2 theSun | MONDAY OCTOBER 26 2009

news without borders

Crisis to be resolved in

Bath royale for

times, paying homage at
each encounter with the
discussion, says Hadi royal couple.
After the last rotation, the
KUALA LUMPUR: PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Datuk Seri Amar DiRaja pre-
Hadi Awang said the party’s internal crisis should be sented the air bedak limau
discussed through “musyawarah” (discussions) and (powdered limewater) to the
not through the mass media and new media. royal couple, symbolising

Tuanku Muhriz
He said amicable discussions, which had always purity, and the act was re-
been the culture and guideline in PAS, should be the peated by the Orang Empat
approach used, as stipulated in the party constitu- Istana.
tion. The ruler and his consort
“In this regard, I am asking PAS leaders and mem- dipped their fingers into the
bers at all levels to be patient and calm in the face vessel containing the pow-
of this internal conflict,” he said in a statement last dered limewater.
night. by Tim Leonard With the completion of
This was Hadi’s first statement after PAS’s spiritual newsdesk@thesundaily.com the ceremony, the royal
leader and Kelantan Mentri Besar Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz couple was “cleansed” for
Nik Mat suggested in his blog www.bloktokguru.com

SAIFUL HIZAM MANSOR/THESUN

SERI MENANTI: The Yang the installation.
an extraordinary general meeting be held to replace di-Pertuan Besar of Negri Upon the end of the cer-
three problematic leaders. Sembilan, Tuanku Muhriz emony, which lasted almost
The leaders referred to were party vice-president Tuanku Munawir, yesterday 40 minutes, the royal couple
Nasharuddin Mat Isa, secretary-general Datuk Mustafa completed the royal bathing was escorted back to the
Ali and Selangor PAS commissioner Datuk Dr Hassan ceremony – the most signifi- palace.
Ali. cant ceremonial proceeding Today’s installation
Hadi said he had asked Mustafa to set a suitable before his installation as the ceremony will start with
date for a meeting to discuss the issues. 11th ruler of Negri Sembilan Tuanku Muhriz inspecting a
Party vice-president Salahuddin Ayub was reported today. guard of honour.
yesterday as saying the question of holding an EGM Tuanku Muhriz and his The Datuk Bentara
did not arise anymore as the party would hold a spe- consort Tuanku Ampuan Kanan will seek the Yang di-
cial meeting instead to discuss the issues as proposed Besar Tuanku Aishah Ro- Pertuan Besar’s permission
by Nik Aziz when they met in Kota Baru on Saturday. hani, both dressed in pink- to initiate the proceedings
– Bernama coloured attire, were carried and call upon the Undang of
on a royal carriage pulled by Sungai Ujong (the chieftain)
palace officials at 10.30am. to proclaim the installation.
Public should be weaned off An eight-gun salute The Datuk Bentara
subsidy mentality: Fomca marked the start of a 20- Kanan will then announce
minute procession that took to all present that the procla-
PETALING JAYA: The public should be imbibed the royal couple outside the mation has been made and
with awareness programmes to wean them off the palace grounds of Istana shouts of “Daulat Tuanku”
“subsidy mentality”. Besar Seri Menanti to a cer- will be repeated by the audi-
This would make them more resilient in times of emonial dais. ence thrice.
economic hardship, Federation of Malaysian Consum- More than 2,000 local folk The state anthem will
ers Association (Fomca) president Datuk N. Marimuthu as well as tourists gathered then be played, followed by
said yesterday. outside the palace grounds a 32-gun salute.
He said the association hoped provisions could be to catch a glimpse of the The mentri besar of Negri
made to conduct such programmes nationwide. procession. Sembilan will deliver a con-
Subsidies should only focus on the poor and The procession, headed gratulatory statement follow-
marginalised and ensure an effective social safety by the royal regalia and ing the paying of homage.
The Yang
net, he said, adding that assistance to the hardcore escorted by the Penghulu The ruler will then de-
di-Pertuan
poor should include hospitalisation, unemployment Luak Tanah Mengandong, liver his royal address, after
Besar and
benefits, monthly pensions, transport allowance and the Lembagas and members which the state mufti will
Tunku
special housing loans. of the royal family, was ac- recite prayers.
Ampuan
Besar borne companied by gun salutes The Datuk Seri Amar
Beach gazetted as heritage by royal and beating of the drums.
Upon the royal couple’s
Diraja will then make a
statement to conclude the
zone carriage to
the royal arrival at the ceremonial ceremony.
bathing dais, the state anthem was The proceedings of the
KOTA BARU: Pantai Cahaya Bulan, the popular beach played. day will be followed by a
area near here, has been gazetted a heritage zone. ceremony
dais. Then the Orang Empat royal luncheon and a state
Kelantan local government, tourism and culture Istana circled the dais seven banquet in the evening.
committee chairman Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan said
the move was an added boost to the tourist industry
in the area.
He said this when replying to a question from Dr
‘Raja Kita’ exhibition at Istana Lama Seri Menanti
Nik Mazian Nik Mohamad (PAS-Gaal) at the state KUALA PILAH: Negri Sembilan folk Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negri Sem- He said the exhibition also showed
assembly sitting yesterday. – Bernama can get a close look at the state’s royal bilan today. the history of Negri Sembilan royalty
institution and royal family by visiting State tourism, unity, culture, arts, since the rule of Raja Melewar, who
the “Raja Kita” (Our Ruler) exhibition heritage and Malay customs commit- originated from Pagar Ruyung, Su-
at Istana Lama Seri Menanti here. tee chairman Datuk Mohammad Razi matra. Exhibits on display include
The exhibition is held in conjunc- Kail said it was aimed at informing the portraits of the royal family, royal at-
tion with the installation of Tuanku public of the role and contributions of tire, family tree and replicas of royal
Muhriz Tuanku Munawir as the 11th Tuanku Muhriz as a ruler. regalia. - Bernama

briefs
Stop deduction of illegal levy: MTUC
PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC)
yesterday urged the labour department to prosecute employers
who deduct levy from salaries of their foreign workers.
MTUC vice-president A. Balasubramaniam said hundreds of
workers have been “cheated “ by errant employers who continue
to deduct the levy from their salaries although they have renewed
their work permits after April 1 – the date from which the levy
was to be entirely borne by employers.
Prior to this, employers were allowed to pay the levy upfront and
later make monthly deductions from their workers’ salaries.
Balasubramaniam said that last week, about 2,500 foreign
workers at a glove-making factory in Klang staged a five-hour
strike to protest the deduction of the levy from their salaries.

Union wants retirement plan for workers

PETALING JAYA: The Transport Workers Union wants a na-
tional retirement scheme set up for the 11 million private
sector workers, its secretary-general, Datuk Zainal Rampak,
said yesterday.
The proposed scheme should be incorporated in the
Employment Act 1955 and made mandatory for workers and
employers to contribute towards it, he said. – Bernama