Firefly cutbacks mean fewer Sabahans and Sarawakians will be home for Christmas 2012

Media statement by Liew Chin Tong in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday, 29^th December 2011:

Firefly cutbacks mean fewer Sabahans and Sarawakians will be home for Christmas 2012

Travel to Sabah and Sarawak will become more difficult and very likely more expensive now that Firefly is ceasing its jet operations to Sabah and Sarawak. The MAS-Air Asia Collaboration is causing many flights to be stopped. It appears that Air Asia is the chief beneficiary while ordinary Malaysians suffer. With MAS and Firefly curtailing flights, Air Asia is emerging as the main, or sometimes only airline serving certain routes. For example, the Sandakan-Kuala Lumpur route is now a monopoly by Air Asia1.

Fewer flights and higher ticket prices do not just inconvenience travellers. It is bad for the entire economy. Not-for-profit research institute Research for Social Advancement (REFSA) has pointed out that:

1. Fewer flights means less work for airline crew and airport ground personnel. Which leads to less employment and smaller incomes and less spending power;

2. Fewer travellers also means less income and employment opportunities for taxis, hotels, cafes, hawkers and all the businesses that provide the services that travellers need;

3. Less tangible, but in the longer-run, just as importantly, fewer flights also means fewer opportunities for people to meet, collaborate, innovate and generate economic activity.

The MAS-Air Asia Collaboration should result in benefits for all. But it appears Firefly is having its wings clipped. Firstly, Parliament was told that thousands of Johoreans have been frustrated by flight cancellations; and it has been reported that passenger traffic at Subang airport, Firefly's base, is down by 30% since the collaboration was announced, Then, Khazanah Nasional masterminded the hasty departure of Firefly managing director Datuk Eddy Leong. He abruptly resigned with just over two weeks notice, and left on 10 Dec. Leong will be joining Destination Resorts and Hotels, a unit of Khazanah.

Firefly staff are already anxious about their fate, following the announcement of the MAS-Air Asia collaboration in August. That collaboration brought their fierce competitor, Tan Sri Tony Fernandes, into their parent company. Khazanah might well be sending Firefly into a nosedive. The captain has now been taken out. The former 'enemy' is now in top management. New MAS CEO Encik Ahmad Jauhari, while highly regarded, has no airline experience. Leong and his experience would have been very helpful as a counterweight to Tan Sri Tony.

Now, it is also natural that many of the crew would want to bail out as soon as they can. Firefly will have imploded from within. Firefly's demise would be terrible news for the many travellers like me, who benefited from Leong's success in growing Firefly, which gave us so many more flight options.

Increasing connectivity, lowering costs, encouraging competition and widening consumer choice are crucial for Malaysia to grow and develop.

But GLCs Khazanah and CIMB are leading this MAS-Air Asia collaboration that allows a previously fierce competitor in the form of Tan Sri Tony Fernandez into the fold of MAS to "collaborate" to the loss of thousands of Malaysians striving to earn a living and struggling for a better life.

This monopolistic collaboration must be cancelled before tens of thousands more Malaysians are affected by flight cancellations, lower incomes and poorer job prospects.

Allow newly appointed MAS CEO Encik Ahmad Jauhari a free hand. Let the talented Tan Sri Tony Fernandes focus on Air Asia. The economy will be more vibrant, ordinary Malaysians will benefit, and competition will make Air Asia and MAS stronger.

And let there be more flights, so that our east Malaysian friends can continue to fly home safely, cheaply and conveniently.

---

* Liew Chin Tong, DAP International Secretary & MP for Bukit Bendera

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The ensuing Karpal-Ramasamy feud: A weaker DAP in GE13

Ramasamy, however, is highly regarded in the Indian community and is seen as a savior of the community which has been abused and exploited by Samy Vellu and MIC and humiliated and insulted by UMNO over many decades. DAP's leadership cannot afford to ignore Ramasamy's prominent standing in the Indian community even though he may not have widespread support in DAP itself. 

By Ken

 

The Karpal-Ramasamy feud does not appear to end. In the latest development, Karpal has asked Ramasamy to quit as DCM II. Ramasamy has been accused of unacceptable behavior and talking too much. There is no question that Ramasamy needs to resolve issues internally, talk less and keep away from the media. If only Karpal, as the veteran politician and chairman of DAP, also thought a little before talking, his differences with Ramasamy would not have become this ugly open feud, a gift from DAP to UMNO/BN to attack DAP and Pakatan in GE13. 

Karpal has escalated matters recently by asking for Ramasamy to be sacked as DCM II. The feud between these two DAP politicians is getting uglier every day. The Karpal-Ramasamy feud has the potential to damage DAP so badly, if it has not done so already, that DAP is unlikely even to come close to its GE12 feat in GE13. What is important is DAP, and not Karpal or Ramasamy. What is critical for the nation is a Pakatan Rakyat win in GE13, and DAP needs to play its part properly and not jeopardize this critical mission necessary to save Malaysia from impending collapse under UMNO/BN.

Karpal has the overwhelming support of the DAP grassroots, especially in Penang. He is a veteran politician, a Penangite who has been with the party since the 1970s and who has carefully nurtured the support of the grassroots. Ramasamy is no match for Karpal in the world of politics and does not hold the sway that Karpal has in DAP. Ramasamy, however, is highly regarded in the Indian community and is seen as a savior of the community which has been abused and exploited by Samy Vellu and MIC and humiliated and insulted by UMNO over many decades. DAP's leadership cannot afford to ignore Ramasamy's prominent standing in the Indian community even though he may not have widespread support in DAP itself.

If Ramasamy is removed from his post as DCM II, as Karpal is demanding, the DAP is likely to lose substantial Indian votes not only in Penang but also ac! ross Wes t Malaysia. The DAP and Pakatan cannot afford to lose Indian votes as their votes will determine the winner in various DAP and even Pakatan seats and other urban/semi-urban seats in West Malaysia.

Knowing that Indian support will determine the outcome in many marginal seats in West Malaysia, Najib has been carefully nurturing (bribing?) the Indians since assuming power. Support for him from the Indians has been growing, and even his "Malay-first, Malaysian-second" deputy and other ultra-UMNOputras have been more sensitive to the Indians lately.  

Najib has given up on the Chinese, knowing that they are firmly committed to DAP and a Pakatan Rakyat goverment after GE13. With the support of a majority of the Malays and a substantial proportion of the Indians, Najib hopes to win back many of the seats UMNO/BN lost in GE12. Given that the Indians have the potential to determine the outcome of many of the marginal seats in GE13, the DAP can ill-afford to sack Ramasamy from his post as DCM II. That would be stupidity at this juncture for DAP as it will drive away substantial crucial votes from the Indians who are already warming up to the ringgits, gifts and sweet promises from UMNO and MIC.

Though DAP's support comes mostly from the Chinese, the party has managed to make itself visibly more multi-racial after GE12 through the presence of Indian Wakil Rakyats and ADUNS such as Ramasamy. The party has also been making progress, though slow, in attracting Malays. The party needs to continue this effort in line with Pakatan Rakyat's noble agenda for all Malaysians regardless of race. Loss of Indian support, as a consequence of Ramasamy's sacking as DCM II, will thwart its multi-racial agenda and make UMNO's accusation a reality, that DAP is a Chinese chauvinist party.

The majority of Chinese and other Malaysians who are disgusted with UMNO/BN will vote for DAP in GE13 regardless of the candidate. They will, in general, vote for DAP regardless of the backg! round or race of the candidate. There are few DAP candidates, except Lim Guan Eng and perhaps Lim Kit Siang, who can win a seat on his own merit and not because of the DAP banner.

Karpal commands significant support in Penang DAP but he still does not command the kind of support required to win a seat on his own merit. Though Ramasamy can only win in GE13 if he stands under the DAP banner, the irony is that the DAP needs him to retain the support of the Indian community to win in many of the marginal constituencies.

If Ramasamy is not in DAP's line-up for GE13, other DAP candidates, including Karpal, are likely to lose substantial Indian votes and may end up as losers in GE13. It is therefore in the interest of both Karpal and Ramasamy, and certainly in the interest of DAP and Pakatan Rakyat, that these two politicians set aside their differences and cooperate for a strong DAP and Pakatan Rakyat win.  

The DAP leadership needs to act wisely and strategically if they hope to at least repeat their GE12 feat. Otherwise the dream of all decent Malaysians - the eviction of UMNO/BN from Putrajaya and the installation of a just and clean Pakatan Rakyat federal government  - will remain a dream after GE13 as Pakatan Rakyat cannot win with a weaker DAP, the consequence of the ensuing Karpal-Ramasamy feud.

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Perkasa lapor polis kempen bebas Anwar, paderi Eu

KUALA LUMPUR: Presiden Pertubuhan Pribumi Perkasa Malaysia (Perkasa) Datuk Ibrahim Ali hari ini membuat dua laporan polis di Ibu Pejabat Daerah (IPD) Dang Wangi di sini dengan disertai 30 anggotanya.

Laporan pertama berhubung kempen 'Bebas Anwar 901′ yang dijadual di adakan di perkarangan Mahkamah Tinggi Kuala Lumpur, Jalan

Duta di sini pada 9 Januari ini dan laporan kedua, berhubung tindakan paderi Dr Eu Hong Seng mempersoalkan Perkara 153 Perlembagaan Persekutuan.

Mahkamah Tinggi dijangka akan membuat penghakiman pada hari itu berhubung kes Ketua Pembangkang Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim yang didakwa meliwat bekas pembantunya, Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan di kondominium Desa Damansara pada 26 Jun 2008.

Ahli Parlimen Pasir Mas itu mahu polis menyiasat serta mengambil tindakan sewajarnya terhadap individu yang merancang kempen tersebut.

Ujarnya, "perbuatan mereka dengan mengajak rakyat untuk turun itu sengaja akan mencetuskan huru-hara. Biarkan kes berjalan tanpa gangguan. Sebagai rakyat yang waras mereka sudah matang untuk membaca keputusan yang akan diberikan.

"Sebagai ahli dewan rakyat, saya membuat laporan untuk mendesak polis menyiasat siapa perancang kepada cadangan mengadakan perhimpunan 9 Januari seperti risalah yang ditaburkan. Polis hendaklah mengambil tindakan dan guna kuasa mereka untuk menyiasat siapa perancang kempen agar Malaysia selamat," katanya.

Kenyataan Eu tidak bertanggungjawab

Sementara itu Timbalan Presiden Perkasa Datuk Abdul Rahman Abu Bakar, pula mendesak kerajaan supaya mengambil tindakan ke atas paderi Dr. Eu Hong Seng di bawah Akta Hasutan 1948 kerana mempertikai Perkara 153 Perlembagaan Persekutuan.

Ini berhubung kenyataan Eu yang juga Pengerusi National Evangelical Christian Fellowship (NECF) itu pada majlis minum petang di sebuah gereja di Subang Jaya, Sabtu lalu itu berbentuk provokasi, menghasut dan tidak bertanggungjawab.

Abdul Rahman mempersoalkan Eu yang tidak memahami perlembagaan dan pada masa sama melahirkan kekecewaan terhadap Presiden Gerakan Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon yang hadir di majlis itu namun enggan bertindak membetulkan keadaan.

"Adakah paderi faham maksud perlembagaan 153? Kata perlembagaan itu wujud untuk orang Islam dan Melayu sedangkan ia melindungi hak Bumiputera Sabah, Sarawak yang juga penganut agama kristian.

Sepatutnya tindakan diambil di bawah Akta Hasutan kerana perlembagaan itu tidak boleh dipersoalkan oleh mana-mana pihak, individu mahupun rakyat Malaysia. Siasat paderi terbabit dan polis guna kuasa undang-undang dengan tegas," katanya.

Mengulas lanjut hal itu, Ibrahim Ali menyifatkan kenyataan Eu bermotifkan politik memandangkan pilihan raya umum akan diadakan pada bila-bila masa.

Beliau turut menimbulkan kemusykilan ekoran majlis minum petang itu turut dihadiri pemimpin Pakatan Rakyat dan Tsu Koon.

"Apa motif perjumpaan dalam gereja oleh Tsu Koon, Hanna Teoh, Tian Chu, Anwar? Motif nak pesong rakyat…."dakwa beliau.

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"V"4VENDETTA New Year's Eve Do has Desi's support...

So I'm making a speial "break" in my se7en-day HI-ATUS from Dec 25-Jan1 because I think this is worth supporting, and I'm running this as A NEW YEAR'S DAY COMMUNITY SERVICE MESSAGE FOR THE ORGANISERS...~~ YL, Desi

To mark the end of 2011 and the inception of the 2012 New Year, we are calling ALL to Occupy Dataran Merdeka with us on December 31st, 2011, at 11pm. This will be a participatory MASS FLASHMOB, symbolically expressing our common indignation against the many injustices and anti-democratic events that happened in Malaysia in 2011, in contrast to the positive significance of 2011 for the rest of the world. We want to collectively say ENOUGH IS ENOUGH; TIME FOR REAL DEMOCRACY NOW, in 2012!

'V' masks at Dataran Merdeka symbolize resistance against authoritarianism

2011 will go down in history as the Year of Peaceful, Non-Violent Revolutions. It began in Tunisia, culminating ! in Tahri r Square, Egypt, now undeniably THE iconic image and symbol of human freedom and liberation of the 21st Century. We also saw the uprising of the Indignados (The Indignant movement), occupying Puerta del Sol in Madrid, Spain, giving inspiration to the Occupy Wall Street movement, that began on September 17th. This democratic wave, driven by ordinary peoples on the street, as opposed to leadership by elites the world over, is destined to become the Revolution that will OCCUPY the hearts and minds of the 7 billion persons on earth today, for generations to come.

Occupy Dataran, inspired by these events, began to occupy Dataran Merdeka, on a weekly basis, since July 30th 2011. We have been committed to this ideal of embodying the kind of change we want to see in wider Malaysian society, to practice and model a new form of grassroots, non-partisan, non-hierarchical, participatory form of direct democracy, right here in Malaysia. Our Assemblies, meeting every Saturday at Dataran Merdeka, is the concrete actualization of Direct Democracy and Open Participation by Anyone and Everyone, without regard for race, creed or wealth.

As the year 2011 draws to a close, dark clouds still hang over the Malaysian sky, no different from the previous years. Undemocratic repression of human rights continue unabated. Malaysians suffer these abuses in different forms and at different levels. It is often hard for the ordinary Malaysian to articulate and give voice to their suffering and plight. Occupy Dataran wants to provide that space and platform for all to channel their outrage and indignation in constructive and meaningful ways. We want every person to find his or her own voice, formulating his or her own demands. Some of these demands may spring from this year's chronology of injustices: the repression of street protests (eg. Bersih 2.0), the pass! ing of t he Peaceful Assembly Bill 2011, the Lynas debacle, the continuous land-grab of Orang Asli & indigenous land in Sabah & Sarawak, corruption in government, exploitation and repression of local and migrant workers' welfare & rights, deaths in the MACC, the suppression of academic and student freedoms by the UUCA, etc.

To mark the end of 2011 and the inception of the 2012 New Year, we are calling ALL to Occupy Dataran Merdeka with us on December 31st, 2011, at 11pm. We call on ALL to come wearing the mask of V, re-enacting the final dramatic scene from the movie, V for Vendetta. The V mask represents resistance against authoritarianism all over world. This will be a participatory MASS FLASHMOB, symbolically expressing our common indignation against the many injustices and anti-democratic events that happened in Malaysia in 2011, in contrast to the positive significance of 2011 for the rest of the world. We want to collectively say ENOUGH IS ENOUGH; TIME FOR REAL DEMOCRACY NOW, in 2012!

Our objectives for this CALL TO ACTION ON DECEMBER 31st are:

1) To reclaim our public spaces and reclaim Dataran Merdeka as an open and democratic space for all peoples to assemble freely and peacefully;

2) To defend and reclaim the fundamental right to assemble peacefully, protest and to occupy our public spaces;

3) To protest against the Peaceful Assembly Bill 2011;

4) To show solidarity with all those who have suffered injustices and violation of their basic rights in 2011;

5) To show our resolve in making 2012 the year of real democratic changes in Malaysia, in all aspects, political, social and economic.

We CALL ON ALL to join us on 31st December 2011 and make our DEMANDS loud and clear at Dataran Merdeka.

JOM OCCUPY!

#OccupyDataran Media Working Group

Note: The Organizers will be releasing the specific details of the 31st December Flashmob soon, via the OcuppyDataran Facebook page,

http://www.facebook.com/occupydataran

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‘Underground handover best way out’

KUALA LUMPUR: Landowners in Imbi here affected by the My Rapid Transit (MRT) construction say that signing away their underground land rights to the government is the best way out of their land woes.

Some have even called it a "win-win solution" despite possibly losing their business for up to five years.

Jadi Batik handicraft proprietor Colin Yong told FMT that his Jalan Inai shop would have to be demolished while MRT tunnels are built beneath his land.

Even though he would only be allowed to come back after a year of construction, Yong said that this was much better than land acquisition.

"As a landowner, I am happy to come to this solution… so that land acquisition is avoided," he said, adding that the MRT's project owners MRT Corp would compensate him for the loss of his building, income and pay the rent while they used his land.

"They said that they would have no use for the surface land, and that it was not necessary to acquire it… I think its a fair deal," he said.

He also commended MRT Corp chief executive Azhar Abdul Hamid for coming up with the lead to the solution.

Yesterday, MRT Corp announced that it had signed a Points of Agreement (POA) with 21 Imbi landowners affected by the project.

According to a press statement, the POA would form the basis of a mutual agreement set to be signed in Jan 31 next year, which MRT Corp expects would solve Imbi's MRT land issues.

These would include taking away underground land rights for tunnelling purposes, asking the landowners to move out of their lots for a period of time, compensating them, and various technical requirements for later development.

Yong said that the lot owners' land titles would come with an endorsement stating that their underground land was being used for tunnelling.

Technical requirements

Speaking on technical requirements, landowners' legal adviser Jason Ng Kau said that a set of terms would be in place for landowners to follow after the MRT construction was finished.

"Landowners are allowed to develop the land, but there would be some restrictions, and they would have to comply with these requirements," he said.

Ng however said that future development would be fine as long as it did not affect the MRT's tunnels.

Compensation, he added, would also be counted by an "independent" valuer, who would determine how much MRT Corp should pay the affected landowners.

He also said that some lot owners would have to vacate their land by March 1 next year, and that not all the buildings affected would be demolished.

"Certain lots will have to move out by March 1, some for five years, so MRT Corp is going to compensate for the many costs here," Ng said.

He added that the POA and the following mutual agreement was the "right step forward".

Dozens of lot owners in Jalan Sultan, Bukit Bintang and Imbi were told that their buildings were going to be taken through land acquisition in mid-August for the construction of underground MRT tunnels.

Unhappy with being notified about the matter at the very last minute, the lot owners in Jalan Sultan and Bukit Bintang took their grouses to politicians, and warned the government not to grab their land by force.

The government announced the MRT as a way to relieve the Klang Valley's burgeoning traffic congestion.

Construction on the 51km Sungai Buloh-Kajang (SBK) line was expected to begin in the middle of next year and might be completed by the end of 2016. SBK's services are expected to start off in January 2017.

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Consumers & Voters, the similarities

Its always the case of regret by voters after electing in a corrupt, racist, arrogant and abusive government. Things can change if the voters wise up and stand together in solidarity to demand for a clean and fair government but won't be effective if only a handful fight for it. Things are really heating up for change with bigger and larger groups joining forces now.

While the ruling government is fighting for their political survival what happen to the consumers? Are consumers protected from the ever greedy big business corporations?

Big business corporations tend to forget the time when they were small players like when you see how polite they were when approaching the consumers for their business. Now after getting the consumers support they turn big headed, arrogant and sarcastic.

When corporations can simply issue "verbal" Terms & Conditions as and when they like what can the consumers do? By the way is there such a thing as "verbal" Terms & Conditions set by business corporations? If the authority allows it then we, the consumers are screwed.

Most customers knew that they are screwed by business corporations every now and then but kept silence about it. There are just too many to mention and we, the consumers simply could not do anything at all. They are big timers with heavy support from you know who and lots of cash, 'dinero' that turned them into the untouchables. Even if you were to approach the Consumer Associations, there is nothing much they can do about it, except advising you to seek lawyers help and that is where it will all end. We can't afford to engage lawyers (which these corporations knew) and even if we can afford they are ever ready to take you on.
!
Now, we consumers must wise up like the voters, stand together in solidarity in fighting the big business corporations should they infringe into our rights.

"Consumers should not be afraid of business corporation. Business corporation should be afraid of the consumers."

On the 18th December 2011, I had a very bad experience at one of DiGi Telecommunications Sdn. Bhd store. Was told that only RM100 and below can be credited from a prepaid to postpaid upon switching and any balance above RM100 in the prepaid will be forfeited by digi. I cannot accept this and asked how can it be so. The staff replied that its digi "Terms & Conditions" which I promply requested to see a copy of it. The staff then said its a "VERBAL" Terms & Conditions which of course makes me mad, I have never heard of "Verbal" Terms & Conditions. And what really makes me even hotter and angrier is when they cannot provide a written copy nor answer my questions they just told you off "DON'T BUY". Walah what an arrogant and sarcastic business corporation.

There are many who love and adore Digi, consider that they are lucky not to have met the bad experience I have gone through and others as well.

I tweet about it and @DiGi_Telco promptly follow me and requested me to add in order to receive DM from them. Below are my tweet DM with @DiGi_Telco to date.

DiGi_Telco
Hi, we're sry tt u had a bad experience with us ytd. Pls contact us via our helpline to lodge a report regarding to that. Thx.
19 Dec at 14:18

MalaysiaForAll
Just ans my tweets, I am afraid 2 talk to live digi person after the bad experience
19 Dec at 15:14

MalaysiaForAll
Will u b answering my tweet Questions?
19 Dec at 17:40

DiGi_Telco
Hi, v'll try our best to do so. However, Twitter & FB pgs are nt d official CS channel 4 DiGi. Hope it explains why thr isnt prompt response
20 Dec at 10:11
M alaysiaForAll
A faithful customer of digi prepaid 4 10 yrs yet receiving arrogant service but guess 'faithful' does not exist in this corporate world now

MalaysiaForAll
Is it SOP of digi 2 tell customer off "don't buy" when they cannot ans your Q. This make me angry & due 2 this that started it all
20 Dec at 15:33

MalaysiaForAll
Is there such a thing as "verbal" Terms & Conditions? Can it be enforceable without a black & white written hard/soft copy?
20 Dec at 15:34

MalaysiaForAll
Your staff claimed they r trained to talk the way they did & I feel they r wrongly trained, guess yr helpline is trained that way as well
20 Dec at 15:34

MalaysiaForAll
Is digi prepaid & post paid not belonging to the same company?
20 Dec at 15:34

MalaysiaForAll
Y only RM100 & below from prepaid can b credited 2 post paid acct when switch, any bal will b forfeited
20 Dec at 15:34

DiGi_Telco
Hi, sry for the late. This is the criteria for credit conversion from prepaid to postpaid - Max credit balance of RM100.

DiGi_Telco
If u'd like to find out more, pls call us at 0162211800.
28 Dec at 11:30

MalaysiaForAll
Is the criteria make known to consumers in black & white? What happen to the balance, digi just take it away, like that?
28 Dec at 14:23

MalaysiaForAll
Sorry, no talk to live person, your personal r trained to be arrogant & sarcastic, experience that in your store.
28 Dec at 14:24

I was told to call their HelpLine which I deem unnecessary. Both the staffs at the store and their helpline are trained by Digi and they will answer you which are not exactly the answers you wanted, more likely you may received more arrogant and sarcastic rebuttal couple with the phone being slammed.

I have already made preparation to launch these issues on twitter and Facebook on the 4th January 2012 unless @DiGi_Telco can provide satisfac! tory ans wers to my questions.

If you are on twitter, do follow me and RT please. I am also on FaceBook and bloggers, please feel free to reproduce this article. Readers, please share your experiences in the comment box, not only on Digi but any other business corporations as well.

We need to bring awareness among us, the consumers, that we do not take lightly to business corporations infringement of our rights and any other things detrimental to consumers at their whims and fancies.

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Sick And Twisted - a stand up comedy event. Coming soon!

January 12, 2012. 8PM

Black Box, Publika MAP KL,

Solaris Dutamas

Tickets RM25.00

Bookings: http//eshop.mongooseasia.com

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A change is gonna come

by Praba Ganesan
The Malaysian Insider
Dec 29, 2011

DEC 29 — An important time is arriving in Malaysia, and it does not matter if you are for it or not; that's not material anymore. The growing fear is that the nation is about to enter this phase without a seat belt.

History students in the distant future will love 2011. When in doubt in a class history quiz, 2011 is, as they say in basketball, a high percentage shot (or guess in that situation). The world has plenty of discussion points from this year, with the death of Kim Jung-il tipping the year to epic proportion.

However for Malaysians, despite its share of watershed moments this year, 2012 will be the one that is monumental.

Two inevitable events in 2012 will dictate life in Malaysia for some time.

A general election and a court verdict.

He will go to jail

With his declaration from the defendant's dock of his innocence and that Sodomy II is an elaborate political attack, Anwar Ibrahim has announced his disbelief in the country's justice system under Barisan Nasional.

Legal minds are divided on the strategy, but still it did more than suggest that the leader of the opposition is readying himself for what seems like a predictable verdict. Few of those legal minds, outside the employ of the Malaysian government, disagree with Anwar.

On January 9 when the verdict comes out, there will be a reaction. Not rage, but a quiet shrug of the shoulder by millions of Malaysians. This disgust may translate to votes in the coming general election.

The column is mindful that there will be many other developments between that January week and the general election, but none will capture the collective imagination of Malaysians as much as this. The spectre of a grandfather going to jail six months after Prime Minister Najib Razak promising to reform the country's arcane and oppressive laws removes any semblance of reform from the present administration.

The administration's fear of a free Anwar in an election year may be its undoing.

General election

This column made the prognosis last year that there will be no general election this year. It has been vindicated on that score.

Six months ago it would be outright optimism bordering on blind faith to expect Pakatan Rakyat to exceed its Election 2008 results.

Today, there is talk in saner political corners of a possible election upset.

Najib has a large party, but most are in for what Umno can give them and are led by very few charismatic leaders. It is a party of money, not a party of ideas.

It can only rely on the following: a good economy, the buzz of 1 Malaysia, mainstream media and its election machinery.

The economy is strong, and the planned handouts leading to the election will affect votes. Still, decades of poor wealth distribution are starting to bite all over, the emerging scandals are only confirming allegations of an elitist system run to please one class, not any race, religion or state.

Mainstream media has been less dismissive of Pakatan Rakyat, even if they'd rather have dead air than say salutary things about the coalition. Some of the commentaries have given way to doubt.

The buzz of 1 Malaysia is the random factor. No poll can gauge it. Only a fair election will. It is conceivable that this administration is leaking support.

The BN machine is a money machine. It is less incisive in a general election than in a by-election. It is about pump-priming activities based on money. The question remains, how many Malaysians are keen on appearing to openly support the BN in the coming election, even if the money is good?

There is an air of change in the country, and an Anwar conviction will electrify the country more and convince them that if they let this moment slip, then a reversal will occur.

The electoral maths then…

The dwindled support for BN's Chinese parties will start to tell. The Indian votes are divided at best, not in Najib's bag necessarily. It is curious to note that Najib, not the MIC, holds sway with the community.

It is the young vote which will determine the result. Anwar does not poll that well with women, but that does not discount Pakatan's overall appeal to women.

Penang is destined to stay with Pakatan. The parliamentary seats will be status quo.

Kedah will copy Penang, and Perlis is on a knife edge.

Pundits will not be surprised if the northwest turns into a Pakatan surge.

Kelantan is a safe seat, and the vagaries of Terengganu Umno politics does leave more questions than answers. Umno may keep the state, but only a two-seat majority in the parliamentary count.

Pahang will be Peninsular Malaysia's battleground. There were urban wins for Pakatan, but it is the reach to Felda areas that will be telling. Umno to keep Pahang, but to lose more ground.

Perak and Selangor will go Pakatan, the first is a bigger call but a call has to be made.

With the expectation of a slim Pakatan win in Negri Sembilan, that leaves Malacca and Johor as solid Umno states.

All eyes will turn to Borneo. It is a mighty ask to expect a lion's share of the parliamentary seats there, but Pakatan might broach the 20-seat mark, though it might end up being 15. That would reduce BN's majority from Borneo (31 seats in Sarawak, 25 in Sabah) from 54 in 2008 to a manageable 26.

A national electoral win is possible, even if quite challenging, if the above inroad is achieved in Borneo.

Unlike Pakatan's leadership conviction that the right candidates will win Putrajaya, this column is ready to call that it will be the national mobilisation of hundreds of thousands of Malaysians wanting a new Malaysia which will secure the change.

Side shows without Bob

Klang Valley residents will be in a "reign of fire" as MRT work goes warp speed in 2012. Prasarana's failure to announce any adjustments, reroutes and realignments in bus transportation, and Selangor and KL traffic cops' attitude of responding as necessary, together spells disaster.

There is no temporary transportation plan as the valley goes into construction mode.

Lynas starting Gebeng operation. The prime minister's home state, Pahang, is fairly lackadaisical about the rare earth refinery, but Kuantan MP Fuziah Salleh is thriving in the situation. Najib can only lose if things persist at the present rate.

Porn in the mail then. The election year will bring with it pornography. Since in Malaysia, there is no sex education in public schools, let alone educational videos, a nation has to rely on politicians to sate any need for graphical images. Trust more videos to emerge to tarnish the usual and not usual suspects.

Living with less. Not sexy, but quite pressing, the rising cost of living with no economic policy to stem it will bite more than the analysts in government think. Probably because over time it seems, they've actually started to believe their own spiel.

Brave new world

At the end of 2012, a different Malaysia might stand.

As tyrants around the world fall, die or assume a cheerful personality to the Western democracies they used to openly loathe, Malaysia will become a standout case if it remains in this political rut.

Even opposition politicians are puzzled by this column's prediction, saying they don't think they are worthy of the adulation.

Actually, the adulation is for the people of Malaysia long denied a government worthy of their aspiration and hope.

Time, technology, history and opportunity are actively conspiring to give, not to politicians but a larger Malaysian population, real voice for the first time.

It's time they took it.

This entry was posted on Thursday, 29 December 2011, 6:56 pm and is filed under Elections. You can follow any responses to this entry through RSS 2.0.  

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Guan Eng’s silence is deafening, says MCA

PETALING JAYA: MCA today challenged Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng to break his silence over DAP chairman Karpal Singh's call for the resignation of P Ramasamy, one of Lim's two deputies.

"In any incident involving the state government, Lim has the responsibility to give an explanation to the people of Penang as their chief minister," said a media statement issued by Tan Cheng Liang, who heads Penang MCA's women's wing.

"He must provide a clarification over the incident and explain the circumstances surrounding it."

She alleged that Lim had the "ostrich mentality of hiding its head whenever a problem arises".

Karpal had called for Ramasamy's resignation after the publication of a report in the Star in which the deputy chief minister was alleged to have spoken of corrupt practices in Penang DAP and of a grand plan to oust him.

Karpal said on Saturday Ramasamy's position as Deputy Chief Minister II was no longer tenable.

Ramasamy has since distanced himself from the Star report and sent the MCA-owned paper a legal notice demanding an apology.

Tan said Lim's silence indicated that there was something wrong with his administration, but she also criticised Karpal, saying his call for Ramasamy's resignation was irrational.

"Why is it that Karpal, who has nothing to do with the Penang state government, can determine that Ramasamy should resign from his position?" she said.

"Karpal's interference in the operation of the state administration is irrational and cannot be accepted and it also proves that the state government cannot make decisions independently as the decision makers are outside of the state's control."

Also read:

Ramasamy sends notice to Star

Quit DCM post: Karpal tells Rama

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Musa’s scared of KL bosses, says Yong

KOTA KINABALU: Chief Minister Musa Aman's 'subservience' to his bosses in Kuala Lumpur over the recent cancellation of outgoing flights from Sabah to Japan, Korea and Australia will have 'damaging consequences' in next general election.

Accusing the state government of being cowards, local opposition Sabah Progressive People's Party (SAPP) president Yong Teck Lee said: "This is a most disgusting and damaging consequence of the subservience of Sabah to KL.

"The state government dared not voice out for Sabah because our government leaders are subservient to Kuala Lumpur and are scared of losing their lucrative jobs.

'It is a blatant blow to the Sabah tourism industry…I fear there is worse to come."

He urged the Musa administration and the state Tourism Board to mount a formidable complaint to the anti-monopoly Malaysia Competition Commission (MCC) under the Competition Act 2010.

The Competition Commission is reportedly investigating the MAS-Air Asia share swap deal which has created a super monopoly of the aviation industry.

The deal has forced MAS to rationalize its route leading to reduced flights, reduced destinations, and higher fares.

The rationalization has also resulted in the cancellation of Tiger Air flights to Sabah.

"The state government and tourism board must complaint to the MCC.

"This must change. The cancellation of flights will further aggravate the sufferings of Sabah who are already being slapped with KL-centric policies such as the cabotage shipping policy, over centralization of the banking sector in KL, the motor industry and trade," said Yong.

Monopoly a blow to Sabah economy

He said the decision did not make any sense because if "Sabah loses economically, Malaysia also loses."

"MAS might as well tell the tourists to skip Sabah altogether.

"The federal authorities and MAS cannot later blame the Sabah private sector for packing Sabah tours with Brunei, Hong Kong and Shenzhen (China) to take advantage of the superior hub facilities at cheaper prices and flying time via Brunei using Royal Brunei Airlines and other airlines flying from Hong Kong and Shenzhen.

"This means MAS will lose this lucrative market," he said.

In August, Sabah lost its sole representative on the MAS board due to the Comprehensive Collaboration Framework between MAS, Air Asia and Air Asia X.

"At that time I had warned that that was a blow to Sabah's economy because the loss of Sabah representation has left Sabah at the mercy of the MAS – Air Asia monopoly.

"The new directors who replaced Sabah's state secretary (Sukarti Wakiman) are top corporate leaders and bureaucrats based in Kuala Lumpur who see no need to fly via Kota Kinabalu.

"They have no experience of the frustrations of traveling within Sabah and Labuan, " said Yong.

He added that with the cancellation travellers from Sabah who were going to Japan and Korea would first have to fly to KL and transit there.

"After at least one hour of transit in KLIA and five hours of flying, the same passenger would be back to square one flying over Sabah on the way to Japan or Korea.

"Where's the common sense?" asked Yong.

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Malay Sick Pee Millionaires

Agents of 6P programme found earning by the millions

Azril Annuar and Alyaa Alhadjri
and Alyaa Alhadjri
newsdesk@thesundaily.com

PETALING JAYA (Aug 16, 2011): The 6P programme to register and legalise illegal immigrants has generated millions of ringgit for the 336 appointed agents as the entire RM335 collected from each immigrant goes to them.

The agents in turn pay sub-agents commission of between RM50 and RM70 for each illegal immigrant they "head-hunt".

Home Ministry secretary-general Tan Sri Mahmood Adam said the legalisation process at Immigration offices were free but agents were paid for providing a service.

"It is the 'service ! charge� � provided by the agencies. The government is not taking a sen of the RM300 paid to the agencies."

The RM335 does not include the levies paid by employers to retain their illegal workers once they have been legalised with the highest being in the service sector (RM1,800 per person).

Employers will also have to bear the medical fees (RM200), visa charges (RM160) and insurance (RM100). With the number of illegal foreign workers estimated at two million, the total amount comes to a whopping sum.

More than 1.2 million illegal workers have been registered, ! mostly t hrough agents who have earned more than RM400 million to date.

If all two million illegals are registered by them, the agents would rake in RM670 million – easy money, considering it takes only two to three minutes to register a worker through the fingerprint scanner.

Their costs include paying about RM15,000 for a biometric machine which can be resold to the government for RM6,000 once the programme ends.

But even with such handsome returns, many greedy agents have resorted to overcharging.

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) had reportedly uncovered cases where some unscrupulous agents have charged immigrants as much as RM2,000 to ensure they are granted amnesty and legalisation. The Home Ministry has also issued a show-cause letter to an agent which issued fake amnesty cards to immigrants for RM3,000.

theSun has also obtained copies of receipts which showed that some agents charged RM500 per immigrant.

A Home Ministry source said the service charge could be higher on the excuse of providing lodging, transportation and food for workers from out of town. The RM300 could also include arrangements and the paperwork handled by the agents on behalf of illegal workers or their employers to legalise them.

"You have to remember, they are a business, they don't do anything for free. They also need to cover the cost of going to the Immigration offices, arranging for appointments, etc.

"For the illegal workers who are employed, the employers might not have the time to handle all this for their workers and this is the service provided by the agencies. There are also some who might charge a little bit more but they might provide better hotels and such," said the Immigration official.

Migrant Care (Malaysia) director Alex Ong said individuals who claimed to represent appointed agents were cashing in by roping in illegals to be registered.

He said commission paid to such sub-agents and runners to "recruit" illegal migrants resulted in the higher fees.

"Besides local staff, there are also large numbers of foreigners who are paid by these companies to attract their countrymen to register," he claimed.

A check around Chow Kit area revealed at least two locations where sub-agents had set up their operations, equipped with nothing more than a foldable table and a clipboard with several forms.

At one spot, a group of foreign workers said they had to pay RM80 up front for "registration" fees.

Ong said Migrant Care had published 10,000 copies of a pocket guide on the amnesty exercise and distributed it free to the migrants.

*******************************************************************************************

Many Malays have become instant Millionaires thanks to UMNO Government in creating the 6P Programme. This 6P Programme is created out of need to ensure that the ruling government can continue to stay in power for another 50 years.  All the illegal and legal migrant are now Citizens of this country.  Many of them are holding the new Mykad that will be implemented next year.  

As citizen of this country, not everyone will get the chance to change to the new Mykad because there is a waiting period of 1 month.  By then the 13GE will be over and done with and one get to lose their chance of voting.

If Bersih 2.0 think they can now rest easy, they are wrong.  The EC directive will be very clear.  No new Mykad you cannot vote.  So how many of the 3 million genuine voters will be allow to vote.  What I am very sure is that the new 2.8 million  instant citizens (Indonesians and Bangladeshis) will be there to vote on polling day.

I have questioned at least 12 6P Malay Agents who are now millionaires why they are willing to sell the country this way.  The replies were:  1) If I don't do it, others will.  2)  I rather have an Indonesian or Bangladeshi as Prime Minister then to have a Chinese.  It does not matter the Chinese is a Muslim or not.  Chinese has no place in this country. 3) If someone is willing to make me a millionaire, why should I refuse?  4)  With the millions I make I can live comfortably and not worry about the future.  5)  My children can look after themselves, with this money they can leave this country.  This country has nothing to afford me any longer. I rather live in Indonesia.

This is the most frustrating part about the Malays, they are selfish and foolish.  They simply do not love this country and the future to them is today.

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NFC lembu's condo & restaurant in Singapore...

Saying that it will leave no stone unturned, PKR-linked NGO Jingga 13 made the trip down to Singapore to prove to Malaysians that the luxury condominium owned by cabinet minister Shahrizat Abdul Jalil's family is as luxurious as it was made out to be.

"We were shooed off when we tried to take a photograph from the front, so we tried going through the back and was berated by a security guard from another building, who said photographs are not allowed as it is private property," said Jingga 13 leader Fariz Musa.

Braving zealous security guards, it took seven of the Jingga 13 members three attempts to get into the compounds of Orchard Scotts on Anthony Road. They finally succeeded by tailing residents when the guards were not looking.

What they found inside was something "worth the RM9.9 million paid by Shahrizat's family", said Fariz at a press conference at PKR headquarters in Tropicana today.

The result was a two-minute, 20-second video which featured Fariz taking viewers on a tour of the common area, including the swimming pool, bathroom and toilet.

"This is just the common bathroom, and it already has a spa (a small pool, believed to be a jacuzzi). Imagine how it is like in the actual condominium units," he told reporters during the screening of the video.

Earlier this month, PKR revealed that Shahrizat's husband, Mohamad Salleh ! Ismail, and two of their children jointly owned a RM9.9 million condominium unit in downtown Singapore.

The family of the women, family and community development minister are under fire for alleged misappropriation of RM250 million government loan for their company National Feedlot Corporation.

PKR, however, could not show proof that the condominium was paid using NFC funds, except for the fact that funds were transferred from NFC to the family's Singapore-based companies.

Empty seats in Meatworks

The group, who paid for the Dec 23 to 24 trip out of their own pockets, also visited a upmarket restaurant owned by the family, known as Meatworks, in Orchard Mall.

"We were there from 11 plus in the morning to right before 1pm and there were no one else but us. The Japanese and Chinese restaurants next door had many customers.

"Without NFC's assistance, Meatworks in Singapore would have gone belly up," Fariz said of the restaurant which specialises in steak, and has a branch in Kuala Lumpur.

Fariz, who decried the exchange rate between Singapore dollars and the ringgit, added the group did not order anything because they were "afraid".

"There were no halal signs, and liquor was sold at the premises," he said, adding that they managed to stall the waiter, by saying that they were still waiting for friends.

The group also shot a two-minute video of the restaurant, showing the empty seats and the hallway which they claim is also rented by Meatworks.

NFC a symbol of misappropriation

"We will blast out these videos in Facebook and other sites to show... the misappropriation and criminal breach of trust by Shahrizat's family, including the land purchases, condominiums, Mercedes Benz cars and overseas trips," he said.

Jingga 13 had previously lodged a report with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission on two plots of land in Putrajaya, allegedly bought by the family using NFC funds.

NFC had also purchased two luxury condominium units in Bangsar through its subsidiary National Meat and Livestock Corporation, which it claims are investment ventures.

Also present at the press conference was Ampang MP Zuraida Kamaruddin, who said the NFC fiasco will be go down as a "landmark case" in Malaysian political history.

"We will continue to unearth evidence to turn this case as a symbol in the next general election, so people will realise how dirty the BN government is and how they misappropriate the rakyat's money," she said.

source:malaysiakini

cheers.

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February date for indelible ink

KUALA LUMPUR: The Election Commission will make the necessary amendments to the election regulations to enable the usage of indelible ink beginning February next year.

This was announced by the parliamentary select committee on electoral reform (PSC) today after holding a three-hour meeting with the EC.

The February deadline means the ink will be used in the next general election which is expected to be held within the next six months.

Speaking to reporters in Parliament after the meeting, PSC chairman Maximus Ongkili said the EC was now in the midst of drafting the necessary amendments.

"The Chemistry Department is also studying the type of indelible ink that will be used and the final ink colour will not be announced until election is closer," said Ongkili, who is also the science, technology and innovation minister.

He added that the EC was of the opinion that the ink would not be objectionable to the Muslims.

"However we are still waiting for a final say from the National Fatwa Council as the previous fatwa was on a slightly different type of ink. The current one is an improved version," he said.

After the meeting, the EC also demonstrated to the PSC members and the media on how the indelible ink would be used on voters.

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Umno needs to ‘colonize’ S’wak for continuity

By John Brian Anthony

Umno will not allow Chief Minister Taib Mahmud to be removed from his seat because Taib was and is prepared to play ball and fit into their plan to "colonize" Sarawak.

Peninsula Malaysia is running out of land and they need Sarawak. But it will be at the expense of the Dayak of Sarawak.

Peninsula Malaysia has exhausted its resources. There is not much oil and gas left.

Where can they get more? They get it from Sabah and Sarawak. Who has the biggest oil and gas companies in Malaysia? Scomi, Kencana and government-linked companies like the MISC, all of which are peninsular based.

Are there any Sarawakians leading the company or holding shares in such company? The answer: NO

Should we allow this to continue? The answer is no.

That's why I decided to move towards DAP. I thought about this and the future of Sarawak.

Dayaks must acquire the meaning of their vote. Why do we vote? If we do not understand why we vote then we will lose the objective of voting.

In that way, our vote could be sold or bought by those parties with plenty of money to spent.

I am worried, that the minority in Sarawak will import their culture and believe system from places where they are a majority and hold the power. It is already happening now.

In Sarawak, Dayaks are a majority and as is the norm, majority must rule.

Minority rule in Sarawak

The Malay Muslim should be with us but following the practice of "majority" rule they must not play a dominant role in Sarawak.

As it is, the Malay Muslim (Taib) is leading Sarawak. The majority Dayaks and Chinese are led by a minority.

It is an odd situation. In Penang for example, Chinese rule the state. In Kelantan, Terengganu and other states in peninsular, Malays rule because they are the majority.

But in Sarawak the small minority rule the state.

If the Dayaks do not rule then their lands are not issued with titles, their children are deprived of opportunities to attend good schools and good jobs.

DAP is a highly regarded party with high integrity in the way they conduct of their politics.

DAP cannot ignore Dayak majority and therefor will have to give Dayaks their trust, repact and fair play.

With the 13th general election looming, both Pakatan Rakyat and Barisan Nasional is preparing for the fight.

In the last outing (the state elections in April) there was an increase in Dayak votes for Pakatan. Statistics also showed a increase in support for the opposition.

To boost Muslim population, they isssued MyKads in Sabah and Sarawak to foreign workers and allowed them to vote for minority interest.

How about the sending over of more then 2,000 ustaz to rural Sarawak? This are all disturbing to me and it infringes on my rights and private space.

How can the minority do this?

Taib's rule

The minority can do this because they can control the majority, as does the Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) which is the lead party in the Sarawak BN coalition .

It is no secret that PBB has enough seats to govern Sarawak on its own. Taib has put the Dayak PBB in his "pocket" and cut their tongue to silence them.

The Election Commission has made all the necessary state and parliamentary boundary adjustments to ensure that the Malay/Melanau boat provide the solid "fix deposit" for Sarawak.

So a broken Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP) and a split Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) are no threat to Taib's position.

On top of that Party Rakyat Sarawak president James Masing is now eating from the hands of Taib.

PRS can be played by Taib as some of PRS MPs and DUN members are from PBB.

Keeping SUPP, SPDP and PRS weak will ensure PBB vis-a-vis Taib stays powerful.

The writer is a consultant who researches Dayak psychology and culture. He is also the chairman of Dayak Consultative Council.:

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Ramasamy sends notice to Star

GEORGE TOWN: Embattled Penang Deputy Chief Minister II P Ramasamy has demanded an apology from English daily the Star and its journalist Ian McIntyre within the next seven days over an allegedly defamatory article published on Dec 23.

Failing which, Ramasamy warned in his notice of demand dated Dec 28 that he would sue both for defamation.

The DAP MP for Batu Kawan also demanded an undertaking from the national daily and journalist that the impugned statements "shall not be printed, published and circulated in future."

Ramasamy also demanded that an appropriate sum be paid and/or offered as damages for the defamatory article.

In the said article, the Star quoted Ramasamy as saying that there was a plot to oust him because he turned down requests for projects and favours from the party grassroots.

The report prompted party supremo Karpal Singh to call for Ramasamy's resignation from the Pakatan Rakyat state government. But Ramasamy has since accused the Star of publishing a baseless and frivolous report.

The notice of demand was sent to the Star head office in Petaling Jaya and the Penang-based journalist via AR Registered post by Ramasamy's legal representative – A Sivanesan and Co.

'Defamatory caption'

The notice also mentioned that the caption referred in the article entitled "Distress in DAP Continues" were defamatory to Ramasamy.

The notice claimed that the words referred bore and were understood to bear that DAP leaders were corrupt and abusing their power and office, and those impugned statements gave rise to adverse effects.

The notice said the article caused serious damage to Ramasamy's reputation.

It insisted that the defamatory words on Ramasamy were baseless, unfounded, frivolous and tainted with falsehoods.

The notice also referred to Ramasamy's denial of making the published statements via a press conference held on Dec 26, 2011.

The notice stated that despite Ramasamy's denial, the Star on Dec 27 reiterated that Ramasamy had uttered those impugned statements during the interview.

The notice said the Star's statement on Dec 27 that the original interview was arranged and agreed upon by Ramasamy on two counts; including one on the allegation that he was having an extra-marital affair, was grossly false and calculated to disparage his reputation.

"Consequently Ramasamy's reputation has been seriously injured and suffered distress and embarrassment," said the notice.

Also read:

The end may be near for Rama

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Instead of trees why not hemp as an alternative for paper products.

A better way to make paper

It's particularly frustrating that the sale of the Kimberly-Clark paper plant apparently fell through over environmental clean-up concerns, after the company spent $ 300 million since 1995 upgrading its wastewater and pulp-making systems. Now, the company plans to raze the waterfront site and sell it for development.

The Kimberly-Clark website has pages and pages devoted to explaining the company's commitment to sustainable business practices worldwide. The company states, "The wood pulp we use is mainly sourced from forests in the U.S., Canada and Brazil. We buy more than 90 percent of our virgin fiber from external suppliers, and make the rest from purchased wood chips in our two pulp mills in Everett, Washington, U.S., and Tantanoola, Australia."

(Well, make that just the Tantanoola pulp mill, now.)

The company met and surpassed a goal to use 40 percent of either recycled fiber or FSC-certified wood fiber in all North American tissue products by the end of 2011, by using 42.6 percent by the end of 2009.

While these steps are laudable, they realistically can't sustain an industry that relies on trees to create products that will always be in demand.

Why do we cling to the notion that paper products must come from trees? At least two
 sustainable alternatives exist: Hemp and bamboo.

Industrial hemp, the blue-collar cousin to marijuana that has no psychoactive properties, has been grown for at least 12,000 years for fiber (textiles and paper) and food. (Thomas Jefferson drafted the Declaration of Independence on hemp paper, according to theNorth American Industrial Hemp Council.) It was grown commercially in the U.S. until the 1950s. 

States are increasingly authorizing the cultivation of hemp, USA Today reported. From 1999 through last year, 17 states have enacted measures that would either permit controlled cultivation or authorize research. Hemp, as fiber or oilseed, is used to make thousands of products, including clothing and auto parts. Proponents say American farmers and industry are being shut out of a lucrative market as more than 30 countries, including Canada, grow hemp as an agricultural commodity.

(One of those countries is France, where Kimberly-Clark has a mill that produces hemp pa! per pref erred for bibles because it lasts a very long time and doesn't yellow, according to the hemp council.)

Importantly, hemp can be pulped using fewer chemicals than with wood. It doesn't require chlorine bleach, which means no extremely toxic dioxin being dumped into streams. 

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