Employers will soon have to insure their maids
5 September 2008, By The Star
PUTRAJAYA: People who hire domestic maids will soon be required to buy insurance for their helpers under a proposed amendment to the Employment Act and Workers’ Compensation Act. Human Resources Minister Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam said maids who were earlier exempted from insurance coverage would be included to get protection from their employers as part of the planned amendments. “Maids were earlier given exemption because we thought employers would automatically take care of their welfare, but now since it has been found to be otherwise the exemption clause would be removed,” he said. He said amendments to both the Acts are expected to be tabled in Parliament by December after getting the go-ahead from the Cabinet. With the amendments, which would see a reduced dependence on foreign workers, employers would be required to notify the ministry of vacancies and justify the need to employ them one month before applying for foreign workers, he said. He said outsourcing companies would have to inform the ministry of the exact number of workers that was needed to ensure there would be no glut in the country. There had been cases where outsourcing companies had brought in foreigners when jobs were not available, he said. “Outsourcing companies will be regulated based on this new system,” he told reporters here yesterday after meeting Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar. The ministry had a database of unemployed and skilled Malaysian workers, he said, adding that the ministry also conducts skills training to meet local demand. Syed Hamid said the Human Resources and Home Ministries were working hand-in-hand to reduce the number of foreign workers in the country from the current 2.2 million to 1.8 million by the year 2010 as planned under the mid-term review of the Ninth Malaysia Plan.

Govt Reissues Scrap Metal Collector's Licence
27 August 2008, By BERNAMA
KUALA LUMPUR -- The government has decided to reissue the scrap metal collector's licence on Aug 12 after a two-year freeze, the Dewan Rakyat was told Wednesday. Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar said police would approve the licence to those who meet the conditions stipulated. He said the licence was frozen on Dec 8, 2006 when the Second-hand Dealers Act 1946 was being reviewed by the ministry and other government agencies. "Police then were also checking the activity of licensed and unlicensed scrap metal dealers," he said when replying to Dr P. Ramasamy (DAP-Batu Kawan). Syed Hamid said the ministry had curtail cable, metal and copper thefts from the premises of utility companies. "After considering the plight of scrap metal dealers, the government had decided to reissue the licence," he said.

Park at your own risk
28 August 2008, By The Star
THE high cost of petrol, accompanied by the rising inflation, has led many people to opt for public transport like the KTM Komuter and LRT. Many of them park their vehicles at the open car parks at the light rail transit and train stations and then board the train to work. This seems to be a very viable and convenient option, but one big problem has arisen from the arrangement — vehicle thefts. There has been an increase in car and motorcycle thefts at the light rail transit and train stations during the last few months. Thefts of old cars and cannibalisation of the vehicles for spare parts are occurring at an alarming rate at a few LRT stations and the people have been warned to be cautious when parking in these areas. Since January, five cars have been reported stolen from the public car park at the Ampang LRT station. There were reports of attempts to steal motorcycles too. The passenger volume on the LRT has increased with the rising cost of living, prompting more commuters to leave their vehicles at public car parks for the daily commute. This translates to limited parking spaces for the LRT workers who are forced to park in desolate areas. RapidKL worker Ab Razak Mahmud’s 25-year-old Datsun 120Y was stolen in February. “I have been parking in the car park since 1996 and only had a third-party insurance coverage. Now I am saddled with a new car loan,” he said. Mohd Faez Md Zain’s Toyota LE 1985 model was stolen in January. The latest car theft there occurred on Aug 5. Khalil Mohd Piei was fortunate that his nine-year-old Proton Putra was recovered by the police after it was stolen from the car park in June. But the repairs cost him RM6,000. Meanwhile, an attempt was made to steal Zaid Talib’s new motorcycle. “When I got to my bike after work, I realised the keyhole had been tampered with and the handle had been kicked to dislodge the lock,” he said. Rosli Arshad’s car sustained damage when the side window was smashed by thieves to retrieve a bag filled with sporting goods. “Unfortunately, the heavy downpour caused water to seep in and damage the seats. I didn’t lose my valuables but the repair bill was high,” he said. According to a newspaper vendor in the area who only identified herself as Fathima, she had spotted a few suspicious-looking individuals lurking near the vehicles. “They usually disappear when I start to observe them but I am only here a few hours daily. They might be studying my routine too,” she said. The LRT workers and the public are lamenting the serious lack of security in the car park. Suggestions have been made to convert an abandoned warehouse in the area to a multi-level car park but unresolved ownership issues are throwing a damper on the proposal. Ampang OCPD ACP Abdul Jalil Hassan told StarMetro that in the first two weeks of this month, two cars and six motorcycles were reported stolen. “I advise motorists and motorcyclists not to park in back lanes and areas far from public view because vehicle thefts are on the rise. If there is no choice, invest in steering locks and central locking systems,” he said. Jalil said the police department was beefing up its patrol unit with eight motorcycles for easy access into narrow paths and back lanes. Sentul OCPD ACP Zakaria Pagan said most car thefts occurred at the Wangsa Maju LRT station. “From January to August, we have had 17 cases at the station and most occurred between 6am and noon,” he said. Zakaria said the police had taken note of the trend by increasing patrols during the hours. “We also have to look at whether the parking lots were guarded and I sincerely ask that car owners increase the safety measures in their vehicles,” Zakaria said. According to a parking attendant at the Sentul Timur LRT station, there were hardly any case of car thefts for the past one year, except for one incident during the March 8 general election. “I’ve been working here for about a year and I always keep an eye out for suspicious characters lingering near the cars,” Hamidah Sapii said. She said the theft occurred when she was busy handling customers on another side of the parking lot. “These people were very daring to commit the crime at 9am when I had my back turned for a few minutes,” she said. Hamidah said she knew the owners of the vehicles and that it made it easier to identify strangers at the parking lots. “I have all the emergency numbers needed should anything happen while I’m on watch,” she said. For those who park their cars around the area, their concerns are also about cars being broken into. “My cousin’s car was broken into two months ago at the Sentul LRT. We pay RM3 for the parking space. “What’s the point of paying if you can’t leave with peace of mind,” Devan Nair, 25, said. Till press time, RapidKL had yet to comment on the incidents.

Flash flood havoc in city
28 August 2008, By New Straits Times
KUALA LUMPUR: A downpour lasting more than three hours yesterday caused traffic chaos and brought many parts of the city to a standstill. Major roads in the city centre, including Jalan Mahameru, Jalan Bangsar, Jalan Tun Perak, Jalan Cheras, Jalan Sg Besi, Jalan Ampang and Jalan Kuching, were badly affected. Massive traffic jams were also reported along the Federal Highway, KL-Seremban highway, Jalan Raja Chulan, Jalan Tun Perak and Puduraya. A City Hall flood operations room spokesman said the water levels at Sungai Klang and Sungai Gombak rose about two metres within an hour after the rain. "We started receiving distress calls at 3pm from the public about flash floods and rushed our response teams to the affected areas." A spokesman from the city traffic police control room said traffic police were deployed to the affected areas to control the situation. A spokesman from the Jalan Hang Tuah Fire and Rescue Department, meanwhile, said the department's personnel were despatched to pump out floodwaters. Checks at Jalan Pahang and its surrounding areas found scores of bus commuters and vehicles stranded along Jalan Tun Razak, especially near the Pekeliling bus station. Muhammad Jamal Abdullah, 35, one of the affected commuters, said massive traffic jams particularly after heavy rain were increasingly becoming a norm. "I have been stuck here for an hour and all vehicles are moving very slowly. "I think the authorities should look into this matter seriously. This is not the first time."

MAA Expects Motor Vehicles Sales From July To December 2008 To Drop By 16.5 Pct
30 July 2008, By BERNAMA
PETALING JAYA -- The Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA),expects the total industry volume (TIV), of new vehicles sold in the country to drop by 16.5 percent or 45,874 units for the second half of 2008. Its president, Datuk Aishah Ahmad said a major portion of the decrease would be from a 28 percent decline in the sale of commercial vehicles followed by the 0.5 percent drop in passenger cars. She said among the factors considered in the forecast was the impact of higher oil prices, inflation and material costs, the hike in hire purchase interest rates especially for non-national brands and the fall in liquidity due to a bearish stock market. Meanwhile, for the first six months of 2008, the TIV of new motor vehicles sold jumped 25.9 percent to 277,973 units from 220,739 for the corresponding period of 2007. Aishah, speaking at a press conference here today, said passenger vehicle sales amounted to 254,252 units in the first six months the year and accounted for a 91.5 percent share of the TIV. This share is marginally higher than the 91 percent achieved for the same period in 2007 when the sales volume of 220,739 units was registered. A total of 23,721 units of commercial vehicles were sold in the first six months this year, accounting for a 8.5 percent share of the TIV. "The share was marginally lower than the nine percent achieved in the same period for 2007 with a sales volume of 20,287 units," she said. The total production volume for the first half of 2008 rose 26.7 percent to 263,222 units.This compared to 207,826 units for the same period last year. The production of passenger vehicles in the first half of 2008 increased by 27.1 percent to 240,572 units compared to 189,336 units previously. The production of commercial vehicles for the first half the year also grew by 22.5 percent to 22,650 units when compared to 18,490 previously. Asked about the MAA's hopes for the upcoming Budget 2009, Aishah said:"Maybe in terms of hybrid vehicles, the government should consider some incentives in the excise and import duty."

Petrol, Diesel Prices Push Up CPI To 7.7 Percent
23 July 2008, By BERNAMA
KUALA LUMPUR -- Sharp rise in petrol and diesel prices have pushed up the consumer price index (CPI) to 7.7 per cent in June from 1.4 per cent in the same month last year. The CPI was also higher by 3.9 per cent as compared to May, the Statistics Department said in statement Wednesday. The index for food and non-alcoholic beverages for June compared with the same month last month showed a higher percentage change of 10 per cent while the index for non-food surged by 6.7 per cent. The month of June also saw increases in all the main group except in housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels which declined by 0.4 per cent, while communication remained unchanged at 96.8. The 3.9 per cent increase in June is the result of notable rise in the index for transport at 18.8 per cent due to substantial jump in the index to 135.9 in June from 114.4 in May, the departmentm said. The two per cent increase in the index for food and non-alcoholic beverages in June compared with that of the previous month is the result of increase in the index for food at home ( 2.1 per cent), food away from home ( 1.9 per cent) and coffee, tea, cocoa and non-alcoholic beverages ( 0.5 per cent). Among food items which recorded notable increase in the June index compared with the previous month were tomatoes ( 19.3 per cent), chicken eggs ( 8.9 per cent), rice ( 8.4 per cent), glutinous rice ( 7.9 per cent), imported beef ( 7.3 per cent), meehoon ( 6.2 per cent), dried mee ( 5 per cent), water melon ( 4.9 per cent), carrots ( 4.8 per cent), chicken ( 4.4 per cent) and wheat flour ( 4.2 per cent). The index of some food items declined in June than the previous month. Among them are long cabbages (-9.6 per cent), choy sum (-8.5 per cent), ladies fingers (-5 per cent), french beans (-3.6 per cent), brinjals (-3 per cent), long beans (-2.4 per cent) and red grapes (-2 per cent). A reclassification of items according to their durability and services rendered showed increases in the index for non-durable goods ( 8.4 per cent), services ( 0.6 per cent), durable goods ( 0.4 per cent) and semi-durable goods ( 0.2 percent). The CPI for the first six months also increased by 3.7 per cent to 109 compared with that of 105.1 (two per cent) in the same period in 2007, it said. The January-June period showed increases in the index for food and non-alcoholic of 6.1 per cent and non-food 2.6 per cent, it added.

Free Rear Seat Belts Installation For 431,000 Perodua Cars
22 July 2008, By BERNAMA
PUTRAJAYA Owners of 431,262 Perodua cars which are without rear seat belts will get to install the safety belts for free from next year. Transport Minister Datuk Ong Tee Keat said the local car maker had allocated a total of RM41.8 million to supply and install the rear seat belts for its Kancil, Kenari, Kelisa, Kembara and Rusa models. Speaking to reporters here, he said, for security reason however, the installation could only be made at Perodua service centres nationwide. Earlier Ong witnessed the signing of memorandum of understanding between Road Safety Department and Perodua to implement community-based automative safety programme. The department was represented by its director, Datuk Suret Singh while Perodua, by its managing director Datuk Syed Abdull Hafiz Syed Abu Bakar. The government had made it compulsory for rear passengers to wear the seat belts starting Jan 1 next year but cars registered before 1995, which are without the safety feature, were given a three-year grace period from June 1 this year to install the belts. Ong said last month that apart from Perodua, several other car manufacturers would provide free installation of the seat belts. Meanwhile, Ong said members of the public were becoming more aware of the benefit of wearing the rear seat belt, from one per cent previously to 17 per cent at the moment. "Of course we still have a long way to go and this is just an average figure. In some small towns and suburbs, the percentage is even lower. But there has been a steady improvement," he said.

KL Govt urged to reduce taxes on hybrid cars
22 July 2008, By Business Times
TAXES on hybrid cars should be reduced markedly to drive the use of such fuel-saving and environment-friendly vehicles amid soaring fuel costs, industry executives. They said the government could promote hybrid cars by encouraging the use of these vehicles within its own agencies and institutions. "There's no reason why the government cannot reduce the tax to be on par with conventional vehicles if the usage of hybrid cars brings benefit in terms of fuel saving and environmental protection," Proton Edar Dealers' Association president Wan Ahmad Sepwan Wan Abdul Rahman told Business Times. Government officials reportedly said that hybrid cars are now slapped with a 260 per cent import tax. This is in comparison to zero import duty for Asean-made vehicles and 30 per cent from non-Asean countries. Additionally, there are local excise duties of 60-105 per cent for Asean and non-Asean cars, plus 10 per cent sales tax. International Trade and Industry Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said recently the duty structure for hybrid cars may be revised to attract global players to invest here. Wan Ahmad Sepwan said local car companies such as Proton and Perodua may not be ready to produce hybrid cars for now. "This technology is still expensive and it may not be feasible for Proton to develop hybrid cars, especially with such a low volume or production. "The best way is for Proton to tie up with a technical partner to introduce such technology in double quick time," he said.

Luxury car theft syndicate smashed
22 July 2008, By New Straits Times
KUALA LUMPUR: Police crippled a car theft syndicate specialising in luxury cars with the arrest of a 34-year-old man in Taman Usahawan, Kepong, last Sunday. Police also recovered five cars worth more than RM900,000. Sentul police chief Assistant Commissioner Ahmad Sofian Md Yasin said the suspect had led police to the place where the cars were hidden. The cars were stolen in the Klang Valley and Johor Baru. Police also raided the suspect's condominium unit where they seized two axes, three parang, computers used to make counterfeit road tax discs, 15 fake registration plate numbers, 10 condominium access cards and 40 car keys. He said police had been monitoring the suspect for a week before they moved in on him. Ahmad said police were looking for other gang members, which included a married couple. Meanwhile, police are looking for Lim Kwan Hoong, IC-840424-07-5033 from Penang, Lim Kin Ling, IC-760516-05-5731 and Teow Kai Hui, IC-A1749357 to help in investigations. They had lived in the condominium unit for a year. He said the syndicate targeted cars in housing areas and shopping centres. Stolen cars would be stripped bare and the cannibalised parts sold. In Putrajaya, the Anti-Corruption Agency said the other luxury car syndicate busted last week not only forged the signature of a senior government officer but also produced fake letter heads and rubber stamps bearing names of several VIPs. ACA deputy director-general Datuk Abu Kassim Mohamed said the syndicate had forged the signature of Customs director-general Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Abdul Hamid and used a rubber stamp bearing the name of Second Finance Minister Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop. The rubber stamp was seized when ACA officers raided the premises of two Datuks, believed to be behind the syndicate, on July 19. Both were believed to be responsible for using fake documents to import luxury cars through the Customs' checkpoint in Port Klang without having to pay import duty. Abu Kassim said the two, aged 35 and 45, had been arrested to help in investigations. Also seized were 13 luxury cars with unpaid tax of RM3 million, a card-printing machine and stacks of documents purportedly issued by the Customs Department. The ACA and Customs Department signed a memorandum of understanding three weeks ago under which the ACA would assist the department to rectify weaknesses in its procedures so as to reduce the possibility of corruption.

Lorry smashes into 13 vehicles
1 July 2008, By New Straits Times
SUBANG JAYA: The driver of a lorry left a trail of destruction when he lost control of the lorry which smashed into 13 vehicles. The driver of one of the cars involved in the accident near Puchong IOI Mall was killed on the spot while four had been admitted to hospital with serious injuries. Two others -- the lorry driver and a policeman in one of the cars -- were slightly injured. The 14 vehicles damaged in the accident comprised seven cars, two lorries and five motorcycles. The lorry driver is believed to have beaten a red light and failed to realise that there was a traffic island in front, causing him to lose control as he swerved to avoid it. The lorry then smashed into an oncoming Nissan car driven by Myanmar national, Nyu Kyaw Lin, 58. The car was crushed to a pulp as it went under the lorry, killing Nyu instantly. The lorry then crashed into the other vehicles as it spun out of control. A police spokesman said Fire and Rescue personnel took 30 minutes to extricate Nyu's body from the wreckage. The lorry driver was driving from Bandar Kinrara towards Bandar Puchong Jaya. The 1.40pm accident caused traffic around the area to come to a standstill for almost two hours. A police spokesman said the four injured victims were from two of the cars and two motorcyclists. They are warded at the Serdang Hospital and at press time, were reported to be in critical condition.

Myanmar killed as trailer hits vehicles and motorcycles
1 July 2008, By The Star
PETALING JAYA: A trailer, believed to have gone out of control, smashed into 13 vehicles at a junction here, killing a 64-year-old man and seriously injuring four others. In the 1.45pm incident yesterday, the trailer heading for Puchong Jaya from Kinrara was said to have lost control and rammed into a traffic light before ploughing into seven cars, a lorry and five motorcycles from the opposite direction. The accident caused cars and motorcycles to be dragged almost 50m. A Myanmar national, U Kwan Lin, 64, was killed when the car he was driving was pinned under the trailer. Kwan Lin died at the scene. The four who were seriously injured were all motorcyclists. A survivor, who only wanted to be known as Yap, 27, said he heard a loud crash and felt a strong impact, before his car was flung forward. “There were about 20 vehicles waiting at the traffic light when we were hit by the trailer,” he said. Police were forced to close the roads leading to the junction, which caused a three-hour traffic jam. A police spokesman said it took fire department personnel 30 minutes to extricate the body from the wreckage. “Initial investigations show that the trailer was speeding and lost control before reaching the junction,” he said. He said the trailer’s driver, who was not injured in the accident, has been detained to assist in investigations. He added that the injured, including a policeman, were taken to the Putrajaya and Serdang hospitals.

Towing charges up by 50%
1 July 2008, By The Star
IPOH: Towing charges are up by between 25% and 50%, depending on location, with immediate effect. Federation of Automobile Workshop Owners Association of Malaysia president Cho Chee Seng, citing rising costs, said the recommended fees within city limits (or for the first 20km) were RM100 for daytime towing and RM150 for night towing. For towing on the highway, charges would be RM150 for the first 20km during the day, and RM200 at night. For every additional kilometre, the charge would be RM1 (day) and RM2 (night). Previously, tow truck drivers charged RM80 for daytime towing and RM110 for night towing within city limits, and RM100 and RM150, respectively, for towing on the highway. “The last time we revised our charges was 10 years ago,” Cho said, noting that the fees did not include toll charges and additional equipment needed to recover vehicles such as cranes. Cho said the federation’s members would also increase their labour charges from today, to RM45 per hour from RM25 before.

No Action If Rear Passengers Exceed Number Of Seat Belts In Vehicle
17 June 2008, By BERNAMA
PUTRAJAYA -- No enforcement action will be taken if the number of back passengers in a car exceed the number of rear seat belts available for safety wear. Transport Minister Datuk Ong Tee Keat said this was because each vehicle only had three rear seat belts installed as required by the government. "We are aware of such cases involving families with more than three children each and it's the only car they can afford to have. We understand this. "We will not take action if the fourth rear passenger is not wearing a seat belt. But our position in this matter should not encourage people to overload their vehicles," he said. Ong was speaking to reporters after witnessing the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Road Safety Department (JKJR) and Perusahaan Otomobil Nasional Sdn Bhd (Proton) for a community-based programme for automotive safety. The MoU was signed by JKJR director-general Datuk Suret Singh and Proton managing director Datuk Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohamed Tahir. The authorities will issue summonses on rear passengers not wearing seat belts beginning Jan 1, 2009 as part of efforts to reduce road accident facilities involving vehicle passengers. Ong said the move by Proton to install for free, seat belts for 227,000 Proton-make cars -- Saga, Iswara and Gen2 -- which had not been equipped with the safety divide, showed the company's commitment to promoting road safety. "It's a new chapter in creating a road safety culture in the country by corporate citizens," he added. Yesterday, Ong said that about 479,000 passenger vehicles, mostly registered before 1995, would get free installation of rear seat belts beginning early next year until 2020 under a sponsorship programme initiated by the government. Meanwhile, Syed Zainal said efforts were underway to ensure the availability of parts and readiness of the service centres prior to the commencement of the exercise in January next year. "As this involves the safety of its customers and road users in general, Proton feels it is important that this exercise is not delayed." He said a total of 384 Proton Edar service centres, EON and sales representatives nationwide would be involved in the exercise.

16% rise in deaths on KL roads
28 May 2008, By The Star
KUALA LUMPUR: The city saw 78 road users killed in 77 accidents in the first four months of this year, a 16.4% rise over that in the corresponding period last year. Motorcyclists accounted for 51 deaths, or 65% of the total. City traffic police chief Asst Comm Abdul Wahab Abdul Rahman said most of the road deaths were the result of serious head injuries. He attributed the higher fatalities to the negative, reckless attitude of motorcyclists, and their love of speed. “Motorcyclists love to ride dangerously and to speed through red lights (at road junctions). They have no regard for the safety of other road users,” he said after launching a road safety campaign together with Pos Malaysia and the Kuala Lumpur traffic police on Tuesday. Stricter enforcement was needed to solve the problem, he added. Last year, 239 deaths were reported in the city, 6.6% lower than in 2006, in which 255 deaths were recorded. Pos Malaysia state manager Aziz Sulong said half of the 152 accidents involving its staff were motorcyclist postmen. There were 10 fatalities in those accidents.

Klang Valley Shaken Up By Tremors
20 May 2008, By BERNAMA
KUALA LUMPUR -- Several areas in the Klang Valley were shaken up by tremors following an earthquake off North Sumatra at 10.26pm Monday night. The Malaysian Meteorological Department said the earthquake measuring 6.1 on the Richter scale did not pose a tsunami threat. Meteorological Department director-general Dr Yap Kok Seng said the earthquake off the west coast of Sumatra did not affect Malaysia as it was just a mild one. "However, the effects of the quake were felt in the capital as it is not far from us," he added. Zainal Abidin Razali who stays at the Cendana Apartments in Bandar Sri Permaisuri said the tremors caused panic and all the residents rushed out to safety. He said he felt the tremors as he was staying on level 15. "I felt the apartment shaking as with the ceiling fan which was moving very fast," he told Bernama. In Bukit Antarabangsa , Mohd Fisol Jaafar who stays on level 5 of the building said he felt the tremors for 16 seconds. "At first I thought the shaking was because my son was kicking the sofa but I later realised it was a tremors," he added. Mohd Fisol said he knew about the tremors after listening to a report from the United States Meteorological Department. Meanwhile, a spokesman for the Kuala Lumpur Fire and Rescue Department said reports of the tremors were received from residents in Sri Hartamas, Cheras and Loke Yew. "The tremors were felt for 15 minutes and did not cause damage to belongings and buildings," he told Bernama. A spokesman for the Selangor Civil Defence Department said reports of tremors were received from residents in Sections 18, 26 and 28, Shah Alam. The Meteorological Department also recorded another earthquake measuring 5.1 on the Richter scale at 10.49pm off north Sumatra, about 408km from Klang. It did not pose a tsunami threat. A spokesman for the Selangor Fire and Rescue Department said several districts, including Seri Kembangan, Bangi, Putra Perdana, Cyberjaya, Puncak Alam, Sungai Chuah and Kajang, felt the tremors. The tremors, lasting only five seconds, did not cause any damage to property. In MELAKA, residents in several areas also felt the tremors from the earthquake. A Fire and Rescue Department spokesman said reports of tremors were received from those around Pantai Hospital in Ayer Keroh, Peringgit Indah Apartments in Peringgit, and in Ujong Pasir and Melaka Raya between 10.40pm and 10.52pm. "They were just minor tremors," he added.

Road Safety Campaigns Should Be Result-oriented
13 May 2008, By BERNAMA
PETALING JAYA -- Transport Minister Datuk Ong Tee Keat wants road safety campaigns to be result-oriented, rather than ceremonial. He said there was a need for the public to continuously participate in such campaigns as most of them (campaigns) did not make it past the initial stage of implementation. "I have already observed the effectiveness of such campaigns and found that it's about time to change the presentation of such campaigns. "The preventive measures on road accidents now is only confined to advertisements and guide books on road safety," Ong told reporters after launching the Orange Book at The Otomotif College (TOC) near here Tuesday. The book is an easy-to-carry, all-in-one guide to refer to sources of information for the Malaysian driver. Ong, who is also MCA vice-president, said the ministry would work closely with the road transport and road safety departments to organise road safety campaigns which could "touch the soul and hearts of the target audience". He also suggested that road safety campaigns emphasise on three core elements in future, namely education, engineering and enforcement. Meanwhile, Ong said there were about 363,319 cases of road accidents reported last year as compared to 341,232 cases reported in 2006, an increase of 6.5 percent. In terms of road fatalities, Ong said there were about 6,282 cases reported last year as compared to 6,287 cases in 2006.

RTD drives ‘P’ licence into review lane
5 May 2008, By New Straits Times
KUALA LUMPUR: A major overhaul of rules governing motorists is under way, starting with a review of the probationary driver's licence. The Road Transport Department (RTD) is also addressing problems in the registration of vehicles, issuance of licences, enforcement and administration. But the first step being taken will be in addressing the "P" licence because of flaws in the Kejara demerit points system, which determines if holders get their full licence. RTD director-general Datuk Ahmad Mustapha Abdul Rashid told the New Straits Times the "P" licence was being reviewed by the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (Miros). "We have been strict in enforcing it but there are a lot of flaws in the Kejara system. "For example, it does not apply to the goods driving licence or public service vehicles. "Rude or cheating cab drivers or lorry drivers who overload their vehicles are not penalised under the system." Ahmad added that the overhaul, carried out in stages, would be completed by next year. "We might even propose a new law to supplement or supercede the Road Transport Act 1987." Miros director-general Professor Radin Umar Radin Sohadi said the idea behind reviewing the "P" licence was to see how drivers' risk and exposure to danger could be minimised. "Research shows that the first three years after getting a driving licence is the most crucial period with regard to accidents. "In the first year, the risk of an accident is between 30 and 40 per cent. In the second year, it drops to between 15 and 20 per cent." In the third year, the figure falls to between five and eight per cent. He added that the review did not mean that the "P" licence period would be extended. "It could be reduced, extended or maintained the way it is now. It is too early to say what needs to be done. "Miros should be able to finalise the research by the end of this year or early next year." Radin said this was the first time the "P" licence system, also used in the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand, was being reviewed. Miros is emulating the practice in Australia where teenagers are not allowed to drive their peers in their vehicle in the first year of getting a licence. Miros is also looking at the accreditation, grading and rating of driving schools.

May D-day for rogue
3 May 2008, By The Star
PUTRAJAYA: The Health Ministry has given 27 organisations four weeks from April 28 to state whether they are operating as managed care organisations (MCOs). Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Ismail Merican said all MCOs were supposed to be registered with the ministry under the Private Healthcare Facilities and Services Act by March 31. Only six organisations have done so. “We do not know the status (of the 27) but they are acting like MCOs. We are asking them for an explanation,” he said in an interview. An MCO, under the Act, is defined as any organisation or body with whom a private healthcare facility or service provider has an arrangement or contract to provide healthcare services within an agreed financing system. They include insurance companies or their subsidiaries which have contracts with private healthcare facilities or services to provide healthcare to contributors. Insurance companies, any party or agent for the insurance company or third-party administrators who handle medical benefits of workers for a company and have a contract to provide amenities also come under this category. Dr Ismail warned that there were legal implications if companies failed to provide information as required by the director-general. Under Section 85(2) of the Act, a maximum fine of RM100,000 can be imposed on a single owner or a maximum fine of RM300,000 on a body, organisation or partnership. “We do not want to take punitive action yet. But it will be in their interest to register because the ministry can intervene and solve problems for both parties if any problem crops up.” Patients also have a right to legal redress, Dr Ismail said. Doctors dealing with unregistered MCOs have also been reminded that it was wrong to do so. Dr Ismail also said that “fee splitting” – asking doctors to give a discount on their professional fees – was not allowed. “No one is allowed to compel them to do this. A third party should not dictate this to a doctor.”

Sarawak pupils to be given road safety training
29 April 2008, By The Star
MIRI: Some 40,000 pupils throughout Sarawak, the majority of them aged between seven to 10 years old, will be given intensive road-safety training as part of a major Government effort to curb road accidents in the state. The training, being handled by the Sarawak Road Safety Department, will involve 1,274 schools statewide. Assistant State Minister for Infrastructure Development and Communications Lee Kim Shin on Tuesday said the majority of the 40,000 pupils are from Primary One to Primary Four. "A pilot project for this training has already started in Miri. The road safety lessons will be in the form of a module incorporated into the Bahasa Malaysia subject. "Every week, at least 30 minutes will be set aside for the road safety lessons in schools. Students will be taught about the dangers associated with roads, the proper way to behave on the roads and how to cross the roads safely. "The very young pupils will be taught that if they want to cross a road, they must be accompanied by an adult. This is part of efforts to bring down the accident rate in the state," he said after launching a road-safety training course for headmasters, principals and parent-teachers association representatives here. Lee said Miri has started the pilot training programme and it will eventually be extended to all parts of the state. The Road Safety Department was formed last year. Lee also said that his ministry had asked the department to carry out a survey concerning the safety aspects of roads surrounding primary and secondary schools to determine how safe these areas are. "We want to make sure that roads at the schools are properly improved to ensure that the safety of pupils utilising these roads could be ensured. "Remedial measures must be taken on those roads deemed as unsafe. Road safety must start at a very young age and the safety of the pupils at their schools must also be given priority attention," he said. Lee said initial feedback from schools and parents showed that if the young children are given proper training on road safety, they are very responsive and alert to dangers when they are on the roads. He said some parents have even informed him that their young pupils are the ones who keep reminding them (parents) about dangers on the roads and what sort of safety measures they must take while in their cars. Sarawak has more than 3,000 schools. The 1,274 schools involved in the road safety training are located in urban regions.

Police bust luxury car theft syndicate
29 April 2008, By The Star
SITIAWAN: Perak police have busted a nationwide syndicate of luxury car thieves and recovered some RM2.5mil worth of vehicles and dismantled parts. Six men, aged between 20 and 27, were arrested following a raid on a workshop at Ayer Tawar, near here, on April 18. State CPO Deputy Comm Datuk Zulkifli Abdullah said police found 28 luxury vehicles, including Toyota Harriers and Proton Perdanas, and 27 car engines from three different stores in Ayer Tawar. “We believe members of the syndicate have been stealing these vehicles since early this year,” he told a press conference here yesterday. “They brought them to the workshops to be dismantled and then sold them off as spare parts at lower prices.” DCP Zulkifli added that some of the vehicles had been used in various robberies across the country. “They involve many people, not just the ones we detained in Perak,” he said. Police have traced the stolen vehicles to seven robberies cases in Perak, 14 in Selangor, 15 in Kuala Lumpur, four in Penang, three in Kelantan, and one each in Johor and Pahang. “We are now working closely with our state counterparts to trace the other members of the syndicate,” he said, adding that the six caught in Ayer Tawar had been remanded until tomorrow to assist in investigations.

Vandals blamed for Sabah blackout
22 April 2008, By The Star
KOTA KINABALU: Vandals are being blamed for Sabah's worst blackout since the commissioning of the east west power grid in November last year. Suspected vandals are believed to have removed steel pieces of a 132kV transmission tower that led to its collapse, triggering a major power blackout Monday lasting nearly six hours from 6.41pm and affecting 300,000 consumers in most areas of the state. Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd managing director Baharin Din told a press conference Tuesday that vandals removed about 20 steel pieces holding together a transmission tower at Suang Parai area here. "It looks like they can get about RM40 in scrap value but caused huge losses and inconvenience to the people of Sabah," Baharin said, adding that the tower itself cost about RM400,000. He said the transmission line between Kayu Madang and Universiti Malaysia Sabah collapsed and this led to a power trip that caused a domino effect tripping all SESB and independent power plants connected to the various grids. "We lost about 500MW of power and 90% of the state was affected," he said, adding that Sabah Electricity managed to return power in stages from 7.15pm (Monday) before fully restoring power in all areas by 12.15am Tuesday. Moves are underway to build a temporary tower with the help of their parent company Tenaga Nasional Berhad using the Armed Forces to help send down a new tower to be set up within three weeks before a permanent tower is put up in four months. "Right now the situation is fragile as we are using an alternative underground 66kV cable to channel power from one its generation plants here," Baharin said, adding that west coast Sabah was providing most of the supplies to the east coast areas where their generation capacity was low due to old diesel-powered generators. He said SSEB might implement load shedding depending on the peak demands between 11am and noon and 3pm and noon if the situation warrants. To a question as to why there was no mechanism to stop the domino effect of the tripping, Baharin replied that such a mechanism can only be done if there is an excess of power supply but right now there is just enough power to meet the demand. Some 83,000 consumers in Beaufort, Keningau, Tambunan, Tenom, Telupid and Ranau were not affected by the blackout as they are not connected to the grid system and have their own power generation. Meanwhile, Kota Kinabalu police chief Asst Comm Ahmad Sofi Zakaria said full investigations are being carried out and the police are also checking with scrap dealers to nab the culprits.

Fire dept saved RM9.6b in properties last year
21 April 2008, By The Star
PUTRAJAYA: The Fire and Rescue Department was given a pat on the back for saving property worth RM47.6bil in fires between 2003 and last year. Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Ong Ka Chuan said due to the department's timely intervention, it was able to save many properties from being totally damaged. Last year alone, he said the properties saved were worth RM9.6bil while the losses were estimated at RM865.29mil. Speaking to reporters Monday after visiting the Fire and Rescue Department headquarters here, Ong added that 80 deaths were recorded last year while those injured in fires were 67 people. Ong stressed that fire prevention aspects had to be looked at seriously due to the number of deaths recorded. He suggested that buildings like hotels and shopping centres should be inspected on its fire preventive equipment at least once a year to prevent tragedies. "Even in foreign countries, hundreds of people die in buildings which caught fire due to them not conforming to fire safety rules," he said. On emergency calls received, he said 43,863 genuine ones were made last year while prank calls totalled 658. "Of the number, 22,065 are calls for rescue purposes and 20,225 calls are on fire while the remaining 1,573 are for special services like catching snakes or saving people trapped in elevators," he said. Selangor has recorded the highest number of calls totalling 10,921 followed by Perak with 5,544 calls, he said. Ong said the department's efficiency has also earned it international recognition as its services had been requested to put out forest fires in Indonesia in 1997 while 70 personnel were involved in last year's mudslide tragedy in the Philippines. The department, he said, was allocated RM1.59bil under the Ninth Malaysia Plan for its development expenditure, adding that last year its allocation was RM617.52mil compared to RM357.98mil in 2001. "The department now has 11,954 full-time rescue personnel nationwide and 13,935 volunteers," he said.

Now Road Tax Can Be Renewed Online
18 April 2008, By BERNAMA
KUALA LUMPUR -- Tired of waiting in queues to renew road tax for your vehicle. Fret no further. As of Thursday, you can do it effortlessly online. This is made possible with the launching of online road tax renewal services developed by MY E.G. Services Berhad (MyEG, the leading E-Government services concessionaire in Malaysia. The service was launched by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak in a special ceremony here Thursday. The new service does away with the need for the car registration card and the public can access the service through MyEG's interactive portal at www.myeg.com.my and the Road Transport Department's website at www.jpj.gov.my. Users can opt to have the road tax disc delivered directly to their homes or office. Besides renewing through online, the public can also renew road tax at E-Service Kiosks placed at the company's 54 E-Service Centres as well as selected bank branches nationwide. Payment for the online road tax renewal service can be made through credit or debit cards or E-cash (MyEG prepaid account). Besides all these, the company's integrated portal also facilitates the renewal of automobile insurance policies. Among other services already introduced by MyEG before this are the online issuance and renewal of driving licences and payment of traffic summonses. Meanwhile, Transport Minister Datuk Ong Tee Keat said in his speech at the function that the country recorded about eight million road tax renewals last year and that this move was certainly a step in the right direction in allowing Malaysians a time-efficient option in managing their transactions.

Tsunami system can detect other disasters
8 April 2008, By The Star
PUTRAJAYA: The national tsunami early warning system is not only capable of forecasting tidal waves caused by earthquakes but also other disasters, including sea-level rise due to global warming. Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Dr Maximus Ongkili said the system was designed to be multipurpose and was equipped with the latest forecasting equipment such as tidal gauges and coastal cameras. “It shares many of the facilities to forecast severe weather. The tide gauges also have instruments from the Department of Survey and Mapping, and the navy. “The readings can be used to monitor storm surges, piling of water along the coasts during monsoons, unusual tides and sea-level rise. “The coastal cameras can be used to monitor high waves and rough seas. These uses will make the early warning system more effective,” he said in his speech at the opening of the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Coordination Group for Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System here yesterday. So far, the Government has spent some RM17.9mil in the implementation of the first phase of the early warning system, which, among others, saw the installation of two deep ocean buoys near Pulau Rondo in Indonesia and Layang-Layang island in the South China Sea, and sirens along sea coasts. Another buoy will be installed in the Sulu Sea soon. Dr Maximus said the Government was now in the midst of implementing the second phase of the project, with the setting-up of an additional 15 tidal gauge stations, 14 coastal cameras and 10 sirens, and the upgrading of the earthquake and analysis system. “This is expected to be completed by year end,” he said. On the earthquakes detected near Bukit Tinggit, Pahang, Dr Maximus said the Meteorological Department was conducting 24-hour surveillance on the place every day. Bukit Tinggi experienced 16 small earthquakes between Nov 30 and March 15, some measuring up to 3.5 on the Richter scale.

Rear seat belts a must soon
9 April 2008, By The Star
PUTRAJAYA: The Road Safety Department will propose to the Government to allow a short grace period for motorists to get rear seatbelts installed and be “prepared mentally” before its implementation. Department director-general Datuk Suret Singh said the rear seatbelt ruling would be enforced around the third quarter of this year. “I feel we have given the public enough time to get ready,” he said, adding that the move for compulsory wearing of rear seatbelts did not need to be tabled in Parliament. He said promotional activities encouraging the use of rear seatbelts had already taken place in the past year and it was time to move forward. Previously, the Malaysian Institute for Road Safety Research said that more than 80% of cars had rear seatbelts installed. Suret Singh also spoke about the department’s plans for the rest of the year and said emphasis would be on community-based programmes, such as the helmet-wearing initiatives, that were successfully implemented in 20 districts. “This particular programme has been well documented and there is already a standard operating procedure so that we can implement it in any district in the country.” Suret Singh said road safety education was taking off well in schools and now even included security personnel being trained as traffic wardens. “It is an understanding we have with the company that the Education Ministry hires. They provide the security personnel and we train them as traffic wardens so that there is no need to hire extra people.” Suret Singh said that by 2011, road safety education would have worked its way up to Form 4 students and that a whole new breed of motorists who took safety seriously would emerge as a result.

Liow: Open forum to discuss health scheme
9 April 2008, By The Star
PUTRAJAYA: The Health Ministry is keen to have a public debate on the National Health Financing Scheme. Minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai said a public forum would be the “best way” to address issues and problems on the implementation of the scheme. “I would like to have a public debate. Let us talk about it,” Liow said in an interview on Monday. “This is something which will help the people and the Government have better health services in the country.” When the idea was first mooted 25 years ago, certain parties raised concerns about how the scheme would be implemented. The proposals included having it modelled after the EPF and Socso schemes where “eligible” employees make monthly payments through a deduction from their salary and both the scheme and the National Health Financing Authority overseeing it would be non-profit and not privatised. Former Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek announced in 2004 that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had given approval and the “general principles” had been agreed upon. Consultants were also appointed to look into the details of the mechanism and there were even calls for a Royal Commission to be set up to get broad feedback before it was introduced. Liow admitted that it was not going to be easy for the Government to have such a scheme because it might not be a popular decision. However, he said the Government “did not have much choice” where the present system has left it subsidising almost 98% of healthcare in the country. He, however, said it would take about three to four years before the scheme could be implemented. A plus point of having the scheme was that the people would be able to get treatment either in the private or public sector where the Government would be able to use all existing doctors instead of the current system, he said. “One way to solve this problem is to have an insurance scheme. It does not matter whether you go to the government or the private sector. The doctor will treat you and the insurance will pay,” he said. A minus point, however, would be the risk of the government or insurance company going bankrupt because the public had developed a “buffet mentality”. Asked who was likely to take charge of the scheme, he said it did not matter because the most important thing was for the people to enjoy the benefits.

Stolen motorcycles sold for RM300 in Indonesia
6 April 2008, By New Sunday Times
MALACCA: It seems some Indonesians share more than a similar language with their Malaysian brothers. Their motorcycles seem to have similar registration numbers. It is estimated that some 80 per cent of the motorcycles on the roads of Pulau Rupat, Indonesia, bear Malacca registration plates. The reason? Motorcycles stolen in the state have been smuggled into the island in east Sumatra and sold for between RM200 and RM300 each. The discovery was made by four policemen from the state police headquarters who were sent to the island on a field trip last December. The stolen motorcycles, said state CID chief Assistant Commissioner Zainal Abidin Kassim, were shipped using bot pancung, a light, fisherman's speedboat made of wood. "If bigger boats were used, the Customs Department would have detected them," he said. Zainal Abidin said the theft and smuggling of the motorcycles were believed to have been carried out by Indonesian syndicates, with the boats starting out from the Kuala Linggi jetty in Alor Gajah as early as 5am. It is believed some 10 boats make the trip daily. "The boat ride to Pulau Rupat takes 30 minutes and 10 motorcycles are loaded onto each boat. "We have set up a team to track down syndicate members," said Zainal Abidin, adding that four suspects from Indonesia were arrested three weeks ago. While the index for other types of crime in the state dropped, motorcycle theft increased by 26.8 per cent last year compared with 2006.

Only six MCOs have signed up with Health Ministry
3 April 2008, By The Star
PETALING JAYA: Only six of the 56 managed care organisations (MCOs) had registered with the Health Ministry when the deadline expired on March 31. “Doctors can only deal with registered MCOs. It is wrong for them to deal with those that have yet to register,” Health Ministry director-general Tan Sri Dr Ismail Merican said Thursday. Dr Ismail said the ministry was considering making the names of the registered MCOs public so that people would know whether the companies they have signed up with are authorised by the ministry to carry out dealings. “Private healthcare facilities can only deal with those who are registered,” he warned. He said the ministry was concerned over the number of MCOs, which had yet to register as it would be unable to resolve issues raised by parties affected by the dealings. Under the Private Healthcare Facilities and Services Act, a MCO is defined as any organisation or body with whom a private healthcare facility or service provider has an arrangement or contract to provide healthcare services within an agreed financing system. He said all MCOs would be licensed under the Act so it would be able to regulate their activities in their dealings with private healthcare facilities or service providers. Dr Ismail also said in a statement that “fee splitting” was prohibited under the Private Healthcare Facilities and Services Regulations 2006 and the Malaysian Medical Council’s code of professional conduct. “Discount for professional fees is not allowed because it would be infringing on the regulations and the code. However, discounts are allowed for administrative fees,” he said. If “fee splitting “is carried out for professional fees, the practitioner is subject to disciplinary punishment under the Medical Act. The issue of “fee splitting” is being hotly debated between the Joint Inter-Hospital Healthcare Committee (JIHC) and ING Insurance Bhd. The JIHC is claiming that ING “refused to budge from its proposed terms and conditions in their new Healthcare Service Panel Agreement (HSPA)” where it was in breach of the Act and compromising quality of healthcare. ING, however said that its proposed fees are within the Act Thirteen Schedule (2006).

Proton issues recall on its Savvy
1 April 2008, By The Star
Proton is recalling its Savvy over a possible problem with regards to the car’s rear-wheel bearings. The company said a recent inspection has brought to its attention that water could get into the bearings, which could lead to a malfunction. “The safety and satisfaction of our customers is a primary concern. As a precautionary measure, we are recalling all Savvys for inspection and repair,” Proton managing director Datuk Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohamed said in a press statement. The recall will affect a total of 34,000 cars. All Savvy owners are advised to take their cars to the nearest Proton Edar or EON service branch for an inspection. Proton said it would conduct the necessary checks and replacements at no cost to the customer. They can also call Proton i-Care at 1-300-880-888 for further info.

Malaysia To Introduce Nationwide Handphone Blocking System
6 March 2008, By BERNAMA
KUALA LUMPUR -- A handphone blocking scheme for all telecommunication networks will be launched in June. The Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) said in a statement today that by implementing the scheme, stolen handphones reported to the network operators would be blocked and deactivated. "A stolen handphone cannot be used across any network nationwide, even by using a new SIM card. The centralised national database of stolen and lost handphones will be connected to all network operators, the Royal Malaysian Police and MCMC. "Handphones that are deactivated would be rendered as virtually worthless and made unattractive to criminals. According to police statistics, more than 100,000 handphones were reported stolen last year," the statement said.

Study: Traffic crashes cost billions
5 March 2008, By Yahoo News
Traffic crashes cost American motorists more than $160 billion a year while inflicting a staggering per-person toll on small cities such as Little Rock, Ark., Columbia, S.C., and Pensacola, Fla., according to a AAA research report. The study, to be released Wednesday, found that traffic crashes have a much more damaging impact on society than the bumper-to-bumper congestion that riles commuters in many metropolitan areas. Maryland-based Cambridge Systematics Inc., which conducted the research for the automobile association, found that crashes cost U.S. motorists $164.2 billion a year, or about $1,051 per person. That's more than double the $67.6 billion in annual costs from congestion, or about $430 per person. To calculate the crash costs, researchers took into account factors such as property damage, lost earnings, medical costs, emergency services, legal costs and travel delays. The nation's largest cities, such as New York and Los Angeles, face billions of dollars in costs each year from car accidents. In the New York metropolitan area, they cost the region $18 billion a year, or about $962 per person, while they cost Los Angeles more than $10 billion a year, or $817 per person. Researchers, however, found that residents of smaller cities faced a larger per-person burden. Crashes in the Little Rock-North Little Rock region in Arkansas cost $1.4 billion, or $2,258 per person, while car wrecks carried a price tag of $1,772 a person around Pensacola, Fla., and $1,568 a person in Columbia, S.C. Robert L. Darbelnet, AAA's president and chief executive, noted that nearly 43,000 people die each year on the nation's roadways but that "the annual tally of motor vehicle-related fatalities barely registers as a blip in most people's minds." "It's time for motor vehicle crashes to be viewed as the public health threat they are," Darbelnet said. To address the high costs, AAA recommended that lawmakers make safety more of a priority in their transportation planning and pursue measures such as stiffer laws on drunken and impaired driving. The organization also recommended that all states pass primary enforcement seat belt laws, which allow law enforcement officers to stop motorists if their only offense is failing to buckle up. Legislators in 26 states and the District of Columbia have primary enforcement laws. The remaining states have secondary enforcement laws, which allow tickets for seat belt violations only if motorists are stopped for other offenses. New Hampshire has no seat belt law for adults. Among other cities, the researchers found that crashes cost: _$1,439 a person in the Miami-Fort Lauderdale area. _$1,368 a person in Phoenix, Mesa and Scottsdale, Ariz. _$1,058 a person in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, Wash., region. _$887 a person in the Chicago metropolitan area. _$868 a person in the Detroit metropolitan region. _$658 a person in the San Francisco Bay Area. Researchers were unable to provide results for Atlanta and for cities in Massachusetts and Texas because of a lack of data critical to the study.

Singapore link in stolen car racket
4 March 2008, By New Straits Times
PETALING JAYA: Singapore has been identified as one of the transit points for cars stolen in Malaysia before being shipped to buyers in the Middle East and Africa. This was discovered following the seizure of 45 stolen cars worth RM5 million in the republic recently. The operation also saw the arrests of 17 syndicate members, including three Singaporeans. Describing it as the biggest bust against car theft syndicates in recent times, Federal CID director Datuk Mohd Bakri Zinin, attributed the success to joint operations between Malaysian police and their Singaporean counterparts. The operation began in December following the arrest of three suspects in Johor after a tip-off. Investigations then revealed how stolen vehicles were smuggled into Singapore in containers. "The syndicate had used false documents to ship the vehicles," Bakri said at the Asian Pacific Auction Centre in Subang here yesterday. The vehicles were mainly four-wheel-drive models including Nissan X-trail, Frontier, Murano, Toyota Hilux, Toyota Fortuner and Honda CRV. The vehicles were surrendered to their respective insurance companies yesterday. Those arrested, including three Singaporeans between the ages of 25 and 35, were charged recently. Two of them are being detained under the Emergency Ordinance. Bakri said the syndicate members had also used several of the stolen vehicles to commit crimes there. For example, he said, one of the Toyota Hilux stolen in Ipoh was used in a robbery there. "The syndicate members used various methods to steal the vehicles, including staging accidents and forcing the drivers to stop by pretending to be car repossessors. "We believe some of the stolen vehicles have already reached overseas buyers and we are working with our counterparts there to recover the vehicles."

Car theft ring busted, 45 vehicles worth RM5mil seized
4 March 2008, By The Star
PETALING JAYA: Police have busted one of the country’s biggest car theft syndicates with the arrest of 17 people, including three Singaporeans, and the recovery of 45 luxury vehicles, mostly 4WDs, worth RM5mil from Singapore. The vehicles, including makes like Nissan X-Trail, Toyota Fortuner, Toyota Hilux, Nissan Frontier and Honda CRV, were recovered from various areas in Singapore such as housing estates as well as from the transshipment area at the port. The cars were to be re-exported to other countries including those in the region, the Middle East, Hong Kong, Europe and South Africa. They were driven or shipped into Singapore in containers using forged documents and registration numbers. Twenty-one of the vehicles were reported stolen in Selangor, eight in Kuala Lumpur, six in Penang, five in Negri Sembilan, four in Johor and one in Perak. Federal CID director Commissioner Datuk Mohd Bakri Zinin said, with cooperation from their Singapore counterparts, a high-profile team from Bukit Aman and Selangor swung into action and arrested three of the syndicate members on Dec 11. He said follow-up investigations led to the arrest of another 14 suspects and the recovery of the vehicles, adding that all the suspects, aged between 25 and 35, were picked up in Johor and Singapore. Two of them have since been placed under the Emergency Ordinance while the rest have been charged in court. Comm Mohd Bakri said the syndicate members used several methods to steal the cars, including acting as repossessors and carjacking. “Investigations found that the syndicate, which has been active for the past two years, was very slick in its operations and had a good networking system. “The members also knew how to disarm the alarm systems of the vehicles,” he told reporters at the Asia-Pacific Auction Centre in Subang yesterday before the vehicles were handed over to 17 representatives from various insurance companies. Comm Mohd Bakri said police were working closely with Interpol, Aseanapol and the Customs Department to track down more stolen vehicles, including in Thailand and Indonesia. “We are very concerned about transnational crime and we are having regular meetings with Interpol on motor vehicle theft eradication,” he said. Comm Mohd Bakri also warned the public to be wary of those selling luxury or expensive cars at very low prices, as they could have been stolen. “We urge the public to check with the Road Transport Department and Puspakom on the authenticity of a vehicle before buying it,” he added.

Expert: Local insurers in the dark over ICAR
12 February 2008, By The Star
KUALA LUMPUR: Many insurers face difficulties in determining the internal capital adequacy ratio (ICAR) required under the risk-based capital framework (RBC). This is due to a lack of understanding in enterprise risk management (ERM) and building a risk cum capital management model, said Institute of Internal Auditors Malaysia former president Vijayam Nadarajah. Vijayam, who is now a finance head of a general insurer, said: “The evaluation criteria of enterprise risk is unclear to many insurers and they are looking for some guide on identification, assessment and particularly on quantification of qualitative issues and the eventual contribution to the determination of ICAR. “Although the foreign insurers may be able meet the deadline for the RBC framework by Jan 1, many local insurers may not as they are unclear on the process of developing the risk cum capital management models, and in addition, do not have a prescription to adopt.” ICAR is the capital required by a company to meet premium and claims liabilities and risks such as credit, market, operational and interest rate risks, among others. Insurance companies need to be RBC compliant next year. The framework requires an insurer to maintain an ICAR that commensurates with its risk profile. Vijayam said insurers were faced with the challenge of depending on enterprise risks in arriving at and determining the ICAR. Insurers, therefore, had to aggressively prepare some risk models by learning from other global solvency regimes, she told StarBiz at the recent Financial Resilience of Insurers conference. At the same time, solvency regimes elsewhere were also consolidating their experiences and putting their act together to ensure success in implementing at some future date, she added. “Some of the other problems in determining this ratio include computing economic capital, economic reinsurance protection management and capital injection and exiting as these measures focus on real earnings, profitability and real returns on capital, Vijayam said. ERM is a systematic and disciplined approach to managing risk throughout an organisation. It enables the organisation to assess risk and identify the steps it can take and resources it should allocate to overcome or mitigate risk. Based on this understanding, stress testing the capital adequacy on likely scenarios and sensitivities could be performed to ensure the determination of ICAR would be more meaningful, Vijayam noted. According to Vijayam, running the relevant statistics for ICAR was made worse in view of the current market volatility. A sound ERM system would help better manage an insurer's business to ensure better financial results and overall preparedness for a new solvency regime, she said. ERM, she added, was the foundation of prudent corporate governance and assisted insurance companies in making better informed decisions and hence improve underwriting profits.

Papa against monopoly
5 February 2008, By The Star
PETALING JAYA: The Home Ministry should not start a monopoly in the sector of insurance for foreign maids. Instead it should let it be an open market and allow the consumers to pick and choose. This was the suggestion by the Malaysian Association of Foreign Maid Agencies (Papa), which had formulated a maid protection plan at RM75 premium for two years compared with the Ministry’s proposed scheme at RM75 per year. “The main principle here is to offer protection for the maids, most of them from Indonesia. This is of national concern and Papa is backing the Government 100% on this. “However, what we found disturbing was the intention by the Home Ministry to only allow one government-linked company to handle the coverage. A monopolistic system has often been not favourable to consumers,” said Papa chairman Datuk Raja Zulkepley Dahlan. Papa was also concerned the Ministry might not have been presented with several options before deciding on the RM75 annual premium package. On Jan 16, Home Minister Datuk Seri Radzi Sheikh Ahmad announced that insurance for maids would be made compulsory and the Government would launch the scheme soon. Papa immediately objected to the scheme, which seemed to be on the high side, in terms of cost. For example, Papa’ scheme was much lower at RM48 premium for a year or a reduced rate of RM75 for two years . “Since different parties think their insurance packages are worth the money and offer better protection, let’s leave it to the open market. In fact, there are also other insurance schemes for maids out there and consumers should be given the chance to shop around before deciding on which package to buy. “This way, the maids are protected, consumers still have a choice and there is healthy competition among the insurers – it is a win-win situation for all,” said Raja Zulkepley. Papa secretary Foo Yong Hooi said the insurance scheme was crucial to send a message to Indonesia that Malaysia cared for their nationals. “The shortage of Indonesia maids is getting critical. Not only is the supply scarce because we lose out to higher paying countries, but the bad press about the abuses of maids makes Indonesians unhappy. “Having the insurance scheme is a reassurance that Malaysia does not tolerate abuse, and that we are taking positive action to care for the maids’ welfare,” said Foo.

Psst, want a 'new' Waja for RM9,000?
24 January 2008, By The Sun
KUALA LUMPUR: Thinking they had gotten great deals for the almost-new Proton Wajas, at least 16 people received a blow when police turned up at their homes and told them the vehicles were reported stolen. The victims, including a teacher, soldier and civil servants, were duped by a car theft ring into buying the vehicles several months ago at a fraction of the market value. The buyers, who lived in small towns in Perak, Kedah, Penang and Perlis, paid between RM9,000 and RM12,000 for the Wajas. Many of them were low-income earners. They told police that they had parted with their hard-earned savings kept to perform the Haj and for other important purposes as the offer was just too hard to pass up. The recovery of the cars and crippling of the syndicate's activities followed month-long surveillance and intelligence gathering by a crack team from the Kuala Lumpur CID's anti-car theft (D4c) division. The 12-man team launched the week-long operation on Jan 16 and headed to Kuala Kurau where they arrested a man in his 40s. Sources said the suspect, who was the fence, led police to the houses of the buyers where the 16 Wajas and a Proton Wira were seized. The recovered vehicles are now in the Semanggol police station near Taiping. Police told the shocked buyers the cars had been stolen in several northern states.The suspect had told the buyers that the cars were repossessed and disposed by banks at low prices as the vehicle owners were no longer traceable. It is learnt that the syndicate had fitted false registration plates bearing details of Wajas registered in the Federal Territories. The cars also came with registration documents and road tax stickers which police later discovered were fakes. Police seized the latest car on Monday (Jan 21) and believe there are at least a dozen more in the hands of unsuspecting buyers. The suspect has been remanded in the Kuala Lumpur police headquarters. Sources said a hunt for the mastermind of the syndicate and its remaining members is ongoing.

Police bust ring dealing in stolen lorries
18 January 2008, By The Star
KLUANG: Police have busted a syndicate that refurbishes stolen lorries before selling them off. Five men in their 30s, including lorry dealers, were arrested in Johor Baru, Kluang and Pahang on Jan 7. Police also recovered six stolen lorries worth about RM210,000. The group’s modus operandi was to erase a lorry’s chassis number, forge documents, paint the vehicle in a different colour and sell it through dealers. Kluang OCPD Asst Comm Fawzi Arshad said the lorries were reported stolen in Kluang, Batu Pahat and Kota Tinggi last year. All the suspects have been remanded.

Suresh Gang crippled
18 January 2008, By The Star
IPOH: Police have crippled the Suresh Gang, which specialises in selling stolen car parts, with the arrest of 11 members in the past week. Ipoh OCPD Asst Comm Azisman Alias said the 11 members, including a Nepalese man, were picked up after a task force was set up to investigate the gang. “We arrested the first man, believed to be the mastermind, at his home in Tanjung Rambutan at 7pm on Jan 4,” he told a press conference Thursday. The others were picked up at various places here, in Sungai Siput and Menglembu. Police are still looking for two more members of the gang. “We also raided two workshops and confiscated about RM500,000 worth of spare parts, scrap metal and all kinds of components of the stolen vehicles,” ACP Azisman said. He said the suspects, aged between 19 and 64, were found dismantling the parts of the stolen vehicles at the workshops. Police also recovered four lorries, three cars, two car engines, windscreens, bumpers, tyres and other accessories. “We can link them to several theft cases in Ipoh and even outside Perak, in places like Puchong,” ACP Azisman said.

Recent Floods Cost Govt RM900 Mln
11 January 2008, By BERNAMA
PUTRAJAYA -- The recent floods in Pahang, Johor, Kelantan and Kedah have cost the government about RM900 million, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said today. The sum comprised RM813 million in losses as a result of the flood damage and about RM100 million more in compassionate aid for the flood victims, he added. Najib spoke to reporters after chairing a special meeting of the National Disaster Relief and Management Committee at the Prime Minister's Department, here. The meeting was called to determine the impact of the floods, which hit the four states in December last year, and the mode of compassionate aid for the victims. Najib said the RM900 million did not take into account personal losses which he added would have tripled the sum. He said the compassionate aid approved at today's meeting would be distributed to the flood victims shortly, and that the follow-up would be handled by the National Security Council. Najib said he, ministers and the four menteris besar would go down to the ground to hand over the aid. The compassionate aid would be given to 21,451 families who were evacuated to flood relief centres as well as 17,386 families affected by the floods but did not move to the relief centres. Explaining the quantum of aid, he said the committee decided to use the formula adopted last year. As such, RM1,100 is to be given to a household whose house was flooded to a depth of more than five feet (1.52 metres) and RM700 to a household whose house was flooded to a depth of less than five feet. The owners of 39 houses which were destroyed by the floods will be given RM3,000 each. Najib said Syarikat Perumahan Negara Berhad (SPNB) would rebuild the houses of these victims and each owner would have to pay one-third of the cost of the house. He also said that RM5,000 would be given to each of the 33 families of the people who had died in the floods. Najib said RM25.6 million had been allocated as agriculture aid for people who suffered destruction of padi, aquaculture, coconut and livestock. He said the damage to public property was estimated at RM776 million, with Pahang suffering the highest damage of RM302 million and Johor next at RM185 million and Kelantan at RM175 million. The damage to property of government-linked companies (GLCs) was RM36 million, and such property included Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) sub-stations and that of Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM) Berhad. Najib said the flood victims to be given compassionate aid must be verified by the village headman or village development and security committee, even if they did not have to evacuate during the floods.

RM50mil gone during floods
8 January 2008, By The Star
PUTRAJAYA: About 16,000 farmers and fishermen suffered almost RM50mil in losses in the recent floods that hit several states. Agriculture and Agrobased Industry Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said padi farmers were the worst hit, with RM22.4mil in losses. Livestock breeders suffered RM8.3mil in losses and it was RM5.5mil in losses for fishermen, he said. “About 13,522ha of padi fields were affected while livestock breeders lost 82,029 animals,” he told a press conference after delivering his New Year’s message at his ministry here yesterday. He said the states where agriculture sectors were badly affected were Kedah, Johor, Negri Sembilan, Terengganu and Kelantan. “My ministry will be bringing the matter up to the National Disaster Management Committee, and they will decide on how much assistance will be handed out to those affected. But it is not compensation,” he said. Asked about the Anti-Corruption Agency’s probe against rice distributor Padiberas Nasional Bhd (Bernas), he said it was still being conducted but the approved permit (AP) had been given out. It was earlier reported that Bernas was being questioned for bringing in 25,000 metric tonnes of fragrant rice worth about RM60mil from Thailand without an AP. This resulted in 10,000 tonnes of rice being held at the Pasir Gudang port on Dec 31. Another 10,000 tonnes were held at the Kota Kinabalu port and 5,000 tonnes in Port Klang. Muhyiddin said in its agreement with the Government, Bernas should have 92,000 metric tonnes of rice stockpile at any given time. “The stockpile of rice is extremely important – we would also like to know how Bernas is handling the matter. “As world consumption goes up, do we have enough stockpile if there is a crisis? Is the supply enough for the country’s consumption? “From what I can see, the stockpile is not really a stockpile, just floating stock. You cannot just count the rice, which has not been sold, and say that’s stockpile,'' he added.

MMA Against Discounts For Corporate Clients
26 December 2007, By BERNAMA
KUALA LUMPUR -- The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) says it is opposed to giving discounts to corporate clients as this could mean cutting corners and compromising the safety of patients and standard of care. Its president, Datuk Dr Khoo Kah Lin, said another reason was that the practice of medicine was not a trade but a service and hence should not be commercialised. Writing in the President's Column of MMA's latest newsletter, he said corporate discounts, especially mooted by large multinational bodies and insurance companies, appeared to make the practice of medicine a business as opposed to what it should be -- a profession whereby the primary role of the doctor is to provide appropriate medical care to the patient. "The interest of patients should always come first, especially beyond any business consideration," said Dr Khoo. He added that the time of doctors should be spent entirely on the provision of patient care rather than having to deal with distractions such as negotiating with large corporations in the matter of discounts or deals. Dr Khoo said that at present doctors' fees were based on the MMA's schedule, which included consultation and procedural fees for general practitioners and specialist consultants. The fees schedule was introduced way back in 1987 and had been revised three times to keep up with current costs. The last revision was in 2002. Dr Khoo said that generally the fees schedule had been well accepted by all stakeholders and there were no major issues regarding its validity and acceptance. In fact, the government recently reinforced the legitimacy of the MMA schedule by adopting it almost entirely for the regulations of the Private Healthcare Facilities and Services Act 2006. "What started as a guideline three decades ago has now become law," said Dr Khoo.

Cultivating five-star drivers
24 December 2007, By The Star
KAJANG: Learner drivers will soon have to go through a more comprehensive syllabus so that they can become better drivers. The new curriculum will close the “gaps”, mostly in the area of road safety, in the current syllabus while tests may be conducted in cars or motorcycles fitted with video cameras, sensors and instruments that will detect every move – and mistake – which the driver makes. The new curriculum, which will be implemented in the next three to six months, has been drawn up by the Malaysian Institute for Road Safety and Research (Miros) which was set up by the Government to improve road safety. Miros director-general Prof Dr Radin Umar Radin Sohadi said the new curriculum was part of a larger programme called the Road User Assessment Programme (RUAP). “The ultimate aim is to create five-star drivers,” he said. He said that while the rest of the world took a “systems approach” which looked at enforcement and infrastructure, Malaysia wanted to focus on the road user. As an example, Prof Radin Umar said that under the current motorcycle syllabus, unlike for cars, riders were only trained and tested in a circuit. “This is a controlled environment and offers the learner no experience of what it is like in the real world. “In future, learners will be taken out on the road where they will be exposed to real world traffic during training. “Their tests will also be carried in real world traffic,” he said. Prof Radin Umar said motorcycle learners would go out in groups of eight together with two instructors in conspicuously coloured motorcycles to ensure their safety. On the instrumented vehicles, Prof Radin Umar said the video cameras and sensors installed would enable driver behaviour and habits while on the road to be monitored objectively. “The vehicles are still being calibrated and will have to be tested extensively before being implemented,” he said. Prof Radin Umar said another aspect of RUAP was that surveys on Malaysian road users would be carried out periodically. This was to assess how good the users were in understanding traffic laws. “This will also serve as a way to get feedback to further improve our driving syllabus and other aspects of RUAP,” he said. Prof Radin Umar said RUAP was a long-term initiative to create a safer road environment. “We hope to be able to have drivers who are not only aware of safety procedures but also know why it’s there,” he said.

At least 29 killed in flood havoc
19 December 2007, By The Star
KUALA LUMPUR: At least 29 people have died from the floods which have hit various states since early this month. Kelantan recorded 14 deaths, followed by Pahang with 11 deaths – three of which in the last 48 hours – and Johor with four deaths as of yesterday. In Pahang, two of the latest victims were found floating in Sungai Endau in Rompin by search and rescue personnel at about 10.30am yesterday. They were identified as Zamri Mohamad, 29, of Kampung Lang Kiri and Indonesian Atong, 50, an estate worker. Both men were reported missing on Sunday after going fishing near the river. Paraplegic Mohd Yuslan Othman, 30, drowned near his home in Kampung Serandu in Pekan late on Monday. The number of evacuees has increased from 22,549 to 23,026 people. They are being housed in 142 flood relief centres. Pekan recorded the highest number with 10,193 people in 40 centres. Other districts affected were Temerloh (4,069 people), Maran (3,235), Bera (2,257), Rompin (2,057) and Kuantan (1,215). Roads into Pekan from Kuantan, Muadzam Shah and Rompin were still cut off due to floods. In Kelantan, the number of evacuees increased to 8,352 from 2,000. A dam bursting in Narathiwat in southern Thailand has aggravated the situation. Most of the newly evacuated were residents from the Tumpat district. The latest fatality was reported yesterday. The road from Gua Musang to Kota Baru remained impassable due to landslides. Motorists from Kuala Lumpur should use the East-West Highway instead of the road to Gua Musang. The Meteorological Department has issued a Yellow Stage advisory on heavy rain for the state and neighbouring Terengganu. In Johor, the situation improved as the number of flood evacuees declined to 2,994. There were 814 families temporarily housed in 39 flood relief centres statewide as of 4pm yesterday. The worst hit district is Muar with 1,504 victims in 13 centres. Segamat is second with 1,179 victims at 19 centres followed by Johor Baru with 230 victims in three centres and Batu Pahat with 63 victims, also in three centres. Flood relief centres in Kluang, Mersing and Pontian have closed after evacuees were allowed to go home. The Meteorological Department said moderate rain currently occurring in Johor was expected to continue until tomorrow. It has issued an Orange Stage warning for Segamat, Muar, Batu Pahat, Kluang, Johor Baru, Kota Tinggi and Mersing.

15 Puspakom staff sacked for various offences
19 December 2007, By The Star
JOHOR BARU: Fifteen Puspakom staff have been sacked this year for corruption and not following the standard operation procedure when inspecting vehicles. Chief executive officer Datuk Salamat Wahit said the company had reported all criminal misdeeds to the police and Anti-Corruption Agency. On the recent arrest of three Puspakom staff in the state, he said the company welcomed the ACA’s move. “Our company views such matters very seriously as it is important to ensure that vehicles that are not roadworthy are taken off the roads so that they do not pose a threat to other road users,” he said in a statement. Salamat hoped that the public would help Puspakom by providing tip offs and information for the company to take the appropriate action. Those with information can directly contact Salamat at 019-3859666. The number is being displayed in all the 66 branches of Puspakom nationwide.

Police arrest expert car-theft couple
18 December 2007, By The Star
KUALA LUMPUR: A couple said to be able to steal a car in under a minute has been arrested. Police nabbed the couple from Perak as they were getting into a stolen car in Taman Tasik, Ampang, at 1.15pm on Dec 8. Ampang Jaya police chief Asst Comm Abdul Jalil Hassan said the couple were professional car thieves and had all the latest equipment used to steal cars. Police recovered a Toyota Vios, Perodua Myvi, Naza Citra and two Proton Iswaras from the couple, who were active in the Klang Valley. “We are investigating whether the couple have any international links,” he said.

4WD smuggling rings smashed
18 December 2007, By The Star
JOHOR BARU: Two smuggling syndicates that use two ports in Johor before using Singapore as a transit point to ship stolen vehicles to Kenya and the United Arab Emirates have been busted. Police recovered 32 stolen vehicles worth more than RM3.4mil. Some of the models include Toyota Hilux, Toyota Fortuner, Nissan X-Trail, Nissan Frontier and Toyota Innova. The vehicles were reported stolen in Johor, Perak, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Negri Sembilan and Penang. A series of raids by a task force also led to the arrest of 50-year-old Malaysian man and two Singaporean men, aged 26 and 28. The syndicates would hide the stolen vehicles in containers before taking them to Pasir Gudang Port and Tanjung Pelepas Port. They then shipped the containers through these two ports to the Keppel Terminal in Singapore before exporting them to the UAE and Kenya. They used Singapore as a transit point because of easier access to the overseas market. Forged declaration documents stating that the shipments were furniture and vehicle spare parts were used to deceive Customs officers. Johor police chief Deputy Comm Datuk Hussin Ismail said 12 4WD vehicles in four containers were seized from a Tanjung Kupang warehouse on Nov 21. A week later, they picked up the three men at an empty warehouse in Bukit Batu, Kulai. Police later recovered another 12 vehicles at Pasir Gudang Port. Police intercepted a shipment of cars at the Keppel Terminal with the help of the Singapore police.

10 charges, two courts for one insurance scam
13 December 2007, By The Star
JOHOR BARU: An unemployed man had 10 charges against him in two magistrate’s courts here over an insurance scam involving more than RM1.2mil. Chong Chee Seng, 46, from Taman Soon Chong, in Chaah, Segamat, was alleged to have committed the offences from 1992 to 2002. He pleaded not guilty to all the charges. He was alleged to have committed the offences against two insurance companies at 101, Tingkat 1, Pan Global Plaza, Jalan Wong Ah Fook in Johor Baru, Johor. He was alleged to have submitted false death certificates, burial permits, police reports, attending physician’s statements and medical reports under the names of 10 people. He was also accused of cheating the insurance companies into making policy payouts over the alleged deaths of the policyholders. He was charged with five counts in each of the two magistrate's courts he was brought to. In the first court presided by magistrate Rasidah Roslee, the offences involved a sum totalling more than RM751,000. Rasidah fixed bail at RM39,000 for all the five charges. In the second court presided by magistrate Nor Shahid Abd. Malik, the sum involved in the charges was more than RM499,400 and bail was fixed at RM27,000. Both Rasidah and Nor Shahid fixed March 26 trial. The accused failed to post bail.

Be true to patients, not insurers
5 December 2007, By New Straits Times
KUALA LUMPUR: Duty before profit. This is the advice from Malaysian Medical Association president Datuk Dr Khoo Kah Lin to doctors. He said they should be guided by clinical expertise and not insurance companies. "Although the insurance coverage depends on how much premium you pay, the companies should not restrict doctors from conducting tests they think are necessary for patients. "Doctors know what's best for their patients," he said. Life Insurance Association of Malaysia president Sonny Tan, however, denied that insurance companies were restricting coverage to only certain cases and tests. "Insurance companies don't own the hospitals. We can't dictate what doctors should or shouldn't do," he said. Tan added that doctors should not concentrate on how much money their patients were paying to determine what kind of treatment should be given to them. "If you go to private hospitals, the first thing they will ask is 'do you have insurance coverage?'. This is a sad thing," he said. He added most insurance companies were not making money from healthcare as the cost of private healthcare increased every year. "Medical cost increases by about 13 per cent a year. But we can't easily raise premiums as it will affect our customers," he said. Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek yesterday highlighted the issue of insurance companies restricting coverage to only certain cases and tests conducted by doctors. He had also expressed concern over exorbitant rates charged by private hospitals, saying "the rates are going up by the day and are profit-driven". Dr Chua had said that the government was concerned about the steep charges and the matter had been discussed by the cabinet. Malaysian Medical Council president Tan Sri Dr Ismail Merican said the council had received complaints on hospitals billing patients exorbitantly.

Sick of docs who overcharge
4 December 2007, By The Star
Cabinet Concerned Over High Medical Rates PUTRAJAYA: A patient who was checked on 15 times a day while he was staying at a private hospital was charged RM3,000. Another was billed RM2,000 for the 10 times he was checked on. These patients have the right to file official complaints. Ticking off private hospitals and doctors who hit patients with ever increasing fees, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek said the Cabinet was concerned about these exorbitant charges on patients, including unnecessary tests. “Certain parties are trying to rake in profits by charging patients too much,” he told a press conference yesterday after meeting officials of the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA). “The public has a right to complain. There are guidelines for charges. Some doctors, who are famous, increase their charges to control the number of patients they see.” Dr Chua said they could complain to the MMA or the Malaysian Medical Council (MMC) which has the power to take action on complaints, especially on ethical issues such as issuing warning, suspension or deregistration. He also said that charges by doctors would continue to increase because of the rising healthcare cost for medication, equipment and IT components. “It is not just to look after the sick but also a business undertaking where the profit line is important to shareholders,” he said. Under the Private Healthcare Facilities and Services Act 1998, he said 29 clinics had been sealed and 19 “fake” doctors traced. On the extension of housemanship from one year to two years, Dr Chua said it was important for patients to get proper treatment from qualified doctors. A total of 603 housemen failed to get fully registered from the 1,200 yearly from 2001 to 2004. It was 176 in 2001, 162 in 2002, 102 in 2003, 118 in 2004 and 45 two years ago. “These figures are worrying for a developing country. It is nearly 10%. Most is for poor work performance and some of them just take unpaid leave and disappear because they say the medical profession is not suitable for them. This cannot continue,” he said. Dr Chua said senior doctors had been instructed that they must supervise and train the younger ones.

SLAMMED: Exorbitant charges, unnecessary tests, coverage restrictions
4 December 2007, By New Straits Times
Health minister concerned as patients query RM3,000 'how are you?' bills. PUTRAJAYA: Imagine, you're in hospital and the doctor comes around 15 times a day to ask "how are you?" Now think about the bill. At RM200 per visit, you end up forking out RM3,000 a day, just on consultations - needed or otherwise. Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek told the cabinet about two patients who experienced this and the ministers were not happy. The government, he said, was concerned about the exorbitant charges at some private hospitals and the "unnecessary" tests they recommended. "Some doctors feel that the investigations are necessary. These are, however, debatable and contentious. "The public has the right to lodge complaints with the Malaysian Medical Council (MMC) and Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) if they are unhappy with the services or ethics of doctors," Dr Chua said after a meeting with the MMA yesterday. The MMC, he said, could issue warnings, suspend doctors or de-register them if they were guilty of committing an offence. But he added that it was inevitable that the cost of healthcare would rise because of the increasing cost of medication, equipment, and the introduction of information technology into hospitals. He also said that the Health Ministry's enforcement unit had shut down 29 clinics for various offences and caught 19 bogus doctors. Enforcement will be beefed up next year when 30 officers are added to the current 70-man team. On the meeting with MMA, he said the ministry agreed that insurance companies should not limit doctors' fees and tests in their policies. The insurers are subject to the Private Healthcare Facilities and Services Act 1998 and must register with the ministry. "They are subject to clauses under the law... this includes the services by doctors to patients covered by insurance companies. We feel the clinical judgment of medical practitioners should not be compromised by these companies."

Ops Sikal to be held all year long
23 November 2007, By The Star
PUTRAJAYA: In the past 10 months alone, about 55,000 motorcyclists have been caught riding their vehicles without a valid driver's licence while another 9,507 had expired licences. The total number of summonses issued to motorcyclists for these and various other offences stands at 253,155, according to police statistics. Due to this and the fact that motorcyclists and pillion riders are still recording more deaths than others in road accidents, the Government will hold Ops Sikal throughout the year. Ops Sikal which started right after Ops Sikap ended on Oct 22 is targeted to reduce fatalities among motorcyclists by six a day and 1,000 a year, said Road Safety Department director-general Datuk Suret Singh. He said from Nov 8 to Nov 22 the number of motorcyclists and pillion riders dying on the road was 103 of the 182 total deaths recorded. Joint operations by the department, the police and the Road Transport Department (JPJ), he said had managed to reduce accidents to a certain extent but there was room for improvement. "The crackdown on express buses had been good since it started some time in August because from Nov 8 to Nov 22 no fatal accidents involving buses had been recorded," he told reporters at a media briefing. Suret added that about 90% of rural motorcyclists were now wearing safety helmets after the department started its campaign at 150 rural districts. "We are still not satisfied until we see 100% motorcyclists using helmets in rural areas," he said, reminding motorcyclists to also buckle up their helmets as 68% of the 3,693 fatalities involving motorcyclists were through head injuries. "This applies also to cyclists, especially students," he said, hoping to have a campaign in future to give students bicycle helmets to create awareness.

Oct Vehicle Sales Up 4.9 Pct To 42,915 Units
19 November 2007, By BERNAMA
KUALA LUMPUR -- Motor vehicle sales in Malaysia continued to improve in October to record a 4.9 percent increase to 42,915 units compared with 36,653 units in the corresponding month of last year. In a statement here today, Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA) said, however, against September this year, sales were down by 5.5 percent, or 2,601 units. "The lower sales were due to shorter working month because of Hari Raya festive holidays," it said. MAA said year-to-date vehicle sales declined to 401,149 units compared with 418,056 units in the same period in 2006. "Passenger cars accounted for 39,198 units and commercial vehicles 3,717 units for the sales in October this year. MAA said total industry production in October 2007 rose to 34,829 units from 29,872 units in the same period last year. "Passenger cars accounted for 31,480 units and commercial vehicles 3,149 units," it said. It said for the first ten months of this year total production fell to 361,969 units, comprising 330,001 units of passenger cars and 31,988 units of commercial vehicles compared with 429,896 units in the same period last year. On the outlook for November 2007, MAA said, the sales volume was expected to be slightly better.

90% of m-bikers without a licence
7 November 2007, By The Star
PUTRAJAYA: More than 90% of 38,486 motorcyclists checked by the Road Transport Department in a recent operation did not possess a valid licence. “In addition, we found during the operation that the road tax of 2,111 motorcyclists had expired," said RTD enforcement director Salim Parlan. "This is serious because if these motorcyclists are involved in an accident, they would have no insurance coverage," he told members of the media after a meeting between RTD, the Road Safety Department, Malaysia Institute of Road Safety Research, the Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board and the police on Wednesday. "Just this morning alone, we issued 277 summonses against motorcyclists, 214 of whom had no road tax. “Based on these findings and the fact that motorcyclists form the biggest group of road deaths, we have decided to target them in our next enforcement exercise,” he said, adding that the current operation - Ops Bersih III - would last until Dec 4. Salim said that during the operation targeting express buses between Aug 22 and Oct 6, RTD officers had managed to check 952 buses at the country’s 33 terminals. “Our undercover officers also reported 3,385 cases of drivers flouting various offences during this period,” he said.

Kota Tinggi flooded again
5 November 2007, By The Star
KOTA TINGGI: Almost 800 people were evacuated here when their homes were hit by pre-dawn floods. The flood victims were better prepared this time, after experiencing one of the worst floods in the country's history last December and in January this year. Kota Tinggi OCPD Supt Osman Mohamed Sebot said 755 people from 285 families were placed in three evacuation centres Monday as waters rose in Taman Aman, Taman Mawai, Kampung Batu 25, and Kampung Sungai Berangan. Rescue efforts started as early as 3am, as continuous rain brought water levels up to two metres high. Kampung Batu 25 resident Jana Mohamad, 45, said she started packing some clothes and moved her other belongings, including electrical items, to higher shelves in the house when she saw the flood waters rising. "We know what to do now, and this time the flood waters were not as high as last time," she said. But as she was leaving her house, Jana said she was swept by strong currents and had to cling to the fence before she managed to swim to higher grounds. Her neighbour, Zainani Zakaria, 39, said although they had experienced worse floods, she and her family were nonetheless worried. "We did not dare sleep. We were all scared. How are we to know how high the waters will rise?" she said.

Bar concerned over no-fault liability scheme
4 November 2007, By The Star
KUALA LUMPUR: The Bar Council has expressed its concern over the no-fault liability scheme proposed by the Attorney-General to replace the current mode of compensation and claims over road accidents. Its chairman Ambiga Sreenevasan said that while she welcomed Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail's initiative that had the best interest of road accident victims and their families in mind, the Bar noted that there had not been any in-depth study on the scheme's viability and relevance in Malaysia. In a statement yesterday, she said victims of road accidents would now include “the reckless, selfish and dangerous drivers, the speed demons, the drunkards and the Mat Rempit” as there was no concept of “fault” in the scheme. “The deterrent element currently in-built in the present system will be demolished,” she said, adding that statistics gleaned from other jurisdictions with such a scheme showed the rate of accidents increased on its introduction. Ambiga said the scheme would also lead to a limit of the current categories of compensation that could be claimed by accident victims, resulting in the innocent or “blameless victims” being worse off compared to the current system. She said motor insurance premiums were likely to increase with the introduction of the scheme, which would further burden the majority of Malaysians. To address these issues, Ambiga said the Bar had presented a detailed memorandum to Abdul Gani that provides for an alternative mechanism. Spearheaded by the Kuala Lumpur Bar Committee with the judiciary, she said this initiative to revamp the current system should be given a chance to prove its worth.

JPJ Warning To 8,000 Motorists Ahead Of Operation
1 November 2007, By BERNAMA
SHAH ALAM -- The Road Transport Department (JPJ) said tonight it would look out for more than 8,000 motorists notified to surrender their driving licence during an upcoming operation against traffic offenders. JPJ deputy director-general Datuk Solah Mat Hassan said Ops Bersih III from Nov 5 to Dec 4 would trace these motorists -- 7,972 of them holding the permanent driving licence and 305 others the provisional licence -- who had chalked up the maximum 15 and 10 points respectively under the demerit system for committing traffic offences. He told a news conference that these people should not be on the road and advised them to surrender their licence or they would face problems when detained during the operation. "Those who fail to surrender the licence after having received the notification to do so can be fined RM300 for the offence," he said. Solah also said that the traffic operation would involve checking on the tyres and brakes of buses at 36 major bus terminals in the country as well as on the drivers to determine whether they had chalked up the maximum demerit points.

Traffic Chief Happy With 'Ops Sikap XIII'
29 October 2007, By BERNAMA
KUALA LUMPUR -- These days, federal traffic police chief SAC II Hamza Taib has many reasons to smile. For one, the nationwide traffic police operation, 'Ops Sikap XIII' which ended on Oct 21, recorded a 4.7 per cent drop in fatal accidents during the Hari Raya festive season. It is a welcome sign, compared with the statistics recorded in Ops Sikap XI for Hari Raya last year. "Dedicated and intensive enforcement measures taken by traffic policemen nationwide have contributed to the drop in fatalities on our roads. "This means that we have achieved our objective for this year, reducing accidents and ensuring smooth traffic flow on the highways and roads," Hamza told Bernama in an interview recently. Another reason the nation's top traffic police chief is elated is the personal commendation he received from Transport Minister Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy over the reduction in road fatalities and accidents. "The minister told me that he was happy that the police managed to reduce the fatalities in Ops Sikap XIII. "During the Hari Raya festive season last year, Ops Sikap XI recorded 213 fatal accidents. This year, we managed to bring it down to 203 -- a drop by 10 cases," he said. However, the fatalities could have been much lower had motorcyclists been more reponsible and patient on the roads, he said. He said that although there was a 20.4 per cent drop in deaths involving motorcycles to 121 cases, from 152 last year, they still accounted for the highest fatalities under Ops Sikap XIII. Thus, he would make reducing fatalities involving motorcyclists his priority as the traffic chief, he added. Hamza said about 5,190 traffic policemen were deployed nationwide in Ops Sikap XIII which was held from Oct 7 to 21.

Implement National Health Insurance Carefully, Says Chua
25 October 2007, By BERNAMA
KUALA LUMPUR -- The National Health Insurance Scheme, as proposed in the Ninth Malaysia Plan, has to be implemented carefully to ensure it is accepted by people at all levels of society, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek told the Dewan Rakyat Thursday. He said while the scheme was proposed with a noble intention to offset the high medical cost borne by the government and the people, the ministry was aware of the implications and obstacles from financing of the scheme. "Planning for the scheme will take into account studies commissioned by the government, inputs and feedback from various parties, including from the public and private sectors and non-governmental organisations. "The government is also studying various models, including experiences of foreign countries," he said in his written reply to Datuk Suhaili Abdul Rahman (BN-Labuan). The scheme, whose implementation mechanism and date have not been finalised, would provide the people better access to medical treatment and help check spiralling medical costs, he said. "The scheme will also provide more flexibility and freedom in opting for the preferred healthcare either in the public or private sector," he said. While the national insurance scheme was compulsory for all Malaysian citizens and permanent residents, the people would not be prevented from buying private health, accident or life insurance, he said. The government would ensure nobody was deprived access to quality, efficient and comprehensive healthcare, he added.

Strict enforcement pays off, fewer deaths this time
23 October 2007, By New Straits Times
KUALA LUMPUR: The stringent enforcement following the death of 22 express bus passengers two months ago has paid off. Ops Sikap XIII, which ended on Sunday, had recorded fewer deaths. But the most surprising fact was that none involved passengers of express buses. Despite an additional 1,900 express and stage buses on the roads during the festive season, there were no accidents involving buses. Last year, during the same festive season, there were about four such accidents and most were caused by reckless drivers. "This shows that enforcement, if carried out diligently, works," said Road Safety Department director-general Datuk Suret Singh. He said several measures were put into place after the bus crash in Bukit Gantang in August, which yielded results. He urged the authorities not to take the foot off the pedal. "We had poorly maintained buses replaced and errant drivers removed. Stringent checks were carried out before a bus began its journey." One problem the authorities faced was trying to stop passengers from buying tickets from touts. Illegal buses were stopped and taken to the nearest towns where the passengers were ordered to buy tickets from licensed operators. Undercover policemen were also placed on buses to monitor the drivers. The officers issued 363 summonses to bus drivers for breaking various traffic rules. "All these measures have paid off. Checks will continue at 33 bus terminals nationwide." Malaysia Institute Road Safety Research director-general Prof Radin Umar Radin Sohadi said the operation had reduced fatalities despite heavier traffic volume. Ops Sikap XIII recorded 225 fatalities -- 121 were motorcyclists and pillion riders, 54 were car drivers and passengers and the third-highest was pedestrians who made up 23 fatalities. The number of fatalities during the operation last year was 228. The number of accidents, however, went up by 195, from 15,716 to 15,911.

224 Killed During 13th Ops Sikap
22 October 2007, By BERNAMA
KUALA LUMPUR -- A total of 224 people were killed in road accidents during the 15-day Ops Sikap 13 which ended yesterday. Sixteen people died on the last day of the operation launched on Oct 7 to reduce road accidents and deaths during the Aidilfitri celebration. Eleven of the dead were motorcyclists and pillion riders, four car drivers and a pedestrian, Bukit Aman traffic police chief SAC II Hamza Taib said in a statement Monday. Of the 854 accidents reported, 308 occurred on town roads, federal roads (230), state roads (164), highways (107) and other roads (45). A total of 9,255 summonses were issued to errant road users yesterday.

Don't Allow Dangerous Drivers On The Road, Says Chan
21 October 2007, By BERNAMA
PENANG -- The Road Transport Department has been asked to take immediate action against drivers who have picked up the maximum points under the demerit penalty system, as they pose a danger to other road users. Transport Minister Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy said the department should cooperate with the police to go after drivers who had collected a high number of points but refused to pay their outstanding summonses or surrender to the authorities. "Keep these dangerous drivers off the road," he told reporters after chairing the Penang MCA liaison committee meeting here today. RTD director-general Datuk Ahmad Mustapha Abdul Rashid was reported to have said on Friday that warrants of arrest would be issued against 21,000 drivers who had collected maximum points under the demerit system but refused to pay the summonses issued to them.

11 Die On Day 14 Of Ops Sikap XIII, Death Toll Climbs To 209
21 October 2007, By BERNAMA
KUALA LUMPUR -- Eleven people died in road accidents yesterday, bringing to 209 the total number of fatalities since Ops Sikap XIII was launched early this month. Six of the dead were motorcyclists and pillion riders, four car drivers and a lorry driver, Bukit Aman traffic police said in a statement. Of the 890 accidents reported, 341 occurred on town roads, federal roads (240), state roads (172), highways (92) and other roads (45), it said. A total of 8,940 summonses were issued to errant motorists during the 14 days the traffic operations were carried out nationwide, it said. Ops Sikap XIII, launched on Oct 7 to reduce road accidents and deaths during Aidilfitri celebrations, ends today, it added.

20 Deaths On First Day Of `Ops Sikap 13'
8 October 2007, By BERNAMA
KUALA LUMPUR -- The first day of the launching of `Ops Sikap 13' Sunday recorded 20 deaths from 15 fatal accidents throughout the country. Federal Traffic Police Chief, SAC II Hamza Taib said although