An insight into Ahmad and his plans for the people

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Monday March 16, 2009

TERENGGANU Mentri Besar Datuk Ahmad Said completes his first year in office on March 25. The following are excepts of his interview with Star correspondent R.S. N. MURALI.

Q: Datuk, what are your priorities in developing the state and what are the sectors you are focusing on?

Ahmad: Mainly on agriculture, tourism and people-centric projects like enhancing education, realising the vision of equipping each student with a digital notebook. I also wish to provide quality activities to impart knowledge and skills and to eradicate poverty in the state. The state also plans to convert more land into plantations to uplift the socio-economic standard of the hardcore poor. We are currently developing Kenyir to be a major attraction in the country. Other tourism projects are in the pipeline too.

Q: Will the economic slowdown currently faced by the global community derail your plans?

Ahmad: The plans were outlined once I took office. Economic slowdown or not, the state will not rescind on its plans and development would go on. We will stimulate the economy through our innovative ideas and implementation of projects. The people must feel happyand their welfare will not be compromised.

Q: Datuk, you said earlier that the state will have the honour to manage the oil-royalty payments from the federal government this month. Is the oil-royalty forthcoming?

Ahmad: The state government is expecting to receive the royalty payment from Petronas by the end of this month. I have been vocal in insisting that the management of the royalty be returned to the state. It is just a matter of time. The state expects an amount of RM1.5bil to be paid as royalty in the next two weeks. The state may see erratic royalty payments in the next few years due to unstable global oil price.

The payment of oil royalty was halted in 2000 during the PAS rule and I have worked hard to get it reverted. We will use the money for the benefit of the people.

Q: You have been criticised as a lame duck Mentri Besar and some people are saying that you have not brought much changes or implemented projects compared to your predecessor. Please comment.

Ahmad: You must understand that the current government works within its budget. People used to see various projects implemented previously without realising that the past government had the privilege of receiving funds from the Federal Government without much bureaucracy. It is different now. Comparing me with Idris (former MB Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh) is unfair as it is much harder for me to get direct funds from the Federal Government. There will always be critics in our midst and I will not be cowed. What is of utmost importance is the rakyat. It really doesn’t matter how these detractors perceive me. Let the rakyat judge whether mega project had benefited them. I am here to see benefits trickle down to the grassroots and not to only certain individuals. I know who my critics are.

Q: There is talk that you have neglected Besut in terms of implementing projects at the district level due to your supposedly strained ties with Idris who is currently the Jerteh assemblyman in the Besut parliamentary constituency.

Ahmad: Such talks are preposterous and unfounded as Besut received the highest allocation, reaching almost RM800mil in the 2009 state budget. We announced a RM1.8bil supplementary budget for this year and you can witness here that Besut received the highest in terms of budgetary con­sideration. Among the ongoing projects in Besut that the state government is currently funding are the Knowledge Park (RM410mil), the construction of Universiti Darul Iman Malaysia (RM250mil), Jertih Square (RM45mil) and an Imtiaz type school (RM145mil).

Q: There are also claims that you are afraid to attend functions in Besut because you fear a backlash from Idris supporters.

Ahmad: There are no invitations from Besut so why must I go there. For the record, I will be holding the weekly exco meeting in Besut on April 1. I want to emphasise that I have no problems working closely with anyone, including Idris.

Q: There are talks that you are at loggerheads with certain state executive councillors and you are contemplating booting out one or two of them. Is this true?

Ahmad: Again this is sheer fabrication. I can sit and talk to opposition leaders without animosity. Why this ranting on about me disagreeing with my own colleagues?

2 claim trial to insulting sultan

Fuad Aris Abd Rashid and Fatimah Maisurah Abdullah leaving the court with their lawyer, Wan Zainudin Wan Musa (right)

KUALA TERENGGANU: A husband and wife were jointly charged at the Sessions Court here with posting offensive comments on the Internet insulting the Sultan of Perak, Sultan Azlan Shah, making it the second such case in the country.

Businessman Fuad Aris Abd Rashid, 35, and his wife, lawyer Fatimah Maisurah Abdullah, 34, yesterday claimed trial to two charges under Section 233 (1) (a) of the Multimedia Communication Act 1998.

They were accused of committing the offence at their residence in Kampong Tok Kaya, here on Feb 14. If convicted, they can be fined up to RM50,000, or imprisoned a maximum of one year, or both.

Senior deputy public prosecutor Datuk Azmi Ariffin prosecuted while the couple were represented by Wan Zainudin Wan Musa.

Sessions Court judge Mohd Khalid Abd Karim, however, fixed April 20 for re-mention after an application by Wan Zainudin to forward a representation to the Attorney-General's Chambers to consider dropping the charges against Fatimah as it is believed she was not involved in the posting.
He also fixed bail at RM6,000 in one surety for each suspect.

On Friday, six people were simultaneously charged at four places nationwide, in a landmark case, with the same offence.

BN diminta bersiap sedia

KUALA TERENGGANU – Pas Terengganu mengingatkan UMNO dan Barisan Nasional (BN) supaya bersiap sedia menghadapi kekalahan teruk pada Pilihan Raya Umum ke-13 akan datang.

Bendahari Pas Terengganu, Mohd Abdul Wahid Endut mendakwa, perkara itu tidak mustahil berlaku berikutan banyak pihak tidak dapat menerima Timbalan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak menjadi pemimpin nombor satu
negara kerana beliau pernah dikaitkan de­ngan isu kontroversi sebelum ini.

“Sebab itu, pembangkang meminta supaya Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi (Pak Lah) kekal sebagai Perdana Menteri sehingga Pilihan Raya Umum ke-13 kerana walaupun mungkin beliau dikatakan kurang cekap tetapi mungkin lebih baik daripada Najib.

“Kita minta Pak Lah kekal sehingga rakyat sendiri membuat keputusan pada pilihan raya umum akan datang.
“Jika tidak, UMNO mungkin perlu bersiap sedia untuk hadapi kekalahan,” katanya kepada Sinar Harian ketika dihubungi, semalam.

Ketika diminta mengulas mengenai nasihat bekas Perdana Menteri, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad kepada Najib supaya melantik barisan kabinet yang bersih daripada rasuah, Mohd Abdul Wahid meramalkan perkara itu tidak akan berlaku.

“Apa yang dicadangkan Mahathir itu dilihat sebagai mustahil kerana beliau percaya sebahagian besar pemimpin UMNO dikatakan terbabit dengan amalan rasuah,” katanya.

Pada masa yang sama, Ahli Parlimen Kuala Terengganu itu turut mengingatkan supaya pemimpin UMNO tidak perlu mempertikaikan perkara berkenaan kerana rak­yat sentiasa memerhatikan sikap pemimpin atasan dalam parti kerajaan.

Kelmarin, Mahathir meminta supaya Najib me­ngambil pemimpin bersih daripada rasuah dan melihat pandangan rakyat ketika ini supaya memerhatikan sena­rio politik dalam UMNO terutama menjelang pemilihan parti, hujung bulan ini.

Beliau berkata, jika Timbalan Perdana Menteri itu tidak mengambil kira perkara itu, kerajaan BN akan kalah pada pilihan raya umum akan datang.

“Ini bukan soal rasuah sebenarnya tetapi soal pemilihan Perdana Menteri. Saya percaya ia berkaitan dengan isu lain,” katanya.

Kerja perladangan mampu beri pendapatan lumayan

KUALA TERENGGANU – Ramai belia Melayu di negeri ini tidak berminat mahu menceburi bidang perladangan kerana mereka beranggapan bahawa pendapatan yang diperoleh terlalu rendah dan tidak berpatutan.

:Pengerusi Ladang Rakyat dan Caretaker Ladang Rakyat Terengganu, Wan Ahmad Nizam Wan Abdul Hamid berkata, perkembangan itu menyebabkan majikan ladang terpaksa mengambil alternatif lain dengan membuka peluang kepada pekerja asing.

:Beliau berkata, sepatutnya peluang seperti itu harus direbut setiap masyarakat tempatan terutama golongan belia Melayu yang masih belum mempunyai pekerjaan tetap kerana bidang perladangan juga berpotensi tinggi menjana ekonomi negara.

:“Ramai tidak tahu bahawa pendapatan dalam bidang ini adalah antara yang lumayan dan kita juga seharusnya tidak menyempitkan pemikiran mengatakan kerja perladangan hanya tertumpu kepada kerja ladang semata-mata, padahal bidang ini juga terbabit dengan bahagian pentadbiran.

:“Saya sangat berharap remaja yang masih belum bekerja supaya dapat menceburi bidang ini kerana banyak kemudahan dan perkhidmatan turut disediakan kepada mereka yang terbabit,” katanya.

:Beliau berkata demikian ketika diminta mengulas mengenai 3,000 jawatan kosong dalam sektor perladangan, namun tiada rakyat tempatan yang berminat memohon.

:Sementara itu, Pengarah Eksekutif Persatuan Pengeluar Pertanian Tanah Melayu (Mapa), Mohamad Audong berkata, pihaknya menyediakan peruntukan tertentu bagi menarik perhatian pekerja tempatan yang diberhentikan mengisi kekosongan berkenaan tetapi setakat ini tiada permohonan diterima.

:Menurut Mohamad, rakyat di negara ini perlu mengubah pemikiran mereka kerana bekerja di sektor perladangan juga mampu memberi pendapatan lumayan selain faedah perkhidmatan serta gaji yang ditawarkan adalah menarik iaitu kategori pekerja paling rendah menerima gaji bersih RM600 sebulan, sementara pekerja mahir dan separa mahir menerima antara RM2,000 hingga RM3,000 sebulan.

Malaysian delegation visits Dubai Airport Free Zone

Malaysian delegation visits Dubai Airport Free Zone MENAFN Press - 11/03/2009 “We look forward to hosting more Malaysian companies at the Dubai Airport Free Zone” – Nasser Al Madani, Assistant Director General, Dubai Airport Free Zone A five-man delegation from the State of Terengganu of Malaysia visited the Dubai Airport Free Zone to familiarise themselves with the business opportunities being offered by the Free Zone to international companies. The delegation was headed by Mr. Mokhtar Nong, Secretary of the State of Terengganu. Mr. Nasser Al Madani, Assistant Director General of Dubai Airport Free Zone and other top officials of the Free Zone welcomed the visitors and hosted them to lunch. Mr. Al Madani said he looks forward to boost the number of Malaysian companies in the Free Zone; currently there are five companies at the zone. After listening to a presentation at Dubai Airport Free Zone, Mr. Nong expressed an avid interest in the almost miraculous development of Dubai from a small desert destination in the early 60s to a bustling metropolis with modern buildings and advanced road and airport infrastructure with advanced logistics support and its current role as a business hub in the Middle East.

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Wednesday March 11, 2009

Rising number of swiflet breeding grounds without license

KUALA TERENGGANU: Some 5,000 buildings in major cities and towns that have been turned into swiflet breeding grounds without permits from the local government, said an officer from the Veterinary Services Depart­ment.

Its head of Exotic Livestock section, Redzuan Ibrahim said the unlicensed breeders have not made any attempt to apply for relevant permits from the local authorities before converting buildings for the breeding of swiflets.

Based on the department’s record , 30,000 buildings nationwide had been converted for the breeding of swiflets to harvest the pricey bird-nests, he said.

Reduan said the authorities had yet to identify all the illegal breeders, adding that the total number might be more than the 5,000 detected.

A kilo of bird-nest could fetch RM3,500, he said after attending a course on effective method of swiflet management at a leading hotel here recently.

The course was opened by Terengganu Swiflet Breeders Associations president, Datuk Tok Teng Sai.

Redzuan said swiflet breeding was a profitable venture and hence had lured many entrepreneurs to set-up breeding grounds.

He said some of the breeders ignored the fact that they should first obtain permission from the local authorities.

Reduan said the local authorities should provide specific guidelines and a standard operating procedure for the breeders while making it compulsory for them to apply for permits.

MB nafi abai bangun Besut

KUALA TERENGGANU 11 Mac - Menteri Besar, Datuk Ahmad Said menafikan tanggapan yang beliau mengabaikan pembangunan di daerah Besut selepas mengambil alih tampuk pentadbiran negeri daripada Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh.

Menurutnya, tanggapan itu tidak berasas memandangkan Besut menerima lebih RM800 juta daripada bajet negeri untuk tahun 2009 yang berjumlah hampir RM1.8 bilion untuk meneruskan projek pembangunan di daerah itu.

Beliau memberitahu, antara projek berkenaan ialah Taman Ilmu berjumlah RM410 juta, Universiti Darul Iman Malaysia (UDM) berjumlah RM250 juta, Jertih Souq (RM45 juta), Sekolah Imtiaz (RM145 juta) dan Masjid Hadhari.

''Meskipun ini projek lama tapi perlu diteruskan dan peruntukannya dimasukkan dalam Bajet Negeri 2009. Walaupun Taman Ilmu belum berjaya menarik sebuah universiti pun dan peruntukan Sekolah Imtiaz besar sedangkan ia bukan sebuah universiti, namun jika ditamatkan jadi cerita lain pula.

''Jadi, kalau kata saya ketepikan Besut, itu tidak betul. Jika tidak (Besut) tinggal begitu sajalah," katanya pada sidang akhbar menjelang setahun pentadbirannya sebagai Menteri Besar Terengganu hujung bulan ini di sini hari ini.

Ahmad dilantik sebagai Menteri Besar Terengganu menggantikan Idris selepas kemelut pemilihan yang berlanjutan kira-kira sebulan selepas selesai Pilihan Raya Umum Ke-12, Mac tahun lepas.

Menurut Menteri Besar, daerah lain di negeri ini tidak menerima peruntukan sebesar Besut, malah Kuala Terengganu yang merupakan ibu negeri masih ketinggalan dari banyak segi.

''Saya sendiri malu dan sedih melihat keadaan Kuala Terengganu terutama semasa Pilihan Raya Kecil Parlimen Kuala Terengganu Januari lepas iaitu apabila saya masuk ke kampung tengok rumah-rumah robek sana-sini," katanya.