community April 20 22, 2012/ issue 70

Selcat
inquiry on
recent foods
Mosque
assault a
disgrace
p
12 14
p
2
Hows and
wHys of free
tertiary studies
p
4 5
Estate schools
super facilities
sHaH alaM: Some 2,000 people thronged acentury-old schoolnear
i-City to witness the launch of SJK (T) Ladang Midlands newly-
completed school complex last Sunday.
The school is touted to be the first in Malaysia to boast a
3,000-capacity, air-conditioned multipurpose hall which has been
named the Midlands Convention Centre.
Te RM4.9 million three-storey building also houses 24 classrooms,
a spacious canteen, library, computer and science laboratories.
Te vernacular school currently has about 200 students and its
chairperson K Uthayasoorian expect the number to grow to 1,000
within the next two years.
Most of the Tamil schools in Klang are overcrowded. Now the
parents have a choice to send their kids here (instead), said
Uthayasoorian.
He cited the example of SJK (T) Simpang Lima in Taman Sri Andalas
that has nearly 2,500 students.
In addition, SJK (T) Midlands is also well-known for
its footbal l team, which won the under-12 state
championship this year despite the lack of a field for
practice.
Once the school administration moves to the new
complex, headmistress G Varaletchimy said the two
temporary buildings they have been using since 2004 will
be demolished to make way for a feld.
Established in 1908, the former estate school has been
relocated four times due to redevelopment in Shah Alam.
Selangor gave the school RM3 million and a four-acre
land to build the complex and the groundbreaking
ceremony was held in April last year.
Menteri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim said several times
during his speech that he was very happy for the school.
I wish the school the very best. Your success is our
success, said Khalid, whose administration has allocated
millions of ringgit for vernacular schools since 2008.
Meanwhile, the school has raised RM500,000 on its
own but is still looking to collect RM1.4 million for the
halls construction.
Uthayasoorian said the contractor had agreed to let the
school pay the construction cost in instalments.
The school had decided to expand the hall from a
capacity of 50 tables to 130 in order to rent it
out for functions like weddings to earn revenue.
Also present at Sundays launching ceremony
were state executive councillors Dr Xavier
Jayakumar and Yaakob Sapari, Selangor Deputy
Sp e a ke r Ha ni z a Ta l ha , S e ki nc ha n
assemblyperson Ng Suee Lim, Gombak MP
and Bukit Antarabangsa assemblyperson
Azmin Ali, Subang MP R Sivarasa, Senator S
Ramakrishnan, Kedah executive councillor S
Manikumar and Port Dickson assemblyperson
M Ravi. SJK (T) Ladang Midlands victorious under-12 football team with Dr Jayakumar, Khalid, Yaakob and Azmin.
2 april 20 22, 2012
news
phone (603) 5523 2288
fax (603) 5523 1188
email editor@selangortimes.com
EDITORIAL
CHIEF EDITOR KL Chan
COMMUNITY EDITOR Neville Spykerman
PRODUCTION EDITOR C Gunasegaran
WRITERS Tang Hui Koon, Chong Loo Wah, Gan Pei Ling, Basil
Foo, Yasleh Hani Mat Yassin, Alvin Yap, Gho Chee Yuan
COPY EDITOR James Ang
DESIGNERS Jimmy C. S. Lim, Chin Man Yen
PHOTOGRAPHER Victor Chong
ADVERTISING Timothy Loh, Ivan Looi
ADVISORS Faekah Husin, Arfaeza Abdul Aziz
Morning
Friday Saturday Sunday
afternoon
night
Selangor WeaTHer
Source: Malaysian meteorological department
Good news for Alam Perdana buyers
Leaders condemn
mosque violence
SHAH ALAM: An assault on a As-
Solehin Teras Jernang mosque commit-
tee member during contentious elec-
tions on April 8 was condemned by
lawmakers on Wednesday.
Mosque administrator Mohd Abd
Basir Alias, the incumbent, was head-
butted by an individual identifed as a
contender in the elections at the Bandar
Baru Bangi mosque.
Tis uncivilised action is more akin
to the samseng culture and will nega-
tively afect the communitys harmony,
said Selangor PAS commissioner Dr
Abd Rani Osman.
Te incident happened afer Abd
Basir began the mosques annual gen-
eral meeting when both were standing
close to each other.
Dr Rani claimed the attacker, from
a rival political party, got away scot-free
while Abd Basir was lef with a black
eye. He added that the incident hap-
pened in front of many witnesses and
that police were present during the
assault.
Te administrator lodged a police
report in Kajang out of fear for his
safety. Hopefully the police will take
swif action on this, said the Meru state
lawmaker.
Te police attended because the
elections were expected to be tense as
both PAS and Umno groups were pre-
sent, said Shah Alam MP Khalid Sa-
mad.
However, he said the attack was
unexpected and could have been a sign
of desperation by certain parties as
mosques did not hold elections for their
committees before 2008.
Meanwhile, both lawmakers felt that
the one-year jail term imposed on for-
mer imam Hoslan Hussin was excessive.
Hoslan was found guilty of con-
tempt of court for throwing his shoes
at a Federal Court bench on Feb 22.
He was speaking out against misap-
propriation of mosque funds but in-
stead, that case was closed while the
person pursuing the case is now being
jailed, said Dr Rani.
He added that PAS will donate
RM800 a month to Hoslans family
while he serves his jail term and aims to
raise RM20,000 for Hoslan via a dona-
tion drive.
SHAH ALAM: Student activists, who have been living in
tents at Merdeka Square since April 14 to call for free tertiary
education, said they were attacked Tursday morning.
In an email sent to the media, Occupy Dataran representa-
tives said about 70 thugs attacked their encampment at about
2.45am on April 19.
Tose with cameras and recording devices were ambushed
and attacked. One person has been sent to the hospital by
ambulance, read the email.
Te activists also tweeted at 3.11am that girls were not
spared from the attack, with some who were sleeping in tents
being kicked.
Tey said all the tents erected at the iconic public square
were destroyed by the attackers, many of whom were clad in
black shirts.
Police ofcers who were nearby when the altercation oc-
curred were blamed for not stepping in to stop the clash.
Te students have been camping at the square in shifs since
April 14 to campaign for the abolition of the National High-
er Education Loan Fund (PTPTN) which they say has lef
thousands of students mired in crippling debt.

Thugs attack
student protesters
Dr Rani (left) and Khalid at the press conference. Right: Mohd Abd Basir sporting a black eye.
SHAH ALAM: An eight-year wait
is fnally over for home buyers in Ta-
man Alam Perdana, as the once stalled
project in Kuala Selangor has beensuc-
cessfully revived.
Te state, through Menteri Besar
Incorporated (MBI), managed to reha-
bilitate the residential development
that was abandoned since 2004, said
Menteri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim
in a press statement on Wednesday.
Some1,116 terrace and 2,500 low-
cost home buyers will get theirkeys and
the Certifcate of Fitnesson April 28.
Khalid said the low-cost housing
project was turned around afer Selan-
gor intervened by bringing in state
subsidiary Permodalan Negeri Selan-
gor Berhad (PNSB) to complete the
stalled development.
PNSB completed the project last
month with the the necessary plumb-
ing, sewerage and electrical works afer
taking over in November 2009.
Selangor paid RM147 million to
acquire the land for the stalled develop-
ment from developer Ladang Bukit
Cherakah Nominees Sdn Bhd so that
construction of the houses could re-
sume. Besides the cost of acquiring the
land, an additional RM40 million was
allocated to complete the infrastruc-
ture last year.
MBI expended all eforts at ensur-
ing the abandoned project would be
completed and that buyers get their
titles as well as the Certifcates of Fit-
ness.
Khalid, who is Ijok assemblyperson,
said he would also brief some 203 pur-
chasers that their two-storey Arcadia
units would be demolished and rebuilt,
also by PNSB. He said the abandoned
houses had to be demolished as they
could not be salvaged.
SELANGOR TIMES APRIL 20 22, 2012 3
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4 April 20 22, 2012
News
Pittance from Putrajaya
SHAH ALAM: Apart from RM49 million
for Cyberjaya, Selangor received negligible
federal funding for food mitigation under
the10th Malaysia Plan.
TeSelangor Department of Irrigation and
Drainage (DID) revealed the drastic drop in
allocations in the past two yearsduring apub-
lic inquiry into the Hulu Langat and Klang
fash foods on Monday.
Its director, Ab Qahar Osman (pic), told
the Special Select Committee on Compe-
tence, Accountability and
Transparency (Selcat) that the
RM49 million was meant for
the Multimedia Super Corri-
dor Flood Mitigation Plan.
In contrast, Putrajaya had
approved a RM1.9 million
project for the DID to control
riverbank erosion along a
tributary of Sungai Daman-
sara.
No federal funding was re-
ceived to carry out projects in
the other seven districts in-
cluding Hulu Langat and
Klang.
Weve submitted project
proposal s (amounting to over
RM100 million), but only one pro-
ject was approved, said Ab Qahar.
Previously, Putrajaya had allocated
RM67 million to Selangor DID
under the Ninth Malaysia Plan (2006
to 2010) and nearly RM112 million
under the Eighth Malaysia Plan
(2001 to 2005).
Tis severe drop in funding had
raised eyebrows at the inquiry and
Selcat chairperson Datuk
Teng Chang Khim immedi-
ately queried Ab Qahar who
attributed it to the change in
Putrajayas funding pattern
under the 10th Malaysia
Plan, in which allocations
were not set aside from the
beginning but given out on
a rolling basis.
Te Federal government
may have more urgent pri-
orities to attend to in other
states like in Negeri Sembi-
lan, he said when asked by
reporters again after the
public hearing.
His statistics also showed that federal fund-
ing usually surpassed state funding but the
situation was reversed under the 10th Malay-
sia Plan. (See Table above)
Selangor had given the department close
to RM48 million since 2011.
Ab Qahar said they were spending RM24
million for four projects in Klang and nearly
RM20 million on eight projects in Hulu
Langat.
Te Selcat inquiry was carried out to fnd
out the causes of the fash foods that hap-
pened in Hulu Langat and Klang last month
and steps that are being taken to prevent
similar disasters.
Apart from Ab Qahar, Hulu Langat and
Klang district ofcers, Ampang, Kajang and
Klang municipal council presidents, lawmak-
ers whose areas were afected and executive
councillor Rodziah Ismail also testifed at the
public hearing.
More than 1,000 families in Hulu Langat
and over 400 families in Ampang were af-
fected by the March 7 fash foods and more
are coming forward still, Hulu Langat District
Ofcer Haris Kasim said.
Meanwhile in Klang, over 5,000 homes, 15
schools and countless shops and factories were
hit by the March 30 foods that submerged
close to two-thirds of the Klang District.
Klang residents have set up a legal team to
look into the possibility of suing the relevant
government agencies for failing to mitigate
the disaster.
At the SELCAT Public Inquiry

8th Malaysia plan 9th Malaysia plan 10th Malaysia plan
(2001-2005) (2006-2010) (2011-Present)
*rolling plan
Federal RM 111.85 mil RM 67.06 mil RM 1.9 million
Special project
MSC Flood Mitigation plan RM 340.52 mil RM 49.0 million
State RM 66.8 mil RM 57.1 mil RN 47.9 million
Long-term food
mitigation hindered
by lack of funds
SHAH ALAM: Te Klang Municipal Councils (MPK)
does not have enough funds to alleviate persistent fash foods
in the municipality.
We know low-lying areas in Klang like Taman Bayu
Perdana are food-prone, MPK acting president Ikhsan
Mukri said during the inquiry.
He said MPK had worked together with the Department
of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) to devise a 100-year storm-
water management plan back in 2009 to solve Klangs food
woes.
However, the estimated cost came up to RM1.38 billion
an amount almost equivalent to Selangors annual budget.
Due to the lack of federal funding, the state called for a
50-year plan instead and allocated an initial funding of RM5
million for MPK and DID to carry out short-term food
mitigation projects.
Ikhsan also defended MPK at the public hearing and said
the council is spending up to RM4.1 million this year to clean
its 2,560km-long waterways.
He pointed out that DID handed over some 1,000km-
long drains to the municipality in 2003 but they had no
additional money for maintenance.
Also, the municipalitys area almost tripled from 185 sq
km to 574 sq km in 2005.
Ideally the drains should be cleaned four times a year, but
due to limited budget, were doing it on an ad hoc basis, he
said.
He noted that Klang was hit by fash foods three times
in March northern Klang was afected on March 2, south-
ern Klang on March 27, and two-thirds of the municipality
on March 30.
But he acknowledged that fawed design of monsoon
drains at Harbour Place in Port Klang and Jalan Teratai in
Meru were also to blame and needed to be fxed.
He added that MPK has yet to receive the RM3.5 million
the state had promised during the Deepavali celebration at
Jalan Tengku Kelana last year to fx its long-standing food
woes.
Dive in funds
blamed for
foods
SHAH ALAM: Selangor PAS lawmakers have hit out at
the Federal government for reducing the amount of alloca-
tions for food mitigation in the state.
State PAS commissioner Dr Abd Rani Othman said under
the Eight Malaysia Plan, the state received RM111 million
for food mitigation from the government.
Te ninth plan saw the amount drop to RM60 million
and the 10th plan, which rolled out in 2010, saw the amount
reduced dramatically to RM1.9 million, he said.
Dr Rani, at a press conference on April 18, added that the
reduction in allocations could explain why massive foods
occurred in Hulu Kelang and Klang last month.
Te allocations are necessary for projects like automated
water gates and construction of water retention ponds to
mitigate the efects of fash foods.
Shah Alam MP Khalid Ibrahim added it was unfair that
Selangor taxpayers paid RM16 billion annually to the Fed-
eral government but only received RM400 million in return.
Even for projects like road resurfacing, the state had to
step in to contribute because the Public Works Department
( JKR) said they did not have enough funds.
DID denies allegations
SHAH ALAM: Selangor Department
of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) re-
futed claims by certain parties that the
department failed to open its foodgates
in time to prevent the foods in Klang.
Its director, Ab Qahar Osman, told
Selcat all but two foodgates were opera-
tional on March 30.
Klang member of Parliament Charles
Santiago and local councillor Yew Boon
Lye had claimed that they have photo-
graphic evidence of the foodgates that
were not opened to channel the foodwa-
ter.
Tey had also lashed out at DID for
blaming the foods on high tide during a
press conference on April 6.
Te Klang Municipal Council has also
confrmed during the public hearing that
it was not high tide during the downpour.
Its acting president, Ikhsan Mukri,
noted that it was low tide 1.8m at
3am when the rain started and it rose to
around 3.8m at 9am, but still lower than
the level of 4.5m recorded on previous
days.
He speculated that the high tide on a
previous day may have prevented storm-
water from an earlier food on March 27
from receding completely.
Te Selcat public inquiry was called
to dispel rumours on the causes of the
fash foods.
Executive councillor Rodziah Ismail subsequently
explained to Selcat why the state had only approved
an initial funding of RM5 million for MPK and DID
afer the March 30 foods.
We didnt reject their proposal, we want them to
come back with a more detailed (50-year) plan, she
said.
Selcat chairperson Datuk Teng Chang Khim com-
plimented Ikhsan for providing a detailed analysis of
the challenges MPK faced at a press conference afer
the inquiry.
Apart from Teng, Deputy Speaker and Taman
Medan assemblyperson Haniza Talha, Hulu Kelang
assemblyperson Saari Sungib and Subang Jaya assem-
blyperson Hannah Yeoh also sat through the inquiry.
Bukit Antarabangsa assemblyperson Azmin Ali,
who is also Gombak MP, was present in the morning
but lef in the afernoon for Parliament.
Barisan Nasional lawmakers Sulaiman Abdul Razak
(Permatang) and Ismail Sani (Dusun Tua) were absent.
5 April 20 22, 2012
News
Record rainfall
to blame
(From left) Saari, Teng, Haniza and Yeoh listening to the explanation by offcials of
local authorities at the public hearing.
SHAH ALAM: Extraordinary amount of
rainfall was cited by local authorities as the
primary cause of recent foods in Hulu Langat
and Klang, during the public inquiry.
Hulu Langat District Ofcer Haris Kasim
told the Selcat panel that the recorded rain-
falls ranged from well over 100mm to 202mm
during the March 7 foods, while Ampang Jaya
Municipal Council (MPAJ) president Datuk
Mohammad Yacob said he had never seen
anything like that during his six-year tenure.
Our drainage system can only cope with
70mm of sudden rainfall, Mohammad said.
He added that MPAJ had spent RM5.1
million to deepen 12 main rivers under its
watch in 2005 and to improve its drainage
system since 2006.
He added fash foods in his municipality
were usually caused by downpours of around
80mm.
When asked by Selcat member Hannah
Yeoh how ofen such heavy rain fell, Selangor
DID director Ab Qahar Osman said only
once in a 100 years.
He added that his departments food con-
tingency was for 50 years.
Klang Municipal Council (MPK) acting
president Ikhsan Mukri, who testifed in the
afernoon, said Klang received up to 99mm
of rainfall within a span of three to four hours
on March 30.
He said unlike Hulu Langat which is more
hilly, rainfall of just 40mm during high tide
can already cause fash foods in low-lying
areas in Klang.
If we had over 200mm like in Hulu Lan-
gat, the entire municipality might be sub-
merged, quipped the civil servant.
However, Ikhsan also acknowledged that
other factors such as an aging drainage system
and clogged drains had exacerbated the situ-
ation, adding MPK lacked funding to upgrade
or clean the towns 30-year-old drainage which
includes2,560km of waterways.
Compounding the problem was the fact
that new developments were causing further
strain on existing drainage.
MPK already allocates RM4.7 million in
its annual budget to clean and upgrade its
drainage and water retention ponds but the
council needs more funds to implement long-
term food mitigation.
Selcat chairperson Datuk Teng Chang
Khim told the press afer the inquiry that the
select committee needed to conduct more
in-depth study into the matter and will pre-
sent its report at the next state assembly sit-
ting.
Lawmakers call for better coordination
PETALING JAYA: Elected representatives who testifed
at Selcat called on the state and relevant agencies to devise a
standard operating procedure to cope with disasters.
Kota Alam Shah assemblyperson M Manoharan said there
was a lot of confusion when his service centre tried to provide
aid for the food victims in Klang.
At frst it was said (Muslim victims) will receive RM300
from zakat, then it was announced the state is giving each
household RM500. People were confused, he said.
Te state had clarifed that non-Muslim households will
receive RM500 aid while Muslim families will receive RM300
from the state and RM300 from zakat.
Manoharan added that the April 13 deadline for aid ap-
plications was too soon as service centres needed time to
verify the claims.
I received over 5,000 aid applications. One of them was
from a Bangladeshi, another from someone who lives on the
ffh foor, and a 12-year-old, too!
Meanwhile, Lembah Jaya assemblyperson Khasim Abdul
Aziz said he received around 422 aid applications from Hulu
Langat food victims.
He noted that some members of the public were bewildered
as state departments and federal agencies had set up separate
mobile counters.
Kajang assemblyperson Lee Kim Sim concurred and said
there should be better coordination among the agencies to
avoid confusion.
At the SELCAT Public Inquiry
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6 APRIL 20 22, 2012
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SHAH ALAM: A total of 150
projects to improve infrastructure
via Selangorku grants have been
approved so far by the state.
These initial projects will be
carried out under four phases.
Te approved budget for the
frst two phases is RM5.4 million
while the third and fourth phases
are still being discussed, said Men-
teru Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim
last Firday.
A total ofRM300 million was
allocated for Selangorku from
profts of state-linked companies
under the 2012 budget.
Khalid said theapproved proj-
ects involved repairing, construct-
ing and resurfacing roads, install-
ing street lights, building drains,
upgrading mosques and construct-
ing sports facilities such as futsal
courts.
A total of 19 projects will be
implemented in the frst phase, 17
in the second, 37 in the third and
77 projects in the fnal phase.
Te state had received up to 585
project proposals amounting to
RM110.61 million but only a
quarter have been approved so far.
Infrastructure
boost for
Selangor
Work sites
ordered to
stop work
(From left): Hashim, health assistant offcer Mohamad Syazwi and
Dr Satwant checking a discarded container for aedes larvae.
By Alvin Yap
PETALING JAYA: Surprise checks by the Selangor Health Department
saw six construction sites in Puchong ordered closed for allowing aedes
mosquitoesto breed in their premises.
Our ofcers discovered enough aedes larvae breeding at each site to
warrant issuing a stop-work order on the spot, said Petaling district Envi-
ronmental Health Ofcer Hashim Abd Aziz yesterday.
A total of 130 personnel from the Vector Borne Disease Control
Unitcarried out checks on 18 construction sites during a mammoth op-
eration to check the spiralling number of dengue cases in Selangor.
Tey found stagnant pools of water and also discarded construction
material at these sites and owners were warned to clean up or risk being
brought to court.
Te owners were given fve days before the ofcers return for follow-up
checks.
Meanwhile, three other construction premises in Puchong were issued
with a RM500 compound fne during the operation.
Checks were also conducted at a work site in Section 51A, Petaling Jaya,
where a compound was issued to a contractor.
Assistant director for disease control Dr Satwant Singh said the rise in
dengue cases these past few months was due to the frequent rainfall.
According to state health department data, between 20 and 30 dengue
cases are reported every day and Selangor had registered 3,370 cases since
January.
So far, the Klang, Petaling and Hulu Langat districts have recorded 946,
941 and 735 cases respectively
Six people also died fromdengue haemorrhagic fever, in the Klang and
Petaling Districts, last month.
7 APRIL 20 22, 2012
news
By Alvin Yap
SUBANG JAYA: Members of
the public are being urged to be
wary of imposters cashing in on a
fundraising programme for Per-
satuan Kebajikan Kanak-Kanak
Kurang Upaya, Subang Jaya (P3KU)
Children Welfare Association.
Dont give these groups any
cash. Cheques should be sent to our
mailing address only, said P3KU
president Jessie Yau at a press confer-
ence on Wednesday to caution the
public.
Te group launched a donation
drive last month at Subang Parade
to raise funds to build their own
skills training centre.
Under the programme, titled
Running Te Sahara for Special
Kids, three senior Iron Men Yee
Sze Mun, Dr Jagjit Singh Sidhu, and
Dr Lee Cheewee Hoe took part
in the Marathon Des Sables in Mo-
rocco to raise funds and awareness
for the charity.
P3KU, based in USJ 2 here,
raised RM150,000 from the event
and the fundraising drive was closed
although well-wishers could still
send their donations by cheque to
the group.
Yau said they were shocked to
learn that unscrupulous groups were
cheating the public by using her
organisations name and cause that
they were fghting for.
Earlier this month, she learnt
that Angry Birds balloons were be-
ing sold at RM20 each, purportedly
for P3KU.
Subsequently, she started receiv-
ing reports that individuals were
going around soliciting funds in SS
15 last week.
She said the bogus representa-
tives have been using P3KUs fyers
that depicted the heroic acts of Yee,
Dr Jagjit and Dr Lee running the
Sahara marathon.
The original pamphlet from
P3KU stipulated that donations in
the form of cheques should be made
payable to the associations bank
account, while the con men only
asked for cash donations.
Tis is shocking...that people
are going around cheating people by
taking advantage of our fund-raising
drive, Yau said. She has lodged a
police report on the matter.
Meanwhile, Subang Jaya assem-
blyperson Hannah Yeoh has called
on the police to investigate and ar-
rest the culprits.
She also cautioned people not to
be too hasty in their charitable
(From left) Yau, Yeoh, P3KU deputy president Sharon Lee and P3KU secretary Christine Teoh with the
police report on the bogus fundraising operation.
Fraudsters on the prowl
deeds, no matter how noble the
cause. Te public should not hand
over money to individuals or groups
seeking donations in cash
Instead ask for the groups de-
tails, fundraising information and
also bank account number, she said
at her service centre here during the
press conference.
She also called for supporters and
donors to P3KU to attend a wel-
coming home event for Yee, Dr
Jagjit and Dr Lee on April 29 at
MPSJ community hall at USJ 2
here.
8 april 20 22, 2012
news
EvEnts
Breast Cancer Awareness
Chempaka Buddhist Lodge Petaling Jaya will be
organising a Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign on
April 21 from 7.45pm to 9.30pm. The campaign will be
led by PinkRibbonR2R project organising committee
chairman Dr Devanand, a consultant breast surgeon.
Those interested, head on down to No 60, Jalan
SS23/25, Taman SEA, 47400 Petaling Jaya. Admission
is free. For details, call 03-7880 3936.
Food and Fun Fair
The Divine Life Society will be organising a Food and
Fun Fair on April 22 from 10am to 3pm at Divine Life
Society Petaling Sub-Branch at No16, Jalan 18/16,
Taman Kanagapuram, off Jalan Klang Lama. Join
them for a day of fun for your family and treat yourself
to mouth-watering delicacies like nasi lemak, mee
goreng, spring rolls, curry puffs, rojak and more. All
food items are vegetarian. Also, stand a chance to win
attractive prizes and hampers as lucky draw prizes.
There will also be numerous game stalls. For details,
call 019-3808219 (Rajesegar), 017-8810848 (Sujatha),
019-2406784 (Loga), 012-2127676 (Mohan) or visit
www.sssc.org.my.
Yoga Lessons
Learning is Fun studio in Mont Kiara will be conducting
a yoga class every Tuesday from 6.30pm to 7.30 pm
and on Thursdays, 10am to 11am. Come join them for
some healthy stretches. Those interested, call 019-233
2968 or email info@learningisfun.com.my.
Reading Contest
A reading competition titled Reading Rocks! will be
organised by Cambridge English For Life in August. It is
open to all children. This competition aims to encourage
more children to read books to help them improve
their vocabulary, listening, speaking and reading skills.
Entries close on June 2. For entry forms and details,
log onto their website www.cambridgeforlife.org.
Dental Health Month
Stand a chance to win a family trip to Universal Studios
Singapore by taking part in Colgates Oral Health Month
this April. Enjoy educational marquees on dental health
and hygiene while at the same time receiving advice
from experts on oral health. Also stand a chance to
get free Colgate products at various locations all over
Malaysia. For the full list of participating venues and
dental clinics, visit www.oralhealthmonth.com.my.
Wesak Day
Bandar Utama Buddhist Society is inviting all to
celebrate Wesak Day with them from May 4-5 at
Uttama Bohid Vihara, No 3 Jalan BU3/1 Bandar Utama.
Highlights of the event are Dhamma talks, health
talks, offering of lights, blood donation, organ pledge
campaign and monks blessing services. Chantings
and candle lighting will begin from 8pm on Wesak Day.
For more information call 03-77106010, 03-77106013,
016-9147283 (Teh) or visit www.bubsoc.org.
Klang Centro Run
Sign up now, before April 29 to get the early bird fee
for the 12km and 6km marathon run on July 1. Those
signing up early will only need to pay RM35 and RM25
as compared to RM45 and RM30 if signing up after
April 29. The run, which will take participants through
the historical sights of Klang town is open to everyone.
For registration forms and details, visit the Centro
mall customer service counter, call 03-33433011 or
download the form from www.centro.com.my Events
& Promotion.
Video and Documentary Course
The offce of Kota Damansara assemblyperson Dr Nasir
Hashim is organising a two-day Video and Documentary
Course from May 5-6. The course, aimed at teaching
youths how to make and flm a documentary, will be
held at Dewan MBSA, Jalan Utarid U5/9, Mutiara
Subang, Sek U5, Shah Alam. Registration is required.
For those interested, call 03-6142 1225, 016-9708370
or email nasirk.damansara@gmail.com.
BAtu CAVes: Te families of 1422
Bukit Botak settlers will end a three-de-
cade wait for homes when the Selangor
State Development Corporation (PKNS)
completes their houses in November.
Te units will cost them RM99,000
each, and are expected to be completed
in November, with the Certifcate of Fit-
ness (CF) issued before that, said Selay-
ang member of Parliament William Le-
ong at a press conference at his service
centre in Taman Selayang Jaya recently.
He announced that balloting for units
will be carried out for the frst 707 fami-
lies to determine which of the single-
storey semi-detached houses they will
receive.
Te exercise will be held at the Bukit
Botak housing project site along the 9th
mile, Jalan Sungai Tua in Bandar Baru
Selayang on April 21.
Tere has been a scam where certain
agents said they were able to arrange for
corner lots and are asking for a RM5,000
fee, Leong revealed.
He advised the settlers not to be de-
ceived by the rumour and to convey their
requests for corner lots to PKNS.
He reassured the settlers that if they
had not received their letters for the lot-
drawing exercise, it was probably due to
a clerical error and they should contact
PKNS.
Tey have not received letters prob-
ably because their forms are not complete
without names, addresses, or PKNS
cannot contact them.
Te PKNS Shah Alam Sales Depart-
ment can be reached at 03-55192211.
Another two lot-drawing sessions will
be held in May and June for the rest of
the settlers.
Leong explained that a delay in the
project, which was initially scheduled
for completion by June this year, was due
to an illegal shop owner who refused to
move from the project site.
Te operator has since lost an injunc-
tion in court and we were able to resume
construction work, Leong said.
He added that PKNS was still willing
to assist the shop owner, despite the lat-
ters illegality.
Those who dont want the homes
afer receiving them can sell them back to
PKNS at RM160,000, said Taman Tem-
pler state constituency coordinator Mo-
hamad Abd Rahman. He said this ofer
was made by the state due to the inability
of some of the settlers to pay back the
bank loan of RM99,000.
He said the longstanding issue began
when the settlers who moved into the area
in the 1970s were told to move out in
1986, a year afer a census was taken, to
make way for the construction of homes
for them. But this project never materi-
alised.
A census was carried out by the Dis-
trict Ofce in 1985 it and managed to
identify the families of the settlers. Each
family was to have been given one lot
each, he said.
Afer 2008, Mohamad suggested that
the state not only give land to the settlers
but also develop it with homes and infra-
structure to ensure a well planned town-
ship.
(From left) Mohamad, Leong and Selayang municipal councillor Zaidy Abu Talib at the press conference.
Nov date for Bukit Botak settlers
Govt might miss
Apple for the trees
By Basil Foo
petALing jAYA: Malaysias own
Apple, Google and Facebook could
well be overlooked by the Economic
Transformation Programme (ETP)
drivers who are ill-equipped to recog-
nise innovation,warned an analyst.
Te government is the least able
body to find transformational pro-
grammes, said Research for Social
Advancement (Refsa) executive direc-
tor Teh Chi Chang (pic).
He made the remarks during a talk
on Najibs Economic Tranformation
Record: Are we on the right track? at
the Crystal Crown hotel recently.
Teh explained that governments,
as stewards of taxpayers money, have
to look at a companys track record and
are not meant to incubate start-ups.
Te analyst added that only by look-
ing at a companys records could the
government identify prudent invest-
ment decisions.
For instance when the United States
chose information technology to lead
the countrys economy in 2002, they
likely leaned towards successful compa-
nies.
Back then, those dominating the IT
industry were Microsof, HP, Dell, and
even IBM. Tey would have been the
ones chosen.
He added that the most transforma-
tional brands now, Apple, Google and
Facebook, were in dire fnancial straits or
even non-existent 10 years ago.
Apple was in dire straits, Steve Jobs
just rejoined them. Google was a cash-
strapped start-up. Te founder of Face-
book was still in school, Teh said.
So far the ETP has chosen govern-
ment-linked company Malaysian Re-
sources Corporation Bhd (MRCB) to
co-develop St Regis Hotel and Resi-
dences and multi-billion ringgit con-
glomerate Genting to co-develop Johor
Premium Outlets.
If big-guns like these are chosen, what
chance does a start-up with a genuinely
transformative idea have? Start-ups have
no track record, Teh said.
Te ETP intends to bring Malaysia to
a high-income nation status by 2020 and
is managed by the Performance Manage-
ment and Delivery Unit (Pemandu)
which is under the Prime Ministers
Department.
Also speaking during the talk was in-
dependent political analyst Ong Kian
Ming and Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony
Pua.
Te talk was organised by the ofce of
Kampung Tunku assemblyperson Lau
Weng San who was also present.
9 April 20 22, 2012
news
We were bullied
to move out
KUALA LUMPUR: Former
residents of Kampung Kerinchi,
who were forcefully evicted from
their fats, bid a fnal tearful farewell
to their childhood homes on April
14.
Te transition period was ugly.
Te methods to get us to move out
were forceful, said Jamaliah Kudai,
70, who has lived there for almost
four decades with her children and
grandchildren.
She, along with 34 other families,
held a memorial ceremony at the
foot of the four-storey fats along
Lorong Kerinchi Kiri 2 last Saturday.
She added that while they were
given RM73,000 as compensation
from the Land Ofce, they did not
have enough time to move out from
Jamaliah (second
from left) with
her children and
grandchildren
taking one last look
at their home.
Do not compromise road safety for business
the area.
Residents lamented that violence
was used during a site-clearing op-
eration which was conducted by the
Land Office and Kuala Lumpur
City Hall (DBKL) on April 3.
We were not treated humanely,
said Kampung Kerinchi Flats Ac-
tion Committee member Mohd
Idros Tokiran.
Tey will be sending a memoran-
dum to the Human Rights Commis-
sion of Malaysia (Suhakam) and are
seeking legal advice on what tran-
spired.
Resident Abdul Latif Mohd
Mahidin, 47, also said the compen-
sation amount ofered was too low,
yet they were forced to move.
Another 433 families had earlier
taken the compensation and had
moved out to public housing ofered
by DBKL in Puchong and Seri
Chempaka in Pantai Dalam.
Those who remained had to
contend with demolition works
being carried out in the vacant units
which was another form of force
used to get us out, he said.
Abdul Latif remained adamant
that their rights should be respected.
He explained the residents here
were joint owners of the fats and
land, to which they had over 60
years lef on their lease.
Back in the 1960s, my parents
moved to settle here from Perak.
Weve been through so much as a
community. The historical value
here is priceless. Now they want to
Khalid: Shut down Lynas
before its too late
shAh ALAM: Some 200 anti-Lynas
protesters gathered at Dataran Shah Alam
last Friday to reiterate their stand against the
Australian miners rare earth plant.
Opponents of the controversial RM2.5
billion Lynas Advance Material Plant
(LAMP), in Gebang Kuantan, fear that the
plant will produce massive amounts of radio-
active waste and pose a danger to Malaysians.
Putrajaya said they will only close the
plant if its proven to be unsafe. Are they
waiting for deaths to happen or more people
to get cancer before shutting it down? asked
Shah Alam member of Parliament Khalid
Samad.
He added that it was clear the Federal
government had no sincere motives to close
down the plant.
Khalid was present at the protest to-
gether with Meru assemblyperson Dr Rani
Osman, Parti Sosialist Malaysia (PSM)
secretary-general S Arutchelvan, Hulu Kel-
ang assemblyperson Saari Sungib and other
non-governmental organisation representa-
tives.
Tis protest was held alongside 10 other
rallies across the country to compel Putrajaya
to stop the controversial rare earth refnery
in Pahang from operating.
Prior to this, about 8,000 other protesters
from all over the country had attended a
rally in Kuantan on Feb 26.
THe Barisan Nasional government, in award-
ing the Automated enforcement System
(AeS) Project to Beta Tegap Sdn Bhd and
ATeS Sdn Bhd whereby the two private com-
panies in return for installing cameras in 831
locations will be entitled to a share of fnes, of
which fnes for unpaid trafc summonses for
2000 to 2009 amounted to RM5.8 billion, has
created a situation where there is a confict of
interest amounting to gross derogation of the
governments duty to promote road safety.
Under the business model, the companies
will receive a share of the fnes on three levels.
At the frst level, each of the companies frstly
will receive RM16 for each trafc summons
for the frst fve million summonses issued. For
summonses issued afer fve million, the com-
panies receive as the second level payment 50
per cent of the balance of the summonses up
to RM270 million per year and afer RM270
million they receive further payments at the
third level of 7.5 per cent of the balance of the
summonses.
Te companies internal projection is that
they will achieve an internal rate of return of
17 per cent based on 10 million summonses
issued each year.
By reason of revenue being tied to the
number of summonses issued, the business
model for the two companies and Trans-
port Ministry will depend on
ensuring that the number of
speeding violations must not
be less than 10 million each
year and if they are to increase
their profts and growth over the
years the number of speeding vio-
lations must by necessity be in-
creased accordingly.
Te government, in turning the issuance of
traffic summonses into a business for the
maximisation of profts, has derogated from
its duty to promote road safety. Tis is because
if motorists keep to the speed limits, these two
companies will not be able to make any prof-
its.
Since business profts are contingent on a
minimum number of trafc summonses being
issued, this model is incompatible with any
programme to promote road safety and reduce
speeding. Tere is thus a serious faw in this
AeS Project.
The Transport Ministry should not be
looking to trafc summonses as a proft cen-
tre. It should be looking towards a study
whether the speed limits are too low in the
light of modern highway design. Te ministry
should be looking at ways to reduce speeding
and road accidents.
An example is the police pro-
gramme such as Ops Sikap. Road
safety is improved by the physical
presence of the police where a
friendly warning not to speed
is more efective than an
injudicious mechanical taking
of pictures by hidden cameras. Not all speed-
ing is wrong. Te police have on many occa-
sions assisted motorists by acting as outriders
for drivers rushing someone to the emergency
ward of a hospital. Te automatic cameras in
the AeS when implemented not only cannot
assist but will issue summonses to every am-
bulance and fre engine rushing to save lives
and property.
Tis privatisation of trafc summonses is
an example of the Barisan Nasional govern-
ment having lost sight of its duties to the
people in their feeding frenzy to make money
out of every conceivable aspect of government.
I ask the Prime Minister to review this AeS
Project because road safety cannot be com-
promised and should not be turned into a
business venture.
In a related matter, Datuk Seri Dr Chua
Soi Lek in his capacity as president of MCA
has denied that Beta Tegap Sdn Bhd or ATeS
Sdn Bhd is linked to MCA.
However, this project was mooted and
implemented under the watch of three trans-
port ministers, all of whom are from the
MCA. I ask Dr Chua and Datuk Seri Kong
Cho Ha, the present transport minister to
disclose the date this AeS Project was award-
ed and whether the directors or shareholders
of these two companies are known to the
minister or ministers concerned.
William Leong Jee Keen
Member of Parliament Selayang
tear it down.
Also present was Community
Residents Association of Selangor
and Federal Territory (Permas)
president Tan Jo Hann, and Lembah
Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar.
Tan said the Land Acquisition
Act 1960 which was used to force
the residents to move out was cruel.
Tere have been similar cases
like this the Jinjang Utara Long-
houses and Matang Pagar in Raw-
ang, where residents were evicted
and not properly compensated, he
said.
He added that Permas will launch
a campaign against unfair laws in a
few months.
Nurul Izzah warned that with
such a law in existence, forced evic-
tions can still happen anywhere.
Any development should take
into account the interests of existing
residents and owners. But what was
done here can be repeated in other
places..
10 april 20 22, 2012
news
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By Alvin Yap

ampang jaya: Residents from Pandan Jaya and
Taman Cempaka here will not have to go far to read in
a conducive environment with the opening of the Pan-
dan Jaya community library.
Te library at Jalan Pandan 4 opened on Tuesday with
over 1,000 volumes ranging from dictionaries to refer-
ence books that will be available to residents at 10 low
and medium-low cost developments in the area.
Te premises will meet residents needs for a library.
I hope they will fully take advantage of the facilities,
said Ampang Jaya municipal councillor Meor Rithuan
Mohamed Said at the sof launch ceremony.
Assistant librarian Netidah Mohd Lia said they were
aiming to ofer up to 5,000 books by July.
Te library is open Monday-Friday from 9am to 6pm,
and on Saturday it is open from 9.30am till 5.30pm.
Managed by the Selangor Public Library Board
(PPAS), it was built with a budget of RM250,000 which
includes the cost of obtaining 1,000 books.
Netidah said the public can only start to borrow the
books early next month as the management has not
completed organising and tagging the volumes.
Te library also has six Windows-based computers
and one Apple Mac for the public to conduct online
research.
Cempaka assemblyperson Iskandar Samad said
youths in the area should use the library facilities for
group studies and also to read and gain knowledge.
Pandan Jaya gets
community library
Meor Rithuan: Hopes residents will fully utilise
the library facilities.
He said the library was a former community hall
that was refurbished and renovated into the present
premises.
Iskandar said the state was currently looking into
converting vacant buildings into community libraries
in order to save on construction costs.
Selangor feels that, instead of one big library, we
should build community libraries that are closer to
ratepayers homes and more accessible, he said afer a
press conference to announce the grand opening of the
library next week by Menteri Besar Tan Sri Khalid
Ibrahim.
Iskandar also handed over a cheque for RM10,000
to the library to purchase more books.

kuala lumpur: Well-
known jeweller Wah Chan is now
ofering its Mom & Me Mothers
Day Limited Edition Collection
jewellery to celebrate Mothers
Day.
Te jeweller recently unveiled
the specially designed collection
of locket pendants created from
9K or 18K rose gold and white
gold along with mother-of-pearl,
green jade or diamonds.
Jewel ler y is a great and
thoughtful gif for our beloved
mothers, said Wah Chan market-
ing manager Michelle Chan.
Te jewellery comes with two
interchangeable pieces, with
green jade worn for protection
while the mother-of-pearl gives
the wearer calmness.
Each locket pendant is intri-
cately crafed from a combination
of rose gold, white gold and dia-
monds that exudes stylish moder-
nity.
Te locket pendants come in
four designs, with fowers repre-
senting joyful wishes to mothers
while the heart-shape design
symbolises love and loyalty.
Every year, jewellery lovers
look forward to Wah Chans
Mothers Day Collection. Last
years limited edition was com-
pletely sold out. It was a hit and
very popular among all ages,
Chan said.
The locket pendants come
packaged in a unique Chinese
lattice red box.
It is available exclusively at
Wah Chan showrooms nation-
wide until stock lasts.
Wah Chan is also ofering an
exclusive pearl and crystal bracelet
with purchases of white gold dia-
mond jewellery worth RM1,500
and above in a single receipt.
Citibank has also tied up with
Wah Chan, ofering cardholders
a 10 per cent discount on this
limited edition.
For more information, call
Wah Chan Customer Careline at
1300-88 7121.
Loving
gifts
for
Mom
11 april 20 22, 2012
views
I
ts been a good nine months since the
epic Bersih 2.0 rally of July 2011. I still
remember the days that came before that
mammoth gathering - the tension, the
stress, the uncertainties, and most of all: the
unyielding desire of the rakyat for free and
fair elections - and realize that, given the
special circumstance that we are in today
what with polls being weeks or months
away, those thunderous days may not be
repeated verbatim.
At least that seems to be what analysts
and some people in the Najib administra-
tion are wont to say. And while these may
still be early days, the thinking is that by the
state not reacting like the over-reactionary
hypochondriac that it was last year, people
would be dissuaded from attending the
third instalment of the gathering to call for
free and fair elections.
I personally do not think a public rela-
tions-produced velvet glove can much
hide the iron fist with which the govern-
ing coalition has practised its brand of
politics all these years.
To explain what I mean, we only need to
remind ourselves of the speed and stealth
employed by the Government in passing the
Peaceful Assembly Act 2011 last year, much
to the dismay and chagrin of human rights
activists and legal watchdogs both here and
abroad; and just wait until the so-called
ISA replacement bills are put forward in
this session of Parliament - already various
bodies are calling for the Najib administra-
tion to tread carefully, e.g. the Bar Council
has cautioned that the term security of-
fences - which include an act that is preju-
dicial to national security or public safety
- is currently too wide.
And lets not even start with that PSC
report.
In the final analysis, the only transforma-
tion on show here is of the Decepticon kind.
Nor will a public relations-induced vel-
vet touch make many people reconsider
supporting Bersih 3.0.
The cautious fashion with which various
ministers are already stating the official
(sometimes conflicting) position(s) - for
example, Nazri says Bersih 3.0 is kosher and
the organisation need only speak with the
owners of Dataran Merdeka, whereas His-
hammuddin has asked Ambiga and A Sa-
mad Said to check in with the police first
- is a foreshadowing of what is to come, in
the days leading up to April 28 2012.
No matter the glove or the touch, I,
for one, will be attending this rally.
The reason is fairly simple - since the end
of 2010, I have been working for Lembah
Pantai member of Parliament Nurul Izzah
Anwar. And since then, I have come to wit-
ness the panoply of problems that beset the
electoral roll: total postal voters in 2008
was 146; up until the 3Q11, there was a
jump to over 2,100 (an increase of 1,400%)
- where did all these policemen come from?
Of these, 457 of postal voters come from
Pusat Tahanan Sementara Bukit Jalil, which
was a locality in the Bandar Tun Razak
parliamentary constituency; strangely, this
island of postal voters will now vote in
Lembah Pantai, even though it sits some
7km away from the border; in the physical
copy of an electoral roll we received from
Election Commission itself, there was a
voter by the name of Balai Polis Kerinchi.
There are five addresses in Lembah Pan-
tai where over 100 names are registered to
vote per address.
Some voters had recently been shifted
either into Lembah Pantai (Tan Sri Khalid
Ibrahims case comes to mind) or out (one
voter complained to me personally that he
was moved without his knowledge to now
vote in Tg Malim).
This is just Lembah Pantai. Multiply this
by 222 parliamentary constituencies, and
an umpteenth more of state seats, and youll
start to understand the magnitude of this
maelstrom.
And so, dear reader, we must come out in
support of Bersih 3.0 on April 28. For a
cleaner, freer, fairer, and better elections. For
a better democracy. For a better Malaysia.
Cleaner, freer, fairer, better
Kthxbai!
Fahmi Fadzil
L
ets say we table a Members of Parliament Proper
Conduct Bill, and inserted sub-section 15(4) of the
current Universities and University Colleges Act
(UUCA) Amendment Bill. Why not? Both are institutions
meant to pursue truth and generate debate.
If the BN government deems it necessary to regulate
those occupying university halls, why not do the same for
those sitting in parliamentary chambers?
Under such a law, if Higher Education Minister Datuk
Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin were to be asked his opin-
ion on abolishing the PTPTN, the national higher educa-
tion loan administrator, his proper response would be: I
cannot comment. I am trained only as a lawyer, whereas
this question involves economics, sociology and all kinds
of issues outside my area.
Until a BN-style MP Proper Conduct Bill is passed,
Khaled is free to publicly comment on matters beyond his
academic qualifcations.
Embracing this freedom, he remarked on March 28 that
closing down the PTPTN would not be viable.
Let me say that, at face value, I agree with the minister.
I think eliminating the PTPTN is too drastic, though we
must look into the causes of its sickly low loan recovery
rate and be open to new ideas, such as requiring institutions
receiving PTPTN disbursements to provide part-time
employment for students, and vigilantly monitoring insti-
tutions that over-enrol PTPTN loan recipients.
Before cutting public funding for higher education, the
government must justify its current expenditure and dem-
onstrate results in combating fraud and wastage.
But I would like to see Section 15 of the UUCA ripped
to shreds and thrown to a bonfre.
Te well-known sub-section 15(2) has been hammered
for decades for prohibiting student membership in po-
litical parties.
Can they, under the UUCA amendments? A small yes,
and a big but. Yes, students can be members. But they can-
not participate in political party activities on campus, and
any student who is a party ofcer cannot hold any post in
any society, organisation, body or group of students.
The ferocity and paranoia of these restrictions are quite
breathtaking. Not to mention another prohibition: stu-
dents cannot be members of non-political party organisa-
tions that the Board determines to be unsuitable to the
interests and well-being of the students or the University.
Section 15 also appears word for word as Section 47 in
a concurrent Private Higher Educational Institutions
(Amendment) Bill, so these tentacles of mind policing
stretch across all higher education institutions.
Such laws are unwarranted; any claims of education
reform are hollow and disingenuous. We are witnessing
more of a re-caging exercise.
Participation in political parties, societies and organisa-
tions is a fundamental, constitutional right.
If a university has a problem with students political
activities, deal with them frst and foremost as persons and
citizens. Tere is no need for separate legislation governing
student political engagement.
But enough about that, we are familiar with the debate.
And sub-section 15(2) is, emphatically, not the most cor-
rosive part of the amendments being tabled.
Sub-section 15(4), mostly retained from UUCA
amendments of 2009, bares the governments perfectly
half-hearted attitude and boxed-in mentality toward aca-
demic freedom.
Yes, students are no longer explicitly prohibited from
expressing an opinion about a political party.
But not for non-political organisations, unless approved
by the authorities. Tey can make statements, but only on
an academic matter which relates to a subject on which
he is engaged in study or research.
Te prevailing education philosophy, which presides
over the higher education amendments, views education
institutions as production lines, except now the govern-
ment brands the desired output as narrow specialists, not
mere degree holders.
Hence, students can hold an opinion publicly, but only
in their area of specialisation. To venture beyond invites
ofcial scrutiny and possible punishment.
Even sof skills have been reduced to a hard science, such
as compulsory courses in doing presentations to address
the problem of defcient communication skills.
Of course, we must cultivate better communication,
but the roots of poor skills in this department run much
deeper than the ability to present a slideshow. I am con-
vinced students are impeded more by poor thinking
skills, low confidence in the value of their ideas, and fear
of saying things that may be out of line with received
knowledge.
From my experience, university students can put on
quite an impressive powerpoint show.
Obviously, they are trained, and this has its merits. But
when asked questions afer the scripted portion, they are
stumped, unable to think on their own feet.
Tey remain uncomfortable outside their zone of spe-
cialisation.
Prodding and guiding them toward becoming the
critical, innovative thinkers we keep saying we need re-
quires a climate of true academic freedom. Te tabled
UUCA amendments fail.
BN MPs enjoy freedom to comment on all sorts of
matters, regardless of formal training and in implicit rec-
ognition of the fact that we can apply our minds broadly.
But for students, they still prefer to lock them up.
Just make the cage roomier.
Good conduct Bill for MPs?
wit pleasure
Lee Hwok Aun
12 april 20 22, 2012
InsIght
By Alvin Yap
T
he idea of the right to access higher education is en-
shrined in a number of international human rights
conventions.
The United Nation International Covenant on Eco-
nomic, Social and Cultural Rights states that higher edu-
cation shall be made equally accessible to all, on the basis
of capacity, by every appropriate means, and in particular
by the progressive introduction of free education.
With education costs in Malaysia undergoing some
say steep rise in prices, suggestions from politicians call-
ing for free higher education is increasingly finding trac-
tion among students groups in the country.
As such, the argument for or against free tertiary educa-
tion is being featured heavily in political stump speeches
across the country.
Among supporters of the idea that Malaysia could have
a free higher education system are various student groups
in the country.
For one, they say that it could mean that poorer candi-
dates would not have to resort to taking out student loans,
even that of the government run Higher Education Cor-
porations Loan Fund (PTPTN).
However, in an era of dwindling education budgets
across the globe resulting in cutback in public education
spending, the question arises of how free higher education
should be funded in Malaysia.
In the United Kingdom, for example, austerity policies
came about in 2010 after the Conservatives came to
power.
The cost cutting measures saw tens of thousands of
students taking to the streets of London in a demonstration
in November 2010.
They were protesting over government plans to increase
tuition fees while cutting state funding for university
teaching.
UK Prime Minister David Cameron said that the pub-
lic education spending of 11.5 percent of the yearly ex-
penditure was too high.
Among the Scandinavian countries, Sweden has done
away with tuition-free universities when they passed a
law in 2010 that gave the universities the ability to
charge tuition for students from non European Union
countries.
THE CASE
HIGHER
EDUCATION
free
for
Should the government-run Higher Education
Corporations Loan Fund (PTPTN) be abolished
if free tertiary education system is implemented in
the country?
For one, PKR strategy director Rafzi Ramli is
suggesting that PTPTN ought to be scrapped, as
free varsity tuition can be funded by using Petronas
oil royalties.
Alternatively, he said Putrajaya could forgive the
debts by spreading the repayment costs over sev-
eral years.
He asserts that abolishing PTPTN and wiping
out student debt under the scheme will cost under
RM25 billion and not RM43.6 billion as claimed
by the government.
He said that the RM43.6 billion fgure repre-
sented all approved loans; however, only RM25
billion has been disbursed so far.
He said that the student debt amount could be
wiped out by using state oil frm Petronass contribu-
tions to the governments cofers, which totalled
about RM60 billion per year
If we set aside RM2 billion from Petronas
every year to pay for the loans owed to the govern-
ment, it can be settled in about a decade, said
Rafzi.
Within 10 years, we can pay the RM24 billion.
Simple. RM2 billion from RM60 billion is about
three per cent... Its no problem whatsoever, he says.
He adds that the RM2 billion that ought to be
set aside would represent a small amount if con-
trasted against the RM60 billion annual oil revenue.
Te 34-year-old accountant also said that, alter-
natively, Putrajaya could opt to issue bonds to stag-
ger the repayments.
He also suggested that those who have already
repaid a portion of their loans will also be given a
partial rebate, the percentage of which can be fxed
at a later stage.
Meanwhile, Deputy Minister for Higher Educa-
tion Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah disagrees with the
calls to abolish PTPTN.
He said that the cost to implement universal free
tuition coverage would be prohibitively expen-
sive.
He points out that students from low-income
households could opt for the PTPTN loans, which
was created for this purpose.
Te Temerloh MP, however, said that Putrajaya
could further improve the management of the
government-run study loan.
We should really look into the management of
PTPTN, he says.
He said that Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamalud-
dins recent suggestion that the PTPTN loan inter-
est be waived could be further looked into.
PTPTNs website notes that the one percent
interest rate was meant for the agencys administra-
tion fee.
Saifuddin said that the interest could be done
away with, but stresses that PTPTN borrowers must
still repay their principal loan amount.
Abolishing PTPTN
or wiping out loans?
In 2011, students had to pay tuition fees in Swedish universities,
though the amount was supplemented by scholarship programmes.
Meanwhile, back home, opponents of free higher education in the
country say that the cost of bearing a free tertiary education scheme
would deplete the countrys treasury.
The 2012 budget allocated RM50.2 billion to the education sector,
but how much higher education receives from the total allocation is
unknown.
United Nations data from 2000-2002 showed that Putrajaya allo-
cated eight percent of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) towards
public education funding.
In comparison, countries in Europe with almost universal free
higher education allocate at least 15 percent of its total yearly budget
towards providing tuition fee free studies.
However, supporters at home are adamant that similar free varsity
level education can be funded with proceeds from the nations natural
resources.
Largely a federal opposition suggestion, the audacious plan for free
higher education would be borne by oil revenue from the countrys
petroleum reserves, worth RM60 billion annually.
Parti Keadilan Rakyat party strategy director Rafizi Ramli says that
giving free tuition is a realistic target to achieve.
The 34-year-old accountant claims that Putrajaya could fund free
varsity level studies by tapping into the RM631 billion oil royalty
Petronas has paid to the government since its inception in 1974.
Do we have money to build universities to ensure everyone who
is eligible gets a place? Yes, he said, adding that such a move would
be a return to its pre-1996 policy of providing free higher education
to all eligible Malaysians.
Allocating more money into higher education, and upgrading and
building more public universities all eligible Malaysians get a place-
ment in public universities, he said.
He also said that by putting more money into public centres of
learning, the academic standards of the universities will increase to a
point where it can ask for grants and other funding from the private
sector.
But how much should be allocated towards setting up a free
higher education scheme?
For now, Rafizi who is executive officer for state economic advi-
sor Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said he has not yet formulated a
shadow budget that would be needed to implement the system.
However, he said that the annual amount needed to maintain a free
education system represents a percentage of the yearly RM60 billion
oil royalty payments.
After we set it up, it will be a yearly expenditure that will maintain
the system, said the former Petronas executive.
He adds that Putrajaya can also give free university tuition without
straining the national budget by cutting down on defence spending
and also rooting out graft.
With a budget of RM232.2 billion for 2012, the Government al-
located RM13.714 billion for defence.
Despite an education spending of RM50 billion, Rafizi is convinced
that the government should balance its budget for military and defence
related spending and place more money into higher education.
He claims that tertiary education receives far less of the overall
RM50 billion education allocation compared to primary schooling
funding.
We have the best primary schooling system; its free from Standard
1 to Standard 6. But higher education funding is lacking, he said.
Rafizi also claims that the government would not need to increase
its tax rates to the level of those in the UK or Scandinavian countries
that are giving free higher education.
He stressed that the money would be available from tapping into
oil royalty payments made by Petronas to Putrajaya.
He claims that without a free tertiary education, poorer students
are saddled with debts due to them having to take out study loans from
banks or the government-run PTPTN financing.
Solidariti Mahasiswa Malaysia (SMM) chairperson Mohd Safwan
Anang said he agrees with Rafizis claim that a universal free tertiary
education should be given to deserving candidates who otherwise
cannot afford the tuition fees.
Having to assume loans only puts them in debt from the day
they sign up for the scheme, be it a bank loan or PTPTN loan, he
said.
His student group is demanding the immediate abolition of PTPTN
loans, which is described by the group as a burden to university un-
dergraduates.
He said that the four percent interest (maximum) being charged
on the loans as excessive, given that the applicants are from poor
households.
Among the grouses of the government-run study loan is that its
bursary dispenses RM1,500 in pocket money for a six-month period
to PTPTN students.
The finances that are disbursed by the scheme is inadequate to
sustain the cost of living students have to endure, especially in the
Klang Valley.
Those of us who are taking loans from PTPTN get only RM1,500
pocket money to last six months. It is not enough for us to pay for
rental and food, Safwan added.
Turn To page 14
14 april 20 22, 2012
InsIght
Te Higher Education Corporations Loan Fund (PTPTN)
was incorporated in 1997 to provide student loans to those
pursuing tertiary educations either in public or private insti-
tutes of higher learning.
An agency under the Ministry of Higher Education,
PTPTN was established on 1 July 1997 under the Na-
tional Higher Education Fund Corporation Act 1997 (Act
566).
Since its inception, PTPTN has issued some RM38
billion in loans and recently saw its annual allocation raised
to RM6 billion.
PTPTN also provides a savings scheme, and it admin-
isters and disburses the deposits for the purpose of provid-
ing loans for higher education to academically deserving
students.
Malaysian citizens not more than 45 years-old on the
date of application are eligible to apply for PTPTN educa-
tion loans for foundation, undergraduate and postgraduate
studies.
However, PTPTN only sponsors students who are
studying master or Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) or profes-
sional courses in public higher education institutes only.
Along with the relevant academic requirements, ap-
plicants in public and private learning centres must take
courses approved by the Higher Education Institute Man-
agement Department.
Students of private higher education institutes must
take courses with a Certificate of Accreditation from the
Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA) and its validity
must not have expired when the application is submitted.
Students must not have other sponsors and the
length of study must not be less than one year at time
of application.
(Source: PTPTN: http://www.ptptn.gov.my/web/english/
faq-english)
from page 13
Second-year undergraduate Rizal Mohd Shah signed
up for a RM25,000 PTPTN loan to fnance his Bach-
elor of Arts course in a local university here in Selangor.
Te Johor native says that he applied for the study
loan three years ago because of his familys fnancial
situation.
I come from a poor family and taking up the PT-
PTN loan was the only means of paying for my educa-
tion, he said when met at a protest rally here on Satur-
day calling for the abolishment of the government-run
study loan.
Te 24-year says he supports calls for the PTPTN
to be abolished and to be replaced with a free higher
education system.
Im protesting because the government can aford
to fund free tertiary studies. Yet, it wants me to take a
PTPTN loan that will cause me to be RM27,000 in
debt when I fnish my course in university, he says,
adding that the fgure comes from having to pay a four
percent monthly interest on the principal.
Rizal says that he will be hard pressed to settle his
monthly repayments of RM300, based on how much
a fresh graduate might earn in the frst two years of
working.
He explains that an entry-level graphic artist might
only earn a net income of RM1,500, which afer PT-
PTN deductions leaves him with RM1,100 to pay for
accommodations, food and other expenditures.
Of that amount, says that he would also have to send
home RM250 pocket money to his single mother in
Muar.
Rizal said that he should qualify for free higher edu-
cation as a student from a lower income family, claiming
that the repayment of PTPTN loans would set him
back fnancially for at least two years.
He also says that he knows that the call for the gov-
ernment forgive the loans is an election promise by
the federal opposition.
However, he wants the opposition to frst bring about
free tertiary education before going on to clearing the
RM24.7 billion PTPTN debts.
That is more important for now. Create a free
higher education system and then talk about wiping out
the debts, said Rizal.
Free tuition frst
Journalist and freelance writ-
er Melody Song (pic) took
up RM36,000 worth of PT-
PTN loan under her parents
suggestion, as she did not
want to burden them with an
outright payment.
I was happy to take on
the responsibility if it meant
less stress for my parents,
who still have my younger brother, and three aging
parents to think of, on top of their own impending
retirement, says Song, via email from her home in
Australia.
In 2009, she graduated with a degree in a Bachelor
of Arts from Monash University here in Sunway.
Song says she did not have problems clearing her
loans as she did not have any other fnancial obligations.
I was still living at home, I did not have to buy my
own car, and I was working several freelance jobs at the
time, she wrote.
However, she did help out the family by paying for
the household bills and groceries as well as setting aside
a sum of money from her monthly salary for her fam-
ilys allowance.
She began paying of the student loan with month-
ly repayments of RM200-RM300 to PTPTN.
Song says she paid of 30 percent of the loan before
migrating to Australia, and the rest of the amount was
settled by her mother.
In the end, my mother ended up paying about half
of the loan. I am determined to pay her back; but at the
moment setting up my own home in Australia, my f-
nances are a bit strained, she says.
She said that those who have entered into a contract
with PTPTN, fawed or not, should honour it and
repay it.
She points out that PTPTN loan defaulters would
deprive others of getting a higher education.
I dont believe PTPTN debts should be written of.
Borrowers need to own up to their obligations; you
cant count on pre-election promises to renege debts as
a sign of a good government, she wrote.
Song said that education is a right, not a privilege,
and the PTPTN issue should raise other questions
instead: access to afordable education either in private
or public universities.
She said the state run loan is a public asset for a
generation of students who cannot always aford qual-
ity education and should not be abolished.
PTPTN a public asset for a generation of students who cannot always afford quality education.
1. Finland
University education is funded by the state through the Min-
istry of Education and students enrolled in regular degree stud-
ies pay no tuition fees with exceptions.
Candidates for Bachelor, Master and Doctoral level pro-
gramme enrolled in public higher learning institutes do not need
to pay tuition fees.
However, students in both universities and polytechnics have
to pay for their books and other materials, plus their accommo-
dation and living expenses.
Some Finnish universities may charge tuition for English-
language Masters degree programmes for non-European Union
(EU) residents, which is decided on case-by-case basis.
2. Austria
Non-EU student enrolled at federal/public universities in
Austria need to pay 363.36 Euros (RM1,460) for tuition fees
plus 16.86 Euros for the Austrian Student Union and insurance
fee per semester.
Citizens from least developed countries are exempted from
paying tuition fees at public universities in Austria and only need
to pay 17 Euros per semester for the student union fee.
3. Norway
Norwegian universities and state university colleges do not
charge tuition fees even for international students.
However, students will need to pay a semester fee of NOK
300-600 (RM160-RM320) each semester, which is applicable
for all levels of studies, including undergraduate studies, Masters
programmes and Ph.D. programmes.
While some state universities and university colleges may have
tuition fees for a few specialised programmes, these are at Mas-
ters level studies.
4. Germany
For many years, higher institutions of education in Germany
did not charge any tuition fees for undergraduate studies.
But after the Constitutional Court of Germany lifted the ban
on tuition fees in January 2005, a number of Federal states now
charge tuition fees for undergraduate students.
Since the winter semester of 2006-2007, four out of 16 Ger-
man universities now charge tuition fees for undergraduate study
programmes of up to 500 Euros per semester.
All other federal states only request a certain amount of
money as a semester contribution of about 50 euros but charges
no tuition fees.
Postgraduate student at Masters or PhD levels are being
charged tuition fees since 2005.
The fees vary between 650 Euros andseveral thousand Euros
per semester.
Aside from the tuition fee, each student has to pay about 50
Euros as a semester contribution to the university.
Tuition fee free universities
in Europe
Conditions for
sponsorship
15 april 20 22, 2012
views
D
ear Lord Bobo, a former Sime Darby
GM was sentenced to 27 years jail
for corruption. Is this a sure sign that
the justice system is fnally taking corruption
seriously? Credit Where Due, via email
Yes indeed, Md Zaki Othman, a former
senior general manager of Sime Darby Engi-
neering was pinged with 27 years jail and fned
RM894,400 for corruption charges involving
more than RM180,000. Md Zaki also faces
another 112 months in the slammer (do Ma-
laysian prison cells slam like those on televi-
sion, or just sort of squeak loudly and shut
semi-securely?) if he fails to pay his fne. Te
crimes involved soliciting and receiving bribes
in the form of watches and furniture. Teres
no denying that 27 years jail is heavy, but lets
not get too excited and say it shows that the
courts are taking corruption seriously.
Late last year, former Selangor MB Khir
Toyo was found guilty of purchasing land for
RM3.5 million, which was lower than RM6.5
million previously paid for it by the seller.
Confict of interest. Abuse of power. RM3
million. Te sentence? 12 months jail. So
RM180,000 gets 27 years, and RM3 million
gets 12 months. Someones calculator must be
broken.
Ten again, Malaysian courts are not best
known for handing out sentences that are
proportionate to the crime committed. Tis
month, the Federal Court upheld a one-year
jail term imposed on a former imam, Hoslan
Hussain, for throwing his shoes at a Federal
Court bench in February (he failed to hit any
judges, by the way).
Hoslan is a father of seven, and will be
locked away for one year. Someone (or a group
of someones in elaborate robes and wigs) has
obviously lost touch with reality. Whilst Lord
Bobo does not condone the act of throwing
shoes at judges (perhaps heavier, sharper, and
more deadly items would be more appropriate
were joking, obviously), the sentence in this
case is obviously excessive.
Te Chief Judge of Malaya Tan Sri Zulke-
fi Ahmad Makinudin who incidentally was
one of the judges the shoes were fung towards
said that the act was demeaning, obnoxious,
and degrading, and that only a stif sentence
would redeem the dignity of the Federal
Court. His Supreme Eminenceness is of the
view that far more demeaning, obnoxious, and
degrading acts are committed by individuals
within and without the courts on a regular
basis. And it would take more than sending
this man to jail for one year to redeem the
dignity of the Malaysian judiciary.
D
ear Lord Bobo, Im informed by
some lawyerly-types that there are
some proposed changes that may
make publishing an article with LoyarBurok
even riskier than it already is. I am
considering writing for the blawg -- is it safe?
Much has been discussed about the pro-
posed Security Ofences (Special Measures)
Act 2012, which is currently making its way
through Parliament and is meant to replace
the infernal and dreaded Internal Security Act
1960 (ISA).
But there is another law that was also in-
troduced around the same time that may
impact every single online publication, and
the people who work in online publications.
Te proposed amendment to the Evidence
Act 1950 updates the definition of com-
puter in the Act to make it consistent with
the defnition in the Computer Crimes Act
1997, and also introduces a new section 114A
which is on its face quite innocuous. It relates
to publications via computers only.
Sub-section (1) says that if you are named
or your photograph or pseudonym appears on
a publication depicting yourself as as the
owner, host, administrator, editor or sub-
editor, or who in any manner facilitates to
publish or re-publish the publication is pre-
sumed to have published or republished the
contents of the publication unless the con-
trary is proved. So if your name appears on
an article, its presumed that you published
the article. Seems quite reasonable.
But it also includes the host, administra-
tor, editor or sub-editor of the publica-
tion. So basically, a sub-editor of the Selangor
Times online edition, whose name may appear
on the same page as an article, but who had
nothing to do with the article, may fnd herself
presumed to be the publisher. Of course, the
Selangor Times online rather cleverly has a
separate About Us page. Which is also the
case for most other online news portals or web
magazines. And so the list of people who are
deemed to have published content is pretty
much useless.
What is more troublesome is the presump-
tion applicable to any person who in any
manner facilitates to publish or republish the
publication. Te subsection clearly therefore
targets internet service providers, the IT de-
partment of any large organisation and IT
administrators in those departments all of
whom are now deemed to have published an
online article.
Te sub-section is so wide and so lacking
in clarity that it is ripe for abuse.
Sub-sections (2) and (3) provide that the
person named as a subscriber for an internet
service, and the person named as the owner
of a computer, from which a publication
originates is deemed to be the publisher. We
should therefore expect a lot of places ofering
free wi-f to now block emails from being sent
out or from people posting on their blogs.
Tese presumptions will have a chilling
effect on free speech, and the freedom of
people to use their computers to express
themselves.
Luckily, it wont matter if you write on
LoyarBurok since everyone knows who we
are, and we dont generally allow anonymous
publications. So just put your names to your
article, upload it from your house computer
and say proudly: Liberavi Animam Meam!
Seriously, corruption
and evidence?
Ask Lord Bobo is a weekly column by
LoyarBurok
(www.loyarburok.com) where all your
profound,
abstruse, erudite, hermetic,
recondite, sagacious, and other thaesau-
rus-described queries are answered!
BANDAR UTAMA: Marcellus Some-
thing is rotten in the state of Denmark is
one of the most ofen quoted Shakespearian
lines used to describe the sad state of afairs
in any given situation.
Coupled with Silence is not an option,
former Port Klang Authority chairman
Datuk Lee Hwa Beng released his tell-all
book, PKFZ: A Nations Trust Betrayed,
on the multi-billion Port Klang Free Zone
scandal this week.
Th e r e
has been a
mechanism
o f a b u s e
s i nc e t he
setting up of
this coun-
try, said Lee
during the
book launch
on Monday.
In every
g o v e r n -
ment-linked
c o mp a n y
there is one
representa-
t i ve f r om
the Pri me
Ministers ofce, one from the Ministry of
Finance and one from the relevant ministry.
In the PKFZ case, it was Ministry of Trans-
port.
Explaining the motivation for writing the
expose, Lee said people must speak up when
they see something wrong.
More so, when they are custodians of
public trust, such as himself.
We have a strange culture here. When-
ever, there is a scandal, the chairman is
sacked while others are promoted. But this
is not right, as everyone is involved, said the
former three-term assemblyperson.
If people had spoken up earlier, the
PKFZ scandal couldve been stopped.
Besides wanting to set the record straight,
Lee said that
t he p u b l i c
must learn not
to re-elect peo-
pl e who are
i nvol ve d i n
scandals.
In other
c o u n t r i e s ,
p e o p l e i n-
volved in scan-
dal s wi l l be
o s t r a c i z e d .
Here, they are
promoted or
get titles. Te
publ i c must
not vote for
these people as
otherwise the abuses will continues, said
the MCA politician.
In the 218-page expose, Lee recounts
some of the behind-the-scenes dealings
concerning the PKFZ issue.
Devoting two chapters of the book to one
of the companies involved in the issue,
Wijaya Baru Sdn Bhd, Lee noted that the
company was formerly known as Pacific
Baru Sdn Bhd.
Pacifc, wrote Lee, was also involved in
the Bakun hydroelectricity dam project.
Wijaya Baru, was once owned by Barisan
Nasional Backbenchers Club chairman
Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing, who also owns
Kuala Dimensi Sdn Bhd, the turnkey con-
tractor for PKFZ.
Te PKFZ issue was exposed in 2009
afer a PricewaterhouseCoopers audit re-
vealed that the initially RM1.845 billion
project had ballooned to RM4.6 billion
when the project was completed.
Te report further stated that the costs
would go up to RM12.6 billion by 2051 if
the loans were not restructured.
Lee has pledged to donate all the pro-
ceeds from the book to a charity. Te book
was co-written with former journalist Lee
Siew Lian and is publishd by Te Malaysian
Insider.
When silence is not an option
(From left) Former transport minister Datuk Seri Ong
Tee Keat, Lee and DAPs Lim Kit Siang autographing
copies of the book after the launch.
The crowd at the book launch.
16 April 20 22, 2012
Views
Problematic
voters may sway it
By Ong Kian Ming
I
n the frst part of this article, I highlighted fve problems
with the electoral roll which were not addressed in the
report by the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) on
Electoral Reform.
In this second part, I will highlight fve additional prob-
lems with the electoral roll, all of which concern the highly
problematic area of postal voting among army and police
personnel.
5. Postal voters who are registered using their regular
ICs
Army personnel, who are postal voters, have IC addresses
beginning with T. Police personnel, who are postal voters,
have IC addresses beginning with R, G and I.
If any of these army or police voters were previously regis-
tered as voters using their civilian IC numbers, their civilian
registration entries should be deleted from the electoral roll.
While this process may have taken place for most of these
postal voters, the possibility that these voters appear twice on
the electoral roll cannot be discounted. Tis possibility was
not investigated by the PSC on Electoral Reform.
Te analysis conducted by Mimos (Malaysian Institute
Of Microelectronic Systems) on behalf of the PSC was only
restricted to looking for voters who were registered under the
same IC number.
Conducting this analysis requires massive amounts of
computing power since the name and date of birth of each
army and police postal voter has to be matched with the name
and date of birth of every single entry in the electoral roll
(currently numbering more than 12 million).
Even researchers, political parties and politicians who are
interested in investigating the presence of this specifc problem
in the electoral roll would not have the capacity and know-
how to conduct this analysis.
Table 3 below shows two examples of army voters who were
also registered as voters using their civilian ICs. Te civilian
entries were deleted afer their inclusion was referred to the
Election Commission (EC).
Tis problem is not restricted to the presence of one person
registering under his or her own civilian IC as well as his or
her army/police IC.
It is also possible for the IC of army or police voter to be
used by his or her spouse. If this occurs, it would be much
harder to detect since it would not be the same name and
date of birth registered under two ICs - one army/police and
the other civilian.
If the spouse is registered twice, one using his or her
own IC, and one using the civilian IC of his or her army/
policy spouse, then the same name would appear twice but
having two diferent dates of birth.
Of course, one way to detect this is to check for the
mistake in the gender indicated by the IC and the gender
of the voter as indicated by the EC records.
Te screenshot below shows one such example of a wife
who was registered as a voter using the IC number of the
husband. Te name of the voter is female as is their gender
identity in the EC records but her IC number ends with
an odd number which indicates that the holder of the IC
is male.
When the IC number was inputted into the MyEG
(Malaysian E-Government) website, the name of the male
postal voter appeared.
Afer a total of 42 cases were discovered across fve par-
liament seats in Negeri Sembilan (Seremban, Rasah, Telok
Kemang, Rembau and Tampin) in Q2 (Quarter 2) of 2011,
the EC was obliged to delete these names.
Tis was a very time-consuming task since the civilian
IC addresses of the postal voters in question had to be
tracked down using other databases (since they are not
given in the EC website). In this particular instance, the
MyEG database was used because NRD (National Regis-
tration Department) no longer allows open access to their
website to check for the validity of ICs.
If ones wife could be allowed to register using the
husbands IC which has a diferent name, one wonders if
another person could register using any police/army postal
voters civilian IC address.
Table 4: Sample of Spouses of Police Voters who are
also registered as Postal Voters
17 April 20 22, 2012
Views
Again, this possibility was not addressed in the PSC
report. Tere are currently more than 200,000 army and
police postal voters. To ensure that their civilian ICs are
not being used by other people, a thorough investigation
needs to be conducted using the civilian IC numbers of
these army/police postal voters.
6. Spouses of police who are registered as postal
voters
According to section 2 of Elections (Registration of
Electors) Regulations 2002, spouses who qualify to be
registered as postal voters are as follows:
Spouseofaservingmemberofregularnaval,military
or air force of Malaysia, the Commonwealth or other
country;
Spouse of a person in the public service of the Ma-
laysian government or any state/local authority or
statutory body who is living with the serving spouse
outside the boundaries of Peninsular Malaysia or Sabah
or Sarawak;
Spouseofapersonengaginginfull-timestudiesatany
university, training college or any higher educational
institution outside the boundaries of Peninsular Ma-
laysia or Sabah or Sarawak and who is living with the
student at the time for application for registration as
a parliamentary or state elector.
Te spouse of a member of the police force is not eli-
gible to be registered as postal voters.
But in our analysis of the postal voters in June 2011,
we found there were over 4,000 spouses of police voters
who were registered as postal voters. Table 4 below shows
a sample of spouses of police voters who are also registered
as postal voters.
7. Spouses of army/police voters who are of the
same gender
In this category, spouses of army/police who are of
the same gender - i.e. same sex marriages - were identifed.
For example, in the Setiawangsa June 2011 electoral
roll, Harisah binti Ab Ghani (IC: 770130035668) was list-
ed being married to Zaini binti Hamzah (IC: T1110543).
When Zaini binti Hamzahs IC was searched in the
EC website, it was found that she had now become Zain
bin Hamzah/Lelaki and had been shifed to the Ketereh
parliamentary constituency in Kelantan.
In the most recent check, Zain was switched back to
Zaini binti Hamzah. Both Zaini and Harisahs current
voting constituency is unknown as both are listed as being
processed in the EC website.
8. Army and police voters who are above the retire-
ment age
According to the armys website, the retirement age
for army personnel is 55 (maximum). For certain grades,
it is lower than 55. For other civil servants, the mandatory
retirement age is 58.
A limited search of the June 2011 electoral roll revealed
over 44 names of police postal voters who were above the
age of 58.
For example, Wan Rasidy bin Roni (IC: RF151304),
born on Nov 19, 1900, which makes him 112 this year, is
registered in Balai Polis Lumut in the Lumut parliamentary
constituency.
9. New army and police postal voters who are above
the recruitment age
Te maximum entry age for army recruits is not more
than 30 years of age.
However, an investigation into the voters who were cut
from the electoral roll in Q3 2011 because they had joined
the army showed more than 200 recruits who were more
than the maximum age of 30.
Of equal or perhaps greater, concern is that these over-
aged recruits, who changed their place of voting in the
3Q of 2011, were then moved to another constituency
in 4Q 2011.
For exampl e, Abu Tal i b bi n Ahmad (I C:
690625086571), aged 42, was taken out of the 3Q 2011
electoral roll because he had joined the army. He was origi-
nally registered in the parliamentary district of Kuala Kan-
gsar in Perak as a regular voter with a civilian IC address.
According to the 4Q 2011 supplementary electoral roll,
this voter, Abu Talib bin Ahmad who was then registered
in the parliamentary constituency of Jeli in Kelantan, was
then transferred to the parliamentary constituency of
Ketereh as a postal voter.
In other words, in the space of six months, this voter,
who was not only over 30 years of age, had also experienced
two changes in his voting constituency from Kuala Kangsar
to Jeli and from Jeli to Ketereh.
Abu Talib bin Ahamd, aged 42, was registered as a new
army postal voter in 3Q 2011.
Examples such as these raise the possibility that over-
aged voters have been illegally recruited as army postal
voters and then quickly transferred from one electoral
constituency to another in successive quarters in order to
mask the origin of these suspicious army recruits.
In the Q4 2011 data, the EC no longer gave details
of why voters were deleted from the electoral roll, which
meant that voters who joined the army and police could
no longer be detected. One wonders why EC altered the
structure of the data released by quarter from 3Q 2011
to 4Q 2011.
How much diference will these problematic voters
make?
At the end of the day, one should ask the question of
how many problematic voters are in the electoral roll. Te
simple answer is that we really do not know.
Te cases highlighted under these 10 categories number
approximately 100,000. But even within these categories,
an exhaustive analysis has not been conducted because of
time and manpower limitations.
Tese problems could potentially be the tip of the
iceberg. Tey do not include addresses with a large num-
ber of registered voters. Tey do not include the 42,000
voters whose IC numbers could not be found in the NRD
database.
Tey do not include other categories such as the inser-
tion and removal of registered voters who do not appear
in any of the quarterly electoral roll updates. Tey do not
include other categories of possible electoral manipulation
which have not yet been analysed or investigated such as
the registration of voters in non-existent addresses.
Te inclusion of these categories could easily increase
the number of problematic voters to 400,000 names or
approximately 1,800 votes divided over 222 parliamentary
constituencies.
Considering that 35 seats out of 222 were won or lost
by less than 2,000 votes, these problematic voters can
potentially afect the balance of power in the next general
election.
History repeats itself?
If one does not think that the presence of these prob-
lematic voters is not sufcient to swing the overall elec-
tion results, I point to two past precedents where sudden
increases in the number of voters in the electoral roll in
states which were lost by BN which probably helped the
BN win back these states.
Te two states are Sabah afer the 1990 elections and
Terengganu afer the 1999 elections. We see the same pat-
tern being repeated in the state of Selangor leading up to
the 13th general election.
Te number of voters in Sabah increased by 17.6 per
cent from 1990 to 1995 compared to the national average
of 13.0 per cent. Tis was just afer PBS lef the BN coa-
lition prior to the 1990 Sabah state elections. PBS con-
trolled the Sabah state government from 1990 to 1994.
In the state of Terengganu, the number of voters in-
creased by a whopping 17.7 per cent from 1999 to 2004
compared to a national average of 7.3 per cent. Again, it
is noteworthy that the state of Terengganu had fallen to
the opposition during the 1999 general elections.
In 1999, the opposition won 28 out of 32 state seats
and all eight parliamentary seats. In 2004, afer this mas-
sive increase in the number of voters, the opposition won
only one parliamentary and four state seats, an almost total reverse
of the 1999 general election results.
In Selangor, according to the Q4 2011 electoral roll, the number
of voters has increased by over 340,000 to more than 1.9 million
voters since the 2008 general election. Tis represents an increase
of 21.8 per cent compared to a national average of 16.3 per cent.
Some of these increases have occurred in areas which limited in-
creases in the number of new housing estates and population infows.
For example, the seat of Hulu Selangor, a marginal parliamentary
seat, saw an increase of more than 17,000 voters, or 27.1per cent,
from the 2008 general election to the Q4 2011 electoral roll.
Finally, for those who use the fact that the opposition managed to
win a historic number of parliamentary seats and control of fve state
governments in the 2008 general election to say that the electoral roll
is relatively clean and accurate, one could easily respond by saying
that the opposition could have won even more seats if the electoral
roll did not include these problematic voters.
Te upcoming 13th general election is expected to be one of the
most closely contested electoral battles in our nations history. Tis
increases the importance of having a relatively clean and transparent
electoral roll to ensure that the results are a fair representation of the
will of the electorate.
Without a strong commitment by the authorities, including the
PSC on electoral reform, EC, NRD and the government of the day
to frstly identify and then address these problems, the accuracy of
the electoral roll cannot be ascertained with any degree of confdence.
- Malaysiakini
ONG KIAN MING holds a PhD in political science from
Duke University. He is currently a lecturer at UCSI University.
He can be reached at im.ok.man@gmail.com.
History repeating itself ?
18 April 20 22, 2012
News
Rodziah (left) receiving a RM5 million mock cheque for WALA from Khalid (second from left), as Fernandez
(second from right) and Haniza (right) look on.
Residents say no to DASH
Micro loans
for estate
women
By Gan Pei Ling
KLANG: Selangor launched a micro credit scheme for plan-
tation women (WALA) on Sunday in a bid to help them lif
their households out of poverty.
Menteri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim said the women can
apply for the micro loan of RM1,000 to RM3,000 to kick start
a part-time business of their choice.
We hope it will supplement their household income, said
Khalid at the launch at Sungai Indah, Kapar, attended by some
300 plantation women.
Selangor Times had reported last week that estate workers
earn a monthly wage of RM550 to RM750 and are trapped
in a cycle of poverty due to the lack of minimum wage and
access to quality education.
Some of them already run some sort of part-time business
such as selling crafs, fowers or car wash to supplement their
low wages but not all are successful.
WALA chief executive ofcer Nazreen Nizam said holistic
training and support would be provided to the women to train
them to be successful entrepreneurs.
Well start with a pilot project of 200 women, she said at
the press conference afer the launch.
State executive councillor Rodziah Ismail added that
WALA had identifed interested participants from 22 estates
in Selangor.
She added that the state has set up WALA on top of its
existing micro-credit scheme for rural poor Skimsel and urban
low-income earners Mimbar as plantation women have difer-
ent needs as a community.
Veteran women activist and co-founder of Tenaganita Irene
Fernandez, who was invited to the launch, lauded the scheme.
Apart from women who are currently residing or working
in estates, former female plantation workers can also apply for
the micro loan.
Deputy Speaker Haniza Talha, Klang District Officer
Bakhtiar Hussin and Khalids wife Datin Seri Salbiah Tunut
were also present at the launch.
Meanwhile, Khalid said victims of the March 30 fash foods
in Klang can still apply for the RM500 aid from the state even
if they have missed the April 13 deadline.
But they need to submit a reasonable justifcation for the
delay, he said when asked by the press.
Taman Klang Utama residents had protested on Sunday,
claiming that their local councillor and state assemblyperson
had failed to assist them to apply for the RM500 aid.
PETALING JAYA: Damansara
Perdana residents held a peaceful
protest last week to get the au-
thorities to realign a proposed six-
lane highway away from their
neighbourhood.
Some 400 residents turned up
last Saturday to say no to the pro-
posed Damansara-Shah Alam
Highway (DASH) that will cut
through Jalan PJU 7/7, PJU 7/1,
PJU 8/1 and PJU 8/2 here.
We want a realignment of the
highway to be further away. The
noise and trafc if its built will be
horrendous. The construction,
noise and air pollution will be too
much to bear, said Mutiara Daman-
sara resident James Wong, 29.
Te planned elevated highway,
he added, will cut through roads
that were not meant to support
heavy traffic, and will pass roads
fronting shops and houses.
He said the proposed route was
not mentioned in the Petaling Jaya
development master plan when
residents bought their homes there.
Wong said concerned ratepayers
want highway concessionaire Projek
Lintasan Kota Sdn Bhd (Prolintas)
to change the highways route away
from the residential area.
Residents there are calling for the
Malaysian Highway Authority
(MHA) and the state to intervene
in the case.
They were joined by100 resi-
dents of the Desa Temuan Orang
Asli Resettlement from Damansara
Perdana.
Wee Kim Loong said the road
along PJU 7/7 was not suitable for
an exit ramp for the planned high-
way as it was not wide enough.
Sivarasa (third from left), Wong (fourth from left) and Chan (sixth from right) with the residents
Meanwhile, chairperson of the
Residents Association of Mutiara
Damansara Phase 10 David Chai
said trafc fow along the proposed
highway would pose a safety hazard
to residents.
Tis route which squeezes the
highway in-between homes and
shoplots is detrimental in terms of
health and safety of residents and
our homes, he said during a press
conference at the protest site.
There is simply not enough
space between Mutiara Damansara
and Damansara Perdana to con-
struct this mega highway.
He pointed out that it was not
feasible to squeeze the six lanes into
the housing area, adding that the
neighbourhood would not be able
to cope with the increased trafc the
main arterial road would bring.
He said Mutiara Damansara
residents would be sandwiched
between the highway and the MRT
lines, if the proposal went ahead.
Te peaceful but noisy protest
on Saturday also saw residents sign-
ing petitions calling for the realign-
ment of the DASH highway.
Te letter, with some 3,000 sig-
natures now, will be sent to Menteri
Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahims of-
fce, as well as prime minister Datuk
Seri Najib Razak and to the Petaling
Jaya City Council.
We hope todays gathering
demonstrates the level of concern
amongst the people who live and
work in this area. We urge Prolintas
and the authorities to realign the
highway to an alternative location
to relieve thousands afected by this
proposed route, Chai said.
MBPJ councillor Chan Chee
Kong, who also protested along
with residents, said he would ask
mayor Datuk Roslan Sakiman to
arrange for a meeting between
MHA ofcials and Prolintas repre-
sentatives and residents.
Chan, who was briefed on the
project along with the council last
year, said residents had only one
session with the highway conces-
sionaire.
He briefed residents on the pro-
posed highway in December last
year.
He added that the expressways
alignment would cut through Mu-
tiara Damansara to connect the
highway from Puncak Alam in Shah
Alam to the Sprint and Damansara-
Puchong Highway (LDP).
Te 20-km, three-lane dual car-
riageway highway will link Daman-
sara Perdana to Puncak Perdana,
north of Shah Alam.
Among the developments bene-
fting from DASH are Alam Suria,
Denai Alam, Subang Perdana as well
as future townships planned on the
Rubber Research Institute Malaysia
(RRIM) land in Sungai Buloh.
Also present were Bukit Lanjan
assemblyperson Elizabeth Wong
and Subang MP R Sivarasa.
Wong claimed that MHA and
Prolintas said they had only regis-
tered two complaints against the
planned highway when they briefed
the state executive council on the
project last week.
Two? It cant be right because
the groups that are against the align-
ment has 2,500 signatures in its
petition, she said, adding Khalid
was adamant that the project would
not be approved as MHA and Pro-
lintas had not adequately briefed
MBPJ and the state.
The two parties also have to
consult afected residents, Wong
said. Te area comes under Wongs
state constituency.
Sivarasa said the planned high-
way, if built, would be intrusive and
disruptive to the lives of residents
there.
He said the highway would not
reduce trafc congestion and au-
thorities should push to implement
a comprehensive public transporta-
tion as a solution.
19 April 20 22, 2012
Media
Wharf brings
new lifestyle
(From left) Wong, Goh, Azman, Yeo, Chung and Chan at the launch.
PETALING JAYA: Te simple yet re-
warding pleasure of reading books will be
celebrated by BookXcess during World
Book Day on April 23.
World Book Day is a special date be-
cause according to some records, William
Shakespeare was born and died on that
date, said BookXcess retail operations
manager Samantha Tang.
Te countrys leading bookstore is hold-
ing an in-store promotion period umtil May
1 by ofering additional discounts to their
already low-priced books.
More than 60 selected titles will be of-
fered at discounts between 30 and 60 per
cent.
Customers will also get a RM20 BookX-
cess gif voucher for purchases totalling
RM200 in a single receipt.
Were ofering a 20 per cent discount
on all titles by Anthony Horowitz, whose
birthday falls in April, Tang said.
Horowitz is a bestselling author made
famous by her books on the Diamond
Brothers Mysteries and the Alex Rider
Adventures which have proven popular
with teenagers.
Coffee-table books on architecture,
design, art, photography, automobiles and
history will also be ofered at a 50 per cent
discount with the purchase of every second
book.
As an additional bonus to fans of fction,
all fction titles in the store will be marked
down by 20 per cent on April 23.
Book lovers will also stand a chance to
win BookXcess vouchers by joining the
Caption Your Favourite Book Te Way
You Like It contest.
Participants need to snap a picture of
themselves with their favourite book and
caption the photo in 15 words with what
they like best about the book.
Te pictures should then be posted on
the BookXcess Facebook wall during the
promotional period.
Te picture with the most Likes will
get a RM30 BookXcess voucher while the
top three prize winners will also receive
RM150, RM100 and RM50 vouchers.
BookXcess, which is located in Amcorp
Mall, Petaling Jaya, is well known for or-
ganising the annual Big Bad Wolf sale, re-
putedly the worlds largest warehouse sale.
For more information, visit bookxcess.
com.
Tang: A special date.
PUCHONG: Te second block of the
Wharf Residence waterfront apartments
which ofers integrated lifestyle living in
Taman Tasik Prima was launched on April
14.
Te three-in-one lifestyle development
includes boutique showroom ofces, fexi
suites, serviced apartments and a retail
mall.
Tower 18 is the second of our three-
tower waterfront condo series and has 334
units, many of which have an unrivalled
view of Tasik Prima, said Bolton Bhd ex-
ecutive chairperson Datuk Azman Yahya
after launching Tower 18 at the Bolton
showroom along Jln PU 12/7B in Puchong
Utama.
Tower 18s 33-storey block has been
orientated to ensure the units enjoy an ex-
cellent view of the surrounding 80.94-hec-
tare Tasik Prima.
Te Wharf s self-contained aspect re-
mains one of its unique selling points with
a bridge linking the condos to a retail mall.
With a gross foor area of 506,510 sq f
and 1,296 parking lots, the mall promises
to be a convenient focal point for the
Wharf s community.
Te mall, scheduled for completion next
year, will also cater to residents from sur-
rounding townships with easy accessibility
via the Damansara-Puchong Highway
(LDP), Bukit Jalil Highway and Shah Alam
Expressway (Kesas).
As we are a new neighbourhood, there
is still not much trafc around so we enjoy
good accessibility, said Bolton Bhd non-
independent executive director Chan Wing
Kwong.
Chan gave a tour of the show units to
the press along with actresses Stella Chung,
Debbie Goh, Aenie Wong and Yeo Yann
Yann.
Buyers can choose between two or three-
plus-one bedroom units with built-up ar-
eas ranging from 795 to 1,173 sq f.
Residents can then enjoy facilities like a
swimming pool, gymnasium, jogging track,
yoga zone and a lush landscaped garden.
Te Wharf s frst block, Tower 8, was
launched in November 2011 and has al-
most sold out its 334 units with sales of over
90 per cent.
Prior to the ofcial launch, 65 per cent
of the units at Tower 18 had also been sold
out.
Lower
prices
to mark
World
Book Day
Fun time at Publikas
Earth Hour event
KUALA LUMPUR: Earth Hour was
observed at the Publika Shopping Gallery
on March 31 as a move to spread awareness
on energy conservation to save the envi-
ronment.
Shoppers were invited to take part in a
series of events, including a recycling pro-
gramme, at the The Square from 5.30pm
till midnight
This event is not only about switching
the lights off for an hour, but its about
sharing a universal goal to save the planet
and environment, said Publika Shopping
Gallery spokesperson Frennie Boey.
The event was jointly supported by
Earth Food, Earth Again, Tetra Pak and
Kencana Petroleum, while an eco-riders
convoy cycling awareness programme was
co-organised by Switchblades.
An eco-bazaar was also held from March
28 to April 1 by Earth Food with the aim of
encouraging the public to go green.
There were also educational booths for
children, with screenings of short environ-
mental clips.
Those present also got the chance to
win a limited edition Earth Hour Kit
giveaway by answering trivia questions
written on beverage cartons.
The kit included six organic tea-lights,
one drink packet, a handheld fan and a bag
made from 100 per cent recycled material
from cartons.
Local bands including Dichi Michi,
The Metaphor, Seconds to Collide and Kl
Street Drummers were on hand to provide
entertainment.
Midway through the programme, par-
ticipants from the Make Lanterns work-
shop lighted and released their lanterns
into the sky.
A contemporary theatre performance,
Selipar Jepun, Kasut Tumit Tinggi, di-
rected by Zubin Mohamad, and a tradi-
tional Japanese Butoh dance performance
were also held.
During the event, Publika also encour-
aged those present to sign a pledge to go
green, for the Taylors University Earth
Hour Project.
Pledges were signed on boards in the
shape of benches, designed using recycla-
ble materials by the universitys school of
architecture and engineering.
Lanterns being released midway into the Earth Hour programme.
20 april 20 22, 2012
food
P
eopl e i n Kl ang Val l ey wi l l eat
anything that does not even remotely
remind them of nasi lemak, fried
beehoon or roti canai. Its not that they
dislike these items but they are
al ways recepti ve to anythi ng
exotically edible.
So about two and a half years
ago when Bett ys Mi dwest
Kitchen started operating ,
there was a slow but steady gal-
lop in its business.
I didnt find out about Bettys
place until recently. Like a few
members of the Ignoramus Club,
I am constantly operating outside
the loop.
But it so happened to be Easter Sun-
day recently and some friendly neighbour-
hood person mentioned about the
Midwest Kitchen in Aman Suria, near
Kampung Cempaka, a few hundred
metres from Bandar Utama 11 and 12.
Since the roads surrounding the
place are narrow and most of them are
sehala sahaja, I had to use my glasses and
a bit of help from the GPS to track down
this seemingly elusive eating joint.
When I found the place, I was wondering
why there were so many cars parked in the
vicinity. The answer was obvious when we
stepped into the premises.
The restaurant was completely full. So
here was where people congregate on a
Sunday. Twenty seconds later, some cus-
tomers started getting up from the table
nearest to the door.
I remember thinking that we had just
attended Easter service and the Big Man
upstairs was rewarding us. Thats the way I
interpreted it.
With some colourful signs and pictures
adorning one wall that say Michigan,
South Dakota, Indiana and Ohio I knew
I had arrived at the Mid-West or rather
Aman Suria.
These were not the only visual indica-
tions to remind all its guests that Bettys
Kitchen was not your ordinary run-of-the-
mill restaurant serving Western dishes,
there were also lots of potato chips and
gooey sauce that scream aloud that this was
the not-so-wild West.
Even the menu had very interesting names
for its selections. I left it to a few self-
appointed ex-
perts at my ta-
ble to pick their
choices.
If you are so
inclined, as they say
out there in the Mid-
west, you may opt for
Sloppy Joe, Jucy Lucy, Dog
Food or even Crispy Bacon.
The last item, I was told, came
highly recommended by people who
have been regular customers of the
place.
Come this October, Bettys Midwest
Kitchen will be celebrating its third
anniversary.
One of the friendly waiters told me
that there were four waiters and a cook.
From a visual surveillance, I came to
the conclusion that they were Filipinos.
Our friends from the Philippines have
a distinct English accent that is peculiar
to the region.
This restaurant advertises itself as
America on a Plate. I wonder if the
genuine Americans would agree with
that statement.
Altogether on our table, there were
seven items, excluding a glass of warm
water and a glass of cold water.
Bettys Kitchen has ham and bacon
aplenty. So if you are the meat-eating
kind of person and clearly a carnivo-
rous individual, this will be your
pot of gold at the end of the rain-
bow.
I am not sure the restaurant
agrees with everybody but it was
just great for me. If you pardon
the expression, I did leave the
place with a feeble verbal expres-
sion of Yee Haw!
Our bill came to RM91, exclud-
ing a 10 per cent service charge which
moved the final tally up a notch to
RM100. For me, it was money well spent,
even if it was someones else hard-earned
cash.
By the way, those crispy bacon pieces
look a bit like curly fries at McDonalds
except they taste much, much
better.
Jucy Lucy was a bit too cheesy
for me but I was quite hungry, so
that went down well. Dog Food,
Somewhere in Aman Suria Damansara, where no stray cows roam, is an Eastern kitchen that
serves Western food. LIN ZHENYUAN walks in with no boots on and finds out whats cooking.
Marinated Fried
Chicken served
with home-made
country sauce.
Bettys serving cowboy
foodyee haw!
Ham and tomato
soup that comes
with garlic
bread.
The restaurants full at 2pm on a public holiday.
Thats Dog
Food soaked
in gravy and
cheese.
21 april 20 22, 2012
food
Thats Bettys Midwest Kitchen in Aman Suria.
copies distributed weekly throughout Selangor & Klang Valley
100,000
c o m m u n i t y
N o v e m b e r 1 1 1 3 , 2 0 1 1 / i s s u e 4 8
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B y a l v i n y a p
s h a h a l a M : D a t u k S e r i N o h
O m a r s c h a l l e n g e t o t h e f e d e r a l
o p p o s i t i o n t o t a k e o v e r t h e l o s s -
m a k i n g N a t i o n a l F e e d l o t C o r p o -
r a t i o n ( N F C ) h a s b e e n a c c e p t e d
b y t h e S e l a n g o r g o v e r n m e n t .
Y a a k o b S a p a r i s a i d t h e S e l a n -
g o r M e n t e r i B e s a r h a s g i v e n h i m
t h e g r e e n l i g h t t o a c c e p t t h e c h a l -
l e n g e b y t h e m i n i s t e r f o r a g r i c u l -
t u r e a n d a g r o - b a s e d i n d u s t r y .
N o h h a d o n W e d n e s d a y i s s u e d
a c h a l l e n g e t o t h e P a k a t a n R a k y a t
t o o p e r a t e o n e o f t h e 3 0 s a t e l l i t e
f a r m s u n d e r t h e N F C , a n d p r o v e
t h e y c o u l d p r o d u c e 6 0 0 h e a d s o f
c a t t l e a s c u r r e n t l y d o n e b y t h e c o r -
p o r a t i o n .
T e s t a t e a n d l i v e s t o c k b r e e d -
e r s i n S e l a n g o r a n d N e g e r i S e m b i -
l a n a r e r e a d y a t a n y t i m e t o t a k e
o v e r , s a i d t h e s t a t e e x e c u t i v e
c o u n c i l l o r f o r a g r i c u l t u r e d u r i n g a
p r e s s c o n f e r e n c e o n t h e s i d e l i n e s
o f t h e S e l a n g o r s t a t e a s s e m b l y y e s -
t e r d a y .
Y a a k o b s a i d h e w i l l c o n t a c t P u -
t r a j a y a a n d a s s u m e c o n t r o l o f t h e
N F C i n N e g e r i S e m b i l a n .
O p e r a t i n g o n a 5 , 0 0 0 - a c r e p l o t
i n t h e n e i g h b o u r i n g s t a t e , t h e
M e n t e r i B e s a r T a n S r i K h a l i d I b r a h i m i n f o r m i n g n u r s e r y o p e r a t o r s a n d Y a y a s a n S e l a n g o r o f f c i a l s t h a t
t h e s t a t e g o v e r n m e n t w i l l n o t h a n d o u t T O L f o r G r e e n L a n e .
S u l t a n o f S e l a n g o r S h a r a f u d d i n I d r i s S h a h w i t h M e n t e r i B e s a r T a n S r i K h a l i d I b r a h i m d u r i n g a c e r e m o n y t o h a n d o u t a w a r d s t o r e s i d e n t s
o f t h e P e t a l i n g J a y a S p a s t i c C e n t r e w h o s u c c e s s f u l l y c l i m b e d M o u n t K i n a b a l u o n O c t 1 6 . A l s o p r e s e n t w e r e p r e s i d e n t o f t h e S p a s t i c
C h i l d r e n ' s A s s o c i a t i o n o f S e l a n g o r D a t u k D r L a m P e n g C h o n g , R o t a r y I n t e r n a t i o n a l D i s t r i c t G o v e r n o r D r S R a v e e n d r a K u m a r , a n d R o t a r y
C l u b U S J c h a i r p e r s o n D a t u k J i m m y L i m . S t o r y o n P a g e 2 .
T u r n T o p a g e 2
community
November 11 13, 2011/ issue 48
MBPJ budget:
RAs seek more
participation
MPs and
councillors:
distinguishing
their roles
p 9
p 12 & 13
state
asseMbly
third sitting
p 6 8
C
attle ch
allen
g
e accep
ted

By alvin yap
shah alaM: Datuk Seri Noh
Omars challenge to the federal
opposition to take over the loss-
making National Feedlot Corpo-
ration (NFC) has been accepted
by the Selangor government.
Yaakob Sapari said the Selan-
gor Menteri Besar has given him
the green light to accept the chal-
lenge by the minister for agricul-
ture and agro-based industry.
Noh had on Wednesday issued
a challenge to the Pakatan Rakyat
to operate one of the 30 satellite
farms under the NFC, and prove
they could produce 600 heads of
cattle as currently done by the cor-
poration.
Te state and livestock breed-
ers in Selangor and Negeri Sembi-
lan are ready at any time to take
over, said the state executive
councillor for agriculture during a
press conference on the sidelines
of the Selangor state assembly yes-
terday.
Yaakob saidhe willcontact Pu-
trajaya and assume control of the
NFC in Negeri Sembilan.
Operating ona 5,000-acre plot
in the neighbouring state, the
Menteri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim informing nursery operators and Yayasan Selangor offcials that
the state government will not hand out TOL for Green Lane.
Sultan of Selangor Sharafuddin Idris Shah with Menteri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim during a ceremony to hand out awards to residents
of the Petaling Jaya Spastic Centre who successfully climbed Mount Kinabalu on Oct 16. Also present were president of the Spastic
Children's Association of Selangor Datuk Dr Lam Peng Chong, Rotary International District Governor Dr S Raveendra Kumar, and Rotary
Club USJ chairperson Datuk Jimmy Lim. Story on Page 2.
Turn To page 2
Tel: 03-5510 4566 Email: marketing@selangortimes.com http://selangortimes.com/
Your free community paper
For more information
Contact:
Timothy Loh 019-267 4488,
Ivan Looi 014-936 6698,
Tony Kee 016-978 2798
Samantha Sim 019-382 7121
as it turned out, might not be appetising
for our canine friend, but it was just splen-
did for my palate.
I would throw a bone to mans best
friend later on, I thought to myself. Sloppy
Joe sprung an Easter surprise on me. It was
an American concoction of ground meat,
garlic, ketchup, buns, fries and seasonings
just like what grandma would have made!
There will come a time in your life when
you just have to forget your doctors advice
and throw cholesterol to the wind. When
you enter Bettys Kitchen, remember this
well.
Bettys Midwest Kitchen is located at
A-G 40, Jalan PJU 1/43, Aman Suria Da-
mansara. The telephone no: 03-7880-
0196. If you need to know more, check out
its website: www.midwestkitchen.com.my
If you are really desperate to get there,
take out your GPS and follow these co-
ordinates: N03_07.359 E101_35.712
The restaurant is open Tuesdays to Sun-
days, from 11.30am to 3pm, and 5.30pm
to 10pm.
Remember, I am extending a big helping
hand here to you fans and admirers of John
Wayne, Clint Eastwood, Franco Nero, Lee
Van Cleef and Sergio Leone movies. So
giddy-up and go!
All the American Midwest states that you may want to know about.
Jucy Lucy was found to be a worthy guest at our table.
22 April 20 22, 2012
Gallery
Hulu Kelang assemblyperson Saari Sungib (in blue, centre) with his wife Aliza Jaffar (in white tudung)
making chappati together with representatives of the Gurdwara Sahib Kuala Ampang last Saturday. Both
of them were invited to join in the Vasakhi celebrations on that day.
About 600 students took part in
a rally calling on the government
to abolish the national higher
education loan scheme National
Higher Education Fund (PTPTN
and replace it with free higher
education. Their sit-in at Dataran
Merdeka started last Saturday.
A Bukit Kiara Properties team member feeding Foong Mok,
92, the eldest resident at Rumah Victory in Taman Shanghai on
April 15. Some 27 volunteers from Bukit Kiara Properties helped
refurbish and clean Rumah Victory during their half-day visit.
Over 150 children attended the launch of
the Tropicana Kids Club at the Tropicana
Medical Center (TMC) on April 15. The
club offers children under 10 discounts for
hospital services at TMC and aims to instill
healthy eating and living habits. Children
were entertained with game booths,
colouring contests and spatial logic puzzles
during the launch. Looking on is the Kids
Club mascot, Little Eco.
Some 200 anti-Lynas protesters gathered at
Dataran Shah Alam last Friday to reiterate their
stand against the Australian miners rare earth
plant. Among them were Shah Alam MP Khalid
Samad (centre in blue) and Meru assemblyperson
Dr Abd Rani Osman (on his right).
23 april 20 22, 2012
Culture
By Dominic Luk
S
hanel is one woman with an amazing voice.
Although a Sabahan, she has been performing
in Kuala Lumpur for many years, and has
always amazed her audiences with her mature talent
and mesmerizing stage presence. Selangor Times
speaks to Shanel about her frst single, taken from her
debut album, Perjalanan which was released by Sony
Music Malaysia and is sold throughout Malaysia,
Brunei, Singapore, and Indonesia.
Heres what Shanel has to say.
Your new single has been very well received. What
was the inspiration behind it?
SHANEL: My new single is called Kau Erti Hidupku.
This single means a lot to me because of what it
represents in my life: Children nowadays dont really
know how to appreciate their elders. They treat their
parents badly. It is really heartbreaking to see these
things happening, and I want my parents to know
that I appreciate them very much. So, I decided to
dedicate this single to them with the help of Sulu
Sarawak as the lyricist, and Azlan Abu Hassan
with his beautiful composition and arrangement.
This single is all about giving love to our parents,
because no matter what, even in our darkest hour,
they will always be there for us. This song is my
way of telling them how much I treasure everything
they have done for me. My parents are my biggest
infuence in my life. I remember how my parents
went through so much hardship when my siblings
and I were still kids, and how my parents stayed
strong.
Before this single, you had already been actively
performing around KL. Could you highlight some of
the things you have done?
SHANEL: Ive been active since 2004, when I was
offered by Prince Hotel & Residence, Bukit Bintang
to be their resident artiste for two years. Then,
I continued to be the resident artiste for Starhill
Gallery until 2010. I did a lot of dinner functions,
private corporate functions and performances for
royal families too.
How did all this start?
SHANEL: It all started when I joined AUDITION
(Season 1), a talent competition by ntv7 back in
2004. I made it to the fnal top fve.
What kind of musical infuences do you have?
What kind of music did you listen to and still listen
to?
SHANEL: I grew up listening to oldies, thanks to my
parents. So I listened to a lot of music by ABBA,
Carpenters, Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, Boyz
II Men, and Michael Jackson. As I became older, I
was exposed to different kinds of music and listened
to Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, and a lot of
dance pop music.
When is your next public performance?
SHANEL: I will be opening for Ning Baizuras show
at Federal Hotel on April 20. I will also be performing
in a concert at Dataran Merdeka on April 21.
What plans do you have for the future?
SHANEL: I want to be more successful in my music
career, and probably collaborate with international
producers. I would like to open my own talent
management company to inspire others to achieve
their dreams.
Check out Shanels Facebook page: http://www.
facebook.com/ShanelShantyJames
Shanels journey
Its The End
of the World
Theatre: April 20-22;
Blackbox MAP @ Publika;
https://www.facebook.
com/events;
RM15-RM20.
There shall be no more
lemons or the ticking of
working clocks, at least
not for another decade or
so. All we have is mud,
in which you are a stick.
Darryl, Here Comes
Tomorrow. The Electric
Minds Project (EMP) proudly
presents its 4th annual Open
Director Showcase entitled
Its The End of the World,
Now Run Screaming, a
collection of stories about
the Apocalypse. From
forgiveness, to fnding a home, to a family to discovering hope in a
hopeless world, these 6 short plays by local writers are sometimes
funny, sometimes poignant, sometimes sad, and sometimes just
downright disturbing as we examine what life could be like during and
after the end of the world as we know it. Does life go on? And how do
people cope?
In this collection of short stories, see the apocalypse from six different
perspectives: Four everyday individuals share with us their last moment
on Earth. A man, a girl and a mime trapped in an elevator. Two men
on the run to safety in a war-torn city. A family is sealed off from the
world in a bunker, locked in with their secrets and lies. A brief history
of the end. Two angels contemplate the meaning of loss, justice and
forgiveness.
EDITORS PICK
CalENDar
Goldilocks &
The 3 Bears
Theatre: April 17-22 (10.30am);
The Actors Studio @ Lot 10
Roof Top; 03-2142 2009; www.
theactorsstudio.com.my; RM15.
In the last Childrens Theatre
presentation, Sham Sunder
Binwani brought magic with two
also very well loves tales : Little
Red Riding Hood & Jack and
the Beanstalk. Both were well
received by the younger audience
of children between the ages of
3 6, as well as teachers and
parents. Staged between Sept 26-
31, more than 800 youngsters got a
frsthand experience of not only watching a stage production but also the
experience of a professional production created especially for the younger
aged audience. Come experience fun flled interactive theatre where these
well loved tales are brought to life with animation & excitement!
The Reunion
Comedy: April-May; Tapis Rouge,
The Strand, Kota Damansara;
03-6142 2686; RM40.
Boom Boom Room was the place
and scene where KLites were frst
introduced to live stage performance
in a very big way and also in the most
controlled risqu fashioned.
While the building is still around though
looking far from its glorious heyday
and the CAST are still around too and
looking better than they ever looked
before. And yes they are coming
together for a much looked forward
Reunion Shows..and this time at a
new and updated venue Tapis Rouge
at The Strand, Kota Damansara!!!
Tribute to Musicals
Musicals: April 20-21; Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts
Centre, KL; 03-40479000; www.klpac.org/; RM38.
The International College Of Music (ICOM, www.icom.edu.my) in
collaboration with the Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (KLPAC)
brings you the ICOM Celebration Series Tribute Concert featuring greatest
hits from Broadway and Westend Musicals. This 90-minute production
combines music from iconic musicals, including Phantom of the Opera,
Sound of Music, Guys and Dolls, My Fair Lady, Grease, Bombay Dreams,
Cats, Les Miserables and many more.
Published by Selangor State Government and printed by Dasar Cetak (M) Sdn Bhd No. 7, Persiaran Selangor, Seksyen 15, 40000, Shah Alam, Selangor Darul Ehsan.