UTHAYAKUMAR: ANWAR HAS FAILED US

KLANG: Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has failed to live up to his promises to help uplift the marginally poor Indian community, said Human Rights Party (HRP) secretary-general P. Uthayakumar. 

Uthayakumar yesterday also issued an ultimatum to Anwar to fulfil promises made by Pakatan Rakyat during the 2008 general election.

Failing which, he said HRP would field its own candidates against Pakatan in several parliamentary and state seats in Selangor in the next general election.

Uthayakumar said Anwar had also declined to meet him on many occasions to discuss issues faced by the Indian community.

Read more: Uthayakumar: Anwar has failed us - Politics - New Straits Times 

PAKATAN 'EMPLOYING DELAYING TACTICS'

SHAH ALAM: Pakatan Rakyat's intention not to have the Selangor state election simultaneously with the parliamentary election is because they realise that the people are no longer supporting them and have diverted their attention to Barisan Nasional. 

The Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister said this after launching the third phase of the "Jimat Belanja Dapur" (Save On Kitchen Expenses) programme at Pasar Tani in Section 13, near here.

Noh was responding to a statement by the Pakatan Rakyat Council last week recommending the Selangor government, led by Parti Keadilan Rakyat, not to hold its state election simultaneously with the parliamentary election unless the Election Commission cleans up the state's electoral roll.

Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said they had conveyed the matter to Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim.

Selangor Umno liaison committee deputy chairman Datuk Seri Noh Omar said Pakatan was merely employing delaying tactics. "They are unable to prevent the winds of change that is sweeping the people in Selangor."The people have met me on many occasions and pledged their support for the Barisan Nasional," said Noh to reporters yesterday.

Read more: Pakatan 'employing delaying tactics' - Politics - New Straits Times 

NO NEED TO ABOLISH PTPTN, SAYS HADI

KUALA LUMPUR: The National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) should not be abolished as it will not resolve the problem of students who cannot afford higher education, Pas president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang said. 
He said there was a need for a fair process that would not burden either students or communities. Hadi’s view is another indication of the conflicting stand on issues among parties in Pakatan Rakyat, mainly Pas and Parti Keadilan Rakyat.

It also contradicts the stand of opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and PKR, which had called for PTPTN to be abolished. Anwar had also said that Petronas funds could be used to write off the RM43 billion loans owed to PTPTN since 1999.

Several Pas leaders had said the proposal to abolish PTPTN was not discussed by Pakatan Rakyat and was merely PKR’s decision. Hadi, in an interview with a Malay tabloid on Saturday, said in Islam, those who had the means should make it their responsibility to help the poor.
Presenting a view that differed from Anwar’s, Hadi said famed Muslim historian Ibn Khaldun had touted education as an industry that was concerned with productivity.
He said education must result in productive human capital. “Therefore, PTPTN loans cannot be abolished just like that  "There has to be a process  that is just and fair and will not burden the poor. The rich must bear the responsibility."

Read more on: No need to abolish PTPTN, says Hadi - Top News - New Straits Times

MORE GET HIGHER EDUCATION WITH PTPTN

KUALA LUMPUR: Those who do not understand the government's intention of establishing the National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) would always attempt to politicise the issue, said Universiti Putra Malaysia's vice-chancellor Datuk Dr Radin Umar Radin Sohadi.

He said yesterday that one needed to analyse the higher education financing model to determine the effectiveness of PTPTN.

"In the 1970s, the number of students in Malaysia pursuing higher education was smaller. Therefore, the government could afford to give scholarships easily.

"Now, the number is much larger. If the government intends to provide education as a birthright, it will require an effective financing model."

Radin Umar, who was former Higher Education Ministry director-general, said that PTPTN represented such a model.

"Our country's higher education currently stands at 42 per cent of students and we need to reach a target of at least 50 per cent to become a developed nation.

"PTPTN is one way of ensuring more people are given access to higher education."

Radin Umar also said that "to get rid of poverty, the people needed to be educated".

"Abolishing PTPTN would be equal to depriving a large sector of the population from education."

He said the government was trying its best to abolish poverty by providing education loans and subsidies for students from poor families so that they could get better-paying jobs later.

Read more: More get higher education with PTPTN - General - New Straits Times 

PENANG UMNO 'SAD OVER TUSSLE FOR POST'

GEORGE TOWN: Penang Umno yesterday expressed regret over the statement by Penang Deputy Chief Minister I, Datuk Mansor Osman, on the appointment of the Penang Islamic Affairs Council (MAINPP) president and described it as political theatrics that were not acceptable.

Speaking to reporters here yesterday, Penang Umno Liaison Committee chairman Datuk Zainal Abidin Osman said the way the issue was handled showed the state government leadership was neither transparent nor smart.

He said the decision by the state government to push for its preferred candidate -- Penang Pas Commissioner Datuk Mohd Salleh Man -- to be named MAINPP president showed their irresponsible attitude, which had denied the decision by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, who had approved the appointment of Abdul Malik Abul Kassim from Parti Keadilan Rakyat to the post.

Read more on: Penang Umno 'sad over tussle for post' - Politics - New Straits Times

CHANGES TO PRINTING PRESSES ACT LAUDED

KUALA LUMPUR: The recent amendment to the Printing Presses and Publications Act was welcomed by the media fraternity and the public.

Universiti Sains Malaysia's political analyst Associate Professor Dr Sivamurugan Pandian said the amendment was timely.

"But there should be revisions made every three years based on the current situation in the country."

He added that the act should be accompanied by laws to safeguard the public and ensure it does not hurt the sensitivity of the multiracial community.

"We must also look into other laws to protect the public."

He added that if the law was retained, it would cripple the country's development.

When asked about parties who did not welcome the amendment, he said it would be difficult to satisfy everyone but what was right should be done.

The National Union of Journalists said the move was encouraging but suggested that licensing be abolished.

Its secretary general, V. Anbalagan, said that 25 years ago, the print media had the monopoly but with the arrival of online media, the industry had seen many changes.

"Newspapers will lose readership when there is no balanced view because the public has other alternative to get news.

"The print media industry must play a more responsible role in reporting and display a more diverse range of opinions and views when publishing news."

Read more: Changes to Printing Presses Act lauded - General - New Straits Times

ANTI-GAY GROUPS TO GO AHEAD WITH GATHERING

KUALA LUMPUR: JARINGAN Melayu Malaysia (JMM) said it would proceed with plans to stage a peaceful assembly against LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) practices after it was rejected a permit to gather at Dataran Merdeka.

Its president, Azwanddin Hamzah Said, said the assembly, scheduled to take place tomorrow at 3pm, would go ahead as the participating NGO groups were already "prepared to mobilise".

However, he said they understood the concerns raised by Mayor Tan Sri Ahmad Fuad Ismail over staging the assembly at Dataran Merdeka.

"We respect the mayor's decision and acknowledge that we have a sense of responsibility to road users and businessmen who may be affected by our actions.

"I will now sit with leaders from the other NGOs to discuss a more suitable venue," he said after a brief meeting with Fuad at City Hall here yesterday.

JMM and five other NGOs, including the Coalition of Malaysian NGOs, Federation of Peninsular Malay Students (GPMS) and Malay Veterans Association (PVTM), had applied for the permit last Friday.

Azwanddin said he was confident the assembly would be given the green light to take place elsewhere despite the short notice. He said they would meet with the police today to discuss their next move.

Meanwhile, PVTM president Mohd Ali Baharom urged the mayor to be fair to all parties.

"If our permit has been rejected, then he should be consistent and turn down the opposition's appeal as well."

Read more: Anti-gay groups to go ahead with gathering - General - New Straits Times