KUALA LUMPUR, June 7 ─ Chief Justice Datuk Seri Abdul Hamid Mohamad, former Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Dr Ahmad Sarji Abdul Hamid and Gerakan adviser Datuk Seri Dr Lim Keng Yaik have been conferred the "Tun" title in conjunction with the birthday of Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin today.
Abdul Hamid, 66, and Ahmad Sarji and Dr Lim, both 69, who were bestowed the Seri Setia Mahkota Malaysia (SSM), top the list of 1,862 people who receive federal awards, decorations and medals.
Squash queen and world No. 1 Nicol David, 24, has been honoured with the Order of Merit and becomes the first recipient of the award given to Malaysians who are renowned at national and international levels.
Established on June 26, 1975, the award is limited to 10 recipients who have made significant contributions in the arts, science and humanity.
Wanita Umno chief and former International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Rafidah Aziz, 64, receives the Panglima Mangku Negara (PMN), which carries the "Tan Sri" title.
Thirty people have been bestowed the Panglima Setia Mahkota (PSM), which also carries the "Tan Sri" title.
[More at http://malaysianinsider.com/mni/cj-ahmad-sarji-keng-yaik-made-%E2%80%98tun%E2%80%99.html]
Saturday, June 7, 2008
CJ, Ahmad Sarji, Keng Yaik made ‘Tun’ - The Malaysian Insider
Birthday parade for King - TheStarOnline.tv
Malaysia's King Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin celebrates his birthday with his Queen, ministers and his people at Dataran Merdeka Saturday.
Electricity Tariffs In Sarawak To Stay Despite Fuel Price Increase - Bernama
LIMBANG, June 7 (Bernama) -- Electricity tariffs in Sarawak will stay despite the increase in fuel price since Wednesday, State Second Minister of Planning and Resource Management, Datuk Seri Awang Tengah Ali Hasan said here Saturday.
He said there had been no proposal yet from state-owned electricity company, Sesco Sdn Bhd, for a review of the current tariffs implemented since April last year.
"All this while, Sesco has had no subsidy (to purchase fuel for its electricity generation plant). We always procure the fuel based on the market price," he added when met after closing a three-day "Pesta Babulang," a festival organised by the Bisaya community in Batu Danau, here.
He admitted that Sesco could not depend entirely on fossil fuel to generate electricity following the unstable world price for oil, and had been actively exploring the potential of hydroelectric power in the state.
"We will continue to develop hydroelectric power in Sarawak as we have a lot of potential for it. We are also trying to develop a hybrid system (for power generation)," he said.
[From http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news.php?id=338002]
Malay Unity At Its Lowest - Zahid - Bernama
KUALA LUMPUR, June 7 (Bernama) -- Malay unity is presently at its lowest level, said Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
"Unlike previously, the Malays do not have a common direction and because of this, some groups have raised issues which are no longer relevant like Malay supremacy," Zahid told reporters at the graduation of silat trainees under the Silat Cekak Association of Malaysia held at the International Islamic University, near here, Saturday.
He said the Malays were not asking more than what had been stated in the Federal Constitution nor did they want to deny other races of their rights.
"We just want to defend our rights," said Zahid.
He added that the Malays had also lost their political power, based on their representation in parliament and recent incidents in Selangor and Perak.
He urged the silat members to play their role in uniting the Malays, saying that the art of self-defence like silat should be used to show their love for the country.
[More at http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news.php?id=337996]
PM: Get true picture of global oil price hikes - The Star
KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said he hoped the people would obtain the correct information on the global fuel price increase phenomenon so they could understand what the country was facing.
Each and every one of us has a role and responsibility in facing these trying times. “As such, let’s face this challenge together with resilience for the greater good of the nation and our future generations,” he said.
The Prime Minister said this in his speech Saturday at an investiture held in conjunction with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s birthday at Istana Negara.
“The Government has held out for as long as possible to protect the people from fuel price increases but the price of oil has risen steeply and rapidly in the world market,” he said.
Abdullah said that in January 2007, the price of crude oil in the world market was only around US$50 (RM164.50) a barrel.
Now, 18 months later, it had risen to almost US$130 (RM427.70) a barrel and analysts were predicting it would continue to rise up to US$200 (RM658) a barrel, he said. The Prime Minister also said the Government was aware the fuel price increases had caused uneasiness and worry among the population.
[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/6/7/nation/20080607171312&sec=nation]
Ipoh cabbies impose RM1 surcharge - The Star
By Sylvia Looi
IPOH: In an act of defiance, the city’s 1,200 taxi drivers will impose a RM1 surcharge on top of the RM4 minimum fare here.
Ipoh City Taxi Operators Association secretary Leong Yew said that the cabbies from 15 associations had unanimously agreed to the surcharge from Saturday.
“We have no choice but to impose the surcharge as the petrol price has increase by 40%,” he told a press conference at the association's premises here.
The association's members, he added, had also agreed that they would charge an additional 20% for trips exceeding 10km.
Leong said besides the increase in fuel prices, taxi drivers also had to put up with the spiralling prices of batteries, tyres and spare parts.
The drivers’ decision came despite a warning from Entrepreneur and Cooperative Development Minister Datuk Noh Omar that recalcitrant taxi drivers would have their permits revoked if they raised fares.
[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/6/7/nation/20080607161407&sec=nation]
Tuanku Mizan cautions against rising food prices, urges lifestyle change - The Star
KUALA LUMPUR: Be patient and prudent in facing the possible rise in food prices resulting from the recent fuel price hike.
And if necessary, Malaysians should change their lifestyle to help reduce the impact of the price increases on them.
This was the advice given by Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin in his address telecast by Radio Television Malaysia in conjunction with his birthday today.
“I acknowledge that a rise in prices puts great pressure on the livelihood of the people.
“Nevertheless, I hope that the people will exercise patience and prudence in facing the situation,” he said.
Tuanku Mizan hoped that the Government would monitor the situation and take every measure to ensure that the problem could be controlled and overcome.
[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/6/7/nation/21487841&sec=nation]
