Petra says Bruce Willis will be repaid 'in a few weeks'

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 21 - The Petra Group said today it is in the process of buying back Hollywood actor Bruce Willis's shares in a "green rubber" venture amounting to US$900,000 and is surprised at the "Die Hard" star's decision to sue them.

According to a report by Bloomberg news, Willis has filed a suit against Petra and Tunku Imran Tuanku Ja'afar demanding the return of the sum, which was part of US$2 million invested in the venture.

Petra spokesman Andrew Murray-Watson said in a statement issued in Kuala Lumpur today that it was Willis, reportedly a close friend of fellow Hollywood star Mel Gibson, who had contacted Datuk Vinod Sekhar and asked for a chance to invest in Green Rubber Global Plc.

This version of events contrasts with Willis's court filing in which he claimed that it was Sekhar and Tunku Imran whom induced him to invest in the company that was developing a non-toxic and recyclable rubber.

Willis had a put option, whereby for a specified period time he could get a full refund of his investment, according to the complaint.

He also claimed in his filing that he was told former US Vice-President Al Gore and actor Mel Gibson had also invested in the company.

However, Murray-Watson said today that Sekhar had only consented Willis investing because the latter was a friend of Gibson.

"At the time Mr Willis made his investment, Datuk Sekhar agreed, as a gesture of goodwill, to buy back Mr Willis's shares at any point in the future," he said.

He said the company had, at the time Willis made his investment in 2007, been planning to seek a listing on the AIM market in London. Flotation plans were eventually put on hold due to soft market conditions.

Following the decision not to seek a public listing, Willis asked to sell his shares back, according to the Petra statement.

To date, Petra claims it has already returned US$1.1 million of Willis's investment.

"Mr Willis is aware that the balance will be repaid within the next few weeks," said Murray-Watson.

The company added that it has had a very successful year and claims to have signed a deal to supply its recycled compound to global footwear giant Timberland.

In its statement Petra also included a statement from Gibson, identified as a significant investor in the company, who is quoted as saying he was more than happy with the investment.

"I am delighted with the company's progress and at the time I was in complete agreement with the Board in its decision not to seek a listing. In hindsight it has turned out to be absolutely the right decision," Gibson was quoted as saying in the Petra statement.

It has been reported that Green Rubber was expanding its existing plant in Kuala Lumpur and planned to lease a facility in China or scout for a partner in the north Asian nation.

It was also reported that the company is set to tie up with US rubber product manufacturer Apachi Mills, which supplies to retailer Wal-Mart Stores Inc.

The company is said to be able to make rubber compound through its recycling process at a cheaper cost than creating new compounds, saving costs and the environment.

-TMI

Anwar Yakin Satukan Parti Utama Pembangkang Sabah, Sarawak Hadapi Pilihan Raya

Penasihat Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim yakin dapat menyatukan semua parti utama dalam barisan pembangkang di Sabah dan Sarawak untuk meletakkan seorang calon sahaja menentang calon Barisan Nasional (BN) di setiap kawasan pada pilihan raya umum akan datang.

Katanya formula seumpama itu, yang diilhamkan oleh PKR, DAP dan Pas di semenanjung, ternyata telah membawa kejayaan yang besar kepada pakatan pembangkang dalam pilihan raya umum lepas.

"Di Sabah dan Sarawak, memang ada calon (daripada pakatan) yang bersaing sesama sendiri yang mengakibatkan perpecahan undi untuk parti pembangkang.

Inilah yang kita mahu elakkan," katanya kepada pemberita selepas merasmikan pusat khidmat masyarakat untuk kawasan Kota Kinabalu di Jalan Damai, Luyang dekat sini.

Menjawab soalan, Anwar berkata usaha mempelawa Parti Maju Sabah (SAPP), yang keluar daripada BN baru-baru ini, untuk menyertai Pakatan Rakyat sedang dibuat dan mengesahkan yang beliau sudah menemui presiden SAPP Datuk Yong Teck Lee hari ini.

"Apa yang penting, kita mahu wujudkan pakatan pembangkang yang kuat di Sabah dan Sarawak seperti yang diperlihatkan oleh pakatan rakyat di semenanjung pada pilihan raya Mac lepas," katanya.

Mengenai persediaan menghadapi pilihan raya kecil parlimen Pensiangan, Anwar berkata sekiranya pilihan raya kecil itu diadakan, PKR akan tetap meletakkan calon untuk bertanding bagi kerusi itu.

Keajaiban Nombor di dalam Al Qur'an

Ajaib tetapi benar! Lihatlah sebahagian daripada hasil kajian seorang cendekiawan Islam terhadap kandungan Al-Quran. Didapati banyak perkara telah disentuh dan telah dibuat kajian oleh manusia seperti nombor, astronomi, angkasalepas, perubatan, geologi, kejuruteraan, minda dan sebagainya.

Bilangan tentang perkara yang disebutkan di dalam Al-Quran:

DUNIA - 115 kali
AKHIRAT - 115 kali

MALAIKAT - 88 kali
SYAITAN - 88 kali

HIDUP - 145 kali
MATI - 145 kali

FAEDAH - 50 kali
KERUGIAN - 50 kali

UMMAH - 50 kali
PENYAMPAI - 50 kali

IBLIS : PENGHULU SYAITAN - 11 kali
MOHON PERLINDUNGAN DARIPADA IBLIS - 11 kali

BALA/MUSIBAH - 75 kali
BERSYUKUR - 75 kali

BERSEDEKAH - 73 kali
BERPUAS HATI - 73 kali

ORANG YANG SESAT - 17 kali
ORANG YANG MENINGGAL DUNIA - 17 kali

MUSLIMIN - 41 kali
JIHAD - 41 kali

EMAS - 8 kali
KEMURAHAN HIDUP - 8 kali

KEAJAIBAN - 60 kali
FITNAH - 60 kali

ZAKAT - 32 kali
BERKAT - 32 kali

MINDA - 49 kali
NUR - 49 kali

LIDAH - 25 kali
SUMPAH - 25 kali

NAFSU - 8 kali
KETAKUTAN - 8 kali

BERCAKAP DI KHALAYAK RAMAI - 18 kali
BERDAKWAH - 18 kali

KESUSAHAN - 114 kali
KESABARAN - 114 kali

MUHAMMAD - 4 kali
SYARIAT - 4 kali

LELAKI - 24 kali
PEREMPUAN - 24 kali

SOLAT (SEMBAHYANG) - 5 kali

BULAN - 12 kali
HARI - 365 kali

LAUTAN - 32 kali
DARATAN - 13 kali

LAUT dan DARAT = 32 + 13 = 45

Justeru itu, peratusan laut = 32/45 x 100 = 71.11111111 peratus
Peratusan daratan = 13/45 x 100 = 28.88888889 peratus
JUMLAH = 100 peratus

Kajian sains oleh manusia telah membuktikan bahawa air meliputi 71.111 peratus daripada bumi dan tanah meliputi 28.889 peratus.

Begitulah kebesaran dan keagungan ciptaan Allah SWT!!!

Nota: Diterjemahkan daripada karya asal yang dipetik daripada "The Series Of The Scientific Miracles In Quraan," oleh Dr. Tariq Al Suwaidan.

Polis Tidak Keluar Permit Untuk Ceramah Pas Ahad Ini

KUALA LUMPUR, 21 Nov (Bernama) -- Polis menolak permohonan Pemuda Pas bagi mendapatkan permit untuk mengadakan ceramah umum di padang Majlis Perbandaran Ampang Jaya (MPAJ) dekat sini Ahad ini kerana ia diadakan di tempat terbuka.

Ketua Polis Daerah Ampang Jaya ACP Abd Jalil Hassan berkata ceramah terbuka "Mansuhkan ISA" itu boleh mengganggu ketenteraman awam dan menyebabkan kesesakan lalu lintas di kawasan sekitar.

Katanya permohonan bagi mengadakan ceramah umum itu dibuat oleh Setiausaha Dewan Pemuda Pas Pandan Nik Mohd Rasyid Nik Mohd Yusoff pada 17 Nov lepas.

"Kita telah berjumpa dan berbincang dengan penganjur pada pukul 10 pagi tadi di Ibu Pejabat Polis Daerah (IPD) Ampang Jaya dan telah menasihatkan mereka supaya ceramah tersebut diadakan di dewan-dewan tertutup MPAJ yang ada.

"Setelah kita kaji dan teliti permohonan tersebut dan juga aduan-aduan yang kita terima daripada orang ramai berhubung ceramah yang akan diadakan itu, kita mengambil keputusan untuk tidak meluluskan permohonan permit itu," katanya.

Abd Jalil turut menasihati orang ramai supaya tidak menghadiri ceramah di padang tersebut kerana tiada permit dikeluarkan dan akan menyalahi undang-undang.

"Jika ceramah tersebut akan terus diadakan di kawasan itu dan orang ramai terlibat dalam ceramah itu, tindakan undang-undang akan diambil ke atas mereka," katanya.

Signboard Di Aceh...ada berani kaa??? - malaysiakini

For all Muslim's in Malaysia... please ask Zahid Hamidi -

Dare to do this in Malaysia???

Siapa batal MoU Universiti al-Azhar?

Pemuda PAS menuntut Malaysia menjelaskan pihak sebenar yang membatalkan perjanjian persefahaman (MoU) antara Universiti al-Azhar dan institusi-institusi pengajian tinggi di Malaysia.

Naib ketua dewan itu, Azman Shapawi Abdul Rani berkata pihaknya dimaklumkan oleh pengurusan universiti itu bahawa pembatalan MoU itu bukanlah atas kehendak universiti tersohor tetapi kerajaan Malaysia sendiri.

"Bila kita berjumpa pengurusan al-Azhar, al-Azhar kata bukan mereka yang batalkan, tetapi kehendak kerajaan Malaysia," jelasnya kepada Malaysiakini selepas menyerahkan memorandum kepada perdana menteri di Putrajaya semalam.

Azman Shapawi menambah, Pemuda PAS bertemu dengan pihak Universiti al-Azhar di Kaherah awal bulan ini.

Beliau berkata, penjelasan universiti itu bertentangan sama sekali dengan kenyataan kerajaan sebelum itu.

Beliau mengulas kenyataan Timbalan Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Razak, Ogos lalu yang mendakwa pembatalan MoU itu akibat pencapaian rendah pelajar Malaysia, terutamanya penguasaan bahasa Arab.

Pembatalan itu didakwa dibuat oleh majlis tertinggi al-Azhar yang dipengerusikan oleh al-Imam al-Akhbar sendiri.

Menurut sayap kanan PAS itu, dalam memorandum, pembatalan itu menimbulkan masalah kepada 5,000 pelajar di 18 kampus.

Pemuda PAS menyerahkan memorandum kepada pejabat Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi di Putrajaya agar perjanjian itu disambung kembali.

Memorandum empat muka surat itu, antaranya, mendesak Kedutaan Malaysia di Mesir memainkan peranan menyelesaikan perkara itu "dengan lebih amanah".

Dalam memorandum itu juga, Pemuda PAS menggesa Universiti al-Azhar membantu meningkatkan kualiti kolej-kolej swasta yang bekerjasama dengannya, "bukan membuat pembatalan mengejut".

Memorandum turut menyenaraikan beberapa "kesan negatif" akibat pembatalan perjanjian itu:

Menimbulkan masalah kepada institut pengajian tinggi swasta (IPTS) dan penuntutnya.
Membantutkan usaha IPTS melahirkan modal insan seperti hasrat kerajaan.
Mengurangkan jumlah pelajar IPTS milik pengusaha Melayu-Islam dan menimbulkan risiko ditutup.
Membataskan pilihan mahasiswa Melayu-Islam mendapatkan pendidikan terbaik.

Ditanya tindakan selanjut PAS jika tuntutan itu tidak berhasil, Azman Shapawi berkata:

"Tengoklah Januari nanti apabila kemasukan baru dibuat. Kalau tidak berhasil juga, mungkin kita ramai-ramai pergi jumpa perdana menteri."

Azman Shapawi diiringi setiausaha Pemuda PAS, Ahmad Sabki Yusuf dan ketua penerangan Pemuda PAS Selangor, Mohd Sany Amazan sewaktu memorandum itu diserahkan kepada setiausaha sulit kanan kepada perdana menteri, Datuk Ahmad Yaakob.

Pemuda PAS mendakwa tuntutan mereka disokong 25 pusat pengajian dan persatuan-persatuan mahasiswa itu di seluruh negara.

-malaysiakini

Ayah Pin pulang setiap hari Ahad

BESUT – Penduduk di sekitar perkampungan ‘Kerajaan Langit’ Batu 13, Hulu Besut mendakwa sering kali melihat keli- bat Ayah Pin (gambar) muncul di kawasan tersebut pada setiap hari Ahad.

Seorang penduduk yang mahu dikenali sebagai Pak Abu berkata, Ayah Pin atau nama sebenarnya Ariffin Muhamad, 68, pulang pada setiap hujung minggu untuk bertemu dengan ahli keluarganya .

Menurutnya, rutin itu didakwa telah bermula sebelum media dapat menghidu kehadiran semula Ayah Pin di kawasan tersebut baru-baru- baru ini.

“Sebelum media heboh, Ayah Pin kerap balik sehingga dua hingga tiga kali seminggu, namun sejak kebelakangan ini Ayah Pin hanya dilihat pada hujung minggu saja,” katanya ketika ditemui di sini semalam.

Bagaimanapun Pak Abu memberitahu, Ayah Pin sukar ditemui orang ramai kerana dia pulang secara senyap-senyap selain tidak akan muncul di hadapan khalayak ramai.

Seorang peniaga di Jertih yang enggan dikenali berkata, kira-kira dua minggu lalu ada lima pelancong singgah di gerainya.

“Semasa saya tanya mereka mahu ke mana, pelancong itu beritahu mereka mahu pergi jumpa Ayah Pin,” katanya.

TP - hari ahad ramai Polis cuti.

Hari ahad ramai orang Jabatan Agama cuti.

JHEAIT cuti gok ke hari Ahad? Terengganu cuti ke hari ahad?

Mane cuti nye?

Dah tu?

Kah kah kah kah kah kah kah kah...

Bruce Willis sues Petra, Tunku Imran as green venture turns sour

LOS ANGELES, Nov 21 — Hollywood actor Bruce Willis of “Die Hard” fame is suing Malaysia’s Petra Group and Tunku Imran Tuanku Ja’afar over a “green rubber venture”, Bloomberg news reported today.

The actor is demanding the return of US$900,000 (RM3.2 million) of the US$2 million he invested in the venture.

According to court papers filed in federal court in Los Angeles, California, Petra's chief executive Datuk Vinod B. Shekhar and Tunku Imran had induced him to invest in a company that was developing a non-toxic and recyclable rubber.

Willis had a put option, whereby for a specified period time he could get a full refund of his investment, according to the complaint. He exercised the option on March 17, Willis said, according to the Bloomberg report.

Willis said in his filing that he was told former US Vice-President Al Gore and actor Mel Gibson had also invested in the company, Elastomer Technologies Ltd.

"Despite the defendants' obligation to immediately refund Willis' investment in April 2008, the defendants continued to provide different specious excuses for the retaining of Willis' funds," the actor said in the complaint, quoted by the Bloomberg report.

Andrew Murray-Watson, a spokesman for Kuala Lumpur-based Petra, told Bloomberg in the report that Willis was due to be repaid the remaining US$900,000 in the next couple of weeks.

"We're very surprised Mr Willis is taking this action," Murray-Watson said in a phone interview.

According to an earlier Bloomberg report, Green Rubber Global Plc, named then as the Malaysian tyre-recycling group partly owned by actors Gibson and Willis, could sell shares in London by the year-end if the market condition improves.

The report said the company was looking to raise between US$20 million and US$50 million in a pre-IPO fund-raising.

Bloomberg reported that Green Rubber was expanding its existing plant in Kuala Lumpur and planned to lease a facility in China or scout for a partner in the north Asian nation.

It was also reported that the company is set to tie up with US rubber product manufacturer Apachi Mills, which supplies to retailer Wal-Mart Stores Inc.

The company is said to be able to make rubber compound through its recycling process at a cheaper cost than creating new compounds, saving costs and the environment.

Setiausaha SPR juga bakal diganti

Suruhanjaya Pilihan Raya (SPR) yang akan diketuai pengerusi baru mula 31 Disember ini juga bakal menyaksikan kemasukan setiausaha baru dalam waktu terdekat.

Sekretariat badan pengendali pilihan raya itu sepatutnya telah menerima kedatangan setiausaha baru pertengahan September lalu.

Bagaimanapun menurut Pengerusi SPR, Tan Sri Abd. Rashid Abd. Rahman, pegawai kanan dari Sarawak yang dilantik tidak menerima pelantikan tersebut.

"Saya ada terima surat makluman pelantikan setiausaha baru dan dia sepatutnya mengisi jawatan itu pada September tetapi tidak datang.

"Saya dimaklumkan dia tarik diri," kata beliau ketika ditemui di pejabatnya baru-baru ini.

Beliau mengakui bahawa Sekretariat SPR perlu mempunyai seorang setiausaha untuk mengendalikan operasi harian badan tersebut.

Sejak itu jawatan tersebut dipangku oleh timbalan setiausaha (operasi).mStar Online difahamkan Jabatan

Perkhidmatan Awam sedang mencari calon bagi mengisi jawatan tersebut.

Datuk Kamaruzaman Mohd. Noor, sejak 16 September lalu menyandang jawatan sebagai Timbalan Ketua Setiausaha (Pengurusan) di Kementerian Pelajaran.

Beliau memegang jawatan Setiausaha SPR lebih tiga tahun lalu.

Abd. Rashid pula akan tamat tempoh perkhidmatannya sebagai Pengerusi SPR pada 30 Disember ini.

Beliau akan digantikan oleh Ketua Setiausaha Kementerian Dalam Negeri, Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd. Yusof mulai 31 Disember.

-mSTAR Online

Pak Lah Do It Again..! - malaysiakini

The National Intergrity Convention Present -
Our Prime MinistzZzZzZzZzZzZz......

Nope... I see Nothing..!

Azizan sumbang gaji RM10,000 sebulan

Menteri Besar Kedah, Datuk Seri Azizan Abdul Razak membuat potongan gajinya lebih RM10,000, jumlah paling besar yang pernah dibuat oleh seorang menteri besar, kata seorang pemimpin PAS negeri.

Potongan itu daripada jumlah gajinya RM14,100 dimulakan sejak awal pemerintahan kerajaan Pakatan Rakyat pimpinan PAS di negeri itu, Mac lalu, namun ia tidak diumumkan secara meluas, kata timbalan pesuruhjaya PAS Kedah, Hassan Abdul Razak.

Jumlah wang yang dipotong itu disalurkan kepada agensi-agensi kerajaan negeri bagi mencontohi amalan cara hidup sederhana yang selama ini diamalkan Menteri Besar Kelantan, Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat.

Hassan mendedahkan amalan Azizan itu bagi menyangkal dakwaan pesuruhjaya PAS itu bermewah-mewah selepas menjawat kerusi nombor satu dalam pentadbiran Kedah.

Hassan menambah, potongan itu diumumkan pertama kali dalam program taklimat dasar-dasar kerajaan kerajaan negeri di ibu negeri apabila dibangkitkan PAS kawasan Alor Star, 14 November lalu.

Bagaimanapun, katanya, perkara itu tidak didedahkan sebelum ini kerana "(hendak) membuat kebaikan tidak perlu dihebah-hebahkan".

Ahli-ahli akar umbi PAS negeri baru-baru ini dilaporkan tidak berpuas hati dengan pentadbiran kerajaan PAS Kedah.

Malaysiakini difahamkan, dalam pertemuan minggu lepas, menteri besar dan kerajaan Kedah mendapat kritikan pedas wakil-wakil PAS kawasan sehingga beliau diminta menyerahkan portfolio agama yang dipegangnya kepada exco lain.

Azizan juga turut dituduh gagal memperkasakan pelaksanaan Islam yang diperjuangkan PAS seperti membiarkan pusat hiburan beroperasi sehingga lewat pagi dan arak dijual bebas di Langkawi.

Pegawai kerajaan pula didakwa mendapat layanan istimewa daripada menteri besar berbanding pegawai lantikan politik.

Selain itu, Azizan dan barisan exco dikatakan selalu memberikan alasan sibuk sehingga susah ditemui rakyat tetapi didakwa rajin bermain golf.

Dihubungi Malaysiakini hari ini, Hassan berkata, selain soal kepemimpinan Azizan, kebajikan guru Kelas Al-Quran dan Fardu Ain (Kafa) antara perkara utama yang dibangkitkan.

Selain itu, tambahnya, PAS Kedah didakwa "bongkak dengan PKR".

Bagaimanapun, kata Hassan, perkara itu dijelaskan oleh menteri besar di hujung program di Kompleks Alor Star.

Wakil-wakil PAS daripada 15 kawasan di seluruh Kedah turut dikatakan berpuas hati dengan penjelasan tersebut.

Sehubungan itu, Hassan berkata, kritikan kepada kerajaan negeri merupakan salah faham dan dibuat berdasarkan "cakap-cakap di kaki lima".

Menurutnya, dalam pentadbiran kerajaan, ada perkara yang telah dibuat tetapi belum diumumkan dan ada yang belum dibuat tetapi telah dirancang dan akan dijalankan secara berperingkat-peringkat.

Komen-komen itu, termasuk yang pedas dan negatif, diusulkan secara bertulis oleh wakil-wakil PAS kawasan tanpa menyatakan nama pengemuka soalan-soalan tersebut.

Komen-komen di pertemuan tertutup ini bagaimanapun terbocor kepada umum, termasuk Umno dan pihak media.

Hassan kesal kerana dokumen yang dianggap sulit itu telah “dicuri pihak tertentu”.

Majlis sumbang saran kali ketiga itu dihadiri wakil-wakil PAS kawasan, semua Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (Adun) dan ahli-ahli parlimen PAS Kedah.

Majlis itu merupakan susulan selepas pertemuan Ogos lalu, sementara perjumpaan pertamanya diadakan sejurus selepas kemenangan parti itu dalam pilihanraya umum, Mac lalu.

PAS negeri merancang menjalankan sesi taklimat dasar-dasar kerajaan negeri kepada jentera parti empat kali setahun.

Lego theme park for Johor

JOHOR BARU, Nov 21 - Lego, the Danish manufacturer of toy building blocks, is close to concluding a deal to build a theme park in Johor.

State authorities familiar with the project said a breakthrough in negotiations was proceeding well and preliminary works on “Legoland Malaysia” could start as early as June next year.

The project, to be sited on some 400 acres of land off Danga Bay, is expected to entail an initial investment of under RM1 billion.

Lego now operates theme parks in Denmark, Britain, the United States, Germany and Dubai. The theme parks, built entirely from building blocks, are targeted at young families and include the whole gamut of exciting roller coaster rides and a variety of other attractions.

Iskandar Investment Bhd (IIB), the investment arm of Iskandar Malaysia, is expected to be the local partner in the project. Speaking in Dubai last month, IIB managing director Arlida Ariff said that as many as three theme parks were being considered for Iskandar Malaysia.

It is learnt besides Lego, IIB is in talks with Universal Studios and Disney Tokyo.

The plan is to have a core theme park covering 600 to 800 acres, and a few smaller theme parks of 50 to 100 acres each. Some 3,000 acres have been set aside for theme parks, including supporting commercial developments, in Iskandar Malaysia.

Discussions are for park operators to take up a stake in the theme parks so that they can have a long-term interest in these ventures.

Shahrizat perlu berani, Penganalisis

Seperti yang dijangkakan, Naib Ketua Wanita Umno Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil mengumumkan untuk merebut jawatan nombor satu pergerakan itu biarpun bakal berdepan penyandang Ketua Wanita Umno Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz pada pemilihan parti Mac depan.

Pengumuman Shahrizat hari ini ditunggutunggu pemerhati politik terutama sekali apabila calon Naib Ketua Wanita Datuk Kamilia Ibrahim, yang merupakan anggota Exco Wanita pusat awal-awal lagi menegaskan untuk bertanding tanpa mengikuti pelan peralihan pada Jun tahun depan.

Dalam kenyataan dua perenggan hari ini, Shahrizat turut menegaskan bahawa Wanita Umno mesti bersatu dalam mengukuhkan parti serta berani membawa perubahan dan pembaharuan.

Kenyataan Shahrizat membawa maksud beliau bersedia untuk 'bertarung' biar apa pun cabaran yang dihadapi.

Penganalisis politik Prof Madya Dr Ahmad Nidzammuddin Sulaiman menganggap tindakan Shahrizat hari ini adalah menyahut seruan akar umbi yang mahukan perubahan dalam kepimpinan pergerakan itu.

"Shahrizat kena kuat dan berani bertanding dengan harapan menang. Saya percaya dalam diam, ada juga bahagian yang menerima Shahrizat dengan mempersoalkan tempoh peralihan tiga bulan," katanya kepada Bernama di sini hari ini.

Pensyarah Pusat Pengajian Sejarah, Politik dan Strategi Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) itu berkata tidak timbul nanti persoalan tentang perpecahan dalam pergerakan itu.

"Perpecahan tidak akan berlaku tetapi semua itu bergantung juga kepada budi bicara Rafidah dan jika beliau (Rafidah) tetap bertanding, risikonya (perpecahan) tetap ada," katanya.

Beliau berpendapat jalan terbaik bagi mengekalkan perpaduan dalam pergerakan itu ialah Rafidah mengundurkan diri secara sukarela.

Rafidah yang dihubungi Bernama melalui Khidmat Pesanan Ringkas (SMS) untuk mendapatkan komen mengenai keputusan Shahrizat, menjawab melalui SMS bahawa beliau akan membuat kenyataan esok.

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.

-read more

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.