| Silence as a Tool Posted: 22 Oct 2011 05:48 PM PDT In Malaysia, things 'seem' to be slightly more rosy. PM Najib recently vowed to abolish the Printing Presses and Publishing Act, and urged his administration to follow through with additional press freedom-related reforms. According to CPJ, "Najib vowed to dismantle two harsh security-related laws--the Internal Security Act and the Emergency Ordinance--and ease legal restrictions on civil liberties, including the right to assembly, international press reports said. He has also vowed to abolish the Printing Presses and Publications Act so that newspapers do not have to reapply annually for permission to publish. The Home Ministry previously had sole discretion over whether to renew newspapers' operating licenses, and its often arbitrary decisions could not be legally appealed."
One can see many comments in popular news portals giving criticisms and comments. Once the wave begins, the other side takes the cue and a heavy exchange of ammunition follows with one press statement after another on the same issue, each refuting what the other had said previously. A good example is the issue about LGE's son. While I sympathize with the boy and the CM, those responsible must be taken to task.
Of late, I have been silently observing political developments and conclude that the vocal dissent need not necessarily be a reflection of grass root sentiments. We have the meek, the vocal and the downright silent ones.
Not everyone is ballsy to voice their discontent. Even some ballsy ones do so without revealing their true identity. Some ballsy ones may be sharing comments because they are paid to do so.
Of course, the silent majority has a view as well. If you have even half a brain today, it is impossible to remain pro-status quo unless one is either selfish/irresponsible, or evil/immoral.
So how accurate is the scene in cyberspace?
Previously, PR had the lead in defining and influencing public opinion but like what I blogged before here, BN has overtaken them and with the help of expert consultants, seem (note I say 'seem' and not 'are') to be closing in on Pakatan Rakyat as they are slowly making their presence felt in cyber world with the help of highly paid (by all of us) expert consultants.
Instead of wasting time scolding the status quo via fiery comments, I propose a few steps for us to take that can effect more positive changes. READ MORE HERE |
| Budget 2012: New Tax Laws Encroaches Human Rights Posted: 22 Oct 2011 10:59 AM PDT S107D and S67(4A) of the Income Tax Act (ITA)
The current S107C states that companies, on an annual basis, must compute and submit a tax assessment of its tax payable to the DG. For the layman, a company tax assessment is a calculation of tax under current tax laws, the amount of tax which is payable by that company to the Inland Revenue Board. An assessment is a detailed estimation of tax and not a rough calculation of the company's tax position.
S107C (2) goes on to state that companies' current year tax assessments must not be lower than their previous year tax assessment. This means that the lowest tax estimation a company can go is the amount which that company had estimated in the immediate previous year. This section is already unfair to the spirit of entrepreneurship- it means that if your business is not doing well; even if your taxable profits drop in the current year, you must pay the same amount of (higher) tax as in the previous year where you were doing relatively better in terms of business.
Budget 2012 introduces a new section, S107D, which addresses the circumstances where the IRB suspects the taxpayer is paying less tax than it should be. These sections are shockers concerning human rights:
"The DG may direct that person to make payment by instalments on account of tax which may be payable by that person for that YA at such times and in such amounts as the DG may direct."
"The direction shall be in the form prescribed under this Act and may be issued before the making of an assessment or composite assessments under this Act."
The bold words above provides dictatorial powers to the IRB. This new section will provide power to the IRB to ask the taxpayer to pay up any amount which the IRB asks; and such an amount does not have to be supported by any calculation since an assessment is no longer needed. That means IRB has the power to pluck any amount from thin air and request the taxpayer to pay that amount.
A new S67 (4A) in the same Act mirrors the S107D above. However the S67 (4A) applies to representative(s) of the taxpayer(s) whereby S107D impacts directly on the taxpayer.
S80(18) of the ITA
The existing S80 (1) already empowers the IRB full and free access to all buildings and documents.
The new S80(1B) now provides the IRB absolute powers to access your computer systems and explicitly states that it is ok for the them to acquire all your user passwords. The IRB will have unlimited access to trade, commercial secrets of companies and intimate business discussions in emails.
READ MORE HERE.
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