Revive new village committees - The Star

April 25, 2008 By RASLAN BAHAROM

RESIDENTS of 134 new villages in Perak have been asked to reactivate their respective New Village Development and Security Committee or JKKKB.

Perak MCA secretary Datuk Ho Cheng Wang (pic) said the JKKKB was initiated by the Housing and Local Government Ministry to oversee the security and coordinate development efforts at such villages.

Ho said over the years, the JKKKBs, located within the jurisdiction of local authorities, had become inactive as their roles became redundant.

“The needs of new village residents are usually handled by councillors attached to the town or mu-nicipal councils.

“But due to current political changes, it has been decided that there is a need to reactivate the JKKKB,” he said recently.

Ho said Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Ong Ka Chuan felt the JKKKB could become an effective mechanism to provide various services needed by the new villages.

Ho said new villages in Pulau Pasir Hitam, Sungai Kerang and Terong near Taiping were among the active JKKKBs in Larut Matang and Selama districts.

In Bukit Gantang where Ho is the MCA division chairman, only eight of the 11 JKKKB remain active.

“Unlike the JKKK, the JKKKB is not officially recognised by the previous Perak government,” he added.

Ho said the chairmen and committee members of the JKKKB were also not paid monthly salaries and meeting allowances unlike those in the JKKKs. He added that there were a total of 450 new villages throughout the country.

Confusion over quit rent payment - The Star

April 24, 2008

THOSE used to paying their quit rent using cheques at district and land offices in Perak have been urged to switch to other acceptable mode of payments to avoid hassle.

Former Pokok Assam assemblyman Datuk Ho Cheng Wang said many of the cheques issued by individuals and companies before had been dishonoured.

He said state financial officer Datuk Jamaluddin Al Ameini Ahmad recently told him about the latest move which had created confusion among the public.

Ho, who is also Perak MCA secretary, said cheques of any amount were previously accepted for quit rent payments. But with the the latest move, cheques for RM300 or less were accepted from individuals and a maxi- mum RM1,000 from companies.

Since quit rent payments should be made before May 31, he said it was better for the public to pay via money orders, bank drafts, cash or postal orders to avoid being fined.

Ho was speaking to reporters after a Taiping resident, B. P. Lee approached him for help after being told by a Larut Matang district land office clerk that he had to issue nine cheques to pay quit rent amounting to RM8,701.

Lee had gone to the land office to pay the quit rent for a friend and brought along a cheque for the amount.

“A clerk at the counter asked me to make new cheques amounting to RM1,000 each, hence I have to issue nine cheques for the full amount of RM8,701.

“Previously, ratepayers are allowed to make their payment using just one cheque,” Lee said.

Ho said if Lee could not pay the RM8,701 before May 31, the late payment fine imposed would be RM435.10.

He advised Lee to use other modes of payment to settle the quit rent like issuing a bank draft.

Ho added that the clerk who told Lee to make a total of nine cheques was wrong, as the new move permitted companies to issue only one cheque worth a maximum of RM1,000.

Ho said quit rent payments for this year could also be made at post offices.

Previous MBI Local Councillors - for remembrance

ZON 1 ( KLEBANG/KHANTAN/CHEMOR)

Clr. Encik Cheng Wee Meng
Rumah : No. 18, Persiaran Bandar Baru
Tambun 15, Desa Tambun Indah
31400 Ipoh
05-2432323 (P)
05-5467100 (R)
012-5886621

ZON 2 ( CHEPOR/KUALA KUANG/MERU)

Clr. Encik K. Rajakumar a/l K. Kumarasami
PPT.
Rumah : No. 65, Persiaran Bandar Baru Tambun,
Bandar Baru Tambun
31400 Ipoh
012-5294055
012-5337518

ZON 3 (TAWAS/TASEK/IPOH GROVE)

Clr. Encik Ishak b. Dato’ Ismail
PMP., AMP., AMN., BCN., PPT.
Rumah : No. 1, Lorong Sri Kinta 4,
Pasir Puteh Tambahan
31650 Ipoh
05-2538107 (P)
05-2538110 (P)
017-5880668

ZON 4 (TANJUNG RAMBUTAN/KINDING/PUTRA)

Clr. Encik Vijay Chandran
AMN., AMP., PPT.
Rumah : No. 1, Lorong Sg. Choh 5,
Taman Jaya Delima
31250 Tg. Rambutan
05-5336873 (P)
012-5659292

ZON 5 (BERCHAM/TASEK DERMAWAN)

Clr. Encik Lim Huey Shan
Rumah : No. 14, Persiaran Tasek Timur 16,
Taman Mewah, Bercham
31400 Ipoh
05-5497944 (P)
012-5127564

ZON 6 (JELAPANG/TAMAN PERTAMA/RISHAH)

Clr. Encik Murugiah a/l Thopasamy
AMP., PPT., PPA.
Pejabat : No. 26A, Lebuh Dinding
Lim Garden Ipoh
30000 Ipoh
05-2546904 (P)
016-5207473

ZON 7 (GUGUSAN MANJOI)

Clr. En. Zulkifli b. Ab. Hamid, PMP., PPT., PJK. (UMNO)
DMSM., KMN., AMP., PPT., PPN., PJK., JP
Rumah : No. 28, Jalan Pengkalan 7,
Taman Pengkalan Jaya,
Jalan Pasir Putih,
31650 Ipoh
05-2557076 (P)
05-3215166 (R)
012-5083352

ZON 8 (TEMBOK/TAMAN CHERRY/TAMAN LIM)

Y.Bhg. Clr. Dato’ Daniel Tay
DPMP., PMP., AMP., JP.
Rumah : No. 6, Jalan Lasam,
30350 Ipoh
05-2537444 (P)
019-5796000

ZON 9(KEPAYANG/FAIR PARK/BANDAR IPOH RAYA)

Y.Bhg. Clr. Dato’ Shamsuddin b. Hj. Abdul Ghaffar
DPMP., KMN., AMN., AMP., PPT., JP.
Rumah : 16, Laluan Seri Ampang 26,
Taman Seri Ampang
31350 Ipoh
05-2538110 (P)
019-5590039

ZON 10 ( KG.SIMEE/TAMAN IPOH/TAMAN CANNING)

Clr. Encik Oh Teik Dong
PJK.
Rumah : No. 45, Persiaran Zarib 5,
Taman Pinji Mewah
31350 Lahat
05-3222017 (P)
012-5083606

ZON 11 (PERPADUAN/ULU KINTA/TAMBUN)

Clr. Encik Nasir b. Ismail
PMP., KMN., AMP., PPT.
Rumah : No. 2, Lebuh Seri Desa 1,
Seri Desa Tanah Hitam
31200 Chemor
05-2555201 (P)
05-2011211 (R)
019-5704040

ZON 12 (BUNTONG/SILIBIN)

Clr. Puan Thangasvari a/p Suppiah
AMN., PPT.
Rumah : No. 10, Lorong Lapan,
Taman Pertama
30100 Ipoh
05-2421979 (P)
05-2431979 (P)
05-5266128 (R)
012-5199337

ZON 13 (GREENTOWN/PEKAN LAMA/MEDAN KIDD)

Clr. Encik Wong York Mung
Rumah : No. 3, Hala Bercham Timur 5,
Taman Pakatan
31400 Ipoh
05-5480258 (P)
05-5362660 (R)
013-5155555

ZON 14 (CEMPAKA/TAMAN GOLF/LUMBA KUDA)

Clr. Cik Choong Meng Sze
Rumah : No. 3, Persiaran Sg. Pari Timur 19,
Taman Mas
30100 Ipoh
05-5481128 (P)
012-5225228

ZON 15 (SG. ROKAM/IPOH JAYA/AMPANG)

Clr. Tn. Hj. Zamri b. Harun
KMN., AMN., AMP., PJK., JP.
Rumah : No. 10, Jalan Rokam,
Sungai Rokam
31350 Ipoh
05-3139466 (R)
016-5946553

ZON 16 (PEKAN BARU/TEBING TINGGI/PASIR PINJI)

Clr. Encik Khoo Boon Chuan
PPT.
Rumah : 19, Persiaran Indah Empat,
Desa Pengkalan Indah
31650 Ipoh
05-2544446 (P)
05-2543568 (P)
05-2433313 (P)
05-3231533 (R)
013-5077939

ZON 17 (MENGELEMBU/FALIM)

Clr. Puan Lin Sook Chin
Rumah : No. 48, Jln. Haji Eusoff,
Housing Trust
05-2424746 (P)
05-2414643 (P)
012-5161388

ZON 18 (PASIR PUTEH/SERI KINTA/KUALA PARI)

Y.Bhg. Clr. Dato’ Hj. Mohamad Raduan b. Mohd Kassim
DPMP., KMN., AMN., AMP., PPT.
Rumah : K198B, Kg. Pasir Puteh
31650 Ipoh
05-5280718 (P)
05-5269935 (P)
05-3225562 (R)
012-5082437

ZON 19 (KG. SG. RAPAT/PENGKALAN PEGOH/PENGKALAN GATE)

Clr. En. Hamzah b. Mohd. Kasim, PMP. (UMNO)
Rumah : No. 1, Persiaran Pinji Perdana 15 A,
Taman Pinji Perdana
31500 Lahat
016-3762953
012-5378996
03-87066399
03-87066454

ZON 20 (GUNUNG RAPAT/RAPAT SETIA/TAMAN SONG CHOON)

Clr. Encik Phang Tzu Pin
Rumah : 5-A, Taman Bertuah
31600 Gopeng
05-3222777 (P)
05-3592509 (R)
012-5184918

ZON 21 (LAHAT,BUKIT MERAH)

Clr. Encik Tan Liang Keat
Pejabat : No. 32, Lintasan Perajurit 4,
Taman Perak
31400 Ipoh
05-5455888 (P)
05-5483589 (R)
012-5181899

ZON 22 (SENGAT/RAPAT JAYA/CHANGKAT LARANG)

Clr. Encik Hang Tuah b. Din
AMP., PPT
Rumah : No. 15, Dataran Rapat Baru 4,
Taman Sri Rapat
31350 Ipoh
05-3120650 (P)
05-3136463 (P)
05-3127254 (R)
012-5200981

Source: http://www.mbi.gov.my/portal3/government/index3.html?display=counselor

Penang to continue offering posts to competent people - The Star

PETALING JAYA: April 24, 2008 By SHAHANAAZ HABIB

The Penang state government will continue to offer posts to people who are "competent, accountable and transparent" regardless of which political party they belong to.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said he was serious in wanting to forge a new paradigm that cuts across the political divide and brings people together including those "who did not vote for us" to contribute to the betterment of the state.

He said while this was "something new and groundbreaking" he certainly did not expect the move to be "criticised and condemned in such strong terms by top national (Barisan Nasional) leaders."

"Are we going to grow up and grow out of the outdated mindset? The time has come to look at the content of character rather than colour of skin or the gods you pray to or the respective political beliefs that you hold," he said at a press conference Thursday.

He said there should not be discrimination against someone based on political party he or she was from.

He stressed that the Pakatan Rakyat-led Penang government would have no second thoughts about offering other clean and competent Barisan leaders in the state a post.

"It is Barisan which is having second thoughts and exerting pressure on its members to pull out. If we have the confidence they can serve - we will appoint them.

"If they feel they don't want to take on the pressure they have a right not to continue and we respect their wishes and we will not condemn," he added.

He was commenting on former Gerakan deputy secretary-general Datuk Lee Kah Choon quitting the party after coming under fire from Barisan leaders for accepting the Penang Development Corporation (PDC) director and InvestPenang executive committee chairman post from the new Pakatan-led Penang government.

Lim stressed that the Penang state government never made it a requirement that Lee or any other Barisan leader in the state leave their respective parties to accept any state appointment "but even that is seen as unacceptable".

"It is a bit unfortunate that they (Barisan) look at it from a political affiliation perspective and pressure is exerted and applied not allow us to break out of this mould. Is it so difficult to shake our hands?" he asked.

To a question, Lim said there was nothing for him or Lee to feel bad about over the latter (Lee) quitting his party.

"Those who should feel bad know who they are. Let us leave those people who should feel bad to their own devices," he added.

On why he picked Lee, a lawyer and a former parliamentary secretary, who had no business experience to head PDC, Lim said: "Did Koh Tsu Koon have experience in business when he became the Penang Chief Minister. He was only an academic."

Lim said he wanted to make Penang dynamic again and for that it would need the effort and co-operation of everyone in the state.

"Let us break out and get down to work for the people. Campaigning is over. The losers should respect the wishes of the people and co-operate instead of trying to sabotage or undermine the efforts of those who had won," he said, adding that the people expected a certain level of maturity from their politicians and elected representatives.

Thirteen councillors resign from Ipoh City Council - The Star

IPOH: April 24, 2008 By SYLVIA LOOI

Thirteen Ipoh City Council (DBI) councillors appointed by the previous Barisan Nasional administration are calling it quits.

They comprise eight councillors from Umno, three from the People's Progressive Party (PPP) and two from MIC.

The 13 councillors are the last out of the council's 22 to announce their resignation after nine MCA and Gerakan councillors earlier submitted their resignation letters.

Council whip Datuk Raduan Mohd Kassim said the resignation letters of the 13 would be submitted as soon as all "loose ends" had been tied up.

"Being responsible people, we must ensure everything is in order before passing it over to the next person," he told reporters Thursday after the council's full board meeting.

However when asked when the letters would be submitted, Raduan said: "We will let you know later."

MIC councillor K. Rajakumar said the resignation letters of MIC councillors had been submitted to party president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu recently.

"It is up to our party president when he wants to submit the letters," he said.

PPP councillor N. Vijay Chandran said the resignation letters of the party's councillors would be submitted together with those of the Umno councillors'.

"We are just following the instructions of state Barisan chief Datuk Seri Mohammad Tajol Rosli to resign as a matter of principle," he said.

Earlier, Datuk Bandar Datuk Mohamad Rafiai Moktar said the monthly full board meeting would still go on next month if there was quorum.

"If there is no (quorum), it will then be postponed," he said, adding that quorum for the meeting was 12.

Asked whether the resignation of the councillors would affect the council's services, Mohamad Rafiai said the councillors are still grassroots leaders.

"They can still forward their complaints to us," he said.

Polio victim all set to create history - NST

IPOH: April 24, 2008

Polio victim Hee Yit Foong is set to blaze an unprecedented trail for disabled persons.

The Jelapang assemblywoman is all set to be sworn in as deputy speaker in the state legislative assembly.

Hee, 45, was stricken with polio when she was 4. She walks with a limp.

She is expected to become the first woman to be elected as deputy speaker in Perak.

Another piece of history will also be made at the assembly when Tronoh assemblyman V. Sivakumar is elected speaker. He will become the first Indian to hold the post in the country.

Sivakumar, 38, and Hee are expected to preside over the swearing-in of 57 assemblymen tomorrow.

This is the first assembly sitting after the formation of the Pakatan Rakyat state government.

In the March 8 general election, DAP won 18 seats, Parti Keadilan Rakyat seven, Pas six and Barisan Nasional (BN) 28.

The nomination of the two DAP representatives is to honour Pakatan Rakyat's promise to provide more representation to Indians and women in the state administration.

Meanwhile, the BN nominated former speaker Datuk Seri Junus Wahid for the speaker's post and the sole BN assemblyman from MCA, Dr Mah Hang Soon, for the deputy speaker's post.

Former menteri besar and Pengkalan Hulu assemblyman Datuk Seri Tajol Rosli Ghazali will lead the BN's charge as the opposition leader. - Bernama

Probe land deal, says Ipoh Timur MCA man - The Star

IPOH: April 23, 2008 By Hah Foong Lian

The MCA must set up a panel to investigate the land deal involving the Ipoh Timur division chief and a soya sauce factory at Pasir Pinji here, a committee member of the division said.

Calling for the probe to be conducted within 14 days, Ipoh Timur MCA division committee member Andy Low Kim Piau said the supposed transaction had tarnished the party's image.

"I am giving the party 14 days to investigate the matter. Failing which, I reserve my right to lodge and police and ACA (Anti-Corruption Agency) report," Low said at a press conference Wednesday.

Low said an inquiry should be held because it was in line with the call by MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting for a healthy political culture in the party.

It had been reported recently that the state government had stopped the transfer of land title to the division after receiving reports over the matter.

A soya sauce factory that has been operating since 1953 is located on the plot of land.