Malaysia Airlines (MAS) chief executive officer and managing director Datuk Seri Idris Jala has been appointed a Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department. Idris Jala, the first Orang Ulu to be appointed a minister in the federal cabinet, was also appointed chief executive officer (CEO) of Performance Management and Delivery Unit (Pemandu) to implement the government’s Key Performance Index (KPI) initiatives.
The Sarawakian, who will also assume the deputy chairmanship of Pemandu board, will be responsible for specific sub N-KRAs and National KPIs (N-KPIs) and advise on Ministerial-KRAs (M-KRAs) and M-KPIs.
He will report to Koh on matters relating to KPIs and directly to the Prime Minister on other duties to be assigned to him as Minister Without Portfolio in the Prime Minister’s Department.
Idris will not hold a portfolio in the PM’s Department but will be the chief executive officer of the Performance Management and Delivery Unit (Pemandu, the organisation that oversees the implementation of the Key Performance Index initiatives.)
“Idris will complement, support and report to Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department in charge of National Unity and Performance Management,” said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak in a statement yesterday.
Najib, who informed the Cabinet of the appointment at the Cabinet KPI Workshop in Putrajaya yesterday, said the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin has consented to the appointment.
Idris will be sworn in as a senator at a later date.
“Dr Koh continues with his task of formulating and executing the overall policy and strategy on performance management and organisational transformation with special focus on National Key Results Area (N-KRA).
He will be the chairman of the Pemandu Board which includes the Chief Secretary to the Government and other senior officers.
“Idris, who will also assume the deputy chairmanship of the Pemandu Board, will be responsible for specific N-KRAs and National KPIs (N-KPIs) and advise on Ministerial-KRAs (M-KRAs) and M-KPIs.
“He will focus on sharing his expertise and experience in Shell and MAS and driving implementation of performance management in the Federal Government,” said Najib.
He added that Idris would report to Dr Koh on matters relating to KPIs and directly to the Prime Minister on other duties assigned to him as a minister.
The board of Malaysia Airlines will announce separately Idris’ replacement.
Idris was appointed chief executive officer and managing director of MAS in December 2005, in the aftermath of the company’s biggest financial loss in its corporate history.
Prior to joining MAS, Idris spent 23 years at Shell. Between 2002 and 2005, he was Shell MDS (Malaysia) managing director and Shell Malaysia Gas & Power (Malaysia) vice-president.
Between 2000 and 2002, Idris was Shell International Retail Marketing vice-president based in London.
He was also vice-president (business development consultancy) where he led a team of top notch internal consultants on radical business improvement projects and revamped the Shell global retail business model in order to achieve profitable growth.
Between 1998 and 2000, Idris was Shell Sri Lanka managing director where he helped shape the turnaround of Shell’s LPG business in Sri Lanka.
He holds a bachelor’s degree from Universiti Sains Malaysia and a masters degree from Warwick University, Britain.
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It was reported that the following people are possibly behind the Port Klang Free Zone scandal:
1. O.C Phang, former PKA GM
2. Kuala Dimensi President
3. Tiong King Sing, Kuala Dimensi CEO
4. Bernard Tan PKFZ development works consultant
5. BTA Architect
PKA chairman Datuk Lee Hwa Beng revealed Wednesday the possibility of a conspiracy among five parties, including former Port Klang Authority general manager over the Port Klang Free Zone scandal.
Besides former PKA general manager Datin Paduka O.C. Phang, Lee said those involved in the conspiracy were Kuala Dimensi Sdn Bhd, its president and CEO Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing, BTA Architect and PKFZ development works consultant Bernard Tan Seng Swee.
Lee said various parties had also made disputed claims from the PKFZ project amounting to about RM1.5bil.
This was revealed in his report which he lodged with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Agency (MACC) at the commission’s headquarters here Wednesday.
More big names are being implicated and new allegations made concerning the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) scandal in a newly-launched blog. The blog www.truthabout-pkfz.blogspot.com was set up by a group describing themselves as “non-partisan Malaysians disgusted with the wrongdoings of corrupt businessmen, politicians and civil servants.”
Unnamed writers of the blog have made allegations regarding the issue, ranging from gangsterism involving a prominent businessman-politician to the purported involvement of several other politicians.
The blog said those involved had links with Selangor bigshots and that Kuala Dimensi had bought the land cheaply from Koperasi Pembangunan Pulau Lumut Berhad (KPPL).
The report also claimed that Tan Sri Onn Ismail, who was then with KPPL, was the father-in-law of Kuala Dimensi deputy CEO Datuk Faisal Abdullah and that a part of the 202ha land of was bought for only RM3.1mil.
Kuala Dimensi eventually sold some 404ha of land to Port Klang Authority (PKA) for a whopping RM1.088bil.
There were also allegations of PKA staff being bullied by their superior and the hurried manner in which they were told to pursue matters relating to the purchase of the land even at a high price.
The writer of the blog posting who questioned the astronomical price paid for the land at RM25 psf said sarcastically that it took him two weeks to deliberate on all aspects before purchasing his car although it cost only RM45,000.
Other interesting revelations in the blog include the question of ownership of land at the time of sale in 2002 by Kuala Dimensi.
The writer claimed that Kuala Dimensi had on Nov 24, 1997, sold 305ha of the land to Great Profile Sdn Bhd and questioned how it was possible for the company to effect the land transaction with PKA if the land was not its.
The group managing the blog also appealed to those who could substantiate the allegations to forward their views.
On Aug 11, PKA lodged a police report against Kuala Dimensi, the turnkey contractor of PKFZ over alleged billing discrepancies ranging between RM500mil and RM1bil.
The discrepancies were uncovered by a special task force set up following the audit report on PKFZ by PricewaterhouseCoopers.
It discovered that Kuala Dimensi had possibly, among others, overclaimed and made fraudulent and unsubstantiated claims.
Malayan Banking Bhd (Maybank) posted a net loss of RM1.12bil for its fourth quarter ended June 30 against a net profit of RM703.2mil for the same period last year after setting aside provisions for bad debts and writing down value of its overseas investments.
It wrote down RM1.97bil in impairment charges on its investments in Pakistan and Indonesia.
Loss per share for the period was 17.62 sen against earnings per share of 14.41 sen. The banking group proposed a final dividend of 8 sen per share less tax 25%.
Despite the impairment charges, the group remained profitable for the full year ended June 30 with a net profit of RM691.9mil.
By-Election Result 2009 for Permatang Pasir constituency.
PAS’s Mohd Salleh Man has won the Permatang Pasir state vote here in Penang by a big majority of 4,551 votes.
Official results show Mohd Salleh polled 9,618 votes while Barisan Nasional’s (BN) Rohaizat Othman received 5,067 votes.
The win for PAS was widely expected as the seat is within Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s Permatang Pauh parliamentary stronghold.
PAS’s handsome win also appears to indicate that in PR’s own backyard, they are unbeatable.
The win also comes despite Umno’s attempt to portray Anwar as a traitor to the Malays, while simultaneously playing the race and religion card.
Today’s turnout was 73.1 per cent compared to last year’s 82.57 per cent.
11:45am: Voter turn-out as of 11am is 38.9%.
Please bookmarked this page for more updates.
Model Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno, who was scheduled to be caned this week for drinking beer, has been released temporarily as it is not advisable for the sentence to be meted out during the fasting month, said Pahang Exco member for Religious Affairs, Dakwah, Unity and NGOs Datuk Mohd Sahfri Abdul Aziz. "The sentence remains. She will be caned after the fasting month. She has been released but only temporarily," he said.
A Malaysian model, who was set to become the first woman caned in the southeast Asian country for drinking beer in public, was inexplicably spared her sentence Monday, her father said.
Authorities had picked up Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno, 32, from her father's house Monday morning and were taking her to a prison in the eastern state of Pahang when the van turned around and brought her back.
"They sent her back to the house. They said the top official asked them not to bring her to Kuala Lumpur," said Kartika's father, Shukarno Abdul Muttalib.
It was not immediately known whether authorities had dropped the sentence or postponed it. It was also not clear who had ordered Kartika returned.
"Now I am frightened and I am going to the police station to make a report," the father said. "I don't want them to say that Kartika ran away when they came here. I want them to know she was returned."
Kartika refused to get out of the van until her release had been confirmed in writing.
Authorities had picked up Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno, 32, from her father's house Monday morning and were taking her to a prison in the eastern state of Pahang when the van turned around and brought her back.
"They sent her back to the house. They said the top official asked them not to bring her to Kuala Lumpur," said Kartika's father, Shukarno Abdul Muttalib.
It was not immediately known whether authorities had dropped the sentence or postponed it. It was also not clear who had ordered Kartika returned.
"Now I am frightened and I am going to the police station to make a report," the father said. "I don't want them to say that Kartika ran away when they came here. I want them to know she was returned."
Kartika refused to get out of the van until her release had been confirmed in writing.
An Islamic, or sharia, court in the eastern state of Pahang had fined Kartika -- a Muslim -- $1,400 (5,000 Malaysian ringgit) and sentenced her to six strokes with a rattan cane for drinking at a hotel bar two years ago.
Kartika, a 32-year-old part-time model and mother of two, was visiting Malaysia from Singapore at the time.
She pleaded guilty, paid the fine, and wanted her caning to be carried out in public.
She said she lost her job as a nurse in Singapore and took up modeling to support her husband in raising their children. Her 7-year-old son has cerebral palsy; her 5-year-old daughter, a heart condition.
"I want to move on. This case has been hanging over me for a long time," she told CNN last week.
On Monday morning, Kartika hugged her children, bade a tearful goodbye to the throngs of people gathered at her father's house, and boarded the van. Video
She was to be taken to a prison on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur. The caning would have been carried out within seven days after that, making her the first woman to be caned in Malaysia under sharia law.
Kartika's punishment is unique in that she has opted to go through with it. Two other Malaysians sentenced to the same fate have filed appeals, the Syariah (Sharia) Lawyers' Association of Malaysia said.
The case drew widespread attention and condemnation, in and outside Malaysia.
The moderate Muslim country has a dual-track justice system, in which Islamic courts operate alongside civil courts.
Muslims -- who make up about 60 percent of the 28 million who populate the country -- are forbidden from consuming alcohol. Other religious groups are exempt.
Though caning is used as a supplementary punishment in Malaysia for at least 40 crimes, such as rape or immigration violations, it is not meted out by Malaysia's civil court for alcohol consumption.
But the country's civil system also cannot overrule a sharia court sentence.
In that respect, Kartika would have been the first woman to be caned for violating the country's religious laws.
"Regardless of whether or not such penalties fall under sharia law or civil law, we believe that these should be repealed, as they go against the fundamental human right to be free from torture and violence," said Haslinah Yaacob, vice president for the All Women's Action Society.
CNN - Malaysia frees woman scheduled for caning
MCA President and Transport Minister Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat has filed a RM500mil suit against Kuala Dimensi Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing. This issue is like brothers slapping each other.
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The suit, for making an 'unfounded and malicious defamatory allegations' that Ong had received RM10mil from Tiong, was filed on Monday at the High Court here.
Counsel for the MCA president Ronnie Tan said whatever the amount awarded by the KL High Court would be given for education aid and other charities.
He added that the plaintiff reserved the right to an interim injunction to restrain Tiong from making further allegations.
Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim was ordered by the High Court here to pay RM66.67mil to Bank Islam Malaysia for a loan he took to purchase Guthrie shares in 2001 when he was the company's chief executive officer.
Justice Datuk Rohana Yusuf, who made the order in chambers on Friday, however, granted Khalid's application for an interim stay of execution pending a formal stay application on Sept 16.
Khalid's counsel, Malik Imtiaz Sarwar, told reporters that Rohana allowed Bank Islam's application for a summary judgment on grounds that the case need not enter into a full trial as there were no triable issues.
A summary judgment is a final decision by a judge which resolves a lawsuit in favour of one of the parties. A motion for summary judgment is made after discovery is completed but before the case goes to full trial.
Malik Imtiaz said an appeal would be lodged with the Court of Appeal against today's outcome as he felt the matter should go before a full trial. He said he would file a proper stay application by next week.
The court fixed Sept 16 to hear the formal stay application and to mention Khalid's suit against Bank Islam.
The bank countersued Khalid on May 24, 2007, claiming that Khalid had breached its contract in the Al BaiBithaman Ajil (BBA) loan agreement in the purchase of Guthrie shares.
Khalid initiated a suit against the bank on May 18, 2007, seeking damages and a declaration that there existed a collateral contract between him and bank with the said loan agreement dated April 30, 2001.
He also wanted a declaration that the BBA facility, in isolation and without the collateral contract, is null and void and that Bank Islam had breached the collateral contract and the BBA facility.
Khalid was not present in court while Bank Islam was represented by senior counsel Tommy Thomas.
Tuhan Allah (God) was missing for six days.
Eventually, Michael, the archangel, found him resting on the seventh day. He inquired, "Where have you been?"
God smiled deeply and proudly pointed downwards through the clouds, "Look, Michael. Look what I've made."
Archangel Michael looked puzzled, and said, "What is it?"
"It's a planet," replied God, “and I've put life on it. I'm going to call it Earth, and it's going to be a place to test Balance."
"Balance?" inquired Michael, "I'm still confused."
God explained, pointing to different parts of earth. "For example, northern Europe will be a place of great opportunity and wealth, while southern Europe is going to be poor. Over here I've placed a continent of yellow-skinned people, and over there is a continent of black people. Balance in all things."
God continued pointing to different countries. "This one will be extremely hot, while this one will be very cold and covered in ice. This one produced Durian, while this one will produce Grapes."
The Archangel, impressed by God's work, pointed to a land area and said, "What's that?"
"That's the Town of Petra Jaya, the most glorious place on earth. There are beautiful rivers, mountains, streams, lakes, forests, and hills. The people from the Town of Petra Jaya are going to be tanned and handsome, modest, intelligent, humorous, and they are going to travel the world. They will be extremely sociable, hardworking, high achieving, carriers of peace, and producers of good things."
Michael gasped in wonder and admiration, but then asked, "But what about Balance, God? You said there would be Balance."
God smiled, "There's Putra Jaya. Wait till you see the idiots I put there!"
Stolen from: Comedy+
Rosmah Mansor, PM's wife has launched her own website for Malaysians to get to know her better in her role and duties as the Prime Minister’s wife. I don't if it is only me but I think her site is slow and heavy, just like her makeup. Then again, it could be Streamyx line fault or her PMO server is of low-grade spec.
The website, at www.pmo.gov.my/datinrosmah, includes news, pictures, speeches, newspaper articles and videos.
It is available in Bahasa Malaysia, English and other languages. Announcing the website, Rosmah urged Malaysians to “filter” the information they get on the Internet and not be “influenced by messages with elements of slander.”
While common Sabahan suffer due to rising living cost and fewer job opportunities, Sabah assemblymen unanimously approved an approximately 66% increase in their monthly salaries, from RM3,300 to RM5,300. 66% increment is way too high.
They also approved an increase of more than RM1,000 for the Chief Minister and his cabinet ministers as well as for the State Assembly Speaker, assistant ministers and political secretaries.
Under the amendment to the Members of the Administration and Members of the Legislative Assembly (Remuneration) Enactment 1981, the Chief Minister’s salary was revised from RM14,300 to RM15,730.
Simiarly, the salary of the Deputy Chief Minister was increased from RM12,500 to RM13,915, under the amendments tabled by Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister Datuk Radin Malleh.
Tabling the Bill at the Sabah State Assembly, Radin said the salary increases were necessary due to the higher cost of living.
The largest increase was for members of the Assembly whose salaries jumped by RM2,000.
Under the amendment, the salaries of ministers and the House Speaker were also revised from RM9,900 to RM10,890 while that of assistant ministers and the Deputy Speaker were also increased from RM7,700 to RM8,470.
Political secretaries would now be taking home RM3,630 a month, an increase of RM300.
