AND 11 OTHER COUNTRIES INKS LANDMARK TRANS-PACIFIC PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT AUCKLAND FEB 04: Malaysia and 11 other Peru, Canada, Vietnam, United States, growth and social benefits. countries have inked the Trans-Pacific Singapore, Brunei and Malaysia. More than 90% of the economic gains will Partnership Agreement (TPPA) which is set The signing of the TPPA, which will be due to lower non-tariff measures. to expand markets, reduce tariffs and represent nearly 40% of global gross The trade pact is also expected to create promote freer trade. domestic product (GDP) worth US$30tril new opportunities for workers and International Trade and Industry Minister (RM126tril), comes after five years and 19 businesses, contribute to raising living Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed signed the rounds of tough negotiations. standards of 800 million people, benefit comprehensive trade pact on behalf of Malaysia joined the TPPA in the third consumers, reduce poverty and promote Malaysia at a ceremony here yesterday. round of negotiations in October 2010. sustainable growth. — Bernama

Datuk J. Jayasiri, Malaysia’s chief The country’s inclusion in the trade pact is negotiator for the TPPA who has been in expected to boost Malaysia’s GDP by the thick of negotiations from the start, US$107bil (RM449.5bil) to US$211bil was also present at the historic event here (RM886.5bil) from 2018 to 2027. in New Zealand. Investments are projected to increase by Bernama learnt that the ceremony at the US$136bil (RM571bil) to US$239bil (RM1 SkyCity Convention Centre in downtown trillion) over the same period, largely due Auckland started at 9am local time (2pm to higher investment growth in textiles, Malaysian time) with a colourful cultural construction and distributive trade.

performance followed by a ministerial Trade delegates pose for a photograph after signing the meeting before the signing. The TPPA is aimed at promoting economic Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement in Auckland, New integration to liberalise trade and Zealand, Thursday, Feb. 4, 2016. Trade ministers from 12 The 12 countries in the TPPA are New investment as well as spur economic Pacific Rim countries including the United States have Zealand, Australia, Chile, Mexico, Japan, ceremonially signed the free-trade deal.—AP PRIME MINISTER PRESENTS REVISED 2016 BUDGET PETALING JAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has announced a revised Budget 2016 to optimise the country's developmental and operational expenditures in the face of slower economic growth.

The revised budget will include precautionary and proactive measures in managing national revenue and expenditures, while ensuring that the well-being of the people remained a priority.

Najib said the recalibration is necessary due to a slump in global oil prices and a slower economic growth in the United States and China. When Budget 2016 was unveiled in Parliament last October, the crude oil price was at US$48 (RM203) per barrel.

However, the current price per barrel stands at US$30 (RM127), a sharp fall since the Budget was presented. The prime minister said the changes would be more ‘realistic’ to suit the present economic situation.—Reuters Pic Continued on page 2 ...Continued from page 1

HIGHLIGHTS unemployed. "The present rate of the Goods and - The 2016 global economy expected to be 6. MyBeras programme to be introduced Services Tax (GST) will also be retained at more challenging and economic growth until Dec 2016. Each hardcore poor family 6%. The Government has no plans to expected to fall from 3.6% to 3.4%. will be given 20kg of rice every month. increase this," said Najib at the International Convention Centre (PICC). - Malaysia not alone in facing global 7. The Government will update the economic challenges. Current crude oil management system of foreign workers, He also said that Malaysia would not resort price stands at US$31 (RM131) per barrel. with levies clustered into two categories, to imposing capital controls and pegging

- Latest developments indicate that the not including foreign maids. the Ringgit, such as was done during the 1997-1998 financial crisis. global economy is at a very volatile stage 8. Government will exercise prudent and requires a proactive move to revise spending on supplies and services and to "The Government remains committed to Budget 2016. continue with grant rationalisation. maintaining the fiscal consolidation

- We are not in a recession, neither are we 9. Development budget to focus on measures for 2016, which is to achieve a GDP target of 3.1%. in a technical recession. projects and programmes that place the

- Eleven recalibrated measures announced. people first, have high multiplier effect and "Our country's debt will be reduced and reduce imports. will not exceed 55% of the GDP. The 1. EPF contributions by employees to be Government also has no plans to impose reduced by 3%. This is expected to increase 10. Development financial institutions and Government venture capital funds to capital controls and peg the Ringgit," he private sector spending by RM8bil. said.

increase allocations by RM6bil for benefit 2. Tax relief of up to RM2,000 to those of start-ups and SMEs. Najib also made mention of the with income RM8,000 a month or lower. 11. GLCs urged to implement initiatives to Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement Two million taxpayers to benefit. (TPPA), which had been debated at a reduce the income gap between senior 3. To reduce cost of living, Govt to management and workers, to be special Parliamentary sitting on Tuesday liberalise APs for agricultural products and Wednesday. monitored by the Economic Planning Unit. including coffee beans and meats. He provided assurances that with the Najib said Thursday's recalibrated budget 4. Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and was based on the approach of "shared signing of the free trade agreement, there Consumerism Ministry ordered to increase responsibility" by certain segments of would be no compromise on the country's enforcement and action against unethical sovereignty. society. traders. "The Bumiputera agenda remains intact. In He said lower-income groups will not be 5. 30% of contributions to the human affected, and continue to benefit from fact, it is no longer a national agenda. With resource development fund to be utilised measures such as the 1Malaysia People's the TPPA, it has reached a global scale," he for skills training, including those who are Aid (BR1M). added.— ONLINE SHAHROM IS THE FIRST MALAYSIAN TO SKI TO SOUTH POLE time (5.30pm on Friday, South Pole time). 1,000 kilometres should be the pride of all . He said Shahrom completed the mission by skiing 890 kilometres from Messner Inlet to "I informed the Prime Minister this the zero degree point. morning of the good news as he had been

Shahrom, from Gua Musang, also very keen on the expedition aside from being concerned about Shahrom's safety. completed the mission in record time compared to earlier expectation of 50 to 60 "He is aware of the obstacles in the days, he said. expedition as he had once stepped foot on

"Alhamdulillah, we are grateful to Allah Antarctica. He is exhilarated at the good National Explorer Shahrom Abdullah with the National Flag news," said Akmar Hisham. - Bernama Jalur Gemilang at zero degree landmark. that Shahrom made it. This proves that Malaysians, with determination, can DEC 19: National explorer overcome any challenge," he said in a Shahrom Abdullah successfully completed statement here, Saturday. a Malaysian Seven Contingents Exploration Club (KE7B) expedition to reach the South Akmar Hisham added that Shahrom's Pole in a record 37 days. success marked another world-class achievement by a Malaysian. Expedition adviser Datuk Akmar Hisham Mohd Yusof said Shahrom, 36, reached the The Prime Minister's press secretary and landmark zero degree point of the South KE7B adviser also said Shahrom's Pole at 4.30am on Saturday, Malaysian achievement, as the first Malaysian to Shahrom Abdullah and his team with PM Najib Razak during reach the South Pole on ski across almost the expedition launch.— Photo by NST MALAYSIAN WOMAN PROVED EINSTEIN’S GRAVITATIONAL WAVES THEORY PETALING JAYA FEB 17: A Malaysian shared excerpts from the paper on his of gravitational wave detectors. woman is among the worldwide group of Facebook account. "All members of GEO600 are also members scientists who made the frontier-changing “Was happy that she came to the talk by of the LIGO Scientific Collaboration," the confirmation of Einstein’s gravitational Prof Martin Henry that we organised in LIGO website states. waves theory. UPM on Gravitational Wave Astronomy. LIGO, pair of giant laser detectors in the Hafizah Noor Isa (pic), who was born in Little things like this make us happy,” he United States, detected remarkably small Machang, Kelantan, was a student and added in the comment thread. vibrations from gravitational waves as they researcher at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia “Was happy that she came to the talk by passed through the Earth. (UTM) and Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Prof Martin Henry that we organised in The scientists converted the wave signal (UIA) UPM on Gravitational Wave Astronomy. into audio waves and listened to the A PhD candidate at the University of Little things like this make us happy,” he sounds of the black holes merging. Reports Glasgow and a member of the Institute for added in the comment thread. say that the scientists first detected the Gravitational Research there, Hafizah Hafizah’s kind nature was also praised by waves last Sept 14.—The Star Online contributed to the scientific paper Anne Annira Azmahira, who congratulated "Observation of Gravitational Waves from her on Facebook. “Yup, this is the girl who a Binary Black Hole Merger", a discovery gave me (a) place to stay when I was at celebrated in international headlines last Glasgow," she said. week after a decades-long quest for what some had termed “the holy grail of Hafizah was involved in the United States’ science”. LIGO-led (Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory) project The achievement sparked a constellation of through her work in the GEO600 congratulations from Malaysia’s academia, experiment. including Universiti Putra Malaysia physics Ms Noor Hafizah Isa is part of a scientific research team professor Hishamuddin Zainuddin, who The GEO600 is part of a worldwide network who confirmed Albert Einstein's gravitational waves theory TM SIGNS WI-FI ROAMING AGREEMENT WITH BRITISH TELECOMMUNICATIONS KUALA LUMPUR: Telekom Malaysia Bhd global Wi-Fi roaming hub, and will enable end users. This allows for seamless Wi-Fi (TM) has paired up with British BT’s customers to leverage on TM’s roaming embedded in the Mobile Network Telecommunications Plc (BT) in a Wi-Fi Malaysian Wi-Fi estates while roaming in Operator standard authentication roaming agreement. the country and region. processes to reduce capital expenditure

The agreement allows both parties to TM will also be interconnected with BT’s requirements. It will also roll out leverage on each other’s Wi-Fi networks in global Wi-Fi roaming hub, which allows its stand-alone, complementary or converged Malaysia and the United Kingdom and end customers to access the full range of Wi-Fi roaming that is simple and easy to manage. enables the monetising of UK-Malaysia global and UK based Wi-Fi capabilities for a roaming. converged mobile roaming experience The hub creates a global Wi-Fi roaming

“We understand that telecommunications while travelling abroad and in the United ecosystem that has significant traction in Kingdom. the Asian market, and will be especially infrastructure is critical in providing quality solutions and services to our customers “The UK is a key roaming destination for attractive to UK and global customers across the world. As Malaysia’s leading Malaysians and connecting TM to our roaming in Malaysia with over 4,600 communications provider and Convergence global Wi-Fi roaming hub helps TM address hotspots locations at airports, hotels, Champion, TM is committed to its convergence needs and differentiate in a convention centres and cafes. TM will also customers’ and their increasingly competitive market. In turn, with access to gain access to nearly 400,000 hotspots in sophisticated requirements. To this end, TM’s domestic Wi-Fi estate, BT is the UK supporting Wireless Internet Ser- we continue to venture into strategic enhancing the global footprint of its Wi-Fi vice Provider roaming (WISPr) authentica- c o l l a b o r a t i o n s w i t h o t h e r Hub in a vibrant Southeast Asian key tion including 12,000 for both WISPr and telecommunications players, including market, extending our long-standing Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP) regional and global players,” said TM relationship with Malaysia’s incumbent authentication to enhance its converged executive vice president for global and operator,” said BT vice president for global roaming offerings to their end customers. - wholesale Mohamad Rozaimy Abd Rahman telecom markets Andrew Dodsworth. The Star Online in a statement. BT’s global Wi-Fi roaming hub integrates Through the agreement, TM’s national Wi-Fi estates globally to provide mobile Wi-Fi footprint will be included in BT’s and Wi-Fi operators Wi-Fi roaming for their SONGKRUN WATER RUN AND MUSIC FESTIVAL World Championships held every October in decorated with more gusto than the last, and Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. In 2012 only, there are 31 smells to keep them going throughout the run SongkRUN™ is bringing the World First Water Ironman Triathlon races throughout the world making their way to the finish line where an Fun-Run experience to the casual runners and that enable qualification for the Ironman World international headliner will to take to the stage. fun seekers. AN un-competitive 5KM fun run, Championships. The Ironman qualifying events Happening at the Turf Club on 7th SongkRUN™ course splits into five Water+Music for 2012 include 9 races in Europe, 14 races in May 2016. Zones, each has its own uniquely designed North America, 1 race in South America, 5 experience awaiting you.The party continues BORNEO JAZZ FESTIVAL races in Oceana and 2 races in Africa. Happen- when you cross the finish line and the ing in Putrajaya on 3rd April 2016. Borneo Jazz Festival was introduced in 2006. It is a Wet-Music Festival kicks into gear! Jive and festival awaited by fans of jazz music and pro- groove with the latest beats whilst friends tries WORLD HARVEST FESTIVAL motes Miri as a tourist destination. Happening at to drench you and vice-versa. Run. Play. Get World Harvest Festival helps to steer and the ParkCity Everly Hotel, Miri, from 13th Drenched. Make Friends. Dance. Happening in to 14th May 2016. commemorate the unique Hari Gawai Harvest Sepang International Race Circuit Selangor on Festival. Happening at the Sarawak Cultural 3rd April 2016. IFTAR@KL Village, Kuching, Sarawak on 1st May 2016. Celebrate Ramadan in true Malaysian style by PESTA AIR ELECTRIC RUN 2016 observing Iftar (breaking of fast) amidst the back- drop of the historic Merdeka Square. This islamic This is the biggest annual event in Labuan. One of the world’s most popular nocturnal fun themed festival will also feature a bazaar and Major competitions include the Labuan run is set to light up Malaysia again this year in religious activities. Happening at Jalan Raja/ International Deep Sea Fishing Tournament, what will be its biggest, most creative, neon Cross Channel Swimming Challenge and Round Merdeka Square, Kuala Lumpur from 11th to 26th coloured night run the country yet on May 7 at June 2016. Island Kayak Challenge. Happening at the the Selangor Turf Club, Kuala Lumpur. Labuan International Sea Sport Complex, Organized by The Livescape Group and HARI GAWAI OPEN HOUSE CELEBRATION Labuan from 29 April 2016 - 01 May 2016. supported by Malaysia Major Events (MME), Experience the Hari Gawai festivities in an open IRONMAN 70.3 the one-night-only 5km night time fun run this house celebration, a programme that brings peo- year is set to attract over 15,000 runners of all ple together to celebrate the country's various Ironman is triathlon’s marquee challenge and ages. Electric Run™ will return with the seven festivals. Happening in Sibu, Sarawak on 2nd June the world’s most captivating and testing single dazzling course lands from its debut in Kuala 2016. day endurance test consisting of a 3.8km swim, Lumpur and will feature two new, never before a 180km cycle and a 42.2km run. In 2012, more seen course lands which will highlight Malaysia 1MALAYSIA MEGA SALE SHOPPING CARNIVAL than 124,000 athletes from across the globe in all its neon glory. As runners run, or dance The country's biggest shopping event offers mega compete for slots at the prestigious Ironman through the route to the finish line, their senses shopping excitement and great entertainment. World Championships held every October in will be stimulated as they encounter various Happening throughout Malaysia from 27th June Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. In 2012 only, there are 31 unique activations, different course lands to 31st August 2016.