Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News
Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News |
- Errant policeMAN will face disciplinary committee
- Kelantan to go ahead with hudud
- Najib budgets for Malaysian election
- Budget 2012: Nothing for Sabah
- ‘Unhealthy to overspend’
- “Borrowing spree to finance budget’
- Dr M warns of long financial crisis
- Najib defends his 2012 Budget
- DAP lifts Manoharan’s suspension
- QE II
- How to deal with racial politicking
| Errant policeMAN will face disciplinary committee Posted: 07 Oct 2011 06:37 PM PDT (The Malaysian Insider) - KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 8 — City police chief Datuk Mohamad Salleh pledged today that action would be taken against the police corporal responsible for the tear gas incident at the Tung Shin Hospital during the Bersih 2.0 rally. In a report made public on Tuesday, the Health Ministry had ascertained that the policeman acted in an unethical manner and breached standard operation procedures (SOP) when dispersing demonstrators who gathered to call for free and fair elections on July 9. The report prompted a statement from the Home Ministry secretary-general Tan Sri Mahmood Adam that the policeman would be referred to the police disciplinary committee. "He is still performing his duties as a policeman for now as we have yet to record his statement over the matter," Mohamad said today. Police had absolved themselves of any wrongdoing during the July 9 rally after setting up six internal teams to investigate claims of police brutality that followed after nearly 1,700 were arrested, scores injured and an ex-soldier died during chaotic scenes in the capital. But Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai ordered a second probe into the Tung Shin incident on July 14 after a group of medical consultants had written to the media refuting the hospital board and police who claimed that no gas canisters or water cannons were fired into the hospital.
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| Kelantan to go ahead with hudud Posted: 07 Oct 2011 05:56 PM PDT By Sulaiman Jaafar, NST KOTA BARU: Kelantan is ready to implement hudud without getting the approval from the Federal Government. However, Menteri Besar Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat said yesterday that it would take some time before this could be realised. Nik Aziz, who is Pas spiritual adviser, said a special committee would be formed soon to ensure that the process of implementation was done smoothly. "The committee will undertake the task of how to gazette (the laws), the appointment of judges and various other matters while all technical matters will be undertaken by officers. "It cannot be done quickly although we have been giving courses each year to our officers," he said after his weekly religious talk at the state Pas headquarters here. The Kelantan state assembly passed the Syariah Criminal Code enactment (hudud) in 1993 but it has not been implemented. He said the state had been advised by constitutional lawyers that it did not need the approval of the Federal Government for the implementation of Islamic law as it was under the state sultan. The opposition leadership meeting last month on the issue ended in a stalemate. |
| Najib budgets for Malaysian election Posted: 07 Oct 2011 05:50 PM PDT By Kevin Brown, FT.Com When a middle aged prime minister appears in public in a t-shirt and cycling helmet, it is reasonable to assume that an election is in the offing. Najib Razak, head of Malaysia's National Front coalition government, said nothing about an early poll when he donned cycling gear at a rally in the opposition held state of Penang last month. But any doubt that an election is likely within months disappeared on Friday with a budget aimed at shoring up the economy and the coalition's core support among public sector workers and ethnic Malay voters. The budget offered what Bernama, the national news agency, described as "a gamut of incentives" to strengthen the economy, including a M$6bn ($1.9bn) stimulus package, incentives for the finance, tourism and hospitality industries, support for small businesses and tax breaks to help a proposed Kuala Lumpur financial district get off the ground. The budget provided assistance for regional development projects and the fast growing Islamic finance industry, together with a cash payment of M$500 to poor households. There were bonuses for 1.3m civil servants and more than half a million public service retirees – a core constituency for the governing coalition and its dominant party, Mr Najib's United Malays National Organisation. Mr Najib said the government's persistent budget deficit would fall to 4.7 per cent of gross domestic product next year from 5.4 per cent in 2011. But the fall appeared to depend on forecast GDP growth of 5 to 6 per cent next year despite the global economic slowdown and soft commodity prices. The Asian Development Bank last month reduced its forecast for 2011 to 4.8 per cent from 5.3 per cent. A significant slowdown could threaten the government's prospects in the election, which must be held by 2013. The governing coalition has ruled Malaysia since independence in 1957 but suffered a shock in 2008 when the opposition People's Alliance coalition won a large minority of parliamentary seats. The Alliance, which awkwardly groups liberal, social democrat and Islamist parties, has faced problems on religious and social policy issues and is hampered by the long-running trial of Anwar Ibrahim, its leader, on sex charges that he says are a government conspiracy. His government's popularity has improved following a series of economic and civil liberties reform initiatives, including the proposed repeal of laws allowing indefinite detention without trial. But the government also angered many Malaysians by its suppression of a peaceful march for electoral reform in the summer. "It is a roller coaster in Malaysian politics right now, and Najib's star is rising a bit," says Bridget Welsh, a Malaysia specialist at Singapore Management University. "But a lot of it is based on promises rather than delivery." |
| Budget 2012: Nothing for Sabah Posted: 07 Oct 2011 05:43 PM PDT By Queville To, FMT KOTA KINABALU: Former chief minister, Yong Teck Lee, said he is disappointed with the 2012 budget as once again Sabah is being treated as the poor cousin. He said Sabah is considered the poorest state in Malaysia but Najib's budget is only pandering to sectors where Barisan Nasional is likely to get votes. The leader of the Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) said it was clear that the RM232.8 billion budget is solely aimed at pleasing civil servants, teachers, Felda settlers, military and police personnel and the Indian community ahead of snap general elections. "These are the voting groups that the BN is now trying to improve upon compared to the results of the last general elections in 2008," he said. Yong noted that missing from the budget was allocation for the 300MW natural gas-powered electricity generation plant in Lahad Datu to power-up the electricity-starved east coast of the state. The plant was supposed to replace the cancelled coal-fired plant. Another disappointment for Sabah is the silence on plans to upgrade the Sandakan airport to international standards as promised by the Sabah Chief Minister Musa Aman last year. "The proposed Sandakan airport upgrading is now confirmed to be another empty promise of the BN government," said Yong adding that in the 10th Malaysia Plan (2011-2015), there was no mention of such plans for Sandakan and Sabahans had expected the 2012 budget to address this.
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| Posted: 07 Oct 2011 05:42 PM PDT By Teoh El Sen, FMT KUALA LUMPUR: An economist has expressed worry over the country's spending in Budget 2012, describing the huge increase of 9.4% to total RM232billion budget, from RM212 billion last year, as "not so healthy". "This is the largest budget in the whole history of Malaysia, though of course we are expecting it to increase every year…but this is a huge increase and that's not so healthy," said Federation of Chinese Assocation Malaysia (Huazhong) deputy secretary-general Dr Chin Yew Sin. "The government should be more prudent in the face of the expected economic slowdown next year and cut down on operating expenses," said Chin. Chin said it was also an unhealthy trend to continue to increase spending in operational expenses(RM181.6 billion, up 11.5%) as opposed to development expenditure(RM51.2 billion, up 4.1%). "If we look at the spending proportion, this year we've actually increased spending on operations from 77 to 78%(compared to 23-22% development expenses). During Pak Lah's(former Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi) time it was 75%," said Chin. Chin said it was better for the country to spend more on development–such as having more construction of transportation services, roads,and so on– as that would bring about more positive effects on the economy. "I suggest we should spend 70% on operations and 30% on developments. More development would only be good for the country," he said. Commenting on the country's bloated civil service, Chin said the government has yet to cut down on operating expenses,especially the RM52billion in salaries for civil servants. "The sum of RM52billion is about 1/3 of the entire operational costs. That's a big sum, and its still increasing, and that's not healthy." He noted that the numbers of civil servants is increasing , from 1.2million to 1.3 million. Chin commented that the government was attempting to pump more cash into the civil service to spur domestic consumption, and in turn, encourage economic growth. "I think the increase in government salaries and one-off bonuses would spur the economic growth of the country, as (those) would lead to more domestic consumption," said Chin, who added that Malaysia's current domestic consumption takes up 55% of the GDP. "Once they get the increment they would spend more, and we know that's a very large group. So once money is spent it was then would lead to higher economic growth," said Chin. Chin, who last year had expressed worry over the country's continually increasing debt, said it was a pleasant surprise that the government has projected a cut in deficit to 4.6% of the GDP. "The government has shown its determination to cut down 5.4% fiscal deficit, in this year, they are going to cut to 4.7% is considered a very good projection. Even my own prediction was 4.8%, market analysts had put it at 5%. It's out of our expectations and this is good," said Chin. "ETP, KPI, NKRA, they needed to spend. Now after the second year, the economy is more under control," he said, adding that the rate of smaller deficit this year gives greater promise that the nation can reach the targetted 3% deficit by 2015.
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| “Borrowing spree to finance budget’ Posted: 07 Oct 2011 05:39 PM PDT By G Vinod, FMT PETALING JAYA: Budget 2012 failed to address ways for the economy to remain resilient in the light of an impending global economic crisis, said Klang MP Charles Santiago. With the US and the European Union, being Malaysia's traditional export market, bracing itself for another economic slowdown due to its debt crisis, Santiago said Malaysia is going on a spending spree without a proper direction. Yesterday, Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak announced a RM230.8 billion budget that included a lot of goodies catering for the lower income group and the civil servants. Among others, Najib announced windfall for Felda settlers next year and pay hikes for civil servants from RM80 to RM360 depending on their grades. Calling the budget an election gimmick, Santiago said Najib failed to find ways to increase the nation's revenue base in Budget 2012. "And with our commodity prices falling, obviously we are going to continue borrowing money to finance this budget," said Santiago. Currently, he said, the nation's debt stood at RM456 billion, which is 53.8% of the nation's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). "And despite the huge amount of debt, we are still borrowing like there is no tomorrow. The fact is, our future generation will be shouldering the responsibility to pay off our dues," said Santiago. Citing example of the RM100 cash handout to students, the DAP leader said it would cost taxpayers RM53 million which could be better used to provide scholarships and rebuild dilapitated schools.
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| Dr M warns of long financial crisis Posted: 07 Oct 2011 03:58 PM PDT
(The Malaysian Insider) - Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad warned the ongoing global economic crisis will continue long into the future as the West continues spending in a "state of denial." The former prime minister said in his blog yesterday that Western countries continue "believing that they can somehow continue to remain rich. They are unable to behave like poor people." On the same day Datuk Seri Najib Razak tabled a budget that aims to rein in the deficit to 4.7 per cent, Dr Mahathir said the West "will not recover because they are still in a state of denial. "They still believe they are rich, as rich as before they plunged into the crisis. They must keep up the big power wealthy country image even if their people have no jobs, riot and protest. "The great financial crisis will be with us for a long time. Even when it is resolved the aftermath will see slow recovery for the giants of the West," he wrote. "How nice it would be if our pocket is picked, we are allowed to print some money to replace what is lost," he said, mocking the United States' quantitative easing measures which has seen its federal reserve print US$3 trillion (RM9.5 billion) since the start of the financial crisis in 2008. "Now Britain is following in the footsteps of elder brother," he added, referring to the United Kingdom's recent move to print £75 billion (RM370 billion) to help distressed banks.
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| Posted: 07 Oct 2011 03:46 PM PDT
(Bernama) - Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak today dismissed the opposition labelling of Budget 2012 as unrealistic by saying they are just devoid of ammunition to attack the government. He said the proposals in Budget 2012 which he tabled in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday can be implemented by the government and are not empty promises. "The budget proposals were drawn up by experts in the Finance Ministry, Bank Negara, Economic Planning Unit and other agencies, and not by fools. They are brilliant people, with PhD. "The budget is not aimed at pleasing the people; we do not deceive the people. Instead, it (the budget) is a commitment of the Barisan Nasional government," he Najib spent about an hour with more than 3,000 people at the location and presented Deepavali and Aidiladha gifts to about 600 people. Najib said the aim of Budget 2012 was to enable the government provide for the well-being of the people and prosperity of the nation. He said the government had undertaken an in-depth study of what the people really needed. "I have outlined in the 1Malaysia concept several pillars, one of which is that we must be inclusive, meaning that everyone regardless of ethnic group or location is taken care of by the government. "In line with this, Budget 2012 has fulfilled the fundamental principle of, among other things, ensuring benefits for all groups of people," he said. The prime minister said Budget 2012 had also focused on the Indian community whereby the government has provided a special allocation of RM50 million for basic facilities for the Indian community living in plantations. Najib said that especially for Tuan Mee Estate, he had spoken with Kuala Lumpur Kepong Berhad CEO Tan Sri Lee Oi Hian and the latter had agreed to take immediate measures to provide clean and quality water to the estate. He also said that prior to the tabling of the budget, he had asked all estate owners, both government-linked companies (GLCs) and private, to raise the wages of estate workers. The prime minister said he was informed that many of the workers of Tuan Mee Estate had received a rise of RM200 in their monthly wage. "I hope that in the near future, all estate workers will get a pay rise … we will take care of the welfare of all workers," he said. He also said that several grievances associated with bus services and floods raised by the Barisan Nasional coordinator for the Ijok state constituency, K. Partiban, would be attended to immediately. "It was announced in Budget 2012 that households with a monthly income of RM3,000 and below will be given an assistance of RM500. "This means that every family living in estates in the country will receive RM500 next year," he said. Also present with Najib at the event were Selangor Umno Liaison Committee deputy chairman Datuk Seri Noh Omar, MIC president Datuk G. Palanivel, People's Progressive Party (PPP) president Datuk M. Kayveas and Selangor BN leaders.
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| DAP lifts Manoharan’s suspension Posted: 07 Oct 2011 01:56 PM PDT By G Vinod, FMT PETALING JAYA: The DAP leadership has decided to set aside its decision to suspend M Manoharan for talking about the national flag on his Facebook account. On September 16, Manoharan, who is also Kota Alam Shah assemblyman,, had written on his Facebook saying that the Jalur Gemilang flag should be modified claiming the national flag resembled the Barisan Nasional coalition flag. The DAP assemblyman went on to say that he had distributed the DAP flags instead of the national flag on Malaysia Day as he did not have the "heart" to wave the national flag. Manoharan was subsequently slapped with a six months suspension on September 27 by the party's disciplinary committee for his offensive remark. In a statement today, its central executive committee (CEC) said Manoharan's suspension was lifted as he had shown remorse by issuing an apology for his remarks. "And he had also deleted his Facebook statement," reads the statement. Meanwhile, the CEC upheld the party disciplinary committee's decision to suspend a Johor DAP leader for abuse of power. |
| Posted: 07 Oct 2011 11:48 AM PDT By Dr Mahathir Mohamad, The Malaysian Insider No. QE II is not short for Queen Elizabeth II. Nor is it about the great cruise ship QE II. It is about Quantitative Easing II, i.e. quantitative easing for the second time. What is quantitative easing? It is about printing and issuing money to overcome a financial problem. Lately Britain has printed 75 billion pounds to help distressed banks and others. It is very innovative. And very easy. When you lose money just print the replacement. If Malaysia had done a Q.E. during the Asian Currency Crisis, what would the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, the financial and monetary experts say? We would be condemned. We would be told that the Malaysian economy would collapse. They would make dark predictions about black markets in dollars as the Ringgit would be useless. It would be rejected. It is not money!! etc. etc. But the United States of America did a Quantitative Easing with the printing and issuing of three trillion dollars to help distressed banks and insurance companies. Now Britain is following in the footsteps of elder brother. How nice it would be if our pocket is picked, we are allowed to print some money to replace what is lost. But of course we cannot. Even our country cannot, although our central bank, unlike the Federal Reserve Bank of America, is Government owned. We were told that the best way to handle a financial crisis was to let our banks and businesses go bankrupt. How that would help I do not know. What I could see were people being thrown out of jobs and any number of social problems. But that was the "conventional wisdom". Why are the great institutions not advising Western Governments to let businesses go bankrupt? Ah! But they did. Lehman Brothers was allowed to go bankrupt. Did it solve the financial crisis? No. As far as I can tell the crisis simply got worse and refused to go away. They resorted to all the things they told us not to do when our financial situation was in a tailspin as the currency traders devalued the Ringgit. They bailed out failed companies and banks with huge sums of money, they stop short selling, they talk of controlling the currency traders, etc. etc. We recovered by doing the forbidden. But they have not recovered. My feeling as an economic and financial ignoramus is that they are not going to recover any time soon. They will not recover because they are still in a state of denial. They still believe they are rich, as rich as before they plunged into the crisis. And believing that they can somehow continue to remain rich, they are unable to behave like poor people.
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| How to deal with racial politicking Posted: 07 Oct 2011 11:44 AM PDT By Lee Wei Lian, The Malaysian Insider ANALYSIS, Oct 8 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has continued his pace of policy tweaks and minor reforms over big sweeping changes in his third budget since taking office despite the ambitious theme of "national transformation policy." After a week of heightened expectations that the budget will transform the nation and lower the cost of living, the budget speech delivered yesterday lacked any "Wow" factor in terms of deep structural reforms but instead contained a series of selective liberalisations, incentives and cash grants to target groups.
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