Sultan of Selangor: Close The Case Now!!

Full text of Sultan of Selangor’s statement

on church operation controversy...

We, the Head of the Religion of Islam in the State of Selangor, take great concern over the actions by the Enforcement Division of the Selangor Department of the Religion of Islam (Jais) which carried out a search at the Thanksgiving Dinner event which was held at Hall 3, Dream Centre Complex, Section 13, Petaling Jaya on Aug 3, 2011.

We hope that the people of Selangor, regardless of race and religion, do not misconstrue and dispute the actions of Jais before knowing exactly the true facts of the actions taken.

As the State Department responsible for the enforcement of Islamic Laws in the State, Jais has the heavy task of ensuring that the Religion of Islam in Selangor is always protected and given prestige, in line with its position as the Religion of the State of Selangor under Article XLVII of the Laws of the Constitution of Selangor, 1959, as well as the religion of the Federation under Clause (1) Article 3 of the Federal Constitution.

Jais has submitted to Us the full report of the search carried out at the Dream Centre Complex, Section 13, Petaling Jaya as well as the subsequent actions taken by Jais.

We have thoroughly read in detail the said report and We are satisfied that the actions of Jais were correct and did not breach any laws enforceable in Selangor.

The actions of Jais are in line with the jurisdiction provided under Syariah Criminal Procedure (State of Selangor) Enactment, 2003, Syariah Criminal (State of Selangor) Enactment, 1995 and Selangor Non-Islamic Religions (Control of Propagation Amongst Muslims) Enactment, 1988.

The Religion of Islam as practised in Selangor is one of tolerance. Muslims are always encouraged to respect the believers of other religions.

However, persons or parties cannot take the opportunity to spread other religions to Muslims. This is in line with Clause (1) and (4) Article 11 of the Federal Constitution and Selangor Non-Islamic Religions (Control of Propagation Amongst Muslims) Enactment, 1988, which prohibits the spread of other religions to Muslims.

Article XLVII of the Laws of the Constitution of Selangor 1959, Clause (1) Article 3 and Clause (1) Article 11 of the Federal Constitution have given the freedom to believers of other religions to practise their beliefs in peace and harmony.

This freedom has been practised in harmony in this State. We wish that this harmony, which has existed for a long time, will continue to exist.

Protect your rights and religion and do not attempt to subvert the belief and faith of Muslims.

Based on the investigations by Jais, there is evidence that there were attempts to subvert the faith and belief of Muslims but that the evidence obtained would be insufficient for further legal actions to be taken.

Therefore, after carefully deliberating the report by Jais and after obtaining advice from religious authorities and legal experts, We are in agreement that there would be no prosecution against any parties.

Even so, We command that Jais provide counselling to Muslims who were involved in the said dinner, to restore their belief and faith in the Religion of Islam.

We also command Jais to carry out preaching to Muslims in a more regular and organised manner so that their belief and faith towards Islam is protected and enhanced.

We hope that after this, any and all activities being carried out or which are going to be carried out for the purposes of spreading other religions to Muslims in Selangor must be ceased immediately and no further activities or anything similar to them are carried out in the future.

We, the Head of the Religion of Islam in the State of Selangor, are gravely concerned and extremely offended by the attempts of certain parties to weaken the faith and belief of Muslims in the State of Selangor. We command that Majlis Agama Islam Selangor (Mais) and Jais always conduct thorough observations and to take necessary actions without hesitation in line with the jurisdiction allowed under the law.

We also wish to take this opportunity to thank all parties who were concerned with this issue and to those who have given their cooperation and undivided support to Jais.

> H.R.H. Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah Alhaj, the Sultan of Selangor.

Pakatan to discuss merger with Hindraf and HRP

DAP national chairman Karpal Singh will hold discussions with Pakatan Rakyat top officials on merging with Hindraf and the Human Rights Party (HRP) alliance for the general election.
He said Hindraf and HRP had recently extended the olive branch to Pakatan and wanted to forge working ties with it.

He said as a responsible and progressive political entity, Pakatan would give fair consideration to the proposal. He did not rule out an electoral tie-up with Hindraf and HRP if it benefited Pakatan.

Karpal acknowledged that Hindraf was the most influential factor that convinced Indian voters to shift their traditional allegiance to Barisan Nasional in the 2008 general election. He said that the Indian swing had contributed to Pakatan's massive electoral gains at the expense of Barisan.

Government: No hike in MPs’ allowance

KUALA LUMPUR: There will be no increase in the allowances of the 222 MPs as envisaged under Budget 2012, said Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz.

“I am withdrawing the proposal immediately,” Nazri, who is in charge of Parliament, said at Parliament lobby yesterday.

Nazri withdrew the Government's proposal for the extra RM30mil, citing objections from the Opposition that claimed “it was not the right time” for the revision.

The objections came from Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, PKR deputy president Azmin Ali and PAS vice-president Salahuddin Ayub.

“They are bigwigs and speak for their party,” said Nazri. “So, I will take this as a no' to the allowance.”

Salahuddin sits on the 14-member committee, which comprises Barisan, Opposition and independent MPs, tasked with looking into the matter.

Nazri said the committee had found that Malaysian MPs made the least amount in monthly allowances compared with their Singaporean, Indonesian and Thai counterparts.

“Our MPs' monthly wage is RM6,500,” he said. “In Singapore, an MP makes RM33,589, RM18,111 in Indonesia and up to RM12,500 in Thailand.

“They use this allowance to hire researchers and pay rental for their service centres. “Why should they pay out of their own pockets to serve their constituents? “The MPs needs have been factored in when considering this allowance,” he added.

Anwar said it was not wise to increase the allowance at this point considering the current economic downturn, but he would reconsider the proposal and their objection if “it is for assistants and researchers”.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak had announced in his Budget 2012 speech last Friday that the proposal for the allowance would be passed provided all parties agreed to a quantum.

Indonesia and Malaysia prepare for top-level talks

KUALA LUMPUR: Senior Malaysian and Indonesian officers met in the run-up to the annual talks on Oct 20 between Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

The two-hour meeting yesterday of the 11th Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation between Malaysia and Indonesia (JCBC) was jointly headed by Malaysian Foreign Ministry Deputy Secretary-General Datuk Husni Zai Yaacob and Indonesian Foreign Ministry's Asia Pacific and Africa Director-General T.M. Hamzah Tayeb.

The ministerial level meeting today will be headed by Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman and his counterpart Dr R.M. Marty M. Natalegawa.

Husni said the meeting discussed follow-up actions to the outcome of discussions of the annual talk between Najib and Susilo last year.

“We also discussed the status of 15 memoranda of understanding (MoU) which were signed by both nations and other issues like domestic workers and preparation for the annual meeting to be carried out in Lombok,” he told reporters after the meeting.

In the May 18, 2010 talks in Putrajaya, Najib and Susilo agreed to boost efforts to realise strategic aspirations and common interests including through the Joint Commission Meeting (JCM) mechanism.

The strategic aspirations included those on economic issues; to ensure the rights of Malaysian employers and Indonesian maids were protected through an MoU on the recruitment and placement of Indonesian maids as well as increasing air links.

Asked on the proposed direct hiring of domestic workers, Hamzah said the joint commission had already submitted the report to the ministerial level for further deliberation.

PM and wife expected to attend Deepavali do in Klang

 

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Associated Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Maicci) is organising a 1Malaysia Deepavali carnival at Jalan Tengku Kelana in Klang from 2pm to 10pm on Saturday.

Its president Datuk K. K. Eswaran said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor were expected to attend the carnival at 8pm.

He said the Prime Minister and his wife would have a walkabout in Jalan Tengku Kelana before joining the public for a cultural performance and dinner.

Eswaran said the event would be a historic occasion as this was the first time a Prime Minister was visiting Tengku Kelana to join in the Deepavali celebrations.

Last year, Rosmah represented the Prime Minister after he came down with chicken pox before the carnival.

Eswaran said there would be various stalls selling Indian products and food items while local singers would keep visitors entertained.

He said about 120,000 people were expected to attend the eight-hour carnival organised by Maicci in association with the Malaysian Indian Textiles and General Stores Association together with the Klang Little India Entrepreneurs Association.

Local varsities not ready for Times Higher Education global ranking

 

KUALA LUMPUR: Local universities are still not ready to participate in the Times Higher Education ranking of global universities, said Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin.

“The largest component in the Times' criteria for ranking is research and citations.

“We know that if we participate, our universities will not make it into the ranking,” he told reporters after attending the National Academic Awards ceremony here yesterday.


He noted that local universities were only elevated to research universities in 2007 with five to eight years needed for their work to mature and be used as citations.

“Our universities are not established to play the ranking game. We do not want them to compromise on teaching over research,” he added.

He also said a lot of money was needed for the lengthy and tedious process, citing Singapore's universities which spend about RM900mil annually on research.

“For the first time under our Budget, RM60mil has been allocated to Universiti Malaya to conduct high impact research work,” he said.

Price of cili padi up due to the floods in Thailand



PETALING JAYA: The supply of cili padi here has been affected by the critical flood situation in Thailand.

Kuala Lumpur Vegetable Wholesalers Association president Chong Tek Keong said the cili, which normally costs RM5 per kilo, was being sold at RM8 per kilo and might go even higher.

“The shortage of supply will definitely lead to an increase in the price,” Chong said. He added that the supply of yam would also be affected.

“About 90% of the yam sold in Malaysia is from Thailand,” Chong said, adding that so far the association had not received any news of the supply of other vegetables being affected.

EXCLUSIVE REVIEW OF BUDGET 2012

1. Rural folk get among biggest chunks of funds
Rural areas are among the biggest bene­ficiaries of Budget 2012 with allocations for various upgrading and development projects.

The allocations are in line with the Government’s Rural Transformation Programme (RTP) aimed at turning rural areas into locations which will attract investments, economic activities and create employment, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said.

He said this move was also aimed at encouraging members of the younger generation to move back and work in rural areas.

The Professional Services Fund will also be established to encourage lawyers, doctors and accountants to set up practice in rural areas.

Bank Simpanan Nasional (BSN) will appoint 5,000 agents in rural areas nationwide in the next three years to provide services such as savings and withdrawals, payment of bills as well as purchase of Premium Savings Certificates.

Najib also announced that the Government would provide an allocation of RM5bil to upgrade basic infrastructure, and this includes building a road network of 2,749km that would benefit 1.76 million rural folk.

Rural folk can also look forward to cleaner water supply and electricity with the Government allocating RM3.2bil for this purpose.

Out of this amount, RM2.1bil will go towards expanding clean water supply to 200,000 houses whilst RM1.1bil will be used to provide electricity to some 39,000 houses, mainly in Sabah and Sarawak.

The Government has allocated RM90mil to provide basic necessities and expand clean water supply projects for the orang asli.

The plans Najib announced for rural development:

> More professional services including banking to be made available in rural and remote areas.
> The establishment of more Rural Transformation Centres (RTCs) nationwide.
> RM5bil allocation to upgrade basic rural infrastructure.
> Some 29,000 Class F contractors, registered with the Contractor Service Centre, to benefit from the infrastructure projects.
> Some 100,000 people living in the interior of Sarawak to benefit from tanks provided for rainwater harvesting.
> RM20mil allocated to relocate orang asli families affected in the Sungai Ruil, Cameron Highlands, landslide to new housing areas.
> Water supply infrastructure Felda areas and estates.

2. RM300mil upgrade for HKL
The 141-year-old Hospital Kuala Lumpur (HKL) will be upgraded to become the country’s premier hospital with state-of-the-art equipment.

An allocation of RM300mil will be provided to upgrade the country’s oldest hospital, including building a new outpatient wing.

“This is to ensure the comfort of city residents,” Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said in his Budget 2012 speech yesterday.

He said RM15bil was being allocated for operating expenditure and RM1.8bil for development expenditure for the health services sector next year.

A hospital for women and children will be built in Kuala Lumpur through public-private partnership at a cost of RM700mil. Najib also said hospitals would be built and upgraded in Bera, Kuala Krai, Dungun, Sri Aman and Tuaran.

The maternity block in Hospital Putrajaya would also be upgraded. The Government would also upgrade 81 rural health clinics nationwide and launch 50 new 1Malaysia clinics, he said.

To ease the workload of doctors who have to work up to 120 hours per week, the Govern­ment has introduced a flexible schedule with an average of 60 working hours per week for housemen.

3. IGP vows to use extra funds to beef up force

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar has welcomed the funds allocated to the police force in Budget 2012 and promised to put the funds to good use.

Ismail said the special allocation of RM200mil and 2012 expenditure of RM442mil would be used to upgrade and equip the force to make it more efficient and effective.

“This is in line with the changing times where high emphasis is placed on the investigative and forensic fields,” he said yesterday.

He also thanked the Government for recognising the sacrifices of the force by allocating a one-off payment of RM3,000 each to 48,000 retired ex-members of the special constable and auxiliary police who served during the Emergency era as well as their widows and widowers.

“We would also like to express our gratitude for the increase in salaries which will help us cope with rising living costs,” he said.

Under the Budget, RM200mil will be allocated to train policemen in the use of modern technology, state-of-the art equipment, and sophisticated and scientific investigation and evidence-gathering capabilities.

A total of RM442mil will be set aside for the development expenditure, RM500mil to upgrade and maintain army camps and quarters nationwide, and RM50mil will be provided to some 175,000 army personnel who retired with less than 21 years of service and were not eligible for pension

4. Civil servants allowed to serve until they reach 60
Civil servants will now be able to serve two years longer, with the retirement age extended to 60, and also take home a bigger purse each month under a new remuneration scheme that also comes with better annual increments.

Besides that, they will enjoy a half-month bonus at the end of the year as a reward for achieving national development goals.

The extension in retirement age from 58 and the additional half-month bonus are among the highlights for civil servants in the 2012 Budget announced by the Prime Minister yesterday.

Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, who is also Finance Minister, said the age of retirement had been extended as civil servants are seen as still capable to contribute their skills and experience up to 60.

“This extension will not jeopardise the employment prospects of the younger people as both the public and private sectors will continue to create new job opportunities,” he said.

Recognising the support and commitment of the more than 1.3 million civil servants, he announced an additional half-month salary bonus, with a minimum payment of RM500, that will be paid with their December salary. He said this would total to one-month's pay, with a minimum payment of RM1,000.

Najib said an additional assistance of RM500 would be paid out to government pensioners which would also total RM1,000 for the 618,000 retirees. The total bonus and assistance payments for this year will come up to RM4bil.

A new era is also set to dawn upon the civil service as the Government embarks on a new civil service remuneration scheme, which will see an improvement in the salaries of civil servants through a single tier structure. It comes with additional increments.

Najib said this meant that the maximum salary for a particular grade would now be higher. “For example, the new scheme will see a teacher on grade DG48 receiving a maximum salary of RM8,710, compared with RM6,325.39 under the existing scheme,” he said, adding that the scheme would also have an exit policy for under-performing civil servants and those who choose to leave the service.

5. Cuepacs gets more than it bargained for
It is more than a dream Budget for Cuepacs, which got more goodies than expected.

Its president Datuk Omar Osman said issues which it had been pushing for, such as new remuneration scheme, higher increment, bonus and extension of retirement age had been met by the Government.

“Not only that, it offered us more by giving incentives to further studies and also increments for annual pensions. This is the best Budget so far and I would like to thank the Prime Minister.

“It is now time for civil servants to deliver their part of the deal by giving the best service to help the Government fulfil its promises to the rakyat. Be ready to work hard and prove our worth,” Omar said.

He said the new Civil Service Renumeration Scheme (SBPA) provided civil servants with higher annual increments of between RM80 and RM320 compared to the RM40 and RM120 under the present Malaysian Remuneration System.

“However, we need to get the full details of the SBPA. I was told there will be a briefing on this.”

6. Vernacular and mission schools hail fund as timely
The allocation of the RM100mil special fund for the construction, improvement and maintenance of vernacular and mission schools in Budget 2012 brought cheers to heads of schools.

National Tamil School Head­mas­ters Council president P. Doraisamy applauded the move to develop Tamil schools under the Budget.

“The fund is timely to repair the dilapidated Tamil schools in the country,” he said.

Malayan Christian Schools Council honorary secretary Yin Kam Loke said the allocation for mission schools was “very good news” as such schools needed funds.

She added that they were thankful and appreciative of the allocation, which would be used to repair and upgrade the schools. She hoped the funds would be disbursed soon.

Dong Zong (The United Chinese School Committees Association) deputy president Chow Siew Hong said that while the announcement was welcomed, he had expected national-type Chinese schools to receive a bigger share of the allocation.

“We hope that the Government will continue to support the development of vernacular schools and not make this allocation a one-off thing,” said Chow.

7. Boon for education sector
The education sector proved to be a big winner with a staggering RM50.2bil being allocated for it under Budget 2012.

Compared to last year's allocation of RM39.5bil, the huge amount this time would be for a comprehensive spread across the board from schools to teachers, to students and parents.

NUTP secretary-general Lok Yim Pheng said that unlike previous announcements, Budget 2012 took into account a wider scale of things and included individuals from all age groups.

“This year's allocations are different as they include the younger generation all the way to senior citizens.”

She said that the abolition of school fees for primary and secondary schools was a good move as it would help ease the burden of lower income families.

“After all, every child deserves an education, so I am glad that the Government has made free schooling a reality.”

8. Internship tax incentive for companies doubles the joy
Students and fresh graduates will have more job-placement opportunities with the announcement of tax incentives for companies which participate in internship programmes.

“Companies will be more willing to offer internship placements while the interns will get valuable hands-on experience and make themselves more employable,” said Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) president Datuk Azman Shah Haron.

In his Budget 2012 speech, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said companies would enjoy double tax deduction on allowances paid to those pursuing internship programmes with them.

The move, he said, was to encourage Government-private sector cooperation in strengthening the development of highly-skilled human capital. Companies would also get double tax deduction for scholarships and expenses incurred while taking part in career fairs abroad.

However, Azman said the Budget should have included a reduction in income tax rates to help offset the rising cost of living. He said that many other countries were reducing their income tax rates and Malaysia had one of the highest in the region.

The Prime Minister had also announced that the employers’ contribution to the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) would be increased from 12% to 13% for employees earning RM5,000 and below to benefit 5.3 million EPF contributors in the country.

9. Incentives will spur cabbies to buy their own taxis
The incentives introduced in Budget 2012 for taxi drivers will not only alleviate the burden of operators but will also spur more owners to purchase locally-manufactured vehicles for conversion to taxis.

Among the assistance that was proposed by the Government are the exemption for excise duty and sales tax for the purchase of locally-made taxis as well as for taxis that were sold or transferred of their ownership after seven years.

Besides that, road taxes for taxis have also been abolished for individually-owned budget taxis and a payment of RM3,000 for the disposal of old taxis that exceeded a life span of seven years but less than 10 years.

For taxis that exceeded a 10-year span, an assistance of RM1,000 will be given. The monetary assistance is only granted for purchase of new locally-made cars for a period of two years beginning Jan 1.

Prime Minister also announced that Bank Simpanan Nasional would offer a loan scheme with an interest rate subsidy of 2% on full loans for purchase of new locally-made taxis for a period of two years, which will also commence on Jan 1.

10. Fuel for better public transport
Bus operators and taxi owners received some special attention in Budget 2012 as the Government tries to improve public transportation.

“The rural community frequently encounter difficulties arising from unreliable bus services. To provide a more comfortable, reliable and quality service, an additional RM150mil will be provided to the Public Transport Development Fund in the SME Bank.

“Stage, mini and school bus operators can apply for soft loans with an interest rate of 4%, to purchase or refurbish buses,” said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

Budget taxi owners, on the other hand, will be able to buy new locally made taxis without paying excise duty and sales tax. Road tax for individually-owned taxis have also been waived.

On budget taxis, Najib said the Government was aware of increasing operating costs, and that most taxis had exceeded their economic life.

Besides the exemption of excise duty and sales tax on new locally-made cabs, taxi owners will also be exempt from the same taxes when transferring the ownership of the vehicle after seven years.

There will also be an interest rate subsidy of 2% on a full loan to buy new locally made taxis, which will be offered for a two-year period via Bank Simpanan Nasional (BSN).

11. Tax exemption for donations to places of worship and govt schools
Those who contribute to government-registered schools and places of worship may soon be able to seek tax exemption.

Under Budget 2012, the Government will expedite tax exemption approvals for all places of worship as well as education institutions, including registered national, national-type, mission and government-assisted religious schools.

In welcoming the move, Council of Church-es Malaysia president Reverend Dr Thomas Philips said it was on the wish-list of Christians for a long time.

“Those who pay zakat (Islamic tithe) have always gotten tax exemption and it is good for the Government to recognise that Christians also raise their own money,” he said.

The churches should also work out a system to issue receipts to their members, said Dr Philips.

However, this is not an issue for the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple in Batu Caves, having issued receipts to all of its personal contributors.

Temple committee president R. Nadarajah urged Hindu temples nationwide to register with the Government so that their members could also enjoy the exemption.

12. 3.4 million to benefit from RM1.8bil allocation
Households with a total monthly income of RM3,000 and below will receive a RM500 one-off payment to ease their burden. This is part of the short- and long-term measures introduced to help reduce the rakyat's burden following rising prices and higher cost of living.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said 3.4 million or 53% of total households were expected to benefit from RM1.8bil allocation.

“This unprecedented measure reflects the Government's commitment to reduce the impact of the increasing cost of living on the low-income group,” he said.

The head of each household must register with the Inland Revenue Board which will distribute the money via banks and post offices.

In a bid to reduce schooling expenses, a one-off cash assistance of RM100 will be given to students; and book vouchers worth RM200 for students in public and private institutions of higher learning, matriculation and Form Six.

Najib also announced that the 5.3 million EPF contributors who earned RM5,000 and below would have an increase in their savings as employers would now have to contribute 13%, up from the previous 12%.

Long-term measures include boosting food production such as rice, meat, vegetables and fruits to ensure there is enough supply.

These include launching a 10-year National Agro-Food Policy and developing the agriculture sector.

Exclusive Property Review of BN ELECTION BUDGET 2012

1. Island resort gets much needed boost
The five-year tourism development plan for Langkawi will further boost the island resort as an international tourist destination.

Langkawi Development Authority (Lada) general manager Datuk Azman Umar said the allocation was based on a tourism blueprint prepared by the Economic Planning Unit under the Finance Ministry.

He said the RM420mil allocation would also act as an incentive to woo more investors to the island. “This is a huge allocation which is spread over five years,” he said in Langkawi.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, when tabling Budget 2012, announced a RM420mil development allocation for Langkawi, which includes the restructuring of Lada.

2. 10% tax on REIT dividends extended 5 years
The Government has extended the concessionary tax rate of 10% on dividends of non-corporate institutional and individual investors in real estate investment trusts (REITS).

The incentive, which expires on Dec 31, will be extended for five years, starting from Jan 1 next year to Dec 31, 2016.

“We are very happy with the extension as there was a lack of clarity on what would happen after the expiry,’’ said Malaysian REIT Managers Association (MRMA) and Axis-REIT Managers Bhd CEO Stewart LaBrooy.

“Earlier, there were concerns as no announcements were made while the date of expiry was drawing close. Now that it has been extended, we can go back to business as usual.”

Mah Sing Group Bhd managing director Tan Sri Leong Hoy Kum said this would promote domestic participation and attract foreign investors.

Labrooy added that the REIT industry had developed very well over the last few years. The upcoming REIT to watch out is that of Pavilion Kuala Lumpur which should add further liquidity to the market.

Pavilion Kuala Lumpur is slated to be Malaysia’s largest initial public offering for a REIT. It is likely to be valued at a yield of 7%. Details are still sketchy at this point, but sources said its assets could be worth between RM4bil and RM5bil.

3. Affordable homes for the masses
Various initiatives have been put in place under Budget 2012 to make house ownership more affordable.

The maximum price of houses under the My First Home scheme will be increased to RM400,000 from RM220,000, and eligibility will be through joint loans of husband and wife from January 2012.

The 1Malaysia People’s Housing (PR1MA) will be the sole agency to develop and maintain affordable and quality homes, especially for the middle-income group, and it intends to develop several plots of government-owned land around Sungai Besi and Sungai Buloh for this purpose.

PR1MA will also develop areas near public transport system lines, such as the MRT and LRT, for housing. The Government will waive stamp duty on loan instruments for the purchase of PR1MA houses.

To prevent the risk of delayed and abandoned housing projects, Islamic banks have agreed to provide syariah-compliant financing and undertake construction risks to encourage the building of houses costing RM600,000 and below. They will use the build-then-sell concept that allows instalments to start after the house is completed.

BN ELECTION BUDGET 2012 REVEALED



Najib, who is expected to call snap polls within months, also pledged to maintain subsidies on key consumer items and introduce various tax breaks intended to spur domestic demand as a hedge against a feared export slowdown.

The prime minister told parliament the cash handouts would include a one-off payment of 500 ringgit to lower-income families and a bonus for the country's 1.3 million civil servants equal to half their monthly salaries.

He called the payments to the poor "an unprecedented measure" to help Malaysians cope with rising world prices of food, fuel and other essentials.

The budget is likely the last before Najib calls pivotal parliamentary elections.

A once-insignificant opposition scored historic gains in 2008 polls that saw the long-ruling Barisan Nasional coalition lose its two-thirds majority for the first time, and Najib has battled lately to win back voters.

"In an environment of global uncertainties, the strong support of the people is mandatory for us to become developed and prosper as a nation," Najib, who is also finance minister, told parliament.

With inflation around two-year highs of 3.3 percent in August, cost-of-living concerns loom large with voters.

Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim, a former finance minister, dismissed the handouts as "clearly an election ploy".

"You promise everybody everything on earth, it's completely irresponsible," he said.

Najib's budget promised to maintain subsidies on fuel and food items that his government had earlier moved to scale back in a deficit-reduction drive.

The subsidy cuts had caused a further spike in costs of transport and essential commodities that had already risen along with surging world prices.

Inflation fears have been compounded by worry that exports -- the economy's driving force -- could be hit by the US and European economic woes.

Najib said government workers would get larger-than-usual pay rises, all fees in public schools would be abolished and the government would adjust property transaction taxes in a bid to curb market speculation.

Various tax breaks and other incentives would be extended in a range of industries to stoke both domestic and foreign investment, he added.

Malaysia's economy grew 7.2 percent in 2010 but slowed to 4.0 percent in the second quarter of this year.

The budget maintains an earlier rough government estimate of 5 to 6 percent growth in 2012.

The budget acknowledged Southeast Asia's third-largest economy faced external challenges and forecast export growth slowing to 6.8 percent in 2011 and 6 percent next year. Growth had surged by 15.6 percent in 2010.

Despite the handouts, Najib forecast a 4.7 percent budget deficit in 2012, down from this year's 5.4 percent target.

The ruling coalition has governed Muslim-majority Malaysia since independence in 1957, but the opposition alliance has capitalised recently on concerns over corruption, the economy, and authoritarian rule.

Last month, Najib promised to scrap draconian laws often criticised as tools of repression in a gesture widely seen as aimed at voters.

GET THE FULL AND EXCLUSIVE REPORT ON THE MALAYSIA BUDGET 2012 TOMORROW...

ONLY AT www.LATEST NEWS STATION.com!!

REVIEW FOR TOMORROW'S FULL REPORT

BUT WHAT THE BN CABINET SAYS...
Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein

> It is timely that the Budget has given emphasis to improve and modernise the police force in light of the pending abolition of the Internal Security Act.

Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen

> It is a comprehens ive Budget for the lower income group and women, particularly for mothers. The incentives will help ease the schooling pressure of children faced by parents.

Women and Community Developme nt Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil

> It is a historic Budget and it shows the commitment of the Government to assist the target group such as women, disabled and senior citizens.

Minister in Prime Minister's Department and MIC President Datuk G Palanivel
> It is a historic Budget that has taken the lower-income and middle-income groups into considerat ion. It is a People First Performance Now Budget that will benefit the most deserving. I am also glad that much emphasis has been given to education in this Budget.

Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Chor Chee Heung

> This is the most inclusive Budget I have seen since becoming an MP in 1990. The various types of housing schemes to make housing accessible to the lower income groups is a testimony of this inclusiveness.

Transport Minister Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha

> It is a caring Budget. It will help the poor in particularly to cope with the rising cost of living.

Energy, Green Technolo gy and Water Minister Datuk Seri Peter Chin

> The full exemption of import duty and excise duty on hybrid cars and electric cars is good because it is in line with our green campaign. Proton is coming up with its own hybrid car so it would be able to compete on that playing field as well as in terms of pricing.

Deputy Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Minister Chua Tee Yong

> The Government is committed to increasing food productivity by allocating RM1.1bitlo develop the agriculture sector, including the extension of the contra ct farming programme. 

EXCLUSIVE REVIEW: World mourns Steve Jobs

NEW YORK- Outpourings of public grief and appreciation swept the globe on Thursday after the death of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs.

Jobs, who touched the daily lives of countless millions of people through the Macintosh computer, iPod, iPhone and iPad, died on Wednesday at age 56 after a long battle with pancreatic cancer. He stepped down as Apple chief executive in August.

Reaction in the stock market was muted as Apple shares quickly recovered from an initial 1.5 percent decline. The shares were up 1 percent to $382.15 at midday.

In New York City, an impromptu memorial made from flowers, candles and a dozen green and red apples was erected outside a 24-hour Apple store on Manhattan's Fifth Avenue, with fans snapping photos of it on their iPhones.

"It was really sad news for us," said Daiichiro Tashiro, 25, visiting from Tokyo. "A lot of Japanese use the iPhone. We're here to thank him."

Tributes poured in both from ordinary people and from the pinnacles of the business and political worlds.

"He's the hero to everybody of this generation because he did something that I think is very hard, which is be both a dreamer and a doer," General Electric Co CEO Jeff Immelt told reporters in Columbus, Ohio, on Thursday.

"I wouldn't be able to run my business without Apple, without its software," said David Chiverton, who was leaving Apple's flagship Regent Street store in London. "I run a video production company. It's allowed me to have my dream business."

News Corp CEO Rupert Murdoch said, "Steve Jobs was simply the greatest CEO of his generation."

At an Apple store in Sydney, lawyer George Raptis, who was five years old when he first used a Macintosh computer, spoke for almost everyone who has come into contact with Apple. "He's changed the face of computing," he said. "There will only ever be one Steve Jobs."

U.S. President Barack Obama remembered Jobs as a visionary. "Steve was among the greatest of American innovators -- brave enough to think differently, bold enough to believe he could change the world, and talented enough to do it," Obama said in a statement.

Microsoft's Bill Gates, who once triumphed over Jobs but saw his legendary status overtaken by the Apple co-founder in recent years, said, "For those of us lucky enough to get to work with him, it's been an insanely great honor."

Nokia CEO Stephen Elop, whose company competes with Apple's iPhone in the handset market, said, "The world lost a true visionary today. Steve's passion for simplicity and elegance leaves us all a legacy that will endure for generations."

When he stepped down as CEO in August, Jobs handed the reins to long-time operations chief Tim Cook. With a passion for minimalist design and a genius for marketing, Jobs laid the groundwork for the company to continue to flourish after his death, most analysts and investors say.

But Apple still faces challenges in the absence of the man who was its chief product designer, marketing guru and salesman nonpareil. Phones running Google's Android software are gaining share in the smartphone market, and there are questions about what Apple's next big product will be.

LEGENDARY ENTREPRENEUR

A college drop-out and the son of adoptive parents, Jobs changed the technology world in the late 1970s, when the Apple II became the first personal computer to gain a wide following. He did it again in 1984 with the Macintosh, which built on breakthrough technologies developed at Xerox Parc and elsewhere to create the personal computing experience as we know it today.

The rebel streak that was central to his persona got him tossed out of Apple in 1985, but he returned in 1997 and after a few years began the roll-out of a troika of products -- the iPod, the iPhone and the iPad -- that again upended the established order in major industries.

A diagnosis of a rare form of pancreatic cancer in 2004 initially cast only a mild shadow over Jobs and Apple, with the CEO asserting that the disease was treatable. But his health deteriorated rapidly over the past several years, and after two temporary leaves of absence he stepped down as CEO and became Apple's chairman in August.

Jobs's death came just one day after Cook presented a new iPhone at the kind of gala event that became Jobs's trademark. Perhaps coincidentally, the new device got lukewarm reviews, with many saying it wasn't a big enough improvement over the existing version of one of the most successful consumer products in history.

Apple paid homage to its visionary leader by changing its website to a big black-and-white photograph of him with the caption "Steve Jobs: 1955-2011."

MCMC: Undilah video withdrawn because no approval from film censors

CYBERJAYA: The Undilah video clip was withdrawn because it has yet to be approved for airing by the Film Censorship Board, a statement from the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) said Saturday.

According to the statement, "the MCMC routinely carries out monitoring and enforcement activities pursuant to the Communications and Multimedia Act (CMA) 1998.

"In relation to this, it is normal practice for MCMC to direct the withdrawal of content that has not been granted the requisite approval from the Film Censorship Board to be aired.

"In the case of the public service announcement (PSA) produced by musician Pete Teo, as a result of a routine compliance monitoring exercise made by MCMC, it was found that approval had yet to be obtained from the Film Censorship Board for the said PSA."

The MCMC said the PSA should not have been aired on television till approval was obtained.

"Accordingly, pursuant to the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, all broadcasters must cease airing the video clip immediately.

"The issue is one of compliance by the broadcasters rather than the content of the PSA," it added.

On Friday, news portals reported that the video promoting the right to vote was taken off the air by TV stations as it contained Opposition figures and Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah's talking about Malaysia having issues.

Malaysian PM: Budget 2012 to lessen burden on rakyat

KAMPAR: Budget 2012, which will tabled on Oct 7, is set to strengthen the domestic economy and help lessen the burden of rising costs of living, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said Saturday.

He said there was a need to ensure domestic demand remained strong as the Government would not depend on external factors to spur economic growth.

Najib said while the current situation was a global phenomenon and not just unique to Malaysia, the Government was taking steps to ensure the economy remain resilient.

Asked if there would be many suprises for the rakyat in the 2012 Budget, Najib said: "Let's wait and see. I'm fond of giving surprises."

Najib was speaking to reporters after launching the Tanjung Tualang 1Malaysia Carnival here as part of his day-long visit to Perak.

Indonesia expects to resume sending domestic workers in October

KUALA LUMPUR: Indonesia expects to start sending domestic workers to Malaysia next month following the government's plan to revoke its suspension policy on deploying domestic workers to the neighboring country since 2009.

"We plan to annul the moratorium on sending domestic workers by the end of this month," the manpower attache at the Indonesian Embassy here, Agus Triyanto, told Indonesia's Antara news agency Friday.

Agus said both governments had come to terms over contentious problems, including regulations allowing the workers to keep their passports, get one day off a week, get their salaries transferred via banks and be paid fair salaries according to the job market.

"Taskforce teams from both countries have agreed to improve the system and monitor the results," Agus added.

For Indonesia's part, the government will ensure that every worker undergoes a minimum of 200 hours of training. The government will also ensure standards of competence for every worker as required by the Malaysian government, prepare training centers, ensure valid documents and provide insurance for the workers. Agus called on the Malaysian people not to directly recruit Indonesian workers, which is against the law.

Since the moratorium in June 2009, domestic workers from Vietnam, Cambodia and the Philippines have travelled to Malaysia to fill the shortage.

Last year, the Malaysian Foreign Domestic Help Agency Association (Papa) announced that no less than 3,000 workers came from each country every month. However, the workers still fell short of the demand. Early this year, PAPA said that 35,000 Malaysian households were in need of domestic help.

There are currently 300,000 Indonesian domestic workers in Malaysia.

UPKO: Sabahans don't know how many of them are M'sians

PENAMPANG: Sabahans themselves do not know how many of the state's 3.3 million population are Malaysians, said Upko president Tan Sri Bernard Dompok.

He said in 1960, Sabah's population was 454,561 with 42% made up of Kadazandusun. The figure increased to 653,604 in 1970; 1.3 million in 1980 and 1.7 million in 1991.

In 2000, the population was 2.5 million and by 2005, Sabah's population increased to 3,313,000. It registered the highest percentage of increase in population with 3.1% compared with the national percentage of 2.3%.

Dompok said the National Registration Department could not provide the data of actual number of Malaysians living in Sabah, to the Parliament Select Committee on Integrity in 2007.

"And now the perception among the people is that the government does not know how many Malaysians are living in Sabah," he said at the Upko delegates congress meeting.

Dompok has called for a Royal Commission of Inquiry to investigate the presence of so many foreigners that has contributed to the steep rise in population.

Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister says...

Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin



1. BN supreme council apt avenue to discuss second deputy chairman post

PENAMPANG: The proposal to create the post of a second Barisan Nasional deputy chairman to be appointed from among component parties in Sabah and Sarawak should be brought to the coalition's supreme council, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said.

"I think any proposal can be brought before the top leadership. We have a council where all leaders sit and submit any matter. "Normally, a decision is reached by consensus," he said.

Upko had recently proposed that a second deputy chairman be appointed from Sabah or Sarawak and that the person be made second deputy prime minister.

On the allocation of seats for the coming general election, Muhyiddin said that component parties would "most likely" contest in the same constituencies they did in the 2008 polls "except if there is an agreement for a swap."

2. Status quo likely on seat allocation for BN component parties

KOTA KINABALU: Seat allocations for Barisan Nasional component parties are likely to remain at the status quo as no new seats are available in the next general election, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said Saturday.

He said if the Election Commission carried out a delineation exercise - usually done once every eight to 10 years - then it would be possible for more parliamentary and state seats to be shared with component parties.

"As there has been no delineation, there are no new seats to share. I think it is likely that the seat sharing formula will remain status quo (among parties)."

Usually when there was an increase in seats through a delineation exercise, then parties would ask for more, he told reporters after opening the 13th triennial meeting of Parti Upko, which is headed by Tan Sri Bernard Dompok.

"It is normal for parties to hope to be given more seats. It has been a practice for seat allocation to be based on consensus, through discussion at both national and state levels," he said.


He said it was also unlikely any of the parties would want to give up seats allocated to them in the previous elections. However, he said Barisan has no objections to any seat swapping among component parties.

Earlier, in his speech, he urged Barisan leaders to go to the ground and meet people as such simple gestures would help them gain stronger support.

Business Exclusive: Asian currencies slip against US dollar on global economic gloom

Asian currencies are on a losing streak against the US dollar, as increasingly dismal global economic outlook prompts a flight to safety to greenback-denominated assets.

“The poor risk sentiment is exacerbating the move towards safe haven assets such as the US dollar,” a dealer told StarBizWeek. “This is evident in the widespread sell-off in the region's capital markets,” he added.

Among Asian currencies, the won was the worst performer, having lost 4.73% from a week ago to 1,167.37 per US dollar yesterday. The Hong Kong dollar is pegged to the US dollar, while the yuan trades in a managed float against the greenback.

The ringgit registered a slump of 2.69% from a week ago to 3.1672 per US dollar. That was the weakest level since July 2010.

Bank Negara Malaysia governor Tan Sri Zeti Akhtar Aziz in an interview with Washington-based Emerging Markets Newspapers said South-East Asian economies were now better equipped to withstand the volatile capital flows. “We are seeing very significant surges in capital outflows and reversals,” she was quoted as saying.

“Previously it destabilised us quite significantly. But in the current environment, these flows are better intermediated by emerging economies,” she added, citing more resilient financial institutions, more developed financial markets, higher reserve levels and a more flexible exchange rate.

Zeti also reiterated that the central bank now had a wider number of instruments to absorb and sterilise inflows to prevent the formation of asset bubbles.

Hot News: George Clooney's GF gets naked

Prior to this, it’s only for George Clooney’s eyes only. Now, thanks to Canadian photographer Raphael Mazzucco, Stacy Keibler, who is the darling du jour of Clooney, showcased her assets in front of a camera.

No, it’s not for a Playboy spread. The blonde beauty has reportedly turned down offers from the publication. Instead, she took it all off in the name of art and bared her bottom for Mazzucco’s new coffee table book titled Culo by Mazzucco.

For your information, “culo” means buttocks in Italian. Keibler, 31, was one of those who are featured in a series of photographs and art pieces centring on women’s buttocks in the 248-page book.

Keibler, a former WWE hottie, offered a sneak peek on WhoSay, writing: "So excited for the release of CULO!!! Raphael Mazzucco rocks! One of my fav photographers."

Exclusive World News:

1. Putin to return as Russian president

Russia's Prime Minister Vladimir Putin

MOSCOW- Vladimir Putin declared on Saturday he was ready to return to the Russian presidency after current head of state Dmitry Medvedev announced he would bow to his mentor at March's election.

Ending months of speculation over which of them will be president, Medvedev proposed Putin, now prime minister, at a congress of the ruling United Russia party. Putin, widely regarded as the driving force in the country for the last 11 years, invited Medvedev to take his place as prime minister.

"It is a great honour for me," Putin said to loud cheers and applause from thousands of party members gathered in a Moscow sports stadium. "Thank you, I hope for your support."

Opinion polls show Putin is sure to be elected for a six-year term in the March presidential election, ushering in what critics say could be an era of stagnation in the world's biggest country.

His party also hopes to hold on to its two-thirds majority in the State Duma lower house in a parliamentary election on Dec. 4 with Medvedev as the top candidate on its list.

Putin, 58, is widely seen as more conservative than Medvedev and some economists have said his return to the Kremlin could herald an era of economic stagnation in the world's biggest energy producer.

Others have said that although Medvedev, 46, is widely portrayed as more liberal, there is more difference in their style than in their policies.

2. Libyans fight for control of Gaddafi stronghold Sirte

Anti-Gaddafi fighters stand guard as they celebrate the taking over of El-Khamseen gate, the eastern gate of Sirte September 24, 2011.

SIRTE- Libyan provisional government forces backed by NATO warplanes swarmed into the city of Sirte on Saturday but weathered heavy sniper fire as they tried to win control of one of deposed leader Muammar Gaddafi's last bastions of support.

Black smoke billowed over the town as National Transitional Council (NTC) forces massed in Zafran Square about 1 km (half a mile) from the town centre. Gunfire could be heard from the centre as NTC fighters moved tanks and mortars into the square.

Pick-up trucks mounted with machineguns and loaded with NTC fighters raced into the town. NTC forces also advanced from the south of Sirte, Gaddafi's hometown on the Mediterranean coast.

"They have snipers above the mosques, above the buildings. They're using the houses and public buildings," NTC fighter El-Tohamy Abuzein told Reuters from his position in Zafran Square.

NATO, whose war planes played a vital role in the six-month that toppled Gaddafi, would not comment on its operations in Sirte on Saturday. Its planes hit a number of targets on Friday, including an ammunition depot and an anti-aircraft gun.

A large cloud of smoke over the town was the result of a strike on an ammunition dump, NTC fighters said. At the western gate, gunners fired artillery towards the town and both sides exchanged volleys of rockets.

Entertainment Exclusive: Jury selected for Jackson doctor's trial

LOS ANGELES: A 12-person jury was selected on Friday to hear the manslaughter trial of Michael Jackson's former doctor in a process one prosecutor likened to "speed dating."

The panel of seven men and five women includes one man who said he briefly met Jackson when he worked at Walt Disney Co in the 1980s and the singer was starring in a "Captain EO" film that was a Disney theme park attraction.

That juror told attorneys he could approach the trial fairly.