No campaign materials allowed on electricity poles, installations – says SESB

KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB) seeks the cooperation of political parties in Sabah and the Federal Territory of Labuan to refrain from installing political campaign materials on or near existing electricity poles and installations.

This call came following the dissolution of parliament and the Sabah State Assembly on April 3, which is expected to to see the installation of many political campaign materials, some of which may be installed inappropriately especially on SESB’s electrial installation.

According to SESB senior general manager (Asset Management), Ir. Ahmad Fuad Md Kasim, political campaign materials such as flags, banners, posters, and signboards are frequently installed near or on SESB’s electrical poles and electrical installations, without the knowledge and permission of the company, especially approaching election period.

“Campaign materials have frequently touched electrical lines when blown by the wind, which causes supply interruption to nearby areas.

“Moreover, these activities may cause damage to electrical installations and should the material touch a live-line, it will cause current leakages especially on rainy days,” said Fuad.

He said this would result in the possibility of causing injury or even death brought on by electrical shock to people installing campaign materials or to the public at large.

Due to safety reasons, SESB will immediately take down any political campaign materials if found to be installed on or near an electrical installation.

Consumers are encouraged to contact SESB’s Hotline at 15454 or 088-515000 should they experience supply interruption in their area.

Text messaging (SMS) is also available by typing SESBR<space>”type report” and send to 33154.

SESB would endeavour to take immediate action on all reports received from customers that are made through these official channels of communication.

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Permit needed for election advertisements – mayor

 

KOTA KINABALU: City Hall has reminded all political parties, candidates and those intending to put up election posters, flags, billboards and other forms of election advertisements, to apply for a permit during the campaigning period of the upcoming 13th general election.

An advertisement deposit of RM2,000 for parliamentary and RM1,000 for state candidates are required and the deposits must be paid before any forms of advertisements are put up.

Mayor Datuk Abidin Madingkir said the deposits would be refunded after the election, subject to all forms of advertisement having been taken down and the site/location remedied to its original state.

He added that the erection or putting up of billboards, posters, flags, placards and other forms of election advertisements are not allowed at the following areas: Site or location where it could obstruct the views of motorists and road users; trees (Gluing or nailing on trees); landscaped areas that have been planted with flowers or trees; streetlights; lamp posts; Existing billboard structures; and government and private buildings without obtaining prior consent from the building owners.

The mayor also advised that all forms of advertisement be properly erected and any damage on public properties, landscape and cleanliness in the areas affected, would be the responsibility of the said party, candidate or advertisement owners.

Advertisement put up should not cause any obstructions to the views of motorists or road users to prevent untoward accidents, and any accidents caused from such advertisements will be the full responsibility of the party, candidate or owner of the advertisements concerned.

Those erecting or putting up of any forms of advertisement structures are also reminded to take precautionary measures and protect the interest and safety of motorists and road users.

The party, candidate and advertisement owner concerned must comply with the regulations stipulated by the Malaysia Election Commission, and all the regulations by the Public Works Department.

Putting up of all forms of election advertisement is temporary, beginning from the campaigning period and immediately after the campaigning period.

City Hall has the right to take necessary actions on advertisement by any party, candidate or advertisement owner who failed to adhere to the regulations.

City Hall has also the right to remove any advertisement and revoke permits as well as forfeiting the deposits of any party, candidate or advertisement owner.

In order for a smooth running election campaign, the mayor calls upon all parties to give their full cooperation to City Hall.

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Sabah can count on Sarawak for support — Taib

KUCHING: Sarawak donated RM1 million to Sabah yesterday to help them rebuild communities devastated by the Lahad Datu security incursion.

Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud reassured the people of Sabah that they could count on Sarawak for support.

“Sabahans may be suffering from the initial impact but be rest assured that our countrymen, especially Sarawak, will go all out to support them,” the chief minister said at the launching of the two-day Military Community Volunteering Day at Le’Park) here.

Taib said the government appreciated the sacrifices made by the armed forces in defending the country.

On the Lahat Datu incident, Taib said the swift action taken by the armed forces showed that they were well-prepared and ever ready to defend and protect the country whenever needed.

“Despite initial shocks, our security teams made strategic moves to tackle the situation and to ensure safety is secured.”

On the Military Community Volunteering Day, he said such community-related projects ought to be organised regularly to enable the public to gel with the armed forces.

“This community event is a great platform to show the people the strength of our armed forces. It could help renew and improve public confidence, respect and thrust on them.”

A range of activities, including sports competitions, entertainment, and exhibitions by the military, government agencies and corporate sector will be held over two days to educate and engage the public in an interactive manner.

Taib’s wife Puan Sri Ragad Kurdi Taib, Malaysia First Infantry Division commander Major General Mohd Zaki Haji Mokhtar, Minister of Welfare, Women and Community Development Datuk Fatimah Abdullah were among those present.

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Manifesto BN Merupakan Aku Janji Hebat Dan Terbaik BN Kepada Rakyat Malaysia, kata Musa

TAWAU, 7 April — Ketua Menteri Sabah Datuk Seri Musa Aman menyifatkan manifesto Barisan Nasional (BN) yang dilancarkan Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak semalam sebagai aku janji hebat dan terbaik BN  untuk membawa kemakmuran kepada seluruh rakyat Malaysia.

Musa berkata manisfesto berkenaan bersifat menyeluruh dalam memenuhi aspirasi seluruh lapisan masyarakat Malaysia di manapun mereka berada termasuk di Sabah.

“Kita menganggap manifesto BN ini sebagai aku janji kepada seluruh rakyat yang begitu hebat, terbaik yang cukup memberi manfaat kepada seluruh lapisan rakyat, tidak kira di bandar, di luar bandar, orang lama, orang muda, wanita, semuanya tidak tertinggal.

“Ini satu manifesto atau aku janji yang begitu tepat, begitu lengkap yang memberi manfaat kepada kita semua. Saya percaya inilah yang dikehendaki oleh rakyat kerana ia mengambil kira semua lapisan dan semua sektor. Saya percaya rakyat menyambut baik manifesto atau aku janji ini.

“Insya-Allah, dengan ini saya percaya ia akan memberi semangat yang lagi kuat, lagi kukuh untuk mereka terus menyokong parti BN. Mereka (rakyat) tahu bahawa BN di bawah pimpinan Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, janji ditepati. Apa yang dijanjikan BN akan kita tepati,” katanya.

Musa yang juga Pengerusi Badan Perhubungan UMNO Sabah dan Pengerusi BN Sabah berkata demikian kepada pemberita selepas merasmikan Jerayawara Yayasan Sabah Bersama Rakyat bagi Zon Pantai Timur Selatan di sini hari ini.

Jerayawara itu antara lain bertujuan memberi maklumat kepada rakyat berkaitan aktiviti Yayasan Sabah untuk membangunkan sosioekonomi, mendapat sambutan ribuan penduduk Tawau dan disifatkan Musa sebagai tanda sokongan padu  rakyat terhadap kepimpinan BN di peringkat negeri dan pusat.

Musa meminta rakyat Sabah supaya terus teguh menyokong kerajaan BN kerana di bawah kerajaan BN nasib rakyat akan terus terbela sementara negara sentiasa dalam keadaan sejahtera dan selamat.

Mengulas mengenai cadangan pembinaan lebuh raya dari Semantan di Sarawak hingga ke Serudong di Tawau, Sabah, sepanjang 2,300 kilometer, dalam aku janji BN berkenaan, Musa berkata ia akan memberi impak besar kepada rakyat yang tinggal berhampiran lebuh raya itu.

Katanya infrastruktur asas itu sudah tentu akan mempermudahkan pelbagai lapisan masyarakat seperti petani untuk memasarkan keluaran pertanian mereka.

Musa turut melawat 65 penduduk Kampung Bukit Kukusan yang rumah mereka ranap dirempuh bongkah batu besar yang bergolek dari kawasan kuari di atas bukit, pagi semalam menyebabkan enam penduduk cedera.

Bernama difahamkan kerajaan negeri sudah mengarahkan supaya mangsa yang layak ditempatkan di Projek Perumahan Rakyat Semarak.

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BN Manifesto 2013 (I)

Najib has successfully launched the BN Manifesto yesterday in Bukit Jalil, and I am pretty sure that many of us will start asking, what are the elements been highlighted in this. So here it is, let's take a look.

• The BR1M one-off cash payment to low income households (who earn less than RM3,000 per month) will be increased, during the next five years, from RM500 to up to RM1,200. The BR1M will also be paid out annually.

• Revamping the National Automotive Policy to gradually reduce car prices by 20-30%

• Opening new Klinik 1Malaysia in high density communities.

• Establishing more 1Malaysia Daycare Centres for working parents.

• Lowering broadband internet fees by at least 20%, while guaranteeing bandwidth.

• Creating a new ministry focused on urban affairs (70% of Malaysians now live in urban areas).

Part 2 to be continued....

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GE13: EC is expected to decide Friday on meeting to set nomination and polling dates

 

PUTRAJAYA: The Election Commission (EC) expects to issue the notice on its special meeting on the 13th General Election by Friday, said its chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof.

He said that as at 3pm Thursday, the EC had received the writ of dissolution of the state assembly from all but three states - Selangor, Kelantan and Penang.

"I understand that Kelantan will hold its ceremony (to hand over the writ) at 11pm tonight, while Selangor started its ceremony at 2.30pm earlier.

"If everything goes according to the information we have gathered, all writs will be received by today though probably some will be late into the night," he said at a press conference after inspecting facilities at the newly opened EC media centre here.

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GE13: Suspense mounts over selection of candidates

KUALA LUMPUR: Political leaders on both sides of the divide descended on the federal capital Thursday as suspense mounted over the selection of candidates for the 13th general election, a day after the 12th Parliament was dissolved.

Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak chaired back-to-back meetings of the Barisan Nasional and Umno supreme councils at Menara Dato Onn to tie up the loose ends before the coalition unveils its manifesto on Saturday night, with the Prime Minister also promising to name the candidates well before nomination day.

Momentum has shifted into top gear as the Election Commission is poised to decide on the nomination and polling dates, with much speculation that it would be all over by month's end.

Najib, leading the coalition into the battle for the first time, said the earlier than usual announcement of Barisan candidates would enable them to be better prepared and start meeting voters earlier.
"Wait for the announcement. I do not want to say anything now but there will be changes. It's important to have an element of surprise," he told reporters after the supreme council meetings.
Faced with a tough fight to regain ground lost in the 2008 general election, Barisan has indicated that up to 40 percent of its candidates would be new faces.

Najib all but confirmed that he would defend his bastion of Pekan when asked to comment on Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's decision to contest in Perak rather than defend his Permatang Pauh parliamentary seat.

"I will never dream of leaving Pekan. I will live and die in Pekan politically," said Najib, who in 1976 took over the task of tending to Pekan, the birthplace and stronghold of his father, the late Tun Abdul Razak Hussein, who died during his tenure as the country's second prime minister.

The Barisan manifesto, Najib said, would underscore the commitment of the coalition to continue with the transformation of the country and the national economy for the prosperity of the people.
Meanwhile, Anwar said his wife and PKR president Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail would stay out of the election despite earlier reports that she was eyeing a state seat in Selangor.
Anwar told Al-Jazeera television Wednesday that she had decided not to contest when he was asked on criticism over nepotism within PKR as he is PKR advisor and their daughter Nurul Izzah is vice-president.
Wan Azizah was not spotted when Anwar and fellow opposition leaders huddled for three hours at the PKR headquarters just outside the city and emerged with Anwar announcing that discussions on the seat allocation would resume Friday afternoon.
PAS was represented by its spiritual leader and Kelantan Mentri Besar Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat and DAP by secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, who is Penang Chief Minister.

"After yesterday's dissolution, the ensuing 48 to 78 hours will be critical for Barisan and the Opposition to finalise their lists of candidates. From the look of things, there seems to be quite a few loose ends and you can expect the haggling and last-minute swapping to continue till nomination day," said a political pundit.

The upcoming battle will see Barisan and the Opposition vying for 222 parliamentary seats and 505 state seats in 12 states except Sarawak, which held its state election in April 2011.

The Johor and Selangor state assemblies were dissolved Thursday, leaving just three still outstanding - the opposition-held states of Penang, Kelantan and Kedah.

Lim and Kedah Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Azizan Abdul Razak confirmed that their state assemblies would follow suit Friday, while Nik Abdul Aziz is set to have an audience with Sultan Muhammad V of Kelantan late Thursday.

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BN yakin kuasai Sabah

Seperti yang kita sedia maklum , Perdana Menteri Najib telah mengumumkan pembubaran parlimen kelmarin. Hal ini mengundang pelbagai reaksi dari pucuk pimpinan masing masing. Ada yang mempersoalkan kredibiliti sesebuah parti yang akan bertanding nanti.

Di sini, barisan komponen BN Sabah-PBS, PBRS, UPKO serta LDP percaya dengan sokongan padu rakyat terhadap BN dan akan terus memangkah nama itu. Mereka menafikan bahawa sokongan tersasar ke arah pembangkang, yang dikatakan hanya memesongkan fikiran rakyat terhadap kerajaan.

Gerakan mencari calon sesuai juga masih dijalankan dan Najib dijangka akan mengumumkan manifesto BN pada Sabtu ini di Bukit Jalil. Nak tahu lebih lanjut, tunggu. 

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Lahad Datu: Police seeking another 'Datuk Seri' to help probe on Sabah incursion

LAHAD DATU: Police are looking for a second Datuk Seri to facilitate investigations pertaining to the Lahad Datu intrusion.

Sabah Deputy Commissioner of Police SAC Datuk Tan Kok Liang said the 57-year-old known as Clarence Luing Karl@ Muhammad Khalil John L Karl was needed to help security forces in the continuing Ops Daulat investigation.

"Clarence's last address was in Kampung Bawang, Tamparuli, about 45 minutes drive from Kota Kinabalu town," he said during the daily Ops Daulat media briefing here Wednesday.

Tan urged Clarence to surrender himself and also sought assistance from members of the public who knew the wanted man's whereabouts.

Initial investigations found that the Datuk Seri is still in Sabah.

The first Datuk Seri, known as Muhammad Ridhwan Sulaiman, was wanted by the police on March 31 in relation to the intrusion.

Muhammad Ridhwan surrendered himself at the Ampang Jaya police headquarters in Kuala Lumpur the next day, although he denied being involved in anyway to the self-proclaimed Sulu sultan Jamalul Kiram III.

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GE13: It's finally on!

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak announcing the dissolution of Parliament after the Cabinet meeting in Putrajaya with him is Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

PUTRAJAYA: The 13th General Election is on. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak confirmed that Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah had consented to the dissolution of the 12th parliament.

"I met the Agong this morning and he consented to the dissolution of Parliament," Najib said during a live televised speech after the Cabinet meeting here Wednesday.

He advised all the state governments, except Negri Sembilan and Sarawak, to also dissolve their respective state legislative assemblies to allow the state elections to be held simultaneously with the general election.

As at 6pm Wednesday, the state assemblies of Malacca, Perak, Perlis and Sabah had been dissolved.

The Penang, Terengganu, Kedah, Kelantan and Selangor state assemblies were expected to announce their dissolution on Thursday.

It was uncertain if Johor and Pahang would dissolve their state assemblies Wednesday night or on Thursday.

Sarawak will not be holding state polls as the previous elections were held in April 2011.

The Negri Sembilan state legislative assembly dissolved automatically on March 28.

Sarawak held its state election on April 16, 2011, and the Barisan Nasional (BN) was returned to power after it won 55 of the 71 seats contested.

Following the dissolution of the Dewan Rakyat today, the Election Commission (EC) is expected to meet soon to set the dates for nomination and polling.

The current mandate of the government was due to expire on April 28 this year.

According to Article 55 (4) of the Federal Constitution, a general election must be held within 60 days of the dissolution of parliament.

Based on the latest electoral rolls, as of December last year, 13.3 million people are eligible to go to the polls in the country.

A total of 222 parliamentary seats will be contested in the coming general election, 31 of which are in Sarawak, while 505 state seats will be up for contest.

At the time of dissolution, Barisan had 137 seats in the Dewan Rakyat with the rest held by the DAP (29), PKR (23), PAS (23), Parti Kesejahteraan Insan Tanahair (Kita) (one) and PSM (one). Eight seats were held by independent MPs.

In the last general election, in 2008, Barisan failed to secure a two-third majority in the Dewan Rakyat, garnering only 140 seats while the opposition grabbed 82 seats.

Besides failing to regain control of Kelantan, Barisan also lost control of Kedah, Penang, Perak and Selangor.

After three elected representatives declared themselves friendly to Barisan almost a year later, the opposition Perak government fell and Barisan took back the state.

The 13th general election is the first for Najib as Barisan leader, after having taken over as the prime minister from Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on April 3, 2009.

Meanwhile, the EC is scheduled to implement eight new elements as part of the effort to improve the running of the general election, in accordance with the recommendations in the report of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Electoral Reform presented to parliament on April 3 last year.

These include the use of indelible ink to mark voters, early voting to replace postal voting for policemen and soldiers, allowing postal voting for Malaysians abroad and journalists, and setting a campaign period of not less than 10 days.

After the 12th general election, 16 by-elections were held following the death or resignation of elected representatives, six of these for parliamentary seats and 10 for state seats. Eight seats were won by the BN and eight by the opposition.

The parliamentary by-elections were held in Permatang Pauh, Kuala Terengganu, Bukit Gantang, Hulu Selangor, Sibu and Batu Sapi while the state by-elections were held in Bukit Selambau, Batang Ai, Manek Urai, Permatang Pasir, Penanti, Bagan Pinang, Galas, Batu Sapi, Tenang, Merlimau and Kerdau.

The number of by-elections was the highest after the 1995-1999 parliamentary term that saw 17 by-elections held.

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Sabah to host first high-level conference on security

KOTA KINABALU: The first high-level conference on the Political Transformation programme on security and the Eastern Sabah Safety Zone (Esszone) will be held here tomorrow.

It will provide an opportunity for the participants to express their initial views on the main issues as well as discuss the rationale behind the enforcement of Esszone.

A statement issued by the Press and Publications division of the Sabah Chief Minister’s Department here yesterday, said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman is expected to officiate the one-day conference, organised by the Attorney General’s Chambers with the assistance of the Sabah government.

Some 400 selected participants are expected to attend the conference.

Interested parties are invited to contact Annie Syuhada Abdullah at 088-488 231, e-mail: syuhada@agc.gov.my at or Juvinnie Loking at 088-488 230, e-mail: juvinnie.loking@agc.gov.my for further information, said the statement.

Last Monday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak announced the establishment of the Esszone, covering 10 districts, to provide the legal basis for the Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom).

The districts are Kudat, Kota Marudu, Pitas, Beluran, Sandakan, Kinabatangan, Lahad Datu, Kunak, Semporna and Tawau.

Najib was quoted as saying that these districts would be administered by an Eastern Sabah Safety Zone Committee, set up under the Preservation of Public Security Regulations 2013, and chaired by the chief minister. — Bernama

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Pos Malaysia plans to introduce ‘digital mail box’ next year

KUALA LUMPUR: Pos Malaysia Berhad plans to introduce a 'digital mail box' service by early next year for the convenience of customers paying bills online.

Acting group chief executive officer Mohd Shukrie Mohd Salleh said the service was part of the company's transformation plan.

"With the new product customers need to access only one portal to pay all their bills," he said after presenting prizes to the winners of the 'Senang Menang'.

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