Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News
Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News |
- A Badly Conceived Election Budget Allocation
- Glaring Indicators That Malaysia is on a Downward Spiral to Economic Obscurity
- Arrest Taib! What's the government's response?
- Dual Legal System Will Not Work In Malaysia
- UBF to celebrate its 1st Anniversary on Dec 16
- ABU: Rapat Rakyat pada 15hb Disember, 2011
- Of Traitors And The Great Siege On Islam
- Invitation to Attend The 3rd Civil Society Award Ceremony
| A Badly Conceived Election Budget Allocation Posted: 12 Dec 2011 10:35 PM PST By Koon Yew Yin Recently the leading state newspaper in Perak carried an article which contained details of the Perak State Government's budget for 2012 which was tabled before the State Assembly on 21St Nov. 2011 (The Ipoh Echo, Issue 133, 1-15 December 2011). Among the key items of planned allocation in what is clearly a pre-election budget aimed at buying votes for the present state government in the coming elections, the most problematic is the RM60 million fund set up to assist first time house buyers by providing the 10% deposit as required by Banks to purchase a new house.I sympathise with the plight of first time low income house buyers and agree on the need to assist them in helping with home ownership. I can also understand the populist intention of the programme. However, this programme – as it is currently designed - is not only likely to fall short of its noble goal but will result in grief to the Perak administration. I can already foresee the following difficulties:- 1. What will happen if the buyers cannot pay the monthly instalments to the banks? A Housing Loan Manager of one of the leading banks told me that the bank can issue the first letter of demand after the defaulter fails to pay up only after 3 months. Also that the bank is able to initiate legal action only after 3 letters of demand have been sent out. In all likelihood, the legal procedure to recover 2. What will happen when a buyer cannot pay back the 10% to the State Government? Does the Government have the necessary machinery to recover the debt? As you can see above, there are laws to protect the poor men. Even the commercial banks with all the rules and regulations in place, still have difficulties to recover their money, how can the Perak State Government expect to do The administrative cost to recover the debt is not only likely to be considerable but could also exceed the 10% loan outlay. This will further impoverish the state by diverting resources to unproductive expenditure. What this means is that any recovery of loan funds will be much less than what has been dispensed, leading to a short life span for the so-called "rolling" fund. I hope all members of the Perak State Assembly will consider these comments seriously and delay the implementation of the scheme until a later date when all the design and operational kinks and problems are fully understood and accounted for. A better planned and more stringent housing loan scheme is needed for the state if it is to be sustainable. The unseemly haste with which this poorly designed scheme is being pushed through for the coming elections will surely backfire on the state government and all Perak subjects. |
| Glaring Indicators That Malaysia is on a Downward Spiral to Economic Obscurity Posted: 12 Dec 2011 10:13 PM PST When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work as somebody else is going to get what they worked for, compounded by the fact that the first half are really only getting the little crumbs and the elite UMNOputras are the ones getting all the benefits and wealth from all the work done through mass unbridled corruption, that is the beginning of the end for any nation! Socrates There were many supporters of affirmative action in the tertiary institutions, which they felt, helped to "distribute" Malaysia's wealth more evenly and thus, fairly amongst the different diverse races. Rather than argue with them, or have an open debate between the "for" and the "against" which could lead to ill feelings, a lecturer decided to run an experiment in his class. He told his students to replace money with grades, and therefore, all grades will be averaged out with no one getting outstanding grades, and no one failing. After the first exam, the whole class averaged a "B". The students who studied hard were upset they did not get an "A", but the students who did not study much at all were happy that they got a "B". When the second exam came around, those who did not study much, studied even less, and those who used to study a lot, wanted a free ride as well, and so they did not study much, too. The whole class averaged a "D" This time round. No one was happy! By the time the third exam came around, the average was an "F", and the whole class had failed the exam. As the exams proceeded, the scores never increased bickering, name-calling, finger pointing and blame all resulted in hard feelings and no one would study for the benefit of anyone else. Yes, there is. We must vote in the 13th General Election that is expected shortly in a focused manner. No matter what the mainstream media says about anything, or anyone, we must have only ONE idea in mind, and that is to vote for ABU, Anything But Umno, or Asalkan Bukan Umno! |
| Arrest Taib! What's the government's response? Posted: 12 Dec 2011 03:31 PM PST PM, MACC, Attorney-General and IGP must respond to the public demands by environmental groups and activists from Malaysia, Europe and Australia for the arrest and criminal prosecution of Sarawak Chief Minister and 13 family members for massive graft and plundering of Sarawak's rich natural resources Lim Kit Siang The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Agency (MACC), the Attorney-General and the Inspector-General of Police must respond to the public demands by environmental groups and activisits from Malaysia, Europe and Australia for the arrest and criminal prosecution of Sarawak Chief Minister, Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud and his 13 family members for massive graft and plundering of Sarawak's rich natural resources. Seventeen non-government organisations and activists, including Greenpeace, the Swiss-based Bruno Manser, Europe-based forest advocate group FERN, the Borneo Resources Institute and the Japan Tropical Forest Action Network, today released a letter to the MACC, the Attorney-General and the Inspector-General of Police urging the immediate arrest of Taib, alleging crimes including illegal appropriation of public funds and land, abuse of office, fraud, money-laundering "and conspiracy to form a criminal organisation". The 10-page letter includes 16 exhibits that document the accusations against the Taib and his immediate family members, alleging that they have a stake in 332 Malaysian and 85 foreign companies worth several billion US dollars. The letter which alleged Taib family stakes in 14 large Malaysian companies alone exceed RM4.6 billion or US$1.46 billion, said: "We allege that only the systematic breach of the law and the use of illegal methods has enabled Taib and his family members to acquire such massive corporate assets." The NGOs said immediate arrests were needed to prevent the accused destroying evidence. The signatores reminded the Malaysian authorities that Malaysia, as a signatory to the UN Convention against corruption and the UN Convention against Transnational Organised Crime, has "a strong international obligation to fight corruption and organised crime in an efficient, timely and expedient manner". The letter concluded: "We are thus asking you, Gentlemen, to fulfill your duty as leading prosecuting officials of Malaysia and take immediate action against Abdul Taib Mahmud and his 13 co-conspiring family members. "Malaysia's international credibility is at stake over the Taib's case." Although the Dewan Rakyat has been adjourned, the Senate is currently in session. The unprecedented international and national joint charges against the Sarawak Chief Minister for being guilty of heinous crimes warrants Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak making a special appearance in the Dewan Negara to give a Prime Ministerial statement on the status of investigations which had been conducted by the various enforcment agencies against Taib to date. As Chairman of Barisan Nasional, he should also declare whether in view of the very serious allegations made by the battery of prestigious international and national environmental groups and activists, he would ask Taib to step as Sarawak Chief Minister until Taib has fully cleared himself of the allegations.
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| Dual Legal System Will Not Work In Malaysia Posted: 12 Dec 2011 11:04 AM PST Tee Siew Kiong Pakatan Rakyat has agreed to work together with PAS to establish a theocratic state simply so that they can achieve their own political purposes. In order for PAS to achieve its goal of establishing an Islamic state, they make all kinds of empty promises to deceive voters, including the promise that there will be two sets of laws and that non-Muslims will not be affected by PAS's hudud law. However, PAS is slowly enforcing their laws onto the people and making them suffer. When PAS came to power in Kedah and Kelantan, their implementation of hudud law has affected non-Muslims, with the most recent incident being when a Chinese was fined because his Muslim female employee accidentally exposed her arm. In Kelantan last year, the state government did not approve the applications for the Chinese community to celebrate the Hungry Ghost Festival, and have banned the sale of lottery tickets. In Kedah, the state government had closed down the sole pig abbatoir, and shops were forced to stop operations during Muslim night prayers and must be close by 3pm during the month of Ramadan. All these have affected the lifestyle and livelihoods of non-Muslims greatly. PAS excuse for saying that hudud law does not affect non-Muslims is that there will be two sets of rules governing the country, but if both a non-Muslim and a Muslim conduct a crime, will they be charged under hudud law? Is it reasonable? Is it fair? There are some political parties which have supported PAS to make Malaysia an Islamic state simply to achieve their own goals. They purposely portray a moderate image to the public and criticize their opponents as extremist, but their most serious and dangerous offense is their plan to replace the Federal Constitution in order for PAS to establish an Islamic state. I urge DAP to not be led by the nose and expose this fact, and not work together with PAS simply for their own political purpose. TEE SIEW KIONG is MCA National Organising Secretary |
| UBF to celebrate its 1st Anniversary on Dec 16 Posted: 12 Dec 2011 07:50 AM PST "The United Borneo Front (UBF) will be celebrating its 1st Anniversary on 16 December 2011" announced UBF founder, Datuk Dr. Jeffrey Kitingan in a press statement released today. 16 December 2010 saw the birth of the UNITED BORNEO FRONT (UBF) as an apolitical platform under the auspices of the Borneo Heritage Foundation. As a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), UBF seeks to empower the people especially in the Borneo States of Sabah and Sarawak with the relevant information and knowledge and act as a pressure group and facilitator for change.
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| ABU: Rapat Rakyat pada 15hb Disember, 2011 Posted: 11 Dec 2011 10:02 PM PST
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| Of Traitors And The Great Siege On Islam Posted: 11 Dec 2011 12:11 AM PST JAKIM would have us believe that standing up for non-Muslim causes is an act of betrayal to Islam. I suppose fighting corruption, asking for fair and just elections, and pursuing equality for all are 'non-Muslim" causes. By Mohd Ikhram Merican There is an assault on Islam, the religion. Surely and steadily, this siege is weakening the very foundations of its community. No more is Islam recognized for the enlightenment it brought to the Middle East and the world. The likes of al-Khwarizmi, Omar Khayyam, Ibnu Sina, Jalaluddin Rumi, and al-Farabi have been relegated to the dark recesses of history, while the likes of Osama Bin Laden and the Taliban flourish in the minds of the general population. The world views Islam as a religion of intolerance, incapable of adapting, breeding paranoid zealots who are in a state of perpetual fear. Fear that "infidels" are plotting and planning the destruction of Islam. In Malaysia, we have UMNO and JAKIM to perpetuate this fear indefinitely. Yes, there is an assault on Islam. The only problem is that the perpetrators are Muslims clothed in sheep's fur, cleverly concealing their wolf skin. Islam has no greater enemy than this pack of wolves within, claiming to be defenders of the religion. They howl and they bark, agitating and stirring, every day finding new ways to use Islam in their own interest. In our country, the attack on Islam is not coming from the non-Muslim opposition. It is coming from within the Muslim community. JAKIM would have us believe that standing up for non-Muslim causes is an act of betrayal to Islam. I suppose fighting corruption, asking for fair and just elections, and pursuing equality for all are 'non-Muslim" causes. It is common knowledge that corruption runs rampant in our largely Muslim civil service. Stories of politicians taking "cuts" on national projects riddle everyday conversation in Malaysia. Why doesn't this irk our Muslim clerics? The cost of corruption to us, the taxpayer (Muslims included) is immense. It stifles growth, innovation, and business. It raises the cost of doing business. It increases our national budget. It is weakening our defense. This is a matter of national security. Yet, we are made to believe that the threat is our non-Muslim brothers, fellow citizens of Malaysia with an equal vested interest in the development of this nation. My non-Muslim Chinese and Indian friends love this country. They are not scheming and conspiring to attack Islam. They're busy with their jobs. They're busy worrying about the economy. They're busy worrying about the education of their children. Attacking Islam does not fit into the agenda of the average non-Muslim living in Malaysia. But the upper echelons of our government would like us to believe that Muslim's who support "Non-Muslim" causes a.k.a causes not aligned to the expediency of the elite few, are traitors. Traitors are people who botch our national security with defense systems that do not work. Traitors are people who suck on our national coffers like vampires suck blood. Traitors are people who rape, pillage, and abuse the folk that they govern. Traitors are Muslims using religion, devoid of love for the god they profess faith in, for self-fulfilling interests. Traitors are Muslims who use fear like the Sword of Damocles, to keep the rest of us scared. Why should anyone have any respect for Muslims when Muslim leaders and organizations act like little children? They are unable to engage in intellectual discourse. Their conclusions are arbitrary and not necessarily in the spirit of Islam. They are incapable of maturity. They get angry and call for heads to roll every time they are offended. Everyone outside of Islam is the enemy. It has become a standard operating procedure; when in trouble, blame it on the non-Muslims. This is the way of an illiterate, uncouth rabble. In no way does it represent the sophisticated religion that took the Arabs from the dark ages to enlightenment. Should we direct our wrath at our non-Muslim brothers for the siege on Islam? Or should we train all our firepower on the intellectually bankrupt clergy and Muslim leadership? Perhaps we have no one but ourselves to blame. Plato wisely said, "The price good men pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men." This could be the crisis for us Muslims. |
| Invitation to Attend The 3rd Civil Society Award Ceremony Posted: 09 Dec 2011 05:20 PM PST The KL & Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (KLSCAH) will be having its 3rd Civil Society Award ceremony on 12 December 2011. The NGOs, activists and the public are invited to attend in order to acknowledge individuals and organizations on their contributions to civil society and to open up the democratic space. The promotion and strengthening of freedom and democracy depend on the growth of civil society. The purpose of the award is to acknowledge individuals and organizations on their contributions to civil society and to open up the democratic space and at the same time encourage such participation by more individuals and organizations. This award also serves as an evaluation to the civil society organizations and even to the overall performance of civil societies. Besides, we should recognize the importance of civil societies as the third-sector and NGOs are moving our society to be more progressive. We hope that this would encourage the communal organizations to be more open and be more proactive in the public affairs. Individuals who are Malaysian citizens or organizations in Malaysia are eligible for nomination. The Award is given once a year, which can be conferred on up to three individuals or organizations in no particular order. The winner of the civil society award will be announced by the award committee. All nominees will be granted testimonials as recognition and encouragement of their contribution to the civil society while the winner will be awarded RM5000, trophy as well as testimonials. A thematic speech will be delivered at the ceremony as to analyze the concept of civil society and the current situation of the country.
Details of the event: Organizer : The Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall Date : 12 December 2011 (Monday) Time : 7.00 pm (Dinner provided) Venue : Auditorium of KLSCAH
Agenda: 07.00 pm Registration and dinner 08.00 pm Promulgation ceremony and speeches
1. Greetings by Ser Choon Ing, Chairman of the Civil Society Award Organizing Committee 2. Brief history of the Malaysian civil society 3. "My Consti and the challenges we face" by Edmund Bon, Human rights lawyer 4. Prize Ceremony and Judges' note 5. Q & A section 6. Closing
KLSCAH hopes that this initiative will encourage more individuals and organizations to participate in pushing for social progress and to establish a civil society. The growth of civil society requires participation of all ethnic groups and all segments of the society. We thus invite all to join us in this activity and welcome feedback so that we can move forward to a more open and progressive society. Should you have further enquiry, please do not hesitate to contact the assistant secretary of the KLSCAH, Chia Wei Loon , 03-22746645.
Thank you. Ser Choon Ing Chairman of the Civil Society Award Organizing Committee ____________________________________________________________ Appendix 1: The Award Committee A seven-member Selection Committee shall be formed by prominent scholars and community leaders. The committee will verify the eligibility of nominees and select recipients of the award.
Appendix 2: Criteria for Selection The committee will select recipients of the award according to the following criteria: (a) Playing an important role in defending freedom of political participation and fighting for greater space for social freedom and democracy; (b) Actively promoting the cooperation of civil groups from different background and areas; (c) Initiating and pioneering social reforms; (d) Promoting communications and interactions among different ethnic groups.
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