P. Pinang catat peningkatan mendadak penyakit malaria

17/12/2008 3:38pm


PULAU PINANG 17 Dis. — Pulau Pinang mencatatkan peningkatan mendadak penyakit malaria apabila 175 kes dilaporkan sejak Januari hingga November tahun ini berbanding hanya 54 kes bagi tempoh yang sama tahun lepas.


Ketua Menteri, Lim Guan Eng berkata, jumlah itu menyaksikan peningkatan sebanyak 121 kes di mana penyumbang utama ialah warga asing.


“Menurut statistik Jabatan Kesihatan negeri, sebanyak 39 kes daripada 54 kes dikesan pada pekerja asing tahun lepas manakala sebanyak 153 kes daripada 175 kes dikesan pada golongan yang sama tahun ini,” katanya ketika berucap pada taklimat kesihatan berkaitan pekerja asing di sini, hari ini.


Beliau berkata jumlah itu tidak termasuk pendatang asing tanpa izin.


Katanya bagi penyakit tuberculosis (tibi) pula, ia menunjukkan penurunan apabila sebanyak 708 kes dilaporkan bagi tempoh yang sama tahun ini berbanding 882 tahun lepas.
Lim berkata, keadaan itu membimbangkan memandangkan statistik Persekutuan Majikan Malaysia (MEF) menunjukkan seramai 2.5 juta orang iaitu 25 peratus daripada tenaga kerja di negara ini adalah pekerja asing.


Katanya, paling membimbangkan ialah warga asing yang bekerja secara tidak sah di negara ini kerana mereka tidak menjalani pemeriksaan kesihatan berbanding yang bekerja secara sah.
“Jabatan Imigresen menyatakan dari Januari hingga 30 September tahun ini, jumlah pendatang tanpa izin yang ditahan ialah seramai 55,618 orang,” katanya.


Beliau berkata, perangkaan MEF menunjukkan Malaysia terpaksa membelanjakan peruntukan yang besar iaitu RM578 juta setahun bagi kemudahan kesihatan untuk warga asing. -

Malaysia leader says Proton needs foreign alliance

Associated Press Writer

Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi speaks to an Associated Press reporter during an exclusive interview at Parliament in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Dec. 17, 2008. Malaysia's prime minister, who is rushing through with a raft of reforms in his final days in office, said Wednesday his last mission is to cool racial and religious tensions in this multethnic country.


Malaysia's leader said that national carmaker Proton, criticized for shoddy workmanship and poor after-sales service, should tie-up with a strong foreign partner in a joint venture to remain competitive.

The comments by Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi came amid news Wednesday that Proton has been sued by its former Chinese joint-venture partner, Goldstar Heavy Industrial Co. Ltd., for 1 billion yuan ($146 million) in compensation for breach of contract.
Abdullah indicated in an interview with The Associated Press that Proton should be willing to give majority control to a partner in a joint venture if necessary but refused to be drawn on specifics.
Asked if a foreign partner can hold a majority 51 percent stake, he said: "It doesn't matter as long as Proton, the mother company, is entirely ours."

"This (joint venture) is our investment in collaboration with another company. We will (find) what is the best arrangement which will be entirely commercial," he said.

Pressured by dwindling sales and growing competition as Malaysia liberalizes its auto market, state-owned Proton began searching for a new foreign partner after Japan's Mitsubishi Motors Corp. bailed out as a major shareholder in 2004 due to its own financial problems.
Alliance talks with Germany's Volkswagen AG and General Motors Corp. failed due to the government's reluctance to cede control of Proton - seen as a national icon.

Abdullah declined to comment on speculation that Proton has revived alliance talks with Volkswagen, saying it's up to Proton to find the best suitor before it reports to the government.
Some analysts have warned it will be tough for Proton to penetrate global markets or gain new technology without a strong foreign partner, particularly amid a global economic slump.
Proton improved its domestic market share to 33 percent so far this year, from 24 percent last year, after introducing several cheap models but its exports remained weak.

The company has said it aims to boost sales by selling within China through a tie-up with Jinhua Youngman Automobile Manufacturing Co. Ltd.
Proton said Wednesday it had terminated its contract with Goldstar after the Chinese firm failed to get a manufacturing license over a period of three years.
"Goldstar's failure has frustrated Proton's initiatives to get the joint venture to start producing cars in China," the company said in a statement.

The termination of the contract led to the $146 million compensation suit filed by Goldstar in China last month.

Proton said it had begun arbitration proceedings against Goldstar and also obtained an anti-suit injunction in Singapore to prevent the Chinese firm from starting or continuing with any other court proceedings.

The recent legal suit by Goldstar is violating the agreed arbitration process and the anti-suit injunction, it said.

BLOGGER SAID

IT IS A SHAME IF THE CARS THAT WERE BUILT IS NOT A GOOD QUALITY

DISANGKA KAN SEPERTI ORANG SUSAH.RUPANYA MAT GIAN

ALOR SETAR-Disangkakan memangnya orang susah yang memerlukan bantuan.Rupanya seorang penagih dadah.Setelah maklumat di terima , barulah disedari bahawa beliau adalah seorang penagih dadah.

En Mohd Rashid, Pengarah Jabatan Kebajikan Kedah yang kebetulan berada di hotel yang sama mengambil semua butiran untuk membantu, namun akhirnya kecewa apabila diberitahu oleh sumber bahawa orang yang beliau akan bantu melalui Jabatan Kebajikan Masyarakat adalah seorang penagih yang berkeliaran di bandar Alor Setar.

PANDAI JUGA BERLAKON.

53 KETUA ISI RUMAH DAN 2 BUAH PERTUBUHAN KEBAJIKAN MENERIMA SUMBANGAN RM20,000

SEBAHAGIAN PENERIMA YANG BERADA DI LOBI HOTEL

YTM DATO' SERI TUNKU PUTERI INTAN SAFINAZ(KUNING)DAN TUNKU HAJAH NAFISAH

Alor Setar- Satu majlis penyampaian sumbangan kepada rakyat marhaen telah diadakan di sebuah hotel terkemuka di Alor Setar siang tadi. Majlis yang dinaungi Yayasan Sultanah Bahiyah ini memberi sumbangan sempena hari krismas kepada yang tidak berkemampuan.

Turut hadir ialah seorang pemuda Mohd Firdaus yang menerima bantuan bagi menjalani semula pembedahan hidungnya.

Raja-Raja pun memberi sumbangan kepada rakyat melalui Yayasan.Maka kerana itu Raja-Raja Melayu harus dinobatkan di kedudukan asalnya.

Paper may close in 'Allah' row

Catholic newspaper in M'sia may have just two more weeks in print unless the government backs off a threat to close it down. -Reuters

Wed, Dec 17, 2008Reuters

KUALA LUMPUR - A CATHOLIC newspaper in Malaysia may have just two more weeks in print unless the government backs off a threat to close it down over its use of the word 'Allah' to describe the Christian god.
The 'Herald - the Catholic Weekly' has a circulation of 14,000 and has been published since 1980 but in July was told its license was being reviewed as its use of the word Allah could inflame the Asian country's majority Muslim population.
The newspaper says that it is a victim of politics and that the government that has ruled Malaysia for 51 years since independence from Britain is stoking religious conflict in a bid to retain power after big losses in elections earlier this year.
Other religious groups have complained of persecution in this country of 27 million in which almost 60 per cent of the population is Malay and Muslim but which has substantial ethnic Indian and Chinese minorities who practise a variety of faiths.
'The Catholic Herald's 'Allah' is seen as a threat to national security,' Father Lawrence Andrew, editor of the paper, told Reuters at his office behind an early 20th century church in the heart of the Malaysian capital.
The Herald publishes in English, Mandarin and Tamil languages but it was the use of the Malay language that especially irked the government. It publishes in Malay to cater for tribal communities in the states of Sabah and Sarawak on Borneo Island, many of whom converted to Christianity long ago.
'We are now a scapegoat, a means for the Malay-Muslims to rally together,' Father Andrew said of the paper which needs the license to publish in 2009.
In recent weeks, ethnic Chinese Malaysians have expressed alarm after a leading politician from the main government party called for Chinese language schools to be closed.
An ethnic Indian group that organised a huge anti-government protest in 2007, triggered in part by the demolition of what authorities said were illegal temples, was banned in October as a threat to national security.
Under the Malaysian constitution, Malays must be Muslim and enjoy special privileges in job opportunities, cheap loans and access to an affirmative action programme in universities.
Those privileges have come under attack from the opposition led by Anwar Ibrahim, a one-time Muslim activist who was deputy prime minister until he was sacked and imprisoned on what he says were trumped up sodomy and corruption charges in the late 1990s.
The issue of the use of Islam for political ends has started to cause alarm among some Muslim scholars and even the Sultans of Malaysia's states have warned the government that they are the guardians of Islam under the constitution.
When the government-backed National Fatwa Council last month declared that Muslims should not practise the Indian physical regime of yoga it was rebuked by the Sultan of Selangor, one of Malaysia's eight sultans who take it in turn to be king.
With internal elections due in March in the main government party, the United Malays National Organisation, the Herald looks unlikely to get a break.
'The pressure is coming from within (the government) and also the Malay-Muslim NGOs, who will be opposed on no uncertain terms to any non-Muslim using the word,' said Mr Osman Bakar, deputy chief executive of the International Institute of Advanced Islamic Studies Malaysia.
The government insists it is still reviewing the Herald's license and that it is following due process.
'Until Dec 31, we are not going to announce anything.
There is plenty of time till then. Let them wait,' Deputy Home Minister Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh told Reuters. -- REUTERS

MALAYSIA: Protestors Pedal to Parliament, Brave Police

PENANG, Dec 17 (IPS) - Dozens of cyclists promoting workers' rights are on an extraordinary odyssey across the country, scheduled to climax with the handing over of memorandums in Parliament on Thursday.It has been a rough ride, so far, with arrests and police harassment constantly threatening to bring their journey to a premature end.Two cycling teams -- four dozen from the north of the peninsula and three dozen from the south -- each accompanied by a dozen or so activists have been pedalling their way to Kuala Lumpur since early December.

Along the way, they have met with almost daily police action including road blocks, detentions and arrests.Organisers, cyclists and those distributing leaflets have been hauled up, bicycles have been carted to police stations, and dozens of arrests made as police continue to look for possible violations of the law.In one mysterious incident on mainland Penang, eight bicycles were torched -- three of them badly damaged -- by arsonists at dawn.The ”People, the Force of Change” cycling campaign is organised by the Oppressed People's Network, known by its Malay acronym ‘Jerit'. The Jerit network brings together factory workers, plantation workers, students and youths, urban settlers and civil society groups.

The memos to be presented to Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi and parliamentary opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim contain economic demands such as calls for the enactment of a Minimum Wage Act, adequate housing for all, price controls for essential goods, and an end to the privatisation of water supply, health care, education and other basic services.There are also pro-democracy demands such as the repeal of oppressive laws and the re-introduction of local town council elections, which were suspended in the 1960s and 70s.The bicycle campaign has been endorsed by 47 civil society groups, federal-level opposition political parties belonging to the People's Alliance and some of their parliamentarians and state assembly members.On Monday, the teams encountered police action typical of the sort they experienced since the start of their journey.

Both cycling teams were confronted by police as they approached Kuala Lumpur from the north and south.Of the 59-member northern team, about 30, including organisers, were arrested for illegal assembly. Another 27 cyclists below 18 years of age were held by police for their parents to collect them. Police are also holding on to their bicycles, says one of the Jerit organisers.The police chief of Selangor state Khalid Abu Bakar said the arrests were made to stop children from being exploited or misused by irresponsible groups. ”When giving their statements, these children said they did not know why they were asked to participate in the cycling event,” he was quoted as saying by the national news agency Bernama.Organisers disagree. ''Many of those below 18 are children from areas where there have been struggles -- land struggles, plantation workers fighting eviction from their homes or other similar struggles,'' says Rani Rasiah, a Jerit coordinator. ''Others are children of activists, like my son who is taking part, and there are also cyclists from the public who have joined in.''By Tuesday afternoon the 27 teenage riders but only after their parents turned up to vouch for them.

Nearly all of them said they wanted to continue cycling, but the last leg of the journey could be scaled down to avoid further delay.''The children are saying they won't leave until all the organisers and their colleagues are released,'' said Rani. ''They are very spirited and angry with the harassment.''Over in the south, some 20 organisers and 37 cyclists, about 20 of them below 18, were threatened with arrests after a convoy of a dozen police vehicles had tailed them in the morning. After a five-hour stand-off in the afternoon near the town of Bangi, the cyclists were 'released'.”All the youths have consent letters from the parents,” Kohila Yanasekaran, national coordinator of Jerit told IPS.

Organisers lodged a police report against the police on Tuesday, while the parents are expected to make a similar complaint.One text message, making the rounds, jokes that all these arrests are a bit late: they should have been made 67 years ago, when Japanese forces on bicycles were invading Malaya on their way to Singapore during World War Two!Along their way to Parliament, the Jerit teams have already submitted memorandums to the state governments in Kedah, Penang and Perak -- all ruled by the People's Alliance -- as well as Negeri Sembilan and Johor, both of which come under the ruling Barisan Nasional (National Front) coalition.So far, chief ministers of three PA-ruled states -- Penang, Perak and Selangor -- have personally endorsed the campaign.

The onset of the global economic stagflation has added to the workers worries in this export-oriented economy. Neo-liberal economic policies since the 1980s had already taken their toll among workers, especially marginalised communities who are finding it hard to make ends meet. Privatisation of essential services has added to the burden of ordinary workers.Urban-rural income disparities remain high and despite its relatively high human development, Malaysia has the widest income disparity in South-east Asia with the top 10 percent earning 22 times what the bottom 10 percent earn.Many plantation workers and urban settlers have been dispossessed of their homes with minimal compensation as landowners turn to property development.

Although the official benchmark for measuring poverty is a household income of around 700 ringgit per month (200 US dollars), many believe the real poverty line should be closer to 2,000 ringgit (571 dollars). If that benchmark is used, 38 percent of Malaysian families could be classified as low-income and struggling.Activists were due to submit a memorandum to the Selangor chief minister before delivering their memorandums to Abdullah and Anwar on Thursday.How they will get there, in the face of police action, is another matter, says Kohila. ”The Thursday appointment in Parliament is definitely on; how we are going to reach there -- walking, cycling or taking a bus -- we will discuss.''Whether they succeed or not, their campaign message has already received publicity beyond anything the cyclists could have expected.

Malaysia to protect witnesses in graft fight

The Malaysian government on Tuesday proposed a witness protection program to encourage whistle-blowers to come forward in an effort to stamp out graft and dangerous crime.
Law Minister Nazri Abdul Aziz presented a bill in Parliament to set up the program, which would give witnesses a new identity if necessary. They could also get compensation, accommodation and new jobs.

The proposed legislation is part of a flurry of reforms being pushed by the government of Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in recent weeks as he prepares to step down in March.
Abdullah had promised to fight corruption and reform the judiciary and the police force when he came to power in 2003 but has been criticized for doing little until now. Abdullah has admitted he should have started pushing for reforms earlier rather than in his last four months in office.
Under the Witness Protection Bill, the attorney general will approve applications by whistle-blowers, but protection can be revoked by the program head.

Nazri said last month that witnesses would also be able to testify in court with their faces covered, while children would be able to give evidence from behind closed doors.
It is unlikely the bill can be passed in the current Parliamentary session, which ends Thursday.
Ramon Navaratnam, president of Transparency International, welcomed the bill as a step forward, saying Malaysia does not have any comprehensive witness protection program.
Last week, government lawmakers introduced two bills to reform the Anti- Corruption Agency and to set up a committee that would select senior judges. In addition, the government announced plans Monday to form a panel to probe errant judges.

Though the Anti-Corruption Agency made a few high-profile arrests, including the former immigration director, earlier this year, many observers complain that petty and high-level corruption remains rampant in the society.

TERKINI: MAKLUMAT MENYATAKAN SATU MEMORENDUM AKAN DI HANTAR MENDESAK FAIRUS MELEPASKAN JAWATAN

PULAU PINANG: Satu maklumat yang kurang jelas menyatakan bahawa AMK Pulau Pinang akan menghantar satu memorendum kepada pihak tertentu untuk mendesak agar TKM1 Pulau Pinang melepaskan jawatan.

Untuk menjaga pihak-pihak tertentu maklumat yang didapati tidak dapat di jeaskan kerana ianya akan menjejaskan parti PKR sendiri.Mungkin ada pihak-pihak atau orang tertentu yang mengetahui dengan lebih jelas akan perjalanan dan siapa dalang di sebalik segala peristiwa yang akan menjatuhkan kredibiliti PKR di mata masyarakat.

Apa yang menjadi persoalannya ialah siapakah yang akan di lantik untuk menjawat jawatan tersebut?Maklumat yang diterima team WRLR bahawa kerja-kerja untuk menjatuhkan YB Mohd Fairus adalah orang-orang PKR sendiri?

Maka kerana itu , ianya dilihat lebih teruk dari UMNO jika benar-benar ianya berlaku.

Ketika berita ini ditulis,YB Mohd Fairus sedang mengdakan perjumpaaan dengan 500 pemimpin Mahasiswa Pulau Pinang di hotel Traders dimana satu majis himpunan mahasiswa perdana majlis perundingan mahasiswa Pulau Pinang dimana semua pimpinan mahasiswa dari IPTS dan IPT akan hadir untuk berjumpa beliau

JIKA ADA DIANTARA ANDA MENGETAHUI MAKLUMAT SILA BERI KOMEN DIBAWAH

BLOGGER SAID:

SAYA SELALU MENGIKUTI PERKEMBANGAN YB FAIRUS.MALAH SAYA JUGA MENGENALI WATAK-WATAK PEGAWAI YANG BERHENTI DAN YANG TERBARU.

UNTUK BERKIDMAT SECARA SUKARELA ....DAH LAMA DAH............EN DIN BOLEH LIHAT BANYAK BERITA ........DALAM BLOG.INI PERANAN SAYA........DISEBALIK TABIR.MUNGKIN EN DIN JUGA PUNYA PERANAN YANG LEBIH LAGI...TAPI BIAR KENA CARA DAN TINDAKAN.SALAM.

Kebijaksanaan Harakah, Harakahdaily diperlukan untuk tingkat imej parti

Family members abetting in graft to be equally punished

WEB EDITION :: Local News

Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul AzizKUALA LUMPUR ( Dec 15, 2008) : Family members abetting relatives involved in graft will receive the same punishment as the guilty party as the term family members has been better defined under the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Bill.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz said under the Bill, the term family members has been broadened to include spouses, children, uncles, aunts, cousins, nephews and nieces and in-laws.

"Under the Anti-Corruption Act 1997 (ACA'97), in-laws, nephews and nieces, cousins, uncles and aunts are not included which makes prosecuting them difficult," he said when tabling the Bill for second reading in the Dewan Rakyat today.

He explained that the new provisions were included in Clauses 23 and 36 of the Bill and offenders could be jailed not more than 20 years or fined not less than five times the monetary value of the bribe or a minimum of RM10,000, whichever is higher.

The penalty also applies to any foreign public official who abuses his position to accept bribes.
Lim Kit SiangMohamed Nazri said this came under Clause 22 of the Bill and was something new and in line with Article 16 of the United Nation's Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC), which was ratified by Malaysia last September.

Besides this, Mohamed Nazri said the Bill also called for the abolishment of the minimum jail sentence contained in ACA '97, set at 14 days.

However, the maximum at 20 years and minimum fine of RM10,000 remains unchanged.
On the same matter, Mohamed Nazri said the Public Service Department had approved the staff strength of the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) from the 500 at present to 900 personnel next year.

The ACA's staff strength would be gradually increased to reach 5,000 personnel in five years, he said, adding this would help the agency increase efficiency and effectiveness.
Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (PKR-Permatang Pauh), who opened debate on the Bill, said he agreed it was timely but wanted adequate protection to be given to whistleblowers.

"Emphasis should also be given on this (whistleblowers' protection). Othewise people will feel it is not worth their while providing information. As such, I ask that the Bill be reviewed further to address this.

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim"However, I wish to congratulate Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi for introducing this Bill. It is a step in the right direction although many Pakatan Rakyat MPs feel more time should be given to scrutinise the Bill," he said, adding that having introduced the Anti-Corruption Act himself in 1997 when he was deputy prime minister, he understood the difficulties faced in attempting to introduce reform bills.

Abdullah tabled the Bill on Wednesday to enable it to come into force in January.
Khairy Jamaluddin (BN-Rembau) concurred with Anwar on the matter of whistleblower protection.

"The Bill ought to be strengthened further or separate Bill introduced to address this aspect to allay fears of whistleblowers," he said.

Datuk Razali Ibrahim (BN-Muar) was of the opinion that abolishing the 14-day minimum jail sentence was not wise and it might encourage corruption as people might think they could get away by just paying fines.

Lim Kit Siang (DAP-Ipoh Timur) said in principle he supported the Bill but wanted debate on an important Bill like this be done thoroughly to ensure proper scrutiny.
He asked the Dewan to set aside six days for this.

Leadership change brings new opportunities for US, Malaysia - Envoy

December 15, 2008 8:44 pm by pna
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec. 15 — The United States (US) and Malaysia will see new opportunities rising in their bilateral ties with the coming in of new administrations in the two countries next year, US Ambassador to Malaysia James R. Keith said.

He said that new opportunities would rise not only in the fields of economic and trade but also in terms of interaction in the social and political arena, both regionally and globally.
He described the leadership change in both countries as the coming in of "new teams", with Barack Obama's inauguration as the new President of the United States taking place on Jan. 20, and Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak taking over the helm of the Malaysia's administration from Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in March.

"I think it is important that we both see this as an opportunity," he told reporters at a media roundtable on the US-Malaysia bilateral trade at the US Embassy here.

He said in a number of areas, Malaysia's voice carried a lot of weight such as in the Organization of the Islamic Conference, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation . (PNA/BERNAMA)

Terengganu voters are wise in choosing gov't, leaders

December 14

SEMPORNA, Dec. 14 — Sabah Barisan Nasional (BN) deputy chairman Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal believed in the wisdom of voters in Kuala Terengganu that they would continue to vote for the coalition's candidate in the Jan 17 parliamentary by-election.

Shafie, who is Unity, Culture, Arts and Heritage Minister, said the wisdom and intelligence of the Terengganu people were evident when they voted for BN to continue to be in power in the state in the last general election.

"I believe voters in Kuala Terengganu are very wise. If we are to look at the last election, they supported the BN and retained its power in the state government," he told reporters after closing a Rukun Tetangga carnival here last night.

He expressed confidence that voters in Kuala Terengganu would give BN a win in the by-election to ensure continuous development in Terengganu.

Shafie, who is also Sabah Umno deputy liaison chief, said the state Umno would send its delegates to assist party workers and ensure victory for BN in Kuala Terengganu.
The Kuala Terengganu by-election will be held following the death of its Member of Parliament Datuk Razali Ibrahim on Nov 28. (PNA/Bernama)

BLOGGER SAID

WE JUST LOOK AND WAIT FOR THE RESOULT

GAMBAR-GAMBAR SEKITAR FORUM MENGENAI WANITA DI DEWAN SERI PINANG

PULAU PINANG 14 Dis -satu forum yang dianjurkan oleh wanita PKR negeri mengenai wanita dalam masyarakat majmuk merupakan suatu program berterusan dianjurkan Wanita KeADILan Rakyat Negeri Pulau Pinang. Forum ini amat diperlukan untuk menyebarkan ilmu yang berguna bersama penceramah-penceramah yang

berpengalaman.Majlis di rasmikan oleh TKM1 YB Mohd Fairus Khairuddin

TUJUAN/OBJEKTIF

1. Mewujudkan golongan wanita yang bijaksana dalam seimbangkan kehidupan berkeluarga, kerjaya dan aktif dalam politik

2. Mengerakkan aktiviti majlis ilmu dengan aktif dan menyedari tuntutan ilmu pengetahuan bagi wanita di dalam masyarakat majmuk

3. Melahirkan golongan wanita yang boleh berperanan dalam masyarakat majmuk

4. Menyediakan majlis ilmu bagi wanita untuk aktiviti masyarakat majmuk

5. Memperlengkapkan ilmu dan teknik di dalam usaha-usaha kecemerlangan kehidupan wanita tempatan

PARA PENCERAMAH ADALAH

1) YB Dato’ Zahrain Mohd Hashim bin Dato’ Zainuddin Mohd Hashim (PKR)

2) YB Dr. Lo’ Lo’ Bt Dato Haji Mohamad Ghazali (PAS)

3) YB Chong Eng (DAP)

4) Puan Felica Ling (PKR)

Dalam sesebuah rumah tangga, dua peranan utama yang sewajarnya dimainkan oleh seseorang wanita iaitu sebagai isteri dan ibu. Seorang isteri sentiasa mendampingi suaminya sama ada dalam keadaan susah atau senang. Ibu pula terbabit secara langsung dalam memberi pendidikan kepada anak-anak serta menjaga hal ehwal rumah tangga dengan bantuan suami.

Islam membenarkan wanita keluar bekerja berdasarkan kepada keperluan seperti ketika ketiadaan suami, ketidakupayaan suami atau bekerja dalam jawatan yang memerlukan khidmat wanita seperti doktor, tenaga pengajar kepada kaum wanita serta bidang lain yang bersesuaian.
Bagaimanapun menurut Islam, keharusan wanita untuk keluar bekerja mestilah mengikut batas syarak iaitu:Kerja itu mesti bersesuaian dengan sifat kewanitaan. Kerja itu tidak menjejaskan peranannya sebagai isteri dan ibu Bertujuan murni sama ada untuk membantu keluarga atau menyampaikan kesedaran Islam kepada wanita lain Sentiasa memelihara kehendak syarak seperti menutup aurat. Sentiasa menjaga tata susila dan terhindar daripada berlakunya pergaulan bebas dengan lelaki.Mendapat restu daripada penjaga, bapa atau suami. Mengelak daripada melakukan perkara yang boleh membawa fitnah sama ada dari segi tindakan, cara berpakaian atau mengenakan perhiasan.

Apa yang pasti dengan keluarnya wanita bekerja tidak akan mengubah atau merubah maruah dan persepsi masyarakat terhadap wanita masa kini.menekankan wanita tidak boleh berdiam diri daripada turut terbabit dalam semua usaha membangunkan masyarakat. Usaha membina dan memperkasakan wanita perlu berpijak kepada dasar agama dan tidak sekadar membawa agenda feminisme seperti diperjuangkan wanita barat.

Ada beberapa peruntukan berlawanan dengan syariah seperti kesamaan pelantikan antara gender sebagai ketua agama, ketua ibadat serta peranan dan tanggungjawab dalam rumah tangga menyebabkan negara tidak memberi persetujuan menerima pakai hasil konvensyen itu.
Perbincangan dalam kumpulan turut mengupas bagaimana wanita bekerjaya membabitkan diri dengan usaha membangun masyarakat dapat mengimbangi semua tuntutan hidup dengan seimbang. Walau bagaimana tinggi dan besar pangkat seseorang wanita, pada masa sama beliau juga mempunyai peranan lain yang perlu diberi perhatian iaitu sebagai anak, isteri, ibu dan ahli masyarakat.

Mengiktiraf supaya kedudukan wanita yang berkaliber dan berilmu diiktiraf dan dilantik sesuai dengan kelayakan

Wanita berilmu dan berkelayakan perlu terbabit dengan lebih serius dan bilangan mereka wajar ditambah dalam Jawatankuasa Majlis Agama termasuk di negeri.

Pihak berwajib wajar menghargai perkahwinan dan , tidak melakukan keganasan kepada wanita serta menghayati peranan dan tanggungjawab masing-masing sebagai langkah mengelakkan keruntuhan institusi keluarga pada masa depan.

Menyertai sektor pekerjaan selepas rehat yang panjang selepas itu mungkin menjadikan mereka perlu bersaing lebih keras dengan tenaga kerja baru yang muda seterusnya boleh menyebabkan wanita akan lebih kecewa berbanding sekiranya terus bekerja seperti pada permulaan hidupnya dulu.
“Ini adalah pilihan yang berisiko. Wanita yang berhenti kerja daripada sektor pekerjaan sebenarnya akan mendapati dirinya selalu akan berhadapan kesukaran. Lebih 90 peratus wanita yang berhenti kerja dan berharap akan kembali bekerja selepas bayi mereka semakin besar, lebih yakin dapat menumpukan perhatian kepada kerja sedangkan masalah menunggu di hadapan termasuklah peluang mencari pekerjaan baru yang semakin sukar sejajar pertambahan usia, kepercayaan kepada seks dan diskriminasi lain terhadap wanita di tempat kerja.

Walau apa sekalipun faktor yang menjuruskan wanita, isteri dan ibu keluar bekerja, tanggungjawab dan pembahagian masa antara keluarga dan kerjaya perlulah seiringan agar tidak mengabaikan mana-mana pihak.Wanita yang bekerja perlu memastikan keperluan rumahtangga dan tanggungjawab sebagai isteri dan ibu perlu dilaksanakan sebaik mungkin walaupun mereka terpaksa bekerja pada siang harinya dan ketika di pejabat mereka juga perlu memberikan komitmen yang penuh untuk melunaskan tugas yang diberikan kepada mereka.

Wanita perlu menghargai kepercayaan yang diberikan oleh suami kepada mereka dan perlu menjaga nama baik suami dan keluarga ketika berada diluar dan pihak suami sewajarnya memberi perhatian dan panduan serta bimbingan sekiranya isteri mereka memerlukan pendapat dan tempat untuk meluahkan masalah kerana sifat tolak ansur dan tolong-menolong ini mampu melahirkan keluarga yang aman bahagia.

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HARI KE 2: KOMEN PESERTA SEMINAR BIMBINGAN USAHAWAN ANJURAN KERAJAAN NEGERI PULAU PINANG

PULAU PINANG 14 DIS-Seminar Bimbingan Usahawan yang dianjurakan oleh kerajaan negeri Pulau Pinang telah berjaya mencapai matlamatnya apabila perseta di hari kedua juga memenuhi kerusi dewan budaya USM.Kursus dua hari ini yang dianjurkan oleh seorang jurulatih profesional iaitu Sdr fadzil hashim32 yang juga mendapat lesen bimbingan dari Amerika Syarikat ini dibawa khas untuk membantu usahawan kecil bumiputera dan juga peniaga kecil berbagai aum untuk memberi dorongan dan semangat bagi meningkatkan perniagaan.

Kursus yang dianjurkan oleh Action Coach ini secara percuma di bawa oleh Timbalan ketua Menteri pualau Pinang Yb Fairus Khairuddin sebagai satu program bagi membimbing peniaga kecil dan berskala besar mendapat bimbingan secara profesional.Sayarikat ini akan bertapak di pualau Pinang mulai tahun hadapan bagi meneruskan bimbingan dan dengan kerjasama UPEN negeri akan memantau syaraikat-syarikat dan individu-individu tertentu yang ingin mendapatkan bimbingan dari berbagai sudut dalam bidang perniagaan.

Syarikat yang di tubuhkan di Amerika dan Australia ini telah berjaya membimbing ribuan syarikat kecil dan maklumat lanjut boleh didapati di laman web mereka seperti di bawah.

http://www.usahawanrakyat.com/

Menurut Jeven khoo 25 tahun ,beliau mendapat dan mengetahui peluang ini adalah sesuatu yang cukup berfaedah bagi beliau terutamanya maklumat dan bimbingan dari seorang jurulath yang professional .Beliau yang merupakan seorang peniaga kedai telefon bimbit mendapati bahawa program ini berjaya . Beliau menyatakan bahawa program anjuran kerajaan negeri ini adalah bersesuaian untuk beliau mendapatkan dan menambahkan lagi teman-teman perniagaan dan dengan penyertaan berbagai kaum ianya menjadi satu kenyataan yang selama ini tidak dapat beliau bayangkan yang mana ianya dapat berkongsi perniagaan dengan bangsa lain.


Cyril 39, yang mendapat tahu dari sahabat tentang seminar ini menjelaskan bahawa ianya amat berbaloi sekali kerana seminar anjuran kerajaan Negeri ini amat berfaedah bagi beliau . Beliau yang mengusahakan perniagaan mendapatkan barang-barang lusuh seperti akhbar dan menjadi orang tengah menjual semula akhbar kepada kilang ini berpendapat bahawa inilah adalah yang pertama kali diadakan dan sesungguhnya dapat bergaul dan bercampur dengan orang lain.”Ini adalah satu program yang mahal jika di adakan di luar” kami mendapat bimbingan yang cukup professional.



Seorang peniaga India yang bernama Manusammy 48 yang berniaga kecil seperti menjual nasi lemak di sebelah pagi dan di sebelah petangnya menjual roti berpendapat bahawa kursus seperti inilah yang diperlukan oleh seorang peniaga kecil seperti beliau kerana ini adalah program kerajaan negeri Pulau Pinang yang diberikan secara percuma dan sudah tentulah membantu seorang peniaga seperti beliau meningkatkan tabungan dan mencapai impian bahawa inilah caranya peniaga seperti beliau mendapat maklumat.


Seorang lagi peniaga Rajiskhna 36 yang sedang membuka perniagaan kilang kecil menjelaskan bahawa selalunya kursus seperti ini terlalu mahal untuk orang seperti beliau mendapat bimbingan dan bila hadir beliau lihat bahawa ianya memang hebat dan penceramah dapat menerapkan apa yangdisampaikan kerana beliau sendiri adalah seorang peniaga yang masih muda dan mempunyai berbagai jenis perniagaan.Adakalanya beliau berpendapat bahawa ceramah dari seorang pensyarah yang bukan seorang peniaga adalah tidak menepati sasaran.Beliau yang mengucapkan terima kasih kepada kerajaan negeri terutamanya YB Fairus kerana berjaya menganjurkan kursus yang berjaya ini kepada rakyat Pulau Pinang tanpa mengira bangsa .

Seorang penjaja kecil Zulkifli Hamzah 48 seorang penjaja bergerak yang menjaja minuman panas dan sejuk secara bergerak ke kilang-kilang menjelaskan bahawa beliau sebenarnya berangan-angan mendapatkan sebuah van berbanding motosikal yang beliau gunakan selama ini bagi berniaga .”mahu seribu daya”, kata beliau bimbingan dan semangat ini memberi inspirasi kepada beliau untuk mendapatkan sebuah van kerana ianya dapat bergerak dari satu kilang ke satu kilang di waktu pagi dan di waktu petang.Bimbingan seperti ini memboehkan beliau merancang dengan lebih tepat dan mencapai cita-cita.



Seorang Doktor pakar perubatan Dr Zasmani Shafiee yang berkhidmat hospital Gleneagles bercita-cita untuk membuka sebuah klinik sendiri yang lain dari yang lain dan juga sebuah koperasi untuk masyarakat setempat.Beliau yang rasa bangsa Melayu tertinggal dan tidak di perkasakan jika maklumat sebegini tidak beliau rebut.Seminar ini amat berharga dan sesungguhnya maklumat yang diberikan, keyakinan yang ditanam kan dan semangat yang diberikan akan memberikan beliau keyakinan untuk terus berusaha mencapai cita-cita .Sesungguhnya anjuran kerajaan ini amat logic kerana membawa seorang peniaga sejati yang bergerak dari bawah dan berjaya menjadi seorang jutawan.maka kerana itu ianya lebih berbaloi dari hanya hadir setakat seminar yang hanya datang dari penceramah yang tiada satu pun perniagaan yang diceburi.

EIU: Malaysia politically unstable, 2009 growth at 1.5pc

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 14 — Political uncertainty and instability are unlikely to dissipate in the months ahead, despite an expected orderly transfer of power from the prime minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, to the deputy prime minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak, in March.
The leader of the opposition alliance, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, will continue with his campaign to destabilise the ruling Barisan Nasional government by persuading BN legislators to switch to the opposition.


The Economist Intelligence Unit expects the BN coalition to remain in power in the forecast period. The BN still has a sufficiently large majority to pass the bulk of new legislation unchallenged.


We expect real GDP to grow by just 1.5 per cent in 2009, reflecting Malaysia's exposure to the global economic slowdown. We expect world trade to shrink by 0.5 per cent in 2009.
Inflation is forecast to moderate markedly in 2009-10, from an estimated average of 5.7 per cent in 2008. Domestic demand growth will be sluggish, and global prices for oil and industrial raw materials will fall sharply in 2009.


The merchandise trade surplus will fall to US$22.9 billion (RM82.4 billion) in 2009, from an estimated US$35.3 billion in 2008. The current-account surplus will also shrink in the next two years.


The slow pace of judicial reforms has led to growing concerns in the past month that the next prime minister of Malaysia will clamp down on critics and members of the opposition.
Bank Negara Malaysia reduced the overnight policy rate by 25 basis points on Nov 24 to 3.25 per cent, the first reduction since 2003.


The government unveiled a package of fiscal stimulus measures in early November. It also revised its economic forecasts for 2009.


Malaysia's economy grew by 4.7 per cent year on year in the third quarter of 2008, a marked slowdown compared with the second quarter, when the economy grew by 6.7 per cent.
The annual rate of inflation fell below 8 per cent for the first time in three months in October. Inflation, as measured by the consumer price index, increased by 7.6 per cent year on year in October.


Merchandise exports grew by 15.1 per cent year on year in September, bolstered by still high global prices for oil, palm oil and liquefied natural gas. But prices for all three commodities have declined sharply during the fourth quarter. — Economic Intelligence Unit

BLOG PAHANG DAILY DISAMAN KERAJAAN PAHANG

TERKINI BLOG SENSASI PAHANG DAILY ONLINE .CO.CC DI SAMAN KERAJAAN NEGERI PAHANG KERANA KELANTANGAN DAN MENDEDAHKAN KELEMAHAN KERAJAAN NEGERI

Aliran media statement

http://www.aliran.com/

Free the Hindraf Five: Unfounded allegation of terror links

It is exactly one year since the Hindraf Five have been detained under spurious charges of having links with the Tamil Tigers of Sri Langka. The Barisan Nasional Government has had one whole year to substantiate this allegation and lay to rest their case in this sordid affair. But, to date, no evidence has been produced to convince doubting citizens that the government had not lied about this allegation.

In the absence of any proof, the government’s claim remains merely an allegation. That being the case, there is no justification whatsoever for holding them under the ISA. Their continued detention would be cruel, unjust and unwarranted.

Aliran calls upon the BN government to free the Hindraf Five immediately as atonement for perpetuating a cruel and unjust act. Aliran also calls upon the government to immediately release all the other ISA detainees and close down the Kamunting Detention Centre, which has become a national shame.

Aliran Executive Committee13 December 2008

PROGRAM USAHAWAN RAKYAT MENDAPAT SAMBUTAN LUAR BIASA

Pulau Pinang-13 Disember-Program usahawan rakyat yang di rasmikan oleh Timbalan Ketua Menteri 1 Pulau Pinang mendapat sambutan di luar jangkaan . Program anjuran kerajaan negeri dengan usahasma Action Coach dan UPEN ,Unit Pembanggunan Ekonomi Negeri ini dianjurkan oleh sebuah syaraikat antarabangsa dimana program ini bukan sahaja bertujuan untuk menyatu padukan peniaga kecil tetapi bagi membantu menggabungkan produk dan dipasarkan secara lebih teratur dan produktif.

Unit pembanggunan ekonomi di bawah potfolio Timbalan Ketua Menteri ini juga akan memberi tumpuan selepas program utama ini dimana syarikat Action Coach ini akan membuka pejabat urusan mereka di Pulau Pinang bagi memantau beberapa syarikat yang berdaftar dengan syarikat Action Coach ini.Syarikat ini yang didaftarkan di Amerika Syarikat dengan kerjasama UPEN akan membantu dan meningkatkan lagi penyertaan bumiputera

Untuk 13hb sahaja , penyertaan lebih 500 peserta dan melebihi target iaitu sebanyak 400 peserta. Untuk 14 haribulan pula dijangkakan penyertaan dari peniaga kecil pula di jangka lebih dari 600 peserta .Program bimbingan untuk peniaga kecil menyimpan melabur dan membesarkan perniagaan ini julung-julung kali diadakan bagi meningkatkan penyertaan bumiputera dalam penggabungan membesarkan pasaran dibawah satu bumbung dan dipasarkan dengan lebih berdayasaing.

"Kerajaan Negeri yakin dengan pelancaran Tabung Modal Pusingan dan Penjaja Kecil Pulau Pinang akan memberi peluang rakyat yang menjalankan perniagaan kecil-kecilan untuk bertambah maju," ujarnya ketika merasmikan Seminar Bimbangan Usahawan Rakyat Negeri Pulau Pinang bertempat di Dewan Budaya Univesiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Glugor pagi tadi.
Menurutnya, tabung tersebut akan diuruskan oleh Perbadanan Pembangunan Pulau Pinang (PDC) dengan bantuan Kerajaan Negeri yang bertanggungjawab memperhalusi modus operandinya.

Jawatankuasa MMK Pembangunan Usahawan dan Koperasi Negeri yang dianggotai agensi dan Jabatan Kerajaan sentiasa bekerjasama mengadakan program pembudayaan keusahawan di samping memberi peluang peruntukan, katanya.
"Harapan Kerajaan Negeri selepas ini ialah semua usahawan mesti meneruskan kerjaya ini di samping mendapat khidmat nasihat dari pelbagai agensi," tegas beliau dalam program tersebut.

Menurut En Fadzil , jurulatih yang merancang,memberikan idea ini bahawa peningkatan dan penyertaan amat mengagumkan dan ini memberi inspirasi bahawa jika para peniaga ini , yang rata-ratanya peniaga kecil boleh dan pberupaya membesarkan perniagaan mereka dengan usha menabung dan elabur. Ini yang di tekankan kepada peniaga-peniaga ini bahawa dengan menabung dan melabur ianya akan menjadi satu modal untuk membesarkan perniagaan dengan cara yang betul dan juga bagaimana peniaga kecil ini dapat membesarkan perniagaan mereka dengan bekerja secara bergabung.

Esok program ini akan diteruskan untuk memberi inspirasi lagi kepada para peniaga yang juga inginm engetahui rahsia kejayaan yang di capai oleh Saudara Fadzil yang juga merupakan seorang jutawan yang berjaya walau di usia awal 30an dengan rangkaian berbagai jenis perniagaan dan pelaburan yang bijak.Pengalaman inilah yang dicurahkan oleh beliau kepada peserta yang rata-ratanya peniaga sejati, iaitu peniaga kecil di Pulau Pinang, disamping membantu kerajaan negeri terutamnya bumiputera melangkah kepada ciri-ciri usahawan yang berjaya.

YB Mohd Fairus dalam ucapan perasmiannya yang turut dihadiri oleh YB Raven, YB Ustz Maktar,YB Poh Bon,SU PKR Negeri Pak Mus dan penyokong, menjelaskan bahawa kerajaan negeri Pulau Pinang pada tahun ini telah berjaya mendapat pelaburan sebanyak RM 8 Billion ringgit dan usaha membawa syarikat gergasi Samsung dijangka akan membantu rakyat Pulau Pinang mendapat peluang pekerjaan.

Malaysia's PM-to-be says by-election a must win

Sat Dec 13, 2008 2:46pm IST
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysia's ruling coalition needs to win a by-election in January to re-establish its credibility after it performed poorly in recent polls, the country's prime minister-in-waiting said on Saturday. ...";

By David Chance

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysia's ruling coalition needs to win a by-election in January to re-establish its credibility after it performed poorly in recent polls, the country's prime minister-in-waiting said on Saturday.

The Barisan Nasional government that has ruled Malaysia for 51 years slumped to its worst election result in March and in an August by-election, opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim was returned to parliament with a larger than expected majority.

"We have to win because we want to make the victory a starting point for BN (Barisan Nasional) and UMNO's revival from the defeat in Permatang Pauh (Anwar's seat)," Najib Razak, who will become prime minister in March, told a meeting in the rural constituency where the vote will take place on Jan. 17.

On Saturday, Najib, who is finance minister, handed over a 408.6 million ringgit ($114.1 million) cheque for oil royalties to the state on the east coast of Malaysia where the by-election will be held, according to Malaysian news agency Bernama.

Najib is set to take office after the departure of lacklustre Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was brought forward by UMNO, the dominant party in the Barisan Nasional coalition.
The by-election is a key test for Najib, who will lead the government campaign in a constituency that is almost 90 percent Malay, the race traditionally represented by UMNO, compared with 60 percent nationally in this country of 27 million people.

The opposition alliance will put up a candidate from an Islamic party that held the seat in 1999 and hopes to retake the marginal constituency which was won by the government with a majority of just 628 votes in the March general election.

It is taking place against a backdrop of a sharp deterioration in Malaysia's economy with growth set to drop to 3.5 percent next year, according to government forecasts, and to zero according to some private sector forecasts.

Legoland In Malaysia: Yet To Reach Public’s Pockets

With another two theme parks set to join the 200-hectare Legoland, which should be completed by 2012, Johoreans may be able to look forward to some fun and games.

It has been three years since Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi first announced the Iskandar Development Region to boost the economy in south Johor. Some 37 months and 11 days plus RM41 billion in investment pledges later, businesses in the area are still waiting for this boost.

In fact, they are finding themselves in the middle of an economic slump. The Malaysian Insider understands that this evening, yet another mega project in what is now known as Iskandar Malaysia will be announced in the form of an RM800 million Legoland theme park, Asia's first. Abdullah will witness the signing of a joint venture between Iskandar Investment, the investment arm of Iskandar Malaysia, and Merlin Entertainments Group, who represent the interests of Danish toy building blocks manufacturer Lego.

Add to this the RM40.25 billion claimed by Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman already committed, and Johor should be looking forward to coasting through the current economic slump. But numbers on paper do not seem to be translated into real business for small-medium enterprises or the labour force here. South Johor SME association president Teh Kee Sin told The Malaysian Insider that local entrepreneurs are yet to reap any trickle-down effect, as in fact, tangible and physical evidence of investments are rare.

"We do not feel the benefits as developments have been slow," he said. Most of what has been put in place is merely infrastructure, but actual trade and business have not yet mushroomed in Iskandar.

Speaking to The Malaysian Insider, state opposition leader Dr Boo Cheng Hau (DAP-Skudai) claimed that the RM460 million rail link between Tanjung Pelepas Port and Senai airport has not been utilised and new factory lots were only seeing 10 per cent occupancy. Even these infrastructural projects, according to Teh, have been awarded at federal level, leaving local contractors high and dry. Meanwhile, SMEs are forced to do everything they can to control running costs. Keeping inventories under strict control is perhaps simply about good management.

Despite Abdul Ghani quoting statistics from the Malaysian Industrial Development Authority, saying that at least 9,757 new jobs had been generated in Iskandar Malaysia with the investments in the manufacturing sector, SMEs have been forced to reduce wage bills. Teh said that they have freezed hiring, eliminated overtime, cut hours, implemented three or four-day weeks and retrenched — in order of ascending desperation — as order books have been hit by a 20 to 70 per cent reduction in sales.

With today's announcements to come after a high-level progress update meeting between Abdullah, Abdul Ghani and top Iskandar executives, the questions that need to be asked are not about how big the project is becoming but how much of it is being delivered to the ground. With another two theme parks set to join the 200-hectare Legoland, which should be completed by 2012, Johoreans may be able to look forward to some fun and games. However, all play and no work makes Johor a depressed economy.