Monthly Archive for October, 2013

2013 Deepavali Message – Replacing SST Which Earns The Federal Government RM 16.4 Billion Annually With The 6% GST Which Will Earn Double At RM32 Billion Annually (en/bm/cn/tamil)

Published on October 31, 2013, 2:15 pm in Federal government. 0 Comments

2013 Deepavali By DAP Secretary-General And MP For Bagan Lim Guan Eng In Kuala Lumpur On 30.10.2013.

Replacing SST Which Earns The Federal Government RM 16.4 Billion Annually With The 6% GST Which Will Earn Double At RM32 Billion Annually.

Malaysians want a brighter future for our children that they be given equal opportunities, treated with dignity and live a more prosperous and peaceful lives that were denied to their parents. Malaysians do not want to be divided and discriminated between Malays and non-Malays, Muslims and non-Muslims or PR and non-PR states.
 
Hindus also feel marginalised when their religious sensitivities are trampled upon in schools, temples torn down and appeals to boycott the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) next month in Colombo on human rights grounds in solidarity with the tens of thousands of Tamils massacred by the Sri Lankan government, not respected.
 
Instead of using fear and hate to cover up corruption and abuse of power, Malaysians want to be united around values of justice, freedom, democracy, integrity and truth. We want our problems of burgeoning national debt and deficit to be addressed and not impose new taxes or remove subsidies to the poor without removing subsidies for the rich.

Continue reading ‘2013 Deepavali Message – Replacing SST Which Earns The Federal Government RM 16.4 Billion Annually With The 6% GST Which Will Earn Double At RM32 Billion Annually (en/bm/cn/tamil)’

Speech during the official launching ceremony for the construction of banquet hall, KOMTAR

Published on October 29, 2013, 4:44 pm in Penang. 0 Comments

SPEECH BY CHIEF MINISTER OF PENANG DURING THE OFFICIAL LAUNCHING CEREMONY FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF BANQUET HALL AT LEVEL 5, ROOFTOP,KOMTAR

I am pleased to be with you today to witness another milestone in the State and PDC’s efforts to revitalise and rejuvenate KOMTAR and make it shine again as the socio-civic and business centre of Penang.

On this auspicious day, we will witness the official launching of the construction of the Komtar Banquet Hall here at level 5 Rooftop. The Banquet Hall will consist a reception, lounge, dining hall and VIP rooms which will offer a comfortable dining atmosphere with international standard facilities. The dining hall can accommodate a seating capacity for about 750 people.

Continue reading ‘Speech during the official launching ceremony for the construction of banquet hall, KOMTAR’

Penang State Government To Get Public Feedback On A Proposed Levy Of 3% On The Transacted Price Of Property In Penang By Foreigners In 2014.(en/cn)

Published on October 28, 2013, 12:36 pm in Economy. 0 Comments

Press Statement By Pennag Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng In Komtar, George Town On 28.10.2013.

The Penang state government welcomes the 2014 Federal Budget’s proposal of limiting the purchases of property by foreigners to RM1 million and above to cool down property speculation so that houses remain affordable for middle-income earners. This RM1 million limit announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak on purchases of properties by foreigners is nothing new to Penang as Penang had implemented this ruling much earlier in 1 July 2012.

Foreigners are only allowed to purchase properties above RM 1 million whereas for landed property on Penang island the limit is RM2 million and above. The Penang state government is proposing additional steps to curb any foreign speculation of property by imposing a levy of 3% on the transacted price of property in Penang by foreigners beginning 2014. Penang State EXCO for housing Jagdeep Singh will hold public consultations by engaging with the stakeholders from REHDA Penang to the Housebuyers Association.

Continue reading ‘Penang State Government To Get Public Feedback On A Proposed Levy Of 3% On The Transacted Price Of Property In Penang By Foreigners In 2014.(en/cn)’

2014 Budget Continues BN’s 5D Policy Of Being Divisive, Discriminatory, Deceit, Debt And Deficits.(en/bm/cn)

Published on October 27, 2013, 4:11 pm in Economy. 0 Comments

Press Statement By Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng In Kuala Lumpur On 27.10.2013.

The 2014 Budget is disappointing,not only because it offered nothing to Penang being a PR-ruled state, especially by failing to fulfil BN’s promise made in 2007 of building a Mass Rail Transit(MRT). The 2014 Budget was also discriminatory in providing only funding for groups that supported BN in the last general elections, until MCA leaders questioned why there was no funding for government-aided secondary schools(Sekolah Menengah Jenis Kebangsaan).

By continuing to divide the people into different groups and discriminating against them by denying funding given to others proves that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s assurances at the Gerakan General Assembly yesterday that BN will uphold the principles of being moderate, progressive, centrist, inclusive and fair is just empty rhetoric that deceives no one. In other words 2014 Budget is not about 1Malaysia or national reconciliation but instead continues BN’s 5D policy of being Divisive, Discriminatory, Deceit, Debt and Deficits.

Continue reading ‘2014 Budget Continues BN’s 5D Policy Of Being Divisive, Discriminatory, Deceit, Debt And Deficits.(en/bm/cn)’

DAP Central Executive Committee(CEC) Sets Up 2 Reconciliation Committees To Resolve And Reconcile Internal Party Differences With The First Tasks Directed Towards Kedah, Melaka And Johor(en/bm/cn)

Published on October 27, 2013, 2:30 pm in Party. 0 Comments

Press Statement By DAP Secretary-General And MP For Bagan Lim Guan Eng In Kuala Lumpur On 27.10.2013.

The DAP Central Executive Committee(CEC) at its meeting on 23 October 2013 decided to establish 2 Reconciliation Committees comprising of DAP CEC members to foster party unity and enhance comradeship through the process of engagement, factual understanding and process management in order to reconcile and resolve internal differences.

The CEC members appointed to either one of the two Reconciliation Committees are as follows:-

Continue reading ‘DAP Central Executive Committee(CEC) Sets Up 2 Reconciliation Committees To Resolve And Reconcile Internal Party Differences With The First Tasks Directed Towards Kedah, Melaka And Johor(en/bm/cn)’

Information Leak Bans Under the New Amended Penal Code Reinforces Secrecy Of All Information Effectively Sabotaging Freedom of Infomation Enactments Passed By Penang As Well As Allowing The Federal Government To Cover Up Corruption, Abuses of Power and Wrongdoings By Government Leaders And Public Officials.(en/cn)

Published on October 24, 2013, 2:36 pm in Corruption. 0 Comments

Press Statement By Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng In Komtar, George Town On 24.10.2013.

The recently amended Penal Code on 22.10.2013, particularly section 203A concerning the offence of ‘disclosure of information’ (“Section 203A”), effectively bans disclosure of any information obtained in performing his or her duties and subsequent disclosure by any third party of such information. Information leak bans under the new amended Penal Code reinforces secrecy of all information and effectively sabotages Freedom of Information Enactments passed by Penang and Selangor as well as allowing the Federal Government to cover up corruption, abuses of power and wrongdoings by government leaders and public officials.

Section 203A directly contradicts Minister in Prime Minister’s Department, YB Puan Hajah Nancy Shukri’s assurances that section 203A will not deter whistleblowers from exposing acts of corruption in the public service and/or rendered as redundant. The Whistleblower Protection Act 2010 (“WPA”) is meaningless as it is stripped of all effect and powers a paper and toothless tiger.

Continue reading ‘Information Leak Bans Under the New Amended Penal Code Reinforces Secrecy Of All Information Effectively Sabotaging Freedom of Infomation Enactments Passed By Penang As Well As Allowing The Federal Government To Cover Up Corruption, Abuses of Power and Wrongdoings By Government Leaders And Public Officials.(en/cn)’

The Federal Government Should Reveal Figures Of Investment In The Services Sector To Seek Convergence Of The Manufacturing, Services And Public Sector If Malaysia Is To Succeed In Transforming Into A High-Income Economy.(en/cn)

Published on October 23, 2013, 1:48 pm in Economy. 0 Comments

Press Statement By Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng In Komtar, George Town On 23.10.2013.

Malaysia must succeed in developing the services sector to escape the middle-income trap and become a developed economy with a per-capita income of USD 15,000 by 2020. What we need to do is to ensure a partnership of equals between the 3 sectors of manufacturing, services and government.

In other words, a partnership with capital, labour, innovators with the government as an enabler. The government plays an important role as an enabler between manufacturing and services sector. Government must also invest and innovate.

Continue reading ‘The Federal Government Should Reveal Figures Of Investment In The Services Sector To Seek Convergence Of The Manufacturing, Services And Public Sector If Malaysia Is To Succeed In Transforming Into A High-Income Economy.(en/cn)’

Felda Should Justify Inflated Prices For Its RM500 Million London Hotels In Overpaying RM100 Million And Openly Defying One Of The Main Thrusts Of The Federal Government’s Economic Transformation Plan(ETP) Of Divestment Of Non-Core Assets.(en/bm/cn)

Published on October 23, 2013, 10:41 am in Economy. 0 Comments

Press Statement By DAP Secretary-General And MP For Bagan Lim Guan Eng In Kuala Lumpur On 23.10.2013.

Felda should justify inflated prices for its RM500 million London hotels in overpaying RM100 millon and openly defying one of the main thrusts of the Federal government’s Economic Transformation Plan(ETP) of divestment of non-core assets. An online portal today reported that Felda’s £97.9 million (RM495 million) deal for the 198-unit Grand Plaza service apartments in Bayswater, London is overpriced when high-end real estate agents Savills and Knight Frank had only valued the property at £80 million (RM408 million) in the past few years. In other words Felda overpaid by nearly RM100 million!

This has raised fears that any economic downturn would cause state-linked Malaysian firms buying up London properties at inflated prices to lose tens of millions of pounds in public funds. Felda has neither prior expertise nor intimate knowledge whatsoever in running hotels. To-date both Felda and the Federal government has refused to explain how Felda hopes to turn in a profit over and above the cost of its RM500 million London hotel investments.

Continue reading ‘Felda Should Justify Inflated Prices For Its RM500 Million London Hotels In Overpaying RM100 Million And Openly Defying One Of The Main Thrusts Of The Federal Government’s Economic Transformation Plan(ETP) Of Divestment Of Non-Core Assets.(en/bm/cn)’

Low Property Overhang In Shops In Malaysia Highlights The Growing Success Of Building Up Penang And Fulfilling KPMG’s Predictions As One Of The 31 Future Global Business Process Outsourcing(BPO) Hubs In The World. (en/bm/cn)

Published on October 22, 2013, 12:02 pm in Penang. 0 Comments

Press Statement By Pennag Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng In Komtar, George Town On 22.10.2013.

According to THE EDGE MALAYSIA EDITION of 21 OCTOBER 2013, for the second quarter of 2013, Penang had amongst the lowest property overhang for unsold shops, residential and industrial units in the country. There were only 40 shop units valued at RM 17.11 million unsold, 163 residential units unsold at RM 63.4 million and only 25 industrial lots unsold at RM6.34 million in the second quarter of 2013.(see graph below)

Other cities that may suffer a glut of office space, but Penang is not facing this problem and may even face a shortage. The low property overhang in shops in Malaysia highlights the growing success of building up Penang and fulfilling KPMG’s predictions as one of the 31 future global Business Process Outsourcing(BPO) hubs in the world.

Continue reading ‘Low Property Overhang In Shops In Malaysia Highlights The Growing Success Of Building Up Penang And Fulfilling KPMG’s Predictions As One Of The 31 Future Global Business Process Outsourcing(BPO) Hubs In The World. (en/bm/cn)’

Syarikat Prasarana Negara Berhad(Prasarana) Group Managing Director Shahril Mokhtar Should Not Rely On Insults In His Tweets That Demeans Me As A “Cendol Seller” To Evade Explaining How Prasarana’s Business Model Based On Double-Standards Can Be Both Profitable And Fulfill Its Statutory Duty Of Providing A “Public Good” Of A Reliable And Efficient Public Transport. (en/cn)

Published on October 18, 2013, 5:42 pm in Federal government. 0 Comments

Press Statement By Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng In Kuala Lumpur On 18.10.2013.

Syarikat Prasarana Negara Berhad(Prasarana) Group Managing Director Shahril Mokhtar Should Not Rely On Insults In His Tweets That Demeans Me As A “Cendol Seller” To Evade Explaining How Prasarana’s Business Model Based On Double-Standards Can Be Both Profitable And Fulfill Its Statutory Duty Of Providing A “Public Good” Of A Reliable And Efficient Public Transport.

Syarikat Prasarana Negara Berhad(Prasarana) Group Managing Director Datuk Shahril Mokhtar should not rely on insults in his tweets, that demeans me as a “cendol seller” to evade explaining how prasarana’s business model based on double-standards can be both profitable and fulfill its statutory duty of providing a “public good” of a reliable and efficient public transport.
 
I do not personally feel insulted to be labelled as a cendol seller as this is an honest occupation in Penang. However my supporters feel this is bad behaviour from a Group Managing Director of Prasarana to make personal attacks against the Penang Chief Minister.
 
Clearly Shahril shows that he is bankrupt of ideas in managing a Government Linked Corporation(GLC) with billions of ringgit in assets and responsible for the country’s LRT and Monorail systems as well as operates RapidKL and RapidPenang.  He is incompetent, unprofessional and unfit to be a Group Managing Director of Prasarana, if his response to public criticism is to make personal insults.
 
Continue reading ‘Syarikat Prasarana Negara Berhad(Prasarana) Group Managing Director Shahril Mokhtar Should Not Rely On Insults In His Tweets That Demeans Me As A “Cendol Seller” To Evade Explaining How Prasarana’s Business Model Based On Double-Standards Can Be Both Profitable And Fulfill Its Statutory Duty Of Providing A “Public Good” Of A Reliable And Efficient Public Transport. (en/cn)’

The Penang PR State Government Does Not Seek Political Vengeance Against Housing Developers Who Opposed PR By Pouring Huge Sums Of Money In The Last General Elections But Will Adhere To Rules And Procedures That Promotes Certainty, Clarity, Competency And Continuity. (en/bm/cn)

Published on October 18, 2013, 5:40 pm in Federal government. 0 Comments

Message By Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng To Penang Real Estate & Housing Developers’ Association (REHDA) Malaysia, Penang Branch On Their 39th Anniversary Celebrations Released In Komtar, Penang On 17.10.2013

The Penang PR State Government Does Not Seek Political Vengeance Against Housing Developers Who Opposed PR By Pouring Huge Sums Of Money In The Last General Elections But Will Adhere To Rules And Procedures That Promotes Certainty, Clarity, Competency And Continuity.

I want to refer to a letter to the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak by a young 27 year old Malaysian woman Siti Hajar questioning the wisdom of the government’s decision to increase petrol prices. She revealed that the middle-income group is feeling the pinch with the rising costs of living because their salaries are not low enough to qualify them to receive the BR1M RM 1,000 aid, but not high enough to buy their own homes because of escalating house prices.

REDHA has played an important role representing the interests of developers in Penang.  In seeing development, the crying need of those who are less wealthy, who have yet to own a home, have to be met.  For this reason, the state government has undertaken to build 22,172 units of affordable housing throughout the 5 districts of Penang and adopt controls to ensure that housing developers do their fair share of building affordable housing.

I urge REHDA members to support the state government’s initiatives in building affordable homes and raise any concerns with the state government. The state government does not believe in political vengeance nor in discriminating Penangites based on race, religion, political background or social standing.

Continue reading ‘The Penang PR State Government Does Not Seek Political Vengeance Against Housing Developers Who Opposed PR By Pouring Huge Sums Of Money In The Last General Elections But Will Adhere To Rules And Procedures That Promotes Certainty, Clarity, Competency And Continuity. (en/bm/cn)’

BN Is Destroying Religious Harmony In Malaysia By Irresponsibly And Deviously Exploiting Islam For Selfish Political Gain By Allowing The Word ‘Allah’ To Be Used By Christians In Sabah And Sarawak In Their Worship, Including In The Malay-Language Bible Al-Kitab, But Not In Peninsular Malaysia (en/cn)

Published on October 18, 2013, 5:37 pm in Federal government. 0 Comments

Press Statement By DAP Secretary-General Lim Guan Eng And MP For Bagan In Kuala Lumpur On 17.10.2013.

BN Is Destroying Religious Harmony In Malaysia By Irresponsibly And Deviously Exploiting Islam For Selfish Political Gain By Allowing The Word ‘Allah’ To Be Used By Christians In Sabah And Sarawak In Their Worship, Including In The Malay-Language Bible Al-Kitab, But Not In Peninsular Malaysia.

BN is destroying religious harmony in Malaysia by irresponsibly and deviously exploiting islam for selfish political gain by allowing the word ‘Allah’ to be used by Christians in Sabah and Sarawak in their worship, including in the Malay-language bible Al-Kitab, but not in Peninsular Malaysia. This is the only conclusion to be made from Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Joseph Kurup surprising announcement as reported by Sin Chew Daily today on the cabinet decision yesterday.

Joseph Kurup said the cabinet decided to fall back on the 10-point solution because this issue has created much dissatisfaction and worry among Sabah and Sarawak Christians. The 10-point solution allows for the importation into and printing of Bibles of any language in Malaysia including al-Kitab which uses the word ‘Allah’. The question arises then is what about Sabahans and Sarawakians working in Peninsular Malaysia – are they permitted or banned from using “Allah” in Kuala Lumpur or Johor Baru?
 
Clearly this Cabinet decision shows that the Home Ministry’s decision to ban the use of the word “Allah” in the Catholic publication, “The Herald” is not based on protecting the sanctity of Islam. Instead the proposed ban on the word “Allah” is a naked attempt to openly and directly infringe on the rights of non-Muslim of freedom of religion so that UMNO can score political points with Muslims and Malays.
 
Continue reading ‘BN Is Destroying Religious Harmony In Malaysia By Irresponsibly And Deviously Exploiting Islam For Selfish Political Gain By Allowing The Word ‘Allah’ To Be Used By Christians In Sabah And Sarawak In Their Worship, Including In The Malay-Language Bible Al-Kitab, But Not In Peninsular Malaysia (en/cn)’

In Failing To Stop Corruption, The Prime Minister Must Explain Plans To Cut State Subsidies, Broaden Its Tax Base And Manage Spending ‘Prudently’ To Avoid Malaysia’s Credit Rating From Being Cut By Fitch Ratings (en/cn/bm)

Published on October 16, 2013, 3:07 pm in Federal government. 0 Comments

Press Statement By DAP Secretary-General Lim Guan Eng And MP For Bagan In Kuala Lumpur On 16.10.2013.

In Failing To Stop Corruption, The Prime Minister Must Explain Plans To Cut State Subsidies, Broaden Its Tax Base And Manage Spending ‘Prudently’ To Avoid Malaysia’s Credit Rating From Being Cut By Fitch Ratings.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak must explain how he plans to cut state subsidies, broaden its tax base and manage spending ‘prudently’ to avoid Malaysia’s credit rating from being cut by Fitch Ratings. Fitch Ratings had cutMalaysia’s credit outlook from stable to negative in July, citing rising debt levels and a lack of budgetary reform.

At 53.3%, Malaysia’s debt-to-gross domestic product(GDP) ratio is the highest among 12 emerging Asian markets after Sri Lanka. With government guarantees, the government’s credit exposure was 70.2% of GDP as of the end of the second quarter, up from 66.6% a year earlier. Malaysia household debt to GDP ratio is even higher at 83% as at 2013, up from 66.7% in 2004, the second highest in Asia.

Is Najib talking about further increase in petrol, sugar and food prices when he talked of cutting state subsidies? Is Najib going to implement open competitive tenders to cut down crony capitalism when he talked of managing spending prudently?

Continue reading ‘In Failing To Stop Corruption, The Prime Minister Must Explain Plans To Cut State Subsidies, Broaden Its Tax Base And Manage Spending ‘Prudently’ To Avoid Malaysia’s Credit Rating From Being Cut By Fitch Ratings (en/cn/bm)’

Syarikat Prasarana Negara Berhad(Prasarana) Should Explain How A Business Model Based On Double-Standards Can Be Both Profitable And Fulfill Its Statutory Duty Of Providing A “Public Good” Of A Reliable And Efficient Public Transport. (en/cn)

Published on October 16, 2013, 9:18 am in Federal government. 0 Comments

Press Statement By Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng In Komtar, George Town On 15.10.2013.

Syarikat Prasarana Negara Berhad(Prasarana) Should Explain How A Business Model Based On Double-Standards Can Be Both Profitable And Fulfill Its Statutory Duty Of Providing A “Public Good” Of A Reliable And Efficient Public Transport.

Syarikat Prasarana Negara Berhad(Prasarana) should explain how a business model based on double-standards can be both profitable and fulfill its statutory duty of providing a “public good” of a reliable and efficient public transport. This follows Prasarana’s rejection of the Penang state government’s offer of a RM 10 million annual grant in 2011 to provide free bus rides throughout the state of Penang for 7 hours during the peak hours of 6-9am and 4.30pm-8.30pm from Mondays to Fridays.

Prasarana group managing director Datuk Shahril Mokhtar said that accepting the RM10 million annual grant from the Penang state government would worsen the government-linked company’s (GLC) financial position, but he did not state the losses that would be incurred if the offer was accepted. This offer was concluded verbally with all parties concerned during a meeting in Kuala Lumpur in 2011 but was never implemented even though the state government had followed up in writing.

If Prasarana is suddenly so obsessed about profits, then why did they pay in 2011, 1.5 to 2 months bonuses to their staff which is higher than the 1 month bonus received by ordinary government civil servants, despite Prasarana suffering huge losses of RM 763 million? The Auditor-General’s Report 2012 revealed that seven Government-linked corporations(GLCs) rewarded their employees with bonuses despite recording combined losses amounting to RM2bil in 2011.

Continue reading ‘Syarikat Prasarana Negara Berhad(Prasarana) Should Explain How A Business Model Based On Double-Standards Can Be Both Profitable And Fulfill Its Statutory Duty Of Providing A “Public Good” Of A Reliable And Efficient Public Transport. (en/cn)’

Anthony Loke And Gobind Singh Deo Will Respectively Take Disciplinary Action Against Party Members “Wearing Rocket Badges But Have BN Hearts” Who Try To Destroy And Sabotage DAP As Well As Take Legal Action Against BN-Controlled Media Who Persist In Defaming DAP With Lies. (en/cn)

Published on October 16, 2013, 9:15 am in Party. 0 Comments

Press Statement By DAP Secretary-General And MP For Bagan Lim Guan Eng In Kuala Lumpur On 15.10.2013

Anthony Loke And Gobind Singh Deo Will Respectively Take Disciplinary Action Against Party Members “Wearing Rocket Badges But Have BN Hearts” Who Try To Destroy And Sabotage DAP As Well As Take Legal Action Against BN-Controlled Media Who Persist In Defaming DAP With Lies.

DAP National Organising Secretary Sdr Anthony Loke and DAP Legal Bureau head Sdr Gobind Singh Deo have been respectively directed to investigate and take disciplinary action against party members “wearing Rocket badges but have BN hearts” who try to destroy and sabotage DAP as well as take legal action against BN-controlled media who persist in defaming DAP with lies.

The MP for Seremban and State Assemblyman for Chenaah Sdr Anthony Loke will then be requested to submit a formal complaint, if there is a basis for futher action, to the party’s Disciplinary Committee headed by DAP Deputy Chair and MP for Cheras Sdr Tan Kok Wai. At the same time Sdr Gobind will study the statements published by the BN-controlled media to file defamation suits immediately to protect the party from being subjected to further attacks that may give opportunities for any harsh or oppressive action by the Registrar of Societies(ROS).

DAP had created history by being the first political party in Malaysia to appoint an international accounting firm to monitor the entire re-election process from the issuance of notices to delegates to the counting process. This party re-election on 29 September 2013 was forced upon the DAP by the ROS who had refused to give any reason for doing so.

Continue reading ‘Anthony Loke And Gobind Singh Deo Will Respectively Take Disciplinary Action Against Party Members “Wearing Rocket Badges But Have BN Hearts” Who Try To Destroy And Sabotage DAP As Well As Take Legal Action Against BN-Controlled Media Who Persist In Defaming DAP With Lies. (en/cn)’