Citizens of the World,
Facts and Figures of the World
Item 1: "The Trouble with Subsidies" by Fareed Zakaria
- Since the financial crisis began, countries around the world have proposed or implemented 78 trade measures. Of these, 66 turn out to be new restrictions on trade. For example, China has banned outright various European goods
- Rich countries tend not to raise tariffs, because they do protectionism another way: by subsidizing domestic companies
- Worldwide governments are providing $48 billion in direct subsidies to carmakers
- The Peterson Institute for International Economics estimates that the "buy American" provision will result in an increased domestic production of about 0.5 million metric tons of steel every year - boost in production will translate into 1,000 jobs, which in a labor force of 140 million is insignificant
Item 2: "The Myths of the Recession" by Barrett Sheridan
i. The Credit Crisis Is Over - Globally, banks have already absorbed about $1 trillion in losses on mortgages and other bad debt holdings according to Jan Hatzius, chief U.S. economist of Goldman Sachs - expects another $1.1 trillion in losses
ii. All Industries Are Suffering
iii. The Dollar Will Collapse - climbed 25 percent against the euro and 41 percent against the pound since last year's lows - Gold has fallen back to about $900 an ounce, and investors are pouring money into U.S. Treasuries
iv. Credit Cards Are Killing Us - While aggregate credit-card debt has grown phenomenally in the United States since 1999, as a percentage of income it's stayed nearly level, hovering at about 9%
v. Here Comes Protectionism - Western countries would have to tear up the entire WTO rulebook for protectionism on the scale of the 1930s to take hold
28 March 2009
17 March 2009
Of Muhyiddin's Coup de Grace
Citizens of the World,
Kudos to Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin's coup the grace in his path to being the Deputy Prime Minister. This is assuming, of course, that he played a role in Dato's Seri Ali Rustam being barred from running for UMNO's deputy presidency. If it is true that he played a role, honestly, it was simply a brilliant political move. It was just so unexpected and unthinkable.
The allegations may be true. But to actually bring it up to the surface through Lembaga Disiplin UMNO was just...awesome. It is one of the few remaining credible body left in UMNO. Check that. It may be the only credible body left in UMNO. Thus, its decisions are accepted not just by UMNO members, but the general public as well.
Kudos to Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin's coup the grace in his path to being the Deputy Prime Minister. This is assuming, of course, that he played a role in Dato's Seri Ali Rustam being barred from running for UMNO's deputy presidency. If it is true that he played a role, honestly, it was simply a brilliant political move. It was just so unexpected and unthinkable.
The allegations may be true. But to actually bring it up to the surface through Lembaga Disiplin UMNO was just...awesome. It is one of the few remaining credible body left in UMNO. Check that. It may be the only credible body left in UMNO. Thus, its decisions are accepted not just by UMNO members, but the general public as well.
16 March 2009
Of Nasli Lemak Antarabangsa Kampung Bharu
Citizens of the World,
Editorial
Had lunch at the famous Nasi Lemak Antarabangsa Kampung Bharu, Ampang Park branch. Compared to the original stall, the new branch(es) are much cleaner and well maintained. It's a success story just waiting to be told.
Malaysia Facts and Figures of the Day:
- With 338 delegates, Johor has the largest delegation to the Umno general assembly next weekend with Johor Umno candidates vying for 31 positions in the party elections
- Selangor Exco Asset Declarations:
i. Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim - depends on his RM47,222 monthly salary to support his family of five, no car or house loans to service
ii. Bukit Lanjan assemblyman Elizabeth Wong - no dependants, or car or house loans - credit card bills amounting to RM16,811.69 and pays RM2,000 a month for the credit card bills, earns RM17,722.08 a month as an assemblyman and exco member
- Wanita UMNO members - 1.3 million
- the ringtone on Datuk Seri Shahrizat Jalil’s handphone has changed from the 60s pop song, Guantanamera, to a nasyid tune
- Datuk Seri Shahrizat Jalil - "If I took over in June, the wing would be left without a No 2 because the Constitution does not provide for an acting deputy Wanita chief"
- Of the 65 Umno Youth contenders, at least six of them are sons of former or serving leaders
- RM50 million - Government allocation to Chinese primary schools that need immediate treatment for termite problems
- Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim - Petaling Jaya, Kajang and Klang will get a RM10 billion makeover spanning five to 10 years
- 1,480 people failed to repay about RM23 million in study loans given to them by the Social Security Organisation
- Director-general of Labour Department Datuk Ismail Abdul Rahim said there were another 62,700 jobs available and retrenched workers were advised to register with the department or at Jobs-Malaysia.gov.my to be re-employed
- Public Complaints Bureau (PCB) receives more than 3,000 complaints from the public every month. And, its problem solving rate is an impressive 80%
Editorial
Had lunch at the famous Nasi Lemak Antarabangsa Kampung Bharu, Ampang Park branch. Compared to the original stall, the new branch(es) are much cleaner and well maintained. It's a success story just waiting to be told.
Malaysia Facts and Figures of the Day:
- With 338 delegates, Johor has the largest delegation to the Umno general assembly next weekend with Johor Umno candidates vying for 31 positions in the party elections
- Selangor Exco Asset Declarations:
i. Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim - depends on his RM47,222 monthly salary to support his family of five, no car or house loans to service
ii. Bukit Lanjan assemblyman Elizabeth Wong - no dependants, or car or house loans - credit card bills amounting to RM16,811.69 and pays RM2,000 a month for the credit card bills, earns RM17,722.08 a month as an assemblyman and exco member
- Wanita UMNO members - 1.3 million
- the ringtone on Datuk Seri Shahrizat Jalil’s handphone has changed from the 60s pop song, Guantanamera, to a nasyid tune
- Datuk Seri Shahrizat Jalil - "If I took over in June, the wing would be left without a No 2 because the Constitution does not provide for an acting deputy Wanita chief"
- Of the 65 Umno Youth contenders, at least six of them are sons of former or serving leaders
- RM50 million - Government allocation to Chinese primary schools that need immediate treatment for termite problems
- Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim - Petaling Jaya, Kajang and Klang will get a RM10 billion makeover spanning five to 10 years
- 1,480 people failed to repay about RM23 million in study loans given to them by the Social Security Organisation
- Director-general of Labour Department Datuk Ismail Abdul Rahim said there were another 62,700 jobs available and retrenched workers were advised to register with the department or at Jobs-Malaysia.gov.my to be re-employed
- Public Complaints Bureau (PCB) receives more than 3,000 complaints from the public every month. And, its problem solving rate is an impressive 80%
14 March 2009
Of Zaiton Sameon the Movie
Citizens of the World,
Editorial
Worthy of a legend.
Malaysia Facts and Figures of the Day
- Malaysian Examinations Syndicate (MES) has to go through 16 procedures before the release of the STPM results while for the SPM, there are 29 procedures
- Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein - ministry had spent over RM3 billion since the introduction of the teaching of Science and Mathematics in English (PPSMI) policy in 2003 - RM2.4 billion was spent on ICT, RM3.7 million on teacher training and RM6.1 million on teaching incentives
- Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak - unemployment rate expected to rise from 3.7% in 2008 to 4.5% in 2009
- Selangor exco asset declarations:
i. Teresa Kok - earns RM32,830.67 a month, pays about RM2,000 a month for two properties valued at RM320,000
ii. Dr. Hassan Ali - two wives, monthly remuneration of RM17,722.08, services a loan for a RM296,565 house, drives a car worth RM151,669.85
iii. Ronnie Liu - earns RM20,727.08, house valued at RM60,000, a piece of land worth RM200,000
- Last week earlier, the Malaysian Anti-Cor- ruption Commission (MACC) detained Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said’s political secretary for a few hours after he was found with RM70,000 in his car - had told her that the money was to pay some bills for the election machinery such as for rooms, food and fare
- KL International Airport’s new Low Cost Carrier Terminal - RM2 billion project, spread over 150,000 sq metres (bigger than main terminal), 1.5km from the main terminal, able to handle 45 million passengers yearly, connected to the main terminal via an extended Express Rail Link (ERL) and a new side road, operational in the 3Q 2011,
- Tourism Ministry secretary-general Datuk Dr Ong Hong Peng - foreign tourists expected to decline by 9% to 20 million in 2009 from 22.05 million in 2008
- Compare prices at Malaysian hypermarkets.
- Former Perak menteri besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin - "I was a millionaire even before I became a wakil rakyat"
- Malaysia’s industrial production index (IPI) plunged 20.2% in January 2009 from 2008 as output from manufacturing, electricity and mining sectors contracted
- Maxis plans to launch the iPhone 3G on 20 March 2009
World Facts and Figures of the Day
i. "The Future of Human Beings is What Matters" by Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva
- I fought and lost four elections before being elected president of the republic in 2002
ii. "Obama's Aretha Franklin Doctrine" by Gideon Rachman
- The Queen of Soul literally spells out an idea central to Mr Obama’s approach to the world: “R-E-S-P-E-C-T.”
- The Russians are still acutely sensitive to any suggestion that Americans are looking down on them. When Michael Dell, the computer entrepreneur, recently asked Vladimir Putin how outsiders could help Russia, the Russian prime minister responded: “We don’t need any help. We are not cripples.”
Editorial
Worthy of a legend.
Malaysia Facts and Figures of the Day
- Malaysian Examinations Syndicate (MES) has to go through 16 procedures before the release of the STPM results while for the SPM, there are 29 procedures
- Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein - ministry had spent over RM3 billion since the introduction of the teaching of Science and Mathematics in English (PPSMI) policy in 2003 - RM2.4 billion was spent on ICT, RM3.7 million on teacher training and RM6.1 million on teaching incentives
- Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak - unemployment rate expected to rise from 3.7% in 2008 to 4.5% in 2009
- Selangor exco asset declarations:
i. Teresa Kok - earns RM32,830.67 a month, pays about RM2,000 a month for two properties valued at RM320,000
ii. Dr. Hassan Ali - two wives, monthly remuneration of RM17,722.08, services a loan for a RM296,565 house, drives a car worth RM151,669.85
iii. Ronnie Liu - earns RM20,727.08, house valued at RM60,000, a piece of land worth RM200,000
- Last week earlier, the Malaysian Anti-Cor- ruption Commission (MACC) detained Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said’s political secretary for a few hours after he was found with RM70,000 in his car - had told her that the money was to pay some bills for the election machinery such as for rooms, food and fare
- KL International Airport’s new Low Cost Carrier Terminal - RM2 billion project, spread over 150,000 sq metres (bigger than main terminal), 1.5km from the main terminal, able to handle 45 million passengers yearly, connected to the main terminal via an extended Express Rail Link (ERL) and a new side road, operational in the 3Q 2011,
- Tourism Ministry secretary-general Datuk Dr Ong Hong Peng - foreign tourists expected to decline by 9% to 20 million in 2009 from 22.05 million in 2008
- Compare prices at Malaysian hypermarkets.
- Former Perak menteri besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin - "I was a millionaire even before I became a wakil rakyat"
- Malaysia’s industrial production index (IPI) plunged 20.2% in January 2009 from 2008 as output from manufacturing, electricity and mining sectors contracted
- Maxis plans to launch the iPhone 3G on 20 March 2009
World Facts and Figures of the Day
i. "The Future of Human Beings is What Matters" by Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva
- I fought and lost four elections before being elected president of the republic in 2002
ii. "Obama's Aretha Franklin Doctrine" by Gideon Rachman
- The Queen of Soul literally spells out an idea central to Mr Obama’s approach to the world: “R-E-S-P-E-C-T.”
- The Russians are still acutely sensitive to any suggestion that Americans are looking down on them. When Michael Dell, the computer entrepreneur, recently asked Vladimir Putin how outsiders could help Russia, the Russian prime minister responded: “We don’t need any help. We are not cripples.”
13 March 2009
Of You Spin Me Round
Citizens of the world,
Editorial
Ah, the joy of 80s music.
Malaysia Facts and Figures of the Day
- Najib's goal for a K-economy - increase the service sector to 70% of the gross domestic product from 54% - Manufactured exports now account for 72.5% of total exports against 14.8% for services
- The price of disciplining Malaysian kids at school? RM206,500
- Services Sector Capacity Development Fund - RM100 million for capacity building, mergers and acquisition as well as productivity improvement
- 89.1% of 178,751 candidates opted to answer the Additional Mathematics Paper 1 fully in English
- Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen - RM129 million out of the RM205 million the ministry received from the mini Budget will be used to upgrade facilities at old folks’ homes, orphanages and welfare organisations
- Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim - RM349,134 had been spent on former Mentri Besar Khir Toyo’s overseas trips to 21 destinations from 2001 to January 2008 - destinations include Guangzhou, Kunming, Osaka, Fukuoka, London, Bangkok, Dubai, Beijing, Amsterdam, Milan, Venice, Paris, Geneva, Toronto, Los Angeles, Seoul, Chicago, Stuttgart, Shanghai, Tokyo, Perth, Seoul and Taipei.
- Kuala Kubu Baru assemblyman Wong Koon Mun - “In the previous state assembly, the Mentri Besar had stated that the Selangor government would raise RM150 million per annum from the sale of sand. However, the figure was reduced to RM50 million in this sitting,”
- Human Resources Minister Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam - doubling of the levy on foreign workers to RM1,200 - Currently, there are 2.2 million legal foreign workers, with another million illegal foreign workers
- "To My Friend in Gaza" project - "PO Box 1000"
- In 2008, the Kota Baru Municipal Council (MPKB) detained 868 couples and 185 individuals for the two offences and collected some RM50,000 in fines
- The top 20 government-linked companies have outperformed the Kuala Lumpur Composite Index by a compounded annual rate of 4.8% in the past five years
Editorial
Ah, the joy of 80s music.
Malaysia Facts and Figures of the Day
- Najib's goal for a K-economy - increase the service sector to 70% of the gross domestic product from 54% - Manufactured exports now account for 72.5% of total exports against 14.8% for services
- The price of disciplining Malaysian kids at school? RM206,500
- Services Sector Capacity Development Fund - RM100 million for capacity building, mergers and acquisition as well as productivity improvement
- 89.1% of 178,751 candidates opted to answer the Additional Mathematics Paper 1 fully in English
- Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen - RM129 million out of the RM205 million the ministry received from the mini Budget will be used to upgrade facilities at old folks’ homes, orphanages and welfare organisations
- Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim - RM349,134 had been spent on former Mentri Besar Khir Toyo’s overseas trips to 21 destinations from 2001 to January 2008 - destinations include Guangzhou, Kunming, Osaka, Fukuoka, London, Bangkok, Dubai, Beijing, Amsterdam, Milan, Venice, Paris, Geneva, Toronto, Los Angeles, Seoul, Chicago, Stuttgart, Shanghai, Tokyo, Perth, Seoul and Taipei.
- Kuala Kubu Baru assemblyman Wong Koon Mun - “In the previous state assembly, the Mentri Besar had stated that the Selangor government would raise RM150 million per annum from the sale of sand. However, the figure was reduced to RM50 million in this sitting,”
- Human Resources Minister Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam - doubling of the levy on foreign workers to RM1,200 - Currently, there are 2.2 million legal foreign workers, with another million illegal foreign workers
- "To My Friend in Gaza" project - "PO Box 1000"
- In 2008, the Kota Baru Municipal Council (MPKB) detained 868 couples and 185 individuals for the two offences and collected some RM50,000 in fines
- The top 20 government-linked companies have outperformed the Kuala Lumpur Composite Index by a compounded annual rate of 4.8% in the past five years
09 March 2009
Of Malaysia Facts and Figures of the Day
Fellow citizens of the world,
It's been a while.
What is it like to be a blind person in Malaysia? Check out Yam TW's blog at My Blind Sight. Godspeed, sir.
Editorial
Introducing Malaysia Facts and Figures of the Day:
- Government had so far spent RM70 million on the TV 1 and TV 2 digitalisation project - cost could come up to between RM1 billion and RM1.5 billion by the time it is completed in 2015 - TV viewers would have to buy special decoders (worth RM300) to watch programmes when digital programming replaced the current analogue system - no policy at present to subsidise the price of decoders or give them for free to the lower-income group - “We have to do away with filtering and censoring and head towards self-censorship by letting the people decide"
- 2,000 people marched to hand over a memorandum to the King asking for the return of Bahasa Malaysia as the medium of instruction for Mathematics and Science
- Federal Agriculture Marketing Authority (Fama) is targetting 5,000 agro-based entrepreneurs by 2010 (currently, there are 2,900 agro-entrpeneurs) - under incentive programme, provide them with up to over RM100,000 worth of equipment
- Perak state government has allocated an additional RM13 million in development funds for 100 orang asli villages in Batang Padang = RM10 million to build new infrastructure and facilities + RM1 million to upgrade the Pos Bersih village clinic + RM2 million to buy farming equipment for orang asli wanting to venture into agriculture - RM6 million had already been allocated to the Orang Asli Affairs Department to help the community under the Ninth Malaysia Plan
- Based on Article 16(6) of the Perak State Constitution, only the Mentri Besar has the right to appear before the Sultan to seek His Royal Highness’ consent to dissolve the state assembly
- All Pakatan assemblymen have been told not to co-operate with the police unless the police are also investigated under Section 124 of the Penal Code (obstructing of elected representatives from carrying out their duties), said Perak DAP chief Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham
- 94 foreign women, mostly from Asean countries, have been placed at the shelter for trafficked women since its establishment in March 2008 - under the Ninth Malaysia Plan, the ministry had set aside an allocation to build several shelter homes nationwide to provide safe havens for the victims
- Female civil servants with the Selangor Government are now entitled to 90 days maternity leave starting this year - Husbands whose wives gave birth will also enjoy a 14-day paternity leave, up from a week previously - Female staff whose husbands pass away, will also get 30 days’ leave, compared to three days emergency leave in the past
- Selangor would use its over RM50 million revenue from sand mining to fund various “people-centred’ activities and welfare programmes
- Selangor had identified about 40 villages to be headed by Indians and their appointment would be made April 2009
- DAP’s target for 30% of women to be involved in politics is still lagging behind with only more than 10% involved, said Penang DAP chairman Chow Kon Yeow
- Penang DAP had been giving away 1,000 stalks of flowers in conjunction with International Women’s Day each year since 2000 but decided to increase the number to 10,000 stalks this year
- 30 people have died from dengue in January to February 2009 - more than double the 12 deaths recorded between January 1 and March 3 2008
- Ministry of Health would speed up the employment of contract doctors to help ease the shortage in hospitals and health clinics nationwide - 53% of the positions had yet to be filled
- 15 Chinese associations here have called on the Government to allow AirAsia to fly direct between Singapore and Langkawi to help the resort island weather the current economic storm - business has been dropping by at least 30% so far this year - currently, only SilkAir provided direct flights between Singapore and Langkawi - Datuk Seri Tony Fernandes said the low-cost carrier would only need a month to start daily flights
- Tourism Malaysia is exploring programmes to woo more tourists from Pakistan - Last year, 68,000 Pakistanis visited Malaysia
- More than 70,000 Bangladeshi workers are expected to arrive here soon to work in the plantation, construction and services sectors, said the Bangladesh High Commission labour counsellor Talat Mahmud Khan - arrival of the latest batch would swell the number of Bangladeshi workers to almost 500,000 - On the social impact of the Bangladeshi workers on Malaysian society, he said there was not much impact as the workers were confined mostly to their workplaces and seldom ventured outside - “However, considering the huge Bangladeshi population in Malaysia, a few Bangladeshi youths may get involved with local girls, but this is very rare,”
- All programmes to close the digital divide must be completed by 2010, said Energy, Water and Communications Ministry Deputy Minister Datuk Joseph Salang Gandum - One of them was the RM600 million Universal Service Programme (USP) focusing on increasing communications infrastructure in the rural areas nationwide - target is to have 46 centres before 2010
- Government had given an assurance that all areas within a 15km radius of a small town would have better infrastructure by 2016
- Kedah will award logging concessions only through the open tender system - Via the open tender system, the state government derived revenue of up to RM16.3 million for 1,000 ha compared to between RM3 million and RM4.5 million under the negotiated tender system - Tenders would be open soon for some 2,400 ha
- Stamp duty rate introduced under the last Budget - it would cost 0.5% of the value of the contract sum as compared to previous stamping rate of RM10 per book contract - revision has increased the financial burden of developers and others in the related sectors
- The Chinese residents of Kuchai Brem Park Condominium, comprising 98% of the population, donated over RM2,600 to businessman Ruslee Mokhtar, 45, and his 35-year-old wife Rozita Abdul Malik, whose son Muhammad Aiman Izzat Ruslee, 10, drowned in the condominium pool
- Mini Estate Sejahtera project involving 98 ha in Kampung Sungai Laba, Pulau Sebatik - benefit some 33 hardcore poor families - Houses for them will be built at a cost of RM3 million and completed in 18 months - Each family will be allocated 3 ha of oil palm as part of the government’s efforts to eradicate poverty
- So far, only 50% of the 380 JPs in Selangor had re-registered themselves with the state JP council office
- Kota Batam Islamic Religious Affairs officer said that Malaysian and Singaporean men have been going to Batam to marry the local women there using unqualified “jurunikah” (marriage official), charging a fee of RM3,000.
Articles
Item 1: "Netanyahu's Middle East Outlook" interview with Lally Weymouth
Wisdom:
- I propose a [new] way, which I believe can achieve progress: to continue political talks and at the same time advance the economic development that has begun and also strengthen the Palestinian security forces.
- Hamas is incompatible with peace.
- I will continue the talks for peace with the Palestinians immediately, and I do not condition them in any way on the Iranian outcome
Item 2: "U.N. Peacekeeping Efforts Stretched into Thin Blue Line" by John J. Meltzer
Wisdom:
- eighteen separate deployments — the largest being in the Democratic Congo and Darfur
- After gaining a mandate, the Council must look to developed countries to pay for the operation while developing countries generally send troops - chief contributors being Pakistan, Bangladesh, India and Nigeria and Nepal
- Costs for the 18 missions come to over US$7 billion annually
It's been a while.
What is it like to be a blind person in Malaysia? Check out Yam TW's blog at My Blind Sight. Godspeed, sir.
Editorial
Introducing Malaysia Facts and Figures of the Day:
- Government had so far spent RM70 million on the TV 1 and TV 2 digitalisation project - cost could come up to between RM1 billion and RM1.5 billion by the time it is completed in 2015 - TV viewers would have to buy special decoders (worth RM300) to watch programmes when digital programming replaced the current analogue system - no policy at present to subsidise the price of decoders or give them for free to the lower-income group - “We have to do away with filtering and censoring and head towards self-censorship by letting the people decide"
- 2,000 people marched to hand over a memorandum to the King asking for the return of Bahasa Malaysia as the medium of instruction for Mathematics and Science
- Federal Agriculture Marketing Authority (Fama) is targetting 5,000 agro-based entrepreneurs by 2010 (currently, there are 2,900 agro-entrpeneurs) - under incentive programme, provide them with up to over RM100,000 worth of equipment
- Perak state government has allocated an additional RM13 million in development funds for 100 orang asli villages in Batang Padang = RM10 million to build new infrastructure and facilities + RM1 million to upgrade the Pos Bersih village clinic + RM2 million to buy farming equipment for orang asli wanting to venture into agriculture - RM6 million had already been allocated to the Orang Asli Affairs Department to help the community under the Ninth Malaysia Plan
- Based on Article 16(6) of the Perak State Constitution, only the Mentri Besar has the right to appear before the Sultan to seek His Royal Highness’ consent to dissolve the state assembly
- All Pakatan assemblymen have been told not to co-operate with the police unless the police are also investigated under Section 124 of the Penal Code (obstructing of elected representatives from carrying out their duties), said Perak DAP chief Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham
- 94 foreign women, mostly from Asean countries, have been placed at the shelter for trafficked women since its establishment in March 2008 - under the Ninth Malaysia Plan, the ministry had set aside an allocation to build several shelter homes nationwide to provide safe havens for the victims
- Female civil servants with the Selangor Government are now entitled to 90 days maternity leave starting this year - Husbands whose wives gave birth will also enjoy a 14-day paternity leave, up from a week previously - Female staff whose husbands pass away, will also get 30 days’ leave, compared to three days emergency leave in the past
- Selangor would use its over RM50 million revenue from sand mining to fund various “people-centred’ activities and welfare programmes
- Selangor had identified about 40 villages to be headed by Indians and their appointment would be made April 2009
- DAP’s target for 30% of women to be involved in politics is still lagging behind with only more than 10% involved, said Penang DAP chairman Chow Kon Yeow
- Penang DAP had been giving away 1,000 stalks of flowers in conjunction with International Women’s Day each year since 2000 but decided to increase the number to 10,000 stalks this year
- 30 people have died from dengue in January to February 2009 - more than double the 12 deaths recorded between January 1 and March 3 2008
- Ministry of Health would speed up the employment of contract doctors to help ease the shortage in hospitals and health clinics nationwide - 53% of the positions had yet to be filled
- 15 Chinese associations here have called on the Government to allow AirAsia to fly direct between Singapore and Langkawi to help the resort island weather the current economic storm - business has been dropping by at least 30% so far this year - currently, only SilkAir provided direct flights between Singapore and Langkawi - Datuk Seri Tony Fernandes said the low-cost carrier would only need a month to start daily flights
- Tourism Malaysia is exploring programmes to woo more tourists from Pakistan - Last year, 68,000 Pakistanis visited Malaysia
- More than 70,000 Bangladeshi workers are expected to arrive here soon to work in the plantation, construction and services sectors, said the Bangladesh High Commission labour counsellor Talat Mahmud Khan - arrival of the latest batch would swell the number of Bangladeshi workers to almost 500,000 - On the social impact of the Bangladeshi workers on Malaysian society, he said there was not much impact as the workers were confined mostly to their workplaces and seldom ventured outside - “However, considering the huge Bangladeshi population in Malaysia, a few Bangladeshi youths may get involved with local girls, but this is very rare,”
- All programmes to close the digital divide must be completed by 2010, said Energy, Water and Communications Ministry Deputy Minister Datuk Joseph Salang Gandum - One of them was the RM600 million Universal Service Programme (USP) focusing on increasing communications infrastructure in the rural areas nationwide - target is to have 46 centres before 2010
- Government had given an assurance that all areas within a 15km radius of a small town would have better infrastructure by 2016
- Kedah will award logging concessions only through the open tender system - Via the open tender system, the state government derived revenue of up to RM16.3 million for 1,000 ha compared to between RM3 million and RM4.5 million under the negotiated tender system - Tenders would be open soon for some 2,400 ha
- Stamp duty rate introduced under the last Budget - it would cost 0.5% of the value of the contract sum as compared to previous stamping rate of RM10 per book contract - revision has increased the financial burden of developers and others in the related sectors
- The Chinese residents of Kuchai Brem Park Condominium, comprising 98% of the population, donated over RM2,600 to businessman Ruslee Mokhtar, 45, and his 35-year-old wife Rozita Abdul Malik, whose son Muhammad Aiman Izzat Ruslee, 10, drowned in the condominium pool
- Mini Estate Sejahtera project involving 98 ha in Kampung Sungai Laba, Pulau Sebatik - benefit some 33 hardcore poor families - Houses for them will be built at a cost of RM3 million and completed in 18 months - Each family will be allocated 3 ha of oil palm as part of the government’s efforts to eradicate poverty
- So far, only 50% of the 380 JPs in Selangor had re-registered themselves with the state JP council office
- Kota Batam Islamic Religious Affairs officer said that Malaysian and Singaporean men have been going to Batam to marry the local women there using unqualified “jurunikah” (marriage official), charging a fee of RM3,000.
Articles
Item 1: "Netanyahu's Middle East Outlook" interview with Lally Weymouth
Wisdom:
- I propose a [new] way, which I believe can achieve progress: to continue political talks and at the same time advance the economic development that has begun and also strengthen the Palestinian security forces.
- Hamas is incompatible with peace.
- I will continue the talks for peace with the Palestinians immediately, and I do not condition them in any way on the Iranian outcome
Item 2: "U.N. Peacekeeping Efforts Stretched into Thin Blue Line" by John J. Meltzer
Wisdom:
- eighteen separate deployments — the largest being in the Democratic Congo and Darfur
- After gaining a mandate, the Council must look to developed countries to pay for the operation while developing countries generally send troops - chief contributors being Pakistan, Bangladesh, India and Nigeria and Nepal
- Costs for the 18 missions come to over US$7 billion annually
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