India, Malaysia in comprehensive economic pact

India, Malaysia in comprehensive economic pact
October 27th, 2010

Kuala Lumpur: India and Malaysia on Wednesday announced completion of negotiations on the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA), saying it will significantly transform their bilateral engagement.

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Malaysian counterpart Najib Tun Razak said the agreement will be signed by January 31, 2011, and come into force July 1.

Razak said the two countries had concluded 'very productive' bilateral discussions.

He told a joint news conference that when he visited New Delhi in January this year, his desire was to make Manmohan Singh's return trip 'equally significant and historic'.

He called CECA a corner stone of India-Malaysia relations and said this will unleash tremendous potential in trade, investment and other economic linkages.

The Malaysian leader described himself as a great admirer of Manmohan Singh for 'transforming India into an economic powerhouse'.

He said they also discussed military cooperation, maritime security, terrorism, higher education, and visa issues.

Manmohan Singh said his discussions in Malaysia had laid the basis for a multifaceted partnership between the two countries.

He said CECA 'will transform our economic engagement in a very substantive way'.

India and Malaysia also signed six agreements. These included, one on traditional medicine, cooperation in services, cooperation in tourism and a cultural exchange programme.

Manmohan Singh arrived here on Tuesday on the second leg of a three nation Asia tour that has already taken him to Japan. He leaves here on Thursday for Vietnam, where he will take part in the India-ASEAN Summit and the East Asia Summit.

http://www.deccanchronicle.com/international/india-malaysia-comprehensive-economic-pact-028

Kampung Baru Malays missing out on Warisan project, says FT delegate

Kampung Baru Malays missing out on Warisan project, says FT delegate
Saturday October 23, 2010

THE Malays in Kuala Lumpur missed a golden opportunity to get directly involved in the RM5bil Warisan Merdeka project when the Govern-ment decided to build it near Stadium Merdeka.

They missed out because not many Malays owned land near the stadium, said Federal Territories delegate Johari Abdul Ghani.

He felt that Kampung Baru would have been a better location for the huge project as nearly 60ha of land there would have been owned by Malays.

“I am quite sure the Kampung Baru residents would have been happy to take part in such a development project as it offers numerous benefits, including better land appreciation,” he said, when debating the motion on economy at the Umno assembly.

The Warisan Merdeka project is a massive urbanisation project centred on a 100-storey building to be developed by national investment corporation, Permodalan Nasional Berhad (PNB) and close to a heritage enclave that include Stadium Merdeka and Stadium Negara.

Johari regretted that PNB had overlooked the prospect of getting the direct involvement of the Malays by not considering Kampung Baru as the project site.

Pahang representative Suhaimi Sulong raised the issue of providing graduates with relevant skills for the country’s future needs and urged the Government to review the current education system.

He claimed more than half of local university graduates were jobless as they only had paper qualifications while most employers prefered those with skills.

Johor delegate Ayub Jamil reminded the Government to follow up with affirmative action on all “transformation” initiatives that it had announced.

“There had been far too many plans and debates in the past – but the implementation had been disappointing.

“Only with real action can we succeed,” he said.

http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/10/23/nation/7286002&sec=nation

Malaysia is a top ten tourism market for India

Malaysia is a top ten tourism market for India

SINGAPORE: Malaysia is now one of the top ten markets providing tourism traffic to India.

Appreciating this, India is launching an aggressive campaign to highlight features of interest to Malaysians, according to the Singapore-based Government of India Tourism Office.

The Director, Rajesh Talwar, said:" Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand are India's key markets in Southeast Asia."

India recorded some 325,000 visitors from the Asean region last year. Malaysia accounted for 117,000 tourists, followed by Singapore with 96,000 and Thailand with 64,000.

Telwar said his office had staged road shows in Kuala Lumpur in June and Penang in July.

A road would be held soon in Kuching and another in Johor Baru. - Bernama

Thousands of Indonesian illegal workers live in uncertainty in Malaysia

Thousands of Indonesian illegal workers live in uncertainty in Malaysia

News Desk
The Jakarta Post
Publication Date : 23-10-2010


An estimated 10,000 illegal workers from Indonesia have lived in uncertainty in Malaysia as they have no official documents and records to enter and work in the neighbouring country, Indonesiand deputy speaker of the East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Legislative Council Anselmus Tallo said on Friday (October 22).

"The workers who mostly come from East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) live in Setiawan District of Perak Malaysia and have no official records and documents so that they are categorised as illegal workers," Anselmus said in Kupang as quoted by the state Antara news agency.

Anselmus made the remarks after a missionary from Chinese Metodhist Church Manjung Malaysia, Grace Lee, together with Pastor Otniel Dani Liu and missionaries of Jakarta Christian Church (GKJ) visited the council to testify about the condition of the Nusa Tenggara people who are working illegally in Malaysia in front of the councillors.

The Malaysian missionaries often helped the illegal workers in the Malaysian forests, especially those who received harassment that caused them to suffer from illnesses and even to die, Anselmus said.

In front of the councillors, Grace Lee displayed videos and photographs of the handling of the illegal workers, especially from NTT, in the Malaysian forests.

The documentations depicted the efforts of Grace Lee in helping the workers. There were a number of the workers, who had to be amputated and operated as well. Aside of handling the injured, Grace Lee also took care of the dead workers.

One of the illegal workers, Ambros Seran, who was injured in an accident, was brought back to NTT. His right arm had to be amputated as he fell down from a speeding motorcycle when he was chased by the Malaysian police.

A GKJ missionary, Rudolf Latuihamalo, asked the councillors and NTT administration to give assurance to the job seekers to properly process requirements to become migrant workers overseas.

"Becoming illegal workers is very risky, because the employers tend to be irresponsible," Rudolf said.

The workers, however, choose to work illegally in Malaysia due to the difficult and arduous procedures in the administration and registration processing, he said, adding that the cost for passport administration alone could reach 2 million rupiah to 3 million rupiah each.

They mostly lived in the camps deep in the Malaysian forests, he added.

Rebates for Touch N Go and Tagged Card Users

Rebates for Touch N Go and Tagged Card Users

For sharing.....


Hi ALL - Good News and good info. for sharing by all. If u travel quite a bit using the touch and go card maybe u can check up your rebates the need time you travel along the tolled highways.....


Recently I was talking to a friend, who travels alot during the course of the business. He told me out of curiousity, he heard about the rebates toll users are entitled to. So he asked the person at the toll office (where you can top up your Touch N Go (like those in Sg Besi, Ayer Keroh, Sg Buloh, Bkt Raja and the one entering Shah Alam) about the rebate when he went there for a top up. She told him that the rebates you have accumulated need to be credited to your Touch N Go "within" 6 months. Otherwise, the rebates will be extinguish ( that is "kaput").if not credited to your Touch N Go within this period. To his surprise, he got a rebate of RM468.

My mate told me since I always travel down to Singapore regularly, I should go and check it out what rebates I have and do it fast. So, this morning, on my way to Melaka, I stopped at Ayer Keroh toll to check my rebates. To my surprise, I have got RM58 and this amount was transferred to top up my Touch N Go card. What a pleasant surprise. Imagine, if I had heard about it earlier, I could have checked it earlier last year when I had to drive down to Singapore once every fortnight

So, for those of you who use the Tagged or Touch N Go card, go and check it out. Imagine the millions of $$$ Touch N Go operators have saved from giving out the rebates to deserving customers. Remember,you can only claim the rebates at the Toll area where you can top up your card. You cant get the rebates done when you top up your Touch N Go card in other places like ATM Machine, Bank, online, 7 Eleven etc... MUST BE AT TOLL Centre.

Touch N Go did announced it in the newspapers very briefly but little info or brochures were given out for obvious reasons. Wouldnt you do the same if you were the operator huh?

“Bloggers to practise social responsiblity”

“Bloggers to practise social responsiblity”

Blogging in Malaysia: what bloggers should know
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8h1RzCqSJr0&feature=player_embedded

The dangers of blogging in Malaysia
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pPK430HlWc&feature=related


Rocky Bru on Blogging in Malaysia
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krmQ6HaLjmk&feature=related

Law of Defamation

Malaysian blogger, Jeff Ooi was sued by NST for defamation in mid of January 2007.

Therefore, I would think it is important to have some basic understanding of the law of defamation in Malaysia.

What is defamation?

To put it in simple term, defamation occurs when a person expresses words that may lower another person’s reputation in the eyes of the public.

There are two types of defamation in Malaysia: libel and slander.

Libel is when such words are expressed in a permanent form which is usually visible to the eye, like in a book, e-mail or picture.

Slander is when such words are expressed in a temporary form, usually when spoken or made by body movements.


What are the laws governing defamation?

In civil cases of defamation, when a private person sues another private person for defamation, the Defamation Act 1957 is applicable.

In criminal cases of defamation, when the state prosecutes a private person for defamation, Section 499 to Section 502 of the Penal Code is applicable.

What is the punishment if you are held guilty of defamation?

Both libel and slander are civil and criminal offences. Thus, a person who is guilty of libel or slander may be sued in court, and also face jail sentence.

In civil cases, the person so defamed will normally sue the maker of the defamatory words for compensation. The amount of the compensation depends on the damage caused to the reputation of the person suing.

In criminal cases, the punishment for defamation is a jail sentence for a maximum of two years, or a fine, or a combination of a jail sentence and a fine [Section 500-502 Penal Code].

We will look at the creteria costituting defamation in my next post.

So please be careful with your comments in my blog….hahahah! (Just joking)



http://www.laweddie.com/wordpress/defamation-law-in-malaysia/

Ah Lian's english letter

Dear Ah Lian

Thanks you for your letter. Wrong time no see you.
How everything? For me, I am quiet find.

You say in your letter your taukeh soh want you to
chain your look? Somemore you must wear kick kok soo,
hope you can wok popery.

You know, Ah Kau Kia working in a soft where company no.
Last week, he take I, Muthu & few of his friend to May Nonut
To eat barger. After that he take we all go to kalah ok.
Muthu sing and sing no stop until the sky bright.

Next week, my father mother going to sellerbread 20 years
Annie wear sari. My father mother going to give a fist to
all the kampong people. So you must come with your hole family.

I only hope one day we no need to write and send letter to
you and to me. Better I e-meow you, you e-meow me. I will
ketchup with you soon. And when you got time, prease few
free to call me. Goo bye…..

Worm ligard,

Ah Beng

Who ate all the pie?

Who ate all the pie?
Natalie Shobana Ambrose


IT’S a known fact that Malaysians love to eat. When it comes to food, shoes and malls, we’re spoilt for choice. I remember from a young age being introduced to the “all you can eat” buffet. Everything looks so good and I must have it all – especially the desserts. So I’d pile on my plate not just with one but a few mini cakes, the little tartlets and kuih-muih – all to be wasted later after a taste test. That’s when I learnt the idiom “waste not, want not” and realised that my eyes were always much, much bigger than my stomach. My greed overtook my hunger and I ended up wasting so much food. Of course as a child I was told, think of all the children around the world with no food and I’d always wonder if my half eaten curry puff would survive the travel and if a hungry person would still find it appetising.

As Malaysians we’re quite greedy or perhaps just as human beings, we’ve got the greed gene in us – not just for food. Bigger, nicer, fancier cars, that designer shoes, or the super expensive watch whose brand name I can’t even pronounce, or the third, fourth and fifth condo, the latest most “canggih” phone. And let’s face it, besides the greed gene, there’s that show-off gene that goes hand in hand with it.

Keeping up with the Joneses or just our own personal wants and greed can lead to real disaster – oil spill levels of disaster. It’s not that far-fetched to say that personal greed was involved in BP’s oil spill but if we look at the causes behind BP’s oil spill disaster; cutting corners, outsourcing to avoid responsibility, blame shifting, the underlying reason is greed that lined the pockets of the corrupt for generations – in exchange for the livelihoods of the not so wealthy and worse still the environment.

But we don’t have to go as far as America to find massive amounts of greed. Our logging and construction history and industry, or the sad reality of how foreign workers are exploited for the benefit of their employers’ pockets. Perhaps we don’t have massive oil spills but we do have massive landslides because of greed which deliberately overlooked safety and we too have companies with enormous losses reported when logically, they should never be in the red and that dark a red.

On one hand in Malaysia we see the über rich enjoying that fancy meal and shopping in the afternoon and on the other hand there are warnings about Malaysia becoming the next Greece, threats of subsidies being cut for basic goods that would help the lower and middle-income groups, while the rich and powerful give speeches about how the average Malaysian has to tighten his or her belt.

We tend to think that the poor only have themselves to blame or that the not wealthy are lazy, but as the pie gets bigger, you’d think that my slice too would get bigger for all the hard work I put in.

However, my slice gets smaller and I give up more of the comforts I knew and cringe every time I’m at the cashier in the grocery store while chauffeur-driven cars wait outside for the house help to be done with the shopping. How are people expected to survive when basic items such as diapers, infant formula and even fruits come with high price tags?

Could there be a connection with the wealth of the über rich and the lacking of the poor? Let’s just look at how much money has been siphoned just in the past year from PKFZ to what has been reported in the A-G’s report. Has that money been recovered? No, and who has benefited?

Instead, the average Malaysian who feels the 80 sen increase in the price of nasi lemak bought at the market is told to suck it in and live more modestly, while reports of gross corruption surface repeatedly.

So who has all the pie and can I have some too?

Natalie is all for a comfortable lifestyle but not at the expense of another’s. Comments: letters@thesundaily.com


http://www.thesundaily.com/article.cfm?id=48126
Updated: 10:03AM Thu, 17 Jun 2010

RM131,000 GAB scholarships awarded to 19 students

RM131,000 GAB scholarships awarded to 19 students
Meena L.Ramadas


Saw (right) chats with recipients of the scholarships.

GUINNESS Anchor Berhad (GAB) Foundation recently awarded a total of RM131,000 in partial scholarships to 19 undergraduate students pursuing tertiary education in local and foreign institutions.

GAB Foundation chairman Tan Sri Saw Huat Lye said: “We had over 800 applications, the highest number we have received so far.

“Selecting 19 passionate and talented applicants to receive this scholarship was not an easy task.”

Saw said the foundation is not only focused on providing financial assistance to students but also moulding them to effectively market themselves during job interviews.

The foundation, established three years ago, also provides workshops on etiquette and skills to equip the students for the corporate realm.

Foundation trustee and GAB managing director Charles Ireland said the workshops deal with interview skills, grooming, etiquette, lessons on ways to prepare a curriculum vitae and more.

“We are trying to provide a broad support role,” Ireland said.

Recently, the foundation’s 2009 scholarship recipients participated in a two-day life skills workshop and the 2010 recipients will also take part in the same workshops.

Foundation independent trustee Datuk Mahadev Shankar said most of the students lack proficiency in English and oral skills to impress during a job interview.

“It is not just about the money. We also have to make them employable,” he said.

This is the second year that GAB Foundation has run its Partial Scholarship Scheme and to date, GAB Foundation has awarded financial assistance to 38 students, bringing its investment to more than RM300,000.

The scholarships are for university degrees, college diplomas or advanced diploma and certificates studies in recognised local and international institutions of higher learning.

The selection process for the scheme considers the financial background, academic achievement, extra-curricular participation, leadership and communication skills of the applicants.

The recipients are provided with funds for each year of their selected course until the completion of their studies and are free from bonds or obligations.

The foundation disburses RM10,000 for undergraduate studies in private and foreign universities and colleges, RM7,000 for undergraduate studies in a local universities and colleges, RM4,000 for diploma or advanced diploma courses and RM2,000 for certificate courses.


Updated: 11:01AM Tue, 06 Jul 2010
http://www.thesundaily.com/article.cfm?id=49027

Get on Board. Stop child abuse now! by UNICEF Malaysia.

UNICEF Malaysia website – October 2010
Get on Board. Stop Child Abuse Now!
Website:

“We need to raise public awareness of the devastating effects of child abuse and empower and encourage people to become personally involved and support families and parents so that we can prevent all forms of child abuse from affecting the lives of children in Malaysia.” -- Mr. Hans Olsen, UNICEF Representative to Malaysia

Did you know that in 2008, an average of 7 children in Malaysia were reported to be abused every day?

Putting an end to child abuse is a shared responsibility. Each of us must learn more about what we can do individually and within our communities to prevent child abuse. The 'Get on Board' peoples’ campaign is a two-month initiative by UNICEF to provide the Malaysian public with a platform to learn and respond to child abuse in the country. Get on board today and join UNICEF to end child abuse. United, we can make a difference.

ACTION DATES FOR CHILDREN: October 2010
Learn more

15 October
Global Handwashing Day
Clean hands saves lives

15 October
International Day of Rural Women

16 October
World Food Day
United against hunger

17 October
International Day for the Eradication of Poverty
From poverty to decent work: Bridging the gap

24 October
World Development Information Day

25 October
Unite for Children, Unite against AIDS - 6th Anniversary



unite for children
--------------------------------------------------------------
Indra Kumari Nadchatram
Communication Specialist
UNICEF Malaysia
Tel: (+6.03) 2095 9157
H/P: (+6) 012 292 6872
Email: inadchatram@unicef.org

www.unicef.org/malaysia
www.facebook.com/unicef.malaysia

CHILD ABUSE IN MALAYSIA

CHILD ABUSE IN MALAYSIA
Despite significant strides made by the Government in improving child protection measures in recent years, statistics from the Department of Social Welfare show a rise in reported child abuse cases in Malaysia. In 2008, child abuse reports rose to 2,780 from 2,279 in 2007 and 1,999 in 2006. Based on 2008 reported figures, neglect is the most common form of child abuse (952 cases), followed by physical abuse (863 cases). Sexual abuse accounted for 733 cases, of which 529 (72%) were incest. Failure to provide care and supervision has become the most frequent cause of death among children. In 2008, 58 cases of abandoned babies were also reported. Tragically, most child abusers of reported cases are parents, immediate family members, relatives or foster parents of the victims themselves. Child abuse is an offence in Malaysia, punishable under the Child Act (2001) and the Penal Code (revised 1997). Offenders may be liable to a maximum fine of RM 50,000 or up to 20 years imprisonment, or both depending on the offence. Offenders may also be punished with whipping in addition to the fine and/or imprisonment.

GET ON BOARD CAMPAIGN
The 'Get on Board' Campaign is a two-month initiative by UNICEF and its partners to provide the Malaysian public with a platform to learn and respond to child abuse in the country. The digitally-driven Campaign, a first by UNICEF in the region, aims to strengthen public understanding of child abuse and neglect by providing information on the types of abuse, why it could happen and how to recognise symptoms in an abused child. It also hopes to empower the public to act on behalf of children by equipping them with protection solutions, parenting tips, action ideas and a directory of important resources. The Campaign will host a special “public” program on 20 November in conjunction with Universal Children’s Day and culminate on 10 December. The ‘Get on Board’ Exhibition at One Utama Shopping Mall - High Street (Ground Floor near Parkson) will remain open to the public from 7-10 October for visitors to learn more and register their support for the Campaign. Get on Board.

For more information, please contact:

Indra Kumari Nadchatram
UNICEF Media Malaysia
Tel +6012 292 6872, inadchatram@unicef.org

Juana Jaafar
UNICEF Media Malaysia
Tel + 6012 530 9693, jjmanap@unicef.org

Ah Lian ask shopkeeper

Ah Lian ask shopkeeper: Eh Ah chek, u got sell stocking up to knee, boh?
Ah Chek : Lu siao ah! stocking wear up to 'yeo'
(waist) only, where got up to the 'nee'(breast) one.

Chinese, Malay & Indian are at the army supply base to collect underwear.

3 recruits - Chinese, Malay & Indian are at the army supply base to collect underwear. The sergeant was there to aid the supplies.
Sergeant: Hei Ah Beng! How many underwear you need ah?
Ah Beng: (thinks a while) 7 sasen(sergeant)!
Sergeant: (puzzled) How come so many?
Ah! Beng: Mon, Tues, Wed, Thurs, Fri, Sat & Sun. One day one.
Sergeant: (Malay recruit) Eh Mat! How many underwear?
Mat: (without hesitation) 6 sargen!
Sergeant: (curious) How come six?
Mat: Mon, Tues, Wed, Thurs, Sat & Sun. Friday I wear sarong.
Sergeant: (Indian recruit) Dei Tambi. How many underwears dah dei?
Tambi: (very confidently) 12 Sarjen !!!!
Sergeant: (shocked & fell to the ground) Why you need so many for?
Tambi: January, February, March.....One month one.

Prempuan Hina Johor dalam FACEBOOK

Prempuan Hina Johor dalam FACEBOOK