'Ceramah numbers don't always turn into votes'

'Ceramah numbers don't always turn into votes'

'Ceramah numbers don't always turn into votes'

Posted: 01 Jun 2014 09:01 AM PDT

02 June 2014| last updated at 11:33PM
By BALVIN KAUR AND PREDEEP NAMBIAR | news@nst.com.my

GEORGE TOWN: A  BIG   turnout at ceramah does  not necessarily translate into votes received,  said DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng.

Lim, who is also Penang chief minister, said the big turnout at the party's ceramah in the run-up to the Teluk Intan parliamentary by-election was not reflective of the number of votes cast for its candidate, Dyana Sofya Mohd Daud.

Citing the past general elections in 1995 and 1999 as examples, Lim said DAP had been aware of the big turnout at its ceramah, but ended up suffering heavy losses.

Stressing that the party had no regrets in fielding newcomer Dyana Sofya, Lim said DAP had identified three primary reasons for its defeat.

"The voter turnout dropped from 48,649, or 80.4 per cent, during last year's general election to 39,850, or 66.5 per cent, during the by-election.

"This was a critical factor in reducing DAP's previous 7,313-vote majority to a narrow win for Barisan Nasional by 238 votes.

"The second reason is that voters were intimidated by the threats of development politics, in withholding development that could be provided by a cabinet minister.

"Thirdly, perhaps because Dyana Sofya is new, young and a woman, as well as the first Malay parliamentary candidate for Teluk Intan from DAP, she was not fully accepted by the local community."

Lim attributed the 15 per cent drop in Chinese voters and 11 per cent drop in Indian voters for DAP in the by-election to the low turnout, adding that the party would have won if an extra one per cent of voters had cast their ballots.

He said the victory for BN's Datuk Mah Siew Keong was a big victory for Umno and had saved the BN coalition.

State Veteran Umno social and welfare chief Syed Idrus Syed Abdul Rahman said BN's win in Teluk Intan was not only because of the drop in the number of Chinese and Indian voters.

"The Malays are returning to the BN fold.

"Many (among them) did not vote because they had given up on DAP and its slogans."

He said the Malays in Teluk Intan were fence-sitters, but had voted to show their support for BN.

"Mah must make sure all the promises made are fulfilled, so that the momentum of support will carry on to the next general election."

Resident Nor Rashid Zainal Abidin taking down Barisan Nasional flags in Kampung Terengganu yesterday after the conclusion of the Teluk Intan by-election. Pic by Ghazali Kori

'We have no other place to go'

Posted: 01 Jun 2014 09:01 AM PDT

 KUALA LUMPUR: AMIDST the skyscrapers dotting the city, lies a scene of poverty filled with dirt, danger and darkness, little known to the public.

The plight of the homeless in Kuala Lumpur came under the spotlight yet again following the gruesome murder of a homeless woman's toddler, who was beheaded and abandoned at the bank of Sungai Klang near the KTM station in Jalan Tun Sambanthan here on Wednesday.

The New Straits Times hit the streets yesterday and found many homeless people have made the corridors of the busy Central Market, Dayabumi complex, Petaling Street, Chow Kit, Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, Klang Bus Stand and Puduraya bus terminal their home.

One of the popular areas is along the Sungai Klang riverbank -- the crime scene of the murder -- that serves as home to about 30 homeless people.

In our visit to the area yesterday, we were first greeted by the stench, followed quickly by glares, as we approached a young man who was busy cleaning his "home".

Spotting our camera, the 25-year-old man, who wished to be identified only as Zul, immediately cautioned us not to take any photographs, for fear they would be chased away by City Hall (DBKL) officers.

Zul, originally from Kelantan, said he moved to Kuala Lumpur five years ago to look for a job, but could not afford to rent a house or even a room.

"We were chased away by DBKL several times, but would always come back here, since we have no other place to go.

"Even though, on some occasions, we risk losing our lives, especially when it has been raining heavily, as the river's water level could rises up within minutes."

He said there were several cases of people drowning when they could not climb up the poles or cross over the drains to escape from the rising water.

Zul, who is still looking for a job, said drug addicts had also caused problems for them, as they were subjected to constant raids by the police.

He said most of the vagrants were waiting for the local authorities to fulfil their promises to provide them with shelter and decent jobs.

"Last year, DBKL had carried out raids in our area and confiscated all our belongings," he said, adding that when they were nabbed, they were sent for counselling and later released if their urine tests came out as negative for drugs.

Norliza, who had been living in the area for a year, said she came to Kuala Lumpur to visit her sister, but found herself with nowhere to go when she was chased out of the house.

The 49-year-old, who was having a cold and got married last month to another vagrant, said she had no money to go to the clinic and hoped her husband would have enough to bear the cost of her medication.

She said her husband, who is now an odd-job worker, used to work at Pasar Karat with other vagrants before it was shut down by the authorities.

Rosli, 49, from Perak, claimed that even though he owned a house in his hometown and earned RM1,400 monthly, he was feeling lonely and chose to live with the homeless.

"As a Felda settler, I get RM1,400 monthly, but the loneliness forced me to move here. I plan to go back to my hometown after I get married."

He had been living in the area for three years.

Security guard Suhaimi Md Kamarahan, 54, who often spoke to the homeless, said there were more than 10 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) providing food and other necessities.

"The homeless would spread information among their groups on the time and locations where NGOs would provide food.

"Besides food, Pertiwi (Pertubuhan Tindakan Wanita Islam) would also provide soaps and towels once a month."

Hare Krishna's "Food For Life society" committee member V. Kunasekaran said the NGO had been providing free vegetarian meals to the public every Sunday at noon in Jalan Masjid Jamek since 2010, adding that the food, prepared for about 250 people, would usually finish within an hour.

"People, including the homeless, will start queuing from 11.45am. Some would return for second servings."

A homeless woman making a 'home' for herself under the Sungai Klang bridge, near the Pasar Seni light rail transit station, whichThe bridge serves as shelter to about 30 homeless people. Pix by Yazit Razali

A grieving 'wedding day'

Posted: 01 Jun 2014 09:01 AM PDT

02 June 2014| last updated at 12:25AM

Mohd Azuan Abdullah, 25, and Nur Faizah Muhamad Rejab, 22, were supposed to get married yesterday.

They had planned to wear matching red wedding costumes, but the clothes were now left untouched.

Sadness enveloped the tahlil prayer held at Kampung Batas Paip in Kuala Kedah here, after Faizah's policeman fiance was killed while pursuing criminals in Parit Buntar, Perak, last Monday.

Guests and relatives who attended the special prayer shook their heads in silence when they passed hantaran (wedding gifts) inside the house.

Dejection was clearly visible on Faizah's face who is still shocked over the incident.

"I have been waiting for this moment to celebrate our wedding day together with our family, relatives and friends.

"But everything changed in the blink of an eye.

"I'd never thought our wedding day would turn into a tahlil prayer," she said, adding that she was relieved the prayer went on smoothly.

Faizah said she had accepted her fiancé's death and knew she had to move on, but it was difficult not to think of the happy times they had together.

Azuan's mother, Afidah Ehsan, 52, was among 1,000 guests who came to the ceremony.

Azuan, who was attached to the Kerian district polices Motorcycle Patrol Unit, died when one of the suspects vehicle rammed into his motorcycle near Alor Pongsu about 1pm.

He was found by the roadside while his motorcycle was found in a canal.

Nur Faizah Muhamad Rejab crying as the day which was supposed to be her wedding day had turned into a funeral for her fiance. Mohd Azuan Abdullah (Inset) was killed when a vehicle rammed into his bike. Pic by Sharul Hafiz Zam

Counselling for the homeless on the cards

Posted: 01 Jun 2014 09:01 AM PDT

02 June 2014| last updated at 11:28PM

Deputy Minister Datuk Azizah Mohd Dun said the ministry would raise the matter to the cabinet in its bid to upgrade the centres to better serve the homeless.

She said many homeless had been rejected by their families and communities, thus, there was a need to provide an avenue for them to improve themselves.

"Those who come to Anjung Singgah seeking shelter and food do not want to stay there forever.

"The centre is only a temporary stop for them to start anew. They need to be presented with the possibility of a good future.

"Our officers do try to teach them some skills and help them seek interviews with potential employers.

"However, based on experience, some are choosy with jobs, which is coupled with attitude problems.

"That is why motivation and counselling sessions must be made available at all Anjung Singgah centres," she told the New Straits Times yesterday.

Azizah said it was not easy to deal with the homeless because many had experienced drug and physical abuse and depression, among other ills.

"Some homeless people come with their families to Anjung Singgah looking for jobs, while some were given money to start their own small businesses.

"There are also those who have successfully improved themselves from the opportunities we provided, and this is what we want for them, to make the leap to a better future."

Anjung Singgah was established by the National Welfare Foundation under the ministry in 2011.

It operates three centres each in Kuala Lumpur, Johor Baru and Kuching, with another expected to be operational in Penang later this year.

Azizah also urged the public to be more caring and proactive to the plight of the homeless and the less fortunate by alerting the authorities via calling the free 24-hour Nur hotline at 1599.

She was also referring to the death of a 6-year-old boy after being abused for a long period of time by his mother and stepfather. His plight came to light on Wednesday.

Initial investigations revealed the boy had died from severe burns, with more than 33.5 per cent of his body affected, from what police believe was caused by hot water.

"It is your duty to report it if you notice something wrong in your neighbourhood.

"Please do not think of yourself as being nosy because you may be helping out an abuse victim," Azizah said, adding that a single call could save a life and keep a family from crumbling.

One of the homeless people seeking shelter under the Sungai Klang bridge in Kuala Lumpur.

Ex-Maybank chairman laid to rest

Posted: 01 Jun 2014 09:01 AM PDT

02 June 2014| last updated at 12:24AM
By SARAH RAHIM | news@nst.com.my

 KUALA LUMPUR: FORMER Maybank chairman Tan Sri Mohamed Basir Ahmad, who died of a heart attack, was buried at Bukit Kiara Muslim Cemetery at 5.40pm yesterday.  

Basir, 75, was the husband of former international trade and industry minister and former Wanita Umno chief Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz.

He died of a heart attack at 3.51am yesterday at Singapore General Hospital.

His remains arrived at the Subang Royal Malaysian Air Force Base from Singapore at 2.55pm and was taken to Saidina Umar Al-Khattab Mosque in Bukit Damansara here for prayers.

Rafidah, 71, said she was shocked when her husband collapsed after dinner on Friday during their family trip in Singapore.

"I am very grateful to the Malaysian and the Singapore governments for their assistance. We did not expect to be treated with kindness."

She said the Malaysian High Commission in Singapore had also extended its help.

She was also grateful that her family and family friends had come to the mosque to show support.

"My husband was a gentle and cheerful person. I will miss his presence after 52 years of marriage.

"May Allah bless his soul and I hope his good deeds will be remembered."

Dignitaries and family members gathered at the mosque to pay their last respects and perform the solat jenazah (prayers for the dead) at 5pm led by imam Mohamad Shukeri Yaacob.

Those who paid their last respects at the mosque included former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his wife, Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali, former deputy prime minister Tun Musa Hitam, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Abdul Wahid Omar and International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak also conveyed his condolences to the family.

"I have extended my condolences to Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz over her husband's passing early this morning (yesterday). Al-Fatihah," he said in his Twitter account @NajibRazak.

Wanita Umno chief Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil also conveyed her condolences and described Basir's death as a great loss to the country.

"His services as a respected banker will always be remembered," she said in a statement.

She added that Basir was also a staunch supporter of women's issues in the country and the women were appreciative of his support.

Mohamed Basir had served as Maybank chairman for 16 years, beginning as director on Aug 5, 1993 after serving as Bank Negara Malaysia's adviser since 1980.

He leaves wife Rafidah, son Alfian, two daughters Rohaiza and Rohaila, as well as five grandchildren.

Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz scattering flower petals on the grave of her husband Tan Sri Mohamed Basir Ahmad at the Bukit Kiara Muslim Cemetery in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. Pic by Azmaidi Abidin

Taib receives courtesy call from PM

Posted: 01 Jun 2014 09:01 AM PDT

02 June 2014| last updated at 11:40PM

It was their first official meeting after Taib became the head of state on March 1, following his resignation as chief minister.

The closed-door reception, held at a hotel here, was attended by Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem and other state dignitaries.

Najib is here on a two-day working visit, which will take him to, among others, the hills of the Upper Baram River, a longhouse in Lambir for a traditional welcoming ceremony and the Miri City Fan, also known as Dataran Kipas, for the national-level Gawai Day celebration.

He arrived here after a six-day historical visit to China.

He is expected to leave for Kuala Lumpur tomorrow evening.

Taib, who stepped down on Feb 28, had served as chief minister for 33 years before Adenan assumed the post.

He succeeds Tun Abang Muhammad Salahuddin Abang Barieng as the Yang Dipertua Negeri.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and Yang Dipertua Negeri of Sarawak ketika mengunjungi Yang di-Pertua Negeri Sarawak, Tun Abdul Taib Mahmud in Miri last night. Bernama pic