JADUAL WAKTU IMSAK DAN BERBUKA PUASA TAHUN 1431 H / 2010 M BAGI NEGERI KEDAH DARUL AMAN ZON V : DAERAH LANGKAWI

Shape up or ship out

Source
http://203.115.192.117/friday/fri_page14.html

Sidek: Learn from failure of big teams in World Cup

Thursday July 15, 2010

PUTRAJAYA: Government officers should take heed of the fall of mighty teams like England, Brazil and Argen-tina in the recent Fifa World Cup and not think that their jobs are forever or that they automatically deserve promotions, said Chief Secretary to the Govern­ment Tan Sri Mohd Sidek Hassan.

He said these teams filled with super­stars were in the end outshone by Paul the Octopus which was “an outsider, non-football player, non-human, unassuming sage and who had nothing whatsoever to do with football”.

“All too often we are in a game, albeit a job, for so long that we perceive it our own to claim and no one else’s. We think it is our birth right as we are the ‘indigenous’, the bumiputra and the ones with the only right over it,’’ Sidek said when opening the Diplomatic and Adminis-trative Services Association annual general meeting here last night.

He reminded his fellow officers that for too long they thought they couldn’t be replaced because of their “superstar” status.

“We psyche ourselves into believing, even to the point of self-deception, that only we can do the job and an outsider could not survive the pace, or know the rhythm.

“We build a ‘club mentality’ amongst us and subliminally we stifle all else that seems foreign to us. We insist that we are the deserving ‘stars’ of any right that the job might offer. Yet when we are told to raise our game and deliver, we fail, as England did at the World Cup, so abysmally.”

He said the time had come for a change and that government officers should realise that they need to “shape up or ship out” as there are others who could do their jobs and do it even better (see pages 40 and 41 for full text of the speech).

Source

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/7/15/nation/6667374&sec=nation

MAKLUMAN PEMBATALAN DAN PENDAFTARAN MELALUI POS SESI JULAI 2010 BAGI PELAJAR SEM 2 DAN 4 (BHG3)

MAKLUMAN PEMBATALAN DAN PENDAFTARAN MELALUI POS SESI JULAI 2010 BAGI PELAJAR SEM 2 DAN 4 (BHG2)

MAKLUMAN PEMBATALAN DAN PENDAFTARAN MELALUI POS SESI JULAI 2010 BAGI PELAJAR SEM 2 DAN 4 (BHG1)

PROGRAM SIJIL MODULAR KEBANGSAAN KOLEJ KOMUNITI

PERLEMBAGAAN KESATUAN AKADEMIK KOLEJ KOMUNITI

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SENARAI NAMA WAKIL KOLEJ (YANG TELAH MENGHANTAR WAKIL)

SENARAI KOLEJ YANG TELAH MENGHANTAR DAN BELUM LAGI MENGHANTAR WAKIL

CARTA ALIR PENUBUHAN KESATUAN AKADEMIK KOLEJ KOMUNITI

PENGENALAN PENUBUHAN DAN KEANGGOTAAN KESATUAN AKADEMIK KOLEJ KOMUNITI ( KAKK ) - VERSI SEMAK SEMULA / KEMASKINI

Pengenalan

Mengikut statistik terdapat sebanyak Dua Puluh Tiga (23) buah kesatuan guru yang berdaftar pada ketika ini dengan Tujuh (7) daripadanya bergabung membentukkan  sebuah pakatan yang dinamakan KONGRES. Merujuk kepada senarai kesatuan-kesatuan guru berdaftar yang disertakan bersama-sama ini didapati semuanya bertumpu kepada kumpulan guru yang berlatarbelakangkan bidang akademik.

Terdapat juga sebuah kesatuan guru yang bercirikan teknikal iaitu Kesatuan Perkhidmatan Teknik Semenanjung Malaysia (MTSU) tetapi keahliannya dibuka kepada semua bidang perkhidmatan dan tidak dikhususkan kepada pendidikan teknikal sahaja.  

Oleh yang demikian keanggotaan guru teknikal dalam kesatuan sekerja sebelum ini banyak bertumpu kepada Kesatuan Guru-Guru Melayu Malaysia Barat (KGMMB) dan Kesatuan Perkhidmatan Pendidikan Kebangsaan (KPPK) di mana pengurusan dan kebajikannya banyak bertumpu kepada hal-hal yang berkaitan dengan akademik.

Latarbelakang Penubuhan

Cadangan menubuhkan sebuah kesatuan sekerja di kalangan tenaga pengajar Kolej Komuniti  timbul dalam satu majlis mesyuarat jawatankuasa perancangan teknikal Jabatan Pengajian Kolej Komuniti yang diadakan pada 17/03/2010 di JPKK, Heritage Office Tower, Seri Kembangan, Selangor.

Pada Mac 2004  Kolej Komuniti yang berada dalam Jabatan Pendidikan Teknikal Kementerian Pendidikan Malaysia telah diletakkan di bawah naungan Kementerian Pengajian Tinggi Malaysia dalam Jabatan Pengajian Politeknik dan Kolej Komuniti (JPPKK).

Bulan September 2007, Bahagian Pengurusan Kolej Komuniti telah ditukarkan kepada Sektor Pengurusan Kolej Komuniti dengan disokongi oleh beberapa Bahagian iaitu, Bahagian Pembangunan Akademik, Bahagian Penilaian dan Peperiksaan, Bahagian Kebajikan Pelajar dan Bahagian Pengambilan Pelajar.

Pada 15 September 2009, Sektor Pengurusan Kolej Komuniti telah dinaik taraf ke Jabatan Pengajian Kolej Komuniti dan diketuai oleh seoarang Ketua Pengarah. Jabatan ini juga telah ditambah 3 bahagian yang baru iaitu Bahagian Khidmat Pengurusan, Bahagian Pembangunan Dasar dan Ko-kurikulum dan Bahagian Hubungan Industri, Pengesanan Graduan dan Alumni.

Beberapa perjumpaan dalam kumpulan kecil diadakan selepas itu terutama semasa terdapatnya perpecahan diantara Jabatan Pengajian Kolej Komuniti dan Jabatan Pengajian Politeknik dimana sebelum ini telah ada Gabungan Persatuan Kakitangan Politeknik dan Kolej Komuniti Malaysia ( GPPK )

Sebuah jawatankuasa penaja telah ditubuhkan pada 04 April 2010 dan tugas-tugas untuk menyediakan dokumen dimulakan dengan bimbingan pegawai Jabatan Hal Ehwal Kesatuan Sekerja (JHEKS) Cawangan Pulau Pinang, Kedah dan Perlis dimulakan.

Semua persediaan yang telah dibuat kemudiannya dibentangkan dalam satu perjumpaan pengarah – pengarah kolej komuniti wilayah satu pada 07 April 2010 dan semua ahli yang hadir telah membuat keputusan supaya permohonan menubuhkan kesatuan ini dikemukakan secara rasmi untuk pertimbangan dan kelulusan.

Bermula dari tarikh tersebut surat-surat rasmi permohonan yang berkenaan dikemukakan seperti berikut :

Bil	Tarikh Surat	Perkara
1.	05 April 2010	MAKLUMAN PENUBUHAN KESATUAN PENSYARAH KOLEJ KOMUNITI  (KPKK) KEPADA SEMUA KOLEJ KOMUNITI MALAYSIA.
2.	07 April 2010	PERMOHONAN UNTUK MENDAFTARKAN KESATUAN PENSYARAH KOLEJ KOMUNITI ( KAKK )
3.	07 April 2010	PERJUMPAAN DENGAN JABATAN HAL EHWAL KESATUAN SEKERJA PULAU PINANG, KEDAH DAN PERLIS.
4.	12 April 2010	BORANG MAKLUM BALAS WAKIL KOLEJ DALAM KESATUAN.
5.	12 – 14 April 2010	PENYERTAAN WAKIL ( KAKK ) KE SEMINAR KEBANGSAAN  KEPIMPINAN MUDA KESATUAN SEKERJA PENJAWAT AWAM

Skop Keahlian

Perlembagaan kesatuan yang dicadangkan menetapkan skop keahliannya adalah seperti berikut :

“ Keanggotaan Kesatuan ini terbuka kepada semua pensyarah Kolej Komuniti dan Jabatan Pengajian Kolej Komuniti di atas kecuali mereka yang digaji dalam jawatan Pengurusan, sulit atau keselamatan. ”

Merujuk kepada kenyataan tersebut dapatlah difahami bahawa kumpulan berikut adalah berhak untuk memohon menjadi ahli :

1.                  Pensyarah yang bertugas di Kolej Komuniti

2.                  Jabatan Pengajian Kolej Komuniti

Peraturan mengenai keahlian ini berkuatkuasa dan digunapakai sepenuhnya sehingga sesuatu pindaan mengenainya dibuat dalam mesyuarat agung kesatuan yang akan diadakan dari masa ke semasa.

Penutup

Maklumat lain mengenai pengurusan kesatuan ini adalah disebutkan dalam perlembagaan yang disertakan.

Pengenalan Penubuhan Kesatuan Pensyarah Kolej Komuniti ( KPKK ) - Versi Terdahulu

Cadangan menubuhkan sebuah kesatuan sekerja di kalangan tenaga pengajar Kolej Komuniti  timbul dalam satu majlis mesyuarat jawatankuasa perancangan teknikal Jabatan Pengajian Kolej Komuniti yang diadakan pada 17/03/2010 di JPKK, Heritage Office Tower, Seri Kembangan, Selangor.

Pada Mac 2004  Kolej Komuniti yang berada dalam Jabatan Pendidikan Teknikal Kementerian Pendidikan Malaysia telah diletakkan di bawah naungan Kementerian Pengajian Tinggi Malaysia dalam Jabatan Pengajian Politeknik dan Kolej Komuniti (JPPKK).

Bulan September 2007, Bahagian Pengurusan Kolej Komuniti telah ditukarkan kepada Sektor Pengurusan Kolej Komuniti dengan disokongi oleh beberapa Bahagian iaitu, Bahagian Pembangunan Akademik, Bahagian Penilaian dan Peperiksaan, Bahagian Kebajikan Pelajar dan Bahagian Pengambilan Pelajar.

Pada 15 September 2009, Sektor Pengurusan Kolej Komuniti telah dinaik taraf ke Jabatan Pengajian Kolej Komuniti dan diketuai oleh seoarang Ketua Pengarah. Jabatan ini juga telah ditambah 3 bahagian yang baru iaitu Bahagian Khidmat Pengurusan, Bahagian Pembangunan Dasar dan Ko-kurikulum dan Bahagian Hubungan Industri, Pengesanan Graduan dan Alumni.

Beberapa perjumpaan dalam kumpulan kecil diadakan selepas itu terutama semasa terdapatnya perpecahan diantara Jabatan Pengajian Kolej Komuniti dan Jabatan Pengajian Politeknik dimana sebelum ini telah ada Gabungan Persatuan Kakitangan Politeknik dan Kolej Komuniti Malaysia ( GPPK )

Sebuah jawatankuasa penaja telah ditubuhkan pada 04 April 2010 dan tugas-tugas untuk menyediakan dokumen dimulakan dengan bimbingan pegawai Jabatan Hal Ehwal Kesatuan Sekerja (JHEKS) Cawangan Pulau Pinang, Kedah dan Perlis dimulakan.

Semua persediaan yang telah dibuat kemudiannya dibentangkan dalam satu perjumpaan pengarah – pengarah kolej komuniti wilayah satu pada 07 April 2010 dan semua ahli yang hadir telah membuat keputusan supaya permohonan menubuhkan kesatuan ini dikemukakan secara rasmi untuk pertimbangan dan kelulusan.

Bermula dari tarikh tersebut surat-surat rasmi permohonan yang berkenaan dikemukakan seperti berikut :

Bil	Tarikh Surat	Perkara
1.	05 April 2010	MAKLUMAN PENUBUHAN KESATUAN PENSYARAH KOLEJ KOMUNITI  (KPKK) KEPADA SEMUA KOLEJ KOMUNITI MALAYSIA.
2.	07 April 2010	PERMOHONAN UNTUK MENDAFTARKAN KESATUAN PENSYARAH KOLEJ KOMUNITI ( KPKK )
3.	07 April 2010	PERJUMPAAN DENGAN JABATAN HAL EHWAL KESATUAN SEKERJA PULAU PINANG, KEDAH DAN PERLIS.
4.	12 April 2010	BORANG MAKLUM BALAS WAKIL KOLEJ DALAM KESATUAN.
5.	12 – 14 April 2010	PENYERTAAN WAKIL ( KPKK ) KE SEMINAR KEBANGSAAN  KEPIMPINAN MUDA KESATUAN SEKERJA PENJAWAT AWAM

Skop Keahlian

Perlembagaan kesatuan yang dicadangkan menetapkan skop keahliannya adalah seperti berikut :

“ Keanggotaan Kesatuan ini terbuka kepada semua pensyarah Kolej Komuniti dan Jabatan Pengajian Kolej Komuniti di atas kecuali mereka yang digaji dalam jawatan Pengurusan, sulit atau keselamatan. ”

Merujuk kepada kenyataan tersebut dapatlah difahami bahawa kumpulan berikut adalah berhak untuk memohon menjadi ahli :

1.                  Pensyarah yang bertugas di Kolej Komuniti

2.                  Jabatan Pengajian Kolej Komuniti

Peraturan mengenai keahlian ini berkuatkuasa dan digunapakai sepenuhnya sehingga sesuatu pindaan mengenainya dibuat dalam mesyuarat agung kesatuan yang akan diadakan dari masa ke semasa.

Penutup

Maklumat lain mengenai pengurusan kesatuan ini adalah disebutkan dalam perlembagaan yang disertakan.

Get rid of rent-seeking parasites

RENT-SEEKING has been turned into an inimitable art by some individuals. From small cleaning contracts to million-ringgit security deals, rent-seekers have firmly established themselves as players with no one having the guts to challenge their so-called status. If public-listed companies and multi-national corporations accept and respect their existence, who are we, the Ordinary Joes, to question or even stand up to their domination? 

 

Ask the beer and tobacco industries, which incidentally collectively pay about RM5 billion in taxes and excise duties. The rent-seekers knocked on their doors and got away and still are getting away, no thanks to godfathers. For every packet of cigarette or bottle of beer sold, the respective industries are paying a few sen each for security markings – which runs into millions annually – purportedly to prevent illicit, counterfeit and duty-free products from reaching the market. Their protests over such rent-seeking exercises fell on deaf ears. Even a high-powered delegation of the industries’ umbrella bodies was treated with contempt with no room for discussion.

Despite these security markings, the figures on smuggled cigarettes and beer have been on an upward trend.

Then there are the smaller ones who collect little, 3-4%, of the total value of equipment supplied to the government.

No one objects or disapproves of any effort to correct the imbalance and the affirmative policies to help certain classes of people. But when they want to shake legs and become millionaires, there’s bound to be concern and discomfort in the way business is done. Privately, investors have expressed their views on rent-seekers and the approaches to make "easy money" to the authorities. Talk to anyone in the business community who has dealings with the government and he or she will have plenty to say about "budgeting" for rent-seekers, agents and Mr Fixits. They can tell explicit tales of how their product which was sold at X price was finally sold to the government at X+10. They will also tell you of arranging junkets disguised as familiarisation tours to their overseas headquarters for rent-seekers and agents. Even a proposal to ban "surat sokong" from elected representatives has brought about strong objections – an indication of the requisites to doing business in this country and the power of the rent-seekers.

Therefore, the prime minister’s announcement yesterday that rent-seeking will be an activity of the past, must be welcomed by all and sundry who want a level playing field. In launching the New Economic Model (NEM), he said: "Affirmative action programmes and institutions will continue (in the NEM) but, in line with views of the main stakeholders, will be revamped to remove the rent-seeking and market-distorting features which have blemished the effectiveness of the programme."

While no one has exact figures on how much leakage there is in government spending, The Edge quoted an economist with Morgan Stanley as saying in 2004, that over the past two decades, Malaysia had lost some RM330 billion in the form of corruption. Khairy Jamaluddin, when vying for the Umno Youth leadership last year, was reported to have said that 10% of government spending was wasted through leakage. However, the weekly said that private sector chief executives will claim that government spending, especially on construction projects and procurement can be inflated by as much as 50%.

But more telling is the prime minister’s announcement of the setting up of an "Equal Opportunities Commission" to ensure fairness and address undue discrimination when "occasional abuses by dominant groups are encountered". We will soon learn of the composition of the commission and its terms of reference.

While most right-thinking Malaysians must congratulate the prime minister for his forward-thinking and rational policies for the betterment of the country and its citizens, there’s some worry too. Will those who have benefited from the system be able to let go of something that they had been enjoying all these years? Can they give up their chauffeur-driven cars and the golf club memberships? Will their mindsets change and will they accept the fact that they will have to work for their money?

The prime minister noted that excessive focus on ethnicity based distribution of resources has contributed to growing separateness and dissension. He needs our support to bring about changes to a system which has evolved along patronism. His new affirmative policies bode well for all Malaysians. Hopefully, with the implementation of the NEM in totality, it will bring about a new dawn for this blessed country.

R. Nadeswaran has had his fair share of run-ins with rent-seekers and wannabes who think it is their birth right to impose a surcharge on anything that is paid for by the government. He can be reached at: citizen-nades@thesundaily.com

Source

http://www.sun2surf.com/article.cfm?id=44955 

Tourism Ministry aims to up domestic tourism revenue

JOHOR BARU: The Tourism ministry aims to generate more than RM40.6bil worth of revenue from domestic tourism traffic this year through efforts such as the 1Malaysia Travel Fair and travel mart, says director-general Datuk Mirza Mohammad Taiyab.

He said that about RM40bil was generated through domestic tourism in 2008 while, last year, the sector only generated about RM24.8bil.

"Last year there was a significant dip in domestic tourism revenue due to the economic downturn and the people's wait-and-see approach.

"We aim to bounce back this year through multiple programmes as well as creating more tourism products," he told newsmen after launching the Travel Mart programme here Friday.

Mirza said that the ministry was confident the target revenue could be achieved through cooperation from various parties, especially the tour guides and tour operators.

"Malaysians who wish to travel locally should acquire the services of tour operators or agents.

"Such operators can get better rates at hotels or resorts as well as provide proper tours," he said.

He added that boosting the domestic tourism could also deter locals from going abroad for vacations.

"We are indirectly controlling the outbound tourism and thus generating more income for the country," he said.

Mirza also urged tour agents to be more innovative in attracting tourists online as there was a growing feeling that online bookings provided by airlines as well as hotels could diminish their roles.

"People are bookings their hotels or airline tickets directly online without going through such agents.

"Thus, tour agents must be more creative in attracting tourists to use their services through ways such as offering interesting rates and coming up with more tourism products," he said.

Mirza cited an example where a tourist agent could organise a barbeque in a jungle near a resort compared to the mundane method holding it near a hotel's poolside.

On the travel mart, Mirza hoped that small and medium enterprises (SMEs) could benefit from such efforts as it was in line with ministry's goal of boosting the domestic tourism market.

"Part of the travel mart is producing the 'Cuti-Cuti 1Malaysia' tourist package brochures as well as other domestic products.

"We want the SMEs to take advantage of such wonderful opportunity by generating their own products such as handicrafts and foodstuff," he said. 

Source

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/3/26/nation/20100326130648&sec=nation 

Najib urges bosses to give fair wages to locals

CYBERJAYA: Employers have been told to provide reasonable wages as incentives for locals to take up jobs.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said many locals had reported that they had problems with poor salary schemes.

"This is one thing that I have to stress on... we have to be fair to locals in the job market.

"If wages remain low, in the end, the jobs won't be taken up by locals... then employers will start asking the government to approve their request for foreign workers."

Najib added when that happened, it would cause salaries for locals to remain at a low rate.

He was speaking at a video conference with Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman, after simultaneously launching 12 JobsMalaysia Centres (JCM) nationwide, here, yesterday.

JobsMalaysia is an agency under the Human Resources Ministry.

Also present were Human Resources Minister Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam and Public Service Department director-general Tan Sri Ismail Adam.

Responding to Ghani's briefing on job opportunities in Iskandar Malaysia, Najib expressed hope that the majority of jobs there would be taken up by Malaysians.

"As a growth area with great potential, especially with the projects that had been lined up, I hope Iskandar Malaysia becomes exemplary, not only in terms of investments that come in, but also where the welfare of workers -- especially amongst Malaysians, are concerned."

Earlier in his speech, Najib said since its set-up in January 2009, 387,210 job seekers had signed up with JCM.

Source

http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/articles/2wge/Article/index_html

Pekerja kita tidak berdaya tahan - Mukhriz

PUTRAJAYA 25 Mac - Daya tahan pekerja tempatan tidak setanding pekerja asing dari negara jiran, kata Timbalan Menteri Perdagangan Antarabangsa dan Industri, Datuk Mukhriz Tun Mahathir hari ini.

"Ia merupakan satu rungutan dari wakil industri dan ia perkara yang merunsingkan kita.

"Ia agak fundamental dan perlu ditangani untuk mengelakkan kita terus bergantungan kepada pekerja asing," katanya kepada media selepas menghadiri Program Outreach Kementeriannya Bersama Institusi Pengajian Tinggi Malaysia di sini.

Katanya, terdapat sebuah kilang yang telah melatih hampir 1,200 pekerja tempatan selama dua minggu tetapi selepas diterima bekerja hampir 1,000 orang tidak hadir.

"Ini merugikan pihak industri selepas memberikan latihan kepada mereka. Gaji telah ditimbangkan tetapi itu juga tidak memadai untuk mereka kekal bekerja," katanya.

Beliau turut melahirkan kegusaran di mana letaknya persepsi cara kerja masyarakat dunia terhadap rakyat Malaysia berbanding rakyat Jepun, Taiwan, dan Korea Selatan yang terkenal dengan ketekunan mereka.

"Malah kini rakyat Vietnam dan Bangladesh mula terkenal dengan persepsi yang baik," katanya lagi.

Ditanya sama ada ia akan menjejaskan pelaburan asing ke dalam negara, Mukhriz berkata, kerajaan mengambil masalah daya tahan pekerja tempatan ini sebagai satu cabaran.

"Banyak faktor yang perlu dilihat mengapa ia berlaku. Gaji mungkin tidak menjadi keutamaan. Mungkin mereka mahukan kebajikan mereka di jaga.

 

"Faktor mobiliti juga perlu dilihat di mana mereka mempunyai banyak pilihan. Perbezaan gaji RM50 pun memungkinkan mereka melompat ke tempat lain," katanya.

 

Sumber

http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/info.asp?y=2010&dt=0326&pub=Utusan_Malaysia&sec=Ekonomi&pg=ek_01.htm

Tanaman Padi Dua Kali Setahun Akan Dilaksanakan Di Langkawi

LANGKAWI, 27 Mac (Bernama) -- Projek penanaman padi dua kali setahun akan dilaksanakan secara menyeluruh di Langkawi membabitkan kawasan seluas lebih 1,000 hektar, kata Timbalan Menteri Pertanian dan Industri Asas Tani, Datuk Mohd Johari Baharom.

Katanya untuk menjayakan rancangan itu, Jabatan Pengairan dan Saliran (JPS) akan membina beberapa kolam takungan air bagi membekalkan air ke sawah.

Beliau berkata projek perintis penanaman padi dua kali setahun di pulau itu bermula pada 2006 melibatkan kawasan sawah seluas 300 hektar di Padang Matsirat dengan mendapat bekalan air dari Telaga Tujuh.

"JPS mengenal pasti beberapa kawasan untuk dijadikan takungan air untuk menyalur air ke sawah," katanya kepada pemberita selepas melawat beberapa kawasan potensi untuk dibina kolam takungan di sini, pada Sabtu.

Katanya pada masa ini kebanyakan pesawah menanam padi setahun sekali kerana masalah bekalan air dan yakin apabila kolam takungan air dibina projek tanaman dua kali setahun akan dilaksanakan.

Johari berkata, pihaknya memerlukan peruntukan sebanyak RM700,000 termasuk RM500,000 untuk mengambil tanah projek kolam takungan di Bukit Lembu Kedawang manakala baki untuk memasang paip air di Bukit Hantu.

Beliau berharap pengeluaran padi di Langkawi akan meningkat kepada 5.5 tan metrik sehektar berbanding 3.5 tan pada masa ini.

Mengenai permohonan nelayan Sungai Kuah mengadakan jeti pendaratan, Johari berkata, pihaknya akan terlebih dahulu mengadakan perbincangan dengan Lembaga Pembangunan Langkawi (LADA) sebelum menimbang sebarang projek.

Mungkin LADA mempunyai perancangan untuk membangunkan kawasan Sungai Kuah di sini, katanya.

"Kita juga mahu melihat kedudukan jeti sedia ada dan sebarang keputusan perbincangan dengan LADA akan dimaklum kemudian", katanya.

Sumber

http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v5/bm/newsindex.php?id=485807

Planned funds shock bosses

PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) has expressed surprise over the Government’s announcement of new pension and retrenchment funds.

No discussions had been held by the Human Resources Ministry with MEF and other stakeholders on the matter, MEF executive director Shamsuddin Bardan said, adding that the funds would have a major impact on the cost of doing business.

Human Resources Minister Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam had announced that a pension scheme for the aged and self-employed and a retrenchment fund for private sector employees would be introduced next year.

“The MEF Council is taken aback by the announcement that the ministry is already in the process of introducing the retrenchment fund for private sector employees although the proposed funds are still under discussion, and no final conclusion has been reached,” Shamsuddin said in a statement after the council meeting yesterday.

He said there was no need for a new retrenchment fund as the present system worked well, and current labour laws were adequate to punish delinquent employers.

Shamsuddin said employees were entitled to retrenchment benefits and an employer’s failure to fulfil this requirement constituted a very serious breach of law.

“The proposed retrenchment fund would be a bailout for recalcitrant and badly-managed companies while punishing good and well-managed employers,” he added.

“(Good) employers have to contribute to the fund on a monthly basis and in the event of a retrenchment, they have to pay termination benefits from their own funds. Employers should be allowed to manage and administer their own funds for retrenchment benefits.

“Reliable statistics should be made available to indicate the actual number of employers who have not paid their employees retrenchment benefits over the years.”

On the pension fund for the aged and self-employed, Shamsuddin said it was a duplication of the efforts by the Employees Provident Fund, which required monthly contributions from private sector employees (8%) and employers (12%).

It was unfair and costly for private sector employers to contribute to EPF as well as to the proposed pension fund, he added.

Source

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/3/26/nation/5934884&sec=nation

Cuepacs seeks pay review

KUALA LUMPUR: The Congress of Unions of Employees in the Public and Civil Services (Cuepacs) yesterday welcomed the government's announcement on the monthly allowance for police personnel and the time-based promotion scheme, but said efforts of other public service sectors should also be recognised.

Its president, Omar Osman, said the current salary scheme for staff of the Road Transport Department, Immigration, Customs and the Fire and Rescue Department should be revised by the government.

He described the move by the government as timely as it would give policemen added impetus in carrying out their duties and responsibilities in maintaining public order and internal security.

"The nature of their duties means that policemen are exposed to higher risks so the announcement of a new pay scheme could not have come at a better time," Omar said.

Cuepacs has been pushing for a basic monthly salary of RM3,000 for civil servants in view of the rising cost of living.

Now, a constable only earns RM1,130 a month, effective Jan 1 this year according to a circular from the Public Service Department. It is understood that there is a service allowance (RM115), cost of living allowance (RM100 to RM300), housing allowance (RM275 to RM450) and transport allowance (per kilometre).

The cost of living allowance depends on where the policeman is based. Those serving in cities get the maximum of RM300 while those working in remote districts receive less.

Transport allowance ranges from RM0.70 to RM0.40 per km, depending on the number of kilometres claimed and the rank of the claimant. The housing allowance depends on the rank of the policeman.

"Based on the high cost of living, especially in urban areas, it is difficult for the rank-and-file policemen to support their families with the current salary scheme," Omar said.

"Those serving in other public service departments should have their salary schemes reviewed by the government," he said, adding that their jobs also involved risks and danger.

Those eligible under the revised scheme comprise 88,069 personnel from the rank of constables to sub-inspectors.

The revision was in line with the new policing duties that had been an integral part of initiating the National Key Result Areas.

The last pay rise for police and army personnel was in 2007 when their pay was increased by nine to 42 per cent.

Source

http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/articles/3salary/Article/index_html

NEM to boost productivity and investments

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is poised to attract more foreign direct investments (FDIs) when higher skills and productivity set in through the New Economic Model (NEM), two Umno leaders said in response to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s comments in Hong Kong on Wednesday.

Najib is scheduled to unveil a number of administrative reforms when he introduces the NEM next week to emphasise the execution of the model to transform Malaysia into a high-income economy and spur greater economic development.

Umno’s economic bureau member Datuk Dr Norraesah Mohamad said the country needed the NEM to break out of the “middle-income trap”.

“NEM’s greater focus on climbing up the economic value chain, attracting and retaining talent, as well as emphasis on innovation will definitely drive more investments into Malay­sia.

“This is our wake-up call. With stiff competition for FDIs from our neighbours and the world’s focus on the larger Asian economies of China, India, Vietnam and Indonesia, Malaysia faces challenges in not just attracting FDIs but also in attracting talent to our shores,” she said.

The NEM, she said, would address that imbalance.

The Government approved 766 manufacturing investments worth RM32.6bil last year, of which foreign investments accounted for 67.8% or RM22.1bil.

 

Najib, speaking to international media after delivering his keynote address at Credit Suisse’s 13th Asian Investment Conference 2010 in Hong Kong on Wednesday, said the NEM would be looking at boosting both domestic and foreign direct investments in sectors that could drive the creation of more high-paying jobs in the future.

 

Source

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/3/26/nation/5940662&sec=nation

Consumers let down by cap on UniFi packages

PETALING JAYA: After the excitement of Telekom Malaysia unveiling UniFi, its high-speed broadband service that offers Internet speeds of up to 20 megabits per second (Mbps), the bubble burst for many consumers here.

Some are disappointed over what they feel are expensive charges for the packages for home users: RM149 for 5Mbps, RM199 for 10Mbps, and RM249 for 20Mbps.

In Singapore, a 100Mbps service – which is 5 times the speed of a 20Mbps connection – only costs about RM200.

But the real disappointment is the realisation that the UniFi packages have a cap on the amount of data that can be downloaded.

The consumers bristled when they learned that the 5Mbps service is capped at 60GB of data per month. The 10Mbps service is capped at 90GB while the 20Mbps service has a 120GB cap.

They were even more disappointed to learn that the data download caps are calculated on a daily basis.

Consumers were further horrified to learn that if they exceeded their daily download limit, their high-speed broadband connections would be throttled down to about 10% of the purchased speed.

Telekom Malaysia CEO Datuk Zamzamzairani Mohd Isa said at a press conference to announce the UniFi pricing yesterday that the measures were part of its Fair Usage Policy.

“This policy is a standard industry practice to ensure that all subscribers get to enjoy the same web surfing quality,” he said.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak launched UniFi at the Dataran Merdeka in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday night.

Source

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/3/26/nation/5940663&sec=nation

Blog your views on minimum wage

KUALA LUMPUR: The government is inviting the public to submit views and suggestions to help in formulating the national minimum wage for private sector workers in line with the New Economic Model.

Human Resources Minister Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam yesterday launched the blogsite "national minimum wage" to seek opinions on the topic.

Members of the public could submit their views through the blog at blog.mohr.gov.my or email the suggestions to gaji_minimum@mohr.gov.my.

"The Human Resources Ministry welcomes any suggestion, opinion and idea or comments that could be channelled through the blog or via email to assist the government in drawing up the policy and strategy on the minimum wage."

He said there was still a small section of the population who were living below the poverty line.

In fact, Dr Subramaniam revealed that there were workers still earning less than RM750 per month.

He said an analysis by the Industrial Relations Department on 308 samples of collective agreements between employers and workers in 2007 found that the average minimum wage for clerical workers was RM485, technicians (RM690), and general workers (RM477) per month.

He added that a study by the Malaysian Employers Federation found that unskilled workers, general workers and labourers in the electrical and electronic sectors received RM443 per month.

He said the implementation of the minimum wage might also have an impact on the economy and the employment sector.

Source
http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/articles/21blog/Article/index_html

Menteri, pegawai digalak dekati rakyat - PM

KUALA LUMPUR 24 Mac - Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak menggalakkan semua menteri dan pegawai kanan kerajaan menyertainya melakukan tinjauan mesra bagi mendekati rakyat.

Selain itu, kata Perdana Menteri, menteri dan pegawai kanan terbabit juga boleh melakukan tinjauan mesra secara berasingan bagi melihat secara lebih dekat segala masalah yang dihadapi orang ramai.

"Janganlah kita hanya mewakilkan tugas dan tanggungjawab kepada orang lain untuk dilaksanakan.

"Pada waktu-waktu tertentu yang sesuai, seseorang itu harus berada di bawah bagi memahami kehendak-kehendak rakyat dalam pelbagai bidang seperti kesihatan, pendidikan dan pengangkutan," katanya dalam entri terbaru blog www.1malaysia.com.my hari ini.

Menurut Najib, menteri dan pegawai kanan kerajaan terbabit turut digalakkan untuk berkongsi pengalaman mereka ketika melakukan tinjauan mesra dengan seluruh rakyat.

"Ini boleh dibuat menerusi saluran yang sesuai seperti saya yang melakukannya melalui blog 1Malaysia dengan menyertakan gambar dan video ketika tinjauan mesra.

"Saya juga akan terus melakukan tinjauan mesra dengan melawat sebanyak mungkin tempat pada tahun ini bagi melihat pelbagai aktiviti yang dilakukan penduduk dan bagaimana mereka hidup dan bekerja.

"Saya juga ingin turut serta ketika penduduk pelbagai latar belakang budaya dan sosioekonomi makan dan minum bagi mengetahui minat dan isu-isu yang menjadi perhatian mereka.

"Ketika pertemuan tidak formal ini, saya juga ingin berkongsi pandangan saya mengenai isu-isu yang memberi kesan kepada rakyat dan apa yang telah dilakukan kerajaan bagi meningkat taraf hidup mereka," katanya.

Menurut beliau, tinjauan mesra yang dilakukan itu telah mengimbau kenangan terhadap bapanya, Allahyarham Tun Abdul Razak Hussein yang ketika menjadi Perdana Menteri telah melawat pelbagai lapisan masyarakat dan bertemu dengan penduduk kampung di seluruh negara.

"Saya menghargai segala pengalaman yang telah diceritakan oleh bapa dan berasa bersemangat apabila mendengarnya," ujar beliau.

Dalam pada itu, Najib berharap, pertubuhan yang mewakil pelbagai kaum dapat bekerjasama bagi membantu penduduk yang memerlukan bantuan di negara ini.

Sumber

http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/info.asp?y=2010&dt=0325&pub=Utusan_Malaysia&sec=Dalam_Negeri&pg=dn_02.htm

Higher Education Ministry gains RM20m, says Khaled

KUALA LUMPUR: The Higher Education Ministry has gained RM20mil from the now defunct Entrepreneur Development and Co-operatives Ministry.

Announcing this yesterday, Higher Educa­tion Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said the Government had just ap-proved the transfer of funds, adding that his ministry would use the annual allocation to run entrepreneurial programmes for university students.

Speaking at a press conference at Plaza Sentral after witnessing an MoU signing between Perbada-nan Usahawan Nasional Berhad and his ministry, Khaled said the allocation would lead to greater promotion of entrepreneurial traits at universities.

“We will look into ways to further embed entrepreneurial traits into the curriculum and students with genuine interest will be given avenues to mould their talents,” he said.

“The existence of student malls is a good example of the inculcation of entrepreneurial values in universities.

“Not every student will become an entrepreneur but the skills they pick up will make them good intrapreneurs if they are not self-employed.”

(Intrapreneur refers to a person within a corporation who turns an idea into a profitable product through innovation and risk-taking.)

The ministry has also set up an Entrepreneurship Unit to offer entrepreneurship programmes for students at universities, polytechnics and community colleges.

Khaled said the allocation would not be used to fund start-ups by varsity students and his ministry was not responsible for providing loans for such purposes.

Source

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/3/25/nation/5931761&sec=nation

Faster Internet speeds mean a shorter wait

PETALING JAYA: With high-speed broadband, the World Wide Web will no longer be the World Wide Wait to Malaysians who use the Internet.

With websurfing speeds of at least 10 megabits per second, a typical YouTube video would load in seconds, instead of the minutes it takes now.

Video-streaming promises to be lag free for those who like to watch movies on the Web, while video-

conferencing would be a more viable communications tool for businesses.

Imagine the savings if employees could hold discussions at a video-conference instead of having to travel across the globe for meetings.

High-speed broadband would remove the kinks in video-streaming and Internet Protocol Tele­vision (IPTV) could take off in Malaysia.

IPTV is basically television presented over the Internet, instead of being broadcast through the air. The benefits are the viewers can choose what they want to see and when.

This also presents an opportunity to terrestrial and satellite TV service providers to add on IPTV. For a satellite TV service provider, IPTV would help negate one shortcoming — poor transmission during rainy weather.

Those wanting IPTV would need a broadband-enabled personal computer to stream or download a movie from the Internet to their TVs.

With the introduction of high-speed broadband, Malaysians can expect IPTV services to mushroom.

Those who have made the leap to Blu-ray high-definition movies will also be able to access additional content that needs to be downloaded from the Web.

For those who love playing video games on the Internet, high-speed broadband is a God-send; they can now play co-operatively or against fellow Malaysians from their homes and offices, as well as with fellow gamers in other parts of the world.

Some of the more popular games are World of Warcraft, Modern Warfare 2, Command & Conquer 4 and Resident Evil 5 which are played using a PC, as well as PlayStation3 and Xbox 360 consoles.

Other benefits include smoother e-commerce activities, Internet-based health services, improved Voice-over-Internet Protocol (web-based telephone service), websites with more detailed pictures and graphics, as well as faster data downloads.

Source

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/3/25/nation/5932045&sec=nation