1.Naib Presiden PAS menggesa Kerajaan menarik balik permit import yang telah diberikan kepada Bernas. "Mana boleh bagi kepada syarikat monopoli. Dasar monopoli hanya mementingkan keuntungan syarikat dan mana mungkin mereka 
akan menjaga kepentingan pengguna. Ianya sangat bahaya kepada keselamatan makanan negara".
2. Tradewinds - sugar manufacturer and palm plantation company said it would acquire 31.52% from Hong Kong-based Wang Tak Co Ltd for RM308.4mil and a further 22.24% from Gandingan Bersepadu Sdn Bhd for RM217.6mil.
3. Guinness will continue to work to strengthen brand equity, improve operational efficiencies, and effectiveness in order to further increase market share and profitability.
*Tradewinds to buy 53.7% of Bernas for 
RM526mil (theStarOnline) *Guinness 4Q net profit up 40.5% y-o-y (theMalaysianEdge) *Selamatkan beras negara, tarik AP Bernas- Mahfuz (harakahdaily)
Tradewinds to buy 53.7% of Bernas for RM526mil
Saturday August 29, 2009
PETALING JAYA: Tradewinds (M) Bhd has proposed to acquire a 53.76% stake in rice importer Padiberas Nasional Bhd (Bernas) for RM526mil cash.
In a filing with Bursa Malaysia yesterday, the sugar manufacturer and palm plantation company said it would acquire 31.52% from Hong Kong-based Wang Tak Co Ltd for RM308.4mil and a further 22.24% from Gandingan Bersepadu Sdn Bhd for RM217.6mil.
Tradewinds said the proposals, which were expected to be completed by the fourth quarter of 2009, would allow the company to tap into Bernas’ existing marketing and distribution networks all over Malaysia, which were significantly larger than its own.
It added that the proposed acquisitions would enable Tradewinds to share similar distribution channels with Bernas, such as warehousing and transportation and ensuring greater economies of scale and operational efficiency.
“Our national interest is the overriding factor in this proposed exercise but we also anticipate tremendous business synergies by eliminating duplication of resources, enhancing cost-savings initiatives and allowing both companies to leverage on existing business infrastructure.
“We foresee significant improvements in productivity and efficiency across the enlarged group which would benefit the shareholders,” said Tradewinds chairman Datuk Wira Syed Abdul Jabbar Syed Hassan (pic) in a statement.
Tradewinds said with the resulting 54% stake in Bernas, it would be obliged under stock exchange rules to make a mandatory general offer (MGO) for the outstanding stock.
However, it plans to seek an exemption from the Securities Commission from having to undertake the MGO. Following the takeover, the companies were expected to have a market capitalisation of close to RM3bil, it said, adding that the acquisitions would be made via bank borrowings.
theStaronline
================================================================
Guinness 4Q net profit up 40.5% y-o-y
Friday, 28 August 2009 19:24
KUALA LUMPUR: GUINNESS ANCHOR BHD []'s net profit rose 40.5% to RM27.39 million in the fourth quarter (4Q) ended June from RM19.49 million a year earlier, helped by higher sales and writeback of provisions.
Revenue grew 10.4% to RM276.27 million from RM250.31 million.
Full-year net profit surged by annual rate of 12.8% to RM141.99 million from RM125.86 million as revenue climbed 8.4% to RM1.29 billion from RM1.19 billion.
"This (revenue) was partially due to a further increase in market share and higher sales resulting from promotional activities in celebration of Guinness' 250th anniversary," Guinness told Bursa exchange today.
In quarterly terms, net profit, however, fell 16% from RM32.6 million in 3Q due to the timing of the Chinese New Year. Revenue was down 12.2% from RM314.83 million.
Looking ahead, the brewer does foresee significant growth in industry volume amid a challenging economic landscape.
"The group will continue to work to strengthen brand equity, improve operational efficiencies, and effectiveness in order to further increase market share and profitability," Guinness said.
Chong Jin Hun/theEdge
53.76% BERNAS SHARE TO TRADEWINDS WHILST GUINNESS 4Q NET PROFIT UP BY 41%
KENYATAAN MEDIA MB SELANGOR: KERAJAAN NEGERI KECAM TINDAKAN HINA AGAMA
KENYATAAN MEDIASHAH ALAM: Kerajaan Selangor kesal terhadap tindakan menghina, menghasut dan menimbulkan kemarahan dalam kalangan penganut agama lain yang diapi-apikan oleh segelintir kumpulan pembantah yang berarak membawa kepala lembu sebagai tindakan membantah pembinaan kuil Hindu di Seksyen 23, di sini. Pada ketika rakyat Selangor sedang bersiap-sedia untuk menyambut Ulang Tahun Kemerdekaan Ke-52, sikap tidak bertolak ansur terhadap agama orang lain yang masih wujud dalam kalangan segelintir warganegara Malaysia itu, sangatlah dikesali.
Kejadian dan tindakan menghina agama orang lain itu menyebabkan seluruh negara ini dilihat undur kebelakang dalam usaha mewujudkan rasa hormat terhadap kepelbagaian agama dan adat resam dalam kalangan penduduk pelbagai keturunan. Walhal usaha tersebut, sebenarnya sudah dilakukan sejak kemerdekaan tahun 1957 lagi, demi pembinaan satu negara bangsa yang memperlihatkan persamaan visi dan identiti. Seterusnya, Kerajaan Negeri berharap semua rakyat supaya bersikap matang dan tidak mudah terpengaruh dengan sikap tidak bertanggungjawab segelintir pembantah tersebut kerana ia dikhuatiri boleh mewujudkan ketegangan antara kaum. Dalam hal ini, walaupun kita wajar mengecam tindakan mereka yang tidak bertanggungjawab tersebut, namun kita lebih baik menyerahkan kepada pihak berwajib untuk mengambil tindakan.
Sehubungan ini, Kerajaan Negeri meminta supaya pihak polis segera mengambil tindakan secara adil dan melakukan penyiasatan termasuk mengambil tindakan terhadap pihak-pihak yang mengugut para pemimpin Kerajaan Negeri.
Kerajaan Negeri juga sudah mengarahkan Majlis Bandaraya Shah Alam (MBSA) supaya mengadakan perbincangan terbuka pada Sabtu, 5 September 2009, yang dihadiri oleh penduduk sebenar Seksyen 23, pegawai-pegawai MBSA dan pegawai-pegawai Perbadanan Kemajuan Negeri Selangor (PKNS). Perbincangan itu nanti bukan sahaja mendengar luahan pendapat masyarakat setempat tetapi juga memberikan peluang kepada pihak Kerajaan Negeri untuk menjelaskan fakta sebenar dan alasan yang menyebabkan keputusan menempatkan semula kuil Hindu di Seksyen 19 ke Seksyen 23.
Sementara menunggu tarikh perjumpaan tersebut, Kerajaan Negeri menggesa supaya penduduk Seksyen 23 bertenang dan tidak membiarkan diri mereka dipengaruhi oleh fakta-fakta yang tidak benar yang sengaja diapi-apikan oleh kumpulan yang memang berniat jahat terhadap keharmonian rakyat dan kestabilan politik Kerajaan Negeri Selangor.
Sekali lagi, marilah kita sama-sama memelihara sikap bertimbang rasa, rasional dan saling hormat menghormati kerana inilah cara terbaik bagi menyelesaikan hal ini.
TAN SRI DATO’ ABDUL KHALID IBRAHIM DATO’ MENTERI BESAR SELANGOR
--
Salam Sejahtera. Read More “KENYATAAN MEDIA MB SELANGOR: KERAJAAN NEGERI KECAM TINDAKAN HINA AGAMA” »»
SELCAT SHALL CONVENE AGAIN ADDRESSING STATE ALLOCATION
SELCAT hearing on how a total of RM27 million was spent by 54 Barisan Nasional (BN) assemblymen in the first three months of 2008. which will be held from Sept 8 to 11 and Sept 15 from 10am till 4pm at the Annexe Hall in the state legislative assembly building.
SHAH ALAM (Aug 28, 2009): The Selangor Select Committee on Competency, Accountability and Transparency (Selcat) will conduct an inquiry on how allocations of Selangor assemblymen were spent in 2008 and in the first half of this year and whether there was any abuse or wastage involved.
The highlight of the probe will be a scrutiny on how a total of RM27 million was spent by 54 Barisan Nasional (BN) assemblymen in the first three months of 2008.
In a statement today, the Selangor press secretariat said district officers and assemblymen will be called in to give their testimony on how the allocations were spent by the 54 assemblymen before the state fell into the hands of the Pakatan Rayat (PR) on March 8.
State legislative assembly speaker Teng Chang Khim will chair the hearing which will be held from Sept 8 to 11 and Sept 15 from 10am till 4pm at the Annexe Hall in the state legislative assembly building.
This is the second public hearing to be held by the committee. The first one held in late March probed into the excesses and monies received and spent by the Selangor wives of parliamentarians and assemblymen welfare organization (Balkis).
Among others, this second hearing will investigate how 203 allocations for an area were given in one day, and the approval of permanent land titles after Parliament was dissolved on Feb 13, 2008.
Maria J. Dass/sun2surf Read More “SELCAT SHALL CONVENE AGAIN ADDRESSING STATE ALLOCATION” »»
ALARMING WHO STATISTIC ABOUT FLU AH1N1
1. WHO data continue to show that certain medical conditions increase the risk of severe H1N1 and fatal illness. These include respiratory disease, notably asthma, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and immunosuppression.
2. WHO estimates that more than 230 million people globally have asthma, and more than 220 million have diabetes. Obesity may also worsen the risk of severe infection, WHO said.
WHO Warns of Severe Form of H1N1 Virus
Saturday, August 29, 2009/Reuters/Times
Doctors are reporting a severe form of H1N1 that goes straight to the lungs, causing severe illness in otherwise healthy young people and requiring expensive hospital treatment, the World Health Organization said Friday.
Some countries are reporting that as many as 15 percent of patients hospitalized with the new H1N1 pandemic virus need intensive care, further straining already overburdened healthcare systems, WHO said in an update on the pandemic.
"During the winter season in the southern hemisphere, several countries have viewed the need for intensive care as the greatest burden on health services," it said.
"Preparedness measures need to anticipate this increased demand on intensive care units, which could be overwhelmed by a sudden surge in the number of severe cases."
Earlier, WHO reported that H1N1 had reached epidemic levels in Japan, signaling an early start to what may be a long influenza season this year, and that it was also worsening in tropical regions.
"Perhaps most significantly, clinicians from around the world are reporting a very severe form of disease, also in young and otherwise healthy people, which is rarely seen during seasonal influenza infections," WHO said.
"In these patients, the virus directly infects the lung, causing severe respiratory failure. Saving these lives depends on highly specialized and demanding care in intensive care units, usually with long and costly stays."
MINORITIES AT RISK
Minority groups and indigenous populations may also have a higher risk of being severely ill with H1N1.
"In some studies, the risk in these groups is four to five times higher than in the general population," WHO said.
"Although the reasons are not fully understood, possible explanations include lower standards of living and poor overall health status, including a high prevalence of conditions such as asthma, diabetes and hypertension."
WHO said it was advising countries in the Northern Hemisphere to prepare for a second wave of pandemic spread. "Countries with tropical climates, where the pandemic virus arrived later than elsewhere, also need to prepare for an increasing number of cases," it said.
Every year, seasonal flu infects between 5 percent and 20 percent of a given population and kills between 250,000 and 500,000 people globally. Because hardly anyone has immunity to the new H1N1 virus, experts believe it will infect far more people than usual, as much as a third of the population.
It also disproportionately affects younger people, unlike seasonal flu which mainly burdens the elderly, and thus may cause more severe illness and deaths among young adults and children than seasonal flu does.
"Data continue to show that certain medical conditions increase the risk of severe and fatal illness. These include respiratory disease, notably asthma, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and immunosuppression," WHO said.
"When anticipating the impact of the pandemic as more people become infected, health officials need to be aware that many of these predisposing conditions have become much more widespread in recent decades, thus increasing the pool of vulnerable people."
WHO estimates that more than 230 million people globally have asthma, and more than 220 million have diabetes. Obesity may also worsen the risk of severe infection, WHO said.
The good news — people infected with AIDS virus do not seem to be at special risk from H1N1, WHO said.
UMAT ISLAM DILARANG MEMPERSENDA KEPERCAYAAN AGAMA LAIN
Allah 'Azzawajalla berfirman bermaksud,
"Dan janganlah kamu memaki hamun sembahan yang mereka sembah selain Allah, kerana mereka nanti akan memaki Allah dengan melampau batas tanpa dasar pengetahuan. Demikianlah kami jadikan setiap ummat menganggap baik pekerjaan mereka. Kemudian, kepada Tuhan tempat kembali mereka, lalu Dia akan memberitahu kepada mereka apa yang telah mereka kerjakan."
Surah al-An'aam:108
Kepala Lembu Berdarah: Usaha Umno jatuhkan kerajaan Selangor
SHAH ALAM, 29 Ogos: Pakatan Rakyat Selangor mendakwa 
perarakan 'kepala lembu' yang masih segar berdarah semalam di depan Pejabat Menteri Besar Selangor sebagai usaha terbaru 'pelampau Umno' untuk menjatuhkan kerajaan negeri itu.
Bercakap di depan Balai Polis Seksyen 11 Shah Alam pagi tadi, Ahli Parlimennya Khalid Samad mendesak pihak polis segera bertindak ke atas ekstremis-ekstremis Umno terbabit supaya insiden yang sama tidak lagi berulang.
"Umno ini sudah jadi parti yang ekstrem. Di tempat-tempat-tempat lain pun, Umno sudah berdemontrasi ekstrem sebegini, di Kuala Selangor, Ijok, Tanjong Karang.
"Mana-mana tempat yang dia nak api-apikan semangat perkauman yang sempit (serta) sentimen agama (Islam) yang salah, mereka terus buat. Sebab itu, Polis perlu bertindak.
"Kalau polis tidak bertindak dan dilihat seolah-olah bersama-sama mereka (pelampau Umno), ini akan menyebabkan tindakan yang lebih liar berlak," kata Khalid.
Beliau yang dikenali sebagai penyokong kuat PAS dalam Pakatan Rakyat turut mempersoal sikap 'tunggu dan lihat' Polis ketika perhimpunan itu berlangsung.
"Mereka (Polis) tidak boleh kata: Kami menunggu laporan mana-mana pihak dibuat dahulu. Bolehkah Polis "tunggu dan lihat" cermin sebuah kereta dipecah penceroboh, atas alasan menunggu rakyat atau pemilik kereta itu sendiri buat laporan; baru boleh bertindak," katanya.
Bercakap pada sidang media yang sama, Exco Kerajaan Negeri Selangor Dr. A. Xavier Jayakumar turut melahirkan rasa kesal atas pelampau-pelampau terbabit.
"Kita tidak mahu keharmonian rakyat menjelang Hari Merdeka ke-52 ini digugat oleh demopntrasi yang penuh melampau itu. Kita minta Polis segara bertindak sebelum apa-apa yang lebih buruk berlaku," katanya.
Ujarnya lagi, mana-mana pihak termasuk Umno sendiri dibenarkan berdemontrasi secara aman. Kerajaan negeri konsistan tidak akan menentang hak asasi tersebut.
Namun, demontrasi ekstrem seperti semalam sebenarnya melanggar undang-undang serta perlu tindakan segera oleh pihak Polis.
"Mereka boleh demontrasi. Kita tidak akan tentang. Tetapi, demontrasi yang melampau seperti itu sesiapa pun lihat melampaui undang-undang. Jadi, saya gesa polis bertindak pada demontran yang melampau," katanya.
Beliau turut menjelaskan inti maklum balas pihak Polis sebelum membuat kenyataan media di sini.
"Saya diberitahu dia ada masalah peribadi di Alor Star. Pegantinya juga ada masalah peribadi di Shah Alam. Jadi, dia menyuruh kita (Pakatan) bertemu dengan Ketua Polis Daerah Shah Alam," katanya.
"Kita tidak mahu keharmonian rakyat menjelang Hari Merdeka ke-52 ini digugat oleh demontrasi yang penuh melampau itu. Kita minta Polis segara bertindak sebelum apa-apa yang lebih buruk berlaku," katanya.
Turut menyertai kenyataan media di sini, Adun Batu Tiga dan Exco kerajaan negeri, Rodziah Ismail dan Ahli Parlimen Klang Charles Santiago.
Ketua Penerangan PAS Pusat Idris Ahmad pada satu kenyataan media yang lain petang tadi, menegaskan demontrasi melampau itu bukannya berdasarkan ajaran Islam, sebaliknya amalan tradisi Umno sejak ditubuhkan lagi.
Tambahnya lahi, "Apa yang mereka buat itu bukan sahaja melampaui undang-undang negara, tetapi jelas membelakangi agama Allah, iaitu Islam dan Rasulullah s.a.w tidak pernah menyuruh ummatnya berbuat demikian atas nama Islam.
"Jika berjuang atas nama Melayu, beginilah akibatnya (melampau)," tegas beliau.
Katanya, PAS berpegang dengan prinsip Islam yang menghargai kehormonian penganut agama-agama lain serta melarang ahli-ahlinya (umat Islam) memaki-hamun kegamaan lain; sebagaimana dalam ayat 108 dari Surah al-An'aam.
Firman Allah bermaksud, "Dan janganlah kamu memaki hamun sembahan yang mereka sembah selain Allah, kerana mereka nanti akan memaki Allah dengan melampau batas tanpa dasar pengetahuan. Demikianlah kami jadikan setiap ummat menganggap baik pekerjaan mereka. Kemudian, kepada Tuhan tempat kembali mereka, lalu Dia akan memberitahu kepada mereka apa yang telah mereka kerjakan."
Beliau turut mempersoal kredibiliti Polis dan FRU yang tidak membedil kumpulan ekstremis Umno tersebut dengan gas pemedih mata dan pacutan meriam air berasid, sebagaimana beberapa demontrasi aman rakyat seperti Anti-iSA, Mansuh PPSMi dan BERSIH lalu.
Ketua Polis Daerah Shah Alam, Noor Azam Jamaluddin menjelaskan bahawa pegawainya tidak boleh terus bertindak waktu insiden itu berlaku, demi mengelakkan perkara yang lebih buruk berlaku.
Bagaimanapun, beliau memberi jaminan agar insiden itu disiasat dan demontrans yang didakwa ekstrem itu akan dibawa ke muka pengadilan.
Noor Azam juga memaklumkan bahawa pasukannya sudah ditempatkan di beberapa lokasi strategik demi memastikan insiden terbabit tidak berulang.
Nasihatnya, semua rakyat diminta bersabar dan tidak lagi mengeruhkan keadaan, terutamanya di kala negara bakal menempuhi Hari Kemerdekaan ke-54 Isnin depan.
Semalam, kira-kira 50 orang Melayu dari pelbagai badan bukan kerajaan (NGO) yang pro Umno mengarak kepala lembu yang masih segar berdarah dari Masjid Negeri menuju ke pejabat Menteri Besar.
Berdepan Bangunan MBSA, pemuda-pemuda "ekstrem" terbabit kelihatan saling menendang bangkai itu sambil melaungkan "Kami Bantah".
Pada masa yang sama, kelihatan Pejabat Adun Batu Tiga turut dijadikan medan bantahan dengan contengan, "Khalid-Rodziah, Pengkhianat Bangsa".
Laungan dan bantahan itu dipercayai khalayak ekoran keputusan Majlis Bandaraya Shah Alam (MBSA) memindahkan kuil Hindu ke lokasi yang baru di Syeksyen 23 Shah Alam.
Insiden "Kepala Lembu Berdarah" itu merupakan cabaran tergenting Kerajaan Pakatan Rakyat Selangor, setelah isu arak dan penternakan babi yang dipercyaai dicetuskan juga oleh Umno mulai reda belakangan ini.
Sebelum ini, sebuah akhbar politik melaporkan Umno akan menjatuhkan kerajaan Pakatan Rakyat di Selangor pada Hari Kemerdekaan, 31 Ogos ini.
Dzulfikar Mashoor/harakahdaily
