KOTA KINABALU: Sabah supports the Government’s move to cut subsidies on certain items as the money saved can be used for the welfare of the people.

PUTRAJAYA: The sugar price increase may have been bitter for many people but the Health Ministry feels it has taken the right step to get Malaysians to watch their sugar intake.

PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia and China will jointly set up a centre of excellence to develop traditional Chinese medicine in the two countries and in Asean nations.

SETIU: Umno deputy president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has expressed disappointment over the absence of four assemblymen, who are also party stalwarts, from the division meeting here.

PARIS: More than 5,000 people have been taken into custody in a crackdown on illegal World Cup gambling in Asia, where police raided hundreds of betting dens, international police agency Interpol said.

PETALING JAYA: Madagascar must take back the animals that have been smuggled into Malaysia from that island, the Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) said.

 

Source: The Sun – July 16, 2010

 
WE HAVE been reading in newspapers recently that the government is in the process of making it easier for professionals to get permanent residence in Malaysia; even international students excelling in their studies will soon be able to get PR. 

But what about the foreign spouses of Malaysian citizens? We are in the country for decades on a Long-Term Social Visit Pass, and our visas state that any form of employment is strictly prohibited. We are not here for social purposes, but in the capacity of principal care-givers and providers for our Malaysian families.

Spouses of Malaysian citizens face a whole range of challenges with regard to the application and renewal of the “social visit pass” and application for permanent residency, leave alone citizenship. 

Apart from the frequent renewal of visas for non-citizen spouses for decades, we need to have our Malaysian spouses physically present even for renewals. This puts pressure on our families, especially if the sponsoring Malaysian spouse is ill or away on business.

Female spouses are required to furnish immigration with a letter from our spouses granting us per-mission to work! Then again, a spouse who is estranged from the Malaysian or whose spouse has passed on, cannot get an endorsement to work for want of this letter. What then becomes of their Malay-sian children who are dependent on them? Who will provide for them? 

At present spouses pay double the charges for healthcare in government hospitals, and unemployed spouses cannot open individual bank accounts. We pay tourist rates at tourist attractions, though we are resident in Malaysia; what more if we wish to study
further, we will pay international student rates! All this despite being a part of the Malaysian family.

Many foreign spouses were excited when they read in the media that the Home Ministry had expedited approvals. However, upon checking with immigration, we could not get a confirmation as to when a letter would be sent to us – alas more than six months later, our letter boxes remain empty.

In recent times, we have seen positive steps in certain areas, such as permitting Malaysian women overseas to register their children at the Malaysian high commission. However there is still scope for review in areas pertaining to hastening the process for permanent residency.

In the interest of many Malaysian families, it is expedient that guidelines, policy and procedure are clearly elucidated with regard to the permanent residency and citizenship of foreign spouses of Malaysian citizens, to provide a stable environment and prevent hardship to their families.

Source: The Sun – July 16, 2010

I REFER to the report on the Home Ministry offering RM1 million in cash rewards to police stations with the best record (July 15).

Without the cash rewards, does that mean police officers can take their sweet time to fight crime?

Aren’t they already receiving salary and allowances? This is sending a wrong signal!

Source: The Sun – July 16, 2010

 

Source: The Sun – July 16, 2010

DEMOCRACY means maximum participation of citizens in the election process. We have an issue in Malaysia as voter registration is not compulsory as in many countries. Even those who are registered do not caste their votes. Voter turnout is at an average of 60 to 70%.

A government elected by a majority of its citizens can only come about by making voting compulsory or prescribing a penalty for failure to register – which seems to be a remote possibility in Malaysia. So we can only fall back on education on the importance of voting.

The process of registering voters must be carried out aggresively. There should not be complaints that deliberate attempts are made not to distribute forms to the relevant parties. Abuses or attempts to cheat or duplicate can be detected with a sophisticated system in place. Any attempt to prevent people from registering by any means is against democracy.

A maximum number of voters during a general election means optimum democracy at work.

Source: The Sun – July 16, 2010