Guan Eng: Minimum wage not enough to improve living standards

By Clara Chooi
The Malaysian Insider
Apr 14, 2012

KUALA LUMPUR, April 14 — Lim Guan Eng told Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak today that his much-awaited minimum wage policy was insufficient to improve living standards without total reforms to the country's economy, education and workforce policies.

The Penang Chief Minister said the new wage floor of RM1,100, to be announced this April 30, must come hand in hand with higher productivity jobs, increased female participation in the workforce and "accelerated structural reforms" to the economy aimed at reducing corruption and plucking leakages.

However, Lim added that although the new wage floor to be announced by Najib was purportedly due to opposition pressure, DAP would welcome the announcement.

Malaysians, he added, have "high expectations" of Najib.

"Malaysia is in sore need of structural economic reforms to make us more competitive, transparent, efficient as well as reduce leakages caused by wastage and corruption.

"Structural economic reforms such as open competitive tenders, full disclosure of contracts and personal assets of Ministers as well as a performance-based delivery system must carried out," he said in his Tamil and Vaisakhi new year message today.

Lim added that to create higher productivity jobs, the country's education system must also undergo reforms to build better human talent.

He again slammed Education Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin for the latter's recent claim that Malaysia's education standards were superior to that of the UK's, Germany and US, saying the latter was in "denial syndrome".

"The Malaysian education system is in crisis. Unless we can inject merit and performance back into our education system, Malaysia risks being left behind by neighbouring countries such as Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam," he said,

On increasing women participation in the workforce, Lim said this could only be achieved if there is no gender discrimination in salaries and promotion opportunities.

The Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) said on Tuesday that negotiations over a minimum wage policy have ended Najib will announce the government's decision on April 30.

The umbrella body representing 800,000 workers from 390 labour unions had told a press conference that last month's National Wages Consultative Council meeting was the last round for stakeholders to air their views and it is now up to Putrajaya to decide on a final policy.

"There are no more talks after this. The Attorney-General will look through the legal aspects and the Cabinet will decide," MTUC president Khalid Atan said.

He added that the prime minister is expected to announce the policy in a live television broadcast on the eve of Labour Day.

Najib had said on April 2 he will announce a floor wage policy by the end of the month despite stakeholders still deadlocked over whether benefits can be considered part of a floor wage.

The Malaysian Insider reported that employers and workers argued in a recent National Wages Consultative Council meeting over whether allowances and other benefits can be included as part of a base wage expected to be set at RM900 and RM800 for Peninsular and East Malaysia respectively.

The committee, which advises the government on wage policy, had met on the back of small-medium industries (SMIs) warning that 80 per cent of active businesses could fold under a blanket floor wage, cutting four million jobs from the labour market.

This entry was posted on Saturday, 14 April 2012, 7:01 pm and is filed under Education, Labour, Lim Guan Eng, Najib Razak. You can follow any responses to this entry through RSS 2.0.  

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Kapil is shooting blanks! — Tindak Malaysia

2. Postal Voting (PSC Interim Report pg 105)   

2.6 Process for postal voting shall guarantee transparency like normal voting process. (PSC Interim Report pg 106)     Where is recommendation on transparency for postal voting? 

3. Absentee voting for all Malaysian citizens residing abroad.    Unreasonable condition of return once every 5 years. 

4. Inter-state voting for East Malaysians residing in the peninsula to       Not given

be allowed to vote and vice-versa. (PSC Interim Report pg 106) 

4.4 Provide voting zones for outstation voters. (PSC Interim Report pg 107)    Not given 

5. Transfer of voting area (PSC Interim Report pg 107) 

• Applications to transfer voting address must include a statutory declaration.          EC did not agree. EC should allow transfer within the same state constituency. 

6. Electoral roll audit (PSC Interim Report pg 107)     MIMOS performance has been pathetic. Dr. Ong Kian Ming report. 

6.3 The PSC recommends Mimos Bhd to perform the audit. (PSC Interim Report pg 108.) 

6.4 For Sabah, the entire electoral roll needs to be vetted.              EC did not agree. 

6.5 RCI on Project IC (PSC Interim Report pg 108.)              Dropped from PSC Final Report 

7. Display of electoral roll (PSC Interim Report pg 108.)              400,00 dubious voters

7.4. Display period doubled to 14 days.        14 days is not enough! 

7.4b Abolish RM10 fee for objections against each voter.         Fee retained

7.4c Abolish maximum limit of voters which can be questioned by a single complainant.           EC increase to 20 only. Why? 

8. Transparency of Voting Process (PSC Interim Report pg 109)          Nothing done about this

8.2 PSC suggested that SPR study efforts to increase transparency of polling process as follows: 

8.2.1 Ballot Paper Serial No. Removal of serial numbers on ballot papers and retain it on the counterfoil.          The PSC created an unnecessary problem. No change. Neutral. 

8.2.3 Allow visually impaired voters to choose whomever they wish to mark their ballot papers. (PSC Interim Report pg 110) 

8.2.4 Recount Process           Gazette 2012. Good

8.2.4.3 Allow for recount if at the main tally centre, the difference in votes for the candidate with the highest vote and the  The PSC created an unnecessary problem. Serial no. on ballot paper retained. Neutral

 second highest differ by 2% or less. (PSC Interim Report pg 110) 

8.2.2 Rearrange desks in polling centres to allow scrutineers to identify voters easily. EC polling station layout Gambarajah A has not improved anything. Made worse bythe

  increasing staff cost & postal voters. 

8.2.5.2 SPR shall only accept the marking "X" in a box on the right hand side of the ballot paper in alignment with  Not done. Present system lead to a lot of abuse and cheating! 

the candidate's name as a valid vote

9. IMPROVE THE NOMINATION PROCESS (PSC Interim Report pg 111)  Final PSC report included this but this is not an improvement. It make things worse! Done.Good. 

9.1 Process for objections on nomination day be cancelled. 

9.2 Period for withdrawal of candidacy be abolished. 

10. STRENTHEN SPR  Nothing substantial from this. In principle, EC members should not come from ex-civil service

10.1 Strengthen the SPR to improve public confidence. 

10.2a Provisions to ensure independence of the SPR have to be clarified under the laws.  BERSIH 2.0/Tindak Malaysia has proposed necessary amendments already but this was ignored.

10.2b EC must be allowed to enforce election laws. Increase EC resources and make them independent.  

Next we analysed the PSC's Final Report DR.1/2012 based on timelines. Only 1 item "postal voter status for EC staff and journalists" will be implemented immediately. As we have pointed out EC staff already enjoy postal voting privileges. We don't see any advantage in giving postal voting to journalists. Given that the majority of mainstream media are owned by organisations aligned to the Ruling Party, the motives are suspect. The other recommendations which could be remotely considered as part of the BERSIH 2.0 8 demands are either scheduled beyond GE13 or have no timelines. 

We had expected this. That was why we immediately analysed the PSC's Final Report and both BERSIH 2.0 and Tindak Malaysia came out with press statements separately (Bersih and Tindak Malaysia) on 4th Apr 2012 (within 1 day of the Report tabled and approved in Parliament without debate!) to give our views on the Report. 

Analysis of PSC's Final Report DR. 1/2012 dated 3rd Apr 2012. 

Except for point no. 2 for immediate implementation, all the other points that are of relevance (see items highlighted in red below) to BERSIH 2.0's 8 Demands are pushed far into the future, and clearly shows that BN is merely playing for time.

Not only that, Tindak Malaysia has issued a series of Press Releases analysing in detail the 10 Recommendations of the PSC Interim Report and demonstrated how shallow they were. 

It is clear to the public that Barisan Nasional created the PSC as a public-relations exercise to ameliorate Najib's abysmal handling of the BERSIH 2.0 rally on 9th Jul 2011. Despite our misgivings of the agenda of the PSC, we still participated actively in the hearings, giving our proposed solutions, in the meagre hope that maybe this time, just maybe, the BN is serious about electoral reform. Sadly, we have been sorely disappointed. 

On balance, the PSC on Electoral Reform is an eye-wash and has produced practically nothing of substance other than a lot of hype which has given the politicians and mainstream media a lot of room to create spin to confuse the public. They have wasted millions of Ringgit of the public money producing hardly anything. Not only that, we, the public, who took part in the hearings also wasted thousands of man-hours preparing our submissions, all in vain. 

Kapil writes well, has all the right phrases and makes for good advertising copy. 

We particularly liked this part: "Just because in some instances, like the Peaceful Assembly Act and the ISA replacement act, the government seems to be talking with a forked tongue should not mean that even when they are doing something right, they should be demonised because of their past history." We recommend that he read our compilation of UMNO's past record here. There are 42 articles that should adequately address his point. 

Barisan Nasional should give him credit for his efforts. But in terms of educating the public, which he professes to be trying to do, it has been misleading and totally lacking in substance. So, how can it be said that "BERSIH 3.0 is jumping the gun?" 

We reiterate. "It's more like Kapil shooting blanks!"

* Tindak Malaysia is a political-social-economic forum to educate Malaysians, to empower and encourage them to act towards the goal of a 2-Party State.

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication. The Malaysian Insider does not endorse the view unless specified.

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Bersih 3.0

The coalition is wholly unsatisfied with the PSC report, and has written a response to each of the 22 recommendations put forth in the report. The response is attached here. In light of this unsatisfactory PSC report, the coalition has announced BERSIH 3.0.

BERSIH 3.0 will take the form of a sit-in ("duduk bantah" in Bahasa Malaysia) on April 28^th 2012, and will take place across Malaysia and throughout the world. In addition to the demands of the previous BERSIH demonstrations, BERSIH 3.0 has three demands, namely:

1.       The Election Commission must resign, as it has failed in its responsibility and has lost the confidence of the public.

2.       The electoral process must be cleaned before the 13th General Elections.

3.       Invite international observers to observe the 13^th General Elections.

Through BERSIH 3.0, we will continue our struggle for clean and fair elections, assembling and expressing our views peacefully as are our rights as enshrined in the Federal Constitution.

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World Bank must become less of a bank… and more of an adviser to countries on development issues — Ho Seng Chee

World Bank must become less of a bank… and more of an adviser to countries on development issues — Ho Seng Chee

APRIL 14 — This week, the World Bank Executive Board interviewed all three candidates who are running for the position of bank president. A decision on the appointment is expected to be reached by Monday. With the United States and Europe holding the majority of votes, it is almost certain that the US nominee, Dr Jim Yong Kim, will be appointed. 

This leadership change comes at an epochal time for the bank. Over the next three to five years, economic growth is expected to be strong among emerging and developing countries, the traditional beneficiaries of bank programmes. 

This growth, coupled with the increasing availability of financing from private capital markets, will continue to reduce the bank's role in development financing. The rise of bilateral donors like China is also gradually displacing the World Bank as a source of cheap loans and grants. 

To illustrate, in 2009 and 2010, the China Development Bank and China Export-Import Bank pledged some US$ 110 billion (RM374 billion) in loans to governments and companies in developing countries. This amount exceeds the US$ 100 billion given out by various arms of the World Bank during roughly the same period. 

Given its decreasing role in development financing, commentators and World Bank observers have long argued that the bank should re-direct its focus to policy advice work. In other words, the World Bank needs to become less of a bank, and more of a consultant or adviser to countries on development issues. 

Challenges to growth

In a Financial Times opinion/editorial on Tuesday, Ms Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the Nigerian Finance Minister and one of the candidates for bank president, laid out her vision for exactly that transformation. Ms Ngozi made no mention of the bank's financing role, but instead chose to emphasis three challenges to achieving economic growth — job creation, investing in human capital and building strong public institutions. Hers was a compelling argument for the World Bank to address these longer-term issues as a way to help developing countries help themselves. 

To be sure, providing policy and technical advice has always been within the World Bank's mandate and is a mainstay of the institution's work. Indeed, one of the key strengths of the institution is its repository of information and experience on international best practices to achieve balanced and sustained economic growth. But shifting gears from being financier to adviser will represent a fundamental change in the bank's operating model. The first question that arises is: If the World Bank does not lend, from where will it get revenue to fund its operations? 

The established donors to bank programmes — the US, Europe and other industrialised countries — will remain in economic recovery mode for some time and are unlikely to provide more resources to the bank. That leads us back to the issue of what role emerging and developing countries should have in the future of the institution. 

To stay relevant, the new president will have to quickly turn these countries into key partners of the World Bank. But now that cheap loans and grants are no longer an attractive incentive to developing countries, it will not be simple for the bank to demonstrate that it can bring value to these economies. The road ahead will not be an easy one for Dr Kim. — Today 

* Ho Seng Chee is council member of the Singapore Institute of International Affairs and worked at the IMF for 11 years.

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication. The Malaysian Insider does not endorse the view unless specified

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In Shanghai, with so much talk of Bahrain — Ian De Cotta

APRIL 14 — The 2012 Formula 1 season returns to action this weekend after a three-week break and after the last race in Malaysia turned the championship on its head, a correction is expected at the Chinese Grand Prix. 

Two-time world champion Fernando Alonso is the unlikely leader among the cast of 24 drivers, after the Ferrari ace took advantage of the heavy rain at Sepang. But the Prancing Horse is skittish and still unpredictable and should be tough to handle in Shanghai, unless the engineers have worked a mini-miracle on the car over the last couple of weeks. 

Barring a mechanical failure, bad luck or human error, I expect the McLarens of Lewis Hamilton and Melbourne winner Jenson Button to feature at the front. 

Many eyes will be on Red Bull, who still seem to be coming to terms without their cutting-edge diffuser, now banned by the FIA. 

The racing has been surprisingly exciting over the last two Grands Prix, with the Mercedes driver Michael Schumacher performing well in practice and looking to have the pace, while Sergio Perez's second-place finish in Malaysia suggests Sauber have a potential star in their stable. 

But Shanghai has been robbed of much of the attention due to the controversy hanging over the Bahrain race in a week's time. A year after deadly clashes between pro-democracy protestors and the Gulf kingdom's security forces, there is little to suggest that violence between the two sides has abated. 

Last year's Grand Prix was cancelled because of the violence, but motorsports' world governing body the FIA said yesterday next week's race will go on unless the Bahrainis themselves call it off. 

Having forked out a king's ransom to hold the race — it is believed the Bahrainis paid US$ 40 million (RM136 million) for last year's Grand Prix — I would think the Bahrain Government would pull out all the stops to ensure it is not wasted yet again. And it will be the perfect tool to use to tell the world all is right in the kingdom. Already there has been much chatter about Formula 1's moral obligation. 

After meeting with the team principals in Shanghai yesterday, the sport's supremo Bernie Ecclestone insisted that all the teams were happy to race in Bahrain. I am sure it was a tough decision because it is inconceivable those in the paddock and motorsports chiefs like Jean Todt, and Ecclestone himself, tolerate the ugly scenes that have played out in Bahrain. 

With six world champions on the grid and the season already looking as if it could offer up an exciting battle for silverware — even after only two races — the powers-that-be cannot afford a misstep that could taint the Formula 1 year. 

After years of scandals like Sexgate, Spygate and Liegate rocking the sport, many will not fault Formula 1 if it took the moral high ground and pulled out of Bahrain. While the world wants to see speed merchants like Vettel, Alonso and Hamilton fight each other off, I feel a pullout would have been the right thing to do. After all, sport is a wonderful tool to use to convey the right message. — Today 

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication. The Malaysian Insider does not endorse the view unless specified

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Hedging the downside risk of your portfolio — Jeffrey Ong

APRIL 14 — "Manage the downside and the upside will take care of itself" — so says Warren Buffett. This statement is important, notably in light of studies that show staying in the market — or spending time in the market — is more important than market timing. 

However, while staying invested, there will be periods of significant volatility and downside. Hence it is important to recognise it, understand why it is there and, most importantly, manage it. 

Why is there volatility? Market valuations of a security are a function of investors' consensus view. Over time, perceptions, and news on the security, changes. And with that, so does the price and value. In cases of extreme uncertainty, opinions on a security can change drastically and, as a result, there can be large fluctuations in price. In a world where information and ideas change so quickly, its influence on security prices becomes even more pronounced and, not surprisingly, volatility has increased. 

The reality is that this pace of information exchange is likely to accelerate further and, with that, higher volatility is here to stay. So how can affluent individuals manage their investments in a volatile world? In comes the "VIP" strategy — "V" for managing volatility by investing in alternative assets, "I" for protecting against inflation by investing in gold and "P" for getting paid to take risks. 

1. Managing Volatility A. Commodity Trading Advisers (CTAs) CTAs are managed futures or trend-following strategies that use the aid of computer programmes and comprehensive trading rules to drive the investing decision. These strategies have the ability to make unemotional decisions and the flexibility to buy when the market is trending up and sell when the market is trending down. Futures contracts are very liquid, which allows the CTA strategy to change positions fairly easily. Over the longer term and over a few market cycles, CTA strategies have been able to provide returns independent to that of the broader equity market. CTAs, however, are not foolproof. The two main caveats with this strategy are that CTAs tend to underperform: (i) in a constantly fluctuating market; and (ii) where the strategy may be a little late in identifying the change in direction, which delays a response. All the same, where suited to investors, adding CTA products in a portfolio adds value. B. Volatility linked strategies Strategies that adjust their positions depending on their views on volatility can also add value to an investment portfolio. If you take the view that volatility may increase going forward, you can buy a mix of options on various equity market indices. If you feel volatility may decrease going forward, you can sell options of the underlying equity market indices. This strategy may work because, if volatility increases, the value of the options increases and, if you had bought options prior, you would benefit. But as with the CTAs, this strategy is not foolproof. If you had sold (bought) the options and if volatility did actually increase (decrease), the employed strategy would be in a loss-making position. 

2. Protect Against Inflation With interest rates for fixed deposits typically below 1 per cent and with inflation rate in Singapore above 4 per cent, investors are encouraged to own gold in their investment portfolio to hedge against inflation. Gold prices typically rise when inflation is higher than the savings rate. With the United States Federal Reserve hinting that interest rates are likely to stay at current levels until late 2014, they are likely to continue to rise. You can seek exposure in gold by buying gold bars, opening a gold currency account in banks, buying gold exchange traded funds or buying gold future funds. However, you should typically keep your gold exposure to less than 5 per cent of your portfolio. 

3. Getting Paid to Take Risks and Be Diversified Traditionally, investors manage against downside and volatility by staying diversified. The idea is to have a portfolio of different investments where each investment's behaviour is different to one another. The less correlated they are, the greater the diversification benefit. The idea is simple - should one asset class perform poorly, the other investment (that behaves differently) in the total portfolio fares better, thus lowering overall risk. Diversification can be executed in a few ways - for instance, by having a portfolio of aggressive (or mainstream) equities together with a basket of high dividend-yielding equities. High dividend-yielding equities tend to fare better in an environment of increased market volatility and slow growth. This is because the regular payouts tend to act as a buffer that cushions the returns from an equity market fall. You can also be diversified by investing across various geographical areas or different asset classes. For example, you could hold bonds with equities or even have some exposure to traditional safe-haven investments such as gold. In summary, volatility is a "by-product" of the market's behaviour. It is here to stay and, where exchange and flow of information is taking place at breakneck speed, is likely to increase. Investors need to recognise this and manage this accordingly. Conventional tools and techniques used to manage risk in the past have its limitations in today's world. Investors now need to embrace new ideas in managing their downside risk, so that as mentioned at the onset, when this happens, the upside can take care of itself. — Today 

* Jeffrey Ong is the head of investment counsellors at Standard Chartered Bank

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication. The Malaysian Insider does not endorse the view unless specified

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Government’s deception of undocumented migrants and refugees — Angeline Loh

APRIL 14 — The recent announcement by the Federal authorities that the deadline for registration of undocumented migrant workers was extended to 10 April 2012 seems to be a misrepresentation, misleading employers, undocumented migrant workers, asylum seekers and refugees. 

Crackdowns had already started even before the last deadline on 15 February prior to this extension and are still continuing long before the new deadline. 

Neither the Minister of Home Affairs nor the immigration authorities have made public any reasons for launching these crackdowns on undocumented migrants, asylum seekers and confirmed refugees during this amnesty period. 

Migrants and human rights NGOs — Tenaganita and Suaram — have reported arrests and possible deportation of about 323 supposedly undocumented migrants from 11 February to 5 March. This number, however, includes persons with official UNHCR refugee status as well as asylum seekers protected by international law. 

The use of deception as a ruse to corner and deport undocumented migrants, refugees and asylum seekers flies in the face of customary international human rights and refugee law. It indicates the extent to which the government of this country may be trusted by the international community as well as its own citizens. 

To promise an amnesty for undocumented migrant workers, negotiate humanitarian agreements with the UN refugee agency and other interested parties, yet to subsequently back-track and break these promises, does not forge greater trust in the Malaysian government. The government looks set to continue its 'war on migrants' that has intensified since 2004. 

6P Registration — Going nowhere 

A registration exercise to collect biometric data was carried out in August 2011 on refugees in the Klang Valley, at Putrajaya. Since then, nothing more has been heard about this programme or if the data collected has been used to identify refugees, amongst other measures that may assist in setting up a more comprehensive and updated immigration system to deal with current migration issues. 

Moreover, the 6P registration of undocumented migrant workers appears to be going nowhere. According to media reports since last year, employers trying to get their foreign workers registered have faced long delays and queues merely to obtain queue numbers. Foreign workers had to be brought by their employers to Putrajaya from all corners of the country and had to wait days just to be registered. 

There were also complaints about the slow pace at which immigration department staff worked and the breakdown of equipment used for electronic data collection. In some cases, foreign workers and employers were kept waiting at the immigration office for a whole day, only to be asked to return to the immigration office the next day to start the same process all over again. 

Keeping workers and employers in limbo only causes work stoppages incurring daily losses, slow and reduced production of goods and services, or complete shutdowns that could end in the bankruptcy of many SMEs. Moreover, the current crackdowns on undocumented migrant workers without fair warning to either workers or employers and the non-compliance with government-set deadlines for an amnesty will disrupt operations to the disadvantage of both workers and the employers on whom they depend. This also creates an artificial labour shortage without any back-up labour force or compensation for arbitrary redundancy or loss of investment. 

Immigration crackdowns detrimental to economy 

Further, employers of undocumented migrant workers not yet registered face a maximum fine of RM50,000 and a twelve month jail term for each undocumented employee (Section 55B Immigration Act 1959/63). Attacking foreign employees and their employers would only bring about a lose-lose economic situation for smaller businesses in Malaysia, which contribute substantially to local investment in goods and services. 

The other short-sighted measure instituted by the authorities is the prohibition on employing refugees present in the country. UNHCR-confirmed refugees number nearly 100,000. A number of refugees are reasonably able-bodied and of employable age. There are also refugees who were holding skilled jobs or were trained in skilled work before leaving their countries as refugees. Further, in comparison to the estimated number of undocumented foreign workers (2.6 m according to Tenaganita) in the country, 100,000 refugees is far smaller in number. 

There is no reason why refugees with skills should be kept outside the labour force and prohibited from contributing to the economy of the country where they are seeking some security — even if it may be temporary. In view of the short-term contracts given to other foreign workers, working temporarily in the country should not pose a problem for an employer as the employer can quite easily employ a replacement worker. Better still, if the employer uses the trained refugee-worker to train other workers to replace them before they leave the country to be resettled or voluntarily return to their own countries. 

There are many constructive solutions to the labour shortage in Malaysia and to the apparently overwhelming immigration problems Malaysia faces. But the biggest problem faced by the rakyat now is the dismal lack of political will to initiate and institute these constructive solutions for a better Malaysia. Those taking the initiative privately to use the labour and skills available regardless of legal status are deemed to be breaking the law under the Immigration Act. This dilemma leaves a pool of ready labour being un-utilised and apparently 'punished' for being victims of unjust persecution in their home countries — while leaving employers and local businesses uncertain of their future survival. 

This entrapment ruse by the Ministry of Home Affairs and the immigration authorities is purposeless, unjustified and is of no benefit to the economy, the foreign migrants, refugees or the country. Politicising immigration and migrants can only be interpreted as emotionalising an apparently sensitive issue to gain political mileage by diverting public attention to unresolved migration problems ahead of Malaysia's coming general election. 

The adhoc and secretive actions of the federal authorities relating to undocumented migrants, asylum seekers and refugees in Malaysia prompt us to ask why, since the 1970s, when refugees first arrived in Malaysia, the government has refrained from developing a better immigration system to cope with new migration trends and problems in the region. The government has also neglected to continuously monitor the effects of its sweeping foreign labour and migration policies, leaving problems to fester until they become unmanageable. Instead, it has used ever increasing numbers of security enforcers like Rela while condoning flagrant human rights abuses as its sole solution. — Aliran

* Angeline Loh is an Aliran executive committee member

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication. The Malaysian Insider does not endorse the view unless specified

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The Future of Corruption in Malaysia: You Decide

Integrating visuals and creativity into the fight against corruption, #pangkahrasuah is a poster contribution drive led by Sufri Safuan @ssafuan.

E-mail your poster to pangkahrasuah@gmail.com.

The drive begins 9^th April 2012 and ends 15^th April 2012.

Recommended Reads:

The Perak Crisis - my rebuttal to Lord Lester's op...

Malaysia: All Real Estate, No Fourth Estate

Sibu (P212) - Better do it right, Pakatan!

Posts by Dayang Camelia Nasrun

A law student.

Posted on 14 April 2012. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0.

Read more articles posted by Dayang Camelia Nasrun.

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Pelajar universiti didaftar ke DUN Ali Rustam

MELAKA: PAS mendakwa usaha untuk mendaftarkan pengundi baru ke kawasan DUN Bukit Baru yang diwakili Ketua Menteri Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam.

"Usaha itu dilakukan dengan dua cara. Pertama dengan mendaftarkan pelajar pusat pengajian tinggi supaya mengundi di DUN tersebut.

"Kedua ialah membawa masuk pengundi baru ke DUN Bukit Baru," kata Timbalan Pesuruhjaya PAS negeri, Kamaruddin Sidek.

Beliau berkata, dari maklumat yang diterima Umno meminta pelajar  beberapa pusat  pengajian tinggi di negeri itu supaya menukar alamat tempat mengundi kepada DUN Bukit Baru.

Mereka mensasarkan pelajar Universiti Teknologi Melaka (UTEM), MMU, UiTM  serta Kolej Yayasan Melaka dengan mendapat bayaran RM300 seorang, kata Timbalan Pesuruhjaya PAS negeri, Kamaruddin Sidek.

"Kami mendapat maklumat termasuk gambar mengenai perkara itu," tambahnya.

`Didalangi Kemas dan SPR

Menurut beliau, DUN Bukit Baru kini mencatatkan jumlah penambahan pengundi baru keempat terbanyak di seluruh negara.

"Angka ini disahkan sendiri oleh Jabatan Pendaftaran Negara (JPN)," tambah beliau.

Pemimpin PAS itu  juga mendakwa usaha memindahkan pengundi PAS dari tempat lain ke kawasan DUN Bukit Baru.

Katanya, beliau mendapat aduan daripada seorang pengundi lama PAS dari DUN Duyung yang telah dipindahkan ke Bukit Baru.

Kamaruddin berkata, beliau  bertanyakan perkara itu kepada Suruhanjaya Pilihanraya (SPR) dan pegawai memberitahu pihaknya sedang mengemaskan data pengundi.

"Pegawai SPR memberitahu bahawa permohonan untuk menukar alamat pengundi berkenaan lengkap dengan tanda tangan pemohon.

"Tetapi saya syak sindiket ini didalangi Kemas bersama SPR. Masalahnya ramai pengundi yang tidak tahu bahawa nama mereka telah dipindahkan ke tempat mengundi lain.

"Sasarannya ialah terhadap pengundi-pengundi yang telah berumur 60 tahun ke atas," kata beliau  lagi.

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Students ‘occupy’ Dataran Merdeka

KUALA LUMPUR: More than 300 students have set up camp at Dataran Merdeka here today, calling for free tertiary education and the scrapping of the student loan scheme.

Calling for an end to the National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) loan scheme, the students demanded that Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak meet with them in person there.

Student activist Adam Adli said: "We want the prime minister to come. If he doesn't come, then we want his deputy [Muhyiddin Yassin]. If he [Muhyiddin] doesn't [show up], then any minister who comes has to tell the PM or the DPM to come and meet us!"

He said that the students would occupy Dataran Merdeka until either Najib or Muyhiddin turned up.

The students first gathered in front of Masjid Jamek LRT station at 2pm.

They then marched towards the Sogo shopping centre along Jalan Raja Laut, shouting anti-PTPTN and anti-Barisan Nasional slogans.

"Hancur AUKU (Universities and University Colleges Act)! Hidup mahasiwa (long live the students)! Najib pembunuh (Najib is a murderer)! Altantuya!" the students shouted as they marched through the streets.

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INSTITUT WASATIYYAH TELAH DITUTUP

tu dia..cara wasatiyyah najib!!

‎-wasatiyyah pada pengertian pelampau Melayu UMNO/APCO-

By: Aqidah Al Najin

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Hoping for winds of change

Aneesa Alphonsus | April 14, 2012
Free Malaysia Today

Malaysians want to see the country taking a turn for the better after the 13th general election, although some feel it will be the same old story.

FEATURE

If you're going to ask any Malaysian this question, "What are your hopes for the government post- general election", you'd better get ready for an onslaught of opinions, emotions and cynicism – not necessarily in that order.

In the case of Manaf Abdul Samad, it was just cynicism when he opined, "It doesn't matter who wins, because all of them are the same. You ask me what my hopes are? I can't even bring myself to say it because right now, it would sound funny because it's all wishful thinking. Yes sure I'll vote, but to be honest, I don't think I'll get to see what I hope for in my lifetime."

Coaxed out of his reluctance with the promise of another hot Nescafe into sharing his thoughts, the 62-year-old Manaf gives in.

"The biggest mistake Barisan National made is to have underestimated Malaysians, using all kinds of scare tactics to make us feel that there will be chaos should a new government come into power. We are not stupid. Many of my peers agree that we allowed the government to do what it has because we trusted them and we gave them due respect.

"Many people are terkejut [shocked] when they hear that we are speaking up. My friends abroad are surprised and say that they never thought we had it in us. My reply to this is always the same – we have always had it in us, but we have been patient for too long. The fight was always there and the government shouldn't have thought lowly of its people. So if you ask me what are my hopes for the new government, I would say that it should recognise that we are smart and that we should be treated fairly and not be taken for fools who will not fight back," he said.

There are, however, Malaysians like Hameed Hamzah, a 50-something business owner, who feels that one party will do better than the other. He speaks passionately about a Pakatan Rakyat government which will bring a new dawn in Putrajaya, convinced that there will be an abundance of honesty, transparency and accountability – the holy trinity of what good governance should be all about.

Hameed is asked if he is being overly positive. He is also made aware that when a government is overthrown in what is considered a democracy, it becomes quite difficult to ensure the utopic government he has in mind. Hameed rubbishes the notion and is steadfast in his belief that a holistic change is possible.

"My hope for the government after the 13th general election is that we would once and for all be rid of corruption in all its forms. It has become an institution of sorts just like nepotism has. Yes, I am aware that the party I support has had its fair share of money politics and shady deals. But things are changing, you know There is more integrity now. I am not asking for a miracle from the elected government, but only that they take the time to really listen to what we want and carry it out," he said.

Peaceful government

Lina Teng, a 39-year-old medical practitioner, says it's hard for her to have any thoughts about what she hopes for, post-general election, because her mind keeps panning to possible riots – of the racial kind.
Having grown up listening to her parents speak about the racial riots of May 13th 1969, Lina is already planning for what she feels is the inevitable.

"If you asked me what my hopes are, I would tell you that I want a peaceful government, one that prides itself on keeping its people safe. There are times when I have felt like the government, or the prime minister to be specific, is holding all of us at ransom. I say this because I feel like they want to win at all and any cost," she said.

Concerns over a racial riot seem to be the most worrying thought prevalent in the minds of a number of people interviewed. Lina says even with a well-paying job, a home of her own and a pantry filled to the brim with groceries – "just in case something happens" – she still feels unsettled that the past will repeat itself when this thought comes to mind.

"There was an incident when a 'leader' of a certain political party raised the keris and screamed for blood all in the name of protecting a particular political party that championed a particular race. If this wasn't bad enough, along came another individual who was so brazen in proclaiming that a bloodbath would happen to keep BN in power… So I'm sure you can appreciate why I have little hope, or even dare think about what I can hope for," she stated.

Add to this numerous other incidents that will make for a hotbed of scandal, shock and secrecy. There were episodes worthy of horror stories – dismembered cow's heads, blood-spilling gore and pig's ears, saucy sex tapes, religious conversion claims and, let us not forget, the mysterious deaths of those in police custody or under interrogation.

Home-grown talent

Yandaro Al Amien (picture above, right), 33, an entrepreneur said the biggest travesty of justice is the government denying basic electoral reform rights to the same people who elected them into power.

"My hopes and what I want from the government after the general election is a long list. I am so sick and tired of seeing both parties play the blame game – it's enough and the time has come to focus on direction rather than who has the bigger ego," he said.

"Our education system is also in shambles – it's another hot mess and we are lagging far behind in terms of quality and result. Have you seen the kind of fresh graduates we get? It's frightening because they can't even string a proper sentence in English and common sense is non-existent.

"I want a government that will cut out all this crap about Ketuanan Melayu [Malay supremacy]… it's this kind of talk that makes the Malays fall back behind in the first place. I want a government that gives more access to press freedom and also one that is transparent. On a personal level, I would really like to see history lessons at schools taught based on facts and truth, not on government agenda," he said, adding, "So be it if Hang Tuah was a Chinese. What's the big deal?"

Earnest Bat, 33, (picture left), head of communication of a private company, has a tongue-in-cheek wish for what he hopes to see in a new government and states it simply enough: "I hope for a government that is run by smarter and more savvy people who do not take offence to tights and tutus, using these innocent garments as cause for political debate. I don't think that's too much to ask, do you?"

But perhaps the most poignant of all hopes expressed comes from a fellow writer who said that her hope, post-13th general election, is for Malaysia to be given a real opportunity to explore its potential and reach it – that Malaysians abroad will return home because the country is finally a nurturing ground for home-grown talent.

The winds of change might just bring this about and who knows, Manaf might see it happening in his lifetime after all.

This entry was posted on Saturday, 14 April 2012, 12:17 pm and is filed under Elections, Pakatan Rakyat. You can follow any responses to this entry through RSS 2.0.  

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PRS warns BN leaders against ‘sabotaging’ Julau

KUCHING: Of late the Julau constituency in Sarawak is causing a lot of worries to Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS), primarily because an old enemy is making an insidious comeback.

The MP for Julau parliamentary constituency is Joseph Salang Gandum. Salang won the seat in 1999 and is tipped to defend it again in the 13th general election. Salang is PRS vice-president and Information, Communication and Heritage Deputy Minister.

But a campaign within the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition to topple him appears to be in progress.

The PRS supreme council was yesterday briefed on these "prejudicial activities" which are allegedly being carried out by certain BN leaders to undermine Salang's position.

Said PRS deputy president Joseph Entulu: "The activities of these leaders pose a serious threat to Salang and the party.

"From the ground reports that we have received, such activities are very unhealthy and none of the component parties in BN should do such backstabbing."

Entulu, who is also the MP for Selangau and Regional and Rural Development Deputy Minister, urged the BN leadership to take note of their concern.

He said the meeting discussed the issue after party president James Masing warned that Julau might fall to the opposition because some BN leaders were giving covert support to a "certain party" planning to contest in the constituency.

"Julau could fall to the opposition if the BN component parties did not stop supporting the independent candidate in the coming general election," Masing was quoted as saying.

Julau is one of six parliamentary seats allocated to PRS.

Insider help

Masing said he knew the group behind the campaign to unseat Salang but could not do anything about it.

"We have a serious threat in Julau from people within BN who want to go against Salang. We know it and we have reported it to the top BN leaders.

"It is not smart politics; it's dirty politics," Masing said.

While he did not name any individual or party, it is reliably learnt that he was referring to Wong Judat, who is Meluan assemblyman and his supporters from Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP).

It is not clear whether SPDP president William Mawan is also involved, although it is common knowledge that Mawan and Masing are not on friendly terms.

However, about 200 supporters of Judat and SPDP members were recently entertained to a dinner in Sarikei by former MP for Julau Sng Chee Hua, who is said to be returning to Julau to contest against Salang.

Although Judat was absent at the dinner, it is alleged that Judat has thrown his support behind Sng to contest against Salang, who they consider as their common "enemy".

Judat was said to be angry over a RM3 million road project which was withdrawn by Salang and transferred instead to another area.

Salang believed that since the plan for the project was not ready, the money would have been returned to the Finance Ministry.

But instead of returning the money to the ministry, Salang suggested it be diverted to another road project.

Salang's arch rival

Judat refused to accept the explanation. He wanted Salang out of Julau as he is an "outsider". Salang's longhouse is in Bintangor, but his grandparents came from Julau.

As for Sng, Salang was his arch rival since the days of the defunct Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) as both had eyed the deputy presidency of the party in the 2003 party election. Sng, however, was defeated.

Moreover, Sng, who won the Julau seat in 1995, was not nominated to defend the seat in the 1999 general election even though he won it with a majority of more than 10,000 votes. His place was taken by Salang.

Sng, who was the "big towkay" in PBDS, allegedly used money to buy votes.

In the coming election, Sng, if he is contesting, is expected to buy the votes of some 7,000 voters out of the 20,761-strong electorate (according to the 2011 electoral rolls).

Voting percentage in this Iban-majority constituency is around 70%.

According to sources, Sng has allegedly promised between RM500 and o RM1,000 per voter, and RM2,000 for each tuai rumah (longhouse chief).

"He needs about RM4 million to RM5 million to topple Salang," said the sources.

In the 2004 general election, Sng financed Josephine Mawat to contest against Salang who stood on PBDS-BN ticket.

PBDS at that time was a component party of BN at the federal level, but an opposition at the state BN.

Vote-buying

Sng deployed various strategies such as organising 'polling district competitions' and 'longhouse competitions' to win votes.

Sng also depended heavily on the support of other BN component parties in the state and the use of state government facilities to ensure Mawat's victory.

He even accused Salang of being a 'Barisan palsu' (fake) candidate.

On the polling district competitions, any polling district that gave Mawat the highest votes would receive a prize of RM300,000, while the second highest would receive RM150,000, and third RM100,000.

Likewise, any longhouse which gave her the highest votes would also receive monetary prize.

Despite all these efforts, Sng failed to unseat Salang who secured 8,388 votes as against 5,700 votes polled by Mawat – a majority of 2,688 votes.

Asked to comment on the current activities to unseat him, Salang said: "Don't worry. I welcome his (Sng's) challenge. This is democracy".

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Activists sue police for false imprisonment

KUCHING: Two activists, Numpang Suntai (file picture) and Nicholas Mujah Ason, have jointly filed a RM280,000 legal suit at the Kuching High Court against Deputy Superindent of Police (DSP) Choo Yin Kok, Sargeant A Ramlee and OKK Binsin for false imprisonment.

All three are from the Simunjan police station

Numpang is also suing the police officers for malicious prosecution.

The government is also named as the third defendant in the suit.

Apart from the RM280,000 claim, the duo are also seeking general, exemplary and aggravated damages to be assessed by the court and interest thereon at the rate of 8% from Oct 22, 2010, to the date of judgment and thereafter at of 8% per annum to date of full payment and realisation.

They are also claiming damages, costs and other relief as the court deems just.

Numpang, from Kaumpung Bajong Ili, is a retiree, while Mujah who comes from Kampung Ensika, Sebangan, is the secretary-general of Sarawak Dayak Iban Association.

On or about Oct 20, 2010, Numpang was summoned to the Simunjan police station for a discussion.

Imprisoned for 'mischief by fire'

As he was having medical treatment in Kuching at that time, Numpang agreed to go to the Simunjan police station on Oct 22.

When he arrived at the police station, he was informed that he was being arrested on suspicion of causing 'mischief by fire' in connection with an incident that occurred at a logging camp owned by timber companies – Quality Concrete Sdn Bhd and Loyal Billion Sdn Bhd.

He was detained in the lock-up.

The next day (Oct 23) Numpang was taken before the district officer of Simunjan for a further remand and again sent to the lock-up. He remained imprisoned until he was released on Oct 25 at about 10.20am.

He was released without making any plea or any charge proffered against him. Nor was he ordered to appear before the magistrate.

Numpang claimed that his arrest and detention were without reasonable or probable cause and therefore illegal.

He alleged that his arrest and detention were tainted with malice.

Numpang was never charged with "mischief by fire" as was informed by Choo.

No valid reason

Choo or his officers did not have any discussion with Mumpang or failed to interview him.

Instead he was put in the lock-up without any valid reasons or grounds or reasonable or probable cause.

Numpang said he had suffered shame and damages as a result of the illegal arrest and detention or false imprisonment and was traumatised by his experience.

On the malicious prosecution against him, Numpang was asked to appear before a magistrate's court in Serian on Dec 15, 2010, and was charged by the public prosecutor with "criminal intimidation".

He had allegedly uttered intimidating words to the representatives of the timber companies on Oct 18 at the logging camp in Rantau, Sebangan.

The case was heard before the magistrate's court in Simunjan on Feb 16, 2011.

On March 10, 2011 the magistrate ruled that the public prosecutor had failed to establish any prima facie case against him.

Numpang was discharged and acquitted.

Similar charges

The public prosecutor appealed but after a number of postponements, the prosecutor withdrew the case.

As for Mujah, he was also summoned to the police station on Oct 22 for a discussion.

When Mijah presented himself on Oct 23, he was arrested also on suspicion of causing "mischief by fire" in connection with the fire that occurred at the logging camp of the two companies at Sebuyau, Sebangan.

He was detained in a lock-up and released on Oct 25 without any charge proffered against him nor was he ordered to appear before the magistrate.

Mujah claimed that he had suffered shame, damages and was traumatised as a result of the illegal arrest and detention.

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PKR Sabah sedia beri kerusi kepada pembangkang lain

KOTA KINABALU: PKR sedia memberi beberapa kerusinya kepada  Parti Maju Sabah (SAPP) dan parti pembangkang lain pada PRU-13, kata Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Ketua Umum PKR berpendapat pembangkang akan mempunyai peluang lebih cerah pada PRU-13 jika wujud perlawanan satu lawan satu dengan BN.

"Kita (PKR) bersetuju untuk melepaskan beberapa kerusi yang ditandingi pada pilihan raya umum lepas untuk memberi laluan kepada parti pembangkang di Sabah, khususnya SAPP.

"Kita juga sedang dalam perundingan dengan beberapa tokoh politik di Sabah untuk tujuan yang sama dalam kita mewujudkan perlawanan satu lawan satu dengan BN," katanya kepada pemberita selepas menghadiri sebuah forum ekonomi di Tanjung Aru dekat sini, hari ini.

Bagaimanapun, beliau tidak menamakan tokoh-tokoh yang dimaksudkan kerana masih dalam proses perundingan.

Anwar, yang juga Ketua Pembangkang, berharap parti-parti lain dalam pakatan pembangkang juga menunjukkan keterbukaan dan tidak sesekali membuat kenyataan yang dilihat "agak sombong" mengenai parti pembangkang lain di Sabah kerana tujuan parti-parti pembangkang berkenaan adalah sama.

`Politik kenegerian'

Selain PKR, Pakatan Rakyat turut dianggotai oleh PAS dan DAP.

"Bagaimanapun, kita berharap parti pembangkang di Sabah turut mendukung perjuangan Pakatan Rakyat dan tidak mengamalkan politik yang bersifat kenegerian.

"Saya sendiri memantau trend politik di Sabah yang berpaksikan perjuangan kenegerian. Bagi Pakatan, apa yang penting ialah perjuangan untuk rakyat Malaysia tanpa mengira kaum, agama dan keturunan," katanya.

Ketika ditanya sama ada Pakatan mengenal pasti pemimpin untuk dijadikan sebagai ketua menteri Sabah jika pembangkang memenangi pilihan raya umum akan datang, Anwar berkata: "Kita dalam Pakatan Rakyat sentiasa berunding. Apabila tiba masanya, mereka sendiri (Pakatan Rakyat dan parti pembangkang di Sabah) akan mencadangkannya."

Mengenai janji PKR untuk menghapuskan hutang pinjaman Perbadanan Tabung Pendidikan Tinggi Nasional (PTPTPN) jika Pakatan memerintah, Anwar berkata beliau yakin perkara itu boleh dilaksanakan.

Bernama

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kemeja T BERSIH 3.0 SAMM

HARGA RAKYAT : RM20 (termasuk penghantaran dan percuma booklet cincin / pemborosan Rosmah)

* saiz lebih dr XL ada tambahan RM1

boleh beli secara online dengan sms ke 0129781707
penghantaran>
akan dapat sms balasan no.akaun Maybank dan jumlah RM yang perlu dimasukan. Selepas memasukkan wang ke akaun Maybank sila sms semula butiran 'bank in/transfer' dan penghantaran hanya dibuat selepas pembayaran disahkan.

**** ada tawaran istimewa kepada yang hadir malam kemuncak Ceramah Umum CountDown 10 hari Menjelang BERSIH 3.0. Malam tersebut akan dijual sebanyak 500 helai kemeja T BERSIH 3.0 dengan harga kos RM12.00 sahaja

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kemeja T BERSIH 3.0 SAMM

HARGA RAKYAT : RM20 (termasuk penghantaran dan percuma booklet cincin / pemborosan Rosmah)

* saiz lebih dr XL ada tambahan RM1

boleh beli secara online dengan sms ke 0129781707
penghantaran>
akan dapat sms balasan no.akaun Maybank dan jumlah RM yang perlu dimasukan. Selepas memasukkan wang ke akaun Maybank sila sms semula butiran 'bank in/transfer' dan penghantaran hanya dibuat selepas pembayaran disahkan.

**** ada tawaran istimewa kepada yang hadir malam kemuncak Ceramah Umum CountDown 10 hari Menjelang BERSIH 3.0. Malam tersebut akan dijual sebanyak 500 helai kemeja T BERSIH 3.0 dengan harga kos RM12.00 sahaja

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Teachers for a day

KUALA LUMPUR: Some industry leaders and public figures will get to teach schoolchildren in various subjects under a programme backed by the Education Ministry and Teach For Malaysia from Monday till Friday.

They will impart their hard-earned wisdom to the younger generation and at the same time, advocate to the public that education is everyone's responsibility, Teach For Malaysia said in a statement.

Those taking part in the Teach For Malaysia Week represent the business, finance, civil service, education and entertainment fraternities.

They include Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Idris Jala, Khazanah Nasional Bhd managing director Azman Mokhtar, Maxis chairman Raja Arshad Raja Tun Uda and Sunway Group chairman Jeffrey Cheah.

Joining them are singer and songwriter Yusry Abdul Halim, actress Lisa Surihani, comedian Harith Iskandar and Miss Universe Malaysia 2012 Kimberley Leggett.

They are scheduled to teach various subjects in schools in Kuala Langat, Klang, Kuala Selangor, Petaling Perdana and Hulu Langat in Selangor; Sentul and Keramat in Kuala Lumpur; and Tampin, Jelebu and Kuala Pilah in Negri Sembilan.

"It's our hope that having such a distinguished roster of participants will give students in high-need schools something to aspire to.

"At the same time, we want to inspire others with the great work being done in classrooms all over the country, both by our pioneer fellows and by other teachers," said Dzameer Dzulkifli, co-founder and executive director of operations for Teach For Malaysia.

Teach for Malaysia is an independent, non-profit organisation that is enlisting Malaysia's most promising future leaders in its mission to end education inequity.

Since January 2012, its first cohort of 50 fellows have begun teaching in high-need schools in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor and Negri Sembilan. It is now looking for its next cohort of 70 fellows for 2013.

Bernama

Tags: Idris Jala, Azman Mokhtar, Raja Arshad Raja Tun Uda, Jeffrey Cheah,Harith Iskandar

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is 55 years and 70 reasons not good enough for you ?

1. PKFZ RM12 billion
2. Submarine Commission RM500 million
3. Sime Darby RM964 million
4. Paya Indah Westland RM88 million
5. Pos Malaysia (Transmile) RM230 million lost
6. Eurocopter deal RM1 billion wasted?
7. Terengganu Stadium collapse RM292 million
8. MRR2 repair cost RM70 million
9. Maybank overpaid BII RM4 billion
10. Tourism - NYY kickback RM10 million
11. 3 paintings bought by MAS RM1.5 million
12. Overpayment by Sport Ministry RM8.4 million
13. London's white elephant sports complex RM70 million
14. MATRADE repairs RM120 million
15. Cost of new plane used by PM RM200 million
16. InventQ irrecoverable debt RM228 million
17. Compensation for killing crooked bridge RM257 million
18. Loss in selling Augusta RM 510 million
19. Worth of APs given out in a year RM1.8 billion
20. Submarines (future Muzium Negara artifacts) RM4.1 billion
21. PSC Naval dockyard RM6.75 billion
22. The Bank Bumiputra twin scandals in the early 1980s saw US$ 1 billion losses (RM3.2 illion in 2008)
23. The Maminco attempt to corner the World Tin Market in the 1980s is believed to have cost some US$ 500 million (RM1.6 billion)
24. Betting in foreign exchange futures cost Bank Negara Malaysia RM30 billion in the 1990s
25. Perwaja Steel's US$ 800 million (RM2.56 billion) losses
26. Use of RM10 billion public funds in the Valuecap Sdn Bhd operation to shore up the stock market
27. Banking scandal of RM700 million losses in Bank Islam
28. The sale of M.V. Agusta by Proton for one Euro making a loss of €75.99 million (RM348 million) Same as No.20 ?
29. Wang Ehsan from oil royalty on Terengganu RM7.4 billion from 2004 – 2007
30. For the past 10 years since Philharmonic Orchestra
was established, this orchestra has swallowed a total of RM500 million. Hiring a "guilo" CEO with a salary of more than RM1 million per annum!
31. In Advis! ors Fees , Mahathir was paid RM180,000, Shahrizat Abdul RM404,726 and Abdul Hamid Othman (religious) RM549,675 per annum
32. The government has spent a total of RM3.2 billion in teaching Maths and Science in English over the past five years. Of the amount, the government paid a whopping RM2.21 billion for the purchase of information and computer technology (ICT) equipment which it is unable to give a breakdown. Government paid more than RM6,000 per notebook vs per market price of less than RM3,000 through some new consortium that was setup just to transact the notebook deal. There was no Maths & Science Content for the teachers and the notebooks are all with the teachers' children now.
33. The commission paid for purchase of jets and submarines to two private companies - Perimeker Sdn Bhd and IMT Defence Sdn Bhd amounted to RM910 million. Expanding on No. 2?
37. RM300 million to compensate Gerbang Perdana for the RM1.1 billion "Crooked Scenic Half-Bridge"
38. RM1.3 billion has been wasted building the white elephant Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) facilities on cancellation of the Malaysia-Singapore Scenic Bridge
39. RM100 million on renovation of Parliament building which leaks
40. National Astronaut (actually tourist) Programme – RM40 million
41. National Service Training Programme – yearly an estimate of RM 500 million
42. Eye of Malaysia - RM30 million and another RM5.7 million of free tickets
43. RM2.4 million on indelible ink
44. Samy Vellu announced in September 2006 that the government paid compensation amounting to RM38.5 billion to 20 highway companies. RM380 million windfalls for 9 toll concessionaires earned solely from the toll hike in 2008 alone
45. RM32 million timber export kickbacks involving companies connected to Sarawak Chief Minister and his family.
46. Two bailouts of Malaysia Airline System RM7.9 billion. At a time when MAS is incurring losses every year, RM1.55 million used to buy three paintin! gs to de corate its Chairman's (Munir) office. Expanding on No.11
47. Putra transport system bailout which cost RM4.486 billion.
48. STAR-LRT bailout costing RM3.256 billion.
49. National Sewerage System bailout costing RM192.54 million.
50. Seremban-Port Dickson Highway bailout costing RM142 million
51. Kuching Prison bailout costing RM135 million
52. Kajian Makanan dan Gunaan Orang Islam bailout costing RM8.3 million
53. Le Tour de Langkawi bailout costing RM3.5 Million
54. Wholesale distribution of tens of millions of shares in Bursa Malaysia under the guise of NEP to cronies, children and relatives of BN leaders and ministers worth billions of ringgit.
55. Alienation of tens of thousands of hectares of commercial lands and forestry concessions to children and relatives of BN leaders and Ministers worth tens of billions of ringgits.
56. Since 1997, Petronas has handed out a staggering RM30 billion in natural gas subsidies to IPPs who were reaping huge profits. In addition, there were much wastage and forward trading of Petronas oil in the 1990s based on the low price of oil then. Since the accounts of Petronas are for the eyes of the Prime Minister only, we have absolutely no idea of the amount.
57. RM5,700 for a car jack worth only RM50
58. Government-owned vehicle consumed a tank of petrol worth RM113 within a few minutes
59 A pole platform that cost RM990 was bought for RM30,000
60. A thumb drive that cost RM90 was bought for RM480
61. A cabinet that cost RM1,500 was bought for RM13,500
62. A flashlight that cost RM35 was bought for RM143
63. Expenses for 1Malaysia campaign paid to APCO?
64. RM17 billion subsidy to IPP
65. US$ 24 million Diamond Ring for Rosmah - Cancellation of Order - how much compensation ?
66. CowGate scandal . . . RM250 Million
67. Monsoon Cup . . . RM800 million per year
68. Illicit Fund Transfers out of Malaysia ( 2000 - 2009) : RM 1,077,000,000,000 !
69. Tajudin-Danaharta settlement to cover up for Dr M and Daim!
70. Billions of ringgit toll concessions that disadvantage the government and taxpayers !

* stats "grabbed" without permission from an anonymous commenter ironically known as Tun M.

And while all this "shit" has hit the fan, you're still okay to vote BN again election after election for 55 years. And these are only the corruption that was "exposed" by the alternate media and the Opposition. The sum of all these mega-corruptions can be attributed to the scheming of just one evil and greedy man who ruled like a tyrant for 22 long years and still won't shut up but passed on, like a fine tradition, the UMNO formula to his successors till today...

And if you're still not convinced you must change the government via ABU, to re-open the above cases and bring to book the people involved in a "just" court of law...I rest my case !

Amen !

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Double standards in graft case judgments? - Justice Seeker

APRIL 14 — Let me understand this: the former senior GM of Sime Darby Engineering was found guilty of four counts of corruption totalling RM180,000 and was sentenced to 27 years jail. 

The former mentri besar of Selangor was convicted of corruption involving a multi-million ringgit property and was sentenced to a year's jail. 

In both instances, the judges said that they were dishing out deterrent sentences. In Md Zaki Othman's case, this is a really, really strong deterrent, so strong that even those who take a life are not punished as severely. 

I don't know this Sime Darby man and he was convicted because his defence was weak. He deserves to be punished and we know that in this country few people get caught for corruption. The higher up the food chain, the more protected they are. 

If the authorities believe that this "stiff" sentence will persuade Malaysians that the Najib administration is serious about tackling crime, they should think again. 

If anything the gaping disparity between the Sime Darby man's sentence and Khir Toyo's perpetuates the perception that there is one rule for Umno and one rule for the rest of us. 

In his summation, the MACC prosecutor argued that the High Court judge should give the Sime Darby man a stiff sentence because he was drawing RM39,000 a month and had no business seeking any inducements. 

I get that point. But by the same logic, the chief executive of the richest state in Malaysia should have been given a far more stiffer sentence than a year in jail. No? 

* Justice Seeker reads The Malaysian Insider.

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication. The Malaysian Insider does not endorse the view unless specified.

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Guan Eng may run out of ‘political steam’

GEORGE TOWN: Penang Umno Youth believes that DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng may run out of "political steam" by the time the general election arrives.

Since 2008, Lim has been riding high on the anti-Barisan Nasional (BN) sentiment which swept the state after the political tsunami, but Penang Umno Youth head Shaik Hussein Mydin believes it would soon change, as he speculates that Lim would run out of "political capital".

Shaik Hussein admits that there is a high anti-BN sentiment in the state, largely sparked by national issues and the ability of the Lim-led Pakatan Rakyat to whip up sentiments of hatred towards the ruling federal coalition and former chief minister Koh Tsu Koon.

However, he said Lim's strategy of branding some Penang Umno leaders as racists and of allegedly driving up a wedge of discontent among the major races, would soon run dry.

"Sentiments can win only temporary support. People would only get worked up during the spur of the moment. When they start to analyse the situation shortly later, they would come to their senses that Lim's politics is simply all about sentiments only."

Lim only preaches but he places no importance on finding a conclusion to cement his political struggle, he said.

"He goes on and on… whacking BN like a broken record player. Then he calls us racists when in fact, he is one."

In Malaysia, political parties are still using race whenever they field candidates in an election.

This is a fact unless DAP wants to prove otherwise by fielding a Malay candidate in a Chinese-dominated constituency, Shaikh Hussein said.

He claimed that Lim would remain quiet for a few days whenever he was criticised, but would retaliate later by allegedly twisting an issue into a racial one.

The DAP-led state has outlined its successes, but the bottom line is, have the majority of the people benefited, he said.

"If Penang has developed, why is the majority of the people struggling to buy homes, where are the quality jobs, why is the traffic congestion growing by the day and where is the local council elections. Are these not promises made by Pakatan?"

Sharing credit

He also asked how many Penangites have returned here to help develop their state after Lim went overseas frequently to entice them or their capital back.

In Penang, Shaikh Hussein believes that the voters here have the ability to vote strategically and to use their wisdom.

In the past, voters here would usually vote in BN for state seats and give the parliamentary ones to the opposition.

The same principle may apply in the next election, but this time the DAP-led Pakatan may be given states while the parliament ones may end up with BN, he said.

Given time, the people would soon grow tired of Lim's antics of whipping up sentiments and would be demanding for a result-oriented government, Shaikh Hussein said.

Since 2008, Lim's main job since 2008 has been running down the federal government, capitalising on the mistakes of the previous state goverment and sharing credit for whatever Putrajaya has achieved, such as bringing in investments, he said.

A state government, which is only strong because of propped-up sentiments, is no longer sustainable in the long term, he added.

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AMK: Undang-undang baru ganti ISA, pindaan AUKU hanya retorik

PETALING JAYA: AMK berkata, rang undang-undang baru menggantikan ISA tidak mencapai apa yang dikehandaki rakyat terbanyak manakala pindaan AUKU yang membenarkan pelajar berpolitik tetapi mengharamkan politik parti dalam kampus adalah mengelirukan.

Malah sayap muda PKR itu mendakwa, kerajaan tidak ikhlas dalam menegakkan prinsip hak asasi manusia malah terdapat unsur penipuan dalam proses transformasi.

Perkara itu dinyatakan Ketua Penerangan Angkatan Muda Keadilan Malaysia (AMK), Lee Khai Loon dalam satu kenyataan media.

Katanya, rang undang-undang baru itu masih mengekalkan unsur-unsur kezaliman di mana tahanan tanpa bicara, serta memberi kuasa mutlak kepada polis untuk mengumpul bahan bukti serta memintas atau gangguan maklumat komunikasi tanpa waran mahkamah.

"AMK menegaskan rang undang-undang baru serta pindaan yang dibentangkan oleh kerajaan adalah bertentangan dengan hasrat masyarakat sivil yang berjuang untuk menegakkan hak asasi manusia serta demokrasi," katanya.

Rang undang-undang baru menggantikan ISA akan dibentangkan di parlimen Isnin ini.

Khai Loon berkata, walaupun Perdana Menteri seringkali bangga dengan 'tepati janji', tetapi dengan pindaan kanun keseksaan yang masukkan kesalahan berhubung kegiatan yang mengancam demokrasi berparlimen serta pindaan AUKU yang membenarkan pelajar berpolitik tetapi mengharamkan politik parti dalam kampus adalah mengelirukan.

Rakyat pertikai

Semua usaha tersebut adalah taktik politik retorik murahan untuk mengaut sokongan rakyat, katanya.

Beliau mendakwa, perubahan undang-undang yang dijalankan oleh kerajaan telah menimbulkan pertikaian di kalangan masyarakat sivil serta NGO.

Mereka katanya, berpandangan  kerajaan ingin mengekang ruang kebebasan  serta memperluaskan kuasa untuk teruskan matlamat menjajah rakyat.

Dalam pindaan kanun keseksaan yang memperkenalkan 13 peruntukan khasnya seksyen 124B dan 124C yang menghukum mana-mana individu, penerbitan atau penyebar maklumat yang terlibat dalam kegiatan mengancam demokrasi berparlimen adalah 20 tahun manakala hukuman bagi kesalahan cubaan melakukan perkara itu adalah 15 tahun.

Kata Khai Loon, pindaan tersebut seolah-olah memberi kelulusan menyeluruh (blanket approval) kepada pemerintah untuk menafsirkan kegiatan mengancam demokrasi berparlimen.

"Tindakan tersebut bukan sahaja menyekat kebebasan bersuara dan maklumat, malah mengekang kebebesan teknologi maklumat yang sedia ada di Malaysia," tambah beliau.

Oleh itu, AMK, katanya menyeru semua ahli parlimen mengumpul maklum balas daripada pelbagai pihak dan rakyat berlandaskan konsep 'negara yang paling demokrasi di dunia' yang diutarakan oleh Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

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Diarah hadir program Najib dapat RM 50...

 Kesemua 180 masjid di daerah Batu Pahat, Johor diarahkan menghantar lima wakil, termasuk imam, bilal dan noja bagi menghadiri program Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Razak pada 7 April lalu.

Arahan itu dibuat melalui surat rasmi daripada pejabat kadi daerah bertarikh 2 April yang turut meminta pihak masjid memberikan wang RM50 kepada individu yang mewakili masjid masing-masing.
 
Salinannya kini beredar di laman blog dan Facebook oleh pihak yang mempertikaikan arahan tersebut yang didakwa menggunakan masjid dan kewangannya untuk kepentingan politik kepartian.

Dalam tinjauan ke Batu Pahat pada tarikh itu, Najib dilapor tiba seawal jam  9.15 pagi untuk bersarapan di sebuah kopitiam sebelum meninjau kawasan pasar dan beramah mesra dengan peniaga dan orang ramai.

Beliau antaranya diiringi Menteri Besar Johor Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman, Presiden MCA Datuk Seri Chua Soi Lek, Menteri Perdagangan Dalam Negeri, Koperasi dan Kepenggunaan Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob dan Timbalan Menteri Pelajaran Datuk Dr Puad Zakarshi.

Selepas kira-kira 45 minit membuat tinjauan mesra, perdana menteri dilaporkan bertolak ke program "Jelajah Janji Ditepati" di Stadium Batu Pahat.

Kadi pertahan arahan

Sementara itu, Kadi Daerah Batu Pahat Bahrin Jalal ketika dihubungi Malaysiakini mengakui mengeluarkan surat arahan itu dan mengesahkan kesahihan kandungannya.

Bagaimanapun, katanya, surat itu dikeluarkan hanya sebagai " tanda sokongan kepada pemimpin" dan bagi me! mberi pe ndedahan kepada lima anggota jawatankuasa masjid di daerah itu.

"Kita suruh hadir ke majlis itu sebagai tanda sokongan kepada pemimpin. Perdana menteri baru pertama kali datang ke Batu Pahat.

"Jadi kita arahkan mereka supaya mendengar amanat daripada pemimpin," katanya.

Menurutnya lagi, wang untuk bayaran "duit minyak" itu diambil daripada peruntukan yang disediakan untuk tujuan pembangunan masjid oleh Majlis Agama Islam Negeri Johor.

"Bukan setiap seorang dapat RM50, tetapi satu kereta dapat RM50. Maknanya seorang RM10. Duit itu kita beri sebagai duit minyak. Itu sahaja.

"Wang itu memang boleh digunakan sebab majlis itu sebahagian daripada program masjid," katanya lagi.-malaysiakini

Mosque committees ordered to attend PM function...

All 180 mosques in the district of Batu Pahat, Johor were ordered to send five representatives from its mosque committee to attend Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's event in conjunction with the premier's Johor blitz last Saturday.

The order was issued through an official letter from the district kadi's office dated April 2 which also asked the respective mosque to provide a RM50 allowance for the representatives.

Individuals claiming that this was an abuse of mosque funds for party politics have circulated a copy of the directive on blogs and on Facebook.

During his half-day trip, Najib reportedly arrived in Batu Pahat as early as 9.15am for a walkabou! t and ha d  breakfast at a local coffeeshop.

He then went to the town's market and mingled with business operators and the public for about 45 minutes before proceeding to Batu Pahat Stadium for another event where he addressed a crowd of 50,000.
  
The mosques would have contributed close to 1,000 of the people there if the directive was followed.

Najib was accompanied by Johor Menteri Besar Abdul Ghani Othman, MCA president Dr Chua Soi Lek, Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob and Deputy Education Minister and Batu Pahat MP Puad Zakarshi.

Kadi defends directive

Meanwhile, district kadi Bahrin Jalal when contacted by Malaysiakini conceded to issuing the letter (see below).

However, he said the letter was merely a "show of support to our leaders" and to provide exposure to the mosque representatives, which included imams, muezzins and caretakers, in the district.

"We asked them to attend the event as a sign of support for our leaders. This was the first time our prime minister had come to Batu Pahat. So we directed them to listen to his message," he said.

He added that the RM50 "petrol allowance" was drawn from mosques development allocations by the Johor Islamic Affairs Council.

But Bahrin said the mosques did not spend RM45,000 in total to send their representative for Najib's event.

"Not everyone got RM50 - it was RM50 for one car so it was RM10 per person, it was only for petrol, that's all," he said.

He added that there was nothing wrong to be using the money from the government allocation for the purpose as it was considered a programme carried out by the mosques.- malaysiakini

cheers.

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