The Star Online: Metro: South & East
The Star Online: Metro: South & East |
- Johor ruler and his prince will personally vet state award recipients
- Thousands of Felda settlers granted land titles
- Place importance on eye health
| Johor ruler and his prince will personally vet state award recipients Posted: 21 Nov 2012 06:25 PM PST JOHOR BARU: Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar, would be strict on conferring state awards and medals in conjunction with his 54th birthday celebration. A strict vetting process was necessary to ensure that only the deserving would be recognised, said the Sultan. "I want to see what their service is to the state as well as to the people. As for government servants, one will not automatically get a Pingat Ibrahim Sultan (PIS) medal just because one has served 20 years or is 45 years old," he said. The state ruler added that he would not tolerate apathetic attitude from civil servants and would be more stringent than his late father in giving out the state awards. He would personally vet the recipients with his prince, the Tunku Mahkota and the Johor council of Royal Court. Sultan Ibrahim said besides conferring the awards during the celebration in Muar, he would also hand them out during his visits to the various districts. "There is no time frame. It will give me the opportunity to meet my rakyat," said the ruler, who however did not disclose the number of recipients this year. Sultan Ibrahim said he was also unperturbed by negative comments about him or the royal family in social media sites. He also rubbished allegations that he had directed the police to clamp down on those writing negative articles about him. "I cannot be bothered about it. Why should I lower myself?" he said, adding that the police were only acting on their own accord and taking action after receiving reports. The palace, added Sultan Ibrahim, had nothing to do with it. "I do not want to think about these people. I only feel sad about their poor upbringing," he said. In relation to the disparaging comments about the Johor royal house, there were cases where people were arrested this year for posting insulting comments on Facebook and blogs. This includes a 27-year-old quantity surveyor who was apprehended for doing so earlier this month. |
| Thousands of Felda settlers granted land titles Posted: 21 Nov 2012 06:27 PM PST KOTA TINGGI: A total of 68% of the 27,468 Felda settlers in the state have been granted land titles as of October this year. State Housing, Local Government, Works and Public Amenities Committee chairman Datuk Ahmad Zahri Jamil said that there were only another 8,673 settlers that have not been granted land titles as their applications were still being processed or they have still not settled payments to Felda. "The state government has granted a total of 18,795 land titles so far and this includes settlers from 49 different settlements here," he said before presenting land titles to 631 settlers from Felda Lok Heng Barat, Lok Heng Selatan and Lok Heng Timur on behalf on Mentri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman here on Nov 20. Ahmad Zahri, who read out a written speech by Abdul Ghani, said that the Government understood the importance of land ownership for the Felda settlers but explained that the process was long and complicated as it involves regulations and acts according to the law. "We understand that some settlers have even past away while waiting for their applications to be granted and we pray for their souls," he said adding that the state government through the land office was trying their best to settle all applications as soon as possible. Ahmad Zahri said that the latest batch of land titles was also extra special as it included the name of the settler's wife or next of kin as owners as well. "This follows a decision made by the Government in 2003 and this is the first batch of land titles that include a second name. "The second name is important to ensure that the land continues to stay in the family even if something happens to the settler himself," he said. He added that land for an important asset for the state and urged settlers to be cautious and not fall into get rich quick traps and sell their land for short term profit. "Other than that, the state Government has also heard that there are some settlers who have lost their land title and the land has been auctioned off because they have failed to settle their loans with the bank," he said. He said that this was sad as many of these settlers had toiled on the land for more than 30 years and it was a shame to allow someone else to reap the benefits. "I suggest that Felda take over the land of these settlers and come up with another agreement which will allow the settlers to repay the money owed and still retain their land," he said adding that there were a total of 45 such case in Johor Baru alone. Ahmad Zahri also said that the government would continue to address the needs of the Felda settlers and this would include the second generation settlers here. "The state Government thanks the Felda settlers for their continual support towards us and we hope that they will continue to give us their support especially with the General Election drawing near," he said adding that the support of the settlers was important in ensuring a comfortable win for the Barisan Nasional government in the state. |
| Place importance on eye health Posted: 21 Nov 2012 06:28 PM PST TEMERLOH: Parents should give due attention to their children's health and wellbeing including sending them for regular medical check-ups and other physical examinations. Mentakab assemblyman Datuk Chuah Boon Seong said some symptoms or defects could not be detected visually. "For example, parents should send their children for an eye check-up if they are having difficulties to see and read properly. "If left unattended, it could affect the children's studies and worsen their condition," he said after launching a Crystal Eye programme in SK Bandar Mentakab here recently. Also present were Temerloh Education officer Abdul Rahman Halip and East Coast Economic Region Development Council general manager (social development division) Zulkifli Yaacob. Chuah said due to the advent of technology resulting in early exposure to many ICT gadgets, parents should take their children for a yearly check-up to ensure they were not having vision problems. He said those detected with shortsighted or longsighted should get a pair of glasses to assist in correcting their vision. The programme mooted by the council with the co-operation of Tun Hussein Onn Eye Hospital saw about 500 pupils getting their eyes examined for free. Chuah commended the council for assisting poor students under its empower programmes in the district for the past two years. Speaking on the event, Zulkifli had urged parents to pay more attention to their children and seek prompt assistance to ensure they were not affected by any defects. "Suffering from poor vision may cause students to perform badly in their studies. "As such, parents must be alert and quick to seek to necessary assistance," he said, adding that the council would provide spectacles to all those who were found to have visual problems under the programme. |
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