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2012 Budget Highlights
Greenpeace Speaks Up In Support Of The Vet Taib’s Assets Campaign!
Najib, what’s it to be? Free and fair elections after electoral reforms, or Tahrir Square?
‘Truth In Advertising’ – Ta Ann Exposed!
It's hard for me to say I'm sorry
How The Hunter Became The Hunted
Rakyat mahu bersatu, tetapi bersatu di luar BN
Like the RFS, Taib cannot stop the RARA getting into Sarawak

2012 Budget Highlights

Posted: 07 Oct 2011 04:17 PM PDT

* Government will introduce other transformation programmes, culminating in the National Transformation Policy, effective 2011-2020.

* RM232.8 billion allocated to implement all government development plans, focusing on the well-being of the rakyat, with RM181.6 billion for operating expenditure and RM51.2 billion for development expenditure.

* RM13.6 billion allocated to the social sector, including education, training, health, welfare, housing and community development.

* Government will implement a special stimulus package through private financing initiative, through which total projects amounting RM6 billion will be carried out.

* 2012 announced as the year of National Innovation Movement, with a RM100 million allocation to implement several strategic initiatives.

* RM50.2 billion for the education sector, with a development allocation of RM1.9 billion for the Education Ministry to be spent on all types of schools.

* RM1 billion to be provided through a special fund for the construction, improvement and maintenance of schools, particularly to cater to their immediate needs.

* Abolition of RM24.50 and RM33.50 for co-curriculum, internal test papers, Malaysian Schools Sports Council fees and insurance premium involving students in primary and secondary schools respectively, beginning the 2012 school year.

* Financial contributions from companies and individuals to upgrade school facilities to be eligible for tax deductions, to encourage more charitable activities.

* Existing National Agrobusiness Terminal (TEMAN) in Wakaf Che Yeh (Kelantan) and Gopeng (Perak) will be developed as Rural Transformation Centres pilot projects, with four more RTCs to be developed in Kedah, Johor, sabah and Sarawak.

* Establishment of Professional Services Fund to encourage professionals such as lawyers, doctors and accountants to set up firms in small towns, with BSN providing RM100 million for soft loans with an interest of 4 per cent.

* RM110 million for the implementation of the Rural Mega Leap Programme covering 6,500 hectares in 11 Agropolitan Projects nationwide for the cultivation of commodity and cash crops as well as cage fish culture.

* RM140 million to implement RISDA's new planting and rubber re-planting programmes benefiting 20,000 smallholders.

* RM5 billion proposed to strengthen the development of rural basic infrastructure in a more comprehensive manner.

* RM500 million to continue implementing projects to upgrade basic infrastructure under "Projek Penyelenggaraan Infrastruktur Awam" and "Projek Infrastruktur Asas", providing opportunities for 29,000 Class F contractors registered with the Contractor Service Sector.

* RM50 million to expand rainwater harvesting programme to Sabah.

* RM400 million to upgrade water supply infrastructure in selected Felda areas, besides RM50 million to connect the reticulation system in estates to the main pipes.

* RM150 million to be provided to the Public Transport Development Fund in the SME Bank to enhance bus services for the rural community.

* RM90 million for the provision of basic necessities which includes expanding the clean water supply project as well as income generating programmes for the Orang Asli community.

* Introduction of the New Civil Service Remuneration Scheme (SBPA) to replace the current scheme.

* Improving the salary of civil servants through a single-tier structure with additional increments to enable civil servants to continue receiving annual increments over a longer period.

* Annual increment of civil servants to be increased between RM80 and RM320 according to their grades, beginning 2012. Those who opt for the SBPA will receive an annual increment of between 7 per cent and 13 per cent.

* With the implementation of SBPA, more than 600,000 government pensioners will benefit from a pension adjustment involving an allocation of RM600 million.

* Effective 2013, the government will implement an annual pension increment of 2 per cent without having to wait for any review of the remuneration system or salary adjustments.

* Extension of compulsory retirement age from 58 to 60 years old to optimise civil servants' contribution.

* Additional bonus of half-month salary with a minimum payment of RM500 for civil servants and an assistance of RM500 for government pensioners, to be paid together with December 2011 salary.

* RM120 million to offer 5,000 Masters and 500 doctoral scholarships for eligible civil servants, including teachers.

* The government will offer 20,000 places for diploma teachers to pursue undergraduate studies.

* A special one-off payment of RM3,000 to 4,300 individuals who have completed their contracts with the Department of Special Affairs (JASA) and Social Development Department (KEMAS).

Posted: 07 Oct 2011 12:02 PM PDT

The Chief Executive Officer of Greenpeace Australia Pacific, Dr Linda Selvey, has personally written to Prime Minister Julia Gillard, backing requests by the Bruno Manser Foundation, PKR and Sarawak Report for an investigation into the Taib family's string of investments in that country.

These include investments by Hamed Sepawi's Ta Ann in a major logging concern in Tasmania, as well as numerous companies and properties owned by the Taibs, Taib's brother in law, Robert Geneid, and related companies and assets.

Greenpeace support for an enquiry into Taib Mahmud's affairs

Growing anti-timber corruption campaign puts world governments on the spot over Taib

Dr Selvey states in her letter:

"As research by the Bruno Manser Fund has shown and as many other journalists and independent bodies and individuals have demonstrated, Taib has abused his office consistently throughout his 30 reign as potentate of Sarawak in Malaysia. This has come at a high cost to the people and environment of Sarawak, a region of immense cultural and environmental significance on the island of Borneo"

She continues:

"There is significant evidence to indicate that the Taib family might have laundered and reinvested large amounts of money, procured through corruption in Australia"

Pointing out Australia's obligations to identify and address international corruption under the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), the Greenpeace Chief Executive goes on to urge Gillard to direct the Attorney General's Department to initiate a comprehensive investigation into the conduct and affairs of Taib, his family and associates on the basis of the material provided by the Bruno Manser.

Dr Selvey ends her letter by calling on the Australian Government to "stand up for the rights of the people of Sarawak to protect their culture, their land and their environment".

[click for Radio ABC Australia's broadcast today on the problem of money laundering in Australia by corrupt foreign politcians]

Wilderness Society also joins protest again Taib logging in Tasmania

Tasmanian tree fern - unique, slow-growing and endangered. This is being destroyed by the clear felling in Tasmania to provide wood for Ta Ann

Equally hard to ignore will the the backing by another of Australia's major environment organisations, the Wilderness Society, for the stand being taken against Ta Ann's logging of virgin jungle in Tasmania.

Ta Ann has been at the centre of destruction and controversy in Sarawak. A devastating report this week by the local Huon Valley Evironment Centre has now catalogued the company's destruction of areas that the Australian Government has been trying to protect in Tasmania.

Posted: 06 Oct 2011 11:30 AM PDT

These were the electoral reforms for which thousands of Malaysians converged on the streets of Kuala Lumpur to send a strong message to Najib's government : we, the rakyat, are not prepared to have another general election until we have the reforms we have demanded.

You will all recall that between the BERSIH 2.0 event on 19th June to announce the rally of 9th July, and the days after leading up to the rally itself, Najib, his ministers,Ibs and Perkasa, UMNO bloggers and the mainstream media were in complete denial that our 8 demands for electoral reforms had any basis.

The sheer numbers, the determination and the solidarity of the rakyat out there on 9th July, notwithstanding the blockades to prevent thousands getting into the city that day and the brutal treatment meted out by the FRU on those who managed to get into the rally, however, must have sent a chill down Najib's spine.

On 15th August, Najib announced the intention of the government to form a parliamentary select committee to look into reforms to our electoral system.

"Recently there have been demands for free and fair elections. The government's response is that we will propose the setting up of a parliamentary select committee soon, which will be made up of members from both BN and opposition…The committee will discuss all electoral reforms that needs to be implemented in order to achieve bipartisan agreement without any suspicion that there is manipulation by the government," , Malaysiakini reports Najib as saying.

Najib is also reported to have said that he will not form a government unless it is truly elected by the people.

"Don't think that we do not want a clean process of electing the government, we are committed to the tradition of parliamentary elections," he is reported to have said.

Two days later, Nazri Aziz brushed aside demands from the opposition that assurances be given that no general election will be called until the requisite electoral reforms are put in place.

"They are a minority and this is the right of the government. They cannot dictate to us," , Malaysiakini reports Nazri as saying.

Two days later, as reported in Malaysiakini, Najib reiterated what Nazri had said : the next general election can be held anytime and is not bound by the work of the parliamentary select committee on electoral reforms.

Since then, rumours abound that the 13th GE is imminent.

11th November, 2011, cause Najib is fixated with the number 11.

5th November, cause, it seems, that is Rosmah's preference.

On 3rd October, Parliament passed a motion to establish the parliamentary select committee (PSC) to look into electoral reform.

Malaysiakini reports that Nazri Aziz, who tabled the motion in Parliament, when winding up the debate on the same, said that "PRU-13 (the upcoming 13th general election) will not be the last GE for Malaysia and after that the world ends. If a snap election is called, the PSC's recommendations can be implemented in the 14th, 15th, 16th and GEs thereafter."

In other words, even as the committee discusses and discovers serious flaws in our electoral process, we, the rakyat, are expected to acquiesce to UMNO and BN going ahead to hold the 13th GE without those flaws being first put right.

‘Truth In Advertising’ – Ta Ann Exposed!

Posted: 05 Oct 2011 10:15 AM PDT

The report, published today by the Huon Valley Environment Centre of Tasmania, spells out Ta Ann's hypocrisy and it is uncompromisingly titled "Behind the Veneer: Forest destruction and Ta Ann Tasmania's lies". [click for report]

Over 50 pages, the troubling expose details how the Sarawak timber giant's decision to invest in Tasmania was specifically aimed at targeting the growing market for environmentally friendly, sustainable wood products, but has ended up deceiving consumers.

Why Tasmania?

"EIDAI is proud of our ECO-friendly flooring product" – Japanese advertisement for Ta Ann veneer panels sourced in Tasmania

As Ta Ann boss, Hamed Sepawi, himself confessed in 2006, Sarawak has almost completely run out of accessible timber, after 30 years of unrestrained logging by his own cousin and benefactor the Chief Minister.

Tasmania still has extensive hardwood jungles however, and remains one of the most important areas of natural wildlife world wide.

Even more crucially, Australia has received limited accreditation for sustainable timber, compared to Sarawak which is notorious for its destruction of the Borneo jungle.

Hence the constant highlighting of Tasmania as the source of Ta Ann's new 'environmentally conscious' operations.

However, as the investigation makes clear, NONE of the wood that Ta Ann has so far used from Tasmania qualifies as sustainable.

In fact, ALL of the logs so far taken by the company have come from old growth forests, many in high conservation value areas that form crucial habitats for some of the world's most endangered species. These include Tasmania's Wedge Tailed Eagle, the Quoll and the Tasmanian Devil.

And NO plantation wood is being used by Ta Ann in its veneer processing mills in Tasmania.

READ MORE HERE.

It's hard for me to say I'm sorry

Posted: 04 Oct 2011 01:33 PM PDT

Perhaps UMNO and BN think getting Lim Guan Eng to apologise represent a major coup. If UMNO BN thinks this represent a significant political triumph and would swing loads of votes from Pakatan, I am not fully convinced. If all politicians have to apologise for all private statement and personal opinion, then they would have no time to service the rakyat properly.

Do we not all have public and private opinion that differs? Do we not bitch behind clients/bosses/colleagues/spouse/relatives? If a Singaporean got robbed in Malaysia and bitched about it in Stomp, can UMNO BN be consistent enough to chase the Ah Beng down and demand an apology? If UMNO BN thinks Voyeurism politics is the way to go, then let's make that an official election manifesto for voters to identify with.

I love my hometown of Seremban. I mentioned to my friends that Port Dickson is a boring holiday place and I preferred Phuket and Langkawi. Do I need to apologise for my personal opinion? Isn't democracy about differing opinions? Shouldn't the federal and state administration that are empowered and enabled to develop Port Dickson should apologise for failing to deliver?

UMNO-BN demanded, and the Johor Sultan gotten the apology from Guan Eng. The fact that Lim Guan Eng apologized, showed that maturity, humility and an awareness the world does not revolve around his own ego.

If you want apologies and remorse, look no further than the following events and wonder if an apology from the culprits would ever be forthcoming.

1) Noh Omar, then as Deputy Education Minister

http://educationmalaysia.blogspot.com/2007/07/bad-apples.html

In 2007, when Ean Yong Hian Wah submitted a fairly innocuous memorandum to the then Deputy Minister Noh Omar with regards to violent conduct by a teacher in a secondary school on behalf of the abused student's parents, Noh Omar appeared to lose control of his faculties and verbally abused Ean Yong, crumpled the official memorandum and threw it away, before it was picked up by his officer. He accused Ean Yong and the DAP of interfering in a school disciplinary matter. Noh Omar even exclaimed at one stage that he will not handle any case referred via the party.

· Should Noh Omar apologise for his violent and uncalled for behavior which did not solve the issue at hand and probably terrified the young student who went there as a bully victim seeking help?

2) Ahmad Ismail, the wonder drug for BN harmonyin Penang

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arWnZtE3TdA

Ahmad Ismail called Chinese "penumpang" obviously inconsistent with so many recent (i.e. close to GE time) praises from Najib and Nazri about the appreciated role of Chinese as main tax payers. Penumpang? Malaysian Chinese purchase their property in accordance with laws passed by UMNO-BN law makers and unless in cases of default, paid every ringgit and sen for their property.

You can see in the video, Ahmad Ismail's recalcitrant and arrogant refusal to apologise and the unruly supporters behind him.

Should he apologise to all who are offended by him? Since he has failed to apologise, should the UMNO higher up do so for him for the sake of a few more Chinese votes?

3) That legendary Najib video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LwNLT428PqU

In the Sibu by-election, Najib's legendary speech "you help me, I help you" seems to infer to me that perhaps he agreed to some lousy advice that Chinese in Sibu are easily bought and equate their sacred vote to by election dead man angpow. The Chinese there have replied by voting against BN, should Najib apologise for underestimating them and painted to the world, an extremely regrettable of how democracy is being played out in Malaysia?

4) Temple demolition

http://www.danielpipes.org/comments/106706

Before UMNO BN lost Selangor, according to the Hindraf source above, numerous Hindu temples were demolished, defaced, relocated next to sewerage tanks, burnt to the ground, deities forcibly removed, police report ignored and what not.

While UMNO BN have signal to "retake Selangor at all cost", a simple apology and pre-election promise of not to do this again seems to be beyond them.

How The Hunter Became The Hunted

Posted: 03 Oct 2011 09:44 PM PDT

Once upon a time before GE 12, Pakatan Rakyat had the luxury of attacking the government (and its leaders) with an endless array of issues. In fact, they never seemed to run short of ammunition to attack the government which was on the defensive, busy defending themselves and warding off blow after blow.

Naturally, the internet was aflame with the corruption scandals which plagued the Malaysian government while the MSM had a field day painting picture perfect scenarios on the ground to create a 'feel good' ambiance in total indifference to the prevailing sentiment in cyberspace.

In the country's 12th GE, opposition parties took 82 seats in the federal parliament, compared to 20 seats in the 11th GE (2004). Significant political casualties for the coalition included the minister of works; the minister of women, family and community development; and the minister of information. Five of the 13 state legislatures also fell to opposition control.

Since Pakatan Rakyat clinched the tsunami victory in 2008, they seem to have run out of steam. In reality, it is not easy to maintain that level of being on the offensive all the time.

Eventually, Pakatan slowed down in their offensive as they also had to cope with the brass tags of governance. However, what they did not expect was how the government has turned around and started attacking the opposition and in a bitter twist of fate, it is the opposition that is busy defending itself now as the government is giving them a taste of their own medicine.

What we see today is the slow decapitation of Pakatan Rakyat whereby the status quo is slowly, steadily and stealthily weakening the coalition by their continual onslaught on selected leaders, starting with Anwar Ibrahim, Mat Sabu and now Lim Guan Eng. Who is next?

Initially, the opposition worked closely with the 'alternative media'. And then the reversal of fortunes began when Pakatan gradually became a bit sombong and seemed to have regarded some in the alternative media as the enemy.

So, the alternative media and Pakatan have taken separate routes which do not seem to converge at all.

Since then, BN-Umno have mobilised the pro-govt Blogs and alternative media into a coordinate force and theirs will be a force to be reckoned with!

The harsh reality is that today, BN is where Pakatan Rakyat used to be a few years ago!

If one were to scrutinize the situation, BN has recognised the value of the alternative media. They learnt their lesson well from the result of the 2008 GE where BN got an unforgettable whacking.

In the mean time, Pakatan has left the alternative media behind or left them out of their plans. In fact, some perceive that Pakatan, however, views the alternative media as a nuisance and would rather distance itself from it.

Posted: 03 Oct 2011 09:39 PM PDT

Di dalam negara kita dini hari kita sedang melihat keruntuhan dan kejatuhan tahap perhubungan kaum yang merbahaya. Perhubungan di antara kaum ini kini sudah sampai keperingkat yang terendah malahan lebh rendah dan merbahaya dari keadaan sebelum 13 Mei 1969 dahulu.

Laungan dan bisikan rasis yang di amalkan oleh pemimpin-pemimpin yang tidak berkepimpinan merupakan penyebab utama kenapa penyakit membenci di antara satu kaum dengan kaum yang lain sudah sampai ke tahap yang sangat menyakitkan. Oleh kerana kelemahan pimpinan yang tidak di hormati oleh rakyat berbilang kaum maka parti-parti yang rasis yang menganggotai BN sedang sibuk memukul gendang perkauman untuk mendapat sokongan kaum yang mereka masing-masing pimpin.

Semasa kepimpinan negara mempunyai kredibiliti yang tinggi kerana sifat 'magnanimity' mereka yang tinggi dahulu, mereka berani untuk mengambil sikap yang jelas untuk melakukan usaha mencapai penyatuan rakyat. Tun Abd Razak berjaya membawa semua pemimpin berbilang kaum kemeja perundingan dan menyatakan dengan terus terang yang 'national unity' itu ada matlamat terakhir bagi negara kita.

Tun Razak dan pimpinan beliau berani menyatakan perpaduan kaum itu adalah perkara yang terpenting untuk dicapai. DAN itu pun 'ultimate' negara. Kepimpinan semasa itu berani mendapatkan persetujuan semua pemimpin kaum di negara ini untuk negara melalui dasar-dasar yang jelas bagi mencapai matlamat perpaduan kaum itu. Pemimpin-pemimpin UMNO sebagai parti yang utama semasa itu faham tentang keresahan rakyat yang menyebabkan berlakunya kejadian 13 Mei '69 itu.

Di sinilah lebihnya pemimpin pra Mahathir. Mereka mampu menyelami masalah rakyat yang berbilang kaum ini. Apabila mereka tahu dan faham semua masalah rakyat ini maka barulah mereka lakukan tindakan dengan menggubal dasar-dasar yang boleh menyelesaikan masalah itu. Ini memang asas ilmu pengurusan; 'one has to understand problems up to specific even before thinking of solving them'.

Pemimpin kita berjaya menyelami segala masalah rakyat yang berbilang kaum, maka pimpinan pun dengan mudah menggubal dasar-dasar untuk membentuk proses-proses ke arah matlamat 'national unity' itu.

Tun Razak dan barisan kepimpinannya berjaya mendapat sokongan semua kaum untuk beliau melaksanakan DEB dan pencapaiannya ialah melalui beberapa proses yang telah dipersetujui oleh semua kaum.

Pertamanya untuk membasmi kemiskinan tanpa mengira kaum. Keduanya untuk menghapuskan cara mengenali satu-satu kaum itu melalui fungsi ekonominya. Kerajaan tidak mahu lagi Melayu di kenali sebagai pekebun dan petani kecilan yang duduk di desa-desa. Kaum Cina tidak hanya dipersepsikan sebagai gulungan peniaga sahaja dan kaum India tidak digambarkan sebagai hanya pekerja ladang kepunyaan bangsa asing dan taukay besar-besar sahaja. Ketiganya untuk merapatkan jurang pendapatan di antara yang berada dengan tidak berada.

Keempatnya untuk membesarkan serta melebarkan kek ekonmi negara dan menyusun pembahagian harta kekayaan negara mengikut kaum secara equitable (bukan equal).

Bumiputra di berikan kemudahan dan galakan untuk mencapai 30 peratus penyertaan di dalam bidang ekonomi dan industri dan bukan bumiputra sebanyak 40 peratus dan selebihnya untuk bukan rakyat Malaysia.

Dasar ini telah di persetujui oleh semua pihak termasuk yang bukan bumiputra kerana proses pembahagian dan menambah penyertai bumiputra itu bukannya dengan mengambil alih atau merampas hak bukan bumiputra tetapi sebaliknya dengan membesarkan kek ekonomi tadi untuk bumiputra mengusahakan pencapai matlamat pegang kekayaan serta equiti negara sehingga 30 peratus menjelangnya tahun 1990.

Posted: 03 Oct 2011 04:02 PM PDT

Last week, following the launch of the Rakyat Reform Agenda (RARA) roadshow in KL on 19th September, 2011, the Malaysian Civil Liberties Movement (MCLM) took its RARA roadshow to Sabah and Sarawak.

On 27th and 28th September, we successfully held forums in Kota Kinabalu and Tawau respectively.

To read the news report following the forum in Tawau, click on the news clipping here.

On 29th, September, 2011, as you all might already know by now, I was refused entry into Kuching, Sarawak where, at 7pm that same night, MCLM was to host its RARA forum at the Grand Continental Hotel.

The show, nonetheless, went on.

READ MORE HERE

Kredit: www.malaysia-today.net

Sabtu, 8 Oktober 2011

Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News

Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News

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