Smart team sets for Terengganu

Smart team sets for Terengganu
RM1.56m worth of meth pills seized, seven held
Najib weighs in on issues at #PAU13
Puteri yearns to be Umno's 'beacon of hope'
Vehicle rolls back into PM's car
Kazim turns down spot in supreme council

Posted: 04 Dec 2013 08:01 AM PST

05 December 2013| last updated at 01:12AM

KUALA LUMPUR: THE National Security Council (NSC) has deployed a Smart team to Terengganu to help in rescue missions as floods worsen in the state.

Its secretary, Datuk Mohamed Thajudeen Abdul Wahab, said the team would ensure evacuations were carried out smoothly.

"The Smart team, which comprises 32 members, left Putrajaya today for Terengganu to help in evacuation and rescue efforts. They took extra boats and will work with search and rescue teams, the police, Fire and Rescue Department, Rela officials and volunteers."

On measures to help evacuees in Pahang and Johor, which have also been affected by floods, he said the remaining 72 members of the Smart team would be on standby.

"As of now, we have yet to receive requests for help from the state Welfare Department operations room. We are monitoring the weather and flood situation in Pahang and Johor, and the Smart teams will be deployed if the need arises."

Thajudeen said state Welfare Departments had ensured there were sufficient food and medical supplies for flood victims.

He said the situation was under control and chastised people for posting comments on social media about worsening flood conditions as this had caused panic.

He was commenting on a post on Facebook that claimed that the water at the Kenyir Dam, Terengganu had overflowed.

"This is not true so the public need not be worried. Get information from the departments' portals."

The Malaysian Meteorological Department said the widespread flooding in the east coast states was expected to subside, earliest by Saturday.

Its central forecast division director, Muhammad Helmi Abdullah, said the situation had improved in Johor, Pahang (Kuantan, Pekan and Rompin) and southern Terengganu (Dungun and Kemaman) as of yesterday.

"The high tide, which is the main problem, will ebb by Saturday."

The floods, he said, were primarily due to the presence of a "new moon".

"This has led to high tides that obstructed water flow from the river into the sea. The highest tides will occur today and tomorrow."

He said rainy weather in the east coast was known as "monsoonal heavy rain" (intermittent rain that occasionally becomes moderate or heavy).

He said between Sunday and Monday, Pahang recorded the highest amount of rainfall, more than 1,000mm. This was followed by Kemaman (900mm); Mersing, Johor, (700mm) and more than 600mm in Rompin.

He said there would be rain after the flood subsided, especially in the morning in the east coast. However, it would not result in flooding.

"The public must take heed of advisories or warnings issued by the department as well as instructions by the local authorities on evacuation."

Information on weather conditions can be obtained from http://www.met.gov.my and http://portalbanjir.mkn.gov.my.

Rescue personnel evacuating an elderly invalid from floods in Taman Cenderawasih, Kuantan, yesterday. Pic by Halim Mat Ali

RM1.56m worth of meth pills seized, seven held

Posted: 04 Dec 2013 08:01 AM PST

05 December 2013| last updated at 12:59AM

State Narcotics Department chief Superintendent Amran Ramli said the seven, aged between 16 and 64, included two women.

The 64-year-old man is believed to be the head of the family while the 16-year-old girl is the wife of one of three brothers detained.

The other two were a 53-year-old woman relative and a male relative.

Police had detained a Vietnamese drug mule and seized 5.4kg of syabu worth RM1.4 million at the Sultan Ismail Petra Airport early last month.

Amran said police put the syndicate, which was one of the biggest in the state and active in Kelantan and Terengganu, under surveillance for two months before the raid.

"The drugs were found hidden behind some wood under the house."

Police also seized two cars, four motorcycles and RM16,849 in cash.

In George Town, Penang police chief Datuk Abdul Rahim Hanafi said police nabbed three suspected drug traffickers and seized RM15,000 worth of heroin and syabu at a hotel in Permatang Pauh on Dec 2.

He said police also seized a Smith and Wesson gun with two bullets from the suspects, aged between 25 and 41, during the raid at 3pm.

State Narcotics Department chief Superintendent Amran Ramli (centre) showing the drugs and money seized during the raid on a house in Kampung Pulau Panjang, Kota Baru. Bernama pic

Najib weighs in on issues at #PAU13

Posted: 04 Dec 2013 08:00 AM PST

05 December 2013| last updated at 01:28AM

In a Facebook post, the prime minister and Umno president said the establishment of the party 67 years ago was a historic moment.

"Although we face new challenges and different political scenarios, I am confident that Umno will not stray from its original struggle for the sake of religion, race and country."

Using the hashtag #PAU13, Najib has been weighing in on issues affecting Umno on social media.

On Twitter, he posted a message of support for his deputy, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who had earlier called for mutual understanding and respect to ensure the country's peace and stability.

"Because of this, the country has grown strong and developed."

Najib also posted a picture of himself preparing his official opening speech to be delivered today. He will also deliver the closing speech on Saturday.

Puteri yearns to be Umno's 'beacon of hope'

Posted: 04 Dec 2013 08:00 AM PST

05 December 2013| last updated at 01:17AM

Instead, the wing should be seen as a beacon of hope for Umno, said its chief, Mas Ermieyati Samsudin, who delivered her maiden speech at the Puteri Umno assembly here yesterday

"Right now, we are merely seen as penyeri majlis (decorative items) or cheerleaders and in other negative ways. We need to change this perception.

"We will take all the criticism positively and carry out measures to improve our image. At the same time, we call upon party leaders at the divisional level to grant Puteri leaders a bigger role," she said, while urging the party leadership to recognise Puteri Umno's contributions and efforts.

Mas Ermieyati also called on the wing members at all levels to work hard and prove their capabilities to the party leadership.

The lawyer-turned-politician also plotted the movement's direction when she urged delegates not to be complacent.

"What is our quo vadis (direction)? Do we want to continue bersimpuh (the act of sitting on the floor with both feet folded on the side) in our comfort zone or move further?" the Masjid Tanah member of parliament asked delegates.

In her speech, which focused on topics, such as the economy, religion and preparations for the next general election, Mas Ermieyati reminded the wing members that the Barisan Nasional victory in the 13th General Election earlier this year was a close one and the coalition needed to win back support across the board.

She touched on the declining support of urban and Chinese voters.

To rectify the situation, Mas Ermieyati said the wing planned to set-up a Biro Sahabat Puteri (Puteri Supporters Bureau) to woo voters from all races.

The wing also planned to extend the membership of the proposed bureau to non-governmental organisations and university students, she said, adding that she welcomed input from previous Puteri leaders and members.

She said the wing would also introduce an entrepreneurship programme, dubbed "Puteri on Wheels", to help the government realise its vision under the Bumiputera Economic Empowerment Agenda, launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak in October.

Mas Ermieyati said the programme was aimed at informing and training young women in business management.

She also called for the establishment of more channels to help entrepreneurs, especially women, expand their businesses.

Puteri Umno chief Mas Ermieyati Samsudin (centre) with executive council members during the wing's assembly at the Putra World Trade Centre in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

Vehicle rolls back into PM's car

Posted: 04 Dec 2013 08:00 AM PST

05 December 2013| last updated at 12:57AM

Kuala Lumpur police chief Datuk Mohmad Salleh said the man, in his 20s, forgot to engage the Volvo's handbrake.

"The prime minister was unhurt in the incident.

"Najib was on his way to Parliament." Bernama

Kazim turns down spot in supreme council

Posted: 04 Dec 2013 08:00 AM PST

05 December 2013| last updated at 01:15AM

He thanked Umno president Datuk Seri Najb Razak for offering him the post and gave his support for Najib's pledge to uphold the Islamic agenda in Umno.

Kazim, who left Pas on Tuesday, said he also wanted to focus on the Al-Barakah learning centre, a private religious school that he operates in Ipoh.

"I thank Najib for offering the Umno supreme council post to me but I have to decline the offer as I wish to remain a freelance preacher.

"I do not want the people get the wrong impression that my religious school is funded by Umno," Kazim said during a religious class in Taman Ria here on Tuesday, attended by some 2,000 people.

The preacher said Pas members had made many allegations against him, including being an Umno stooge. Thus, he did not want them to drag his religious school into the mud should he accept Umno's offer.

Kazim, who joined Pas in 1998, said it was not easy managing a private school but that he preferred that it continue operating without funding from any political party.

He said Najib had offered him the post after consulting four mufti during an hour-long meeting at Parliament recently.

"The prime minister is seeking my advice on Islamic issues in Umno and to help in drafting an agenda to strengthen Islamic education in primary and secondary schools.

"I was asked to draft a proposal about ways to inject Islamic values into our education system to better equip the younger generation with religious knowledge."