Govt to spend on development, keep debt manageable

KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 6, 2012): The government will have to continue spending on development while at the same time keeping national debt at a manageable level, says Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Donald Lim Siang Chai. He said a significant development phase was taking place currently involving several billion ringgit worth of projects such as the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) line. As at December 2011, the ratio of national debt to the gross domestic product (GDP) reached 51.8 per cent. "Of course the debt figure is quite high but we have to spend money on infrastructure, healthcare and so on. "We want to cut down the figure, which in most developed nations is 100 per cent while in the United States it is 200 per cent," he told reporters after delivering a keynote address at the "Forum on Private Retirement Scheme in Malaysia." The forum was organised by the Malaysian Financial Planning Council and Financial Planning Association of Malaysia. Lim said the government would work hard not to exceed the debt ceiling of 55 per cent of the country's GDP which was increased from 45 per cent in July 2009. Several global rating agencies, including Standard & Poor's and Fitch Ratings, recently raised concerns about the strains on the country's credit profile. Meanwhile, Lim said the country's dependence on the oil and gas (O&G) sector would eventually be lower going forward as the government had beefed up efforts to broaden its revenue base. Lim said currently, the O&G sector supplies about 35 per cent of government revenue, followed by the commodity sector (palm oil and rubber), manufacturing, retail market and tourism. "The dependence level in the 1990s was as high as 50 per cent and we have come down now with the expected increase in contribution from the services sector given the efforts put in place to boost the industry," he explained. On the Goods and Sales Tax (GST) Bill, Lim said the second reading would be tabled in Parliament as soon as the feedback from the business community is received. "Currently, we are holding an awareness campaign and more people are acknowledging it," he said. – Bernama Jarumemas: Masih ramai yang tidak faham apa dia GST.

Bapa Pada Budak Tunjuk Punggung, Memohon Maaf Pada PM dan Isteri!!

Kesian, anak punya pasal, bapa pulak yang malu kena minta maaf. Memang takdak otak langsung si anak tu. "Mewakili anak saya, saya memohon maaf kepada seluruh rakyat Malaysia khasnya kepada Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak dan isteri, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor atas perlakuan anak saya itu," demikian rayuan A Rahman Abdullah, 53, bapa kepada salah seorang pelajar kolej swasta yang diambil keterangannya oleh polis berhubung kejadian menayang punggung ke atas gambar pemimpin negara pada sambutan ambang merdeka di Dataran Merdeka, Khamis lalu. Menurut A Rahman, dia amat menyesali tindakan yang dilakukan anaknya dan masih terkejut dengan apa yang telah berlaku. "Saya terkejut sewaktu mendapat perkhabaran ini. Setahu saya, anak saya langsung tidak terlibat dalam mana-mana parti politik serta tergolong dalam kalangan pelajar yang rajin. "Bagaimanapun saya percaya dia terpengaruh dengan rakan-rakan sebaya atau mungkin dipergunakan pihak tertentu. Sepatutnya dia lebih menumpukan masanya pada pelajaran," katanya ketika ditemui di rumahnya, di sini, semalam. Menurut A Rahman, pihak polis juga telah memaklumkan yang anaknya dibebaskan kira-kira jam 10 malam kelmarin. Sehubungan itu, dia turut menasihatkan anak muda lain agar tidak mudah terpengaruh dengan rakan atau mana-mana pihak sehingga boleh menjejaskan ketenteraman awam mahupun masa depan sendiri. "Saya berdoa agar anak saya segera insaf dan mengambil iktibar daripada kejadian tersebut," katanya.-SinarHarian Dah la kena tangkap, kena buang kolej pulak tu.. disebabkan kebodohan yang melampau, budak punggung ni dah mengelapkan masa depanya. Sokong Pakatan memang gelap masa depan!! Sumber: Blog Kedah Ke KL Jarumemas: Kerana pulut santan binasa, kerana badan keluarga sengsara.

DPM: New history syllabus for secondary schools in the works

KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 6, 2012): A new history syllabus is being drawn up for secondary school students in an effort to produce citizens with a high level of patriotism, said Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin. Muhyiddin, who is also Education Minister, said this would be carried out based on the views put forward by the Special Committee studying the history syllabus and and textbooks for secondary schools. "The government is paying special attention to the content of the history subject in schools. We have received the report (of the special committee). God willing, we will implement (the recommendations)," he said when opening the 57th Annual Meeting of the Malaysian Historical Society (MHS) at Wisma Sejarah, here, today. The special committee which was set up in May 2011, comprises 10 history experts and is chaired by former Deputy Director-General of Education Tan Sri Omar Mohd Hashim, who is also the executive chairman of MHS. The special committee will review the history syllabus and textbooks for secondary schools to ensure that the content is able to instill national pride and love for the country among students. – Bernama Jarumemas: Love history subject since primary school.

Kerajaan baru boleh tukar bendera, kata persatuan sejarah

KUALA LUMPUR, 6 Sept — Bendera negara boleh ditukar jika kerajaan mahukan, kata pengerusi eksekutif Persatuan Sejarah Malaysia (MHS), Tan Sri Omar Hashim hari ini. “Kerajaan baru biasanya akan menukar bendera seperti yang kita saksikan di Libya dan Iraq. “Jadi, jika berlakunya pertukaran kerajaan, mereka boleh menukar bendera,” kata Omar. Beliau menambah, walaupun bendera Malaysia pada hari ini dipilih kekal sebagai simbol kerajaan, ia sepatutnya dihormati dan menjadi satu-satunya bendera ketika sambutan Hari Kebangsaan. Pengerusi persatuan itu memberi respon ketika ditanya oleh pemberita berkenaan kemunculan semula bendera kontraversi 'Sang Saka Malaya' sewaktu sambutan ambang Merdeka di Dataran Merdeka minggu lalu. Berita lanjut... Jarumemas: Masih sayang Jalur Gemilang

German Embassy admits to funding Suaram

(Bernama) - The German Embassy here has admitted contributing funds to Suara Inisiatif Sdn Bhd, a company linked to Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram), a non-governmental organisation (NGO). Its ambassador to Malaysia, Dr Guenter Georg Gruber, said the embassy funded project-specific initiatives. "The project with Suaram was in 2010, which we had evaluated," he said, adding that he could not recall what the project was, and that "the amount (of funds) was limited". He told reporters this after witnessing the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Universiti Malaysia Pahang and two German companies here today. The initial investigation by the Companies Commission of Malaysia (CCM) revealed the existence of fund transactions between Suara Inisiatif, which was registered under the Companies Act 1965, and Suaram. CCM has been criticised by several NGOs for allegedly failing to act against Suaram which admitted to receiving funds from foreign countries, among others. The criticism followed reports that Suaram was not an NGO, but a company, namely Suara Inisiatif Sdn Bhd. Asked whether the embassy would fund other Suaram projects, the envoy said the mission would look at any proposal "that is in accordance to our values". "We also supported the Bar Council over the rights of indigenous people. We do it all the time. This is close to our value system," he added. Jarumemas: Is it worth?