7 troops among several dead as Yemen army, Shiites clash

7 troops among several dead as Yemen army, Shiites clash

7 troops among several dead as Yemen army, Shiites clash

Posted: 02 Jun 2014 05:25 PM PDT

YEMEN: Seven soldiers and several other people were killed Monday in clashes between the Yemeni army and Shiite Huthi rebels close to the capital, tribal and medical sources said.

The clashes erupted after troops tried to expel rebels from a strategic position near Amran controling the road to Sanaa, local officials said.

The air force intervened to back the army and its allies from the Sunni Islah party, they said.

The rebels, known also as Ansarullah and backed by local tribes, retaliated by attacking telecom installations and blocked traffic on the main Amran-Sanaa road, the officials said.

"Seven soldiers were killed and 16 others wounded in the battle," a medical source told AFP.

Tribal sources said 18 rebels were also killed, a toll that could not be verified.

Rebel spokesman Mohammed Abdulsalam, contacted by AFP, declined to give a death toll.

But he condemned the air force's intervention as a "very serious development" and warned of "consequences".

During the fighting, inmates escaped from an Amran jail, which came under rebel attack, the interior ministry said on its website.

A police source told AFP that 10 Huthi rebels detained for "serious criminal charges" were among those who escaped.

And in Sanaa, unknown gunmen opened fire on the home of Prime Minister Mohamed Basindawa, without causing injury, a security source said.

The rebels are suspected of trying to enlarge their sphere of influence as Yemen is split into six regions, pushing out from their mountain strongholds in the far north to areas closer to Sanaa.

The rebels complained Yemen would be divided into rich and poor regions under a federalisation plan agreed in February following national talks as part of a political transition.

Huthis have been fighting the central government for years, complaining of marginalisation under ex-president Ali Abdullah Saleh, who was ousted in a 2012 uprising.

In February, they seized areas of Amran province in fighting with tribes that left more than 150 people dead. – AFP

Print Friendly

Room for talks over royalty request

Posted: 02 Jun 2014 11:58 AM PDT

by Anthony Joseph, reporters@theborneopost.com. Posted on June 3, 2014, Tuesday

Najib says federal govt willing to discuss state's appeal for higher percentage in oil and gas royalty

MIRI: The federal government is willing to consider the request by the Sarawak state government for higher gas and oil royalty.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak gave this assurance in response to a request by Chief Minister Tan Sri Datuk Amar Adenan Satem for an increase in royalty and for more funds from the federal government for the development of the state.

Adenan raised the matter in his speech earlier during the Malaysia Gawai Dayak Open House 2014 at Miri City Fan here last night.

The Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud was also present. The State Assembly sitting last month approved a special motion to seek royalty from the state's oil and gas revenue to be increased from five per cent to 20 per cent.

"The federal government will give utmost consideration on this matter (request for higher oil and gas royalties)," Najib said.

The prime minister said the federal government had no qualms in negotiating any matter with the state government over its interests.  Najib also affirmed the federal government's support and assistance to speed up development in the state.

The prime minister said the federal government's consideration was not only on the request for higher oil and gas royalties but also more funds through other means for the state.

He said Sarawak had achieved three forms of successes since its independence through the formation of Malaysia over the last 50 years.

He cited them as developing a multiracial society blessed with harmony and social cohesion, political stability and continuous sustainable development.

Najib urged Sarawakians  to continue to support Barisan Nasional government which had brought so much development to the state.

"Under Barisan Nasional, Sarawak has been developed into what it is today and the development and progress in the state reflects social harmony.

"I always have a soft spot for Sarawak and I want Sarawak to continue to be progressive, developed and successful," he added.

Print Friendly

Soon Koh: I’m not a deserter, SUPP sacked me

Posted: 02 Jun 2014 11:56 AM PDT

by Raymond Tan, reporters@theborneopost.com. Posted on June 3, 2014, Tuesday

SIBU: Second Finance Minister Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh says he has never deserted Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP) because the party sacked him forcing him to join Parti Tenaga Rakyat Sarawak (Teras) to continue serving the people.

He said the faction led by Tan Sri Peter Chin had been so determined to show him the door that they sacked him not once, but, twice.

Speaking at a press conference here yesterday, Wong who is the former chairman of SUPP Sibu branch said he had to make this clarification as SUPP leaders now branded him a party deserter and that his act of abandoning the party was unforgivable.

He said in branding him a traitor SUPP called him "a sinner who will never be forgiven for a thousand years".

However, Wong did not want to name those who made this statement saying he did not want to launch attacks on anyone in SUPP because both SUPP and Teras were in Sarawak BN.

"We are from the same big family. There is no need to attack, and do not create issues to hurt the harmony in Sarawak BN anymore. Instead, I prefer we pool our efforts together to focus on serving the people."

Explaining how SUPP sacked him twice Wong said: "The Central Working Committee had first slapped me with a disciplinary letter on Dec 4 last year, asking me to explain why I should not be sacked.

"They then decided to sack me on Jan 10 during their Central Working Committee meeting, and this decision was published in the newspapers the next day. Then on May 16 they issued a letter sacking me again."

Wong said SUPP's show-cause letter he received last year the party listed three reasons why he should be sacked from the party.

"They were unhappy with his appointment of Chinese community leaders, they were dissatisfied with the appointment of a council chairman and they were displeased when I recommended two candidates for the general election last year."

Wong said he had nothing to hide about the three allegations, adding his actions were justified.

"I was puzzled with the first two accusations, because when I was appointed as cabinet minister, Chin's faction had distanced themselves from me; they said my appointment had nothing to do with them.

"Then, when I was performing my ministerial duty, they said they were not satisfied with me."

Wong said appointment of councilors and community leaders was a collective decision of state government.

"Firstly, the recommendation was screened through by the Resident and the District Officer. Then, it reached the State Secretary for further screening before the matter goes to the cabinet."

After the vetting the chief minister would give the final green light, Wong added.

Wong added in the show cause letter, SUPP had specifically asked him to explain on the appointments of Temenggong Lu Kim Yong, Pemanca Frederick Wong, Penghulus Lee Foh Nun and Lim Choo Wei and Sarikei District Council chairman Chan Pang Chang.

The minister said these leaders were appointed because they had good community service records and they were highly recommended by the people themselves.

Among them, he said although Federick had once stood against SUPP in a general election, he had shown a good record of service on behalf of BN thereafter.

"There is such a precedent case in SUPP when Jonnical Rayong Ngipa who won standing against an SUPP candidate in Engkilili. Jonnical was accepted by the then SUPP president Datuk Patinggi Dr George Chan because he was BN-friendly. It was the same with Frederick Wong's case in Sarikei."

On his recommendation of candidates for the general election last year, Wong said he had put forward two names – one in Sarikei and the other one in Miri.

He said Chin's faction was displeased although he had been instructed by the prime minister to source for winnable candidates.

Print Friendly

Lab analyses on samples of 2 Cadbury chocolate products show no porcine DNA

Posted: 02 Jun 2014 11:54 AM PDT

BANGI: The Chemisty Department's laboratory analyses on samples of two Cadbury dairy milk chocolate products – Roast Almond and Hazelnut – have confirmed that the products contain no porcine (pork) DNA.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom said the samples analysed were taken from the same batches of the product samples confirmed earlier to have porcine DNA.

However, the samples for the latest tests  were taken direct from the company's manufacturing plant in Shah Alam on May 26.

Besides that, Jakim also took samples of four other products from the same processing line and five raw ingredients with the potential of being animal-derived, he told a news conference, here, yesterday.

He hoped the confirmation from the latest lab tests could allay the fear among Muslims over the halal status of the chocolate products as the laboratory  analysing the product samples was approved by Jakim to conduct the tests.

It was previously reported that the Health Ministry had detected porcine  DNA in the samples of Cadbury Dairy Milk Hazelnut chocolate bar, batch number 200813 M01HI2 (expiry date, Nov 13, 2014) and Cadbury Dairy Milk Roast Almond chocolate bar, batch number 221013 N01RI1 (expiry date, Jan 15, 2015).

On Sunday, Jamil Khir said the lab (at the Chemistry Department in Petaling Jaya) had been gazetted as a competent lab for food testing, besides having received accreditation from the Department of Standards Malaysia based on the MS ISO/IEC 17025: 2005 standard for DNA testing, including for processed food products.

Elaborating, he said samples taken by the Health Ministry were not from the factories, and like many others in the country, the analysing lab was not specifically dedicated to detecting porcine DNA, but such a discovery could occur. He said samples taken to the labs could easily be contaminated during delivery or packaging.

"Contamination can happen in the refrigerator or through sneezing near the food by someone who has had a meal containing pork," he added.

Jamil Khir stressed that in the pork DNA issue, the government had no wish to protect anyone or to hide any information as it would be a sin.

He also said that a comprehensive check would be made on Cadbury Confectionary (M) Sdn Bhd product line covering the raw ingredients, food processing, storage, equipment used and other aspects to ensure compliance with  the halal certification conditions.

He said a report on the inspection would be tabled before the halal certificate could be returned for the two products in question.

Jamil Khir said members of the public who wished to enquire about the halal issue including the Cadbury products could call Nadia Zammil Md Nasir (03-8892 5048, Najibah Abdul Mutalib (03-8892 5078), Mazlina Jalani (03-8892 5032) or Fakarudin Mas'od (03-8892 5031 ), between 10am and 4pm. —Bernama

Print Friendly

PM: Government to open up Baram

Posted: 02 Jun 2014 11:52 AM PDT

by Jenifer Laeng, reporters@theborneopost.com. Posted on June 3, 2014, Tuesday

LONG SILAT, Ulu Baram: The government's allocation of RM300 million to upgrade logging roads and construction of infrastructure in Baram will benefit about 70,000 Orang Ulus.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak told a gathering of about 3,000 Orang Ulus at a Gawai Dayak gathering here yesterday that RM64 million of the allocation would be used this year and the remainder in 2015 and 2016.

Najib, who has been to Baram twice before, said more development would be coming Baram's way in the coming years as the government was aware of the loyalty of the Orang Ulus.

He added that rural folks, particularly the Orang Ulu people in the interior of Baram, would benefit when the Goods and Services Tax (GST) was implemented next year.

"I guarantee to those people who live in the rural areas, including the Orang Ulus, that basic necessities will be exempted from GST.

"In addition, if the government is able to generate more revenue through the implementation of GST, then the government will bring more development to Baram, such as upgrading logging roads and the building of more schools, hospitals and clinics."

At the gathering, Najib announced an allocation of RM26.6 million for several villages near Long Banga in Bario so that they too would benefit from the mini hydro project that was approved by him during his first visit to Baram in 2011.

He said Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu Numpang, who requested for the allocation, told him (Najib) that only 23 per cent of the power from the 250kw mini hydro built in Long Banga was used by the community there.

"As the remaining 77 per cent of the power supply has yet to be utilised, he (Jabu) wants the government to chip in another RM26.6mil so that other villages near  Long  Banga can be connected to the mini hydro dam and enjoy electricity supply."

On his visit, Najib said even though the Orang Ulus, such as the Kenyahs, Kayans, Kelabits, Berawans and Penans, were not celebrating Gawai Dayak, he applauded the ministers and community leaders for uniting the people from all walks of life to celebrate the festival.

"Through festival like this, we are able to get to know each other, and from there we will be able to live in peace and harmony."

Also present at the function were Jabu, Second Minister of Resource Planning and Environment Datuk Awang Tengah Ali Hassan, Minister in the Prime  Minister's Department Datuk Joseph  Entulu Belaun, Senator Lihan Jok, State Secretary Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohamad Morshidi Abdul Ghani, Deputy State Secretary Datu Ose Murang, Baram MP Anyi Ngau, Telang Usan assemblyman Dennis Ngau, Marudi assemblyman Datuk Sylvester Entri Muran and Kenyah Paramount chief Temenggong Joseph Ngau Lian.

Print Friendly

S’wak to ensure state-federal ties remain strong

Posted: 02 Jun 2014 11:48 AM PDT

MIRI: Sarawak is committed to preserving its good ties with the federal government, said Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu Numpang yesterday.

"Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak is a prime minister with people's heart.

Most of the rural areas in the state had been covered, which proves that he is not afraid to visit the rural areas," Jabu said during the Gawai Dayak gathering at Rumah Jarek Kelambu in Lambir.
"I would like to give my assurance that the rural folk  will continue to give undivided support to the new leadership of Chief Minister Tan Sri Datuk Amar Adenan Satem.

"We would also continue to maintain the good relationship with the federal government and fully support Najib's leadership so the future development of the rural areas will be guaranteed."

Hence, he said, he was glad to hear Najib say during his visit to Baram that the federal government would continue to help develop the rural areas.

On the Gawai Dayak celebration, Jabu said the Dayak community was delighted to share the festive joy with Najib.

"The Dayak community here was grateful for your (PM) concern and respect. Thus, we pledged we will at all times reciprocate in the manner of the BN.

"All BN component parties will strengthen, consolidate and unite our people from various races to support your leadership."

Jabu said the people in the state also rejoiced in BN's victory in the Teluk Intan by-election on May 31.
"We, in Sarawak, also joined the victory and we want to continue the BN victory in the state too."

Print Friendly