Hishammuddin backs Najib on 1MDB with 3 conditions.

BY MOHD FARHAN DARWIS

Published: 1 June 2015 2:17 PM

Dato Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said today on his Twitter account @HishammuddinH20 that his support for Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s ultimatum that ministers either resign or support his rehabilitation measures for 1Malaysia Development Bhd was based on three conditions.

The conditions are there is rationalisation of 1MDB, accountability if there is any wrongdoing and that both of the conditions are carried out transparently.

“Agree (with the ultimatum) with conditions 1) rationalisation of 1MDB,  2) accountability if there is wrongdoing, and 3), transparency on (conditions 1 and 2),” the defence minister said.

Hishammuddin did not attend last Friday's Cabinet meeting as he was in Singapore for a regional security summit.

Najib’s ultimatum was revealed by Umno-controlled daily Utusan Malaysia today, which also reported that none of the ministers declared he or she would not support the prime minister on 1MDB.

Hishammuddin has been in Singapore since May 29, the same day Najib convened a special cabinet meeting to unveil plans to restructure 1MDB, which has chalked up debts of RM42 billion.

A few social media users responded immediately to Hishammuddin’s tweet.

A Twitter user Erwan79, using the handle @A_One79, said: “before you ask Cabinet members to resign, ask members of the 1MDB board of directors to resign. Investigate thoroughly.”

Another Twitter user Mazlan Razak, @MazlanRazak, said: “congratulations, I like ministers with balls.”

Najib was said to have issued the ultimatum soon after Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah finished laying out the road map for 1MDB's restructuring to the ministers.

"The prime minister told members of his Cabinet who were not with him on the 1MDB issue to resign, but not one person did so," the source told the Malay daily.

Utusan also noted that Najib's ultimatum followed the statement by Barisan Backbenchers Club chairman Tan Sri Shahrir Samad, who last Tuesday urged ministers, who did not agree with the collective decision of the Cabinet on 1MDB, to resign.

Shahrir was supporting Umno's Gua Musang MP Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, who said the entire Cabinet was collectively responsible for 1MDB's controversies which have sapped public confidence over the government's handling of the Finance Ministry-owned firm.

Husni, who has been made the government's spokesperson on 1MDB, had said the company had entered into a binding agreement with Abu Dhabi's International Petroleum Investment Company (IPIC) and its subsidiary, Aabar Investments (Aabar), where IPIC would pay 1MDB US$1 billion, on or before June 4, 2015.

The US$1 billion payment would be used to repay a US$975 million (RM3.5 billion) loan, in advance of its due date, to a syndicate of international bank lenders, Husni had said. – June 1, 2015.

Obama warns China against 'throwing elbows' in sea dispute.

2.6.2015

US President Barack Obama on Monday weighed in on territorial disputes in the South China Sea, urging regional powers, particularly China, to respect the law and stop "throwing elbows."

As several Asian regional powers face off over maritime borders, Obama warned about disregard for existing laws and a move away from established ways of resolving disputes.

"If you start losing that approach, and suddenly conflicts arise and claims are made based on how big the country is or how powerful its navy is instead of based on law, then I think Asia will be less prosperous and the Pacific region will be less prosperous," he said.

The United States does not hold any territorial claims in the South China Sea, Obama added. But as a "Pacific power" Washington has vocally called on China and other nations to end reclamation.

His administration has vowed to continue sending military aircraft and ships to the tense region to protect navigation rights.

"We think that land reclamation, aggressive actions by any party in that area are counterproductive," said Obama.

Turning to China directly, Obama adopted a boxing metaphor, saying "it may be that some of their claims are legitimate, but they shouldn't just try to establish that based on throwing elbows and pushing people out of the way."

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‘Our education infrastructure the best', says Muhyddin Posted on 25 May 2015 - 10:00pm Last updated on 25 May 2015 - 11:23pm

AYER HITAM: Nobody can deny the success of the government in providing the best education infrastructure to boost knowledge among the people, said Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

Muhyiddin, who is also the Education Minister, said the success of the government in providing the best education facilities to the people was internationally acknowledged.

“Nobody can say that this effort (providing the best education infrastructure to Malaysians) had failed. This is one effort which is successful,” he said when officiating at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Jerlun here today.

He said the world community, including international bodies like the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, had acknowledged the government’s commitment in providing large allocations each year to education.

Muhyiddin said each year between 20% and 21% of the national budget allocation is reserved for educational needs.

“We are recognised as among the developing countries which give high allocations for education and also highest per capita allocation for students,” he said.

About 600,000 out of the total 1.6 million civil servants in the country are working in the education sector, he said.

“We want our children to master all kinds of knowledge in this world,” he said, adding that the government wants 60% of students to take up the science stream.

Currently, Muhyiddin said only 20% of students took science stream and the ministry must find ways to achieve the 60% target.

Also present was Kedah Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir. – Bernama

Troubled Malaysia Airlines to be completely revamped, says new CEO -

KUALA LUMPUR, May 25 — Loss-making Malaysia Airlines is set to undergo a complete overhaul as it is restructured into a new company, with a rebranding that will be unveiled next week and changes planned to its fleet and network strategies.

Christoph Mueller, who joined from Irish national carrier Aer Lingus, said in his first ever interview since taking over as chief executive on May 1 that the new company will be like a “start-up”. A new name and livery are on the cards for Malaysia Airlines (MAS), sources told Reuters.

“I’m hired to run the new company entirely on commercial terms and there’s very little margin for error,” Mueller told Reuters at the downtown Kuala Lumpur office of Malaysian state investor Khazanah, which took MAS private late last year as part of a RM6 billion (US$1.66 billion) restructuring.

“It’s not a continuation of the old company in a new disguise, everything is new,” said Mueller, who helped turn around carriers such as Aer Lingus, Belgium’s Sabena, and Germany’s Lufthansa .

Khazanah said on Monday that the chairman of audit firm PricewaterhouseCoopers Malaysia has been appointed to oversee the move of MAS’ assets and liabilities to a new company, Malaysia Airlines Bhd, which is due to start operating by September.

The airline, which has seen successive years of losses, suffered huge damage to its brand after flight MH370, carrying 239 passengers and crew, disappeared in March last year, in what has become one of the greatest mysteries in aviation history.

In July, Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 was shot down over rebel-held territory in eastern Ukraine, and all 298 aboard were killed.

Apart from the brand, analysts say that the key to a revival will be the management’s ability to reduce costs, deploy capacity more efficiently, create a profitable network that leverages on Kuala Lumpur’s position as a regional hub, and partnerships with other airlines.

Job cuts

MAS, in the past, was also hindered by disagreements between the management and the unions, which opposed job cuts. The government also interfered in the day-to-day running of the airline, and commercial contracts were often awarded to suppliers with political connections.

MAS has announced plans to lay off about a third of its 20,000 work-force, expected in the coming week, and will also shrink its capacity this year.

Mueller confirmed that the carrier has been trying to sell two of its A380s and will likely have fewer planes overall, but added that the new company will keep all of its current types of aircraft including the Airbus A330s, Boeing 777-200s and 737-800s.

Competition has been intense at home, where low-cost carrier AirAsia has taken much of the short-haul market from MAS and affiliate AirAsia X has provided stiff competition in the medium and long-haul markets.

The airline’s costs are 20 per cent above its rivals and Mueller said it will take 3 years to close that gap and return to profitability.

“We are not without our weapons. It’s doable, and it depends on the vigour in which we pursue the cost reduction,” he said. — Reuters

- See more at: http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/troubled-malaysia-airlines-to-be-completely-revamped-says-new-ceo#sthash.frRi9dLz.dpuf

City of Dreams turning into Tanjung Tokong residents’ nightmare BY DALBINDER SINGH GILL Published: 25 May 2015 7:02 AM

Residents showing their displeasure at the site of the new high density project. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Dalbinder Singh Gill, May 25, 2015.

Despite objections from residents and the local assemblyman, the Penang Island City Council has approved yet another high-density development project in the Tanjung Tokong suburb of George Town, Penang.

Avalon and Acacia Residents Association (AWA) of Seri Tanjung Pinang are strongly opposing the project dubbed as the "City of Dreams" (COD) comprising 572 units of service apartments which translates into a density of 156 units per acre (0.4ha).

The project will be constructed primarily on a piece of state government reserve land known as Lot 702, Section 1, Tanjung Pinang Town, measuring approximately 3.67 acres which is part of the reclaimed land under Seri Tanjung Pinang(Phase 1).

Planning permission was applied by Consortium Zenith Ewein Sdn Bhd(CZBUCG) and granted by the Penang City Council on February 17 for the 40-storey project.

The project comprises two blocks of service apartments, both 32-storey tall on top of a seven-storey car park and wellness facilities which in turn sit on a basement level housing electrical and mechanical facilities. 

“According to the city council’s guidelines, only 30 units per acre is allowed for service apartments, but this project is five times the allowed density,” said Ung Chirt Kye, one of the residents, who is also a lawyer and spokesperson for the group.

Only a total of 10 residents had received notices from the city council following the council's law under Section 21(6) of the Local Government Act 1976, which requires a notice to be sent out to the owners of the neighboring lots 20 feet away and adjacent from the project site.

“The notices sent out were insufficient as many residents were caught unaware. Only 10 residents were notified and this isn’t enough as the entire neighbourhood will feel the ripple effect from this project,” said Ung.

The planning permission was issued to the developer by the city council just a day after the residents had filed an appeal to the Appeals Board.

Residents also pointed out that in the Draft Local Plans 2005-2020 of Penang Island,  Lot 702 was zoned for an “institution”.

They also questioned when Lot 702 was alienated to Consortium Zenith BUCG Sdn Bhd.

“I came to Penang many years ago and never expected that something like this can happen on a neighbouring piece of land” said an oil and gas executive from Norway, who wanted to be known only as Dagfinn.

The Penang state government, through its various administrative arms, has played a central role in this project as confirmed by state executive councillor for public works, utilities and transport, Lim Hock Seng, in the Penang State Legislative Assembly.

Lim had said that Lot 702 (3.67 acres) worth RM135.08 million had already been given to Consortium Zenith BUCG as part of its said payment in kind for the feasibility studies for three proposed roads which were 97% completed.

Local assemblyman for Tanjung Bungah, Teh Yee Cheu, who was present to support the  residents, said he had objected to the project right from the beginning.

“I objected to the proposal to rezone Lot 702 on August 12, 2014. The Penang Structure Plan is due for a review,” said Teh.

He also noted that the Penang Local Plan was still at the draft stage and had yet to be gazetted by the state government.

“Under Section 25 of the Town and Country Planning Act, the state can withdraw the approved plan by paying compensation to the developer,” added Teh. – May 25, 2015.

Home - News - Sarawak SFC says no monster croc from Sungai Liku

SFC Miri says the story of a monster croc caught in Sungai Liku is untrue as the pictures circulated could be taken outside Sarawak.

MIRI: Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) here refuted the truth of reports in the Chinese press and social media that a monster crocodile weighing 700 kg was caught at Sungai Liku last Saturday.

Pictures and report on the reptile – supposedly caught by SFC and Malaysian Civil Defence Department in Lambir – went viral in Facebook and social media.

“The circulation of those pictures was detected on Wednesday and since then I have received many calls asking about it, but an investigation revealed not a single shred of evidence that the crocodile was caught in Sungai Liku or anywhere else in Miri Division,” said SFC regional chief Abang Arabi Abang Aimran. SFC has not carried out any culling or relocation in the past fortnight.

The last operation was in Sungai Teniku in Lambir involving the relocation of a 300 kg crocodile sent to Miri Crocodile Farm in Kuala Baram two weeks ago.

The news shocked Mirians and the sheer size of the crocodile drew incredulous response as Sungai Liku is a relative small river from where Laku sourced its raw water, which is pumped and transferred from Bakong River in Buri.

A Chinese paper reported yesterday that the 16-and-a-half foot long crocodile was still alive after it was captured by SFC at Sungai Liku last Saturday.

But it was later found that the reptile could have been dead for over a week.

Moreover the individuals in the picture could not be identified.

Abang Arabi said investigation revealed that the picture was probably taken outside Sarawak, and SFC will probe the owner of the Facebook which downloaded the picture to spread it around without verifying the facts.

“I hope people along Sungai Liku will not panic and believe the pictures and report,” he added.

This incident might have been wrongly linked to unrelated pictures which went viral.

Utusan Borneo contacted crocodile farm owner Kapitan Chai Kuen Ming who confirmed that the crocodile sent there looked different from the one circulated in social media.

“No, it’s not the same croc as the one sent to our farm by SFC two weeks ago is still alive without any head injuries while the pictures showed a carcass with a cut,” he said.

China’s IL-76 aircraft arrives with equipment for disaster relief exercise Posted on May 24, 2015, Sunday

A truck being unloaded from the Ilyushin IL-76 at Sultan Abdul Halim Airport. — Bernama photo

ALOR SETAR:

Transport aircraft Ilyushin IL-76 belonging to China’s International Search and Rescue (CISAR) team arrived at the Sultan Abdul Halim Airport (LSTAH), here, yesterday.

The plane arrived at 11.30am, bringing rescue equipment and various vehicles that will be used during the Asean Regional Forum Disaster Relief Exercise 2015 (ARF-Rex 2015) which will take place in Kedah and Perlis from tomorrow till Thursday.

People’s Liberation Army China General Staff, Office Operations Department deputy chief of Emergency Response, Senior Colonel Ma Xin said the food supplies, equipment and vehicles brought in from the country were meant to speed up the teams’ training. “We hope the exercise will go smoothly and successfully with commitment by all the rescue teams from various countries,” he said when met here yesterday.

Meanwhile, National Security Council secretary Datuk Mohamed Tajudin Abdul Wahab said Malaysia and China are joint chairs for the ARF DiREx 2015. He said the exercise would also be participated by various rescue agencies from 22 countries such as Thailand, Indonesia, Australia, the United States and India. The training was important as the search and rescue teams will be working together in future in the event of disasters such as earthquakes and floods, he added.

“For instance, for the earthquakes in Nepal recently, the search and rescue team from the country collaborated with Indonesia, Singapore and Brunei to provide assistance to the quake victims,” Mohamed Tajudin said

ARF DiREx 2015’s main focus is to test the civil-military coordination, create synergies and coordinate efforts to support the effective implementation of the Asean Agreement on Disaster Management and Emergency Response (AADMER) as the common platform for disaster management in the region. — Bernama