Tag: Latest

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.

Anwar: The People’s Income should be raised to implement GST

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KUALA LUMPUR, 31 Oct: Opposition Leader, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, insisted that all forms of leakages, corruption and monopoly, which rampant in the country, must be stopped before thinking about implementing the goods and services tax (GST).

He said, if Pakatan Rakyat (PR) was ruling, the GST would be implemented with conditions. However, it will not be a priority that has to be implemented urgently because it requires special consideration in advance.

He said, the people’s income should be given attention and increased before the implementation of the GST, which is seen as to be burdensome to the people, especially low and middle-income earners.

“I am not saying that I object the GST principle in my budget speech. I am stressing from the point that the implementation of the GST system should be done transparently and efficiently.

“The two conditions we are emphasising on is to firstly remove leakages by saving the money to spend,” he said in a press conference at the Parliament lobby today.

Anwar said that the second condition is that the income levels of the people should be improved and he acknowledged that the GST system would be efficient, with the country recording a surplus, when he was the Finance Minister.

“But now, the deficit is serious, and I would not have implemented it that time, despite studies on the system was fine, but the implementation is not appropriate,” he said.

Regarding his argument by making Singapore an example in the implementation of the GST, Anwar answered that the country implemented the GST with a time line, in addition to ensuring an increase in the people’s income.

“It is not that I do not support the basic principle, but Singapore implemented it a three percent, guaranteeing that it will not rise in seven to nine years,” he said.

“All PR component parties will pursue information sessions for the people on the GST so that they understand why this cannot be implemented now,” he said.

Previously, various quarters disputed Anwar’s statement and claimed that PR supports the implementation of the GST as a whole. However, this matter was denied.

Message from YAB TAN SRI DATO’ SERI ABDUL KHALID BIN IBRAHIM DATO’ MENTERI BESAR OF SELANGOR in conjunction with DIWALI CELEBRATION 2013

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Message

YAB TAN SRI DATO’ SERI ABDUL KHALID BIN IBRAHIM
DATO’ MENTERI BESAR OF SELANGOR

In conjunction with the DIWALI CELEBRATION 2013

Greetings and Well Wishes, especially to the Hindu community.

This Saturday, 2 November 2013, the Hindu community, in Selangor and Malaysia, will be celebrating Diwali.

I, on behalf of the State Government leadership and the people of Selangor, wish Happy Diwali to all Hindus.

Hopefully, as it is every year, this year the Indian community and Hindus in Selangor will benefit from the Diwali celebrations by performing a number of traditional activities together with family and loved ones.

We know that Deepavali or Diwali means festival of lights, and is celebrated on the 13th day of the Hindu calendar, or equivalent to the date between mid-October and mid-November, every year. On the eve of the celebration, Hindus decorate their houses with oil lamps, depicting the triumph of good over evil. The lights are left overnight in a clean room with hopes that goddess Lakshmi would visit.

The Diwali celebration is also accompanied by the burning of firecrackers or fireworks, aimed at banishing evil spirits from the family home. They also adorn themselves with new clothes and share sweets with family and friends.

Diwali day is a holiday in Malaysia and other countries including India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Mauritius, Guyana, Trinidad & Tobago, Suriname, Singapore and Fiji. It terms of celebration practices, Malaysian Hindus still retain some traditions practiced in India.

However, the matter of emphasis in Selangor and in Malaysia is the “open house” tradition, where Hindus, of all ethnic groups such as Tamils, Telugus and Malayalees, welcome friends of other religions and races to their home to enjoy a “halal” meal together.

The atmosphere of visiting while wishing “happy festive day…” is actually the “uniqueness” in Malaysia’s plural society, which shows goodwill and close ties between those of different races and religious beliefs, when festive celebrations of the large races in Malaysia, with a population of over 28 million, comes about.

Over 5 million from the amount live in Selangor Darul Ehsan, and are the people of Duli Yang Maha Mulia (His Royal Highness) the Sultan of Selangor. Now, the majority of people in Selangor enjoy a variety of assistance and initiatives through the Merakyatkan Ekonomi Selangor policy, which is implemented fairly and prudently by the Pakatan Rakyat State Government in Selangor since March 2008.

As the Dato’ Menteri Besar (Chief Minister) of Selangor, I am very happy and excited when I was informed that the people in this state, from various ethnicities and levels, from young to old, can equally enjoy a variety of assistance, incentives and guidance from the State Government for the benefit of all.

Thank you.

Happy Diwali.

Wong Chen: Tackle Crime Holistically

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SHAH ALAM, 31 Oct: The crime problem should be addressed holistically instead of only focusing on law enforcement alone, stressed the Member of Parliament for Kelana Jaya, Wong Chen.

Wong Chen said, the economic aspect should also be given serious attention, like the enforcement of law, in curbing criminal activity in the country.

“Suppose one criminal commits armed robbery every day, the country will witness 365 criminal cases throughout the year.

“Imagine if 10 thousand criminals have the same commitment. How many police officers are required to handle this problem?” he asked when contacted by TVSelangor.

Wong Chen said that he urges for the Federal Government to be more concerned with a more efficient administrative management in providing a better economic environment for the masses.

The lives of the people, which is becoming more pressing due to the growing economic pressure, should be taken into account.

Wong Chen said, criminals in this country are committed in making crime a permanent career to a point of smuggling firearms from neighbouring countries.

“People who are desperate enough to risk tremendously would fall into the criminal arena. If the government continues to not be concerned with this matter, more people will fall into criminal activities.

“On this factor, the economy plays an important role because if job opportunities for the people are more secure, with favourable returns, crime will no longer be a career option,” he said.

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.

PR Urges Central Government to Revoke Protection of Companies Monopolising the Sugar Market

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KUALA LUMPUR, 30 Oct: Pakatan Rakyat (PR) urges the Central Government to revoke the raw sugar procurement system and the protection of companies monopolising the sugar market in this country resulting in the higher price of sugar.

Member of Parliament for Petaling Jaya Utara, Tony Pua, said that the action to revoke would allow for the government to offer a lower sugar price for the people after opening up the market involving sugar companies in the country.

He said, with the elimination of the monopoly, the people will enjoy lower prices for sugar and sugar companies will become more efficient by not having to rely on government assistance.

“Pakatan Rakyat is of the opinion that the monopoly of sugar companies does not benefit the people at all.

“It is better to open the sugar market and let the price of sugar be determined by competition between companies and suppliers of sugar,” said Tony Pua in a press statement at the Parliament lobby.

Tony Pua said the method of importing raw sugar from companies abroad is just a trick to get a lower cost, enabling the company involved to gain handsomely.

“If sugar prices are set by the government, it should not increase their (companies) profits by so much.

“We suspect that the government is importing raw sugar to enable these companies to gain more profit,” he said.

Yesterday, Tony Pua revealed that the sugar price hike is not on the basis of subsidy cuts, rather it stems from the Central Government’s move to sign the raw sugar agreement at a high price.

In January 2012, the Minister of Domestic Trade, Consumerism and Cooperatives (KPDNKK), Datuk Ismail Sabri, announced that the government has signed a three-year deal to import raw sugar at the price of USD25 per 100lbs.

As a result, the people are forced to enjoy sugar that is more expensive due to the agreement signed by the KPDNKK last year.

RM3.14 Million Allocated to Improve Traffic Flow at Jalan Othman, Petaling Jaya

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PETALING JAYA, 30 Oct: The Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) decided to spend RM3.14 million to demolish the roundabout at Jalan Othman and replace it with traffic lights to solve the traffic congestion faced by motorists.

Member of Parliament for Petaling Jaya Selatan, Hee Loy Sian said the project which will be completed within the next 10 months is expected to improve traffic flow in the area.

“Originally, this project would take eight months. However, because technical issues caused by piping and wiring in the area, we expect for the project to be completed in September (next year),” he said.

“Currently, motorists in the area would need to take an hour to pass through the roundabout.

After the project is completed, we expect motorists to save 80 percent of the time taken currently,” said Loy Sian.

Hee Loy said this during the ground breaking ceremony of the Jalan Othman Roundabout Upgrading Project, together with the Assemblyman for Bukit Gasing, Rajiv Rishyakaran.

He said, this upgrading project will benefit residents of Sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 18, as well as those using the road leading to Puchong, Kota Damansara and Serdang.

Loy Sian urged the public to be patient at this point while waiting for the traffic lights to be set up in the specified period.

3.2

Najib ‘Dishonest’ in Tabling the National Budget 2014

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SHAH ALAM, 29 Oct: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak is deemed as being dishonest when deliberately hiding the increase of cooking oil from public knowledge when presenting the National Budget 2014 on 25 October.

The Chairman of the Teras (Teras Pengupayaan Melayu – Malay Capacitation Core), Azmi Hamid said that Najib’s move is regrettable because it is like not keeping the people informed about the real situation.

He said that Najib, as the Minister of Finance, should not take light of the matter simply because of wanting to entertain certain quarters in raking in handsome profit.

“This is a dishonest way of tabling and it has all become mere rhetoric when what is said by the government previously to strengthen economic transformation and fulfil promises, is not done.

“The increase in the people’s essential goods such as cooking oil should not be hidden because consumers will know and it will be a huge issue they will raise. Do not think that this matter will not be detected despite attempts to keep it hidden,” he said when contacted by TVSelangor today.

Yesterday, Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim claimed that Putrajaya is deliberately trying to hide the increase of cooking oil and chose to publically announce the subsidy cut of sugar when presenting the budget.

Meanwhile, when Azmi was asked to comment on the statement by the World Bank economist, Dr Frederico Gil Sander, who predicted that the government would cut fuel subsidies for the second time next year, he also stressed that the matter has been already predicted to happen.

He said that the central government’s move to retract the subsidies is because Malaysia is no longer capable of managing resources well and is forced to follow the increase in oil price in the world market.

“Barisan Nasional should consider Pakatan Rakyat’s (PR) suggestion to rationalise cost, not subsidies. The whole country would be impacted from this mismanagement when subsidy funds saved have been misused,” he said.

Reduction in JPM Contract Worker’s Income Helps Avoid Wastage

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KUALA LUMPUR, 29 Oct: The Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Run Razak, has been urged to reduce the income of contract workers under the Prime Minister’s Department (JPM) which is far higher from the income of civil servants.

The Member of Parliament for Serdang, Dr Ong Kian Ming said the reduction in the income of contract workers can reduce JPM’s expanses which will leap to the highest level next year.

He said the reduction can be seen as avoiding wastage in the high payment for the department.

“If Najib is serious in asking the people to change their lifestyles by shouldering the high cost of living because subsidies have been reduced, in addition to the goods and services (GST) being introduced, he too should reduce JPM’s expanses,” he said in a press conference here at the Parliament lobby today.

Kian Ming gave the example where the wage and allowance of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Innovation Agency Malaysia amounts to RM830,500 per year, which is about RM69,000 per month.

In addition to that, the CEO of the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) is paid a wage and allowance of RM622,000 a year, while the CEO of TalentCorp is paid RM420,000 a year.

He said that the income of the three CEOs are far higher compared to the National Secretary-General who receives RM23,577 per month.

“These examples involve a portion of agencies under the JPM, in fact there are more CEOs that receive incomes that far exceed that of Senior Managers of the same rank with Grade 54, but are paid far higher,” he said.

In relation to that, Kian Ming said Najib should also stop the establishment of new agencies such as Green Foundation (Yayasan Hijau) because existing agencies such as Malaysia GreenTech has the same function as the foundation which is to be developed.

The JPM budget leaped by 13 percent, making the amount RM16.45 billion and the amount is the highest allocation, breaking the previous record of RM15.62 billion (2011), which was announced in the National Budget 2014 on 25 October.

Increase in Sugar Price Affects Deepavali Celebration

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BANDAR TUN RAZAK, 29 Oct: The impact of the cut in sugar subsidies by RM0.34 announced by the Barisan Nasional (BN) Government at the tabling of the National Budget 2014 would adversely affect the Deepavali celebration on 2 November.

The price increase from 2.50 per kilogram to RM2.84 per kilogram is seen as a burden to the Indian community because Indian sweets use sugar.

The subsidy cut which was in effect since 26 October was made with the excuse of reducing the number of diabetic which is worrisome in Malaysia, in addition to saving government expenses by a total of RM64.02 million this year and RM551.25 million for 2014.

Starting 26 October, the price of sugar increased from RM2.50 per kilogram to RM2.84 per kilogram after the announcement of the RM0.34 subsidy cut made by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak at the tabling of the Budget 2014 the day before.

Several individuals met at the Deepavali Aid distribution ceremony for the Bandar Tun Razak Parliament expressed their disappointment on the government’s decision.

A resident, K Palanivel, expressed his disappointment following the increase of price before the Deepavali celebration and the burden shouldered by the people may not have been felt as badly if the increase was done before the celebration.

“The increase in price should not have happened and I am very sad with the government’s move. I am not the only one, but all Malaysians use sugar, so this decision should not have been done, especially since the Deepavali celebration is coming up,” he said.

For another resident, M Sarojini, the increase in sugar price caused her to be more improvident in celebrating Deepavali.

“My expanses have to be reduced because I am worried that there will be an increase in price of other goods due to the increase in sugar price,” she said.

The distribution ceremony was carried out by the Member of Parliament for Bandar Tun Razak’s wife, Puan Seri Salbiah Tunut, accompanied by her husband, the MP who is also the Chief Minister of Selangor, Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim last night.

In conjunction with the Deepavali celebration, the MP for Bandar Tun Razak gave RM50 cash as well as essential goods such as rice, sugar and flour to 100 less fortunate residents from around the area.

4.3

The Poor too have to Pay the GST

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SHAH ALAM, 29 Oct: The implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) may bring about negative effects to the poor who have to pay it once it is implemented on 1 April 2015.

The former Assistant Governor of Bank Negara Malaysia, Dr Rosli Yaakob said the impact of the GST is comprehensive and would affect all economic networks, thus bringing about the impact of an increase in prices for a majority of basic food.

“The poor also become a victim of the GST because they are forced to pay it and this will only add to the tax burden on all levels of society because they are all consumers.

“Although the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak announced that several basic food will not be imposed the GST, but it is not a guarantee that the price of the goods involved will be maintained,” he said in the Harakah Daily portal.

Yaakob, who is also the PAS Economic Expert, said the announcement of the implementation of the GST is also deliberately done at a period where it is still a long way before the 14th General Election (GE-14).

“Barisan Nasional (BN) assumes by the time of the GE-14, the impact of the GST which initially outraged the people would have settled and they would continue to support BN,” he said.

Dr Rosli said Najib’s claim that GST rate in Malaysia is the lowest, at the rate of six percent compared to Singapore and Indonesia, is not supported by any other statement.

“One fact that Najib failed to mention is that in Singapore, corporate and personal taxes are lower, between 16 to 17 percent.

“In Malaysia, despite announcing that it may go down by one to two percent, is that the rates of both the taxes are still high, between 23 to 24 percent,” he said.