TAIPING (March 29, 2009): The Bukit Gantang parliamentary by-election is not a state or national referendum on Barisan Nasional (BN), said MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat.
“It is a by-election and it will only be voted by the people in the constituency, therefore it cannot be seen as a referendum. It can only reflect the fundamental sentiment of the people as the local voters will make a decision to test the sentiments of the people.
“It is normal for the people to think that the by-election will act as a referendum to the prime minister-in-waiting (Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak).
However, we must understand that it is not because of one man that will determine if the people are supporting us or not,” he told reporters at the by-election nomination centre.
“The people are facing a challenging time to make a living, they should decide whether they want to allow the never-ending fight between political parties to continue or choose to overcome living difficulties.
“I think it is time for the people to do the sum and see how many things have been implemented by the PR government, when it was in power as a policy approved is different from a policy implemented.
Gerakan president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon said the by-election would be a “hard battle” and BN should not take it lightly although it has 52 years of experience as the ruling party in the country.
“Although there are still a lot of weaknesses in the coalition that needs to be rectified, the PR government (in Perak) which only governed for a year, had shown all the weaknesses that it has been criticising BN for decades.
“I feel that the people must be more objective when assessing their choices. With the new BN leadership in place, the people should give the new team some time to reconstruct, as well as to reform and we will also have to explain more to the people on what we want to change.
“We need to change from the way we fight corruption, reform the judicial system, overcome public safety problems and the economic crisis and we need more time to see the results as the reform has only being put in place after the general election last year,” he added.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Three-corner 'combat' in Bukit Gantang - Sun
By Giam Say Khoon and Humayun Kabir
(From left) BN candidate Ismail Saffian, PAS’s Datuk Seri Mohd Nizar Jamaluddin and independent candidate Kamarul Ramizu Idris.
IPOH (March 29, 2009) : The Bukit Gantang parliamentary by-election on April 7 will see a three-cornered fight by Barisan Nasional (BN), Pakatan Rakyat-PAS (PR-PAS) and an Independent.
The "combatants" are BN's Ismail Saffian, 49, from Umno, PR's Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohd Nizar Jamaluddin, 52, and entrepreneur Kamarul Ramizu Idris, 42.
Election Commission (EC) returning officer Datuk Mahmud Mursidi announced the three candidates at 11.20am after rejecting three objections in the Taiping Town Hall yesterday.
Nizar, the Perak PAS deputy commissioner, was the first to arrive at the nomination centre at 8.45am, followed by Ismail at 9am and Kamarul at 9.20am.
Ismail was accompanied by Umno deputy president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, vice-president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, BN's Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir and thousands of supporters while Mohammad Nizar was accompanied by PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang, deputy president Nasharuddin Mat Isa and Perak state assembly speaker V.Sivakumar and their supporters.
About 2,000 BN supporters marched their way to the nomination centre with Ismail while Nizar was accompanied by about 10,000.
Said Muhyiddin: "Ismail is the best candidate the coalition can offer for Bukit Gantang. We try to meet every one voter to explain a few important matters like the status of the party, the correct interpretations of the constitution and other issues which we expect will be exploited by the opposition.
"We hope that the new BN leadership under the reign of (prime minister-in-waiting) Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak will be well received by the voters. If Ismail is elected, he would be able to raise problems faced by the people in parliament," he said, adding that he would also be campaigning in Bukit Selambau and Batang Ai.
Muhyiddin said he would be spending at least six days in Bukit Gantang as it is a big parliamentary seat which "we need to spend more time to talk to them and convince the voters to support us".
Nizar said democracy must be seen living through the ballot boxes of Bukit Gantang voters and this should reflect to the rest of the country that democracy is still alive in Perak.
"I have been a victim of BN's conspiracy to seize power in Perak which denied me the right to head the PR state government which is an insult to the intelligence of Perak voters who had made their choice of state government on March 8 last year.
"This wrong must be corrected democratically by the voters on April 7 and the BN must be taught a lesson that they cannot take the voters for a ride to fulfil their political agenda in the state," he added.
Nizar wants voters to stand united as Malaysians in their stand against the BN tactics of divide and rule for the past 50 years.
Earlier, DAP chairman Karpal Singh and his family visited Trong and was heading to the nomination centre when they were attacked by BN supporters with bottled drinks watched by the police.
No one was injured in the incident but Karpal later lodged a police report with the Larut Matang police district headquarters in the afternoon.
Penang Chief Minister and DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said the PR was fighting an uphill battle against BN's powerful political machinery "which is hell bent on winning the seat through all means at its disposal".
He dismissed speculation that PR would win by a 5,000-vote majority as a BN propaganda to confuse and mislead the voters into a false sense of security.
The main roads leading to the nomination centre like Jalan Kota and Jalan Taming Sari were sealed to allow for the gathering of supporters.
It's no state or national referendum on BN, says Tee Keat.
(From left) BN candidate Ismail Saffian, PAS’s Datuk Seri Mohd Nizar Jamaluddin and independent candidate Kamarul Ramizu Idris.IPOH (March 29, 2009) : The Bukit Gantang parliamentary by-election on April 7 will see a three-cornered fight by Barisan Nasional (BN), Pakatan Rakyat-PAS (PR-PAS) and an Independent.
The "combatants" are BN's Ismail Saffian, 49, from Umno, PR's Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohd Nizar Jamaluddin, 52, and entrepreneur Kamarul Ramizu Idris, 42.
Election Commission (EC) returning officer Datuk Mahmud Mursidi announced the three candidates at 11.20am after rejecting three objections in the Taiping Town Hall yesterday.
Nizar, the Perak PAS deputy commissioner, was the first to arrive at the nomination centre at 8.45am, followed by Ismail at 9am and Kamarul at 9.20am.
Ismail was accompanied by Umno deputy president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, vice-president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, BN's Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir and thousands of supporters while Mohammad Nizar was accompanied by PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang, deputy president Nasharuddin Mat Isa and Perak state assembly speaker V.Sivakumar and their supporters.
About 2,000 BN supporters marched their way to the nomination centre with Ismail while Nizar was accompanied by about 10,000.
Said Muhyiddin: "Ismail is the best candidate the coalition can offer for Bukit Gantang. We try to meet every one voter to explain a few important matters like the status of the party, the correct interpretations of the constitution and other issues which we expect will be exploited by the opposition.
"We hope that the new BN leadership under the reign of (prime minister-in-waiting) Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak will be well received by the voters. If Ismail is elected, he would be able to raise problems faced by the people in parliament," he said, adding that he would also be campaigning in Bukit Selambau and Batang Ai.
Muhyiddin said he would be spending at least six days in Bukit Gantang as it is a big parliamentary seat which "we need to spend more time to talk to them and convince the voters to support us".
Nizar said democracy must be seen living through the ballot boxes of Bukit Gantang voters and this should reflect to the rest of the country that democracy is still alive in Perak.
"I have been a victim of BN's conspiracy to seize power in Perak which denied me the right to head the PR state government which is an insult to the intelligence of Perak voters who had made their choice of state government on March 8 last year.
"This wrong must be corrected democratically by the voters on April 7 and the BN must be taught a lesson that they cannot take the voters for a ride to fulfil their political agenda in the state," he added.
Nizar wants voters to stand united as Malaysians in their stand against the BN tactics of divide and rule for the past 50 years.
Earlier, DAP chairman Karpal Singh and his family visited Trong and was heading to the nomination centre when they were attacked by BN supporters with bottled drinks watched by the police.
No one was injured in the incident but Karpal later lodged a police report with the Larut Matang police district headquarters in the afternoon.
Penang Chief Minister and DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said the PR was fighting an uphill battle against BN's powerful political machinery "which is hell bent on winning the seat through all means at its disposal".
He dismissed speculation that PR would win by a 5,000-vote majority as a BN propaganda to confuse and mislead the voters into a false sense of security.
The main roads leading to the nomination centre like Jalan Kota and Jalan Taming Sari were sealed to allow for the gathering of supporters.
It's no state or national referendum on BN, says Tee Keat.
76-year-old hawker pines for long-lost sister - Star
March 30, 2009
A MINOR misunderstanding has kept hawker Lee Cheang Seng apart from his elder sister Chun Lan for the past 53 years.
Since then, Cheang Seng, 76, has been trying in vain to locate and reunite with his 77-year-old long lost sister.
He said Chun Lan used to work as a waitress at a coffeeshop which operated at night in Penang back then.
“I was worried about her well-being and I told her via mail to change her job,” Chean Seng told a press conference at the state MCA headquarters in Ipoh recently.
“She took it the wrong way and had since stopped replying my letters,” he added.
Cheang Seng said he had approached friends and families, asking about her whereabouts but it proved futile.
He added that he had even tried searching for her at her rented home in Penang but was told by neighbours that she had moved.
He noted that her last known address was 29, Jalan Ah Ding in Penang.
“I really do not know her present condition and I am really worried about her well-being,” he added.
When asked why it took him so long to seek help from the public, Cheang Seng said: “I initially did not want the matter to be publicised and I did not want to trouble anyone. I have now run out of ideas on where and how to look for her,” he added.
Cheang Seng noted that Chun Lan was affectionately known as “Ah Lan” by her friends and former housemates in Penang.
He also urged his sister to forget about their misunderstanding and contact him as soon as possible.
Perak MCA Public Services and Complaints Bureau chief Alex Chan Chin Chee said as Chun Lan did not know English, he hoped her friends or anyone who knew her would inform her after reading this report.
He said that Chun Lan could contact her brother directly or through Perak MCA headquarters at 05-2536891.
A MINOR misunderstanding has kept hawker Lee Cheang Seng apart from his elder sister Chun Lan for the past 53 years.
Since then, Cheang Seng, 76, has been trying in vain to locate and reunite with his 77-year-old long lost sister.
He said Chun Lan used to work as a waitress at a coffeeshop which operated at night in Penang back then.
“I was worried about her well-being and I told her via mail to change her job,” Chean Seng told a press conference at the state MCA headquarters in Ipoh recently.
“She took it the wrong way and had since stopped replying my letters,” he added.
Cheang Seng said he had approached friends and families, asking about her whereabouts but it proved futile.
He added that he had even tried searching for her at her rented home in Penang but was told by neighbours that she had moved.
He noted that her last known address was 29, Jalan Ah Ding in Penang.
“I really do not know her present condition and I am really worried about her well-being,” he added.
When asked why it took him so long to seek help from the public, Cheang Seng said: “I initially did not want the matter to be publicised and I did not want to trouble anyone. I have now run out of ideas on where and how to look for her,” he added.
Cheang Seng noted that Chun Lan was affectionately known as “Ah Lan” by her friends and former housemates in Penang.
He also urged his sister to forget about their misunderstanding and contact him as soon as possible.
Perak MCA Public Services and Complaints Bureau chief Alex Chan Chin Chee said as Chun Lan did not know English, he hoped her friends or anyone who knew her would inform her after reading this report.
He said that Chun Lan could contact her brother directly or through Perak MCA headquarters at 05-2536891.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Perak MCA to hold course on speech-training - Star
March 17, 2009
WANT to be a good speaker? The Perak MCA Youth will conduct a speech-training course from next month onwards at the state MCA headquarters in Ipoh.
Perak MCA Youth chief Dr Mah Hang Soon said: “The classes, which will be held on weekends, are open to all including non-MCA members.”
He said those who successfully completed the six-month course would be given cer- tificates.
Dr Mah, who was speaking to reporters after chairing the wing’s second central committee meeting in Ipoh on Saturday, said the course was also aimed at reaching out to more people.
“Our aim is not only to help create better speakers. We also hope to gather views from the public. It is a unique and good way to build up good governance,” he said, adding that feedback would be provided on issues raised by the trainees.
For details or to register, call Choong Shin Heng at 012-5607969 or 05-2554678.
WANT to be a good speaker? The Perak MCA Youth will conduct a speech-training course from next month onwards at the state MCA headquarters in Ipoh.
Perak MCA Youth chief Dr Mah Hang Soon said: “The classes, which will be held on weekends, are open to all including non-MCA members.”
He said those who successfully completed the six-month course would be given cer- tificates.
Dr Mah, who was speaking to reporters after chairing the wing’s second central committee meeting in Ipoh on Saturday, said the course was also aimed at reaching out to more people.
“Our aim is not only to help create better speakers. We also hope to gather views from the public. It is a unique and good way to build up good governance,” he said, adding that feedback would be provided on issues raised by the trainees.
For details or to register, call Choong Shin Heng at 012-5607969 or 05-2554678.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Liow: MCA protects nobody from the law - Sun
CHERAS (March 15, 2009) : MCA will protect no one from the reach of the law, as under the law, everybody is equal, health minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said today.
Health Minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai chats with blood donor Shing Zee, 31, and Chong Seng Boon, 58, during the blood donation campaign by MCA and sentul lions club.
"There is no leader who is being protected by anybody, the government or the party," he said when asked if MCA had been protecting one of its leaders.
Fielding questions from the press today over the contrasting speed at which opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim who has been charged for sodomy compared to draggy investigations into MCA deputy president Datuk Seri Chua Soi Lek who had admitted to being the man in a VCD having oral sex, Liow said such matters were left to the discretion of the Attorney-General.
"You have to check with the A-G and the police," he told reporters, after launching the Cheras MCA Youth-Sentul Lions Club blood donation campaign.
Meanwhile, on Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak recent call for a new "One Malaysia" government policy to unite all races, Liow said he supported the concept.
"Malaysia needs to be united, and citizens of all races need to work together and have fair policies which protect all races. Therefore, the guarantee by the DPM to bring justice and equality for all races is welcomed," said Liow.
He also called on all Malaysians to stop politicking and focus on helping the nation.
"There has been too much politicking after the March elections last year. We need to focus on how we can improve the economy. If we are too focused on politics, there will be too many challenges for us to overcome," he said.
Calling on Malaysians to work together at all levels, he said, the rakyat has to be united in facing these challenges.
On the upcoming Bukit Selambau and Bukit Gantang by-elections, Liow said MCA is ready for them.
"We made our preparations in advance; We have gone down to the people with local leaders, and we have set up operations centres in the areas, primarily in Perak and Kedah," he said, adding he will be visiting the by election areas on March 19.
"I will be explaining to the residents of Perak the commitment of the central government from the viewpoint of my ministry, and how we will improve the quality of healthcare in the region," added Liow.
Health Minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai chats with blood donor Shing Zee, 31, and Chong Seng Boon, 58, during the blood donation campaign by MCA and sentul lions club."There is no leader who is being protected by anybody, the government or the party," he said when asked if MCA had been protecting one of its leaders.
Fielding questions from the press today over the contrasting speed at which opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim who has been charged for sodomy compared to draggy investigations into MCA deputy president Datuk Seri Chua Soi Lek who had admitted to being the man in a VCD having oral sex, Liow said such matters were left to the discretion of the Attorney-General.
"You have to check with the A-G and the police," he told reporters, after launching the Cheras MCA Youth-Sentul Lions Club blood donation campaign.
Meanwhile, on Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak recent call for a new "One Malaysia" government policy to unite all races, Liow said he supported the concept.
"Malaysia needs to be united, and citizens of all races need to work together and have fair policies which protect all races. Therefore, the guarantee by the DPM to bring justice and equality for all races is welcomed," said Liow.
He also called on all Malaysians to stop politicking and focus on helping the nation.
"There has been too much politicking after the March elections last year. We need to focus on how we can improve the economy. If we are too focused on politics, there will be too many challenges for us to overcome," he said.
Calling on Malaysians to work together at all levels, he said, the rakyat has to be united in facing these challenges.
On the upcoming Bukit Selambau and Bukit Gantang by-elections, Liow said MCA is ready for them.
"We made our preparations in advance; We have gone down to the people with local leaders, and we have set up operations centres in the areas, primarily in Perak and Kedah," he said, adding he will be visiting the by election areas on March 19.
"I will be explaining to the residents of Perak the commitment of the central government from the viewpoint of my ministry, and how we will improve the quality of healthcare in the region," added Liow.
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Liow: Free jabs for poor kidney patients from April 1 - Sun
SERDANG (March 12, 2009) : All poor kidney patients needing dialysis treatment will be given free e-poeitin injections starting April 1.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said the government aid was in addition to the RM50 subsidy enjoyed by kidney patients presently.
The free injections, to be given three times weekly would save the patients RM30-RM60 per injection.
"The injections are needed to prevent anaemia as e-poeitin helps to increase the haemoglobin level. Without them, patients will suffer and endure low quality of life," he said after launching World Kidney Day 2009 at Serdang Hospital here today.
Liow said the free injections would cost the government RM12.64mil annually.
Some 2,700 poor kidney patients are registered and undergoing dialysis treatment at 454 dialysis centres nationwide.
He said eight more dialysis centres would be set up at district hospitals in Pahang, Terengganu, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan and Sabah to cope with the rising number of patients annually.
The new dialysis centres are at Cameron Highlands (Pahang), Setiu (Terengganu), Jasin (Melaka), Jempol (Negeri Sembilan), Tuaran, Kunak, Kuala Penyu and Pitas (Sabah).
Liow said kidney patients needing dialysis treatment stood at 16,719 as of Dec 31, 2007 compared to only 4,540 in 1998. --BERNAMA
Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said the government aid was in addition to the RM50 subsidy enjoyed by kidney patients presently.The free injections, to be given three times weekly would save the patients RM30-RM60 per injection.
"The injections are needed to prevent anaemia as e-poeitin helps to increase the haemoglobin level. Without them, patients will suffer and endure low quality of life," he said after launching World Kidney Day 2009 at Serdang Hospital here today.
Liow said the free injections would cost the government RM12.64mil annually.
Some 2,700 poor kidney patients are registered and undergoing dialysis treatment at 454 dialysis centres nationwide.
He said eight more dialysis centres would be set up at district hospitals in Pahang, Terengganu, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan and Sabah to cope with the rising number of patients annually.
The new dialysis centres are at Cameron Highlands (Pahang), Setiu (Terengganu), Jasin (Melaka), Jempol (Negeri Sembilan), Tuaran, Kunak, Kuala Penyu and Pitas (Sabah).
Liow said kidney patients needing dialysis treatment stood at 16,719 as of Dec 31, 2007 compared to only 4,540 in 1998. --BERNAMA
Training programme for unemployed grads launched - NST
March 13, 2009 By Farrah Naz Karim
Datuk Seri Najib Razak says it is critical that Malaysia equips itself with capable manpower
PUTRAJAYA: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak yesterday launched the Graduate Employability Management Scheme (Gems), aimed at reducing unemployment.
The initiative, which was set up to complement the Graduate Employability Enhancement Programme (Green) put in place in 2006, would benefit some 5,000 unemployed graduates nationwide, in its first year of implementation.
Under the programme, the graduates will undergo an executive development training programme for over two months, before being placed in participating government-linked companies (GLCs).
Khazanah Nasional Berhad is the secretariat for Gems.
Najib said with the projected unemployment rate this year being 4.5 per cent (3.7 per cent last year), these programmes could help reduce the impact of the economic crisis on employment.
He said in view of the current recession, it was critical for the country to equip itself with capable and productive manpower.
"If we are able to train well and subsequently utilise these unemployed graduates in the various sectors and industries, I am confident that it would greatly benefit the country's productivity and strength in cushioning the impact of the crisis," he said at the launch.
Najib said unemployment was a problem that needed to be arrested systematically.
Failing to address the issue, he said, would not only cause the country to lose out on productivity but also create social and political problems.
He said under the first Green programme, 97 per cent of 1,194 graduates trained at 38 GLCs succeeded in securing jobs as soon as they completed their training.
He said with the increasing number of graduates each year, it was important that job opportunities were created for them.
At any one time, there are some 60,000 graduates, Najib pointed out, who faced difficulties in securing jobs.
Some 180,000 graduates are produced each year from public and private higher learning institutions.
Only graduates who are below 27 and with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.5 from recognised institutions, are eligible for the programme.
Also present at the launch was Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, Second Finance Minister Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop, his deputy Datuk Kong Cho Ha and Khazanah managing director Tan Sri Azman Mokhtar.
Datuk Seri Najib Razak says it is critical that Malaysia equips itself with capable manpowerPUTRAJAYA: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak yesterday launched the Graduate Employability Management Scheme (Gems), aimed at reducing unemployment.
The initiative, which was set up to complement the Graduate Employability Enhancement Programme (Green) put in place in 2006, would benefit some 5,000 unemployed graduates nationwide, in its first year of implementation.
Under the programme, the graduates will undergo an executive development training programme for over two months, before being placed in participating government-linked companies (GLCs).
Khazanah Nasional Berhad is the secretariat for Gems.
Najib said with the projected unemployment rate this year being 4.5 per cent (3.7 per cent last year), these programmes could help reduce the impact of the economic crisis on employment.
He said in view of the current recession, it was critical for the country to equip itself with capable and productive manpower.
"If we are able to train well and subsequently utilise these unemployed graduates in the various sectors and industries, I am confident that it would greatly benefit the country's productivity and strength in cushioning the impact of the crisis," he said at the launch.
Najib said unemployment was a problem that needed to be arrested systematically.
Failing to address the issue, he said, would not only cause the country to lose out on productivity but also create social and political problems.
He said under the first Green programme, 97 per cent of 1,194 graduates trained at 38 GLCs succeeded in securing jobs as soon as they completed their training.
He said with the increasing number of graduates each year, it was important that job opportunities were created for them.
At any one time, there are some 60,000 graduates, Najib pointed out, who faced difficulties in securing jobs.
Some 180,000 graduates are produced each year from public and private higher learning institutions.
Only graduates who are below 27 and with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.5 from recognised institutions, are eligible for the programme.
Also present at the launch was Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, Second Finance Minister Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop, his deputy Datuk Kong Cho Ha and Khazanah managing director Tan Sri Azman Mokhtar.
Students’ online application for public varsity tampered with - Star
March 14, 2009
GOPENG: Three university hopefuls were shocked to find their online applications to public universities tampered with.
The former SMK Seri Teja students, who had just received their STPM results on Thursday, had all their eight choices filled with Islamic Studies.
To make matters worse, they were unable to amend the changes.
Stunned: Chow (seated) showing the changes made to his online application as (from left) Chai and Ang look on.
Chow Hon Mun, 21, said they could only make changes to the details on the online application website three times.
“I panicked when I could not make any changes and told my teachers about it,” said Chow when met at the Gopeng MCA service centre yesterday.
“My teachers then advised me to lodge a police report,” he said, adding that his first choice was engineering and that he had no intention of taking up Islamic Studies.
Chow added that recently he and his two friends had also received SMSes from an unidentified person who admitted to making the changes to their applications.
“I initially thought it was a prank but soon realised the person was telling the truth,” he said, adding that he was puzzled that the person had managed to procure confidential information about him and his two friends.
The other two victims were Chai Yick Loong, 21, and Ang Chun Heng, 20.
Chai said he wanted to take up an engineering course, and hoped the Higher Education Ministry could help them with their predicament.
Ang said he wanted to change the list back to his primary choices before the public university acceptance application ends on March 23.
“I hope the relevant authorities will upgrade the security system on the website so that it won’t be so easily hacked by people,” he added.
Gopeng MCA division chief Albert Chang said he would refer the matter to Deputy Higher Education Minister Dr Hou Kok Chung.
“We will help them gather all their result slips, application forms and official school letters and send the documents to Dr Hou through our education bureau,” said Chang.
He urged all public university hopefuls to check their online applications to ensure their forms were not tampered with.
GOPENG: Three university hopefuls were shocked to find their online applications to public universities tampered with.
The former SMK Seri Teja students, who had just received their STPM results on Thursday, had all their eight choices filled with Islamic Studies.
To make matters worse, they were unable to amend the changes.
Stunned: Chow (seated) showing the changes made to his online application as (from left) Chai and Ang look on.Chow Hon Mun, 21, said they could only make changes to the details on the online application website three times.
“I panicked when I could not make any changes and told my teachers about it,” said Chow when met at the Gopeng MCA service centre yesterday.
“My teachers then advised me to lodge a police report,” he said, adding that his first choice was engineering and that he had no intention of taking up Islamic Studies.
Chow added that recently he and his two friends had also received SMSes from an unidentified person who admitted to making the changes to their applications.
“I initially thought it was a prank but soon realised the person was telling the truth,” he said, adding that he was puzzled that the person had managed to procure confidential information about him and his two friends.
The other two victims were Chai Yick Loong, 21, and Ang Chun Heng, 20.
Chai said he wanted to take up an engineering course, and hoped the Higher Education Ministry could help them with their predicament.
Ang said he wanted to change the list back to his primary choices before the public university acceptance application ends on March 23.
“I hope the relevant authorities will upgrade the security system on the website so that it won’t be so easily hacked by people,” he added.
Gopeng MCA division chief Albert Chang said he would refer the matter to Deputy Higher Education Minister Dr Hou Kok Chung.
“We will help them gather all their result slips, application forms and official school letters and send the documents to Dr Hou through our education bureau,” said Chang.
He urged all public university hopefuls to check their online applications to ensure their forms were not tampered with.
Include UTAR In Postgraduate Package, Ka Chuan Urges Govt
KUALA LUMPUR, March 14 (Bernama)
Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Ong Ka Chuan said he would ask the government to include Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) in the postgraduate financing package announced by Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak on Tuesday.
"I will talk to the DPM about this. We should have UTAR Masters Degree and Doctorate level students included in this programme, especially in the current economic situation.
"If the government offers grants and financial aid, UTAR students should receive it too," he told reporters after attending UTAR's Eighth Convocation here, Saturday.
UTAR was a recognised private university with a good track record of producing quality and highly sought after graduates, he said.
Najib, when tabling the RM60 billion stimulus package in the Dewan Rakyat on March 10, said the government would undertake to finance tuition fees and research grants up to RM20,000 for every student pursuing doctorates locally while for students in the Masters programme, the government would provide up to RM10,000 per student.
A total of 500 places would be provided for studies at PhD level and 10,000 at Masters level in public institutions of higher learning as well as at Universiti Tenaga Nasional, Universiti Multimedia and Universiti Teknologi Petronas, he had said.
Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Ong Ka Chuan said he would ask the government to include Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) in the postgraduate financing package announced by Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak on Tuesday."I will talk to the DPM about this. We should have UTAR Masters Degree and Doctorate level students included in this programme, especially in the current economic situation.
"If the government offers grants and financial aid, UTAR students should receive it too," he told reporters after attending UTAR's Eighth Convocation here, Saturday.
UTAR was a recognised private university with a good track record of producing quality and highly sought after graduates, he said.
Najib, when tabling the RM60 billion stimulus package in the Dewan Rakyat on March 10, said the government would undertake to finance tuition fees and research grants up to RM20,000 for every student pursuing doctorates locally while for students in the Masters programme, the government would provide up to RM10,000 per student.
A total of 500 places would be provided for studies at PhD level and 10,000 at Masters level in public institutions of higher learning as well as at Universiti Tenaga Nasional, Universiti Multimedia and Universiti Teknologi Petronas, he had said.
Friday, March 6, 2009
Machine needs a home - Star
March 5, 2009 By SYLVIA LOOI
AFTER years of suffering the hardship and pain caused by kidney failure, housewife Wong Mee Mun, who is also a Hepatitis C carrier, is finally able to have her own dialysis machine bought with the RM60,OOO donation raised with the help of Perak MCA.
However, her happiness is short-lived as she has nowhere to house the machine.
Wong, 50, from Taman Cempaka in Ipoh, said she managed to obtain permission from a dialysis centre on Jalan Raja Permaisuri Bainun to place her machine there but was warned to remove her machine once there was more demand for its service and space.
“The centre’s management told me that I will have to leave when their business starts to pick up,” she told a press conference at the Perak MCA headquarters in Ipoh recently.
The party’s Public Services and Complaints Bureau chief Alex Chan handed over the balance of RM4,000 in donations to Wong.
Diagnosed with kidney failure when she was 32, Wong said she could not install the machine at her house as the machine needed a RM35,000 filter system which was only available at dialysis centres.
Due to her being a Hepatitis C carrier, she could not share her machine with other patients.
Those interested to help Wong by offering her a place to put her machine can get in touch with the department at the MCA state headquarters at 90-92, Tingkat Satu, Jalan Sultan Idris Shah, 30000 Ipoh, Perak.
For details, call 05-253 6981 or 05-253 8455.
AFTER years of suffering the hardship and pain caused by kidney failure, housewife Wong Mee Mun, who is also a Hepatitis C carrier, is finally able to have her own dialysis machine bought with the RM60,OOO donation raised with the help of Perak MCA.
However, her happiness is short-lived as she has nowhere to house the machine.
Wong, 50, from Taman Cempaka in Ipoh, said she managed to obtain permission from a dialysis centre on Jalan Raja Permaisuri Bainun to place her machine there but was warned to remove her machine once there was more demand for its service and space.
“The centre’s management told me that I will have to leave when their business starts to pick up,” she told a press conference at the Perak MCA headquarters in Ipoh recently.
The party’s Public Services and Complaints Bureau chief Alex Chan handed over the balance of RM4,000 in donations to Wong.Diagnosed with kidney failure when she was 32, Wong said she could not install the machine at her house as the machine needed a RM35,000 filter system which was only available at dialysis centres.
Due to her being a Hepatitis C carrier, she could not share her machine with other patients.
Those interested to help Wong by offering her a place to put her machine can get in touch with the department at the MCA state headquarters at 90-92, Tingkat Satu, Jalan Sultan Idris Shah, 30000 Ipoh, Perak.
For details, call 05-253 6981 or 05-253 8455.
Former cook longs for a job - Star
IPOH: Former chef Yong Tse Yan has one wish – to get a job as soon as he recovers from his kidney failure.
Yong, 40, is willing to accept any work offered to him and would like to start anew once he is healthier.
“It’s not that I don’t want to work but no one wants to employ me because of my illness,” Yong told reporters after receiving RM21,544 in donations at the Perak MCA headquarters here yesterday.
Last Thursday, Yong who is half blind from diabetes and suffers from Hepatitis B and C had appealed for help from the public.
Yong is now scheduled to undergo a procedure on Monday before receiving dialysis treatment. He was diagnosed with diabetes in 2000, and kidney failure five years ago.
Perak MCA public services and complaints bureau chief Alex Chan Chin Chee welcomed contributions from anyone wanting to help Yong with his future medical expenses.
Donors can make out their cheques to Yong and send them to the bureau, No. 90-92, Tingkat Satu, Jalan Sultan Idris Shah, 30000 Ipoh.
The bureau can be contacted at 05-2536981.
Yong, 40, is willing to accept any work offered to him and would like to start anew once he is healthier.“It’s not that I don’t want to work but no one wants to employ me because of my illness,” Yong told reporters after receiving RM21,544 in donations at the Perak MCA headquarters here yesterday.
Last Thursday, Yong who is half blind from diabetes and suffers from Hepatitis B and C had appealed for help from the public.
Yong is now scheduled to undergo a procedure on Monday before receiving dialysis treatment. He was diagnosed with diabetes in 2000, and kidney failure five years ago.
Perak MCA public services and complaints bureau chief Alex Chan Chin Chee welcomed contributions from anyone wanting to help Yong with his future medical expenses.
Donors can make out their cheques to Yong and send them to the bureau, No. 90-92, Tingkat Satu, Jalan Sultan Idris Shah, 30000 Ipoh.
The bureau can be contacted at 05-2536981.
Grandparents pining for missing 15-year-old - Star
March 5, 2009
IPOH: It has been a daily affair for Foong Kong Faat, 65, to drop and pick his granddaughter from a secondary school at Jalan Raja Permaisuri Bainun.
However, on Feb 19, Foong Pooi Yee, 15, did not walk out of the school compound when he went to pick her up.
At a loss: Lee relating her predicament to Chan (left) as Perak MCA Youth Public Services and Complaints Bureau chief Tony Khoo takes down notes.
Kong Fatt later found out that Pooi Yee was absent from school though he had dropped her off that morning.
“I sent her to school and I saw her walking in, but when I wanted to pick her up later in the afternoon, she was nowhere to be found,” he told reporters at the Perak MCA headquarters yesterday.
Kong Faat said since Pooi Yee’s disappearance he had been having sleepless nights.
“My wife and I have been caring for Pooi Yee since she was three. Her parents are divorced,” he said, adding that his granddaughter was her usual quiet self the day she went missing.
“I am worried about her as she needs to take her pills daily due to her heart condition,” he said, adding that calls over her mobile phone went unanswered.
Pooi Yee: The student has been missing since Feb 19.
A missing person’s report was lodged at the Simpang Pulai police station on Feb 20.
Perak MCA Public Services and Complaints Bureau chief Alex Chan appealed to those with information of Pooi Yee’s whereabouts to contact the nearest police station.
He said the MCA would also put up Pooi Yee’s pictures at MCA offices in the state.
The bureau is also appealing for donations on behalf of former hawker Lee Kooi Ying, 56, who is suffering from fourth stage colon cancer. She found out about it two years ago.
Lee thought she could start life afresh after leaving her abusive husband 10 years ago but fate dealt her a cruel blow.
“I spent most of my life savings at a private hospital to remove the growth in my colon and forced to leave the hospital when I ran out of money,” said Lee, who is now receiving treatment at Hospital Raja Permaisuri Bainun here.
“A friend provides me with shelter and food while neighbours give me money,” she said, adding that she had not seen her six children, aged between 24 and 30, since their last visit at the hospital two years ago.
Lee, whose monthly expense was RM700, appealed for public donations, adding that she currently received RM300 aid from the State Welfare Department.
Chan said donors should send cheques payable to the bureau with Lee’s name written at the back of the cheque and send it to No. 90-92, Tingkat Satu, Jalan Sultan Idris Shah, 30000 Ipoh. For details, call the bureau at 05-253 6981.
IPOH: It has been a daily affair for Foong Kong Faat, 65, to drop and pick his granddaughter from a secondary school at Jalan Raja Permaisuri Bainun.
However, on Feb 19, Foong Pooi Yee, 15, did not walk out of the school compound when he went to pick her up.
At a loss: Lee relating her predicament to Chan (left) as Perak MCA Youth Public Services and Complaints Bureau chief Tony Khoo takes down notes.Kong Fatt later found out that Pooi Yee was absent from school though he had dropped her off that morning.
“I sent her to school and I saw her walking in, but when I wanted to pick her up later in the afternoon, she was nowhere to be found,” he told reporters at the Perak MCA headquarters yesterday.
Kong Faat said since Pooi Yee’s disappearance he had been having sleepless nights.
“My wife and I have been caring for Pooi Yee since she was three. Her parents are divorced,” he said, adding that his granddaughter was her usual quiet self the day she went missing.
“I am worried about her as she needs to take her pills daily due to her heart condition,” he said, adding that calls over her mobile phone went unanswered.
Pooi Yee: The student has been missing since Feb 19.A missing person’s report was lodged at the Simpang Pulai police station on Feb 20.
Perak MCA Public Services and Complaints Bureau chief Alex Chan appealed to those with information of Pooi Yee’s whereabouts to contact the nearest police station.
He said the MCA would also put up Pooi Yee’s pictures at MCA offices in the state.
The bureau is also appealing for donations on behalf of former hawker Lee Kooi Ying, 56, who is suffering from fourth stage colon cancer. She found out about it two years ago.
Lee thought she could start life afresh after leaving her abusive husband 10 years ago but fate dealt her a cruel blow.
“I spent most of my life savings at a private hospital to remove the growth in my colon and forced to leave the hospital when I ran out of money,” said Lee, who is now receiving treatment at Hospital Raja Permaisuri Bainun here.
“A friend provides me with shelter and food while neighbours give me money,” she said, adding that she had not seen her six children, aged between 24 and 30, since their last visit at the hospital two years ago.
Lee, whose monthly expense was RM700, appealed for public donations, adding that she currently received RM300 aid from the State Welfare Department.
Chan said donors should send cheques payable to the bureau with Lee’s name written at the back of the cheque and send it to No. 90-92, Tingkat Satu, Jalan Sultan Idris Shah, 30000 Ipoh. For details, call the bureau at 05-253 6981.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Single mum needs your help - Star
March 4, 2009
IPOH: A single mother is at her wits’ end trying to figure how to raise funds to treat her young son who was hit by a car in Sitiawan on Feb 21.
Ling Pik Syu, 29, said she lost her job as a kitchen helper in Singapore last month after returning to her hometown for a short break to care for her son, who was involved in an accident in Pekan Gurney in Sitiawan.
Mum’s love: Ling at the bedside of Yang Jeng at the Fatimah Hospital in Ipoh yesterday. With her (from left) are Perak MCA Public Complaints and Services Bureau deputy chief Kok Pak Foo, Alex Chan and Perak MCA Youth Public Complaints and Services Bureau chief Tony Khoo.
“I have to stay back to look after him. My former employer found a replacement and I don’t have any source of income now,” she said at the Fatimah Hospital where her son, Sioh Yang Jeng, 11, is recuperating from an operation to remove a blood clot from his brain.
Ling became the family’s sole breadwinner after her husband died in 2003. The mother of three said her son has been in hospital since the operation on Feb 22 and the bill had accumulated to RM80,000.
“I have borrowed RM50,000 from friends for the medical fees,” she said, adding that her son also suffered a broken leg in the accident.
She said the boy would need another operation next month to replace a piece of his skull that was removed.
Perak MCA Public Services and Complaints Bureau chief Alex Chan, who visited Ling and her son at the hospital yesterday, said they needed to raise about RM100,000 to help pay off the mounting hospital expenses.
Donors can contact the bureau at 05-253-6981. Donations can also be made to the “Perak MCA Public Services and Complaints Bureau” with Sioh’s name written on the back of the cheque and sent to the MCA headquarters at 90-92 Tingkat Satu, Jalan Sultan Idris Shah, 30000 Ipoh.
IPOH: A single mother is at her wits’ end trying to figure how to raise funds to treat her young son who was hit by a car in Sitiawan on Feb 21.
Ling Pik Syu, 29, said she lost her job as a kitchen helper in Singapore last month after returning to her hometown for a short break to care for her son, who was involved in an accident in Pekan Gurney in Sitiawan.
Mum’s love: Ling at the bedside of Yang Jeng at the Fatimah Hospital in Ipoh yesterday. With her (from left) are Perak MCA Public Complaints and Services Bureau deputy chief Kok Pak Foo, Alex Chan and Perak MCA Youth Public Complaints and Services Bureau chief Tony Khoo.“I have to stay back to look after him. My former employer found a replacement and I don’t have any source of income now,” she said at the Fatimah Hospital where her son, Sioh Yang Jeng, 11, is recuperating from an operation to remove a blood clot from his brain.
Ling became the family’s sole breadwinner after her husband died in 2003. The mother of three said her son has been in hospital since the operation on Feb 22 and the bill had accumulated to RM80,000.
“I have borrowed RM50,000 from friends for the medical fees,” she said, adding that her son also suffered a broken leg in the accident.
She said the boy would need another operation next month to replace a piece of his skull that was removed.
Perak MCA Public Services and Complaints Bureau chief Alex Chan, who visited Ling and her son at the hospital yesterday, said they needed to raise about RM100,000 to help pay off the mounting hospital expenses.
Donors can contact the bureau at 05-253-6981. Donations can also be made to the “Perak MCA Public Services and Complaints Bureau” with Sioh’s name written on the back of the cheque and sent to the MCA headquarters at 90-92 Tingkat Satu, Jalan Sultan Idris Shah, 30000 Ipoh.
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