Month: October 2009

I had posed a question on the “mother-of-all-scandals”, the RM12.5 billion Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) scandal to the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak on the first day of the budget meeting of Parliament beginning on Monday, 19th October 2009.

I have just been informed that this question had disappeared altogether from the list of oral questions for Monday’s meeting of Parliament.

Signs of major cover-up of the PKFZ scandal at work?

DAP MP for Segambut, Lim Lip Eng’s question on the PKFZ scandal has also disappeared from the forthcoming parliamentary list of questions.

This is the question on the PKFZ scandal which I had submitted: Continue reading “Major cover up of RM12.5 billion PKFZ scandal at work?”

From Friend in Navy
Through Hussein Hamid

Surprised? Shocked?

No I am not surprised because a ship sustained fire damage. Fire on board is indeed a normal thing. What I am surprised at is that it took a time-consuming eight-hours before the fire was brought under control! Eight hours! Surprised because the ability to fight and control any fire on board a Navy Vessel is ingrained and drummed into sailors on a daily basis. And I am shocked that despite this the destruction of KD Inderapura is so severe that the ship is categorized as ‘beyond economical repair’ (BER).
Continue reading “The demise of KD Seri Inderapura”

By Azly Rahman

Isa Samad’s second coming – into Minangkabau politics – signifies the coming of a disturbing age of loosening morality. What does a landslide victory mean? Will we see a kingdom of peace on earth that the Minangkabau people inhabited? Will this “landslide victory” of an avalanche of postal votes establish another forty years of the reign of One Malaysia?

Let us look at the semiotics of Bagan Pinang – of the sign, signifier and the signified of this by-election that is telling Malaysians something about the shape of things to come.

The Negri Sembilan people have spoken. They have voted for corruption to reign. What does the victory say about hegemony and political immorality?

Thus spake the Minangkabaus
Continue reading “Landslide victory or political immorality?”

Tan Sri Mohd Isa Samad’s victory in the Bagan Pinang by-election was not unexpected, as in the by-election, Isa the candidate bulked larger than Barisan Nasional the party.

This is the cause for the comment that BN can win the battle in Bagan Pinang by-election but will lose the war in the country in the next general elections, for Isa’s victory despite his record of Umno money politics would be a clear and unmistakable message that Umno/BN could not be redeemed or reformed to play any meaningful role to cleanse the country of deep-rooted corruption.

What was unexpected was Isa’s 8,013-vote and thumping majority of 5,435 votes sweeping all the eight voting streams – the result of gross abuses of power, money politics as well as the postal ballot chicanery.
Continue reading “PR rout in Bagan Pinang by-election – PR must go back to drawing board”

The Bagan Pinang by-election is another “no winner” for Barisan Nasional (BN) for the second consecutive day after the MCA Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) yesterday which booted out the two MCA contenders, MCA President Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat and the MCA Deputy President Datuk Seri Dr. Chua Soi Lek.

If the BN candidate Tan Sri Mohd Isa Samad loses in the Bagan Pinang by-election or is returned with a smaller majority than the 2,333-vote won by the previous BN incumbent in the general elections last year, it is a clear defeat for Umno and BN as the by-election will be a mini-political tsunami by itself.

But even if Isa wins the Bagan Pinang by-election with a bigger majority than last year (and Isa is boasting about a 5,000-6,000 majority), it is an even bigger defeat for Umno and Barisan Nasional for it will be a loud, clear and unmistakable message to all Malaysians that Umno and BN are totally irredeemable and incapable of internal change and reform and there is choice or alternative whatsoever for Malaysians in the next general elections to sweep Umno and BN out of power in Putrajaya. Continue reading “Bagan Pinang by-election is another “no-winner” for Barisan Nasional for second consecutive day”

Election Commission has been taking down billboards and banners put up by Pakatan Rakyat in the Bagan Pinang by-election which offend their sensitivities – like those which castigate the Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate Tan Sri Mohd Isa Samad for corruption because of his history of Umno money politics and the BN government for its record of injustices and gross abuses of power.

If any by-election campaign material should be taken down in Bagan Pinang by-election, it is the 1Malaysia billboards, banners and buntings ad nauseam flooding the constituency with giant portraits and slogans of the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

There are at least three reasons why Najib should officially withdraw the 1Malaysia slogan from the BN Bagan Pinang by-election campaign before polling tomorrow.

Firstly, what 1Malaysia can the BN talk about in Bagan Pinang when there is even no 1Umno, 1MCA, 1MIC or 1BN?
Continue reading “Three reasons why Najib should officially withdraw the 1Malaysia slogan from the Barisan Nasional Bagan Pinang by-election campaign before polling tomorrow”

By Tunku Aziz

Datuk Seri Najib Razak does not disappoint. He is true to his values whatever they might be. He upholds his principles with messianic zeal. His principles are of indeterminate provenance, but Najib is not known to worry himself to distraction over such small matters. He has made many of us happy. It has nothing to do with his 1 Malaysia vision that he seems incapable of articulating to save his life, let alone convincing Malaysians who have decided that half a century of untruths and specious, convoluted political and social arguments should be more than enough for even the most sanguine of them.

Najib has made us happy not because in a fit of mental aberration or misplaced exuberance he has added to his fantasy world the even a more preposterous 1 World vision that flashed across his mind. I bet it was a very brief moment in time. Najib has made us deliriously happy because he has just done something blatantly cynical to confirm what we have known all along about his attitude to corruption. Najib does not disappoint.

His choice of Tan Sri Mohd Isa Samad as the BN candidate for the Bagan Pinang by-election has left absolutely no doubt in our minds about Najib’s real attitude to corruption. He, ever the pragmatic, suave man about town leader of a country already systematically mired in corruption, sees it as nothing more that a necessary evil. If you cannot fight it, join it.
Continue reading “Najib does not disappoint”

By Hussein Hamid

“It will have an effect in the sense that the spirit of the machinery is very high and I feel that there will come a time, a tipping point, where you will see the realization of our members that UMNO has to change and will change and is in the process of changing”. DIN

That is what Din said yesterday after the opening of the University Tun Razak campus building at Capital Square. My friends there are two words in the above statement that we must take note of:

“TIPPING POINT” – it means the level of change at which the momentum for change becomes unstoppable.

UMNO is still talking about trying to reach their “tipping point”. We reached ours in the General Election of March 8th 2008. From that day we had the critical mass to ensure that the momentum towards change is self-sustaining and will, by itself, fuels further growth from within. Continue reading ““Tipping Point”….DIN”

Pakatan Rakyat will seek registration as a coalition under the Societies Act 1966 with the stand taken by the Registrar of Societies Datuk Md Alias Kalil that the law requiring at least seven political parties to register as a society does not apply.

Section 2 of the Societies Act 1966 defines “society” as including

“any club, company, partnership, or association of seven or more persons whatever its nature or object, whether temporary or permanent, but does not include—

(a) any company registered under the provisions of any written law relating to companies for the time being in force in Malaysia;

(b) any company or association constituted under any written law;

(c) any trade union registered or required to be registered under the provisions of any written law relating to trade unions for the time being in force in Malaysia;
Continue reading “Pakatan Rakyat will seek registration as a coalition under the Societies Act”

Congrats to University of Malaya (UM) for making a come-back in the THES-QS World Universities Rankings 2009 to be among the world’s top 200 universities – climbing 50 places from last year (No. 230) to rank No. 180 this year.

Malaysia’s loss of face in the past two years in being totally excluded from the Top World 200 Universities ranking has been retrieved somewhat with UM’s return to the Top World 200 Universities bracket but there is still a long way to go for Malaysian universities to establish their excellence and international competitiveness for at least six reasons:

1. This is still a far cry from UM’s previous rankings in the THES-QS Top World 200 Universities – 89th in 2004 and 169 in 2005, before falling to 192 in 2006 and out of the Top 200 bracket in the following two years (ranked 246 in 2007 and 230 in 2008).

2. In June 2005, at UM’s centennial celebrations, then Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak challenged UM to raise its then 89th position among the world’s top 100 universities in the THES-QS ranking to 50 by the year 2020. After four years, UM had fallen 91 rankings although this is not as bad as falling 157 rankings in 2007. Is Najib’s challenge for UM to be among the world’s Top 50 universities “an impossible dream”?

Continue reading “Malaysia’s loss of face past two years in being totally excluded from Top World 200 Universities retrieved somewhat with University of Malaya ranked No. 180 but still a long way to go”

By Dr Chen Man Hin, DAP Life Adviser

The announcement by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak recommending his concept of 1Malaysia to other countries to adopt a similar concept and his call for the creation of 1WORLD dream are both astounding and confusing.

Najib must be commended for his inspiration but unfortunately he is quite premature to do so, as back home in Malaysia, the concept of 1Malaysia is not a done thing yet.

In the first instance, his definition of 1Malaysia is unclear. The people want to know whether 1Malaysia means all citizens are equal, that all citizens have the same status of first-class Malaysians.

If it is so, then why is Umno propagating a policy of MALAY SUPREMACY. Umno claims that Malays are ketuanan Melayu (malay supremacy) while the others the Chinese, Indians and indigenous communities are second class.
Continue reading “Before 1MALAYSIA can be extended to 1World …”

(Extracts from DAP Alternative Budget 2010 launched on 7th October 2009)

9. Thrust II: Rakyat First – Restructuring and Reallocation

9.3 Unfair Public Contracts
The Malaysian economic landscape is littered with many one-sided contracts and concessions under which private entrepreneurs reap supernormal profits while the government or government-linked companies continue to bear considerable business risk. Major privatisation exercises were conducted and concessions granted in manners that were not open, accountable and transparent through public tenders.

An Unfair Public Contracts Act will be enacted and an independent public commission to be known as the Public Contracts Commission will be formed to review such lopsided concessions that are deemed to be against the public interest.

Constitutional and corporate lawyer Tommy Thomas if of the view that such an act will be constitutional as it will be similar in nature to the Land Acquisition Act 1960 which allows the government to take over any private land for public purpose, provided adequate compensation is paid.

Such legislation is not unique to Malaysia. Eminent domain (United of States of America), compulsory purchase (United Kingdom, New Zealand, Ireland), resumption/compulsory acquisition (Australia) and expropriation (South Africa and Canada’s common law system) are examples of the inherent power of the state to seize or expropriate private property without the owners’s consent provided, of course, Continue reading “Malaysian Economic Democratisation – Extract 6”

(Extracts from DAP Alternative Budget 2010 launched on 7th October 2009)

9. Thrust II: Rakyat First – Restructuring and Reallocation

9.2 Managing Oil Wealth

Over-reliance on Oil and Gas

Malaysia is blessed with abundant natural resources. In particular, we are thankful that the country is rich in oil and gas, which created Malaysia’s sole representative in the Fortune 500, Petroliam Nasional Berhad (PETRONAS). Since the incorporation of PETRONAS Group 35 years ago, the Group has paid RM471 billion to the Government, in addition to bearing a cumulative gas subsidy of RM97 billion.

In the most recent financial year ending March 2009, PETRONAS achieved profit before tax of RM89.1 billion amidst the challenging economic backdrop. Of greatest importance was the fact that PETRONAS contributed RM61.6 billion to our national coffers in taxes, royalties, dividends and export duties last year. Contribution from PETRONAS Group alone was budgeted to make up some 46% of the Federal Government revenue for 2008. This represents a steep increase from approximately 20% in 2004. The heavier reliance on oil and gas industry for Malaysia over the years signals an alarming trend.

Despite the fact that the total Malaysia hydrocarbon reserves has increased marginally from 20.13 billion barrels of oil equivalent (boe) at January 2008 to 20.18 billion boe at January 2009, and the reserves replacement ratio (RRR) has improved from 0.9 times to 1.1 times during the same period, our reserves will inevitably run dry at some point. During an interview with Bernama in June 2008, the president and chief executive officer of PETRONAS Group, Tan Sri Hassan Marican said that “we will continue to produce for another 20 years or so.” In more immediate terms, “Malaysia will become a net importer when its domestic consumption, growing at six percent per annum, is expected to overtake national production in 2011.”
Continue reading “Malaysian Economic Democratisation – Extract 5”

(Extracts from DAP Alternative Budget 2010 launched on 7th October 2009)

8. Thrust I: Economic Democratisation – Fiscal Decentralisation

8.2 Fiscal decentralisation policies

Other countries, such as Canada, Spain, and the UK have been moving in the opposite direction recently compared to Malaysia, by increasing decentralisation. Nearer to home, China and Indonesia have also successfully decentralised much of their financial and economic decision-making process. Even smaller countries such as Switzerland and Belgium have developed forms of fiscal federalism. To ensure that Malaysia is able to tap into the sizeable latent potential benefits arising from the political accountability, economic efficiency and economic growth, DAP proposes that states are granted greater control over their finances.

8.2.1 Tax revenue sharing agreements
It is proposed that the federal government enter into tax revenue sharing agreements with states so that there is a stronger link between a state’s performance and its revenue share. 20% of individual and corporate income taxes collected in a state, as determined by the residence of the taxpayer and location of the establishment, will become the state’s entitlement. Income taxes will continue to be collected by the federal government using the existing infrastructure, but the states’ portion will be distributed back to the states for each financial year. This is the system which has been adopted by Germany.
Continue reading “Malaysian Economic Democratisation – Extract 4”

(Extracts from DAP Alternative Budget 2010 launched on 7th October 2009)

8. Thrust I: Economic Democratisation – Fiscal Decentralisation

8.1 Greater economic efficiency and political accountability

Many countries have pursued fiscal federalism and have devolved or are devolving more power to state and local governments. China and Indonesia’s recent economic success has also been linked with the decentralisation of economic decision-making. In the UK, the Calman Commission has recommended that Scotland be given greater tax-varying powers in order to further improve their devolution process. This is largely because of the economic efficiency and accountability arguments.

Certain areas of expenditure responsibilities should be decentralised because states and local governments are better placed to tailor their programmes to local needs. For example, state governments are more likely than the central government to know their region’s comparative advantage and hence promote investment initiatives accordingly. In order to decentralise expenditure, revenue must also be shared with states. Instead of being dependent on the federal government spending directly in the states, states would be able to implement their own programmes encouraging tourism, SMEs and industry. In this case, when the 13 states are unshackled in their courting of investment projects with their tailored policies, it is very likely that more and better investments will be attracted and made.
Continue reading “Malaysian Economic Democratisation – Extract 3”

(Extracts from DAP Alternative Budget 2010 launched on 7th October 2009)

5. Key Policy Highlights

Based on the 3 key thrusts outlined above to achieve greater economic democratisation via fiscal decentralisation, to place rakyat first with restructuring and reallocation, and to empower Malaysians through economic capacity building, the key policy measures proposed include:

1. Tax revenue sharing agreements where 20% of individual and corporate income taxes collected in a state will become the state’s entitlement. For Selangor and Penang, this revenue sharing agreement would entitle them to approximately RM 3.2 billion and RM 500 million respectively. An equalisation and development grants formula based on a function of population, poverty, area development, cost, human development and gross revenue per capita indices will also be given to ensure that poorer states do not lose out.

2. States will be given the rights to borrow up to a maximum of 50% of their annual ownsource revenue, which is revenue raised directly by the state governments.

3. We will set up a fund of RM 400 million to provide grants to state governments to reinstate local council elections, conduct delineation studies, hold trainings and promote awareness via publicity and education campaigns after amending the Housing & Local Government Act.

Continue reading “Malaysian Economic Democratisation – Extract 2”

(Extracts from DAP Alternative Budget 2010 launched on 7th October 2009)

4. Budget Objectives

To meet the challenges of improving Malaysian global economic competitiveness while addressing the growing rich-poor disparity in Malaysia and being mindful of the fiscal constraints and harnessing our oil resources effectively, the DAP Budget 2010 is themed “Malaysian Economic Democratisation”.

The goals of economic democratisation is to ensure that public funds and expenditure by the government will be more effectively and efficiently spent in accordance to the needs of the people, ensure that public projects are structured in mechanisms which will benefit the rakyat as opposed to politically-connected operators as well as enabling Malaysians to achieve greater economic freedom.

The process of “economic democratisation” will hence focus on 3 key thrusts, that are:

1. Economic Democratision – Fiscal Decentralisation

2. Rakyat First – Restructuring & Reallocation

3. Empowerment & Enablement – Capacity Building

Continue reading “Malaysian Economic Democratisation”

The DAP Alternative National Budget 2010 marks the progress the Party has made in the field of economic policy making, and our readiness to assume the role of a governing party in the Federal Government as and when such opportunities arise in the near future.

Our first Alternative National Budget was launch on the 5th September 2007 for the year 2008, before the last historic general elections where Pakatan Rakyat denied the Barisan Nasional two-third majority in the parliament, and winning government in 5 Malaysian states. This new Alternative National Budget 2010 picks up from where we left off in 2007, enhancing our proposed economic policies with stronger strategies and proposals based on further in depth research and analysis.

As Malaysia face one of the most challenging economic period in times of uncertain global demand, it is critical that the Malaysian government takes decisive actions to spur the economy and ensure that we will not only recover from this recession, but also emerge stronger and more competitive than we were before the onset of the recession. However, a review of the Barisan Nasional (BN) government’s actions to date coupled with its track record over the past 12 years paints a less than optimistic picture.

At a time when the economy is faltering globally, is exactly the time for the government to be pump-priming to boost domestic demand and competitiveness. However, despite the urgent need to boost government expenditure, the BN government is now finding out the hard way that they have in essence, run out of money to spend and are struggling to contain and maintain the high and escalating cost of government. Continue reading “DAP Alternative Budget 2010”

Speaking at the 35th Unesco general conference in Paris yesterday, Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak said his 1Malaysia philosophy can be extended to the concept of 1Region and ultimately 1World.

Apart from the 1Malaysia gimmicry which now includes 1Malaysia jokes, what does Najib really mean by 1Malaysia?

Former Prime Minister, Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad has publicly expressed his bewilderment and incomprehension of Najib’s 1Malaysia.

Lesser mortals should be forgiven if they are even more confused as to what Najib really means with this slogan.

It cannot mean one overarching Malaysian objective, when it does not even mean 1Umno – which is why Najib had to succumb to pressures to name Tan Sri Isa Samad as candidate for the Bagan Pinang by-election when all the Umno/BN leaders could not be unaware that the choice is utterly inappropriate for a Prime Minister who wants to send out the message that he stands for a new tomorrow. Continue reading “Isa will become “mascot” of Najib’s 1Malaysia with BN victory in Bagan Pinang by-election”

By Martin Jalleh
7 Oct. 2009

Samy Vellu is here to stay – as long as he wants. He has been made indispensable, invincible…even immortal. He will remain as the “Saviour” of the Indians in Malaysia – a god-like status his “devotees” have strenuously bestowed upon him.

This strong message that Samy still reigns supreme was delivered by the majority of the 1,464 delegates at the triennial election of the Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) held recently. It appears that they would prefer to sink with Samy – rather than swim in the current of change.

Dr M says “MIC is scared stiff of Samy Vellu”. But it is their very own political survival they are shivering and sweating over! Ironically, they felt very secure even if it meant strengthening Samy’s political stranglehold and further suffocating the whole Indian community!

With their future at stake the delegates were not prepared to stick their necks out. In fact, as Dr M once described the members of the MIC, they are “not even ready to stick their little finger out”. Such is the sordid state of affairs in the second oldest political party in the country.

“Everybody is playing safe. If I go against the chief, he’s going to hammer me. Then I won’t get contracts, I won’t be ‘ketua bahagian’ (party division chief),” Dr M succinctly described the sad scenario – which was very similar to Umno when Dr M was its president for 22 years. Continue reading “Sinking in solidarity with Samy”