The Star Online: Nation
The Star Online: Nation |
- PM: Aug 31 and Sept 16 are equally important dates
- Students protest for fair campus elections
- MCMC asks Google to remove anti-Islam YouTube clips
| PM: Aug 31 and Sept 16 are equally important dates Posted: 16 Sep 2012 08:59 AM PDT BINTULU: Merdeka Day, which falls on Aug 31, and Malaysia Day, which falls on Sept 16, are equally significant dates, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Tun Razak said, urging an end to squabbles and debates about which of the two dates was more important. Sarawak's role in the formation of Malaysia was as important as the declaration of Merdeka for Malaya, making the state and the peninsula equal partners in the country, he said on Sunday in Bintulu where he and other federal cabinet ministers have arrived to join state leaders to celebrate Malaysia Day. (The Federation of Malaya, made up of 11 states, became independent on Aug 31, 1957. North Borneo (Sabah) and Sarawak joined Malaya on Sept 16, 1963 along with Singapore to form Malaysia. Each of the states came in as an equal partner to Malaya.) "Sarawak's role in Malaysia is without doubt very significant. There is no need to quarrel or debate whether Aug 31 is more important or Sept 16 more important. "Both dates are equally important. The most important thing now is that Sarawak is becoming very progressive and that we in the Federal Government have fulfilled our promise of bringing development to Sarawak. "We have never rejected requests from the Sarawak government for any development projects or development funds. Sarawak has progressed by leaps and bounds. "It is more than just fulfilling a role laid out in the Constitution. "This pledge by the Federal Government to develop Sarawak is because the leaders in Sarawak and the leaders in Putrajaya see eye-to-eye and are able to work together. "This understanding between state and federal leaders is more important that any document. There is no need for any new declaration or new agreement between Sarawak and the peninsula. "We are equal partners in developing Malaysia," he said during a Hari Raya open house at Kampung Arshikrin in Bintulu. Najib said he was very happy to hear from Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud that the state government of Sarawak has pledged their full backing to him to continue leading the country and the Federal Government. "The federal leadership understands the aspiration and needs of Sarawak. That is the most important. From one generation to the next, we have leaders who aspire to work for the needs of the people, including in Sarawak. Earlier, Taib, in his address, reiterated how crucial it was to have continuous leadership at state and federal levels. He said that in some countries, the constant changes in government resulted in disruption of development because there was no continuity in policies and leaders. "The most important is to have leaders who value development more than any thing else," he said. Also here was Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, several federal cabinet ministers and state leaders. Najib had earlier said in his blog that Malaysia Day celebration this year was most significant because, for the first time, the meaningful and historic day was being celebrated on a large scale in Sarawak. The celebration, scheduled to be held at the site of the old Bintulu airport, will be launched by Sarawak Yang Dipertua Negri Tun Abang Muhammad Salahuddin Abang Barieng. |
| Students protest for fair campus elections Posted: 16 Sep 2012 06:16 AM PDT KUALA LUMPUR: A group of students protested peacefully near Dataran Merdeka here Sunday demanding a reform of campus polls, alleging a lack of transparency. Amidst heavy police presence, the students walked to Sogo on Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman while shouting slogans such as "Long live students" and "Reject conspiracy". They then returned to Dataran Merdeka to outline six demands. The peaceful demonstration was organised by a coalition of student groups, including Pro Mahasiswa Nasional, Solidariti Mahasiswa Malaysia and Students Democratic Movement. Pro-Mahasiswa Nasional chairman Edikoup Lakip Sediyanto claimed that campus polls were "tainted by manipulation from outside political elements". "We have taken our demands to several university administrations and the Higher Education Ministry. We are not here to cause trouble. "All we want is for the authorities to ensure that campus elections are run in a transparent manner," he told reporters after outlining the students' six demands. The six demands are - a fixed date for campus elections on the academic calender, student involvement in the campus elections committee, an independent body to monitor campus polls, a more transparent voting system, freedom to campaign, and equal distribution of funds to all candidates. Edikoup Lakip added that the students will forward their demands to Suhakam next week. The group dispersed peacefully after the three-hour protest. |
| MCMC asks Google to remove anti-Islam YouTube clips Posted: 16 Sep 2012 05:27 AM PDT PETALING JAYA: Leading Internet search engine Google has received an official complaint from Malaysia and a request to remove clips of the controversial anti-Islam film The Innocence of Muslims from its YouTube site. Google Malaysia communications and public affairs head Zeffri Yusof said they received the official request from the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) and that both parties were discussing the next course of action. "We have clear community guidelines, and when videos breach those rules, we remove them. In addition, where we have launched YouTube locally and we are notified that a video is illegal in that country, we will restrict access to it after a thorough review," he said. Zeffri added, however, that the regulatory body had to cite the relevant laws or bylaws which were breached when making its complaint. MCMC chairman Datuk Mohamed Sharil Tarmizi confirmed that the commission had lodged an official complaint with Google. "We have already communicated with Google, asking them to take the clips down," he said. Information, Communications and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim urged YouTube not to be "oblivious" to the tumult in the Islamic world. "Removing (The Innocence of Muslims) should be the duty of YouTube itself. "Under the circumstances, MCMC is legally bound to take adaptive and precautionary steps so that accessibility to the relevant YouTube content is barred," he told The Star. "Given the explosive commotion and repercussions at hand, as is the case in the Middle East, we have to, as an Islamic nation, play a preventive role while urging Muslims in the country to remain calm," he added. Related Stories: |
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