Regulations coming into force in 2009

Making New Year resolutions is an annual ritual for many. In addition, here is a reminder of several laws and regulations which come into force w.e.f 1/1/2009.

1. Compulsory use of rear seat belts.
2. Pension of not less than RM720.00
3. Malaysian Anti corruption Commission(MACC)
4. Discounted toll rates on PLUS and Elite highways
5. e-stamping by Inland Revenue Board
6. Compulsory pre-marital screening for HIV

RTM launches disaster unit

Radio Televisyen Malaysia(RTM yesterday launxhed a Disaster Unit to channel the latest reports on disasters to TV and radio stations.
The unit would disseminate information on the weather, earthquakes, landslides, floods, storms, river levels, sea conditions and other disasters.
Information Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek said it would also issue brief safety guides.-Bernama.

80 'Jerit' cyclists hand memo to Selangor MB

Some 80 "Jerit"(Oppressed People Network) cyclistsfrom the north and south handed a memorandum to Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim yesterday.
"We all have have to work together in trying to bring about change for the better of the country and state," he said after receiving the memorandum in the state government office.
Jerit is ending its "Cycling For Change" campaign by trying to hand over a similar memorandum to Prime Minister datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in Parlimen today.
Jerit's southern coordinator S. Arutchelvan told reporters Parliment's security personnel are aware of their plans and have no problem allowing 120 people in.
"We are only concerned about the journey to Parliment. We are planning to discuss the route with the police in Kuala Lumpur to help them facilitate their journey," he said.

INTIPATI RANG UNDANG-UNDANG PERLINDUNGAN SAKSI 2008

1. Program Perlindungan Saksi akan disenggarakan oleh ketua Pengarah serta dibantu timbalannya yang terdiri daripada anggota perkhidmatan awam
2. Saksi yang mahu menyertai program boleh memohon kepada ketua Pengarah atau mengemukakannya melalui sesebuah agensi penguatkuasaan undang-undang.
3. Pemohon perlu mendedahkan kepada Ketua Pengarah butir-butir mengenai semua obligasi undang-undang yang belum selesai termasuk rekod jenayah, tunggakan cukai dan hutang serta prosiding sivil terhadapnya.
4. Saksi ke jenayah berat dilindungi daripaa diancam dan diugut termasuk dengan mewujudkan identiti baru
5. Identiti asal saksi yang diberikan identiti baru tidak akan didedahkan dalam apa cara sekalipun
6. Saksi akan disediakan tempat tinggal, pengangkutan bagi urusan pemindahan, bayaran yang setara dengan pendapatan dan jika tidak bekerja, diberi bayaran sara hidup, bantuan mendapatkan pekerjaan dan pendidikan.
7. Tiada seorang pun boleh mempunyai akses kepada daftar dan dokumen yang disimpan oleh Pendaftar kecuali Menteri,Peguam Negara, Ketua Pengarah dan orang lain yang dibenarkan secara bertulis oleh Peguam Negara.
8. Hanya Peguam Negara mempunyai kuasa muktamad untuk memutuskan sama ada seseorang saksi itu hemdak dimasukkan ke dalam program atau sebalikny, berdasarkan syor Ketua Pengarah
9. Jika didapati memberikan maklumat palsu semasa memohon, seseorang itu boleh didenda sehinga RM10,000 atau penjara tidak lebih lima tahun atau kedua-duanya sekali.

PPSMI: Tujuh opsyen dihalusi

Tujuh opsyen mengenai masa depan pengajaran Sains dan Matematik dalam bahasa Inggeris (PPSMI) akan diperhalusi oleh Menteri Pelajaran, Datuk Seri Hishammudin Tun Hussein sebelum dibawa ke peringkat Jemaah Menteri.
Semua opsyen tersebut adalah hasil lima siri persidangan meja bulat PPSMI yang disertai oleh wakil parti politik, tokoh akedemik dan pertubuhan bukan kerajaan(NGO).
Timbalan Menteri Pelajaran, Datuk Dr. Wee Ka Siong berkata opsyen-opsyen yang dimaksudkan ialah:
1.Meneruskan PPSMI seperti sedia ada, menggunakan Bahasa Melayu atau Bahasa Ibunda di peringkat sekolah rendah tetapi meneruskan PPSMI di sekolah menengah selain memulakan PPSMI dari tahun empat hingga sekolah menengah.
2. Menggunakan bahasa melayu atau bahasa ibunda di sekolah rendah dan digunakan sepenuhnya di sekoalh menengah selain penggunaan bahasa pengantar untuk Sains dan Matematik di tentukan oleh sekolah.
3. Penggunaan bahasa Melayu atau bahasa ibunda di tahun satu hingga tiga, penggunaan dwi bahasa pada tahun empat hingga enam dan penggunaan bahasa Inggeris sepenuhnya di sekoalh menengah dan memansuhkan mata pelajaran Sains di peringkat tahun satu hingga tiga tetapi mengajar ilmu sains dalam mata pelajaran lain.

The wrangle ober teaching of mathematic an Science in English contyinued with seven proposals put before the final roundtable meeting yesterday.
The proposals are:

• Stick to Mathematics and Science in English
• Revert to Bahasa Malaysia
• Let Primary schools teach both subjects in the mother tongue and secondary schools use English
• Let Primary schools decide for themselves
• mathematics and Science be taught in Bahasa Malaysia and mother tongue for Years One to Three and in English from Year Four onwards
• A combination of mother tongue in the first three years and a choice of mother tongue or English after that;
• The two subjects will not be taught in Years One to Three and instead be integrated into other subjects.

Pembangkang sokong SPRM

ketua Pembangkang, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim menyambut baik usaha kerajaan memerangi rasuah dengan membentangkan Rang Undang-undang Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia(SPRM) 2008 pada Sidang Dewan Rakyat di Kuala Lumpur hari ini.
bagaimanapun, beliau berkata , penubuhan SPRM masih mempunyai kelemahan ketara kerana masih terikat dengan eksekutif terutamanya Perdana Menteri.
"Pakatan Pembangkang akan menyokong usul yang dibawa oleh Perdana Menteri itu dengan syarat pindaan dilakukan bagi memberi suruhanjaya lebih kebebasan termasuk kuasa pendakwaan," katanya ketika membahaskan Rang Undang-undang SPRM 2008 pada sidang Dewan Rakyat hari ini.
Menurut beliau, berdasarkan Seksyen 5(1) dan Seksyen 5(3), perlantikan Ketua Suruhanjaya dan Lembaga Penasihat Pencegahan Rasuah(LPPR) yang berasaskan Seksyen 13(2)(a) masih di atas nasihat Perdana Menteri.
Jelasnya, peruntukan itu membuktikan suruhanjaya yang dimaksudkan masih belumbebas sepenuhnya dan dikhuatiri terdedah pada sebarang manipulasi eksekutif.
Anwar turut memberi perhatian terhadap kes-kes rasuah terdahulu, berprofil tinggi dan membabitkan orang ternama yang masih belum diambil tindakan.
"Kita masih menunggu sebarang tindakan tegas diambil bagi kes-kes melibatkan wang Perwaja dan Sistem Penerbangan Malaysia(MAS)," ujarnya.
Beliau turut menyarankan, dalam memastikan suruhanjaya tersebut benar-benar bebas, ahli-ahlinya mesti dilantik oleh J/Kuasa Khas Parlimen agar calon yang paling layak sahaja dilantik, bukan sahaja segi teknikal tetapi juga bersih daripada tuduhan dan celaan.

Perak, Kedah tidak patriotik

Kerajaan campuran Perak dan Kedah dibidas kerana tidak mempercayai kereta keluaran tempatan iaitu Proton Perdana V6 Executive yang digenakan sebagai kenderaan rasmi, sebaliknya lebih senang dengan kereta import.
Ahli majlis Tertinggi(MT UMNO, datuk Seri Dr. Ahmad zahid Hamidi berkata, kedua-dua kerajaan pakatan pembangkang itu sepatutnya berbangga dengan produk tempatan kerana mereka adalah sebahagian daripada rakyat negara ini.
Menurutnya, kerajaan pakatan pembangkang mempunyai alasan tersendiri untuk menolak penggunaan kereta Proton Perdana V6 Executive sebagai kenderaan rasmi tetapi hakikatnya mereka tidak mahu menyokong projek kerajaan Persekutuan.
"jangan jadikan kos penyelenggaraan yang tinggi sebagai alasan kerana sudah jelas mereka bukan di kalangan pemimpin yang mempunyai semangat patriotik yang tinggi. Sebaliknya, lebih mempercayai kereta keluaran asing berbanding sendiri," katanya selepas merasmikan Kursus Pembangunan dan Pengurusan Zakat Antarabangsa 2008 di bangi.
Beliau mengulas mengenai keputusan kerajaan negeri Perak menggunakan kereta Toyota Camry 2.4 bagi menggantikan Proton Perdana V6 Executive sebagai kenderaan rasmi Exco dan pegawai kanan kerajaan.
Kedah juga dilaporkan akan mengikut langkah kerajaan campuran Perak menggantikan kereta Proton Perdana V6 Executive dengna jenama lain sekiranya keadaan kewangan mengizinkan.
Ahmad zahid memberitahu, apa yang dilakukan parti pembangkang itu hanya untuk mencari kelainan bagi membezakan mereka dengan kerajaan Persekutuan.
"Buat apa nak beza-beza. Rakyat sudah tahu bahawa keputusan mereka untuk membeli kereta import adalah bersifat membazir terutama semasa negara berdepan dengan krisis ekonomi global," ujarnya.

Tajuddin apologises for second time

Controversial Member of Parliment for Pasir salak datuk Tajuddin Abdul rahman apologised for the second time in the House for certain statements made in the past.
The stetement, came out of the blue, when tajuddin was debating on the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission Bill in which he tried to link corruption with the recent trip to South Korea by the Opposition-controlled Penang state government.
"Let's forget about what was said in the past. Let's avoid provocation. Sometimes, I regret the things I say. I hate myself."
tajuddin then said he was a good Muslim and would apologise if he had wronged someone.
"We say sorry to those we have wronged. It 's no big fuss. I repent," he said.
tajuddin has constantl;y been in the news for making sexist, racist and unparlimentary statements in the Dewan rakyat.
He first made the apology in the House on Dec 1.

Three held for handing out flyers

Three women from an unregistered organisation, Jaringan Rakyat Tertindas(Jerit) ,were arrested for handing out flyers in Beranang, Kajang, yesterday.
The three, in their 30s, were allegedly handing out anti-ISA flyers at a morning market at about 11 am.
Selangor police chief Deputy Commissioner datuk Khalid Abu Bakar confirmed the incident, adding the three women were taken to Kajang police headquarters.
The three, including a lawyer, had their statements taken before they were released on bail.
"They are free to conduct their activities but do not go against the law," he said.
On Saturday, Deputy Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar said police were looking into the activities of the group active in recent months and had organised activities that allegedly flouted the law.

Fishermen in Perak extend strike

Fishermen in Perak will continue their strike for another week despite the government agreeing to reduce the price of subsidised diesel and petrol to RM1.30 per litre.
Pantai Remis assemblyman Nga Kor Ming said the strike would continue following the fishermen's unhappiness at not getting the RM1.00 per litre that had wanted.
The strike, which started last Friday and planned for three days, reportedly involved some 45,000 fishermen from seven states.
On Saturday, Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Datuk Mustapa Mohamed said with the new price, the Government would bear and additional susidy of about RM197 mil annually.
Nga, who is also state education, local government committee chairman, claimed that the market price for fish had gone up by 30% since the strike.
"I call on the federal Government to reduce the price immediately before further damage is done," he said in a statement yesterday.
Of the 4,000 vessels in Perak, about 2,500 use diesel.
Boats of about 40 tonnes and above use betwen 6,000 litres and 8,000 litres of petrol for a week-long trip.

Judges' ethics committee to be set up

The Judges' Ethics Committee Bill was tabled for first reading by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz yesterday, meant to establish a committee to deal with any judge who has breached the judges' Code of Ethics 2008.
It was provided that the Chief Justice of the Federal Court was of the opinion that such breach did not warrant the judge being reffered to a tribunal appointed under Clause (4) of the Federal Constitution.
According to the explanatory statement of the bill, the committee was envisaged by Clause(3A) of Article 125 of the Constitution.
The bill seeks to deal with matters relating to the conduct and discipline of all judges other than the removal of a judge from office.
It also deals with the membership of the committee and the appointment of substitude members.
It imposes a duty on the committee to abide by the principles and procedures set out in the proposed bill and the code of the ethics and requires the proceedings of the committee to be conducted in camera.
The bill requires a member of the committe to disclose his interest in any disciplinary proceedings conducted and in such a case, the members is prohibited from taking part in the deliberation or decision-making process.
It also provides that where a unanimous decision could not be achieved, the decision of the majority will be followed and the decision of the committee shall be final and conclusive and not to be challenged in any court.

Judges' ethics committee to be set up

10 sen drop in fuel prices

Petrol and diesel prices have been further reduced by 10 sen a litre from today.
In announcing the reduction yesterday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said the RON 97 petrol will be sold at RM1.80 a litre from RM1.90 and RON 92 petrol at RM1.70 from RM1.80.
Diesel will be sold at RM1.70 a litre, he said in a statement. This is the seventh time the government has lowered fuel prices since August. The last revision was om 3 Dec 2008.
Alsi effective today, the price of subsidised petrol and diesel for fishermen has been slashed by 13 sen a litre to RM1.30 from RM1.43 -Bernama

Perak blames federal govt for costly Toyota Camry

Senior state executive councillor Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham has blamed the federal government for the high cost of the state's purchase of 16 units of Toyota Camry 2.4 for the stste exco members and senior officers.
He said the refusal of the federal government to give tax exemption resulted in the stste government5 having to pay RM167,000 for each Toyota Camry compared with the actual price of only RM97,000.
The cars will replace the Proton Perdana V6 Executive as the official cars for the state.
Pointing out that the allocation for the purchase was approved by the previous Basrisan nasional(BN) state government, Ngeh said the decision was to avoid wastage of public funds in terms of the high maintenance cost for the existing official cars.
It is more cost-effective to maintain Toyota Camry cars than the present fleet of Proton Perdana V6. Wewant to save more by buying new cars as the maintenance cost will not be that high," he told reporters after the Perak DAP convention, in Ipoh testerday.
On Friday, Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddn said the state would fork out RM2.7 million to acquire the new cars, saying it was costly to maintain the Perdana fleet.
Pangkor assemblyman datuk Dr. Zambry Abd Kadir described the state government as not fulfilling its promose to spend prudently.

Poor English on NRD website corrected

The poor use of English on the National Registration Department's website has been rectified following public complaints.
The department's public relations officer janisah Mohd Noor said the mistakes were an oversight and the public relations department which manages the website together with the NRD's web team was baffled as to how they were allowed through.
"We are checking on this and assume that someone has taken the initiative to upload the content without going through the necessary procedures first," she said.
Janisah said the department usually sends all materials that are to be posted on its website to the national Translation Institute for the terms and reponses to be standardised before they are uploaded.
"But we do not have any records of this particular page which carried about eoght questions and answers," she said, reffering to a section on grequently asked questions on identity cards.
"the rectifcation was done immediately to avoid confusion among public."
Earlier this month, a reader forwarded a copy of the atrocious content in English on the website to the Sun, expressing concern that it would taint the country's image.
The questyions and answers [posted pertained to the application, cost and waioting period for identity cards, in addition to those on locations at which renewals and applications could be made.

Perak lulus beli Toyota Camry ganti Protom Perdana V6

Kerajaan Perak hari ini meluluskan pembelian sebanyak 16 buah kereta Toyota Camry 2.4 bagi menggantikan Proton Perdana V6 Executive sebagai kenderaan rasmi Ahli Majlis Mesyuarat Kerajaan Negeri(Exco) dan Pegawai Kanan Kerajaan negeri itu.
Menteri Besar Perak, Datuk Seri Ir. Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin ketika mengimumkan perkara berkenaan berkata, keputusan itu dibuat selepas mengambil kira kos membaiki serta menyelenggara Proton Perdana yang begitu tinggi dan sering mengalami kerosakan.
"Dalam mesyuarat Exco hari ini, kerajaan negeri memutuskan untuk menukar kereta rasmi yang dinu pakai Exco dan pegawai kanan daripada Proton Perdana kepada Camry 2.4.
"Kita terpaksa bayar cukai kepada kerajaan, jadi sebuah kereta ini akan menelan belanja sebanyak RM167,000 dan kos keseluruhan pembelian ini melibatkan perbelanjaan melebihi RM2 juta,"katanya kepada pemberita selepas mempengerusikan mesyuarat bulanan Exco Perak di sini hari ini.
Semasa Pesidangan Dewan Undangan Negeri(DUN) Perak pada 13 November lepas, kerajaan negeri mendakwa kerajaan negeri Barisan Nasional sebelum ini membelanjakan kira-kira RM1.3 juta bagi kos penyelenggaraan dan baik pulih kenderaan rasmi Menteri Nesar serta Exco Perak dari tahun 2004 hingga Mac 2008.

PM on why defence spending must continue

Prime Minister Datuk Ser Abdullah Ahmad Badawi yesterday said defence spending must continue despite the gloomy economic outlook as the nation's security cannot be compromised.
Speaking at the launch of the Langkawi International Matritime and Aerospace Exhibition(LIMA'09),Abdullah, who is also defence minister, said the recent incident in the Gulf of Aden where two Malaysian tankers were seized and their crews taken hostage showed that governments cannot afford to relax when it concerns national security and the lives of their citizens.
"We need to be vigilant and continue to improve the overall defence and security, especially along the Straits of Malacca and in East Malaysia," he said.
He said despite the gloomy economic outlook, analysts believe Asean's defence and security spending will exceed US$350million in years leading to 2020.
Abdullah said Asia's defence market poses many opportunities in the medium and long term for suppliers over the next 15 years as regional governments seek to modernise their navies, airforces and security agencies.
LIMA '09 is scheduled to be held in Langkawi from Dec 1-5 next year.

Residents plan to sue for compensation

Residents in Bukit Antarabangsa affected by Saturday's landslide plan to sue the authorities and claim compensation.
The chairman of the Bukit Antarabangsa Action Committee, Datuk N.Muneandy, said yesterday the committee will seek legal advice because they are confident of having strong evidence to pursue their claims.
"We have the evidence like photographs taken before the landlide and complaints lodged with the local authority," he told reporters.
Without stating the amount of compensation to be claimed, Muneandy said some residents had notified the local authority about the possibility of landslides happening.
"they had reported fallen trees, which indicated that something undesirable could happen but the local authority only sent people to cut the trees and there were no other preventive measures taken," he said.
Muneandy also urged the government to immediately form a special committee, including representatives of the residents, sothat they could be kept informed of any development in Bukit Antarabangsa.
"This is important as the problem involves our safety and our homes and, therefore, we want the government to act fast," he said.
Ealier, representatives of the Bukit Antarabangsa residents held a discussion with the landslide search and rescure operations chief, Datuk Khalid Abu Bakar, to get the details of the operations.
Khalid promised to intensify the security surveilance in the landslide area to prevent looting. He also urged residents to lodge police reports.
"We did get requests from residents who wanted to come in to get their belongings, including their cars stuck in the rubble , but we cannot allow them to do it now as the ground is still unstable and could endanger their ives," he said.

Siasatan tiga kes salah urus dana awam selesai

Bdan Pencegah Rasuah(BPR) sudah selesai menjalankan siasatan terhadap sekurang-kurangnya tiga kes salah pengurusan dana awam yang didedahkan Laporan Ketua Audit Negara 2007.
Pengarah Siasatan BPR, Datuk Shukri Abdull, berkata kertas siasatan semua kes membabitkan laporan berkenaan dapat dilengkapkan selepas pihaknya mengumpul keteranan serta dokumen berkaitan yang diperlukan baru-baru ini.
"Ketika ini, Bahagian Pendakwaan BPR sedang meneliti laporan hasil siasatan yang dijalankan sebelum memutuskan tindakan lanjut yang perlu diambil, sama ada iteruskan dengan proses pendakwaan di mahkamah atau mendapatkan maklumat tambahan untuk mengukuhkan lagi kertas siasatan," katanya ketika dihubungi semalam.
Laporan Ketua Audit Negara 2007 yang dibentangkan di Parlimen pada 29 Ogos lalu mendedakan wujud banyak kelemahan di beberapa kementerian dan agensi kerajaan.
Antaranya kehilangan peralatan Program Pengajaran dan Pembelajaran Sains dan Matematik dalam bahasa Inggeris(PPSMI) bernilai RM9.56 juta dan kelemahan pengurusan sistem kompaun Jabatan Alam Sekitar(JAS) di bebera negeri.
Isu lain dilaporkan sebelum ini ialah penggunaan tanah milik Polis Diraja Malaysia(PDRM) dan tungakan saman trafik, pelaboran RM537.04 juta(Composite Technology Research Malaysia Sdn.Bhd.(CTRM) yang dimiliki anak syarikat berpangkalan di Amerikat, tetapi mencatatkan kerugian serta pembelian mesin pengimejan oleh Kementerian Kesihatan bernilai RM33 juta .
Turut idedahkan laporan audit itu ialah kelemahan pengurusan berhubung program Latihan KhidmatNegara(PLKN) dan Projek pangkalan Tentera laut Diraja Malaysia(TLDM) Markas Wlayah Laut 11, Teluk Sepanggar, Sabah.

'Haramkan serta-merta pembangunan lereng bukit'

Kerajaan harus mengharamkan erta-merta semua pembangunan di kawasan cerun dan lereng bukit sehingga diperakui selamat untuk diteruskan dan undang-undang lebih ketat digubal bagi kawasan tanah tinggi, bukit serta cerun.
Presiden Majlis Peguam Malaysia(Majlis Peguam),Datuk Ambiga Sreenivasan, berkata kerajaan wajar mengambil keputusan tegas bagi mengelakkan berulangnya tragedi seperti di Bukit Antarabangsa, aal pagi Sabtu lalu, yang mengorbankan empat mangsa.
"buat masa sekarang, orang ramai yang khuatir kediaman mungkin diancam tanah runtuh akibat projek pembangunan boleh memohon perintah penyekatan bagi menghalang pemaju meneruskan kerja.
"Kerajaan perlu mengkaji sama ada kejaian tanah runtuh yang berlaku setakat ini adalah bencana alam atau akibat perbuatan manusia dan mengemas kini undang-undang berkaitan selain meningkatkan usaha menguatkuasa syarat terbabit," katana ketika dihubungi di Kuala Lumpur, semalam.
Sementara itu, Ketua Menteri Melaka, Datuk eri Mohd. Ali Rustam, berkaa beliau secara peribadi berpendapat, sekiranya kawasan perumahan sekitar Bukit Antarabangsa, Hulu Kelang dekat Kuala Lumpur masih berisiko tinggi u tuk diduduki adalah wajar untuk penduduk mengosongkan kediaman mereka demi keselamatan.
Katanya, kejadian tanah runtuh kelmarin yang meragut empat nyawa adalah insiden keempat menimpa kawasan sekitar Bukit Antarabangsa."Saya tengok kawasam ini sudah tiga kali berlaku kejadian tanah runtuh, kalau sya...saya akan mengarahkan semua penduduk keluar kerana nyawa lebih penting," katanya ketika mengadakan lawatan ke lokasi tanah runtuh semalam.

Umno, RTM lancar tabung

Umno Bahagian Ampang dengan kerjasama Radio Telivisyen Malaysia(RTM) semalam melancarkan Tabung Bencana Alam Bukit Antarabangsa bagi membantu mangsa kejadian tanah runtuh di Taman Bukit Mewah,Kuala Lumpur.
Ketua Umno Bahagian Ampang, Datuk Ismail Kijo, berkata jawatankuasa akan dibentuk bagi menyelaraskan tabung itu, selain mengenalpasti mangsa.
"Kami membuka akaun bank hari ini bagi memudahkan orang ramai salur sumbangan.
"RTM juga menyiarkan nombor akaun ini dariada sema ke semasa,"katanya di Kuala Lumpur, semalam.