Saturday, December 31, 2011

PM's 2012 New Year Message: Our best days are still ahead - The Star


PETALING JAYA: Malaysians can realise a better future for the country by working hand in hand with the government and their fellow countrymen, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said.

The Prime Minister said a better future for Malaysia was not a mere dream but was infact within reach if everyone was willing to plan carefully and work hard to achieve the dream.

“Nothing is impossible (to achieve). Our best days are still ahead of us and it is surely not history,” he said Saturday in his 2012 New Year message posted in his 1Malaysia blog.

In wishing Malaysians a Happy New Year, Najib described 2011 as a monumental year for the country which saw the government's policy inititatives under the National Transformation Policy (2011-2020) being completely “rolled out” and the introduction of the fourth series of the Outline Perspective Plan that was first introduced in 1971.

He said the National Transformation Policy was the final component in realising the vision to become a high income nation by 2020, encompassing the Government, Economic, Political and Rural Transformation Programmes and the New Economic Model.

“All these policy initiatives are not merely empty and unrealistic announcements. If these initiatives are well implemented according to the timeframe, we will see the emergence of a New Malaysia; a nation which is not only economically progressive with its wealth shared by all segments and strata of the society, but a nation with a healthy democracy and differences of opinion,” he said.

The Prime Minister said the government was committed to reforms in all fields and aspects of life, in line with the rakyat's aspiration for a better life for themselves and their children.

“All our efforts are for the future generations of Malaysia who have the right to grow up in an environment filled with hope and not gloom. We will not bow to pressure by any party that wants to derail our noble efforts,” he said.

Najib said under the Political Transformation Programme where efforts were made to balance national security and individual rights as guaranteed under the Federal Constitution, the government had abolished three emergency proclamation that had been enforced for four decades, adding Malaysia could not afford to look ahead into the future if it continues to be strapped with historical baggage.

In the same spirit, he said, the government had also announced the abolition of several Acts related to security and public order such as the Internal Security Act, the Restricted Residence Act, the Banishment Act and Section 27 of the Police Act which was replaced with the Peaceful Assembly Act 2011 that guarantees the freedom of individuals to gather peacefully.

“Our efforts will continue in the 2012 Parliament session which will see the ISA be abolished and a new law to replace it be tabled. Amendments to the Universities and University Colleges Act and the Printing Presses and Publications Act will also be made,” he said.

The Prime Minister said the 2012 Budget saw the tradition of a “welfare state” which had been practiced by the ruling government since Independence, continue to be in place, adding the government had not forgotten to look into the welfare of rural and urban dwellers, the low-income earners as well as the middle class and high income groups.

“We remain committed to defend the rakyat's fate and will continue to be sensitive to the people's pulse and listen to their aspirations,” he said

Happy New Year 2012

Here is a wishing that the coming year is a glorious one that rewards all your future endeavors with success. Happy New Year 2012. May you all have a blessed year ahead.

Lawatan Ke kuil Sivam Di Aulong, Taiping Bersama Dato' S Veerasinggam - 31 Dis 2011


Pada jam 7.30ptg tadi 31 Dis 2011 YBhg Dato' S. Veerasingam telah melawat Kuil Sivam di Aulong, Taiping bersama Ketua Pemuda MIC Perak, Sdra M. Veeran.


Objektif lawatan ialah untuk melihat dengan lebih dekat sebarang bantuan yang diperlukan oleh AJK kuil. Kami singgah untuk bersembahyang bersama AJK kuil semasa lawatan tadi.

Majlis Perasmian Bangunan Kantin Baru SJK(T) St. Theresa Convent, Taiping YBhg Oleh Dato S Veerasingam - 31 Dis 2011



YBhg Dato S Veerasingam, Pengerusi MIC Perak telah hadir ke Majlis Perasmian Bangunan Kantin Baru SJK(T) St. Theresa Convent, Taiping, Perak pada 31 Dis 2011 jam 7.30 malam tadi.


Majlis ini telah dianjurkan oleh Persatuan IbuBapa dan Guru SJK(T) St. Theresa Convent, Taiping, Perak. Seramai 150 orang telah hadir dalam majlis ini yang bermula jam 8.30 malam. Turut hadir, Ketua Pemuda MIC Perak, Sdra M. Veeran.


Dalam ucapannya, YBhg Dato' Veerasingam menyeru Persatuan PIBG untuk memainkan peranan yang aktif dan bekerjasama dengan guru-guru sekolah bagi membangunkan sekolah ini.


Dalam majlis yang sama YBhg Dato' S. Veerasingam turut menyampaikan sumbanga beg dan pakaian sekolah kepada pelajar-pelajar SJK(T) St. Theresa Convent ini.

Friday, December 30, 2011

Kunjungan Hormat Ke Pejabat YBhg Datuk Bandar Ipoh - 30 Dis 2011


Pagi tadi Pemuda MIC Perak yang terdiri dari Sdra M. Veeran (Ketua Pemuda MIC Perak), Sdra AR Ramachandran (Timbalan Ketua Pemuda MIC Perak), Sdra Sivaraj (Setiausaha Pemuda MIC Perak) serta Sdra Jagaganesh Selvaraju (Ketua Penerangan Pemuda MIC Perak) telah membuat kunjungan hormat ke Pejabat YBhg Dato' Roshidi Hashim, Datuk Bandar Ipoh, di pejabatnya di Majlis Bandaraya Ipoh.

Perjumpaan telah diadakan pada jam 9.00 pagi. kami disambut dengan meriah oleh YBhg Dato' Roshidi. Kami telah membuat beberapa perbincangan ringkas dan bertukar pendapat. Lawatan ini telah menjalinkan hubungan yang baik di antara Pemuda MIC Perak dengan Majlis Bandaraya Ipoh.

Aktiviti Riadah dan Kecergasan Minda Anjuran Pemuda MIC Perak, Taiping dan Tambun dengan Kerjasama Open University Malaysia (Cawangan Perak)


Pemuda MIC Perak serta Pemuda MIC Taiping (di bawak Sdra M. Veeran) dan Pemuda MIC Tambun (di bawah Sdra Jayaganesah) dengan kerjasama Open University Malaysia (Cawangan Perak) akan mengadakan aktiviti kecergasan minda pada 31 Dis 2011 dan 15 Januari 2012.

Butiran lanjut adalah seperti berikut:

1. Program Pendakian Bukit Bangkong, Tanah Hitam, Perak:

Tarikh: 31 Disember 2011
Masa: 7.00 pagi


Program ini anjuran Pemuda MIC Tambun, akan dirasmikan oleh YB Dato' R. Ganesan, Speaker DUN Perak.


Orang ramai dijemput hadir. Pihak Open University Malaysia akan menyediakan T' Shirt percuma kepada peserta sementara stok masih ada. Berkumpul di kaki Bukit Bangkong jam 6.30 pagi. Untuk keterangan lanjut, sila hubungi OUM: 05-2546006 atau Sdra Jayaganesh H/P: 012-5544799

2. Program Senamrobik Taping Lake Garden, Taiping, Perak:

Tarikh: 15 Januari 2012
Masa: 7.00 pagi


Program ini anjuran Pemuda MIC Taiping dan Persatuan Kebajikan Sosial dan Sukan Taiping dengan kerjasam Open University Malaysia dan Persatuan Kecergasan Perak.

Orang ramai dijemput hadir. Pihak Open University Malaysia akan menyediakan T' Shirt percuma kepada peserta sementara stok masih ada.

Sila berkumpul di Taiping Lake Garden sebelum pukul 7.00pg.


Butiran lanjut: http://oum-perak.blogspot.com/2011/12/aktiviti-riadah-dan-kecergasan-minda.html

Thursday, December 29, 2011

Mesyuarat MIC Bahagian Taiping - 29 Dis 2011


Sebentar tadi telah tamat mesyuarat MIC Bahagian Taiping di Dewan Tamilar Sangam, Taiping, Perak yang bermula jam 7.30mlm.


Mesyuarat ini dipanggil bagi membincangkan Penubuhan Jentera Pilihanraya untuk bersiap sedia bagi menghadapi PRU13.


Jentera Pilihanraya ini melibatkan Kawasan Parlimen Taiping serta 3 DUN di bawah Taiping iaitu Pokok Asam, Aulong dan Kamunting.


Setiap AJK telah diberi tugas dan tanggungjawab bagi memastikan kemenangan kepada BN.

Najib describes 2011 as the year to explore new social media - MySinChew

News 2011-12-29 10:23


KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 28 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak describes the year 2011 as the year for him to explore the use of the social media to increase interaction with the Rakyat.


The exploration began early in the year when, for the first time, Najib invited people to ask him questions on the social website Twitter and Facebook.

"I didn't expect such a great response but I managed to respond to some of the questions, even the peculiar ones," said Najib when recalling the events throughout 2011 in his latest blog entry "2011 In Review" in his 1Malaysia blog today.

Looking at its success, the Prime Minister said that in the following month, he had invited 600 "online" friends for an afternoon tea session at Seri Perdana in the programme "Mari Berjumpa, Mari Berhubung".

His willingness to explore new methods resulted in numerous invitations to communicate with the youths via online.

"Immediately after, I was invited to do a "Gotcha" prank on radio by the morning crews of Hitz.fm. I also made appearances on the morning shows of Radio Era, Mix.fm and Hot.fm," he said.

Based on the cyber experience he had gained, Najib said he had introduced the 1Malaysia Roundtable, an interactive platform for Malaysians to provide fair and constructive comments, suggestions or ideas to better the lives and the people of Malaysia in June.

"I also took part in one session where I discussed a budget for sustainable growth," he said.

Another important milestone in his social media journey was when he introduced his very own Mobile Application for smartphones which could be downloaded from his Facebook page and 1Malaysia website.

During the year, Najib also introduced some official 1Malaysia merchandise and gave plenty away through the 1Malaysia Merchandise campaign.

The campaign also invited Malaysians to submit photographs of the Jalur Gemilang which were then added to the Jalur Gemilang 1Malaysia Album of the Prime Minister's Flickr page.

"2011 has been a very colourful year for me and I must take this opportunity to thank all Malaysians for your show of support," he said.

Najib said all the ideas, complaints and comments sent by Malaysians via his his websites had been read and he would do his best to respond to them.

He also hoped that all Malaysians would continue to join him in making more positive progress next year in the spirit and practice of 1Malaysia.

"At the end of year, it always feels as though the year had gone by too quickly," he said.

Among the important events recorded throughout the year were his efforts to launch various programmes for the people such as the 1Malaysia Housing Programme or PR1MA to assist middle-income earners own affordable homes.

The issue of rising costs was also addressed with the launch of the Kedai Rakyat 1Malaysia or KR1M – beginning in Kelana Jaya and then spreading nationwide – followed by the Menu Rakyat 1Malaysia, where restaurants take part to offer breakfast and lunch at a fixed price of RM2 and RM4 respectively.

Realising the need to address the development of the younger generation of Malaysians, the 1Malaysia Youth Fund was launched to finance ideas and projects by the youth.

More programmes were announced in the 2012 Budget, which focused mainly on the lower-income earners, rural areas, youth and public services such as the Bantuan Rakyat 1Malaysia programme or BR1M, a financial assistance programme for Malaysians living in a household that earns less than RM3,000 per month.

In World Bank's 2011 ease of doing business report, Malaysia entered the top 20 position and it holds equal first rank in the world when it comes to the ease of business getting credit.

"The Economic Transformation Programme or ETP has therefore bore some fruits. In the ETP progress update in September, for the first half of the year, Malaysia had already received FDI investments of up to RM21.3 billion," he said.

By its first anniversary in October, the ETP had assisted Malaysia to achieve a GNI of RM228.55 billion and committed investment worth RM171.21 billion, with an estimated total of 372,361 potential jobs, Najib said.

This year had also seen the Prime Minister engaging the international market and strengthening Malaysia's networking to help boost its major transformation programmes.

"I made my first official visit to the UK this year at the invitation of British Prime Minister David Cameron where I had a chance to invite the country's captains of industry to explore investment opportunities in Malaysia," he said.

He was also given the honour to deliver a lecture on "Coalition of Moderates and Inter-Civilisational Understanding" at the historic Sheldonian Theatre, in Oxford, England.

"In May, I attended the Invest Malaysia New York 2011 in New York, USA. The event secured Malaysia between RM5 billion and RM6 billion new investments for the next two to three years," he said.

He also spoke about a Digital Malaysia Masterplan in development at the Global Science and Innovation Advisory Council (GSIAC) meeting at the New York Academy of Sciences which he chaired.

"I was also in Japan for the 17th International Nikkei Conference in Tokyo where I received confirmation that some RM3.8 billion worth of investments will be coming in from Japanese firms," he said.

This year also saw the Prime Minister attending several international conferences such as CHOGM in Perth, Australia, APEC Summit in Honolulu, Hawaii and the 19th Asean Summit in Bali, Indonesia.

In Hawaii, I was given the honour to give my insight on the Global Movement of the Moderates (GMM) at the prestigious East-West Center.

"At the end of year, it always feels as though the year had gone by too quickly. I'd like to think that it is because it was filled with many positive developments and achievements," he said in his blog.

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Program Bersama Rakyat Kampung Kinta Valley Batu Gajah - 28 Dis 2011


Pada jam 6ptg tadi telah diadakan Majlis Perjumpaan bersama Masyarakat India di Kampung Kinta Valley, Batu Gajah.


Majlis anjuran Pemuda MIC Perak dan Pemuda MIC Batu Gajah telah disempurnakan oleh YB Dato' Lee Chee Leong, Timbalan Menteri Dalam Negeri merangkap Ahli Parlimen Batu Gajah.


Lebih dari 100 orang telah hadir ke majlis ini. Dalam ucapannya tadi, YB Dato' Lee Chee Leong menyeru masyarakat India agar mengisi borang Bantuan BR1M sebelum 10 Januari 2012 untuk menikmati bantuan 'one-off' dari kerajaan seperti yang diumumkan oleh YAB Dato Seri Najib Tun Razak dalam Bajet 2012.


Bantuan ini sedikit sebanyak dapat membantu mereka untuk menangani kos sara hidup yang tinggi.

Bantuan Kebajikan Kepada Keluarga Puan Menaga di Pengkalan Aor, Taiping


Pagi tadi saya dan beberapa orang rakan telah pergi ke rumah Puan Menaga di Pengkalan Aor Taiping bagi menyerahkan surat kelulusan untuk bantuan kebajikan dari Jabatan Kebajikan Masyarakat Perak.

Pihak Jabatan Kebajikan Masyarakat telah meluluskan bantuan bulanan sebanyak RM300 bagi membantu Puan Menaga yang terpaksa menjaga 3 orang anaknya di mana 2 orang masih bersekolah.

Puan Menaga telah ditinggalkan suaminya begitu sahaja bersama sebuah lori tanpa apa-apa berita pada sekian lama. Penderitaan Puan Menaga telah mendapat perhatian Pemuda MIC Taiping yang terus membantu beliau membuat permohonan ke Jabatan Kebajikan Masyarakat sehingga berjaya.

Dengan sedikit bantuan ini diharap dapat meringankan beban keluarga Puan Menaga.

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

'My goal is to empower Indians' By Dato' G. Palanivel - NST

Datuk G. Palanivel is using his cabinet position to highlight problems faced by the Indian community

Datuk G. Palanivel took over the helm of MIC in December last year and wants to restore the confidence of the Indian community. He talks to Chandra Devi Renganayar about his plans.

Datuk G. Palanivel is using his cabinet position to highlight problems faced by the Indian community

Question: What are some of the pressing issues faced by the Indian community in the country?

Answer: The Indian community has suffered some marginalisation for some time. They have to be brought back to the mainstream. For that to happen, a holistic transformation programme has to take place.

The community has to be empowered through education and economic development. When they are economically empowered, the social problem will take care of itself.

We need to equip them, be their support system and guide them towards a purposeful future.
The objective is one of national renewal, a plan that is underlined by fairness and opportunity for all. We want to ensure that no Indian is left behind.

Question: MIC has been criticised for allegedly not doing enough to bring progress to the community. What changes can be expected under your leadership?

Answer: The changes are already taking shape. I have been appointed a minister and with that, I can bring up Indian issues to the cabinet.

The prime minister has approved many things since I made requests at the MIC general assembly in July. But I cannot be the only voice.MIC has to become the voice of the people.

The problems we face today come with a scale and magnitude which can only be overcome if we are united and believe that each one of us has a hand in reshaping the future.

Our vision is to deliver change to the community in four key areas -- human capital, economic capital, social capital and cultural capital -- to unlock short- and long-term growth for the community.

Recently, the prime minister announced my appointment as the lead minister in charge of the Indians' Economic Transformation programme. It is an important responsibility.

In this role, I need to ensure the upward mobility of the community towards achieving a high-income status in line with the core principles of the New Economic Model. This is an ambitious endeavour and is achievable only if supported by a cohesive Indian community and the government.

Question: Reports indicate crime rates are the highest among Indians and that it is reflective of the social and economic backwardness of the community. How is this being addressed?

Answer: I mentioned at the last MIC AGM in the presence of the PM that the Indian community has been a sub-stream community and had suffered a setback and some form of deprivation.

Deprivation leads to violence. Therefore, we must empower them with jobs, education and business opportunities.

We need to mend our broken community. In order to reduce the causes of crime and anti-social behaviour, we are instituting a reform programme to stop this tendency to go back to a life of crime. At the moment, many prisoners, especially young offenders, leave prison and relapse into a life of crime.

We believe that the only way we can address this is by rehabilitating ex-prisoners in a proper and structured programme. We would like to work with the police, Prisons and Welfare Departments.

Under the programme, every prisoner will be tracked and counselled and provided with income-generating opportunities to ensure they have a focus in life.

Question: MIC lost 16 out of the 19 parliamentary seats it held in 2008. Will MIC be able to win the seats if it is allowed to re-contest all the seats it lost in 2008? Is there better support from Indians now compared with 2008?

Answer: The 2008 election was a one-off incident. Across the board, people were angry for various reasons. Angry voters went to the polls. But I think they have realised that now and will not repeat that trend again.

The government is doing many things for the rakyat.Indians voters have realised that their future is with MIC and Barisan Nasional. It has been three years since the last elections and they can see for themselves the new thrust of the PM's leadership. MIC is the only party that can truly represent Indians in this country.

The political landscape of the country has changed. Since the 2008 general election, BN is undergoing a learning curve. Everybody is looking at the future seriously. The people are becoming discerning thinkers.

The 13the general election will be of the people. As for MIC, it will fare better.

Question: Which parliamentary seat will you contest in the 13th general election?

Answer: My primary aim now is to bring back Indian support to BN. I have not thought of a seat yet. But as the party president, I can choose to stand in any of the MIC parliamentary seats.

Question: The grapevine has it that you are overshadowed by your subordinates. Your comments?

Answer: Yes, you could be right. But it is an old story. After I lost in the last election by a mere 198 votes, many thought I was finished.

There were those who left me and changed loyalties. They didn't have the patience to wait for me to come back. I have bounced back. Old soldiers never die.

Fundamentally, if you are good, you are good. I have always had good work ethics, and politics, to me, is about service to the people. I have faced many challenges, sometimes in subtle ways.
My political sustenance is the faith many grassroots members have in me and their appreciation of my ability to work tirelessly. They know it and that's important to me.

I also try and change with the times. I give members the space to air their views, discuss issues openly, plan strategies with contributions from active grassroots leaders.

Question: What is MIC's relationship with the Malaysia Makkal Sakthi Party?

Answer: Our relationship with them is just like the relationship with all other parties that are not BN component parties but are BN friendly.

Question: There are claims that the 523 Tamil schools have received little help from the government. Many are in dilapidated and neglected condition. Can you clarify?

Answer: It is time to put behind us the old arguments that have besieged Tamil schools and to put in place a robust "plan-do-check-act" programme with distinct outcomes and milestones.
The government has channelled millions of ringgit to repair Tamil schools. But we need more funds to improve them further. That is the reason the PM has approved another RM100 million under the 2012 Budget.

We are looking at the schools and those which need urgent attention will be attended to first. We will request for more allocations after the amount has been exhausted.

This reinforces education as our number one priority. Education secures the ability of the community to become an equal partner in participating in the future development of the nation.

Question: You have shown support for the Teaching of Science and Mathematics in English Policy (PPSMI). Now that schools are able to choose the language of instruction for both the subjects, will you be calling on Tamil schools to use English instead of Tamil?

Answer: If the school has been teaching the subjects in English, they should continue teaching in English and if the schools have been teaching the subjects in Tamil, they should continue doing so. Our objective is not to confuse the pupils.

Question: Indians want more opportunities in terms of employment, education, business and project tenders. What can the community look forward to under the Economic Transformation Programme?

Answer: We have contributed significantly during the founding days of this nation and we now want to play an even greater role in building and shaping the future of this nation.
Innovation and reforms are the two key considerations in driving the change for Malaysians to be involved in the manufacturing and construction industries, service, plantation, agriculture, new technology and emerging innovative businesses.

We also want a "new deal" for SMEs and for first-generation entrepreneurs by assuring them greater access to credit through a new programme called SME-Links.


Question: What are MIC's action plans to bring progress to Indians?

Answer: We intend to build on a stronger community with growth based on fairness and opportunities for all.

I am targeting to create at least 50,000 new Indian entrepreneurs in the next 10 years. These entrepreneurs can provide employment, support Tamil schools and other institutions.

They will play an important role in mainstreaming the Indian community. Mainstreaming the Indian community is my aim.

We need to catch up with the other communities.

Menghadiri Mesyuarat Koperasi Perumahan & Pengangkutan Taiping Berhad


Pada petang tadi saya telah menghadiri mesyuarat Ahli Lembaga Pengarah Koperasi Perumahan dan Pengangkutan Taiping Berhad di mana saya adalah salah seorang ahli lembaga pengarah.

Mesyuarat ini yang bermula pada jam 8mlm telah diadakan di Pejabat Koperasi. Antara isu yang dibangkitkan ialah penubuhan Kedai Rakyat 1Malaysia di Taiping oleh koperasi ini. Mesyuarat juga telah memutuskan untuk mengenalpasti bangunan Koperasi untuk dibeli.


Dengan keputusan yang dibuat tadi, ahli lembaga pengarah berharap dapat membantu kerajaan dalam menagihkan produk kegunaan harian pada harga yang rendah untuk rakyat Taiping di samping menjadikannya salah satu aktiviti perniagaan koperasi.

'Konserto Terakhir' novel to replace 'Interlok' from 2012 - Malaysiakini


The novel ‘Konserto Terakhir’ by national laureate Abdullah Hussain will replace ‘Interlok’ as a textbook for the Malay literature component for Form Five students from next year.

Education director-general Abd Ghafar Mahmud in a statement today said the textbook replacement concerned students in Zone Two, covering Negri Sembilan, the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya, and Selangor.

He said ‘Konserto Terakhir’ had gone through the process of selection and screening set and was found to be suitable as a school literature textbook based on the values promoted and the quality of the work.


On Dec 14, the cabinet decided that the novel, ‘Interlok’, also written by Abdullah, would cease to be used as a Form Five textbook from 2012.

The decision was made following arising feelings of uneasiness among some sections of society about the novel and to prevent certain quarters from continuing to make it polemic.

‘Konserto Terakhir’ had been used before as a Form Five textbook in Zone Two from 2000 to 2010.

The novel revolves around the struggle and resilience of a village youth who migrated to the city to look for a job and in the end becomes a big star.

Membantu Mangsa Kemalangan Warga Emas - 27 Dis 2011


Hari ini saya telah menziarahi seorang mangsa kemalangan emas dan menghulurkan sedikit bantuan. Encik Subramaniam, 70 tahun berasal dari Kpg Ulu Tupai, Pokok Asam, Taiping.

Semoga dengan bantuan wang tunai serta makanan dapat meringankan beban Encik Subramaniam.

Monday, December 26, 2011

Earnings that are exempted from income tax - Malaysiakini

By Ravindran Duraisamy


Most taxpayers dread to reveal their true income or all sources of income, fearing they will have to pay hefty taxes.

However, they should not forget that there are relevant provisions under the Income Tax Act 1967 that allow tax exemptions on many types of income and earnings.

Let's see what are they. A summary below shows those most relevant to the man-in-the-street.

Compensation for job loss

Compensation for loss of employment is exempted from tax if ill health is the underlying reason.

The same goes for compensation paid for a covenant entered into by an employee restricting his/her right to take up a similar employment in the future.

Otherwise, the exemption is calculated at RM10,000 for every completed year of service with the same employer or with companies in the same group. The tax exemption of RM10,000 is applicable for payments made to an individual who ceased employment on or after 1 July 2008.

Government securities or bonds

Interest or discount paid or credited to any individual in respect to Bon Simpanan Malaysia issued by Bank Negara, or in respect to any saving certificates or security or bond issued or guaranteed by the government, is also exempted from income tax.

Interest accrued in respect to bonds issued under the Bon Simpanan Malaysia Siri Kedua (BSM 2) by Bank Simpanan Nasional is also exempt.

Interest or discount on debentures

Effective from Year of Assessment (Y/A) 2003, interest income earned by individuals from debentures other than convertible loan stock approved by the Securities Commission is exempted from tax.

Effective from Y/A 2006, the exemption is extended to discounts received, and effective from Y/A 2010 this has been extended to include interest or discounts from Islamic Securities.

Scholarships

A sum received by an individual in the nature of a scholarship or other similar grant or allowance, whether or not it is in connection with an employment of that individual, is exempted from income tax.

Retirement gratuities

Retirement gratuities paid due to ill health or after reaching the retiring age of 55 or any other compulsory retirement age from an employment that lasted 10 years with the same employer or with companies in the same group is also exempted from income tax.

Effective from Y/A 2007, full income tax exemption is given for retirement benefits if retirement takes place on reaching compulsory age of 50 and not 55, and the person has served not less than 10 years with the same employer.

The exemption is on condition that the compulsory retirement age is provided for in the employment contract or collective agreement between the employer and the employee.

Retirement gratuities or payment in lieu of leave paid to government servants upon retirement (golden handshake) or on termination of a contract of employment is fully exempt from income tax.

Pensions

Pensions derived by an individual who has reached the age of 55 or compulsory age of retirement or due to ill health is not subject to income tax.

However, it must be noted that if a person is paid more than one pension, only the highest pension paid will be exempted. The rest will be subjected to income tax.

Pension granted or paid under any written law or under an approved scheme for the benefit of widows, widowers and orphans of a deceased is also exempted from income tax.

Gratuities paid to elected reps

Gratuities or pensions paid to the Senate President or Deputy President, Speaker or Deputy Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat, Speaker of the State Legislative Assembly, Senators, Members of Parliament or Members of the State Assembly, provided that the person has attained the age of 55 or has ceased to hold office due to ill health, are exempt from tax as well.

This exemption applies to the highest drawn pension only in the case that the person draws more than one pension.

Other incomes

Other relevant incomes exempted fully or partially from income tax are those from the employment on board a Malaysian ship; income from translation works and composition of music; prize money received by professional sportsmen and sportswomen; income derived from employment in Labuan; income from offshore companies or trust funds; grants or subsidies received from the federal and state governments; income earned by drivers and riders from car and motorcycle racing events of international standards; interest from Merdeka Bonds; and those given to employees such as child care allowance up to RM 2,400 a year; meal allowance, transport allowance from home up to RM2,400 a year; travel allowance for official work up to RM6,000 a year; parking fees, gifts and payment of utility bills by the employer; and subsidies on car loans, housing loans and education loans.

In all, there are more than 70 types of income exempt from tax. Taxpayers can get further information from the Inland Revenue Department or from practising accountants and tax agents. A glance at relevant books on income tax will open one to interesting areas of tax-exempt income.

Note: RAVINDRAN DURAISAMY is a qualified tax agent and chartered accountant, and a member f the Malaysian Institute of Accountants (MIA), Chartered Tax Institute of Malaysia and the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants UK.

Mesyuarat Ahli Exco MIC Perak Yang Dipengerusikan Oleh YBhg Dato' S. Veerasingam pada 26 Dis 2011


Petang tadi jam 7ptg 26 Disember 2011 telah diadakan satu mesyuarat ahli-ahli Exco MIC Perak yang dipengerusikan oleh YBhg Dato' S. Veerasingam, Pengerusi MIC Perak.


Mesyuarat telah dihadiri semua ahli exco dan Ketua Pemuda MIC Perak, Sdra M. Veeran. Ianya telah diadakan di Ipoh City and Country Club di Jalan Raja Perempuan Bainun (Jln Kampar), Perak.


Di antara perkara utama dalam agenda perjumpaan hari ini ialah Program 1Azam dan Program Hari Pertama Balik Ke Sekolah 2012.


Pengerusi meminta semua ahli exco supaya memberi penekanan terhadap dua perkara penting ini serta menjalankan program ini bagi membantu masyarakat terutamanya di kalangan masyarakat India di Perak.

Gambar kenangan para hadirin mesyuarat

Laporan Bergambar Program Bersama YBhg Dato' Ahmad Shalimin Ahmad Shafie 26 Dis 2011

Pagi tadi 26 Disember 2011 telah berlangsungnya Lawatan ke beberapa tempat dan Majlis Perasmian di Taiping, Perak yang melibatkan YBhg Dato' Ahmad Shalimin Ahmad Shafie, Setiausaha Politik MB dan ketua UMNO Bahagian Taiping.

Berikut adalah laporan bergambar program-program tersebut:

1. Karnival Maal Hijrah 1433H anjuran Perpustakaan Desa Kpg Expo:

Karnival dan Kenduri bersama rakyat ini bermula jam 9.00pg. Turut hadir, YB Dato' Mohammad Zahir Bin Dato Abdul Khalid, ADUN Kamunting dan Exco Pelajaran, Pengajian Tinggi,ICT, Sains dan Teknologi Perak DR.

YB Dato Zahir (2 dari kiri) dan YBhg Dato' Ahmad Shalimin (3 dari kiri)

Ucapan perasmian oleh YBhg Dato' Ahmad Shalimini, Setiausaha Politik MB Perak

Turut berucap YB Dato' Mohammad Zahir, ADUN Kamunting, Perak

Lebih dari 150 orang telah hadir dalma karninal ini yang juga merupakan majlis kenduri bersama rakyat.

Turut hadir, Sdra M. Veeran, Ketua Pemuda MIC Perak (3 dari kanan)

Antara penduduk Taiping yang hadir dalam karnival tersebut


2. Merasmikan Mesyuarat Koperasi KWSB di Taiping, Perak:

YBhg Dato' Ahmad Shalimin telah hadir untuk merasmikan mesyuarat Koperasi KWSB pada jam 10pg.




3. Lawatan Ke SRJK (T) St. Convent, Tupai, Taiping, Perak:

Ketua Pemuda MIC Perak, Sdra M. Veeran telah mengiringi YBhg Dato' Ahmad Shalimin, Setiausaha Politik MB Perak untuk melawat SRJK(T) St. Convent, Tupai, Taiping, Perak bagi melihat dengan lebih dekat apa-apa bantuan yang dapat disediakan. Ianya juga sempena Hari Natal.

Dato' Ahmad Shalimin (2 dari kiri) sedang berbual dengan Sdra M. Veeran (3 dari kiri)

Perak State MIC Exco meeting 26 Dec 2011

There will be a Perak State MIC Exco meeting at 6pm today 26 Dec 2011 as follows:

Date: 26 Dec 2011
Place: Ipoh City and Country Club
Time: 6pm

Main items:

1. Briefing on 1Azam programme by Mrs Mohana
2. Briefing on First day of Tamil school programme by Jayagopi

Program 26 Dis 2011 bersama Dato' Shalimin


Hari ini saya akan bersama Dato' Ahmad Shalimin Ahmad Shafie, Setiausaha Politik MB dan ketua UMNO Bahagian Taiping dalam siri lawatan ke beberapa tempat dan Majlis Perasmian di Taiping, Perak.

Berikut adalah aturcaranya:

9.30pg - Majlis Perasmian Mesyuarat Agong Koperasi KWSB di Dewan Fatul Arif

11.00pg - Majlis Perasmian Karnival dan Kenduri Rakyat di Kampong Expo

2.00ptg - Mesyuarat Bilik Gerakan di Pejabat UMNO Taiping

3.00ptg - Perjumpaan Unit Khas di Hotel SSL Taiping (Bersama En. Hasnul)

5.00ptg - Lawatan ke SRJK (T) St. Convent, Taiping


Mengenai Dato' Ahmad Shalimin seperti dalam Laporan The Star Pada 11 Julai 2011


Ahmad Shalimin is MB’s pol-sec (The Star, 11 July 2011):

DATUK Ahmad Shalimin Ahmad Shaffie was sworn in as the new political secretary to Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir at his office in a symbolic ceremony recently.

Ahmad Shalimin replaced Datuk Ismail Saffian, who is now Chief of Staff.

Ahmad Shalimin, 41, is Taiping Umno division chief. He is also one of the state Umno liaison committee members and economic secretariat chairman.

He was also involved in CWG Bumiputera Inc - a committee under the Malaysian Industrial Master Plan III, a member of the board of directors for Logistik Malaysia and a member of the Chartered Institute of Logistic and Transport in Malaysia.

Ahmad Shalimin received his early education at King Edward VII and SM Sains Raja Tun Azlan Shah in Taiping before pursuing his higher education in Public Administration in UiTM.

He obtained a Masters in Logistic Management from the European American University in Britain.

Sunday, December 25, 2011

After Penang's GodFather's Spat ... Next will be Perak


In Penang we see how Prof. Ramasamy has been sidelined. Karpal looks like safeguarding his two sons future in DAP. Same goes for Lim Sdn. Bhd and now in Perak Nga-Ngeh Sdn. Bhd.

Sorry, Kula, Siva (Tronoh), Siva (Buntong)and Sivanesan ... you will have to play second fiddle again to Nga-Ngeh Sdn. Bhd. May be along with Kula, Thomas Su, Wong Kah Woh, and those not aligned and seemed to be thread to Nga-Ngeh Sdn. Bhd. will be sidelined. A week before GE12, YB Fong Po Kuan has threatened to quit because of the power unleashed by Nga-Ngeh Sdn. Bhd. Come GE13 Fong will no longer a candidate.

The truth is everyone in DAP is busy safeguarding their future in the coming GE13. So busy that they have no time for the rakyats. Nga-Ngeh Sdn. Bhd has strengthened their power by forming new branches aligned to them.

There is also talk that DAP will be fielding Malay candidates in Perak this time to secure the MB's position. Malay DAP party leader such as Asri have long ago been sidelined by the Lims.

Thus YB Kula has no choice but to take YB Nga to task over the alleged Tailoring tender awarded to a company related to Nga's wife. Whether it is a big amount or small amount, it is a matter of principles. As elected rep and Exco you should not misused your power. We shall wait and see if MACC wil investigate this matter.

Laporan Bergambar Majlis Penutupan Seminar Kepimpinan dan Professionalisme Graduan-Graduan India Perak 25 Dis 2011

Ucapan Perasmian Penutup oleh YB Dato' SK Devamany

Saya bersama YBhg Tn Hj Azwan Bin Dato' Harun telah menghadiri Majlis Penutupan Seminar Kepimpinan dan Professionalisme Graduan-Graduan India Perak 25 Dis 2011 yang telah dirasmikan oleh YB Dato' SK Devamany, Timbalan Menteri dalam Jabatan Perdana Menteri.

Banner Majlis Seminar Kepimpinan dan Professionalisme

Majlis ini telah diadakan di Hotel Virgo Batik Resort, Teluk Batik Lumut berjalan dengan amat baik. Berikut disertakan gambar majlis tersebut.

Kehadiran YBhg Tn Hj Azwan Dato' Harun

Kehadiran YB Dato' SK Devamany

Seramai 80 orang peserta telah menyertai seminar ini yang bertujuan untuk mendidik para graduan India dari Negeri Perak mengenai perkembangan politik terkini yang sedang melanda di negara kita.

Sedang mendengar ucapan YB Dato' SK Devamany bersama para peserta seminar

Dalam ucapan beliau, YB Dato' SK Devamany menegaskan bahawa kerajaan BN telah banyak membantu masyarakat India di Malaysia. Beliau menasihatkan mereka supaya jangan sekali-kali terpedaya dengan khabar angin atau sebarang fitnah yang disebarkan dalam Internet and Blog pembangkang.

Sebahagian dari 80 orang peserta seminar

YB Dato' SK Devamany juga mengingatkan para peserta bahawa hanya BN yang boleh menjamin masa depan mereka dengan memberikan mereka kerajaan dan kepimpinan yang stabil. Beliau mengingatkan peserta supaya beringat sebelum mengundi dalam pilihanraya akan datang. Pakatan Rakyat tidak mempunyai sebarang hala tuju dan tidak dapat memutuskan siapa yang bakal memimpin negara kerana mereka tidak sehaluan pendapat.

Sarapan pagi bersama Tn. Hj Azwan

Keberangkatan pulang YB Dato' SK Devamany selepas ucapan perasmian