4 theSun | WEDNESDAY APRIL 15 2009

news without borders

Rais wants more thinkers in ministry

KUALA LUMPUR: Despite its wide-
ranging scope, the Information,
Communications, Arts and Culture
Ministry will execute its functions
more effectively by correctly dividing
its tasks, minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais
Yatim said.
He said the ministry would beef
up the number of its “thinkers” and
formulate clearer policies and instruc-
tions to ensure its effectiveness.
Rais said he would assign his depu-
ties, Datuk Joseph Salang Gandum and
Senator Heng Seai Kie, specific tasks
to make the ministry more efficient.
“We do not have to change the
ministry’s philosophy. The ministry
has more sting with the enforcement
of the Communications and Multime-
dia Act, and the role of the Malaysian
Communications and Multimedia
Commission,” he told reporters at
a ceremony at which Datuk Ahmad
Shabery Cheek handed over his
duties to Rais at Angkasapuri here
yesterday.
Shabery is now Youth and Sports
Minister.
Rais, who was Information Minister
from 1984 to 1986, said that although
there was little difference in the min-
istry’s functions now and then, what
was more pertinent was the enhance-
ment of service quality.
He said the integration of the com-
munication divisions would enable the
ministry to expand the enforcement of
the Communications and Multimedia
Act to cover private television and
radio networks.
On the proliferation of the new
media, Rais said the ministry would
not act hastily against government
critics, as long as the Act was not
contravened.
“We are planning to hold a briefing
on the Act for bloggers. If they do not
heed the advice, we will be firm with
them. To implement a policy, we have
to be firm. But legal redress will be our
last resort.”
He placed bloggers in three cat-
egories – those who write the truth,
those who exploit the sentiments
of the people, and those who churn
out inaccurate facts and make wild
allegations.
“The third type break the law. When
the law is not respected, the country
will be in disarray.” – Bernama

conserving energy. He said universities

and research institutions should be en-
couraged to conduct research suited to
briefs local needs. – Bernama

Speedier recruitment
Fomca: Beware of ‘green’ of doctors
techno salesmen PUTRAJAYA: Health Minister Datuk
KUALA LUMPUR: The government must
exercise caution to prevent being taken
in by green technology recommended by
glib-tongued foreign promoters.
The Federation of Malaysian Consum-
ers Associations said these promoters
could inflict more harm than good on
the country. Its environment programme
manager S. Piarapakaran said most
foreign promoters were smooth-talking
salesmen out to sell outdated innovations
to countries beginning to show an inter-
est in the green revolution.
He said Malaysia, which now placed
Seri Liow Tiong Lai said a human res-
ources committee had been set up to
speed up the recruitment of doctors
by government hospitals. IGP Tan Sri
The committee is chaired by health Musa Hassan
ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri greets
Dr Mohd Nasir Mohd Ashraf and health Hisham-
department director-general Tan Sri Dr muddin on
Mohd Ismail Merican. his first day
“The move is necessary as only at the Home
53% of vacant medical officer’s posts Ministry. On
have been filled due to a slow process the right
which can take over three months,” is ministry
Liow said after launching the minis- deputy

BERNAMAPIX
much emphasis on green technology, try’s online recruitment system via secretary-
could attract such salesmen whose prod- www.moh.gov.my. general Raja
ucts might not be suitable to our needs. He said the recruitment of foreign Azhar Raja
Piarapakaran said the new Energy, doctors should also be speeded up. Abdul Manap.
Green Technology and Water Ministry Applications having to go through
was a positive step as the world moved several departments complicated the
process, he said. – Bernama

ISA among 40 statutes

towards protecting the environment and

to be reviewed
by Tim Leonard
newsdesk@thesundaily.com
PUTRAJAYA: Home Minister Datuk Seri
Hishammuddin Hussein yesterday said the
Internal Security Act is among 40 statutes
under the ministry’s purview that will be sub-
ject to review to make them more effective.
“The ISA is important to protect the rights
of an individual as well as the rights of the
majority,” he said.
“The safety of the country and its people,
regardless of race and religion, is of paramount
importance and I will hold to this principle
without fear or favour. But I need a little time
to study things in greater detail ... to do what is
appropriate for the public. But it is not only the
ISA, other aspects also need to be considered.
Among these are national safety and the abil-
ity to balance things.”
Asked if he would set up an independent
committee to review the ISA, Hishammud-
din said: “It is too early to work on that. The
sincere intention is to move forward.”
He also said he would look into various
issues affecting the public, among these the
crime rate.
“I will have a meeting with the police next
week to decide on what can be done to bet-
ter the force and bring down the crime rate.
I will go to the ground personally to better
understand the situation, especially in (crime)
hotspots.”
Hishammuddin said he was aware of the
issues affecting the police force and provided
an assurance that necessary steps would be
taken to address these.
“If you are wrong, then you have to face
the consequences. But if you are right, I will
defend you all the way,” he said to officers of
the ministry.
Asked how he would approach sensitive
issues in the country when compared with
his predecessor Datuk Seri Syed Hamid
Albar, Hishammuddin replied: “That’s for you
to judge.”

Errant tour operators, agents

will have licences revoked
by Hemananthani Sivanandam
newsdesk@thesundaily.com
KUALA LUMPUR: Tour operators or agents
who force female tour guides to share rooms
with their male counterparts will have their
licences revoked as of June 1, Tourism Minis-
ter Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen said.
She said there was no provision in the law
to allow the ministry to suspend the licences
of operators and agents in such cases.
“Therefore, I am taking sterner action by
cancelling their licences if they force their
female tour guides to share rooms with men
who are not their spouses,” Ng said.
She said any complaint lodged with the
ministry or Tourism Malaysia will be properly
investigated.
“This has gone on for too long,” she
added.
Asked if there had been complaints of this
nature during her tenure as deputy tourism
minister in 1999, Ng said: “It was a very long
time ago.”
“This rule may not go down well with tour
operators and agents, but it is time for drastic
action as everyone has to be accountable. It is
for the safety of women.”
In 2006, the Tourism Ministry issued a
stern warning against forcing female tourist
guides to share rooms with male guides, a
warning that some operators disregard.