4œ theSun | MONDAY JUNE 8 2009

news without borders

No new H1N1 case

RM1b plan to deepen
by Himanshu Bhatt
newsdesk@thesundaily.com

GEORGE TOWN: The Trans- by Giam Say Khoon ministry at 03-8881 0200/0300
port Ministry plans to expand newsdesk@thesundaily.com between 8am and 9pm.”
Penang Port by deepening its As at midnight Saturday,

Penang Port channel

channel at an estimated cost of
RM1 billion, as part of its pro-
gramme to enliven the state’s
economy.
Transport Minister Datuk
Seri Ong Tee Keat said the
project was critical to “deter-
mining the lifeline of Penang
Port”, which currently operates
only as a feeder port despite its
“glorious past”.
The announcement follows
a recent move to extend a
federal airline services liber-
alisation policy to Penang in a
measure aimed at spurring the
state’s economy.
Ong had announced last
week that the Penang Inter-
national Airport would be
allowed increased regional
links, including a record 84
flights a week between Penang
and Singapore by next year.
The ministry was studying
whether a project to deepen
the channel could be financed
by a privately funded initiative.
While a preliminary study
had already been conducted,
the results of detailed geo-
technical and environmental
assessments were pending,
Ong said.
He said the channel’s cur-
rent depth of 9-11m made it
impossible for large vessels to
use the port. “That is our loss.
We need to increase the port’s
competitiveness.”
The target is to deepen the
channel to up to 15-17m.
Ong said the project would
be implemented in line with
the ministry’s overall focus on
ports throughout the country.
Plans to build breakwaters
and conduct dredging at the
Kuantan Port have already
been drawn up, he added.
Ong, who is also MCA presi-
dent, spoke at a press confer-
ence after officiating the party’s
60th anniversary celebrations
at the TAR College here.
He stressed that Penang
industries needed the help of
both the Transport and Tour-
ism Ministries. “We want to
draw more tourists with air
links to Penang, while making
it convenient and attractive for
investors to work here.”
Ong said he had brought
up with Chinese authorities
the issue of better tourism
links to Penang, most recently
when he accompanied Prime
Minister Datuk Seri Najib Ab-
dul Razak on an official trip to
China last week.
On a reported proposal for
the state government to take
over the operations of the cross-
channel ferry service, now run
by Penang Port Sdn Bhd at
a loss, Ong said the ministry
needed to study its feasibility.
He also said the ministry
was open to feedback and
proposals, including from the
state government. “What we
want is healthy competition. At
the end of the day, the people
will benefit.”
PETALING JAYA: No new he said, the ministry had
confirmed case of the A registered 20 suspected H1N1
(H1N1) flu has been reported patients, 16 of whom tested
as at midnight Saturday, after negative. Results for the four
a seventh case was detected others were pending.
earlier in the day. To date, 479 suspected
Health Ministry director-gen- cases have been registered,
eral Tan Sri Dr Ismail Merican with seven people confirmed
said in a statement yesterday to have H1N1.
five patients confirmed to have “Health screening contin-
the flu “reported on Wednes- ues at the 53 international
day, Thursday and Friday, were entry points to the country
in stable condition and recover- by air, land and sea. A total of
ing”. He said 153 people placed 17,346 people were screened
under home quarantine after on Saturday and five were
coming into contact with the referred to hospitals for further
patients had yet to show any examination,” Ismail said.
symptoms of “Students abroad
H1N1. who are returning
“We are for the latest, log on to: for the summer
www.moh.gov.my
still trying to holiday and with
locate pas- flu symptoms are
sengers who advised to postpone
boarded the same flights and their trip. Those already in the
might have come into contact country and having symptoms,
with the seven patients. do seek immediate medical
“As for the seventh case, attention,” he said, adding that
we urge all passengers who the public should continue to
boarded AirAsia X flight D7 practise good hygiene.
2723 on June 5, especially Ismail said the World Health
those who sat up to three rows Organisation had recorded a
from the front, back, left and total of 22,122 cases in 69
right of seat 31A, to contact the countries, with 125 deaths.

NUBE probe nears end

PETALING JAYA: The Human
Resources Ministry is expected
to wrap up its investigation
into alleged irregularities at the
National Union of Bank Employ-
ees (NUBE) soon.
A senior ministry official
told theSun the probe into
the alleged misappropriation
of funds, non-cooperation in
providing audited accounts,
irregularities in the purchase of
the union building in Brickfields
and the sale of a plot of land,
had reached its tail-end.
He declined to reveal the
ministry’s findings to date, but
said these would be forwarded
to the respective authorities
such as the police and the
Malaysian Anti-Corruption Com-
mission (MACC), in the event of
any evidence of wrongdoing.
“Give us some time. We will
be transparent and leave no
stone unturned,” he said.
The official said the probe
was initiated following several
complaints by NUBE members.
“We received more than a
dozen complaints from union
members and some furnished
relevant documents.”
He said the complainants
had initially asked the Depart-
ment of Trade Union Affairs to
look into the matter.
The department, which
comes under the purview of
the ministry, is authorised to
carry out statutory inspections
on trade unions at their head-
quarters and branches.
theSun first reported on
March 19 that the MACC had
reopened investigation files on
the NUBE for the alleged misuse
of funds and graft.
NUBE has denied reports of
corruption or irregularities in its
financial accounts and transac-
tions. “All our dealings, thus far,
have been transparent and above
board,” its general-secretary J.
Solomon was quoted as saying.
Several union members later
sent a letter of protest to Human
Resources Minister Datuk Dr S.
Subramaniam and an official
complaint to the Public Com-
plaints Bureau, alleging abuse
of power by the department’s
director-general.