2 theSun | THURSDAY AUGUST 6 2009

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Malaysia and Brunei reaffirm cooperation

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN:
Malaysia and Brunei yesterday re-
newed their commitment to further
strengthen close bilateral relations
and cooperation, including in trade
and investment.
Following a four-eyed meeting
between Prime Minister Datuk
Seri Najib Abdul Razak and Sultan
Hassanal Bolkiah (pix) at the 13th
annual consultation here, Malaysia
applauded Brunei’s proposal to es-
tablish joint committees to facilitate
and create a conducive environment
towards promoting cooperation.
“Both leaders expressed pleasure
in Brunei’s interest to participate in
the economic corridors in Malaysia
and recognised the potential for
increased cooperation between both
countries, especially in Sabah and
Sarawak, in such areas as agricul-
ture, halal products and palm oil
production,” said a joint statement
issued to Malaysian journalists at
the conclusion of the closed-door
annual meeting at the Istana Nurul
Iman, here.
The annual consultation also
saw the signing of an Avoidance
of Double Taxation Agreement to
facilitate greater bilateral economic
collaboration, including in energy-
related activities.
Under the treaty, the maximum
rates of withholding tax are 10%
respectively on dividends, individual
or company, royalties and fees for
technical services.
The two leaders also underscored
the significance of continuing coop-
eration in the transportation sector
to further promote trade and invest-
ment linkages as well as tourism
between both countries, including in
the Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Phil-
ippines-East Asean Growth Area.
Expressing satisfaction with cur-
rent efforts to promote tourism, par-
ticularly between Brunei and Sabah
as well as Brunei and Sarawak, they
welcomed the recent code-share
agreement between Royal Brunei
Airlines and Malaysia Airlines, which
underlies their commitment towards
tourism development between the
peoples of the two countries.
The joint statement also said
Najib and the sultan reiterated the
significance of the Exchange of Let-
ters, signed on March 16 last year,
over overlapping maritime and
land border issues, which marked
a historic occasion for Brunei and
Malaysia.
“Both leaders reaffirmed their
commitment to work together
towards the expeditious implemen-
tation of elements agreed in the
document,” it said, adding that the
signing served as a testament to the
strong ties between the two coun-
tries in elevating existing friendship
and cooperation to a strategic part-
nership.
The meeting, which discussed a
broad range of regional and interna-
tional issues, reaffirmed the need to
work closely in dressing the current
global economic crisis and pandemic
diseases, including the influenza
A(H1N1).
On the close partnership be-
tween the two countries in promot-
ing peace, security and prosperity
in the regional and international
arena, the leaders expressed their
satisfaction on the outcome of the
consultation and believed that
such a mechanism strengthened
bilateral relations and coopera-
tion.
The Malaysian delegation in-
cluded eight cabinet ministers and
Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Ab-
dul Taib Mahmud and Sabah Chief
Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman.
The next annual consultation, the
14th, is scheduled to take place in
Malaysia next year. – Bernama

MIC nomination on Aug 22, election on Sept 12

PUTRAJAYA: The MIC election
steering committee has fixed Aug 22
for nomination and Sept 12 as polling
date for the party’s election.
Committee chairman Datuk K.
Vijayanathan said yesterday the
three-week campaigning period was
to enable candidates vying for posts a
longer period to canvass for votes.
The MIC national election would
pick a deputy president, three vice-
presidents and 23 central working
committee members. The presiden-
tial election, held in March this year,
saw party chief Datuk Seri S. Samy
Vellu returned unopposed to retain
the post for a record 11th consecutive
term.
The race for the post of MIC
deputy president is expected to be
a close, three-cornered fight involv-
ing incumbent Datuk G. Palanivel,
former MIC deputy president Datuk
S. Subramaniam and MIC vice-presi-
dent Datuk S. Sothinathan.
Palanivel is Samy Vellu’s favoured
choice, while Subramaniam and
Sothinathan have announced their
intention to contest the post.
For the three-seat veep race, Samy
Vellu has named Human Resources
Minister Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam,
Federal Territories Deputy Minister
Datuk M. Saravanan and Deputy
Minister in the Prime Minister’s
Department Datuk S. K. Devamany
as his preferred choices.
The trio are expected to face a
challenge from businessmen Datuk
S. K. Bala of Johor, V. Ragu Moorthy
and P. Subramaniam, both from Se-
langor. More leaders are expected to
make known their intention to join
the fray in the near future.
Samy Vellu has yet to announce
his preferred list of 23 central
working committee candidates but
speculation is rife that more than
80 candidates would fight for the 23
available seats.
Meanwhile, Vijayanathan also
announced that the party’s Youth
and Wanita wings would hold their
elections on Aug 16, with nomina-
tion fixed for Aug 8.
“We have to hold the election for
Youth and Wanita earlier, because
they would have to elect some 45
delegates from each wing to the
general assembly next month.
“These 45 delegates from the
Youth and Wanita wings respec-
tively, would be able to cast their
votes to pick the national leaders,”
he said. – Bernama

briefs
Hisham wants probe on
airing of video clip
KUALA LUMPUR: The Home Ministry wants
the Malaysian Multimedia and Communications
Commission (MMCC) to investigate the airing of
a video clip on a website showing a man being
assaulted by a group of men that allegedly oc-
curred at a police station.
Its minister, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hus-
sein, said yesterday stern action should be taken
against those guilty of showing the video clip
online.
“The investigation is necessary to identify
those involved in the (airing of the) clip and stern
punishment must be meted against those
responsible for putting it online,” he said in a
statement.
Hishammuddin said the act was aimed at
tarnishing the image of the police and action
should be taken against those responsible so
that it would not be repeated. – Bernama
Awards for civil rights
champions
KUALA LUMPUR: The Civil Society Awards
2009 on Oct 16 will award three people who
championed civil rights last year.
Initiated by the Kuala Lumpur and Selan-
gor Chinese Assembly Hall (KLSCAH), the
awards seek to encourage more people to
push for social reform, defend civil rights
and increase space for democracy.
“The civil society here has a lot to improve.
We are encouraging Malaysian civil society
to speak up,” KLSCAH civil rights committee
chairman Liau Kok Fah said yesterday.
Individuals or any society pushing for
social reform have the chance to be nomi-
nated. However, the nominations for indi-
viduals must be submitted by other people
or organisations.
A seven-member committee will se-
lect three winners, who will each receive
RM5,000, a trophy and a certificate.
Nominations are open and will be closed
on Sept 16. For more information, visit www.
scah.org.my or e-mail info@scah.org.my
1,000 local workers in
danger of losing jobs
PORT KLANG: More than 1,000 local workers
here are in danger of losing their jobs because
of the intense competition from cheap foreign
labour.
Companies providing ancillary services to
the shipping industry are allegedly under-cut-
ting each other by charging rates lower than the
agreed quantum.
Some of them were able to do this by
employing cheap foreign labour, Union of Em-
ployees of Port Ancillary Services secretary A.
Balasubramaniam said yesterday.
He said this unhealthy competition would “in
the long run, contribute to the deterioration of
services at the port”.
Balasubramaniam, who is also Malaysian
Trades Union Congress vice-president, called on
the Port Klang Authority to ensure companies
carried out their businesses in a responsible
manner, without endangering the livelihood of
the workers. – Bernama
Malays and rulers cannot be
separated: Youth group
IPOH: The Malays and Malay rulers cannot
be separated and whoever conceives that
the system of constitutional monarchy is
no longer relevant is a traitor and trying to
stoke the sentiments of the Malays, 4B Youth
Movement general secretary Datuk Wira
Jamaluddin Abdul Rahim said yesterday.
“If there are Malays who have such an
opinion, then it is most regrettable,” he said
when commenting on the concern expressed
by Information, Communication and Culture
Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim on Tuesday
on the emergence of a group who conceived
that the system of constitutional monarchy
was no longer relevant and perceived Malay-
sia to be a “socialistic” nation.
Jamaluddin said the statement by Rais
was most appropriate because the emer-
gence of such a group, if left unchecked,
could affect the harmony, peace and pros-
perity enjoyed by all communities since the
country gained independence. – Bernama