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Saturday, February 28, 2009
9155三甲顯身手
9155在大馬彩締造8項可取戰績，開彩首及三獎各1次，特別獎及安慰獎各3次，牛年走一場微不足道的安慰獎秀，在回鍋正字旋風狂吹下，它已露出在三甲顯身手的一線曙光，可以在3月擇日追買。
9155於1990年7月14日開彩安慰獎，1994年3月13日開彩特別獎，1998年7月 4日開彩特別獎，1999年8月4日步步高升勇奪首獎，2001年5月2日開彩安慰獎，2006年1月28日開彩三獎，2008年9月20日開彩特別獎， 今年2月10日開彩安慰獎。
過去在三甲龍虎榜吐氣揚眉的兄弟字分別是1559、1595、1955、5159、5519、5591、9515。
1595、1955一哥1595及1955是這組12打字的一哥，前者締造13項不凡戰績，後者也是，1595夾心字在首及三獎各亮相1次，開彩2次二獎，6次特別獎及3次安慰獎。
1955也是締造13項不凡戰績，開彩首、二及三獎各1次，6次特別獎及4次安慰獎。
1595於1994年2月23日開彩三獎，1996年12月22日開彩二獎，1998年1月18日開彩首獎，2006年3月8日開彩二獎。
1955於2002年4月10日步步高升勇奪首獎，2006年在三甲揚名2次，3月8日開彩三獎，7月5日開彩二獎。
鍾情9155的話，可以它作為投注首選字，並以全保追之。
4467三甲爭席位
4467在多多萬字締造7項可取戰績，開彩2次二獎，3次特別獎及2次安慰獎，在走勢有利的大環境下，消聲匿跡2年的它整裝待發，預料近期會全力出擊，東山再起，期望在三甲爭一席位。
4467於1994年10月31日出道開彩二獎，難能可貴，1995年4月12日開彩特別獎，2000年9月27日開彩特別獎，2004年在安慰獎連中雙元，開彩日期分別是1月14日及6月20日，2006年4月16日開彩特別獎，2007年2月28日開彩二獎。
過去在三甲龍虎榜吐氣揚眉的兄弟字分別是4467、4647、4674、4746、4764、6744、7446、7644。截至2月25日止，報喜兄弟字分別是4764（安）、6474（安）、6744（特）。
鍾青4467的話，可以它作為投注首選字，並以i包追買，提高中獎機率。
市民交通費負擔沉重 走交替路省過路費
（吉隆坡27日訊）中央政府上演又拆又起價的收費站戲碼后，駕駛人士對收費站深惡痛絕，紛紛覓尋免收費交替路，節省交通費，也以示不滿。
巴生谷大道可謂大道之城，網絡四通八達帶來方便，也重重圍堵各區居民，出入見收費站可謂是巴生谷特色，大家每月交通費更是驚人，至少佔據總生活開銷的10%。
經濟放緩，人民束緊腰帶過活之際，交通費將成為人民縮減開支首要環節，大道周邊交替路成為眾駕駛者首選。
雖然巴生谷被大道圍堵，也有許多交替路供選擇，路途可能較遙遠也需經過塞車黑區，惟為節省交通費，駕駛者也甘之如飴。
來往吉隆坡及八打靈再也，就有多條交替路供選擇，如大使路、梳邦機場舊路、敦依斯邁路、蕉賴路或陸佑路等，僅有特定地區出入需依賴收費大道。
城市舊路陸續獲提升
發展蓬勃的巴生谷，大部分花園住宅區都設有完整的連貫公路網絡，駕駛者可在無需經過主要大路或收費大道，直達毗鄰地區，部分也直接銜接大道樞紐。
除了主要公路，城市公路或大道支線是駕駛者避收費站交替路選擇，節省交通費也無需塞車，輕鬆往返目的地與住家。
許多聯邦公路或城市舊路已陸續獲得提升，道路寬敞又舒適，駕駛環境也可媲美收費大道，因此許多駕駛者喜歡使用舊路，多于大道。
部分收費大道不僅過路費昂貴，交通擁擠情況更令人生畏，大家不妨考慮使用交替路。
Friday, February 27, 2009
Church to study implications of permission to use “Allah” (Update)
PETALING JAYA: The Catholic Church will discuss with the Attorney-General’s Chambers on the Home Ministry’s order to allow the conditional use of the word “Allah” in Christian publications.
The lawyer representing Catholic weekly magazine The Herald, Porres Royan said there was a need to study the implications following the order that required the publications to indicate that the material was only for Christians.
The directive, made under the Internal Security Act, was gazetted by the Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar on Feb 16.
Asked to comment on the magazine’s March issue which will carry the words “Untuk Agama Kristian” (For Christianity) close to its masthead, Royan said the order was not only for The Herald.
“It’s not a question of The Herald accepting it (the order), but of following the law as it is gazetted,” he told The Star on Friday.
The magazine’s editor Father Lawrence Andrew said there was now “no fear” on his part as the magazine had included the disclaimer in its next issue.
“So, in a way, there is a sense of security that our publishing permit would be renewed,” he said.
“We want to live in peace and harmony with one another and will do what we can to help ensure freedom and justice,” Father Lawrence added.
In a mention of the case on Friday, the High Court fixed May 28 as the date of the hearing for the Titular Roman Catholic Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur’s application to recall and set aside the order for intervention from various religious bodies.
The court also decided that the application by the interveners’ to refer the case to the Federal Court be heard on July 7.
The religious bodies involved are the state Islamic Councils of Federal Territory, Terengganu, Penang, Selangor, Kedah, Johor, Malacca, the Malaysia Chinese Muslim Association (Macma) and the Malaysian Gurdwara Association.
Meanwhile, the Council of Churches of Malaysia has called on the Government to accept the use of the term “Allah” as a heritage that is not exclusive to one religion.
“We further urge the Government not to attempt to regulate or circumscribe its use through the introduction of pre-conditions and by punitive criminal legislations,” said the council’s general-secretary Rev Dr Hermen Shastri in a statement on Friday.
He was responding to the order issued by the Home Ministry that Christian publications may use the word “Allah” if they indicate that the material is for Christians.
Dr Hermen also questioned why the order was specific to Christianity and cited the Sikh religion as an example of another creed which referred to “Allah” in their sacred texts.
He pointed out that the order would also cause those who have publications using the word “Allah” to be at risk of possessing prohibited documents unless they ensure that the words “Untuk Agama Kristian” or “For Christianity” in bold font type Arial of size 16 placed on its front cover.
“This is an unfair imposition and unwarranted restriction on the practice of the Christian religion in this country,” Dr Hermen said, adding that the conditions was also a limitation on the freedom of religion guaranteed by Article 11 of the Federal Constitution.
“We regret that the Government did not see fit to engage with us before introducing this order,” he said.
(Source : By YUEN MEIKENG, The Star)
Kadar tol 5 lebuh raya naik
KUALA LUMPUR 26 Feb. - Kadar tol di lima lebuh raya akan mengalami kenaikan antara lima hingga 34 peratus mulai 1 Mac ini.
Lebuh raya terlibat ialah Projek Lebuh Raya Utara-Selatan (PLUS), Lebuh Raya Sistem Penyuraian Trafik KL Barat (Sprint), Lebuh Raya Bertingkat Ampang-Kuala Lumpur (AKLEH), Lebuh Raya Sungai Besi (Besraya) dan Lebuh Raya Baru Pantai (NPE).
Menteri Kerja Raya, Datuk Seri Ir. Mohd. Zin Mohamed (gambar) berkata, bagi Lebuh Raya PLUS, kadar tol akan dinaikkan sebanyak 0.68 sen bagi setiap kilometer menjadikan kadar terbaru 14.2 sen untuk satu kilometer.
''Namun kenaikan itu tidak membabitkan tol di Plaza Tol Bukit Kayu Hitam, Tambak Johor dan Bangunan Sultan Iskandar,'' katanya pada sidang akhbar di Kompleks Kerja Raya di sini hari ini.
Bagi Lebuh Raya Sprint katanya, kadar tol dinaikkan antara 30 sen dan 50 sen sementara Lebuh Raya AKLEH pula mengalami kenaikan sebanyak 50 sen.
Tambahnya, Lebuh Raya Besraya mengalami penambahan sebanyak 10 sen manakala Lebuh Raya NPE akan dinaikkan sebanyak 40 sen.
Beliau menjelaskan kenaikan kadar tol di tiga lebuh raya iaitu PLUS, Sprint dan AKLEH tidak dapat dielakkan.
Jelasnya, berdasarkan perjanjian konsesi antara kerajaan dan pemegang konsesi sepatutnya kadar itu telah dinaikkan pada 1 Januari 2008.
''Akibat ditangguhkan sehingga 28 Februari ini, kerajaan terpaksa membayar pampasan berjumlah RM245 juta iaitu RM177 juta kepada PLUS, RM38 juta kepada Sprint dan RM30 juta lagi kepada AKLEH,'' ujarnya.
Tambahnya, kenaikan kadar tol di Lebuh raya Sprint, AKLEH dan NPE adalah minimum kerana ia tidak pernah dinaikkan sejak mula beroperasi.
Dalam masa yang sama, beliau memberitahu, pengguna jalan raya boleh menggunakan laluan alternatif jika tidak mahu membayar sebarang tol.
''Kerajaan telah membelanjakan peruntukan besar untuk menaiktaraf jalan persekutuan daripada dua kepada empat lorong iaitu dua lorong bagi setiap arah bertentangan demi keselesaan dan keselamatan pengguna.
''Ia sejajar dengan konsep 'user pay' di mana pengguna diberi pilihan untuk menggunakan jalan alternatif sedia ada atau jalan bertol,'' jelasnya.
Dengan pengumuman kerajaan itu, mulai 1 Mac ini, kadar tol baru Lebuh Raya SPRINT bagi Plaza Tol Pantai adalah RM2 sementara Plaza Tol Damansara pula sebanyak RM1.30 iaitu penambahan 30 sen daripada kadar semasa.
Bagi Lebuh raya AKLEH, kadar tol baru adalah RM2 di Plaza Tol Keramat manakala Plaza Tol Mines sebanyak RM1.40 bagi Lebuh Raya Besraya.
Kadar tol Plaza Tol Pantai, PJS 2 (arah Subang Jaya) dn PJS 5 pula RM2.
5大道今年內不起價‧納吉：考慮人民利
（吉隆坡）副首相拿督斯里納吉保證，5條原將於3月1日調高過路費的大道，於近期或今年內都不會起價。
他說，他不知道政府將於何時才會批准大道公司調高過路費。
“總之，一切還得視政府的能力而定。”
納吉今日（週五，2月27日）在財政部召開的記者會上指出，隨著內閣決定無限期展延這5條大道欲調高過路費的要求，政府將為此而額外付出5億令吉。
他說，政府瞭解人民不欲見到過路費調高，而順從民意也意味著必須撥出大筆來自納稅人的錢來承擔開銷。
他表明，政府之前並未允許大道公司全面調高過路費，只同意中等的漲幅，卻已必須提供巨額的津貼給大道公司。
詢及這5條大道是否會於年底調高時，也是財政部長的納吉說，政府會在適當時候才作決定。
他否認在宣佈調高大道過路費之後又擱置，與即將到來的補選有關。
“政府是在考慮到人民的利益才作出這項決定。”
過路費今年內不起‧預計須賠逾2.8億
莫哈末再因展示文告，宣佈5條大道今年不起價。（圖：光明日報）（吉隆坡）由於考慮到民間反彈及目前的經濟狀況，工程部長拿督莫哈末再因今日（週五，2月27日）宣佈，內閣決定擱置5條大道漲價，直到今年12月31日。
這意味，週四（2月26日）宣佈從3月1日起開始調高收費的5條大道，即南北大道（PLUS）、西部疏散大道（SPRINT）、安邦―吉隆坡高架大道（AKLEH）、新街場大道（BESRAYA）與新班底大道（NPE）的過路費，將於今年內維持原狀。
莫哈末再因是在宣佈5條大道漲價的一天後，公開取消他之前的漲價宣佈。
他於原定下午3點15分，過後卻延至下午4點50分召開的記者會上說，在他宣佈大道調高過路費後，人民反應負面，不認同漲價。
內閣決定擱置漲價
“週五，由副首相拿督斯里納吉主持的內閣會議在考慮到人民的反應與目前的經濟現況後，決定擱置大道漲價一事。”
他指出，政府決定擱置大道漲價後，必須根據大道特許經營合約作出賠償。
他披露，為了擱置大道於2009年1月1日至12月31日間的漲價，政府預計得賠償2億 8700萬令吉。其中，給予南北大道的賠償高達1億9500萬令吉；西部疏散大道的賠償是3600萬令吉；安邦―吉隆坡高架大道的賠償是2700萬令吉； 新街場大道的賠償為900萬令吉；新班底大道的賠償是2000萬令吉。
莫哈末再因表示，財政部將會準備這筆賠償。“我要強調的是，這筆賠償其實也是人民的錢，原本這筆錢可以用來進行其他發展，造福人群。”
他說，在經濟不明朗之際，希望人民能作好面對任何可能性的準備。
莫哈末再因於週四宣佈國內5條大道的過路費從3月1日起全面調高，其中南北大道的漲幅是每公里0.68仙，其餘4條大道的漲幅則介於10仙至50仙。
消息傳出之後，在民間引起大力反彈，而朝野議員也紛紛反對大道漲價。較後，身在海外的首相拿督斯里阿都拉在同一天發言要求內閣重新檢討此事。
大道國有化
需考慮多項因素
針對政府為何不回購大道一事，莫哈末再因表示，這是政府到底要走向私營化或國有化的問題。
他指出，談到國有化，必須考慮到許多因素，例如政府財政狀況、大道公司的債務以及持股人等等。“我們不只要考慮技術上的因素，也要顧及經濟上的問題。”
提及民主行動黨較早前建議政府在市場上回購南北大道股票一事，他說，行動黨靈北區國會議員潘儉偉（建議者）不應該孤立看待南北大道，而是應該整體看待整體大道合約的狀況。
詢及這是否意味他拒絕了有關建議，莫哈末再因卻笑言，他並沒有這樣說。
大道調漲不恰當‧首相促內閣檢討
阿都拉要內閣重新檢討5條大道收費的決定。（圖：光明日報）（泰國．芭堤雅）首相拿督斯里阿都拉指出，目前調漲大道收費並不恰當，他下令今日（週五，2月27日）由副首相拿督斯里納吉主持的內閣會議，重新檢討5條大道從3月1日開始調漲收費的決定。
他相信，屆時內閣將會做出一個妥當的決定。據他所知，人民無法接受大道調漲。
也是國防部長的他週四（26日）出席在泰國芭堤雅舉行的東盟國防部長會議後，在記者會上如此表示。
“雖然調整收費符合政府與大道公司簽署的合約內容，不過，內閣在數週前批准的調漲，在目前的情況來說，是不恰當的。”
他說，政府將尋求另一種途徑來解決這個問題，其中包括將於3月10日提呈的第二經濟振興配套。
調幅10至50仙‧5大道3月漲價
（吉隆坡）國內5條大道從3月1日起將全面漲價，其中南北大道的漲幅是每公里0.68仙，其餘4條大道的漲幅則介於10仙至50仙。
另外4條收費調整的大道分別是西部疏散大道（SPRINT），調整幅度為30至50仙、安邦―吉隆坡高架大道（AKLEH）調整了50仙、新街場大道調整10仙及新班底大道調整40仙。
這些收費的調整都以第一級車輛計算。
不過，南北大道的收費調整並沒有包括黑木山收費站、新柔長堤及依斯干達關稅免疫大廈。新街場大道第5級車輛（巴士）的收費則保持在70仙沒有調整。
工程部長拿督斯里再因宣佈於今日（週四，2月26日）早上，在部門召開的記者會上作出這項宣佈。
再因指出，內閣已經批准調整這5條大道的收費。有關收費的調整是依據政府與特許經營合約所闡明的條款。
“從3月1日起，第一級車輛駕駛人士使用南北大道，從大使路到武吉拉惹，這段34公里長的距離只需額外付30仙，即從原有的4令吉60仙到4令吉90仙。”
他披露，依據合約，南北大道、西部疏散大道及安邦―吉隆坡高架大道原該在2008年1月1日調整收費，但是卻被展延至2009年2月28日。
“西部疏散大道及安邦―吉隆坡高架大道的調整是細微的，因為這兩條大道自2001年通車以來都不曾調整收費。新班底大道在2004年通車以來也不曾漲價。”
他指出，這些大道的收費調整非常細微，南北大道的調整，每公里甚至不到1仙。
他也提到，政府在較早前已宣佈廢除兩個收費站，即沙叻再也收費站及新班底大道PJS2收費站，無形中已讓逾10萬人免付過路費了。
展延起價
政府賠逾2億
再因披露，基於政府展延了調整收費的日期，即從2008年1月1日展延至2009年2月28日，因此政府必須依據合約，作出2億4500萬令吉的賠償給大道公司。
“其中1億7700萬令吉賠償給南北大道公司，3800萬令吉賠償給西部疏散大道公司及3000萬令吉予安邦―吉隆坡高架大道公司。
他說，有關展延期限達14個月，如果展延調整收費越久，政府所需作出的賠償越高。
這意味著，在14個月裡，政府每月需對大道公司作出1750萬令吉。
大道局：不僅限轎車
起價涵蓋所有交通工具
馬來西亞大道局副總監拿督依斯邁受詢時指出，部長於週四宣佈的大道調整幅度是涵蓋所有級別的交通工具。
部長在記者會上只是宣佈第一級別私家車的漲幅。
他說，雖然部長只是宣佈第一級別（私家車）的漲幅，可是其他所有級別的交通工具過路費同樣根據各別的漲幅作出調整，包括羅里、巴士和德士。
廢2收費站無關政治
再因說，早前廢除新班底大道PJS2的收費站及沙叻再也收費站與政治無關。
“我們沒有玩弄政治手法，不要政治化這件事。如果你要政治化它我們也沒辦法。”
同時，他指出，早前南北大道所作出的折扣措施是秉持著社會責任去進行，而工程部也要求有盈利的大道公司，適時地作出這些惠民的措施。
你知道嗎？
大馬擁133收費站
大馬一共擁有22條大道，133個收費站，當中南北大道便佔了66個。
南北大道於1994年2月6日通車，施工14年，耗資60億令吉，全程846公里，每日車流量高達100萬輛。
它原定30年合約屆滿而停止收費，不過因改由每3年調整收費10%，2005年又因擴建通道及搬遷一些收費站，因此收費期再延長8年7個月至2038年，使收費期從原定的30年延長至半世紀。
在公司旗下的5條大道中，即南北大道、宜力大道、馬新第二通道、芙蓉波德申大道和北海居林大道，共有596間商店、餐館及流動小販攤位。
在2005年1月1日，南北大道首次調高收費率10%，也連貫調高南北高速公路中央樞紐（Elite）及新巴生河流域大道（NKVE）的收費率10%。
依照合約程序，大道過路費在2008年本應再調整不過，不過，南北大道公司承諾，在2008年前不會再調整收費。
同年5月，政府宣佈延長南北大道收費期，繼之前不合理的10%收費調高後，政府此舉再次引起人民不滿。
光明日報‧2009.02.26
另外4條收費調整的大道分別是西部疏散大道（SPRINT），調整幅度為30至50仙、安邦―吉隆坡高架大道（AKLEH）調整了50仙、新街場大道調整10仙及新班底大道調整40仙。
這些收費的調整都以第一級車輛計算。
不過，南北大道的收費調整並沒有包括黑木山收費站、新柔長堤及依斯干達關稅免疫大廈。新街場大道第5級車輛（巴士）的收費則保持在70仙沒有調整。
工程部長拿督斯里再因宣佈於今日（週四，2月26日）早上，在部門召開的記者會上作出這項宣佈。
再因指出，內閣已經批准調整這5條大道的收費。有關收費的調整是依據政府與特許經營合約所闡明的條款。
“從3月1日起，第一級車輛駕駛人士使用南北大道，從大使路到武吉拉惹，這段34公里長的距離只需額外付30仙，即從原有的4令吉60仙到4令吉90仙。”
他披露，依據合約，南北大道、西部疏散大道及安邦―吉隆坡高架大道原該在2008年1月1日調整收費，但是卻被展延至2009年2月28日。
“西部疏散大道及安邦―吉隆坡高架大道的調整是細微的，因為這兩條大道自2001年通車以來都不曾調整收費。新班底大道在2004年通車以來也不曾漲價。”
他指出，這些大道的收費調整非常細微，南北大道的調整，每公里甚至不到1仙。
他也提到，政府在較早前已宣佈廢除兩個收費站，即沙叻再也收費站及新班底大道PJS2收費站，無形中已讓逾10萬人免付過路費了。
展延起價
政府賠逾2億
再因披露，基於政府展延了調整收費的日期，即從2008年1月1日展延至2009年2月28日，因此政府必須依據合約，作出2億4500萬令吉的賠償給大道公司。
“其中1億7700萬令吉賠償給南北大道公司，3800萬令吉賠償給西部疏散大道公司及3000萬令吉予安邦―吉隆坡高架大道公司。
他說，有關展延期限達14個月，如果展延調整收費越久，政府所需作出的賠償越高。
這意味著，在14個月裡，政府每月需對大道公司作出1750萬令吉。
大道局：不僅限轎車
起價涵蓋所有交通工具
馬來西亞大道局副總監拿督依斯邁受詢時指出，部長於週四宣佈的大道調整幅度是涵蓋所有級別的交通工具。
部長在記者會上只是宣佈第一級別私家車的漲幅。
他說，雖然部長只是宣佈第一級別（私家車）的漲幅，可是其他所有級別的交通工具過路費同樣根據各別的漲幅作出調整，包括羅里、巴士和德士。
廢2收費站無關政治
再因說，早前廢除新班底大道PJS2的收費站及沙叻再也收費站與政治無關。
“我們沒有玩弄政治手法，不要政治化這件事。如果你要政治化它我們也沒辦法。”
同時，他指出，早前南北大道所作出的折扣措施是秉持著社會責任去進行，而工程部也要求有盈利的大道公司，適時地作出這些惠民的措施。
你知道嗎？
大馬擁133收費站
大馬一共擁有22條大道，133個收費站，當中南北大道便佔了66個。
南北大道於1994年2月6日通車，施工14年，耗資60億令吉，全程846公里，每日車流量高達100萬輛。
它原定30年合約屆滿而停止收費，不過因改由每3年調整收費10%，2005年又因擴建通道及搬遷一些收費站，因此收費期再延長8年7個月至2038年，使收費期從原定的30年延長至半世紀。
在公司旗下的5條大道中，即南北大道、宜力大道、馬新第二通道、芙蓉波德申大道和北海居林大道，共有596間商店、餐館及流動小販攤位。
在2005年1月1日，南北大道首次調高收費率10%，也連貫調高南北高速公路中央樞紐（Elite）及新巴生河流域大道（NKVE）的收費率10%。
依照合約程序，大道過路費在2008年本應再調整不過，不過，南北大道公司承諾，在2008年前不會再調整收費。
同年5月，政府宣佈延長南北大道收費期，繼之前不合理的10%收費調高後，政府此舉再次引起人民不滿。
光明日報‧2009.02.26
擺酒地點曝光‧華仔或換地方辦喜事
華仔在大馬辦喜事被揭露，他極有可能更改地點低調完婚。
（吉隆坡）劉德華被狗仔隊成功偷拍到與朱麗倩出雙入對的合照，還揭露將在朱麗倩4月6日生日當天完婚。據可靠消息指出，華仔原計劃在成功時代廣場酒店辦喜宴，隨著擺酒地點曝光，華仔極大可能轉移陣地，更改地點低調辦喜事。
據《光明娛樂》打探得悉，被揭4月結婚及在大馬辦喜事的華仔，極有可能更改地點低調完婚。
去年12月初，一度傳出華仔計劃於今年與朱麗倩成婚，並有意向梁朝偉及劉嘉玲取經，到郊外行禮，初步選定在10年前電影《夏日麼麼茶》主要拍攝地―熱浪島舉行。
不過，最近有狗仔隊成功偷拍到華仔及朱麗倩在馬會親友的照片，更指兩人好事近，將於4月6日在成功時代廣場酒店14樓的宴客。去年5月10日，朱麗倩胞妹朱麗華曾在此處擺70席婚宴酒，華仔也到場。
這家酒店老闆正是朱麗倩舅父陳志遠，他是上市公司成功集團總裁，業務涉及酒店、保險、博彩及旅遊等，是本地著名富商。據悉，華仔每次來馬宣傳都會下榻陳旗下酒店，而華仔私下來馬度假，也入住陳旗下的各州酒店，不少公眾曾認出他。
不想太高調
根據最新消息指出，由於擺酒地點曝光，不想太高調的華仔有意轉移陣地擺酒，並只請雙方家長、親朋戚友及華仔天地的一些忠實會員出席。雖然華仔計劃更改地點，但他仍會挑選陳旗下的度假屋或酒店方便辦喜事。
空出4月6日至10日檔期
香港《東週刊》大篇幅報導指稱，香港天王劉德華與相戀24年的女友朱麗倩有望在4月6日在大馬舉行婚禮，婚禮的日期也是朱麗倩43歲生日當天。
不過，根據《光明娛樂》上網搜索劉天王近期的工作時間表，發現4月份他在中國共有6場演唱會，叫人好奇的事，如此忙碌的華仔哪裡還有時間去結婚啊？
據網上搜索，光明娛樂發現劉德華4月份在中國6個地區舉辦巡迴演唱會，分別是1日在佛山、5日在常州、10日在長沙、17日在煙台、22日在沈陽及27日在重慶。
由於華仔5日還身在中國常州舉辦演唱會，究竟他是否於演唱會結束後，當晚立刻乘搭飛機趕來大馬舉行婚禮，哪就不得而知？只是叫人好奇，畢竟這是人生大事，華仔竟選擇在婚禮前夕舉辦開演唱會，究竟是華仔太工作狂，還是結婚消息根本就是“煲水”新聞而已。
認識劉德華的人都知道，華仔一向最疼愛歌迷，而且事前已經安排好的演唱會，不可能臨時換期。所以，根據推斷，除非華仔想在演唱會上和朱麗倩結婚，否則，演唱會排得滿滿的情況下，他根本無可能抽空忙婚禮。
不過，華仔的行程暗藏玄機，從傳說中大婚的4月6日至10日，華仔的確有4天的空檔。
請大馬歌迷會員喝喜酒
馬來西亞華仔天地的會員，期盼華仔請他們喝喜酒。
一名不願透露姓名的歌迷向《光明娛樂》透露，華仔多次在聚會上告訴歌迷，若有一天他結婚，他會邀請歌迷出席他的婚宴，分享他的喜悅，所以會員們十分期待喝喜酒的那一天到來。
這名歌迷表示，華仔10日來馬之前，香港華仔天地的會員已知道華仔會秘密來馬，要大馬的會員嘗試追查華仔的行蹤。該歌迷說：“其實華仔近年來已對感情事鬆口，算是半公開他和朱麗倩的感情了，沒想到他未正式對外公開，已被狗仔隊搶先一步逮個正。”
記者向該歌迷求證是不是4月6日結婚，他表示不清楚，“香港華仔天地向我們求證，我們也不能給他們正確答案。”華仔每次跟歌迷聚會，絕口不提朱麗倩，但他多次強調結婚當天會請歌迷出席。
關於華仔已經和朱麗倩生有兒子的傳聞在坊間流傳，網絡上更是“證據確鑿”地公佈了他“親生兒子”的照片。華仔最近在上海跟華仔天地的歌迷聚會，對於這樣的傳言，華仔當著中國各地媒體的面發了毒誓：“如果我有兒子的話，我用一輩子的運氣來交換。”
雖然華仔否認有兒子，但狗仔隊早前拍到年約六、七歲的女兒，與華仔長得十分相像，而華仔向媒體表示沒有兒子，卻沒有否認有一個女兒。華仔與朱麗倩合照曝光，看來華仔對於背後的女人及女兒一事，不認不認還須認了。
辦喜事指地點指數（最高指數為★★★★★）
◆吉隆坡辦喜事指數：★★★★
成功時代廣場酒店14樓的Ballroom因有秘密通道，加上保安嚴密，因此華仔有可能選擇原地擺酒。
◆熱浪島辦喜事指數：★★★
前往熱浪島的交通十分方便，除了乘搭遊艇，華仔可乘搭飛機或私人飛機降陸。難怪去年會傳出華仔有意在此處舉行婚禮。
◆刁曼島辦喜事指數：★★☆
華仔在國際影壇算有名氣，加上刁曼島的外國遊客多，相信華仔不會冒被人認出之險，選擇在此處擺酒。
◆檳城辦喜事指數：★★★
華仔非常喜歡純樸的檳城，所以他在當地的酒店或沙灘酒店舉行婚宴的機會頗大。
◆武吉丁宜辦喜事指數：★★★☆
華仔常和朋友在武吉丁宜的鄉村俱樂部消磨時光，此處的氣候涼爽，加上保安嚴密，閒雜等人不易進入。
◆浮羅交怡島辦喜事指數：★★
浮羅交怡島比熱浪島和刁曼島更熱鬧。作風低調的華仔，應該不會選擇浮羅交怡島作為完婚地點。
◆波德申辦喜事指數：★★★☆
華仔曾被當地記者發現出沒下榻酒店，當時華仔以“不要拍我的朋友”為由，願意接受訪問。波德申沿海有很多各風情的酒店，而且遠離市區及吉隆坡，絕對是舉辦喜事的好地方。
華仔秘密大馬蹤跡
“大馬準女婿”華仔未被狗仔隊拍到之前，曾私下頻頻來馬，較後他的行蹤被傳媒發現而曝光。
2009年2月10日
朱麗倩返馬出席某公司年宴，對鏡頭敏感的她懷疑坐在對面桌的女生拍照，趕緊叫朋友上前要求檢查相機，這名女生不滿朱麗倩讓她難堪，把心情貼上論壇宣泄，還揭曾看過華仔曾陪朱麗倩到白沙羅某餐館吃素。
2008年5月10日
朱麗倩胞妹朱麗華結婚，華仔在婚宴快要結束前意外出現，並在台上高歌。
2008年1月
一心為華仔繼後香燈的朱麗倩，被發現四出為華仔拜神求子。
2006年
巴生廟祝說，曾目睹華仔和朱麗倩來拜神，廟中更有寫著善信“劉德華”的祈福表。
2001年
朱麗倩現身在劉德華大馬演唱會上，被傳媒發現坐在貴賓席的她，身邊還有一名幾歲大的小女孩。
光明日報／娛樂‧2009.02.27
朱麗倩現身在劉德華大馬演唱會上，被傳媒發現坐在貴賓席的她，身邊還有一名幾歲大的小女孩。
恶意软件借木马技术 “聚搜”强驻用户电脑
来源：360安全中心 发布日期：2009-02-26
长期以来，“流氓软件”和“木马”在用户心目中一直是两个概念：流氓软件表面上往往是正常的软件，为了强驻电脑而使出一些流氓手段，其开发者中不乏一些大型互联网公司；而木马则是百分之百的电脑窃贼，其背后是一些生活在“暗黑世界”中的犯罪团伙。但是，这个界限正在被打破。
近日，一款名为“聚搜”的IE工具插件因其流氓式的强行安装与强驻电脑等行为，遭到许多网友的痛斥。该软件为了加强自我保护，竟然借鉴和采用了木马技术来武装自己，致使每天有大量用户电脑遭其“强..暴”却束手无策。有鉴于“聚搜”在安装中使用了篡改系统服务等木马手段，导致用户难以自行卸载，360安全中心已将其列为“恶评插件”进行查杀。
记者从“聚搜”官方网站了解到，这个全名为“IE工具条聚搜搜索”的插件号称“集成了众多知名的搜索引擎及专业网站”，并在多个下载站上以“搜索引擎工具”的名义推荐下载。然而，“请神容易送神难”。网民一旦安装后，原本貌似“良民”并以此蒙骗过下载站认证的“聚搜”插件便会迅速自动升级为恶意版本，就此强赖在用户电脑中。无论是使用聚搜自带的卸载快捷方式，还是手工删除安装文件和注册表键值，都难以将其卸载。用户电脑上的IE浏览器仍会默认调用“聚搜”插件，时不时还有某些网站导航的广告弹出来。
不仅如此，许多网友更是在突然间才发现自己的浏览器上多了这个“聚搜”工具条。受害用户通过360求助中心反馈称：“聚搜”正在和聊天表情包、学术资料等各种五花八门的互联网共享资源捆绑安装，其中有的在安装过程中进行了提示，有的则是完全悄无声息地随其它资源“潜入”用户电脑，其推广手段“鬼鬼祟祟”，完全不同于正当商业软件。
“聚搜”这种流氓式的推广行径引发了大批网民的不满。记者用百度搜索“聚搜删除”，结果高达上千个，另据360安全中心初步估算，受“聚搜”工具条影响的电脑至少在数十万台的规模，其中绝大部分网友难以自行卸载，已有大量的受害用户投票将其评为“恶评插件”，并呼吁360安全卫士予以查杀。
图片说明：360安全卫士报“聚搜”为带木马的恶意插件
据360安全专家石晓虹博士介绍，“聚搜”插件在安装后会强行篡改系统服务，并将路径指向随机的文件名，普通用户很难找到；同时，它还能在后台自动静默升级，这都已是不折不扣的木马行为。更为过分的是，“聚搜”释放一个“bak.”的畸形文件夹，只有手工操作用命令行才能删除，普通用户根本无法处理。
“需要警惕的是：流氓软件和木马这两大网上黑势力正在合流，融入木马技术已成为流氓软件发展的新趋势。目前大多数杀毒软件都还没有把‘聚搜’报为病毒，但它对网民的困扰却并不亚于真正意义上的木马。”石晓虹表示：“用户已经向360安全中心举报了9个具备木马行为特征的‘聚搜’插件版本，我们将继续关注这一类恶评插件的更新升级，根据用户需要在第一时间推出查杀对策。”（下载地址：http://down.360safe.com/setup.exe）
长期以来，“流氓软件”和“木马”在用户心目中一直是两个概念：流氓软件表面上往往是正常的软件，为了强驻电脑而使出一些流氓手段，其开发者中不乏一些大型互联网公司；而木马则是百分之百的电脑窃贼，其背后是一些生活在“暗黑世界”中的犯罪团伙。但是，这个界限正在被打破。
近日，一款名为“聚搜”的IE工具插件因其流氓式的强行安装与强驻电脑等行为，遭到许多网友的痛斥。该软件为了加强自我保护，竟然借鉴和采用了木马技术来武装自己，致使每天有大量用户电脑遭其“强..暴”却束手无策。有鉴于“聚搜”在安装中使用了篡改系统服务等木马手段，导致用户难以自行卸载，360安全中心已将其列为“恶评插件”进行查杀。
记者从“聚搜”官方网站了解到，这个全名为“IE工具条聚搜搜索”的插件号称“集成了众多知名的搜索引擎及专业网站”，并在多个下载站上以“搜索引擎工具”的名义推荐下载。然而，“请神容易送神难”。网民一旦安装后，原本貌似“良民”并以此蒙骗过下载站认证的“聚搜”插件便会迅速自动升级为恶意版本，就此强赖在用户电脑中。无论是使用聚搜自带的卸载快捷方式，还是手工删除安装文件和注册表键值，都难以将其卸载。用户电脑上的IE浏览器仍会默认调用“聚搜”插件，时不时还有某些网站导航的广告弹出来。
不仅如此，许多网友更是在突然间才发现自己的浏览器上多了这个“聚搜”工具条。受害用户通过360求助中心反馈称：“聚搜”正在和聊天表情包、学术资料等各种五花八门的互联网共享资源捆绑安装，其中有的在安装过程中进行了提示，有的则是完全悄无声息地随其它资源“潜入”用户电脑，其推广手段“鬼鬼祟祟”，完全不同于正当商业软件。
“聚搜”这种流氓式的推广行径引发了大批网民的不满。记者用百度搜索“聚搜删除”，结果高达上千个，另据360安全中心初步估算，受“聚搜”工具条影响的电脑至少在数十万台的规模，其中绝大部分网友难以自行卸载，已有大量的受害用户投票将其评为“恶评插件”，并呼吁360安全卫士予以查杀。
图片说明：360安全卫士报“聚搜”为带木马的恶意插件
据360安全专家石晓虹博士介绍，“聚搜”插件在安装后会强行篡改系统服务，并将路径指向随机的文件名，普通用户很难找到；同时，它还能在后台自动静默升级，这都已是不折不扣的木马行为。更为过分的是，“聚搜”释放一个“bak.”的畸形文件夹，只有手工操作用命令行才能删除，普通用户根本无法处理。
“需要警惕的是：流氓软件和木马这两大网上黑势力正在合流，融入木马技术已成为流氓软件发展的新趋势。目前大多数杀毒软件都还没有把‘聚搜’报为病毒，但它对网民的困扰却并不亚于真正意义上的木马。”石晓虹表示：“用户已经向360安全中心举报了9个具备木马行为特征的‘聚搜’插件版本，我们将继续关注这一类恶评插件的更新升级，根据用户需要在第一时间推出查杀对策。”（下载地址：http://down.360safe.com/setup.exe）
Pikom fair 2009(I)
3 - 5 April 2009 (11:00am - 9:00pm)
·Permata Car Park (Level 5), Kuching - Sarawak
·Dewan Masyarakat Sandakan, Sandakan - Sabah
·Berjaya Megamall, Kuantan - Jalan Tun Ismail, Sri Dagangan, 25000 Pahang
·Stadium Indera Mulia, Ipoh, Perak - Jalan Ghazali Jawi, 31400 Ipoh
Important Notice: Ipoh PC Fair 2009(I) – Change of date and venue
We are pleased to inform that we have received confirmation from MBI that the Stadium Indera Mulia, Ipoh will be available from 3 – 5 April 2009 to hold the Ipoh PC Fair 2009(I).
As such, the venue and date for the PC Fair 2009(I) in Ipoh has been changed to:
Venue: Stadium Indera Mulia, Jalan Ghazali Jawi, 31400 Ipoh, Perak
Date: 3 – 5 April 2009
10 - 12 April 2009 (11:00am - 9:00pm)
·KL Convention Centre, Kuala Lumpur - Kuala Lumpur City Centre, 50888 Kuala Lumpur
·Persada Johor International Convention Centre, Johor Bahru - Jalan Abdullah Ibrahim, 80000 Johor Bahru
·Village Mall, Sungai Petani - Kedah
·Dewan Masyarakat Tawau, Tawau - Sabah
Move Tawau PC Fair 2009(I) to 10-12 April 2009
Dear PIKOM PC Fair 2009(I) Exhibitors,
Thank you for participating in the PIKOM PC Fair 2009(I).
PIKOM has received an official letter from the venue operator, Majlis Perbandaran Tawau notifying PIKOM that it has to make way for an Official State Government function on 3 & 4 April 2009. As per terms of the lease contract, Majlis Perbandaran Tawau has the right to release PIKOM's booking should it clashes with any state function.
As such, we would like to inform all exhibitors that the PC Fair in Tawau is moving its dates to 10 – 12 April 2009.
17 - 19 April 2009 (11:00am - 9:00pm)
·Miri Indoor Stadium, Miri - Sawarak
·Sibu Trade & Exhibition Centre, Sibu - Sarawak
·Penang International Sports Arena, Penang - Jalan Tun Dr Awang, 11900 Relau
·Mahkota Parade Melaka, Melaka - Jalan Merdeka, 75000 Bandar Hilir
24 - 26 April 2009 (11:00am - 9:00pm)
·Dewan Jubli Intan, Muar - Johor
Muar PC Fair 2009(I) move to 24-26 April 2009
Dear PIKOM PC Fair 2009(I) Exhibitors,
Thank you for participating in the PIKOM PC Fair 2009(I).
During the PC Fair 2009(I) Launch and Balloting on 21st January 2009, we announced that there will be a change of date for the fair in Muar. As such, we would like to inform all exhibitors that the PC Fair in Muar is moving its dates to 24 – 26 April 2009.
Please take note of the change of date.
We also wish to inform that there are still booths available in Muar (latest layout attached). If you are interested please contact the PC Fair Team as the booking of the booth is on a first-come-first serve basis.
(souce from http://pikom.org.my)
·Permata Car Park (Level 5), Kuching - Sarawak
·Dewan Masyarakat Sandakan, Sandakan - Sabah
·Berjaya Megamall, Kuantan - Jalan Tun Ismail, Sri Dagangan, 25000 Pahang
·Stadium Indera Mulia, Ipoh, Perak - Jalan Ghazali Jawi, 31400 Ipoh
Important Notice: Ipoh PC Fair 2009(I) – Change of date and venue
We are pleased to inform that we have received confirmation from MBI that the Stadium Indera Mulia, Ipoh will be available from 3 – 5 April 2009 to hold the Ipoh PC Fair 2009(I).
As such, the venue and date for the PC Fair 2009(I) in Ipoh has been changed to:
Venue: Stadium Indera Mulia, Jalan Ghazali Jawi, 31400 Ipoh, Perak
Date: 3 – 5 April 2009
10 - 12 April 2009 (11:00am - 9:00pm)
·KL Convention Centre, Kuala Lumpur - Kuala Lumpur City Centre, 50888 Kuala Lumpur
·Persada Johor International Convention Centre, Johor Bahru - Jalan Abdullah Ibrahim, 80000 Johor Bahru
·Village Mall, Sungai Petani - Kedah
·Dewan Masyarakat Tawau, Tawau - Sabah
Move Tawau PC Fair 2009(I) to 10-12 April 2009
Dear PIKOM PC Fair 2009(I) Exhibitors,
Thank you for participating in the PIKOM PC Fair 2009(I).
PIKOM has received an official letter from the venue operator, Majlis Perbandaran Tawau notifying PIKOM that it has to make way for an Official State Government function on 3 & 4 April 2009. As per terms of the lease contract, Majlis Perbandaran Tawau has the right to release PIKOM's booking should it clashes with any state function.
As such, we would like to inform all exhibitors that the PC Fair in Tawau is moving its dates to 10 – 12 April 2009.
17 - 19 April 2009 (11:00am - 9:00pm)
·Miri Indoor Stadium, Miri - Sawarak
·Sibu Trade & Exhibition Centre, Sibu - Sarawak
·Penang International Sports Arena, Penang - Jalan Tun Dr Awang, 11900 Relau
·Mahkota Parade Melaka, Melaka - Jalan Merdeka, 75000 Bandar Hilir
24 - 26 April 2009 (11:00am - 9:00pm)
·Dewan Jubli Intan, Muar - Johor
Muar PC Fair 2009(I) move to 24-26 April 2009
Dear PIKOM PC Fair 2009(I) Exhibitors,
Thank you for participating in the PIKOM PC Fair 2009(I).
During the PC Fair 2009(I) Launch and Balloting on 21st January 2009, we announced that there will be a change of date for the fair in Muar. As such, we would like to inform all exhibitors that the PC Fair in Muar is moving its dates to 24 – 26 April 2009.
Please take note of the change of date.
We also wish to inform that there are still booths available in Muar (latest layout attached). If you are interested please contact the PC Fair Team as the booking of the booth is on a first-come-first serve basis.
(souce from http://pikom.org.my)
25 years of Gaya Street Fair
By: Mary Chin (Daily Express)
IT is hard to imagine Sundays in Kota Kinabalu without the Gaya Street Fair. That thought alone makes Datuk John Lim Guan Yee a happy man.
Essentially his brainchild, he said it goes to show that the yardstick of success need not always be in terms of job longevity but the impact of a person and his work on society.
Despite holding the post of Kota Kinabalu Municipal Council (KKMC) President for only two years (1983 to 1985), John has seen his legacy survive a quarter century and grow from strength to strength.
Over the years, the weekly open-air pedestrian mall has not only become a tourist attraction and shopping destination, including for locals, but also an opportunity for small-time vendors as well as introduce their products.
Today, the stretch from the City Hall building to Jesselton Hotel is a hive of colour and activity till noon on Sundays, providing a boost to the local economy as well. More so during festive occasions.
"This weekly pedestrian mall has indisputably helped so many people make a living. It has helped the State in general and Kota Kinabalu in particular," said Lim. He cited one trader who made RM5,000 from just four Sundays at Gaya Street - which is about thrice what a civil servant can expect to take home working eight hours a day, five days a week, for a month.
It is more than a Tamu and limited only by one's imagination on what can be sold and what is illegal.
There is a myriad of merchandise, including even crocodile eggs at one stage until the public complained, fearful that this would result in crocodiles one day lurking in the city's drains.
So successful has the fair been that there is now a parallel fair at the back lane offering even rare jungle orchids.
Farmers and ordinary folks from as far as Kota Belud, Kudat and Kota Marudu, among other districts, would make the trip to sell their agricultural produce and other wares.
And it has not always been a street offering bargains. Many local non-governmental organisations (NGOs) like the Sabah Nurses Association (Sana) have managed to raise funds for their own organisations by putting up a counter for blood pressure checks and a donation box.
At least one political party led by a former Chief Minister is also sometimes at hand sitting behind a desk to hear out problems involving officialdom.
Then there are the visually impaired who have been trained in foot reflexology by the Human Resource Development Department (JPSM).
Their counterparts, who are musically inclined, entertain the crowd with a repertoire of Malay and Kadazan numbers. Visitors to the Sunday Fair are seen to donate ungrudgingly.
What is certain is that one is bound to bump into tourists from different parts of the world, seeking small and handy locally-crafted items to take home as souvenirs.
They are attracted to the street's carnival atmosphere. It is no surprise then that many bread-and-breakfast joints have sprouted up within a stone's throw of Gaya Street.
People like Kathy Yunker from Canada, who had a field day at the Gaya Street Sunday Fair, recently, capturing images of the "God of Fortune" on his rounds to distribute goodies to children during the recent Chinese New Year celebration.
"It's exciting," she remarked as she snapped shots of the festive decorations at the colourful fair.
Health care professionals, Mathew and Anita Sterling from Sydney, Australia found the weekly fair "very cultural".
"We like the atmosphere, the music, the food. We saw the blind playing the guitar. They are lovely," said the couple who bought a wallet and costume jewellery.
German university student Sarah Loechner, 29, was looking for textile and food but found the materials sold there is a bit expensive.
A bit of Sabah all in one - that was how two Australian ladies from Adelaide described the Gaya Street Fair.
"It's lovely. The atmosphereÉfriendly people, a mix of goods - food, clothing and plants," commented Helen McCarl, a nurse, and Cathy Harmin, a business manager. They were in quest of Sabah batik, having seen someone wearing it the previous night while on a safari on the Klias River in Beaufort. Thai batik was aplenty but they were not interested in it.
McCarl and Harmin ended up almost buying handmade table cloth from Indonesia, costing RM40 at a stall. "We asked for RM38 but the vendor won't go further down."
The duo on their maiden visit here said they found Sabah on the Internet.
"Well, just a week's holidayÉnot long enough."
The idea of having a fair where people could meet came about from Lim's travels around the world as an airline firm's manager. "I saw that almost every city had a pedestrian mall. I said to myself, why can't KK have a Sunday Fair of its own?"
However, when he sold his idea to the Council, there were Doubting Thomases around who thought it was impossible to hold a weekly fair at Gaya Street. Other sceptics suggested a once-a-year affair.
But an optimistic Lim was adamant about his proposal and went ahead.
Contrary to what was believed, it worked on the ground, so he was proven right.
A Daily Express chat with older vendors at the fair found they still remember the Council's contribution under the then Berjaya Government.
Mary Wong, 71, from Kg Salut, Telipok, said she has been there since the Gaya Street Sunday Fair started.
"From Day One, I have been making a weekly living here and I will be here for as long as I can move around. Initially, we didn't have to pay a sen for the lot allocated to us. It was free but now we have to pay," she told this writer.
At their age, the grandmother of four and her 83-year-old husband, who now live at Signal Hill, Kota Kinabalu, are still creative, making flower-pots out of coconut shells which are sold for RM4-RM6.50 each.
Turtle vendor Loke Kok Heng, 69, chipped in: "Oh, I have been selling turtles since the Berjaya eraÉcoming to 30 years already. My earnings varies from Sunday to Sunday." He offers two types - kim chen kui (gold money turtle) and chau kui (grass turtle) priced at RM68 and RM15-RM18 each respectively.
Then Chief Minister, Datuk Harris Mohd Salleh, spotted Lim's potential and handpicked him to be President of KKMC in 1983. For 19 years until 1982, he had served as Area Manager for Sabah, Sarawak and Brunei for Cathay Pacific Airways.
He was no stranger to KKMC, having served as a councillor and had made a head start in getting the Council's Urban Beautification Committee, of which he was Chairman, to provide the KK Greening Programme.
His greatest challenge at KKMC was trying to reverse its financial status - a task he succeeded, he says, due to his business acumen.
"The average yearly budget was approximately RM30 million to RM40 million, just enough to cover the provision of essential services.
However, I managed to put the Council in the black. When I left the Council, there was a surplus of RM7 million. It was through a lot of hard effort and we had to be prudent with spending," he said.
His adherence to stringent controls paid off though it might have upset some people. "But I did the right thing. My conscience is clear."
In his first year, the Council chalked up enough revenue to settle all the outstanding debts (loans from the Government, etc).
"This was possible through savings, collection of assessment rates and cutting down a lot of unnecessary expenses."
Lim recalled how on his first day of office, he was approached by a staff member, telling him to sign a paper on street lighting expenditure.
"I had to verify the cost estimated by those responsible for installing street lights. I refused to sign. How can I sign buta (blindly)?" he said.
On another occasion, he was told that the street lights at the KK Central Market needed to be changed.
"So I asked them which bulbs were not working. But they couldn't tell me.
I told them to put on the lights to check which were not functioning. And they said it had to be done at night. But surely we could find out even at daytime."
The Street Lighting Committee was entrusted with the task of monitoring the use of street lights in the municipality.
"To make sure that every street light was accounted for throughout the municipality, we gave each one a number. That way, we would know which were in order and which were not."
Lim is pleased that Kota Kinabalu has transformed into a modern metropolis, a far cry from almost three decades ago.
Among the major improvements are enhancement of aesthetic quality and provision of better utilities and public facilities.
"KK has taken on a cosmopolitan outlook with its wide range of shopping malls, hotels (of various ratings), restaurants and entertainment outlets."
These improvements, he said, have invariably made KK a prime tourist destination, as evidenced by the increased number of tourist arrivals.
"This is fully in tandem with the thrust of the Sabah Tourism Board (STB), which is to make Sabah an ideal tourist destination. Clearly, such effort is supported by the KK International Airport expansion and implementation of new urban renewal projects like lBorneo Hypermall and Sutera Harbour Resort."
Against this backdrop, the third KKMC President said Kota Kinabalu is definitely on the right track to grow as a modern city on par with the national capital, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Hong Kong and the like.
Towards this end, he said KK should now further tap the city's advantages.
"It is the gateway to the majestic Mount Kinabalu, Southeast Asia's highest peak. The city offers excellent and comparatively cheap seafood. We should also capitalise on our non-crowding and friendly lifestyle."
The other plus point, he added, is KK's scenic beauty along the Likas coastal drive and Tunku Abdul Rahman Park.
Given the seriousness of global warming, Lim said it is imperative that the Government preserve the remaining "green lungs" such as the Tun Fuad Park, City Park and other green belts. "These are places that are very popular with the increasingly health and environment-conscious public."
At the same time, he wants historical sites that are synonymous with Kota Kinabalu to be preserved by maintaining and improving the State capital's icons. These include the Atkinson Clock Tower, Australia Place, Independence Memorial, Padang Merdeka and Prince Philip Park.
IT is hard to imagine Sundays in Kota Kinabalu without the Gaya Street Fair. That thought alone makes Datuk John Lim Guan Yee a happy man.
Essentially his brainchild, he said it goes to show that the yardstick of success need not always be in terms of job longevity but the impact of a person and his work on society.
Despite holding the post of Kota Kinabalu Municipal Council (KKMC) President for only two years (1983 to 1985), John has seen his legacy survive a quarter century and grow from strength to strength.
Over the years, the weekly open-air pedestrian mall has not only become a tourist attraction and shopping destination, including for locals, but also an opportunity for small-time vendors as well as introduce their products.
Today, the stretch from the City Hall building to Jesselton Hotel is a hive of colour and activity till noon on Sundays, providing a boost to the local economy as well. More so during festive occasions.
"This weekly pedestrian mall has indisputably helped so many people make a living. It has helped the State in general and Kota Kinabalu in particular," said Lim. He cited one trader who made RM5,000 from just four Sundays at Gaya Street - which is about thrice what a civil servant can expect to take home working eight hours a day, five days a week, for a month.
It is more than a Tamu and limited only by one's imagination on what can be sold and what is illegal.
There is a myriad of merchandise, including even crocodile eggs at one stage until the public complained, fearful that this would result in crocodiles one day lurking in the city's drains.
So successful has the fair been that there is now a parallel fair at the back lane offering even rare jungle orchids.
Farmers and ordinary folks from as far as Kota Belud, Kudat and Kota Marudu, among other districts, would make the trip to sell their agricultural produce and other wares.
And it has not always been a street offering bargains. Many local non-governmental organisations (NGOs) like the Sabah Nurses Association (Sana) have managed to raise funds for their own organisations by putting up a counter for blood pressure checks and a donation box.
At least one political party led by a former Chief Minister is also sometimes at hand sitting behind a desk to hear out problems involving officialdom.
Then there are the visually impaired who have been trained in foot reflexology by the Human Resource Development Department (JPSM).
Their counterparts, who are musically inclined, entertain the crowd with a repertoire of Malay and Kadazan numbers. Visitors to the Sunday Fair are seen to donate ungrudgingly.
What is certain is that one is bound to bump into tourists from different parts of the world, seeking small and handy locally-crafted items to take home as souvenirs.
They are attracted to the street's carnival atmosphere. It is no surprise then that many bread-and-breakfast joints have sprouted up within a stone's throw of Gaya Street.
People like Kathy Yunker from Canada, who had a field day at the Gaya Street Sunday Fair, recently, capturing images of the "God of Fortune" on his rounds to distribute goodies to children during the recent Chinese New Year celebration.
"It's exciting," she remarked as she snapped shots of the festive decorations at the colourful fair.
Health care professionals, Mathew and Anita Sterling from Sydney, Australia found the weekly fair "very cultural".
"We like the atmosphere, the music, the food. We saw the blind playing the guitar. They are lovely," said the couple who bought a wallet and costume jewellery.
German university student Sarah Loechner, 29, was looking for textile and food but found the materials sold there is a bit expensive.
A bit of Sabah all in one - that was how two Australian ladies from Adelaide described the Gaya Street Fair.
"It's lovely. The atmosphereÉfriendly people, a mix of goods - food, clothing and plants," commented Helen McCarl, a nurse, and Cathy Harmin, a business manager. They were in quest of Sabah batik, having seen someone wearing it the previous night while on a safari on the Klias River in Beaufort. Thai batik was aplenty but they were not interested in it.
McCarl and Harmin ended up almost buying handmade table cloth from Indonesia, costing RM40 at a stall. "We asked for RM38 but the vendor won't go further down."
The duo on their maiden visit here said they found Sabah on the Internet.
"Well, just a week's holidayÉnot long enough."
The idea of having a fair where people could meet came about from Lim's travels around the world as an airline firm's manager. "I saw that almost every city had a pedestrian mall. I said to myself, why can't KK have a Sunday Fair of its own?"
However, when he sold his idea to the Council, there were Doubting Thomases around who thought it was impossible to hold a weekly fair at Gaya Street. Other sceptics suggested a once-a-year affair.
But an optimistic Lim was adamant about his proposal and went ahead.
Contrary to what was believed, it worked on the ground, so he was proven right.
A Daily Express chat with older vendors at the fair found they still remember the Council's contribution under the then Berjaya Government.
Mary Wong, 71, from Kg Salut, Telipok, said she has been there since the Gaya Street Sunday Fair started.
"From Day One, I have been making a weekly living here and I will be here for as long as I can move around. Initially, we didn't have to pay a sen for the lot allocated to us. It was free but now we have to pay," she told this writer.
At their age, the grandmother of four and her 83-year-old husband, who now live at Signal Hill, Kota Kinabalu, are still creative, making flower-pots out of coconut shells which are sold for RM4-RM6.50 each.
Turtle vendor Loke Kok Heng, 69, chipped in: "Oh, I have been selling turtles since the Berjaya eraÉcoming to 30 years already. My earnings varies from Sunday to Sunday." He offers two types - kim chen kui (gold money turtle) and chau kui (grass turtle) priced at RM68 and RM15-RM18 each respectively.
Then Chief Minister, Datuk Harris Mohd Salleh, spotted Lim's potential and handpicked him to be President of KKMC in 1983. For 19 years until 1982, he had served as Area Manager for Sabah, Sarawak and Brunei for Cathay Pacific Airways.
He was no stranger to KKMC, having served as a councillor and had made a head start in getting the Council's Urban Beautification Committee, of which he was Chairman, to provide the KK Greening Programme.
His greatest challenge at KKMC was trying to reverse its financial status - a task he succeeded, he says, due to his business acumen.
"The average yearly budget was approximately RM30 million to RM40 million, just enough to cover the provision of essential services.
However, I managed to put the Council in the black. When I left the Council, there was a surplus of RM7 million. It was through a lot of hard effort and we had to be prudent with spending," he said.
His adherence to stringent controls paid off though it might have upset some people. "But I did the right thing. My conscience is clear."
In his first year, the Council chalked up enough revenue to settle all the outstanding debts (loans from the Government, etc).
"This was possible through savings, collection of assessment rates and cutting down a lot of unnecessary expenses."
Lim recalled how on his first day of office, he was approached by a staff member, telling him to sign a paper on street lighting expenditure.
"I had to verify the cost estimated by those responsible for installing street lights. I refused to sign. How can I sign buta (blindly)?" he said.
On another occasion, he was told that the street lights at the KK Central Market needed to be changed.
"So I asked them which bulbs were not working. But they couldn't tell me.
I told them to put on the lights to check which were not functioning. And they said it had to be done at night. But surely we could find out even at daytime."
The Street Lighting Committee was entrusted with the task of monitoring the use of street lights in the municipality.
"To make sure that every street light was accounted for throughout the municipality, we gave each one a number. That way, we would know which were in order and which were not."
Lim is pleased that Kota Kinabalu has transformed into a modern metropolis, a far cry from almost three decades ago.
Among the major improvements are enhancement of aesthetic quality and provision of better utilities and public facilities.
"KK has taken on a cosmopolitan outlook with its wide range of shopping malls, hotels (of various ratings), restaurants and entertainment outlets."
These improvements, he said, have invariably made KK a prime tourist destination, as evidenced by the increased number of tourist arrivals.
"This is fully in tandem with the thrust of the Sabah Tourism Board (STB), which is to make Sabah an ideal tourist destination. Clearly, such effort is supported by the KK International Airport expansion and implementation of new urban renewal projects like lBorneo Hypermall and Sutera Harbour Resort."
Against this backdrop, the third KKMC President said Kota Kinabalu is definitely on the right track to grow as a modern city on par with the national capital, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Hong Kong and the like.
Towards this end, he said KK should now further tap the city's advantages.
"It is the gateway to the majestic Mount Kinabalu, Southeast Asia's highest peak. The city offers excellent and comparatively cheap seafood. We should also capitalise on our non-crowding and friendly lifestyle."
The other plus point, he added, is KK's scenic beauty along the Likas coastal drive and Tunku Abdul Rahman Park.
Given the seriousness of global warming, Lim said it is imperative that the Government preserve the remaining "green lungs" such as the Tun Fuad Park, City Park and other green belts. "These are places that are very popular with the increasingly health and environment-conscious public."
At the same time, he wants historical sites that are synonymous with Kota Kinabalu to be preserved by maintaining and improving the State capital's icons. These include the Atkinson Clock Tower, Australia Place, Independence Memorial, Padang Merdeka and Prince Philip Park.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
國行再降息0.5%‧應對全球經濟衰退衝擊
（吉隆坡）國家銀行再次宣佈降息，而這次的降息率為0.5%，指標利率降至2%。新的降息措施將於3月1日生效。
國家銀行是於週二（2月24日）召開的議息會議中宣佈降息，而這出人意表的宣佈，似乎意味著將於週五（27日）公佈的馬來西亞2008年第4季經濟成長數據糟透了。
第4季可能萎縮0.4%
根據經濟學家的預測，大馬第4季經濟可能萎縮0.4%。
因此，國家銀行從去年11月份至今降息3次，降息率共1.50%，明顯是為了應對全球經濟衰退對馬來西亞經濟造成的衝擊。
國家銀行於傍晚發出的一項貨幣政策聲明中指出，隨著最新的降息措施，馬來西亞指標利率（隔夜政策利率）的頂限及底線，也分別調降至2.25%及1.75%。
為進一步降低中介成本，法定儲備率也將從現有的2%下調至1%。
國家銀行於1月21日的降息行動中，降息75個基點至2.50%。法定儲備率則下調1.50%至2%。
國內銀行目前的基貸率平均為5.95%，12個月的定存利率則介於3%。
光明日報‧2009.02.25
國家銀行是於週二（2月24日）召開的議息會議中宣佈降息，而這出人意表的宣佈，似乎意味著將於週五（27日）公佈的馬來西亞2008年第4季經濟成長數據糟透了。
第4季可能萎縮0.4%
根據經濟學家的預測，大馬第4季經濟可能萎縮0.4%。
因此，國家銀行從去年11月份至今降息3次，降息率共1.50%，明顯是為了應對全球經濟衰退對馬來西亞經濟造成的衝擊。
國家銀行於傍晚發出的一項貨幣政策聲明中指出，隨著最新的降息措施，馬來西亞指標利率（隔夜政策利率）的頂限及底線，也分別調降至2.25%及1.75%。
為進一步降低中介成本，法定儲備率也將從現有的2%下調至1%。
國家銀行於1月21日的降息行動中，降息75個基點至2.50%。法定儲備率則下調1.50%至2%。
國內銀行目前的基貸率平均為5.95%，12個月的定存利率則介於3%。
光明日報‧2009.02.25
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
劉德華朱麗倩情侶照‧24年首度曝光
劉德華與朱麗倩第一次被拍到合照。
（吉隆坡）劉德華與朱麗倩隱藏了24年的地下戀情，隨著兩人第一次被拍到合照終於正式浮出台面！
“永遠的偶像”劉德華，為了保持偶像身份，一直絕口不提感情事，多年來堅守“寧被人知，莫被人見”的態度，雖然多年來一直盛傳朱麗倩是華仔背後的女人，且多次傳出兩人已結婚生了小孩，但華仔每次都堅決否認，還不惜發毒誓，鑑於兩人從來不曾被拍下合照，因此華仔否認得理直氣壯。
傳4月娶朱麗倩
但他上週隨朱麗倩回大馬娘家向“岳父”拜年，並與數名親友同台茶敘被拍個正著，讓兩人的關係無所遁形！而去年尾有傳劉德華今年初會在大馬樂浪島舉行婚禮，正式給朱麗倩一個名份，未知此次來馬，是否是為婚禮作準備呢？
週刊稱劉德華將在4月迎娶朱麗倩，婚禮地點就是去年朱麗倩的妹妹舉辦婚禮的酒店。而劉德華新專輯中林夕填詞的歌曲《長途伴侶》也充滿了向朱麗倩表白的意味。但究竟這一切跡象是否真的將在4月發生，還需要大家慢慢等待。
今日（週二，2月24日）晚上在香港出版的最新一期的《東週刊》報導，農曆新年期間未能抽出時間來馬向朱父拜年的劉德華，上週專程來馬補數，並約同朱家親友前往位於敦拉薩路，美國大使館對面的Delicious餐廳共晉下午茶舊敘。
當天，朱父一行6人從巴生住家開車出發前往吉隆坡敦拉薩路的Delicious餐廳，當時餐廳內還有數桌華人客人在享用下午茶，眾人敏感的四週張望，似乎有所避忌，並選擇了一個較角落的座位。眾人坐下未幾，紮著馬尾、外形變化不大的朱麗倩從餐廳門口走進，不久即見劉德華尾隨在後，兩人很自然的就坐在一起，而且席中還出現一名神秘的六七歲小女孩，容貌酷似劉德華，被疑為劉德華傳說中的女兒。
劉德華與眾親友餐敘了近1個小時，讓過去二十多年來一直沒有在媒體上同時曝光的二人，第一次被拍到合照。
星洲日報‧2009.02.24
沙叻再也收費站廢除後‧延伸大道另設新收費站
（吉隆坡）政府於2月13日宣佈廢除新班底大道一個收費站（單向）後，工程部長拿督斯里莫哈末再因於週二再捎好消息，宣佈即日起廢除新街場大道沙叻再也來回方向的收費站。不過，他也同時宣佈，新街場大道即將進行一項大道伸延工程，而此延伸大道將會設立另一個新的收費站。
他於週二出席廢除沙叻再也收費站儀式時作出宣佈。不過，他並沒有針對新收費站的收費作進一步披露。
陸佑路一帶收過路費
據瞭解，伸延大道是從新街場大道及皇宮路開始至陳秀連路地區，並在班登烏達瑪的交通燈路口及第二中環大道的班登再也結束，收費站將設立在陸佑路一帶。
有關的大道伸延工程耗資6億4900萬令吉，工程將在36個月內完成，即從2009年至2012年，主要是為了舒緩隆市南部塞車的情況。
有關延伸大道將會是個雙向大道，每個方向有3條車道，全長12.3公里，其中9.2公里，即80%是高架天橋，另外1.4公里，即20%則是平面道路，前後共有10個高架天橋路口。
再因說，此大道將會減緩第一及第二中環公路的塞車情況，這兩條公路目前的交通流量已達100%。
原有道路保留供選擇
“此大道也可以成為隆市東部往來南部時，在塞車時段的交替路，駕駛人士也可以在不需要使用敦拉薩路的情況下，通過這條大道直接前往隆市南部。”
他指出，內閣已經批准了這項工程，目前設計也已完成，工程招標工作將會由大道局負責，並進行公開招標。
他披露，此項工程並沒有佔用太多土地，主要是因為大部份乃是高架天橋。
不過，他強調，此大道建竣後，原有的道路將會獲得保留，因此駕駛人士可以選擇使用大道或行駛原有的道路。
他說，比較起現在，新的收費以每公里的數額來說將會比較便宜，惟他表示將在稍後披露進一步詳情。
他也預料大道建竣後將會為周圍帶來經濟發展及成長。
沙叻再也收費站示威事紀
‧2009年2月21日
士布爹馬華聯同沙叻秀新村社區展開和平糾察，並收集1萬個簽名促請當局廢除新街場大道沙叻秀收費站。
‧2004年8月15日
士布爹國會議員郭素沁率領與居民一齊抗議新街場大道調高過路費，出席者包括武吉免登國會議員方貴倫及蕉賴國會議員陳國偉。
郭素沁認為，市區不應設立收費站，並鼓勵市民杯葛使用新街場大道。
‧2003年6月30日
沙叻秀新村13團體與馬華士布爹區會及村民在Besraya收費站7週年時，要求該公司兌現當年許下建交替路，及安頓被搬遷的居民到廉價屋的兩大承諾。
由於大道公司在建大道時，曾要求受影響的297戶居民搬遷，並承諾將他們安頓到附近廉價屋，但7年過去了仍未兌現承諾。
‧2003年6月26日
當時馬華士布爹區會主席蔡崇繼號召居民響應“我們要U轉”運動，希望大道公司重新開放U轉以避開收費站。
你知道嗎？
新街場大道長16.5公里
沙叻再也站收費RM1.30
新街場大道位於沙叻秀新村路口的收費站，第一階段工程在1998年9月前完成，並在翌年4月竣工。新街場大道全長約16.5公里，途中有綠野和沙叻再也兩個收費站，這兩個收費站分別從1999年1月14日及5月15日起開始收費，轎車的單程收費從最初的1令吉漲至目前的1令吉30仙。
根據合約，大道公司將從1999年開始收費至2028年，並在為期29年調整3次收費，即2004年（1令吉30仙）、2009年（1令吉50仙）和2014年（1令吉80仙）。
有10交通樞紐
新街場大道共有10個交通樞紐，包括博特拉大學、無拉港及斯里肯邦安、新街場鎮等。附近的著名地標有博大、雪蘭莪賽馬場、金馬宮酒店、綠野水上購物廣場和南城廣場等，也銜接多條主要大道通往吉隆坡。
由於沙叻再也收費站靠近沙叻秀新村入口處，過去10年來居民為了避開收費站，寧願使用路面狀況欠佳的唯一窄小和危險交替路，且常在早上造成嚴重阻塞。當地的華團組織，也曾進行多次和平請願要求廢除收費站。
如今，隨著沙叻再也來回方向的收費站，在2009年2月25日取消收費，也讓沙叻秀一帶和新街場居民終於願望成真。
光明日報‧2009.02.24
他於週二出席廢除沙叻再也收費站儀式時作出宣佈。不過，他並沒有針對新收費站的收費作進一步披露。
陸佑路一帶收過路費
據瞭解，伸延大道是從新街場大道及皇宮路開始至陳秀連路地區，並在班登烏達瑪的交通燈路口及第二中環大道的班登再也結束，收費站將設立在陸佑路一帶。
有關的大道伸延工程耗資6億4900萬令吉，工程將在36個月內完成，即從2009年至2012年，主要是為了舒緩隆市南部塞車的情況。
有關延伸大道將會是個雙向大道，每個方向有3條車道，全長12.3公里，其中9.2公里，即80%是高架天橋，另外1.4公里，即20%則是平面道路，前後共有10個高架天橋路口。
再因說，此大道將會減緩第一及第二中環公路的塞車情況，這兩條公路目前的交通流量已達100%。
原有道路保留供選擇
“此大道也可以成為隆市東部往來南部時，在塞車時段的交替路，駕駛人士也可以在不需要使用敦拉薩路的情況下，通過這條大道直接前往隆市南部。”
他指出，內閣已經批准了這項工程，目前設計也已完成，工程招標工作將會由大道局負責，並進行公開招標。
他披露，此項工程並沒有佔用太多土地，主要是因為大部份乃是高架天橋。
不過，他強調，此大道建竣後，原有的道路將會獲得保留，因此駕駛人士可以選擇使用大道或行駛原有的道路。
他說，比較起現在，新的收費以每公里的數額來說將會比較便宜，惟他表示將在稍後披露進一步詳情。
他也預料大道建竣後將會為周圍帶來經濟發展及成長。
沙叻再也收費站示威事紀
‧2009年2月21日
士布爹馬華聯同沙叻秀新村社區展開和平糾察，並收集1萬個簽名促請當局廢除新街場大道沙叻秀收費站。
‧2004年8月15日
士布爹國會議員郭素沁率領與居民一齊抗議新街場大道調高過路費，出席者包括武吉免登國會議員方貴倫及蕉賴國會議員陳國偉。
郭素沁認為，市區不應設立收費站，並鼓勵市民杯葛使用新街場大道。
‧2003年6月30日
沙叻秀新村13團體與馬華士布爹區會及村民在Besraya收費站7週年時，要求該公司兌現當年許下建交替路，及安頓被搬遷的居民到廉價屋的兩大承諾。
由於大道公司在建大道時，曾要求受影響的297戶居民搬遷，並承諾將他們安頓到附近廉價屋，但7年過去了仍未兌現承諾。
‧2003年6月26日
當時馬華士布爹區會主席蔡崇繼號召居民響應“我們要U轉”運動，希望大道公司重新開放U轉以避開收費站。
你知道嗎？
新街場大道長16.5公里
沙叻再也站收費RM1.30
新街場大道位於沙叻秀新村路口的收費站，第一階段工程在1998年9月前完成，並在翌年4月竣工。新街場大道全長約16.5公里，途中有綠野和沙叻再也兩個收費站，這兩個收費站分別從1999年1月14日及5月15日起開始收費，轎車的單程收費從最初的1令吉漲至目前的1令吉30仙。
根據合約，大道公司將從1999年開始收費至2028年，並在為期29年調整3次收費，即2004年（1令吉30仙）、2009年（1令吉50仙）和2014年（1令吉80仙）。
有10交通樞紐
新街場大道共有10個交通樞紐，包括博特拉大學、無拉港及斯里肯邦安、新街場鎮等。附近的著名地標有博大、雪蘭莪賽馬場、金馬宮酒店、綠野水上購物廣場和南城廣場等，也銜接多條主要大道通往吉隆坡。
由於沙叻再也收費站靠近沙叻秀新村入口處，過去10年來居民為了避開收費站，寧願使用路面狀況欠佳的唯一窄小和危險交替路，且常在早上造成嚴重阻塞。當地的華團組織，也曾進行多次和平請願要求廢除收費站。
如今，隨著沙叻再也來回方向的收費站，在2009年2月25日取消收費，也讓沙叻秀一帶和新街場居民終於願望成真。
光明日報‧2009.02.24
Monday, February 23, 2009
奧巴馬4月「派紅包」 落實「史上最快最廣」減稅 矢言任內財赤減半
明報專訊】美國總統奧巴馬在周末上任滿一個月之際，宣布落實號稱「史上最快最廣」的減稅措施，4月 1日開始向全美納稅人派「紅包」退稅。奧巴馬又矢言在4年任期內，透過向富豪加稅及削減政府開支等措施，把財赤減逾一半至5330億美元(約4.1萬億港元)。但美國正大灑金錢刺激經濟，這一減稅宏圖受到輿論質疑。
奧巴馬在每周講話中表示，刺激經濟方案中的減稅措施已在執行，在職人士可於4 月1日後獲得退稅，一個普通家庭每月最少可獲額外65美元(約504港元)。財政部亦發表聲明，聲稱已於上周六開始向僱主發出指引，減免僱主稅款，並要求僱主把這筆省下的錢分給僱員，全國95％工人家庭因此受惠。奧巴馬說﹕「在美國史上，從來沒有減稅措施推行得這麼快，受惠人數這麼多」。奧巴馬將動用刺激經濟方案中的三分之一基金，即約2860億美元，用作減稅。他上任時，華府財赤達1.3萬億美元(約10萬億港元)，預料今年財赤將達1.5萬億美元。他表示﹕「若財赤不受控，經濟就不能持續增長」。
向富豪加稅增收入
為達至在2013年削減巨額財赤的目標，華府將採取一系列措施，包括向年薪逾25萬美元的納稅人加稅、在16個月內撤走駐伊拉克美軍，以省下每年900億美元的戰爭開支，以及向對畄基金及私募基金合伙人的投資收入加稅、取消沒效益的工程項目等。白宮官員透露，奧巴馬視減財赤為要務，因為長遠來說，透過舉債向國內外借錢，會拖慢美國經濟增長。華府2013年財赤若可如願減至5330億美元，財赤與整體經濟產值的比率，將由目前的逾10%降至3%。
今開峰會商減赤方法
奧巴馬今天(周一)召集兩黨議員、經濟學者與商界代表到白宮，舉行「財政責任」峰會，商討減少財赤方法。周二會向國會發表講話，列出華府的緊急財政政策重點，輿論形容這等次講話的重要性等同發表國情咨文。他周四還會到國會簡介其首份財政預算案藍圖(本年10月1日實施)，預料將包括10年規劃，並會加快落實推行競選承諾，如增設醫療保障、擴大醫療保障範圍至4600萬未受保的人、透過要求排廢氣公司購買准許證，2020年前替國庫增加3000億美元收入等。弗吉尼亞大學薩巴托教授說﹕「本周十分重要，奧巴馬上任的首100天，將是近百年來歷屆總統最重要的百日新政之一」。
法新社/彭博通訊社/紐約時報
奧巴馬在每周講話中表示，刺激經濟方案中的減稅措施已在執行，在職人士可於4 月1日後獲得退稅，一個普通家庭每月最少可獲額外65美元(約504港元)。財政部亦發表聲明，聲稱已於上周六開始向僱主發出指引，減免僱主稅款，並要求僱主把這筆省下的錢分給僱員，全國95％工人家庭因此受惠。奧巴馬說﹕「在美國史上，從來沒有減稅措施推行得這麼快，受惠人數這麼多」。奧巴馬將動用刺激經濟方案中的三分之一基金，即約2860億美元，用作減稅。他上任時，華府財赤達1.3萬億美元(約10萬億港元)，預料今年財赤將達1.5萬億美元。他表示﹕「若財赤不受控，經濟就不能持續增長」。
向富豪加稅增收入
為達至在2013年削減巨額財赤的目標，華府將採取一系列措施，包括向年薪逾25萬美元的納稅人加稅、在16個月內撤走駐伊拉克美軍，以省下每年900億美元的戰爭開支，以及向對畄基金及私募基金合伙人的投資收入加稅、取消沒效益的工程項目等。白宮官員透露，奧巴馬視減財赤為要務，因為長遠來說，透過舉債向國內外借錢，會拖慢美國經濟增長。華府2013年財赤若可如願減至5330億美元，財赤與整體經濟產值的比率，將由目前的逾10%降至3%。
今開峰會商減赤方法
奧巴馬今天(周一)召集兩黨議員、經濟學者與商界代表到白宮，舉行「財政責任」峰會，商討減少財赤方法。周二會向國會發表講話，列出華府的緊急財政政策重點，輿論形容這等次講話的重要性等同發表國情咨文。他周四還會到國會簡介其首份財政預算案藍圖(本年10月1日實施)，預料將包括10年規劃，並會加快落實推行競選承諾，如增設醫療保障、擴大醫療保障範圍至4600萬未受保的人、透過要求排廢氣公司購買准許證，2020年前替國庫增加3000億美元收入等。弗吉尼亞大學薩巴托教授說﹕「本周十分重要，奧巴馬上任的首100天，將是近百年來歷屆總統最重要的百日新政之一」。
法新社/彭博通訊社/紐約時報
奧巴馬4月「派紅包」 落實「史上最快最廣」減稅 矢言任內財赤減半
明報專訊】美國總統奧巴馬在周末上任滿一個月之際，宣布落實號稱「史上最快最廣」的減稅措施，4月 1日開始向全美納稅人派「紅包」退稅。奧巴馬又矢言在4年任期內，透過向富豪加稅及削減政府開支等措施，把財赤減逾一半至5330億美元(約4.1萬億港元)。但美國正大灑金錢刺激經濟，這一減稅宏圖受到輿論質疑。
奧巴馬在每周講話中表示，刺激經濟方案中的減稅措施已在執行，在職人士可於4 月1日後獲得退稅，一個普通家庭每月最少可獲額外65美元(約504港元)。財政部亦發表聲明，聲稱已於上周六開始向僱主發出指引，減免僱主稅款，並要求僱主把這筆省下的錢分給僱員，全國95％工人家庭因此受惠。奧巴馬說﹕「在美國史上，從來沒有減稅措施推行得這麼快，受惠人數這麼多」。奧巴馬將動用刺激經濟方案中的三分之一基金，即約2860億美元，用作減稅。他上任時，華府財赤達1.3萬億美元(約10萬億港元)，預料今年財赤將達1.5萬億美元。他表示﹕「若財赤不受控，經濟就不能持續增長」。
向富豪加稅增收入
為達至在2013年削減巨額財赤的目標，華府將採取一系列措施，包括向年薪逾25萬美元的納稅人加稅、在16個月內撤走駐伊拉克美軍，以省下每年900億美元的戰爭開支，以及向對畄基金及私募基金合伙人的投資收入加稅、取消沒效益的工程項目等。白宮官員透露，奧巴馬視減財赤為要務，因為長遠來說，透過舉債向國內外借錢，會拖慢美國經濟增長。華府2013年財赤若可如願減至5330億美元，財赤與整體經濟產值的比率，將由目前的逾10%降至3%。
今開峰會商減赤方法
奧巴馬今天(周一)召集兩黨議員、經濟學者與商界代表到白宮，舉行「財政責任」峰會，商討減少財赤方法。周二會向國會發表講話，列出華府的緊急財政政策重點，輿論形容這等次講話的重要性等同發表國情咨文。他周四還會到國會簡介其首份財政預算案藍圖(本年10月1日實施)，預料將包括10年規劃，並會加快落實推行競選承諾，如增設醫療保障、擴大醫療保障範圍至4600萬未受保的人、透過要求排廢氣公司購買准許證，2020年前替國庫增加3000億美元收入等。弗吉尼亞大學薩巴托教授說﹕「本周十分重要，奧巴馬上任的首100天，將是近百年來歷屆總統最重要的百日新政之一」。
法新社/彭博通訊社/紐約時報
奧巴馬在每周講話中表示，刺激經濟方案中的減稅措施已在執行，在職人士可於4 月1日後獲得退稅，一個普通家庭每月最少可獲額外65美元(約504港元)。財政部亦發表聲明，聲稱已於上周六開始向僱主發出指引，減免僱主稅款，並要求僱主把這筆省下的錢分給僱員，全國95％工人家庭因此受惠。奧巴馬說﹕「在美國史上，從來沒有減稅措施推行得這麼快，受惠人數這麼多」。奧巴馬將動用刺激經濟方案中的三分之一基金，即約2860億美元，用作減稅。他上任時，華府財赤達1.3萬億美元(約10萬億港元)，預料今年財赤將達1.5萬億美元。他表示﹕「若財赤不受控，經濟就不能持續增長」。
向富豪加稅增收入
為達至在2013年削減巨額財赤的目標，華府將採取一系列措施，包括向年薪逾25萬美元的納稅人加稅、在16個月內撤走駐伊拉克美軍，以省下每年900億美元的戰爭開支，以及向對畄基金及私募基金合伙人的投資收入加稅、取消沒效益的工程項目等。白宮官員透露，奧巴馬視減財赤為要務，因為長遠來說，透過舉債向國內外借錢，會拖慢美國經濟增長。華府2013年財赤若可如願減至5330億美元，財赤與整體經濟產值的比率，將由目前的逾10%降至3%。
今開峰會商減赤方法
奧巴馬今天(周一)召集兩黨議員、經濟學者與商界代表到白宮，舉行「財政責任」峰會，商討減少財赤方法。周二會向國會發表講話，列出華府的緊急財政政策重點，輿論形容這等次講話的重要性等同發表國情咨文。他周四還會到國會簡介其首份財政預算案藍圖(本年10月1日實施)，預料將包括10年規劃，並會加快落實推行競選承諾，如增設醫療保障、擴大醫療保障範圍至4600萬未受保的人、透過要求排廢氣公司購買准許證，2020年前替國庫增加3000億美元收入等。弗吉尼亞大學薩巴托教授說﹕「本周十分重要，奧巴馬上任的首100天，將是近百年來歷屆總統最重要的百日新政之一」。
法新社/彭博通訊社/紐約時報
《贫民富翁》揽8项大奖 温丝莱特终圆影后梦
美国西部时间2月22日下午(新加坡时间2月23日上午)，第81届奥斯卡颁奖典礼在洛杉矶柯达剧院落下帷幕。
本届奥斯卡最佳影片得主是热门影片《贫民富翁》，影片共夺得包括最佳影片，最佳导演在内的八项大奖。西恩-潘和凯特-温斯莱特封帝称后，最佳男配角则向已逝的希斯-莱杰致敬。
《贫民窟的百万富翁》是今年奥斯卡的热门影片，共获得十项提名，最终获得最佳影片、最佳导演、最佳摄影、最佳改编剧本、最佳配乐、最佳音响效果、最佳歌曲、最佳电影剪辑等八项大奖，不仅成为本届“中奖率”最高影片，也成为“含金量”最高的一部作品。
在五度提名奥斯卡，五度失意小金人之后，凯特-温斯莱特终于一圆影后梦。1996年，温斯莱特凭借《理智与情感》首次获奥斯卡最佳女配角提名；1998年，《泰坦尼克号》帮助她成为家喻户晓的国际巨星，也给她带来首次影后提名，此后，她凭借《携手人生》、《暖暖内含光》、《身为人母》又三次提名奥斯卡，但无一不与小金人擦肩而过。2009年，奥斯卡终于在温斯莱特凭《生死朗读》第六次提名后用一座“影后”小金人给予她肯定。
最佳男主角的获得者是呼声最高的西恩·潘，他也是继上届的丹尼尔·戴-刘易斯后又一位二次获得奥斯卡影帝的演员。他在《米尔克》中富有领袖魅力和感人至深的生动演出，为他在此前赢得了极高的赞誉和大小奖项。西恩·潘在奖台上除了感谢工作人员，还要求同志得到平等待遇，包括婚姻合法化。 “希望大家可以吸取电影中的教训...每个人都应该享有平等权益。”
最佳男配角奖项颁发给了好莱坞已故影星希斯·莱杰，希斯·莱杰的妈妈和姐姐上台领此殊荣，现场观众全体起立，掌声不断。希斯·莱杰凭借对《蝙蝠侠：黑暗骑士》中小丑角色的完美演绎，众望所归的获得了此奖，也希望学院的这一举动可以告慰他的在天之灵。
佩内洛普·克鲁兹凭《Vicky Christina Barcelona》(《午夜巴塞罗那》)获最本届的佳女配角；她登台领奖，笑言45秒太快了，很担心说不完长长的感谢名单，并感谢导演给自己机会演出这样一个角色。佩内洛普第二次获奥斯卡提名就拿下小金人，第79届奥斯卡上她凭《Return》竞争影后殊荣，结果惜败“女王”Hellen Mirren。
日本片《入殓师》获得这届奥斯卡“最佳外语片”大奖，这是日本电影第12次荣获此项殊荣。导演泷田洋二郎上台领奖时说：“谢谢所有人，我特别特别开心！我在这里因为电影，这是我的新启程。我希望再回来！”《入》在不久前第32届日本电影学院奖（又称：日本奥斯卡）中入围13奖项，并拿下10个大奖，因此这次也成功夺得美国奥斯卡“最佳外语片”奖项，并不意外。
本届奥斯卡最佳影片得主是热门影片《贫民富翁》，影片共夺得包括最佳影片，最佳导演在内的八项大奖。西恩-潘和凯特-温斯莱特封帝称后，最佳男配角则向已逝的希斯-莱杰致敬。
《贫民窟的百万富翁》是今年奥斯卡的热门影片，共获得十项提名，最终获得最佳影片、最佳导演、最佳摄影、最佳改编剧本、最佳配乐、最佳音响效果、最佳歌曲、最佳电影剪辑等八项大奖，不仅成为本届“中奖率”最高影片，也成为“含金量”最高的一部作品。
在五度提名奥斯卡，五度失意小金人之后，凯特-温斯莱特终于一圆影后梦。1996年，温斯莱特凭借《理智与情感》首次获奥斯卡最佳女配角提名；1998年，《泰坦尼克号》帮助她成为家喻户晓的国际巨星，也给她带来首次影后提名，此后，她凭借《携手人生》、《暖暖内含光》、《身为人母》又三次提名奥斯卡，但无一不与小金人擦肩而过。2009年，奥斯卡终于在温斯莱特凭《生死朗读》第六次提名后用一座“影后”小金人给予她肯定。
最佳男主角的获得者是呼声最高的西恩·潘，他也是继上届的丹尼尔·戴-刘易斯后又一位二次获得奥斯卡影帝的演员。他在《米尔克》中富有领袖魅力和感人至深的生动演出，为他在此前赢得了极高的赞誉和大小奖项。西恩·潘在奖台上除了感谢工作人员，还要求同志得到平等待遇，包括婚姻合法化。 “希望大家可以吸取电影中的教训...每个人都应该享有平等权益。”
最佳男配角奖项颁发给了好莱坞已故影星希斯·莱杰，希斯·莱杰的妈妈和姐姐上台领此殊荣，现场观众全体起立，掌声不断。希斯·莱杰凭借对《蝙蝠侠：黑暗骑士》中小丑角色的完美演绎，众望所归的获得了此奖，也希望学院的这一举动可以告慰他的在天之灵。
佩内洛普·克鲁兹凭《Vicky Christina Barcelona》(《午夜巴塞罗那》)获最本届的佳女配角；她登台领奖，笑言45秒太快了，很担心说不完长长的感谢名单，并感谢导演给自己机会演出这样一个角色。佩内洛普第二次获奥斯卡提名就拿下小金人，第79届奥斯卡上她凭《Return》竞争影后殊荣，结果惜败“女王”Hellen Mirren。
日本片《入殓师》获得这届奥斯卡“最佳外语片”大奖，这是日本电影第12次荣获此项殊荣。导演泷田洋二郎上台领奖时说：“谢谢所有人，我特别特别开心！我在这里因为电影，这是我的新启程。我希望再回来！”《入》在不久前第32届日本电影学院奖（又称：日本奥斯卡）中入围13奖项，并拿下10个大奖，因此这次也成功夺得美国奥斯卡“最佳外语片”奖项，并不意外。
第81届奥斯卡金像奖获奖名单
第81届奥斯卡颁奖礼于美国西部时间2009年2月22日下午(本地时间2月23日上午)在洛杉矶举行，柯达剧院外的红毯上星光灿烂。《贫民富翁》获八项大奖，西恩-潘（Sean Penn）获最佳男主角，温斯莱特（Kate Winslet）获最佳女主角。以下为本届奥斯卡完全获奖名单：
第81届奥斯卡金像奖获奖名单
奖项 获奖者
最佳影片(BEST PICTURE) 《贫民富翁》Slumdog Millionaire
最佳导演(DIRECTING) 丹尼-鲍尔 Danny Boyle（《贫民富翁》Slumdog Millionaire）
最佳男主角(ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE) 西恩-潘 Sean Penn（《米克传》 Milk）
最佳女主角(ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE) 凯特-温斯莱特 Kate Winslet（《生死朗读》The Reader）
最佳男配角(ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE) 希斯·莱杰 Heath Ledger (《蝙蝠侠：黑暗骑士》)
最佳女配角(ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE) 佩内洛普·克鲁兹 Penélope Cruz(《午夜巴塞罗那》)
最佳动画长片(ANIMATED FEATURE FILM) 《机器人瓦力》(Wall-E)
最佳外语片(FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM) 《入殓师》 送り人/ Okuribito 日本
最佳化妆(MAKEUP) 《返老还童》(The Curious Case of Benjamin Button)
最佳配乐(SCORE) 《贫民富翁》Slumdog Millionaire
最佳歌曲(SONG) 《贫民富翁》Slumdog Millionaire
最佳动画短片SHORT FILM (ANIMATED) 《回忆积木屋》(La Maison en Petits Cubes)
最佳真人短片SHORT FILM (LIVE ACTION) 《玩具岛》(Toyland)
最佳音效剪辑(SOUND EDITING) 《蝙蝠侠：黑暗骑士》(The Dark Knight)
最佳音响效果(SOUND MIXING) 《贫民富翁》(Slumdog Millionaire)
最佳视觉效果(BEST PICTURE) 《返老还童》(The Curious Case of Benjamin Button)
最佳改编剧本(ADAPTED SCREENPLAY) 《贫民富翁》(Slumdog Millionaire)
最佳原创剧本(ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY) 《米尔克》(Milk)
最佳艺术指导(ART DIRECTION) 《返老还童》 The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
最佳摄影(CINEMATOGRAPHY) 《贫民富翁》(Slumdog Millionaire)
最佳服装(COSTUME) 《公爵夫人》(The Duchess)
最佳电影剪辑(FILM EDITING) 《贫民富翁》Slumdog Millionaire
最佳纪录片(DOCUMENTARY FEATURE) 《走钢索的人》(Man on Wire)
最佳纪录短片(DOCUMENTARY SHORT SUBJECT) 《微笑的苹基》(Smile Pinki)
终身成就奖(Honorary Academy Award) 杰瑞-刘易斯 Jerry Lewis
第81届奥斯卡金像奖获奖名单
奖项 获奖者
最佳影片(BEST PICTURE) 《贫民富翁》Slumdog Millionaire
最佳导演(DIRECTING) 丹尼-鲍尔 Danny Boyle（《贫民富翁》Slumdog Millionaire）
最佳男主角(ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE) 西恩-潘 Sean Penn（《米克传》 Milk）
最佳女主角(ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE) 凯特-温斯莱特 Kate Winslet（《生死朗读》The Reader）
最佳男配角(ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE) 希斯·莱杰 Heath Ledger (《蝙蝠侠：黑暗骑士》)
最佳女配角(ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE) 佩内洛普·克鲁兹 Penélope Cruz(《午夜巴塞罗那》)
最佳动画长片(ANIMATED FEATURE FILM) 《机器人瓦力》(Wall-E)
最佳外语片(FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM) 《入殓师》 送り人/ Okuribito 日本
最佳化妆(MAKEUP) 《返老还童》(The Curious Case of Benjamin Button)
最佳配乐(SCORE) 《贫民富翁》Slumdog Millionaire
最佳歌曲(SONG) 《贫民富翁》Slumdog Millionaire
最佳动画短片SHORT FILM (ANIMATED) 《回忆积木屋》(La Maison en Petits Cubes)
最佳真人短片SHORT FILM (LIVE ACTION) 《玩具岛》(Toyland)
最佳音效剪辑(SOUND EDITING) 《蝙蝠侠：黑暗骑士》(The Dark Knight)
最佳音响效果(SOUND MIXING) 《贫民富翁》(Slumdog Millionaire)
最佳视觉效果(BEST PICTURE) 《返老还童》(The Curious Case of Benjamin Button)
最佳改编剧本(ADAPTED SCREENPLAY) 《贫民富翁》(Slumdog Millionaire)
最佳原创剧本(ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY) 《米尔克》(Milk)
最佳艺术指导(ART DIRECTION) 《返老还童》 The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
最佳摄影(CINEMATOGRAPHY) 《贫民富翁》(Slumdog Millionaire)
最佳服装(COSTUME) 《公爵夫人》(The Duchess)
最佳电影剪辑(FILM EDITING) 《贫民富翁》Slumdog Millionaire
最佳纪录片(DOCUMENTARY FEATURE) 《走钢索的人》(Man on Wire)
最佳纪录短片(DOCUMENTARY SHORT SUBJECT) 《微笑的苹基》(Smile Pinki)
终身成就奖(Honorary Academy Award) 杰瑞-刘易斯 Jerry Lewis
中国学者宋鸿兵： 第二波金融海啸已到来 比预期更快更严重
（北京综合讯）因编著《货币战争》而闻名、并提前预警金融海啸的中国学者宋鸿兵表示，各国救市政策并没有阻止金融危机蔓延，“第二波海啸比预期来的更快、更严重”。
据中国媒体报道，他表示，第二波金融海啸已经到来，危机可能在今年下半年或明年上半年提前深化，引爆“利率火山”。所谓“利率火山”，就是由于信贷全面紧缩导致长期贷款利率飙升，引发将近600万亿美元（918万4800亿新元）利率掉期衍生品市场崩盘，导致更大规模金融市场如骨牌一样崩溃。
首先，已公布的美国多项经济指标非常差。美国2008年第四季国内生产总值（GDP）较上一季下跌3.8％，创26年来最大跌幅；续领失业金人数增至478万人，12月新屋销售较上月大跌14.7％，为1963年1月开始记录以来最低。
其次，美国商业银行体系暴露的问题越来越严重。美国银行最近公布17年来首个业绩亏损季度报告，新收购的美林证券亏损不断加剧。花旗集团受呆账和不良资产重创，近15个月以来已亏损285亿美元（436亿2780万新元）。“未来花旗集团、美国银行或许只有国有化一条路了。”
第三，企业债市场恶化程度比此前预测的更快。去年11月宋鸿兵预测，“企业债和地方政府债券”将是第二波金融海啸的引爆点，尤其是企业债中的垃圾债。当时他预估，垃圾债券的违约率将在今年9月底从2.68％急速爬升至12％至15％，急升500％。
宋鸿兵认为，花旗银行被国有化或申请破产保护，将是第二波危机中的“标杆性事件”。“从恶化速度看，花旗在上半年就会出现大问题。”
他指出，全球经济在未来一段时间都前景不妙。现在美、欧、日的经济数据显示出二战结束以来最严重的经济衰退，足与1929年大萧条时代相提并论。而美国这次衰退的时间可能长达10年至15年，“至少在5年内很难真正走出衰退”。
他认为，“中国还不具备率先复苏、拉动全球走出衰退的能力。因为中国还不是世界经济的发动机。”
据中国媒体报道，他表示，第二波金融海啸已经到来，危机可能在今年下半年或明年上半年提前深化，引爆“利率火山”。所谓“利率火山”，就是由于信贷全面紧缩导致长期贷款利率飙升，引发将近600万亿美元（918万4800亿新元）利率掉期衍生品市场崩盘，导致更大规模金融市场如骨牌一样崩溃。
首先，已公布的美国多项经济指标非常差。美国2008年第四季国内生产总值（GDP）较上一季下跌3.8％，创26年来最大跌幅；续领失业金人数增至478万人，12月新屋销售较上月大跌14.7％，为1963年1月开始记录以来最低。
其次，美国商业银行体系暴露的问题越来越严重。美国银行最近公布17年来首个业绩亏损季度报告，新收购的美林证券亏损不断加剧。花旗集团受呆账和不良资产重创，近15个月以来已亏损285亿美元（436亿2780万新元）。“未来花旗集团、美国银行或许只有国有化一条路了。”
第三，企业债市场恶化程度比此前预测的更快。去年11月宋鸿兵预测，“企业债和地方政府债券”将是第二波金融海啸的引爆点，尤其是企业债中的垃圾债。当时他预估，垃圾债券的违约率将在今年9月底从2.68％急速爬升至12％至15％，急升500％。
宋鸿兵认为，花旗银行被国有化或申请破产保护，将是第二波危机中的“标杆性事件”。“从恶化速度看，花旗在上半年就会出现大问题。”
他指出，全球经济在未来一段时间都前景不妙。现在美、欧、日的经济数据显示出二战结束以来最严重的经济衰退，足与1929年大萧条时代相提并论。而美国这次衰退的时间可能长达10年至15年，“至少在5年内很难真正走出衰退”。
他认为，“中国还不具备率先复苏、拉动全球走出衰退的能力。因为中国还不是世界经济的发动机。”
Muktamad LCCT Labu tidak jadi – Najib
Daripada JOHARDY IBRAHIM
johardy.ibrahim@utusangroup.com.my
PHUKET 22 Feb. – Sudah muktamad! Cadangan pembinaan terminal syarikat penerbangan tambang murah (LCCT) baru di Labu, Negeri Sembilan tidak boleh diteruskan, kata Timbalan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
‘‘Kita sudah membuat keputusan. Projek LCCT tidak boleh diteruskan,” kata beliau yang juga Menteri Kewangan kepada pemberita selepas mesyuarat khas Menteri-Menteri Kewangan ASEAN+3 di pulau peranginan di selatan Thailand hari ini.
Najib berkata, projek itu tidak boleh diteruskan kerana cadangan asal ialah konglomerat Sime Darby tidak akan menanggung kos pembinaan infrastruktur, sebaliknya akan menjual tanah kepada pihak yang membina, misalnya Malaysia Airports Berhad.
Kos pembinaan infrastruktur LCCT tersebut bernilai RM800 juta.
‘‘Saya sudah mendapat pengesahan daripada Sime Darby secara hitam putih mengenai perkara ini. Jadi jika mereka tidak memberi sumbangan, maka tidak ada asaslah projek ini hendak dipertimbangkan,” kata Najib.
Projek LCCT yang baru, ujar beliau lagi, akan dibina dalam kawasan Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Kuala Lumpur (KLIA).
Cuma yang masih dalam rundingan kini, kata Timbalan Perdana Menteri ialah kaedah-kaedah pelaksanaan projek termasuk permintaan AirAsia terhadap LCCT yang baru merangkumi soal caj meletak pesawat dan sebagainya.
Najib diminta mengulas kenyataan Ketua Pengarah Unit Perancang Ekonomi (EPU), Tan Sri Dr. Sulaiman Mahbob kelmarin, bahawa cadangan pembinaan LCCT baru di Labu masih dalam perbincangan antara kerajaan dan pihak berkaitan.
Dr. Sulaiman berkata, kerajaan telah meluluskan projek itu secara dasar kerana ia melihatnya sebagai satu bentuk pelaburan sektor swasta tetapi terdapat keperluan bagi pihak berkenaan mengkaji perkara itu berhubung semua aspek teknikal dan keselamatan.
“Ini mestilah dilakukan dan Kementerian Pengangkutan berunding daripada segi kehendak teknikal. Sehingga atau kecuali semua ini diselesaikan, kita tidak boleh lakukannya,” kata beliau selepas menyampaikan ceramah mengenai status semasa cadangan untuk mendirikan LCCT baru itu.
Baru-baru ini, Menteri Pengangkutan, Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat berkata, keputusan muktamad belum dibuat mengenai sama ada untuk meneruskan atau membatalkan cadangan mengenai LCCT itu. – Utusan.
johardy.ibrahim@utusangroup.com.my
PHUKET 22 Feb. – Sudah muktamad! Cadangan pembinaan terminal syarikat penerbangan tambang murah (LCCT) baru di Labu, Negeri Sembilan tidak boleh diteruskan, kata Timbalan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
‘‘Kita sudah membuat keputusan. Projek LCCT tidak boleh diteruskan,” kata beliau yang juga Menteri Kewangan kepada pemberita selepas mesyuarat khas Menteri-Menteri Kewangan ASEAN+3 di pulau peranginan di selatan Thailand hari ini.
Najib berkata, projek itu tidak boleh diteruskan kerana cadangan asal ialah konglomerat Sime Darby tidak akan menanggung kos pembinaan infrastruktur, sebaliknya akan menjual tanah kepada pihak yang membina, misalnya Malaysia Airports Berhad.
Kos pembinaan infrastruktur LCCT tersebut bernilai RM800 juta.
‘‘Saya sudah mendapat pengesahan daripada Sime Darby secara hitam putih mengenai perkara ini. Jadi jika mereka tidak memberi sumbangan, maka tidak ada asaslah projek ini hendak dipertimbangkan,” kata Najib.
Projek LCCT yang baru, ujar beliau lagi, akan dibina dalam kawasan Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Kuala Lumpur (KLIA).
Cuma yang masih dalam rundingan kini, kata Timbalan Perdana Menteri ialah kaedah-kaedah pelaksanaan projek termasuk permintaan AirAsia terhadap LCCT yang baru merangkumi soal caj meletak pesawat dan sebagainya.
Najib diminta mengulas kenyataan Ketua Pengarah Unit Perancang Ekonomi (EPU), Tan Sri Dr. Sulaiman Mahbob kelmarin, bahawa cadangan pembinaan LCCT baru di Labu masih dalam perbincangan antara kerajaan dan pihak berkaitan.
Dr. Sulaiman berkata, kerajaan telah meluluskan projek itu secara dasar kerana ia melihatnya sebagai satu bentuk pelaburan sektor swasta tetapi terdapat keperluan bagi pihak berkenaan mengkaji perkara itu berhubung semua aspek teknikal dan keselamatan.
“Ini mestilah dilakukan dan Kementerian Pengangkutan berunding daripada segi kehendak teknikal. Sehingga atau kecuali semua ini diselesaikan, kita tidak boleh lakukannya,” kata beliau selepas menyampaikan ceramah mengenai status semasa cadangan untuk mendirikan LCCT baru itu.
Baru-baru ini, Menteri Pengangkutan, Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat berkata, keputusan muktamad belum dibuat mengenai sama ada untuk meneruskan atau membatalkan cadangan mengenai LCCT itu. – Utusan.
Slumdog scores big at the Oscar
LOS ANGELES: Slumdog Millionaire took the best-picture Academy Award and seven other Oscars, including director for Danny Boyle, whose ghetto-to-glory story paralleled the film’s unlikely rise to Hollywood’s summit.
The other top winners: Kate Winslet, best actress for the Holocaust-themed drama The Reader; Sean Penn, best actor for the title role of Milk; Heath Ledger, supporting actor for The Dark Knight; and Penelope Cruz, supporting actress for Vicky Cristina Barcelona.
A story of hope amid squalor in Mumbai, India, Slumdog Millionaire came in with 10 nominations, its eight wins including adapted screenplay, cinematography, editing and both music Oscars (score and song).
“Just to say to Mumbai, all of you who helped us make the film and all of those of you who didn’t, thank you very much. You dwarf even this guy,” Boyle said, holding up his directing Oscar.
The filmmakers accepted the best-picture trophy surrounded by both the adult professional actors who appeared among the cast of relative unknowns and some of the children the British director cast from the slums of Mumbai.
The film follows the travails and triumphs of Jamal, an orphan who artfully dodges a criminal gang that mutilates children to make them more pitiable beggars.
Jamal witnesses his mother’s violent death, endures police torture and struggles with betrayal by his brother, while single-mindedly hoping to reunite with the lost love of his childhood.
Fate rewards Jamal, whose story unfolds through flashbacks as he recalls how he came to know the answers that made him a champion on India’s version of the TV game show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?.
As he took the stage to accept his prize for playing slain gay-rights pioneer Harvey Milk, Penn gleefully told the crowd: “You commie, homo-loving sons of guns.”
He followed with condemnation of anti-gay protesters who demonstrated near the Oscar site and comments about California’s recent vote to ban gay marriage.
“For those who saw the signs of hatred as our cars drove in tonight, I think it’s a good time for those who voted for the ban against gay marriage to sit and reflect on their great shame and their shame in their grandchildren’s eyes if they continue that support,” Penn said. “We’ve got to have equal rights for everyone.”
For his demented reinvention of Batman villain the Joker, Ledger became only the second actor ever to win posthumously, his triumph coming exactly 13 months after the Australian actor’s death from an accidental overdose of prescription drugs.
His Oscar for the Warner Bros. blockbuster was accepted by Ledger’s parents and sister on behalf of the actor’s three-year-old daughter, Matilda.
“I have to say this is ever so humbling, just being amongst such wonderful people in such a wonderful industry,” said his father, Kim Ledger.
“We’d like to thank the academy for recognising our son’s amazing work, Warner Bros., and Christopher Nolan in particular for allowing Heath the creative licence to develop and explore this crazy Joker character.”
Since his death, the 28-year-old Ledger has gained a mythic aura akin to James Dean, another rising star who died well before his time.
The Joker was his final completed role, a casting choice that initially drew scorn from fans who thought Ledger would not be up to the task given Jack Nicholson’s gleefully campy rendition of the character in 1989’s Batman.
In the months before Ledger’s death, buzz on his wickedly chaotic performance swelled as marketing for the movie centred on the Joker and the perverted clown makeup he hid behind.
Ledger’s death fanned a frenzy of anticipation for The Dark Knight, which had a record US$158.4mil opening weekend last summer.
The previous posthumous Oscar recipient was the British-Australian actor Peter Finch, who won best actor for 1976’s Network two months after his death.
Cruz triumphed as a woman in a steamy three-way affair with her ex-husband and an American woman in Woody Allen’s romance.
“Has anybody ever fainted here? Because I might be the first one,” the Spanish actress said, who went on with warm thanks to Allen.
“Thank you, Woody, for trusting me with this beautiful character. Thank you for having written all these years some of the greatest characters for women.”
“OK, that fainting thing, Penelope,” Winslet joked later as she accepted her best-actress prize for The Reader, in which the British actress plays a former German concentration camp guard in an affair with a teen.
“I’d be lying if I haven’t made a version of this speech before. I think I was probably eight years old and staring into the bathroom mirror, and this would be a shampoo bottle. But it’s not a shampoo bottle now.”
It was Winslet’s first win after five previous losses.
British Slumdog writer Simon Beaufoy, who adapted the script from Indian Vikas Swarup’s novel Q&A, said there are places he never could imagine being.
“For me, it’s the moon, the South Pole, the Miss World podium, and here,” Beaufoy said.
The epic love story The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, which led with 13 nominations, had three wins, for visual effects, art direction and makeup.
The Dark Knight had a second win, for sound editing.
Milk writer Dustin Lance Black offered an impassioned tribute to Milk in accepting the Oscar for original screenplay.
“If Harvey had not been taken from us 30 years ago, I think he would want me to say to all the gay and lesbian kids out there tonight who have been told they are less than by the churches, by the government, by their families, that you are beautiful, wonderful creatures of value, and that no matter what anyone tells you, God does love you and that very soon, I promise you, you will have equal rights, federally, across this great nation of ours,” Black said.
Japan’s Departures, a film about a man who prepares bodies for burial, won the Oscar for best foreign-language film in an upset over the favoured Israeli nominee Waltz With Bashir.
“This is a new departure for me,” director Yojiro Takita said while accepting the award. “And we’ll be back, I hope.”
Man on Wire, James Marsh’s examination of French tight-rope walker Philippe Petit’s dazzling stroll between the towers of the World Trade Centre in 1974, was chosen as best documentary.
The acting categories were presented by five past winners of the same awards, among them last year’s actress winners, Marion Cotillard and Tilda Swinton, plus Halle Berry, Nicole Kidman, Kevin Kline, Sophia Loren, Anthony Hopkins, Shirley MacLaine and Robert De Niro.
It was a much different style for the Oscars as each past recipient offered personal tributes to one of the nominees, without clips of the nominated performances. Awards usually are done in chit-chat style between a couple of celebrity presenters.
After last year’s Oscars delivered their worst TV ratings ever, producers this time aimed to liven up the show with some surprises and new ways of presenting awards. Rather than hiring a comedian such as past hosts Jon Stewart or Chris Rock, the producers went with Australian actor and song-and-dance man Hugh Jackman, who has been host of Broadway’s Tony Awards.
Instead of the usual standup routine, Jackman did an engaging musical number to open the show, saluting nominated films with a clever tribute.
Jackman later did a medley staged by his Australia director Baz Luhrmann with such performers as Beyonce Knowles and High School Musical stars Vanessa Hudgens and Zac Efron.
Slumdog Millionaire went into the evening after a run of prizes from earlier film honors.
The film nearly got lost in the shuffle as Warner Bros. folded its art-house banner, Warner Independent, which had been slated to distribute Slumdog Millionaire. It was rescued from the direct-to-video scrap heap when Fox Searchlight stepped in to release the film.
Slumdog composer A.R. Rahman, a dual Oscar winner for the score and song, said the movie was about “optimism and the power of hope.”
“All my life, I’ve had a choice of hate and love,” the Indian film composer said. “I chose love, and I’m here.” -- AP
Latest from AP-Wire
The Oscar page
The other top winners: Kate Winslet, best actress for the Holocaust-themed drama The Reader; Sean Penn, best actor for the title role of Milk; Heath Ledger, supporting actor for The Dark Knight; and Penelope Cruz, supporting actress for Vicky Cristina Barcelona.
A story of hope amid squalor in Mumbai, India, Slumdog Millionaire came in with 10 nominations, its eight wins including adapted screenplay, cinematography, editing and both music Oscars (score and song).
“Just to say to Mumbai, all of you who helped us make the film and all of those of you who didn’t, thank you very much. You dwarf even this guy,” Boyle said, holding up his directing Oscar.
The filmmakers accepted the best-picture trophy surrounded by both the adult professional actors who appeared among the cast of relative unknowns and some of the children the British director cast from the slums of Mumbai.
The film follows the travails and triumphs of Jamal, an orphan who artfully dodges a criminal gang that mutilates children to make them more pitiable beggars.
Jamal witnesses his mother’s violent death, endures police torture and struggles with betrayal by his brother, while single-mindedly hoping to reunite with the lost love of his childhood.
Fate rewards Jamal, whose story unfolds through flashbacks as he recalls how he came to know the answers that made him a champion on India’s version of the TV game show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?.
As he took the stage to accept his prize for playing slain gay-rights pioneer Harvey Milk, Penn gleefully told the crowd: “You commie, homo-loving sons of guns.”
He followed with condemnation of anti-gay protesters who demonstrated near the Oscar site and comments about California’s recent vote to ban gay marriage.
“For those who saw the signs of hatred as our cars drove in tonight, I think it’s a good time for those who voted for the ban against gay marriage to sit and reflect on their great shame and their shame in their grandchildren’s eyes if they continue that support,” Penn said. “We’ve got to have equal rights for everyone.”
For his demented reinvention of Batman villain the Joker, Ledger became only the second actor ever to win posthumously, his triumph coming exactly 13 months after the Australian actor’s death from an accidental overdose of prescription drugs.
His Oscar for the Warner Bros. blockbuster was accepted by Ledger’s parents and sister on behalf of the actor’s three-year-old daughter, Matilda.
“I have to say this is ever so humbling, just being amongst such wonderful people in such a wonderful industry,” said his father, Kim Ledger.
“We’d like to thank the academy for recognising our son’s amazing work, Warner Bros., and Christopher Nolan in particular for allowing Heath the creative licence to develop and explore this crazy Joker character.”
Since his death, the 28-year-old Ledger has gained a mythic aura akin to James Dean, another rising star who died well before his time.
The Joker was his final completed role, a casting choice that initially drew scorn from fans who thought Ledger would not be up to the task given Jack Nicholson’s gleefully campy rendition of the character in 1989’s Batman.
In the months before Ledger’s death, buzz on his wickedly chaotic performance swelled as marketing for the movie centred on the Joker and the perverted clown makeup he hid behind.
Ledger’s death fanned a frenzy of anticipation for The Dark Knight, which had a record US$158.4mil opening weekend last summer.
The previous posthumous Oscar recipient was the British-Australian actor Peter Finch, who won best actor for 1976’s Network two months after his death.
Cruz triumphed as a woman in a steamy three-way affair with her ex-husband and an American woman in Woody Allen’s romance.
“Has anybody ever fainted here? Because I might be the first one,” the Spanish actress said, who went on with warm thanks to Allen.
“Thank you, Woody, for trusting me with this beautiful character. Thank you for having written all these years some of the greatest characters for women.”
“OK, that fainting thing, Penelope,” Winslet joked later as she accepted her best-actress prize for The Reader, in which the British actress plays a former German concentration camp guard in an affair with a teen.
“I’d be lying if I haven’t made a version of this speech before. I think I was probably eight years old and staring into the bathroom mirror, and this would be a shampoo bottle. But it’s not a shampoo bottle now.”
It was Winslet’s first win after five previous losses.
British Slumdog writer Simon Beaufoy, who adapted the script from Indian Vikas Swarup’s novel Q&A, said there are places he never could imagine being.
“For me, it’s the moon, the South Pole, the Miss World podium, and here,” Beaufoy said.
The epic love story The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, which led with 13 nominations, had three wins, for visual effects, art direction and makeup.
The Dark Knight had a second win, for sound editing.
Milk writer Dustin Lance Black offered an impassioned tribute to Milk in accepting the Oscar for original screenplay.
“If Harvey had not been taken from us 30 years ago, I think he would want me to say to all the gay and lesbian kids out there tonight who have been told they are less than by the churches, by the government, by their families, that you are beautiful, wonderful creatures of value, and that no matter what anyone tells you, God does love you and that very soon, I promise you, you will have equal rights, federally, across this great nation of ours,” Black said.
Japan’s Departures, a film about a man who prepares bodies for burial, won the Oscar for best foreign-language film in an upset over the favoured Israeli nominee Waltz With Bashir.
“This is a new departure for me,” director Yojiro Takita said while accepting the award. “And we’ll be back, I hope.”
Man on Wire, James Marsh’s examination of French tight-rope walker Philippe Petit’s dazzling stroll between the towers of the World Trade Centre in 1974, was chosen as best documentary.
The acting categories were presented by five past winners of the same awards, among them last year’s actress winners, Marion Cotillard and Tilda Swinton, plus Halle Berry, Nicole Kidman, Kevin Kline, Sophia Loren, Anthony Hopkins, Shirley MacLaine and Robert De Niro.
It was a much different style for the Oscars as each past recipient offered personal tributes to one of the nominees, without clips of the nominated performances. Awards usually are done in chit-chat style between a couple of celebrity presenters.
After last year’s Oscars delivered their worst TV ratings ever, producers this time aimed to liven up the show with some surprises and new ways of presenting awards. Rather than hiring a comedian such as past hosts Jon Stewart or Chris Rock, the producers went with Australian actor and song-and-dance man Hugh Jackman, who has been host of Broadway’s Tony Awards.
Instead of the usual standup routine, Jackman did an engaging musical number to open the show, saluting nominated films with a clever tribute.
Jackman later did a medley staged by his Australia director Baz Luhrmann with such performers as Beyonce Knowles and High School Musical stars Vanessa Hudgens and Zac Efron.
Slumdog Millionaire went into the evening after a run of prizes from earlier film honors.
The film nearly got lost in the shuffle as Warner Bros. folded its art-house banner, Warner Independent, which had been slated to distribute Slumdog Millionaire. It was rescued from the direct-to-video scrap heap when Fox Searchlight stepped in to release the film.
Slumdog composer A.R. Rahman, a dual Oscar winner for the score and song, said the movie was about “optimism and the power of hope.”
“All my life, I’ve had a choice of hate and love,” the Indian film composer said. “I chose love, and I’m here.” -- AP
Latest from AP-Wire
The Oscar page
Stop using polystyrene
THE Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) wishes to call the attention of the Selangor and Penang state governments and especially the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, to the widespread use of polystyrene food and drink containers during the recent Thaipusam festival in their respective states.
CAP conducted a study comprising random data collection at both locations where large crowds gathered during the festival to gather information on the number of polystyrene food and drink containers used.
Shockingly, the study revealed that 630,000 and 347,000 polystyrene food and drink containers were used in Selangor and Penang respectively. This data was acquired over the two days of the festival and from the numerous stalls providing free food and drink.
At times, these stalls provided up to 40,000 polystyrene food and drink packages. The data gathered does not include polystyrene package usage in other states such as Kedah, Johor or Perak during Thaipusam.
CAP takes a serious view of the fact that almost 1,000,000 polystyrene containers were used during the two days. Although there have been claims that polystyrene can be classified as non-hazardous to the environment, there is no scientific evidence to support these claims as yet.
Polystyrene is not biodegradable. It not only floats on water but is also borne by the wind, thereby polluting shores and waterways.
According to the California Coastal Commission, it is now a principal component of marine debris. The substance may also be harmful to wild animals if ingested by them.The international environment group, Californians Against Waste classifies polystyrene as a future potential threat to sustainable development.
According to a study by the Institute for Energy and Environmental Research (IEER), polystyrene which is manufactured using HCFC-22 (Chlorodifluoromethane, a potential ozone depleting agent and potent greenhouse gas) is potentially three to five times more likely to pose a threat to the environment than other waste material.
CAP urges concerned parties in all states to play an important role in ending the use of polystyrene; not just during Thaipusam celebrations but also at official functions and celebrations.
It is regrettable that polystyrene was widely used while there are more recyclable, sustainable and freely obtainable alternatives such as banana leaves and environmentally friendly containers pioneered by Universiti Sains Malaysia.
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment needs to be more aggressive in addressing the reduction of polystyrene use at all official functions as well as at national level festivities and celebrations.
As long as there are no aggressive steps taken by the authorities to halt the use of polystyrene, it will be difficult to expect society to embark on a paradigm shift to rejuvenate and preserve the environment.
S.M. Mohamed Idris,
President,
Consumers Association of Penang.
(Source : The Star)
CAP conducted a study comprising random data collection at both locations where large crowds gathered during the festival to gather information on the number of polystyrene food and drink containers used.
Shockingly, the study revealed that 630,000 and 347,000 polystyrene food and drink containers were used in Selangor and Penang respectively. This data was acquired over the two days of the festival and from the numerous stalls providing free food and drink.
At times, these stalls provided up to 40,000 polystyrene food and drink packages. The data gathered does not include polystyrene package usage in other states such as Kedah, Johor or Perak during Thaipusam.
CAP takes a serious view of the fact that almost 1,000,000 polystyrene containers were used during the two days. Although there have been claims that polystyrene can be classified as non-hazardous to the environment, there is no scientific evidence to support these claims as yet.
Polystyrene is not biodegradable. It not only floats on water but is also borne by the wind, thereby polluting shores and waterways.
According to the California Coastal Commission, it is now a principal component of marine debris. The substance may also be harmful to wild animals if ingested by them.The international environment group, Californians Against Waste classifies polystyrene as a future potential threat to sustainable development.
According to a study by the Institute for Energy and Environmental Research (IEER), polystyrene which is manufactured using HCFC-22 (Chlorodifluoromethane, a potential ozone depleting agent and potent greenhouse gas) is potentially three to five times more likely to pose a threat to the environment than other waste material.
CAP urges concerned parties in all states to play an important role in ending the use of polystyrene; not just during Thaipusam celebrations but also at official functions and celebrations.
It is regrettable that polystyrene was widely used while there are more recyclable, sustainable and freely obtainable alternatives such as banana leaves and environmentally friendly containers pioneered by Universiti Sains Malaysia.
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment needs to be more aggressive in addressing the reduction of polystyrene use at all official functions as well as at national level festivities and celebrations.
As long as there are no aggressive steps taken by the authorities to halt the use of polystyrene, it will be difficult to expect society to embark on a paradigm shift to rejuvenate and preserve the environment.
S.M. Mohamed Idris,
President,
Consumers Association of Penang.
(Source : The Star)
Friday, February 13, 2009
American Idol: Semi-finalist Pacitti disqualified
Los Angeles: An “American Idol” contestant with a lengthy entertainment resume has been disqualified after reaching the show’s top 36.
In its press released issued Wednesday night announcing the semi-finalists, Fox TV said that Joanna Pacitti was “ineligible to continue.” No reason was given by Fox.
But a person familiar with the decision said Thursday that Pacitti was dropped to avoid any appearance of business impropriety. The person, who did not elaborate, spoke on condition of anonymity because the person was not authorized by Fox and the show’s producers to talk about the dismissal.
The decision was made because Pacitti had once worked with a person subsequently hired by 19 Entertainment, which produces “American Idol” with FremantleMedia, said another person familiar with the disqualification. Pacitti also knew a second 19 Entertainment employee, the person said.
Pacitti was dropped from the show to avoid any suggestion of unfairness, said the person, who asked that his or her name not be used because the person was not authorized to talk about the dismissal.
Felicia Barton replaced Pacitti, a Philadelphia native, in the top 36.
The show announced the semi-finalists Wednesday night, then later released an update saying it had cut Pacitti loose and subbed in Barton, a 26-year-old married mom.
Efforts were made to contact Pacitti, 23, by telephone and through “American Idol,” but she could not be immediately reached for comment.
A few of the contestants in Tuesday night’s episode, including Pacitti, flubbed the lyrics but made it through to the next round.
Pacitti entered “Idol” as anything but an ingenue. She had a record deal with Geffen and released an album in 2006. Billboard reports it sold more than 16,000 copies. “American Idol” judge Kara DioGuardi recognised Pacitti when she auditioned in Louisville, Kentucky.
She also starred in “Annie” on Broadway as a young girl, and sang on the soundtracks for the movies “Legally Blonde” and “Bratz.” Britney Spears’ tune “Out From Under,” from her latest album, was first performed by Pacitti on the “Bratz” soundtrack.
All that experience was enough to draw complaints from viewers who thought she was too polished for the top-rated show, which purports to pluck raw talent out of nowhere and turn them into stars.
However, eight seasons in, “Idol” has selected singers who have spent time in the recording studio.
Pacitti’s situation echoed the controversy over last season’s finalists, Carly Smithson and Kristy Lee Cook, who had previous record deals.
Smithson had recorded an album for MCA Records, while Cook once had a deal with Arista Nashville. Other experienced seventh-season singers include Robbie Carrico, who was in the pop group Boyz N Girlz United, and runner-up David Archuleta, who won “Star Search” in 2003. - AP
In its press released issued Wednesday night announcing the semi-finalists, Fox TV said that Joanna Pacitti was “ineligible to continue.” No reason was given by Fox.
But a person familiar with the decision said Thursday that Pacitti was dropped to avoid any appearance of business impropriety. The person, who did not elaborate, spoke on condition of anonymity because the person was not authorized by Fox and the show’s producers to talk about the dismissal.
The decision was made because Pacitti had once worked with a person subsequently hired by 19 Entertainment, which produces “American Idol” with FremantleMedia, said another person familiar with the disqualification. Pacitti also knew a second 19 Entertainment employee, the person said.
Pacitti was dropped from the show to avoid any suggestion of unfairness, said the person, who asked that his or her name not be used because the person was not authorized to talk about the dismissal.
Felicia Barton replaced Pacitti, a Philadelphia native, in the top 36.
The show announced the semi-finalists Wednesday night, then later released an update saying it had cut Pacitti loose and subbed in Barton, a 26-year-old married mom.
Efforts were made to contact Pacitti, 23, by telephone and through “American Idol,” but she could not be immediately reached for comment.
A few of the contestants in Tuesday night’s episode, including Pacitti, flubbed the lyrics but made it through to the next round.
Pacitti entered “Idol” as anything but an ingenue. She had a record deal with Geffen and released an album in 2006. Billboard reports it sold more than 16,000 copies. “American Idol” judge Kara DioGuardi recognised Pacitti when she auditioned in Louisville, Kentucky.
She also starred in “Annie” on Broadway as a young girl, and sang on the soundtracks for the movies “Legally Blonde” and “Bratz.” Britney Spears’ tune “Out From Under,” from her latest album, was first performed by Pacitti on the “Bratz” soundtrack.
All that experience was enough to draw complaints from viewers who thought she was too polished for the top-rated show, which purports to pluck raw talent out of nowhere and turn them into stars.
However, eight seasons in, “Idol” has selected singers who have spent time in the recording studio.
Pacitti’s situation echoed the controversy over last season’s finalists, Carly Smithson and Kristy Lee Cook, who had previous record deals.
Smithson had recorded an album for MCA Records, while Cook once had a deal with Arista Nashville. Other experienced seventh-season singers include Robbie Carrico, who was in the pop group Boyz N Girlz United, and runner-up David Archuleta, who won “Star Search” in 2003. - AP
Banks lower interest rates and penalty for late payment
By FLORENCE A. SAMY and NURBAITI HAMDAN (The Star)
PETALING JAYA: Credit card interest rates and penalty fees are going down.
Cardholders who pay at least the minimum amount promptly over 12 consecutive months (Tier-1) will pay 13.5% in annual interest from March 31, from the present 15%.
For those who pay promptly for at least 10 consecutive months (Tier-II), the interest rate will be 16%, down from 17%.
For those who do not fall into both these categories (Tier-III), the interest rate will be 17.5%, a minimal 0.5% reduction from 18%.
The present minimum late payment fee of RM10, or 1% of the total outstanding balance will also be reduced to RM5, and the RM100 maximum fee cut to RM75.
ABM chairman Datuk Seri Abdul Hamidy Abdul Hafiz, who announced the changes in a statement yesterday, said banks “have listened” to encourage good repayment habits and instil financial discipline.
“Existing local credit card charges are already among the lowest in Asia, which range from 18% to 42% elsewhere in the region. “We hope the latest measures will motivate credit card holders to diligently make at least the monthly minimum payment of 5% of their total outstanding balance promptly,’’ he added.
Sunday Star front-paged consumers rallying for credit card interest rates to be reduced to help them get out of debt.
There are 10.3 million cardholders in the country with total debt standing at RM22.8bil as of December last year.
“The reductions in interest rates should give rise to savings for all credit cardholders to better enable them to make the minimum payment.
“It is also envisaged that more Tier-I cardholders can now afford to plan to settle their outstanding amount in full every month,” Abdul Hamidy added.
He said the different incremental reduction in interest rates of 1.5% between Tier-III and Tier-II and 2.5% between Tier-II and Tier-I would also encourage prudent repayment habits and instil strong personal finance management.
“The revisions not only demonstrate a reasonable, responsive and dynamic Malaysian financial system but are also in line with the underpinning principle of the tiered interest rate scheme introduced last year, that is to encourage good repayment habits and financial discipline,” he added.
Credit risk costs, he added, was expected to climb in a worsening economic environment, but banks would be closely monitoring the situation in the months ahead.
“The public must still exercise great caution and control over personal spending and live within one’s means,” he advised.
Fomca secretary-general Muhammad Sha’ani Abdullah said although the reduced interest rates would help cardholders who had outstanding balances, “the numbers are still toosmall.”
“Muhammad Sha’ani suggested that banks allow cardholders to reschedule loans by converting their credit card balances to term loans with a 10% interest rate.
PETALING JAYA: Credit card interest rates and penalty fees are going down.
Cardholders who pay at least the minimum amount promptly over 12 consecutive months (Tier-1) will pay 13.5% in annual interest from March 31, from the present 15%.
For those who pay promptly for at least 10 consecutive months (Tier-II), the interest rate will be 16%, down from 17%.
For those who do not fall into both these categories (Tier-III), the interest rate will be 17.5%, a minimal 0.5% reduction from 18%.
The present minimum late payment fee of RM10, or 1% of the total outstanding balance will also be reduced to RM5, and the RM100 maximum fee cut to RM75.
ABM chairman Datuk Seri Abdul Hamidy Abdul Hafiz, who announced the changes in a statement yesterday, said banks “have listened” to encourage good repayment habits and instil financial discipline.
“Existing local credit card charges are already among the lowest in Asia, which range from 18% to 42% elsewhere in the region. “We hope the latest measures will motivate credit card holders to diligently make at least the monthly minimum payment of 5% of their total outstanding balance promptly,’’ he added.
Sunday Star front-paged consumers rallying for credit card interest rates to be reduced to help them get out of debt.
There are 10.3 million cardholders in the country with total debt standing at RM22.8bil as of December last year.
“The reductions in interest rates should give rise to savings for all credit cardholders to better enable them to make the minimum payment.
“It is also envisaged that more Tier-I cardholders can now afford to plan to settle their outstanding amount in full every month,” Abdul Hamidy added.
He said the different incremental reduction in interest rates of 1.5% between Tier-III and Tier-II and 2.5% between Tier-II and Tier-I would also encourage prudent repayment habits and instil strong personal finance management.
“The revisions not only demonstrate a reasonable, responsive and dynamic Malaysian financial system but are also in line with the underpinning principle of the tiered interest rate scheme introduced last year, that is to encourage good repayment habits and financial discipline,” he added.
Credit risk costs, he added, was expected to climb in a worsening economic environment, but banks would be closely monitoring the situation in the months ahead.
“The public must still exercise great caution and control over personal spending and live within one’s means,” he advised.
Fomca secretary-general Muhammad Sha’ani Abdullah said although the reduced interest rates would help cardholders who had outstanding balances, “the numbers are still toosmall.”
“Muhammad Sha’ani suggested that banks allow cardholders to reschedule loans by converting their credit card balances to term loans with a 10% interest rate.
Toll on part of NPE abolished
By LESTER KONG(The Star)
PETALING JAYA: Toll collection at the Kuala Lumpur-bound toll plaza at PJS2 on the New Pantai Expressway (NPE) will be abolished as of 12:01am Saturday.
The Cabinet decided to do away with the RM1.60 toll last week, said Works Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Zin Mohamed on Friday.
“The decision by the Cabinet was a consequence of the Works Ministry’s memorandum to abolish the toll,” he said during the announcement ceremony of the abolition.
He said removing the toll was also meant to soften the effects of economic uncertainties for the residents of PJS 1 and 2, who had to pay RM1.60 toll every time they drove towards Kuala Lumpur since April 2004.
Mohd Zin did not specify the amount of compensation to be paid to concessionaire NPE Sdn Bhd. Officials of the consessionaire could not be reached.
A small but noisy crowd of Umno, PAS and PKR supporters turned up to support the abolition of the toll, which was considered a Valentine’s Day gift not only to road users heading to Kuala Lumpur but also for the 30,000 residents of nearby Taman Medan and Kampung Dato’ Haron.
However, Taman Medan assemblyman Haniza Mohd Talha (PKR) said the Government must also abolish the toll on the opposite side of the highway, heading towards Subang Jaya and Kelana Jaya.
PETALING JAYA: Toll collection at the Kuala Lumpur-bound toll plaza at PJS2 on the New Pantai Expressway (NPE) will be abolished as of 12:01am Saturday.
The Cabinet decided to do away with the RM1.60 toll last week, said Works Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Zin Mohamed on Friday.
“The decision by the Cabinet was a consequence of the Works Ministry’s memorandum to abolish the toll,” he said during the announcement ceremony of the abolition.
He said removing the toll was also meant to soften the effects of economic uncertainties for the residents of PJS 1 and 2, who had to pay RM1.60 toll every time they drove towards Kuala Lumpur since April 2004.
Mohd Zin did not specify the amount of compensation to be paid to concessionaire NPE Sdn Bhd. Officials of the consessionaire could not be reached.
A small but noisy crowd of Umno, PAS and PKR supporters turned up to support the abolition of the toll, which was considered a Valentine’s Day gift not only to road users heading to Kuala Lumpur but also for the 30,000 residents of nearby Taman Medan and Kampung Dato’ Haron.
However, Taman Medan assemblyman Haniza Mohd Talha (PKR) said the Government must also abolish the toll on the opposite side of the highway, heading towards Subang Jaya and Kelana Jaya.
Don’t catch a virus this Valentine’s
By STEFAN NAIDU (The Star)
PETALING JAYA: Every Valentine’s day since the year 2000, the world has experienced a wave of malicious love-related viruses which spread through the combination of e-mail and infected websites, according to Internet content security company Trend Micro.
The virus has gone by many aliases over the years. Typically, in the few weeks leading up to Valentine’s Day, “love” messages flood e-mail inboxes all over the world.
These e-mail messages would contain a link that redirects a user to a website with heart images in the background. When this page is clicked, the user is prompted to download a malicious file, detected by Trend Micro this year as WORM_WALEDEC.AR.
The purpose of the virus is to compromise the security of infected systems by opening random ports to listen for commands from a remote user. This makes the computer extremely vulnerable to infiltration, Trend Micro warned.
To combat this, the company is offering a patch for its customers as well as a free malware scanner and cleaner for anyone wanting to clear the virus off their computers.
For non-Trend Micro customers, the link to the scanner is housecall.trendmicro.com.
Trend Micro customers can download the patch at us.trendmicro.com/us/products/ enterprise/web-protection-add-on.
For more information of the virus itself, other threats and general Internet security issues, visit blog.trendmicro.com.
PETALING JAYA: Every Valentine’s day since the year 2000, the world has experienced a wave of malicious love-related viruses which spread through the combination of e-mail and infected websites, according to Internet content security company Trend Micro.
The virus has gone by many aliases over the years. Typically, in the few weeks leading up to Valentine’s Day, “love” messages flood e-mail inboxes all over the world.
These e-mail messages would contain a link that redirects a user to a website with heart images in the background. When this page is clicked, the user is prompted to download a malicious file, detected by Trend Micro this year as WORM_WALEDEC.AR.
The purpose of the virus is to compromise the security of infected systems by opening random ports to listen for commands from a remote user. This makes the computer extremely vulnerable to infiltration, Trend Micro warned.
To combat this, the company is offering a patch for its customers as well as a free malware scanner and cleaner for anyone wanting to clear the virus off their computers.
For non-Trend Micro customers, the link to the scanner is housecall.trendmicro.com.
Trend Micro customers can download the patch at us.trendmicro.com/us/products/ enterprise/web-protection-add-on.
For more information of the virus itself, other threats and general Internet security issues, visit blog.trendmicro.com.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
存款基貸率普遍下調
近乎所有商業銀行已配合國家銀行家調降隔夜政策利率，下調存款利率與基本貸款利率（BLR），只有數家銀行仍未跟隨降息步伐。
艾芬銀行基貸率調低至5.9%
在下調後，眾多銀行基貸率落在5.95%，只有艾芬銀行調低至5.90%；蘇格蘭皇家銀行、東京三菱銀行、德意志銀行處於5.75%水平。
大馬銀行基貸率高掛6%；盤谷銀行則為同業最低，僅5.50%。
現只剩JP摩根大通未調整基貸率。定期存款利率也普遍已下調，僅蘇格蘭皇家銀行與JP摩根大通的存款利率仍原風不動。
12個月定存利率3%底限為準
目前，所有銀行的12個月定存利率以3.00%底限為準，9個月利率普遍為2.50%，其中艾芬銀行為2.75%；盤谷銀行是2.70%；花旗銀行與大馬銀行皆為2.60%。
大馬銀行的基貸率較同儕高，但9個月定存利率也比同業優，掛在2.88%。
至於1個月定存利率，除艾芬銀行與安聯銀行分別為2.60%與2.70%，大部份銀行以2.50%為準。
大馬銀行3個月和6個月定存各是2.55%；盤谷銀行分別為2.55%與2.60%；艾芬銀行以2.60%及2.75%為基準。
安聯銀行3個月定存率是2.60%，6個月定存和眾業者一樣，處於2.50%；花旗銀行與大馬銀行則調整6個月定存至2.60%，3個月定存率卻與同儕掛在2.50%。
國行是於1月中將隔夜政策利率大幅下修75個基點至2.5%；法定儲備率（SRR）更從3.5%減至2%，並從2月1日起生效。
星洲日報／投資廣場／存款利率‧2009.02.09
艾芬銀行基貸率調低至5.9%
在下調後，眾多銀行基貸率落在5.95%，只有艾芬銀行調低至5.90%；蘇格蘭皇家銀行、東京三菱銀行、德意志銀行處於5.75%水平。
大馬銀行基貸率高掛6%；盤谷銀行則為同業最低，僅5.50%。
現只剩JP摩根大通未調整基貸率。定期存款利率也普遍已下調，僅蘇格蘭皇家銀行與JP摩根大通的存款利率仍原風不動。
12個月定存利率3%底限為準
目前，所有銀行的12個月定存利率以3.00%底限為準，9個月利率普遍為2.50%，其中艾芬銀行為2.75%；盤谷銀行是2.70%；花旗銀行與大馬銀行皆為2.60%。
大馬銀行的基貸率較同儕高，但9個月定存利率也比同業優，掛在2.88%。
至於1個月定存利率，除艾芬銀行與安聯銀行分別為2.60%與2.70%，大部份銀行以2.50%為準。
大馬銀行3個月和6個月定存各是2.55%；盤谷銀行分別為2.55%與2.60%；艾芬銀行以2.60%及2.75%為基準。
安聯銀行3個月定存率是2.60%，6個月定存和眾業者一樣，處於2.50%；花旗銀行與大馬銀行則調整6個月定存至2.60%，3個月定存率卻與同儕掛在2.50%。
國行是於1月中將隔夜政策利率大幅下修75個基點至2.5%；法定儲備率（SRR）更從3.5%減至2%，並從2月1日起生效。
星洲日報／投資廣場／存款利率‧2009.02.09
Monday, February 2, 2009
人參黃連控制糖尿‧苦瓜輔助降血糖
苦瓜有清心明目、抑菌抗炎、清熱解毒的作用， 是熱天裡的“解暑食材”。
黃連的主要功能是清瀉心胃火熱、涼肝膽、解熱毒。
人參可補五臟、安精神、健脾補肺、益氣生津等，是一味名貴中藥。
（雪蘭莪‧八打靈再也）網上流傳一項最新的臨床研究，指人參中所含的人參皂苷是降低血糖的主要成份，能增強胰島素，起著“類胰島素”的作用。研究人員也發現，人參的另一主要成份Rb1也有降低血糖的效果。至於黃連含有的黃連素也有明顯的降血糖功效，而苦瓜種子含有和胰島素功能相似的蛋白質，對降血糖有一定的輔助作用。本地中醫師指出，人參、黃連和苦瓜對治療糖尿病有輔助作用，成效因人而異，胥視患者的體質和病況而定。
中醫師杜成興披露，過去20年來，研究人員致力研究人參是否可降血糖，最新的研究顯示，人參含有的人參皂苷的確可降血糖。此外， 另兩味中藥防風和黃耆也是研究人員主攻的研究項目， 以進一步確定降血糖的功效。
他認為，糖尿病患者一般都有脾胃欠佳的問題，造成他們攝取的食物無法被身體及時消化和代謝，形成廢物，長期下來就引發疾病。
“從中醫的觀點來說，糖尿病人都有2個特點，一是很容易餓，因為胃有邪火在燒；二是容易口渴。如果用黃連治療，可消除胃裡的郁火，控制血糖。但是，我發現有些患者嚴格控制本身的攝糖量，導致身體缺糖。其實，患者適量攝取糖不會使血糖上升。”
黃連控制血糖除郁火
杜成興表示，黃連的性味苦寒，不可大量使用，否則會傷到脾胃。通常用量介於3至6克。體質偏熱的糖尿病患者較適合用。
中醫師許才壽說，人參是否可降血糖因人而異。從中醫學來說，糖尿病分“虛” 與“實”，病因是脾、胃、腎虛弱， 以致代謝和內分泌受影響而病發，故治療須從這三個臟腑著手。
“人參可補元氣，虛型糖尿病者若用人參調理，能改善他們的整體健康，或有助控制血糖水平。實型患者則不能用人參，須用其他中藥如黃連配伍其他中藥，或有一定的療效。”
他透露，黃連是中藥裡的“抗生素”，有清熱解毒的功效，多用來抗肝炎、黃疸、發燒不退等症。臨床上，他較少用黃連，原因是性味苦寒及價格昂貴， 約8克的黃連就要逾十多令吉。
人參較適合體虛患者
中醫師盧清保則說，現代的藥典都有記載人參可降血糖的資料，但只限體質虛弱的患者，因為人參可增強患者的免疫系統，補充元氣。
“有些患者因上了年紀，代謝和腎臟功能低下而患上糖尿病，若用人參配伍其他中藥如淮山、熟地、黃耆等調理，有助改善整體的健康，可能降低血糖。”
他表示，黃連是一味苦寒藥，歸心經，臨床上降血壓的效果較顯著。降血糖則須胥視患者的體質， 體質濕熱或偏熱的糖尿病患者較適合。
玉米鬚煮中藥喝
降血糖經濟有效
中醫師許才壽說，有些中藥降血糖的效果理想，且經濟有效，如玉米須配伍淮山、茯苓和白朮煮水，代茶飲用即可。
他表示，基於糖尿病患者須控制血糖水平，往往也有矯枉過正而面臨“身體缺糖” 的情況。其實， 只要抱著“ 有一沒二”的原則就能解決問題。若喝咖啡配兩片餅乾，咖啡就不能加糖，因為餅乾已有糖份。
中醫師杜成興說，臨床上，他是用方劑“六味地黃丸” 配伍苦瓜、番石榴葉和蜜糖，做成蜜丸來治療糖尿病，病人每天吃6克，可將血糖水平控制在理想水平。
苦瓜攪汁日限20克
濕熱體質效果顯著
中醫師盧清保說，苦瓜因含有一些降血糖的成份而成了“熱門藥”，很多降血糖的中成藥皆加入苦瓜為主要成份。但他認為，從治療的角度來看，中醫強調辨證論治及配合現代藥理研究結果來配伍處方，若說單用苦瓜就能藥到病除是難以成立的。
“苦瓜降血糖的療效仍有待觀察，因為糖尿病不容易治療，只能做到控制，而非根治。我們要從整體看問題，而非對號入座。”
中醫師杜成興披露，苦瓜是印度同胞的傳統降血糖食材，效果明顯，但不能多吃，一天最多20克，因為苦瓜性寒，味苦。
“若患者要用苦瓜食療，一天只能用20克小苦瓜攪成汁，加點蜜糖飲用。”
不過，中醫師許才壽認為，食療仍胥視個人體質。如印度同胞以咖哩為主食，體質多傾向濕熱，因此用小苦瓜降血糖的效果較明顯，因為苦瓜可清熱解毒。
“若一個糖尿病患者的體質虛弱，但因長期吃咖哩使體質從虛變濕，運用小苦瓜食療可能有效。”
光明日報／良醫‧報導：黃秀儀‧2008.05.19
僱員公積金儲蓄
您可自您的僱員公積金戶口中提出款項，以支付首期付款。請聯絡您鄰近的僱員公積金辦事處，查詢您是否符合提款的資格。
EPF Savings
You could also withdraw from your Account 2 to make the initial downpayment. Please contact your nearest EPF office to inquire about your withdrawal eligibility.
EPF Savings
You could also withdraw from your Account 2 to make the initial downpayment. Please contact your nearest EPF office to inquire about your withdrawal eligibility.
僱員公積金儲蓄
您可自您的僱員公積金戶口中提出款項，以支付首期付款。請聯絡您鄰近的僱員公積金辦事處，查詢您是否符合提款的資格。
EPF Savings
You could also withdraw from your Account 2 to make the initial downpayment. Please contact your nearest EPF office to inquire about your withdrawal eligibility.
EPF Savings
You could also withdraw from your Account 2 to make the initial downpayment. Please contact your nearest EPF office to inquire about your withdrawal eligibility.
我能夠負擔的是什麼
在您承諾購買產業之前，首先您應當規劃及預算，以協助您確定您所能夠承擔的數額，以及您欲購買之產業的頂價。作為參考，您支付房屋與汽車分期付款以及其他的付款，不應超過您的每月家庭總收入的三分之一。
您的籌資來源可以是以下所有的或其中的任何組合：
1. 儲蓄
2. 從雇員公積金戶口中提出款項
3. 金融機構提供的貸款
What Can I Afford
Before you commit to purchase a property, you should first work out a budget to help you determine how much you can afford and the ceiling price on any property you may wish to buy. As a guide, your monthly commitments on paying instalments for your house, car and other payments should not exceed 1/3 of your gross monthly household income.
Your source of funding can be all or any combination of the following:
1. Savings
2. Withdrawal from Employee Provident Fund (EPF) account
3. Loan facility from a financial institution
您的籌資來源可以是以下所有的或其中的任何組合：
1. 儲蓄
2. 從雇員公積金戶口中提出款項
3. 金融機構提供的貸款
What Can I Afford
Before you commit to purchase a property, you should first work out a budget to help you determine how much you can afford and the ceiling price on any property you may wish to buy. As a guide, your monthly commitments on paying instalments for your house, car and other payments should not exceed 1/3 of your gross monthly household income.
Your source of funding can be all or any combination of the following:
1. Savings
2. Withdrawal from Employee Provident Fund (EPF) account
3. Loan facility from a financial institution
儲蓄
您必須擁有足夠的個人儲蓄，以支付首期付款以及其他與購屋有關聯的成本。最佳的預算是支付10%至20%的購價作為首期付款，以及支付另外3%至5%作為相關成本，如律師費以及印花稅。
Savings
You should have sufficient personal savings to pay for the downpayment and other related costs associated with buying a house. A good estimate would be about 10%-20% of the purchase price as down - payment and another 3%-5% for related costs, such as legal fees and stamp duties.
Savings
You should have sufficient personal savings to pay for the downpayment and other related costs associated with buying a house. A good estimate would be about 10%-20% of the purchase price as down - payment and another 3%-5% for related costs, such as legal fees and stamp duties.
申請貸款：需要的文件
在金融機構處理您的貸款申請之前，您必須提供以下的基本文件：
* 身份證或護照影印本
* 最近3個月的薪金單
* 最新的所得稅報稅表（J表格）或EA表格
* 買賣合約／抵押金收據或訂屋收據／發展商發出的購屋獻議信
* 地契影印本（若有）
* 最近6個月的儲蓄存折／定期存款的銀行結單（若無薪金單以及／或J／EA表格，銀行結單必須提供）
* 已建竣房屋的估價報告
* 如果您為自僱人士，您必須提供您的商業注冊文件，最近3個月的銀行結單，最近的財務報表以及其他的支持文件，以作為您的收入支持證明
不過，一些金融機構可能要求附加的支持文件。一旦接受了獻議信之後，您必須委任一位律師為您擬定貸款文件。一般上，您將在您的金融機構提供的顧問律師名單中作出選擇。這類文件的一部份必須呈至相關的政府部門登記，以及交至印花稅務局蓋印花稅。
在完成了上述事項之後，這類注冊文件將交返金融機構，而您也將獲得一份貸款合約。一般上，完成這些法律程序所費的時間不應超過6個月。
Loan Applications : Documents Required
You need to provide the following basic documents before the financial institution can process your loan application:
* A photocopy of identity card or passport
* Your latest 3 months' salary slip
* Your latest income tax return form (Form J) or EA form
* Sale and Purchase Agreement/deposit or booking receipt/letter of offer from the housing developer
* A photocopy of the land title (if any)
* The latest bank statements (compulsory in the absence of salary slips and/or Form J/EA Form) dating back six months/savings passbook/fixed deposits
* Valuation report for completed houses and/or
* If you are self-employed, you need to provide your business registration documents, latest 3 months bank statements, latest financial statements and other supporting documents to support your income.
However, some financial institutions may require additional supporting documents.
Upon acceptance of the letter of offer, you will need to appoint a lawyer to draw up the loan documentation for you. Normally, you would select your lawyer from a list of panel lawyers provided by your financial institution. Some of these documents need to be submitted to the relevant government authorities for registration and to the Stamp Office for stamping.
Upon completion of the above, these registered documents are then submitted to the financial institution and you will be given a copy of the Loan Agreement. In general, the timeframe for the completion of this legal process should not exceed 6 months.
* 身份證或護照影印本
* 最近3個月的薪金單
* 最新的所得稅報稅表（J表格）或EA表格
* 買賣合約／抵押金收據或訂屋收據／發展商發出的購屋獻議信
* 地契影印本（若有）
* 最近6個月的儲蓄存折／定期存款的銀行結單（若無薪金單以及／或J／EA表格，銀行結單必須提供）
* 已建竣房屋的估價報告
* 如果您為自僱人士，您必須提供您的商業注冊文件，最近3個月的銀行結單，最近的財務報表以及其他的支持文件，以作為您的收入支持證明
不過，一些金融機構可能要求附加的支持文件。一旦接受了獻議信之後，您必須委任一位律師為您擬定貸款文件。一般上，您將在您的金融機構提供的顧問律師名單中作出選擇。這類文件的一部份必須呈至相關的政府部門登記，以及交至印花稅務局蓋印花稅。
在完成了上述事項之後，這類注冊文件將交返金融機構，而您也將獲得一份貸款合約。一般上，完成這些法律程序所費的時間不應超過6個月。
Loan Applications : Documents Required
You need to provide the following basic documents before the financial institution can process your loan application:
* A photocopy of identity card or passport
* Your latest 3 months' salary slip
* Your latest income tax return form (Form J) or EA form
* Sale and Purchase Agreement/deposit or booking receipt/letter of offer from the housing developer
* A photocopy of the land title (if any)
* The latest bank statements (compulsory in the absence of salary slips and/or Form J/EA Form) dating back six months/savings passbook/fixed deposits
* Valuation report for completed houses and/or
* If you are self-employed, you need to provide your business registration documents, latest 3 months bank statements, latest financial statements and other supporting documents to support your income.
However, some financial institutions may require additional supporting documents.
Upon acceptance of the letter of offer, you will need to appoint a lawyer to draw up the loan documentation for you. Normally, you would select your lawyer from a list of panel lawyers provided by your financial institution. Some of these documents need to be submitted to the relevant government authorities for registration and to the Stamp Office for stamping.
Upon completion of the above, these registered documents are then submitted to the financial institution and you will be given a copy of the Loan Agreement. In general, the timeframe for the completion of this legal process should not exceed 6 months.
選擇您的金融機構
在決定所選擇的金融機構之前，您應當貨比三家。請記得，當您接受房屋貸款時，您需要在一段期間經常與金融機構打交道。因此，除了低利率之外，您也必須考慮其它的因素。以下是您應考慮的事頂：
* 這家金融機構接待顧客的專業程度有多高？
* 它是否提供有效及可信賴的素質服務？
* 它提供哪些貸款配套，以及哪一些配套最符合您的要求。
* 所涉及的收費有哪一些？
例如，律師費，相關的政府費用及收費，貸款發放費用以及其他。您也應當被告知，在什麼時候徵收這類收費以及是否需要經常支付這類收費的事項。
一家具有革新精神的金融機構，可能將提供更為適合您的貸款配套，而這類金融機構的貸款處理程序也可能更快捷及無繁瑣。一般上，當您呈交了所有相關的文件之後，您的貸款申請需時1至2個星期獲得批准。
Choosing Your Financial Institution
You should shop around before you decide on any financial institution. Remember that when you take up a housing loan, you will be dealing with the financial institution on a regular basis for a period of time. Therefore, you should also consider factors other than just interest rates. Below are some of the factors you should consider:
* How professional is the financial institution in dealing with customers?
* Does it offer quality service in terms of efficiency and reliability?
* What are the available loan packages and which package suits you best?
* What are the charges involved?
For example, legal fees, related government fees and charges, disbursement fees and others. You should also be informed when and how often these charges are to be paid
An innovative financial institution may offer a more suitable loan package that suits your needs and their application process may be faster and hassle-free. It usually takes about one to two weeks for your loan application to be approved from the time you submit all relevant documentation.
(星洲互動)
* 這家金融機構接待顧客的專業程度有多高？
* 它是否提供有效及可信賴的素質服務？
* 它提供哪些貸款配套，以及哪一些配套最符合您的要求。
* 所涉及的收費有哪一些？
例如，律師費，相關的政府費用及收費，貸款發放費用以及其他。您也應當被告知，在什麼時候徵收這類收費以及是否需要經常支付這類收費的事項。
一家具有革新精神的金融機構，可能將提供更為適合您的貸款配套，而這類金融機構的貸款處理程序也可能更快捷及無繁瑣。一般上，當您呈交了所有相關的文件之後，您的貸款申請需時1至2個星期獲得批准。
Choosing Your Financial Institution
You should shop around before you decide on any financial institution. Remember that when you take up a housing loan, you will be dealing with the financial institution on a regular basis for a period of time. Therefore, you should also consider factors other than just interest rates. Below are some of the factors you should consider:
* How professional is the financial institution in dealing with customers?
* Does it offer quality service in terms of efficiency and reliability?
* What are the available loan packages and which package suits you best?
* What are the charges involved?
For example, legal fees, related government fees and charges, disbursement fees and others. You should also be informed when and how often these charges are to be paid
An innovative financial institution may offer a more suitable loan package that suits your needs and their application process may be faster and hassle-free. It usually takes about one to two weeks for your loan application to be approved from the time you submit all relevant documentation.
(星洲互動)
購買房屋 (簡介)
購買房屋是一件令人興奮的事。它也可能是您有生以來進行的最大宗購買。
了解獲得房屋貸款所涉及的步驟，能協助您節省時間，免除不確定及煩惱。
這本小冊子可讓你深入瞭解獲得房屋融資的各項課題，並給予您獲得房屋融資全部過程之主要步驟的概述。這本小冊子給予您基礎指導，並且解釋技術詞彙，同時提供您關於融資購買房屋的寶貴秘訣。
Introduction
Buying a house is an exciting event. It will probably be the biggest purchase you will ever make in your life. Understanding the steps involved in securing a housing loan will help you save time and avoid uncertainty and anxiety.
This information in the following pages will give you an insight into the various issues on financing a house and outlines the major steps in the overall process of financing a house. It guides you through the basics, explains the technical terms and gives you invaluable tips on financing a house.
購買房屋是重要的決定，因此應當再三考慮及策劃。
如果您購買的是尚在興建中的產業，您應當檢查發展商的背景。您應當確保有關的發展商：
* 擁有由房屋及地方政府部發出的合法執照，同時有關執照仍然有效（未逾期）
* 擁有由各別地方政府發出的合法廣告與銷售准證。
您有權向發展商查詢有關執照以及准證的資料。
您也可以向房屋及地方政府部尋求進一步的闡述，若發展商擁有良好的記錄，將能減低房屋計劃被擱置的風險。
Buying A House
Buying a house is a major step, so it deserves careful thought and planning.
If you are buying a property under construction, you should check the background of the developer. You should ensure that the developer:
* Has a valid licence issued by the Ministry of Housing and Local Government which is still in force (not expired)
* Has a valid advertising and selling permit issued by respective local authority which is still in force
You have the right to enquire from the developer, information on licence and permit. You can also refer to the Ministry of Housing and Local Government for further clarification. A developer with a good track record reduces the risk of the project being abandoned.
了解獲得房屋貸款所涉及的步驟，能協助您節省時間，免除不確定及煩惱。
這本小冊子可讓你深入瞭解獲得房屋融資的各項課題，並給予您獲得房屋融資全部過程之主要步驟的概述。這本小冊子給予您基礎指導，並且解釋技術詞彙，同時提供您關於融資購買房屋的寶貴秘訣。
Introduction
Buying a house is an exciting event. It will probably be the biggest purchase you will ever make in your life. Understanding the steps involved in securing a housing loan will help you save time and avoid uncertainty and anxiety.
This information in the following pages will give you an insight into the various issues on financing a house and outlines the major steps in the overall process of financing a house. It guides you through the basics, explains the technical terms and gives you invaluable tips on financing a house.
購買房屋是重要的決定，因此應當再三考慮及策劃。
如果您購買的是尚在興建中的產業，您應當檢查發展商的背景。您應當確保有關的發展商：
* 擁有由房屋及地方政府部發出的合法執照，同時有關執照仍然有效（未逾期）
* 擁有由各別地方政府發出的合法廣告與銷售准證。
您有權向發展商查詢有關執照以及准證的資料。
您也可以向房屋及地方政府部尋求進一步的闡述，若發展商擁有良好的記錄，將能減低房屋計劃被擱置的風險。
Buying A House
Buying a house is a major step, so it deserves careful thought and planning.
If you are buying a property under construction, you should check the background of the developer. You should ensure that the developer:
* Has a valid licence issued by the Ministry of Housing and Local Government which is still in force (not expired)
* Has a valid advertising and selling permit issued by respective local authority which is still in force
You have the right to enquire from the developer, information on licence and permit. You can also refer to the Ministry of Housing and Local Government for further clarification. A developer with a good track record reduces the risk of the project being abandoned.
買房子該怎麼殺價？
購物時還價或殺價幾乎是許多人購物的定律，無論價格的高低，多數人總是習慣與商家來回議價，即使是微小數字，也能從中獲得一些殺價的樂趣。
買房子的金額高達數十萬至上百萬令吉，似乎更要用力殺價，畢竟一個回合下來少則可省1萬，多則5萬，何樂而不為，到菜市場購買青菜都希望多要一根洋蔥，購買房子怎麼可能不殺價呢？
基本上多數人都會這樣想，但是這樣的想法，是不是一個所謂的不變“定律”？
回歸到殺價的源頭，主要是因為你想購買，然後是想用比較少一點的錢買到手，達到“物超所值”的目的；所以應該要把你是不是真的很想要買下這個單位，當做前提來看待，再決定是否要殺價。
也就是說，如果是真的很想買，即便殺價不成，可能還是會買；如果沒有那麼想買，那就會殺多一點價，產生價格誘因，引發實際購買行動。
由此可見，殺價並非購買的重點，想不想買，甚至買不買得起，才是真正的關鍵。
動心起念想要到買下有關房產，又可分為兩種情況，一種是只有自己很想買，另一種是大家都很想買。如果僅是自己很想買，欲購的單位不是很熱門，那殺價的空間就會大一些。
這樣的邏輯，用買股票的行為來說明，就會更清楚。當大家搶購某一組別、行情看好的股票時，通常都要用加價才能買到手！
同樣的邏輯，套用在房地產也是如此，即使房地產的價格是百萬或更高。回歸到真正的主題，重點還是在於你想不想買，以及想買的人多或少？
如果你想購買的房地產，位於大家普遍看好的熱門地區，或是房產規劃獲得多數購屋者的認同，那麼，殺價的策略勢必無法派上用場。
凡熱門商品，大家都很想買，在這種情況下，別說是殺價，恐怕還得要加價，才能買得到。
如果是熱門房產，產業發展商商或經紀商一般不會珍惜任何購屋者，因為後面可能還有條件優厚的買主在排隊，一旦按照慣例去殺價或是猶豫，便有可能錯失購買良機。
另外，一些供應較少的地段理想的店面，一般也相當搶手，不少投資者都是帶著支票簿前往訂購，深怕一旦在價格上猶豫，很快就會被其他買家買走。
因此，在購屋或投資房地產前，要先進行市場調查和做好功課，了解該房地產的熱門指數，再來決定價格策略，才是上策；好房子是不等人的，只是一味殺價恐怕無法買到真正的好房子。
星洲日報／財富廣場／地產札記‧2008.09.20
買房子的金額高達數十萬至上百萬令吉，似乎更要用力殺價，畢竟一個回合下來少則可省1萬，多則5萬，何樂而不為，到菜市場購買青菜都希望多要一根洋蔥，購買房子怎麼可能不殺價呢？
基本上多數人都會這樣想，但是這樣的想法，是不是一個所謂的不變“定律”？
回歸到殺價的源頭，主要是因為你想購買，然後是想用比較少一點的錢買到手，達到“物超所值”的目的；所以應該要把你是不是真的很想要買下這個單位，當做前提來看待，再決定是否要殺價。
也就是說，如果是真的很想買，即便殺價不成，可能還是會買；如果沒有那麼想買，那就會殺多一點價，產生價格誘因，引發實際購買行動。
由此可見，殺價並非購買的重點，想不想買，甚至買不買得起，才是真正的關鍵。
動心起念想要到買下有關房產，又可分為兩種情況，一種是只有自己很想買，另一種是大家都很想買。如果僅是自己很想買，欲購的單位不是很熱門，那殺價的空間就會大一些。
這樣的邏輯，用買股票的行為來說明，就會更清楚。當大家搶購某一組別、行情看好的股票時，通常都要用加價才能買到手！
同樣的邏輯，套用在房地產也是如此，即使房地產的價格是百萬或更高。回歸到真正的主題，重點還是在於你想不想買，以及想買的人多或少？
如果你想購買的房地產，位於大家普遍看好的熱門地區，或是房產規劃獲得多數購屋者的認同，那麼，殺價的策略勢必無法派上用場。
凡熱門商品，大家都很想買，在這種情況下，別說是殺價，恐怕還得要加價，才能買得到。
如果是熱門房產，產業發展商商或經紀商一般不會珍惜任何購屋者，因為後面可能還有條件優厚的買主在排隊，一旦按照慣例去殺價或是猶豫，便有可能錯失購買良機。
另外，一些供應較少的地段理想的店面，一般也相當搶手，不少投資者都是帶著支票簿前往訂購，深怕一旦在價格上猶豫，很快就會被其他買家買走。
因此，在購屋或投資房地產前，要先進行市場調查和做好功課，了解該房地產的熱門指數，再來決定價格策略，才是上策；好房子是不等人的，只是一味殺價恐怕無法買到真正的好房子。
星洲日報／財富廣場／地產札記‧2008.09.20
牛年過招轉“錢”坤
裁員滾滾（財源滾滾）、遭裁禁飽（招財進寶）、旺市如憶（萬事如意）、薪餉四成（心想事成）、紅屠大斬（鴻圖大展）、裁員廣盡（財源廣進），牛年才剛開始，不吉利的話早已鋪天蓋地，生活如牛負重。
然而，即使牛衣歲月，牛有牛的氣質、情趣、境界。宋代《頌牛》詩：黃牛水牛拓荒牛，青山綠水遍地走。默默耕耘為己任，長途跋涉渡春秋。眼望藍天情自爽，腳踏實地樂悠悠。哪得乾坤同歡笑，甘為孺子慶豐收。
牛年，大家都想逮到牛股，沾點牛氣開門見“牛”，惟2009牛年能否迎來牛市尚不得知，個人投資、理財還有可能成為不折不扣的熊年，想要“牛”轉“錢”坤，是時候學習金牛精打細算的精神，向牛過招。
庖丁解牛
解釋：經過反覆實踐，掌握事物的客觀規律，做事得心應手，運用自如。
投資和理財不能光抱著發財為最終目的，應當作是人生經歷，過程中的喜怒哀樂都是一种財富，是知識的學習、智慧的鍛鍊與心態的歷練。
大自然有春夏秋冬，股市也一樣是春生夏長（牛市），秋收冬藏（冬市），智者在冬天注意春天的到來；夏天留意秋天的來臨。每次投資都在累積心靈的財富，反覆實踐，自然而然學會掌握股市的大自然規律，達到庖丁解牛的境界。
穿了鼻子的牛
解釋：讓人牽著走
投資、理財最忌人雲亦雲，讓人牽著鼻子走。很多人往往為節省時間，進行懶人投資法，抱著“別人買甚麼，就買甚麼”的心態，不做任何功課，就“錢”進戰場，血本無歸時，才欲哭無淚。無論投資任何產品，除瞭解自己的理財目標和風險承受能力外，還要對相關投資產品有一定的瞭解，再根據自己的需求做投資組合，並找出適合自己的品種，畢竟適合別人的，不一定適合自己。
鑽牛角尖
解釋：比喻人固執而不知變通，費力的研究無用或無法解決的問題。
景氣差、物價漲，股市風雨飄搖，基金淨值不斷縮水，民眾投資理財處於水深火熱中，投資方法也要靈活變通，否則將落入窠臼而持續失利。民眾依自己的條件選擇定額投資或月供投資計劃，若手頭資金緊縮，可透過定期每隔一段時間投資固定金額在投資產品上。
另外，投資過程不死守，也不隨意放棄。死守的投資心態，一般屬“逃避”型，看到自己的投資品失利後，心中的創傷加劇，於是來個“眼不見，心不煩”，殊不知“死守”可能會加重損失。隨意放棄則使潛在的損失“實質化”，當市場真反彈時，手裡已沒有盈利的“籌碼”。因此，投資者要學會根據不同的情況做到控制風險，靈活應對。
長期投資更要變通，畢竟長期投資≠長期持有，不意味投資產品非得一成不變地死捂到底，不斷地投資反而能戰勝通膨，讓資產不貶值。
此外，即使施行懶人投資法，也要定期為投資品作“體檢”，若投資風格過於集中，就要學會分散風險。
隔山買老牛
解釋：辦事冒失，沒有弄清情況，就輕易決定。
在理財和投資路上，不能隨便下注，在還沒有瞭解整體狀況下，隨便買或隨便賣，長期下來的效果必不如預期。
將錢投資到自己不熟悉的領域，是理財大忌，因為產品投資方向直接決定相關產品的風險和收益。投資者不妨先向理財顧問掌握產品訊息，再加以分析，同時，不能糊裡糊塗把錢交給銀行，而不知道買的是甚麼產品，在選擇理財產品時，也要看清楚流動性相關條款，以免解約時發生的問題。
另外，投資者盲目追求高收益導致銀行在宣傳單傾向美化收益來吊起投資者胃口，因此，不能光靠宣傳單的資訊來決定投資，以免陷入泥沼。
爭貓丟牛
解釋：爭得貓而丟了牛，因小失大。
投資常犯的錯誤是對投資產品有過高的預期，賺少不願止贏，虧少不甘出局，最終該拋的沒拋坐了“電梯”、資金套牢了，反而損失慘重，也是投資因小失大的表現之一。
今年，投資者應遠離短淺狹隘的目光，調整投資心態，該放手的時候就選擇放手，同時，切忌貪一時之利，以投機心態盲目進場，說不定還能亡羊得牛。
另外，小股東在股東會撞期時，為紀念品不惜分身乏術，一天跑好幾家股東會，搞得氣喘如牛。其實與其貪圖小利，不如特別選一家股東會，稱職扮演好小股東角色，尤其針對虧最多的公司，趁機好好修理一番，以發揮小股東權利，讓大老闆聽到小股民心聲，畢竟只有股東會當天，小股東最大，不應放棄出席的權利。
犀牛望月
解釋：比喻見到的不全面。
理財專家稱今年將會是“大熊”開始歸山休息，而“奔牛”活動筋骨的“牛熊”換崗階段，說明牛年可能迎來猴市，即大盤將告別單邊市，不會像2007年一路看漲，也不如去年直直落，而是維持震蕩波動，在這些結構性機會中，認准行業，選對股票成小散戶們需要修煉的內功。
貴价“牛”不等於優質“牛”；買牛者不一定識“牛”，識牛者不一定買“牛”。
在這樣的市場，智者更不能盲人摸象，春天的時候，看到下跌就說秋天來了；秋天的時候看到反彈就說春天來了，必須依目前的市場來詮釋整週期再下定論。
牛蜱
解釋：有入無出，因牛蜱吸血只入不出，比喻只顧賺錢，不肯消費的守財奴。
從前，有一個很有錢的富翁，他準備了一大袋的黃金放在床頭，這樣他每天睡覺時就能看到黃金。
有一天，他開始擔心黃金被歹徒偷走，於是就跑到森林里，在一塊大石頭底下挖了大洞，把黃金埋在洞裡面。隔三差五地，富翁就到森林埋金之處，看一看、摸一摸心愛的黃金。
一天，歹徒尾隨富翁，發現了大石頭下的黃金，把黃金偷走。富翁發覺後，非常傷心，正巧森林里有一位長者經過，聽了富翁傷心欲絕的原因後，就對富翁說：“我有辦法幫你把黃金找回來！”
話一說完，森林長者馬上拿起金色的油漆，把埋藏黃金的大石涂成金色，然後在上面下了"1000兩黃金"的字眼。寫完後，對富翁說：“從今天起，你又可以天天來這裡看你的黃金了，而且再也不必擔心這塊黃金被人偷走。”
富翁看了後，說不出話來......如果光只知道死守錢在銀行或家中，是時候善於利用該金額來投資理財了。
三錦囊戰勝不景氣
最後，由於2009適逢牛年，為自己的未來一年預做打算，理財專家建議打開三三錦囊，以打造“最牛理財術”，戰勝不景氣。
走過2008年金融海嘯帶給全球的震撼，有人形容這次簡直是全球各國經濟競爭的一次世界大戰，艱困的環境不僅帶給企業一波波考驗，裁員、減薪、放無薪假風聲不斷，儼然在各行各業職場上演殘酷的淘汰賽。
據理財專家指出，進入2009年後，上班族可得好好學習金牛精打細算的精神，為度過這場景氣寒冬準備三桶金。
1）老黃牛─精耕細做
看緊荷包，簡約生活在財富路上，既要千里馬，更要老黃牛。千里馬的精神銳意進取的拼搏精神；老黃牛卻風雨無悔、勤勤懇懇地吃苦耐勞。
市道低迷，就要告別過去的“大洗”，與“月光族”說掰掰，明細日常生活開支與貸款，調整收入與支出比，把省下的錢作為應付下半年的所有開銷。畢竟，大環境的不確定因素大，準備好“糧食”，心裡不慌。
2）奶牛─吃草擠奶
定期定額佈局投資，未來必有收穫奶牛吃的是草，擠出的卻是奶，不計較得失。
正當大家在鼠年享受冬天裡的春天時，股市卻大雪紛飛，投資黯淡收場，許多人開始對投資抱怨。
然而，隨股價相對走低，已為今後打開了更多的上漲空間，投資者宜趁牛年分配小錢定期定額進場，將來必有好收成。
3）阿Q精神的“牛”人─花錢投資自己
投資與理財是為了改善生活質量，若花錢買不痛快，終日執迷本來可以賺錢卻沒賺成，不如換個視角，當成虧錢買教訓，或是花學費上課，審視本身理財投資的不足加以改進，更上一層樓。
同時，也要檢視本身在職場上的能力與競爭優勢，景氣寒冬，更要適度花錢投資自己，為自己增加附加價值，至少能降低自己成為下一個“淘汰朗”的風險。
好心的牛仙見鼠仙氣喘不休的樣子，讓鼠仙坐到他肩上，載他赴玉皇大帝的盛宴，結果到了宴會門口，狡猾的鼠仙馬上自牛仙的肩跳下，卯足勁兒往前衝，成為第一個到達宴會場的動物神仙。
牛的生肖故事，說明了牛的敦厚憨直，不藏奸，不耍懶，是老實人的別名，思想務實、生活樸實、作風扎實。儘管去年財富大縮水，惟今年是耕耘年，就要把自己武裝成“牛”人，自犀牛、鬥牛、黃牛、奶牛身上的執著、勤勞、愛拼、奉獻理念學習，再辛勤用牛車多拉點“糧食”，即使蝸行牛步，也必能戰勝不景氣，過個充裕的牛年。
星洲日報／財富廣場／焦點策劃‧2009.01.31
然而，即使牛衣歲月，牛有牛的氣質、情趣、境界。宋代《頌牛》詩：黃牛水牛拓荒牛，青山綠水遍地走。默默耕耘為己任，長途跋涉渡春秋。眼望藍天情自爽，腳踏實地樂悠悠。哪得乾坤同歡笑，甘為孺子慶豐收。
牛年，大家都想逮到牛股，沾點牛氣開門見“牛”，惟2009牛年能否迎來牛市尚不得知，個人投資、理財還有可能成為不折不扣的熊年，想要“牛”轉“錢”坤，是時候學習金牛精打細算的精神，向牛過招。
庖丁解牛
解釋：經過反覆實踐，掌握事物的客觀規律，做事得心應手，運用自如。
投資和理財不能光抱著發財為最終目的，應當作是人生經歷，過程中的喜怒哀樂都是一种財富，是知識的學習、智慧的鍛鍊與心態的歷練。
大自然有春夏秋冬，股市也一樣是春生夏長（牛市），秋收冬藏（冬市），智者在冬天注意春天的到來；夏天留意秋天的來臨。每次投資都在累積心靈的財富，反覆實踐，自然而然學會掌握股市的大自然規律，達到庖丁解牛的境界。
穿了鼻子的牛
解釋：讓人牽著走
投資、理財最忌人雲亦雲，讓人牽著鼻子走。很多人往往為節省時間，進行懶人投資法，抱著“別人買甚麼，就買甚麼”的心態，不做任何功課，就“錢”進戰場，血本無歸時，才欲哭無淚。無論投資任何產品，除瞭解自己的理財目標和風險承受能力外，還要對相關投資產品有一定的瞭解，再根據自己的需求做投資組合，並找出適合自己的品種，畢竟適合別人的，不一定適合自己。
鑽牛角尖
解釋：比喻人固執而不知變通，費力的研究無用或無法解決的問題。
景氣差、物價漲，股市風雨飄搖，基金淨值不斷縮水，民眾投資理財處於水深火熱中，投資方法也要靈活變通，否則將落入窠臼而持續失利。民眾依自己的條件選擇定額投資或月供投資計劃，若手頭資金緊縮，可透過定期每隔一段時間投資固定金額在投資產品上。
另外，投資過程不死守，也不隨意放棄。死守的投資心態，一般屬“逃避”型，看到自己的投資品失利後，心中的創傷加劇，於是來個“眼不見，心不煩”，殊不知“死守”可能會加重損失。隨意放棄則使潛在的損失“實質化”，當市場真反彈時，手裡已沒有盈利的“籌碼”。因此，投資者要學會根據不同的情況做到控制風險，靈活應對。
長期投資更要變通，畢竟長期投資≠長期持有，不意味投資產品非得一成不變地死捂到底，不斷地投資反而能戰勝通膨，讓資產不貶值。
此外，即使施行懶人投資法，也要定期為投資品作“體檢”，若投資風格過於集中，就要學會分散風險。
隔山買老牛
解釋：辦事冒失，沒有弄清情況，就輕易決定。
在理財和投資路上，不能隨便下注，在還沒有瞭解整體狀況下，隨便買或隨便賣，長期下來的效果必不如預期。
將錢投資到自己不熟悉的領域，是理財大忌，因為產品投資方向直接決定相關產品的風險和收益。投資者不妨先向理財顧問掌握產品訊息，再加以分析，同時，不能糊裡糊塗把錢交給銀行，而不知道買的是甚麼產品，在選擇理財產品時，也要看清楚流動性相關條款，以免解約時發生的問題。
另外，投資者盲目追求高收益導致銀行在宣傳單傾向美化收益來吊起投資者胃口，因此，不能光靠宣傳單的資訊來決定投資，以免陷入泥沼。
爭貓丟牛
解釋：爭得貓而丟了牛，因小失大。
投資常犯的錯誤是對投資產品有過高的預期，賺少不願止贏，虧少不甘出局，最終該拋的沒拋坐了“電梯”、資金套牢了，反而損失慘重，也是投資因小失大的表現之一。
今年，投資者應遠離短淺狹隘的目光，調整投資心態，該放手的時候就選擇放手，同時，切忌貪一時之利，以投機心態盲目進場，說不定還能亡羊得牛。
另外，小股東在股東會撞期時，為紀念品不惜分身乏術，一天跑好幾家股東會，搞得氣喘如牛。其實與其貪圖小利，不如特別選一家股東會，稱職扮演好小股東角色，尤其針對虧最多的公司，趁機好好修理一番，以發揮小股東權利，讓大老闆聽到小股民心聲，畢竟只有股東會當天，小股東最大，不應放棄出席的權利。
犀牛望月
解釋：比喻見到的不全面。
理財專家稱今年將會是“大熊”開始歸山休息，而“奔牛”活動筋骨的“牛熊”換崗階段，說明牛年可能迎來猴市，即大盤將告別單邊市，不會像2007年一路看漲，也不如去年直直落，而是維持震蕩波動，在這些結構性機會中，認准行業，選對股票成小散戶們需要修煉的內功。
貴价“牛”不等於優質“牛”；買牛者不一定識“牛”，識牛者不一定買“牛”。
在這樣的市場，智者更不能盲人摸象，春天的時候，看到下跌就說秋天來了；秋天的時候看到反彈就說春天來了，必須依目前的市場來詮釋整週期再下定論。
牛蜱
解釋：有入無出，因牛蜱吸血只入不出，比喻只顧賺錢，不肯消費的守財奴。
從前，有一個很有錢的富翁，他準備了一大袋的黃金放在床頭，這樣他每天睡覺時就能看到黃金。
有一天，他開始擔心黃金被歹徒偷走，於是就跑到森林里，在一塊大石頭底下挖了大洞，把黃金埋在洞裡面。隔三差五地，富翁就到森林埋金之處，看一看、摸一摸心愛的黃金。
一天，歹徒尾隨富翁，發現了大石頭下的黃金，把黃金偷走。富翁發覺後，非常傷心，正巧森林里有一位長者經過，聽了富翁傷心欲絕的原因後，就對富翁說：“我有辦法幫你把黃金找回來！”
話一說完，森林長者馬上拿起金色的油漆，把埋藏黃金的大石涂成金色，然後在上面下了"1000兩黃金"的字眼。寫完後，對富翁說：“從今天起，你又可以天天來這裡看你的黃金了，而且再也不必擔心這塊黃金被人偷走。”
富翁看了後，說不出話來......如果光只知道死守錢在銀行或家中，是時候善於利用該金額來投資理財了。
三錦囊戰勝不景氣
最後，由於2009適逢牛年，為自己的未來一年預做打算，理財專家建議打開三三錦囊，以打造“最牛理財術”，戰勝不景氣。
走過2008年金融海嘯帶給全球的震撼，有人形容這次簡直是全球各國經濟競爭的一次世界大戰，艱困的環境不僅帶給企業一波波考驗，裁員、減薪、放無薪假風聲不斷，儼然在各行各業職場上演殘酷的淘汰賽。
據理財專家指出，進入2009年後，上班族可得好好學習金牛精打細算的精神，為度過這場景氣寒冬準備三桶金。
1）老黃牛─精耕細做
看緊荷包，簡約生活在財富路上，既要千里馬，更要老黃牛。千里馬的精神銳意進取的拼搏精神；老黃牛卻風雨無悔、勤勤懇懇地吃苦耐勞。
市道低迷，就要告別過去的“大洗”，與“月光族”說掰掰，明細日常生活開支與貸款，調整收入與支出比，把省下的錢作為應付下半年的所有開銷。畢竟，大環境的不確定因素大，準備好“糧食”，心裡不慌。
2）奶牛─吃草擠奶
定期定額佈局投資，未來必有收穫奶牛吃的是草，擠出的卻是奶，不計較得失。
正當大家在鼠年享受冬天裡的春天時，股市卻大雪紛飛，投資黯淡收場，許多人開始對投資抱怨。
然而，隨股價相對走低，已為今後打開了更多的上漲空間，投資者宜趁牛年分配小錢定期定額進場，將來必有好收成。
3）阿Q精神的“牛”人─花錢投資自己
投資與理財是為了改善生活質量，若花錢買不痛快，終日執迷本來可以賺錢卻沒賺成，不如換個視角，當成虧錢買教訓，或是花學費上課，審視本身理財投資的不足加以改進，更上一層樓。
同時，也要檢視本身在職場上的能力與競爭優勢，景氣寒冬，更要適度花錢投資自己，為自己增加附加價值，至少能降低自己成為下一個“淘汰朗”的風險。
好心的牛仙見鼠仙氣喘不休的樣子，讓鼠仙坐到他肩上，載他赴玉皇大帝的盛宴，結果到了宴會門口，狡猾的鼠仙馬上自牛仙的肩跳下，卯足勁兒往前衝，成為第一個到達宴會場的動物神仙。
牛的生肖故事，說明了牛的敦厚憨直，不藏奸，不耍懶，是老實人的別名，思想務實、生活樸實、作風扎實。儘管去年財富大縮水，惟今年是耕耘年，就要把自己武裝成“牛”人，自犀牛、鬥牛、黃牛、奶牛身上的執著、勤勞、愛拼、奉獻理念學習，再辛勤用牛車多拉點“糧食”，即使蝸行牛步，也必能戰勝不景氣，過個充裕的牛年。
星洲日報／財富廣場／焦點策劃‧2009.01.31
經濟蕭條也能致富
要於10年內獲得百萬，甚至千萬身家，絕非癡人說夢話，而是真的能做到。《經濟蕭條中7年賺到15,000,000》一書，作者道出一些簡單，不過為人所忽略的理財技巧，讓每個人都可以一步一步地建立財富。
負債對很多現代人來說是最平常不過的事，作者認為負債有分愚笨與聰明兩種。所謂愚笨負債就是消費負債，例如為買汽車、度假、玩樂等而刷卡消費，這雖然會讓當前的生活變得富裕，但卻讓我們距離累積財富的目標漸行漸遠。
減少無謂消費
避免消費負債的方法在於“信念”兩字。作者指出，“我們想要的不見得就是我們需要的”，故於購物前最好先問自己：“真的有必要嗎？一定要買嗎？”以儘量減少當前不必要的消費。
作者認為金錢和機會是不會從天而降的，金錢只會隨著你的能力而來。若打工仔要求老闆加薪，便必須表現你於工作上的長處，向老闆詳述你能為公司帶來甚麼貢獻及好處，以說服他你為何值得加薪。
此外，期望有滿意的收穫則千萬不要介意付出。若你拿的是8小時的薪水，那麼你最好工作10小時，讓你的付出超出別人的期望，讓眾人對你刮目相看，讓自己“應得”更多的薪水。即使老闆沒有看見你工作的熱誠，但養成工作的習慣本身已是致富的本錢。
作者鼓勵打工仔要持續進修，最好能成為一個領域的專家，這樣顧客或僱主便會自動找上門。
培養儲蓄習慣
作者認為，透過收入致富是不可能的，惟有累積金錢（儲蓄）才能創造財富。有人認為當其收入提高後，財富便會增加，但事與願違，當收入增加，相對地，開支亦會增加，令財富不變。因此，讀者應培養每月儲蓄習慣。作者建議，儲蓄等同支薪給自己，讀者可將每個月收入的10%存入另一個帳戶上，餘下的90%應付日常開支。這10%的存款千萬不能動用，因為這筆存款是投資致富的地基。
投資股票嚴守紀律
要在最短時間內創造財富，投資股票是最快捷的方法。不過，投資前必須熟知以下基本規則：
1.投資股票要捉緊時機，於股價跌至谷底時，萬萬不能賣掉，相反當股價升至高峰時則要沽出。
2.要從股市中賺錢，一定要有投資至少2至5年的心理準則。
3.至少購買5種不同行業的股票，以分散風險，但所持有的股票最好不要超過10種。
4.切勿別人買甚麼便跟著買甚麼。
5.買入股票前須經過理性思考，研究過公司的財務狀況、前景及股價走勢。
6.絕不可以借錢來投資股票。
投資基金亦可達到致富目的，作者重點地就投資股票基金提出以下建議：1.應善用股市低迷時機。
2.不要任意更換基金，以減少不必要的轉換費用。
3.不要時常做基金結算表，來確定現時是賺還是蝕。
4.投資於經濟增長率高的市場。
5.至少購買3至5種不同行業的基金，以分散風險。
星洲日報／財富廣場／財富智慧‧2009.01.31
負債對很多現代人來說是最平常不過的事，作者認為負債有分愚笨與聰明兩種。所謂愚笨負債就是消費負債，例如為買汽車、度假、玩樂等而刷卡消費，這雖然會讓當前的生活變得富裕，但卻讓我們距離累積財富的目標漸行漸遠。
減少無謂消費
避免消費負債的方法在於“信念”兩字。作者指出，“我們想要的不見得就是我們需要的”，故於購物前最好先問自己：“真的有必要嗎？一定要買嗎？”以儘量減少當前不必要的消費。
作者認為金錢和機會是不會從天而降的，金錢只會隨著你的能力而來。若打工仔要求老闆加薪，便必須表現你於工作上的長處，向老闆詳述你能為公司帶來甚麼貢獻及好處，以說服他你為何值得加薪。
此外，期望有滿意的收穫則千萬不要介意付出。若你拿的是8小時的薪水，那麼你最好工作10小時，讓你的付出超出別人的期望，讓眾人對你刮目相看，讓自己“應得”更多的薪水。即使老闆沒有看見你工作的熱誠，但養成工作的習慣本身已是致富的本錢。
作者鼓勵打工仔要持續進修，最好能成為一個領域的專家，這樣顧客或僱主便會自動找上門。
培養儲蓄習慣
作者認為，透過收入致富是不可能的，惟有累積金錢（儲蓄）才能創造財富。有人認為當其收入提高後，財富便會增加，但事與願違，當收入增加，相對地，開支亦會增加，令財富不變。因此，讀者應培養每月儲蓄習慣。作者建議，儲蓄等同支薪給自己，讀者可將每個月收入的10%存入另一個帳戶上，餘下的90%應付日常開支。這10%的存款千萬不能動用，因為這筆存款是投資致富的地基。
投資股票嚴守紀律
要在最短時間內創造財富，投資股票是最快捷的方法。不過，投資前必須熟知以下基本規則：
1.投資股票要捉緊時機，於股價跌至谷底時，萬萬不能賣掉，相反當股價升至高峰時則要沽出。
2.要從股市中賺錢，一定要有投資至少2至5年的心理準則。
3.至少購買5種不同行業的股票，以分散風險，但所持有的股票最好不要超過10種。
4.切勿別人買甚麼便跟著買甚麼。
5.買入股票前須經過理性思考，研究過公司的財務狀況、前景及股價走勢。
6.絕不可以借錢來投資股票。
投資基金亦可達到致富目的，作者重點地就投資股票基金提出以下建議：1.應善用股市低迷時機。
2.不要任意更換基金，以減少不必要的轉換費用。
3.不要時常做基金結算表，來確定現時是賺還是蝕。
4.投資於經濟增長率高的市場。
5.至少購買3至5種不同行業的基金，以分散風險。
星洲日報／財富廣場／財富智慧‧2009.01.31
信貸需求受抑、家庭呆賬趨升‧貸款成長或放緩至2%
（吉隆坡）儘管最新的2008年12月份按年貸款成長略為升溫，但遠期貸款指標持續萎縮，反映未來數月的貸款成長步履更蹣跚，顯示經濟的疲弱已經衝擊信貸需求。
與此同時，雖然12月份的銀行呆賬持續改善，但家庭領域卻面對呆賬趨升壓力的跡象，絕對呆賬按季上漲2.8%至162億令吉，主要來自家庭貸款、車貸及信用卡貸款。
根據大馬今年的國內生產總值增長1.5%為底線估計，分析員預計今年杪的絕對呆賬總額或激漲高達50%。
此外，在消費需求疲弱及商情慘淡大前提下，分析員預計，2009年的貸款成長將走緩至2-4%，而2008年仍高達12.8%。
聯昌研究經濟學家李興裕表示，在消費需求走弱及商情慘淡前提下，預計2009年的貸款成長或達3-4%。
“儘管低借貸成本或紓緩商業與家庭的財務負擔，但經濟不明朗化隱憂揮之不去，似乎難以激勵更高的信貸需求。”
銀行獲利預測還有下調風險
馬銀行投資研究則認為，倘若大馬2009年經濟在最糟情況下萎縮0.7%，銀行業獲利縮減7%的預測或還有下調風險。
3個月的呆賬在去年12月份改善至2.2%（11月份為2.4%），6個月呆賬則略為改善至1.7%，11月份為1.8%。
馬銀行投資研究表示，家庭呆賬有一些壓力現象，因絕對呆賬按季上揚2.8%至162億令吉，尤其來自家庭貸款、車貸及信用卡貸款。
但整體而言，銀行貸款虧損償債比率至2008年12月杪估計達89.1%，11月份為86.8%。
經過數家銀行的資本籌措計劃後，銀行體系的資本重組普遍上保持不變，核心比率為10.5%，11月底為10.4%，風險加權資本比率為12.6%，比較11月杪為12.5%。
馬銀行投資研究預計2009年的貸款增長2-3%，鑒於最新的貸款申請與批准，2009年初的成長保持穩健，2009年首季結束時則走緩。
12月總貸款增12.8%
貸款申請及批准續萎縮
2008年12月份的總貸款按年增長12.8%（11月份為10.7%），主要由商業貸款（12月起13.2%，11月7.8%）及家庭貸款（12月起9.1%及11月份上揚9%）所拉抬。
與此同時，12月份的貸款申請及批准進一步萎縮，惟步伐稍微收斂，分別下滑18.8%及23.7%（11月份分別萎縮32.6%及44%），歸咎於商業貸款的需求走弱。
家庭的貸款申請與批准按年增長3.2%及2.3%（11月份分別滑瀉1.6%及增長6.9%），而商業貸款的申請與批准依然疲弱，12月份分別萎縮33.7%及37.9%，11月份則是分別下挫49.2%及64.5%。
按月比較，12月份的貸款申請總額為322億令吉，比11月的357億令吉滑跌10%。
利率年杪或再調降0.5%
鑒於通膨壓力的紓緩，李興裕認為，國行仍然有降息的空間，預估今年杪的隔夜指標利率或再調降50個基點至2%。
國行在1月21日剛把隔夜指標利率大幅調降75個基點至2.50%，反映成長前景的下滑風險加劇。
去年11月份的隔夜指標利率調降，也使商業銀行的基貸率在12月份平均為6.48%，平均貸款利率在12月份亦走跌至5.86%（11月份為5.98%）。國行最新的降息行動，也使一些商業銀行的基貸率進一步下修55個基點至5.95%。
與此同時，大馬的M3廣義貨幣在去年12月份成長放緩至11.9%，比較11月份增長12.5%，主要因凈外資流出總額持續加劇M3的萎縮效應，儘管資金流出已比過去數月減緩。
M1狹義貨幣成長率在12月份按年則放緩至8.3%，比較11月份為11.1%。
個人存款激漲
總存款增11.9%
經濟不景氣，許多消費者的消費心態愈趨向審慎，寧可把多餘的資金存進銀行，有鑒於此，銀行體系在去年12月份的總存款按年持續增長11.9%，比較11月份為12.4%。
國行發表文告指出，上述存款主要來自政府開銷的付款，尤其是發展工程、支付公務員花紅；客戶及商業企業存放金融機構的款項，個人存款漲幅最高。
貸款對存款比率走緩
以種類分析，存款的增長主要是短期貨幣市場存款及需求存款。
貸款對存款比率在12月份稍微走緩至74.7%，11月份為76.7%，主要因貸款成長步伐以每月計比存款緩慢。
商業銀行的12個月實質平均定存利率在12月份持續保持負0.9%（11月份為負2.1%），因12月份的通膨率走緩至4.4%（11月份為5.7%）。
國行持續吸納市場泛濫的游資，至2009年1月中，市場過剩的游資總額增長48億令吉至2199億令吉，比較至12月底為2150億令吉，11月底為2097億令吉。
星洲日報／財經‧2009.01.30
與此同時，雖然12月份的銀行呆賬持續改善，但家庭領域卻面對呆賬趨升壓力的跡象，絕對呆賬按季上漲2.8%至162億令吉，主要來自家庭貸款、車貸及信用卡貸款。
根據大馬今年的國內生產總值增長1.5%為底線估計，分析員預計今年杪的絕對呆賬總額或激漲高達50%。
此外，在消費需求疲弱及商情慘淡大前提下，分析員預計，2009年的貸款成長將走緩至2-4%，而2008年仍高達12.8%。
聯昌研究經濟學家李興裕表示，在消費需求走弱及商情慘淡前提下，預計2009年的貸款成長或達3-4%。
“儘管低借貸成本或紓緩商業與家庭的財務負擔，但經濟不明朗化隱憂揮之不去，似乎難以激勵更高的信貸需求。”
銀行獲利預測還有下調風險
馬銀行投資研究則認為，倘若大馬2009年經濟在最糟情況下萎縮0.7%，銀行業獲利縮減7%的預測或還有下調風險。
3個月的呆賬在去年12月份改善至2.2%（11月份為2.4%），6個月呆賬則略為改善至1.7%，11月份為1.8%。
馬銀行投資研究表示，家庭呆賬有一些壓力現象，因絕對呆賬按季上揚2.8%至162億令吉，尤其來自家庭貸款、車貸及信用卡貸款。
但整體而言，銀行貸款虧損償債比率至2008年12月杪估計達89.1%，11月份為86.8%。
經過數家銀行的資本籌措計劃後，銀行體系的資本重組普遍上保持不變，核心比率為10.5%，11月底為10.4%，風險加權資本比率為12.6%，比較11月杪為12.5%。
馬銀行投資研究預計2009年的貸款增長2-3%，鑒於最新的貸款申請與批准，2009年初的成長保持穩健，2009年首季結束時則走緩。
12月總貸款增12.8%
貸款申請及批准續萎縮
2008年12月份的總貸款按年增長12.8%（11月份為10.7%），主要由商業貸款（12月起13.2%，11月7.8%）及家庭貸款（12月起9.1%及11月份上揚9%）所拉抬。
與此同時，12月份的貸款申請及批准進一步萎縮，惟步伐稍微收斂，分別下滑18.8%及23.7%（11月份分別萎縮32.6%及44%），歸咎於商業貸款的需求走弱。
家庭的貸款申請與批准按年增長3.2%及2.3%（11月份分別滑瀉1.6%及增長6.9%），而商業貸款的申請與批准依然疲弱，12月份分別萎縮33.7%及37.9%，11月份則是分別下挫49.2%及64.5%。
按月比較，12月份的貸款申請總額為322億令吉，比11月的357億令吉滑跌10%。
利率年杪或再調降0.5%
鑒於通膨壓力的紓緩，李興裕認為，國行仍然有降息的空間，預估今年杪的隔夜指標利率或再調降50個基點至2%。
國行在1月21日剛把隔夜指標利率大幅調降75個基點至2.50%，反映成長前景的下滑風險加劇。
去年11月份的隔夜指標利率調降，也使商業銀行的基貸率在12月份平均為6.48%，平均貸款利率在12月份亦走跌至5.86%（11月份為5.98%）。國行最新的降息行動，也使一些商業銀行的基貸率進一步下修55個基點至5.95%。
與此同時，大馬的M3廣義貨幣在去年12月份成長放緩至11.9%，比較11月份增長12.5%，主要因凈外資流出總額持續加劇M3的萎縮效應，儘管資金流出已比過去數月減緩。
M1狹義貨幣成長率在12月份按年則放緩至8.3%，比較11月份為11.1%。
個人存款激漲
總存款增11.9%
經濟不景氣，許多消費者的消費心態愈趨向審慎，寧可把多餘的資金存進銀行，有鑒於此，銀行體系在去年12月份的總存款按年持續增長11.9%，比較11月份為12.4%。
國行發表文告指出，上述存款主要來自政府開銷的付款，尤其是發展工程、支付公務員花紅；客戶及商業企業存放金融機構的款項，個人存款漲幅最高。
貸款對存款比率走緩
以種類分析，存款的增長主要是短期貨幣市場存款及需求存款。
貸款對存款比率在12月份稍微走緩至74.7%，11月份為76.7%，主要因貸款成長步伐以每月計比存款緩慢。
商業銀行的12個月實質平均定存利率在12月份持續保持負0.9%（11月份為負2.1%），因12月份的通膨率走緩至4.4%（11月份為5.7%）。
國行持續吸納市場泛濫的游資，至2009年1月中，市場過剩的游資總額增長48億令吉至2199億令吉，比較至12月底為2150億令吉，11月底為2097億令吉。
星洲日報／財經‧2009.01.30
要壯陽去巴生？‧加強版春藥廣告炸皇城
新版──內容露骨
電腦遊戲機有加強版，現在連春藥非法廣告也出現“加強版”，除了尺寸更大外，宣傳字眼也較舊版大且露骨。（圖：光明日報）
（雪蘭莪‧巴生）武吉丁宜因非法春藥廣告林立而被稱為“春藥城”，但巴生市議會依然按兵不動，以致廣告越貼越多，甚至出現版幅更大、更露骨的“加強版”廣告。春藥廣告氾濫，令當地成為外坡市民的笑柄，大家都笑言要買春藥到巴生，準不會空手而歸。
《光明日報》在兩三個月前報導武吉丁宜春藥廣告氾濫，當時一名市議員受詢時聲稱會展開行動，但如今斗大的“至尊男丹，堅久不傷腎”字眼，依然在街市中揚威。
據悉，由於市議會沒取締，導致春藥廣告張貼範圍日益擴大，除了武吉丁宜外，如今連高陽苑、班達馬蘭、池龍花園，甚至偏遠的巴生市、衛星市等也一樣“春意蕩漾”。
另外，春藥廣告還推出“加強版”，除了“至尊男丹，堅久不傷腎”，現今又增加了“港台最新”、“活性中藥”、“一粒見效”等宣傳字眼，令見者不禁面紅耳赤，快步掩眼而行。
議員施壓仍無對策
針對巴生淪為“春藥城”一事，行動黨巴生市議員林立選受詢時無奈地指出，其實早在四五個月前，眾市議員已在市議會上多番向官員施壓，但官員始終無法擬策解決問題。
“法律小組曾依照廣告上的電話號碼撥電，但對方不認賬，聲稱是電話號碼遭盜用；執法組則表示沒相關法令可採取對付行動，即使當場捉到張貼者，也是奈何不了對方。”
另一方面，他說，春藥廣告也印有馬來文“Ubat Kuat Lelaki”字眼，引起馬來市議員的關注，尤其是酋長更多次督促官員一定要儘快擬定解決方案。
他續稱，有市議員告訴他，巴生春藥廣告氾濫已成為外坡居民的笑柄，不少外坡居民都視巴生為“春藥城”，並笑言：“要買春藥？去巴生準沒錯”。
非法廣告充斥
促警無間道捉人
行動黨巴生市議員林立選說，巴生非法廣告充斥大街小巷，當中以春藥和阿窿廣告最令人頭痛，官員建議警方上演“無間道”戲碼，以一勞永逸解決問題。
“不過，官員表示，當臥底接近來歷不明的阿窿和春藥商，會對他們的安全構成威脅。因此，市議會目前還在研究‘無間道’的可行性。”
他強調，執法不嚴是導致非法廣告充斥的主因，他促請民聯雪州政府關注此事，並希望官員提高執法效率。
光明日報‧2009.02.02
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