PM: New Economic Model to benefit all - The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: The New Economic Model (NEM) unveiled by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak Tuesday will generate benefits for all Malaysians, irrespective of race under its inclusive growth goal and approach.

The pro-poor growth warrants that no groups be marginalised and the essential needs of the people will be satisfied, according to the NEM.

Under the NEM, inclusiveness will enable all communities to contribute to and share in the wealth of the country.

t points out that a key challenge of inclusive growth is the design of effective measures that strike a balance between the special position of the Bumiputera and legitimate interests of different groups.

While saying that ethnically divide societies are more prone to violent conflicts, NEM emphasises that the multi-racial composition of the Malaysian population is still its outstanding feature and this ethnic diversity will always be with us.

As such, the market-friendly affirmative action programmes in line with the principle of inclusiveness will target assistance to the bottom 40 per cent of households, of whom 77.2 per cent are Bumiputra and many are located in Sabah and Sarawak, and ensure equitable and fair opportunities through transparent processes.

It also allows access to resources on the basis of needs and merit to enable improvement in capacity, incomes and well-being, and has sound intellectual frameworks for better monitoring and effective implementation.

[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/3/30/neweconomicmodel/20100330095105&sec=neweconomicmodel]

Soi Lek wins close race for No 1 post, Tiong Lai is the new deputy - The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek staged a stunning victory when he was elected the ninth president of MCA.

He defeated incumbent Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat and former president Tan Sri Ong Ka Ting at yesterday’s fresh party polls after a protracted crisis that had dogged the party since its AGM on Oct 18, 2008.

Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, who was aligned to Ka Ting, defeated Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha in a close fight for the deputy presidency.

Many observers see the election results — which had candidates from all three factions winning various posts — as reflective of the desire of members to close ranks and rebuild the party.

[From http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/3/29/mcaelection2010/5954363&sec=mcaelection2010]

TM’s UniFi ups ante on broadband competition - The Edge

KUALA LUMPUR: Broadband providers throughout the nation, and one television broadcaster, will have to keep a careful eye on their market share after TELEKOM MALAYSIA BHD [] (TM) on Thursday, March 25, announced a highly competitive pricing scheme for its new high-speed broadband retail offering, also known as UniFi.

At RM149 per month for the entry level retail plan, VIP 5, subscribers will receive up to a five megabit per second (mbps) transfer rate. At that speed, a typical song file of about five megabytes in size will take, on paper, eight seconds to transfer.

The next plan, VIP 10, subscribers will see a connection speed of 10 mbps for RM199, while the premium plan, VIP 20, will provide subscribers with a speed of 20 mbps for RM249.

While critics would argue that TM’s high speed service will only be available in Zone 1 areas, that is, areas of high economic impact, TM’s CEO Datuk Zamzamzairani Mohd Isa announced yesterday at a press briefing that it would also lower the price for its fastest StreamyX broadband plan.

The latter falls under TM’s broadband for the general populace (BBGP), which is TM’s broadband offering in areas falling into the Zone 2 category.

“Obviously, we need to adjust the pricing for the 4mbps plan on Streamyx. Today, we have the combo package available at RM160, (but) with immediate effect, we will reduce it to RM140,” Zamzamzairani said.

The pricing of the plans came after the launch of the National Broadband Initiative and the National High Speed Broadband Project by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak on Wednesday night. TM’s UniFi service will be available in Taman Tun Dr Ismail, Bangsar, Subang Jaya and Shah Alam in its first phase of deployment.

[More at http://www.theedgemalaysia.com/business-news/162404-tms-unifi-ups-ante-on-broadband-competition.html]

EC: Penang and Selangor cannot hold local govt elections - The Star

By MAZWIN NIK ANIS

PUTRAJAYA: The Election Commission cannot hold elections for local governments - including in Penang and Selangor - as the legal provision which allows it to do so was repealed when the Local Government Act 1976 came into effect.

Commission chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Yusoff said the Local Government Elections Act 1960 which allowed for the commission to supervise the elections of local councillors had been repealed in 1976.

He said it was stated under the Local Government Act that all provisions in any law related to local government elections were ceased, adding that councillors were instead picked through appointment by the respective state governments instead.

“I would like to stress that we are not rejecting requests by Penang and Selangor governments to hold elections for local government. However, we are not able to hold the elections as there is no enabling law or legal provision for us to do so.

“However, if the two states are still keen to pursue the matter, they will have to raise the issue with the National Council for Local Government, which has the authority to look into this and not the Election Commission,” he told reporters at a press conference Wednesday.

[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/3/24/nation/20100324115854&sec=nation]

MCA polls: Ong Ka Ting says he will contest presidency - The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: Former MCA president Tan Sri Ong Ka Ting announced Tuesday that he would contest the president's post in the upcoming party polls on March 28.

In a press statement, he said that he was responding to calls from concerned members.

“I believe that their calls are motivated primarily by their genuine concern and love for the party in order to see a quick end to the damaging factional in-fighting which is going on.

“To all these members who care and love the party, I say I hear you, loud and clear.

“I would, therefore, like to announce my candidacy for the MCA presidency in the coming party elections.

“In arriving at my decision, I am only too mindful of the fact that no one is indispensable. Neither does the party belong to any individual as the party belongs to the party members.

“Of course, I could have taken the easy way out by continuing to stay out of party matters after my retirement. Especially, should I fail to win the presidency, it would only cause me embarrassment.

“However, the current state of affairs in the party and being the immediate past president, it will indeed be selfish on my part if I do not rise to respond to this call to duty and undertake this challenge to bring stability, and restore credibility and rule of law in the party.

“All in all, I am doing this out of my love and concern for the party and community,” he said in his statement.

[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/3/16/nation/20100316144540&sec=nation]

Hishammuddin confirms IGP will be replaced - The Sun

KUALA LUMPUR (March 15, 2010): Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein has confirmed that Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Musa Hassan and several other police top brass will be replaced but did not specify when it would take place.

Speaking to reporters at the Parliament lobby today, Hishammuddin admitted that the police force is undergoing a transition but said the "time and place" of the transition will be determined by the government, and not by media pressure.

"It (the transition) is not only specific to the IGP but also involve four out of the seven division directors of Royal Malaysian Police who will retire this year. I already know who is going to replace the IGP. I already know who will replace the commercial crime division director.

"I already know those who will take over so there is no use in speculating or reporting without basis," said Hishammuddin.

He said the transition process should be looked as a "new chapter" in the force and that the transition should not solely depend on a certain post or individual.

Meanwhile, Hishammuddin also confirmed that the ministry has called in representatives from China Press today for clarification on their report last week which alleged that Musa had resigned as IGP.

Hishammuddin warned that stern action will be taken against the newspaper if their explanation is not found to be satisfactory.

[More at http://www.thesundaily.com/article.cfm?id=44365]

Ka Ting comeback - NST

Eileen Ng

KUALA LUMPUR: The surprise, last-ditch attempt to rally support for the return of Tan Sri Ong Ka Ting as president of the MCA ahead of Saturday’s nominations has received the endorsement of party elder, Tan Sri Lim Ah Lek.

This hint of a momentum for Ka Ting came as incumbent president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat announced his candidacy as widely expected, declaring he has no running mates and would work with others to be elected with him.

Ka Ting, on his part, indicated he was mulling over the possibility of a comeback, telling the ntv7 Mandarin news at 5.30pm:
“If I can really help, also for the sake of MCA’s future, I will step in...I cannot decide yet. I need to see the situation first.”

A major concern within the party is the shape of the eventual victorious line-up. Electing top leaders who cannot work with each other will prolong the already protracted crisis. A key campaign theme will therefore be which line-up best offers a chance of reunification.

The emerging grouping with Ka Ting back as leader, is reportedly supported by groups led by vice-president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai; Ka Ting’s brother, the former secretary-general Datuk Ong Ka Chuan; and former deputy president during Ka Ting’s reign, Tan Sri Chan Kong Choy.

This new grouping and the declared candidacy of Tee Keat raise the question over the position of Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek and his supporters, among them two vice-presidents — Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen and Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha. Kong, for instance, secured the most votes as a central committee member, a feat he repeated when he stood for vice-president.

Collectively, Dr Chua and his backers retain sizeable support in the party. Dr Chua has been tight-lipped. Asked specifically on Tee Keat’s candidacy, he said: “He can announce what he wants. I don’t want to talk about the elections.”

[More at http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/articles/20100314073210/Article/index_html]

IGP Musa denies he's quitting - The Star

By LOURDES CHARLES and R.S.N MURALI

KUALA LUMPUR: The Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan has denied that he has resigned while questioning the source of the information.

“I have not submitted any resignation letter to the Prime Minister or anyone. I want to know if the source is from an official channel or from the ‘underground’,” he said when contacted on Saturday.

“I know it is not from the (Home) Ministry as I have checked with its secretary-general Datuk Mahmood Adam, who denied any knowledge.”

Musa said if information in the article published was obtained from unofficial channels including the “underground” such as syndicates, then he “felt sorry” for the country.

He said if the “underground” could manipulate the post of the IGP, then Malaysia was heading for disaster.

“I have asked my officers to check with the newspaper that published the article and find out the source who gave them the misleading information,” he added.

Musa had been given an extension to his one-year contract and he is due to retire in September.

[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/3/13/nation/20100313110353&sec=nation]

MCA AGM: Assembly gives full support for 1Malaysia - The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: The MCA general assembly has unanimously voted to fully support the 1Malaysia concept of “People First, Performance Now” to help realise a system of meritocracy based on the needs of all Malaysians.

The party supported the resolution during its annual general meeting at Wisma MCA here Sunday.

The motion was among other resolutions – covering politics, governmental affairs, education, social/economic affairs and cultural/religious affairs – which were passed at the meeting.

MCA delegates also agreed to give full backing to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin in the Barisan Nasional-led government by adopting various national reforms allowing fair treatment of all races.

Under governmental affairs, the assembly fully supported the Government Transformation Programme, and urged the Government to increase the intake of non-bumiputras in the civil service.

On education, the party urged the Government to adopt a more liberal and multiracial education policy so that more vernacular schools could be established.

[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/3/7/nation/20100307230655&sec=nation]

Zul is sacked - Malaysiakini.tv

The PKR supreme council today has decided to boot out Zulkifli Noordin, the Kulim Bandar Baru MP who has been a thorn in the flesh of the fledging party.

The decision was made after a four-hour meeting which started at 2.30pm at the party headquarters in Tropicana, Kuala Lumpur.

The meeting today was chaired by party president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail. Her husband, Anwar Ibrahim, who is also the PKR de facto leader was also present along with deputy president Dr Syed Husin Ali.

At a press conference following the supreme council meeting, party secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution said that the decision to sack Zulkifli was unanimous.