said.

He said that he was confident that Abdul Khalid is an honest leader while leading Selangor over the past five years. Anwar said that Abdul Khalid has never taken land or timber for personal gain.

SHAH ALAM, 24 Nov: The new amendment to the Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) constitution gives absolute power to all its members to elect the leaders for the upcoming elections.

PKR President, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, said that PKR is the first party in Malaysia to implement elections in a direct manner where one member is entitled to one vote.

“However, we have also received attacks, while there are flaws in the initial selection process.

“The new constitution gives absolute power to each member to choose freely. Members are considered to be well trained in the idealism of the fight and this is to ensure that the candidate entrusted is honest to the obligation and to be unaffected by bribery or intimidation,” she said as quoted from Keadilan Daily.

Azizah said this when inaugurating the PKR Special Congress 2013 which was also attended by the General Chief of the party, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today.

She said stern action will be taken against those who violate party ethics, including acts of corruption, in the election next year.

“The selection ethics and candidates will be closely and carefully monitored. Individuals who violate the principles of a noble fight or are involved in corruption and intimidation will be disqualified from becoming a candidate,” she said.

BANDAR TUN RAZAK, 24 Nov: Selangor does not intend to follow the move by Kelantan, Kedah and the latest, Johor, in making Friday and Saturday weekends to replace Saturday and Sunday.

This was said by the Chief Minister, Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim, when asked if he intends to do so.

“No. We have no plans to change the weekend days,” he said after attending the Bandar Tun Razak Residents’ Assessment Tax Increase Protest Memorandum Handing Over Ceremony here at the Jalan Jujur morning market site yesterday.

“No. We have no plans to change the weekend days,” he said after attending the Bandar Tun Razak Residents’ Assessment Tax Increase Protest Memorandum Handing Over Ceremony here at the Jalan Jujur morning market site yesterday.

Commenting on the same issue, the Executive Councillor in charge of Religion, Sallehen Mukhyi at a Mosque Management Proceedings Ceremony at the Datuk Yahya Ahmad Auditorium in SIRIM, said that various factors need to be taken into consideration before amending the weekend days.

“It is not easy. It involves many factors such as the opportunity to bring in investments, whether it is more profitable have other effects to the state government,” he said.

As a state that is most near, or considered to be a twin state to the nation’s capital and government administrative centre in Putrajaya, Selangor is considered a vital lifeline to daily, economic and official activities.

Although Selangor if not making Friday an off day, it consistently managed to prosper mosques in Selangor since 2008.

Unlike prior to 2008, the mosques in Selangor organises various knowledgeable programmes from morning till night for people of all ages and walks of life.

This is admitted by a well-known religious figure, the Imam Besar of the State Mosque, Ustaz Ahmad Mustaffa Mohd Sidin; a famous independent preacher, Ustaz Azhar Idrus; the Islamic Media Sdn Bhd Missionary Ambassador, Shah Kirit Kakulal Govindji, and the President of the Muslim Women’s Association of Malaysia (Salimah), Datin Aminah Zakaria.

Prior to this, the Johor Government amended the weekend days from Saturday and Sunday to Friday and Saturday.

SHAH ALAM, 24 Nov: The state government has been urged to charge foreigners for the free bus services which will be implemented soon.

The Assemblyman for Sekinchan, Ng Suee Lim, said that the move should be implemented to avoid free bus services to be misused by foreigners.

He said that the collection of fees from foreigners can also be used for the maintenance of the buses and it is fair to the local people.

“Foreigners should be charged in order to prioritise the rights of the local people and at the same time, the fare can be used for maintenance purposes,” he said when contacted by Selangor Kini today.

Suee Lim said that although there are allegations saying the free public bus services provides advantages to foreigners, the initiative should also be implemented for the local people as a state government that is caring and responsible.

“As a responsible and caring government, Selangor will still take care of the people no matter if the amount of people who use buses are a lot or otherwise,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Assemblyman for Sri Muda, Shuhaimi Shafiei, said that the state government should review steps to set rules for the free public bus services for foreigners for the convenience of the locals.

“Maybe certain conditions can be imposed and it is not wrong to be provided free because foreigners are also taxpayers.

“We need to realise that not all places have many foreigners. So this matter should be balanced and we cannot exclude them because this group is also a contributor to the state’s economy,” he said.

At the recent Selangor State Assembly (DNS) session, the state government agreed to provide free public bus services and the implementation of the services will be extended to rural areas as well as suburbs, if the demand in such locations increases.

BANDAR TUN RAZAK, 23 Nov: The Chief Minister of Selangor, Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim, is considering announcing the bonus payout for his employees on 25 November.

He said that the announcement which is much-awaited by state government employees will be done after receiving approval from the Selangor State Assembly (DNS) in the continuation of its session next week.

“Wait for the announcement on Monday, I will let you know,” he said at a press conference at the Bandar Tun Razak Residents’ Memorandum of Protest Handing Over Ceremony here at the morning market site at Jalan Jujur today.

When asked to elaborate, Abdul Khalid did not deny that the bonus payout will also involve Selangor religious schools teachers.

Prior to this, the Assemblyman of Sekinchan, Ng Suee Lim, when debating on the State Government Supply By-Law 2014 at the DNS, proposed for the state government to give bonuses to its employees before the start of the start of the 2014 school session.

Suee Lim said that the bonus could reduce the burden shouldered by parents in preparing for their children’s school term as well as to appreciate the service of state government employees.

The last time the state government gave a bonus to its employees was before the Aidilfitri celebrations, with a payment of one month’s salary compared to the central government which only gave out Aidilfitri assistance of RM500.

BANDAR TUN RAZAK, 23 Nov: Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim, who described the 300 percent increase by the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) on the Annual Valuation Assessment Tax as being extreme, gave a fair proposal.

The Member of Parliament for Bandar Tun Razak proposed for the increase in assessment tax to not exceed 10 percent from the amount paid, thus not burdening the people.

The Chief Minister of Selangor said that the proposal is based on the practice in Selangor which only charges a premium of RM1,000 in granting residential land ownership to residents of the state.

“Otherwise, recipients of land titles in Selangor have to pay tens or hundreds of thousands based on property values,” he said.

He said this at a press conference at the Bandar Tun Razak Residents’ Memorandum of Protest Handing Over Ceremony here at the site of the morning market at Jalan Jujur today.

Over 300 residents of Bandar Tun Razak handed over the memorandum of protest following the unreasonable proposed increase, thus burdening property owners.

The objections are expected to increase following public awareness by the public who sent letters of protest directly to the Office of the Bandar Tun Razak Member of Parliament.

Prior to this, DBKL wants to raise the property assessment tax across Kuala Lumpur based on this year’s real estate rental value, compared to the last evaluation in 1992.

“I will hold a meeting with the Mayor of Kuala Lumpur after 17 December, but the letter of protest will be sent in advance to DBKL,” said Abdul Khalid.

SHAH ALAM, 23 Nov: The actions of Budiman Mohd zohdi (BN-Sungai Panjang) of referring to the old Selangor State Assembly (DNS) hansard to comment on the issue of sand revenue collection is deemed as irresponsible.

The Assemblyman for Sri Muda, Shuhaimi Shafiei (PKR) said that the purpose Budiman issued the facts without referring to the latest hansard on the sand issue clearly shows that the BN Assemblyman only wants to be given credit in bringing up the sand issue during the progress of the DNS session.

According to Shuhaimi, Budiman’s statement which said that the State Government allegedly failed to meet its profit forecast of RM150 million from sand has already been explained in the DNS session in March 2012.

“We have explained many times that the RM150 million projection was not merely for sand, but includes all other revenue from rock materials such as permits for red soil, clay, silica, as well as sand quarries and mining sand.

“Admittedly, there was an error ans the statement by the Chief Minister was not written completely and clearly, so much so that people think that the projections were only for sand.

“And, even the title was projected so it could or could not have been achieved,” explained Shuhaimi yesterday.

Shuhaimi, as a Member of the Kumpulan Semesta Sdn Bhd (KSSB) Board of Directors, said this during the DNS session in response to the statement issued by Budiman on sand.

Budiman, in a statement, questioned the State Government on receiving revenue from sand mining amounting to RM150 million, as announced by the Chief Minister, Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim, during the DNS session in 2009.

Elaborating, Shuhaimi revealed that since taking over the management of sand in 2008 till October 2013, KSSB has successfully registered sales revenue of RM301 million.

The proceeds were then used to pay royalties to the Land and District Office (RM54 million), landlords of sand operations such as the Selangor Agricultural Development Corporation (PKPS) and Permodalan Negeri Selangor Berhad (PNSB) (RM8.9 million) as well as contributions for the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme (RM1.8 million).

Apart from that, KSSB also donated RM18 million to the State Government to pay for the Jom Shopping (Let’s Go Shopping) programme in addition to paying a dividend of RM29 million to the Menteri Besar Incorporated (MBI), bringing the KSSB revenue before tax to RM77 million.

PETALING JAYA, 23 Nov: The people have been asked to improve cleanliness to prevent the spread of dengue caused by Aedes mosquito as it requires concentrated effort from all parties, regardless of background.

The Mayor of Petaling Jaya, Datin Paduka Alinah Ahmad, said that incidents of dengue cases are closely related to hygiene and awareness on the dengue epidemic as well as efforts to handle them.

“What is sad is that the increasing number of cases is due to the attitude of some people who places hygiene practices as secondary,” she said when chairing the Full MBPJ Meeting here at the headquarters.

Through facts released by the Ministry of Health, from January till 18 November 2013, Petaling Jaya recorded 2,067 dengue cases.

Alinah said that efforts to reduce dengue cases, including control and monitoring by the Petaling District Health Office and MBPJ, gives meaning in efforts to address this epidemic by fogging, examining larvae and gotong-royong (mutual cooperation) activities.

She said that there 60 outbreak areas; nine uncontrolled, 16 hot-spots and 35 controlled areas.

“The North Zone and South Zone recorded many dengue cases and with this, the Council has asked all Council Members to hold gotong-royong in their respective areas following the locality of outbreaks,” she added.

Alinah said that MBPJ hopes that the people can conduct checks themselves in and around their homes because inspection results show that Aedes mosquito breeding mostly takes place in homes, and not outside homes such as drains.

“The public have been advised to spend about 10 minutes a week with their families to clean their homes,” she said.