News Cuttings

Thursday, September 25, 2003

15 peratus lakukan seks di pejabat

Berita Harian

KUALA LUMPUR: Lebih 80 peratus rakyat Malaysia memilih bilik tidur sebagai tempat utama mengadakan hubungan seks berbanding lokasi lain seperti pantai, panggung wayang, pejabat atau taman.

Ia diikuti bilik hotel 58.51 peratus, sofa ruang tamu 43.98 peratus, kenderaan 21.37 peratus, pantai 19.3 peratus, dapur 19.2 peratus, pejabat 15.42 peratus, taman bunga 9.99 peratus, panggung wayang 6.11 peratus dan lain-lain 23.34 peratus.

Perangkaan diperoleh hasil laporan Kaji Selidik Seks Global Durex 2003. Durex adalah jenama kondom yang dikeluarkan SSL Healthcare, dari Jerman yang memasarkan kondom di lebih 140 negara.

Tinjauan itu dilakukan terhadap 5,645 rakyat Malaysia yang menyatakan sendiri tempat mereka mengadakan hubungan seks daripada 10 lokasi yang disenaraikan mengikut pilihan.

Kaji selidik membabitkan tempat tumpuan utama sekitar Lembah Klang, Pulau Pinang, Melaka dan Johor Bahru.

Hasil kajian fasa satu yang disertai lebih 150,000 responden dari 34 negara juga mendapati purata pasangan mengadakan hubungan seks sebanyak 127 kali setahun.

Rakyat Malaysia berada di tempat kedua paling bawah dengan purata hubungan seks 100 kali setahun, manakala Singapura paling sedikit dengan 96 kali setahun.

Pengarah Serantau Asia Tenggara SSL Healthcare, Teh Peng Teng dalam kenyataannya semalam berkata, ada peningkatan dua kali ganda penyertaan dalam kaji selidik itu berbanding 2,563 tahun lalu.

“Peningkatan menunjukkan lebih ramai rakyat Malaysia berkomunikasi aktif mengenai pemikiran mereka terhadap isu seksual, termasuk pendidikan dan permulaan mengadakan hubungan,” katanya.

Teh berkata, pihaknya berharap keputusan kaji selidik itu akan membantu syarikat terbabit untuk seiring dengan aliran seksual dan memastikan tanggungjawab yang dimainkan dalam arena itu memenuhi keperluan semasa.

Penemuan penuh Kaji Selidik Seks Global Durex 2003 itu akan diumumkan pada November ini.

Hasil kaji selidik itu juga mendapati berpura-pura mencapai kemuncak seks adalah biasa dengan 47 peratus rakyat Australia dan 46 peratus rakyat New Zealand mengakui melakukannya sekurang-kurangnya sekali, iaitu hampir dua kali ganda purata global sebanyak 26 peratus.

Bagaimanapun, ia kurang berlaku di negara TimurJauh dengan Hong Kong 15 peratus dan Malaysia 17 peratus.

Secara purata, 73 peratus orang di seluruh dunia mengatakan mereka gembira dengan kehidupan seks dengan Thailand mencatatkan angka tertinggi 92 peratus, diikuti Vietnam 90 peratus, China dan Sepanyol 83 peratus serta Iceland 80 peratus, manakala Malaysia di tangga kelapan dengan 76 peratus.

Rakyat Amerika Syarikat diiktiraf warga paling seksi, manakala pemain bola sepak kelab Real Madrid, David Beckham dan Jennifer Lopez mendapat gelaran selebriti paling seksi.

Mengulas hasil kaji selidik berkenaan, Pakar Perunding Obstetrik dan Ginekologi, Damai Service Hospital, Dr Mahes Sittampalam, berpendapat statistik itu menunjukkan rakyat Malaysia masih konservatif dalam hubungan seksual.

“Mungkin mereka agak konvensional dan mahukan hubungan seksual yang lebih intim dengan pasangan,” katanya.

Anggota Parlimen Pas buat tuntutan tertinggi

Berita Harian
Oleh Wan Hazmir Bakar dan Rohaniza Idris


KUALA LUMPUR: Anggota Parlimen Jeli yang juga Yang Dipertua Pas kawasan itu, Mohd Apandi Mohamad, membuat tuntutan perjalanan RM132,335.40 tahun lalu, yang tertinggi dalam senarai teratas 14 Ahli Parlimen yang membuat tuntutan melebihi RM10,000 sebulan.

Mohd Apandi membuat tuntutan itu 10 kali yang setiap satu melebihi RM10,000.

Perkara itu didedahkan Setiausaha Parlimen Jabatan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Noh Omar, pada sesi soal jawab di Dewan Rakyat, semalam.

Menjawab soalan tambahan Datuk Othman Abdul (BN-Pendang) yang ingin tahu siapakah juara, naib juara dan tempat ketiga dalam membuat tuntutan perjalanan, Noh berkata:

“Untuk 2002, tuntutan tertinggi ialah RM15,663 oleh Jeli, kedua RM15,581.40 juga oleh Jeli dan ketiga 14,863.80 juga Jeli dan...,” katanya tanpa sempat menghabiskan jawapan kerana dihentikan Yang Dipertua Dewan Rakyat, Tun Dr Mohamed Zahir Ismail.

Mohamed Zahir meminta Noh tidak meneruskan jawapannya dan mengarahkan soalan seterusnya dijawab apabila keadaan Dewan Rakyat mulai riuh dengan beberapa Ahli Parlimen bangun sebagai membantah pendedahan itu.

Terdahulu, ketika menjawab soalan asal Othman, Noh berkata, Anggota Parlimen yang turut membuat tuntutan perjalanan melebihi RM10,000 sebulan tahun lalu ialah wakil Lubok Antu sebanyak empat kali, Kemaman (dua kali) dan Rantau Panjang, Sibu, Arau serta Lumut (sekali).

Katanya, bagi enam bulan pertama tahun ini wakil Jeli sudah membuat enam tuntutan melebihi RM10,000, diikuti wakil Lubok Antu sebanyak dua kali dan masing-masing sekali oleh wakil Kemaman, Beluran, Sri Aman dan Lumut.

Mohd Apandi yang tidak senang dengan pendedahan itu, bangun bertanyakan Noh apakah salah untuk Anggota Parlimen menerima jemputan terbuka yang jauh dari kawasannya.

Othman yang bangun untuk mengemukakan soalan tambahan, sempat mengusik Mohd Apandi dengan menyatakan kehairanan mengenai nilai tuntutan itu kerana wakil Jeli tinggal di dua rumah sekitar Batu Caves.

Pada sidang akhbar di lobi Parlimen, Noh berkata, Parlimen akan diminta mengkaji semula tuntutan Anggota Parlimen yang terlalu tinggi.

Katanya, kerajaan juga akan membincangkan dengan Parlimen kemungkinan membuat laporan kepada Badan Pencegah Rasuah (BPR) supaya menyiasat sama ada Ahli Parlimen membuat tuntutan palsu.

"Kita tidak persoal hak beliau sebagai Ahli Parlimen, tetapi berdasarkan tuntutan yang dibuat, timbul pertanyaan bagaimana tuntutan itu begitu banyak.

“Saya sempat lihat tuntutan yang dibuat, saya rasa sama ada munasabah atau tidak... iaitu tuntutan menyampaikan khutbah sembahyang Jumaat di masjid kawasan Parlimen sendiri, yang itu pun dia tuntut,” katanya yang hairan bila wakil Jeli itu berada di rumah kerana hampir setiap hari memenuhi jemputan di tempat lain.

Noh berkata, Mohd Apandi sebagai wakil Pas yang sentiasa memperkatakan mengenai Islam, kerajaan yang bersih, rasuah serta pembaziran wang rakyat, sewajarnya menunjukkan teladan yang baik.

"Kata pemimpin tidak wajar guna duit rakyat... tetapi tuntutan ini juga dibayar daripada duit rakyat," katanya.

Wednesday, September 24, 2003

Wordware's Program To Keep Computer Hackers At Bay

September 24, 2003 21:22 PM

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 24 (Bernama) -- With incidents of computer hacking on the rise, cyber security is crucial for companies wanting to safeguard their information and data base, says Wordware (M) Sdn Bhd managing director Wilson Wong.

Malaysia experienced 1,470 cases of hack threats, viruses, harassment, spam, forgery, denial of service, destruction and intrusions until August this year, an average of 183.75 cases each month (Niser), he said.

"This figure is very alarming as these criminal acts can cripple national security, business operations and cause general inconvenience and suffering," he said.

It was in view of this that the "Ethical Hacking and Countermeasures" programme was introduced by Wordware Distributors (M) Sdn Bhd and the International Council of E-Commerce Consultants (EC-Council) as an e-business qualification in Malaysia last year, Wong said.

The program, which tackles the problem of computer attacks by understanding how hackers work, is aimed at expanding the horizon and traditional thinking of system engineers and security officers, Wong said.

The program which is carried out through Wordware's authorised training centres is said to be the only one in the world that awards participants with an Ethical Hacker Certification (CEH), he told reporters during a hands-on hacking experience for the media here Wednesday.

Less than 100 people in Malaysia have the CEH, he added.

The program is vendor-neutral aimed to benefit security officers, auditors, security professionals, site administrators and anyone who is concerned woith the integrity of the network infrastructure.

Meanwhile, director of Wordware, Cletus De Rozario said the target market of the program was the small and medium scale industries (SMIs), banks, government organisations and people who have secure data.

With a cost of RM2,999, the courseware teaches how hackers hack, the tools they use, how to hack via linuxs and windows 2000, how to hack firewalls and how to implement an effective security framework for both e-commerce and day to day operations as well as how to apply countermeasures to avoid those risks.

Wordware is the leading distributor of global certification programs such as EC-Council e-Business programs and Microsoft Office specialist (MOS) and IC3 programs.

-- BERNAMA

Monday, September 22, 2003

11,004 Divorces Among Muslim Couples Last Year

September 22, 2003 14:10 PM

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 22 (Bernama) -- There were 11,004 divorce cases reported among Muslim couples last year compared to 13,536 cases in 2000, the Dewan Rakyat was told Monday.

Speaking in the House during Question Time, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Women and Family Development Ministry Datuk Mastika Junaidah Husin attributed the 16.29 per cent drop in Muslim divorces to counselling and awareness programmes aimed at saving marriages.

Replying to Datin Paduka Dr Tan Yee Kew (BN-Klang), Mastika said there were 3,793 divorces among non-Muslim couples last year compared to 1,613 cases in 2000.

She did not give reasons for the 135.2 per cent increase in non-Muslim divorces during the period.

Mastika said if the former husband did not provide for his children, his ex-wife could take up the matter in the syariah court in the case of Muslims and the civil court in the case of non-Muslims.

She also said the government was also providing skills training and other facilities such as capital to start business and arrangements to get low cost houses for single mothers.

-- BERNAMA

Friday, September 19, 2003

Eat your spirulina, it's good for you



Published August 16, 2003
By JOHN YEO

WHAT is 100 per cent natural, high in calcium and protein, low in fat, good for pregnant mothers and growing children? This might sound like a milk commercial, except that low fat milk is not 100 per cent natural. Besides, this super food is green in colour. It's the microscopic curly blue-green algae called spirulina. It actually has some amazing properties.

Records of human consumption goes back centuries, to such people as the Aztecs in Mexico but it has been around for 3.5 billion years in one form or another.

Some recent press reports have cast doubts if spirulina could be toxic. If it were, there would have been no fish or no human evolution possible. It is thought that the source of essential fats required for the development of the human brain was derived, ultimately, from these ancient algae.

While wild harvested spirulina may contain toxic containments, farmed spirulina are grown in well-controlled conditions and checked regularly for toxins. Almost all spirulina sold commercially today are from farms. The per acre protein yield from spirulina is 10 times that of soybeans and 200 times that of beef.

This may be something to think about for land and food-scarce Singapore. Research has shown that it can strengthen the immune system, reduce cardiovascular diseases, and improve digestive health. It is also loaded with antioxidants and does a good job of detoxifying the body.

So, what else is good about spirulina? Very few foods in nature contain the whole range of proteins required by the body. Spirulina delivers this full range and delivers it in a way that is easily absorbed. The digestibility is about 95 per cent. It contains about 20 per cent of carbohydrates, which offers a quick source of energy, without stressing the pancreas or causing hypoglycaemia.

There are nine important vitamins and more than 14 minerals that are easily absorbed. For example, it has about 2.5 times the B12 found in calves' liver and three times more iron than steak. It contains more potassium than rice, has as much calcium and the full range of carotenoids, the good stuff found in carrots.

Chlorophyll is one of the best-known cleansing agents and spirulina has one of the highest concentrations in nature. There is also a significant amount of vitamin E and GLA (gamma-linolenic acid) for the immune system as well as natural enzymes to help digestion. It also helps build healthy gut bacteria like lactobacillus and bifidobacteria while suppressing harmful ones like e-coli and candida yeast.

Research at the Tokai University in Japan showed that it could lower cholesterol levels even without other dietary changes. Cancer risks have also been shown to reduce significantly because of its antioxidant content.

For the health purist who feels that even taking vitamins and mineral is unnatural, spirulina could be considered nature's multi-vitamin, multi-mineral pill. Should the world run out of space to farm cattle, maybe we can consider switching to a double spirulina burger, with plenty of pepper and sauce, of course.

John Yeo is a director of Complementary HealthCare


Fomema, eight firms sued

18 September 2003
Manisah Ismail

The Foreign Workers’ Medical Examination Monitoring Agency (Fomema), eight other companies and 11 individuals have been sued by a well-known academician and Konsortium Bersatu Perkhidmatan Kesihatan Sdn Bhd for alleged fraud involving more than RM300 million. Fomema was set up following a proposal by KBPK to bring about a systematic and standardised medical examination of foreign workers and the Government awarded the concession to Fomema on Sept 17, 1997.

In the suit filed at the High Court registry at Wisma Denmark on Aug 22 via Messrs A.J. Ariffin, Yeo and Harpal, Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris Pro-Chancellor Professor Tan Sri Awang Had Salleh and KBPK are also suing the 20 defendants for misrepresentation and breach of statutory and fiduciary duties.

They claimed that the offences were committed between October 1997 and April last year by the defendants who allegedly siphoned off or fraudulently retained the money.

KBPK is the body which in 1994 submitted a proposal to the Government to bring about a systematic and standardised medical examination of foreign workers in Malaysia.

The 11 individuals named as defendants were Foreign Workers' Medical Examination Monitoring Agency (Fomema) chief executive officer Datuk Dr Mohamed Haniffa Abdullah and his wife Datin Dr Selvarasi Veerappan @ Mumtaz Begum, Dr Jit Singh, G. Usha Rani, A. Revathy , P. Jeyamany , Tan Kok Beng, Chee Yuet Fang, Abdul Rahim Awang, Noor Wasitah Panot and Yeo Tee Eong.

The companies being sued were Pengkalan Usaha (M) Sdn Bhd (PUSB), Casa Damansara Sdn Bhd (CASA), HealthPac Industries Sdn Bhd (HISB), Taiplus Trading Sdn Bhd, Pujangga Ajaib Sdn Bhd, Masa Perunding Sdn Bhd (MASA), Alaf Kasih Sdn Bhd, Anjur Dinamik Sdn Bhd (ADSB) and Fomema Sdn Bhd.

The wrong-doings alleged by Awang Had and KBPK against the defendants were related to the implementation of the medical scheme for foreign workers which Fomema — comprising ADSB, which holds 75 per cent equity, and Koperasi Doktor Malaysia Berhad (KDM) the remaining 25 per cent — was awarded the concessionaire.

However, Awang Had and KBPK claimed that the implementation of the scheme, especially relating to payments, was not according to the terms of arrangement made between Fomema and ADSB.

Under the terms of the arrangement, ADSB was required to pay all doctors, laboratories and X-ray clinics for the services rendered. Instead, as alleged by Awang Had and KBPK, Haniffa and Jit had made arrangements for the payments to be siphoned out of ADSB into other companies.

In the statement of claim, Awang Had and KBPK claimed that they only discovered the wrong-doings on which their claim was based after they entered into a sale and purchase agreement to dispose of all their interest in ADSB to Pantai Support Services Sdn Bhd and upon obtaining documents, resolutions, bank statements and correspondence, including documents submitted to the Securities Commission, pertaining to the sale.

They alleged that other defendants except Yeo, Fomema and ADSB, aided and abetted Haniffa, Jit and Selvarasi in carrying out the acts and dishonestly assisted in the breach of fiduciary duties and fraud, and had shared the ill-gotten proceeds.

Awang Had and KBPK claimed they also discovered that there had been misappropriation of ADSB's funds, as a result of which they sufferred "phenomenal financial losses".

Awang Had, who is a director and shareholder of KBPK, is also a director and shareholder of ADSB and Fomema.

Besides seeking orders from the court for refunds totalling more than RM300 million which they claimed had been siphoned off or retained fraudulently by the companies and individuals concerned, Awang Had and KBPK also seek declarations from the court, among others, that:

* KBPK was the originator of the scheme for the systematic medical examination of foreign workers in Malaysia.

* Haniffa, Selvarasi, Noor, Usha Rani and Jeyamany are accountable to them (plaintiffs) for the purchase price received by them from the sale of the ADSB shares held by MASA.

* Haniffa, Selvarasi and Jit as directors of ADSB were in breach of their fiduciary duties.

* PUSB, CASA, HISB, Taiplus, Pujangga, Usha Rani, Revathy, Jeyamany, Tan, Chee and Abdul Rahim were participants and had dishonestly assisted in the breach of fiduciary duties owed to the plaintiffs by Haniffa, Selvarasi and Jit; and

* Haniffa had perpetrated a fraud or deception on the Securities Commission and is consequently not entitled to any of the benefits from the sale of ADSB, PUSB and HISB to Pantai Support.

According to Awang Had and KBPK, in January 1994, they submitted a proposal for the systematic and standardised medical examination of foreign workers in Malaysia to the Government.

In April 1994, they entered into a memorandum of understanding with Yayasan Kobena Sdn Bhd and Koperasi Doktor Malaysia Berhad (KDM) to form a consortium to pursue the application for the concession jointly.


©New Straits Times (M) Berhad

RM14 VCD price ceiling

Bernama
18 September 2003

Kuala Lumpur: The Government has fixed RM14 as the new price of video compact discs (VCDs) effective Jan 1 next year, Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin announced Wednesday.

The Government has also fixed RM21 for local music compact discs (CDs) and RM29 for foreign music Cds.

Muhyiddin said the Cabinet Wednesday approved the new price list for VCDs and CDs.

The two products will become price-controlled items starting Jan 1 next year.

However, the price for imported CDs and VCDs would not be controlled, while music cassettes and digital video discs (DVDs) would not be under the price control list, he said.

“The Cabinet agreed to give a three-month time-frame for the industry players to clear their stock which is estimated to be valued at RM40 million. This is why they are given the grace period,” he told reporters after the ministry’s post-Cabinet meeting here.

He said that from Jan 1 next year, those who sell CDs and VCDs would need to apply for a licence from the ministry as required for those selling price control items.

“According to our record, there are 3,000 to 4,000 people involved in selling VCDs and CDs. They would be required to get their licence from the ministry at a nominal fee,” he said.

Muhyiddin said computer software would not be listed as a price control item similar to imported CDs and VCDs.

He said the ministry would review the decision to include CDs and VCDs under the price control list in one year and if it finds that the industry was clear of pirated CDs and VCDs then the two products could be lifted from the price control list.

“We would review this decision in one year after implementation and if we find that the price control mechanism managed to revitalise the industry, then we would lift it,” he said.

Muhyiddin said in the meantime, the ministry would continue to monitor the situation of the pirated CDs and VCDs hitting the market and also beef up enforcement to deter piracy of the goods.

The Government decided to control the prices of CDs and VCDs after it was found that the piracy of CDs and VCDs has reached critical stage and sold much lower then original CDs and VCDs.

He said the ministry’s officials would meet industry player in a day or two to inform them officially of the new price of CDs and VCDs.

“I hope they’ll accept. Some consumers may feel disappointed with the new prices but this decision took into account of all existing sectors,” he said.

Muhyiddin said industry players too were expected to be upset over the new price but “it is not the lowest but reasonable and just pricing”.

He said CDs and VCDs which were sold lower than the new price ceiling can go ahead and sell their products at the present price.

“The Government has given the best solution to the problem we are facing. I hope all parties will agree to this. A 30 per cent decrease in prices of the CDs and VCDs I think is good,” he said.

Muhyiddin said the Government decided on the new price after a study conducted by a private consultancy firm, which took into account the views of all industry players.

“The company also met industry players, did a market survey and check on the profit margin of the two products. They also spoke to consumers,” he added.

Sunday, September 14, 2003

所得稅預扣及銀行鳩收出弊端 6765萬誤存私人戶頭

星洲日報‧2003/09/14
updated:2003-09-14 20:00:00 MYT


(吉隆坡訊)《2002年總稽查司報告》揭露,大馬內陸稅收局展開的預扣所得稅(PCB)和通過銀行鳩收所得稅的措施出現許多弊端。

報告指出,其中一間負責鳩收所得稅的銀行,即土著聯昌銀行曾經把收到的6765萬元所得稅款項轉賬到中央銀行戶頭之前,錯誤的轉到私人戶頭。同時,該銀行在轉賬給中央銀行時,也少交6943萬元。

因此,總稽查司拿督哈迪南在報告中促請內陸稅收局嚴密監督鳩收所得稅、戶頭賬目和轉帳到中央銀行的情況。

哈迪南認為,延遲轉賬所得稅款項的銀行必須繳付利息。

內陸稅收局在2000至2002年之間,總共收到1159億元稅收,比目標1180億元稍低。

內陸稅收局是從1994年開始推介通過銀行繳交所得稅的措施,涉及的銀行包括土著聯昌銀行、大眾銀行和大眾金融。

總稽查司在檢查後發現,通過銀行鳩收所得稅的措施下共有541萬元延遲進賬,另有3萬元還沒有呈報在納稅人的最新賬目內。

這份報告也建議內陸稅收局嚴厲對付那些沒有在薪金中按月預扣員工所得稅的僱主。

報告說,預扣所得稅計劃是否成功是有賴於僱主的合作。“因此,該局應採取嚴厲的行動對付那些不合作者。”

報告透露,一些僱主確實沒有實行預扣所得稅計劃,一些則延遲繳交所得稅、預扣數額不足或提供不完整的資料,使到納稅人的帳目延遲完成。

稽查署也檢查了153名僱主的文件,發現17名僱主在2000年至2001年提呈的預扣所得稅不足,導致內陸稅收局減少11萬元進帳。其中91人延遲繳交229萬元的稅款,一些甚至延遲長達196天。

Jual anak haram


Oleh RAZALI YAHYA dan MOHD RAMZI SANNY
am@hmetro ahad.com.my
14 September 2003

BATAM (INDONESIA): Kebanyakan bayi yang diseludup dan dijual ke Malaysia oleh sindiket penyeludupan bayi antarabangsa dipercayai anak haram yang diserahkan pelacur atau anak luar nikah pasangan yang terlanjur.

Bayi yang dilahirkan oleh wanita pekerja seks atau pelacur yang digelar wanita tuna susila (WTS) di sini, dianggap ‘anak berem’ (anak beramai-ramai) kerana tidak diketahui bapanya.

Ini berikutan pelacur terbabit dilanggani ramai lelaki setiap hari dan mereka dipercayai tidak mengetahui benih lelaki dalam kandungan wanita berkenaan.

Lebih drastik lagi, Metro Ahad diberitahu, ada pelacur sengaja diupah mengandung oleh calo-calo (orang suruhan) yang mencari bayi untuk diseludup dan dijual ke Malaysia.

Pelacur berkenaan akan diberi upah sehingga Rp1.5 juta (RM675) semata-mata untuk mengandung dan kemudian menyerahkan bayi terbabit kepada calo yang bertindak menguruskan penyeludupan bayi berkenaan.

Timbalan Ketua Polis Kota Besar Barelang, Drs Heru Winarko, tidak menafikan ada pelacur di sini menjual anak mereka yang baru lahir kepada anggota sindiket.

“Menjual anak haram atau anak luar nikah kepada sindiket penjualan bayi adalah antara faktor yang dikenalpasti. Ia berlaku, memang tidak boleh nafikan.

“Selagi ada permintaan dan penawaran antara sindiket kedua-dua negara (Malaysia dan Indonesia), penjualan bayi yang dilahirkan hasil hubungan luar nikah memang tidak boleh dielakkan,” katanya dalam pertemuan dengan wartawan Metro Ahad di sini, baru-baru ini.

Beliau berkata, pihak di Malaysia yang mahukan bayi tidak ambil peduli status bayi berkenaan, sama ada anak luar nikah atau dijual atas kerelaan ibu bapanya kerana kesempitan wang.

“Sindiket itu lebih mementingkan keuntungan dan jika ada permintaan di Malaysia, pihak sindiket di sini perlu bersedia mempersiapkan bayi untuk dibawa masuk dan dijual ke Malaysia melalui Johor,” katanya.

Heru berkata, disebabkan pihak di sini hanya perlu mencari bayi untuk permintaan di Malaysia, sindiket di sini juga tidak ambil pusingan status bayi.

Cari bayi

Bagi sindiket di sini, mereka hanya perlu mencari bayi dan kemudian dihantar segera ke Johor.

“Sebab itu kita tidak nafikan calo-calo sindiket di sini akan bergerak mencari wanita hamil dan yang paling mudah dicari adalah wanita tuna susila yang menjadi langganan ramai lelaki.

“Banyak faktor memungkinkan ibu di sini menjual bayi mereka, termasuk wanita nakal yang tidak mahu bayi mereka, selain faktor ekonomi dan kesempitan hidup,” katanya.

Seorang penduduk tempatan yang dikenali sebagai Irwan memberitahu Metro Ahad, kegiatan menjual bayi di sini sudah lama berlaku.



Menurutnya, pelacur di sini terlalu ramai dan ada di antara mereka hamil disebabkan pekerjaan mereka.

“Untuk mengelakkan malu dan diketahui keluarga di kampung selain enggan bertanggungjawab memelihara bayi, mereka lebih rela menjual bayi anak haram itu.

“Selain mendapat wang lumayan, ia jalan terbaik daripada menanggung beban memelihara bayi yang tidak diketahui siapa bapanya,” katanya.

Beliau berkata, ibu-ibu ayam atau digelar mami turut mengambil kesempatan menjadi orang tengah bagi mencari jalan penyelesaian masalah WTS jagaannya yang mengandung.

“Mami memainkan fungsi dan mencari calo yang berminat membeli bayi yang dikandung WTS jagaannya.

“Bahkan ada mami mendapat tempahan awal daripada calo dan mami akan pastikan mana-mana anak buahnya supaya mengandung dan menyerahkan bayi terbabit untuk dijual kepada sindiket di sini,” katanya.

Sasaran calo

Seorang wanita yang hanya mahu dikenali sebagai Desy, 25, berkata dia menyedari ada kegiatan menjual bayi di sini.

Malah, katanya, selain WTS yang menjadi sasaran calo yang diupah sindiket mencari bayi, turut diburu calo adalah ibu-ibu yang ramai anak, ibu yang kesempitan wang serta gadis yang terlanjur. Mereka turut diumpan supaya menjual bayi dalam kandungan.

“Sebaik bayi berkenaan lahir, ia diserahkan kepada sindiket yang sudah mendapatkan pembelinya sama ada di Malaysia atau di sini.

“Bayi yang berkulit lebih cerah mendapat permintaan tinggi dan harganya lebih mahal, begitu sebaliknya.

“Saya dengar bayi yang dijual kepada sindiket dibayar antara Rp1.5 juta (RM676) hingga Rp3.5 juta (RM1,577),” katanya.

Metro Ahad yang menjejaki kegiatan sindiket penyeludupan dan penjualan bayi Indonesia ke Malaysia mendapati ia sukar di kesan dan dikawal.

Ini kerana permintaan terhadap bayi serta desakan untuk menjual bayi oleh WTS menyebabkan kegiatan ini terus berlaku.

Selain itu, bagi bayi yang mendapat permintaan pembeli di Malaysia, rangkaian sindiket di sini difahamkan tidak terlalu sukar melakukan penyeludupan menerusi pantai Tanjung Bemban, Batu Besar di sini yang hanya mengambil masa kira-kira sejam perjalanan menggunakan bot pancung dengan enjin 40 kuasa kuda.

Jika menggunakan kuasa enjin lebih besar, perjalanan menempuh ombak merentasi Selat Singpapura ke pantai Johor hanya mengambil masa kira-kira 30 minit.

Seorang penduduk di Batu Besar, Nongsa di sini, Hassan Gano, 60, berkata sepanjang pantai Batu Besar adalah paling hampir dengan pantai Johor.

Beliau tidak menafikan sindiket penyeludupan bayi ke Malaysia menerusi pantai di sepanjang kawasan Bukit Besar mungkin berlaku disebabkan faktor geografi dan jarak yang terlalu hampir.

父親偕2男子逼看黃帶4姐妹被當性奴



(萬津十四日訊)四名身世坎坷姐妹花,自父母離異後,多次慘遭親生父親、褓姆丈夫及一名華裔男子強姦和非禮,每天猶如活在煉獄中!
令人驚訝的是,四名姐妹中,年齡最大的姐姐只有八歲,妹妹則是四歲,她們每次被包括父親在內的三名男子,連誘帶迫繳約一起觀看色情帶,當三人慾火焚身後,就霸王硬上弓,將她們姦污。

警方在接獲女童母親和福利局官員舉報後,於昨日下午逮捕女童父親和褓姆丈夫進行調查,刻在通緝一名華裔男子的下落。

據瞭解,警方不排除父親在強姦女兒後,復又「出賣」女兒讓人姦污,並涉及錢財交易成份。

雪州刑事調查主任阿布峇卡高級助理總監,今日在萬津警局召開記者會,揭發這宗人神共憤的強姦案件。

警方初步調查,四名年齡分別為八歲、七歲、六歲及四歲的巫裔姐妹,其中三名較年長者已證實被強姦,而她們四歲的妹妹則相信是被非禮。

他說,這四名身世可憐的姐妹,來自萬津甘榜甘鐘拉叻,她們父母自四年前離異後,母親便改嫁他人。

他指出,女童父親為了工作,於是把她們交托給附近一家馬來家庭教養。

沒想到,四名姐妹原本天真無邪的童年生活,竟隨著父母分開而改變,年紀小小的她們,不但失去與父母共聚的天倫之樂,從此更活在恐懼和被欺壓的世界裡。

阿布峇卡表示,警方相信三名受害者,過去四年來,一直被嫌犯威迫一起觀看色情錄影帶,然後再姦污女童。

「警方相信,女童除了遭禽獸不如的父親霸王硬上弓外,同時被褓姆丈夫和一名華裔男子姦污。」

他說,警方於昨日下午二時許,分別扣留女童父親(四十二歲)和褓姆丈夫(五十七歲)進行調查,並通緝一名華裔男子的下落。

他指出,落網的兩名嫌犯,並沒有固定工作,他們在上述甘榜任職散工。

他透露,警方是援引刑事法典三七六強姦條文、三七七 E 違反自然犯罪條文及三五四非禮條文調查此案,並將案中三名受害女童送入萬津醫院進行檢驗。

據瞭解,三名慘遭父親強姦的女童,相信是長久活在擔心受害的日子裡,結果都顯得驚慌,不愛講話。

阿布峇卡說,警方希望獲得公眾人士協助,挺身而出舉報有關三名嫌犯的所作所為,任何有情報的公眾人士,受促盡快聯絡萬津警局或鄰近警方人員。

褓姆驚訝丈夫被捕

看顧四名女童的褓姆烏迷阿米指出,儘管丈夫被指涉及強姦三名女童,但她卻不曾在屋內看到丈夫幹下這種獸行。

她說,她在丈夫(五十七歲)昨日下午二時許,在萬津甘鐘拉叻住家附近被警方逮捕後,才恍然大悟丈夫過去的行為。

不過,她表示,過去四年來,她不曾看過丈夫對女童幹下強姦和非禮的動作。

她說,她和丈夫結婚十餘年,育有一名十三歲兒子,婚後一家人住在上述木屋。

她表示,其丈夫和女童父親是鄰居,因此,當對方和妻子離婚後,他們四名女兒便交由她照顧。

她指出,她已照顧四名女童四年,但是女童的父親卻沒有按時給托兒費。

她說,女童父親因為工作不定時,而且本身又是一名酒鬼,所以他只在每隔兩個月,付廿零吉給她。

無論如何,由於是鄰居,所以她也不嫌棄女童,反而一直照顧到現在。

「不料,現在卻傳出丈夫涉及強姦女童的罪行,除了讓她驚訝無法置信,同時也對女童的不幸遭遇,感到傷心。」

見到父親嚎啕大哭.母親起疑心揭內情

四名慘遭親生父親強姦和非禮的女童,見到父親前來,不但沒有歡愉之心,反而害怕和嚎啕大哭,引起母親懷疑後才揭發這宗人神共憤的強姦案件。

雪州刑事調查主任阿布峇卡高級助理總監指出,四名被父親強姦和非禮的女童,是趁著最近學校假期,隨母親回家,歡度天倫之樂。

「結果,當學校即將開課,父親前來接領她們回褓姆家生活時,她們顯得害怕,見到父親即當場嚎啕大哭。」

女童的舉止,引起她們母親的懷疑,經過再三追問下,才揭發親生父親強姦和非禮女兒的事件。

令人悲憤的是,這名父親不但奪走女兒的貞操,同時還「允許」看顧她們的褓姆丈夫和一名華裔男子,將她們姦污。

阿布峇卡說,被警方通緝的華裔男子(散工),是有關褓姆丈夫的好友,他們倆人在觀看色情錄影帶後,接著便幹下上述獸行。

由於怒不可遏,女童母親在獲悉此事後,於昨日偕同福利局官員向萬津警局報案,要求警方接手調查。

警方在接獲投報後,即刻展開行動,將女童父親和褓姆丈夫逮捕歸案。

Saturday, September 13, 2003

Budget 2004


1. Enforcement officers of various agencies to get benefits and remunerations provided for security personnel and their families, if injured and die in line of duty.

2. Several departments of police force to be reviewed to increase their capacity and effectiveness through provision of equipment and special training.

3. Government to increase and strengthen security and enforcement following recent spate of hijacking, piracy and gangsterism, including "tonto" activities.

4. Orang asli to be given priority under the SPNB low and medium cost housing scheme as well as soft loans to buy these houses.

5. Village micro-credit scheme to be extended to orang asli.

6. 10 percent hike in import and excise duties on liquor. Usage of banderol & security ink on liqour to be implemented.

7. Use of special stickers or banderol and security ink to curb smuggling of cigarettes.

8. 20 percent increase in import and excise duties on cigarettes & other tobacco products to RM259 from RM216 per kg and to RM58 from RM48 per kg, respectively.

9. Pensioners to get discount on selected medicines through Pharma niaga's special counter.

10. To improve healthcare, 10 percent import duty on health supplements to be abolished.

11. Companies must bear medical costs of their employees.

12. Insurance companies encouraged to widen coverage to more M'sians by providing lower premiums.

13. To increase diagnosis and monitoring of infectious diseases, such as SARS, tuberculosis, leprosy and dengue, RM3 mln would be allocated.

14. RM9 bln allocated to provide quality medical services to all M'sians, up 20.5 percent from 2003.

15. RM215 mln to be allocated for tourism promotional activities.

16. Promotional efforts to focus on regional markets, especially China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, India and Asean countries & will be intensified in West Asia and new markets such as Pakistan, Indo-China and New Zealand.

17. Malaysian tourism promotion board will be restructured to undertake a more systematic and effective marketing and communications programmes.

18. A second round of pioneer status or investment tax allowance to be given for the tourism industry, including hotel operators that undertake expansion, modernisation and renovation.

19. Income received by researchers from research activity to be given 50 percent tax exemption for five years. At same time, no charges impose on patents registered by local researchers.

20. SIRIM to be restructured to become the focal point to match R&D with market demand and match them with R&D capacity in universities and research institutions.

21. Three new research institutions to be formed in biovalley, Cyberjaya, specifically in biotechnology.

22. Employers who employ unemployed graduates registered with the economic planning unit to be given double tax deduction for two years.

23. Government-owned companies, such as TNB and Telekom will also provide technical and vocational training programmes at their training centre.

24. Pusat Giat MARA to be upgraded as community colleges with emphasis on vocational training.

25. A new agency a la PTPN to be established to manage the RM500 mln skills development fund.

26. RM319 mln provided to increase quality and quantity of skilled manpower.

27. PTPN loans also considered for students pursuing twinning programmes abroad for final year studies.

28. Students wishing to pursue Islamic studies at foreign universities can borrow from PTPN, on conditions the institutions are recognised by government.

29. PTPN repayment schedule to be restructured to allow repayment at five percent of their monthly income for the first five years and 10 percent for the balance repayment period.

30. Interest rate on loans of Perbadanan Tabung Pendidikan Tinggi Nasional (PTPN) to be cut to three percent from four percent. Repayment starts on third year after employment.

31. Fees or honorarium received by lecturers invited by the national accreditation board to assist in undertaking validation, moderation or accreditation of franchised education programmes, to be exempted from income tax.

32. RM1.8 bln allocated for primary and secondary schools, hostels & teachers's quarters, RM637 mln for school computerisation and RM490 mln for financing infrastructure requirements of public institutions of higher learning.

33. Education sector to receive continued priority with an allocation of RM20.2 bln or a quarter of operating expenditure.

34. Another RM2.7 bln or 8.4 percent for development projects in the security sector.

35. In addition, RM11.2 bln or 34.9 percent for social sector namely education and training, health, welfare, community development, youth and sports projects.

36. Of the 2004 budget's proposed development expenditure, RM13.8 bln or 43.1 percent allocated for economic, infrastructure and industrial sector as well as rural electricity and water supply programmes.

37. Adoption of two-year budget since Budget 2002 resulted in speedier implementation of development projects and no shortfall in expenditure as in previous years.

38. Allocation for government agencies would be based on their financial positions to ensure effective distribution of government funds. Agencies with high uncommitted reserves would have to utilise their reserve to finance their programmes.

39. Objective of a balance budget could not be achieved in 2005 due to regional financial crisis, Sept 11 event, geo-political tensions in the Middle East, war in Iraq and SARS outbreak. But government committed to attain it in near term.

40. M'sia strongly opposes agenda to open up markets for government procurement, which is being discussed at the WTO forum in Cancun, Mexico.

41. Government, through its own companies will intensify efforts to achieve New Economic Policy (NEP) objective, especially through vendor and umbrella system, which will be reviewed.

42. Government to ensure conducive environment, including R&D development, provision of funds, increased promotional and marketing efforts, provision of logistics services and improved public sector delivery system to achieve sovereign competitiveness.

43. Vendor and umbrella system will be reviewed as part of move to promote domestic industries capable of competing in international market.

44. To promote domestic industries, the government will require Tenaga Nasional, Telekom, Proton and Petronas as well as Khazanah and PNB companies and other govt cos to spearhead the development of domestic products and technologies in their respective sectors.

45. Government to review procurement system. Use of local content and value-added to be given due consideration in tender evaluation.

46. Excise duties to be imposed on imported cars when import duties are reduced from Jan 1, 2004. Consumers encouraged to buy cars now.

47. Strengthens social agenda and caring society to enhance quality of life and well being of M'sians.

48. Enhance the nation's competitiveness to enable M'sia to be a truly trading nation.

49. Monetary policy that supports and harness private consumption and investment.

50. Monetary policy that supports and harness private consumption and investment

51. Fiscal consolidation towards a balanced budget in near term.

52. Accelerate domestic private sector and stimulate services to spearhead economic growth.

53. Fund for the development and promotion of Malaysian brands would be increased by an additional RM100 mln.

54. Fund for the development and promotion of Malaysian brands would be increased by an additional RM100 mln.

55. Income derived by operating headquarters (OHQS) from the provision of services to its related companies in M'sia to get income tax exemption not exceeding 20 percent of its total income from its global operations.

56. Labuan offshore companies allowed to set up marketing offices in johor Baharu, which is rapidly developing with increasing number of multinational companies that have relocated operations there.

57. Multimedia Development Corporation's (MDC) role expanded to become a one-stop agency a la MIDA for selected services.

58. Malaysian Venture Capital management's (Mavcap) venture capital fund to be increased by RM300 mln to RM800 mln.

59. To encourage individuals to remit their income from their investment or savings abroad for domestic investment, individuals' s income remitted from abroad to get exemption, as presently enjoyed by companies.

60. For companies in Sabah & Sarawak and peninsular's eastern corridor pioneer status's income tax exemption to be raised to 100 percent from 85 percent and investment tax allowance to go up to 100 percent from 80 percent. The allowance could be fully deducted and not limited to 85 percent of the statutory income.

61. Existing companies using oil palm biomass get pioneer status with 100 percent tax exemption for 10 years on the increased income from reinvestment, and 100 percent investment tax allowance for five years on additional investment.

62. For companies producing goods using oil palm biomass, they get the rate of income tax exemption under the pioneer status raise to 100 percent for 10 years from 70 percent for five years. These companies also receive an increase in the rate of investment tax allowance to 100 percent for five years from 60 percent previously.

63. Locally-owned companies which reinvest in machinery and equipment to get pioneer status with 70 percent tax exemption on the increased income from reinvestment for a five-year period. These companies also get investment tax allowance of 60 percent on the additional investment for a period of five years.

64. Threshold for chargeable income of SMIs that is subjected to 20percent corporate tax as announced in 2003 budget, to be increase to RM500,000 from RM100,000. The move would provide SMIs with RM322 mln for reinvestment.

65. Government to encourage private sector initiatives to form trading houses for M'sia's export.

66. Matrade to immediately undertake roadshows, including export promotion on wheels to the West Asia and Africa.

67. RM100 mln launching grant for matrade to bring in expertise from the private sector, including expatriates to promote exports.

68. As part of efforts to redouble efforts to be a global trader, matrade will be corporatised.

69. Must promote private sector initiatives to produce local products with

70. Must export goods that we produce ourselves.

71. 88,000 applications for RM1.4 bln microcredit schemes were received of which 42, 000 applications valued at RM 430 mln have been approved.

72. Government will provide support by putting in place appropriate policies and funds and improve delivery system for Malaysian producers.

73. Necessary to create and design Malaysian brands that can be marketed abroad.

Bernama.com