BORNEO SABAH ARAMAII

Monday 29 April 2013

Voters can ask to replace smudged ballot papers



PUTRAJAYA: Voters who accidentally smudge their ballot papers with the indelible ink need not worry as they can ask for a replacement, said Election Commission (EC) secretary Datuk Kamaruddin Mohamed Baria.

“However, they need to return the smudged papers before getting new ones. The indelible ink dries up very fast so there is no need to worry,” he said yesterday.

He was responding to postings on social media which urged voters to wrap their marked fingers in cling film to prevent their ballot papers from getting smudged and thus declared null.

On ploys to convince people to mark their fingers with ink prior to polling day, Kamaruddin said such tactics would not work as they would not be allowed to vote.

The indelible ink lasts for one week.



Sabah BN closes in on fence-sitters




 


KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Barisan Nasional is sensing a convincing victory as its candidates close in on fence-sitters who comprise less then 30% of the total 981,814 voters in the state.
With five-days of campaigning left, Barisan officials said they have swung a good percentage of the middle ground in their favour and hoped to hasten it in the last 72 hours before the May 5 polls.
They believed that the initial count of fence-sitters was about 32% among the Kadazandusun and Murut voters and up to 57% with the Chinese, with Muslim bumiputeras more or less decided.
One observation by them was that the Kadazandusun and Murut voters could be convinced to switch to Barisan in the final days of campaign but it may be tougher to rope in the Chinese.
"I believe the majority of the Chinese will make a firm choice a day or the night before polling.
"It is hard to assess because the Chinese-based parties don't rely on party membership for support as they have only small number," said a senior Barisan leader.
He said gauging the Chinese would depend on how their clan associations, traders and hawkers' associations or non-government organisations, school boards and other groups felt about Barisan and the opposition parties.
The Chinese fence-sitters could always swing to one-side at the last minute, dealing a crucial blow to any party candidate.
Among the Muslim bumputeras, the margin of fence-sitters was negligible as the view of the Barisan official was that they had decided to be either "with us or against us" or throw their support to their family connections by blood or marriage.
"Generally, it will be up to the candidate to bring them back to the Barisan side," he added.
Coalition candidates have been constantly reminded to make their ground assessment accurately as the multi-cornered fights in some areas may not be in their favour.
They are also cautious in predicting a near clean sweep of the 60 state and 25 parliamentary seats for Barisan as last-minute mood swings have turned the tables in past elections.

Pihex roars in Kota Kinabalu









 
Credit to: everydayfoodilove

The 2013 Property Investment and Home Exhibition (PIHex) is back! It will be held on 10th May till 12th May at the Sabah Trade Centre, from 10am to 6pm. Various building, housing properties and etc will be available for previews and this exhibition aims to target interested investors as well as homebuyers with the latest information on properties.

Good news for the property buyers, every property purchased during the exhibition entitles the buyer to an entry for a draw of RM2,000 cash back rewards, and stand a chance to win a Volkswagen Polo Sedan!

For more information, please log on to www.pihex.com or facebook.com/pihex. So, what you waiting for? Go and visit.

Age is not a problem: Dompok




Putatan: United Pasok Momogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (Upko) President Tan Sri Bernard Dompok said the main issue against him in Penampang - where he is defending his parliamentary seat - is that he (Dompok) is too old and had been too long in politics.
"But I don't feel old. When I see in TV, (opposition leaders) Nik Aziz and Lim Kit Siang, I ask my wife why people say I am older than them? I don't believe they are younger than me?" he said.
"On May 5, please come out to vote for Datuk Yahya Hussin for the Petagas state seat and Datuk Dr Marcus Mojigoh for the Putatan Parliament seat, while those in Penampang, please don't forget me," he said, at a meet-the-people session at Kg Duvanson, Saturday.
He also said the call for change or "tukar" must not necessarily apply to a change of the government but merely policies that are deemed non-beneficial.
He said the country had seen tremendous improvement and changes through the various transformation programmes implemented by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
"This is why Upko and other BN component parties stand united behind the Prime Minister and his transformation programmes," he said.
Dompok described the 13th General Election as very unique compared to the previous one in 2008 and let alone the 2004 general election when BN was not challenged.
"But I think Malaysians know only the BN is qualified to lead the country.
Yes, there could be a small voice in Putatan who are saying "ini kali lah" and those denying the development brought about by the BN all this while," he said.
However, the right answer for him is the various transformation programmes that had been implemented by the BN under the leadership of Najib.
"We have been calling for the illegal immigrant issue to be resolved but never got an absolute answer until after Najib took office whereby the Federal Government agreed to set up the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) on illegal immigrants in Sabah," he said.
Dompok, who is also Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister, recalled in 2008 that he had spoken in Parliament calling for the abolishment of the ISA, which he felt was a law that was no longer necessary.
Finally, the Prime Minister agreed to repeal the ISA among others after discussing it with the Federal Cabinet.
Another significant matter was the recognition of September 16, as Malaysia Day when it was declared a national public holiday during Najib's administration, he said.
As for the call for an increase in oil royalty to 20 per cent, he said it was not necessary to change the government in order to get it because the BN had given its commitment to give allocations to Sabah of not less than the value of 20 per cent oil royalty, in the BN "Akujanji" manifesto.
Towards this end, Dompok urged the people here to continue supporting the BN candidate for Petagas, Datuk Yahya Hussin and Putatan Parliament, Datuk Dr Marcus Mojigoh.
"This election I can feel that it will be BN once again, the opposition cannot win and they also cannot administer the country," he said.
Meanwhile, Mojigoh said the BN campaign approach here reflected the unity culture in BN.
"We totally reject the culture of violence," he said.
He also welcomed the entry of about 300 Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) members led by PKR Tanjung Aru election director, Duarin Harris.
Later, Mojigoh accompanied Dompok to receive the membership applications from them.

Agnes Shim makes history as first Sabah MCA woman candidate

Sabah MCA's first woman candidate Datuk Agnes Shim Tshin Nyuk.


KOTA KINABALU: Sabah MCA's first woman candidate Datuk Agnes Shim Tshin Nyuk is keen to contribute to the Luyang community.
She has been quietly giving of her time for a couple of decades in a variety of causes for society.
In her 25 years of serving the community, Sabah MCA's first woman candidate has focused a lot on issues involving women empowerment.
Barisan Nasional's Luyang state seat candidate is a first-time contestant, banking on her social experience to compete against a field of three other contenders, two of whom are political heavy weights.
The fight for the Luyang seat is seen as a tough tussle between Shim, incumbent Melanie Chia of SAPP and DAP's Hiew King Chieu, the former MP who moved to the state seat from his Kota Kinabalu parliament seat.
Rounding off the contest for this Chinese majority seat of 20, 119 voters is STAR's Jafery Jomion.
Chia won the seat on a BN ticket when SAPP was still a Barisan component party in 2008 with a majority of 1,502 votes.
As a social worker, Shim said she would be able to serve the people better if she makes it to the state assembly.
"I have served in many NGOs and various charities but I still think I haven't done enough for the community.”
“If voters give me the mandate, I will be able to serve the people on a higher level," she said as she campaigned through the constituency using personal touch to reach out to voters.
Although it is her maiden battle, Shim expects her deeds to speak for her. “People have called me even in the wee hours of the morning to help them with their problems and I've never ignored a single one. This, I feel, show that I am up for the job,” she said.
She vows to be even more dedicated in helping raise the standard of living among residents there who are from various income levels.
“Existing benefits offered by the BN government such as BR1M and Klinik 1Malaysia can help me reach out further to help more people,” she said.

Saturday 27 April 2013

EC reprints book version of electoral roll after corrections




KUALA LUMPUR: The Election Commission (EC) has reprinted the electoral roll following the discovery of errors in the identity numbers of early voters, its secretary Datuk Kamaruddin Mohamed Bariasaid.

He said the mistakes involved only 572 of the 272,387 early voters nationwide and the corrected version has been distributed to the returning officers and candidates through the state election offices.

"We will also write to the political party leaders on the matter to ensure the same version is used by the candidates, their agents and EC personnel at the early polling centres," he said in a statement here. Kamaruddin said the mistake only affected the electoral roll in book form and not the CD, EC website, the 13th General Election portal or the short-messaging-system (sms).

"The data in these systems are correct and show that the voters identity information are the same as in the EC's electoral roll database," he said.



 - Bernama

All imports of chicken products from China frozen for now




PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia has imposed a temporary freeze on all imports of chicken products from China following the outbreak of a new strain of avian flu there that has killed 22.
Department of Vetrinary Services director-general Datuk Abd Aziz Jamaluddin said the freeze took effect on Apr 22 after one case of the new avian flu was detected in Shandong from where all the imports of chicken are from.
"There are also 98 containers (of frozen deboned chicken) which were already on their way here before the freeze. We have ordered that each shipment be held and tested for the virus before we let them in," he said at a press conference on Friday.
Malaysia imports between 20,000 to 22,000 metric tonnes of frozen deboned chicken annually from two major plants based in Shandong, China.
This accounts for 65% of the country's annual imports, with the rest coming from Thailand and the European Union.
For this year, Malaysia had Imported nearly 5,000 metric tonnes of chicken from Shandong as at March.
The World Health Organisation has described the virus as “one of the most lethal”.

Zahid: 3 Opposition leaders linked to Sabah incursion in Lahad Datu



ALOR SETAR: The Defence Ministry has identified three opposition leaders in connection with the Feb 12 incursion of Sulu gunmen in Sabah.
Defence Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Zahid Hamidi said on Friday the ministry had enough evidence that link the three - two from Peninsular Malaysia and one from Sabah - to the incident.
He said the evidence would submit to the Attorney General office for further action after this general election.

Annual funds for vernacular schools if BN wins

Caring leaders: Muhyiddin and Segamat parliamentary candidate Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam chatting with residents after the launch of the 1Malaysia Support For Housewives (1MS4HW) and Karnival Azam Kerja 1Malaysia at Dataran Segamat in Johor.


MUAR: The Barisan Nasional Government will provide an annual allocation to Chinese and Tamil schools if it wins in GE13.
Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak had repeatedly given the assurance that national-type schools would continue to be developed and receive assistance.
Speaking in Kampung Temiang here, he said Barisan would never close down vernacular schools even if the number of pupils were low.
“Not a single Chinese or Tamil school has been closed since Independence. However, some Opposition leaders told the Chinese community that Barisan will close such schools if we win,” he said at the opening of SJKC Aik Ming's new building yesterday.
Muhyiddin said that last year, the Government allocated RM100mil to Chinese and Tamil schools and another RM100mil this year, adding that it planned to provide a special allocation every year if given a new mandate.
He also stressed that national schools or sekolah kebangsaan were not Malay but Malaysian schools and were open to everyone.
He also said Pakatan Rakyat leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was not likely to be the prime minister even if the alliance won the 13th general election.
He said this was because PAS leaders and supporters wanted partypresident Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang to be the prime minister, adding that parties within Pakatan had been disputing seat allocations.

Thursday 25 April 2013

GE13: Donations to independent Chinese schools to be tax exempted



KUANTAN: Donations to independent Chinese schools will be given tax exemption, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
The Prime Minister made the announcement in his speech at a dinner hosted by the Kuantan Chinese community at a hotel here on Thursday.
He said the move to exempt tax on monetary contributions would help development for the schools.

The 16th thrusts in Sabah BN Manifesto


16 thrusts of points in the Sabah BN Manifesto, which also known as Aku Janji manifesto. The state government has indeed, giving its utmost performance throughout the year. I am sure more and more supporters are taking this opportunity, to support them by giving their votes.

As its highlighted quote stated below " Kami telah tunaikan, lebih banyak lagi akan dilaksanakan ", I hope more and more good things to come. 

TATAP BN!

Zahid: 35 Sulu militants killed trying to enter Sabah to cause problems during polls

 


GEORGE TOWN: Thirty-five armed Sulu militants attempting to enter Sabah were shot dead by the Philippines navy and coast guard on Wednesday, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said.

He said they were shot before they could enter Malaysian waters after refusing to turn back.

He added that according to intelligence reports, the group was attempting to enter Sabah to cause problems during the general election.

"If they had entered our waters, we would have taken them out. We will defend our country," he said at a press conference here Thursday.

Stay out of GE13 activities, cops warn immigrant workers


KUALA LUMPUR: Severe action will be taken against immigrant workers who are involved in activities related to the 13th General Election (GE13).
The warning comes from Inspector-General of Police Secretariat assistant head (public relations) ACP Ramli Mohamed Yoosuf who stressed that the immigrant workers were barred from involvement in GE13, including putting up flags of political parties.
“Action will be taken against them and the locals who hire them under the Immigration Regulation and Immigration Act 1959/1963,” he told a media briefing at the federal police headquarters in Bukit Aman here Tuesday.
He also reminded supporters of political parties not to stick posters or hang party flags on police vehicles.
Ramli said, 1,363 activities related to GE13 were reported nationwide yesterday, namely, ceramah (545), meetings (250), house visits (69), campaigns (181) and others (318).
He said, as of yesterday, 202 police reports were lodged and 15 arrests were made, including six in Penang which were linked to general election offences.
He also urged supporters of political parties not to keep dangerous weapons in public places to avoid untoward incidents.

KK International Film Festival returns

Kota Kinabalu International Film Festival (KKFF) will be held in Kota Kinabalu on 8th June
2013, from 2.30-4pm. Lots of activities will be held as well.  The festival will feature screenings from 5 international movies from france, Germany, Romania, Japan and America.




It also features a Sabah Film Forum that will screen Short Films made by Malaysians, 

highlights from short film competition Think 5, other documentaries and short films and a 

Awards Night.


There will be a hands-on workshop with the Sabah Film Academy where the public can

 submit their film scripts to be realized in short films during a 2 day shoot at the Sabah 

Museum. 10 successful applicants will have their movie made while aided by international 

filmaking gurus.


So movie enthusiasts, what are you waiting for? Submit your scripts and you will stand a 

chance in Oscars! 

Wednesday 24 April 2013

PM - Opposition pledge to increase Sabah’s oil royalty will kill off interest in developing petroleum industry




BEAUFORT: The opposition's promise of increasing Sabah's oil royalty from the present 5% to 20% will kill off interest in developing the offshore petroleum industry, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said.
The Prime Minister said under the current arrangement, petroleum companies continue to tap into marginal fields that would eventually spell increased revenue for Sabah.
''This will not happen with the Opposition's promise of a 20% royalty share for Sabah. There will be no incentive for petroleum companies to develop our fields,'' he said when launching Yayasan Sabah roadshow in Kuala Penyu near here.
''What the Opposition wants to do, in essence, is to kill the proverbial goose that has been laying the golden egg,'' Najib said to the cheers and applause of the large crowd.
He said though Sabah now gets 5% of petroleum revenues, the state receives more in terms of development funds and numerous special financial allocations from the federal government.
''This is all possible when we have a strong mandate,'' Najib said, adding that, among the special funding for the state, was a RM250mil grant that was the federal government's contribution for an international standard convention centre costing some RM500mil in Kota Kinabalu.
At the event, the Prime Minister also launched the 1.2km long Sitompok Bridge costing some RM59.6mil located just outside of Kuala Penyu town.
He said the long bridge was just one of Barisan Nasional's many achievements in Sabah that included reducing the poverty rate from 19.7% in 1999 to 8.1% last year.
Najib said the opposition on the other hand could only be counted on to make unrealistic promises in their manifestos.

Yong Teck Lee main concern is timber tycoons, not Sabahans



During the tenure of Yong Teck Lee in as little as 2 years, he approved some 265 logging licences covering over 300,000 ha (an area 5 times larger than the island of Singapore).


These licences were given to cronies, associates, non-Sabahans included, and is clearly an act of gross irresponsibility at the expense of environmental conservation, sustainability and public interest.The delegation of authority to approve logging areas given by Cabinet to Datuk Yong Teck Lee as CM, was well and truly taken advantage of and abused by Yong to reward his friends, cronies and supporters.

Can you imagine what will happen if SAPP were to come back into power?

Written by: Tham Nyip Sen

Tuesday 23 April 2013

RM114 Million: The story of Yong Teck Lee



In the midst of election, lots of past issues, cases or controversies have floated up. Especially in recent article stated that Yong is going to challenge on Musa's RM40m case if he formed the next government. He is totally desperate to gain public attention. Didn't he remember what Hiew has been telling him all this while? Yes, that he is power maniac guy!

I found an interesting article about his misconducts. I am not so sure if this blog name has been changed. It is written by his ex bff Tham Nyip Sen, whom he has personal grudge with. Yong has been accusing him over various " offences and wrongdoings ", in which I feel, all are lies.

You may refer to this link, http://sapdalkrew.blogspot.com/2011/06/rm114-million-story-of-yong-teck-lee.html.  for further clarification. 


This is what Tham has written down :  The rational of entering into this transaction was that the Government through Warisan Harta could utilise a RM50 million fund. Yes Ringgit 50 juta. The RM50 million was to support counters in which Warisan Harta and Sabahans had investments.As a result of the share swap deal Warisan Harta lost RM114 million. The RM114 million was lost after Warisan Harta under the chairmanship of Yong Teck Lee disposed its blue chip MISC shares in return for the acquisition of NBT shares and Sugar Bun shares. Both counters are delisted ever since. Both of these share counters NBT and Sugarbun were connected to Suniwang which was controlled by Ambrose Lee.

The conclusion is, Ah yong is a man living in denial, for so many donkey years.

Sabah BN manifesto pledges to solve Sabah illegal immigrant problems






 
KOTA KINABALU: A pledge to continue to find solutions to Sabah illegal immigrant problems and solutions to native land issues is one of the highlights of a special 16-point Sabah Barisan Nasional manifesto.
The special manifesto by the state Barisan, aimed at countering various local issues, including oil royalties raised by the opposition, was launched by Sabah Barisan chairman Datuk Seri Musa Aman together with heads of component parties at the Sabah Umno headquarters here on Monday.
``This is our commitment to the rakyat. We are continuing our efforts. Barisan Sabah will do more,'' he said in dismissing opposition promises in their manifesto for Sabah as unrealistic.
The state Barisan manifesto promises to implement the recommendations of the ongoing Royal Commission of Inquiry to solve the illegal immigrant problem, he said in apparent reference to the proposal by the opposition to reissue identity cards (ICs) for Sabahans.
The manifesto, which printed in Bahasa Malaysia, English, Chinese and Kadazandusun, promises to also implement new laws and institutions to speed up solutions to land matters under Native Customary Rights (NCR).
Sabah Barisan also promised to protect the spirit of the 20-point Malaysia Agreement of 1963 while also promising equal opportunity for all in state service.
``The government has committed to continue special cash payments, development and operational funding exceeding 20% of oil and gas revenue,'' Musa said, promising to match the Pakatan Rakayat's promise to give Sabah 20% royalty.
In launching the manifesto, Musa said that the state Barisan government was prudent in its spending and has over RM4.088bil in reserves and had helped reduce poverty rates from 19.7% to 8.1% over the last three years.
Among the achievements of the state Barisan government included the issuance of communal titles that involved over 192,000 villagers while tourism earnings hit the RM5.17bil mark last year.

Sunday 21 April 2013

Friendly campaign in Sabah


KOTA KINABALU: Friendly banter among rivals was the order of the day as campaigning got underway in Sabah where a record 358 candidates are vying for 85 parliamentary and state seats.
At the Kepayan low cost housing shops, a group of PKR campaigners dropped by a canopy to take health screening tests offered by rival Barisan Nasional.
'This is a friendly match,'' said a PKR campaigner, taking a seat in the Barisan tent after walking around distributing the party's pamphlets at shops in Kapayan under the Penampang seat being defended by Upko  president Tan Sri Bernard Dompok.
Dompok is facing a three-cornered contest including Darrel Leiking of PKR and STAR's Melanie Annol.
Melanie said the friendly contest comes as no surprise because although candidates or their campaigners were of different political affiliations many of them were related.
Her cousins - Philip Lasimbang of Upko and Bernard Solibun of STAR - are among the four contenders for the Moyog state seat.
Another cousin, DAP's Dr Edwin Bosi, is taking on Sabah MCA chief Datuk Edward Khoo in a four-cornered contest for the Kepayan state seat - also within Penampang parliament constituency.
'Politics doesn't get in the way of our family ties. Politics is politics but family is still family, so we don't fight or pull sour faces at each other just because campaigning is on,” she said.
'We still go out together and have our drinks or meals,” she said, adding that she was at family gathering with Philip, Bernard and Edwin when the Star called her.
A similar atmosphere prevailed at the packed weekly Gaya Street fair in downtown Kota Kinabalu that saw candidates from different parties criss- crossing paths on the campaign trail.
Seen shaking hands and exchanging greetings, the candidates that included SAPP president Datuk Yong Teck Lee and LDP Youth chief Chin Su Ying who were both running for the Likas state seat in a four cornered contest.
Others campaigning at the fair were PKR's Christina Liew and Dr Felix Chong of STAR, who were among the five candidates vying for the Api Api state seat.
Yong said the good-natured campaigning was expected as many of the candidates had been friends for a long time.
'We all go back a long way, so there is nothing personal about this,'' he added.

500 quit SAPP in Tawau, forces closure of 11 branches





TAWAU: About 500 members of the Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) in Tawau have quit the party and expressed support for the Barisan Nasional.
This has caused the closure of 11 party branches, former Tawau SAPP vice-president Mohammad Dahuk said Sunday.
He said that several leaders were among those who left, including Tawau SAPP women's wing head Masja Hussin and youth wing chief Illiyassufyan Mohammad.
Tawau Umno Division chief and Tawau Barisan chairman and the Barisan candidate for the Apas state seat Datuk Tawfiq Abu Bakar Titingan, the Barisan candidate for the Tawau parliamentary seat Datuk Mary Yap Kain Ching and the Barisan candidate for the Sri Tanjong state seat Fung Len Fui were also present at the news conference to announce the closure of the SAPP branches.
The former SAPP members read out a pledge to support the Barisan and cut and snapped their SAPP membership cards in a symbolic gesture of quitting the party. - Bernama

Friday 19 April 2013

Come and join us at Sports for all Programme





Exercise enthusiasts? Come and join us!

City Hall and Ministry of Youths and Sports are inviting the public to participate in the " Senamrobik Perdana " Programme on April 20 at Perdana Park, Tanjung Aru from 5pm-6pm. This programme will be held every 3rd Saturday of the month under the Sports for All Programme. It is also a platform to encourage KK residents of all age groups to live a healthy lifestyle.

Participation is free. For further information, call Fauziahton Ag Samad at 088-521800. 

Govt aid announced after dissolution not bribery, says solicitor-general Tun Majid




PUTRAJAYA: The aid and incentives given to public and civil servants is not bribery because the federal government made the decision before parliament was dissolved earlier this month.
Deputy Solicitor General II, Datuk Tun Abdul Majid Tun Hamza said the allocation was already "budgeted for", only that the announcement was made after the dissolution of Dewan Rakyat.
He said the launch of manifestos and promises made by all political parties when campaigning should not be misconstrued as vote-buying and thus are not offences under the Election Offences Act.
In 2009, the Federal Court made a decision that promises to bring development during the election campaign could not be avoided because "if no such promise was made, it will render the election meaningless."
"The Federal Court also ruled that it is not an act of bribery," he told a press conference Friday.
He was referring to media reports quoting the secretary-general of Transparency International Malaysia Josie M Fernandez that Barisan violated the Election Integrity Pledge signed on Feb 20.
The report listed examples such as the announcement by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak on the expansion of the 1Malaysia Discount Card and construction of a RM400mil complex in Perak.
Tun Abdul Majid said the Attorney-General's Chamber had in the last 24 hours decided not to act on 38 cases relating to election offences due to the absence of suspects or witnesses.
Over the same period, 27 cases were directed for further investigation, including cases related to treason, arson, causing hurt, criminal intimidation, assembly without notice and so on. - Bernama

Thursday 18 April 2013

Tourism Malaysia to up media coverage on Lahad Datu to improve perception




KUALA LUMPUR: Tourism Malaysia wants to improve the global perception of Lahad Datu and Semporna by increasing media coverage on the areas following the intrusion of Sulu gunmen.
Deputy director-general Datuk Azizan Noordin said this would lead to increasing the tourism appeal in the two areas and quell fears of would-be visitors since the conflict erupted in February.
"We are also working with the various embassies and high commissions hoping that they will drop their advisories against travel to these areas.
“The situation in the areas is currently under control, and is not expected to deteriorate,” he said after launching the United Federation of Travel Agents' Association (UFTAA) Global Travel and Tourism Conference on Thursday.

Dr Subra: Special meeting to discuss minimum wage policy next month





SEGAMAT: MIC deputy president Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam said a special meeting will be held next month to look into matters related to the minimum wage policy.
He said the special lab coordinated by Pemandu will involve the government and all the stakeholders affected by the issue.
"The stakeholders who will be invited for this lab include those from the Small and Medium Enterprise (SME), the manufacturing and agricultural sector, petrol station associations and related agencies," said Dr Subra, the Human Resources Minister before parliament dissolved.
He hoped the outcome of the lab's study and discussion would help the government resolve the issue once and for all.
At present, the minimum wage under the policy is set at RM900 but many small and medium businesses complained that, if it was implemented, they would face much difficulty keeping their businesses afloat.
Taking into account the many sectors' inability to pay a minimum wage of RM900 to its employees, which also included foreigners, the government had decided to postpone its implementation until end of the year.
He said the aim was to improve the income of the Malaysians who fall under the low-income category. But at the same time, be careful not to create a situation where employers preferred to employ foreigners because they were cheaper.
"If that situation happens, then many Malaysians would be unemployed," he said.
He said this when met by reporters after handing out certificates and cash awards to over 50 students from Segamat who excelled in their 2012 SPM and STPM examinations at the Kampung Kenangan multi purpose hall in Batu Anam, Segamat on Thursday.

Tracking your food products origin? Read the bar codes!


Consumers in these days are paying more attentions on the origin of a product, especially food products. Well, we can't blame them since there is so many counterfeited goods being sold out there. This is our right to know and educate ourselves. 

So, I would like to share with you guys on how to figure out some bar codes. I think this is important and less people know about it. How to differentiate between China and Taiwan products? This is how to track its origin. 



First 3 digits of the bar codeCountry of origin
690, 691 or 692China
471Taiwan
00-09USA and Canada
890India
30-37France
40-44Germany
45 or 49Japan
489Hong Kong
50UK
57Denmark
64Finland
76Switzerland
628Saudi Arabia
629UAE
740-745Central America
480Philippines

Interesting! Why don't you track it now?! 

First result of election in Sabah to be known at earliest 7pm




The first result of the election in Sabah is expected to be known at the earliest by 7pm on May and the last by 10pm. The Election Commission (EC) Sabah director Datuk Md Idrus Ismail said the election results this time around will be known earlier compared to the previous election as vote counting will commence at 4pm on the same day.

He said if a polling centre closes early then they can count the vote early as well, during a meeting with the media at the EC office here yesterday. In the 2008 election, he said the results were late due to bad weather.

Furthermore, he said they will use boats to bring out the ballot boxes if there is a heavy downpour. Ballot papers will be printed after nomination this Saturday. Government vehicles will be used to send 671 voters from Kampung Tanduo, Lahad Datu, currently still putting up at a hall in Felda Sahabat, to the polling station at SK Tg Labian on May 5. 

Wednesday 17 April 2013

MAS offers local fares deal for GE13 voters



Wish to go back home to vote? There's still a chance! Grab your ticket now.

Malaysia Airlines (MAS) is offering special fares to Malaysians who want to fly to their hometowns to cast their ballots in the May 5 general election.

The national airline said bookings on business and economy class may be made from today until April 28 for travel from April 18 to November 30 this year as part of its 13th general election special fares.

It said all-inclusive return economy class tickets from Kuala Lumpur to Alor Setar, Penang, Terengganu, Kuantan, Kota Baru, Johor Baru and Langkawi start from RM130 while airfares on business class are from RM713 for an all-inclusive return.

The fares for those from Kuala Lumpur to Kota Kinabalu, Labuan, Tawau, Miri, Sibu, Sandakan, Bintulu and Kuching on economy or business class go for as low as RM300 and RM1,713 all-inclusive return, respectively.

The flag carrier said Malaysians can also fly from Kuching to Kota Kinabalu, Miri, Bintulu or Sibu from as low as RM76 all-inclusive return on economy class and from RM1,513 on business class.

Flights from Kota Kinabalu to Tawau, Labuan and Sandakan start from RM136 all-inclusive return on economy class and from RM1,713 on business class, it added.

MAS also said it will waive penalty charges up to July 31 for guests booked on flights between April 27 and May 12 but who wish to defer their travel for GE13.

“We are probably the only airline to allow our passengers to revise their travel plans for the general elections therefore we hope that they can take advantage of this offer,” Malaysia Airlines Group CEO Ahmad Jauhari Yahya said in the statement.

“With the special fares and new cabin baggage policy in place, guests can easily plan a day trip back home to vote,” Ahmad Jauhari added.

Those who want to book the flights can do so through malaysiaairlines.com, Malaysia Airlines’ 24-hour toll-free Call Centre at 1-300-88-3000 and its ticket offices nationwide.

Musa Aman breaks nine-year CM jinx



KOTA KINABALU: After breaking Sabah's infamous nine-year jinx that has haunted past chief ministers, state Umno chief Datuk Musa Aman (pix) is set to lead the Barisan Nasional for a record third term.

Musa, who in March last year broke the jinx that has seen no chief minister serving more then nine years, will defend his Sungai Sibuga state seat as Sabah Barisan takes on a resurgent but fractious opposition.

Musa said that he was confident that the Barisan will do well and equal its last election performance of winning 59 of the 60 state and 24 of the 25 parliamentary seats.

“God willing, we can do it again,” he told reporters as he unveiled the list of Sabah Umno candidates.

Musa named former chief minister and current state Speaker Datuk Mohd Salleh Tun Said for his former Usukan state seat.

Salleh was among the six new faces from Sabah Umno's 32 seats.

The others included Datuk Yusoff Apdal, the younger brother of Umno vice-president Datuk Shafie Apdal, who will contest the Lahad Datu state seat while its incumbent Datuk Nasrun Datu Mansur will contest the Silam parliamentary seat.

Five term assemblyman Datuk Karim Bujang was dropped from his Bongawan seat and was replaced by the Kimanis division's youth chief Mohammad Alamin as Sabah Umno maintained most its incumbents.

State minister Datuk Azizah Mohd Dun will contest the Beaufort parliamentary seat that was held by Datuk Lajim Ukin who left the party.

All Sabah Umno's federal ministers - Datuk Anifah Aman (Kimanis) and Shafie (Semporna) and Puteri Umno chief Datuk Rosnah Rashid Shirlin (Papar) - have been retained with Umno fielding Datuk Jumaat Idris for the Sepanggar parliamentary seat.

Musa said the decision on the Tenom seat currently held by Raime Unggi will be made by Wednesday.

Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) president Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan, who announced his party's list simultaneously at the party headquarters in Penampang, said that super principal Datuk Mary Yap will be contesting the Tawau parliamentary seat.

Pairin, who is defending his Keningau parliamentary and Tambunan state seats, also named businessman Fung Len Fui for the Sri Tanjung state seat and lawyer Chin Teck Ming for the Kota Kinabalu parliamentary seat.

The three seats are now held by the opposition.

No other changes were made to his remaining two MPs and 11 assemblymen as other Sabah Barisan parties announced their line up with Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS) and Sabah Gerakan retaining their incumbents.

Upko led by Tan Sri Bernard Dompok will defend his Penampang parliamentary seat while secretary general Datuk Wilfred Madius Tangau will stand in Tuaran.

Upko, which has been allocated four parliamentary seats and six state seats is fielding newcomers in the Kuala Penyu (Limus Jury) and Bingkor (Keneddy Jie John) state seats while retaining the other incumbents.

Liberal Democratic Party led by Datuk V.K.Liew, who retains Sandakan parliamentary seat, is fielding Charles Pang for the Karamunting state seat and putting youth leader Chin Su Yin in Likas.

Sabah MCA chairman Datuk Edward Khoo will defend his Kapayan state seat and the party has been allocated a second state seat Luyang which will be contested by Sabah MCA Wanita chief Datuk Agnes Shim.

PBRS will see no changes with its president Tan Sri Joseph Kurup staying put in the Pensiangan parliamentary seat and party deputy Datuk Alfred Ellron Angin staying on in the Sook state seat.

Sabah Gerakan, which will be contesting for the first time under a Barisan ticket in Sabah, will retain the state seats Tanjong Papat (Datuk Raymond Tan) and Elopura (Au Kam Wah) who both did not follow SAPP when it left the coalition in Sept 2008.

Sabah - Umno to contest 14 parliament, 32 state seats

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Umno ushered in changes in three parliamentary and six state seats with state party chief Datuk Seri Musa Aman describing it as a combination of experienced incumbents and dynamic new blood.

As widely anticipated, Umno got 14 of Sabah's 25 parliament constituencies with the addition of the Sepanggar seat while it would be defending its existing 32 state seats.

Businessman Datuk Jumat Idris was the Umno choice for Sepanggar won by the Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) that quit Barisan Nasional after the 2008 polls.

State minister Datuk Azizah Mohd Dun was picked to wrest the Beaufort parliament seat from Datuk Lajim Ukin who resigned from Umno last September and aligned himself to PKR.

The party also moved Lahad Datu state assemblyman Datuk Nasrun Datu Mansor to the Silam parliamentary seat replacing Salleh Kalbi.

Musa said Umno would be announcing its choice for the Tenom seat later on Tuesday after a few issues were resolved.

Former chief minister Datuk Salleh Tun Said, the Sabah State Assembly Speaker, made a return when he was picked to contest the Usukan state seat that he once held.

The Umno choice for Lahad Datu seat vacated by Nasrun was businessman Datuk Yusof Apdal, a younger brother of party vice president Datuk Mohd Shafie Apdal who would be defending his Semporna parliament seat.

Shafie's former political secretary Datuk Jaujan Sambukong was the party's choice for Sulabayan while Datuk James Ratib was picked to contest in Sugut.
Umno was also replacing Datuk Karim Bujang in the Bongawan seat with lawyer Mohamad Alamis, the Kimanis Umno Youth chief while contesting the Klias seat vacated by Azizah was businessman Isnin Aliasmih.



Monday 15 April 2013

Govt allocates RM100m for price standardisation




KOTA KINABALU: The government has allocated RM100 million to Sabah for implementation of the price standardisation programme in rural areas and islands in the state.
The Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry’s Sabah director Noor Alam Khan said the allocation for this year had been increased as more areas had been included in the programme, which involves Kudat, Tawau, Keningau and Tambunan.
“We want residents in the interior and islands to enjoy the same standard price as urban dwellers,” he told the media after the presentation of the state-level Undergraduates Consumerism Movement awards, at the federal government administrative complex in Likas near here Monday.
He said 1,444 retail shops in Sabah were participating in the programme which was introduced in 2009.
Meanwhile, Universiti Malaysia Sabah which clinched the top award, and UiTM Sabah and ATI College which were the first and second runners-up received RM1,500, RM1,200 and RM1,000 respectively, plus a certificate each.

Najib - BN to field new faces for 33% of parliamentary and 49% of state seats




KUALA LUMPUR: Barisan Nasional will field up to 33% new faces for parliamentary seats and 49% for state seats in the 13th general election set for May 5.
Its chairman Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said Monday the line-up was the best Barisan could offer to deliver the pledges made in its manifesto.
"The process of selecting Barisan candidates was long, with a lot of negotiations made with coalition party presidents and state leaders.
"We took a long time to make the consideration because we need to balance between the old and new to make sure that while there is renewal, there will also be experienced representatives in the government later," he said.
"I'm more worried at the disappointment of the people than the disappointment of those not selected," he added.
Najib had earlier presented instruments of appointment to Barisan component party presidents and state coalition leaders.
The complete Barisan line-up will be known by Tuesday.

Sunday 14 April 2013

GE13: BN state chiefs to get candidates list on Monday



KUALA LUMPUR: Barisan Nasional is expected to hand out the letter of credential of candidates to respective state chairmen on Monday.
Publicity and Information Bureau chairman Datuk Ahmad Maslan said the state Barisan chairmen would then announce the list of candidates for the general election by Tuesday.
"Anyway, it's up to them when they want to make the announcement," he said when contacted by Bernama.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak is expected to hand out the letters at the Barisan headquarters at Menara Dato Onn, the Putra World Trade Centre here.
In KOTA BARU, Kelantan chairman Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed said the state Barisan has proposed old and new faces comprising religious, youth and women leaders after discussions with all quarters, including Umno division heads.
Calling on those who were not nominated not to sulk and betray the party, he said: "Even if you are crestfallen, you need to come back to the fold to lend a hand in our quest to recapture Kelantan from PAS for the sake of the people's future."
Johor and Kedah Barisan are expected to announce the list of candidates on Tuesday morning.
In SHAH ALAM, Selangor Barisan deputy chairman Datuk Seri Noh Omar said the state Barisan would field new faces consisting of professionals, teachers and representatives of non-governmental organisations, especially in constituencies where Barisan lost in the last general election.
The Selangor Barisan has asked Najib as the state chairman to hand out the letter of credentials to the candidates concerned, he told reporters.
Barisan will contest in all 222 parliamentary and 505 state seats.
The Election Commission has fixed April 20 for nomination and May 5 for polling for the 13th general election.