Man claims he only got partial BR1M payment

Man claims he only got partial BR1M payment

Man claims he only got partial BR1M payment

Posted: 17 Apr 2014 09:03 AM PDT

18 April 2014| last updated at 12:20AM

Hafizam Harun,34, from Taman Seri Bayu, Sungai Petani, said he was shocked to find only RM300 in his bank account. The self-employed father of six, who received his BR1M aid in February, had lodged a complaint with the Inland Revenue Board last month.

An officer told him that nothing could be done as the payment had already been done. Hafizam believed that there were many others who had been "short-changed" but were reluctant to come forward.

He expressed concern over "possible misuse of funds by those who are administrating the payments".

"I want to question the payment made as rightfully, I am entitled to RM650, but I only received RM300, which is actually the amount for those who are those in the single category."

Hafizam, who is also Badan Amal Tarbiah Sejagat (BATAS) supreme council member, said those who did not get the full amount of BR1M should complain to BATAS or the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission.

Hafizam Harun showing his letter of acceptance for the 1Malaysia People's Aid.

Historic FTA with Turkey

Posted: 17 Apr 2014 09:01 AM PDT

 The agreement, to take force between the next 12 and 18 months, potentially holds the key to opening doors to the European and Asian markets, with Malaysia and Turkey acting as gateways for each other.

 Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who had inked a declaration on the Framework for Strategic Cooperation between Malaysia and Turkey in Kuala Lumpur in January, witnessed the signing ceremony at the Turkish Prime Ministry's office.

 International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed signed on behalf of Malaysia while Turkey was represented by its Minister of Economy, Nihat Zeybekci.

 Under the agreement, Turkey will bind and eliminate import duties on 68.7 per cent, or 8,309 tariff lines of products upon entry into force of the FTA.

 This will cover almost 70 per cent or USD247.38 million (RM816.4 million) of Malaysia's exports to Turkey.

 The agreement also covers cooperation between the two countries in small and medium enterprises, halal-related areas, agriculture and food industry, research development and innovation, health (pharmaceutical, food safety and nutrition), energy sources and renewable energy, electronic commerce and automotive by exchanging technical experts and sharing of knowledge and technology.

 Earlier, in his keynote address at the Malaysia-Turkey business luncheon hosted by the influential Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB), Najib called on Turkish and Malaysia businesses to take advantage of the FTA.

 Present at the event were, among others, Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Ali Babacan and TOBB president Mustafa Rifat Hisarciklioglu.

 The agreement, Najib said, would be the catalyst to achieving Erdogan's call to push bilateral trade between the two countries that stood at USD1.1 billion (RM3.63 billion) to USD5 billion (RM16.5 billion) within five years.

 Entering into an FTA with Malaysia would also mean that Turkey would also have access to a market of over three billion as Malaysia have also entered free trade agreements with Asean countries.

 The Asean free trade agreements with Australia, China, India, Japan, Korea and New Zealand allow Turkey to tap into a combined market of more than three billion.

 Prior to the luncheon, Najib also delivered a lecture on "Turkey-Malaysia Strategic Partnership in a Globalising Asia" at the Turkish think-tank Foundation for Political, Economic and Social Research (SETA) building.

 Drawing parallels between the two countries, Najib said he was confident that Malaysia and Turkey would emerge as high-income nations in the next few years.

 Both countries, which enjoyed strategic positions globally, shared similarities and challenges, he said.

 Najib also said both countries could help to define Asia's role globally as the continent held enormous potential.

 He said this was why superpowers like the United States had shifted their focus on Asia.

 Asia's role, Najib said, was changing and it had to exercise its growing influence by way of forming strategic partnerships in areas such as trade, peacekeeping, strategic trade controls, piracy and maritime, anti-terrorism and countering extremism.

 At the function, Najib also said Khazanah Nasional Berhad would own and operate 20 hospitals in Turkey next year with an investment of USD1.1 billion (RM3.63 billion).

 It will also invest USD400 million (RM1.32 billion) in Turkey's second international airport.

 Other than the FTA, Felda Global Ventures Holdings Bhd (FGV) also signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Eyyap Sabun Malaysia Sdn Bhd for the latter to consume 1,000 tonnes of various palm oils per day supplied by FGV.

 Felda Global Ventures-Cambridge Nanossytems Limited also signed an MoU with Nanokomp Ileri Teknoloji Malzemeleri Arge Dan Ins San Tic Ltd (correct) to explore the distribution of graphene and nanotube products.

 At the same time, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia signed memoranda of understanding with Hacettepe University and Ankara University.

 Najib and wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, who attended a wreath-laying ceremony at the Anitkabir Mausoleum yesterday morning, also paid a courtesy call on  Turkish president Abdullah Gul at the Cankaya presidential palace.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak with his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, during a welcoming ceremony in Ankara yesterday. Bernama pic

DPM: BN will need to scrutinise Pas' hudud bill

Posted: 17 Apr 2014 09:01 AM PDT

18 April 2014| last updated at 12:33AM
By NOOR ADZMAN BAHARUDDIN AND PREDEEP NAMBIAR | news@nst.com.my

IT is imperative for Barisan Nasional to study the private bill for hudud proposed by the Pas-led Kelantan government before announcing its official stand on the matter, said Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin yesterday.

He said this was important because the matter had not been fully explained by the state government.

"We want to know the process and procedures. We must make sure that the proposed hudud is the true hudud in Islam.

"Although there are Muslims and non-Muslims in BN, we must still study and consider it, and we will make our stand known when the time comes," he said after chairing a closed-door meeting with Penang Umno leaders here yesterday.

On a personal note, Muhyiddin said as Muslims, they must be together on the implementation of hudud in Kelantan.

"This is about hukum and it is provided in our religion.

"We have to accept it and it would not be right if we try to oppose it.

"However, we still need to know in what form will the hudud be," he said when asked on the proposed private bill for hudud by the Kelantan government.

Earlier, he said although Muslims made up a third of Penang's population, they could be strong if they were united.

"If we are not united and always at odds with each other, others can control us.

"Mosques are among many facilities provided by the government for Muslims to carry out activities to strengthen them.

"If we are weak, we will also not be respected," he said at a gathering of about 1,000 religious teachers and mosque officials in Kepala Batas.

He later gave away aids and awards to mosque officials, Kafa teachers and schools, and top islamic religious schools in Penang.

At another function later in the afternoon, Muhyiddin announced a RM3.38 million allocation to upgrade the Teachers' Education Institute in Bukit Chombee, Gelugor, here.

He said the allocation was to refurbish nine hostels and for repair works on Dewan Agung, much to the delight of some 1,000 trainee teachers undergoing training at the institute, which was built in 1956.

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin being greeted by religious teachers and mosque officials in Kepala Batas, George Town, yesterday. Pic by Ramdzan Masiam

'Nurture local defence industry'

Posted: 17 Apr 2014 09:01 AM PDT

KUALA LUMPUR: THE Defence Services Asia (DSA) 2014 Exhibition and Conference, which concluded yesterday, has grown into one of the top five defence shows in the world, said Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein.

He said much emphasis had been placed on DSA as it augured well for the growth of the local defence industry, which provided spin-off opportunities and jobs.

"I hope this trend will continue into the future, especially among local defence industry players. The industry is indeed one with strong growth potential that the government seeks to nurture.

"We must showcase our potential to the world and explore limitless possibilities," he said at the closing of the four-day event at the Putra World Trade Centre here yesterday.

Hishammuddin, who is also acting transport minister, said for the first three days, more than 30,000 trade visitors from more than 70 countries visited the 1,000 exhibition booths and 28 country group pavilions from 60 nations.

He said 172 VVIPs from 45 countries paid courtesy calls and attended conferences, roundtable talks and workshops which provided information on trade, defence, security and other matters related to chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, explosives, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.

"Together with the Cyber Security Forum and Putrajaya Forum, these events had raised and answered questions on contemporary issues and emerging trends.

"Pertinent issues were discussed in the meetings, especially with regards to greater bilateral cooperation and regional commitment. The foreign leaders had not only extended their deepest sympathies to the families of the missing MH370, but also commended Malaysia on its handling of the crisis, especially in coordinating the unprecedented and complex multinational search operation."

Hishammuddin said it was a testing time, with last month being one of the darkest chapters following the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 on March 8.

"But the huge gathering of the defence and security community has reinforced the belief that keeping good relationships is of paramount importance to our policy. Their presence has boosted our resolve to get to the bottom of this tragic incident.

"I believe with the help of our friends, we will persevere in our search efforts and we are optimistic about finding answers we are looking for," he said, adding that the unprecedented search operation, in terms of scale, commitment and complexities, had also bound them closer.

Hishammuddin commended leaders for their joint initiative in establishing the first-ever Asean Hall at DSA which fostered multi-lateral rapport.

On DSA 2014, he said 25 contracts, memoranda of understanding and letters of acceptance and intent were clinched, to the tune of RM1.861 billion.

He said studies had shown that Asia's defence spending rose from US$203 billion (RM657 billion) in 2002 to US$356 billion in 2012, accounting for a 75 per cent increase compared with a 12 per cent increase in Europe for the same period.

"It is clear that no one country, no matter how well-resourced, can solve these problems on its own because such threats cut across national borders.

"We live in an age of uncertainties brought about by multi-fold shifts in technology and societal behaviours.

"These rapidly evolving traditional and non-traditional threats outpace our abilities to find suitable solutions."

He said the biggest threats were transnational in nature, from religious extremism to cyberterrorism.

"Knowledge, information, news, truths, half-truths, outright lies that are digitised, networked and automated, as well as pervasive and instantaneous, have become important in shaping our political, economic, cultural and security concerns."

He said with a 40 per cent shift in the global economic power towards the east by 2020, Asia was more vulnerable to security threats, such as maritime terrorism, piracy and territorial disputes.

Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein (fourth from left) observing a Russian-made DZ Highhit Support Launching Unit at the Defence Services Asia 2014 Exhibition and Conference at Putra World Trade Centre in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. Bernama pic

Funeral with state honours

Posted: 17 Apr 2014 09:01 AM PDT

18 April 2014| last updated at 12:29AM
By MARINA EMMANUEL AND MELISSA DARLYNE CHOW | news@nst.com.my

The legal eagle, who was called to the Penang Bar in 1969, will lie in state across from the courthouse where he carved a reputation as a lawyer with a passion for justice.

The body of the Bukit Gelugor member of parliament and former DAP national chairman, currently at his Jalan Utama home, will be moved to Dewan Sri Pinang on Sunday where the public can pay their last respects between 9am and 11am.

Dewan Sri Pinang is the same venue where former chief minister Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu's body was laid in 2010 before he was accorded a state funeral, and a stone's throw from Karpal's law office and the George Town High Court.

Karpal's widow, Gurmit Kaur, was inconsolable yesterday when she returned to their home with his body from Ipoh, accompanied by their five children and 11 grandchildren.

There were few dry eyes in the crowd when the brown casket was lowered from the hearse and taken into the house.

The crowd lined up in a single file and entered the house to pay their last respects to the eight-term Bukit Gelugor and Jelutong MP and four-term state assemblyman in Kedah and Penang, who was first elected in 1974.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said all state flags would be flown at half-mast from yesterday until the funeral on Sunday.

"A state flag will be handed to the family to be placed on the coffin and used during the funeral."

Present were Karpal's sons, Jagdeep Singh Deo, who is Penang executive councillor, and Gobind Singh Deo, who is Puchong MP.

"We thank the state government for according my father a funeral with state honours and we would like to thank leaders from all political parties, including Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, for their presence and support during this time," Jagdeep said.

Apart from Muhyiddin, who spent about 20 minutes at Karpal's home, other leaders included opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, DAP's Lim Kit Siang, Pas deputy president Mohamad Sabu, state Barisan Nasional chairman Teng Chang Yeow, state Umno chief Datuk Zainal Abidin Osman and Balik Pulau MP Datuk Seri Dr Hilmi Yahaya, who is also deputy health minister.

Anwar said he received four missed calls from Karpal at 6.40pm on Wednesday.

"When I called him back, he told me he would submit documents to the Federal Court to appeal against my sodomy conviction.

"Today is a sad day. I have lost my friend. We have lost a fighter of justice." Additional reporting by Predeep Nambiar, Balvin Kaur and Priya Pubalan

The casket bearing the body of Karpal Singh is placed in a hearse after being released from Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital, Ipoh, to be taken back to Penang. Pic by L. Manimaran

Son told him not to go

Posted: 17 Apr 2014 09:01 AM PDT

IPOH: VETERAN DAP leader and one of Malaysia's most prominent lawyers, Karpal Singh, was killed when his luxury MPV was involved in a collision with a lorry along the North-South Expressway (NSE) here early yesterday.

He was 73.

Also killed was his assistant of eight years, Indian national Michael Cornelius Selvam Vellu, 39.

Both were killed on the spot due to the impact.

Karpal's son, Ramkarpal, 38, who was traveling in the same vehicle, sustained minor injuries and received outpatient treatment at the Kampar Hospital.

An Indonesian woman, believed to be their maid, was reportedly in serious condition at the Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital, here.

Karpal's driver, identified as Indian national C. Selvam, 27, escaped unhurt.

The 1.10am crash occurred at Km306.1 of the NSE, heading north, near Gua Tempurung, regarded as among the deadliest stretches on the highway.

Karpal, who was Bukit Gelugor member of parliament, was on his way to Penang to attend a court case at the Penang High Court yesterday.

Kampar district police chief Superintendent Ng Kong Soon said the lorry driver, 45, sustained light injuries, while his wife, 23, and daughter, 4, escaped unhurt.

Initial urine tests on the lorry driver tested positive for cannabis.

Police were also testing the MPV driver's blood sample for alcohol.

According to the lorry driver's statement, he was driving on the left lane when the MPV rammed into the side of his lorry, which was laden with cement, steel and mosaic tiles.

However, Selvam claimed he failed to brake on time when the lorry swerved into his path.

Police are appealing for eyewitnesses to establish the cause of the accident.

Checks on the MPV showed that it had 29 speeding tickets, of which 15 had yet to be settled.

Earlier, the Kampar Hospital was a scene of grief when Karpal's family arrived to claim his remains.

His son, Gobind, was seen hugging his mother, Gurmit Kaur, who was sobbing uncontrollably.

Also present was Gobind's sister, Sangeet Kaur, and elder brother, Jagdeep.

Gurmit was heard wailing "Why?" "Why?" "Why lah?" while being consoled by her son.

Gobind said Karpal had visited him at the Pantai Hospital in Bangsar just hours before the accident.

Gobind, who had been in hospital since Monday for a health problem, advised his father not to rush back to Penang that night.

"I told him to only go back this morning. However, he insisted upon returning to Penang to prepare for his court case."

Meanwhile, Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the state government would accord Karpal a state-level funeral on Sunday.

He said the state flag would also be flown at half-mast from yesterday until the funeral.

The funeral would begin with the public paying their last respects at the Dewan Sri Pinang from 9am to 11am, after which Karpal's remains would be taken in a procession to the Batu Gantung crematorium.

Karpal Singh's, wife Gurmit Kaur, is escorted by family members to his coffin at this house in Jalan Utama, Pulau Pinang. Pic by Mohammad Mikail Ong