Council out to remove rats
Transcription
Council out to remove rats
SUBANG JAYA Council out to remove rats "i 66lc/3 ) 11. THE Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ) kicked off its rat population control operation last night with 25 health department officers spreading poison pills in the SS15 commercial area. The department is expected to start collecting dead rats today and tomorrow. Council president Datuk Asmawi Kasbi said he hoped residents and traders would help remove the carcasses tomorrow. MALAY MAIL Tarikh: ..... .... ....... .. "Business owners must keep their premises clean for everyone's health. Rats would not come to areas that are clean," he said. SS15 is a popular business area and is home to numerous eateries. VY"L'2. SUBANG JAVA 3:)! 3111, Traders to move to new market AFTER a three-year wait, Seri Kembangan traders can heave a sigh of relief after Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ) president Datuk Asmawi Kasbi announced the new Bazar Market in Jalan SK6/1 will be opened on Monday. The traders, who received their lots after balloting last Thursday, will get their keys on Sunday. Asmawi said the council would post its officers at the market to help traders with the business licence applications. Each business licence is different, depending on what the traders are selling, and it ranges between RM120 and RM240 a year, while each unit is rented between RM90 and RM120, MALAY MAIL ;lc .... .. .. MAR 2012 depending on size. He said those who refused to move their new business premises would be compounded. "The enforcement officers will be at the old market on Monday to ensure all traders move to the new one," he said. The new market has 266 lots for wet and dry foodstuff and food stalls. Crime-fighting taken to new heights %NM By G. PRAKASH [email protected] POLICING highrise residential buildings is Selangor police's next strategy to combat crime. Selangor police yesterday launched the vertical policing strategy, a move that will take community policing to a higher level and benefit residents. State police chief Datuk Tun Hisan Tun Hamzah believes the move will play an important role in reducing the overall crime rate. "Statistics show many crimes are committed in high-rise domiciles, but often go unnoticed by the public," said Tun Hisan, who launched the programme yesterday at the Enggang Apartments in Bandar Kinrara yesterday. "With this move, we hope the public would be more observant and help police fight crime." He said crimes which usually occurred in highrise buildings were car thefts, drugs, and even prostitution. "Criminals think they could go unnoticed if they lived in apartments or condominiums. Last year we busted five drug labs operating from condos. In addition, we recorded five cases of drug busts in apartment and condos. "This is on top of 139 drug cases where arrests were made at apartments and condos," he said. Tun Hisan said vertical policing would see police work alongside security guards and the joint management body of high-rise buildings. `We tell them What kind of information we need, such as if they spot a resi- dent using different cars and changing registration plates," he said. Tun Hisan said the strategy would also allow police to be closer to the community. "We hope to raise awareness among residents of high-rise buildings to work with each other and the police to curb crime," he said. "We must remember that high-rise apartments and flats are not free from crime, which was why we are focusing in such community- policing projects." MALAY MAIL Tarikhc PIA)... .3 30 ma 201L HORSEPLAY: Children at the Enggang Apartments having fun with a police horse during the launch of the vertical policing by Selangor police yesterday — Pic: SHAHIR OMAR PETALI NG JAYA 1,./ 3 ) Prasarana can only do tests on Kelana Jaya LRT line By MEENA LAKSHANA [email protected] AMPANG and Kelana Jaya Light Rail Transit (LRT) operator Syarikat Prasarana Negara Berhad (Prasarana) are only allowed to conduct pre-boring and piling tests in the Kelana Jaya LRT line extension project. The Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ) public relations department, in a statement on Wednesday, said Prasarana had been told to only conduct tests for construction at sites involved in the extension project at the Selangor Economic Council meeting (MTES) on Feb 2. "The planning approvals •r Stations 11 and 12 for the LRT project cannot be issued until a final decision on the LRT line in Putra Heights is made by the state government," the statement added. "This is because the state government, via the State Economic Planning Unit (UPEN) has appointed two universities to conduct geological safety studies on the stretch." The Malay Mail reported on March 19 that Prasarana faced a six-month delay in completing the Kelana Jaya LRT extension project due to the state government's decision for a safety study at Putra Heights. This follows opposition from a group of Putra Heights residents who claimed that the area on the Subang AlamPutra Heights bogfAcifirs MAL AY {00 ....3..0-mAR-2012 geologically unsuitable for an LRT line. The residents, who formed the Subang Alam-Putra Heights LRT task force, had sought the services of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia's Professor Dr Tajul Anuar Jamaluddin, last year. In his report, Tajul concluded that the area was unsuitable for the line as the ground was largely made up of clay and cracked granite. The line would also pass closely by an artificial lake and an electric transmission line, posing a hazard to nearby homes. On Feb 12, Prasarana project development division group director Zulkifli Mohd Yusoff said the project was expected to be ready by 2014, and about 20 per cent of the work had been completed. 3 3 KUALA LUMPUR GTP ANNUAL REPORT 2011 2011. BIG WINS I ■e LOWER CRIME RATESREYEWTEDMATIW0WIEN . It i CLOSE COLLABfAIAT ION di-TN/CFA TIC POLICE, LAW F h PONCE MEM AGENCIES MUNICIPAL. COLINCILS, AHD THE RANTAT OVER 8,000 cortimAtMes 04.4i sweat 82 6314i SELANGOR POLICE STATIONS BECOME MORE CVSTOMER.ORIENTED 4TH SAFEST Maiden CeNtamer %wefts lathy , Meadows rate Arta Pacific adze she their feedback re,Vakr+0010, n,tterb.1-010tAid$414,r,, ' , 0**IttitifttteAt4,001N: Iv■teogtilltudamityek. ,,liase6g**4170,.174,4 rS S OF BACKLOG PERTAINING TO eKASIH VER IF !CATION PROCESSED TOR ME FIRST Mil EVER_ MMAYSIA ATTAINS MOST PEAcEne AM 'SAFEST NATION- TITLES metal , hetet* (1010/10040.1411.0 Aw %Ape M Ms *NM Parsee nod Chdoi Peace Enties 6,-tetpff 100 At D, eLerNtle, EN DROP IN DROP IN STREET INDEX CRIME CRIME MALAYSIA EXPERIENCES NACKTO-NACe. °WOLF OMIT REDUCTION IN CAM mnalw IDE eve.: tILI ma homeePtfee "Ace Preld'addeee reach's crime MICRO CREDIT LOANS Giving poor households a leg up INITIATIVES under the raising living standards of low-income households National Key Results Area (NKRA) have elevated a sizable portion of the poor to have sustainable incomes. Last year, a total of 63,147 poor households participated in the lAzam programme, including 12,510 from Sabah and 11,401 from Sarawak. The programme focuses on providing economic opportunities to raise the income of poor households to eventual self-sustainability. Last year also saw 12,578 individuals receiving micro-credit loans and training for small businesses or services-based self-employment from Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia (AIM). Last senaftry emcee T9 yew nide% imwee Woad Jestke Prefect,. Ilk OLAF helm Higher security presence sees lower crime To date, 3,000 female entrepreneurs were developed over the past two years with an average income increase from RM750 to RM3,500 per month. For more information on the highlights of the GovernmentTransformation Programme (GTP) Annual Report 2011, visit http:// www.pemandu.gov.my/ gtp/annualreport2011 ADDITIONAL training and deployment to crime hotspots saw a 39.7 per cent drop in street crime and an 11.1 per cent decrease in index crime. More than 27,000 security personnel from the police force, People's Volunteer Corps (Rela) and Malaysian Civil Defence Department (JPAM) were deployed in crime hotspots nationwide. AN A It • V 11' • TV ■ r arilch: a v.{ Ws/ 30 LIAR 2012 * A total of 1,607 civil defence officers and 3,931 Rela officers were trained to be part of the Police Volunteer Reserve. The Safe City Programme was extended to an additional 151 local authorities nationwide with 8,329 lighting posts, 1,311 safety mirrors, 104.3km of railings and bollards installed in streets for the public's safety. Malaysia was also named the most peaceful country in Southeast Asia and the fourth safest country in the Asia Pacific region for the first time by the Global Peace Index. For more information on the highlights of the Government Transformation Programme (GTP) Annual Report 2011, visit t ttp:// www.pemandu.gov.my/gtp/ annualreport2011 .1 ob done: About 330 window copings were replaced at the apartments. Residents Feel safe again RESIDENTS of D' Cahaya Apartment now feel safe as all the window copings in their apartments have been replaced. Their plight was highlighted in StarMetro in August 2010 when seven window copings fell from their nine-storey apartment block in Bandar Puchong Jaya. The residents, who noticed cracks on other window copings, sought help from the developer to rectify the situation before it was too late. They were worried that the window copings might fall on people on the ground. Management corporation chairman Pong Hoong Guan said the developer's contractor had advised them to repair all 330 copings. The residents' wish was fulfilled when developer 10I Properties completed the rectification work Tat ikb: in December. A spokesman for the developer said the work cost RM135,000. "Based on recommendation from our consultant, the old window copings were replaced with new ones. "The work took about four months to complete as we needed to take extra safety precautions since the apartment is occupied," the spokesman said. Pong said the residents were grateful to the developer for keeping its promise. "We hope the window copings will not fall again," he said, adding that the residents would also like to thank Subang Jaya Municipal Council Problematic and Abandoned Buildings Supervision Unit special technical officer Mohd Sallee Junun for helping them in the matter. STAR 3 0 MAR 2J12 Renovation of hotel hot topic of debate All ears: Subang Jaya Council staff ' listening attentively as president Datuk Asmawi Kasbi gave his opening during the council's monthly staff gathering. Councillor: We must check status of planning approval By TAN KARR WEI karrweiethestarcom.my Photo by AFINIAD IZZRAFIQ ALIAS T HE planning approval for renovation work for a hotel in Subang Jaya became the topic of debate at the Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ) full board meeting yesterday. Councillor Dr Lai Kheng Min raised the issue at the full board because he had received the sales brochure of the new development, which was marketed as serviced apartments. "If their planning approval is only for hotel suites, then they should not be selling the units. "They will be having a special preview for prospective buyers this week so we should check the status of the planning approval and reprimand them before people buy the units," said Dr loi. Councillor Arumugam Kalimuthu said the car park requirements for hotels was different from that of serviced apartments and requested the council to call for a meeting with the developer to clarify the matter. For hotels, one park bay is required for every three units while for serviced apartments, there should be two for every one unit," he said. MPSJ president Datuk Asmawi Kasbi said the developer had received a planning approval in 2010 for refurbishment work, including an additional blot* with 1,986 hotel suites. * Formal affair: The 2012 line-up of councillors look on as Asmawi addresses the staff before the full board meeting. "Under the approval, there is a condition for the developer to contribute towards the construction of an alternative entrance to the development. "That was when there were also plans to develop the Subang Ria Park. Now that the state has decided that the park should remain a recreational space, the land to build the mad needs to be acquired," said Asmawi. Dr Loi added-that he had received complaints from residents in the area when they found out about the serviced apartnients because it would cause problems in the future. 'The area is already congested and parking will be a big problem if they do not provide adequate parking bays. If they follow the requirements of one bay to every three units, we foresee a problem. "Now that the Subang Ria Park remains a recreational space, acquiring land to build the road could be quite complicated and it needs to go through a proper process," said Dr Loi. gon'dwould Asmawifr, a Aram, 1.27i 11: 3..0.. AR ..24t check on the status of the development and call for a meeting with the developer to clarify the matter. When contacted, a spokesman from the developer said they had obtained the development order and all other approvals for the serviced apartment development, issued by the local authority and the relevant ministry. "Our car park provision is in compliance with the local authority's requirement and we will also be prOiding daily complimentary shut- tle service to the nearby malls and colleges to further ease congestion. "Once the local authority is ready to proceed with the additional access road, we will contribute according to the proportion of the construction cost," she said. Meanwhile, MPSJ only has 19 councillors sworn in, with five more spaces still waiting to be filled. The state government has yet to announce the remaining candidates for several councils in Selangor, Caring for the d e ad MB: Increase in cemetery trust fund will enable state to buy burial sites By THO XIN VI thoxinyigthestar.coimmy L ANDOWNERS have to now pay a higher contribution to the state's cemetery trust fund. Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim said this requirement was applicable to those seeking to transfer the ownership or convert the land use to residential or mixed development. He said the fund was for the state government to acquire suitable land for burial sites. He added that the old rate of RM62.50 per lot had been increased to either RM300 or RM500, depending on the locations of the residential lots to reflect the present land value. "Previously, for residential development below 100ha, the contribution was RM62.50 per residential lot. "However, the amount is too lit- es Previously, for residential development ft IN below 100ha, the contribution was below RM62.50 per residential lot. —TAN SRI ABDUL KHALID IBRAHIM tie compared with the current land value which increases every six months according to the Selangor Valuation and Property Services Department. "Therefore, we are fixing RM500 for each residential lot in Petaling, Kiang, Gombak, Hulu Langat, Sepang and Kuala Langat and RM300 for Kuala Selangor, Sabak Bernam and Hulu Selangor," he said during the recent state assembly. He said this in response to a Tarikh: question raised by Subang Jaya assemblyman Hannah Yeoh. When met later, Yeoh said the question was asked based on the experience of Bukit Gasing residents, who were required to fork out RM500 for the fund when they wanted to renew their leasehold titles. "They wanted to know what the money is used for. "Some of them, especially nonMuslims, have already bought private burial plots, so they questioned the need for the contribution," she said. Yeoh said she would push for a meeting in Bukit Gasing for Khalid and the Land Office to explain the fund to the people. "According to Khalid's explanation, this contribution will be a long-term solution to the problem of insufficient cemeteries in the state. "If the state government cannot afford to acquire land for cemeteries, it will be more expensive for the people to buy burial plots in airt(i1AR 2012 the future," she said. Meanwhile, Khalid revealed that RM16.8mil had been collected for the fund as of December last year. He added that all district land offices had been told to identify suitable sites that could be acquired under the Land Acquisition Act to be turned into cemeteries. "The cost will be borne by the trust fund or relevant landowners or developers," he said. It was reported in 2003 that those owning 202ha of land or more must provide cemeteries for Muslims and non-Muslims in their development. The then state executive councillor Datuk Mokhtar Dahalan was quoted as saying that those who could not do so had to provide alternative land, or contribute RM62.50 to the cemetery trust fund for each residential lot approved. The fund will enable the government to buy land for cemeteries. Nil 3ut3i.2 Strategy to tackle highrise crime VERTICAL POLICING: Cops to work closely with buildings' joint management body FAHIRUL N. RAMLI SERDANG [email protected] OLICE are taking the fight against crime to the next level with the introduction of "vertical policing", a new endeav- P our to keep residents of highrise buildings safer. Spearheaded by Selangor police, "vertical policing", will involve cooperation between authorities and the buildings' joint management body in conducting floor-to-floor patrols to weed out criminal elements in highrise buildings. Selangor police chief Datuk Tun Hisan Tun Hamzah urged residents of highrise buildings to get to know their neighbours and report any suspicious activities. "Last year, we busted five drug labs operating in highrise buildings. "Residents there must have got- ten the pungent smell from the come across illegal activities taking place in their respective drug labs but no one batted an eyelid. blocks. "This initiative "We had to rely on will also see the auour intelligence to thorities holding close down the op"This initiative erations," he said in crime-prevention will also see exercises with the his speech at Pangsacrimeresidents." puri Enggang in BanTun Hisan pointed dar Kinrara 6, Puprevention that apart from drugchong during the exercises with the related cases, other launch of the vertical residents." crimes which were policing initiative Datuk Tun Hisan rampant at highrise yesterday. Tun Hamzah buildings included This initiative, also dubbed "Suspicious vice activities, burglaries and vehicle Activities Recon" thefts. (SAR), would also entail residents telling on their neighbours if they "There have also been cases NEW STRAITS TIMES $ 0 MAR Z012 where stolen loot were stored in the units to prevent detection." Tun Hisan urged residents to be more proactive, stressing that they should always have the mobile phone numbers of the security guards of their buildings in case of emergencies. The event yesterday was also attended by district police chiefs, the Fire and Rescue and Civil Defence departments and personnel from the People's Volunteer Corps. Tun Hisan later visited several units where he met residents and handed out brochures on vertical policing. COUNCIL Ws T • 3'1/ SHAH ALAM CITY COUNCIL The Shah Alam City Council is organising a cycling event called "Kayuhan Sempena Earth Hour" from 9.30pm till 10.30pm. Shah Alam dwellers are encouraged to bring out their bicycles and join in the fun in their own neighbourhood. Contact 03-5522 2733 for more information. NEW STRAITS TIMES Tarikh: 1y jot off, take the rise. We will need to be efficient." Sharma said Malaysians should try to take public transport or carpool when they can, and opt for energy efficient products for the home. "As for some daily habits, always wash a full load of clothes, iron EARTH HOUR. several pieces of clothing at a time, bring MARCH 31, 8:30 PM your own bags when shopping and containers for takeaway and turn off electrical equipment that's not being used," he said. Tan advised Malaysians to rethink their priorities and differentiating needs from wants. "There is a big question right now over what is a need and what is want; the lines have blurred because of the consumer culture," Tan said. "One of the fundamental realisations in sustainable living is that less is more, such as the fact that water is a need, but satellite television is a want. It's the little steps that count." On a larger scale, communities and world population has tripled in the last 70 years governments need to play their part and start and energy needs keep going up." moving towards renewable energy and green The conventional method of generating living. electricity is to burn fossil fuels, but depleting About 90% of electricity in Malaysia is resources mean sooner than later, a change will generated from fossil fuels such as coal and have to be made. natural gas, and this needs to be diversified. World Wildlife Fund Malaysia chief Sharma said, "The technologies are there, it executive officer Datuk Dionysius Sharma said is a matter of creating the right kind of business Malaysians in general were not efficiently using environment, regulatory support and financial energy because the prices of energy, such as incentives for the sector to really take off." petrol and electricity, were heavily subsidised. To create awareness on the urgent need for "We have grown so accustomed to such people to live green, Earth Hour was launched comfortable and convenient lifestyles that and has since transformed into a global effort to often Malaysians don't realise the work together and save the planet. environmental and social costs associated with This year, people are encouraged to observe energy production, and there's not much of an Earth Hour and switch off their lights from incentive to be efficient," he said. "However, 8.3opm to 9.3opm on March 3i in a show of this will have to change as fossil fuel reserves support towards conserving the environment. are depleting and the price of energy is on the train, use a tote bag TOMORROW, 1.8 billion people will come together during Earth Hour to save energy. An ever-growing population and increasing energy consumption are depleting the Earth's resources faster than they can be replenished, thus the need for Earth Hour to drive the point home. Many are calling for efforts to be made on individual and global levels toward sustainable living. MICHELLE CHUN finds out what we can do to save energy. W HEN Remee Hidayat Yahya tells people he does not drive or hold a driving licence, he gets strange looks and the occasional, "What's wrong with you?" The 37-year-old media practitioner has not driven for 12 years, something almost unheard of in a city overflowing with cars. "Although I first took driving lessons when I was 26,1 decided to drop driving. I do get negative comments when I tell people that I don't drive, but I am proof that one can live without a car," said Remee, admitting the public transport system does not reach beyond Kuala Lumpur. His decision to adopt the "No car" policy was partly spurred by his love for the environment, and since then he has developed a greater passion to save the planet. "I try to buy biodegradable products; I bring my own canvas bag when I go shopping. Everyone has to take the first step, just a little step," he said. "We have to change our lifestyles because all our natural resources will definitely deplete one day." While there are people like Remee in Malaysia today, these "green" people are few and far between as many have not stepped toward such a change. Centre for Environment, Technology and Development (Cetdem) executive director Anthony Tan said while people know of climate change and environmental decay, few take steps towards sustainable living. "It's like the 'everybody, somebody, nobody' mentality - everybody knows something needs to be done to save the planet, but doesn't do anything because they think 'somebody' will do it, and in the end nobody does it," he said. Indeed, carbon emissions and greenhouse gases caused by increased human activity and energy consumption have become trapped in the Earth's atmosphere, shutting in the sun's heat and causing temperatures to rise. The trapped heat causes the planet to become unusually warm, a weather change that has extreme effects on the landscape and life on Earth - sea levels rise, animals go extinct and heat-related sicknesses become more common. However, the demand for energy keeps increasing, which means more pollutants are released into the air to generate the electricity. Tan said, "Instead of adapting to the environment we live in, we have made the environment adapt to us. The lifestyle propagated by consumerism is not sustainable; StiN Tar' k h 3.. a -MAR 442' Akta Kesafahan-Kesafahan Keci11955(Akta 336) Antara kesalahan di bawah akta ini: y_cyvnz.. _5 0 • Bermain bunga api tanpa lesen. 1.1 1 A) • Melepaskan anjing atau haiwan lain untuk menyerang dan menakutkan orang lain. • Mengambil masa terlalu lama memunggah barang di kaki lima atau jalan raya. • Membuang atau meninggalkan benda daripada kenderaan di atas jalan. • Menunggang haiwan seperti kuda, lembu, kambing dan babi di jalan awam dengan cara yang berbahaya. • Memasang peralatan muzik sehingga mengganggu penghuni mana-mana kediaman. • Menggunakan perkataan kesat atau tulisan untuk membangkitkan kemarahan orang lain. • Mandi atau memandikan haiwan di jalan awam, saluran air tepi sungai atau anak sungai yang penggunaannya dilarang oleh pihak berkuasa. • Meludah di kawasan sekolah, restoran atau kenderaan awam selain daripada bekas yang disediakan atau mana-mana longkang. 4 Melekat bil. notis. sepanduk atau iklan pada harta benda tanpa kebenaran tuannya. • Berkelakuan tidak sopan, mabuk atau melakukan perbuatan yang menimbulkan huru-hara. Menceroboh masuk kediaman milik kerajaan dan merosakkannya tanpa alasan munasabah. Memakai pakaian serta lencana yang menyerupai mana-mana angkatan bersenjata negara atau pelawat. •:.40 Mempamerkan gambar lucah di tempat awam. Berlakon sebagai peminta sedekah. KOS MO 'Tarikh: .... ..... .... ti./.1?-.2012 • PBB ialah sebuah pertubuhan antarabangsa yang dibentuk di San Francisco. California pada 24 Oktober 1945• Keahliannya terbuka kepada semua negara di seluruh dunia dan sebanyak 193 negara telah menyertai pertubuhan ini. • Malaysia mengang,gotai P613 pada tahun 1957 sementara Sudan Selatan adalah negara terbaharti menyertainya. • Matlarnat PBB adalah untuk mengelakkan berulangnya . pertikaian yang hebat. menegaskan tiak asasi manage yang utama, meniamin rasa hor mat akan undang-undang antarabangsa dan memperbaiki taraf hidup penduduk di seluruh dunia. • Piagam PBB mmpunyai enam alat yang utema iaitu Perhimpunan Agung, MaIlls Keselamatan, Marlis Ekonorni den Sosial. Marl's Peramanahan, Mahkamah Keadilan Antarabangsa dan Sekretanat. • Terdapat 18 badan-badan lain yang merupakan agensi khas dalam PBB antaranya seperti Tabung 1<anak-Kanak PUB (UNICEF), Pertubuhan Pendidikan, Sauna den Kebudayaan PBB (UNESCO) dan Pertubuhan Kesihatan Sedunia (WHO). Senarai setiausaha agung PBS Trygve Lie (Norway) 1 1 Februan 1946 10 November 1962 2 Dag Hammarsideld (Sweden) 10 April 1953-18 September 1961 U Thant (Myanmar) J 30 November 1961-31 Disember 1971 4 Kurt Waldhelm (Austria) 1 Januari, 1972.31 Disember 1981 a Javier Perez de Cuellar (Peru) Januari 1982.31 ()member 1991 Boutros Boutros Ghali (Mesir) 1 V Januari 1992-31 Disember 1996 7 Kol1 Annan 1 Januari (Ghana) 1997-31 Disember 2000 0 Ban Ki-moon (Korea Selatan) 01 Januari 2007-1 Januari 2016 K•SMO • ■• Ni■ ••••• • IV • •Pat• Ti ►rikh: 3 0 tiAR..2012 Sungai Kiang dinaik taraf Kelas 2 KUALA LUMPUR - Kementerian Sumber Ash' dan Alam Sekitar kini sedang giat melakukan kerja-kerja pembersihan di Sungai Kiang di sini bagi mencapai sasaran status kualiti air sungai Kelas 2, kata Menteri Sumber Asli dan Alam Sekitar, Datuk Seri Douglas Uggah Embas (gambar). Katanya, antara tindakan yang dibuat kementerian dalam kerja pembersihan itu adalah pemasangan kira-kira 300 perangkap sampah dan melakukan kajian terhadap kualiti air Sungai Kiang dari semasa ke semasa. "Ia juga merupakan sebahagian daripada projek River of Life, sebuah projek permulaan yang dikenal pasti dalam Bidang Ekonomi Utama Greater Kuala Lumpur di bawah Program Transformasi Kerajaan. "Status Sungai Kiang kini adalah Kelas 3, maka kementerian meminta semua pihak tidak membuang sampah dan sisa-sisa pepejal ke dalam sungai kerana ia akan mencemarkan lagi sungai berkenaan," katanya selepas merasmikan Makmal Kualiti Air dan menyaksikan majlis menandatangani Memorandum Persefa- haman (MoU) antara Institut Penyelidikan Hidraulik Kebangsaan Malaysia (NAHRIM) dan Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM) di sini semalam. 'rurut hadir, Ketua Pengarah NAHRIM, Ahmad Jamalludain Shaaban dan Naib Canselor UTHM, Prof. Datuk Dr. Mohd. Noh Dalimin. MoU tersebut bertujuan untuk menjalin kerjasama dalam penyelidikan kualiti dan sumber air. Kategori Kelas 1 adalah penarafan terbaik untuk kualiti air sungai. Uggah berkata, kerja-kerja pembersihan di Sungai Kiang itu akan memakan masa selama dua tahun dan ia mula dijalankan tahun ini. Selain Sungai Kiang, kementerian turut melakukan pembersihan dan penyelidikan di sungai-sungai lain di seluruh negara, katanya lagi. Selain itu, beliau berkata, kementerian menerusi Jabatan Alam Sekitar mendapati sebanyak 293 sungai (51.4 peratus) di seluruh negara dikategorikan sebagai bersih, 203 sungai (35.6 peratus) mengalami pencemaran sederhana dan 74 sungai (13 peratus) mengalami pencemaran teruk. - Bernama K•SMO Tarikh: 3 0 MAR 2012 Maklumat trafik di peta Google 164 3 Oteh SUHANA MD. YUSOP S U hana.yusop©kosmo.com.my KUALA LUMPUR - Syarikat enjin carian Internet terkemuka, Google Malaysia memperkenalkan tiga ciri penambahbaikan baharu dalam Peta Google Malaysia yang bakal memberi manfaat kepada kira-kira 18 juta pengguna Internet di negara ini. Ciri-ciri tersebut ialah maklumat kesesakan Trafik, maklumat perjalanan pengangkutan awam iaitu Transit dan Peta Google Malaysia yang boleh clilayari dalam bahasa Malaysia. Pengurus Negara Google Malaysia, Sajith Sivanandan berkata, apabila pengguna membuka aplikasi Trafik pada peta, mereka dapat melihat jalan raya yang ingin dilalui dalam SAJITH menunjukkan ciri baharu Google Maps pada komputer riba yang dilancarkan di Kuala Lumpur semalam. keadaan sesak atau lancar berdasarkan warna iaitu merah menunjukkan keathan sangat sesak, kuning untuk trafik perlahan dan hijau untuk trafik lancar. "Maklumat yang dipapar- kan adalah terkini tetapi buat masa ini, aliran trafik yang ditunjukkan hanya untuk kawasan Lembah Kiang dan is dirancang untuk diperluaskan," katanya pada sidang akhbar di sini se- KSSMO Tarikh: 3 0 MAR 2012 1. malam. Peta Google Malaysia dilancarkan pada 2009 bagi membantu pengguna mendapatkan maklumat geografik tempatan seperti peta, imej satelit, laluan pemanduan, alamat kediaman dan pusat perniagaan. Ia bukan sahaja boleh diakses melalui komputer malah telefon bimbit dengan hanya menaip kata kunci di ruang carian. Tambahnya, ciri Transit pula menawarkan maklumat pengangkutan awam termasuk pilihan bas, aliran transit ringan, monorel dan komuter. Katanya, pengguna juga dapat melihat lokasi perhentian has dan stesen kereta api berbanding sebelum ini hanya dibekalican maklumat perjalanan sekiranya seseorang itu berjalan kaki atau memandu. Rajin belajar, bekerja bersungguh-sungguh perlu disemai - Dr. M Amal nilai murni capai negara maju Oleh SITI MAISARAH SHEIKH RAHIM [email protected] BANGI 29 Mac - Negara tidak akan mencapai status negara maju dalam masa singkat jika rakyat tidak berpegang kepada nilai-nilai mumi, kata bekas Perdana Menteri, Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad. Beliau berkata, antara nilai mumi yang perlu disemai ialah sikap rajin belajar dan bekerja secara bersimouh-sungguh serta berupaya menghasilkan kualiti kerja yang terbaik. Katanya, jika rakyat mempunyai nilai-nilai mumi tersebut termasuk mempunyai sikap amanah, bekerja dengan balk dan cedar tanggungjawab mereka terhadap negara, maka Malaysia akan dapat mencapai matlamat yang diinginkan termasuk Wawasan 2020. "Kalau kita berbuat sedemildan (amal nilai-nilai murni), maka hari ini pun kita boleh menjadi negara maju. "Tetapi kita dapati sebahagian rakyat Malaysia tidak mahu belajar dan bekerja tidak mengikut kepuasan hati. Jadi kerana tidak ada nilai-nilai mulia maka proses untuk memajukan negara mengambil masa Yang [Julian& "Sebaliknya, jika kita seperti orang Jepun yang berusaha untuk memulihkan negara yang telah hancur kerana perang, bekerja dengan cukup balk dalam jangka masa pendek sahaja mereka dapat memulihkan negara sepenuhnya sehingga menjadi negara kedua tennaju di dunia," katanya. Beliau berkata demilcian pada sesi soal jawab bersama pelajar PERMATApintar pada program Bual Bicara Bersama Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad di Kompleks PERMATApintar Negara Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), di sini hari ini. Turut hadir ialah isterinya, Tun Dr. Siti Hasmah Mohd. All dan Naib Canselor UKM, Prof. Tan Sri Dr. Sharifah Hapsah Syed Hasan Shahabudin. Dalam pada itu, Dr. Mahathir memuji langkah kerajaan mewujudkan PERMATApintar Negara dalam usaha untuk mengasah bakat pelajar yang akan menyumbang kepada kemajuan negara. Bagaimanapun kata beliau, pada masa sama, negara perlu membangunkan program pembangunan karakter baik iaitu seseorang berpegang kepada nilai-nilai hidup yang baik. In! kerana katanya, jika tidak ada pembangunan karakter seumpama itu, maka ilmu yang diperoleh tidak akan digunakan dengan cara betul. "Aka kita tidak ada karakter yang balk, tidak mengutamakan kebaikan, is mungkindigurrakan untuk tujuan tidak balk," katanya. Mengenai program PERMATApintar Negara, Dr. Mahathir berkata, program tersebut amat penting kerana is dapat mengenal pasti pelajar yang berpotensi tinggi dan berkebolehan luar biasa demi manfaat kepada negara. DR. Mahathir Mohamad dan Dr, Siti Hasmah Mohd. All melawat kelas sejarah PERMATApintar setepas program Bual Bkara bersama Bekas Perdana Menteri di Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) Bangi, semalam, UTUSAN MALAYSIA Tarikh: . 30 ma 2012 Operas' TASKA tempat kerja kena ikut perubahan SU berkaitan pembantu rumah, terutama dari Indonesia yang membuat pelbagai tuntutan yang tidak dipersetujui majikan di negara ini mendesak kita mencari penyelesaian kepada masalah penjagaan anak bagi ibu bapa yang bekerja. Sudah tentu dalam mendepani permasalahan ini, kita harus mengenal pasti penyelesaian praktikal dan selamat supaya ibu yang bekerja untuk menampung perbelanjaan isi rumah dapat melaksanakan tugas mereka tanpa perlu risau mengenai keadaan anak mereka. Antara satu usaha berkenaan dan boleh dilaksanakan ialah dengan membenarkan pejabat kerajaan dan swasta membuka Taman Asuhan Kanak-Kanak (TASKA) di premis masing-masing. Cara ini bukan saja memudahkan ibu yang bekerja, bahkan membolehkan mereka menjenguk anak mereka di TASKA pada waktu rehat bagi memastikan anak mereka berada di bawah jagaan pihak bertanggungjawab dan boleh dipercayai. Justeru, peraturan yang mewajibkan semua bangunan Baru milik kerajaan mempunyai ruangan khas bagi menubuhkan TASKA seperti yang diumumkan Timbalan Menteri Pembangunan Wanita, Keluarga dan Masyarakat, Datuk Heng Seai Kie, di Parlirnen, kelmarin sungguh melegakan. Selama ini, kerajaan mendapati ketiadaan ruang sesuai menjadi kekangan utama penubuhan TASKA berkenaan, selain kos pembiayaan tinggi serta kesukaran mendapatkan pekerja dan pengasuh berkemahiran. Antara ciri yang perlu dipatuhi dalam penubuhan TASKA ialah mesti menitikberatkan faktor keselamatan, tidak terletak berhampiran tempat bahaya, persekitaran yang sihat dan mempunyai pembahagian bilik yang sesuai. Setakat ini mengikut rekod kementerian terbabit, hanya 60 TASKA ditubuhkan di tempat kerja dalam sektor awam, yang juga berdaftar dengan Jabatan Kebajikan Masyarakat (JKM). Kita mengalu-alukan cadangan insentif untuk sektor swasta bagi menggalakkan penubuhan TASKA, iaitu elaun bangunan perindustrian selama 10 tahun dan potongan cukai ke atas bangunan yang digunakan bagi pusat asuhan kanakkanak selaras kempen Masyarakat Penyayang kerajaan. Langkah itu pastinya dapat UTUSAN MALAYSIA Tarikh: 3 0 MAR 2012 menggalakkan wanita berkahwin mengisi pasaran pekerjaan, selain memberi mereka ketenangan fikiran ketika melaksanakan tugas di pejabat masing-masing. Sebagai usaha menambahbaik pentadbiran TASKA, adalah wajar satu jawatankuasa ditubuhkan pada peringkat kementerian bagi membolehkan anggotanya mengkaji dengan teliti garis panduan mengenai TASKA yang diwujudkan oleh Kementerian Sumber Manusia pada 1992 dan membandingkannya dengan program sama yang dijalankan di negara maju. Sewajarnya garis panduan sedia yang tidak lagi relevan dengan keperluan semasa dikaji semula dan diberi penambahbaikan bagi menggalakkan semua majikan menyokong usaha murni ini. 76 syarikat sertai Program Ikrar Integriti Korporat untuk cegah rasuah KUALA LUMPUR 29 Mac - Program Ikrar Integriti Korporat (CIP) berjaya menghimpunkan penyertaan 76 syarikat swasta untuk bersama kerajaan dalam Inisiatif Bidang Keberhasilan Utama Negara (NKRA) berkaitan Pencegahan Rasuah. Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif, Unit Pengurusan Prestasi dan Perlaksanaan (Pemandu), Datuk Seri Idris Jala berkata, beliau yakin jumlah penyertaan sektor korporat dalam usaha itu dapat ditingkatkan menerusi kerjasama dengan Bursa Malaysia serta Suruhanjaya Sekuriti (SC). www.pemandu_gov.my "Bagi pihak Pemandu kita telah menetapkan indeks prestasi utama barn untuk NKRA Pencegahan Ra- suah dengan memastikan 100 peratus syarikat-syarikat berkepentingan Projek Permulaan (EPP) menandatangani CIP. "Ketika ini, sebanyak 70 peratus daripada 110 EPP di bawah Program Transformasi Ekonomi (ETP) telah menyaksikan syarikat-syarikat terlibat menandatangani CIP," katanya pada sidang akhbar selepas Sesi Meja Bulat sempena Ulang Tahun Pertama CIP di Menara Integriti di sini hari ini. Menurut Idris, program CIP turut diperluaskan kepada syarikat-syarikat industri kecil dan sederhana (IKS) dengan kerajaan telah menya- U US AN MALAYSIA Tankh: lurkan peruntukan untuk membantu syarikat-syarikat yang terpilih dalam meningkatkan sistem tadbir urus korporat. Jelas beliau, selain CIP, Pemandu juga telah memperkenalkan 'Integrity Pact' yang mana kira-kira 136,000 syarikat telah menandatangani perjanjian tersebut bagi menjamin ketelusan antara syarikat-syarikat yang menjadi vendor dan pembekal kepada kerajaan. "Di sektor awam pula jawatan Pegawai Integriti Korporat akan diperkenalkan di setiap kementerian untuk memastikan usaha pencega- han rasuah dapat dipertingkatkan," katanya. Terdahulu dalam ucapannya, Idris yang juga Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri memberitahu, amalan rasuah tidak dapat diatasi dalam tempoh singkat dan usaha itu memerlukan kerjasama erat daripada sektor awam, swasta, pertubuhan bukan kerajaan (NGO) dan anggota masyarakat. Bagaimanapun katanya, beliau yakin setiap usaha menerusi NKRA berkaitan Pencegahan Rasuah itu dapat menjadi tembok yang men& halang daripada amalan rasuah terus berlaku di negara ini. c " f Bahasa cerminan identiti, ilmu bangsa - Dr. M PUTRAJAYA 29 Mac - Bekas Perdana Menteri, Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamed berkata, bahasa bukan sahaja mampu memainkan peranan untuk mengenal pasti identiti sesuatu bangsa tetapi menjadikan sesuatu bangsa itu terpelajar. Beliau berkata, sejarah telah membuktikan bagaimana sesebuah tamadun itu berkembang pesat apabila rakyatnya berusaha mendalami mana-mana bahasa untuk menguasai ilmu pengetahuan. "Kegemilangan Tamadun Islam sebelum ini berpunca daripada sikap orang Arab yang memeluk Islam ketika itu berusaha mendalami bahasa Greek yang dianggap sebagai bahasa ilmu dan mereka telah menterjemahkannya ke dalam bahasa Arab. "Keadaan itu telah menyebabkan bahasa Arab dikenali sebagai bahasa ilmu sehingga menarik ramai orang Eropah mendalaminya bagi menguasai ilmu yang ada," katanya ketika berucap merasmikan Seminar Pendidikan Melayu Antarabangsa anjuran Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP) di sini hari ini. Turut hadir Ketua Menteri Melaka, Datuk Seri Ali Mohd Rustam; Menteri Besar Perlis, Datuk Seri Dr. Md. Isa Sabu dan Naib Canselor UniMAP, Prof. Datuk Dr. Kamarudin Hussin. Seminar tiga hari itu yang bermula hari ini bertemakan Mentransformasi Aspirasi Pendidikan, Menginovasi Penciptaan Warisan. Justeru, Dr. Mahathir berkata, masyarakat yang fanatik kepada bahasa sendiri akan menyebabkan mereka ketinggalan bukan hanya dari segi pembangunan tetapi juga penguasaan ilmu pengetahuan. Malah beliau menambah, sikap sedemikian juga akan menyebabkan bahasa tersebut sukar untuk berkembang dan dikuasai oleh bangsa lain. "Walaupun bahasa ilmu hari ini adalah bahasa Inggeris tetapi tidak bermakna bahasa Melayu perlu kita pinggirkan, kita mesti pupuk bahasa itu kerana mungkin satu masa nanti, is akan menjadi bahasa ilmu," katanya. UTUSAN MALAYSIA Tarikh: ....3..0...MAR..21112... Penarafan bintang DIP/ kepada PBT tahun depan Tinjauan nilai guna bahasa Melayu di tempat awam Oleh Nazmi Yaakub [email protected] UALA LUMPUR: Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) akan memberikan penarafan bintang kepada pihak berkuasa tempatan (PBT) di seluruh negara mulai tahun depan bagi menilai penggunaan bahasa kebangsaan di tempat awam. Ketua Pengarahnya, Dr Awang Sariyan, berkata penilaian itu membabitkan penamaan jalan, taman dan bangunan serta papan tanda dan iklan. "Pihak kami akan membuat tinjauan secara terpilih di lokasi tertentu dalam lingkungan dan kuasa di bawah PBT dengan membuat rakaman dalam bentuk gambar dan video. "Tinjauan itu akan melihat kepada peratusan penggunaan bahasa kebangsaan di tempat awam dan mutu bahasa yang digunakan termasuk ejaan, pilihan perkataan dan frasa serta ayat," katanya kepada Berita Harlan semalam. K Awang berkata, laporan penarafan bintang PBT itu akan dibawa kepada Jawatankuasa Pelaksanaan Bahasa Kebangsaan (JPBK) yang dipengerusikan Timbalan Perdana Menteri, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, selain dilaporkan kepada media massa. "Dengan membentangkannya dalam JPBK, saya yakin PBT pasti berlumba-lumba untuk mendapat- Pihak kami akan membuat tinjauan secara terpilih di lokasi tertentu dalam lingkungan dan kuasa di bawah PBT dengan membuat rakaman dalam bentuk gambar dan video's Awang Sariyan Ketua Pengarah DBP BERIT Tarikh kan bintang kerana sekiranya gagal, sudah tentu memperlihatkan seolah-olah tidak bertanggungjawab terhadap dasar bahasa kebangsaan. "Saya yakin jika penarafan bintang dan audit bahasa diterima serta dilaksanakan dengan betul-betul, kita akan nampak lonjakan semangat dan iltizam masyarakat untuk menggunakan bahasa kebangsaan dengan baik dalam tempoh dua tahun," katanya. Mengenai mekanisme pemantauan dan penilaian, katanya, penarafan yang mendapat kerjasama Kementerian Perumahan dan Kerajaan Tempatan serta kerajaan negeri itu, boleh menggunakan mekanisme sedia ada, iaitu pejabat DBP Wilayah dan Cawangan serta Munshi Dewan di seluruh negara. "Menarik juga, apabila sudah ada rakan yang menawarkan diri untuk menjadi pasukan sukarelawan bahasa yang diberikan tugas secara tidak rasmi untuk mencatat dan mengambil gambar kesalahan bahasa," katanya.