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Monday, 23 December 2013
Tuesday, 29 October 2013
Pencapaian ekonomi konsisten
Kuala Lumpur: Malaysia menduduki tangga ke dua di kalangan 26 negara bagi kategori sumber dan ekonomi berdaya maju dalam senarai terkini indeks Kad Skor Kesalinghubungan 2013.
Timbalan Perdana Menteri, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, berkata pencapaian negara lebih baik berbanding negara ASEAN lain, termasuk Thailand (13), Vietnam (14). Filipina (18) dan Indonesia (20) dan Singapura pula mengikut kategori ekonomi berinovasi.
Antara 3 negara terbaik
“Malah, Malaysia menjadi negara dengan pencapaian konsisten apabila kekal di antara tiga negara terbaik untuk tempoh beberapa tahun
“Indeks Teknologi, Maklumat dan Komunikasi (ICT) global yang pertama seumpamanya itu mengukur amalan infrastruktur, termasuk tahap pencapaian yang diguna pakai pada peringkat kerajaan, bisnes dan penggunaan di kalangan pengguna untuk meningkatkan kemakmuran sosial dan ekonomi atau dikenali sebagai penebusan jalur lebar berguna,” katanya berucap sempena pelancaran perkhidmatan internet pukal (Global IT Transit) keluaran V Telecoms Berhad di sini, semalam.
Turut hadir, Menteri Komunikasi dan Multimedia, Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek, Pengerusi Suruhanjaya Komunikasi dan Multimedia Malaysia (SKMM), Datuk Mohamed Sharil Mohamed Tarmizi dan Pengerusi V Telecoms Global Limited (V Telecoms), Tan Sri Syed Mohd Yusof Syed Nasir.
Selaras revolusi global
Muhyiddin berkata, pencapaian seiring revolusi global masa kini untuk mengubah gaya hidup rakyat selepas melalui revolusi pertanian dan industri itu meletakkan internet sebagai landasan global untuk komunikasi perdagangan dan ekspresi individu, selain menyokong bidang penting seperti kesihatan dan pendidikan.
“Dalam bidang pendidikan misalnya, projek 1BestariNet menerusi Pelan Pembangunan Pendidikan Malaysia dengan menggabungkan akses kelajuan tinggi 4G untuk pembelajaran di kelas, sekali gus menjadikan Malaysia negara pertama di dunia melengkapkan komuniti pendidikan dengan jaringan tunggal yang memenuhi aspek pembelajaran dan pengajaran,” katanya.
Beliau berkata, menerusi Program Transformasi Ekonomi, kerajaan meletakkan sasaran untuk rakyat menikmati potensi gaya hidup digital sepenuhnya di mana sehingga September lalu, kadar penembusan jalur lebar mencapai 67.2 peratus serta kewujudan Pusat Pertukaran Internet Malaysia (MyIX) untuk meningkatkan kelajuan akses internet membabitkan kos RM28 juta.
“Penyempurnaan projek ini bakal membuka lebaran baru kepada industri perkhidmatan internet di negara ini dan mewujudkan situasi menang-menang kepada V Telecoms dan kerajaan,” katanya.
Timbalan Perdana Menteri, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, berkata pencapaian negara lebih baik berbanding negara ASEAN lain, termasuk Thailand (13), Vietnam (14). Filipina (18) dan Indonesia (20) dan Singapura pula mengikut kategori ekonomi berinovasi.
“Malah, Malaysia menjadi negara dengan pencapaian konsisten apabila kekal di antara tiga negara terbaik untuk tempoh beberapa tahun
“Indeks Teknologi, Maklumat dan Komunikasi (ICT) global yang pertama seumpamanya itu mengukur amalan infrastruktur, termasuk tahap pencapaian yang diguna pakai pada peringkat kerajaan, bisnes dan penggunaan di kalangan pengguna untuk meningkatkan kemakmuran sosial dan ekonomi atau dikenali sebagai penebusan jalur lebar berguna,” katanya berucap sempena pelancaran perkhidmatan internet pukal (Global IT Transit) keluaran V Telecoms Berhad di sini, semalam.
Turut hadir, Menteri Komunikasi dan Multimedia, Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek, Pengerusi Suruhanjaya Komunikasi dan Multimedia Malaysia (SKMM), Datuk Mohamed Sharil Mohamed Tarmizi dan Pengerusi V Telecoms Global Limited (V Telecoms), Tan Sri Syed Mohd Yusof Syed Nasir.
Selaras revolusi global
Muhyiddin berkata, pencapaian seiring revolusi global masa kini untuk mengubah gaya hidup rakyat selepas melalui revolusi pertanian dan industri itu meletakkan internet sebagai landasan global untuk komunikasi perdagangan dan ekspresi individu, selain menyokong bidang penting seperti kesihatan dan pendidikan.
“Dalam bidang pendidikan misalnya, projek 1BestariNet menerusi Pelan Pembangunan Pendidikan Malaysia dengan menggabungkan akses kelajuan tinggi 4G untuk pembelajaran di kelas, sekali gus menjadikan Malaysia negara pertama di dunia melengkapkan komuniti pendidikan dengan jaringan tunggal yang memenuhi aspek pembelajaran dan pengajaran,” katanya.
Beliau berkata, menerusi Program Transformasi Ekonomi, kerajaan meletakkan sasaran untuk rakyat menikmati potensi gaya hidup digital sepenuhnya di mana sehingga September lalu, kadar penembusan jalur lebar mencapai 67.2 peratus serta kewujudan Pusat Pertukaran Internet Malaysia (MyIX) untuk meningkatkan kelajuan akses internet membabitkan kos RM28 juta.
“Penyempurnaan projek ini bakal membuka lebaran baru kepada industri perkhidmatan internet di negara ini dan mewujudkan situasi menang-menang kepada V Telecoms dan kerajaan,” katanya.
Akaun Facebook suspek jadi perhatian
Facebook Ardi Hamzah, suspek kes tembak pegawai operasi Ambank cawangan Subang Jaya. - Foto Muhd Asyraf Sawal Kuala Lumpur: Akaun Facebook, dipercayai milik Ardi Hamza, 37, suspek utama pembunuhan kakitangan Ambank, Norazita Abu Talib, menjadi perhatian orang ramai sejak kelmarin.
Laman berkenaan yang menggunakan nama Ardi Ode Putra Katela itu, menggunakan gambar profil mirip wajah suspek yang diedarkan polis sejurus pembunuhan pada Rabu lalu.
Berdasarkan semakan BH terhadap laman itu, pemiliknya memuat naik status terakhir, dua hari sebelum pembunuhan terbabit, dengan tulisan, “Jum Blik kampung kita.... mat mlam all” (jom balik kampung kita, selamat malam semua).
Sehingga jam 9 pagi semalam, seramai 186 pelayar internet berkongsi status terakhir lelaki itu sambil mengecam pembunuhan yang dilakukan dan mengajak orang ramai membantu polis menjejaki suspek.
Tunjuk gambar pakai seragam pengawal
Himpunan gambar yang disimpan dalam akuan itu antara lain menunjukkan suspek memakai seragam pengawal keselamatan, lengkap memegang senjata api jenis Pump Gun dan dipercayai dirakamkan ketika bertugas di bank.
Antara gambar lain yang dimuat naik lelaki itu termasuklah lebih tiga keping gambar longgokan wang tunai dan aktivitinya bersama rakan ketika bersenam dalam gimnasium.
Berdasarkan bahasa digunakan pada status dan kebanyakan komen dalam laman itu, menunjukkan pemilik akaun terbabit berasal dari Indonesia, sekali gus menguatkan lagi kenyataan polis sebelum ini bahawa suspek berasal dari Sulawesi, Indonesia.
Dalam kejadian di USJ Sentral, Subang Jaya, jam 6.20 petang Rabu lalu, Norazita, 37, yang juga Pegawai Operasi Ambank Cawangan USJ, maut ditembak di kepala dari jarak dekat oleh pengawal keselamatan tempat kerjanya.
Larikan wang tunai
Suspek kemudian melarikan wang tunai RM450,000 dari bilik kebal bank berkenaan yang sebelum itu dibuka oleh mangsa untuk menyimpan wang.
Dalam usaha memburu suspek, setakat ini polis menahan tiga individu termasuk isterinya pada hari kejadian kerana dipercayai turut bersubahat dan menemui wang tunai RM30,000.
Jabatan Pendaftaran Negara (JPN) turut mengesahkan suspek terbabit menggunakan MyKad palsu berdasarkan nombor dokumen itu tidak wujud dalam sistem maklumat jabatan itu.
Guna teknologi Retina Display
iPad Mini 2013
Jika Nokia mengeluarkan tablet pertamanya, pesaing utamanya, Apple turut memperkenalkan beberapa produk, salah satunya adalah iPad mini terbaru yang menggunakan teknologi Retina Display.
iPad mini terbaru ini masih menggunakan layar dengan ukuran sama berbanding versi terdahulu. Namun tablet ini memiliki resolusi yang lebih tinggi, iaitu 2048 x 1538 piksel. Selain itu, Apple juga memberikan beberapa peningkatan lain pada iPad mini versi 2013 ini.
Peningkatan berkenaan antara lain adalah pada penggunaan prosesor 64-bit Apple A7. Prosesor ini pun menjanjikan peningkatan tenaga hingga empat kali lebih baik berbanding produk sebelumnya. Selain itu, iPad mini 2013 ini juga memiliki daya tahan bateri sehingga 10 jam.
Pada bahagian belakang, terdapat kamera iSight 5MP dan disokong kamera FaceTime HD di depan. iPad mini ini juga dilengkapi dukungan MIMO untuk sambungan wireless yang lebih cepat.
Apple tidak mengungkapkan secara pasti mengenai ketersediaan iPad mini di pasaran. Namun syarikat teknologi yang kini dipimpin oleh Tim Cook itu mengungkapkan bahawa iPad mini model 2013 ini akan tersedia pada akhir November ini.
Jika Nokia mengeluarkan tablet pertamanya, pesaing utamanya, Apple turut memperkenalkan beberapa produk, salah satunya adalah iPad mini terbaru yang menggunakan teknologi Retina Display.
Peningkatan berkenaan antara lain adalah pada penggunaan prosesor 64-bit Apple A7. Prosesor ini pun menjanjikan peningkatan tenaga hingga empat kali lebih baik berbanding produk sebelumnya. Selain itu, iPad mini 2013 ini juga memiliki daya tahan bateri sehingga 10 jam.
Pada bahagian belakang, terdapat kamera iSight 5MP dan disokong kamera FaceTime HD di depan. iPad mini ini juga dilengkapi dukungan MIMO untuk sambungan wireless yang lebih cepat.
Apple tidak mengungkapkan secara pasti mengenai ketersediaan iPad mini di pasaran. Namun syarikat teknologi yang kini dipimpin oleh Tim Cook itu mengungkapkan bahawa iPad mini model 2013 ini akan tersedia pada akhir November ini.
Bujet 2014 Malaysia
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak unveiled Budget 2014 today, seeking to address a large fiscal deficit, shrinking current account surplus and growing debt pile that are sources of concern for investors and ratings agencies.
Following are highlights from Budget 2014:
CIVIL SERVICE
* Pensioners will receive a special financial assistance of RM250 to assist them in meeting the rising cost of living.
* Government to give a half-month bonus for 2013 with a minimum payment of RM500 to be paid in early January 2014.
CASH HANDOUTS (BR1M)
* Cash handouts to households with a monthly income of below RM3,000 will be increased to RM650 from RM500.
* For individuals aged 21 and above and with a monthly income not exceeding RM2,000, cash handouts will be increased to RM300 from RM250.
* For the first time, cash assistance of RM450 will be extended to households with a monthly income of between RM3,000-RM4,000.
* To implement all cash schemes, government will allocate RM4.6 billion which is expected to benefit 7.9 million recipients.
REAL PROPERTY GAINS TAX (RPGT)
* For gains on properties disposed within the holding period of up to 3 years, RPGT rate is increased to 30%.
* For disposals within the holding period up to 4 and 5 years, the rates are increased to 20% and 15%, respectively.
* Raise the minimum price of property that can be purchased by foreigners to 1 million ringgit from RM500,000.
* Prohibit developers from implementing projects that have features of Developer Interest Bearing Scheme (DIBS), to prevent developers from incorporating interest rates on loans in house prices during the construction period.
* Financial institutions are prohibited from providing final funding for projects involved in the DIBS scheme. Malaysia's top three banks are Maybank, CIMB and Public Bank.
AFFORDABLE HOMES
* To further increase access to home ownership at affordable prices, an estimated 223,000 units of new houses will be built by the government and the private sector in 2014.
* Government to allocate RM578 million to the National Housing Department (JPN) for low cost flats consisting of 16,473 housing units.
* Malaysian's government to provide 80,000 housing units with an allocation of RM1 billion under affordable housing scheme. The sales price of the houses will be 20% lower than market prices.
* Introduce the Private Affordable Ownership Housing Scheme (MyHome) to encourage the private sector to build more low and medium-cost houses. The scheme provides a subsidy of RM30,000 to the private developers for each unit built.
* Preference will be given to developers who build low and medium-cost houses in areas with high demand and limited to 10,000 units in 2014.
* The scheme is for housing projects approved effective from 1 January 2014 with an allocation of RM300 million.
TAX RELIEF
* Government proposes a special tax relief of RM2,000 be given to taxpayers with a monthly income up to RM8,000 received in 2013.
GOODS AND SALES TAX
* To implement goods and services tax (GST) on April 1, 2015 -17 months from now.
* GST rate fixed at 6%, the lowest among Asean countries.
* GST replaces current sales tax and service tax.
* Basic food items, transportation services, highway tolls, water and first 200 units of electricity for domestic users per month to be exempt from GST.
* Sale, purchase and rental of residential properties as well as selected financial services are exempted from GST.
* Najib: "The reality is that inflation now is low at around 2%. The government is confident this will be the best time to impose GST as inflation is minimal and under control."
* Training grant of RM100 million will be provided to businesses that send their employees for GST training in 2013 and 2014.
* Financial assistance amounting to RM150 million will be provided to small and medium enterprises for the purchase of accounting software in 2014 and 2015.
CORPORATE TAX
* Corporate income tax rate be reduced by 1 percentage from 25% to 24%.
* Income tax rate for small and medium companies will be reduced by 1 percentage point from 20% to 19% from the year of assessment 2016.
INCOME TAX
* Government to give one-off cash assistance of RM300 to low income group
* Personal income tax rates be reduced by 1 to 3 percentage points for all tax payers.
* Individual income tax structure will be reviewed
* Chargeable income subject to the maximum rate will be increased from exceeding RM100,000 to exceeding RM400,000.
* Current maximum tax rate at 26% to be reduced to 24%.
* Measures to be effective in 2015.
SUBSIDIES
* Subsidy programme to be "gradually restructured".
* A portion of savings from restructuring to be distributed in the form of direct cash assistance with the other half to finance development projects.
* To abolish the sugar subsidy of 34 sen effective October 26, 2013.
IMPROVING BUDGET MANAGEMENT
* Committed to reducing the fiscal deficit gradually, with the aim of achieving a balanced budget by 2020.
* To ensure federal debt level will remain low and not exceed 55% of GDP.
* Government to conduct audits on projects valued at more than RM100 million during its implementation.
ISLAMIC FINANCE
* Securities Commission to introduce the a framework for Social Responsible Investment (SRI) Sukuk, or Islamic bonds, to finance "sustainable and responsible" investment initiatives.
AGRICULTURE
* Government to allocate RM6 billion allocated for agriculture programmes.
* Says to RM243 million allocated for rubber, palm oil and cocoa replanting as well as forest plantation programmes.
LOGISTICS
* Government to allocate RM3 billion in soft loans under the Maritime Development Fund through Bank Pembangunan Malaysia.
* The fund is to provide financing to encourage the development of the shipping industry, shipyard construction, oil and gas as well as maritime-related support activities.
AVIATION
* To replace existing air traffic control and management system in Subang, a new air traffic management centre costing RM700 million will be built at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA).
* Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan, Miri, Sibu and Mukah airports in Sabah and Sarawak to be upgraded with RM312 million allocation.
PUBLIC INVESTMENTS
* Public investments to reach RM106 billion. Projects to be implemented include:
- A 316-kilometre West Coast Expressway. Locally listed Kumpulan Europlus Bhd owns 80% of the project, while IJM Corp owns the balance 20%.
- Double-tracking rail project along west coast Malaysia. The project is carried out by as a joint venture between MMC Corp and Gamuda.
- Various projects from state oil firm Petronas under its RM300 billion capex programme, including a petrochemicals plant in Johor.
INTERNET ACCESS
* To carry out second phase of high-speed broadband project with the private sector involving RM1.8 billion investment. State-linked telco Telekom Malaysia is involved in the project.
* To increase Internet coverage in rural areas, 1,000 telecommunication transmission towers will be built in the next three years, with an investment of RM1.5 billion.
* To increase Internet access in Sabah and Sarawak, new underwater cables will be laid within three years at a cost of RM850 million. - Reuters, October 25, 2013.
Following are highlights from Budget 2014:
CIVIL SERVICE* Pensioners will receive a special financial assistance of RM250 to assist them in meeting the rising cost of living.
* Government to give a half-month bonus for 2013 with a minimum payment of RM500 to be paid in early January 2014.
CASH HANDOUTS (BR1M)
* Cash handouts to households with a monthly income of below RM3,000 will be increased to RM650 from RM500.
* For individuals aged 21 and above and with a monthly income not exceeding RM2,000, cash handouts will be increased to RM300 from RM250.
* For the first time, cash assistance of RM450 will be extended to households with a monthly income of between RM3,000-RM4,000.
* To implement all cash schemes, government will allocate RM4.6 billion which is expected to benefit 7.9 million recipients.
REAL PROPERTY GAINS TAX (RPGT)
* For gains on properties disposed within the holding period of up to 3 years, RPGT rate is increased to 30%.
* For disposals within the holding period up to 4 and 5 years, the rates are increased to 20% and 15%, respectively.
* Raise the minimum price of property that can be purchased by foreigners to 1 million ringgit from RM500,000.
* Prohibit developers from implementing projects that have features of Developer Interest Bearing Scheme (DIBS), to prevent developers from incorporating interest rates on loans in house prices during the construction period.
* Financial institutions are prohibited from providing final funding for projects involved in the DIBS scheme. Malaysia's top three banks are Maybank, CIMB and Public Bank.
AFFORDABLE HOMES
* To further increase access to home ownership at affordable prices, an estimated 223,000 units of new houses will be built by the government and the private sector in 2014.
* Government to allocate RM578 million to the National Housing Department (JPN) for low cost flats consisting of 16,473 housing units.
* Malaysian's government to provide 80,000 housing units with an allocation of RM1 billion under affordable housing scheme. The sales price of the houses will be 20% lower than market prices.
* Introduce the Private Affordable Ownership Housing Scheme (MyHome) to encourage the private sector to build more low and medium-cost houses. The scheme provides a subsidy of RM30,000 to the private developers for each unit built.
* Preference will be given to developers who build low and medium-cost houses in areas with high demand and limited to 10,000 units in 2014.
* The scheme is for housing projects approved effective from 1 January 2014 with an allocation of RM300 million.
TAX RELIEF
* Government proposes a special tax relief of RM2,000 be given to taxpayers with a monthly income up to RM8,000 received in 2013.
GOODS AND SALES TAX
* To implement goods and services tax (GST) on April 1, 2015 -17 months from now.
* GST rate fixed at 6%, the lowest among Asean countries.
* GST replaces current sales tax and service tax.
* Basic food items, transportation services, highway tolls, water and first 200 units of electricity for domestic users per month to be exempt from GST.
* Sale, purchase and rental of residential properties as well as selected financial services are exempted from GST.
* Najib: "The reality is that inflation now is low at around 2%. The government is confident this will be the best time to impose GST as inflation is minimal and under control."
* Training grant of RM100 million will be provided to businesses that send their employees for GST training in 2013 and 2014.
* Financial assistance amounting to RM150 million will be provided to small and medium enterprises for the purchase of accounting software in 2014 and 2015.
CORPORATE TAX
* Corporate income tax rate be reduced by 1 percentage from 25% to 24%.
* Income tax rate for small and medium companies will be reduced by 1 percentage point from 20% to 19% from the year of assessment 2016.
INCOME TAX
* Government to give one-off cash assistance of RM300 to low income group
* Personal income tax rates be reduced by 1 to 3 percentage points for all tax payers.
* Individual income tax structure will be reviewed
* Chargeable income subject to the maximum rate will be increased from exceeding RM100,000 to exceeding RM400,000.
* Current maximum tax rate at 26% to be reduced to 24%.
* Measures to be effective in 2015.
SUBSIDIES
* Subsidy programme to be "gradually restructured".
* A portion of savings from restructuring to be distributed in the form of direct cash assistance with the other half to finance development projects.
* To abolish the sugar subsidy of 34 sen effective October 26, 2013.
IMPROVING BUDGET MANAGEMENT
* Committed to reducing the fiscal deficit gradually, with the aim of achieving a balanced budget by 2020.
* To ensure federal debt level will remain low and not exceed 55% of GDP.
* Government to conduct audits on projects valued at more than RM100 million during its implementation.
ISLAMIC FINANCE
* Securities Commission to introduce the a framework for Social Responsible Investment (SRI) Sukuk, or Islamic bonds, to finance "sustainable and responsible" investment initiatives.
AGRICULTURE
* Government to allocate RM6 billion allocated for agriculture programmes.
* Says to RM243 million allocated for rubber, palm oil and cocoa replanting as well as forest plantation programmes.
LOGISTICS
* Government to allocate RM3 billion in soft loans under the Maritime Development Fund through Bank Pembangunan Malaysia.
* The fund is to provide financing to encourage the development of the shipping industry, shipyard construction, oil and gas as well as maritime-related support activities.
AVIATION
* To replace existing air traffic control and management system in Subang, a new air traffic management centre costing RM700 million will be built at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA).
* Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan, Miri, Sibu and Mukah airports in Sabah and Sarawak to be upgraded with RM312 million allocation.
PUBLIC INVESTMENTS
* Public investments to reach RM106 billion. Projects to be implemented include:
- A 316-kilometre West Coast Expressway. Locally listed Kumpulan Europlus Bhd owns 80% of the project, while IJM Corp owns the balance 20%.
- Double-tracking rail project along west coast Malaysia. The project is carried out by as a joint venture between MMC Corp and Gamuda.
- Various projects from state oil firm Petronas under its RM300 billion capex programme, including a petrochemicals plant in Johor.
INTERNET ACCESS
* To carry out second phase of high-speed broadband project with the private sector involving RM1.8 billion investment. State-linked telco Telekom Malaysia is involved in the project.
* To increase Internet coverage in rural areas, 1,000 telecommunication transmission towers will be built in the next three years, with an investment of RM1.5 billion.
* To increase Internet access in Sabah and Sarawak, new underwater cables will be laid within three years at a cost of RM850 million. - Reuters, October 25, 2013.
Monday, 21 October 2013
English blues in PMR paper
MY niece recently sat for her PMR examination and showed me some of the grammatical errors found in her Mathematics examination paper.
I was shocked to discover gross errors in the questions; not in terms of content but grammatical errors that would leave any speaker of the language in horror if they were to see it.
The errors were caused by direct translation of the questions from Bahasa Malaysia.
The examination syndicate should have had someone competent in the language to proofread the paper.
Although it is embarassing to have it highlighted by our students that teachers are not competent in the language used to teach Maths, the blame should not lie entirely with these teachers.
Care should have been taken in the setting of the questions.
It is not acceptable to say that the examination syndicate overlooked this matter.
From The Star Online:http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Education/2013/10/20/English-blues-in-PMR-paper.aspx
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