Government Admits Spending To Boost Najib Administration

Government Admits Spending To Boost Najib Administration: "

The Malaysian Insider

By Adib Zalkapli

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 22 — Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon (picture) confirmed in Parliament today that the government had engaged Apco Worldwide, an international public affairs and media relations company, to boost its image overseas.

The Malaysian Insider understands that the contract is worth some RM20 million but Koh, in a written reply to a question from DAP’s Serdang MP Teo Nie Ching, did not divulge the exact amount.

“Apco Worldwide was tasked with promoting and improving Malaysia’s image overseas,” said Koh, who is Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department.

He justified the appointment by asserting that a foreign firm would ensure that the country’s communication practice was in line with international standards.

To justify the hefty fees it is charging, The Malaysian Insider understands that Apco Worldwide staff are now generating press releases and conducting media training for the government.

Because of the value of the contract, Apco Worldwide has set up an office for the first time in Malaysia. Its personnel are mainly from the United States, and the main focus of their job remains to improve Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s image.

It is also understood that the government has hired a separate firm in the United States to act as its lobbyist with the Obama administration.

“Appointing an international communication firm is a common practice by governments of other countries,” Koh said in his written reply to Parliament today.

He also said that inaccurate reports in foreign media had affected the international community’s confidence in the country as a stable investment, trade and tourist destination, resulting in the need to appoint Apco.

“Apart from Apco, the ministry and government agencies also appoint other local and international firms, for short and long term to provide communication services,” he said.

“Because the expenses for this service depend on the implementation of the programmes and communication projects planned from time to time according to needs, the total cost cannot be determined for the time being.”

The Malaysian Insider had reported in July that Apco was also tasked with promoting Najib’s image for his first 100 days in office and later to boost the administration’s standing worldwide.

Najib is not the first prime minister, however, to use expensive foreign help to boost his image and that of his administration.

Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi also used a foreign-based public relations firm to help project a positive image of himself as a progressive Muslim leader, and Malaysia as a modern Muslim nation.

The Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad administration had used disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff.

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No shortchanging in EPF dividends

No shortchanging in EPF dividends: "

KUALA LUMPUR – Dividends will continue to be given out to Employees Provident Fund savers from their deducted EPF housing loan in Account 2.

The EPF has given this assurance following recent emails and blogs that stated the EPF does not pay dividends on this account.

One email had called on EPF contributors to check their Account 2 for missing funds.

'Assuming you have RM100,000 in your [Account 2] and your monthly housing installment is RM2,000, the EPF will approve your application to withdraw from your Account 2 the sum of RM100,000 and pay you RM2,000 monthly for the next 50 months.

"Everything appears to be in order but ... what the EPF didn't highlight is that when the application was approved, the total amount (RM100,000) is removed from [Account 2], “ the email writer said.

The EPF clarification

Explainig the situation, EPF public relations senior manager Nik Affendi Jaafar said when a member’s application to withdraw his house installments is approved, the amount needed for this purpose would be taken out of Account 2 and put aside.

'The reason for this is to separate the amount from the main account, as funds allocated for this withdrawal cannot be used for other
withdrawals from Account 2.

“In addition, it serves to facilitate as well as monitor the monthly payments," he said in a statement here Wednesday.

Nik Affendi said EPF members will continue to earn their annual dividends from remaining savings in the fund until he or she reaches the age of 75.

Dividends continue

Accordingly, the savings that have been kept aside and are committed for withdrawals under housing loan monthly installment will continue to receive dividends for the year. The dividends on this amount will be credited into Account 2 after dividend for the year is declared.

The housing loan monthly installment withdrawal was introduced in January last year and as the dividends for 2008 has yet to be declared, there is
no issue of the EPF not paying dividends on the amount, Nik Affendi said.

Hoping the statement would put to rest any confusion regarding the issue, he added that the EPF was committed to protecting the members’ interests and enhancing the value of their savings. - Malaysian Mirror

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Leaked pipes led to hillside tragedy

Leaked pipes led to hillside tragedy: "

SHAH ALAM – Declassified documents by the Selangor government reveal that leaking water pipes installed along abandoned houses had increased the moisture in the soil that led to a landslide on Dec 6 last year in which 5 people were killed.

Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim said he had declassified the report using provisions under the Official Secrets Act (OSA) which allows ministers and mentris besar to declassify documents.

The report was prepared by the Public Works Department and handed to Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ).

Report available for all

Khalid, speaking to reporters after the weekly state exco meeting, said the report only touched on the possible causes of the landslide but did not finger the culprit.

He also said that the families of the victims of the tragedy will be able to get a hold of a copy of the report on Monday at the MPAJ office.

The landslide at the up market Taman Bukit Mewah Housing estate on Dec 6 destroyed 14 bungalows at the four hectare site.

'We hope the Bukit Antarabangsa residents will know the truth now that the full report has been released,' he said.

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World Cup playoffs: It's down to the wire

World Cup playoffs: It's down to the wire: "

SOCCER TALK It's going to be a neck-and-neck finish for eight of the European nations when they play off in the second leg on Wednesday (Nov 18) to qualify for that all-important trip to the World Cup 2010 finals in South Afica next summer.

After that ugly incident where the Algerians claimed they were attacked by Egyptian fans, Egypt and Algeria will now meet in the return match on neutral ground in Sudan to settle the last of Africa's qualifying berths after a dramatic late goal gave the Egyptians a 2-0 win on Saturday.

Substitute Emad Moteab's late header gave Egypt the winning margin they needed over Algeria and ensured they finished level at the top of Group C, forcing a sudden-death playoff.

Another African giant, Nigeria, just managed to make it when the Super Eagles beat Kenya 3-2, and thanks to Mozambique for doing them the favour when they beat contenders Tunisia 1-0. That was a tricky one for Nigeria who were almost out of the running.

Not surprisingly, the other soccer big boys in Africa - Ivory Coast, Cameroon and Ghana - are all through to the finals.

In the CONCACAF/CONMEBOL playoff, a Diego Lugano goal in the first half against Costa Rica brightened Uruguay hopes of playing in South Africa. The return leg in Montevideo will give Uruguay the home advantage to confirm their qualification unless the Costa Ricans can cause a major upset.

In the Oceania/Asia playoff, New Zealand celebrated with a 1-0 victory over favourite Bahrain to qualify for the World Cup finals for the second time in their history. The All-White played in the 1982 finals in Spain which saw Italy become the world champions.

UEFA Qualifying Playoffs - 2nd Leg

Ukraine v Greece

In the UEFA playoffs, seeded Greece must be kicking themselves for failing to overcome Ukraine in the first leg in Athens where a 0-0 draw has given Andriy Shevchenko and Co the home ground advantage to perform a 'Greek tragedy'.

Greece are finding a hard time getting the goals and the return match in Donetsk could well end in another goalless contest if Greece's German coach Otto Rehhagel is true to his words that they will not allow the Ukrainians to score. He's hoping they will go down to penalty kicks to settle the issue.

Don't bank on Rehhagel to pull it off. My money is on an improving Ukraine to go through to their first World Cup finals.

France v Rep of Ireland

France coach Raymond Domenech may love to tinker with the Zodiac signs but not many French fans and the media are enamoured of him because of his 'weird' tinkering of the French squad.

Domenech may have taken France to the World Cup final in 2006 and ended up as runners-up to Italy but he failed big time in Euro 2008 and yet he's still around as coach.

A saving grace for France is that the squad has some of the most skilful and gifted players around led by captain Thierry Henry.
Going into the second leg in Paris, Les Bleus will face a fighting Ireland side under their wily Italian coach Giovanni Trapattoni.

We can expect the Irish to battle all the way as they did in Dublin where they went down by one goal scored by Nicolas Anelka via a deflection.

The French 'astrologer' aside, my hunch is that Irish eyes won't be smiling in Paris.

Bosnia-Herzegovina v Portugal

Portugal rode their luck in Lisbon winning by a Bruno Alves goal, but the Bosnians came close a few times with quick counter-attacks while playing a defensive game.

There were scary moments late in the game when hotshot Edin Dzeko, who plays in the Bundesliga, headed against the bar. The Portuguese escaped again when Zlatan Muslimovic saw his shot hit a post.

Taking a one goal lead into the second leg in Zenica may not be enough for Portugal who are missing their pin-up boy Cristiano Ronaldo whose ankle injury is not doing their coach Carlos Queiroz any favour.

Bosnia-Herzegovina can be expected to come out of their shell to try to overturn the Portuguese lead. Coach Miroslav Blazevic is likely to tell his boys to be more adventurous this time despite missing three suspended players in Samir Muratovic, Emir Spahic and Elvir Rahimic who were booked.

It will be a tough one for Portugal, without Ronaldo, against a team that have shown resilience and attacking flair in their qualifying campaign. Queiroz has plenty to do to stay ahead of the game.

Slovenia v Russia

The fact that all the first leg results, except for the Greece-Ukraine match, saw teams winning by one-goal margins reflects the closeness of these contests.

Russia were the only team to net two goals against Slovenia who caught the Russians sleeping with a late goal by substitute Nejc Pecnik. Pecnik missed a golden opportunity to square the result shortly after.

The Russians dominated the game on their plastic surface but the return leg is causing apprehension. Russian midfielder Sergei Semak was reported to have expressed unease by the late Slovenian goal and there are mixed feelings because of the one-goal difference.

Slovenia coach Matjaz Kek felt that they 'have found a goal that keeps us in the game.'

Although playing away this time, Russia should have the players to take them to through to the finals. All they need is a draw in Slovenia but I think the Russians will win again.

*Freelance writer Mark Khoo writes about the blogging experience and other Internet issues. He blogs at TheNextPost.com and Markkscript.Posterous.com.

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RPK gets discharge in defamation case too

RPK gets discharge in defamation case too: "

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 13 — Blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin, or better known as RPK, was given a discharge not amounting to an acquittal in his criminal defamation trial by the Sessions Court today as the police have yet to serve the warrant of arrest on him.

He is charged with defaming Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, wife of the Prime Minister, Lt-Col Abdul Aziz Buyong and his wife Lt-Col Norhayati Hassan, in a statutory declaration made at the Jalan Duta court complex here on June 18 last year.

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Wacky world records tumble around globe

Wacky world records tumble around globe: "

NEW YORK, Nov 13 — In London, a man pulled a double-decker bus with his hair. In Memphis, 297 cheerleaders joined forces in one massive dance. In Italy, spaghetti eaters raced to get through a bowl of pasta in the least time.

Thousands of people across the world tried to set new records in the bizarre and the biggest on Thursday, the fifth annual Guinness World Records Day.

“Guinness World Records Day grows bigger and better every year, and the fifth annual celebration has been the most memorable yet,” Craig Glenday, editor of Guinness World Records, said in a statement.

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What next for Liow?

What next for Liow?: "

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 25 — What is the next move for newly-appointed MCA deputy president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai?

While his appointment as the deputy president by the party's powerful central committee (CC) had placed him as the next in line to take over the presidency, his political future remains uncertain.

This vegetarian health minister is said to be the leader of 22 CC members who signed a letter demanding that Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat step down as the president during the CC meeting last Thursday following the vote of no confidence against him in the Oct 10 extraordinary general meeting (EGM).

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