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The Star, Wednesday November 8, 2006

Satay outlet to be torn down

KLANG:KLANG: DZ Satay House which was built illegally on state land in Pandamaran, Port Klang, will be demolished on Nov 23, and its owner Datuk Zakaria Md Deros will be slapped with a RM10,000 fine. 

ALL SMILES: Zakaria leaving the ACA headquarters in Shah Alam yesterday.

A Klang District Land Office spokesman said the restaurant was built without approval on a buffer zone meant for road expansion, and Zakaria would be fined under the National Land Code for trespassing. 

“The District Land Office will issue a notice of demolition under the Land Code tomorrow (today) and tear down the restaurant on Nov 23,” he said. 

“We are giving the owner ample time to remove the furniture and fittings, to minimise losses.”  

Yesterday, the district office surveyed the land on which the restaurant stood as well as the surrounding area. 

“No appeal will be entertained as the land is a buffer zone and can’t be used for other purposes,” he added. 

“We are strict about this and want to ensure that the message goes out to others not to misuse state land or occupy it illegally.” 

Meanwhile, Klang municipal council president Abdul Bakir Zin said yesterday that Zakaria, who is Port Klang assemblyman, had yet to pay up the RM24,000 fine imposed on him by the council for building a four-storey mansion without submitting building plans. 

Last week, Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohamed Khir Toyo said there were many buildings and premises in the state built without approval from the authorities. 

He said the state government had long known about their existence but if all of these were demolished there would be a huge public outcry.  

The Star, Wednesday November 8, 2006

Government reveals equities share data

The Government has revealed the various sources used in gathering information to back the methodology it has been using to determine bumiputra equity ownership. 

Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Suliman said the Government took into account the equity ownership of the corporate sector, unit trusts, Bumiputra/Malay interest institutions, share capital of nominee companies, government-owned shares and share capital ownership based on ethnic groups. 

He said among the important details used to calculate equity ownership in the corporate sector were annual reports of companies registered with the Companies Commission of Malaysia (CCM), companies listed on Bursa Malaysia and from institutions with bumiputra interests such as the Pilgrims Management Board, the Armed Forces Fund Board and the Cooperatives Development Department. 

The calculation also includes equity ownership by trustee agencies such as Permodalan Nasional Bhd (PNB), Mara and State Economic Development Corporations, unit trusts from Securities Commission (SC) and trust fund management companies and the Economic Planning Unit’s (EPU) study on ownership through nominee companies. 

Dr Abdul Rahman, who was responding to Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang’s claim that the equity methodology used by the EPU was “flawed and had a certain agenda,” said a special committee had been set up to study the best methodology to estimate share capital ownership for the corporate sector. 

“The special committee involves the EPU, CCM, SC, Bursa and PNB,” Dr Abdul Rahman said while winding up the debate on the Budget at the committee stage. 

When met at the lobby later, he said the Cabinet would discuss and finalise the details before releasing a detailed report on the methodology used.  

Statistics on share capital in companies registered with the CCM was the main and most important information in estimating share capital ownership based on ethnic groups, he said. 

Dr Abdul Rahman also explained that the par value calculation method was used to prepare corporate equity ownership data, as it gave a general picture of the company’s basic share capital.  

Market value, he said, could also be used but it would only be applicable for listed companies. 

“This is because the market value constantly changes and is always influenced by factors such as window dressing and market manipulation. 

“Therefore measurements based on par value is regarded as the most suitable methodology,” said Dr Abdul Rahman. 

He said a big portion of the Government’s share capital ownership was in public listed companies, while shares owned by the Employees Provident Fund, Khazanah Holding and the Finance Minister Inc were also considered important. 

The Star, Wednesday November 8, 2006

Bumis own 36% of share value in listed companies

KUALA LUMPUR: Bumiputras own about 36% of shareholding value in companies listed on the main board and second board of Bursa Malaysia as at Dec 31 last year. 

“According to the breakdown of shareholders based on the values of shares in the listed companies of the main board and the second board of Bursa as at Dec 31, 2005, bumiputras owned RM78.4bil (worth) of shares or 36.64%,” Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Dr Awang Adek Hussin said.  

Dr Awang Adek said the total value of shares of Bursa was RM214bil, and non-bumiputras held 46.91% of shares worth RM100.4bil. 

“The remaining 16.45% of the shares or RM35.2bil were owned by foreigners,” he added. 

Dr Awang Adek revealed the figures while answering Tengku Razaleigh Tengku Hamzah (BN – Gua Musang) during question time. 

Dr Awang Adek also said that based on records from the Companies Commission of Malaysia, Malays controlled 172,568 of the 717,935 registered companies, and owned more than 50.1% of shares in the companies. 

However, he said that according to the listed companies’ annual report received by Bursa last year, Malays owned 186 public listed companies out of the 912 companies that were listed on the main board and the second board. 

Later at a press conference, Dr Awang Adek clarified that the figures of ownership of values of shares and public-listed companies in Bursa did not represent the equity ownership in the country. 

He said the Government had been calculating equity ownership based on the number of established and registered companies in the country and their paid-up capital since 1970. 

“There are over 700,000 registered companies in the country but only 1,021 are listed. 

“If you only look at the number of listed companies, you will get a certain conclusion, but the economy is bigger than that,” he said. 

Dr Awang Adek also said it would be wrong to say that the Government’s methodology of calculating equity ownership was unreliable, pointing out that the Government had received advice from the World Bank and international and domestic scholars. 

“You should avoid judging which methodology is the correct one. You should just say different bases of methodology produce different results,” he said. 

The Star, Tuesday November 7, 2006

Bangsa Malaysia in mind

By MARSHA TAN, TEH ENG HOCK, MEERA VIJAYAN and FARIK ZOLKEPLI

JOHOR BARU: The Bangsa Malaysia concept is the state of an individual’s mind and does not infringe on Malay special rights and privileges, said Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak. 

The Deputy Prime Minister said Bangsa Malaysia was a concept and had nothing to do with the Constitution or national policies, but was related to an individual’s state of mind.  

Najib: Bangsa Malaysia is just general concept.

“Bangsa Malaysia means we do not evaluate someone by his skin colour, race or religion,” Najib said when closing the Johor Umno Convention at Persada Johor here yesterday.  

“It does not question the special rights of the Malays, our quota or anything of that sort.”  

He was commenting on Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman’s opening speech on Sunday which questioned the need for people of different races in the country to be ethnically diluted or mixed up merely for a concept that was still “hazy” in its meaning. 

Later Najib, who is also Umno deputy president, told reporters that the Bangsa Malaysia concept was far from needing change in the Constitution, as it was just a general concept. 

Asked about Gerakan president Datuk Seri Lim Keng Yaik’s statement that Johor Umno was going against government policy when it rejected the notion of Bangsa Malaysia, Najib said: “It is for the Government to decide on suitable policies from time to time, on whether to retain or review existing ones.  

“But if we can focus on the concept of Bangsa Malaysia being a state of mind, then we can avoid polemics.  

“If we try to define it, this could raise more questions and hot up the debate. If we were to amend the Constitution, the country would be in disorder.” 

Meanwhile, in his closing speech, Abdul Ghani said the concept that have had been widely used brought about the concept of pluralism, which was equality without a core base.  

Related Stories:
Soul of a nation
Success story of unity in diversity

The Star, Tuesday November 7, 2006

Cabinet not against replacing Causeway, says Najib

JOHOR BARU: The Cabinet had never been against building a bridge to replace the Causeway but the project was cancelled for two reasons, one of which was the reluctance to comply with a couple of requests by Singapore. 

The other reason was the indication by the republic that it wanted to take the matter to the international court. 

“When we wanted to build a straight bridge, Singapore wanted us to sell them a fairly large quantity of sand and to allow them the use of our airspace,” said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.  

“These two requests are difficult to accept from a political stand. 

“When we wanted to build a crooked bridge, Singapore refused to accept, and was indicating about taking action through the international court. 

“So, the Cabinet felt that it was better to just call off the project.”  

Asked if the project would be revived in future, Najib said Malaysia could not make any unilateral decision as the country was tied to international laws and the water agreement with Singapore. 

And what if Singapore decides to sincerely agree with continuing the bridge project?  

Najib said: “If they were sincere on the project, it would have materialised by now.” 

He added that the Government respected the Sultan of Johor’s views that the Causeway needed to be removed to allow ships to pass through the Johor straits. 

Sultan Iskandar said his ancestors were deceived on the Causeway, which was purportedly built so as to develop Keppel harbour in Singapore.  

The Star, Tuesday November 7, 2006

Zakaria faces council action on satay restaurant

KLANG: Port Klang state assemblyman Datuk Zakaria Md Deros’ troubles are far from over. 

Klang Municipal Council (MPK) president Abdul Bakir Zin said appropriate action would be taken against him soon for building his DZ Satay House illegally on state land. 

“The land office is preparing a notice to be served on Zakaria and action will be taken under the National Land Code,” he said.  

However, Abdul Bakir could not say if the notice would require Zakaria to tear down the structure. 

He added that Zakaria, a former MPK councillor, had yet to submit the building plans for his palatial home in Kg Idaman, Pandamaran, to MPK for approval.  

Abdul Bakir added that Zakaria had also not settled the RM24,000 fine imposed on him for having illegally constructed his mansion 

Fellow MPK councillor Mazlynoor Abdul Latiff, who had committed the same offence, had submitted his plans for approval, said Abdul Bakir. 

Umno Youth chief Faizal Abdullah was the other MPK councillor found to have built his home without approval.  

The Star, Tuesday November 7, 2006

Success story of unity in diversity

PETALING JAYA: Several political leaders said Malaysia’s multi-ethnicity is unique and that being united is the formula of the country’s success. 

MCA vice-president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek said the people should be talking about the spirit of Rakyat Malaysia, and added:”Our freedom to practise our respective cultures, beliefs and religions is en-shrined in the Constitution. The question of assimilation of any one race into another does not arise at all.” 

Citing the Barisan Nasional as a prime example of “unity in diversity”, Dr Chua said it was a fact that Malaysian political parties – ruling or opposition – were still based on a racial basis.  

Dr Chua said no race should have a monopoly of everything and every Malaysian had a right to participate in the country’s development.  

MCA Youth chief Datuk Liow Tiong Lai said Johor Umno chief Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman need not worry about the creation of a Bangsa Malaysia as unity among people of different races was more important.  

Gerakan vice-president Datuk Dr S. Vijayaratnam said the Bangsa Malaysia concept did not imply a “rojak” of races, but would strengthen national unity. He said the concept did not make one any less a Malay, Chinese, Indian, Iban or a Kadazan. 

Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang described Abdul Ghani’s remarks as “unMalaysian” and not in line with the Vision 2020 concept.  

The Star, Tuesday November 7, 2006

Soul of a nation

RAWANG: The term Bangsa Malaysia merely reflects the spirit of a Malaysian and it should be looked at from a broad perspective, MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting said. 

“To us, Bangsa Malaysia means the Rakyat Malaysia spirit, which already exists rather than the formation of a new race. When you are a Malaysian citizen you enjoy all the rights in the Constitution, which were already agreed upon by our forefathers. 

“We promote unity in diversity. No race will be deprived of its original identity, culture, religion, language and traditional practices. This is the key to the success of the multi-racial Malaysian society. This is our strength,” he said.  

Malaysians, Ong said, should stick to the spirit of the Constitution as well as the principles of the Rukun Negara and continue to respect each other. 

He said the MCA believed in promoting the spirit of Rakyat Malaysia, adding that “it is not by forcing or changing any character of any race, and yet we maintain a very strong Malaysian spirit and outlook.” 

The Rakyat Malaysia concept promoted by the MCA emphasises that the Rakyat Malaysia is already naturally imbued in every Malaysian.  

The party upholds that Malaysians have the freedom to study their mother tongue and maintain their culture and practices yet live together in harmony by upholding the spirit of Rakyat Malaysia and the principles of the Rukun Negara. 

Ong was commenting on a statement by Johor Umno chief Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman, who had warned of the dire consequences of advocating a Bangsa Malaysia.  

Related Stories:
Bangsa Malaysia in mind
Success story of unity in diversity

The Star, Monday November 6, 2006

Mazlynoor will not be forced to resign, says MB

By CHRISTINA TAN

KUALA LANGAT: Klang Municipal Councillor Datuk Mazlynoor Abdul Latiff, who built his Kampung Raja Uda bungalow without council approval, will not be forced to resign, said Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo. 

Dr Khir said he had decided that any councillor who settled his problem with the council within one or two months, could remain in the post. 

“Now, it’s up to him (Mazlynoor) to decide, I can’t force a person. He is nominated (as a councillor) and he is qualified,” he said yesterday.  

“The only thing is he broke the local government rules. I understand that he will settle the matter within one or two days.”  

Dr Khir was speaking to newsmen after a Hari Raya open house held by the Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah at Pantai Kelanang in Morib here yesterday. 

Mazlynoor is one of three councillors with the Klang Municipal Council who bulit their homes without approval. Two of them – Faizal Abdullah and Port Klang state assemblyman Datuk Zakaria Md Deros – resigned as councillors last week. 

Council president Abdul Bakir Zin said Mazlynoor resubmitted the building plan of his bungalow to the council last Friday and it would take two to three days to approve the plan.  

The Star, Monday November 6, 2006

Bangsa Malaysia wrongly interpreted

JOHOR BARU: The implementation of a wrongly interpreted concept of Bangsa Malaysia will jeopardise the stability and Constitution of the country, Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman said. 

In his policy speech at the Johor Umno convention, Abdul Ghani questioned the need for the different races in the country to be ethnically diluted or mixed up (dileburkan untuk menjadi rojak) merely for a concept that was still hazy in its meaning.  

“After 49 years of Independence, we should be mature enough not to try and introduce vague and unclear concepts. 

“The term Bangsa Malaysia continues to be lauded by our friends under the name of unity and understanding without proper thought for its definition,” he said.  

He reiterated that even if the term Bangsa Malaysia had to be used, it should be limited to the definition of the people of Malaysia with the Malays as the main race. 

Abdul Ghani said that the Constitution did not encompass the concept of Bangsa Malaysia with the only definition of the different races being “Malays, Sarawak and Sabah bumiputeras as well as other races”.