MERDEKA DAY ORGANISED BY NGOs

‘Merdeka do best organised by NGOs, political parties’

Posted on August 16, 2011, Tuesday

KUALA LUMPUR: The country’s Independendence anniversary celebration should best be organised by non-governmental organisations (NGOs), political parties and voluntary bodies, and not only by the government, said Information Communication and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim.

He said the Merdeka anniversary was one auspicious occasion where all quarters regardless of race, religion and political ideology should gather to celebrate it.

“Unfortunately, in our country, not everybody feel the same way. They would rather let the Merdeka and other nationalistic programmes be handled by the government,” he said in an interview by Radio 24 at Wisma Bernama, here, yesterday.

Rais who is also the chairman of the 54th Merdeka celebration main organising committee, however, said it was no problem for the government to organise such programmes and activities as the celebration must go on.

He said this year’s celebration emphasised on flying the Jalur Gemilang (Malaysian flag) at commercial premises, offices and homes.

“If before, we gave out flags to be fixed to vehicles, this year we distribute them to be flown at commercial and office premises and houses.” On the emergence of the new media which were now popular with the public to obtain information, he said it showed a decline in interest in the print media.

However, he felt that this trend was only temporary as the print or traditional media would eventually regain ground.

“All over the world, the media is going through a transition period, which means they are being tested on usage, effectiveness and acceptance as a link for mankind,” he said. — Bernama

GRANNY DOESN'T HAVE TO SING THE BLUES ANYMORE

by Norni Mahadi reporters@theborneopost.com. Posted on August 15, 2011, Monday






HELPING HAND: Ting enquires about the family background of Saleha during the visit.

MIRI: Grandmother Saleha Mit, 80, and her family at Pujut Adong 1 get frustrated whenever it rains, for one simple reason – leaking roofs.

They are kept busy whenever rain come a calling because it would mean everyone having to start carrying and emptying basins and pails to ensure that their belongings are not ruined by the downpour.

However, their misery will end in about three days’ time as the local authority is presently repairing the small double-storey house under the government’s “Nadi Kasih” initiative.

Saleha’s family is among the 52 hardcore poor families here who would benefit from the project which started its operation here recently.

‘Nadi Kasih’ is financed by 1Malaysia Development Berhad is only meant for house-repair.

Under this project, the beneficiary would be allocated RM5,000 to repair their houses, and the repair cost must not exceed this amount.

Saleha said she and her family were thankful to the government for making their life more comfortable.

“I want to thank the government for making our dream come true. All this while I have been requesting for assistance to change the leaking rooftop of my house,” said the granny who is staying with her daughter, daughter-in-law and five grandchildren.

Saleha added that her family could not afford to repair the roof because money from selling kuih could hardly make ends meet.

Meanwhile, the SUPP Piasau vice chairman Datuk Sebastian Ting, together with the chairman of Neigbourhood Committee (RT) Piasau 1 Sazali Sunji visited Saleha yesterday.

Ting, among others, assured Saleha that the repair works would be completed in a few days.

He also took down personal details of Saleha’s family to assist the family secure assistance from the Welfare Department.

ADVISORY ROLE WOULD BE FINE - DR CHAN

KUCHING: SUPP president Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr George Chan prefers to only play an advisory role in the party come the 13th general election.

The former Deputy Chief Minister said SUPP should be led by new blood even if the parliamentary election was called before the party’s triennial delegate’s conference (TDC) which is scheduled to be held from Dec 9 to 11 this year.

“If the 13th general election is held before our TDC, then I should step down and play the advisory role. We need new blood in the party so that SUPP and the Barisan Nasional (BN) could win the election,” Dr Chan told The Borneo Post Thursday night after witnessing the signing of an MoU for the setting up of a new technical college in Desa Senadin here.

Dr. Chan said he concurred with the recent view expressed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak that all BN members must strengthen unity to win the 13th general election.
Najib stressed that BN must be seen and accepted as a party fighting for the interests and wellbeing of the people, and that only winnable candidates be fielded.

During the April 16 state polls, SUPP lost 13 of the 19 seats it contested. Out of the six seats it won, only two (Senadin and Bawang Assan) were in predominantly Chinese areas. Dr Chan were among those who lost, losing his stronghold of Piasau to a DAP rookie.

After the election, several top party leaders, including Dr Chan, handed in their resignation letters to take responsibility for the defeats but they were told by the Central Working Committee (CWC) to stay on until the TDC, where new office bearers would be elected.

Dr Chan revealed that his decision to step down formed part of the party’s preparations for the 13th general election and to completely revamp the party.

In the 2006 state election, the party lost eight of the 19 seats it contested and this led to calls for Dr Chan’s head. However, the leadership crisis eventually simmered down after Dr. Chan agreed to step down in 2008. However, during the TDC in 2008, he was instead asked to continue leading the party.

Stay away from Sarawak election, Daud tells PPP

Stay away from Sarawak election, Daud tells PPP

by Mohamad Abdullah reporters@theborneopost.com. Posted on August 8, 2011, Monday




BREAKING FAST: Daud (right) serving rice to orphans at Kompleks Kebajikan Hamidah in Tudan during the breaking of fast on Saturday.

MIRI: Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) vice-president Datuk Daud Abdul Rahman yesterday advised People’s Progressive Party (PPP) to concentrate on winning the seats it lost in the peninsula in 2008.

He told PPP not to contest in the state during the coming general election as it would disunite and destablise the status quo
of state BN component parties – PBB, PRS, SPDP and SUPP – as all seats had been allocated among them.

“If PPP wants to help the state BN component parties we welcome but if they want to contest it will disunite the present unity,” Daud said after breaking of fast with orphans at Peryatim Kompleks Hamidah in Tudan on Saturday night.

Present were Sibuti MP Ahmad Lai Bujang, Miri deputy resident Abdul Aziz Yusof, Miri City Council deputy mayor Mohd Chee Kadir, Temenggong Abdul Rahman Fadzil and Penghulu Adam Bujang.

“We do not want other BN component parties from peninsula to disunite the state BN,” he said further, urging PPP to concentrate in the peninsula and work closely with other BN parties there.

Most Malaysians Want to Work Abroad

by JobStreet.com Malaysia on Friday, 29 July 2011 at 13:55

Kuala Lumpur, 20 June, 2011: The majority of jobseekers want to work abroad, according to a survey conducted by JobStreet.com. Of the 700 over respondents, 17% are junior executives, 40% are senior executives, 29% are managers and 16% senior managers.

87% of those polled reported interest in working abroad. However, their level of seriousness in wanting to work abroad varies. A little under a third of the group is already actively seeking opportunities overseas. 30% are passively looking while another 30% are still considering the pros and cons of employment abroad.

The main reason for wanting to work abroad is to earn more money (42%), for career growth (24%), children’s education (13%), for travel opportunities (9%) and to follow their spouse abroad (3%) with the remaining citing other reasons for wanting to work abroad. This data confirms what the media has been revealing about brain drain in recent years as money, career growth and children’s education rank the highest in the survey.



Employees were also asked on their favourite destination for work and most are keen to work in Australia (24%) followed by Singapore (16%), UK (15%) and US (10%). About 8% were keen on China/Korea/Japan and 7% in New Zealand.  Amongst senior managers however, the favourite destination is Singapore.

For their method of getting a job, the majority prefered to use recruitment firms and head hunting agencies while going through referrals and advertisement from newspaper and online sites each garnered about 17% of the votes.

When respondents were asked what would be the reason keeping them home if they are not interested in working abroad, half of the respondents cite family as the main reason. Only 2.4% said that they are staying here to contribute to national interest.

The survey findings were similar for both male and female respondents. About 700 employees participated in the survey, of which 60% were male and the rest female. The survey was carried out in May 2011 to seek the view of employees on their thoughts on working abroad.

Kesan kekalahan SUPP di Piasau dan Pujut mula dirasai rakyat

dipetik dari http://miritoday.com/berita/kesan-kekalahan-supp-di-piasau-dan-pujut-mula-dirasai-rakyat



SENADIN — Persatuan dan pertubuhan yang lazimnya mendapat peruntukan besar daripada wakil rakyat Barisan Nasional (BN) di Miri kini bimbang dengan kekurangan jumlah geran yang diterima berikutan kekalahan dua calonnya dalam Pilihan Raya Negeri April lalu.

Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr George Chan, bekas Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (ADUN) Piasau dan bekas Timbalan Ketua Menteri, tewas kepada calon Parti Tindakan Demokratik (DAP), Ling Sie Kiong manakala bekas ADUN Pujut, Andy Chia kalah kepada Fong Pau Teck, juga calon dari DAP.

Sebelum kekalahan ini, persatuan dan pertubuhan mendapat peruntukan besar daripada Parti Rakyat Bersatu Sarawak (SUPP) namun kini mereka perlu berpuas hati dengan peruntukan yang diterima walaupun jumlahnya kecil.

Menteri Muda Komunikasi, Lee Kim Shin berkata, pengagihan peruntukan kini berkurangan kerana hanya beliau dan Ahli Parlimen Miri, Datuk Seri Peter Chin Fah Kui yang tinggal untuk memohon peruntukan.

“Saya ada menerima aduan daripada pertubuhan dan persatuan yang bimbang mengenai peruntukan yang semakin berkurangan. Sekarang kerajaan melalui SUPP hanya dapat menyalurkan bantuan kepada dua wakil rakyat iaitu saya dan Datuk Seri Peter Chin, berbanding dulu empat orang wakil rakyat yang mana peruntukan lebih banyak,” katanya kepada media selepas sesi bertemu rakyat di pejabat SUPP Senadin hari ini.

Lee yang juga ADUN Senadin memberitahu, pengurangan dari segi pemberian geran itu tidak ketara semasa tahun pertama namun kesannya akan dirasai oleh pelbagai pihak empat tahun yang mendatang.

“Justeru saya berharap rakyat di Miri faham mengapa mereka mendapat geran yang sedikit. Saya harap pengundi selepas ini sedar dengan pilihan mereka,” ujarnya.

Dalam pada itu, Lee berjanji akan melakukan yang terbaik untuk memastikan semua pertubuhan dan persatuan khususnya badan kebajikan mendapat geran yang sewajarnya.

“Walaupun peruntukan berkurangan, namun persatuan dan pertubuhan kebajikan tetap diberi keutamaan dari segi pengagihan peruntukan,” katanya.

Terdahulu, Lee menerima aduan daripada Persatuan Bas Sekolah Miri yang bimbang mengenai nasib anak-anak miskin yang menggunakan bas mereka di mana tambang mereka dibiayai oleh SUPP.

“Dalam hal ini, saya minta agar pengusaha bas teruskan mengambil anak-anak tersebut dan biarkan SUPP yang tolong selesaikan pembayaran yang tertunggak khususnya ibu bapa yang miskin.”

Beliau turut beri jaminan akan membantu menyelesaikan yuran bas sekolah anak-anak dari keluarga miskin yang pernah mendapat bantuan di bawah Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr George Chan dan Andy Chia.