theSun | THRUSDAY FEBRUARY 5 2009
news without borders
briefs
Police: No illegal
gatherings
KUALA LUMPUR: Stern action
awaits those organising illegal
gatherings during the Thaipusam
festival at Batu Caves this week-
end, police warned yesterday.
The three-day event, which
is expected to attract some one
million Hindus, tourists and peo-
ple from all walks of life, should
be trouble-free and the cops are
leaving no stone unturned to
ensure a safe atmosphere.
Gombak OCPD Abdul Rahim
Abdullah told a news conference
yesterday that those wanting to
organise gatherings in the vicin-
ity of Batu Caves should apply
for a permit from the police.
Abdul Rahim also said police
would take action against those
who wear T-shirts with the tag of
“Hindraf” as the movement was
banned by the government last
year. – Bernama
Act against errant
officers: Cuepacs
KUALA LUMPUR: Cuepacs yes-
terday called on the govern-
ment to take disciplinary ac-
tion against errant senior civil
servants and decision-makers
to safeguard the integrity and
honour of the entire service.
Its general secretary, Ahmad
Shah Mohd Zin, said it was
most regrettable that the sen-
ior officers had to be rebuked
publicly by none other than the
prime minister who is the head
of the administration.
Ahmad was commenting
on the rebuke on Tuesday by
Datuk Seri Abdullah Abdullah
Lim, accompanied by
state officials, during his
visit to the Chew Jetty
yesterday.
MASRY CHE ANI/THESUN
791 lost jobs in Penang in January
by Opalyn Mok
newsdesk@thesundaily.com
GEORGE TOWN: Seven hundred and
ninety-one workers in Penang lost their
jobs in January but the unemployment
rate in the state is still low.
Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said
yesterday 3,251 workers from 129
companies in Penang were retrenched
last year.
Seventy-one companies on the is-
land retrenched 1,485 workers and 58
companies on the mainland retrenched
1,766 workers.
Last month, 11 companies on the
island retrenched 528 workers and 20
Badawi, who expressed his
displeasure at civil servants
who delay contract exten-
sions and slow things down
for the private sector.
Sugar may become
Selangor MB confirms move
to end water pact
subsidised item
PUTRAJAYA: Sugar may be
categorised as a subsidised item
in a bid to tackle the rising price
of sugar in the world market,
Domestic Trade and Consumer
Affairs Minister Datuk Shahrir
Abdul Samad said yesterday.
He said the cabinet is study-
ing the proposal pertaining to
the matter.
“We have proposed that
sugar be categorised as a
subsidised item under the gov-
ernment’s stimulus package,” he
told reporters.
Shahrir had earlier said the
price of sugar might be in-
creased after the Chinese New
Year celebration, following a hike
in the commodity’s price at the
international market.
The minister assured the
public there is enough supply of
sugar and they need not worry or
stock up the item. – Bernama
Illegal towers must
go by year-end
GEORGE TOWN: The owners of
the 407 illegal telecommuni-
cations structures in Penang
have been given until the end
of the year to “rationalise” the
structures.
Under the rationalisation
plan, the owners are required
to comply with the guidelines
to have the towers approved.
If not, they will be asked to re-
move the illegal structures or
the local councils will remove
the structures and bill them
the costs.
companies on the mainland retrenched
263 workers.
“Although the number of workers
retrenched in January is high, it has
not reached crisis level yet,” Lim said
at a press conference in his office in
Komtar.
He said there were still job
opportunities available. For example,
jobstreet.com had recently listed 843
job opportunities in Penang – 181 for
professionals and the rest for different
positions.
Later, Lim visited Chew Jetty on
Weld Quay, where five houses were
destroyed in a fire at 12.50am.
“The Welfare Department has given
by Karen Arukesamy
newsdesk@thesundaily.com
SHAH ALAM: Selangor Mentri
Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ib-
rahim confirmed yesterday that
he has asked Energy, Water and
Communications Minister Datuk
Shaziman Abu Mansor to terminate
the 30-year Selangor water conces-
sion agreement.
“Based on the audit report
presented to us in December, I
have written a letter, as a matter
of course, to the minister because
the agreement states if Syarikat
Bekalan Air Selangor (Syabas) did
not deliver as per the agreement
signed about four years ago, then
the state has a duty to ensure that
action is taken,” Khalid told a press
conference after a state executive
council meeting in his office.
He said that among the meas-
out aid to the victims but we (the state
government) will also be giving the
affected residents aid to help them
rebuild their houses,” he told reporters
at the jetty.
Lim also urged the clan jetties com-
mittee to ensure that all the houses on
the jetties are occupied, especially at
night.
“This way, if a fire broke out, it can
be detected earlier and put out before
it spreads,” he said.
It was learnt that the fire started
from an unoccupied house used as a
store by the owner.
The fire left about 20 residents
homeless but no one was hurt.
ures he proposed in his letter was
the termination of the contract.
However, Shaziman has not
replied to him yet.
“The minister must approve
whether we (the state government)
can take such an action,” he said.
On the outcome of the Selangor
State Economic Council (MTES)
meeting on the issue last Friday,
Khalid said: “Discussion is on-go-
ing. I think I should not reveal each
party’s position yet as it is still in
the negotiation stage.”
theSun reported on Friday that
Syabas, owned by Puncak Niaga
(70% share) and state investment
arm Kumpulan Darul Ehsan Bhd
(30%), had failed to fully comply
with the requirement for contracts
to be awarded on an open tender
basis.
The water concession agree-
ment was signed between the
Land belongs to state
govt, says Fairus
by Bernard Cheah
newsdesk@thesundaily.com
GEORGE TOWN: The land which
houses a rural nursery in Kuala Sungai
Pinang, Balik Pulau, belongs to the
state government.
Deputy Chief Minister (I) Moham-
mad Fairus Khairuddin said yesterday
the land, which used to belong to
the Penang Regional Development
Authority (Perda), was handed over
to the state government on July 3,
1993.
Showing the land grant issued by
the South West District Office at a
press conference, he said the state-
ment by Rural and Regional Develop-
ment Minister Tan Sri Muhammad
Muhd Taib that the land belonged to
Perda was unfounded.
During a visit to the nursery on
Tuesday, Muhammad had said that
Khalid gives Khir Toyo a week
to retract allegations
KUALA LUMPUR: Selangor Mentri Be-
sar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim has given his
predecessor, Datuk Seri Dr Mohamad
Khir Toyo, a week to retract two al-
legations which he deemed offensive
or face legal action for alleged libel.
The allegations, in two newspaper
reports, were related to the use of his
Lexus vehicle, and the offer of cattle
for sacrifice during the Aidil Adha
festivities.
Khalid’s lawyer, Sankara Nair, said
yesterday: “On our client’s instruc-
tions, we have sent two letters of
demand to Khir Toyo demanding an
apology, retraction and damages.”
5
federal and state governments and
Puncak Niaga.
The report said the audit of
Selangor’s water concessionnaire
operations revealed that more than
72% of the contracts worth a total
of RM600 million were awarded to
selected companies through direct
negiotiations and only 25% through
competitive open tender.
It said the audit had also found
more than RM325 million in dis-
crepancy between the summary
of contracts awarded in 2005, 2006
and 2007, and Syabas’ review docu-
ment.
The audit was a requirement be-
fore the company could be allowed
to implement a tariff increase,
which has been rescheduled to
March 31 from the initial Jan 1 this
year.
Earlier, Khalid announced that
state executive councillors Teresa
Kok and Iskandar A. Samad, and
Gombak MP and Bukit Antara-
bangsa assmblyman Azmin Ali
have been made members of the
Selangor Development Corpora-
tion (PKNS) board of directors in a
move to strengthen the state-owned
companies.
Kok is the chairman of the state
investment, industrialisation and
trade committee, and Iskandar is
the chairman of the housing, build-
ing and squatters management
committee.
neither the state government nor the
local village security and development
committee (JKKKN) had authority over
the land.
The committee had issued a letter
to the nursery asking it to vacate the
premises by Jan 31.
Fairus said the nursery administra-
tion was told to vacate the building
because it did not want to cooperate
with the JKKKN.
“The state government had given
a directive to the JKKKN to prioritise
community activities such as the
operation of a nursery and asked the
JKKKN to discuss with related groups
the coordination of the activities.
There was no directive given to the
nursery administration to stop its
operation,” he said.
He said the administration had
failed to respond to the committee’s
request to discuss several issues.
He said Khalid would be contented
with an apology and retraction from
Mohamad Khir.
Asked why the mentri besar was
proceeding with this action when the
Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC)
was investigating the issue of the cat-
tle sacrifice, Sankara said Khalid felt
he was innocent of any wrongdoing.
Asked why no action was being
brought against the People’s Anti-Cor-
ruption Movement (Gerak Malaysia)
for lodging a report with the MACC
on the issue, Sankara said more study
was required before he could advise
Khalid on it.