theSun | WEDNESDAY JULY 1 2009 5

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Build second Penang bridge on shorter route: Anwar

OPPOSITION Leader Datuk Seri
Anwar Ibrahim urged Prime Min-
ister and Finance Minister Datuk
Seri Najib Abdul Razak to consider
the construction of a second Penang
Bridge on an alternative route to save
the government RM4 billion.
After his urgent motion to debate
the matter was rejected in chambers,
Anwar said that he did not reject the
rationale behind a second bridge,
but wondered why it should cost so
much.
“The bridge is planned for cons-
truction on the southern part of the
island, which is longer. Based on facts
that I have gathered, there is a proposal
to the government to build the bridge
on an alternative route in the north. It
will be shorter and will help save RM4
billion, including compensation to the
companies that secured the project
(China Harbour Engineering Co Ltd
and UEM),” he said.
“The alternative route is only
10km-long and would cost about RM7
billion to RM8 billion (compared to the
originally planned 24km bridge which
would cost some RM12 billion).
“I cannot understand why the
government is so stubborn that it will
not change its mind on this matter,”
Anwar said at the parliament lobby.
He said that although the project
had already been awarded to the
Chinese company, legal problems
would not arise if the government
could pay compensation and allow it
to proceed with construction on the
alternative route.
On measures to liberalise the
economy which Najib had an-
nounced, Anwar said that while he
recognised the government’s efforts
to attract investors, the policy was
not comprehensive enough.
“The policy does help in market-
ing, attracting investors and accel-
erating development, but it must be
linked to social justice.”

Husna Yusop and Giam Say Khoon at the Dewan Rakyat yesterday
Nazri: EAIC will not Jamil Khir Baharom said.
“By achieving the values
be a ‘mail box’

Panel recommends RM1,000

THE Enforcement Agency Integ-
rity Commission (EAIC) will not be
a “mail box” to receive complaints
against federal enforcement
agencies and then to forward
them to the relevant agencies.
stated in the 10 pillars of Islam
Hadhari, the people and the
country would be able to create
1Malaysia, irrespective of religion
and race,” he told Mohd Yus-
madi Mohd Yusoff (PKR-Balik
Pulau).

fine for Umno Youth leaders

A PARLIAMENTARY select committee investi- a prison sentence of up to seven years.
Minister in the Prime Min-
ister’s Department Datuk Seri
Nazri Aziz said the EAIC could
initiate hearings on its own and
demand updates from agencies
upon receiving complaints.
“If the commission felt it was
Malaysians can
work abroad
THE government will not
stop Malaysians from seeking
employment abroad espe-
gating a case in which Karpal Singh (DAP-Bukit “A RM1,000 fine is laughable. It was supposed in public interest to act on any cially during the economic
Gelugor) was obstructed from entering the House to be a very heavy punishment in 1952 (the year complaint, it could start work im- downturn, Deputy Human
has recommended that four Umno Youth leaders in which the Act was enacted), but this is 2009 … mediately. It did not have to wait Resources Minister Senator
each be fined RM1,000 for their part in the fracas. I am sure these four people will be laughing away A RM1,000 for the agency involved to take Datuk Maznah Mazlan said.
disciplinary action,” he said.
A report on the inquiry tabled stated that the (because) it took only RM1,000 to be heroes. It is fine is Replying to points raised dur-
She said the decision was
committee led by Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin very cheap,” he said, asking for a response from the laughable. in line with the principle of
Mulia had found Petaling Jaya (Utara) Umno Youth authorities as to whether the four would be charged ing the debate on the EAIC Act, human capital mobility and
chief Latt Sharizan Abdullah, Gombak Umno Youth under the Penal Code. It was Nazri said the EAIC would have to citizens’ right to employment,
supposed account for all reports it received
chief Megat Zulkarnain Omar Din, Shah Alam At a separate press conference, Karpal said it was either at home or abroad.
from the public and the agencies
Umno Youth chief Azhari Shaari and Serdang an insult to MPs to be admonished by the speaker. to be a faced with complaints will have
Replying to Fong Po Kuan
Umno Youth chief Ungku Md Salleh Ungku Abd “There is no provision in the Act for the commit- very heavy (DAP-Batu Gajah), Maznah
to write a reply to the EAIC.
Jamal guilty under Section 9 of the Houses of Parlia- tee to admonish us. Admonishing an MP is a very said the ministry, however,
ment (Privileges and Powers) Act 1952 for their act serious matter.
punishment “They have 14 days to
would continue to encourage
in 1952, complete the investigation and
of confronting Karpal. “I hope the speaker will do the necessary to en- highly-skilled Malaysians to
update the EAIC,” he added.
Chaos erupted outside parliament on Feb 26 sure that there will be a debate because we cannot but this is The Act was passed by the
return to utilise their expertise
when Karpal was obstructed from entering the and will not accept the recommendations. Much 2009 … I House amid attempts by the
in the country’s development.
House by a group of Umno Youth members. The more than recommended has be done,” he said. am sure Opposition to introduce several
day before, he had called them celaka and accused Karpal said intimidating MPs in parliament was
these four changes to the Bill at the commit- ‘7.9% of staff in
them of sending him a death threat and two live a serious offence and the fine would not send the
bullets two weeks earlier. correct signal to people who think they can do so. people will tee stage. biggest GLCs Indian’
The committee also recommended that eight “Unfortunately, the inspector-general of police be laughing Selangor records
CLAIMS that the Indian com-
opposition MPs – Karpal, Fong Po Kuan (DAP- thinks he has no jurisdiction in parliament or to away munity is not given a fair chance
Batu Gajah), Lim Lip Eng (DAP-Segambut), N. take action against anyone, including for a criminal (because) most cases of to hold top posts in government-
linked companies (GLCs) are not
Gobalakrishnan (PKR-Padang Serai) and Fong offence. That is ridiculous.”
it only took domestic violence true, Prime Minister Datuk Seri
Kui Lun (DAP-Bukit Bintang) – who refused to Asked if the committee could punish the four
attend the inquiry as witnesses, as well as Lim Kit youth leaders under the Penal Code, Karpal said the RM1,000 to SELANGOR recorded the high- Najib Abdul Razak said.
est number of cases of domes- Najib said 17,507 or 7.9% of
Siang (DAP-Ipoh Timur), Datuk Kamarudin Code could only be invoked by the attorney-general be heroes. tic violence with 102 last year,
Jaafar (PAS-Tumpat) and R. Sivarasa (PKR- or the public prosecutor for the purpose of charging the 222,382 employees in the 20
It is very Women, Family and Community biggest and listed GLCs were of
Subang), who refused to attend the inquiry as someone in a court of law.
committee members, be admonished by Pandikar “The IGP should do the necessary now and have cheap.” Development Minister Datuk Indian descent.
Amin. the matter investigated … The committee should – Lim Kit Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil said. “A total of 175 employees
At a press conference at the parliament lobby, have recommended that the IGP lodge a report for Siang She said 60 cases had been or 5.1% hold top management
Lim said the four youth chiefs must be charged un- the purpose of getting those responsible charged reported in the first three posts (managers and above) in
der the Section 124 of the Penal Code which carries under Section 124 of the Penal Code,” he said. months of the year. Penang GLCs,” he said in a written reply
had the second highest to Dr P. Ramasamy (DAP-Batu
number with 64 last year, and
Govt doing its best to contain H1N1, says Liow 22 cases reported this year.
“According to statistics, 90%
Kawan). – Bernama

THE government is doing its best to
contain the local transmission of the
Influenza A(H1N1) virus.
The situation is under control despite
the rising number of locally-transmitted
cases, Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow
Tiong Lai said.
“Local transmission cases are still un-
der control because we know the source
and the contact points of the patients. It
has yet to reach the community-sustained
local transmission,” he said.
“If we have reached this level, the
community would not be able to detect
where they got the virus from. So, at that
time, we have to close down most of the
schools in the area and impose social dis-
tancing measures by reducing or limiting
social activities.”
Liow was replying to points raised
by MPs during a 30-minute debate on a
motion on H1N1 tabled by Dr Lee Boon
Chye (PKR-Gopeng).
Liow said the government is ready for
the actions to be taken at each stage of
a pandemic, according to the National
Influenza Pandemic Preparedness Plan,
which has been in place since 2005.
He said the government is doing its
best to contain the local transmission
cases as the more people infected with
the disease, the higher the possibility of
fatal cases.
“If more people are infected, more
people will die. This was what happened
in US, Mexico and Canada. So, we have to
reduce the number of those infected with
H1N1. We cannot take it lightly. It must be
contained.
“Now we are still under containment
stage, unlike Thailand and Singapore
which already have the outbreak. So, they
have to take mitigation measures.”
He said when it is deemed necessary,
the government will have to take several
important precautionary measures like
closing down work places including fac-
tories and offices and the people must be
prepared for this.
“If the factories are closed, they have
to think of about the workers’ salary, their
business plans, and all. So, I’m calling on
all factories and institutions to take own-
ership of this pandemic and not leave it
entirely to the Health Ministry,” he said.
Liow said it is important for everyone
to cooperate with the government in this
situation to lessen the impact on the
country’s economy.
To another point, he said all ministries
have been told to use the term H1N1
instead of swine flu as it would create a
misconception.
of the victims were women.
A number of steps are being
implemented to protect such
victims,” Shahrizat said in re-
ply to Mohsin Fadzli Samsuri
(PKR-Bagan Serai).
Shahrizat said a root cause
of domestic violence was the
perception that there is no
gender equality. – Bernama
Islam Hadhari-
1Malaysia link
FORMER premier Tun Abdullah
Ahmad Badawi’s Islam Hadhari
concept and Prime Minister
Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak’s
1Malaysia concept are closely
related, Minister in the Prime
Minister’s Department Datuk
MyDaftar attracts
2,950 applications
THE Home Ministry received
2,950 applications for identifica-
tion documents, including identity
cards and birth certificates, under
the National Registration Depart-
ment’s MyDaftar programme in
the last seven months.
Of this, 412 were from the
peninsula, 857 from Sarawak,
and 1,681 Sabah, Deputy Home
Minister Datuk Abu Seman Yusop
said in reply to a question from
Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing
(BN-Bintulu).
Of the total, 1,570 applications
had been approved – 252 in the
peninsula, 195 in Sarawak, and
1,123 in Sabah – while the rest
were still being processed.

Court says it can hear Anwar’s appeal

PUTRAJAYA: The Court of Appeal here ruled
yesterday it can hear Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s
appeal against the High Court’s decision that his
sodomy trial be heard in the High Court.
Justice Datuk Abdull Hamid Embong, in
dismissing the prosecution’s preliminary objec-
tion, said that under Section 3 of the Courts of
Judicature Act 1964, the High Court’s decision on
the matter was appealable. The court fixed today
to hear the merit of the appeal.
Abdull Hamid, who sat with Justices Datuk
Abu Samah Nordin and Datuk Jeffrey Tan Kok
Wha, also granted the application by Anwar’s
lead counsel, Sulaiman Abdullah, for a stay of
proceedings related to the case in the High Court
pending the disposal of the appeal.
“Tomorrow (Wednesday), both parties have
to come here (Court of Appeal). Please inform
the High Court judge that you are coming here
tomorrow. It’s all right, you (defence team) can
quote me,” he said.
Today, the High Court is scheduled to hear
Anwar’s preliminary application for the pros-
ecution to provide him with several materials,
including the original closed-circuit television
camera recordings taken at several locations in
the condominum, DNA samples, and statements
of witnesses, including that of the complainant,
Mohamad Saiful Bukhari Azlan.
Anwar, who was present in court, is appeal-
ing against the High Court decision on March 5
which reversed the sessions court’s decision to
retain his sodomy trial in the sessions court.
Anwar, 62, is charged with sodomising former
aide Mohamad Saiful, 23, at Unit 11-5-1, Desa
Damansara Condominium, Bukit Damansara be-
tween 3.01pm and 4.30pm on June 26 last year.
The case is fixed for trial before High Court
Judge Mohamad Zabidin Mohd Diah on July 8.
Earlier, Solicitor-General II Datuk Mohamed
Yusof Zainal Abiden submitted that under Sec-
tion 3 of the Courts of Judication Act, the High
Court’s decision on the transfer was not appeal-
able as it was only a procedural process because
the trial had yet to start.
Sulaiman argued that the High Court’s deci-
sion had finally disposed of Anwar’s right for a
fair trial. – Bernama