Tag: Management of Public Funds

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.

Selangor and Penang PR Governments Step Forward to Strengthen Democracy

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Youth Solidarity Malaysia (SAMM) congratulated the Selangor and Penang PR Governments for moving another step to strengthen democracy in their administration radar.

On 18 September, the Penang Pakatan Rakyat Government, through the State Government Exco meeting, approved in principle the provisions for Assemblymen from the Opposition in Penang (read: Barisan Nasional) and the subsequent approval from the Exco Meeting will be tabled in the Penang State Budget 2014.

Meanwhile, on 10 October, the Selangor PR Government announced special allowances and privileges for the Selangor State Legislative Assembly Opposition Leader.

For Samm, this are valiant efforts in strengthening and educating the meaning of true democracy in Malaysia, in fact, understanding in the long history of oppression in translating the BN-style democracy system, actions such as this is hard to be accepted by various quarters in PR itself.

But if we are talking about a mature democracy, this is the best time to show that PR is different from the oppression politics of BN. We see all this while how PR representatives, especially Parliamentarians, are denied the right to serve the people without even a single cent of allocation being channelled through PR representatives who were voted by the people.

Now, it is a tremendous blow for BN Assemblymen in Penang. Do they want to receive provisions given to them despite Do they want to receive their allocation to them despite their opposition?

If they accept it, then they acknowledge the practice of the BN Government in other states and even the Federal level BN government as wrong to not channel allocations through representatives of the people who were elected by the people. But if they reject it, they will continue to be remembered for their narrow partisan politics and they can no longer complain in front of their voters that they do not have allocations.

Through the Penang State Government, PR proved that political clash is a different matter, but in matters of democratic state governance, the people’s choice should be respected and Penang PR has acknowledged that.

The Office of the Leader of the Opposition in the House (be it the House of Representatives or the state legislative assembly) is very important. But since the independence of Malaysia, it has not been honoured like other countries of mature democracy acknowledge the post.

The Selangor PR Government made a tremendous stride when they allocated RM8,260 per month with plenty other privileges to the Opposition Leader in the State Legislative Assembly.

With this, this position which is upheld through the democratic pr In this position he also transported through the democratic process of the people’s voice can be used to jointly develop the state. Opposition leaders can have complete office efficiency with enough research officers and Opposition leaders can have a complete office efficiency with enough research officer and able to debate and make constructive criticism to state that ultimately benefit the people.

The question now is would the Opposition Leader from BN in Selangor receive the allowances and privileges or will he reject with narrow political party thinking.

If he accepts it, he would admit the wrong practice of the Central and State Governments under BN in denying the role of Opposition Leaders elected by the people.

This is how the politics of the nation should be practiced with policy competition and competition in improvements which will ultimately strengthen democracy and benefit the people.

SAMM has greats hopes to see the Prime Minister, who is also the Finance Minister, to make the word ‘transformation’ as his daily chant when tabling the Budget 2014 this Friday which can truly welcome the moves taken by the Penang and Selangor PR Governments.

This move is also positive and everyone should move to strengthen democracy by acknowledging the role of PR members of parliament by taking into account the channeling of provisions through those elected by the people and uphold the role of the Malaysian Parliament by acknowledging privileges for Malaysian Opposition Leaders.

Without that, the ‘transformation’ chant will continue being a rhetoric laughed by those from the country and abroad.

Badrul Hisham Shaharin
Youth Solidarity Malaysia

Shah Alam City Centre Developments Feature Islamic Elements

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SHAH ALAM, 23 Oct: The Shah Alam City Centre will be revitalised by featuring Islamic designs as the main thrust of development.

The move will touch on standardisation of colour, design, attractive building facade and identity, public facilities as well as other measures involving development around the city centre in Section 14.

The Mayor of Shah Alam, Datuk Mohd Jaafar Mohd Atan said the development plan should be carried out immediately before property owners develop their projects.

“Since before, Shah Alam has been developed without following a real plan, so we must start the vision to redesign development in this city before it is too late.

“Usually, landowners do not want to bear costs for too long and wish to develop their projects immediately. So we must be quick,” he said after inaugurating the Shah Alam CIty Centre Development Workshop in Section 14 at the Grand Bluewave Hotel this morning.

The workshop organised by the Shah Alam City Council (MBSA) also touched on planning involving the issues of peace and prosperity, thus increasing the population’s joy index in Shah Alam in addition to the tabling of the work papers for the development of the city centre based on the concept of Islamic characteristics.

A total of 120 participants consisting of developers, landowners, government agencies, institutes of higher learning, Council members and the MBSA Technical Department took part in the workshop.

Jaafar said that they will discuss with the state government to establish guidelines that need to be enforced in effort to provide parking for women and additional lights in several locations identified.

“There are parking areas that are dark and scary, especially at night. These locations should have lights and special parking for women close to entrances. We will propose this to the state government,” he said.

Abolish AES: Do Not Confuse the People

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SHAH ALAM, 23 Oct: The proposal to cancel all outstanding summonses of the Automated Enforcement System (AES) by the acting Minister of Transport, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, only adds confusion to the already burdened people.

The idea by the Barisan Nasional (BN) Government is claimed to be unfair to the people when they proposed to cancel summonses issued prior to 18 September and will only reduce the compound from RM300 to RM150 after that date.

The Legal Adviser for the Anti Postal Summons Campaign (KASE), Zulhazmi Sharif said that the government should wait until a comprehensive review on the implementation of the AES by the AES Steering Committee is complete before issuing any misleading statements.

“The proposal is premature and unfair. This is because the comprehensive review of the implementation of the AES is still pending and is incomplete. The announcement is only to reassure the people who already burdened and confused with the implementation of the AES since 22 September 2012,” he told TVSelangor today.

He was commenting on a statement made by Hishammuddin that there are other options that will be forwarded to the Cabinet by the Ministry of Transport to give justice and public interest on the issue of AES summons dated before 18 September.

At the House of Representatives yesterday, the ministry stated that 882,298 AES summons have been issued, and 91,457 from the amount has been paid involving the collection of RM27.4 million as of 8 October.

In relation to that, Zulhalmi said all summonses issued since 22 September should be cancelled and the entire execution should be halted until the review is completed by the committee, if the AES is to be cancelled.

“When all the summons are cancelled, the amount of compound fees and fines that have been paid should be refunded to recipients of the summonses. Until now, BN has failed to respond to my challenge to prove that there is a line in the AES summon, or the Road Transport Act 1987, that states that it is mandatory to pay summons and compounds.

“If there is, I will pay all the summons. But the government should cancel all summons and refund the collected money when it is proven what is claimed is true,” he said.

Budget 2014: National Deficit Expected to Increase by One Percent

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SHAH ALAM, 23 Oct: The Budget 2014 is expected to reach RM270 billion, involving an increase of nine percent compared to RM260 billion for the Budget 2013.

The increase is expected to cause the national fiscal deficit to increase by about 0.5 percent to one percent.

Terengganu PKR Chairman, Azan Ismail said the budget which will be tabled by the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak on 25 October will record a deficit for the 16th time in a row.

“This year, the amount if RM260 billion, but it may increase by about RM10 billion for 2014. This increase would cause the national deficit to increase by about one percent or at least 0.5 percent,” he said when contacted yesterday.

Azan said the approach used by Najib, who is also the Finance Minister, proves that the Barisan Nasional (BN) Government has failed in controlling spending by being responsible and prudent.

“For Pakatan Rakyat (PR), we will not guarantee a balanced budget, but we will try to present a budget where the deficit is not too high.

“If the increase in expenditure is RM10 billion to RM15 billion, we too have to increase to curb a higher increase in deficit,” he said.

Opposition Leader, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, presented the Alternative Budget summary which amounts to RM262 billion, compared to an estimated revenue of RM228 billion, with the deficit of RM34 billion, on 21 October.

Among the contributing factor involved in the reduction is that the emoluments that are reduced by 10 percent involves operating expenses that do not include emoluments and the effort is a part of the long-term measures to reduce the country’s debt of over RM500 billion.

Selangor Government Targets for 35,000 RMM in Five Years

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SHAH ALAM, 22 Oct: The Selangor Government is targeting for 35,000 affordable housing units (RMM) in the next five years.

The Executive Councillor in charge of Housing, Building Management and Urban Settlement, Iskandar Abdul Samad, said that the government will increase the number of affordable homes through the Housing & Development Board (HDB) or but existing affordable homes and place it under the HDB.

Through the Harakah Daily portal, he said the RM450 million allocation is aimed to involve the construction of 5,000 to 7,000 affordable housing units over the next five years.

“From the total projects of private and subsidiary companies of the state government, we target for 35,000 units of affordable homes to be built in Selangor in the stipulated period.

“We will not sell all the units because a part of it will be rented out to those who cannot afford to buy a house,” he said.

Iskandar said the State Government is focusing on private companies by placing requirements to build affordable housing in the first term of the Pakatan Rakyat administration.

“The housing problem is not just in terms of house prices, but the low income of the people. So to accommodate the number of people who cannot afford to buy a home, we will create homes to be rented to them, such as council homes,” he said.

PWD Continue to be Assisted in Selangor’s 2014 Budget

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SHAH ALAM, 19 Oct: The Selangor State Government will implement the People With Disabilities (PWD) Special Assistance Scheme as an incentive to this group to be able to independently raise their living standards.

The Executive Councillor in charge of Women’s Affairs, Rodziah Ismail said the implementation of this scheme will be presented in the 2014 Budget in November which provides for various programmes benefiting PWD in the long run.

Rodziah said this scheme aims to provide equal opportunities to all parties in hopes that the group will achieve success together.

“PWD will be given a clear direction for their future shortly after graduating by taking up, for example, the Urban Micro Credit Scheme (MiMBAR) which has successfully produced entrepreneurs with small loans.

“I want PWD to emulate the success through their own effort,” she said after visiting the Ramah Daily Care and Rehabilitation Centre here in Section 10.

During the visit, Rodziah spent time mingling with 20 special children and presented contributions in the form of toys for learning from the State Government.

In other developments, Rodziah who is also the Assemblywoman for Batu Tiga said she will discuss with local authorities to provide a more comfortable area for the convenience of PWD children at the care centre.

She said halls, buildings or state government quarters which are unused will be considered as a new location for the care centre.

“The Council hopes that any unused halls may be proposed to replace the existing care centre.

“We will also discuss for any unused government buildings to be given to those who need it,” she said.