JOHOR BAHRU 11 April – Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi hari ini mengumumkan pertukaran nama dan logo Wilayah Pembangunan Iskandar (WPI) kepada Iskandar Malaysia.
Menurutnya, Iskandar dipilih sempena nama Sultan Johor dan penggunaannya berkuat kuasa serta-merta.
‘‘Bermula sekarang ia bukan lagi WPI tetapi Iskandar Malaysia,” katanya selepas mempengerusikan Mes- yuarat Keempat Pihak Berkuasa Wilayah Pembanguan Iskandar (IRDA) di sini hari ini.
Beliau berkata, nama baru itu akan memudahkan lagi sebutannya di kalangan pelabur terutama rakyat asing berbanding sebutan lama.
‘‘Ia lebih baik lagi kerana jika WPI, orang tertanya-tanya apa itu WPI, tetapi Iskandar tentu tidak akan timbul lagi persoalannya,” katanya.
Iskandar Malaysia merupakan pusat pertumbuhan ekonomi mega di atas kawasan seluas 2,217 kilometer persegi di selatan Johor dan telah dilancarkan oleh Perdana Menteri pada 4 November 2006.
Projek berharga RM47 bilion itu bakal direalisasikan oleh Khazanah Nasional Berhad yang dilantik oleh kerajaan bagi membangunkan Iskandar Malaysia sehingga tahun 2025.
[From http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/info.asp?y=2008&dt=0412&pub=Utusan_Malaysia&sec=Muka%5FHadapan&pg=mh_06.htm]
Friday, April 11, 2008
WPI kini Iskandar Malaysia - Utusan
Najib comments on heist - TheStarOnline.tv
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak wants all airports in the country to be regarded as high security areas at all times. He spoke to reporters after a mock cheque presentation at Felda on Friday.
Selangor To Proceed With Pig Farm Project In Tumbuk - Bernama
KUALA SELANGOR, April 11 (Bernama) -- The integrated pig farm project in Kampung Tumbuk in Kuala Langat will proceed as planned despite objections from several residents, said Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim.
He said the Pakatan Rakyat (People's Alliance) government felt that it was better to proceed with the project as the existing farming practices produced stench and posed danger to public health such as the spread of Japanese Encephalitis virus.
"The state government has secured the site and it will take time if we are to find another place," he told reporters after meeting youths in Ijok state constituency.
He said if the government decided to close all pig-rearing farms in Selangor, it would mean that it was not being considerate to the interest of other communities.
A modern and environmental-friendly pig farming system was therefore needed, he said.
He claimed that the decision had been studied by the previous Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohamad Khir Toyo and supported by the MCA.
Abdul Khalid also said that he was of the views that certain media organisations were exploiting the issue to create friction between races and between him and the previous menteri besar.
[More at http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news.php?id=326268]
Abdullah To Discuss Power Transition With Najib - Bernama
JOHOR BAHARU, April 11 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi will discuss with his deputy, Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Razak, the transition of power to the latter, said Umno vice-president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin Friday.
He said Abdullah had told the closed-door meeting with the Johor Umno Liaison Body here that he would discuss in detail the power transition plan with Najib, who is also Umno deputy president.
"The period of transition and so on were not mentioned in detail... matters such as when the transition will take place and so on will be discussed between him (Abdullah) and Datuk Seri Najib," Muhyiddin told reporters after attending the meeting at a hotel, here.
He said Abdullah had previously stated openly that Najib would succeed him as Prime Minister.
Abdullah, who is also the Umno president, had announced at the Briefing by the Umno President for the party's information machinery at the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC) in Kuala Lumpur last Saturday that Najib would be his successor and he would hand over the post when it was time.
Muhyiddin, who is also the Pagoh Umno division head, said that at the meeting, Abdullah explained issues that were raised concerning the last general election such as the factors for the defeat, support of the non-Malay voters and the young voters.
[More at http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news.php?id=326258]
MCA Slams PAS On Islamic State Issue - Bernama
KUALA LUMPUR, April 11 (Bernama) -- Malaysia is not an Islamic state under the Federal Constitution and it should never become one, MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting said Friday.
He said MCA held firm to the constitution and would not tolerate any Pas statement on turning the country into an Islamic state.
Such a statement, he added, was not only unacceptable and dangerous to the multiracial society but also breached the constitution.
"MCA is totally against it. Our forefathers have already discussed and agreed that all different races would be accommodated. So, we will hold firm to the spirit of the constitution," Ong told reporters after chairing the Presidential Council meeting at Wisma MCA here.
He was commenting on PAS deputy spiritual leader Datuk Dr Haron Din's statement in the party's mouthpiece, Harakah Daily that PAS would amend the constitution and turn Malaysia into an Islamic state if it held control of the federal government.
To a question that when similar issues arose last year and both Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and his deputy, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak had said that Malaysia was an Islamic country, Ong replied:
"No matter who used what term to discuss about Malaysia, they can't change the fact that the constitution protects people of other faiths. I think we should not debate this. This is clearly stated in the constitution".
[More at http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news.php?id=326248]
魏家祥：回教党言论极端 - Sin Chew Daily
（吉隆坡）马青总秘书魏家祥博士强调，马青严厉拒绝回教党长老协商理事会副主席拿督哈仑丁“促请该党支持者忍耐等候回教党取得中央执政权后就实行回教刑事法”的极端言论。
魏家祥发表文告说，他在查阅联邦宪法制定过程的原始资料后，坚定地认为大马是一个世俗国，这也是参与草擬与制定联邦宪法先贤们的共同原意及建国契约。
当时，由马华、巫统及国大党组成的联盟达成制定宪法的共识。在联盟呈给李特宪制委员会（Reid Commission）的备忘录（志期1956年9月27日，第19页）中清楚指出︰马来西亚的国教虽是回教，但非回教徒国民在信仰与奉行各自宗教时不受到任何限制，以及我国是个世俗国。
回教只用於官方仪式
李特宪制委员会的1957年报告书没有列明回教是联合邦宗教的条文。当时，来自巴基斯坦的委员会成员之一，阿都哈密大法官则同意联盟的宪制建议，他认为將回教列为联合邦宗教的条文是“无伤大雅”的，因为回教只用於官方仪式而已。
魏家祥说，紧接著由联盟、州统治者与英殖民地最高专员组成的三方工作会谈更进一步地指出我国是个世俗国。
由东姑阿都拉曼、敦拉萨、敦翁毓麟、敦善班丹等参与的第1次三方工作会谈（1957年2月22日），联盟就指出大马是个世俗国。第19次的三方工作会谈（1957年4月17日）会议记录也清楚记载东姑阿都拉曼的声明，即整个宪法的草擬是以联合邦是个世俗国而制定。
[More at http://www.sinchew.com.my/node/61496]
Abdullah Akui Beliau Antara Penyebab BN Kehilangan Undi - Bernama
JOHOR BAHARU, 11 April (Bernama) -- Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi mengakui beliau merupakan di antara faktor yang telah menyebabkan Barisan Nasional (BN) kehilangan undi pada pilihan raya umum ke-12 bulan lepas.
Abdullah yang juga Presiden Umno berkata, disebabkan perkara tersebut beliau merasakan bertanggungjawab untuk berbuat sebaik-baiknya bagi memulihkan BN dan Umno.
"Saya merasakan saya adalah penyebab kepada `pembuangan undi' (undi tidak diberikan) kepada Barisan Nasional. Dan saya merasakan bertanggungjawab untuk membuat sebaiknya-baiknya untuk memulihkan BN dan Umno," katanya kepada pemberita di sini hari ini.
Perdana Menteri berkata demikian kepada pemberita selepas mengadakan pertemuan lebih dua jam dengan Badan Perhubungan Umno Johor yang diketuai oleh Menteri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman.
Turut hadir pada pertemuan itu ialah Menteri Perdagangan Antarabangsa dan Industri Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin yang juga Naib Presiden Umno, Menteri Dalam Negeri Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar, Menteri Pengajian Tinggi Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin dan Menteri Perdagangan Dalam Negeri dan Hal Ehwal Pengguna Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad.
Ketua Pemuda Umno Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein tidak hadir kerana Menteri Pelajaran itu kini berada di Paris atas urusan rasmi kerajaan.
Perdana Menteri berkata, beliau memahami banyak perkara dan antaranya ialah perubahan-perubahan yang telah dijanjikan kepada rakyat sebelum ini tetapi masih belum ditunaikan oleh kerajaan sehingga kini.
[More at http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/bm/news.php?id=326188]
Malaysia: Ruling Party Requires Members To Have Campaign Blogs - AP
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA: Candidates contesting some posts in Malaysia's ruling party will be required to set up blogs, an official said Friday (11 Apr) in a surprising turnaround for governing politicians who until recently derided online political writing as lies and rumors.
Abdul Rahman Dahlan, secretary general of the United Malays National Organization party's youth wing, said all those vying for national youth posts must have blogs to introduce themselves and their programs ahead of party elections in December.
"All candidates must have blogs," Abdul Rahman told The Associated Press. "If not, they are not qualified to be leaders."
In the past, party politicians have accused bloggers of spreading lies and rumors. Many of Malaysia's blogs contain critical commentary on the government.
But now, even youth deputy chief Khairy Jamaluddin - who once compared bloggers to monkeys living by the law of the jungle - has a blog.
The decision appeared aimed at countering heavy losses that the ruling National Front coalition suffered in last month's general elections, partly because they underestimated the power of online campaigning. The United Malays National Party dominates the coalition.
[More at http://www.mysinchew.com/node/9822]
Malaysia launches armed airport patrols after shootout - AFP
Malaysian police have introduced armed patrols of the capital's main airport after a dramatic robbery that left five people injured in a hail of bullets, reports said Friday.
The robbers, who ambushed two money changers and their security guard outside the departure hall, escaped with more than a million dollars in cash in Wednesday's incident which highlighted Malaysia's rising crime rate.
Police chief Musa Hassan said armed personnel would patrol the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) departure and arrival halls around the clock.
"The move is to provide extra security at KLIA," he said according to the New Straits Times, adding that he had already proposed tighter security measures a month ago.
The daily said the shootout sent scores of people running for cover as more than 50 shots were fired, shattering large glass panels at the front of the building.
Separately, Transport Minister Ong Tee Keat said that three airport staff had been suspended over a security breach that saw a Bangladeshi man board a plane with a knife that he pulled out mid-flight, causing panic among passengers.
[More at http://news.id.msn.com/regional/article.aspx?cp-documentid=1336190]
Kedah and Penang Umno leaders want changes at the top - The Star
By Zarinah Daud and Sira Habibu
PENANG: Umno leaders here and in Kedah have told the party management committee that the leadership needs to be changed in order to save the party.
The 250 division, Wanita, Youth and Puteri leaders in Kedah at a meeting held in Sungai Petani even went as far as to suggest who should take over as the party’s number one and number two.
“Umno is running out of time and a change is needed soon,” said a party member who was at the closed-door meeting yesterday.
The three-hour meeting was conducted by the party’s management committee headed by Umno deputy president Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak. It is part of a post-mortem exercise undertaken by the party after the poor showing in the March 8 general election.
Another division chief said it was a free-for-all session and the committee told them to speak frankly.
Some leaders also called on party leaders to stop “attacking” Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and for the committee to end the “expose” against the former Prime Minister in the media.
[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/4/11/nation/20921341&sec=nation]
Shot cop to be questioned - The Star
By Andrew Sagayam
KUALA LUMPUR: The policeman who was shot three times in the heist at the KL International Airport will be questioned over the incident.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan said they would talk to L/Kpl Zainuddin Mat Isa, 39, to gather more information on the RM3.5mil robbery near the departure hall.
“The policeman is now warded at the Putrajaya Hospital and we will record his statement as soon as he recovers,” Musa said, adding that a manhunt has been launched for the robbers.
L/Kpl Zainuddin, from the CID division of the Putrajaya district police headquarters, was shot in his left thigh and in both hands.
Musa also said that he had ordered the Internal Security and Public Order Department to beef up police presence at KLIA.
“There will be 12 General Operations Force personnel on 24-hour guard at the departure and arrival halls at the airport,” he added after signing a memorandum of understanding between Universiti Malaysia and the police on crime and law courses for police officers in Bukit Aman yesterday.
[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/4/11/nation/20917817&sec=nation]
DAP man refuses to apologise - The Star
PENANG: A DAP member has refused to apologise to MCA for accusing it of using his photographs without his permission.
Engineer Tan Lian Hock, 45, said yesterday: ”Why should I apologise? As far as I know, I did not sign anything or give them the permission to use my family photograph on a Barisan Nasional election banner.
He was commenting on a newspaper report on yesterday that MCA wanted him to apologise for allegedly tarnishing the party’s image by making unwarranted accusations.
MCA Publicity Bureau deputy chief Lee Wei Kiat was quoted as saying that Tan was one of the participants in the MCA’s “50th Merdeka Anniversary Celebration” photography competition and had signed and agreed to the terms and conditions stated in the entry form.
[From http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/4/11/nation/20916336&sec=nation]
Pak Lah: Quota system to stay for Umno polls - The Star
PUTRAJAYA: The quota system will be maintained for the Umno elections in December, said Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
The Umno president said the 30% quota of support from divisions for the president’s post, 20% for deputy president and 10% for vice-presidents would stay despite calls for its abolishment by some party members.
The party’s supreme council had decided that it would be maintained, Abdullah said after chairing a meeting of the National Council on Islamic Religious Affairs here yesterday.
Asked if he would meet former president Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad to settle their differences which were made public recently, Abdullah replied: “We will see if there is a need.”
He also advised members to carry out campaigning in a proper manner now that campaigning for party posts was allowed.
“Campaigning is one way to introduce candidates vying for party posts. Now that it is allowed, it is important that the campaigning is done ethically and systematically,” he said.
[From http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/4/11/nation/20921078&sec=nation]
Pakatan Rakyat will not push for no-confidence vote, says Anwar - The Star
By Shahanaaz Habib and Raslan Sharif
PETALING JAYA: Pakatan Rakyat will not push for a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in Parliament for now.
Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who was instrumental in putting together the Pakatan Rakyat coalition of PKR, DAP and PAS, said for the moment the issue did not arise.
We don’t find it a necessity nor critical,” he said, adding that the leaders of the three Pakatan Rakyat parties would continue to monitor and discuss the situation closely.
There has been talk that the Opposition would try to move a vote of no-confidence against Abdullah when Parliament convenes later this month.
Anwar, who will be eligible to hold public office again from April 15 after a five-year ban, said he was in no rush to get back into the fray.
Saying this was not a priority, he said he did not expect to contest in a by-election “in the next few months.”
[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/4/11/nation/20917753&sec=nation]
Case closed, says A-G on ACA probe into Dr M - NST
PUTRAJAYA: Unless new evidence emerges on whether Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad interfered in a 1998 case involving a government official, investigations remain closed.
Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail said there had been no new development to date since the report against Dr Mahathir was lodged with the Anti-Corruption Agency in 2000.
"The probe against him will not be reopened unless there are further developments justifying a re-investigation," he said yesterday.
Gani was asked to comment on calls to reopen investigations on the former prime minister who was alleged to have abused his power by ordering a halt to the investigation of a senior official of the Economic Planning Unit in 1998.
"The decision made by the former Attorney-General (the late Tan Sri Mohtar Abdullah) to close the case remains. So please understand, let the matter rest," he said.
"However, if there is new evidence, then we will reconsider. If you can come up with some further evidence, I am very obliged," he added.
[More at http://www.nst.com.my/Friday/National/2210657/Article/index_html]
KLIA Heist: CCTVs not switched on during shoot-out - NST
KUALA LUMPUR: The closed-circuit television cameras outside the Kuala Lumpur International Airport departure hall were not switched on during the shoot-out.
And it was also revealed that the off-duty policeman, who was initially thought to have been caught in the crossfire, was involved in the shoot-out with the gunmen.
The policeman, however, was hit twice and his police-issued semi-automatic pistol was taken by the gunmen.
Federal Criminal Investigation Department director Datuk Mohd Bakri Zinin said checks showed the CCTVs were switched on again after the five-minute shoot-out.
"It has hampered police investigations. We were hoping that the footages from the CCTVs could have provided us with information about the gunmen," Bakri said.
"What's the point of having CCTVs if they are not switched on? It is not for decorative purposes."
Bakri declined to elaborate on the matter but said police were working on several leads, including photofits of the suspects, based on eye-witness accounts.
[More at http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Friday/Frontpage/2210531/Article]
'Tourism plans will include 5 Pakatan states' - NST
KUALA LUMPUR: The five Pa-katan Rakyat-led states will not be sidelined from their share of tourism development, said Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman.
She said events planned for these states would continue.
Azalina said Penang and Langkawi were the priorities for her ministry.
"We have investors of five- and six-star hotels in Lang-kawi, and Penang is one of the main tourist states," she said after meeting state Tourism Action Council heads at her office here yesterday.
Between January and December 2006, hotel guests in all five states were between 770,000 and 4.6 million.
Penang and Kedah topped the list among the five states with 4.6 million and four million hotel guests respectively, and the Malaysian Hotel Association had stated that the number of hotel guests grew by 30 per cent every year.
In addition, the states also enjoyed good revenue from tourism programmes and events.
[More at http://www.nst.com.my/Friday/National/2210595/Article/index_html]
DAP, MCA all for setting up of judicial commission - NST
KUALA LUMPUR: The MCA and DAP have come out in support of the call for the setting up of a commission to handle judicial appointments and promotions of judges.
MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting said it was clear from the results of the last general election that judicial integrity and independence was among the critical issues hindering the Barisan Nasional.
"This move will promote transparency in the appointment of judges as only the person of the highest calibre and integrity will be promoted.
"We also call upon the appointment of more good, multiracial practising lawyers," he said yesterday.
Ong said the party supported the separation of powers among the executive, judiciary and legislature.
"Judges in civil courts must have the wisdom and courage to give decisions in accordance with the secular nature of the constitution.
"They must be colour blind when deciding on cases, not influenced by personal beliefs and bend to pressures of extremist thinking," he said.
[More at http://www.nst.com.my/Friday/National/2210654/Article/index_html]
