6 theSun | TUESDAY MARCH 3 2009

news without borders

Maria J. Dass and Giam Say Khoon at the Dewan Rakyat yesterday

Police need speaker’s

‘We are technically nod to enter Parliament
THE police can enter Parliament only with the speaker’s permis-

not in recession’
MALAYSIA is not in the throes of a tech- cious cycle and we are confident of
nical recession, said Finance Minister II retaining the confidence through the
Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop. government’s action, measures we are
“The definition of a technical reces- taking and through working closely
sion is two consecutive quarters of nega- with the private sector,” he said.
tive growth, we are not even in the first “We are not in a comfortable situa-
quarter, but it is not important if we are tion and the government needs to work
in technical recession or not but we are on ensuring that the people, especially
certainly facing challenging times,” he those in the lower income bracket, are
said when responding to a question from not badly effected,” he added.
Charles Santiago (DAP-Klang). On inflation, Nor Mohamed said the
Speaking to reporters after wrapping rate of inflation was coming down not
up questions directed at the finance min- because of weaker purchasing power
istry during debates on the Royal address, but mainly because of lower commod-
Nor Mohamed said boosting confidence ity prices.
among the public and investors was a However he said: “Inflation is yester-
key aim because the first casualty in a day’s battle, today’s battle is to face the
downturn was “confidence”. economic downturn.”
“Confidence in a downturn when During the wrap-up in the Dewan,
destroyed through unemployment and Nor Mohamed said Malaysia as an inter-
retrenchment will create a vi- national trading nation
cannot run away from
the global economic
MIED ex-CEO to lodge report challenges which
caused the economies
against Samy over tsunami fund of several countries to
fall during the fourth
FORMER Maju Institute of Educational Development (MIED) quarter of 2008.
chief executive officer P. Chitrakala Vasu, who has publicly “We have to focus
traded accusations with MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu on sustainability
over a RM2 million fund for Sri Lankan tsunami victims, said as there are many
she would lodge a report with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption people who want to
Commission against the former works minister. lend us money now
She told a press conference in Parliament lobby yesterday
she would do so after the police had completed their investiga-
because we did not
borrow when times
tion into her two reports.
were good,” he said.
It was reported that MACC investigation director Datuk
“However, if we
Shukri Abdull had said the commission could not interfere un-
resort to taking loans
less the police handed the case over to it.
we will be subjected
Chitrakala, who was CEO of MIED from 2004, disclosed that she
to high interest rates
gave a statement yesterday at the Dang Wangi police headquarters
after she lodged two reports at Shah Alam on Saturday. in years to come,
The first police report was about the RM2 million in tsunami so we have to find
donations collected in 2004 by the Works Ministry, which she ways to revive the
said was transferred to the account of Yayasan Pemulihan economy without
Sosial, the MIC’s social welfare arm. The second report was
on missing files and documents from her office at the MIC
headquarters.
Race not criterion in choice of VC
borrowing,” he added.
Nor Mohamed said if the need arises
“we will have to borrow from within the
country as we have a high liquidity of
RM185 billion in the country”.
Responding to a question from Fong
Chan Onn (BN-Alor Gajah) on wheth-
er the funds were government or public
funds, Nor Mohamed said the RM185
billion did not involve the Employees
Provident Fund and Tabung Haji.
“It’s the surplus available in the mar-
ket,” he said.
Questioned by Fong, a former cabinet
minister, on the RM100 billion for the
stimulus package, Nor Mohamed said:
“This will be explained in detail on
March 10 when Finance Minister Datuk
Seri Najib Abdul Razak tables the pack-
age.”
He said inflation will wither in 2009
supported by relaxing commodity prices
and fuel price and the lowering of prices
by hypermarkets and supermarkets.
Inflation in the country dropped from
8.4% in the 3rd quarter of 2008 to 5.9% in
the fourth quarter, while the Consumer
Price Index slumped to a rate of 3.9% in
January 2009 compared with 4.4% in
December.
sion. They can enter only the vicinity of the Parliament building
or Dewan Negara with permission from the speaker.
“As a practice the police do not enter Parliament premises
unless invited,” Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar
said when replying to Gobind Singh Deo (DAP-Puchong) on
whether the police can be called in when there is a threat to
the safety of an MP.
“When it happened we will see what needs to be done,” Syed
Hamid said when answering points raised on the ministry during
the debate on the royal address.
“But it has happened,” Gobind argued, alluding to last Thurs-
day’s incident where his father and Bukit Gelugor MP Karpal
Singh was accosted by a mob of Umno Youth members in the
parliament compound.
Syed Hamid: “You should not be bringing this up because you
have an interest; the person concerned is your father.”
He then ignored further questions on the matter and contin-
ued with his winding-up.
Deputy Speaker Datuk Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar had
during the argument between the duo said a committee would
be set up and chaired by the speaker to look into the safety
of MPs in Parliament. “As a practice the police do not come in
unless they are invited in,” he said.
“I myself have voiced my displeasure over police presence
around Parliament whenever there is an official ceremony,” he
said. “I also strongly opposed it when they came in to pick up
files on 14 MPs,” he added, without elaborating on the reasons
the 14 files were sought.
Meanwhile, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan
said in a statement police have no authority or jurisdiction to
enter the Parliament or intervene in any commotion.
He said the official of the House in charge of security is the
Sergeant at Arms. He agreed that the incident involving Karpal
was a blot to the security at Parliament.
“It is for that reason that I do not allow, or agree with, politi-
cians who want to hold demonstrations or hand over memoran-
dums to ministers in or at Parliament House,” he said.
Johor tops number of divorce cases
OF THE 75,299 divorce cases referred to the syariah court
nationwide last year, the Johor syariah court heard the highest
number of 2,023 cases while the Perlis syariah court heard
the least with 24, said Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s
Department Senator Datuk Dr Mashitah Ibrahim.
She said the reasons for divorce included disagreements
over managing the family, either spouse having an affair and
polygamy.
Replying to a question from Datuk Mohd Jidin Shafee (BN-
Setiu), she said other reasons included excessive interference
from family members as well as work pressure which resulted
in little time together for the married couple. – Bernama

Samy Vellu, in a statement on Sunday, said her comments

that senior MIC officials had dipped their fingers into the MIED
kitty were those of a desperate woman being investigated by
the police.
N. Gobalakrishan (PKR-Padang Serai), who also presented
at the press conference, said he would raise the issue in the
House and he hoped the police will provide adequate protection
to Chitrakala.
THERE is no requirement that candidates for
vice-chancellors in public universities have
to be of a particular race, said Deputy Higher
Education Minister Dr Hou Kok Chung.
“The choice of candidates is decided by
a search committee, an independent body
appointed by the government,” he said.
He was responding to a question from
Prof Dr P. Ramasamy (DAP-Batu Kawan)
who irked MPs in the House who said he
was a racist and for not asking “academic”
questions.
Hou said candidates are chosen on several
criteria including the vision and mission of the
establishment, the leadership and manage-
ment, academic achievements, recognition,
good character and communication skills.
The chosen candidates will then be
screened via interviews. “Equal treatment
and opportunity is given to all the candi-
dates,” he added.