Heng elected new Wanita chief

Heng elected new Wanita chief

Heng elected new Wanita chief

Posted: 20 Dec 2013 08:01 AM PST

21 December 2013| last updated at 11:18PM

The 51-year-old Perak MCA Wanita chief polled 978 votes, while Tan, 54, the former Penang MCA Wanita chief, received 841 votes.

 Incumbent Wanita chief Datuk Yu Chok Tow did not seek re-election.

Heng thanked delegates for voting her in and also her team for the win.

"With the elections over, I hope everybody will close ranks and work together towards a better Wanita wing," she said, adding that her immediate task was to unite the wing from the branches to the national level.

"For us, the work begins now and that is to strengthen the wing so we can face the 14th General Election and help Barisan Nasional and MCA wrest the seats we lost in the last two general elections."

On her slim majority, Heng said it was the delegates' way of telling her there was still room for improvement.

"We will work hard to reform the wing," she said, promising to work hard for the party and the community.

On the formula to her line-up's success in getting elected into the central committee, Heng said it was due to team spirit.

The wing's deputy chief, Datuk Lee Pit Chern, is considered Heng's running mate. The former Seremban Wanita MCA chief won the No. 2 seat uncontested on nomination day on Monday. She took over from the late Tan Ah Heng, who died of brain cancer on Aug 10.

Heng's team mates Wong You Fong (Johor), Datuk Lim Bee Kau (Kedah), See Meng Geok (Terengganu) and Ong Chong Swen (Selangor) also won the four vice-presidents' posts. Wong garnered 1,652 votes, Lim (1,317), See (1,265) and Ong (1,188).

 Tan said she accepted the results with an open heart.

Newly-elected MCA Wanita chief Datuk Heng Seai Kie (left) and deputy chief Datuk Lee Pit Chern celebrating their victory after the results were announced.

1,062 civil servants qualify

Posted: 20 Dec 2013 08:01 AM PST

21 December 2013| last updated at 11:16PM

These civil servants were chosen from the second ballot series for the programme and they will be able to purchase PPA1M apartments in Precinct 5, Putrajaya.

The first ballot, which was held on Aug 29, saw 1,263 names being drawn.

Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Dr Ali Hamsa said 2,325 units were offered for the first and second ballot series under the programme.

"The apartments (Putrajaya) will be able to accommodate the civil servants as there will be 10,639 units built under phase one of the programme," he said, adding that more than 10,500 civil servants in Putrajaya were eligible to apply for the PPA1M as they have a household income of not more than RM8,000.

The apartments at Precinct 5 is scheduled to be completed by December 2015 and will be developed by Putrajaya Holdings Sdn Bhd.

Ali said the housing scheme for civil servants would also be carried out in cities such as Kuala Lumpur, Johor Baru, Penang and Kuching.

"The government is l in the midst of surveying and looking for suitable land."

In conjunction with the second ballot series, Ali also launched the ground-breaking ceremony for the PPA1M apartments that would be built at Precinct 6.

Civil servants can check the result of the second ballot series at the Putrajaya Corporation website (www.ppj.gov.my or www.putrajaya.gov.my) on Dec 30.

Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Dr Ali Hamsa (second from left) and Putrajaya Corporation president Tan Sri Aseh Che Mat (third from left) being briefed on the PPA1M project at Marina Putrajaya by SMRADHI Design Practice AR director Norzaini Mufti (left) at Putrajaya yesterday. Pic by Fariz Iswadi Ismail


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Floods hit 13 low-lying villages in Tenom

Posted: 20 Dec 2013 08:01 AM PST

21 December 2013| last updated at 11:28PM

The evacuees from 413 families were placed at 14 relief centres set up by the District Natural Disaster Committee on Thursday.

Tenom member of parliament Datuk Raime Unggi said the committee moved into action after water breached the danger level at Sungai Padas.

The river flows downstream to Beaufort where a similar committee has been activated.

However, no evacuation has been carried out.

"Affected villagers should heed warnings by the authorities, especially when it comes to evacuating their homes.

"The relevant authorities will be on the ground to monitor the situation.

"They will also offer assistance to villagers," Raime said.

The villages affected were Ponontomon, Enubai, Saga Laut, Pantongan Saga, Pantongan Sapong, Bangkulin Lama, Labut, Gumisi Laut, Angalor, Mamatom, Kalasasan, Batu Batu and Tumantalik.

Ponontomon community leader Nurigi Atab said the water level began rising on Wednesday night and the river broke its banks the next day.

No casualties were reported. However, boats had been deployed to critical areas to help villagers evacuate.

In Beaufort, some 40 villages were affected.

However, the situation has not reached critical level.

Assistant district officer Mohd Shaid Othman said six roads linking most of the villages were impassable at Bingkul, Melalugus, Gadong, Mempagar, Lumbawang and Lawa.

Villagers wading in floodwaters in Jalan Kuala Tomani in Tenom, Sabah, on Thursday. Pic by Cleo Will

Alvivi's application for stay denied

Posted: 20 Dec 2013 08:01 AM PST

21 December 2013| last updated at 11:14PM

Judge Kamardin Hashim made the decision after hearing submissions from the defence and prosecution.

"The court holds that there is no merit in the application. It is dismissed and the trial will proceed."

Deputy public prosecutor Wan Shahruddin Wan Ladin prosecuted, while the couple was represented by counsel J.T. Chong.

Alvin Tan Jye Yee, 25, and his Singaporean girlfriend Vivian Lee May Ling, 24, had filed an application to strike out the charge.

They are seeking a declaration that Section 298A(1) of the Penal Code is not consistent and contradicts the Federal Constitution.

The charge was made against them for allegedly uploading a picture of them eating bak kut teh with the caption "Selamat Berbuka" on their Facebook page.

Alvin Tan Jye Yee's and Vivian Lee May Ling's application to postpone their trial has been dismissed. Pic by Saifullizan Tamadi


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Kedah DAP members want polls

Posted: 20 Dec 2013 08:01 AM PST

21 December 2013| last updated at 11:24PM

The group, which gathered in front of the DAP office at Jalan Putra here, took a swipe at the DAP leadership for leaving Kedah as the only state which had yet to hold its poll.

Taman Kristal DAP branch deputy chairman Law Teng Hooi said DAP's central executive committee should abide by the party's constitution which stated state-level party election should be held every two years.

The last state DAP election in Kedah was held in December 2010.

"Other states have carried out the state-level party election this year.

"DAP, which claim to champion of democracy, should walk the talk. I hope party secretary-general Lim Guan Eng will look into the matter and prove democracy is still alive in the party."

Kedah DAP chairman Lee Guan Aik, in an immediate response, said grassroots members were unhappy as the party leadership denied them justice.

"Their call for a state annual general meeting in Kedah should be heeded by the leadership as they have rejected the setting up of the Kedah interim committee.

"Lim should be held responsible for resolving the matter."

The Registrar of Societies had ruled that Lee was the legitimate Kedah DAP chairman, according to the party's constitution.

Taman Kristal DAP branch deputy chairman Law Teng Hooi says state-level party election should be held every two years. Pic by Lim Poh Chin

9 concessionaires being considered for toll rate review

Posted: 20 Dec 2013 08:01 AM PST

21 December 2013| last updated at 11:21PM
By THARANYA ARUMUGAM | tharanya@nst.com.my

 KUALA LUMPUR: THE government is considering the request by nine highway concessionaires to have their toll rates reviewed.   These highways, which are operating at a loss, are all within the Klang Valley.

A Works Ministry source told the New Straits Times the nine were short-listed from 15 toll operators, which submitted their application for a review of their current toll rates.

The source said concessionaires running heavy losses due to traffic volume that was significantly below the minimum number stated in their agreement would be given priority to have their rate reviewed.

This move, he said would also protect the government from being forced to subsidise further any differences in the collection target, as agreed upon in the concession agreement.

He said the government would also consider engaging independent traffic consultants to study these under-performing highways' traffic volume before deciding whether or not to allow them to increase their rates.

Thirteen out of 15 toll concessionaires submitted their toll review proposal before the 13th General Election.

The last two concessionaires made their submission soon after the ministry's recent announcement of the impending toll hike.

It is learnt that the government rejected six concessionaires' requests to hike their rates, as their average toll collection was "more than satisfactory".

"Although their collection may have fallen short of their targeted revenue in certain months, on the average, their total collection has allowed them significant returns.

"While the government has said there will indeed be a (toll) hike for some highways, it is still in the midst of deciding who among the nine concessionaires will be allowed to increase their rates.

"There is no guarantee that all nine will be allowed to review their rates, as the government wants to further study their cash flow and their highways' traffic data forecast."

The source said some of the nine highways were struggling, as the low traffic volume were hindering them from servicing their loans and maintaining their highways' infrastructure.

The source said the short-listing of the nine concessionaires was discussed and agreed on during the last cabinet meeting.

"It is likely that the government will finalise which of the nine concessionaires will be allowed to increase their rates by next week or early next year.

"The new toll rates is expected to come into force only after Chinese New Year ... it is too early to say what the quantum of increase will be like."

Last week, Works Minister Datuk Fadillah Yusof said toll prices would be revised next year, as the government had to comply with the agreement signed with highway concessionaires.

The quantum of increase being bandied about is between RM0.50 and RM2.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Abdul Wahid Omar was also reported as saying that the toll rate should have been revised in 2011, as stated in the concession agreement.

However, the rate was maintained and the government had to fork out RM400 million in compensation from taxpayers' money, which could have been channeled for other uses.

There are 24 highways covering the Klang Valley.

Figures suggest that drivers make 8.3 million trips, including via highways, within the Klang Valley daily.

The Guthrie Corridor Expressway is managed by one of the nine companies seeking a review of its toll rates. Sources say these companies are running heavy losses due to low traffic volume.