Thesun 2008-11-17 Page06 3000 Threaten To Strike

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theSun

| MONDAY NOVEMBER 17 2008

news without borders

3,000 fishermen threaten to strike by Humayun Kabir [email protected]

PANTAI REMIS: Some 3,000 fishermen from Perak and Selangor will go on strike in January next year if the federal government does not reduce the price of subsidised diesel from the current rate of RM1.43 to RM1 per litre. Pantai Remis assemblyman Nga Kor Ming said on Saturday that although world oil price has dropped from US$145 (RM522) to US$54 (RM194) per barrel – a decline of about 70% – this is not reflected in the domestic market.

He wants the Finance Ministry and the Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Ministry to reflect the current world oil price and reduce the price to RM1 per litre to prevent the proposed strike by the fishermen. Otherwise, the rakyat will face hardship as the prices of fish will skyrocket if the fishermen strike, he said. Nga held a dialogue with about 500 fishermen from Hutan Melintang, Pantai Remis and Padang Besar at the Dewan Saudagar Perikanan here on Saturday. He said the Perak government has no power to intervene over the issue

as diesel subsidy is a federal matter. On a separate matter, Nga yesterday urged the federal government to reintroduce mental arithmetic in the primary school syllabus from standard one to six which stimulates the pupils’ mind to think and apply reason. China, Taiwan and Japan had successfully implemented the mental arithmetic subject in their education system, he said after opening the nationallevel mental arithmetic contest at SJK(C) Yuk Choy in Ipoh. The competition attracted about 500 primary school contestants.

CM: NGOs lobbied for Kings of Tennis event by Himanshu Bhatt [email protected]

Top cop orders blitz on Mat Rempit pg 8

GEORGE TOWN: Prominent NGOs had lobbied the Penang government to approve the Kings of Tennis programme which was later cancelled, Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng revealed yesterday. He said some Penang-based NGOs, who were at the forefront of the campaign against the controversial Penang Global City Centre (PGCC) project, had called the state, wanting the international tennis event to be held in George Town. “They said it would help place Penang on the world map,” Lim told reporters at the launching of the Meatless Day Carnival at Dewan Seri Pinang here. “Because the state could not spend public money, we just supported the project instead of co-organising it,” he said. He added that he supported the Public Accounts Committee’s move to hold an enquiry on any procedural anomalies in the affair. “We have nothing to hide, so there is nothing to fear,” he said, noting that the PAC includes four opposition Barisan Nasional assemblymen.

Lim explained that when event organiser Arianna Teoh approached state executive councillor for tourism, Danny Law, he agreed that the state support the event because of its international prominence. Meanwhile, Teoh has refuted allegations that the event was cancelled by Show Administration Europe AB due to her failure to remit funds to them. In a statement issued over the weekend, Teoh said Show Administration was obligated to set up a Malaysian company to be named ‘Kings of Tennis Malaysia’, of which Teoh was supposed to be made a director to issue invoices relating to revenue sources pertaining to the event “At no time was I under any obligation to personally remit funds to Show Administration for the event,” she said. She said Show Administration instead set up a company called Profound Quality Sdn Bhd. “This company was set up extremely late in the day despite my repeated reminders to them that it was imperative for collection of funds that this entity be set up and the necessary bank account opened as quickly as possible,” she said.

Angkasawan admits accepting contributions for giving talks KUALA LUMPUR: The nation’s first astronaut has admitted to accepting contributions when giving talks. However, Datuk Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor Sheikh Mustapha denied allegations he had received, among others, RM8,000 an hour for giving talks. He said it was the norm for him to give talks in schools for free. “I hope we can resolve this unfortunate incident (allegations) because its negative impact would affect my ability to continue giving talks to

schools in the country. “(Nevertheless) I have spoken to Science, Technology and Innovation Deputy Minister Fadilah Yusof and given a detailed explanation ... and he was happy and satisfied with my explanation,” he added. Dr Sheikh Muszaphar was speaking to reporters after flagging off and taking part in the Sixth Batik Fun Walk 2008 here yesterday. Meanwhile, Penyayang chairman Nori Abdullah, who organised the walk, was pleased with the number of participants taking part in the

event, especially since some of the proceeds would go to the Penyayang Pesakit Kanser charity. “I am happy with the number of participants this year, which is about 1,200. This is double the number of participants last year. “It is also heartening to know these participants will help make life a little easier for cancer patients,” she said. Her husband, Rembau MP Khairy Jamaluddin, showed his support for his wife’s programme by taking part in the event. – Bernama