How much is a trillion dollars?

US senators battling a nearly one-trillion-dollar economic stimulus package are striving to find vivid ways to explain just how big that one with 12 zeroes after it really is.

On Tuesday, Republican Senator John Thune said you could ring the equator 38.9 times with 100-dollar bills stretched side-by-side -- and showed a picture of Earth encircled in greenbacks to underline his point.

"One trillion dollars is a terrible thing to waste," he said. "We shouldn't spend money we don't have on things we don't need."

A day earlier, Senate Republican minority leader Mitch McConnell also grappled with ways to illustrate how big the 888-billion-dollar stimulus plan -- which could easily expand before a final vote -- really is.

"Just to put a trillion dollars in context, if you started spending the day that Jesus was born and you spend a million dollars every single day, you still wouldn't have spent a trillion dollars. This is a lot of money," he said.

SWINE FLU SCARE

The Health Department of Putrajaya and Serdang conducting examinations for swine flu on all passengers from Los Angeles at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport after the outbreak of the disease in Mexico.

Malaysians have been advised not to panic as the authorities have joined forces to keep the deadly swine flu away from our shores.

The Health Ministry and Immigration Department have tightened screening processes at all entry points while awaiting further information from the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said the government was very concerned about the outbreak of the virus in Mexico and the United States and was taking steps to ensure Malaysians were not infected.

The swine flu virus is said to a combination of avian, human and swine viruses.

There is no vaccine for the flu. Experts say the best precaution to avoid being infected is to keep hands clean by washing them.
"We are concerned about what is happening in Mexico, Texas and California, and we are closely monitoring the situation.

"Anyone who had visited these places after April 17 should inform us so that we can conduct the checks on them. We have also raised the alerts at airports and ports where we will conduct extensive screening similar to what we did during the avian flu outbreak."

Liow added that his ministry was working closely with WHO.

"At this point, WHO has yet to raise the international alert level. And when they do so, we will be ready to implement the necessary measures."

Liow advised Malaysians not to panic as the government would take steps to stop the disease from spreading to Malaysia. "We will also keep the people informed of any developments."

The symptoms of the swine flu are similar to that of ordinary flu.

Meanwhile, Bernama reports that the Health Ministry's disease control division has activated its operations room to monitor the situation.

Director-General of Health Tan Sri Dr Mohd Ismail Merican said in a statement medical practitioners who treated people with influenza who had visited Mexico, California or Texas after April 17, should inform the district health office immediately.

For more information, call 03-88810200/88810300 or visit www.moh.gov.my.

WALK THE TALK: Being a Malaysian without the fuss

IS there a necessity to define, in no uncertain terms, the concepts of "Malaysian Malaysia" or "Bangsa Malaysia" or, the latest, "1Malaysia"?

Do we need to politicise it and get entangled in definitions that serve more to confuse than enlighten? There are in fact many ordinary folk who are living examples of what a Malaysian is. They have been doing it all the time wihout any fuss or fanfare.

We see them in the Malay teacher teaching Mandarin in a Chinese school; the Chinese or Indian teacher teaching Bahasa Malaysia in a national school; the Malay and Indian staff helping pupils light lanterns during a mooncake festival celebration in a Chinese school; Muslims breaking fast with halal mooncakes in a Chinese restaurant in Kuala Terengganu; residents of different races in a Rukun Tetangga sector bonded together by the common cause of fighting crime; Malaysians of all races in an international sports meet, standing at attention, singing the Negara Ku heartily, eyes focused on the Jalur Gemilang fluttering in the wind, hearts filled with pride when a fellow Malaysian stands on the winner's rostrum; the list goes on.

People are not machines to be steered and programmed to respond and function in a fixed way. People need love, compassion, respect, sensitivity and mutual sharing and caring to function meaningfully to continually improve on their quality of life.

If we choose to clamour to outgun and outdo one another, then let it be in an atmosphere of friendly and wholesome competition such that it will contribute to the progress, prosperity and pride of Malaysia, and not the reverse.

BARGAINS GALORE

While many businesses are struggling to survive in a bleak economy, a leading shopping complex in Kuching is attracting thousands of shoppers of all ages with goods on discount prices. Almost all the shops in the shopping mall are offering 50 per cent discounts on all their items for 10 days, from April 24.

1Malaysia won’t go far if bloggers restricted

KUCHING: The contribution of bloggers in Sarawak to promote the 1Malaysia concept will be limited should the government continue to restrict their writings.

Blogger Dr John Brian Anthony said he could not see how they can respond positively to the call by the government to promote the (1Malaysia) concept if their contribution were curtailed.

“I fear that many of our comments would be restricted by the authorities if they think we ‘go overboard’ on the matter,” he said yesterday.

Nevertheless, he did not mind promoting the concept as long as it kept to its main aim, said Brian who writes in the style of dayakbaru in the Internet.

“The concept must also encompass the democratic principle of check-and-balance,” he added.

Brian, who is Sarawak Dayak National Union (SDNU) publicity chief, said the concept must take into account the interests of all ethnic groups and not just a few major races otherwise it (concept) would be interpreted as “one-sided”.

“I am struggling for social justice and equal opportunities in terms of economic and education in Sarawak,” he said.

“If we bloggers write with too much ‘passion’ — especially on issues deemed by the government as sen-sitive — I am sure they would not be happy with us. We might as well not write about the concept at all,” he said.

He said this when asked to respond on the call by Minister of Information, Communications and Culture Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim to work hand-in-hand with the bloggers on the matter.

On Thursday, Rais had a meeting with bloggers where he told them to use facts rather than rhetoric and incitements in their writings through the Internet.

Brian also pointed out that should the concept deviated from its original intention, which include tolerance and respect, the government would fail in realising 1Malaysia.

“Development and progress should benefit the society at large. The government is entrusted to ensure this. They are not given the mandate to do all things based on what they (government) think,” he said.

“Peace, harmony and stability are all meant for the people. People put up the government which can provide all these,” he said.

The slogan ‘One Malaysia, People First, Performance Now’ is the main theme introduced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak when he took the office on April 3.

Najib pointed out the concept demanded that people respect one another and also practise tolerance.

Another blogger Audie Chua said he agreed with Brian.

He said if the government wanted bloggers to help in promoting the 1Malaysia concept, then it must be practical.

“There are all sorts of opinions and comments as there are many bloggers. But if the government acts positively, I am sure the bloggers will be ready to assist them in any issue by writing positive views.

“What is important is that the concept must ensure that no ethnic group is lagging behind others in mainstream development,” he said.

On the other hand the people must appreciate the 1Malaysia concept to make its implementation a success, he said.

Father paid her RM1 every time they had sex

A 13-year old girl who was allegedly turned into a sex slave by her father and molested by her brothers for the past five years finally plucked up the courage to lodge a report on Wednesday.

The Form One pupil confided in her teachers the trauma she had been subjected to at her home since she was 9 years old.

Following the report, police arrested her 47-year-old father and her older brothers aged 15 and 17.

The father, an odd job labourer allegedly raped her on several occasions, while her brothers took turns to molest her.

The girl told police that the first time her father raped her was when she was 9 years old.
She said she had gone with her father to collect banana leaves when he raped her.

After that incident, she was paid between RM1 and RM2 by her father each time he sexually abused her.

The girl did not disclose this to her mother, who is a housewife, as she was afraid.

But on Wednesday, she decided to reveal all to her teacher, as she was afraid that her younger sisters, aged 7 and 9, would suffer the same fate. The victim has seven siblings.

Her teacher then took her to the Bukit Mertajam police station where a report was lodged.

State Criminal Investigation Department chief SAC II Wan Abdullah Tuanku Said said the girl was also raped in her house and in a secondary forest in Berapit.

He said all three suspects were picked up from their homes on Wednesday, adding that the case was classified as rape and molest.

ABJECT MISERY

In Kapung Siput, in Baling, Kedah, 22-month old Irshad Azizan stays home in pain and misery, all because of a rare skin disease he suffered since he was six-months old. His mother Salmiah Abd Rahman, 40, has appealed for skin specialists to help her youngest child. Irshad is especially vulnerable to hot weather, compelling him to cry incessantly in pain.

77 PCT OF MALAYSIAN WOMEN LOWLY PAID

KUALA LUMPUR, April 23 (NNN-BERNAMA)-- Gender segregation has reared its ugly head in the Malaysian labour market, with about 77 per cent, or 2.7 million women, in under-valued and lowly paid occupations.

This was further reinforced as most men and a large population of women themselves support traditional division of labour and find differences in salaries justifiable. The National Seminar on Work, Income and Gender Equality which concluded here Wednesday, highlighted this.

The seminar also highlighted the issue of sexual harassment, which affected women in every workplace and at every level of employment, thus compromising women's safety and productivity.

The two-day seminar, organized by the Human Resources Ministry in collaboration with the International Labour Organization (ILO), was attended by participants from government, the private sector, trade unions and non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

In order to rectify the situation, the seminar recommended a change in the mindset of society on stereotyping, and encouraging more men to be involved in sharing responsibilities through education.

It also recommended that the government introduce laws and regulations that encourage flexible working arrangements to accommodate women's roles and also make provision for a longer period of paid maternity leave.

The seminar noted that although there was a significant increase in the enrolment of women in institutions of higher learning in the country, the labour market, however, rated graduate women low in terms of remuneration.

It also noted there was a sizeable talent pool among women that remained untapped because of inadequate maternity leave, rigid and non-conducive regulations, adverse stereotying of women's role by society and lack of support from men in shouldering the responsibilities of caring for children and elderly.

The seminar recommended that the Employment Act 1955, be extended to include all working women. Currently, it does not cover domestic workers and those earning more than 1,500 Ringgit (one USD = about RM3.6) per month.

As a social responsibility, the seminar also recommended that the government devise strategies to encourage employers to cater for the disabled. It also wanted existing guidelines and employment contract for contract workers to be made more effective with a proper enforcement mechanism.

It also emphasized that the government should draw up strict regulations for recruiters and employers to avoid exploitation and abuse of maids. -- NNN-BERNAMA

Sex, a quarrel, then death

SHAH ALAM: A couple went to a temple in Sepang to pray.

After fulfilling their religious obligations, they had sex outside the compound and then fell asleep.

When they woke up several hours later, they got into a heated argument which turned deadly when the man went back into the temple, grabbed a parang and hacked the woman to death.

The High Court here yesterday heard how general worker S. Ganesan, 24, then hid P. Suganthy's body in some bushes behind the temple.

Ganesan then threw away the parang and fled.
Suganthy's body was later found by a passer-by.

The facts of the case were read out yesterday before judicial commissioner Abang Iskandar Abang Hashim. He sentenced Ganesan to 14 years' jail after he pleaded guilty to culpable homicide.

Ganesan admitted committing the offence at a temple in Kampung Lembah Paya Salak in Sepang between noon and 6.15pm on Aug 11, 2005.

He was initially charged with murder and had claimed trial after which nine prosecution witnesses had testified.

Ganesan subsequently changed his plea when the prosecution reduced the charge to manslaughter.

In sentencing him, Abang Iskandar said, based on the post-mortem report, Suganthy, a 22-year-old cleaner, had suffered 16 external body injuries and a cracked skull.

He said the only mitigating factor he could consider was that Ganesan was a young offender (he was 19 when the offence was committed) and that he had pleaded guilty.

He ordered him to serve the jail term from the date of his arrest on Aug 31, 2005.

In mitigation, counsel K. Viknesvaran pleaded for leniency as his client had repented.

He pointed out that Ganesan was from a poor family and had pleaded guilty to the offence.

Deputy public prosecutor Hana Hadinah S. Mohd Ghazali pressed for a heavy sentence to reflect the gravity of the offence.

Rose For Friend

Well, i receive this note in my email and i wish to share it with all my friends out there. Even if we never meet before and it just happen that you just pass by........you all are my friemds.

New Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities

Tan Sri Bernard Giluk Dompok has been appointed the Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities in the new Federal Cabinet announced on 9 April 2009. He takes over from Datuk Peter Chin Fah Kui who has been appointed as Minister of Energy, Green Technology and Water.

Tan Sri Bernard, 60, holds a BSc. (Land Administration [UK] FISM) which he obtained from the University of East London in 1978. The same year after graduating, he started his career as a valuer at the Sabah Lands & Survey Department. In 1980, he pursued his career as a private valuer until 1985.

Married with five children, the Sabah-born Minister commenced his political career in 1986 and among the positions he has held include being the Minister in the Finance, Agriculture & Fisheries as well as Tourism ministries in Sabah. Besides which, he had also held the post of Deputy Chief Minister and Chief Minister of his home state. At Federal level, he was first appointed a Minister in the Prime Minister's Department in 1994.

MTC congratulates Tan Sri Bernard on his appointment and looks forward to his guidance and leadership to further develop the downstream sector of the timber industry in Peninsular Malaysia. At the same time, MTC takes this opportunity to thank Datuk Peter Chin for the untiring efforts put in over the years to develop the timber industry, and wish him success in his new endeavour.

Landslide destroys half of road

KAPIT: Continuous heavy rainfall over the last few days has caused a massive landslide which destroyed half of Jalan Melekun.

Motorists are advised to exercise extra care when approaching Km1.8 of the road.

The Borneo Post, which was tipped off about it, visited the site in a four-wheel drive, taking about 40 minutes to reach the scene from Kapit town.

The journey in the rain covered Jalan Selirik, Jalan Lepong Baleh and Jalan Melekun.

According to information, the road collapsed as early as Tuesday evening after heavy rainfall, and worsened as more rain fell. Half of the tar-sealed surface disappeared as the ground gave way.

Earlier Kapit District Officer Simon Japut Tiok, accompanied by Public Works Department staff, visited the site to investigate the extent of damage to the road.

The authority condoned off the danger zone to warn motorists of the road closure.

The reporter who was at the scene was informed by a passer-by that the road completed two years ago experienced a massive landslide just above the Lepong Baleh communal longhouse.

Coincidentally another massive landslide had occurred that cut off the access road from Jalan Melekun to Nanga Bawai, affecting a primary school, SK Nanga Bawai, which has 30 teachers and 180 pupils.

Also affected were some 600 rural folks living in two longhouses beside the Baleh River - Rumah Nabau and Rumah Ulau.

The access road provided a convenient route to Kapit which is about 40 minutes by four-wheel drive along Jalan Melekun-Jalan Lepong Baleh-Jalan Selirik.

The landslide occurred two nights ago after continuous heavy rainfall had fallen over a few evenings. The soil on the steep slope gave way to running water and began to flow down to cover the access road.

It was a recurrence of a previous landslide that took place late last year when the same stretch of road was submerged in mud after heavy rain.

The road user appealed for assistance from the government agency to clear the mud so they could pass through.

Police officer caught with his pants down

BUTTERWORTH: The deputy chief of a police station who had his zipper down and a woman teacher were detained for indecent behaviour by religious department officers yesterday.

Penang Islamic Department officers detained them at the Bagan Ajam rest area on the Butterworth Outer Ring Road.

The police officer shouted abusive words at the religious department officers and refused to show his authority card after identifying himself as a policeman.

The department's operations unit chief, Khairul Azman Azizan, had to ask policemen who were accompanying them to help detain the police officer.

The police officer and his female companion, who is in her 40s, were taken to a police station.

They were released five hours later on bail.

Datuk Seri Najib Razak

Datuk Seri Najib Razak feeding 'pulut kuning' to his wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, at a ceremony celebrating his homecoming as the sixth Prime Minister in his Pekan parliamentary constituency.