PETALING JAYA: The national DAP disciplinary committee's inaction against Perak DAP secretary Nga Kor Ming, implicated in a tailoring contract, has members in Selangor all riled up.
"Why is the party delaying the hearing against Nga? Why is the DAP practising double standard in Nga's case?" asked one of them.
Nga was supposed to face the committee last month for his alleged involvement in a lounge suit tailoring contract given to Ethan & Elton, a company in which his wife is a director.
Disciplinary committee chairman, Tan Kok Wai, confirmed that a complaint was lodged last month against Nga by the Greentown DAP branch in Ipoh over the matter.
The allegation surfaced when blogger Ahmad Sofian Yahya, also known as Sekupang Dua, first published documents on his blog implicating Nga in the awarding of contract in 2008.
Nga, who is also Taiping MP and Pantai Remis assemblyman, has since filed a RM10 million suit against Ahmad for defamation.
A party insider also said those who had previously breached party discipline were swiftly punished by the disciplinary committee.
He cited cases of ex-Balakong DAP member Tan Chew Hwa, ex-Klang councillor Tee Boon Hock and Kota Alam Shah rep M Manoharan where the disciplinary committee acted hastily.
'Past cases handled swiftly'
According to the insider, Chee Hwa of Balakong DAP was expelled in August last year, just five days after the disciplinary committee first heard the case.
"Chee Hwa had exposed a councillor in Kajang Municipal Council (MPKJ) who misused funds. He was not even give a chance to explain himself to the committee," said the insider.
In the case of Tee, he was booted out of the party within a week in July 2010 for allegedly misusing Selangor exco member, Ronnie Liu's, letterhead to secure contracts for his cronies.
"The contract offer letter was given to him before he became councillor and yet he was booted out of the party," said the source.
In the case of Manoharan who remarked that the Malaysian flag should be modified as it resembled the BN flag, he was given a six-month suspension in September last year.
The committee suspended Manoharan a week after the incident without issuing a show-cause letter and without hearing his side of the story. His suspension was lifted in October.
FMT made numerous attempts to contact Kok Wai but he was not reachable.
Kemarahan umum meningkat terhadap cadangan "1 Care" skim penstrukturan semula sistem penjagaan kesihatan, pengkritik mendakwa ia memaksa pekerja dan perniagaan untuk memberikan 10 peratus pendapatan bulanan mereka kepada agensi menguruskan dana kesihatan kerajaan.
Walaupun maklumat terperinci skim masih samar-samar dan pegawai-pegawai Kementerian Kesihatan menyifatkan masih "terlalu awal" untuk mengkritik, pengamal perubatan dan persatuan pengguna memboikot cadangan itu sejak Disember lalu bermula kempen "Tak Nak 1 Care", berharap Putrajaya mengkaji semula sebelum dikuatkuasa.
Menggelar diri mereka "Gabungan Membantah Penswastaan Perkhidmatan Kesihatan", kumpulan ini telah menggunakan media alternatif dengan menggunakan laman sosial Facebook, Twitter, blogs dan Youtube untuk menyebarkan maklumat tentang skim seterusbya mendapat sokongan orang ramai.
Kumpulan ini antara lain telah membuka laman komuniti di Facebook yang dinamakan "#TakNak1Care", Twitter menggunakan akaun @taknak1care dan memuatnaik beberapa video klip di Youtube, menggesa rakyat menolak skim itu.
Usaha itu mendapat perhatian dengan cepat di Internet malah menarik perhatian Timbalan Ketua Pengarah Kesihatan (Perubatan) Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah, yang terlibat secara peribadi dalam perbincangan dengan kumpulan itu di laman Facebook.
The Malaysian Insider difahamkan skim "1 Care" dimodelkan selepas Perkhidmatan Kesihatan Kebangsaan United Kingdom (NHS), satu sistem pembiayaan penjagaan kesihatan dan telah ditekankan dalam Rancangan Malaysia ke-10 untuk Pelan Strategik Kementerian Kesihatan 2011 - 2015.
Difahamkan skim mempunyai lima fasa dan kini sudah memasuki fasa ketiga dan inisiatif penuh, perbincangan dengan doktor dan farmasi seluruh negara, akan dibentangkan kepada Kabinet pada Mac
Menurut anggota CHC, "1 Care" akan menggantikan sistem dua peringkat (awam dan swasta) penjagaan kesihatan dengan memiliki maklumat sulit hospital awan dan swasta, dengan harapan dapat memastikan ia lebih "saksama" kepada rakyat merentasi sosioekonomi.
Di bawa sistem dua peringkat, rakyat Malaysia boleh memilih rawatan di klinik swasta atau hospital dn pembayaran ditanggung sendiri atau melalui tuntutan insurans atau mendapatkan rawatan di klinik kerajaan atau hospital dan pembayaran di bawah kos minima, di bawah subsidi penj! agaan ke sihatan.
Melalui "1 Care", CHC berkata ia akan mewajibkan semua individu yang berpendapatan termasuk kakitangan kerajaan dan pesara, perniagaan dan menyumbang 10 peratus pendapatan mereka kepada agensi kerajaan, Skim Insurans Kesihatan Sosial (SHI) .
"Jadi sesiapa yang mampu bayar akan bayar, mana yang dikecualikan membayar seperti orang miskin dan sebagainya akan tetap mendapat faedah perubatan asas percuma yang ditawarkan di bawah skim itu. Pada asasnya mereka yang mampu akan bayar bagi mereka yang tidak boleh," kata anggota CHC.
Tetapi, selain sistem "perkhidmatan-sebelum-bayar" di bawah "1 Care", CHC juga mempersoalkan faedah penjagaan kesihatan yang terhad di bawah skim itu seperti jika seorang pesakit dirujuk kepada doktor pakar (GP); rawatan hanya enam kali sehari; rawatan hanya seorang pesakit setiap kali memberi perkhidmatan dan pembekal penjagaan kesihatan (PHCPs) dinilai di bawah Petunjuk Prestasi Utama (KPI) diberikan penalti.
"Dalam sistem ini, keuntungan PHCPs dengan mengiklan perkhidmatan SHI. Seperti semua insurans, SHI tidak meluluskan semua tuntutan. PHCPs mungkin dikenakan tindakan kerana memberi terlalu banyak perkhidmatan atau merujuk terlalu ramai pesakit ke hospital atau pakar.
"Doktor mungkin perlu kurangkan khidmat penjagaan kesihatan bagi mengelak penalti...tetapi anda tidak berhenti membayar atau bayar kurang ke SHI," dakwa kumpulan itu dalam video di Youtube.
Menjelaskan perkara ini, anggota CHC memberitahu The Malaysian Insider, "1 Care" memperuntukkan tuntutan maksimum RM360 setia! p pesaki t untuk GP dari SHI, dengan RM60 setiap kali rawatan.
"Dan dengan kuota-kuota KPI, GP akan cuba melengah-lengahkan dari merujuk terlalu ramai pesakit ke hospital. Sesiapa yang memerlukan rawatan segera, yang perlu ke hospital sendiri dan membayar sendiri," adu anggota itu.
Semasa cuba mengurangkan kebimbangan ke atas "1 Care" baru-baru ini, Dr Noor Hisham menjelaskan ia hanya "peringkat konsep" dan penstrukturan semula sistem penjagaan kesihatan negara amat diperlukan.
"Sekarang sektor awam akan membelanjakan RM16 bilion dan mendapatkan semula dua peratus. Sebaliknya kami tidak mahu membebankan rakyat tetapi melihat pelbagai pilihan dan model.
"Pada ketika ini tiada apa yang telah dipersetujui sehingga semuanya mendapat persetujuan orang ramai dan kami perlu mengkaji kos analisis. Bagaimanapun ada banyak andaian dan spekulasi dan imej buruk seperti kempen TAK NAK.
"Saya hairan dari mana mereka mendapatkan angka-angka itu tanpa disokong data substantif," katanya dalam satu respons.
Namun dakwaan CHC, ia dipercayai undang-undang baru "Akta 1 Care" dijadualkan untuk dibentangkan di Parlimen tidak lama lagi, kemungkinan pada awal Mac. CHC akan menemui pemberita untuk memberitahu mengenai perkara itu esok, disusuli Forum Awam Kesihatan Selangor-Kuala Lumpur pada 12 Februari.
The Malaysian Insider difahamkan forum itu akan dirasmikan Menteri Besar Selangor Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim dan pegawai Kementerian Kesihatan. - Clara Chooi - malaysian insider
Desas desus cadangan Skim Penjagaan Kesihatan Nasional 1 Care yang bakal dilaksanakan kerajaan akan menyebabkan rakyat menanggung beban lebih parah, kata Naib Presiden KEADILAN, Datuk Seri Chua Jui Meng.
Ini kerana katanya, rakyat akan diminta menyumbang 10 peratus melalui potongan pendapatan mereka kepada agensi pengurus dana kesihatan yang dilantik oleh kerajaan, sekiranya skim itu menjadi kenyataan.
"Melalui skim 1Care kerajaan akan melantik satu badan yang akan menguruskan skim ini yang mempunyai kuasa pemutus menentukan kehendak rakyat," katanya dihubungi Keadilandaily.com hari ini.
"Jangankan 10 peratus, satu peratus pun sudah cukup tinggi untuk rakyat dan ini tidak termasuk cukai GST yang bakal dikenakan pertengahan tahun ini.
"Rakyat di bawah pentadbiran Najib terus berdepan bebanan kos hidup yang tinggi kerana perlu membayar tol, minyak, bil elektrik dan air yang terus diswastakan," tegasnya.
Berbanding dasar kesihatan sedia ada, katanya, rakyat bebas memilih samada hendak mendapatkan khidmat kesihatan dari klinik swasta atau hospital kerajaan.
"Sepatutnya kerajaan mengekalkan sistem sedia ada di mana rakyat miskin mendapat khidmat penjagaan kesihatan murah melalui hospital kerajaan manakala mereka yang memiliki sedikit kemampuan boleh ke klinik swasta sesuai dengan pendapatan mereka," kata bekas Menteri Kesihatan ini.
Portal The Malaysian Insider hari ini melaporkan cadangan skim berkenaan, di mana rakyat yang memiliki peringkat pendapatan tertentu akan diwajibkan memberikan 10 peratus pendapatan bulanan mereka kepada agensi mengurus dana kesihatan negara.
Dilaporkan, pengamal perubatan dan persatuan pengguna memboikot cadangan itu sejak Disember tahun lalu, bermula dengan kempen 'Tak Nak 1 Care' dan menggesa kerajaan mengkaji semula cadangan berkenaan.
Pada 28 Mei 2010, Menteri Kesihatan, Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, dilapor berkata, perdana menteri sangat teruja dengan cadangan itu, selepas beliau dimaklumkan mengenainya.
Mengulas lanjut, Jui Meng mendesak pentadbiran Najib menjelaskan skim berkenaan dengan memberikan butiran terperinci.
"Kita juga mendesak kerajaan mempelawa NGO, aktivis rakyat dan mereka yang pakar dalam bidang ini untuk berbincang sebelum apa-apa keputusan dibuat mengenainya," tegas beliau. Keadilandaily
! 1Care marked by 'indecent haste'
A senior PKR leader has characterised as "indecent haste" the government's healthcare proposal that is said to be set for promulgation amid criticism and anxiety from concerned professionals. Dr Tan Kee Kwong, head of the party's disciplinary panel and likely candidate for the Wangsa Maju parliamentary seat in the Federal Territory, said:
"For a measure this huge and in a sector (healthcare) this important, the government's approach is characterised by indecent haste and a lack of public consultation.
"Good healthcare is a citizen's right which makes any measure impacting that right the concern of everyone. This would make the lack of consultation and transparency concerning the government's contemplated measure a source of grave concern to the people."
Tan said details about the government's healthcare proposal, called 1Care, requiring individuals to pay 10 percent of their annual income towards the scheme make the costs "onerous" especially when the payee is restricted to six visits a year to the doctor.
"Ten percent is not a small amount for an individual to fork out and when you are restricted to only six visits a year that makes things lopsided because no normal person wants to visit the doctor unless he or sh! e is rea lly sick.
"A person who is ill may be required to see the doctor several times a year. The restriction at six visits is arbitrary and may turn out to be gravely limiting."
Tan, who was a deputy minister in the BN government as an elected MP for the Gerakan component of the ruling coalition, said that he had, intermittently, been part of the long drawn and discursive process in which a national healthcare proposal has germinated in the bowels of government.
Part of government study groups
He said he had been part of government study groups that have gone to many countries in the world to study various healthcare systems.
"The one that is now about to emanate from the government is said to involve a combination of the public and private sectors but the costs to the citizen and the proposed limitations on frequency of medical attention for the payee suggest the project is weighted in favour of the provider than the recipient.
"This would deprecate the right of citizens to healthcare and would tilt the emphasis in favour of profit to the provider," commented Tan.
He envisaged that in its approach to healthcare, a Pakatan government would weigh the balance in favour of the recipient of healthcare rather than the provider.
"Details proposed by the ruling government that a certain percentage of the gross annual payment by individuals would go to a middleman managing the system are a recipe for bureaucratic bloat and profiteering," said! Tan.
He said the government should submit its proposals to broad consultation with the public and with healthcare professionals.
Tan remarked that initial details of the government's proposed scheme have issued in a perversion of the Najib Razak administration's vaunted slogan of '1Malaysia - People First, Performance Now' into '1Care - Formulation First, Consultation Last'.- malaysiakini
Docs reject 1Care scheme, healthcare not a business
Healthcare is not a business to derive profits, medical practitioners and a non-governmental group have warned, and they want the government to review its proposed 1Care for 1Malaysia scheme. The Citizens' Healthcare Coalition (CHC), together with the Federation of Private Medical Practitioners' Associations, Malaysia (FPMPAM), denounced the health ministry's initiative to implement this national insurance-based system to fund healthcare.
"1Care does not address existing problems and issues and it will be detrimental to the well-being of consumers.
"In this scheme of things - the outsourcing of services - they want to outsource healthcare as well," CHC spokesperson Dr T Jayabalan (left) said at a media briefing in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.
"They call it a social insurance scheme but there is nothing 'social' about it. If it concerns the people, why weren't consumer groups invited for discussions on the matter?" Jayabalan asked.
In taking steps for the plan to be scrapped, CHC and FPMPAM are moving fas! t to inf orm their members about the 1Care scheme and for them to educate their patients, as well as conduct forums and dialogues in the various states of the country.
"For every attempt they have made, the rakyat and the relevant groups, such as consumer associations, have put the brakes... but this time, things are being done stealthily," said Jayabalan, a veteran public health consultant.
Speculation is rife that initiatives are being taken to table a bill at the March sitting of parliament, to moot a national healthcare financing authority (NHFA) in the hope of "ensuring healthcare is accessible to all Malaysians" across all socio-economic status.
CHC has generated an online campaign on Facebook and Twitter, asking Malaysians to reject 1Care, which will not only be expensive as every employed individual will have to contribute as much as 10 percent of his or her monthly income to the NHFA for basic healthcare, but will also be restrictive in the options offered to those requiring healthcare.
However, this is not the view of the government, which first proposed such a scheme under the Fourth Malaysia Plan (1981-1985), before reviving it as 1Care a couple of years ago.
According to a concept paper available on the CHC Facebook page, 1Care was mooted under the 10th Malaysia Plan as the health ministry's 2011-2015 strategic plan, similar to Britain's National Healthcare Service (NHS).
Healthcare is welfare
Jayabalan said the government has already began rolling out 1Care with a plan to corporatise the Malaysian Medical Council (MMC) when parliament sits in March. He said speculation was rife about the tabling of a Pharmacy Bill, "and this is where the separation starts... the tactic is to divide t! he peopl e... it is the best way to push things through".
It is understood that the four-phase scheme has already been put into place, with the full scheme due to be presented to the cabinet by March, after the authorities engage with doctors and pharmacists nationwide.
"It's just like every other past restructuring exercise, such as the corporatisation of the National Heart Institute (IJN) a couple of years ago. They promised efficiency, so there is no waiting time in IJN now? Those who can't pay upfront have to wait for years," Jayabalan said.
"If the government is thinking about welfare - what's welfare? It is not doling out from your pocket. Welfare is social in nature and it is the duty of the government to provide this service."
FPMPAM president Dr Steven Chow (right) said instead of revamping the entire healthcare structure, the government should just address the weaknesses, such as improving better access to healthcare.Chow said the government should emulate the example of Hong Kong, which encouraged public interaction when it proposed setting up a voluntary medical insurance scheme.
"This country is headed for disaster if it abandons the current system for 1Care," Jayabalan added. - malaysiakini
Public forum on govt's plans next week
Sunday, 12 February 2012 (4.00pm–6.30pm)
Sunflower Room, Global Business & Convention Centre
No.8 Jalan 19/1, Section 19, 46300 P! etaling Jaya
Organised by Citizens' Healthcare Coalition.
Officiated by Selangor MB. Khalid Ibrahim.
Speakers: Health ministry official, Selangor executive councillor for health Dr Xavier Jayakumar, private practitioner Dr. Ng Swee Choon, Penang consumer and health activist Dr. T Jayabalan. Moderator: lawyer Philip Koh Tong Ngee
KUALA LUMPUR: Kongres Kesatuan Sekerja Malaysia (MTUC) bimbang Perjanjian Perdagangan Bebas (FTA) dua hala antara Kesatuan Eropah (EU) dan Malaysia serta Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) dengan Amerika Syarikat akan menjejaskan pekerja dalam pelbagai sektor industri dan ekonomi tempatan.
Presiden MTUC Khalid Atan berkata FTA, suatu usaha perjanjian persefahaman perniagaan pemodal EU dan Amerika untuk mengembangkan perniagaan mereka ke Asia sebenarnya tidak menggalakkan perniagaan dua hala.
Tetapi lebih kepada 'perangkap' untuk mengheret negara membangun seperti Malaysia untuk mengikuti terma perniagaan demi kepentingan kuasa besar.
Menurut Khalid, antara perkara yang membimbangkan adalah Industri Kecil dan Sederhana (IKS) bakal terjejas kerana melalui perjanjian itu, tarif produk import daripada EU dan Amerika yang masuk ke Malaysia akan diturunkan sehingga 0% sekaligus memberi persaingan hebat kepada produk tempatan. IKS tempatan tidak mampu bersaing
Lebih membimbangkan, katanya situasi ini akan membawa kepada pengangguran pekerja tempatan kerana IKS tidak mampu bersaing dengan produk import.
"IKS dan industri tempatan tidak mungkin bersedia menangani persaingan ini kerana sebaik sahaja perjanjian FTA berkuatkuasa, maka pasaran Malaysia terbuka luas untuk kemasukan produk EU dan Amerika," katanya dalam memorandum kepada Suruhanjaya Hak Asasi Manusia (Suhakam) hari ini.
Katanya, rundingan FTA antara Malaysia dengan EU dan Amerika kini di peringkat akhir dan Kabinet dijangka akan menandatanganinya pada hujung tahun ini.
Selain itu, sektor pertanian turut berhadapan risiko yang sama apabila ayam dan beras yang dieksport ke Malaysia dikenakan cukai yang rendah sekaligus menjejaskan penternak tempatan.
"Di Ghana apabila cukai ayam import dari EU dihapuskan, maka peratus 'market share' penternak tempatan Ghana berkurang dari 95% ke 11% sahaja.
"Akibatnya industri ternakan ayam mereka terjejas dan ramai pekerja terpaksa dihentikan," katanya. Kesan negatif
Khalid juga mendakwa FTA akan menetapkan syarat selepas ia ditandatangani Kerajaan Persekutuan, Kerajaan Negeri mahupun Kerajaan Tempatan tidak boleh memperkenalkan apa jua syarat atau undang-undang baru yang dianggap akan mengurangkan keuntungan atau keupayaan pelabur itu menghasilkan untung pada masa depan.
"Maksudnya jika perjanjian ini ditandatangani, maka pelabur tersebut tidak boleh dipaksa melaksanakan gaji minima walaupun kerajaan ingin menguatkuasakannya.
"Pelabur boleh mengugut kerajaan dengan membawa pertikaian ini ke Mahkamah Antarabangsa dan berhujah bahawa pelaksanaan gaji minima akan mengurangkan kadar keuntungannya kerana mengharapkan kos buruh murah di Malaysia," tegas beliau.
Sehubungan itu, Khalid dalam memorandumnya memohon Suhakam mendesak kerajaan menghentikan rundingan FTA kerana negara seperti Amerika Selatan dan beberapa negara di Afrika yang sudah pun menandatanganinya lebih banyak menunjukkan kesan negatif terhadap ekonomi tempatan.
Ekonomi EU, Amerika tidak stabil
Sementara itu, Ahli Parlimen Klang Charles Santiago mempersoalkan kerajaan yang masih meneruskan rundingan FTA sedangkan EU dan Amerika kini sedang mengalami krisis ekonomi sendiri.
"Kenapa kita perlukan mereka (EU dan Amerika) kerana ekonomi mereka sendiri tidak stabil. Mereka sebenarnya yang perlukan kita untuk kukuhkan ekonomi mereka," soalnya.
Katanya, isu ini pernah dibangkitkan di Parlimen sejak rundingan itu bermula pada tahun 2009 namun dipandang sepi, tambahan rundingan ini tidak memerlukan persetujuan Parlimen untuk kerajaan melaksanakan FTA.
Dewan Pemuda PAS Malaysia (DPPM) meminta Tun Dr Mahathir supaya tidak memutar belitkan fakta sebelum membaca sebenar kenyataan yang diucapkan oleh Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. Hakikatnya, beliau perlu melihat dan membaca kenyataan tersebut secara jujur sebelum sesuatu 'hukuman' dijatuhkan terutama kepada musuh politik beliau sendiri.
DPPM mengingatkan Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad supaya melihat dulu ke cermin dahulu sebelum menuding jari menyalahkan Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim sebagai ejen Israel. Jika ejen Israel dengan mudah dilemparkan kepada Ketua Pembangkang, bagaimana pula dengan UMNO dan Barisan Nasional? Adakah Tun Dr Mahathir lupa segala hubungan dan keintiman beliau semasa menjadi perdana Menteri dan selepas peninggalan beliau?
Sejarah membuktikan secara fakta bahawa semasa beliau menjadi Perdana Menteri Dr Mahathir pernah mengupah Jack Abramoff, seorang ahli lobi Zionis sebanyak AS$ 1.2 juta untuk mengatur pertemuan dengan Presiden Amerika Syarikat George W. Bush. Abramoff pula dikatakan mempunyai hubungan rapat dengan Bush dan juga golongan ekstrem di Israel. Apakah Tun Dr Mahahtir mahu menafikan hakikat itu?
Tun Dr Mahathir juga jangan melupakan bagaimana legasi peninggalannya, partinya mengupah APCO Worldwide, sebuah syarikat perunding imej berpangkalan di Amerika Syarikatsebanyak RM20 juta untuk memulih imej Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak. Rakyat kemudiannya didedahkan bahawa dibelakang APCO adalah beberapa tokoh diplomatik dan tokoh perisikan Israel. Apakah suatu kebetulan APCO menasihatkan kerajaan untuk menjulang gagasan 1Malaysia yang bersamaan pula dengan gagasan 1Israel di Negara Israel. APCO juga dilaporkan terlibat secara l! angsung dalam menentukan strategi 100 hari pentadbiran Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, termasuklah mesej dan dasar utama seperti 1Malaysia dan inisiatif yang lain.
Apakah pendirian Tun Dr Mahathir pula terhadap pelantikan sebuah syarikat Asiasoft (M) Sdn. Bhd dalam sistem komunikasi PDRM. Syarikat ini adalah milik penuh kepada syarikat tunggalnya iaitu Asiasoft Pte. Ltd. yang berpengkalan di Singapura. Yang amat mencurigakan adalah penyelidik syarikat yang bertanggungjawab membina sistem itu yang dikenalpasti sebagai Izhak David Naskar, seorang bekas tentera Israel yang berkhidmat sebagai programmer semasa di Israel. Malah penyelidik tersebut masih lagi mempunyai kewarganegaraan Israel.
Paling membimbangkan ialah Izhak adalah 'pakar' sistem komputer yang telah memenangi anugerah daripada Kementerian Pertahanan Israel. Malah beliau juga bertanggungjawab membina sistem risikan berteknologi tinggi untuk pasukan pertahanan Israel sekitar 1970 hingga 1987. Seorang lagi rakan Izhak yang bertanggungjawab membina sistem komunikasi PDRM ialah Ido Sccheschter juga merupakan rakyat Israel dan masih lagi menjadi tentera Israel yang sah bukannya tentera pencen.
Sebaiknya Tun Dr Mahathir turut lantang mengkritik dasar partinya sebagaimana beliau lantang menentang Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. Tidak ada gunanya beliau menghentam pihak pembangkang yang kononnya 'ejen Israel' sedangkan partinya sendiri terpalit penuh dengan 'akrab' hubungan mereka dengan Israel. Sikap hipokrasi seperti ini amat dibenci oleh rakyat yang melihat sikap Tun Dr Mahathir bermotifkan politik sempit semata-mata.
Dalam keadaan demikian, DPPM tetap bertegas sejak dahulu tidak akan mengiktiraf kewujudan Israel biarkan siapa yang mendokongnya. Isu Palestin adalah isu umat Islam dan menjadi tanggungjawab setiap umat Islam memperjuangkan negara Palestin yang merdeka, serta menafikan hak dan kewujudkan Israel. DPPM sependapat dengan semua umat Islam bahawa Israel adalah sebuah negara haram yang w! ajib dip erangi atas kezaliman yang mereka lakukan.
KUALA LUMPUR: Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) today urged Malaysians to go beyond rejecting the government's "crony-inspired" proposals by kicking Barisan Nasional out of power.
Commenting on the recently proposed 1Care healthcare scheme, Dr Michael D Jeyakumar, a member of the PSM central committee, said he agreed that it was not the right way to go about reforming the healthcare system. "But I say, change the government," he said in an interview with FMT.
Jeyakumar, who is the MP for Sungai Siput, is a physician well known for his social work.
He said Malaysians could not rely on the BN government to be objective in its reform proposals. "We can't have any meaningful reform of public institutions. It usually leads to cronyism."
He criticised the rationale behind making 1Care a privatised and market-driven entity, saying it was flawed. "It's a mistake. In PSM , we think it is based on the wrong premise, modelled on financial incentives. That is the wrong way to go about healthcare."
The government is yet to release the complete details of its proposal, but opponents have claimed that every household will be required to contribute nearly 10% of its gross household income for the insurance, which will cover only basic healthcare expenses.
All clinics and hospitals will be placed under the 1Care umbrella and access to specialist healthcare will to be through primary healthcare providers, who will act as gate-keepers.
Last November, Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai said 1Care was aimed at ensuring that healthcare costs would be effectively managed and their affordability would be sustainable. However, the proposal has provoked widespread anger, including from consumer activists and healthcare professionals, with some describing it as a scheme that seeks to profit from the sick.
Plenty of weaknesses
According to doctors and activists, the scheme has plenty of weaknesses. Among other things, they say, it imposes unfair conditions on patients, such as the following:
You cannot pick your own doctor. The government will choose a doctor for you. If you choose your own doctor, you have to pay.
You cannot consult your assigned doctor more than six times a year.
You can only see the doctor for only one problem at a time.
You get only cheap generic medicine.
"I think details are still too sketchy; we are not really sure what they are going to do," said Jeyakumar.
He said privatisation would be detrimental to the quality of healthcare and would give rise to "all kinds of quirky behaviour".
For example, he said, a general practitioner might choose not to refer a patient to a specialist so that he would benefit from incentives offered under the scheme.
"If a general practitioner is given a 5,000 patient quota, he may try his best to keep the majority of those patients even though it would be in the patients' interests to be referred to other specialists," he added.
"This is what will happen if you use money to regulate clinical behaviour."
He said public hospitals would be corporatised and would essentially manage themselves as private hospitals.
"This would cause more and more cases of over-diagnosis, over-investigation, and over-treatment."
Citizens' Healthcare Coalition, a group opposed to 1Care, has started a campaign against it that is fast gaining attention on the Internet.
Dakwaan Alumni meleset kerana Yayasan Selangor (YS) tiada masaalah Aliran Kewangan, bahkan sebenarnya kedudukan kewangan YS semakin mantap berbanding pada tahun 2007 sebelum Pakatan Rakyat mengambilalih Kerajaan Negeri Selangor.
Simpanan tetap (fix deposit) YS sebenarnya telah meningkat daripada RM20 juta pada tahun 2007 kepada RM51 juta pada akhir tahun 2011. Seiring dengan itu juga, hasil daripada simpanan tetap juga telah meningkat daripada RM471,000.00 pada tahun 2007 kepada RM1.7 juta pada tahun 2011.
Ini adalah hasil daripada pendapatan sewaan bangunan yang juga jelas mengalami peningkatan daripada RM9.9 juta pada tahun 2007 kepada RM14.8 pada tahun 2011. Ini kerana pihak pengurusan YS telah mengkaji dan menyelaraskan semula kadar sewaan yang terlalu rendah berbanding nilai pasaran semasa. Pendapatan JV terutama daripada tanah Pulau Carey juga meningkat daripada RM1 juta pada tahun 2007 kepada RM5 juta pada tahun 2011.
Dengan itu, YS telah berjaya meningkatkan pembiayaan pendidikan daripada RM11.9 juta pada tahun 2007 kepada RM15.3 juta pada tahun 2011. YS juga menambah sumbangan kepada NGO di Negeri Selangor yang menjalankan program pendidikan dan sekolah agama serta bantuan pelajar yatim-piatu daripada RM68,000.00 pada tahun 2007 kepada RM851,000.00 pada tahun 2011. Pembiayaan pinjaman pendidikan juga meningkat daripada RM2 juta (2007) kepada RM5 juta pada tahun 2011.
Dengan itu, YS mampu membiayai semua Asrama-asrama Pusat nya iaitu AYSSB, AYSK, AYSKL (ATDI & ATPN) selagi ada bulan dan matahari, Insya-Allah.
Tapak AYSKL (ATDI/ATPN) akan dimajukan kerana sebab-sebab berikut:
1. Pelajar-pelajar di PJ menghabiskan banyak masa dalam perjalanan pergi/balik menaiki bas, pelajar keletihan dan tidak dapat memberikan tumpuan di sekolah mahupun semasa sesi ulangkaji di asrama.
2. Pada kebanyakan masa, disebab kesesakan lalulintas di Kuala Lumpur, para pelajar hanya akan sampai semula ke asrama pada jam 8.30 malam dan terlepas solat maghrib.
3. Bangunan keliling telah dan sedang diroboh dan akan dibangunkan sehingga menyebabkan keadaan persekitaran tidak lagi kondusif untuk di diami dan pe! mbelajar an.
4. Aset YS di Kg. Pandan akan dimajukan untuk menambah dana bagi membiaya lebih ramai pelajar yang layak dan memerlukan bantuan, selari dengan usaha YS membanyakkan Asrama Harian, Asrama Daerah dan mengecilkan Asrama Pusat.
5. Kos bagi menampung seorang pelajar di Asrama Pusat boleh membiayai 10 orang di Asrama Harian/Daerah.
6. Pelajar-pelajar yang berpindah adalah dengan persetujuan rasmi ibu bapa setelah dibuat penyelidikan yang teliti dan mengambilkira pandangan semua ibu bapa, di mana ibu bapa diberi pilihan sama ada hendak mengekalkan anak mereka di Asrama Yayasan Selangor Kuala Lumpur (AYSKL) atau berpindah ke Asrama Daerah atau berulang-alik dari rumah. Maklum-balas dan pandangan hasil soal-selidik tersebut dapat dirumuskan seperti berikut:
6.1 80 % bersetuju untuk sama ada berulang alik ke sekolah asal, bersekolah di sekolah pilihan ataupun ditempatkan di sekolah/sekolah asrama harian/daerah terpilih.
6.2 20% bersetuju untuk kekal di Asrama Yayasan Selangor Kuala Lumpur.
Semua pelajar masih diberikan kemudahan yang sama dan termasuk dalam Rancangan Khas Pelajaran Kementerian Pelajaran Malaysia-Yayasan Selangor yang dinikmati sebelum ini.
Kesemua pelajar Tingkatan 3 dan Tingkatan 5 yang akan menduduki peperiksaan PMR dan SPM 2012 tidak dipindahkan. Pelajar-pelajar Tingkatan 2 dan Tingkatan 4 boleh tinggal di AYSKL sehingga akhir tahun 2012. Seramai 170 orang pelajar ditempatkan di ATDI sahaja, di mana pelajar lelaki dan perempuan ditempatkan di blok yang berasingan.
YS akan terus mengembangkan konsep asrama daerah dengan penempatan pelajar di asrama harian sekolah. Hasil pengalaman YS mutakhir ini, konsep ini didapati amat berpotensi untuk memberikan kecemerlangan kepada pelajar berdasarkan rekod-rekod pencapaian pelajar dari tahun ke tahun. Contohnya, pada tahun 2011, keputusan PMR paling cemerlang dicatatkan oleh Asrama Daer! ah iaitu SMK Jalan Tiga Bangi, diikuti oleh SMK Kuala Kubu Bharu dan AYSSB. Tambahan pula konsep ini lebih menjimatkan kos, berbanding konsep asrama pusat seperti AYSKL.
Hasil penyusunan semula ini, YS kini mampu membiayai seramai 1,733 pelajar Tingkatan 1 hingga ke peringkat pra-universiti, 133 orang pelajar vokasional/kemahiran, 1,164 pelajar di peringkat diploma dan ijazah. Ini adalah merupakan satu rekod. Kita bertekad melipat-gandakan jumlah pembiayaan sehingga 5,000 orang pelajar, sejajar dengan pertambahan hasil pendapatan daripada usaha memajukan tanah/aset miliknya yang sedang dan akan terus dijalankan. Insya-Allah.
Hasrat YS untuk menjana pendapatan sehingga RM300 juta dari pembangunan tanah Kg. Pandan seluas 7.5 ekar yang kini bernilai sekitar RM50 juta sama sekali tidak ada kena-mengena dengan masalah aliran tunai YS atau Kerajaan Negeri Selangor.
Hasil daripada pendapatan RM300 juta itu akan digunakan sepenuhnya untuk merakyat pendidikan di Negeri Selangor supaya lebih ramai anak Selangor yang dapat menikmati kemudahan pembiayaan pendidikan.
Adalah dimaklumkan bahawa YS tidak menerima sebarang geran daripada Kerajaan Negeri Selangor, sebaliknya menjana pendapatan sendiri dengan membangunkan hartanah milik YS. Hasil daripada pendapatan tersebutlah disalurkan kepada pendidikan.
Sayugia diingatkan bahawa di bawah pemerintahan Barisan Nasional-UMNO dahulu 1990-an), tapak Balai Dato' Harun di Kg. Baru, Kuala Lumpur seluas 13 ekar yang ketika itu bernilai RM50 juta telah dibangunkan menjadi Selborn City yang bernilai RM1.8 billion (Gross Development Value) hanya memberikan pulangan sebuah bangunan setinggi 18 tingkat yang cuma bernilai RM54 juta, sedangkan sepatutnya nilai pulangan kepada YS ialah 30% daripada nilai projek. YS telah kehilangan sebanyak RM300 juta kerana kebodohan dan ketamakan pihak yang berkepentingan!
Di bawah Barisan Nasional, YS telah memberikan "sewa pajak" tanah seluas 1.5 ekar tanah Kg Pandan kepad! a SHELL untuk operasi pam minyak iaitu status komersial pada tahun 2007. Jelas YS telah melanggar syarat gunapakai tanah institusi pendidikan sejak tahun 2007. Jika alumni boleh membantu, sila keluarkan mereka dari tapak sekarang untuk mengekalkan tapak Institusi dan bersedialah untuk membayar gantirugi kepada pihak SHELL.
Kenyataan akhbar alumni tentang asrama YS hanya merupakan retorik politik murahan yang jelas didalangi oleh parti pembangkang di Selangor, iaitu Barisan Nasional-UMNO yang sengaja menjadikan hal ini sebagai isu. Kehadiran beberapa orang pemimpin UMNO dan bekas Pengurus Besar YS di bawah kerajaan BN-UMNO dahulu adalah bukti nyata perkara ini sudah dipolitikkan dan diputar-belit untuk tujuan mengampu bos-bos mereka.
Adalah lebih bijak dan berfaedah jika pihak Alumni berganding bahu bersama Yayasan Selangor untuk memohon dari Jabatan Pendidikan Negeri Selangor dan Wilayah Persekutuan agar segera meluluskan permohonan membuka Asrama Harian di Petaling Jaya dan di SMK Victoria. Itu adalah lebih baik dari menggigit tangan pihak yang pernah membantu anda dan membuat bising tanpa arah tujuan.
Seperti yang kita sedia maklum, pihak YS telah berulang-ulang kali memberikan penjelasan berkenaan perkara di atas kepada pelbagai pihak termasuk kepada Alumni dan ibu bapa, tetapi malangnya perkara ini umpama menjirus air ke daun keladi.
FEB 3 — Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, the Women, Family and Community Development Minister is reported to be returning to work next week, after a three-week holiday, purportedly intended to allow the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC) and the police to carry out investigations into her family-owned National Feedlot Centre (NFC).
The minister and her family are under investigation, the assets of the NFC are frozen and the Deputy Prime Minister, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin is leading a task force to find a solution to the cattle-rearing project.
Meanwhile, during her holiday, Sharizat filed a libel suit against PKR's Rafizi Ramli and Zuridah Kamaruddin for their allegations on the misuse of RM250 million government soft loan meant for the NFC, by Sharizat's family. The allegations that the family used the soft loan to purchase two luxurious condominiums raised questions over whether there has been an abuse of public money.
That her husband and children are drawing huge salaries from the NFC has also raised questions as to whether the soft loan was for personal gain or to build a local industry to reduce Malaysia's dependency on meat imports. During her holiday, more issues related to the NFC were raised such as that Sharizat's husband was cheated of RM 1.7 million in fraudulent consultancy news by a Datuk who is now facing criminal charges. Then the Auditor General, after three month's silence, issued a statement saying he had not called the NFC project a "mess " as has been repeatedly stated in the press. To this, Sharizat's family responded through press statements in all media that they had been "vindicated".
The family's response to each fresh allegation raised even more questions. At the end of her three-week holiday, the question still remains, "Is Sharizat, like Caesar's wife, above suspicion?"
Public opinion is not on Sharizat's side. The public demands transparency, accountability, truthfulness and ethics from its political leaders. For example, did Sharizat, in any way, use her position to influence the award of the RM250 million public money to the NFC? The abuse of power to influence decisions related to public contracts is defined as corruption.
Wasn't Shahrizat aware that the soft loan to the NFC was used to purchase luxury condominiums? Did Shahrizat, in any way, "twist the arm" of the Auditor General into issuing a statement denying that he had referred to the feedlot project as a mess?
These and many other questions on the accountability of public officials have put Shahrizat and her family under public scrutiny. The pain for Shahrizat, as a wife and mother is understandable. But Sharizat as a public official must place truth, ethics, social justice and public interest before personal/family interest.
Members of her own party, Umno, have called for her resignation as a Cabinet minister. On February 1, in The Malay Mail, Tan Sri Rafidah Azizah minced no words in calling for tainted leaders to leave the party and government …"That's for everyone, whether it has got to do with cows or anything else".
In 2010, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's government was caught up in a credibility crisis as a result of a series of corruption scandals. The prime minister offered to appear before Parliament's public accounts committee (PAC).
"I sincerely believe that like Caesar's wife, the prime minister should be above suspicion and it is for this reason that I am prepared to appear before the PAC even though there is no precedent to that effect," Singh said addressing the plenary in Burari on the concluding day of the two-day Congress Party Conference on December 20, 2010.
It is crucial that family members or the associates of public figures must not even be suspected of wrongdoing. To lead effectively, public figures and all those associated with them must be of "absolutely impeccable conduct; totally beyond reproach; without even the implication of impropriety".
Recently on January 9, 2012, Philip Hildebrand resigned as chairman of the Swiss National Bank, less than a week after he denied any wrongdoing in a scandal surrounding his wife's currency trades and rejected calls to step down. He said, "I came to the conclusion that it's not possible to deliver a definite proof that my wife requested the currency transaction without my knowledge. Unfortunately, mistakes were made around this transaction", referring to the conflict of interest involved in his wife's sale of dollars to Swiss francs that made a profit of SFr 75,000. (Financial Times January 10,2012).
Shahrizat, like Caesar's wife, must be above suspicion to sustain her position as a public figure and cabinet minister.
* Josie M Fernandez is Secretary General of Transparency International Malaysia.
* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication. The Malaysian Insider does not endorse the view unless specified.
FEB 3 — Observing the political changes occurring in Malaysia is no less interesting than discussing the democratic transitions in the Middle East.
Malaysia in recent years has not been so very different from oppressive regimes in the Middle East, where the scrutiny of pro-democracy movements, particularly the student movement, is intensifying.
There were some state regulations introduced to control pro-democracy movements and curtail freedom of expression, such as the Internal Security Act (ISA). As a consequence of ISA enforcement, demonstrations were prohibited and opposition activists arrested for fear they would endanger the security of the country.
Within the scope of universities, the ISA applied a similar form of oppression that Indonesian students had endured under the campus normalisation policy called the NKK/BKK during the Soeharto regime, which specifically banned political activities on campuses.
Under the restriction, Malaysian students were obliged to report to the security authorities when planning to hold political discussions. Various government regulations that were designed to restrict the freedom of speech, however, raised student awareness of politics in Malaysia and drove them to become actors of social change in the country.
Restrictions of Malaysian students' political activities turned out to be the seed of a pro-democracy movement that has spread across the country. It has not only been the establishment of student alliances in Malaysia but also the distribution of "black sarcastic" pamphlets targeting the government, which show that the process of transition toward democracy in Malaysia is drawing near.
The recent acquittal of opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim on charges of sodomy trumped up by his political opponents and the repeal of the controversial ISA regulation against opposition movements have also managed to convince the public that the road to democracy is opening in Malaysia.
There are two important agendas in the democratic transition process in Malaysia.
The first is related to election regulation changes that are cleaner and do not side with the incumbent.
The second comprises constitutional reforms regarding the revision of the freedom of speech and freedom of the press in Malaysia.
The student movement in Malaysia cannot be separated from the influence of the student movement in Indonesia, which led to the ending of two regimes: once in 1965 and again in 1998. The composition of students in Malaysia is considered an appropriate representation of the middle class, which is politically aware.
Students in Malaysia who are active in politics have built good networks with some of Malaysia's influential parties.
Now the student movement in Malaysia has two options: cooperate with the major opposition party or choose to remain independent from any political interests in the midst of limitations.
The first option seems more plausible because the objective conditions for reform in Malaysia are very different from Indonesia during Soeharto regime.
Malaysia's transition toward democracy has become an interesting topic to be observed but its future remains unclear.
Whether the political movement represented by students will become a trigger for large-scale reforms that change the constitutional democracy, or whether the movement fails because the changes do not receive support from the majority of Malaysian society who feel that political instability will worsen the country's economic condition will be interesting to see.
Malaysian students need to learn from Indonesia to avoid a transition to democracy that involves violence and social unrest as happened in the Middle East.
Besides, the 13 years of reform in Indonesia offer important lessons to be learned because the changes that occurred after reformasi in May 1998 were only apparent in the political field without directly triggering social changes, which are the noble idea of a democratic movement. — The Jakarta Post
* The writer is a member of the ASEAN Student Organisation Network and is a student on the international programme at the Faculty of Economics and Business, Gadjah Mada University, Yogyakarta.
* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication. The Malaysian Insider does not endorse the view unless specified.
PETALING JAYA: PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang's decision to withdraw from active politics has come as a surprise, but the Islamic party is adamant that its cheiftain should draw his sword again in the upcoming electoral battle, at least to defend his Marang parliamentary seat.
Party information chief Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man was confident that Hadi, who is also the Rhu state assemblyman, would not turn his back on the voters in Marang.
"There is a possibility that he will contest both seats. But he has to contest the parliamentary seat," he told FMT.
Hadi's announcement had prompted numerous quarters in PAS, including its venerated spiritual leader Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, to voice their objection while Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim reminded the PAS president that he was still crucial to Pakatan Rakyat.
Hadi, however, had said that if PAS wanted him to contest, he would only defend one of his two seats.
Party vice-president Salahuddin Ayub told FMT that Hadi, a renowned Islamic scholar, was still an indispensible force for PAS.
"It is not only the party top leadership who have asked him to stay, but similar calls have also come from NGOS and those who were under his tutelage as an Islamic scholar.
"PAS still needs his leadership for our fight," he added.
In an interview with Malay daily Sinar Harian on Jan 27, Hadi had also dismissed the speculation that his decision was to pave the way for his son Mohammad Khalil to contest in the election.
"Let him be an ordinary member for the time being," he had said in referrence to his son,
who was the Marang PAS Youth chief and was elected into the party's central Youth wing committee last June.
In a statement released later this evening, Tuan Ibrahim said that Hadi had reaffirmed that he would defend one of his seats in the general election.
"We believe in Hadi's charisma, leadership and good standing to lead the party," he said.
KUALA LUMPUR: Embattled Bestino investors want Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) to give the company permission to bring in funds from abroad to repay them.
The investors, who formed a Bestino action committee, have sent a letter to the effect to BNM assistant governor Abu Hasan Alshari Yahya.
They are seeking for a meeting between BNM, Bestino management and investors to resolve the matter.
Speaking on behalf of the investors today, Party Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) national deputy chief, M Saraswathy, said that there were a few contradictions in the statements issued by BNM and Bestino management.
She cited a recent report in which Bestino director Chong Yuk Ming had said that the company was liquidating its assets in foreign countries to pay the investors here and that it was waiting for BNM to give them the green light to bring the money into Malaysia.
Bestino, an Ipoh-based gold investment scheme company, was raided by BNM and the Securities Commission (SC) in June 2010, on suspicion of illegal deposit-taking. Some 6,500 people had invested a total of RM411.19 million in the company.
It is learnt that Bestino owned 36 gold mines abroad including two in Papua New Guinea despite BNM claiming that not a single gold mine exists under the name of Bestino.
Saraswathy claimed that Abu Hasan had told the investors at in a press conference today that Bestino was reluctant to cooperate with BNM and had also failed to produce the details of the company properties to BNM.
But Bestino had in a letter to its investors clearly indicated that the company had suggested that BNM release its properties, which were frozen, to enable them to repay the investors.
Parties must meet
According to Sarawathy, the investors are "still in the dark" over the contradictory statements by both of them.
She added that the best solution for now is for all three parties to meet.
"So, BNM must come out with an immediate action to solve this longstanding matter," she said.
She also urged BNM to reveal the full details of its investigations into the case.
The amount seized by BNM during the raid was RM20 million when the total money collected was RM411 million.
"So, where is the money?" she asked.
"This is a public interest matter and the 75% of the investors are poor people. We hope BNM will expose the rest of the 'missing' amount soon."
Saraswathy also said that the investors were planning for a massive gathering in front of BNM headquarters, if the institution remains silent on this matter.
PKR has bashed a move to use RM1.5 billion from the Employee's Provident Fund (EPF) to help finance those unable to obtain bank loans to buy low-cost public housing units.
"Even banks are not prepared to give the loans. What is the EPF's investment panel doing?
"Why is EPF money being used as BN's pocket money?" asked party vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar (right) at a press conference today.
At least four banks were brought in to help draft the financing agreement, Nurul Izzah said, and asked why EPF's funds were being used if commercial banks did not deem the scheme financially sound.
"We don't want a situation like the subprime mortgage crisis in the US, where borrowers could not service their loans, but with the EPF instead of banks (in trouble)," she said, adding that EPF funds were also used to finance the light rail transit (LRT) project.
"The government can't go vote-buying on a whim simply because elections are around the corner.
"You (the government) can help the Public Housing Proje! ct (PPR) community, but don't use EPF funds for that purpose," the MP for Lembah Pantai added.
On Monday, Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Minister Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin had reportedly announced an "easy financing scheme" for 20,000 eligible PPR tenants and potential buyers who could not obtain bank loans.
DAP's publicity chief Tony Pua has also objected the move, saying that EPF's role is to ensure the financial security of the retirement funds of its contributors.
Both Pua and Nurul Izzah suggested turning to Bank Rakyat and Malaysia Building Society Bhd for the purpose instead.
Dana KWSP diguna bagi wang saku BN
PKR hari ini menyelar tindakan kerajaan untuk menggunakan RM1.5 bilion daripada dana Kumpulan Wang Simpanan Pekerja (KWSP) bagi membantu mereka yang gagal mendapatkan pinjaman bank bagi membiayai pembelian rumah awam kos rendah.
"Malah bank-bank juga tidak bersedia memberi pinjaman. Apakah yang dilakukan oleh panel pelaburan KWSP?
"Mengapa wang KWSP yang digunakan sebagai wang saku BN?" soal naib presiden PKR Nurul Izzah Anwar (kanan) pada sidang media hari ini.
Sekurang-kurangnya empat bank telah diminta membantu menggubal draf perjanjian pembiayaan, kata Nurul Izzah sambil menyoal mengapa dana KWSP digunakan jika bank komersial sendiri tidak menganggap skim itu sebagai berdaya maju.
"Ki! ta tidak mahu situasi seperti krisis pajak gadai subprima di Amerika Syarikat, di mana peminjam tidak dapat membayar ansuran mereka, jadi KWSP bukan bank (dalam kesusahan)," katanya, sambil mengingatkan bahawa dana KWSP juga telah digunakan untuk membiayai projek transit aliran ringan (LRT).
"Kerajaan tidak boleh membeli undi sesuka hati semata-mata kerana pilihan raya semakin dekat.
"Awak (kerajaan) boleh membantu Projek Perumahan Rakyat (PPR), tetapi jangan gunakan dana KWSP bagi maksud itu," kata Nurul Izzah yang juga ahli parlimen Lembah Pantai.
Isnin lalu, Menteri Wilayah Persekutuan dan Kesejahteraan Bandar, Datuk Seri Raja Nong Chik Zainal Abidin dilapor mengumumkan "skim pembiayaan mudah" untuk 20,000 penyewa PPR yang layak dan bakal pembeli yang tidak layak mendapatkan pinjaman bank.
Ketua Penerangan DAP Tony Pua juga menyelar tindakan itu dengan mengatakan bahawa peranan KWSP adalah memastikan pencarum mempunyai simpanan yang mencukupi apabila mereka bersara kelak.
Kedua-dua mereka, Pua dan Nurul Izzah mencadangkan Bank Rakyat dan Malaysia Building Society Bhd mengambil-alih tanggungjawab itu.
KUALA LUMPUR: PKR has urged the government not to stick its fingers into the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) to provide financing for those who do not qualify for housing loans.
Speaking at a press conference today, party vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar said it was not proper for the government to spend money beloging to the workers for the project as it was risky.
"I agree that we need to help the needy but why not get banks to support it instead?" she asked.
Last month, Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak had announced the scheme, due on March 1, to help people own homes under the National Economic Action Council's People Housing Programme as well as Kuala Lumpur City Hall's public housing scheme.
Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Minister Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin said funds worth RM1.5 billion would be used to help those who were unable to secure housing loans.
However, Fomca had advised the government against it saying such loans would not make money for EPF and there was a high risk of the debtors defaulting on payments.
"The funds must come directly from the government and those who qualify should pay rental for their units and subsequently have this converted to ownership," Fomca had reportedly said.
It also said the government must consider EPF contributors' interest and not abuse the fund as it served as a safety net for retirees.
Agreeing with Fomca's sentiments, Nurul said if the plan went through and the buyers defaulted on their payments, the govermment might risk having a subprime mortgage crisis like the one in US.
She added that even now, many living in public housing schemes were dependent on welfare aid just to pay rent.
"And EPF has offered loans to many, such as the MRT project, and we are now using its funds again for this," she noted.
Offering a solution, Nurul said it was best if the government could engage with banks such as Bank Rakyat or even the Malaysian Builders' Society for this programme.
"And let's be transparent about this. Our national debt stands over RM400 billion and with EPF funds being used like this, what will be left for our workers?" she added.
KUALA LUMPUR: Unhappy over the coupon system, taxi drivers from the Klang Valley plan to submit a memorandum to the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) soon.
PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar, speaking on behalf of the Metered Taxi Drivers Action Committee, said the coupon system by the the big companies was only enriching the latter.
"Not only customers have to pay more, taxi drivers also suffer as they receive their payments on the coupons days later," Nurul said at a press conference here today.
Also present were Cheras MP Tan Kok Wai and Bukit Bintang MP Fong Kui Lun.
Relating her own experience, Nurul said she had to pay RM43 just to get from Subang Airport to Sri Hartamas during a trip in the past.
Nurul also said that the taxi drivers were of the opinion that it was best if they were allowed to revert to the meter system as it would be cheaper for the customers.
If there was a need to gazette certain places as taxis stands, she said the taxi drivers felt a reasonable surcharge should be imposed on the customers.
She added that despite the committee contacting SPAD chairman Syed Hamid Albar several times for a meeting, the transport commission had not even provided a date for the taxi drivers.
Meanwhile, Tan criticised SPAD for dragging its feet in resolving the taxi drivers' grouses and called for Syed Hamid's resignation for being ineffective.
"The government always call our taxi drivers our 'little ambassadors' as they ferry tourists, but despite knowing their problems, the government has not acted," he said.
SPAD refusing to meet drivers
Tan said the taxi drivers were also complaining of the road-worthiness of their vehicle as it often breaks down.
"The taxi companies only provide Proton Saga and Proton Waja for taxis, which use the Campro engine which overheats frequently," said Tan.
"And when taxi drivers convert their fuel from petrol to NGV, Proton refuses to repair their cars when they break down despite a warranty saying drivers had modified the car."
It was time, Tan said, the government allowed taxi drivers to use more durable cars to save cost.
Fabian Thean, a 61-year-old taxi driver, said that they have long suffered under the hands of errant taxi companies that charge high price for taxi rentals.
"Why does not the government give the permit to us instead of the companies? We have to pay between RM40 and RM70 daily just for taxi rental," said Thean.
He was also upset with SPAD for refusing to meet the taxi drivers' association over the matter despite the latter's effort to voice its grievances through proper channels.
"SPAD just refuses to meet up with us," said an angry Thean Also read:
Embattled cabinet minister Shahrizat Jalil, who is scheduled to be back at work next week, is set to be 'greeted' with more exposes on misappropriation allegations involving her family, PKR says.
According to PKR chief of strategy Rafizi Ramli, the party will make more revelations on property bought by the women, family and community development minister's family next Wednesday.
However, it is not immediately clear if the purchases are linked to the National Feedlot Corporation (NFC), the family-owned company at the heart of the scandal.
"Shahrizat (left) is returning this week, so maybe we'll greet her with something... We are pursuing more properties that could have been bought by the family. We should be able to nail one next week," Rafizi told Malaysiakini.
PKR has previously revealed that the family owns a luxury condominium worth about RM10 million in Singapore, but was unable to present evidence that NFC funds went towards this purchase.
The family has remained silent on the matter but had earlier admitted that they used part of the RM250 million government soft loan to buy two luxury condominium units in Kuala Lumpur under NFC's name.
NFC preparing media blitz
In a dialogue with NGOs last week, NFC chief executive officer! Wan Sha hinur Izmir Salleh reiterated that the condominium units at One Menerung in Bangsar were investments bought at a time when the cattle-rearing project was temporarily halted for a viability study. In an interview yesterday, Rafizi said that "more" of such exposes were in the pipeline because the anonymous tip-offs "keep coming".
He said the stream of information from anonymous sources also came at a time when NFC appeared to be "doing things behind the scenes".
Having somewhat written off the opposition supporters, Rafizi said, NFC was likely to be cleaning up its backyard in preparation for a media offensive.
"They are concerned about their own supporters, so I think they would want to make sure everything is in order so that they can start a new media campaign.
"To say, 'look, these are all lies and that in terms of company structure we are all accountable to the government, these are not private companies, etc'. It's not like they're lying idle," said Rafizi, a chartered accountant by training.
NFC recently engaged a public relations company to handle its media relations and has held at least two dialougue sessions with Malay-centric NGOs to explain its side of the story.
However, the NGOs have claimed that the sessions were on their own initiative.
Lagi pendedahan sambut kepulangan Shahrizat
! PKR akan menyambut kepulangan Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil kembali bertugas dengan pendedahan terbaru berhubung dakwaan penyelewengan melibatkan keluarga menteri pembangunan wanita itu.
Pengarah Strategi PKR Rafizi Ramli berkata pendedahan tersebut, Rabu depan, adalah mengenai dakwaan pembelian hartanah oleh keluarga menteri tersebut.
Buat masa ini tidak dapat dipastikan sama ada dakwaan pembelian itu berkait dengan National Feedlot Corporation -- syarikat milik keluarga menteri berkenaan yang terjebak dalam skandal projek lembut Pusat Fidlot National.
"Shahrizat akan kembali minggu ini jadi mungkin kita akan sambut dia dengan sesuatu... Kita sedang mengesan lebih banyak hartanah yang mungkin telah dibeli oleh keluarga itu," kata Rafizi kepada Malaysiakini.
Tambahnya,PKRakan dapat mengesahkan salah satu daripada perkara itu, minggu depan.
Shahrizat bercuti tiga minggu, berakhir minggu ini, untuk membantu siasatan berhubung dakwaan skandal itu.
PKR sebelum ini mendedahkan mengenai pembelian kondominium mewah bernilai kira-kira RM10 juta di Singapura namun tidak dapat mengesahkan bahawa dana NFC digunakan untuk membeli hartanah tersebut. Keluarga menteri itu setakat ini masih belum mengesahkan atau menafikan per! kara itu .
Bagaimanapun, sebahagian daripada pinjaman RM250 juta untuk projek NFC disahkan telah diguna untuk membeli dua unit kondominium mewah atas nama NFC.
KUALA LUMPUR: Selangor Umno assemblymen are in a "fix" over the term "winnable candidates" and the selection exercise to be adopted in the coming general election.
Some 24 current assemblymen are having sleepless nights wondering whether they are "winnable" enough to be retained in the coming general election. They are questioning the term and the definition of "winnable".
The question has come up in the wake of increasing factionalism within Selangor Umno which is making some of them appear as "non-winnable", depending on whose side one is on.
With Prime Minister and Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman Najib Tun Razak holding the state Umno liaison chief's post, many assemblymen are hoping Najib would be the one choosing the candidate for the coming general election and not Noh Omar, who is the state Umno liaison deputy chief.
They said factionalism may see truly winnable candidates but who are not in Noh's faction being dropped and new faces being fielded.
The same question is also being raised by candidates who contested the 2008 general election but were defeated, not because they were not winnable but because of the political tsunami.
Aren't we 'winnable' anymore?
One former assemblyman who was defeated in 2008 said: "I won the general election in 2004 but failed in 2008 due to the political tsunami (and) not because I am not popular or anything of that sort.
"Now I am playing a guessing game with several more of my friends – who were candidates (but) defeated (in 2008) – whether we are considered winnable candidates or not.
"If we not considered winnable, then who in the various party divisions are considered winnable?
"Are they the ones who are close to Noh but are not popular in the divisions?
"And what about those who had won but not in Noh's faction? Are they not winnable.
"Will Noh submit the names of candidates minus their names?
"If Najib goes through the names and pick, we give our full confidence and trust but if it's only Noh's decision, then we doubt the sincerity."
Three factions
Najib is heading the campaign to recapture Selangor where the Pakatan Rakyat state government is facing many problems – from undelivered promises to economic development.
The Selangor voters, particularly the Malays and Indians, are agitated with the Pakatan's state administration and are openly showing their resentment and dissatisfaction through protests and press conferences.
Adding to Pakatan's woes is the split in Selangor PAS where "rebel" Hasan Ali was expelled from the party, much to the anger of even the party's Youth wing.
While observers believed Hasan's dismissal will not impact PAS' support in the state, the ground feeling seems to run on the opposite – particularly among Muslims and Malay voters.
Najib could succeed in his aim to recapture Selangor, but the problems in Umno may hinder his plan.
The "winnable candidates" issue will be the "thorn" that pricks the floating balloon in Selangor Umno. Selangor Umno is split into three factions.
One is led by Noh and another by Satum Diman, who is said to be a likely menteri besar candidate if BN wrests Selangor.
And the third faction is helmed by former menteri besar Dr Mohd Khir Toyo.
Khir still popular
Considered "victimised" by his supporters, Khir, who was found guilty of corruption, is still popular and considered to be a winnable candidate.
Said an Umno division head: "If Khir is not picked, then he would want some of his supporters to be chosen as candidate."
"Will Noh concede to his request? If Noh does not, do you think Khir or maybe his supporters would be united in helping in the election campaign?"
As for MCA and MIC, several Umno members in the state have written them off.
Their view is that the two parties would not be much of a help as they are themselves still groping to find a branch to hold on in the fast current political water flow.
YOURSAY 'Najib, which part of the report was fabricated? The purchase of 61 items? The cost of the purchases?'
Najib: Reports on Rosmah 'deliberately fabricated'
Onyourtoes: At best, this was a feeble attempt to damage control. If the allegation was not true, the whole machinery of the government would have come to PM Najib Razak's rescue immediately and the 'truth' would have been be revealed in no time.
I am sure Najib would have exploited to the hilt how he and the first lady have been wrongly accused and unfairly treated by the Western media out to destabilise this country because of our economic success, capable leadership and accomplishment.
Just tell us, how many pieces were bought and the total price. Just tell us whether the penthouse suite in The Darling cost RM64,000 a night.
Please don't plead privacy. As PM, you have no privacy. Where you stay and what you buy are of public interest. Only the public can check you because you have no bosses above you.
Windingup: Najib, which part of the report was fabricated? The purchase of 61 items? The cost of the purchases?
Then tell us, how many items did the (self-dec! lared) F irst Lady actually purchase? And how much did it cost?
Let us judge for ourselves how 'wildly' the report was exaggerated.
Jeremy Ng: If this is rumour, Rosmah and Najib should proceed with legal actions against the Australian writers. There should be a public signature petition that Rosmah/Najib take legal actions without further delay.
As public figures, their reputation will affect the country.
Loyal Malaysian: Deliberately fabricated, was it? The email exchanges between designer Carl Kapp's publicist Holly Beer and fashion journalist and blogger Patty Huntington are very enlightening as to what had transpired. Care to explain that?
Yeap Cheng Liang: Okay, then tell us where did you stay? Who pay for your hotel charges?
CiViC: Najib, first of all, Rosmah is not our leader - she could be yours, but she's definitely not ours. Second, perception is earned, not given.
You and whoever leader you may want to bring in, will have to earn his/her respect, and not expect it to be given by the people. So far, none of BN leaders (and their wives) deserve any. Period.
Nik V: I am glad Najib spoke on this issue as he has never spoken or defended the wrongs that right-wing group Perkasa has unleashed.
Neither has he had the courage to speak out against sacked PAS leader Hasan Ali. Nor has he had the nerve to stand against racially provocative matters like the throwing of pig heads in mosques or the parading of cow heads in demonstrations.
IamMsian: There is no smoke without fire. If you don't want all these so-called 'fabricated stories', just ask Rosmah to stay low profile, like former PM's wife Dr Siti Hasmah.
There was no First Lady of Malaysia before, but Rosmah wants to be one. This is beginning of your problem.
Louis: Najib, why must a newspaper columnist thousand of miles away reported ! on Rosma h as being extravagant with her clothes? There are so many PM's wives in Asean region, why pick on Rosmah?
As many had already suggested, take the accusers to court and the truth will surface. What is holding you and Rosmah from doing so? A person of your standing, just say the word, your team of lawyers will spring into action.
Moorthi_2e7f: After this denial, Rosmah can no longer wear the dresses in public. Someone may recognise them just like her many expensive Birkin handbags. Indeed, she has wasted paying so much for them.
Multi Racial: It started with something someone should not have been done. A reporter reported it. Then the someone came out to deny the matter.
The reporter stood by her report. Then the someone got another person to lie. The reporter provided more facts. Then the someone got another person to lie again.
Ask yourself. Why would the reporter want to fabricate such news? What gains will she have?
Of course, the someone who started it have such tendency of doing such things as she has done it before.
This someone was just careless and insensitive and spent beyond her means, especially in hard times like this.
That's why our grandparents and parents always teach us not to lie. When we started to do so, we don't know when to stop.
Inspektor Klueso: When a ruler is feared, despised and scorned, he is a dangerous man.
But when he turns into a laughing stock by adopting ridiculous monikers like 'Ah Jib Gor' (brother Najib) and making 'liar liar pants on fire' comments to 'whitewash' his wife's shopping fetishes, he is completely vulnerable to all the animals in the political jungle out there.
Once a persona becomes a joke, there is no recovery to the slippery slope of public opinion.
Little Han2: Najib, when pro-Umno bl! ogger Pa pagomo attacked the teenage son of Penang CM Lim Guan Eng, your DPM advised him to make a police report as it was not good enough just denying the allegations.
Perhaps you should also heed his advice... Go make a report to the Sydney police.
MfM: I support you, Najib. Now sue the Australians for defaming your wife. Make them show the evidence so that we can prove that the reports were fabricated and nothing but lies to put you in bad light.
There is no point just denying and denouncing. Sue them and make them pay.
Jedi_Who: By the way, the courts and justice system in Australia are not run by kangaroos.
Kan dah kena hentak. Nampaknya rakyat betul-betul tak kisah untuk menghentak PM mereka supaya berkata benar, bukan sekadar menafikan saja. Kerja menafi tu tahap budak tahun satu sekolah rendah saja. Rakyat mahu PM mereka seorang yang berwibawa, berhemah tinggi, dan amanah; bukannya seorang yang gemar berbohong. Perbuatan itu takkan ke mana perginya. Akhirnya terbongkar juga.
PETALING JAYA: The national DAP disciplinary committee's inaction against Perak DAP secretary Nga Kor Ming, implicated in a tailoring contract, has members in Selangor all riled up.
"1Care does not address existing problems and issues and it will be detrimental to the well-being of consumers.
It is understood that the four-phase scheme has already been put into place, with the full scheme due to be presented to the cabinet by March, after the authorities engage with doctors and pharmacists nationwide.
Having somewhat written off the opposition supporters, Rafizi said, NFC was likely to be cleaning up its backyard in preparation for a media offensive.
Onyourtoes: At best, this was a feeble attempt to damage control. If the allegation was not true, the whole machinery of the government would have come to PM Najib Razak's rescue immediately and the 'truth' would have been be revealed in no time.
