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IGP: Were committed to fi ghting crime

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Next Gen: Winning

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INSIDE

Barriers

Taiwan seizes Japanese food from radiation-tainted areasTAIPEI: Japanese food from areas contaminated by radiation near the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster was found in Taiwan and ordered taken off the shelves, local media reported yesterday.

The Food and Drug Administra-tion found 283 items of Japanese food with counterfeit labels, in Chi-nese language, in local supermarkets in early February, according to an Apple Daily report.

However, the government did not order the removal until March 19.

The products including instant noodles, black tea, coffee and sweets were falsely covered with stickers purporting to show manufacturing in Tokyo, Osaka, Hokkaido and even parts of the United States, state-run Central News Agency said.

Taiwan has banned food products from the Japanese prefectures of Fukushima, Ibaraki, Tochigi, Gumma and Chiba since March 2011. dpa

PUTRAJAYA: Proponents of security barriers across public roads have good rea-son to cheer as the Federal

Court has ruled that structures like boom gates and guardhouses for se-curity purposes are not illegal.

A five-member panel chaired by Chief Judge of Malaya Tan Sri Zulkefli Ahmad Makinudin declared that regulated access to a defined area is not an obstruction in law, particularly if it is for security purposes.

It is so only if one is denied access to a public place. A barricade placed across a public road does not deny access altogether to all who wish to enter, Zulkefli said in his 18-page judgment delivered on March 19.

The court ruled that guardhouses and boom gates are authorised structures under the Town and Country Planning Act 1976, the Street, Drainage and Building Act 1974 and the Local Government Act 1976.

It cannot be disputed that guarded communities are schemes implemented to improve public safety and security in defined residential areas, Bernama quoted

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Local authorities are EMPOWERED TO APPROVE boom gates and guardhouses for security purposes

SALUTING A STATESMAN ... Thousands lined the streets in Singapore yesterday to pay respects to Lee Kuan Yew as the casket containing his body is taken to Parliament House where it will lie in state for public viewing, ahead of his funeral on Sunday.

AFPPIX

Remembering Lee Kuan Yewpage 13

SEE ALSO PAGE 06

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1MDB task force to be set upBY BERNARD CHEAHnewsdesk@thesundaily.com

THE government will set up a special task force to look into 1Malaysia Development Berhads (1MDB) performance, the Dewan Rakyat was told yes-terday.

Finance Minister (II) Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Mohamad Ha-nadzlah, in his wind-ing-up speech on the royal address, said the task force will include him, Minister in the Prime Ministers Department Datuk Seri Abdul Wahid Omar, Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Ali Hamsa as well as Treas-ury Secretary-General Tan Sri Irwan Serigar Abdullah.

He said the task force will be looking at the overall performance of 1MDB and the debt it has ac-cumulated.

We will also be asking CIMB to come in as a third party to evaluate (1MDB), so we can ensure that we can get a fair evaluation, Ahmad Husni said.

We will also look at how much 1MDB can be valued at, how to

use the land that it has, and joint ventures and more, which we be-lieve, will solve 1MDBs cash-flow problems, he said.

Ahmad Husni also acknowledged the fact that 1MDBs problem lies with its cash flow,

adding that the state-owned in-vestment firms financial woes would end once its initial public offering (IPO) for its power plant assets take off.

We have no problems with the principal as they are long-term debts. But in terms of the interests, we are confident that once the IPO is done, it will decrease.

NEWS WITHOUT BORDERS02theSun ON THURSDAY | MARCH 26, 2015

POTA only to combat violent extremismBY AIEZAT FADZELLnewsdesk@thesundaily.com

KUALA LUMPUR: The proposed Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) 2015 will only be used against those involved in violent extremism, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak said.

Assuring that there is no political motive in the proposed POTA, he said the proposed Act is to safeguard peace and security and there is no need for the government to be apologetic about it.

Some people will say that these laws are undemocratic or threaten their freedom.

Well, there is no such thing as absolute freedom. Freedom without responsibility has no place in this country, Najib said at the 208th Police Day celebration at the Pulapol Parade Square here yesterday.

Najib was responding to public

> Proposed law to safeguard peace and security, says Najib

concerns that the law may be used by certain parties for their benefit.

The concern came after provisions in POTA, as well as the planned amendments to the Sedition Act 1948, would provide detention without trial.

Najib said the new law will be

administered by a competent body and not by members of the administration as its objective is to prevent the proliferation of acts of terrorism that will threaten national security.

He added that the laws are to combat new challenges, including the rise of the IS (Islamic State), and should not be used by certain groups for their own political ends.

Only those who raise the threat of violent extremism can be detained under this new Act, Najib said.

We have to act first to prevent terrorism because the consequences can be disastrous if we are late in doing so, he said.

Najib added that people should not show disrespect to the police as they are the ones who have to uphold the law to ensure peace in the country.

Nowadays, there are people who make fun of police officers. These people are very irresponsible. The police should be respected as they are the one who uphold the rule of law, Najib said.

PM conveys condolencesKUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak has conveyed his condolences to the families and friends of the passengers and crew of a German-wings Airbus flight that crashed in France on Tuesday.

My thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of those on board Germanwings Flight 4U 9525, he said in a Twitter post yesterday.

US believes in our fi ght against terrorism: ZahidBY VATHANI PANIRCHELLVUMnewsdesk@thesundaily.com

PUTRAJAYA: The White House believes that Malaysia is serious in its efforts to curb terrorism by foreign militant groups as the Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) will soon be tabled in Parliament, said Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Ahmad Zahid was speaking after receiving a courtesy call from Dr Evans Medeiros, Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Asian Affairs at the National Security Council at his office here yesterday.

He said they discussed efforts taken by Malaysia in curbing and preventing terrorism in the country in view of US President Barack Obamas visit, which is scheduled for November this year.

The White House sees Malaysia as being serious in combating terrorism as POTA, enacted specifically to address terrorism by foreign militant groups, will be tabled in the current sitting of Parliament, Ahmad Zahid told the media at his office here yesterday.

He said Malaysia and the US will share information through their respective enforcement and intelligence agencies as it is important to curb terrorism before it happens.

VIP VISITOR... Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussien mingles with Nor Amira Natasha, eight, and Nor Atirah Sayrizad, three, daughters of army personnel Sayrizad Yahaya when visiting Sayrizad's house during the opening of the Army Village in Sungai Lembing yesterday. The Army Village was built to benefi t army personnel and their families.

BERNAMAPIX

Poser over RM90m RTM news centreBY HAIKAL JALILnewsdesk@thesundaily.com

KUALA LUMPUR: The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) questioned the construction of Radio Televisyen Malaysias (RTM) RM90 million integrated news centre, which is only being used as a normal office space, despite the whopping sum spent on the project.

PAC chairman Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed said the building, which was completed in 2012, did not have any broadcast equipment for news operations, which defeats the purpose of its construction.

Currently, the building is not used as a news centre and only serves as a normal office building, he told a press conference at Parliament yesterday, adding that the RM90 million allocation was only enough to construct the building.

They should have asked for enough funds for both the building and equipment before starting the project, he said.

Nur Jazlan said RTM is now asking the government for another RM126 million to buy related equipment to allow the building to operate as a news centre.

PKR to play mediator roleBY HAIKAL JALILnewsdesk@thesundaily.com

KUALA LUMPUR: PKR will act as a mediator to resolve the squabble between PAS and DAP over disagreement on the hudud issue.

PKR secretary-general Rafizi Ramli said it is important for component parties in Pakatan Rakyat to sit down and discuss ways to resolve the matter peacefully.

We are also going to sit down with PAS and DAP leaders, he told a press conference at the Parliament lobby here.

He said disagreement between parties in the coalition is nothing new and many issues have been solved through talks.

Even the most difficult issues have been resolved through discussion, and I believe that will continue, he said. Despite all the issues, Pakatan still stands strong, he added.

He also dismissed talks that the disagreement on hudud will signal the end of the three-party coalition.

I do not think we can sweep everything under the carpet. Yet I am optimistic that Pakatan is not breaking up (over this issue), Rafizi said.

While there are some miscommunication problems internally, Pakatan as a whole will continue to move along in the same direction in line with the wishes and aspirations of Malaysians, he said.

He said PKR will have separate meetings with PAS and DAP respectively soon.

THE visa exemption for tourists from China could generate income of about RM8.3 billion this year. Tourism and Culture Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz said the visa exemption would attract some

2.7 million tourists from China to the country this year. "China is the third largest market for Malaysia in the tourism sector," he said in reply to a question by Datuk Wee Jeck Seng (BN-Tanjong Piai).

Visa waiver can bring in RM8.3b incomeENERGY, Green Technology and Water Minister Datuk Seri Maximus Ongkili reiterated that electricity tariff will not be raised this year. "The govern-ment is monitoring the price of fuels used in electricity produc-tion such as coal, piped natural gas and liquefied natural gas

(LNG). "Currently, we are giv-ing subsidy for piped natural gas, he said in reply to a sup-plementary question from Datuk Ahmad Fauzi Zahari (BN-Setiawangsa), who asked whether the government could assure that the electricity tariff will not be raised this year.

No electricity tariff increase

PR1MA homes not affectedTHE government has given its assurance the soon-to-be implemented Goods and Services Tax (GST) on April 1 will not affect the prices of houses under the 1Malaysia Peoples Housing (PR1MA).

Minister in the Prime Ministers Department Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim said the 20% discount from the market prices will continue to be implement-ed.

There is no reason to raise the PR1MA house prices, especially as the building materials and construction costs are not included in the price hike list, he told the Dewan Rakyat yesterday. He was replying to a supplementary question by Mohd Fasiah Mohd Fakeh (BN-Sabak Bernam), who wanted to know whether the implementation of GST would increase the PR1MA house prices.

To an oral question by Mohd Fasiah, he said one-third of the PR1MA project has received plan-ning approval. He said 32 projects from the 95 planned nationwide had been given the approval.

The 32 projects cover 28,363 houses built all over Malaysia, and they are in various development stages, he said.

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03theSun ON THURSDAY | MARCH 26, 2015

NEWS WITHOUT BORDERS04theSun ON THURSDAY | MARCH 26, 2015

No let-up, says IGP> Were committed to fi ghting crime

BY AIEZAT FADZELLnewsdesk@thesundaily.com

KUALA LUMPUR: Police have managed to reduce the crime rate in the country by 12.6% last year compared with 2013.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said the statistics prove the polices commitment to curbing crimes.

We have to continue to take the necessary steps to go forward, even when facing threats from certain individuals, as well as the need to change in accordance to current challenges, he said at the 208th Police Day celebration at the Police Training Centre (Pulapol) here yesterday.

He added police have dealt with the challenges

well and in fact there are many transformations that have been made to provide the best service for the people.

He said police managed to reduce the crime rate from 147,062 cases in 2013 to 128,544 in 2014 a drop of 18,518 cases.

He also noted that the rate of violent crimes has dropped by 13.4% (3,950 cases) and property crimes has declined by 12.4% (14,568

Woman who witnessed murder killedBY CHARLES RAMENDRANnewsdesk@thesundaily.com

PETALING JAYA: A murder witness was slashed and stabbed to death moments after she saw her killers attacking a man at a karaoke centre near Bandar Sunway here yesterday.

Norlia Alias, 40, who worked as a supervisor at a karaoke outlet

in Jalan PJS 8/13, was found dead on the walkway near her work place at about 1am. She suffered wounds on her chest and head.

The assailants had pursued her after realising she had witnessed them killing a 34-year-old Indonesian man identified as Lukmanul Hakim, police said.

The three men, armed with knives and parang, had attacked

Lukmanul at a stairway leading to the karaoke centre located at a three-storey shoplot.

The victim suffered multiple stab wounds on his body and a severed finger.

Petaling Jaya police chief ACP Azmi Abu Kassim said revenge is believed to be the motive behind the murder. Police have yet to identify the assailants.

It is learnt that police have retrieved a footage from several closed-circuit security cameras installed at the centre which showed images of three men believed to be locals.

A pocket knife was also found at the scene. The bodies of the victims were sent to the University Malaya Medical Centre for a post mortem.

cases). Based on the statistics, Khalid said, the police have managed to achieve the target set by the government under the National Key Result Area.

Overall, he said, the safety assurance in the country is at a controlled stage.

He urged the public to play an active role in helping the police through community

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A special performance during the 208th Police Appreciation Day celebration at Pulapol yesterday.

him as saying, in dismissing an appeal by a Petaling Jaya resident, Au Kean Hoe of DVilla Equestrian housing estate in Kota Damansara, who had taken legal action against DVilla Equestrian Residents Association over the construction of such structures.

Au had sought an order for a guardhouse and two boom gates built in the housing estate be demolished, claiming they were illegal structures, a nuisance and amounted to an obstruction.

Zulkefli said the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) was fully empowered to approve the guardhouse with the boom gates in accordance with its guidelines for guarded communities issued by the Urban Planning Department in May, 2011.

The court found that the housing estate developer had obtained approval from MBPJ for the construction of the guardhouse.

In August 2010, Au had ceased to be a member of the DVilla Equestrian Residents Association and stopped paying maintenance and security charges.

He lodged a police report and an online complaint to the MBPJ after the association issued a circular on Oct 25, 2011, notifying residents that those who had not paid the security and maintenance charges would have to open the boom gates themselves without the assistance of the security guard on duty.

Developer obtained nod

FROM FRONT PAGE

policing. The community needs the police to safeguard peace whereas the police need the communitys help in performing its duty responsibly, he said.

Khalid felt the concept of community policing could make the public aware of the importance of collective responsibility in curbing crime.

Harassed Borders manager seeks royal intervention in row with JawiPETALING JAYA: Borders bookstore manager Nik Raina Nik Abdul Aziz has appealed to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah to intervene in her long-running legal battle with the Federal Territory Islamic Affairs Department (Jawi).

She said she is tired of dealing with Jawi, and pleaded the King to reprimand the religious authority for hounding her for allegedly selling a book deemed un-Islamic.

For the past three years, Nik Raina, 38, had been harassed by Jawi over the sale of the book even though all the three courts High Court, Court of Appeal and Syariah High Court had freed her of wrongdoing.

Jawi has filed an appeal against the Federal Territory Syariah High Courts decision on Feb 26 to discharge Nik Raina for selling the book entitled Allah, Kebebasan dan Cinta at the Borders bookstore at Mid Valley Megamall in 2012.

The book, translated from English, was written by Canadian author Irshad Manji.

She said she is at a loss over what to do.

I hope that my rights under the Federal Constitution are protected. As a lay person, what is important is that I have been freed by the three courts.

I thought the suffering and

disgrace I faced for three years had ended. However, my joy was brief as Jawi has appealed, she said in a statement yesterday.

On March 22, 2013, High Court judge Datuk Zaleha Yusof ruled that Jawis action against Nik Raina was illegal and directed the department to drop its charges against her.

However, Jawi refused and appealed against the civil courts decision. Her case was postponed.

Then on Dec 30 last year, the Court of Appeal upheld the High Courts ruling, describing Jawis action as unlawful and unconstitutional.

I thought the pain and humiliation I suffered for three years ended with the courts decisions. However, my happiness was short-lived.

Jawi, please let go off this oppression, she said.

Chief syariah prosecutor Mohamad Adib Husain has served the notice of the appeal directly to Nik Raina at her place of work at the Mid Valley Megamall.

Nik Raina also accused Jawi of making her a scapegoat to show off its power.

My crime was being a Malay and Muslim store manager who could be a scapegoat for Jawi to show its power, she said.

Recalling the pain and humiliation she endured, she said every time she

went to court she was called the accused, and had her freedom restricted while out on bail.

She said some people thought she had insulted Islam, and had treated her family with suspicion.

I was trapped in such a situation and my employer defended me by challenging Jawi through a judicial review that exposed Jawis lame action, she said.

She added that the religious authority had acted without legal basis in raiding the Borders bookstore on May 23, 2012. The store is owned by Berjaya Books Sdn Bhd.

We gave full cooperation to Jawi in its investigation but Jawi was rough with the Muslim staff there.

My employer tried to resolve the matter amicably but Jawi went on to charge me with distributing books against Islam, she added.

Nik Raina said she is stressed out and I plead to leaders of this country to look at what Jawi is doing, which is making the public, namely Muslims, weary.

She added that it is unfair for her employer to keep paying the legal cost to defend her.

I am embarrassed to keep burdening my boss that way. On my own, I cannot afford the legal fees. My future job prospects are also jeopardised... this is my dilemma, which Jawi will never think about.

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05theSun ON THURSDAY | MARCH 26, 2015

NEWS WITHOUT BORDERS06theSun ON THURSDAY | MARCH 26, 2015

If you believe in democracy, you must believe in it unconditionally. If you believe that men should be free, then, they should have the right of free association, of free speech, of free publication. Then, nolaw should permit those democratic processes to be set at nought.

Thousands pay respects to LKY> Overwhelming queues at Parliament where body lies in state, hours extendedSINGAPORE: Singaporeans wept on the streets and gathered by the thousands yesterday to pay respects to founding leader Lee Kuan Yew as his flag-draped coffin was transported on a gun carriage to Parliament for public viewing.

After a two-day private wake for the family, the coffin was taken from the Istana government complex, Lees workplace for decades as prime minister and cabinet adviser, to the legislature, where his remains will lie in state until the weekend.

Local media said Singaporeans began queuing after midnight on Tuesday for a chance to be among the first to pay their respects to the man popularly known by his initials LKY.

The 91-year-old patriarch died on Monday after half-a-century in government, during which Singapore was transformed from a poor British colonial outpost into one of the worlds richest societies.

Lee will be cremated after full state honours on Sunday.

His son, Prime Minister Lee Hsien

Muslim affairs minister commends LeeSINGAPORE: The Malay-Muslims of Singapore remember Lee Kuan Yew for his strong conviction that no one should be left behind, especially those in the minority groups.

He found ways and means to help us to move along. He has helped the Malay-Muslim people to understand that you need the two principles that I have always mentioned meritocracy and multiracialism to succeed, and I think we have done so, Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Dr Yaacob Ibrahim was quoted as saying in an interview with The Straits Times of Singapore yesterday.

Yaacob was at a community tribute site at Hong Lim Park yesterday afternoon with Muslim religious leaders to pen his condolences.

Yaacob, who is also Singapores communications and information minister, said one of Lees greatest contributions to the Muslim community was setting up the Mosque Building Fund, now known as the Mosque Building and Mendaki Fund.

The fund was set up in 1975, and allowed Muslims to donate to the building of new mosques through the Central Provident Fund.

At that time, some Muslims who were being resettled in new Housing Board flats did not have a community mosque in their area. Community efforts to raise funds through door-to-door donations were also slow.

We are a secular country and we cannot possibly use government funds, so we have to help the community. But to get the community organised to raise funds, Lee allowed us to make use of the CPF system, said Yaacob.

Loong, said there were overwhelming queues outside Parliament and announced that visiting hours had been extended until midnight to cope with the turnout.

Applause and shouts of We love you! and Lee Kuan Yew! broke out as the dark brown wooden coffin, draped in the red-and-white Singapore flag, emerged from the

Istana inside a tempered glass case atop a gun carriage pulled by an open-topped military truck.

Many along the route were in tears as they raised cameras and mobile phones to record the historic event.

Some threw flowers on the path of the carriage.

Office workers watched from the windows of high-rise buildings along the route.

President Tony Tan and his wife Mary were the first to pay their respects after Lees closed coffin was placed in the foyer of Parliament House.

Even before lunch break, the line was already snaking for up to 2km as Singaporeans patiently awaited their turn to enter the viewing hall.

They came from all walks of life, from office workers and bosses to students and the elderly in wheelchairs accompanied by caregivers.

These are amazing scenes. I have not seen anything like this in my lifetime, said bank executive Zhang Wei Jie, 36. AFP

AFPPIX

Members of the public queue under the sun to pay their respects to Lee at the Parliament House yesterday.

Thousands came to view the casket containing Lees body, which will lie in state until Saturday.

07theSun ON THURSDAY | MARCH 26, 2015

NEWS WITHOUT BORDERS08theSun ON THURSDAY | MARCH 26, 2015

Over 5,000 volunteers roped in by Berjaya YouthBY VATHANI PANIRCHELLVUMnewsdesk@thesundaily.com

KUALA LUMPUR: Cultivating the spirit of voluntarism is one of the endeavours Berjaya Youth (B. Youth) strives to achieve and it has succeeded so far by roping in more than 5,000 youths from around the country.

Created by Berjaya Corporation Berhad, B. Youth, as it is better known, is specifically for the youth community to give them an opportunity to be different in the way they contribute their expertise, talent and services to society.

We encourage Malaysian youths to step out of their comfort zones and unleash their potential through four pillars Inspiration, Creativity, Eco and Animal. This allows them to make a difference to the community in their own way.

From our collaboration with Epic Homes, we saw an overwhelming response where more than 30 youths came together to build a house for a needy orang asli family in Gombak, Bcorps corporate communications senior manager Emily Tan told theSun.

Our recent event with Roots & Shoots Malaysia in presenting Reasons For All, A Talk by Dr Jane Goodall, where 2,000 people, mostly youths, came together for a talk by Goodall, world renowned priamatologist and United Nations Messenger of Peace, on conservation issues and her reflections and reasons for our planets future, was inspiring. Many were very excited at the opportunity of

meeting her in person, said Tan, who heads B. Youth.

B. Youth will be working with Roots & Shoots on two more programmes, one an animal welfare project and another on helping a refugee community in Malaysia.

Now, B. Youth is gearing up for its annual B. Youth Showtime during the 5th Berjaya Founders Day, which will be held on March 28 at Berjaya Times Square.

B. Youth Showtime will be open to the public and we would be presenting a line-up

of fun games as well as inspiring talks from youth speakers. Actorpreneur Razif Hashim, who hosts Best in the World, a food programme on Asian Food Channel (AFC) and Lite FM radio announcer Davina Goh, who has learned Shaolin Kung Fu, will be giving inspiration talks. We

hope to see active participation from the crowd, Tan said.

This year, the theme for the Berjaya Founders Day is Lets Go Plant a Seed of Love, which encourages everyone to take a step forward in volunteerism and contribute their time, skills and talent towards a good cause and make a difference within the community.

Another exciting project by B. Youth that will kick off in May this year is the annual Berjaya Youth Short Film Competition (BYSFC 2015) that often sees young talent on the path of becoming the next generation film makers.

Interested youths can get more information on some of B. Youths exciting projects through the social media via their Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Google+ and their own webpage at www.berjayayouth.com

ASHRAF SHAMSUL/THE SUN

Four B. Youth staff in T-shirts that signify the four pillars of B. Youth Inspiration, Creativity, Eco and Animal.

Students must fi ght dengueBY ASHWIN KUMARnewsdesk@thesundaily.com

SHAH ALAM: Irresponsible throwing of rubbish at unauthorised places by students from institutions of higher learning has been found to be a contributing factor to aedes breeding and rise in dengue cases here.

Disclosing this, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam said students are an educated generation and should know the importance of keeping their houses and surroundings clean.

I understand students are busy with their studies but they also have a responsibility to make sure they do not litter places and create an environment for aedes breeding, said the minister, who went on the ground at Teres E, Jalan 7/29 to Jalan 7/35, Section 7 together with health officials to check for aedes breeding sites.

The area is populated with students from institutions of higher learning.

Students are an educated generation and thus should play a role to curb this deadly disease. From what we saw, their actions of

> They have found to be contributing to aedes breeding in Selangor

littering and uncleanliness are definitely not acceptable, he said.

Subramaniam, who visited houses resided by students in aedes hotspot areas, was shocked to find some houses dirty and poorly maintained.

Between January 1 and March 21, dengue cases shot up to 30,890 cases with 98 deaths from the 21,967 cases and 54 deaths reported during the same period last year.

Subramaniam said aedes hotspots had also increased in the country, with Selangor topping the list with 180 hotspots.

Talking on Ops Gempur Aedes, he said, of the 111 construction sites inspected, 95 were found breeding aedes mosquitoes.

They were subsequently taken to court and 80 were issued with stop-work orders to allow them to clean their premises, said Subramaniam.

He urged all state Health Departments to work closely with their respective state governments and local authorities to search and destroy aedes breeding grounds.

He also revealed that the ministry is looking into using chemical paint (the same used in spraying to destroy aedes mosquitoes) by the middle of this year to combat aedes breeding.

Currently it is being researched at the Institute for Medical Research.

B R I E F S

MOKHTAR RE-ELECTED KUALA LUMPUR: Bernama deputy editor-in-chief (domestic news service) Mokhtar Hussain was returned unopposed as National Press Club (NPC) president for the 2015-2017 term. M. Veera Pandiyan of The Star and Muharyani Othman of Bernama were also returned unopposed, as deputy president and vice-president respectively, in the biennial elections held at the NPC clubhouse in Jalan Tangsi on Tuesday. M. Govind Nair (Bernama) and Mohd Ghazemy Mahmud (Syed Hussain Publications) were elected unopposed as secretary and assistant secretary respectively, while S. P. Manivasagam (Mannan Monthly) and L. Jaiarajo (Bernama) were returned unopposed as treasurer and assistant treasurer. Bernama

A GREEN FT BY 2020KUALA LUMPUR: In the year of 2020, Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) wishes to grant the governments wish to ensure a green environment and maintain healthy and unharmed trees for the residents in the Federal Territory. Kuala Lumpur mayor Datuk Seri Ahmad Phesal said DBKL has taken the initiative to provide a systematic disposal site where the remains of trees will be processed into compost. With the new systematic disposal site, compost can also be reused for landscaping to improve soil structure and soil fertility which provides benefits in greening and beautifying the whole Federal Territory, he said after visiting the green technology pilot project at Jinjang Nursery, yesterday. From 2010 until December 2014, DBKL had successfully planted 135,734 trees.

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Tycoon sues Indonesian govtJAKARTA: Indonesian tycoon Aburizal Bakrie is suing the government in a bid to keep control of the countrys biggest opposition party and prevent it defecting to President Joko Widodos minority coalition.

The opposition Golkar party controls 14% of parliamentary seats and would give Jokos coalition control of over half the parliament, easing fears of political gridlock in Southeast Asias largest economy.

Bakrie, the patriarch of the sprawling family-owned Bakrie Group conglomerate, has filed a legal challenge against last weeks ministerial decree that gave the Golkar chairmanship to a rival faction sympathetic to the president.

We have lodged a complaint against the ministry of law and human rights, whose decision in favour of the other faction is contrary to the principles of good governance, Bakries lawyer Yusril Mahendra said.

He added that Bakrie should remain the chairman of Golkar, which backed losing presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto in

last years election, until a verdict was announced.

A law ministry spokesman said the government, which intervened after being asked by Golkar to resolve months of political infighting, would see the legal process through.

He declined to say when the ministerial decree would come into effect.

Agung Laksono, who is set to replace Bakrie if he loses his lawsuit, said last week the party planned to join Widodos coalition without expecting cabinet seats in return.

Vice-President Jusuf Kalla said last week the government was planning a cabinet

reshuffle in the next month, but declined to comment on whether Golkar would be included in the new line-up.

Analysts say Widodo will face pressure to include Golkar, the political vehicle of former authoritarian ruler Suharto, in any new cabinet.

Jokowi already has patrons to deal with in his coalition and the addition of Golkar would mean another patron and he has to balance power between them, said political analyst Tobias Basuki, using the presidents nickname.

It could potentially create new problems for (Widodo). Reuters

Yemen asks UN to back military action by willing countriesNEW YORK: Yemen asked the United Nations Security Council on Tuesday to back military action by willing countries to combat an advance by Shiite Muslim Houthi militia, according to a letter from President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi.

Hadi wants the 15-member body to adopt a resolution to authorise willing countries that wish to help Yemen to provide immediate support for the legitimate authority by all means and measures to protect Yemen and deter Houthi aggression.

Hadi said he has asked the Arab League and the Gulf Cooperation Council comprised of Gulf Arab states to provide immediately all means necessary, including military intervention, to protect Yemen and its people.

Violence has been spreading across the country on the Arabian peninsula since last year when Iran-backed Houthi militia seized the capital Sanaa and effectively removed Hadi, who seeks to return from the southern port city of Aden.

The UN warned on Sunday that Yemens

conflict could become an Iraq-Libya-Syria scenario if either side pushes for control.

UN mediator Jamal Benomar said Yemen had been pushed towards the edge of civil war.

Hadi cited Article 51 of the UN Charter, which covers an individual or collective right to self-defence against armed attack, as his legal justification for requesting military help from Arab countries.

All our efforts for peaceful settlement have encountered absolute rejection by the Houthis who continue their aggression to subdue the rest of the regions out of their control, Hadi wrote.

There are military convoys destined to attack Aden and the rest of the south.

The fighting in Yemen, a frontline in US efforts to combat militants waging war across the region and beyond, has raised the prospect that regional rivals Iran and Saudi Arabia could be drawn into the fray.

Yemen is home to Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula which has carried out attacks abroad. Reuters

No blacks Chinese restaurant shut down NAIROBI: A Chinese restaurant in the Kenyan capital Nairobi has been shut down and its owners summoned by authorities after it emerged it was barring black patrons, reports said yesterday.

The restaurant fell into the spotlight of city authorities after furious residents took to social media to denounce an apparently racist policy of not allowing African patrons to eat there after 5pm.

The owners of the restaurant said the measure had been put in place following a robbery in 2013, and have apologised for causing any offence, the Daily Nation said.

But it said the Chongquing Chinese restaurant, situated in Nairobis bustling

commercial and residential district of Kilimani, had been shut down anyway for not having the proper licences.

We have established that the restaurant did not have the licences and I have ordered it closed until the management complies, Nairobi governor Evans Kidero said.

He also said all business and service providers must ensure that all customers and clients are treated with respect and dignity, irrespective of race, colour, sex, tribe and religion, the Standard newspaper quoted him as saying.

The restaurants Chinese owners and managers had also been summoned by Kenyas immigration authorities. AFP

Aquarium baffl ed by mystery fi sh deathsTOKYO: Workers at a Tokyo aquarium are scratching their heads after the deaths of dozens of fish that have left just one lonely tuna roaming a once-flourishing tank.

The park on Tuesday found the second last fish floating dead in its vast doughnut-shaped enclosure that was once home to nearly 160 fish and among the venues most popular attractions, said a spokesman for Tokyo Sea Life Park.

We have had the tuna tank since the aquarium opened in 1989 but never experienced this kind of mass-dying, he said yesterday.

We are studying what caused the fish deaths, but we havent figured it out yet. We suspect that it could be due to new factors that were not present before.

Researchers are studying a range of possibilities including the tanks lighting and

other factors that could have caused stress among the fish, or even the presence of a poisonous substance in the water, the spokesman said.

The 2,200-tonne tank that is 30m in diameter once housed 69 bluefin tuna, 52 eastern little tuna and 38 oriental bonito.

In December, the tanks population suddenly started plunging with just 30 fish alive by mid-January, the park said.

The second last one that just died apparently crashed into the acrylic wall twice.

It suffered a broken backbone, which was unfortunate but not very unusual for tuna kept in a tank, the spokesman said.

An earlier examination has found some sort of virus among some of the dead fish, but it wasnt the kind that is usually fatal in fish farms. AFP

> Bakrie patriarch seeks to prevent Golkars defection to Widodos coalition

Fighters made up of local tribes, Popular Resistance Committees and supporters of the southern Yemeni separatist movement, who are all opposing the Houthis, drive a tank at the Al-Anad airbase, in north of Aden, on Tuesday.

AFP

PIX

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NEWS WITHOUT BORDERS 11theSun ON THURSDAY | MARCH 26, 2015

Rescuers search for bodies in French AlpsPARIS: French rescuers resumed the search yesterday for the remains of the 150 people, including 16 school children, killed when a Germanwings Airbus slammed into the side of a nearly inaccessible mountain in the Alps.

Helicopters took off from a nearby improvised base, heading for the rugged area where flight 4U9525 crashed on Tuesday, spreading debris and body parts of the mostly German and Spanish victims over a wide area.

Officials are hunting for clues to why the plane, operated by German flag carrier Lufthansas budget subsidiary, entered a fatal eight-minute descent on its route between Barcelona and Duesseldorf.

No distress signal was sent and the crew failed to respond to desperate attempts at contact from ground control.

The cockpit voice recorder recovered from the wreckage has been found damaged and has been taken to Paris for analysis, a source close to the inquiry said yesterday.

The black box that was found is the CVR, the source said on condition of anonymity.

The cockpit voice recorder (CVR) was damaged. It has been transferred to Paris this morning.

A second so-called black box, in this case recording flight data, has yet to be found.

Video images from a government helicopter on Tuesday showed a desolate snow-flecked moonscape, with steep ravines covered in scree. Debris was strewn across the mountainside, pieces of twisted metal smashed into tiny bits.

Debris was believed to be scattered

> Cockpit voice recorder damaged: Source

B R I E F S

X-FILES RETURNS AFTER 13-YEAR COMMERCIAL BREAKLOS ANGELES: Cult sci-fi TV show The X-Files is returning for six new episodes, 13 years after David Duchovny and Gillian Andersons last outing as agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully. The Emmy- and Golden Globe-winning series which ran for nine seasons between 1993 and 2002 will begin production this summer with the original stars. I think of it as a 13-year commercial break, said the shows creator and executive producer Chris Carter, adding: The good news is the world has only gotten that much stranger, a perfect time to tell these six stories. AFP

OFFICIAL SACKED FOR SAYING KILLED PROTESTER TOO THIN CAIRO: Egypts forensic medicine authority on Tuesday sacked its spokesman for saying that a protester who was shot by police only died because she was too thin. Hisham Abdul-Hamid had caused a storm by telling broadcaster Sada al-Balad that socialist activist Shaimaa al-Sabbagh would not have died as a result of a police birdshot round if she had had more body fat. Basically, the spokesman is telling us that we need to put on more weight to avoid dying when shot at by police officers, historian Khaled Fahmy wrote on Facebook. dpa

MARS HAS NITROGEN, KEY TO LIFE: NASAWASHINGTON: Nasas Curiosity rover has found nitrogen on the surface of Mars, a significant discovery that adds to evidence the Red Planet could once have sustained life, the space agency said on Tuesday. By drilling into Martian rocks, Curiosity found evidence of nitrates, compounds containing nitrogen that can be used by living organisms. The Curiosity team has already found evidence that other ingredients needed for life, such as liquid water and organic matter, once existed at the site known as Gale Crater. AFP

BRITAIN TO BOLSTER FALKLANDS DEFENCELONDON: Britain will bolster its defence of the disputed Falkland Islands in the South Atlantic to counter a very live threat from Argentina, the government said on Tuesday. The islands will get a new defence package, including two Chinook helicopters and an improved surface-to-air missile system, defence secretary Michael Fallon told parliament. The government will spend some 180 million (RM990 million) to upgrade the islands main harbour by 2017 and other defences over the next decade, Fallon said. dpa

CHINESE TOURISTS KILLED IN THAI BUS CRASHBANGKOK: Three Chinese holidaymakers died and 17 were injured yesterday in a bus crash in Phuket, a senior official said. The accident happened shortly before midday when a bus smashed through a crash barrier and plunged into a ravine near Karon beach, on the islands southwest coast. Two women and one man were killed. Of the 17 injured, one is in a serious condition, Phuket governor Nisit Jansomwong said. The bus was travelling uphill. We dont know the cause of the accident but police will question the Thai bus driver. AFP

AUSTRALIA STOPS THIRD TEEN HEADED FOR MID-EAST JIHADCANBERRA: Australia has prevented a third teenager from flying out to fight in the Middle East, a minister said yesterday, as Western countries battle to stop the flow of youngsters to extremist groups. The 17-year-old boy was taken off a plane at Sydney airport on March 12 after being interviewed by counter-terrorism officers, immigration minister Peter Dutton said. He has since been returned to his family while investigations continue. Two other boys, aged 16 and 17, with tickets to an undisclosed Middle Eastern country were stopped from leaving Australia on March 6. AFP

over four acres of remote and inaccessible mountainous terrain, hampering rescue efforts.

The plane was totally destroyed, a local member of parliament who flew over the site said, describing the scene as horrendous.

The biggest body parts we identified are not bigger than a briefcase, one investigator said.

More than 300 policemen and 380 firefighters have been mobilised for the grisly task of searching the site.

Lt-Col Jean-Marc Menichini said a squad of 30 mountain rescue police were set to resume attempts to reach the crash site by helicopter at dawn yesterday, while a further 65 police were seeking access on foot.

Five investigators had spent the night camped at the site.

It would take at least a week to search the remote site, he said.

Germanwings said 67 Germans were believed to have been on board, while Spain said 45 people with Spanish-sounding names were on the flight.

Two Colombians, two Argentines, and two Australians were among the dead, their governments said, while Turks may also have been aboard.

Two Japanese were very likely on board, their government said. Belgium and Denmark said at least one of their nationals was on board, while Mexico said three of its citizens were believed to be among the victims and Britain said its nationals were also on board. AFP

AFPPIX

A screengrab taken from an AFP TV video yesterday shows search and rescue personnel at the crash site of the Germanwings Airbus A320 in the French Alps above the southeastern town of Seyne.

Thai junta chief threatens to hold onto powerBANGKOK: Thailands junta chief warned detractors yesterday that he would hold onto power indefinitely if they continued to oppose his plans for the kingdom in a press briefing ahead of an overseas trip.

Prayut Chan-O-Cha (pix), who was appointed as prime minister a few months after seizing power in a coup last May, appeared irritated when he met reporters shortly before flying to Brunei, frequently raising his voice and shaking his head.

If the situation remains like this I can tell you that I will hold on to power for a long time, he said after denouncing those who criticise the lack of democratic progress.

Why is there all this fuss about elections? (If theres no election) will anyone die?

The former army chief imposed martial law two days before the military takeover that followed the ousting of Yingluck Shinawatras democratically elected

government after months of protests.

He has vowed to return power to an elected civilian government but only once reforms to tackle corruption and curb the power of political parties are codified in a new constitution.

Rights groups say basic freedoms have fallen off a cliff since the military took over, with political gatherings banned, the press muzzled and increasing use of lese majeste legislation to stifle political opposition.

Prayut, a blunt-speaking career army man, has little time for such criticisms.

While he often jokes with his press pack, he also gets irritated when reporters push him for answers in daily briefings.

I want to tell all of you that I am not

discouraged but I am getting more angry.

I am a fighter. So dont say anything to discourage me, he said during yesterdays press meeting.

Earlier this month, the Thai Journalists Association criticised Prayut for saying he wanted to punch a reporter in the face when he was pressed on his governments results.

In December, he was also filmed throwing a banana skin at a camera man, though that incident caused more merriment than concern.

His off-the-cuff remarks often spark a mixture of surprise and derision.

This week, he was lampooned online and even in some sections of mainstream media for insisting Thailand under martial law is still a 99.99% democracy. AFP

China gives priority list of wanted offi cials to USBEIJING: The Chinese government has provided to the United States a priority list of Chinese officials suspected of corruption and are believed to have fled there, a top state-run newspaper said yesterday.

Last year, Chinese officials said more than 150 economic fugitives, many of them described as corrupt government officials, were in the United States.

Xu Jinhui, head of the anti-graft bureau at the state prosecutor, said a priority list of alleged Chinese corrupt officials believed to be at large in the US has been provided to American authorities.

Most of the suspected corrupt officials overseas either worked for the government or state-owned enterprises and took bribes or embezzled public funds, Xu told the official China Daily.

The report did not elaborate.Senior US officials will meet their

Chinese counterparts in August to discuss the possibility of repatriating Chinese officials who have fled to America with billions of dollars of allegedly stolen government assets, a US official said last month.

Xu said China will start legal procedures to confiscate assets overseas.

Once in possession of solid evidence, we will initiate confiscation procedures according to the law, he was quoted as saying by the daily.

The United States may deport the ex-wife of a fugitive Chinese official indicted on money laundering and immigration fraud charges, a US prosecutor said last week.

But there is no extradition treaty between the two countries and Western governments have long been reluctant to hand over suspects because of a lack of transparency and due process in Chinas judicial system. Reuters

keytolife:NASA

SPEAK UP12theSun ON THURSDAY | MARCH 26, 2015

Managing Editor Freddie Ng Chief Marketing Officer Prashun Dutt Senior Manager, Production Jeremy Tan Senior Manager, Distribution Channels Gurunatham Gopal

Tel (Editorial) 03-7784 6688 Fax 03-7785 2624/5 Email newsdesk@thesundaily.com Tel (Advertising) 03-7784 8888 Fax 03-7784 4424 Email advertise@thesundaily.com

THE implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) starting next week is supposed to be a good thing and I agree with the concept of it

to address the weaknesses in the current taxation system, but right now all it feels like is confusing and expensive.

A few months ago while on a walkabout through the old town of Petaling Jaya, where shop owners have been operating for more than two decades, with stock that can be dated back to the 1980s, conversations of GST were at the fore. These family run stores that sell just about everything were ready to close shop which is colloquial for shut down because the impending realisation of GST was just too much for them to handle. An owner said, how do I calculate stock that has been in the store for 20 over years? as he wiped a thick layer of dust off a set of delicate drinking glasses that had clearly been sitting in their upstairs stockroom for decades.

They were so confused and the various explanations given were just not clarifying anything for them, so the best option was an earlier-than-expected retirement and to sell off as much as they could before shutting down the business. These were the old school shop owners, the ones you see in Merdeka and festival advertisements, who under normal circumstances would never retire the shop is their whole life, it keeps them going. And now they were closing down because GST implementation has been too confusing.

While the Customs Department has done its best to advise businesses and the public, the concept is still foreign to most and these things take time to grasp. The general understanding is that prices of everything are going to go up. These fears are not misguided.

In this country, prices never go down. When the price of petrol dropped significantly, the price of food continued to go up. If the price of petrol increases by 25 sen per litre, the price for a plate of noodles sometimes increases by 50 sen, and the explanation given is that the cost of transport has increased.

At every point of exchange, the tax and

price hike is passed on and in the end, the consumer bears the brunt of it. So its understandable when a new tax system is introduced, the automatic assumption is that the price of goods will also increase perhaps even more than 6% judging from past experience when prices went up when they should be going down.

But theres a whole lot of confusing maths to this GST, because there are many ways of doing business and the different taxes paid and passed on, and also because from the start of the GST talk, classification of items has been unclear.

For example, why are women being taxed for their periods? As it is, the prices of sanitary products are high even without the GST equation but from next week onwards, 6% will be added to that. The same applies to diapers and other essential items.

But GST will reduce the cost of some things especially for items on the zero-rated GST list. Then there are items in which if the company was already paying the 10% sales tax and 6% service tax, that will be reduced to a fixed 6% and therefore, the items should then cost less but it does not seem the case. So how does a consumer check these things? Should we just accept

the pricing without question?The public cant be told to just wait to see

whats going to happen (say, after a month of GST) to understand how the taxation system works. Confusion builds mistrust and with food prices increasing, as well as public transport fares also increasing before the implementation of GST, its understandable why the public are weary.

The most talked-about catalyst of the Arab Spring was the rising cost of bread. When bus fares went up by 20 cents, protest hit Brazil. Over on our shores, the price of kangkung is no more than what it used to be. With subsidies being cut and the continued weakening of the ringgit, food prices not only affected by global prices but also by the floods discomfort levels are rising fast. This doesnt include the mounting frustration of government spending, the lack of transparency and misappropriation of public funds.

The idea of GST is a good thing; we do need a fairer tax system but the timing seems like a Malaysias let them eat cake moment.

Comments: letters@thesundaily.com

Is Malaysia safe for my children?THE latest incident about a BFM newsreader being threatened with death, rape and being burnt alive by those whom I assume to be Malay-Muslim netizens brings forth serious questions for this country. Is this country safe for our children to live in? If a simple point of view is raised against such issue as hudud or even such issue as democracy and clean elections can produce outburst of murder, rape and burning people alive, what does it say about our country, its citizens and our leadership?

I have noticed that the ones making threats of this nature come from mostly Malays who I assume are Muslim. Where did we, as a nation go wrong in educating these Malays? What are we teaching in our secondary schools? More importantly, are our public universities producing people of such culture?

I sincerely hope that those who made the threats have never stepped foot in our public universities because if not, I would like to ask these vice-chancellors, what kind of Malay Malaysians are you producing?

Yes, they are passable engineers and architects but are they barely passable Malaysian citizens, or passable Muslims or worse, are they even passable human beings with a humane conscience?

I have been to mosques and have listened to thousands of Youtube speeches by our so called eminent ustazs and I know that their understanding of Islam is a strong contributor to the kinds of comments made by these young netizens.

Although I feel anger towards these netizens but I am ready to forgive them because I know it was our society that have created such a culture.

When the Prophet Muhammad was faced with the persecution of the young people of Taif, he stood in front of the angel Gabriel at the command of a host of a heavenly army ready to eliminate the people of Taif, he said, No, do not do anything against these people because they knew not what there were doing. Perhaps future generations may accept my message if these people do not at the present time.

The Prophet had the magnanimity to forgive because he knew those young adults were influenced by their elders. I am afraid, our religious scholars may be teaching a brand of Islam that is very much distant from the examples of the holy Prophet himself.

I write these words with a heavy heart. I write these words as a concerned Malaysian citizen and as a simple Muslim for the sake of all our children. And finally, I write these words as the father of Aisyah Mohd Tajuddin, the BFM girl.

Prof Dr Mohamad Tajuddin Mohamad RasdiVia email

G25: Hudud law is irrelevant to society todayWE, the G25 comprising concerned Muslim citizens, call for the upholding of the highest standards of justice in the implementation of laws, including Hudud laws. Be just, that is nearer to righteousness. (Quran 5:8). Justice is the overriding principle of Islam.

Bearing in mind the injunction for Muslims to be the best and moderate community or khaira ummatin-ummatan wasatan and recognising that there is a diversity of juristic interpretations or iktilaf concerning Hudud laws as part of Shariah laws, we have concerns as to whether the Kelantan Hudud law, namely, the Kelantan Syariah Criminal Code (11) Enactment, 1993 as amended in 2015 will succeed in upholding justice as enjoined in the Quran.

Sheikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi, the chairman of the World Union of Muslim Scholars, has provided the basic guidelines on the methods of implementation of the Hudud law in society based on his observations of the Prophet Muhammad SAWs approach in implementing Hudud law.

According to Sheikh Qaradawi, the application of Shariah must be governed by Ijtihad, or creative thought, to determine how it can be enforced today. It would not be helpful to take rulings from ancient texts and apply them in totality to modern societies. Just as the ulama or Muslim scholars in the past used Ijtihad to determine how to apply Shariah, scholars today must do the same. The problem, according to Sheikh Qaradawi, is that Hudud is being enforced before the conditions for its application are met.

The following are the pre-conditions for the implementation of Hudud laws:

Establish true Islam where society is pious and God-fearing.

Ensure the economic needs of the people are met.

Provide employment opportunities for all.

Reduce the income gap and ensure there is no poverty.

In light of the above elucidation by Sheikh Qaradawi, can any State in Malaysia claim to have satisfied the preconditions in order to allow for the implementation of Hudud?

Professor Hashim Kamali an eminent Islamic scholar who currently heads the Institute of Advanced Islamic Studies, has published a scholarly and detailed analysis of Kelantans original Hudud law as drafted by PAS which was passed by the Kelantan State Assembly in November

1993, from the perspective of the Quran, the Hadith and the opinions of the Companions of the Prophet. In his conclusion, the professor stated that the Hudud Bill of Kelantan has failed to be reflective either of the balanced outlook of the Quran or of the social conditions and realities of contemporary Malaysian society. He added that the Hudud Bill exhibited no attempt to exercise Ijtihad over new issues such that would fulfil the ideals of justice and to encourage the development of a judicious social policy.

A perusal of the 2015 Hudud Enactment of Kelantan reveals that it has retained the emphasis on punishment rather than repentance and rehabilitation as enjoined in the Quran.

Many other prominent Muslim scholars such as S.A.A. Maududi, Salim el-Awa, Muhamad al-Ghazali, Mustafa al-Zarqa and Cherif Bassiouni have opined that the application of Hudud as an isolated case without providing the necessary context and environment is not only unrealistic, but is more likely to induce the opposite result and frustrate, rather than satisfy, the Islamic vision of justice and fair play. In addition, they emphasise that the Hadith, as recorded in Sahih Al-Bukhari, and which is also a legal maxim, provides that Hudud must be suspended in doubtful situations.

We would also question the necessity of implementing Hudud in a multi-racial and multi-religious society like Malaysia. In 1957, the Conference of Rulers, the government of the Federation of Malaya, comprising Umno, the MCA and MIC, and the British government agreed to the enactment of the Federal Constitution of Malaya on the basis of the recommendations of the Reid Commission. Article 4 provides that the Constitution is the supreme law of the Federation and any law passed after Merdeka Day, which is inconsistent with the Constitution shall to the extent of the inconsistency, be void. In addition, in July 1963, the Malaysia Agreement pertaining to the formation of Malaysia was concluded between the United Kingdom and the Federation of Malaya, North Borneo, Sarawak and Singapore. Prior to the signing of the Malaysia Agreement, North Borneo (Sabah) and Sarawak had negotiated a 20-Point Agreement and an 18-Point Agreement respectively, as the terms for their incorporation into the Federation. Point 1 of the North Borneo Agreement is on religion. It states While there is no objection to Islam being the

national religion of Malaysia, there should be no State religion in North Borneo and the provisions relating to Islam in the present Constitution of Malaya should not apply to North Borneo. Similarly, Sarawaks 18-Point Agreement stressed that everyone shall be entitled to worship as he pleases.

Therefore, should there be an attempt to amend the Constitution to pave the way for the implementation of Hudud, it would be a clear violation of the Agreement reached between the members of the Alliance party in 1957 and the Agreements in 1963, with Sabah and Sarawak. We would strongly urge Parliament not to abandon the fundamental provisions of the Federal Constitution to enable the implementation of PAS Hudud law.

We fully endorse the view of Dr Chandra Muzaffar that there is nothing un-Islamic about the Federal Constitution. To quote Dr Chandra, It emphasises the rule of law; it recognises the equality of all citizens before the law; it upholds the freedom of religion; it enshrines individual liberties; it embodies the separation of powers among the legislative, executive and judicial arms of the State; it provides for the independence of the judiciary and it allows the people to elect their leaders. That these are Islamic values and principles will only occur to those who appreciate the essence and substance of the faith.

A multi-racial country with an open economy like Malaysia cannot afford to alter the secular character of its Constitution to allow for the implementation of PAS Hudud enactment. Since Independence, this country has chosen the path of moderation. The prime minister has continued to steer the government along this path and has launched the Global Movement of Moderates to show to the world that the country is committed to the principle of moderation. The imposition of PAS Hudud laws will signify to the world that Malaysia has abandoned the moderate path. We will be seen as a country governed by religious laws which are subjected to the vagaries of interpretation of the ulama who are also fallible human beings.

In light of the above, the G25 urges the government to take a strong stand to protect the Federal Constitution as the supreme law of the land.

Concerned GroupVia email

LETTERSletters@thesundaily.com

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Let them eat cake

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SPEAK UP 13theSun ON THURSDAY | MARCH 26, 2015

He changed my lifeBY YAP MUN CHING

THE news that many Singaporeans have been dreading finally hit the headlines on Monday

morning. The passing of Singapore statesman Lee Kuan Yew will have reverberations around the world and nowhere more so than his city-state whose population has never known a time without his guidance. There will be many obituaries on his life and achievements but this will not be one of those. This article, instead, will be a simple account of how the actions of one great statesman influenced the life of an individual who has never met him and will now, definitely not meet him.

One of Kuan Yews oft-remarked virtues was his ability to have great foresight and the single-mindedness to pursue his vision. From the early days of Singapores independence, he had stressed on Singapores survival imperative. To do this, he set about creating a world-class education system and put in place incentives to attract some of the best talents in the region to the city. I was a beneficiary of one of these policies.

Over 20 years ago, I joined a large group of Malaysian students in relocating south after being awarded an Asean scholarship. I was barely 15, only been to Singapore once on a rare family trip and previously attended a

poorly funded neighbourhood school. The opportunities opened up by the scholarship were life-changing. Like my fellow scholars, I was enrolled in one of Singapores top schools and the differences were stark. Classes were smaller by about 10 students, teachers were well-trained and labs fully-equipped. We switched our medium of instruction to English and for extra-curricular activities, there were science camps, micromouse competitions and foreign language classes, all publicly funded. Although Malaysians made up the largest number of scholars, Singapores scholarship programme did not only target Asean citizens. Over the four years that I attended secondary school and thereafter, junior college, there were growing numbers of Hong Kong scholars, China scholars as well as Indian scholars.

In the cold light of day, none of this came from any altruistic intentions as the name of the scholarship tended to suggest. Singapores objective has always been to ensure it has the people resources to fuel its ambitions. What better way than to capitalise on the short-sightedness of neighbouring countries in pushing away their own talent? It is by no

accident that all my fellow Malaysian scholars were non-bumiputra, and the majority have remained in Singapore, working as doctors, architects, lawyers, lecturers and bankers. Singapores success today is in no small way thanks to the contributions of these skilled Malaysians and Kuan Yew has often alluded to this when he

reminisced on the ill-fated Malaysia-Singapore union. Although I have always felt regret at the loss of so many of my friends, without his vision, I would probably have had a very different future.

Quite at the opposite end of the spectrum, the other lesson that I learnt from Kuan Yew is that growth can come at a heavy price and each citizen must take a stand on how much we are willing to sacrifice in the name of progress. Quite soon after I moved, this dilemma came into sharp focus when I met my extended family in Singapore. In the 1960s, one of my

aunts had married a Singapore political activist. She gained three children from her husbands first marriage and went on to have another four. My uncle was one of the early victims of the draconian Internal Security Act (ISA) that the post-colonial governments of Malaysia and Singapore retained from the British.

As a member of the Socialist Front, formed by a breakaway faction of the Peoples Action Party, my uncle was among those detained in a wide anti-Communist sweep. He was later released on condition that he would no longer be involved in political activities but the subsequent years were tough on the family. At

times, my then-homemaker aunt had to raise the large family as the sole breadwinner and as a schoolgirl, I would visit her in the bowels of one of Singapores shopping malls where she worked as a cleaner. Under the meritocratic system that Kuan Yew built, my cousins eventually thrived and are now fully integrated and successful Singapore citizens. Yet, until the day he died, my uncle never fully made peace with his fate and his convictions were never understood nor shared by his children.

In my later years working as a

journalist, I came across many more stories like this from seasoned seniors including the late MGG Pillai, who was blacklisted from entering Singapore for his critical views of the city-states government, and former Utusan Melayu editor-in-chief Said Zahari who was detained for 17 years under the ISA for union activism. Said Zahari, who now lives in Malaysia, holds the distinction of being the second longest-serving political detainee in Singapore. It is in learning about the hardships of these individuals that I came to realise that there is no perfect system. There is always a price to pay for progress and we each have a role to play in ensuring that a balance exists between the rights of the state and the rights of the individual.

In remembering Kuan Yew today, I thank him for the opportunities that his foresight has given me as a young student. Much as I once chafed against the hard Confucian line that his system demanded, I am able to appreciate nonetheless that it has many redeeming qualities, not least the many safe and secure lives of my friends and family across the border.

Ultimately, his system may not be for me but the experiences that I gained while living in an order of his creation, helped me decide what is important for me and one of it is to speak up when injustices far outweigh any purported gain to the collective good.

REMEMBERINGLEE KUAN YEW

1923 2015

MEDIA & MARKETING14theSun ON THURSDAY | MARCH 26, 2015

Striking gold!L

IKE all good things that must come to an end, Tiger Beers Celebration of Golden

Prosperity campaign did too but culminated with a grand and exciting event where 44 loyal consumers were rewarded with pure gold.

Held at the brewerys Tavern, the finale saw 10 elated consumers walk away with 500g of pure gold worth up to RM85,000 each and another 34 each taking home 10g of pure gold.

To be shortlisted, these consumers had to purchase any big bottle of Tiger Beer, Guinness, Heineken or Anchor during the campaign period. They had to look out for specific winning bottle cap liners.

Besides, winning pure gold, many consumers also received other exciting prizes during the campaign. Prizes in all totalled to a whopping RM1.2 million and included giving away some 100,000 bottles of Tiger Radler and 800 ang pow packets filled with RM388 each.

At the finale, the 44 finalists were ushered to the House of Gold to strike upon golden eggs which revealed their prizes.

We are exceptionally pleased that the campaign received strong interest and participation from our loyal consumers, nationwide, this year. This is our way to reach out to our consumers to show our

Above left: One of the 10 winners of 500g of pure gold Vijayan Muniandy with Essaadi at the grand fi nale-cum-prize giving event.

Above right: Another one of the 10 elated 500g pure gold prize winners Lai San Lian and Essaadi.

Right: Sek View Leong randomly makes his choice that determines which golden egg he gets to crack open. He was one of the 500g pure gold winners.

A group photo of all 44 winners of pure gold with the Guinness Anchor Berhad management team during the grand fi nale event.

Vijayan Muniandy, 45, from Shah Alam, Selangor.

The moment I struck the golden egg and found out the prize I got, I was blank for a moment. Only later, my heart was filled with joy. I am planning to share this prize with four other friends who were there at the restaurant when I got the winning bottle cap liner. As for my portion, I am planning to donate to charity.

Cheong Yong Man, 58, from Jalan Kuchai Lama, Kuala Lumpur.

I have been a supporter of Tiger Beer for more than 20 years and this is the first time I am winning something big. I am so happy that I can finally renovate my house with the cash from the pure gold.

Wong Vooi Soon, 47, from Raub, Pahang.I am very excited as I never imagined

that I can be one of the 500g pure gold

winners. I have supported Tiger products for more than 10 years and this is the first time I am winning such a big prize. I am planning to save the money from this pure gold for my children.

Selvaraja Krishnan, 45, from Jinjang Utara, Kuala Lumpur.

Although I do not have any idea on what to do with the 500g pure gold, I have made a decision to donate RM20,000 towards charity and a temple.

Lai San Lian 51, from Seremban, Negri Sembilan.

I am so excited, so happy, that is really how I feel right now. I have supported Tiger for more than 30 years. I am planning to save up some cash from the pure gold for my children, and will use the rest to continue supporting Tiger Beer by buying more of its products!

What some of the winners say ...

> A golden start to the Year of the Goat with Guinness Anchor Berhad

appreciation and reward them as a token of their continuous support.

Not only that, through this Celebration of Golden Prosperity campaign, we were also able to reward consumers with some entertaining on-ground events at various coffee shops and restaurants across Peninsular Malaysia, giving our loyal consumers a great start to a new year, said Guinness Anchor Berhad (GAB) managing director Hans Essaadi.

MARCH 26, 2015ON THURSDAY

MARCH 25, 2015

INDICES CHANGE

TURNOVER VALUE

2.039 bil RM2.122 bil

FBMEMAS 12,469.59 +22.71FBMKLCI 1,819.10 +5.06INDUSTRIAL 3,346.84 +9.02CONSUMER PRODUCTS 598.80 +2.67INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTs 135.32 -0.10CONSTRUCTION 296.60 -1.02TRADING SERVICES 239.55 +0.40FINANCE 16,080.99 +76.46PROPERTIES 1,302.55 -10.01PLANTATIONS 7,807.83 +12.39MINING 571.45 +4.05FBMSHA 13,058.98 -3.57FBMACE 6,971.15 +78.60TECHNOLOGY 21.29 +0.08

MARCH 25, 2015

STOCK VOL CLSG (sen) +/- (sen)

ASIABIO 150,300,500 11 UNCHGENETEC 108,427,000 22.5 +3.5PRIVA 105,516,800 37.5 +3.5MPAY 44,963,300 27.5 +1.5MQTECH 35,524,500 17 UNCH AWC 35,454,100 45.5 +5WINTONI 35,067,900 33.5 +3.5KRONO 30,749,600 32.5 +4KNM 27,184,400 64.5 +4.5CLIQ-WA 26,714,900 16.5 -3

SHARE prices on Bursa Malaysia closed higher yes-terday on bargain hunting in selected finance heavy-weights, dealers said.

The FBM KLCI closed 5.06 points higher at 1,819.1, after moving between 1,812.18 and 1,823.19 during the day.

On the Bursa scoreboard, gainers edged losers 449 to 391 with 298 counters unchanged, 632 untraded and 12 suspended. Total volume rose to 2.03 billion units worth RM2.12 billion,

Among heavyweights, Maybank gained 6 sen to RM9.21, TNB earned 4 sen to RM14.50 and Public Bank garnered 14 sen to RM18.56.

Axiata slipped 1 sen to RM7.06 and Sime Darby lost 4 sen to RM9.26.

A dealer said window-dressing activities in selected index-linked counters, especially finance stocks, helped to lift the FBM KLCI but the upside was capped by cautious sentiment amid weak regional markets.

Asian stocks took a breather following declines on Wall Street after a rise in US inflation, he said.

Meanwhile, FBM KLCI futures contracts on Bursa Malaysia Derivatives closed mostly higher in sync with the firmer cash market.

Spot month March 2015 and June 2015 added a point each to 1,818 and 1,809, and April 2015 earned 0.5 point to 1,816.5.

Turnover rose to 11,966 lots while open interest jumped to 54,906 contracts. Bernama

Bargain-huntingin fi nance stocks

Business Editor Presenna Nambiar Tel (Editorial) 03-7784 6688 Fax 03-7785 2624/5 Email sunbiz@thesundaily.com Tel (Advertising) 03-7784 8888 Fax 03-7784 4424 Email advertise@thesundaily.com

KLCI 1,819.10 5.06

STI 3,419.02 5.76

Hang Seng 24,528.23 128.63

SCI 3,660.73 30.68

Nikkei 19,746.20 32.75

TSEC 9,667.83 63.83

KOSPI 2,042.81 1.44

S&P/ASX200 5,973.32 4.23

10 MOST ACTIVES

KL MARKET SUMMARY

Amin sues Perak Corp> Wants company toinvite further offers from TNB or others for Integrax stock and seek minimum RM3.66 a share

BY RUPINDER SINGHsunbiz@thesundaily.com

PETALING JAYA: Integrax Bhds major shareholder Amin Halim Rasip is taking legal action against Perak Corporation Bhd (PCB) after it turned down his offer for its 5% stake in the port operator in favour of Tenaga Nasional Bhds (TNB) superior offer.

Amin, who is also a PCB shareholder, is seeking to add on a resolution at PCBs EGM tomorrow to seek alternative offers for the port operator at a minimum of RM3.66 per share.

Yesterday, Amin said he has given notice to PCB and its board of directors to table a Modified or Addition of Resolution at the EGM which requires PCB to invite further offers from TNB or any other party, and to seek a minimum price offer of RM3.66 per

Govt hopes to implementAr-Rahnu Act by next year BY EVA YEONGsunbiz@thesundaily.com

PETALING JAYA: The government is considering an Ar-Rahnu Act to regulate the Islamic pawnbroking industry in Malaysia, which has grown to almost RM5 billion a year, said Malaysia Gold Association (MGA) president Abd Razak Mohd A. Kadir.

The Ar-Rahnu business, which was set up 25 years ago, is currently regulated by the Pawnbrokers Act, which was enacted in 1972.

Now the government thinks its about time to do an Ar-Rahnu Act because Ar-Rahnu itself is a big market, worth almost RM5 billion a year. The players from Ar-Rahnu cover the entire spectrum of the industry as well because you have banks, cooperatives and even private limited players coming in, he told reporters at MGAs inaugural AGM yesterday.

Abd Razak said it is time to regulate the Ar-Rahnu business to make it more transparent and to answer current market needs as the business has evolved.

The government was open enough to ask for our input. Weve given our input and it has been taken positively. Well keep on engaging them. Theyve indicated to us that they would like to implement the Ar-Rahnu Act as an Act of Parliament by next year, he said.

In its engagement with the

Tanjung Offshore, Tan drop lawsuits against each otherPETALING JAYA: Tanjung Offshore Bhd has withdrawn its civil suit against director Tan Sri Tan Kean Soon and five others, soon after the cancellation of an EGM called by Kean Soon, who in turn has also dropped a lawsuit against several directors and officials of the company.

Tanjung Offshore said in a

statement yesterday that it has dropped the suit against Kean Soon, Muhammad Sabri Ab Ghani Sabri, Datuk Harzani Azmi, HMS Oil & Gas Sdn Bhd, Datuk Dr Nik Norzrul Thani N. Hassan Thani and Datin Norhafizah Mohd Nordin.

Kean Soon, now an executive director of Tanjung Offshore, has dropped his suit against the

companys legal adviser Datuk Seri Krishna Kumar Sivasubramaniam, independent, non-executive director Shahrizal Hisham Abdul Halim, executive director Eric Tan Wee Koh, corporate finance head Joachim Tan Seow Hoe and corporate finance officer Khairil Annuar Mohd Said.

On Monday, Tanjung Offshore announced the lifting of the

suspension of Kean Soon, Harzani and Sabris roles on the board. Sabri, however resigned on the same day, citing personal reasons.

Tanjung Offshore also announced it has dropped its defamation suit against Kean Soon and five others, namely Nik Norzrul, Norhafizah, Datuk Rosman Hassan, Datuk Norazman

Hamidun, Datuk Maheran Mohd Salleh and Tan Sam Eng.

Tomorrows EGM to remove George William Warren Jr, Datuk Ab Wahab Ibrahim and Sharizal Hisham Abdul Halim, has been cancelled following Nik Norzrul Thani, Maheran and Sam Engs appointments to the board and Warrens resignation.

Integrax share. I urge all PCB shareholders to

consider and vote for this Modified Resolution and achieve a higher value from any sale of the Integrax shares as its assets are strong with consistent cash flow and profit producing.

I also wish to inform PCB shareholders that I have also commenced legal action against PCB and its directors in respect of due care, diligence and judgement to be exercised always in the best interest of all PCB shareholders, he said in his letter.

On Tuesday, Amin said PCBs decision to recommend to its shareholders to vote in favour of TNBs offer of RM3.25 per share was imprudent and lacking care, diligence and judgement and not in the best interest of all PCB and Integrax shareholders.

Amin advised other shareholders of Integrax to wait for the outcome of the PCB EGM before making any decision on the sale of Integrax shares.

He reiterated that the strategic assets of of Lekir Bulk Terminal and Lumut Maritime Terminal are worth much more.

Amin also pointed to the review and valuation of Integrax done by M&A Securities Sdn Bhd, an independent adviser appointed by Integrax, which determined a value of RM3.66 per Integrax share.

He said Perak Corps recommendation to accept TNBs offer was based on a report by Affin Hwang which he argued does not include a proper valuation and which is arguably not independent.

PCB earlier rejected Amins offer to acquire its 5% stake in Integrax saying that TNBs offer was superior to his despite him offering a higher price.

It said Amins offer of RM3.50 a share for a 5% stake in the port operator, with a lockout period of three years for the remaining shares it owns in Integrax, constituted a clear strategic risk if it planned to dispose of its entire equity interest on a piece-meal basis.

On Feb 25, TNB made a revised offer Integrax at RM3.25 a share, up from its previous offer price of RM2.75 per share made in January. The revised share price places the valuation of Integrax at an estimated RM977.6 million, of which TNB would have to put up RM761.4 million for the acquisition.

government, MGA has also asked the government to relook the model of the pawnshop business and to consider changing it into a one-stop gold centre, which would enable pawnshops to buy and sell gold bars, gold dinars and possibly sell gold jewellery in the future.

We are already in the gold business, we accept gold as pawn. So why cant we sell for instance, gold bar or gold dinar

as well? It works for the people right? Or why cant we buy used gold or pre-owned gold? he questioned, adding that a one-stop gold centre would provide convenience to the public.

On the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST), MGA is working towards getting GST-exempt status for locally minted gold bars, which will be taxed 6% from April 1.

According to Abd Razak, investment precious metals (IPMs) comprising gold, silver and platinum are currently GST-exempt but for investment gold, only those accredited or certified by the London Bullion Market Association (LBMA) are GST-exempt.

In Malaysia, the market trading value for the IPMs is about RM10 billion annually, of which 90% are LBMA-accredited bullion and only about 10%

are locally minted, he said, adding that the standards of locally minted gold bars are the same with LBMA-accredited gold bars, either 999 or 995.

MGA secretary Datuk Wira Louis Ng Chun Hau said smaller local players will lose out thus the urgency for MGA to set up a technical committee to present its case to the Royal Malaysian Customs Department and the Finance Ministry.

Abd Razak said MGA will work on a proposal within the next three months and look at the possibility of working with Sirim to come up with standards for locally minted gold bars which can be recognised and exempted from GST.

MGA also wants to propose a GST model for gold jewellery to the government, similar to Turkey whereby GST is only imposed on value added such as labour cost and design, but not on the value of the gold.

Ng said Turkey is the worlds third largest importer and exporter of gold, with a vibrant gold trading market. Currently, gold is duty free in Malaysia but gold jewellery will be charged 6% GST from April 1. About 90% of the gold market in Malaysia is in jewellery form with 10% in the form of investment gold.

Ng said the local gold market will slow down for the first six months after GST is implemented as consumers adopt a wait-and-see attitude.

Abd Razak

Louis Ng

Participation Bought Sold NetBURSA MALAYSIA TRADE STATISTICS - 25/3/2015

%

Source: Bursa MalaysiaPreliminary stats (excluding trade amendments). For final data, please refer to www.bursamalaysia.com

54.0

17.6

28.4

100.0

RM m

1063.4

362.6

696.2

2122.2

RM m

1229.6

384.8

507.8

2122.2

RM m

-166.2

-22.2

188.4

0.0

Institutions

Retail

Foreign

mailto:sunbiz@thesundaily.commailto:advertise@thesundaily.commailto:sunbiz@thesundaily.commailto:sunbiz@thesundaily.comhttp://www.bursamalaysia.com/

SUNBIZ16theSun ON THURSDAY | MARCH 26, 2015

DGB Asia to boost overseas contribution to 50%PETALING JAYA: DGB Asia Bhd, formerly known as DSC Solutions Bhd, is looking to ramp up its operations in Vietnam and Thailand, as part of its plan to increase overseas revenue contribution to 50% within a year from the current 30%.

The group is also confident of turning around its fortunes in the financial year ending Sept 30, 2015. For the first quarter ended Dec 31, 2014, DGB returned to the black by registering RM139,000 in net profit compared with a net loss of RM538,000 in the previous corresponding period.

The group has been incurring losses over the past few years, with a net loss of RM5.16 million for the financial year ended Sept 30, 2014.

In a bid to revive its financial performance, DGB Asia managing director Datuk Pang Chow Huat said, the group will open offices in Vietnam and Thailand to cater to the growing demand in the two markets.

We believe we can get multi-million profits from there (Vietnam and Thailand), we see the Vietnam market growing better and in development, they need our support, so this is a good opportunity for DG