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

________________________________________________

(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 )

Malaysia 'probably transit point for WMD parts'

"Malaysia would strictly enforce a new law to curb trafficking of nuclear weapons components after being linked with the illegal supply of sensitive technology to Iran and Libya. "- Said Najib Razak, Malaysia Prime Minister

(Sources: Yahoo and AFP news) March 22, 2011


(AFP/File – File photo shows cargo ships dock at Malaysia's Klang port on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur. Malaysia)

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP) – Malaysia is probably an illicit transit point for parts used in weapons of mass destruction, the home minister was quoted as saying Tuesday after police seized suspected weapons equipment.

"It is safe for me to say that Malaysia is likely being used as a transit point and not as a destination point for WMD," home minister Hishammuddin Hussein was quoted as saying by the Star newspaper.

Police said last week they had asked the country's nuclear agency for a report on parts seized from a ship bound for western Asia.

The local Sun daily had reported that authorities impounded two containers of "parts of an equipment believed used to make weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear warhead" in early March from a Malaysian-registered ship.

The dismantled equipment was seized at Port Klang, west of Kuala Lumpur, from the ship after it arrived from China, that report said.

The parts were among items subject to controlled and restricted sale by the UN Security Council and under international law, it said, adding that captain and crew were questioned before being allowed to leave port with their vessel.

Hishammuddin, who oversees domestic security, said that Malaysia had now sought the assistance of foreign experts to examine the seized parts, according to the Star.
Last April, Premier Najib Razak said Malaysia would strictly enforce a new law to curb trafficking of nuclear weapons components after being linked with the illegal supply of sensitive technology to Iran and Libya.

Review of nuclear plants proposal in wake of Japan earthquake

"How Possibly Does A Leader Going Round And Round A Track Help The Nation Grow? Do Be One Good Leader Like Those Who Let Our Voices Be Heard! " 

(source: masslive.com- The Associated Press news) March 14,2011


BOSTON (AP) — Sen. John Kerry is urging the Obama administration to rethink its push for a new generation of nuclear power plants.
The Massachusetts Democrat said the devastating earthquake in Japan that led to two hydrogen explosions at a tsunami-stricken nuclear power facility should automatically cause the administration to back off calls for new nuclear plants in the United States.
Kerry said Monday that new plants shouldn't be built until they can be designed to guarantee that the nuclear core won't break apart even under the most extreme kinds of stress like an earthquake.
He said without that guarantee no community will accept a nuclear plant nearby.
President Barack Obama has said the country needs to expand its energy sources, from wind and solar to a new generation of nuclear power plants.

_________________________________________________

At the parliament in Malaysia,
(Source: SAPP official website)
It's time to review nuclear plant proposal

(Kuala Lumpur, March 22, 2011): Datuk Chua Soon Bui , Member of Parliament Tawau who is the Vice President of SAPP said while the world shared the grief with Japan on the Holocaust of the double disaster of earthquake and Tsunami which devastated Japan leading to millions homeless, and thousands of death.

"We Parliamentarians from Malaysia, and I from the Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) shared the burden of sorrow and convey our deepest condolences to the Japan Government and the people of Japan.

"We mourned with Japan on the loss of lives, homes destroyed, we sympathized and concern to the families who lost their closed family members, relatives and friends, we understand the anxiety and agony for the missing, the burden of pain is beyond imagination.

She agrees with the government that it's time we extend our helping hands, to give assistance, offer our emotional and moral support, so that it makes it easier for them to brace through the challenges and sustain a high spirit to recover from these nightmares and hardship.

"The explosions of the Nuclear Plant in Fukushima, Japan have added more fear and anxiety to the people in the region on their safety and we pray that the matter will be resolved successfully so as to avert any possible disastrous aftermath.

"In the line of these devastation, we have much to learn from Japan on the efficiency of their authorities to combat the disaster, their strong social culture, their strong family and community ties, and the discipline of the people, the readiness of the people to face these emergencies.

"The recent visits to the DIET members of parliament (MP) by a delegation of 28 Malaysian Parliamentarians during our peace mission to Japan organised by UPF (universal peace federation ) were well received and fruitful. We are concerned that we have lost communication with the UPF Japan after the disaster and pray that they are safe and well.

WE FROM THE DELEGATION THE UPF WOULD LIKE TO CONVEY OUR SINCERE ENCOURAGEMENT TO THE GOVERNMENT OF JAPAN TO REBUILD THEIR HOMES, THE INFRASTRUCTURES AND PUBLIC CONFIDENCE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

"We are also saddened by threats faced by the people at the FUKUSHIMA nuclear plant explosions and also urged the relevant ministries and authorities to keep the Malaysian public inform on the contagious effect of the possible nuclear particles to Malaysia and food security.

She also would like to urge the Ministry of Energy, green technology and water to ABOLISH the building of the nuclear power plant in Malaysia especially in Sabah. She urge the Ministry to take hints from Germany whom had just announced its closed down of 7 nuclear power plants, Austria also object to building of this source of energy. I am confident that we can resolve to many other alternative renewable energy in Malaysia if we are for sighted enough for the benefits of our children and grand-children.

"The people of Sabah are worried and wanted to know whether the government has any policy in term of resources , training especially on disaster management in tackling radiation risks from a foreign country because Sabah is very near the neighboring Bataan nuclear power plant near Manila , Philippines and also many in China.

With this, she supported the motion of the resolutions.

Sarawak assembly dissolved

(Sources: TheStar online news)
updated: March 21, 2011 MYT 1:21:05 PM
updated: March 22, 2011 Tuesday



Asfia with a copy of the dissolution proclamation signed by Salahuddin in Kuching. According to Aziz, the EC would receive the notice today and the officials meet tomorrow at Pullman Kuching. A press conference has been scheduled at noon to announce the eagerly awaited nomination and polling dates. The state election is the tenth. — ZULAZHAR SHEBLEE / The Star

Speaker receives proclamation of dissolution signed by Yang di-Pertua Negeri

KUCHING: The Sarawak state assembly was dissolved on Monday, paving the way for the 10th state election.

Speaker Datuk Seri Mohamad Asfia Awang Nassar told a news conference here that the proclamation of the dissolution, signed by Yang Dipertua Negeri Tun Abang Muhammad Salahuddin Abang Barieng, was received this morning.

He said that the notice of dissolution would be handed over to Election Commission (EC) chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof on Tuesday.

The EC is expected to meet here on Wednesday to decide on the dates for the nomination and polling.

Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud announced on Saturday that the state assembly would be dissolved Monday.

The Barisan Nasional has been in control of 63 of the 71 seats in the assembly since Engkilili assemblyman Dr Jonical Rayong Ngipa, who contested on an opposition Sarawak National Party ticket in the last state election on May 20, 2006, joined the Barisan last year.

The DAP holds six seats while PKR has one and Parti Cinta Malaysia, through an Independent representative, has another one. — Bernama