| Could Malaysia Ruling Coalition Be Swept From Power? Posted: 02 Oct 2012 12:53 PM PDT 
(Value Walk) - Even if BN should retain its majority and Prime Minister Najib continues to enjoy high approval ratings, there is a high risk that he will be pushed from office anyway. Since its independence in 1957, the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) has ruled over Malaysia uninterrupted. UMNO has controlled Malaysia through a coalition, first called the Alliance, and later expanded and renamed Barisan Nasional (BN). In the recent 2008 elections BN lost its absolute majority, marking the first time the ruling coalition has lost its absolute majority since 1969, the year of the Race Riots. BN could now find itself losing its majority position entirely in the up-coming elections. 
UMNO and BN have traditionally controlled the political scene in Malaysia. UMNO relies on the "Malay" vote from the Malay community, which makes up approximately 50 percent of the population. The Chinese, who are by far the wealthiest demographic in Malaysia, make up 25 percent of the population, and Indians make up an additional 7 percent. Other Bumiputras, or "sons of the land" make up most of the rest of the population. The date for the election has not been set, but must be held by June 27, 2013. Many observers believed that elections would be held this past summer, with tell-tale signs, including increased investments in public projects and reduced toll charges. Often, as elections approach BN will push for the increased provision of social services. Trains start to run more frequently, subsidies and cash payments will be handed out, and numerous other policies will be instituted, which critics charge as "vote buying." So far, the election date has not been announced but must be approaching soon. In recent years Malaysia has seen mass protests and heightened demands for political reform. The Bersih movement, or "coalition for clean & fair elections" has attracted a large following in Malaysia. The movement has staged several rallies in recent years. In April 2007, the first Berish rally attracted some 30,000 people, and is credited with having a major impact on the 2008 elections that saw BN lose its absolute majority for the first time in decades. In July 2011 the Bersih 2.0 movement was launched and staged another rally, attracting between 10,000 to 20,000 protesters, though many more were kept out of the Kuala Lumpur city center due to government clamp downs. Bersish 3.0 in, April 2012, saw renewed strength and effort from protesters, with approximately 100,000 people protesting for reform. Meanwhile, Barisan Nasional is increasingly losing the trust of the Malay community, which it has relied on to stay in power. Traditionally, BN and especially UMNO has relied on the rural Malay vote, which through gerrymandering has a disproportionately large representation in parliament. Now educated and urban Malays are starting to turn to the opposition. At the same time, UMNO is losing some rural votes in some areas to the Pan-Malaysia Islamic Party (PAS), an Islamist political party. BN has never fared as well in cities, or among the middle class. With Malaysia's population rapidly urbanizing and becoming better educated, BN's traditional base of power is shrinking. Unless the party can adapt to changing times and modernize its policies, it may someday find itself representing a "minority" segment of society. The domestic scene can be described as complicated, at best. Malaysia has posted strong growth since its independence, with national development projects being fueled by petro-dollars. The country also enjoys a strong manufacturing sector, though many of the workers in this sector are foreign. The nation has had a harder time competing in high-value industries, and its education system remains subpar. In order to keep unemployment low, the government has traditionally "mopped" up unemployed graduates, especially Malays. As a result, government payrolls have expanded to some 1.4 million people, in a nation of only 30 million. With petro-dollars running out (Malaysia is projected to run out of oil as soon as 2030), the government will not be able to afford expanding payrolls forever. Certainly Malaysia has launched attempts at reforms. Prime Minister Najib has launched a "1Malaysia" campaign to try to rectify the tensions between the three major races. The Prime Minister has also launched the New Economic Model (NEM), which will increase emphasis on creating high-skilled middle class jobs and ensuring that Malaysia does not fall in the Middle Income trap. Read more at: http://www.valuewalk.com/2012/10/could-malaysia-ruling-coalition-be-swept-from-power/ |
| In Malaysia, Court Backs Right to Print a Newspaper Posted: 02 Oct 2012 12:49 PM PDT 
(The New York Times) - KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Obtaining permission to publish a newspaper in Malaysia, where the print media are dominated by government-linked publications, is likely to become easier after a court ruled that the right to freedom of expression includes the right to publish and is a fundamental liberty, a lawyer said on Tuesday. A Malaysian court ruled on Monday that the government should not have rejected an application for a print publishing license by Malaysiakini, a popular independent news Web site, said Shanmuga Kanesalingam, a lawyer who represented Malaysiakini. Under Malaysian law, a newspaper must obtain a permit from the government before it can publish. Free-speech advocates hailed the decision as a victory. "Recognition that the right to publish a newspaper is a fundamental right is very, very significant," Mr. Shanmuga said. "It's the first time we've had this said by a judge." Masjaliza Hamzah, executive officer of the Center for Independent Journalism in Kuala Lumpur, described the decision as "a very progressive judgment for freedom of expression, for freedom of the press in Malaysia." "It's very significant," she said, because few new permits for print newspapers have been granted in recent years. "The permits that have been given out are mostly for small-scale publications, but not for the kind of publication that could garner a national audience, which Malaysiakini could," Ms. Masjaliza said. The government has not yet decided whether to appeal the decision, said Noor Hisham bin Ismail, a senior federal counsel involved in the case. It has a month to file. Although the Internet has remained relatively free in Malaysia, most large newspapers are either owned by the government or linked to it. Mr. Shanmuga said the court had ruled that the home minister, who grants publishing permits, must reconsider Malaysiakini's application in accordance with the law. He said the ruling would make it more difficult for the government to refuse an application for a printing license, because it requires officials to show that the proposed publication would be a threat to public order or to national security, or would be immoral. Read more at: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/03/world/asia/malaysian-court-rules-that-publishing-a-newspaper-is-a-basic-right.html?_r=0 |
| Malaysia slips in Internet freedom; same ranking as Libya Posted: 02 Oct 2012 12:35 PM PDT 
(The Malaysian Insider) - The report cited the recent amendments to the Evidence Act 1950, namely Section 114A of the law, which holds the computer or equipment owner liable for seditious content as a very troubling development. Malaysia's Internet freedom has worsened this year as seen in the latest global survey of 47 countries, putting it on the same level as Libya after Putrajaya introduced new laws seen to curb electronic media use. Internet freedom for Southeast Asia's third-biggest economy was judged to be only "partly free", after it scored 43 out of 100 points — the same as Libya — dropping two notches in the Freedom on the Net 2012: A Global Assessment of Internet and Digital Media report released last week by Freedom House, a US research organisation advocating democracy, political freedom and human rights. The annual study evaluates each country based on barriers to access, limits on content, and violations of user rights, and traces trends from January 2011 to May 2012. The lower the numerical score, the better the ranking. Each country is marked on a score from 0 (the most free) to 100 (the least free), which serves as the basis for an Internet freedom status designation of Free (0-30 points), Partly Free (31-60 points), or Not Free (61-100 points). Malaysia took the 23rd spot, trailing behind the Philippines, South Korea, India and Indonesia among the Asian countries surveyed. But Malaysia came out ahead of Sri Lanka, Kazakhstan, Thailand, Pakistan, Vietnam, Myanmar and China. Singapore was not included in Freedom House's global study. The top five spots in descending order were occupied by Estonia, the United States, Germany, Australia and Hungary, which scored fewer than 20 points out of 100. Read more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/malaysia-slips-in-internet-freedom-same-ranking-as-libya |
| Secret Malaysian resettlement plan for dam-affected natives exposed Posted: 02 Oct 2012 11:15 AM PDT 
The affected communities have only received information about the conditions of their resettlement through the report leaked to the whistle-blower website Sarawak Report. The withholding of the Resettlement Report goes against all international standards on transparency. Bruno Manser Fonds Leaked Resettlement Action Plan for natives to be displaced by Murum dam reveals the Sarawak government's neglect of basic rights and fair compensation (MURUM, SARAWAK, MALAYSIA) A report by the Malaysian state government of Sarawak about the resettlement of over 1,500 natives has been leaked just a few months before the planned resettlement due to a mega-dam. The impoundment of the 944 MW Murum dam is meant to start in early 2013 and will flood almost 250km2 of forest and cause the displacement of six Penan and one Kenyah native communities. Violation of basic rights It verges on hypocrisy that the leaked Murum Resettlement Action Plan claims that "the main documents" concerning the construction of the dam and the resettlement are "to be made available to the public", although this has obviously not been done so far. The affected communities have only received information about the conditions of their resettlement through the report leaked to the whistle-blower website Sarawak Report. The withholding of the Resettlement Report goes against all international standards on transparency. The report reveals that the compensation offered to the affected communities is anything but fair and will impoverish them: the monthly allowance to be paid after resettlement falls below the poverty level and ends after four years. Their new farmland is already covered with oil palms owned by large companies, and there is hardly any forest left to sustain the people's traditional livelihood based on products from the wild. In addition, the affected Penan and Kenyah state that they have never been asked for their free, prior and informed consent as demanded by international standards, such as the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. After receiving the Resettlement Plan, the seven affected communities immediately put up a blockade on the access road to the dam on Wednesday last week. Over 200 people have since been effectively blocking the supply of materials to the dam construction works. They are willing to keep up the blockade until the Norwegian CEO of Sarawak Energy, the agency in charge of the implementation of Murum dam, and the government authorities agree to their demands concerning involuntary resettlement and compensation. Norwegian Torstein Dale Sjøtveit, CEO of Sarawak Energy, has been asked to meet the affected communities at the blockade site to discuss their concerns, as he is one of the main persons responsible for the current twelve-dam complex in Sarawak – of which the Murum dam is only the first one to be built. Another foreign key supporter is Hydro Tasmania, which seconded staff to Sarawak Energy and completed various feasibility studies. Andrew Pattle, who was Project Manager for the Murum dam up until 2011 and is now Senior Project Manager for two other proposed dams, and Nick Wright, Vice President at Sarawak Energy, are just two of the Australian staff members seconded to the project. Without this knowledge transfer from Hydro Tasmania to Sarawak Energy, the realization of the planned dams would not be possible. Tutoring on rights for government officials The local SAVE Rivers Network, a group that is spearheading the struggle against the plans to build at least 12 dams in Sarawak's interior, has today offered tutoring lessons on indigenous rights to high-level government leaders. The obvious lack of compliance with international standards and national laws by the Sarawak government is prompting them to teach the government about indigenous rights as guaranteed in the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and national law. Peter Kallang, chairman of SAVE Rivers, said today: "It is unfortunate that many high-level government leaders do not understand the international UN declaration that Malaysia has signed. We would therefore like an opportunity to explain to them the rights of indigenous peoples under the laws of this country." The Bruno Manser Fund wholeheartedly supports this highly necessary tutoring on indigenous rights for the government and, in addition, is demanding the immediate release of all studies conducted on any of the currently-planned dams. All the international actors involved in Sarawak's dam endeavour, including Torstein Dale Sjøtveit and Hydro Tasmania, should stop supporting the ongoing violation of international standards and cease their collaboration with Sarawak Energy. |
| Malaysia tak perlu pergerakan hak wanita Posted: 02 Oct 2012 11:07 AM PDT Trend penurunan ini konsisten sejak 2010. Pada tahun 2010, Kementerian diberi peruntukan sebanyak RM2.4 bilion, kemudian pada tahun 2011, ia jatuh ke RM2 bilion, kemudian jatuh lagi pada tahun 2012 ke RM1.9 bilion dan sekarang untuk 2013 ia terus menurun ke RM1.8 bilion. Young Syefura Othman, Penyelaras Segmentasi Wanita Muda Kebangsaan Solidariti Anak Muda Malaysia (SAMM) Solidariti Anak Muda Malaysia Segmentasi Wanita Muda (SAMM Wanita Muda) merasa kesal dan kecewa dengan kenyataan angkuh dan sombong Perdana Menteri Malaysia dalam Sambutan Hari Wanita 2012 hari ini di Sunway Pyramid.
Dalam laporan satu media internet (klik sini untuk baca lanjut) menyebut Najib menyatakan Malaysia tidak memerlukan sama sekali pergerakan hak wanita dalam negara ini. Beliau selaku Menteri Wanita dalam Majlis anjuran Kementerianya telah menghina perjuangan aktivis - aktivis hak wanita dalam negara ini. Majlis Sambutan Hari Wanita anjuran Kementeriannya (Kementerian Pembangunan Wanita, Keluarga dan Masyarakat) ini seharusnya diadakan atas semangat menghargai perjuangan dan sumbangan wanita kepada negara, namun oleh kerana inilah kali pertama negara dan rasanya di dunia Menteri Wanita lelaki maka dengan jelas Menteri Wanita ini tidak menghormati sensitiviti dan melakukan penghinaan terhadap perjuangan wanita dalam majlis tersebut.
Najib jelas tidak memahami peranan menteri wanita dan tidak langsung ada gender sensitiviti kerana bukan sahaja menghina perjuangan aktivis wanita sebagai tidak perlu tetapi dalam ucapanya menyatakan pula lelaki sebagai spesis terancam di negara ini kerana 'kecemerlangan' wanita.
SAMM menuntut Najib berundur sahaja sebagai menteri di kementerian Pembangunan Wanita, keluarga dan masyarakat kerana jelas dia sendiri tidak faham peranannya sebaliknya hanya makan gaji buta selaku menteri di kementeri tersebut. Jika benar apa yang dikatakan Najib menjadi polisi kerajaan Bn yang tidak perlukan perjuangan pembelaan wanita maka seharusnya bubarkan sahaja terus kementerian Pembangunan Wanita, Keluarga dan Masyarakat itu.
Maka tidak hairanlah dalam belanjawan tahun ini walaupun pada keseluruhannya meningkat 8%, tetapi peruntukkan Kementerian Pembangunan Wanita, Keluarga dan Masyarakat mengalami penurunan sebanyak 6%, dengan pengurangan sebanyak RM115 juta.
Trend penurunan ini konsisten sejak 2010. Pada tahun 2010, Kementerian diberi peruntukan sebanyak RM2.4 bilion, kemudian pada tahun 2011, ia jatuh ke RM2 bilion, kemudian jatuh lagi pada tahun 2012 ke RM1.9 bilion dan sekarang untuk 2013 ia terus menurun ke RM1.8 bilion.
Dalam ucapan belanjawan 2013, PM Najib cuma menonjolkan kononya belanjawannya prihatin wanita dengan peruntukan sebanyak RM50 juta untuk latihan Wanita untuk menjadi pengarah syarikat, latihan usahawanan (entrepreneurial training), latihan "online marketing" dan ujian mamogram. Inilah hasilnya apabila menteri Wanita adalah seorang lelaki. Jelas sekali Najib tidak faham langsung apa sebenarnya keperluan dan aspirasi Wanita dan masih melihat isu wanita dengan cara seksis. Pemahaman beliau mengenai isu-isu Wanita seolah-olah terhad kepada "bagaimana untuk membuat Wanita lebih menjadi seorang ahli perniagaan" dan peperiksaan payudara.
Dalam kesempatan ini juga SAMM Wanita Muda menyambut baik dan mengajak rakyat melihat tawaran belanjawan alternatif negara yang dibentangkan oleh Pakatan Rakyat yang mengandungi tawaran Caruman Wanita Nasional dan Skim Elaun Penjagaan. Caruman Wanita Nasional adalah satu skim jaringan keselamatan sosial bagi Wanita suri rumah. Ideanya adalah seperti berikut; sekiranya suami meninggal dunia, menjadi kurang upaya atau menceraikan isteri, suri rumah akan mempunyai simpanan wang untuk menangani sebarang kemunkginan yang boleh terjadi. Kerajaan Pakatan Rakyat bercadang untuk memberikan caruman sebanyak RM600 setahun kepada setiap suri rumah, dan akan memastikan dan menggalakkan suami menyumbang sejumlah wang sebanyak RM120 ke RM1,200 setahun kepada caruman yang sama.
Sasaran skim ini adalah untuk memastikan seorang suri rumah mempunyai sekurang-kurangnya simpanan sebanyak RM30, 000 ketika usia 50 tahun. Kami menjangkakan terdapat 5 juta suri rumah yang bakal menyertai skim ini dan ianya akan menelan belanja kira-kira RM3 bilion setahun. Walaupun skim ini adalah berdasarkan kepada prinsip kebajikan, sasaran ekonominya adalah untuk menggalakkan simpanan peribadi. Skim ini adalah merupakan salah satu program kita untuk meningkatkan pendapatan isi rumah (disposable income).
Skim Elaun Penjagaan Anak diperkenalkan untuk menolong wanita miskin yang bekerja dimana pendapatan isi rumah yang kurang daripada RM1, 000 sebulan. Bagi setiap kanak-kanak di bawah umur 12 tahun, kita akan menyediakan dana jagaan kanak-kanak sokongan sebanyak RM1, 000 setahun. Sokongan ini berhasrat membantu ibu yang bekerja untuk membayar yuran pengasuh menjaga anaknya ketika ibu sedang berkerja.Skim ini dilihat usaha bersungguh untuk membebaskan serta memperkasa wanita untuk bekerja sendiri dan menyumbang secara serius kepada negara. |
| Worker of 1Malaysia Posted: 02 Oct 2012 10:52 AM PDT 
So a call centre employee from Philipines is more in favour than say a brain surgeon from UK where they get to bypass all Malaysian immigration and labour regulations. Disgrunted Malaysian Employeee C/O CSC Open letter to S. Subramaniam, Human Resource Minister Dear Minister, I am a citizen of Malaysia who pays my taxes and to date still paying my PTPTN loan for my education that I received locally. I recently joined CSC (a MNC based in Malaysia) as a Level 1 Technical Helpdesk. I work the night shift mostly just to qualify for the RM500 which is the night shift allowance. Recently I was made to work on a 12 hour shift without even giving me the choice of accepting the 12 hour shift pattern. When I asked, I was told that the company had the right to place their employees in any shift they like as long as it does not cross the 48 hours work hours a week. Is this true? Don't the employees have a say in the number of work hours they choose to work for, as long as it is within the law? When I first started work I was told by my employers that for the first 3 months of my service, my leaves earned will be frozen as I am still in probation. During the recent Raya holidays in August, I was still in training but I was not allowed to enjoy that holiday. CSC had made it mandatory for all muslims or non-muslims to come in even though we are not part of the operations (taking calls) yet. I did not complain and endured it. But when I got my salary I was shocked. The job agency with whom I had signed the employment contract has their own method of calculating wages paid on Public Holidays. When I enquired, I was told employees earning more than RM 2000 is not entitled to OT claims. When signing of the contract I was told that my salary would be pro rated by the day and the OT will be calculated based on that, but instead a flat rate of RM 15 per hour is calculated for hours worked on a Public Holiday. Another job agency with whom my colleagues are attached to has another formula of calculation all together. RM 15 per hours from midnight to 6.00am and RM 13 per hour before midnight. So if someone is to work the night shift hours before midnight is multiplied by RM13, hours worked after midnight is multiplied by RM15. Having said that, I kept at building my career without kicking a fuss about my salary. Next, I was asked to work by forgoing the short breaks I am entitled to. At one point I even got my meal break after 6 hours of work non-stop taking calls from arrogant and rude Americans. But when I come in for work 2 minutes late I get a "coach-log" (three of it warrants a warning letter). But "minutes" taken up after my work hours because I get stuck on a long call with a customer is not counted. The management is allowed to bend and break the rules but as employees we are not even given any leeway. We are supposed to keep customers happy and keep the calls short and take more calls. Unrealistic demands are made on us employees and no encouragement or proper guidance is provided for us employees to get the job done efficiently.The 1st level management that is made up of operation managers, subject matter experts and team leads are not professional, unhelpful and arrogant. They don't give a rat's ass about the employees but the employees are supposed to care if there are many calls in the queue or SLAs are dropping. We only get our salary after our timesheet is approved by some foreigner who goes by the name Brad Neave, who has complete disregard for the laws of our country. If he does not approve the timesheet within a given time, we don't get paid. The agency that handles our payroll does not bother with getting the timesheet done. Apparently it is our responsibility to get the operations manager to approve our timesheets. So what is the job of the HR/payroll department then? During my training period, the trainer was very prejudicial. I was not allowed to ask any questions. If I did the trainer would ridicule me in front of my colleagues. The trainer's idea of training was to make sure no one asks any questions. If anyone is to ask a question it will be answered with another question eg. "What do you think?", "Don't you still get it?", "How can you still ask me this?" etc. Fed up with being treated this way, I approached the operations manager, Brad (foreigner) only to be made more like a fool. He tells me that it's not right for me to come to him and I should have sorted things out with the trainer (whom I am having a problem with in the first place). Last but not least, CSC is hiring foreigners by the droves for level 1 helpdesk positions when here in Malaysia we have so many unemployed Malaysians who are graduates. These foreigners who come here to work are no IT experts that can't be found here in Malaysia. These foreigners are call centre staff from abroad. These foreigners are brought over with a social visit pass (tourist visa). Apparently, it's "converted" to a valid Malaysian work permit after they get here. How is that possible? I have relatives from abroad from countries like Australia, UK and South Africa who are professionals like doctors, engineers and specialized consultants. Even they had to have a calling visa before they are even engaged in any employment. So a call centre employee from Philipines is more in favour than say a brain surgeon from UK where they get to bypass all Malaysian immigration and labour regulations. We even have a Philipino team lead in CSC here but not even one Malaysian woman as a team lead. So CSC is running some boy's club in CSC. Foreigners who come here enjoy the benefits of our country and hospitality whereas we Malaysians are treated worse than factory production operators, where like in school we have to even ask permission to take a piss. Ministers and higher officials in the loop, please excuse my language in my mail as I am very disgruntled and angry with what has come to the plight of Malaysians working with foreign companies that come here for cheap but quality labour. They preach democracy and equality in their land and other countries at war, but they have not changed from their colonial mentality. We locals are coloured dogs for them still, the only differences are the suits we wear these days and we no longer live on trees. I am not able to reveal my identity as I know I will be victimized by the management, after all I am only a level 1 helpdesk and a Malaysian citizen not some fancy foreigner who does not know their work. But it does not matter who I am, there are thousands of fellow Malaysians like me who are in the same boat and are suffering in silence, to protect our ricebowl. |
| Five awarded RM4.06mil over unlawful detention under ISA Posted: 01 Oct 2012 11:18 PM PDT 
The 'Reformasi 6' who spent two years in Kamunting (The Star) - Five people, including Batu MP Tian Chua, have been awarded more than RM4.06mil in damages over their unlawful detention under the Internal Security Act in 2001. High Court judge Lau Bee Lan ruled on Tuesday that the detention of Tian Chua, Selangor PAS information chief Saari Sungib, activists Hishammudin Rais and Badaruddin Ismail and PKR supreme council member Badrulamin Bahron under Section 73 of the Internal Security Act 1960 was unlawful. The five had sued former Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Norian Mai and two others for unlawful detention under the ISA and for defamation. (The award covers RM15,000 a day for the total number of days that they had been detained). Justice Lau also awarded Tian Chua, Hishammudin, Saari and Badrulamin RM60,000 in general damages and RM40,000 in aggravated damages in total based on grounds that the words uttered by Norian during a press conference in April, 2001 in relation to the detention was defamatory. She ruled that the detention was not based on the safety of the country but more towards political considerations. |
| Stop pretending that everything is going well Posted: 01 Oct 2012 06:06 PM PDT 
Regardless of whether it is the BN or the Pakatan Rakyat, there is a surge in the Operating Expenditure. However, no one tells the people how to improve productivity and open up new revenue resources to offset the increased expenditures. Lim Sue Goan, Sin Chew Daily The Budget has been pan-politicised and the confronting coalitions are busy in wars of words, blurring the vision of the country's economic future. The last 14 paragraphs of Prime Minister cum Finance Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's Budget speech had dignified the BN and belittled the Pakatan Rakyat. Members of the confronting coalitions picked up their respective Budget and booed at each other after Najib finished his speech. Najib has continued to attack the alternative coalition over the past two days and said, "You do Bersih 2.0, we do BR1M 2.0. You storm the barricades, overturn police cars, we help the rakyat." He also said that the Buku Jingga is not worth the paper it is written on. Pakatan Rakyat leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim fought back and teased the BN when debating on the Budget in the Dewan Rakyat on October 1, while DAP Parliamentary Leader Lim Kit Siang challenged Najib to debate with Anwar. When politicians think only about politics, they will no longer pay attention to more important issues. At this very moment, Terengganu Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin urged the people to drop their subsidy mentality to form a hard working and competitive society, instead of just expecting for assistance. Indeed, both the BN's Budget and the Pakatan Rakyat's alternative budget have failed to get rid of subsidies. And they are actually the pot calling the kettle black. They ridicule each other as being populist but have failed to realise that they are actually making the same mistake. Take the BN's Budget as an example, the Operating Expenditure has increased to RM201.9 billion, accounting for 80% of the total expenditure, and among them, 20.8% is allocated for subsidies. The government's subsidies have amounted to RM42 billion this year, exceeding the estimated amount by 27%, or RM9 billion. The total subsidy in 2007 was only RM10 billion, which means that political confrontation has increased subsidies by four times. Subsidies could anesthetise the people's nerves and when subsidies are forced to be terminated, the people might not be able to stand stably. In addition, the emoluments for civil servants have also been increased from RM52 billion in 2012 to RM58.6 billion next year, accounting for 29% of the total Operating Expenditure. Since the government has shelved the Exit Policy to deal with problematic, indisciplined and underperforming civil servants, the number of civil servants has kept increasing, so does the emolument expenditure. The Pakatan Rakyat's alternative budget also advocates pay rise for civil servants, such as increasing the salaries of police officers by 15%, providing a special allowance of RM500 for teachers and increasing the salaries of civil servants. The additional emolument expenditure is RM4.4 billion. However, it requires an additional RM5.1 billion based on the calculation of MCA President Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek. Regardless of whether it is the BN or the Pakatan Rakyat, there is a surge in the Operating Expenditure. However, no one tells the people how to improve productivity and open up new revenue resources to offset the increased expenditures. It seems impossible to remove the subsidy system, while the administrative team has been continuously expanding. It is afraid that the debt might touch the national debt ceiling of 55%. The national debt has increased from last year's RM456.1 billion to the current RM502.4 billion, In other words, each person is averagely bearing RM18,000 of debt. The government should tell the people how many oil resources are left and how long could they support our expenses. When would the country become a net oil importer and would it be in 2017, as predicted by the International Energy Agency? The government should make public the national accounts to clearly show the people the country's financial situation, instead of keep pretending that everything is going well, telling the people that there is no big deal and distributing money. If the financial direction and management are not changed today, I am afraid that Malaysians might one day walk on streets to protest against financial austerity. Such a scenario is horrible! |
| There’s a ‘DAP ghost’ in Penang PKR Posted: 01 Oct 2012 05:47 PM PDT 
This so-called 'ghost', claims a former PKR leader, has been feeding Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng with the details of PKR meetings in the state. Athi Shankar, FMT GEORGE TOWN: Internal leakage on details of Penang PKR meetings to outsiders, especially DAP, is not something new. "It has been happening since a year ago," alleged former Kedah PKR secretary Zamil Ibrahim. He claimed that the PKR state leadership was aware of it and suspected a local party leader close to DAP to be the culprit behind the sabotage work. Zamil said the politician had often been described by party insiders as a "DAP ghost in PKR mask." Based on internal information, he said DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng would receive all information, including confidential details, from the suspect on goings-on in PKR meetings. He said Lim, who is also the Penang chief minister, would be informed by this "ghost" within five minutes after a meeting ended. "The leakage in Penang PKR is rampant and dangerous. It's not only an act of sabotage but an act of betrayal," Zamil told FMT. He was commenting on the public leaking of details of an internal casual meeting between the state PKR chief and Deputy Chief Minister I Mansor Othman with seven local Chinese members. Details of the meeting were published in verbatim in June postings of a blog called "Gelagat Anwar" while its audio recording was aired by TV3 on Sept 24. According to the leaked details, Mansor had, during the meeting, apparently described Lim as "cocky, arrogant and tokong", which was now been popularly termed as the "CAT" by critics. The CAT leak had now put Mansor in a politically awkward position as PKR conducts its internal investigation to nab the culprit. The seven who met Mansor in the closed-door discussion were state PKR deputy chief Law Choo Kiang, Bukit Bendera division deputy chief Felix Ooi Keat Hin, Bayan Baru vice chairman Tan Seng Keat, 2004 candidate for Bayan Baru federal and Batu Uban state seats – Raymond Ong Ting Cheow, Tanjung Youth chief Ng Chek Siang; Bayan Baru member Cheah Peng Guan and Mansor's special assistant John Ooh Sin Hwa. It is learnt that all seven members had so far denied being involved in the sabotage act. READ MORE HERE |
| Azmin: Kabinet bayangan pandangan peribadi Shuhaimi Posted: 01 Oct 2012 05:38 PM PDT 
Senada dengan Naib Pengerusi DAP Dr Tan Seng Giaw semalam, Azmin berkata hal itu tidak pernah dibangkitkan sama sekali dalam mesyuarat pemimpin tertinggi Pakatan Rakyat mahu Jamilah Kamarudin, FMT Timbalan Presiden PKR Azmin Ali menyifatkan dakwaan Ketua Penerangan PKR Selangor Shuhaimi Shafiei bahawa 20 pemimpin parti akan menerajui jemaah menteri hanya sebagai pandangan peribadi semata-mata. Senada dengan Timbalan Pengerusi DAP Dr Tan Seng Giaw semalam, Azmin berkata hal itu tidak pernah dibangkitkan sama sekali dalam mesyuarat pemimpin tertinggi Pakatan Rakyat. "Saya tidak tahu menahu mengenai perkara itu. Saya tidak pernah tengok senarai tersebut. Saya pun tidak tahu menteri apa yang saya jawat. Itu hanya pandangan peribadi Shuhaimi
sahaja," katanya ketika ditemui pemberita di Parlimen hari ini. Sementara itu, Ahli Parlimen Balik Pulau Yusmadi Yusoff menyifatkan dakwaan Ahli Dewan Undangan (Adun) Sri Muda itu satu kenyataan tak rasmi PKR dan sengaja disabotaj. Beliau yang juga Ahli Majlis Pimpinan Pusat PKR turut menafikan sekeras-kerasnya kewujudan kabinet bayangan, sebaliknya satu Jawatankuasa Pakatan yang ditubuhkan sejak 2008 bagi menangani isu-isu nasional.
`Tiada kabinet' "Setahu saya tiada kabinet, yang ada satu jawatankuasa Pakatan. Saya baru pulang daripada rapat pimpinan Nasional PKR di Shah Alam minggu lalu dan isu ini tiada langsung pernah dibangkitkan. Sementara itu, Setiausaha Agung DAP Lim Guan Eng berkata perebutan jawatan dalam kabinet tidak perlu dijadikan isu sebaliknya dasar yang akan dilaksanakan Pakatan sekiranya mentadbir Putrajaya. "Kita tak berminat tentang personaliti sebaliknya dasar. "Kalau Najib nak cabar Pakatan tentang kabinet bayangan kenapa BN tak wujudkan sendiri di empat negeri yang ditadbir Pakatan? BN kena konsisten dalam hal ini. Isu kabinet bayangan bangkit selepas Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Razak pada Ahad lalu mencabar Ketua Pembangkang Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim menubuhkannya sebelum berangan-angan menubuhkan kerajaan sebenar dengan memenangi pilihan raya Umum ke-13 (PRU13). |
| Who is lying – Chin or Wong? Posted: 01 Oct 2012 05:35 PM PDT 
If ROS had declared the SUPP presidential election in December 2011 valid, why didn't Peter Chin show it to Wong Soon Koh? (FMT) - KUCHING: The most prominent issue that has surfaced from the weekend meeting of Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP) is an alleged letter issued by Registrar of Society (ROS) on March 26. Following the meeting of the contentious central working committee (CWC), SUPP president Peter Chin said the party had received a letter declaring the controversial triennial delegates convention (TDC) and its presidential elections in December 2011 as valid. He claimed the letter, dated March 26, was addressed to the party's secretary-general and had also indicated that the CWC was a valid entity. But Chin's claims have sparked doubts over his sincerity in wanting to consolidate SUPP at state level. A looming general election appears to have little bearing on Chin, who is seen as out to drown his former rival for the president's post, Wong Soon Koh. Wong, who is backed by by Chief Minister Taib Mahmud, is also the former party's deputy secretary-general. A party insider from Wong's Sibu branch questioned Chin's silence over the March 26 letter and over issues between his faction and Wong's. Wong, who is Bawang Assan assemblyman, had lodged the report with ROS last year over the branch-level election irregularities. "This [letter] is a big issue. If there was a letter dated March 26, why didn't Chin show it to us before? Why was Chin silent all this while? "Isn't it to his benefit to tell everyone of ROS' decision and move towards uniting the factions?" asked the insider, referring to the deeply divided party facing political extinction. According to the insider, ROS had sent both Chin and Wong a letter dated April 3 notifying them that investigation into the party's alleged election irregularities was still ongoing. It was this letter which Wong and his team of six assemblymen had been adhering to. The letter also instructed SUPP to only carry out ordinary businesses, thus making last Saturday's CWC meeting called to discuss two motions – disciplinary action against Wong and calls for the party to pull out of BN – questionable. Said Bengoh assemblyman Dr Jerip Susil, who is also in Wong's 'camp: "If indeed the secretary-general of SUPP had received a letter from ROS, stating the TDC is valid, we should be notified without further delay." He said as far Wong and the other elected representatives were concerned, the issue was simply the "validity of the TDC". "We love the party and our concern is that the party be administered with transparency, fairness, and a sense of justice…" he said in a statement. |
| This is how it works Posted: 01 Oct 2012 05:13 PM PDT 
Now, if you want to whack Islam I have no problem with that. Just send me an e-mail with your details and I will register you to comment in Malaysia Today. Once you are registered your comment will automatically get published without needing to wait for the moderator to approve it. If you refuse to register then what more can I say? That would be your fault, would it not? NO HOLDS BARRED Raja Petra Kamarudin A number of readers have posted comments accusing me of being a hypocrite for not practicing what I preach. They allege that while I propagate freedom of expression, I do not walk the talk, I block or delete their comments. They further allege that I am denying them their right to post comments in Malaysia Today and hence am not respecting their freedom of expression. This, therefore, makes me a hypocrite. A couple of readers also posted comments wanting to know why I blocked or deleted their comments whenever they bash Islam. If some readers can bash Christianity, they say, why can't they also post comments bashing Islam? First of all, those whose comments get posted without 'censorship' are those readers who have registered to comment. So, whenever they post a comment, their comment automatically gets published, even if it is seditious, inflammatory, malicious, racist, etc. Those who are not registered will have to wait for the moderator to view that comment before it gets published. In such a situation the comment may or may not get published. So this is a problem normally faced by those not registered to comment. Those registered to comment would seldom face a problem of blocked or deleted comments unless under very 'severe' situations. Another point to note would be when so many readers repeat the comments of others. For example, one reader (or two or three readers) already posted a racist comment about Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's Mamak or Indian birth and this comment (or two or three comments) gets published. Then another ten or 20 readers post similar comments whacking Dr Mahathir's Indian or Mamak birth. Do we need 20 comments all similarly referring to Dr Mahathir's Mamak or Indian birth? I think the first (or two or three) readers have already made his/her point -- and that point is Dr Mahathir is evil because his father was Indian. If his father had been Chinese or Malay then he would not be so evil. Hence anyone who has an Indian father is an evil person. However, two or three comments regarding Dr Mahathir's Indian father should be enough, don't you think so? Why do we need to read comments from 20 people saying the same thing? I think most, if not all Malaysians already know the story of Dr Mahathir's father, grandfather, great-grandfather, etc. It is already common knowledge. But not many know the story of Dr Mahathir's mother. Now, if someone wants to post a comment regarding Dr Mahathir's mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, etc., that would probably be something interesting since no one talks about that. Hence if you have something new to say by all means post your comment. But if you just want to repeat what 500 people before you have already said then maybe we need not publish your comment. It would be most boring to read 500 comments regarding something we all already know -- Dr Mahathir's father's race. Hence, also, if your comment does not get published it could be because your comment is so boring. I mean, you might not find it boring even though 500 other people have already said what you are saying before you said it. You may even get an orgasm with your comment. But then this could just be because you are a boring person. Boring people normally regard what they say as extremely exciting although others may find them boring. Malays call this 'shiok sendiri'. It is like mental masturbation. They get turned on by the sound of their own voice and they think that others also get a hard on just because they do. Hence they get very upset when we find their comment too low standard and not worthy of publishing. They cannot accept the fact that their comment is not good enough for publishing. But I suppose that is the problem with shiok sendiri readers. Now, if you want to whack Islam I have no problem with that. Just send me an e-mail with your details and I will register you to comment in Malaysia Today. Once you are registered your comment will automatically get published without needing to wait for the moderator to approve it. If you refuse to register then what more can I say? That would be your fault, would it not? I can't understand why these people who want to whack Islam refuse to register to comment. It is not like they have to pay anything to register. Registration is free. Just e-mail me your details and you will get registered with no hassle whatsoever. It is so simple to do and yet they do not do it. It is really mind-boggling. So, for those readers who complain that they want to whack Islam and their comments do not get published, send me an e-mail with your details now and I promise you I will immediately register you. I will also not block or delete your comments -- they will automatically get published. Can you do that? Another point I want to discuss is regarding rights and privileges. Many readers confuse privileges with rights. They think that they have rights in Malaysia Today. Actually you do not have any rights in Malaysia Today. You see Malaysia Today is not a democracy. No one appointed me or elected me to head Malaysia Today. I set up Malaysia Today and appointed myself. So I call the shots, not you. Hence I decide what happens in Malaysia Today and I can even make up the rules and change them as we go along. Of course, you do not have to like this or agree to this. And if you don't like it you can set up your own Blog with your own rules. Then you decide what happens since it is your own Blog and set up with your own effort and money. This works just like your passport. A passport is not a right. It is a privilege. The passport does not belong to you. It belongs to the government and the government can take it away if you abuse the privilege. Your passport does not determine your citizenship. You can be a citizen of the country without owning a passport. Hence don't start screaming about your right to post comments in Malaysia Today. You have no rights whatsoever. You are merely a guest and as a guest I will allow you certain privileges. And I can also take away these privileges or deny you any privileges. And I do not need any reason to do that. Maybe I don't like your smell or your hairstyle or I think your skin is too dark or your eyes too shifty or whatever. I need no reason and I need not tell you my reason. That is how it works. I trust you now understand how it works. In short, you have privileges while I have rights. You have the privilege to post comments in Malaysia Today and I have the right to decide whether your comment gets published or not. You have the privilege to register to comment in Malaysia Today and I have the right to refuse your registration or delete your registration later if I don't like what you say. Is that now clear? And if it is not, then get a friend to help translate this into Bahasa Malaysia, Tamil or Mandarin. |
| Nazri: Large number of foreigners in Sabah not a threat Posted: 01 Oct 2012 03:41 PM PDT 
(The Star) - The presence of 889,770 legal and illegal foreigners in Sabah is not a threat to the country or the state's security and order, said Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz. He said that while national population growth was 2.5% annually, the growth in Sabah was higher. "The population growth rate is higher in Sabah compared to Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia for several reasons, including the presence of illegal immigrants from neighbouring countries," he said in response to a question by Datuk Seri Wilfred Mojilip Bumburing (Tuaran) on whether the presence of 800,000 foreigners in Sabah posed a threat to national safety and security. He said the relevant authorities, including police, immigration, national registration and the Chief Minister's department was constantly monitoring the situation. On June 1, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak announced the setting up of the RCI to investigate the long-standing problems related to illegal immigrants in Sabah, as the government was committed to resolving the issue. Sabah reportedly has more than half a million illegal immigrants, mostly Filipinos and Indonesians. Due to the influx of immigrants since the late 1960s, the state recorded a 410% population growth in 40 years from 648,000 in 1970 to 3,309,700 in 2010. |
| Ex-wife claims Bekir has RM700mil in 111 accounts Posted: 01 Oct 2012 02:51 PM PDT 
(The Star) - The Syariah High Court here heard on Tuesday that Datuk Seri Mahmud Abu Bekir, a Group Deputy Chairman of Cahaya Mata Sarawak (CMS), has 111 accounts totalling more than RM700mil. His ex-wife Shahnaz A. Majid, 48, testified that the accounts were located in several banks overseas, which includes United States of America, Europe and the Carribean. Shahnaz, who is the sister of jazz singer Datuk Sheila Majid, is claiming 50% of all assets owned by Mahmud Abu Bekir such as luxury cars, houses in various locations, land in Sarawak and shares. She said Mahmud Abu Bekir, 49, the son of Sarawak chief minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, had the capability to also pay her RM100mil in gifts to enable her to start her life afresh. The couple were married on Jan 9, 1992 and divorced on May 11 last year. Shahnaz was testifying in a trial for her application to get RM300mil in matrimonial property and RM100mil in gifts (mutaah) as a divorce settlement. |
| 'Soros must explain Suaram involvement' Posted: 01 Oct 2012 02:35 PM PDT 
(NST) - A former Parti Keadilan Rakyat leader Ng Lum Yoong said yesterday currency speculator George Soros should shed some light on allegations that he financed Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram) to "attack" the French defence industry. "Soros should explain to Malaysians and to the French why he had used Suaram to attack the French defence industry," he said in a statement. New York-based Open Society Institute, which was founded by Soros, had allegedly paid human rights watchdog Suaram RM774,000 (between 2008 and last year). "Why did Soros make use of illegal entities such as Suaram to hire two French lawyers, William Bourdon and Joseph Breham to fight the case?" Ng said Soros should have hired the litigators himself. "Soros should have paid the lawyers directly from America since the French are competing with the Americans for defence contracts all over the world." Ng, who was one of the founder members of PKR, also said that it was unfair for Soros to interfere with the Malaysian government's decision to purchase two French-made Scorpene submarines. "Since Soros is involved, it's no wonder why Suaram and Pakatan Rakyat strongly oppose the purchase the subs."
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| UK factory production lower as orders slump Posted: 01 Oct 2012 02:05 PM PDT 
(Reuter) - Activity in the British manufacturing sector shrank more than expected in September as export orders fell and costs soared, a survey showed, raising the risk that the economy will falter after rebounding in the past few months. The CIPS/Markit Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) for the manufacturing sector fell to 48.4 from an upwardly revised 49.6 in August, dipping further below the 50 mark which separates growth from contraction. The latest signs of renewed weakness in manufacturing will support the view that the recovery is fragile and that the Bank of England will extend its quantitative easing asset purchases once the current round is completed in November. Manufacturers cut production for the third month in a row, with all major sectors seeing a contraction. "Overseas sales continue to be hit by the ongoing deterioration in global economic growth, with the eurozone the UK's largest export market at the epicentre of the weakness," said Markit chief economist Chris Williamson. "In this global economic environment, manufacturers look certain to struggle and the sector is unlikely to act as a driver of economic growth," he added. Manufacturing production jumped 3.2% in July, posting the sharpest monthly rise in 10 years. |
| Britain's economy slows as firms' hiring, investment plans ease Posted: 01 Oct 2012 01:58 PM PDT 
(Reuters) - Britain's economy has lost momentum over the past few months, with firms scaling back investment and hiring plans, business lobby BCC said on Tuesday, in another sign that a meaningful economic recovery remains elusive. The quarterly survey by the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) also showed that domestic and export demand slowed as the government's austerity drive and the euro zone debt crisis weighed. "Economic growth is weak and businesses are less confident and less likely to invest than they were at the beginning of the year," BCC Director General John Longworth said in a statement. The BCC stuck to its long-held view that the economy has avoided recession, contradicting data from the Office for National Statistics, because the 7,593 firms surveyed continued to report growth rather than contraction in output. "While the official assessment that the UK was in technical recession for three consecutive quarters is still too gloomy in our view, it is clear that the economy has been stagnant for too long," BCC chief economist David Kern said. The BCC now predicts growth of 0.5 percent in the third quarter. Most economists reckon official data will show that Britain posted some economic growth in the third quarter, rebounding after an extra national holiday in the previous quarter and helped by sales of tickets for the London Olympics and Paralympics. But a vigorous return to health is seen as unlikely despite the Bank of England's efforts to boost the economy with a total of 375 billion pounds worth of asset purchases. The BCC's survey provided little reason for optimism. Manufacturers and service firms reported slower sales growth and falling orders in Britain, the BCC said. Export demand and orders growth also weakened. "Fewer firms are looking to invest in training and plant and machinery, and confidence in future turnover and profit has fallen to levels last seen at the end of 2011," the BCC said. Manufacturers as well as services firms also cut back their hiring plans. The labour market has been one of the few bright spots in Britain and employment has risen over the past 12 months despite the weak economy. |
| Suhakam mahu kerajaan iktiraf Suaram Posted: 01 Oct 2012 01:44 PM PDT 
Nomy Nozwir, The Malaysian Insider Suruhanjaya Hak Asasi Manusia (Suhakam) berkata, kerajaan mesti menghormati dan mengiktiraf Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram) dalam melakukan kerja-kerja hak asasi manusia. Menurut pengerusinya, Tan Sri Hasmy Agam, Suhakam telah mengikuti secara teliti isu berkaitan Suaram dan dalam hal ini mengalu-alukan jaminan yang dibuat oleh Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Razak, untuk meningkatkan pembaharuan yang lebih demokratik sebagai respons kepada pertumbuhan tuntutan kebebasan sivil yang semakin bertambah. "Walau bagaimanapun, Suhakam merasa amat bimbang dengan cara bagaimana penyiasatan dijalankan, publisiti dibuat dan dilaporkan mengenai urusan dan akaun Suaram. "Suhakam menggesa semua pihak yang terlibat dalam penyiasatan ini supaya bertindak bukan sahaja menurut undang-undang dan peraturan tetapi selaras dengan semangat dan niat jaminan perdana menteri," katanya dalam kenyataan media yang dikirim ke The Malaysian Insider hari ini. Menurut Suhakam, kebebasan bersuara dan kebebasan berpersatuan adalah pokok kepada hak asasi manusia, yang dijamin di bawah Perlembagaan Persekutuan dan diperuntukkan dalam Perisytiharan Hak Asasi Manusia Sejagat. "Pejuang hak asasi manusia harus dibenarkan untuk berfungsi secara bebas, beroperasi di persekitaran yang berupaya dan selamat, dan mempunyai kebebasan untuk menentukan undang-undang, struktur dan aktiviti mereka. "Suhakam menyeru kerajaan agar terus mendukung dan mempromosi hak asasi manusia melalui perkongsian positif dengan pelbagai pihak berkepentingan, termasuk perniagaan dan masyarakat sivil yang akan menyumbang ke arah memastikan tadbir urus demokrasi yang kukuh di negara ini. "Ini adalah penting dan amat selaras dengan hasrat yang disuarakan perdana menteri untuk menggerakkan negara ke hadapan ke arah menjadi sebuah negara demokrasi yang berfungsi sepenuhnya yang memerlukan dasar-dasar dan amalan hak asasi manusia domestik yang mematuhi sepenuhnya prinsip-prinsip dan norma-norma yang diterima secara universal. "Ini akan menggambarkan Malaysia dengan baik sebagai anggota Majlis Hak Asasi Manusia Pertubuhan Bangsa-Bangsa Bersatu dan menyumbang secara positif untuk meningkatkan imej antarabangsa sebagai negara yang menghormati hak asasi manusia," katanya lagi. Bulan lalu, pejabat utama Suaram diserbu pegawai Pendaftar Pertubuhan (RoS) dan juga pegawai polis bagi menyerahkan borang pendaftaran pertubuhan kepada badan bukan kerajaan itu yang kini sedang disiasat kerana dikatakan menerima dana asing daripada pertubuhan yang milik George Soros, Open Society Foundation (OSF). Kesemua enam pegawai, termasuk dua pegawai polis itu, bagaimanapun gagal memasuki premis Suaram kerana mereka tidak membawa sebarang dokumen dan notis untuk menjalankan siasatan terhadap premis tersebut. Cubaan serbuan itu dikaitkan dengan dakwaan Suaram menerima dana asing dan pertubuhan ini dikatakan mempunyai "akaun yang meragukan". Badan hak asasi manusia itu dikatakan menerima serangan kerana terlibat dalam siasatan dari Perancis berkenaan dakwaan penyelewengan wang berbillion ringgit untuk pembelian dua buah kapal selam Scorpene. |
| Subsidies important for vulnerable groups Posted: 01 Oct 2012 01:34 PM PDT 
Local thinktanks Refsa and Ideas have misplaced their focus on critiquing subsidies in the 2013 Budget. We already have one of the highest levels of income inequality in the region. In pushing for a free market system without due attention to the structural defects of our political economy, proponents of a neo-liberal ideology run the risk of throwing out the baby with the bathwater. Lim Teck Ghee In their joint statement recently released on Sept 28, Ideas (Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs) and not-for-profit research institute Refsa (Research for Social Advancement) drew attention to the "shocking federal government subsidy bill for 2012" which according to them is now expected to hit RM42 billion, a massive RM9 billion or 27% above the RM33 billion originally forecast for the year. While it is true that subsidies have quadrupled in the past five years, and some of it is wasteful and not efficiently targeted at the most needy or priority sectors, the Refsa-Ideas contention of the debilitating effects of subsidies on our economic health needs to be challenged. Yes, blanket subsidies for cheap petrol and sugar do result in a degree of excessive and wasteful consumption. However the extent is debatable, and even if considerable, is not a sufficiently compelling reason for their immediate removal. The other argument that such subsidies "discourage investments in improving productivity and efficiency" and "benefit upper class Malaysians who consume much more than their poorer cousins" also needs dissecting. There is little empirical research to back up what has become an increasingly popular line of argument. For it to be useful or credible, echoing of popular opinion is not sufficient. The Refsa and Ideas team need to substantiate their position with hard data and rigorous analysis on these so-called negative effects. It is necessary to remind the Refsa-Ideas team that subsidies have an important role to play in providing a safety net for vulnerable groups. They help bring down the cost of living as well as enable access to health, education, transport and other necessities. They are a necessary burden in a highly skewed capitalist economy such as Malaysia's where the lower classes of labour do not get the fair remuneration that they are entitled to or deserve. We already have one of the highest levels of income inequality in the region. In pushing for a free market system without due attention to the structural defects of our political economy, proponents of a neo-liberal ideology run the risk of throwing out the baby with the bathwater. In their final argument Refsa-Ideas state that "restructuring subsidies is the low-hanging fruit that will help restore fiscal balance and improve our dwindling national competitiveness." In fact, subsidies and price controls to help poor households comprise a small proportion of the total government operating budget. The largest part of the budget is spent on salaries (to civil servants); pensions to retired civil servants and supplies and services – the last bloated by "excessive and wasteful" procurement and projects whose costs are inflated by rent-seeking and patronage charges. There is a credible counter argument that the ballooning deficit and growing mountain of debt in the country is mainly due to government spending on itself, rather than spending on the rest of the country or on the poor. The Refsa and Ideas team would be doing the country a greater service if they shift their focus onto this lower hanging fruit, especially the allocations provided to the political ministries which have been overrun with staff whose main function seems to be to look after the political and economic interests of the ruling party and its supporters rather than provide services to the public.
Dr Lim Teck Ghee is the director of the Centre for Policy Initiatives. |
| Only Anwar can fail himself Posted: 01 Oct 2012 01:29 PM PDT 
Umno is not only in a battle for its political survival but is now in a battle within itself between faction for Najib and those for Muhyiddin. For Anwar, the time for greatness is nigh. Anwar is now locked in mortal political combat with Umno. Najib Tun Razak is irrelevant to the final outcome of this battle. Najib is the dead man walking. At best, Najib can say that he was once prime minister of Malaysia. CT Ali, FMT Sixteen years at the highest level of government followed by six years at its lowest in solitary confinement, and he is still a work in progress. Today at 65, when Anwar Ibrahim talks of politics that transcends race and religion, of politics that champions the democratic process, of a government that respects the rule of law and accepts a multi-cultural society, of freedom of religion, of a government devoid of vested interest and corruption – when he talks of all this and more – we not only listen but we hear what he is saying. But what are Anwar's convictions? Why is Anwar able to transcend partisan politics? How has he been able to make PAS understand that the Islamic state it passionately espouses cannot be a part of Pakatan Rakyat common agenda but it can still be PAS'? And yet for Anwar, an Islamic state is not a choice he can consider in the context of an international environment. For him, there must be moderation in Islam. The Islam that Umno talks about where people are detained without trial, denied their basic rights, the media managed and manipulated to serve the vested interest of their political masters and where corruption is rampant is not the Islam that Anwar aspires to. Anwar is for reform and transparency. He is for freedom and civil liberties. He understands that the civic, social and cultural attitudes of our society have changed… and changed radically. The issues that concern the Malays – language, education, the economy and Islam – concern him, too, but he knows that race-based politics is not the way to go. Anwar knows that race-based politics is the easy way to go. His times in university politics, Abim and Umno can attest to that. He chose PKR, a multi-racial entity, because it is the more difficult option and the right option for Malaysia's future. His task now is to see Pakatan evolved into a credible government. So what does liberty and liberalism entails in the concept that Anwar aspires to? Anwar wants the Malays to be less intolerant of those who are not of the Islamic faith. The Malay understanding of Islam must not be so superficial. There must be moderation in Islam. Allah does not need to be defended. The Malays must deal with the realities of living in a multi-cultural and multi-racial society without resorting to the crutch of Ketuanan Melayu or Islam. Let not Islam come into politics. Let Islam not be used for political gain. Let no one say that Islam is unjust. Battle within Umno Time has transcended Umno. There is too much moral hypocrisy in Umno. Umno ignores, nay it condones corruption. The rakyat are no longer complacent, they are disillusioned. The rakyat no longer trusts Umno and the commitment it makes. Tunku Abdul Rahman and Tun Razak meant for the ISA to be used against militant communism. Today after the excesses of Dr Mahathir Mohamad, we know that the ISA is used by Umno and its leaders for their own vested interests. So for the rakyat, political commitment is no longer enough – there must be put into place due process to ensure that the ISA and any other policy and issues are not abused for political gain. Government policies must no longer be negative or punitive in nature. Anwar wants this too. Our country is in a flux. Our values are changing, our aspirations for personal freedom to express ourselves on issues that matter to us are more defined and we seek a way out of the present impasse imposed upon us by the Barisan Nasional government. Is Anwar the way out of this impasse? For Anwar, the time for greatness is nigh. Anwar is now locked in mortal political combat with Umno. Najib Tun Razak is irrelevant to the final outcome of this battle. Najib is the dead man walking. At best, Najib can say that he was once prime minister of Malaysia. But what a prime minister! He failed himself in all respects except one – just as Kepala Batas was the recipient of much physical development during Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's time as prime minister, Pekan became the recipient of same during Najib's time – at our costs. Everything else that he did while prime minister – from his inability to move from under the shadow of the domineering Rosmah Mansor, the kow-towing to Mahathir by having Mahathir's son in his Cabinet, his use of money politics (Perak and the Sibu incident among the best documented) – belies the pedigree that he had come from. How could the eldest son of Tun Razak proved to be so totally inept at everything that he did? We could all see that every policy that Najib sought to implement was an election policy. His concern was the relentless persecution of his political nemesis rather than to do the business of government. Najib was all bluster with no substance. All talk with no action. The Umno that Najib is president of is not only in a battle for its political survival but is now in a battle within itself, between faction for Najib and those for his deputy, Muhyiddin Yassin. Najib has been adept at constructing his own political descent. Now the much older Muhyiddin feels the time has come to hasten that descent less his own opportunity for political greatness passes. And so Muhyiddin plots the political demise of Najib just as he plotted the political demise of Abdullah who counted Muhyiddin among those who he thought he could depend upon when his back is against a wall. READ MORE HERE |
| Votes in the moneybag Posted: 01 Oct 2012 01:26 PM PDT 
Budget 2013 is a sweetener to secure another deal from the people but it may not be enough to save the skin of the prime minister. Budget 2013 promises a better quality of life in this resplendent city. All are cared for: the young, the old, the sick, the fishermen, the farmers, the jobless graduates, the homeless, the civil servants and many more – in return for their votes. Billions will be pouring in to finance the programmes although no one knows how and where the money will come from. Free Malaysia Today Was it an election budget? The government says no, but all the goodies dished out unerringly indicate the way is paved for the prime minister to ring the bell and call for election. He dangles many carrots and wants the people to buy them with their votes. The budget is the only story left to tell the people that there is a happy ending if the same government is returned to power. All the promises will be fulfilled only when the mandate is safely in the pocket of the prime minister. The most powerful man in the country hopes the people will forget all the old chapters on corruption and abuse of power. He wants a new beginning and a new licence – to continue his old ways. Money can be a potent weapon to manipulate public opinion, especially when times are hard. A government will look good when it throws money to the poor. A leader becomes a hero when he satisfies the material needs of the impoverished masses. He becomes a deity when the downtrodden adores him for his boundless generosity. With all the wealth of the country at his disposal, the prime minister can do no wrong. Money is on tap and can be used at any time. It is most useful when election is around the corner and when the prime minister is in danger of losing his pants. Billions will be spent to develop the country in the relentless quest for a high-income status. Indeed, 2020 is the vision set for us to become a developed nation. By then, the promised land will rise and all will live in splendid circumstances. The only flaw in this story line is that the rich will become richer and the poor poorer. All the mega projects are for the enrichment of companies and individuals linked to the political establishment. The majority of the citizens will stay stuck in the quagmire of rural and urban poverty. The push for a modern state will leave many people dispossessed and dislocated. They do not matter in the grand scheme of things. They will be ruthlessly driven out to make way for the playthings of conglomerates supported by the unscrupulous politicians. New soaring skylines will emerge as Malaysia races to be on par with the technologically advanced economies. The only people who will marvel at the new "shiny city on the hill" are the corrupt, the depraved, the rapacious. The others who live on the fringes can only seethe with frustration. Political ambitions Budget 2013 promises a better quality of life in this resplendent city. All are cared for: the young, the old, the sick, the fishermen, the farmers, the jobless graduates, the homeless, the civil servants and many more – in return for their votes. Billions will be pouring in to finance the programmes although no one knows how and where the money will come from, given the unpromising domestic economic trends and the depressing global business scene. Prudent spending or fiscal responsibility is not our strength. Millions in public funds have gone down the drain over the years unaccounted for. Still, there is not a care in the world about the misuse of taxpayers' money. READ MORE HERE |
| Malaysia’s Coming Election: Beyond Communalism? Posted: 01 Oct 2012 11:53 AM PDT 
Both sides are furiously making calculations about tactics to win seats, tailoring their message to the communities concerned. The two eastern states of Sabah and Sarawak could be kingmakers, because they control 25 per cent of the available seats. International Crisis Group Malaysia's thirteenth general election, which Prime Minister Najib Razak will have to call by April 2013, could be a watershed in communal relations. More than ever before, there is a chance, albeit a very small one, that opposition parties running on issues of transparency, economic equity and social justice could defeat the world's longest continually-elected political coalition, the National Front (Barisan Nasional), that has based its support on a social compact among the country's Malay, Chinese and Indian communities. That compact, granting Malays preferential status in exchange for security and economic growth, has grown increasingly stale as the growing middle class demands more of its leaders. Both ruling party and opposition are using images of the Arab Spring – the former to warn of chaos if it is not returned to power, the latter to warn of popular unrest unless political change comes faster. Social and demographic change, coupled with effective opposition leadership and the rise of a broad-based movement for electoral reform, are likely to make this election at the very least a close contest. The ruling coalition, composed of the dominant United Malays Nationalist Organisation (UMNO); the Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA); and the Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC), as well as several smaller parties, faces the People's Alliance (Pakatan Rakyat), composed of the People's Justice Party (Partai Keadilan Rakyat, PKR), led by former Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim; the Democratic Action Party (DAP) and the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (Partai Islam Se-Malaysia, PAS). More than ever before, the swing vote may be the Malay middle ground: urban professionals, students and "netizens" – internet users – who have benefited from constitutionally-protected preferential status for Malays but who are tired of cronyism and corruption and are chafing under the tight controls on civil liberties. The deck is stacked against the opposition for many reasons, not least because of an electoral system based on questionable voting rolls and carefully gerrymandered, single-representative constituencies where victory requires only a plurality (first past the post). Demands for a more level playing field gave rise in 2007 to a broad-based civil society movement, the Coalition for Free and Fair Elections, known as Bersih (Clean), that has held four mass street rallies drawing tens of thousands of participants: in November 2007; July 2011; April 2012 and August 2012. The first three were broken up by police with hundreds of arrests. In the third, violence on the part of a few participants led to harsh police counter-actions and allegations of brutality. Former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, now retired but leading UMNO's ultra-conservatives from the sidelines, has been warning Malaysians to expect more violence in the streets if the opposition loses. The big issues are the economy, corruption and political reform. Bread-and-butter topics matter most to the electorate, and Barisan's vast resources enable it to dole out economic favours to strategic constituencies in the lead-up to the election. The opposition is getting plenty of mileage out of corruption scandals involving top UMNO officials, although UMNO is fighting back with legal challenges and defamation suits. Political reform is seen by both sides as a political winner. Prime Minister Najib has rolled back or reworked some of the draconian legislation – most notably the colonial-era Internal Security Act (ISA) – that Mahathir used to curb dissent during his 22 years in power, but the opposition denounces it as too little, too late. Two huge issues are largely off the official agendas of both coalitions but dominate them in many ways. One is the preferred treatment for Malays in virtually all spheres of public life and whether opening political space and promoting social justice would diminish that status. The ultra-conservatives within UMNO are determined to protect Malay rights at all costs. The other is the question of Islamic law and religious tolerance. Under Mahathir, Malaysia embarked on a program of Islamisation of the government and bureaucracy, culminating in his declaration of an Islamic state in 2001. PAS, once known for a hardline Islamist agenda, is now led by pragmatists who are willing to put contentious issues like Islamic criminal justice on hold, at least temporarily, in the interests of trying to defeat Barisan. But neither side is above trying to scare non-Malay communities, particularly the Chinese, by predicting greater intolerance if the other wins. Within the opposition coalition, relations between PAS and the Chinese-dominated DAP remain fragile. Both sides are furiously making calculations about tactics to win seats, tailoring their message to the communities concerned. The two eastern states of Sabah and Sarawak could be kingmakers, because they control 25 per cent of the available seats. Ultimately the question Malaysians will have to answer on election day is which of the two choices will be better able to accommodate political change, while protecting minorities against the hardline forces that more openness can produce. Read at: http://www.crisisgroup.org/en/regions/asia/south-east-asia/malaysia/235-malaysias-coming-election-beyond-communalism.aspx |
| Traditional Medicine Act 2012: Has the government lost its marbles? Posted: 01 Oct 2012 11:49 AM PDT 
What does the tabling of this Act reveal about our government? First of all, it shows that they have extremely poor planning capacities — could they not have formulated a less ambitious and less intrusive piece of legislation. Another feature this Act reveals is the over-riding desire to CONTROL. Jeyakumar Devaraj, The Malaysian Insider Sigmund Freud in his heyday would put his patients on the couch and invite them to relax and recount their dreams. This technique was, in Freud's hands, a window into their subconsciousness — a peek into the passions and unconscious motives that determined these patients' actions. We do not have such access to the dreams — or should it be nightmares? — of our venerable BN leaders. But we have an equally useful window to peek into at their collective subconsciousness — the strange laws that they sometimes bring to Parliament! On September 24, we in Parliament witnessed the tabling of a law to regulate traditional medical practitioners. There is nothing wrong with the intention to keep track of and provide some regulation to traditional medical practitioners. But the law being proposed makes a quantum leap from a regime of almost no supervision to one where there is excessive supervision! Section 3 of the new Act defines traditional medicine as any "form of health related practice designed to prevent, treat or manage illness or preserve the mental and physical well-being of an individual". The Act then goes on to say that all those practising traditional medicine have to be registered under the Council being set up under this Act. This Council has the power to register, provisionally register (section 22), prescribe training or apprenticeship requirements (section 5e) and issue practising certificates (section 5g). What takes the cake is section 25 that states that any person who practises any form of traditional medicine without first obtaining a practising certificate from the Council "commits an offence liable to a fine of not more than RM30,000 and/or imprisonment for up to two years"! I managed to intervene when the Umno member for Ledang was extolling the benefits of this Act and commending the government for its far-sightedness. Don't you think, I asked him, that this Act puts a terribly onerous burden on the director-general of Health, who is designated as the chairman of the Council that gives out practising certificates to the traditional practitioners? If he gives a particular traditional practitioner a practising certificate, it gives the impression that the Ministry of Health recognises and endorses that modality of treatment. If, on the other hand, the director-general turns down the request for a licence to practise, that practitioner cannot practise legally and is open to all sorts of penalties — surely he will be unhappy with the director-general. Isn't this a terrible burden to place upon a civil servant, I asked. The Honourable Member for Ledang seemed a little taken aback. I think the minister will answer that, he responded. Then, seeing the smiles on our side of the chamber, he went on to say defensively that we have to make a start somewhere and that the smaller issues can be sorted out as we go. But that is the issue isn't it — ideally, we should start at the beginning. We should first start monitoring and then registering the traditional practitioners in a non-compulsive manner, and only later certify those modalities that the ministry is confident about endorsing. Here we are plunging into the deep end by seeking to regulate all traditional medicine modalities from the word go! I intervened again when Tian Chua was speaking — sometimes it is easier to do so than to get the Speaker to recognise one's intention to speak. Wouldn't it be better, I asked, for the ministry to make registration voluntary at this stage. Some of those registered, who the Council is confident about, can be officially certified. The practitioner could then display the ministry certification in his place of practice. And the government could tell the people that they should be careful when the traditional practitioner does not display a Health Ministry certification. Then, looking directly at the health minister, I said don't bite off more than you can chew. The ministry does not have the expertise to evaluate the numerous different branches of traditional practice that can be found in our multiracial society. Why don't you take things step by step instead of taking on so much upon yourself? Our health minister has extremely good PR — he will listen, seemingly intently and then will nod and write something on his notepad. That's what he did again on September 24. My experience is that nothing much results after all the intensive listening and note-taking. Read more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/sideviews/article/traditional-medicine-act-2012-has-the-government-lost-its-marbles-jeyakumar-devaraj/ |
| Don’t be complacent, Lim warns Pakatan Posted: 01 Oct 2012 01:46 AM PDT 
The chief minister says he will ask all Pakatan parties to submit reports on preparations for the general election. Athi Shankar, FMT Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has cautioned Pakatan Rakyat to view seriously Umno's boast of 3-3-3-1 winning formula for Barisan Nasional to recapture Penang. Lim, the DAP secretary-general, is concerned that Umno confidence could be boosted by complacency among Pakatan Rakyat leaders and members. Observers have speculated that Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak would call for general election next year. But Lim, the state Pakatan chairman, is not taking things for granted. He will ask all Pakatan parties – DAP, PKR and PAS – to submit their respective full report soon on their election preparation. "Umno may be correct as Penang Pakatan's machinery is not in full election mode. Pakatan must view Umno's confidence seriously," Lim said in a statement here today. Yesterday, Umno vice-president and Defence Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi expressed confidence on the 3-3-3-1 winning formula. in which Umno would win three seats more while retaining its current 11 state seats in Penang. MCA and Gerakan will win three seats each while MIC will win one seat to bring BN's total to 21, enough to knock Pakatan off its perch and recapture the state government by a one-seat majority in the 40-seat State Legislative Assembly. Lim said Umno's confidence could arise because the Election Commission (EC) is its obedient tool and it also controls the mainstream media to spread lies against Pakatan. He said the manipulation of EC to serve BN's political interests was well-recorded, with top EC officials being exposed as Umno members. He also took the mainstream media to task for carrying out sustained personal attacks against Pakatan leaders based on racism, and outright lies of corruption and sexual misconduct. "Even my own family members including my under-aged son have not been spared from such vicious lies," said Lim, the Bagan MP and Air Putih assemblyman. He said Umno is talking about regaining ground among Chinese, Indian and Malay voters because there is now a blackout of Pakatan leaders in all the mainstream media. For instance, he said some newspapers have refused to publish details of his house tenancy agreement when he revealed it recently in the interests of transparency. He also said the newspapers did not publish Pakatan's requests to BN leaders to reveal their tenancy or purchases of luxury homes. "The blackout will be total come election time," Lim said. |
| "Oops, My Bad," says Chegubard on 1Malaysia exercise book article Posted: 30 Sep 2012 05:47 PM PDT 
(Malaysian Digest) - Parti Keadilan Rakyat's Rembau division chief Badrul Hisham Shahrin has admitted that he made a mistake in lambasting Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak over the alleged distribution of 1Malaysia school exercise books bearing the PM's image on its cover. Badrul Hisham, better known as Chegubard, yesterday issued a statement on his blog (chegubard.blogspot.com) explaining his error. He said he has since withdrawn the comments he made concerning an article published in the Keadilan Daily website on Sept 24, in which it was claimed that the '1Malaysia exercise books' were being distributed in schools.
In his blog, Chegubard said he took full responsibility for the comment. He said the statement was made in his own personal capacity, and was not representative if any party or organization he is involved with.
"As a people's activist, I have always been taught to stand up for the truth. But when you've realize that you have committed a wrong, don't be afraid to admit you're wrong and assume responsibility," he said.
The apology, he said, was made was after he had discovered the facts behind the existence of the exercise book via a report made by Malaysian Digest on Friday. Malaysian Digest's report had clarified that the exercise book was part of an independent art project.
"After realizing the truth, I withdraw the statement I previously made for the news portal (Keadilan Daily). I confess to the mistakes I've made as a people's activist and I value the creative effort the artists have made for the art project," he wrote.
Referring to the Keadilan Daily report, Chegubard said he had received a call from a reporter who sought his comments regarding school exercise books with Najib's face on the cover, the images of which had gone viral especially on Facebook.
The Keadilan Daily report had claimed that the exercise books were being widely distributed in schools.
In the article, which was subsequently taken down from the Keadilan Daily website on Sept 25, Chegubard had compared Barisan Nasional and Umno's move to that of former Egyptian prime minister Hosni Mubarak, whom he claimed had circulated his pictures across Egypt before he was overthrown by his people.
Chegubard was further quoted as saying that Umno BN's effort would prove fruitless as school students are not old enough to vote in the general election.
Apart from Chegubard, Keadilan Daily had also highlighted remarks from PKR central leadership committee member Fariz Musa, who had claimed that Najib's attempt in manipulating school and students showed how desperate the BN regime was.
In an interview with Malaysian Digest, the creators of the exercise book had stepped forward to explain their side of the story.
June Low, 27, and her partner, graphic artist Adila Abdul Malik, 25, were infuriated when they learnt that the exercise book, meant for an art event, had been spun into political propaganda.
The 'Art for Grabs' event was held from Sept 22 to Sept 23 at the Annex Gallery at Central Market, where Low and Adila had set up a booth called 'Gerai 1Malaysia' and displayed a range of comedic art merchandise to suit the theme.
The theme of the event was 'Janji Ditutupi', a play of words on the government's recent Merdeka Day theme, Janji Ditepati.
Low has demanded an apology for the article and retraction from Keadilan Daily.
Low has also asked Keadilan Daily to apologize not only to them, but also to the public for its misleading report, which she had labelled as "irresponsible journalism". |
| PKR sees CAT as ‘storm in a teacup’ Posted: 30 Sep 2012 05:43 PM PDT 
Penang PKR information chief says the affair won't affect Pakatan's preparations for election. Hawkeye, FMT GEORGE TOWN: Penang PKR has shrugged off the exposure of its chairman Mansor Othman criticising Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, saying it would not affect Pakatan Rakyat's preparation for the 13th general election. "It's a storm in a teacup," said Penang PKR communications bureau head Sim Tze Tzin in reference to a leaked recording of Mansor allegedly describing Lim as arrogant. He said both his party and Lim's DAP regarded the leakage as a weak attempt to create a rift within Pakatan. However, a local Gerakan leader sees Sim's remarks as an attempt to cover up Lim's unpopularity. Mohan Apparoo, who leads Gerakan's Batu Kawan division, said Lim had been criticised as arrogant even by local DAP grassroots leaders. "To enliven this further," he added, "I was told that some of the DAP leaders on the (Penang) mainland will now be supporting Barisan Nasional because they are fed up with Lim's attitude." The media now refers to the controversy as CAT, abbreviating "cocky, arrogant and tokong" —words that Mansor apparently used to describe Lim during a meeting he had with some local PKR members. Details of the private meeting, including an audio recording, were posted in the "Gelagat Anwar" blog in June. Last Monday, TV3 aired the recording at prime time. Penang PKR has since announced that it was investigating the affair. Sim declined to say whether the culprit behind the leak had been identified or whether PKR would act against him or her, but he remarked that it "would be naive" to speculate that Mansor's political future was doomed as a result of it. "The remarks were made in a coffeeshop setting," he said. "The conversation was informal and there was loose talk. Some quirky remarks were made. They cannot be taken to heart." |
| ‘Friendship’ turned nightmare for Musa Posted: 30 Sep 2012 05:37 PM PDT 
Chief Minister Musa Aman's bogeyman case has become a nightmare for his officers in the CM's office. (FMT) - KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Chief Minister's office is keenly watching an ongoing court case involving a businessman whom Chief Minister Musa Aman has previously claimed he did not know. The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) case against one Michael Chia Tien Foh has got Musa's office sufficiently hot and bothered that it has even "advised" the mainstream media to avoid mention of the case, sources said. Most have taken the advice to heart and there is little news in the mainstream media that the MACC case against the businessman was winding its way through the courts until one newspaper unexpectedly published a court decision that Musa's bogeyman must face trial. Musa has been haunted by the controversial businessman since 2008 when the latter was arrested in Hong Kong as he was about to exit the country with a bag stuffed with cash amounting to some S$16 million. In the subsequent investigations, Chia reportedly told the Hong Kong's Independent Commission on Anti-Corruption (ICAC) that the money was not his and actually belonged to Musa. Musa, who also heads Umno in resource-rich Sabah, is still the subject of ongoing concurrent investigations in Malaysia, Hong Kong, Singapore and Switzerland involving a Swiss UBS bank account under his name that allegedly has $100 million. The Swiss prosecutor has stated that the government would freeze the account if the Malaysian government requested they do so. Recently, Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak revealed that investigation reports on the Musa's cases were with the Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail. But the opposition has grabbed hold of the scandal and refuses to let go, alleging that the trail of alleged illegal dealings leads right to Najib's office. Chia ordered to enter defence PKR vice-president, Tian Chua, has claimed that leaked MACC investigation papers disclosed that Musa told investigators that the $100 million under his name in the UBS account was not his but Umno's and as such directly implicates Najib. Now that the controversial Sabah businessman has been ordered to enter his defence on a charge of attempting to cheat another local businessman over the right to log and extract commercial timber at the Kalabakan Forest Reserve, Musa is furtively watching the case. On Aug 24, Sandakan High Court judge Supang Lian set aside the acquittal of Chia by the Sessions Court and set Sept 12 for the mention of Chia's case at the Sessions Court. Supang, in allowing the prosecution's appeal against Chia on Aug 24, however, dismissed the prosecution's appeal against the acquittal of another businessman Lo Man Heng jointly charged with Chia, ruling that the link between Lo and the offence had not been established. Both Chia and Lo, who were charged under Section 420 of Penal Code, had been acquitted by the Sessions Court on Sept 23 last year without their defence being called. READ MORE HERE |
| Secularism is the way to go Posted: 30 Sep 2012 05:17 PM PDT
Yes, as Anwar said, and as I have also been saying for many years, Malaysia can't make it just with electoral reforms. We need political and government reforms as well. And this is why I joined LibDem in the UK. While the others were talking merely about electoral reforms, LibDem was talking about political and government reforms. NO HOLDS BARRED Raja Petra Kamarudin Anwar touts Turkey as model for economic, political reforms (The Malaysian Insider) - Like Turkey, Malaysia can regain its economic lustre within a short period only through comprehensive political and government reform, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said today in debating Budget 2013. The opposition leader blamed Malaysia's blunted competitive edge on the Barisan Nasional (BN) government's failure to redress the lopsided economic policies awarded to "cronies and rich parties with interests", leading to a protracted Budget deficit for the last 15 years. "Turkey's success under Reccip Tayeb Erdogan, for example, gives us confidence that economic policy and governance that is based on social justice, transparency, trust and recognising the potential talent of its people can boost the country's economic prosperity within a short period." "That is why Pakatan Rakyat has from early on stressed that change and economic improvements cannot happen without political and government reform," he said in his Budget speech. Using Turkey as an example, the former finance minister said in the 10 years since Erdogan became its prime minister, the latter had managed to transform the secular Muslim country's economy that had contracted in 2002 to become a "new economic miracle". Turkey's gross domestic product (GDP) had tripled in nine years, he said, from US$233 billion (RM722 billion) in 2002 to US$773 billion last year. Its projected economic growth for this year is estimated to be more than 11 per cent, based on the first-quarter figures, which Anwar said topped China's and every other developed country worldwide. He pointed out too that Turkey's economy had grown an average of between seven and nine per cent a year during Erdogan's administration and, more notably, the country would have offset its €1 billion (RM4 billion) sovereign debt to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) by next April, the shortest-ever repayment considering the amount owed. The Permatang Pauh MP said Malaysia was now facing the risk of being left further behind by other Asian countries that used to lag behind it in the 1970s and 1980s, like South Korea, which had succeeded in forging ahead with measures to combat corruption and level the economic playing field to raise the competitive edge for business entrepreneurs. But he believed that Malaysia, which had a higher economic potential due to its oil reserves, still stood a strong chance of surging ahead by overhauling the existing economic structure. "Barisan Nasional's failure to end the Budget deficit for 15 consecutive years while Malaysia has oil reserves shows there is a structural economic problem that it has neglected and allowed to spread like a cancerous tumour, for resolving the economic imbalance means touching cronies and the rich parties with interests," he said. ******************************************** Turkey's political system is based on a separation of powers. Executive power is exercised by the Council of Ministers while legislative power is vested in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey. The judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature. Its current constitution was adopted on 7th November 1982 after the Turkish constitutional referendum. The function of head of state is performed by the president who is elected every five years on the principle of universal suffrage according to the current constitution. The president does not have to be a member of parliament but he/she must be over 40 years old and hold a bachelor's degree. Executive power rests with the president, the prime minister and the Council of Ministers. The ministers do not have to be members of Parliament. The prime minister is appointed by the President and approved through a vote of confidence in the Parliament. Legislative power is invested in the 550-seat Grand National Assembly of Turkey representing 81 provinces. The members are elected for a four-year term by mitigated proportional representation with an election threshold of 10%. To be represented in Parliament, a party must win at least 10% of the national vote in a national parliamentary election. Independent candidates may run, and to be elected, they must only win 10% of the vote in the province from which they are running. Turkey has a legal system that has been wholly integrated with the continental European system. For example the Turkish civil law system has been modified by incorporating elements of the Swiss Civil Code, the Code of Obligations and the German Commercial Code. The administrative law bears similarities with the French Counterpart and the penal code with the Italian Counterpart. ******************************************** When Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim talks like this I will certainly support what he says. These are the type of things I like him to say. This not only gives Anwar a more statesmanlike image but what he says is in line with my own thoughts. And, just like most Pakatan Rakyat supporters, I will agree with someone who says things that I agree with and will whack all those who say things that I do not agree with. In fact, that is not just the Pakatan Rakyat way but also the Malaysian way -- you have the right to say anything as long as I agree with what you say. Above is a bit of background into the Turkish system. Turkey used to be called 'The Sick Man of Europe'. Today it can actually be called one of the most progressive Muslim countries in the world. Even Anwar would agree with this. However, Islamists and fundamentalist Muslims would disagree with this prognosis. They would consider Turkey a bad example of what a Muslim country should be like. For that matter, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the man whom the west calls 'The Father of Modern Turkey', would be called an apostate and a traitor to Islam by the fundamentalist. I once prayed in the Rusila mosque in Terengganu and the PAS President, Tok Guru Abdul Hadi Awang, actually whacked Mustafa Kemal Atatürk to kingdom come. Hence I know for a fact that the PAS President (and most fundamentalist Muslims) does not regard Mustafa Kemal Atatürk highly. He would consider Mustafa Kemal Atatürk as someone whose head should be separated from his neck. In Turkey, everyone is entitled to freedom of worship, religion, conscience and belief. In other words, apostasy does not exist in Turkey. That can never be accepted in a 'proper' Muslim country. On that one score alone Turkey can never be accepted as a Muslim country. Hence, how can we classify Turkey as the perfect example of a Muslim country (at least be western interpretations) when by Eastern interpretations it cannot qualify as a Muslim country? Anwar is singing Turkey's praises and is telling us that if Malaysia can be like Turkey then Malaysia's economy will become just like Turkey's. And in singing Turkey's praises he lists down Turkey's virtues. I can buy that. I agree that if Malaysia became like Turkey then we can expect to see our economy improve, just like Turkey. But to become like Turkey we will need, as Anwar said, political and government reforms -- to quote what Anwar said. Again, I can buy that. In fact, Anwar took the words right out of my mouth. And this is what I have been saying for many years. And this is what I said when Anwar and I met up in London two years ago. And this is what I said when we launched the Malaysian Civil Liberties Movement (MCLM). And this is also what I said in my TV3 interview in April 2011 and my NST interview on 1st January 2012. Yes, as Anwar said, and as I have also been saying for many years, Malaysia can't make it just with electoral reforms. We need political and government reforms as well. And this is why I joined LibDem in the UK. While the others were talking merely about electoral reforms, LibDem was talking about political and government reforms. So what do I now say? Do I say 'I told you so'? Do I say 'now Anwar Ibrahim is singing the same song as I have been singing for so long'? Or do I say 'how far is Pakatan Rakyat prepared to go to see political and government reforms'? So we want to become just like Turkey -- a successful country, in particular in terms of governance and the economy. But are we prepared to do things just like Turkey? Maybe I should pose this question another way: will the Islamists and fundamentalists agree to Malaysia becoming like Turkey? In short: we cannot be slightly pregnant. Either we are or we are not. That is the bottom line. And does Anwar realise that to become just like Turkey we need a lot of reforms -- not just cosmetic changes but a major structural change? That, I fear, is what most Malaysians are not ready to accept. And that is why I have been screaming at both Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat. They talk about setting up home but they shy away from marriage. So are you saying we need to live in sin? Either we go all the way or we are neither here nor there. And this is what we plan for Malaysia -- a lot of cosmetics to give the impression of external beauty but rotten to the core internally? And don't try to tell me that once we kick out Barisan Nasional all this is going to change. The problem is not Umno. The problem is the Muslims. The Muslims are not prepared to embrace secularism in favour of Islam, like what the Turks have done. That is the core issue here. Hence no change of government is going to help if Muslims resist a change of mindset. |
| Portal accused of misusing art Posted: 30 Sep 2012 03:46 PM PDT 
(The Star) - The creators of an art project that featured merchandise with designs offering a tongue-in-cheek look at Malaysia do not find it funny that their work has been exploited by a news portal for political mileage. They accused Keadilan Daily of misleading the people and want the website to issue a public apology to the merchandise creators as well as to the public. The website had, on Sept 24, published an article in which it alleged a school exercise book with the caricature of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak was being distributed in schools. The article, quoting Rembau PKR chief Badrul Hisham Shaharin better known as Chegubard criticised the move and likened it to former Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak displaying his image before his downfall. The article has since been removed from the site. Refuting claims in the article, June Low, 27, said she and graphic artist Adila Abdul Malik, 25, had come up with the idea of a Malaysia-themed artwork and merchandise for the Art for Grabs event at the Annexe Gallery in Central Market on Sept 22. The theme of the event was Janji Ditutupi, a play on the Government's Merdeka Day theme Janji Ditepati. "We displayed a range of comedic art merchandise. "Items included a school exercise book, with the cover bearing a likeness to the PM and the 1Malaysia logo," she told news portal Malaysian Digest yesterday. Low said their intention was to amuse and share a laugh with others and those who visited the event were aware of the attempt at light-hearted humour in the current affairs of Malaysia. Low said she was shocked that a photo of the book cover on her Twitter account was used by Keadilan Daily in an article. She said: "To twist the truth to this extent without fact-checking is disgusting. "It is simply irresponsible journalism." Keadilan Daily could not be contacted for comment. |
| Ho Chi Minh Posted: 30 Sep 2012 03:24 PM PDT 
By Syed Akbar Ali This is a short story. It has significance to what is going on in our country. Ho Chi Minh was the great Vietnamese freedom fighter, liberator, statesman and hero of the oppressed peoples. Ho Chi Minh died in 1969, when I was nine years old. Also known as 'Uncle Ho', his birth name was Nguyen Sinh Cung. Ho Chi Minh who was of Chinese ancestry translates to 'He Who Enlightens'. At that time the US was bombing Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia back to the Stone Age. It was called the Vietnam War. I clearly remember watching the 'Dunia Di Sana Sini' program on Television Malaysia (no RTM yet at that time) which would show black and white footage of American GIs using flamethrowers to burn attap huts belonging to Vietnamese villagers. Till today I cannot figure out how attap huts in Vietnam were a threat to the security and vital interests of the 'Yewnited States of Americky' That is one evil and adulterous generation (Matthew 14:6-8) which is still dancing around the fire in the Yewnited States. At that time the Americans successfully brainwashed all of us into believing that the Vietnamese were bad people led by an ugly monster called Ho Chi Minh. So like the simple, Third World, Mat Salleh wannabe bumpkins that we were (and many many still are) we all chorused the American line that our own neighbors were monsters. The French colonials started taking control of Vietnam in the 1860s. By 1883 the entire country was a full fledged French colony. Under French colonial rule Vietnamese were prohibited from travelling outside their districts without identity papers. Freedom of expression and organisation were restricted. Land was alienated to French companies and the number of landless peasants grew. So people like Ho Chi Minh started fighting back. Fastforward (because this is a short story), Ho Chi Minh kicked the butt of the French in Dien Bien Phu in 1952 and sent them home in crates. Way before that on 2 September 1945, half a million Vietnamese people gathered in Hanoi to hear Ho Chi Minh read the Vietnamese Declaration of Independence. The Vietnamese had thrown off the foreign invader. One of the first things that Ho Chi Minh did as the leader of a free and independent Vietnam was to REPUDIATE ALL TREATIES AND AGREEMENTS which had been entered into by Vietnam under French Colonial Rule. Not only Ho Chi Minh but in many newly independent countries (usually non British Commonwealth) an independent people refused to recognize treaties and agreements which the colonials had forced them to sign at the point of a gun or without the consent of the people. So whatever the French colonial power had signed on behalf of Vietnam was not recognized by the Vietnamese people. Why? Apa pasal? Because those treaties were NOT signed by a free and independent people. I wanted to Blog about this because just a few days ago I was having breakfast with some friends who started quoting the terms of the Pangkor Treaty (! ! !) to support their side of the argument about the Perak issues. At the time of our Independence, we should have taken a leaf out of Ho's book (it is really not too late) and repudiated all the treaties and agreements which were signed under the British. For example, Stamford Raffles found disgruntled seafarers from the Riau Islands, played politics with the Dutch and got "a" Sultan to rent space on Temasek Island to the British East India Company (NOT TO THE BRITISH SOVEREIGN GOVERNMENT OK). Raffles did not work for the British Government but he worked for the British East India Company, a company listed on the London Stock Exchange. Stamford Raffles was just like an earlier version of a Somali pirate. And at the time of our "Independence" in 1957, all this had happened just over 100 years before. (Much less time than Nga and Ngeh's 999 year leasehold titles granted recently in Perak). Then later this slick little piece of piracy by Raffles was 'formalised' by the British Sovereign through the Colonial Office. And many people think that Stamford Raffles braved the seas, sailed out here from England and claimed an uncivilized, uninhabited island for the British Government. Wrong. First of all Raffles was already chilling his heels in Penang. Long before he "founded" Singapore in 1819, Raffles was assistant secretary at the British East India company's "administration" in Penang in 1805. Then in 1818 Raffles became "lieutenant governor of Bencoolen" fighting the Dutch who were trying to grab the whole of South East Asia. Before that Raffles was appointed "governor general" for the British India Company in Java (1811-16). In 1818 Raffles sailed hurriedly from Bencoolen to India, and convinced Lord Hastings of the need for the British to open a port on Temasek Island. He had already identified Temasek Island. (It was NOT some unknown, uninhabited, alien island that fell out of the Matrix movie). But more importantly why did Raffles suddenly panic in 1818? He was the East India Company's "secretary" in Penang in 1805, made it to Company "governor" in Java in 1811, became Company "lieutenant governor" for Bencoolen in 1816-1818. Why panic in 1818 to open another port? READ MORE HERE |
| BN will wrest back Selangor with 32 seats, says Noh Omar Posted: 30 Sep 2012 03:19 PM PDT 
Normy Nozwir, The Malaysian Insider Selangor Umno deputy chief Datuk Seri Noh Omar is confident that Barisan Nasional (BN) will be able take back Malaysia's richest state at the next national polls by nabbing 32 of the 56 seats in the state legislative assembly. The state, which had been held by BN since Malaysia's founding, had slipped out of its grasp in the last general election four years ago to the PKR-DAP-PAS alliance, leaving the powerful federal coalition with only 20 state seats. "I don't want to get ahead of fate, but God willing I am confident BN will be able to win back Selangor, at least 32 seats," Umno veteran Noh told The Malaysian Insider in a recent interview, disclosing for the first time the number of seats it believes it can gain. The 13-member BN coalition only needs nine more seats to gain a simple majority with 29 seats. But the Tanjung Karang MP remained tight-lipped on BN's strategy in wresting back the highly-developed west coast state. The agriculture minister only said that Selangor residents were now starting to see that the PKR-DAP-PAS partnership that had since formed a fledgling bloc now known as Pakatan Rakyat (PR) pact in the wake of their landslide wins in Election 2008 was unfit to govern. In the 12th general election, the three federal opposition parties had swept a total of 36 seats, with PKR taking the lion's share of 15 seats; and the DAP and PAS taking 13 and eight respectively. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who is also Umno president, has repeatedly vowed to win back Selangor for his BN coalition by all means necessary. Selangor is said to be a state with hot seats because of its large number of newly-registered voters, as well as being the country's wealthiest state. Noh dismissed talk of him being appointed as Selangor mentri besar despite rumours that he would be given the state's highest position if BN wins. "I don't want to get ahead of fate, I am still a member of Parliament for Tanjung Karang, but it all depends on the leadership. "Most importantly, we move the party machinery to win this state, the question of who (will be) mentri besar is not important," he said. Noh has been widely speculated to be gunning for the Selangor mentri besar's job He also kept his lips sealed on the potential candidates for the top state government post, saying BN's focus now was on winning back the state. "In 2008, they (Pakatan) also didn't know who their candidate for mentri besar was, so it's better for BN to focus on winning back Selangor," he said. Selangor's former Mentri Besar Dr Mohammad Khir Toyo has rejected the possibility of contesting in the coming elections after the courts found him guilty recently in a breach of trust case. The trained dentist is currently appealing against his conviction. |
| Pakatan pledges to focus on household income not equity targets Posted: 30 Sep 2012 03:17 PM PDT 
Lisa J. Ariffin, The Malaysian Insider The national economic plan should shift from only meeting equity targets and growth to ensuring a minimum household income of RM4,000 a month by the end of a first-term Pakatan Rakyat (PR) administration, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said today. He also said economic growth should be generated by small and medium-sized businesses and not just by "one or two big bosses." Speaking in Parliament, the opposition leader pitched his PR's Budget 2013 proposal to focus on disposal income instead of chasing equity and growth targets. "The statement has been distorted until some end up making assumptions that PR had promised to pay compensation to the people until their minimum household income reaches the target of RM4,000 a month," Anwar said. "The approach should instead emphasise sustained economic development and ensure there is increase in the people's disposable income," he said when debating the government's Budget 2013 proposals. Anwar stressed family household income levels were important key economic targets to ensure nobody was left out of mainstream development and the nation's prosperity. "The welfare and well-being of those in the community who require help and protection so as to not be marginalised is the government's responsibility through an integrated social safety system," he said. "The economic prosperity of the majority with continuous revenue levels ensures sustainable growth when they continue to invest in the country's economy," he added. Anwar also said economic growth must be generated by small and medium-sized entrepreneurs "who form the largest business class in the economy", and not only "one or two big bosses or the person who monopolises most economic activities". "The government's role in the economy should be restricted to generating growth in new areas and to accelerate economic activities strategically, and not get involved in every type of economic activity and competing with small businesses and the entrepreneurs," he said. Last week, Anwar had promised to raise the disposable income of Malaysians through measures such as cheaper car prices, abolishment of tolls and waiver of student loans. He said a PR government would be able to pay for the proposed measures not through raising taxes but by plugging leakages that arise as a result of inefficiencies and corruption. |
| Pembangkang fobia keupayaan RAPID jana ekonomi Posted: 30 Sep 2012 03:04 PM PDT 
Manja Ismail, Berita Harian Sama ada Bajet 2013 yang dibentangkan oleh Datuk Seri Najib Razak kelmarin berupa umpan pilihan raya seperti didakwa pembangkang atau sebaliknya, reaksi positif terutama daripada pelbagai pertubuhan yang mewakili rakyat biasa, menunjukkan kerajaan mengambil kira pandangan mereka ketika merangkanya. Walaupun banyak memberi peruntukan besar kepada golongan yang memerlukan, kerajaan tetap memberi penekanan kepada langkah mengukuhkan ekonomi dengan memastikan sasaran pendapatan tahunan negara tercapai. Memang mustahil untuk melihat pembangkang menerima secara ikhlas apa pun yang dilakukan kerajaan, apa lagi ketika pilihan raya umum akan diadakan bila-bila masa sekarang. Malah, sejak kebelakangan ini pembangkang konsisten menentang usaha kerajaan meningkatkan ekonomi negara dan memakmurkan rakyat. Perhimpunan membantah projek Pembangunan Bersepadu Penapisan Minyak dan Petrokimia (RAPID) di Pengerang pagi semalam contoh terbaru usaha berterusan menggagalkan usaha menjana ekonomi dalam jangka panjang. Alih perhatian rakyat Bantahan itu juga dilihat cubaan mengalihkan perhatian rakyat daripada memperkatakan soal belanjawan kepada isu lain yang sudah disusun mereka sebagai salah satu bahan kempen menjelang pilihan raya umum akan datang. Sama seperti bantahan terhadap projek pemprosesan nadir bumi Lynas di Gebeng, Kuantan dan perlombongan emas di Bukit Koman, Raub, pembangkang dengan bertopengkan kumpulan pejuang alam sekitar, akan mengelirukan rakyat dan memainkan sentimen penduduk setempat tanpa menggunakan kajian dan fakta. RAPID yang bernilai kira-kira RM60 bilion membabitkan pembinaan 20 kilang penapisan di kawasan seluas 2,428 hektar, adalah sebahagian program pembangunan di bawah Pelan Transformasi Ekonomi (ETP) yang terbesar dan termoden di rantau ini. Projek yang dijangka mampu memproses 300,000 tong sehari itu, akan membantu meningkatkan kapasiti penapisan gas, bahan api dan diesel negara. Keluasannya mengatasi gabungan Kompleks Petrokimia Bersepadu Kerteh dan Gebeng di Kuantan, manakala kemampuan penapisannya melebihi gabungan kapasiti kilang penapis sedia ada Petronas di Melaka dan Kerteh. Bayangkan manfaatnya kepada ekonomi terutama dalam menghasilkan rangkaian industri dan perniagaan sampingan apabila beroperasi 2016 nanti. Bagi kerja berkemahiran tinggi saja, ia menawarkan 4,000 peluang pekerjaan. Barangkali inilah yang ditakuti pembangkang. Bagi mereka, apa saja projek yang membuktikan kerajaan terus mengotakan janjinya untuk memakmurkan rakyat dan negara, mesti ditentang habis-habisan. Bantahan bertemakan "Himpunan Hijau Lestari Selamatkan Pengerang" semalam, walaupun dianjurkan Himpunan Hijau (NGO yang menganjurkan bantahan Lynas dan Bukit Koman), turut menjadi medan pidato beberapa pemimpin DAP, PKR dan PAS. Antaranya ialah Pengerusi DAP Johor, Dr Boo Cheng Hau; Ketua PKR Johor, Datuk Dr Chua Jui Meng; Suruhanjaya PAS negeri, Mahfodz Mohamed dan Naib Presiden PAS, Salahuddin Ayub. Turut hadir ialah ahli jawatankuasa bertindak Bersih, Wong Chin Huat; Pengerusi Himpunan Bukit Koman, Wong Kim Hoong; dan ahli jawatankuasa Himpunan Hijau Kuantan, Clement Gan. Bantahan bermotifkan politik Melihat senarai nama di atas, tidak syak lagi bantahan terhadap projek RAPID memang semata-mata bermotifkan politik yang bertopengkan alam sekitar dan kononnya mahu menjaga kepentingan dan masa depan rakyat kawasan itu. Anehnya, sebelum ini tiada seorang pun pemimpin pembangkang atau pejuang alam sekitar itu mengambil tahu kehidupan rakyat kawasan itu. Sebelum FELDA membuka tanah rancangan di daerah itu kira-kira 30 tahun lalu, kebanyakan penduduknya yang terdiri daripada petani dan nelayan, hidup di bawah paras kemiskinan. Memang setiap projek besar seperti RAPID menghadapi masalah dengan segelintir penduduk seperti pengambilan tanah, pampasan, pengalihan kubur serta beberapa pemindahan kemudahan awam lain seperti sekolah dan rumah ibadat. Bagaimanapun ini memang sudah ditangani oleh pihak yang berkepentingan seperti kerajaan negeri dan Petronas. Pihak berkuasa juga sudah memberi penjelasan dan mengadakan dialog dengan penduduk. Malah, projek yang membabitkan hanya 4,000 penduduk itu, sudah mendapat kelulusan Kesan Penilaian Alam Sekitar (EIA). Laporan EIA terperinci disediakan jururunding berdaftar dengan Jabatan Alam Sekitar bagi cadangan projek itu, diluluskan pada 27 Ogos lalu selepas ia memenuhi kehendak Seksyen 34A (2) Akta Kualiti Alam Sekeliling 1974. Kita melihat bantahan anjuran Himpunan Hijau di Pengerang tidak lebih daripada kempen pembangkang, dengan bantuan NGO yang menyokong mereka, untuk menghadapi pilihan raya umum akan datang. Isu memainkan peranan penting dalam mana-mana pilihan raya. Malangnya, pembangkang bukan saja ketandusan isu untuk menimbulkan kebencian rakyat kepada kerajaan, malah menghadapi banyak masalah dalaman yang menghakis kepercayaan rakyat. Bantahan projek RAPID adalah cubaan terbaru memesong perhatian rakyat daripada melihat kejayaan kerajaan dan menilai kelemahan pembangkang. |
| DAP tidak setuju PKR senaraikan nama dalam ‘kabinet bayangan’ Posted: 30 Sep 2012 02:59 PM PDT 
Md Izwan, The Malaysian Insider Tindakan menyenaraikan nama pemimpin PKR dalam "kabinet bayangan" menerima kritikan timbalan pengerusi DAP, Dr Tan Seng Giaw yang menyifatkan langkah tersebut sebagai khayalan kerana parlimen belum dibubarkan tetapi sudah meletak calon dalam kementerian tertentu. Tan dipetik dari Sinar Harian Online hari ini berkata tindakan itu sebagai langkah salah dan tidak sepatutnya dilakukan kerana fokus sebenar ialah kemenangan dalam Pilihan Raya Umum (PRU) ke-13. "Tetapi pilihan raya belum berlangsung sudah memilih calon bagi jawatan tertentu adalah khayalan semata-mata," kata Dr Tan. Dua hari lalu, akhbar tersebut mengeluarkan laporan seramai 20 pemimpin PKR akan dilantik di kabinet jika Pakatan Rakyat (PR) berjaya menakluk Putrajaya dalam PRU nanti. Dalam maklum balas kepada The Malaysian Insider, Dr Tan mengesahkan berkata perkara tersebut tidak pernah dibangkitkan dalam mesyuarat PR dan menegaskan keputusan muktamad hanya boleh dibuat selepas menang PRU. "Saya tidak tahu siapa yang meletakkan senarai tersebut. Ia tidak pernah dibincangkan dalam mesyuarat PR. Walaupun isu ini sering dibangkitkan, hanya selepas pilihan raya umum baru boleh disahkan siapa yang akan dilantik sebagai anggota kabinet. Terdapat pemimpin yang berkebolehan untuk membentuk kabinet," katanya. Menurut laporan Sinar lagi, ketua penerangan PKR Selangor, Shuhaimi Shafiei berkata sebahagian kecil pimpinan kanan dalam parti akan mengisi jawatan kabinet memandangkan perkara tersebut sudah menjadi tradisi dalam kepimpinan politik tanahair. "Secara tradisi pimpinan kanan iaitu peringkat presiden sehingga pengurusan parti merangkumi timbalan, lima naib presiden, setiausaha, bendahari, ketua penerangan, pengarah pilihan raya, pengarah strategik, pengarah komunikasi, ahli majlis pimpinan. "Sebahagiannya sudah tentu berada dalam senarai mereka yang biasanya akan berada dalam jemaah menteri," katanya pada majlis yang diadakan di Shah Alam Convention Centre, Sabtu lalu. Dr Tan juga mencabar PKR untuk memenangi PRU terlebih dahulu sebelum mengumumkan senarai wakil mereka dalam kabinet bagi mengelakkan sebarang perselisihan faham. "PKR mesti memenangi dahulu kerusi dalam kawasan barulah boleh menentukan siapa yang akan menyandang jawatan dalam kementerian,' tambah Tan lagi. Gesaan menamakan barisan "kabinet bayangan" menjadi modal yang sering digunakan oleh Barisan Nasional (BN) terutamanya dalam mempersoalkan kebolehan PR mengguruskan sesebuah kerajaan memandangkan mereka tidak berupaya menyelesaikan masalah tersebut. Setiausaha Barisan Nasional (BN) Selangor, Datuk Seri Ir Mohd Zin Mohamad baru-baru ini mencabar kepimpinan PKR dan rakan-rakan PR menamakan kabinet bayangan mereka sambil menuduh PR cuba melarikan diri daripada menjawab persoalan tersebut. ''Jangan asyik berselindung di bawah permainan politik retorik,'' kata ahli parlimen Sepang itu. |
| Are we being bribed? Posted: 30 Sep 2012 02:46 PM PDT 
Kee Thuan Chye I don't know about you but I got practically nothing from the 2013 Budget. I don't qualify for the BR1M payout of RM500 for households with a monthly income of not more than RM3,000. I also don't qualify for the 50% discount on passports for senior citizens. But that's all right. I don't want anything from the Budget. It comes from the people's money and should be spent wisely on developing the country. I should not expect to get something directly from it.
The way it looks, though, Prime Minister Najib Razak doesn't seem to think the same way. His 2013 Budget is a lot about giving money away to people. It seems this is to make them happy, and perhaps this feeling of happiness could translate into votes for his Barisan Nasional (BN) government at the upcoming general election.
What worries me is that Najib is spending money like there is no tomorrow. That seems the right way to put it because his Budget does not address the future. Maybe except for education, especially in boosting vocational training and encouraging small entrepreneurs.
There's hardly anything about enhancing the country's economic growth, spending prudently or reducing the national debt.
In fact, of the projected amount of RM252 billion to be spent, a whopping RM202 billion will be used for operating expenditure. Only one-fifth left is for development expenditure.
Najib is gung-ho about the global economy despite the uncertainties predicted by financial analysts. He said, "In 2013, based on the prospects of an improved global economy, the Malaysian economy is forecast to expand strongly between 4.5% and 5%."
Is that predicated on a DR1M?
Meanwhile, the reality, according to online news website Free Malaysia Today, is that this year the national debt has risen 10.1% to a new high of RM502.4 billion or 53.7% of the GDP. That is only 1.3% short of the 55% debt ceiling the country is allowed to reach.
And according to The Malaysian Insider, this debt figure "does not include hidden liability of RM117 billion (12 percent of GDP) in the form of guarantees issued against commercial loans to government agencies and GLCs (government-linked corporations)".
Is our fiscal future already in the pawnshop?
In the social media, people are calling Najib "an illusionist" for throwing so much money around when Malaysians are wondering where it is coming from. They're calling this Budget "the biggest bribe Budget of all time".
The main targets appear to be the low-income groups, youths and civil servants (who will be getting one-and-a-half month's bonus).
BR1M is back. It has even been extended to unmarried individuals aged above 21 who are earning not more than RM2,000 a month. These people will get RM250.
I don't understand the rationale for this. In fact, I think it's rather silly. Perhaps the minimum age is too low. A newly graduated employee who earns, say, between RM1,500 and RM2,000, which is about what a lot of fresh graduates get these days, would be entitled to the BR1M RM250 even if he or she doesn't need it.
And what if this person has lost both parents and is therefore a household of one? Does he or she claim the RM250 plus the BR1M RM500, which in principle he or she should also be entitled to?
Even more mind-boggling is the RM200 rebate for those aged between 21 and 30 earning not more than RM3,000 to buy smartphones. Why smartphones? It's a non-essential item. Besides, many may already own one.
Consider this: A 20-something who earns RM2,900 and has no dependents, therefore no commitments, would be flushed with cash and already own a smartphone. Why give him or her that aid?
As someone pointed out on Facebook, it may transpire that some of them will make a deal with the smartphone dealers and get the cash instead. "Just give me RM150, you keep the other RM50" or something like that.
We saw signs of such a tendency when the Government gave tertiary students book vouchers earlier this year only to see them put up for sale on the Internet. Not having learned from that experience, it is still giving out more book vouchers, worth RM250, through the new Budget.
Indeed, the range of goodies dished out to youths seems to show desperation on the part of BN to secure their goodwill since many of them will be voting at GE13. The Budget even offers a 20% discount to borrowers who pay back in full their National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) loans by the end of September next year.
This was, to be sure, taking a leaf from the Opposition's Buku Jingga. It just falls short of Pakatan Rakyat's proposal to do away with the loans totally and therefore giving free education to everyone. Nonetheless, the Government was not bashful about appropriating the basic theme.
That's not surprising. This is not the first time the Government has taken ideas from Pakatan and used them. Besides, with the general election coming up, any populist idea has to appear a great idea.
Skeptics, however, are not persuaded. Neither are those who are capable of seeing beyond the temporary gratification of the handouts they are given.
As one Netizen wrote on Facebook: "Ini semua secara 'pinjaman' saja (This is all just a 'loan'). Payback time will come after GE13. The people will have to pay back with interest if BN wins. Wait and see."
Indeed, when the Government has to give money out like this, something must have been wrong with its administration of the country. Has it not done the right things to improve the economy of a country blessed with a wealth of natural resources in order to ensure that its people enjoy a high per capita income arising out of a huge GDP?
Why are we at this point in our development still trying to become a high-income nation? Why is our average national wage still so low? According to CIMB, in 2010 it stood at only RM1,804.43.
I was recently reminded by a friend about 'Bersih, Cekap dan Amanah' (Clean, Efficient and Trustworthy), the tagline of former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad's administration. What happened to its promise? Did it turn out to be the opposite instead? And thereby led to leakage and wastage of public money and corruption in high places that sucked away our resources and rendered us poorer than we should be?
Ironically, then, the 2013 Budget shows us even more clearly the failure of the BN government over the decades in taking the country's economy to a higher level. Compared to Singapore, which has no natural resources, Malaysia is a laggard.
And yet, to make doubly sure that Malaysians got the message that his goodies were meant to secure their votes, Najib stressed: "With… support from the rakyat, God-willing, we will see six more budgets tabled by the BN government before Malaysia transforms into a nation with high-income status" (meaning in 2020).
He then proceeded to bash the Opposition.
It prompted someone to post in Facebook: "This is the first time in the history of Malaysia that a PM shamelessly tells us that we need to vote for him after he gives out the goodies. Tak malu ke? (Not embarrassed?) Does he think the Government coffers belong solely to BN?"
Yes, lest we forget, the money is not BN's. It is the public's money. Yours and mine.
Blogger Sakmongkol AK47 puts it aptly, "The Budget is about the PM asking for our money and telling us how he wants to use the money he is asking from us. It is not a gift from him, not ehsan or hadiah."
This connotes that we need not be grateful for getting the handouts because it's our own money. Nonetheless, we still need to ask: Is the PM doing the right thing with our money? Is he bribing us? And if he is, will we allow ourselves to be bribed?
These are questions we also need to answer. * Kee Thuan Chye is the author of the bestselling book 'No More Bullshit, Please, We're All Malaysians'. The views expressed here are the personal opinion of the writer. |
| Mansor still dodging ‘cocky Lim’ issue Posted: 30 Sep 2012 02:34 PM PDT 
(The Star) - Deputy Chief Minister I Datuk Mansor Othman has continued to avoid responding to the allegation that he had described Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng as a cocky and arrogant man. "My comments have been twisted in every angle. No comment. People are no longer interested in reading what I say," he said after opening a seminar for Muslim scholars here yesterday. He declined to provide an update on the leaked audio recording of the informal PKR meeting. Mansor had allegedly uttered those words, besides also saying that Lim was also regarded as a tokong (deity) by the people here in the leaked recording, which was later reproduced in an online news report and a TV3 news broadcast. Asked by a reporter whether he was on good terms with Lim, Mansor merely raised both his hands up in the air while walking away. "We should be talking about the Budget. People are really interested about the Budget. They are not interested about me anymore," he said. Earlier, state PKR vice-chairman Datuk Abdul Halim Hussain confirmed that a report on the alleged leak was sent to the party's headquarters. |
| Malay votes to decide outcome Posted: 30 Sep 2012 02:27 PM PDT 
The pro-establishment groups ruled in the recent campus polls. If the trend holds, it would seem the Malays will be the deciding factor in the coming general election. Baradan Kuppusamy, The Star THE campus polls, which saw the Barisan Nasional-leaning Pro-Aspirasi group victorious in most public universities, mirrors a surge in young Malay support for the coalition in the larger society. The campus polls followed recent political developments in the country with PAS and, to a lesser extent the PKR, coming under pressure from Malay groups to explain their co-operation with the DAP. PAS, in particular, is under constant attack for giving in to DAP's demands and not vibrantly defending Islam as it had in earlier elections. Conversely, PAS has also been attacked by DAP national chairman Karpal Singh for continuing to propagate hudud laws, which are Islam-based criminal laws. At the same time, DAP is heavily criticised by MCA and Gerakan because Karpal seems to be the lone voice objecting to hudud, suggesting that other DAP leaders have compromised their stand for political expediency. The pro-establishment group has, up to Saturday, won 91% or 565 of the 620 seats contested in all 20 campuses. They swept all seats in Universiti Teknologi Mara (50), Universiti Malaysia Perlis (31), Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (28) and Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (24). Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia is the only public university held by the Pro-Mahasiswa group, which won 19 of the 28 seats contested. The polls, thus far, can be taken as a curtain raiser for the larger national polls which must be called by May 2013. The campus elections are thrilling affairs, complete with rival groups, alleged death threats and heated campaigns and manifestos, just like political parties competing for state and national power. With so many public universities today each with a population ranging from 5,000 to 20,000 picking student leaders can be a daunting task. The contest for the "hearts and minds" of the undergraduates is sometimes fierce, as they are young and impressionable and will soon become first-time voters. The campus polls, thus, mirrors the political leanings in the country; where the predominantly Malay voters both in the rural areas and semi-urban centres still back Umno, which helped the Barisan in a string of by-election successes since February 2009. The outcome of the by-elections also showed the erosion of rural Malay support for PAS, which is under constant attack from Malay groups for purportedly failing to defend Islam. In recent years, the fence-sitters are beginning to back Umno, which has expanded the Government's rural enrichment programmes and made it synonymous as its own. Demography also plays a big part in the surge in support. The Malay population has increased while the Chinese and Indian numbers have reportedly shrunk. This is reflected in the large number of young Malays entering the electoral roll as new voters. If the trend seen in campus polls holds, it will be the Malay votes that will decide the outcome of the general election. DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang had reportedly argued that even if most of the Chinese voted for the party, they can only hope to win about 40 parliamentary seats. This is not enough for Pakatan if the Malays and a portion of Indians stay with the Barisan. The reality is that, out of 222 parliamentary seats at stake, only 45 are Chinese-majority. MCA holds 15 parliamentary seats, which also have substantial Malay and Indian voters. Meanwhile, to form the next government, the Barisan has also to fight for the 50 seats in Sabah and Sarawak. The coalition has been diligently courting the two states, offering huge chunks of development funds besides key Cabinet positions to their MPs. The overtures are expected to pay off despite most Chinese voters backing DAP in the last Sarawak state election and the defection of two ageing politicians in Sabah to Pakatan. Our campuses are predominantly Malay, with significant numbers of Chinese, Indians and youths from Sabah and Sarawak; and this population distribution faithfully reflects the larger Malaysian society. Going by the results of the campus polls, the trend is increasingly in support of the establishment, which has the Malays as well as the minorities in its leadership ranks. |
| Budget snub a ‘blessing in disguise’ Posted: 30 Sep 2012 02:12 PM PDT 
Although there is no Budget cheer for Sabah and Sarawak, the people in the two states can now plan for alternative solutions in the coming general election. Luke Rintod, FMT Sabah and Sarawak, which have been treated as Barisan Nasional's "fix-deposit", have been sidelined in Budget 2013. But it is a "blessing in disguse" because the people in the two states can now plan for alternative solutions. It appears that Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak, his advisers and the ruling BN are very confident that both states won't slip away from BN grip at the coming general election. This explains why they could afford not to deal with the prevailing "touchy" issues in Sabah and Sarawak. Otherwise, they would have addressed several "heartbeat" issues in Sabah and Sarawak.. Besides development projects, the basic needs here are houses, roads, water and electricity – all priorities with East Malaysians. Important too is the abolishing of the chocking cabotage policy on transporting goods to the two states. The cabotage policy generally stipulates that imported goods to Sabah and Sarawak must come through faraway Klang Port, even if there is a shorter route and cheaper vessels to the states from the source of the goods. And to cap it all, in Klang, the cargoes must be unloaded onto Malaysian vessels only, many owned by proxies, to be brought to Sabah/Sarawak, across 1,000km of seas. As a result, it has caused the prices of goods to soar higher in the two states than in the Peninsula. Najib failed to address the cabotage issue. Instead, he planned to introduce more state-owned low-price stores in the states but the quality of their goods is unknown. 'Easier to decide now' Chairman of UK-based Borneo's Plight in Malaysia Foundation (BoPi MaFo), Daniel John Jambun, said now that the two states have been sidelined in Budget 2013, it would make it easier for Sabahans and Sarawakians alike to think about alternatives in the coming election. "While the budget is a good BN budget, we must bear in mind that Sabah and Sarawak contributed huge amount of revenue and yet we get nothing in return. "This is why we are the poorest now in Malaysia as the focus of development has always been in the Peninsula. This budget confirmed it. "If Najib is sincere, he should have listened to East Malaysia. Maybe he takes us for granted," he said when contacted. Jambun, who is also deputy chairman of the State Reform Party (STAR), said Sabah BN leaders would be heaping praises on the budget but right-thinking people would think otherwise and start looking for alternative solutions. "It is a blessing in disguise… there is always a silver lining in the clouds…" he said from Kuala Lumpur where he was attending a political meeting. Another issue of great importance to the coming general election is the oil royalty. While Pakatan Rakyat in its shadow budget unveiled a few days ago announced an increase royalty from 5% to 20% to oil-producing states if it takes over the federal government, Najib chose to confidently ignore it. Political scientist Dr Arnold Puyok, meanwhile, said Budget 2013 is a budget to expand or grow the economy in the face of the government's "alarming" deficit. "I would hope to see more measures to reduce wastage and to ensure financial accountability," he said. Nothing significant He said the good thing is that more incentives were given to fishermen and paddy farmers. "This will help grow the traditional economy and alleviate poverty in the rural areas. "Goodies to young and single people is an indication that the ruling party is set to win the hearts and minds of first-time voters in the upcoming election," he said. Economist Jerome Majanil viewed Budget 2013 as a political budget and was surprised that no major announcements were made for the corporate sector. READ MORE HERE |
| Forgoing reforms to buy PRU13 Posted: 30 Sep 2012 02:09 PM PDT 
Najib's budget is tailored to ensure the survival of a regime with the premier being generous in dishing out cash handouts, but remaining silent on structural reforms. By Charles Santiago, FMT
Let's see what we have here. Succinctly put a budget which is best described as 'more of the same', without new directions in managing the country's economy or creating new wealth including equitable distribution. It is a budget that is designed to buy and secure another five years for the BN. It's designed to help the regime tide over what has been described as the country's most fiercely fought polls by throwing money at poor households, civil servants and young people – all who are key in bolstering BN's vote bank and if possible give prime minister Najib Tun Razak a larger mandate. In the quest to stay in power, the government has forgotten the welfare of the people. Malaysian families are facing a cost of living crisis but the budget does not provide sustainable solutions to this pertinent problem. Instead it offers a one-off solution through BRIM 2.0 or RM500 in cash handouts to households earning RM3,000 and below. And throwing in RM 200 to youths to buy smart-phones is not going to solve the problem. The government needs to explain how giving RM200 for purchasing smart phones is going to cushion society from spiraling prices. This shows that this budget is about buying and securing BN's interest given a large number of the 2.2 million newly registered voters are likely to vote against the government. The RM3-4 billion could have been used to increase food production and provide affordable transportation. Increase in food production could lead to lower food prices, greater income for rural and suburban farmers while saving money from foreign imports. And affordable transportation linking the periphery to the core city centers would help to decrease transportation costs. Increase in food production and affordable transportation would have gone a long way to help manage the increase in the cost of living. But we have missed yet another chance. However the puzzling ways of the government do not stop here. For example, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) is getting a RM276 million-allocation to fight graft. No this has nothing to do with looking at restructuring the body which has come under severe criticism for lopsided investigations and targeting only opposition politicians. Instead, the government will make available an additional 150 posts annually to reach a target of 5,000 personnel in the MACC. And that's still not the end of the horror for it has made available RM300 million for 1.5 million young people to buy smartphones from an authorized dealer. While this deal smacks of cronyism, it also shows Najib's priority or shall we say the lack of it, given the case. Rosy economic projection While a desperate Najib slammed the opposition and took pot shots at Anwar Ibrahim during the last half hour of his budget speech last Friday, without mentioning names of course, he chose to give a rosy economic projection for the country. But growth rate projections of 4.5 % – 5% are highly optimistic. Malaysia is an open economy and thus highly vulnerable to external shocks. The Finance Ministry's Economic Report (2012-2013) notes that the country has experienced a 35-percent drop in FDI in the first six months of 2012. In fact, the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) most recent World Economic Outlook warns developing nations to brace for further risks from uncertainties in Europe and the USA. This together with the contagion impact on the Indian and Chinese economies will bite into Malaysia's growth for the coming year. A further problem for the Malaysian economy would be the impact of the euro-zone crisis on demand for palm oil and other commodities. Industry sources note that palm oil prices would drop further in the coming months impacting on the country's revenue stream. Let's not forget that 40% of Malaysia's revenue comes from the oil and gas sector which is very vulnerable to oil price fluctuations and production. Deficits and debts have become BN's preferred policy norm or option in economic management. The government's attempts in reducing its 15-year budget deficit to 4%, from about 4.7 per cent of GDP in 2012, is largely prompted by pressure from global fund managers and rating agencies. In the recent months, agencies such as Fitch and S&P warned of credit rating downgrades if the government did not reign in its fiscal deficit and ballooning debt of RM502.4 billion or 53.7% of GDP this year, with federal debt level at 55% of GDP being the legislated debt ceiling. The government argues that deficit would be reduced with efficient tax collection and higher economic growth projected at 4.5% – 5.5% for 2013. This is also unlikely given the euro-zone crisis and its contagion impact on China and India. Thus projected increase in taxes and growth rates might not materialise. Long term strategy missing And no where in Najib's two-hour budget speech did we hear anything about reducing wasteful spending like reducing the country's civil service, a move which is necessary but will create a backlash for his government come the next general election. So one can expect a supplementary budget in 2013 just like the RM13.8 billion a few months ago. What is clear is that the long term strategy in managing public finances in a sustainable fashion is missing. Crime is another pressing problem in the country. While we commend the government for responding to the crime-issues faced by the rakyat, the present strategy of buying hardware and increasing manpower in the police force are not going to solve the problem. What is urgently required is a strategy change and re-allocation of resources. READ MORE HERE |
| Budget 2013 – only good from the outside Posted: 30 Sep 2012 02:07 PM PDT
At the end of the day, it's not about expensive infrastructure that are likely to resonate with the majority of voters. James Lim, FMT All the anticipation building up over Budget 2013 has finally ended when Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak unveiled it last Friday. Young, first-time voters will be treated to cash handouts, book vouchers (for university students) and even a discount on smartphone purchases. Homebuyers will supposedly see a reduction in speculative activity in the housing market with the hike in the Real Property Gains Tax (RPGT). There was no news on the goods and services tax (GST) which is meant to broaden the tax base in Malaysia as only a minority of Malaysians pay income tax. However, taxpayers below the RM50,000 bracket were entitled to a one percent reduction in payable tax. Elsewhere there was good news for others too. Bonus (1½ months) for civil servants, insurance schemes for fishermen, subsidies and incentives for farmers, increase in minimum pension for pensioners and so on. Tax and non-tax incentives were given to the oil and gas industry. Besides, the RM1 billion SME Development Scheme is welcome news to small and medium enterprises. On a bigger scale, Najib, who also holds the finance portfolio, aims to reduce the budget deficit from 4.5% in the previous year to 4.0% in 2013. This is taking into account the estimated RM208.6 billion government revenue for 2013. A Bloomberg article reported the strengthening of the ringgit, rising from "0.5% to 3.0620 against the dollar, the biggest gain in a week". "The benchmark FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI Index climbed 0.5%," added the report. Temporary sweeteners One can also point to the success of our government-backed initial public offerings (IPOs) which achieved worldwide status. One can hear a loud chant of "Malaysia Boleh" in the stock markets. However, the situation goes beyond our positive economic forecast. Many have wanted the Auditor-General's report to be released before the budget announcement, but that was not the case. Cash handouts to the young are mere temporary sweeteners. Besides, the previous gifts of book vouchers were not carefully regulated, resulting in a portion of the students using them to buy anything in book stores ranging from comic books, expensive stationery to water bottles, wallets, and even music CD albums. National House Buyers Association secretary-general Chang Kim Loong was sceptical on the RPGT revision. He says that the revision will allow speculators to purchase properties from developers upon launch and hike up the property price, while paying only the proposed 10% RPGT on the third year. Orang Asli Concerns director Colin Nicholas said that the allocation of RM88 million to implement economic development programmes and water supply projects for the Orang Asli community does not address the issue as most of the time there is already a water gravity system in place. (A water gravity system is a system whereby water from a source high up and deep in the jungle is channelled through PVC pipes.) "What is needed is proper delivery system with no leakages. Two years ago, a similar project was mooted but the project failed," he said Which brings me to my point that although things might look good from the outside, sometimes policies are ill-planned and may backfire. Long-term love affair with subsidies How about Malaysia's long-term love affair with subsidies? Research for Social Advancement (Refsa) and IDEAS, two local think-thanks, have revealed that expenditure on subsidies has quadrupled since 2007. Are we as a nation still heavily dependent on subsidies which give a false value on goods and services? Then there's also the issue of our development expenditure and operating expenditure. Malaysia's operating expenditure has increased from RM182 billion to RM201.9 billion. READ MORE HERE |
| The Havoc Education Reform Inflicts: Education Blueprint 2013-2025 (Part 3 of 5) Posted: 30 Sep 2012 02:01 PM PDT 
M. Bakri Musa
www.bakrimusa.com Third of Five Parts: Quality, Efficiency, Efficacy, And Trimming of Fat [Part One discusses the Blueprint's failure to recognize the diversity within our school system, and with that the need for specific solutions targeted to particular groups. Part Two discusses the particular challenge of having competent teachers especially in science, English, and mathematics, a critical problem not adequately addressed by the Blueprint. In this third part I discuss the inextricable link between quality, efficiency, and efficacy, points not fully appreciated in the Blueprint.] The one diagram in the Blueprint that best captures what's wrong with the Malaysian education system is Exhibit 6-4, the ministry's organizational staff structure. The diagram is described as rectangular; it's more fat Grecian column. Incidentally, that diagram is the best graphic representation of data in the entire document; it captures and demonstrates well two salient points. One, there are as many Indians as there are chiefs in the organization, and two, the overwhelming burden of administrative staff at all levels. "Malaysia arguably has one of the largest central (federal) administrations in the world, relative to the number of schools," says the Blueprint, quoting a UNESCO report. We do not need those highly-paid international consultants to remind us of the bloat. The gleaming tower that is the Ministry of Higher Education in Putrajaya is emblematic of that. It reveals the government's perverted priorities. That edifice shames that of the Department of Education of the US, or any First World country. By any measure, relative to the economy, population, or total budget, Malaysia funds its education system generously, much more so than countries like Finland and South Korea. Yet our students and schools lag far behind. The answer lies in Exhibit 6-4. The bulk of the resources expended do not end up in the classrooms. It reflects the panel's commitment (or lack of it) to enhancing the system's efficiency that the post-reform chart looks only slightly tapered at the top. It needs to be sharply pyramidal to tackle the current bloated rectangle. Efficiency is one of the Blueprint's six goals. Briefly though not inaccurately defined, efficiency is output relative to input. If I expend "x" amount of resources (time, money, effort) and produce "y" amount of intended results, while my colleague expends twice as much, then I am twice as efficient. However, if he produces other than the intended results, then he is not being efficacious quite apart from being not efficient. His producing all those unintended and unwanted products reduces or interferes with his output of the desired ones. Efficiency is doing things right; efficacy, doing the right thing. Our system of education is both inefficient and inefficacious. We are not efficient because despite the vast resources expended we produce far too few graduates who are bilingual, science literate, mathematically competent, and capable of critical thinking. We are not being efficacious because the graduates we produce are not the types we desire, meaning, they are unilingual, unable to think critically, and good only at regurgitating what has been spoon-fed into them. A more tangible manifestation of our inefficiency is this. Rwanda could provide each child with a laptop at a fraction of the Malaysian price. We are not being as efficacious as Rwanda where its laptop program teaches not only the children but also spills over to their families. In Malaysia those laptops end up either being "lost" or gathering dust in the school's storerooms. Our teachers have not been adequately trained to use them; besides those computers belong to the school and not given to individual teachers. Thus there is no pride of ownership, and opportunities for them to learn are that much reduced. Pursuing efficiency, we have two ministries (one for higher education), each with its own overpaid minister, deputy ministers, KSUs, DGs, Deputy KSUs, Assistant Deputy KSUs, and hordes of directors. With the government's stated goal of autonomy to universities, all you need is one person to write the checks perhaps once a semester. You do not need a ministry, much less a grand one. That expensive edifice and bloated administrative staff divert resources that otherwise could have been diverted to the classrooms and teachers. Peruse the organizational structure of the Ministry of Education (MOE); dozens of divisions could be chopped off. Why do we need a separate division for matrikulasi; it is nothing more than Sixth Form; likewise with residential schools. The purpose of decentralization and devolution of authority to the periphery is, among others, to reduce the central bureaucracy, not to lighten the load of those already under-worked civil servants at headquarters. If schools truly have autonomy then all you need is one person at headquarters to write the big check every month, term, or year. Bureaus like Textbook, Translation, and Dewan Bahasa could be privatized and the resources saved diverted directly to pay writers, translators, and publishers, the actual producers of goods and services. Then there are the corporate and international relations offices. Get rid of both. The only important relationship MOE should cultivate is with parents and teachers. I would also spin off the Examination Syndicate. Such bodies in America like the College Board (responsible for the Scholastic Assessment Test, SAT) and American College Testing (ACT), as well as those responsible for graduate and professional studies like GMAT (business school) and MCAT (medical school) are private. Yet there is not a word in the Blueprint on streamlining the ministry, reducing the bloat, and getting rid or at least privatizing those peripheral services. Malaysians, individually and as a society, value and respect education. We willingly expend resources on it but are unwilling to expend the extra effort to make sure that that those funds are spent wisely. MOE's budget escapes critical scrutiny. MOE, being part and parcel of the massive Malaysian bureaucracy, is also afflicted with rampant corruption, blatant cronyism, embarrassing incompetence, naked nepotism, and a distorted sense of meritocracy. The last scandal (at least one that was exposed) was in 1960 under Rahman Talib when RM100 million in school construction funds were "unaccounted for," the euphemism for "missing." That may seem small change by current standard of greed, but after factoring for inflation and devaluation, it would be a billion in today's currency. The Blueprint completely ignores this blight of administration in MOE. In an earlier book I cited the example of the bloated cost of a MARA residential college where through competitive bidding we could get three such schools for the price of two. If competitive bidding were to be standard practice, then not only would we get more for our money but also our schools would have roofs that would not collapse, thus endangering our children. Najib and Muhyyiddin have not demonstrated their ability to take on local UMNO warlords. On the contrary, both are central to the corrupt political patronage system that plagues Malaysia. So expect the bloat and inefficiency in MOE (and the rest of the government) to continue. As for efficacy, the Blueprint does not even comment on whether the recent rescinding of teaching science and mathematics in English advances the goal of producing bilingual and science literate graduates. There is no recommendation for increasing the number of hours of instruction in English or mandating a pass in the Malaysian University English Test (MUET). The more hours and the younger you are exposed to a language, the more proficient you would be, and faster. Making students pass a test definitely motivates them to study for it. In the 1950s the government mandated all civil servants to pass a test in Malay to impress upon them its importance. That prompted many to take private lessons lest they would be bypassed in promotions. This Blueprint does not mandate teachers and headmasters demonstrate their competence in English. READ MORE HERE |
| Warga Asing Beli Kad Pengenalan Palsu Diberi Peluang Mengundi - Ayuh Desak Bubar SPR Sebelum ... Posted: 30 Sep 2012 01:24 PM PDT  SUMBER - Daily Express 29/9/2012 Bagaimana seorang warga asing yang telah didapati bersalah oleh mahkamah kerana memiliki kad pengenalan palsu didapati layak untuk mengundi? Kad Penganalan yang dikenalpasti tidak sah, tetapi sah untuk mengundi mengikut bancian senarai pengundi SPR? Bagaimana ini berlaku? Solidariti Anak Muda Malaysia (SAMM) sekali lagi mendesak keras supaya SPR dibubarkan terlebih dahulu sebelum pilihanraya. SAMM sebelum ini telah membuat pendedahan kerjasama SPR dan JPN untuk menutup kerja kotor penipuan pilihanraya, hari ini mendedahkan kes terbaru yang menunjukkan warga asing diberi kelayakkan mengundi - satu pengkhianatan besar terhadap kedaulatan negara.
Merujuk kepada laporan Akhbar Daily Express bertarikh 29 September 2012, seorang warga asing bernama Hassannuddin Bin Manna memberitahu mahkamah bahawa dia telah membeli Mykad palsu dengan harga RM1000. Mahkamah juga telah memutuskan Hassannuddin didenda dan dipenjara kerana memiliki dokumen palsu, sekaligus mengesahkan Kad Pengenalan yang diperolehi Hassannuddin adalah palsu.
Namun setelah disemak nombor kad pengenalan milik Hassannuddin (741029125463), SAMM mendapati nombor Kad Pengenalan palsu tersebut wujud dalam pangkalan data SPR dan juga merupakan pengundi yang sah.
Persoalannya, bagaimana seorang warga asing yang telah didapati bersalah oleh mahkamah kerana memiliki kad pengenalan palsu didapati layak untuk mengundi? Kad Penganalan yang dikenalpasti tidak sah, tetapi sah untuk mengundi mengikut bancian senarai pengundi SPR? Bagaimana ini berlaku?
Kad pengenalan ini juga didapati mempunyai rekod di JPN dengan status 'telah diambil'. Ini bermakna Kad Pengenalan palsu ini telah diluluskan di JPN. Siapa pegawai yang meluluskannya? Siapakah kerani kaunter yang melepaskan kad pengenalan palsu ini untuk diambil?
Apakah ini satu lagi kerjasama utuh di antara Suruhanjaya Pilihanraya (SPR), Jabatan Pendaftaran Negara (JPN) dan juga melibatkan bantuan dari Jabatan Imigresen? Inikah hasil daripada program 6P yang cuba dilaksanakan secara terburu-buru oleh Jabatan Imigresen?
Isu pemberian Mykad kepada warga asing merupakan satu isu yang sangat serius ketika ada warga sendiri yang masih tidak diberi kad pengenalan kerana birokrasi melampau. Percayalah lambat laun warga negara sendiri terpaksa merempat di bumi bertuah ini.
Keadaan menjadi lebih parah apabila warga asing diberikan pula hak untuk mengundi oleh SPR. Apakah demokrasi negara ini dibiarkan terjual kepada warga asing demi menyelamatkan Barisan Nasional daripada kehilangan kuasa?
Lihatlah bagaimana kedudukan warga asing di serata pelusuk negara walaupun tanpa memiliki dokumen yang sah, mereka mampu berniaga di pasar pagi, pasar petang siang dan malam, membuka gerai, bengkel malah ada yang mempunyai syarikat pembinaan sendiri. Bayangkan jika warga asing diberikan kad pengenalan secara sewenang-wenangnya demi mempertahan regim pemerintah sedangkan ia sebenarnya satu skim menjual negara.
Barisan Nasional sudah semakin lemah dan tidak mampu untuk menang dalam pilihanraya yang juga beberapa kali ditangguh. Barisan Nasional kini ditolak oleh rakyat negara ini, maka idea memberikan kewarganegaraan segera kepada warga asing merupakan satu jalan singkat yang mengundang padah kepada seluruh rakyat negara ini. Banyak pendedahan telah dibuat dan pendedahan terbaru ini menjadi bukti kewujudan pemberian 'kewarganegaraan segera' sedang berleluasa.
SAMM sebagai peneraju anak muda bingkas sekali lagi menyeru kepada seluruh rakyat agar tidak berdiam diri ketika negara sedang dijual sehabisnya. Semua persoalan ini bukan sahaja wajib dijawab malah SPR yang gagal membersihkan senarai pengundi wajib dibubarkan segera sebelum parlimen dibubar.
SAMM memanggil semua NGO dan individu yang cintakan demokrasi, cintakan negara ini harus menyertai gerakan membubarkan SPR dengan segala bentuk tekanan walaupun dengan melakukan satu lagi protes terbesar menuntut pilihanraya bersih dan adil - BERSIH 5.0. Selagi pilihanraya tidak bersih, selagi itulah wajarnya protes ini dengan pelbagai pendedahan yang tidak disangkal sebagai bukti.
"Perubahan itu harus didesak bukan ditunggu" |
| The day after the 1 night stand before: the aftermath of 2013 budget Posted: 30 Sep 2012 01:16 PM PDT Only this time the business as usual will be back in with a greater vengeance because this time, the cost of procurement is very much higher than before and the expected and desired returns, will have to be even greater. Lee Wee Tak
The 2013 spend and feel good budget has been read for the nation's attention and parliament's debate. The debate is probably useless, for the Janji Ditepati administration, chronic, habitual spending above budget is a given. This habit is well documented Malaysia Putrajaya asks for RM14b more to spend UPDATED @ 12:04:39 14-06-2012 By Shannon Teoh Jun 14, 2012 KUALA LUMPUR, June 14 — The federal government tabled a supplementary supply Bill today, asking for RM13.8 billion more to spend this year, fuelling fears the Najib administration will not be able to rein in the deficit and breach the statutory debt ceiling. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Therefore, rather than dwelling too much in detail into a current and soon to be derailed budget, let's project into the future base on the path Malaysians been dragged down unto for the past decade.
As reported by the Star: ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- *Individual income tax rate to be reduced by 1 percentage point for each grouped annual income tax exceeding RM2,500 to RM50,000. The measure will remove 170,000 taxpayers from paying tax as well as provide savings on their tax payment. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This is a sure sign of GST coming upon us because cut in personal income tax (a.k.a. direct tax) goes hand in hand for imposing GST. Let's look at Singapore for example: ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- GST was implemented at a single rate of 3% on 1 April 1994, with an assurance that it would not be raised for at least five years. To cushion the impact of GST on Singaporean households, an offset package was also introduced. Simultaneously, corporate tax rate was cut by 3% to 27%, and the top marginal personal income tax rate was cut by 3% to 30%. The initial GST rate of 3% was among the lowest in the world, as the focus was not to generate substantial revenue, but to allow people to get adjusted to the tax.[4] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- However, Malaysians are not ready to switch to GST because most of Malaysians can't even afford personal income tax!. Also, the reasons for Singapore and Malaysia to introduce GST are not the same. With this 2013 gula and then GST, while you save 1% on your income, almost every Ringgit and Sen you spend will be taxed at 4% or whatever eventual rate that will be levied on us hence for people living on debts, you may probably end up paying more taxes. This blogger is not part of the BN administration but his/her speculation is base on sources from within: ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- BN and PR should agree to GST after polls says Idris Jala By Lee Wei Lian March 27, 2012 KUALA LUMPUR, March 27 — The country's two rival political coalitions should cooperate on tax reforms once the political temperature has simmered down after the upcoming general elections said Datuk Seri Idris Jala today
In Chinese, there is a saying "秋後算帳" i.e. letting someone or something off for the moment only to come back later; invoke the past and punish as such. BN administration already done that with Suqiu pleaders (whose list of request is quite in line with Wawasan 2020 and 1Malaysia, and less vocal compared to the current Chinese educationists' voices which are deemed by Nazri to be reasonable) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ I'm no hypocrite, Nazri tells MCA Minister in the Prime Minister Department Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz has brushed aside the claim by MCA leaders that his support for Dong Zong's eight-point demand for Chinese education is mere diplomatic manoeuvring. "Of course we have to be diplomatic, we are politicians – but not in the sense that I am a hypocrite… ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (er…notice the get out clause?) For people living in vibrant night light circle, this could be called the morning after the night before situation. Once the passionate objective is achieved, time for cold showers, breakfast and business as usual. Only this time the business as usual will be back in with a greater vengeance because this time, the cost of procurement is very much higher than before and the expected and desired returns, will have to be even greater. The existing cosy political-economic union calls for GLC and Government initiatives to dominate economic activities. When the federal government dishes out some much, it needs to recoup. The ubiquitous quote nowadays "GST is a mean to widen tax base" is a , borrowing Nazri's words, diplomatic way of saying in Malaysian BN context, money collected from the people and god's gift to Malaysia has been squandered big time and there is a great need to ask for more. Bailout with tax payers' money, i.e. future and security. Therefore, there is an unmistakable trend of awarding of major contracts and new government measures that ask the rakyat to contribute even more than we have already. Apart from GST, there is 1Care scheme which should resurface after its disappearance before GE |
| PM shreds Opposition's policy framework Buku Jingga Posted: 30 Sep 2012 01:15 PM PDT Friendly greeting: Najib and Gerakan president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon waving to press photographers. (The Star) - Pakatan Rakyat's common policy framework Buku Jingga is "not worth the paper it is printed on", said Barisan Nasional chairman Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak. He said their masterplan which amongst others aimed to restructure subsidies and abolish tolls was not feasible as doing so would spell the end of Bursa Malaysia. "Most of the concessionaires are public-listed companies and Pakatan's plan will lead to the collapse of Bursa. "That is why Buku Jingga is not worth the paper it is printed on," he said in his opening speech at the Gerakan national delegates conference yesterday. In a fiery speech, the Prime Minister said the Opposition's promise to wipe out the National Higher Education Fund Corporation's (PTPTN) RM33bil debt was not doable either. He said Pakatan should not talk about taking over Putrajaya when it had not even formed its own shadow Cabinet. "Why didn't they do it? Are they afraid that they do not know what posts to give to (DAP parliamentary leader) Lim Kit Siang, (PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul) Hadi Awang or (PAS deputy president) Mohamad Sabu? "Don't talk about forming the government, form the shadow Cabinet first," he said. He said that in Selangor, 73% of the promises made by Pakatan to the people were not fulfilled, and as such, no one should have a government that lied or failed to deliver on its promises. He said unlike Barisan, Pakatan did not even have a common symbol or manifesto. Citing an example, he said they could not even agree on the implementation of hudud. "If you don't have a common position or policy on something so fundamental, how are you going to administer the country? You don't have the credibility to run the government," he said. Najib said the Opposition had only three weapons in its arsenal criticise, instigate and promise the sun, moon and the galaxy. In contrast, he said the ruling government had a clear sense of direction in transforming the country into a high-income, developed nation. "When we promise something, it is based on something that hinges on reality. We have studied it in depth, after engaging with experts from within and out of the country. It is doable and achievable," he said. Najib also chided critics who claimed that the 2013 Budget was a populist move, pointing out that it was aimed at putting the people first and moving the economy forward. "It's not all just about BR1M. You do Bersih 2.0, we do BR1M 2.0. You storm barricades and overturn police cars, we can help the poor," he said. |
| Uncommon Sense with Wong Chin Huat: The threat of foreign funding Posted: 30 Sep 2012 01:11 PM PDT  George Soros (© Harald Dettenborn | Wiki Commons) Now, between foreign bodies funding Malaysian NGOs, and the Malaysian government funding foreign corporations, which should we worry more about? Wong Chin Huat, The Nut Graph WHY don't civil society organisations register as societies in Malaysia, resorting instead to being listed as companies? And don't Malaysians deserve to be suspicious of groups which are highly critical of the government and which are propped up by foreign funding? According to both the state and the national media, Malaysians should be wary. A 21 Sept 2012 New Straits Times front-page story said it all — there is a "Plot to destabilise govt". And those behind this plot are human rights groups — with Suaram in the forefront — , civil society organisations, and news portal Malaysiakini by virtue of the fact, it seems, that they receive foreign funding, among others, from no less than George Soros. Don't the government and the media have every right to hold these groups accountable in the same way that these groups often hold the state accountable? The Nut Graph speaks to political scientist Wong Chin Huat on the still-unfolding issue of Malaysian groups and their foreign funding, and the threats they potentially pose to the nation. TNG: Why shouldn't Suaram be investigated? If it's registered as a company, shouldn't it be treated under company law like any other company? Just because it works on human rights issues, should it be given special treatment?  Suaram logo (source: Wiki Commons) The question we should first ask is: why did an NGO register as a company? A company may avoid tax if it is registered as an NGO. But what can an NGO gain by registering as a company? Nothing except for being registered! The fact is registering an NGO under the Societies Act is made difficult and nearly impossible for civil society groups. Why? Because, to me, the Registrar of Societies (ROS) is loyal not to the country, its citizenry and the federal constitution which guarantees us freedom of association, but to the ruling parties. Groups — whether NGOs or political parties — deemed unfriendly to the federal ruling parties are often denied registration. For example, Parti Sosialis Malaysia was denied registration for years but the Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP)'s registration was approved in days. If Suaram should be on trial for using a roundabout way to register itself with the state, then the ROS and their political master, the home minister, should be in the dock for insulting the Federal Constitution and betraying citizens. Yes, Suaram should certainly not enjoy any special discrimination. At the same time, if we want to talk about fair treatment all around, NGOs promoting human rights should enjoy as much freedom of association as those groups opposing human rights. Is that too much to ask of our prime minister, Najib the Moderate? We often complain about government inefficiency. In the case of the ongoing investigation into Suaram, shouldn't we applaud the government's multi-agency efficiency? I beg to differ about this allegation of general government inefficiency in Malaysia. This is slander by people who are jealous of our country's achievement! I apologise if I, too, have unwittingly contributed to this misperception in the past. Our government is certainly quite efficient when it wants to be. For example, in compromising justice; inciting hatred; acquiring lands; destroying forests; serving foreign interests; enriching cronies; violating human rights and finally; covering up all these acts through censoring the media and witch-hunting whistle-blowers. They are really very good in these core competencies. Why can't groups like Suaram, the Centre for Independent Journalism, and LoyarBurok, and movements like Bersih 2.0 source for funds locally? Why do they need to get foreign funding? If you are deemed as friendly to the government, then you get easy donations from big businesses and of course, the government itself. If you are deemed as anti-establishment, you may get donations from some other Malaysians but only if you grow big enough to be seen as a threat to the government. In that sense, large opposition parties and vocal ethno-religious NGOs generally have no big problems securing funding. Funding problems are also solved when one is the target of a government witch-hunt. For example, Bersih 2.0 raised the money needed to organise the Bersih 2.0 and 3.0 rallies completely through public donations from Malaysians at home and abroad. So, what kind of NGO work needs foreign funding? Those deemed threatening to the regime but which are not "sexy" enough to draw in pro-change public donations. For example, the funds Bersih 2.0 received from the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI) and Open Society Institute (OSI) was for a study on constituency re-delineation. At that time, Bersih 2.0 was still in its infancy and received little public attention.  Annual human rights reports: not as sexy as seeing Najib in a French courtroom (source: suaram.net) Another good example of important NGO work that is not so appealing in the public's eyes is Suaram's annual human rights report, arguably one of the most important documentations of political development in Malaysia. How many of those who donated to Suaram for the Scorpene suit just to see Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak being dragged to a French court, forked out the same amount of money for the NGO's annual publication? Read more at: http://www.thenutgraph.com/uncommon-sense-with-wong-chin-huat-the-threat-of-foreign-funding/ |
| Karpal: Explain comment Posted: 29 Sep 2012 03:39 PM PDT 
(NST) - DAP national chairman Karpal Singh has asked Datuk Mansor Othman to give a better explanation for his "cocky, arrogant tokong" comment. He said a video recording of Mansor, who is also Penang deputy chief minister, making the comment when talking about Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, had revealed more than what he had previously explained. However, even though he had called on Mansor to clear the air, Karpal played down the effects of the remark that many had been speculating had driven a wedge between Mansor and Lim. "This is a matter that can be resolved between the two individuals internally. I am confident that it will be resolved before the general election. "This is not a serious matter that constitutes serious concern," the Bukit Gelugor member of parliament said after his visit to the Farlim market here yesterday. When asked to comment on Lim being described even before this as arrogant by other Pakatan Rakyat leaders, including former state Parti Keadilan Rakyat chief Datuk Seri Zahrain Mohamed Hashim and Nibong Tebal MP Tan Tee Beng, Karpal said the DAP secretary-general was no such character. Karpal said he had known Lim for a long time, since the latter was 8 years old. "We were even locked up together in Kamunting. I was also his lawyer for many years. As far as I know, he is not arrogant. Perception can be misleading sometimes and it is so in this case." |
| The Untold Truth Behind The Sinking of Titanic Posted: 29 Sep 2012 03:29 PM PDT 
FUDZAIL One hundred years ago, the ship that couldn't sink sank. It's the centennial anniversary of RMS Titanic's ill-fated end on its debut transatlantic crossing. On April 10, 1912, the Titanic, largest ship afloat, left Southampton, England on her maiden voyage to New York City. The White Star Line had spared no expense in assuring her luxury. A legend even before she sailed, her passengers were a mixture of the world's wealthiest basking in the elegance of first class accommodations and immigrants packed into steerage.
She was touted as the safest ship ever built, so safe that she carried only 20 lifeboats – enough to provide accommodation for only half her 2,200 passengers and crew. This discrepancy rested on the belief that since the ship's construction made her "unsinkable," her lifeboats were necessary only to rescue survivors of other sinking ships. Additionally, lifeboats took up valuable deck space.
At the time of her construction, the Titanic was the largest ship ever built. She was nearly 900 feet long, stood 25 stories high, and weighed an incredible 46,000 tons. With turn-of-the-century design and technology, including sixteen major watertight compartments in her lower section that could easily be sealed off in the event of a punctured hull, the Titanic was deemed an unsinkable ship. According to her builders, even in the worst possible accident at sea, two ships colliding, the Titanic would stay afloat for two to three days, which would provide enough time for nearby ships to help.
On April 14, 1912, however, the Titanic sideswiped a massive iceberg and sank in less than three hours. Damaging nearly 300 feet of the ship's hull, the collision allowed water to flood six of her sixteen major watertight compartments. She was on her maiden voyage to the United States, carrying more than 2200 passengers and crew, when she foundered. Only 705 of those aboard the Titanic ever reached their destination. After what seemed like a minor collision with an iceberg, the largest ship ever built sank in a fraction of the time estimated for her worst possible accident at sea.
Two government investigations (U.S.A. & Britain) conducted immediately after the disaster agreed it was the iceberg, not any weakness in the ship itself, that caused the Titanic to sink. Both inquiries concluded the vessel had gone to the bottom intact. Blame for the incident fell on the ship's deceased captain, E. J. Smith, who was condemned for racing at 22 knots through a known ice field in the dark waters off the coast of Newfoundland. The case of the Titanic was considered closed.
Hundreds upon hundreds of books. Two dozen movies. Plays, radio serials, poems, paintings, two Broadway musicals, comics, video games and a symphony were made to tell the story of Titanic. But is this the real true story of the sinking of the Titanic. Could the sinking of "unsinkable" Titanic be an inside job of some evil, sinister people ? Of course it is extremely hard to believe, but let's look and examine a little deeper and a little further.
Shrouded in mystery and speculation, the sinking of the Titanic has many strange coincidences and strange occurrences surrounding it. One of the theories surrounding the Titanic sinking involves the highly debated Federal Reserve. Who shot JFK? Was 9-11 staged? Did aliens really crash at Roswell? All interesting theories that some would say absolutely yes to, while others would scoff and say, no way! Well, now you can add one more to the list of great mysteries with the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic. When we think of events that have transpired in history over the last one hundred to two hundred years, there are certain events that stand out as ones of great horror, great surprise and great sadness. Of the many that come to mind the most devastating have been the destruction of the World Trade Center in New York City and the sinking of the Titanic.
What was the real story behind the sinking of the Titanic? The book 'The Secret Terrorists' printed by Truth Triumphant Ministries and reprinted by Tree of Life Resources places blame squarely on the Roman Catholic Order known as the Jesuits. 'The greatest tragedies in the last 200 years can be traced to the Jesuits.' We see how the Jesuits planned and executed the sinking of the Titanic, and we'll show you how they did it. READ MORE HERE |
| Pengerang rally a sign of trouble for Umno in Johor Posted: 29 Sep 2012 03:18 PM PDT 
The Petronas' Refinery and Petrochemicals Development (RAPID) project is expected to turn Pengerang into a boom town for global petroleum investors. - Picture by Siow Feng Saw But the government's plans have still run afoul the local communities living in the many fishing villages girdling the southern shore of Pengerang. Clara Chooi, The Malaysian Insider A sea of green and noise will break the characteristic silence of Kampung Sungai Rengit here this morning as thousands converge to this sleepy corner of Johor to rally against the development of Petronas' RM60 billion petrochemical complex — a major event that could see Umno's Johor bastion crumble. The Himpunan Hijau Lestari mass rally is expected to blow the lid off months of simmering frustrations felt by Pengerang's 28,000-odd villagers who believe the mega project would come at too great a cost to their livelihoods. According to media reports, the state government has already invoked compulsory land acquisition under Section 8 of the Land Acquisition Act 1960 to resettle the seven villages occupying the 6,424-acre space earmarked for Petronas' Refinery and Petrochemicals Development (RAPID) project. The total value of the Pengerang Integrated Petroleum Complex (PIPC) in Johor, which includes Petronas' RM60 billion RAPID, is believed to involve a whopping RM170 billion worth of investments in total, once it starts operations in 2016. The mega project is expected to turn Pengerang into a boom town for global petroleum investors, rivalling neighbouring Singapore as Asia's most vibrant petrochemical hub, and creating over 40,000 job opportunities for locals from construction to downstream activities.  A lone cyclist enjoys a quiet ride in the sleepy Pengerang town.- Picture by Siow Feng Saw But the government's plans have still run afoul the local communities living in the many fishing villages girdling the southern shore of Pengerang. Apart from fear over reports that one of the investors in RAPID-KuoKuang Petrochemical had to abandon its plan to house a petrochemical project in Taiwan following concerns that those living in close proximity to such developments would see their lifespans reduced, a number of the affected 3,129 villagers in Pengerang are also unhappy with the government's compensation payment. According to previous reports, licensed fishermen have been offered RM30,000 in compensation payments for their loss of livelihoods while unlicensed fishermen are offered RM15,000. Smallholders of between one and two acres of land have been offered between RM65,000 to RM105,000. The government has also offered villagers the option of subsidised alternative housing on a 6,000 square foot piece of land with a built-up area of between 750 and 1,600 square feet, some 15 to 20km from their villages. But local villager Kasran Dollah said the government was out to "kill the Malays" with their offers. "It is not like we are fighting the government. We are just asking them to help," he told The Malaysian Insider yesterday. "At first, us Malays agreed with the compensation... but when the rates dropped to just RM2.80 per square feet... we were dissatisfied... it's like they are out to kill the Malays," he said. The retired school teacher will be among the many keynote speakers headlining this morning's Himpunan Hijau Lestari protest at Dataran Sungai Rengit, joining a host of others from Johor-based and national NGOs, including organisers of the anti-Lynas rally in Kuantan. According to local coalition NGO Pengerang chief Anis Afida Mohd Azli, the mass rally is expected to draw in some 10,000 people, turning it into yet another massive show of public anger that could potentially turn into major concern for the Barisan Nasional (BN) federal government ahead of the coming polls. "We hope that the local villagers will come out. They are indeed angry with the situation, they are very angry," she said. Since yesterday, protestors from across 25 locations nationwide had begun streaming into Kampung Sungai Rengit, located at the southernmost tip of Johor here, turning the quiet coastal township into a hive of activity ahead of this morning's protest. When met, organisers told The Malaysian Insider that they have already run afoul the authorities as both the local council and the police have refused to give their go-ahead for the mass rally. READ MORE HERE |
| Pakatan pledges to shelve Petronas’ RM60b Pengerang project after GE13 win Posted: 29 Sep 2012 03:14 PM PDT 
"If we do not win this case in court, this is Anwar's message to you — when PR wins the Malaysian government, and we are sure to win... when he becomes the prime minister, he will stop this RAPID project," he thundered to the crowd. Clara Chooi, The Malaysian Insider Pakatan Rakyat (PR) today promised to stop the Petronas RM60 billion petrochemical project should it wrest federal power in the coming polls, an electoral pledge likely aimed at capitalising on an emotive issue that could mark the start of Umno's weakening grasp over Johor. Johor PKR chief Datuk Chua Jui Meng speaking on behalf of PR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim at the Himpunan Hijau Pengerang Lestari rally here, made the announcement to a crowd of thousands who whooped at his words. "If we do not win this case in court, this is Anwar's message to you — when PR wins the Malaysian government, and we are sure to win... when he becomes the prime minister, he will stop this RAPID project," he thundered to the crowd. "That is our pledge to you today... and we will help you restore your lives here." Earlier this morning, the sleepy hollow of Kampung Sungai Rengit came alive with animated chants and blares from portable air horns as green-clad protesters streamed in by the bus loads to rally against Petronas' RM60 billion Refinery and Petrochemicals Development (RAPID) project that will see thousands of villagers lose their homes and livelihoods. The highly-anticipated Himpunan Hijau Pengerang Lestari protest kicked off peacefully to a bright and early start despite earlier fears of possible police blockades to prevent protesters from attending the mass rally. From 25 different locations across the country, including the east Malaysian state of Sabah, rally participants arrived from 9am onwards, all dressed in Himpunan Hijau's signature neon green T-shirts and bearing banners that detailed the rally's three protests — to protest the land grab, to protest the loss of livelihood, and to protest environmental destruction. As at 10am, the small village square where the township's landmark steel lobster structure is located was flooded by nearly a thousand protesters. Banners and placards condemning RAPID, which will see the relocation of over 3,000 people from seven villages girdling the shore of Pengerang, have also been erected across the small Chinese-majority Kampung Sungai Rengit, the only village that has escaped the government's relocation plans thus far. According to rally organisers, the government has refused to acquire land from Kampung Sungai Rengit residents due to the high value of the commercial property here. But a Pengerang PKR leader Taufik Jahir claimed the objective was to "force the villagers from their homes" as Kampung Sungai Rengit will turn into an island once all phases of the Pengerang Integrated Petroleum Complex (PIPC) is completed in the years ahead. READ MORE HERE |
| Tweet and die Posted: 29 Sep 2012 02:58 PM PDT 
The backlash from Perak DAP strongman Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham's controversial tweet in connection with a video insulting the Holy Prophet Muhammad has dented his party's image among Muslims and will cost his partners in PAS precious votes. Joceline Tan, The Star DATUK Ngeh Koo Ham was probably having trouble sleeping on the night he tweeted about Umno Youth's plans to protest against the film mocking the Holy Prophet Muhammad. Ngeh had apparently been watching CNN, BBC and Al-Jazeera news reports on the Muslim protests taking place all over the world and he posted the tweet on Sept 17, at 1.43am, little knowing that it would soon engulf him in a political firestorm. The tweet was also in response to Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin's plans for his wing and the PAS Youth wing to have a joint demonstration against the film that has angered Muslims worldwide. Ngeh's tweet read: "Khairy wants Muslim protest against Sam Bacile. For Islam or for his political gains? Are Muslims wasting too much time and energy on this?"  Widespread anger: Muslims all over the country vented their anger against the Sam Bacile film. Picture shows Khairy addressing protesters in Kampung Baru after Friday prayers. The last line was the part that cooked his goose. Ngeh is the Perak DAP chief who, together with his younger cousin Nga Kor Ming, controls the party in the State. He is also Bruas MP and Sitiawan assemblyman, all of which makes him a leading figure in Pakatan Rakyat. To compound matters, Ngeh is also a very committed Christian and a respected lay preacher in his church and it was all too easy for his enemies to take his words out of context. Hypocritical stand By afternoon, streams of criticism of the tweet had built up into a flood. Ngeh is usually quite a savvy politician, yet he initially did not or, as some suggested, refused to see that his tweet had offended many Muslims. His stand on Khairy's plans was also quite hypocritical given that DAP is a huge advocate of public protests, from the Bersih street protests to the anti-Lynas demonstrations. Two nights later, he attended a DAP dinner at Ipoh's famous Lee How Fook restaurant, his face looking like a thundercloud, according to one of those present. The dinner was a fund-raiser organised by Pasir Pinji assemblyman Thomas Su who, together with Ipoh Barat MP M. Kulasegaran, is the ringleader of the camp opposed to the powerful cousins Ngeh and Nga.  Ngeh: Is still struggling to live down the impact of his tweet. "To have to attend the dinner of a person you don't like and to lose face over the tweet, who wouldn't look unhappy?" said an Ipoh-based journalist. When Ngeh's turn came to speak, he launched into a concerted self-defence and lashed out at his critics. He said his tweet was a question rather than an opinion and claimed to be on the side of Muslims in condemning the video. He was clearly still in self-denial then and the VIP guests at the main table, who included the powerful father-and-son pair of Lim Kit Siang and Lim Guan Eng, listened on, looking rather uncomfortable. When he returned to his seat, people could see Guan Eng, who is DAP secretary-general, in an intense conversation with Ngeh. The consensus at the table was that the tweet was out of line and he should apologise. His apology finally came the next day – four days after the posting and a day before the nationwide protests by the two Malay political parties. But the apology did not stop the plastering of his face on banners and posters at the protests held by Umno, which criticised him as "biadap" or disrespectful. There were apparently hurried moves behind the scenes to dissuade PAS Youth from a joint protest with Umno Youth. A united Muslim front would have sent a chilling message to DAP's supporters. "I don't think it was a deliberate intention to insult, but the comment was made at the wrong time. I would advise him to be more careful in future. It's better that DAP does not interfere in Islamic matters," said Datuk Nik Amar Nik Abdullah, the Kelantan PAS deputy commissioner.  Khoo: 'Wrong to humiliate Mansor for calling Guan Eng arrogant' Whatever the motivation for Ngeh's action, it is evident that DAP is still a long way from understanding the Malay sentiment. They have been encouraged by Malays standing alongside them against Umno, hoisting DAP flags and wearing T-shirts emblazoned with the rocket symbol. They think that Malays are easy-going people and they are not wrong. The average Malay is very easy to get along with and their religion teaches them to be forgiving and compassionate. But there is no compromise when it comes to the issue of their faith and practice. Islam is non-negotiable for the Muslims, the Prophet is revered and, as recent history has shown, Muslims are prepared to die for their religion. When it comes to Islam, PAS and Umno have more in common than PAS and DAP. Blood is thicker than water but the Islamic bond runs thicker than blood. DAP leaders have under-estimated the Malays and Muslims. DAP is still struggling to shed the image that it is a Chinese chauvinist party that is critical about everything that has a Malay connection – the police, civil service, Umno, MACC and the NEP. Alienation of Malay voters What happened is unlikely to improve the party's image among the Malays. The worst-case scenario is that DAP might have alienated the Malay vote in Perak.  Zairil: Famous family name has no impact on Malay ground. But the real casualty of such insensitivities will be PAS and, to a lesser extent, PKR. These two parties have been struggling to hold on to the Malay votes in Perak and remarks like that will send the Malays running in the opposite direction. However, top PAS leaders have stood by Ngeh. For instance, Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat when asked about the tweet, said: "Oh, I have not read it." Only the dear old Tok Guru could have got away with such a disingenuous remark. But he compensated for not reprimanding Ngeh with a strong condemnation of the United States, urging Muslims to boycott American goods. Even Nik Amar said he has put aside what happened and continued to work with Ngeh. Nevertheless, the PAS seats in Perak have never looked shakier and sources say that former mentri besar Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaluddin is trying to move away from his Pasir Panjang state seat and to Changkat Jering, which has more Chinese voters and which falls within his Bukit Gantang parliamentary seat. But during a Pakatan meeting to discuss seats in Perak, PKR deputy president Azmin Ali stood firm; he told the PAS leader that he should not try to take PKR's seats and suggested he do a switch with DAP. During last Sunday's Perak DAP convention, a Malay delegate took to the mike to say that Ngeh had undone the good things previous leaders did to attract other races into DAP.  Nik Amar: Advised Ngeh not to interfere in Islamic matters. Many people at the convention were stunned at the number of delegates who criticised Ngeh's handling of a variety of issues. Such open criticism is quite unprecedented because the cousins run Perak DAP with an iron glove. It is possible the delegates were emboldened because they sensed that Ngeh has been weakened. At one stage, the convention chairman Ng Wei Aik, who is also Guan Eng's political secretary, cautioned the delegates: "Please be reminded that there are reporters around. If anything happens to the party, would you be happy?" Guan Eng, who opened the convention, left immediately after his opening speech. He did not want to face the press because if he defended Ngeh, he would offend his friends in PAS but if he criticised Ngeh, he would offend the cousins. The tweet episode will probably send DAP back to the drawing board in its attempt to rebrand itself as a multi-racial party, and particularly after the stormy departure of its biggest Malay star Tunku Aziz Ibrahim. "The DAP was serious about wanting to win the Malay votes but it seemed less serious about being genuinely multi-racial. It is hard to convince people you are a multi-racial party when you also want to be the Chinese champion," said a political insider. Token Malay The wow-effect over Zairil Khir Johari has also petered off. Apparently, he has no impact on the Malay ground and his famous family name had impressed the Chinese rather than the Malays. He has also acquired the unfortunate reputation as a yes-man for his boss Guan Eng and talk that they want to put him in a safe seat – read: Chinese-majority seat – will only add to the perception that he is a token Malay in a Chinese party. According to political analyst Khoo Kay Peng, the DAP's handling of Datuk Mansor Ismail for referring to Guan Eng as sombong (cocky) and angkuh (arrogant) did not win them new Malay fans. "He had to read out a prepared text before an army of pressmen as the Chief Minister looked on. Mansor was made to look weak and meek over something so trivial. DAP seems to forget that he is the Deputy Chief Minister and leader of the Malays in Penang," he said. Mansor had uttered those words at a PKR meeting but the transcripts of the meeting were leaked and on Monday night, TV3 aired the taped recording of what Mansor said. There was no running from it and an irritated and cornered Mansor shot back: "How much did TV3 pay for the tape?" Attempts to weaken Mansor, said Khoo, will be perceived as marginalising the community under the DAP-led government and pushing the Malays towards Umno. "Their effort to win over the Malays is not a complete failure but it's nowhere near being successful," said Khoo. Ngeh is the second big-name casualty of the tricky art of tweeting. His colleague Nizar went through an equally horrible time when he tweeted about the Sultan of Johor's "WWW1" vehicle number plate. And last year, Nga was accused of being racist when he referred to Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir as "hitam metallic". Pakatan politicians and supporters were ahead in using the social media against Barisan. But they are quite evenly matched in the run-up to a general election that will be fought on the ground and in cyberspace. |
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