Deputy chairman Datuk Wan Ahmad Wan Omar said there was no need for debate since those dissatisfied with the general election results could file petitions.

“We are not afraid to debate with anyone because we performed our task based on laws and regulations. Why should the EC give cheap publicity to them?

“If you are not satisfied with the election results, file petitions using the proper channel, not hold debates or street protests. The EC has all the proof but we have to respect the 21 day period,” he told Bernama recently.

Wan Ahmad said the debate would also be subjudice because both parties would touch on matters to be argued in the election petitions.

“The opposition wants to show to their supporters they win the debate for cheap publicity. They debate in the streets whereas now is the time for election petitions. We have to respect the law.”

On another note, he said a youth from Kuantan who tried to undermine the election system by trying to vote twice had run foul of the Elections Act.

The youth committed two offences, attempt to vote twice and taking ballot papers out and is liable to jail, fine and loss of right to vote for five years.

“I feel sorry for the youth who thought he was so brave and proud not realising that he was being used by politicians.

“Even if he regretted the action, it is useless because he admitted it in a police report. This is the result of trying to cheat the election system.”

Wan Ahmad said police should investigate allegations by the youth as many things he said were ridiculous. How could he vote twice when his name was deleted and how did be take the ballot papers out in front of many people?

“This case is interesting and was he lying? The EC is keen to know the outcome of police investigation and will cooperate and give exaplanation.”

The EC would make a post mortem to detect flaws, make improvements and study technical matters such as the indelible ink which should be shaken every two hours.

“The indelible ink incident taught us a lesson. Our concern in keeping the ink safe in the police lockup and the colour secret to avoid sabotage made us forget to read carefully how to use it.

“We may also provide more classrooms to overcome long queues during polling day,” he added. — Bernama

EC deputy chairman Datuk Wan Ahmad Wan Omar said this conclusion was arrived at after a thorough scrutiny by him together with his officers.

“They had staged the act even before the election to spread it on the Internet as a ploy to show that a blackout had purportedly occurred, whereas it was a lie.

“The photograph showed that EC staff were purportedly counting the ballot papers and had to use auxiliary lamps whereas the staff were not wearing the EC uniform,” he told Bernama when met recently.

He said the most obvious proof was when the photograph showed that there were many reporters and photographers present in the vote-counting area whereas no one was allowed into the area except for the EC staff and agents of the candidates.

“The Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) and work procedure shown on the photograph were totally incorrect…they have forgotten, (they) want to cheat but do not understand the work procedure and were immature.

“In fact the tray used for placing the ballot papers on were also not the EC trays, the material and size were different… (there were) many things in the photograph that did not follow EC SOP,” he said.

Wan Ahmad said so far there had been no police report lodged regarding the alleged ‘blackout’ which showed that it was clearly a slander and concocted story.

“If there had been a blackout, certainly the party agents would have lodged police reports. They represented the candidates, they were present at the counting venues. If there had been a blackout, they would have been the first to lodge police reports, but there were none,” he said.

Meanwhile, commenting on an allegation by an opposition newspaper that 24 EC staff in Besut, Terengganu had been confined to mark their ballot papers, Wan Ahmad said he left it to the police to investigate the allegation.

Meanwhile, Wan Ahmad said the proposal by the opposition that a People’s Tribunal be set up was dangerous because it ignored the national constitution and law.

“Who will represent the People’s Tribunal? Their people, NGO (non-governmental organisation) leaders who have been against the system and the general election all this while? Those who are spreading unhealthy culture to the young generation?” he asked. — Bernama

Palanivel yesterday denied that he had asked anyone to do such a thing, adding that if they did so, then it would be on their own accord.

“I did not ask them to do such a thing, if they do, then it’s their business. If anybody wants to challenge (me), then it’s up to them,” he told a press conference after chairing the party’s central working committee (CWC) meeting here yesterday.

Asked if he was expecting people to challenge him for the top post, Palanivel replied: “I am not thinking of that yet.”

Recently, an online portal (FMT) reported that Palanivel, who is also the Selangor MIC chief, had directed all state office-bearers to pass the resolution, sensing that he would be challenged at the party’s presidential election slated for later this year.

On party elections, Palanivel said elections at the branch level would take place in December or January followed by division level.

Other elections such as the division, state, presidential, and CWC meetings are also expected to be held next year.

“The presidential election will start between January and March next year and after that we will have elections for the deputy president, vice presidents, CWC members and delegates,” he said, adding that MIC would also set up a committee for presidential elections in November or December. — Bernama

Speaking to reporters here yesterday, he said water reserves will be in negative capacity and demand outstripping supply then.

He said currently demand for treated water in the three areas stood at 4,638 million litres a day as compared to production of 4,661 million litres a day, a surplus of just 23 million litres only.

Demand was expected to increase at a rate of 3.5 per cent annually and that the situation was compounded by the current hot spell, he said.

Lee added that Syabas was taking steps to increase production capacity but urged the 7.5 million consumers in the three territories to conserve water. — Bernama

As such, he said the unit should not be headed by Hindraf chairman P Waythamoorthy
who was named Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department in the new Cabinet line-up recently.

“The (Indian Affairs) unit must be under the MIC. We cannot have two separate organisations functioning for the same community.

“MIC is the mother party of the Indian community since 1946, and we have been doing a good job, and will continue to eradicate long-standing problems,” he said.

Palanivel noted that the Special Cabinet Committee for Indians under the Prime Minister’s Department, and headed by the MIC, had changed the lives of thousands of Indians, taking them into the mainstream development of the country.

Speaking to reporers after chairing the Central Working Committee meeting at the party headquarters here yesterday, the MIC president said he would meet Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak next week, to bring up issues on strengthing the needs of the Indian community.

Palanivel said the discussion would also touch on the Indian community’s economic agenda.

“This needs a serious discussion. I will meet with the prime minister, either on Monday or Tuesday,” he said.

Meanwhile, Palanivel said the MIC would hold private discussions with the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), Indian Progressive Front (IPF), Makkal Sakhti and all Indian-based parties on ways to empower Indian votes for the Barisan Nasional coalition.

He also announced that Putera MIC Coordinator and Education Ministry Deputy Minister P Kamalanathan had been appointed the party’s Indian education council chief. — Bernama

Dang Wangi police chief ACP Zainuddin Ahmad confirmed that Tian Chua, who is also Batu MP, opposition supporter Haris Ibrahim and PAS member Tamrin Ghafar had been released.

The three were detained under Section 4 (1) of the Sedition Act 1948 for their alleged seditious speeches at the Chinese Assembly hall here on May 13, this year. — Bernama

VICTORY CELEBRATION: Idris Jusoh (second right) during the victory function. — Bernama photo

BESUT: Second Education Minister Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh will sue Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) and its strategy director Mohd Rafizi Ramli for slander.

Mohd Rafizi alleged that 24 Election Commission (EC) staff were locked up on polling day to ensure they voted in Besut parliamentary in 13th general election (GE13).

“I’m studying the allegation with lawyers to ensure it does not tarnish my image as member of parliament for Besut. I will sue them for making a public statement without proof to discredit me and the party,” he told a victory function organised by Gong Nering district polling station in Kampung Gong Guchil, Jerteh here yesterday.

Idris said he did not know where they sourced the allegation spread via Facebook and Blog Keadilan ‘exposed’ by PKR secretary-general Datuk Saifudin Nasution Ismail as quoted by party organ Keadilan Daily.

“The allegation is baseless because how could the EC staff be locked-up. They must be responsible for the allegations,” he added.

Barisan Nasional (BN) should be given the chance to implement promises made in its manifesto and the opposition should not continue to destroy the peace of the country just to achieve Anwar Ibrahim’s ambition to become Prime Mminister.

“We may have lost the cyber war in GE13 but BN won right to form the government and all parties should be respect the election results,” said Idris.

In GE13, Idris beat Riduan Mohamad Nor of PAS to win Besut parliamentary seat with a majority of 8,342 votes. — Bernama

The three-day exhibition is from 10am to 6pm.

Malaysian Handicraft director-general Mohd Kamil Mohd Ali said, the exhibition would also provide an opportunity to collectors of art and craft to buy directly from the producers.

He said 17 artists and nine handicrafters such as Ismail Baba, Fuad Bakar, Taufik Burahan and Lazim Ismail were participating in the exhibition.

“A charity auction will be held on the final day, involving 50 of the best collections ranging from RM10 (craftwork) and RM50 (artwork). The proceeds will be donated to selected orphanages,” he told reporters here.

He targeted 3,000 visitors to the exhibition. — Bernama

Following his resignation, his deputy, Datuk Akhbar Satar, was appointed to succeed him, according to a TI-M statement.

The executive committee held a meeting yesterday to elect new office-bearers comprising a president, deputy president, secretary-general and treasurer for the 2013/2014 term.

The new appointment in the TI-M involved Prof Datuk Mohamad Ali (deputy president), Dr Loi Kheng Mi (secretary-general) and Mohamed Raslan Abdul Rahman (treasurer). — Bernama

Following greater demand from the market, one additional service will be made to the current daytime schedule of services put in by the national carrier since September 2012.

Starting June, daytime services from Kuala Lumpur to Mumbai on flight MH174 will depart every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. Monday is the new day in the schedule, MAS said in a statement yesterday.

MH174 departs Kuala Lumpur at 9.20 am and arrives in Mumbai at 11.45am. It returns as flight MH175 the same day, departing Mumbai at 12.40pm, arriving Kuala Lumpur at 8.20pm.

MAS director of Commercial Dr Hugh Dunleavy said: “South Asia, especially India, is a key market to MAS and we continuously strive to enhance our guests’ experience on-board. We are deploying our newest B738 aircraft on this route to bring the comfort level of guests to a higher level.”

“New aircraft with modern interiors, great in-flight entertainment, and authentic Indian in-flight cuisine adds to our special ‘Malaysian Hospitality’ delivered by our award-winning crew.

“Competitive pricing plus 30kg of checked-in baggage for economy and 40kg for Business Class makes Malaysia Airlines an excellent choice to travel to the Indian sub-continent. It’s a winning proposition for our guests,” he said. — Bernama

The survey result conducted by DinarStandard, the leading survey institute for Muslim travel market, was presented during the International Tourism Bourse (ITB) here, the world’s largest travel and tourism show by its organiser Messe Berlin.

By the year 2020, growth in travel by Muslims is expected to touch 4.8 per cent, significantly higher than the global figure of only 3.8 per cent, according to the survey.

Indeed, Muslims will account for some 14 per cent of all international trips, according to the survey conducted by Reem El Shafaki, a senior associate of DinarStandard.

The travel packages for Malaysia and other destinations, offering halal food, cooking and prayer rooms, find approval with Muslim travellers, according to the survey.

The DinarStandard survey that examines the travel habits, polled close to 1,000 Muslims around the world with half of the respondents from Asia, 22 per cent from the Middle East and North Africa, and 15 per cent from the Americas.

Asked what was most important for them at their holiday destination, 67 per cent responded that halal food and cooking were the most important, while 53 per cent said the second most important factor was the overall price of the trip.

For close to 50 per ent, a Muslim-friendly atmosphere was among the most important holiday aspects.

Almost 53 per cent took a holiday with their family, 23 per cent with friends and around 19 per cent travelled with their spouses.

According to El Shafaki, tour operators who want to be part of this anticipated boom of the future must make sure certain conditions are fulfilled.

Halal food and cooking, as well as prayer rooms for worshipping, are indispensable.

She recommended the setting up of suitable washrooms for use before prayers and special services during the fasting month of Ramadan, such as breakfast before sunrise, as part of the travel package.

Last year, the EU Commission said that steps should be taken to attract greater numbers of Muslim holidaymakers to Europe. — Bernama

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar, who announced on Thursday that the department would be set up in Bukit Aman and state and district police contingent headquarters, said the role and functions of the department would be disclosed soon.

“I will disclose these, besides the department heads in Bukit Aman and state contingents,” he said when contacted by Bernama here yesterday.

Crime analyst Datuk Akhbar Satar believed the department would be capable of reducing crime in the country through the participation of the community.

“As the saying goes, ‘Prevention is better than cure’. It means that with such a department, crime can be prevented before it happens. There is no sense in preventing the crime when it had already happened,” he said.

Meanwhile, Inspector-General of Police Secretariat assistant head (Corporate Communication) ACP Ramli Mohamed Yusoof said the department would carry out studies, draw up strategies and implement crime prevention approaches in future as warranted by situation and time.

“The department was set up on the realisation that the focus must be on prevention. This will sustain the NKRA initiatives while new approaches would be introduced,” he said. It is understood that some countries had already set up their respective crime prevention department or bureau including Canada, United States of America, India, Korea and Hong Kong.

The Hong Kong police, for instance, has through their website www.police.gov.hk, carried out various crime prevention campaigns through talks and the media and prepared courses and seminars on security for the police and other organisations.

“The ultimate aim is to persuade the public to take more responsibility for their own security and in this way reduce the level of crime in Hong Kong,” stated the website. — Bernama

Then, in a move which surprised everyone in court, the burglar made an astounding offer to his victim. He promised to pay back the banker double the amount of what he had stolen from him.

The burglar explained that he actually came from a wealthy family and that he burglarised the banker’s home just for kicks.

He is not a thief who steals for a living but a young man who got caught while having fun of the wrong kind.

The banker, taken in by the man’s attractive offer, decided to withdraw his case against the burglar.

He told the judge that he was prepared to forgive the perpetrator and that the young man should be given a second chance in life.

Assuming you are on the bench in this fictitious case, how would you handle it?

Let the thief go after ensuring that he honours his pledge to his victim or let the law run its course.

I believe we should know what to do. A crime is a crime. The guilty must face the long arm of the law. Let there be no two ways around that.

This is what should be carried out in the recent rape case in Sabah, which has caught people’s attention nationwide.

Initially, there were concerns that the rapist would get away with his heinous crime just because he had married his 13-year-old victim.

Riduan Masmud, a 40-year-old restaurant manager, was charged in the Kota Kinabalu Sessions Court on Feb 28 with statutory rape of the girl inside a parked car in Inanam, near Kota Kinabalu, at about 10am on Feb 18.

On May 7, the court postponed the case to May 20 after it was told Riduan was seeking the permission of the Syariah Court to marry the girl and the prosecution said it had no objection to the case being withdrawn.

Last Monday, his counsel Loretto J Padua told the court the couple had married and the syariah marriage certificate had been presented to the investigating officer.

This caused an uproar among religious and women’s groups who rightly stated that the perpetrator should not be allowed to get away with the crime just because he had made amends for it.

Later in the week, Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail was compelled to give a public assurance that he would press on with statutory rape charges against Riduan Masmud.

In welcoming the AG’s statement, Sisters in Islam said it was a matter of public interest and it was incumbent on the civil and syariah legal systems to “ensure justice is served and seen to be served for all our children”.

“The decision to go ahead affirmed the position that statutory rape is a very serious matter that needs to be dealt with firmly by the law and that marriage is not exploited as a means to absolve sexual crimes committed against children,” said a SIS communications officer.

All Women’s Action Society (Awam) senior programme officer Lee Wei San said laws to protect children from statutory rape and underage marriage should be enforced.

“How can we allow our 13-year-old daughters to become brides? And for marriage to be used as a way to avoid criminal charges for statutory rape?

“This will have serious repercussions on all future rape cases,” she said, adding that young girls were individuals with dignity and rights, and not property to be sacrificed because of poverty, culture or religion.

We can only agree wholeheartedly with the concerns expressed by these well-meaning groups. They speak for all of us.

I think we can now heave a sigh of relief with the AG’s assurance because of the confusion of how the authorities deal with crime involving violence against children in this country.

It is statutory rape where an older man has sex with a minor who is below the age of 15. There are numerous cases to show this. There are young men languishing in prison being convicted for statutory rape, despite many appeals.

So why should Riduan be allowed to go scot-free?

Riduan’s case brought up another issue of great concern to all of us – child marriage.

You imagine a 13-year-old being married to a 40-year-old man. What is wrong with our society, people?

I thought that only happened with some nomadic tribes where parents pair their children for marriage as soon as they are born. Literally for these tribes, the only law that exists for them is the law of the jungle.

In their case, we can only watch from afar and reason that their customs and traditions must have served them well.

In the recent Sabah case, I don’t think we should only watch from afar. Besides the heinous crime of rape, the perpetrator has now embarked on another ‘path of darkness’ – taking a 13-year-old as a wife.

In his letter carried by a news portal, Suriana Welfare Society president James Nayagam asked all the correct but depressing questions on child marriage.

“Do we as Malaysians support child marriage? Look at the age gap. Is it fair to a child to marry someone who is old enough to be her father? Then again, what kind of message are we sending out to criminals, that they can rape and marry the girl. Where then is the meaning of crime does not pay?

“What about the rights of the child. According to the Convention of The Rights of The Child to which Malaysia is a signatory, it states that the child’s well-being is of utmost importance above all else. Is marriage of the best interest to her after her rights had been violated?

“She has lost her right to enjoy her future and choice in life. Society has failed to protect her rights and worse, has placed her captive in the hands of an alleged criminal, who may later abuse her as well. What kind of legal system are we practising in this country?

“Is the child ready for the life of a wife? What if she becomes a mother at this young age and not of her choice.

“We cannot be selective in responding to crime or have selective prosecution in matters involving children, where the law clearly states the procedure and punishment. If we do not speak up for the rights of children, what hope is there for children in the hands of abusers,” Nagayam wrote.

Well articulated indeed, James Nagayam.

To update Nagayam and all readers, the Sabah authorities are now taking steps to annul the 13-year-old rape victim’s marriage to her alleged rapist and to move her into the care of welfare officials.

That is the right thing to do. The law of the nation must ensure that nobody gets away with rape and other heinous crimes against young girls and children.

Comments can reach the writer via columnists@theborneopost.com.

Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin

PHUKET: Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the proposal to turn Barisan Nasional (BN) into a single party is rational and needs to be studied in detail to ensure continuous support from the people in future.

He said the major and significant proposal to ensure that the BN remained relevant must be considered immediately by every component party and given a response as soon as possible if the results of the recent GE were to be taken into account.

“After taking into consideration what had transpired in the last general election, BN leaders had posed the question whether the BN should be reviewed because the collaboration that existed currently was based on the merger of the 13 parties which had become components of the BN with each party having its own constitution and were merely merging based on the BN name.

“There were those who felt that now was probably the time for the merger to be formed in a more concrete manner, that is, the BN as a political party and no longer a merger of various political parties,” he said when commenting on the proposal by Gerakan that called for the BN to be in the form of a single party as stated by its acting president Datuk Chang Ko Youn, two days ago.

Speaking to reporters during his visit here, Muhyiddin said there was basis in the suggestion but it called for every component party to undertake an in-depth study by obtaining feedback and views from the respective party members because it involved the structure of its formation and organisation.

He said although the suggestion might receive objections, it was important that all party members looked ahead and if they felt that it should be implemented, an implementation mechanism that could be accepted by all members of the BN component parties must be submitted immediately.

“This is more than a matter of self-evaluation, we must look at the existing BN structure to see whether the time has come for the formation of a party to be named the BN, and no longer in the form of a merger of BN component parties but the BN as a single political party,” he said.

Describing the number as high, Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said he was concerned that some of the lost MyKads might be used by syndicates for criminal purposes.

“This issue needs to be tackled fast by the National Registration Department (NRD) to prevent misuse of the lost MyKads and to avoid the Home Ministry from being accused by any quarters of creating phantom voters for the general election.”

Ahmad Zahid this to reporters after his visit to the NRD, here, yesterday.

He was, however, confident that the NRD, which won eight awards including an international one last year for its excellent service, would be able to check the problem.

“If investigations reveal that syndicates were involved in the loss of MyKads for the purpose of committing crime and so on, I think a fine imposed on the cardholders is not enough as the NRD should also do monitoring, undertake prevention measures and provide solutions to the problem,” he said.

He said the fine for those who lost their MyKad might be increased after this.

“I’m asking the NRD director-general to suggest the amount which I will bring up to the cabinet for consideration and approval,” he said.

Currently, the fine for losing the MyKad for the first time is RM100, RM200 for the second time and RM300 for the third. — Bernama

He stressed that he was not involved in the detention of the opposition leader as well as PAS activist Tamrin Tun Ghafar and Asalkan Bukan Umno (ABU) leader Haris Ibrahim.

“I left the matter to the police and I believe they have the basis and solid evidence to detain the three, and I played no part in the operations,” he told reporters after attending a function at the National Registration Department here yesterday.

On whether more opposition and non-governmental organisation leaders would be detained, Ahmad Zahidi said it was up to the police.

On Monday, he had cautioned that the government would no longer issue any warnings but will take serious action against anyone who acted irresponsibly to cause public disorder in the country.

He said the Inspector-General of Police, and department heads and agencies under the ministry had the authority to carry out their responsibilities according to their jurisdicdtion based on the law, without political interference. — Bernama

Erni Dekritawati Yuliana Buhari, 28, the eldest of six siblings, said she was satisfied with the court’s decision handed down to former lawyer N Pathmanabhan and three farm workers, T Thilaiyalagan, R Matan and R Kathavarayan.

“I wish to thank the court, media and Malaysians who had given us their support since the death of my mother. No words can express my gratitude,” she said when met by reporters at the Shah Alam Court complex here yesterday.

The four were found guilty and sentenced to death by hanging by the High Court yesterday for murdering Sosilawati, 47, bank officer Noorhisham Mohamad, 38, lawyer Ahmad Kamil Abdul Karim, 32, and Sosilawati’s driver Kamaruddin Shamsuddin, 44.

They committed the offence at Lot 2001, Jalan Tanjong Layang, Tanjung Sepat in Banting between 8.30pm and 9.45pm on Aug 30, 2010. — Bernama

Its Curriculum Development Division deputy director Dr Azian T.S. Abdullah said these would be done through a combination of assessment and practical observations.

She said in 2011, the policy of 60:40 ratio of Science and Arts had only achieved 45 per cent of the 60 per cent of students’ involvement in Science subjects.

“Therefore, the diagnostic exercise would be an effort to encourage students to take up Science, as well as to enhance the quality of science education to be at par with that in developed nations.

“Malaysia is currently undergoing educational transformation, and Inquiry- Based Science Education (IBSE) is one of our focus areas to propel the national education system to greater heights,” she said when presenting a paper at the International Science, Technology and Innovation Centre for South-South Cooperation (ISTIC)’s fifth anniversary conference, here, yesterday.

Azian said through the diagnostic exercise, the ministry would be able to develop a customised professional development programme for Science teachers as well as develop a professional learning community (PLC) among them.

“A new initiative which has never been carried out in Malaysia is the employment of School Improvement Specialist Coaches (SISC+). We hope to implement that programme.

“The SISC+ will act as mentor and coach to teachers in schools, besides delivering professional development sessions.”

Azian said the professional development programme would motivate teachers to deliver effectively the new Secondary School Standard Curriculum (KSSM) and Primary School Standard Curriculum (KSSR), which would be implemented in 2017.

She said the ministry would also take every step possible to provide good science laboratories in schools and to recruit sufficient skilled laboratory assistants to support teachers in the learning proses.

Therefore, she said, to further strengthen Science education, the ministry would reintroduce starting from 2015 the practical testing elements in national examinations and school-based assessments. — Bernama

Unicef Malaysia in a statement yesterday said the government’s quick action and strong concerns by various NGOs would help protect the child from futher harm and prevent her from joining the growing number of child brides globally.

According to its statement, the girl who was already married should be supported with options for schooling, sexual and reproductive health and services including HIV prevention, livelihoods skills and recourse from violence in the home.

Unicef cautioned that being married at a young age not only curbed a girl’s right to education, but also endangered her health as complications from pregnancy and childbirth were the leading cause of death among girls aged 15 to 19 worldwide, accounting for some 50,000 deaths each year.

“Moreover, girls between 10 and 14 years of age are five times more likely than women aged 20 to 24 to die in pregnancy and childbirth.

“Child brides are also more likely to experience discrimination and violence and too often, they have little or no ability to leave abusive partners and secure the social and legal support they need to improve their situation,” Unicef said.

Unicef said child marriage, which frequently inhibits a child’s basic right of health, education and security is condemned in international conventions, including the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which Malaysia signed and ratified in 1995.

“Whether it happened to a girl or boy, child marriage is a practice that robs children of their childhood, their rights and dignity.

“Parents may consent to child marriages out of economic necessity. Marriage may also be seen as a way to provide male guardianship for their daughters, protect them from sexual assault or avoid pregnancy outside marriage,” it said. — Bernama

Rosmah, who is also Bakti president, said by doing so, they could help give a good image of the country’s leaders.

She said she hoped that the participation of another 21 wives of newly-appointed ministers and deputy ministers, would contribute more creative ideas to the association.

“Bakti members are always watched by other women and non-governmental organisations. Hope we can take care of ourselves to be good Bakti members, as well as wives of the country leaders. Please support your husbands,” she said at a familiarisation reception with the new Bakti members at Seri Perdana here.

She added that she hoped members would mind their manners and behaviour in public and to always support their husbands.

A ‘pulut kuning’ (glutinuous rice cake) cutting ceremony was also held at the function to celebrate Barisan Nasional’s victory in the recent 13th general election. — Bernama