KUALA LUMPUR, June 1 (Bernama) -- Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak Tuesday announced a cabinet reshuffle which saw former MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat being dropped and Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Chor Chee Heung being made a full minister.

The reshuffle also saw the appointment of two members of Parliament and four senators as deputy ministers.

The prime minister, in a statement to Bernama, announced the appointment of Chor as Housing and Local Government Minister, replacing Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha who switched portfolio to the Transport Ministry.

Kong, who is also MCA secretary-general, takes over from Ong who lost to Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek in the MCA elections in March.

Also dropped was Deputy Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Wee Jeck Seng.

Najib also announced the appointment of Serian MP Datuk Richard Riot Jaem as Deputy Foreign Minister and Labis MP Chua Tee Yong, who is Dr Chua's son, as Deputy Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister.

Four senators were appointed deputy ministers. They are MIC deputy president Datuk G. Palanivel (Plantation Industries and Commodities), MCA vice-president Datuk Donald Lim Siang Chai (Finance); People's Progressive Party (PPP) vice-president Datuk Maglin Dennis D'Cruz (Information Communication and Culture) and Gan Ping Shou@Gan Ping Sieu (Youth and Sports).

Four deputy ministers switched portfolios. They are Deputy Agriculture and Agro-based minister Datuk Rohani Abdul Karim who takes over as Deputy Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister; Deputy Home Minister Jelaing Mersat (Deputy Transport Minister); Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Lee Chee Leong (Deputy Home Minister) and Deputy Information Communication and Culture Minister Senator Heng Seai Kie (Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister).

Najib said Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Zainal Abidin had given his consent to the appointments and the swearing-in would be held at Istana negara at 3.30pm on Friday.

Tuanku Mizan had also consented to the appointment of Lim, D'Cruz and Gan as senators effective today.

They will be sworn in as soon as possible.

-- BERNAMA

Effective 1st January 2010, all persons entering or leaving Malaysia with cash and/or bearer negotiable instruments exceeding an amount equivalent to USD10,000 are required to declare such amount to the Royal Malaysian Customs using Customs Form K22, which is available at the counters before the Customs checkpoints at all major entry and exit points into Malaysia.

This is a new requirement under section 23 of the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act 2001 (AMLATFA) and is in line with global efforts to combat money laundering and terrorist financing activities. The penalty for non-declaration or making a false declaration is a maximum fine of RM1 million and/or imprisonment of not more than 1 year.

For clarifications or further information on the new currency declaration requirement, please contact BNM customer service offices at BNMTELELINK (1-300-88-5465) or visit BNM website at www.bnm.gov.my.

Malaysian Industrial Development Finance Berhad (MIDF), an agency under the Ministry of International Trade and Industry of Malaysia (MITI) has introduced 3 Soft Loan Schemes which are available for companies and enterprises:

i) Soft Loan Scheme for Services Capacity Development - SLSCD

ii) Soft Loan Scheme for Automation and Modernisation - SLSAM

iii) Soft Loan Scheme for International Branding - SLSIB

Prime Minister
Najib Abdul Razak

Deputy Prime Minister
Muhyiddin Yassin

Ministers in the Prime Minister's Department
Dr Koh Tsu Koon - Unity Affairs and Performance Management
Nazri Abdul Aziz - Minister in charge of law and Parliament
Nor Mohamed Yaakop - Economic Planning Unit
Major Gen Jamil Khir Baharom - Islamic Affairs

Deputies: Liew Vui Keong, Senator Dr Mashitah Ibrahim, SK Devamany, Ahmad Maslan and Senator T Murugiah

Finance Ministry
Najib Abdul Razak (1)
Ahmad Husni Hanadzlan (2)
Deputies: Chor Chee Heong, Senator Dr Awang Adek Hussien

Education Ministry
Muhyiddin Yassin
Deputy: Wee Ka Siong, Puad Zarkashi

Transport Ministry
Ong Tee Keat
Deputies: Abdul Rahim Bakri, Robert Lau Hoi Chew

Agricultural Development and Commodities
Bernard Dompok
Deputy: Hamzah Zainuddin

Home Affairs
Hishammuddin Hussien
Deputies: Abu Seman Yusop, Jelaing Mersat

Information, Communication, Arts and Culture
Rais Yatim
Deputies: Joseph Salang Gandum, Senator Heng Seai Kie

Energy, Green Technology and Water
Peter Chin Fah Kui
Deputy: Noriah Kasnon

Rural Development and Territories
Shafie Apdal
Deputies: Hassan Malek, Joseph Entulu Belaun

Higher Education
Khaled Nordin
Deputies: Dr Hou Kok Chung, Saifuddin Abdullah

International Trade and Industry
Mustapa Mohamad
Deputies: Mukhriz Mahathir, Jacob Dungau Sagan

Science, Technology and Innovation
Dr Maximus Ongkili
Deputy: Fadillah Yusof

Tourism
Ng Yen Yen
Deputy: Sulaiman Abdul Rahman Abdul Taib

Agriculture
Noh Omar
Deputies: Johari Baharom, Rohani Abdul Karim

Defence
Ahmad Zahid Hamidi
Deputy: Abdul Latif Ahmad

Works
Shaziman Abu Mansor
Deputy: Yong Khoon Seng

Health
Liow Tiong Lai
Deputy: Rosnah Rashid Shilin

Youth and Sports
Ahmad Shabery Cheek
Deputies: Razali Ibrahim, Wee Jeck Seng

Human Resource
Dr S Subramaniam
Deputy: Maznah Mazlan

Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs
Ismail Sabri Yaakob
Deputy: Tan Lian Hoe

Housing and Local Government
Kong Cho Ha
Deputy: Lajim Ukin

Women, Family and Society Development
Senator Sharizat Abdul Jalil
Deputy: Senator Chew Mei Fun

Foreign
Anifah Aman
Deputies: Senator A Kohilan Pillay, Senator Lee Chee Leong

Federal Territories
Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin
Deputy: M Saravanan

Industry Restructuring Loan Guarantee Scheme (IRLGS)

Objective: To assist viable medium and large enterprises to secure financing to modernise and upgrade business operations, particularly in the area of greater automation, increased productivity, energy efficiency and green technology.

Fund Size: RM 5 billion

Guarantee Ratio (government : bank):
~ Mid size companies – 80:20
~ Large enterprises – 50:50

Guarantee Fee: 0.5% p.a. on outstanding amount

Interest Rate: Determined by participating FIs

Eligibility:
- Malaysian owned companies

Maximum Loan Tenure: 10 years

Maximum Financing: RM50 million per company

Fund Availability: From 10th Mar 2009 to 31st Dec 2010, or upon full utilisation of fund

Participating FIs:
- All Commercial Banks
- All Islamic Banks
- Bank Pembangunan Malaysia Bhd
- SME Bank
- Bank Simpanan Nasional

List of Targeted Sectors