theSun | THRUSDAY JULY 9 2009 œ 3

news without borders

by Terence Fernandez and

Llew-Ann Phang
newsdesk@thesundaily.com

KUALA LUMPUR: Concert and

live performance organisers have
detected a loophole in the ruling that
liquor and tobacco companies are
forbidden from sponsoring entertain-
ment events. Hold them in Sabah and
Sarawak!
Information, Communication
and Culture Ministry deputy sec-
retary-general Datuk Mohammed
Mohd Daud disclosed this while
addressing a dialogue between the
Central Agency for the Application
for Filming and Performance by
Foreign Artistes (Puspal) and about
400 representatives of the Malaysian
Association of Live Entertainment
Performances (Malep) at a hotel here
on Wednesday.
After running through Puspal’s
guidelines, and that liquor company
sponsorship is an absolute “no”, an
observant attendee pointed out that
a beer brand was allowed to spon-
sor the Rainforest Music Festival in
Kuching.
“That is being held in Sarawak ...
Sarawak and Sabah if you look at the
Constitution have always had a dif-
ferent set of rules (from Peninsular
Malaysia).
“Puspal is for the peninsula,” he
Liquor, tobacco firms free to
sponsor concerts in Sabah, S’wak
told the crowd which erupted into
a roar.
Earlier, Mohammed said Puspal
which comprises 27 ministries and
agencies will not even consider
approving live acts in hotels or con-
certs if they were being sponsored
– wholly or partially – by alcohol or
tobacco companies.
The representatives then engaged
Mohammed in a repartee, looking
for flexibility to the rule until he was
asked about the exception in Kuch-
ing and let the cat out of the bag.
Other guidelines include: an event
cannot be held during Merdeka
week, the month of Ramadan, on
all religious holidays unless given
approval by the respective religious
authority, and when a head of state
dies.
Mohammed said approvals are
usually given in a week as Puspal
meets every Tuesday, where two to
three applications are rejected every
week.
“However, there is an Appeals
Committee made up of the minis-
try’s secretary-general, myself and a
secretary,” he said.
“Puspal can also blacklist you
for six months for the first offence
and one year for each subsequent
offence,” Mohammed added.
Puspal which falls under the
purview of the Information, Com-
munication and Culture Ministry,
was set up in 2001 and is the one-stop
centre for organisers to obtain the 12
permits and approvals needed.
It comprises the Foreign Minis-
try, Home Ministry (Film Control
and Publication and Al-Quran Text
divisions), the Ministry of Hous-
ing and Local Government, the
Tourism Ministry, the Immigration
Department, the Police (Public Af-
fairs, Special Branch divisions), the
Customs Department, the Inland
Revenue Board (Valuation and Non-
Residents division), Kuala Lumpur
City Hall, the Islamic Development
Department (Jakim), Istana Budaya
and the National Film Development
Corporation (Finas).
However, those wishing to or-
ganise events in areas outside Kuala
Lumpur would still have to obtain
a permit from the respective local
authority before applying to Puspal.
Malep secretary-general Shan
Selvadurai said the ruling showed
no sense of uniformity.
“Mohammed seemed to have
skirted the issue of the Rainforest
Festival but this rule is a cue for us to
hold concerts in Sabah and Sarawak.
Then West Malaysia is going to lose
a lot from that,” Shan said.
He said liquor and tobacco players
were the only parties interested in
hosting concerts as they could afford
the artistes’ fee and taxes.
“The industry benefits in a chain
reactive way because people like the
technical support and suppliers gain
from these events,” Shan said.
He added that the ambiguous
rules has made the country a laugh-
ing stock where neighbouring coun-
tries such as Singapore, Indonesia
and Thailand are gaining from Ma-
laysia’s haphazard implementation
of questionable regulations.

Security, safety issues

paramount in nuke plan
PETALING JAYA: The govern-
ment should give top priority to
security and safety issues when
drafting a nuclear policy for the
country, says the Water and
Energy Consumer Association
of Malaysia.
Its secretary-general, S.
Piarapakaran, said yesterday this
would need thorough study and
discussions with all stakeholders
and it should not be rushed.
He was commenting on the
announcement by Science,
nuclear reactors was a hazard
that had to be addressed as it
was harmful not only to humans
but also the environment.
“The effects of the nuclear
pollution could last many, many
years as seen in Hiroshima and
Nagasaki,” he said.
According to him, advanced
nuclear countries like France
were having difficulties curtail-
ing leakages.
“Last year it was reported A family
that there were 115 leakages in waits to be

KAMARIDUAN MD NOR/THESUN
Technology and Innovation Min- that country,” he said. screened
ister Datuk Dr Maximus that an As for security, he said, “A for the
alternative energy policy which water-tight disposal of waste H1N1 virus
included the use of nuclear system should be in place, at the
energy was in the final stages otherwise Malaysia could easily University
of drafting and would be ready become a target for terrorists Malaya
within the next three months. looking for nuclear products. Medical
Piarapakaran said leakage in – Bernama Centre
yesterday.

OK to eat pork Dengue cases drop

KUALA LUMPUR: The Influenza
A(H1N1) or swine flu virus is
transmitted human-to-human
KUALA LUMPUR: Dengue cases
on the whole decreased nation-
wide, with 691 cases reported to
45 new H1N1 cases
and the public will not be at the Health Ministry in the 26th by Karen Arukesamy in Kuala Sungai Baru, Melaka, to conduct self-
risk if they consume pork or use week from June 28 to July 4. newsdesk@thesundaily.com involving 50 trainers. monitoring as
pork-based products. This is an 8% drop from the “Laboratory stated in the
PETALING JAYA: Forty-five new cases tests confirmed six H1N1 statistics health alert
Deputy Health Minister Datuk previous week’s 749 cases. (as of 8am, July 8)
Rosnah Abdul Rashid Shirlin Health director-general Tan of Influenza A(H1N1) – 22 local trans- of the eight sam- card distributed
told the Dewan Negara sitting
yesterday that the A(H1N1) virus
Sri Dr Mohd Ismail Merican said
in a statement yesterday four
missions and the rest imported – were ples taken from the
detected yesterday bringing to 513 group were positive »
New cases:
(38 Malaysians, 4 Indonesians, 1
45 upon arrival at
the KL Interna-
was produced through a process states experienced an increase the total number of cases confirmed for A(H1N1),” he tional Airport.
New Zealander, 1 Yemenese and 1
of mutation also known as re- in cases – Terengganu with since the outbreak in May. said. Indian) M o h d
A statement from the Health “All 50, who Ismail re-
assortment from the influenza
virus genes which was a mixture
108%, Kelantan (73%), Sabah
(43%) and Sarawak (27%). Ministry yesterday said out of the 513
cases, 430 (84%) have recovered while
showed
symptoms
similar
are
»
Imported cases: 23 minded the
public who
of the influenza virus genes A total of 25,234 dengue
from swine, avian and human.
– Bernama
cases were recorded so far this
year is, with 62 deaths, compared
83 are being treated at designated quarantined in an
hospitals. isolation block in
»
Local transmissions: 22 are under
q u a ra n t i n e

New flu virus
OTTAWA: A “novel” influenza
type A virus was confirmed in
two hog farm workers in Sas-
katchewan, health authorities
said, stressing the virus was
“non-pandemic”.
“A novel influenza A virus
has been confirmed in two
hog farm workers and a third
case is under investigation,”
authorities said, noting the
workers had fully recov-
ered. Health Minister Leona
Aglukkaq said: “We are work-
ing closely with the province
of Saskatchewan to learn as
much as we can about this
new flu virus.” – AFP
with 21,704 cases and 47 deaths
for the same period last year.
To date no death has been
recorded in the country.
the Alam complex
and are treated with
»
Total no. of cases:
(430 (84%) discharged, 83 under
513 to strictly
follow the 10
Of the latest cases, 38 are antivirals.” guidelines of
Malaysians, four Indonesians, one Twenty of the local quarantine) home quar-
Flu deaths spike New Zealander, one Yemenese and transmission cases are antine,
MELBOURNE: Australia reported one Indian. Malaysians including
The 23 imported cases had trav- five participants from
»
World total: 96,624 “To all
local stu-
five new swine flu-related deaths (433 deaths from 135 countries)
yesterday, taking the country’s elled to Indonesia (11), Australia (3), Asia Pacific Pharmaceu- dents who
total to 18. the Philippines (3), USA (1), Macau tical Conference (APPC) feel ill or
Four of the deaths, which all (1), Hongkong (1), held in Penang last have cough
occurred in recent days, were Thailand (1), New month and four trainers and flu, immediately get treatment
in the state of Victoria while the Zealand (1) and from Alam. from the nearest doctor, limit direct
fifth was in New South Wales, Singapore (1). T h e communication with people and re-
Health
INFLUENZA A(H1N1) HOTLINE
officials said. Health frain from attending school and other
“All four had health conditions d i r e c t o r- » 03-88810200/300 Ministry classes,” he said.
which made them more suscep- general Tan » 03-88834414/415 u r g e s The Health Ministry also advised
tible to illness,” Victoria’s deputy Sri Dr Mohd t h o s e the public to postpone trips to coun-
chief health officer Rosemary Ismail Merican who have tries affected by the A(H1N1) virus as
Lester said, adding that a total of said there was an returned it increases the risk of being infected
11 people with the A(H1N1) virus influenza-like illness reported at the from infected countries but do not and being quarantined in the particu-
had died in Victoria. – AFP Malaysian Maritime Academy (Alam) show any symptoms of the illness lar countries.