The government forked out more than RM5 million since May 2007 for the electricity bill for the new Jalan Duta Court Complex, revealed de facto law minister Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz.

He said this in a parliamentary written reply to Karpal Singh (DAP-Bukit Gelugor) who asked whether the government was aware that the lights at the complex were on throughout the night.

nazri abdul aziz "For your information, the total electricity cost at the court complex since its setting up (in May 2007) up till July 2008 amounts to RM5,668,596," said the minister.

"However, not all lights are switched on at night. They are on for security purposes," he added.

RM578 million in properties abroad

The government has spent a total of RM578.5 million to purchase properties abroad since Merdeka, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.

syed hamid albar Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar, who was answering on behalf of the Foreign Ministry during the oral question session, said the properties are valued at RM3.59 billion market value now.

The properties include the chancellery buildings, official residence for the head of mission, apartment for Malaysian officers who serve at the mission as home-based staff.

According to Syed Hamid, the government owns 32 chancellery buildings, 33 official residences for the head of its foreign missions and 189 apartment units and residences in 43 countries.

Justifying the purchase of these properties, Syed Hamid said it was done to save cost as it was more prudent than renting the properties for long-term use.

He was responding to a question from Lim Lip Eng (DAP-Segambut).

Gov't cannot act on multi-lingual signboards

The federal government cannot act against state governments on multi-lingual signboards, said Deputy Housing and Local Government Minister Robert Lau.

Responding to Tajuddin Abdul Rahman (BN-Pasir Salak) during the oral question session, he said this is because the matter falls under the jurisdiction of the state government and local councils.

The Penang state government, which has since adopted the multi-lingual signboard policy has received mostly positive feedbacks including from arch rivals, Gerakan and MCA.

However, there were NGOs who claimed that the policy was a move to undermine Bahasa Malaysia. A legal suit has been filed to stop the state authorities from putting up the multi-lingual signboards.