Ramai kakitangan awam tidak mampu miliki rumah sendiri

Cuepacs

MACHANG - Kongres Kesatuan Pekerja-pekerja Di Dalam Perkhidmatan Awam (Cuepacs) mendapati kira-kira 60 peratus penjawat awam yang berpendapatan bawah RM3,000 sebulan, terutama di Lembah Klang, tidak mampu memiliki rumah sendiri.

Setiausaha Kewangan Cuepacs, Jaapar Mansor berkata, fenomena itu akan berterusan jika kerajaan tidak mengambil langkah tertentu, termasuk mengurangkan kadar faedah pinjaman dan menaikkan gaji kakitangan awam terbabit.

"Kadar faedah pinjaman perumahan 4 peratus yang dikenakan institusi kewangan ke atas penjawat awam pada masa ini wajar diturunkan kepada 1 peratus," katanya kepada Bernama di sini, semalam.

Beliau tidak menolak kemungkinan penjawat awam yang berpendapatan di bawah RM3,000 sebulan hanya mampu menyewa atau memiliki rumah kos rendah bertaraf Program Perumahan Rakyat Termiskin (PPRT).

Jaapar yang juga Pengerusi Cuepacs Selangor berkata, saranan supaya kerajaan menurunkan kadar faedah pinjaman perumahan itu adalah antara tuntutan yang pernah dikemukakan kongres itu kepada kerajaan sebelum ini.

"Walaupun ia bukan merupakan tuntutan utama Cuepacs, namun ia akan terus diperjuangkan oleh penjawat awam melalui kongres itu," katanya .

Kongres itu juga sedang melancarkan gerakan mengesan penjawat awam yang belum memiliki rumah di seluruh negara untuk dijadikan garis panduan untuk tindakan yang akan diambil demi kebajikan anggotanya.

Sementara itu, beliau berkata Cuepacs mahu kerajaan mempercepatkan cadangan penubuhan Suruhanjaya Mengkaji Skim Gaji dan Elaun Penjawat Awam seperti yang diumumkan Perdana Menteri 8 Mac lalu.

Kongres juga akan terus mengadakan gerakan penerangan kepada anggotanya ke seluruh negara mengenai peluang yang dinikmati mereka melalui penambahbaikan Skim Saraan Baru (SSB). – Bernama

Muda di hati

BUKAN BERSANTAI...Walaupun sudah berusia 64 tahun, aktor kelahiran Austria ini perlu sentiasa aktif.

Arnold berpakaian kulit lengkap.

DIA dulu dikenali sebagai “cyborg” masa hadapan yang mempunyai otot seperti besi dan tidak dimamah usia.

Tapi sayangnya, kehidupan di layar perak tidak sama dengan realiti, dan Arnold Schwarzenegger nampaknya sudah seperti seekor silver fox (rubah berbulu perak.

Aktor Terminator itu dilihat menunggang motosikalnya yang mempunyai kereta sisi, ketika keluar bersiar-siar di Santa Monica.

Lengkap berjaket kulit, aktor aksi itu masih terasa muda di hati dan masih belum bersedia untuk bersantai dengan releks menikmati matahari di pantai.

Malah, hanya janggutnya yang berwarna putih itu menunjukkan usia sebenarnya, manakala cermin mata hitam dan helmet ala tenteranya pula membuatkan dia kelihatan lebih “bersahaja” walaupun berusia 64 tahun.

Aktor kelahiran Austria itu tidak menunjukkan tanda-tanda untuk mengurangkan kariernya, sebaliknya beberapa filemnya ditunggu untuk tayangan hingga 2014.

Arnie baru saja selesai penggambaran “The Expendables 2”, dan tidak lama lagi akan dilihat bersama aktor Forest Whitaker di dalam filem Last Stand dan Sylverster Stallone dalam filem “The Tomb.”

Awal bulan ini, ada pengumuman mengatakan dia akan bergandingan bersama direktor David Ayer untuk filem “Ten.”

Ia mengenai kisah anggota elit pasukan pertugas DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration) atau Pentadbiran Penguatkuasaan Dadah yang membuat sesuatu di luar operasi biasa dan mencuri berjuta dolar daripada organisasi dadah. -DM

Bilionair cinta alam sekitar

ECLIPSE... Kapal layar terbesar dunia itu dimiliki oleh ahli perniagaan Russia Roman Abramovich, berlabuh di persisiran Antibes, dekat Nice, di selatan Perancis.

BUAT masa ini dia adalah lelaki kesembilan terkaya di Russia dan yang ke 68 dalam senarai lelaki terkaya di dunia dengan kekayaan AS$12.1 bilion (RM38.2 bilion).

Namun begitu, dia menunjukkan sisi mencintai kehijauan apabila dia memandu kereta elektrik kecil Cap d’Antibes, di C�te d’Azur, di selatan Perancis.

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  MEMANDU...Roman Abramovich membawa kereta kecil Cap d’Antibes untuk bersiar-siar.

• MEWAH... Harga Eclipse pada asalnya adalah RM1.63 bilion tetapi meningkat hingga hampir RM4.95 bilion kerana hiasan dalam mewah dan sistem keselamatan yang diletakkan di kapal itu.

Roman Abramovich dilihat seronok menikmati matahari sambil memandu kereta kecil elektrik bersiar-siar di bandar itu baru-baru ini.

Lelaki berusia 45 tahun itu kelihatan releks sambil memandu kereta tanpa pintu bersama rakannya.

Pemilik Kelab Bola Sepak Chelsea itu kelihatan sangat bersahaja menayangkan sisinya yang santai sambil mengenakan cermin mata gelap berwarna biru.

Dia turut mengenakan sepasang seluar pendek yang dipadankan dengan baju T polo dan kasut Toms hitam.

Pemandu yang sangat berhati-hati itu mengambil kesempatan atas saiz kereta yang kecil dan meletakkan kenderaan itu antara dua kereta normal lain.

Bapa kepada tujuh anak itu bersiar-siar ke tepi pantai dan membuat satu panggilan sebelum kembali ke kereta dan memandunya pergi.

Kereta kecil itu bukanlah seperti kereta mewah yang biasanya digunakan oleh bilionair itu.

Pada 2004, dia membeli dua kereta limosin Maybach 62 yang dibuat khusus, di mana kedua-duanya kalis bom dan peluru dan dikatakan berharga 1 juta pound (RM4.95 juta).

Abromovich juga memiliki Ferrari FXX berharga AS$2.2 juta (RM6.94 juta), iaitu antara 29 yang hanya dibina untuk perlumbaan dan juga sebuah Bugatti Veyron serta beberapa kereta sport mahal yang lain.

Perbelanjaan terbesarnya setakat ini adalah kapal layar mewah sepanjang 560 kaki yang dinamakan Eclipse.

Kapal itu direka oleh Hermidas Atabeyki dan dibina di Jerman oleh syarikat Blohm dan Voss.

Kapal itu dikatakan berharga 1 bilion pound (RM4.95 bilion) dan mempunyai kolam renang, pad helikopter, ruang disko, kira-kira 30 kabin, kapal selam mini dan juga sistem pertahanan peluru berpandu.

Bilik tidur utama Abramovich dilengkapi dengan perisai dinding, tingkap kalis peluru dan sistem laser untuk menghalang gambar jarak jauh diambil.

Ketika ditempah, harga asalnya adalah sekitar 330 juta pound (RM1.63 bilion) tetapi pada masa ia diserahkan kepadanya, harganya meningkat hingga ke 1 bilion pound (RM4.95 bilion) kerana hiasan dalaman yang mewah dan sistem keselamatannya. - DM

Majestic kingfisher enjoys taking a dip

Feathered feat ... kingfisher swoops on prey

A BEAUTIFUL blue kingfisher dive-bombs straight as an arrow into a lake — and soars majestically back into the air clutching its catch.

Becks’ pay slashed by 2m bucks

Settled in California ... David Beckham

But he still makes £29million

FOOTIE’S David Beckham has taken a wage cut of more than two million dollars — a 40 per cent drop.

It means the LA Galaxy star has been knocked off the top of the US soccer pay league by old pal Thierry Henry, who plays for New York Red Bulls.

Becks, 37, had been on more than £4million ($6.5million) a year.

But he accepted a £2.5million deal after deciding to settle in California with wife Victoria, 38, and their four kids.

However, he gets a cut from Galaxy ticket sales and merchandising. And he still nets £29MILLION a year through ad deals, clothes lines and business interests, according to a Forbes rich list.

Ex-England captain Becks could have earned more by joining Paris Saint-Germain. But he has an £11million mansion in Beverly Hills — and put his sprawling Hertfordshire pad up for sale earlier this year.

David Beckham is pretty in pink

Flamingo pose ... Beckham's boots were the same colour as the pink waterbird

DAVID Beckham famously wore a sarong skirt — and now he’s wearing pink boots.

Perhaps it is no surprise that Becks is favouring female fashion, especially as his wife Victoria is quickly establishing herself as one of the world’s leading fashion designers for women.

Or maybe the pink boots are a nod towards baby daughter Harper Seven. Family man David has the names of all his children stitched onto his boots.

Either way, the colourful footwear made sure all eyes were on the LA Galaxy captain as he warmed up ahead of his team’s game against San Jose Earthquakes.

In the pink ... Beckham's LA Galaxy were recently crowned Major League champions

The match ended in upset as the Earthquakes pulled off a 3-2 victory against the Major League champions.

Beckham’s hot pink boots sadly did not guarantee a red hot performance and it was his foul which gave the Earthquakes the free kick they needed to equalise.

And Golden Balls, 37, was still sporting the dodgy Colonel Sanders-style ’tache and beard which earned a dig from Barack Obama when Galaxy were honoured at the White House last week.

Becks is clearly proud of his face-off with the President.

Hot to trot ... Beckham warms up

He revealed: “Obama said, ‘David, why all the facial hair, man?’ I just laughed it off.

“To even be in the White House was a big honour but to get a little bit of stick off the President was huge.”

Meterai bukti kota Baitul Laham wujud

GAMBAR yang disiarkan dalam laman web Pihak Berkuasa Antikuiti Israel kelmarin menunjukkan meterai kuno yang tertera nama Baitul Laham. - Agensi

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BAITULMUQADDIS - Sepasukan ahli arkeologi Israel menemui sebuah meterai (cop mohor) berusia 2,700 tahun yang tertera perkataan Baitul Laham dalam bahasa Ibrani, kata Pihak Berkuasa Antikuiti Israel kelmarin.

Ia dipercayai bukti terawal kewujudan kota Baitul Laham seperti yang disebut dalam kitab Injil.

Penganut Kristian percaya bahawa Nabi Isa dilahirkan di kota Baitul Laham.

Diperbuat daripada tanah liat, meterai itu ditemui semasa kerja ekskavasi di Kota Nabi Daud, berhampiran Bandar Lama di sini.

Pengarah ekskavasi berkenaan, Eli Shukron berkata, artifak berdiameter 1.5 sentimeter itu dihasilkan antara 700 hingga 800 tahun Sebelum Masihi ketika raja-raja Yahudi memerintah kerajaan Judah atau 700 tahun sebelum kelahiran Nabi Isa. - Agensi

Interesting web : www.gepp.my/epages.

Out of Luc: Chelsea have £32m bid for Brazil winger Lucas Moura rejected

Boy from Brazil: Lucas Moura is the latest hotshot to be linked with Chelsea

Chelsea have had a £32.3million bid for Sao Paulo winger Lucas Moura turned down, according to the Brazilian club's president.

The Blues won the Champions League last Saturday to complete a double for interim boss Roberto Di Matteo who also led the team to FA Cup glory.

But when owner Roman Abramovich demands the club challenge for the Premier League title each and every season, their final position of sixth was clearly not good enough - especially given they were a massive 25 points off winners Manchester City and five points off Tottenham in fourth.

But plans are already afoot to make sure Chelsea mount a serious challenge for the title next season - starting with the move for Moura.

The highly-rated 19-year-old is already a full Brazilian international having played 11 times for the Selecao already.

Planning ahead: Roman Abramovich doesn't yet know who his manager will be next season, but he is already looking for new players

Inter Milan and Real Madrid have been tracking the player but it seems Chelsea have now made the first move.

Club president Juvenal Juvencio says he has already rejected the offer, but says: "At the moment, Chelsea are the closest team to Lucas.

"Inter made an offer of £20.2m, but this was not considered sufficient by us.

"Real Madrid is one of these [interested clubs] - there have been contacts with the president Florentino Perez, who admires the player.

"Lucas is a big player who will triumph in Europe, but Sao Paulo will only sell him for an enormous offer."

Drogba berunding dengan Shenhua

Kelab Shanghai Shenhua akan meneruskan rundingan dengan Didier Drogba seperti yang dirancang. - AFP

SHANGHAI - Kelab Shanghai Shenhua akan meneruskan perundingan dengan Didier Drogba seperti yang dirancang dan ia menghangatkan lagi spekulasi penyerang itu bakal berpindah ke China selepas mengumumkan meninggalkan Chelsea.

Shenhua yang dimiliki hartawan permainan video, Zhu Jun telah pun mengikat bekas rakan sepasukan Drogba dalam skuad Chelsea, Nicolas Anelka pada Disember tahun lalu.

Kelab itu telah memulakan perundingan dengan bintang antarabangsa Ivory Coast terbabit sejak Januari lepas.

"Sehingga sekarang, perbincangan dengan Drogba masih diteruskan seperti yang dirancang," kata Zhu kepada Oriental Sports Daily.

Drogba, 34, mendedahkan, dia meninggalkan gergasi Liga Perdana Inggeris, Chelsea kelmarin, sehari selepas pasukannya melakar kemenangan dalam perlawanan akhir Liga Juara-Juara menentang Bayern Munich.

Drogba menjaringkan gol penyamaan dan juga penentuan sepakan penalti yang meletakkan kelabnya sebagai juara.

Sejak menyertai Chelsea dari Marseille pada 2004, pemain itu meledakkan 157 gol dalam 341 penampilan, membantu kelabnya memenangi 10 trofi.

"Ia satu keputusan yang sukar untuk saya lakukan dan saya amat bangga dengan pencapaian kami, tetapi sudah tiba masanya saya mencari cabaran baru," katanya dipetik dalam laman web Chelsea.

Drogba menjadi bintang terbaru yang bakal ditandatangani kelab China yang berbelanja besar itu dalam Liga Super, selepas jurulatih pemenang Piala Dunia, Marcello Lippi menyertai Guangzhou Evergrande, minggu lepas.

Namun, perpindahan Anelka diiringi dengan masalah. Minggu lalu, pemain tersebut mengancam untuk meninggalkan Shenhua selepas kelab itu merancang untuk mengambil ketua jurulatih baru, menurut media tempatan.

"Jika tiada seorang pun yang menyokong saya dan mereka terus bermain muslihat di belakang saya, saya bersedia memutuskan sama ada untuk bersara atau tidak," kata pemain Perancis itu kepada Xinmin Evening News.

Pemilik kelab, Zhu telah pun menulis kepada ejen dan peguam Anelka bagi mendapatkan penjelasan, lapor Oriental Sports Daily. - AFP

Meet the couple who live with a pair of pet buffalo

Sofa so good ... RC and Sherron say their pets are perfectly safe

HERD the one about the couple who live with a pair of BUFFALO?

RC Bridges, who is nicknamed The Buffalo Whisperer, and his wife Sherron share their home with Wildthing and his new pal Bullet.

The beasts, who weigh 2,400lb and 900lb respectively, relax in the living room and around the house and even take a ride in the family car.

Buffaloes can be very dangerous animals, with curved sharp horns which grow up to two feet long, and they are able to run as fast as 40mph.

But RC says: “I knew they were crazy animals but it actually turned out way better than I thought it would be.

Someone you nose? ... pet sniffs buffalo head mounted on wall

“I always dreamed of training a buffalo, but I never thought about training two.

“They’re like my buddies. Bullet likes to be with me at all times, she’ll even give up food to be close to me.”

RC, who is a cowboy and horse trainer, has worked with buffaloes most of his life.

After losing an eye in 2004 he had to sell his herd, except for one young male who he decided to keep as a pet.

Cattle drive ... buffalo stands on RC's truck

Wildthing, who is now seven, even acted as best man when his owners renewed their wedding vows in 2006, after five years of marriage.

RC, 63, said: “He carried the rings on his horns and threw them off one at a time for us to catch.”

Bullet, a female who is three-and-a-half, joined the family after her previous owner found her too hard to control.

RC said: “Her owner told me if I could catch her, I could have her. She kept getting out of the pen and the sheriff’s department was mad about it.

Under one hoof ... Wildthing and Bullet in the Bridges' living room

“Well, I just caught her, put her in a trailer and brought her home.”

RC's photographer wife Sherron, 39, who is part Native American, makes traditional-style clothes and headdresses using the animals’ hair.

She said: “We love our buffaloes. I think if either one of them died, RC would probably go along with them."

And RC insists his friends and relatives still visit the families home in Texas, where they also keep a pet wolf called Jewell Spirit.

He said: “They’re not afraid to come over because I keep everything safe. But most of them think I’m going to get hurt or killed.

Big pals ... RC hugs one of his pets

“I don’t think you can ever take all of the wildness out of the buffaloes, though. I’ve been hurt a lot, so I guess its just part of the game.”

Nevertheless, the couple’s two grown-up children, son Will and daughter Taylor, are proud of the family pets and have even broken world records with them.

RC said: “My son was the first person to ever ski behind a buffalo, on water skies and on sand.

“And my daughter was the first person to ever snow sled behind a buffalo.”