The Star Online: Nation
The Star Online: Nation |
- No free lunch, someone has to pay, says Najib of Pakatan's promises
- Chief Justice: Ensure integrity of judiciary not tainted
- IJN's paediatric centre to be ready in 2015
| No free lunch, someone has to pay, says Najib of Pakatan's promises Posted: 21 Sep 2012 08:56 AM PDT KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysians should not be taken in by the Opposition's promises which cannot possibly be fulfilled, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak. The Prime Minister noted that should Pakatan Raktan's Buku Jingga be implemented, the country could be bankrupt in just two years. "There is no such thing as a free lunch, someone has to pay. Even if they abolish the PTPTN debts and provide free education, taxpayers must pay for it through increased tax," he said in his speech at the Tunku Abdul Rahman College (TARC) alumni association dinner here Friday. He also said Barisan Nasional delivered its promises, as proven when Malaysia recorded a 5.4% economic growth in the second quarter, which Financial Times had described as "gravity-defying growth". "This is a memorable achievement. There will be more opportunities as we continue to implement the economic transformation program and the government transformation programme," he said. Najib added that education was the critical success factor for development, and the growth of TARC and the Tunku Abdul Rahman University (UTAR) had enabled access to quality education. "The Opposition has delivered a lot of political rhetoric and, if I may add, a lot of hot air as well. But MCA has given something meaningful by producing 160,000 graduates since its inception. "I am supportive of TARC being upgraded to a university college, provided it goes through the due procedure of submitting the application for Higher Education Ministry to make its evaluation in an objective and transparent manner," he said. Najib also said the Government would continue its RM1-for-RM1 funding for the institution as well as maintain the funding for operations and management. |
| Chief Justice: Ensure integrity of judiciary not tainted Posted: 21 Sep 2012 07:57 AM PDT PUTRAJAYA: Judges must decide on the cases they are hearing without fear but based on the sovereignty of the law, Chief Justice Tun Arifin Zakaria said Friday. He said the dignity and integrity of the judges would be protected if they made decisions based on the principles of justice. The integrity of the judicial institution was at the highest level to ensure the effectiveness of the implementation of the country's legal system, he added. "I wish to remind all judges and judicial officers not to be dazzled by the praises thrown at them and not to be angry at the criticism made," said Arifin in his speech at the oath-taking and appointment of two judges of the Court of Appeal, here. He said it was normal that in any dispute in court, there would be winners and losers together with praises and criticism for each decision made. Arifin said the objective of the judiciary was to emerge as the best judicial institution in the world. At the same time, he wanted everyone involved to show their commitment towards disposing all the backlog cases so that all cases in the courts were current. Arifin also disclosed that 6,500 cases at the Kuala Lumpur Original Commercial Courts (OCC) had been disposed of within three years since September 2009, and remaining cases numbered less than 100 currently. The Original Commercial Courts had been closed down and the judges assigned to the court had been transferred to other courts. Earlier, Arifin witnessed the oath taking by High Court judges Datuk Mohamad Ariff Yusof, 63, and Mah Weng Kwai, 63, who were appointed as Appeals Court judges. They both took their oaths before Court of Appeal President Tan Sri Md Raus Sharif. Mohamad Ariff served as a law lecturer at the Universiti Malaya from 1974 until 1985 and as an advocate and solicitor from 1985 until 2008. Mah was a former president of the Bar Council for two terms in 2001/2002 and 2002/2003. Earlier, Bar Council president Lim Chee Wee, who was present at the oath-taking ceremony, said the Malaysian Bar was extremely delighted that two of its former members were promoted to the Court of Appeal. - Bernama |
| IJN's paediatric centre to be ready in 2015 Posted: 21 Sep 2012 06:39 AM PDT KUALA LUMPUR: The National Heart Institute's (IJN) Paediatric Congenital Heart Centre (PCHC), which is under construction, is expected to be fully completed by 2015. IJN deputy chief executive officer Datuk Dr Mohd Azhari Yakub said the centre, which was being built besides the IJN building, was set to be the biggest paediatric centre in Asia. "The centre will simultaneously become the main pulse of IJN to emerge as a global excellence centre in cardiovascular and thoracic disease," he told reporters after the launching of the centre by Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali here Friday. Also present during the ceremony were IJN chairman Tan Sri Datuk Dr Taha Mohd Ariff, PCHC head Dr Hasri Samion and Maybank Islam Berhad chairman (MIB) Datuk Seri Ismail Shahudin. Dr Mohd Azhari said, currently, the centre was operating temporarily at the IJN children's ward, which was upgraded by increasing the beds from 30 to 52 and increasing the consultation rooms to 10 from six and a non-invasive laboratory for diagnostic procedure. "Other than that, three dedicated paediatrics operating rooms were also renovated and upgraded and expected to be operational in December," he said. MIB also handed a donation of RM50,000, which was part of the RM1.5mil contributed by the financial institution to finance the purchase of equipment at the centre, including a reading room and for treatment of paediatric patients. - Bernama |
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