Monday's Dewan Rakyat sitting started off with a 10-minute lecture by Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia reminding the MPs not to highlight trivial and technical matters during proceedings.He said he would not allow MPs to call for point of order unnecessarily unless it was about a substantial issue and was in public interest.
MPs, he said, had wasted too much time during the first sitting last Wednesday when they kept interrupting proceedings on point of order.
Later, Energy, Water and Communications Minister Datuk Shahziman Abu Mansor said the Government would conduct a research to come up with an Energy Efficiency Master Plan.
He said this would ensure there is energy efficiency in the industries, commercial and domestic adding that the Government would also regulate a law to ensure energy efficiency.
Food over fuel
Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad said people preferred the Government to subsidise food products instead of fuel such as diesel and petrol.
He said based on his own findings, more people would benefit if the subsidies go to food products.
Shahrir said those in the lower income group, some of whom may not own any vehicles, would also enjoy cheaper food products.
More non-Malays in civil service
Unity, Culture, Arts and Heritage Minister Datuk Mohd Shafie Apdal said 1,169 Chinese officers were appointed to posts in the civil service last year.
He said this was an increase from the 894 Chinese officers recruited the previous year.
"Last year, there were also 910 Indian officers recruited into the civil service, up from 883 officers in 2006.
"At the same time, the recruitment of officers from the Iban, Melanau, Kadazan and Dusun ethnic groups have also risen more than 50% last year from 2006," he told Norah Abd Rahman (BN - Tanjong Manis).
No state left behind
International Trade and Industry Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin told Teresa Kok (DAP - Seputeh) that the federal government will not discriminate against any state currently controlled by the Opposition in attracting foreign investments.
He said the Government would continue to offer the same incentives to all states.
"Foreign investment is an important factor in contributing to the country’s development and economic growth. The Federal government will not discriminate against any state government.
"The five states are also encouraged to continue with the existing pro-business policies," he said.
Funding for PTAs
Alternative means will be sought to help finance parent-teacher associations (PTA), Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said.
Among the measures that are being studied include providing PTAs with funding according to per-capita grant level and seeking donations from Government-linked companies and private agencies, he added.
"The Government is committed to providing equal access to education and aid for our schoolchildren, especially from the poorer communities," Hishammuddin told Datuk Ismail Abd Muttalib (BN - Maran).
Probe abuse
Opposition leader Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail (PKR - Permatang Pauh) called on Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to set up an independent commission to probe into an alleged abuse of public funds to buy military equipment as well as an "overpaying" of a contract worth RM1.39bil.
She also urged the Prime Minister to shed light on the status of the report by the Royal Commission of Inquiry that investigated the controversial "Lingam video clip".
Building revival
A total of RM356.2mil has been given out to housing developers to revive abandoned projects since a rehabilitation fund was formed in 1990.
Second Finance Minister Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop said the funds were used to help financially-troubled housing developers to complete 74 housing projects, involving the construction of 17,730 houses which were earlier abandoned.
Thirty percent of the houses were low-cost units, he told Nasharudin Mat Isa (PAS - Bachok).
Nor Mohamed said the fund was replaced by Syarikat Perumahan Negara Bhd (SPNB) in 1992 but continued to help complete abandoned projects.
He added that the agency had helped to complete 9,208 abandoned projects.
Nor Mohamed said among the major problems faced in the abandoned housing projects was misunderstandings between the developers and land-owners.
"Some developers were also over-optimistic in their evaluation over demand for housing and also the operational costs.
"The Housing and Local Government Ministry has taken several modes of action, such as tightening supervision of housing projects, and giving approval of not more than six months for housing projects to start operations," he added.
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