Information Minister talks about on why has represented the government in the fuel hike debate with PKR leader Anwar Ibrahim, and other parliament happenings.

Ahmad Shabery: Debate better than protest

Information Minister Ahmad Shabery Cheek today said that debating the fuel hike issue was better than taking the matter to the streets as done by the opposition parties.

He also said that he was not chosen by the cabinet to debate with PKR leader Anwar Ibrahim on the fuel hike on July 15.

anwar ibrahim and ahmad shabery cheek debate 150708 05 "The debate's organiser Agenda Daily had invited the information minister. He was not chosen by the cabinet," he said in reply to a question by Amran Ab Ghani (PKR-Tanah Merah) in the Dewan Rakyat today.

Amran had wanted to know whether the information minister was the best government candidate for the debate against Anwar.

The debate on the fuel oil hike was shown live by several television stations on July 15.

Power and water for orang asli villages by 2015

Deputy Rural and Regional Development Minister Joseph Entulu Belaun told the House that residents in the rural areas, especially in orang asli villages, will be provided with water and electricity supply by 2015.

Joseph said implementation of the project would take time due to several problems, like land approval.

"The location of the orang asli villages, which are scattered and in the interior areas, is also a problem," he said.

He was responding to a question by Hamim Samuri (BN-Ledang) here.

A total of 632 villages (or 72 percent) of the 876 orang asli villages had been equipped with electricity supply. Residents in 807 villages had also been able to enjoy clean water supply until December last year.

He said that the government had spent RM61.8 million since 2000 to provide water and electricity supply to the orang asli villages.

Heritage conservation in Malacca, Penang

Georgetown in Penang and Malacca which have been recently declared World Heritage Sites will continue to receive assistance such as advice and expertise from the Unity, Culture, Arts and Heritage Ministry.

This is to ensure that the two cities meet the Unesco requirements, said minister Mohd Shafie Apdal.

He added that the National Heritage Department would continue with restoration work on selected buildings in the two towns.

melaka town and george town penang a famosa world heritage site "There is no special allocation for Malacca and Georgetown. Unesco is also not giving any assistance, but the ministry will contribute in the form of conservation work, and also expertise and advice," he said in response to a question by Chow Kon Yow (DAP-Tanjong).

According to the minister, among the building that would be restored included the St George Church and areas at Lebuh Acheh Mosque in Georgetown, Penang.

And in Penang, it would included the HSBC building and the Bastion Middlesburg.

Restoration of these buildings was necessary to conserve its heritage for future generations, he added.

‘BN needs postal voting to win'

An opposition MP today claimed that the rejected call to abolish postal voting by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Nazri Aziz yesterday was to fix a deposit win for Barisan Nasional (BN).

Met in Parliament lobby today, Salahuddin Ayub (PAS-Kubang Kerian) further claimed that the abolishment of postal voting would cause a threat to the ruling coalition's security.

"It would not cause a threat to national security, but rather BN's security," stressed Salahuddin, adding that the system should be reviewed and replaced by a more consistent system.

Another opposition MP, Azmin Ali (PKR-Gombak) further asserted the point that the postal voting should be scrapped, but not fully.

"The army for instance, they do not have to vote using the postal voting anymore because they no longer live in the jungle. However, the system would still be valid for students and diplomats living overseas," said Azmin.