Shorter stint to woo docs home

The Star

NIBONG TEBAL: Young medical specialists practising overseas may only have to serve one year mandatory service at government hospitals, an incentive proposed by the Health Ministry to woo Malaysian doctors working abroad to return home.

Minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai said the proposed one-year tenure would be offered to specialists aged 35 and below while those aged 45 and above would be exempted from serving at government hospitals.

He said the three-year mandatory service requirement had been identified as the main stumbling block for Malaysian doctors overseas to come home and work.

He said that besides the mandatory service, incentives for doctors at government hospitals were not attractive to these specialists.

“The ministry is studying ways to abolish the three-year mandatory service requirement to woo back Malaysian doctors who are above 45 and have served more than 10 years overseas.

“For those aged 35 and below, the mandatory service will be shortened to only a year,” he said after accompanying Yang di-Pertua Negri Tun Abdul Rahman Abbas and his consort, Toh Puan Majimor Shariff, during a visit to the Sungai Bakap Hospital here yesterday.

Liow said the number of Malaysian doctors abroad was high.

He said the number of local specialists was about 1,800 and it was not sufficient for the high number of chronic patients nationwide.

“In the last two years, we managed to attract only 100 Malaysian specialists home,” he said.

He said his ministry would have joint efforts with other ministries to create career opportunities for medical students in the country to stop the brain drain.

On another issue, Liow said Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim should cooperate with the police by allowing the authorities to take his DNA sample to facilitate investigations into an alleged sodomy case.

“As a responsible citizen, Anwar should co-operate with the police,” he said.

ePerolehan to promote open tenders

The Star

GEORGE TOWN: The state government has launched the ePerolehan system to ensure transparency in the tender awarding process.

The system is equipped with an eBidding site for interested contractors to place their bids and eBantahan for the public to voice objections.

“We want to award projects using computer cables, not political cables. Penang is the first to produce such application to enhance efficiency, save cost, reduce red tape and reduce risk in decision-making,” Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said when launching the system at the Komtar Geodesic Dome here yesterday.

“This is in line with our CAT (competence, accountability and transparency) policy,” he said, adding RM360,985 was spent on developing the system which can be accessed through http://ep.penang.gov.my.

Lim said the tender selection process and quotation could be made through the normal channel via the technical evaluation committee, the procurement board and quotation committee.

“Through eBantahan, a two-week grace period is given for the public to raise objections. If there is no objection, we will award the tender.

“The eBantahan provides a platform to give out tenders openly, quelling public doubts and negative perceptions.”

Lim called on all contractors to register online, adding that transactions could be made online.

Registration fees would be used to cover the cost, management, and maintenance of the system, he added.

Lim said that last year, the state government awarded projects worth RM99mil encompassing 4,041 indent jobs and 14,353 local orders.

“Up to July 15, the state government has given approved projects worth RM27,687,238.10 for 1,554 indent jobs and 5,689 local orders,” he said.

He urged other relevant authorities, including the Penang Water Supply Corporation, the Penang Development Corporation and the local councils to implement similar systems to promote CAT.

PTK examination: Teachers need a better system

NSTP

THE PTK (Penilaian Tahap Kecekapan) is an examination all government employees have to take to qualify for promotions and salary or allowance increments.

Success in the PTK is graded as follows:

- Level IV -- candidate scores 80 per cent or more, passes with distinction and qualifies for a salary increase and promotion;

- Level III -- candidate scores 60-79 per cent, passes and qualifies for promotion;

- Level II -- candidate scores 50-59 per cent, wins a conditional pass (fails one component) and repeats component;
- Level 1 -- candidate scores 49 per cent or less, fails and has to re-sit the PTK.

The PTK DG 44 and 48 repeat exam results were out on May 13 and when I checked on the Internet, I was surprised that I had obtained a Level III in the assignment section and a Level II for "ujian akhir kursus". The overall result is a Level II, the same as the first time I took the exam.

A Level II means I failed and do not qualify for any promotion or salary increment. All this, even though I really worked hard for the exam.

I had been among the top four students in a prestigious secondary school in Kuala Lumpur. I have a degree from Manchester University as well as postgraduate qualifications from Universiti Malaya.

I have never failed any exam in my whole life and I will never forget that I failed my PTK exam twice.

Is the PTK exam more difficult than getting a degree from the University of Manchester? Is the PTK exam of a higher standard than a degree from Manchester University? In what way does the PTK help us to become better teachers in classrooms?

We are not going to become ministers in the Prime Minister's Department. We are merely teachers. I hope the authorities concerned will answer all my questions.

Let's take a close look at the PTK exam. How can a teacher's performance be assessed on four essay answers and a 15-25 page assignment, which can be done by a spouse, a friend, a family member, a paid expert or by copying from books and the Internet?

A teacher obtaining Level III or Level IV (that is, pass) in the PTK exam does not prove that he is efficient. Nor does it prove that he is hardworking or capable simply because there are people who preach but do not practise. It only proves that his forte is memorising PTK model answers and PTK textbooks. There are teachers who obtained Level III and Level IV for the PTK but are ordinary and mediocre teachers.

Studying for the PTK exam distracts teachers from their work as a lot of time is spent on studying to get a promotion and salary increase.

Junior teachers become more senior than experienced teachers when they pass the PTK exam.

Lecturers in teachers' training colleges, moral education, civics and Bahasa Malaysia teachers have a definite advantage because they are in touch with the PTK syllabus when performing their teaching duties.

Bahasa Malaysia teachers have the language skills to write good answers. Only one question can be answered in English.

To make teachers sit for the PTK exam repeatedly is a waste of precious time, money and manpower.

Finally, a teacher's core business is to teach and produce results. Therefore, we should be assessed solely on our daily duties in school, our work place, by our superiors in school as well as external superiors and supervisors. That, in my opinion, is the way to assess the efficiency, capability and diligence of a tea-cher.

Assessment must be done on a long-term basis, through years of observation, and not based on one exam or assignment. It cannot be denied that there is no perfect assessment formula but I maintain that this is the best.

I am writing on behalf of all the miserable teachers who have repeatedly sat for the PTK exam and have failed to obtain a minimum Level III.

There is much more than meets the eye. Although the PTK has been implemented for a number of years and has not produced better teachers, it is still in use. We ask for a change to a better system.

Rela dinaik taraf jadi sebuah jabatan

Utusan Online

Oleh OPAT RATTANACHOT

SUNGAI PETANI 15 Julai - Ikatan Relawan Rakyat Malaysia (Rela) yang kini melaksanakan tugas penting membanteras kebanjiran pendatang asing tanpa izin (PATI) akan dinaik taraf menjadi sebuah jabatan penuh dalam tempoh dua bulan lagi.

Ketua Pengarah Rela, Datuk Zaidon Asmuni berkata, kertas kerja bagi menaik taraf Rela yang kini berstatus Bahagian dalam Kementerian Dalam Negeri akan dibentangkan ke Kabinet untuk kelulusan tidak lama lagi.

Katanya, usaha tersebut dianggap penting bagi memastikan fungsi Rela terus diperkasakan dan seterusnya meningkatkan lagi keupayaan badan berkenaan dalam menjaga keselamatan dan keamanan negara.

''Berdasarkan perkembangan semasa, tugas dan fungsi anggota Rela telah bertambah. Oleh itu, kerajaan merasakan bahawa Rela selepas ini harus berfungsi sebagai sebuah jabatan.

''Semua proses ke arah tersebut kini sedang berjalan dan ia meliputi usaha menggubal satu rang undang-undang khusus. Kita jangka ia mengambil masa selewat-lewatnya dua bulan," katanya.

Beliau berkata demikian kepada pemberita selepas majlis perasmian penutup dan penyampaian sijil kursus peralihan penolong pegawai Rela lantikan baru KP17 Siri 1/2008 di Pusat Latihan Rela Wilayah Utara, Bukit Selambau, dekat sini hari ini.

Seramai 30 penolong pegawai Rela berjaya menamatkan kursus mereka dan diserapkan secara tetap sebelum ditempatkan di Pejabat Rela Daerah seluruh negara tidak lama lagi.

Menurut Zaidon, sehingga kini, seramai 1,089 pegawai tetap ditugaskan mengendalikan perjalanan dan fungsi di semua pejabat Rela negeri dan daerah seluruh negara.

Katanya, jumlah tersebut dijangka meningkat selepas proses menaik taraf jabatan itu siap.

''Kita telah mengemukakan permohonan untuk menambah bilangan kakitangan serta perjawatan daripada Jabatan Perkhidmatan Awam (JPA).

''Selepas diluluskan, kita berharap operasi Rela akan berjalan seperti jabatan-jabatan kerajaan lain," jelasnya.

Dalam pada itu, Zaidon berkata, Rela kini sedang mengadakan proses pengambilan pegawai baru bagi mengisi jawatan Penolong Pegawai Rela Daerah.

Katanya lagi, sehingga kini, pihaknya telah mengenal pasti 230 calon yang terdiri daripada lepasan Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) untuk mengisi jawatan tersebut.

''Sebelum ini, rata-rata Penolong Pegawai Rela Daerah terdiri daripada bekas anggota tentera berpangkat Pegawai Waran dan berusia 45 tahun ke atas," katanya.

''Bagaimanapun, bagi memantapkan lagi tugas dan fungsi Rela, kita telah dibenarkan oleh JPA untuk mengambil pegawai muda lepasan SPM dan Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) yang berumur 20 tahun ke atas," katanya.

Sementara itu, beliau memberitahu, sehingga penghujung Jun lalu, anggota Rela berjaya menahan seramai 14,788 orang PATI di seluruh negara.

Katanya, usaha membanteras dan mengurangkan kebanjiran golongan tersebut akan diperhebatkan dari semasa ke semasa.

''Kita berharap usaha ini dilakukan dengan lebih berkesan memandangkan keanggotaan Rela kini meningkat kepada 588,000 orang," jelasnya.

Squad to weed out corrupt Customs staff

NSTP

PUTRAJAYA: They are going to be faceless, moving among colleagues. They are members of the Special Investigations Unit, formed to weed out corrupt officers in the Customs Department.

To be operational next month, this unit will be working with the Anti-Corruption Agency, which will also have its personnel working undercover at key operational posts in the Customs Department.

This elaborate set-up, the brainchild of Customs director-general Datuk Seri Abd Rahman Abd Hamid, will identify corrupt officers whose names will be put on a database for all to see.

Abd Rahman said officers of the unit would investigate irregularities committed by Customs personnel, regardless of their rank.

"These officers will be working undercover and will be based in the states, ports and other critical areas.

"We also have an arrangement with the ACA where their officers will also go undercover as Customs officers and be deployed at strategic locations."

He said details and particulars of officers under investigation will be kept in a database for evaluation by senior Customs officers.

"The particulars of those convicted of corruption will also be placed in the database which will be accessible to all."
Abd Rahman said the government had allocated about RM13 million for the system.

Another measure implemented to fight graft is the transfer of personnel to ensure they did not remain at one place for too long.

"More than 100 officers were transferred just a few days ago," he said, adding that the public had appreciated the department's fight against corruption, with more people coming forward with information.

"I have been receiving lots of text messages and calls lately."

Abd Rahman said since he took over as director-general, he had made it known to his staff that graft would not be tolerated.

"I know these measures are making me very unpopular but there will be no compromise."

Abd Rahman said the World Customs Organisation director of capacity building would study the department's procedures and other aspects to determine the level of integrity and commitment among the staff.

"Malaysia, as chairman of the WCO integrity committee, has no problems in complying with the international requirements."

On an unrelated matter, Abd Rahman said all 3,661 major oil palm planters would be required to register their operations at the nearest Customs office as required under Section 8 of the Windfall Profit Levy Act 1998.

From today, oil palm smallholders with plantations of less than 40.5ha are no longer subjected to the windfall profit levy. The government decided that crude palm oil and crude palm kernel oil producers are to be exempted from paying the levy.

It was also decided that from today, the windfall profit levy will be collected at the plantations, based on the output of fresh fruit bunches.

The levy rates remain unchanged and it must be paid on or before the 14th of every month.

Peguam Negara pilih calon pengarah BPR

Berita Harian

Kuasa Bahagian Perundangan dan Pendakwaan diperkemas diperpendakwaan

KUALA LUMPUR: Badan Pencegah Rasuah (BPR), menyerahkan kepada Jabatan Peguam Negara untuk memilih dan mengumumkan calon yang akan dilantik sebagai Pengarah Bahagian Perundangan dan Pendakwaannya.

Ketua Pengarah BPR, Datuk Seri Ahmad Said Hamdan, berkata Jabatan Peguam Negara bertanggungjawab menentukan calon jawatan itu yang bertanggungjawab melaporkan kepada beliau berhubung keputusan pendakwaan.

"Kita tunggu mereka (Jabatan Peguam Negara) mengumumkan pelantikan. Pemilihan calon ini tidak membabitkan BPR.

"Dengan keputusan ini, BPR diberi kuasa penuh untuk menyiasat dan mendakwa semua kes jenayah rasuah termasuk yang berkepentingan awam, menerusi Bahagian Perundangan dan Pendakwaan," katanya ketika dihubungi semalam.

Sebelum ini, Pengarah Bahagian Perundangan dan Pendakwaan BPR hanya boleh memberi nasihat mengenai sesuatu kes tetapi perlu merujuk kepada Jabatan Peguam Negara, yang akan menentukan sama ada kes berkenaan akan dibawa ke mahkamah.

Pemberian kuasa itu tidak memerlukan pindaan terhadap Akta Pencegahan Rasuah 1997 kerana Jabatan Peguam Negara memperakukan pegawai kanan yang juga Timbalan Pendakwa Raya untuk ditempatkan sebagai Pengarah Bahagian Perundangan dan Pendakwaan.

Sehubungan itu, langkah berkenaan tidak bertentangan dengan Artikel 145 Perlembagaan Persekutuan yang hanya memperuntukkan kuasa pendakwaan kepada Jabatan Peguam Negara.

Pembaharuan itu selaras dengan pengumuman Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi pada 21 April lalu bahawa BPR akan diberi lebih kebebasan menerusi proses pembaharuan yang dijangka berterusan sehingga akhir tahun ini.

Antara lain ia termasuk mengubah BPR menjadi Suruhanjaya Anti Rasuah Malaysia (MCAC), menubuhkan lembaga penasihat bebas bagi memastikan MCAC bebas, telus dan bertanggungjawab selain menubuhkan Jawatankuasa Parlimen Mengenai Anti Rasuah.

Difahamkan, MCAC akan menggaji 5,000 kakitangan profesional bagi mewujudkan program perlindungan yang menyeluruh bagi pemberi maklumat dan saksi selain ketetapan supaya MCAC mengemukakan laporan tahunan kepada jawatankuasa Parlimen terbabit.

Ahmad Said berkata, Pengarah Bahagian Perundangan dan Pendakwaan BPR yang sedia ada, Abdul Razak Musa, akan meneruskan operasi seperti biasa sehingga Jabatan Peguam Negara mengumumkan pelantikan baru.

Bidang kuasa Bahagian Perundangan dan Pendakwaan BPR kini terhad kepada mengawal dan memberi arahan dalam pendakwaan kes jenayah dan prosiding berkaitan, umpamanya, Seksyen 376(1) Kanun Acara Jenayah, Seksyen 50 Akta Pencegahan Rasuah 1997.

Kenaikan elaun BIW, Cola boleh ringan beban

Berita Harian

BERTUGAS di luar wilayah asal menjadi kebiasaan bagi penjawat awam peringkat kerajaan Persekutuan dan kita tidak menafikan ia adalah dasar baik kerana dapat menguatkan perpaduan dan kesefahaman antara tiga wilayah utama di Malaysia, iaitu Semenanjung, Sabah dan Sarawak.

Namun, kenaikan kos sara hidup di seluruh negara sejak kebelakangan ini menjadikan kerajaan semakin prihatin terhadap keperluan penjawat awam tanpa mengira tempat.

Elaun Sara Hidup (Cola) kepada penjawat awam Persekutuan meringankan beban sebahagian daripada kami, namun bagi kami yang sedia berkhidmat di luar wilayah asal berasakan kehilangan keistimewaan dan dipinggirkan kerana tiada perbezaan antara Cola dan BIW berdasarkan jawapan wakil JPA terhadap persoalan daripada Mat Cola-BISS (Labuan).

Tambahan pula, jika Cola dinaikkan kepada RM500 sebulan sedangkan BIW kami kumpulan sokongan tidak melebihi RM500.

Kami yang bertugas di luar wilayah asal tidak mendapat sebarang keistimewaan kerana jika kami menduduki kuarters kerajaan, elaun EPW juga akan dipotong sepenuhnya seperti penjawat awam lain.

Jika beginilah dasar JPA, lebih baik kami ditempatkan semula ke wilayah asal kerana tiada pun perbezaan, sama ada kami berkhidmat di wilayah asal atau wilayah luar, malah mungkin perkhidmatan kami akan menjadi lebih baik kerana faktor dorongan keluarga yang berdekatan.

Harapan saya dan rakan yang sanggup berkhidmat di luar wilayah ialah kerajaan dan JPA mengkaji semula Cola, BIW/BISS dan EPW secara bersama dan menyeluruh.

Saya berharap kerajaan mengumumkan JPA sedang meneliti cadangan itu sebagai jaminan untuk menenangkan keadaan yang semakin panas di kalangan penjawat awam.

JOE PERANTAU,
Kangar, Perlis.

Guru lulusan siswazah patut dapat layanan sama

Berita Harian

PENGUMUMAN Perdana Menteri mengenai insentif kepada guru bukan siswazah yang melanjutkan pelajaran ke universiti amat dialu-alukan. Bagaimanapun, insentif ini tidak membabitkan semua guru yang melanjutkan pelajaran ke universiti, terutama guru yang dilantik ke PPPS DG 41 sebelum 1997 (DG3 pada masa itu).

Kami berharap kumpulan ini juga menikmati insentif itu, antara lain:

Bukan semua guru dapat melanjutkan pelajaran ke universiti kerana syarat kemasukan pada waktu (1990-an) itu memerlukan pengalaman mengajar selama lapan tahun ke atas;

Guru yang melanjutkan pelajaran menerima separuh gaji, dengan itu terpaksa membuat pinjaman bagi membiayai perbelanjaan keluarga;

Sanggup menghadapi cabaran meninggalkan keluarga demi mempertingkat ilmu dan menambah guru siswazah;

Tidak mendapat kenaikan gaji selama empat tahun dan kenaikan gred (walaupun layak ke gred B10-D8) ketika di universiti, dan

Tidak layak satu hadiah pergerakan gaji yang baru diberi mulai 1 Julai 2007.

Kumpulan ini adalah guru tua yang kebanyakannya kini berusia 52 tahun ke atas.

Kumpulan ini selepas menamatkan pelajaran di universiti, masuk ke gred PPPS pada tangga gaji pertama seperti siswazah muda lepasan universiti tanpa diambil kira pengalaman sebelumnya.

Kumpulan ini menunggu 10 tahun dalam DG41 untuk dinaikkan ke DG44, walaupun berkhidmat lebih 10 tahun pada gred bukan siswazah (C1, C2, T1, T2 dan T3).

Kami merayu kepada Perdana Menteri dan kerajaan supaya memberikan insentif tiga tahun pengalaman bukan siswazah disamakan dengan satu tahun gred siswazah kepada kumpulan guru (mahasistua) dan semua guru yang menyambung pelajaran di universiti tidak terhad kepada golongan guru yang sedang berada di DG41 pada masa kini saja.

Diharap segala usaha dan pengorbanan guru yang ingin meningkatkan ilmu serta mutu perkhidmatan tidak dihampakan.

KUMPULAN MAHASISTUA,
Kuala Lumpur.

PM allows govt agencies to organise events in Langkawi

The Star

ALOR STAR: Langkawi has been spared from a Treasury directive that bans all government courses and activities from being held in hotels.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi allowed government agencies to organise their events on the holiday island during a meeting with seven Umno division members from Kedah on Saturday.

An Umno member from Langkawi had during the meeting highlighted the dilemma of Langkawi folk who depended on the service sector for their livelihood.

Kuah assemblyman Datuk Nawawi Ahmad said Abdullah’s assurance meant a lot for the 68 four-star hotels, 700 taxi drivers and 10,000 hotel workers.

“This is important for the economic survival of the service sector here,” he said.

Nawawi had said earlier this month that Langkawi would be in dire straits when the Government stopped holding courses in hotels.

He said hotels with four-star rating and below would be hard hit as they stood to lose about RM20mil a month.

“We were afraid that the hotel workers would lose their jobs, as the hotels are heavily dependent on government functions to sustain business,” he said.

Nawawi said 70% of the population in Langkawi was involved in the service sector.

Robiah first female CPO

The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Robiah Abdul Ghani (pic) has created history by being appointed as the country’s first female state Chief Police Officer.

Robiah, 56, would assume duties as Pahang CPO today with the rank of Deputy Commissioner of Police. She had acted CPO since July 8.

The mother of three, whose husband was also a former top cop, is regarded as one of the toughest female officers in the force.

She joined the force in 1971 as a Probationary Inspector and created history when she became platoon commander of the first women Police Field Force (PFF) that was formed in 1973.

She spent seven years in the PFF and was promoted to the rank of Asst Superintendent before being transferred to Bukit Aman to serve in the management department.

Robiah has the experience and expertise to lead the state as she has served in almost every department in the force.

She was in the CID (serious crimes division), narcotics and management departments, headed the Disciplinary department and several other departments.

Inspector General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan described Robiah’s appointment as a victory for women police officers.

“I want to congratulate her for being the first woman CPO of a state. It is not going to be easy for her but I know she can deliver.

“She must work sincerely, be trustworthy, and most of all carry herself with integrity to lead such a big state,” he said.

Robiah said she would do her best to repay the confidence the IGP and other top brass had in her.

“This is a very big challenge for me and I need the support of everyone to ensure we achieve our aim of reducing crime in the state,” she said.

Robiah said her appointment should be a morale booster for other female police officers.

She said women officers should work hard and stay focused to achieve their ambitions, as there was ample opportunity for them to reach greater heights.

Peranan JPA perlu lebih komprehensif

Utusan Online

ISU kuota biasiswa Jabatan Perkhidmatan Awam (JPA) yang diketengahkan perlu diselesaikan dengan merujuk peruntukan Perlembagaan dan langkah yang dibuat perlu menjaga sensitiviti kaum tertentu.

JPA sekian lama telah membantu anak Malaysia mencapai cita-cita dan memainkan peranan sebagai penyumbang dana pendidikan di Malaysia. Pembiayaan pendidikan yang disumbangkan oleh JPA merupakan satu langkah murni dalam melahirkan modal insan yang berkualiti.

Pemegang biasiswa JPA biasanya akan terikat dengan kontrak kerja dan hal ini secara tidak langsung dapat mengurangkan siswazah menganggur. Namun, dalam situasi ekonomi yang kian mencabar, JPA sebagai penyumbang dana pendidikan perlu lebih agresif memainkan peranannya.

JPA mungkin boleh menjadi orang tengah dengan menjadi penghubung antara syarikat swasta dan pelajar dalam mendapatkan bantuan kewangan. Pelajar akan menerima bantuan kewangan daripada pihak swasta dalam tempoh pengajian. Di akhir pengajian pelajar akan diserapkan dalam pasaran kerja.

Hal ini dapat mengurangkan isu pengangguran di kalangan siswazah. Cara ini juga dapat mengurangkan beban kewangan JPA yang hanya berkorban memberi dana pendidikan. Selain itu, cara ini juga akan dapat meningkatkan bilangan pelajar yang mendapat penajaan dan idea pendidikan percuma dapat direalisasikan melalui pemberian biasiswa.

Kerjasama sedemikian juga dapat membantu meningkatkan jaringan industri dan sedikit sebanyak mampu melibatkan penyertaan pihak swasta dalam membiaya kos pendidikan tinggi.

Peranan JPA juga perlu dalam memperkasakan mahasiswa. Sebagai pembiaya kepada pengajian, JPA perlu lebih aktif dalam mewujudkan semangat motivasi di kalangan pelajar tajaannya terutamanya pelajar di IPTA.

Kini, JPA hanya bertindak membekal dana dan terserah kepada pelajar menggunakannya. Hal ini akan menimbulkan ketidakcekapan pemberian bantuan. Pihak JPA seharusnya mendekati para mahasisiwa melalui program motivasi dan program kearah memperkasakan mahasiswa. Cara ini akan melahirkan modal insan yang berkualiti dalam menjana ekonomi negara.

Kewujudan program-program yang berorentasikan kemahiran dan pasaran kerja serta motivasi dapat mewujudkan nilai ditambah kepada pelajar dibawah penajaan JPA.

Sekiranya langkah ini diperkasakan, pelajar-pelajar tajaan JPA akan lebih mendapat manfaat daripada usaha tersebut.

Isu pemberian biasiswa JPA ini perlu dilihat dari perspektif memperkasakan mahasiswa. Kejayaan pendidikan tinggi bukan diukur daripada enrolmen pelajar dan bantuan kewangan yang diperolehi tetapi melibatkan usaha penambahan nilai dan keberkesanan pemberian bantuan kewangan.

Kuantiti dan kualiti penajaan perlu bergerak seiringan.

MOHD.

Selangor

Civil servants get 40 days to perform haj

The Star

PUTRAJAYA: The public service department has clarified that Muslim civil servants have 40 days of special leave to perform the haj in Mecca.

Its corporate communication unit said the special leave is applicable only once during their service.

The statement read that according to General Orders 34 Chapter C and Government Circular No 4 of 1984, the holiday to perform the haj with full salary was already provided for.

Based on the clarification, issues on getting a special holiday to perform the haj, as had been raised recently, should not arise anymore, it stated.

Cuepacs unhappy with decision on contract staff

The Star

MALACCA: Cuepacs has voiced grave concern over the Government’s move to change the employment status of contract employees to daily-wage earners.

“This is not what we asked for. We wanted government contract workers to be absorbed into the civil service. Instead, they are now faced with the disadvantage of being employed as daily-wage earners,” said Cuepacs president Omar Osman.

Describing the move as “cruel and unjust”, he said the congress had recently received several complaints from government contract workers about the matter.

“I have received complaints from contract workers, who have served for seven to 10 years, saying that their employment status had been changed to that of a daily-wage earner,” he told reporters at a two-day Cuepacs leadership seminar here yesterday.

Cuepacs has 1.5 million members nationwide, with 45,000 employed as government-contracted staff.

He noted that the move would place those affected in a precarious situation, as they would now lose out on employment benefits while lacking job security as a daily-wage earner.

“The move could be described as cruel and unjust as these workers have families to feed and look after.”

Omar also said there were recent complaints that some contract workers had not been paid their salary for four months.

“We have about two million foreigners working here and at times they seem to be treated better than local employees,” he added.

On a separate issue, Omar said that Cuepacs wanted the Government to standardise the civil servant’s cost of living allowance for the entire country from the current RM100 to RM300 per month to RM500.

He added a high-level meeting between Cuepacs and Public Service Department director-general Tan Sri Ismail Adam had been scheduled for July 29 in Putrajaya to discuss these issues.

BPR masih perlu rujuk Peguam Negara

Utusan Online

PULAU PINANG 12 Julai - Badan Pencegah Rasuah (BPR) hari ini menjelaskan, ia masih perlu merujuk kepada Jabatan Peguam Negara walaupun diberi kuasa penuh menyiasat dan mendakwa semua kes jenayah rasuah menerusi Bahagian Perundangan dan Pendakwaan badan itu.

Ketua Pengarah BPR, Datuk Seri Ahmad Said Hamdan memberitahu, semua kes yang hendak dibawa ke mahkamah masih perlu menerusi Peguam Negara tetapi kini proses itu akan lebih cepat dilaksanakan.

Menurutnya, kenyataan dikeluarkan BPR semalam adalah berkaitan penempatan pegawai kanan pegawai kanan Jabatan Peguam Negara di BPR yang sudah pasti dapat membuat keputusan lebih cepat.

Katanya, sebelum ini semua kes siasatan dan pendakwaan perlu dirujuk kepada Jabatan Peguam Negara tetapi kini jabatan itu menempatkan pegawai kanannya iaitu Timbalan Pendakwa Raya (DPP) di BPR bagi mempercepatkan keputusan terhadap kes-kes yang dirujuk.

"Jangan salah faham. Apa jua proses siasatan dan pendakwaan masih melalui Jabatan Peguam Negara cuma apa yang dicadangkan oleh BPR ialah supaya sebarang keputusan dapat dipercepatkan," katanya.

Beliau berkata demikian kepada pemberita selepas majlis penganugerahan darjah kebesaran bintang dan pingat kehormatan negeri Pulau Pinang sempena hari ulang tahun ke-70 Yang Dipertua Negeri Tun Abdul Rahman Abbas di sini hari ini.

Pada majlis itu, Ahmad Said dianugerahkan Darjah Gemilang Pangkuan Negeri yang membawa gelaran Datuk Seri.

Beliau mengulas laporan akhbar hari ini yang melaporkan BPR diberi kuasa penuh menyiasat dan mendakwa semua kes jenayah rasuah menerusi Bahagian Perundangan dan Pendakwaan badan itu tanpa merujuk kepada Peguam Negara.

Menurut kenyataan semalam, BPR mengumumkan bahawa ia telah diberi kuasa menerusi DPP untuk melaporkan terus kepada Ketua Pengarahnya tanpa perlu merujuk kepada Jabatan Peguam Negara.

Ahmad Said menambah, sistem yang diguna pakai ketika ini ialah semua siasatan dan pendakwaan perlu dihantar ke pejabat Jabatan Peguam Negara untuk meneliti fakta-fakta kes sebelum tindakan lanjut diambil.

Katanya, ketika ini sesetengah kes yang besar akan dibawa ke perhatian Jabatan Peguam Negara dan mengambil masa lama sebelum jabatan itu menelitinya.

"Apa yang kita hendak bincang Peguam Negara ialah supaya pegawai kanan mereka di BPR dapat membuat keputusan secara langsung dan segera," katanya lagi.

Ujarnya, perkara itu telah dibincang dengan Peguam Negara, Tan Sri Abdul Ghani Patail dan beliau bersetuju mempercepatkan keputusan kes-kes dikemukakan oleh BPR.

Menurutnya, pihak Jabatan Peguam Negara juga menyatakan kesediaan meletakkan pegawai-pegawai atau DPP yang paling kanan dan berpengalaman untuk ditempatkan di BPR bagi menyegerakan keputusan terhadap siasatan sebarang kes.

Ramai lagi akan ditahan

Berita Minggu

Oleh Wan Jailani Razak dan Mohd Anwar Patho Rohman

DISYAKI RASUAH: Seorang lagi pegawai kanan Jabatan Imigresen (kanan) dan adik iparnya keluar dari Mahkamah Sesyen Klang, selepas ditahan reman Badan Pencegah Rasuah, semalam.

Sindiket visa pekerja asing babitkan kumpulan besar: BPR

GEORGETOWN: Ramai lagi dipercayai terbabit rasuah bagi mempercepatkan kelulusan visa kepada pekerja asing akan ditahan dalam tempoh terdekat.

Tindakan besar-besaran yang diambil Badan Pencegah Rasuah (BPR) ini selaras dengan janji Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi untuk menyelesaikan semua pembaharuan termasuk dalam sistem penyampaian awam, badan kehakiman, BPR dan polis sebelum proses peralihan kuasa dilaksanakan pada pertengahan 2010.

Ketua Pengarah BPR, Datuk Seri Ahmad Said Hamdan, berkata beliau diberitahu jumlah yang terbabit dengan kegiatan sindiket berkenaan besar.

"Kita percaya masih ada saki-baki anggota yang berhubung dengan sindiket berkenaan. Kita akan jalankan siasatan dan menahan tanpa mengira pangkat serta kedudukan mereka," katanya selepas Majlis Penganugerahan Darjah Kebesaran dan Pingat Kehormatan negeri sempena Hari Jadi ke-70 Yang Dipertua Negeri, Tun Abdul Rahman Abbas, semalam.

Ahmad Said berkata, penahanan itu berdasarkan maklumat orang awam dan siasatan yang dijalankan agensi itu sejak empat bulan lalu.

"Semalam (kelmarin) mereka menahan beberapa orang, jadi saya rasa hari ini (semalam) mereka akan menahan beberapa orang lagi. Saya tidak mempunyai jumlah sebenarnya sekarang tetapi saya diberitahu jumlahnya besar. Jadi syabas kepada pegawai BPR," katanya.

Di Klang semalam, seorang Timbalan Ketua Pengarah berusia 54 tahun di tahan reman selama empat hari oleh Mahkamah Majistret bagi membantu siasatan berhubung dakwaan menerima rasuah bagi mempercepatkan kelulusan visa kepada pekerja asing.

Turut direman bagi membantu kes sama ialah adik iparnya yang ditahan di Negeri Sembilan, petang kelmarin.

Kedua-dua mereka yang masing-masing berumur 54 dan 59 itu direman selama lima hari sehingga Rabu ini bagi membantu siasatan kes berkenaan.

Timbalan Ketua Pengarah itu ditahan di pejabatnya di Putrajaya, kira-kira jam 3 petang kelmarin manakala adik iparnya yang dipercayai menjadi orang perantara ditahan di Negeri Sembilan, juga pada sebelah petang hari sama.

Difahamkan, pegawai kanan itu baru dilantik memegang jawatan Timbalan Ketua Pengarah awal tahun ini dan sebelum itu pernah berkhidmat di Agensi Penguatkuasa Maritim Malaysia (APMM).

Kelmarin, seorang Ketua Pengarah ditahan reman empat hari oleh Mahkamah Majistret Kajang bagi membantu siasatan berhubung dakwaan menerima rasuah bagi mempercepatkan kelulusan visa kepada pekerja asing.

Ketua jabatan bergelar 'Datuk' itu adalah antara sembilan individu berusia 35 hingga 64 tahun yang ditahan BPR sehingga kini.