Johor unveils plans for education hub

A British university and a private Malaysian school have signed up with Iskandar Malaysia, kick-starting an ambitious move by the Johor development region to attract Singaporeans and other foreign students.

Newcastle University will open a medical faculty in Iskandar by 2011, while Malaysian education group Cempaka Schools is to open an international boarding school for boys in the next few years, it was announced yesterday.

Both institutions will be located in Iskandar's education hub, Educity, which is near the Second Link at Tuas.

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Somali pirates demand 25 million dollars for Saudi oil tanker

MOGADISHU - Somali pirates who hijacked a Saudi oil super-tanker demanded a 25 million dollar ransom Thursday amid calls for tougher action to end threats to one of the world's key maritime routes.

As global frustration built and a major shipping company ordered some of its vessels to avoid the Gulf of Aden, the pirates set a 10-day deadline for the ransom payment for the ship they easily seized in 16 minutes.

"We are demanding 25 million dollars (20 million euros) from the Saudi owners of the tanker. We do not want long-term discussions to resolve the matter," a pirate who identified himself as Mohamed Said said from the ship.

"The Saudis have 10 days to comply, otherwise we will take action that could be disastrous," Said told AFP from the ship now anchored at the Somali pirate lair of Harardhere, without elaborating.

Seized at the weekend in the Indian Ocean some 500 miles (800 kilometres) off the coast of Kenya, the Sirius Star tanker was loaded to capacity with two million barrels of oil and the biggest vessel to be seized by pirates so far.

Two speedboats with pirates armed with Kalashnikov rifles and rocket-launchers seized the ship in 16 minutes on Saturday, according to a military report obtained by AFP.

The report also described the Sirius Star -- with woeful defences, restricted manoeuvrability and speed capacities owing to its 319,000-tonne oil cargo -- as a lumbering prey for two speedboats carrying well-armed pirates.

The US, meanwhile, said it would be seeking support in the United Nations for a resolution to tighten international measures against Somali pirates. Ambassador Rosemary DiCarlo said the new text would "extend the authorities" set out in an earlier resolution adopted in June.

The previous text called on nations possessing warships in the Gulf of Aden to help hunt down pirates with the agreement of the Somali government.

After the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) described the situation as "out of control," Arab Red Sea states meeting in Cairo Thursday pledged cooperation to end the threat -- but offered few specifics.

Russia announced it would send more warships to combat piracy in the treacherous waters. Admiral Vladimir Vysotsky, the top commander of the Russian navy, said: "After the Neustrashimy (Fearless), ships from other fleets of the Russian navy will head to the region," referring to a frigate sent to the area in September.

Russia's ambassador to NATO, Dmitry Rogozin, meanwhile called for an international ground military operation in the region to crush piracy, to boost sea patrols that are yielding thin results.

British Foreign Secretary David Miliband urged the world to firmly fight the "scourge of hostage taking." In a sign of the havoc being wreaked by the pirates, one of the world's largest shipping companies, Danish group A.P. Moller-Maersk, ordered some of its vessels to avoid the Gulf of Aden.

Other companies are weighing similar options. "Vessels without adequate speed or freeboard will for the time being avoid the Gulf of Aden and seek alternative routing south of the Cape of Good Hope and east of Madagascar," the company said.

Somali Prime Minister Nur Hassan Hussein warned that piracy will rage unless the world helps restore a functional government in Somalia, which collapsed after the 1991 ouster of dictator Mohamed Siad Barre.

Saudi Arabia's foreign minister, Prince Saud al-Faisal said on Wednesday that the super-tanker's owners were in talks with the pirates, but the company that operates the vessel has remained tight-lipped about the claims of negotiations.

At the Cairo talks, foreign ministry spokesman Hossam Zaki said Egypt would consider all possibilities.

Egypt's economy heavily relies on revenue from tourism and maritime traffic through the Suez Canal, which links the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea.

The Indian stealth frigate INS Tabar, one of dozens of warships from several countries protecting commercial shipping lanes in the Gulf of Aden, sank a Somali pirate ship Tuesday after coming under fire, navy spokesman Nirad Sinha said.

Pirates use mother ships, generally hijacked trawlers or deep-sea dhows, to tow speedboats from which they launch their attacks. The incident came as shipping groups reported a new surge in hijackings off Somalia, with three captured since the Sirius Star was taken.

Noel Choong, head of the piracy reporting centre at the IMB in the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur, said "the situation is already out of control," but praised the Indian navy for striking the mother ship.

"We hope more navies will follow suit and stop suspected pirate boats," he added.

Choong however said that destroying pirate ships or confiscating equipment "is not the whole answer, as it is not a deterrent... it is just to disrupt their operations. What is needed is firm action and a firm deterrent ..."

Public assemblies: To allow or not to allow?

IT’S not new. We’ve been talking about it for years. But the Nov 9 fracas in Petaling Jaya has triggered off a new round of “war of words”. Which brings us, once again, to the all important question. “Should public assemblies be allowed without police permits?”

As it is police permits are hard to come by. More often than not, organisers of public rallies are denied permits. They cry foul, citing Article 10 of the Federal Constitution which guarantees the right to assemble. So they go ahead even without permits. Based on Article 10, they have a point. Hence they “have every right” to be angry with the police for breaking up assemblies. Like what happened on Nov 9.

But the police are saying the people who turned up that Sunday night were part of an illegal assembly and had broken the law. That has always been their stand on public assemblies. The men in blue are going by the Police Act which stipulates any grouping of three people can be deemed illegal assembly. For it to be “legal” a police permit is needed. Based on the act the police too are right. Meaning the police and assembly organisers are both right. So who is wrong?

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Harga minyak bakal turun lagi

Kerajaan dijangka mengumumkan harga runcit baru bagi petrol dan diesel buat kali kedua pada bulan ini selepas penurunan terakhir Selasa lalu.

Ketika membayangkan kemungkinan itu, Menteri Perdagangan Dalam Negeri dan Hal Ehwal Pengguna, Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad berkata, pengumuman berkenaan dijangka dibuat sebelum mesyuarat Majlis Ekonomi Negara yang dijadual pada 1 Disember.

''Sebelum mesyuarat ini, saya akan cuba untuk bincangkan supaya kita boleh turunkan sekali lagi (harga minyak) untuk bulan November ini. Kami akan putuskan, sudah tentu akan ada keputusan mengenainya," katanya kepada pemberita di lobi Parlimen di sini hari ini.

Kenyatan Mahfuz sebelumnya -

"Kini kerajaan umpama Along, turunkan harga minyak jadi RM2, sedangkan Menteri KPDNHEP, Dato' Shahrir Samad mengakui harga sepatutnya di pam ialah RM1.62 sen tanpa subsidi kerajaan," kata Mahfuz ketika dihubungi Harakahdaily hari ini.

Menurut Mahfuz, dengan harga minyak RM2 juga, rakyat terpaksa membayar cukai kepada kerajaan sejumlah 38 sen seliter, dan inilah cara kerajaan mengutip kembali rebet yang pernah diberikan.

Tidak dinafikan kerajaan masih terus memberikan rebet tersebut hari ini apabila rakyat memperbaharui cukai jalan, namun sedikit demi sedikit kerajaan mengutipnya dengan cara cukai 38 sen seliter, dakwa Mahfuz.

18 sekolah bakal bergelap

Sebanyak 18 buah sekolah di negeri ini bakal bergelap selepas bil elektrik mereka yang mencecah RM122,811.70 tidak dijelaskan kepada Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) sejak dua tahun lalu.

Semua sekolah terbabit juga telah menerima surat pemotongan daripada TNB dan diarah menjelaskan tunggakan tersebut, sedangkan bil-bil atau baucar berkenaan sudah diserahkan kepada Jabatan Pelajaran Negeri Sembilan (JPNS) untuk tindakan sebelum ini.

''Saya telah bercakap dengan Timbalan Menteri Pelajaran, Datuk Dr. Wee Ka Siong dan beliau akan mengadakan mesyuarat khas untuk meneliti bagaimana tunggakan itu boleh menjadi begitu banyak dan mengambil tindakan untuk menyelesaikannya," kata beliau kepada pemberita di Wisma MCA di sini hari ini.

TP - hah? bil api tak bayaq? mana pi duit peruntukan? dah habis kene tibai ka? menteri pelajaran? Awww...!!! u jangan la kacau dia u... dia tengah siasat video sajak kematian u... awww...!!!

U jangan la bagi pening lagi kepala Sham Kris... Awww...!!!

Ladang babi tidak dibuka di Bukit Selambau - malaysiakini

Ladang babi moden secara berpusat tidak akan dibuka di Bukit Selambau selepas tidak mendapat kebenaran Jabatan Veterinar, kata Menteri Besar, Datuk Seri Azizan Abdul Razak.

Menurut beliau, jabatan berkenaan membuat keputusan itu setelah melihat daripada beberapa sudut teknikal.

''Sebenarnya, kelulusan tapak di Bukit Selambau adalah keputusan kerajaan terdahulu, kita cuma menghormatinya tetapi semalam Jabatan Veterinar tak benarkan, jadi ia tidak jadi di kawasan itu,'' jelas beliau.

Kerajaan negeri dalam jawapan bertulis pada Sidang Dewan Undangan Negeri Kedah Ke-12 yang dikeluarkan hari ini memberitahu, tapak seluas 162 hektar itu telah diluluskan pada 4 Disember tahun lalu.

Menteri Besar itu berkata demikian dalam sidang akhbar selepas menggulung perbahasan Bajet 2009 pada persidangan Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) Kedah Ke-12 di sini hari ini.

Beliau mengulas laporan media mengenai pembukaan ladang babi moden di kawasan Bukit Selambau yang turut disentuh dalam persidangan DUN negeri ini.

Menurut Azizan, atas sebab teknikal itu, kemungkinan tapak lain yang lebih sesuai dan tidak menjejaskan keselesaan semua pihak akan dicari.

''Kita kena lihat sama ada pembukaan ladang penternakan babi ada bantahan atau tidak daripada orang ramai, sebab itu kena cari kawasan sesuai jauh dari penduduk," jelas beliau.

47 Pelajar Je Tak De IC - KERAjaan Sabah

Kerajaan negeri menafikan laporan sebuah akhbar hari ini mengenai kira-kira 40 peratus daripada 1,000 pelajar di Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Bum-Bum di Semporna tidak dapat menduduki Penilaian Menengah Rendah (PMR) dan Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) berikutan ketiadaan kad pengenalan.

Exco Pelajaran Sabah yang juga Menteri Pelancongan, Kebudayaan dan Alam Sekitar negeri, Datuk Masidi Manjun (gambar) berkata, jumlah sebenar pelajar yang terlibat hanya 47 orang dan bukan 40 peratus seperti yang dinyatakan.

"Dakwaan bahawa 40 peratus adalah tidak benar tetapi jumlah yang tepat ialah 47 pelajar sahaja," katanya kepada pemberita ketika ditemui di lobi Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) di sini hari ini - Utusan Online

TP - oi pak menteri... yang dikecoh-kecohkan tu bukan "jumlah pelajar"... yang hang bingai sangat tu awat? bilangan tu bukan satu masalah dalam hal ni...

Yang jadi masalahnya ialah "ada pelajar yang gagal menduduki peperiksaan sebab TIDAK ADA KAD PENGENALAN..! bodoh...!!!

Orang suruh setel masalah KAD PENGENALAN, bukan JUMLAH... bodoh...!!!

Kad pengenalan tu yang utama sebagai tanda warga negara. hangpa reti "jumlah" je ke?

Awat..? kapal dok ingat RM RM je???

Menteri BANGANG!!!

CIQ complex to finally open next month

JOHOR BARU: The new Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) complex in Bukit Chagar is expected to open its doors within the next month.

The project, which was delayed by more than a year, is now operational, with several government agencies already testing their machines and systems.

At least two trial runs have been held in July and this month to test its effectiveness.

Once fully operational, the complex named Kompleks Sultan Iskandar will be able to handle 70 million visitors annually.

It is learnt the Customs and Excise Department and Immigration Depart- ment have also relocated their staff to the complex several months ago.

“Everything is now ready and everyone is only waiting for an official opening date,” a source familiar with the project said.

It is learnt the Sultan of Johor is expected to open the building.

Once fully operational, the complex will house 18 government agencies.

The five-storey complex, dubbed an intelligent building, has 76 lanes for cars, which are divided equally to enter and leave the country.

There are 50 lanes in and 50 lanes out for motorcycles.

As for buses, there will be 25 parking bays allocated for entry and exit.

“We have already made all the necessary changes based on our trial runs,” the source said, adding there were also dozens of closed circuit cameras fitted in and around the complex.

There is a security command centre located on the fifth floor to oversee all security aspects of the building.

It is learnt the payment rates are still the same as the charges imposed at the present complex and only Touch ’n Go cards are allowed to be used for payment.

There are multi-lingual touch screen information display panels to assist visitors entering Johor.

It is learnt the project was delayed due to the cancellation of the Scenic Bridge project and also the construction of the short-term access road linking the causeway and the complex.

The first floor of the complex would handle clearance for cars and motorcycles while the second floor was for those who travel in buses.

-The Star Online

NUMed Faculty To Completed By 2011, Says Professor

JOHOR BAHARU, Nov 21 (Bernama) -- The construction of Newcastle University of Medicine (NUMed), Malaysia's faculty in EduCity, Iskandar Malaysia will be completed by 2011.

NUMed's chief executive officer Professor Reginald Jordan said earth levelling works had been carried out and physical construction of the branch campus would be started soon.

Met by reporters after the signing of a definitive agreement to set up the faculty between the university and Iskandar Malaysia's investment arm, Iskandar Investment Berhad (IIB) at the Persada Johor International Convention Centre here Thursday, Jordan said the first batch of the students of the branch campus would be enrolled early next year.

"We will bring the initial batch of students to our home campus and they will come back here when the branch campus is compeleted in 2011," he said, adding the NUMed would be fully operational by 2012.

Jordan represented NUMed while IIB was represented by its managing director, Arlida Ariff.

The setting up of the faculty is in line with Newcastle University's expansion plans in Southeast Asia and is its first outside the United Kingdom.

The signing ceremony was witnessed by Iskandar Region Development Authority co-chairman Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman, who is also Johor Menteri Besar, British High Commissioner Boyd McCleary, Newcastle University's vice chancellor Professor Christopher Brink and IIB chairman Tan Sri Azman Mokhtar.

Mukhriz tolak jawatan kerajaan jika dipilih Ketua Pemuda

Calon Ketua Pemuda Umno, Datuk Mukhriz Tun Dr. Mahathir tetap dengan pendiriannya untuk tidak memegang sebarang jawatan dalam kerajaan sekiranya diberi mandat sebagai ketua pergerakan itu pada pemilihan parti Mac depan.

Katanya, keputusan itu dibuat kerana beliau mahu menumpukan sepenuh perhatian untuk mengembalikan keyakinan rakyat terhadap Umno dan Barisan Nasional (BN).

"Sebelum ini saya telah umumkan kalau boleh saya tidak berminat memegang jawatan dalam kerajaan sekiranya diberi mandat untuk menjadi Ketua Pemuda Umno sebab kerja politik kita dalam tempoh waktu empat tahun menjelang pilihan raya umum ke-13 ini penting dan saya tidak mahu dialih perhatian dengan tugastugas rasmi kerajaan daripada tugas yang saya ingat jauh lebih penting pada masa ini iaitu tanggungjawab untuk meyakinkan semula rakyat terhadap parti kerajaan," katanya.

"Saya kira walaupun saya anggota Parlimen dan biasanya jawatan penting dalam kerajaan dipilih dari kalangan anggota Parlimen saya rasa biar dulu lah kot," katanya dalam sidang akhbar sempena taklimat Anugerah Francais Malaysia 2008 di sini hari ini.

Mukhriz ialah Pengerusi Persatuan Francais Malaysia.

Mengulas amalan rasuah, Mukhriz berkata, proses pemilihan parti sepatutnya memberi kekuatan kepada parti.

"Kalau ada amalanamalan dalam proses pemilihan ini yang sebenarnya melemahkan parti, ini akan menambahkan lagi ketidakyakinan rakyat terhadap Umno, katanya.

Beliau berkata, Umno mesti mengambil satu tindakan yang meyakinkan semula rakyat kepada parti iaitu dengan melakukan siasatan yang menyeluruh dan mengambil tindakan yang sepatutnya.