FREELITTLEBRAIN

Ananda Krishnan makes time for son

2012-04-29T07:09:00.002-07:00

Local Chinese daily Kwong Wah Yit Poh reported on the front page of its street edition that billionaire T. Ananda Krishnan took time off from his busy schedule to meet up with his Buddhist monk son Ven Ajahn Siripanyo, who is at a meditation retreat in Penang Hill here.

Ven Siripanyo is his only son from a previous marriage. He was seen putting his palms together and took a bow when he saw his father.

He then led his father to a garden where Ananda Krishnan took photographs of rees and butterflies as he walked along.

Clad in T-shirt and jeans, the 74-year-old tycoon was spotted arriving at the foot of the popular tourist attraction in a BMW with several bodyguards at about 9am yesterday.

He was whisked off to an undisclosed location deep inside the forest in Penang Hill, where his son was having a retreat with 60 others.

Ven Siripanno came to the hill retreat on Sunday before staying overnight at a colonial-style building in the forest.

According to local residents, the tycoon bought the retreat three years ago before restoring it to its former glory. There are 30-odd rooms in the building.

It is learnt that the tycoon left the hill at about noon while his son and the others left for Thailand later in the evening.

Nicknamed AK, Ananda Krishnan is estimated to be worth US$9.6bil (RM29.66bil) according to Forbes' latest list of wealthiest people, making him the second wealthiest in South-East Asia after Robert Kuok and number 89 in the world.

He has a multimedia empire which includes two telecommunication companies Maxis Communications and Measat Broadcast Network Systems (Astro) and three communication satellites orbiting the earth.

Najib: Abolishing PTPTN will cost taxpayers RM43b

2012-04-07T07:52:00.001-07:00

Abolishing the National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) student loan scheme would cost taxpayers an additional RM43 billion, the prime minister said today.

Datuk Seri Najib Razak said the move, as proposed by Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is not feasible, as it would impose an additional burden on Malaysians.

“There are only three countries in the world that fully bear the cost of higher education for the people such as Norway. But Norway imposes a high taxation rate on the people,” he was quoted by Bernama as saying when launching the programme ‘Jelajah Janji Ditepati’ in Batu Pahat, Johor earlier today.

The PM said that the government did not want to burden Malaysians by imposing high taxes in order to abolish the PTPTN.

Najib pointed out that his administration currently bore 90 per cent of the country’s higher education costs, and stressed that the PTPTN was only being utilised to pay student tuition fees.

ISU KEKURANGAN GURU SEKOLAH JENIS KEBANGSAAN CINA (SJKC)

2012-04-05T06:39:00.002-07:00

YAB TAN SRI MUHYIDDIN HJ. MOHD YASSIN, YAB TIMBALAN PERDANA MENTERI MERANGKAP MENTERI PELAJARAN MALAYSIA MENGENAI ISU KEKURANGAN GURU SEKOLAH JENIS KEBANGSAAN CINA (SJKC)

Jawatankuasa khas yang telah ditubuhkan oleh Kementerian Pelajaran untuk menangani isu kekurangan guru di SJKC sebagaimana yang diputuskan oleh Mesyuarat Jemaah Menteri adalah bukti Kerajaan benar-benar komited dan serius dalam menyelesaikan isu tersebut dengan segera dan efektif.

Sebagai sebuah Kerajaan yang prihatin, langkah-langkah sistematik, dasar yang seragam dan berterusan telah dan sedang pun diambil untuk menangani isu kekurangan guru di SJKC. Oleh itu saya berharap masyarakat Cina menyambut baik langkah-langkah jangka pendek dan jangka panjang yang telah diumumkan oleh jawatankuasa tersebut pada 20 Mac lalu kerana sekolah rendah jenis kebangsaan tidak pernah diasingkan daripada sistem pendidikan negara kita.

Langkah yang diambil ini juga bukan kerana tekanan yang dibuat oleh mana-mana pihak dan kesimpulan bahawa Kerajaan telah mengambil langkah tersebut hanya setelah tekanan dibuat oleh pihak-pihak tertentu adalah tidak benar.

Isu ini perlu diperjelaskan agar gambaran sebenar dapat diberikan untuk menangkis dakwaan dan tuduhan yang tidak berasas terhadap Kerajaan dan KPM.

Dalam usaha memastikan proses pembelajaran dan pengajaran SJKC di seluruh Negara berjalan lancar setiap tahun KPM telah berusaha bersungguh-sungguh mengisi kekosongan guru-guru di SJKC.

Pada tahun 2009 terdapat kekurangan guru seramai 4,991, pada tahun berikutnya jumlah ini telah dikurangkan kepada 3,043, pada tahun 2011 jumlahnya menurun kepada 2,720 dan akirnya pada tahun ini kekurangan guru di SJKC adalah hanya seramai 1,874.

Daripada jumlah ini, KPM telah melantik sejumlah 1,482 guru interim untuk mengisi kekosongan tersebut. Baki kekurangan di SJKC hanyalah tinggal 392 orang yang mana Guru Besar SJKC diberi kebenaran mencadangkan calon guru interim untuk dilantik oleh Jabatan Pendidikan Negeri.

KPM telah memperuntukkan sejumlah 38,047 jawatan guru bagi SJKC. Sehingga 31 Januari 2012 seramai 36,173 guru terlatih telah ditempatkan di semua sekolah SJKC. Sebanyak RM1.8 bilion dibelanjakan setiap tahun untuk membayar gaji guru-guru dan operasi-operasi mengurus di SJKC di seluruh negara.

Pada masa ini terdapat 1,294 buah SJKC di seluruh negara. Dari 1,294 sekolah, sebanyak 455 adalah sekolah kurang murid (kurang 150 murid).

Saya menyeru kepada semua pihak supaya berhenti mempolitikkan isu-isu pendidikan Cina dan sebaliknya menumpukan perhatian kepada usaha meningkatkan kualiti dan kemajuan pendidikan di semua sekolah, sama ada sekolah kebangsaan atau jenis kebangsaan dengan tujuan menambah daya saing kita bagi menghadapi cabaran-cabaran yang akan datang.

Jawatankuasa khas yang diketuai YB Timbalan Menteri Pelajaran Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong telah mengadakan perbincangan dengan persatuan-persatuan pendidik Cina dan pemegang amanah lain untuk menangani masalah yang dihadapi oleh sekolah-sekolah Cina. Ini telah menghasilkan pelan lapan perkara yang telah dipersetujui oleh kerajaan. Jawatankuasa ini telah empat kali bermesyuarat dengan pihak yang berkepentingan dan telah menerima segala input yang diberikan oleh semua pihak.

Mesyuarat tersebut telah diadakan pada: 5 Mac 2012 bersama-sama Bahagian Perancangan dan Penyelidikan Dasar Pendidikan (BPPDP), Bahagian Pendidikan Guru(BPG), Suruhanjaya Perkhidmatan Pendidikan(SPP), Institut Pendidikan Guru Malaysia(IPGM), Bahagian Pengurusan Sekolah Harian(BPSH), Persatuan Guru Besar SJKC 8 Mac 2012, BPPDP, BPG, SPP, IPGM, BPSH, Persatuan Guru Besar SJKC , Dong zhong, Jiao Zhong, HuaZhong, dan National Union of the Teaching Profession (NUTP) 16 Mac 2012, BPPDP, BPG, SPP, IPGM, BPSH, Persatuan Guru Besar SJKC, Jiao Zhong, Hua Zhong, dan NUTP ( Dong Zhong- tidak hadir) 23 Mac 2012, BPPDP, BPG, SPP, IPGM, BPSH, Persatuan Guru Besar SJKC, JiaoZhong, HuaZhong, dan NUTP ( DongZhong- tidak hadir) 2 April 2012, BPPDP, BPG, SPP, IPGM, BPSH, Persatuan Guru Besar SJKC , JiaoZhong, HuaZhong, NUTP dan Dong Zhong.

Untuk memastikan keputusan Jawatankuasa itu dilaksanakan sepertimana yang dipersetujui, satu mesyuarat penyelarasan tindakan Susulan Jawatankuasa Khas Menangani Guru SJKC telah diadakan pada 27 Mac 2012 bersama-sama BPPDP, BPG, IPM, NUTP, dan BPSH (sebagai urusetia).

Untuk permasalahan kekosongan jawatan guru di SJKC
Bagi mengatasi masalah kekurangan guru, sebanyak 1,482 guru interim telah pun diagihkan kepada semua negeri, manakala baki 392 guru interim dibenarkan dilantik pada 1 April 2012 lalu.

Guru-guru interim ini akan berkhidmat sehingga pengisian oleh guru terlatih dapat dilaksanakan sepenuhnya dan tertakluk kepada kekosongan sebenar berdasarkan Anggaran Belanja Mengurus Perjawatan diluluskan. Pada 27 Mac 2012, KPM telah mengeluarkan surat perlanjutan perkhidmatan guru-guru interim di SJKC.

Bagi melaksanakan agenda tersebut, pihak guru besar SJKC boleh mencalonkan guru-guru yang memenuhi syarat dan pelantikan akan dilakukan oleh Pengarah Jabatan Pelajaran Negeri masing-masing.

Untuk permasalahan guru pemulihan yang tidak mempunyai kelayakan dwibahasa Tentang permasalahan guru pemulihan yang tidak mempunyai kelayakan dwibahasa, Lembaga Pengelola SJKC berpendapat tindakan memindahkan 100 guru tersebut adalah wajar kerana guru-guru tersebut tidak boleh bertutur dan menulis menggunakan bahasa itu.

Pada mereka persoalannya adalah bagaimanakah guru-guru ini dapat berinteraksi dengan murid-murid pemulihan yang sudah tersedia lemah.

KPM telah membuat penyemakan terperinci di atas dakwaan lebih kurang 100 orang guru pemulihan tiada kelayakan bahasa Cina dan mendapati ada dalam kalangan guru-guru ini mempunyai kredit dalam Bahasa Cina.

Seramai tujuh orang guru didapati mempunyai kelayakan Bahasa Cina iaitu 2 orang di Melaka (SJKC Chabau dan SJKC Pay Hsien, 2 orang di Sarawak (SJKC Chung Hua, Sibuti dan SJKC Chun Hua Serian), seorang di Selangor (SJKC Hin Hua) dan 2 orang di Johor (SJKC Sengkang, Kulaijaya dan SJKC Ban Foo)

Oleh itu, KPM menetapkan guru-guru yang mempunyai kelayakan bahasa Cina akan terus kekal di sekolah tersebut sementara guru-guru lain akan ditempatkan semula ke sekolah kebangsaan mulai 16 April 2012 sebagaimana yang diputuskan dalam Mesyuarat Jawatankuasa Khas Menangani Kekurangan Guru SJKC pada 2 April 2012.

Untuk permasalahan guru-guru opsyen kajian sosial yang tidak berkelayakan BC Seramai 17 orang guru Kajian Sosial dengan minor Bahasa Melayu telah ditempatkan di daerah Klang, Selangor.

Semakan dibuat oleh KPM mendapati seorang daripada mereka mempunyai kelayakan Bahasa Cina dan akan dikekalkan di sekolah sedia ada (SJK(C) Chung Hua).

Sementara itu, 16 orang guru ini akan dipindahkan ke sekolah Kebangsaan. Seorang guru Kajian Sosial yang ditempatkan di Melaka telah diganti dengan seorang guru pengajian Cina (SJKC Chabau) manakala seorang lagi guru di SJK(C) Chung Hwa, Subis. Semua guru ini akan dipindahkan berkuatkuasa pada 16 April 2012.

Untuk permasalahan kelayakan dwibahasa guru opsyen Bahasa Malaysia dan Bahasa Inggeris Pengajaran Bahasa Malaysia dan Bahasa Inggeris di Tahap 1 di SJKC Gred A dan B akan diajar oleh guru yang berkelayakan mengajar Bahasa Cina sekurang-kurangnya di peringkat Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia .

Bagi Sekolah Kurang Murid pula , bagi tahap 1 dan 2 bagi pengajaran Bahasa Malaysia dan Bahasa Inggeris akan diajar oleh guru-guru yang berkelayakan Bahasa Cina sekurang-kurangnya peringkat Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia.

Inisiatif Jangka panjang bagi menangani kekurangan guru SJKC
BPG dan IPGM sedang merangka Program Intervensi Tambah Opsyen (PITO) untuk guru-guru bukan opsyen BM/BI dan mengajar mata pelajaran selain Bahasa Cina lebih dari 5 tahun. Kursus ini dijangka bermula selewat-lewatnya akhir tahun ini, supaya tidak menjejaskan proses pengajaran dan pembelajaran di bilik darjah.

Kerajaan telah mengemukakan perancangan mengikut keperluan di SJKC dan mekanisme untuk melatih bukan sahaja guru-guru yang terlatih di dalam Bahasa Cina tetapi juga penambahan pensyarah-pensyarah Pengajian Cina.

Buat masa ini terdapat 72 pensyarah Pengajian Cina di IPG seluruh Malaysia. KPM telah bersetuju untuk mengambil 30 lagi pensyarah Pengajian Cina bagi mempertingkatkan kapasiti latihan guru. Permohonan untuk menjadi pensyarah di IPG, termasuk jawatan pensyarah Pengajian Cina telah dilaksanakan mulai 13 Mac hingga 30 Mac 2012.

Pada ketika ini pihak urusetia di IPGM KPM sedang memproses permohonan dan pengambilan akan dibuat pada 1 Jun 2012. Pengambilan pensyarah dilaksanakan secara berterusan.

Iklan untuk pengambilan pensyarah ini telah pun ditutup pada 30 Mac yang lalu. Sebagai langkah penambahan guru terlatih di SJKC, KPM juga telah menyemak dengan SPP dan mendapati dalam kalangan graduan Ijazah Sarjana Muda Pendidikan dari Institusi Pengajian Tinggi Awam yang telah ditemuduga, terdapat seramai 105 orang yang mempunyai kelayakan BC di peringkat Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia. Oleh itu, KPM telah bersetuju akan melantik mereka untuk berkhidmat di SJKC dalam tempoh yang terdekat.

Langkah-langkah yang diambil ini jelas menunjukkan keikhlasan kerajaan dalam menyelesaikan isu yang dianggap berlarutan oleh masyarakat Cina. Walaubagaimanapun, saya telah mengarahkan supaya Jawatankuasa ini terus mengadakan sesi perbincangan dan maklumbalas serta mengumpul input dengan kesemua pihak yang berkepentingan dan melihat semua pandangan yang diutarakan dengan mengambil kira semua aspek dan mencari jalan penyelesaian jika ada isu-isu lain yang diketengahkan.

State gazettes 1,000,000ha of forests for conservation

2012-04-03T08:09:00.001-07:00

The state government has gazetted about a million hectares of forest in Perak for conservation efforts.

Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir said the state would continue to closely follow the principles of sustainable forest management to ensure a balanced development.

“After all, the forest is one of the state’s main sources of income,” he said after opening the national-level World Forestry Day celebration at the Matang Eco Education Centre on Mangroves near Kuala Sapetang, Taiping recently.

Dr Zambry revealed that under the 9th Malaysia Plan, permission was given to log about 7,770ha of forests in the state.“But this was reduced to 6,990ha under the 10th Malaysia Plan,” he added.

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Douglas Uggah Embas said the Federal Government had allocated RM60mil to build an ecology corridor in Gerik.

“Of this, RM3.3mil had been approved for preliminary works to be carried out this year.

“Another RM29.6mil will be used to construct a viaduct next year,” Douglas said in his speech, which was read out by the ministry’s deputy secretary-general (environment) Datuk Dr Ab Rahim Nik.

The ecology corridor will be one of five main ecological networks to be created under the Central Forest Spine, which forms the backbone of a network of environmentally sensitive areas.

MAJLIS PENUTUPAN PERSIDANGAN PERHUTANAN MALAYSIA KE-16

2011-12-11T04:04:00.001-08:00

UCAPAN PENUTUPAN YBHG. DATO’ ZOAL AZHA BIN YUSOF, KETUA SETIAUSAHA KEMENTERIAN SUMBER ASLI DAN ALAM SEKITAR MALAYSIA SEMPENA MAJLIS PENUTUPAN PERSIDANGAN PERHUTANAN MALAYSIA KE-16 PADA 9 DISEMBER 2011, MELAKA, DISAMPAIKAN OLEH DATO' DR. HJ ABD RAHMAN BIN HJ ABD RAHIM, KETUA PENGARAH JABATAN PERHUTANAN SEMENANJUNG MALAYSIA.

Sukacita saya memaklumkan bahawa saya telah diamanahkan oleh Y.Bhg. Dato’ Ketua Setiausaha Kementerian Sumber Asli dan Alam Sekitar (NRE) untuk mewakili dan membacakan teks ucapan beliau bagi Majlis Penutup Persidangan Perhutanan Malaysia Ke-16 pada hari ini. Ini adalah memandangkan bahawa Y.Bhg. Dato’ KSU NRE pada masa dan hari yang sama perlu berada di Putrajaya bagi menghadiri satu mesyuarat penting yang melibatkan pengurusan tertinggi dalam perkhidmatan.

Terlebih dahulu saya mengucapkan setinggi-tinggi penghargaan dan terima kasih kepada Jawatankuasa Penganjur Persidangan di atas penghormatan yang diberikan untuk saya hadir bagi merasmikan Majlis Penutupan Persidangan Perhutanan Malaysia Ke-16 ini. Saya amat gembira kerana dapat hadir bersama-sama dengan Y.Bhg. Dato’-Dato’, tuan-tuan dan puan-puan bagi meraikan satu peristiwa yang amat signifikan dalam rangka negara menuju ke arah merealisasikan matlamat pengurusan hutan secara berkekalan khazanah hijau negara yang cukup bernilai lagi penting ini.

Saya juga mengambil kesempatan ini untuk mengucapkan syabas dan tahniah kepada semua peserta dan pemerhati persidangan di atas komitmen tinggi kerana telah berjaya mengikuti sepenuhnya program Persidangan yang telah bermula pada 5 Disember 2011 hinggalah ke 9 Disember 2011. Saya telah dimaklumkan bahawa Persidangan kali ini telah berjaya menarik penyertaan sejumlah hampir 300 orang peserta dan pemerhati yang terdiri daripada pegawai kerajaan, wakil-wakil syarikat swasta, ahli-ahli penyelidik dan akademik dan juga wakil-wakil badan bukan kerajaan dari Sabah, Sarawak dan juga Semenanjung Malaysia. Syabas saya ucapkan.

Saya juga amat yakin bahawa semangat dan kesungguhan yang sebegini sememanglah merupakan landasan yang cukup kukuh dan mantap untuk membawa negara kita ke tahap pencapaian yang lebih cemerlang terutamanya dalam bidang pengurusan, pembangunan dan pemuliharaan warisan sumber hutan negara.

Y.Bhg. Dato’-Dato’, tuan-tuan dan puan-puan yang saya hormati sekalian, saya difahamkan bahawa Persidangan kali ini telah dikendalikan dalam 6 Sesi Pleno termasuklah lawatan luar semasa persidangan pada 7 Disember 2011. Secara keseluruhannya sebanyak 36 kertas kerja dan 18 poster telahpun berjaya dibentangkan. Saya turut dimaklumkan bahawa perbincangan rancak dan hangat telah menyusuli setiap pembentangan kertas kerja.

Untuk maksud ini, saya mengucapkan tahniah kepada semua pembentang kertas kerja dan poster di atas inisiatif ikhlas dan kesudian untuk berkongsi pengalaman yang pada hemat saya tidak ternilai kepentingannya. Saya juga mengucapkan terima kasih kepada semua pengerusi sesi pleno kerana telah berjaya memandu dan mengelola para hadirin agar setiap perbincangan diadakan secara berfokus dan berkesan.

Di samping itu, sesetengah peserta dan pemerhati telahpun menyertai lawatan luar semasa persidangan. Saya telah dimaklumkan bahawa 5 destinasi lawatan luar telah disediakan, iaitu lawatan ke Kilang Perabot Poh Huat Resources Holding Sdn Bhd dan Taman Nasuha Herba dan Rempah Karya Sdn Bhd di Negeri Johor; Hutan Bakau Sg Linggi dan Pusat Eco Edutourism Sg Menyala di Negeri Sembilan dan Taman Botani Negara Hutan Simpan Bukit Cherakah dan Kelip-Kelip Kampung Kuantan di Negeri Selangor.

Selain daripada itu, satu program khas penanaman bakau bersama masyarakat tempatan turut diaturkan di Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan. Lawatan luar ini amatlah berbeda dan luas bidangnya. Saya percaya bahawa lawatan ke destinasi yang telah diatur tersebut telah dapat menambah pengetahuan dan pengalaman semua.

Memandangkan hal sedemikian, saya amat yakin bahawa matlamat perkongsian maklumat dan pengalaman serta pertukaran fikiran telah tercapai. Ia juga telah membuahkan banyak pendekatan baru dan menjadi asas dan pemangkin untuk Jabatan Perhutanan Sabah, Jabatan Hutan Sarawak, Sarawak Forestry Corporation dan Jabatan Perhutanan Semenanjung Malaysia untuk memantapkan lagi amalan pengurusan dan pemuliharaan hutan sedia ada, sejajar dengan prinsip continuous improvement yang amat penting bagi memastikan sektor perhutanan kekal relevan di masa-masa yang akan datang.

Persidangan kali ini mengutamakan aspek sosial dalam perhutanan di mana “Hutan Untuk Kesejahteraan Masyarakat (Forests For Community Livelihood)” telah dipilih sebagai tema persidangan ini. Berdasarkan perbincangan ringkas saya dengan ketua-ketua delegasi dan beberapa orang peserta persidangan, saya telah mendapati bahawa topik-topik yang dibincangkan di bawah setiap sesi pleno sememangnya menepati tema yang ditetapkan.

Saya amat tertarik dan menyokong penuh saranan Y.B. Menteri Sumber Asli dan Alam Sekitar Malaysia semasa ucapan beliau di Majlis Perasmian Persidangan pada 5 Disember 2011 bahawa hutan akan terus memainkan peranan untuk menjaga kesejahteraan hidup manusia sejagat melalui penghasilan pelbagai produk dan perkhidmatan hutan.

Di kesempatan ini, izinkan saya mengulangi sekali lagi bahawa Kerajaan Malaysia adalah komited dan akan terus komited untuk menguruskan sumber hutan negara berlandaskan prinsip Pengurusan Hutan Secara Berkekalan (Sustainable Forest Management) dan amalan good forest practices.

Saya juga tertarik hati dengan pembentangan maklumbalas kemajuan pelaksanaan Resolusi Persidangan Perhutanan Malaysia Ke-15 oleh ketua-ketua delegasi dari Sabah, Sarawak dan Semenanjung Malaysia semasa Sesi Tertutup pada 5 Disember 2011. Pembentangan oleh ketua-ketua delegasi ini amatlah bermakna kerana ia telah menunjukkan secara jelasnya sikap serius dan kesungguhan yang diberikan oleh setiap delegasi terhadap Resolusi Persidangan yang ditetapkan. Ia juga merupakan satu bentuk ‘report card’ pelaksanaan resolusi oleh setiap ketua delegasi berkaitan pelaksaan dan pencapaian yang direalisasikan semenjak resolusi diluluskan pada tahun 2008.

Pelaporan sebegini, pada hemat saya, amatlah penting kerana ia menunjukkan akauntabiliti dan meningkatkan ketelusan pengurusan dan pentadbiran setiap jabatan dan agensi hutan yang sekaligus akan meningkatkan imej jabatan dan agensi berkaitan di kaca mata masyarakat umum, selaras dengan Gagasan 1Malaysia: Rakyat Didahulukan, Pencapaian diutamakan.

Dalam konteks ini, sepertimana yang dimaklumkan oleh Ketua Pengarah Perhutanan Semenanjung Malaysia, Persidangan Perhutanan Malaysia Ke-16 telah meluluskan Resolusinya tersendiri. Di kesempatan ini, ingin saya menyarankan supaya semua warga jabatan dan agensi hutan di Sabah, Sarawak dan Semenanjung Malaysia agar terus memberikan tumpuan yang serius terhadap pelaksanaan kesemua resolusi yang ditetapkan.

Ini adalah kerana resolusi yang sebaik macam manapun tidak bermakna sekiranya ia tidak dilaksanakan ataupun tidak digunakan sebagai rujukan dan panduan dalam pentadbiran, pengurusan dan pembangunan sumber hutan negara yang diamanahkan. Bagai kata pepatah “the taste of the pudding is in the eating”, saya berharap aspek pelaksanaannya akan diutamakan oleh kesemua jabatan dan agensi hutan yang berkaitan.

Hutan merupakan kurniaan dan anugerah tuhan untuk kesejahteraan manusia sejagat. Oleh yang demikian, saya pegang teguh bahawa sudah tiba masanya para ahli rimbawan memberi pertimbangan yang saksama kepada kepentingan ekonomi, sosial dan alam sekitar dalam membuat perancangan untuk pengurusan, pembangunan dan kegunaan sumber hutan yang amat bernilai ini.

Pendekatan ini sememangnya juga adalah sejajar dengan prinsip pembangunan mapan ataupun sustainable development. Saya sekali lagi menyeru para rimbawan agar mengambil pendekatan secara konsultatif dengan mengambil kira pandangan dan cadangan daripada masyarakat sivil dan komuniti setempat dalam mengurus dan membangunkan sumber hutan supaya nilai-nilai budaya dan hak kegunaan masyarakat yang berkenaan tidak terhakis atau terancam.

Dalam hubungan ini, kejayaan Malaysia dalam mengekalkan lebih 56% daripada keluasan tanah negara sebagai kawasan berhutan adalah amat membanggakan. Pencapaian ini merupakan hasil daripada kerjasama sedia terjalin dan erat di antara Kerajaan Pusat dan Kerajaan-kerajaan Negeri.

Dalam konteks ini, kerjasama erat di antara kesemua jabatan dan agensi hutan di Sabah, Sarawak dan Semenanjung Malaysia amatlah penting dan kritikal bagi memastikan khazanah hutan negara dapat terus terpelihara dan berfungsi untuk manfaat kita semua secara berpanjangan. Ke arah ini, ingin saya menyarankan agar perjumpaan secara tahunan di antara jabatan dan agensi hutan ini diwujudkan supaya kemajuan pelaksanaan resolusi persidangan dapat dilapor dan dipertingkatkan.

Pada waktu yang sama, isu-isu hutan di peringkat nasional, serantau dan antarabangsa juga boleh dibincangkan agar pendirian bersama dapat dipupuk dan dipersetujui. Insyallah!

Akhir sekali saya ingin merakamkan ucapan tahniah kepada Jabatan Perhutanan Semenanung Malaysia selaku penganjur di atas kejayaan mengadakan Persidangan Perhutanan Malaysia Ke-16 secara berjaya dan cemerlang. Ucapan terima kasih juga saya sampaikan kepada Kerajaan Negeri Melaka yang sudi menjadi tuan rumah persidangan kali ini serta bantuan yang telahpun diberikan bagi menjayakan persidangan kali ini. Semoga usaha tersebut mendapat keberkatan daripada Allah SWT.

Ucapan terima kasih juga saya rakamkan kepada pengucaptama, pengerusi sesi pleno, pembentang-pembentang kertas kerja dan poster, para peserta dari jabatan dan agensi hutan Sabah, Sarawak dan Semenanjung Malaysia. Tanpa sokongan padu ini semestinya persidangan tidak dapat diadakan secara lancar serta menepati objektif yang ditetapkan.

RFID illegal logging detector on trial run

2011-12-09T22:09:00.000-08:00

MALACCA: The Forestry Department is currently testing a device that uses German technology to detect illegal logging activities.

Forestry Department of Peninsular Malaysia director-general Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Abdul Rahim said the device, which uses radio frequency identification (RFID), is being used on a trial basis.

“We are currently testing the technology in Negri Sembilan and if everything goes well, will use it to thwart illegal logging and encroachment into forest reserves,” he told The Star after opening the 16th Forestry Conference at a hotel here yesterday.

Dr Abdul Rahman said technologies like RFID were vital in forestry management because of European Union regulations for the production of logs and wood products.

The European Union, he said, wanted countries that export wood products to guarantee the trees used to make those products were harvested legally and in an environmentally sustainable manner.

The European Union also wants control and monitoring processes to be transparent.

“Once those controls and processes are in place, the Government will be able to issue export licences that meet EU standards and combat illegal logging,” he said.

The conference, themed “Forest for Community Livelihood”, was opened by Malacca’s Rural Development and Agriculture committee chairman Datuk R. Perumal.

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/12/6/nation/10039454&sec=nation

Malaysia berupaya kekal 56.4 peratus tanah berhutan

2011-12-09T21:59:00.000-08:00

Malaysia berupaya kekal 56.4 peratus tanah berhutan

05/12/2011 8:59pm

MELAKA 5 Dis. – Malaysia sehingga kini berupaya mengekalkan sejumlah 56.4 peratus daripada keluasan tanah negara sebagai tanah berhutan, kata Menteri Sumber Asli dan Alam Sekitar, Datuk Seri Douglas Unggah Embas.

Beliau berkata, peratusan itu merupakan satu pencapaian yang patut dibanggakan kerana banyak negara tidak berupaya berbuat demikian kerana kebanyakan hutan mereka telah dibuka untuk pembangunan infrastruktur yang berlebihan.

Kejayaan tersebut amat besar maknanya kerana Malaysia masih merupakan sebuah negara yang membangun di mana pembangunan dan pertukaran kegunaan tanah hutan kepada kegunaan lain sentiasa berlaku, katanya semasa berucap pada majlis perasmian Persidangan Perhutanan Malaysia Ke-16 di sini, hari ini.

Teks ucapan beliau dibacakan oleh timbalannya, Tan Sri Panglima Joseph Kurup.

Douglas berkata, tanah berhutan sentiasa dijadikan bank tanah (land bank) untuk pelbagai projek pembangunan bagi membolehkan Malaysia terus maju.

Beliau berkata, cabaran penting dalam pengurusan hutan hari ini adalah mengimbangi persaingan dan pelbagai gunaan tanah untuk aktiviti perhutanan. – Bernama

http://utusan.com.my/utusan/info.asp?y=2011&dt=1205&pub=Utusan_Malaysia&sec=Terkini&pg=bt_33.htm

Malaysia Berupaya Kekal 56.4 Peratus Tanah Berhutan

2011-12-09T21:55:00.000-08:00

05 Disember, 2011 19:45 PM

Malaysia Berupaya Kekal 56.4 Peratus Tanah Berhutan

MELAKA, 5 Dis (Bernama) -- Malaysia sehingga kini berupaya mengekalkan sejumlah 56.4 peratus daripada keluasan tanah negara sebagai tanah berhutan, kata Menteri Sumber Asli dan Alam Sekitar Datuk Seri Douglas Unggah Embas.

Beliau berkata peratusan itu merupakan satu pencapaian yang patut dibanggakan kerana banyak negara tidak berupaya berbuat demikian kerana kebanyakan hutan mereka telah dibuka untuk pembangunan infrastruktur yang berlebihan.

Kejayaan tersebut amat besar maknanya kerana Malaysia masih merupakan sebuah negara yang membangun di mana pembangunan dan pertukaran kegunaan tanah hutan kepada kegunaan lain sentiasa berlaku, katanya semasa berucap pada majlis perasmian Persidangan Perhutanan Malaysia Ke-16 di sini, hari Isnin.

Teks ucapan beliau dibacakan oleh timbalannya Tan Sri Panglima Joseph Kurup.

Douglas berkata tanah berhutan sentiasa dijadikan bank tanah (land bank) untuk pelbagai projek pembangunan bagi membolehkan Malaysia terus maju.

Beliau berkata cabaran penting dalam pengurusan hutan hari ini adalah mengimbangi persaingan dan pelbagai gunaan tanah untuk aktiviti perhutanan.

Katanya hutan bukan lagi hanya sebagai pengeluar satu produk, tetapi perkhidmatannya amat penting dalam menghasilkan udara dan air bersih serta sebagai penyerap karbon dioksida dan pembasmi kesan rumah hijau.

Douglas berkata kerajaan akan terus komited dalam Pengurusan Hutan Mampan dan amalan hutan yang baik untuk kesejahteraan hidup melalui pengeluaran pelbagai produk dan perkhidmatan hutan.

Sementara itu, Ketua Menteri Melaka Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam yang merasmikan persidangan tersebut berkata Melaka telah mewartakan kawasan berhutan seluas 5,327 hektar iaitu kira-kira 3.2 peratus dari keluasan tanah negeri ini sebagai hutan simpan kekal.

"Usaha ini diambil atas komitmen kerajaan negeri untuk memastikan pengekalan kawasan berhutan bagi menyediakan sumber alam sekitar yang bersih dan pemeliharaan kepelbagaian biodiversiti untuk kesejahteraan hidup rakyat," katanya dalam teks ucapannya yang dibacakan oleh Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Pembangunan Desa dan Pertanian Negeri Datuk R. Perumal.

Berkata Melaka akan terus mempertingkatkan usaha menanam pokok sehingga mencapai sasaran menyamai jumlah penduduk negeri ini.

"Melaka juga terlibat aktif dalam program penanaman pokok bakau dan spesies yang sesuai di persisiran pantai sejak 2005 dan sehingga kini sebanyak 17,250 pokok telah ditanam," katanya.

-- BERNAMA

M’sia maintains 56.4% of land area as forest

2011-12-09T21:49:00.000-08:00

MALACCA: Malaysia is still able to maintain 56.4 percent of its total land area as forested land, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Douglas Uggah Embas said on Monday.

He described it as an encouraging achievement because many countries were not able to do so as their forest areas had been opened for development.

This success is very significant because Malaysia is still a developing country where development and forest land-use change for other purposes still happens, he said in his speech at the opening of the 16th Malaysian Forestry Conference here.

The text of the speech was read by Deputy Natural Resources and Environment Minister Tan Sri Joseph Kurup.

Uggah said the most important challenge in today's forest management was to balance the competition and various land use for forestry activities.

He said that the forest was not just a producer of a product, but also to produce clean air and water, as well as to absorb carbon dioxide and the greenhouse effect.

Meanwhile, Malacca Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam, in his speech when opening the conference, said Malacca had gazetted 5,327 hectares of forested land or 3.2 percent of the state's total land area as permanent forest reserves.

"This effort is made on the commitment by the state government to maintain a permanent forest area to provide a clean environment and for the preservation of the biodiversity for the people's well-being" he said.

The speech was read by the State Rural Development and Agriculture Committee Chairman Datuk R. Perumal.

He said the state government would continue with its tree planting effort, adding that a total of 17,250 trees had been planted since 2005. - Bernama

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/12/5/nation/20111205211036&sec=nation

2 new laws to replace Internal Security Act

2011-09-17T05:23:00.000-07:00

The Internal Security Act (ISA) – is to be repealed some 50 years after it was first drawn up, in its place will be two anti-terror laws, not unlike the ones drawn up in the USA and Britain to handle terrorists, violent criminals and subversive elements.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the new laws would be in line with Article 149 of the Federal Constitution and promised Malaysians that no one would be detained due to their political ideology.

“In my maiden speech when I took over as Prime Minister, I promised that the ISA would undergo a comprehensive review. As such, I would like to announce on this historic night that the Act will be abolished.

“Two new laws will be enacted to maintain peace, harmony and prosperity. The laws that will be formulated will take into account basic rights and freedom based on the Federal Constitution. Above all, the Government will ensure the rights of those involved will be protected,” he said.

Najib said the new laws would provide for a substantially shorter detention period. Any further extension to the detention could be made by a court order, except for those laws related to terrorism, which would remain under the relevant minister’s purview.

“The Government is also giving its commitment that no individual will be detained purely based on political ideology. In a modern day democracy, there must be a balance between national security and individual freedom; this is the responsibility of the Government, whose highest aim is to uphold people’s welfare and harmony."

He said although freedom of expression was guaranteed under the Federal Constitution, this did not mean that anyone could commit slander or stoke hatred.

Flying Squad to curb illegal logging

2011-09-14T23:48:00.000-07:00

Flying Squad in Forestry Department Peninsular Malaysia is the forest law enforcement unit to in curb illegal logging. Assessment of the effectiveness of existing controls to estimate the level of illegal logging is based on data.

According to Datuk Razani Ujang, Director General of Forestry Department of Peninsular Malaysia, from 2006 until 2009, a total of 144 people were arrested for involvement in illegal logging activities, while 226 units of machinery and heavy equipment were seized by the Enforcement Division of the Forestry Department.

Datuk Razani Ujang, Director General of Forestry Dept. Peninsular M'sia

Compound collections that have been imposed on offenders were RM11.2 million.

Under the law, all forest produce are the property of the State Authorities and only those with permission are allowed to enter and extract the forest produce.

Forests are under the responsibility of the states as enshrined in the Malaysian Federal Constitution. Under Article 74(12) of the Federal Constitution, land and forest ownership and management is the responsibility of the State governments.

The executive authority of the Federal Government only extends to the provision of advice and technical assistance to the States, training and the conduct of research, unless the State agrees to delegate some of their authority to the Federal Government.

However, the Federal Government is responsible for trade policies, import and export controls and international cooperation among others. The Enforcement Unit at the Forestry Department Peninsular Malaysia coordinates and supports the enforcement actions undertaken by the Forest Operations Division at the State Forest Departments of Peninsular Malaysia only.

Zahari Ibrahim, head of Flying Squad

The challenge of sustainability management of production forests faces highly complex processes. It is interesting to note that Forestry Department has taken various measures in curbing illegal logging.

Let’s see what Datuk Razani Ujang, Director General of Forestry Department of Peninsular Malaysia and Zahari Ibrahim, head of Flying Squad said about the modus operandi on Corporate Illegal Logging and the issues to the Star, the biggest circulation newspaper in Malaysia.

Read the full article below:

http://mstar.com.my/kolumnis/cerita.asp?file=%2F2011%2F7%2F18%2Fmstar_kolum_khabarnya%2F20110718101827&sec=mstar_kolum_khabarnya

http://mstar.com.my/mingguan/cerita.asp?file=%2F2011%2F7%2F19%2Fmstar_mingguan%2F20110719112155&sec=mstar_mingguan

Illegal logging VS Law of Jungle

2011-09-14T23:34:00.000-07:00

The issue of illegal logging whiles primarily an issue in the law enforcement world but has emerged as a very hot topic.

The issue seems to be receiving more public attention lately due to the occurring of global warming which resulting the awareness of the environmental issues not only gains its momentum but become social agenda.

Datuk Razani Ujang, Director General of Forestry Dept. Peninsular M'sia

The logging protocol defines illegal logging as the harvest, transportation, purchase or sale of timber in violation of laws. It is a pervasive problem; it not only destroys the country’s unique rainforests, but also causes a series of environmental problems including flooding, local communities and to the economies of the country.

The activities contribute to deforestation and by extension global warming causes loss of biodiversity and undermines the rule of law. These illegal activities undermine responsible forest management, encourage corruption and tax evasion and reduce the income of the country, further limiting the resources that can be invested in sustainable development.

The seriousness and negative impact of the economic and social implications for the poor and disadvantaged shouldn’t be overlooked. Malaysia has been blessed with an abundance of tropical rainforests. Many forested areas in Malaysia have been designated as National Parks and forest reserves.

Many Malaysians might not be aware that the forests that they are so used to is actually complex ecosystems that are filled with an assortment of plant life and wildlife. Malaysia has always done its best in fighting against illegal logging.

It is interesting to note that Forestry Department has taken various measures to overcome the problems. Let’s see what Datuk Razani Ujang, Director General of Forestry Department of Peninsular Malaysia responding to the problem and says about the issues in the Star, the biggest circulation newspaper in Malaysia…

Read the full article below:

http://mstar.com.my/mingguan/cerita.asp?file=/2011/7/19/mstar_mingguan/20110719113620&sec=mstar_mingguan

mStar Online : Flying Squad Jabatan Hutan

2011-09-09T22:08:00.000-07:00

mStar Online : Flying Squad Jabatan Hutan

mStar Online : Pembalakan haram didalangi rangkaian sindiket

2011-09-09T21:57:00.000-07:00

mStar Online : Pembalakan haram didalangi rangkaian sindiket

mStar Online : Tonto di tepi, di pinggir dan di dalam hutan

2011-09-09T21:24:00.000-07:00

mStar Online : Tonto di tepi, di pinggir dan di dalam hutan

Home Minister said every paper has crossed the line in reporting sensitive issues one time or another

2011-05-15T06:40:00.000-07:00

Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein plans to meet chief editors of newspapers on the reporting of sensitive issues.

He said he wanted to ensure that the chief editors exercised caution in the reporting of sensitive issues on race and religion and that they understood they would be held responsible for their action.

Commenting on a report published in Utusan Malaysia recently alleging that certain groups wanted to make Christianity the official religion,

Hishammuddin said: "There are times when the Malay community were unhappy with the reporting of the Chinese newspapers (on sensitive issues) and vice versa.

"It is the responsibility of the chief editors to ensure that their organisations do not go beyond the boundaries set in reporting such issues," he told reporters.

Despite the clarity of the country's publishing laws and guidelines, he said, "every paper has crossed the line (in reporting sensitive issues) one time or another. Now it's Utusan (which has crossed the line)."

Hishammuddin said that it was difficult to control the flow of information on sensitive issues, especially with the emergence of the new media.

"If it (the information) does not make it to the mainstream papers, it will somehow or rather get to the new media like online news portals, Facebook and the short messaging service," he said.

World Bank is useless: Dr Mahathir

2011-04-30T19:40:00.001-07:00

Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad described the World Bank as “useless”, saying today that it was politically motivated for putting out a report that pro-Bumiputera policies are stunting the country’s economy.

The former prime minister said the World Bank report was politically motivated as it wanted a change of prime minister.

“We have been critical of the World Bank since my time. We said that they were useless. They dislike us and want to have their good friend become prime minister”, seemingly referring to Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, a former chairman of its development committee.

The World Bank said on Thursday that more than one million Malaysians live abroad as policies favoring the Malays are holding back the economy, causing a brain drain and limiting foreign investment.

World Bank senior economist Philip Schellekens was quoted as saying that foreign investment could be five times the current levels if the country had Singapore’s talent base.

He said Malaysian migration was increasingly becoming a skill migration with one-third of the one million-strong Malaysian diaspora now consisting of the tertiary educated and expected the trend to continue.

World Bank is useless: Dr Mahathir

2011-04-30T19:40:00.000-07:00

Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad described the World Bank as “useless”, saying today that it was politically motivated for putting out a report that pro-Bumiputera policies are stunting the country’s economy.

The former prime minister said the World Bank report was politically motivated as it wanted a change of prime minister.

“We have been critical of the World Bank since my time. We said that they were useless. They dislike us and want to have their good friend become prime minister”, seemingly referring to Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, a former chairman of its development committee.

The World Bank said on Thursday that more than one million Malaysians live abroad as policies favoring the Malays are holding back the economy, causing a brain drain and limiting foreign investment.

World Bank senior economist Philip Schellekens was quoted as saying that foreign investment could be five times the current levels if the country had Singapore’s talent base.

He said Malaysian migration was increasingly becoming a skill migration with one-third of the one million-strong Malaysian diasporas now consisting of the tertiary educated and expected the trend to continue.

Japan economy contraction in Jan-June 2011

2011-04-23T07:18:00.000-07:00

Bank of Japan Governor Masaaki Shirakawa said the country’s economy will likely shrink in the first half of 2011 due mainly to stalled output in the wake of Japan’s March 11 earthquake and tsunami, the Wall Street Journal reported today.

“We are now expecting production and GDP will decline in the first quarter and the second quarter,” Shirakawa said in the interview conducted yesterday, echoing the views of most private-sector economists who also see a first half contraction.

The focus is now on how quickly the Japanese economy will return to growth. This largely depends on when supply chain disruptions will ease and to what degree power shortages could affect factory output during the peak summer period.

Shirakawa was quoted as saying supply constraints would likely continue at least until August before recovering.

“Once supply capacity is recovered, then the Japanese economy is moving back to the original growth path,” Shirakawa said in the interview.

The BOJ is expected to hold off on any further easing of monetary policy next week but will likely reiterate its readiness to act if the quake’s damage threatens Japan’s return to a moderate economic recovery.

In a twice-yearly outlook report to be issued at next week’s rate review, the BOJ will cut its economic forecast for the current fiscal year, which began on April 1, from its January projection of 1.6 per cent growth to reflect the impact of the quake, sources familiar with the BOJ’s thinking have told Reuters.

But many in the bank agree with the dominant market view that Japan will avoid a contraction for the full fiscal year as growth is expected to pick up from around autumn. — Reuters

Brush aside the demands of the Chinese: Sarawak Perkasa

2011-04-20T05:34:00.000-07:00

The Sarawak chapter of right-wing Malay rights group Perkasa told BN to brush aside the demands of the Chinese and focus instead on “reinstating” the rights and privileges of the bumiputeras in the state.

Sarawak Perkasa chief Abang Abdul Nasser Abang Hadari said the Chinese have betrayed the ruling coalition by “membalas susu dengan tuba” (repaying milk with poison)," he said in a statement.

“Ever since Perkasa was launched in Sarawak, it has never questioned any claims by the Chinese, as a sign of respect for the 1Malaysia concept.

“The Chinese community should blame Pakatan Rakyat, and even more so DAP, if Sarawak's pribumi community deny all their demands.”

Abang Abdul implied support for Utusan's views, calling on the federal and Sarawak governments to realize the special rights for pribumis in Sabah and Sarawak by, among others, replacing the New Economic Policy with an affirmative action policy tailored for them.

His other demands include:
i. Realising non-Muslim bumiputeras' rights to practise their religion, while respecting Islam as the nation's official religion
ii. Ensuring all pribumis enjoy access to basic infrastructure such as electricity, water and clinics
iii. Automatic scholarships for bumiputeras in Sabah and Sarawak who achieve the minimum requirements to enter college and universities
iv. Special leeway for bumiputera students in public universities for all critical courses
v. Ensure that projects and contracts for bumiputera contractors and companies are issued transparently and effectively to allow ease of monitoring

“Perkasa congratulates Sarawak's pribumis and the BN government under the leadership of Abdul Taib Mahmud and his elected representatives for winning their respective constituencies,” he added.

“BN must retain its fixed deposit in Sarawak, and not allow anyone to disturb or challenge it.”

2-party system based on race strive by DAP will not contribute to stability, says Dr M

2011-04-18T01:34:00.000-07:00

The former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said Malaysia faces a grave danger of being divided by two parties — one Malay dominated by default and the other Chinese by choice.

This will not be good for Malaysia. But this is what the DAP is striving for. A two-party system based on race will not contribute to stability much less national unity.

He accused DAP of destroying the power-sharing formula that Barisan Nasional had implemented for half a century.

He wrote in his blog that the Chinese community in Sarawak has rejected multiracialism after being infected by the virus of Chinese racism that he said is the guiding principle of the DAP.

He also suggested that any DAP administration would only be ostensibly Malaysian.

“I congratulate the DAP for bringing its racist politics to Sarawak. Before this all races co-operated well with each other for the good of Sarawak. Now we see clearly that the Chinese community in Sarawak has rejected multiracialism.”

“They have become infected by the virus of Chinese racism that is the guiding principle of the DAP. If the same pattern was seen in the next general election that is expected to be held in a year, it would split the country."

“Those Chinese who reject the DAP seem to be considered as non-Chinese by the DAP. The presence of a few Malays in the DAP is just window dressing,” he said.

He again accused the DAP of emulating Singapore’s ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) in sidelining the Malays.

“It is the same as in Singapore where the PAP government sidelined their Malay supporters completely. The Malays make up 15 per cent of the island’s population but their share of political power and wealth of this very prosperous nation is about one per cent.

“Of course, Singapore is ruled by Singaporeans. The same would happen in Malaysia should the DAP rule this country. It would be ostensibly being Malaysian,” he added.

Utusan:BN can still win in the general election without the support of the Chinese community

2011-04-16T22:17:00.000-07:00

Utusan Malaysia has told Barisan Nasional (BN) to ignore the Chinese community for not supporting the ruling coalition during yesterday’s Sarawak elections.

BN’s Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) lost more than two-thirds of the 19 seats it contested in a snub by the tiny but vociferous China commuity.

In its weekend edition Mingguan Malaysia, columnist Awang Selamat stressed that re-elected Sarawak chief minister Tan Sri Taib Mahmud’s new cabinet will reflect the “reality of the ballot box.”

“The average Chinese voters have rejected BN and supported DAP. Therefore the BN state government can no longer be too generous to give place to representatives from the community. Sarawak cabinet must be reflective of the decisions and attitude of the voters.

“Clear message must be sent. Taib must show gratitude to those that supported him and BN government,” said Awang in his article “New Reality.” The columnist, whose pseudonym is used by Utusan editors, said that BN leaders must learn from the state election when preparing for the national polls.

“Once again, the attitude of the Chinese voters is clear in rejecting BN. Awang believes that sentiment of Chinese voters in the peninsular is also the same. The reality is that after dominating the economy for so long, the Chinese community wants to have greater influence and become a dominant political force.

“The campaign to change the state government seems to only be accepted by a majority of the Chinese voters. The Bumiputera community still remains strong with BN,” Awang added.

He said that BN must formulate a new strategy without depending on the support of the Chinese voters. Awang said the ruling coalition must not fall into a trap of granting every demands of the community if they continue to vote for DAP.

“Let the support come naturally. If the Chinese voters continue to reject BN then we should not worry as there will be a way out,” Awang said. The columnist also said that BN can still win in the general election without the support of the Chinese community.

“What is important is to empower the voters that are already loyal supporters. We should not pursue what we cannot get. The potential for BN to win is still huge with the growing support of the Bumiputeras, Malays, Indian and other ethnic communities.

“If there is additional support from a small percentage of Chinese voters then that is a bonus. All parties must be ready with the new reality,” said Awang.

Yuan to be used more in trade, says China central bank chief

2011-04-15T19:13:00.000-07:00

BOAO, China, April 16 — China’s yuan will be used more often for settling trade in future if the dollar proves “unstable”, Zhou Xiaochuan, governor of the People’s Bank of China (PBOC), said today.

The yuan will be fully convertible one day but there is no timetable for that, Zhou also told a briefing on the sidelines of the Boao Forum for Asia on the tropical Chinese island of Hainan. He added that China was still under-represented at the International Monetary Fund and World Bank in terms of the size of the Chinese economy. — Reuters

Iran Opec Governor: Global oil market over supplied

2011-04-09T06:19:00.000-07:00

TEHRAN, April 9 — Iran sees the global oil market as over supplied, despite prices that have been pushed up by upheaval in the Middle East, its Opec governor was quoted as saying in a newspaper today.

“Not only is there not a shortage of supply in the oil market but there is 1 million barrels (per day) of excess supply,” Mohammad Ali Khatibi told the Sharq daily in an interview in which he also warned that prices would continue to increase if the Libyan crisis persisted and would “explode” if there were any security problems in Saudi Arabia.. — Reuters

Photographer captures glowing 'solar spike' on freezing winter morning

2010-12-19T22:27:00.000-08:00

Like a giant laser striking the Earth from space, this image looks like the first attack in an alien invasion. But this remarkable image is a rare and natural phenomenon called a solar spike - caused by wintery ice crystals in the Earth's upper atmosphere refracting light from the sun.

Father-of-two Randy Knauf, 51, an amateur photographer from Allegan, Michigan, spotted the amazing sight as he traveled to work last week and jumped out of his car to capture the moment on camera.

A solar spike seen on the morning of December 7th in Allegan, Michigan. The sight id caused by wintery ice crystals in the Earth's upper atmosphere refracting light from the sun.

Baffled by the strange vision that lasted for 10 minutes, he asked a friend - a local TV weatherman - to explain and learned it was a 'solar spike'. In the UK the phenomenon is also known as a sun pillar and is a vertical column of light above and sometimes below the sun.

It is caused by the reflection of sunlight from ice crystals and is most often observed at sunrise or sunset when the sun is low to the horizon.

Mr Knauf said: 'He told me they happen only when the upper atmosphere of the planet is very still and cold, at sunset or sunrise, and in areas where there is a lot of moisture up there but not enough to make clouds.'

'In Michigan we have the Great Lakes, which gives us the moisture, and it's extremely cold at the moment.'

Describing the moment, he added: 'I had just rounded a curve and was looking directly into the sunrise when I noticed the solar spike. 'The Great Lakes contain one fifth of all of the fresh water in the world, so we have a lot of moisture in the air here.

'It lasted for about 10 minutes after I shot this image and it was a beautiful and bizarre thing to see. I'm not certain how long the effect was taking place prior to my seeing it, bu

t I'm told they stay for around 15 minutes maximum.