Pakistan's Malala, a global icon of girls' education

Anwar kecewa, anggap Bajet 2015 tak munasabah

Cameron: ISIL has nothing to do with the great religion of Islam

UK Prime Minister David Cameron said during the reception that he gave to British Muslim community representatives on the occasion of Eid al-Adha holiday in his official residence on Friday that Islamic State in Iraq and The Levant (ISIL) and the appalling things that they do have nothing to do with the great religion of Islam.

Starting his speech saying "Assalmu Aleykum", Cameron expressed his thanks to British Muslims due to their stance against ISIL and their terrorist acts by kicking off a campaign with the motto of saying "not in my name". UK Premier also described Islam as the religion of peace inspiring daily acts of kindness and generosity.

Cameron also underscored in his speech that feast of sacrifice demonstrates how close together Islam and Christianity are. "We are thinking of sacrifice and we are thinking of compassion. We are thinking of the moment that Abraham showed his readiness to sacrifice his son to god. But god said no you must take a lamb instead. This is the same in my Bible as it is the same in your Koran. But what I love what with you have done with the festive of the Eid is that you have taken it one stage further and said that lamb should be sacrificed in three ways - for family, for friends and neighbors and then a third those who are neediest in our society and in our country. That lesson of sacrifice and compassion is in the heart of Eid," UK Premier added.

SHOTLIST
ENGLAND, LONDON, 10 OCT 2014

Guests of the reception talking to each other
Cameron among guests
VAR of Camerons remarks

DURATION: 03:22

Muslim man from Uganda who went to terror training camps in England can't be deported because it's against his human rights

• Lawyers argued that 30-year-old YM has 'weak ties to his homeland'
• Also say removal would breach the father-of-three's rights to a family life
• The man has committed serious criminal offences from a young age
• They include aggravated burglary and attending terror training camps
• Judges at Court of Appeal granted appeal against immediate removal
• They ruled that he was entitled to have case reconsidered by tribunal

A Muslim man from Uganda who went to terror training camps in England cannot be deported because it is against his human rights.

Lawyers argued that 30-year-old YM, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has weak ties to his homeland and his removal would breach his rights to a family life despite committing serious criminal offences.

The man, who has been convicted of aggravated burglary among other charges, won his appeal against immediate removal back to Uganda by three senior judges at The Court of Appeal today.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2788259/muslim-man-uganda-went-terror-training-camps-england-t-deported-s-against-human-rights.html

Is Nancy closet Perkasa member, asks Guan Eng

Minister Nancy Shukri's latest excuse that threats to burn the Malay Bible were purportedly in line with the Federal Constitution is an even worse "blunder" than her earlier explanation, DAP says.

Its secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said today Nancy's "egregious justification" for the government's inaction against Perkasa president Ibrahim Ali was "an even worse blunder" than the earlier excuse that he was merely "defending Islam".

"By explaining that not prosecuting Ibrahim Ali for threatening to burn Malay or Iban versions of the Bible is in line with the Federal Constitution, Nancy has shown herself at best, a lawyer with no knowledge of the law or at worst, a closet Perkasa supporter and clone of Ibrahim Ali," Lim said in a statement.

He said Nancy's "defending Islam" excuse was "incredible", arguing it does not exist in sedition law "and is completely unacceptable".

The minister, he said, was either "ignorant of the law" or the government was practising "blatant double standards" in letting Ibrahim off the hook at the height of a crackdown using the Sedition Act.

"This 'blatant double standards' ... highlights the abuse of sedition laws as a weapon of mass destruction to persecute those who oppose BN, but will shield pro-BN parties from any prosecution," he said.

'Tell that to S'wak Christians'

Lim challenged Nancy to repeat her excuse, that Ibrahim's call was in line with the Federal Constitution, in front of Christians in her home state of Sarawak.

"Even Sarawak Land Development Minister James Masing has said that this places Islamist extremists above the law and that 'it is acceptable to burn the Bible, insult believers of other faiths and do disrespectful acts in defence of the sanctity of Islam'.

"BN and Nancy’s act of defending Ibrahim is 'most dangerous', as it will allow other extremist groups that make provocative statements and actions to get away with their act by offering a similar excuse," Lim said.

"Would BN and Nancy summon the necessary courage to meet and explain this latest policy decision of BN with Christians and other religious groups who are distraught, distressed and disturbed by this dangerous development?"

Lim also took a swipe at Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's claim to Islamic moderation that was expoused abroad, saying Najib "might as well dissolve his Global Movement of Moderates if this is how the religious faith and rights of non-Muslims are treated".

In contrast, he said, he appreciated the support of many Muslim groups "who were equally shocked by this dangerous policy of BN and opposed the dangerous justification of Nancy" with reminders that it is against Islamic principles.

Although Lim did not name any group, former Umno deputy minister Saifuddin Abdullah notably slammed Nancy yesterday, saying the government should not use such arguments to justify Perkasa's call, as it did not reflect the principles of Islam.

 

Najib unveils Budget 2015 in face of tough year

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak today unveiled details of Budget 2015 ahead of what is expected to be a tougher year for ordinary Malaysians.

The budget comes amid further subsidy cuts on petrol and diesel at the beginning of this month and the anticipated implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) that will come into force next April.

Najib, who is also finance minister, arrived in Parliament in an orange baju Melayu and began addressing the house at 4.05pm.

"This is my sixth budget since I assumed leadership of the administration, and the  country’s 56th budget. The 2015 Budget completes the ten Malaysia Plans," starts the PM.

"Further, in May 2015, the 11th Malaysia Plan (11MP) will be launched. At the same time, a  new approach known as the Malaysian National Development Strategy (MyNDS) is being formulated," he added.

Malaysiakini brings you the salient points of the budget speech here as it unfolds.

Total budget for 2015:

RM273.94 billion (increase of RM9.3 billion):

• Operation expenditure: RM223.44 billion (81.6%)
• Development expenditure: RM50.5 billion (18.4%)

Performance

Projected GDP growth 

 

2015: 5.0% - 6.0%

2014: 5.5% - 6.0%

 

Projected Revenue 

 

2015: RM235.2 bil

2014: RM224.1 bil

 

Projected Deficit 

 

2015: 3.0% of GDP

2014: 3.5%

• Since 2009, 196 projects from 12 national key economic areas (NKEAs) and 6 strategic reform initiatives (SRIs) implemented.


• Total investment reached RM219 billion and over 437,000 high-paying job opportunities created.


• The economy grew in all sectors and registered GDP growth of 6.3%.


• For 2015, economic growth is forecast between 5% and 6% while fiscal deficit is projected to decline to 3% of GDP.


• Foreign direct investment (FDI) totalled RM38.7 billion in 2013

Tax revenue and expenditure

Government revenue forecast to be RM235.2 billion, up by RM10.2 billion compared to 2014.

• Forecast GST revenue: RM23.2 billion
• Loss from exempted items: RM3.9 billion
• Loss from Sales and Service Tax abolition: RM13.8 billion

This leaves RM5.6 billion, RM4.9 billion of which will be redistributed in welfare programmes, including BR1M.

Net revenue from GST for 2015 will be RM690 million.

GST exemption

Based on feedback from the public the government will expand exemption list to include:

• RON95 petrol, diesel and LPG
• Electricity up to 300 Kwh (covering 70 percent households)
• All local and imported fruit
• White and wholemeal bread, tea, coffee, noodles
• Medication for treatment of 30 diseases including heart disease and cancer
• Newspapers

Tax exemption for GST training for companies will be introduced.

532 items or 56% of consumer price index basket of goods, including food items, is expected to see a price reduction.

The rest will see a price hike of less than 10 percent.

BR1M (Bantuan Rakyat 1Malaysia)

BR1M to increase from RM650 to RM950 for households with a monthly income of RM3,000 and below.

It would be disbursed in three stages of RM300 each to be paid in January and May with balance RM350 in Sept 2015.

Singles aged 21 and above earning RM2,000 will get RM350 a year, up from RM300.

Kin of BR1M recipients will get RM1,000 upon the death of the recipient.

Subsidy cuts

A new mechanism for fuel subsidy to be announced soon, due to rising subsidy bill from higher number of vehicles on the road.

Income tax

• Individual income tax rates will be reduced by 1 to 3 percentage points - 300,000 individual taxpayers no longer need to pay income tax.
   
• Taxpayers with family and income of RM4,000 per month will be exempted from pay income tax.
   
• Individual income tax will be restructured whereby maximum rate will be increased from exceeding RM100,000 to exceeding RM400,000. Maximum tax rate at 26% will be reduced to 24%, 24.5% and 25%.

Corporate income tax

• For year of assessment 2015, cooperative income tax rate will also be reduced by 1 to 2 percentage points.
   
• For year of assessment 2016, corporate income tax rate will be reduced by 1 percentage point from 25% to 24%.
   
• For year of assessment 2016, income tax rate for SMEs will also be reduced by 1 percentage  point from 20% to 19%.

Civil Servants

• A half-month bonus with minimum payment of RM500 for civil servants.


• Government pensioners will receive RM250 in special assistance.


• RM300 a month for contract officers and staff of Kemas, Jasa, JPNIN, Jakim and Seranta Felda which have served for more than 15 years.


• Minimum eligibility for civil servants' housing loan increased from RM80,000 to RM12,000 and ceiling increased from RM450,000 to RM600,000. The RM100 processing fee also abolished.


• Government to build additional 5,380 units of houses for civil servants under the 1Malaysia Civil Servants' Housing programme (PPA1M). 1,600 units to be built in Putrajaya, 1,530 units in Bukit Jalil, 1,290 units in Papar, Sabah, 960 units in Bukit Pinang, Kedah.


• Minimum price of these houses at RM150,000 to be reduced to RM90,000 for a minimum floorspace of 850 sq ft and qualifying requirement of household income increased from RM8,000 to RM10,000.


• RM500 million for repair and maintenance of quarters for military personnel, police, teachers and medical staff nationwide.


• RM105 million for maintenance of government quarters in 126 locations.

MP allowances raise

• Allowance of MPs of Dewan Rakyat and Dewan Negara will be increased from the equivalent grade 54 to equivalent grade Jusa C.
   
• The salaries and allowances of the Speaker of Dewan Rakyat and Speaker of Dewan Negara as well as their respective deputies will be increased  effective Jan 1, 2015.
   
• The government will review the salary scheme of members of the administration and make a decision at an appropriate time. This includes the prime minister, the deputy prime minister, ministers and deputy ministers.
   
• A half-month bonus with a minimum payment of RM500 to be paid in January 2015. Government pensioners will also receive special financial assistance of RM250.

Lower education

• RM1.2 billion allocation for vocational education  to raise enrollment in vocational and technical institutions.


• RM100 million allocated to create more space in vocational colleges.


• Tax breaks for companies that offer scholarships for technical certification, internships and additional accredited professional training.

RM800 million allocation for schools:

• National schools: RM450 million;
• National-type Chinese, Tamil schools: RM50 million;
• Religious schools: RM50 million;
• Fully residential schools: RM50 million;
• Government aided religious schools: RM50 million;
• Mara junior science colleges: RM50 million;
• Registered sekolah pondok: RM25 million;
• National-type Chinese secondary schools (conforming schools) using the national curriculum: RM25 million

Schools' water and electricity bills to be paid for up to RM5,000 per month (up from RM2,000).

Student assistance

 

Government to continue annual RM100 assistance for 5.4 million primary and secondary school students.

 

RM250 book voucher per student will also continue at a cost of RM235 million for 1.3 million students.

Higher education

RM3 billion to sponsor tertiary students:

• RM1.9 billion for the Public Services Department
• RM759 million for Ministry of Education
• RM258 million for Ministry of Health

English proficiency requirement for public tertiary institutions raised:

• Arts and Social Science courses - Band 2 in the Malaysian University English Test (Muet)
• Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) courses - Band 3
• Law and Medical courses - Band 4

To graduate, students must achieve:

• Arts and Social Science courses - Band 3
• STEM courses - Band 4
• Law and Medical courses - Band 5

RM112 million for the MyBrain programme to provide scholarship to PhD students who are also employed in private and public sector.

National Higher Education Fund (PTPTN)

Najib says a soul with not rest if someone dies without paying his debts.

As such to encourage PTPTN defaulters to make payments, the following incentives are proposed:

• 10% rebate for those who continuously pay for 12 moths, up to Dec 31, 2015.
   
• 20% discount for those who pay in lump sum up to March 31, 2015.

Households with an income of RM4,000 and under will also enjoy a matching grant if they contribute to the National Education Savings Scheme (SSPN). This is up from an income limit of RM2,000.
         
Workers

• Employment Act 1955 reviewed to ensure better conditions of employment, appointment and dismissal, flexible working arrangements and  termination benefits.
   
• Reskilling opportunities and temporary financial aid for retrenched workers through Employment Insurance System.
   
• RM300 million for technical training and education aid for Indian youths from low-income families.
   
• RM300 million matching grants for upskilling of 30,000 workers.
   
• RM570 million for training programmes for semi-skilled workers.
   
• One-year work permit for eligible expatriates with paid-up capital of RM75,000.

Bumiputera

In corporate equity ownership, the bumiputera have yet to
achieve the 30% target.

Effective control over corporations is currently only around 10%.

To aid bumiputera:

• RM600 million for Ekuinas to increase bumiputera ownership in private companies and government-linked companies.


• RM30 million for Bumiputera Entrepeneurs Startup Scheme.


• RM2 billion for Mara to education sponsorship for eligible bumiputera students.


• Expanded compete programmes for bumiputera based on meritocracy in privatised projects including MRT and Pan-Borneo Highway.

Sabah and Sarawak

• RM27 billion in Pan-Borneo Highway (936km in Sarawak and 727km in Sabah).
   
• RM262 million to finance cost of transportation and enforcement of price controls for price standardisation policy.
   
• Two more Kedai Rakyat 1Malaysia in Sabah and three in Sarawak, bringing total to 19.
   
• RM19 million in hill paddy subsidy.

Esscom

• RM230 million (via Petronas CSR programme) for high-capacity equipment.
   
• RM50 million to upgrade Lahad Datu airport runway to ensure high-capacity aircraft can land.
   
• Staggered relocation of water villages in Semporna and Sandakan.

Services industry support

• RM5 billion for schemes for small and medium enterprises for funding of up to RM5 million each with 30 percent government guarantee.
   
• RM300 million for research and development to enter new markets.

Shipping

Insurance assistance for ship owners of ships with capacity of 300 tonnes and below

Industrial zone

• Tax holiday of up to 5 years for less for industrial area management


• 70% income tax break for industrial area management in more developed areas

Infrastructure

• Sungai Besi - Hulu Kelang highway: RM 5.7 billion
• Taiping - Banting highway: RM5 billion
• Damansara Shah Alam highway: RM4.2 billion
• KL Outer Ring Road: RM1.6 billion
• Upgrade East Coast railway: RM150 million
• Selayang - Putrajaya MRT line: RM 23 billion
• LRT3, Bandar Utama to Shah Alam and Klang: RM9 billion
• Pengerang Industrial Petroleum Complex: RM69 billion

High-speed broadband

• High speed broadband at high-impact areas, RM2.7 billion in three years.

Small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs)

• RM375 million for seed funding of which RM120 million from private sector.
   
• RM80 million for automation fund.
   
• RM500 million to benefit 5000 Indian entrepreneurs.
   
• RM50 million to benefit ex-servicemen entrepreneurs.
   
• Sustainable Mobility Fund of RM70 million will be established under SME Bank for manufacturing electricity vehicle. Initially, 50 electric buses will be introduced.
   
• RM50 million to develop a private-public research network.

Youth

• RM230 million for a National Youth Transportation Programme, which includes a revamp of the National Service Training Programme, improving Rakan Muda and introducing Unity Camps.
   
• RM10 million to encourage youth volunteerism programmes.
   
• Youth Agroprenuer Programme for 1,200 youths earning RM5,000 a month and under.
   
• Upskilling youths through programmes like Coding Bootcamp.
   
• RM100 million for three 1Malaysia Youth City pilot projects, a project to create an eco-system of housing, recreating, sporting and business facilities.
   
• Youth Housing Scheme for married youths aged 25-40 to buy their first home. Household income must not exceed RM10,000 and maximum house price is RM500,000. Maximum loan period is 35 years. Those in the programme will also receive RM200 a month for the first two years, and 50% stamp duty exemption.
   
• Government to guarantee loans for up to 10%, to ensure borrowers can get full financing including cost of insurance.
   
• Borrowers can withdraw from EPF Account 2 to top up their monthly installment and other related costs.   

Sports

• Government to set up Sporting National Blueprint with a total allocation of RM103 million.


• Malaysian Talent Identification programme to identify sporting talent from primary schools


• Improve performance in football, cycling, badminton, sepak takraw, swimming and athletics


• Foster FitMalaysia Programme with focus on building physical fitness among Malaysians


• The first Saturday of every November to be National Sports Day

Women

• Women directors to be trained to fill positions as board members in GLCs and private sector.


• 1Malaysia Support for Housewives programme to encourage women to return to the job market.


• Talent Corp to set up Women Career Comeback Programme to assist professional women returning to the job market.


• RM30 million for Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia to encourage entrepreneurship among Indian women.


• Childcare leave eligibility will no longer be tied to the duration of maternity leave.


• Government to relax conditions for employers to set up childcare centres.

Public transport

• Introduction of intercity bus services for those commuting from outside to Kuala Lumpur to work. A 30 percent monthly discount will be offered with three services as a start: Rawang-KL, Klang-KL and Seremban-KL.


• Electric train services (ETS) to be implemented for the Ipoh-Butterworth route starting April 2015.


• Upgrade of stage bus services in several states through a contracting system with existing bus companies. To be implemented in phases in Kuching, Ipoh, Seremban, Kuala Terengganu and Kangar.

Agriculture, fishing

• RM100 million to encourage paddy cultivation in Rompin, Batang Lupar, Kota Belud and Pekan


• Rise in living allowance for fishermen:
  • Zone A:  RM300
  • Zone B : RM250


• RM200 monthly allowance for full-time coastal fishermen


• RM60 million for aquaculture and cage farming of seafood to supplement fishermen's income during monsoon


• RM250 million for fishermen housing projects and to improve the living conditions of fishing villages.


• RM500 one-off assistance for rubber smallholders affected by decline in rubber price.


• Soft loan to smallholder cooperatives so they can buy rubber directly from smallholders


• RM41 million in incentives for oil palm smallholders

Health services

• Tax relief increased from RM5,000 to RM6,000 a year for patients undergoing treatment of serious diseases such as cancer, kidney failure and heart attack. Relief is available for taxpayers, spouse and children.
   
• Two new hospitals to be built, namely Hospital Dungun in Terengganu and Hospital Seri Iskandar in Perak.
   
• 20 health clinics and four dental clinics to be built in Kuala Lipis, Pahang and Kluang, Johor.
   
• Setting up of 30 more 1Malaysia clinics, bringing the total to 290.
   
• Replace 635 old units of haemodialysis machines in government hospitals and clinics for RM30 million.
   
• Government also to provide space in government hospitals and health clinics for the private sector to place 244 haemodialysis machines.
   
• RM45.4 million to provide medication for patients undergoing chronic and acute haemodialysis treatment.
   
• Government to purchase equipments to combat dengue epidemic as well as distributing 55,000 dengue test kits for free to private clinics at a cost of RM30 million.

Welfare

• RM1.2 billion for financial assistance for poor families, senior citizens and the disabled.
   
• Disabled allowance up by RM50 to RM350 a month (working), RM200 (not-working).
   
• Tax relief of up to RM6,000 for those with disabled children, up from RM5,000.
   
• Tax relief of up to RM6,000 to buy equipment for disabled, including for the taxpayer, spouse, children and parents (up from RM5,000).
   
• Daily food allowance for welfare institutions up from RM8 to RM16 per resident.
   
• Additional five senior citizens activity centres and care services, including free transportation to hospital.
   
• RM711 million for early education, including Permata.

Housing

RM1.3 billion for 1Malaysia People's Housing Programme (PR1MA). Conditions revised to:

• Household income ceiling RM10,000 (up from RM8,000).
   
• Rent-To-Own Scheme for those who cannot get bank financing.
   
• RM644 million to build more low cost flats (PPR).
   
• Syarikat Perumahan Negara Berhad (SPNB) to build 12,000 units of Rumah Mesra Rakyat (RMR), 5,000 units of Rumah Idaman Rakyat and 20,000 units of Rumah Aspirasi Rakyat  on privately-owned land.
   
• Capital Gains Tax to be self-assessed by taxpayer effective from the year 2016.

Rural development

• RM943 million to construct 635km of rural roads including former logging roads in Sabah and Sarawak.


• RM1.1 billion to implement electricity connection for 15,000 houses


• RM394 million to implement rural clean water supply for 7,500 houses


• RM200 million to rehabilitate 9,500 dilapidated houses.


• RM160 million to improve rural air travel services in Sabah and Sarawak


• RM352 million for Orang Asli economic development programmes, infrastructure facilities and improving standard of living.


• RM26 million to install additional 10 lamp posts in 22,000 villages.

Water

• Government to formulate a National Water Blueprint for sustainable long-term water supply.


• RM112 million to reduce non-revenue water by detecting and repairing leaking pipes.

Crime and security

• RM17.7 billion for the Royal Malaysian Armed Forces and RM9.1 billion for police. RM804 million for Maritime Enforcement Agency Malaysia to strengthen maritime enforcement.
   
• Increase intake of police personnel by 11,757 and build an additional 14 police headquarters.
   
• A thousand new units of patrol motorcycles and RM121 million for other police programmes.
   
• RM7 billion for armed forces training.
   
• RM177 for People's Volunteer Corps' (Rela).
   
• RM50 million grant for NGOs including uniformed  bodies that are involved in community development programmes, unity, social welfare, consumerism,  health and security.

Miscellaneous

• RM 30 million over three years for an Al-Quran Printing Centre in Putrajaya, the second largest in the world after Saudi Arabia.

JAIS Sarawak not involved in ‘conversion’

The news spreading by Whatsapp and other social media is that “JAIS will be coming to Islamize the villagers in Uma Tanjung Village in Long Bawa on Oct 16”.

MIRI: The Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) President, James Masing has confirmed that he has checked with Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Department, Daud Abdul Rahman, who assured him that JAIS Sarawak is not involved in a reported attempt to convert Christians in Belaga to Islam.

“Daud said he will keep me posted,” said Masing.

He was commenting on news spreading by Whatsapp and other social media that “JAIS will be coming to Islamize the villagers in Uma Tanjung Village in Long Bawa on Oct 16”.

According to the news item which has gone viral, each convert will get RM 6,000.

“District offices and churches must be mobilized to save Uma Tanjung,” said the item. “This is a very urgent call for prayer.”

Islam, according to the item, is “fast spreading in Upper Belaga”.

The news item, which cited the headman of Uma Tanjung and a missionary sister as the sources, urged recipients to “spread the message to as many people and churches as possible to mobilize them for prayers against this onslaught”.

Daud is responsible for Islamic affairs in the Sarawak Cabinet and has been accused in the past of being in cahoots with Muslim NGOs in Peninsular Malaysia to spread Islam among Christian communities in Sarawak.

There’s no religion in the Sarawak Constitution.

It’s not known why the Sarawak Cabinet must have a Minister responsible for Islamic affairs in a largely Christian state.

Nancy’s statement is most embarrassing

Government promoting extremist elements; the real threat to peace and harmony.

GEORGE TOWN: Hindraf national chairman P Waythamoorthy said today the government’s reasoning that Perkasa president Ibrahim Ali was exercising his constitutional right to defend Islam as most embarrassing for all right-thinking Malaysians.

Waythamoorthy said the parliamentary statement by de facto Law Minister Nancy Shukri was an insult to the intelligence of those who believed in the protection of the rule of law, religious freedom and free speech.

Nancy has claimed that Ibrahim’s call to burn copies of the Bible containing the word “Allah” was merely to defend Islam, hence the reason for the police’s inaction.

The Hindraf leader said it was clear the government had embarked on selective persecution of human rights advocates, lawyers, politicians and academics, who are critical of the government and its policies.

He said Nancy, the home minister, the Attorney-General and the police were clearly seen as condoning policies and implementation of the law to selectively target weaker groups.

“They are tacitly promoting extremist elements, who are the real threats to peace and harmony in Malaysia.

“The government seemed to be run by rogue elements, who are contradicting the moderate approach preached by the Prime Minister,” Waythamoorthy said in a statement today.

He added that the government must act to stop speeches of racial hatred perpetuated by Malay right wing groups like Perkasa, Pekida and Isma before it was too late.

Najib’s 2015 Budget overshadowed by outrageous parliamentary replies and blatant government double standards in past three days

 By Lim Kit Siang Blog

The Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak would not have expected that his 2015 Budget to be presented in Parliament at 4 pm today would have been overshadowed by outrageous parliamentary replies of his Ministers and blatant government double standards in the past three days.
The reply by the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Nancy Shukri to the Penang Chief Minister and DAP MP for Bagan, Lim Guan Eng, on the first day of the current 28-day Budget Parliament on Tuesday must take the cake for being the most outrageous parliamentary statement in the five-year Najib premiership making even the most affable bristle at the cynical contempt for what is right and wrong.

Nancy said in her reply that no action would be taken on Perkasa chief Ibrahim Ali over his threat to burn the Malay-language bible as he was “only defending the sanctity of Islam”.
Nancy did not do herself any favours when she said yesterday that the Attorney-General’s Chambers decided not to prosecute Ibrahim under the Sedition Act because his threat to burn copies of the Bible with the term “Allah” was in line with the federal constitution.

It is time the Attorney-General, Tan Sri Gani Patail surfaces and explain where in the Federal Constitution does it give protection and immunity to Ibrahim to utter threat to burn copies of the Bible with the term Allah.
At the same time, Gani should also explain:

• Whether he agrees with the Sepang police chief Mohd Yusoff Awang that Petaling Jaya Utara Umno deputy division chief Mohamad Azli Mohamed Saad would not be probed for sedition for his call to abolish vernacular schools;

• Why the AG’s Chambers decided on “No Further Action” in the case of the Federal Territories UMNO Youth threat to torch the DAP headquarters under Section 506 of the Penal Code for criminal intimidation and under Section 427 for causing mischief and whether he could reply to a query by a Malaysiakini reader: “AG, what if they threaten to torch Umno HQ?”

• Why there have been no outcome to previous and current sedition police reports made against Prime Minister Najib for his “crushed bodies, lives lost” speech at the UMNO General Assembly in 2010 and former Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir for his seditious warning in the 13th General Election that I was contesting in Gelang Patah constituency to create a “racial confrontation” between the Malays and Chinese in Johore – despite the “probe within 24 hours” oath made publicly by the Home Minister, Datuk Seri Zahid Hamidi on any sedition report made on Sept. 22 last month?

• Why he had sanctioned the sedition blitzkrieg with 12 charged under the Sedition Act up to September this year, eight in 2013, and one each in 2009 and 2012; whether he had been given the “green light” for the sedition blitz by the Prime Minister who had promised in 2012 to repeal the Sedition Act as well as running contrary to Najib’s pledge to make Malaysia the world’s “best democracy” – attracting international censures including from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)?

In his 2015 Budget speech this evening, will Najib take note that his “moderation” pledge reiterated for the third time at the United Nations General Assembly last month had gone awry, and what he proposes to do to rescue his wasatiyyah (moderation) campaign of justice, balance and excellence from abysmal failure?

Would Najib be able to save his two most important initiatives on wasatiyyah, namely his 1Malaysia campaign and the Global Movement of Moderates (GMM), which are facing pathetic ends. The GMM has even come under the cross-hair not only of extremists but also the Attorney-General’s Chambers to the extent that it had to ask the media not to report the proceedings of the GMM forum on the “Future of Malaysia” with NGOs, because the GMM cannot ensure the freedom and liberty of the participants and protect them from the sedition “white terror” which had deluged Malaysia for over a month.

Yesterday, former Bar Council chairperson Ambiga Sreenivasan said that if she is investigated under the Sedition Act it might turn out to be a good thing because the truth would emerge.
She said if she is charged, she know she will be in good company.

Ambiga is right about the latter but I am not so sure about her former sentiment.

It would appear that one test today of whether one is a patriot is whether one is persecuted under the obnoxious Sedition Act, which is not being used against sedition but legitimate and patriotic criticism and dissent.

This is a sad sign of the times and reflection of the grave deterioration and degeneration of what Najib had promised to make Malaysia the “best democracy in the world”!

Najib: Rakyat's Well-Being Priority Under Budget 2015

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 10 (Bernama) -- Budget 2015, unveiled by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak on Friday, continued to be business and investor-friendly as well as inclusive, taking into account the concerns of the rakyat by emphasising on the needs of the middle and lower income group.

Noteworthy among the proposals highlighted for businesses are the promotion of high quality investments, encouraging the establishment of principle hub by multinational companies, spurring creative industry, increasing capacity of high speed broadband and developing small and medium enterprises, as well as, developing innovation and commercialisation.

Taking the opportunity to speak directly to the rakyat, via live-telecast through mainstream television channels, Najib, who is also the Finance Minister also proposed many measures to ease the concern over rising cost of living.

These include increasing the amount of 1Malaysia People's Aid (BRIM), education aid, accelerating the private and public investments, widening the scope of items that would not be subjected to the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and other tax incentives.

Themed, "People Economy", it outlined seven main strategies namely strengthening economic growth; enhancing fiscal governance; developing human capital and entrepreneurship; advancing the Bumiputera agenda; upholding the role of women; developing national youth transformation programme; and prioritising the well being of the rakyat.

The premier said the main challenge in preparing the RM273.9 billion budget, whcih was an increase of RM9.8 billion compared to the previous budget, was to balance between policies that are populist and policies based on economic and financial imperatives.

Budget 2015 is the last budget in the 10th Malaysia Plan period (2011-2015). Najib, clad in a bright tangerine Baju Melayu, presented the 2015 Budget at the Dewan Rakyat, his sixth national budget since assuming leadership of the administration.

The prime minister was confident the country would achieve a strong economic growth of between 5.5 per cent and 6.0 per cent this year and 5.0 per cent to 6.0 per cent in 2015.

Fiscal deficit would continue to improve to 3.5 per cent this year and reduce further to 3.0 per cent by end 2015, he said.

Touching on the GST, Najib said its implementation was estimated to generate RM23.2 billion in revenue next year.

"However, as a caring government we have exempted several goods from GST amounting to RM3.8 billion," he said, adding that with the implementation of GST, the Sales and Services Tax (SST) would be abolished.

"This will result in revenue foregone of RM13.8 billion. This means that after deducting RM13.8 billion and RM3.8 billion from a revenue RM23.2 billion, the government will have a balance of RM5.6 billion," Najib said.

Out of this, he said RM4.9 billion would be channelled back to the rakyat through assistance programmes such as the increase in BR1M.

"Finally, net revenue collection from GST would only amount to RM690 million," he said.

Proving that the government was listening to the rakyat, Najib said consumers and targeted groups would not have to pay GST on the purchase of RON95 petrol, diesel and LPG.

Najib said in improving public finance position, the government was committed to implement subsidy rationalisation, particularly for petroleum.

This rationalisation was aimed at ensuring a more targeted subsidy, reduce leakages and smuggling.

Najib said in 1994, the government allocated RM588 million for various subsidies but the amount had swelled to RM40.5 billion in 2014.

To ensure a more targeted subsidy and taking into account the rakyat's awareness and readiness to subsidy rationalisation, the government would develop a new mechanism to provide petroleum subsidy.

"I will announce the new mechanism soon," he said.

Meanwhile, though faced with various obstacles and challenges, he said the Malaysian economy prevailed to be strong and resilient, registering a 6.3 per cent GDP growth in the first half of 2014, the highest among Asean countries.

The FTSE Bursa Malaysia Kuala Lumpur Composite Index (FBMKLCI) has risen 114 per cent from 884.45 points in January 2009 to 1,892.65 points in July 2014, while market capitalisation rose 162 per cent from RM667.87 billion to RM1,749.49 billion on Oct 7,2014.

Najib also said foreign direct investment, totalling RM38.7 billion, in 2013 was the highest realised to date.

On banking, the prime minister said the government would introduce a new shariah-compliant investment product next year, called the Investment Account Platform (IAP), with an initial start-up fund of RM150 million.

The IAP, which provide opportunities to investors in financing entrepreneurial activities, would also be a platform to attract investors and strengthen the Islamic financial market.

Najib also proposed deductions for expenses incurred in the issuance of sukuk based on Ijarah and Wakalah principles to be extended for another three years until 2018.

To promote the domestic shipping industry, the government would establish the Malaysia Protection and Indemnity Club under the Exim Bank to assist owners of cargo ships with gross tonnage not exceeding 300 tonnes.

The government would also enhance the special incentives packages provided under the economic corridors to include more areas that are less developed.

In promoting high-quality and focused investment, Najib announced that a more specialised incentive package would be offered for investment projects based on technology, innovation and knowledge, involving highly qualified and knowledgeable employees with high salaries.

He said the government would also provide incentives in the form of capital allowance on automation expenditure to encourage automation in the manufacturing sector.

For the commodity sector, Najib said the export duty exemption for crude palm oil would be extended until December 2014.

He said the government would also allocate RM41 million to provide incentives for new planting and replanting for oil palm smallholders.

Meanwhile, the Malaysian Rubber Board would allocate RM100 million to implement a regulatory price mechanism at the farm level to protect smallholders from losses incurred, particularly when the world market price falls below a minimum fixed price.

"MRB will also provide soft loans of RM6.4 million as working capital to 64 smallholder cooperatives to purchase rubber directly from 442,000 rubber smallholders nationwide," he said.

In his more than two-hour speech, Najib stressed that various strategies were carefully and systematically planned to develop the economy to reach the present level of success.

"Many people are not aware that the process to develop and prosper the nation has not been easy. It takes hard work, comprehensive plans, as well as, painful and unpopular decisions.

"However, all these have to be undertaken by a responsible and accountable government that always prioritises the interest of rakyat," he said.

"Many people are not aware that the process to develop and prosper the nation has not been easy. It takes hard work, comprehensive plans, as well as, painful and unpopular decisions.

"However, all these have to be undertaken by a responsible and accountable government that always prioritises the interest of rakyat," he said.