RM300,000 Permata, Bakti aid for Syria victims

RM300,000 Permata, Bakti aid for Syria victims

RM300,000 Permata, Bakti aid for Syria victims

Posted: 07 Feb 2014 08:01 AM PST

08 February 2014| last updated at 11:37PM
By ASYRAF ABDUL SAMAD | news@nst.com.my

The prime minister's wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor said yesterday the fund would be directed to refugee camps along Turkey and Jordan's borders.

"Permata will donate about RM200,000 while RM100,000 will come from Bakti," said Rosmah, who is the patron of Permata Negara and Bakti president.

"The Foreign Affairs Ministry has given us the green light to proceed and we are communicating with our embassies to figure out the best way to deliver the sum so that those who truly need it will get it."

She said mistakes had been made in similar situations, such as when they sent water supplies to Pakistan but the cost of transporting the water exceeded the worth of the goods sent.

"Rather than sending supplies, we will send money to credible humanitarian organisations which will use it to benefit the victims and refugees of the Syrian war."

Yesterday, Yayasan Rakyat 1Malaysia donated a Toyota Hiace Panel Van and a Honda motorcycle to Bakti. Rosmah received two mock keys presented by Yayasan Rakyat 1Malaysia chief executive officer Ung Su Ling at the Siti Hasmah Bakti Building here.

"We thank Yayasan Rakyat 1Malaysia for this donation. It will help reduce Bakti's expenditure."

Bakti president Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor (centre) receiving the mock keys for the donated vehicles at the Siti Hasmah Bakti Building in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. Pic by Khairull Azry Bidin

Drama Festival KL road tour hits Balai Berita

Posted: 07 Feb 2014 08:01 AM PST

08 February 2014| last updated at 11:38PM

Yesterday's event was held to promote the channels' drama workshops, which will be held in Berjaya Times Square Hotel & Convention Centre on Feb 20 and 21.

Local artistes, directors, scriptwriters and composers were seen sharing their experiences with the public at Anjung Riong.

Nabila Huda, Cat Farish, Rozie Rashid and the winner of Anugerah Juara Lagu 28, Hyper Act, were some of the celebrities entertaining the crowd at the event.

Prominent personalities, including directors Kabir Bhatia and Ahmad Idham, actors Sharifah Amani and Datin Paduka Umie Aida, and scriptwriter Erma Fatima, are set to be instructors at the workshops.

Apart from promoting the workshop, casting sessions were also held yesterday.

Many took the opportunity to register themselves for a chance to showcase their talent in front of panels from the two television stations.

For details, log on to www. dfkl.com.my.

An aspiring hopeful auditioning for the DFKL panel during the road tour stop at Balai Berita NSTP in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. Pic by Halimaton Saadiah Sulaiman

IWK: We're sure we didn't pollute'

Posted: 07 Feb 2014 08:01 AM PST

INDAH Water Konsortium has stuck to its guns saying that its sewage treatment plant did not pollute Sungai Batu Ferringhi or the nearby beach.

Its chief executive officer, Datuk Abdul Kadir Mohammad Din, said the murky water that drained out into the river on Tuesday was not harmful.

Elaborating on the murky water, he said it was caused by a leakage in the treatment plant. The leakage was caused by a loose control valve.

He said the amount that leaked was 0.5 per cent of the total 7,500 cubic metres of sewage being treated by the plant at the time.

"The brown-coloured liquid had drained out through a pipe that was carrying treated effluents into the river.

"The liquid is not black or blackish as reported by the press, and that it is not harmful," he said when briefing Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, 30 officials, including several assemblymen, and 10 state executive councillors yesterday.

Kadir, who was calm and collected throughout the hour-long power- point briefing, said IWK took samples of the brown liquid for testing.

He said state Department of Environment (DoE) and state Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID) had also taken samples.

Despite the explanation, no results of the water samples were produced.

On the loose valve, Kadir said IWK workers rectified the situation within 20 minutes. It became loose because of tide buoyancy in the aeration tank.

Except for the leakage on Tuesday, he said the treatment plant, manned by seven workers including an engineer, did not have any problems.

He said the plant also adhered strictly to sewage treatment plant standards set by DOE. He showed those present the effluent quality recorded by the plant for the past year, with the last reading recorded on Jan 17.

"The plant has always recorded better readings than the standards set by DOE, including for suspended solids and for bio-oxygen demand."

Kadir denied claims that black specs found in the sand at the beach originated from his plant.

On fears of E. coli (Escherichia coli), usually associated with human faeces that could have harmful effects on humans, Kadir said water samples had been sent for testing.

DoE and DID had also sent samples for testing of E. coli. The results were yet to be released, Kadir added.

He explained there were "good" and "bad" E. coli and that there was no need for anxiety unless the bacterial count in the river was higher than the permissible levels.

At this juncture, Pulau Tikus assemblyman Yap Soo Huey interjected and raised concerns that apart from E. coli, there could be presence of other dangerous bacteria.

A bio-technologist by profession, the first-time elected representative said the treatment plant, built in the 1980s, was outdated based on Kadir's earlier explanation.

Yap proposed for some upgrading works, including adding a retention tank for effluent that has been chlorinated to ensure the discharged liquid did not pose a risk to riverine life and humans.

Lim, who appeared baffled over the "apparent" pollution of Sungai Batu Ferringhi, showed a video taken by DID officers of dark-coloured effluent spewing from a pipe, originating from the treatment, into the river.

"The effluent gushing out from the pipe is very frightening. The discharge could have been for a short time but the river quickly turned dark."

He said the state government was not trying to find fault with any parties but to find the source of the pollution.

When Lim asked Kadir if IWK would clean up the river of pollution, Abdul Kadir said no and responded that instead the DID would do so.

A Penang Department of Environment worker showing a sample of the dark-coloured water taken in Batu Ferringhi on Tuesday. Pix by Danial Saad and Kamil Rahim

IWK communications senior manager Shahrul Nizam Sulaiman showing water that has been processed before it is released into the river at IWK's treatment plant in Batu Ferringhi yesterday.

Singapore delegation visits Media Prima

Posted: 07 Feb 2014 08:01 AM PST

08 February 2014| last updated at 11:44PM

The two-day working visit was to strengthen the relationship between the ministry and MPB while learning more about the functions of the press.

Delegates were shown a video presentation of the production processes involved in MPB's newspapers, television and radio stations.

Earlier yesterday, the delegates had a meeting led by Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek at the Mandarin Oriental here.

Both ministries co-produced the 8th Muzika Ekstravaganza, which featured local and Singaporean artistes, held in Angkasapuri last night.

The collaboration underscores the close ties between officials and broadcasters from both countries.

Present were MPB chairman Datuk Johan Jaaffar, New Straits Times Press (NSTP) chief executive officer Mohammad Azlan Abdullah, MPB group managing director Datuk Amrin Awaluddin, NSTP group managing editor Datuk Abdul Jalil Hamid, MPB corporate social responsibility group adviser Datuk Ahmad A. Talib, and MPB digital chief executive officer Datuk Zainal Arifin Mohammed Isa.

Dignitaries present were Singapore's High Commissioner in Kuala Lumpur, Ong Keng Yong and Singapore's media development authority chief executive officer Koh Lin-Net.

Media Prima Bhd chairman Datuk Johan Jaaffar (right) briefing Singapore's Minister for Communications and Information Dr Yaacob Ibrahim (left) at Media Prima's office at Balai Berita in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. Pic by Surianie Mohd Hanif

'Election or not, govt will ease your burden'

Posted: 07 Feb 2014 08:01 AM PST

08 February 2014| last updated at 11:50PM

He said the government would continue to make decisions which would trim the cost of living, including postponing the toll increase, with or without the election.

The government on Wednesday had announced that it would pay RM400 million in compensation to highway concessionaires to prevent toll increases this year.

"With or without the Kajang by-election, we will continue making decisions, including on the toll, that can ease the people's burden.

"We have set up a committee headed by me to study and identify measures that can be taken, " he said after meeting wholesalers and representatives of food industry associations yesterday.

Muhyiddin, who is also Barisan Nasional deputy chairman, said the decision to maintain the toll rates was made for all Malaysians and not just the Kajang electorate.

"I believe the people understand this... I have heard about them (the opposition) taking credit for the toll hike postponement as their first success. They just want to spin things.

"If I were to make another announcement today, they would take credit for that too as their second success and so on... The government acted because we care for the people. What have they (the opposition) done, aside from deceiving (the people)?"

Muhyiddin said people should not be easily hoodwinked by the lies spread by the opposition.

"We too want to win, if BN is contesting," he said in jest.

The Kajang state seat fell vacant after PKR assemblyman Lee Chin Cheh resigned on Jan 27.

It was speculated that the "Kajang move", as it was widely known, was done to steer PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim towards the Selangor menteri besar position.

Wholesalers and representatives of food industry various associations greeting Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin after a meeting in Putrajaya yesterday.

'Don't fall prey to party lies'

Posted: 07 Feb 2014 08:01 AM PST

08 February 2014| last updated at 11:49PM

Asked to comment on the Kajang by-election, he said because the people could read the intentions of certain quarters, they should not be deceived by lies.

"I hope the rakyat are able to differentiate between parties that exhibit no etiquette or good values and include members who frequently point fingers at others while using social media to spread lies.

"This is something we should always keep in mind to achieve our goal as a developed nation," he said at a press conference after Friday prayers at the Royal Malay Regiment depot's mosque at Pusat Latihan Asas Tentera Darat here yesterday.

Hishammuddin, who is also defence minister, urged the people to think about the consequences of believing lies spread by such parties and to be wary of the intention of certain parties to create chaos in the country.

"The economic stability and peace the country has achieved is meaningless if we allow ourselves to be influenced by such shallow thinking or hidden agendas.

"The personal vendettas of some quarters will affect our unity."

Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah (centre) and Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein (right) at the Royal Malay Regiment depot's mosque at Pusat Latihan Asas Tentera Darat in Port Dickson yesterday. Pic by Iqmal Haqim Rosman


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