Oct 7, 2009
IPOH: Universiti Sains Malaysia's (USM) microcredit expert Professor Sukor Kasim will be appointed adviser and consultant to the Perak government in its bid to narrow income disparities in the state.
Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir said the appointment was important to enable the government to come up with the best approach to address this problem and poverty, especially hardcore poverty.
"We want them (experts) to come and be part of us, to advise us on the best mechanism and best policy to implement because many programmes had been announced before but nothing much had been done.
"Some of the announcements were mere announcements or populist moves to draw public support," he told reporters after chairing the State Executive Council meeting, here, Wednesday.
Asked on the duration of the appointment, Zambry said the state government would discuss it with Sukor and disclosed that the former Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia (AIM) managing director had in principle agreed to be adviser and consultant to the Perak government.
Zambry said the state government would set aside a special allocation in the 2010 state budget to be tabled at the next state assembly sitting to address the stark income disparity problem.
He said the 2010 state budget would also include measures to make Perak a business-friendly and high-income state.
"Besides that, there will also be programmes for capacity building which, among others, are aimed at eradicating poverty, as well as programmes for the youths."
The state assembly sitting should be held by November the latest since the last one in May. - BERNAMA
Making Ipoh the most liveable city in Malaysia
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Health warning on traditional medicine capsule - Star
Oct 6, 2009 By DHARMENDER SINGH
PUTRAJAYA: The Health Ministry has advised the public against buying and using Senna Plus Capsule 400mg after the Drug Control Authority (DCA) cancelled the registration of the traditional product.
The DCA said the capsule (labelled MAL06100616TC) contains a scheduled poison.
The ministry’s Pharmacy Services senior director Eisah Abdul Rahman said the DCA had cancelled the registration of the product following the detection of the scheduled poison Sibutramine, which is not allowed for use in traditional products.
The product registration holder for the Senna Plus Capsule 400mg is Winson Health Product Marketing and the manufacturer is TST Packaging Sdn Bhd, she said.
She said there were certain products containing Sibutramine that were registered with the DCA but these had been evaluated for their safety, efficacy and quality.
Furthermore, those products can only be supplied by doctors or obtained from pharmacies with a prescription.
“The public should not use traditional products containing the scheduled poison without consulting a doctor because its use without proper diagnosis and monitoring could cause serious adverse events such as high-blood pressure and other cardio-vascular effects.
“The products can have detrimental effects on consumers in the high-risk category,” she said in a statement issued Tuesday.
Eisah said the ministry was also calling on anyone possessing the product to immediately cease its sale, distribution or use.
She said possession for sale of the product was an offence under the Controlled Drugs and Cosmetics Regulations 1984, which carries a fine of up to RM25,000, three years’ jail or both for the first offence, and a fine of up to RM50,000, five years’ jail or both for subsequent offences.
Companies face a fine of up to RM50,000 for the first offence and a maximum fine of RM100,000 for subsequent offences, she said.
PUTRAJAYA: The Health Ministry has advised the public against buying and using Senna Plus Capsule 400mg after the Drug Control Authority (DCA) cancelled the registration of the traditional product.
The DCA said the capsule (labelled MAL06100616TC) contains a scheduled poison.
The ministry’s Pharmacy Services senior director Eisah Abdul Rahman said the DCA had cancelled the registration of the product following the detection of the scheduled poison Sibutramine, which is not allowed for use in traditional products.
The product registration holder for the Senna Plus Capsule 400mg is Winson Health Product Marketing and the manufacturer is TST Packaging Sdn Bhd, she said.
She said there were certain products containing Sibutramine that were registered with the DCA but these had been evaluated for their safety, efficacy and quality.
Furthermore, those products can only be supplied by doctors or obtained from pharmacies with a prescription.
“The public should not use traditional products containing the scheduled poison without consulting a doctor because its use without proper diagnosis and monitoring could cause serious adverse events such as high-blood pressure and other cardio-vascular effects.
“The products can have detrimental effects on consumers in the high-risk category,” she said in a statement issued Tuesday.
Eisah said the ministry was also calling on anyone possessing the product to immediately cease its sale, distribution or use.
She said possession for sale of the product was an offence under the Controlled Drugs and Cosmetics Regulations 1984, which carries a fine of up to RM25,000, three years’ jail or both for the first offence, and a fine of up to RM50,000, five years’ jail or both for subsequent offences.
Companies face a fine of up to RM50,000 for the first offence and a maximum fine of RM100,000 for subsequent offences, she said.
Safety team formed to inspect pre-war buildings - Star
Oct 6, 2009 BY CHAN LI LEEN
IPOH: The Ipoh City Council is setting up a surveillance team to inspect pre-war and colonial buildings, in the wake of the recent collapse of the buildings at Fair Park here.
State executive councillor Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon said the team would conduct checks upon receiving complaints from the public or requests from owners to have their premises looked at.
Ground zero: Motorists driving past the site where a row of pre-war buildings collapsed along Jalan Kamaruddin Isa in Fair Park on Friday.
The team will comprise experts from the council and the Public Works Department (PWD), he added.
According to Dr Mah, the local government authority had the jurisdiction to issue notices to owners under Section 83 of the Drainage and Buildings Act 1974 to check their buildings.
“Action can be taken against those who refuse to comply. We will do it for the safety of the public,” he told reporters yesterday after attending a preliminary meeting into the collapse of the buildings at the demolition site.
In the 9.30pm incident on Friday, two passengers in a car were killed while another was injured when a row of pre-war buildings on Jalan Kamaruddin Isa collapsed onto the vehicle.
The buildings were being demolished to make way for eight units of three-storey shoplots.
While the opinion of experts was needed to decide whether a particular building was structurally sound, there were telltale signs as to how safe a building was, said Dr Mah.
“Cracks, tears and leaning of walls are all telltale signs. I urge the public to report to us or least to keep us informed when they come across buildings in such a state,’’ he said, adding that the public could call the council’s hotline at 05-2551515.
He added that the first job for the team was to inspect the two rows of buildings along Jalan Gopeng in Sungai Raia.
On the meeting, Dr Mah said building forensics officers from the PWD and the Department of Safety and Health would hold further meetings before coming up with a detailed report on the collapse.
IPOH: The Ipoh City Council is setting up a surveillance team to inspect pre-war and colonial buildings, in the wake of the recent collapse of the buildings at Fair Park here.
State executive councillor Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon said the team would conduct checks upon receiving complaints from the public or requests from owners to have their premises looked at.
Ground zero: Motorists driving past the site where a row of pre-war buildings collapsed along Jalan Kamaruddin Isa in Fair Park on Friday.The team will comprise experts from the council and the Public Works Department (PWD), he added.
According to Dr Mah, the local government authority had the jurisdiction to issue notices to owners under Section 83 of the Drainage and Buildings Act 1974 to check their buildings.
“Action can be taken against those who refuse to comply. We will do it for the safety of the public,” he told reporters yesterday after attending a preliminary meeting into the collapse of the buildings at the demolition site.
In the 9.30pm incident on Friday, two passengers in a car were killed while another was injured when a row of pre-war buildings on Jalan Kamaruddin Isa collapsed onto the vehicle.
The buildings were being demolished to make way for eight units of three-storey shoplots.
While the opinion of experts was needed to decide whether a particular building was structurally sound, there were telltale signs as to how safe a building was, said Dr Mah.
“Cracks, tears and leaning of walls are all telltale signs. I urge the public to report to us or least to keep us informed when they come across buildings in such a state,’’ he said, adding that the public could call the council’s hotline at 05-2551515.
He added that the first job for the team was to inspect the two rows of buildings along Jalan Gopeng in Sungai Raia.
On the meeting, Dr Mah said building forensics officers from the PWD and the Department of Safety and Health would hold further meetings before coming up with a detailed report on the collapse.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Stop-work order issued after shophouses collapse - Star
Oct 4, 2009
IPOH: A temporary stop-work order has been issued against the owner of the two-storey pre-war shophouses which collapsed on Friday during demolition work, killing two men.
Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha said the Ipoh City Council had also been instructed to prepare a preliminary report on the matter to be submitted to the ministry by tomorrow.
“We want to find out whether precautionary measures were taken during the demolition work,” he told reporters here yesterday after visiting the site.
He added that the Public Works Department, police, Fire and Rescue Department and the Occupational Safety and Health Department (DOSH) would also be asked to prepare reports.
The statements of eyewitnesses and workers at the site would also be taken to assist in investigations.
“Action will be taken if the consultant was found to be negligent in using the wrong method to demolish the buildings,” he said.
The building in Jalan Kamaruddin Isa in Fair Park here was being demolished to make way for a row of three-storey shophouses. In the 9.30pm incident, two passengers in a Perodua Viva were killed when the building collapsed on the vehicle.
The deceased were identified as Zairi Mohd Sabri, 25, and Firdaus Mohd Norzila, 23.
The driver, Abdil Kudus Ismail, 21, was discharged after receiving outpatient treatment at the Hospital Raja Permaisuri Bainun here.
IPOH: A temporary stop-work order has been issued against the owner of the two-storey pre-war shophouses which collapsed on Friday during demolition work, killing two men.
Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha said the Ipoh City Council had also been instructed to prepare a preliminary report on the matter to be submitted to the ministry by tomorrow.
“We want to find out whether precautionary measures were taken during the demolition work,” he told reporters here yesterday after visiting the site.
He added that the Public Works Department, police, Fire and Rescue Department and the Occupational Safety and Health Department (DOSH) would also be asked to prepare reports.
The statements of eyewitnesses and workers at the site would also be taken to assist in investigations.
“Action will be taken if the consultant was found to be negligent in using the wrong method to demolish the buildings,” he said.
The building in Jalan Kamaruddin Isa in Fair Park here was being demolished to make way for a row of three-storey shophouses. In the 9.30pm incident, two passengers in a Perodua Viva were killed when the building collapsed on the vehicle.
The deceased were identified as Zairi Mohd Sabri, 25, and Firdaus Mohd Norzila, 23.
The driver, Abdil Kudus Ismail, 21, was discharged after receiving outpatient treatment at the Hospital Raja Permaisuri Bainun here.
Fatal disaster strikes during dinner outing - Star
Oct 4, 2009
IPOH: He slowed down his car because the traffic light in front of him was turning red.
Moments later, computer technician Abdil Kudus Ismail, 21, felt a sharp pain on his face and back.
“When I turned to my friends, I could not see them as they were already buried under the rubble of a building which collapsed on my car.
“I could only feel Zairi (Mohd Sabri), who was seated in the front passenger seat, holding on tightly to my hand,” he said at Zairi’s house at Taman Harmoni in Rapat Setia here yesterday.
Sympathy offering: Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir and Perak executive councillor Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon (left) visiting Abdil Kudus at the Ipoh Hospital intensive care unit Saturday.
Abdil Kudus, who was trying to hold back his tears, added that he quickly used his right elbow to break the car window before crawling out to seek help.
“But when I returned to check on my friends, I could only see their lifeless hands,” he said, adding that the image would haunt him forever.
Abdil Kudus was recounting the harrowing experience when pre-war shophouses collapsed on his car on Friday.
His friends Zairi, 25, and Firdaus Mohd Norzila, 23, died on the spot.
Abdil Kudus said they were on their way to Dataran DBI for dinner when it happened.
Zairi’s mother Zaitun Ahmad, 43, said the last she spoke to her eldest son was 15 minutes before the incident.
“I refused to believe it when a policeman called to inform me of the incident, as I had just spoken to him on the phone,” said the mother of 11.
She added that Zairi had gone out with his friends to help her buy tickets for a trip to Kuala Lumpur yesterday.
Meanwhile, Firdaus’ father Mohd Norzila Abd Rahman said he was contemplating taking legal action over his son’s death.
“There were not enough safety measures at the site where the buildings were being demolished,” said the lorry driver.
The two victims were buried at the Tanah Perkuburan Islam Rapat Setia here.
IPOH: He slowed down his car because the traffic light in front of him was turning red.
Moments later, computer technician Abdil Kudus Ismail, 21, felt a sharp pain on his face and back.
“When I turned to my friends, I could not see them as they were already buried under the rubble of a building which collapsed on my car.
“I could only feel Zairi (Mohd Sabri), who was seated in the front passenger seat, holding on tightly to my hand,” he said at Zairi’s house at Taman Harmoni in Rapat Setia here yesterday.
Sympathy offering: Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir and Perak executive councillor Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon (left) visiting Abdil Kudus at the Ipoh Hospital intensive care unit Saturday.Abdil Kudus, who was trying to hold back his tears, added that he quickly used his right elbow to break the car window before crawling out to seek help.
“But when I returned to check on my friends, I could only see their lifeless hands,” he said, adding that the image would haunt him forever.
Abdil Kudus was recounting the harrowing experience when pre-war shophouses collapsed on his car on Friday.
His friends Zairi, 25, and Firdaus Mohd Norzila, 23, died on the spot.
Abdil Kudus said they were on their way to Dataran DBI for dinner when it happened.
Zairi’s mother Zaitun Ahmad, 43, said the last she spoke to her eldest son was 15 minutes before the incident.
“I refused to believe it when a policeman called to inform me of the incident, as I had just spoken to him on the phone,” said the mother of 11.
She added that Zairi had gone out with his friends to help her buy tickets for a trip to Kuala Lumpur yesterday.
Meanwhile, Firdaus’ father Mohd Norzila Abd Rahman said he was contemplating taking legal action over his son’s death.
“There were not enough safety measures at the site where the buildings were being demolished,” said the lorry driver.
The two victims were buried at the Tanah Perkuburan Islam Rapat Setia here.
Crackdown on leasees - Star
Oct 4, 2009 By IVAN LOH
THE Ipoh City Council will terminate the rental agreement of those found to be renting out their low-cost flat units, said Datuk Bandar Datuk Roshidi Hashim.
“The council will start issuing vacate notices from this month. The retracted units will then be leased out immediately to those who need them.
“We have received numerous complaints of leasees renting out their units to others,” he said after chairing the council’s full board meeting on Thursday.
Roshidi also lambasted the selfish leasees who failed to return their keys to the council after they vacated their units.
“The flats are meant for the poor and for those who cannot afford their own home,” he said.
The city council currently owns the Buntong Harmoni, Kinta Heights and Waller Court flats charging rental of between RM80 and RM140 monthly.
On a unrelated matter, Roshidi denied talks that the city council had increased the quit rent of several new housing estates.
”The city council has not increased the quit rent in Ipoh for the past 15 years,” he said, adding that the city council did not have the power to raise the quit rent.
He was responding to newspaper reports that residents in several housing areas in Ipoh were shocked with the hike in quit rent.
Roshidi explained that quit rent in new housing estates was adjusted accordingly in line with the value of property.
”All these while, the residents have been paying quit rent at empty land rates.
“Those who are not happy with the quit rent imposed on them should present their argument to the council within a month.” he said.
He also noted that as of October, the city council had identified about 10,300 people who had not been paying their quit rent.
THE Ipoh City Council will terminate the rental agreement of those found to be renting out their low-cost flat units, said Datuk Bandar Datuk Roshidi Hashim.
“The council will start issuing vacate notices from this month. The retracted units will then be leased out immediately to those who need them.
“We have received numerous complaints of leasees renting out their units to others,” he said after chairing the council’s full board meeting on Thursday.
Roshidi also lambasted the selfish leasees who failed to return their keys to the council after they vacated their units.
“The flats are meant for the poor and for those who cannot afford their own home,” he said.
The city council currently owns the Buntong Harmoni, Kinta Heights and Waller Court flats charging rental of between RM80 and RM140 monthly.
On a unrelated matter, Roshidi denied talks that the city council had increased the quit rent of several new housing estates.
”The city council has not increased the quit rent in Ipoh for the past 15 years,” he said, adding that the city council did not have the power to raise the quit rent.
He was responding to newspaper reports that residents in several housing areas in Ipoh were shocked with the hike in quit rent.
Roshidi explained that quit rent in new housing estates was adjusted accordingly in line with the value of property.
”All these while, the residents have been paying quit rent at empty land rates.
“Those who are not happy with the quit rent imposed on them should present their argument to the council within a month.” he said.
He also noted that as of October, the city council had identified about 10,300 people who had not been paying their quit rent.
Friday, October 2, 2009
Consortium To Improve Bus Service In Ipoh
IPOH, Oct 2 (Bernama) -- A consortium involving the three existing bus companies will be set up by year end to standardise the bus services in the city and overcome the problem of old buses.
State Public Service and Consumerism Committee chairman Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon said Friday the new schedules involving 300 buses were expected to start on Nov 1.
He said the Ipoh City Council had also been directed to conduct a study on the old and dilapidated bus stops with a view to building new ones for the comfort of commuters.
The state government was also considering implementing special bus lanes in the city to overcome traffic jams when the consortium took over, he said.
-- BERNAMA
State Public Service and Consumerism Committee chairman Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon said Friday the new schedules involving 300 buses were expected to start on Nov 1.
He said the Ipoh City Council had also been directed to conduct a study on the old and dilapidated bus stops with a view to building new ones for the comfort of commuters.
The state government was also considering implementing special bus lanes in the city to overcome traffic jams when the consortium took over, he said.
-- BERNAMA
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