Thesun 2009-04-20 Page04 More Multilingual Counsellors Needed

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theSun

| MONDAY APRIL 20 2009

news without borders

Keadilan wing laments police inaction over Bukit Gantang incident by Hemananthani Sivanandam [email protected]

SHAH ALAM: Srikandi Keadilan – a new wing under Wanita Keadilan – has urged police to take action against a group of Umno election workers who accosted its members the day before the April 7 Bukit Gantang by-election. Keadilan Wanita chief Zuraida Kamarudin yesterday said no action has been taken by police despite three police reports on the incident. “I spoke to the inspector concerned last week, and he said the case has been handed over to the AttorneyGeneral’s Chambers and is awaiting instructions from them,” she told a press conference held at the Selangor mentri besar’s residence. Seputeh MP Teresa Kok, who was also present at the press conference, urged Wanita Umno chief Datuk Seri Shahrizat Jalil who is also Women, Family and Community Development Minister to take the issue seriously. “She has always been vocal when it comes to women’s rights and issues. I hope she will do something about this,” said Kok. On April 6, the Keadilan election machinery delegation comprising six members of Srikandi Keadilan was accosted by a group of Umno election workers in front of the Umno Bukit Gantang Community Service Centre. One of the victims, who wished to be only known as Ana, 20, was surrounded by at least 10 Umno members, who wanted to confiscate some pamphlets in her possession. They also tried to pull her pants down, but two locals intervened and rescued her. However, the two men were attacked by the group of men. Ana, accompanied by Keadilan election staff and witnesses, later lodged reports at the Simpang, Bukit Gantang police stations. When asked if there was any evidence to support the claims of the attack, Srikandi Keadilan chief Siti Aishah Shaik Ismail said there were photos taken and CCTV footage from a mini-market next to the centre but these were not given to the police on the advice of their lawyer. Meanwhile, Zuraida also said legal action will be taken against Bernama for falsely accusing the group during a news bulletin aired on April 6. “During its 8 o’clock news, Bernama TV reported that Srikandi Keadilan lodged a false police report about being harassed. “The report said the place of the incident did not exist and that Ana (the victim) was accused of flirting with the Umno election workers,” she said. Zuraida also said Bernama refused to sell them the footage of the news bulletin in question.

Naked criminal caught after nine hours KUALA LUMPUR: A naked criminal – armed with a knife – who leapt from the second floor of a hotel in Kepong yesterday to evade capture by police was eventually caught nine hours later after being shot in his right leg as he sought cover in some undergrowth nearby. Kuala Lumpur CID chief Datuk Ku Chin Wah said police raided a hotel room at 3pm and detained a man while the naked man bolted.

Both men, aged 28, were high on the wanted list after being involved in various crimes like robbery, rape, auto-theft and drugs, Ku said when contacted yesterday. Earlier, the naked man had caused a disturbance at a restaurant. Ku said the man had been shot in the abdomen in December 2007 while robbing a restaurant in Kepong. The other suspect was believed to have

been involved in seven cases of robbery, rape and car theft around Jinjang, Selayang and Kepong, including raping a student, 17. “The girl said the man who raped her had a tattoo of a lorry on his body, just like the suspect,” he told Bernama. He said the suspect had also confined an Indonesian woman who he used as a sex slave six months ago in his house.

More multi-lingual counsellors needed by Giam Say Khoon [email protected]

KUALA LUMPUR: The government can use the help of para-counsellors to overcome the language barrier faced by its professional counsellors, said Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister Senator Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun yesterday. “It is very important for the counsellors to communicate in the language used by the complainants, otherwise the counselling may not be effective. “We also need counsellors who are able to speak local dialects and understand the local culture to really help the people, especially those in suburban areas,” she told reporters after officiating at a para-counsellors training programme organised by Wanita MCA’s Women And Children’s Aid Bureau. Chew, who is also Wanita MCA chief, said she would propose to the government to continue the smart-partnership between the government and universities so that student counsellors “can help when there is a need for multi-lingual counsellors, like during the 2004 tsunami 2004 and also for non-governmental organisations to play their role in helping out this problem”. “Following the success of Selangor Wanita MCA in setting up such aid centres in all its divisions, the wing now plans to set up similar centres nationwide, with five para-counsellors in each state,” she said. On the rumour that Johor MCA Wanita chief Tan Ah Eng had gone on leave in

briefs Don’t be too elated about ‘recovery’ PENANG: Don’t be too happy with the global economy that has shown positive signs of recovery, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop. He urged Malaysians not to be too comfortable with the situation as it may just be temporary. Speaking to reporters after attending a meet-the-people programme at Dewan Umno Pekan Darat here yesterday, he said market and commodities prices had shown positive signs but it did not mean they would not fall. “I do not see the situation becoming normal yet as banks in the US still cannot give loans to people as before,” he said. He was of the opinion that the economic situation would recover in two years. – Bernama

Strong winds and rough seas

protest because the state now had one less deputy minister, Chew said: “It’s a party matter to be handled internally. Everyone has his or her own way to handle issues and opinions but most importantly, we must place the benefit of the party as priority. I will also try to talk to her (Tan) directly soon.” Johor MCA previously had four deputy ministers compared with three now.

KUALA LUMPUR: Strong winds and rough seas are expected to occur in waters off the east coast states in the peninsula and west coast of Sabah for four days from today. In a statement, the Meteorological Department said strong westerly winds of 40 to 50kmph and waves of up to 3.5m are expected to occur in the waters off Kelantan, Terengganu and west coast of Sabah. – Bernama

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