4 theSun | TUESDAY JUNE 23 2009

news without borders

Govt declares war on loansharks

by Charles Ramendran
newsdesk@thesundaily.com No unity govt

KUALA LUMPUR: The government declared war
against illegal moneylenders and along yester-
day pledging to put an end to their atrocities on
debtors.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hus-
sein said the government was mainly concerned
about the families of such debtors who often get
dragged in when the along face problems recover-
ing their loans.
“The families are harassed and threatened when
the debtors are unable to pay up. A RM3,000 loan
can swell to RM30,000 within months. This cannot
and will not be tolerated. I am warning these along
to put a stop to such acts as we are coming down
hard on them,” he said after visiting traders on
Lorong Haji Taib, off Jalan Chow Kit.
He said his ministry will study the root cause
of these issues to overcome the problems includ-
ing providing micro-credit loan facilities.
He said it was not the government’s respon-
sibility to rehabilitate debtors who get caught
in such predicament because of gambling or
drug-related activities.
Earlier, Hishammuddin, who was accompa-
nied by Kuala Lumpur police chief DCP Datuk
Mohd Sabtu Osman and mayor Datuk Ahmad
Fuad Ismail, said the plan to set up a permanent
police beat on Lorong Haji Taib has still not been
resolved because of the unavailability of land.
To overcome this, renting a building in the area will
be considered. Currently, a mobile police beat is station
at the area to keep watch over the “hot spot”.
Asked what were the grouses of the traders
when he met and spoke to them, he said: “ Surpris-
ingly they did not complain about the undesirable
activities which goes on there but raised matters
like parking and traffic problems. Maybe if I come
here alone to meet them, they may have more
to say.”
Hishammuddin said the initiative of cleaning
up such sleazy areas does not lie solely with the
police but also the joint effort of other agencies
such as City Hall and the Health Department.
Meanwhile, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri
Musa Hassan said the public should not doubt the
credibility or blame the police for failing to wipe out
prostitution on Lorong Haji Taib, Bernama reports.
He said prostitution cannot be wiped out
+based on arrests alone or by setting up a police
beat in the area because such activities will go
on as long as cheap hotels, which act as their
hideouts, continue to exist there.
To wipe out the activities, a holistic approach
was needed with the help and cooperation of all
the enforcement authorities, especially City Hall,
he said. “Police have been relentless in taking ac-
tion by detaining and charging those involved but
they normally return to such immoral activities
once they are released and there will be no end to
the menace,” he told reporters after handing out
awards at the Putrajaya police headquarters.
ZULKIFLI ERSAL/THESUN
with Umno/BN,
says PR
Home Minister
Datuk Seri
Hishammuddin
Hussein meets by Maria J. Dass
traders on newsdesk@thesundaily.com
Lorong Haji
Taib, near Jalan KUALA LUMPUR: The Pakatan Rakyat
Chow Kit in (PR) Council of Leaders has reaffirmed
Kuala Lumpur, its rejection of the idea of forming a
yesterday. unity government with Umno/Barisan
He was Nasional.
accompanied Ina statement signed by Parti Keadi-
by Kuala lan Rakyat (PKR) adviser and Opposi-
Lumpur police tion Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim,
chief DCP PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi
Datuk Mohd Awang and DAP senior leader Lim Kit
Sabtu Osman Siang yesterday, the council said: “The
and Kuala attempt (to forge a unity government)
Lumpur mayor was clearly a malicious and desperate
Datuk Ahmad attempt to compromise the integrity of
Fuad Ismail. the increasingly popular PR.”
Anwar, who read out the statement
at a press conference, said that at the
meeting held during the lunch break
at Parliament, all the PR component
parties reiterated their commitment to
each other and to strengthen the coali-
tion “in order to help form the future
federal government”.
“The PR agrees to adopt an open
approach and is willing to hold discus-
sions with the leaders of BN on issues
of national interest, such as economic
recovery, improving the quality of
Airlines education, restoring the integrity of
the judiciary, abrogation of the Internal
drop Security Act, the RM12.5 billion Port
company Klang Free Zone scandal, abuse of
creed after power by the police leadership during
times of increasing crime, eradication
complaints of corruption, establishment of good
pg 7 governance, and to hold immediately
a free and fair election to resolve the
Perak crisis,” he said.
Anwar, flanked by
Hadi and Lim, at the
press conference.
Asked the status of the discussions
pertaining to Islamic issues, Anwar said
it had been announced earlier that three
members each from PAS, PKR and DAP
have been appointed to discuss such
issues.
Asked if the group would pursue
discussions with Umno on religious
issues, he said: “There is no mention (at
yesterday’s meeting).”
Asked if the issue of the unity
government talks had affected unity
among the parties in PR, Anwar said:
“As I had mentioned before, when the
issue arose, I had called Hadi, who was
overseas, and he was consistent in his
stand that there were no plan for PAS
to leave PR.”
“I don’t know if you (the media)
understand the issue of unity which
Umno has been (trying to promote)
between Umno and PAS, while leaving
out the (other) PR (partners),” Abdul
Hadi said.
“This is a very malicious and slander-
ous way to play up the issue which does
not benefit unity among the rakyat.
“We do not want to work with Umno
if this is their way.”
He, however, said PAS had the right,
and was ready, to discuss matters
pertaining to national, economic issues
and issues of democracy, which are of
benefit to the country as a whole.
Lim said PR had experienced its
first crisis of confidence “and we have
come together and this joint statement
shows that we are committed to move
forward to show that we are different
from BN”.

BN still capable of running country: Najib

by Husna Yusop
newsdesk@thesundaily.com
PUTRAJAYA: The rejection of a unity govern-
ment by Pakatan Rakyat does not affect the
Barisan Nasional, Prime Minister Datuk Seri
Najib Abdul Razak said yesterday.
He said the notion that the BN govern-
ment is weak does not arise as the idea for
Umno and PAS to work together and the
term “unity government” had originated
from the opposition party.
“We are still capable of running the
country. No problem. Even without unity
government or in whatever form, we will
continue,” he told reporters after opening
the 7th Heads of Mission Conference here.
“Our government is still strong and we
are capable of implementing the reform
agenda that we have planned.”
Najib said Umno accepted the idea posi-
tively although it came from PAS because it
was always open to good ideas.
“And we still maintain our principle that
something that is good for the country should
be supported even though it had come from
the opposition,” he said.
Earlier, in his speech, Najib said he will
make several significant announcements
on the liberalisation agenda in the coming
weeks, in addition to the liberalisation of the
financial services sector.
“With these measures, we hope that in due
course the services sector will increase its
contribution to the economy from 55% pres-
ently to over 70% in line with the structure of
other fully matured, developed economies.”
On criticism that Singapore Minister Men-
tor Lee Kuan Yew had been over-welcomed
during his recent visit to Malaysia and his
statements appeared to be interfering in the
internal matters of Malaysia, Najib said he
did not think Lee wanted to interfere.
“His visit was a fact-finding tour of the
situation in Malaysia. I don’t think we have
given him more than what he deserved.”