工地羅里走捷徑沙塵滾滾20商店天天“吃”塵

（吉隆坡）十五碑敦辛班丹4路近來成為工地羅里川行的捷徑，導致道路兩旁逾20間的店鋪每天逼“吃”灰塵，沙塵滾滾的情況令人卻步，打擊商家的生意。

據瞭解，十五碑一帶近來有不少發展工程，許多工地的羅里便選擇從敦辛班丹路直接轉入敦辛班丹4路，再穿過蘇丹阿都沙末路通往聯邦大道等。

敦辛班丹4路旁的小販陳偉強透露，如果沒有下雨，沙塵堆積在馬路上，有時駕駛人士甚至必須小心翼翼地繞過沙塵。

顧客不敢上門生意跌

他說，尤其每天的中午12時至下午3時之間，是羅里經過最頻密的時段。沙塵滾滾導致顧客都不敢上門，生意大受影響。

他說，商販曾向市政局投訴時，也提供羅里的車牌號碼予有關單位，但是卻未見執法。

與此同時，行動黨武吉免登國會議員方貴倫週五（2月26日）早上巡視此路時指出，他在2月2、3日開始接獲當地業者的投訴，指羅里引起的沙塵滾滾讓他們的生意大受影響。

他說，工地的羅里在駛入敦辛班丹4路時，加上此路段窟窿處處，羅里上的沙塵就更容易跌落在路面，造成環境污染。

附近工程約半年前已展開

他表示，附近一帶的工程大約半年前即展開，只是近來沙塵滾滾的情況日益嚴重，業者指也不曾看見有關當局派人清洗羅里。

“羅里經過上述路段的次數頗頻密，不僅對在此處營業的業者和小販們造成不便，對此區的盲人也是一大威脅。因為此路是此區的要道之一。”

“我將要求市政局城市交通組重視此問題，同時確保羅里在運送過程中尤其在經過上述路段時，不會對環境造成影響。同時也將要求市政局公共工程組前往補洞，以確保道路順暢。”

星洲日報／大都會‧2010.02.26

回家途中遭掠奪 摔摩哆父傷女昏迷

（吉隆坡7日訊）中年騎摩哆載女兒回家途中，遇上掠奪匪，被后者拉扯時，兩父女摔倒受傷，女兒傷及腦部，昏迷至今。

50歲的張運明，育有五女一男，一家人住在沙叻秀人民組屋，與他一起遇到掠奪匪的女兒張翠芸排行第四、今年18歲，目前在蕉賴國大醫院深切治療部留醫，尚未甦醒。

張運明今日在武吉免登區國會議員方貴倫安排下，帶同張太太陳觀容（47歲）及一班親屬回到案發現場，向媒體記者講述事發過程。

掠奪匪逃之夭夭

張運明指出，女兒在中學畢業后，到時代廣場當售貨員，每晚由他接回家。

“上週一（1日）約晚上10時，我載著她路經新街場大道，在靠近拉薩敏申組屋區，發現一輛可疑摩哆跟蹤我們。”

他說，他們駛至大道第16.4公里處，該輛可疑摩哆即趨前靠近他，企圖搶走女兒手提袋。

張運明說，女兒在本能反應下，緊緊拉著手提袋不放，結果他的摩哆在拉扯中翻倒，掠奪匪搶劫不果即逃之夭夭。

“我的肩膀及大腿部位受傷，女兒則頭部受傷血流滿臉，昏迷一陣又醒過來。

“一名路人經過該處，把我們送往國大醫院，女兒入院時還清醒，但在清晨6時陷入昏迷。”

他說，醫生並未說明其女兒有生命危險，只說其女兒醒來后，或會出現一些異常反應，如喪失部分記憶或說話速度變慢。

張父到處求神拜佛祈求女兒平安醒來

張父到處求神拜佛，但女兒還是沒醒來。

“我們非常擔心她，曾到六七間神廟為女兒祈求平安，一些還神廟建議我們回到事發現場進行叫魂儀式。”

他指出，他在事發隔天到警局報案及錄口供，惟警方在前天（星期五）才致電給他詢問其女兒的情況。

“女兒完成中學后出來工作，至今只有數個月，沒想到會遭遇這種事。”

方貴倫：警應調動人手保障國人遊客安全

武吉免登區國會議員方貴倫指出，警方應調動人手加強打擊罪案行動，保障國人及外國遊客的安全。

他說，吉隆坡人口密集、遊客量多，連沙叻秀及拉薩敏申一帶也變成犯罪黑區。

他指出，根據全國刑事調查報告，國內共有9345名警員負責刑事調查，政治部警員則有9081名，兩者的比率相差不多。

“我國需要更多人手來調查刑事案件，警方應重新調配人手，讓更多警員負責刑事案，打擊罪案及加強巡邏。”

他說，現今的掠奪匪都非常兇狠，除了搶劫還狠心傷害人。

“我會在下月15日的國會上向內政部長提問我國治安不靖的問題。”

爸媽呼喚肢體有反應

爸媽呼喚感動翠芸，昏迷的她出現肢體反應。

張運明指出，昏迷不醒的翠芸聽到家人說話時，手腳會動，也一度張開眼睛，聽到父母叮嚀還會流淚。

“我們很開心她能聽到我們說話，可是醫生說她不幾何時能醒，可能數天、數個月或數年，需看她體質。”

他說，種種反應對他們全家是個好的開始。

Garbage and parking woes

THE wholesalers at popular wholesale fashion hub in Jalan Kenanga, Kuala Lumpur, also known as Ho Ching Yuen are hoping for a dialogue with Alam Flora soon,

They hope to discuss the time for rubbish collection services in the area so that Alam Flora trucks will not be deterred from coming in due to the traffic congestion.

This is following the uncollected garbage incident last week where heaps of rubbish at the backlanes went uncollected for about 10 days and became an eyesore to shoppers.

According to Malaysia Garments Wholesale Merchants Association president Datuk Ang Say Tee, the uncollected garbage not only deterred shoppers but emitted a foul smell when the day is hot or when it rains.

“When we contacted Alam Flora, they said the rubbish went uncollected because of the jam and double-parking of cars that pose a problem to them.

“Therefore, we hope to have a dialogue with Alam Flora and work out rubbish collection details.
“Also, I hope all wholesalers will cooperate by not throwing rubbish indiscriminately by the roadside,” said Ang.

StarMetro was informed that the pile of rubbish was cleared yesterday.

Ang said although there was lack of enforcement on indiscriminate throwing of rubbish by the shopkeepers at the roadside, the shopkeepers had no choice as no bins were prepared for them.
“We have never had any bins since Ho Ching Yuen wholesale fashion business started.

“The bins will definitely make things convenient for the Alam Flora workers and we wish that DBKL makes it a requirement to have at least one in every backlane here,” he said.

Bukit Bintang MP Fong Kui Lun, who was also present, said he will arrange for a dialogue with Alam Flora soon.

“Hopefully, we can also agree on a different time slot.

“It definitely does not augur well for the city’s image if every backlane becomes a rubbish dump,” said Fong.

Mimms Fashion Sdn Bhd managing director Alex Hiew also voiced out another perennial problem - traffic jams when coming in and out of this area.

“The congestion has been here for the last 10 years. As this area grew and with more than 300 over shops now, motorists are finding it difficult to park.

“If this problem is not looked into soon, then we are afraid motorists may not want to come and this will affect our business,” said Hiew.

Fong said there are only some 300-plus parking bays to cater to the 300-odd shops now.

出門遛狗一去不回‧少女疑隨緬籍男友出走

（吉隆坡）18歲少女疑跟隨緬甸籍男性友人離家出走後，連續兩週都不和家人聯絡，讓家人焦急不已。

這名失蹤少女楊淑慧來自舊巴生路，她是在1月14日下午以出門遛狗的藉口離開住家後，就和家人斷絕音訊。楊淑慧失蹤前於父親楊安輝在舊巴生路的茶室幫忙，以減輕工作負擔。

楊安輝表示，他在事發當天查閱女兒手機，發現緬甸男子傳給女兒的短訊後，以較嚴厲的語氣要女兒小心交友，沒想到女兒卻在當天下午離家出走，讓他對此感到難過。

女兒失蹤當天到警局報案

楊安輝在女兒失蹤當天到警局報案後，也曾四處尋找女兒，最後在遍尋不果下向士布爹國會議員郭素沁投訴，並在武吉免登區國會議員方貴倫協助下召開新聞發佈會，希望透過媒體的力量尋回女兒。

楊安輝披露，失蹤的楊淑慧在六個孩子中排行第二，個性乖巧和文靜，並在體諒他和太太離婚後要照顧孩子的辛苦，中學畢業後就主動到茶室幫忙。不過他對女兒如何結識緬甸男子感到費解。
“我在1月14日當天看到對方傳短訊問女兒“起床了嗎？吃了早餐嗎？”時，我就感到奇怪，向女兒查詢後才知道他是緬甸人。”

女兒每天和這名男子通話

當楊安輝針對女兒失蹤前往警局報案時，警方向他出示女兒的電話通訊紀錄時，他發現女兒平均每天都會和這名男子通話和互傳短訊。

由於女兒失蹤時僅帶有簡單衣物和沒有貴重物品及護照，加上有消息說女兒目前身在蒲種，因此他希望透過公眾的協助可以早日找到女兒。

“我很後悔當天罵了她，希望她可以早點回家，和我們一家人團聚。”

陳錦豹向緬甸人探聽男子下落

舊巴生路維誠及丹巴必烈（東區）睦鄰中心主席陳錦豹表示，他在獲悉楊淑慧失蹤後，曾向在舊巴生路巴剎工作的緬甸人探聽帶楊淑慧離家的男子的背景，得到的消息是這名男子雖為緬甸華僑，但卻說得一口流利中文，緬甸話則不太流利。

當陳錦豹要進一步知道這名男子的下落時，他們卻拒絕出賣同鄉，直到陳錦豹嘗試以金錢打動他們時，他們才有點動心，惟在之後卻失去蹤影。

上週，陳錦豹再向另外一名緬甸人打探這名男子的下落，對方披露這名男子和楊淑慧目前人在蒲種。他也給了陳錦豹一個聯絡電話，但遲至週三（1月27日）仍無法撥通有關電話。

方貴倫：盼透過媒體找回淑慧

方貴倫表示，最近常常發生少女離家出走事件。他在兩週前曾在同一地點召開尋人發佈會，短短一週後就接到公眾投報而找到失蹤者，讓他感到欣慰。

“我希望這次也能透過媒體力量早日找到楊淑慧，讓楊安輝一家人早日團圓，和諧生活。”

他說，雖然楊淑慧目前已18歲，但父母還是會關心女兒。他也促請公眾人士給予協助，一旦發現楊淑慧的蹤影，可以直接聯絡郭素沁服務中心03-79836768或他的服務中心03-21412762。

星洲日報／大都會‧2010.01.27

何清園2月起實行‧商家須自購垃圾桶

(吉隆坡）吉隆坡市政局規定何清園商家必須從2月開始自行購買垃圾桶，否則將接獲當局發出的傳票。

大馬時裝批發進出口商公會會長拿督洪細弟指出，或許有小部份商家會對他們必須購買花費垃圾桶感到不滿，但大部份商家都樂意購買垃圾，所以公會必須以他們的意願為依歸，以便為何清園打造更乾淨與清潔的環境。

他指出，當地商家可以選擇向阿南弗拉購買每個售價185令吉（240公升）的垃圾桶，或另行購買垃圾桶。

同時，他說，公會將在3個月後檢討垃圾問題，並且將在華人農曆新年之後，偕同阿南弗拉與市政局，擇定在週六在何清園展開大掃除運動。

他希望市政局能考慮在商店樓下的後巷安置一個小型的垃圾桶，以方便樓上住家單位的居民丟棄垃圾。

“樓上的住戶可能不會買垃圾桶，所以為了避免他們可能將垃圾丟進商家購買的垃圾桶，希望市政局在每個後巷設置固定的垃圾桶，讓住戶可以傾倒垃圾。”

他也促請居民和商家切勿將本身的垃圾傾倒在其他人的店屋前。

此外，他說，市政局、阿南弗拉與該公會已在對話會後達致共識，即阿南弗拉將在每天凌晨4時30分至7時30分之間，前往何清園收集垃圾。

商家建議置電眼揪垃圾蟲

詢及有商家在對話會上建議市政局在何清園裝置閉路電視，以揪出垃圾蟲事宜，洪細弟指出，倘若市政局有撥款裝置閉路電視，公會自然歡迎，因為有助於打擊犯罪活動和揪出亂丟垃圾者。

他說，倘若市政局缺乏撥款的話，公會將向當地商家募捐，以籌足經費來裝置閉路電視。

與此同時，行動黨武吉免登國會議員方貴倫建議市政局在今年將吉隆坡打造成一個清潔和衛生的旅遊城市，並找出數個最骯髒的地方，並提供一些“教育”，以免吉隆坡的形象受損。

“我看到其他國家在處理垃圾的越來越好，大馬卻越來越差。”

他說，中國廣州在10年前的垃圾處理問題不盡理想，然而10年後的今日卻是已有大幅度的改善，因為該城市的政府有展開一些環境清潔醒覺運動，藉以教育市民愛護城市。

他指出，何清園是很多國內外時裝批發商家都會前往採購貨品的地方，可是在兩週前卻有商家投訴他們受到垃圾問題的困擾。

“商家有要求市政局每天兩次前往此商業區收集垃圾，但市政局每天只收集一次垃圾，如果是兩次的話，市政局就需要多付費。”

盼商家居民將垃圾分類

他希望商家和居民能將垃圾分類，因為諸如紙箱可以再循環使用，假如人們能成功將垃圾分類，就可減少20至30%的垃圾量。

另一方面，吉隆坡中馬洋貨布匹服裝出入口商會副會長廖進樑也希望商家和居民能配合市政局保持環境的清潔與衛生，否則問題無法對症下藥解決。

星洲日報／大都會‧2010.01.26

Ban use of plastic bags in KL

THE Penang and Selangor governments’ move for ‘No Plastic Bag Day’ has prompted 10 Kuala Lumpur MPs to petition for the city to follow suit.

They are pushing for the initiative following the successful campaign in Penang since last July, while some retailers in Selangor had started the campaign last Saturday.

The 10 MPs who signed the petition were Kepong MP Dr Tan Seng Giaw, Cheras MP Tan Kok Wai, Bukit Bintang MP Fong Kui Lun, Seputeh MP Teresa Kok, Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng, Titiwangsa MP Dr Lo’lo’ Mohamad Ghazali, Bandar Tun Razak MP Tan Sri Abd Khalid Ibrahim, Batu MP Tian Chua, Wangsa Maju MP Wee Choo Keong, and Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar.

Representing them were Lim, Nurul Izzah, and Tian Chua who were present at the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) building in Jalan Raja Laut to hand over the petition to the mayor.

Nurul Izzah said in October last year, the Water, Green Technology and Power Minister Datuk Peter Chin Fa Kui had announced that a national campaign to ban the use of plastic bags would be carried out as one of the ways to conserve the environment and promote green technology.
“However, up until today, it has still not been implemented.

“As Selangor has moved towards that stage recently, we wish to follow in their footsteps which is why we hope the DBKL could take the lead with this initiative,” she said.

“Kuala Lumpur actually produces a lot of waste. In fact, I’ve done some research and learnt that only 5% of solid waste in Malaysia is being recycled,” said Tian Chua.

“Compare this with Singapore where 30% of its solid waste is being recycled. It shows that our country is still far behind in this recycling aspect,” he said.

“By default, Kuala Lumpur as a Federal Territory should take the lead to spearhead the ban of plastic bags in the city,” said Lim.

“Contrary to the worries of some in the retail industry, many urban shoppers nowadays prefer plastic bag alternatives because they care about the environment, and would likely shop at retailers who are doing their bit,” he said.

Nurul Izzah said in Selangor, the state government had invited the hypermarkets and supermarkets in implementing the campaign and said the DBKL, too, could do the same.
“Once it is implemented, the DBKL could impose charges on those still wanting to use plastic bags on Saturdays, like what retailers in Selangor are doing.

“Hopefully in future, we won’t have to impose charges on consumers once they are used to not having plastic bags,” she said.

“Some shocking facts about plastic bags that people should know - plastic bags are made of polyethylene which is a petroleum product; it takes about 1,000 years for polyethylene to break down; when polyethylene does break down, toxic substances leach into the soil and enter the food chain which can choke animals to death as animals often mistake them for food. And plastic is the main culprit for drain clogs,” said Lim.

Meanwhile, it was reported that Penang has extended its once-a-week campaign to three times a week, and announced that from this year on, it would not renew the licence of businesses that did not support the state’s plastic bag reduction policy.

In the report, it is said that data provided by 45 hypermarkets and supermarkets showed that plastic bag consumption has dropped by more than a million since the campaign started.

A scheme too good to be true

IT was an investment plan that looked too attractive to pass up. After all, the plan had the backing of a company that had been in the market for more than 30 years.

Events organiser *Casey was first introduced to the plan in April 2008, when interested members like him were asked to open their master accounts.

Casey was one of the pioneer members of the scheme and thought it would be a good opportunity to earn some extra cash.

The scheme was offered to the public at between RM3,000 and RM30,000.

However, a year and three months down the road, that “investment” turned out to be his biggest mistake when the company failed to pay his returns or commissions and even froze the accounts so that no withdrawals could be made.

“The company told us that our bank accounts were frozen by a bank as it was conducting investigations on credit card fraud.

Boarded up: The shutters at the outlet in Bukit Bintang have been pulled down.

“We later found out that was a lie. The company initially put the blame on Maybank but later omitted the name of the bank,” Casey said.

The initial stage was designed with four plans that members could opt to buy — at a starting price of RM3,000 per lot — the Master Plan Classic (RM3,000), the Silver Plan Classic (three lots) at RM9,000, the Gold Plan Classic (five lots), and Platinum Plan Classic (10 lots).

Members also had to fork out an additional RM100 for an administration fee.
“When the response picked up, the company increased the price per lot to RM4,000,” Casey said.

For their investment, members received a membership prepaid card that entitled them to dine at the chain of air-conditioned mamak outlets.

The prepaid card was first valued at RM1 for one point and members could redeem meals using their points, but in December, it was turned into a discount card.

Another member *Daniel said that sometime in July or August last year, members began to stop receiving their monthly returns.

“We knew of a grandmother who had invested her savings of RM80,000 in the scheme but got nothing in return,” Daniel said.

In October, the company introduced another type of plan — called the EZ Plan — where the starting fee was just RM300, followed by RM900, RM1,500 and the highest at RM3,000.

“It was a less expensive plan for members to join and returns were supposedly faster.
“But, by then, many of us were not interested and we only wanted our earlier returns and investments back,” Daniel said.

Several members investigated the company and discovered that it did not have a licence under the Direct Sales Act 1993. However, the company denied that it practised multi-level marketing.
“They said they were a membership-based company but the form still required members to name their sponsors and find more members,” a disgruntled investor said.

*Janice said the company continued to rope in new members throughout the period and promised returns for all.

“Recently, they claimed to be under the Easy Pha-max banner, but the latter denied that such a deal had been made,” she said.

A call to the parent company revealed that Steven’s Corner was no longer affiliated with STG Resources Sdn Bhd, which had come up with the scheme, and that STG was under a different management.

Initially, STG’s brochures had stressed that Steven’s Tea Garden was a new concept restaurant under the Steven’s Corner group.

When contacted, an operator at STG Resources headquarters in Setapak claimed that it had teamed up with another big corporation and would be coming up with a new plan.

However, a spokesman for the corporation denied that any deal had been struck with STG Resources Sdn Bhd.

Meanwhile, Steven’s Tea Garden outlets in Sunway Pyramid, MidValley Mega Mall, Jalan Bukit Bintang and Ampang have been closed down and as many as 50 former members have sought the help of Bukit Bintang MP Fong Kui Lun.

Fong said he had arranged for the victims to meet Domestic Trade, Co-operatives and Consumerism Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob to highlight their plight.

“I’ve also forwarded the case to two other ministries — the Finance ministry and the Home ministry.

“This is a clear-cut case as the company is using a MLM plan without a licence and is still soliciting money from the public,” Fong said, adding that they would meet the minister again soon.

Meanwhile, 12 victims, who had collectively lost about RM1mil, have formed a pro tem committee to help others out.

The committee said they knew there were risks investing in any business but they claimed that STG had not been truthful or transparent.

“The company is misleading people and collecting money from the public without a licence.
“The government has to take serious action in this case and about 1,000 police reports have already been lodged against the company,” they said.

The group is also seeking legal advice but admit that the chances of recovering their money was slim.

Steven’s Corner CEO Gunalan Sinnapan, meanwhile, said the Steven’s Tea Garden trademark was registered to him and he had pulled the name back following the scandal that had smeared his image.

“Previously, the directors approached me as they wanted to use our name to come up with the MLM concept prepaid food card.

“We were only asked to manage the outlets and supply the food while they carried out the marketing plan.

“However, we also did not receive any payments for six months before they told us they would change the concept as their application for a licence had been rejected.

“Our Steven’s Tea Garden outlets were actually doing well until the MLM plan collapsed entirely,” Gunalan said, claiming that STG Resources had already signed up some 30 merchants that allowed existing Steven’s Tea Garden members to redeem their food points.

When contacted, STG Resources CEO Mick Yap said the case was being handled by MCA Public Services and Complaints Department head Datuk Michael Chong and declined to comment.
He only said that solutions had been found but the plan was a business failure.

However, Chong said he would not interfere as it had already been exposed by the media.
“The company representatives had told me there was a rescue plan, and all parties agreed to keep it out of the media.

“However, because the investors also went to see Fong (Kui Lun), the issue attracted publicity and I want to leave it to the police to investigate,” Chong said.

“We had three meetings with them and STG Resources showed us its 2008 internal audit report, but my lawyers have demanded the 2009 accounts, which the company said it would furnish by March.

“The company told me it could have run away but did not as it was prepared to face the music if found guilty,” Chong said.

(* Names have been changed to protect identities.)

the star

塞車竟不收垃圾‧何清園批發城變垃圾城

（吉隆坡）阿南弗拉以交通阻塞為由，不來收垃圾，讓何清園時裝批發城變為垃圾城！

馬來西亞時裝進出口批發商公會會長拿督洪細弟指出，在過去一週內，原本每天早上9時許就會到何清園收取垃圾的阿南弗拉不見蹤影，導致商店後巷堆積垃圾，商家被迫聞臭度日。

他補充，當公會和其他業者致電阿南弗拉詢問沒有來收取垃圾的原因時，得到的回覆居然是此處交通阻塞，所以阿南弗拉員工不願到此處收取垃圾。

因此，洪細弟尋求武吉免登國會議員方貴倫的協助來解決問題時，也呼吁商家和公會互相配合，不要把垃圾丟棄在其他業者的門口外，也應該把垃圾打包好才丟，以免有礙市容。

洪細弟是週五（1月8日）聯同方貴倫視察此區垃圾情況時，發表談話。在場者有吉隆坡中馬洋貨布匹服裝出入口商會副會長廖進樑、馬來西亞時裝批發商公會副會長黃錫琦、馬來西亞時裝進出口批發商公會秘書長陳炳森、執行秘書陳志評和外交主任邱錦生等。

年關近塞車更嚴重

洪細弟表示，何清園時裝批發城提供本地商家和外國商家採購服裝的便利，交通阻塞也是司空見慣的問題，惟隨著年關將近，所以塞車情況也更為嚴重。可是若阿南弗拉以交通阻塞為由而不到來收取垃圾，相信會影響何清園商家的運作。

“由於垃圾堆積和發出陣陣臭味，也吸引了老鼠在此處出沒，這些老鼠的體型都不小，常常在傍晚時分橫行何清園，嚇壞路人。”

可要求商家自備垃圾桶

他說，由於何清園商家一向沒有自備垃圾桶的習慣，因此他希望吉隆坡市政局可以發信要求商家自備垃圾桶，讓業者把有關垃圾桶置放在後巷，方便阿南弗拉收取垃圾。

他也要求阿南弗拉在何清園範圍內每條道路置放一個垃圾槽，讓商家集中丟棄垃圾的地方和避免垃圾堆積的問題。

方貴倫在瞭解何清園垃圾問題後，他不認同阿南弗拉以交通阻塞為由而不到何清園收取垃圾，但為了有效解決垃圾問題，他除了要求阿南弗拉重新調整收取何清園垃圾的時間外，也會在下週安排對話，以儘快解決問題。

安排對話解決問題

“阿南弗拉連續一週不來收取垃圾，已讓此區垃圾發出臭味，影響環境衛生，破壞何清園的形象。”

他說，由於市政局在2010年財政預算案中撥款2億3665萬進行城市化服務，既包括固體廢料管理，所以希望阿南弗拉在這方面可以提供有素質的服務，打造衛生城市。

星洲日報／大都會‧2010.01.08

網絡銀行服務不安全？‧用戶驚聞存款轉賬他人

（吉隆坡）治安不靖，出入銀行辦公不安全，所以許多人改用網絡銀行服務，然而，有的戶頭的存款可能就在你不知情下被轉入第三者的戶頭，存款不翼而飛！

剛在去年11月啟用網絡銀行服務的執行人員植愛媚，週三（1月6日）在武吉免登區國會議員方貴倫的協助下，召開新聞發佈會，向記者細述自己的遭遇。

植愛媚於去年12月2日使用本身的筆記型電腦登入網絡銀行服務，她在當天使用正確的用戶名及密碼進入網絡銀行服務，在成功登入後，網絡系統顯示她之前錯誤的登入記錄，所以在當天上午9時零7分網絡銀行服務向她發出交易授權密碼（Transaction Authorisation Code（TAC））。而此交易授權密碼是通過手機短訊方式所發出。

接獲短訊存款入第三者

她在過後就前往會議，在參與會議進行中時，她再次接獲由銀行發出的短訊表示由她的戶頭已成功將1900令吉的存款轉入第三者戶頭。

她對此感到驚訝，馬上致電銀行客戶服務熱線，對方向她表示此項交易在下午12時58分進行，這筆款項已轉入第三者的戶頭，指示她前往開設戶頭的銀行查詢詳情。

她向分行副經理細述詳情，對方表示她的個案必須交由銀行總部進行調查後才能給予回復，在2週後，她再次致電銀行，但對方仍未給予回復，要她再多等一週，就這樣一拖再拖至今年1月4日才向她提供調查報告。

令她感到疑惑的是，為何交易授權密碼能在她不知情下開設第三者戶頭，而這將讓第三者戶頭登入她的網絡銀行服務進行交易。

已掌握第三者戶頭資料

銀行方面向她表示，他們已經掌握第三者戶頭的資料，第三者也是同間銀行的用戶，銀行在與對方接洽後，對方並不願給予合作，導致銀行不能將屬於她的存款轉回她的戶頭。同時，銀行也已凍結第三者戶頭，因為第三者在存款轉入後，馬上已提取1000令吉。

士拉央市議員單敬英在協助植愛媚致電銀行查詢時，銀行職員向她表示，只有銀行高層才有權限查閱用戶的資料，因此她懷疑銀行職員可能涉及其中，而植愛媚以就自己的遭遇前往警局報案，希望警方能儘快破案，以取回屬於自己的錢。

方貴倫：將向國行反映盼詳細調查涉及銀行

針對此事，方貴倫表示，他將向國家銀行反映，希望國家銀行能向涉及的銀行做出詳細的調查，因為他在這半年來已經接獲4宗同樣的投訴個案，而受害者皆是馬來亞銀行的用戶。

另外，他也將在來臨的國會提呈議案，要求財政部長針對此事公佈目前國內共有多少受害者面對同樣的個案，而所涉及的款項又是多少。

他也促請銀行方面加強網絡銀行服務的保安系統，以保障使用者的權益。同時，民眾必須提高警惕，若接獲任何有關銀行發出的電郵，不必給予理睬，應該直接刪除。

因為銀行方面是不會通過電郵、手機短訊或致電客戶，套取客戶的個人資料、戶頭資料、及交易授權密碼。

銀行的調查報告‧植愛媚於12月2日成功使用正確的用戶名及密碼登入網絡銀行服務。‧在同日早上9時零7分，她通過網絡銀行服務提取交易授權密碼（Transaction Authorisation Code（TAC）），並通過手機短訊成功接收該密碼。‧在同日早上9時零9分，通過交易授權密碼開設第三者用戶。‧在下午12時58分，1900令吉的存款由她的戶頭轉入以交易授權密碼開設的第三者戶頭。

星洲日報／大都會‧‧2010.01.06

餐館預付卡投資生變‧涉款4000萬‧萬五人討公道

（吉隆坡）一批參與一家以直銷方式售賣餐館預付卡公司投資計劃的民眾投訴，這間公司今年7月停止支付推銷費給投資者，並更改合約條件要求增加投資額。

據瞭解，全國受影響的投資者高達1萬5000人，涉及款項超過4000萬令吉。

這批投資者為了捍衛權益，成立受害者行動委員會，並向民主行動黨務吉免登區國會議員方貴倫求助，要求上述公司退換原本投資的款項。

受害者行動委員會主席周大偉在方貴倫陪同下召開新聞發佈會，吁請投資者停止投資及報警，委員會也將聯同其他投資者尋求法律途徑討回公道。

其他出席的投資者包括賴芝華、李梅花、陳麗萍、黃永盛等人。

公司更換使用條款

這家公司在去年推介餐館預付卡投資計劃，加入計劃的投資人先投資至少300令吉至3萬令吉，然後協助推銷預付卡和吸引會員加入，推薦會員加入又有介紹費，每個月也有固定的推銷費，比如投資3萬3000令吉者，每月可獲得1500令吉。

投訴者發現可以使用預付卡的餐館相繼倒閉，這間公司也更換使用條款，從原本可以使用預付卡全額付賬，變成只能用卡付20%的帳單，用現金付另外80%。

他們也發現從今年7月開始，公司沒有繳付推銷費，與公司交涉之後，負責人表示由於假卡橫行，所以銀行已經凍結帳戶，請投資者等待，同時邀請他們投資另外一項新計劃。

周大偉：受害者深受影

周大偉說，這間公司從今年7月開始停止支付推銷費，可以使用預付卡的指定餐館也倒閉，這間公司又推出新卡，使用條款也變成20%，。

“我們已經投入許多資金，有者更是向銀行貸款投資，如今沒有獲得固定推銷費，預付卡使用方式改變，投資者不僅受到銀行追討貸款，也頻頻受到本身推薦加入投資的下線詢問。”

他吁請關丹、怡保和檳城等多個地區的投資者報警處理，或通過面子書的“2009 EAT& EARN”群組，加入他們的行列。

投資者：沒收到推銷費還須付貸款

一名投資者邱金英（會計師，35歲）指出，她向銀行貸款4萬4000令吉投資這項計劃，今年7月無法收到推銷費，還需要償還銀行2500令吉貸款。

她說，公司以戶頭被凍結為由，原本給這間公司3個月時間處理，結果還是沒有下文。如果這間公司面對問題，應該與投資者討論而不是拖延時間及請投資者加碼投資。

“如今我只好與銀行商量，延長償還貸款期限，避免每個月負擔沉重的貸款額。”

方貴倫：數部門將調查

方貴倫指出，他已經帶領行動委員會成員會見國內貿易、合作社及消費部長拿督斯里依斯邁沙比利，部長指示貿消部總監莫哈末羅斯蘭調查，而內政部和財政部官員也將調查這件事。

他說，這家公司沒有直銷業的執照，所以根據1993年直銷法令第4（2）條文，沒有執照經營直銷的公司將面對不超過25萬令吉罰款，再犯則是不超過50萬令吉罰款。

否認直銷方式經營公司喊冤：非騙局

餐館預付卡公司董事葉先生否認這間公司以直銷方式經營，而是採用會員制推銷預付卡。

他接受《星洲日報》電訪時說，主要是一些領袖級的會員在傳達訊息給其他會員的時候有所簡化，導致一些誤會產生。

他強調，公司有心解決問題，所以覺得沒有必要特別澄清，最終還是會以解決問題為主要目標。
“目前已經與科技公司合作及繼續發展公司，大多數會員都配合和贊同公司的做法，公司需要時間解決問題和繼續運作，否則也很難向其他會員交代。”

他也說，每個月發出的推銷費是“廣告費”的一種，根據公司盈利分發，所以設法提昇公司盈利才能分發廣告費。

他也說，這種營運方式並非騙局，也不鼓勵會員向銀行借貸。這一批會員也曾經向馬華公共服務及投訴部主任拿督張天賜要求協調，但是最後他們不願配合而不了了之。

星洲日報‧2009.12.20

匪徒勒頸搶劫‧青年輕快鐵站附近被夾攻

（吉隆坡）一名青年在上班途中，遭兩名匪徒前後夾攻搶劫，並導致他身上11處被螺桿致傷及險些遭勒斃。

受害者為20歲的陳偉恒，他於11月28日下午1時，在蘇丹依斯邁輕快鐵站附近遭搶劫，事發時他被匪徒緊勒頸部，事發後曾一度感到呼吸困難。

為此，其母親宋蘭芬週六（12月12日）早上向行動黨武吉免登國會議員方貴倫投訴，並講述事發經過，以促請公眾提高警惕。

駕駛者按車笛嚇跑匪徒

宋蘭芬表示，事發時兒子正於行人道步行，當他經過一棵樹木時，兩名匪徒突然從樹後出現，其中一人從身後緊勒其頸部，令他動彈不得。

她披露，幸好當時一名駕駛者路過現場，並按車笛嚇跑匪徒，事發後兒子搖搖晃晃回家，並出現呼吸困難現象。

她指出，該匪徒還以螺桿致傷其兒子，導致兒子身上出現11處傷口，包括眼睛、手臂、喉嚨及腰部等，需休養一週後才痊愈。

“這是我的兒子第二次遇劫，先前也有許多乘搭輕快鐵的乘客在步至行人道時受害。”

方貴倫：應在治安黑區派警巡視

方貴倫表示，警方已將攫奪案列為嚴重罪案，因此警方應在治安黑區增派警員，加強巡視打擊罪犯。

他指出，警方調查組只有6000多名警員，而政治部卻有9000多名警員，警方應重新調配警員，以解決警力不足問題。

他建議市政局在輕快鐵或電動火車站設置閉路電視，以阻嚇匪徒，而執法組官員也應配合警方，在旅遊區加強巡邏，以彌補警力不足。

“據居民表示，蘇丹依斯邁輕快鐵站的行人道無燈照明，我將向管理層反映此問題。”

星洲日報／大都會‧2009.12.12

1,191 Internet banking fraud cases detected in M'sia Jan-June

KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 1,191 cheating cases involving RM1 million fraudulently transferred via Internet Banking were detected between January and June, the Dewan Rakyat was told on Wednesday.
Deputy Minister of Finance Datuk Chor Chee Heung, however, said the cases were still small when compared to overall Internet Banking transactions done in the same period.
A total of 50.3 million transactions involving RM348.5 billion were conducted in the first six months but the losses incurred was only around RM1 million, accounting for only a negligible 0.0003 per cent, he said when replying to Fong Kui Lun (DAP-Bukit Bintang) during question time.
Fong wanted to know the number of Internet Banking fraud cases detected and total losses suffered by bank account holders.
To ensure safe use of electronic banking, Chor said Bank Negara had issued specifc must-comply guidelines on security control measures to all financial institutions providing Internet Banking and Automated Teller Machine services.
The Central Bank had also ordered banks and finance companies to implement the two-factor authentication for high-risk Internet Banking transactions.
Chor said banks must ensure their infrastructure system was equipped with security control device to detect and register any dubious banking transactions.
Banks should immediately report to Bank Negara on any form of fraudulent cash withdrawals besides conducting educational and awareness programmes on electronic banking safety measures for account holders. - Bernama

耗資140萬嵌入式更安全‧茨廠街涼棚再換新裝

（吉隆坡）茨廠街涼棚再次換上新裝！

行動黨武吉免登國會議員方貴倫指出，市政局委任的承包商已在11月22日，完成茨廠街涼棚的美化工作。

他週三（12月2日）在新聞發佈會上披露，承包商在接近2個月的施工期間，分3個階段為茨廠街換上玻璃纖維的涼棚。

“此次安裝的玻璃纖維將以嵌入的方式安裝，更有安全性。以前曾發生過約5次的掉落事件，所幸沒有傷到民眾。我們希望隨著更換後，類似事件不會重演。”

他說，耗資約140萬令吉建設的涼棚全長約300公尺。茨廠街有773個小販檔口。早前因工程而分階段受影響的小販，如今也全數恢復營業。

排水系統應提昇

另外，方貴倫表示，除了涼棚以外，市政局應關注茨廠街的其它問題，並設法解決和提昇。其中就包括提昇茨廠街一帶的排水系統。

“尤其在思士街，此處的排水系統已無法負荷，下雨時此路段即會積水甚至水淹半呎高。此路段也是其中一個要道，因此市政局有必要作出提昇，以免影響小販及遊客。”

應每天清洗地面

方貴倫在會上建議阿南弗拉應每天前往清洗茨廠街的地面，而非每個月才前去清洗數次。

他舉例，在中國的步行街，負責單位每天都派員前往清洗，以確保遊客及小販在一個衛生的環境下旅遊或營業。

他說，尤其目前許多國家旅遊業正面對衝擊之時，前來國內旅遊的遊客人數則有上升的趨勢。為此旅遊部應把茨廠街列入旅遊嘉年華的其中一個景點，同時也吁請小販們配合，包括有禮對待遊客。

外勞小販絕跡茨廠街

在市政局嚴禁外勞看檔後，小販們也很配合，目前外勞小販幾乎已絕跡茨廠街。

方貴倫再次吁請在茨廠街前半段營業的小販，遵守從傍晚6時才能開始營業的條規。

他說，近來收到商家的投訴，指在此路段中間道營業的約150個小販，近來在下午3時許就開始營業。對他們造成極大不便。

“這導致車輛及卸貨羅里都無法順利通車。因此我們希望小販們可以遵守，否則將面對被取締的風險。”

另一方面，吉隆坡小販商業公會副主席拿督洪細弟也說，感謝小販們在工程期間所給予的配合。

洪細弟：茨廠街應進行油漆

不過他表示，市政局除了更換涼棚以外，也應該一並展開茨廠街的美化工作包括油漆和清洗街道等。

他透露，根據瞭解，承包商在一個半月前已致函市政局要求撥款為茨廠街進行油漆，但至今沒有下文。

“市政局是在首相拿督斯里納吉在今年4月4日蒞臨茨廠街後，才答應有關提昇工作。但是如今卻只是進行了一項。難不成市政局要等到首相下次再光臨時才行動？”

洪細弟也透露，配合旅遊部主辦的美食節，公會也將在12月18日在思士街推出一些具茨廠街特色的美食，讓遊客和公眾一起參與其盛。

星洲日報／大都會‧2009.12.02

打造阿羅街美食天堂‧處理選區內小販問題

方貴倫誓言將阿羅街打造成美食天堂。

他指出，武吉免登是國內數一數二的旅遊區，因此小販問題非常值得關注並解決，以進一步提昇旅遊區美食的形象。

他說，武吉免登選區目前已達至零度木屋，因此接下來他將著重處理其選區內小販所面對的問題。

將提出人民廣場問題

另外，方貴倫表示，在來臨與吉隆坡市長拿度阿末弗亞的見面會上，他將提出10道有關其選區內的問題。其中包括擾嚷已久的人民廣場問題。

他指出，人民廣場計划擱置已久，早前有指此項發展計劃將重新招標，但據聞卻因為一些法律上的細無法進行。

“試想想，市長已換了這麼多任，聯邦直轄區部長也更換了3個。但是有關問題卻一直懸而未決，對賣主造成很大的困擾。”

他說，這是市政局與發展商的聯營計划，因此市政局應確保這個問題獲得解決。

星洲日報／大都會‧2009.12.02

New builder on the scene

THE long-abandoned project opposite Club De Vegas and Parkroyal Kuala Lumpur along Jalan Imbi may be given a new lease of life soon.
Kuala Lumpur mayor Datuk Ahmad Fuad Ismail said a new developer has come on board and submitted plans for the project but has been asked by the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) to revise the plan.
Driving down along Jalan Imbi, it is hard to miss this neglected concrete structure that has become an eyesore over the last decade.
The structure has some partially completed floors and the site has been hoarded up.
“We have asked the new developer to amend and improve on the design so that it blends with the surroundings,” said Ahmad Fuad.
This development has already changed hands twice and is now in the hands of the third developer.
Based on records from the DBKL, the first planning approval issued by City Hall was for mixed commercial development known as CN Gallery, comprising three building blocks — one block of 27-storey hotel (352 rooms), two 12- and 20-storey office blocks, five floors of shopping podium and four basement car park floors.
It was to be built on Lots 230-232, 625-631 and 647-649 in Section 67, Jalan Imbi by the first developer Tetuan Metro Jelita Sdn Bhd.

According to the DBKL’s records, construction works stopped in 1998. The said developer went into liquidation and receivership by bankers.
Then in 2004, another developer called Urban Shift Sdn Bhd wanted to revive the project and changed the name to Nas Pavillion. According to the signboard that still stands outside the hoarded site, there are four building blocks for this project — Block A comprises a 29-storey service apartment, Block B a 31-storey service apartment, Block C a 22-storey service apartment, five floors of shopping podium and six basement floors.
However, this too failed to take off and the developer went into liquidation.
Ahmad Fuad said although the property had service apartments, it was classified as commercial premises at that time and hence not covered under the Housing Development (Control & Licensing) Act 1966 (Act 118).
“The DBKL has no power to prosecute developers of abandoned projects and the most we can do is issue compounds to the owner for breeding mosquitoes in stagnant water and sheltering drug addicts, if there are complaints.”
However, issuing compounds is pointless now that the two developers have gone into receivership. It is learnt that a court ruling in 2008 decided on scheme of settlement to be paid to the two batch of purchasers who were affected. The first batch was given 25 sen of every RM1 paid as deposit while the second batch only received10 sen per RM1 on an ex-gratia basis.
It is learnt that 400 buyers for the original project and 200 for the second were affected.
In earlier reports, buyers of the two abandoned projects had reportedly formed an action committee to get back their deposits after a meeting held with Bukit Bintang MP Fong Kui Lun.
The National Housebuyers Association (HBA) honorary secretary-general Chang Kim Loong said since April 12, 2007, the Housing Development (Control & Licensing) Act 1966 has been amended to cover all housing accommodation that includes service apartments, although they are on commercial lands.
“As the two previous developers went into liquidation before the Act could be amended, therefore the Act could not apply then.
“But effective April 12, 2007, all housing developments have come under the Housing and Local Government Ministry for developers’ licence and sales and advertisements permit.
“So once the new layout plan is approved by the DBKL, it will be considered a new development that falls under the purview of the ministry,” said Chang.
He added that all developers were also required to submit the Form 7 (f) of the Act every quarterly starting Jan 1, 2010, instead of the previous bi-annual practice.
This is a comprehensive set for developers to update the progress status of their projects.
Ahmad Fuad said the DBKL had received the new plan to modify the original planning approval from new developer Tetuan Carribean Gateway Sdn Bhd.
The new application is also for mixed commercial development comprising five blocks - one 25-storey block of service apartments, one 29-storey block of service apartments with one level of facilities and swimming pool, one 23-storey office block, two 22-storey blocks of ‘condotel’ with one floor of facility and swimming pool, five-storey shopping podium and four basement floors.
“This application has been considered by the DBKL One-Stop Centre committee on March 12 and April 9 this year and it was decided that the proposed plans have to be further amended to adhere to technical needs as we are the approving authority for the design and layout plan.
“Up until now, the applicant has yet to present the revised plan as ordered,” said Ahmad Fuad.

-the star-

小販斥執法員行為粗暴‧阿羅街取締嚇跑遊客

（吉隆坡）十幾名吉隆坡市政局執法人員輪流大陣仗取締阿羅街無牌小販，粗暴的行為把正在享用美食的遊客嚇得聲失尖叫並四處竄逃，以為是恐怖份子襲擊。

阿羅街小販投訴，執法人員是於上週四晚上大約八九時，分好幾批人在不同時段取締他們。他們不滿有關當局的行為嚇壞了遊客，影響了他們的生意，遂於週日（11月8日）向武吉免登國會議員方貴倫投訴。

舉動破壞大馬形象

方貴倫說，吉隆坡市中心，尤其是武吉免登區，是遊客必到的主要景點之一，更何況有美食街之稱的阿羅街，更是遊客的必經之地，執法人員當晚的舉動無疑已破壞了大馬的形象。

他指出，執法人員向七八攤小販開出罰單，並充公兩個小販的桌椅，理由是他們的桌椅霸佔了人行道。

“由於首相曾經呼吁當局關注及照顧小販中心，因此我們早與市政局副總監商討合法化當地小販，以讓小販安心營業，同時也計劃美化阿羅街，以便促進當地的旅遊業。”

頻開罰單打擊生意

然而，方貴倫指出，在這一切計劃尚未落實之前，市政局執法組卻多次前往阿羅街取締小販，且在沒有足夠的理由下頻頻向小販開出罰單，嚴重打擊當地小販的生意。

“阿羅街小販多年以來申請營業執照，惟一直都不獲批准，如今當局還以小販沒有執照為由開罰單，這對小販很不公平。”

他說，他將在來臨的國會會議上要求有關負責人給予合理的解釋，並希望這是當局最後一次的掃蕩行動。

另一方面，方貴倫提到，他已和警方及吉隆坡市政局商討，以便在阿羅街建警亭，以確保當地市民及遊客的安全。

沙威：一小時內3次上門取締

美食中心小販沙威指出，當晚市政局執法人員分成3隊，在短短一小時內3次輪流上門取締，並帶走小販的椅子及煮食用具，估計損失2萬令吉。

他說，在大約八九時，來了第一批執法人員，對方在搜查一番後就離開。隨後第二批人員到場，向他發出罰單，就在第二批執法人員離開之際，第3批執法人員又出現在檔口。

“當時，第二批執法人員已向第3批人表示已搜尋過這裡，但對方非但沒有理會，還把大約七八張椅子及廚房用具全部帶走。”

沙威披露，他在阿羅街營業18年，他與助手都擁有合法的營業執照，他擔心執法人員一晚取締3次的情景持續下去，將影響他日後的生意。

馬福兴（小販）：把小販當犯人呼喝

“當晚市政局執法人員的態度有如野蠻人，把我們當犯人般大聲呼喝，同時命令我們出示身份證，讓小販覺得受侮辱。

過去幾乎每個月都有執法人員前來掃蕩，雖然現在次數較少了，但有關執法人員的做法卻越來越過份。

當晚有30多個檔口開檔，只有我的桌子椅子被執法人員搬走，連沒有擺在行人道上的桌椅也無法倖免。

我在當地營業35年都不獲市政局批准執照，所以實在不明白其他小販是如何申請到合法執照。”

星洲日報／大都會‧2009.11.08

More than 30,000 workers retrenched after economic downturn began

KUALA LUMPUR: More than 30,000 workers were retrenched after the economic downturn began at the end of 2008.
Deputy Home Minister Jelaing Mersat told Parliament on Tuesday that the Labour Department had recorded 34,173 workers retrenched up to this month, including 8,805 foreign workers.
However, there was no record on the breakdown of where the foreign workers were from.
The Government had then frozen foreign workers intake in electrical/electronics subsectors, textile and all services subsectors except for cooks in restaurant, resort workers, cleaners, from Jan 28, he said.
He said in reply to questions from Tengku Razaleigh Hamsah (BN Gua Musang) and Fong Kui Lun (DAP Bukit Bintang).
Razaleigh had asked for the number of Indonesian, Bangladeshi, Filipina and Thai workers that had been retrenched during the economic crisis while Fong asked the Ministry about the sectors for foreign workers that were frozen and then reopened and the number whose permits had expired and sent back to their home countries.
Jelaing said that from the 549,242 foreign workers, as of the first quarter of this year, 214,425 had left for their home countries by midyear.
He also said that, as of July 27, the electrical/electronics and textile subsectors in the manufacturing sector had been opened again for foreign workers following improvement in the economy and demand for the products in the subsectors.
A technical committee had been set up to determine the qualifications, conditions and the need for foreign workers for each industry and companies that apply for foreign workers, he said.

-the star-

No harm in adding Tamil to DVD, says Devamany

THERE is nothing wrong in adding the Tamil language in the Malaysia Truly Asia promotional DVD, said Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk S.K. Devamany.
“No harm adding one more language,” he said, adding that 85% of Indians in Malaysia are of Tamil origin.
“They can also take the DVD out of Malaysia to promote tourism,” he told reporters at the Parliament lobby yesterday.
Devamany, who is MIC vice-president, said he would ask Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen to include the Tamil language in the DVD.
On Monday, Fong Kui Lun (DAP – Bukit Bintang) asked Dr Ng why Tamil was not used in a DVD to promote Malaysia as other languages – Russian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin and English were used, to which Dr Ng replied that most Indians in the middle income group speak English, unlike tourists from China.

-the star-

Parliament: No need for Tourism ads in Tamil

KUALA LUMPUR: Tamil was not used in a DVD for the “Malaysia Truly Asia” tourism campaign because most Indians in the middle income group speak English, said Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen.
She said the promotion was market-oriented and not focused on any particular nationality.
She said that when explaining the reason why the promotional DVD was not done in Tamil though it was available in English, Mandarin, Korean and Japanese.
Dr Ng said that in reply to a question from Fong Kui Lun (DAP-Bukit Bintang) who had questioned why no tourism promotional materials were produced in Tamil.
“Is the Government not placing any priority on the Indian market?” he asked Ng during question time.
Ng said to capture the Indian market, it was enough that English materials were used as most Indian nationals who have the capacity to travel could speak that language.
However, she said, the same could not be said for other countries, especially China where the majority of those in the middle income group did not speak English.
“I am not reaching out to everybody. I am focusing on those who have the financial capacity to travel. If I can get 1% of the people in China to visit Malaysia, that is already 10 million tourists. The same is also true for the Indian middle income group,” she said.
(The official national language of India is Hindi. -- ED).
Earlier, replying to Datuk Shamsul Anuar Nasarah (BN-Lenggong), Dr Ng said that despite the gloomy tourism outlook in the first six month of the year due to the Influenza A(H1N1) scare, tourist arrivals in Malaysia continued to register an increase.
“Despite figures from the World Tourism Organisation showing a 7% drop in tourist arrivals worldwide due to the Influenza A(H1N1) pandemic, tourist arrivals in Malaysia showed an increase of 6.4% compared with the same period last year,” she said.
However, she said, the tourists spent less in the country as the revenue from the industry showed a very marginal increase of 0.03%.
From January to June, Malaysia recorded a revenue of RM24.46bil from the tourism industry and RM24.47bil for the same period last year, she said.

-the star-

洪細弟冀隆市局撥款 重刷茨廠街老鐵柱

（吉隆坡23日訊）吉隆坡小商販公會副主席拿督洪細弟希望吉隆坡市政局再為茨廠街再度撥款，在陳舊鐵柱刷上新漆。

他說，市政局為美化茨廠街所撥款的100萬令吉，只限于更換玻璃纖維棚蓋工程，但豎立該街道的棚蓋柱子舊漆已嚴重脫落，希望市政局能夠盡快批准撥款，為柱子重新油漆。

他今日與武吉免登國會議員方貴倫到茨廠街巡視時指出，該更換玻璃纖維棚蓋美化工程為了不影響小販做生意，因此分為三個階段進行。

“第一階段工程是從本月5日至今天，共有18天，目前已順利完成；至于第二階段工程今日開始動工，必須在11月9日完工；第三階段則是從11月10日至29日進行。”

分三階段進行

方貴倫指出，他對第一階段工程速度感到滿意，今日（23日）是其工程最后一天“衝刺”但已順利完工，之前受影響的約200個攤小販今日也開始營業；第二階段工程也已開始動工。

他說，茨廠街不能因為進行美化工程而關閉，因此為了減低小販生意受影響，該工程共為期約8週時間，並以三個階段進行。

“這樣對小販就不會造成太大的影響，讓消費者和遊客們都能在這段期間光顧茨廠街。”

他指出，首階段工程進行期間時常下雨，工作人員也加快工作效率和速度，確保在首階段日期內完成更換棚蓋工程。

他說，為了加強安全性，茨廠街棚蓋新增的多枝鋁條，以便支撐玻璃纖維棚蓋，結構相當穩固。

東馬人被誤為外勞

方貴倫指出，隨著吉隆坡市政局執法人員時常在茨廠街巡視後，相信外勞小販不會再出現。

他是受詢及有關茨廠街外勞小販重現問題時，這么指出。

他說，一些來自東馬的小販在茨廠街擺攤，可能膚色黝黑看似非本地人，因此常被誤以為是外勞。

他指出，為減少茨廠街非法外勞小販出現，執法人員常在茨廠街巡視，如發現有非法外勞小販擺攤，將拍下照片作為證據。