Monday, 30 May 2011
Anwar believes Pakatan is ready even without him
He said Pakatan was already a solid united pact with
potential young successors including Azmin who he said may be brash in
his "stunts" but more than capable to lead.
SUBANG
JAYA: Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim is confident in Pakatan Rakyat’s
second tier of leadership and discounted the notion that the pact will
collapse in his absence.Speaking at a closed door dialogue session with young professionals here, the PKR de facto leader said the pact was armed with young and more than capable leaders that can take Pakatan forward should he be convicted and jailed for sodomy.
“Once you’re prosecuted you’re already damned,” he said laughingly to some 150 people who attended the forum.
Anwar is currently facing trial for allegedly sodomising his former aide, a charge he claimed was engineered by Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak and wife Rosmah Mansor.
Anwar’s persona, attributed to his charisma and moderate liberal politics, is seen as the binding force in the Pakatan coalition rife with infighting.
The top leadership appears to be gelling well but much of their ideological differences remain conveniently buried for now and Anwar’s possible incarceration would possibly break Pakatan.
Whether or not the bloc is ready for future without Anwar remains unknown. While it is likely that Anwar has identified his successor, Azmin Ali who is now PKR deputy president who happens to be his blue-eyed boy, observers say the latter lacks the calibre to lead and hold Pakatan together.
But the opposition leader claimed Pakatan was already a solid united pact with potential young successors including Azmin who he said may be brash in his “stunts” but more than capable to lead.
“Sometimes when the (current) leadership is too strong, we tend to not see the potential of second tier leaders,” he said, referring to rising political starlets like PKR strategic director Rafizi Ramli and communications director Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad who is also Seri Setia assemblyman.
He said this in reply to a youth during the forum who urged Pakatan to move away from its dependency on political icons and based their struggle more on ideologies.
Anwar added that differences and open spat in Pakatan was part and parcel of a democracy which he said the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition was bankrupt of.
“Do you see any quality MPs in Umno or BN? Sometimes when I’m in Parliament and I look at them (sighs),” he said, drawing laughter from the audience.
Youth must act on their own
The lack of real capable leaders in the ruling coalition was due to the much widely yes-man culture in BN and this, said the opposition leader, has contributed much to the nation’s political and economic woes.
Anwar urged the young to take matters into their own hands and suggested various possible ways to join Pakatan’s struggle for change, such as exploiting social medias like Facebook and Twitter.
“We have the numbers. We can never lose this battle. Every time one of them make a racist statement you should counter them,” he said, in reference to the escalating racial attacks on non-Malays by rights groups like Perkasa and Umno-owned Malay daily Utusan Malaysia.
Racial and religious tensions have reached fever high as hawkish elements within BN’s malay lynchpin intensifies its hardline communal politicking in the run up to the national polls tipped to be held year end.
The opposition leader said the youth holds significant power and could be a catalyst to a government change but they must first arm themselves with information.
To facilitate this, Anwar said he is currently working on a programme called the “Rakyat Empowering Programme”, an extension of Pakatan’s existing alternative policies with emphasis on the “democratisation of access to quality education”.
Scholarship for Malays only..not for Malaysians???
(Malaysiakini) - Only Malays and bumiputera have the right to receive government scholarships, said Umno-linked pressure group Gagasan Anti-Penyelewengan Selangor (Gaps) today.
“Is it a fact that all Malaysians have a right to a scholarship? The federal constitution only states that the Malays and bumiputera have the right to receive a scholarship,” said Gaps president Hamidzun Khairuddin (left) in a statement.
“This constitution is made by the Reid Commission, not by the Malay leaders,” he added, shifting the blame from the majority community to the five-member Commonwealth panel that drafted the nation's constitution in 1956.
Hamidzun was responding to MCA president Chua Soi Lek's comments on the PSD scholarship fracas carried by a news portal yesterday, where the latter's report said, “MCA told the prime minister today top SPM students should be given scholarships to study abroad despite Putrajaya's claim that it did not make any such promise.”
Referring to “some members of the ruling party and opposition who are very racist and chauvanistic”, Hamidzun lashed out at Chua in particular ,saying the chief of the second largest BN component party should amend the constitution if he disagreed with the issue.
“If Soi Lek disagrees, he should amend the constitution drawn up by Lord Reid. Soi Lek should be more objective in his leadership,” said the Gaps leader.
All races equal but...
“Soi Lek also needs to learn to be a leader for all Malaysians, and not just the champion of his race,” added Hamidzun.
BN parties for going in circles over the issue every May to June, year in, year out, he noted that each party fought only for the rights of their own respective communities.
“Gaps believes the issue should be resolved definitively, so that it would not become an annual polemic that does not benefit the rakyat,” he said, ticking off BN parties for the widening income gap and the increasingly racial politics in the country.
“Enough of Do Xiang Zhong, Perkasa and Hindraf respectively being the spokespersons of their respective races. They excel in the field,” said the Gaps leader.
Oblivious to the obvious contradictions, Hamidzun concluded that “political leaders should be broad minded... and defend the rights of all races based on the constitution.”
Yesterday Chua had, according to the news report, announced after meeting with the PM over the prickly JPA scholarship issue that he had told the premier a number of failed scholarship applications by top scoring non-Malays should be reviewed and given overseas scholarships. Najib had promised he would “look into the controversy”.
Thats an excerpt from Malaysiakini.....
If Malaysian government is not going to give non Malays the scholarship, who is going to give us scholarship?? Singapore???
If the government is not going to help Non Malays, why collect tax from them???
Since when constitution amended that only the Malays and bumiputera have the right to receive a scholarship???
The reality is Non Malays do get scholarships from government every year, only the number is small. That is because there are many little racist napoleons in PSD. They deny non Malays the scholarship. They are fine products of BTN. It is not only important to change the ruling party, the PSD needs a revamp too.
Vote wisely Malaysians !!
“Is it a fact that all Malaysians have a right to a scholarship? The federal constitution only states that the Malays and bumiputera have the right to receive a scholarship,” said Gaps president Hamidzun Khairuddin (left) in a statement.
“This constitution is made by the Reid Commission, not by the Malay leaders,” he added, shifting the blame from the majority community to the five-member Commonwealth panel that drafted the nation's constitution in 1956.
Hamidzun was responding to MCA president Chua Soi Lek's comments on the PSD scholarship fracas carried by a news portal yesterday, where the latter's report said, “MCA told the prime minister today top SPM students should be given scholarships to study abroad despite Putrajaya's claim that it did not make any such promise.”
Referring to “some members of the ruling party and opposition who are very racist and chauvanistic”, Hamidzun lashed out at Chua in particular ,saying the chief of the second largest BN component party should amend the constitution if he disagreed with the issue.
“If Soi Lek disagrees, he should amend the constitution drawn up by Lord Reid. Soi Lek should be more objective in his leadership,” said the Gaps leader.
All races equal but...
“Soi Lek also needs to learn to be a leader for all Malaysians, and not just the champion of his race,” added Hamidzun.
BN parties for going in circles over the issue every May to June, year in, year out, he noted that each party fought only for the rights of their own respective communities.
“Gaps believes the issue should be resolved definitively, so that it would not become an annual polemic that does not benefit the rakyat,” he said, ticking off BN parties for the widening income gap and the increasingly racial politics in the country.
“Enough of Do Xiang Zhong, Perkasa and Hindraf respectively being the spokespersons of their respective races. They excel in the field,” said the Gaps leader.
Oblivious to the obvious contradictions, Hamidzun concluded that “political leaders should be broad minded... and defend the rights of all races based on the constitution.”
Yesterday Chua had, according to the news report, announced after meeting with the PM over the prickly JPA scholarship issue that he had told the premier a number of failed scholarship applications by top scoring non-Malays should be reviewed and given overseas scholarships. Najib had promised he would “look into the controversy”.
Thats an excerpt from Malaysiakini.....
If Malaysian government is not going to give non Malays the scholarship, who is going to give us scholarship?? Singapore???
If the government is not going to help Non Malays, why collect tax from them???
Since when constitution amended that only the Malays and bumiputera have the right to receive a scholarship???
The reality is Non Malays do get scholarships from government every year, only the number is small. That is because there are many little racist napoleons in PSD. They deny non Malays the scholarship. They are fine products of BTN. It is not only important to change the ruling party, the PSD needs a revamp too.
Vote wisely Malaysians !!
Anwar claims Dr M threatened him before sacking
The supposed threat was highlighted in book by writer Ziauddin Sardar.
SUBANG
JAYA: Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim claimed he was threatened by
former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad who told him to voluntarily step down
a day before his sacking as the deputy prime minister in 1998.The PKR de facto leader further alleged that Mahathir had offered him financial compensation. Should he reject, he would be charged, the Permatang Pauh MP added.
“Mahathir told me… you have wife, a family, its better if you resign voluntarily, if not charges will be brought against you,” he told some 150 people who attended a closed-door dialogue with young professionals here.
The supposed threat was highlighted in book by writer Ziauddin Sardar. The audience during the question and answer session asked Anwar if this was true to which the opposition leader replied:
“It’s true because I told him (Ziauddin). I also went against Dr Mahathir, and was wrongfully imprisoned and subsequently beaten half to death.”
Despite the ordeal, Anwar told the audience that he held no grudges against his former mentor, and forgave him for what happened.
“He is old and senile. Leave him alone lah,” he said jokingly in reply to a question by an audience who wanted to know what would he do to the former premier if he becomes prime minister.
Anwar was sacked in 1998 and charged with sodomy and power abuse, charges he claimed were high level conspiracy to topple him.
He was later convicted and jailed for both offences but was eventually freed in September 2004.
Anwar has since led Pakatan Rakyat to major electoral gains when they denied Barisan Nasional their customary two-thirds parliamentary majority and ousted the ruling coalition from four states while retaining one in 2008.
Much of the success is attributed to Anwar’s influence which he claimed was the reason behind a second sodomy charge.
Anwar described the second sodomy charge as “evil, frivolous lies by those in power”, singling out Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak and wife Rosmah Mansor as the masterminds.
The opposition leader is charged under section 377B of the Penal Code and can be sentenced to a maximum of 20 years’ jail and whipping upon conviction.
Belia Mahukan Perubahan
Dari Malaysiakini
Tindakan Datuk Seri Najib Razak menghimpunan belia-belia di Putrajaya dan merayu undi mereka memperlihatkan rasa gusar perdana menteri terhadap kebangkitan golongan itu yang kini menuntut perubahan, kata Ketua Pembangkang Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Najib semalam mendakwa sejuta belia yang hadir di Putrajaya untuk sambutan Hari Belia Negara selama tiga hari, kononnya untuk “mempertahankan” pusat pentadbiran negara dari diambil alih oleh Pakatan Rakyat.
TV Selangor memetik Anwar berkata, hakikatnya ialah persatuan-persatuan belia itu dibawa untuk mengisi pelbagai program riadah yang dianjurkan bersama oleh agensi-agensi persekutuan dan badan-badan koperat sempena Hari Belia Negara.
“Dia kata di Mesir satu juta orang muda tuntut perubahan. Jadi di sini dia minta orang muda sokong Barisan Nasional.
“Orang muda ini dikaitkan dengan idealisme, cita-cita murni. Orang muda ini benci dengan kemungkaran, benci dengan rasuah, benci dengan kezaliman.
“Najib silap. (Sebenarnya belia) yang minta perubahan tumbangkan kerajaan yang ada. Jadi saya nak sambut dengan katakan sudah sampai ketikanya anak muda Felda, anak muda Malaysia bangkit tuntut perubahan,” kata Anwar kepada ribuan peneroka Felda dan penduduk kampung di Kerdau, Pahang malam semalam untuk mendengar ceramahnya.
Kaya-raya
Anwar malam tadi juga mengupas ucapan Najib pada majlis sambutan Hari Belia itu yang dialas dengan gesaan supaya belia menyokong Umno-BN sebagai syarat menikmati kemakmuran.
Kenyataan sedemikian, kata Anwar hanya menunjukkan rasa terdesak Perdana Menteri.
Menurut Anwar beliau tidak menuduh Umno sebagai parti yang tidak pernah membuat apa-apa.
Namun yang dipersoalkan adalah kemungkaran dan kezaliman yang menyebabkan rakyat menderita manakala pemimpin hidup dalam keadaan kaya-raya.
“Saya tidak samakan Umno dengan Firaun, Firaun pun buat bangunan dan jalan, negara komunis, Zimbabwe, mahupun Bangladesh pun buat pembangunan, soalnya kita ini mahu nilai apa kekurangan besar yang membolehkan sebuah perubahan kuasa itu perlu,” katanya.
Sehubungan itu, Anwar mengajak rakyat supaya merenung hala tuju negara di bawah pemerintahan Umno-BN dan tidak termakan dengan dakyah dan gula-gula politik yang disebarkan parti itu.
“Saya tidak pertikai hak sesiapa untuk sokong parti mana-mana, tetapi kita sanggupkah pertahankan kezaliman, bolehkah kita diam tentang rasuah, mampukah kita biarkan fitnah, lucah termasuk qazaf dan semulanya berlaku?” tanya Anwar.
Turut hadir, Pesuruhjaya PAS Pahang, Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man ahli jawatankuasa PAS Pusat, Mohamed Sabu, Ketua Serikandi Siti Aishah Shaik Ismail dan Presiden ANAK, Mazlan.
Tindakan Datuk Seri Najib Razak menghimpunan belia-belia di Putrajaya dan merayu undi mereka memperlihatkan rasa gusar perdana menteri terhadap kebangkitan golongan itu yang kini menuntut perubahan, kata Ketua Pembangkang Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Najib semalam mendakwa sejuta belia yang hadir di Putrajaya untuk sambutan Hari Belia Negara selama tiga hari, kononnya untuk “mempertahankan” pusat pentadbiran negara dari diambil alih oleh Pakatan Rakyat.
TV Selangor memetik Anwar berkata, hakikatnya ialah persatuan-persatuan belia itu dibawa untuk mengisi pelbagai program riadah yang dianjurkan bersama oleh agensi-agensi persekutuan dan badan-badan koperat sempena Hari Belia Negara.
“Dia kata di Mesir satu juta orang muda tuntut perubahan. Jadi di sini dia minta orang muda sokong Barisan Nasional.
“Orang muda ini dikaitkan dengan idealisme, cita-cita murni. Orang muda ini benci dengan kemungkaran, benci dengan rasuah, benci dengan kezaliman.
“Najib silap. (Sebenarnya belia) yang minta perubahan tumbangkan kerajaan yang ada. Jadi saya nak sambut dengan katakan sudah sampai ketikanya anak muda Felda, anak muda Malaysia bangkit tuntut perubahan,” kata Anwar kepada ribuan peneroka Felda dan penduduk kampung di Kerdau, Pahang malam semalam untuk mendengar ceramahnya.
Kaya-raya
Anwar malam tadi juga mengupas ucapan Najib pada majlis sambutan Hari Belia itu yang dialas dengan gesaan supaya belia menyokong Umno-BN sebagai syarat menikmati kemakmuran.
Kenyataan sedemikian, kata Anwar hanya menunjukkan rasa terdesak Perdana Menteri.
Menurut Anwar beliau tidak menuduh Umno sebagai parti yang tidak pernah membuat apa-apa.
Namun yang dipersoalkan adalah kemungkaran dan kezaliman yang menyebabkan rakyat menderita manakala pemimpin hidup dalam keadaan kaya-raya.
“Saya tidak samakan Umno dengan Firaun, Firaun pun buat bangunan dan jalan, negara komunis, Zimbabwe, mahupun Bangladesh pun buat pembangunan, soalnya kita ini mahu nilai apa kekurangan besar yang membolehkan sebuah perubahan kuasa itu perlu,” katanya.
Sehubungan itu, Anwar mengajak rakyat supaya merenung hala tuju negara di bawah pemerintahan Umno-BN dan tidak termakan dengan dakyah dan gula-gula politik yang disebarkan parti itu.
“Saya tidak pertikai hak sesiapa untuk sokong parti mana-mana, tetapi kita sanggupkah pertahankan kezaliman, bolehkah kita diam tentang rasuah, mampukah kita biarkan fitnah, lucah termasuk qazaf dan semulanya berlaku?” tanya Anwar.
Turut hadir, Pesuruhjaya PAS Pahang, Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man ahli jawatankuasa PAS Pusat, Mohamed Sabu, Ketua Serikandi Siti Aishah Shaik Ismail dan Presiden ANAK, Mazlan.
People smugglers put under ISA
The New Straits Times
by Roy Goh
He said ministry officers had started ground work on cross-border crimes.
"This includes bilateral ties and cooperation with Australia on human trafficking, Saudi Arabia on terrorism as well as China and Britain on security."
The implementation is coordinated by the Cabinet Committee on Foreign Labour and Illegal Immigrants chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
On another matter, Hishammuddin said the ministry was investigating whether businessman Datu Mohd Akjan Datu Ali Muhammad, who had proclaimed himself as the sultan of Sulu, was a foreigner.
On calls for the government to act against Akjan in relation to his "coronation", Hishammuddin said the government had considered various aspects of the law but was unable to find one to act against him.
"For now, we will look into the status of his citizenship."
Hishammuddin said action would be taken if his documents were found not to be in order.
Barisan Nasional leaders from United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun and Murut Organisation, Parti Bersatu Sabah and Liberal Democratic Party had urged the government to strip Akjan of his citizenship as his declaration was an insult to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
In February, Akjan, a 54-year-old former ISA detainee, claimed that he was a direct descendant of the last reigning Sultan of Sulu Paduka Mahasari Maulana Al-Marhum Sultan Shariful-Hashim and reportedly took on the name Sultan Shariful-Hashim II.
He came under fire following his "proclamation" and went missing for three months before police caught him at his home in Likas in the middle of this month.
They later released without any conditions earlier last week.
Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Hamza Taib said investigation papers had been handed over to the Attorney-General's Chambers for the next course of action.
by Roy Goh
KOTA
KINABALU: A local and two Filipinos involved in human trafficking were
detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA) last Tuesday.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said yesterday the detention was to preserve the security of the country.
The three men, aged between 24 and 59, are suspected of smuggling illegal immigrants from Bongao in southern Philippines.
"Hopefully, the arrest will lead to more information on human trafficking of foreign women into the country," said Hishammuddin after presenting appointment letters to directors of the state National Registration Department and Prisons Department.
"This is also part of our efforts to tackle the influx of illegal immigrants into Sabah," he said, adding that the police were also focusing on cross-border crimes, including drug and arms smuggling, money laundering, cyber crimes and smuggling of essential goods.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said yesterday the detention was to preserve the security of the country.
The three men, aged between 24 and 59, are suspected of smuggling illegal immigrants from Bongao in southern Philippines.
"Hopefully, the arrest will lead to more information on human trafficking of foreign women into the country," said Hishammuddin after presenting appointment letters to directors of the state National Registration Department and Prisons Department.
"This is also part of our efforts to tackle the influx of illegal immigrants into Sabah," he said, adding that the police were also focusing on cross-border crimes, including drug and arms smuggling, money laundering, cyber crimes and smuggling of essential goods.
He said ministry officers had started ground work on cross-border crimes.
"This includes bilateral ties and cooperation with Australia on human trafficking, Saudi Arabia on terrorism as well as China and Britain on security."
The implementation is coordinated by the Cabinet Committee on Foreign Labour and Illegal Immigrants chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
On another matter, Hishammuddin said the ministry was investigating whether businessman Datu Mohd Akjan Datu Ali Muhammad, who had proclaimed himself as the sultan of Sulu, was a foreigner.
On calls for the government to act against Akjan in relation to his "coronation", Hishammuddin said the government had considered various aspects of the law but was unable to find one to act against him.
"For now, we will look into the status of his citizenship."
Hishammuddin said action would be taken if his documents were found not to be in order.
Barisan Nasional leaders from United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun and Murut Organisation, Parti Bersatu Sabah and Liberal Democratic Party had urged the government to strip Akjan of his citizenship as his declaration was an insult to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
In February, Akjan, a 54-year-old former ISA detainee, claimed that he was a direct descendant of the last reigning Sultan of Sulu Paduka Mahasari Maulana Al-Marhum Sultan Shariful-Hashim and reportedly took on the name Sultan Shariful-Hashim II.
He came under fire following his "proclamation" and went missing for three months before police caught him at his home in Likas in the middle of this month.
They later released without any conditions earlier last week.
Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Hamza Taib said investigation papers had been handed over to the Attorney-General's Chambers for the next course of action.
Govt plans night Syariah Court to reduce backlog of cases
The Star
KOTA
BARU: The Government will conduct Syariah Court proceedings at night
and on public holidays in an effort to reduce the backlog of cases,
Deputy Minister at the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Dr Mashitah
Ibrahim said.
“We have enough Syariah Court judges but more time is needed to dispose as many cases as possible.
“It will be one of the moves to help reduce the backlog of cases,” Dr Mashitah said after attending a Halal Carnival organised by the Malaysian Department of Islamic Development (Jakim) here yesterday.
Dr Mashitah, said based on statistics, almost all cases registered for divorce were after the fifth year of marriage.
“We have enough Syariah Court judges but more time is needed to dispose as many cases as possible.
“It will be one of the moves to help reduce the backlog of cases,” Dr Mashitah said after attending a Halal Carnival organised by the Malaysian Department of Islamic Development (Jakim) here yesterday.
Dr Mashitah, said based on statistics, almost all cases registered for divorce were after the fifth year of marriage.
“Although the divorce rate among Muslims is high, we must not view it negatively.
“It shows that there is awareness among couples of their rights within the ambit of Syariah law concerning marriage and divorce.
“Jakim is always finding ways to give counselling to estranged couples to reduce the number of divorces,” she added.
It was reported that 2009 statistics showed one divorce occurred every 15 minutes among Muslims.
“It shows that there is awareness among couples of their rights within the ambit of Syariah law concerning marriage and divorce.
“Jakim is always finding ways to give counselling to estranged couples to reduce the number of divorces,” she added.
It was reported that 2009 statistics showed one divorce occurred every 15 minutes among Muslims.
807 Penang DAP Members Quit Party And Join MIC
MIC President Datuk G. Palanivel said all the individuals quit the party at their own will after realising that their struggles for DAP were not worthwhile.
"They claimed that the party had made promises but failed to fulfill any, even when they were facing problems. They also told me that whatever assistance they had received was only from Barisan Nasional (BN) and MIC," he told reporters after meeting the Indian community here Sunday.
He added that a representative of the group had submitted their application forms to join MIC.
Palanivel said their decision showed that the government was always people centric and true to its 'People First, Performance Now' concept.
Among them was former Teluk Indah DAP chief D. Sampunathan, 52, who said he had been with the DAP for the past 20 years but since DAP took over Penang, their leaders had become big headed.
"Since DAP's win, the leaders have forgotten the voters, including me, although I have been with the party for a long time. All the promises made were not fulfilled," said Sampunathan who was disappointed with the DAP leaders.
Bagan Dalam State Assemblyman A. Tanasekharan's Special Assistant R. Lily, 46, who was also among those who quit the party said she decided to quit because she could not face the people in her constituency because the promises made earlier were not fulfilled.
"During the campaign they (DAP) had promised to help the Indian community in Bagan Dalam, but until now nothing has been done and the people have started asking me.
"When I asked the leaders, they said there was no allocation yet, so we will have to wait. However, these same leaders enjoy a luxurious lifestyle while we continue to suffer," said Lily.
Another member, A. Vasan, 51, alleged that DAP was only fighting for the well-being of the Chinese and not the Indians, although they (Indians) had supported the party.
"DAP is not a party for all, we do not need such a party. We need a party like BN that can look after the welfare of all races," he said.
Meanwhile, Palanivel said the MIC has been meeting the people on the ground to prepare its election machinery to face the next general election.
"MIC is working very hard to ensure victory for BN. We are ready to face the election," he said.
Port Dickson, pelancong asing luahkan kekecewaan
gambar hiasan tiada kena mengena sama yang hidupatau telah meninggalkan dunia
Nampaknya Port Dickson bukannya Bandar Tentera Darat tapi Bandar Pengotor atau mungkin Bandar Lalat. Seorang pelancong asing bersama rakan-rakan mereka dari Rusia meluahkan perasaan kecewa yang amat sangat akan tahap kekotoran di Port Dickson. Tahap kebersihan di medan selera di Telok Kemang mengecewakan mereka, dengan air paip yang digunakan untuk memasak air , makanan dan mencuci pinggan begitu keruh.
Pelancong asing tersebut menggelarkan PD sebagai P-ositively D-isgraceful atau Sememangnya Memalukan. Luahan kekecewaan yang amat sangat pelancong asing tadi telah tersebar ke seluruh dunia dalam Bahasa Inggeris melalui portal akhbar Malay Mail Online.
Habislah PD. Kalau Menteri Besar Negeri Sembilan ambil tak endah sahaja luahan pelancong asing ini, maka akan lebih ramai lagi pelancong asing tidak akan datang ke Port Dickson lagi. Usahkan pelancong asing, MB , EXCO dan ADUN N.Sembilan pun tak berbulan madu di Port Dickson.
Ke Menteri Besar dan EXCO Negeri Sembilan sedang sibuk untuk dengan perkhabaran (mungkin khabar angin) Pengakalan Tentera Udara Diraja Malaysia di Sungei Besi akan dipindahkan ke Labu, N.Sembilan? Maka lenyaplah isu Port Dickson Bandar Kotor. Maka jadilah Labu Bandar Tentera Udara agaknya.
Tidak hairanlah Wabak Adenovirus sedang melanda PUSASDA ketika ini.
Kisah Tiada laut biru, cuma sampah di Port Dickson di http://amkns.blogspot.com/
Kisah Bandar Tentera Darat atau Bandar Lalat di http://pasns.blogspot.com/
P-ositively D-isgraceful!
Tuesday, April 12th, 2011
Port Dickson's poor eatery hygiene
LAST weekend at Port Dickson with my family and friends from Russia was a big disgrace.
I was so ashamed to have taken them there, especially after I had convinced them that we would have a whale of a time tucking into local delicacies.
At a seafront food court in Teluk Kemang, we were shocked to see murky water being used to prepare meals and drinks.
We also observed mucky water being used to wash cooking utensils and dishes by certain food operators.
Stall worker s also washed dishes and cooking utensils in basins filled with sudsy water while customers were directed to a nearby stinky toilet to wash their hands.
My Russian friends were stunned by the filthy food practises and they missed out on local cuisine and ended up eating in a hotel.
I find it strange that the authorities are not aware of this obnoxious situation. I find it strange that they are not worried tourists would be discouraged from visiting Port Dickson.
If it is happening at this food court, then I sense hazardous food practices could be an occurrence in other eateries in PD.
I was visiting PD after five years and it is beyond me how this beach town where I had my honeymoon has been allowed to sink to disgraceful levels, especially handling of food.
Won’t somebody do something to restore PD to its past glory?
Philip Etherton
http://www.mmail.com.my/
How TNB (and the public) got a raw deal
With an electricity tariff hike
due to be announced on Monday, it might be useful to recall how the
first generation of ‘independent power producers’ (IPPs) profited at
TNB’s (and the Malaysian public’s) expense.
There’s a been a lot of talk, and rightly so, about the gas subsidies given to the IPPs, but not enough about the high price TNB has to pay to the IPPs for the electricity it has to take up – whether it needs it or not.
How did this Malaysian model of IPPs come into being, while TNB’s own expansion plans were cold-storaged in the early 1990s? As former TNB executive chairman Ani Arope says, “Ask our previous prime minister (Mahathir).” (Incidentally, Ani Arope studied at St Xavier’s Institution in Penang.)
This interview is from The Star:
There’s a been a lot of talk, and rightly so, about the gas subsidies given to the IPPs, but not enough about the high price TNB has to pay to the IPPs for the electricity it has to take up – whether it needs it or not.
How did this Malaysian model of IPPs come into being, while TNB’s own expansion plans were cold-storaged in the early 1990s? As former TNB executive chairman Ani Arope says, “Ask our previous prime minister (Mahathir).” (Incidentally, Ani Arope studied at St Xavier’s Institution in Penang.)
This interview is from The Star:
Tuesday June 6, 2006So, pray tell, who is subsidising whom?
Ani: TNB got a raw deal
WHEN the Government decided to approve the request from Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) to raise electricity tariffs, the plight of the national utility took centre-stage. Naturally, the knee-jerk reaction among consumers was not favourable. The 12% rise in tariffs appears to have re-ignited the debate on how good the going is for independent power producers (IPPs) at the cost of the national utility’s cashflow. The imbalance between the generation side of the business and that of transmission and distribution has put a strain on TNB. To understand the privatisation of the power generation sector, one needs to take a look back in history to understand that the country’s IPPs came about as a result of the Government’s effort to address the issue of stable power supply after the landmark 1992 blackout. Lending a historical perspective to the issue of IPPs is former TNB executive chairman Tan Sri Ani Arope, who headed the national utility from 1990 to 1996. It was during his tenure that the first generation IPPs were created. StarBiz deputy news editor JAGDEV SINGH SIDHU has the story.
STARBIZ: What happened after the first major blackout in 1992?
Ani: TNB had plans in place to pump out more energy by building plants in Pasir Gudang and Paka. Financing was no problem and our credit standing was very high. We had the land acquired and were ready to move in and plant up.
But we were told by the Economic Planning Unit (EPU) that it had its own plans. We cautioned EPU that if those plants, which would take two years to complete, were not built, Malaysia would get another major blackout. When you have a place with 250 engineers, it does not make sense to say (the blackout) is because of poor planning. But the EPU said it had its own plans and we were told to surrender the land.
Then it surfaced that it wanted to privatise the power plants. I am not anti-IPPs per se. It is good to have other players but it has to be done fairly. It has to be fair to the consumers, not just TNB, which is a conduit. TNB, because of the electricity hike, has been treated as the whipping boy. The focus should be on the consumers.
When the generous terms were given to the IPPs, all my other peers around the world asked what was happening. They said they would like to have a share in the IPPs. They said (the contracts to IPPs) were “too darn generous.” (The terms) were grossly one sided.
How was the Malaysian model of IPPs created?
Ask our previous Prime Minister.
How was the process of negotiations with IPPs conducted?
There was no negotiation. Absolutely none. Instead of talking directly with the IPPs, TNB was sitting down with the EPU. And we were harassed, humiliated and talked down every time we went there. After that, my team was disappointed. The EPU just gave us the terms and asked us to agree. I said no way I would.
What about the pricing and terms of the contracts?
It was all fixed up. (They said) this is the price, this is the capacity charge and this is the number of years. They said you just take it and I refused to sign the contracts. And then, I was put out to pasture.
Why did you disagree with the terms?
It was grossly unfair. At 16 sen per unit (kWh) and with the take or pay situation, actually it was 23 sen per unit. With 23 sen, plus transmission and distribution costs, TNB would have had to charge the consumer no less than 30 sen per unit. If mixed with TNB’s cost, the cost would come down but that was at our expense because we were producing electricity at 8 sen a unit. We can deliver electricity at 17 sen per unit.
And then there is a capacity charge. Nobody produces excess electricity like Malaysia and it goes to waste because there are no batteries to store that power. TNB only needs a reserve of 15% to 20%.
TNB was producing electricity at 8 sen a unit. What should have been the right price for IPPs to sell to TNB?
Twelve sen. They could not beat our price as we had already amortised our assets. But for the new guys or even ourselves to come in then and (having) to meet interest charges and to make a small profit, it would cost 12 sen a unit.
This was what we told one IPP. The IPP agreed to it but the EPU said that unless the IPP raised its price, the contract would not be given to the IPP. So he got it for 14 sen per unit.
And then, there is the cost pass-through. If the price of fuel went up, the extra cost is passed through to us. And in other words, it is passed on to the consumer.
Under what terms would you have agreed to the IPPs being set up?
Have an independent buyer for the electricity and in one way, let TNB come in and bid for the plants. Get other people to come in. Get a commission to see (to) our needs and TNB can be one of the producers.
It is argued that the IPPs’ contracts are too lucrative but there are IPPs in other countries in Africa or Asia that have better terms.
There are IPPs charging 50 to 60 US cents per unit but they use diesel. Take our own situation and compare oranges with oranges. Then it is fair. Do whatever is fair.
How were you affected by the process of awarding the IPP contracts?
I felt sick. It was morally wrong and not fair. If it is legal and not fair, I will not do it. If it is fair and illegal, I still won’t do it. It has to be legal and fair.
We work for the consumers, workers and shareholders. TNB is morally obligated to these three, but the consumers come first, otherwise we won’t be around. It is then the workers and the shareholders.
When I said that, they said ‘Dia ingat bapak dia-punya’ (He thinks this is his father’s company). This job is an amanah (trust). You are entrusted with this responsibility and you carry it out to the best of your ability. I do not want somebody to come and urinate on my grave. In the Malay culture, that is about the worst insult they can do to a man.
Do you think you did the right thing by not signing the agreements?
Absolutely.
How should a contract with the IPPs work?
In Australia, they call the IPPs and ask “what is your price”. They will pay the IPP that offers the best price. What they could have done is to throw the net wider and ask everybody (if they) are good, it would be awarded to them. But in our case, the contracts were ready-made and we were asked to sign.
What is your view on the impending renegotiation with the IPPs?
It has to be legal and fair. If we were to negotiate unfairly and illegally, the whole world will be looking at us and they will say “don’t sign anything with Malaysia because if things go against the country, the Government will void the agreement”.
We have to look at this very carefully.
But what we can do now is to say, can we bring down the capacity charge. Anything above the 15% reserve margin, we will call for bids.
The second thing is that the IPPs would have by now paid up their whole capital investments in their plants and it is all gravy (or profit) from now. Could we not bring this down a bit? Instead of paying a small amount to (a special fund), why not increase the (payment) for future planting up? In that manner, we can control the price of electricity. Otherwise, it’s going to escalate.
Who in your opinion should get involved in the negotiations?
The consumers should be there. For me, you should get a very independent body. Then, you can bring in TNB, the IPPs, the consumers and Energy Commission. But these bodies and consumers should not make a judgment.
BANNER OF ETHNIC CLEANSING
This is the banner of hatred towards Indians which doesn't reflect the sincerity of 1Malaysia slogan. We are considered "OUT CASTE" in our own motherland . This banner is a prove of what we are all commenting about .. True enough what Mr. Utayakumar has been saying from the beginning about "ETHNIC CLEANSING" of the Indian community in Malaysia.
The Freedom of Religion does exist anymore in Malaysia as article 11 of the Federal Constitution have been ignored by the "Ketuanan Melayu". Artidle 11 of the Federal Constitution provides for religious freedom, which includes the right to establish and maintain places of worships and own and acquire property. minority religious groups reported that state authorities sometimes blocked construction using restrictive zoning and construction codes.
For this reason, I ask all Indians to be UNITED and stand firm against this form of "Barbarian Act "of the Malays Racist . We will not bow down again to this kind of threat. Let us fight for our freedom to worship .
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