MAS needs to be privatised - Dr M

Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad today suggested that Malaysia Airlines (MAS) be privatised in an effort to revitalise the government-linked company, and consequently, overcome its losses at present.

The former Prime Minister said privatisation is a good step for MAS to generate big profits as when a company is government-owned, it faces constraints from the point of finance.

"MAS has been in operation for a long time and many initiatives have been undertaken to turn it around, but unsuccessfully.

"I believe privatisation is a good thing, as when the company is government owned, it has also less rights," he told reporters at his Hari Raya open house in Seri Kembangan, near here.

The event was attended by about 20,000 visitors of various races as well as foreigners.

Also present was Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor.

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin was  there with his wife, Puan Sri Noorainee Abd Rahman.

Dr Mahathir, who is also Proton advisor, said based on experience with the national car maker, privatisation will make the owners more sensitive as to the issue of profit and loss, as they are footing all expenditure.

"Through privatisation, when you lose money, the people who own it, have to pay out. But if it's government money, nobody cares. I know this because I have run the government company before," he added.

Source: BERNAMA 

Five-year-old girl allegedly abused by parents in critical condition

The five-year-old girl who is believed to have been abused by her parents is reported in critical condition and relying on the life support system at the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit of the Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital (HRPB) here.

State Women Development, Family, Social Welfare and National Integration Committee chairman Datuk Rusnah Kassim, who visited her today, said the child was admitted to the ICU since last Friday.

"The doctor's report on the child's condition is not encouraging because she suffered several injuries," she told reporters after visiting the girl.

She said the girl had an older brother, aged eight, and also a two-year-old brother and they were now placed under the care of the Kuala Kangsar Social Welfare Department pending investigation on their parents.

The girl was sent to the hospital by a family member last Friday and following a medical examination, found that there were wounds on her face, head and body, believed to have been inflicted with a cane.

A 39-year-old man and a 30-year-old woman from Menglembu had been detained for investigation into the case.

Sumber: BERNAMA