Senior state executive councillor Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham has blamed the federal government for the high cost of the state's purchase of 16 units of Toyota Camry 2.4 for the stste exco members and senior officers.
He said the refusal of the federal government to give tax exemption resulted in the stste government5 having to pay RM167,000 for each Toyota Camry compared with the actual price of only RM97,000.
The cars will replace the Proton Perdana V6 Executive as the official cars for the state.
Pointing out that the allocation for the purchase was approved by the previous Basrisan nasional(BN) state government, Ngeh said the decision was to avoid wastage of public funds in terms of the high maintenance cost for the existing official cars.
It is more cost-effective to maintain Toyota Camry cars than the present fleet of Proton Perdana V6. Wewant to save more by buying new cars as the maintenance cost will not be that high," he told reporters after the Perak DAP convention, in Ipoh testerday.
On Friday, Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddn said the state would fork out RM2.7 million to acquire the new cars, saying it was costly to maintain the Perdana fleet.
Pangkor assemblyman datuk Dr. Zambry Abd Kadir described the state government as not fulfilling its promose to spend prudently.
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
PM on why defence spending must continue
Prime Minister Datuk Ser Abdullah Ahmad Badawi yesterday said defence spending must continue despite the gloomy economic outlook as the nation's security cannot be compromised.
Speaking at the launch of the Langkawi International Matritime and Aerospace Exhibition(LIMA'09),Abdullah, who is also defence minister, said the recent incident in the Gulf of Aden where two Malaysian tankers were seized and their crews taken hostage showed that governments cannot afford to relax when it concerns national security and the lives of their citizens.
"We need to be vigilant and continue to improve the overall defence and security, especially along the Straits of Malacca and in East Malaysia," he said.
He said despite the gloomy economic outlook, analysts believe Asean's defence and security spending will exceed US$350million in years leading to 2020.
Abdullah said Asia's defence market poses many opportunities in the medium and long term for suppliers over the next 15 years as regional governments seek to modernise their navies, airforces and security agencies.
LIMA '09 is scheduled to be held in Langkawi from Dec 1-5 next year.
Speaking at the launch of the Langkawi International Matritime and Aerospace Exhibition(LIMA'09),Abdullah, who is also defence minister, said the recent incident in the Gulf of Aden where two Malaysian tankers were seized and their crews taken hostage showed that governments cannot afford to relax when it concerns national security and the lives of their citizens.
"We need to be vigilant and continue to improve the overall defence and security, especially along the Straits of Malacca and in East Malaysia," he said.
He said despite the gloomy economic outlook, analysts believe Asean's defence and security spending will exceed US$350million in years leading to 2020.
Abdullah said Asia's defence market poses many opportunities in the medium and long term for suppliers over the next 15 years as regional governments seek to modernise their navies, airforces and security agencies.
LIMA '09 is scheduled to be held in Langkawi from Dec 1-5 next year.
Residents plan to sue for compensation
Residents in Bukit Antarabangsa affected by Saturday's landslide plan to sue the authorities and claim compensation.
The chairman of the Bukit Antarabangsa Action Committee, Datuk N.Muneandy, said yesterday the committee will seek legal advice because they are confident of having strong evidence to pursue their claims.
"We have the evidence like photographs taken before the landlide and complaints lodged with the local authority," he told reporters.
Without stating the amount of compensation to be claimed, Muneandy said some residents had notified the local authority about the possibility of landslides happening.
"they had reported fallen trees, which indicated that something undesirable could happen but the local authority only sent people to cut the trees and there were no other preventive measures taken," he said.
Muneandy also urged the government to immediately form a special committee, including representatives of the residents, sothat they could be kept informed of any development in Bukit Antarabangsa.
"This is important as the problem involves our safety and our homes and, therefore, we want the government to act fast," he said.
Ealier, representatives of the Bukit Antarabangsa residents held a discussion with the landslide search and rescure operations chief, Datuk Khalid Abu Bakar, to get the details of the operations.
Khalid promised to intensify the security surveilance in the landslide area to prevent looting. He also urged residents to lodge police reports.
"We did get requests from residents who wanted to come in to get their belongings, including their cars stuck in the rubble , but we cannot allow them to do it now as the ground is still unstable and could endanger their ives," he said.
The chairman of the Bukit Antarabangsa Action Committee, Datuk N.Muneandy, said yesterday the committee will seek legal advice because they are confident of having strong evidence to pursue their claims.
"We have the evidence like photographs taken before the landlide and complaints lodged with the local authority," he told reporters.
Without stating the amount of compensation to be claimed, Muneandy said some residents had notified the local authority about the possibility of landslides happening.
"they had reported fallen trees, which indicated that something undesirable could happen but the local authority only sent people to cut the trees and there were no other preventive measures taken," he said.
Muneandy also urged the government to immediately form a special committee, including representatives of the residents, sothat they could be kept informed of any development in Bukit Antarabangsa.
"This is important as the problem involves our safety and our homes and, therefore, we want the government to act fast," he said.
Ealier, representatives of the Bukit Antarabangsa residents held a discussion with the landslide search and rescure operations chief, Datuk Khalid Abu Bakar, to get the details of the operations.
Khalid promised to intensify the security surveilance in the landslide area to prevent looting. He also urged residents to lodge police reports.
"We did get requests from residents who wanted to come in to get their belongings, including their cars stuck in the rubble , but we cannot allow them to do it now as the ground is still unstable and could endanger their ives," he said.
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Don't interfere, politicians told
Politicians should not interfere while police personnel are carrying out their duties, said Inspector-General of Police tan Sri Musa hassan
"One politician recently sent 100 traffic sommonses and told me to cancel them. He claimed the offenders were his constittuents and did not have money to settle the summonses.
"There are also policians whp tell my OCPDs not to summon those ridding their motorcycles in thr kampung areas without helmets. How can we do that?" he asked.
Musa, who was speaking at a national forum on crime and policing, said the police would not be able to carry out their duties effectively if these politicians continued to interfere.
Earlier, he admitted that the country's crime rate was on the rise but was not as bad as reported in the media and blods.
"last year's crime rate per 100,000 population was only 772 cases caopared to Hong Kong (1,166), Japan(1,569) and Australia(4,270). The rising crime rate is actually a global problem but iat is still at a manageable level.
"I have already taken steps to counter the rise in crime rate like improving the response time to a crime scene, building police stations in new housing estates and installing CCTV cameras in crime-prone arreas."
On the small number of chinese joining the police force, Musa said most wanted to be officers and not constables.
"There is still a shortage of policemen despite recruiting over 7000 people a few months ago.
The force now has over 97,000 personnel and needs at least 40,000 more.
"I have asked for another 60,000 to be recruited over the next five years but this still will not be enough as there are hundreds of retirements annually," he added.
Musa said he also wanted the national crime solving rate to be at least 40%.
"From today, the public can lodge reports at the various marine police bases nationawide. I have also directed the marine police personnel to be involved in crime prevention on land instead in crime prevention on land instead of just the high seas.
"The General OperationsForce, whose duties ised used to be only in the jungles, now have awider scope of work. They are responsible for security in airports and certain islands in the country,"he said.
On the police force being biased against yhe participants of illegal gatherings in Kuala LUMPUR, HE SAID THE POLICE ONTRY ACTED BECAUSE it was getting a bit out of hand.
"One politician recently sent 100 traffic sommonses and told me to cancel them. He claimed the offenders were his constittuents and did not have money to settle the summonses.
"There are also policians whp tell my OCPDs not to summon those ridding their motorcycles in thr kampung areas without helmets. How can we do that?" he asked.
Musa, who was speaking at a national forum on crime and policing, said the police would not be able to carry out their duties effectively if these politicians continued to interfere.
Earlier, he admitted that the country's crime rate was on the rise but was not as bad as reported in the media and blods.
"last year's crime rate per 100,000 population was only 772 cases caopared to Hong Kong (1,166), Japan(1,569) and Australia(4,270). The rising crime rate is actually a global problem but iat is still at a manageable level.
"I have already taken steps to counter the rise in crime rate like improving the response time to a crime scene, building police stations in new housing estates and installing CCTV cameras in crime-prone arreas."
On the small number of chinese joining the police force, Musa said most wanted to be officers and not constables.
"There is still a shortage of policemen despite recruiting over 7000 people a few months ago.
The force now has over 97,000 personnel and needs at least 40,000 more.
"I have asked for another 60,000 to be recruited over the next five years but this still will not be enough as there are hundreds of retirements annually," he added.
Musa said he also wanted the national crime solving rate to be at least 40%.
"From today, the public can lodge reports at the various marine police bases nationawide. I have also directed the marine police personnel to be involved in crime prevention on land instead in crime prevention on land instead of just the high seas.
"The General OperationsForce, whose duties ised used to be only in the jungles, now have awider scope of work. They are responsible for security in airports and certain islands in the country,"he said.
On the police force being biased against yhe participants of illegal gatherings in Kuala LUMPUR, HE SAID THE POLICE ONTRY ACTED BECAUSE it was getting a bit out of hand.
Team of Bloggers to explain Perak govt policies
The Pakatan Rakyat state government will soon have its own team of bloggers to help it disseminate information.
Menteri Besar Datuk seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin said the state government was setting up u a "bloggers' secretariat" to ensure accurate information was being channelled to the rakyat.
It will help the state counter accusations and inform the public about government policies.
The secretariat will be headed by Nizar's press secretary Anuar Hashim.
Nizar said the move to set up the secretariat was made after a meeting on Wednesday with 26 bloggers who agreed to assist the state disseminate information on policy matters and programmes.
"This is also to counter and defend the state's stand on certain issues and policies which have been played up by the opposition," he said in his speech at a dinner organised by the state Parti Keadilan Rakyat Youth(Angkatan Muda Keadilan ) on Wednesday.
Also present were DAP national Youth chief Nga Kor Ming, PKR national youth chief Shamsul Iskandar, Perak PKR Youth head Anuar Zakaria and Perak PKR chairman Ismail Yusoff.
Nga said he was disappointed with RTM as it had not not invited the menteri besar to go on air and explain state policies to the people.
"It has been nine months since Pakatan Rakyat took over the administration of the state but RTM has yet to invite the menteri besar and has only been criticising the state government."
Menteri Besar Datuk seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin said the state government was setting up u a "bloggers' secretariat" to ensure accurate information was being channelled to the rakyat.
It will help the state counter accusations and inform the public about government policies.
The secretariat will be headed by Nizar's press secretary Anuar Hashim.
Nizar said the move to set up the secretariat was made after a meeting on Wednesday with 26 bloggers who agreed to assist the state disseminate information on policy matters and programmes.
"This is also to counter and defend the state's stand on certain issues and policies which have been played up by the opposition," he said in his speech at a dinner organised by the state Parti Keadilan Rakyat Youth(Angkatan Muda Keadilan ) on Wednesday.
Also present were DAP national Youth chief Nga Kor Ming, PKR national youth chief Shamsul Iskandar, Perak PKR Youth head Anuar Zakaria and Perak PKR chairman Ismail Yusoff.
Nga said he was disappointed with RTM as it had not not invited the menteri besar to go on air and explain state policies to the people.
"It has been nine months since Pakatan Rakyat took over the administration of the state but RTM has yet to invite the menteri besar and has only been criticising the state government."
Monday, November 24, 2008
Lodge Report on vandalised signs, CM tells MPPP
The Penang Island Municipal Council(MPPP) has been instructed to lodge police reports on the vandalisation of two bilingual road signs, both in Malay and Arabic.
Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said this was necessary to prevent further sabotage of bilingual road signs meant to help tourists.
In a statement yesterday, he noted that other signs with Mandarin and Tamil were not affected.
The vandalised road sign were found sprayed with red paint on Sunday morning and have since been cleaned up.
An MPPP wprker who spotted the defaced road signs lodged a report at the Campbell Street police station yesterday afternoon.
In a separate statement, state executive councillor Chow Kon Yeow said the worker had taken photographs of the road signs with his mobile phone before he helped to clean them.
Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said this was necessary to prevent further sabotage of bilingual road signs meant to help tourists.
In a statement yesterday, he noted that other signs with Mandarin and Tamil were not affected.
The vandalised road sign were found sprayed with red paint on Sunday morning and have since been cleaned up.
An MPPP wprker who spotted the defaced road signs lodged a report at the Campbell Street police station yesterday afternoon.
In a separate statement, state executive councillor Chow Kon Yeow said the worker had taken photographs of the road signs with his mobile phone before he helped to clean them.
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