02 NEWS WITHOUT BORDERS theSun ON TUESDAY | JUNE 1, 2010

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Haram only applies to Muslims, says Mahathir FOUR APPOINTED JUDICIAL PUTRAJAYA: What is haram in Islam should said what is important now is for the “Lim does not eat pork now because COMMISSIONERS apply only to Muslims. government to ensure that Muslims do not he is good friends with PAS. So he PUTRAJAYA: Four people, including two As such, non-Muslims cannot be get involved in sports betting. would not be involved in betting too,” he lawyers, have been appointed judicial prohibited from doing some things or “To the Muslims, don’t. Until now, we quipped. commissioners. Vazeer Alam Mydin Meera, carrying out activities just because they are have never allowed Muslims to be involved Last week, Mahathir had expressed the 48, Lee Swee Seng, 49, Samsudin Hassan, haram to Muslims, former prime minister in betting, but if they are to go to Singapore view that sports betting had to be legalised to 58, and Abd Rahman Abdol, 54, were sworn Tun Dr said yesterday. to get involved, we can’t do anything,” he control the industry. He noted that if sports in before Chief Judge of Malaya Tan Sri “We have many different races in this said. betting were not legalised, it would still Arifi n Zakaria, witnessed by Chief Justice Tun country. We cannot stop people from taking Mahathir said objections raised by certain continue illegally. Zaki Azmi at the Palace of Justice here. what to them is not haram, (but) for us is quarters against the government’s recent Speaking at the 5th Malaysian Conference Vazeer Alam and Lee were managing haram,” he said at the Perdana Leadership decision to legalise sports betting were more on Healthy Ageing, he did not deny that the partners of legal fi rms, Samsudin the Foundation here. political than religious. tax revenue would help to fi ll government chairman of the branch of the “It is the same with other things which are “I think the objections are more political, coffers. Industrial Court, and Abd Rahman the haram. Muslims must not be involved. Like not so much (because of) Islam,” he said, Mahathir had noted that although Muslims director of the Johor sessions court. – the lottery ... Muslims who are found buying adding that he believed Chief would be strictly disallowed from taking part will be arrested.” Minister Lim Guan Eng had a political motive in legalised sports betting, there was nothing Commenting on the sports betting licence in announcing the state government’s to stop them from being involved in illegal FOREIGN STUDENTS TO reissued to Ascot Sports recently, Mahathir decision to prohibit sports betting in the state. betting, if they so wished. PAY FULL FEES PUTRAJAYA: Foreign students will have to pay course fees in full as the government will no longer subsidise fees from July, Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said yesterday. The subsidy for local students, however, will remain, he Fight for your rights said after presenting a letter of approval to Inti International University here. This means the fees to be paid by foreign students > We want consumers and not govt to determine the market, says minister would be the same as that imposed by private institutions of higher learning. – BY HUSNA YUSOP government to take action against this shop Bernama [email protected] although there are other alternatives,” he If possible, they want said. VARSITIES CAN ORGANISE PUTRAJAYA: The government plans to us (the government) “If everyone went to the other nine shops OWN PROGRAMMES reduce public dependence on the authorities and no one went to this shop, tomorrow, it will PUTRAJAYA: Universities have the authority and encourage consumers to fi ght for their to control the price of have to bring down its prices. Otherwise, it will to organise programmes on their campuses rights and interests, Domestic Trade, everything. But, turn bankrupt. That is how consumers can and need not refer them to the Higher Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister in fact, the power is protect themselves.” Education Ministry. Minister, Datuk Seri Datuk Seri said yesterday. Ismail also encouraged the public to use Mohamed Khaled Nordin, said yesterday it Under the Consumer Masterplan 2010- in the hands of the the Consumer Claims Tribunal even if it only was up to the vice-chancellors to evaluate 2020, now under discussion, the government consumer.” involved a small amount of compensation. the suitability of the programmes, including wants less involvement in consumer He gave an assurance, however, that the forums. He was commenting on a forum protection in the long-term and to create laws will still be there to protect consumers organised by Universiti Malaya’s Social greater awareness of consumer rights. The convention is the fi rst step towards and that the price control scheme during the Behaviour and Science Research Cluster to “We are now moving towards an open getting feedback from stakeholders on the festive seasons will continue for now. discuss Barry Wain’s book Malaysian market. We want consumers to determine the Consumer Masterplan to be formulated based “But in future, when consumer awareness is Maverick: Mahathir Mohamad in Turbulent market. Now they want the government to on the needs of the people as a way forward to high, we may do away with the price control Times. – Bernama determine the price, to set the ceiling price, to mobilise consumerism. scheme like other developed countries,” he take action against errant shops,” Ismail said at Ismail said consumer awareness now is low said. 18 ALOR BINJAL PAS the launch of the Consumers Convention 2010 at 58%. Consumers should increase this by Ismail also denied rumours that the price MEMBERS JOIN UMNO here. exercising their rights and taking action to of sugar would be raised today, saying “If possible, they want us to control the protect their interest. is not facing a sugar crisis as the ALOR STAR: Eighteen Alor Binjal PAS price of everything. But in fact, the power is in “The case now is, if one out of 10 shops problem is not shortage of supply but a case branch members joined Umno yesterday, the hands of the consumer.” raised the prices of its goods, we want the of panic buying. claiming the PAS government had failed to bring about any changes for the people. Former PAS member Binjal Majid Seman handed their membership forms to Alor Star Umno division deputy chief Guntor Tobeng Najib pays tribute to ‘Three Swans’ Mansor Tobeng together with those of 12 new members. “After two years of governing SAIFUL HIZAM MANSOR/THESUN Kedah, the weaknesses of the state BY TIM LEONARD government are now apparent. Their leaders [email protected] have not resolved many of the people’s problems,” he said. – Bernama KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister

Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak yes- terday paid tribute to his mother COUNSELLORS CAN HELP, and two aunts for playing an impor- SAYS SHAHRIZAT tant role in his life and family. KUALA LUMPUR: Counsellors should pool He said he learnt many valuable resources to help the government check lessons from them, some of which escalating social problems, Women, Family moulded him into the man he is. and Community Development Minister Najib said this after launching Datuk Seri Shahrizat Jalil said yesterday. the book The Three Swans at a “This is because they have expertise hotel here. The book is written by particularly in intervention. We have to do a Datuk Dr Fawzia Abdullah and lot of early intervention,” she told reporters chronicles the lives of Najib’s after opening a 1Malaysia counselling mother, Tun Rahah Mohd Noah, seminar here. Shahrizat said counsellors and her elder sisters, Datin Fakh- could play a critical role not only in riah and Tun Suhailah. Fawzia is the Najib and addressing social problems but also in second daughter of the “eldest Fawzia moulding quality . – Bernama swan”, Fakhriah. at the Present at the launch was Home launch of REPEAL OBSOLETE RULES, Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin The Three SAYS CHIEF SEC Hussein, whose mother is Su- Swans PUTRAJAYA: Chief Secretary to the Gov- hailah. against a ernment Tan Sri Mohd Sidek Hassan has Najib said future generations backdrop reminded government departments and can fi nd inspiration in the book with showing agencies to review or repeal obsolete regu- its tales of hopes and wonders as (from left) lations to facilitate the effective delivery of well as life’s lessons. Suhailah, services. He said quality services need not be “Through this book, future Fakhriah costly to implement as it could be done inter- generations can understand what and Rahah. nally through the improvement of processes the early generations had to un- and procedures. “In the public sector, innov- dergo and endure, yet were able ation does not always mean creating a new to advance in life,” he said. thing. It could mean abolish-ing old methods Najib said many lessons could white complexion of the sisters. tives and friends who grew up with the paramount importance of fam- which, despite being obsolete, are still being be learnt from the book, especially She said the book reveals the them. ily. used,” Mohd Sidek said at the presentation the importance of family. stories of the three most important Noah Foundation contributed The Three Swans is available at of the Prime Minister’s Department’s Fawzia said she came up with persons in her life through intensive to the publication and launch of the all major bookstores and retails at excellent service awards here. – Bernama the title to refl ect the beautiful, silky research and interviews with rela- book, which is aimed at instilling RM80.