Latest

Thursday, June 5, 2008

Fuel hike protest in KL - Malaysiakini.tv



Some 50 people gathered in Jalan Pasar, Kuala Lumpur, this morning to protest the sharp hike in fuel prices which came into effect at the stroke of midnight.

The peaceful protest attracted a huge crowd of onlookers who cheered from the sidelines and many gave the thumbs up in approval.

Amirul Qualifies For Beijing Olympics - Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR, June 5 (Bernama) -- Weightlifter Amirul Hamizam Ibrahim has qualified for the Beijing Olympics in August.

This was decided by the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) which allows those ranked in the top 15 in the world to compete at the Olympiad.

Malaysian Weightlifting Association secretary Lt Com Suhaimi Khamis said the decision was based on Amirul's performance when he finished 6th among the top 15 finishers at the Asian Weightlifting Championship in Japan last April.

Amirul came in fourth in the 56kg category with a lift of 121kg in the Snatch and 141kg in the Clean & Jerk.

"I received the IWF decision by e-mail today. I am proud of Amirul and hope he can give his best in Beijing," he told Bernama here Thursday.

Amirul would have to undergo intensive training, he said, adding that the venue for the training would depend on the discussions with the National Sports Council (NSC).

When contacted, Amirul said he was happy to be chosen to represent the country to the Olympic Games.

[More at http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news.php?id=337676]

Free Water Issue Resolved - Selangor MB - Bernama

SHAH ALAM, June 5 (Bernama) -- Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim said the stalemate over the free water concession for the state's people had been resolved.

"We have resolved it. By tomorrow, we will settle it and I think Syabas (Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd) will implement the move," he told reporters after attending the presentation of sponsorships for the Sultan of Selangor Cup 2008 football tournament, here Thursday.

On Syabas' claim that it had not receive any written instruction on the matter from the state government, Abdul Khalid said: "This is because of the question of who issues the letter of instruction to Syabas. It is because we have been pursuing the matter through Kumpulan Darul Ehsan Berhad (KDEB)."

It is learned that KDEB, the financial arm of the state government, which has been entrusted to restructure water industry management in Selangor would issue the letter to Syabas Friday.

Meanwhile, former Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohamad Khir Toyo has asked the state government to honour its election promise by resolving the stalemate with Syabas over the free water.

"I hope the squabbles between Syabas and the state government will not affect the people," he told reporters after the Umno Supreme Council retreat at a hotel here Thursday.

[More at http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news.php?id=337661]

Sanusi not quitting as IIU head - The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: Tan Sri Sanusi Junid will not step down as president of the International Islamic University, a post he considers as part of his “duty to God and service to the people.”

In his second term now and with two more years to serve, the former Kedah Mentri Besar said he also had no intention of using the position to pursue a personal political agenda.

Sanusi said there was speculation over his post after he resigned from Umno together with former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad on May 19.

He was commenting on a June 1 statement by Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Khalid Nordin that there was no reason for his services to be terminated unless he played politics at the campus.

He also said he regretted Anti-Corruption Agency's investigating IIUM Holdings Sdn Bhd a day after he campaigned for Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir, the Umno candidate for the Jerlun parliamentary constituency during the last general election.

[From http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/6/5/nation/20080605210509&sec=nation]

Reconsider decision, urges Wan Azizah - The Star

PETALING JAYA: Calling the fuel price hike "disappointing and unacceptable", Opposition leader Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said the effects of the increase would be seen in the increase of consumer goods.

In a statement issued Thursday, she urged the Government to reconsider its decision to increase the price of petrol as people spend 25% of their income on transportation.

" After paying quite high tax for cars and toll fees, we are now burdened with the high price of petrol, " she said.

She added that the statements on the petrol subsidy issued by several ministers were conflicting.

According to Domestic Trade and Consumers Affairs Minister Datuk Shahrir Samad, the subsidy from petrol is RM56bil while Second Finance Minister Tan Sri Nor Mohamad Yakcop said that it was RM28bil and it was RM12bil from the Government Financial report 2007. " Therefore, we estimate that the petrol subsidy could be between RM8bil and RM10bil, " she said.

She said the cost of exploration by the oil companies is US$30 a barrel compared to US$130 of the price of oil.

[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/6/5/nation/20080605143735&sec=nation]

Fuel price hike: Subsidy still in force

By : Deborah Loh

PUTRAJAYA: The pump price for petrol is now RM2.70 per litre and diesel RM2.58 a litre following a cut in the fuel subsidy.
The increase of 78 sen per litre for petrol and RM1 a litre for diesel still leaves their prices 30 sen below the market rate.

Announcing the hike, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said a 30-sen subsidy per litre will prevail on pump prices, and will be used as an “automatic adjuster” in tandem with fluctuations in the world oil price.

The government will make the adjustments monthly.

To cushion the price increase, cash rebates will be given to owners of cars and motorcycles, based on engine capacity, through post offices from July 1.
These rebates will be given to owners of vehicles with road tax renewed between April 1 this year and March 31 next year.

Those who have already paid their road tax should produce their vehicle registration details at a post office and Pos Malaysia will issue them a money order.

Vehicles with large engine capacities will be levied a lower road tax from June 1.

The rebates will cost the government about RM5 million this year.

[More at http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Thursday/Frontpage/20080605082202/Article/index_html]

Electricity rates go up - The Star

PUTRAJAYA: Less than half of the Malaysian households will be affected by the new electricity tariffs that were announced together with the increase in fuel prices yesterday.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said 59% of Malaysian households would pay the same rates as before the tariff hike, so long as they maintain their usage rates.

“The new tariff will not affect those who only use 200 kilowatts/hour (kWh) and below every month. Their estimated monthly bill should be less than RM43.60 a month,” he said in a statement released to reporters when he announced the increase in petrol prices here.

Old and New Electricity Tariffs


He said a new tariff structure would be announced soon for Sabah and Sarawak.

As for commercial and industrial consumers, Abdullah said their rates would see a 26% increase.

[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/6/5/nation/21463773&sec=nation]

The Sun Front Page (5/6)

Read this doc on Scribd: The Sun Malaysia Cover (5 June 2008)

The nation’s FREE newspaper 30 sen for delivery to your doorstep MEMBER AUDIT BUREAU OF CIRCULATIONS (MALAYSIA) 275,000 COPIES DAILY Award winning newspaper for public service reporting and opinion writing. No. 4527 PP 2644/12/2008 (020369) Thursday June 5, 2008 TELLING IT AS IT IS www.sun2surf.com » Obama wins nomination pg10 » Black for more laughs pg26 Days to kickoff by Llew-Ann Phang newsdesk@thesundaily.com PUTRAJAYA: In a move that caught many unawares, the government increased fuel prices by the highest margins to date with effect from midnight last night. At the same time, it also gave cash rebates to the owners of vehicles and motorcycles in certain categories. The price of premium leaded petrol (RON97) has gone up by 78 sen to RM2.70 a litre, and the price of diesel has risen by RM1 to RM2.58 a litre. There is no change in the prices of natural gas for vehicles (NGV) and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). At a late afternoon press conference to announce details of the cabinet’s decision on a new subsidy management plan, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi also disclosed a revised tariff structure for electricity in the peninsula that will take effect on July 1 (see table on Page 2). The immediate increase in the petrol and diesel prices took many by surprise as there had been earlier reports that they will go up only in August, but they are still lower than the speculated price of RM4 a litre and still among the cheapest in Asia. The administration will ease the pinch on the pockets of the consumers with an annual cash rebate of RM625 for those who own cars of up to 2,000cc, and pick-up trucks and jeeps of up to 2,500cc. A rebate of RM150 is also given to owners of motorcycles of 250cc and below. These cash rebates are for vehicles and motorcycles with road tax valid from April 1 this year to March 31 next year, the seemingly jovial premier said, adding that they will be handed out in the form of money orders at post offices nationwide from July 1. The owners of cars, pick-up trucks and jeeps with higher engine capacities will be given a RM200 discount on their road tax, and those who own motorcycles of higher than 250cc will enjoy a road tax discount of RM50. Almost immediately after the announcement, those who heard the news through the grapevine began converging at petrol stations nationwide to fill up their tanks, causing traffic congestions. Before announcing the new prices, Abdullah explained to a packed meeting room in his office the prices would be reviewed on a monthly basis subject to the world market prices. “However, the government has chosen a Petrol Diesel » » » NEW ELECTRICITY TARIFF FROM JULY 1 78 sen RM1 SHARIL AMIN/THESUN RM625 ANNUAL CASH REBATE FOR CARS UP TO 2,000cc AND PICK-UP TRUCKS AND JEEPS UP TO 2,500cc RM150 ANNUAL CASH REBATE FOR MOTORCYCLES UP TO 250cc » Turn to Page 2 Cars queue up for petrol before the price increase at midnight last night.