8/14/2019 TheSun 2009-05-18 Page06 the Rich Who Ask for Govt Scholarships

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newswithoutborders6 theSun | MONDAY MAY 18 2009

 The rich who ask for

 govt scholarshipsBARISANNasional Beck-benchers Club president Datuk Seri Tiong KingSing has criticised therich and people in highpositions who obtainedgovernment scholarships for their childrenthrough guanxi (social relationships or con-nections).

He said these people were robbing deserv-ing students from poor families of the chanceto further their studies.

Tiong said the rich and powerful shouldnot be applying for government scholarshipsat all, let alone obtain them through connec-tions.

He said that in the past, the children of many of the who’s who of society and seniorgovernment officers had obtained PublicService Department scholarships throughconnections.

Tiong said he hoped the cabinet wouldaddress the problem to ensure that govern-ment scholarships were awarded to high-

achievers who did not have the financial meansto pursue a tertiary edu-cation.

The Bintulu MP toldNanyang Siang Pau  in

an interview that he had received complaintsfrom the public about the children of certainsenior government officers or well-to-do dig-nitaries being awarded government scholar-ships.

He said these children usually obtainedgovernment scholarships through their par-ents’ guanxi.

Tiong urged the cabinet to look into thematter to prevent a public outcry.

“The government should make it clearthat its scholarships are for students whoexcel but are poor.”

He said ministers who have themeans should pay for their children’seducation and leave scholarships topeople from the low and middle incomegroups.

PressDigestby Kong See Hohnewsdesk@thesundaily.com

PRESIDENTIAL-aspirant Tan YewSing’s team made a near cleansweep in the Kuala Lumpur andSelangor Chinese Assembly Hall’spreliminary elections on Saturday.

Tan, the incumbent deputy

president, and his allies won 38of the 39 seats on the board ofdirectors, the Chinese press rep-orted yesterday.

The other seat was won byTan’s opponent in the contest forpresident, Datuk Koo Yuen Kim– an incumbent vice-president.

The big win for Tan’s campmeans the top post in theKLSCAH – an umbrella organisa-tion over 400 Chinese community-based associations in the KlangValley – is in the bag for Tan.

The new directors will electtheir president and other com-mittee members on Wednesday.

Incumbent president DatukBong Hon Liong, who is barredby the KLSCAH constitution fromrunning for a third term, earlierurged members to support Tan.

Tan was non-committal whenasked if his team’s thumpingwin had increased his chancesof securing the Hua Zong (Fed-eration of Chinese Associationsof Malaysia) top post should he

decide to contest it in September,saying he would consult his teamon whether he should contest.

There were fireworks earlierwhen a member questioned theelection committee for holdingballoting before the meeting,contrary to previous practice.

Near clean sweep for Tan’s team

Lack of resources, apathyslow dog rescue effortsPETALING JAYA: Efforts to rescue the straydogs on Pulau Selat Kering and Pulau Tengahare slow due to lack of resources and theapathy of the local council, the Furry FriendsFarm (FFF) says.

Its legal adviser Shalinee Fernandez saidthe Klang Municipal Council (MPK) had notbeen forthcoming although it had agreed last

week to help the FFF catch the dogs.“I hope there will be a better response

from MPK soon. They should be more proac-tive,” she said.

At a meeting on May 11 attended by theSociety for the Prevention of Cruelty to Ani-mals (SPCA), the FFF and other animal welfaregroups as well as representatives of the stategovernment and MPK, three measures wereagreed upon to resolve the problem of theabandoned dogs on two uninhabited islandsoff Pulau Ketam.

According to Fernandez, the SPCA wouldbe in charge of feeding the dogs, the FFFwould work with MPK to trap and catch them,while the Department of Veterinary Serviceswould spay them.

She said the FFF rescue team neededtraps, cages and dog catchers which MPKhas and can provide.

At a fund-raising lunch organised by theFFF here yesterday, volunteer Sherrina K.said the mobile veterinary services that werepromised had yet to materialise.

“We need resources to help the aban-

doned dogs. We also need the authorities tohelp as they promised,” she said.

Proceeds from the sale of the book BenOComes Home by Vanaja Dhanan will be usedfor FFF’s rescue operations. For more infor-mation on the book, priced at RM10 each, callthe author at 03-2282 3866.

Meanwhile, an SPCA spokesperson saidefforts to feed the strays were ongoing, andthat the dogs caught had been receivingtreatment at veterinary clinics.

Pulau Ketam residents had trapped some200 to 300 dogs and transported them toPulau Tengah and Pulau Selat Kering to helpreduce the population of stray dogs on theirisland.

Google Maps MalaysiaWITH reference to “Zooming into locations with Google Maps” (May 15, Pg 7), it is clarified thatGoogle Maps Malaysia enables local users, businesses and developers to contribute, add and shareinformation about Malaysia free of charge on http://maps.google.com.my,and not as stated.

Guidelines on safetystandard for toysBERA: Regulations will beintroduced to ensure a safetystandard for toys used bychildren, Domestic Trade andConsumer Affairs MinisterDatuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakobsaid yesterday.

He said the formulation ofthe draft consumer protection(safety standard for toys) regula-tion 2009 was in the final stageand expected to be completedby the end of the year.

Ismail said the guidelines

would be implemented sixmonths after they are ap-proved.

“Such guidelines are im-portant since there are manytoys sold in the market thatcontain chemicals that posea danger to children,” he toldreporters after a dialogue withKampung Charuk Puting folkhere.

Ismail said that with theimplementation of theregulations, every productimported or produced loc-ally would go through aninspection process, similarto Sirim quality inspection, todetermine its level of safetybefore it is approved for sale.

“Action will be taken againstthose who sell toys withoutan approval label,” he said. –Bernama

Motorcyclist andpillion die in crashKUALA LUMPUR: A motor-cyclist and his pillion riderwere killed in an accidentat Km 0.1 Duta-Ulu KelangExpressway yesterday.

The accident occurred atabout 8am when Rody Ling-gang, 25, from Sarawak, lostcontrol of his motorcycle,causing it to skid and crashinto a road divider.

Kuala Lumpur TrafficInvestigation and Legal Staff Officer DSP Abdullah Roningsaid Rody and S. Siahmalah,21, died at the scene from se-rious head and body injuries.

Their bodies weretaken to the Kuala LumpurHospital for post mortem. –Bernama

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