• Red tape culture leads
  to corruption. Prime Minister said that government should repeal outdated
  act in order to enhance the nation’s competitiveness. He said that the
  delay of the investment plans may not caused by workers but due to a
  lots of procedures and bureaucracy.

• Organizations consists
  of alternation front, NGO, Students leader, people protests on the High-Way
  Tol’s Rate Increment. They will have 2^nd demonstration
  on 14 Jan, to protest against the government’s disregard of the aspirations
  of the people, resolutely allow for the increment. Besides, they request
  government to disclosure the agreement between government with the highway
  concessionaires.

• Although cabinet announced
  deferment of the new measurement against 38mm net, however fishermen
  still remain worried. Yet, Marine strictly suppress on illegal foreign
  workers had forced fishermen returned from the sea.

Education

• Deputy Minister of
  Education, YB Dato’ Hon Choon Kim indicated that a total of 38 consists
  of 31 Reallocation and 7 New Chinese Primary School is approved
  by Minister of education within 7 years(2000-2007), which offers up
  to 22,000 quotas.

• Malaysia Airlines (MAS)
  became the first government-linked company (GLC) to participate in PINTAR
  or Promoting Intelligence, Nurturing Talent and Advocating Responsibility,
  where it committed to spend about RM500,000 to adopt two underprivileged
  schools here under a three-year programme. (官方联系企业 guān fāng lián xì qǐ yè -
  government-linked company (GLC) )

• The PINTAR project
  is a commitment by GLCs to help raise the awareness of the importance
  of education as a way to improve the academic standards and attainment
  of underprivileged children from their deprived socio-economic conditions.

• A total of 42 schools
  in the country will be adopted by 17 GLCs under the programme and Khazanah
  Nasional Berhad, which was appointed, as a secretariat by the federal
  government, will monitor it.

Politics

Mahau State Rep Quits DAP

• DAP challenge State
  representative of Mahau, Ng Sembilan Lim Hui Ming to resign his post
  as assemblymen, and ask for having a by –election.

Batu-Talam
By-election

• Barisan Nasional (BN)
  leaders Thursday took the Opposition, namely PAS and PKR, to task for
  boycotting the Batu Talam state by-election this Jan 28, describing
  them as play-acting and making a coward move due to fear of losing.
• The Alternative Front,
  which groups the Opposition’s political parties, Thursday blamed the
  Election Commission (EC) for their action to boycott the Batu Talam
  state by-election on Jan 28.
• PAS Deputy President
  Nasharuddin Mat Isa said the boycott was made as the Opposition wanted
  to send a strong signal to the commission to improve immediately its
  flawed polling system. He dismissed the notion that the Alternative
  Front resorted to the action, as they had no chance of winning in the
  by-election.

Net Issue

1. The Cabinet, Wednesday decided to defer enforcement of the ruling on the use of the 38mm-mesh `keroncong’ fishing net and instructed the Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Minister to hold a dialogue with the fishermen to seek their views on the matter.
2. Energy, Water and Communications Minister Datuk Seri Dr Lim Keng Yaik said in a statement today that at the Cabinet meeting, he and Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting had supported the fishermen on the use of such fishing nets.
3. DS OKT emphases, the deferment cannot solve the problem thoroughly. He believed that Tan Sri Dato’ Muhyiddin Yassin understand the crucial of the problem and will report to cabinet next wednesday after conduct meeting with fishermen.
4. DS LKY was not satisfied upon the net issue, he said that the new measurement can protect fish fry from being caught theoretically, but it do not work practically yet do not care about the fisherman. He urged the fishermen to renew their license [grace period until 31 of March] as soon as possible to avoid action being taken against them.

Batu Talam By-election

• Pas and Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Wednesday night announced that they would boycott the Batu Talam by-election scheduled for Jan 28. PAS deputy president Nasharudin Mat Isa said the decision was taken following the discovery of discrepancies in the electoral roll for the constituency.

General

• National Youth Secretary General, YB Dr. Wee Ka Siong urge MCA’s leaders brave to voice out their opinion when facing any races’ issue. He said that MCA has to tell the truth without fabrication as to safeguard the benefits of community.

• The Army is tightening security at the Malaysia-Thailand border following a grenade attack, which injured four soldiers on patrol at the Ban Din Samoe military post near Sg Petani at dawn Wednesday. Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar said the government is trying to get more information upon the grenade attack.

• Deputy Minister of Education, YB Dato’ Hon Choon Kim said that 690 recruitment of teachers and 900 temporary teachers basically solve the lacking teaching power’s issue. Meanwhile, Malay-subject teacher will be deployed to fill up 1300 vacancies (of malay subject teacher) in Chinese primary school. He said that this is temporary solution, while more teachers majoring in both Chinese and Malay-subject will be trained.

• Three construction workers were killed and 9 others injured when the scaffolding they were on at a height of 15 metres at the Pavillion shopping complex construction site in Jalan Bukit Bintang here, collapsed.

• Transport Minister Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy has ordered a thorough investigation into the resurfacing job that resulted in a three-hour closure of the Bayan Lepas International Airport (BLIA).

• Coastal fishermen protest against new net regulations, there have been several protests over the new measures, 80% of the fishermen (Kuantan) have stopped going to the sea. The new measurement has brought over 50% heavy losses to the fishermen.

• The fishermen unanimously agreed that the new regulation would not protect the baby fishes and shrimp, yet seriously affected the living-hood of fishermen.The fishermen are not satisfied on new stipulation of Fisheries Department, they should not establish the new regulation without gathering opinion nor having discussion with the fishermen.

• The protest has brings the “net” issue to the cabinet. President of MCA, DS OKT will reflects the fishermen’s plight to the minister of Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Y.B. TAN SRI DATO' HAJI MUHYIDDIN BIN MOHD. YASIN.

• Minister of Entrepreneurial and Cooperative Development, Dato’ Mohamed Khaled Nordin said that the 500million low-rate interest (2.5%) loan which announced by government yesterday is neither a free assistance fund nor a compensation of the disaster. Small and mid-scale commercial banks and maybank will take part into the campaign while affected business can apply for the loan.

• Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi signaled the government’s commitment in tackling cancer as he performed the ground-breaking of the RM340 million National Cancer Institute to be ready in about two years. Sited near the Putrajaya Hospital, the institute will be a center of excellence for cancer treatment and research besides focusing on aspects of prevention and training.

• He said that both traditional and western methods for cancer treatment has played a complementary role, therefore, Malaysia will not hesitate to seek for the assistance from foreign experts, and even from medical exchange program.
  

• PM said Election Commission (EC) Chairman Tan Sri Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman could inform him of the proposed modernization that he seeks for the commission.
  

• “Let him tell me what he wants,” the prime minister told a news conference after performing the ground-breaking for the National Cancer Institute project near the Putrajaya Hospital, here.

• LITRAK has proven that it needs to have an increment on the LDP Highway Tol’s rate. The decision to allow the recent toll increase (from RM1 to RM1.60) was based on representations by the concessionaires on their toll collection, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said Tuesday.

• Remark:Effective Jan 1, the toll rates for five highways in the Klang Valley — Damansara-Puchong Expressway (LDP), Shah Alam Expressway, Cheras-Kajang Highway, KL-Karak Highway and the Guthrie Corridor Expressway — were increased by between 30 sen and RM1.

• Regarding claims that People’s Justice Party had a copy of an agreement between the government and one of the highway concessionaires, he said the government could take action if the document was classified under the Official Secrets Act.

• Higher Opportunities for Private Education (Hope) programme launched Tuesday, will help more qualified students who are unable to secure a place in local public universities (IPTA) to further their studies in certain local private higher learning institutions (IPTS).

• Nine IPTS have pledged their participation in the programme, such as LimKokWing University College of Creative Technology, SEGi College and Asia Pacific University College of Technology and Innovation.
  

• Ong said the idea was mooted by MCA through its National Education Bureau, its Youth movement and its Chinese Community NGO Bureau with the cooperation of Yayasan Bakti Nusa.

• The flood situation in most of the affected states in the peninsula is improving, with less evacuees at relief centres this morning.

[ 09Jan2007 ]

politics

• YAB Dato’ Seri Abdullah said that, public workers should look serious into people’s opinion upon imperfect public delivery system, and try to improve the service and try to eliminate this view.

• Abdul Rashid (chairman of EC) suggested that to have amendment on law, after review on the 1957 Election Art. Greater power needs to be giving to EC, so that a transparent and free election can be conduct.

• EC Lacking power of:
  1. Determine the power of political parties to ensure free elections at any time.
  2. The power to control certain circumstances, during the election campaign.
  3. Power to ensure that all print and electronic media delivers report in a free and fair circumstance
  4. The power of control and publish upon the misused of public facilities
  5. The power of determines any activities related to donations.
  6. The power to stop corruption in the purchase of votes during election campaign

• Dr. Mathathir, if the government grants the total RM600 million to the UMNO headquarters saying is true, then the government has violated the law.

Culture & Religion

• Ong Tee Keat : vocational courses may not restrict on any languages, Chinese language teaching can be used.

• Ong Tee Keat : reminded Chinese community do not shout slogans on promote their mother tongue, however, concrete actions should be taken to enhance their own competitiveness, in order to be able to compete with others.

Business

• DS OKT said that a number of infrastructure projects and works would put on tender in the first half of this year (2007). He believes that this will promote the economic activities. Therefore, the domestic economy is expected to grow this year.
• Bank Negara will provide a total of 500million low-rate interest(2.5%) loan to business from affected flood area consists of 8 states.

• • Interest : 2.5%
  • highest loan : RM500,000
  • amortization period : 3years
  • grace period : 6months
  • guarantor : –
  • application start on : current date to 31/march/2007

• Phlishing email requested customer to updates profile, RHB remind its customers not to fall in trap.

• A total length of 7,000 km highways connecting several towns, Malaysia has proposed to offer loans for India upon the highway construction. Dato’ Seri S Samy Vellu said that even if the project is as high as 10 billion U.S. dollars, Malaysia has the abilities to build.

• Dato’ Sdri. Dr. Ng Yen Yen said that the best way to prevent domestic violence is to change the ordinary concept where “husband goes out to earn the bread, and the wife manages everything at home”, so that the equality between men and women can be obtained.

Remark:“husband goes out to earn the bread, and the wife manages everything at home”
->nan2 zhu3 wai4, nv2 zhu2 nei4

• She said that fights for more women’s right, do not mean to violate the rights of men. Malaysia constitution 8(2) stated that both women and men have the equal rights. Women and kids should not be treat badly in a family. 39% of women live under the shadow of domestic violence. Most of the cases have not reported.

• Dato’ Seri Ong Ka Ting wall can’t stop the globalization; both government and people have to be open-minded. Revolution is a must, so that Chinese community, Chinese association, politic party and individuals can work closely, co-ordinate as to promote the strengths/potential of Chinese.

Remark: revolution-> xing4 ge2 yong4 dong4

• Datuk Seri Dr. Fong Chan Onn, “like a family” – MCA leaders are in harmonious relations.

• Dato’ Seri Ong Ka Ting(OKT) said, MCA central committee will set the date of extraordinary meeting.

• The rates of LDP Highway reduced from RM2.10 to RM1.60, after feedback from MCA to cabinet.

• DS OKT said, “Cannot over restrict on leaders”.
• Will MCA members involved in demonstration, conflict with BN’s spirit? MCA will conduct studies on that.