蔡细历：玩弄师资数据 斥一些教育官员是“鸟人”

2012-03-04 17:58
新闻转自南洋网-(http://nanyang.com/node/426498?tid=460)

（峇株巴辖4日讯）马华总会长拿督斯里蔡细历医生直斥一些教育部官员为“鸟人”，玩弄数据，导致马华无法确切掌握华小师资短缺数据，以致该党过去12年来无法解决这项问题。
“我从12年前的1999年开始担任马华中委，便听闻师资短缺问题，当时估计华小缺乏2000多名教师，因此马华认为每年只要栽培1000名教师，再扣除退休的几百名教师，相信3至5年便可解决。”
然而，他坦言，这项课题直到2012年仍未解决，因此他认为是数据方面出问题，而且教育部存有一些“鸟人”官员，在玩弄相关数据。

蔡细历也是马华峇株巴辖区会主席，他昨晚在举行于峇株巴辖白沙浮振华学校的“州务大臣与民聚餐晚会”上致词时这么说。出席者包括教育部副部长兼峇株巴辖区国会议员弗亚、帆加兰区州议员拿督高志财、振华学校董事长拿督郭洙国等。

(要求副揆提供资料)

他表示将于本月会见副首相兼教育部长丹斯里慕尤丁，以要求后者指示官员提供资料，说明到底华小缺乏多少名教师，从而妥善的解决师资荒问题。
他强调，马华比任何政党都更重视教育，1969年创办的拉曼学院，至今已栽培17万5000名优秀生，目前有一所总院和5所分院，学生人数约2万5000名。
“马华在10年前创办拉曼大学，如今学生也多达2万名，这两所高等教育中心以非盈利性质开办，每年栽培4万5000人，因此拉大的高等学额占全国大专学府的20%。”

他说，如果马华做得对，希望华裔同胞给予肯定，做得不对则予以指正，以便改善。

(改制中学华文列必修)

基于华小师资大部分来自改制中学，蔡细历说，教育部也已同意改制中学须列华文为必修科。

他指出，全国78所国民型中学共栽培12万5000名学生，去年他会见副首相时，要求教育部今年拨出特别款项予改制中学，此外，从今年开始，所有国民型中学每周3节华文课也必须增至5节。
“两所分别位于森美兰州和大山脚的国民型中学，也是时候受承认为独立中学，让他们有本身的董事会、行政和校产，教育部也同意这点。”

(处理拨地课题 欢迎雪州民联讨教)

蔡细历欢迎雪州民联州行政议员向他“取经”，以处理雪州政府拨地给华小的课题。

他指出，政府已拨款供雪州4所华小建校，但却面对没有校地的问题，尽管华裔同胞期望民联州政府了解华小意愿并拨地，遗憾的是这项问题仍未解决。
“倘若雪州行政议员不懂怎么处理，大可向我询问，我曾在柔佛州担任三届行政议员，州内工作，尤其是土地问题我都熟悉，为了华教，即使反对党联络我，我也可以提供协助。”

他说，过去17年来，他与柔州大臣拿督阿都干尼共事，了解后者是一名照顾各族的领袖，并且乐意与马华讨论各族课题。
蔡细历强调大臣本着“一个马来西亚”精神照顾各族群，华小、独中、神庙膜拜场所、民间团体拨款事项都没有面对任何问题，柔州处理华小的课题可作为我国模范州。

Let’s say no more on the subject

Daulat Tuanku, Daulat Tuanku, Daulat Tuanku

(sources:TheSundaily news)
Posted on 5 July 2011 - 08:58pm

THE KING has spoken. He said it, that “street demonstrations bring more bad than good although the original intention is good”. By any consideration it was a neutral statement that Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin issued on Monday.

Whichever way it is read hardly anyone would disagree that it is an advice to the organisers of the demonstrations to avoid street protests and rallies as the collateral damage caused by them would be too costly, and could undermine and destroy much that the country has built all these years.

In a plural society such as ours it would cause tension between the races and worse it may cause animosity between them and also cause “a section of the people to be enemies with the government”. Because of this, peace, law and order would suffer.

While the “original intention is good” it could be exploited by those with all kinds of agenda and despite the best efforts of the organizers to keep their people in check things could still run out of control.

Indeed, the “original intention” about reforming the electoral system is good and it has been voiced by many people and organisations long before Bersih (the Coalition for Free & Fair Elections) made up of NGOs and political parties came on the scene.

The Election Commission had certainly not been deaf to the demands and had instituted several changes over the years, maybe not at the speed that some people wanted but it made those changes.

The demand for more reforms came to a head following Bersih’s formation and its first demonstration in 2007 where tens of thousands of people were involved.

In that demonstration, where a list of demand for changes to the electoral system was handed to the Istana Negara, several people were injured and the peace and order of the city were disrupted.

Since then more changes, not necessarily as a result of demands by Bersih, were made by the Election Commission including its readiness to implement a biometric system in the next general election to dispel the perception that there are phantom voters.

It is possible that Bersih thinks that the changes to the electoral system made by the commission were not wholesale enough or too slow and too few and for that reason that it planned another demonstration to take place on Saturday.

The fear and concern of many people is that the police, whose capability was severely stretched when handling the first demonstration in 2007, may be hard put to handle the situation effectively should Bersih and its coalition partners make good their boast of mobilising 300,000 demonstrators on Saturday.

Therefore, as the King warned it is in the interest of everyone to ensure that “this demand on democracy does not bring destruction on the country”.

The Yang di-Pertuan Agong also said that “when we any problem arises, we as a civilised society must resolve it through consultation and not follow our emotions”.

His should be the last word on the subject and considering that his statement has helped to calm the situation (the latest development is that Bersih has agreed to hold the gathering in a stadium) everyone else should cease saying anything more on the subject.

SAPP Parents Nite 2011 in Kota Kinabalu

(Sources: SAPP official website)

KOTA KINABALU, 13 Jun 2011: Sabah will no longer be a Barisan Nasional (BN) 'fixed deposit' after the coming 13th General Election, said Datuk Yong Teck Lee, President of the opposition Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP).
Speaking at the Parents' Night organized by SAPP held at a leading Chinese seafood restaurant here on Saturday, Yong thus reiterated that SAPP is prepared to cooperate with the other opposition parties in Sabah to effectively break-up the BN hegemony in the state, in the next General Election.

More reading at >>>SAPP Official website

SAPP Malam Mesra Hari Ibu Dan Bapa 2011 in Kota Kinabalu
organised by Wanita SAPP Kota Kinabalu and Penampang Zone

Majikan Diberi Waktu 18 Hari Laporkan TKI Ilegal di Sabah

(Sumber berita:Tribunnews/Tribun Kaltim)
Tribunnews.com - Rabu, 8 Juni 2011 11:23 WIB

Laporan Wartawan Tribun Kaltim, Niko Ruru

TRIBUNNEWS.COM, NUNUKAN - Kerajaan Malaysia memberikan waktu kepada para majikan di Sabah selama 18 hari untuk mendaftarkan TKI ilegal yang dipekerjakannya untuk dipulangkan ke Nunukan mengurus dokumen.

"Soal kapan dipulangkan, itu tergantung pada kesiapan kita di sini," papar Ketua Asosiasi Perusahaan Pengerah Jasa Tenaga Kerja Indonesia (PJTKI) Kabupaten Nunukan Nazaruddin, Rabu (8/6/2011)

Nazaruddin mengatakan, TKI ilegal yang dipulangkan ke Nunukan adalah mereka yang menyambung paspor dan dipastikan tetap kerja di majikan yang bersangkutan.

"Yang jelas setelah PATI I dan PATI II sudah disetujui Malaysia, semua TKI bermasalah harus kembali di Indonesia," ujarnya.

楊德利：中國象棋三千年歷史

Sunday, June 5, 2011


楊德利：中國象棋三千年歷史
已在路陽廣泛獲得推動

2011-06-05亞洲時報(本報訊)沙巴進步黨主席拿督楊德利表示，因為有進步黨路陽區州議員謝秋菊對發揚中華文化的精神，中國象棋中華文化活動才能在路陽區廣泛獲得推動，確保此中華文化得以流傳下去。

他說，中國象棋已有三千年的歷史，它在路陽區的廣泛推動已成功讓當地人民有機會參與這種有益身心健康的活動。

“下棋活動在本州尤其亞庇路陽已開始廣受歡迎，它除了是進步黨的常年活動以外，我們還邀請到走遍世界各國，來自中國的柳大華特級大師到來本州給予指點，以提升本地棋手的棋藝。”

也是前首長的楊德利昨日是在路陽民眾會堂為一年一度的「謝秋菊杯路陽和生園中小學象棋錦標賽」主持掛帥儀式致詞時，這麼表示。


拿督楊德利為「謝秋菊杯路陽和生園中小學象棋錦標賽」主持掛帥儀式後,一時興起坐下來与黄继有太平绅士展露两手棋藝。右站者為謝秋菊，左一及二站者為蕭瑞蘭及劉貴輝

更多新闻...>>沙巴进步党中文部落

Kotobian Tadau Tagazo Do Kaamatan SAPP 2011 di Kundasang

Kotobian Tadau Tagazo Do Kaamatan (Sources: Chesptf Youtube)

QEHII delayed again!

(Source:SAPP official website)




KOTA KINABALU, May 25, 2011: With the extended delay in the completion of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital II (QEH II) renovation, it is only appropriate and dignified that Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai take full responsibility and bow-out gracefully, said Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP).

Asserting this was SAPP Information Chief Chong Pit Fah following the expiry of its final extension due date on May 23.

He reminded that in February this year, Liow came to Sabah for the umpteen times to give excuses for another delay in completing the RM72.6 million renovation works on the former Sabah Medical Centre (SMC) building.

February was supposed to be the month of the revised completion date that Liow had given after reportedly issuing a stern warning to the contractor concerned on Aug 11, 2010, which at that time was 13 days late.

Hence, in a follow-up, Chong urged Liow to keep his words because ever since the SMC building was purchased for conversion into a General Hospital, he had already made three different announcements over the completion date.

The contract work for QEH2 included the construction of a five-storey parking lot, elevators, refurbishment of the accident and emergency department, development of cardiology and cardiothoracic centre as well as expanding minor operation theatres at the nine-storey building.

Read more >>

S’pore gains from M’sia’s brain drain

"Malaysia's brain drain is both heavily Chinese and concentrated just below the border, says a report by the World Bank."

(Source:Free Malaysia Today)
Patrick Lee | May 21, 2011


PETALING JAYA: A large portion of the best and the brightest Malaysia has to offer have taken root in Singapore.
According to a 2011 World Bank report entitled “Malaysia Economic Monitor: Brain Drain”, 121, 662 highly-skilled Malaysians migrated to the island nation by 2010.
This accounted for nearly half of the 276, 558 Malaysians registered as “brain drain” individuals by 2010.
Additionally, the report said a total of 385, 979 Malaysians were residents of Singapore in 2010.
“Singapore alone absorbs 57% of the entire (Malaysian) diaspora, with most of the remainder residing in Australia, Brunei, United Kingdom and the United States,” the report added.
On top of that, it said that 88% of Malaysians residing in Singapore were ethnic Chinese, with Malays and Indians accounting for 6% and 5% respectively.
It has been estimated that there are more than one million Malaysians residing overseas.

Read More >>

沙巴進步黨: 对付挑起种族及宗教课题人士

(News Source:SAPP blog in chinese)

沙巴進步黨: 对付挑起种族及宗教课题人士: "对付挑起种族及宗教课题人士 进步党批政府未采行动 沙巴进步党昨日尸伺批坪政府未采取行动对付頻頻在西马挑起种族及宗教课题人士,包括恫言发动圣战的土著权益委员会主席拿督依布拉欣阿里,以及报导基督国课题的《马來西亚前鋒报》。"

Historians and integrity

Letter to TheSunDaily
Assoc Prof Dr Sivachandralingam Sundara Raja
Department of History
University of Malaya
to the discipline of history

I MUST say that it is a sad day for historians when the nation fails to take stock of the grouses raised by various quarters since the subject of history syllabus in school had been highlighted in newspapers since last year. It must be noted that the main grouses were with regard to objectivity in writing history/doing away with moral lessons. Unfortunately the term of reference for the committee which will be reviewing the syllabus seems to be focussing on the content of secondary school’s history curriculum and textbooks to ensure they are able to nurture patriotism and loyalty to the country and strengthen their identity as Malaysians. If this is so history will be repeated with the new history textbooks emphasising moral lesson for every historical event. I cannot understand how the committee could agree with the terms of reference set by the ministry. As a historian, I’m sad that historians fail to be objective. Historians must adhere to their own rules of fairness, reason and logic while constructing stories about the human past. In addition, they must support their claims with actual evidence as the basis for plausible and valid inferences. When all this is complied, it will fulfil the requirements of objectivity.
Any attempt to cultivate patriotism through historical events means we are not teaching history but merely being propagandist. I’m afraid the next generation will curse this committee for not being able to stand up for the discipline of history which they belong to. If patriotism is the ultimate aim, it will lead to value judgments in the narratives and affect evaluation of the facts. If special facts are chosen to instil patriotism, the chances of skewing the story in one way or another are enhanced even more.

Read more at >>TheSundaily

沙巴進步黨: 謝秋菊杯路陽和生園中小學象棋錦標賽

沙巴進步黨: 謝秋菊杯路陽和生園中小學象棋錦標賽: "謝秋菊杯路陽和生園中小學象棋錦標賽 六月四日舉行即日起按受報名 亞洲時報(本報訊)已邁入第十五個年頭的『謝秋菊杯杯2011路陽和生園中小學象棋錦標賽』,即日起接受各棋手報名參賽。 這項由沙巴進步黨主辦的象棋比賽,將於六月四日及五日在路陽民眾會堂盛大舉行。 賽會籌委..."
Read more>>

Don’t supply near-expired food, milk to schools

(ByTheBorneoBost-Posted on May 12, 2011, Thursday)

TAWAU: The Education Department here has been urged to monitor the dry food and milk supplied to schools in the district and take stern action against suppliers if the products sold to students are found to be close to expiry.

Making the call during the full-council meeting yesterday, Tawau Municipal Council president Ismail Mayakob said the council has received complaints from parents about food and milk products sold to students were near expiry date.

He hoped the Education Department would take note of the matter and never allow dry food and milk that are about to expire to be supplied to the schools in the district.

Ismail said the schools and the respective suppliers should always check the expiry dates of food products before they are sold to students.

He said schoolchildren should also be advised to consume the food products they buy in schools as soon as possible and not take them home to be kept in a refrigerator until the expiry date.

Meanwhile, Ismail said the council will work with the Consumers Committee Movement to carry out a campaign to create public awareness on the need to reduce plastic use before implementing the ‘No Plastic Bag Day’ programme every Saturday and Sunday.

During the ‘No Plastic Bag Day’, consumers would have to pay 20 sen for every plastic bag they need to carry the items which they purchase from participating supermarkets and other retail outlets.

The money collected will be given to welfare bodies.

Tell the whole story, please

-At the end of the day, all one is asking for is due recognition for everyone who had done their bit for this land that we all call home.-

(Source: TheSunDaily - by Terence Fernandez)

ON Saturday historian Dr Ranjit Singh Malhi addressed a crowd of about 300 people on the topic of distortions and biasness in history textbooks. The talk may have been held in a church and the Catholic Teachers Association of Malaysia may have organised it, but the attendees reflected Malaysia’s cultural mosaic.

All of them were concerned that the teaching of history was skewed towards the political expedience and superiority of a section of the community at the expense of the others. That the contributions and sacrifices of the minority communities were downplayed, glossed over or omitted left everyone feeling bitter.

Ranjit’s presentation picked up from a front-page article in theSun on Dec 13 last year – Biased history – where he revealed that he had quit writing history textbooks as he could not stomach the half-truths and lies that the writers were told to include as part of the syllabus.

These include the fact that the founder of Malacca Parameswara had died a Hindu, and that the sacrifices of the Indian, Gurkha, British and Australian troops in World War II were minimal.

He had also revealed that over the last decade that the third Kapitan Cina Yap Ah Loy had been gradually reduced from “Mr Kuala Lumpur” to “among those responsible for Kuala Lumpur’s development”.

In his talk Ranjit said five out of 10 chapters of the Form Four history textbooks related to Islamic History. At the same time text related to Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism and Taoism made up 25%. There were also examples of how religious beliefs suddenly found their way into the syllabus as part of historical fact.

The discussion that followed was passionate and at times tense as parents, teachers and concerned Malaysians voiced their fears about the indoctrination in classrooms.

I was asked to respond to Ranjit’s presentation. My take was simple: In other countries, they covered up negative aspects of their history such as Japan’s scant mention of World War II atrocities.

However in Malaysia, the positive aspects of our past are also blanketed in favour of a political agenda that in the long run is counter-productive to nation building.

Wouldn’t telling the whole story about how the minority communities gave their blood, sweat and tears for the nation help foster a greater sense of belonging and ownership to the country? Would it not correspond to the 1Malaysia concept that is eagerly bandied around by politicians who do not necessarily subscribe to its tenets?

Instead, those sitting for the SPM are required to read this text on Page 255 of the Form Five History textbook: “Kemajuan dan kemakmuran Tanah Melayu telah berjaya menarik minat imigran untuk datang ke sini … Masyarakat tempatan seharusnya lebih giat, berinisiatif dan bersedia mengusahakan sendiri kekayaan negara … jika tidak, orang asing yang sentiasa mengintai peluang untuk mengambil ruang tersebut akan mengambil alih peranan kita, seperti yang berlaku hari ini.”

(The development and prosperity of Tanah Melayu had attracted immigrants to come here … Locals should be more proactive and take the initiative to harvest the country’s riches on our own … otherwise the aliens who have always been eyeing opportunities may take advantage of the openings available and take over our roles, as is happening today.)

Ranjit claimed he was labelled “anti-national” when he brought up the matter of historical distortions and omissions to a director-general of education.

Following theSun’s expose, the ministry gave an assurance that it would “probe the claims”.

Education Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin announced a 14-member panel to review history textbooks. However, he said that the new revamped syallabus would only take effect in 2017, after the present batch of Form One students finish their examinations.

The organisers of the talk were compelled to revisit the issue as being in the forefront of education, they were not confident that there were serious attempts being made to address these concerns.

This is partly due to the immense political pressures faced by the policymakers. Even an earlier promise that members of the media would be included in the panel had been reneged upon.

The fact that history would be made a compulsory subject was announced at the Umno general assembly and not at a cabinet meeting also lent credence that politics and social engineering had crept into the syllabus.

After the talk, these proposals were suggested: parents return the textbooks; pages containing distortions, political rhetoric, half truths and lies be ripped out; students told not to answer exam questions based on these distortions, rhetoric, half truths and lies; demand that the panel of authors writing history textbooks comprise historians, academicians, and representatives of all ethnic communities; encourage more people to support an online petition to compel the government to take these concerns seriously; insist that history be made an optional subject or compulsory only when all the concerns are addressed; and to flood the market with factually accurate history books.

At the end of the day, all one is asking for is due recognition for everyone who had done their bit for this land that we all call home.

Terence says “Tell the truth and shame the devil”.

Public Transport Issue To Government Hospitals

"One will be able to judge any development by government with the plan of its transportation network in the country,states and cities as a basis to any transformation"

_________________________________________

(Source: from SAPP official website in chinese and Sabah Asiatimes)

謝秋菊促政府立即採取行動恢復中央一院及二院之間來往免費巴士服務安排公共巴士川行達邁路段

-YB Melanie Chia (3rd right)  is Sabah State Assemblywoman for N16 Luyang

YB Melanie Chia –on public transport Hospital 1 and 2 issue

2011-04-02亞洲時報(本報訊)亞庇中央第一醫院與二院之間的免費穿梭巴士被取消，二院和路陽與斗亞蘭大路之間又完全沒有公共交通便利，對病患和探病者尤其是無車階級構成極大的不便與困擾。

針對上述現象，路陽區州議員謝秋菊強烈要求政府當局馬上採取解決行動，並希望市政廳能夠體恤大眾的需要，馬上安排公共巴士穿行達邁路段，同時恢復中央一院及二院來往免費巴士，解除民困。

政府醫院竟無巴士服務

她說：“堂堂一個州首府，政府醫院居然無巴士服務，實在叫人無法接受！對平民百姓來說，政府醫院是其中一個重要人民設施，而公共交通服務是最基本的設備，政府當局怎麼能夠忽略人民最基本和最簡單的需要呢？”

她是在接獲大批民眾的投訴並於昨早親自前往瞭解實況後，向記者這麼表示。

政府自從收購沙巴醫藥中心大樓改為亞庇中央二院後，不但未見顯著提升或改善該處公共交通設施，時至今日居然連最基本的公共巴士服務也缺乏。

謝秋菊表示，她於早上來到達邁民眾會堂，然後乘搭免費穿梭迷你巴士服務到中央二院。有關穿梭巴士是為解決二院停車位不足以及在新停車場工程進行期間，特別為中央二院客戶所安排。

她說，客人可將車子停放在民眾會堂停車場，使用穿梭迷你巴往返二院看病或探病。不過，她到現場才得知，有關的穿梭巴士服務並非由衛生部提供，而是收購沙巴醫藥中心的柔佛醫藥保健集團(KPJ)為客戶所提供的服務。

“雖然這項安排方便了不少民眾，但是受惠的還是以有車階級者為主，無車階級者則無法享受這項巴士服務。”

巴士服務去年杪停止

謝秋菊進一步指出，她在巴士上從一名同車的病患口中得知，政府提供的中央一院及二院之間的免費穿梭巴士早在去年十二月卅一日停止服務。中央二院沒有德士站，這一帶也沒有公共巴士。

據當地居民透露，從前穿行於大業新村的公共巴士早已經停跑多年，目前由達邁商業中心一直穿透民眾會堂、大業新村、崇正中學、到斗亞蘭大路這麼長的路程完全沒有公車經過。

這意味著公眾若要乘搭巴士前往中央二院，袛能選擇在水塘路－亞庇路線或者亞庇－斗亞蘭路線的巴士站下車，然後步行至中央二院。

她說：“很難想像這一區這麼多住宅區、商店、學校、私人醫院、甚至政府醫院，居然沒有巴士服務，這對沒有私家車的病人或者探病的民眾來說多麼的不方便。大家都非議醫院及政府似乎忘記了無車階級的需要。”

中央二院無德士站

另外，謝秋菊在咨詢德士業者的意見後，方得悉原來中央二院根本沒設德士站。

西海岸德士公會主席黃玉明表示，只要中央二院願意提供德士位，彼等非常樂意在該處等候客人，提供德士服務。目前同行們通常接到的中央二院客人，都是透過電話呼召。

謝秋菊強調，即使有德士服務，但政府醫院的病患多數為中低下層收入群，有能力搭德士者不多，所以，提供收費廉宜的公共巴士設備才是最實際的作法。

圖示：謝秋菊為一探究竟，乘搭中央醫院二院穿梭迷你巴士瞭解民眾無法得到公共交通便利的問題。


(Source:TheBorneoPost news)

Patients facing problem getting transport to hospitals
Posted on April 2, 2011, Saturday

KOTA KINABALU: Terminating the shuttle bus service from Queen Elizabeth Hospital 1 (QEH) to QEH 2 in Damai, Luyang is a diservice to the public, especially those who do not have their own transportation.

This is because most of those seeking treatment at the government hospital do not have their own transportation.

“The situation is made worse by the fact that QEH is located in an area where public transportation is almost nil,” Luyang assemblywoman Melanie Chia said.

According to her, the shuttle service between the two hospitals was stopped on December 31 and this has caused problems to many of the patients as well as their relatives.

“The bus service only ply along Jalan Tuaran and Jalan Kolam. There is no public transportation into the Damai area. Maybe City Hall can look into establishing a route for bus service into the area,” she said.

While waiting for that to happen, the shuttle service between QEH 1 and QEH 2 must be reinstated immediately, Chia stressed.

Poco a poco

      "Just song and healthy dance common in social interaction or festival as  it shall  be there for everyone to appreciate life with joy than anything else"

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(Sources: TheSunDaily - / Columnists :: Abiding Times - By Tunku ’Abidin Muhriz)

We all remember the anti-tomboy and anti-yoga fatwas, but new depths of idiocy were this week reached when Perak declared that it would uphold a declaration that poco-poco, the popular line dance, is haram. Anyone who has ever participated in a poco-poco session – whether by choice or compulsion – will appreciate its benefits to physical health, memory recall and social interaction. But frankly, defending the merits of each and every thing that some within the religious "elite" deem unacceptable is too much hard work. They are clearly bent on destroying everything that is fun about life. Rather, there must be a concerted effort to stand up to the social authoritarians who invoke religion to legitimise their prejudices.

Indeed, there are plenty of people who aren’t tomboys, who don’t do yoga, who don’t smoke, or drink, or listen to Najwa – but nonetheless do the poco-poco. And yet, it is only when their dance is under threat that they galvanise into action, ready to lobby the government to halt this infringement upon their personal freedoms. It is reminiscent of Pastor Martin Niemöller’s statement in which no one else remained to "speak for me" because others had already been silenced. Everyone, regardless of their preferences, must be reminded that with each passing day, the concept of individual liberty in this country lies buried under ever deeper layers of excrement, with the joget-loving Tunku Abdul Rahman turning once more in his grave.

....read more from Tunku ’Abidin Muhriz letters to thesundaily.com


Also, listen to the broadcasting by RadioSabahTV for the song 'Poco-Poco'

Look beyond poco-poco, Perak mufti told

"..at the end, it depended on the ‘niat’ (intention) of a person in doing the act that rendered a certain act as forbidden."Said MP Kuala Selangor Dzulkefly Ahmad

(Source:FMT news) March 31,2011 by G Vinod

KUALA LUMPUR: PAS’ Kuala Selangor MP Dzulkefly Ahmad today called upon Perak Mufti Harrussani Zakaria to get his priorities right and focus on bigger issues plaguing the nation.
Referring to the recent Perak Fatwa committee’s decision to declare the ‘poco-poco’ dance as unlawful, Dzulkefly said religious leaders should instead monitor the government to ensure it was steadfast in the path of righteousness.
“I am not defending ‘poco-poco’ but the mufti should instead address issues like good governance, integrity and rule of law. These are very important Islamic values,”said Dzulkefly who is also PAS central committee member.
On Tuesday, Harussani told a Malay daily that the state Fatwa committee decided to ban the dance as it had elements of Christianity and spirit worship.
Calling the dance ban as uncalled for, Dzulkefly said the senior mufti should put things into the right perspective, including objecting to the use of gutter politics by BN politicians, which were un-Islamic.
“This is more important now, not ‘poco-poco’.
“Islam solves the bigger issues. Once you solve the bigger problems, the smaller ones will go away by itself,”he said.

Don’t give Islam bad name

Sharing Dzulkefly’s views, Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad said the Perak Fatwa committee must understand the spirit of Islam before declaring certain things as ‘haram’ (forbidden).
In Islam, Khalid said, everything is allowed unless there are specific practises within it which rendered it forbidden.
He added that at the end, it depended on the ‘niat’ (intention) of a person in doing the act that rendered a certain act as forbidden.
“For example, in ancient days kings are treated as gods but it is no longer the case now. Just because they were treated as gods in the past does not mean having kings are un-Islamic now.
“The same applies ‘poco-poco’. If a person dances to the tunes with a religious connotation in his heart, then the act can be questioned but if you dance it just for recreation then there is no problem,”said Khalid.
He called upon the state religious committee to dissect an issue thoroughly before issuing an edict to safeguard the good name of Islam.
“If not, people will have a bad impression over Islam. People may think that we cannot accept certain good things,”he said.

 

Rosmah: Govt and NGOs must collaborate to help homeless

She said it was crucial to understand why some segments of society remained homeless despite many programmes to help them. 

“I call upon caring Malaysians to extend assistance to these NGOs so that we can all help to bring an end to homelessness,” Rosmah said

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(Source: TheStar news) Tuesday March 29,2011

KUALA LUMPUR: Collaborative efforts between the Government and NGOs are needed to tackle homelessness in the country, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor said.

She said it was crucial to understand why some segments of society remained homeless despite many programmes to help them.

“Material loss may have forced some people onto the streets but the reason for them remaining homeless is something else entirely. It could perhaps be their loss of will and spirit to continue living.


Charity begins at home: Rosmah and Shahrizat witnessing the mock cheque presentation between AmBank Corporate Finance director Syed Anuar Syed Ali (left) and Kechara Soup Kitchen president Datuk Ruby Khong at Jalan Barat here yesterday. Also present are Kitchen patron Datuk Dr Victor Wee(second from left) and National Welfare Foundation CEO Datuk Sayed A. Rahman Sayed Mohd.



“We are very lucky to have NGOs like Kechara Soup Kitchen working with government agencies to help the homeless.


“I call upon caring Malaysians to extend assistance to these NGOs so that we can all help to bring an end to homelessness,” Rosmah said in her speech before opening the KSK Building here yesterday.


The building, located in Jalan Barat off Jalan Imbi, has been in operation since Sept 23 last year. It provides hot vegetarian lunches from Monday to Friday to homeless people in the area for free.

Renovated at a cost of RM400,000, the building also welcomes walk-in customers who may pay any amount for their meals as donations.

Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil who also attended the function, announced that the ministry will open a new shelter called Bangunan Ehsan at Jalan Lekiu on April 9. The shelter will provide 76 beds for males and females.

Big wins' in GTP report -Malaysia

"Of the six NKRAs, focus should be on Combating Corruption though we may not always have witnesses or figures but still believe corruption commonly takes place even with many civil services specially in Sabah"

(Source:@TheSunDaily - thesun news)

Big wins' in GTP report
By Pauline Wong

PETALING JAYA (March 27, 2011): The Government Transformation Programme (GTP) Annual Report 2010 released this evening showed that the programme, launched in January last year to radically transform the way in which the government works, has been a resounding success.

Each of the six national key result areas (NKRA) showed an overall positive outcome, with significant "big wins" including the biggest drop in crime statistics since independence and the introduction of the Whistleblower Protection Act 2010 to combat corruption.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak expressed satisfaction at the outcomes.

"It registered many "firsts" that have directly or indirectly enhanced the lives of millions," he said in the foreword to a 250-page report issued by the Prime Minister's Department.

The six NKRAs are Crime Reduction, Combating Corruption, Improving Student Outcomes, Raising the Living Standards of Low Income Households, Rural Basic Infrastructure Improvement and Improving Urban Public Transportation.

> The NKRA for Crime Reduction scored two major achievements: street crime and index crime (serious and regularly occurring crimes affecting the national crime index) went down by 35% and 15% respectively.

Also, police recorded 6,842 arrests and confiscations for snatch theft, vehicle theft and house break-ins. Close to 500 closed-circuit televisions, 2,594 light posts and 343 safety mirrors have been installed under the Safe City programme under this NKRA.

To increase police presence, 14,222 police officers were redeployed in crime hotspot areas. These initiatives resulted in a 55.8% satisfaction with police services compared to 35.8% in 2009, according to a survey by UK-based survey house Taylor Nelson Sofres.

> The Whistleblower Protection Act 2010 was one of the landmark achievements of the NKRA for Combating Corruption.

The act aims to encourage whistleblowers to come forward with reports of improper conduct by granting them protection of identity, immunity from criminal or civil liability as well as protection against any action taken against them.

Other key initiatives include stiffer minimum sentences, the speedy prosecution of corruption cases, and a "name and shame" database of 284 (and growing) convicted offenders. Compliance units to prevent corrupt practices in the police force, Immigration Department, Royal Malaysian Customs, Road Transport Department and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission have also been set up.

These initiatives contributed to 48% of Malaysians agreeing that the government's efforts to fight corruption is effective in the Transparency International (TI) Global Corruption Barometer 2010. However, the report showed that Malaysia's TI Corruption Perception Index Score remains low at 4.4, falling short of the 4.9 target set (a score of 10 indicates least corrupt).

> In improving student outcomes, key initiatives to reward high performing schools, teachers and headmasters resulted in a more than 90% achievement of targets set.

The pre-school enrolment rate exceeded expectations at 72.42%, with 1,500 pre-school classes rolled out (including nine in remote areas of Sabah and Sarawak), enabling more than 700,000 children aged four and five to get a headstart.

An 85% literacy rate and 91% numeracy rate was also scored after the Literacy and Numeracy Screening test for Year One pupils last September. More than 100 out of 290 primary schools reported as much as a 40% improvement in the school average grade, and 20 high-performing schools have been identified.

> In the NKRA for raising living standards of low-income households, one major achievement reported was the complete removal of all 44,535 families in the hardcore poor category.

Through the Akhiri Zaman Miskin (end poverty), or 1Azam, programmes, poor households are given aid in finding employment, starting small home businesses or embarking on agriculture projects to earn a living.

In addition, other initiatives in collaboration with the Health Ministry have contributed to achieving the targets in this NKRA.

Four 1Malaysia mobile clinics provide medical treatment to poor households in rural areas, and 50 1Malaysia clinics have provided basic medical care for the low income group.

> With 35% of Malaysians living in rural areas, improving rural basic infrastructure is paramount to ensure every layer of society has equal access to modern facilities and wealth, stated the report.

To this end, a total of 783.1km of rural roads have been built or upgraded, 36,273 and 27,266 households connected to treated water and electricity supply, and 16,962 houses for the rural poor have been built or restored.

> Improving urban public transportation however, was the only one of the six NKRA that showed slow progress, with many of its initiatives and projects delayed due to various reasons.

Delays in the mobilisation of the Land Public Transport Commission as a body to effectively regulate and monitor bus and rail operators caused difficulties in project delivery and smooth integration of the public transport system.

Other hiccups included an inability to come to an agreement with private bus operators in the distribution of bus routes; internal structure and bureaucracy issues with government agencies responsible for urban transport which resulted in a lack of coordination; and the lack of capable local contractors to refurbish the KTM Komuter trains.

However, there were some successes, namely the RM570 million integrated transport terminal (ITT) in Bandar Tasik Selatan, which now diverts some 500 southbound express buses from congested city centres on a daily basis.

Also this year, the ITT Gombak is expected to be built and 270 more buses will be introduced into existing routes by September.

Rail passengers can look forward to 13 four-coach trains for the Kelana Jaya LRT line which will be delivered mid year. They will help increase passenger loads and improve the efficiency of the rail system.

SAPP Tenom gesa kaji kedudukan NCR

Tenom, Mac 23, 2011: NAIB Presiden Parti Maju Sabah (SAPP), Jimmy Jawatah mengalu-alukan kesediaan kerajaan Sabah sepertimana yang ditegaskan Ketua Menteri Sabah, Datuk Seri Musa Haji Aman baru-baru ini.

Dalam kenyataannya, Musa berkata bahawa beliau akan mengkaji dan meneliti kawasan tanah adat (NCR) yang termasuk dalam kawasan Hutan Simpan kerana Jimmy mengharapkan agar kajian itu menjurus kepada kelulusan untuk menempatkan perkampungan penduduk asal.

Katanya, keputusan Mahkamah Tinggi baru-baru ini berhubung kes pencerobohan Hutan Simpan Imahit yang membebaskan 6 penduduk Kuala Tomani dari tuduhan itu membuktikan bahawa hak asasi rakyat terhadap tanah NCR tetap utuh.

"Sungguhpun begitu, kita minta kerajaan agar terus mengazetkan mana-mana kawasan tanah NCR itu yang dikeluarkan dari kawasan Hutan Simpan supaya penduduk di kawasan terbabit tidak lagi merasa tergugat kedudukan mereka," kata beliau lagi.

Jimmy yang juga Pengerusi CLC, SAPP Tenom berkata demikian ketika melancarkan jentera pilihanraya bagi Dun Melalap, Kemabong dan Parlimen Tenom di Pejabat Perhubungan parti itu di Tenom sebagai persiapan menghadapi pilihanraya umum kali ke-13 (PRU13) yang akan diadakan dalam masa terdekat ini.

Beliau menegaskan bahawa masalah tanah NCR yang berada di kawasan Hutan Simpan sepatutnya pihak kerajaan negeri sudah menyelesaikan masalah tersebut lebih awal lagi jika pihak terbabit termasuk wakil rakyat berkenaan melakukan kajian yang serius berhubung perkara itu berdasarkan peruntukan undang-undang yang sedia ada.

Dalam pada itu, ketika ditanya berhubung cadangan Presiden Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Dato’ Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail mengenai pemberian status kerakyatan ‘Penduduk Tetap’ (PR) tetapi tiada hak mengundi dalam pilihanraya kepada PATI sepertimana tercatat dalam ‘Buku Jingga’ parti itu Jimmy berkata;

"Kepimpinan SAPP menentang dasar itu dan ia suatu cadangan yang tidak relevan dalam keadaan sekarang. Sedangkan kita (SAPP) bertungkus lumus mendesak kerajaan mengusir PATI selain mengadakan kempen memungut tandatangan mendesak kerajaan menubuhkan Suruhanjaya Siasatan DiRaja (RCI) bagi menyiasat pemberian kad pengenalan dan kerakyatan kepada PATI," tegas Jimmy.

Tegasnya, kepimpinan SAPP memandang serius masalah kebanjiran PATI di Sabah yang dianggarkan kira-kira 600,000 dikesan memiliki dokumen sah seperti kad pengenalan dan kerakyatan negara ini. 


(Bahan berita : SAPP official website in bahasa Oleh: MAIL MATHEW )

City Hall and Luyang Assemblywoman's Office Clean up playground

(Source: The Borneo Post news)
(March 19, 2011, Saturday)
KOTA KINABALU: City Hall and the Luyang assemblywoman’s Office (LAO) yesterday cleaned up the Golden City playground here.
Recently, the office received complaints from people in the area on the poor conditions of the playground, which is frequently used to carry out activities such as tai chi exercise.
The one-and-a-half-hour clean-up programme, which started around 10am, was jointly carried out by LAO and City Hall’s Landscaping Department officers and personnel.
A spokesperson for Luyang People’s Representative Office, Frankie Yap, said they were doing the work voluntarily although they may not be holding any posts in the government.
He said that public are welcome to voice their grouses to the office by contacting 088-235968 or 088-272968.

(CLEANING IN PROGRESS: City Hall personnel cleaning up the

Golden City playground on March 18, 2011 Friday.)

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N16 Luyang Assemblywoman's Office

(YB Puan Melanie Chia Chui Ket -Sabah Luyang Assemblywoman
She is also SAPP Vice-President cum Women Chief)