2 œ theSun | FRIDAY JULY 17 2009

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DPM: As minority, accept
assembly’s decision
PUTRAJAYA: There’s a lesson
to be learnt from a decision of
the Selangor state legislative
assembly on Wednesday: “If
one is in a weaker position,
one’s voice will not be heard.”
“That is a fact Barisan Nasional
has to accept, being the minority
in the (Selangor state) assembly,”
Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri
Muhyiddin Yassin said.
“We accept it because that
is the system we practise now,
whereby the majority usually
decides. Although we believe
we have a strong basis for our
points, certain groups may at-
tempt to stop us because we
don’t have the majority voice.
“However, it was the
Dewan’s procedure. I do not
want to challenge it. We have
to accept it,” he said at the
Education Ministry’s Excellent
Service Awards presentation
yesterday.
Muhyiddin was asked to
comment on the assembly’s
Lawyer lodges police report against Guan Eng
GEORGE TOWN: A lawyer yesterday
lodged a police report against Penang
their pre-conversion names for social
and personal reasons. He is hitting below
Darshan Singh has called on police to
investigate his report under Section 4 (1)
decision to suspend Opposition Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng for alleg- the belt,” Darshan Singh said in his and Section 298 (a) of the Sedition Act 1948
Leader Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir edly denigrating and insulting him and his report at the George Town police head- as well as Section 298 of the Penal Code for
Toyo for a year and strip him of religion, Islam. quarters. turning the Kampung Buah Pala issue into
his privileges for failing to attend Darshan Singh Khaira, who is legal “He is trying to turn Kampung Buah Pala a racial and religious one.
a March hearing of its Select adviser to the Kampung Buah Pala Resi- residents who are mostly Hindus against “He and others of his ilk had in the
Committee for Competency, Ac- dents Association, said a statement by Lim me. This is diabolical,” he said, adding that past began a campaign against Islam with
countability and Transparency, which was reported in Sin Chew Daily on Lim was also “not fit to be chief minister for slogans like ‘No to Islam state’, and ‘Islam
and for insulting the committee July 11 and theSun on Wednesday were many other reasons”. over my dead body’,” he said.
and subsequently the assembly personal attacks and rude. Lim had last Thursday questioned Darshan Singh also called on PAS and
in statements made in his blog “Lim has insulted hundreds of Chinese, Darshan Singh’s use of his Punjabi name DAP to take disciplinary action against Lim,
and to the media. Indians and other converts who retained although he had converted to Islam. who is DAP secretary-general.
Four other BN assemblymen
were suspended for six months
and also stripped of their privi-
leges for statements they had
made.
Muhyiddin said he was
puzzled at the decision as the
issues raised by Khir Toyo and
the others were not against
Pakatan Rakyat assemblymen.
‘BN will not interfere in
internal party matters’
“Whatever it is, we now
know their politics. Maybe they
could not bear the continuous
arguments and attacks from
BN, so they decided to deny us
our chance to play a role in the
Dewan.”
by Husna Yusop Lek to appear before an inquiry on Aug nal affairs of any party,” the deputy prime
newsdesk@thesundaily.com 4 over a 2007 DVD sex scandal involv- minister and education minister said
ing him, Muhyiddin said: “Clearly it is when approached by newsmen at the
PUTRAJAYA: Barisan Nasional deputy the party’s internal matter. (Even as BN Education Ministry’s Excellent Service
chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin deputy chairman), there is a certain clear Awards presentation yesterday.
says the ruling coalition will not interfere demarcation as to when you can go in On Kelantan Mentri Besar Datuk Nik
in the internal affairs of its component and when you can’t. If it is a matter of Aziz Nik Mat blaming the BN’s practice of
parties. party policy, let the respective component “money politics” for its sharply-reduced
Commenting on a notice issued by parties deal with whatever it is.” majority in the Manek Urai by-election,
the MCA disciplinary committee to its “Generally, I don’t think it is fair for Muhyiddin said: “There were many
deputy president Datuk Seri Chua Soi me to make any comments on the inter- contributing factors. First is the issue of
development. Many people voiced their
need for development. But this cannot
take place immediately or in one or two
days. It needs time. So I said, if BN wins,
Muhyiddin they will get development.
presents a “Second, many people are confident
certificate of in the new prime minister and his poli-
appreciation cies. In 100 days, he has announced all
to Khusaini kinds of attractive ideas. The seriousness
Saimon, of the current leadership in safeguarding
assistant the well being of the people has touched
administrator their hearts.”
(secretariat) He also said Nik Aziz had not dared
of the respond to his challenge to show the
Examination development that PAS had brought to
Board. Looking Kelantan with its slogan “Membangun
on are (from Bersama Islam” (Develop With Islam).
left) Deputy “They knew they would lose if he
Education had replied, because the answer would
Minister Datuk not have convinced the people. PAS has
Dr Wee Ka failed but they are only using Islam to
Siong, ministry gain support.”
secretary- Muhyiddin said the party should not
general Tan Sri blame others for its loss of support, and
Dr Zulkurnain should instead check on the situation
Awang, and within the opposition Pakatan Rakyat
education coalition.
director- “In the past few months, people have
general Tan seen that PR is very loose and in the midst
Sri Alimuddin of a crisis in Kedah and Penang. Their
Mohd Dom. coalition is fragile,” he said, claiming that
the BN had been re-energised into getting
closer to youth to enable them to better
BERNAMAPIX

understand the party’s struggle.

UiTM Alor Gajah campus closed H1N1m fi gures

KUALA LUMPUR: Universiti
tive involves all students, lecturers
Teknologi Mara (UiTM) Campus in and staff of the UiTM Alor Gajah,” he
Alor Gajah, Malacca has been closed
for nine days following the outbreak
said in a statement last night.
In PETALING JAYA, Karen
of the Influenza A H1N1 at the cam- Arukesamy reports that Malaysia
pus since last week. recorded 10 new cases of A(H1N1)
Health Director-General Tan Sri
Dr Mohd Ismail Merican said the
in the past 24 hours, all local trans-
missions, bringing the total number
closure was due to the large number of confirmed cases to 835.
of the flu cases reported among the
students there and to contain the
Two of the latest patients have
been admitted to hospital.
spread of the virus. To date, 705 (84%) of the total
“The closure of the UiTM Campus number of patients had recovered
is effective immediately until Friday,
and were in stable condition.
July 24. The direc- “The government’s aim now is to
prevent sustained lo-
cal transmissions in
INFLUENZA A(H1N1) HOTLINE the community and
delay the influenza
» 03-88810200/300 from spreading,”
» 03-88834414/415 Health Minister
Datuk Seri Liow Tiong
Lai said after officiat-
ing a hepatology conference (as of 8a yesterday)
organised by the Malaysian
Liver Foundation yesterday.
“We are doing the best we New cases:
» 10
missions)
can, which is effective for now,” (al local trans
l
he said.
“The public’s cooperation is very
important. So far, public response
Total:» 835
(70 5 discharged)
has been so good, that within the
second month of the outbreak,
we were able to control and de- World total:
» 116,954
)
lay the spread unlike most other 146 countries
(557 deaths in
countries where there were major
outbreaks,” Liow said.
The number of (H1N1) cases to the pandemic, including the min-
worldwide has, to date, escalated istry’s campaign on the use of face
to 116,954, with 557 deaths, in 146 masks and hand sanitisers, as well
countries. as other measures to be launched
Two countries, Marshall Islands next week.
and Tonga, reported their first cases “Several talks and seminars will
in the past 24 hours. be organised at district level to create
Liow urged the public to par- better awareness and continuously
ticipate in programmes in relation remind the public of their role.”