Babi ancam nelayan Tanjung Sepat - Utusan

Oleh Hamden Ramli

SEPANG 9 April – Kegiatan menternak babi yang tidak terkawal di beberapa kampung sekitar Tanjung Sepat dekat sini mengakibatkan kemusnahan alam sekitar yang teruk hingga menyebabkan penduduk hilang mata pencarian.

Kegiatan itu menyebabkan perairan sekitar kawasan tersebut tercemar teruk hingga menjejaskan aktiviti nelayan di samping kerosakan harta benda.

Pengerusi Persatuan Nelayan Kampung Kundang, Shahamid Sanusi, berkata, satu ketika dahulu aktiviti membuat belacan merupakan salah satu daripada mata pencarian utama penduduk di situ.

Bagaimanapun, akibat pencemaran, aktiviti itu sukar diteruskan kerana kekurangan udang geragau yang menjadi sumber utama dalam pembuatan belacan.

“Selain udang geragau, kawasan pesisir pantai di sini juga kaya dengan hidupan laut lain seperti ikan, kerang, kepah dan mentarang tetapi sekarang semuanya berkurangan kerana pencemaran yang dipercayai berpunca daripada pembuangan sisa najis dari ladang-ladang babi yang banyak terdapat di kawasan itu,” katanya kepada Utusan Malaysia di sini hari ini.

Semalam, Menteri Besar Selangor, Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim berkata, kerajaan negeri akan meneruskan cadangan membina ladang ternakan babi moden di Kampung Tumbuk, Kuala Langat dalam Parlimen Sepang kerana kawasan itu telah menjadi tapak utama ladang babi.

[More at http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/info.asp?y=2008&dt=0410&pub=Utusan_Malaysia&sec=Muka%5FHadapan&pg=mh_02.htm]

Khalid Relinquishes Post Of PKR Sec-Gen - Bernama

SHAH ALAM, April 9 (Bernama) -- Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim said Wednesday he had relinquished the post of secretary-general of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) on Sunday at a meeting of the party.

"Correct, because at the political meeting on Sunday it was felt that the time has come for us to appoint a secretary-general who is not involved as a member of parliament and state assemblyman so that he can focus on the party," he said when asked to confirm the news report that he had relinquished the post at a press conference after the State Executive Council meeting, here Wednesday.

However, he said the top party leadership had invited him to join the political bureau, the highest bureau in the PKR besides being the Selangor PKR Liaison chairman so that he could draw up the PKR's political activities in the state.

When asked who was his successor as secretary-general, Abdul Khalid said: "Datuk Salehuddin (Hashim)."

[From http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news.php?id=325752]

Idris Declined Exco Post, Says Ahmad - Bernama

KUALA TERENGGANU, April 9 (Bernama) -- Former Terengganu menteri besar Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh declined an offer to be included in the state executive council (exco) lineup as he wanted to concentrate on looking after his constituency, Menteri Besar Datuk Ahmad Said said Wednesday.

"I made him the offer but he declined saying he wanted to concentrate on constituency matters," he said when asked by reporters if he had offered the Jertih assemblyman any post in the exco lineup.

Earlier, he had chaired the exco's first meeting at Wisma darul Aman here.

Asked about Datuk Rosol Wahid (Ajil) and Din Adam (Bukit Besi), who were formerly exco members but were made deputy chairmen of state executive committees this time around, Ahmad said: "This is normal in politics."

[From http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news.php?id=325729]

MCA Clarifies The Use Of A Photo On Election Posters - Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR, April 9 (Bernama) -- The MCA wants Tan Lian Hock, who claimed a photograph he took of his family was used by the political party without his consent in the recent general election, to make an open clarification of the whole issue.

Its Publicity Bureau deputy chief, Lee Wei Kiat, said MCA had the right to use the photograph, one of the five submitted by Tan for the MCA's 50th Merdeka Anniversary photography competition held last year, following the agreement made by Tan which among others was that all entries were non-returnable and became the property of the organizers who reserve the rights to reproduce, publish and exhibit the materials for promotional purposes.

Secondly, Tan had also broken the rules of the competition by submitting a photo that he had earlier won in the 2001 public listed company's 110th Anniversary photo competition, said Lee in a press conference here Wednesday.

He said the MCA's photography competition's rules and regulation had stated that winning works in any photo contests should not be submitted for this competition.

"The MCA would like to ask whether Tan has any motive for holding the press conference organised by DAP. As this issue affects the reputation of the MCA, we would like to invite Tan to clarify the whole issue and apologise openly to the public via a press conference," he said.

[More at http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news.php?id=325709]

Cabinet Meetings To Move To Fridays - Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR, April 9 (Bernama) -- The Cabinet meetings usually held on Wednesdays will be moved to Fridays to enable ministers to be present at parliament sittings, said Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz.

He said it also had to do with the planned 30-minute live telecasts of Parliament proceedings from the end of this month.

"Before this, during question time (Q & A) deputy ministers or parliamentary secretaries answer for ministers because they (ministers) sometimes are unable to be present.

"Now with this live telecast move, the ministers themselves will provide the answers as the people will be closely watching the proceedings," said Mohamed Nazri on the "Bersemuka Dengan Media" talk show programme on the RTM1 television channel Tuesday night.

Also appearing on the programme hosted by Ahmad Sabri were BERNAMA assistant news editor Hafizah Kamaruddin and the operator of the Agenda Daily news portal, Hanafiah Man.

Nazri said he hoped the live telecasts would make parliamentarians more careful on what they say and about their behaviour in the august House.

[More at http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news.php?id=325525]

Dispute over state pig farm project - NST

By : Neville Spykerman

SHAH ALAM: Was the proposed RM100 million pig farm in Sepang approved by the previous state government?

Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim said it was, but his predecessor Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo said his exco "had only discussed it".

"No instructions or approval were given for the project, although discussions were held by the state exco on Jan 30," said Dr Khir. He said he opposed the project because it was too large and there were objections from the community.

He added that the previous government's policy was to allow no more than 250,000 animals to be bred, to cater to the needs of the people of Selangor.

"We oppose breeding for export or for sale in other states."

Yesterday, Khalid took critics of the centralised pig farming project in Ladang Tumbuk, Kuala Langat, to task and urged them to check their facts.

Critics of the project, including non-governmental organisations, yesterday claimed the Pakatan Rakyat state government was not sensitive to the environment and called for the project to be scrapped.

[More at http://www.nst.com.my/Wednesday/Frontpage/2208372/Article/index_html]

Kedah MB cool about car plates - NST

ALOR STAR: His car number plate, which has Jawi writings on it, may be against the law but Kedah Menteri Besar Azizan Abdul Razak is unruffled by the controversy.

"We will wait for the state Road Transport Department to send us a directive.

"When we get it, we will act on it," he said when asked to comment on his officers flouting the law by adding the word "Menteri Besar Kedah Darul Aman" in Jawi on the number plate of his official car.

Meanwhile, state Road Transport Department director Jaafar Mohamad said the laws and regulations on the matter were clear.

"Everyone should just adhere to it strictly," he said.

[From http://www.nst.com.my/Wednesday/National/2208198/Article/index_html]

Karpal amused by statement - NST

KUALA LUMPUR: DAP chairman Karpal Singh said he was amused by former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's statement that he was joking during a cabinet meeting when he quoted Shakespeare as saying: "The first thing we do, we hang the lawyers."

"What he said was not a joke, he meant every word of it because he has a phobia about lawyers," he said.

In a letter to theSun yesterday, Dr Mahathir said lawyers "were angry with me" because he had quoted the phrase.

"I was only joking, but they heard of it and believed I meant what I said. The judges also felt unhappy with me."

Karpal, a senior lawyer, said Dr Mahathir repeated his feelings about lawyers on Feb 2, 2000 at a meet-the-students session in London.

He was alleged to have said that it was his private wish to "hang" errant lawyers, especially Karpal.

[More at http://www.nst.com.my/Wednesday/National/2208455/Article/index_html]

KL and Jakarta in haze pact - The Star

PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia and Indonesia are expected to sign the long-awaited memorandum of understanding (MoU) in June to tackle haze-related problems affecting the region.

Indonesian Minister of Environment Rachmat Witoelar said the progress for the signing of the MoU for collaboration between Malaysia and Indonesia in the Riau province was in its final stage.

The signing would see the implementation of zero-burning techniques, an early-warning system, and peatland management activities in collaboration with various stakeholders in Riau.

“We have a zero-burning policy and our Government will prosecute any company caught carrying out open burning,” he said at a joint press conference with Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Douglas Uggah Embas.

[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/4/9/nation/20888717&sec=nation]

Karpal: Stop public outbursts - The Star

PETALING JAYA: Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad should have retired with dignity and honour and refrained from criticising the present prime minister, DAP chairman Karpal Singh said.

He said retired prime ministers conventionally did not interfere in the performance of their successors.

After Dr Mahathir stepped down in 2003 and handed over the mantle to Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, the former should have refrained from political activity, he said.

“When the curtain falls, the wise recede into the twilight with dignity and honour. Dr Mahathir should cease his public outbursts, which have brought embarrassment upon the country and himself.

“Tunku Abdul Rahman and Tun Hussein Onn retired as gentlemen and became apolitical and respected statesmen.

“Dr Mahathir should emulate them,” Karpal Singh said in a statement yesterday.

[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/4/9/nation/20890050&sec=nation]

Theng slammed for urging Ong to step down - The Star

PETALING JAYA: The MCA Youth has slammed a party leader for urging party president Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting to step down.

The wing’s chief Datuk Liow Tiong Lai refuted a statement by Public Services and Complaints Department's head of legal advisers Datuk Theng Book that 30% of members were thinking of leaving the party because they were angry with the leadership.

“The claim is wholly unsubstantiated and absolutely unwarranted, and the roadshow 'Saving MCA' is completely out of character of the Datuk Theng we all know,” said Liow in a statement.

He said Theng had served the party for many years, and attributed the claim as a reaction to the latter being agitated for not being selected to contest in the general election.

“Should any party leader or member have better plans, they can offer their views through the proper channel.

“Meanwhile, I urge all members to exhibit their discipline and loyalty by refraining from launching accusations against one another,” he said.

[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/4/9/nation/20890880&sec=nation]

DAP member unhappy over illegal use of family photo - The Star

PENANG: An engineer is crying foul over the unauthorised use of a family photograph on a Barisan Nasional election banner during the general election.

Tan Lian Hock, a DAP member, was dumbstruck after a party member told him a photograph of his in-laws and daughter taken seven years ago had appeared on an MCA banner.

“I found out about this last Saturday. I do not know how they obtained the photograph to which I have copyright. I have lodged a police report,” Lian Hock told a press conference at Datuk Keramat assemblyman Jagdeep Singh Deo’s service centre.

Lian Hock, 45, said he was against the use of his photographs for political purposes and would be seeking legal action.

The photograph showed his father-in-law Tan Eng Tut, 62, mother-in-law Poh Lay Kee, 60, and his daughter Yin Wen, who was then two years old. Yin Wen is now nine.

It was also an award-winning photograph at the 2001 Lions Groups 110 Anniversary photo contest.

[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/4/9/nation/20890416&sec=nation]

Dr M still the man in the news – five years on - The Star

PETALING JAYA: Despite having retired five years ago, former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad is still hogging the headlines.

His name was brought up again and again and in various context yesterday – from his role and influence in Umno to alleged influence over Anti-Corruption Agency investigations.

> No interference in ACA investigations

Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail said Dr Mahathir was investigated by the police for alleged interference in ACA investigations on a senior government official in the late 1990s.

However, he was later cleared by the AG's Chambers.

> Patch up with Pak Lah call

Following Dr Mahathir's continued criticism of the leadership of the party, several Umno leaders have urged party president Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to again meet up with Dr Mahathir to patch up their differences.

The two met in October 2006 after a similar bout of criticisms from the former prime minister.

> Go gracefully, says Karpal Singh

DAP chairman Karpal Singh said Dr Mahathir should retire with dignity and honour and refrain from criticising the present Prime Minister. He said retired prime ministers did not usually interfere in the performance of their successors.

[From http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/4/9/nation/20080409071435&sec=nation]

We need to move on, Syed Hamid tells Dr M - The Star

PUTRAJAYA: Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad is no ordinary person and many Malaysians take whatever he says as the truth, said Umno supreme council member Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar.

He said that, due to this, whenever the former premier criticised the Government, it created a lot of uncertainty.

“One-third of our independence was under his rule, therefore he has become an icon for the group below 40 years,” he said.

Syed Hamid said he hoped that Dr Mahathir would not say anything that would jeopardise the future of Umno and Barisan Nasional.

“The election is over. Yes we did badly in several states, but we need to move forward, including Dr Mahathir.

“Give Pak Lah (Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi) an opportunity to build up public confidence,” he told reporters after visiting the National Anti-Drug Agency here yesterday.

[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/4/9/nation/20889593&sec=nation]

Pig farms to be relocated - The Star

TAPAH: Pig farmers have the right to a livelihood but the state government plans to relocate the farms to ensure the pigs are raised in a clean, healthy and disease-free environment.

State executive council member A. Sivanesan said the issue was sensitive and he would like to meet the farmers to work out a solution.

“We plan to relocate the farmers to a particular site where they can continue their business in a clean, healthy and JE (Japanese Encephalitis)-free environment,” said Sivanesan, who is also state Health, Environment and Human Resources Committee chairman.

There are 32 farms and 150,301 pigs in the district, which stretches from Tanjung Malim to Bidor and here. The area has the state's biggest pig-farming industry that in the past has been hit by diseases such as JE and the Nipah Virus.

Sivanesan said most of the farms were in Bidor and the stench from them could be “overbearing” at times.

“We understand it is their livelihood and we have to find a way to resolve the problem. We can’t just push them aside,” he said, adding that the industry involved many families and the market.

[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/4/9/nation/20889706&sec=nation]