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							Tajuk Artikel: PM: Unity not a slogan

Sumber / Tarikh: The Star Online January 21, 2008 – Monday

PUTRAJAYA: Unity is not just a mere slogan as far as Malaysia and its people are concerned.

Unity, in fact, is a way of life in this country, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said.

“In this country, unity is not a slogan. It is not just a story. It is something real that is part of Malaysian
practice. There may be problems emerging here and there but we remain united as Malaysians.

“We practice cooperation and appreciate racial harmony. That is the secret to our 50 years of success,” he
said.




                          Token of appreciation: Wong (right) raising high the
                          certificate of appreciation he received on behalf of The
                          Starfrom Abdullah in Putrajaya Sunday. Looking on (from
                          left) are Nori, Mustapa and Leela.


The Prime Minister was speaking before some 4,000 undergraduates from various public and private
universities and colleges at the launching of Gegar U! Colours of Our Nation: A Symbol of Unity – a
programme organised jointly by Yayasan Budi Penyayang (Penyayang) and the Higher Education Ministry
to inspire youths to be involved in community projects.
Also present were Penyayang chairman Nori Abdullah, its chief executive officer Datuk Leela Mohd Ali,
Higher Education Minister Datuk Mustapa Mohammed and Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s
department Joseph Entulu Belaun.

Abdullah reminded the undergraduates that high hopes were placed on them to ensure the country and its
people continued to enjoy progress and prosperity.

“We should not be afraid of globalisation and should embrace the challenges. This is because with
challenges come opportunities,” he said.

At the function, Abdullah also presented tokens of appreciation to the programme’s sponsors, including Star
Publications (M) Berhad, which was represented by The Star’s group chief editor Datuk Wong Chun Wai.

The other sponsors were Scomi Bhd, TV3, Utusan Group, Celcom Bhd, Naza Group and Astro.

Meanwhile, Nori said the aim of the programme was to enhance the potential of youths to become
productive citizens, participate in community-related activities and promote unity among them.

Mustapa said unity and tolerance were important aspects of developing quality human capital.

He also called for youths to emulate the prime minister whom he described as “caring, modest, humble and
persistent in the context of unity”.



Tajuk Artikel: Battle to end poverty

Sumber / Tarikh: The Star Online January 21, 2008 – Monday

By JANE RITIKOS and MARTIN CARVALHO

KUALA LUMPUR: A high-powered committee will be set up to carry out the government's efforts to
eradicate hardcore poverty among all races by 2010.

Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, in announcing the setting up of the proposed Cabinet sub-committee,
said poverty affected people of all races, not just the Indian community.

Addressing a large gathering of Indians who attended the MIC-organised “Special Gathering between
Federal Territory MIC members and the Prime Minister” at the Cheras Badminton Stadium here yesterday,
he said the Government had succeeded in reducing the poverty level from 60% at the time of Independence
to 5.7% at present.

However, he said hardcore poverty was still not completely eliminated.
                        All game: Sam handing in his completed form to the
                        treasure hunt co-ordinators Sunday. Song (inset left) and
                        Wong were the top prize winners.


“As long as there is strength, all of us will work. The Government will work to ensure that no one is left
behind, and defend the interests of all races in the country. That's my promise to you ... that we will continue
to work.

“We want success. Who likes to see people suffering? We want to see good life, we want to have good life
too,” he said to applause from the large crowd.

The 6,000-capacity stadium was packed to the brim, while outside, several thousand more Indians waited.
Also present was MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu and other MIC top brass.

Abdullah said one way to overcome poverty was through education, explaining that the Government did not
want any child to miss out on education because of poverty. Hence, examination fees and school fees were
abolished to provide free education to everyone.

Abdullah, who is the Barisan chairman, said inter-racial relations in the country was generally good although
there were occasional problems, but pointed out that unity was evident when the people celebrated festivals
together. He said the Barisan believed in governing through co-operation and consensus, adding that the
Cabinet only decided on matters when all present agreed.

“It's not because of the election that I am saying this but because I want you to know the truth – Samy has
been fighting for you in the Cabinet,” he stressed.

The Prime Abdullah revealed a conversation he had with a friend before heading to the event. The friend
had asked whether he was going to the gathering, saying that he had heard that not many people would
come and it would be embarrassing for Abdullah.

“I said that whatever it is, MIC is my friend, Umno's friend and I must come,” he said.

As it turned out, there was a huge turnout and Abdullah said it was the biggest MIC gathering that he had
attended.
Tajuk Artikel: Special unit to handle plight of Indians without birth cert

Sumber / Tarikh: The Star Online January 21, 2008 – Monday

SHAH ALAM: A special committee under the Home Affairs Ministry will be set up to handle the plight of
40,000 Indian children nationwide who do not have a birth certificate.

Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohamad Khir Toyo said the decision to set up the committee was
made after he highlighted the matter to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi during the Umno
Supreme Council last week.

He said many Indian-based non-governmental organisations (NGOs) had approached him to help raise the
plight of the children.

“These children are unable to attend school, register for programmes or get jobs as adults.

“The Prime Minister was shocked when I informed him and immediately asked for a special committee to be
formed under the Home Ministry,” he said during an Indian cultural show organised by the Barisan Nasional
Volunteers Association here on Saturday night.

Dr Khir said the state government was working closely with several NGOs to get the parents to register their
children.

He added that the birth certificate should be issued quickly if all the requirements were met.

He said the requirements included information on the hospital of birth and supporting facts from
grandparents or close relatives.

“We have to be careful. We have to safeguard against foreigners who might use the chance to register for
citizenship,” he said.



Tajuk Artikel: Thaipusam holiday for KL and Putrajaya

Sumber / Tarikh: The Star Online January 21, 2008 – Monday

By JANE RITIKOS and MARTIN CARVALHO

KUALA LUMPUR: Thaipusam will be a public holiday in Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya.

Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who announced this yesterday to more than 20,000 people from the
Indian community at MIC’s Gathering with the Prime Minister at the Badminton Stadium in Cheras
yesterday, said he had considered the request by the MIC to declare Thaipusam a public holiday.

“We discussed this matter. They said that during Thaipusam there would be traffic jams everywhere in
Kuala Lumpur and it is difficult to get to work. So let it be a holiday,” he said to cheers from the crowd.
Thaipusam, which falls on Wednesday, is already a public holiday in Selangor, Penang, Perak, Negri
Sembilan and Johor.




                        A section of the large gathering of Indians cheering
                        Abdullah at the Badminton Stadium in Cheras, Kuala
                        Lumpur, Sunday, where he announced the Thaipusam
                        holiday.


The crowd starting cheering and clapping even before he made the announcement. They cheered as soon
as he first brought up the subject by relating how the Indian community at the Ponggal event in Bukit
Bintang on Saturday night had reacted excitedly when he promised to consider their request.

When the crowd cheered, he said: “Why are you all cheering?” and the people replied: “Cuti! (Holiday).”

“But we must continue to work. When it is a holiday, we have a holiday. But when it is time to work, we must
work hard. Promise this, promise this,” he said.

MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu thanked Abdullah for the public holiday in Kuala Lumpur and
Putrajaya.

“The Hindus in Malaysia have been waiting for a long time for such good news, and I hope they will not be
disappointed,” he said.

He told reporters that although a national holiday had not been declared, the MIC was happy with the news.

He added that the party would forward its appeal for the event to be declared a public holiday in Kedah and
Malacca to the states’ mentri besar and chief minister respectively.

Earlier in his speech at the gathering, Samy Vellu said the MIC had also brought up the Thaipusam holiday
request with Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri
Zulhasnan Rafique.

He added that MIC was confident the Indian voters would steadfastly remain with Barisan Nasional.
“Let us show to the country that the Indian community fully supports the Prime Minister. We will swim or sink
with Barisan,” said Samy who called Abdullah “our leader and the leader for all Malaysians”.

Samy Vellu admitted that there were still many unresolved grievances within the Indian community.

“At the heart of the problem are many issues related to delivery and implementation by the civil service and
local governments,” he said.

He took to task “certain political forces” trying to weaken Indian representation in the Government.



Tajuk Artikel: Supplier orders more coconuts for Thaipusam celebration

Sumber / Tarikh: The Star Online January 21, 2008 – Monday

By ONG YEE TING

PENANG: Instead of the usual 70,000 coconuts, wholesaler Joel Jeyachandran is ordering an extra 15,000
in view of the anticipated increase in demand due to the large crowd expected here this Thaipusam.

“I do not want to disappoint last-minute customers,” said the 23-year-old owner of a coconut wholesale and
retail shop in Jalan Datuk Keramat here.

“The orders started to come in a month ago and for the past few days, I have even received midnight calls
from my customers asking me if I have sufficient supply,” he added.

Penang Hindu Endowment Board commissioner Datuk K. Kumaraendran announced on Jan 14 that
between 800,000 and one million devotees were expected to converge on the island for the three-day
celebration starting tomorrow.




                     Getting ready: Joel (centre) and his workers packing the coconuts
                     into bags for devotees at his shop at Jalan Datuk Keramat,
                     Penang, Sunday.
Joel reassured the public that there would be no shortage of coconuts this year and the price of his
coconuts would remain at 80 sen each.

“While some of the smaller shops might increase the price to RM1 and RM1.10 during the celebration, we
are maintaining our price,” he said.

His shop is now stocked with about 50,000 coconuts and the remainder should arrive before Tuesday.

“The coconuts are offerings to the deity and we make sure they are top quality,” said Joel.

He added that any extra coconuts could be kept for Jan 24, when the silver chariot bearing Lord Murugan
returns from the Nattukotai Chettiar Temple on Waterfall Road.

“From my experience, some devotees might decide at the last minute that they want to break more coconuts
on that day, so the extra will come in handy,” he said.

Joel said some of his relatives and friends had offered to help him with the coconut sales during the festival.

“It is an extra busy time, with Thaipusam falling so near Chinese New Year when there is a high demand for
our santan (coconut milk) to make cookies and other delicacies,” he added.



Tajuk Artikel: MCA launches mobile clinic

Sumber / Tarikh: The Star Online January 21, 2008 – Monday

PETALING JAYA: The MCA's crisis relief squad (CRSM) launched its first mobile clinic yesterday, with
priority given to providing basic medical service to people in rural areas.

CIMB Bank donated RM230,000 while CRSM members raised another RM69,000 to set up the mobile
clinic.

MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting launched the mobile unit yesterday.

Also present at the ceremony was Nik Johaan Hashim, CIMB's regional director of consumer sales and
distribution.
                         Helping hand: Ong talking to patient Stanly Reena, 47, at
                         the launch of the CRSM Mobile clinic in Sungai Way,
                         Petaling Jaya Sunday as Chew looks on.


Apart from donating the fund for the mobile unit, the bank also set up a volunteer squad to work with the
mobile clinic to conduct pap smear tests and breast cancer test.

Other tests that would be held onboard the mobile clinic include blood test and glucose test.

The mobile clinic will travel around the country to provide free medical services especially in the rural areas.

A team of 30 medical staff, including a doctor, a gynaecologist, a pharmacist will be travelling with the
mobile clinic.

Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun, the national head of CRSM, said that 80 volunteers from the medical unit had
been trained to work with the mobile clinic.

CRSM second mobile unit is expected to be launched in Serdang on Feb 2.

Chew said CRSM has some 4,000 volunteers and are divided into action relief, medical, legal, counselling
and training units.

“We need more volunteers to help the underprivileged,” said Chew.

At the MCA 9-point party platform exhibition held at Putra World Trade Centre, 19 people volunteered to be
part of the crisis relief squad after the three-day exhibition. Many signed up on the spot after visiting the
booth.

Those interested can contact CRSM at 03-2161-8044 or e-mail to crsmhq@mail.mca.org.my
Tajuk Artikel: Know the risks before going under the knife, women warned

Sumber / Tarikh: The Star Online January 21, 2008 – Monday

KUALA LUMPUR: Aesthetic enhancement remains a personal choice of the individual – but be careful, take
all necessary precautions and be aware of the risks involved, says Women, Family and Community
Development Minister Datuk Seri Sharizat Abdul Jalil.

“I am going to call on all women, that should you feel the need to go for aesthetic enhancement, please go
to qualified doctors. How can you surrender yourselves to people that you do not know?” she said.

Shahrizat added that aesthetic surgeons should be accredited professionals and they must ensure their
patients were fit and healthy enough to undergo the procedures.

“All professionals involved are duty bound to deliver a professional job. If they transgress their profession
and their medical ethics, they should be hauled up,” she added.

Shahrizat said beauty was a total package and should not just be based on physical attractiveness. Being
attractive also meant having character, values and personality.

“Today, I hear of cases not only of women but men as well who are going for aesthetic enhancement. But it
is a question of confidence. It does not matter even if you are not beautiful. As long as you are healthy, have
self-confidence and are happy,” she added.

“Some people are not attractive by definition but they have inner peace that people respect. That is more
important to me.”

Shahrizat was commenting on Datin Fatimah Wan Chik, the 44-year-old wife of Labuan MP Datuk Suhaili
Abdul Rahman, who is hooked on a life support machine following a reportedly botched cosmetic surgery
more than a week ago.



Tajuk Artikel: Get competency cert, Fong urges unqualified workers

Sumber / Tarikh: The Star Online January 21, 2008 – Monday

KUALA LUMPUR: The Human Resource Ministry wants unqualified workers in the country to get the
Competency Assessment Certification, in a move to reduce dependence on foreign skilled workforce.

Currently, 200 assessment centres have linked up with the ministry whereby unqualified workers can obtain
their certification in fields like the automotive and motor sectors,

Minister Datuk Seri Fong Chan Onn said the ministry’s move to introduce the certification would result in a
larger pool of local qualified workers and increase the competitive edge of large multinationals such as
Petronas.

He added that award of the certification would depend on experience and performance of the workers
concerned rather than their academic skills.
“There are many mechanics, for example, who started work after leaving school but do not possess certified
qualification. Through this programme, they will be able to obtain certification based on assessment of their
experience,” he said.

Fong told reporters this after presenting certificates and diplomas to 203 graduates at Times Academy’s
ninth convocation here yesterday.

Meanwhile, Fong said 3,000 school leavers have undergone apprenticeship training with over 500 SMEs
through the National Dual Training Programme since 2005. He added that the ministry was aiming to train
16,000 school leavers under the ongoing programme.



Tajuk Artikel: Never too old to learn

Sumber / Tarikh: The Star Online January 21, 2008 – Monday

KUALA LUMPUR: For three senior citizens from Subang Jaya, it is never too old to learn about blogging
and blog design.

William Chu, 66, a contractor, Yeo Cheng Hoe, 70, and Yong Koon Ling, 68, a businessman, were seen
listening attentively during the talk by speaker Sean Tan.

The Chinese proverb huo dao lao, xue dao lao (Live until you are old, learn until you are old) best describes
the three friends who have known each other for more than 20 years.

They attended the MCA 9-point party platform exhibition at the Putra World Trade
Centre on Saturday.

“I read about the talk in the newspaper so I dragged my friends along,” said Chu,
who has been relying on books to find out how to create a blog. He intends to set up
his own website.

“All this while, I thought I needed to pay to set up a website. I didn’t know it is free,
until I learnt about it from the speaker. I find the talk more enlightening than the        Click on image to go
reference books I bought.                                                                   to website.
                     Quest for knowledge: Chu asking a question during the
                     Introduction to Blog Design talk at the exhibition on Saturday.


“The books are in English and the technical terms are very complicated,” said the Chinese-educated Chu.
He started learning how to use a computer a few years ago.

The enterprising man was also interested to sell books through eBay and set up a bilingual blog to share his
life experience and articles. The three were also delighted the talk was free of charge.

The talk is one of a series of activities during the three-day exhibition. There were also talks on web
marketing, mobile community, crisis relief squad, a treasure hunt, among others. Yesterday was the last day
of the exhibition.



Tajuk Artikel: Maids must be insured from next month

Sumber / Tarikh: The Star Online January 21, 2008 – Monday

PENANG: It is mandatory for all foreign housemaids to be insured under the government-backed scheme
from next month, Deputy Home Affairs Minister Datuk Tan Chai Ho said. He said the ministry would meet
representatives from the Malaysian Association of Foreign Housemaids Agencies (Papa) today to discuss
matters.

“We are proceeding based on an MoU (memorandum of understanding) signed with the Indonesian
government before this,” he said.

The Government wants the foreign maids to take up the Takaful insurance scheme which costs RM75
annually a person. Papa had objected to the scheme, claiming that the premium was too high.

Tan was speaking to newsmen after attending a prayer ceremony for tsunami victims and those who
jumped off the Penang Bridge over the last two decades. The special prayers organised by Guanyin Peace
and Harmony Puji were held at the beachfront facing the Penang Bridge near Queensbay Mall yesterday.
Tajuk Artikel: Chinese TV network to air Malacca documentary

Sumber / Tarikh: The Star Online January 21, 2008 – Monday

PETALING JAYA: Malacca gets the spotlight today as Melaka Documentary goes on air at China Central
Television (CCTV), which has a few hundred million potential viewers. Melaka Documentary is an
informative show featuring the fascinating history of the city. It will be aired on CCTV4 (Astro Ch 334) until
Jan 24.

The documentary is jointly produced by local production house VL Film Productions and CCTV.

VL chief executive officer Datuk Vincent Lye said the documentary was different because it was co-
produced by the Chinese, who had hundreds of years of relationship with Malacca. “We would like to see
how the Chinese perceive the state. For many, especially students and educationists, I believe this
documentary will answer some of their questions.”

A few key personalities are interviewed in the documentary. Among them are Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun
Mohd Khalil Yaakob, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam, MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting
and Deputy Tourism Minister Datuk Donald Lim Siang Chai.

There will be four episodes in the documentary. Each episode is 30 minutes long. It will air at 5pm and
repeated at 11pm.



Tajuk Artikel: A road by any other name

Sumber / Tarikh: The Star Online January 21, 2008 – Monday

By SALINA KHALID

How would you feel if you live in Jalan Sayang (love) or Jalan Playar (pliers/tool)? Or would one feel more at
home with Jalan Bijak (intelligent) than Jalan Kelawar (bats)?

Well, when you drive into Shah Alam be prepared to encounter such peculiar and intriguing road names that
go into thousands.

Each road is named after certain themes attributed to different sections of the city.

The inspiration is many, ranging from local fruits, trees, fish, birds, traditional figures to colours and sports
activities and all boils down whether it's suitable to the area. Even global currency, precious stones and
metals have not escaped the long list.

“One can learn about certain terms and pick up new words while driving around the city. “I never knew that
Pualam is actually another name for marble that’s used for flooring. “The same goes for the scientific names
of orchids in Kota Kemuning,” said Samrizad Abu Hanifah.

Samrizad who comes to Shah Alam regularly to visit his sister finds the road names interesting and more
often than not he ends up looking for some of the roads' meanings and the history behind it after every trip.
He said that sometimes he would even turn it into a game with friends, in guessing the meaning of the word
or the common name for it.

Shah Alam resident Nurul Aini Ismail said that there were times she wondered whether the names were
spelt correctly. “I stumbled upon a road named Pergisir in Section 15 (Jalan 15/9) but could not find the
meaning of the word. “I have been wondering about that word for quite sometime,” she said.

All the road names in Section 15 are named after crafting tools. Other names include Jalan Playar (pliers),
Jalan Pahat (chisel) and Jalan Gergaji (saw).

Some of the names were conceptualised based on what’s renowned in
that part of the area. Section 1 for instance, uses the theme related to
knowledge since UiTM is located there. Section 13, where the Stadium
Shah Alam is located, aptly uses sports activities as its theme.

“We try to assign suitable names for the area.

 “Usually the developer would come up with the suggestions but
sometimes the names from our side too,” said Shah Alam City Council
(MBSA) one-stop-centre (OSC) director Aniza Osman.

Aniza said a monthly meeting is held to determine whether a name of a
particular road falls under her department based on the jurisdiction.


                                                                            Handy tools: Jalan Pergisir in Section
                                                                            15. All road names in Section 15 are
                                                                            named after crafting tools.




   Aptly named: Jalan Pahat (chisel) in Section 16 where the
   industrial area of Shah Alam is located.


She said for each new development, the developer would come up with the proposal of names for the roads
in their area. “We will make sure that the names are suitable and are according to the themes assigned for
their area.
“The names then have to be referred to the Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka to find out whether they are correct
in terms of spelling and whether the terms exist in the first place,” she said.

Aniza said there were instances of residents complaining about the inappropriate road names in their areas.
Most of them lodge a formal complaint seeking for the names to be replaced.

She said assigning specific theme for each section of the city was also for the convenience of the public.

“It is easier for everyone to know the location of the road, even when they do not know the section.

“For instance, if someone does not have the whole address but only knows the road name like Jalan Ferum,
then we will automatically know that it is in Section 7 since it is a type of mineral,” she said during an
interview at her office in Wisma MBSA in Shah Alam recently. She added the system had been in use since
the early planning of the city.



Tajuk Artikel: Too much of a good thing

Sumber / Tarikh: The Star Online January 21, 2008 – Monday

By DEBBIE CHAN

The changing feature of Petaling Jaya is seeing the mushrooming of more residential properties in the form
of apartments and condominiums but the main issue at place is whether there are sufficient amenities to
cater to this growth.

Residents are becoming more vocal and concerned about this development as it is beginning to affect the
quality of their lifestyles. The most recent example is the completion of the two-phase Pelangi Utama (PU)
apartments on Jalan Masjid, PJU 6A.




                     Inconvenient: Residents have begun to park their car on both
                     sides of the road hence causing congestion.
Jalan Masjid was initially built as a back service road and was previously a one-way street and had now
been expanded to cater to the two-way traffic. However, with the new six-block apartment together with the
two schools situated on the road as well as the settlements of Kampung Ara, the road is now constantly
congested and could no longer sustain the heavy traffic.

“MBPJ should have taken a lot of factors into consideration before the road expansion. There is currently a
misalignment between town planning and development structure. Not only are we referring to the roads but
also the coverage of amenities that is severely insufficient,” said Pelangi Utama Resident Association 1
(PURA) treasurer John Cheong.

The congestion on Jalan Masjid is not only as a result of the narrowness of the road but also because
residents of PU have started parking their cars on both sides of the road. Since each unit of the apartments
had been allocated with one parking bay, the occupants are said to be left with no choice but to park
indiscriminately.

“When we bought the units, we were entitled to one parking bay each and we have the option to buy or rent
another lot. However, it is only common sense that one family would have more than one car and most
tenants opted not to pay for the parking lots and ended up parking along Jalan Masjid,” said PURA 1
president Datuk Dr Vincent Ng.

With the residents’ cars taking up both sides of the road, traffic gets worse during school hours, as parents
picking up their children couldn’t wait by the side of the road.




                      Dangerous: Crossing the road at Jalan Masjid has become a
                      dangerous feat for the school children.


“The parents don’t have a proper space to wait so they have to stop in the middle of the road while waiting
for their children. This leads to a massive clog along the road. It is also not safe for the school children to
cross the road with the heavy congestion,” said SK Bandar Utama 2 headmistress Ros Aini Che Man. The
staff and students of SMK Bandar Utama, that's adjacent to the primary school, face similar problems too.

“Sometimes, residents park right in front of the school blocking the access way for our staff members. In
case of emergencies, there is potential danger,” said Ros Aini.
Most of the students from both schools are residents of Kampung Ara and the parents are getting
increasingly worried about the worsening condition.

“It is really inconvenient and we have complained numerous times to MBPJ. We have to take a lot of
unnecessary effort and energy to prevent any kind of accidents to the children. I really don’t understand how
MBPJ can approve such a high density residential property development in this area,” said Kamping Ara
committee head Suhaimi Samiun.

Increasing crime rate is also a big issue on Jalan Masjid. There have been plenty of reports of stolen cars,
snatch thefts and car break-ins. .

“We hear countless stories everyday. Some residents’ cars even got broken into twice in the same month
and although repeated reports have been made to the police, we don’t think that they are doing enough to
ensure our safety,” said Ng.

“This is definitely a hot spot for crime so the police should do more comprehensive work to ensure our
safety. They could install CCTVs, beef up patrol, and be more pro-active in their roles,” Ng said.

Bukit Lanjan state assemblyman Datin Paduka Yong Dai Ying said that she would form a Kelab Rukun
Tetangga at Pelangi Utama Condominiums to counter the increasing crime level in the area, apart from
organising a police security dialogue soon.

She also intends to have a discussion with the developer, Metro Kajang, to solve the perennial parking
problems at the township and also resolve to get funds from the Selangor state government to upgrade and
widen Jalan Masjid.



Tajuk Artikel: Call to repair roads below underpass

Sumber / Tarikh: The Star Online January 21, 2008 – Monday

By CHARLES FERNANDEZ

The traffic volume in Subang Jaya is expected to be better dispersed once the RM380mil Subang-Kelana
Link is completed by this year.

Even before it is completed a group of residents in SS15 is asking for modifications to be done to the roads
below the underpass to improve driving conditions.

During a closed-door meeting with Subang Jaya assemblyman Datuk Lee Hwa Beng and representatives
from highway concessionaires Ahmad Zaki Resources Berhad (AZRB) held at the Sri Kuala Lumpur school,
the residents who chose to be anonymous, said that although they welcomed the highway project the new
alignments under the bypass were narrow along some stretches of Jalan Kewajipan. They foresee local
residents encountering daily congestions due to this.
                      Airing of grouses: Lee answering residents’ queries during the
                      closed-door meeting between SS15 residents and AZRB officers.


“Motorists heading towards the Kesas highway from Subang and the Federal Highway will benefit from the
opening of the Subang-Kelana Link, but the company has given little attention to upgrading the existing
roads.

“Some of the original left and right turnings are missing, forcing motorists to take a longer route and time to
get to their destinations,” a resident pointed out.

A little more than 10 residents turned up for the briefing and each of them had different ideas and solutions
for the AZRB representatives to make changes along Jalan Kewaji-pan.

When the Subang-Kelana Link was first proposed in 2004, residents of SS12 and SS15 sent their proposals
to the developers before work started, for fear the second link from Jalan Kewajipan to Subang airport road
will worsen traffic congestion along Jalan Kewajipan.

Residents said Jalan Kewajipan was one of the most congested roads in Subang Jaya and the new project
would only worsen the traffic condition there.

And now with the highway almost 80% completed, new problems have cropped up as any development
bodes well for urban address, this would only mean an increase in population.

They are also crying foul over too many projects being concentrated within a small enclave of the township
especially as far as educational institutions are concerned, giving rise to illegal parking along major internal
roads.

“This is another serious problem residents in SS15 are facing and we hope MPSJ would not think twice
about towing away illegally parked vehicles.

“Presently only summonses are issued,” said another resident.
Lee said this was the fourth closed-door meeting the residents were having with AZRB and while all
suggestions and proposals cannot be met, the company has promised to look into changes to ease traffic
congestion especially along Jalan Kewajipan.

The group later went on a visit to the construction site to suggest possible changes that could be made
starting from Wisma Mesiniaga until the Jalan Kewajipan roundabout.




Tajuk Artikel: MPK needs to improve its services

Sumber / Tarikh: The Star Online January 21, 2008 – Monday

By FREDERICK FERNANDEZ

THE royal town of Klang, which happens to be my hometown, is set to be a city, a royal city to be precise, in
about seven months’ time. The news has certainly caught the attention of Klang folks, especially since the
declaration is expected to be made on the auspicious date of 08.08.08.

Klang Municipal Council (MPK) president Mislan Tugiu said the only stumbling block that remained was the
lack of a university in the town.




                     Perpetual crawl: Traffic is a major problem in Klang and it seems
                     to be getting worse by the day.


With an area covering 573.8 sq km and a population close to 900,000, coupled with good infrastructure and
facilities, Klang is poised for city status. However, MPK must pull up its socks first and ensure its services
are up to mark before thinking about attaining city status.

The thought of charging higher assessment rates should not be the council’s priority; rather, it should focus
on its current shortcomings and seek effective means to resolve them.

For starters, it has to clean up the place, so that Klang sheds its image as a dirty town with uncollected
garbage strewn just about everywhere.
Some even poke fun at Klangites, saying the town is so dirty that there are more crows than people in the
town.

Klang also does not have a good record when it comes to crime. The council must work closely with the
police to reduce crime in the town. MPK must do its part by installing more closed-circuit television (CCTV)
cameras in crime-prone areas.

Traffic is another major problem in Klang and it seems to be getting worse by the day.

The recent announcement that a third bridge would be built across the Klang River was a great relief for
motorists. However, that alone is not going to solve the traffic congestion problem.

The council needs to come up with better road planning measures. Roundabouts are certainly not practical
any more. It has no choice but to widen the main roads and build more flyovers, especially over the more
busy roads.

Importantly, MPK should not follow the same path taken by the Shah Alam City Council and Peta-ling Jaya
City Council in raising assessment rates when services are still not up to the mark.

It should realise that residents in general are least bothered whether their neighbourhood is located in a
municipality or city.

All they want is good service from their local government in return for the assessment they pay annually.

This means having the roads tarred, the streetlights in working condition, garbage collected on time, the
drains cleared, the grass at the playing fields trimmed regularly, the facilities at the children’s playgrounds
maintained properly and so forth.



Tajuk Artikel: Abide by guideline on cyber cafes

Sumber / Tarikh: The Star Online January 21, 2008 – Monday

By EDWARD RAJENDRA

LOCAL authorities in Selangor have been warned not to “bulldoze” through applications for new cyber cafes
without seeking the opinions of other authorities.

Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohamad Khir Toyo said the state had strict regulations that required other
authorities to be given 30 days to submit their opinions.

“Opinions from other authorities, including the district police, are important. The Council president, licensing
director and the several councillors who sit on the sub-committee cannot simply approve the business
licences.

“Selangor has standardised new regulations under the Cyber Café By-laws 2007 that clearly define what is
needed for a cyber café to operate,” he said.
The issuance of such licences was frozen for 38 months and the freeze was only lifted on Jan 3. Local
authorities, however, have to follow the15-point guideline issued by the state government.

Khir’s warning came after news reached him that the Klang Municipal Council’s (MPK) Licensing
Department sub-committee had wanted to bulldoze through 18 new cyber cafe applications rubber-stamped
on Dec 30, 2007 at its Jan 9 meeting.

“News reached me that this was going to take place. Cyber café applications must go through all the
guidelines; there must be no hanky-panky.

“Our new laws are to create better administration of such outlets as they are mostly frequented by
teenagers,” he said.

Currently, there are 50 registered cyber cafes in the Klang district. Of these, 35 have renewed their licences
for 2008 while the remainder are in the process of getting their premises inspected.

MPK council president Mislan Tugiu, when asked about the issue, said “approvals are given on a case-by-
case basis.”

“New applications were brought in at the Jan 9 meeting but none of them were approved. We had received
feedback from schools and parents that the cyber cafes posed a social problem as their presence
encourages truancy,” he said.

Mislan said some cyber cafés delved into gaming and offered teenagers VCDs of pornographic materials
from the Internet.

“Last year, we closed down two outlets, approved before the freeze, that had gone against our ruling, and
several warning letters were issued to other outlets for various offences. Assemblymen can also oppose the
setting-up of new cyber cafes in their constituencies but they must put their objections in writing.

“To date, only Pandamaran assemblyman Datuk Dr Teh Kim Poo has objected to the approval of
applications for new licences as there are two registered outlets in his constituency,” he said.

He added that parents who felt the cyber cafes were a menace could e-mail their comments to Mislan Tugiu
at mislan@mpklang.gov.my as the licensing sub-committee will meet on Monday next week.

United Chinese School Committee Association of Malaysia (Dong Zong) deputy chairman Chow Siew Hon
said one could not stop new businesses from being set up but the local authorities must assess if there was
a real need for such new outlets.

“Sometimes these outlets are not needed as the school has a computer lab. Once children are outside at a
cyber café, they are exposed to all kinds of information and could be easily influence in a wrong way that
could lead them into trouble," Chow added.
Tajuk Artikel: Holiday for KL, Putrajaya - thanks to MIC's efforts

Sumber / Tarikh: New Straits times Online January 21, 2008 – Monday

KUALA LUMPUR: Starting this year, Thaipusam will be an annual public holiday in the Federal Territories of
Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi announced this yesterday to cheers and thunderous
applause from thousands of Indians and Barisan Nasional supporters. He said the decision was made after
several calls were made by the MIC to have Thaipusam declared a public holiday in Kuala Lumpur.

"Yes, (Datuk Seri S.) Samy Vellu kept asking for Thaipusam to be made a public holiday, especially in Kuala
Lumpur.

"Moreover, every year during Thaipusam, the roads in Kuala Lumpur become very congested," he said.
However, after the holiday, the people must continue to work hard, Abdullah said at a MIC-organised
gathering yesterday.

Also present were Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Zulhasnan Rafique, Women, Family and
Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil and Deputy Home Affairs Minister Datuk
Tan Chai Ho.

Thaipusam is currently a state holiday in Selangor, Penang, Perak, Negri Sembilan and Johor.

Thaipusam is also celebrated at the Sri Subramaniar Temple on the Cheroh mountain in Ipoh, Perak and in
Jalan Waterfall in Penang.

Meanwhile, Malaysian Hindu Sangam president Datuk A. Vaithilingam welcomed Abdullah's statement. He
added that for more than 20 years, Hindus had been asking for this.

Vaithilingam also appealed to Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid and Malacca Chief Minister
Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam to gazette Thaipusam as a public holiday in their states as there was a large
number of Hindus who visited Sungai Petani and Malacca to celebrate the festival.
Tajuk Artikel: PM: Unity is key in tackling dire poverty

Sumber / Tarikh: New Straits times Online January 21, 2008 – Monday

By : Azura Abas and K. Harideran




                        Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s
                        announcement that Thaipusam will be a public holiday in Kuala
                        Lumpur and Putrajaya is greeted with rapturous applause by MIC
                        president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu (right) and the others at the
                        gathering at the Badminton Stadium in Cheras yesterday.

KUALA LUMPUR: A cabinet committee on the hardcore poor will be formed to lift people of all races out of
dire poverty by 2010, the prime minister said.
Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said the committee's measures to improve the livelihood of the nation's
poorest could only succeed if all races were united.

"If there is havoc, it will be difficult. If there is fighting, it will be difficult. So, don't fight and don't cause
trouble.

"Instead, all of us have to work hard and unite because it gives us the strength to face all challenges.

"With this strength, God willing, the Barisan Nasional will continue to be the people's choice."
Abdullah was addressing a gather-ing organised by the MIC at the Badminton Stadium in Cheras yester-
day.

The organisers estimated the attendance at some 21,000 Indians.

The prime minister said the hardcore poor existed among all races.

"It does not exist only in the Indian community. It is also present in the Chinese and Malay communities." He
said poverty still existed in the country and much work remained to be done, especially in developing the
rural areas.

"In our effort to alleviate poverty, we will ensure no race is excluded. This is my promise."
Abdullah also wanted children from hardcore poor families to be educated as it was the main route through
which they could improve their lives.

On the MIC, the prime minister said the party was an old friend of Umno and the MCA. "We cannot forget
the MIC. If there are problems, we (the other components in the BN) are ready to help.

"The MIC can continue its struggle under the BN banner."

The BN always stood by a common understanding among its members, said Abdullah, who is also the BN
chief.

"We will face the coming general election together," he said.

Abdullah assured the Indian audience that MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu had always voiced the
community's concerns.

"What I'm about to say is not because of the coming general election. I just want to tell you the truth. "Samy
Vellu has always been fighting for you in the cabinet," he said to loud cheers.



Tajuk Artikel: Obtain certification to get ahead, skilled workers told

Sumber / Tarikh: New Straits times Online January 21, 2008 – Monday

By : Heidi Foo




                     Datuk Seri Dr Fong Chan Onn says the certification will give
                     experienced workers an edge

KUALA LUMPUR: Experienced workers are encouraged to obtain competency certification.
Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri Dr Fong Chan Onn said the certificate of competency, issued under
the National Vocational Training Council programme, would give experienced workers an edge besides
reducing unemployment.

"The certification is important in developing the workforce because many large international companies
insist that workers possess official skills qualification.

"The programme also enhances the employment prospects of experienced workers who do not possess any
qualification."

At present, it is not compulsory for skilled workers to be certified.
He said trade associations and chambers of commerce had shown interest in getting their employees
assessed and awarded the Malaysian Skills Certificate Level 1, 2 and 3.

"Hopefully through their network, the programme will reach out to more skilled workers in the country," Fong
said yesterday, after the Times Academy Fourth Convocation at the Federal Hotel in Jalan Bukit Bintang
here.

Fong said under the certification programme, workers would be assigned special projects based on their
experience.

They would be assessed and awarded the certificate by the ministry. He said the National Dual Training
System (NDTS) for school-leavers was another popular programme by the ministry.

"School-leavers can gain employment through this programme by becoming an apprentice in selected fields.

"They will spend at least 70 to 80 per cent of their time training and go for theory classes on weekends.

"By the end of the programme, the apprentices will not only receive a certificate, but also a job as a skilled
worker in the company where they trained." He said the NDTS, introduced in 2005, currently has 3,000
apprentices at 500 companies nationwide.

The companies mostly comprised of small- and medium-sized enterprises in the automotive sector.



Tajuk Artikel: PM: Work towards ensuring unity

Sumber / Tarikh: New Straits times Online January 21, 2008 – Monday

By : Hamidah Atan

PUTRAJAYA: Unity should not remain merely another slogan. Instead, all Malaysians must work towards
maintaining prevailing unity, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said yesterday.

Speaking before 4,000 university graduates at the annual "unity gathering of graduates" organised by
Yayasan Budi Penyayang, the prime minister said the various races must always co-operate, and be
tolerant and understanding, to ensure unity as this was the only way for Malaysia to achieve the objectives
of the National Mission and Vision 2020.
"Despite the problems we have, we are still a united nation and we respect and can co-operate with one
another. We must show that we can continue to work together.

"This country can be further developed with the strengths of all the races -- not just a single race."

Abdullah said independence and sovereignty would be meaningless if Malaysians fought each other and
created problems for the country.
Malaysians, he said, should be grateful for the achievements and the peace and stability the country had
been blessed with.




                      Graduates don T-shirts promoting unity at the launch of Yayasan
                      Budi Penyayang’s unity gathering by Prime Minister Datuk Seri
                      Abdullah Ahmad Badawi (right) in Putrajaya yesterday. — NST
                      pictures by David Khoo




He said the government was never short of ideas to bring progress to
the people and would continue with its efforts to reduce the disparity
among the haves and have-nots, and hoped the implementing
agencies would be quick and efficient in implementing the policies and
programmes.

"If all these are with us, we will become more successful. We must add
value to ourselves and acquire as much knowledge as possible."

He said Vision 2020 was an important milestone and there was a need
to focus on producing a quality and knowledgeable workforce.

"We are on the right track for development. We are also respected all I urge the people not to get involved
over the world for being a united nation. We definitely do not want to in arguments or conflicts which will
fall from this positive track that we are going in.                    be a waste of our valuable time,
                                                                       says Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad
"I urge the people not to get involved in arguments or conflicts which Badawi
will be a waste of our valuable time."

Abdullah said people should not fear the challenges brought about by globalisation, but to face them with
confidence.

"We can't run away from this and if we are competing, we must make sure that we succeed. We also should
not remain efficient users of technologies but must become the creators of such technology."

Also present were his daughter, Nori Abdullah, who is also Yayasan Budi Penyayang chairman, Higher
Education Minister Datuk Mustapa Mohamed and the foundation's chief executive officer, Datuk Lela Mohd
Ali.

Nori said the foundation would continue to assist those in need."We also hope to be able to help the
government achieve Vision 2020 and promote its human capital development programmes. Unity
programmes for all races would continue to be held." She also expressed hope that the graduates would
benefit from the programmes.

Mustapa called on the students to play their roles to ensure that the human capital development programme
as envisioned by Abdullah is achieved.



Tajuk Artikel: More than 10,000 premises checked

Sumber / Tarikh: New Straits times Online January 21, 2008 – Monday

By Lee Shi-Ian

PETALING JAYA: Police have visited more than 10,000 houses and buildings in the district since 5-year-old
Sharlinie Mohd Na-shar was abducted on Jan 9.

It is understood that they have drawn up a list of locations in the district which could have been used as a
hideout by Sharlinie's abductors.

District police chief Assistant Commissioner Arjunaidi Mohamed said yesterday: "Searches were conducted
at premises in which Sharlinie could have been held captive. In some places, however, we interviewed
occupants.

"Some of the premises were chosen using police intelligence while others were subject to follow-up
operations after tip-offs."

It is learnt some of the locations checked were near Sharlinie's house in Jalan PJS 2/C, Taman Medan.
However, police also identified and visited premises beyond this area.
Meanwhile, the remand order on a maid detained for giving false information on Sharlinie's whereabouts has
been extended till tomorrow.

The 27-year-old Indonesian maid was picked up at her employer's house in Johor Baru on Jan 14 after she
sent text messages to Sharlinie's parents, saying the girl had been abducted out of revenge.

Following her arrest, the woman was taken to Petaling Jaya police headquarters and remanded for three
days.

The prank calls by the maid had hampered investigations as police had to follow up on her claims. However,
Arjunaidi said the number of prank calls had fallen and that information received by police was genuine but
inaccurate.

On a report where a woman claimed she had spotted Sharlinie in a van along the Cheras highway on
Saturday, he said checks showed that the registration number of the van was false.

Meanwhile, Bernama reports that Sharlinie's father, Mohd Nashar Mat Hussain, is willing to accept the help
of psychics in trying to trace the girl.

"I am willing to accept any kind of help to find Linie. If any psychic wants to help, I will give my full co-
operation. Maybe this method can help find her," he said when met at his home yesterday.

Mohd Nashar said various efforts had been made to trace Sharlinie but none had worked so far.

Also present at Mohd Nashar's house was Shamsul Ghazali Shamsudin, the father of Muhammad Nazrin,
more affectionately known as Yin, who went missing while on a shopping trip with his parents at the Sogo
shopping complex in Kuala Lumpur on March 31 last year.

"I can understand what the family is going through. In my case, I was fortunate to get Yin back. I urge all
Malaysians to give their co-operation to find Sharline," he said.



Tajuk Artikel: Thaipusam a holiday in KL and Putrajaya

Sumber / Tarikh: The Sun Online January 21, 2008 – Monday

KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 20): Thaipusam a public holiday in the federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur and
Putrajaya from this year. The festival falls on Wednesday.

In making the announcement today, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said the
government made the decision in respecting the request of the Indian community and the Hindus in the
country.

Thaipusam is already a holiday in Selangor, Penang, Perak, Negri Sembilan and Johor.

"Moreover, every year during Thaipusam, the roads in Kuala Lumpur are very congested," he said when
announcing the decision to applause from more than 21,000 MIC members and supporters attending the
"leader-with-the-people" gathering at the Kuala Lumpur Badminton Indoor Stadium in Cheras.

The Indian community, particularly in Kuala Lumpur, had long waited for the government to declare
Thaipusam a public holiday.

Addressing a Ponggal Festival (Tamil Harvest Festival) at Jalan Masjid India on Saturday night, Abdullah
had pledged to the Indian community that he would consider declaring Thaipusam a national holiday.

MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu expressed his appreciation and gratitude to the government on
behalf of the Indian community.
MIC had expected the government to declare Thaipusam a national public holiday but nevertheless the
party was happy with the announcement eventhough it was only for Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya, he told
Bernama after the announcement.

For other states, Samy Vellu said he would discuss with the mentris besar and chief ministers to
declareThaipusam a public holiday.

He said a public holiday would allow more Hindus, especially from Kuala Lumpur and Selangor, to
congregate at Batu Caves to usher in the Thaipusam celebrations.

"I will not be attending the weekly cabinet meeting on Wednesday as it is a public holiday in Putrajaya.
Instead, I will be in Batu Caves for Thaipusam," said the elated works minister, who added that the MIC had
been asking for Thaipusam to be declared a national holiday for 10 years.



Tajuk Artikel: Cabinet panel on poverty

Sumber / Tarikh: The Sun Online January 21, 2008 – Monday

Pauline Puah and T.K.Letchumy Tamboo

KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 20): A cabinet committee on eradicating hard-core poverty will be set up soon, Prime
Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi announced today.

"We will eradicate poverty regardless of race … As long as I am still able, (after that) the government will
continue working to ensure that no one community will be left behind. That’s my promise to you, we will
continue to work," he told massive gathering of MIC members at the Cheras Badminton Stadium.

Saying that poverty is not peculiar to only the Indian community, Abdullah noted that the poverty level has
been reduced from 60% when the country first gained independence to only about 5.7% today.

"However, we still have some poor people until today ... We will continue to do our best to develop the
country and eradicate poverty," he said, adding that the government wished to eradicate poverty by 2010.

Abdullah said the government had always ensured tjhat education was affordable to all by taking steps such
as waiving school fees. "I don’t want people being left out because of poverty. It’s not good," he said.

Earlier, Abdullah said MIC had been a very important coalition member in Barisan Nasional (BN) even
before independence.

"MIC has been with BN when it was first established. MIC is still with the government and we face
challenges together. In BN, we hold on strongly to consensus (among coalition parties)," he said.

"We will not forget MIC. If MIC has any problems, we are ready to help so that MIC will continue the struggle
with us in BN," he said.

He said when a cabinet member did not agree with a decision, the matter would be discussed again to
eventually achieve a consensus.
"(I say this) not only for election. I just want to tell you the truth that (MIC president) Datuk Seri S. Samy
Vellu has been fighting for you in the cabinet," he said to applause from those present.

He also advised MIC members not to create chaos but to continue to work hard to ensure that BN would
continue to lead the country.

Met after the rally, Samy Vellu said that about 21,000 people, including those outside the stadium, had
attended the gathering.

The stadium can seat 3,000 and can also accommodate 10 badminton courts for training purposes and at
least six international standard courts for tournaments.



Tajuk Artikel: Wifi at 120 hotspots in Penang soon

Sumber / Tarikh: The Sun Online January 21, 2008 – Monday

Regina William

PENANG (Jan 20): Imagine tucking into your favourite fare at your nasi kandar joint and being able to surf
the net on your laptop at the same time. Unbelievable? It is happening soon enough, in Penang. Instead of
having to fork out a fortune having a meal or drink at some fancy restaurant just so you could access to wifi,
you could be doing the same at some teh tarik stall soon, once all 120 wifi hotspots are installed under the
Penang and Kulim Broadband project.

Penang Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon said today there are now 34 of such wifi hotspots up and
running and the rest would be installed within three months.

"Unlike many current wifi hotspots, which are either available for a fee or otherwise located at expensive
restaurants, the more than 120 free wifi hotspots will be situated in places where the rank-and-file have
frequent accesss, including popular restaurants, coffee shops, food courts, hawker centres, canteens,
shopping malls, bus or train stations, supermarkets and even libraries," Koh said after flagging off the
Penang Wifi Treasure Hunt 2008 at the Esplanade.

"Those who cannot afford to frequent the more expensive eateries or drinking spots or having to pay to gain
access to the Internet will have a much better alternative.

The hunt, in which 50 cars took part, was the first wifi treasure hunt in Malaysia and was organised by the
Penang K-ICT Council in collaboration with the Ministry of Energy, Water and Communications and the
Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) as part of the promotion campaign for the
RM20 million Penang and Kulim pilot broadband project.

The hunt used wifi technology to search from one wifi hotspot to the next for questions, clues and answers
from the Internet.

Koh said six locations -- Batu Feringghi, Bayan Lepas, Batu Kawan, Bukit Mertajam, Kulim and Kepala
Batas -- have been selected as a test-bed to be linked together under one common data centre to test out
new guidelines for broadband deployment.
Incorporated as part of the Penang i-Land 2010 Masterplan, the project is designed to provide the
necessary infrastructure to realise Penang as a fully connected state by 2010 with reliable, fast broadband
and affordable network infrastructure.

The project is one of the projects under the National Broadband Plan.

At the prize-giving ceremony of the treasure hunt later, Malaysian communication and multimedia
commission chairman Datuk Dr Halim Shafie said broadband penetration rate in Penang surpassed the
national avergage. He said the government's target of 50% penetration will be achieved in Penang by next
year.

The event aslo marks the launch of TM's launch of the first streamyx 2.0Mbps and 4.0Mbps packages with
free IPTV trial service in Penang and Kulim -- the first region in the country to have such packages. The list
of the 34 hotspots locations under the Penang and Kulim Broadband project may be found in
http://www.mybroadband.gov.my/location.php




Tajuk Artikel: Cops Scour Thousands Of Homes For Nini

Sumber / Tarikh: The Malay Mail Online January 21, 2008 – Monday

MOHD YAAKOB YUSOF

POLICE are putting more boots on the ground in their search for five-year-old Sharlinie Mohd Nashar, who
went missing from her Taman Medan neighbourhood on Jan 9.




Kuala Lumpur and Petaling Jaya police have resorted to conducting door-to-door searches of homes and
buildings, including abandoned ones, for the girl.

Selangor Criminal Investigations Department chief Senior Assistant Commissioner II Mazlan Mansor says
only certain houses are checked.

In Petaling Jaya alone, more than 10,000 houses, including abandoned buildings, have been checked.
Petaling Jaya police chief Assistant Commissioner Arjunaidi Mohamed says the checks began on the
second day of Nini’s (Sharlinie’s nickname) disappearance.

He says police will only enter homes if they have probable cause, adding that investigators average roughly
1,000 houses a day.

POLICE have spared no effort to trace five-year-old Sharlinie Mohd Nashar, who went missing in her Taman
Medan neighbourhood on Jan 9.

To date, thousands of houses in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor have been checked by police as possible
spots where the girl might be kept.

Selangor Criminal Investigations Department chief Senior Assistant Commissioner II Mazlan Mansor said
most of the houses were in Petaling Jaya and nearby areas, including Brickfi elds, which is under the Kuala
Lumpur contingent’s jurisdiction.

“We had co-operated with our counterparts in Kuala Lumpur to check the houses. Only certain houses were
checked, based on information received,” he told The Malay Mail.

In Petaling Jaya alone, more than 10,000 houses, including abandoned buildings, have been checked.
Petaling Jaya police chief Assistant Commissioner Arjunaidi Mohamed said the checks began on the
second day of Nini’s (Sharlinie’s nickname) disappearance.

“During the checks, we would take details of the residents and only inspect the house if we have probable
cause,” he said, adding that police checked about 1,000 houses a day.

“Abandoned houses are not spared.”

Arjunaidi stressed that they did not check houses at random but did so based on tip-offs.

“Apart from checking the houses, we also get details from the neighbours and so far, we’ve been getting
good co-operation and feedback from them,” he said.

Arjunaidi said he has both uniformed and plainclothed officers conducting the checks; depending on the
situation.

Asked on the latest information in which a woman had claimed to have seen Sharlinie inside a white van at
a petrol station along a highway in Cheras, Arjunaidi said: “The van’s registration number was fake.”

“The registration number belonged to another vehicle. Police are still tracking the vehicle.” Arjunaidi,
however, hoped that the woman who saw the incident would come forward or contact Petaling Jaya police.

“The woman had not contacted or informed us. She only contacted a newspaper and they were the ones
who relayed the information to us.”

It was reported that the unidentifi ed woman claimed that she saw the girl at 11.30pm on Saturday.

She gave the newspaper the vehicle’s registration number before hanging up.
Police believe that Sharlinie is still in the country and have yet to receive any information from Interpol.

Sharlinie went missing while on her way home from a playground near her house in Taman Medan on Jan
9. She was with her sister when she was abducted. The search has been expanded and Interpol were
notified.

Police arrested two suspects but they were later released for lack of evidence.

Three days earlier, a six-yearold girl was abducted by a m n wearing a black helmet and riding a black
motorcycle.

She was found in Wangsa Maju two hours later, unharmed. The description of the abductor is similar to the
Kampung Baru molester, dubbed the Catman.




Tajuk Artikel: Outrageous! : School operates for 10 years without a CF

Sumber / Tarikh: The Malay Mail Online January 21, 2008 – Monday

MARIAM THANY

BELIEVE it or not, a school has been operating for 10 years without a Certificate of Fitness! SMK Bukit
Sentosa has been operating for 10 years without a CF issued by the Hulu Selangor District Council.

The district council and the Public Works Department confirmed the shocking news, and the school’s
parent-teacher association had expressed concern over the safety of the students and teachers there as
several cracks have appeared in the buildings.

Already, the school is short of classrooms to accommodate the 2,800 students, including 850 First Formers
who enrolled earlier this month.

It has had to turn its laboratories and library into temporary classrooms.

Parent-teacher association chairman Zakaria Mat Ali said the CF issue had been raised during many PTA
meetings and the authorities had been informed, but nothing was done.

“We (the PTA) informed the relevant parties, but until today, none of them has come to investigate,” he told
The Malay Mail.

Zakaria said parents are concerned with the safety of the students.

“I’m not sure what the authorities are waiting for,” he said.

“They’ll probably take action when the building collapses and there are casualties.” When contacted, a
source from the PWD confi rmed Zakaria’s claim that the school had not been issued with a CF.

“The school was not designed and built by PWD. It was a project by the Education Ministry and the contract
to build was awarded to a local construction company.

“It was not built according to the specifi cations stipulated in the contract,” he said, adding that he was
concerned about the students’ safety as cracks had appeared in many places. The source explained that
only buildings designed and built by PWD do not need a CF for occupation.

“Since the PWD is a government body, the government has confi dence in our projects. We assure you that
buildings built by us are safe.

“But buildings built by local contractors do need to apply for CF to verify their safety and that the standards
set by the local authorities are met,” he added.

Education Ministry Parliamentary secretary Komala Devi said that the ministry is aware of the issue.

She said the ministry, unhappy with the quality of the developer’s work, had contacted them several times
but to date, had not managed to resolve the issue.

“We are waiting for the outcome of the investigation by the Selangor Education Department on the cause of
the cracks before we appoint a new consultant and work towards getting a CF from the local authority,” said
Komala.

She said the ministry is looking at this matter seriously as it involves the safety of students and teachers,
and is considering legal action against the parties responsible.

Komala said the ministry had allocated a budget for the repair and refurbishment of the school buildings,
which is expected to be done this year.

“The ministry will pay first and claim from them (developers and contractors) later.”

She also said the ministry had asked for PWD’s advice with regard to the safety issue affecting the school.

“We met them a couple of times and PWD is helping us on the action we should take.” Hulu Selangor
District Council chairman Tukiman Nail, when contacted, said the council could not issue a CF to the school
as no application had been submitted.

He said the council had asked the developers several times for the building plans, but had received excuses
from them, instead.

“We cannot force developers or contractors to apply for a CF, and there are no laws that allow us to take
action against those who fail to get a CF,” said Tukiman.
Tajuk Artikel: Greater Internet access in Penang

Sumber / Tarikh: The Malay Mail Online January 21, 2008 – Monday

PENANG is expected to achieve 50 per cent broadband penet ration ahead of the target set for the country
due to greater public awareness of the facility.

The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission chair man, Datuk Dr Halim Shafie, said
Malaysia was targeted to achieve the 50 per cent broadband pen etration in 2010, but Penang could be
ahead as current usage has now reached 30 per cent.

In view of the rapid penetra tion, it was possible that Penang could achieve the target next year, he told a
Press conference after the launching of the Streamyx 2.0Mbps and 4.0Mbps package, which offered free
trials of the IPTV for selected areas in Penang and Kulim, by Deputy In formation Minister Datuk Seri Chia
Kwang Chye, who is also chairman of the Penang K-ICT awareness committee in Penang, yesterday.

Dr Halim said the government had provided a grant of RM20 mil lion for broadband infrastructure in Penang.

Chia said the government gave various allocations to draw up a policy that could help in the growth of
information and com munications technology in the country.

This could be achieved if the public and private sector worked together to ensure that Malaysia did not lag
behind in this field and was on par with developed nations, he said.- Bernama




Tajuk Artikel: Enough buses for Chinese New Year

Sumber / Tarikh: The Malay Mail Online January 21, 2008 – Monday

THE number of additional ex press buses for the Chinese New Year has yet to be finalised, but the
Transport Ministry has given its assurance that there will be enough buses to cater for trav ellers during the
festive season next month.

“The number of additional buses will be announced on Friday.

“We will ensure there are enough buses for the people going back to their hometowns,” said Transport
Minister Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy.

He said the requirements for temporary bus permits were the same as before.
The buses must be inspected by Puspakom for roadworthiness and safety, he said, after launching the
Kundang Carnival in Rawang yesterday.

Commenting on the relocation of the Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan (Cina) Kundang to a new site, Chan, who
is also the member of Parliament for Selayang, said a certain well-wisher, who wished to remain
anonymous, had agreed to offer land for the new site.

“So, now we are working hard with the MCA and the Ministry of Education to relocate the school,” he said.
Earlier, Chan handed over land titles to 140 residents of Kam pung Baru Cina Kundang.

More than 4,000 residents around Kundang attended the carnival in conjunction with the Chinese New Year
celebrations. - Bernama



Tajuk Artikel: Thaipusam a public holiday

Sumber / Tarikh: The Malay Mail Online January 21, 2008 – Monday

THE government yesterday declared Thaipusam a public holiday in the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur
and Putrajaya from this year.

This year’s Thaipusam falls on Wednesday.

In making the announcement, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said the government
made the decision in response to the request of Hindus in the country.

Thaipusam is a holiday in Selangor, Penang, Perak, Negri Sembilan and Johor.

“Every year during Thaipusam, the roads in Kuala Lumpur get congested,” he said when announcing the
decision to thunderous applause from more than 21,000 MIC members attending the ‘leader-with-the-
people’ gathering at the Kuala Lumpur Badminton Indoor Stadium in Cheras.

The Indian community in Kuala Lumpur had long waited for the government to declare Thaipusam a public
holiday.

Addressing a Ponggal Festival at Jalan Masjid India last night, Abdullah pledged to the Indian comm- unity
that he would consider declaring Thaipusam a national holiday.

MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu expressed his appreciation to the government on behalf of the
Indian community.

For the other States, Samy Vellu said he would discuss with Menteris Besar and chief ministers on declaring
Thaipusam a public holiday.

He said a public holiday would enable more Hindus, from Kuala Lumpur and Selangor, to go to Batu Caves
to usher in Thaipusam this year. - Bernama
Tajuk Artikel : ‘Kuasai ilmu setiap bidang

Sumber / Tarikh : Utusan Malaysia Online 21 Januari 2008 – Isnin

Oleh HELMI MOHD. FOAD dan NORLIZA ABDUL RAHMAN

PUTRAJAYA 20 Jan. – Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi mahu mahasiswa di negara ini berusaha
membentuk diri mereka menjadi modal insan yang benar-benar menguasai ilmu pengetahuan dalam setiap
bidang.
Perdana Menteri berkata, usaha itu perlu bagi memastikan mereka mampu menjadi generasi penerus
kepada perjuangan memperkasakan bangsa dan negara bagi mencapai tahap kemajuan yang lebih tinggi.
Sehubungan itu, beliau menegaskan, mahasiswa tidak mempunyai pilihan selain meningkatkan kualiti serta
nilai tambah dalam diri mereka supaya tidak mudah tersingkir daripada arus persaingan semasa.
‘‘Dalam ekonomi yang berasaskan ilmu pengetahuan, bagaimana kita hendak menghadapinya dan kalau
kita tidak kuat dalam ilmu apa yang kita boleh buat.


‘‘(Saya) takut jika kita kurang yakin kerana kurang ilmu, globalisasi melanggar dunia juga... kita tidak boleh
lari daripada persaingan,” katanya.
Perdana Menteri berkata demikian ketika berucap merasmikan pelancaran program Gegar U! Warna-Warna
Malaysiaku - Suatu Lambang Perpaduan 2008 di Pusat Konvensyen Antarabangsa Putrajaya (PICC) di sini
hari ini.
Program tersebut adalah anjuran bersama Yayasan Budi Penyayang dan Kementerian Pengajian Tinggi.
Lebih 4,000 mahasiswa dan mahasiswi dari universiti awam dan swasta termasuk politeknik dan kolej
komuniti dari seluruh negara menghadiri majlis tersebut.


Perdana Menteri berkata, meskipun kerajaan menyedari tentang perlunya pembangunan ekonomi, sains
dan teknologi serta sosial, pembangunan modal insan tetap menjadi keutamaan yang paling penting.
‘‘Semua pembangunan itu tidak dapat dicapai jika kita kurang modal insan.
‘‘Rakyat negara ini tidak boleh menjadi bangsa yang mengharapkan kekuatan orang lain dan tidak boleh
sentiasa bergantung kepada tenaga pakar yang dipinjamkan,” katanya.


Tambah Abdullah, mahasiswa juga perlu sentiasa ingat bahawa Malaysia menjadi negara demokratik
dengan kewujudan institusi demokrasi yang berasaskan kepada perkongsian antara kaum dan agama.
Beliau menjelaskan, sudah sampai masa negara tidak boleh dibangunkan dengan kekuatan satu bangsa
tetapi ia disumbangkan oleh semua rakyat tanpa mengira kaum.
Jelasnya, meskipun dalam tempoh 50 tahun negara merdeka terdapat beberapa masalah tetapi ia dapat
diatasi apabila rakyat mengamalkan semangat muafakat dan saling menghormati.
Rahsia
‘‘Kerajaan demokratik yang melambangkan wakil-wakil semua kaum sebenarnya rahsia kemajuan negara
selama ini. Saya percaya kepada pendekatan ini kerana ia adalah paling wajar untuk diamalkan.


‘‘Perpaduan bukan slogan atau cerita-cerita tetapi kita pastikan ia jadi amalan setiap hari,” kata beliau.
Sementara itu, slogan ‘‘Runtuhkan tembok perkauman, bina saliran perkongsian dan muafakat, barulah
layak kita katakan, kita Anak Malaysia,” telah memberi tuah kepada pelajar jurusan perakaunan, Universiti
Malaya (UM), Khadijah Zahari, 21, apabila diumumkan sebagai pemenang pertandingan mencipta slogan
Program Gegar U! 2007.


Beliau menerima sebuah kereta Naza Sutera daripada Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad
Badawi pada majlis yang sama.
Pemenang kedua juga dimenangi pelajar jurusan perakaunan dari universiti yang sama, Mohd. Azali Abdan,
21, manakala tempat ketiga dimenangi pelajar jurusan fizik pendidikan, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
(UKM), Mohamad Zulhilmi Monel, 20.
Masing-masing membawa pulang motosikal berkuasa tinggi dan berkuasa rendah sumbangan Kumpulan
Naza.


Hadir sama Menteri Pengajian Tinggi, Datuk Mustapa Mohamed, Ketua Eksekutif Yayasan Budi
Penyayang, Datuk Leela Mohd. Ali dan Ketua Pengarang Kumpulan Utusan, Datuk Khalid Mohd
Tajuk Artikel : Jawatankuasa Kabinet basmi kemiskinan tegar ditubuh

Sumber / Tarikh : Utusan Malaysia Online 21 Januari 2008 – Isnin

Oleh ROSNI HASSAN

KUALA LUMPUR 20 Jan. – Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi hari ini mengumumkan penubuhan
Jawatankuasa Kabinet bagi membasmi kemiskinan tegar di kalangan semua kaum di negara ini.

Perdana Menteri berkata, penubuhan jawatankuasa itu selaras dengan sasaran kerajaan untuk
menghapuskan kemiskinan tegar menjelang 2010.

Menurut beliau, masalah kemiskinan masih wujud di negara ini dan ia tidak terhad kepada satu-satu kaum,
sebaliknya turut membabitkan semua kaum.

Abdullah menegaskan, dalam usaha membela nasib golongan miskin, kerajaan akan memastikan tidak ada
mana-mana kaum yang tertinggal.

‘‘Itu janji saya. BN (Barisan Nasional) akan berusaha bersungguh-sungguh menghapuskan kemiskinan
tegar yang dihadapi semua kaum.

‘‘Orang miskin mesti dibela. Saya bimbang jika mereka tidak dibela anak-anak masing-masing tidak dapat
belajar dengan sempurna,’’ kata Perdana Menteri ketika berucap pada Majlis Pemimpin Bersama Rakyat di
Stadium Badminton Cheras di sini.

Kira-kira 21,000 ahli dan penyokong MIC yang menghadiri perhimpunan itu memberikan tepukan gemuruh
ketika Perdana Menteri memasuki stadium bersama isterinya, Datin Seri Jeanne Abdullah.

Mereka turut melaungkan ‘Hidup Pak Lah’, ‘Hidup UMNO’, ‘Hidup MIC’, ‘Hidup Barisan Nasional’ sambil
membawa sepanduk-sepanduk tanda sokongan kepada kerajaan BN.

Abdullah berkata, kerajaan berjaya mengurangkan kadar kemiskinan daripada 60 peratus suatu masa dulu
kepada 5.7 peratus pada 2004.

‘‘Usaha untuk membasmi kemiskinan perlu diteruskan kerana ia melibatkan nasib dan masa depan rakyat.
Atas asas itu kerajaan bersungguh-sungguh untuk melaksanakannya,’’ kata beliau.

Dalam pada itu, Perdana Menteri berkata, oleh kerana Malaysia masih lagi membangun dan belum
mencapai tahap negara maju, banyak kerja perlu dilakukan.

‘‘Kita banyak lagi kerja, kawasan luar bandar perlu dibangunkan, kawasan bandar pula perlu dimajukan lagi.
Golongan miskin perlu kita jaga dan basmi kemiskinan tanpa mengira kaum,’’ katanya.

Sementara itu, Abdullah berkata, MIC merupakan rakan lama kepada UMNO dan merupakan parti yang
turut bersama MCA berjuang menuntut kemerdekaan.

‘‘Parti ini jugalah yang bersama-sama UMNO dan MCA membentuk Perikatan dan BN. Saya cukup
menghargai persahabatan yang telah lama terjalin ini.

‘‘Selama bertahun-tahun kita menghadapi masalah dan cabaran bersama dan kita bersetuju untuk
berpegang kuat kepada permuafakatan bersama ini,’’ kata beliau.
Abdullah berkata, atas asas itu juga pilihan raya umum akan datang bakal menyaksikan kerjasama dan
permuafakatan yang jitu antara parti komponen BN termasuk MIC.

Tambahnya, Presiden MIC, Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu sentiasa berjuang untuk masyarakat India dengan
menimbulkan pelbagai isu membabitkan kepentingan masyarakat India dalam mesyuarat Jemaah Menteri.

Mengenai majlis yang diadakan itu, Perdana Menteri berkata, beliau gembira dengan kehadiran begitu
ramai ahli dan penyokong MIC.

“Inilah kali pertama saya berada dalam perhimpunan MIC yang paling besar.

‘‘Kita rasa senang... bila ada apa-apa perayaan, kita sama-sama sambut. Saya tengok di luar (stadium)
beribu-ribu, di dalam sini pun ramai. Saya senang dengan sokongan ramai ini,” katanya.

Turut hadir pada majlis itu ialah Menteri Wilayah Persekutuan, Datuk Seri Zulhasnan Rafique, Menteri
Pembangunan Wanita, Keluarga dan Masyarakat, Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil serta pemimpin parti-
parti komponen BN di Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur.



Tajuk Artikel : Cuti umum Thaipusam di K. Lumpur, Putrajaya

Sumber / Tarikh : Utusan Malaysia Online 21 Januari 2008 – Isnin

KUALA LUMPUR 20 Jan. – Thaipusam kini adalah hari cuti umum bagi Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
dan Putrajaya, bermula dengan perayaan tahun ini yang akan disambut Rabu ini.

Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi berkata, kerajaan membuat keputusan menjadikan
Thaipusam cuti umum di Wilayah Persekutuan sebagai menghormati permintaan kaum India dan penganut
agama Hindu di negara ini.

‘‘Lagipun, setiap kali sambutan Thaipusam, jalan raya di Kuala Lumpur sesak,’’ katanya ketika berucap di
hadapan 21,000 ahli dan penyokong MIC yang kemudian memberikan tepukan gemuruh pada Majlis
Pemimpin Bersama Rakyat di Stadium Badminton Cheras di sini hari ini.

Sebelum ini, Thaipusam merupakan cuti umum hanya bagi Selangor, Pulau Pinang, Perak, Negeri
Sembilan dan Johor.

Kaum India, terutama yang tinggal di Kuala Lumpur, telah lama mengharapkan kerajaan mengisytiharkan
Thaipusam sebagai cuti umum. Ketika merasmikan Pesta Ponggal di Jalan Masjid India di sini malam tadi,
Perdana Menteri berjanji akan menimbangkan permintaan mereka.

Sementara itu, Presiden MIC, Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu dalam reaksinya terhadap pengumuman Perdana
Menteri merakamkan penghargaan bagi pihak kaum India atas keputusan kerajaan itu.

Menurut beliau, MIC telah memohon kepada kerajaan untuk menjadikan Thaipusam sebagai cuti umum
sejak 1986. Katanya, pengumuman itu adalah hadiah kepada kaum India dan beliau berharap pada
perayaan Thaipusam kali ini lebih ramai penganut Hindu dari Wilayah Persekutuan hadir (di Batu Caves)
untuk merayakannya.
Tajuk Artikel : Kanser serviks: Ambil sampel sel sendiri

Sumber / Tarikh : Utusan Malaysia Online 21 Januari 2008 – Isnin

Oleh FAIZAH IZZANI ZAKARIA

KUALA LUMPUR 20 Jan. – Golongan wanita mungkin tidak perlu lagi berjumpa dengan doktor untuk
membuat pemeriksaan awal kanser pangkal rahim (serviks) kerana mereka boleh melakukannya di rumah
dengan mengambil contoh sel palitan vagina sendiri.

Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) kini melakukan kajian bagi memperkenalkan penggunaan kaedah baru
palitan sendiri pangkal rahim bagi mengesan penyakit tersebut.

Pensyarah Fakulti Perubatan dan Sains Kesihatan UPM, Profesor Madya Dr. Latifah A. Latiff berkata,
kaedah tersebut akan dapat mengatasi perasaan malu yang sering menjadi punca wanita di negara ini
enggan menjalani pemeriksaan kanser itu di hospital atau klinik.

‘‘Selain malu, alasan yang selalu diberikan adalah tidak ada masa, jadi ini adalah satu cara untuk
membantu mereka,” katanya ketika ditemui pemberita di Karnival Kesihatan Kenanga 2008 di Kampung
Kenanga, Rawang dekat sini hari ini.

Karnival sehari itu dianjurkan oleh Fakulti Perubatan dan Sains Kesihatan UPM dan Jawatankuasa
Keselamatan dan Kemajuan Kampung (JKKK) di situ.

Beliau yang juga Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Induk penganjuran karnival itu berkata, kaedah tersebut
menggunakan alat palitan khas seperti kapas dinamakan “Kato’s self-scrapping method instrument” yang
dicipta di Jepun.

Latifah berkata, seseorang wanita hanya perlu mengambil sendiri sedikit sel vagina menggunakan alat
tersebut dan kemudian menyerahkannya kepada doktor. ‘‘Sampel sel yang diserahkan kemudian dibawa ke
makmal hospital atau klinik untuk disaring bagi mengesan penyakit kanser serviks,” katanya.

Menurutnya, ujian sendiri tersebut berbeza dengan pap smear yang memerlukan doktor untuk melakukan
palitan pada pangkal rahim wanita. Katanya, UPM sudah memulakan kajian terhadap responden yang
majoritinya tinggal di Selangor dan Lembah Klang sejak awal bulan ini dan penduduk di Kampung Kenanga
adalah responden pertama yang terlibat menjayakan kajian tersebut.

Tambahnya, UPM yang bekerjasama dengan Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) akan menjalankan
kajian terhadap penggunaan alat tersebut sehingga 2009 dan akan menganalisis keputusan yang diperoleh.

‘‘Selepas itu, jika berjaya, kita akan mengesyorkan kepada Kementerian Kesihatan bagi membolehkan
semua wanita yang berisiko penyakit itu menggunakan alat tersebut untuk membuat pemeriksaan awal
tanpa perlu berjumpa doktor,’’ katanya.

Latifah berkata, sejak mula diperkenalkan di Jepun, alat tersebut menerima sambutan baik di kalangan
wanita dan kini sudah di perkenalkan di Korea dan Thailand.

‘‘Banyak lagi yang kita akan kaji mengenai penggunaan alat ini termasuk kosnya. Kita harap wanita tidak
akan berlengah lagi untuk membuat pemeriksaan selepas alat ini diperkenalkan,” katanya.
Tajuk Artikel : Alumni PLKN sambut baik kenaikan elaun

Sumber / Tarikh : Utusan Malaysia Online 21 Januari 2008 – Isnin

KUALA LUMPUR 20 Jan. – Persatuan Alumni Program Latihan Khidmat Negara (PLKN) menyambut baik
pengumuman kenaikan kadar elaun pelatih PLKN sebanyak 50 peratus. Pengerusi Persatuan Alumni
PLKN, Mohd. Syafik Mohd. Taufik berkata, peningkatan elaun itu dapat menaikkan semangat pelatih untuk
menjalani aktiviti PLKN.

‘‘Kami berasa gembira dengan keprihatinan kerajaan menaikkan elaun pelatih PLKN. Saya percaya ia dapat
menaikkan lagi semangat dan inisiatif pelatih menjalani program latihan tersebut,’’ katanya ketika dihubungi
Utusan Malaysia di sini hari ini.

Semalam, kerajaan mengumumkan peningkatan elaun PLKN sebanyak RM150 sebulan berbanding RM100
sebelum ini kepada para pelatih PLKN berkuat kuasa serta- merta. ‘‘Saya berharap kenaikan elaun ini dapat
menarik minat lebih ramai belia untuk menyertai program latihan ini,’’ katanya.

Mohd. Syafik memberitahu, dalam PLKN pelatih-pelatih diajar mengenai pengurusan kewangan. Beliau
berharap para pelatih PLKN menggunakan elaun yang diberi sebaik mungkin.



Tajuk Artikel : Tiada miskin tegar 2010

Sumber / Tarikh : Berita Harian Online 21 Januari 2008 – Isnin

Oleh Azman Zakaria dan Magendran Rajagopal


Kerajaan janji kerja kuat, pastikan semua kaum terbela: PM

KUALA LUMPUR: Kerajaan akan menubuhkan jawatankuasa tertinggi di peringkat Kabinet untuk
menangani kemiskinan tegar di kalangan semua kaum di negara ini, kata Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad
Badawi.

Perdana Menteri berkata, kerajaan mensasarkan untuk menghapuskan kemiskinan tegar di kalangan
semua kaum pada 2010.

"Ini janji Barisan Nasional (BN), kita mesti hapuskan kemiskinan tegar semua kaum pada 2010. Saya akan
kerja selagi ada kekuatan, kerajaan akan bekerja... kita akan pastikan tidak ada mana-mana kaum
tertinggal, kita bela semua kaum.
"Ini janji saya kepada anda, kita akan terus bekerja," katanya pada Majlis Sepetang Bersama Perdana
Menteri anjuran MIC Wilayah Persekutuan yang dihadiri 21,000 orang di Stadium Badminton Kuala Lumpur,
Cheras, di sini, semalam.

Hadir sama, isterinya, Datin Seri Jeanne Abdullah; Menteri Kerjaraya yang juga Presiden MIC, Datuk Seri
Seri S Samy Vellu; Menteri Pembangunan Wanita, Keluarga dan Masyarakat, Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul
Jalil dan Menteri Wilayah Persekutuan, Datuk Seri Zulhasnan Rafique.

Dalam ucapan penuh bersemangat yang diiringi tepukan dan sorakan hadirin, Abdullah yang juga
Pengerusi BN memberi jaminan golongan miskin tidak akan dibiarkan, sebaliknya akan terus dibela.
"Kemiskinan bukan saja wujud di kalangan masyarakat India, tetapi masyarakat lain pun ada, China,
Melayu... kemiskinan tegar masih ada. "Walaupun pada awal kemerdekaan kadar kemiskinan adalah 60
peratus dan ia dapat dikurangkan kepada 5.7 peratus, yang miskin masih ada... sebab itu kita nak basmi.

"Kita akan terus berusaha sebaik mungkin, kita buat kerja untuk kurangkan masalah rakyat... kita negara
membangun belum mencapai tahap negara maju.

"Selama 50 tahun kita berjuang, kita akan meneruskan perjuangan itu... banyak lagi kerja yang perlu
dilakukan," katanya.

Perdana Menteri berkata, tiada siapa yang suka melihat negara ini mempunyai penduduk miskin kerana
semua orang mahukan kesenangan.

Katanya, antara pendekatan yang dilaksanakan kerajaan dalam membasmi kemiskinan ialah melalui
pelajaran dengan menyediakan pelbagai kemudahan, termasuk mengecualikan yuran peperiksaan sejak
2006 serta menghapuskan yuran persekolahan dan memberi buku teks percuma mulai tahun ini.

Beliau berkata, sekiranya kemudahan seperti itu tidak diberikan, ibu bapa akan berasa susah hati manakala
anak-anak akan kecewa jika tidak dapat menduduki peperiksaan.

"Saya tak mahu kerana miskin, anak-anak tak boleh belajar sebab anak-anak itulah nanti yang boleh
membantu ibu bapa. Saya nak semua belajar dan maju dari sekolah rendah termasuk sekolah jenis
kebangsaan hingga sekolah menengah serta universiti. Bila pandai boleh beri sumbangan," katanya.

Perdana Menteri juga mahu rakyat sentiasa mengamalkan sikap saling hormat menghormati dan muafakat
bagi mengekalkan keharmonian serta perpaduan kaum.

Katanya, pemuafakatan dan kerjasama akan memberi kekuatan kepada rakyat dan negara untuk
menghadapi cabaran.

"Melalui kerjasama kita akan berjaya, kita mesti jaga perpaduan, jangan timbulkan kekacauan," katanya
yang menegaskan Malaysia dikenali dunia sebagai negara aman makmur meskipun rakyatnya berbilang
bangsa dan agama.

Beliau juga berkata, MIC adalah rakan Umno dan MCA yang sama-sama berjuang menuntut kemerdekaan
negara dan kekal dalam BN yang berpegang kuat kepada persefahaman bersama serta pemuafakatan dan
membuat keputusan berdasarkan konsensus.

"Dalam mesyuarat Jemaah Menteri, kita buat keputusan apabila semua menteri yang hadir memberi
persetujuan, ertinya walaupun jika seorang tak bersetuju, kita akan berbincang sekali lagi," katanya.
Tajuk Artikel : 'Perpaduan kaum harus jadi amalan berterusan'

Sumber / Tarikh : Berita Harian Online 21 Januari 2008 – Isnin

Oleh Abdul Razak Raaff dan Haika Khazi


Kemajuan dicapai sejak merdeka berdasar kekuatan bersama: PM

PUTRAJAYA: Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi menegaskan perpaduan kaum bukan sekadar slogan,
tetapi setiap rakyat tanpa mengira bangsa dan agama perlu memastikan ia menjadi amalan kehidupan
sepanjang masa.

Perdana Menteri berkata, ini kerana setiap kejayaan dan kemajuan yang dicapai negara sejak merdeka
adalah berdasarkan kekuatan bersama semua kaum yang bergabung tenaga, idea dan pemikiran untuk
kemajuan negara.

"Kerajaan tidak boleh bergantung kepada kekuatan satu kaum saja untuk membangunkan negara. Malah,
rahsia kejayaan selama ini adalah kerana kerajaan mengamalkan perkongsian kuasa dan perpaduan antara
kaum hasil kebijaksanaan pemimpin terdahulu.

"Oleh itu, perpaduan hendaklah menjadi amalan rakyat setiap hari dan bukan hanya menjadi slogan atau
pengkisahan cerita semata-mata," katanya ketika melancarkan program Gegar U! Warna-Warna
Malaysiaku, Satu Lambang Perpaduan, di Pusat Konvensyen Antarabangsa Putrajaya (PICC) di sini,
semalam.

Program yang dihadiri lebih 4,000 pelajar institusi pengajian tinggi awam dan swasta tempatan itu adalah
anjuran bersama Yayasan Budi Penyayang Malaysia (Penyayang) dan Kementerian Pengajian Tinggi.

Hadir sama, Menteri Pengajian Tinggi, Datuk Mustapa Mohamed; Pengerusi Penyayang, Nori Abdullah dan
Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif Penyayang, Datuk Leela Mohd Ali.

Abdullah berkata, kemajuan negara menerusi kekuatan bersama itu menyaksikan rakyat pelbagai
keturunan dan agama boleh bekerjasama, bermuafakat dan saling menghormati, sekali gus mengukuhkan
perpaduan kaum.

"Saya percaya pendekatan amalan perkongsian kuasa yang benar-benar melambangkan wakil semua
kaum di negara ini adalah paling wajar diamalkan," katanya.

Selain itu, Perdana Menteri berkata, kerajaan tidak ketandusan idea dan rancangan membangunkan negara
untuk meneruskan agenda mencapai status negara maju dan membawa kemakmuran kepada rakyat
menerusi Misi Nasional dan Wawasan 2020.

Katanya, banyak kejayaan yang dicapai menerusi wawasan dan agenda negara seperti pembangunan
modal insan, meningkatkan keupayaan pembangunan dan penyelidikan (R&D), menambah bilangan saintis
serta menghasilkan teknologi baru.

Sehubungan itu, katanya, rakyat dituntut meningkatkan ilmu pengetahuan dan menambah nilai
pembangunan jati diri kerana ia adalah kunci kejayaan untuk negara bersaing dengan bangsa negara maju
lain serta menghadapi cabaran globalisasi.
"Jika ciri ini ada pada diri kita selain memastikan institusi kerajaan berkemampuan menyempurnakan
semua misi dan agenda negara dengan berkesan, maka negara boleh terus maju dan bergerak lebih jauh
seterusnya membezakan rakyat dan negara ini dengan negara lain serantau," katanya.

Perdana Menteri berkata, rakyat tidak perlu gentar dan takut berdepan cabaran globalisasi yang sedang
berlaku di seluruh dunia kecuali jika tidak membuat persiapan awal, termasuk tiada keyakinan tinggi dan
kekurangan ilmu pengetahuan.

Oleh itu, beliau menasihatkan rakyat tidak terus leka, sebaliknya terus bersaing dan memperkasakan diri
dengan menambah pelbagai ilmu pengetahuan.

"Walaupun kita berdepan cabaran dan masalah, tetapi masih ada peluang yang boleh direbut. Oleh itu, kita
hendaklah terus bersaing dan membangunkan semua sumber yang ada, termasuk modal insan," katanya.



Tajuk Artikel : 40 peratus tampil bayar PTPTN

Sumber / Tarikh : Berita Harian Online 21 Januari 2008 – Isnin

Oleh Nazura Ngah


Langkah halang ke luar negara berkesan

KUALA LUMPUR: Langkah Perbadanan Tabung Pendidikan Tinggi Nasional (PTPTN) menyerahkan
senarai individu yang ingkar membayar pinjaman kepada Jabatan Imigresen berkesan apabila 40 peratus
daripada mereka memulakan bayaran balik pinjaman masing-masing.

Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif PTPTN, Yunos Abdul Ghani, berkata mereka yang membayar dikeluarkan
daripada senarai ke Jabatan Imigresen.

Beliau berkata, sehingga kini nama 2,813 individu diserahkan kepada Jabatan Imigresen kerana gagal
memberi sebarang maklum balas kepada PTPTN.

"Seramai 200,000 gagal membayar balik pinjaman tetapi setakat ini hanya 2,813 sudah dilaporkan ke pihak
imigresen. Daripada jumlah itu, 40 peratus memulakan bayaran dan dikeluarkan daripada senarai," katanya.

Khamis lalu akhbar melaporkan PTPTN menyerahkan senarai 200,000 individu yang ingkar membayar
pinjaman kepada Jabatan Imigresen bagi menghalang mereka ke luar negara, termasuk mengerjakan haji
atau umrah.

Pengerusi PTPTN, Datuk Razali Ismail, berkata pihaknya sudah meminta Jabatan Imigresen tidak
membenarkan penama dalam senarai itu ke luar negara sebelum merujuk mereka kepada perbadanan
berkenaan.

Senarai nama peminjam ingkar itu juga akan dihantar kepada Jabatan Perkhidmatan Awam (JPA) yang
akan mengenakan tindakan tatatertib terhadap mereka jika bertugas sebagai kakitangan awam.
Yunos berkata, buat masa ini perbadanan sudah mengambil tindakan sewajarnya mengikut lunas undang-
undang dan dari semasa ke semasa akan terus menyenaraikan nama mereka yang bersikap acuh tak acuh
dalam soal pembayaran balik pinjaman.

Daripada 534,000 peminjam di seluruh negara, hanya 40 peratus atau 324,000 menjelaskan pinjaman
mengikut jadual, manakala lebih 200,000 masih tidak membuat sebarang bayaran walaupun
kebanyakannya bekerja.

Kegagalan membayar balik menyebabkan PTPTN dibebani hutang tertunggak RM700 juta selain
menghadapi masalah menyalurkan pinjaman baru kepada mereka yang memerlukan.



Tajuk Artikel : Elaun naik disokong

Sumber / Tarikh : Berita Harian Online 21 Januari 2008 – Isnin

SEREMBAN: Kelab Alumni Program Latihan Khidmat Negara (PLKN) semalam menyambut baik langkah
kerajaan menaikkan elaun pelatih PLKN sebanyak 50 peratus berkuat kuasa serta-merta.

Presidennya, Mohd Syafik Mohd Taufik, berkata kenaikan elaun itu membuktikan kerajaan sentiasa
memandang serius perjalanan PLKN yang telah menunjukkan keberkesanannya.

“Kelab Alumni PLKN percaya kenaikan elaun ini akan dapat meningkatkan semangat pelatih yang menjalani
latihan dan akan menggalakkan lebih ramai remaja mendaftar secara sukarela,” katanya ketika dihubungi
semalam.

Kelmarin, Timbalan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Razak mengumumkan elaun bulanan RM100 yang
diterima pelatih PLKN ketika ini dinaikkan kepada RM150 sebulan atau keseluruhan RM450 sepanjang
tempoh tiga bulan mengikuti latihan, berbanding RM300 sebelum ini.

Pembayaran pertama elaun latihan kadar baru itu akan dibuat bulan ini membabitkan 31,848 pelatih
kumpulan pertama siri 5/2008 yang sudah mendaftar di 83 kem latihan di seluruh negara. - Bernama



Tajuk Artikel : Jurulatih kaum Cina, India di setiap kem PLKN

Sumber / Tarikh : Berita Harian Online 21 Januari 2008 – Isnin

SUBANG JAYA: Majlis Latihan Khidmat Negara (MLKN) akan menempatkan sekurang-kurangnya seorang
jurulatih berbangsa Cina dan India di setiap kem Program Latihan Khidmat Negara (PLKN) di seluruh
negara bagi mengelakkan masalah komunikasi di kalangan pelatih yang kurang mahir berbahasa Malaysia.

Pengerusinya, Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye, berkata walaupun peratusan pelatih PLKN yang tidak mahir
berbahasa Malaysia adalah kecil, pihaknya tetap memandang serius masalah berkenaan kerana ia akan
mengganggu kelancaran program itu.

"Setakat ini, kita hanya mempunyai tidak sampai lima peratus jurulatih berbangsa Cina dan hanya enam
peratus berbangsa India daripada 3,000 jurulatih di 83 kem PLKN di seluruh negara.
"Kita akan merangka strategi bagi mengatasi masalah ini dengan mengadakan perjumpaan dengan
persatuan kaum Cina bagi menggalakkan mereka menceburi bidang ini," katanya selepas menghadiri majlis
penyampaian anugerah kepada 196 Anak Angkat Yayasan SP Setia, di sini, semalam.

Hadir sama, Pemegang Amanah Yayasan SP Setia, Tan Sri Aseh Che Mat dan Pengarah Urusan
Kumpulan SP Setia Berhad, Tan Sri Liew Kee Sin.

Lee berkata, bekas guru yang berminat untuk menjadi jurulatih di kem PLKN juga amat dialu-alukan dan
berjanji permohonan mereka akan diproses dengan segera kerana mereka mempunyai banyak pengalaman
yang boleh digunakan untuk melatih pelatih.

Selain itu, katanya, pengambilan jurulatih kontrak juga dijangka akan dilaksanakan Mac ini bagi
memudahkan latihan PLKN dijalankan kerana setakat ini jurulatih hanya bekerja secara sambilan.

Mengulas mengenai elaun pelatih yang dinaikkan sebanyak 50 peratus, Lee berkata, ia adalah satu
keputusan wajar sejajar dengan keadaan ekonomi bagi membolehkan pelatih membeli barangan keperluan
tanpa membebankan ibu bapa.

"Kenaikan elaun ini berkuat kuasa serta-merta untuk 37,000 pelatih yang sedang mengikuti latihan itu dan
saya mendapat banyak panggilan daripada ibu bapa yang gembira dengan keputusan kerajaan menaikkan
elaun itu. "Apa diharapkan, pelatih dapat menggunakan wang elaun terbabit dengan bijak dan menabung
untuk keperluan masa depan," katanya.

Akhbar semalam melaporkan, Timbalan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Razak mengumumkan kenaikan
elaun bulanan pelatih PLKN daripada RM100 kepada RM150 atau RM450 sepanjang tempoh latihan
membabitkan peruntukan sebanyak RM49.5 juta.

Mengenai sambutan pelatih sukarela, Lee berkata, ia menunjukkan perkembangan positif apabila 650
pelatih mendaftarkan diri untuk mengikuti Siri 5/2008. Katanya, mereka akan mengisi kekosongan pelatih
yang melanjutkan pelajaran atau sedang menghadapi peperiksaan.



Tajuk Artikel : Permohonan Cuepacs masih diteliti

Sumber / Tarikh : Berita Harian Online 21 Januari 2008 – Isnin

KUALA LUMPUR: Kerajaan belum menolak permohonan Cuepacs untuk melanjutkan umur bersara wajib
kakitangan awam daripada 56 tahun kepada 60 tahun, kata Presidennya, Omar Osman. Beliau berkata,
Ketua Setiausaha Negara (KSN), Tan Sri Tan Sri Mohd Sidek Hassan menjelaskan kepada Cuepacs
permohonan itu sedang dalam perhatian kerajaan.

“Saya terkejut dengan kenyataan Timbalan Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri Datuk Abdul Abdul Rahman
Suliman kerajaan tidak bersedia memenuhi cadangan itu. “Ketika pertemuan Majlis Tertinggi Cuepacs
diketuai saya dengan Mohd Sidek di pejabatnya di Putrajaya pada 7 Januari lalu, perkara itu turut
dibangkitkan dan beliau menyatakan perkara itu dalam perhatian kerajaan dan tidak dinyatakan ia ditolak,”
katanya ketika dihubungi semalam.

Baru-baru ini, Abdul Rahman berkata, kerajaan tidak bercadang melanjutkan umur persaraan kakitangan
awam secara keseluruhannya daripada 56 kepada 60 tahun, sebaliknya lanjutan perkhidmatan secara
kontrak satu atau dua tahun bagi jawatan kritikal. Katanya, jika umur persaraan dilanjutkan untuk 1.2 juta
kakitangan awam, ia akan membawa masalah kerana ada kakitangan tidak memberi perkhidmatan terbaik
pada peringkat umur itu, tetapi terus bertugas.

Ditanya dakwaan ia menyekat peluang pekerjaan baru dan kenaikan pangkat, Omar berkata pandangan itu
nyatakan pihak berfikiran sempit dan tidak menghargai pengalaman kakitangan awam. Katanya,
sebenarnya dalam konteks perkhidmatan awam, negara maju sudah lama mengamalkan umur bersara
wajib sehingga 60 tahun termasuk negara jiran Singapura.

“Pengalaman seseorang kakitangan awam tidak boleh diperoleh dalam masa singkat apa lagi jika masih
mampu memberi sumbangan lebih baik kepada tugas masing-masing,” katanya.

Mengenai permintaan sagu hati RM2,000, beliau berkata kerajaan hanya menanggung kira-kira RM2.4
bilion jika bersetuju membayar maksimum RM2,000 kepada setiap kakitangan awam yang membabitkan
1.2 juta orang.




Tajuk Artikel : Lencana ikut prestasi diterima baik

Sumber / Tarikh : Berita Harian Online 21 Januari 2008 – Isnin

KUALA LUMPUR: Arahan pemakaian lencana khas dengan warna berbeza mengikut prestasi kerja wakil
rakyat dan pegawai tinggi kerajaan di Selangor mendapat maklum balas positif pelbagai pihak.

Pertubuhan bukan kerajaan (NGO), persatuan dan ahli politik berpendapat ia langkah berani kerajaan
Selangor mempertingkatkan mutu perkhidmatan dan memperkemas sistem penyampaian kerajaan.
Bagaimanapun, mereka mengingatkan ia boleh menjadi anti-produktif jika sistem penilaian bagi mengukur
tahap prestasi dan pekerja longgar, tidak telus dan tidak objektif.

Presiden Cuepacs, Omar Osman, berkata cadangan itu adalah usaha bernas memberi tekanan positif
kepada wakil rakyat dan pegawai tinggi kerajaan mempertingkatkan mutu dan prestasi kerja mereka.

“Bagaimanapun, pemakaian lencana mengikut warna perlu dikembangkan dan diperluaskan kepada
kepada pegawai peringkat pertengahan dan selepas itu kepada seluruh kakitangan kerajaan negeri.
“Ini bagi memastikan usaha mempertingkatkan mutu dan prestasi perkhidmatan kerajaan kepada seluruh
jentera pentadbiran kerajaan. Orang ramai sebenarnya akan selalu berurusan dengan kakitangan dan
pegawai biasa,” katanya.

Beliau mengulas kenyataan Menteri Besar Selangor, Datuk Seri Dr Mohamad Khir Toyo yang akan
mewajibkan wakil rakyat dan pegawai tinggi kerajaan Selangor memakai lencana khas yang warnanya akan
ditentukan berdasarkan prestasi dan produktiviti kerja.

Dr Mohamad Khir berkata, berdasarkan Sistem Kad Prestasi (SKP) yang diperkenalkan tahun lalu, prestasi
kerja dinilai berdasarkan warna iaitu biru bagi perkhidmatan cemerlang, hijau untuk baik, kuning untuk
memuaskan dan merah untuk perkhidmatan kurang memuaskan.

Setiausaha Pemuda Umno, Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan, berkata semua pihak perlu memberi sokongan
supaya cadangan itu dapat dilaksanakan dengan berkesan.
Tajuk Artikel : Kaedah baru kesan barah pangkal rahim

Sumber / Tarikh : Berita Harian Online 21 Januari 2008 – Isnin




                       KAEDAH BARU: Dr Latifah menunjukkan alat baru untuk
                     mengesan barah pangkal rahim dan panduan menggunakannya
                     pada pelancaran Karnival Kesihatan Kenanga (3K), di Rawang,
                                              semalam.



RAWANG: Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) akan memperkenalkan kaedah baru mengesan barah pangkal
rahim yang boleh dilakukan sendiri di rumah tanpa perlu pengawasan doktor yang dijadual bermula tahun
depan.

Kaedah berasal dari Jepun yang dikenali sebagai kaedah calitan pangkal rahim yang menggunakan
peralatan berbentuk silinder dinamakan Kato itu, berupaya menghilangkan perasaan malu kebanyakan
wanita yang sebelum ini enggan membuat pemeriksaan lumuran pap (pap smear).

Penyelidik dan Pensyarah Fakulti Perubatan dan Sains Kesihatan UPM, Prof Madya Dr Latifah Abdul Latiff,
berkata kaedah itu kini dalam proses kajian penerimaan di kalangan beberapa sukarelawan wanita sebelum
diperkenalkan kepada hospital dan klinik di seluruh negara.

"Sebelum ini, 80 peratus wanita Malaysia tidak mahu langsung membuat pemeriksaan lumuran pap (pap
smear) disebabkan terlalu malu kerana ia dilakukan oleh doktor atau individu lain, tapi dengan kaedah ini
mereka dapat melakukan ujian sendiri di rumah sebelum menghantarnya ke hospital.

"Ujian menggunakan kaedah calitan itu tidak menyakitkan, tidak mengambil masa lama, mudah dilakukan,
tidak mudah tercemar jika dilakukan dengan betul serta berupaya mengesan kewujudan sel barah dengan
ketepatan tinggi," katanya selepas pelancaran Karnival Kesihatan Kenanga (3K), di sini, semalam.

Dr Latifah berkata, jika ujian yang dilakukan menerima maklum balas positif positif, UPM menjangkakan
kaedah itu akan diperkenalkan lebih awal untuk manfaat wanita Malaysia bagi mengesan barah pangkal
rahim lebih awal.
Beliau berkata, kaedah itu diperkenalkan di Jepun sejak 1998 dan sudah digunakan di beberapa negara
termasuk Thailand dan Korea Selatan yang berupaya meningkatkan peratusan wanita untuk membuat
pemeriksaan sendiri.

"Penggunaan kaedah itu di negara terbabit berjaya mengesan sehingga 60 peratus pesakit yang dikesan
dengan barah pangkal rahim dan ini membolehkan rawatan susulan diberikan segera.

"Ujian lumuran pap penting dijadikan sebagai sebahagian daripada pemeriksaan kesihatan rutin setahun
sekali dan diharapkan ia meningkatkan kesedaran wanita Malaysia terhadap risiko kanser yang menjadi
pembunuh nombor dua selepas barah payu dara," katanya.

Beliau berkata, adalah malang bagi golongan wanita jika tidak dapat mengesan barah pangkal rahim lebih
awal kerana ia adalah satu-satunya barah yang boleh dicegah.



Tajuk Artikel : Simpan elaun PLKN

Sumber / Tarikh : Harian Metro Online 21 Januari 2008 – Isnin

Oleh Erywan Norshal
SUBANG JAYA: Pelatih Program Latihan Khidmat Negara (PLKN) dinasihatkan menabung dan
menggunakan wang sebaik mungkin selepas kerajaan mengumumkan kenaikan elaun mereka sebanyak 50
peratus, kelmarin.

Pengerusi Majlis Latihan Khidmat Negara (MLKN), Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye, berkata amalan menabung
adalah satu tabiat baik yang boleh mendidik pelatih daripada membazir.

Beliau berkata, kenaikan RM300 kepada RM450 bagi tempoh tiga bulan itu, sudah cukup membantu dan
meringankan beban ibu bapa terutama mereka berpendapatan rendah.

“Kenaikan elaun itu amat sesuai kerana kebanyakan harga barangan sudah meningkat dan memeningkan
ibu bapa untuk membeli peralatan anak mereka.

“Pagi ini (semalam), ramai ibu bapa menelefon saya dan kebanyakan mereka gembira dan berterima kasih
kepada kerajaan mengenai kenaikan elaun 50 peratus itu,” katanya selepas merasmikan Anugerah
Kecemerlangan 2007 anjuran Yayasan S P Setia, di sini, semalam.

Hadir sama, Pemegang Amanah Yayasan SP Setia, Tan Sri Aseh Che Mat dan Pengarah Urusan
Kumpulan SP Setia Berhad, Tan Sri Liew Kee Sin.

Timbalan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Razak kelmarin mengumumkan kenaikan elaun pelatih PLKN
sebanyak 50 peratus, berkuat kuasa serta-merta, sebagai menghargai komitmen dan sumbangan mereka
menjalani program itu.

Elaun bulanan RM100 yang diterima kini, dinaikkan kepada RM150 atau keseluruhan RM450 sepanjang
tempoh tiga bulan berbanding RM300 sebelum ini.

Pembayaran pertama elaun latihan kadar baru itu akan dibuat bulan ini membabitkan 31,848 pelatih
Kumpulan Pertama 1 Siri 5/2008 yang sudah mendaftar di 83 kem latihan di seluruh negara.
Selain itu, Lee berkata, MLKN akan mengkaji bayaran gaji secara kontrak kepada jurulatih PLKN pada
Kumpulan Kedua Siri 5/2008 yang bermula pada Mac ini.

“Bayaran mengikut kontrak kepada jurulatih adalah untuk menukar sistem lama iaitu pembayaran gaji
mengikut hari mereka bekerja.

“Keadaan ini juga menyuntik semangat jurulatih mengajar bersungguh-sungguh,” katanya.

dan berharap boleh menggalakkan lagi penyertaan daripada keturunan Cina dan India menjadi tenaga
pengajar baru,” katanya.

Sebelum itu, Lee menyampaikan 169 anugerah kecemerlangan kepada anak angkat SP Setia yang
mendapat keputusan cemerlang dalam peperiksaan Ujian Pencapaian Sekolah Rendah (UPSR) 2007.

Beliau juga memegang Pengerusi Yayasan SP Setia berkata, seramai 653 anak angkat SP Setia
mengambil peperiksaan UPSR tahun lalu dan 87 orang daripadanya mendapat A dalam semua subjek.

“Selebihnya, 67 pelajar mendapat A dalam empat hingga enam subjek, manakala 42 orang lagi diberi
penghargaan berdasarkan peningkatan prestasi keputusan peperiksaan yang amat baik,” katanya.

Sementara itu, langkah berkenaan turut mendapat reaksi positif di kalangan bekas peserta PLKN yang rata-
ratanya bersetuju dengan kenaikan terbabit.

Bekas pelatih PLKN, Bushra Suib, 20, berkata tindakan kerajaan menaikkan elaun dianggap sebagai
langkah positif dan memberi pelbagai faedah serta kelebihan kepada pelatih baru.

“Selain meringankan beban ditanggung keluarga, elaun berkenaan diharap dapat menyemarakkan
semangat mereka sepanjang menjalani latihan sekali gus memberikan prestasi terbaik dalam program
berkenaan,” katanya.



Tajuk Artikel : Sektor tani jana ekonomi

Sumber / Tarikh : Harian Metro Online 21 Januari 2008 – Isnin

Oleh Hassan Omar


KOTA KINABALU: Koridor Pembangunan Sabah (SDC) yang bakal dilancarkan Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad
Badawi, di sini, 29 Januari ini, meletakkan sektor pertanian sebagai strategi pembangunan terpenting,
selain perindustrian dan pelancongan.

Sektor pertanian penyumbang kedua terbesar Keluaran Dalam Negeri Kasar (GDP) Sabah, iaitu 28 peratus
atau RM4.1 bilion pada 2005.

Bagi tempoh 2001-2005, sektor pertanian tumbuh pada kadar enam peratus setahun, lebih tinggi daripada
kadar pertumbuhan lima peratus yang dicatatkan di peringkat kebangsaan pada tempoh yang sama.
Satu daripada sektor pertanian berpotensi besar membawa perubahan dalam sosioekonomi anggota
masyarakat, terutama yang selama ini miskin ialah Program Lonjakan Mega Luar Bandar (PLMLB) di Pulau
Banggi, dekat Kudat.

PLMLB dilancarkan Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi pada 11 Ogos 2007. Ia bermatlamat mengubah
nasib 1,000 Ketua Isi Rumah Miskin Tegar (KIRMT) daripada hanya berpendapatan RM400 sebulan
kepada RM1,200 sebulan.

Pelaksanaannya di utara Sabah mampu menjana kegiatan ekonomi baru, khusus membabitkan masyarakat
berpendapatan rendah yang majoritinya etnik Melayu Ubian, Balabak, Bajau dan etnik Bonggi.

Pulau Banggi dikenali antara pulau paling miskin di negara ini dengan kebanyakan penduduknya hanya
bergantung kepada sektor pertanian sara diri seperti cili api, ubi kayu, jagung, pisang dan sayur-sayuran.

PLMLB yang berpaksikan kepada projek Agropolitan (bandar dalam kawasan pertanian) yang dimajukan
Kementerian Kemajuan Luar Bandar dan Wilayah (KKLBW) melalui Felcra Bhd membabitkan kos
keseluruhan RM167.36 juta.

PLMLB dimajukan mengikut Rancangan Malaysia Kesembilan (RMK-9) menyediakan kehidupan lebih
selesa untuk peserta, selain pelbagai kemajuan untuk 13,000 penduduk yang lain.

Seramai 1,000 peserta terbabit akan mengusahakan empat hektar kebun getah yang ditanam Felcra sejak
April 2007 dan bakal menuai hasilnya enam tahun lagi.

Kalangan 1,000 KIRMT itu dipilih peserta PLMLB melalui penapisan kerajaan negeri berdasarkan bancian
Felcra dan Pejabat Daerah Banggi.

Dengan diberikan upah menoreh RM450 sebulan dan ditambah dividen RM600 sebulan, peserta terbabit
bakal memperoleh pendapatan jauh lebih tinggi berbanding pendapatan sebagai nelayan atau
mengusahakan kebun dengan tulang empat kerat.

Tinjauan di pulau itu baru-baru ini mendapati peringkat awal pelaksanaan PLMLB menyediakan landasan
untuk masyarakat miskin tegar, termasuk etnik Bonggi mengubah nasib.

Selepas sekian lama mereka dihimpit kemiskinan berikutan faktor geografi pulau ini yang jauh di utara
Sabah, kini mereka berpeluang meningkatkan sosioekonomi.

Jika sebelum ini mereka hanya bergantung rezeki kepada pertanian sara diri, kini mereka menikmati
pendapatan tetap hasil titis keringat yang jatuh ke bumi.

Sejak April lalu, seramai 64 Orang Asli Bonggi dari 10 kampung di pulau ini mula menikmati pendapatan
tetap hasil pelaksanaan PLMLB.

Dengan memperoleh upah secara harian dan upah secara borong, mereka yang sebelum ini terpaksa
berpuas hati dengan pendapatan kecil dan tidak menentu, kini mampu tersenyum.

Mereka bekerja di tapak semaian pokok getah seluas 20 hektar di Kampung Kapitangan, di utara Pulau
Banggi yang dimiliki Felcra Bhd.

Mereka yang hidup dalam kemiskinan, berpeluang mengubah nasib keluarga dengan mengisi tanah dalam
beg plastik untuk pembesaran benih pokok getah.
Mereka juga diberikan tugas mengendalikan pancutan air dari paip utama ke benih pokok dan memastikan
keselamatan di sekeliling tapak semaian pada waktu malam.

Penyelia Felcra di tapak semaian itu, Sulaiman Awang Kassim berkata, seramai enam pekerja diberikan
kadar upah RM15 sehari manakala 54 lagi diberikan upah secara borong.

Empat etnik Bonggi mengendalikan paip memancutkan air ke benih pokok getah dan dua lagi bertugas
sebagai pengawal keselamatan.

Setiap pekerja yang menerima upah borong, diberikan upah 10 sen bagi setiap beg plastik yang diisi
dengan tanah. Puratanya, 60 pekerja itu boleh menyiapkan 10,000 beg plastik sehari.

Benih berkenaan diperoleh daripada Risda, Golden Hope Bhd dan Lembaga Industri Getah Sabah (LIGS).
Ia dibiarkan membesar selama tiga bulan di tapak semaian sebelum dipindahkan ke ladang seluas 4,000
hektar.

FAKTA PLMLB di Pulau Banggi

- Berkonsepkan Agropolitan

- RM167.36 juta kos keseluruhan

- Matlamat - mengeluarkan 1,000 KIRMT daripada kemiskinan

- 13,000 penduduk menikmati kehidupan lebih sempurna

- 1,000 peserta mengusahakan empat hektar kebun getah Felcra

- Pokok getah boleh ditoreh enam tahun lagi

- Peserta diberi hak agihan dividen bersamaan empat hektar kebun getah

- Upah menoreh RM450 sebulan dan dividen RM600 sebulan




Tajuk Artikel : Polis Periksa Lebih 10,000 Rumah Kesan Sharlinie

Sumber / Tarikh : Bernama Online 21 Januari 2008 – Isnin

PETALING JAYA, 20 Jan (Bernama) -- Polis telah memeriksa lebih 10,000 rumah di sekitar Petaling Jaya
sejak berita kehilangan Sharlinie Mohd Nashar, 5, dilaporkan hilang pada 9 Jan lalu.

Ketua Polis Daerah Petaling Jaya, ACP Arjunaidi Mohamed berkata, biarpun usaha mencari Sharlinie
gagal, polis tidak berputus asa sebaliknya akan memperhebatkan lagi pemeriksaan rumah yang dicurigai
berpandukan maklumat orang ramai.

Kira-kira 1,000 rumah diperiksa setiap hari dan bagaimanapun polis tidak menemui sebarang bukti
menunjukkan Sharlinie pernah disembunyikan di situ, katanya kepada pemberita di pejabatnya di sini hari
ini.

Beliau berkata, setakat ini setiap pemilik rumah memberikan kerjasama kepada polis biarpun tindakan
memeriksa dari rumah ke rumah ini dianggap agresif kerana orang ramai sedia maklum mengenai
kehilangan kanak-kanak tersebut.

Walaupun Petaling Jaya mempunyai kapasiti penduduk mencecah 1.6 juta orang, namun penghuni daerah
itu termasuk Rukun Tetangga (RT) memberikan kerjasama penuh dan setakat ini belum ada kes mereka
menghalang rumahnya diperiksa, katanya.

Katanya polis juga menyiasat beberapa maklumat yang dihantar ke telefon bimbit bapa Sharlinie, Mohd
Nashar Mat Hussein yang kini dalam simpanan polis.

"Perkara ini tidak menjamin ada perkembangan terbaru kes tersebut dalam tempoh sehari dua lagi seperti
yang dilaporkan sebuah akhbar baru-baru ini," katanya.

Sharlinie atau dikenali sebagai Nini dilapor hilang kira-kira pukul 11.30 pagi ketika bermain bersama
kakaknya Sharliena, 8, di taman permainan Kanak-kanak Taman Medan di sini yang jaraknya hanya 200
meter dari rumah mereka.-- BERNAMA




Tajuk Artikel : Sebuah J/kuasa Tertinggi Ditubuh Atasi Kemiskinan Tegar
Semua Kaum

Sumber / Tarikh : Bernama Online 21 Januari 2008 – Isnin

KUALA LUMPUR, 20 Jan (Bernama) -- Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi hari ini berkata kerajaan akan
menubuhkan satu jawatankuasa peringkat tertinggi untuk menangani masalah kemiskinan tegar dalam
kalangan semua kaum di negara ini.

Perdana Menteri berkata kerajaan mensasarkan untuk menghapuskan kemiskinan tegar dalam kalangan
semua kaum menjelang 2010.

Beliau berkata masalah kemiskinan masih wujud di negara ini dan ia tidak terhad kepada satu-satu kaum
sahaja kerana masalah itu dihadapi semua kaum.

Namun, katanya kerajaan berjaya mengurangkan kadar kemiskinan daripada 60 peratus pada suatu masa
dulu kepada 5.7 peratus pada 2004.

"Soal mengurangkan kemiskinan masih ada... Sebab itu sampai hari ini kita bercakap nak membasmi
kemiskinan," katanya berucap pada majlis Pemimpin Bersama Rakyat di Stadium Badminton Kuala Lumpur
di Cheras hari ini.

Perdana Menteri berkata Malaysia masih lagi membangun dan belum mencapai tahap negara maju.

"Kita masih ada banyak lagi kerja. Kawasan luar bandar perlu dibangunkan, kawasan bandar pula perlu
dimajukan lagi. Golongan miskin (di semua kawasan) perlu dibela," katanya.

Dalam usaha membela nasib golongan miskin di negara ini, Abdullah berkata kerajaan akan memastikan
tidak akan ada mana-mana kaum yang tertinggal.

"Itu janji saya," katanya.

Abdullah berkata kerajaan tidak mahu melihat persekolahan mana-mana kanak-kanak di negara ini
terhalang disebabkan masalah kemiskinan kerana hanya ilmu pengetahuan dan pelajaran yang boleh
memajukan sesebuah keluarga dan negara ini.

Perdana Menteri berkata sebab itulah kerajaan menghapuskan yuran peperiksaan pada tahun lepas dan
menghapuskan yuran persekolahan, skim pinjaman buku teks kepada semua pelajar pada tahun ini di
samping memberi bantuan daripada segi pakaian serta makanan kepada pelajar yang memerlukan.

Abdullah, yang juga Pengerusi Barisan Nasional (BN), berkata MIC merupakan satu parti yang setia sejak
zaman Parti Perikatan kepada zaman BN dan sehingga sekarang.

"Kita tidak boleh lupa pada MIC... Kalau MIC ada apa-apa masalah kita sedia membantu supaya ia boleh
terus berjuang dalam BN," katanya.

Abdullah berkata BN berpegang teguh kepada persefahaman, permuafakatan dan apa yang telah
dipersetujui bersama ketika merdeka.

Katanya Presiden MIC Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu sentiasa berjuang untuk masyarakat India dengan
menimbulkan pelbagai isu membabitkan kepentingan masyarakat India dalam mesyuarat Jemaah Menteri.

Abdullah berkata pada keseluruhannya hubungan kaum di negara ini adalah baik walaupun kadang kala
ada masalah timbul.

"Kita rasa senang... Bila ada apa-apa perayaan kita sama-sama sambut," katanya, sambil menyatakan rasa
gembira dengan kehadiran ramai orang pada majlis itu.

"Saya tengok di luar beribu-ribu, di dalam sini pun ramai. Saya senang dengan sokongan ramai ini,"
katanya.

Kira-kira 21,000 anggota dan penyokong MIC dan kaum India menghadiri perhimpunan itu dan memberikan
tepukan meriah apabila Perdana Menteri memasuki stadium bersama dengan isterinya Datin Seri Jeanne
Abdullah.

Mereka turut melaungkan "Hidup Barisan Nasional, Hidup Pak Lah" di samping membawa sepanduk
sebagai tanda sokongan kepada kerajaan Barisan Nasional.

Yang turut hadir Menteri Wilayah Persekutuan Datuk Seri Zulhasnan Rafique, Menteri Pembangunan
Wanita, Keluarga dan Masyarakat Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil serta pemimpin parti-parti komponen BN
Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur.
Tajuk Artikel : Utamakan Perpaduan, Asas Utama Malaysia Stabil Dan
Berjaya - PM

Sumber / Tarikh : Bernama Online 21 Januari 2008 – Isnin

PUTRAJAYA, 20 Jan (Bernama) -- Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi berkata falsafah kerajaan yang
mengutamakan perpaduan dan kerjasama antara kaum, merupakan asas penting yang menjadikan
Malaysia sebuah negara demokrasi, yang maju dan stabil.

"Kita utamakan perpaduan dan kerjasama antara kaum kerana kita inginkan perpaduan yang boleh menjadi
asas yang kuat untuk membina kestabilan melalui pemuafakatan rakyat berbilang kaum dan agama di
Malaysia," kata Perdana Menteri.

Beliau berkata tidak ada ertinya negara merdeka, jika martabat bangsa dan permuafakatan tidak
ditingkatkan.

"Apa erti kemerdekaan dan kedaulatan jika rakyat tidak ada harga diri. Oleh sebab (itu) kita mundur.

"Lebih buruk lagi jika kita sentiasa bergaduh sesama sendiri dan memporakperandakan situasi dalam
negara kita sehingga tiada kesempatan untuk memberi perhatian sepenuhnya bagi menjayakan usaha
membangunkan negara dan bangsa," katanya pada Perhimpunan Perpaduan Mahasiswa Institusi
Pengajian Tinggi "Gegar U," anjuran Yayasan Budi Penyayang di sini hari ini.

Abdullah berkata rakyat juga perlu ingat bahawa kejayaan negara dari satu tahap ke satu tahap dalam
masa 50 tahun merdeka, adalah hasil usaha kerajaan memajukan modal insan melalui sistem pendidikan
negara.

Pelbagai rancangan pembangunan yang dirancang kerajaan dan kejayaan yang diharapkan daripadanya
tidak akan tercapai jika negara kekurangan tenaga kerja akibat daripada kegagalan pembangunan modal
insannya, katanya.

Disebabkan itu kerajaan memberikan penekanan terhadap pembangunan modal insan.

"(kerana) Kita bukanlah bangsa yang mengharapkan negara kita ini dibina dengan kekuatan orang lain dan
bukan bergantung kepada pakar atau eksekutif yang kita pinjam atau diberi kontrak untuk bekerja dengan
kita.

"Kita bukanlah bangsa yang terpaksa mengemis atau meminta bantuan kewangan daripada agensi-agensi
dunia bahkan apabila kita menghadapi krisis mata wang dulu kita tidak meminta bantuan dan pertolongan
kepakaran daripada IMF (Tabung Kewangan Antarabangsa). Kita juga bisa menghadapi waktu-waktu
kemelesetan ekonomi," katanya.

Perdana Menteri berkata semua permasalahan ini dapat diatasi menerusi kepimpinan dan kerjasama rakyat
daripada semua golongan hasil daripada pembanguan modal insan yang berjaya.-- BERNAMA