Cabbie demo leads to crackdown

Cabbie demo leads to crackdown

Cabbie demo leads to crackdown

Posted: 05 Jun 2014 09:01 AM PDT

06 June 2014| last updated at 01:05AM
By ZARINA ZAKARIAH AND AINA NASA | news@nst.com.my

KUALA LUMPUR: THE Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD), Road Transport Department (RTD), Kuala Lumpur City Hall and police will work together to crack down on errant taxi drivers in two problematic areas here from   Monday.

This follows the action taken by more than 250 taxi drivers on Wednesday who parked their vehicles across the road in the busy Bukit Bintang area to protest the enforcement of regulations on taxi operations there. Due to their action, traffic was brought to a standstill.

An operation, dubbed Op BBKLCC, will be spearheaded by police in the Bukit Bintang and KLCC areas to educate taxi drivers to respect laws and regulations, and to adhere to the code of conduct outlined by the authorities.

RTD enforcement director Jaafar Mohamed said an integrated operation by all the enforcement agencies would be held to protect the interest of the public.

"Wednesday's incident was not the first time they (taxi dri-vers) had staged a protest over the regulations imposed by the authorities. This has to stop and they must abide by the regulations.

"All transport operators must cooperate with the authorities and maintain appropriate behaviour at all times."

Jaafar said among the conduct that taxi drivers should not engage in were refusing to use meters, touting, overcharging and refusing to pick up passengers.

Yesterday, the New Straits Times carried a report on the standstill in the Jalan Bukit Bintang shopping area where about 250 taxi drivers had staged a protest in response to the enforcement of regulations related to taxi operations.

The taxi drivers left their vehicles parked in three rows. Because of this, a 100m stretch of the road had to be closed to traffic.

On the protest, Jaafar said the taxi drivers needed to adhere to regulations as there were facilities in place.

"There are eight taxi bays — six for waiting for passengers and two designated for pick-up and dropping off of passengers.

"Taxi drivers, however, are not allowed to leave their vehicles but must wait inside their taxis until they get passengers so that traffic flow will not be disrupted."

He reiterated that those who prevented officers from carrying out their duties could have action taken against them.

"We do not want a recurrence of the incident and our personnel should not be obstructed from carrying out their duties."

RTD lodged a report at the Dang Wangi police headquarters over the incident on Wednesday, described as "an act of provocation and retaliation" and preventing enforcement officers from performing their duties.

Taxi drivers causing a traffic congestion by parking their vehicles by the roadside while waiting for passengers in front of Pavilion in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. Pic by Salhani Ibrahim

Body found yet to be identified

Posted: 05 Jun 2014 09:01 AM PDT

06 June 2014| last updated at 01:04AM
By T.N. ALAGESH | news@nst.com.my

PULAU TIOMAN: POLICE yesterday recovered a smartphone, believed to have belonged to missing British backpacker Gareth Huntley, not far from the spot where the body of a man was found near Sungai Mentawak in Kampung Juara here.

State police chief Datuk Sharifuddin Abdul Ghani said the iPhone was found at 12.30pm yesterday by police personnel who were scouring the area near the river for clues.

"We are searching the area for more clues, including identification documents, to identify the body.

"The search-and-rescue operation in Kampung Juara has been halted. However, police personnel are stationed in the area to search for further evidence," he said at Tengku Ampuan Afzan Hospital's (HTAA) Forensics Department in Kuantan yesterday.

Sharifuddin said despite completing the post-mortem yesterday, the pathologist had yet to identify the cause of death and would conduct further examinations.

"An autopsy was performed on the body, but the hospital could not ascertain the exact cause of death. Further investigations will be conducted before we can conclude the cause of death."

He said the blood samples from Huntley's mother, Janet Southwell, were sent to the Chemistry Department in Petaling Jaya.

The results are expected within two days to establish if the body is indeed Huntley's.

Southwell, who arrived at HTAA from Pulau Tioman about 11am yesterday, was accompanied by British High Commission vice-consul Karen Song and Huntley's girlfriend, Kit Natariga Panyawatcharakun.

The trio were taken to the hospital's Emergency Department where Southwell provided a blood sample for DNA purposes.

They would be staying in Kuantan to assist in investigations and return to London after the body is identified.

The body was brought to the Forensics Department at 12.35am yesterday after being airlifted from Pulau Tioman late on Wednesday night.

Police escorting Gareth Huntley's mother, Janet Southwell, and girlfriend Kit Natariga Panyawatcharakun to Tengku Ampuan Afzan Hospital's Forensics Department in Kuantan yesterday.

PM launches MRCB’s education fund

Posted: 05 Jun 2014 09:00 AM PDT

06 June 2014| last updated at 01:09AM

 Najib received a  RM500,000 cheque from MRCB as the group's sponsorship for the initiative.

  MRCB group managing director Datuk Mohamad Salim Fateh Din said under the initiative, the company would  provide financial assistance to enrich the learning environment for pupils at the selected schools.

   Salim, who is also a member of MRCB's board of directors, said the company had pledged RM500,000 to the fund to help 3,000 pupils from Standard Four to Standard Six at seven primary schools this year.

  "This is one of the efforts MRCB has embarked upon as part of our corporate social responsibility.

"For the past five years, we have helped 15,000 pupils from seven primary schools via tuition, educational workshops, as well as funds to buy books and school uniforms," he said.

Ramadan stall traders get RM45m

Posted: 05 Jun 2014 09:00 AM PDT

06 June 2014| last updated at 01:11AM
By AZURA ABAS | news@nst.com.my

PUTRAJAYA: THE government has initiated an interest-free RM45 million micro-credit scheme for petty traders and hawkers to engage in  businesses during the upcoming fasting month.

  Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said the government, as promised, has via the Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry, initiated the scheme, which will be managed by Bank Rakyat.

  Najib had first broached the subject of setting up the micro-credit  scheme during the National Hawkers and Petty Traders' Day celebration in January this year.

  "Those interested can apply for the loan for up to RM3,000.

"They are required to repay 50 per cent of the loan before the end of Syawal and the remainder, a month later," he said at the launch of the Ramadan Bazaar i-Micro Financing scheme, yesterday.

 Present were Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister Datuk Seri Hasan Malek, the ministry's secretary-general Datuk Seri Alias Ahmad, as well as Malay Petty Traders and Hawkers Associations Malaysia deputy president Datuk Mohamad Mahmood.  

  The prime minister said successful applicants should receive their loans at  least a week before Ramadan.  He also hoped the scheme would receive good response from petty traders and hawkers.

  "This is one of the best credit schemes in the world. And I'm counting on them (the traders and hawkers) to offer a  variety of goods at affordable prices (at the Ramadan bazaars)," said Najib.

  The prime minister also reminded those who have full-time jobs but who wished to do business part-time during Ramadan, to not play truant from work.

‘Gobind should stop blaming Pas’

Posted: 05 Jun 2014 09:00 AM PDT

06 June 2014| last updated at 12:58AM
By SYED UMAR ARIFF | news@nst.com.my

KUALA LUMPUR: THE debate on whether hudud  caused DAP's loss in the Teluk Intan by-election is set to intensify, with the party assessing the outcome of the polls.

Attacks by Pas against DAP's national legal bureau chairman Gobind Singh Deo have yet to subside, following his controversial remark on hudud, an issue he said contributed to the defeat.

In the by-election, Barisan Nasional's Datuk Mah Siew Keong defeated Dyana Sofya Mohd Daud from DAP by a 238 vote-majority.

The Puchong member of parliament had not responded to Pas' criticism, while several DAP leaders have refused to be drawn into the issue.

Federal Territories Pas Youth chief Nurul Islam Mohamed Yusoff claimed factionalism was the cause of DAP's defeat.

"The votes garnered by BN were almost the same as the results obtained in the 13th General Election. But the swing vote from DAP to BN was not significant.

"My advice to Gobind is that he should stop blaming Pas. If DAP thinks that it is right to make Pas a scapegoat to mask its weaknesses, bear in mind that it will reveal a wider opening for DAP's downfall."

DAP national publicity secretary Tony Pua, however, admitted that the Teluk Intan by-election was not an easy mission for the party, despite its track record there.

He had refused to comment on Gobind's statement, but was convinced of other factors, including the failure to canvass support from the constituency's older generation and possibly the selection of a Malay candidate.

"The very fact that it took the party leadership 'forever' to decide on the candidate, was precisely because we knew the risk of losing the seat was extremely high.

"Some argued that only a 'well-known' Chinese candidate could possibly win. I was of the opinion that a Malay candidate may not necessarily lose, while a Chinese candidate may not necessarily win.

"Would a Chinese DAP candidate have won? Maybe (yes), maybe not. If we had fielded a Chinese candidate, the drop in Chinese vote may not be as high.

"But we could easily lose even more Malay votes, instead of increasing marginally from 25 per cent in 2013 to 28 per cent."

He revealed that even before the party made a decision on its candidacy, leaders were briefed by DAP grassroots members who said many from the Chinese community would vote for Mah.

"The argument was compelling. (They said) we voted Pakatan for 'Ubah' (change) in the 13th General Election.

"But since this by-election has no impact on 'Ubah', we will vote Mah for 3 years' worth of ministerial benefits, and vote 'Ubah' again in the 14th General Election."

"What's more, we also aware that there was little motivation for the thousands of outstation voters to return to Teluk Intan to vote, since there was not a chance to "Ubah" with just one seat."

Najib to seek higher haj quota

Posted: 05 Jun 2014 09:00 AM PDT

06 June 2014| last updated at 01:07AM
By FAZLEENA AZIZ | fazleena@nst.com.my

KUALA LUMPUR: MALAYSIA will appeal to the Saudi Arabian government for additional quota for more Muslims to perform pilgrimage this year, said Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

The prime minister said until May this year, 1.5 million Muslims had registered to perform the haj through Tabung Haji, with a large number comprising young people and children.

"I realise that in the last five years, registration for the haj has increased and the list is getting longer.

"This is a clear indication that Muslims in the country are economically stable and more are aware of the importance of performing the haj," he said at the launch of Tabung Haji Debit-i MasterCard, Islamic Financial Services Centre and Tabung Haji coffee table book here yesterday.

Present were Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom, Tabung Haji chairman Datuk Seri Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim and Tabung Haji chief executive officer Datuk Ismee Ismail.

Najib said with limited quota and the increase in the number of registrations, it might take up to 50 years for a person to be able to perform the haj.

"I consider this a big challenge and I will personally plead with the Saudi Arabian government for additional quota."

He said only 22,320 pilgrims would be performing the haj this year, following the new quota imposed by the Saudi Arabian government.

Since 2009, Malaysia had been allocated 27,900 places annually, but the quota was reduced 20 per cent last year following the upgrading works at Masjidil Haram in Mecca until 2016.

Najib said Tabung Haji would continue to maintain the cost of performing the haj at RM9,980 a person, involving a total cost of RM130 million, this year.

"The actual cost for each pilgrim is about RM16,000 per person."

He said that in terms of subsidy, it was the highest subsidy given to an individual in the country.

Najib also spoke about how other countries should emulate Tabung Haji's model in handling the haj pilgrimage operations, which received praise from the Saudi Arabian government.

He also praised Tabung Haji's Debit-i MasterCard, which allowed pilgrims to withdraw money and make purchases in the Holy Land. Cardholders can withdraw money from 2.5 million automated teller machines.

Najib said the opening of the centre was a form of support to the government's effort in providing a one-stop-centre for Islamic services.

Datuk Seri Najib Razak presenting the Debit-i MasterCard to Tabung Haji member Malik Kahar, 82, in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. With them is Datuk Seri Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim (left). Pic by Effendy Rashid