TUESDAY-25 NOVEMBER 2008-BUNDUSAN ROAD PROJECT TO BE COMPLETED APRIL

BUNDUSAN ROAD PROJECT TO BE COMPLETED APRIL

PENAMPANG:

Residents and business operators along Jalan Bundusan will be relieved to know that the road upgrading project will be completed in April next year.

“It was the consensus from all quarters involved, the contractor, Public Works Department (PWD), utilities companies, telecommunication companies, City Hall and the Penampang District Council, among others during a meeting here today,” Kapayan Assemblyman Datuk Edward Khoo said.

Speaking to reporters after attending the meeting which was held at the Penampang District Council building yesterday, Khoo said he was satisfied with the outcome of the meeting.

“We have ironed out some of the technical problems involving the agencies and it was the consensus that the project will be completed in April. There will be no more delays,” Khoo who is also Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister, said.

According to him, the current delay was because Telekom Malaysia has requested addition time to recast its underground cables and the extra wet spell in the past few months had also played its part in making it very difficult for the work to proceed smoothly.

Earlier in the meeting, Khoo also asked that the road signages, especially those informing roadusers of diversions, to be placed accordingly.

“Diversion of traffic must also be planned properly and implemented smoothly because traffic flow there seems to change, making it very confusing for the roaduser” he said.

Khoo pointed out that the contractor and PWD should not assume that the road is only used by locals who would be familiar with the diversions and potholes and know how to avoid them.

“You must remember that there are tourists from outside Sabah like Sarawak and Brunei Darussalam who also drive here. So in the course of doing your work, treat yourself like a roaduser then you will understand how they feel and do what is right,” he said.

He also reminded the contractor meeting, and PWD to ensure that all the signages are installed with blinkers which are lit up at night.

“Already it is difficult to manoeuvre along the road with the ongoing upgrading works but it is extra dangerous for roadusers at night because they cannot see the diversions,” he said when stressing the need to have the blinkers as it can prevent any untoward incidents.

Meanwhile, PWD Engineer Mohd Shamsul Nizam who chaired the meeting, said the project was 68 percent completed.
Section 1 (KDCA to jalan Penampang Lama roundabout), Section 2 (Jalan Penampang Roundbout to JPJ) and section 5 (Jalan Kolam) are completed.

Only Section 3 (JPJ to Atlantis Restaurant) and Section 4 (Atlantis to SGCC roundabout) are still in progress, he said.

To a question if the electricity supply would be severely affected as the project continues, Mohd Shamsul replied that there would no be major power problem.

“There will however be two shutdowns but rest assured, notices will be published in the media so that the public is informed in advance,” he said.

He also said completed parts of the road will be lit up by mid December as streetlights would be installed by then.

TUESDAY-25 NOVEMBER 2008-GAS-FIRED PLANT WILL BENEFIT WEST COAST FOLKS: CM

GAS-FIRED PLANT WILL BENEFIT WEST COAST FOLKS: CM

KOTA KINABALU:

The proposed 300MW gas-fired power plant in Kimanis will benefit the people in the West Coast of Sabah, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman said.

“Gas which will land at the Sabah Oil and Gas Terminal (SOGT) in Kimanis will be used to fire the 300MW plant and those living in the West Coast will benefit when the additional power is channelled to an existing grid system,” he said here yesterday.

Musa said this in his speech at the Shareholders Agreement (SHA) signing ceremony between Petronas Gas Bhd and Yayasan Sabah for the development of the plant.

According to him, by having better electricity supply, Sabah can also push for more investment for its industrial sector and other development initiatives which aim to bring growth in the long run.

“I wish to state here that the Government is concerned about power shortage and is committed to doing what it can to improve the situation. Allow me to assure the people of Sabah that we are not sitting on our laurels but instead working hard with parties such as Petronas to make sure that there will be sufficient power supply for the people and development requirements,” he said.

He added that the State Government is constantly looking for solutions because it understands that demand for electricity will continue to rise not just in the more developed urban areas but also in the outskirts and a large number of rural areas.

Sabah, Musa pointed out, has been an oil and gas producer for a long time and in the last six years, new discoveries were made in deepwater areas off the coast of the State.

He said that although oil and gas found off Sabah is considered a national resource, the State too is serious about developing its own oil and gas industry.

“This is one way of diversifying our economy, creation of supporting industries and employment opportunities for locals,” he said and added that returns from the lucrative industry can also be used to a certain extent for poverty eradication programmes in Sabah.

The State Government, he stressed, has been in discussions with Petronas since 2006 on the concept for a petrochemical plant that includes a master plan for downstream gas industries and it intends to work closely with Petronas to develop all possibilities in the oil and gas sector, including in downstream industries.

The fact that we have not publicised all these initiatives does not mean that we are not doing anything. All announcements on Government plans will be done at an appropriate time when key aspects of projects have been finalized and can be implemented.

“We do not want to make announcements for political mileage or vested interests,” he said adding that State agencies like Yayasan Sabah are currently working closely with Petronas to develop petrochemical projects such as the ammonia and urea plant.

According to Musa, a comprehensive study undertaken by Petronas on the development of the oil and gas industry in line with the requirements of the Sabah Development Corridor (SDC) is expected to be ready by the end of the year.

“We are eagerly awaiting the outcome of the study and we want to assure Petronas that the State will give its full support to Petronas to invest in Sabah. We also welcome Petronas’ commitment to invest billions of ringgit in developing the SOGT in Kimanis and we have the highest confidence that the small towns in the State’s west coast will be the catalyst for future growth of the oil and gas industry in Sabah,” he said.

He expressed hope that the investment will bring more development in the area and that spin-offs will eventually trickle down to the local community.

Musa also said that the State Government is looking forward to the establishment of a training centre at the SOGT as those trained’ there can be absorbed into the SOGT, the Kimanis power plant and for other downstrean industries.

This, he said, fits in well with one of the SDC aims of creating 900,000 jobs by the end of the plan in 2025.

“Today’s signing is very significant as it marks the first project in Sabah to utilise the gas which will land at the SOGT. It is our hope that more projects will come on stream after this to make use of gas from Sabah’s own fields,” he said.

Meanwhile Petronas Gas Chairman Wan Zulkiflee Wan Ariffin in his opening remarks said that the SHA was signed following a Joint Development Agreement inked between Petronas and Yayasan Sabah on June 13 this year.

Under the SHA, the partners will form a joint venture company (Petronas 60 percent and Yayasan Sabah 40 percent) to develop, operate and maintain the proposed gas-fired power plant and its related facilities as well as infrastructure.

The joint venture company would also undertake the sale and delivery of electricity from the proposed power plant to meet the growing demand for electricity in Sabah, he said, adding that the first phase of the project is expected to be completed in 2012.

“Once completed, the first phase will be able to produce 150MW and the second phase is expected to be completed between six to 12 months later,” he said.

The ceremony which was held at a leading hotel here were also attended by State Secretary Datuk Sukarti Wakiman, Assistant Minister of Industrial Development Datuk Jainab Ahmad, Kimanis MP Datuk Anifah Aman, Sabah Foundation Director Tan Sri Khalil Jamalul, his Deputy, Dr Johan Ariffin, Petronas Gas Bhd CEO Samsuddin Miskon and Kota Kinabalu Mayor Datuk Iliyas Ibrahim.

SUNDAY-23 NOVEMBER 2008-CONTINUE RO TEACH SCIENCE, MATHS IN NUMBER ONE LANGUAUE, SAYS DR M

CONTINUE RO TEACH SCIENCE, MATHS IN NUMBER ONE LANGUAUE, SAYS DR M

KUALA LUMPUR:

The teaching of Science and Mathematics in English should be continued to ensure Malaysian students, especially the Malays, are not left behind, said former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

He said the change to teach the two subjects in English from Bahasa Malaysia was to ensure students could master them and at the same time become more proficient in English, the number one language in the world.

“It is not aimed at neglecting Bahasa Malaysia. Furthermore, most publications on Science and Mathematics are in English.

“Take for example the cellular phone. If foreigners manufacture them equipped with cameras and the short-messaging facility but the manual is in English, can we use our science which is in Bahasa Malaysia to make the same hand phone? By the time we are done with the translation we will be left far behind,” he said at the “Malay Dilemma” discourse organised by the National Writers Association (Gapena) here yesterday.

He also cited the dark ages of the Arabs where they had to learn everything from the Greeks.

“Obviously they could not ask the Greeks to translate their knowledge into Arabic. The solution then was for them to learn Greek so that they could have access to the knowledge in their possession. By doing this, the Arabs became a progressive race,” he said, adding that the same applied in the current scenario in the country.

He also said being proficient in two languages was a great asset and cited himselfas an example.

“I studied in a Malay school for two years before my father transferred me to an English school. Thereafter all my educaton was in English.

“Did I lose ability to use Bahasa Malaysia? It will not signify the end of the Malay race if we are to learn in English as well,” he said.

SUNDAY-23 NOVEMBER 2008-YOGA BAN FOR MUSLIMS

YOGA BAN FOR MUSLIMS

Practise is haram for people is Islamic faith, rules National Fatwa Council

PUTRAJAYA:

The National Fatwa Council has ruled that yoga is “haram” for Muslims.

Its Chairman, Datuk Dr Abdul Shukor Husin said only I the physical aspect of yoga without the mantras and elements of worshiping outwardly was not wrong (in islam.

However, he said, yoga was not to be encouraged among Muslims for fear that it could erode their Islamic faith since the physical part was a component of yoga practice as a whole.

He said there were three stages to yoga practice, which originated from the Hindus — first, the physical aspect which is the exercise part; second the mantras and worshiping and third the unification of oneself with God.

“Therefore, members of the council reached a consensus that any practice, regardless of type and in whatever form that have such elements, contradict Islamic teachings,” he told a press conference here.

Abdul Shukor said the matter was decided at the 83rd National Fatwa Council meeting held in Kota Baharu from Oct 22 to 24 and that the decision would be conveyed so the respective state religious councils for gazetting.

He said yoga practice among Muslims had also been banned in Singapore and Egypt.

Abdul Shukor said various programmes would be carried out by the Islamic Development Department (Jakim) to enlighten Muslims on yoga.

He also advised Muslims to get information on any exercise programme before practising them to ensure that they would not affect their religious faith.

He said there were many other ways which Muslims could do to exercise for health, like praying.

Yoga has been practised since 3000 BC and is said to be able to slow down the ageing process, reduce the risk of diabetes, asthma and heart-related diseases.

SUNDAY-23 NOVEMBER 2008-HOUSE OF ELLRON’S FATHER AMONG 50 HIT BY FLOODS

HOUSE OF ELLRON’S FATHER AMONG 50 HIT BY FLOODS

KENINGAU:

The house of the father of Assistant Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Ellron Alfred Angin at Kampung Biah Tengah in Sook here was among more than 50 houses at several villages hit by floods when the swollen Biah River and other rivers overflowed their banks yesterday following overnight heavy rain.

The floodwaters were reported to be about two feet deep at worst-hit areas as Liawan, Bariawa and Mempikit rivers also burst their banks.

According to Sook People Development Leader, Charles Ikang, the house of Ellron’s father was among four affected in Kampung Biah Tengah.

Besides, more than 20 acres of cultivated farmland with crops like tobacco, oil palm seedlings, padi and others, were destroyed by the flood, he said.

Among other affected houses were three In Kampung Ansip Tengah and numerous others at Kampung Tuarid Liawan, Kampung Lingkudau.

The floodwaters also disrupted communication for about four hours when part of a wooden bridge collapsed as it was overflowed with water.

The problem was overcome after a machine from the Public Works Department was used to clear large amount of garbage and debris trapped under the bridge.

Meanwhile, in Kampung Kaurasan and Banjar, more than 30 houses were also affected by the floods.

Large amount of debris also had to be removed from under another bridge across Mempikit River with two machines from a private company here.

However, no casualties have been reported in the floods.

Meanwhile, District Officer Haji Zulkifli Nasir, who inspected the flood situation in Kampung Lingkudau, Kauran and Banjar, has advised the Village Development and Security Committee (JKKK) Chairmen and village headmen in the affected areas to register the flood victims.

He said community leaders should make a report on property including crops destroyed by the floods to the Community Welfare Department in order for the Department to provide assistance to lessen their burden.

He also reminded parents as well as the people living in the low-lying areas or near the rivers to take great care on their safety.

“If the rain continue, they must move to higher grounds with their important documents. It is for their own good and family safety,” he said.

Zulkifli said if they need assistance, they could contact the Police and District Fire and Rescue Services Department.

SATURDAY-22 NOVEMBER 2008-ANWAR SAYS SAPP WAS WISE TO LEAVE BN; ACCUSES GOVT OF RACIAL POLITICS

ANWAR SAYS SAPP WAS WISE TO LEAVE BN; ACCUSES GOVT OF RACIAL POLITICS

KOTA KINABAIU:

Sahah Progressive Party’s decision to leave the BN Coalition was a wise move, according to Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who again accused the Government of playing racial politics.

“Once you decide to leave Barisan Nasional, you can really take the position and represent the conscience, sentiments and problems of your people,” said the Parti Keadilan Rakyat de facto Leader yesterday.

Speaking to reporters after officiating PKR Luyang Service Centre in Damai, here, he said that SAPP President, Datuk Yong Teck Lee, as well as the Partys two Members of Parliament, Datuk Chua Soon Bui and Datuk Eric Majimbun, had shown an impressive performance in the Parliament, having articulated their views effectively during sittings.

Asked if there is any possible cooperation with SAPP, the former Deputy Prime Minister disclosed that he had met Yong earlier yesterday and would be sitting down for a proper meeting today.

In responding to a question whether SAPP would be joining the Pakatan Rakyat, Anwar replied: “we discussed on many issues; it is not just SAPP, you know .”

He quickly added: “May be the rest have not said anything, they may have not told you, (but) they have told me, or they may have told you but you are keeping it a secret.”

“The situation has changed. The equation has changed. Based on our performance in the Peninsular, the results were a remarkable phenomenon.”

On whether the mission to take over the Federal Government is still on, he replied: “Taking over is predicated upon the readiness which I have said on Sept 16, it is a clear position but a contingent upon the modus operandi which is legal and constitutional ... that was why we asked for a meeting with the Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi) and a special session in Parliament. We have not got it.

“But can you, in any democratic process, seriously think you can stop the march of the people if they attempt to a change?... You cannot.

“I watched the news last (previous) night and I watched how the Government was playing with racial tones, talking on Malay leadership (kepimpinan Melayu), on how the Perak Government gave land to build a Chinese school, how the Selangor and Kedah Governments gave land for pig rearing… what is this? You mean to say there is no need for pig rearing? Is there no pig rearing in Sabah? This is not politics; it is instilling a climate of fear among the Malays.

“If you read the papers, they made us look like we are traitors to the Malay community, as preached by the Umno leaders in Parliament. That is why I asked to meet the people to explain to them the situation as I have no other means to tell,” he said.

Anwar said as a Muslim, he is not against people who eat pork.

“I am a Muslim, I do not take liquor nor eat pork, but does my religion forbid me from allowing non- Muslims to take pork, then what can I do? Can I do more than what Islam requires me to do? No.”

He said if there is a pig farm nearby, then the owners must respect and clean it up.

“That is our concern now. The battle now is not to play politics but the right politics for this country. Now I am here to face them head on, that is why they do not tolerate me and threatened me with jail. I don’t care, I have a duty to perform and I will do it,” he said.

He urged the BN Government to stop talking on the issue, adding that it defeats the whole purpose of promoting national integration and security.

SATURDAY-22 NOVEMBER 2008-ANWAR WILLING TO NEGOTIATE OIL ROYALTY REVIEW WITH KL

ANWAR WILLING TO NEGOTIATE OIL ROYALTY REVIEW WITH KL

KOTA KINABALU:

Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is willing to negotiate a review on the oil royalty with the Federal Government.

“What is stopping any State Government from negotiating and re- negotiating the agreement? There is no provision,” he said in responding to Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman’s statement that Sabah cannot seek a revision of the five per cent petroleum royalty.

Stressing that it is not provided for in the 1976 petroleum agreement signed between the State and Federal Governments, Musa who is also the State Finance Minister, urged the people to realise that there are still many opportunities to benefit from crude oil in Sabah waters.

“I believe the Chief Minister is wrong because anything concerning the oil royalty is negotiable between the State and Federal Governments. If he (Musa) is not ready to discuss the matter, he should have let Pakatan Rakyat take over so that we can negotiate,” said Anwar who is on a two-day visit to Sabah.

His remarks however drew laughter from the crowd yesterday but Anwar stressed that he was not joking.

“The policy stand that we have the means to grant 20 per cent royalty to Terengganu, Sabah and Sarawak, and to oil-producing States for that matter.

“Given that scenario, the State should find it easier to negotiate because they will only go through the financial procedures, make sure it is full observed and what are the terms,” he said.

“If the Chief Minister of Sabah thinks this is not possible, (then) Sabahans should not give him the mandate,” Anwar stressed.

Musa had said in the Finance Ministry’s winding up speech during the State Legislative Assembly sitting on Thursday that some of the opportunities had been channelled to the Ninth Malaysia Plan through several high impact projects such as a petrochemical industry and power plant.