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.
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Fuel hike protest in KL - Malaysiakini.tv
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.
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]
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