2 theSun | THURSDAY DECEMBER 18 2008

news without borders

Govt may make it easier for graduates to get loans

PUTRAJAYA: Graduates who apply for busi-
ness loans in the future may no longer need
to provide guarantors or collaterals as the
government plans to do away with the re-
quirements, Entrepreneur and Cooperatives
Development Minister Datuk Noh Omar said
yesterday.
He said he had called for a study on the
matter following a discussion at a two-day
business financing seminar in Johor Baru over
the weekend.
“At the moment, we have the micro credit,
a loan facility which does not require guaran-
tors or collaterals but it is only for loans below
RM50,000,” he told reporters after attending the
signing of an agreement between his ministry
and the Higher Education Ministry.
“We now want to see how we can help
graduates who want to take loans exceeding
that amount. We are aware that it is not easy to
provide guarantors or collaterals.”

BN candidate to be 80 ‘Jerit’
cyclists
hand

revealed on Saturday
KUALA
BERNAMAPIX
memo to
S’gor MB
SHAH ALAM: Some
80 “Jerit” (Oppressed
LUMPUR: The People Network) cyclists
Barisan Nasional from the north and south
candidate handed a memorandum
for the Kuala to Selangor Mentri Besar
Terengganu Tan Sri Abdul Khalid
parliamentary Ibrahim yesterday.
by-election will “We all have to work
be announced on together in trying to
Saturday. bring about change
Deputy Prime for the better of the
Minister Datuk Seri country and state,” he
Najib Abdul Razak said after receiving the
told reporters this memorandum in the state
after witnessing government office.
the signing of a Jerit is ending its
memorandum “Cycling for Change”
of understanding campaign by trying to
between Felda and hand over a similar
Fama on the Edible memorandum to Prime
Garden project in Minister Datuk Seri
Dewan Perdana Felda Abdullah Ahmad Badawi
here yesterday. in Parliament today.
Nomination for the Jerit’s southern
by-election is on Jan coordinator S. Arutchelvan
6 and polling on Jan Najib witnesses told reporters
17. The seat fell vacant under Ahmad’s administration, the exchange of Parliament’s security
following the death of incumbent Datuk Razali Umno and the BN have an edge, documents between personnel are aware of
Ismail, who was deputy education minister, especially looking at his success in Datuk Ahmad Termizi their plans and have no
believed to be from a heart attack while playing regaining the oil royalty which was Alias of Felda (left) problem allowing 120
badminton in Aminuddin Baki Institute in considered a victory for the people and Mohamed Shariff people in.
Genting Highlands last month. of Terengganu. Abdul Aziz of Fama. “We are only
The excellent service provided by Razali After a series of negotiations concerned about the
as Kuala Terengganu MP and the move by with the federal government, Najib journey to Parliament.
the federal government to hand over the oil announced on Dec 13 that the federal government We are planning to
royalty to the state government may ease the would hand over totally the management of the oil discuss the route with the
burden on Mentri Besar Datuk Ahmad Said to royalty to the state government. police in Kuala Lumpur
ensure victory for the Barisan Nasional in the In light of allegations that the previous Terengganu to help them facilitate
by-election next month. government had spent substantial funds on several their journey,” he said.
It will not be easy for BN to defend the seat mega projects, Ahmad announced that mega projects
but these two factors will certainly help Ahmad would no longer be implemented.
and the BN machinery in the mission. The state government also introduced programmes
“We expect the contest to be very tough but
we will certainly defend it,” said Ahmad, 51,
for the benefit of the public, including the “e-Book
Programme” to provide laptop computers in place of ‘Prince’
who was appointed mentri besar on March 31.
Looking at the developments in the state
books to students beginning next year.
Terengganu’s success in hosting the Malaysia Games
(Sukma) in May had also demonstrated that the people
jailed
of Terengganu are capable of excelling in any field,
including sports.
12 years
The construction of various infrastructure for the MELBOURNE: A man
games such as the State Sports Complex in Gong Badak who posed as a rich
and the Aquatic Centre in Batu Burok also raised Arabian prince to trick
Terengganu’s profile in sports development. investors out of more
What was even sweeter was that Terengganu than A$7 million (RM16.8
emerged as the overall champion for the first time since million) and fled to
the maiden Sukma in 1986. Malaysia when he was
Razali was noted as a leader who was close to the cornered was jailed 12
people and was liked by the constituents. years by the Victorian
He was a leader who did not discriminate and was High Court here yesterday.
willing to help the people, especially in education, Omar Jihad Yusuf, 40,
regardless of their political affiliations. claimed he owned three
A local political analyst said the Kuala Terengganu banks, a A$40 million
electorate must understand that the coming by-election (RM96 million) home
is not only a process of electing a new MP but to choose and three Australian
an elected representative who could continue the islands, and posted
excellent service rendered by the late Razali. photos of himself on his
Ahmad’s administration also has the support of website showing him in
the palace when Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku helicopters, jets and yachts.
Mizan Zainal Abidin, who is also the Terengganu Omar pleaded guilty
Sultan, mooted the idea of setting up the Terengganu to 126 counts of obtaining
Investment Authority which will utilise the revenue property or financial
from the oil royalty to invest within and outside the advantage by deception,
country through the bond markets to ensure continuity the Australian Associated
of income for the state in future. Press reported.
In the last general election, Razali, beat PAS vice- The deception began
president Mohamad Sabu and another independent after the father of five
candidate with a majority of 628 votes. Razali received invited the public to invest
32,562 votes while Mohamad Sabu had 31,934. in his company, On The Go
Independent candidate Maimun Yusof polled 685 votes. Transport, to raise funds to
- Bernama buy trucks. – Bernama