Disbelief, outrage over water rationing

Disbelief, outrage over water rationing

Disbelief, outrage over water rationing

Posted: 01 Apr 2014 09:01 AM PDT

KUALA LUMPUR: MALAYSIANS reacted with a mixture of disbelief and outrage over the announcement that even more water cuts would be headed their way beginning this Friday.

  Having been forced to change their lifestyles to weather the water crisis, residents and business owners alike were demanding that the authorities figure out a way to improve the situation fast.

  "It's frustrating. We  had to change our lifestyles  to suit this never-ending rationing," said Shannon Selvaraju, 26, of Bukit Bandaraya, Bangsar.

  Her family, she said, had to take drastic measures, including  using disposable underwear and sending clothes to the laundry, to limit  water usage at home.

 "We  had to eat out more as the limited water we stored at home  was for bathing and cleaning."

 Her reaction came in  light of yesterday's announcement by the National Water Services Commission (SPAN) and Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor (Syabas) that, come Friday, the next phase of water rationing would be implemented.

  This time, it would affect  6.7 million people in a continuation of the water crisis, which had plagued mostly Selangor residents since March 2.

  The move will affect households in nine districts -- Gombak, Petaling, Klang / Shah Alam, Kuala Selangor, Hulu Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Langat, Hulu Langat and Sepang.   An additional 620,237 households in Selangor, Putrajaya and Kuala Lumpur will also  face water cuts this Friday.

  Helen Fernandez, a legal assistant from Segambut, said her family-of-three  spent more on food delivery and mineral water.   

She said it was annoying to be  forced to be cautious about water usage.

  "It's ridiculous and embarrassing when we have visitors and worry if they would want to use the toilet."

  Salak South resident C.C. Tan said the water rationing would be acceptable if the authorities kept to the schedule.

  "Unfortunately, our experience over the past month showed they don't always keep to the schedule, nor do they do it in a timely manner," said the 39-year-old.

Business owners were also being pushed to the brink.   Kelly Wong, a hair salon operator in USJ6, Subang Jaya, predicted that her business would suffer drastically.

"Every aspect of my business needs water. I will have no choice but to limit my services to just haircuts. I don't see  the point in storing water to wash  hair because I would need the supply to come from a shower head.

"It won't be acceptable to use water scoops to wash my customers' hair.  I need both warm and hot water to wash hair."

  The Malaysian Employers Federation  believed that if the crisis continued, it could lead to potential investors shying away from Malaysia in the long-run.

  Its executive director, Shamsuddin Bardan, said it was ironic that an important utility like water repeatedly faced shortages as the nation moved forward towards a fully-developed status.

  "Numerous large industries need constant water supply for their production and manufacturing needs. It would be not only inconvenient but  costly for them to purchase water from other sources as it would   drive up their overhead and operating costs."

  He called on all quarters  to  look for alternate ways to harness the resources in the most efficient way possible.   Otherwise, the water shortage could deter investors.

  "All our efforts to woo them will be wasted."   Additional reporting by Dawn Chan and Halim Said

Hair salon operator Kelly Wong, attending to a customer in her shop in Subang Jaya, says the water cut would affect her business. Pic by Nurul Shafina Jemenon

India travel magazine honours Malaysia

Posted: 01 Apr 2014 09:00 AM PDT

02 April 2014| last updated at 12:45AM

Malaysia was named the best green destination for the second consecutive year,  Langkawi was crowned runner-up as a honeymoon destination and the KL International Airport was declared a joint runner-up with Heathrow Airport in the best airport category.

"It is a regional recognition for Malaysia and we will continue to promote places like Taman Negara as well as Sabah and Sarawak," Tourism Malaysia director (Mumbai) P. Manoharam said.

Malaysia expects tourist arrivals from India to increase from 650,989 last year to between 780,000 and 800,000 this year. India is Malaysia's sixth largest source of visitors.

Manoharam said Langkawi was popular among Indian and South Asian travellers not only for honeymoon but also as a family destination.

"Langkawi is runner-up as a honeymoon destination after Maldives, which is a high achievement," he said after receiving the awards here.

The readers' poll was conducted through the magazine and online last year over  five months.

The magazine's editor-in-chief, Payal Kohli, said the third edition of the India's Best Awards boasted the biggest number of winners as the competition was  close in many categories,  resulting in a number of joint winners and runners-up.


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PM: Subsidy savings to fund growth projects

Posted: 01 Apr 2014 09:00 AM PDT

KUALA LUMPUR: PRIME Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak yesterday said savings from  subsidy rationalisation initiatives will be channelled to development programmes that benefit the people.

     He said such gains would also be used for supplementary projects, particularly in Sabah and Sarawak.

     "When the revenue base expands, many projects, including infrastructure development, can be implemented. The government is committed to carrying on with subsidy rationalisation to  boost the  economy."

     Speaking at  Dewan Rakyat, Najib said the  annual development allocation was now RM46 billion, while subsidies had reached RM43.3 billion.

     He said such figures showed it was clearly an inequitable budget and this could not continue.

     "As such, it is only proper for the government to implement  sustainable subsidy rationalisation," he said, adding subsidy rationalisation would ensure only  targeted groups enjoyed  subsidies while leakages were  reduced.

     Najib, who is also finance minister, was replying to a supplementary question from Datuk Ahmad Hamzah (BN-Jasin), who wanted to know whether the government would continue with its subsidy rationalisation and what measures had been taken to that effect.

     Najib said subsidies given before the rationalisation were offered in bulk and this had led to much wastage and leakage, with the high-income group benefiting more than  low-income and lower middle-income groups.     As such, he said, the government now gave subsidies targeted at  needy groups, such as the 1Malaysia People's Aid (BR1M), and was looking  to improve this.

     To a question from Tan Seng Giaw (DAP-Kepong), Najib said in implementing subsidy rationalisation, the government must ensure consolidation of the social safety net so that the low-income group did not feel the pressure from the higher expenses they faced.

     Najib said part of the savings from  subsidy rationalisation would be used for the social safety net to improve economic growth and ensure the people's wellbeing.

     He added that part of the savings would be used to finance development that could raise the national productive capacity, such as infrastructure development including rural and urban roads, hospitals and housing.

     The savings would also enable the government to build more schools and educational institutions and provide   training for human capital development, he said.

      Najib added that many countries had opted to undertake drastic measures to reduce their fiscal deficits, but Malaysia would take the gradual approach in managing its fiscal deficit for  sustainable economic growth.

He said  subsidy rationalisation was necessary as subsidy expenditure was increasing because of  rising price of world crude oil and an increase in the number of vehicles.

     Citing an example, he said, in 2010, the government spent RM23.1 billion or 15 per cent of the operating expenditure to finance subsidies, aid and incentives.

     "Last year, after three years, the amount rose to RM43.4 billion or 21 per cent of  operating expenditure. Too large a subsidy will undermine the country's financial position and render it not sustainable for the long term."

     As such, Najib said, fiscal reform was important to strengthen the financial position and ensure that the targeted fiscal deficit remained at 3.5 per cent of  Gross Domestic Product (GDP) this year and three per cent next year and a balanced budget was achieved in 2020.

     Najib said the government was committed to ensuring that the national debt did not exceed 55 per cent of  GDP.

     "Subsidy rationalisation has been implemented with care to ensure minimum burden on the people, particularly those in the low-income and lower middle-income groups.

     "It also took into account various aspects, including the rate of inflation, cost of living and  global economic position as well as the target mechanism."  

     Najib said that overall  subsidy rationalisation and direct aid reflected the  government's serious intent to implement  reforms to ensure that the country achieved a  high-income developed nation status and the people enjoyed a better quality of life.

6.7 million people face water cut

Posted: 01 Apr 2014 09:00 AM PDT

  In a desperate bid to manage its dwindling water reserves, the Selangor government has further slashed the volume of water released from the Sungai Selangor dam by an additional 500 million litres daily.

  This is in addition to its previous reduction of also 500 million litres daily, effectively bringing the total reduction to a billion litres daily since the water crisis began on March 2.

  Unveiling the next phase of water rationing yesterday, the National Water Services Commission (SPAN) and Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor (Syabas) said the move is expected to affect 6.7 million people in nine districts - Gombak, Petaling, Klang / Shah Alam, Kuala Selangor, Hulu Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Langat, Hulu Langat and Sepang.

  Also not spared were 620,237 households in Selangor, Putrajaya and Kuala Lumpur, who would also face water rationing.

  SPAN chairman Datuk Ismail Kassim described the situation as "critical" and said the next phase of rationing was necessary.

  The Sungai Selangor dam, he said, provides 60 per cent of the Klang Valley's water source.

  "Given the present situation, the Selangor government had no choice but to reduce the water output from the Sungai Selangor dam.

  "If the dam's water levels are not carefully maintained, its reserves will deplete and its impact on Selangor, the Federal Territory and Putrajaya will be severe," he told a press conference at SPAN headquarters here, yesterday.

  Ismail said the recent rainfall had not improved the situation at the seven dams - Sungai Selangor, Sungai Tinggi, Sungai Semenyih, Sungai Langat, Klang Gates, Tasik Subang and Sungai Batu, which supply water to treatment plants in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya.

  "Although it has been raining in Klang valley since March 16, the amount of rainfall is still low. Aside from that, the rainfall this year is lower, coupled with the increased production of treated water compared to the previous years.

  "Despite the rainfall, water levels have only increased slightly in the dams. The rain did not fall in the required catchment areas," he said, adding that this has prompted the authorities to implement the next phase of rationing.

  Ismail said the next phase of rationing for Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya residents will begin at 9am this Friday until April 30.

  The areas would be divided into four zones and water supply would be provided based on the the two-days on, two-days off system.

  Consumers can refer to the distribution table provided in the SPAN website (www.span.gov.my) to identify their respective areas.

  On days when areas are scheduled to receive water, supply would begin at 4pm. After the two day period, water would then be cut off at 9am.

  "Some places such as high areas or areas at the end of the distribution system would receive their supply three to four hours late," he said.

  Ismail said water rationing will continue until the end of the month, unless the situation improves.

  Meanwhile, the scheduled water distribution in Taiping, Perak and its surrounding areas will start on Thursday (April 3).

  Ismail said SPAN had approved the application by the Perak Water Board to carry out the programme involving 27,982 accounts following the drop in water level at the Taiping Headworks water treatment plant.

  Syarikat Air Johor Holdings Sdn Bhd would also proceed with the scheduled water distribution in Mersing as the water level at the Congok dam  was at 4.22 metres, below the critical level of 4.50 metres.   He  said the schedule would be reimplemented at the Lok Heng and Waha Felda settlements, and other areas in Sedili, Johor.

A woman huddles under a plastic sheet during a downpour in Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur, yesterday. Despite the rain, the water level at Sungai Selangor Dam has not improved. Pix by Asyraf Hamzah and Mohd Fadli Hamzah

Old Malay manuscripts to 'return' home

Posted: 01 Apr 2014 09:00 AM PDT

02 April 2014| last updated at 12:15AM
By HANI SHAMIRA SHAHRUDIN | shamira@nst.com.my

KUALA LUMPUR: THE National Heritage Foundation is collaborating with Leiden University in the Netherlands to identify  Malay relics in the university's collection which will be brought back to Malaysia in digital form.

Social and Cultural Affairs Adviser to the Government Tan Sri Dr Rais Yatim said there were no fewer than 14,000 old Malay manuscript titles, in addition to old photographs in digital form, at the university, which were related to Malaysia's colonial era.

"Among the relics at the university are old Malay manuscripts in the form of writings, religious texts, literature, letters, material and other relevant documents related to the daily life of an earlier society.

"Some of the research documents at Leiden University are related to adat pepatih, adat Temenggong, the history of the Malay rulers and Misa Melayu manuscripts," said Rais, in a statement issued from Amsterdam in the course of his working visit to the Netherlands, beginning yesterday.

He had earlier attended a briefing at Leiden University's library. The university was established in 1575.

Rais, who is also the founder of National Heritage Foundation, said the historic documents from the Dutch varsity would be duplicated digitally so they could become a source of research for local institutions that were interested in heritage.

"The International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) also plans to forge a collaboration with Leiden University in the field of old Malay studies, research on knowledge development as well as the spread of Islam in the Nusantara region," said Rais, who is also President of IIUM.

Rais' working visit schedule included a visit to the Royal Netherlands Institute of Southeast Asian and Caribbean Studies, a research body related to knowledge and expertise in international and cultural cooperation.

Tan Sri Dr Rais Yatim says the historical documents from Leiden University, the Netherlands, will be duplicated digitally.

'Prevention of Crime Act shows proof of govt zeal'

Posted: 01 Apr 2014 09:00 AM PDT

KUALA LUMPUR: THE Prevention of Crime (Amendment and Extension) Act 2013 (PCA), which came into force today, is reflective of the government's commitment to fight organised and serious crime.

Malaysia Crime Prevention Foundation vice-chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said the fight against organised and serious crime, which had now been extended to Sabah and Sarawak, would see more effective action by the police.

He called on the authorities to ensure that it was justly implemented in the interest of ensuring law and order in the country while taking into account elements of human rights.

The passage of the amendments in Parliament last October and its enforcement were in response to the public's concern and their desire in wanting to see more effective action to combat crime, Lee said.

The act will, among others, see:

Formation of a Prevention of Crime Board consisting of members appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong who, after considering the report by the inquiry officer, can detain a person for up to two or more years under Section 19A;

Board members under Section 7B and 7C will consist of a chairman, who is a qualified judge or former judge or is still a judge, and two other members, serving for two years and not more than two terms;

Members will determine whether to issue a detention order under Section 19A in the interest of public order, public security or prevention of crime or a supervision order under Section 15 of the act;

There shall be no judicial review in any court of, and no court shall have or exercise any jurisdiction in respect of, any act done or finding or decision made by the board;

The Sessions Court judge shall order the person to be attached with an electronic monitoring device for a period as determined by the judge;

Section 9A allows access by the inquiry officer to detainees or prisoners, whom he has reason to believe to be connected to or has any evidence of any offence whether detained under any other written law or in prison;

Under this Section, no representatives of the subject or advocate are authorised to be present at the place of detention; and

Another new Section 21A states the board or any member of the board or any inquiry officer are not required to disclose any information which they feel might be against public interest or could compromise the protection of a witness or those related.

Professor Emeritus Datuk Dr Shad Saleem Faruqi, an expert on constitutional law, said unlike the Internal Security Act 1960 (ISA), the detention order under the PCA does not lie solely on the shoulder of the home minister but on the board members.

"The PCA Board, consisting of qualified members, are the ones who will carry out the detention orders. It is an improvement because the order isn't solely on the discretion of just one single person.

"But from the human rights point of view, it is disappointing that the jurisdiction of the court isn't there as justice comes under an administration."

He added that people would have to wait and observe the enforcement of the PCA for its intended purpose of tackling hardcore criminals and masterminds.

Former Bar Council president K. Ragunath said detention would be carried out under the administrative appointment of the board instead of a judicial capacity.

He said the order to detain would not be made by a court of law and without going through the Penal Code.

"There won't be anymore court process to detain people, so this can be abused by certain parties to have people arrested just like the ISA.

"The government has given the same assurance with the PCA as it did with the ISA but how can we be sure since there isn't a judicial process."