Tag: State Assembly

Selection of Garbage and Solid Waste Contractors Not Influenced by Political Appointment

SHAH ALAM, 29 Nov: Local Government, Research and Development Committee Exco member, Ronnie Liu said that Local Authorities (PBT) are solely responsible for the selection of garbage collection contractors without being influenced by members of the Council.

Ronnie insists that all Council Members appointed by the Local Authorities can only act as observers to ensure that price quotation and tender meetings run smoothly and transparently.

“The State Government through the Local Authorities will make the selection of contractors based on the meeting, of which council members act as observers,” he said at the Selangor State Government (DNS) sitting, here, today.

He was responding to oral questions from Lembah Jaya Assemblyman, Khasim Abdul Aziz, who questioned the reason why Council members were not involved in the open tender policy adopted by the State Government regarding solid waste disposal.

Previously, Ronnie had said that the State Government had openly appointed Council Members to participate in the tender and price quotation committee for the selection of contractors, however this was stopped to comply with the State Financial Officer’s directives.

“The directive stipulates that the members appointed for the committee can only be made up of civil servants and government officials. Political appointments are not allowed in the awarding of tenders.

“Because of that, at the state level, Exco members who are appointed by the Chief Minister only serve as observers in the state committee for price quotations and tenders,” he said.

Majority of New Land-Owners are Malay

SHAH ALAM, 29 Nov: Since the State Government had taken office four years ago, nearly 7,000 land titles have been issued.

Chief Minister, Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim informed the Selangor State Assembly (DNS) that more than half of these owners are from the Malay community in Selangor.

A total of about 3,833 recipients are Malays, Chinese 1,994 while 1,171 are Indians.

Abdul Khalid when answering questions from Sekinchan Assemblyman, Ng Suee Lim, also said the State Government is promoting collective land applications.

All applications that meet the conditions, are complete and are in order will be approved by the State Government.

“However, there also issues which make it a problem for us to approve the people’s applications,” the Ijok Assemblyman said.

Among the issues faced by the District Land Office are applications that involve government reserves such as road and river reserves as well as technical problems between the situation of the land and the different parishes of land that require separate reports.

If the Federal Government Has No Money, The State Government is Ready to Advance It

SHAH ALAM, 27 Nov: Selangor is ready advance the state reserve funds for the maintenance of infrastructure to provide comfort to the people should the Federal Government issue a letter of guarantee in black and white to repay the sum.

However, Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim urged the Federal Government to fulfil its obligations as these are part of its responsibilities.

To smoothly facilitate this, the State Government will set up a special team consisting of the Chief Minister, the State Financial Officer, the State Economic Planning Unit (UPEN) and the Public Works Department (JKR).

“The special team will present to the Federal Government any projects or infrastructure which have to be developed by the Federal Government.

“If the Federal Government gives an approval letter in black and white to a project using state reserves and agrees to return the money, the State Government is ready to advance the state’s money,” he said.

Abdul Khalid, who is also the Ijok Assemblyman said this during his winding up speech concerning the development allocation of RM59.6 million for the year 2013 which has been approved for the Public Works Department (JKR) .

He also defended the open tender system in the awarding projects adopted by the State Government since taking over the state.

He added that the practice has proven to save about 20 percent of JKR’s allocated funds.

He explained that each contractor is only allowed to profit around eight to ten percent to avoid them from distributing projects to sub-contractors.

“Once an acquaintance told me that he had won a contract worth RM2 million but did not know anything about how the project was carried out.

“This is because according to him, he had won the tender because he knew the Chief Minister (at the time) and had just divided the work to sub-contractors.

“The is the practice that we are changing,” said Abdul Khalid.

Over 83.000 join Selangorku Shopping Bonus

SHAH ALAM, 27 Nov: The “Jom Shopping Bonus Selangorku” (Selangorku Let’s Go Shopping Bonus) included participants of the Selangor Children Heritage Fund (Tawas) and had received an overwhelming response with the attendance of about 65% of participants from the programme organized so far.

Welfare, Women’s Affairs, Science, Technology, Innovation and Culture Exco member, Rodziah Ismail said that a total of 83,551 participants have been approved for the programme as of the 2nd of November.

According to her, the Jom Shopping Bonus Selangor benefits are awarded based on birth year of the participants.

“Now Tawas is distributing the benefits to members who were born in 2008 amounting to 16,000, as estimated and the benefit is divided according to race.

“This programme is a ‘one-off’ gift given during the Tawas participant’s 4th birthday whose registrations have been approved in 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011,” she said.

She said this in response to queries by Sekinchan assemblyman, Ng Suee Lim at the Selangor State Assembly session today.

Rodziah said that the RM7.5 million allocation has been provided by Menteri Besar Incorporated (MBI) for the programme in which RM 1.6 million has been channeled to the Selangor Children Heritage Fund (Tawas).

945 Succeed in Transferring and Amending Illegal Factory Land Requirements

SHAH ALAM, 20 Nov: As many as 945 applicants have successfully managed to transfer and amend land-status requirements under the ‘Illegal Factories Rehabilitation Programme’.

22 applicants however were unsuccessful.

The District and Land Office did not process the applications according to the number of factories; instead they processed it according to land lots.

New Village Development, Illegal Factory Settlement Exco member, Ean Yong Wah said this when answering Kajang Assemblyman, Lee Kim Sin in the Selangor State Assembly (DNS) sitting here, today.

He said that according to census, a total of 1,183 of the 2,250 land lots have yet to apply to transfer and amend their land requirements.

Based on the amount of lots that have successfully been legalised according to districts, Petaling has recorded the highest number of lots followed by 152 lots in hulu Langat.

Also, 70 lots in Hulu Langat; 23 lots in Klang; 12 lots in Kuala Selangor; 6 lots in Sabak Bernam; two lots in Hulu Selangor and one lot in Sepang.

However, Ean added that the program faced several problems. Among them was that the land owners could not financially afford to settle the additional premium payments to amend land requirements.

Apart from that, land owners faced difficulty in acquiring loans to settle additional premium payments because they failed to meet requirements set by financial institutions and that they only used a part of the land for industrial use.

PKNS Plans to Build 9,481 Affordable Housings from 2014-2018

SHAH ALAM, 20 Nov: As many as 9,481 units of affordable housing have been planned by the Selangor State Development Corporation (PKNS) to be executed from 2014 to 2018.

Housing, Building Management and Squatters Exco member, Iskandar Samad said that among the places that the housing will be built are in Puteri, Hulu Selangor, Antara Gapi dan Shah Alam.

Meanwhile, from 2010 to 2013, 1,215 affordable housing units have already been built or are in the process of being built.

“There have already been discussions for four projects and have now entered the process of obtaining the Planning Permission (PP),” he said in the twelfth term of the Selangor State Assembly (DNS) sitting when answering Teratai Assemblyman, Jenice Lee.

Iskandar added that the State Government will be encouraging private developers to build affordable housings.

As of now, he said, 1,500 units will be executed by the developers and are currently in the process of applying for Planning Permission (PP).

“Apart from that, as many as 1,682 units will be completed by next year. The units will be sold at a minimum price of RM85,000 and a maximum price of RM150,000 per unit with an area of 850 till 1,000 square feet,” he said.

Iskandar further said that the State Government will be giving subsidies for affordable housing through PKNS.

“For example, the first phase, in Bukit Botak consists of 1,215 units and from that total, PKNS will be subsidising RM36 million.”

“The need to build affordable housings will depend on the demand and the building suitability, whether it’s affordable or low-cost (housing),” he said.

State Reserve Funds are only for Special Projects NOT for Administration Expenditures

SHAH ALAM, 19 Nov: The State Government will only use state reserves to fund special projects and not to shoulder administration costs, said Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim.

Reserve funds also cannot be used to pay for management expenditures and other such expenses by the State Government because it reflects inefficient financial management.

The presentation of the budget’s deficit to cover administrative expenses also reflects the failure of efficient financial management and demonstrates the failure to control spending.

Abdul Khalid said this when explaining the State Government actions in using state reserve funds to finance four projects at a cost of RM500 million.

“The project we are doing is separate so that its (the reserve funds) usage is more transparent.”

“The people do not want the reserves to be used to cover administrative expenses.”

“If this happens, people will think that the government can spend extravagantly, so with the separation, we cannot spend extravagantly,” said Abdul Khalid in a press conference at the State Assembly Annex Building lobby.

Abdul Khalid presented the 2012 Budget today, the first day of the Third Meeting of the Fifth Session. The Budget is themed ‘Selangor, Leader of Malaysian Economy’.

When presenting the budget, Abdul Khalid announced the decision to build the third bridge in Klang costing RM300 million, the implementation of Storm Water (RM100 million), upgrading and repairs of drainage systems (RM50 million) and the building of fully-furnished affordable housing (RM50 million).

However, these projects are not included in the 2013 Budget, instead it will be using State reserves.

Selangor Beats Other States in Investment

SHAH ALAM, 19 Nov: Selangor has recorded the highest investment performance in Malaysia with RM6.08 billion January to July this year.

The total includes domestic investments of RM4.59billion and RM1.49 billion of foreign direct investments (FDI).

The investments have created 13,197 new job opportunities for the people of Selangor which include skilled workers, semi-skilled and less-skilled workers as well as professionals.

The figures were given by Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA).

The Chief Minister, Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim said that the total amount of investments has increased since last September by RM7.7 million.

He said that, from January to July 2012, a total of 142 investment projects came in to Selangor.

Abdul Khalid added that from 2008 to 2011, Selangor is at the top with Penang being at second place in terms of the total amount of investments that has come in to the state with an average of RM38 billion over four years.

The value of investments that came into Selangor is RM11.87 billion (2008), RM6.76 billion (2009), RM10.64 billion (2010), and RM8.74 billion (2011).

Meanwhile the value of domestic investment (DDI) from 2008 to 2011 was RM2.87 billion (2008), RM2.75 billion (2009), RM5.49 billion (2010) and RM4.5 billion (2011).

For foreign direct investment (FDI), from 2008 to 2011 the recorded investment figure was RM9.0 billion (2008), RM4.01 billion (2009), RM5.15 billion (2010), and RM4.24 billion (2011).

“The number of projects which have been successfully undertaken in Selangor over the period of four years is as much as 302 projects (2008), 278 projects (2009), 325 projects (2010) and 263 projects (2011).

“The job opportunities that came out of the investments in Selangor during the period amounted to 30,890 people (2008), 22,753 people (2009), 27,865 people (2010) and 20,750 people (2011),” he said in his presentation of the 2013 budget in the state assembly today.

2013 Budget: Efficient Spending, Higher Development

SHAH ALAM, 19 Nov: The Selangor Government has once again come up with a balanced budget with RM1.630 billion allocated for 2013.

The Budget has raised the allocated funds for development to RM600 million and has lowered funds for administration spending by RM3 million. This is following Selangor’s efficient management of funds.

Apart from that, the state government’s savings reserve has reached RM2.570 billion as of 31st October 2012.

The 2013 Budget will emphasise three main strategies which is to strengthen Workforce Management, Financial Resources, Administration and State Assets; Sustain Innovative and Modern Development; as well as to strengthen the Rakyat’s Quality of Life.

The Budget was presented by the Minister of Selangor Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim in the Selangor State Assembly session today.

According to the Chief Minister’s press office secretariat, the Budget, themed ‘Selangor, Leader of Malaysian Economy’ will be allocating RM 996,980,690 or 61% for operating expenditure.

RM 633,019,310.00 or 39% will be allocated for development expenditure.

The State Government will allocate about RM 343 million or 54% of the infrastructure development allocation to build public facilities (RM 297 million) and housing (RM4.7 million).

Meanwhile RM118.2 million will be allocated for programmes under the ‘Selangor People’s Ecomony’ (Merakyatkan Ekonomi Selangor) policy such as the Golden Age Friendly Scheme (Skim Mesra Usia Emas), university acceptance gifts and the Selangor Children Heritage Fund (TAWAS).

Under the State Asset Management strategy, the Selangor government has identified state assets or public assets worth more than RM27 billion.

Those assets are Movable Assets (capital assets, inventories and stocks) and Immovable Assets (Land and Building) worth RM 15.2 billion.

There are also over RM 12.3 billion in water assets such as dams, water treatment plants, ponds, pump houses and distribution systems data.

In efforts to get value out of every ringgit spent, the State Government managed to save RM 102.2 million from the implementation of the open tender system.

In addition, RM 81 million was saved when the State Government took over the management of solid waste since last year.

Nurul Izzah Victimised To Protect Najib in Soi Lek Insults Islam Gathering

COMMENTS recarding MCA President Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek in his speech at the 59th MCA general assembly on October 21st and said eight of the 11 countries that implement Hudud are considered among the most corrupt, unstable and unsafe countrues.

In the speech which was attended Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak, Soi Lek claimed that 1.2 million Malaysians will lose their jobs should PAS implement Hudud in Malaysia.

Following Soi Lek’s statement Soi Lek, for more than two weeks, the media, political leaders, academics and Islamic theologians protested and condemned Soi Lek’s statement.

The worst effect from Soi Lek’s statement was that Najib was at the rally.

Openly and indirectly and Najib is perceived as a leader who lets his religion and race be insulted in front of him.

Najib’s attitude and silence is regarded as a cowardice and a traitor to his race and religion even though he is the leader of the party which is supposed to defend the Malay race and Islam.

While Soi Lek’s statement is very sensitive not only to the Malays and Islam, in fact it is able become a threat to national security.

Certainly if any of the leaders of the Pakatan Rakyat had made that statement, they will be detained under ISA or any other related Acts.

Soi Lek’s action was not only an insult to the Malay race and Islam but it is also considered as trying to interfere with Islam.

The British way of previously of not interfering with Islam but interfering with other affairs is evidence that the British recognised the sensitivity of Malays and Muslims.

Perak Mufti, Tan Sri Harussani Zakaria had said that Soi Lek is not entitled to make the statement and that Soi Lek’s statement is considered rude, an insult and humiliating Islam.

Soi Lek’s statement that had hurt Muslims especially the Malays would be a very big issue should Umno fail to address it.

What was more unfortunate is that Najib bore witness to all these insults from Soi Lek mouth.

Meanwhile, the action of the PAS Youth bringing the issue up to the Yang Di Pertuan Agung can also be seen to cause the confidence of Malays towards Umno whose leader is Najib.

Najib aware of Lost Support

In the political context, everyone realises that Umno relies on the support of Malays. His action regarding Soi Lek insulting Islamic law will benefit PAS and Pakatan Rakyat.

Najib also realises that the issue’s potential will be used as soon as possible by PR to sway Malay voters into leaving the party.

Umno’s ‘Think Tank’ may share the same stance.

Najib and the Umno ‘Think Tank’ is finding it serious enough for Umno to continue their survival in the upcoming 13th General Elections.

Reports from the Army, police, JASA and Kemas has forced him to postpone the 13th General Elections to and indeterminate time.

Nurul Izzah Becomes the Black Sheep

Recognizing the ‘danger’ of the issue, making someone else a black sheep has to be done to cover-up the issue.

The culture of running away from the real issue is known by the people by practicing defamation and ‘whatever’ is part and parcel of what Umno has been practicing for over half a century.

It is very stupid, not intelligent and moronic if an educated politician such as Nurul Izzah Anwar made a statement to legalize apostasy.

To anyone who heard her statements in the forum entitled “Islamic State: Which version? Whose responsibility?” will find that the leader of the opposition’s daughter had never said that.

The forum that used English as a medium can be easily manipulated by the Umno-owned media to the majority of Malays in villages who do not understand the language.

Nurul Izzah’s action in instructing her lawyer to take legal action and make a report to JAIS regarding the defamation which was issued by the Umno-owned media was the best approach.

500 Gather in Protest Against AES

MANJUNG, 9 NOV: “AES Protest” urged Transportation Minister, Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha to cancel commencement of the Automatic Enforcement System (AES) within a week.

Joint Coordinator, AES Protest, Saifullah Zulkifli stressed that any efforts to combat the issue of accidents are welcomed.

Nevertheless, AES implementation is suspicious and a burden to the people.
“Protest AES gives a duration of a week to Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha to cancel implementations of the AES and to respond to the protests.”

“If the reverse happens, another gathering of ‘AES Protest’ with leaders of Pakatan Rakyat (PR) will be held at parliament,” she said in a press statement.

She said this after the People’s Gathering in Protest of AES that was attended by 500 supporters in Setiawan, Perak today.

The first gathered at Masjid An-Nasyirah, Sitiawan after Friday evening prayers and later moved towards the Cho Ha’s office who is the Lumut Member of Parliament.

A memorandum of protest against AES has proposed four reasons for the system’s rejection.

The four factors stated in the memorandum are the background of the two companies chosen and the suspicious deal of privatization.

The memorandum also states that accidents are not only caused by speed and that the implementation of AES will only add to the people’s burdens.

“Protest AES state their regret at the cowardly attitude of Lumut Member of Parliament, Datok Seri Kong Cho Ha in not facing the people directly and only sending an office clerk to accept the memorandum,” he added.

The gathering was attended by Pakatan Rakyar, NGOs and social leaders.

Amongst the leaders present who gave speeches were representatives of PKR Perak, Chang Lih Kang, Dr Raja Ahmad Iskandar who represented PAS Youth Assembly of Perak, Siti Aisyah Sheik Ismail as representative of PKR and few other NGO leaders.


AES Cameras in Selangor Not Legal, PAS Will Help Those Summoned

KUALA LUMPUR, 9 NOV: Selangor road users who have been summoned by the Automated Enforcement System (AES) cameras in Puchong and Kajang can request help from PAS to resolve the summons.

This followed the government of Selangor’s decision which does not approve of the installation of AES cameras in Selangor because they doubted the intentions of the system’s implementation which has been accused of benefiting certain companies instead of reducing accident rates.

Selangor’s Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim said the two AES cameras installed in Puchong and Kajang were not legal because they had not been approved by the Pihak Berkuasa Tempatan (PBT).

“So, because of that, erecting the structure is not legal and if you are summoned in the state of Selangor, you can go to PAS to be brought to court,” said Abdul Khalid to the audience at the Jalajah Merdeka Rakyat talk at Flat Sri Labuan, Cheras last night.

Abdul Khalid said the Majlis Tindakan Ekonomi Negeri Selangor (MTES) decided yesterday to delay the implementation of Automatic Cameras (AES) in Selangor until the government of Selangor are satisfied with the way it is implemented.

“The second issue that I have informed the Jabatan Pengangkutan about is that privatisations do not help the people.

“Privatisations are not for reducing accidents, but as a way to get payment and enrich people who gain concessions from said privatisations. We must stop this,” he urged.

According to Abdul Khalid, the concessionaire of the AES project will receive a large profit of at least 17 percent a year.

Meanwhile, Pokok Sena MP Datuk Mehfuz Omar also said the Jabatan Undang-Undang dan Hak Asasi Manusia (JUHAM) and PAS Youth will prepare free legal services to anyone who has been summoned by AES cameras.

According to him, PAS will open counters for any victims of AES to receive free legal advice on the 21st of November at the PAS headquarters at Jalan Raja Laut, Kuala Lumpur.

“If you do not want to pay the compound but want to bring it to court, our lawyers will provide free service,” said Mahfuz.

Mahfuz also said the two concessionaires which manage the AES will earn as much as RM 384 million a year, outright allowing them to profit as early as their second year of operation.

Aside from Abdul Khalid and Mahfuz, last night’s Jelajah Merdeka Rakyat talk program also featured PKR’s parliamentary leader, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.