Exclusive Politics: GE Polls date rolls on most minds

PUTRAJAYA: September has now emerged as a likely month for the coming general election with many arguments put up against the earlier speculation of June.

One contention is that several issues will need some time to be resolved. Then, there are the travel plans of the Prime Minister which seems to rule out the June polls.

It is understood that Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak is scheduled to visit the United States in the second week of May, where he is expected to meet officials of the Global Science and Innovation Advisory Council in New York.

The council was set up to enable the country to make a quantum leap from a middle-income nation to a high-income one.

According to sources, Najib is likely to spend five days in the United States, after which he may take a short break with his family.

“We do not know whether this is a red herring to the press as preparations for the polls are already in full steam,” one Barisan Nasional official said when told of the latest speculated election date.

On Saturday, Najib hinted that the 13th general election was around the corner, saying he sensed that the people's confidence in the Government had increased and that “rasa rasa bunyi dah dekat (it feels like the polls are imminent)”.

“During my travels around the country in the past one or two days, I could see that the confidence of the people has grown. I can feel it ... In politics, we must feel and I feel it (the general election) is near,” he added.

June is regarded as the next window period for the Prime Minister to hold the polls but there are still issues needing closure.

With April just days away, Barisan Nasional component parties are still busy resolving seat swapping issues and the list of candidates has yet to be finalised.

Najib is also making a two-day visit to China from March 31 where he will attend the launch of the Qizhou Industrial Park in Nanning with his Chinese counterpart Wen Jiabao.

If the Prime Minister does not hold the polls by June, they will have to be held after July when the fasting month will begin.

“The whole of August will be taken up by the Hari Raya celebrations and the run-up to National Day,” an analyst said, adding that Najib could take advantage of feel-good factors such as the holiday mood and the Merdeka anniversary spirit of patriotism.

If September was picked, another analyst said, it would have to be the first week of the month.

“It cannot be late September as the haj season would have begun, ending only in October.Then, there is the Parliament meeting from Sept 24 until Nov 27, where the Budget needs to be tabled. Once it is tabled, it has to be approved by the Dewan Negara, which means it (the Budget session) will drag on until next year,” he said.

“The Dewan Rakyat is unlikely to be dissolved once the Budget has been tabled. It has to go all the way with the two Houses adopting it.”

Selangor Menteri Besar: Former exco Hasan Ali gave contracts without tenders

SHAH ALAM: Former executive councillor Datuk Dr Hasan Ali awarded contracts without going through a proper tender process, the state assembly was told.

Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim, in his winding-up speech, said there was evidence to show Dr Hasan had a hand in awarding contracts to companies without tenders.

"It seems that he suggested that contracts be given to a particular company," Khalid said adding that he would meet the contractors to get to the bottom of things.

Khalid said the RM300,000 on office renovations by Dr Hasan was the highest all the excos. However, he urged all parties not play up the issue as the renovation met guidelines.

"We do not have to waste time discussing this matter. I think Gombak Setia's (Dr Hasan) office renovation met the current financial guidelines," he said.

Last Friday, Bukit Antarabangsa assemblyman Azmin Ali claimed that Dr Hasan spent over RM300,000 to renovate his office when he was the exco in charge of Islamic Affairs, Malay Customs, Infrastructure and Public Amenities.

RON95 petrol subsidy up 10sen in March; pump price remains at RM1.90

PUTRAJAYA: Global rise in oil prices has pushed up the subsidy for RON95 petrol by 10sen to RM1.03 per litre in March, said Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob on Tuesday.

The pump price of RON95 will remain at RM1.90 per litre.

"Since the world price of petroleum has increased, the government had to increase the subsidy to ensure the people are not burdened by its side effects," he said here Tuesday.

The last time the RON95 price was reviewed was in December when the pump price was raised from RM1.85 per litre to RM1.90.

Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak promised in late February that the price of RON95, widely used by motorists, would be maintained for the near future despite soaring global oil prices.

Malaysia among best 18 places to retire

 

NEW YORK: Malaysia has been listed as one of the 18 best places for Americans to retire overseas, based on the criteria of affordability and quality of life, for senior citizens.

The list of 18 countries was compiled by Kathleen Peddicord, the founder of the Live and Invest Overseas publishing group.

Peddicord, who has been covering the subject for more than 25 years, reports on current opportunities for living, retiring and investing overseas in her newsletter which is available in a digital format.

Her book 'How To Retire Overseas - Everything You Need to Know To Live Well Abroad for Less' was recently released by Penguin Books.

Besides Malaysia, two other Asean countries were also listed as retirement destinations, namely Thailand (16th) and Vietnam (17th) in Peddicord's list.  According to Peddicord, Malaysia is the "easiest country to navigate in this part of the world (Southeast Asia)" after Thailand and also described Kuala Lumpur as a city of contrasts.

The shining stainless steel Petronas Towers, two of the tallest skyscrapers in the world, anchor a startlingly beautiful skyline that is truly unique to the city, and the references to modern, air-conditioned malls that sell everything from beautifully handcrafted batik clothing to genuine Rolex watches and Tiffany jewellery.

"In the shadows of these ultra-modern buildings, the ancient Malay village of Kampung Baru still thrives, with free-roaming roosters and a slow pace of life generally found in rural villages," she said. "Less than a 20-minute walk from the city centre, you can find yourself conversing with monkeys in the city-jungle surrounding one of the highest telecommunications towers in the world.

"A walk of less than 30 minutes leads you to Chinatown and Little India, where merchants offer their wares, foods and culture in a happy neighbourhood that showcases the amazing diversity of the city," said the author. But Kuala Lumpur's charm is also fleshed out in semi-anecdotal references.

"Unlike some places in Asia, foreigners are genuinely welcomed in Kuala Lumpur. Language isn't a problem, as almost everyone speaks adequate English. Immigration is easy, and it is possible to stay for an extended period with a simple tourist visa," she said.

Minister: Not enough culture & arts subjects in schools

KUALA LUMPUR: The Information, Communications and Culture Ministry wants subjects on culture and arts appreciation to be taught in schools.

"Our education system doesn't teach children to love the arts. From my experience, encouragement to love the arts is non-existent. "As such, the spread of arts in the country is just by coincidence.

"We need to have a system that encourages fashion design, creative writing and others that can be developed," said minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim after opening the World Textile Symposium.

He said the matter had been proposed to the Education Ministry which plans to implement it next year. Bodies such as the National Arts, Culture and Heritage Academy (Aswara) and Craft Skills Institute will seek ways and means to reactivate arts education with internal or external help.

"In China for example, there are schools of arts that teach students to compete and love the arts until they can become a source of income," he said.

Asked whether the proposal would be implemented in primary or secondary schools, he said there were many aspects that should be discussed before it is implemented.

The ministry will ask the Malaysian Handicraft Corporation to carry out research and development on fashion trends of the young and middle generation to develop the country's textile industry. It will also provide additional allocation for carrying out research on creating awareness to love national heritage among the people.

Home Ministry: Tighter visa rules for foreigners seeking to study in Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR: Foreigners seeking to study in Malaysia must soon apply for their study visas before entering the country.

As such, the Home Ministry would stop giving out Journey Performed Visa to foreigners who later applied to change their social visit passes to study visas.

Deputy Home Minister Datuk Wira Abu Seman Yusof said that this was a move to curb crimes by foreigners claiming to be students from institutions of higher learning in the country.

“They will only be allowed to enter the country after their study visa has been approved,” he told Datuk Ismail Mohamed Said (BN-Kuala Krau) during Question Time in parliament.

Ismail had asked what steps the ministry had taken to ensure student visas for foreign students were not abused to carry out crime activities.

Abu Seman said that a foreign student from high-risk countries would also need to produce a certificate of no objection' similar to those that had been imposed on students coming from African countries.

“These are among the steps taken to reduce the rising number of cases involving foreign students. We will continue to monitor with other relevant agencies to ensure that they are not abusing their student visas,” he said.

According to the Immigration Department, in 2009, 54 people were detained for abusing their study passes, said Abu Seman. African nationals topped the list with 24 - 11 from Algeria, six from Nigeria, two from Botswana, two from Libya, one from Lesotho, Kenya and South Africa.

In 2010, 23 people were arrested, including four Nigerians, and one each from Sudan, Yemen and Zimbabwe, he added.

Former Information Minister might join Pakatan Rakyat

KUALA LUMPUR: Former Information Minister Tan Sri Abdul Kadir Sheikh Fadzir has not ruled out joining Pakatan Rakyat and contesting as the coalition's candidate in the next election.

The deputy president of non-governmental organisation Angkatan Amanah Merdeka (Amanah) said he wanted to return to active politics and continue the struggle of past Umno leaders.

The three-term Kulim-Bandar Baru MP resigned from Umno on March 19 after 56 years with the party. He had been under fire over claims of vote-buying in his former constituency in the 2008 general election.

Asked whether he would accept any invitation, including from Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, to join the Pakatan coalition, he said: “Many have persuaded me to join (the Opposition) but I try not to make a decision based on persuasion.

“I am with Amanah. I have yet to decide on other matters. “If they (Pakatan leaders) are persuasive enough, I may take up the offer,” he said at his office here yesterday.

The former Umno supreme council member said the party had deviated from the aims and intentions that were charted by the founding fathers of Umno and the country.

“The Umno of yesteryear stood for the basic rights of citizens, which included freedom of speech and expression, freedom of political association and freedom of assembly, among others.

“I want to bring back those noble causes,” he added.

LNS RESEARCH: Chocolate lovers tend to weigh less

SAN DIEGO: People who ate chocolate a few times a week or more weighed less than those who rarely indulged, according to a US study involving a thousand people.

Researchers said the findings, published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, did not prove that adding a candy bar to your daily diet would help shed pounds. Nor did the cumulative amount of chocolate consumed have an impact.

But the researchers, led by Beatrice Golomb, from the University of California San Diego, said it was possible that antioxidants in chocolate could be behind health benefits including lower blood pressure and cholesterol, as well as decreased body weight.

“People have just assumed that because it comes with calories and it's typically eaten as a sweet, therefore it would inherently have been one way - bad,” said Golomb.

She and her colleagues used data from a study on cholesterol-lowering drugs that surveyed 1,000 healthy adults on typical eating habits, including how often they ate chocolate.

The participants, who ranged in age from 20 to 85 years, ate chocolate an average of twice a week and had an average body mass index, or BMI, of 28, which is considered overweight but not obese.

The researchers found that people who ate chocolate with greater frequency tended to eat more calories overall, including more saturated fat, than those who went light on the candy. But even so, chocolate lovers tended to have a lower body weight.

That was still the case after researchers accounted for age and gender, as well as how much they exercised.

The effect worked out to a difference of 2.3-3.2kg between people who ate five servings of chocolate a week compared with those who did not eat any, Golomb said.

However, it was only how often they ate chocolate, rather than the cumulative amount, that was linked to their weight.

Past studies have tied chocolate to lower blood pressure and cholesterol, and better insulin sensitivity, possibly because of antioxidants or other chemicals in cocoa.