Khamis, 30 September 2010

Lim Kit Siang

Lim Kit Siang


Don’t turn cash aid matter into a religious issue

Posted: 30 Sep 2010 08:52 PM PDT

By Thomas Lee More than 40 Muslim senior citizens have returned cash aid from the Penang state government due to suspicion and uneasiness over the sources of the funding. Bernama quoted an imam from Pulau Mertajam, Saidin Chik, 72, as saying that he decided to return the money as he learned that it was from [...]

Philosophy Politics Economics

Philosophy Politics Economics


NEM Is Seditious?

Posted: 30 Sep 2010 01:58 AM PDT

The Royal Malaysian Police should spend its precious time investigating criminal cases, especially those involving serious crimes, instead of wasting man-hours on trivial or non-issues

I have been invited to give a statement at the Shah Alam Police Headquarters today at 1pm with regards to one of the suggestions I made during the Selangor Budget 2011 dialogue on 26 July 2010 where I called for a review of the current bumiputra housing discount policy.

I have suggested that discounts for luxury homes valued at RM500,000 and above, and commercial properties valued more than RM2 million be discontinued. Under the current policy, the rich benefit much more than the poor as a house valued at RM2 million will receive RM140,000 discount while a medium cost flat worth RM100,000 will only get RM100,000. I have proposed instead for the discounts to be channelled towards helping the poor, particularly the bumiputra poor.

I was informed that the investigating officer that I'm now being investigated under Section 4(1) of the Sedition Act.

I understand that the Menteri Besar of Selangor, Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim will also have his statement taken as he had commented on the same issue to the press in the subsequent days.

The whole idea of being investigated for Sedition for the policy proposals which I have raised is just completely frivolous and ludicrous.

Firstly, the policy suggestion is completely in line with the Prime Minister's call for reform in the countries' race-based affirmative action policy under the "New Economic Model (NEM)". This reforms include his often quoted remarks that the affirmative action policies will be "market-friendly and merit-based" and focused on the lowest 40% of income earners, the unlike in the past.

My policy suggestion is fully in-line with the Prime Minister's "NEM" where the removal of the discounts will make it more "market-friendly" for property developers and prevent abuses by middlemen who profit from re-selling the discounted properties to non-bumiputras.

In addition, it is also "merit-based" as the poor will receive the necessary assistance through the discount while the already wealthy will no longer be given such disproportionate assistance. Based on my suggestion, the policy will definitely be focused to benefit the bottom 40% of income earners.

How in the world is my suggestion seditious is really beyond me. If my policy suggestion is seditious, then sure the NEM is the same and perhaps the police should also bring in the Prime Minister for investigation on possible sedition in his "market-friendly and merit-based" affirmative action policy statements.

The fact that the event had taken place at the end of July and the investigation is now only taking place 2 months later with the installation of the new Inspector-General of Police, Tan Sri Ismail Omar shows that the new regime is becoming a bigger cats paw of the Umno and Barisan Nasional to intimidate members of the opposition and to frighten the rakyat into supporting the ruling parties.

I empathize with the officers who are investigating my case as well as the other cases involving my colleagues such as Teo Nie Ching and Ean Yong Hian Wah for they are being forced to carry out the investigations despite the obvious frivolousness of the cases.

I have cooperated fully with the investigating officer but I call upon the the new IGP to stop making a complete mockery of the police force by spending time investigating "non-issues" and start focusing its under-staffed criminal investigation department on the various serious crimes affecting the country today.

Umno To Start Halal-Currency System?

Posted: 29 Sep 2010 10:56 PM PDT

Umno continues to heighten irresponsible and incendiary race and religious rhetoric will drive Malaysia towards becoming a nation of extreme contradictions with the latest accusation that the Penang Government funds its programmes using funds from non-halal sources

Umno has continued its relentless attacks on the DAP, particularly the Penang state government with the latest being that the state government funded its welfare initiatives with funds contributed by non-halal entities such as the Penang Turf Club, and by extension, the Muslims in the state are benefiting from "unclean" money.

While the Penang Government has disclosed the fact that the accusation is completely and utter baseless when it was shown that such contributions are only channelled towards the eradiction of non-Muslim hardcore poor, the more critical point is perhaps "so what if it is?"

Umno leaders have shown utmost hypocrisy when even the Finance Ministry, who is led by the Prime Minister himself, have replied in Parliament that the Federal Government does not separate it source of revenue from halal and non-halal sources in its consolidated funds. This means that the revenue from gaming sources such as Tanjung PLC and Berjaya Sports Toto as well as alcoholic beverage companies such as Guiness Anchor Bhd (GAB) and Carlsberg are used for the benefit of all Malaysians, regardless of race, religion or region. And that is absolutely how it should be.

What is more worry however is the tendency of the desperate Umno leaders who wants to cling on to power at all cost will start calling for ludicrous ideas to be implemented by preying on the fears and insecurity of the wider public.

By calling for a separation of funds from halal and non-halal sources, Umno politicians are opening a whole new Pandora box which will lead ultimately to Malaysia becoming a global basket case. Is the Penang opposition leader, Azahar Ibrahim arguing for a case whereby Muslim companies, individuals and organisations cannot trade with say, alcoholic beverage companies like GAB even for the purchase of stationery or furniture because GAB derives its revenue and profits from non-halal sources? Or worse, is Umno arguing for the farcical case where Ah Chong the butcher, or Muthu who works for Berjaya Sports Toto, cannot purchase nasi lemak from Pak Ali because the latter should not "benefit" from such sources of income?

Will Najib put out a new proposal during the announcement of the 2011 Budget calling for a duel currency system where the halal Ringgit is used for transactions which are halal while the non-halal Ringgit is used for transactions which involves non-halal items or services, and hence preventing Muslims from sourcing any of the revenue or benefiting in any way, from sources of funds which has at one time or another "passed through" non-halal transactions?

Najib has called for "moderation" at the United Nations and his call must be supported. However, Najib must first reign in his party of hare-brained extremists who are using all means, including racially and religiously extreme views to politically assasinate DAP and Pakatan Rakyat who are clearly winning over the rakyat with its inclusive, moderate and progressive policies.

The relentless race and religious attacks by Umno must cease immediately to create the conducive environment for "moderation", to defeat "extremism" and to bring Malaysia back into the forefront of the international investment map.

Najib Adopts Middle Malaysia?

Posted: 29 Sep 2010 05:53 PM PDT

Najib needs to win over extremists in Umno, just as he calls on the moderates of the world to defeat the extremists in the world.

The Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak made a good speech at the United Nations which we could not fault. As reported in The Star today, the prime minister said there was a need to marginalise the extremists, and the "global movement of the moderates" of all faiths was needed to work together to make this a success.

Najib also said these extremists had held the world hostage with their bigotry and bias, adding that "we must choose moderation over extremism... We must choose negotiations over confrontation. We must choose to work together and not against each other. And we must give this effort utmost priority, for time is not on our side".

What is interesting however, is the message and choice of words used by the Prime Minister bore remarkable resemblance to the speech made by DAP Secretary-General and Penang Chief Minister, Lim Guan Eng at the DAP National Convention held in Ipoh, January this year where Lim was slammed by Umno for calling for a "middle Malaysia".

Then, Lim has called for resolution of religious disputes "not through confrontation but consultation and not by force but by negotiations" with a specific reference to the use of "Allah" controversy.

Lim had said that "we are not a nation at war with itself. What we are witnessing is UMNO is at war with the values that stand for openness, logical reasoning and mutual respect. When BN talks of international benchmarks, questions are raised as to why the global Islamic practice from Middle-East to Indonesia allowing Christians' usage of the word "Allah", not applicable in Malaysia."

We had called for a Middle Malaysia which prefers co-operation not conflict, consultation instead of confrontation and an inclusive shared society rather than an exclusive separate society. And to embrace Middle Malaysia, Pakatan Rakyat must be seen as moderate and inclusive and distance and differentiate ourselves from our exclusive, racist, extremist opponents.

It is therefore "rich" coming from the Prime Minister to call for global moderation when he has failed to decisively clamp down on race and religious extremism, especially those from his very own political party.

Najib has no locus standi to preach global moderation when today Umno is still adamant on eliminating the rights of the other Abrahamic faiths to use the term "Allah", his government's refuses to deal with racist school principals decisively and the National Civics Bureau continues to preach race supremacy as highlighted in the speech of its Deputy Director which was supported by Puteri Umno. What is perhaps worse is Najib's complete lack of willingness to openly condemn extremist organisations like Perkasa due to political expediency as the latter is constituted by Umno's own members.

We must applaud Najib's speech at the UN and support all and any effort to promote moderation and combat extremism. However the Prime Minister's pretty speech will be only deemed worthless if he refuses to steer his own party towards moderation, to achieve a middle Malaysia.

the Chamber of Canning... 您的委托, 您的声音!

the Chamber of Canning... 您的委托, 您的声音!


國家晉非常緊要關頭‧林吉祥預測‧半年後大選

Posted: 30 Sep 2010 06:00 AM PDT

Rabu, 29 September 2010

Charles Santiago

Charles Santiago


கிள்ளான் புக்கிட் திங்கியில் தங்லோங் விழா

Posted: 28 Sep 2010 11:42 PM PDT

மூலம் : மலேசிய நண்பன்


Lim Kit Siang

Lim Kit Siang


Would Najib dare to revamp his Cabinet to ensure that only Ministers who publicly declare undivided loyalty to the 1Malaysia concept to build a nation where every Malaysian regard himself/herself as Malaysian first race second have a place in government?

Posted: 29 Sep 2010 07:43 PM PDT

The weak-kneed Cabinet decision on the latest anti-1Malaysia offence of the Biro Tata Negara (BTN) is a great disappointment and shame and the greatest disservice to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's 1Malaysia concept. In the first place, why was the announcement of the Cabinet decision to ask the Chief Secretary to investigate the latest [...]

Malaysia in the Era of Globalization #34

Posted: 29 Sep 2010 07:32 PM PDT

By M. Bakri Musa Chapter 5: Understanding Globalization Leveling Effects of Globalization What critics in the West fear most about globalization is its leveling effect. It means that an uneducated American will fare as badly as an illiterate Indonesian, but at the same time, a skillful Indian programmer can compete equally with his American counterpart. [...]

No place for religious bigotry

Posted: 29 Sep 2010 03:31 PM PDT

by Thomas Lee My Sinchew 29.9.10 The Council of Churches Malaysia (CCM) should be commended for taking a firm stand against a so-called Christian preacher for attacking and insulting Islam in a series of videos posted on YouTube. Certainly, there is no place for such a bigoted hostile attitude toward those of another faith from [...]

Let Najib declare on his return from his “Rise, Moderates” speech in UN whether he is prepared to “galvanise” the moderates in Malaysia to draw the line against the rise in extremism, whether racial bigotry or religious intolerance, led by DPM Muhyiddin

Posted: 29 Sep 2010 06:39 AM PDT

The Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak in his just-completed foreign trip made a strong call for global moderation, not only making it the theme in his maiden address to the United Nations General Assembly but also publicly commending United States President Barack Obama for the latter's "courageous public position" in dealing with Islamophobia in [...]

Blog@Wengsan...博客@永山

Blog@Wengsan...博客@永山


過度投資導致房地產泡沫

Posted: 29 Sep 2010 05:17 PM PDT

DAP Fund-Raising Concert

Posted: 29 Sep 2010 12:00 AM PDT

New street-lights in SS1 and SS3.

Posted: 28 Sep 2010 09:32 PM PDT

SERVANTHOOD

SERVANTHOOD


Menteri Besar Perak (BN) Should Explain Why The Sudden Drop Of RM247.5 Million In State Reserve In Less Than 2 Mths Or He Lied To The Perak State Ass.

Posted: 28 Sep 2010 08:00 PM PDT

Perak Statement

BN Perak Menteri Besar Dato' Seri Zambry Bin Abdul Kadir, the court appointed Menteri Besar must explain why the sudden drop of RM247.5 Million in State reserve in less than 2 months or did he lied to the Perak State Assembly?

On 3/8/2010, Dato' Seri Zambry Bin Abdul Kadir stated in the Perak State Assembly that the State has RM847.5 Million (according to book value) in reserve or RM928.36 Million if based on current market value.

The New Sunday Times in its 26/9/2010 edition quoted the Perak State current reserve stands only at RM600 Millions. Why a sudden drop of RM247.5 Millions in less than 2 months?

At the 3/8/2010 State Assembly sitting, Dato' Zamry boasted an increase in revenue of RM117.26 Milliion for the period of January to July 2010. What has happened to this additional amount? The state reserve should have increased in view of this additional income.

Dato' Zambry has nothing to boast concerning this additional RM117.26 million as I was given to understand this amount comes mainly from land premium payments. I was not given the opportunity to verify this from the State Government as Dato' Seri Zambry has insisted that the State Assembly can only sit for one day so that the elected representatives do not have the opportunity to question the state government on numerous issues. Income from land premiums only mean that the BN government has been approving many pieces of land to cronies at prices much below the market value. The increase in income was not due to good governance, competence, thriftiness or creation of wealth through effective development programmes.

The New Sunday Times report further quoted the State Financial Officer Datuk Jamalludin Al Amini Ahmad as saying that the State Treasury is recommending a RM50.0 Million deficit budget for 2011. Why further deficit when there is so much additional income?

Under the Pakatan Rakyat 10 months' rule, we increased the revenue by RM103 Million or about 17% of the state revenue without increasing any form of taxes despite giving water, study grants and other assistance to the poor. We also collected only nominal premium and quit rent for conversion of agricultural land to building category for non profit organizations like the schools, religious organization and dialysis centres which amount to millions of ringgit.

Dato' Zambry and the BN State Government have a duty to answer the people with regard to the abovesaid matters.

The people demands transparency and accountability from BN Perak Government but many people reminded me not to expect too much from robbers.



Dated this 28th day of September, 2010.



DATO' NGEH KOO HAM
DAP Perak Chairman
MP for Beruas & State Assemblyman for Sitiawan

YB. R.S.N RAYER - A.D.U.N. SERI DELIMA, PENANG

YB. R.S.N RAYER - A.D.U.N. SERI DELIMA, PENANG


RUMAH TERBUKA HARI RAYA AIDILFITRI - DUN Seri Delima

Posted: 29 Sep 2010 06:20 AM PDT

Markas PAS Sg.Gelugor


Full Album: Click Here

Jawatan Kosong

Posted: 28 Sep 2010 07:36 AM PDT

Jawatan Kosong Secara Kontrak Di Bawah Pentadbiran Kerajaan Negeri Pulau Pinang bagi jawatan Pembantu Tadbir (P/O) Gred N17 dan Pengawal Keselamatan Gred KP11.


MY VOICE FOR NATION

MY VOICE FOR NATION


Soi Lek should have to admit MCA's mistakes and to apologise to the Chinese community for going against the community’s wishes in the “528”...........

Posted: 28 Sep 2010 08:31 PM PDT

Philosophy Politics Economics

Philosophy Politics Economics


Najib Must Ask Utusan To Apologise

Posted: 29 Sep 2010 06:45 AM PDT

Utusan Malaysia has continued its campaign to slander and libel Pakatan Rakyat leaders and in particular, the DAP with baseless allegations and insinuations with the specific intent to poison the minds of its readers and sow the seeds of racial hatred.

In a report earlier, Utusan Malaysia quoted a Mohd. Zahid Md. Arip who tried to implicate DAP as being connected, even if remotely to the ghastly murders of Datuk Sosilawati Lawiya and 3 others. The report in its final 2 paragraphs wrote:
Dalam pada itu, Mohd. Zahid mempersoalkan kenapa DAP langsung tidak bersuara bagi mengutuk pembunuhan kejam tersebut, sedangkan sebelum ini parti berkenaan gah mendakwa organisasi mereka sebagai sebuah parti yang memperjuangkan hak semua pihak.

"Apakah tindakan membisu ini mempunyai kaitan dengan dakwaan yang mengatakan bahawa suspek utama adalah ahli seumur hidup parti tersebut. Jika benar (dakwaan itu), ternyata DAP sebuah parti hipokrit yang hanya memperjuangkan kepentingan kaum tertentu sahaja," katanya.
First of all, the question of DAP not condemning the murders does not arise. The party condemns all crimes, much more so heinous crimes such as the above and we have been at the forefront both in and outside parliament to call for the Royal Malaysian Police to increase their efficiency and effectiveness in fighting crime in this country. It is however the Barisan Nasional government who has been extremely pleased with the crime situation in Malaysia which has escalated to record levels before declining recently according to official government statistics.

Secondly and more importantly, it is a disgusting attempt by the Umno-owned newspaper to insinuate and allege through its "news" report that the murder suspects are life-members of DAP, with no attempt at all to confirm the veracity of the allegations. We would like to put the record straight that both the suspects, Pathmanabhan Nalliannen and Surendran Nalliannen, are not members of the party at any point of time.

However, even if they were a member of a political party, whether the DAP or BN, the political affiliation have absolutely no relation whatsoever to the heinous crime which they are alleged to have committed. A crime is a crime, and even Umno has its own leader who has been found guilty for murder.

The unethical and downright unscrupulous attempt by Utusan Malaysia to use any and every opportunity to slander and publish lies about the DAP with the sole intent to incite racial hatred among its largely Malay readers signifies the utter desperation of the Umno leaders to maintain its hold on power, even if it were to mean using immoral means. In recent weeks, Utusan has headlined inflammatory and slanderous stories such as "Nama Guan Eng ganti Agong" and alleging that the MP for Serdang, Teo Nie Ching had delivered a religious sermon in a surau, which were all based on manipulated lies.

Despite that obvious, the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak has repeated defended Utusan Malaysia. In September 18 last year, he had at a breaking fast function at Sri Utusan Printing Complex hailed Utusan for "ethical and unbiased" reporting. Just earlier this month, he told the public while breaking fast at The New Straits Times headquarters to "trust the mainstream media and not the alternative media which are based on half truths."

The Government Transformation Plan (GTP) launched by the Prime Minister himself has called for an "all-inclusive 1Malaysia media" which will "instil and internalise a commitment to journalistic professionalism" to prevent writers from "abusing the greater freedom of expression now available to
use terms and express feelings that are racist or inflammatory in nature and tone".

Instead of just expressing his "sadness" on the "rise of extremism" in the country without naming those guilty of the so-called "extremism", Datuk Seri Najib should openly reprimand parties who repeatedly lie and slander to harness the feelings of ill-will and extremism among the rakyat, especially Umno's own Utusan Malaysia. The Prime Minister's failure to act will not only mean blanket approval for Utusan to continue its reckless actions against the DAP and Pakatan Rakyat, but it will also mean the height of irresponsibility by jettisoning of his own "1Malaysia" goal.

To protect the good name of the party, the DAP is left with no choice by to instruct its lawyers to review this latest defamatory report and take all necessary actions against Utusan Malaysia, including suing the newspaper for damages in the court of law.

Lim Lip Eng

Lim Lip Eng


Seized animals gone in three months

Posted: 28 Sep 2010 06:19 PM PDT

Source: http://www.sun2surf.com/article.cfm?id=52300 (By Natalie Heng, 28 Sep 2010)
Some 90% of the animals seized by the Department of Wildlife and National Parks from a warehouse in Taman Wahyu three months ago have allegedly either died or gone missing, claims an informant.

The wildlife haul of over 20 species encompassed thousands of birds – including a rare pair of Cenderawasih, also known as the Bird of Paradise said to be worth RM1 million in the black market – as well as leopard cats, albino pygmy monkeys and domestic cats. Other rare birds seized in the raid were the blue-crowned Hanging Parrot, the black-coloured Palm Cockatoo and the white rump Shama.

The news of the missing or dead animals was revealed by Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng who said the informer, who claimed to be a wildlife department staff, approached him a week ago. "He told me that the animals found deceased had clearly died due to starvation," Lim said at a press conference today. He added that the informer had not told him how many animals were dead and how many were missing.
The animals had been handed over to the department in July by the police, who were investigating a stolen car ring, stumbled upon them during a raid on the warehouse.

Lim said he had tried to verify the information with the department last Friday but did not manage to speak to any top official. Instead, he was told the status of the seized animals is unavailable as the case is still under investigation. "That is unacceptable to me; it has been three months since the seizure. I challenge the Department of Wildlife to tell the public where the animals are," he said. Lim also said he hoped that wildlife and animal protection NGOs would join in and put pressure on the wildlife department to reveal the status of the animals seized in July.

The department's director-general could not be reached for comment.

Violet Yong

Violet Yong


Low Lying Power Cable Problem at BDC Resettlement Scheme

Posted: 29 Sep 2010 01:19 AM PDT

I am tired of excuses given by authorities when they are incompetence and inefficient especially so when they know they are are monopolizing the trade.


In July, I went to see a resident at the BDC Resettlement area after he complained about the power cables hanging dangerously low over his house. I checked a number of houses in the same area and found most of them are facing the same problems.


After writing to SESCO on July 7, I received a reply from them telling me that rectification works are due

for the lines near the houses I went to and others, and occurred as a result of the soft ground condition and drainage clearing activities, which has caused the poles to sink further.


The SESCO also complained of having no proper road reserve and their intention to plant the poles at the edge of the drain is subjected to soil erosion and pole sinking problems.


It further on went to explain that there are strong objections from the land owners to use their land to place and plant the poles.


Now, would these same people want the poles to be planted in their own house before doing that to others?


Do not tell me about the road reserve. Do something about it. I understand that when the area was initially planned, nothing is perfect.


The thing is to do upgrading work and maintenance so that the lives of these people would be improved. If money and resources were not squandered by the present government, there would still be funds to be used to improve the lives of everyone, including the BDC Resettlement residents.


SESCO should be coordinating with the respective Local Councils to improve on the drainage and the planting of poles.


For once, do something decent for the people instead of moaning and complaining, giving one thousand and one reasons why things cannot be done.


If there is a will, there will be a way.