Tag: Equitable Distribution

Nepal Government’s Mentality More Advanced, Possesses 127 Newspapers Compared to Malaysia

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SHAH ALAM, 1 Nov: Nepal is seen as more transparent and open as they have 127 newspapers compared to Malaysia, which is seen as giving less press freedom.

The Nepal government believes that by giving media freedom, it may lead to progress in the mentality of the South Asian country’s leaders and people.

Although Nepal is still categorised as a third world country in terms of physical development, but the mentality of the country’s leaders are considered to be more advanced than Barisan Nasional (BN).

The former President of the National Union of Journalists (NUJ), Hatta Wahari said, the matter has been proved when as of today, Nepal has 127 newspapers, excluding those published at the state level.

“Although we are developing and possess infrastructure like those of developed countries, the mentality of the government is still at the level of third world countries because they want to control the media. In fact, the government wants to control it all without giving freedom to the media and the community,” he said when contacted by TVSelangor today.

Hatta also condemned the action of the Minister of Home Affairs (MOHA) Minister, Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi who issued the threatening statement to shut down media that published his statement in a programme in Malacca recently.

“This is the most brazen statement coming from a leader and he has a third world mentality by assuming that he has power and can control freedom of the press. It is leaders like this that we have to reject,” he said.

Commenting on the victory of the Malaysiakini news portal in the MOHA appeal to reject its publication permit, Hatta hopes that the victory will be an example to other media to be brave in publishing balanced and transparent media.

“Malaysiakini’s victory should be an example to other media and I hope that the media industry would be free and advanced,” he said.

Najib and MOHA Urged to Respond on Issue of American Intelligence

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KUALA LUMOUR, 31 Oct: Opposition Leader, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim expressed his surprise because the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak, and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MOHA) did not issue a statement on the report regarding the U.S. Embassy being used for spying activities.

He said, the action by Najib and the MOHA is seen as being “too submissive” even though the matter is gravely serious.

“This is a serious matter for the country. We ask for the Prime Minister and the MOHA to respond on this matter so that we do not seem too submissive.

“No country, not even the US itself, would condone or tolerate a spying agency within its shores,” he said at a press conference in Parliament here today.

Two days ago, documents leaked by intelligence whistleblower Edward Snowden revealed that the US and Australia was tapping into telephones and monitoring communication networks in Malaysia through its Kuala Lumpur embassy.

According to reports, the countries that are the targets of the spying activities include the European and Asian continents.

Government Should Reduce Fuel Price Following the World Market

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KUALA LUMPUR, 31 Oct: Pakatan Rakyat (PR) questions the government’s move to raise fuel subsidies to RM2.326 billion in the National Budget 2014 because the government targets savings of RM3.3 billion next year.

Member of Parliament for Tanjong, Ng Wei Aik said, the subsidy increase would increase the total expenses to RM22.341 billion, however, only RM20.015 was allocated in the National Budget 2013.

“Fuel subsidies for next year will increase by 11.62 percent, from RM20 billion to RM22 billion. Fuel subsidies should be increased, not reduced.

“So we have a big question, why does the subsidy need to be increased dramatically when the announcement by the Prime Minister explained in September that the increase of 20 cents for RON95 and Diesel would result in savings of RM3.3 billion to be recorded in 2014,” he said in a press conference here in Parliament today.

Wei Aik said, the oil price has fallen as diplomacy aimed at Syria and Iran eased concerns about Middle East supplies after climbing to over USD110 in the late August, and the oil price even dipped below USD102 per barrel after parts of the US Government were ordered to shut down because of a budget impasse in Washington.

“The price of fuel is a major problem that burdens the people because they want the price to be lowered, not increased,” he said.

Among the countries that have reduced the price of oil are India, Taiwan, Ghana, Vietnam, Bermuda, South Africa, Georgia and China, in the last three months.

Sugar Price causes Price Hike in Food and Drinks in School Canteens

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SHAH ALAM, 31 Oct: Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Bureau of Consumerism received complaints that several canteens in schools around the Klang Valley has raised their price for food and drinks.

It’s Chairman, Yahya Shari, said that they received the complaint after the announcement by Prime Minister Datuk Najib Razak regarding the retraction of 34 cents in sugar subsidies.

He said, apart from school canteens, stalls have increased food and drink prices, with prices charged similar to that of coffeeshops.

“We have received many complaints about stalls and school canteens increasing the price of food and drinks at their premises.

“We receive a minimum of three complaints a day on the increase in prices. However, complainants did not provide detailed information and thus, we were unable to survey,” he said when contacted by TVSelangor today.

Yahya said, there are four schools that have raised the price of food and drinks, according to complaints received from parents.

In this regard, he called on the Ministry of Education and Higher Education to monitor and take action against school canteens throughout the country so that they do not raise prices at will.

“The price of food and drink cannot be increased at will because canteen operators are bound by contract of food prices, so the government should monitor this problem.

“We also want the central government to open more opportunities in the sugar industry so as to not only provide opportunities to duopoly companies by creating price competition in the sugar market.

He also urged for consumers to lodge complaints at the PKR Bureau of Consumerism if traders take advantage by increasing prices.

Previously, the Secretary-General of the School Canteen Operators Association, Hamzah Omar, said that they will ensure that canteen operators do not increase the price of canteen food and drinks because of the increase in sugar price by 34 cents, because it is stated in their contracts that they cannot raise prices at will.

Eliminating Subsidies is a Severe Punishment to the People

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GOMBAK, 31 Oct: The central government’s move to eliminate subsidies on essential goods in the Budget 2014 is a ‘severe punishment’ to the people seeing that the government does not adopt prudent spending, thus costing billions of the people’s money.

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The Assemblyman for Gombak Setia, Hasbullah Ridzwan said the low to middle-income earners will continue to be squeezed by economic constraints as a result of the elimination of the subsidies.

“We see this as a disaster for the people when the recent budget retracted subsidies of essential goods such as sugar, especially when a festive celebration is coming up,” he told TVSelangor.

Hasbullah said, the central government should adopt the concept of prudent spending and find ways to overcome the national deficit.

“The government should think of finding alternative measures to reduce the deficit and their weaknesses in administration.

“Let not the people, who are already suffering from rising prices of goods, be punished again in the budget,” said Hasbullah.

Prior to that, Hasbullah accompanied participants of the Diwali Jom Shopping (Let’s Go Shopping) programme organised by the Gombak Setia State Legislative Assembly and took the opportunity to mingle with other visitors at the Batu Caves Giant mall.

A total of 300 participants received shopping vouchers worth RM100.

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Anwar: Strengthen People’s Income before Implementing the GST

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KUALA LUMPUR, 20 Oct: Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim urged the Central Government to strengthen the people’s income and ensure good taxation infrastructure before implementing the Goods and Services Tax (GST).

The Opposition Leader said, when he held the post of Finance Minister, the idea regarding the implementation of the GST had been suggested, but it was not implemented.

“I support the GST review, it is an efficient move and taxing system, but we need to look at the people’s income.

“The people’s income has to be increased and the taxation infrastructure needs to be improved before implementing it,” Anwar said.

He said this at during a Forum keynote address on the GST in Parliament, which was also attended by panelists Dr Lim Kim-Hwa (Penang Institute) and Azrul Azwar (People’s Institute), and chaired by Ooi Heng (KPRU).

Anwar said, before the implementation of the GST, the government should also eliminate the monopoly system in this country because it will cause prices to rise.

“Monopoly should be stopped as well. It causes the price of goods to go up,” he said.

The People Should Practice Cleanliness and Environmental Care

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SHAH ALAM, 27 Oct: The people have been urged to always practice cleanliness, which is the central to the well-being of a family in creating a culture where the community is responsible towards environmental care.

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Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim said effort towards cleanliness is everyone’s responsibility which should be implemented, especially in urban communities.

He said that communities should have the attitude of ensuring that their families and neighbours live in a clean and protected environment.

“The Selangor Government will continue to support all efforts and activities related to loving a green and clean environment,” said Abdul Khalid.

Abdul Khalid said that the aspect of cleanliness is to overcome political interests that need to be nurtured by all members of society, regardless of their background.

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He said this during the opening speech of the “Enhancement of IQ vs the Strengthening of Immunity” which was held here at the Setia City Convention Centre.

About 500 people attended the programme, including the Chairman of Top Glove, Tan Sri Lim Wee Chai and the Vice-President of SP Setia, Datuk Khor Chap Jen.

The programme was organised by three companies; Top Glove Corporation Berhad, SP Setia Berhad and Khind Holding Berhad, in conjunction with the corporate social responsibility (CSR) of the companies in preserving a greener environment.

Implement GST, More People are Burdened

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SHAH ALAM, 27 Oct: The implementation of the GST will only increase the price of goods and the tax burden would have to be shouldered even after the abolition of the Sales and Service Tax (SST).

Serdang Member of Parliament, Dr Ong Kian Ming said that the Umno-BN Government is misleading the people by giving the impression that most of the prices of goods and the taxes paid by consumers will be reduced after the introduction of the GST.

“The truth is that the tax imposed under the SST is far less than what is taxable under the GST,” he said in a statement.

Kian Ming said among other things claimed to not be under the sales tax but will be under the GST includes many non-luxury items such as milk, tea, mineral water, canned fruit, newspaper, stationery, school bags and boxes.

He said consumers of electricity below 200kWh (any amount exceeding RM50) will also be charges the GST. The price of these items will definitely increase after the GST because the abolishing of the SST has an impact on price.

Currently, the sales tax is limited to certain restaurants and professional services such as accountants, architects, motor vehicle service and repair centres, telecommunication services, security services, real estate agents, car park operators and legal services.

“The broader coverage under the GST means that more services will be subject to the GST compared to the current service tax. This would mean that the price of services will increase.

“The truth is that the GST will increase the price of the majority of goods and services even after removing the SST, the financial burden of the people will increase,” he said.

Umno-BN Government Improvident, People Incur the GST and Reduction of Subsidies

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SHAH ALAM, 27 Oct: The reduction of subsidies and the imposing of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) is not a solution to the country’s economic problems which stems from the improvident attitude in Umno-BN’s spending.

PAS Information Chief, Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said the implementation of the GST can only be done when the Umno-BN takes responsibility to reduce its operational management and not continue to be improvident with public money.

He said that the people are not given a period to adjust to the GST when it is announced at the high rate of 6 percent starting from 1 April 201.

“With the GST, those who do not have cars and do not have permanent jobs so as to not quality to pay taxed on every purchase,” he said in a statement.

Tuan Ibrahim said, in Singapore, the GST was introduced at a rate of 3 percent before gradually increasing to 7 percent.

“Some say that villagers will not feel the burden of the GST. It should be reminded that most of the items sold in grocery stores in villages come from suppliers in the city.

“The goods would already be subject to the GST when they arrive at the grocery store. Although small grocery stores are exempt from the GST because it does not exceed the minimum procurement, goods sold to village communities would certainly be more expensive because it would already been subject to the GST by suppliers,” he said.

Member of Parliament for Petaling Jaya Utara, Tony Pua said that the government’s move to impose the GST is not able to hide their failure in controlling excessive spending since the deficit remains the same.

The additional collection in tax as specified in the Economic Report 2013/2014 should help alleviate the chronic deficit to 2.6 percent, but instead it remains unchanged at the four percent forecast.

“Although the government collects much higher that the revenues expected, the deficit for 2013 remains unchanged at RM39.3 billion.

“This means that every cent of additional revenue collected by the government is immediately spent, rather than contributing to reduce the debt,” he said.

BN Fails to Fulfill Pledge to Increase BR1M to RM1,200

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SHAH ALAM, 26 Oct: The Umno-BN Government failed to meet the pledge they made themselves before the 13th General Election (GE-13) to increase the 1Malaysia People’s Aid (BR1M) in the Budget 2014 to RM1,200 when they announced giving only RM650 per year.

Member of Parliament for Kulai, Teo Nie Ching and Assemblyman for Batu Caves, Amiruddin Shari questioned the assistance for households earning RM3,000 a month and below which will be increased from RM500 to RM650.

In February – before the 13th General Election – Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin reportedly said that the assistance may be increased to RM1,000 if BN manages to defend Putrajaya.

Among the pledges previously announced before the GE-13 is to increase the BR1M to RM1,200 for households and RM600 for singles every year, for the next five years.

“#Budget2014 BR1M (assistance) will be increased to RM650. I remember the DPM previously promising RM1,000,” said Teo in her tweet late yesterday evening.

Meanwhile, Amiruddin said: “Promises fulfilled! Promise RM1,000 (for) BR1M, get RM650,” he said in his tweet.

According to opinions on Facebook, Zulkifli Hasan said after scrutinising the 2014 budget, analysis of economists and the BN Pledge, he wonders whether a team of lawyers should be established to sue the federal government for not undertaking their pledge.

“The Selangor Government was brought to court for allegedly failing to fulfill its manifesto. Why can’t the federal government?” he said.

Muhyiddin, among others, reportedly said that the BR1M will not only be given for the second time, but for the third, fourth, fifth, or forever if BN wins in forming the government.

Budget 2014: Rich Man’s Budget, Poor to Get Poorer

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The implementation of the Goods and Service Tax (GST) as announced by Dato’ Sri Najib Tun Razak in his budget speech in Parliament today is a heavy blow to the poor and the lower income group.

Furthermore, starting at 6%, it is exorbitant. Comparing to Singapore’s GST at the current rate of 7% is also misleading because when it was introduced in 1994 it was only at 3%. And this is after 13 years.

In any event, comparing to countries like Singapore and those in Europe is pointless because of the much higher level of governance in those countries.

For Malaysians, the cost of living is already high enough without the GST. With this tax now, a heavier burden is placed on the poor since they have little choice but to spend most of their disposable income.

The argument by Najib that GST will cause many goods and services to actually cost less is totally false and a serious misrepresentation to the people.

They will not be able to leverage on the GST with greater savings and investments unlike the rich and the higher income group. This will create greater real inequality and cause further social injustice.

If last year’s budget was a ‘people’s budget’ because of the May general election, then this is a “rich man’s budget” because the UMNO-Barisan government feels that it is no longer beholden to the people.

They held back the GST because they knew the opposition from the people. Now that the elections are over, it’s a different story altogether. So, the poor are set to become poorer.

I foresee cumulative inflationary pressure and more increases in cost of living.

The thrust on driving greater tourism, building more 5-star hotels and vying with the world to have the best cities has little resonance with the people.

Where is the effort to bring down transportation cost or to improve public transportation services? There is nothing on making homes more affordable. Health care has been neglected.

Though the allocation is substantial, the problem again will be the diffusion and distribution of the funds. Last year’s excessive and questionable expenditure on English training is just one example.

The entrepreneurial fund by way of soft loans to ease unemployment among graduates will be only lead to greater indebtedness.

What these graduates need is greater soft skills and more training in vocational and technical areas to enhance their employability, not more debt.

The proposal to fund SPM leavers for vocational training is good in principle but the follow through and the actual areas of specialization is important.

We all agree that the budget deficit must be reduced but extracting more money from the people is not the way.

The fundamental problem concerns leakages, wastages and corruption. Without comprehensively dealing with this problem, we are looking at a bottomless pit. No amount of taxes collected will solve the problem.

MOHAMED AZMIN ALI
PKR Deputy President

BERSIH 2.0: No SOSMA Amendments Without Consultation

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PRESS STATEMENT

Statement on Section 203A of the Penal Code and Amendments to the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (SOSMA)

BERSIH 2.0 is gravely concerned over the effects of recently-passed and upcoming legislation on the increasingly fragile human rights situation in Malaysia. Yesterday, Section 203A of the Penal Code was passed by Dewan Rakyat, despite strenuous objection over the broad nature of its wording and its effect on the fight against corruption. The new section effectively penalises whistleblowers who expose corruption and government misconduct, all of which are clearly matters of public interest, while protecting wrongdoers under legislatively mandated secrecy.

Today, yet another draconian bill is set to be rammed through Parliament in the same manner. This bill seeks to extend the scope of to the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (SOSMA) by bringing offences under Chapters VI, VIA and VIB of the Penal Code and anti-trafficking laws into the ambit of special security offences.

We view with repugnance the manner in which such bills that curtail fundamental freedoms are being rushed through Parliament, without consulting all stakeholders including the citizens whom the Government claim to protect. The conduct of this Government after the 13th General Election goes against all representations made by the Prime Minister that Malaysia is becoming the “best democracy” in the world.

We demand that this Government act responsibly and engage in full consultation with all stakeholders over the recently-passed legislation as well as any upcoming amendments before they are brought into force. We are watching closely as to whether the Government will be following up on the statement by Hajjah Nancy Shukri, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department in charge of Law, that she is seeking further amendments to Section 203A, recognizing that the provision was too general.

No new law should be made without proper consultation. Anything less will mean that the Government has scant regard for individual freedoms and for the views of the rakyat. It further throws into doubt the Government’s will to fulfill promises made to uphold human rights in this country.

The rakyat is committed to transparency and accountability. Will the Government follow our lead?

BERSIH 2.0 Steering Committee
Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (BERSIH 2.0)