RM5m for pipeline

RM5m for pipeline

RM5m for pipeline

Posted: 22 May 2014 09:01 AM PDT

KARAK: THE Federal Government has set aside RM5 million to build  the pipeline connecting the Pahang-Selangor Raw  Water Transfer (PPAMPS) tunnel project in Langat,  Selangor, to the Sungai Langat, in preparation for El Nino.

Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Datuk Seri  Dr Maximus Ongkili said the 1.5km extension was expected to  complete in three months.

"I am confident that we will be able to get the development  order from the Selangor state government before contractors  can begin work," he said.

Ongkili said some 500 million litres per day of raw water  would be channeled.

The water will be processed at the three treatment plants at  Sungai Langat before being distributed.

Ongkili said the temporary mitigation plan was important  to ease the burden of the people in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur  and Putrajaya until the Langat 2 water treatment plant is  completed in 2017.

A special cabinet committee headed by Deputy Prime  Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has been set up to  monitor the impact of the dry spell .

Ongkili also said that it would also depend on the weather  condition, when asked if the pipeline will reduce the pos sibility of water rationing during the dry spell.

Meanwhile, the construction of the PPAMPS, worth RM3.9  billion, is expected to be completed in December this year.

The project which was started in June 1, 2009 is 96 per cent  completed.

He said once completed, it will be able to supply raw water  of 1.89 billion litres per day through twin pipeline and water  transfer tunnel for consumers in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur  and Putrajaya.

The project aims to meet the future water demand until  2025.

A regulating dam (Kelau Dam) is under construction to  ensure adequate water in the Semantan river.

Ongkili and officials from the ministry were briefed by  project director Ir Dr Zulkefle Nordin during his visits to the  Semantan Intake & Pumping Station, and the Pahang Karak  (inlet) sites.

On another issue, Ongkili said the government would not  rush to use the Water Services Industry Act (WASIA) 2006 to  forcibly acquire Syarikat Pengeluar Air Selangor Sdn Bhd  (Splash).

He was commenting on the continued pressure from the  Selangor government to buyout the water utilities as part of  the state's water restructuring exercise.

Ongkili said that it was entirely up to him to decide whether  or not to use Section 114 of the Act, which would compel a  water firm to sell its stake to the Federal government.

"The approval from the cabinet is still in my pocket, and I  have been advised to use it only when necessary," he said.

On Wednesday, it was reported that Selangor Menteri Besar  Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim warned that the government will take  over Splash if it continues to refuse the Selangor's buyout  offer in the state's water restructuring plan.

Three other state utility firms - Syarikat Bekalan Air  Selangor (Syabas), Puncak Niaga Sdn Bhd (Puncak Niaga)  and Konsortium Abbas (Abbas) - have so far agreed to the  state government's stakeholder plan.

Commenting on Federal Territories minister Datuk Seri  Tengku Adnan Mansor's statement for his ministry to take  control of all water assets in Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya,  Ongkili said the matter was still being reviewed by the  cabinet.

The plan, if approved, will give the ministry full control of  the water distribution network in the two cities, including  sourcing of raw water.

"We have a reservoir in Ampang, where we can distribute  the water, and that raw water could be sourced from rivers in  either in neighbouring countries like Negri Sembilan and  Pahang.

"But like I said, we are still looking into it and no decision  has been made yet. We are looking at other ways to fully use  of Langat," he added.

The tunnel connects Karak, Pahang, to Hulu Langat, Selangor. Pic by Khairull Azry Bidin

NGO signs integrity pledge

Posted: 22 May 2014 09:00 AM PDT

23 May 2014| last updated at 12:37AM

The signing of the memorandum of understanding and CIP between the NAAM Foundation and the Youth and Sports Ministry was held in the presence of Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission officials on May 20.

Performance Management and Delivery Unit (Pemandu) director of the Anti-Corruption National Key Results Areas Ravindran Devagunam said CIP was set up to foster collaboration between government, enforcement agencies, regulatory bodies and NGOs.

"The signing of the CIP would ensure that every individual within the NAAM Foundation and the ministry involved in any transactional dealings will take a stand against corruption.

"As the country moves towards a culture engrained with integrity, the signing of the CIP between the parties will ensure honest means of doing business while encouraging more organisations to follow suit," he said.

The CIP had played a role in the recent Malaysian Corruption Barometer (MCB) survey, which indicated 17 per cent out of more than 2,032 respondents perceived NGOs to be corrupt.

NSTP and Nikkei to share content

Posted: 22 May 2014 09:00 AM PDT

23 May 2014| last updated at 01:09AM

Under the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed here yesterday, NSTP and Nikkei will exchange articles and news headlines published in their respective print and online publications.

The MoU was signed by NSTP group managing editor Datuk Abdul Jalil Hamid and Nikkei Inc managing director and editor-in-chief Katsuyoshi Kondo.

Present were Nikkei executive officer and editor-at-large Yoshihiro Hirata and other senior company officials.

Founded in 1876, Nikkei is the publisher of Japan's largest business and financial newspaper and online services.

Its flagship daily newspaper, The Nikkei, has over three million subscribers.

Nikkei's multi-platform media distribution includes online, a business TV channel and magazines.

The company's main focus now is to promote the Nikkei brand across Asia by expanding their operations around the region.

New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd group managing editor Datuk Abdul Jalil Hamid (left) shaking hands with Nikkei executive officer and editor-at-large Yoshihiro Hirata in Tokyo yesterday.

Noordin is Utusan group executive director

Posted: 22 May 2014 09:00 AM PDT

23 May 2014| last updated at 12:34AM

He replaces Datuk Mohd Nasir Ali, who was formerly Urusan Malaysia Export Credit Insurance Berhad managing director.

Noordin started his career with Peat Marwick, Mitchell & Co before joining Industrial & Technology Bank Berhad.

He graduated in accountancy and finance from Southern Illinois University and science management (operational research) from St Louis University, both in the United States.

‘Dr M’s appointment will renew Proton’s strength’

Posted: 22 May 2014 09:00 AM PDT

23 May 2014| last updated at 01:18AM

"I believe the appointment will give a renewed strength to Proton given his strong commitment to ensure the success of the national carmaker," Najib told reporters after delivering a speech at an international economic forum here.

"Although there are many challenges especially in sharpening Proton's competitiveness, I believe Proton will benefit from his commitment and experience," he added.

Najib later called on Dr Mahathir, who was also speaking at the same forum, before leaving for Kazakhstan for an official visit.

Responding to questions at the conference, Dr Mahathir said he hoped the government would continue to protect Proton "a little bit" from the competition especially from imports.

"We are just beginning. Our volume is small, so it is difficult for us to have the economies of scale.

"Proton was started as a national car company.

"We regard the automotive industry as very important to build up our engineering capability.

"Unfortunately, the government is very liberal in allowing imports. Proton finds it difficult to compete with big car companies. They have economies of scale.

"We are just starting. We used to have 80 per cent of the market share. Now it is down to 23 per cent. We will try to compete as best as we can," he said.

Proton on Wednesday also named Dr Mahathir as chairman of Proton's subsidiary, Group Lotus plc.

Dr Mahathir will assume the position from Tan Sri Mohd Khamil Jamil, who is stepping down as the executive chairman, but remains on the board of directors of the company.

Prior to his appointment as chairman, Dr Mahathir had served as adviser of Proton from 2003, and after stepping down as prime minister.

Proton said Dr Mahathir's determination to see the national carmaker succeed made it natural for him to step in as chairman, in what would be a new chapter in its journey.

Setting new targets for the next 40 years

Posted: 22 May 2014 09:00 AM PDT

23 May 2014| last updated at 12:38AM

Chinese ambassador to Malaysia, Huang Huikang, said the last four decades of ties which Malaysia and China had enjoyed was a golden era.

"Now, we want to have new targets and enhance ties to bring it to new heights," he said yesterday.

"We wish the next 40 years to be a diamond 40 years in terms of our bilateral relationship."

Huang said among the highlights of Najib's visit from May 27 would be his bilateral meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping and prime minister Wen Jiabao to discuss issues covering economic cooperation, political, security and law enforcement, and education, among others.

Najib, he said, would also meet the Chinese business community and witness several bilateral agreements, during his visit that comes 40 years after his father, Tun Abdul Razak Hussein, became the first prime minister to initiate diplomatic ties with China.

In terms of economic cooperation, the main areas are trade, investment, high technology and finance.

"We hope to increase the total bilateral trade figure to US$160 billion (RM514 billion) by the end of 2017.

"Forty years ago, China's trade volume was less than US$200 million (RM642 million). Last year, it was more than US$100 billion (RM321 billion). That is a growth of five times in the last 40 years."

Huang said the two countries would look into enhancing bilateral, tourism, education, development of natural resources, high technology and Information and communications technology as well.

He said besides visiting the Museum of Terracotta Warriors and Horses and the Grand Mosque in Xi'an, Najib would also officiate a "halal food week" there.

In Beijing, he would also officiate a conference at the Beijing Foreign Studies University.

On the two pandas loaned to Malaysia, Huang said they had settled down well in their new home.

The pandas, Fu Wa and Feng Yi arrived on Wednesday morning and are housed at the National Zoo.

On concerns over the effects of MH370 on Najib's visit, Huang said the Chinese people as well as the government stood by Malaysia in its efforts to locate the missing plane.

"We will never let Malaysia be alone in facing its challenges. Our relationship will never be affected by any unexpected single incident. In fact, our relationship has become stronger."