Hold the claps! Toll freeze may turn costly

By Rahmah Ghazali

KUALA LUMPUR: Toll concessionaire Plus Expressways Bhd's RM5 billion compensation disclosure has dulled the claps and raised the question of whether a freeze on toll rates over the next five years is good for the people.

While many have lauded the government's announcement under Budget 2011, DAP publicity chief Tony Pua however believes the moratorium is short-lived and may not be good for the people.

“As the saying goes, there is no free lunch. The people’s joy that there will be a five-year moratorium on toll-rates is short-lived.

"UEM's announcement yesterday that the government may have to further compensate them nearly RM5 billion if the freeze is implemented means people will have to pay... one way or another," said Pua, who is also the Petaling Jaya Utara MP.

Based on the concessionaire agreement with the government, Plus is allowed to increase toll rates at a fixed 10 percent every three years and the last increase was in 2005. Since then the rates have been frozen.

“Should the toll rates be frozen all the way until the concession expires, then the total compensation that needs to be paid (by the government) over the next 28 years will amount to a mind-boggling of RM64 billion,” he said.

Yesterday, it was revealed that the RM5 billion in compensation was in addition to some RM2.5 billion which the government already owed Plus for deferring an earlier hike in toll rates.

Gov’t ignores DAP proposals to take over Plus

Meanwhile Plus is now in the midst of a takeover talk by UEM Group and Employees Provident Funds (EPF).

The joint venture is to acquire the entire assets and liabilities of Plus for RM23bil, which works out to RM4.60 a piece through a co-investment vehicle to be owned 51 percent and 49 percent respectively.

Looking at the share price, Pua said the government should have subscribed to DAP's suggestion, last year, to takeover the Plus concessionaire last year, when its share prices hovered below RM3 per piece.

“We had recommended that the government make a general offer to takeover the shares at RM3.30 per share,” he said, adding that the price would be far lower than the price currently being offered by the UEM-EPF joint-venture.

“Instead of valuing Plus at RM23 billion, it would have been at RM16.5 billion, saving the government a potential RM6.5 billion in cost of acquisition,” Pua said.

Pua also argued that at RM3.30 per share last year, the cost of acquisition would have been fully paid off within seven years, financed purely by the profits of Plus without further increasing toll rates.

“Hence, the concession period could have been effectively reduced to seven years and subsequently the Plus highway would be toll free or a marginal toll rate can be collected for the purposes of maintenance,” he said.

However, it was not too late for the government to launch a takeover based on the same price that the UEM-EPF had offered to ensure that the people get a “better deal”.

“The above will be the fair deal… where the acquisition does not cost the government a single cent as it is self-financed by cash generated during the 15 years concession period, toll rates will be frozen for 14 years and not just five years without having to pay any compensation.

"What’s more, the toll concession period can also be reduced by half from 28 to 14 years,” he said.

Pookimark UMNO driving our brains away

Malaysian tops Cambridge, heads to Singapore

By Lee Wei Lian

October 19, 2010

Container ships are seen against the backdrop of the Singapore’s financial district. Singapore has honed its capacity to scour the world for top talent, including from Malaysia where students are recruited to the republic from as young as 15 years old. – Reuters pic

ANALYSIS, Oct 19 – Malaysian first-class honours law graduate Tan Zhongshan, who won a slew of awards at Cambridge University including the Slaughter and May prize for best overall performance, is heading to Singapore to join its Legal Service commission, it was reported today.

But this is no longer an uncommon case in Malaysia which has been facing a brain drain problem for decades even as previous administrations did little to stem the tide of outgoing talent.

This has led to fears that the country is being hollowed out.

The Najib administration has taken the strongest steps yet to tackle the issue by proposing a Talent Corporation (Talentcorp) to lure talent and overseas Malaysians back as well as resolving the perennial government scholarship debate by awarding scholarships to all students who score 9As and above.

The prime minister has also been on a personal charm offensive abroad the past one year and told Malaysian communities in Belgium and Luxembourg this month that the Talentcorp will seek overseas Malaysians out and do what it takes to make them consider going home.

It is too early to tell however if the initiatives will be able to dent the numbers of qualified Malaysians moving abroad, particularly to Singapore which has over the years, honed its capacity to scour the world for top talent, including from Malaysia where students are recruited to the republic from as young as 15 years old.

In the case of Ipoh-born Tan, he was sponsored with an Asean scholarship by Singapore’s Ministry of Education after completing his A-Levels at the Temasek Junior College there, The Star newspaper reported today.

It is unclear however if the Talentcorp’s mandate also extends to preventing further hemorrhaging of talent even as it works to bring overseas Malaysians back.

While the prime minister’s campaign to bring lure the Malaysian diaspora back to the country has been widely welcomed, he faces structural and branding challenges including the widespread perception that in Malaysia, ability is not appreciated and ranks well below other factors such as race and political connections.

The country also lags behind favoured immigration destinations such as Australia, New Zealand, US and UK in terms of livability, lifestyles, education systems and opportunities in areas such as scientific research, making it harder for many returnees to adjust even though they want to serve the country as well as be closer to friends and family.

The government’s fledgling Economic Transformation Programme, which aims to elevate Kuala Lumpur to the top 20 in the world in terms of livability and economic activity could however help address some of the concerns.

The number of Malaysian migrants rose by more than 100-fold in a 45-year period, from 9,576 Malaysians in 1960 to 1,489,168 Malaysians in 2005, according to the World Bank which warned that a lack of human capital is a “critical constraint in Malaysia’s ambition to become a high-income economy.”

Deputy Foreign Minister Senator A. Kohilan Pillay also said recently that 304,358 Malaysians had migrated from March 2008 till August 2009 compared with 139,696 Malaysians in 2007.

The prime minister told Parliament this month that less than one per cent of 784,900 Malaysians working overseas have returned to the country during the past nine years with Singapore having the highest number of Malaysians with 303,828 people, followed by Australia with 78,858.

Top Malaysian Law Student of Cambridge UK from Singapore

from Hawkeye by Hawkeye

(Tan Zhongshan third from left in black jacket with other Malaysian students in UK)

Malaysia is facing a severe Human Capital Flight with large-scale emigration of intellectuals seeking greener pastures in more advanced society like in Singapore who is estimated to have 45 % of the best brains from Malaysia and 25 % to other Asian countries with the balance of 30 % to Europe and the USA out of the total estimated one million Malaysian working overseas.

There are no official figures of the number of brain drain and the estimates are from 700,000 to above 1,000,000 skilled and professional talents working overseas, this figures have not taken into consideration the Malaysians who had taken up citizenship or permanent residences in advanced nations. The numbers are expected to increase due to local racial politics and constant police harassment under the Internal Security Act, the Sedition Act and other oppressive laws as practiced by the ruling political party of Barisan Nasional.

This has prompted the Najib administration to set-up the Talent Corporation task with the objective of bringing talent back to the country, this is seen as a lost cause as fundamental political changes are not in place to attract the talents. Local talents are wanting to get out and none would like to return and they are further encouraged to stay out by their parents and elders.

The government practices contradictory policies and even local bred talents like the UKM 4 who are top students were harassed and bullied by the authorities dragging them to court because they are opposition sympathisers. Detailed stories of the UKM 4 from The People's Parliament HERE. This has caused much anger and resentments from the local talents of young students and many has adopted an ambition to seek greater freedom and career advancement away from their home country which is riddled by corruption and impropriety by leaders and officials.

This anger has started a movement by local students seeking freedom and justice, had today launch a fund raising website titled "Student Freedom Fund" to defend the UKM4 in their court battle and protect other students that are being bullied by the authorities.

Tan Zhongshan is another fine example of Talent Flight, Tan from Ipoh, Perak had his earlier education from Sekolah Kebangsaan St Michael than moved to St Xavier, Penang than did his A-Levels in Temasek Junior College in Singapore.


Tan who was awarded an Asean Scholarship by the Singapore Ministry of Education after completing his A-Levels at the Temasek Junior College. Tan has emerged as the top student in his final-year law examinations at Cambridge University a first-class honours in the Bachelor of Arts (Law) in June this year at Queens’ College, which is part of the Cambridge university, one of England’s oldest and most prestigious.

He even scored the “Slaughter and May” prize given by the university’s Law Faculty – an award given to those who achieve the best overall performance in the final-year law examinations.

Other coveted prizes he bagged include The Norton Rose Prize for Commercial Law, the Clifford Chance Prize for European Union Law and the Herbert Smith Prize for Conflict of Laws

Queens’ College dean Dr Martin Dixon said Tan definitely stood out among the students there.

“He is probably the best Malaysian student I have seen in the last 10 years,” said Dr Dixon, who taught Tan on Land and Equity for two years.

“He is the most able, dedicated and one of the most likeable students I have taught in more than 20 years at Cambridge.”

Tan, he said, was also a great help to fellow students.

“He works really hard, has great insight and intuition. He is a problem-solver, listens well and learns,” he said.

Tan was modest about his achievements. “It was a pleasant surprise as it is hard to predict the end results,” said the Ipoh-born, who has been in Singapore since August.

On his secret to success, he attributed it to “consistent work and a detailed understanding of the subjects”.

The classical guitar player is not done yet. He will pursue his Bar exams, expected to be completed by end of 2011, in Singapore.

“I will also join the Singapore Legal Service in January,”

On his reasons in pursuing a law degree, he said, “Being in the legal line gives you a chance to make changes that have a far-reaching effect.”

Congratulations! Tan Zhongshan, We Malaysians wish you the best. We hope that one day you should return to assist in rebuilding our beloved country...

Read Related Story;
Top Girl in Singapore from Malaysia
WooHoo?

Guan Eng says toll-freeze meaningless

By Clara Chooi

October 19, 2010

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 19 — Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng threw a wet blanket today over the five-year toll freeze for Plus highways, pointing out that it was “meaningless” and would only lead Malaysians into greater debt.

He explained in a statement that while the people would save on toll money, they still end up paying toll-road concessionaire Plus Expressways Bhd large compensations.

UEM Group managing director Datuk Izzaddin Idris revealed yesterday that the five-year toll freeze could cost the government some RM5 billion in compensation payments, which is about RM170 per Malaysian.

If added to the outstanding RM2.5 billion presently owed to Plus, the government would have to foot a staggering RM7.5 billion bill to the company.

Izzaddin however added that although compensations averaged at RM1 billion each year in the past, the actual sum to be paid to Plus for the five-year toll freeze still needed to be finalised with the government and could cost less than RM5 billion.

Lim said today that the compensation payments would only lead to an unhealthy increase in both Federal government debt and debt service charges.

“DAP is shocked at the revelations by UEM Group’s Datuk Izzaddin Idris that toll highway operator Plus could be compensated as much as RM5 billion by the Federal government over the next five years for not raising toll rates.

“Clearly freezing toll rates is meaningless as the people still has to pay through compensation payments by the government,” said Lim, who is also DAP secretary-general.

He suggested that the government consider a one-off nationalisation programme limited to toll concession agreements to prevent irresponsible companies from reaping extraordinary profits at the expense of the public.

“Nationalisation is necessary when toll concession operators like Plus have not only recouped their investment and construction costs but also maintenance costs and are earning pure profits from toll rates revenue collected.

“Failure to do so will not only create an unbearable financial burden to the people but also strain our country’s finances for the foreseeable future,” he said.

Lim revealed that according to the Finance Ministry’s Economic Report 2010/2011, the total federal government debt would soar by 12.6 per cent from RM362.4 billion in 2009 to RM408.2 billion in 2010.

This, he pointed out, meant every Malaysian would be in debt of RM15,118 as at 2010.

“In other words for every Malaysian born, he or she will be immediately in debt of RM15,118.

“If we take into account paying an extra RM1 billion every year to Plus, it is an expense and a debt burden that the country can ill-afford,” he said.

Lim also said that corresponding to the increase in federal debt, debt service charges had also increased from RM14.2 billion in 2009 to RM15.9 billion in 2010 and was expected to soar to RM18.6 billion in 2011.

“Many Malaysians are unhappy why the country has to carry such a huge debt burden borne by 27 million Malaysians for the benefit of one company.

“Clearly unless drastic action is taken, 27 million Malaysians will lose out to enable a company comprise of BN cronies to gain,” he concluded.

Felda suits spark Umno-PAS row in Parliament

By Clara Chooi

October 19, 2010

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 19 – Lawmakers faced off in Parliament today when Umno deputy minister Datuk Ahmad Maslan refused to admit that Felda had lost two lawsuits in which it had been ordered to pay millions in damages to settlers.

Ahmad Maslan insisted that Felda had lost the case involving Felda Kemahang settlement in Kelantan in January last year only because its defence lawyer had failed to turn up for the trial.

“The case was set for two days – on January 13, a Sunday, and on January 14. However, the trial went on without the presence of the defence lawyer on January 13.

“The court convicted Felda without hearing the defence,” he told the House.

Ahmad Maslan was however repeatedly cut off by opposition lawmakers who reminded him that the Felda lawyer had already resigned in December 2007.

“In 2008, you could have found a new lawyer,” Datuk Mahfuz Omar (PAS-Pokok Sena) told the deputy minister in the Prime Minister's Department.

Ahmad Maslan also continued to insist that in the case involving Felda Sungai Koyan 2 and 3 in Kuantan in September this year, Felda had not lost despite being ordered to pay 10 settlers RM1,700 each.

“In this case, Felda's defence team was present. But if Felda lost, Felda would have filed an appeal. Felda did not appeal the decision because the court decision said that it has to pay settlers RM1,700 per acre for replanting, if they follow Felda's guidelines,” he said.

He inisted that the decision merely upheld Felda's policies on its replanting schemes and this meant that Felda had not lost the case.

Despite this, Mahfuz stood up to interject, referring again to the absence of Felda's lawyers in the Kelantan case, involving Felda Kemahang.

His jibes triggered pandemonium in the House from backbenchers from both sides.

Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia stepped into the fray and in his attempt to restore order, told the warring politicians to take their fight outside.

“Later, you can discuss it during the Galas by-election,” he said.

Mahfuz continued to charge that in the Kelantan case, Felda had been given ample time to appoint a new lawyer.

“Yang Berhormat, your antics are what is embarassing. Felda did not lose in the Sungai Koyan case,” Ahmad Maslan insisted.

Both Mahfuz and Ahmad Maslan brought their arguments outside the House later in back-to-back press conferences.

Mahfuz slammed Ahmad Maslan for refusing to admit defeat in both cases, accusing the latter of attempting to lay the blame on the absence of the defence lawyer in the Kelantan case.

“The lawyer resigned in December 2007. In January 2008, the case went to the High Court. If they knew it earlier, why couldn't they have hired a replacement lawyer?

“This shows the weakness of the administration and this deputy minister,” he said.

Ahmad Maslan acknowledged that the lawyer for the Felda case in Kelantan had resigned from the case for personal reasons.

“His father was sick. When he left, he did not write the hearing dates for January in the firm's diary. No one realised this.

“It was a purely technical issue,” he said.

Earlier in the House, Ahmad Maslan had also explained that Felda, through a special committee, had already slapped a show-cause letter on the lawyer's firm for the incident on October 4 this year.

“Felda will study the reasons given in response to the show-cause letter before taking any action against the firm,” he said.

He noted that the land development authority may take legal action against the firm and file an official complaint with the Attorney-General's Chambers.

In the Felda Kemahang case, the Kota Baru High court had ordered Felda on January 13, 2008, to pay RM7.8 million plus interest to the settlers after its counsel failed to turn up for the hearing of the suit, and decided in their favour after accepting the evidence of three witnesses.

Following the Federal Court’s ruling, Felda had to pay a total of RM11 million including in accumulated interest.

On August 26, the Federal Court dismissed Felda’s application to review the apex court’s decision on January 19 denying Felda the leave to appeal against the Kota Baharu High Court’s decision ordering the agency to pay damages and interest to 354 Felda Kemahang 3 settlers who sued the agency in 2002 for manipulating palm oil grading.

In the Sungai Koyan 2 and 3 case, Kuantan High Court judge Datuk Mariana Yahya had in her judgment, said that the ten settlers were entitled to conduct replantating without going through Felda and were also entitled to RM1,700 payment per acre if the conditions drawn up by Felda were met.

PM defends the Plaza Warisan Merdeka

Prime Minister Najib Razak defended his plans for a 100-storey megatower in Kuala Lumpur after a backlash on a fast-expanding Facebook petition and criticism from the opposition.

Razak unveiled plans for the tower to be built by 2020 at a cost of RM5 billion, during last week's budget speech that included a number of grand infrastructure projects.

The building, named 'Warisan Merdeka' or 'Heritage of Independence', would be the tallest in Malaysia, dwarfing the iconic Petronas Twin Towers, which were the world's tallest buildings at 88 storeys when completed in 1998.

Najib has said such projects exemplify the spirit of "Malaysia Boleh" or "Malaysia Can", a national campaign conceived by former premier Mahathir Mohamad, an advocate of mega projects.

Mahathir, whose own schemes included the Proton national car and the multi-billion-dollar administrative capital Putrajaya - both of which have failed to thrive - has warmly endorsed the new skyscraper.

azlanBut a Facebook page created last Saturday, to which about 11,000 people had signed up by this afternoon, has seen an outpouring of criticism from Malaysians who say the money would be better spent elsewhere.

"Malaysia needs better education, better health care, better public transportation, safer neighbourhoods, cleaner water, but not a taller building. We don't need another white elephant!" said the page, which was receiving hundreds more members each hour.

Many of those posting comments accused the ruling coalition of spending taxpayers' money to boost its own standing, which has slipped badly in recent years in the face of a resurgent opposition.

"I will support this project if you give me the contract!" said a Facebook user named Chee Chuan Tat, referring to endemic cronyism linked to the BN coalition.

"It's taxpayers' money, and taxpayers say NO," said Adrian Matthew Yee.

Petronas Towers drew criticism too

Najib stoutly defended the project, and said the Petronas Towers - now a much-loved national symbol - had originally attracted similar criticism.

NONE"We want a building that will be a symbol of the country that is not only modern but progressive and it will have a multiplier effect on the economy," he told a press conference.

"We want the area to become a business hub," he said. "So this project is not a waste but is one which will benefit the people."

Opposition MP Fong Kui Lun, in whose constituency the building would be located near the city's Chinatown, said it would be an eyesore and totally unsuited to the crowded downtown district.

"What the building will do is to destroy the character of the area while creating a traffic nightmare for all," he told AFP.

"There are more than enough office spaces in downtown KL and this will cause a glut of office space, becoming a white elephant like many of the other government projects."

Tony Pua, also from the Democratic Action Party which is part of the opposition alliance, said the online criticism was a sign that people were concerned.

"The country does not need another mega project as the era of mega projects is gone and most Malaysians are not impressed by them any more," he said.

Bangunan Umno kini milik Pemuda PAS Kelantan

(Harakahdaily) - PAS Kelantan mencatat satu lagi sejarah sempena genap usia 20 tahun pemerintahan apabila berjaya memiliki bangunan empat tingkat yang pernah dijadikan pejabat Umno Bahagian Kota Bharu.

Tentunya maruah Umno Kelantan sekali lagi tergadai kerana bangunan yang pernah dimiliki Umno Kota Bharu kini menjadi milik Dewan Pemuda PAS Kelantan.

Bangunan tersebut yang pernah terbengkalai dalam tempoh begitu lama berjaya disiapkan bekas Ketua Umno Bahagian Kota Bharu, Datuk Zaid Ibrahim.

Bagaimanapun selepas Zaid digugurkan daripada jawatannya atas dakwaan terbabit dengan rasuah politik ketika pemilihan di peringkat bahagian tersebut, bangunan itu menjadi lengang semula.

Ketika jawatan Zaid digantung, Umno Kota Bharu di bawah Datuk Fatmi Che Salleh gagal memasuki bangunan berkenaan.

Bangunan tersebut yang difahamkan dimiliki sepenuhnya Zaid selepas berjaya menyiapkan bangunan yang lama terbengkalai.

Ketika itu signboard Umno Kota Bharu dipasang di puncak bangunan yang boleh dilihat dengan jelas dari jambatan Sultan Yahya Petra pada waktu malam.

Pada April lalu, Umno Kota Bharu yang diketuai anggota jawatankuasanya, Datuk Kamaruddin Abdullah mengadakan perhimpunan di pekarangan bangunan terbabit di Jalan Sultanah Zainab menuntut Zaid menyerahkan bangunan berkenaan.

Zaid kini Penyelaras Pakatan Rakyat tetap tidak berganjak dan enggan tunduk terhadap desakan Umno Kota Bharu.

Dan hari ini berlangsung sejarah yang mengejutkan Umno Kelantan dan pusat apabila bangunan pejabat yang pernah menjadi pejabat Umno bertukar tangan menjadi milik PAS.

Dewan Pemuda PAS Kelantan membeli bangunan berkenaan dengan harga RM4.5 juta.

Majlis penyerahan geran hak milik oleh Zaid telah dilakukan tengah hari tadi di Gua Musang sempena kempen pilihan raya kecil Dun Galas.

Ia dibeli dengan harga RM4.5 juta yang bakal menjadi pejabat Pemuda PAS negeri dan pusat komersial.

Perjanjian jual beli ditandatangani antara Zaid dengan Setiausaha Perhubungan PAS Kelantan, Mohd Zaki Ibrahim dan juga kepimpinan Pemuda PAS negeri yang diketuai, Abdul Latif Abdul Rahman yang disaksikan Pesuruhjaya PAS negeri yang juga Mursyidul Am PAS, Tuan Guru Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat.

Bangunan empat tingkat itu mempunyai dewan di bahagian atas yang boleh memuatkan seramai 700 orang, manakala dua tingkat lagi dijadikan pejabat.

Ketua Dewan Pemuda PAS Kelantan, Abdul Latif Abdul Rahman berkata, majlis bersejarah bagi menaikkan bendera PAS di hadapan bangunan tersebut akan dilakukan Mursyidul Am PAS, Tuan Guru Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat pagi esok.

Katanya, majlis yang penuh bersejarah itu diadakan sempena genap 20 tahun usia kerajaan PAS dan bahang kempen pilihan raya kecil Galas sekarang.

“Kita bersyukur kerana Dewan Pemuda PAS Kelantan akhirnya berjaya memiliki bangunan sendiri di lokasi yang begitu strategik.

“Ini satu kejayaan besar dalam sejarah PAS yang tidak pernah berlaku sebelum ini, lebih-lebih lagi bangunan itu pernah dijadikan pejabat Umno Bahagian Kota Bharu,” katanya ketika dihubungi di Gua Musang.

Abdul Latif yang juga Adun Mengkebang berkata, banyak kemudahan yang ada di bangunan berkenaan termasuk pendawaian elektrik dan kemudahan lain telah dirosakkan.

Katanya Dewan Pemuda terpaksa memperuntukan kira-kira RM500,000 lagi bagi memasang sistem pendawaian elektrik dan kemudahan lain yang dirosakkan pihak tidak bertanggungjawab.

Katanya juga, Dewan Pemuda PAS yang kini berpejabat di Perhubungan PAS Negeri di Jalan Datuk’ Pati akan berpindah ke bangunan baru selepas kerja-kerja membaikinya siap dalam masa terdekat.

Two crucial electoral battles for BN and PR

The Galas by-election might be a chance for Razaleigh to get back into the mainstream of Umno politics. If the party wins, Najib might entrust him with important tasks since there is no other suitable candidate in Kelantan. If that happens, it is going to bring an impact to Kelantan politics.

By LIM SUE GOAN
Translated by SOONG PHUI JEE, Sin Chew

The impending Galas and Batu Sapi by-elections are different from the previous 11 by-elections since the 2008 general elections as the two by-elections will serve as a benchmark for the next general election and an opportunity to test the mobilization and organizational capabilities of the BN and the Pakatan Rakyat.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has implemented many political and economic programmes ever since he took the office. Although they were able to retrieve Malay and Indian votes in the Hulu Selangor by-election in April this year, the Chinese support rate fell. Six months have passed and would there be any change to the situation?

Most of the voters in Galas and Batu Sapi are Bumiputeras.

Batu Sapi has 60% Bumiputeras voters, and 38% Chinese votes.

In Galas, 61.63% of voters are Malays while 20.08% are Chinese.

The focus of the two by-elections will be on whether Chinese voters would change their voting tendency as shown in the previous by-elections after the 2008 general election.

Both the BN and the Pakatan Rakyat are facing problems in the two constituencies.

The Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) withdrew from the BN coalition on 17 September 2008, trying to become a political kingmaker amidst the political chaos in Sabah.

Sabah has been trapped in a political chaos over the past two years. Datuk Raymond Tan Shu Kiah quit the SAPP and joined Gerakan, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) broke off the relations with Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Musa Aman and former LDP vice-president Datuk Peter Pang En Yin quit and became a pro-BN independent state assembly member.

On the other hand, the Pakatan Rakyat is as well facing many problems. The candidate for the Sabah PKR chairman has been changed for more than one time. In August last year, the then Sabah PKR chairman Azmin Ali reshuffled the state committee and caused a massive political earthquake in Sabah. Later, Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan resigned as party vice-president and as a member of the supreme council and political bureau. PKR leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim managed to persuade Jeffrey to stay on..

Azmin has been in discord with Jeffrey and now they have to face not only the party election but also the Batu Sapi by-election. Is the purpose of central leaders' visit to Sabah related to the party election or the Batu Sapi by-election? They will sure be distracted. Without a good organization, it is hard to guarantee a victory.

If it ends up as a three-point battle, namely Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) of the BN versus the SAPP and the PKR, the BN will have the edge, with the opposition vote split.

Although the BN is also facing internal problems, the LDP is only unhappy with the Chief Minister, but it still supports the Prime Minister. Moreover, Pang will not dare to cause trouble as he is the state assembly member of Karamunting, which is under the Batu Sapi parliamentary seat.

Sabah is known as the "political fixed deposit" of the BN and thus, the BN cannot afford to lose the battle. Otherwise, it will bring a great impact to the Sabah state election.

If the BN fields Datin Linda Tsen Thau Lin, wife of late Datuk Edmund Chong Ket Wah, it is going to be a by-election worth paying attention to.

As for the Galas by-election, Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah is the Barisan by-election director. As a party veteran, he has deep feelings for Umno and will certainly do all he can for the party even though if he has been marginalized.

During the party crisis in 1987, he founded Semangat 46 to carry on the spirit of Umno. After suffering defeats from two general elections, he returned to Umno.

Just like former Negeri Sembilan Mentri Besar Tan Sri Mohd Isa Samad and Bagan Pinang, voters are having a special feeling for Razaleigh and Gua Musang. If they can resolve the factional problem within the party, Umno might make a breakthrough in the Galas by-election before it plans to regain Kelantan.

The Galas by-election might be a chance for Razaleigh to get back into the mainstream of Umno politics. If the party wins, Najib might entrust him with important tasks since there is no other suitable candidate in Kelantan. If that happens, it is going to bring an impact to Kelantan politics.

Should it not only be ‘may the best man win’, but also ‘ may the best man contest’?

“Pakatan Rakyat leaders met and decided that we will field a PKR candidate and we will make the announcement (on who it is) soon. We hope SAPP won’t contest, because we want a straight fight with BN” – Anwar Ibrahim, reported by Malaysiakini today.

The same report, and an earlier report yesterday, has it that whilst PKR has yet to decide on their candidate, possibilities who have been identified include PKR Sabah chief Ahmad Thamrin Jai, Tuaran division chief Ansari Abdullah and newly-elected Batu Sapi chief Hassnar Ibrahim. The earlier report also quoted Tian Chua as saying that Pakatan Rakyat is attempting to negotiate with SAPP in the hope of making the Batu Sapi contest a ‘one-on-one’ fight with BN. Hassnar Ibrahim being considered? You know this man’s resume? If you don’t, read THIS, THIS , THIS and THIS. My sources in Sabah tell me that this man brought absolute thuggery to the Batu Sapi divisional elections in order to secure his win. I called Tian Chua this morning to find out if there was truth in the report with regards to the report that this man might be PKR’s choice of candidate for the forthcoming by-election and to say that if this was so, I was going to crucify PKR in blogosphere for this. Tian said that there was no truth in the report. ‘There is no list of prospective candidates yet”, he said.

In my ‘Batu Sapi : SAPP or Pakatan Rakyat?’ post, I had suggested that both Pakatan and SAPP should come to the negotiation table, disclose their respective proposed candidate, who should be Sabahan, measure both by an MP-Aptitude test and an Integrity test and see who comes out tops. Why should SAPP give way to Pakatan without even knowing who the latter’s candidate is? Conversely, why should Pakatan back off from the contest without first knowing who SAPP will be offering? Should not all parties determined to see BN beaten come together and objectively settle on the best man for the contest?

Idris' 'new ministry' gets RM12.59 bil to play with

By Athi Shankar

GEORGE TOWN: There's a "new" and costly "ministry" in the Prime Minister's Department (PMD), according to a DAP parliamentarian here.

Bukit Bendera MP Liew Chin Tong said the "new ministry" which is headed by Idris Jala, a minister in PMD as well as CEO of the Performance Management and Delivery Unit (Pemandu), received a whopping RM12.59 billion under Budget 2011, which was unveiled by Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak last Friday.

Terming the new ministry as “Kementerian Idris Jala” or KIJA, he said under the Budget 2011, KIJA would receive some RM6.19 billion in 2011. This would be topped up with an additional RM6.4 billion for 2012 to run its activities.

From the amount, RM11.86 billion has been allocated for National Key Economic Areas (NKEA) projects over a two-year period (2011-2012) under a development budget.

Another RM729.4 million will be allotted in 2011 under an operating budget, which Liew claimed would be mostly channelled to international consulting firms.

Pemandu has two drivers -- Gerakan president Koh Tsu Koon and Jala.

But Liew is certain that it would be Jala in the driving seat managing its funds with the help of numerous consulting firms. Koh is expected to sit on the wayside.

"KIJA" outfits are responsible for preparing the Government Transformation Plan (GTP) and the Economic Transformation Plan (ETP) as well as various other Key Performance Indicators (KPI) for ministers, ministries and federal government agencies.

“The ETP has allegedly usurped the role of the National Economic Advisory Council (NEAC), which was tasked to prepare the New Economic Model,” alleged Liew.

Officially, he said Pemandu has been allocated RM20.67 million in 2011, with an additional RM897,800 under a new policy.

He said there was also a "one-off payment" of RM18.43 million for Pemandu.

Liew also queried the RM136.87 million allotted under emolument for contractual workers in PMD which would also be utilised by KIJA.

“The big numbers mean that KIJA is indeed a very costly affair. It’s time for the KPI minister to disclose his own KPI score card to the people of Malaysia,” said Liew .

Costly budget

Liew also touched on allocations for the National Key Result Areas (NKRAs), including RM9.1 million for crime fighting, RM22 million for education and RM38.42 million for 1Malaysia programme, describing the group a "costly alphabet".

In addition, the NKRA delivery task force for low income household would cost RM265 million.

However, Liew argued that if only cash grant of RM1,000 was distributed, 265,000 low income families could be aided.

“Clearly, it is a move that is set to benefit the consultants,” he said in his statement today.

He also pointedly noted that the shocking amount of RM355.9 million allotted for the operation cost of NKEA was costlier than NKRA.

Under the development budget, he said NKEA would receive a sum of RM11.86 billion in 2011-2012.

Estimated allocation to NKEA in 2011 is RM5.4 billion, which is more than 10% of the entire development budget for 2011.

Liew said Budget 2011 was the most expensive budget ever in the country, costing almost RM214 billion, while raising a question on the authenticity of the Najib’s figure of RM212 billion.

He pointed out that the previous most costly budget was in 2009 with RM209 billion.

Liew alleged that the total allocation of RM15.86 billion for the PMD alone under Budget 2011 had also set a new record, beating the previous one set under Budget 2010 at RM12 billion.

Also read:

No end to the deficit, yet

Hundred stories of FDI seduction

Back us, we'll back you: Orang Asli tell Anwar

By FMT Staff

KUALA LUMPUR: A group of Orang Asli leaders today urged Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim to champion their cause for recognition under the Federal Constitution.

In return, the leaders said their community would back the PKR supremo in his quest to wrest Putrajaya in the next general election.

The group's spokesman Simpang Suda said Article 153 of the Federal Constitution currently only recognised Malays and natives in Sabah and Sarawak.

"We are natives and we were here in Semenanjung even before the others... we want our rights enhrined in the constitution," he said.

"If Anwar champions our right to be included in the constitution then we will assure him of our community's support," added Simpang who chairs the Orang Asli land action committee in Selangor.

Barred from Parliament

Earlier, Simpang and 27 committee leaders were barred from from entering Parliament by the police despite PKR's Teluk Kemang MP Kamarul Baharin Abbas having applied for permission on their behalf.

Kamarul's special officer Muhammad Faizal Zakaria said he was disappointed with the police's action.

He said the delegation should have been allowed in since they were citizens of Malaysia with the constitutional right to sit in during the proceedings

"Moreover, Kamarul had himself applied for permission for the leaders last week. I don't understand why they were denied entry," he added.

It is learnt that the leaders wanted to hand over a memorandum listing their demands for recognition.

Topping their list of demands was the call to include the term "Orang Asli" in Article 153.

Harakahdaily, which received a copy of the memorandum, noted that other points in the memorandum included:

1. Demand for 10 acres of freehold agriculture land for each Orang Asli. One-quarter acre for housing and another acre of land for a personal orchard as given to Felda settlers.
2. The gazetting of communal land by the state governments of Johor, Malacca, Negri Sembilan, Selangor, Perak, Kelantan, Kedah, Terengganu and Pahang as provided for under Section 62 of the National Land Code.
3. The gazetting of Orang Asli land under the Orang Asli Act 1954 which include unlimited freedom to source for their needs in communal land which have been gazetted.
   
4. The nomadic Orang Asli and semi-nomads be given unlimited right to source for food and to enjoy vocational education.
5. A review of the role and function of the Orang Asli Affairs Department (JHEOA) which failed to protect the rights of the Orang Asli in Peninsular Malaysia and assist in the development of the community. (The memorandum cited that only 10-15% of the positions in JHEOA were filled by the Orang Asli when their original demands had stated 80% of staff should be Orang Asli.)
6. Declaration of a public holiday for the World Indigenous Peoples and Natives Day on Aug 8.

Also read:

PKR to contest in Batu Sapi

Manifesto: Zaid aims to pilot PKR beyond Anwar

By Stephanie Sta Maria

PETALING JAYA: Deputy presidential aspirant Zaid Ibrahim has unveiled his election manifesto, which boldly goes where no PKR member has gone before – beyond the realm of Anwar Ibrahim.

According to the former law minister, PKR's struggle for justice should extend beyond the party supremo's legal quagmire.

“There are so many more injustices facing the people that require our attention. The people are clamouring for economic and social justice and the right to be treated with respect and dignity in accordance with the rule of law,” he said in his blog.

“It is unworthy of us to reduce this party as a one-issue party. It is unworthy for those we seek to represent. We are not merely the party of reformasi but the party of reform,” he added.

The Federal Territories PKR chief said he was not gunning for the number two slot for personal glory, but rather the challenges it would entail.

Noting that the other candidates were harping on their ability to protect Anwar, Zaid pointed out that the opposition leader had mustered the best legal team to defend him against his sodomy charge.

“I too care about him and his family, but above all, it is the struggle and interests of the people that are paramount. And I know that the party members will be able to make that distinction,” he said.

Nine-step revitalisation plan

To further illustrate his point, Zaid outlined his nine-step plan on revitalising the party and the country. The cornerstones of this framework revolved around reinvigorating the grassroots, empowering party stalwarts and uniting members of every race and religion.

He pointed out that although the branches comprised eager and committed individuals, a lack of finances had put a dampener on vitality and dynamism.

While he pledged to encourage membership recruitment, he also stressed that quality and committed members were more important than numbers.

“We must discard those who left the party at heart but merely keep their names on the register. We will actively outline the party’s struggle to maintain focus instead of dwelling on the same old issues,” he added.

At the same time, Zaid suggested that former members who had been marginalised or disillusioned be welcomed back to the fold, and given the opportunity to take on bigger roles and responsibilities.

“Leaders must reflect the communities they represent. Sabahans and Sarawakians, for example, must be allowed to elect their own chiefs. We need to move away from feudalistic politics and empower party stalwarts through further democratisation.

“We can no longer afford to assume that the central leadership knows everything,” he said.

Zaid also urged PKR to position itself as “the multiracial and multi-religious party” which would be a “stark contrast to the ruling coalition which has failed to unite the nation after 53 years”.

“We need to seize this opportunity to demonstrate that we can unite the entire country. I will work tirelessly to extinguish prejudice and suspicion between the various groups, races, and religions.

“I will promote a model for a political party that is more transparent and democratic. We cannot sap our energies operating in different groups -- East Malaysians versus West Malaysians, reformists versus Islamists, Anwaristas and Socialists versus everyone else,” he added.

Zaid underlined the importance of a consensus between leaders of both PKR and Pakatan Rakyat that the nation's interest would be placed above all else.

“We need to be clear on where we stand on the rights and liberties of our citizens. We must champion the plight of all Malaysians. I believe that the party should defend the Federal Constitution and seek justice for every ethnic group without fear of being accused of neglecting our own race,” he said.

Appoint the 'best and brightest'

Zaid also promised that Selangor would remain strong and free of infighting and added that he would ensure that Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim was given the support needed to achieve electoral success.

“To achieve that, I shall appoint only the best and brightest to aid us and our parliamentarians -- members of the public, intellectuals, technocrats, people with the ability and the know-how to best aid us. I shall create a formal platform to engage the population. To govern in consultation with the electorate.

“I believe that our party members are mature enough to evaluate the existing leaders for themselves. I leave my proposal and vision to their judgment because I am confident that this is the way towards real change in our government,” he added.

Zaid entered the contest for number two with a total of 38 nominations. He is up against vice-presidents Azmin Ali and Mustafa Kamil Ayub.

Azmin, an Anwar loyalist, is said to have the tacit backing of the party supremo despite the latter pledging to remain neutral.

Zaid, on the other hand, had been accused by his rivals of having been planted in PKR by Umno to destroy the party, a charge which he had vehemently denied.

Zaid's manifesto:

Memperkukuhkan Keadilan

Azmin's manifesto:

Reformasi menuju Putrajaya

Zaid pledges Khalid full support to retain S'gor....

from tumpang sekole...? by ali allah ditta

PKR deputy presidential hopeful Zaid Ibrahim promised today that as the party's number two, he will ensure Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim gets “all the support needed” for Selangor to remain under Pakatan Rakyat.To this end, said the Pakatan coordinator, he would ensure that “our prize asset, Selangor, will remain strong and free from infighting”.

“I will ensure that Khalid will be given all the support needed to achieve electoral success and accelerate developmental activities so that the people will retain PKR and Pakatan Rakyat in Selangor,” he wrote in a posting on his blog, 'Zaid untuk rakyat'.

In the posting, Zaid also expanded on the promises he had made upon submitting his acceptance form for the nominations he had received for deputy president - which sees him taking on vice-presidents Azmin Ali and Mustaffa Kamil Ayub. These include strengthening and reinvigorating PKR's grassroots and their activities, moving away from “feudalistic” and personality-based politics and empowering party branches and state-level committees.

“We can no longer afford to assume that the central leadership knows everything. I will work with party members at every level to develop just and sustainable policies for better management,” Zaid declared.

For instance, in the crucial states of Sabah and Sarawak, he said, members and leaders needed to be selected based on the “the most rigorous” standards and the communities they represented.

“The Sabahans, for example, should be allowed to elect their own chiefs. As should the Sarawakians.”

Of reformists, Islamists, Anwaristas and socialists

He also said he would “work tirelessly to extinguish prejudice and suspicion among the various groups, races, and religions” comprising the party and a “more transparent and democratic” organisation.

“We cannot sap our energies operating in different groups - East Malaysians versus West Malaysians, reformists versus Islamists, Anwaristas and socialists versus everyone else,” said Zaid.

“We need to be clear as to where we stand on the rights and liberties of our citizens. We must champion the plights of all Malaysians.

“I believe that the party should defend the federal constitution and seek justice for every ethnic group, without fear of being accused of neglecting our own race.”

Towards keeping the government of the day accountable and convincing the rakyat that the party has capable leaders, Zaid said he would appoint “only the best and the brightest” to bolster the party and its parliamentarians.

“While other candidates harp on their ability to protect Anwar, I believe he has mustered the best legal team to protect him. I, too, care about him and his family, but above all, the struggle and interests of the people that are paramount.

“And I know that the party members will be able to make that distinction. The future of Malaysia is inextricably intertwined with the future of our party. We have to stay on course.

"The people have chosen to trust us. And so, I humbly ask for your faith that we may work together in reclaiming our party's ideals at this defining moment in history.”

Read 'Empowering Keadilan' here.

Read 'Manifesto: Zaid aims to pilot PKR beyond Anwar' here.


source:malaysiakini

cheers.

Backlash over mega-tower

(AFP) - THE Malaysian government's proposal to build a 100-storey mega tower in the capital has triggered a backlash from the opposition and on a fast-expanding Facebook petition.

Plans for the tower, to be built by 2020 at a cost of US$1.6 billion (RM5 billion), were unveiled by Prime Minister Najib Razak during last week's budget speech, which included a number of major infrastructure projects.

The building, named 'Warisan Merdeka' or 'Heritage of Independence', would be the tallest in Malaysia, dwarfing the iconic Petronas Twin Towers which were the world's tallest buildings at 88 storeys when completed in 1998.

Mr Najib said that such projects exemplify the spirit of 'Malaysia Boleh' or 'Malaysia Can!', a national campaign conceived by former premier Mahathir Mohamad, a huge advocate of mega projects.

Mr Mahathir, whose own schemes included the Proton national car and the multi-billion-dollar administrative capital Putrajaya - both of which have failed to thrive - has warmly endorsed the new skyscraper.

But a Facebook page created last Saturday, to which more than 9,600 people had signed up by Tuesday afternoon, has seen an outpouring of criticism from Malaysians who say the money would be better spent elsewhere.

Angry comments

A sampling of angry comments from Malaysians:

'Malaysia needs better education, better health care, better public transportation, safer neighbourhoods, cleaner water, but not a taller building.

'We don't need another white elephant!' said the page, which about 600 people were joining each hour.

'I will support this project if you give me the contract!' - Facebook user named Chee Chuan Tat, referring to endemic crony capitalism linked to the Barisan Nasional coalition.

'It's taxpayers' money, and taxpayers say NO.' - Adrian Matthew Yee.

'What the building will do is to destroy the character of the area while creating a traffic nightmare for all.

There are more than enough office spaces in downtown KL and this will cause a glut of office space, becoming a white elephant like many of the other government projects.' - Opposition lawmaker Fong Kui Lun, in whose constituency the building would be located near the city's chaotic Chinatown, said it would be an eyesore and totally unsuited to the crowded downtown district.

'The country does not need another mega project as the era of mega projects is gone and most Malaysians are not impressed by them any more.' - Tony Pua, also from the Democratic Action Party which is part of the opposition alliance, said. -- AFP

Palace to cost RM800 MILLION (US$258million)

(AFP) - A MASSIVE new palace being built for Malaysia's king is expected to be completed next June, at a total cost of US$258 million (RM800 million), parliament has been told.

The 'Istana Negara', or national palace, which is taking shape on a hilltop in a Kuala Lumpur suburb is an enormous complex of dome-topped buildings linked to the city's highways with special access roads.

The palace sprawls over a 100,000 square metre site which was annexed in the 1990s in what has since become a prime residential area.

Works Minister Shaziman Abu Mansor said the palace is expected to be completed on June 30 next year, at a total cost of 797 million ringgit (S$336 million).

The figure has risen from an earlier allocation of 650 million ringgit, he said in a written reply issued on Monday after a query from the opposition.

'The additional allocation is needed to fulfil costs which were not included in the earlier contract, among them being the security system, utility payments and also interior decoration,' he said. The historic project also entails the construction of a highway flyover and an access road, at a cost of an extra 138.5 million ringgit.

No open tender for contract

* Malaysia's opposition has criticised the government's decision to award the development contract without a tender, and said the company which will handle the construction is controlled by a senior figure in the ruling party.

* The Star daily said the government had explained that there was no open tender because the special project was subject to security considerations.

* Malaysia has a unique rotating monarchy shared among nine sultans, who are the royal rulers and guardians of Islam in their respective states. They each take turns to rule for five years as the nation's king.

The current monarch, Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin from the northern state of Terengganu, was sworn in in 2006 at the age of 45, becoming Malaysia's second-youngest king ever.

His current palace is a colonial mansion built in the 1920s which was originally the home of a self-made ethnic-Chinese tycoon, and was later bought by the government. -- AFP

Budget 2011 – Issues on PLUS Takeover

from rights2write by drrafick

1. When the PM announce the freeze on TOLL rates for all PLUS highway for 5 years, there were very little criticism. There were not many appreciation notes either among the people the publication in alternative media. The public must appreciate that the budget did not address the takeover issue but merely says that the government will not allow the operator to increase the TOLL rates for the next 5 years. The takeover is a corporate exercise and is not related to the Federal government P&L.
   

2. Malaysiakini was quick to highlight the potential liability on the nation coffers with the government need to compensate the PLUS. It is expected that the Malaysian Government has to pay PLUS over RM 7 billion in the next 5 years because it wants to ensure that the public is not further burdened by the increase in TOLL rates. It can be interpreted as a caring gesture of the government as well as a political move. Whatever the reasons may be the ordinary people benefits.
   

1. It is only proper that I address the issue surrounding the TOLL privatization from two aspects. The first being from an angle of the budget and the impact of the nation and the second from the issue of a corporate takeover exercise. From the budget exercise, I welcome PM announcement to relieve the burden of the citizens from any TOLL hike even though the government has to compensate the operator in the tune of RM 1 bill a year. We must accept that there is an agreement in place with the operators and until the government actually literally owns the highway, nothing can be done to change the agreement. Therefore the agreement has to be honored. We also have to accept the people of this country in billions of dollars to a RM 2 company to built the highway with a loan of RM4 billion by the previous government.
   

2. However, I feel the government should not have frozen the hikes in totality but should have focused mainly within an intra-city environment. For example, the government can maintain TOLL rates within a certain boundary of a city or an area limits. As an illustration maybe all TOLLs within the Klang Valley boundary can be frozen but interstate travel rates can be revised accordingly as per the agreement. Similar arrangements can be done with other major cities like Penang and JB. It is a fact that the TOLL burden lies mainly with city dwellers who uses the roads everyday and most of us don’t mind paying for the interstate travel cost hike as that travel happens occasionally.
   

3. On the corporate exercise by Khazanah and EPF in forming a JV SPV to take over PLUS, I felt it is a long overdue. I have written about this
   several years ago. We should not criticize blindly without looking at the overall issues affecting the stakeholder. In this case they are the government, the road users who want the TOLL to be abolished, the loan providers, the shareholders and the politicians on both sides of the fences which are looking for the right political opportunities. The opposition is waiting to pounce for opportunity to attack the government if the TOLL was privatized to Asas Serba or to MMC. Reality is this is a political minefield which needs to be threaded carefully. This problem requires a balanced solution that must protect all the stakeholder interest and Najib’s (and BN) case is his political survival. I must put a caveat that Najib’s political survival is the least of my interest in this matter.
   

4. I believe that there are good reasons why Najib is offering a freeze for 5 years on TOLL rates as the government need to consolidate the issues surrounding PLUS. It is not an easy task and time is required to fine tune such a complex exercise. If one study the PLUS debt account payee structure, it can be observed that there are many skeleton in the closet. This cannot be hidden for long. These problem need to be sorted out until a more firm decision can be made.
   

5. Personally between Asas Serba and MMC, I prefer the purchased was done by Khazanah and PLUS. At least it benefits the Government and the EPF. It would allow at a later stage a swap on portfolios accordingly to ensure greater government control and no loss to EPF. A national asset should not be in the hands of private corporations. We have seen how the government is being squeezed by the IPP’s where it has no rooms to maneuver. EPF will enjoy the dividends from the SPV that is going to control PLUS. It is expected to give a better average yield than any of its existing property portfolio. It gives room to the SPV to unlock the value and the debt can be restructured as there are plenty of cheap loans out there.
   

1. From a corporate stand point of view, I gave this deal a partial thumb up and from the budget point of view, a thumb down. A partial thumbs up because, I think the government should addressed UEM and PLUS ownership in addressing the TOLL issue in clearing the web of complexities surrounding PLUS.

Idris' 'new ministry' gets RM12.59 bil to play with

By Athi Shankar

GEORGE TOWN: There's a "new" and costly "ministry" in the Prime Minister's Department (PMD), according to a DAP parliamentarian here.

Bukit Bendera MP Liew Chin Tong said the "new ministry" which is headed by Idris Jala, a minister in PMD as well as CEO of the Performance Management and Delivery Unit (Pemandu), received a whopping RM12.59 billion under Budget 2011, which was unveiled by Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak last Friday.

Terming the new ministry as “Kementerian Idris Jala” or KIJA, he said under the Budget 2011, KIJA would receive some RM6.19 billion in 2011. This would be topped up with an additional RM6.4 billion for 2012 to run its activities.

From the amount, RM11.86 billion has been allocated for National Key Economic Areas (NKEA) projects over a two-year period (2011-2012) under a development budget.

Another RM729.4 million will be allotted in 2011 under an operating budget, which Liew claimed would be mostly channelled to international consulting firms.

Pemandu has two drivers -- Gerakan president Koh Tsu Koon and Jala.

But Liew is certain that it would be Jala in the driving seat managing its funds with the help of numerous consulting firms. Koh is expected to sit on the wayside.

"KIJA" outfits are responsible for preparing the Government Transformation Plan (GTP) and the Economic Transformation Plan (ETP) as well as various other Key Performance Indicators (KPI) for ministers, ministries and federal government agencies.

“The ETP has allegedly usurped the role of the National Economic Advisory Council (NEAC), which was tasked to prepare the New Economic Model,” alleged Liew.

Officially, he said Pemandu has been allocated RM20.67 million in 2011, with an additional RM897,800 under a new policy.

He said there was also a "one-off payment" of RM18.43 million for Pemandu.

Liew also queried the RM136.87 million allotted under emolument for contractual workers in PMD which would also be utilised by KIJA.

“The big numbers mean that KIJA is indeed a very costly affair. It’s time for the KPI minister to disclose his own KPI score card to the people of Malaysia,” said Liew .

Costly budget

Liew also touched on allocations for the National Key Result Areas (NKRAs), including RM9.1 million for crime fighting, RM22 million for education and RM38.42 million for 1Malaysia programme, describing the group a "costly alphabet".

In addition, the NKRA delivery task force for low income household would cost RM265 million.

However, Liew argued that if only cash grant of RM1,000 was distributed, 265,000 low income families could be aided.

“Clearly, it is a move that is set to benefit the consultants,” he said in his statement today.

He also pointedly noted that the shocking amount of RM355.9 million allotted for the operation cost of NKEA was costlier than NKRA.

Under the development budget, he said NKEA would receive a sum of RM11.86 billion in 2011-2012.

Estimated allocation to NKEA in 2011 is RM5.4 billion, which is more than 10% of the entire development budget for 2011.

Liew said Budget 2011 was the most expensive budget ever in the country, costing almost RM214 billion, while raising a question on the authenticity of the Najib’s figure of RM212 billion.

He pointed out that the previous most costly budget was in 2009 with RM209 billion.

Liew alleged that the total allocation of RM15.86 billion for the PMD alone under Budget 2011 had also set a new record, beating the previous one set under Budget 2010 at RM12 billion.

Also read:

No end to the deficit, yet

Hundred stories of FDI seduction

Villagers cry foul over fire

By Joseph Tawie

SEBUYAU: When David took on Goliath there was the risk that he would be squished to pulp. Similarly, when Ibans from six longhouses in Sebuyau/Sebanggan decided to take on the politically-powerful Quality Concrete Holdings, they knew from the onset that the fight will be hard.

Yesterday, they had their first feel when fire gutted a campsite of another company linked to Quality Concrete Holdings and know that they would be blamed even before an investigation.

A block of staff quarters, a store, six tractors, two logging trucks and an excavator were among items destroyed in the afternoon fire.

"They will blame the villagers...but we were not aware of the fire.

"The villagers who put up the blockades were about 4km from the campsite (where the fire took place) and did not know what was going on in the camp," said Nicholas Mujah, one of the six Iban longhouse community leaders.

He believes it's the work of arsonists and strategically aimed at framing the natives.

"I believe it is the work of other people who want to put the blame on the villagers," said Mujah, urging the police to carry out an immediate investigation.

Yesterday's fire destroyed properties belonging to Royal Billion Sdn Bhd, a logging contractor of Quality Concrete Holdings.

It is not immediately known how the fire started or who were responsible for it.

Quality Concrete Holdings, has been in the centre of a dispute after the Forest Department issued them a licence to carry out logging activities in the disputed 3,305 hectares of forests which the Ibans from six longhouses claim to be their native customary rights (NCR) land.

When direct negotiations with the company failed, the Ibans took the matter to the police, the district and resident offices, the lands and surveys and finally forest department. But to no avail.

Last Friday, the natives decided to take matters into their own hands and erected a blockade to stop the workers from the Royal Billion company encroaching into their land.

They also stopped a tongkang from loading timber that was extracted from the disputed area.

MIER: Budget 2011 with expectations but…

MIER (Malaysian Institute of Economic Research): Budget 2011 was within expectations but there were also disappointments.

A top economic think-tank said today it expected the economy to expand by 6.5 percent this year, below the government’s forecast of 7 percent, as it sees slower exports and weaker business sentiment.

The Malaysian Institute of Economic Research (MIER) said the weaker tone was expected to prevail until 2011, where it forecasts economic growth of 5.2 percent. “There are downside risks to growth and we have based this on slowing exports and weaker sentiment in our business conditions survey,” its executive director, Zakariah Abdul Rashid told a media briefing on the Malaysian Economic Outlook in Kuala Lumpur today.

Zakariah said MIER expects inflation at 2 percent in 2010 and 2.5 percent in 2011. The authorities would likely raise interest rates to 3.25 percent by end 2011 from 2.75 percent to control inflation.

This was based on slower growth in imports and exports as well as the decline in business condition index (BCI) in the third quarter of this year which more than offset the surge in consumer sentiment index (CSI).

“Although the consumer sentiment increased, it is on a cautious mode and this will be reflected in the fourth quarter. We expect exports in September to slow down with moderate growth in imports,” he added. Zakariah said the forecast was also supported by the recent in-house surveys.

Businesses not upbeat

He said the BCI, which tracked domestic manufacturing activities, declined further in the third quarter after losing 14.7 points quarter-on-quarter to 104.9 points. It reached its high of 124 points in the first quarter, he said.

“The decline implies the sector is still expanding although at a considerably slower pace.This shows the businessmen are not upbeat about the business condition in the third quarter,” he said.

Zakariah said the CSI for the third quarter surged to 115.8 per cent and with improving labour markets on the cards, consumer spending was expected to rise. He said the third quarter GDP growth this year would be lower than 8.9 percent in the second quarter.

Zakariah said the ringgit uptrend would also affect the export market. However, he said, the appreciation in the local commodity prices would contribute to export gains.

‘GST deferment appropriate’

“The forecasts of world commodity experts on crude oil and crude palm oil will be favouring us at least in first quarter next year,” he said.

He said the deferment of goods and services tax was apppropriate and “most likely can be in place in one-and-half years to two years, perhaps after the next election”.

On the 2011 budget that the government announced on Friday, Zakariah said MIER was disappointed that the reduction in the fiscal deficit was small and that there were no measures to address the increasingly high household debt.

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak said that Malaysia was on track to hit its 5.6 percent fiscal deficit target in 2010 and would reduce that further to 5.4 percent in 2011.

Zakariah said although the Budget 2011 was within expectations, there were also disappointments. “There were no reduction in fiscal deficit. Measures to address property speculation, removal of withholding tax on real estate investment trusts for foreign investors and higher personal relief or lower tax were also not looked into,” he said.

- Agencies/www.malaysiakini.com

Permatang Pauh Umno chief gets ultimatum

By FMT Staff

PERMATANG PAUH: A disgruntled Permatang Pauh Umno Youth wing has issued a 44-day deadline to its chief Abdul Jalil Abdul Majid to resolve 16 outstanding demands, including settling a 20-month owing in salaries to the division's administrative staff.

The Youth wing is demanding that Jalil prepare and present during the stipulated time a development blueprint and budget for the next two years to strengthen Permatang Pauh Umno in readiness for the 13th general election.

The wing is also demanding that Jalil be open and transparent on the issue of allocations made available by government agencies for the people.

All allocations, it said, must be made known to all executive committee and wing members.

Other demands include the setting up of a special committee to channel all funds and aid received by the division to ensure fair and equal distribution to recipients minus a third party.

The wing is also demanding that the decision and appointment of Federal Village Development and Security Committee (JKKKP) members must involve all wings and that all political appointments created under the ministry be discussed at the respective committee meetings.

Infighting for seat

Capping the 16-point demands is a call that all party matters pertaining to the party be decided at the Umno division office.

According to a Harakhdaily report, the 16 demands were aimed at embarrasing Jalil who is the former Penanti assemblyman.

The report said rumours were rife that Zaidi sees Jalil as a hindrance to his desire to contest in the next general election.

Zaidi is aiming to be nominated as a Barisan Nasional candidate for either the Permatang Pasir or Penanti state seats in the next general election. But Jalil is also nursing similar aspirations.

It is understood that the recently held 'Tranformasi Perjuangan Umno Permatang Pauh' organised by Zaidi was also aimed at embarrasing and humiliating Jalil.

"As long as Jalil is around, Zaidi will have no hope of being named as candidate for Pematang Pasir or Penanti. He also does not stand a chance to be fielded in Seberang Jaya constituency which is synonymous with Arif Shah," noted the report.

Part 16: The MACC officers are useless, says the MACC senior officer (1)

On 7th December 2006, Ramli Manan of the MACC sent Sidek Hassan, the KSN, and Shahrir Samad, the Chairman of the PAC, a 13-page letter to lament about the flood of corruption cases in Malaysia. He cites the various cases and the ineffectiveness of the MACC (then called ACA) in combating corruption. He actually calls the MACC officers useless and blames the government for this.

THE CORRIDORS OF POWER

Raja Petra Kamarudin

TO BE CONTINUED

The Republic of God

By Lingswaran Singh

A response to LoyarBurokker Aston Paiva’s “Twilight of the Gods.”

I was listening to The Cranberries – Zombie when I saw Aston Paiva’s atheistic piece on Wednesday morning. As I read through his twilight, I felt a rush of blood to my head; I bit my lip reading every word, my soul protested in disbelief. Such arrogance such pride in being human, I took a deep breath and cleared my mind and thought hard about the way I felt when Aston dismissed the faith in God. The republic in me called for an emergency seating, the motion was to discuss Aston’s active approach in atheism. The Lucifer in me stood up, it has been a long time since he has said anything. The whole republic was in awe, mesmerised by the elegance and style of the fallen one.

A short silence filled the atmosphere before the track changed to Linkin Park’s -The Catalyst. Everybody waited in great suspense trying to gauge what the light-bringer has to say. He stood firm, as he peered into every republican in the temple. I sensed his anger as he said “…this is exactly why, I protested. You humans have no gratitude. You pour blood, and cause destruction and you revere yourself, wasn?t I right? I do not understand why HE still has so much faith in your kind. HE condemned me and my kind over yours?; nevertheless HIS love has no boundaries. I have expected this for a very long time, even before the inception of man. I do not care if the republic chooses to refute what has been written. May HE have mercy on your kind.” The Morning Star took his seat with silence.

The other angels lowered their wings. Everybody hung their head in shame, deep down they wanted to agree with the fallen one. They understood the complex love he had for God, and his dislike for Man. Michael stood up; there was great disappointment on his face. “You must refute the writing, you must. His opinion has deeply offended all of us, even the light-bringer” he said.

The theists in the republic mocked me, they hummed to the tune of R.E.M’s Loosing My Religion. The Mullahs suggested that we condemn Aston’s blasphemous writing. The Rabbis said that whatever our decision it makes no difference, we would still burn for eternity in hell. The Bishops quoted Deuteronomy 17:5 Then shalt thou bring forth that man or that woman, which have committed that wicked thing, unto thy gates, even that man or that woman, and shalt stone them with stones, till they die. The Mullahs suggested Fatir 35:7 Those who disbelieve will have a severe punishment, and those who believe and do righteous deeds will have forgiveness and great reward. As Lord President I quickly warned them, “I will not tolerate such remarks!“

The Sikhs and Hindus were calm. One priest stood up and said “He is a disbeliever, and so let it be, this is the will of God?. A Sikh reminded ?he is not bad, and we are not good.” One Pundit said “Can’t you see even God loves and feeds this disbeliever, who are we to judge him in anyway?“, A Sadhu then said “He just needs to have a joint and listen to some Bob Marley” which was received with much supportive laughter from a group of Rastafarians. Everybody looked at him, and he equipped “What? You guys are making big fuss out of this! Chill man, and let the Atheist say what has been inspired to him.”

As Linkin Parks – In The End started to play, the Agnostics refused to vote on the motion. They said “With all due respect, we choose not to speak on this neither take a stand, we beg leave from the temple.” before they left. As I turned to the Deists, they equipped me with this “We think that the term disbeliever is in accurately used. We should instead use the term Atheist to refer the subject matter.” What is the reason for that? I curiously inquired. “He dismisses the idea of God, but he speaks the truth, how can he then be a disbeliever? Having faith in the truth is not disbelief. It is the very core of belief” they explained. “He is an Atheist because it is God’s will. We believe there is much wisdom in what he says. Just because what he speaks threatens to destroy the very foundation of this temple or faith is no excuse to not admit the truth, why fear when God is ultimately the truth?” they added.

The lyric to Crawling by Linkin Park was in the air almost resonating to their argument as I looked for some insight from the Buddhist monks. One monk said “He is a Bodhisattva of our time, learn from him, and do not fear his words instead embrace the wisdom he speaks.” Another said “Seek not what he destroys seek what he stands for, seek the truth.” Harahel, the angel of knowledge agreed with the monks and said “He who truly disbelieves is a cruel person who causes pain to others, he who oppresses the weak.”

Neo and Morpheus agreed that we shall learn instead of criticising his Atheism. “The architecture of his belief is amazing in a sense that the complexity of his thought is not due to disbelief but it expounds the greater reality of belief.” said Neo. Morpheus on the other hand said this “To know yourself is to know God” at which point the Rastafarians exalted “Hey isn’t that what Jesus said?” The Sufis interrupted “Yes, that is why he is no disbeliever. Even at the hands of an Atheists God is revered, perhaps in a very unconventional way, but as the saying goes God acts in mysterious ways.” The republic has spoken, I shall learn without fear. There is no concern for fear; the truth would only set me free.