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Sunday, December 11, 2011

MAJLIS PENUTUPAN PERSIDANGAN PERHUTANAN MALAYSIA KE-16

UCAPAN PENUTUPAN YBHG. DATO’ ZOAL AZHA BIN YUSOF, KETUA SETIAUSAHA KEMENTERIAN SUMBER ASLI DAN ALAM SEKITAR MALAYSIA SEMPENA MAJLIS PENUTUPAN PERSIDANGAN PERHUTANAN MALAYSIA KE-16 PADA 9 DISEMBER 2011, MELAKA, DISAMPAIKAN OLEH DATO' DR. HJ ABD RAHMAN BIN HJ ABD RAHIM, KETUA PENGARAH JABATAN PERHUTANAN SEMENANJUNG MALAYSIA.

Sukacita saya memaklumkan bahawa saya telah diamanahkan oleh Y.Bhg. Dato’ Ketua Setiausaha Kementerian Sumber Asli dan Alam Sekitar (NRE) untuk mewakili dan membacakan teks ucapan beliau bagi Majlis Penutup Persidangan Perhutanan Malaysia Ke-16 pada hari ini. Ini adalah memandangkan bahawa Y.Bhg. Dato’ KSU NRE pada masa dan hari yang sama perlu berada di Putrajaya bagi menghadiri satu mesyuarat penting yang melibatkan pengurusan tertinggi dalam perkhidmatan.

Terlebih dahulu saya mengucapkan setinggi-tinggi penghargaan dan terima kasih kepada Jawatankuasa Penganjur Persidangan di atas penghormatan yang diberikan untuk saya hadir bagi merasmikan Majlis Penutupan Persidangan Perhutanan Malaysia Ke-16 ini. Saya amat gembira kerana dapat hadir bersama-sama dengan Y.Bhg. Dato’-Dato’, tuan-tuan dan puan-puan bagi meraikan satu peristiwa yang amat signifikan dalam rangka negara menuju ke arah merealisasikan matlamat pengurusan hutan secara berkekalan khazanah hijau negara yang cukup bernilai lagi penting ini.

Saya juga mengambil kesempatan ini untuk mengucapkan syabas dan tahniah kepada semua peserta dan pemerhati persidangan di atas komitmen tinggi kerana telah berjaya mengikuti sepenuhnya program Persidangan yang telah bermula pada 5 Disember 2011 hinggalah ke 9 Disember 2011. Saya telah dimaklumkan bahawa Persidangan kali ini telah berjaya menarik penyertaan sejumlah hampir 300 orang peserta dan pemerhati yang terdiri daripada pegawai kerajaan, wakil-wakil syarikat swasta, ahli-ahli penyelidik dan akademik dan juga wakil-wakil badan bukan kerajaan dari Sabah, Sarawak dan juga Semenanjung Malaysia. Syabas saya ucapkan.

Saya juga amat yakin bahawa semangat dan kesungguhan yang sebegini sememanglah merupakan landasan yang cukup kukuh dan mantap untuk membawa negara kita ke tahap pencapaian yang lebih cemerlang terutamanya dalam bidang pengurusan, pembangunan dan pemuliharaan warisan sumber hutan negara.

Y.Bhg. Dato’-Dato’, tuan-tuan dan puan-puan yang saya hormati sekalian, saya difahamkan bahawa Persidangan kali ini telah dikendalikan dalam 6 Sesi Pleno termasuklah lawatan luar semasa persidangan pada 7 Disember 2011. Secara keseluruhannya sebanyak 36 kertas kerja dan 18 poster telahpun berjaya dibentangkan. Saya turut dimaklumkan bahawa perbincangan rancak dan hangat telah menyusuli setiap pembentangan kertas kerja.

Untuk maksud ini, saya mengucapkan tahniah kepada semua pembentang kertas kerja dan poster di atas inisiatif ikhlas dan kesudian untuk berkongsi pengalaman yang pada hemat saya tidak ternilai kepentingannya. Saya juga mengucapkan terima kasih kepada semua pengerusi sesi pleno kerana telah berjaya memandu dan mengelola para hadirin agar setiap perbincangan diadakan secara berfokus dan berkesan.

Di samping itu, sesetengah peserta dan pemerhati telahpun menyertai lawatan luar semasa persidangan. Saya telah dimaklumkan bahawa 5 destinasi lawatan luar telah disediakan, iaitu lawatan ke Kilang Perabot Poh Huat Resources Holding Sdn Bhd dan Taman Nasuha Herba dan Rempah Karya Sdn Bhd di Negeri Johor; Hutan Bakau Sg Linggi dan Pusat Eco Edutourism Sg Menyala di Negeri Sembilan dan Taman Botani Negara Hutan Simpan Bukit Cherakah dan Kelip-Kelip Kampung Kuantan di Negeri Selangor.

Selain daripada itu, satu program khas penanaman bakau bersama masyarakat tempatan turut diaturkan di Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan. Lawatan luar ini amatlah berbeda dan luas bidangnya. Saya percaya bahawa lawatan ke destinasi yang telah diatur tersebut telah dapat menambah pengetahuan dan pengalaman semua.

Memandangkan hal sedemikian, saya amat yakin bahawa matlamat perkongsian maklumat dan pengalaman serta pertukaran fikiran telah tercapai. Ia juga telah membuahkan banyak pendekatan baru dan menjadi asas dan pemangkin untuk Jabatan Perhutanan Sabah, Jabatan Hutan Sarawak, Sarawak Forestry Corporation dan Jabatan Perhutanan Semenanjung Malaysia untuk memantapkan lagi amalan pengurusan dan pemuliharaan hutan sedia ada, sejajar dengan prinsip continuous improvement yang amat penting bagi memastikan sektor perhutanan kekal relevan di masa-masa yang akan datang.

Persidangan kali ini mengutamakan aspek sosial dalam perhutanan di mana “Hutan Untuk Kesejahteraan Masyarakat (Forests For Community Livelihood)” telah dipilih sebagai tema persidangan ini. Berdasarkan perbincangan ringkas saya dengan ketua-ketua delegasi dan beberapa orang peserta persidangan, saya telah mendapati bahawa topik-topik yang dibincangkan di bawah setiap sesi pleno sememangnya menepati tema yang ditetapkan.

Saya amat tertarik dan menyokong penuh saranan Y.B. Menteri Sumber Asli dan Alam Sekitar Malaysia semasa ucapan beliau di Majlis Perasmian Persidangan pada 5 Disember 2011 bahawa hutan akan terus memainkan peranan untuk menjaga kesejahteraan hidup manusia sejagat melalui penghasilan pelbagai produk dan perkhidmatan hutan.

Di kesempatan ini, izinkan saya mengulangi sekali lagi bahawa Kerajaan Malaysia adalah komited dan akan terus komited untuk menguruskan sumber hutan negara berlandaskan prinsip Pengurusan Hutan Secara Berkekalan (Sustainable Forest Management) dan amalan good forest practices.

Saya juga tertarik hati dengan pembentangan maklumbalas kemajuan pelaksanaan Resolusi Persidangan Perhutanan Malaysia Ke-15 oleh ketua-ketua delegasi dari Sabah, Sarawak dan Semenanjung Malaysia semasa Sesi Tertutup pada 5 Disember 2011. Pembentangan oleh ketua-ketua delegasi ini amatlah bermakna kerana ia telah menunjukkan secara jelasnya sikap serius dan kesungguhan yang diberikan oleh setiap delegasi terhadap Resolusi Persidangan yang ditetapkan. Ia juga merupakan satu bentuk ‘report card’ pelaksanaan resolusi oleh setiap ketua delegasi berkaitan pelaksaan dan pencapaian yang direalisasikan semenjak resolusi diluluskan pada tahun 2008.

Pelaporan sebegini, pada hemat saya, amatlah penting kerana ia menunjukkan akauntabiliti dan meningkatkan ketelusan pengurusan dan pentadbiran setiap jabatan dan agensi hutan yang sekaligus akan meningkatkan imej jabatan dan agensi berkaitan di kaca mata masyarakat umum, selaras dengan Gagasan 1Malaysia: Rakyat Didahulukan, Pencapaian diutamakan.

Dalam konteks ini, sepertimana yang dimaklumkan oleh Ketua Pengarah Perhutanan Semenanjung Malaysia, Persidangan Perhutanan Malaysia Ke-16 telah meluluskan Resolusinya tersendiri. Di kesempatan ini, ingin saya menyarankan supaya semua warga jabatan dan agensi hutan di Sabah, Sarawak dan Semenanjung Malaysia agar terus memberikan tumpuan yang serius terhadap pelaksanaan kesemua resolusi yang ditetapkan.

Ini adalah kerana resolusi yang sebaik macam manapun tidak bermakna sekiranya ia tidak dilaksanakan ataupun tidak digunakan sebagai rujukan dan panduan dalam pentadbiran, pengurusan dan pembangunan sumber hutan negara yang diamanahkan. Bagai kata pepatah “the taste of the pudding is in the eating”, saya berharap aspek pelaksanaannya akan diutamakan oleh kesemua jabatan dan agensi hutan yang berkaitan.

Hutan merupakan kurniaan dan anugerah tuhan untuk kesejahteraan manusia sejagat. Oleh yang demikian, saya pegang teguh bahawa sudah tiba masanya para ahli rimbawan memberi pertimbangan yang saksama kepada kepentingan ekonomi, sosial dan alam sekitar dalam membuat perancangan untuk pengurusan, pembangunan dan kegunaan sumber hutan yang amat bernilai ini.

Pendekatan ini sememangnya juga adalah sejajar dengan prinsip pembangunan mapan ataupun sustainable development. Saya sekali lagi menyeru para rimbawan agar mengambil pendekatan secara konsultatif dengan mengambil kira pandangan dan cadangan daripada masyarakat sivil dan komuniti setempat dalam mengurus dan membangunkan sumber hutan supaya nilai-nilai budaya dan hak kegunaan masyarakat yang berkenaan tidak terhakis atau terancam.

Dalam hubungan ini, kejayaan Malaysia dalam mengekalkan lebih 56% daripada keluasan tanah negara sebagai kawasan berhutan adalah amat membanggakan. Pencapaian ini merupakan hasil daripada kerjasama sedia terjalin dan erat di antara Kerajaan Pusat dan Kerajaan-kerajaan Negeri.

Dalam konteks ini, kerjasama erat di antara kesemua jabatan dan agensi hutan di Sabah, Sarawak dan Semenanjung Malaysia amatlah penting dan kritikal bagi memastikan khazanah hutan negara dapat terus terpelihara dan berfungsi untuk manfaat kita semua secara berpanjangan. Ke arah ini, ingin saya menyarankan agar perjumpaan secara tahunan di antara jabatan dan agensi hutan ini diwujudkan supaya kemajuan pelaksanaan resolusi persidangan dapat dilapor dan dipertingkatkan.

Pada waktu yang sama, isu-isu hutan di peringkat nasional, serantau dan antarabangsa juga boleh dibincangkan agar pendirian bersama dapat dipupuk dan dipersetujui. Insyallah!

Akhir sekali saya ingin merakamkan ucapan tahniah kepada Jabatan Perhutanan Semenanung Malaysia selaku penganjur di atas kejayaan mengadakan Persidangan Perhutanan Malaysia Ke-16 secara berjaya dan cemerlang. Ucapan terima kasih juga saya sampaikan kepada Kerajaan Negeri Melaka yang sudi menjadi tuan rumah persidangan kali ini serta bantuan yang telahpun diberikan bagi menjayakan persidangan kali ini. Semoga usaha tersebut mendapat keberkatan daripada Allah SWT.

Ucapan terima kasih juga saya rakamkan kepada pengucaptama, pengerusi sesi pleno, pembentang-pembentang kertas kerja dan poster, para peserta dari jabatan dan agensi hutan Sabah, Sarawak dan Semenanjung Malaysia. Tanpa sokongan padu ini semestinya persidangan tidak dapat diadakan secara lancar serta menepati objektif yang ditetapkan.


Friday, December 9, 2011

RFID illegal logging detector on trial run

The Star Online

MALACCA: The Forestry Depart­ment is currently testing a device that uses German technology to detect illegal logging activities.


Forestry Department of Peninsular Malaysia director-general Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Abdul Rahim said the device, which uses radio frequency identification (RFID), is being used on a trial basis.


“We are currently testing the technology in Negri Sembilan and if everything goes well, will use it to thwart illegal logging and encroachment into forest re­­serves,” he told The Star after opening the 16th Forestry Confe­rence at a hotel here yesterday.


Dr Abdul Rahman said technologies like RFID were vital in forestry management because of European Union regulations for the production of logs and wood products.


The European Union, he said, wanted countries that export wood products to guarantee the trees used to make those products were harvested legally and in an environmentally sustainable manner.


The European Union also wants control and monitoring processes to be transparent.

“Once those controls and processes are in place, the Government will be able to issue export licences that meet EU standards and combat illegal logging,” he said.


The conference, themed “Forest for Community Livelihood”, was opened by Malacca’s Rural De­­velopment and Agriculture committee chairman Datuk R. Peru­mal.


http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/12/6/nation/10039454&sec=nation


Malaysia berupaya kekal 56.4 peratus tanah berhutan

Malaysia berupaya kekal 56.4 peratus tanah berhutan

05/12/2011 8:59pm

MELAKA 5 Dis. – Malaysia sehingga kini berupaya mengekalkan sejumlah 56.4 peratus daripada keluasan tanah negara sebagai tanah berhutan, kata Menteri Sumber Asli dan Alam Sekitar, Datuk Seri Douglas Unggah Embas.

Beliau berkata, peratusan itu merupakan satu pencapaian yang patut dibanggakan kerana banyak negara tidak berupaya berbuat demikian kerana kebanyakan hutan mereka telah dibuka untuk pembangunan infrastruktur yang berlebihan.

Kejayaan tersebut amat besar maknanya kerana Malaysia masih merupakan sebuah negara yang membangun di mana pembangunan dan pertukaran kegunaan tanah hutan kepada kegunaan lain sentiasa berlaku, katanya semasa berucap pada majlis perasmian Persidangan Perhutanan Malaysia Ke-16 di sini, hari ini.

Teks ucapan beliau dibacakan oleh timbalannya, Tan Sri Panglima Joseph Kurup.

Douglas berkata, tanah berhutan sentiasa dijadikan bank tanah (land bank) untuk pelbagai projek pembangunan bagi membolehkan Malaysia terus maju.

Beliau berkata, cabaran penting dalam pengurusan hutan hari ini adalah mengimbangi persaingan dan pelbagai gunaan tanah untuk aktiviti perhutanan. – Bernama

http://utusan.com.my/utusan/info.asp?y=2011&dt=1205&pub=Utusan_Malaysia&sec=Terkini&pg=bt_33.htm

Malaysia Berupaya Kekal 56.4 Peratus Tanah Berhutan

05 Disember, 2011 19:45 PM

Malaysia Berupaya Kekal 56.4 Peratus Tanah Berhutan

MELAKA, 5 Dis (Bernama) -- Malaysia sehingga kini berupaya mengekalkan sejumlah 56.4 peratus daripada keluasan tanah negara sebagai tanah berhutan, kata Menteri Sumber Asli dan Alam Sekitar Datuk Seri Douglas Unggah Embas.

Beliau berkata peratusan itu merupakan satu pencapaian yang patut dibanggakan kerana banyak negara tidak berupaya berbuat demikian kerana kebanyakan hutan mereka telah dibuka untuk pembangunan infrastruktur yang berlebihan.

Kejayaan tersebut amat besar maknanya kerana Malaysia masih merupakan sebuah negara yang membangun di mana pembangunan dan pertukaran kegunaan tanah hutan kepada kegunaan lain sentiasa berlaku, katanya semasa berucap pada majlis perasmian Persidangan Perhutanan Malaysia Ke-16 di sini, hari Isnin.

Teks ucapan beliau dibacakan oleh timbalannya Tan Sri Panglima Joseph Kurup.

Douglas berkata tanah berhutan sentiasa dijadikan bank tanah (land bank) untuk pelbagai projek pembangunan bagi membolehkan Malaysia terus maju.

Beliau berkata cabaran penting dalam pengurusan hutan hari ini adalah mengimbangi persaingan dan pelbagai gunaan tanah untuk aktiviti perhutanan.

Katanya hutan bukan lagi hanya sebagai pengeluar satu produk, tetapi perkhidmatannya amat penting dalam menghasilkan udara dan air bersih serta sebagai penyerap karbon dioksida dan pembasmi kesan rumah hijau.

Douglas berkata kerajaan akan terus komited dalam Pengurusan Hutan Mampan dan amalan hutan yang baik untuk kesejahteraan hidup melalui pengeluaran pelbagai produk dan perkhidmatan hutan.

Sementara itu, Ketua Menteri Melaka Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam yang merasmikan persidangan tersebut berkata Melaka telah mewartakan kawasan berhutan seluas 5,327 hektar iaitu kira-kira 3.2 peratus dari keluasan tanah negeri ini sebagai hutan simpan kekal.

"Usaha ini diambil atas komitmen kerajaan negeri untuk memastikan pengekalan kawasan berhutan bagi menyediakan sumber alam sekitar yang bersih dan pemeliharaan kepelbagaian biodiversiti untuk kesejahteraan hidup rakyat," katanya dalam teks ucapannya yang dibacakan oleh Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Pembangunan Desa dan Pertanian Negeri Datuk R. Perumal.

Berkata Melaka akan terus mempertingkatkan usaha menanam pokok sehingga mencapai sasaran menyamai jumlah penduduk negeri ini.

"Melaka juga terlibat aktif dalam program penanaman pokok bakau dan spesies yang sesuai di persisiran pantai sejak 2005 dan sehingga kini sebanyak 17,250 pokok telah ditanam," katanya.

-- BERNAMA

M’sia maintains 56.4% of land area as forest

MALACCA: Malaysia is still able to maintain 56.4 percent of its total land area as forested land, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Douglas Uggah Embas said on Monday.

He described it as an encouraging achievement because many countries were not able to do so as their forest areas had been opened for development.

This success is very significant because Malaysia is still a developing country where development and forest land-use change for other purposes still happens, he said in his speech at the opening of the 16th Malaysian Forestry Conference here.

The text of the speech was read by Deputy Natural Resources and Environment Minister Tan Sri Joseph Kurup.

Uggah said the most important challenge in today's forest management was to balance the competition and various land use for forestry activities.

He said that the forest was not just a producer of a product, but also to produce clean air and water, as well as to absorb carbon dioxide and the greenhouse effect.

Meanwhile, Malacca Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam, in his speech when opening the conference, said Malacca had gazetted 5,327 hectares of forested land or 3.2 percent of the state's total land area as permanent forest reserves.

"This effort is made on the commitment by the state government to maintain a permanent forest area to provide a clean environment and for the preservation of the biodiversity for the people's well-being" he said.

The speech was read by the State Rural Development and Agriculture Committee Chairman Datuk R. Perumal.

He said the state government would continue with its tree planting effort, adding that a total of 17,250 trees had been planted since 2005. - Bernama

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/12/5/nation/20111205211036&sec=nation

Saturday, September 17, 2011

2 new laws to replace Internal Security Act

The Internal Security Act (ISA) – is to be repealed some 50 years after it was first drawn up, in its place will be two anti-terror laws, not unlike the ones drawn up in the USA and Britain to handle terrorists, violent criminals and subversive elements.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the new laws would be in line with Article 149 of the Federal Constitution and promised Malaysians that no one would be detained due to their political ideology.

“In my maiden speech when I took over as Prime Minister, I promised that the ISA would undergo a comprehensive review. As such, I would like to announce on this historic night that the Act will be abolished.

“Two new laws will be enacted to maintain peace, harmony and prosperity. The laws that will be formulated will take into account basic rights and freedom based on the Federal Constitution. Above all, the Government will ensure the rights of those involved will be protected,” he said.

Najib said the new laws would provide for a substantially shorter detention period. Any further extension to the detention could be made by a court order, except for those laws related to terrorism, which would remain under the relevant minister’s purview.

“The Government is also giving its commitment that no individual will be detained purely based on political ideology. In a modern day democracy, there must be a balance between national security and individual freedom; this is the responsibility of the Government, whose highest aim is to uphold people’s welfare and harmony."

He said although freedom of expression was guaranteed under the Federal Constitution, this did not mean that anyone could commit slander or stoke hatred.

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Flying Squad to curb illegal logging

Flying Squad in Forestry Department Peninsular Malaysia is the forest law enforcement unit to in curb illegal logging. Assessment of the effectiveness of existing controls to estimate the level of illegal logging is based on data.

According to Datuk Razani Ujang, Director General of Forestry Department of Peninsular Malaysia, from 2006 until 2009, a total of 144 people were arrested for involvement in illegal logging activities, while 226 units of machinery and heavy equipment were seized by the Enforcement Division of the Forestry Department.

Datuk Razani Ujang, Director General of Forestry Dept. Peninsular M'sia


Compound collections that have been imposed on offenders were RM11.2 million.

Under the law, all forest produce are the property of the State Authorities and only those with permission are allowed to enter and extract the forest produce.

Forests are under the responsibility of the states as enshrined in the Malaysian Federal Constitution. Under Article 74(12) of the Federal Constitution, land and forest ownership and management is the responsibility of the State governments.

The executive authority of the Federal Government only extends to the provision of advice and technical assistance to the States, training and the conduct of research, unless the State agrees to delegate some of their authority to the Federal Government.

However, the Federal Government is respo
nsible for trade policies, import and export controls and international cooperation among others. The Enforcement Unit at the Forestry Department Peninsular Malaysia coordinates and supports the enforcement actions undertaken by the Forest Operations Division at the State Forest Departments of Peninsular Malaysia only.

Zahari Ibrahim, head of Flying Squad

The challenge of sustainability management of production forests faces highly complex processes. It is interesting to note that Forestry Department has taken various measures in curbing illegal logging.

Let’s see what Datuk Razani Ujang, Director General of Forestry Department of Peninsular Malaysia and Zahari Ibrahim, head of Flying Squad said about the modus operandi on Corporate Illegal Logging and the issues to the Star, the biggest circulation newspaper in Malaysia.

Read the full article below:

http://mstar.com.my/kolumnis/cerita.asp?file=%2F2011%2F7%2F18%2Fmstar_kolum_khabarnya%2F20110718101827&sec=mstar_kolum_khabarnya

http://mstar.com.my/mingguan/cerita.asp?file=%2F2011%2F7%2F19%2Fmstar_mingguan%2F20110719112155&sec=mstar_mingguan

Illegal logging VS Law of Jungle

The issue of illegal logging whiles primarily an issue in the law enforcement world but has emerged as a very hot topic.

The issue seems to be receiving more public attention lately due to the occurring of global warming which resulting the awareness of the environmental issues not only gains its momentum but become social agenda.


Datuk Razani Ujang, Director General of Forestry Dept. Peninsular M'sia

The logging protocol defines illegal logging as the harvest, transportation, purchase or sale of timber in violation of laws. It is a pervasive problem; it not only destroys the country’s unique rainforests, but also causes a series of environmental problems including flooding, local communities and to the economies of the country.

The activities contribute to deforestation and by extension global warming causes loss of biodiversity and undermines the rule of law. These illegal activities undermine responsible forest management, encourage corruption and tax evasion and reduce the income of the country, further limiting the resources that can be invested in sustainable development.

The seriousness and negative impact of the economic and social implications for the poor and disadvantaged shouldn’t be overlooked. Malaysia has been blessed with an abundance of tropical rainforests. Many forested areas in Malaysia have been designated as National Parks and forest reserves.

Many Malaysians might not be aware that the forests that they are so used to is actually complex ecosystems that are filled with an assortment of plant life and wildlife. Malaysia has always done its best in fighting against illegal logging.

It is interesting to note that Forestry Department has taken various measures to overcome the problems. Let’s see what Datuk Razani Ujang, Director General of Forestry Department of Peninsular Malaysia responding to the problem and says about the issues in the Star, the biggest circulation newspaper in Malaysia…

Read the full article below:

http://mstar.com.my/mingguan/cerita.asp?file=/2011/7/19/mstar_mingguan/20110719113620&sec=mstar_mingguan

Sunday, May 15, 2011

Home Minister said every paper has crossed the line in reporting sensitive issues one time or another

Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein plans to meet chief editors of newspapers on the reporting of sensitive issues.

He said he wanted to ensure that the chief editors exercised caution in the reporting of sensitive issues on race and religion and that they understood they would be held responsible for their action.

Commenting on a report published in Utusan Malaysia recently alleging that certain groups wanted to make Christianity the official religion,

Hishammuddin said: "There are times when the Malay community were unhappy with the reporting of the Chinese newspapers (on sensitive issues) and vice versa.

"It is the responsibility of the chief editors to ensure that their organisations do not go beyond the boundaries set in reporting such issues," he told reporters.

Despite the clarity of the country's publishing laws and guidelines, he said, "every paper has crossed the line (in reporting sensitive issues) one time or another. Now it's Utusan (which has crossed the line)."

Hishammuddin said that it was difficult to control the flow of information on sensitive issues, especially with the emergence of the new media.

"If it (the information) does not make it to the mainstream papers, it will somehow or rather get to the new media like online news portals, Facebook and the short messaging service," he said.

Saturday, April 30, 2011

World Bank is useless: Dr Mahathir

Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad described the World Bank as “useless”, saying today that it was politically motivated for putting out a report that pro-Bumiputera policies are stunting the country’s economy.

The former prime minister said the World Bank report was politically motivated as it wanted a change of prime minister.

“We have been critical of the World Bank since my time. We said that they were useless. They dislike us and want to have their good friend become prime minister”, seemingly referring to Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, a former chairman of its development committee.

The World Bank said on Thursday that more than one million Malaysians live abroad as policies favoring the Malays are holding back the economy, causing a brain drain and limiting foreign investment.

World Bank senior economist Philip Schellekens was quoted as saying that foreign investment could be five times the current levels if the country had Singapore’s talent base.

He said Malaysian migration was increasingly becoming a skill migration with one-third of the one million-strong Malaysian diaspora now consisting of the tertiary educated and expected the trend to continue.

World Bank is useless: Dr Mahathir

Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad described the World Bank as “useless”, saying today that it was politically motivated for putting out a report that pro-Bumiputera policies are stunting the country’s economy.

The former prime minister said the World Bank report was politically motivated as it wanted a change of prime minister.

“We have been critical of the World Bank since my time. We said that they were useless. They dislike us and want to have their good friend become prime minister”, seemingly referring to Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, a former chairman of its development committee.

The World Bank said on Thursday that more than one million Malaysians live abroad as policies favoring the Malays are holding back the economy, causing a brain drain and limiting foreign investment.

World Bank senior economist Philip Schellekens was quoted as saying that foreign investment could be five times the current levels if the country had Singapore’s talent base.

He said Malaysian migration was increasingly becoming a skill migration with one-third of the one million-strong Malaysian diasporas now consisting of the tertiary educated and expected the trend to continue.

Nuffnang