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Noraniza to stage concert in Johor

JOHOR BAHRU: Singer Noraniza Idris is staging her first ethnic theme performance in her home state here on Dec 13.
The concert will feature the Johor Malay heritage and its changing traditions using a number of songs and dances choreographed specially for the event.
Expressing her delight to stage a concert for her fans in Johor and Singapore, Noraniza said her performance would include traditional and fusion elements.
“It is important to attract the younger generation to appreciate our heritage and to do so, we have to enter into their world,” she said adding that the concert would also feature zapin and kuda kepang.
Persada Johor hotel manager Roslan Ab Rahman said the concert was the highlight of the “Persada Warisan Seni” event that aimed at attracting 30,000 visitors including Singapo- reans during the three-day event from Dec 12 to 14.
“The event will showcase batik painting demonstrations, traditional dances, an exhibition on local artists’ collection, cooking demonstrations, handicraft, traditional costumes and authentic cuisine,” he told reporters at the Persada International Convention Centre here.
Besides Noraniza’s show, Yayasan Warisan Johor would also be staging a performance featuring four singers, 30 dancers and 15 musicians.
Tickets for the show are priced at RM150, RM200 and RM250 while entrance is free for the exhibition. Call 07-219 8888 for more information.

Shahrir: Govt not benefitting

JOHOR BAHRU: Although the Government may gain about RM300mil in revenue from petrol sales last month, some of the monies had to be spent on subsidies for diesel and liquid petroleum gas (LPG).
Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Shahrir Samad said; “You forget that the Government provided subsidies for 10 months, but the moment it gets revenue for one month, whatever we have done in the past 10 months is questioned and not appreciated. That is not fair.”
He was commenting on a report that the Government was enjoying windfall revenue of RM16mil per day from petrol sales due to a fall in global crude oil prices.
Shahrir refuted that figure, saying that such an assumption was based on crude oil priced at the current rate of US$44 (RM160.60) per barrel.
“That is the price today, but that is not the average price. When you calculate, you must use the previous average price, which was about US$58 (RM211.70) per barrel,” he said.
Shahrir also said that it was obvious to most people that it would take about two weeks for the oil to be delivered to refineries.
“Our pricing for petrol is based on the previous average price, so you can’t base it on the price today or future prices,” he said after launching a price reduction campaign at the UO Superstore in Plaza Angsana here yesterday.
Shahrir also pointed out that it was not unusual for governments to collect revenue from petrol sales such as was done in Singapore, Australia and Britain.
He said the last time the Malaysian Govern- ment had revenue from retail sales of petrol was in February 2002.
On how the Government plans to spend the revenue, Shahrir said the money would go into consolidated funds and various trust accounts as in the past.
Meanwhile, Shahrir said the Cabinet would be meeting soon to discuss a possible reduction in the price of diesel.
However, he said, the move had to be seriously considered first as when diesel was reduced to RM1 per litre, it resulted in enforcement difficulties.
“There have already been requests from certain ministries, like the Agriculture Ministry, for the price of diesel to be reviewed,” he said.
Shahrir urged the people not to jump to the conclusion that the price of diesel would definitely be reduced.