4 theSun | THURSDAY MAY 28 2009

news without borders

Uniform rules on We are looking

at this from
the social
impact point of
view – the misuse
Anwar sues Anifah
for RM100m

alcohol sale soon

by Maria J. Dass eas, which they say have a majority
of freedom to
purchase alcohol
and the easy
availability to youth”

that the executive council had

by Tan Yi Liang
newsdesk@thesundaily.com

KUALA LUMPUR: Parliamentary Opposition Leader

newsdesk@thesundaily.com
SHAH ALAM: The Selangor gov-
ernment has set up a task force to
formulate guidelines on the sale of
alcohol, including beer, which will
be applied in all local authorities to
ensure uniformity in implementa-
tion.
Executive councillor for local
government, research and devel-
opment Ronnie Liu said the task
force has been given two months to
complete its job, and until then, the
status quo remains and the issue of
a ban does not arise.
This was the result of delibera-
tions by the state executive council
yesterday.
Last week, a panel headed by Se-
langor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul
Khalid Ibrahim had met with retail-
ers, shop owners, hypermarkets,
alcohol dealers associations, Muslim
non-governmental organisations
(NGOs) and local authority officers
to listen to views on alcohol sale.
These were then brought up dur-
Muslim population. Muslim NGOs
also expressed concern that the
easy availability of alcohol would
entice Muslims and youths to pick
up the habit of consuming alcoholic
drinks.
Those against the ban, on the
other hand, argued that the ban
infringed on the right of choice of
non-Muslims and that the religious
education and spiritual strength
of Muslims should be uplifted to
prevent them from purchasing
alcohol.
Abdul Khalid, who was at the
press conference, said the task force
would be made up of representa-
tives from local authorities, retail
operators, trade people and the Is-
lamic council.
Until the guidelines come into
force, operators can continue as
usual or as per the legal require-
ments and existing laws, he said.
“We are looking at this from the
social impact point of view – the
misuse of freedom to purchase al-
cohol and the easy availability to
agreed to gazette the area surround-
ing the Kampung Kuantan and
Bukit Belimbing firefly parks as a
protected zone and firefly sanctuary.
This will be implemented next week
and Lembaga Urus Air Selangor
(Luas) and the Selangor forestry
department will manage the area.
Meanwhile, executive councillor
for welfare, women’s issues and
science, technology and innovation
Rodziah Ismail said a RM2 billion
investment from foreign and local
companies would be poured into
the state to increase internet con-
nectivity in Selangor to 100% from
the present 30% within the next
five years under the U-WiSel (Wi-Fi
Selangor) project.
The focus will be on improving
accessibility in terms of coverage
and quality, sustainability in terms
of ensuring minimal view obstruc-
tions and reduction of radiation, she
said.
“We are also looking at introduc-
ing new technologies like the hybrid
wireless network which is a combi-
nation of Wi-Fi and Wimax wireless
Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim yesterday filed a RM100
million defamation suit against Foreign Minister Datuk
Anifah Aman for statements made against him at a press
conference in Washington on May 16.
The suit was filed in the High Court here by Anwar’s
lawyers M/s S.N. Nair & Partners at 2.15pm.
In his statement of claim, the Parti Keadilan Rakyat
(PKR) adviser is asking for RM100 million in damages
over statements made by Anifah at a joint press confer-
ence with US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton.
At the press conference, Anifah claimed Anwar had
Association offered him the deputy prime minister’s position if he
of Ministers crossed over to Pakatan Rakyat (PR) after the March 8
and Deputy general election last year.
Ministers' Anifah also claimed Anwar had tried to buy over
Wives (Bakti) “other legislative members”, a claim which Anwar had
president Datin vehemently denied.
Paduka Rosmah Speaking to reporters after filing the suit in the Duta
Mansor Courts here, Anwar’s lawyer Sankara Nair said an
launched the earlier notice was given to Anifah’s lawyers who had
new Bakti denied that the statements reported in the press were
website at its defamatory.
office in Taman “We have given them (Anifah’s lawyers) a notice, and
Tun Dr Ismail they have replied that his statements are not defamatory.
yesterday. The Therefore, having no choice, my client has decided to
wife of the file a suit and let the court decide whether it is defama-
prime minister tory or not,” he said, adding the statements made at the
was the first to press conference were “baseless”. “We are sticking to
officially log in our stand that it is defamatory. It is unfounded, it is base-
to the website. less,” he said.
– Bernama

ing discussions at yesterday’s exco
meeting.
Liu said there is a need for the
guidelines as some local authorities
had been issuing bans in certain ar-
youth,” Abdul Khalid said.
“We have to strike a balance
between business interest and social
impact.”
Abdul Khalid also announced
Logging in ...
technologies.” This technology does
away with the need for transmission
towers and modems, she
said.

Brainstorming session on why

youths not keen on these jobs
PUTRAJAYA: The Labour
Department is to hold a
“brainstorming” session to
find out how to deal with
the reluctance of locals to fill
vacancies left by foreigners.
“There are thousands of
jobs going a-begging but there
are very few takers among
Malaysian youths,” said Labour
director-general Datuk Ismail
Abdul Rahim.
He told Bernama yesterday
the department would like to
know the actual reasons why
local youths were shying away
from the jobs.
The department will invite
representatives from the Ma-
laysian Trades Union Congress
(MTUC), employers organisa-
tions, non-governmental
organisations and other
stakeholders to brainstorm
and find ways to attract these
youths.
He disclosed that there
were some 70,000 vacancies
in various categories but few
locals were interested.
Ismail said in a recent study
by Universiti Utara Malaysia
(UUM), it was revealed the
workers’ reluctance was due
to poor salary and work con-
ditions as well as the location
and lack of proper facilities for
recreation.
“We are trying to address
these issues, yet we find the
response poor,” he added.
“Maybe there are other
reasons and we would like to
find out through the proposed
session,” he said.
On retrenchment, Ismail
said it had slowed down since
last month and that the figure
remained at around 20,000.
On foreign workers, he said
300,000 had left the country
in the last three months leav-
ing another 1.9 million who
were mostly employed in the
manufacturing, construction,
plantation and services sec-
tors.
The MTUC welcomed the
session and hoped that the
department would implement
all decisions agreed on at the
meeting. Its vice-president,
A.Balasubramaniam, said
it would be just a wasteful
exercise if “we just meet, talk
and disperse”.
He said unless employers
and the government were
serious about improving
the work conditions and
remuneration, nothing would
change. – Bernama