The Star Online: Metro: South & East
The Star Online: Metro: South & East |
| Posted: 07 Sep 2012 05:07 AM PDT MALACCA: Some 246ha of Malacca Government's green land bank is set to be gazetted as permanent forest reserves. Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam said the latest area unit will complement 4,843ha of land that have been set aside as forest reserves in the state as stipulated under National Forestry Act 1984 (amended 1993). "The state government felt such area should be extended as green lungs as it benefits the eco-system and also in line with the Malacca's status as green technology city," he told StarMetro recently. Mohd Ali said the state government also felt that the forest reserve is salient for the state for a long-term sustainability of the environment. "We want to witness an ecological transformation that would attract more tourism to the state," he said. Mohd Ali also reminded relevant agencies to abide by the National Forestry Act on matters pertaining to logging, issuance of licences to lumberjacks and extracting jungle products from the state. He said anyone who is found involved in illegal logging could face punitive charges under Section 15 and 40 of National Forestry Act. "Those who found to have violated this act could face a fine of RM500,000 and jailed a maximum 20 years upon conviction," he said. Hence, Mohd Ali said the state government hopes that officers from the Forestry Department here execute their responsibilities diligently to avoid the state's natural resources from being plundered by unscrupulous parties. He added the state Forestry Department should also intensify its patrols to keep vigil on illegal logging at forest reserves in Malacca. |
| Posted: 07 Sep 2012 04:01 AM PDT JOHOR BARU: Some just jot down their daily sales in buku tiga lima note books without keeping proper accounts or just use their savings account for their business transactions and even doing business without renewing their business registration. These are some of the pitfalls that the special secretariat for empowerment of Indian entrepreneurs (SEED) under Prime Minister's department has detected that is affecting Indian businesses in the country. The secretariat's director Dr A.T Kumararajah said some of the businesses were profitable with monthly takings of between RM20,000 and RM30,000. "But without proper profit and loss statements, bank accounts and or balance sheets, these businesses will find it hard to get funding from the banks to expand their business," he added. He said since Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri G. Palanivel announced that local companies could now get financing from the RM180mil special government allocation early last month, SEED has received 3,865 enquiries. "Most of the enquiries comes from Indian businesses involved in retail, logistics and services," he said after attending a three-hour briefing organised by Johor MIC for local Indian businessmen here. He added that most of those who wanted SEED's help had problems with regards to their accounts and accounting documents. Kumararajah added that SEED was not an approving authority for loans but merely a one-stop agency, which would help provide tips for Indian businesses to improve on their business profiles to be able to get loans from banks. "All this is free of charge as the government wants Indians to be able to gain access to funding especially the RM180mil. Besides that SEED can also give technical advice for 63 government schemes available for businessmen through various government ministries. "This may not just be on loans but other types of matching grants as well," he said, adding that under the five schemes under the RM180mil programme, people could get funding of between RM500 and RM5mil. Kumararajah urged Indian businesses to take advantage of all the government schemes, which were catered towards helping to improve the community economic strength. He also urged Indian businesses not to be worried that they would no longer be able to get funding once the RM180mil was given out as the Government had a huge pool of over RM2.43bil available to help businesses nationwide. Among the questions raised at the briefing include on eligibility and criteria of funding, which banks to apply to, funding for research and development, approval time and funding for those blacklisted. Those with enquiries could contact SEED at 03-27756205 or via email at info@seed.org.my or visit their website at www.seed.org.my |
| Deposit refund for unfinished works on kitchen Posted: 07 Sep 2012 04:01 AM PDT JOHOR BARU: A drafts persons hopes of getting his dream house for his family turned into a nightmare after his contractor failed to finish the renovation works for his home. Not only that, Mohamad Shah Abas, 31, told the Consumer Claims Tribunal that he even rented his car to the contractor in hope of getting the works for his kitchen to be completed in time. He said he had just bought a house in Taman Saujana in Kota Tinggi earlier this year and wanted to renovate the kitchen. "I bought the house in April and there was a number of contractors that came and see me to give their quotations. "This contractor however, gave me the most reasonable and cheapest price among the rest of them and told me that he would complete the work within a month," he said adding that he wanted a tabletop as well as built-in cabinets for his kitchen. Mohamed Shah said the contractor charged him about RM10,700 for the work and he had paid RM6,700 as a deposit and made an agreement that the work must be completed by June. "He only did about 30% of the work and would always give excuses to why his work was late," he said adding that a common excuse was that he did not have a car as his family was using it. The contractor did not attend the hearing and tribunal president Maznah Haron then ordered the contractor to refund back RM3,686 to Mohamad Shah within 14 days. Meanwhile, in another case, an electronic retail company was ordered to refund RM2,699 to a despatch rider for selling a shoddy air purifier to him. Mohd Fauzi Rahim, 29, said he bought the device from Fricotech Retail Sdn Bhd in December, last year but within four months the machine went bust. He added that he then informed the company about the broken air purifier but there was no response. "The company gave me a three-year warranty with a money back guarantee and I do not want the air purifier again as it is broken," he said adding that the company also gave him a water filter for free. Meanwhile, the company representative claimed that the company did provide any such warranty to Mohd Fauzi. Maznah then interrupted and asked Mohd Fauzi if he had any proof and Mohd Fauzi then produced an invoice with the company's stamp and the words three years warranty on it. She then ordered the company to refund the amount to Mohd Fauzi within 14 days and also issued another order where Mohd Fauzi must also return back the items to the company within the same period. |
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