theSun | WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 21 2009 œ3

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IN

INTERVIEWS VIEWS

TOMORROW!
SIX-MONTH VISA-FREE FACILITY IN JEOPARDY Chinese community and the rest are
Indians and other ethnic groups and a
small number of Malays.

UK unhappy over
There are 50,000 Malaysians in the
UK.
He said that by 2011, the UK will
review Malaysia’s status and impose
the requirements, which would involve
applying for a six-month visa and paying
£200 (RM1,114) an application and even

Malaysians
providing fingerprints.
The criteria for Malaysia passing
the Visa Waiver Test include how far
the Malaysian authorities cooperate in
ensuring illegals or people with suspect
intentions do not leave for the UK.
Officials from the UK Border Agency

who overstay
by Terence Fernandez
newsdesk@thesundaily.com
PETALING JAYA: The British govern-
ment is unimpressed with steps taken by
Malaysia to address the large number of
Malaysians who overstay in Britain, and
may eventually impose entry visas.
Last year, Britain announced it will
impose visa requirements on Malaysia
and 10 other countries deemed as high
risk in terms of their nationals who work
or stay in Britain illegally.
The other countries are Bolivia,
Bostwana, Brazil, Lesotho, Mauritius,
Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Trini-
dad & Tobago, and Venezuela.
However, a visit by then foreign min-
ister Datuk Seri Utama Dr Rais Yatim
won Malaysia a reprieve.
But as far as the British government
is concerned, Malaysia is on probation
until 2011, and by the look of things, it
could lose the current six-month visa-
free facility extended to social visitors,
no thanks to the 20,000 Malaysians who
stay in Britain illegally.
The British view the overwhelming
number of Malaysian overstayers as a
lack of enforcement at the point of de-
parture in Kuala Lumpur by Malaysian
immigration authorities.
Malaysia’s Deputy High Commis-
sioner to Britain, Datuk Rustam Yahaya,
said the UK wants Malaysia to show it is
serious in ensuring only bona fide visi-
tors go to London.
“The UK reserves the right to review
the visa waiver periodically and from
the feedback I have been receiving, they
are not impressed,” he said when met in
London recently.
“With so many Malaysians overstay-
ing, the prognosis is not good.”
Rustam said that of the 20,000 Ma-
laysians who have been declared illegal
by overstaying or entering the country
on false declarations, 98% are from the
were tightlipped but said it would make
things easier if immigration officers at
KLIA or the LCCT are more vigilant
against passengers flying to London, as
despite getting the reprieve, an average
of two Malaysians are deported every
week.
This would also mean that passengers A royal show in
travelling to the UK from Kuala Lumpur
may not be able to use the Autogate ex-
Negri Sembilan
press passport checks facility. The installation of Tuanku Muhriz as the 11th
“If you are going to stay in London Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negri Sembilan on
for a month but have only £100 on you, Monday offers Malaysians a rare glimpse
something is fishy,” said an official. into the tradition-steeped tableau of royal
A statement issued through the Brit- traditions and customs of the state.
ish High Commission in Kuala Lumpur
on Monday adds: “The UK keeps under
continual review the list of those coun-
tries who enjoy a waiver of the require-
ment for a visitor visa.
“Following the formal ministerial
Robber nabbed,
review (Visa Waiver Test) which con-
cluded in early 2009, we are working
Najib
congratulates
cop hurt in
closely with the Malaysian government
on migration matters and will monitor
the effectiveness of their actions.”
Susilo at a
reception high-speed chase
at Istana
Westminster City Chinese com- Merdeka
by Charles Ramendran
munity liaison officer David Tan said it in Jakarta
newsdesk@thesundaily.com
also does not help bona fide Malaysian after the
visitors that many of their countrymen inauguration
KUALA LUMPUR: Two robbers who preyed
in the UK are also involved in credit card ceremony.
on those leaving for work in the early hours of
fraud, trafficking in women, and vice. With them are
the day crashed their car into several cars dur-
Rosmah and
ing a high-speed chase by police near Pandan
Indah yesterday.

Susilo sworn in for second term

JAKARTA: Susilo Bambang
Yudhoyono yesterday took his
oath of office as the president of
Indonesia for a second term in
an inauguration ceremony held
at Parliament House here.
Boediono took his oath of of-
fice as the vice-president at the
same ceremony, witnessed by
hundreds of MPs, members of
the previous Indonesian cabinet
and several foreign dignitaries,
including Prime Minister Datuk
Seri Najib Abdul Razak.
Both Susilo and Boediono
took their oaths before Parlia-
ment Speaker Taufiq Kiemas,
who earlier introduced the
foreign dignitaries, including
Najib, who stood and was ap-
plauded.
Susilo’s wife
Ani Bambang
The 3km chase ended when their car
Yudhoyono.
rammed into two police patrol cars. A 27-
year-old man was arrested but his accomplice
Among the foreign guests escaped on foot.
were Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Ampang Jaya police chief ACP Abdul Jalil
of Brunei, Timor Leste Presi- Hassan said police received a call informing
dent Jose Ramos Horta, Singa- them that the robbers, armed with parangs,
pore Prime Minister Lee Hsien had held up the occupants of a house in Taman
Loong and Australian Prime Cempaka at about 7am.
Minister Kevin Rudd. A police car spotted the car – a Toyota Camry
Earlier, a representative of – which sped off when they saw the police car
the Indonesian elections com- approaching.
mission read out the results of A high-speed chase followed, with another
the presidential election held patrol car joining in.
on July 8. Abdul Jalil said the robbers crashed into two
Susilo, the sixth president cars but continued to flee from the police.
of Indonesia, had garnered When they were finally cornered, the car
60.80% of the votes, equivalent rammed into the police cars, injuring a 28-
to 73.87 million of the total year-old lance corporal, who was driving one
121.5 million registered voters of them, in the hand.
in Indonesia. One of the robbers jumped out of the car and
In his address to parlia- escaped on foot. The other was caught.
ment after taking the oath, Abdul Jalil said two parangs, tools and a
Susilo thanked Jusuf Kalla, his stolen LCD TV set were found in the Camry.
BERNAMAPIX

Najib was accompanied by
his wife, Datin Seri Rosmah
Mansor, and Foreign Minister
Datuk Anifah Aman.
vice-president in the previous He said checks showed the car was reported
cabinet, and the other cabinet missing by a doctor in Pudu two weeks ago.
members for their contribution. Police have classified the case as robbery
– Bernama and attempted murder.
Abdul Jalil said the robbers usually targeted
those driving out of their car porch for work
between 7am and 9am.

Budget – tough or people-friendly?

by Tan Yi Liang
newsdesk@thesundaily.com
PETALING JAYA: Prime Minister
Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak will
present his maiden Budget in Par-
liament on Friday. The big question
is whether he will take tough steps
to trim the high budget deficit of
about 7.6% or will Budget 2010 be
“people-friendly”.
A survey conducted by the
Association of Chartered Certified
Accountants (ACCA) covering 417
respondents showed that 91%
agree that personal tax should be
further reduced to boost confidence
and increase spending for economic
growth, and recommended that
the government give options for
tax deferment, increased personal
rebates and reliefs
The survey also showed:
» All agreed the government
should institute “green” taxes to
promote innovation and sustainable
development.
» 84% said more should be done
to ensure the survival and growth
of small and medium enterprises
(SMEs), with 54% going on to say
that lower tax rates on SMEs will
promote their survival and growth.
» 75% believe Malaysia is not ready
for goods and service tax (GST). The
reasons include inadequate guide-
lines and training for implementa-
tion. The respondents said SMEs will
be the most affected.
» 59% believe the government
should increase “sin” and luxury
goods tax.
» 27% believe the government
should strengthen the implementa-
tion of collecting sales and services
tax to increase revenue.
In a statement to announce the
survey results, ACCA Malaysia acting
country head Jennifer Lopez called
on the government to also focus on
the mechanisms of tax collection
rather than just increasing rates and
withdrawing some incentives.
“More focus should be given on
strengthening the implementation
of collecting sales and services tax.
The main issue is enforcement.
Weak enforcement can cause the
government to lose money and
incur extra expenses,” she said.
Chartered Tax Institute of Ma-
laysia (CTIM) president Veerinder-
jeet Singh said there were several
areas in which tax breaks could be
given.
“One of the things we talk about
is human capital development.
What we would like is for a
double deduction for the ex-
pense incurred by an employer
for such training. The current
scope should be widened to
allow professionals to be cov-
ered in improving themselves,”
he said.
Verinderjeet said the income
bands for income tax rates
should be widened to motivate
people to earn more and be
more productive.
“We should be widening the
scope, as ours is quite narrow,
to allow for people when they
move into higher rates by earn-
ing more. We should be moving
slowly so people will still have an
interest in earning more without
having to worry,” he said.
Budget info and speech online
PETALING JAYA: The 2010 Budget speech, to be
delivered by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul
Razak in Parliament at 4pm on Friday, will be avail-
able online, the Finance Ministry said yesterday.
Information on the budget will be officially
distributed on www.treasury.gov.my, and on the
mobile website at www.treasury.gov.my/mobile,
while a RSS feed is also available through the
Treasury’s budget portal at www.treasury.gov.
my/bajet2010-rss.xml, the ministry said.
The full budget speech will be available for
download at the following sites:
» www.customs.gov.my (Royal Malaysian Cus-
toms)
» www.bnm.gov.my (Bank Negara Malaysia)
» www.sc.com.my (Securities Commission)
» www.hasil.gov.my (Inland Revenue Board)
The budget speech will be broadcast live on all
official government channels on Friday.