Bukit Antarabangsa Residents Slam Shabery Cheek's Insensitive Attempt To Spread The Blame

Information Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek should be more sensitive towards the feelings of the residents who have suffered so much as result of the Bukit Antarabangsa landslide tragedy last Saturday.

Residents action committee chairman Datuk N. Muneandy said his statement Tuesday was uncalled for in light of the recent tragedy and only served to add fuel to the frustration and dismay already felt by the victims.

Ahmad Shabery reportedly told residents not to point fingers solely at the Government as both developers and housebuyers who chose to live in highland areas were equally to be blamed and should accept responsibility for what happened.

“Are you saying we should blame the mother for giving birth to the thief?” he told reporters Wednesday, adding that residents had invested millions of ringgit to purchase homes there.

Muneandy said there had been many signals over the years to indicate that the soil structure was unstable but complaints to the local authorities had fallen on deaf ears.

He said the complaints for the past five to 10 years have touched on various issues including cracks in drains and falling rubble and trees at the current landslide site.

“We want the authorities to do something to safeguard the future safety of residents there. The buck must stop here,” he said.

Muneandy said the committee would be bringing in their own geo-technical and legal experts to look into the soil structure at the landslide area which killed four people and resulted in nearly 3,000 being temporarily evacuated from their homes.

“We will collect evidence on what exactly happened and who is responsible. Then, we will consider whether to sue those responsible,” he said.

The committee, which represents the residents of four streets in Taman Wangsa, Wangsa Heights and Antanium, also told the Government to provide more information to the residents’ committee, claiming they were being kept in the dark over plans to alleviate problems caused by the landslide.

“We have not been told about what is happening. We are left wondering what to expect next,” he said.

Read the whole story HERE

***** Did we really expect any thing different from a government minister? If Shabery had his way he'll totally absolve the kerajaan and place the blame solely on the residents and the developers. MBs, Exco members and Majlis officials will be exonerated and described as completely honest and dedicated public servants. Malaysia Boleh!!

Pak Lah Wants 'To Do The Right Things' Before Leaving Office

Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said on Thursday he wants to do the right things despite any challenges before leaving office after five years rendering his services to the nation.

"I don't know if it's about leaving a legacy or just doing the right thing while you have a chance to do so. This is what I am doing," he said in an interview with The Sun newspaper.

Abdullah said he would let the people be the judge.

"If the people say what Pak Lah (Abdullah) is doing is good, well and good," he said.

Abdullah said when he decided on the development of soft infrastructure - the heart, the human being - a long time friend had told him to chose something tangible.

However, he said he was unfazed by this as he believed that 2020 could not be achieved without quality and dynamic human capital.

"I hope everyone as human beings just remember to do what is right, no matter how difficult it may seem," he said.

On freedom of speech, Abdullah said he had given the space but wanted it to come with responsibility.

"If you want to exercise your right to speak, yes, go ahead but you must be mindful of your responsibilities. You claim the right to speak, you must also listen to others," he added. (Bernama)

***** Ironic isn't it? Pak Lah achieved diddly-squat for the five years he'd been in power and now just when he's being shown the door by his own party he wants to 'do the right things'! Pitiful bugger. Indecisive till the end.

Teresa Kok Released From ISA Detention

In further proof of the government's legally untenable action of using the Internal Security Act (ISA), Seputeh MP Teresa Kok was released, six days after her detention, at 1pm today.

This good news was announced by her lawyer Sankaran Nair.

Over the past few days the authorities had come under severe criticism from various quarters including Umno for misusing the Act. Even that biggest abuser of the ISA, former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, had condemned the use of the Internal Security Act against Raja Petra, who is the editor of controversial online news portal Malaysia Today, and Kok, a Selangor executive councillor and Seputeh MP.

Following the embarrassing about-turn and release of the Sin Chew reporter Tan Hoon Cheng after 18 hours of detention, things have been basically going downhill for the kerajaan.

But this travesty of justice by the authorities should not go unpunished. For a start, Home Minister Syed Hamid must resign if he still has any political conviction and honour left in him. Next Khir Toyol who started the shit stirring must be pulled up and charged in court. Even a swine like him does not deserve to be arrested under the ISA. He's not a terrorist but a politically slimy bastard of the first order who will lie and cheat to any extent to get his way.

And as for that religio-racist Umno mouthpiece Utusan Malaysia, nothing can or will happen to them, not even a rap on the wrist. We'll have to wait for Anwar to come to power before taking meaningful action against the bigots there.

Poll: Pak Lah's Popularity Falls To New Low

Public confidence in Malaysia's political and economic future has dwindled dramatically in recent months, with the prime minister's popularity hitting an all-time low, a survey showed Friday.

The independent Merdeka Center research firm found that only 28 percent of registered voters polled in July felt encouraged by the country's direction, a severe fall from 68 percent in late February.

The center said its nationwide survey of 1,030 adults was conducted by telephone July 4-14 and had a margin of error of 3.1 percentage points.

Fifty-four percent were displeased with Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's performance, compared to 42 percent who were satisfied — Abdullah's worst approval rating since he took office in 2003, said the center's director Ibrahim Suffian.

The results follow a public backlash over the government's decision to hike gasoline prices by 41 percent in June and persistent uncertainties after Abdullah's ruling coalition lost its longtime political dominance in March general elections.

"People feel bad about economic issues. They are concerned that the political bickering in this country is not helping to generate solutions," Ibrahim told The Associated Press.

Only 8 percent of respondents said current consumer prices were acceptable and 20 percent expect the economy to improve next year, highlighting the impact of inflation that spiraled to 7.7 percent in June. It was the steepest climb in more than 27 years.

In an interview with The Associated Press on Thursday, Abdullah acknowledged the problem of inflation has become "regarded as a weakness of the government today," adding that his administration is considering lowering retail fuel prices despite its high subsidy bill.

In another blow to the government, 66 percent of respondents thought that a recent sodomy accusation against opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim was politically motivated to disrupt his career, the Merdeka Center said.

Anwar insists the accusation by his 23-year-old former aide was part of a government plot, but Abdullah and other leaders deny any conspiracy. Police completed their investigation into the allegation Thursday, but government prosecutors have not announced if Anwar would be charged.

Only 11 percent of the Merdeka Center's respondents believed the sodomy accusation, compared with 55 percent who thought it was false. The others were unsure or did not respond. Only 31 percent were confident that police would handle the case in a fair and transparent manner. (International Herald Tribune)

***** Is anyone really surprised with these findings? The truly sad part is that even the figures given above will do precious little to wake up the snoozing PM.
Image - Source

Total Disregard For PM & Cabinet - Terengganu Exco Member Drives To JB Flora Fest In New Mercedes

A Terengganu state executive councillor arrived to attend the Flora Fest 2008 at Johor Baru today in one of the new Mercedes Benz cars the Terengganu government had bought to replace its fleet of Proton Perdana V6 Executive official cars.

Datuk Za'abar Mohd Adib, Chairman of the State Tourism and Culture, Arts and Heritage Committee, was questioned by reporters on the use of the car which, along with the other 13 Mercedes Benz cars, was to be used only for guests of the Terengganu government.

"I feel the issue has been overblown," he said, adding that he would leave the matter to Terengganu Menteri Besar Datuk Ahmad Said to make a decision.

He said the issue would be discussed at the next meeting of the state executive council.

Za'abar had used the Mercedes car for the first time last Wednesday when he came to Kuala Lumpur to attend a meeting of the Terengganu state executive council held in the federal capital.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had said on Friday that Terengganu could keep the Mercedes Benz E200 Kompressor cars it had bought for RM3.43 million but use them only for guests of the state government.

The Terengganu government had bought the Mercedes Benz cars to replace the Proton Perdana V6 Executive cars which it said were too costly to maintain. (Bernama)

***** So much for Pak Lah's directive. This bugger in Terengganu, Za'abar knows full well that nothing will come out of complaining about him to the PM. The whole issue looks like a financial misadventure followed up by a cosmetic 'investigation' and a 'firm' directive which is probably another sandiwara - "we'll close-one-eye if you guys let the whole thing blow over for now and later you can use these Mercs as you like".

Well whatever may be the reality, it is still an act of total disrespect to the PM and the Cabinet for Za'abar to use the vehicle in blatant contravention of the directive. Will Pak Lah take action? Don't bet on it.

PM Okays Mercedes For Terengganu Government, Says MB

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has given his blessings to the state government to use the Mercedes E200 Kompressors as official cars.

Terengganu Mentri Besar Datuk Ahmad Said said this at a press conference here today.

A few days earlier the Terengganu state government had defended the purchase of 14 Mercedes E200 Kompressor cars at RM3.43mil for the use of its state executive councillors and senior officials.

Ahmad Said had said that the state government had planned to purchase the cars for 'a long time' to replace its Proton Perdana V6 Executive fleet in a move to cut cost.

The deputy prime minister had waded into the issue by saying that the cabinet, among others, would discuss whether the move was appropriate, while adding that "I'm using the national car and the prime minister too, is using the national car."

Given that statement what exceptional situation has made Ahmad Said so special to be given the 'PM's blessings'? It in fact sets a very bad precedent and the PM should have been more careful in allowing the state government to get away with this financial misadventure.

Even at this critical juncture in Pak Lah's career he seems unable to display any leadership qualities, especially the political will to take an unpopular decision against a fellow umnoputera.

No Chancellor, No Convocation, Three Years After Being Upgraded To University Status!

More than 1,800 graduates of Universiti Darul Iman Malaysia in Terengganu have yet to receive their scrolls or don their graduation robes even though some graduated three years ago, Kosmo! reported.

This is because the university has yet to hold a convocation ceremony since it was upgraded to university status three years go.

According to the report yesterday, students had been trying to ask the university when the convocation would be held but the staff did not seem to know.

In an immediate response, Deputy Higher Education Minister Datuk Idris Haron gave his assurance that the convocation would be held once a chancellor was appointed.

“I am sure it will be held this year and we will not disappoint the graduates and deprive them of such an important day,” he said. (The Star)

***** Three years have passed since the upgrade to university status was announced and yet there has been no convocation and worse still, no chancellor! I wonder what the Education Minister has to say about this sad state of affairs?

It's all well and good to go around upgrading colleges to universities and creating new varsities in every nook and corner of the country. But if they do not perform or maintain the standard required, then it is incumbent upon the authorities to take appropriate action to remedy the situation.

Everyone knows that a lot of political wheeling and dealing goes into the setting-up of varsities without proper evaluation, but that will not change any time soon. If there are votes to be won by the ruling party in announcing university upgrades and the creation of new ones, you can bet your last ringgit that the government will continue to do so with gay abandon. So what if there is no chancellor or a convocation? The votes are more important than varsities that perform. 'Malaysia Boleh' comes to mind.

Audit Dept Announces Austerity Measures. Don't Forget To Inform The Terengganu MB Too

The Audit Department wants its employees to lead by example and reduce spending, including cutting down on overtime.

Auditor General Tan Sri Ambrin Buang said apart from the directive on austerity measures announced by the Treasury last month, employees should also reduce the number of events and local and overseas travel.

“I also want all department heads to justify why we need to spend money for a particular purpose,” he said, adding that the department should only hold functions that were necessary.

Ambrin said overtime would only be allowed if the task had to be completed urgently and there must be a written request for it from the department head.

“Overseas travel for official work should also be limited to attending important international conferences or government-to-government meetings. Only three or fewer officers directly involved in the meetings would be allowed to attend,” he added.

He said department heads should also ensure funds allocated for projects were spent on schedule before the end of the year.

“There must be proper planning and supervision. We should not use the bunching method (where whatever monies left in the budget is used up just before the close of the financial year),” he said.

Ambrin said all purchase of vehicles, furniture and other office fittings and computers that had not been committed to would have to be deferred.

“Employees should also strictly abide by the earlier directive (from the Treasury) to reduce electricity, water and telephone usage,” he said, adding that employees should switch off lights when not in their rooms or when going out for lunch. (The Star Online)

***** Obviously these austerity measures have either not trickled down to Terengganu or the state government there could not be bothered, when it went ahead and purchased Mercedes Benz E200 Kompressor limousines to replace the current fleet of Proton Perdana V6 official cars.

After the questionable manner in which the pugnacious Menteri Besar came to take office in Terengganu, perhaps this is a way for him to keep his Umno comrades in good spirits.

In any case, austerity measures and belt-tightening strategies are for mere mortals and not for bangsa, agama dan negara berjuang-ing umnoputeras who firmly believe that they are deserving of such luxuries. Try arguing with them on this point and they'll fervently mention the NEP and the 'social contract' as their passport to unlimited entitlement and wealth, the country be damned.

Thousands Of Protestors Throng Kelana Jaya Stadium

Thousands of protestors, led by several NGOs and Pakatan Rakyat leaders, have thronged the Kelana Jaya stadium here to protest against the fuel hike.

Many of them were wearing red shirts, emblazoned with the word "protest" to voice their dissent.

Despite the crowd, estimated at between 15,000 and 20,000, there was no heavy police presence. Only a few patrol cars were seen monitoring the area.

The carnival like atmosphere also saw various traders cashing in on food and drinks, T-shirts and souvenirs.

Several PKR and Hindraf leaders also rallied the crowd with speeches and shouts of Reformasi! and Minyak turun!.

The crowd had been increasing since about 10am. Among those expected to speak at the rally include PAS spiritual leader Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat , vice president Mohamad Sabu, DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang and PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. (The Star Update)
Image - Source

Earlier report: Malaysian Fuel Price Hike Protesters Vow To Go Ahead Despite Police Warning

Malaysian Fuel Price Hike Protesters Vow To Go Ahead Despite Police Warning

Malaysia's opposition-backed protesters vowed today to go ahead with a mass rally against a steep hike in fuel prices, despite a police warning that it was illegal.

The hard-line stance raised fears of clashes during the rally scheduled for Sunday amid a politically charged atmosphere.

Hatta Ramli, a protest leader and senior official in the opposition Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party, said police have been informed of the rally in central Selangor state.

But protest organizers do not plan to apply for a police permit, required in Malaysia for gatherings of more than four people, he said, urging police not to aggravate the public by breaking up the gathering. In the past, police have ended rallies with tear gas, water cannons and mass arrests.

"All along we have been organizing gatherings as part of the right of citizens to assemble. ... It is always peaceful," he said.

To calm fears of disturbances, activists moved the rally from a sports field to a stadium, said Yap Swee Seng, a human rights activist and protest leader. "It's basically for security reasons ... to avoid provocation," Yap said, adding organizers were afraid the rally could be infiltrated by people wanting to cause trouble.

Activists hope up to 1 million people will attend the all-day event with stage shows and speeches by opposition politicians, including opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, Hatta said.

But Yap said "fear and anxiety" about possible trouble may cause people to stay away.

Selangor police chief Khalid Abu Bakar warned the public to avoid the gathering, saying police would "take the appropriate action. I still call on the public not to attend the rally. It is an illegal rally," Khalid said without elaborating on what measures police would take.

Public anger against the federal government, run by the National Front party, is already high after gasoline prices were increased by 41 percent and diesel prices by 63 percent last month. Food prices have also been rising.

The country's tense political climate since March general elections — when the opposition made unprecedented gains against the National Front — heated up further last week when Anwar was accused of sodomy by one of his aides.

Anwar has dismissed the allegations as a conspiracy by political opponents.

Police detained two opposition activists outside a Kuala Lumpur mosque Friday while they were handing out pamphlets in an attempt to disprove the allegations against Anwar, said opposition representative Shamsul Iskandar Mohamad Akin.

District police contacted by phone declined to comment.

Anwar, a former deputy prime minister, was jailed on a sodomy and corruption conviction a decade ago. The sodomy conviction was later overturned and Anwar was released from prison in 2004. (International Herald Tribune)

***** It looks like the already heated political situation is going to spill over to the weekend too. The cops for one will be having their hands full, while politicians, NGOs and others 'battle' it out. For those who don't intend to take part in the above gathering, stay cool and keep far away from the venue.
Image - Source

Government Says It Will Clamp Down On Today's Fuel Hike Protest

Malaysian authorities vowed to stop an opposition rally on Friday against a sharp fuel price rise that has stoked public anger and handed a poltical weapon to Prime Minister Ahmad Abdullah Badawi's rivals.

Protests have so far been small and scattered, but on Friday after Muslim prayers, the opposition plans to draw 20,000 people in a march from a mosque in a poor part of Kuala Lumpur to the iconic Petronas towers in the city centre to underline anger against the state energy giant.

Police have urged people not to join the rally, termed illegal because no permit has been issued, and warned they would arrest protest leaders.

"Demonstrations and illegal assemblies only disrupt public order and cause traffic chaos," the pro-government New Straits Times quoted city police chief Muhammad Sabtu Osman as saying. We are not sure how many protesters will turn up and which routes they will take. But we are taking all precautionary measures," a police spokesman told Reuters.

There are tight restrictions on public gatherings in Malaysia, but the opposition has said it will go ahead anyway.

"The people are angry. They say the fuel price is very high so they want to say something," said Safarizal Saleh, a leader of the youth wing of the Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS), the main Islamist party and one of the organisers of the rally.

Petrol prices were raised by 41 percent and diesel 63 percent in line with a global surge in oil prices, a measure that would drive inflation to a 10-year high of 4.2 percent in 2008.

The government says it will save 13.7 billion ringgit ($4.2 billion) as part of a broad overhaul of its heavily subsided energy pricing system.

Trying to assuage public anger, Prime Minister Ahmad Abdullah Badawi has said there will not be any more fuel increases this year and announced a cut in the allowances of ministers as part of measures to cut government costs.

Despite the rises, pump prices for petrol in Malaysia are still among the cheapest in Asia.

But critics led by former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim have rejected the measures as too little and questioned why Malaysia, the largest net oil exporter in Asia, should face the fuel hike when the country earns 250 million ringgit ($76.76 million) a year in revenue for every $1 rise in crude prices.

"Although Petronas is estimated to have earned RM2trillion over the last 34 years ... its accounts are not accessible to (the) public nor by the people's elected representative in Parliament," said Waytha Moorthy, chairman of HINDRAF, a group campaigning for the rights of ethnic Indians which is supporting the fuel protests.

Petronas posted a record profit of $12.9 billion for the year ended March 31 2007, helped by a boom in crude oil prices. The state oil firm is expected to release its 2008 earnings at the end of June.

***** Petronas' earnings over the years have been siphoned off by various government 'policies' and we can forget about getting even an estimate of where it all ended up. When the government can't even give us a proper accounting of the KL Commonwealth Games expenses do you think they'll budge on the Petronas billions?

Umno Seeks To Ride Out Fuel Protests

Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's party was meeting on Friday hoping to weather a storm over unpopular fuel price hikes that come on top of a poor showing in elections earlier this year.

The two-day meeting of the supreme council of United Malays National Organisation was meant to set out a blueprint to revitalise the party following the election in March.

But Abdullah has come under renewed pressure from the opposition over the 41 percent rise in petrol prices and the 63 percent increase for diesel.

UMNO is the backbone of the National Front coalition which has led Malaysia since independence in 1957. Supreme council members planned to "chart the party's future and formulate strategies to regain support", Bernama said.

But analysts said this week's price rises could trigger an early exit for Abdullah. State media said he was expected to attend the meeting's closing session on Friday.

"The fuel price hike makes it more difficult for the prime minister to conduct a smooth transition of power," said Hussin Mutalib, a political scientist who tracks Southeast Asian issues at the National University of Singapore. "There could be a push forward for him to leave fast."

The fuel rise is expected to lift average inflation to a 10-year high of 4.2 percent in 2008, central bank chief Zeti Akhtar Aziz said on Thursday, compared to last year's 2 percent.

The hike comes two months after the ruling coalition recorded its worst-ever performance in a general election during its 50-year rule.

Angered by the rising cost of living and growing racial and religious conflict, Malaysians voted to hand control of five of the country's 13 states to the opposition in the poll.

There was a small protest against the fuel hike in the capital on Thursday and the opposition plans a bigger protest after Muslim prayers on Friday.

Mustapa Mansor, chairman of Ikrar, a non-governmental organisation that is made up of opposition front members, said between 100 and 200 people were expected to take part in the protest ahead of a likely bigger demonstration next month.

***** Pak Lah finds himself in a lose-lose, damned if you do, damned if you don't situation. I don't envy him. Let's wait and see how Umno extricates itself from this mess.

BN Parties Unhappy With Umno Should Pull Out, Says PKR Youth Leader

Barisan Nasional component parties unhappy with Umno should pull out of the coalition and join Pakatan Rakyat, a Perak Parti Keadilan (PKR) Youth leader said.

At a public forum here on Saturday night, Perak PKR Youth Information deputy chief Chang Lih Kang said there were Barisan parties that shared the same views as PR on issues like abolishing draconian laws, and the fair and equitable treatment of all races.

However Umno, as the dominant party in the coalition, did not endorse their views, he said. Chang, who is also Teja assemblyman, said it was high time they re-considered their political positioning.

By joining Pakatan Rakyat, they would not only have the opportunity to realise their policies, they could also end the era of racial politics in Malaysia, he said.

“There is nothing wrong in switching parties if the political party you are in is no longer moving in the direction you want,” he said.

Chang's proposal came in the midst of persistent talk that some Barisan MPs will cross over to Pakatan Rakyat.

He was speaking at the forum entitled The move towards a two-party system -- how are young politicians making changes? organised by the Youth wing of the Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall held at Yuk Choy Old Boys Association Building here. (The Star)

***** Perak PKR Youth Information deputy chief Chang Lih Kang is on spot with his advice. Umno is a political dead-end and there is no way that they will change or accommodate the views of others even if the non-Malay parties wait for a hundred years.

If the component parties like the MCA, MIC, Gerakan and others truly care for the people as they claim, then there is only choice and that is to abandon Umno and all that the racist party stands for and join Pakatan Rakyat. That is the best contribution these politicians can make for the future good of the nation. But do they really have the interests of their constituents at heart or only care for themselves?
Image - Source

City Hall's 'Gangsters In Uniform' Strike Yet Again With Impunity

Restaurant operators in Sentul alleged that City Hall officers were unnecessarily high-handed when conducting raids last night. Following the raid, six police reports were lodged by both the operators and customers.

The operators, as well as some customers, claimed that a group of 100 City Hall officers smashed several glass panes at the stalls, pulled out the electrical wires, damaged water pipes and even poured food all over the floor during the 11pm raid.

In the chaos, one customer had curry splashed on his clothes.

The officers’ alleged highhandedness had allegedly caused a near riot, claimed Batu MP Tian Chua, who was at the scene last night.

"This is not an isolated case. We have discussed the rough tactics of City Hall enforcement units with the mayor, but nothing has been done to rein them in," said Chua, adding that he would be bringing the matter up with City Hall today.

Angered by the treatment, restaurant operators and customers described the City Hall officers as "gangsters in uniforms".

"We were given no warning, no explanation, no notice. We tried to talk to them but they came in suddenly like gangsters. They shoved tables and chairs where our customers were eating. They chased our customers out. The children were all crying too," said D.Nanthakumaran, a manager of Seri Makhota mamak restaurant.

Nanthakumaran said that he had permits for his business and had applied for permits to put tables on the pavement outside his outlet.

One stall owner at another restaurant, Ariffin Abdul Majid, said: "These people should have come and talked to us. This is against basic human rights. People were eating and they acted harshly." The customer, who had curry splashed on him, said he came to watch the Chelsea-Newcastle match like many others in the large crowd last night.

"It happened so fast. The waiter was coming with my roti canai. The next thing I knew, I was wet," said Low Weng Foon, 52. "Everyone was scared." A mother, whose 11-year old girl had her arm placed in a cast earlier, had been waiting for her food when the raid occurred. "We were so afraid they would knock her arm. The plaster had not even dried," said the mother, adding their food was thrown away as they ran to hide in a corner. (Malay Mail)

***** What a bunch of vicious bastards. They behave as if they are above the law and despite so many complaints and reports, no one wants to take responsibility or rein them in.

Civil Service Retirement Age To Be Raised To 58

The government is set to raise the retirement age for civil servants to 58 years from the present 56 in response to a proposal by the Congress of Unions of Employees in the Public and Civil Services (Cuepacs), sources familiar with the matter said.

The decision to raise the retirement age had already been finalised by the government and an announcement would be made very soon, a source told The Edge Financial Daily.

Cuepacs president Omar Osman, however, said the union was unaware of any such decision and had not heard anything from the government since its last meeting earlier this month.

Earlier this month, Cuepacs said the government had agreed to consider several of its requests, including raising the retirement age limit to 60, scrapping the efficiency level assessment test, reinstatement of critical and housing allowance for the support group and pension payments to be based on actual years of service.

Cuepacs had also asked for an honorarium payment of RM2,000 for each government employee in lieu of non-payment of bonus last year, but this was rejected by the government.

Malaysia is the only country in Southeast Asia, apart from Brunei, where the retirement age is 56. In neighbouring Singapore, the retirement age is 62.

RAM Holdings Bhd chief economist Dr Yeah Kim Leng said there was a need to extend the retirement age in Malaysia to be in line with international standards and demographic trends. “Life span has increased now with modern healthcare. The increase in the retirement age could also reduce the need to recruit new workers in certain sectors which are over-employed,” he said when asked to comment on the government’s decision. Nonetheless, he said those who wanted to retire voluntarily must be allowed to do so.

He said a decision to increase the retirement age would particularly benefit services like local authorities, the police force and medical care that now faced acute shortage of experienced personnel.

Yeah said for the sectors where there was a shortage of skilled and experienced workers, this would be an opportune time to increase productivity and for the older workers to share their wealth of knowledge.

“But there has to be a balance in terms of retaining skilled or experienced workforce versus the increase in expenditure outlay. As long as productivity of the worker is maintained, raising the age and the related expenditure would be justified,” he said.

Yeah said several other factors were also crucial in extending the retirement age, particularly with regards to workers whose productivity was suspect.

“There must be proper evaluation to weed out the deadwood. Also, extending the retirement age means that those in line for promotion might have to wait longer,” he said.

Yeah said a decision by the government to raise the retirement age limit for the civil service would have no bearing on the private sector as each dealt with different skill sets. (The Edge Daily)

***** While it is good for those sectors which are considered crucial and where there is a chronic shortage of staff, it is the extension for the useless deadwood who pervade the entire public service that is worrying. The government should include a compulsory early retirement provision whereby those who are unproductive, spend more time in the canteen or generally of no bloody use are sent packing years before they reach the age of retirement. And the government should exercise this option ruthlessly.

Reforming Malaysia

Malaysia's economy has long been open to competition, but its political system has not. Last month's opposition-party electoral victories changed all that. Now, Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi has started to compete for voters' hearts, based on what the people want.

Mr. Abdullah's announcements over the past two weeks are nothing short of remarkable. Last Thursday, he acknowledged "perceived corruption" in the judiciary and announced an independent committee to vet prospective judges. On Monday, he promised to beef up the nation's Anti-Corruption Agency, implement laws to protect whistleblowers, and make changes to government procurement practices – long a source of patronage for his party, the United Malays National Organization, and the coalition it leads, the National Front.

None of these ideas are new. In fact, Mr. Abdullah himself promised better, cleaner governance when he took office in 2004. Malaysia's voters gave him four years to implement his promises. Last month, voters delivered their verdict: They handed opposition parties control of five out of 13 states, up from one – their biggest parliamentary gains since the country's founding.

With that reprimand, Mr. Abdullah now seems to realize that democracy in Malaysia matters. And he's ripped reform ideas straight from the opposition parties' playbooks. Anwar Ibrahim's National Justice Party, for instance, has long advocated judicial reform and the protection of whistleblowers. The new chief minister of Penang, a member of the Democratic Action Party, called for an open tender system for government procurement last month.

A wise leader will always appropriate good ideas, especially ones recently endorsed at the ballot box. Doing so is also a savvy political move for Mr. Abdullah. His standing as head of UMNO was put in question after his party's electoral losses last month. It still is – on Sunday, a former finance minister, Razaleigh Hamzah, said he'd contest for the party leadership.

If the Prime Minister can reposition himself as a reformer who enjoys public support, it will be harder for his internal challengers to unseat him, come the party congress in December. Showing that UMNO can reform is also a chance for Mr. Abdullah to slow the opposition's political momentum at a time when it is still enjoying the aftermath of last month's election victories.

The Prime Minister may also be thinking about his legacy. The first to hold that office after over two decades of rule under Mahathir Mohamad, Mr. Abdullah was seen as a transitional figure who would bring greater freedoms to his country. At first, he did, loosening controls on the press and cracking down on a few corrupt officials. But largely – as last month's vote showed – he has so far failed.

Malaysia needs the reforms now on offer, and fast. Corruption undermines the country's economic competitiveness and its attractiveness as a place to do business. That depresses investment, and employment opportunities for Malaysians. Without a strong judiciary or a free press, the only way citizens feel they can show their discontent is to protest on the streets. Giving Malaysians a justice system they trust would help alleviate some, if not all, of those grievances.

None of these reforms can be implemented overnight, and most will be strongly opposed by UMNO's political machine, which has benefited for years from its opaque patronage system. But the threat of being unseated from office should be a good motivation for the party to take Mr. Abdullah's ideas seriously. It's about time. (Wall Street Journal Asia)

Flip-Flops & Malaysian Politics Go Together

Tuesday was just a normal day at the office for Malaysia’s muddled rulers and ministers.

First, a home ministry official in Kuala Lumpur revealed sensationally that the government had frozen recruitment of unskilled and semi-skilled workers from India and Bangladesh.

In far-off New Delhi, the only ethnic Indian Minister in Malaysia’s Cabinet, Samy Vellu, defended the decision, saying “we don’t want to recruit any more because we have enough workers… Is it wrong?” But within an hour, sensing that he had a political hot potato on his hands, Samy Vellu backtracked and denied the report. ‘Peace’ was momentarily restored in the Kafka-esque world of Malaysian politics.

The policy flip-flops and slip-ups on this issue are symptomatic of the ruling National Front coalition’s inept political manoeuvres as it seeks to consolidate its Malay Muslim support base ahead of parliamentary elections, which may be held in March.

In recent months, the ruling coalition has faced a succession of political embarrassments — from an unprecedented demonstration by ethnic Indians protesting racial discrimination to corruption and sex scandals — that have shown up the government of Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi as muddled in the extreme.

The ethnic Indians’ protest — spearheaded by the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) — tarnished Malaysia’s image abroad, and induced an element of strain in relations with India.

At home, it also seriously undermined the ethnic Indian support base of Samy Vellu’s Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC). The ethnic Indian community in Malaysia is seething with rage against the MIC, which they say has failed to protect their interests and works only as a “power broker”.

On the other hand, the United Malay National Organisation (UMNO), the primary constituent of the National Front, finds itself scrambling to assure its Malay Muslim support base that it is protecting their interests.

The announcement of a freeze was intended to assure Malay Muslims that the government was earnest about cracking down on “foreign workers”, particularly from India, and protecting jobs at home. But not enough consideration was given to the ramifications of such an announcement on relations with India, and the political calculations of the MIC. Which is why it was left to Samy Vellu to fight the fire and protect his base. (By Venkatesan Vembu, DNA)
Image - Source

Malaysia's Stalling Reform Threatens Investment

Malaysia's drive to woo investment is losing traction, as efforts to get rid of red tape and inept bureaucrats falter, threatening to put it further behind neighbouring Singapore.

A year after the authorities vowed to speed up the business approval process, businessmen are still battling unwieldy procedures and inert government staff.

"Civil servants have become more courteous, they smile more than usual but the bureaucracy, the red tape, is still there," said Mohd Ghouse Mohd Noor, who is setting up a hospital resort in Penang state in northern Malaysia where he hopes to entice visitors for medical treatment.

Ghouse said potential investors from the United Arab Emirates had been scared off by the red tape encountered at government departments.

"They are still passing us from one person to another. Nobody seems to know who is responsible and who should look into matters," he said of the bureaucracy. "Some of our investors say to us 'You go and solve your problem first'."

While Malaysia's record in attracting foreign investment would be the envy of many developing countries, it is still much harder to open a business here than in Singapore.

It takes nine steps and more than a week to register a business in Malaysia compared with five steps in five days for Singapore, according to the World Bank's Doing Business Index 2008.

Many blame Malaysia's civil service for being slow, unresponsive and opaque, and it continues to disappoint despite a state-led revamp aimed at winning more investment.

Perhaps now more than ever, Malaysia needs investors as it seeks private money to help fund several multibillion dollar farming, energy and tourism projects. Foreign direct investment into Malaysia leapt to a 10-year high in 2006 but many in the business community say that is despite red tape, rather than because of government efforts to reduce it.

"If you compare with other countries, it's nothing," Pankaj Kumar, chief investment officer at Malaysian insurance company Kurnia Insurans, said of foreign investment. "Asia as a whole has been a magnet for investments to come in, especially with the petrodollars."

In response to complaints, the government set up a cabinet committee in September 2006 to fast-track approval for projects involving high-technology, huge capital investment or job growth.

And in February, the authorities created a task force of officials and business leaders to simplify procedures. It expedited approval for expatriate work passes and speeded up the registration of businesses and renewal of business licences.

Since the drive was launched, businesses have reported improved service from customs and immigration staff. On the whole, however, complaints about sluggish bureaucrats and tardy service are still common.

Malaysia was ranked 24th in the World Bank's 2008 index on ease of doing business, down three places from 2007. It was behind Hong Kong and Thailand but ahead of South Korea, China, Vietnam and India. Singapore topped the list of 178 economies.

CHANGING MINDSETS

Overseas investors helped build Kuala Lumpur's iconic twin towers and the main highway, which spans the length of the peninsula, while global oil majors are developing multimillion dollar energy fields in Malaysia.

But foreign companies have complained that the regulatory authorities sit on applications to set up offices here, and local businessmen allege that government officials have asked for payment in return for state contracts.

The government awards state contracts through open tender but in some instances it has expedited the process by shortlisting only proven contractors and then awarding the job to one of them.

Malaysia wants to attract foreign dollars into its Islamic finance industry to build on its success as the world's largest Islamic bond market.

The authorities are also setting up a $105 billion, electronics, food, health and education hub in Johor state in the south.

It also wants to transform its Malay heartland in the northern states of Kedah, Penang and Terengganu into a farming, tourism, energy and manufacturing powerhouse.

But its plans are at risk of foundering as it struggles to galvanise its roughly one million public servants, despite wielding the stick.

"The government might want one thing but the culture of the civil service might not react to it," said political analyst Ooi Kee Beng of Singapore's Institute of South East Asian Studies. "That's the tough part to change: you can change the rules and all that but how do you, down the hierarchy, actually get people to work?" Ooi said.

In the Malaysian civil service, rewards are modest, punishments are few and jobs are usually secure for life, which offers little incentive for improvement.

Public servants are almost all ethnic Malays, due to an affirmative action policy which favours the race in jobs, education and business.

FALTERING ANTI-GRAFT DRIVE?

In the World Bank's Doing Business Index 2008, Malaysia got good marks for investor protection but scored less well for enforcing contracts, registering property and starting a business.

Pemudah, a panel to facilitate business comprising private and public sector officials, says efforts are being made to rectify Malaysia's weaknesses.

"It is a matter of procedures and how we can shorten them," said Yong Poh Kon, who co-chairs the panel.

Kuala Lumpur is also struggling with perceptions that Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has gone soft on his pledge to stamp out graft in the civil service.

High profile prosecutions of civil servants for corruption have been rare. Former lands minister Kasitah Gaddam, the most senior official prosecuted for graft so far, was charged in 2004, and his case is still wending its way through the courts.

Analysts say the Anti-Corruption Agency's discretion to prosecute is fettered as it reports to the Prime Minister, unlike countries such as Hong Kong where the equivalent body reports to Parliament.

And some critics say there are other pressing issues raised by investors, including a requirement that listed firms be owned 30 percent by "Bumiputras" (sons of the soil) who are Malays or indigenous people under the affirmative action policy.

"If the government is serious about facilitating rather than imposing barriers for foreign investors we must actually address fundamental problems," said opposition politician Lim Guan Eng. (Reuters FEATURES: Reporting by Liau Y-Sing; Editing by Eddie Evans)

***** This is the price that we must pay for ignoring meritocracy and relentlessly promoting race-based quotas cleverly designed to divide the people and thereby ensuring the continued political wellbeing of the ruling Umno party. "Better out of tune with the world than out of power in Malaysia," must be their undeclared motto.
Image - Source

Blatantly Disregarding Haze Peril, Riau Allows Farmers To Burn Land

Indonesian forest fires are not expected to let up this year, with a new by-law in the Riau province allowing farmers to burn up to two hectares of their land. The controversial by-law contradicts national law, which bans open burning of forests to clear land except by indigenous people, reports NST.

"The by-law came out in June. It allows the public (farmers) to burn two hectares of land," Bambang Hero Saharjo, a government fire investigator, told the New Straits Times in a telephone interview. Bambang is also the head of the Forest and Land Fire Laboratory at Bogor Agricultural University. "Since the enactment of the law, I have seen an increase in smallholders burning their land."

According to him, the government’s efforts last year to educate the people not to set fires have gone to waste. "I feel very sad about this. We made a lot of effort, teaching people not to burn the land and how to clear the land by chopping down trees," said Bambang. "Whatever gains we have made to reduce forest fires last year have been negated by this by-law. As such, I don’t see fires decreasing this year. The level of fires will remain the same as in 2006," said Bambang.

For the last 20 years, smoke from forest fires in Indonesia has blown across the Straits of Malacca to Malaysia and Singapore, smothering parts of the two countries in a choking haze during the annual dry season. According to Bambang, fires have broken out in the giant Riau province in Sumatra and in central Kalimantan.

***** What can we possibly do to these bastards in Riau? Nothing! Our pemimpin have some influence in Jakarta as long as they play ball with the abang2 there. But as seen in many other cases, the writ of the central government in Indonesia is not absolute and is not always complied with in the provinces and neither does Jakarta have the resources and manpower to enforce its wishes. The haze in previous years is merely confirmation of this.

What about setting things right and reversing the Provincial by-laws by outrightly bribing the corrupt administration in Riau? That might work! After all like the adik2 here, they too I'm sure are more 'amenable' to money power. Well, if any of you smart folks have a bright idea or two, please do let us know.
Image - Source

Khairy Jamaluddin's Latest Wira Melayu Sandiwara

Please read of the piddling and pathetic thespianic attempt by the nation's first son-in-law as he tries to suck up to the civil service by trying to defend the undefendable and shamelessly denying a fact of Malaysian life. Taken from TheStar:

Umno Youth wants DAP and its economic adviser Tony Pua to apologise to Malaysians for his remarks that the civil service has been “a dumping ground for the politically sensitive constituency of unemployed Malay graduates.”

Its deputy Khairy Jamaluddin said Pua’s comments, implying that civil servants were the employees of last choice and unable to seek gainful employment elsewhere, were totally unacceptable and without basis.

“There are many civil servants who choose to forgo lucrative careers in the private sector and serve the Government instead because of their desire to give back to society and to the country,” he said.

He said Pua’s comments made a mockery of the dedication, commitment and sacrifices made by these civil servants who chose to put the needs of the nation above themselves.

Khairy was commenting on Pua’s remarks, which were published in an Internet website on Tuesday, that the civil service was getting bloated. Pua, in his comments over the salary rise for government servants, said the civil service had been expanding rapidly since the 1990s and the growth had accelerated under the current Prime Minister’s leadership.

He also blamed the Government for failing to trim the civil service on the policy of making it “a dumping ground for the politically sensitive constituency of unemployed Malay graduates.”

“Pua’s negative comments about the civil service can cause considerable damage to the morale and image of the public sector,” said Khairy.

***** What Khairy is trying to do is what incompetent and unpopular politicians have attempted in the past with mixed success -- stirring shit where it does not exist. Compensating for his lack of genuine acumen and skill, he latched upon this topic of no consequence and is trying to turn it into a mountain of controversy which he presumes would give him good copy in the press and a fillip to his own electoral ambitions.

There is absolutely nothing wrong or misleading in what Tony Pua said. He merely stated a fact which everyone including Khairy already very well know. The much bigger than desired civil service had its first boost of over staffing during Dr Mahathir's early years as PM when he issued the self-serving "Isi Penuh" orders to bolster his already strong position among public servants. Since then there has been no looking back and at every turn where there was a need to accommodate unemployable and unemployed Malay mahasiswa and mahasiswi, the civil service was the dumping ground and as a consequence the Government slowly bloated out of control.

The above account is the reality of the situation and if Khairy wants to deny it, make use of it for his own benefit or hopes to capitalize on it to take a cheap shot at the opposition, let him go ahead. But really, he'll only end up making an ass of himself which he has remarkably succeeded in doing on several occasions in the past. After all you simply cannot expect to keep an obstinate and determined donkey down for long.
Image - Source