YB. R.S.N RAYER - A.D.U.N. SERI DELIMA, PENANG

In a predicament: Rayer holding the receipts for the fees paid by the students for the course.

She said she approached one of the college directors recently but was told the school was unable to obtain their papers as they still owned HTI some RM100,000. She was worried that she might not see her certificate as promised by the school.
Rupyni claimed she and 26 others were in a predicament over their future without having proper documentations to apply for jobs.
She and 13 others, all of whom had paid a total of RM150,000 as part of the course fee, approached Rayer for help.
Rayer said he would ask Deputy Chief Minister II Dr P. Ramasamy to look into the matter.
He said he would seek HTI clarification to see if the college was accredited and approved to conduct the course.
A college spokesman said they were unable to give out the certificates as some of the students had yet to pay their fees amounting to about RM100,000.
He said some of them also had to resit their examinations.
“We are in the process of resolving the RM100,000 we owe HTI. We assured those who have paid their fee that they will receive their diploma by this year,” he said.

Deputy Chief Minister I Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin will head it.
“The committee will also look into issues involving escalating cost and the proposed toll charges. We do want Penangites to suffer,” Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said.

He also said that they were in the dark over land acquisition problems for the proposed second bridge as claimed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
“The state did not have access to such information, other than from the newspapers.”

He said there was no line of communication with the state and federal governments to discuss arising problems.
“We have directed the state Economics Planning Unit (EPU) to expedite the process. We have given full co-operation as far as land matters are concerned,” he told a press conference yesterday.

Lim said this in response to Abdullah’s statement that land acquisition problems were among the factors that caused the delay in the construction of the second bridge. Other major problems highlighted were design and cost.
Lim said the design and cost issues were under the purview of the Federal Government.

On the proposed monorail project, Lim said the state government was waiting for a second meeting with Malaysian Resources Corp Bhd (MRCB) to further discuss the project.
He said the state had also met with Melewar Industrial Group recently.
“We are looking at the proposals. The im-portant factors are the maximum number of people who would benefit, and whether the project could help reduce traffic congestion,” he said.

He also added that appointments to the Penang Tourism Council would be tabled next week during the state executive council meeting.
“We want to make sure suitable people are appointed to hold the posts,” he said.

He said he would continue with the policy to give opportunity to anyone with good credentials and capability to serve the state, in line with his competency, accountability and transparency (CAT) approach.
“I will not run away from taking responsibility over the decisions that I have made.
“I am confident the party (DAP) will support my decision. We want to implement the CAT approach, and we must start somewhere,” said Lim who is also DAP secretary-general.

Lim said this in response to mixed reaction from DAP leaders over the appointment of former Gerakan deputy secretary-general Datuk Lee Kah Choon as InvestPenang executive chairman and director of the Penang Development Corporation.

Among those who opposed the move was DAP chairman Karpal Singh.

“We will discuss during a meeting with DAP MPs on Sunday. I will talk about the policy and spirit of good governance. I hope to get them to agree that we should adopt the new approach,” he said.
Lim said even Barisan Nasional had appointed then DAP secretary-general and former Kota Melaka MP Kerk Kim Hock as National Unity Advisory Panel member in 2004.
“When Kerk accepted the post, the party did not demand his resignation. In fact, I even congratulated him,” he added.

Lim, however, acknowledged that the posts offered to Lee were much higher.

Kampung Lorong Buah Pala action committee secretary J. Steven, 40, said he immediately called Seri Delima assemblyman R.S.N Rayer as the residents were worried.
“At 9am, the contractor, who was escorted by a group of police personnel, came and wanted to demolish the houses. How can this be when our injunction application against them is still pending in court?
“We immediately contacted Rayer who came with Batu Maung assemblyman Abdul Malik Kassim and Ba-tu Uban assemblyman Raveen Tharan. They managed to get the group to leave after about two hours of negotiations,” he said, urging Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng to take a “serious look” into the villagers’ plight.

Residents of Kampung Lorong Buah Pala gathering to hear out the police officer.

Rayer said the contractor had no right to demolish the houses, as no court order was granted.
A police spokesman said personnel were deployed to the scene to ensure that nothing untoward happened.
“We were there purely for security and nothing else,” he said.

Kampung Lorong Buah Pala comprises 33 houses. The residents, who have been staying in the area for decades, received a notice on Aug 30 last year asking them to move out so that their houses could be demolished and cleared although negotiations for compensation were ongoing.
The village has been earmarked for a low-medium and medium-cost housing project comprising a total of 740 units, eight shoplots, a community hall and a kindergarten.

Calling themselves “graftbusters”, DAP has come up with its own task force to combat corruption. Its leaders are inviting the public to inform them of any corruption or malpractice in the civil service, local councils and police.

The Penang government has expressed shock that the second Penang Bridge project would be delayed and disputed the federal government's claim that land acquisition was a contributing factor.

"This Government gives its commitment to the Malaysian public that it will begin a process of judicial reform. We recognise that this process must be undertaken with the spirit and belief that no one, not even those entrusted to govern or to make laws, must assume to be above the law," he said.
He also assured the Malaysian public that consultation on the workings and structure of the Commission will involve primary stakeholders.

"All will have a chance to provide their input to the Government," he said.
The Government will also review the judiciary’s terms of service and remuneration to set salaries and compensation at the right levels to ensure that the bench can attract and retain the very best of the nation’s talent.
"These, and other measures which will be announced in due course, will form a comprehensive package of reform to strengthen the capacity and credibility of the judiciary," Abdullah said.

The Prime Minister acknowledged that the events of 1988, which ultimately saw the sacking of the then Lord President Tun Salleh Abas and two judges, constituted an upheaval of the nation’s judicial system.
Salleh was brought before a tribunal for misconduct, and filed a suit in the High Court challenging the constitutionality of the tribunal.
Five judges of the Supreme Court convened and granted him an interlocutory (interim) order against the tribunal, but this order was later set aside and Salleh officially removed from the post of Lord President.

The five Supreme Court judges who granted him the interlocutory order - Tan Sri Azmi Kamaruddin, Tan Sri Eusoffe Abdoolcader, Tan Sri Wan Hamzah Mohamed Salleh, Tan Sri Wan Suleiman Pawan Teh and Datuk George Seah - were suspended. Wan Sulaiman and Seah were later sacked.
"Rightly or wrongly, many disputed both the legality and morality of the related proceedings," Abdullah said. "For me, personally, I feel it was a time of crisis from which the nation never fully recovered," he said, but added that it was time to move on.
"I do not think it wise or helpful to revisit past decisions as it would only serve to prolong the sense of crisis – something our nation can do without. The rakyat wants movement and progress, not continuing strife," he said.

Abdullah admitted that the public considers the present way of appointing and promoting judges as inadequate, especially after the inquiry undertaken by the Royal Commission into the so-called “V.K. Lingam Tape.”
"The absence of a system in nominating candidates has led some to believe that the process is characterised by abuse, even where there is none. As is often the case, perception can lead reality," he said.
He said the judiciary must be revitalised to enable it to serve the people in pursuit of justice; fortified to be an institution that serves the democratic principle of separation of powers; and must act as the guardian of the Constitution and the sentinel of the people’s rights.

Abdullah also commended Salleh and his five colleagues, describing them as "towering judicial personalities" and acknowledged the pain and loss they had endured.
In recognition of their contribution to justice, the Government would make goodwill ex-gratia payments to them.
Eusoffe and Wan Suleiman have since passed away, but were represented at the Bar Council dinner by their families.

Earlier at the dinner, de facto Law Minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim said he hoped never again to see judges punished for doing their jobs, while the Bar Council commended the Prime Minister for creating a more democratic space in Malaysia.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said that while the Government realised that making it compulsory for future converts to announce their intention to their family would make it difficult for them, it was necessary to avoid confusion and problems, as had happened in a few incidents of late.
He said that ever since Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's announcement last week, the Syariah Judicial Department and the Islamic Development Department (Jakim) have been looking into ways to assist individuals planning to embrace Islam.

"I have also been discussing with the Minister in charge of legal matters, Datuk Zaid Ibrahim, as to what can be done.
"We will be organising a conference next week where legal practitioners, Muslim scholars and ulamaks will converge to give their views and ideas on how best to tackle the issue," he told reporters after witnessing the handing over of duties from Jakim to Halal Industry Development Corporation (HDC) on halal certification on Thursday.

He said that the outcome of the conference would be used as a guideline, adding it would be determined later whether it would be best for those intending to convert to Islam to inform their families before or after conversion.
"We need to hear what the experts say. We also need to make it easy for those who need to take on the responsibility of dropping the bombshell to their families," he said, adding that the authorities were also aware that informing the family before converting could result in them being prevented from embracing the religion of their choice.

Last week, the Prime Minister had announced a new regulation requiring non-Muslims converting to Islam to inform their family before doing so, saying this would prevent problems of families disputing the conversion of their loved ones when they die.

Farizan said from now, the council would only go for “value for money” contracts.
He said the council would be prudent in its spending to reduce its budget deficit and increase its reserves which stood at RM18mil at the end of 2007.
He added that a big chunk of the council’s operating cost was spent on waste collection and staff salaries and emoluments.
“We cannot reduce salaries and expenses for contracts which had been signed such as those for waste disposal and development projects.
“We now have to fork out RM48mil yearly to pay our staff while another RM50mil is spent on waste management annually,” Farizan said.

The council has also set up a committee to recover assessment arrears which stood at RM36mil.
Over the last two weeks, the council has come under scrutiny by the new Penang government which was concerned that its reserves had plunged from RM229mil in 2000 to RM25.6mil last year.
It had an accumulated deficit of RM226mil over eight years.

On Sunday, Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng announced that the findings of an independent auditor into the financial status of the council would be made public as the people had the right to know.

“The other races acquired citizenship after Merdeka and are entitled to enjoy the rights and privileges that flow from that citizenship,” he said.
“It was not right for the Tengku Mahkota of Kelantan 51 years later to descend to the political arena and make statements which are on the verge of sedition,” he said.

Meanwhile, Action Front for Malay Solidarity (BBPM) yesterday defended the speech by the Tengku Mahkota of Kelantan.
BBPM chairman Osman Abu Bakar said that although in his speech the Tengku Mahkota of Kelantan stressed that the special Malay privileges should not be disputed, the Tengku Mahkota did not ignore the interests and rights of the other ethnic groups.

“The Tengku Mahkota emphasised that he would not tolerate any form of injustice committed on the other races,” said Osman. – Bernama

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said he was taking up a challenge by former Deputy Chief Minister and Land Development and Land Affairs Committee chairman Datuk Abdul Rashid Abdullah to reveal the details.
“We will discuss the matter during the state exco meeting. If all exco members agree, we will go public,” he told newsmen Tuesday after receiving a courtesy call from the Penang Chinese Clan Council at his office.

“Initially I had not planned to expose the details yet, nor have I made any accusations because I wanted to give Abdul Rashid a chance to explain why premium discounts were given to certain quarters and why state land was alienated to some big companies.
“We are not out to get anyone but since he has challenged me to reveal the details, I will do so,” he said, adding that he definitely wanted to meet with the latter.
“If he (Abdul Rashid) claims not to know of any land improprieties, I will tell him and let him explain. Come and see me. Do not give the reason that I did not issue an official invitation.

“Today I am making an official invitation in the media for him to come. I hope he will cooperate,” he said, adding that it was very odd that Abdul Rashid had expected him to send an official invitation to clarify the matter.
“When I want to meet the Prime Minister, I have to write in. When others want to meet with me, they write an official letter,” he said.
Lim was commenting on Abdul Rashid’s challenge for him to expose the alleged land discrepancy cases that have supposedly taken place under the previous state administration.

State Tourism Development, Culture, Arts and Heritage Committee chairman Danny Law Heng Kiang told a press conference on Monday that the ministry had promised to allocate the sum three years ago when the state placed its bid to host the event.
Law urged the ministry to honour its pledge, saying that the state was short on time to make the necessary arrangements and it would affect the image of Penang and Malaysia if the event were cancelled.
He said 159 teams with more than 4,400 participants from 22 foreign countries have registered for the CCWC and the eighth Asian Dragon Boat Championship (ADBC), to be held concurrently at the Teluk Bahang Dam, adding that this was the first time an Asian country would be hosting the event.

Law said by the end of last year, the Ministry forwarded only RM500,000 to the Penang Tourism Action Council (PTAC) for the CCWC but the funds had yet to be transferred as the PTAC was awaiting the ministry's approval.
He also said the state government had approved RM200,000 for the two events, which would cost the organisers an estimated RM2mil. The Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP), as the main sponsor, will bear the infrastructure costs at the site.

Law is chairing the organising committee for both events in his capacity as the Penang International Dragon Boat Festival (PIDBF) committee chairman.

DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang said the party wanted to bring about change for transparency, justice and a better livelihood for the people.
“We are working with PAS with a clear understanding that we work together for good governance and greater democracy.

“It is not for an Islamic state or hudud laws because I believe the majority of Malaysians, whether Malays or non-Malays, do not want an Islamic state,” said the Ipoh Timor MP when addressing a people’s forum here on Saturday night.
Lim added that during his many ceramahs, he had often mentioned that the DAP had no connection with PAS.

The results of the general election showed that the people clearly wanted the three parties – DAP, PAS and PKR – together, he said.
“That is why in Perak and Selangor, unless the three parties cooperated to form a coalition government, we would have had to surrender power back to the Barisan.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the public had the right to know how the council’s reserves had come down.
“If the municipal council had built a lapangan terbang (airport) here, perhaps we can understand."
“But, there is no lapangan terbang and yet the money could terbang (fly),” he said.

Lim said those who were not involved in any mishandling of funds need not fear as the auditing process was merely aimed at improving the council’s performance.

“But the guilty ones who took public money and became very rich will be investigated,” he said when opening Bagan Dalam assemblyman A. Tanasekharan’s service centre in Jalan Bagan Luar here yesterday.
He said the new state government was worried the council would be broke by the end of the year.

Lim said many expected the new state government to continue helping the people with big projects, but that would not be possible when there were no more reserves.
“If there are disasters, we will definitely help the people. But to come up with projects, we must look at our financial situation first,” he said.

On April 1, state Local Government Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow said the council, with an accumulated deficit of RM226mil over the last eight years, had been scraping the bottom of the barrel.

On April 4, former councillor Datuk Dr Loga Bala Mohan said large portions of the council’s reserves were spent on the State Stadium in Batu Kawan (RM110mil), the council’s headquarters (RM83mil), Dewan Milenium (RM24mil) and the Central Seberang Prai district sports complex (RM12.8mil).

Penang Consumer Protection Association president K. Koris said the council could have retained high reserves if it had asked for federal funds to build its headquarters and a district sports complex.

Sungai Dua assemblyman Datuk Jasmin Mohamed called for the council to tutup kedai (close shop) and hand over its duties to the state government if it was incapable of handling its finances.
He said the council’s land administrative duties should also be surrendered to the three district offices in Seberang Prai.

Meanwhile, Lim has invited former deputy chief minister Datuk Seri Abdul Rashid Abdullah to discuss matters pertaining to alleged land discrepancies.
Abdul Rashid, who is also the former chairman for state Land Affairs and Land Development Committees, had last week denied knowledge of allegations made by the present state government.
Lim also said he was still waiting for former chief minister Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon to meet him to discuss matters pertaining to the previous state administration.

Lim also said the state wanted to know the toll rates for the 24km bridge (of which 17km will be on water) which would link Batu Maung on the island with Batu Kawan in Seberang Prai. “For example, if toll charges are RM9, a discount of 15% should be given if the project is late. Otherwise, they can take forever to complete the structure. If this cannot be done, we will have to explore other possibilities,” he said.
Asked to comment on the bridge cost escalating from the initial RM3.5bil to RM4.3bil, Lim said he would wait for an official report before commenting.

It was recently reported that the federal government had finalised the cost of the second Penang bridge at RM4.3 billion. The decision was reportedly made at a meeting held on April 11 between the Finance Ministry, bridge builder UEM Builders Bhd and main contractor China Harbour Engineering Co Ltd (CHEC).

Seri Delima assemblyman R.S.N. Rayer said the fishermen were unhappy as only 28 of them were offered RM11,000 each to make way for the Jelutong Expressway project, while nine other fishermen and 43 crew-members had been left out.
”I will request for more considerable amount to be paid to the affected fishermen,” he said after a meeting with the fishermen yesterday.
The fishermen said their problems started 60 years ago when their forefathers were ordered to relocate to pave the way for development near George Town.

Ideal spot: Sungai Gelugor fishermen showing the site which they feel is suitable for a new fishing jetty.

“Our forefathers were asked to move from one location to another. But the problems persisted with no long-term solution,” said a fisherman who declined to be named.
“Our catch has also dwindled over the years, especially now with reclamation works in progress to make way for a condominium project,” he added.

Fisherman Mohd Noor Ariffin said they were not consulted about such projects that have direct impact on their livelihood.
“A few months ago we were told to relocate before April 15 to Lebuh Bakau some 6km away from our (existing) village,” he said.

Rayer said he would also look into getting compensation from the condominium project developer.
“As their income is adversely affected, they must be compensated accordingly,” he said.
Rayer also said that he would liaise with the district office to postpone the relocation exercise to Lebuh Bakau jetty.
Southern Penang Area Fishermen Associa-tion chairman Md Zainol Ajamin said the fishermen’s income dropped by about 50% from between RM300 and RM400 per catch to about RM200.

DAP also has two other service centres to cater for the Sungai Pinang and Batu Lanchang state constituencies.
Seri Delima assemblyman R.S.N. Rayer said the DAP service centres were “borderless.”
“People can complain about problem anywhere in any of the constituencies. Our service centre teams are joining forces to serve the people better.”

Datok Keramat assemblyman Jagdeep Singh Deo said his service centre would be open from 9am to 5pm on weekdays, and from 9am to 1pm on Saturdays. It is closed on Sundays.
“We have full-time staff to entertain complaints from everyone, regardless of his political affiliation,” he said.
Jagdeep Singh's service centre is at 461 Jalan Datuk Keramat, opposite Padang Brown.

Complainants can also call 04-2262464 or email micyow@hotmail.com.

»The Chinese and Indians in Kelantan are happy, but that doesn’t mean that they subscribe to the creation of an Islamic state« KARPAL SINGH

Karpal Singh said the DAP accepted Islam as the official religion of the country as guaranteed under the Federal Constitution.
“PAS must accept and face reality and not depart from what the Constitution provides and the views of former prime ministers Tunku Abdul Rahman and Tun Hussein Onn.

“There’s no doubt that the Chinese and Indians in Kelantan are happy, but that doesn’t mean that they subscribe to the creation of an Islamic state or the introduction of hudud laws,” he said in a statement yesterday.
Karpal Singh said the Pakatan Rakyat coalition, comprising DAP, PKR and PAS, could defeat Barisan Nasional in the next general election provided PAS does not insist on turning the country into an Islamic state or seek the introduction of hudud laws.

On Sunday, PAS spiritual leader Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat criticised Karpal Singh for saying that PAS should not dream about becoming the backbone of the proposed coalition and establishing an Islamic state in the country.

He said Prime Minister’s revelation brought into focus the necessity to set up a Royal Commission of Inquiry to probe Dr Mahathir’s abuse of powers then.

Karpal Singh, who was himself arrested under the ISA in 1987, said that Dr Mahathir had him rearrested even after the Ipoh High Court had freed him in March 9, 1988.
“What I cannot accept about Dr Mahathir is the matter in which he abused his power, by destroying the judiciary and the abuse of the ISA to get to political opponents like me,” he said in a statement yesterday.

On another matter, Karpal Singh called on Abdullah to take action against the negative publicity concerning maths prodigy Sufiah Yusof, who had reportedly been working as a prostitute in Britain.
“I call upon Abdullah to direct the Malaysian High Commissioner to Britain to meet up with Sufiah and get her back on the right track,” he said.

Kulasegaran, who is also Ipoh Barat MP, said that the party had told their assemblymen that if they wanted to change their political party, they must resign to allow for a by-election.
His comments came in the wake of alleged offers from various Barisan Nasional component parties to the DAP representatives to switch camps.
“The people gave us the mandate and we must live up to it,” Kulasegaran told reporters after Tronoh assemblyman V. Sivakumar lodged a report at the Ipoh police district police yesterday.

Invitations via SMS: Buntong assemblyman A. Sivasubramaniam (right) and Sivakumar showing the SMSes they received in Ipoh.

Sivakumar claimed that he had been deluged with offers to change political parties since the March 8 general election.
“They initially offered me RM65mil cash and a state executive councillor post but it drop to RM10mil with a state exco post yesterday (Saturday),” he said.

Sivakumar told reporters here yesterday that not only was he harassed over the phone and through SMSes, some quarters claiming to be supporters of some political parties even went to his house to persuade him.

He said the centre was proposed to be built on the endowment’s land at the Waterfall Road Temple while a mixed development project was proposed at the endowment’s land at the Jalan Siram-Jalan Telaga Air enclave in Butterworth.
“The last Cabinet had approved the proposals in principle,” Suibbaiyah told a press conference on Friday after a meeting with Deputy Chief Minister II Dr P. Ramasamy and incoming Penang Hindu Endowment Board mem-bers at Komtar to brief them on ongoing programmes, projects and endowment properties and to hand over documents.

All yours: Subbaiyah (left) briefing (from second left) Dr Ramasamy, Rayer and Tanasekharan on the projects.