Good news for the people...

Marking his 100th day in office as the prime minister, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak announced 11 "people-friendly" measures at a public gathering in the federal capital that was telecast live over national radio and television.

He made the announcement at the "100 Days of Najib with the People" function at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC).
The measures are:
1. A 20 per cent discount for users of the pre-paid Smart Tag and Touch n Go cards who pay toll 80 times or more in a month.
2. The government offer for sale of 44,000 units of public housing to people renting these premises in the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur.
3. A 50 per cent discount on the licence renewal fee for hawkers and petty traders in the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur with immediate effect.
4. The government's raising by 3,000 the number of taxi permits, the applications for which will be approved over the next three months.
5. The introduction of drastic measures to reduce crime and fight corruption.
6. Facilitating applications for registration of births in Sabah and Sarawak.
7. Construction of additional roads in Sabah and Sarawak.
8. Upgrading of water and electricity supply in Sabah and Sarawak.
9. Reduction to RM211 the fee for learning to ride Class B2 motorcycles of 250cc and below, beginning Sept 1.
10. Increasing by RM150 million the allocation for Tekun Nasional, with RM15 million to be made available for young entrepreneurs from the Indian community.
11. Introduction of the new Amanah Saham 1Malaysia (1Malaysia Unit Trust) with a size of 10 billion units.

100 days in office ....

Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak today marks his 100th day in office as the Prime Minister. Here are some of his quotable quotes since assuming office on April 3.

* "In our national discourse and in pursuing our national agenda, we must never leave anyone behind. We must reach out to the many who may have been disaffected and left confused by political games, deceit and showmanship. The people first must transcend every level of society." (When assuming office as the sixth prime minister on April 3)

* "I urge us to rise to the challenge of building a 1Malaysia. People First. Performance Now." (When assuming office as the sixth prime minister on April 3)

* "My visit is to meet the ordinary people and to find out their problems." (During a walkabout in Kuala Lumpur on April 4)

* "I do not want my presence to be assessed by the kompang beat, a red carpet, and even my name is not in the backdrop today. I dropped by to celebrate the Kaamatan Day because I would like to stress that I am the prime minister for all the people." (When opening the 14th Klang Valley Kaamatan Day celebration on May 2)

* "The interest of the people should be given priority. As such the KPI is the most relevant medium of reminder... the benchmark is the people." (When addressing the Prime Minister's Department monthly assembly on May 5)

* "I don't craze for power for the sake of power but I need power to serve the people and ensure successful nation building." (Addressing a farewell reception at the Finance Ministry on May 20)

* "The 1Malaysia is not a new concept or formula but its ultimate objective is national unity, which is the primary vision of previous administrators translated into various forms over the last five decades or so.
In other words, 1Malaysia is a concept to foster unity in Malaysians of all races based on several important values which should become the practice of every Malaysian." (Replying on the 1Malaysia concept during question time in the Dewan Rakyat on June 15)

* "We must break the race barrier. We should not look at skin colour but as one Malaysia. If one needs help, he should be helped. If we have that attitude, we will move forward." (Launching the 1Malaysia logo and song at Dataran Merdeka on June 27)

'Blue rice' for breakfast ...

Nasi Kerabu is an authentic rice dish from Kelantan. The rice is tinted blue after it is soaked and cooked with local flowers called bunga telang.

The blue rice is then served with a combination of fresh aromatic herbs, or known as ulam.
The “kerabu” (some foreigners it described as salad) could be any vegetables or edible leaves though the more or less standard version will have daun kesum, taugeh (bean sprout), thinly cut long green beans, bunga kantan, cucumber and daun kadok.
Apart from that it is also served with fried breaded fish, keropok keping, salted egg, solok lada (fish fillet and coconut-stuffed chillis), and pickled garlic (local gherkins).
You need not go to Kelantan though to get the popular breakfast dish as a number of places in Kuala Lumpur have them. A favourite place is at the Datuk Keramat market which also offers nasi dagang, nasi berlauk and laksam -- all popular Kelantan dish.
I was fortunate to meet an uncle -- Halim, an occasional patron of the place. He was just back from Kelantan where he stayed a for week to attend a relatives wedding.

"I was so happy to be there although not many of our relatives are there anymore," said Halim who has been living in Kuala Lumpur for more than 30 years.