Monthly Archive for May, 2011

BN Penang In Breach Of Confidentiality And Secrecy Of National Water Agreements(en/bm/cn)

Published on May 31, 2011, 5:09 pm in Penang. 0 Comments

BN Penang In Breach Of Confidentiality And Secrecy Of National Water Agreements Worked Out Between The Penang State Government And The Federal Government.

The Penang state government regrets that BN Penang has chosen to score cheap political points by publicising details of a national water agreement worked out between the Federal and state government. Such agreements are secret in nature and highly confidential, as only either the state or the Federal government have the right to disclose the details of such an agreement.

State Barisan Nasional (BN) working committee chairman Datuk Dr Teng Hock Nan appears to have forgotten that he is no longer the Penang state government. Has Teng forgotten he was rejected by his Pulau Tikus voters and lost in the last general elections? He is also not holding any Federal government position. What right and on whose behalf is he representing in making such announcements that should only come from either the Federal or state government?

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DAP Not Interested In The Tiff Between UMNO And MCA Or Internal MCA Rivalries(en/bm/cn)

Published on May 31, 2011, 4:45 pm in Party. 0 Comments

DAP Not Interested In The Tiff Between UMNO And MCA Or Internal MCA Rivalries But Whether The BN Government Can Fully Disclose The Details Of All PSD Scholarship Holders And Ensure That All Top Students Get Overseas Scholarships?

DAP is not interested in the tiff between UMNO and MCA or internal MCA rivalries but whether the BN government can fully disclose the details of all Public Service Department (PSD) scholarship holders given on merit and ensure that all top students can get overseas scholarship. PSD had reserved 300 overseas scholarships for top students based purely on merit and not on race. Wee had claimed that not all these 300 overseas scholarships given were to top students based on merit.

MCA Youth chief and Deputy Education Minister Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz had a public dispute over who was lying on whether there were abuses in the award of PSD scholarship. Wee had earlier exposed cases of top 8A+ students denied overseas scholarships granted to those with poorer results. Nazri had vehemently denied Wee’s claims of abuses of power as baseless.
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3 Reasons Why BN Did Not Proceed With Intended Subsidy Cuts (en/bm/cn)

Published on May 26, 2011, 1:02 pm in Economy. 0 Comments

3 Reasons Why BN Did Not Proceed With Intended Subsidy Cuts For Diesel, Petrol & LPG, However Certain To Increase Prices Of Essential Items Except IPPs Once Snap General Elections Is Won.

PR must have struck fear into the hearts of the BN government until BN is forced to back down from their proposed subsidy cuts and instead announced that there will be no increase in the price of RON95 petrol, diesel and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) for now. However, diesel subsidies for deep-sea fishing vessels and nine classes of commercial vehicles would still be removed on June 1, slashing RM886.1 million from the federal subsidy burden annually.

There are three reasons why BN “blinked” and decided against proceeding with their proposed price increases. First, PR was able to mobilize almost total opposition to the price increases by highlighting the gross injustice of big corporate giants such as Independent Power Producers (IPPs) being spared subsidy cuts of RM19 billion annually whilst 27 million ordinary Malaysians have to fork out more money for price increases they can ill-afford.

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Desperate Tactics By BN To Racialise PR’s Opposition To Price Increases Will Not Succeed In Deceiving And Distracting The People(en/bm/cn)

Published on May 26, 2011, 12:54 pm in Economy. 0 Comments

Desperate Tactics By BN To Racialise PR’s Opposition To Price Increases Will Not Succeed In Deceiving And Distracting The People That Subsidy Cuts Only Affect 27 Million Ordinary Malaysians But Not Impact Big Companies Like IPPs And Felda.

Desperate tactics by BN to racialise PR’s opposition to price increases will not succeed in deceiving and distracting the people that subsidy cuts only affect 27 million ordinary Malaysians but not impact the big companies like Independent Power Producers (IPPs) and Felda. BN is so desperate to justify its subsidy cuts that Domestic Trade, Cooperative and Consumerism Deputy Minister Datuk Tan Lian Hoe is accusing DAP of trying to spark a a racial issue over a cut in the sugar subsidy by involving the Federal Land Development Authority (Felda).

This is a stupid argument by Tan as those affected by the price increase of sugar by 20 cents to RM2.30 per kg includes Malays. Or is Tan saying that price increases in sugar and petrol affect only non-Malays?

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BN’s Denial is Another Classic Exercise of Self-Delusion And Mass Deception (en/bm/cn).

Published on May 25, 2011, 5:58 pm in Economy. 0 Comments

BN’s Denial that The RM 19 billion Profits Forgone By Petronas By Selling Gas Below Market Price To IPPs And TNB Is Not A Form Of Subsidy Another Classic Exercise of Self-Delusion And Mass Deception.

DAP expresses shock at Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Peter Chin Fah Kui’s insistence that the RM19 billion savings enjoyed by independent power producers(IPPs) and TNB annually is not a subsidy. Peter Chin said the RM19 billion is profit forgone by Petronas annually for selling gas at RM10.70 per MMBtu, one quarter of the market price RM40 per MMBtu. BN’s denial that the RM19 billion profits foregone by Petronas by selling gas below market price to IPPs and TNB is not a form of subsidy is another classic exercise of BN’s self-delusion and mass deception.

This is similar to BN’s previous insistence that RM540 million given to Perimekar Sdn Bhd is not commission for arranging the purchase of two Scorpene submarines worth US$972 million (RM3.68 billion) for the Royal Malaysian Navy. It is ridiculous for Perimekar to be given a contract to provide support services and co-ordination for six years despite having no previous track record or experience in handling submarines.
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The Public Is Not Interested Who Is Trying to Play The Hero (en/bm/cn)

Published on May 25, 2011, 5:55 pm in Nation Building. 0 Comments

The Public Is Not Interested Who Is Trying to Play The Hero But The Real Hero Is The One Who Can Ensure That All Top Students Can Receive PSD Scholarships.

UMNO and MCA’s public spat over who is right in the granting of the PSD scholarships does not resolve the fundamental question of gross injustice felt by many top students who did not receive the scholarships. The public is not interested who is trying to play the hero but the real hero is the one who can ensure that all top students can receive PSD scholarship.

The public is terribly confused with the differing accounts given by both UMNO and MCA even though both have Ministers in the same Cabinet. This lack of direction and mass confusion would have been comical if not for the fact that innocent top students have become unfortunate victims of this struggle between UMNO and MCA.

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Malaysia has dropped six places from 10th in 2010 to 16th in the IMD’s 2011 World Competitive Rankings(en/bm/cn).

Published on May 24, 2011, 3:09 pm in Economy. 0 Comments

Press Statement By DAP Secretary-General And MP For Bagan Lim Guan Eng In Penang On 24 May 2011.

Despite the Government Transformation Programme (GTP) and Economic Transformation Programme (ETP), Malaysia has dropped six places from 10th in 2010 to 16th in the Institute of Management Development’s (IMD) 2011 World Competitive Rankings. This downtrend is in tandem with the findings of the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Global Competitiveness Index for 2010-2011 as well, which saw Malaysia slipping from 24th (down from 21st the year before) to 26th now.

According to the Switzerland-based Institute of Management Development (IMD), Malaysia had performed badly in two out of the four main factors of the survey – government efficiency and business efficiency, falling from 9th and 4th in 2010 to 17th and 14th respectively in 2011. The other two factors are economic performance and infrastructure.

On the other hand WEF pointed out that Malaysia’s lack of competitiveness stems from poor institutional capacity, with two of the most telling problems listed as ‘irregular payments and bribes’ as well as the lack of ‘judicial independence’. Clearly WEF is addressing the problem of corruption and cronyism just as the IMD report listed business efficacy and government efficiency hampered lack of open tenders and transparency. Continue reading ‘Malaysia has dropped six places from 10th in 2010 to 16th in the IMD’s 2011 World Competitive Rankings(en/bm/cn).’

Menangani Masalah 3C Di Pulau Pinang Ke arah Pulau Pinang Yang Lebih Bersih, Lebih Hijau Lebih Selamat Dan Kurang Sesak.

Published on May 23, 2011, 1:22 pm in Penang. 0 Comments

Ucapan Ketua Menteri Pulau Pinang Lim Guan Eng Dalam Mesyuarat Am Tahunan(MAT) DAP Cawangan Air Putih Di Pulau Pinang Pada 5 Petang Ahad 22 Mei 2011.

Menangani Masalah 3C Di Pulau Pinang Ke arah Pulau Pinang Yang Lebih Bersih, Lebih Hijau Lebih Selamat Dan Kurang Sesak.

Sejak kerajaan negeri mengambil alih pemerintahan kerajaan negeri Pulau Pinang pada Mac 2008, usaha gigih telah dijalankan untuk menangani masalah teruk 3C yang menghantui rakyat Pulau Pinang iaitu, Cleanliness, Crime and Congestion.

Sistem baik dengan tender terbuka dan inisiatif hijau, etika kerja positif hasil pengiktirafan pekerja-pekerja yang membersihkan jalan dan longkang serta semangat berpasukan membolehkan Pulau Pinang menjadi lebih bersih.

Kerjasama dan usaha polis membolehkan Pulau Pinang menjadi No 1 di Malaysia dalam penurunan Indeks kadar jenayah sebanyak 27%. Dalam 3 tahun ini, jelas sekali bahawa Pulau Pinang kini Lebih Bersih, Lebih Hijau dan Lebih Selamat.

Masalah paling rumit adalah kesesakan trafik. Berlainan dengan New Zealand yang mempunyai lebih banyak biri-biri daripada manusia, Pulau Pinang mempunyai kenderaan yang lebih banyak (2 juta) daripada manusia(1.5 juta). Beberapa projek trafik telah dicadangkan. Salah satu pelan rancangan trafik yang dijalankan di bawah adalah dibuka kepada orang awam untuk mendapat pandangan umum.

1. CADANGAN MENAMBAHBAIK ALIRAN LALULINTAS DI JALAN MASJID NEGERI DAN KAWASAN SEKITARNYA (PDF FILE)

The Government Should Be Helping The People Instead Of Helping Felda To Increase Its Present Profits (en/bm/cn)

Published on May 23, 2011, 1:06 pm in Federal government. 0 Comments

The Government Should Be Helping The People Instead Of Helping Felda To Increase Its Present Profits From The Sugar Business Of RM 232 Million In 2010 By Increasing Sugar Price By 20 Sen From RM2.10 To RM2.30 Per Kg

DAP regrets that the BN government is more intent to help Felda increase its present profits from the sugar business of RM232 million in 2010 than helping the people by increasing the sugar price by 20 sen from RM2.10 to RM2.30 per kg. The profits earned by Felda in the sugar business was revealed during the listing of its subsidiary, MSM Malaysia Holdings Bhd.

For the first time ever, Felda Land Development Authority (Felda), a statutory body founded in 1956 to alleviate poverty among rural Malays via a land resettlement scheme, will be floating its sugar business. This follows the RM1.5 billion acquisition in January 2010 of Kuok Brothers-controlled PPB Group Bhd’s sugar assets, namely Malayan Sugar Manufacturing Co Bhd (now known as MSM Malaysia Holdings Bhd), a sugarcane farm in Perlis, a 50% stake in Kilang Gula Felda Perlis Sdn Bhd (KGFP) and a 20% share in Tradewinds (M) Bhd.

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Kerajaan negeri Pulau Pinang akan mencadangkan pemberian sebanyak RM 25,000 kepada semua 25 orang mangsa dan Rumah Anak Yatim

Published on May 22, 2011, 4:46 pm in Nation Building. 0 Comments

Kerajaan negeri Pulau Pinang akan mencadangkan pemberian sebanyak RM 25,000 kepada semua 25 orang mangsa dan Rumah Anak Yatim.

DAP mengucapkan takziah kepada semua 16 orang mangsa yang maut dan 9 orang lain yang cedera dalam malapetaka tanah runtuh Rumah Anak-anak Yatim dan Anak-anak Hidayah Madrasah Al-Taqwa di Batu 14, Hulu Langat, Selangor.

Malapetaka ini amat menyayat hati dan telah menyentuh hati semua rakyat Malaysia tanpa kira bangsa dan agama yang penuh simpati dan kesedihan kepada mangsa-mangsa.

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Isn’t Spending Billions Of Ringgit On Computerisation A Waste Of Public Funds When The Federal Government Can Not Even Correct The Simple But Silly Mistake Of Not Granting Top Scholarships To Top Students? (en/cn)

Published on May 21, 2011, 3:37 pm in Federal government. 0 Comments

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin ordered for a probe by the Public Service Department(PSD) to investigate complaints that some SPM top scorers were not offered scholarships is in line with DAP’s call yesterday for a full investigation and stern action against errant government officials. Tan Sri Muhyiddin had said that the problem does not lie with the Education Ministry as we have already forwarded our list of scholarship candidates.

If that is the case then a probe by PSD is necessary to determine what went wrong and why there is a perennial annual problem of top students failing to receive JPA scholarships despite scoring straights A+s, while students who scored much lower were given scholarships to study overseas. Malaysians are puzzled as to how this blunder by fumbling officials can even occur. In this day and age, with computerised databases and the amount of technology available, how can such a straightforward process of awarding scholarships to top students end up so botched?
Continue reading ‘Isn’t Spending Billions Of Ringgit On Computerisation A Waste Of Public Funds When The Federal Government Can Not Even Correct The Simple But Silly Mistake Of Not Granting Top Scholarships To Top Students? (en/cn)’

Ridiculous And Gross Injustice That Top Students Who Have Done No Wrong Must Appeal To Fumbling And Incompetent PSD Officials To Be Awarded Scholarships.(en/cn)

Published on May 20, 2011, 4:29 pm in Nation Building. 0 Comments

Once again, the Malaysian public is serenaded with fancy promises by the Federal Government, only to be brought down again by incompetency in policy implementation. The Federal Government’s promise of a meritocratic award of JPA scholarships to every single student that achieves 8A+s and above is now overshadowed by the bungling ineptitude of the delivery system.

Deputy Education Minister Wee Ka Siong blamed Public Service Department(PSD) officials for failing to follow Cabinet criteria in selecting scholarship recipients. As a result, many qualified applicants failed to obtain grants while those who students who performed worse were given scholarships instead.

Wee also added that there were a number of instances where straight A+ students had been denied scholarships and instead were only offered placements in matriculation programmes with loans. Meanwhile, students who obtained 4+s were awarded scholarships to the United States.

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DAP Insists That Monitors Of Political Parties And Election Commission(EC) Must Be Present At Postal Or Advanced Voting To Ensure That There Is No Cheating(en/bm/cn).

Published on May 20, 2011, 1:59 pm in Parliament. 0 Comments

Postal voting for military and police personnel has been redefined as advance voting and will be handled only by Election Commission (EC) officers in the next general election. EC deputy chairman Datuk Wan Ahmad Wan Omar said advance voting would be fully handled by specially designated assistant returning officers (ROs) instead of the personnel’s superior officers in military camps and district police headquarters.

Whilst abolishing postal voting, except for members of the national security forces operating overseas and at the borders, is welcome there is concern that there is no difference in ensuring a free, fair, neutral and independent elections if political parties still do not have full access during the voting process. DAP insists that monitors of political parties and EC must be present during the voting process to ensure that there is no manipulation or cheating.

All Malaysian law enforcement and armed forces personnel sacrifice their lives every day to protect our country and should also enjoy the same rights and privileges as everyone else. Therefore, voting should be made as easy and accessible as possible for them.

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Home Minister must take firm action against Utusan Malaysia (en/cn)

Published on May 19, 2011, 3:07 pm in Media. 0 Comments

Datuk Paul Low, President of Transparency International Malaysia, has recently come forward to state clearly and unequivocally that there was no pact or pledge between Christian and DAP leaders, or anyone else for that matter, on the evening of May 5 or at any other time during the Unashamedly Ethical Conference in Penang.

As an invited guest speaker, he was a witness to the entire night’s proceedings, and as an upstanding man of the community and president of the anti-graft body Transparency International Malaysia, he is as reliable a witness as any.

Therefore, this confirms that the seditious report carried by Utusan on its front-page entitled ‘Kristian Agama Rasmi’ that claimed a conspiracy between Christians and the DAP to replace Islam with Christianity as the official religion and to install a Christian Prime Minister is nothing more than an unsubstantiated and malicious lie.

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BN’s ETP Has Failed To Win The Corruption War, Improve Transparency And Accountability(en/bm/cn)

Published on May 19, 2011, 3:04 pm in Economy. 0 Comments

BN’s Economic Transformation Programme(ETP) Has Failed To Win The Corruption War, Improve Transparency And Accountability By Failing To Prevent The Slide In Malaysia’s Competitiveness By Six Rungs From 10th In 2010 To 16 In 2011.

BN’s much vaunted ETP has shown signs of failure when it is unable to prevent the slide in Malaysia’s competitiveness under the Institute of Management Development (IMD) 2011 World Competitive Rankings to fall by six rungs from 10th in 2010 to 16 this year. Clearly the ETP has neither succeeded in winning the fight against graft nor in improving accountability and transparency.

Even Transparency International has expressed concerns that corruption has either worsened or stagnated with Malaysia Corruption Perception Index is now at a low-time low of No. 56 in 2010. In 2002 Malaysia was at an all-time high of No.33.
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