Lynas will not operate if it harms people, environment: PM - The Star

PETALING JAYA: The Government will not allow the Lynas rare earth project in Gebeng, Pahang, to operate if it harms the health of the people and environment, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

He said a dialogue with those against Lynas was needed so that scientific and technical evidence against the project could be discussed.

Najib answering queries from listeners during the interview

"I don't want this to be emotional or political. It is unfortunate that an environmental issue had become political," he said in an interview with 988FM radio station Thursday with DJs Tan Yi Hui and Sam Mak.

Najib added that the parliamentary select committee that would carry out a study on Lynas would help the government in making its decision on the project.

Najib said he has a clear vision and knowledge of what needs to be accomplished for the nation.

"But to have that happen, we need to win the next general election," he said.

Asked if he has "true friends" in politics, Najib said he had friends who were still with him as they were prepared to set aside political agendas and ambitions for the greater good.

However, he said, many people had vested interests and political ambitions.

"Say a wakil rakyat is not wanted, I have to listen to the people. But as far as the person is concerned, I will get the blame for making the call," he told listeners.

He explained that if a politician was dropped, it was because the people had lost confidence in him or her.

"He or she should not blame the leader," he said

On the general election, Najib said:

"Shall we take bets? Not for money of course (laughter). Anything is possible as the election is based on a lot of factors.

"We're still gauging the situation. When there's a strong feel-good factor, that's when we should push the button."

Najib also denied claims that banks had been reluctant to hand out 100% financing for property worth up to RM400,000 to those earning less than RM3000 a month under the My First Home loan scheme.

"According to Bank Negara Malaysia, the success rate is 36.6%," he said in response to a question from a listener.

"Hundreds of applications are still under consideration by various local banks,” he said.

Wee: 370 Tamil schools received RM270mil for development - The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: A total of RM270mil have been allocated to 370 Tamil schools which are government-aided schools, said Deputy Education Minister Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong.

Of the figure, RM100mil was a supplementary allocation announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak when tabling the 2012 Budget, and would be disbursed beginning next month.

He said that since Najib became Prime Minister, and led Education Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, four major allocations had been channelled to the schools.

"Based on average calculation, each school receives RM729,000 for development only," he told Dr Siti Mariah Mahmud (PAS-Kota Raja) in Parliament.

On the conversion of the status of 370 of such schools to national schools, Wee said it depended on the choice of the schools concerned and the ministry could not exert any pressure. BERNAMA

MIC: Malaysia should support call for probe on Sri Lanka war crimes - The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia should support the resolution submitted at the United Nation for action to be taken against Sri Lanka for its war crimes, said MIC president Datuk Seri G. Palanivel.

He said the MIC supported the move by the United States, Europe and the other countries while India, too, should support the resolution which calls for an investigation into the wartime conduct of Sri Lanka.

On Tuesday, an MIC Youth delegation led by its leader T. Mohan submitted a memorandum in support of the party's stand to Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk A Kohilan Pillay in Putrajaya.

He said Indians in Malaysia wanted a probe into alleged war crimes in Sri Lanka during the civil war between government forces and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Ellam (LTTE), which ended in 2009.

"Malaysia has always supported resolutions against human rights abuses and it is very sad to see pictures of the LTTE leader Prabhakaran's 12-year-old son who was brutally shot dead," Mohan said.

MIC central working committee member S. Vell Paari said there was cause for Malaysia to support the resolution as many Malaysians have direct blood relations with Sri Lankan Tamils.

"In supporting the resolution, Malaysia will send the message that it does not condone human rights abuses," he said.

Meanwhile, an Indian non-governmental-organisation, Group of Concern Citizens took a full-page advertisement in Tamil newspapers Wednesday, calling on UN secretary-general Ban Ki Moonw, who is arriving here later in the day, to act against Sri Lanka.

"We have faith in you”, the group said in their advertisement in Tamil Nesan and Malaysia Nanban.

The UN Human Rights Council is due to vote later this week on a US motion calling for a probe into alleged war crimes in Sri Lanka.

Both government forces and LTTE have been accused of abuses.

The Sri Lankan government commissioned its own investigation into the war last year and the UN draft resolution calls on the government to implement its recommendations.

Human rights groups estimate that up to 40,000 civilians were killed in the final months of the war. The Sri Lanka government recently released its own estimate, concluding that about 9,000 people perished during that period.

PM receives warm welcome in Perak - The Star

By SYLVIA LOOI & CHERYL HEW
metroperak@thestar.com.my

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s visit to Perak is always an event Perakians look forward to.

Since January, Najib had visited Perak five times, each time coming out with allocations to make life better for the people.

Besides speeding up approvals for projects for the people’s benefit, Najib also provided financial relief to those in need.

VIP presence: Najib is received by various orang asli communities at Kampung Kuala Woh.

On Saturday, he made another tour of the state, which saw him crisscrossing from its northern part in Beruas to Tapah in the south, before ending in Ipoh.

At each stop, Najib received warm welcome from locals where thousands turned up to get closer to the Prime Minister.

In his stop-over in Beruas, Najib approved an allocation of RM2mil each for the Changkat Cermin mosque, SJK (C) Tit Bin and a hall for the Indian community.

Kind gesture: Najib presenting a mock cheque to SJKC Wan Hwa 2 representative Hwang Jit Yuen (third from right) as Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir (second from right), Perak exco Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon (right), Datuk Chang Ko Youn (left) and the school’s committee members look on.
He also presented wheelchairs and food items to 12 poor and disabled people in the area.

During his meet-the-people session for the orang asli community at Kampung Kuala Woh in Tapah, he was welcomed by the biggest gathering of orang asli.

An estimated 10,000 orang asli from the country converged on the field in the village to listen to his speech.

A gift: Najib handing over the grass cutting machine to the orang asli community at the meet-the-session affair with the orang asli at Kampung Kuala Woh.

During the event, he announced RM30mil additional allocation for the community, to be disbursed through the Rural and Regional Development Ministry.

“You want a bridge, road or house, we will do it for you,” said Najib to the loud applause from the floor.

During his visit to SJK (C) Wan Hwa 2 in the afternoon, the Prime Minister opened the school’s four-storey block.

Young and eager: SJK (C) Wan Hwa 2 students waving the Jalur Gemilang welcoming the Prime Minister during the opening ceremony of the school.

He also allocated RM300,000 to construct a carpark for the school.

In his visit to Kampung Kacang Putih, Buntong later, a sea of people greeted the Prime Minister.

Due to the huge crowd, Najib needed some time to wade through them before being able to reach the main stage, which was located a mere 500m from where he had alighted from the car.

Following tradition: An orang asli performing a traditional seweng dance at Kampung Kuala Woh.

In his speech, Najib said the huge turnout had given him the much needed encouragement.

“With such strong support, Barisan Nasional will win in the coming general election, which is expected anytime soon,” he said.

He announced RM5mil for the construction of infrastructure for a housing project to relocate squatters in Buntong and increased the Indian community’s education fund from the present RM1mil to RM2mil.

Najib’s visit to Perak ended with a dinner with the Associations of Chinese Religions where an estimated 15,000 people attended the event at SMK Yuk Choy.

PM: Full scholarships for top 100 Indian students - Malaysian Insider

By Yow Hong Chieh March 18, 2012

Datuk Seri Najib wave to members of the press after attending the 30th anniversary of the Seri Murugan centre. - Picture by Choo Choy May

PETALING JAYA, March 18 — The government today promised full scholarships to the top 100 students from the Indian community who graduate with first-class honours from public universities.
He said the offer would help the students pursue their post-graduate studies in local universities, should they decide to do so.

“In 2011, I announced at the launch of the 1 Malaysia Indian Students Movement that more opportunities for funding would be given to first-class honours Indian undergraduates at public universities to pursue their Masters and PhDs at IPTAs.

“Today... I would like to announce that the government will ensure that the top 100 Indian students who achieve a first-class degree will be given a full fees scholarship,” Datuk Seri Najib Razak said at SMJ(T) Vivekananda here.

He added that the federal scholarships will be disbursed in time for the 2012 intake.

PM to Indians: Walk with me, I've kept my promises - Malaysiakini

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak today called on the Indian community to walk with him as his administration has proven that it can deliver.

Touting the government's record of spending about RM440 million since 2009 to upgrade Tamil schools, Najib said the government has met its pledge to ensure quality education for the community.

"The government has promised this in 2009 and now, nearly three years later, I would like to categorically state that we have fulfilled our promise.

"The proof is in nearly 400 Tamil schools around the country where we have seen real improvement on the ground," at the 30th anniversary celebration of the education NGO Sri Murugan Centre in Petaling Jaya.

Najib adds that this move has also seen a 47 percent rise in straight-A students in Tamil schools last year.

"If I have fulfilled the promise, if the government has fulfilled the promise, imagine what we can do with five more years for the indian community," he told the more than 3,000 people at the event.

Brandishing his administration’s performance further, Najib said the venue where they stood, SJK(T) Vivekananda had also benefited from the funds - RM3.3 million of which was used to construct its new blocks.

'Don't let me walk alone'

The premier adds that this is not an election ploy as the government has spent the last three years delivering and will continue to do so.

"I make this commitment (but) as your prime minister I cannot do this alone, I cannot walk this journey alone, I must walk with all of you to make this journey and to achieve what we set out do...," he said.

Najib also announced an addition to the existing six Tamil schools which will be built under the budget 2012, the new SJK(T) Tan Sri Manickavasagam will be established in Taman PJS1.

The country's top 100 first class honours Indian students in public universities, he said, will also be awarded full scholarship to further their studies at public universities.

The increasing trust of the Indian community towards, Najib adds, is a direct result of the government's sincere efforts to help them.

"We will build on this new beginning and we will ride into the following chapters with an increasingly strong relationship with hope and trust in better times to come," he said.

Najib has been working hard in recent years to shore up support from the Indian community which mostly voted against BN during the 2008 general election.

Of late, he has urged the community to place their trust, often by using the Tamil term "nambikei", in him during his high profile visits to Hindu functions.

Lawatan YAB PM ke Perak: Majlis Mesra Rakyat Buntong

Dalam siri lawatan YAB PM Dato Seri Najib Tun Razak ke Perak hari ini, beliau telah juga turun padang bersama rakyat Buntong. Turut hadir YAB MB Perak Dato Seri Zambry Abdul Kadir serta Presiden MIC, YB Senator Dato Seri G. Palanivel.

Semasa ucapannya kepada masyarakat tempatan di Buntong tengahari tadi, YAB PM telah mengumumkan peruntukan sebanyak RM5 juta untuk menambahbaik infrastruktur di Buntong. Beliau juga turut memperuntukkan sebanyak RM1 juta untuk membantu pelajar kaum India di seluruh Perak.

Lebih dari 5,000 orang penduduk tempatan serta pemimpin MIC telah hadir sama.

Pemuda MIC Perak mengucapkan jutaan terima kasih kepada YAB PM Malaysia yang prihatin dengan masyarakat India Malaysia sejajar dengan prinsip 1Malaysia, Rakyat didahulukan dan Pencapaian diutamakan.

Lawatan YAB PM ke Perak: Najib pledges RM36m in Perak vote offensive - The Malaysian Insider

By Yow Hong Chieh March 17, 2012

Najib (centre) has taken personal charge of BN’s efforts to win back voters in Perak and Selangor

KUALA LUMPUR, March 17 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak pulled out all the stops on his one-day tour of Perak today, doling out funds and trumpeting Barisan Nasional’s (BN) past successes in a bid to sway voters in the key northern state.
He reminded the people that the ruling coalition, under pressure to secure its customary two-thirds parliamentary seat majority, had always been able to ensure the nation’s prosperity.

This was proven, he said, by Putrajaya’s ability to pay for assistance programmes as a result of BN’s efficient and effective administration.

“The opposition’s stories cannot be relied upon as they don’t have the capacity to administer the country efficiently. Even now they seem to be in chaos. So, don’t listen to them if they come,” Bernama Online quoted him as saying in Beruas this morning.

Najib also stressed that the government had succeeded in reducing public debt and raising national income, even after giving such handouts to the people.

“This means that we are able to administer the country well, manage the national economy efficiently. We ensure that the national economy can continue to expand, national revenue increases.

“And when we achieve such success, we return the national wealth to the people,” he said, before allocating RM2 million each to Masjid Changkat Cermin, SJK(C) Tit Bin and a hall for the Indian community.

Najib, who is also BN chairman, took the opportunity to deny that giving financial aid to those in need was “irresponsible”, as charged by the opposition.

He said that the government was merely returning to the people revenue earned by the country, in line with his “People First, Performance Now” concept.

This was different from Pakatan Rakyat (PR), which only doled out aid before an election to gain votes without managing the economy properly or thinking of the nation’s future, he said.

Later, in Tapah, the prime minister also announced that an extra RM30 million would be allocated to the Orang Asli community this year via the Rural and Regional Development Ministry.

“Because the Orang Asli community has been loyal to my government, I will not hesitate to approve this allocation,” he said in Kampung Kuala Woh.

Najib has embarked on a lightning tour of Perak and Selangor this weekend, with stops in opposition-held federal seats as speculation mounts that he will call snap polls by June.

The prime minister is on a whistle-stop tour of Beruas, Menglembu, Ipoh Barat and Tapah in Perak today, which will be followed by visits to Petaling Jaya, Shah Alam and Puchong in Selangor tomorrow.

All the areas, excluding Tapah where MIC vice president Datuk M. Saravanan is MP, are now held by the opposition.

The tour is seen by political watchers to be an attempt by the ruling coalition to win crucial votes in Selangor and Perak which analysts believe still hangs in the balance.

BN took over Perak in 2009 — a year after it lost the frontline state to PR in the last general election — after three opposition MPs defected.

Najib will lead BN into polls for the first time in the next general election, with observers saying he must improve on the coalition’s dismal 2008 outing and return its customary two-thirds majority in Parliament to remain in power.

Najib, the son of Malaysia’s second prime minister, Tun Abdul Razak, replaced Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in April 2009, a year after BN suffered its worst electoral outcome ever, ceding 82 federal seats and four state governments.

Lawatan YAB PM ke Perak: Don't forsake the future by backing Pakatan, urges PM - Malaysiakini

Najib Razak reminded the people not to forsake their future by listening to the claims, allegations and promises made by the opposition because the BN government had proven
all this while that it could ensure the prosperity of the people and country.

The prime minister said the BN had carried out many projects to bring prosperity to the people including channelling various assistance because it had the capability to administer the country efficiently and effectively.

"The opposition's stories cannot be relied upon because they don't have the capacity to administer the country efficiently. Even now they seem to be in chaos. So, don't listen to them (opposition) if they come," he said in his speech at the programme ‘Sepagi Bersama Perdana Menteri’ (One Morning with the Prime Minister) at the Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Changkat Beruas field, Beraus, Perak today.

Najib said the government had also succeeded to reduce national debt and raise national income, despite the many assistance given to the people.

"This means that we are able to administer the country well, manage the national economy efficiently. (We) ensure that the national economy can continue to expand, national revenue increases, (and) when we achieve such success, we return the national wealth to the people," said the prime minister who was making a one-day visit to Perak today.

BN returning wealth to the people

Referring to the various assistance given by the BN government to the people, he said the government was merely returning to the people the country's revenue.

"Does this make us an irresponsible government? Certainly if we return the national wealth to the people, it means that the government is giving priority to the people. As I have promised all this while, (where) for the past three years we practiced the concept (1Malaysia, People First, Performance Now)," he said.

Najib said as such, if the opposition accused that the BN government was irresponsible, the accusation was incorrect.

An irresponsible government was one that used up the country's funds, and at the same time, (it) increased national debt merely to gain the support of the people, he said.

"As the general election approached near, only then do they give aid merely to gain votes without managing the national economy properly. That is an irresponsible government which does not think of the future of the country," he said.

He said such a government only wished to win the support of the people and wanted to be popular in any way possible which was different from the approach taken by the government under the BN.

At the function, Najib also announced an allocation of RM2 million each for the Changkat Cermin Mosque, Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan (Cina) Tit Bin in Pantai Remis and a hall for the Indian community in the Beruas parliamentary constituency.

The prime minister also presented a special contribution in the form of a wheelchair and food items to 12 disabled and poor people.

Pemuda MIC Perak mengalu-alukan kedatangan YAB PM Malaysia Dato Seri Najib Razak ke Buntong, Perak

Pemuda MIC Perak mengalu-alukan kedatangan YAB Dato Seri Najib Razak ke Buntong, Perak pada 17 Mac 2012. Lawatan YAB PM Malaysia ke Perak khasnya ke Buntong adalah merupakan satu penghargaan terutamanya kepada masyarakat India yang kebanyakannya menetap di sini sejak zaman merdeka lagi.

Orang ramai dijemputa hadir bagi menyambut kedatangan YAB PM Malaysia serta meriahkan lagi majlis ini.

Indian voter support also significant in next polls - The Star

Sunday March 11, 2012

KUALA LUMPUR:

Support from Indian voters will again be key in the country's next general election (GE) as it was in the 2008 polls, say political analysts.

Malaysians of Indian origin now account for 1.9mil out of the country's 28mil population or 7.3 percent. But they feature significantly in 63 out of 67 parliamentary seats in Peninsula Malaysia.

A noticeable trend swept through the 2008 polls when almost 85 per cent of the Indian votes went to Pakatan Rakyat (PR), the opposition pact comprising PKR-DAP-PAS.

PR largely benefited from the shift in support from 72.4 percent for Barisan Nasional in 2004 to just 8.3 percent in 2008 as a result of issues played up by the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf).

But a discernable trend has emerged this time around: support from Indians for Barisan has improved, thanks to a number of pro-active actions spearheaded by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak on fundamental issues like Tamil schools, Hindu temples and education.

This also explains why Najib's approval rating along ethnic lines is the highest at 80 percent among Indians, according to a recent survey by the Merdeka Centre.

Dr Sivamurugan Pandian, a political analyst at Universiti Sains Malaysia, says that results of various by-elections in Bukit Selambau, Bukit Gantang, Bagan Pinang and Hulu Selangor since 2008 clearly showed that Indian support for Barisan had improved.

He attributes this to Najib's readiness to engage on key concerns affecting the Indian community and that this support pattern would last through the next GE, especially with Indian-based NGOs playing an important role in monitoring the achievements of PR-controlled states.

The academic claims that PR had failed to meet the expectations of Indian NGOs or to work closely with Hindraf, an unregistered but vocal NGO, which had been dominant in the vote swing towards the Opposition in 2008.

After 2008, Hindraf split into five groups. One is with DAP, two others are the newly-formed Makkal Sakti Party and the unregistered Human Rights Party of Malaysia(HRPM) and the rest NGOs.

Of the five, the most influential is HRPM, and if it decides to take part in the upcoming GE, it may be able to split support between Barisan and PR.

Dr Sivamurugan says Barisan needs to capitalise on Najib's strong standing among Indians in that "one vote for BN also means a vote for Najib".

To do that, Barisan will have to look for suitable candidates who can convince voters on that equation, he adds.

MIC Youth chief T. Mohan, who also notes the positive winds of change, estimates that the MIC now has 60 to 65 percent support among Indians.

This has been largely due to various factors like changes in the party leadership, more funding for Tamil schools, and more places for Indian matriculation students, he says, adding that Najib's 1Malaysia outreach programme had clipped much of their resentment of the past.

Although some issues remained unresolved, Mohan believes that MIC could get close to what it got in 2004, with support expected to reach 70 to 75 percent with suitable candidates and provided that "no one makes unnecessary remarks that could hurt the feelings of the community."

DAP vice-chairman and Member of Parliament for Ipoh Barat, M. Kulasegaran, however, dismissed Barisan claim of growing support among Indians, saying that it was unsubstantiated.

"PR has invited MIC for a debate on Indian issues like the one between (DAP secretary-general) Lim Guan Eng and (MCA President) Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek. Their (MIC) reluctance shows that they don't have support. They will be lucky if they win or retain the three parliamentary seats they have now," he said.

Kulasegaran asserted that many basic issues like high unemployment, deplorable conditions in Tamil schools, lack of study loans or scholarships and low Indian participation in the equity market had not been fully addressed.

"I believe the Indians still prefer PR for its openness and willingness to speak up for them and attend to their needs. PR was able to appoint an Indian as the first DCM (deputy chief minister) in Penang and a Speaker to the Perak state legislative assembly," he said.

But now, political analysts feel that there is perception among some Indian NGOs like Hindraf that PR is "focusing primarily" on Malay and Chinese voters" or handling Indian issues on a piecemeal basis and hence the fear that their "representation" through PR could be lost.

This explains why some are saying that support among the Indians is split down the middle, with both Barisan and PR saying that they have their support.

PR could be the biggest loser this time around if it fails to garner Indian support as it got the lion's share then.

If 30 percent of registered Indian voters decide not to vote, it also means that both sides have to compete for the remaining 70 percent, which is largely split into three unique "segments" the lower, middle and upper classes.

Hindraf still has some influence left. If it stays away from the GE, it could cause PR to lose its grip on Selangor and Kedah.

Getting Hindraf on board could mean that PR has to accept demands from HRPM, Hindraf's unregistered political wing, of five to seven parliamentary seats.

Datuk Dr Denison Jayasooria, Principal Research Fellow, Institute of Ethnic Studies, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, believes that Hindraf does not have mass appeal anymore because of in-fighting.

He also thinks that the lower classes seem to be largely with Barisan while the middle and upper classes are with the opposition.

Saying that MIC's chances would be better than 2008 but not 2004, this can only happen if it fields open-minded candidates who appeal to other communities as well since the resolution of the MAIKA share issue and MIC leadership change had made it difficult for PR to exploit. - Bernama

MIC Chief: Indian community support to tip balance - The Star

March 5, 2012

GEORGE TOWN: MIC president Datuk Seri G. Palanivel is confident of the growing support of the Indian community in Penang for the Barisan Nasional, which would tip the balance in favour of the coalition in the coming general election.

"We want the Indians to come back to the BN fold. Even if we win one seat, we can help strengthen the BN's position in Penang.

"MIC has been working hard day and night in Penang to regain the support of the people for the BN," he told reporters after presenting awards to outstanding pupils in the Ujian Pencapaian Sekolah Rendah 2011 here Monday.

Palanivel, who is also minister in the Prime Minister's Department, said what was important for the MIC was to wrest two seats in Penang and help the BN win other seats.

On the MIC candidates in the next general election, he said they would be announced after Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak dissolved Parliament.

"Wherever I go, they ask 'who are the MIC candidates?' How can I answer you now. It's not the right time to announce the candidates, but it is the right time to work hard to garner the support of the Indian community.

"We will introduce the candidates after Parliament is dissolved and the names are endorsed by the BN," said Palanivel. - Bernama