April 30, 2009 By SYLVIA LOOI
IPOH: Nearly 25% of all construction sites inspected in Perak have been found to be Aedes mosquito breeding grounds.
State Health, Local Government, Consumer Affairs, Environment, Public Transportation and Non-Islamic Affairs Committee chairman Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon said the Health Department had carried out checks on 104 sites in the state as of April 25.
Twenty-four sites were found to be breeding Aedes larvae, he said Thursday after conducting a spot check at a construction site at Taman Botani here.
Dr Mah said that to date, six compounds and 18 notices have been issued to the developers concerned.
“I urge contractors to check their sites daily and to destroy any breeding grounds,” he added.
He warned that owners of sites found to be breeding Aedes mosquitoes could be fined RM10,000 or jailed not more than two years, or both.
Dr Mah said that up to April 25, 1,352 dengue cases have been reported in the state this year.
Compared with the same period last year, there has been an increase of 51 cases and one death, he said.
Up till the same date, 189,395 premises have been inspected with 1,218 of them found to be Aedes mosquito breeding sites.
A total of RM98,350 worth of compounds were collected from the 604 issued, he added.
Making Ipoh the most liveable city in Malaysia
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Mosquito Trap DIY
Fancy how to make a workable mosquito trap to thwart off mosquitoes and dengue? Recently I received this tips from a friend which I thought will be useful. Here's how you do it:
1. Cut a plastic bottle in half, keep both parts. Can be Coca Cola / Pepsi bottle.
2. Take the lower portion of the bottle. Dissolve the brown sugar in hot water. Let it cool down to ~70 deg F.
3. Add the yeast. Carbon dioxide will form (This will attract the mosquitos)
4. Cover the bottle with a dark wrap and place the top portion upside down like a funnel. Place it in a corner in your house.
5. In 2 weeks you will be surprised by the number of mosquitos killed.
See the pictures below:
And this is the expected result:
Good luck.
1. Cut a plastic bottle in half, keep both parts. Can be Coca Cola / Pepsi bottle.
2. Take the lower portion of the bottle. Dissolve the brown sugar in hot water. Let it cool down to ~70 deg F.
3. Add the yeast. Carbon dioxide will form (This will attract the mosquitos)
4. Cover the bottle with a dark wrap and place the top portion upside down like a funnel. Place it in a corner in your house.
5. In 2 weeks you will be surprised by the number of mosquitos killed.
See the pictures below:
And this is the expected result:
Good luck.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Swine Flu FAQ - Star
April 28, 2009
What is swine influenza?
It is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A strains of the influenza virus. It regularly causes high flu outbreaks in pigs but with low death rates. There are four main sub-types of the virus, but the most recent isolated influenza viruses from pigs have been H1N1 viruses.
How does it spread?
Swine flu viruses do not typically infect humans though they do occur through close proximity or contact with infected pigs or contaminated areas. Cases of human-to-human spread have been documented.
What are the symptoms?
The symptoms are similar to those of regular flu:
- Fever
- Lethargy
- Runny nose
- Cough
- Sore throat
- Lack of appetite
- Vomiting and diarrhoea in some cases.
How common is swine flu infection in humans?
In the past reports of about one human swine flu virus infection had been received every one to two years in the United States. From December 2005 till February 2009, 12 cases have been reported.
Has this strain of flu been seen before?
No. Flu mutates constantly, so it is common for new strains to emerge. Pigs can also be infected with both human and avian influenza, and the current circulating swine flu strain appears to contain genetic elements from all three.
Can swine flu be treated with antiviral drugs and flu vaccine?
The swine flu is resistant to two common drugs – Amantadine and Rimantadine. The H1N1 swine flu viruses are very different from human H1N1 viruses. Therefore, vaccines for human seasonal flu would not provide protection. However, a “seed vaccine” has been specifically tailored to this swine flu and will be manufactured if officials deem it necessary.
Can people catch swine flu by eating pork?
No. Swine influenza viruses are not transmitted by food. Eating properly handled and cooked pork and pork products is safe. Cooking pork to an internal temperature of 70ºC and above kills the swine flu virus.
How long is someone with swine flu considered contagious?
People with swine influenza virus infection should be considered potentially contagious as long as they are symptomatic; possibly for up to seven days following the onset of the illness. Children, especially younger children, might potentially be contagious for longer periods.
What can I do to protect myself from the swine flu?
There is no vaccine available right now to protect against the swine flu.
However, you can help prevent the spread of germs that cause respiratory illnesses like influenza by:
- Covering your nose and mouth with a disposable tissue or handkerchief when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the waste basket after you use it.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also helpful
- Try to avoid close contact with sick people. - If you get sick with influenza, stay at home and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
- Consult your nearest healthcare facility if you think you have any of the symptoms.
Which countries have had cases of the swine flu?
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has confirmed human cases of swine flu in Mexico, the United States, Canada and Spain. Only Mexico has reported deaths from the new strain.
Are there any travel restrictions or advisories for Malaysians?
The Health Ministry on April 27 advised Malaysians against travelling to certain places in the United States, Mexico and Canada which have been affected by the swine flu.
What precautions are in place in Malaysia?
- The Health Ministry’s operations room in Putrajaya has started a 24-hour monitoring of the situation. The public can call 03-8881 0200/300 for enquiries.
- Those returning from Latin American countries and found to have flu-like symptoms will be quarantined.
- Health Ministry officials are conducting health screenings on passengers arriving from the United States.
- Thermal scanners will be placed at international airports to speed up the screening process for swine flu.
- Public and private medical practitioners have been instructed to report to the district health office any patient with influenza-like illnesses or severe pneumonia symptoms and who had travelled to the affected countries after April 17.
- Owners of the 797 pig farms nationwide have been ordered to immediately contact the nearest Veterinary Services Department office or the Animal Disease Control Centre if their workers or animals show symptoms linked to the swine flu.
Where can I get more information?
For more information, go to the Health Ministry (www.moh.gov.my) or call the Ministry's hotline at (03) 8881-0200/300.
Useful Links:
World Health Organization: www.who.int
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: www.cdc.gov
Homeland Security Department: www.dhs.gov
WHO swine flu page: http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/en/index.html
What is swine influenza?
It is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A strains of the influenza virus. It regularly causes high flu outbreaks in pigs but with low death rates. There are four main sub-types of the virus, but the most recent isolated influenza viruses from pigs have been H1N1 viruses.
How does it spread?
Swine flu viruses do not typically infect humans though they do occur through close proximity or contact with infected pigs or contaminated areas. Cases of human-to-human spread have been documented.
What are the symptoms?
The symptoms are similar to those of regular flu:
- Fever
- Lethargy
- Runny nose
- Cough
- Sore throat
- Lack of appetite
- Vomiting and diarrhoea in some cases.
How common is swine flu infection in humans?
In the past reports of about one human swine flu virus infection had been received every one to two years in the United States. From December 2005 till February 2009, 12 cases have been reported.
Has this strain of flu been seen before?
No. Flu mutates constantly, so it is common for new strains to emerge. Pigs can also be infected with both human and avian influenza, and the current circulating swine flu strain appears to contain genetic elements from all three.
Can swine flu be treated with antiviral drugs and flu vaccine?
The swine flu is resistant to two common drugs – Amantadine and Rimantadine. The H1N1 swine flu viruses are very different from human H1N1 viruses. Therefore, vaccines for human seasonal flu would not provide protection. However, a “seed vaccine” has been specifically tailored to this swine flu and will be manufactured if officials deem it necessary.
Can people catch swine flu by eating pork?
No. Swine influenza viruses are not transmitted by food. Eating properly handled and cooked pork and pork products is safe. Cooking pork to an internal temperature of 70ºC and above kills the swine flu virus.
How long is someone with swine flu considered contagious?
People with swine influenza virus infection should be considered potentially contagious as long as they are symptomatic; possibly for up to seven days following the onset of the illness. Children, especially younger children, might potentially be contagious for longer periods.
What can I do to protect myself from the swine flu?
There is no vaccine available right now to protect against the swine flu.
However, you can help prevent the spread of germs that cause respiratory illnesses like influenza by:
- Covering your nose and mouth with a disposable tissue or handkerchief when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the waste basket after you use it.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also helpful
- Try to avoid close contact with sick people. - If you get sick with influenza, stay at home and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
- Consult your nearest healthcare facility if you think you have any of the symptoms.
Which countries have had cases of the swine flu?
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has confirmed human cases of swine flu in Mexico, the United States, Canada and Spain. Only Mexico has reported deaths from the new strain.
Are there any travel restrictions or advisories for Malaysians?
The Health Ministry on April 27 advised Malaysians against travelling to certain places in the United States, Mexico and Canada which have been affected by the swine flu.
What precautions are in place in Malaysia?
- The Health Ministry’s operations room in Putrajaya has started a 24-hour monitoring of the situation. The public can call 03-8881 0200/300 for enquiries.
- Those returning from Latin American countries and found to have flu-like symptoms will be quarantined.
- Health Ministry officials are conducting health screenings on passengers arriving from the United States.
- Thermal scanners will be placed at international airports to speed up the screening process for swine flu.
- Public and private medical practitioners have been instructed to report to the district health office any patient with influenza-like illnesses or severe pneumonia symptoms and who had travelled to the affected countries after April 17.
- Owners of the 797 pig farms nationwide have been ordered to immediately contact the nearest Veterinary Services Department office or the Animal Disease Control Centre if their workers or animals show symptoms linked to the swine flu.
Where can I get more information?
For more information, go to the Health Ministry (www.moh.gov.my) or call the Ministry's hotline at (03) 8881-0200/300.
Useful Links:
World Health Organization: www.who.int
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: www.cdc.gov
Homeland Security Department: www.dhs.gov
WHO swine flu page: http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/en/index.html
Key facts about Swine Influenza (Swine Flu) - Malaysian Insider
NEW YORK, April 27 — Following are facts about Swine Flu that has just broken out in Mexico and the United States, creating fears of another pandemic.
Swine Flu
What is Swine Influenza?
Swine Influenza (swine flu) is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza virus that regularly causes outbreaks of influenza in pigs. Swine flu viruses cause high levels of illness and low death rates in pigs. Swine influenza viruses may circulate among swine throughout the year, but most outbreaks occur during the late fall and winter months similar to outbreaks in humans. The classical swine flu virus (an influenza type A H1N1 virus) was first isolated from a pig in 1930.
How many swine flu viruses are there?
Like all influenza viruses, swine flu viruses change constantly. Pigs can be infected by avian influenza and human influenza viruses as well as swine influenza viruses. When influenza viruses from different species infect pigs, the viruses can re-assort (i.e. swap genes) and new viruses that are a mix of swine, human and/or avian influenza viruses can emerge. Over the years, different variations of swine flu viruses have emerged. At this time, there are four main influenza type A virus subtypes that have been isolated in pigs: H1N1, H1N2, H3N2, and H3N1. However, most of the recently isolated influenza viruses from pigs have been H1N1 viruses.
Swine Flu in Humans
Can humans catch swine flu?
Swine flu viruses do not normally infect humans. However, sporadic human infections with swine flu have occurred. Most commonly, these cases occur in persons with direct exposure to pigs (e.g. children near pigs at a fair or workers in the swine industry). In addition, there have been documented cases of one person spreading swine flu to others. For example, an outbreak of apparent swine flu infection in pigs in Wisconsin in 1988 resulted in multiple human infections, and, although no community outbreak resulted, there was antibody evidence of virus transmission from the patient to health care workers who had close contact with the patient.
How common is swine flu infection in humans?
In the past, CDC received reports of approximately one human swine influenza virus infection every one to two years in the US, but from December 2005 through February 2009, 12 cases of human infection with swine influenza have been reported.
What are the symptoms of swine flu in humans?
The symptoms of swine flu in people are expected to be similar to the symptoms of regular human seasonal influenza and include fever, lethargy, lack of appetite and coughing. Some people with swine flu also have reported runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
Can people catch swine flu from eating pork?
No. Swine influenza viruses are not transmitted by food. You cannot get swine influenza from eating pork or pork products. Eating properly handled and cooked pork and pork products is safe. Cooking pork to an internal temperature of 160°F kills the swine flu virus as it does other bacteria and viruses.
How does swine flu spread?
Influenza viruses can be directly transmitted from pigs to people and from people to pigs. Human infection with flu viruses from pigs are most likely to occur when people are in close proximity to infected pigs, such as in pig barns and livestock exhibits housing pigs at fairs. Human-to-human transmission of swine flu can also occur. This is thought to occur in the same way as seasonal flu occurs in people, which is mainly person-to-person transmission through coughing or sneezing of people infected with the influenza virus. People may become infected by touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose.
What do we know about human-to-human spread of swine flu?
In September 1988, a previously healthy 32-year-old pregnant woman was hospitalised for pneumonia and died 8 days later. A swine H1N1 flu virus was detected. Four days before getting sick, the patient visited a county fair swine exhibition where there was widespread influenza-like illness among the swine.
In follow-up studies, 76 per cent of swine exhibitors tested had antibody evidence of swine flu infection but no serious illnesses were detected among this group. Additional studies suggest that one to three health care personnel who had contact with the patient developed mild influenza-like illnesses with antibody evidence of swine flu infection.
How can human infections with swine influenza be diagnosed?
To diagnose swine influenza A infection, a respiratory specimen would generally need to be collected within the first 4 to 5 days of illness (when an infected person is most likely to be shedding virus). However, some persons, especially children, may shed virus for 10 days or longer. Identification as a swine flu influenza A virus requires sending the specimen to CDC for laboratory testing.
What medications are available to treat swine flu infections in humans?
There are four different antiviral drugs that are licensed for use in the US for the treatment of influenza: amantadine, rimantadine, oseltamivir and zanamivir. While most swine influenza viruses have been susceptible to all four drugs, the most recent swine influenza viruses isolated from humans are resistant to amantadine and rimantadine. At this time, CDC recommends the use of oseltamivir or zanamivir for the treatment and/or prevention of infection with swine influenza viruses.
What other examples of swine flu outbreaks are there?
Probably the most well known is an outbreak of swine flu among soldiers in Fort Dix, New Jersey in 1976. The virus caused disease with x-ray evidence of pneumonia in at least 4 soldiers and 1 death; all of these patients had previously been healthy. The virus was transmitted to close contacts in a basic training environment, with limited transmission outside the basic training group. The virus is thought to have circulated for a month and disappeared. The source of the virus, the exact time of its introduction into Fort Dix, and factors limiting its spread and duration are unknown. The Fort Dix outbreak may have been caused by introduction of an animal virus into a stressed human population in close contact in crowded facilities during the winter. The swine influenza A virus collected from a Fort Dix soldier was named A/New Jersey/76 (Hsw1N1).
Is the H1N1 swine flu virus the same as human H1N1 viruses?
No. The H1N1 swine flu viruses are antigenically very different from human H1N1 viruses and, therefore, vaccines for human seasonal flu would not provide protection from H1N1 swine flu viruses.
Swine Flu in Pigs
How does swine flu spread among pigs?
Swine flu viruses are thought to be spread mostly through close contact among pigs and possibly from contaminated objects moving between infected and uninfected pigs. Herds with continuous swine flu infections and herds that are vaccinated against swine flu may have sporadic disease, or may show only mild or no symptoms of infection.
What are signs of swine flu in pigs?
Signs of swine flu in pigs can include sudden onset of fever, depression, coughing (barking), discharge from the nose or eyes, sneezing, breathing difficulties, eye redness or inflammation, and going off feed.
How common is swine flu among pigs?
H1N1 and H3N2 swine flu viruses are endemic among pig populations in the United States and something that the industry deals with routinely. Outbreaks among pigs normally occur in colder weather months (late fall and winter) and sometimes with the introduction of new pigs into susceptible herds. Studies have shown that the swine flu H1N1 is common throughout pig populations worldwide, with 25 per cent of animals showing antibody evidence of infection. In the US studies have shown that 30 per cent of the pig population has antibody evidence of having had H1N1 infection. More specifically, 51 per cent of pigs in the north-central US have been shown to have antibody evidence of infection with swine H1N1. Human infections with swine flu H1N1 viruses are rare. There is currently no way to differentiate antibody produced in response to flu vaccination in pigs from antibody made in response to pig infections with swine H1N1 influenza.
While H1N1 swine viruses have been known to circulate among pig populations since at least 1930, H3N2 influenza viruses did not begin circulating among US pigs until 1998. The H3N2 viruses initially were introduced into the pig population from humans. The current swine flu H3N2 viruses are closely related to human H3N2 viruses.
Is there a vaccine for swine flu?
Vaccines are available to be given to pigs to prevent swine influenza. There is no vaccine to protect humans from swine flu. The seasonal influenza vaccine will likely help provide partial protection against swine H3N2, but not swine H1N1 viruses.
Swine Flu
What is Swine Influenza?
Swine Influenza (swine flu) is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza virus that regularly causes outbreaks of influenza in pigs. Swine flu viruses cause high levels of illness and low death rates in pigs. Swine influenza viruses may circulate among swine throughout the year, but most outbreaks occur during the late fall and winter months similar to outbreaks in humans. The classical swine flu virus (an influenza type A H1N1 virus) was first isolated from a pig in 1930.
How many swine flu viruses are there?
Like all influenza viruses, swine flu viruses change constantly. Pigs can be infected by avian influenza and human influenza viruses as well as swine influenza viruses. When influenza viruses from different species infect pigs, the viruses can re-assort (i.e. swap genes) and new viruses that are a mix of swine, human and/or avian influenza viruses can emerge. Over the years, different variations of swine flu viruses have emerged. At this time, there are four main influenza type A virus subtypes that have been isolated in pigs: H1N1, H1N2, H3N2, and H3N1. However, most of the recently isolated influenza viruses from pigs have been H1N1 viruses.
Swine Flu in Humans
Can humans catch swine flu?
Swine flu viruses do not normally infect humans. However, sporadic human infections with swine flu have occurred. Most commonly, these cases occur in persons with direct exposure to pigs (e.g. children near pigs at a fair or workers in the swine industry). In addition, there have been documented cases of one person spreading swine flu to others. For example, an outbreak of apparent swine flu infection in pigs in Wisconsin in 1988 resulted in multiple human infections, and, although no community outbreak resulted, there was antibody evidence of virus transmission from the patient to health care workers who had close contact with the patient.
How common is swine flu infection in humans?
In the past, CDC received reports of approximately one human swine influenza virus infection every one to two years in the US, but from December 2005 through February 2009, 12 cases of human infection with swine influenza have been reported.
What are the symptoms of swine flu in humans?
The symptoms of swine flu in people are expected to be similar to the symptoms of regular human seasonal influenza and include fever, lethargy, lack of appetite and coughing. Some people with swine flu also have reported runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
Can people catch swine flu from eating pork?
No. Swine influenza viruses are not transmitted by food. You cannot get swine influenza from eating pork or pork products. Eating properly handled and cooked pork and pork products is safe. Cooking pork to an internal temperature of 160°F kills the swine flu virus as it does other bacteria and viruses.
How does swine flu spread?
Influenza viruses can be directly transmitted from pigs to people and from people to pigs. Human infection with flu viruses from pigs are most likely to occur when people are in close proximity to infected pigs, such as in pig barns and livestock exhibits housing pigs at fairs. Human-to-human transmission of swine flu can also occur. This is thought to occur in the same way as seasonal flu occurs in people, which is mainly person-to-person transmission through coughing or sneezing of people infected with the influenza virus. People may become infected by touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose.
What do we know about human-to-human spread of swine flu?
In September 1988, a previously healthy 32-year-old pregnant woman was hospitalised for pneumonia and died 8 days later. A swine H1N1 flu virus was detected. Four days before getting sick, the patient visited a county fair swine exhibition where there was widespread influenza-like illness among the swine.
In follow-up studies, 76 per cent of swine exhibitors tested had antibody evidence of swine flu infection but no serious illnesses were detected among this group. Additional studies suggest that one to three health care personnel who had contact with the patient developed mild influenza-like illnesses with antibody evidence of swine flu infection.
How can human infections with swine influenza be diagnosed?
To diagnose swine influenza A infection, a respiratory specimen would generally need to be collected within the first 4 to 5 days of illness (when an infected person is most likely to be shedding virus). However, some persons, especially children, may shed virus for 10 days or longer. Identification as a swine flu influenza A virus requires sending the specimen to CDC for laboratory testing.
What medications are available to treat swine flu infections in humans?
There are four different antiviral drugs that are licensed for use in the US for the treatment of influenza: amantadine, rimantadine, oseltamivir and zanamivir. While most swine influenza viruses have been susceptible to all four drugs, the most recent swine influenza viruses isolated from humans are resistant to amantadine and rimantadine. At this time, CDC recommends the use of oseltamivir or zanamivir for the treatment and/or prevention of infection with swine influenza viruses.
What other examples of swine flu outbreaks are there?
Probably the most well known is an outbreak of swine flu among soldiers in Fort Dix, New Jersey in 1976. The virus caused disease with x-ray evidence of pneumonia in at least 4 soldiers and 1 death; all of these patients had previously been healthy. The virus was transmitted to close contacts in a basic training environment, with limited transmission outside the basic training group. The virus is thought to have circulated for a month and disappeared. The source of the virus, the exact time of its introduction into Fort Dix, and factors limiting its spread and duration are unknown. The Fort Dix outbreak may have been caused by introduction of an animal virus into a stressed human population in close contact in crowded facilities during the winter. The swine influenza A virus collected from a Fort Dix soldier was named A/New Jersey/76 (Hsw1N1).
Is the H1N1 swine flu virus the same as human H1N1 viruses?
No. The H1N1 swine flu viruses are antigenically very different from human H1N1 viruses and, therefore, vaccines for human seasonal flu would not provide protection from H1N1 swine flu viruses.
Swine Flu in Pigs
How does swine flu spread among pigs?
Swine flu viruses are thought to be spread mostly through close contact among pigs and possibly from contaminated objects moving between infected and uninfected pigs. Herds with continuous swine flu infections and herds that are vaccinated against swine flu may have sporadic disease, or may show only mild or no symptoms of infection.
What are signs of swine flu in pigs?
Signs of swine flu in pigs can include sudden onset of fever, depression, coughing (barking), discharge from the nose or eyes, sneezing, breathing difficulties, eye redness or inflammation, and going off feed.
How common is swine flu among pigs?
H1N1 and H3N2 swine flu viruses are endemic among pig populations in the United States and something that the industry deals with routinely. Outbreaks among pigs normally occur in colder weather months (late fall and winter) and sometimes with the introduction of new pigs into susceptible herds. Studies have shown that the swine flu H1N1 is common throughout pig populations worldwide, with 25 per cent of animals showing antibody evidence of infection. In the US studies have shown that 30 per cent of the pig population has antibody evidence of having had H1N1 infection. More specifically, 51 per cent of pigs in the north-central US have been shown to have antibody evidence of infection with swine H1N1. Human infections with swine flu H1N1 viruses are rare. There is currently no way to differentiate antibody produced in response to flu vaccination in pigs from antibody made in response to pig infections with swine H1N1 influenza.
While H1N1 swine viruses have been known to circulate among pig populations since at least 1930, H3N2 influenza viruses did not begin circulating among US pigs until 1998. The H3N2 viruses initially were introduced into the pig population from humans. The current swine flu H3N2 viruses are closely related to human H3N2 viruses.
Is there a vaccine for swine flu?
Vaccines are available to be given to pigs to prevent swine influenza. There is no vaccine to protect humans from swine flu. The seasonal influenza vaccine will likely help provide partial protection against swine H3N2, but not swine H1N1 viruses.
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Perak heritage buildings being restored - Star
April 25, 2009
IPOH: A number of old heritage buildings have been identified in Perak and efforts to restore them that began last year is expected to end some time next year.
DILAPIDATED: The Post and Telegraphs Office building in Jalan Sultan Yussuf in Ipoh, which was built in 1928, is now in a state of neglect.
For nearly a century now, the old Ipoh Post Office building here has been standing its ground, surviving the test of time, the turbulent history of colonial past and the rapid development taking place around it.
The building, built in 1913 and completed in 1916, has seen better days but thanks to the National Heritage Department, it may just see the better days returning.
Even in its dilapidated condition, the building is attracting attention among visitors for its Roman and Renaissance architecture.
Efforts are now underway to restore the building which was designed by a renowned British architect at that time, A. B. Hubback, who had also designed the Ipoh High Court building and Ipoh Train Station.
"This is among the old buildings in Ipoh which we are restoring," the department's Conservation and Archaeological Division Principal Assistant Director Mat Nasir Baba said.
He said that the efforts to restore old buildings in the state would not only preserve the country's heritage but also make them a tourist attraction.
He said the department was now actively carrying out research on several more historical sites in Perak that could be included in the restoration programme.
Mat Nasir said the restoration work would involve buildings constructed during the British colonial era between the year 1800 and 1940s.
"Our objective is to ensure that the country's heritage is preserved," he told Bernama after visiting conservation sites together with the media around Ipoh and Taiping Saturday.
Mat Nasir said restoration works in Perak started last year and is expected to be completed next year depending on the conditions of the buildings.
The restoration work is a painstaking process as the department needs to look into all the intricate details of the building to ensure they are restored to their original design and structure.
Another restoration project carried out by the National Heritage Department is on the old Taiping Municipal Council building located in Jalan Stesyen, and built in 1892.
The two-storey half-wood and half-concrete building, now 117 years old, is unique as it is built based on the 19th century Anglo-Indian architectural style but with prominent local influence.
The Perak Museum building in Jalan Taming Sari, Taiping, built in the late 1880s, has also been targeted for restoration.
The building is of immense historical value as it was the first museum built in Malaya.
"The museum was mooted by the Perak Resident at that time, Sir Hugh Low. He instructed botanist and geologist Leonard Wray Jr to collect historical artefacts, cultural relics and samples from natural surroundings to be put on display.
"The National Heritage Department chose this neoclassical building to be restored for its unique design," he said.
Other buildings targeted for refurbishment are the old mosque in Kampung Kuala Dal, Padang Rengas built in 1936. Its construction was funded by the 30th Sultan of Perak, Sultan Iskandar Shah.
The mosque is no longer in use since 1976 following the construction of the new Al-Wahidiah Mosque nearby.
"Sultan Iskandar Shah chose Kampung Dal to build the mosque as he had seen villagers performing prayers in a dilapidated madrasah. He contributed a fund for the Ikhsaniah Iskandariah mosque," he said.
He added that upon completion, the refurbished old mosque would be used for religious activities. - Bernama
IPOH: A number of old heritage buildings have been identified in Perak and efforts to restore them that began last year is expected to end some time next year.
DILAPIDATED: The Post and Telegraphs Office building in Jalan Sultan Yussuf in Ipoh, which was built in 1928, is now in a state of neglect.For nearly a century now, the old Ipoh Post Office building here has been standing its ground, surviving the test of time, the turbulent history of colonial past and the rapid development taking place around it.
The building, built in 1913 and completed in 1916, has seen better days but thanks to the National Heritage Department, it may just see the better days returning.
Even in its dilapidated condition, the building is attracting attention among visitors for its Roman and Renaissance architecture.
Efforts are now underway to restore the building which was designed by a renowned British architect at that time, A. B. Hubback, who had also designed the Ipoh High Court building and Ipoh Train Station.
"This is among the old buildings in Ipoh which we are restoring," the department's Conservation and Archaeological Division Principal Assistant Director Mat Nasir Baba said.
He said that the efforts to restore old buildings in the state would not only preserve the country's heritage but also make them a tourist attraction.
He said the department was now actively carrying out research on several more historical sites in Perak that could be included in the restoration programme.
Mat Nasir said the restoration work would involve buildings constructed during the British colonial era between the year 1800 and 1940s.
"Our objective is to ensure that the country's heritage is preserved," he told Bernama after visiting conservation sites together with the media around Ipoh and Taiping Saturday.
Mat Nasir said restoration works in Perak started last year and is expected to be completed next year depending on the conditions of the buildings.
The restoration work is a painstaking process as the department needs to look into all the intricate details of the building to ensure they are restored to their original design and structure.
Another restoration project carried out by the National Heritage Department is on the old Taiping Municipal Council building located in Jalan Stesyen, and built in 1892.The two-storey half-wood and half-concrete building, now 117 years old, is unique as it is built based on the 19th century Anglo-Indian architectural style but with prominent local influence.
The Perak Museum building in Jalan Taming Sari, Taiping, built in the late 1880s, has also been targeted for restoration.
The building is of immense historical value as it was the first museum built in Malaya.
"The museum was mooted by the Perak Resident at that time, Sir Hugh Low. He instructed botanist and geologist Leonard Wray Jr to collect historical artefacts, cultural relics and samples from natural surroundings to be put on display.
"The National Heritage Department chose this neoclassical building to be restored for its unique design," he said.
Other buildings targeted for refurbishment are the old mosque in Kampung Kuala Dal, Padang Rengas built in 1936. Its construction was funded by the 30th Sultan of Perak, Sultan Iskandar Shah.
The mosque is no longer in use since 1976 following the construction of the new Al-Wahidiah Mosque nearby.
"Sultan Iskandar Shah chose Kampung Dal to build the mosque as he had seen villagers performing prayers in a dilapidated madrasah. He contributed a fund for the Ikhsaniah Iskandariah mosque," he said.
He added that upon completion, the refurbished old mosque would be used for religious activities. - Bernama
Is It A Bird? Is It A Plane? No, It's Firefly To The Rescue... - Ipoh Echo
Sultan Azlan Shah Airport might come alive soon if the ‘relevant authorities’ give their approval for national turboprop aircraft operator Firefly, the green light to land. When that happens, Ipoh would finally have a direct link to an international destination…
Early in the year, Firefly Sdn Bhd MD Eddy Leong indicated that it hoped to operate direct flights between Ipoh-Singapore and Malacca-Singapore this year “for its summer season which starts in April”. Firefly would be using its recently purchased ATR72-500 turboprop aircraft which Ipoh airport can comfortably accommodate. It had applied to the Ministry of Transport and was awaiting its approval.
Approval Given
At the end of March Transport Minister Ong Tee Keat responded that the Cabinet had given approval for a local airline to operate the Ipoh-Singapore sector and specified the airport as the Sultan Azlan Shah Airport.
This last announcement had the entire Ipoh community, from the manufacturer and hotelier to the Ipoh resident working in Singapore on anticipation alert. Everyone wanted the Ipoh-Singapore route to materialize and some contacted the Ipoh Echo to enquire when would be the inaugural flight.
Earlier interviews with the various Chambers personnel and FMM Perak Branch Chairman Gan Tack Kong confirmed that direct flights to Ipoh is one aspect of the infrastructure that Ipoh cannot live without. It is a known fact that initiating direct flights from Singapore to Ipoh would encourage an inflow of visitors for purposes of trade, investment and tourism, both leisure and medical as well.
Tourism Boost
The immediate beneficiaries of direct flights would be the tourism related industry players such as the tour agents and hotels. Monica Liew, MATTA Chairman, Perak Chapter stated that the start of direct flights is a “long awaited issue” and predicts that when direct flights start, the “influx of visitors could increase by 50%. This will spur the inbound tourism sector which is currently in the doldrums”.
Secretary General, Perak Branch of Malaysian Association of Hoteliers, Nicholas Chan has similar views. “The link will open the international market direct to Ipoh. Even now Singaporeans enjoy driving to Ipoh to stay a night, visit friends and to savour the food. A direct flight will make Ipoh more easily accessible”.
Both Liew and Chan share the view that a faster start up of the direct flight would greatly benefit their members.
One tour agent who believes that Ipoh and Perak state is a potential inbound destination is Parlo Tours. Since last year its Managing Director Yap Fu Fah has brought in tour agents from Russia and India on familiarisation trips. “The direct flight will open Ipoh to the world”, enthused Yap.
Facilitate Economic Growth
As can be seen all parties view the direct flight as an impetus that will stimulate growth in their respective enterprises. Indeed Dato’ Samsudin Hashim, Chief Executive of Perak State Development Corporation, is fully aware of the expectations of the business community. “I have been working with all the relevant bodies like FMM and MICCI on this issue for some time. It is a benefit for Ipoh to be linked to an International gateway and is considered as part of the state’s infrastructure to facilitate economic growth”.
State Investment Commitment
For Firefly to land, the state has agreed to invest RM2.7 million for the first year with an option for a second year. In that time the state has to “properly outline a program to support economic development in Perak in the areas of tourism, medical tourism and trade development beyond the financial support period. Everyone in the business community has to participate in the program”.
When asked if the current political scenario could delay the start up, Samsudin responded that “the introduction of the direct flight will be a good service for the rakyat. But of more importance is that Perak’s languishing economy needs the service”. He added that “already a group of Singapore manufacturers have indicated their desire to be on the inaugural flight to Ipoh to explore what investment and business opportunities Perak has to offer”.
Holding Their Breath
A spokesman from the Perak Menteri Besar’s office confirmed that “all data relating to the Firefly programme is with them. A review of the proposal is pending before a decision is announced”.
Apparently Perakians are not the only ones holding their breath for a positive announcement. Firefly too has responded that they are ‘just waiting’ for the ‘written approvals’. Their “operations work” have begun and they have targeted June for the inaugural flight to Ipoh.
Since all responses received from all the parties have been positive it seems that the possibility of Ipoh finally being opened up to the world will become a reality or as one interviewee responded “99% done already, sure to start”.
Ipoh Echo wishes Firefly a speedy commencement of flights and with it the resultant boost to Perak’s economy.
Constitutional crisis immortalised - Sun
By Goh Ban Lee
IT WAS wrong of Pakatan Rakyat state leaders, especially those who were members of the state executive council, to erect a "Democracy Plaque" in a public area on March 8 without permission from the Ipoh City Council. As lawmakers, they should adhere to the principle of rule of law unless they see their actions as "weapons of the weak".
The plaque was erected under a raintree where the Pakatan Rakyat state assemblymen held an emergency sitting of the state assembly on March 3 when they were prevented from entering Bangunan Darul Ridzuan. They have also dubbed the tree as the "Democracy Tree".
The Ipoh City Council was right to remove the plaque on March 15. No one, especially politicians, must be allowed to put up permanent structures and messages in public areas without permission. Still, it should be added that many Ipoh ratepayers only wish that the council is as efficient in cleaning drains or removing illegally parked cars.
The constitutional crisis, or "a comedy of errors" according to some, together with the shenanigans of some politicians and their supporters, have given the council an opportunity to rise above party politics and make the city be associated with the struggles for democracy. When news broke that three Pakatan Rakyat state assemblymen had become independents, even Alfred Hitchcock could not have hatched such exciting twists and turns in the struggles to be the government of Perak.
Malaysians have learnt a lot about democracy and its fragility. More specifically, we have learnt much about the role and power of the sultan, mentri besar and speaker, not to mention those of the state secretary, state legal adviser, judges and the police in the struggles to be the government of a state. No civic lesson could be more spell-binding and attract so much attention.
Cities all over the world are spending hundreds of millions to grab attention. For instance, Kuala Lumpur built the Petronas Twin Towers. Dubai is building an even taller building, besides the Palm Islands and the Al Burj Hotel. Paris, already famous with the Eiffel Tower and the Mona Lisa, is embarking on an attractive park to rival Central Park in New York.
Ipoh did have its heydays. From the 1950s until the 1970s, it was noted as the cleanest town in the country. Furthermore, according to the Royal Commission of Inquiry to Investigate into the Workings of Local Authorities in West Malaysia under the chairmanship of Senator Datuk Athi Nahappan, "Ipoh Municipality was singled out to us in different parts of the country as an excellent example of efficient administration." The council was led by the Seenivasagam brothers of the Peoples’ Progressive Party.
The Pakatan Rakyat leaders have promised to erect another plaque. This is silly. It will be vandalised, as it happened to the first one, although the broken pieces were auctioned off for RM42,000! More importantly, no local council can allow the law to be broken with impunity. Besides, if the Pakatan Rakyat leaders flout the law, it will be difficult for them to expect others to be good citizens when they take over the state government again.
The Ipoh City Council should erect a plaque or plaques to record for posterity the struggles for democracy in the city. The purpose is to record the facts and leave the observers to make up their minds on the rights and wrongs.
The Pakatan Rakyat leaders should support the project since they were responsible for making the raintree, which hitherto did not attract a second glance, famous. If they want to tell their side of the story, they should write books or comments in newspapers and blogs.
The Barisan Nasional state leaders should also support the project. They were appointed according to the interpretation of the law and were participants in the struggles for democracy. Surely, they should be proud of their roles and actions.
At present, Ipoh City Council might be seen as too partisan to put up a balanced commemorative structure. It should appoint a committee of elders that both Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat are comfortable with to oversee the project. The challenge is whether the council leaders have the wisdom to rise above party politics and seize the moment to make the city famous for democratic ideals. What is termed as a constitutional crisis today could be remembered as "Struggles for Democracy".
Dr Goh Ban Lee is a retired academic interested in urban governance, housing and urban planning. Comments: letters@thesundaily.com.
IT WAS wrong of Pakatan Rakyat state leaders, especially those who were members of the state executive council, to erect a "Democracy Plaque" in a public area on March 8 without permission from the Ipoh City Council. As lawmakers, they should adhere to the principle of rule of law unless they see their actions as "weapons of the weak".The plaque was erected under a raintree where the Pakatan Rakyat state assemblymen held an emergency sitting of the state assembly on March 3 when they were prevented from entering Bangunan Darul Ridzuan. They have also dubbed the tree as the "Democracy Tree".
The Ipoh City Council was right to remove the plaque on March 15. No one, especially politicians, must be allowed to put up permanent structures and messages in public areas without permission. Still, it should be added that many Ipoh ratepayers only wish that the council is as efficient in cleaning drains or removing illegally parked cars.
The constitutional crisis, or "a comedy of errors" according to some, together with the shenanigans of some politicians and their supporters, have given the council an opportunity to rise above party politics and make the city be associated with the struggles for democracy. When news broke that three Pakatan Rakyat state assemblymen had become independents, even Alfred Hitchcock could not have hatched such exciting twists and turns in the struggles to be the government of Perak.
Malaysians have learnt a lot about democracy and its fragility. More specifically, we have learnt much about the role and power of the sultan, mentri besar and speaker, not to mention those of the state secretary, state legal adviser, judges and the police in the struggles to be the government of a state. No civic lesson could be more spell-binding and attract so much attention.
Cities all over the world are spending hundreds of millions to grab attention. For instance, Kuala Lumpur built the Petronas Twin Towers. Dubai is building an even taller building, besides the Palm Islands and the Al Burj Hotel. Paris, already famous with the Eiffel Tower and the Mona Lisa, is embarking on an attractive park to rival Central Park in New York.
Ipoh did have its heydays. From the 1950s until the 1970s, it was noted as the cleanest town in the country. Furthermore, according to the Royal Commission of Inquiry to Investigate into the Workings of Local Authorities in West Malaysia under the chairmanship of Senator Datuk Athi Nahappan, "Ipoh Municipality was singled out to us in different parts of the country as an excellent example of efficient administration." The council was led by the Seenivasagam brothers of the Peoples’ Progressive Party.
The Pakatan Rakyat leaders have promised to erect another plaque. This is silly. It will be vandalised, as it happened to the first one, although the broken pieces were auctioned off for RM42,000! More importantly, no local council can allow the law to be broken with impunity. Besides, if the Pakatan Rakyat leaders flout the law, it will be difficult for them to expect others to be good citizens when they take over the state government again.
The Ipoh City Council should erect a plaque or plaques to record for posterity the struggles for democracy in the city. The purpose is to record the facts and leave the observers to make up their minds on the rights and wrongs.
The Pakatan Rakyat leaders should support the project since they were responsible for making the raintree, which hitherto did not attract a second glance, famous. If they want to tell their side of the story, they should write books or comments in newspapers and blogs.
The Barisan Nasional state leaders should also support the project. They were appointed according to the interpretation of the law and were participants in the struggles for democracy. Surely, they should be proud of their roles and actions.
At present, Ipoh City Council might be seen as too partisan to put up a balanced commemorative structure. It should appoint a committee of elders that both Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat are comfortable with to oversee the project. The challenge is whether the council leaders have the wisdom to rise above party politics and seize the moment to make the city famous for democratic ideals. What is termed as a constitutional crisis today could be remembered as "Struggles for Democracy".
Dr Goh Ban Lee is a retired academic interested in urban governance, housing and urban planning. Comments: letters@thesundaily.com.
Friday, April 24, 2009
Adapt to change, traders urged - Star
April 24, 2009 By CHRISTINA KOH
THE Perak Government wants to meet hawkers and traders at Gunung Rapat and Kampung Simee wet markets in Ipoh over the state’s plan to renovate the aging premises there.
State Adviser for Chinese Affairs, Datuk Chang Ko Youn said he was arranging a dialogue with over 100 hawkers who had expressed reluctance over the proposal to renovate and upgrade the premises.
Chang said he understood their sentiments’ as most had become comfortable with their surroundings although the structures dated back to the 1960s.
‘‘But they have to understand that they are competing with hypermarkets.
“People are already buying vegetables and provisions elsewhere nowadays.
“If these traders don’t change, their businesses will suffer losses, he said after launching a caring society campaign at Kampung Simee Home for the Aged at Ipoh recently.
He appealed to traders to think long term, adding that the state had already allocated RM5mil for the plan.
‘‘We are ready to start rebuilding whenever the traders are willing to cooperate. If they don’t want to, however, then we won’t go ahead,’’ he said.
Chang added that his role as an adviser to Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir was not limited to just giving advice on Chinese community affairs.
He pointed out that he was also assigned to handle economic, social and political matters of all communities.
‘‘We are working with certain proposals to energise the state economy and our plans help everyone, not just the Chinese.
“This is in line with the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s One Malaysia slogan,” he said.
On the caring society campaign, Chang commended the students of SMK Methodist (ACS) Ipoh for co-organising the get-together with Kelab Anak Malaysia Batu Gajah to cheer up the senior citizens of the home.
THE Perak Government wants to meet hawkers and traders at Gunung Rapat and Kampung Simee wet markets in Ipoh over the state’s plan to renovate the aging premises there.
State Adviser for Chinese Affairs, Datuk Chang Ko Youn said he was arranging a dialogue with over 100 hawkers who had expressed reluctance over the proposal to renovate and upgrade the premises.
Chang said he understood their sentiments’ as most had become comfortable with their surroundings although the structures dated back to the 1960s.
‘‘But they have to understand that they are competing with hypermarkets.
“People are already buying vegetables and provisions elsewhere nowadays.
“If these traders don’t change, their businesses will suffer losses, he said after launching a caring society campaign at Kampung Simee Home for the Aged at Ipoh recently.
He appealed to traders to think long term, adding that the state had already allocated RM5mil for the plan.
‘‘We are ready to start rebuilding whenever the traders are willing to cooperate. If they don’t want to, however, then we won’t go ahead,’’ he said.
Chang added that his role as an adviser to Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir was not limited to just giving advice on Chinese community affairs.
He pointed out that he was also assigned to handle economic, social and political matters of all communities.
‘‘We are working with certain proposals to energise the state economy and our plans help everyone, not just the Chinese.
“This is in line with the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s One Malaysia slogan,” he said.
On the caring society campaign, Chang commended the students of SMK Methodist (ACS) Ipoh for co-organising the get-together with Kelab Anak Malaysia Batu Gajah to cheer up the senior citizens of the home.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Do you have any complaint for Majlis Bandaraya Ipoh?
As a rate payer, you have every right to demand for better services from Majlis Bandaraya Ipoh (MBI). Your complaint can either be forwarded to MBI personally or you may use the online complaint form as follows:
Go to the Internet and type the following website address: http://aduan.mbi.gov.my/ and click on Hantar Aduan. You will see the following screen:
Fill in your particulars and your complaint. You may also take pictures and attach it together with your complaint.
Once you have submitted your complaint, you will be given a reference code. Write down your reference code for the purpose of follow up.
You may also send your complaint to: HOTLINE : 05-255 1515 or Email : aduan@mbi.gov.my
Go to the Internet and type the following website address: http://aduan.mbi.gov.my/ and click on Hantar Aduan. You will see the following screen:
Fill in your particulars and your complaint. You may also take pictures and attach it together with your complaint.
Once you have submitted your complaint, you will be given a reference code. Write down your reference code for the purpose of follow up.
You may also send your complaint to: HOTLINE : 05-255 1515 or Email : aduan@mbi.gov.my
Have you file up your 2008 income tax return?
April 23, 2009
For those who have not done so the last date submit your tax return is April 30. The e-filing system implemented a couple of years ago ha made income tax submission return very much easier. With all your data around, you should be able to complete it within 30 minutes if you are doing it the first time.
It took me just 10 minutes to complete and make payment via online as this is my second time I have done so with e-filing. On top of that you can choose make payment by installment subject to approval.
For first timer, you need to get your access id from the nearest income tax office before you could use the e-filing system. Once you have done so, go the Internet and type the following website address: www.hasil.org.my. You will see the following screen below.
Next click on e-filing on your left and you will see the following screen:
If you are a first timer, click Login Kali Pertama followed by your access code provided by Income Tax office. Next choose e-borang where you select the type of tax return.
The system is user friendly and all you need to do is to key in your particulars accurately.
To assist you in your tax return, here are some tips taken from The Star:
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Tips for filling your income tax returns
This first of a three-part ACCA’s Easy Guide to Tax Filing for Employees looks at additional goodies for taxpayers
IT’S tax season again! Employees are required to submit their tax return Form BE for year of assessment (YA) 2008 on or before April 30, where the income assessed is in relation to the basis period of Jan 1 to Dec 31, 2008.
This time around, taxpayers get to enjoy additional tax goodies as part of the Government’s effort to cushion the impact of the economic downturn and higher cost of living on Malaysians.
Specifically, the Government announced via the Budget 2009 proposal and the second stimulus package on March 10, 2009, the following tax benefits for employees, which will take effect in YA2008. These benefits will help reduce taxable income and, consequently, the amount of tax payable.
Compensation for loss of employment
The tax burden is eased for retrenched employees as well as those who opt for voluntary separation schemes.
Employees who are retrenched on or after July 1, 2008 will be granted an income tax exemption of RM10,000 for each completed year of service with the employer or companies in the same group. This also applies to payments for employees who opted for voluntary separation schemes.
Example:
A is a salesperson working in Star New Enterprise from April 1, 2006. Due to the economic downturn in 2009, A was retrenched on Nov 1, 2008 and was paid compensation of RM25,000 for loss of employment. The amount to be taxed in YA2008 will be:
Compensation RM25,000
(Less) Exemption
1.4.2006 – 31.3.2007
1.4.2007 – 31.3.2008
(2 completed years of service)
X RM10,000 RM20,000
RM5,000
If the retrenchment was before July 1, 2008, then the amount exempted for each year of service will be RM6,000.
Tax-exempt employee benefits — allowances
The following tax benefits provided to employees from Jan 1, 2008 to Dec 31, 2008 will be tax deductible against business income for employers AND exempted from tax on employees. These benefits are also available for YA2009.
(a) Petrol card/petrol allowance/travel allowance
An employer providing petrol cards, petrol allowance or travelling allowance to employees to travel from home to workplace or office will be allowed up to RM2,400 a year.
(b) Meal allowance for working overtime, travelling outstation.
(c) Parking allowance.
(For (b) and (c), the allowance must be reasonable and justifiable depending on the nature of work and position of employee.)
(d) Medical treatment for employees, spouses and children to include traditional medicine such as ayurvedic treatment and acupuncture.
(e) Interest subsidies on housing, car and education. The total loan amount is restricted to RM300,000.
(f) Childcare allowance up to RM2,400 a year.
(g) Employers’ products or services which can be provided free or at a discount which must not exceed RM1,000 a year.
Employers involved in the manufacture of food and car accessories may consider providing the products to employees to reduce their cost of living in the current economic slowdown.
These allowances need to be disclosed in the Form EA as tax-exempt benefits although they are not taxable on employees.
Official duties – travelling allowance
When employers provide petrol cards, petrol allowance or travelling allowance to salaried personnel, such as reporters and other employees, to carry out official duties, this form of allowance is taxable on the employee and must be reflected in their respective EA Forms.
Employees must keep a record of the actual expenses incurred in relation to official duties and set off the amount incurred against the allowance received. This is an added burden and responsibility on the employee. The records have to be kept for a period of seven years.
Employees may end up paying additional tax under the self-assessment system if they report the employment income as per the EA Form without deducting the actual travelling expenses incurred while on official duty to carry out the employers’ business.
In the Budget 2009 announcement, the Government said petrol cards, petrol allowance, travelling allowance and toll cards for official duties up to RM6,000 a year will be tax-exempt.
This means that the employer will exclude RM6,000 a year from the taxable income of employees as reported in the EA Form. However, the employer needs to disclose this RM6,000 as a tax-exempt benefit in the EA Form.
Employees receiving travelling allowances not exceeding RM6,000 a year will no longer be required to keep the required receipts to substantiate their claims.
This incentive applies from YA2008.
However, if the employer provides, for official duties, petrol card, petrol allowance, travelling allowance and toll card exceeding RM6,000 a year, the employer is required to report in Form EA in two sections:
(a) Tax exempt benefits: RM6,000
(b) Part of taxable employment income – salary, bonus, entertainment allowance – and the petrol/travelling/toll amount in excess of RM6,000
In this case, the employee is now required to keep all receipts to substantiate her claims.
Example:
Ming Hui has marketed agricultural products for Duck Rich Sdn Bhd since 2007. She receives a travelling allowance of RM14,000 per year.
For the year ended Dec 31, 2008, the company will provide Ming Hui with Form EA disclosing taxable income of RM8,000 as part of employment income and a tax-exempt benefit of RM6,000.
Ming Hui incurred RM9,000 for travelling expenses to carry out official duties for YA2008. She is required to set off these travelling expenses against the amount received from her employer of RM14,000 (and not RM8,000). The amount taxable on her is RM5,000 (RM14,000 – RM9,000).
Ming Hui is required to maintain the receipts of RM9,000 for a period of seven years.
# Dr Choong Kwai Fatt is a tax consultant and associate professor, Faculty of Business and Accountancy, Universiti Malaya. For further enquiries or feedback please email to info@my.accaglobal.com
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Tips on filing your income tax
This is the second of a two-part article to guide employees on common tax issues
On short-notice payment and child-care allowance
Q: In November 2008, I voluntarily ceased my employment and had to pay short notice of RM2,000 (supported by an official receipt). However, I was compensated with a sign-in bonus of RM6,000 from my new employer.
The problem is the sign-in bonus is stated in my EA form but the short notice of RM2,000 is not deducted from the form. Can I automatically net off the amounts and disclose RM4,000 as my sign-in bonus because RM2,000 is my actual expense?
A: Sign-in bonus is capital in nature and not taxable in the event the salary that you receive subsequently upon commencement/exercising of employment with the new company is at the commercial rate. The amount is not to be included in the EA form.
However, if the sign-in bonus is in lieu of reduced salary, the amount is income in nature and subject to income tax. In this scenario, the amount is to be included in the EA form.
The amount paid by you as compensation for short notice of resignation is not deductible as it is not directly incurred in deriving employment income as you have stopped working in your old company.
My former company did not disclose my travelling allowance of RM1,500 in my EA form as tax-exempt benefits. Upon calling it, the company refused to issue a fresh EA form to me. What can I do?
Travelling/petrol allowance received by an employee for travelling from home to workplace and vice-versa is exempted up to RM2,400 while travelling/petrol allowance received for travelling in exercising employment, is exempted up to RM6,000.
In your case, if the amount is authentic and verifiable, even without a revised EA form, you may straight away deduct the amount from your total income reported in the EA form. The adjustment is at column C1 where, the amount is represented by: Total income (as per EA form) – travelling allowance incurred (RM1,500) = Total income from employment (C1)
I paid RM280 per month for my four-year-old daughter’s nursery in 2008. I understand that child-care is exempted from tax up to RM2,400 per year. Can I claim it (since I paid for it and it’s not an allowance)?
Child-care allowance of RM2,400 is tax exempted if provided by employer to staff. In your case, no deduction is available as such allowance was not paid by your employer. You have only incurred a domestic expense which is irrelevant in computing your employment income tax. Domestic expense is not deductible.
I sought treatment using the “Tui-Na” therapeutic massage for my left leg. The total cost of treatment was RM89.60. Can this sort of expense be treated as a form of medical expense tax relief under the traditional acupuncture and ayuverdic categories?
The medical benefit (including Chinese Tui-Na) is tax exempt provided it is given by the employer to the employee. Benefits cover ayurvedic and acupuncture effective YA2008. However, you cannot claim this expense when computing your employment income, since it is paid by you and not your employer.
If a self-employed person makes a contribution of 12% to the EPF under his firm, is the contribution deductible to the proprietor firm and is there any limit?
If you are earning business income as a sole proprietor, you may utilise the B form to submit your tax return. BE form is for individuals earning employment income. In both cases, the total EPF contribution by the employee or the self-employed person plus the amount of insurance premium paid are deductible up to the aggregate of both amounts (up to a maximum of RM6,000).
Where the employer is concerned, a Sdn Bhd firm is entitled to claim the EPF contributions for employees as a full deduction from their business income and the maximum contribution is 19%, as governed by Section 34 (4) of the Income Tax Act, 1967. However, for the sole proprietor, the amount is not deductible when computing business income.
How do I disclose interest subsidies on housing, car and education loans?
Interest subsidies on housing, education or car loans provided by the employer to the employee are all tax-exempted in full, provided the aggregate amount of loans from all of the above does not exceed RM300,000.
If you qualify for exemption and your documentation is verifiable, you may deduct the appropriate amount from your total income reported in the EA form. The adjustment is at column C1 where the amount is represented by:
Total income (as per EA form) – exemptions entitled (subject to maximum) = Total income from employment (C1)
How do I apply for retrenchment benefits for my husband?
As long as the compensation is given by the employer to the employee (your husband), he is entitled to claim the exemption. No prior approval from Inland Revenue Board is required. The computation is as follows: Employment income as per EA form – (RM10,000 x the years of completed service) = Total employment income (column C1 in BE form)
I understand that the payment of bonus/directors’ fees related to 2008 in year 2009 has the tax savings advantage of 1% if the annual income is RM250,000 and above. Please explain.
If the chargeable income is more than RM250,000, the tax rate is 28% for YA2008. However, the tax rate will be 27% in YA2009. Hence, if your bonus is disclosed in the EA form in 2009, you will save 1% since your chargeable income is assessed on 27% (YA 009) instead of 28% (YA2008).
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Easy guide to tax filing
The ACCA Easy Guide to Taxation for Employees published last week drew a deluge of queries. This is the first of a two-part article featuring commonly-asked questions.
Q: As a sales and marketing executive with a financial institution, I am paid a basic salary and sales commission and am not entitled to any claims (petrol, toll, parking and car maintenance). I use my own car to do my job. My average monthly expenses for sales and marketing activities are about RM500.
I understand that with the new provisions under Budget 2009, the employee is entitled to tax exemption for certain benefits. Since my company does not provide such benefits, can I claim marketing and travelling expenses under “Perbelanjaan Keraian”?
A: The actual amount you incurred can only be deducted provided that you received either entertainment or travelling allowances from your company. In your case, the amount you incurred is not deductible.
I understand that meal allowances can only be claimed for tax relief for outstation travel or overtime. I am being transferred to a branch in Klang next month from my present workplace in Puchong, and my employer has agreed to give me an additional monthly amount of RM800 as meal allowance.
Can I deduct my meal allowances since I reside in Subang Jaya and don’t do overtime? My working hours are 9am-5pm and I work six days a week.
Your meal allowance for employment in the Klang branch will not be eligible for deduction as it is not in respect of working overtime or travelling outstation.
What are the tax exempt employee benefits in relation to employees who have been given a fully-expensed company car and a company petrol card? I know that I will be assessed on the Scale Car and Fuel benefits for the use of the company car. For YA2008, am I entitled to the relief of RM2,400 for the tax exempt petrol card?
If so, can this RM2,400 be deducted from the Scale Fuel charge in YA2008 so that the Scale Fuel benefit assessed in the tax year will be lowered by RM2,400?
If (1) above is allowed and my actual petrol card expenses for the year exceed RM2,400, can the balance of actual petrol bills spent under the petrol card be deducted from the Scale Fuel benefit up to the maximum of exhausting the amount of the Scale Fuel benefit?
The benefits in kind with regards to the car benefit and fuel benefit are to be taxed. These cannot be deducted as additional tax exempt benefits.
Monthly parking claims and fixed mobile-phone allowances are submitted to my company at the end of the month and these will be reimbursed into our salary in the following month. These claims are subject to EPF contribution. Therefore, are they tax-exempt for YA2008 and do they need to be disclosed under the tax-exempt benefits in the EA form?
Both parking and phone allowances up to the actual amounts incurred which are borne by the employer are tax exempt with effect from YA2008. The amount is to be disclosed as tax exempt benefits in the EA Form.
Can interest on housing loans and car loans be deducted from gross salary on the EA form? Are medical expenses such as maternity expenses deductible?
Interest on housing and car loans are deductible only if paid by the employer on a total loan amount of up to RM300,000. Similarly, medical expenses are only deductible if the amount incurred has been paid by the employer and this benefit is extended to maternity and traditional medical expenses. However, should these expenses be paid personally by the employee, they are not tax deductible.
My organisation is a resident company and our expatriate Japanese director and technical manager has two types of income – salary from Malaysia and salary from Japan. Please advise whether we have to declare our Japanese director’s income in total (i.e. Malaysia and Japan) or just Malaysia-derived income to the Malaysian government?
All employment income derived by the Japanese expatriate for exercising employment in Malaysia is subject to income tax, including the amount paid in Japan, if it is related to the exercising of employment in Malaysia.
Is the tax benefit on childcare allowance up to RM2,400 a year to be deducted directly from the EA form? Is this applicable if there is no such benefit from the company I work for?
The childcare allowance is only tax exempted if you receive such an allowance from your employer; otherwise the exemption will not be applicable to you.
In the event you do receive the childcare allowance, the amount (the lower of the actual amount received or RM2,400) is to be excluded from the employment income and disclosed in section C1 of the Form BE.
I bought a comprehensive insurance policy (life + medical + investment) and the insurer is unable to split the premium payment into life insurance and medical insurance. Can I treat this totally as a medical premium as I have already disclosed RM6,000 for my life insurance premium and EPF deduction?
In the event that the amount cannot be segregated, the amount is to be disclosed either as life or medical insurance premiums based on the description stated in the insurance premium receipt.
For those who have not done so the last date submit your tax return is April 30. The e-filing system implemented a couple of years ago ha made income tax submission return very much easier. With all your data around, you should be able to complete it within 30 minutes if you are doing it the first time.
It took me just 10 minutes to complete and make payment via online as this is my second time I have done so with e-filing. On top of that you can choose make payment by installment subject to approval.
For first timer, you need to get your access id from the nearest income tax office before you could use the e-filing system. Once you have done so, go the Internet and type the following website address: www.hasil.org.my. You will see the following screen below.
Next click on e-filing on your left and you will see the following screen:
If you are a first timer, click Login Kali Pertama followed by your access code provided by Income Tax office. Next choose e-borang where you select the type of tax return.
The system is user friendly and all you need to do is to key in your particulars accurately.
To assist you in your tax return, here are some tips taken from The Star:
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Tips for filling your income tax returns
This first of a three-part ACCA’s Easy Guide to Tax Filing for Employees looks at additional goodies for taxpayers
IT’S tax season again! Employees are required to submit their tax return Form BE for year of assessment (YA) 2008 on or before April 30, where the income assessed is in relation to the basis period of Jan 1 to Dec 31, 2008.
This time around, taxpayers get to enjoy additional tax goodies as part of the Government’s effort to cushion the impact of the economic downturn and higher cost of living on Malaysians.
Specifically, the Government announced via the Budget 2009 proposal and the second stimulus package on March 10, 2009, the following tax benefits for employees, which will take effect in YA2008. These benefits will help reduce taxable income and, consequently, the amount of tax payable.
Compensation for loss of employment
The tax burden is eased for retrenched employees as well as those who opt for voluntary separation schemes.
Employees who are retrenched on or after July 1, 2008 will be granted an income tax exemption of RM10,000 for each completed year of service with the employer or companies in the same group. This also applies to payments for employees who opted for voluntary separation schemes.
Example:
A is a salesperson working in Star New Enterprise from April 1, 2006. Due to the economic downturn in 2009, A was retrenched on Nov 1, 2008 and was paid compensation of RM25,000 for loss of employment. The amount to be taxed in YA2008 will be:
Compensation RM25,000
(Less) Exemption
1.4.2006 – 31.3.2007
1.4.2007 – 31.3.2008
(2 completed years of service)
X RM10,000 RM20,000
RM5,000
If the retrenchment was before July 1, 2008, then the amount exempted for each year of service will be RM6,000.
Tax-exempt employee benefits — allowances
The following tax benefits provided to employees from Jan 1, 2008 to Dec 31, 2008 will be tax deductible against business income for employers AND exempted from tax on employees. These benefits are also available for YA2009.
(a) Petrol card/petrol allowance/travel allowance
An employer providing petrol cards, petrol allowance or travelling allowance to employees to travel from home to workplace or office will be allowed up to RM2,400 a year.
(b) Meal allowance for working overtime, travelling outstation.
(c) Parking allowance.
(For (b) and (c), the allowance must be reasonable and justifiable depending on the nature of work and position of employee.)
(d) Medical treatment for employees, spouses and children to include traditional medicine such as ayurvedic treatment and acupuncture.
(e) Interest subsidies on housing, car and education. The total loan amount is restricted to RM300,000.
(f) Childcare allowance up to RM2,400 a year.
(g) Employers’ products or services which can be provided free or at a discount which must not exceed RM1,000 a year.
Employers involved in the manufacture of food and car accessories may consider providing the products to employees to reduce their cost of living in the current economic slowdown.
These allowances need to be disclosed in the Form EA as tax-exempt benefits although they are not taxable on employees.
Official duties – travelling allowance
When employers provide petrol cards, petrol allowance or travelling allowance to salaried personnel, such as reporters and other employees, to carry out official duties, this form of allowance is taxable on the employee and must be reflected in their respective EA Forms.
Employees must keep a record of the actual expenses incurred in relation to official duties and set off the amount incurred against the allowance received. This is an added burden and responsibility on the employee. The records have to be kept for a period of seven years.
Employees may end up paying additional tax under the self-assessment system if they report the employment income as per the EA Form without deducting the actual travelling expenses incurred while on official duty to carry out the employers’ business.
In the Budget 2009 announcement, the Government said petrol cards, petrol allowance, travelling allowance and toll cards for official duties up to RM6,000 a year will be tax-exempt.
This means that the employer will exclude RM6,000 a year from the taxable income of employees as reported in the EA Form. However, the employer needs to disclose this RM6,000 as a tax-exempt benefit in the EA Form.
Employees receiving travelling allowances not exceeding RM6,000 a year will no longer be required to keep the required receipts to substantiate their claims.
This incentive applies from YA2008.
However, if the employer provides, for official duties, petrol card, petrol allowance, travelling allowance and toll card exceeding RM6,000 a year, the employer is required to report in Form EA in two sections:
(a) Tax exempt benefits: RM6,000
(b) Part of taxable employment income – salary, bonus, entertainment allowance – and the petrol/travelling/toll amount in excess of RM6,000
In this case, the employee is now required to keep all receipts to substantiate her claims.
Example:
Ming Hui has marketed agricultural products for Duck Rich Sdn Bhd since 2007. She receives a travelling allowance of RM14,000 per year.
For the year ended Dec 31, 2008, the company will provide Ming Hui with Form EA disclosing taxable income of RM8,000 as part of employment income and a tax-exempt benefit of RM6,000.
Ming Hui incurred RM9,000 for travelling expenses to carry out official duties for YA2008. She is required to set off these travelling expenses against the amount received from her employer of RM14,000 (and not RM8,000). The amount taxable on her is RM5,000 (RM14,000 – RM9,000).
Ming Hui is required to maintain the receipts of RM9,000 for a period of seven years.
# Dr Choong Kwai Fatt is a tax consultant and associate professor, Faculty of Business and Accountancy, Universiti Malaya. For further enquiries or feedback please email to info@my.accaglobal.com
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Tips on filing your income tax
This is the second of a two-part article to guide employees on common tax issues
On short-notice payment and child-care allowance
Q: In November 2008, I voluntarily ceased my employment and had to pay short notice of RM2,000 (supported by an official receipt). However, I was compensated with a sign-in bonus of RM6,000 from my new employer.
The problem is the sign-in bonus is stated in my EA form but the short notice of RM2,000 is not deducted from the form. Can I automatically net off the amounts and disclose RM4,000 as my sign-in bonus because RM2,000 is my actual expense?
A: Sign-in bonus is capital in nature and not taxable in the event the salary that you receive subsequently upon commencement/exercising of employment with the new company is at the commercial rate. The amount is not to be included in the EA form.
However, if the sign-in bonus is in lieu of reduced salary, the amount is income in nature and subject to income tax. In this scenario, the amount is to be included in the EA form.
The amount paid by you as compensation for short notice of resignation is not deductible as it is not directly incurred in deriving employment income as you have stopped working in your old company.
My former company did not disclose my travelling allowance of RM1,500 in my EA form as tax-exempt benefits. Upon calling it, the company refused to issue a fresh EA form to me. What can I do?
Travelling/petrol allowance received by an employee for travelling from home to workplace and vice-versa is exempted up to RM2,400 while travelling/petrol allowance received for travelling in exercising employment, is exempted up to RM6,000.
In your case, if the amount is authentic and verifiable, even without a revised EA form, you may straight away deduct the amount from your total income reported in the EA form. The adjustment is at column C1 where, the amount is represented by: Total income (as per EA form) – travelling allowance incurred (RM1,500) = Total income from employment (C1)
I paid RM280 per month for my four-year-old daughter’s nursery in 2008. I understand that child-care is exempted from tax up to RM2,400 per year. Can I claim it (since I paid for it and it’s not an allowance)?
Child-care allowance of RM2,400 is tax exempted if provided by employer to staff. In your case, no deduction is available as such allowance was not paid by your employer. You have only incurred a domestic expense which is irrelevant in computing your employment income tax. Domestic expense is not deductible.
I sought treatment using the “Tui-Na” therapeutic massage for my left leg. The total cost of treatment was RM89.60. Can this sort of expense be treated as a form of medical expense tax relief under the traditional acupuncture and ayuverdic categories?
The medical benefit (including Chinese Tui-Na) is tax exempt provided it is given by the employer to the employee. Benefits cover ayurvedic and acupuncture effective YA2008. However, you cannot claim this expense when computing your employment income, since it is paid by you and not your employer.
If a self-employed person makes a contribution of 12% to the EPF under his firm, is the contribution deductible to the proprietor firm and is there any limit?
If you are earning business income as a sole proprietor, you may utilise the B form to submit your tax return. BE form is for individuals earning employment income. In both cases, the total EPF contribution by the employee or the self-employed person plus the amount of insurance premium paid are deductible up to the aggregate of both amounts (up to a maximum of RM6,000).
Where the employer is concerned, a Sdn Bhd firm is entitled to claim the EPF contributions for employees as a full deduction from their business income and the maximum contribution is 19%, as governed by Section 34 (4) of the Income Tax Act, 1967. However, for the sole proprietor, the amount is not deductible when computing business income.
How do I disclose interest subsidies on housing, car and education loans?
Interest subsidies on housing, education or car loans provided by the employer to the employee are all tax-exempted in full, provided the aggregate amount of loans from all of the above does not exceed RM300,000.
If you qualify for exemption and your documentation is verifiable, you may deduct the appropriate amount from your total income reported in the EA form. The adjustment is at column C1 where the amount is represented by:
Total income (as per EA form) – exemptions entitled (subject to maximum) = Total income from employment (C1)
How do I apply for retrenchment benefits for my husband?
As long as the compensation is given by the employer to the employee (your husband), he is entitled to claim the exemption. No prior approval from Inland Revenue Board is required. The computation is as follows: Employment income as per EA form – (RM10,000 x the years of completed service) = Total employment income (column C1 in BE form)
I understand that the payment of bonus/directors’ fees related to 2008 in year 2009 has the tax savings advantage of 1% if the annual income is RM250,000 and above. Please explain.
If the chargeable income is more than RM250,000, the tax rate is 28% for YA2008. However, the tax rate will be 27% in YA2009. Hence, if your bonus is disclosed in the EA form in 2009, you will save 1% since your chargeable income is assessed on 27% (YA 009) instead of 28% (YA2008).
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Easy guide to tax filing
The ACCA Easy Guide to Taxation for Employees published last week drew a deluge of queries. This is the first of a two-part article featuring commonly-asked questions.
Q: As a sales and marketing executive with a financial institution, I am paid a basic salary and sales commission and am not entitled to any claims (petrol, toll, parking and car maintenance). I use my own car to do my job. My average monthly expenses for sales and marketing activities are about RM500.
I understand that with the new provisions under Budget 2009, the employee is entitled to tax exemption for certain benefits. Since my company does not provide such benefits, can I claim marketing and travelling expenses under “Perbelanjaan Keraian”?
A: The actual amount you incurred can only be deducted provided that you received either entertainment or travelling allowances from your company. In your case, the amount you incurred is not deductible.
I understand that meal allowances can only be claimed for tax relief for outstation travel or overtime. I am being transferred to a branch in Klang next month from my present workplace in Puchong, and my employer has agreed to give me an additional monthly amount of RM800 as meal allowance.
Can I deduct my meal allowances since I reside in Subang Jaya and don’t do overtime? My working hours are 9am-5pm and I work six days a week.
Your meal allowance for employment in the Klang branch will not be eligible for deduction as it is not in respect of working overtime or travelling outstation.
What are the tax exempt employee benefits in relation to employees who have been given a fully-expensed company car and a company petrol card? I know that I will be assessed on the Scale Car and Fuel benefits for the use of the company car. For YA2008, am I entitled to the relief of RM2,400 for the tax exempt petrol card?
If so, can this RM2,400 be deducted from the Scale Fuel charge in YA2008 so that the Scale Fuel benefit assessed in the tax year will be lowered by RM2,400?
If (1) above is allowed and my actual petrol card expenses for the year exceed RM2,400, can the balance of actual petrol bills spent under the petrol card be deducted from the Scale Fuel benefit up to the maximum of exhausting the amount of the Scale Fuel benefit?
The benefits in kind with regards to the car benefit and fuel benefit are to be taxed. These cannot be deducted as additional tax exempt benefits.
Monthly parking claims and fixed mobile-phone allowances are submitted to my company at the end of the month and these will be reimbursed into our salary in the following month. These claims are subject to EPF contribution. Therefore, are they tax-exempt for YA2008 and do they need to be disclosed under the tax-exempt benefits in the EA form?
Both parking and phone allowances up to the actual amounts incurred which are borne by the employer are tax exempt with effect from YA2008. The amount is to be disclosed as tax exempt benefits in the EA Form.
Can interest on housing loans and car loans be deducted from gross salary on the EA form? Are medical expenses such as maternity expenses deductible?
Interest on housing and car loans are deductible only if paid by the employer on a total loan amount of up to RM300,000. Similarly, medical expenses are only deductible if the amount incurred has been paid by the employer and this benefit is extended to maternity and traditional medical expenses. However, should these expenses be paid personally by the employee, they are not tax deductible.
My organisation is a resident company and our expatriate Japanese director and technical manager has two types of income – salary from Malaysia and salary from Japan. Please advise whether we have to declare our Japanese director’s income in total (i.e. Malaysia and Japan) or just Malaysia-derived income to the Malaysian government?
All employment income derived by the Japanese expatriate for exercising employment in Malaysia is subject to income tax, including the amount paid in Japan, if it is related to the exercising of employment in Malaysia.
Is the tax benefit on childcare allowance up to RM2,400 a year to be deducted directly from the EA form? Is this applicable if there is no such benefit from the company I work for?
The childcare allowance is only tax exempted if you receive such an allowance from your employer; otherwise the exemption will not be applicable to you.
In the event you do receive the childcare allowance, the amount (the lower of the actual amount received or RM2,400) is to be excluded from the employment income and disclosed in section C1 of the Form BE.
I bought a comprehensive insurance policy (life + medical + investment) and the insurer is unable to split the premium payment into life insurance and medical insurance. Can I treat this totally as a medical premium as I have already disclosed RM6,000 for my life insurance premium and EPF deduction?
In the event that the amount cannot be segregated, the amount is to be disclosed either as life or medical insurance premiums based on the description stated in the insurance premium receipt.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Kong among four to be made Datuk Seri - Star
April 19, 2009
IPOH: Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Kong Cho Ha, Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Dr Zambry Abd Kadir and Second Finance Minister Datuk Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah top the list of 801 award recipients in conjunction with the Sultan of Perak Sultan Azlan Shah’s 81st birthday today.
State Secretary Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Hashim, who announced the list at his office here, said
the three will be conferred the Darjah Datuk Seri Paduka Mahkota Perak, which carries the title of Datuk Seri. Another recipient of the award is Orang Kaya-Kaya Panglima Kinta Seri Amar di-Raja Datuk Dr Abdullah Fadzil Che Wan.
State senior exco member Hamidah Osman and Malaysian Ambassador to Ireland Raja Nazrin Raja Aznam will be conferred the Darjah Datuk Paduka Cura Si Manja Kini, which carries the title Datuk.
Perak MCA Youth chief Dr Mah Hang Soon, who is also state Health, Local Government, Consu-mer Affairs, Environment, Public Transportation and Non-Islamic Affairs Committee chairman and TSH Resources Berhad deputy executive chairman Datuk Kelvin Tan Aik Pen are among 33 people to be conferred the Darjah Datuk Paduka Mahkota Perak, which carries the title Datuk.
Other notable recipients are Ipoh Datuk Bandar Roshidi Hashim, Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department T. Murugiah, state Public Works Department director Dr Safry Kamal Ahmad and state Forestry Department director Masran Salleh.
Perak police deputy chief Senior Asst Comm I Datuk Hadi Ho Abdullah and Perak Special Branch chief Senior Asst Comm (II) Sulaiman Mohamad are among nine people who will be conferred the Darjah Datuk Pahlawan Taming Sari, which carries the title Datuk Pahlawan.
Navy chief Laksamana Datuk Seri Abdul Aziz Jaafar is among two recipients of the Darjah Datuk Seri Panglima Taming Sari, which carries the title Datuk Seri Panglima.
The other recipient is Lt-Jen Datuk Dr Sulaiman Abdullah, who is the army’s health services director-general.
Among the recipients of the Darjah Ahli Mahkota Perak are New Straits Times Ipoh bureau chief Muhammad Kushairi Osman, Berita Harian Ipoh bureau chief Ridzuan Yop and Tamil Nesan Ipoh bureau chief S. Balakrishnan.
Members of the press who will receive the Pingat Pekerti Terpilih are Utusan Melayu’s Angelina Sinyang, The Star’s Christina Koh Siew Kim and Sylvia Looi as well as Nanyang Siang Pau’s Tan Kay Aun.
The investiture ceremony will be held at Balairong Seri, Istana Iskandariah in Kuala Kangsar today.
IPOH: Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Kong Cho Ha, Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Dr Zambry Abd Kadir and Second Finance Minister Datuk Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah top the list of 801 award recipients in conjunction with the Sultan of Perak Sultan Azlan Shah’s 81st birthday today.State Secretary Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Hashim, who announced the list at his office here, said
the three will be conferred the Darjah Datuk Seri Paduka Mahkota Perak, which carries the title of Datuk Seri. Another recipient of the award is Orang Kaya-Kaya Panglima Kinta Seri Amar di-Raja Datuk Dr Abdullah Fadzil Che Wan.
State senior exco member Hamidah Osman and Malaysian Ambassador to Ireland Raja Nazrin Raja Aznam will be conferred the Darjah Datuk Paduka Cura Si Manja Kini, which carries the title Datuk.
Perak MCA Youth chief Dr Mah Hang Soon, who is also state Health, Local Government, Consu-mer Affairs, Environment, Public Transportation and Non-Islamic Affairs Committee chairman and TSH Resources Berhad deputy executive chairman Datuk Kelvin Tan Aik Pen are among 33 people to be conferred the Darjah Datuk Paduka Mahkota Perak, which carries the title Datuk.
Other notable recipients are Ipoh Datuk Bandar Roshidi Hashim, Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department T. Murugiah, state Public Works Department director Dr Safry Kamal Ahmad and state Forestry Department director Masran Salleh.
Perak police deputy chief Senior Asst Comm I Datuk Hadi Ho Abdullah and Perak Special Branch chief Senior Asst Comm (II) Sulaiman Mohamad are among nine people who will be conferred the Darjah Datuk Pahlawan Taming Sari, which carries the title Datuk Pahlawan.
Navy chief Laksamana Datuk Seri Abdul Aziz Jaafar is among two recipients of the Darjah Datuk Seri Panglima Taming Sari, which carries the title Datuk Seri Panglima.
The other recipient is Lt-Jen Datuk Dr Sulaiman Abdullah, who is the army’s health services director-general.
Among the recipients of the Darjah Ahli Mahkota Perak are New Straits Times Ipoh bureau chief Muhammad Kushairi Osman, Berita Harian Ipoh bureau chief Ridzuan Yop and Tamil Nesan Ipoh bureau chief S. Balakrishnan.
Members of the press who will receive the Pingat Pekerti Terpilih are Utusan Melayu’s Angelina Sinyang, The Star’s Christina Koh Siew Kim and Sylvia Looi as well as Nanyang Siang Pau’s Tan Kay Aun.
The investiture ceremony will be held at Balairong Seri, Istana Iskandariah in Kuala Kangsar today.
Monday, April 13, 2009
30,000 trees to green Ipoh - Star
Monday April 13, 2009
THE Ipoh City Council has pledged to plant 30,000 trees by the end of the year in its effort to make the city greener.
Ipoh Datuk Bandar Roshidi Hashim said the city council’s target was to plant 19,000 shrubs and 11,000 larger plants.
“We have already planted about 3,000 trees within the city by March, and we can breathe easier with cleaner air produced by these trees,” said Roshidi, after a tree-planting ceremony at Keris Properties Sdn Bhd’s The Dales housing estate in Tambun.
He said that the city council had planted Brazilian ironwood, pagoda trees and merawan siput jantan trees.
Commending Keris Properties on its housing project that incorporated luscious greens, Roshidi urged other developers to follow suit.
Keris Properties Sdn Bhd group executive chairman Datuk Lee Seng Hee pledged to plant 5,000 more trees in its housing projects to support the city council.
THE Ipoh City Council has pledged to plant 30,000 trees by the end of the year in its effort to make the city greener.
Ipoh Datuk Bandar Roshidi Hashim said the city council’s target was to plant 19,000 shrubs and 11,000 larger plants.
“We have already planted about 3,000 trees within the city by March, and we can breathe easier with cleaner air produced by these trees,” said Roshidi, after a tree-planting ceremony at Keris Properties Sdn Bhd’s The Dales housing estate in Tambun.
He said that the city council had planted Brazilian ironwood, pagoda trees and merawan siput jantan trees.
Commending Keris Properties on its housing project that incorporated luscious greens, Roshidi urged other developers to follow suit.
Keris Properties Sdn Bhd group executive chairman Datuk Lee Seng Hee pledged to plant 5,000 more trees in its housing projects to support the city council.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Najib announces his cabinet
Apr 9, 09 2:59pm
Prime Minister Najib Abddul Razak today announced his much awaited cabinet.
His press conference to make the announcement started at 3pm. He is flanked by Muhyiddin Yassin.
The cabinet reflects the government's aim to focus of people-first paradigm, Najib said, adding that there would be 28 ministers and 40 deputy ministers.
He said two ministries have been merged and one new ministry formed. A separate portfolio has also been created to oversee unity under the PM's department.
He also said that he would personally look into the performance of each minister every six months.
NEW CABINET LINE-UP:
Prime Minister and Finance Minister 1 Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak
Deputy PM and Education Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin
Minister in Prime Minister’s Department:
Unity: Dr Koh Tsu Koon
Law and Parliament: Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Aziz
Religious Affairs: Brig. Gen. (Rtd) Datuk Jamil Khir Baharum
Economic Planning Unit: Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop
Finance:
Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak Deputies: Datuk Chor Chee Heung, Datuk Dr Awang Adek Hussein
Education:
Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin Deputies: Datuk Wee Ka Seong, Datuk Puad Zarkashi
Transport:
Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat Deputies: Datuk Abdul Rahim Bakri, Datuk Robert Lau
Home:
Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein Deputy:: Datuk Wira Abu Seman Yusop
Information, Unity, Culture and Arts:
Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim Deputies: Datuk Joseph Salang Gandum, Heng Sai Kee
Energy, Green Tech & Water:
Datuk Peter Chin Fah Kui Deputy: Noriah Kasnon
Plantation Industries and Commodities:
Tan Sri Bernard Dompok Deputy: Datuk Hamzah Zainuddin
Rural and Regional Development:
Datuk Shafie Apdal Deputies: Datuk Hassan Malek, Datuk Joseph Entulu
Higher Education:
Datuk Seri Khaled Nordin Deputies: Dr Hou Kok Chung, Saifuddin Abdullah
International Trade and Industry:
Datuk Mustapa Mohamed Deputies: Datuk Muhkriz Mahathir, Datuk Jacob Dungau
Science, Tech and Innovation:
Datuk Dr Maximus Ongkili Deputy: Fadillah Yusof
Natural Resources and Environment:
Datuk Douglas Unggah Embas Deputy: Tan Sri Joseph Kurup
Tourism:
Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen Deputy: Datuk Seri Sulaiman Abdul Rahman Abdul Taib
Agriculture and Agro-based industries:
Datuk Noh Omar Deputies: Johari Baharum, Rohani Abdul Karim
Defence:
Datuk Ahmad Zahid Hamidi Deputy: Datuk Dr Abdul Latif
Works:
Datuk Shaziman Abu Mansor Deputy: Datuk Yong Khoon Seng
Health:
Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai Deputy: Datuk Rosnah Rashid Shilin
Youth and Sports:
Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek Deputies: Datuk Razali Ibrahim, Wee Jeck Sing
Human Resource:
Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam Deputy: Datuk Maznah Mazlan
Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs:
Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Deputy: Datuk Tan Lian Hoe
Housing and Local Government:
Datuk Kong Cho Ha Deputy: Lajim Ukin
Women, Family and Community Development:
Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil Deputy: Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun
Foreign Affairs:
Datuk Anifah Aman Deputies: Lee Chee Hong, A. Kohilan
Federal Territorry:
Datuk Raja Nong Chik Zainal Abidin Deputy: M. Saravanan
Prime Minister Najib Abddul Razak today announced his much awaited cabinet.His press conference to make the announcement started at 3pm. He is flanked by Muhyiddin Yassin.
The cabinet reflects the government's aim to focus of people-first paradigm, Najib said, adding that there would be 28 ministers and 40 deputy ministers.
He said two ministries have been merged and one new ministry formed. A separate portfolio has also been created to oversee unity under the PM's department.
He also said that he would personally look into the performance of each minister every six months.
NEW CABINET LINE-UP:
Prime Minister and Finance Minister 1 Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak
Deputy PM and Education Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin
Minister in Prime Minister’s Department:
Unity: Dr Koh Tsu Koon
Law and Parliament: Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Aziz
Religious Affairs: Brig. Gen. (Rtd) Datuk Jamil Khir Baharum
Economic Planning Unit: Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop
Finance:
Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak Deputies: Datuk Chor Chee Heung, Datuk Dr Awang Adek Hussein
Education:
Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin Deputies: Datuk Wee Ka Seong, Datuk Puad Zarkashi
Transport:
Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat Deputies: Datuk Abdul Rahim Bakri, Datuk Robert Lau
Home:
Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein Deputy:: Datuk Wira Abu Seman Yusop
Information, Unity, Culture and Arts:
Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim Deputies: Datuk Joseph Salang Gandum, Heng Sai Kee
Energy, Green Tech & Water:
Datuk Peter Chin Fah Kui Deputy: Noriah Kasnon
Plantation Industries and Commodities:
Tan Sri Bernard Dompok Deputy: Datuk Hamzah Zainuddin
Rural and Regional Development:
Datuk Shafie Apdal Deputies: Datuk Hassan Malek, Datuk Joseph Entulu
Higher Education:
Datuk Seri Khaled Nordin Deputies: Dr Hou Kok Chung, Saifuddin Abdullah
International Trade and Industry:
Datuk Mustapa Mohamed Deputies: Datuk Muhkriz Mahathir, Datuk Jacob Dungau
Science, Tech and Innovation:
Datuk Dr Maximus Ongkili Deputy: Fadillah Yusof
Natural Resources and Environment:
Datuk Douglas Unggah Embas Deputy: Tan Sri Joseph Kurup
Tourism:
Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen Deputy: Datuk Seri Sulaiman Abdul Rahman Abdul Taib
Agriculture and Agro-based industries:
Datuk Noh Omar Deputies: Johari Baharum, Rohani Abdul Karim
Defence:
Datuk Ahmad Zahid Hamidi Deputy: Datuk Dr Abdul Latif
Works:
Datuk Shaziman Abu Mansor Deputy: Datuk Yong Khoon Seng
Health:
Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai Deputy: Datuk Rosnah Rashid Shilin
Youth and Sports:
Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek Deputies: Datuk Razali Ibrahim, Wee Jeck Sing
Human Resource:
Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam Deputy: Datuk Maznah Mazlan
Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs:
Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Deputy: Datuk Tan Lian Hoe
Housing and Local Government:
Datuk Kong Cho Ha Deputy: Lajim Ukin
Women, Family and Community Development:
Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil Deputy: Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun
Foreign Affairs:
Datuk Anifah Aman Deputies: Lee Chee Hong, A. Kohilan
Federal Territorry:
Datuk Raja Nong Chik Zainal Abidin Deputy: M. Saravanan
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