Sabtu, 4 Februari 2012

Philosophy Politics Economics

Philosophy Politics Economics

Letter: Schemes for poor shall not be at the expense of EPF contributors

Posted: 04 Feb 2012 07:22 AM PST

Dear YB Tony Pua,

Permit me to introduce myself as a retiree  from private sector who had been an EPF contributor. I thank you very much for bringing up the issue of EPF advancing monies for low cost houses in Willayah Persekutuan. As much as we support schemes for supporting the poor, as rightly pointed out by you and others, it shall not be at the expense of EPF contributors like us. I wish to bring to your kind attention few issues which I hope your team will examine for the benefit of contributors like us. As this has direct and long term implication for every EPF contributor, I humbly request you to vehemently protest and protect innocent contributors like us.

1. Who is the borrower in this case and who is the lender? Only the lender can foreclose a property and if EPF is not the lender what is the use of a collateral? If EPF is not the direct lender what locus standi does EPF  have for foreclosure? Is there loan agreement with EPF and the borrower ie individual borrower? How is EPF going to implement land code act in the event of defaults? Is EPF permitted to lend to individuals who are not even EPF members? Can EPF, in this case as a 3rd party, take any action against defaulters? ( There is no guarantee etc). What recourse does EPF have in the event the organisation behind this does not exist after a few years as these loans can be as long as 25 years?

2. What is EPF's collection arrangement? Who is the debt collector? May be City Hall  of Kuala Lumpur will undertake this function but then what firm arrangements have been made? To disburse funds by March means, probably all formalities are likely to be overlooked.

Hope your team of Ahli Parlimen will will stand behind citizens like us and wish you good luck in all your endeavors.

Yours sincerely,

V

KLIA2: Malaysia Airports Has to Raise Additional RM600m

Posted: 03 Feb 2012 07:21 PM PST

The announcement by Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) to raise additional RM598 million in via new share placement proves that public interest has been compromised as a result of the cost of KLIA2 ballooning from RM1.7 billion to RM3.9 billion

Tan Sri Bashir Ahmad, Managing Director of MAHB had on 29th November 2011 denied that public funds will be used to fund the drastic increase in cost of KLIA2, the new "low-cost" airport.  He has earlier announced that the cost of the KLIA2 has increased to as much as RM3.9 billion.

The cost of the airport first announced in July 2007 by the Transport Minister then Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat was RM1.7 billion.  The airport was also supposed to be completed by September 2011 but has since been delayed several times to the now April 2013 deadline.

Despite Tan Sri Bashir's denial that public funds will not be used, MAHB has announced to Bursa Malaysia on 30th January that it will raise approximately RM598 million from a proposed share placement exercise.  In the info-memo submitted to the stock exchange, MAHB stated that "the gross proceeds to be raised from the Proposed Private Placement will be utilised to part finance the additional capital expenditure to be incurred as a result of the enhancement in specifications for the new low cost carrier at Kuala Lumpur International Airport"

The new equity will be raised via the issuance of 110 million new shares constituting 10% of MAHB share capital.

The action by MAHB to raise additional funds from the market proves that public financial interest has been compromised as a result of the RM2.2 billion increase in cost of KLIA2.

Existing major shareholders of MAHB which act indirectly as trustees to Government and public funds are forced to dilute their shareholding by 10% as a result of the exercise.  Khazanah which owns a majority stake of 54.0% in MAHB before this will have its stake reduced to 49.1%.  Similarly, the Employee Provident Fund (EPF) and Skim Amanah Saham Bumiputera (ASB) will have their 10.3% and 6.8% stakes slashed to 9.4% and 6.2% respectively.

The MAHB info-memo also stated that "assuming that the net earnings of the MAHB Group for the financial year ended 31 December 2011 remains unchanged, the earnings per share (EPS) of the MAHB Group will be reduced proportionately with the increase in the number of MAHB shares".

The above proposed issuance of new shares to raise funds, is on top of RM3.1 billion in debt MAHB has raised in 2010, of which RM2.5 billion has already been drawn down for the purposes of financing the new KLIA2.

Therefore it is completely ridiculous for Tan Sri Bashir to deny that "public funds will not be used" when it is clear, the Government and public interest in the project held by Khazanah, EPF and ASB have been compromised through a dilution of their stake as well as a reduction in earnings.  This has yet to take into account the fact that RM3.1 billion in debt has been incurred as a result of the cost overruns.  What is of concern to the public is the fact that MAHB's ability to repay the debt without future bailout by the Government is by no means assured.

We call upon the Ministry of Transport as well as Khazanah, who act as custodians of public funds and interest in MAHB to initiate and inquiry and investigation into the KLIA2 fiasco to ensure that those who have been negligent, intentional or otherwise, are brought to book and prevent future excesses by the guilty culprits.
Dicatat oleh di

Tiada ulasan:

Catat Ulasan

Langgan: Catat Ulasan (Atom)