DAP MP wants deputy minister face rights committee over ‘confusing’ MH370 statements

Source: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/dap-mp-wants-deputy-minister-face-rights-committee-over-confusing-mh370-sta (BY EILEEN NG, MARCH 31, 2014)

A DAP MP today said Deputy Defence Minister Datuk Abdul Rahim Bakri should be referred to the Parliament's Rights and Privileges Committee for his "confusing" statements on the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 last week.

Lim Lip Eng (DAP-Segambut) was referring to statement last Wednesday by Abdul Rahim that the military did not respond when it saw an unidentified flight on its military radar as they had assumed that the air traffic control in Subang had ordered the plane to do a turn back.

A day later, he issued a terse two paragraph statement admitting that he had  assumed that the air traffic control asked the lost flight to turn back, adding his assumption was not accurate.

The reply was among many contradictory statements by Malaysian officials over the Boeing 777, which went missing on March 8 with 239 people on board, triggering the largest ever search involving 26 nations and their armed forces.

"I want to know which version is correct? The House should refer him to the Rights and Privileges committee as we do not want a repeat of such incidents in the future," Lim said today, adding that Abdul Rahim's remarks on Wednesday is available in the Hansard.

Deputy Speaker Datuk Ronald Kiandee said it would require time to look through Hansard before requesting Abdul Rahim to appear before Parliament to explain his differing statements.

"Let him make an explanation in the House," he said.

It was reported that Malaysian military radars spotted a non-hostile aircraft flying right across the country's air space in the early hours of March 8. The aircraft was later confirmed to be the missing MAS flight MH370.

Contact with the Beijing-bound flight MH370, which took off from Kuala Lumpur at 12.40am on March 8, was lost at 1.40am, shortly after it left Malaysian air space over the South China Sea.

Last week, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak announced that the plane had ended in the southern Indian Ocean, with MAS saying there could be no survivors.

Investigators are now trying to ascertain what brought MH370 to a remote area in the southern Indian Ocean, where search operation is currently focused. They are also probing whether the plane was deliberately crashed or flew on autopilot. – March 31, 2014.

Related news: Pakatan MPs want deputy minister censured for MH370 ‘turnback’ slip http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/pakatan-mps-want-deputy-minister-censured-for-mh370-turnback-slip#sthash.Kn0xoKwt.dpuf

Pakatan wants 'turn back' dep minister to face music http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/258658

Dengue deaths statistic in Malaysia

Source: http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v7/sp/newssports.php?id=1025093

*Article from The Sun

Motorists find billboards interfering their journey

Mumtaz Ali claimed that an elderly person from Bangsar met with an accident recently after mistaking the lights emitted by the digital billboards as the traffic lights.

SourcE: http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Community/2014/03/21/Too-much-distraction-Motorists-find-billboards-interfering-their-journey/ (BY SHEILA SRI PRIYA, 21/3/2014)

Digital billboards have become a common sight in the Klang Valley and can be spotted in Bangsar, Jalan Bukit Bintang, Jalan Kelang Lama, Jalan Universiti and the Federal Highway.

However, there have been complaints that the bright lights emitted by these billboards, their inappropriate placement and unsuitable locations pose a safety hazard. Some play movie trailers, making them even more distracting to motorists.

Public view

Long-time Bukit Bandaraya resident Datuk Mumtaz Ali said she disagreed with the placement of digital billboards on busy roads as they could be very distracting, especially at night.

“The digital billboards are all over Bangsar and a resident recently met with an accident after mistaking the billboard for traffic lights while crossing the road,” he said. He added the Road Safety Department and Public Works Department (JKR) should review such forms of advertising.

Mumtaz said he raised his concerns about three years ago with Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) when such billboards were first introduced.

A spokesman from Bangsar Shopping Centre said the digital billboard did not belong to the mall.

“We were not consulted before they were placed there. “Bangsar is a residential neighbourhood and it would be more appropriate for such large billboards to be put up in commercial areas,” said the spokesman.

Collin Walter from Jalan Puchong, Kuala Lumpur wrote to StarMetro complaining that the digital billboards were a distraction to motorists. Walter said the panel digital billboards attached to lamp-posts on the Federal Highway were a safety hazard. He said the digital billboard at the junction of Jalan Kelang Lama and Jalan Puchong were also inappropriately placed.

“I am really shocked they were approved because it disregards driver safety and overall road safety. The display panels are bright and will certainly capture drivers’ attention. Motorists’ attention should be on the road and the traffic. If the authorities are issuing summonses for the usage of mobile phones while driving; isn’t the digital billboard also a distraction?,” he asked.

Petaling Jaya Section 5 Residents Association president Rafiq Fazaldin said there was no need for such billboards to be located on main roads. “In Petaling Jaya, there are already two-dimensional billboards along the Federal Highway. I think even they are a form of distraction to motorists, why make it worse?,” he asked.

Yong. L.C. said the digital billboards were designed to grab viewers’ attention by flashing brightly with engaging visuals, which can interfere with drivers’ focus.

‘‘The danger posed is worse at night as they look brighter. It is usually less congested at night and drivers have a tendency to speed,” he said.

Owners’ view

Big Tree Outdoor Sdn Bhd CEO Jeff Cheah said the company only owned two outdoor digital billboards and both were licensed. One of them is located outside BSC.

“In my opinion, digital billboards do not pose any danger to road users if correctly installed. Only areas with static or low- speed traffic are suitable for digital boards with moving images, such as road junctions.

“Our screens are equipped with the latest technology so that the brightness is automatically adjusted according to the time of day,” he said, adding this was to ensure the lights were not too glaring at night.

He said digital billboards along highways and busy roads should not be placed one after another.

“There should be no moving images, to minimise distraction to motorists,” he added, noting that digital billboards were common in developed countries.

Sky Blue Media Sdn Bhd managing director Manikandamurthy Velayoduam said the company abided by guidelines set by the authorities. “We obtained approval from JKR and the local authorities first. After installation, the authorities carried out a full inspection to ensure the safety of motorists,” he said. Manikandamurthy said LED panels were more eco-friendly.

“They reduce the use of vinyl bunting. The consumption of electricity is 80% lower for LED panels,” he said.

He said the company avoided the use of distracting elements as far as possible.

“So far there have been no reports of untoward incidents caused by the LED panels,” he said.

Authorities’ view

Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng said there were no regulations for digital billboards.

“I urge City Hall to come up with guidelines on where such billboards can be placed and take into account public concerns.”

Road Safety Council member Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said anything that caused a distraction on the road was a no-no. “Advertising agencies should ensure these digital billboards do not distract motorists,” he said.

A DBKL spokesman said digital panels were practical and cost effective.

“The same panel can display different advertisements. Each advertisement runs for about 30 seconds before it changes. However, City Hall will take note of the issues raised by the public, especially the brightness of such panels,” he said.

A Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) spokesman said it had not given any approval for the use of digital billboards.

Putrajaya should appoint one spokesman for MH370 to end babel of voices, says opposition

Source: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/putrajaya-should-appoint-one-spokesman-for-mh370-to-end-babel-of-voices-say (BY DIYANA IBRAHIM, 13/3/2014)
The opposition has called on Putrajaya to only appoint one spokesman to speak on the missing MH Flight 370 search and rescue operation after too many officials had issued contradictory statements.

DAP Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng said the many statements had only resulted in a lot of confusion.

"We see the minister, the air force chief and the navy chief issuing conflicting statements. That is why I call on the prime minister to appoint someone who has the credentials in crisis management and who can speak good English to be the spokesman,” he said at a press conference in the Parliament lobby today.

Lim’s call comes as former United States National Transportation Safety Board managing director Peter Goelz said Putrajaya’s handling of the crisis was the worst he had ever seen in disaster management.

"There has been misinformation and corrections from Malaysian authorities on the whereabouts of MH370," Goelz told CNN.

"Did passengers check in but not board the aircraft? How did the two men use the stolen passports to board the aircraft?

"Is the wreckage of MH370 near the last location where their radar was detected?" Goelz asked.

"At best, Malaysian officials have thus far been poor communicators;at worst, they are incompetent," he had said.

Related news: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2014/03/13/one-spokesperson-enough-on-flight-tragedy/ Plane crash: ‘One spokesperson enough’

http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/256956 Use one spokesperson for MH370 issue, says MP

What are the consequences of feeding ‘kangkung’ to a replica of the prime minister and carrying a ‘May 13’ banner?

Parliament: 13 March 2014

What are the consequences of assaulting Malaysian politicians?

The Star (13 March 2014)

Question on Riza's film 'Wolf' rejected

Source: http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/256873

PARLIAMENT Parliament has refused to accept questions relating to the film ‘Wolf of Wall Street’ which was financed by the company of the prime minister’s step-son.

DAP’s Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng told a press conference at the Parliament lobby that the question was rejected in a letter to him by house secretary Roosme Hamzah dated March 7.

Lim, who had directed the question to Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, said he had wanted to know the capability of Riza Shahriz Abdul Aziz in financing the US$100 million film.

Riza, better known as Riza Aziz, is prime minister’s wife Rosmah Mansor’s son from her first marriage.

Lim said the question also included a query about Riza’s reported purchase of a US$17.5 million piece of real estate.

However, Lim pointed out that the reason for the rejection given did not deny the reports about Riza, but instead asked that the query be directed to the relevant minister.

“It is as if Parliament is acknowledging that the allegations against Riza have a basis as it did not deny any of them,” he said.

Lim said he was unclear on which minister to direct the query in light of the letter but said he will re-field the questions and direct them at other ministers instead of the prime minister.

"I will re-submit the questions and direct them to the finance minister or communication (and multimedia) minister for answers," he said.