SYARIKAT Perumahan Negara Bhd (SPNB) has completed 5,563 units of low-cost units worth RM230 million under the Skim Rumah Mesra Rakyat since its launching in 2003.

Second Finance Minister Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yackop said another 5,487 units were still under construction.

Replying to Razali Ibrahim (BN-Muar), he said the project was started to help the lower-income groups with an annual income of less than RM18,000 own a house.

Police plan on track

THE Royal Malaysian Police are in the second of a five-year strategic plan to improve itself, Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar said.
In a written reply to Teresa Kok (DAP-Seputeh), he said the plan was expected to strengthen the integrity of police officers, improve the quality of the force and arrest the rising crime rate.

On the establishment of the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission, Syed Hamid said the government had decided to withdraw the Special Complaints Commission 2007 Bill.

RM65,905 an hour

IT costs RM65,905.22 an hour to operate the government's fleet of four executive jets.

The breakdown of expenditure worked out to RM19,643.50 per hour to use the 5-year-old Boeing Business Jet BBJ 737, RM17,404.58 per hour for the 33-year-old Fokker 28 and RM16,721.39 per hour for the 19-year-old Falcon D.

The lowest cost per hour of RM12,135.75 was for the 12-year-old RM136 million (at US$1 to RM3.40) Global Express D700.

FT Ministry will remain

THE Federal Territories Ministry will not be abolished. Its minister, Datuk Seri Zulhasnan Rafique, said this was because the ministry's role did not overlap with Kuala Lumpur City Hall as claimed by Wee Choo Keong (PKR-Wangsa Maju).

He said his ministry also looked after the Federal Territories of Putrajaya and Labuan.

On whether the mayor of Kuala Lumpur should be elected, he said the matter should be forwarded to the Housing and Local Government Ministry.

No need for VVIP graves

THE government should call off City Hall's plan to build a national mausoleum on a piece of land near the National Monument, Saifuddin Nasution Ismail (PKR-Machang) said yesterday.

He said the project should not have been approved because of several factors, including high land cost.

He said the national mausoleum for very, very important persons (VVIP) was not a priority for the moment.

City Hall has opened tenders for a 500-lot mausoleum with 60-40 ratio for Muslim and non-Muslim VVIPs.

Aussies to teach English

AUSTRALIA will send teachers here to help strengthen the command of English among Malaysian teachers.

"Australia has agreed to help us study the co-curriculum, the English language and the teaching profession in Australia," said Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein.

He was speaking after meeting his counterpart from Victoria state, Australia, at Parliament here yesterday.

An English Teacher Training Institute will also be set up soon. - Bernama