Entrepreneurs get Superb boost

FOR BUMIPUTERAS: Alternative gym owner among 13 winners of scheme funding

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak with Nur Azini Mohamed Kamal and other winners of the Skim Usahawan Permulaan Bumiputera (Superb) scheme in Putrajaya yesterday. On Najib’s left is Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin. Bernama pic

PUTRAJAYA: FOR Nur Azini Mohamed Kamal to be selected among the 13 winners of the government's grant for young innovative Bumiputera entrepreneurs is a dream come true.

Her company, Impulse Studio Sdn Bhd, which she founded a couple of years ago, has been trying to bring in a technology from Germany to Malaysia but it has not been easy.

"Trying to get funding was not easy as there was little acceptance of my idea of an alternative gym despite it being so popular in Europe," Nor Azini, 37, told the New Straits Times yesterday.

Alternative gym, she said, referred to electrical muscles stimulation embedded in the workout attire to help one lose weight more efficiently than conventional work-outs.

"There are 2,000 such gyms in Europe after only seven years and I hope this will catch on here, too, not just in Malaysia but regionally as well."

Nur Azini said she had spent RM360,000 to bring the technology here and would use the RM500,000 grant to open her first gym in Jalan Telawi, Bangsar, next week.

"My goal is to open another two outlets in the Klang Valley by the end of the year."

Another winner, Megat Farril Robert Rizal, who founded Superencipherment Technology Solution Sdn Bhd, said with the grant, it would be easier for him to market his product.

He said his company and another from Israel were the only two companies that offered the data encryption security solution to secure data in mobile devices.

"We engage in multi-layer encryption and it is already being used," he said, adding that he was targeting government contracts before marketing it overseas.

The two were among 13 winners in the first phase of the Skim Usahawan Permulaan Bumiputera (Superb) scheme. Each received a grant of RM500,000.

The RM100 million grant scheme, overseen by Bumiputera Agenda Steering Unit (Teraju), was opened for application on Feb 1 and attracted more than 1,700 applicants, but only 25 were short-listed.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, in announcing the recipients yesterday, said the 12 other finalists would instead be given RM25,000 each to help them progress in their businesses.

Najib said the government would continue to ensure that Bumiputera entrepreneur programmes like Superb remained active in line with the goal for all Malaysians to reap the benefits when Malaysia became a developed nation.

"What is certain is that all entrepreneurs in the country will always be supported by the government through assistance schemes in the form of financial help, training workshops, infrastructure or advisory services," he said at the Prime Minister's Office here yesterday.

Najib said Malaysia needed quality and innovative ideas from the younger generation as there was a huge pool of untapped talent looking to explore their capabilities and test their skills not just for the domestic market but also internationally.

"Quality idea does not revolve around whom you know but it is all about what your know-how.

"If you have an idea that can be translated into a product that has a high impact on society, we will try our best to support it."

The Superb scheme is a collaboration with government agencies, such as Cradle Fund, Malaysian Technology Development Corporation, MyCreative Ventures, Malaysia Venture Capital Management Bhd, Kumpulan Modal Perdana and Multimedia Development Corporation.

The panel of judges for the first round of the scheme's winners were Mydin Holdings managing director Datuk Ameer Ali Mydin, AirAsia Bhd executive chairman Datuk Kamarudin Meranun, Malay Chamber of Commerce president of the Sabah branch Datuk Awang Buhtamam and OMNI Petromaritime founder Dr Jamal Yusuf.

NSTP

President Obama Holds a Press Conference with Prime Minister Najib of Malaysia

Obama Leaves Malaysia After 'Milestone' Visit

Terasa sayu pulak di hati H.E. Barack Obama habiskan lawatan di Malaysia dan melawat Philipina pulak.  Walau berlainan ugama atau bangsa... beliau memuji bagaimana pimpinan Malaysia umumnya dan DS Najib khususnya memimpin negara berbilang bangsa.  Beliau pastinya sefahaman dengan pemerintah Malaysia.  Memadai berjumpa dengan pemimpin yang effektif untuk tidak buang masanya yang sebok.

SUBANG, April 28 (Bernama) -- United States President Barack Obama left Malaysia today after completing a three-day state visit, a historic milestone nearly 50 years after the trip by President Lyndon B. Johnson.

The Air Force One carrying the American president took off about 10.20 am from the Subang military base in the outskirts of the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur.

Among those present to bid him farewell were Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman and Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin.

Obama is headed for the Philippines, the final stop of his four-nation tour of Asia. He had visited Japan and South Korea, prior to Malaysia.

In his final engagement, Obama witnessed the signing of several commercial deals between Malaysian and American companies worth US$2 billion in the aviation, biotechnology and insurance sectors.

Also present at the event in a Kuala Lumpur hotel on Monday was Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

Both leaders held bilateral talks in Malaysia's administrative capital Putrajaya on Sunday, which saw both nations agreeing to upgrade their bilateral relations to a Comprehensive Partnership.

The US has also pledged to continue providing Malaysia with whatever search and investigation assistance needed in the mission to locate the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 aircraft.

Other highlights of Obama's visit was his town hall session with youth leaders from across Southeast Asia and a visit to the National Mosque.

The president also attended a state banquet with the Malaysian King, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah, at Istana Negara a few hours after his arrival Saturday.

-- BERNAMA

‘Different But With Same Hopes’

DRAWING STRENGTH: Both nations want to leave a better tomorrow, says US leader

KUALA LUMPUR: UNITED States President Barack Obama says the US and Malaysia can draw strength from their ethnic and religious diversity and hope from history to carve a brighter future for the next generation.

In his remarks at a state banquet at Istana Negara last night, Obama said while the US and Malaysia might be different as nations, their people shared similar hopes and aspirations.

“I believe that whether we come from a remote village or a big city, whether we live in the US or in Malaysia, we all share basic human aspirations — to live in dignity and peace. (We want) to shape our own destiny, to be able to make a living and to work hard and support a family. And most of all, to leave the next generation something better than what was left to us.”

At the banquet graced by Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah and Raja Permaisuri Agong Tuanku Hajah Haminah, Obama said these were the aspirations that could illuminate a new era of partnership between the US and Malaysia.

He expressed gratitude to Malaysia for hosting his visit and recalled the inaugural visit by the 36th American president, Lyndon B. Johnson, some 50 years ago.

Obama said Johnson was impressed with the Malaysian people’s tenacity to develop the country.

“He was impressed with the extraordinary vitality and eagerness he saw on the faces of the people of Southeast Asia.

Turning to Najib, he said: “Mr Prime Minister, I look forward to our work together, and I pledge to infuse our efforts with that same spirit.

“Tonight, I simply want to express my gratitude for the generosity that you’ve shown us today — a generosity the people of Malaysia have extended to my family since I was elected (as president).”

The American president sprinkled his remarks with a few Malay words, a gesture that was well received by the audience as shown by their appreciative applause.

At the start of the speech, he wished those present selamat petang (good evening) and ended it with terima kasih banyak (thank you very much).

In between, he used the word bekerjasama when touching on the partnership between the US and Malaysia, as well as the boleh spirit in reference to the Malaysia Boleh mantra, which loosely translates into “Malaysia can do it”.

Obama also thanked Malaysia for displaying some of his late mother Stanley Ann Dunham’s artwork at the Islamic Arts Museum two years ago.

“My mother loved batik. I remember when I was a boy growing up in Jakarta, she’d come home from village markets with her arms full of batik and she’d lay them around the house and look at them, and make dresses out of them,” he said.

In his royal address, the king reciprocated Obama’s gratitude by acknowledging unwavering US support and cooperation in the search for the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370. The Yang di-Pertuan Agong said the assistance rendered summarised the close bond between the two countries.

“Your involvement since the beginning of the search and rescue mission, and ongoing recovery operation, has indeed exemplified the strong commitment established between our two countries,” he said.

Present at the banquet were Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, and Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, wife Puan Sri Noorainee Abdul Rahman and cabinet ministers.

The king was also pleased with the flourishing ties between Malaysia and US over the years.

He said the strong economic ties forged between Malaysia and the US would spur the country’s growth to be a developed nation by 2020. He added that Malaysia would continue to build a lasting relationship with the US to strengthen mutual stability and prosperity.

-NST

Sumber:  Perak Today

Obama Visits Malaysia's Icon, National Mosque

KUALA LUMPUR, April 27 (Bernama) -- United States President Barack Obama today visited one of Malaysia's iconic monuments, the National Mosque, also known as Masjid Negara, symbolising his approach in reaching out to the Muslim world.

His first event on Sunday to the mosque indicates his acceptance of the moderate Islamic practice in Malaysia, where the majority of its 30 million people are Muslims.

The 44th American president, who came to power in 2009 and later was re-elected to a second term in 2012, was greeted by National Mosque imam, Tan Sri Syaikh Ismail Muhammad and the mosque's committee members upon arrival in his presidential limousine at the front mosque entrance in Jalan Perdana, here, at 9.40am.

Obama, who was in a dark suit, strolled alongside Syaikh Ismail to the prayer hall and made a brief stop at the Warriors' Mausoleum, located next to the National Mosque.

Also present were Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin as minister-in-attendance, and United States Special Envoy to the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, Rashad Hussain.

Obama's three-day historic visit to this Southeast Asian nation - part of his four-nation tour of Asia - is a first by a sitting US president in 48 years since President Lyndon B.Johnson's trip back in 1966.

The National Mosque, which has a capacity for 15,000 people, is a symbol of the aspirations of the then new federation of Malaysia and a tribute to its first prime minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj for his noble effort in gaining independence for the country.

The mosque, built in 1965, also heralded Islam as the nation's official religion and it receives many Muslim and non-Muslim tourists each year.

The 73-metre-high minaret and an 16-point star concrete main roof are among the key features of the mosque's uniqueness which attracts tourists.

The RM10 million building was built in an area of 5.2 hectares, located amid the leafy surroundings of central Kuala Lumpur's Lake Gardens and near the Islamic Arts Museum.

The Warriors' Mausoleum is where the country's second prime minister, the late Tun Abdul Razak Hussein, father of current Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, Tun Hussein Onn (third prime minister) and two former deputy prime ministers, Tun Ghafar Baba and Tun Dr Ismail Abdul Rahman, were laid to rest.

On Friday, an English daily, The Star quoted religious adviser to the prime minister, Tan Sri Dr Abdullah Md Zin, as saying that it was "not common" for the leader of a superpower to include a visit to a mosque in his itinerary.

"There can be no better way for Obama to honour Islam than by visiting Masjid Negara. It will be interesting to know what he has to say about the mosque and Islam," he said.

The newspaper also quoted Johor Islamic Council adviser Datuk Nooh Gadut as saying that although Obama was not compelled to visit the mosque, his choice to do so meant a lot to Muslims in Malaysia and around the world.

"It shows that the president is sensitive and also that he wants to get closer to the Muslim world," said Nooh.

Obama's visit to a mosque is not new as he had visited the famed Blue Mosque while on a visit to Turkey in 2009.

During a trip to Indonesia in 2010, the president also visited Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta, which is one of the world's largest mosques.

After the visit to the National Mosque, Obama is scheduled to head to Malaysia's federal administrative capital, Putrajaya, for talks with Najib.

-- BERNAMA

LAWATAN BERSEJARAH PRESIDEN BARACK OBAMA KE MALAYSIA

Source: Dr. MIM

Malaysia Gives President Obama Red-Carpet Welcome

KUALA LUMPUR, April 26 (Bernama) -- Malaysia wished "Selamat Datang" or "Welcome" in Malay to United States President Barack Obama as it rolled out the red carpet at an official welcoming ceremony for the American leader here Saturday.

Obama had earlier flown into Kuala Lumpur to begin a three-day state visit to this Southeast Asian nation of 30 million people.

He was joined at the event at the hill-top Parliament Building in the Malaysian capital by the Malaysian King, Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah.

Also present were Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

After the national anthems of both countries were played, Obama inspected a guard-of-honour mounted by 107 officers and men from the First Battalion of the Royal Malay Regiment led by Major Amriza Mohd Asshari.

The visit to Malaysia, part of Obama's four-nation tour of Asia, is a first by a sitting US president in 48 years since President Lyndon B. Johnson's trip in 1966.

Obama had visited Japan and South Korea. The final leg of his Asian trip is the Philippines.

The ceremony at the Parliament Square was also marked by a 21-gun salute.

Cabinet ministers were later introduced to the visiting president during the occasion which was also attended by members of the diplomatic corps.

Obama will head to Malaysia's federal administrative capital Putrajaya on Sunday for talks with Najib before going to nearby Cyberjaya for the launch of the Malaysian Global Innovation and Creative Centre (MaGIC) which will provide a platform for entrepreneurs to expand their wings.

Other highlights of Obama's visit is his town hall session with youth leaders from across Southeast Asia and a visit to the National Mosque.

-- BERNAMA

Comment: 

Sejak merdeka Malaysia dan Amarika tetap bersahabat. Mungkin ada perkara yang Amarika memerlukan sahabat seperti Malaysia dan begitu juga sebaliknya. 

Saling hormat dan menghormati harus dikekalkan namun Malaysia sebagai sebuah negara berdaulat cukup senang dengan caranya tersendiri menjalin persahabatan. 

Terbukti cara negara kecil ini mengekalkan persahabatan dihormati oleh negara kuasa besar Amarika.

Mahkamah Putuskan Kenyataan Anwar Dari Kandang Tertuduh Penafian Semata-mata

PUTRAJAYA – Mahkamah Rayuan di sini memutuskan kenyataan Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim dari kandang tertuduh dalam pembelaan beliau bagi pertuduhan liwat hanya penafian semata-mata.

Mahkamah itu juga memutuskan penafian Anwar itu tidak menimbulkan sebarang keraguan dan menjadikan pembelaannya berwibawa yang boleh menjejaskan keterangan pihak pendakwa terhadap tertuduh.

“Ia juga adalah penting bagi responden (Anwar) menjelaskan kes beliau,” kata panel tiga Hakim Mahkamah Rayuan yang diketuai Hakim Datuk Balia Yusof Wahi dalam penghakiman bertulis setebal 85 muka surat yang dikeluarkan Jumaat.

Dua lagi hakim ialah Datuk Aziah Ali dan Datuk Mohd Zawawi Salleh.

Pada 7 Mac lepas, Mahkamah Rayuan membatalkan keputusan Mahkamah Tinggi pada 9 Jan 2012 yang membebaskan Anwar daripada tuduhan meliwat bekas pembantunya, Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan, 26, di Kondominium Desa Damansara di Bukit Damansara antara 3.10 petang dan 4.30 petang pada 26 Jun 2008.

Mahkamah membenarkan rayuan pihak pendakwa dan mendapati Anwar bersalah bagi pertuduhan itu dan menjatuhi hukuman penjara lima tahun.

Dalam penghakimannya, panel itu berkata bagi membolehkan Anwar berjaya dalam pembelaannya, adalah wajib baginya mengemukakan bukti untuk menyangkal pertuduhan yang dihadapinya.

Bagaimanapun, dalam kes ini, Anwar tidak menafikan beliau berada di tempat kejadian jenayah pada masa dan tarikh seperti dalam pertuduhan.

“Beliau tidak mempertikaikan keretanya dilihat memasuki dan meninggalkan kondominium pada masa itu. Beliau juga tidak mempertikaikan dia telah dilihat ketika memasuki lif ke tingkat lima kondominium dan kemudian meninggalkan tempat itu,” kata ketiga-tiga hakim berkenaan.

Mereka juga berpendapat bahawa hakim perbicaraan dalam kes rayuan itu mungkin juga tertanya-tanya kenapa responden (Anwar) memilih untuk memberi keterangan tidak bersumpah.

Panel itu berkata ini tidak mungkin disebabkan beliau (Anwar) membantah untuk memberi keterangan bersumpah kerana jika benar, beliau boleh memilih untuk berdiam diri.

“Adakah mungkin responden keberatan keterangannya disoal dalam pemeriksaan balas? Jika ya, kenapa? Beliau tidak perlu takut untuk disoal kerana beliau akan dipertahankan oleh peguamnya dan oleh mahkamah,” kata panel.

Berhubung keterangan dua pakar saksi pembelaan (Dr David Wells dan Dr Brian McDonald) yang dipanggil untuk mematahkan keterangan pakar saksi pendakwa, mahkamah berkata mereka hanyalah ‘armchair expert’ (pakar yang hanya pandai berteori) dan keterangan mereka hanya semata-mata pandangan, manakala keterangan ahli kimia tempatan Dr Seah Lay Hong dan Nor Aidora Saedon adalah berdasarkan fakta dan analisis terhadap sampel yang mereka jalankan.

Panel itu juga bersetuju dengan hujahan pihak pendakwa bahawa keterangan Dr McDonald sebahagian besar berbentuk spekulasi, teori, dan andaian, sehubungan itu keterangannya tidak kukuh.

Ketiga-tiga hakim juga berkata Dr McDonald turut membayangkan Jabatan Kimia Malaysia tidak mempunyai akreditasi kerana telah tamat tempoh pada 2005, bagaimanapun, berdasarkan keterangan Pengarah Bahagian Forensik Jabatan Kimia, Lim Kong Boon jabatan itu mempunyai akreditasi.

Berhubung isu alibi, hakim memutuskan kegagalan Anwar untuk memanggil mana-mana saksi bagi menyokong pembelaannya telah menimbulkan keraguan bona fide ke atas pembelaannya.

Mereka berkata antara saksi yang dinamakan di dalam notis alibi ialah isteri responden dan ketua kakitangannya.

“Saksi-saksi ini sepatutnya ada dan menyebelahi responden jika alibinya adalah tulen,” kata panel itu.

Mereka juga mendapati Hakim Mahkamah Tinggi membuat kesilapan yang serius apabila beliau meragui integriti sampel DNA berdasarkan keterangan yang diberi dua pakar saksi pembelaan.

Panel itu juga memutuskan keputusan hakim perbicaraan adalah cacat dan memerlukan campur tangan Mahkamah Rayuan- BERNAMA

Sumber:  AIDC

Muhyiddin di rumah Karpal beri penghormatan terakhir

Timbalan Perdana Menteri, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin tiba di kediaman bekas Pengerusi DAP, Karpal Singh untuk memberi penghormatan terakhir kepada pemimpin DAP itu.

Ketibaan beliau di kediaman Karpal di Jalan Utama di Georgetown pada jam 5 petang disambut ahli keluarga Karpal dan beberapa pemimpin pakatan pembangkang lain.

Sebelum itu, Muhyiddin berkata Karpal Singh adalah seorang anggota Parlimen senior yang begitu gigih dan berani menyuarakan hal-hal berkaitan rakyat.

"Pastinya jasa beliau itu akan terus dikenang dan saya bagi pihak parti dan kerajaan mengucapkan takziah kepada keluarga beliau," katanya.

Bekas pengerusi DAP dan anggota Parlimen Bukit Gelugor itu maut dalam kemalangan di Km306.1 Lebuhraya Utara Selatan berhampiran Gua Tempurong, di Kampar, Perak. Turut terbunuh dalam kemalangan di laluan utara itu ialah pembantu peribadi beliau, Michael Cornelius, 40-an.

Menurut polis, kenderaan Toyota Alphard MPV yang dinaiki Karpal, 74, dan empat orang lain dari Kuala Lumpur ke Pulau Pinang telah terlibat dalam kemalangan dengan sebuah lori lima tan yang membawa muatan simen, besi dan mozek.

Sementara itu, walaupun berpegang pada ideologi politik yang berbeza, bekas Pengerusi DAP dan anggota Parlimen Bukut Gelugor Karpal Singh, yang maut dalam kemalangan, telah banyak menyumbang kepada negara, kata bekas perdana menteri Tun Dr Mahatir Mohamad.

Beliau berkata Karpal sering mengkritik kerajaan apabila beliau melihat sesuatu perkara yang tidak betul.

"Sebahagian daripada kritikannya mungkin tidak betul tetapi ada juga yang mempunyai asas. Kita memerlukan pembangkang yang bercakap munasabah," katanya ketika mengucapkan takziah kepada keluarga mendiang peguam tersebut.

Sumber:  Agenda Daily

Najib Reminds People Against Changing Government Arbitrarily

KUANTAN, April 10 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak Thursday reminded the people against moving to arbitrarily change the government of today.

He said the government of today had proven that it could implement the change and development that the people desired.

"Let's not change the government (of today) just because we want a change; more importantly, we want change and progress. Why must we change if the (Barisan Nasional) party can fulfil and implement the change and progress?" he said at the presentation of land titles for the Seri Damai Collective Land Scheme near Kuantan.

Najib said there was a possibility that what the people hoped for could not be fulfilled if they were to go for the change.

"We must know the ultimate outcome," he said.

Najib, who is the MP for Pekan, said many countries where the government had been overthrown by the people did not achieve the desired outcome.

He said the people should maintain their trust in the government of today to help realise the government's mission to make the country a developed nation by 2020.

At the event, the prime minister handed out land titles to 167 participants. Each individual received a 0.4-hectare plot.

The Seri Damai scheme was initiated in November 1985 along with 36 other schemes in the Kuantan district.

BERNAMA

MH370: "Perbezaan diketepikan, pada saat 26 negara bersatu dengan satu matlamat..." - Najib

Masa susah baru kita tahu nilai persahabatan, dan dalam kes kehilangan pesawat MH370, Malaysia dikira bertuah sebab banyak negara yang sangguh bantu mencari pesawat malang yang hilang begitu sahaja dari radar pada 8 Mac lalu.

Menurut Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak "perbezaan diketepikan, pada saat 26 negara bersatu dengan satu matlamat. Kehilangan MH370 merupakan insiden yang tidak pernah dialami sebelum ini; begitu juga dengan misi pencarian ini."

Beliau yang kini berada di Perth untuk melihat perkembangan operasi mencari MH370 sekali lagi melahirkan rasa terima kasih kepada pihak berkuasa Australia dan negara-negara yang turut serta dalam misi ini.

“Dalam situasi yang sukar begini, Australia telah membuktikan persahabatan yang tidak ternilai kepada Malaysia.

“Pihak berkuasa Australia bersama-sama pihak berkuasa negara lain telah menawarkan bantuan tanpa teragak-agak mahupun kelewatan,” kata Najib pada sidang media bersama Perdana Menteri Australia, Tony Abbott di Perth Australia.

Najib turut mengucapkan terima kasih kepada kerajaan Australia yang telah bersetuju secara formal untuk mengetuai operasi menjejaki MH370 di Selatan Lautan Hindi selain turut serta dalam proses siasatan.

Beliau yang sebelum itu telah membuat lawatan ke Pangkalan Udara Pearce menjelaskan kesukaran yang dihadapi pasukan mencari selama lebih 20 hari telah bertungkus lumus menjalankan tugas di selatan Lautan Hindi.

“Semasa MH370 dilaporkan hilang, puluhan negara menyahut panggilan Malaysia yang memerlukan bantuan. Komitmen mereka memang tidak mungkin dapat kami lupakan,” tambah Najib.

Menurut Najib, sepanjang tiga minggu lepas, beratus-ratus orang telah mengharungi perjalanan beribu-ribu kilometer untuk membantu. Mereka telah melakukan pencarian dalam keadaan laut bergelora, berkabus dan suhu amat sejuk.

"Mereka belayar dalam keadaan ribut petir untuk mencari pesawat. Kita terhutang budi kepada setiap seorang daripada mereka.

"Ini merupakan satu usaha yang amat mengagumkan, telah menyatukan negara-negara dari seluruh dunia. Semasa MH370 didapati hilang, berpuluh-puluh negara menjawab seruan bagi bantuan. Komitmen mereka tidak akan dilupakan.

"Pagi ini saya berjumpa dengan anggota tentera laut dan tentera udara di Pangkalan Udara Pearce. Saya juga berbual dengan komander dari tujuh negara yang berada di sini untuk misi mencari MH370.

"Mereka memberitahu saya tentang kesukaran misi pencarian seperti ini; dari segi jarak, dan cuaca, dan untuk mengekalkan semangat jitu untuk tempoh yang lama.

"Ketika ini, 10 pesawat dan sembilan kapal sedang melakukan pencarian di Lautan Hindi bagi mengesan sebarang petanda berhubung pesawat yang hilang. Kawasan pencarian amat luas, dan keadaannya bukan mudah.

"Tetapi kawasan pencarian baharu yang telah dikecilkan memberikan kita harapan baharu. Dan saya percaya semangat dan keberanian adalah setara dengan tugas itu. Sekali lagi, saya mengucapkan terima kasih atas apa yang mereka sedang lakukan,"ujarnya.

Sementara itu, Tony Abbot pada sidang media yang sama mengingatkan ahli keluarga penumpang MH370 yang hilang sejak 8 Mac lalu supaya terus bersabar.

“Saya faham ini memang satu situasi yang sukar buat anda tetapi kami tidak akan menghampakan anda. Apabila tiba masa untuk anda datang ke Australia, kami akan memastikan lawatan anda dialu-alukan.

“Kami tidak dapat menjanjikan kejayaan mutlak dalam pencarian MH370, tetapi kami akan memastikan usaha yang diberi tidak akan berhenti sehinggalah kami telah melakukan usaha yang mampu dilakukan,” kata Abbott.

Menurut Abbott, misi pencarian MH370 ini merupakan misi paling sukar yang pernah dilakukan mana-mana negara dimana pasukan mencari terpaksa menempuhi pelbagai kesukaran – kawasan yang sangat terpencil, sukar dilalui selain keadaan lautan yang tidak menentu.

“Ini adalah misi paling sukar dalam sejarah dunia. Saya pasti setiap hari pasukan mencari melakukan yang terbaik dalam mendapatkan maklumat dan kami masih lagi sedang cuba untuk mencari jawapan kepada misteri ini,” tambahnya.

Perdana Menteri mengadakan lawatan kerja ke Perth, Australia selama dua hari bermula semalam bagi meninjau operasi pelbagai negara dalam pencarian pesawat Malaysia Airlines (MAS) penerbangan MH370, dari Perth.-3/4/2014

Sumber:  Ajenda Daily