02 NEWS WITHOUT BORDERSœ theSun ON FRIDAY | APRIL 1, 2011 Bakti raises RM2.5 million for Japan relief efforts BY PAULINE WONG to the victims, especially the elderly, [email protected] women and children. ” She commended the corporate sector KUALA LUMPUR: The Association of for coming forward with generous Wives of Ministers and Deputy Ministers donations. (Bakti) has helped raise a total RM2.5 Other donors are SP Setia Bhd, Yayasan million for ongoing relief efforts in Al-Bukhari, Pan Malaysian Pools Sdn Bhd, disaster-hit Japan. Selangor Turf Club, Turf Club, Contributors included eCosway.com, 7- Lembaga Totalisator , Eu Yan Eleven Malaysia and BerMaz Motor Sdn Sang Sdn Bhd, and Limkokwing University Bhd, with US$100,000 (RM301,300) in of Creative Technology. They donated donations each. Bakti gave RM100,000 some RM1 million collectively. while the welfare organisation of the wives The money will be channelled to the of Selangor assemblymen and former victims through the Japanese Red Cross assemblymen (Kasih) Society. donated RM10,000. Horie said he was moved by the Bakti president Datin Seri Rosmah continuous generosity of Malaysia in Mansor presented the donation to Japanese helping his nation recover from the Ambassador Masahiko Horie here disaster. yesterday. “The Japanese government is doing all Also present were Bakti deputy it can to contain and control the damage president Puan Sri Noorainee Abdul from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power Rahman and Berjaya Corporation CEO plant. Datuk Robin Tan, who presented the “I believe my people will live to mock-cheque from 7-Eleven to Horie. overcome this tragedy and difficulties ZULKIFLI ERSAL/ Horie (left) with Rosmah, Noorainee and Robin Tan after receiving the “It is our hope that this (donation) faced in the past three weeks, and I believe THESUN would, in a small way, help alleviate the that we will be able to do it with the mock cheque from 7-Eleven yesterday. pain and suffering of those affected by the support of our Malaysian friends,” he said. disaster,” said Rosmah. “Our prayers go out Horie. Najib launches Long-term resident RM100m start-up fund BY ALYAA ALHADJRI passes make debut [email protected] > An initiative to retain highly skilled foreign workers, says minister SHAH ALAM: Budding local “technopreneurs” now have another BY HEMANANTHANI of the Economic Transformation years. The pass will also be those originally from Malaysia – as option of realising their dreams with the SIVANANDAM Programme (ETP) and for renewable beyond this period. well as their offspring who no launch of Malaysian Technology [email protected] Malaysia to achieve developed and “However, these pass holders longer hold Malaysian Development Corporation (MTDC) high-income status. are not eligible for an unlimited citizenship,” he added. RM100 million Business Start-up Fund KUALA LUMPUR: Highly-skilled “The implementation of the period of stay, nor can they obtain Applications for the pass can be (BSF). foreign workers and expatriates resident pass is an alternative to permanent resident status or apply made at the Immigration The fund, launched by Prime can start applying for the newly- the issuance of entry permits as for citizenship,” he said. Department. Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak introduced resident pass – which the pass holders enjoy the same Hishammuddin said immediate Among the criteria to apply for yesterday, is meant to encourage gives the holder the long-term facilities of those entry permit family members will also be given the pass is that the applicant must innovation and boost participation of right to live and work in Malaysia – holders,” said Hishammuddin in a resident passes and can enjoy the be qualified and experienced in local companies in technology-based areas. starting today. press conference after a meeting same benefits as the principle the 12 critical sectors identified “There are many local companies Home Minister Datuk Seri with Talent Corporation Malaysia holder. under the National Key Results that can come up with innovative ideas, said the in Parliament yesterday. “For example, the spouse of the Areas. but do not have the resources to resident pass is among the He added that resident pass principle resident pass holder can Last December, Prime Minister commercialise and market their initiatives aimed at attracting and holders will have the advantage of also seek employment in Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak inventions,” said Najib in his speech at retaining the best foreign and local not being tied to an employer and Malaysia,” he said. announced the introduction of the the event in Universiti Institut Teknologi talents, whose skills and expertise are allowed to live and work in “The resident pass will also be resident pass when he launched Mara (UiTM) here. Also present was will play a vital role in the success Malaysia for a longer period of 10 made available to our diaspora – Talent Corporation Malaysia. Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin and MTDC CEO Norhalim Yunus. Govt won’t bow to Najib, who is also finance minister, No arrests in sex video screening: Hishammuddin said having a small bank balance and pressure, Interlok relatively new track record often affects KUALA LUMPUR: Home Minister Bukit Aman. responses on the matter. the chances of these companies to obtain issue closed: DPM Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein Some websites, however, re- “Some said they would need funding from commercial banks. confirmed that no arrests have ported that the trio had been ar- more time, some said they would “This is where there is need for an PAGOH: The government would not been made in relation to the rested in connection with the sex collect it… But I stand by what I evaluation that cannot be done by a bow to pressure over the Interlok novel screening of a sex video allegedly video and released on police bail. said that at the end of the day, commercial bank, as while it is a high as the issue had been resolved and the implicating an opposition leader. But Hishammuddin confirmed that people want a solution that is fair risk venture, there is also a very high final decision already made, said Dep- Hishammuddin said thus far, they had not been arrested. and reasonable on the issue of the potential for growth,” he said, when uty Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin around eight police reports had “None, to my knowledge,” he bible. touching on the fund’s creation, first Yassin. been filed related to the video, but said, on the purported arrests at a “I believe (Minister in the Prime announced during the 2011 Budget. He said raising of the issue again to added that the current police in- press conference at a meeting Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Under the scheme, a company can gain support was irresponsible and ill- vestigations are based on the initial room in Parliament yesterday. Idria) Jala and Christian associa- obtain funds without the need to provide intended. “The government had made report filed last Tuesday by op- Asked if the police will arrest tions are working very hard to find a collateral and repayments will only be its decision. We had announced this in position leader Datuk Seri Anwar the trio for holding a media screen- a solution,” said Hishammuddin, triggered after recipient companies parliament and it was endorsed, so we Ibrahim. ing of the sex video, he said it is adding the talks are ongoing. begin to generate income. will hold on to that. On March 21, a trio calling up to either the police or Attor- The ongoing row is over the Key target groups of the BSF include “If the opposition parties are exploit- themselves “Datuk T” held a pri- ney-General’s chambers. release of the 35,000 copies of the companies set up by universities and ing the issue by getting non-governmen- vate screening of a video recording “We have to go through the Malay language bibles which were self-financed companies that have yet to tal organisations to again voice objection showing a man resembling Anwar process. I don’t know, you have languishing in Port Klang and yield significant income. (against use of the novel as a school having sex with a Chinese woman to ask the prosecutor or the police. Kuching Port. Najib said it was important for local textbook), perhaps it’s because of the for selected members of the media But I think the IGP (Tan Sri Ismail On March 15, the ministry an- entrepreneurs to engage with the upcoming () election.” and politicians at Carcosa Seri Omar) said in the past week, when nounced two conditions for the industry, in order to come up with Muhyiddin said this after handing Negara, they want to arrest, they will arrest release of the Bibles – that they innovative and competitive products. over aid to flood victims in the Pagoh The trio later came out to reveal (the suspects). have an official ministerial stamp At the event, Najib also witnessed the parliamentary constituency at the Pagoh their identities at a press confer- “He promised that no stone saying the books were for use for exchange of a memorandum of agreement between UiTM and MTDC Sports Complex, here, yesterday. ence. They are former Malacca (will be) left unturned,” Hisham- Christians only; and that the bibles to build a Technopreneur Centre at its Muhyiddin, who is also Pagoh MP, chief minister Tan Sri Rahim muddin said. bear serial numbers so that their Shah Alam campus. Tamby Chik, businessman Datuk On responses by various Chris- port of entry can be traced. said the Opposition purposely did not Norhalim, in his speech, said Shazryl Eskay Abdullah and Per- tian groups that the Alkitab Malay The Christian Federation of want the issue to end, but to create through the fund, MTDC hopes to kasa treasurer Datuk Shuib Lazim. language bible should not be col- Malaysia has refused to collect the anti-government feelings. “The govern- further create successful lected due to the stamping by the bibles, which they say have been ment, however, will not compromise as All three were later were called in ‘technopreneurs’ by supporting them this involves national security.“ to give their statements at the Home Ministry, Hishammuddin defaced by the Home Ministry through the often difficult early years. – Federal police headquarters at said he had been getting mixed stamp.