Oil spill at Sungai Selangor.

Oil spill at Sungai Selangor.

Updated: Saturday August 31, 2013 MYT 9:27:48 PM

Water cut: All four water treatment plants back in operation, supply back in 40% of affected areas but low pressure, says Syabas

By JOSEPH LOH

PETALING JAYA: All four treatment plants which had to be shut down on Friday due to oil contamination in Sungai Selangor have resumed operations, and water distribution has begun at affected areas.
In a statement, Syabas said operations resumed at its plants at about 3am Saturday, and water distribution started at 6am.
"As at 10am, some affected areas have been receiving limited supply but at low water pressures.
"The number of affected accounts are down to 880,000, which comprise 60% of the households in Petaling, Kuala Lumpur, Klang/Shah Alam, Gombak, Kuala Selangor and Hulu Selangor," it said, adding that supply in the Kuala Langat district was back to normal.
"Syabas expects its supply of water to affected areas to reach 80% capacity in three days, and normal supply within one week," it said.
The statement also said it was mobilising all its resources to provide water to users, with 46 water trucks sent and 20 static tanks placed in affected areas, with another 506 static tanks on standby.
It also said Syabas was receiving aid from other states in the form of 14 water trucks - six from Johor, six from Perak and four from Negri Sembilan.
The statement also said Syabas would not be able ensure adequate supply for all users.
"However, water relief efforts will be concentrated on critical needs such as in hospitals, dialysis centres and mosques.
"Users are advised to be patient and use water sparingly for essential needs only," it said.

http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2013/08/31/water-cut-all-4-plants-back-in-operation.aspx

EC appoints 17 NGOs as observers

EC appoints 17 NGOs as observers

 

KUALA LUMPUR, April 6 — The Election Commission (EC) has appointed 17 non-governmental organisations as observers in the 13th general election, said EC deputy chairman Datuk Wan Ahmad Wan Omar. 

He said all the NGOs have appointed their volunteers, numbering about 1,000 people, who will be on duty at polling centres. 

“They comprise people from various backgrounds. They will be given special passes with specific numbers as their identity,” he said in the “Hello Malaysia” programme over Bernama TV yesterday. 

He said only volunteers from NGOs recognised by EC could access polling centres that have been identified but they have to adhere to regulations. 

Other NGOs however could only observe from outside the polling stations, he said. 

He hopes they would abide by the law and not create problems at polling centres. — Bernama

 http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/litee/malaysia/article/ec-appoints-17-ngos-as-observers/

made in malaysia

Malaysia wishes to become a high-income country.

 The following are true stories: A Malaysian political leader had a heart surgery in Singapore. The operation was successful.

During his recuperation period, the political leader would like to thank 3 skilful doctors, including an anesthesiologist. He said: “Thanks to the Singaporean doctors..........”

 “I'm sorry, Sir. I'm from Malaysia,” interrupted a doctor. “Me too.” “Me as well.” x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x A Malaysian company wanted to develop a new town abroad, it entrusted the project to a Singapore multinational company. The first time when they met, the Singapore company sent a team of seven people, including the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Architect and Chief Finance Executive. The meeting went smoothly. They relaxed and chatted.

The Malaysian company's Director said, “Durians from my hometown Kuala Pilah, Seremban taste the best. I'll treat you all next time when you come.” “Really? What area in Kuala Pilah? I'm from Kuala Pilah, too!” said the Singapore company's Chief Executive Officer. Next, one by one, the other six from the Singaporean team revealed their identities “I'm from Malacca.” “I'm from Kuala Kangsar, Perak.” “I grew up in Segamat.”

“My hometown is...” And all of them were actually “Made in Malaysia ”. x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x There are countless similar stories around us. And there is always another story behind each story. Some were rejected by domestic universities while some were rejected by the government scholarship. They couldn't get it even with 10 As while others got only 10 Bs. As leaving might be better than staying, they just went to a different world after crossing the bridge. There is a deep feeling for every story. x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x

According to the Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) statistics, a total of about 785,000 Malaysians are currently working abroad and 44% of them are working in Singapore, while the rest are working in other countries, including Hong Kong, China, Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States. And two-thirds of them are professionals. At the same time, most of the 2 million guest workers in Malaysia are from Indonesia, Bangladesh, Myanmar, India and Vietnam.

They are engaged in labour industry which does not require high educational background but just a little bit of brains. Low skill, low knowledge and of course, low wages. Malaysia has become a country that exports brains while importing labours, resulting in a serious deficit in knowledge trade.

How Should We Inculcate The Reading Habit Among Malaysians?

Wednesday, March 17, 2010 How Should We Inculcate The Reading Habit Among Malaysians? Reading habit should start from young itself. There for parents should play a main role in convincing and telling their children on how important it is for a person to read no matter what type of reading material it is but it must be beneficial. Nowadays it is understood that parents are busy with their work, but they must make sure their children reads daily. Other than that, parents should bring their kids to the national library at least once a week and they have to read together with their kids, so that the kids will be encouraged to read. Parents also can set up a mini library at home with the materials available and suitable for reading. Parents also should advise their adult children to read newspaper on a daily basis and not only reading story book or novels. This is to make sure that they are aware about the current issues. For adults, it will takes time to change their habit when they realize reading is very important. Government also must carry out campaign regarding reading habits. There are some ways to inculcate the reading habit among Malaysians. Firstly, set times. You should have a few set times during everyday when you’ll read for at least 5-10 minutes. For example, you can read during your breakfast and lunch or in time when you’re free like when you go to bed or waiting for someone. You also have to set a reading goal. Your goal might be a book a month or one per week. Second, always carry a book. Wherever you go, you must take a book with you. For example, when you want to go to class or work. Before you waiting for someone like your lecture or friends, you can read the book that you caring. So, you don’t waste your time. It also a great way to pass the time. You also must make a list. Keep a list of all the books you read and the books that you want to read in future. You can keep the list in your journal, diary or pocket notebook. Then, you can add any title of good book that your hear, online or ask your friends and colleagues what they are reading. It will make easy for you to find the book when you go to library or book store. When you are reading, make it pleasurable and fine a quite place. Make your reading time your favorite time of day like have some good tea or coffee. Find a quite place that will your comfortable and be easy to understand what you read. A quite place will make you peace. If you fine yourself stressful while reading the book, don’t continue reading under pressure like that. Reading is for pleasure, so don’t push yourself too hard that you can quit reading forever, or even if you can read, the outcome won’t be so good either. If you find that you cannot complete the task in the first place, don’t give up. Remember, winners never quit. You just have to try again until you achieve it. http://superread3rs.blogspot.com/

MMC-Gamuda wins RM8.2b MRT tunnelling job

MMC-Gamuda wins RM8.2b MRT tunnelling job
UPDATED @ 04:51:37 PM 21-03-2012
March 20, 2012

KUALA LUMPUR, March 20 - The MMC-Gamuda joint venture unsurprisingly won the tunnelling job for the My Rapid Transit (MRT) line between Sungai Buloh and Kajang with its bid of RM8.2 billion, project owner MRT Corp announced today.

MMC-Gamuda is also the project delivery partner (PDP) to run the construction of the 51km line, which is the country's largest infrastructure project and still without a total budget.

"The decision was made at a One Stop Procurement Committee (OSPC) meeting chaired by the Prime Minister, YAB Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Razak at Parliament yesterday," MRT Corp said in a statement today.

MRT Corp said MMC-Gamuda JV was chosen due to its expertise and experience in a similar project, the Stormwater Management and Road Tunnel (SMART) project.

"The consortium also offered the most competitive price at RM8.2 billion to design and build the 9.5km MRT underground tunnel and seven underground stations," it added, saying works for the underground package will be directly supervised by MRT Corp.

The statement said MMC-Gamuda was one of five companies or joint ventures which pre-qualified for the job. The other tenderers were Hyundai-Gadang-Chengal Jaya Joint Venture, Taisei Corp, Sinohydro Group Ltd, and the China Railway Group Ltd. Only three out of the five passed the technical evaluation stage.

"The final evaluation showed that MMC-Gamuda JV was the best evaluated tenderer that offered the technical criteria and the best bid which was 3.4 per cent lower than the second lowest offer," MRT Corp said.

“We are committed towards ensuring the success of the MRT project and the award shows that the MRT construction work is gaining momentum as we strive to deliver the project within the targeted time and cost,”

“The tunnelling works will require underground work at an unprecedented scale. It is the single largest package of the MRT that makes up 30 to 40 per cent out of the total project cost. The award of the underground package will create numerous job opportunities within Malaysia,” MRT Corp chief executive officer Datuk Azhar Abdul Hamid said in the statement.

Under MMC-Gamuda’s PDP deal with the government, the consortium will receive a fee of six per cent of all packages tendered out for work on the MRT’s Sungai Buloh-Kajang line.

According to a Bursa Malaysia filing made by Gamuda Bhd on recently, the MRT’s target cost, comprises the value of all awarded works packages, a 15 per cent contingency amount and reimbursables to MMC-Gamuda.

The MRT, meant to ease traffic congestion in the Klang Valley, is Malaysia's largest and most expensive infrastructure project to date.

Construction of the Sungai Buloh-Kajang line will begin in the second or third quarter of this year and is scheduled to be completed by end-2016, with services commencing in January 2017. There are a total of 31 stations for the line.

Critics have said MMC-Gamuda, a joint venture between leading infrastructure group Gamuda Bhd and MMC Corp Bhd, would have the edge over other bidders in bagging the prized tunnelling portion for the MRT due to its role as project delivery partner.

MMC-Gamuda is also the contractor for the RM12.5 billion electrified double-tracking Ipoh-Padang Besar rail project.

http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/business/article/mmc-gamuda-wins-rm8.2b-mrt-tunneling-job

Najib May Avoid Calling Early Malaysia Election After Protests

Najib May Avoid Calling Early Malaysia Election After Protests
By Barry Porter - Jul 11, 2011 12:00 AM GMT+0800


Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak may avoid calling an early election this year after police clashed with thousands of opposition-backed activists July 9, signaling a rise in political risk in the Southeast Asian nation.

Police detained 1,697 people as demonstrators protesting against what they call unfair voting practices marched on Kuala Lumpur landmarks including Merdeka Stadium and the king’s palace. Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections chief Ambiga Sreenevasan was among those held, and opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim was injured when tear gas was fired, local media reported.

The protests were the biggest since 2007 in a nation governed by the United Malays National Organisation since Malaysia’s independence from the U.K. in 1957. They coincide with rising pressure for political change in Malaysia’s neighbors, with Thai voters this month ejecting a party that used soldiers to disperse opposition protests in 2010 that led to more than 90 deaths, and Singapore’s ruling party in May winning its narrowest election victory since independence.

“Judging from Saturday’s events, he’s losing support,” Ooi Kee Beng, a senior fellow at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies said in a telephone interview from Singapore, referring to Najib. “I don’t think he will call a snap election now as he has everything to lose.”

While a vote isn’t due for two years, speculation that Najib would call an early election rose after his coalition won 77 percent of the seats in a local election in Sarawak state in April. The government isn’t frightened of facing the opposition in the general election, Najib was cited as saying yesterday by the official Bernama news service.
Equity Rally

Equity investors showed little concern at the planned protests in the run-up to the event, with the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI Index closing at a record on July 8.

The July 9 rally attracted about 6,000 people, the Star newspaper said, citing Inspector-General of Police Ismail Omar. Bersih, as the coalition is known, put the figure at 50,000, the Malaysian Insider reported. All those held, including 170 women and children, were later released, a police spokesman said.

This is “not the end, it is but one more step in the long walk for clean and fair elections in Malaysia,” Bersih said in a statement after the rally. The group said it would continue to attempt to deliver a memorandum of their positions to the king.

Bersih wants electoral changes, such as lengthening campaign periods to at least 21 days and using indelible ink on fingers to prevent people from voting more than once, according to its website.
Group’s Demands

The Election Commission is looking into extending the campaign period and plans to use biometric fingerprinting instead of indelible ink, Election Commission Chairman Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof said in a television interview with TV3 and Bernama on July 2. International observers may also be invited, he said.

Water cannons were used to disperse crowds in 2007 when similar protests drew 40,000 people in Kuala Lumpur. This was followed by riots led by Hindu-rights activists.

The ruling National Front coalition went on to suffer its biggest election losses since independence in the 2008 national poll, losing control of five of Malaysia’s 13 states to the opposition. Then-Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi resigned to take responsibility and was replaced by Najib in April 2009. The front has since regained control of one state, Perak.
Malay Groups

Two Malay rights groups, Perkasa and UMNO Youth, which is an arm of Najib’s ruling party threatened to hold rival rallies should Bersih go ahead with street protests. UMNO Youth leader Khairy Jamaluddin was also detained, police said.

The authorities rejected applications to use stadiums within Kuala Lumpur by all three groups, Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said on July 8.

Major roads into Malaysia’s capital were sealed on July 9 with road blocks, some train stations shut and buses diverted, leaving some parts of the city deserted.

Anwar, 62, was hospitalized for treatment to a bruise on his head and a cut on his leg after he fell when police fired tear gas at protesters, Malaysiakini reported online, citing the opposition leader. His bodyguard was “severely” injured by a tear gas canister, Anwar’s daughter Nurul Izzah told reporters.

Tian Chua, vice president of Anwar’s party, was among those a Bloomberg reporter saw detained by police. People’s Justice Party deputy president Azmin Ali was also arrested, along with three leaders of the opposition Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party, the Star said.

“The coming election is going to be a hotly contested one,” said Gerald Ambrose, who oversees about $429 million as head of Aberdeen Asset Management’s Malaysian unit in Kuala Lumpur. “One good thing about the protest is that Malaysia is put on the stage to show even more progress that is needed to convince all the people.”

To contact the reporter on this story: Barry Porter in Kuala Lumpur at bporter10@bloomberg.net
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-07-10/najib-may-avoid-calling-early-malaysia-election-after-protests.html

Najib: Full scholarship for top 100 Indian students

Najib: Full scholarship for top 100 Indian students
By RAHIMY RAHIM

PETALING JAYA: The Government has ensured that the top 100 Indian students who achieved first class degree will be given full scholarship to pursue education at local universities, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

"These top students can now pursue post-graduate degrees at public universities should they decide to do so," he said adding that it reflected the Government's commitment to education for Malaysian Indians.

Najib was at the launching the 30th anniversary of Sri Murugan Centre here.

http://www.thestaronline.com/news/story.asp?file=/2012/3/18/nation/20120318122947&sec=nation

Guan Eng says Umno using his children as political targets

Guan Eng says Umno using his children as political targets
By Shazwan Mustafa Kamal
January 28, 2012

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 28 — Lim Guan Eng has accused Umno of using his children as political targets, and charged that his daughter has become the victim of attacks by Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

The defence minister had said that the National Service (NS) training programme was now widely accepted and trusted by parents for the positive effect it has on their children, and used the Penang chief minister’s daughter as an example.

Guan Eng dared Umno and BN leaders to take him on but leave his children alone. — File pic
He had reportedly said that even DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang had seen how his granddaughter, who went to the Balik Pulau camp, had changed for the better after attending the programme.

“His (Kit Siang’s) son and Penang chief minister (Lim Guan Eng) also told me of the positive effect of the programme and thanked me for it,” Zahid was quoted by Bernama as saying.

But Lim Guan Eng denied this, saying that Zahid’s assertions were wholly “untrue”.

“My daughter is a good kid and is the same before and after joining the NS camp. Both my father and I had never told the defence minister as claimed by him and neither had we thanked him for it,” Lim said in a statement today.

He urged Barisan Nasional (BN) leaders to not use his children as political capital to boost the federal coalition’s credentials, saying that his entire family was “upset” by Zahid’s remarks.

“My family and I love our daughter and want to protect her privacy. We have shielded her from the glare of publicity so that she can grow up and enjoy life with her friends as a normal kid.

“We hope that Datuk Seri Ahmad can respect my daughter’s privacy and not drag her into his political games to justify the NS programme,” added Lim.

The DAP secretary-general stressed that this was not the first time his children had been “unfairly targeted” by Umno, and pointed out how his 15-year old son had been defamed by Umno leaders for allegedly molesting a schoolmate.

Umno blogs also claimed Lim paid RM200,000 to cover up the scandal and transfer his teenage son to another school.

School authorities have since then confirmed that there was no such instance of sexual molestation as alleged by Umno blogs.

The picture of the alleged molest victim published online turned out to be a chess champion who lives in Hong Kong and who has never even met Lim’s son.

“I urge Umno and BN leaders to throw your lies at me if you must but please leave my children alone. They are still studying and are not in politics.

“Have BN and Umno leaders run out of ideas and ideals that their only political capital is to preach lies and hate not only against PR leaders but also at our children?” Lim asked.

http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/guan-eng-says-umno-using-his-children-as-political-targets/

Genting Malaysia Rises to 1-Month High on New York Proposal

Genting Malaysia Rises to 1-Month High on New York Proposal
By Gan Yen Kuan - Jan 5, 2012

Genting Malaysia Bhd. (GENM)’s shares climbed to a one-month high on expectations its $4 billion plan to build the biggest convention center in the U.S. may help boost visitors to its nearby casino, the first in New York City.

The convention and exhibition center will include hotel rooms and an expansion of its casino in the Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, the Kuala Lumpur-based company said in a statement to the Malaysian stock exchange today. New York (STONY1) Governor Andrew Cuomo yesterday called for replacing the Jacob Javits Convention Center in Manhattan with the new 3.8 million-square-foot complex.

“It is a long-term planning that they do to make sure that in the future, there will be more consistent flow of business and people there,” Low Yee Huap, head of research at Hong Leong Financial Group Bhd., said in an interview in Kuala Lumpur today.

The investment will extend the Malaysian company’s reach in the U.S. after opening the New York City casino on Oct. 28 and amid plans for a $3.8 billion casino-and-hotel complex in Miami. The company, along with its parent Genting Bhd. (GENT), also owns and operates gaming resorts in the U.K., Malaysia and Singapore.

Genting Malaysia climbed 0.8 percent to 3.91 ringgit as of 4:01 p.m. in Kuala Lumpur, set for its highest since Dec. 5.

Cuomo said in his State of the State speech in Albany, the capital, that the Jacob Javits Center is “not competitive,” adding that the proposed Genting project will eclipse Chicago’s McCormick Place. The new development will include as many as 3,000 hotel rooms, he said.

Genting Malaysia’s New York unit is in talks with the state and expects a binding agreement by the end of November, it said in the statement.

To contact the reporter on this story: Gan Yen Kuan in Kuala Lumpur at ykgan@bloomberg.net

Special police team to probe dumping of pig heads at mosque

Published: Friday December 30, 2011 MYT 8:30:00 PM
Updated: Friday December 30, 2011 MYT 8:32:33 PM
Special police team to probe dumping of pig heads at mosque

JOHOR BARU: A special team has been set up by Johor police to investigate the dumping of several severed pig heads in plastic bags near the Al-Falah Mosque in Taman Desa Jaya here.

State police chief Datuk Mokhtar Mohd Shariff said the pig heads were found by the mosque's congregation early Friday when they turned up for the dawn prayers.

"The team, which is headed by Johor deputy police chief Datuk Ismail Yatim, will seek the culprits until they are found," he said.

Mokhtar, who visited the scene of the incident, urged all parties to be patient, refrain from speculating about the incident and not to take the law into their own hands.

The mosque's committee chairman, Kassim Darim, 62, said residents in the area initially found a plastic bag believed to contain pig parts near the rear fence of the mosque at 5pm Thursday.

He said it was the first time such an incident had occurred in the area.

A police report was lodged at the Desa Cemerlang Police Station, he said.

Meanwhile, about 100 people, including from non-government organisations, held a peaceful gathering in front of the mosque to protest against the act. BERNAMA
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/12/30/nation/20111230204127&sec=nation