OH SHOW SOME RESPECT and LISTEN! hahahahahahahaha

KUALA LUMPUR: The Yang diPertuan Agong, Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin, Saturday called on the people to show appreciation for the 1Malaysia concept introduced as an extension of government efforts to grow national unity sown at the time of the nation’s independence more than 50 years ago.

He said every citizen had a huge responsibility in this undertaking because it was the people themselves who determined the rise and fall of a nation.

Tuanku Mizan said he hoped that Malaysians would continue to maintain unity and share their blessings and responsibilities as this was something unique and a source of their strength.

“I am very happy because the people have demonstrated that they are able to live in an atmosphere of harmony and mutual respect given the diversity of race, ethnicity, religion, culture and lifestyle,” he said at the investiture at Istana Negara in conjunction with his birthday.

Tuanku Mizan also said that he was happy that the 1Malaysia concept introduced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak was based on the principle of “People First, Performance Now“. Tuanku Mizan also said that the government should continue to improve the national administrative and implementation machinery, which served as the pulse of national development, to provide the best service for the well-being of the people.

He said he hoped that the benefits of the two economic stimulus packages launched by the government would reach the target groups.

He said he also believed that the government would be able to use prudence in stepping up efforts to balance economic development with social needs to bring about peace and prosperity for the people so that no race or group, including women, youths, the elderly and the handicapped, was neglected.

“In fact, existing government policies have provided for social balance among the people of various races with a prudent economic development strategy. I am happy that the number of people yet to enjoy the benefits of national development is shrinking,” he said.

Tuanku Mizan also wanted the young generation in the country to equip themselves with all kinds of knowledge and skills to inherit the invaluable asset of a nation of pride and respect that had been shaped by the government.

The king said he was happy that the national leadership transition in April had proceeded smoothly and congratulated Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak on his appointment as the prime minister.

He said Najib had demonstrated dynamic leadership and commitment since his appointment as the prime minister.

Tuanku Mizan also thanked former prime minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi for his leadership and services to the nation.

Earlier, at the Dataran Merdeka, Tuanku Mizan and the Raja Permaisuri Agong, Tuanku Nur Zahirah, witnessed the trooping of the colours by the armed forces.

The ceremony was to pay homage to the Yang diPertuan Agong as the commander-in-chief of the armed forces.

Their Majesties were accorded the honour of a 21-gun salute and a fly-past by five armed forces’ helicopters carrying the flags of Malaysia, the armed forces and its three branches.

Tuanku Mizan inspected a guard-of-honour mounted by 22 officers and 546 men of the army, navy and air force, accompanied by Chief of Defence Forces Gen Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Zainal and head of the guardofhonour Lt Col Nazim Mohd Alim.

Their Majesties then witnessed the trooping of the colours in full military tradition as the military bank played patriotic music.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and Defence Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and their wives were also present at the ceremony. - Bernama

6 June 2009
The Star Online

I think this is all bullshit! I’m not a Pro PKR nor Barisan Nasional but I hate to see the ongoing Monkey Show they are putting up.

The Star Online
28 May 2009

PENANTI: Former Penang PKR Wanita chief Aminah Abdullah said she quit the party because she felt betrayed when five male leaders ridiculed her at a public function nearly three years ago.

And she said she had recorded that conversation as well.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, the independent candidate vying for the Penanti state seat said as state Wanita chief, she had organised a seminar on women’s issues at a hotel in Jawi, South Seberang Prai, in 2006.

At one stage, state PKR chief Datuk Zahrin Mohd Hashim and four other highly-ranked PKR officials confronted her and proceeded to “embarrass me publicly,” she claimed.

“I felt betrayed, but I had the presence of mind to record the incident,” she said, adding that this is why she has always been careful when having conversations with PKR leaders.

“It was this public embarassment that convinced me to quit the party,” she said.

She said she was unsure of when she would release this earlier recording.

Aminah has also released a recording in which she alleged that two PKR members had tried to bribe her with posts and money.

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission and Election Commission are investigating her claims.

The Star Online
15 May 2009

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia on Friday confirmed its first case of the A(H1N1) flu in a 21-year-old student who returned from the United States on Wednesday morning.

All the 192 passengers on the Malaysia Airlines flight MH091 from Newark on Wednesday are urged to contact the Health Ministry by calling 03-88810200 or 03-88810300

Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said the case made Malaysia the 36th country to be affected by the virus.

“Malaysia is now on high alert,” said Liow, who is in London now, enroute to Geneva, for a World Health Organisation meeting. He added he would return earlier than his scheduled return next Friday.

Meanwhile, A statement by the Health Ministry’s director-general, Dr. Ismail Merican, said the young man was hospitalised on Thursday for fever, sore throat and body aches.

Tests confirmed that he was infected with the A(H1N1) virus, the statement said. He is receiving anti-viral treatment and was in stable condition, it said.

Ismail said the ministry had contacted members of his family but they have not been placed under quarantine.

Ismail said his department was taking steps to protect public health and that there was no reason to panic.

Meanwhile, in Putrajaya, acting Health Minister Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha said later Friday that the fact that Malaysia’s first A(H1N1) patient managed to pass through the scanners at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) undetected was in no way indicative of scanners’ failure.

Kong said the scanners installed since the start of the global alert on the disease traced elevated body temperature levels in travellers coming into the country and did not pick out the 21-year-old student flying in from the United States as the symptoms were not showing yet.

He said the virus had a two to three day incubation period during which none of the symptoms linked to the disease were visible and that was why he passed undetected by the scanner after his flight landed at 7.15am on Wednesday.

He said the Health Ministry would continue to use the scanners at entry points and continue with all the precautionary measures it had taken since the global alert was first issued and there were no plans to tighten measures further.

“The ministry has taken all the possible precautionary measures to control and contain the disease after the WHO (World Health Organisation) issued a level five alert so we are calling on the public not to panic as the situation is under control.

“I also want to assure the people that we will make public any information related to the disease that we have just as we did with our first case confirmed today,” he said.

Meanwhile, Bernama reported that a man from Bukit Mertajam held under observation at the isolation ward of the Penang Hospital has been declared free of Influenza A (H1N1).

“We just got a report that the blood test on the 26-year-old man was negative,” State Health, Welfare, Caring Society and Environment Committee chairman Phee Boon Poh said when contacted by Bernama Friday.

A test on a sample of his blood had been sent to Kuala Lumpur.

The man was kept for observation Thursday after he was found to have fever and symptoms similar to those of Influenza A (H1N1) on his return from the United States.

Two weeks ago, a New Zealand tourist was admitted to the isolation ward of the hospital for suspected Influenza A (H1N1) but a blood test also showed up negative.

Related news:

WHO chief warns against false security about flu
All 10 suspected A(H1N1) flu patients cleared

The Star Online
11 May 2009

KUALA LUMPUR: Temperatures have been rising all over the country, with Klang Valley (Subang) recording 35.6°C last Friday.

Outside the Klang Valley, Pahang (Batu Embun) experienced the hottest temperature last Thursday at 36.2°C.

The Meteorological Department said the hot and generally dry spell was expected to persist until September.

Department chief assistant director (central forecast office) Ahmad Zaki Mohamad Saad said the weather pattern was a usual phenomenon in the country.

He said that April and May were the hottest months according to climatology studies.

“The change of wind direction during the inter-monsoon season last month has caused the weather to be drier,’’ he said.

Ahmad Zaki said the country would experience the South-West monsoon from mid-May to September which usually brought a dry spell, he said.

He said although humid weather was forecast during the day, occasional rain and thunderstorms could be expected.

The maximum temperature is expected to range from 30.7°C to 34.1°C.

The Star Online
9 May 2009

AN ISLAND off Mersing in Johor has become a hot spot after it was used as the location for a European reality show, which had its participants running stark naked.

Scenes from the Survivor Robinson Ekspeditionen programme, which had been broadcast over TV3 in Denmark, were published on an online newspaper ScandAsia.com.

A reader with family ties to Malaysia alerted Harian Metro about the programe.

In the scenes, both men and women were seen running along a sandy beach without a stitch on.

The Danish national who e-mailed the images to Metro said he was surprised that the Malaysian authorities had allowed the filming although the show was soft porn.

It is believed that this was the first time the programme had made 16 out of its 22 participants strip naked for the run while five others got to keep their underwear on.

It is also understood that a woman who refused to strip was kicked out of the show and sent home to Denmark.

An official at the Mersing District Council said it had only allowed the filming after telling the producers that they could not have naked scenes on the island as it might offend local residents.

“The filming was originally scheduled at Pulau Besar for this and next month before moving to other islands,” he said.

I’m doubtful.

The Star Online
9 May 2009

LANGKAWI: The Island Car Company Sdn Bhd is planning to produce a light car here soon.

The four-seater car, to be named “Helang”, can be used to take tourists around the resort island, the company’s operations director Richard Boggon told Bernama.

Helang is the Malay word for eagle.

He said the car would be using several Perodua Kancil components, including the 660cc engine while the body would be made of fibre glass.

“For a start, we plan to produce 100 units of the Helang car at the company’s workshop here,” he said.

He said the company had yet to decide on the price.

Boggon gave the assurance that the car would be comfortable, economical, and equipped with safety features.

“The company plans to set up a manufacturing plant here and is now identifying a suitable site,” he said.

Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad rode the car’s prototype at the Harbour Park here on Friday.

The Star Online
3 April 2009

KUALA LUMPUR: The exercise to vaccinate the 1.7mil pigs in the country against the influenza A(H1N1) virus will cost between RM8mil and RM10mil.

The Veterinary Services Department said in a press conference here tonight that it would decide on which vaccine to use on the pigs in a week.

Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai had told reporters last Wednesday that pigs in would be given a double dose of the vaccine as a precautionary measure against the flu.

Good move! Hopefully the disease will be contained worldwide.

The Star Online
1 May 2009

KUALA LUMPUR: The Govern­ment is now on “high alert” after the World Health Organi­sation (WHO) raised the swine flu alert to Phase Five, meaning that a worldwide pandemic is imminent.

Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, however, urged the public to stay calm. He also said that to date, no cases had been reported in Malaysia.

“The National Influenza Pan­demic Preparedness Plan is working well,” he told reporters after taking part in a live interview session here yesterday.

Under the plan, the ministry will go all out to raise awareness on swine flu by distributing to all states multilingual leaflets, posters and VCDs on proper ways to wash hands and wear masks as well as the dos and don’ts about hygiene, said Liow.

All doctors at private clinics, he added, have been told to contact the ministry immediately if they detect any symptoms of swine flu.

The ministry has two million doses of Tamiflu and Relenza anti-viral medication and is trying to top up the stockpile with an additional 10%, he added.

Liow said the ministry had also issued a swine flu travel advisory on its website.

He said the National Pandemic Preparedness Committee chaired by Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Ismail Merican would meet with representatives from non-governmental organisations and government staff on Monday.

The ministry, he said, would ask for at least RM10mil extra from the Government to provide vaccinations for 200,000 frontliners including doctors, nurses, police and immigration personnel.

On an apparent flu scare on Wednesday, Liow said that two men who had travelled to Mexico and the United States had been discharged from Sungai Buloh Hospital yesterday after they were found to had the normal flu.

“I am thankful that they informed the ministry about their visit to the countries recently,” he added.

Ismail said the Information Ministry would work with the Health Ministry to spread the health advisory to the public.

“It also includes the private mass media,” he said in a statement yesterday.

Dr Ismail also said the Institute for Medical Research is the referral laboratory for the testing of the swine flu virus A/H1N1.

The institute, he said, was prepared to accept specimens of suspected swine flu cases, adding that the technical committee on flu pandemic would also meet more frequently.
How to protect yourself

Practise general preventive measures for influenza:

• Avoid close contact with people who appear unwell and who have fever and cough.

• Wash your hands with soap and water frequently and thoroughly.

• Practise good health habits including adequate sleep, eating nutritious food and keeping physically active.

If there is a sick person at home:

• Try to provide the sick person a separate section in the house. If this is not possible, keep the patient at least one metre in distance from others.

• Cover mouth and nose when caring for the sick person. Masks can be bought commercially or made using readily available materials as long as they are disposed of or cleaned properly.

• Wash your hands with soap and water thoroughly after each contact with the sick person.

• Try to improve the air flow in the area where the sick person stays. Use doors and windows to take advantage of breezes.

• Keep the environment clean with readily available household cleaning agents.

If you feel unwell, have high fever, cough and/or sore throat:

• Stay at home and keep away from work, school or crowds as much as possible.

• Rest and take plenty of fluids.

• Cover your mouth and nose with disposable tissues when coughing and sneezing and dispose of the used tissues properly.

• Wash your hands with soap and water frequently and thoroughly, especially after coughing or sneezing.

• Inform family and friends about your sickness and seek help for household chores that require contact with other people such as shopping.

The Star Online
30 April 2009

PUTRAJAYA: Former communist leader Chin Peng Thursday failed in his last bid to live in Malaysia after the Federal Court here upheld two lower courts’ decisions compelling him to produce his identification documents before he can be permitted to enter this country.

Justices Datuk S. Augustine Paul, Datuk Hashim Yusof and Datuk Wira Ghazali Mohd Yusof made the decision after dismissing Chin Peng’s motion for leave to appeal.

Chin Peng, whose real name is Ong Boon Hua, was appealing against the Appeal Court’s decision on June 20, 2008, which ruled that he must produce his birth certificate or citizenship to prove that he is a Malaysian citizen before he can pursue his legal action against the Malaysian Government.

Appeal Court Judge Datuk Abdul Malik Ishak, in his decision, had said that the documents were important to ascertain Chin Peng’s status since the National Registration Department could not find any record of his birth.

It had also held that the High Court was correct to compel the 85-year-old Chin Peng to furnish his birth certificate and citizenship to prove that he was a Malaysian citizen before allowing him to proceed with his application for a declaration that he could reside here.

Chin Peng’s first bid to obtain the declaration was turned down when the High Court threw out his originating summons after he failed to comply with the court’s ruling to produce his birth certificate and citizenship papers.

On Thursday, counsel Raja Aziz Addruse, for Chin Peng, contended that proof of citizenship was not required for the applicant to exercise his right to enter Malaysia, as it could also be proved by calling his brother or teacher to testify.

He said that under Clause 3(1) of the peace agreement entered between the Government and the Communist Party of Malaya (CPM) dated Dec 2, 1989, members of the CPM who were of Malaysian origin and wished to be settled in Malaysia shall be allowed to do so in accordance with the law.

“The court should look at what ‘Malaysian origin’ means. It is the function of this court to interpret the international agreement,” said Raja Aziz.

On March 4, 2005, Chin Peng filed his originating summons to obtain a declaration to be permitted to enter and live in Malaysia, naming the Government, Home Minister, Inspector-General of Police and the Armed Forces Chief as defendants.

Chin Peng, who is currently living in Thailand, claimed that he was entitled to come back to Malaysia because he was of Malaysian origin since he was born on Oct 20, 1923, in Sitiawan, Dinding, Perak, and grew up in Malaysia.

He claimed that his birth was registered and that he had once possessed a formal copy of the certificate.

Senior federal counsel Suzana Atan appeared for the defendants.

The Star Online
29 April 2009

NEW YORK: A group of Malaysian students in New Jersey are anxious to know if their families can join them for their graduation in May after the Health Ministry advised Malaysians to avoid certain places in the United States, Mexico and Canada.

Syafiq Nazri, a government scholar who will graduate from Stevens Institute of Technology, said his family had already bought flight tickets for six people for his graduation.

“I have also booked an apartment for their stay,” he said.

Syafiq said the students were confused as the authorities here had said it was safe to travel to all parts of the United States.

At a press conference yesterday, New York mayor Michael Bloomberg said none of the affected students from the St Francis Prep School students was hospitalised and their condition was improving.

He also said there was no reason for visitors to avoid New York City.

The swine flu virus, which is the same strain as the one in Mexico, is thought to spread mainly from human to human through coughing or sneezing.

The flu hit the St Francis school after a group of its students visited Mexico’s Cancun resort over spring break two weeks ago.

New York MCA branch vice-chairman Danny Lye urged Malaysians here to take health precautions. There are at least 20,000 Malaysians staying in Queens, where 28 high school students have been confirmed to have contracted the virus.

Queens is one of New York city’s five boroughs where immigrants make up almost half its population.

As at 1pm yesterday, the number of confirmed swine influenza A (H1N1) cases in the United States increased to 40 cases from 20 on Sunday when a public health emergency was declared.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), New York has 28 confirmed cases, California seven, Kansas two, Texas two and Ohio one.

Lye advised Malaysians to see their doctors if they developed flu-like symptoms and to avoid going to crowded places.

“It may be difficult to avoid the subway which is the city’s main public transport system but peak-hour train rides should be avoided where possible,” he said.

For more information, you should contact the local bodies to find out more.