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ON THURSDAYMARCH 26, 2015305,000 COPIES DAILY MEMBER
IGP: Were committed to fi ghting crime
page 04
Next Gen: Winning
movespage 25
INSIDE
Barriers
Taiwan seizes Japanese food from radiation-tainted areasTAIPEI:
Japanese food from areas contaminated by radiation near the 2011
Fukushima nuclear disaster was found in Taiwan and ordered taken
off the shelves, local media reported yesterday.
The Food and Drug Administra-tion found 283 items of Japanese
food with counterfeit labels, in Chi-nese language, in local
supermarkets in early February, according to an Apple Daily
report.
However, the government did not order the removal until March
19.
The products including instant noodles, black tea, coffee and
sweets were falsely covered with stickers purporting to show
manufacturing in Tokyo, Osaka, Hokkaido and even parts of the
United States, state-run Central News Agency said.
Taiwan has banned food products from the Japanese prefectures of
Fukushima, Ibaraki, Tochigi, Gumma and Chiba since March 2011.
dpa
PUTRAJAYA: Proponents of security barriers across public roads
have good rea-son to cheer as the Federal
Court has ruled that structures like boom gates and guardhouses
for se-curity purposes are not illegal.
A five-member panel chaired by Chief Judge of Malaya Tan Sri
Zulkefli Ahmad Makinudin declared that regulated access to a
defined area is not an obstruction in law, particularly if it is
for security purposes.
It is so only if one is denied access to a public place. A
barricade placed across a public road does not deny access
altogether to all who wish to enter, Zulkefli said in his 18-page
judgment delivered on March 19.
The court ruled that guardhouses and boom gates are authorised
structures under the Town and Country Planning Act 1976, the
Street, Drainage and Building Act 1974 and the Local Government Act
1976.
It cannot be disputed that guarded communities are schemes
implemented to improve public safety and security in defined
residential areas, Bernama quoted
TURN TO PAGE 04
Local authorities are EMPOWERED TO APPROVE boom gates and
guardhouses for security purposes
SALUTING A STATESMAN ... Thousands lined the streets in
Singapore yesterday to pay respects to Lee Kuan Yew as the casket
containing his body is taken to Parliament House where it will lie
in state for public viewing, ahead of his funeral on Sunday.
AFPPIX
Remembering Lee Kuan Yewpage 13
SEE ALSO PAGE 06
http://www.thesundaily.my/igp:We
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1MDB task force to be set upBY BERNARD
[email protected]
THE government will set up a special task force to look into
1Malaysia Development Berhads (1MDB) performance, the Dewan Rakyat
was told yes-terday.
Finance Minister (II) Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Mohamad Ha-nadzlah,
in his wind-ing-up speech on the royal address, said the task force
will include him, Minister in the Prime Ministers Department Datuk
Seri Abdul Wahid Omar, Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri
Ali Hamsa as well as Treas-ury Secretary-General Tan Sri Irwan
Serigar Abdullah.
He said the task force will be looking at the overall
performance of 1MDB and the debt it has ac-cumulated.
We will also be asking CIMB to come in as a third party to
evaluate (1MDB), so we can ensure that we can get a fair
evaluation, Ahmad Husni said.
We will also look at how much 1MDB can be valued at, how to
use the land that it has, and joint ventures and more, which we
be-lieve, will solve 1MDBs cash-flow problems, he said.
Ahmad Husni also acknowledged the fact that 1MDBs problem lies
with its cash flow,
adding that the state-owned in-vestment firms financial woes
would end once its initial public offering (IPO) for its power
plant assets take off.
We have no problems with the principal as they are long-term
debts. But in terms of the interests, we are confident that once
the IPO is done, it will decrease.
NEWS WITHOUT BORDERS02theSun ON THURSDAY | MARCH 26, 2015
POTA only to combat violent extremismBY AIEZAT
[email protected]
KUALA LUMPUR: The proposed Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA)
2015 will only be used against those involved in violent extremism,
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak said.
Assuring that there is no political motive in the proposed POTA,
he said the proposed Act is to safeguard peace and security and
there is no need for the government to be apologetic about it.
Some people will say that these laws are undemocratic or
threaten their freedom.
Well, there is no such thing as absolute freedom. Freedom
without responsibility has no place in this country, Najib said at
the 208th Police Day celebration at the Pulapol Parade Square here
yesterday.
Najib was responding to public
> Proposed law to safeguard peace and security, says
Najib
concerns that the law may be used by certain parties for their
benefit.
The concern came after provisions in POTA, as well as the
planned amendments to the Sedition Act 1948, would provide
detention without trial.
Najib said the new law will be
administered by a competent body and not by members of the
administration as its objective is to prevent the proliferation of
acts of terrorism that will threaten national security.
He added that the laws are to combat new challenges, including
the rise of the IS (Islamic State), and should not be used by
certain groups for their own political ends.
Only those who raise the threat of violent extremism can be
detained under this new Act, Najib said.
We have to act first to prevent terrorism because the
consequences can be disastrous if we are late in doing so, he
said.
Najib added that people should not show disrespect to the police
as they are the ones who have to uphold the law to ensure peace in
the country.
Nowadays, there are people who make fun of police officers.
These people are very irresponsible. The police should be respected
as they are the one who uphold the rule of law, Najib said.
PM conveys condolencesKUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri
Najib Abdul Razak has conveyed his condolences to the families and
friends of the passengers and crew of a German-wings Airbus flight
that crashed in France on Tuesday.
My thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of
those on board Germanwings Flight 4U 9525, he said in a Twitter
post yesterday.
US believes in our fi ght against terrorism: ZahidBY VATHANI
[email protected]
PUTRAJAYA: The White House believes that Malaysia is serious in
its efforts to curb terrorism by foreign militant groups as the
Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) will soon be tabled in
Parliament, said Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
Ahmad Zahid was speaking after receiving a courtesy call from Dr
Evans Medeiros, Special Assistant to the President and Senior
Director for Asian Affairs at the National Security Council at his
office here yesterday.
He said they discussed efforts taken by Malaysia in curbing and
preventing terrorism in the country in view of US President Barack
Obamas visit, which is scheduled for November this year.
The White House sees Malaysia as being serious in combating
terrorism as POTA, enacted specifically to address terrorism by
foreign militant groups, will be tabled in the current sitting of
Parliament, Ahmad Zahid told the media at his office here
yesterday.
He said Malaysia and the US will share information through their
respective enforcement and intelligence agencies as it is important
to curb terrorism before it happens.
VIP VISITOR... Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussien
mingles with Nor Amira Natasha, eight, and Nor Atirah Sayrizad,
three, daughters of army personnel Sayrizad Yahaya when visiting
Sayrizad's house during the opening of the Army Village in Sungai
Lembing yesterday. The Army Village was built to benefi t army
personnel and their families.
BERNAMAPIX
Poser over RM90m RTM news centreBY HAIKAL
[email protected]
KUALA LUMPUR: The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) questioned the
construction of Radio Televisyen Malaysias (RTM) RM90 million
integrated news centre, which is only being used as a normal office
space, despite the whopping sum spent on the project.
PAC chairman Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed said the building, which
was completed in 2012, did not have any broadcast equipment for
news operations, which defeats the purpose of its construction.
Currently, the building is not used as a news centre and only
serves as a normal office building, he told a press conference at
Parliament yesterday, adding that the RM90 million allocation was
only enough to construct the building.
They should have asked for enough funds for both the building
and equipment before starting the project, he said.
Nur Jazlan said RTM is now asking the government for another
RM126 million to buy related equipment to allow the building to
operate as a news centre.
PKR to play mediator roleBY HAIKAL
[email protected]
KUALA LUMPUR: PKR will act as a mediator to resolve the squabble
between PAS and DAP over disagreement on the hudud issue.
PKR secretary-general Rafizi Ramli said it is important for
component parties in Pakatan Rakyat to sit down and discuss ways to
resolve the matter peacefully.
We are also going to sit down with PAS and DAP leaders, he told
a press conference at the Parliament lobby here.
He said disagreement between parties in the coalition is nothing
new and many issues have been solved through talks.
Even the most difficult issues have been resolved through
discussion, and I believe that will continue, he said. Despite all
the issues, Pakatan still stands strong, he added.
He also dismissed talks that the disagreement on hudud will
signal the end of the three-party coalition.
I do not think we can sweep everything under the carpet. Yet I
am optimistic that Pakatan is not breaking up (over this issue),
Rafizi said.
While there are some miscommunication problems internally,
Pakatan as a whole will continue to move along in the same
direction in line with the wishes and aspirations of Malaysians, he
said.
He said PKR will have separate meetings with PAS and DAP
respectively soon.
THE visa exemption for tourists from China could generate income
of about RM8.3 billion this year. Tourism and Culture Datuk Seri
Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz said the visa exemption would attract
some
2.7 million tourists from China to the country this year. "China
is the third largest market for Malaysia in the tourism sector," he
said in reply to a question by Datuk Wee Jeck Seng (BN-Tanjong
Piai).
Visa waiver can bring in RM8.3b incomeENERGY, Green Technology
and Water Minister Datuk Seri Maximus Ongkili reiterated that
electricity tariff will not be raised this year. "The govern-ment
is monitoring the price of fuels used in electricity produc-tion
such as coal, piped natural gas and liquefied natural gas
(LNG). "Currently, we are giv-ing subsidy for piped natural gas,
he said in reply to a sup-plementary question from Datuk Ahmad
Fauzi Zahari (BN-Setiawangsa), who asked whether the government
could assure that the electricity tariff will not be raised this
year.
No electricity tariff increase
PR1MA homes not affectedTHE government has given its assurance
the soon-to-be implemented Goods and Services Tax (GST) on April 1
will not affect the prices of houses under the 1Malaysia Peoples
Housing (PR1MA).
Minister in the Prime Ministers Department Datuk Seri Shahidan
Kassim said the 20% discount from the market prices will continue
to be implement-ed.
There is no reason to raise the PR1MA house prices, especially
as the building materials and construction costs are not included
in the price hike list, he told the Dewan Rakyat yesterday. He was
replying to a supplementary question by Mohd Fasiah Mohd Fakeh
(BN-Sabak Bernam), who wanted to know whether the implementation of
GST would increase the PR1MA house prices.
To an oral question by Mohd Fasiah, he said one-third of the
PR1MA project has received plan-ning approval. He said 32 projects
from the 95 planned nationwide had been given the approval.
The 32 projects cover 28,363 houses built all over Malaysia, and
they are in various development stages, he said.
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]
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03theSun ON THURSDAY | MARCH 26, 2015
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NEWS WITHOUT BORDERS04theSun ON THURSDAY | MARCH 26, 2015
No let-up, says IGP> Were committed to fi ghting crime
BY AIEZAT [email protected]
KUALA LUMPUR: Police have managed to reduce the crime rate in
the country by 12.6% last year compared with 2013.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said the
statistics prove the polices commitment to curbing crimes.
We have to continue to take the necessary steps to go forward,
even when facing threats from certain individuals, as well as the
need to change in accordance to current challenges, he said at the
208th Police Day celebration at the Police Training Centre
(Pulapol) here yesterday.
He added police have dealt with the challenges
well and in fact there are many transformations that have been
made to provide the best service for the people.
He said police managed to reduce the crime rate from 147,062
cases in 2013 to 128,544 in 2014 a drop of 18,518 cases.
He also noted that the rate of violent crimes has dropped by
13.4% (3,950 cases) and property crimes has declined by 12.4%
(14,568
Woman who witnessed murder killedBY CHARLES
[email protected]
PETALING JAYA: A murder witness was slashed and stabbed to death
moments after she saw her killers attacking a man at a karaoke
centre near Bandar Sunway here yesterday.
Norlia Alias, 40, who worked as a supervisor at a karaoke
outlet
in Jalan PJS 8/13, was found dead on the walkway near her work
place at about 1am. She suffered wounds on her chest and head.
The assailants had pursued her after realising she had witnessed
them killing a 34-year-old Indonesian man identified as Lukmanul
Hakim, police said.
The three men, armed with knives and parang, had attacked
Lukmanul at a stairway leading to the karaoke centre located at
a three-storey shoplot.
The victim suffered multiple stab wounds on his body and a
severed finger.
Petaling Jaya police chief ACP Azmi Abu Kassim said revenge is
believed to be the motive behind the murder. Police have yet to
identify the assailants.
It is learnt that police have retrieved a footage from several
closed-circuit security cameras installed at the centre which
showed images of three men believed to be locals.
A pocket knife was also found at the scene. The bodies of the
victims were sent to the University Malaya Medical Centre for a
post mortem.
cases). Based on the statistics, Khalid said, the police have
managed to achieve the target set by the government under the
National Key Result Area.
Overall, he said, the safety assurance in the country is at a
controlled stage.
He urged the public to play an active role in helping the police
through community
ASH
RA
F SH
AM
SUL/
THE
SUN
A special performance during the 208th Police Appreciation Day
celebration at Pulapol yesterday.
him as saying, in dismissing an appeal by a Petaling Jaya
resident, Au Kean Hoe of DVilla Equestrian housing estate in Kota
Damansara, who had taken legal action against DVilla Equestrian
Residents Association over the construction of such structures.
Au had sought an order for a guardhouse and two boom gates built
in the housing estate be demolished, claiming they were illegal
structures, a nuisance and amounted to an obstruction.
Zulkefli said the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) was fully
empowered to approve the guardhouse with the boom gates in
accordance with its guidelines for guarded communities issued by
the Urban Planning Department in May, 2011.
The court found that the housing estate developer had obtained
approval from MBPJ for the construction of the guardhouse.
In August 2010, Au had ceased to be a member of the DVilla
Equestrian Residents Association and stopped paying maintenance and
security charges.
He lodged a police report and an online complaint to the MBPJ
after the association issued a circular on Oct 25, 2011, notifying
residents that those who had not paid the security and maintenance
charges would have to open the boom gates themselves without the
assistance of the security guard on duty.
Developer obtained nod
FROM FRONT PAGE
policing. The community needs the police to safeguard peace
whereas the police need the communitys help in performing its duty
responsibly, he said.
Khalid felt the concept of community policing could make the
public aware of the importance of collective responsibility in
curbing crime.
Harassed Borders manager seeks royal intervention in row with
JawiPETALING JAYA: Borders bookstore manager Nik Raina Nik Abdul
Aziz has appealed to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Abdul Halim
Muadzam Shah to intervene in her long-running legal battle with the
Federal Territory Islamic Affairs Department (Jawi).
She said she is tired of dealing with Jawi, and pleaded the King
to reprimand the religious authority for hounding her for allegedly
selling a book deemed un-Islamic.
For the past three years, Nik Raina, 38, had been harassed by
Jawi over the sale of the book even though all the three courts
High Court, Court of Appeal and Syariah High Court had freed her of
wrongdoing.
Jawi has filed an appeal against the Federal Territory Syariah
High Courts decision on Feb 26 to discharge Nik Raina for selling
the book entitled Allah, Kebebasan dan Cinta at the Borders
bookstore at Mid Valley Megamall in 2012.
The book, translated from English, was written by Canadian
author Irshad Manji.
She said she is at a loss over what to do.
I hope that my rights under the Federal Constitution are
protected. As a lay person, what is important is that I have been
freed by the three courts.
I thought the suffering and
disgrace I faced for three years had ended. However, my joy was
brief as Jawi has appealed, she said in a statement yesterday.
On March 22, 2013, High Court judge Datuk Zaleha Yusof ruled
that Jawis action against Nik Raina was illegal and directed the
department to drop its charges against her.
However, Jawi refused and appealed against the civil courts
decision. Her case was postponed.
Then on Dec 30 last year, the Court of Appeal upheld the High
Courts ruling, describing Jawis action as unlawful and
unconstitutional.
I thought the pain and humiliation I suffered for three years
ended with the courts decisions. However, my happiness was
short-lived.
Jawi, please let go off this oppression, she said.
Chief syariah prosecutor Mohamad Adib Husain has served the
notice of the appeal directly to Nik Raina at her place of work at
the Mid Valley Megamall.
Nik Raina also accused Jawi of making her a scapegoat to show
off its power.
My crime was being a Malay and Muslim store manager who could be
a scapegoat for Jawi to show its power, she said.
Recalling the pain and humiliation she endured, she said every
time she
went to court she was called the accused, and had her freedom
restricted while out on bail.
She said some people thought she had insulted Islam, and had
treated her family with suspicion.
I was trapped in such a situation and my employer defended me by
challenging Jawi through a judicial review that exposed Jawis lame
action, she said.
She added that the religious authority had acted without legal
basis in raiding the Borders bookstore on May 23, 2012. The store
is owned by Berjaya Books Sdn Bhd.
We gave full cooperation to Jawi in its investigation but Jawi
was rough with the Muslim staff there.
My employer tried to resolve the matter amicably but Jawi went
on to charge me with distributing books against Islam, she
added.
Nik Raina said she is stressed out and I plead to leaders of
this country to look at what Jawi is doing, which is making the
public, namely Muslims, weary.
She added that it is unfair for her employer to keep paying the
legal cost to defend her.
I am embarrassed to keep burdening my boss that way. On my own,
I cannot afford the legal fees. My future job prospects are also
jeopardised... this is my dilemma, which Jawi will never think
about.
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]
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05theSun ON THURSDAY | MARCH 26, 2015
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NEWS WITHOUT BORDERS06theSun ON THURSDAY | MARCH 26, 2015
If you believe in democracy, you must believe in it
unconditionally. If you believe that men should be free, then, they
should have the right of free association, of free speech, of free
publication. Then, nolaw should permit those democratic processes
to be set at nought.
Thousands pay respects to LKY> Overwhelming queues at
Parliament where body lies in state, hours extendedSINGAPORE:
Singaporeans wept on the streets and gathered by the thousands
yesterday to pay respects to founding leader Lee Kuan Yew as his
flag-draped coffin was transported on a gun carriage to Parliament
for public viewing.
After a two-day private wake for the family, the coffin was
taken from the Istana government complex, Lees workplace for
decades as prime minister and cabinet adviser, to the legislature,
where his remains will lie in state until the weekend.
Local media said Singaporeans began queuing after midnight on
Tuesday for a chance to be among the first to pay their respects to
the man popularly known by his initials LKY.
The 91-year-old patriarch died on Monday after half-a-century in
government, during which Singapore was transformed from a poor
British colonial outpost into one of the worlds richest
societies.
Lee will be cremated after full state honours on Sunday.
His son, Prime Minister Lee Hsien
Muslim affairs minister commends LeeSINGAPORE: The Malay-Muslims
of Singapore remember Lee Kuan Yew for his strong conviction that
no one should be left behind, especially those in the minority
groups.
He found ways and means to help us to move along. He has helped
the Malay-Muslim people to understand that you need the two
principles that I have always mentioned meritocracy and
multiracialism to succeed, and I think we have done so,
Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Dr Yaacob Ibrahim was quoted
as saying in an interview with The Straits Times of Singapore
yesterday.
Yaacob was at a community tribute site at Hong Lim Park
yesterday afternoon with Muslim religious leaders to pen his
condolences.
Yaacob, who is also Singapores communications and information
minister, said one of Lees greatest contributions to the Muslim
community was setting up the Mosque Building Fund, now known as the
Mosque Building and Mendaki Fund.
The fund was set up in 1975, and allowed Muslims to donate to
the building of new mosques through the Central Provident Fund.
At that time, some Muslims who were being resettled in new
Housing Board flats did not have a community mosque in their area.
Community efforts to raise funds through door-to-door donations
were also slow.
We are a secular country and we cannot possibly use government
funds, so we have to help the community. But to get the community
organised to raise funds, Lee allowed us to make use of the CPF
system, said Yaacob.
Loong, said there were overwhelming queues outside Parliament
and announced that visiting hours had been extended until midnight
to cope with the turnout.
Applause and shouts of We love you! and Lee Kuan Yew! broke out
as the dark brown wooden coffin, draped in the red-and-white
Singapore flag, emerged from the
Istana inside a tempered glass case atop a gun carriage pulled
by an open-topped military truck.
Many along the route were in tears as they raised cameras and
mobile phones to record the historic event.
Some threw flowers on the path of the carriage.
Office workers watched from the windows of high-rise buildings
along the route.
President Tony Tan and his wife Mary were the first to pay their
respects after Lees closed coffin was placed in the foyer of
Parliament House.
Even before lunch break, the line was already snaking for up to
2km as Singaporeans patiently awaited their turn to enter the
viewing hall.
They came from all walks of life, from office workers and bosses
to students and the elderly in wheelchairs accompanied by
caregivers.
These are amazing scenes. I have not seen anything like this in
my lifetime, said bank executive Zhang Wei Jie, 36. AFP
AFPPIX
Members of the public queue under the sun to pay their respects
to Lee at the Parliament House yesterday.
Thousands came to view the casket containing Lees body, which
will lie in state until Saturday.
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07theSun ON THURSDAY | MARCH 26, 2015
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NEWS WITHOUT BORDERS08theSun ON THURSDAY | MARCH 26, 2015
Over 5,000 volunteers roped in by Berjaya YouthBY VATHANI
[email protected]
KUALA LUMPUR: Cultivating the spirit of voluntarism is one of
the endeavours Berjaya Youth (B. Youth) strives to achieve and it
has succeeded so far by roping in more than 5,000 youths from
around the country.
Created by Berjaya Corporation Berhad, B. Youth, as it is better
known, is specifically for the youth community to give them an
opportunity to be different in the way they contribute their
expertise, talent and services to society.
We encourage Malaysian youths to step out of their comfort zones
and unleash their potential through four pillars Inspiration,
Creativity, Eco and Animal. This allows them to make a difference
to the community in their own way.
From our collaboration with Epic Homes, we saw an overwhelming
response where more than 30 youths came together to build a house
for a needy orang asli family in Gombak, Bcorps corporate
communications senior manager Emily Tan told theSun.
Our recent event with Roots & Shoots Malaysia in presenting
Reasons For All, A Talk by Dr Jane Goodall, where 2,000 people,
mostly youths, came together for a talk by Goodall, world renowned
priamatologist and United Nations Messenger of Peace, on
conservation issues and her reflections and reasons for our planets
future, was inspiring. Many were very excited at the opportunity
of
meeting her in person, said Tan, who heads B. Youth.
B. Youth will be working with Roots & Shoots on two more
programmes, one an animal welfare project and another on helping a
refugee community in Malaysia.
Now, B. Youth is gearing up for its annual B. Youth Showtime
during the 5th Berjaya Founders Day, which will be held on March 28
at Berjaya Times Square.
B. Youth Showtime will be open to the public and we would be
presenting a line-up
of fun games as well as inspiring talks from youth speakers.
Actorpreneur Razif Hashim, who hosts Best in the World, a food
programme on Asian Food Channel (AFC) and Lite FM radio announcer
Davina Goh, who has learned Shaolin Kung Fu, will be giving
inspiration talks. We
hope to see active participation from the crowd, Tan said.
This year, the theme for the Berjaya Founders Day is Lets Go
Plant a Seed of Love, which encourages everyone to take a step
forward in volunteerism and contribute their time, skills and
talent towards a good cause and make a difference within the
community.
Another exciting project by B. Youth that will kick off in May
this year is the annual Berjaya Youth Short Film Competition (BYSFC
2015) that often sees young talent on the path of becoming the next
generation film makers.
Interested youths can get more information on some of B. Youths
exciting projects through the social media via their Facebook,
YouTube, Instagram, Google+ and their own webpage at
www.berjayayouth.com
ASHRAF SHAMSUL/THE SUN
Four B. Youth staff in T-shirts that signify the four pillars of
B. Youth Inspiration, Creativity, Eco and Animal.
Students must fi ght dengueBY ASHWIN
[email protected]
SHAH ALAM: Irresponsible throwing of rubbish at unauthorised
places by students from institutions of higher learning has been
found to be a contributing factor to aedes breeding and rise in
dengue cases here.
Disclosing this, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam
said students are an educated generation and should know the
importance of keeping their houses and surroundings clean.
I understand students are busy with their studies but they also
have a responsibility to make sure they do not litter places and
create an environment for aedes breeding, said the minister, who
went on the ground at Teres E, Jalan 7/29 to Jalan 7/35, Section 7
together with health officials to check for aedes breeding
sites.
The area is populated with students from institutions of higher
learning.
Students are an educated generation and thus should play a role
to curb this deadly disease. From what we saw, their actions of
> They have found to be contributing to aedes breeding in
Selangor
littering and uncleanliness are definitely not acceptable, he
said.
Subramaniam, who visited houses resided by students in aedes
hotspot areas, was shocked to find some houses dirty and poorly
maintained.
Between January 1 and March 21, dengue cases shot up to 30,890
cases with 98 deaths from the 21,967 cases and 54 deaths reported
during the same period last year.
Subramaniam said aedes hotspots had also increased in the
country, with Selangor topping the list with 180 hotspots.
Talking on Ops Gempur Aedes, he said, of the 111 construction
sites inspected, 95 were found breeding aedes mosquitoes.
They were subsequently taken to court and 80 were issued with
stop-work orders to allow them to clean their premises, said
Subramaniam.
He urged all state Health Departments to work closely with their
respective state governments and local authorities to search and
destroy aedes breeding grounds.
He also revealed that the ministry is looking into using
chemical paint (the same used in spraying to destroy aedes
mosquitoes) by the middle of this year to combat aedes
breeding.
Currently it is being researched at the Institute for Medical
Research.
B R I E F S
MOKHTAR RE-ELECTED KUALA LUMPUR: Bernama deputy editor-in-chief
(domestic news service) Mokhtar Hussain was returned unopposed as
National Press Club (NPC) president for the 2015-2017 term. M.
Veera Pandiyan of The Star and Muharyani Othman of Bernama were
also returned unopposed, as deputy president and vice-president
respectively, in the biennial elections held at the NPC clubhouse
in Jalan Tangsi on Tuesday. M. Govind Nair (Bernama) and Mohd
Ghazemy Mahmud (Syed Hussain Publications) were elected unopposed
as secretary and assistant secretary respectively, while S. P.
Manivasagam (Mannan Monthly) and L. Jaiarajo (Bernama) were
returned unopposed as treasurer and assistant treasurer.
Bernama
A GREEN FT BY 2020KUALA LUMPUR: In the year of 2020, Kuala
Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) wishes to grant the governments wish to
ensure a green environment and maintain healthy and unharmed trees
for the residents in the Federal Territory. Kuala Lumpur mayor
Datuk Seri Ahmad Phesal said DBKL has taken the initiative to
provide a systematic disposal site where the remains of trees will
be processed into compost. With the new systematic disposal site,
compost can also be reused for landscaping to improve soil
structure and soil fertility which provides benefits in greening
and beautifying the whole Federal Territory, he said after visiting
the green technology pilot project at Jinjang Nursery, yesterday.
From 2010 until December 2014, DBKL had successfully planted
135,734 trees.
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]
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09theSun ON THURSDAY | MARCH 26, 2015
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NEWS WITHOUT BORDERS10theSun ON THURSDAY | MARCH 26, 2015
www.thesundaily.my
Tycoon sues Indonesian govtJAKARTA: Indonesian tycoon Aburizal
Bakrie is suing the government in a bid to keep control of the
countrys biggest opposition party and prevent it defecting to
President Joko Widodos minority coalition.
The opposition Golkar party controls 14% of parliamentary seats
and would give Jokos coalition control of over half the parliament,
easing fears of political gridlock in Southeast Asias largest
economy.
Bakrie, the patriarch of the sprawling family-owned Bakrie Group
conglomerate, has filed a legal challenge against last weeks
ministerial decree that gave the Golkar chairmanship to a rival
faction sympathetic to the president.
We have lodged a complaint against the ministry of law and human
rights, whose decision in favour of the other faction is contrary
to the principles of good governance, Bakries lawyer Yusril
Mahendra said.
He added that Bakrie should remain the chairman of Golkar, which
backed losing presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto in
last years election, until a verdict was announced.
A law ministry spokesman said the government, which intervened
after being asked by Golkar to resolve months of political
infighting, would see the legal process through.
He declined to say when the ministerial decree would come into
effect.
Agung Laksono, who is set to replace Bakrie if he loses his
lawsuit, said last week the party planned to join Widodos coalition
without expecting cabinet seats in return.
Vice-President Jusuf Kalla said last week the government was
planning a cabinet
reshuffle in the next month, but declined to comment on whether
Golkar would be included in the new line-up.
Analysts say Widodo will face pressure to include Golkar, the
political vehicle of former authoritarian ruler Suharto, in any new
cabinet.
Jokowi already has patrons to deal with in his coalition and the
addition of Golkar would mean another patron and he has to balance
power between them, said political analyst Tobias Basuki, using the
presidents nickname.
It could potentially create new problems for (Widodo).
Reuters
Yemen asks UN to back military action by willing countriesNEW
YORK: Yemen asked the United Nations Security Council on Tuesday to
back military action by willing countries to combat an advance by
Shiite Muslim Houthi militia, according to a letter from President
Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi.
Hadi wants the 15-member body to adopt a resolution to authorise
willing countries that wish to help Yemen to provide immediate
support for the legitimate authority by all means and measures to
protect Yemen and deter Houthi aggression.
Hadi said he has asked the Arab League and the Gulf Cooperation
Council comprised of Gulf Arab states to provide immediately all
means necessary, including military intervention, to protect Yemen
and its people.
Violence has been spreading across the country on the Arabian
peninsula since last year when Iran-backed Houthi militia seized
the capital Sanaa and effectively removed Hadi, who seeks to return
from the southern port city of Aden.
The UN warned on Sunday that Yemens
conflict could become an Iraq-Libya-Syria scenario if either
side pushes for control.
UN mediator Jamal Benomar said Yemen had been pushed towards the
edge of civil war.
Hadi cited Article 51 of the UN Charter, which covers an
individual or collective right to self-defence against armed
attack, as his legal justification for requesting military help
from Arab countries.
All our efforts for peaceful settlement have encountered
absolute rejection by the Houthis who continue their aggression to
subdue the rest of the regions out of their control, Hadi
wrote.
There are military convoys destined to attack Aden and the rest
of the south.
The fighting in Yemen, a frontline in US efforts to combat
militants waging war across the region and beyond, has raised the
prospect that regional rivals Iran and Saudi Arabia could be drawn
into the fray.
Yemen is home to Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula which has
carried out attacks abroad. Reuters
No blacks Chinese restaurant shut down NAIROBI: A Chinese
restaurant in the Kenyan capital Nairobi has been shut down and its
owners summoned by authorities after it emerged it was barring
black patrons, reports said yesterday.
The restaurant fell into the spotlight of city authorities after
furious residents took to social media to denounce an apparently
racist policy of not allowing African patrons to eat there after
5pm.
The owners of the restaurant said the measure had been put in
place following a robbery in 2013, and have apologised for causing
any offence, the Daily Nation said.
But it said the Chongquing Chinese restaurant, situated in
Nairobis bustling
commercial and residential district of Kilimani, had been shut
down anyway for not having the proper licences.
We have established that the restaurant did not have the
licences and I have ordered it closed until the management
complies, Nairobi governor Evans Kidero said.
He also said all business and service providers must ensure that
all customers and clients are treated with respect and dignity,
irrespective of race, colour, sex, tribe and religion, the Standard
newspaper quoted him as saying.
The restaurants Chinese owners and managers had also been
summoned by Kenyas immigration authorities. AFP
Aquarium baffl ed by mystery fi sh deathsTOKYO: Workers at a
Tokyo aquarium are scratching their heads after the deaths of
dozens of fish that have left just one lonely tuna roaming a
once-flourishing tank.
The park on Tuesday found the second last fish floating dead in
its vast doughnut-shaped enclosure that was once home to nearly 160
fish and among the venues most popular attractions, said a
spokesman for Tokyo Sea Life Park.
We have had the tuna tank since the aquarium opened in 1989 but
never experienced this kind of mass-dying, he said yesterday.
We are studying what caused the fish deaths, but we havent
figured it out yet. We suspect that it could be due to new factors
that were not present before.
Researchers are studying a range of possibilities including the
tanks lighting and
other factors that could have caused stress among the fish, or
even the presence of a poisonous substance in the water, the
spokesman said.
The 2,200-tonne tank that is 30m in diameter once housed 69
bluefin tuna, 52 eastern little tuna and 38 oriental bonito.
In December, the tanks population suddenly started plunging with
just 30 fish alive by mid-January, the park said.
The second last one that just died apparently crashed into the
acrylic wall twice.
It suffered a broken backbone, which was unfortunate but not
very unusual for tuna kept in a tank, the spokesman said.
An earlier examination has found some sort of virus among some
of the dead fish, but it wasnt the kind that is usually fatal in
fish farms. AFP
> Bakrie patriarch seeks to prevent Golkars defection to
Widodos coalition
Fighters made up of local tribes, Popular Resistance Committees
and supporters of the southern Yemeni separatist movement, who are
all opposing the Houthis, drive a tank at the Al-Anad airbase, in
north of Aden, on Tuesday.
AFP
PIX
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NEWS WITHOUT BORDERS 11theSun ON THURSDAY | MARCH 26, 2015
Rescuers search for bodies in French AlpsPARIS: French rescuers
resumed the search yesterday for the remains of the 150 people,
including 16 school children, killed when a Germanwings Airbus
slammed into the side of a nearly inaccessible mountain in the
Alps.
Helicopters took off from a nearby improvised base, heading for
the rugged area where flight 4U9525 crashed on Tuesday, spreading
debris and body parts of the mostly German and Spanish victims over
a wide area.
Officials are hunting for clues to why the plane, operated by
German flag carrier Lufthansas budget subsidiary, entered a fatal
eight-minute descent on its route between Barcelona and
Duesseldorf.
No distress signal was sent and the crew failed to respond to
desperate attempts at contact from ground control.
The cockpit voice recorder recovered from the wreckage has been
found damaged and has been taken to Paris for analysis, a source
close to the inquiry said yesterday.
The black box that was found is the CVR, the source said on
condition of anonymity.
The cockpit voice recorder (CVR) was damaged. It has been
transferred to Paris this morning.
A second so-called black box, in this case recording flight
data, has yet to be found.
Video images from a government helicopter on Tuesday showed a
desolate snow-flecked moonscape, with steep ravines covered in
scree. Debris was strewn across the mountainside, pieces of twisted
metal smashed into tiny bits.
Debris was believed to be scattered
> Cockpit voice recorder damaged: Source
B R I E F S
X-FILES RETURNS AFTER 13-YEAR COMMERCIAL BREAKLOS ANGELES: Cult
sci-fi TV show The X-Files is returning for six new episodes, 13
years after David Duchovny and Gillian Andersons last outing as
agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully. The Emmy- and Golden
Globe-winning series which ran for nine seasons between 1993 and
2002 will begin production this summer with the original stars. I
think of it as a 13-year commercial break, said the shows creator
and executive producer Chris Carter, adding: The good news is the
world has only gotten that much stranger, a perfect time to tell
these six stories. AFP
OFFICIAL SACKED FOR SAYING KILLED PROTESTER TOO THIN CAIRO:
Egypts forensic medicine authority on Tuesday sacked its spokesman
for saying that a protester who was shot by police only died
because she was too thin. Hisham Abdul-Hamid had caused a storm by
telling broadcaster Sada al-Balad that socialist activist Shaimaa
al-Sabbagh would not have died as a result of a police birdshot
round if she had had more body fat. Basically, the spokesman is
telling us that we need to put on more weight to avoid dying when
shot at by police officers, historian Khaled Fahmy wrote on
Facebook. dpa
MARS HAS NITROGEN, KEY TO LIFE: NASAWASHINGTON: Nasas Curiosity
rover has found nitrogen on the surface of Mars, a significant
discovery that adds to evidence the Red Planet could once have
sustained life, the space agency said on Tuesday. By drilling into
Martian rocks, Curiosity found evidence of nitrates, compounds
containing nitrogen that can be used by living organisms. The
Curiosity team has already found evidence that other ingredients
needed for life, such as liquid water and organic matter, once
existed at the site known as Gale Crater. AFP
BRITAIN TO BOLSTER FALKLANDS DEFENCELONDON: Britain will bolster
its defence of the disputed Falkland Islands in the South Atlantic
to counter a very live threat from Argentina, the government said
on Tuesday. The islands will get a new defence package, including
two Chinook helicopters and an improved surface-to-air missile
system, defence secretary Michael Fallon told parliament. The
government will spend some 180 million (RM990 million) to upgrade
the islands main harbour by 2017 and other defences over the next
decade, Fallon said. dpa
CHINESE TOURISTS KILLED IN THAI BUS CRASHBANGKOK: Three Chinese
holidaymakers died and 17 were injured yesterday in a bus crash in
Phuket, a senior official said. The accident happened shortly
before midday when a bus smashed through a crash barrier and
plunged into a ravine near Karon beach, on the islands southwest
coast. Two women and one man were killed. Of the 17 injured, one is
in a serious condition, Phuket governor Nisit Jansomwong said. The
bus was travelling uphill. We dont know the cause of the accident
but police will question the Thai bus driver. AFP
AUSTRALIA STOPS THIRD TEEN HEADED FOR MID-EAST JIHADCANBERRA:
Australia has prevented a third teenager from flying out to fight
in the Middle East, a minister said yesterday, as Western countries
battle to stop the flow of youngsters to extremist groups. The
17-year-old boy was taken off a plane at Sydney airport on March 12
after being interviewed by counter-terrorism officers, immigration
minister Peter Dutton said. He has since been returned to his
family while investigations continue. Two other boys, aged 16 and
17, with tickets to an undisclosed Middle Eastern country were
stopped from leaving Australia on March 6. AFP
over four acres of remote and inaccessible mountainous terrain,
hampering rescue efforts.
The plane was totally destroyed, a local member of parliament
who flew over the site said, describing the scene as
horrendous.
The biggest body parts we identified are not bigger than a
briefcase, one investigator said.
More than 300 policemen and 380 firefighters have been mobilised
for the grisly task of searching the site.
Lt-Col Jean-Marc Menichini said a squad of 30 mountain rescue
police were set to resume attempts to reach the crash site by
helicopter at dawn yesterday, while a further 65 police were
seeking access on foot.
Five investigators had spent the night camped at the site.
It would take at least a week to search the remote site, he
said.
Germanwings said 67 Germans were believed to have been on board,
while Spain said 45 people with Spanish-sounding names were on the
flight.
Two Colombians, two Argentines, and two Australians were among
the dead, their governments said, while Turks may also have been
aboard.
Two Japanese were very likely on board, their government said.
Belgium and Denmark said at least one of their nationals was on
board, while Mexico said three of its citizens were believed to be
among the victims and Britain said its nationals were also on
board. AFP
AFPPIX
A screengrab taken from an AFP TV video yesterday shows search
and rescue personnel at the crash site of the Germanwings Airbus
A320 in the French Alps above the southeastern town of Seyne.
Thai junta chief threatens to hold onto powerBANGKOK: Thailands
junta chief warned detractors yesterday that he would hold onto
power indefinitely if they continued to oppose his plans for the
kingdom in a press briefing ahead of an overseas trip.
Prayut Chan-O-Cha (pix), who was appointed as prime minister a
few months after seizing power in a coup last May, appeared
irritated when he met reporters shortly before flying to Brunei,
frequently raising his voice and shaking his head.
If the situation remains like this I can tell you that I will
hold on to power for a long time, he said after denouncing those
who criticise the lack of democratic progress.
Why is there all this fuss about elections? (If theres no
election) will anyone die?
The former army chief imposed martial law two days before the
military takeover that followed the ousting of Yingluck Shinawatras
democratically elected
government after months of protests.
He has vowed to return power to an elected civilian government
but only once reforms to tackle corruption and curb the power of
political parties are codified in a new constitution.
Rights groups say basic freedoms have fallen off a cliff since
the military took over, with political gatherings banned, the press
muzzled and increasing use of lese majeste legislation to stifle
political opposition.
Prayut, a blunt-speaking career army man, has little time for
such criticisms.
While he often jokes with his press pack, he also gets irritated
when reporters push him for answers in daily briefings.
I want to tell all of you that I am not
discouraged but I am getting more angry.
I am a fighter. So dont say anything to discourage me, he said
during yesterdays press meeting.
Earlier this month, the Thai Journalists Association criticised
Prayut for saying he wanted to punch a reporter in the face when he
was pressed on his governments results.
In December, he was also filmed throwing a banana skin at a
camera man, though that incident caused more merriment than
concern.
His off-the-cuff remarks often spark a mixture of surprise and
derision.
This week, he was lampooned online and even in some sections of
mainstream media for insisting Thailand under martial law is still
a 99.99% democracy. AFP
China gives priority list of wanted offi cials to USBEIJING: The
Chinese government has provided to the United States a priority
list of Chinese officials suspected of corruption and are believed
to have fled there, a top state-run newspaper said yesterday.
Last year, Chinese officials said more than 150 economic
fugitives, many of them described as corrupt government officials,
were in the United States.
Xu Jinhui, head of the anti-graft bureau at the state
prosecutor, said a priority list of alleged Chinese corrupt
officials believed to be at large in the US has been provided to
American authorities.
Most of the suspected corrupt officials overseas either worked
for the government or state-owned enterprises and took bribes or
embezzled public funds, Xu told the official China Daily.
The report did not elaborate.Senior US officials will meet
their
Chinese counterparts in August to discuss the possibility of
repatriating Chinese officials who have fled to America with
billions of dollars of allegedly stolen government assets, a US
official said last month.
Xu said China will start legal procedures to confiscate assets
overseas.
Once in possession of solid evidence, we will initiate
confiscation procedures according to the law, he was quoted as
saying by the daily.
The United States may deport the ex-wife of a fugitive Chinese
official indicted on money laundering and immigration fraud
charges, a US prosecutor said last week.
But there is no extradition treaty between the two countries and
Western governments have long been reluctant to hand over suspects
because of a lack of transparency and due process in Chinas
judicial system. Reuters
keytolife:NASA
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SPEAK UP12theSun ON THURSDAY | MARCH 26, 2015
Managing Editor Freddie Ng Chief Marketing Officer Prashun Dutt
Senior Manager, Production Jeremy Tan Senior Manager, Distribution
Channels Gurunatham Gopal
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THE implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) starting
next week is supposed to be a good thing and I agree with the
concept of it
to address the weaknesses in the current taxation system, but
right now all it feels like is confusing and expensive.
A few months ago while on a walkabout through the old town of
Petaling Jaya, where shop owners have been operating for more than
two decades, with stock that can be dated back to the 1980s,
conversations of GST were at the fore. These family run stores that
sell just about everything were ready to close shop which is
colloquial for shut down because the impending realisation of GST
was just too much for them to handle. An owner said, how do I
calculate stock that has been in the store for 20 over years? as he
wiped a thick layer of dust off a set of delicate drinking glasses
that had clearly been sitting in their upstairs stockroom for
decades.
They were so confused and the various explanations given were
just not clarifying anything for them, so the best option was an
earlier-than-expected retirement and to sell off as much as they
could before shutting down the business. These were the old school
shop owners, the ones you see in Merdeka and festival
advertisements, who under normal circumstances would never retire
the shop is their whole life, it keeps them going. And now they
were closing down because GST implementation has been too
confusing.
While the Customs Department has done its best to advise
businesses and the public, the concept is still foreign to most and
these things take time to grasp. The general understanding is that
prices of everything are going to go up. These fears are not
misguided.
In this country, prices never go down. When the price of petrol
dropped significantly, the price of food continued to go up. If the
price of petrol increases by 25 sen per litre, the price for a
plate of noodles sometimes increases by 50 sen, and the explanation
given is that the cost of transport has increased.
At every point of exchange, the tax and
price hike is passed on and in the end, the consumer bears the
brunt of it. So its understandable when a new tax system is
introduced, the automatic assumption is that the price of goods
will also increase perhaps even more than 6% judging from past
experience when prices went up when they should be going down.
But theres a whole lot of confusing maths to this GST, because
there are many ways of doing business and the different taxes paid
and passed on, and also because from the start of the GST talk,
classification of items has been unclear.
For example, why are women being taxed for their periods? As it
is, the prices of sanitary products are high even without the GST
equation but from next week onwards, 6% will be added to that. The
same applies to diapers and other essential items.
But GST will reduce the cost of some things especially for items
on the zero-rated GST list. Then there are items in which if the
company was already paying the 10% sales tax and 6% service tax,
that will be reduced to a fixed 6% and therefore, the items should
then cost less but it does not seem the case. So how does a
consumer check these things? Should we just accept
the pricing without question?The public cant be told to just
wait to see
whats going to happen (say, after a month of GST) to understand
how the taxation system works. Confusion builds mistrust and with
food prices increasing, as well as public transport fares also
increasing before the implementation of GST, its understandable why
the public are weary.
The most talked-about catalyst of the Arab Spring was the rising
cost of bread. When bus fares went up by 20 cents, protest hit
Brazil. Over on our shores, the price of kangkung is no more than
what it used to be. With subsidies being cut and the continued
weakening of the ringgit, food prices not only affected by global
prices but also by the floods discomfort levels are rising fast.
This doesnt include the mounting frustration of government
spending, the lack of transparency and misappropriation of public
funds.
The idea of GST is a good thing; we do need a fairer tax system
but the timing seems like a Malaysias let them eat cake moment.
Comments: [email protected]
Is Malaysia safe for my children?THE latest incident about a BFM
newsreader being threatened with death, rape and being burnt alive
by those whom I assume to be Malay-Muslim netizens brings forth
serious questions for this country. Is this country safe for our
children to live in? If a simple point of view is raised against
such issue as hudud or even such issue as democracy and clean
elections can produce outburst of murder, rape and burning people
alive, what does it say about our country, its citizens and our
leadership?
I have noticed that the ones making threats of this nature come
from mostly Malays who I assume are Muslim. Where did we, as a
nation go wrong in educating these Malays? What are we teaching in
our secondary schools? More importantly, are our public
universities producing people of such culture?
I sincerely hope that those who made the threats have never
stepped foot in our public universities because if not, I would
like to ask these vice-chancellors, what kind of Malay Malaysians
are you producing?
Yes, they are passable engineers and architects but are they
barely passable Malaysian citizens, or passable Muslims or worse,
are they even passable human beings with a humane conscience?
I have been to mosques and have listened to thousands of Youtube
speeches by our so called eminent ustazs and I know that their
understanding of Islam is a strong contributor to the kinds of
comments made by these young netizens.
Although I feel anger towards these netizens but I am ready to
forgive them because I know it was our society that have created
such a culture.
When the Prophet Muhammad was faced with the persecution of the
young people of Taif, he stood in front of the angel Gabriel at the
command of a host of a heavenly army ready to eliminate the people
of Taif, he said, No, do not do anything against these people
because they knew not what there were doing. Perhaps future
generations may accept my message if these people do not at the
present time.
The Prophet had the magnanimity to forgive because he knew those
young adults were influenced by their elders. I am afraid, our
religious scholars may be teaching a brand of Islam that is very
much distant from the examples of the holy Prophet himself.
I write these words with a heavy heart. I write these words as a
concerned Malaysian citizen and as a simple Muslim for the sake of
all our children. And finally, I write these words as the father of
Aisyah Mohd Tajuddin, the BFM girl.
Prof Dr Mohamad Tajuddin Mohamad RasdiVia email
G25: Hudud law is irrelevant to society todayWE, the G25
comprising concerned Muslim citizens, call for the upholding of the
highest standards of justice in the implementation of laws,
including Hudud laws. Be just, that is nearer to righteousness.
(Quran 5:8). Justice is the overriding principle of Islam.
Bearing in mind the injunction for Muslims to be the best and
moderate community or khaira ummatin-ummatan wasatan and
recognising that there is a diversity of juristic interpretations
or iktilaf concerning Hudud laws as part of Shariah laws, we have
concerns as to whether the Kelantan Hudud law, namely, the Kelantan
Syariah Criminal Code (11) Enactment, 1993 as amended in 2015 will
succeed in upholding justice as enjoined in the Quran.
Sheikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi, the chairman of the World Union of
Muslim Scholars, has provided the basic guidelines on the methods
of implementation of the Hudud law in society based on his
observations of the Prophet Muhammad SAWs approach in implementing
Hudud law.
According to Sheikh Qaradawi, the application of Shariah must be
governed by Ijtihad, or creative thought, to determine how it can
be enforced today. It would not be helpful to take rulings from
ancient texts and apply them in totality to modern societies. Just
as the ulama or Muslim scholars in the past used Ijtihad to
determine how to apply Shariah, scholars today must do the same.
The problem, according to Sheikh Qaradawi, is that Hudud is being
enforced before the conditions for its application are met.
The following are the pre-conditions for the implementation of
Hudud laws:
Establish true Islam where society is pious and God-fearing.
Ensure the economic needs of the people are met.
Provide employment opportunities for all.
Reduce the income gap and ensure there is no poverty.
In light of the above elucidation by Sheikh Qaradawi, can any
State in Malaysia claim to have satisfied the preconditions in
order to allow for the implementation of Hudud?
Professor Hashim Kamali an eminent Islamic scholar who currently
heads the Institute of Advanced Islamic Studies, has published a
scholarly and detailed analysis of Kelantans original Hudud law as
drafted by PAS which was passed by the Kelantan State Assembly in
November
1993, from the perspective of the Quran, the Hadith and the
opinions of the Companions of the Prophet. In his conclusion, the
professor stated that the Hudud Bill of Kelantan has failed to be
reflective either of the balanced outlook of the Quran or of the
social conditions and realities of contemporary Malaysian society.
He added that the Hudud Bill exhibited no attempt to exercise
Ijtihad over new issues such that would fulfil the ideals of
justice and to encourage the development of a judicious social
policy.
A perusal of the 2015 Hudud Enactment of Kelantan reveals that
it has retained the emphasis on punishment rather than repentance
and rehabilitation as enjoined in the Quran.
Many other prominent Muslim scholars such as S.A.A. Maududi,
Salim el-Awa, Muhamad al-Ghazali, Mustafa al-Zarqa and Cherif
Bassiouni have opined that the application of Hudud as an isolated
case without providing the necessary context and environment is not
only unrealistic, but is more likely to induce the opposite result
and frustrate, rather than satisfy, the Islamic vision of justice
and fair play. In addition, they emphasise that the Hadith, as
recorded in Sahih Al-Bukhari, and which is also a legal maxim,
provides that Hudud must be suspended in doubtful situations.
We would also question the necessity of implementing Hudud in a
multi-racial and multi-religious society like Malaysia. In 1957,
the Conference of Rulers, the government of the Federation of
Malaya, comprising Umno, the MCA and MIC, and the British
government agreed to the enactment of the Federal Constitution of
Malaya on the basis of the recommendations of the Reid Commission.
Article 4 provides that the Constitution is the supreme law of the
Federation and any law passed after Merdeka Day, which is
inconsistent with the Constitution shall to the extent of the
inconsistency, be void. In addition, in July 1963, the Malaysia
Agreement pertaining to the formation of Malaysia was concluded
between the United Kingdom and the Federation of Malaya, North
Borneo, Sarawak and Singapore. Prior to the signing of the Malaysia
Agreement, North Borneo (Sabah) and Sarawak had negotiated a
20-Point Agreement and an 18-Point Agreement respectively, as the
terms for their incorporation into the Federation. Point 1 of the
North Borneo Agreement is on religion. It states While there is no
objection to Islam being the
national religion of Malaysia, there should be no State religion
in North Borneo and the provisions relating to Islam in the present
Constitution of Malaya should not apply to North Borneo. Similarly,
Sarawaks 18-Point Agreement stressed that everyone shall be
entitled to worship as he pleases.
Therefore, should there be an attempt to amend the Constitution
to pave the way for the implementation of Hudud, it would be a
clear violation of the Agreement reached between the members of the
Alliance party in 1957 and the Agreements in 1963, with Sabah and
Sarawak. We would strongly urge Parliament not to abandon the
fundamental provisions of the Federal Constitution to enable the
implementation of PAS Hudud law.
We fully endorse the view of Dr Chandra Muzaffar that there is
nothing un-Islamic about the Federal Constitution. To quote Dr
Chandra, It emphasises the rule of law; it recognises the equality
of all citizens before the law; it upholds the freedom of religion;
it enshrines individual liberties; it embodies the separation of
powers among the legislative, executive and judicial arms of the
State; it provides for the independence of the judiciary and it
allows the people to elect their leaders. That these are Islamic
values and principles will only occur to those who appreciate the
essence and substance of the faith.
A multi-racial country with an open economy like Malaysia cannot
afford to alter the secular character of its Constitution to allow
for the implementation of PAS Hudud enactment. Since Independence,
this country has chosen the path of moderation. The prime minister
has continued to steer the government along this path and has
launched the Global Movement of Moderates to show to the world that
the country is committed to the principle of moderation. The
imposition of PAS Hudud laws will signify to the world that
Malaysia has abandoned the moderate path. We will be seen as a
country governed by religious laws which are subjected to the
vagaries of interpretation of the ulama who are also fallible human
beings.
In light of the above, the G25 urges the government to take a
strong stand to protect the Federal Constitution as the supreme law
of the land.
Concerned GroupVia email
[email protected]
ON POINTE
Let them eat cake
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]
-
SPEAK UP 13theSun ON THURSDAY | MARCH 26, 2015
He changed my lifeBY YAP MUN CHING
THE news that many Singaporeans have been dreading finally hit
the headlines on Monday
morning. The passing of Singapore statesman Lee Kuan Yew will
have reverberations around the world and nowhere more so than his
city-state whose population has never known a time without his
guidance. There will be many obituaries on his life and
achievements but this will not be one of those. This article,
instead, will be a simple account of how the actions of one great
statesman influenced the life of an individual who has never met
him and will now, definitely not meet him.
One of Kuan Yews oft-remarked virtues was his ability to have
great foresight and the single-mindedness to pursue his vision.
From the early days of Singapores independence, he had stressed on
Singapores survival imperative. To do this, he set about creating a
world-class education system and put in place incentives to attract
some of the best talents in the region to the city. I was a
beneficiary of one of these policies.
Over 20 years ago, I joined a large group of Malaysian students
in relocating south after being awarded an Asean scholarship. I was
barely 15, only been to Singapore once on a rare family trip and
previously attended a
poorly funded neighbourhood school. The opportunities opened up
by the scholarship were life-changing. Like my fellow scholars, I
was enrolled in one of Singapores top schools and the differences
were stark. Classes were smaller by about 10 students, teachers
were well-trained and labs fully-equipped. We switched our medium
of instruction to English and for extra-curricular activities,
there were science camps, micromouse competitions and foreign
language classes, all publicly funded. Although Malaysians made up
the largest number of scholars, Singapores scholarship programme
did not only target Asean citizens. Over the four years that I
attended secondary school and thereafter, junior college, there
were growing numbers of Hong Kong scholars, China scholars as well
as Indian scholars.
In the cold light of day, none of this came from any altruistic
intentions as the name of the scholarship tended to suggest.
Singapores objective has always been to ensure it has the people
resources to fuel its ambitions. What better way than to capitalise
on the short-sightedness of neighbouring countries in pushing away
their own talent? It is by no
accident that all my fellow Malaysian scholars were
non-bumiputra, and the majority have remained in Singapore, working
as doctors, architects, lawyers, lecturers and bankers. Singapores
success today is in no small way thanks to the contributions of
these skilled Malaysians and Kuan Yew has often alluded to this
when he
reminisced on the ill-fated Malaysia-Singapore union. Although I
have always felt regret at the loss of so many of my friends,
without his vision, I would probably have had a very different
future.
Quite at the opposite end of the spectrum, the other lesson that
I learnt from Kuan Yew is that growth can come at a heavy price and
each citizen must take a stand on how much we are willing to
sacrifice in the name of progress. Quite soon after I moved, this
dilemma came into sharp focus when I met my extended family in
Singapore. In the 1960s, one of my
aunts had married a Singapore political activist. She gained
three children from her husbands first marriage and went on to have
another four. My uncle was one of the early victims of the
draconian Internal Security Act (ISA) that the post-colonial
governments of Malaysia and Singapore retained from the
British.
As a member of the Socialist Front, formed by a breakaway
faction of the Peoples Action Party, my uncle was among those
detained in a wide anti-Communist sweep. He was later released on
condition that he would no longer be involved in political
activities but the subsequent years were tough on the family.
At
times, my then-homemaker aunt had to raise the large family as
the sole breadwinner and as a schoolgirl, I would visit her in the
bowels of one of Singapores shopping malls where she worked as a
cleaner. Under the meritocratic system that Kuan Yew built, my
cousins eventually thrived and are now fully integrated and
successful Singapore citizens. Yet, until the day he died, my uncle
never fully made peace with his fate and his convictions were never
understood nor shared by his children.
In my later years working as a
journalist, I came across many more stories like this from
seasoned seniors including the late MGG Pillai, who was blacklisted
from entering Singapore for his critical views of the city-states
government, and former Utusan Melayu editor-in-chief Said Zahari
who was detained for 17 years under the ISA for union activism.
Said Zahari, who now lives in Malaysia, holds the distinction of
being the second longest-serving political detainee in Singapore.
It is in learning about the hardships of these individuals that I
came to realise that there is no perfect system. There is always a
price to pay for progress and we each have a role to play in
ensuring that a balance exists between the rights of the state and
the rights of the individual.
In remembering Kuan Yew today, I thank him for the opportunities
that his foresight has given me as a young student. Much as I once
chafed against the hard Confucian line that his system demanded, I
am able to appreciate nonetheless that it has many redeeming
qualities, not least the many safe and secure lives of my friends
and family across the border.
Ultimately, his system may not be for me but the experiences
that I gained while living in an order of his creation, helped me
decide what is important for me and one of it is to speak up when
injustices far outweigh any purported gain to the collective
good.
REMEMBERINGLEE KUAN YEW
1923 2015
-
MEDIA & MARKETING14theSun ON THURSDAY | MARCH 26, 2015
Striking gold!L
IKE all good things that must come to an end, Tiger Beers
Celebration of Golden
Prosperity campaign did too but culminated with a grand and
exciting event where 44 loyal consumers were rewarded with pure
gold.
Held at the brewerys Tavern, the finale saw 10 elated consumers
walk away with 500g of pure gold worth up to RM85,000 each and
another 34 each taking home 10g of pure gold.
To be shortlisted, these consumers had to purchase any big
bottle of Tiger Beer, Guinness, Heineken or Anchor during the
campaign period. They had to look out for specific winning bottle
cap liners.
Besides, winning pure gold, many consumers also received other
exciting prizes during the campaign. Prizes in all totalled to a
whopping RM1.2 million and included giving away some 100,000
bottles of Tiger Radler and 800 ang pow packets filled with RM388
each.
At the finale, the 44 finalists were ushered to the House of
Gold to strike upon golden eggs which revealed their prizes.
We are exceptionally pleased that the campaign received strong
interest and participation from our loyal consumers, nationwide,
this year. This is our way to reach out to our consumers to show
our
Above left: One of the 10 winners of 500g of pure gold Vijayan
Muniandy with Essaadi at the grand fi nale-cum-prize giving
event.
Above right: Another one of the 10 elated 500g pure gold prize
winners Lai San Lian and Essaadi.
Right: Sek View Leong randomly makes his choice that determines
which golden egg he gets to crack open. He was one of the 500g pure
gold winners.
A group photo of all 44 winners of pure gold with the Guinness
Anchor Berhad management team during the grand fi nale event.
Vijayan Muniandy, 45, from Shah Alam, Selangor.
The moment I struck the golden egg and found out the prize I
got, I was blank for a moment. Only later, my heart was filled with
joy. I am planning to share this prize with four other friends who
were there at the restaurant when I got the winning bottle cap
liner. As for my portion, I am planning to donate to charity.
Cheong Yong Man, 58, from Jalan Kuchai Lama, Kuala Lumpur.
I have been a supporter of Tiger Beer for more than 20 years and
this is the first time I am winning something big. I am so happy
that I can finally renovate my house with the cash from the pure
gold.
Wong Vooi Soon, 47, from Raub, Pahang.I am very excited as I
never imagined
that I can be one of the 500g pure gold
winners. I have supported Tiger products for more than 10 years
and this is the first time I am winning such a big prize. I am
planning to save the money from this pure gold for my children.
Selvaraja Krishnan, 45, from Jinjang Utara, Kuala Lumpur.
Although I do not have any idea on what to do with the 500g pure
gold, I have made a decision to donate RM20,000 towards charity and
a temple.
Lai San Lian 51, from Seremban, Negri Sembilan.
I am so excited, so happy, that is really how I feel right now.
I have supported Tiger for more than 30 years. I am planning to
save up some cash from the pure gold for my children, and will use
the rest to continue supporting Tiger Beer by buying more of its
products!
What some of the winners say ...
> A golden start to the Year of the Goat with Guinness Anchor
Berhad
appreciation and reward them as a token of their continuous
support.
Not only that, through this Celebration of Golden Prosperity
campaign, we were also able to reward consumers with some
entertaining on-ground events at various coffee shops and
restaurants across Peninsular Malaysia, giving our loyal consumers
a great start to a new year, said Guinness Anchor Berhad (GAB)
managing director Hans Essaadi.
-
MARCH 26, 2015ON THURSDAY
MARCH 25, 2015
INDICES CHANGE
TURNOVER VALUE
2.039 bil RM2.122 bil
FBMEMAS 12,469.59 +22.71FBMKLCI 1,819.10 +5.06INDUSTRIAL
3,346.84 +9.02CONSUMER PRODUCTS 598.80 +2.67INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTs
135.32 -0.10CONSTRUCTION 296.60 -1.02TRADING SERVICES 239.55
+0.40FINANCE 16,080.99 +76.46PROPERTIES 1,302.55 -10.01PLANTATIONS
7,807.83 +12.39MINING 571.45 +4.05FBMSHA 13,058.98 -3.57FBMACE
6,971.15 +78.60TECHNOLOGY 21.29 +0.08
MARCH 25, 2015
STOCK VOL CLSG (sen) +/- (sen)
ASIABIO 150,300,500 11 UNCHGENETEC 108,427,000 22.5 +3.5PRIVA
105,516,800 37.5 +3.5MPAY 44,963,300 27.5 +1.5MQTECH 35,524,500 17
UNCH AWC 35,454,100 45.5 +5WINTONI 35,067,900 33.5 +3.5KRONO
30,749,600 32.5 +4KNM 27,184,400 64.5 +4.5CLIQ-WA 26,714,900 16.5
-3
SHARE prices on Bursa Malaysia closed higher yes-terday on
bargain hunting in selected finance heavy-weights, dealers
said.
The FBM KLCI closed 5.06 points higher at 1,819.1, after moving
between 1,812.18 and 1,823.19 during the day.
On the Bursa scoreboard, gainers edged losers 449 to 391 with
298 counters unchanged, 632 untraded and 12 suspended. Total volume
rose to 2.03 billion units worth RM2.12 billion,
Among heavyweights, Maybank gained 6 sen to RM9.21, TNB earned 4
sen to RM14.50 and Public Bank garnered 14 sen to RM18.56.
Axiata slipped 1 sen to RM7.06 and Sime Darby lost 4 sen to
RM9.26.
A dealer said window-dressing activities in selected
index-linked counters, especially finance stocks, helped to lift
the FBM KLCI but the upside was capped by cautious sentiment amid
weak regional markets.
Asian stocks took a breather following declines on Wall Street
after a rise in US inflation, he said.
Meanwhile, FBM KLCI futures contracts on Bursa Malaysia
Derivatives closed mostly higher in sync with the firmer cash
market.
Spot month March 2015 and June 2015 added a point each to 1,818
and 1,809, and April 2015 earned 0.5 point to 1,816.5.
Turnover rose to 11,966 lots while open interest jumped to
54,906 contracts. Bernama
Bargain-huntingin fi nance stocks
Business Editor Presenna Nambiar Tel (Editorial) 03-7784 6688
Fax 03-7785 2624/5 Email [email protected] Tel (Advertising)
03-7784 8888 Fax 03-7784 4424 Email [email protected]
KLCI 1,819.10 5.06
STI 3,419.02 5.76
Hang Seng 24,528.23 128.63
SCI 3,660.73 30.68
Nikkei 19,746.20 32.75
TSEC 9,667.83 63.83
KOSPI 2,042.81 1.44
S&P/ASX200 5,973.32 4.23
10 MOST ACTIVES
KL MARKET SUMMARY
Amin sues Perak Corp> Wants company toinvite further offers
from TNB or others for Integrax stock and seek minimum RM3.66 a
share
BY RUPINDER [email protected]
PETALING JAYA: Integrax Bhds major shareholder Amin Halim Rasip
is taking legal action against Perak Corporation Bhd (PCB) after it
turned down his offer for its 5% stake in the port operator in
favour of Tenaga Nasional Bhds (TNB) superior offer.
Amin, who is also a PCB shareholder, is seeking to add on a
resolution at PCBs EGM tomorrow to seek alternative offers for the
port operator at a minimum of RM3.66 per share.
Yesterday, Amin said he has given notice to PCB and its board of
directors to table a Modified or Addition of Resolution at the EGM
which requires PCB to invite further offers from TNB or any other
party, and to seek a minimum price offer of RM3.66 per
Govt hopes to implementAr-Rahnu Act by next year BY EVA
[email protected]
PETALING JAYA: The government is considering an Ar-Rahnu Act to
regulate the Islamic pawnbroking industry in Malaysia, which has
grown to almost RM5 billion a year, said Malaysia Gold Association
(MGA) president Abd Razak Mohd A. Kadir.
The Ar-Rahnu business, which was set up 25 years ago, is
currently regulated by the Pawnbrokers Act, which was enacted in
1972.
Now the government thinks its about time to do an Ar-Rahnu Act
because Ar-Rahnu itself is a big market, worth almost RM5 billion a
year. The players from Ar-Rahnu cover the entire spectrum of the
industry as well because you have banks, cooperatives and even
private limited players coming in, he told reporters at MGAs
inaugural AGM yesterday.
Abd Razak said it is time to regulate the Ar-Rahnu business to
make it more transparent and to answer current market needs as the
business has evolved.
The government was open enough to ask for our input. Weve given
our input and it has been taken positively. Well keep on engaging
them. Theyve indicated to us that they would like to implement the
Ar-Rahnu Act as an Act of Parliament by next year, he said.
In its engagement with the
Tanjung Offshore, Tan drop lawsuits against each otherPETALING
JAYA: Tanjung Offshore Bhd has withdrawn its civil suit against
director Tan Sri Tan Kean Soon and five others, soon after the
cancellation of an EGM called by Kean Soon, who in turn has also
dropped a lawsuit against several directors and officials of the
company.
Tanjung Offshore said in a
statement yesterday that it has dropped the suit against Kean
Soon, Muhammad Sabri Ab Ghani Sabri, Datuk Harzani Azmi, HMS Oil
& Gas Sdn Bhd, Datuk Dr Nik Norzrul Thani N. Hassan Thani and
Datin Norhafizah Mohd Nordin.
Kean Soon, now an executive director of Tanjung Offshore, has
dropped his suit against the
companys legal adviser Datuk Seri Krishna Kumar Sivasubramaniam,
independent, non-executive director Shahrizal Hisham Abdul Halim,
executive director Eric Tan Wee Koh, corporate finance head Joachim
Tan Seow Hoe and corporate finance officer Khairil Annuar Mohd
Said.
On Monday, Tanjung Offshore announced the lifting of the
suspension of Kean Soon, Harzani and Sabris roles on the board.
Sabri, however resigned on the same day, citing personal
reasons.
Tanjung Offshore also announced it has dropped its defamation
suit against Kean Soon and five others, namely Nik Norzrul,
Norhafizah, Datuk Rosman Hassan, Datuk Norazman
Hamidun, Datuk Maheran Mohd Salleh and Tan Sam Eng.
Tomorrows EGM to remove George William Warren Jr, Datuk Ab Wahab
Ibrahim and Sharizal Hisham Abdul Halim, has been cancelled
following Nik Norzrul Thani, Maheran and Sam Engs appointments to
the board and Warrens resignation.
Integrax share. I urge all PCB shareholders to
consider and vote for this Modified Resolution and achieve a
higher value from any sale of the Integrax shares as its assets are
strong with consistent cash flow and profit producing.
I also wish to inform PCB shareholders that I have also
commenced legal action against PCB and its directors in respect of
due care, diligence and judgement to be exercised always in the
best interest of all PCB shareholders, he said in his letter.
On Tuesday, Amin said PCBs decision to recommend to its
shareholders to vote in favour of TNBs offer of RM3.25 per share
was imprudent and lacking care, diligence and judgement and not in
the best interest of all PCB and Integrax shareholders.
Amin advised other shareholders of Integrax to wait for the
outcome of the PCB EGM before making any decision on the sale of
Integrax shares.
He reiterated that the strategic assets of of Lekir Bulk
Terminal and Lumut Maritime Terminal are worth much more.
Amin also pointed to the review and valuation of Integrax done
by M&A Securities Sdn Bhd, an independent adviser appointed by
Integrax, which determined a value of RM3.66 per Integrax
share.
He said Perak Corps recommendation to accept TNBs offer was
based on a report by Affin Hwang which he argued does not include a
proper valuation and which is arguably not independent.
PCB earlier rejected Amins offer to acquire its 5% stake in
Integrax saying that TNBs offer was superior to his despite him
offering a higher price.
It said Amins offer of RM3.50 a share for a 5% stake in the port
operator, with a lockout period of three years for the remaining
shares it owns in Integrax, constituted a clear strategic risk if
it planned to dispose of its entire equity interest on a piece-meal
basis.
On Feb 25, TNB made a revised offer Integrax at RM3.25 a share,
up from its previous offer price of RM2.75 per share made in
January. The revised share price places the valuation of Integrax
at an estimated RM977.6 million, of which TNB would have to put up
RM761.4 million for the acquisition.
government, MGA has also asked the government to relook the
model of the pawnshop business and to consider changing it into a
one-stop gold centre, which would enable pawnshops to buy and sell
gold bars, gold dinars and possibly sell gold jewellery in the
future.
We are already in the gold business, we accept gold as pawn. So
why cant we sell for instance, gold bar or gold dinar
as well? It works for the people right? Or why cant we buy used
gold or pre-owned gold? he questioned, adding that a one-stop gold
centre would provide convenience to the public.
On the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST), MGA
is working towards getting GST-exempt status for locally minted
gold bars, which will be taxed 6% from April 1.
According to Abd Razak, investment precious metals (IPMs)
comprising gold, silver and platinum are currently GST-exempt but
for investment gold, only those accredited or certified by the
London Bullion Market Association (LBMA) are GST-exempt.
In Malaysia, the market trading value for the IPMs is about RM10
billion annually, of which 90% are LBMA-accredited bullion and only
about 10%
are locally minted, he said, adding that the standards of
locally minted gold bars are the same with LBMA-accredited gold
bars, either 999 or 995.
MGA secretary Datuk Wira Louis Ng Chun Hau said smaller local
players will lose out thus the urgency for MGA to set up a
technical committee to present its case to the Royal Malaysian
Customs Department and the Finance Ministry.
Abd Razak said MGA will work on a proposal within the next three
months and look at the possibility of working with Sirim to come up
with standards for locally minted gold bars which can be recognised
and exempted from GST.
MGA also wants to propose a GST model for gold jewellery to the
government, similar to Turkey whereby GST is only imposed on value
added such as labour cost and design, but not on the value of the
gold.
Ng said Turkey is the worlds third largest importer and exporter
of gold, with a vibrant gold trading market. Currently, gold is
duty free in Malaysia but gold jewellery will be charged 6% GST
from April 1. About 90% of the gold market in Malaysia is in
jewellery form with 10% in the form of investment gold.
Ng said the local gold market will slow down for the first six
months after GST is implemented as consumers adopt a wait-and-see
attitude.
Abd Razak
Louis Ng
Participation Bought Sold NetBURSA MALAYSIA TRADE STATISTICS -
25/3/2015
%
Source: Bursa MalaysiaPreliminary stats (excluding trade
amendments). For final data, please refer to
www.bursamalaysia.com
54.0
17.6
28.4
100.0
RM m
1063.4
362.6
696.2
2122.2
RM m
1229.6
384.8
507.8
2122.2
RM m
-166.2
-22.2
188.4
0.0
Institutions
Retail
Foreign
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.bursamalaysia.com/
-
SUNBIZ16theSun ON THURSDAY | MARCH 26, 2015
DGB Asia to boost overseas contribution to 50%PETALING JAYA: DGB
Asia Bhd, formerly known as DSC Solutions Bhd, is looking to ramp
up its operations in Vietnam and Thailand, as part of its plan to
increase overseas revenue contribution to 50% within a year from
the current 30%.
The group is also confident of turning around its fortunes in
the financial year ending Sept 30, 2015. For the first quarter
ended Dec 31, 2014, DGB returned to the black by registering
RM139,000 in net profit compared with a net loss of RM538,000 in
the previous corresponding period.
The group has been incurring losses over the past few years,
with a net loss of RM5.16 million for the financial year ended Sept
30, 2014.
In a bid to revive its financial performance, DGB Asia managing
director Datuk Pang Chow Huat said, the group will open offices in
Vietnam and Thailand to cater to the growing demand in the two
markets.
We believe we can get multi-million profits from there (Vietnam
and Thailand), we see the Vietnam market growing better and in
development, they need our support, so this is a good opportunity
for DG