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Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News

Who Are They Trying To Kid?
Dr Jeffrey Kitingan, the Prodigal Son, may Return to PBS
A government of the Cronies, by the Cronies and for the Cronies
NST drops to 73,000, B.Minggu loses 30% (ABC sneak peek)
What hypocrisy!

Posted: 13 Jun 2011 09:36 PM PDT

Have you heard this unbelievable news HERE:

A whopping RM1,758,432 was spent on developing six Facebook pages to promote Malaysian tourism, the Tourism Ministry said today.

Deputy Tourism Minister James Dawos Mamit said this today in reply to a question from Anthony Loke (Rasah-DAP).

Each Facebook page cost RM293,072 — Cuti-Cuti 1 Malaysia, Citrawarna 1Malaysia, Karnival Jualan Mega 1 Malaysia, Festival Pelancongan Seni Kontemporari 1 Malaysia, Kempen 1 Malaysia Bersih and Fabulous Food 1 Malaysia.

Mamit said that the RM1.8 million included costs for designing, flash programming and coding, testing and debugging, uploading and launching the application, system server deployment and campaign management.

"You need RM1.8 million to run Facebook pages and applications? A six-year-old can start a Facebook page.

"If Datuk Seri Ng Yen Yen has problems getting people to help start Facebook pages, DAP headquarters can help her out, we have people who can develop these things at no cost," Loke told reporters later at a press conference.

Loke said that unless Ng explained the reasons behind the "exorbitant" costs for the "social media branding" exercise by her ministry, he would lodge a report to the Malaysian Anti-Crimes Commission (MACC).

Come on!!! Who are they trying to kid? Anyone with some reasonable skills/exposure in FB can build a Facebook page with a few clicks here and there. Anyone knows that setting up a Facebook page is FREE so who are they trying to kid? Morons? Themselves?

Malaysians are not stupid idiots and we have the capacity to think, rationalize, criticize and demand for justification of our hard-earned money given to the government via taxes.

So what is the name of the game? Justify those expenses! Who will take responsibility for this? If it is not justified, who will pay? Certainly not the rakyat!!!

Spend spend spend...and then ask the rakyat to tighten their belts. Remove subsidies..then spend spend spend.

No wonder we cannot provide scholarships to worthy students. The money has gone here and there - every which way except the right way?

By Jove, this means that primary school students can be millionaires if they offer their services to that woman!!!

As if that is not enough, did you know that according to THIS WEBSITE:

Tourism Malaysia will be taking over five of London's iconic red double-decker buses, giving the capital's bustling transport system an altogether tropical feel!.

The bus campaign was launched today by the Minister of Tourism Malaysia, the Honourable Dato' Sri Dr. Ng Yen Yen at a special reception at the Malaysian High Commission in Belgrave Square, London.

"We are really excited on the working partnership with Transport for London to promote our fantastic destination on the most recognised public transport system and the world's most iconic city that presents a great opportunity for Tourism Malaysia. We hope the buses can bring more sunshine and help put a smile on the faces of London's commuters," said, the Honourable Dato' Sri Dr. Ng Yen Yen.

For the next 12 weeks, the buses will carry passengers on some of the busiest routes around London, covering the city's centre, north, east, and west, and being seen by millions of Londoners. They will also pass world famous tourist sites such as Big Ben, the Houses of parliament, Piccadilly Circus and Harrods.

Malaysia is world famed for its beaches. But with 14,500 flowering plants, 600 species of birds, 210 species of mammals and thousands of exotic insects and marine life, it is also one of the world's top 12 Biodiversity countries.

Londoners will be able to see giant exotic jungle and aquatic images of Malaysia as part of a drive to promote the country's hugely diverse nature, fantastic diving, and growing ecotourism industry.

Dr Jeffrey Kitingan, the Prodigal Son, may Return to PBS

Posted: 13 Jun 2011 03:48 PM PDT

Even though a couple of second rung leaders are rather apprehensive of their own place in the party should Dr Jeffrey be allowed to stage a comeback, Dr Maximus Ongkili is still opposed to his return, known to keep his own counsel in these matters, however, cannot be too pleased at the prospect of one of his more trenchant critics a more capable leader than him being allowed admittance in the PBS.

Posted: 13 Jun 2011 01:43 PM PDT

The people who are in power in Putrajaya don't quite behave like a normal government does - at leasrt not in a developed world. Some aspects of their behavior are reminiscent of pirates intent on plundering and pillaging the nation 24 by 7. And mind you, this damning indictment comes from the creme de la creme of corporate Malaysia - a former head of national enery firm Tenaga, no less!

On the political front, the opposition has been hollering if indelible ink had been used in the 12th General Election in March 2008, Prime Minister Najib Razak and his rag-tag Cabinet would not be sitting in Putrajaya now.

For those who are tender-hearted, rest assured that if this happened, Najib and the likes of Musa Aman and Taib Mahmud won't be selling durians or nasi lemak. But very likely, they'll be living it up in Monte Carlo, the Alps, London, New York, Paris while the opposition guys, Anwar Ibrahim, Lim Kit Siang and Hadi Awang, sweat it out trying to balance the unbalanceable Malaysian budget - irreparably busted by decades of reckless BN spending.

So this is the state of play in Malaysia - for now at least. A rogue-regime with all the characteristics of a robber-regime versus their likely inheritors - the Pakatan Rakyat, made up of a bunch of young smarties and political veterans seasoned by decades of enforced frugality and hard work.

Once they take power, the inheritors will surely be turned into a 'coolie'-regime. Yes, the Pakatan will have to slog 24 by 7 for next decade at least to be able to clear all the dirt and faeces from the Aegean stables vacated by the UMNO elite. Work has already begun at some of these swills and faeces-farms, which coincidentally mirror the 4 most essential elements.

The Water Margin

First of all, the water industry. Tun Dr Mahathir during his tenure as Prime Minister had ordered a privatization of water assets on the basis that privatization would improve services and save the government cost. But to pundits and many industry experts, it was a bailout. And that is not an unfair premise given that one of the major water players is none other than the treasurer of Selangor Umno - SYABAS' Rozali Ismail.

JBAS (Jabatan Bekalan Air Selangor) which was making profits around RM50 to RM80 million per year was privatized in 1997 and thereafter incurred losses as the treatment of water which was bringing JBAS huge profits was privatized to 3 companies:

1. Puncak Niaga Sdn Bhd (PNSB);
2. Syarikat Pengeluar Air Sungai Selangor Sdn Bhd (SPLASH); and
3. Konsortium Abass Sdn Bhd (ABASS).

Meanwhile, "non-revenue water (NRW)" was still under JBAS.

JBAS, after corporatization became PUAS (Pengurusan Air Selangor Berhad) and was put under the management of the Selangor State Government. PUAS incurred deficits (losses) amounting to RM350 million until it was privatized to SYABAS (Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor) in the year 2005.

The SYABAS shareholders are:

1. Puncak Niaga Holdings Berhad (PNHB) - 70% share;

2. Kumpulan Darul Ehsan Berhad (KDEB) - 15% share; and

3. Kumpulan Perangsang Selangor Berhad (KPSB) - 15% share.

The Federal Government through the Ministry of Finance has one 'golden share' in SYABAS.

To the rakyat or populace, the government announced that after privatization, the water services would be more efficient and lessen the government's burden as the private sector would now oversee the water services. Sad to say, at that time, the rakyat lapped up Mahathir's promises.

To the concesssionaires and keen parties in the private sector, who no doubt would have to put up huge capital and long-term investment, the government offered high tariffs, subsidies and compensation. Sad to say, they too believed Mahathir's promises and some of them are now stuck!

In order for the government to keep its promises to the private sector, the rakyat have to be burdened. Just like in the electricity tariffs. For the government to continue subsiding IPPs to the tune of RM19 billion, they must cut the subsidy from elsewhere. Guess where? If the answer is from the rakyat and other Malaysian industries, not fortunate enough to have a crony CEO, then this is correct.

Take for instance Selangor, where the BN government agreed to allow an increase in water rates of 37% (in 2009), 25% (in 2012) and 20% (in 2015). PM Najib now intends to bail out the water concessionaires who have incurred debts of RM6.4 billion to bond-holders.

It's a puzzle where the money comes from, considering that his administration is always yapping about not having enough money for all. Yet, somehow, his government is ever-ready and ever-willing to assist the 'special' firms. Of course, at the same time, the burden of the rakyat is increased.

The Fire Thieves?

Now for the other element, fire or rather, electricity.

TNB (Tenaga Nasional Berhad), similar to JBAS was a nationalized body and it was efficient and making profits until it was privatized and strangled by the IPPs (Independent Power Producers).

It was the Economic Planning Unit (EPU) that was responsible for this whole fiasco. TNB is able to provide electricity at the rate of 8 sen per unit (for each kWhr) but had to pay the IPPs at the rate of 23 sen per unit. In actual fact, TNB is able to supply electricity at the rate of 17 sen per unit without the IPPs. The reserve capacity of electricity at over 50% is one of the world's highest.

It is obvious that the BN Government is profiting their cronies at the expense of the rakyat. Why should Malaysians pay so much for something they don't use. And the scary thing is that this outsized bill is recurring and continuous - not one-off.

Every month, billions of ringgit of unused power is paid for with the hard-earned money of Malaysian taxpayers. The money eventually leaves the bank account of the Malaysian government and ends up in the accounts of the crony firms. No wonder, the tycoons who head these firms guys are on the Forbes list of the world's richest! Incidentally, they are called cronies because they are the chosen friends of the ruling elite in UMNO, the party that rules Malaysia.

It was this cruel vicious cycle of keeping the poor, poorer and the rich, richer that caused former TNB Chairman Ani Arope to resign years ago. He has been vindicated and no longer fears calling a spade a spade. Recently, he publicly labelled the EPU as the Economic Plundering Unit.

Now it becomes clearer why the BN Government needed to increase the electricity tariffs at the rate of 7.12% on June 1, so that the rakyat pays more to the government and the government can continue to pay the cronies the same benefits as before, without having to borrow more money.

Not that Najib and friends are averse to borrowing more money. mind you. Far from it. But going from past record, Malaysians can expect the new debt will be channelled to other 'nice', new projects meant to create 'nice', new income streams for the pockets of the cronies and from there to themselves.

Meanwhile, Energy minister Peter Chin claimed that 75% of the households will not be affected by the increased tariffs although he failed to mention that the waiver for those who use less than RM20 electricity per month will no longer be applied from 1st Jan 2012 onwards and that food prices will go up tremendously as the food industry is a major user of electricity.

In BN's traditional stiff upper-lip style, Peter Chin only gave the good news but concealed the bad news!

Inflation will definitely go up and the Consumer Price Index is now more than 4.7%. As expected, food prices have gone up, some items by more than 7%.

NST drops to 73,000, B.Minggu loses 30% (ABC sneak peek)

Posted: 13 Jun 2011 01:15 PM PDT

ADVANCE LOOK at some ABC figures for 2010

report and graphics by uppercaise

• NST sells only 73,000 on the street
• Berita Minggu loses 90,000 copies over three years

These charts are based on figures from the Audit Bureau of Circulation report for July-December 2010 newspaper sales. An image of an advance report to publishers was emailed anonymously to this blog. I have not seen the full report myself, but the image looks genuine enough — and the report will be out soon anyway. (ABC compiles and audits newspaper circulation figures.)

Sales of all four traditional titles are in decline
• Berita Minggu dropped 30% drop since 2007;
• New Straits Times lost 26%
• Berita Harian and New Sunday Times both fell by 22%

What hypocrisy!

Posted: 13 Jun 2011 01:08 PM PDT

For internet users, and those who store or download certain files from file sharing sites, the government decision to block these sites comes as a shock.

There are no doubt that certain files stored in these sites are infringing copyright act, but to impose a blanket block of these sites is like using a sledgehammer to kill a fly.

Many people store their legitimate files on these sites. Even scientific files are stored and shared.

Sometimes, if a person wants to share a file with his uncle or brother or sister or friend overseas, it would be too tedious to send the file via email, if the file is big.

For example, yahoo allows a person to send an email with a 20meg limit. To send friends or relatives certain big files more than 20 meg, a person can upload and store the files in these file sharing sites and the intended person/s can then download it and view. Scientific files/medical files are stored for the same reason.

A person can post his wedding video on these sites for his classmates all over the world to view it. That is how file sharing sites function.

Those who use file sharing sites are not profiting from monetary gains, since most downloads are free.

It is like you buy a harry Potter book from the bookstore and after finishing it, you lend it to someone else. It is perfectly legitimate, as long as you don't make any monetary gains from it. You can also start a book club, and invite people to share books that they have bought by keeping these books in the library of the book club.

File sharing sites are like book clubs.

Kredit: www.malaysia-today.net

Selasa, 14 Jun 2011