What has happened to implementation of speed limiters?

Submitted by webmaster on Sun, 2010-10-31 09:46
By OTK Info Unit

KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 31, 2010): Pandan MP Dato’ Sri Ong Tee Keat says the implementation of speed limiters for long-haul express buses was approved last year when he was then the transport minister.

“It was a proactive measure to help reduce fatal road crashes involving such buses. The ministry is now duty bound to explain what has happened to the implementation.

“Any further and unnecessary delay will cost lives,” he told OTK Info Unit in response to MPs clamouring for speed limiters to be fitted to express buses.

Bernama reported on Tuesday (Oct 26, 2010) MPs from both sides of the divide in Parliament called for express buses to be equipped with devices to cap the speed at not more than 90km/hr.

Ong said after he was appointed the lead minister in charge of urban public transport under the National Key Result Area (NKRA) in 2009, “our top concern was fatal road accidents involving public transport”.

“The Road Transport Department (RTD) and the Road Safety Department were directed to study the matter and come up with workable and proactive measures to curb such rising fatal crashes.

“We also decided to join the Global Road Safety Partnership (GRSP) which brings together governments and governmental agencies, the private sector and civil society organisations to address road safety issues,” he said.

GRSP is a programme hosted by the Geneva-based International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).

“I then directed that the fitting of speed limiters on to express buses be made mandatory and a grace period be given to operators to install the devices.

“Unfortunately, after I was dropped from the cabinet, nothing has been heard about it, despite constant reminders,” he said, stressing that speed limiters were more effective in tackling speedsters than just having the Global Positioning System (GPS).

He said the GPS could only be used to monitor the movement of vehicles and calculate the time used by the driver to complete his journey.

“It does not solve the problem of speeding. So, the implementation of speed limiters is urgent. Stop dilly-dallying on a matter that concerns the people’s lives,” he added.

Ong stressed the public had the right to know the status and progress of the implementation of speed limiters to help save lives.

“Of course there is financial consideration of having to install the devices. But between financial consideration and public safety, it is obvious which is more important.

“Stop wasting time, stop wasting more lives,” he added.

The call comes in the wake of the express bus tragedy on the North-South Highway near the Simpang Ampat toll plaza on Oct 10 in which 13 people were killed.

ORIGINAL POSTING http://ongteekeat.net

Ampang Jaya By-Election

Submitted by webmaster on Sun, 2010-10-31 08:57
Jan' 89 (Malay Mail)
From ‘Kopi O’ talk to politics
By Au Foong Yee

Though nomination day is still not till Saturday, Mr Ong is already pushing himself in a way that is not entirely alien to him.

After all, he came from a modest home with a fishmonger father struggling to feed a wife and two young sons – Mr Ong has an older brother, an electrician.

Born and bred in Kuala Lumpur, Mr Ong had his early education in Confucian High School.

By the time he reached Form Two and expenditure was an increasingly burden on his father, Mr Ong started scouting around for scholarships.

His grit and determination had him hanging on. It was scholarships and study loans that finally saw him through secondary school and then tertiary education in Universiti Malaya.

Although he was far from being an active unionist, Mr Ong joined MCA as soon as he graduated in 1981.

“I wanted to improve things for the people as a whole, to alleviate the hardship faced by them,” said Mr Ong.

“People have always related politics to power. But  feel that politics have noble ideals.”

Mr Ong, the political secretary to MCA deputy president Lee Kim Sai, has since decided that he does not want to be just a politician.

“A statesman. Yes, I want to be a statesman, a negarawan who is motivated by lofty ideals and who can see things not just in the right perspective but more importantly, on a macro level,” said Mr Ong who is fluent in Bahasa Malaysia, Chinese and English. He also speaks and write Jawi.

For someone who started off writing scripts and submitting short stories and essays to local newspapers, Mr Ong has certainly come a long way.

Mr Ong is now a regular political columnist in three vernacular newspapers. He used to write the script for the once- popular television series Empat Sekawan.

Besides attending to the needs of constituents in Mr Lee Kim Sai’s area and other party work he tries to spend as much time as he can with his teacher-wife Madam Chooi Yoke Chun, 32, and their two young daughters Swan Wui, four, and Swan Yen, 18 months.

ORIGINAL POSTING http://ongteekeat.net

Cool head in hot seat

Submitted by webmaster on Sun, 2010-10-31 09:40
The Sunday Times, July 5, 1992 (PROFILE)

Malaysian deputy speaker ONG TEE KEAT sees his writing, politics and engineering as tools for social change Cool head in hot seat

He is the person whose patience opposition members in the Malaysian Parliament like to test. ISMAIL KASSIM of the Foreign Desk talks to the man at the centre of opposition leader Lim Kit Siang’s suspension (until year-end) from Parliament.

MR ONG TEE KEAT, Malaysian MP for Ampang Jaya, has on-the-job training on how to remain cool and collected under provocation. After two years as deputy speaker of the Lower House of Parliament, he feels that he has become a little more patient and tolerant.

No one in that hot seat has been more severely tested than Mr Ong, who is from the Malaysian Chinese Association, Umno’s key partner in the ruling National Front coalition.

MPs from the opposition Democratic Action Party in particular have gone out of their way to antagonise and provoke him. To them, he is Public Enemy No.1, mainly because of his party affiliation. The MCA is the DAP’s rival for the support of the Chinese in Malaysia.

QUOTE: “I keep telling myself: Don’t fall into their trap. Disappoint them …”
His acceptance of their challenge to a public debate last year over which party – the MCA or the DAP – was a political parasite further incensed DAP representatives. Mr Ong was pitted against Lim Guan Eng, the DAP youth leader, in a contest in which no winner emerged.

His active political involvement gives them sufficient ammunition to accuse him of being biased against them when they raise issues involving the MCA in Parliament.

Mr Ong, with a hint of temper, dismisses allegations of bias against him as scurrilous.

“I am not perturbed. Can they say which ruling or which action was biased? I don’t think they can, because I always make a clear distinction between my post as deputy speaker and my position as the MP for Ampang Jaya,” he said.

In Parliament, no one has ever seen him lose his cool. When he calls for

“tenang” (calm) or rules “saya sudah buat keputusan” (I have made my decision), his “one never varies.

His secret weapon is to keep reminding himself to remain cool. “I keep telling myself: Don’t fall into their trap.

Disappoint them …,” he said, during an interview in his second-floor office in Parliament Building.

Mr Ong does try to get even sometimes by resorting to a little sarcasm on the side – like reminding the offending MP that “ his behaviour is not in keeping with his august position”.

His mastery of Bahasa, the official language in Parliament, and English helps him to control the situation.

To some observers, his speeches are little too formal because he is not a native speaker. That may also be why his humorous side is hardly seen in the House.

He displays his humour occasionally during press conferences. For example, after his appointment as deputy speaker, he “disclosed” that he too collected videotapes, adding quickly that his favourites were My Fair Lady and The Sound of Music.

He was making light of the controversy that brought down his predecessor, Mr D.P.Vijandran, who accused of acting in pornographic videos.

After the tensions of presiding in Parliament, he likes to relax at home listening to classical music.

A little wine will make him feel even better. In his office, he goes for water from a mineral pot, taking coffee or tea only when visitors drop by.

Music heals him. It also inspires him. When he studies or when he writes his regular newspaper columns for several Chinese dailies, he needs to listen to music first to get into the mood. And before he goes up the political rostrum to deliver a speech, he tunes in to martial music to stir up his fighting spirit.

It was his willingness to battle against great odds that enabled Mr Ong to knock out veteran politician Datuk Harun Idris.

THAT David-and-Goliath by-election duel in January 1989 for the Ampang Jaya seat was the baptism of fire for the earnest young man. He was only 32 and political secretary to MCA deputy president Datuk Lee Kim Sai, a post he had held since 1986 after giving up his lucrative career as a mechanical engineer.

To him, life becomes meaningful only when one gets involved in a struggle.

“You can choose wealth, position or public service,” he said. A well-built six-footer, the bespectacled Mr Ong had always wanted to serve the people since his teens.

His chance came earlier than expected when the Ampang Jaya seat fell vacant.

Mr Ong resigned as political secretary on becoming deputy speaker, for which he was paid only an allowance.

“I was not obliged to resign but I decided to step down to avoid a possible conflict of interest,” he said.

He grew up in Kuala Lumpur’s Chinatown, where his father was a fishmonger. He returns to his roots regularly. “Nostalgia lures me back, rather than the appetising attractions of the hawker fare,” he said.

Like his parents, he does not subscribe to any religion. That does not make him “an atheist but a free thinker. I take religion like philosophy,” he insisted.

He concedes readily that he was a radical during his student days in the University of Malaya. “I was critical of the MCA,” he said.

After leaving the university, he reviewed his position. He felt that the Chinese needed a vehicle which could get things done in a multiracial context, and not in a confrontational way.

Being a pragmatist and man of action, he walked into an MCA branch and enrolled “without any fanfare” soon after making his decision to get into politics.

For five years he served as grassroots worker, helping out in a variety of jobs, including using his calligraphic skills to prepare political banners.

Those who knew him then described him as humble notwithstanding his professional qualifications, and helpful to a fault.

He has also been making a name for himself preparing drama scripts for radio and television, contributing short stories to Chinese dailies, and writing several books. He even won several awards for his writing.

Mr Ong, who married his childhood sweetheart 10 years ago and who has three daughters, sees a unity in his varied interests-creative writing, politics and engineering. Creative writing, he says, acts as a catalyst for social change, politics allows one to initiate the change, while engineering provides the means for carrying out the plans.

His busy schedule has not prevented the appearance of middle-age spread.

He thinks that he has put on about 10 kg in the last one year, the result of too many 10-course dinners and too little exercise. He goes for brisk walks and has just picked up golf to keep fit.

Observers consider him a man with a great future.

“He is bright, energetic and hardworking, and he has lots of potential. But he has to watch out,” said one of them.

MR ONG TEE KEAT was born in 1956 in Kuala Lumpur.  He is married with three daughters.

1981: Joined MCA

1986 Appointed political secretary to Datuk Lee Kim Sai, MCA deputy presient

1989: Elected as MP for Ampang jaya in a by-election

1990: Appointed deputy speaker of Parliament. Elected MCA youth secretary-general and a central committee member.

It is no secret that some MCA members want to cut him down to size because he was in the wrong camp in the party infighting two years ago. He supported Datuk Lee Kim Sai in his abortive bid to overthrow the incumbent president Datuk Dr Ling Liong Sik.

Though many in his faction became casualties in the election, he bucked the trend by getting elected as the MCA youth secretary-general and to a place in the MA central committee.

Since then, he has tried to mend fences with the victorious faction. He says that it is part of the democratic process to close ranks behind the winners.

ORIGINAL POSTING http://ongteekeat.net

Touch of Black Humour

Submitted by webmaster on Sun, 2010-10-31 09:16

The Malay Mail, Wednesday, June 13, 1990

By Indira Nayar

IN the short time he has been in the public eye, the Member of Parliament for Ampang Jaya Ong Tee Keat has come across as a straight-laced and cautious technocrat.

So it was a relief to find a sense of humour beneath the sober exterior of the newly-elected Dewan Rakyat Deputy Speaker.

“I collect video tapes too,” he confessed alluding to the controversy which rocked Parliament and brought about the downfall of his predecessor, Mr D.P.Vijandran.

Mr Ong smiled cheekily and quickly added: “My favourites are The Sound Of Music and My Fair Lady.”

He is as straight as they come, but it is heartening to know our new Deputy Speaker has a sense of humour – something he will surely need in commanding order in a forum where members are sometimes known for their tantrums and clownishness.

“It was a surprise,” he said about his nomination for the post which he read about in newspapers on his way home from the United States last month.

He immediately confirmed it with MCA leaders, and despite being elected to the post on Monday, he still says: “It’s all been too sudden for me …”

That was about the only hesitant note throughout the hour-long interview with The Malay Mail at his new office on the second floor of Parliament House yesterday.

While the Dewan Rakyat is in sitting, the Deputy Speaker said he will be in at 10 each morning to “do preparations … go through whatever is necessary”.

Mr Ong, 33, is his usual earnest self when he speaks of his work.

The son of a fishmonger, he was an active grassroots MCA member while at varsity. Six years after graduating as a mechanical engineer, and while enjoying a lucrative post at an engineering firm, he quit to become political secretary to Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Lee Kim Sai. This was in 1986.

Mr Ong was the Barisan Nasional candidate in the Ampang Jaya by-election last January in which he beat veteran politician Datuk Harun Idris by over 4,000 votes.

He made it clear he need not have resigned his post as political secretary to be Deputy Speaker but did so on principle.

“Being political secretary makes me part of the executive, but as Deputy Dewan Rakyat Speaker I am now part of the legislative.

“I resigned because I felt there might be a conflict of interest if I held on to both posts,” he said in his simple, forthright manner.

As Deputy Speaker, Mr Ong draws only an allowance and not the salary which he commanded as political secretary. This has fired speculation in the vernacular Press that he will lose out on a lot of money.

Mr Ong is angered by this sort of speculation as it does not parallel his own way of thinking.

“If people keep counting the ringgit and the sen, their vision will be blurred by the $ sign,” he said.

It may also afford him more time to dabble in his hobby – writing.

Mr Ong is married to primary schoolteacher Chooi Yoke Chun, and the couple has three daughters, aged five, three and one. 

ORIGINAL POSTING http://ongteekeat.net

The One-Minute Life

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Speech Of Acceptance Of The Honourary Doctorate From University Of Sunderland, UK

Submitted by webmaster on Thu, 2010-10-28 13:23
By O.T.K. Info Unit

KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 28, 2010): The University of Sunderland (UOS) has conferred an Honorary Doctorate in Education on Pandan MP Dato’ Sri (Dr) Ong Tee Keat.

The mechanical engineer turned full-time politician was recognised by the UOS for his contributions in the field of education.

Ong founded Yayasan Bakti Nusa Malaysia (YBNM) after becoming the people’s elected representative in Ampang Jaya/Pandan.

YBNM was set up to help poor students in his constituency but it has evolved into a socio-education development foundation.

Ong also founded the Technical Resources and Internship Network programme (TRAIN) aimed at opening opportunities in vocational and skills training to those not academically inclined.

The following is Ong’s acceptance speech at SEGi University College’s convocation on Saturday (Oct 23, 2010):

“Honourable Chancellor,
Honourable Vice Chancellor,
Academics & Graduands
Distinguished guests,
Ladies & gentlemen.

I am immensely honoured and grateful to the University of Sunderland for conferring this award to me. It is a moment of great happiness in everyone’s life here in this hall, when a university degree is received, no matter at what level, from one of UK’s best institutions.

I am privileged and at the same time humbled to receive the Honorary Doctorate in Education today. It is more significant for me when I look back and ponder over the challenges that I had been grappling with during my early years of acquiring formal education.

Growing up in Kuala Lumpur in a family struggling to make ends meet, the spectre of dropping out of school was very real indeed. But we knew the value of solid education as foundation on which to build one’s life and I persevered. I managed to obtain a scholarship and completed my degree course in Mechanical Engineering from University Malaya.

Thanks to that particular opportunity, I am where I am today. The education in university was not just about graduating with a degree. It expanded my horizons, helped me mature and raised my consciousness to a level I could not have otherwise achieved on my own. And as the famous American Chief Justice, Oliver Wendel Holmes Jr. once said, “Imagination, once stretched can never return to its original dimensions”.

I realized and appreciated in great depth the importance of higher education as a liberator of one’s life, and indeed for society as a whole. It underpins our democracy by equalizing the conditions of its people. It became clear that no one race, or religion, or sect can lay claim to the vast knowledge that lay before us.

At the same time, I witnessed and experienced its powerful effect it had on me, people around me, and society in general – that there is a direct correlation between educational attainment with occupational opportunities and finally the right to lead the life one chooses to value.

This sparked my life-long passion in promoting the idea of equal educational opportunity for all Malaysians.

The Higher Opportunities for Private Education Programme or HOPE, of which I am patron, opens the doors to Malaysians, regardless of race or religion, to pursue higher education at private institutions of higher learning, when they were denied a place in the public universities. Under HOPE, we made private education at top-notch private universities and colleges accessible to needy students through innovative subsidized scheme. To date, more than 1,200 students have benefitted from our efforts at HOPE.

Yet our efforts show that democratising education, which in turns fuels our freedom, demands more than just opening doors to our young. It underpins a more sophisticated notion of the right to equal access to education and training. As we attempt to find a grip on equality of opportunity in a diverse society, we need to think of both the process of opportunity as well as the capability aspect of opportunities. We need to take cognizance of the context and capacity, their talents, backgrounds, advantages and disadvantages and enable them to take action.

This is why we started the Technical Resources and Internship Network programme or  TRAIN. TRAIN continues to open opportunities in vocational and skill training to those who are not academically inclined. Elsewhere, like in my constituency in Pandan, I take satisfaction in seeing our free tuition programme for schoolchildren continues to grow from strength to strength.

Creating substantively equal life chances for all the people is one of the pinnacles of the1Malaysia notion, and is certainly more powerful than loud but empty slogans. This,however, does not equate to and neither do I propose a damning ‘levelling-down’ where all are subject to the same one educational system and have the same results.

Rather, the more sophisticated form of equality may necessarily lead to some outperforming others. But if such a case arises, it is not through artificial social engineering hinged on arbitrary concerns such as colour and creed but through merit and talent.

It is this same spirit that I find burning within the hallowed halls of the University of Sunderland. I share your pride in witnessing the wonder that more than 300 people are able to graduate here today in Malaysia, half way across the world in Sunderland. It rings a true meaning to opening and equalizing educational opportunities for the people.

Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor, Graduands and Guests, I hereby accept this Honorary Doctorate with humility, appreciation and pride.”

ORIGINAL POSTING : http://ongteekeat.net

Ong upholds transparency in Pandan

Submitted by webmaster on Thu, 2010-10-28 14:16
By O.t.k Info Unit

KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 28, 2010): Pandan MP Dato’ Sri Ong Tee Keat says he is committed to upholding transparency in approving aid to the needy and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in his constituency.

“I observe strict transparency in approving aid to the people and NGOs. And giving out aid is not a seasonal affair.

“My service centre (O.t.k Sevice Centre in Pandan Indah) has been doing this once every two months,” he said in his address at a cheque presentation ceremony in Pandan Indah yesterday.
Ong presented a total of RM49,030 in aid to 10 NGOs and 22 individuals.

The individuals include those in need of welfare aid and the sick.
He said NGOs and individuals would call on his centre to present their case and “I study the cases very carefully before making a decision”.

“We also conduct our own investigations before approving or rejecting any request for financial aid,” he said, adding that the approvals were made irrespective of race or religion.

ORIGINAL POSTING : http://ongteekeat.net

历史并不是当权者的诠释，翁诗杰

Submitted by webmaster on Thu, 2010-10-28 15:30
O.T.K. Info Unit

班登区国会议员拿督翁诗杰提醒华社，历史并不是当权者的诠释，我们肩负著承先启后的责任，须保存及收留历史档案，这是祖先留下来的汗水（功劳），是我们做主的（话事权）。

这些是先贤历史见证，有著我们华裔的贡献与恓性，这是非常重要的，决是不允许篡改。

翁氏表示，只保存及收留历史档案是不足够的，必须用心的加以整理和编辑，进而把它数码化和放上网公布和分享，才不会成为白蚁的“美食”。

在我们还健在的时候，该做的就去做，把历史文字档案加以编辑和保存下来，就如中国万里长城也是经过多个朝代的复修才得以保存，这样就不怕被人篡改。

翁诗杰称，政府办公高楼大厦一幢幢建造起来，但它的使用率有多少，成效在那里，这些疑问，作为纳税人包括他本身，就有权力说话。如果这些大厦被空置著，就是浪费资源，也就浪费了我们纳税人的金钱。

我国出国考察团官员甚多，这包括国阵民盟政府，耗资的费用也自然多，在花了大笔金钱后，是否达到成效。

我不是丢官了才说大话，在我任部长时，每一样开销必须清楚说明，就如出国考察一样，必须要有详细的报告，然后再加以的跟进，这样才能达致效果。

Pin yin translation

lì shĭ bìng bù shì dāng quán zhĕ de quán shì - wēng    shī    jié

bān dēng Oū guó huì yì yuán ná dū wēng shī jié tí xĭng huá shè, lì shĭ bìng bù shì dāng quán zhĕ de quán shì, wŏ men jiān fù zhù    chéng xiān qĭ hòu de zé rèn, xū băo cún jí shōu liú lì shĭ dàng àn, zhè shì zŭ xiān liú xià lái de hàn shuĭ (gōng láo), shì wŏ men zuò zhŭ de (huà shì quán).

zhè xiē shì xiān xián lì shĭ jiàn zhèng, yŏu zhe wŏ men huá yì de gòng xiàn yú xī xìng, zhè shì fēi cháng zhòng yào de, jué shì bù yŭn xŭ uàn găi.

wēng shì biăo shì, zhĭ băo cún jí shōu liú lì shĭ dàng àn shì bù zú gòu de, bì xū yòng xīn de jiā yĭ zhĕng lĭ  hé biān jí, jìn ér bă tā shù mă  huà hé fàng shàng  wăng gōng bù hé fēn xiăng, cái bù huì  chéng wéi bái yĭ de "mĕi shí".

zài wŏ men hái jiàn zài de shí hou, gāi zuò de jiù qù zuò, bă lì shĭ wén zì dàng àn jiā yĭ biān jí hé băo cún xià lai, jiù rú Zhōng guó Wàn Lĭ Cháng chéng yĕ shì jīng guò duō ge cháo dài  de fù xiū  cái dé yĭ  băo cún, zhè yàng  jiù bù pà  bèi  rén cuàn  găi 

wēng shī    jié chèn,     zhèng fŭ    bàn gōng    gāo lóu dà shà yī chuáng chuáng jiàn zào qĭ lai, dàn tā de shĭ yòng    lǜ yŏu duō shăo, chéng xiào zài nà li, zhè xiē yí wèn, zuò wéi nà shuì rén bāo    kuò tā bĕn shēn, jiù yŏu quán lì shuō    huà.

rú guŏ zhè xiē dà shà bèi kōng zhì zhù, jiù shì làng fèi zī  yuán, yĕ  jiù làng fèi le wŏ men nà shuì rén de jīn.    qián.

wŏ guó chū guó kăo chá tuán guān yuán shèn duō, zhè bāo kuò guó zhèn Mín Méng zhèng fŭ, hào zī de fèi yòng yĕ  zì  rán duō, zài huā le  dà bĭ jīn qián hòu, shì fŏu dá dào chéng xiào.

wŏ bù shì  diū guān  le cái shuō dà huà, zài wŏ rèn bù zhăng shí, mĕi yī yàng kāi xiāo bì xū qīng chu shuō míng, jiù rú    chū guó kăo chá yī  yàng, bì xū yào yŏu xiáng xì de bào gào, rán hòu zài jiā yĭ de gēn jìn,  zhè yàng cái néng dá zhì  xiào  guŏ.

Translation by Google Translate

Interpretation of history is not in power, Ong Tee Keat

Pandan Member of Parliament Datuk Ong Tee Keat to remind the Chinese community, history is not the interpretation of those in power, we shoulder the responsibility of continuity, the history files to be saved, and shelter, which is ancestral sweat (credit), that we call the shots in the ( the final say).

These are the sages of history bear witness, with the contribution of our Chinese and troubled nature, it is very important, decisions are not allowed to tamper with.

Ong said the only archival preservation and shelter is not enough, must be hard to organize and edit, and then put it to digital and online publication and sharing, termites will not be "gourmet."

We are still alive in the time to do just do it, the history of the text file to be edited and saved, as the Great Wall of China is also a refresher after many dynasties were able to save, so no fear of being tampered with.

Ong said the high-rise blocks of government offices to build it, but it is the number of usage, where the effectiveness of these questions, including his own as taxpayers, have the power to speak. If these buildings are idle, is a waste of resources, it cost us taxpayers money.

Officials of many overseas tours, including the NLD BN government, the cost will naturally cost more, in the spent a lot of money, whether the results.

I'm not Diu guan the only boast, in my ministerial office, each cost the same to be clear as study abroad, must have a detailed report, and any further follow-up, so as to achieve the effect.

ORIGINAL POSTING : http://ongteekeat.net

Stop deceiving yourselves, women told

Submitted by webmaster on Tue, 2010-10-26 20:32

KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 26, 2010): Women must stop deceiving themselves by taking the attitude that “It will not happen to me”.

“This is why violence against young girls and women is on the rise,” Women, Family and Community Development Deputy Minister Senator Heng Seai Kai said.

Addressing about 250 young girls and women participants at the closing of City Survival Workshop 2 in Sogo Complex on Sunday (Oct 24, 2010), Heng appealed to them not take their safety for granted.

“You must always be alert of your surroundings. It is better to be prepared than to be sorry when tragedy strikes,” she added.

“It is sad that we are reading more cases of violence, including rape, kidnapping, missing persons and snatch theft in our daily newspapers.

“Some of the tragedies are really gruesome and the perpetrators are getting more and more crafty. It is therefore imperative that we learn to protect ourselves from any impending dangers,” she said.

Heng praised the participants for taking their time off to acquire knowledge on how to take the necessary precautions to avoid becoming victims of violent crime.

“On our daily journeys to school, to work, to the market etc, we face risks and while some of us are fortunate, others may not be so lucky. There are some really unfortunate ones who lost their lives.

“Your presence here this morning reflects your commitment in wanting to learn the skills of urban survival. Please impart what you have learnt to your female friends and family members who are not here this morning,” she said.

Heng noted that the recent Datuk Sosilawati Lawiya’s murder showed that women could not take for granted that they would be safe even in the company of three men.

“We all have to do our part in arresting the crime rate. The police have their part to play, so do we, as citizens. The little precautions we take may help not only us, but also others near us if we always remain alert of the lurking dangers,” she added.

Representing the Inspector-General of Police at the closing of the workshop, Deputy CID Director Datuk Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani said the police were always duty-bound and committed to ensuring public safety.

“But individuals, especially women, must also take proactive measures to raise their personal awareness on their safety,” he said.

“Everyone must play whatever role possible to help reduce violence against children and women,” he added.

Providing statistics to show the concern, Acryl said 902 women and 2,507 children were raped in 2008, 926 women and 2,700 children were victims the following year.

Up to August this year, 670 women and 1,756 children were victims of rape.

Acryl also provided the statistics for outraging modesty in which 1,219 women and 912 children were victims in 2008, 1,181 women and 929 children in 2009.

Up to August this year, 276 women and 665 children reported that they had their modesty outraged.

The workshop is part of the 1Malaysia Social Caring Initiative programme endorsed by the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry.

It is organised by Yayasan Bakti Nusa Malaysia (an education and social foundation) founded by Pandan MP Dato’ Seri Ong Tee Keat and Persatuan Belia Rakan Nusa.

Sogo Shopping Complex was the platinum sponsor for the seond edition of the nationwide workshop.

The third workshop is being planned for Ipoh.

ORIGINAL POSTING : http://ongteekeat.net

University of Sunderland’s honorary doctorate for Ong

Submitted by webmaster on Wed, 2010-10-27 16:36
By OTK Info Unit

KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 27, 2010): Pandan MP Dato’ Sri Ong Tee Keat was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Education from United Kingdom’s University of Sunderland (UOS) on Saturday (Oct 23, 2010).
The presentation of award was held at SEGi University College’s convocation in Kota Damansara.

(Dr) Ong received his scroll from UOS vice chancellor and chief executive Prof Peter Fidler.

Earlier, UOS recruitment and business partnership director Sue Reece read out the citation for the presentation, witnessed by about 300 graduands.
The citation:

“Dato’ Sri Ong Tee Keat is the current Member of Parliament for Pandan and Executive Advisor to Yayasan Bakti Nusa. He was the 8th President of the Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA), the second largest party of the country’s ruling coalition, and served as Transport Minister in the Malaysian federal cabinet from 2008 to June 2010.

Born, raised and educated in Kuala Lumpur, Tee Keat was educated at Confucian High School and Methodist Boys School in his early years. After graduating with with a degree in mechanical engineering from Malaya University, he took up a lucrative position at an engineering firm.

After becoming a full-time politician in 1989, he contested and convincingly won the Ampang Jaya parliamentary seat against a former Menteri Besar of Selangor, Datuk Harun Idris. He went on to hold the seat for four terms before contesting and winning the newly created Pandan parliamentary seat in 2004 and 2008 general elections.

Before he assumed his role as Minister of Transport in 2008, he served as Deputy Speaker for the Lower House of Parliament, Deputy Minister for Youth & Sports, and Deputy Minister of Higher Education Malaysia.

Tee Keat is known for his straight-talking and people-centric style. He is often perceived as a maverick that is not afraid to walk the talk. As Transport Minister, he was known to have courageously exposed the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) debacle, which has led to civil lawsuits against fraudulent parties as well as the arrest and charging of several high-profile personalities.

He ultimately paid the price for his value-oriented politics and his drive for change within the Party and Government, when he failed to defend his Presidency of MCA in March 2010, which also cost him his position in the cabinet.

Tee Keat continues serve the people through his participation in non-governmental organisations (NGOs) such as Yayasan Bakti Nusa which is involved in community projects such as mobile clinic services, shelter schemes and school tuition programmes especially for the urban poor across the country.

As patron of HOPE (Higher Opportunities for Private Education) Foundation, he oversaw that more than 1,200 young Malaysians who were previously unable to obtain a place in Government universities were given a chance to pursue diploma and degrees at subsidised fees at over 15 universities and colleges since 2006.

Tee Keat’s passion in education and training is further exemplified when he introduced the Technical Resources and Internship Network (TRAIN) programme which offered to hundreds of school drop-outs as well as those who are not academically inclined to obtain vocational and internationally recognised skills-based qualification that are taught in their own language.

He was recently elected as one of the three vice-presidents of the Buddha’s Light International Association (BLIA), an organisation with an international network sprawling across five continents.

A gifted writer, Tee Keat penned his thoughts as a columnist for Sin Chew Jit Poh and as scriptwriter for local television series in the 1970s and 80s. An avid blogger, he continues to speak his mind and voice out for the people as a columnist for the print and electronic media.”

ORIGINAL POSTING : http://ongteekeat.net

Glossary of Stock Market Terminology

Allotment -The allocation of new securities to an applicant for a new issue.

Annual General Meeting -Mandatory yearly meeting of a company for the purposes of receiving the directors' report and statement of accounts for the year, declaring a dividend, electing directors and auditors and determining the auditors' remuneration.

Annual Report & Accounts -A document to be forwarded to shareholders by the directors of a company on an annual basis which contains, amongst others, the annual audited accounts of the company.

Arbitrage -Buying on one exchange and selling on another at virtually the same moment to take advantage of a price variation in a company's shares listed on the two exchanges.

Articles of Association -The documents of a company that govern the management and administration of that company.

Asset Backing -A handy yardstick for shareholders. It is the net assets of a company (assets less liabilities) divided by the number of shares.

At Discretion -An instruction given by a client to his broker, for the broker to buy or sell a stock at his (the broker's) discretion.

At Limit -An order placed which sets a limit on either the lowest or highest price, for which a share is bought or sold.

At Market (also At Best) -An instruction to buy or sell at market price. Allows the broker/dealer complete freedom of action. Should be treated with caution and used only when a share must be sold.

Authorised -Order entry, modification, and cancellation are generally authorised for the instrument.

Authorised Capital -The nominal amount of capital that a limited company is permitted to raise under the capital clause in its Memorandum of Association.

Averaging -Buying more of the same shares, generally on a falling market, to lower the average cost per share. (Can also average up, thereby raising the average cost per share).

Balance Sheet -A company's year-end statement of assets and liabilities.

Bear Market -A stock market in which sellers dominate, resulting in generally falling prices.

Blue Chips -The shares of a company known to make profits in good and bad times. As there is a low risk of capital loss, the dividend and earnings yield are proportionately low.

Bond -A document recording a loan and specifying the date of maturity and the rate of interest to be paid.

Bonus Issue -Distribution of capital funds (usually from a revaluation of assets or a share premium reserve) to shareholders in the form of shares for which payment is not required.

Bourse -A French term for stock exchange, grain exchange or exchange dealing in commodities.

Broker (Stockbroker) -An agent, authorised to buy and sell shares on behalf of a client.

Brokerage -A fee charged for the broker's services. Also called commission.

Bull Market -A stock market in which buyers dominate and where prices are on a rising trend.

Buying-In ~Buying-in means the buying effected by the Exchange, according to the rules of the Exchange, of securities which a seller has failed to deliver on the day fixed for delivery.

Calls -An instalment called up by a company on contributing or partly paid shares. A legal liability for shareholders of other than a "No Liability" company.

Capital Gain/ Loss -Profit/loss made on the sale of a capital asset.

Closing Price -The price of a share or security at the end of a day's stock market trading.

Class of Shares -A document recording a loan and specifying the date of maturity and the rate of interest to be paid.

Commission -A fee charged for the broker's services. Also called brokerage.

Companies Act 1965 -The Act of Parliament that governs companies.

Company -A separate legal entity, incorporated under the Companies Act 1965, carrying on a business or trade. A company may be private or public, limited by shares or unlimited, or limited by guarantee.

Contract Note -Document sent by brokers to clients of a purchase or sale of shares. It confirms the transaction, giving details of price, brokerage, stamp duty and clearing fee.

Continuous Matching -Continuous Matching is an order matching process according to price, time, then priority, without human intervention. After receiving buy or sell orders, Bursa Trade queues the orders and arranges them according to a price-then-time priority. This means orders are first grouped according to price, with the best price taking precedence. Then, within each price group, orders are arranged according to time. Continuous matching procedures only operate during the regular trading sessions. Bursa Trade continuously matches the first buy and sell orders in the queue, and at the same time, confirms each executed transaction.

Cum -A prefix meaning "with". A share quoted "cum-dividend" means the buyer is entitled to a dividend currently attaching to it, similarly with cum-rights and cum-bonus.

Debenture -A fixed interest security which has a maturity date and a specified rate of interest. The assets of the borrowing company are charged against the debenture issue; details of the charge are included in a Debenture Deed drawn up to protect the debenture holder.

Debt/ Equity Ratio -The relationship between a company's borrowing and its shareholders' capital funds.

Direct Business -In relation to the KLSE, any share transactions effected outside the Exchange, including:

crossing, that is transaction between two stockbroking companies; or

"married" transaction between two clients within a stockbroking company.

Discount -The amount by which the price of a share is quoted below its paid-up value.

Dissolution -The winding up of a company by way of compulsory liquidation or voluntary liquidation.

Dividend Cover -The number of items a company's annual dividend could be paid out of current earnings.

Dividend Yield -The amount of a company's annual dividend expressed as a percentage of the current price of the share of that company.

Earnings Per Share -The amount of a company's annual profits or earning attributable to each ordinary share of that company.

Equity -Another name for the ordinary shares of a company.

Ex -Prefix meaning "without", the opposite to "cum". The purchaser is not entitled to dividends, bonus shares or rights previously attached to the share.

Face Value- The actual paid-up value of a share. Seldom the same as the market value.

Float -Term given to the commencement or listing of a new company on the stock market.

Forbidden -Order, entry, modification and cancellation are forbidden for the instrument Auto forbidden is activated when an instrument expires at the end of a particular contract month.

Gilt Edged -A term usually associated with government or semi-government securities, more generally used on British markets.

Growth Stocks -Shares of companies with good prospects for increasing profits and capital size. Likely to bring shareholders future capital gains through a share price rise, high dividends, share bonuses or rights issues.

Indices -In relation to a stock exchange, calculations made on an index number basis to indicate the movements in the general level of prices of securities listed on that stock exchange.

Initial Public Offering (IPO) -An initial public offering (IPO) occurs when a company first sells common shares to investors in the public. Generally, the company offers primary shares this way, although sometimes, secondary shares are also sold as IPOs. For a company to offer IPOs, they need to hire a corporate lawyer as well as an investment banker to underwrite the offer. The actual sale of the shares is generally offered by the stock exchange or by regulators. When the company starts to offer IPOs, they are usually required to reveal financial information about the company so that investors can make an informed decision.

Insider Trading/ Dealing -Insider trading or dealing is the purchase or sale of a company's securities effected by or on behalf of a person with knowledge of relevant but non-public material information regarding that company. The insider is in a position to make massive gains by selling or buying securities before information that might affect the price of the company's securities (price-sensitive information) is made public.

Insider trading is an offence under the Companies Act 1965 and the Securities Industry Act 1983.

Instrument -A tradeble asset or negotiable item such as a security, commodity, derivative or index, or any item that underlies a derivative. An instrument is a means by which something of value is transferred, held or accomplished.

Issued Share Capital -The total number of shares issued by a company.

Limit Order -To avoid buying or selling a stock at a price higher or lower than what is wanted, it’s best to place a limit order rather than a market order. A limit order is an order to buy or sell an instrument at a specific price. A buy limit order can only be executed at the limit price or lower, and a sell limit order can only be executed at the limit price or higher. When a market order is placed, the price at which an order will be filled can’t be controlled. For example, if you want to buy a "hot" stock that was initially offered at RM9, but don't want to end up paying more than RM11.70 for the stock, you can place a limit order to buy the stock at any price up to RM11.70. By entering a limit order rather than a market order, you will not be caught buying the stock at RM11.70 and then suffering immediate losses if the stock drops later in the day or the weeks ahead. A limit order may never be executed because the market price may quickly surpass the investor’s limit before the order can be filled. Using a limit order also protects the investor from buying a stock at too high a price. Some firms may charge more for executing a limit order than a market order.

Liquidation- The winding up of a company, which may either be compulsory or voluntary.

Liquidity of The Market -The state of affairs in a stock market in which it is generally easy to convert securities into cash and vice versa, without causing a movement in prices.

Loan Stock -A security issued by a company in respect of a loan made by investors.    

Manipulations -The act of transacting in the securities of a company that will have or is likely to have the effect of raising or lowering or maintaining the price of the company's securities on a stock market, with the intention of inducing other persons to purchase or subscribe for the company's securities. Such acts are illegal under the Securities Industry Act 1983.

Market Capitalization -The total value of a listed company's shares based on current market price.

Market Order -A market order is an order to buy or sell a stock at the current market price. Unless otherwise specified, a broker will enter an order as a market order. The advantage of a market order is that it is almost always guaranteed that the order will be executed (as long as there are willing buyers and sellers). Depending on a firm’s commission structure, a market order may also be less expensive than a limit order.

Marketable Parcel- Shares traded on a stock exchange as set in multiples based on share price.

Market Bids -A scale on which trading bids, through a stock exchange, are based.

Memorandum of Association -The document of a company that lays down its name, registered office, objectives, share capital and the liability of its members in the event of winding up.

Merger -In general terms, the amalgamation of two business enterprises into a new entity.

Negotiated Commission -The amount of fee to be paid to a stockbroker as agreed upon between client and stockbroker and not subject to a scale stipulated by the stock exchange concerned.

Nominee Company -A company formed by a stockbroking company, bank or other institution for the purpose of holding shares on behalf of the beneficial owners of the shares.

Odd Lots -This is an amount of shares that is smaller than the usual unit of trading; specifically, a quantity of less than 100 shares of stock in a transaction or a trade that is not divisible by 100.

Offer for Sale -One way in which the shares of a company are offered to the public, normally through an issuing house.

Official List -In respect of the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange, the list of all securities which have been admitted for quotation in accordance with the Exchange's Listing Requirements.

Open -Order entry, modification, cancellation and order execution are allowed for the instrument assuming the group state permits.

Option -Right to take up or sell shares at an agreed price at or before a specified future date. Prefixed with terms of "call" or "put".

Order Book -Order Book is an 'electronic book' that shows the demand for the shares of the company at various prices on a real time basis.

Paid-Up Capital -The amount of a company's authorised capital which has been subscribed by shareholders.

Par Value -The nominal price of a share, loan stock or debenture.

Pari Passu -In relation to a statement that newly issued shares rank pari passu with all existing shares, such newly issued share rank equally in every respect with all the other shares of the same class previously issued.

Portfolio -A selection of securities held by an investor.

Premium -The amount by which a share is quoted above its paid-up value.

Price Discovery -The process by which price is determined by negotiation in a free market. Basically, any asset purchased by an investor can be considered a financial instrument. Stock and corporate bonds are equally considered investing instruments as they can all be bought and sold as things that hold and produce value. Instruments can be debt or equity, representing a share of liability (a future repayment of debt) or ownership.

Price Earnings Ratio -The relationship between the price of a share and the earnings of the company attributable to that share, the result being expressed as the current share price divided by the latest available figure of earnings per share.

Private Company -A company in which the number of its members is restricted to 50.

Privatisation -The Government's exercise of the transfer to private ownership companies or public enterprises owned by the Government.

Prospectus -The document to be issued by a company intending to make an issue of shares to the public.

Proxy -One who is given written authority to vote for and on behalf of a shareholder at a meeting of the company.

Quotation -The prices bid and offered by buyers and sellers for securities listed on a stock exchange.

Receiver -An official appointed to wind up the affairs of a company.

Registrar -The official or corporation responsible for maintaining a company's share register.

Registrar of Companies -The public official appointed to administer the Companies Act 1965 and the Securities Industry Act 1983.

Remisier-An agent of a stockbroking company who brings business to that company in return for a share of the brokerage or commission.

Renunciation -The action of a shareholder in not taking up new shares attached as a right to the share he currently holds by renouncing such a right.

Reserves -Order entry, modification, and cancellation are permitted for the securities. The current trading status for the securities is automatically changed to 'Reserved' when the following occurs:Market order cannot be fully executed, potential match price is outside static threshold during pre-opening, and Market-on-Opening has no counterpart.

Rights -Companies raise additional capital by offering to existing shareholders the rights to subscribe for new shares, at a price usually below the current market price. These rights, while current, attract a price of their own and can be traded on any stock exchange.

Score -The acronym for "System on Computerised Order Routing and Execution", the automated trading system of the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange.

Scrip -Share certificate.

Securities- The generic term for any instrument traded on a stock exchange.

Securities Industry Act 1983 -The Act of Parliament governing the business of dealing in securities, stock exchanges and related matters in Malaysia.

Securities Commission -Established by the Ministry of Finance to streamline the activities relating to equity and futures markets.

Securities Commission Act 1993 -The Act of Parliament under which the Securities Commission was established on 1 March 1993.

Securities Industry (Central Depositories) Act 1991 -The Act of Parliament which governs the activities relating to the Central Depository.

Share -In relation to a company, a security representing a portion of the holder's capital in that company.

There are basically two types of shares, namely ordinary shares and preference shares.

Ordinary shares give holders the rights of ownership of the company, such as the right to share in the profits of the company by way of dividend, the right to vote in general meeting and to elect and dismiss directors.

Preference Shares have a preferential position over ordinary shares, in regard to the payment of dividends and the division of the company's assets. Some preference shares may have a cumulative entitlement in that dividends not paid can be carried forward and must be paid prior to an ordinary dividend payment or distribution on liquidation. Some preference shares are "participating" with ordinary shares in all dividend above a set rate, in addition to their own preferential dividend rate.

Other preference shares are redeemable at a certain date.

Share Split -When a company reduces the paid or face value of its shares, and issues further shares in the same proportion i.e. 100,000 RM 2 ordinary shares would be split into 200,000 RM 1 ordinary shares.

Short Selling -The action of a person selling shares which he does not own at the time of selling.

Stag -One who applies for a new security with the intention of selling it at the first available opportunity.

Stockbroker -An agent who buys and sells shares on behalf of his clients and is paid brokerage or commission for his services.

Stock Exchange -An organisation providing the market-place or facility for the buying and selling of stocks and shares.

Trading At Last (TAL) -Orders at TAL will only be entered and matched at the Closing Price. Only Limit orders are allowed and the system will reject any Market Orders.

Theoretical Closing Price (TCP) -Price at which an instrument would trade if it stops trading at the moment the price is calculated. TOP is calculated on a real-time basis in Pre-Closing/Closing Phase.

Theoretical Opening Price (TOP)- Price at which an instrument would trade if it opens at the moment the price is calculated. TOP is calculated on a real-time basis in Pre-Opening Phase.

Trustee Security -A security which meets the requirements of legislation relating to the use of funds by trustees.

Underwriter-An organisation, normally a merchant bank or a broking firm, that guarantees a minimum level of subscription to a share or debt issue. If public subscriptions fail to reach the minimum level, the underwriter takes up the shortfall. Underwriters often have sub-underwriters to share the risk.

Unsecured Note -A fixed interest security with a maturity date and specified rate of interest.

Unlike a debenture, it is not secured by a charge over the issuing company's assets. Unsecured note holders rank ahead of shareholders in the event of the company's liquidation.

Vendors' Shares -Shares allotted instead of cash to persons or companies as a consideration for acquisition of property. Are restricted in respect to transfer.

Winding Up -The voluntary or compulsory liquidation of a company.