Exciting days ahead

POLITICS

· Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi will hand over power to his deputy Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak in March. The transition will take place during the Umno annual assembly, which was postponed from last year.

· Polling for the Kuala Terengganu by-election will be held on Jan 17. Nomination of candidates will take place on Jan 6.

· MIC party elections will start in April, ending with the party’s annual assembly in June.

THE ECONOMY

· In light of the global economic turmoil, Malaysia’s economic growth is projected to be lower at 3.5% this year, compared with 5% in 2008.

TRANSPORTATION

· Wearing of rear seat belts becomes mandatory from today. The rule is applicable to all passenger vehicles that seat nine people or fewer. Offenders will be fined RM300 until June 30 after which the penalty will increase to RM2,000 fine or one year’s jail or both from July 1.

· Motorists using the North-South Expressway (NSE), Federal Highway, New Klang Valley Expressway, Seremban-Port Dickson Highway and the North-South Expressway Central Link (Elite) will get a 10% discount if they travel between midnight and 7am from today until Dec 31, 2010.

NEW BODIES

· The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) modelled after the Independent Commission Against Corruption in Hong Kong will be set up in January.

PARLIAMENT

· The Witness Protection Bill and Judges Ethics Committee Bill will be tabled when Parliament sits again in February.

UTILITIES

· Water rates in Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Selangor will go up from April 1 if water supply is not taken over by the Federal Government.

COURT CASES

· On Feb 5 the High Court will hear the prosecution’s application whether Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s sodomy trial can be heard by the Sessions Court.

· Raja Petra Kamaruddin’s sedition trial continues on Feb 10.

PUBLIC SECTOR

· The Government is expected to spend RM9bil in retirement and pension benefits for nearly 600,000 retired government employees and pensioners.

EMPLOYEES PROVIDENT FUND

· From this month, some 5.5 million EPF contributors can opt to reduce their monthly contributions from 11% to 8%. The move is to allow workers to have more disposable income.

SPORTS

· The World Badminton championships will be held in India on Aug 10-16 and the All-England championships on March 3-8.

· The Le Tour de Langkawi will take place on Feb 9-15.

· Hockey Asia Cup in Dubai on May 8-15.

· Junior Hockey World Cup to be jointly hosted by Malaysia and Singapore on June 7-21

· Football Confederations Cup (South Africa) on June 14-28

· Squash World Championships for Women (Amsterdam) on Aug 3-8 and for Men (Kuwait) on Nov 27-Dec 5

· Taekwondo World Championships to be held in Denmark on Oct 14-18

· SEA Games will be held in Laos on Nov 13-21.