Gerakan Rebrands Itself to gain more support! - TheStarOnline.tv

Gerakan Acting President Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon launched a rebranding exercise in conjunction with the party's 40th anniversary on Sunday.

Najib Tells People To Make Unity Main National Agenda - Bernama

PUTRAJAYA, May 25 (Bernama) -- Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak Sunday launched National Unity Month with a call to the people to make unity the main national agenda, saying it was an important basis for a nation's success.

The deputy prime minister said the people were not prohibited from having differences of opinion but they should express them with consideration.

"They must be aware of the racial sensitivities. They must not hurt the feelings of other communities. They must ensure that their demands are reasonable," he said at the launch at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre, here.

Najib said every community would not necessarily get to fulfill all its demands, and must continue to maintain a give-and-take attitude.

The very existence of the Federal Constitution reflected the spirit of compromise and placed unity as the main basis of the nation, he said.

Najib said the spirit of consensus among the people was clearly evident, for example, in the presence of vernacular schools which did not exist in Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia.

Speaking to reporters later, Najib said unity among the people was getting more resolute.

He said the concept of "bangsa Malaysia" (Malaysian race) was in the minds of the people regardless of race because the people regarded an individual based on his or her nobility of character rather than racial background.

[More at http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v3/news.php?id=335290]

Stay Away From Middle Rocks For A While - Najib - Bernama

PUTRAJAYA, May 25 (Bernama) -- Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak Sunday advised Malaysians to stay away from Middle Rocks for a while until further advice from the government.

He said the country's technical committee was still preparing the recommendations, following the International Court of Justice ruling on Friday that Malaysia had sovereignty over Middle Rocks and the recommendations were expected to be ready in two weeks' time.

"The best thing is, wait for the technical committee to come up with its recommendations and then we will advise accordingly.

"Otherwise, there will be some confusion on the ground," he told reporters after launching the national-level Unity Month Celebration at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre here.

Najib was asked to comment on conflicting news reports that local fishermen could now operate freely in the waters off Middle Rocks while another news report advised them to stay away from Middle Rocks for the time being.

[More at http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v3/news.php?id=335280]

‘Sexy’ school uniforms to stay - The Star

By Meera Vijayan

PALOH: The Education Minister dismissed talk that the current uniform worn by girls in government schools, which has been in use for decades, was too “sexy” and that it contributed to rape and other immoral acts.

Datuk Seri Hishamuddin Tun Hussein said the uniform would probably not change much in the next few years.

He said that he personally felt it was unfair to blame the students or their uniforms for sexual crimes committed against them.

“It is unfair to punish women and children for the clothes they wear for the act of the rapist,” he said, adding that he could not allow such stereotyping to continue.

“Clothing is not the main consideration for those who commit despicable acts like these,” he said, in reference to the National Islamic Students Association of Malaysia’s condemnation of the uniform for being too sexy.

[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/5/25/nation/20080525133437&sec=nation]

Government to review fuel subsidy - The Star

PEKAN: The Government will review its fuel subsidy as the global crude oil prices had pushed subsidy costs beyond its budget for development programmes.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said yesterday the Government was looking for appropriate measures to ensure the increase of fuel prices will not burden the lower and middle-income groups as well as not cause the price of other goods to increase.

He added that the Cabinet Committee on Inflation would meet on Tuesday to find ways on what would be the best measures to solve the problem.

Najib said it was hoped the outcome from the meeting would be the new model for government subsidies.

In principle, it will be appropriately applied to the lower-income group while the higher-income group or those who used more fuel would have to pay more, he said.

“Currently there is no indication that fuel prices will go down and once the price is down, the Government will review again,” he said after witnessing the ceremony of the “berkhatan”, “berkhatam al-Quran” and “bertindik” for students in SK Sri Maulana, Kampong Pulau Jawa.

[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/5/25/nation/21359168&sec=nation]

Dr Mahathir on loyalty to party and Umno chief - The Star

PETALING JAYA: Criticising or pressuring the Umno president to step down does not mean one is disloyal to the party, said former party president Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Dr Mahathir went on to question the rationale of some claims that those who were not loyal to current president Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi were not loyal to Umno.

“Is Umno Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and is Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi Umno?

“Only those with individualistic interest will spread and support the concept that Umno is Datuk Seri Abdullah and not being loyal to Abdullah meant that members were not being loyal to Umno,” he said in his latest blog posting at www.chedet.com on Friday.

Dr Mahathir also cited past incidences where Umno leaders disagreed with the party presidency due to their loyalty to the party.

“Tun Razak and several Umno leaders disagreed with Yang di-Pertua Umno Datuk Onn Jaafar’s suggestion to open to all races which eventually caused Datuk Onn to back down.

“In 1969-1971, they also disagreed with Tunku Abdul Rahman’s leadership in the party and he stepped down. But does this mean that they did not love the party or were disloyal to it?” he asked.

[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/5/25/nation/21347400&sec=nation]