Information Department Denies Issuing Statement on PM's Alleged Resignation

KUALA LUMPUR Feb 18 - The Information Department today stressed that it had never issued any statement on the alleged resignation of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak as reported by several social media websites which the department discovered this morning.

 
Its director-general Datuk Ibrahim Abdul Rahman said the denial was made following the suspected hacking of the department's e-Akhbar and e-Press systems, with two posted statements, Memo Permohonan Rakyat Malaysia and Perdana Menteri Secara Rasminya Meletak Jawatan on e-Akhbar and Memo Permohonan Rakyat Malaysia (e-Press).

"The Information Department Malaysia has taken immediate action by removing the false statements from both systems.

"This is to prevent the dissemination of these statements by the irresponsible parties and to avoid confusion to the public," Ibrahim said in a press statement, here.

He said the department was also conducting an internal investigation on the matter.

A police report would be made for further investigation to be carried out, he added.

-- BERNAMA

Chinese New Year 2013, the year of Snake

Chinese New Year is the most important of all the traditional Chinese holidays. It’s also known as the Spring Festival, the literal translation and "Lunar New Year". It’s an annual celebration marking the start of the New Year according to the Chinese lunisolar calendar.

                                       Gong Xi Fa Cai

In ancient times, the Spring Festival signals the farmers in China to begin preparation for the sowing of their fields. In modern day, however it signals to prepare another new start for a better year.

                            May your year be Prosperous

The Chinese New Year is calculated according to a solar formula which is the platform for designing the lunar calendar, to make it a luni solar calendar. As it is, Chinese New Year always falls in the months of January or February. Each Chinese New Year is represented by 1 of the 12 creatures of the Chinese Zodiac and 2013 is the year of Snake. 

                      Happy Chinese New Year

Chinese New Year celebrations ran from Chinese New Year's Day itself, the first day of the first month of the Chinese lunar calendar to the Lantern Festival on the 15th day of the first month, making the festival the longest in the Chinese lunisolar calendar. 

In Malaysia, Chinese New Year 2013 will be celebrated on Sunday and Monday, with a replacement holiday on Tuesday for all states except Kelantan and Terengganu. It will be followed 15 days later by Chap Goh Mei, which, though not an official day off, is still an important time for families to gather together again to end the CNY celebrations with a meal and more fireworks.

                                   Gong Xi Fa Cai 

Buying presents decoration, material, food, and clothing and thoroughly cleanses the house by every family, in order to sweep away any ill-fortune and to make way for good incoming luck. "Good fortune" or "happiness", "wealth", and "longevity" are the popular wishes. The evening preceding Chinese New Year's Day is an occasion for Chinese families to gather for the annual reunion dinner besides lighting fireworks, wishing relatives a happy new year, and giving money in red paper envelopes.

As The 13^th General Election is around the corner, political parties begin their campaigns and seem to be springing up everywhere.