Monthly Archive for September, 2009

PR Will Ensure That Kampung Buah Pala Lives On When The Double-Storey Terrace Houses Are Completed

Published on September 29, 2009, 11:15 am in Penang. 1 Comment

Pakatan Rakyat Will Ensure That Kampung Buah Pala Lives On When The Double-Storey Terrace Houses Are Completed To Differentiate With BN And Gerakan That Wants To Wipe Out Kampung Buah Pala.

I have refreshed my memory by looking at the minutes of all EXCO meetings chaired by me which discussed Kampung Buah Pala. The minutes reaffirms that the present state government has not given any approvals to alienate Kampung Buah Pala to the Koperasi Pegawai-Pegawai Kanan Kerajaan Pulau Pinang(Koperasi) or development approvals to the developer or issued eviction orders against the residents.

BN, Gerakan and its “character assassins” have spread lies claiming that I have signed documents to finalise the deal and transferred the land to these BN/UMNO cronies. Until today I have not signed a single document in favour of the developer or the koperasi.

Continue reading ‘PR Will Ensure That Kampung Buah Pala Lives On When The Double-Storey Terrace Houses Are Completed’

Only The Federal Government Has Powers Under the 2005 National Heritage Act To Designate Any Site To Be A Heritage Site.

Published on September 24, 2009, 5:33 pm in Penang. 0 Comments

The State Legal Advisor Datuk Faiza binti Zulkifli and the Penang Town and Country Planning Department have stressed that the Penang state government has no powers to declare any site to be a heritage site. Unlike other states such as Melaka, Penang has no heritage laws. Accordingly to declare any site a heritage site the National Heritage Act holds sway.

In other words, only the Heritage Commissioner under the Minister of Information, Communications, and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Rais Yatim, can designate any site to be a heritage site under Section 24. Section 30, requires the consent from the relevant state government before any designation can be made.

Continue reading ‘Only The Federal Government Has Powers Under the 2005 National Heritage Act To Designate Any Site To Be A Heritage Site.’

TI’s Recognition Of State Government’s Anti-Corruption Efforts Through CAT Governance Is Backed Up By Savings Of Nearly 12% Of The 2008 State Budget Of RM 36 Milllion From Operating Expenditure.

Published on September 24, 2009, 12:43 pm in Corruption and Penang. 0 Comments

TITransparency International’s(TI) Recognition Of Penang State Government’s Anti-Corruption Efforts Through CAT Governance Of Competency Accountability And Transparency Is Backed Up By Savings Of Nearly 12% Of The 2008 State Budget Of RM 36 Milllion From Operating Expenditure.

Transparency International’s(TI) recognition of anti-corruption efforts by the Penang state government through CAT governance is backed up by savings of nearly 12% of the 2008 Penang state budget of RM 36 million from operating expenditure. This RM 36 million savings has allowed the state government to carry out social programs and implement its people-oriented government of 3Es that:

- Enables the people with skills, knowledge and education to provide equal opportunity for all to create wealth

- Empowers the people with fundamental rights, basic freedoms and responsibilities with full observance for the rule of law

- Enrich the people by sharing wealth and economic benefits to pursue socio-economic justice

The success of the Penang Pakatan Rakyat state government in fighting corruption has been commended by Transparency International in the 2009 Global Corruption Report(GCR) released yesterday that stated,

Continue reading ‘TI’s Recognition Of State Government’s Anti-Corruption Efforts Through CAT Governance Is Backed Up By Savings Of Nearly 12% Of The 2008 State Budget Of RM 36 Milllion From Operating Expenditure.’

Why Has Gerakan’s Datuk Dr Teng Hock Nan or BN Not Repented By Apologising For His Part And BN’s Role In Selling Out The Kampung Buah Pala Residents Of Their Land At Such Cheap Rates Without Consulting Them?

Published on September 23, 2009, 2:52 pm in Penang. 0 Comments

BN and Gerakan, especially Datuk Dr Teng Hock Nan, must show proof or stop their shocking lies that the Penang Pakatan Rakyat government finalised the village land deal and sold Kampung Buah Pala to Koperasi Pegawai Pegawai Kanan Kerajaan Pulau Pinang(Koperasi). No amount of false reports by their “character assassins” will convince Penangnites that BN and Gerakan government did not robbed the Kampung Buah Pala residents of their land.

The declassification of EXCO minutes on 9.7.2009 shows that the BN state government under Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon were principally culpable for alienating their land twice to Koperasi Pegawai Kerajaan Pulau Pinang in EXCO meetings on 18.8.2004 and 8.6.2005 without consulting the residents. The land was alienated by BN at a ridiculously low land premium of RM 10 per square feet (when the market rate then was at least RM 50 psf) with unanimous support from all MCA, Gerakan, UMNO and MIC state EXCO members including Datuk Dr Teng Hock Nan.

Continue reading ‘Why Has Gerakan’s Datuk Dr Teng Hock Nan or BN Not Repented By Apologising For His Part And BN’s Role In Selling Out The Kampung Buah Pala Residents Of Their Land At Such Cheap Rates Without Consulting Them?’

Penang Ports 24% Container Traffic Decline In The 2nd Quarter Of 2009

Published on September 22, 2009, 6:09 pm in Penang. 0 Comments

Penang Ports 24% Container Traffic Decline In The 2nd Quarter Of 2009 When All Other Ports In Malaysia Recorded Increases Is A Warning For The Ministry Of Finance(MOF) To Inject Fresh Funds And New Ideas Into Penang Port Sdn Bhd(PPSB) To Save Penang Port.

Penang Ports 24% container traffic decline in the 2nd quarter of this year when all other ports in Malaysia recorded increases is a warning for the MOF to inject fresh funds and new ideas into PPSB to save Penang Port. The Marine Department revealed that Malaysian ports handled 10 per cent more containers in the second quarter of the year compared to the first, reflecting a recovery in both domestic and transhipment cargo.

Continue reading ‘Penang Ports 24% Container Traffic Decline In The 2nd Quarter Of 2009′

Selamat Hari Raya Aidil Fitri

Published on September 20, 2009, 4:49 pm in Nation Building. 0 Comments

Dengan sukacita dan rasa rendah diri, saya bagi pihak DAP ingin mengucapkan Selamat Hari Raya Aidil Fitri minal ai’dil wal fa’izin 1430 Hijrah kepada semua Muslimin dan Muslimat di mana sahaja berada.

Saya berharap sambutan Aidil Fitri tahun ini kita rayakan dengan semangat bermaaf-maafan dan meningkatkan lagi hubungan persaudaraan dan silaturrahim sesama insan tanpa mengira kaum dan agama. Saya yakin inilah juga semangat yang dianjurkan oleh Islam yang berteraskan kepada sifat tunduk kepada Yang Maha Kuasa dan mahu kepada perdamaian dan keamanan.
Continue reading ‘Selamat Hari Raya Aidil Fitri’

Perutusan Hari Raya

Published on September 20, 2009, 12:45 am in Penang. 0 Comments

Kejayaan Urustadbir CAT Menjimatkan 12% Belanjawan 2008 Dalam Perbelanjaan Mengurus Sebanyak RM 36 Juta Adalah Langkah Pertama Membuktikan Kerajaan Berjiwa Rakyat Adalah Lebih Baik Daripada Kerajaan Bersifat Kronisma.

Kerajaan negeri Pulau Pinang ingin mengucapkan Selamat Hari Raya Aidil Fitri minal ai’dil wal fa’izin 1430 Hijrah kepada semua Muslimin dan Muslimat di mana sahaja berada, khususnya mereka yang berhari-raya di Pulau Pinang.

Saya bersyukur kerana kita dapat merayakan Aidil Fitri dalam suasana yang aman dan damai di Pulau Pinang. Saya juga gembira kerana umat Islam di negeri ini bersama-sama dengan rakan-rakan dan sahabat handai dari pelbagai kaum kekal hidup berharmoni. Inilah hasil kejayaan kita yang memahami betapa perlunya kita semua saling faham-memahami dan menghormati antara satu sama lain.

Continue reading ‘Perutusan Hari Raya’

Integrasi Nasional, Perpaduan Negara Dan Satu Malaysia Hanya Tercapai Sekiranya Semua Rakyat Malaysia Dibenarkan Berkongsi Kuasa, Menikmati Hasil Bumi Mereka Dan Kemajuan Setara Dalam Sebuah Kerajaan Berjiwa Rakyat.

Published on September 16, 2009, 12:06 pm in Nation Building and Penang. 0 Comments

Salam Sejahtera, Selamat Berpuasa Dan Selamat Menyambut Hari Malaysia

Saya berasa amat gembira kerana dapat berhimpun pada pagi yang mulia ini bagi meraikan Sambutan Hari Malaysia yang ke 46. Pada kesempatan ini, saya ingin merakamkan penghargaan kepada semua pihak yang terlibat dalam menjayakan Sambutan Hari Malaysia pada pagi ini. Sambutan ini memberi pengertian yang sangat bermakna kepada semua anggota Perkhidmatan Awam dan kita sebagai rakyat Malaysia. Hari Malaysia disambut pada 16 September setiap tahun untuk memperingati penubuhan persekutuan Malaysia di tarikh yang sama pada tahun 1963 dan dijadikan sebagai satu sambutan untuk seluruh negara memandangkan tarikh ini merupakan sejarah penggabungan negeri Sabah dan Sarawak dengan Tanah Melayu.

Saya juga ingin mengambil kesempatan mengalu-alukan kehadiran dua ADUN daripada Sarawak yang sempat dapat bersama kita pagi ini iaitu ADUN Kota Sentosa YB Chong Chien Jen dan ADUN Ngemah YB Gabriel Adit. ADUN Sabah tidak dapat berkesempatan bersama dengan kita dan kirim Salam Menyambut Hari Malaysia.

Continue reading ‘Integrasi Nasional, Perpaduan Negara Dan Satu Malaysia Hanya Tercapai Sekiranya Semua Rakyat Malaysia Dibenarkan Berkongsi Kuasa, Menikmati Hasil Bumi Mereka Dan Kemajuan Setara Dalam Sebuah Kerajaan Berjiwa Rakyat.’

Kenaikan 46% Kos Projek Jalan Terbengkalai Teluk Kumbar- Pekan Genting Daripada RM56juta kepada RM82juta Akan Siap Pada Awal 2011

Published on September 12, 2009, 12:14 pm in Penang. 2 Comments

Kontraktor asal bagi projek Teluk Kumbar –Pekan Genting, Syarikat Bulkers Corporation Sdn. Bhd yang melaksanakan projek Jalan Telok Kumbar Ke Pekan Genting, Balik Pulau, Pulau Pinang telahpun ditamatkan perkhidmatannya secara persetujuan bersama (mutual termination) pada 8 Oktober 2008.

Syarikat Bulkers Corporation masuk tapak pada tahun 2004 dan berhenti kerja pada awal tahun 2008. Jumlah kos yang asal adalah sebanyak RM56 juta. Kerajaan telah berbelanja sebanyak RM40 juta bagi kontraktor asal yang telah gagal menyiapkan projek pada Oktober 2008. Kos kontrak projek ini selepas ditender semula ialah sebanyak RM42 juta. Ini bermaksud kerajaan pusat perlu membayar kos projek yang lebih sebanyak RM26 juta. Tempoh siap projek juga ditangguhkan sampai Disember 2010. Ini dinyatakan dalam jawapan bertulis di Dewan Rakyat pada bulan Jun 2009 oleh Menteri Kerja Raya Dato’Shaziman bin Abu Mansor seperti berikut:

Continue reading ‘Kenaikan 46% Kos Projek Jalan Terbengkalai Teluk Kumbar- Pekan Genting Daripada RM56juta kepada RM82juta Akan Siap Pada Awal 2011′

Malaysia’s Drop In The WEF Global Competitiveness Rankings Threatens To Undermine And Disrupt Vision 2020 Of Achieving A Developed Nation.

Published on September 10, 2009, 5:00 pm in Nation Building. 1 Comment

Malaysia’s global competitiveness ranking was reported to have dropped three positions to 24 from the previous year’s No. 21, according to the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Global Competitiveness Report for 2009-2010 released in Dalian, China. Malaysia’s drop in WEF global competitiveness rankings to No. 24 threatens to undermine and disrupt Vision 2020 of transforming Malaysia into a developed nation with a per capita income of USD 12,000 by 2020 from the present USD7,000.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak had recently said that Malaysia needs to achieve an annual growth of 8% annually(considered impossible under current global recession) for the next 10 years if Malaysia is to achieve Vision 2020. Even a high 6% annual growth for the next 10 years will delay the attainment of developed nation status by 10 years to 2030.

Continue reading ‘Malaysia’s Drop In The WEF Global Competitiveness Rankings Threatens To Undermine And Disrupt Vision 2020 Of Achieving A Developed Nation.’

A Two-Party System Is Essential Towards Establishing A Healthy Functioning Democracy And A People-Centric Government.

Published on September 8, 2009, 3:46 pm in Penang. 1 Comment

Malaysians who support the establishment of a healthy functioning democracy and a people-centric government must accept the role and existence of a two-party in our political governance. As government agencies, we are bound by our duty to serve the people and respect their wishes of wanting a two-party system to provide “checks and balances”.

The Penang state government is happy to give this small contribution in recognition of the efforts of our police and army personnel to ensure public order, personal safety and national security.

Continue reading ‘A Two-Party System Is Essential Towards Establishing A Healthy Functioning Democracy And A People-Centric Government.’

Bank Negara Must Take Action Against Those Responsible For Maybank’s Reckless Acquisitions

Published on September 8, 2009, 3:44 pm in Economy. 0 Comments

To Protect The Prime Minister’s Credibility For Financial Soundness And Accountability, Bank Negara Must Take Action Against Those Responsible For Maybank’s Reckless Acquisitions Of PT Bank International Indonesia(BII) And Pakistan’s MCB Bank That Caused Impairment Losses Of RM 2 Billion.

Continue reading ‘Bank Negara Must Take Action Against Those Responsible For Maybank’s Reckless Acquisitions’

Kenaikan harga minyak RON 97 sebanyak 14% telah membuktikan Kerajaan BN tidak bertimbang rasa dan gagal mengambil kira beban kenaikan minyak terutama kepada golongan berpendapatan rendah.

Published on September 5, 2009, 11:11 am in Nation Building. 0 Comments

Kenaikan harga minyak RON 97 sebanyak 14% telah membuktikan Kerajaan BN tidak bertimbang rasa dan mengambil kira beban kenaikan harga barang keperluan terutama kepada golongan berpendapatan rendah.

Harga minyak bagi RON 97 yang dahulunya berharga dalam RM1.80 seliter telah naik ke RM2.05 seliter. Harga minyak bagi RON95 dinaikkan daripada RM1.75 kepada RM1.80 seliter. Ada setengah pihak berpendapat bahawa kenaikan 14% RON 97 tidak bantu bersikap mesra alam.

Kerajaan harus mengekalkan harga minyak di harga asal iaitu RM1.80 seliter bagi RON 97 dan RM1.75 seliter bagi RON 95 untuk meringankan beban rakyat dalam masa kelembapan ekonomi ini. Sebelum keadaan ekonomi pulih, kenaikan harga minyak mungkin memberikan tekanan kepada inflasi yang akan membawa impak negatif berganda dengan ekonomi lembap bersama inflasi.

Continue reading ‘Kenaikan harga minyak RON 97 sebanyak 14% telah membuktikan Kerajaan BN tidak bertimbang rasa dan gagal mengambil kira beban kenaikan minyak terutama kepada golongan berpendapatan rendah.’