theSun | MONDAY JUNE 15 2009 3

news without borders

Do something
for Penang
as minister,
Lim tells Koh
by Opalyn Mok
newsdesk@thesundaily.com
GEORGE TOWN: Chief Minister Lim Guan
Eng criticised his predecessor, Tan Sri Dr
Koh Tsu Koon, yesterday for “hiding from his
past failures” and urged Koh to use his posi-
tion as a minister in the Prime Minister’s
Department to do something for Penang.
Commenting on Singapore Minister Men-
tor Lee Kuan Yew’s remarks that the infra-
structure in Penang has made little progress
in the past two decades compared to that
in Ipoh and Seremban, Lim noted that Lee
had said Penang needed improvements in all
its infrastructure, namely the roads, bridge,
airport and even the ferry service.
“He did not only mention the state’s
roads but all of its communication links, so
Koh must really get out of his shell, open his
eyes and see what’s happening,” he said.
Accusing Koh of trying to run away from
his responsibility, he said Koh “can run away
now but he can’t hide forever”.
“It is time for Koh, using his might as a
minister, to ask for something for Penang
to make up for his past failures,” Lim told a
press conference after launching the Silver
Jubilee Home’s charity food fair.
Lee, who was in Penang on Saturday,
had said the state’s infrastructure is lacking
and that it needs to work with the federal
BERNAMAPIX
Stop-work order on centre
lifted after dialogue
by Maria J. Dass
newsdesk@thesundaily.com
PETALING JAYA: The stop-work order on
the Penyayang Bakti project in Bandar Sri
Damansara here has been lifted following a
dialogue among the residents and the Petaling
Jaya City Council (MBPJ) and Public Works
Department (PWD).
The council halted work on the construc-
tion on the cluster of low-rise buildings by the
PWD for the Women, Family and Community
Development Ministry’s one-stop welfare cen-
tre for the less fortunate, children, elderly and
single mothers two weeks ago for not having
obtained planning approval.
This was also following complaints by resi-
dents in the area over the dust pollution and
construction work being carried at odd hours,
including weekends.
MBPJ councillor and planning lawyer
Derek Fernandez said: “Issues in relation to
the project were resolved at the meeting with
residents held on June 7.
“The MBPJ one-stop centre has given plan-
ning approval for the project subject to condi-
tions such as ensuring the site is clean, has
minimal pollution and that stipulated working
hours are strictly adhered to.
“From now on, we will follow the due proc-
ess where all federal government projects, in-
cluding the construction of highways, through
the municipalities have to first obtain planning
approval.”
He said this was in line with a directive
from the office of the chief secretary to the
government which stated that applications for
planning approval had to be made even for
federal projects, including highways.
Fernandez said the MBPJ has always had
high regard for federal projects and is gener-
ally supportive of projects that are of benefit
to the people.
However, it is important that procedures
Windfall
for three
lucky
punters
pg 4
under the law be followed so that other stake-
holders, such as residents and developments
around the area, are not denied their rights,
including the right to be heard.
“Remember that planning approval by the
local authority is required for any development
under Section 19 of the Town and Country
Planning Act (TCPA) 1976, which is a federal
law,” he said.
However, under the Street, Drainage
and Building Act, the federal government is
exempted from earthworks approval, but this
does not mean it is exempt from obtaining
planning approval.
“I believe a misunderstanding of this mat-
ter is the cause of the problem. Maybe, under
the past administration, this was not strictly
followed.”
Fernandez said if an application is made for
planning approval in an area that does not have
a local plan – like this one – a public hearing
for neighbouring land owners is mandatory.
Ruby Lee dies
KUALA LUMPUR: Former secre-
tary-general of the Malaysian Red

Crescent Society Datuk Ruby Lee

government to get funds. He had met up (pix), 82, passed away peacefully at
with both Lim and Koh during his visit. her home in Section 5, Petaling Jaya,
Koh had responded to the statement by her family announced yesterday.
saying Lee only referred to the state’s roads According to a statement issued
and blamed the situation on the Pakatan to Bernama on behalf of her family,
Rakyat administration which took over the the funeral service
state government in March last year. will be held at St
On an unrelated issue, Lim said he has Mary’s Anglican
given former Penang Port Commission Cathedral, Jalan
(PPC) chairman Datuk Syed Mohamad Aidid Raja (Dataran
Syed Murtaza the authority to meet up with Merdeka) at 11am
current PPC chairman Tan Cheng Liang to on Wednesday.
discuss the state government’s intention to The wake will
take over the ferry service operations. be from 10am to
“He will act as a state government 10pm today and tomorrow at the
representative to talk to PPC about the Nirvana memorial centre here.
ferry operations and revert back to us,” Lee is survived by husband
he said. Datuk Douglas K.K Lee, children
Lim said Syed Mohamad Aidid had exten- Michael, Kenny and Janet; daugh-
sive experience in the running of the ferry ters and son in-law Phyllis Chan,
service and that if the state government Noor Salasawati and Sonny Lim;
were allowed to take over the operations, and four grandchildren.
he will be helping the state government to In March this year, Lee received
oversee the running of the ferry service. the Henry Dunant Medal, the highest
The state government voiced its interest distinction of the International Red
in taking over the ferry service operations Cross and Red Crescent Movement,
last week and formally wrote to PPC and the in recognition of her outstanding
federal government on Friday to express its service and acts of great devotion
readiness to take over the operations. to the movement.

Lee calls on Nik Aziz Remand of maid’s

Families of six
prisoners lodge
reports after brawl
KUALA LUMPUR: The families of six inmates
at Sungai Buloh prison, who were involved
in a brawl on Friday and allegedly suffered
injuries after being subdued by prison war-
dens, lodged police reports yesterday.
The reports were lodged by about 10
family members, accompanied by Kapar MP
S. Manikavasagam, at the Gombak district
police headquarters.
In their reports, they urged police to in-
vestigate the incident which they alleged the
prison authorities were trying to cover up.
“We want the police or an independent
committee to probe this case,” Manikavasa-
gam said.
“More than 20 inmates, including two
foreigners, were injured, to my knowledge,
with one seriously. We are in the dark about
what happened. The prison authorities
are not allowing the families to meet the
detainees.”
Manikavasagam said he went to the
prison on Friday where he met its deputy
director, Narinder Singh, who told him drugs
and knives were found in the possession of
the inmates.
Kelantan Mentri Besar Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat welcomes Singapore’s Minister Mentor
Lee Kuan Yew to his office in Kota Baru yesterday. Lee was in Kelantan as part of his official
eight-day visit to Malaysia.
Certificates useless if easy
to get, says Mahathir
by Tan Yi Liang
newsdesk@thesundaily.com
PETALING JAYA: Public examination certificates should
reflect a sufficiently high standard and not be too easy
to obtain or they will be worthless, says former prime
minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
“If certificates are too easy to get, they will not be
valued any more and will be useless when seeking jobs
or going for further studies,” he said in his blog over the
weekend.
Mahathir, who wrote of an encounter with a concerned
parent over the quality of his child’s education, said he was
disappointed with calls to make it easier for students to
qualify for public examination certificates.
“We send our children to school to gain knowledge. We
do not send them to school to gain certificates, with no
knowledge,” he said.
He said it was not the certificate that was important
but the knowledge it represented.
“On its own, a certificate qualifies us for nothing. The
certificate lists the knowledge that its holder has mas-
tered. So if we lower the bar so that more can pass easily,
what is noted in the certificate becomes meaningless. The
certificate becomes useless,” he said, adding that it was
insufficient to merely memorise facts.
Mahathir, in an obvious reference to the current debate
over the proposed requirement for a pass in English in the
SPM examination, pointed out that technology, such as
computer software, could be used to supplement a lack
of qualified teachers.
“In the teaching of languages, there is software with
spoken words and pictures that we can follow. Even if
the teacher is not good, the software will tell us what is
necessary to learn something,” he said.
He said the exercises could be repeated through
software until a student mastered the subject.
“The question of insufficient teachers would not arise.
What is wanted is to train teachers on how to use the
software,” he said.
employer extended
KUALA LUMPUR: A 43-year-old
housewife arrested on Tuesday
for allegedly abusing her maid had
her remand order extended for
another four days on Saturday.
The woman was initially re-
manded for five days after being
detained to facilitate investiga-
tions into injuries found on the
maid, Siti Hajar, who fled from
her employer’s apartment in
Mont’Kiara in a taxi.
The 32-year-old maid, who
claimed she was scalded with
water and beaten up, had
sought help from the Indonesian
embassy before lodging a report
at the Brickfields police station.
Force agencies to
pay visit, says Chew
PETALING JAYA: A law to force maid
agencies to visit the domestic helpers
under their care should be introduced,
MCA Wanita chairman Datuk Paduka
Chew Mei Fun said yesterday. During
the visit, the maid should be allowed
to have a private discussion with the
agent for at least 30 minutes without
the presence of the employer, she
said in a statement.