Abdullah Returns Home After Five-day Working Visit To Japan

OSAKA, May 25 - Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi left for home Friday after a five-day working visit to Japan to further strengthen bilateral relations.
Abdullah left for Kuala Lumpur boarding a special aircraft from Kansai International Airport, here.
He was sent off by Malaysian Ambassador to Japan Datuk Mohd Radzi Abdul Rahman.
Abdullah wrapped up his visit to Japan by meeting Malaysian students here.
During his visit, Abdullah among others held bilateral talks with his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe, delivered a keynote address at the 13th Nikkei International Conference and was awarded with an honorary doctorate from Meiji University.

Abdullah Wants Solar Energy Development Intensified

"This can be overcome by forging cooperation in research and development (R&D) with Japan, a country known for having numerous techniques to exploit solar energy,"Datuk Seri Abdullah Hj. Ahmad Badawi, Malaysia Prime Minister

OSAKA, May 25 - Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said that Malaysia should intensify efforts to develop alternative energy sources, especially solar power, by emulating Japan in this field.
Impressed by the widespread use of solar energy in Japan including for street lighting, the prime minister said that its usage should be widened as it could save money.
Abdullah said that efforts to harness solar power and other alternative energy sources in Malaysia should not be hampered by technological constraints.
"This can be overcome by forging cooperation in research and development (R&D) with Japan, a country known for having numerous techniques to exploit solar energy," he told a news conference at the end of his five-day visit to Japan.
He said that humans should know how to tap solar energy for their consumption by developing a sound technology so that many can benefit from it.
Asked whether costly equipment contributed to the low usage of solar energy in Malaysia, he said: "It's not as expensive as before. Some middle-class households are using solar power but not for the entire house."
On his meeting with his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe in Tokyo, Abdullah said the Japanese leader expressed concern over global warming which was threatening the world's population now.
He said that Japan was committed to resolve the problem, targetting to bring down the earth's temperature by 2050.
Abdullah further said that Japan was prepared to provide assistance and the technology to enable developing countries to deal with global warming.
"He (Abe) said Japan is ready to work with other countries so that together they can focus on global warming. I told him that as an industrial powerhouse, Japan would surely have the means to carry out its plans," he added.
Abdullah said Malaysia was also prepared to extend whatever cooperation needed to ensure the global warming menace could be jointly tackled by the international community.
Meanwhile, the prime minister said that he would discuss with Transport Minister Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy on the possibility of fixing undercarriage safety bar on lorries to prevent horrific accidents involving pedestrians and motorcylicts.
Noting that the use of such a device in Japan had caught his attention, he said it could prevent gory scenes of mutilated bodies when humans were dragged under heavy vehicles when accidents occurred.

Najib Disappointed Over Leakage At Jalan Duta Court Complex

"We are disappointed with these frequent leakages," Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, Malaysia Deputy Prime Minister

KUALA SELANGOR, May 25 - Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak today expressed his disappointment over the leakage at the new court complex in Jalan Duta recently.
"We are disappointed with these frequent leakages," he told reporters after visiting the Bukit Tagar sanitary landfill here today.
Najib was asked to comment on a burst pipe on Tuesday which caused flooding at the cafeteria of the brand-new RM270 million complex, touted as the world's second largest court complex.
He said the government would wait for a report on the incident from the Public Works Department before making any decision.
On another matter, he said he was not aware of any circular sent to the Umno divisions and branches to prepare for a general election.
He said, however, that issuing circulars was normal because preparation was a normal thing for the party.
"It does not mean that election is imminent. Election is not decided on the basis of circular, but decided by the prime minister's consideration in terms of the most appropriate time to have an election," he added.

US Congress approves Iraq war budget

"I believe that the President should begin a phased redeployment of our troops out of Iraq and abandon this escalation."Clinton

WASHINGTON - The US Congress approved a multi-billion dollar Iraq war budget Thursday, after bowing to US President George W. Bush's demands to rip out troop withdrawal timelines that prompted a previous veto.
After a day of anguished debate reflecting sharp divisions over the unpopular war, the House of Representatives voted 280-142 to fund the war through September, and the Senate concurred by 80 votes to 14.
The votes left many anti-war Democrats with a sour taste but acknowledging they lack the power to thwart Bush's war strategy, despite controlling Congress, and Republicans crowing they had beaten Democratic "surrender dates."
When Bush signs the bill, he will end, temporarily at least, a bitter constitutional tug-of-war between Congress and the White House.
Democrats nevertheless vowed to renew efforts to handcuff him over a war which has dragged on four years and killed 3,442 US troops and untold thousands of Iraqis.
"The days of blank checks and green lights for his failed policy are over," said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, who reluctantly backed the bill.
"Senate Democrats will never give in, never, never, never, never," Reid said, paraphrasing former wartime British prime minister Winston Churchill.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and several other top Democrats, were in the unusual position of voting against a deal they had spent days negotiating with the White House.
"This is like a fig leaf, this is a token, this is a small step forward, instead we should have a giant step forward into a new direction," she said.
Top Democratic presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama both voted no, reflecting anti-war fervor they face on the campaign trail.
"With my vote today, I am saying to the president that enough is enough," Obama said later in a written statement.
Clinton said in her own statement: "I believe that the President should begin a phased redeployment of our troops out of Iraq and abandon this escalation."Another Democratic presidential hope, Senator Joseph Biden grudgingly voted to pass the bill.
The White House expressed satisfaction at the passage of what it described as a roadmap for security Iraq.
"Congress is to be congratulated for successfully providing our troops with the funding and flexibility they need to protect our country, rather than mandating arbitrary timetables for military operations," said Alex Conant, a White House spokesman.
Several times, raw angst over the war erupted onto the floor of the House.
Republican leader John Boehner dissolved in tears, as he warned America needed to take the battle to Al-Qaeda in Iraq.
Democrat John Murtha, a heavyweight opponent of the war, could barely contain his fury as he shouted hoarsely across the chamber: "I feel a direction change in the air."
Thursday's votes came hours after Bush forecast a bloody and difficult few months in Iraq.
"We're going to expect heavy fighting in the weeks and months" to come, Bush told a White House news conference.
"We can expect more American and Iraqi casualties," he said.
At least 94 US soldiers have been killed in Iraq this month alone. Democrats had demanded troop withdrawal timetables for months, and included them in a 124 billion dollar budget vetoed by Bush earlier this month.
But they finally conceded to political logic, unwilling to be seen as unsupportive of troops stuck in battle, knowing that they lack the two-thirds majority needed to block a presidential veto.
"It is a political reality, it is not what we want to pass," said House Majority leader Steny Hoyer.
The compromise between Democrats and the White House contains the first congressionally-imposed political and security "benchmarks" the Iraqi government must meet or risk losing economic aid.
The 18 requirements include demands for a crackdown on militias, the need to train Iraqi troops, the launch of constitutional review processes, and ensuring fair distribution of Iraq's hydrocarbon riches.
The bill requires Bush to report to Congress on Iraq in July and September.
Bush earlier predicted a torrent of violence as the top US general in Iraq, David Petraeus, prepares to report in September on progress of the surge.
He also said he would have no option but to order a withdrawal if it was demanded by the Iraqi government.

Abdullah Says Ringgit Performance In Line With State Of Economy

"Our ringgit is appreciating. The ringgit reflects our good economic situation," Datuk Seri Abdullah Haji Ahmad Badawi, Malaysia Prime Minister

OSAKA, May 25 - Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said today said the strengthening of the ringgit reflects the country's steady economic performance.
He is at the same time happy that the local currency is not volatile.
Abdullah told Malaysian students in Osaka that Malaysia's economy is doing well.
"Our ringgit is appreciating. The ringgit reflects our good economic situation," he said.
The ringgit had climbed to a nine-year high of 3.3860 to the US dollar last Tuesday. It closed lower against the US dollar today amid steady profit-taking following the recent sharp gains. At 5.00pm, the ringgit was traded at 3.3905/3925 to the greenback.

Opportunity For TM Subscribers To Be A Millionaire

"We want subscribers to write about their feelings and opinions on patriotism in the form of a slogan or in verse in conjunction with the Merdeka celebration," Datuk Abdul Wahid Omar TM Group chief executive officer

KUALA LUMPUR, May 25 - In conjunction with the country's 50th Merdeka (Independence anniversary) celebration, Telekom Malaysia Berhad (TM) is giving another chance for its subscribers to win a cash prize of RM1 million through a reward programme known as "Jutawan Merdeka TM".
TM Group chief executive officer Datuk Abdul Wahid Omar said subscribers would be asked to send their views on the Merdeka celebration either in the form of a slogan or poetry.
"We want subscribers to write about their feelings and opinions on patriotism in the form of a slogan or in verse in conjunction with the Merdeka celebration," he told reporters after the launch of the "Jutawan Merdeka TM" programme by Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil here today.
He said the programme was expected to attract participation from 900,000 subscribers, about a 30 per cent increase from the 600,000 who responded when a similar programme was carried out last year.
Besides the RM1 million, there will also be other prizes, including holiday packages, 3G handphones and a Proton Perdana car.
A TM subscriber from Pasir Puteh, Kelantan, Abul Razak Mat, became a millionaire when he was picked the winner in the programme carried out last year.

Malaysia Voted Top 5 Tourist Spot By Biggest Guangdong Daily

"I hope this will further boost the interest of more Chinese tourists to choose Malaysia as their favourite destination, given that 2007 is also Visit Malaysia Year," Suhaimi Shaharuddin, Tourism Malaysia director in Guangzhou

BEIJING, May 25 - Malaysia was voted as one of the five most popular outbound destinations for 2006 in a poll organised by Guangzhou Daily, the biggest newspaper in southern China with a daily circulation of 1.8 million.
Suhaimi Shaharuddin, Tourism Malaysia director in Guangzhou, received the award from the Chinese daily's group vice-president, Ling Jinkeng, last night at the Westin Hotel in Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong province.
The other four countries were Australia, Japan, South Korea and Singapore. The five winners were not ranked accordingly.
Readers were asked to name their favourite destinations out of 100 countries. The outcome was also decided by the visa numbers from the Chinese immigration and also a poll of selected travel agents.
"I hope this will further boost the interest of more Chinese tourists to choose Malaysia as their favourite destination, given that 2007 is also Visit Malaysia Year," Suhaimi said.
Suhaimi, who was posted to Guangzhou one-and-a-half years ago, thanked travel agents and airlines for their support.
"This is the first time that the Guangzhou Daily has included a category for most popular outbound destination in its readers' poll on tourism.
Among the attractions cited by those who voted for Malaysia are our beautiful islands, beaches, food and shopping. They also find Malaysia safe place and they can have quality and affordable holidays," Suhaimi said.
South China is the biggest market for mainland tourists to visit Malaysia.
Last year, nearly 450,000 visited Malaysia and two thirds were from the south, mostly from Guangdong province.

Ramli Ngah Talib Tawan Gunung Tahan

KUALA LUMPUR, 25 Mei - Walaupun berusia 66 tahun, Yang Dipertua Dewan Rakyat Tan Sri Ramli Ngah Talib membuktikan dirinya masih mampu melakukan aktiviti lasak apabila berjaya menakluki puncak Gunung Tahan semalam.
Menurut kenyataan Parlimen Malaysia, Ramli yang mengetuai ekspedisi enam warga Parlimen itu berjaya menjejakkan kaki di puncak Gunung Tahan pada pukul 9 pagi semalam.
Ekspidisi lima hari mulai 20 Mei, bermula dengan dengan perjalanan sejauh 13 km dari Pejabat Penguasa Taman Negara Pahang di Sungai Relau, Merapoh menggunakan kenderaan pacuan empat roda sehingga ke Kuala Jeram yang merupakan tempat permulaan pendakian itu.
Dari Kuala Jeram ekspedisi diteruskan sehingga ke Kem Kor dengan anggota ekspedisi bermalam di situ sebelum meneruskan pendakian keesokkannya hingga Bukit Botak yang mempunyai ketinggian 1,943 meter.
Dari Bukit Botak, kumpulan ekspedisi berkenaan memulakan pendakian ke puncak Gunung Tahan kira-kira pukul 7.30 pagi sebelum sampai ke puncaknya tepat jam 9 pagi semalam.
Gunung Tahan yang mempunyai ketinggian 2,187 meter merupakan gunung kedua tertinggi di Malaysia selepas Gunung Kinabalu.

"Antara yang akan diberikan penekanan awal ialah
terhadap industri seni ukir dan seni corak batik serta songket yang mempunyai
potensi besar untuk diperkembangkan," Datuk Seri Haji
Idris Jusoh, Menteri Besar Terengganu.

JERTIH, 25 Mei (Bernama) -- Kerajaan Terengganu kini serius untuk melahirkan kumpulan usahawan yang berdaya saing sehingga ke peringkat global bagi memastikan produk dari negeri itu dipasarkan ke seluruh dunia, kata Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh.
Beliau berkata kerajaan bukan sahaja menyediakan peruntukan bagi mencapai matlamat tersebut, malah pelbagai rancangan dalam mendedahkan kepakaran dan keunikan produk negeri itu juga akan ditonjolkan dengan lebih meluas di luar negara.
Katanya Terengganu sebenarnya mempunyai banyak produk yang berpotensi untuk dibangun dan dipasarkan ke peringkat antarabangsa.
"Selain barangan anyaman dan reka corak dalam industri batik dan songket, produk berasaskan makanan, ukiran dan pengeluaran pertanian kita juga sudah mula disukai dan berjaya menembusi pasaran luar negara," katanya.
Beliau berkata demikian semasa merasmikan ekspo Satu Daerah Satu Industri (SDSI), Terengganu International Design Excellence (TIDE) dan penyerahan Modul Latihan Desa Ukiran Kayu Istana Tengku Long peringkat Terengganu di Dewan Gong Kemuntong dekat sini hari ini.
Turut hadir, Ketua Setiausaha Kementerian Pembangunan Usahawan dan Koperasi, Musa Mohamad.
Idris berkata produk yang dikeluarkan rakyat Terengganu kini mula dikenali dan sewajarnya produk tersebut diperkembangkan secara lebih sistematik ke pasaran luar negara.
Katanya SDSI merupakan satu platform yang akan dijayakan kerajaan negeri dalam melatih, memantap dan memperkenalkan produk negeri itu ke seluruh dunia.
"Antara yang akan diberikan penekanan awal ialah terhadap industri seni ukir dan seni corak batik serta songket yang mempunyai potensi besar untuk diperkembangkan," katanya.
-- BERNAMA