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Malaysia Seeks World Bank Help to Cut Spending, Trim Deficit

By Soraya Permatasari and Barry Porter | Bloomberg

Nov. 12 (Bloomberg) — Malaysia will ask the World Bank to help in the country’s efforts to cut government spending as Prime Minister Najib Razak seeks to reduce the budget deficit from a 22-year high.

The nation is asking the Washington-based lender to review all areas of government expenditure, including how state contracts are awarded, to prevent waste from inefficiency, Second Finance Minister Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah said in an interview in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. Malaysia hopes the study will bolster the government’s credibility, he said.

“We just want a third party as a check and balance,” said Ahmad Husni, 58. An annual audit of spending at state agencies has shown “some negative findings and we hope that with the involvement of the World Bank, in the future we can see a clean sheet,” he said.
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Selangor seeks royal hand over water bondholders’ bailout

By Shazwan Mustafa Kamal
November 13, 2010
The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 13 — The Selangor government is planning a 100,000-strong protest to submit a memorandum to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on December 5 over the federal government’s possible bailout of Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor (Syabas).

Top Selangor Pakatan Rakyat (PR) leaders informed The Malaysian Insider last night that the state’s move was part and parcel of a plan to “pressure” the Najib administration not to proceed with a multi-million ringgit bailout of the state’s privatised water industry, and that state-wide ceramahs and gatherings had already been planned in advance to mobilise the numbers needed to attend the December 5 gathering at Istana Negara.

“We are planning a 100,000-people gathering on December 5 to submit (a) memorandum to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on the water issue. Venue will be at Masjid Negara, 12pm.
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Sultan to skip ‘wasteful’ RM300,000 Yayasan Selangor do

By Boo Su-Lyn
November 12, 2010

SHAH ALAM, Nov 12 — The Sultan of Selangor has decided not to attend a RM300,000 40th anniversary luncheon by state education welfare body Yayasan Selangor over its excessive cost.

The decision was made after the Selangor Ruler this morning learnt of the bill for the event, state secretary Datuk Ramli Mahmud said today.

“The Selangor Sultan has cancelled his intentions to attend Yayasan Selangor’s 40th anniversary celebration that will be held on November 15, 2010 at Asrama Tun Dr Ismail in Kampung Pandan,” Ramli told reporters today.

“He felt shocked and was very sorrowful when he was informed that the cost of the anniversary celebration this year was very high.
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Malaysian education system in emergency

By Damian Denis
November 13, 2010

NOV 13 — After reflecting my schooling years I have to agree with my friends that those who started school in 1983 with the new KBSR format felt like guinea pigs. I did too!

Then, the Standard 5 exams were change to Standard 6 with the UPSR format. Well, I thought things were fine until they changed the year-end school holidays from December to October. We had to start our new school year in December. Remember?

I felt that was really weird starting our school term at the end of the year. Hhhmmm. Our Christmas holidays had to be cut short, and Christmas was never the same again.
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