MY VOICE FOR NATION |
| MCA’s death knell gets louder | Free Malaysia Today Posted: 21 Oct 2012 01:49 AM PDT |
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N45 Dr Halimah Ali |
| EXCO Pendidikan Selangor terus martabatkan SAR Posted: 21 Oct 2012 06:43 AM PDT  SELANGOR Ahad 20/10/12 Kerajaan Selangor teruskan usaha mempertingkatkan keupayaan SAR agar semakin cemerlang dalam membantu negeri Selangor melahirkan modal insan berkualiti yang bakal mewarisi negeri di masa datang. SAR terus dekat dihati. EXCO Pendidikan Kerajaan Selangor, yang merupakan Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Tetap Pendidikan Selangor terus melakarkan peta jalan ke arah sukses sistem pendidikan bersifat rabbani dalam keadaan waqi' mencabar.  Diantara langkah penting yang diambil ialah mensponsorkan kursus latihan pengurus dan pengendali SAR dan juga guru besar/pengetua agar sistem yang digunapakai dan dijalankan oleh SAR yang tidak diperuntukkan khas oleh kerajaan. Keikhlasan tanpa ilmu dan kemahiran teknikal kurang berkesan dan tidak cekap. Walhal sepatutnya, pentadbiran jenis sekolah Islam lebih efektif dan efisyen berbanding dengan sistem lain. Perbezaan ketara ialah ilmu pengetahuan dan sikap 'tidak apa' boleh mencontengkan arang di wajah Islam.Naudzubillah.Ini satu dosa.  Sudah tiba masanya, SAR mempunyai sistem menyimpan data, sistem mengendalikan modal insan/guna tenaga , logistik dan apa keperluan yang membantu proses pengajaran dan pembelajaran. Kawalan mutu, keselesaan dan keselamatan juga sepatutnya menyerlah. Bahkan kebajikan guru dan kakitangan juga sepatutnya terpelihara tahap optima. Kerajaan Selangor memahami keperluan modal insan utama ini sebagai nakhoda yang mengemudikan sekolah mereka yang mahu membentuk insan, makhluk Tuhan terbaik di beri kemahiran yang cukup. Justeru, EXCO Pendidikan telah membiayai kursus latihan pengurusan tertinggi sekolah agama rakyat dan guru besar.Kerajaan Selangor membiayai sepenuhnya kursus 3hari 2 malam ini.  | |||
| UMNO tunduk kepada MCA yang menentang hukum Allah secara terang-terang Posted: 21 Oct 2012 05:46 AM PDT Perwakilan MCA gayakan baju-T baru ke AGM
 Kemeja-T baru itu menonjolkan logo 1Malaysia dan "pilih BN" di bahagian lengan.Bahagian belakang pula diterakan dengan pelbagai mesej untuk menyerang slogan "Ubah" DAP. Seorang perwakilan yang ditemui berkata, pendekatan baru itu sangat bagus dalam menghadapi propaganda Pakatan Rakyat kerana "propaganda negatif" itu banyak memberi impak. Selain itu, baju berkenaan juga dicetak di bahagian belakangannya, antaranya dengan slogan "Katakan tidak pada hudud PAS" dan "Ubah? Bankrap dalam dua tahun". Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Razak yang menjadi tetamu kehormat bagi merasmikan acara hari ini juga hadir dengan memakai baju berwana biru.  |
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Dr Shafie Abu Bakar |
| Posted: 21 Oct 2012 04:10 PM PDT |
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Lim Guan Eng |
| Posted: 20 Oct 2012 09:54 PM PDT Press Statement By Penang Chief Minister and DAP Secretary-General Lim Guan Eng In Penang on 21.10.2012 Defence Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi must explain why he has to wait until the 2011 Auditor-General Report exposed shoddy and defective work done of family homes of the military before lodging a complaint with the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB). Clearly the entire internal control mechansim within the Defence Ministry comprising the monitoring, analyzing and auditing of projects has failed. Should not the Ministry act instead of delegating it to the CIDB, when CIDB have lesser powers than the Defence Ministry to punish the contractor concerned? Zahid should list out the steps taken by the Defence Ministry to ensure that such abuses can be detected, immediate steps taken to rectify the defects and stern action to punish the contractors and officials who failed to monitor properly. Zahid said that the ministry would not compromise on excessive profiteering by constractors who built not according to specifications. Then he should explain why despite such poor and defective performance, the Federal government still waived penalties worth RM 87.12 million for failure to meet contractual obligations. Clearly military personnel have been shortchanged as this is another crony project of BN benefiting contractors at the expense of the public. I am not surprised that there was no mention by MCA leaders at the MCA General Assembly of mismanagement, abuses and and waste listed in the 2011 Auditor-General's Report. After all MCA President Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek had dismissed the negative Auditor-General's Report as having no impact on BN's support in the next general election. To ensure that the public is not shortchanged and that the BN government is serious about addressing the problems mentioned in the Auditor-General's Report, 3 issues must be addressed.The first issue revealed by the Auditor-General's Report relates to several massive government contracts and projects that were directly negotiated instead of open competitive tenders, affecting public trust. The most glaring example was the directly-negotiated RM 12.49 billion Ipoh-Padang Besar double-tracking project that was delayed twice and has incurred an additional RM3.6 billion in costs. The majority of the military quarters projects were also awarded by direct negotiation. Military family quarters built by the Defence Ministry saw costs nearly double to RM3.2 billion with defects such as collapsed ceilings and leaking sewer pipes. Other examples include 1,000 brochure racks worth RM1.95 million for Visit Malaysia Year 2007 bought through direct negotiation by the Malaysian Tourism Promotion Board without the Finance Ministry's approval, and the five billboards worth RM 3.64 million that it put up in Indonesia via direct negotiation that are being investigated by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC). The latest revelation by the Auditor-General's Report is in Sarawak where a state-owned company, Sarawak Coal Resources Sdn Bhd awarded contracts for the extraction and transportation of coal ore in Mukah for RM923.03 million to four firms through direct negotiations. No wonder Sarawak Coal Resources Sdn Bhd is recording losses. The second issue relates to the massive write-off of government loans given to Perwaja Terengganu Sdn Bhd that were unpaid over the last 14-17 years amounting RM 1,626 million. The 2011 Auditor-General's Report had highlighted that 42 loans given out by the Federal government to companies had loan arrears between 1 to 17 years amounting to a huge sum of RM 3,328 million, an increase of 18.7% compared to RM 2,805 million in 2010. No action was taken by the Federal government to recover these loan arrears apart from writing off Perwaja's RM 1,626 million loans over a period of 16 years from 2011 to 2027. What is the rationale for such a huge write-off of loans when Perwaja is now listed on Bursa Malaysia and is making profits? Writing off huge loans for one company like Perwaja gives a negative impression that cronies get special treatment at the expense of 28 million Malaysians. Again why should cronies have their loans written off but not ordinary Malaysians who have to pay the last cent or else be sued by banks? The third issue relates to the exemption of fees for license to contravene given to Indah Water Konsortium Sdn Bhd(IWK) amounting to RM 1,371 million. IWK had applied to the Department of Environment for 3,290 licenses to contravene from 2008-2011 to violate environmental standards in disposal of toxic wastes. Upon approval the license fees required to be paid by IWK amounted to RM1,554 million as at end 2011. However Cabinet gave an exemption of RM 1,371 millon on 21.5.2010, resulting in IWK only needing to pay the remainder RM183 million. Why did Cabinet give IWK this huge exemption at the expense of the environment and without any benefit to Malaysians? BN has to be changed if they continue to dismiss the Auditor-General's Report by refusing to explain the mismanagement, waste and abuses costing Malaysian tens of billions of ringgit annually. Lim Guan Eng —-BM Version—- BN Harus Diubah Jika Mereka Terus Tidak Menghiraukan Laporan Ketua Audit Negara Dengan Keengganan Untuk Menjelaskan Salah Urus, Ketirisan Dan Penyalahgunaan Kuasa Yang Membawa Kerugian Berpuluh-puluh Bilion Ringgit. Menteri Pertahanan Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi harus menjelaskan kenapa beliau hanya membuat laporan dengan Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) selepas pendedahan Laporan Ketua Audit Negara 2011 tentang kerja yang tidak memuaskan dalam projek pembinaan rumah-rumah kediaman tentera. Jelas sistem kawalan pemantauan, analisis dan audit dalaman Kementerian Pertahanan sudah gagal. Tidakkah patut Kementerian mengambil tindakan daripada mewakilkan tugas tersebut kepada CIDB yang tidak mempunyai kuasa seperti Kementerian Pertahanan untuk mengambil tindakan ke atas kontraktor tersebut? Zahid harus menyenaraikan langkah-langkah Kementerian Pertahanan untuk memastikan masalah-masalah ini boleh dikenal pasti, dibetulkan dengan segera dan tindakan diambil ke atas kontraktor-kontraktor serta pegawai-pegawai yang gagal memantau dengan betul. Zahid kata bahawa Kementerian tidak akan berkompromi dengan pencatutan kontraktor-kontraktor yang tidak membina mengikut spesifikasi. Jika begitu beliau harus menjelaskan kenapa kerajaan Persekutuan mengetepikan penalti RM87.12 juta kerana kegagalan untuk memenuhi obligasi kontrak walaupun kerja jelas tidak memuaskan dan cacat. Jelas anggota-anggota tentera telah ditipu kerana projek ini merupakan lagi satu kontrak kroni BN yang merugikan rakyat. Saya tidak terkejut bahawa tiada satu pun pemimpin MCA yang menyuarakan penyalahgunaan kuasa, salah urus dan ketirisan yang terdapat dalam Laporan Ketua Audit Negara 2011 semasa Perhimpunan Agung MCA. Malah, Presiden MCA Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek sendiri telah menunjukkan sikap tindak endah dengan mengatakan bahawa laporan-laporan negatif dalam Laporan Ketua Audit Negara tidak akan membawa impak kepada BN dalam pilihan raya umum yang akan datang. Untuk memastikan bahawa rakyat tidak ditipu dan kerajaan BN serius dalam menangani masalah-masalah dalam Laporan Ketua Audit Negara, 3 isu harus ditangani. Pertama adalah pendedahan Laporan Ketua Audit Negara tentang kontrak-kontrak kerajaan dan projek yang dirunding terus dan tidak dibuat dengan tender terbuka, lantas menjejaskan amanah awam. Contoh projek rundingan terus yang paling jelas adalah projek landasan berkembar Ipoh-Padang Besar yang bernilai RM12.49 bilion yang telah mengalami kelewatan dua kali dan terpaksa menanggung kos lebihan RM3.6 bilion. Kebanyakan projek kediaman tentera juga dirunding terus. Rumah-rumah kediaman tentera yang dibina oleh Kementerian Pertahanan menampakkan penggandaan kos kepada RM3.2 bilion dengan kecacatan seperti siling yang runtuh dan paip pembetungan yang bocor. Contoh-contoh lain seperti 1,000 buah rak risalah yang bernilai RM1.95 juta untuk Tahun Melawat Malaysia 2007 yang dibeli melalui rundingan terus oleh Malaysian Tourism Promotion Board tanpa kelulusan Kementerian Kewangan, dan 5 papan iklan yang bernilai RM3.64 juta yang diletakkan di Indonesia melalui rundingan terus dan sedang disiasat oleh Suruhanjaya Pencegah Rasuah Malaysia (SPRM). Pendedahan terkini oleh Laporan Ketua Audit Negara adalah di Sarawak di mana syarikat-milik-kerajaan Sarawak Coal Resources Sdn Bhd telah menganugerahkan kontrak untuk pengekstrakan dan pengangkutan bijih arang batu di Mukah untuk RM923.03 juta kepada 4 firma melalui rundingan terus. Tidak hairanlah Sarawak Coal Resources Sdn Bhd mencatat kerugian. Isu kedua adalah pelupusan besar RM1,626 juta pinjaman kerajaan kepada Perwaja Terengganu Sdn Bhd yang tidak dibayar selama 14-17 tahun. Laporan Ketua Audit Negara 2011 telah menunjukkan bahawa sebanyak 42 pinjaman yang diberi oleh kerajaan Persekutuan kepada syarikat-syarikat telah mengumpulkan tunggakan sehingga RM3,328 juta selama 1-17 tahun ini, iaitu peningkatan 18.7% berbanding RM2,805 juta pada tahun 2010. Tidak ada tindakan yang diambil oleh kerajaan Persekutuan untuk mendapatkan balik tunggakan tersebut selain daripada pelupusan pinjaman 16 tahun Perwaja yang berjumlah RM1,626 juta. Apakah logiknya untuk melupuskan pinjaman yang begitu besar apabila Perwaja kini disenaraikan dalam Bursa Malaysia dan sedang mencatatkan keuntungan? Pelupusan pinjaman yang begitu besar untuk sebuah syarikat seperti Perwaja memberi gambaran yang negatif bahawa kroni mendapat layanan istimewa sementara 28 juta rakyat yang rugi. Mengapakah pinjaman kroni boleh dilupuskan tetapi tidak pinjaman rakyat biasa yang harus membayar sehingga sen terakhir dan sekiranya gagal akan disaman oleh bank? Isu ketiga adalah pengecualian yuran lesen pelanggaran yang diberi kepada Indah Water Konsortium sdn bhd yang berjumlah RM1,371 juta. IWK telah memohon 3,290 lesen pelanggaran dari 2008-2011 untuk melanggari standard alam sekitar dalam pembuangan sisa toksik. Apabila diluluskan, yuran lesen yang harus dibayar oleh IWK berjumlah RM1,554 juta pada akhir 2011. Alangkah tetapi, Kabinet telah memberi pengecualian sebanyak RM1,371 juta pada 21.5.2010 yang bermaksud IWK hanya perlu membayar baki RM183 juta. Kenapa Kabinet memberi pengecualian yang begitu besar ini yang merugikan bukan sahaja rakyat Malaysia tetapi memudaratkan alam sekitar juga? BN harus diubah jika mereka terus tidak menghiraukan Laporan Ketua Audit Negara dengan keengganan untuk menjelaskan salah urus, ketirisan dan penyalahgunaan kuasa yang membawa kerugian sebanyak berpuluh-puluh bilion ringgit setiap tahun. Lim Guan Eng —-Mandarin Translation —- 槟州首席部长兼民主行动党秘书长林冠瑛 于2012年10月21日，在槟州发表声明： 如果国阵继续轻视总稽查报告，拒绝解释为何出现那么多管理不当、浪费、滥用的问题，导致马来西亚人民每年损失上千亿令吉，那么我们必须将国阵换掉。 部长是不是应该采取行动？而不是把工作交由建筑工业发展局，有关单位在惩戒承包商方面，权力比部长还小。 查希应该列出国防部长已经采取的行动，以确认滥权的原因、马上采取行动矫正错误、严惩那些无法有效监控的承包商及官员。 查希说，国防部不会向那些企图过份捞取利益、没有依规格进行工程的承包商妥协。那么他必须解释，为何尽管这些承包商的表现如此低劣及缺陷处处，联邦政府还豁免他们的无法依约履行完工义务的罚款达8712万令吉。很明显地，军人们被亏待，这又是另一个国阵让朋党承包商受惠、牺牲人民利益的例子。 我不会惊讶，马华领袖在马华大会上没有提起2011年总稽查报告所指出的管理不当、 滥权及浪费的问题。再说，马华总会长拿督斯里蔡细历已轻蔑有关稽查报告，他说这份负面的报告不会影响人民对国阵的支持。 为了确保人民不会被亏待，而国阵政府会认真看待稽查报告所提出的问题，当局必须回应三个课题。第一项课题就是总稽查报告所揭发的数项大型政府工程及合约是通过直接洽谈，而不是公开招标颁发的，这影响公信力。 最明显的例子就是怡保－巴当巴西尔124亿9000万令吉双轨计划，政府在直接洽商后颁发合约，结果延期两次、造成损失36亿令吉。大部份军人宿舍合约也是通过直接谈判颁布的，由国防部兴建的军人家庭宿舍成本增加两倍近32亿令吉，却发生天花板坍塌及排污管溢漏的缺陷。 其它例子包括：配合2007年大马旅游年，以195万令吉购买1000个放置小册子的架子，这是由马来西亚旅游促进局在没有财政部批准下直接购买的，该局也通过直接洽谈，花费364万令吉在印尼放置5个宣传板，目前正被马来西亚反贪委会调查。 总稽查司最近揭发的事是，砂拉越一家政府拥有的公司砂州煤炭资源有限公司，通过直接洽谈，直接发出价值9亿2303万令吉的标书给四家公司，开采并运送Mukah的煤矿。难道砂州煤炭资源有限公司面临亏损。如果他们推行公开招标，看来全部公司都能赚钱。 第二个问题是政府将柏华惹登嘉楼有限公司的贷款一笔注销，这笔贷款欠了14－17年，高达16亿2600万令吉。2011年总稽查报告突出42项由联邦发放的贷款，这些未偿贷款拖欠达1－17年 ，高达33亿2800万令吉，比2010年28亿500万令吉高出18.7％。 除了注销柏华惹16年（2011－2027）的贷款，联邦政府还未采取行动追讨这些未还的贷款。 纳吉必须解释，为何政府注销有关巨额贷款？柏花惹目前已经上市、正在赚钱。 注销像柏华惹如此公司的巨额贷款，制造了负面印象，让人们认为人民利益可以被牺牲，而朋党可以获得特别优惠。为什么朋党的贷款可以注销，而普通马来西亚人却必须偿还每一分每一毫，否则会被银行起诉。 第三个课题是，首相必须解释英达丽水私人有限公司为何可以豁免缴付高达13亿7100令吉的"违例执照"（license to contravene）费？英达 截至2011年底，英达丽水需缴付的违例执照费达15亿5400令吉。但是，内阁于2010年5月21日 豁免了13亿7100万令吉，以致英达丽水只需付1亿8300万令吉。为什么内阁让英达丽水享有这样的豁免优惠？牺牲我们的环境、对人民也没有好处。 如果国阵继续轻视总稽查报告，拒绝解释为何出现那么多管理不当、浪费、滥用的问题，导致马来西亚人民每年损失上千亿令吉，那么我们必须 |
| Posted: 20 Oct 2012 10:06 PM PDT Welcoming speech By Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng at the 4th Penang in Asia Lecture By Professor Jeffrey Sachs At The Traders Hotel In George Town, Penang On 20.10.12. There Must Be Equal Opportunity, Equal Access, Equal Affordability To Services and Equal Availability to Resources Because Equality Fails If Affluent Bankers Who Fail Gets Bailed Out Whilst Ordinary Folks Lose Their Houses And Jobs Just As Loans To Cronies Of Billions Get Written Off Whilst Ordinary Malaysians Must Pay To The Last Cent, First of all, I would like to congratulate the Penang Institute for putting together yet another successful Penang in Asia lecture. Today, we are indeed most honoured to host a respected humanitarian and world-renowned economist, UN Special Advisor on the Millennium Development Goals Professor Jeffrey Sachs. Professor Sachs's brief sojourn here in Penang is timely. This is because Penang, and indeed Malaysia, is now at a crossroads, with the looming backdrop of the current global financial crisis casting a grim shadow. It began in 2008 with the meltdown of the US housing and banking sectors, followed by some of the greatest financial bailouts seen in history. Today, the crisis has since enveloped the world as nation after nation becomes afflicted by economic and financial turmoil. Europe faces a sovereign-debt crisis while export-dependent Asia is beset by sustained economic contraction. And due to our significant dependency on exports and hence our exposure to international shifts especially in the electrical and electronics sector, Penang was initially hard-hit. In 2009, we were reeling from a huge drop in GDP growth as demand decelerated in our traditional Western export markets. However, thanks to sheer effort and a never-say-die attitude, we managed to not only recover but bounce back in style in 2010. Not only did we achieve a 10 per cent growth rate, we also recorded the largest total investments ever achieved in a single year, worth RM12.2 billion. We then followed this up with a RM9.1 billion performance in 2011. In the last two years, we have blazed a trail as the country's number one investment destination. However, we cannot afford to rest on our laurels. In this new globalised century where borders are seamless and communications virtually instantaneous, there is not a second to lose especially for an ambitious city-state such as ours. It is generally agreed that smart and innovative cities will provide the catalytic factors for economic growth. After all, productivity thrives in an urban setting which facilitates the flow of goods, people and knowledge. Hence, Penang's quest towards becoming an international and intelligent city hinges on our ability to transform into a connected agglomeration of various centres of excellence in our core competencies, a comfortable and liveable environment which attracts talent, and a sustainable city with an inclusive economy. I would like to take this opportunity to expound on the last point. Inclusivity and the Millennium Development Goals Malaysia is seeking to become a high-income economy by the year 2020. The stated target for achieving this status is a GNI per capita of USD 15,000. However, in our zeal to attain this magic figure, we must not lose sight of the greater picture. There is no point in attaining high-income status when there are people among us who are still living in poverty and squalor. It is a moral issue that forms the basis of the United Nations Millennium Declaration in 2000, and consequently the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) which commit all UN member-states to: These eight goals are a duty of every responsible government and is focused on equality – equality of access, equality of opportunity, equality of availability of resources, equality to affordable services and perhaps equality of being respected with human dignity. As a state government, our powers are limited and we are not able to facilitate the development of every area mentioned, but we certainly do what we can. When we first formed government in 2008, one of our immediate goals was to address the issue of poverty. I am pleased to report that in our first year alone, we were able to eradicate hardcore poverty in Penang, by ensuring that every family in the state is able to get by with a minimum household income of RM500 a month. This figure has since been revised and as of last year, no family in Penang now goes by with less than RM600 a month. By 2015, we hope to accomplish our own mini Millennium Development Goal in wiping out poverty entirely by ensuring a minimum household income that is higher than our national poverty line indicator (PLI) of RM720 a month. Besides our success in tackling hardcore poverty, we have also ensured the provision of economic facilities and social opportunities for the people. We have embarked on a string of people-centric social welfare programmes to ensure that the downtrodden are taken care of by giving financial aid to targeted groups such as senior citizens, single mothers, the disabled, schoolchildren and new-born babies. In addition, we have also provided free bus services and subsidised dialysis treatments in order to ease the burden of the urban poor. In promoting gender equality and empowering women, Penang has also taken the lead by introducing Gender Responsive Budgeting in both our local councils. We have also appointed women to key positions in the government, including the first lady mayor in Peninsular Malaysia – and now both mayors of Penang Island and Seberang Perai are ladies, besides helping to foster a female labour force participation rate that is far higher than our country's average. In the last few years, we have made gender mainstreaming an important agenda, allocating resources for the establishment of two state-sponsored quality child care centres, a Women's Service Centre to provide counselling, legal advice and aid for women in crisis, as well as the formation of the Penang Women's Development Corporation (PWDC). With our limited powers and resources, we have managed to achieve all this because we believe that a government's role is to empower its citizens. Widening inequality However, true empowerment of the people cannot occur without a situation of economic solidarity. As it is, income inequality is worsening in Malaysia. According to a 2010 World Bank report, the bottom 40 per cent of our workforce earns only 14.3 per cent of total income while the top fifth reaps nearly half of the pie. Our rich-poor gap has in fact risen to be the highest in Asia after Papua New Guinea. While the rich in our country continue to expand their wealth, we have an appalling situation in which one third of Malaysian workers currently earn less than RM700 a month. To make matters worse, we are currently experiencing a situation of negative income growth, where in the last decade the growth rate of wages has actually been lower than the rate of inflation. The problem lies in the fact that the bulk of our national income goes to corporate profits. Employee wages only make up 28 per cent of national income, whereas the figure is 40 per cent in Singapore and 51 per cent in Canada. This is due in part to policies that encourage low-skills foreign labour that suppress the wage market and a lack of attenton to upskilling and enhancing domestic workers. As a result, a disproportionately high amount of our country's wealth is concentrated in the hands of the corporate elite, with very little distribution to the people who actually move the economy – the average worker. This is a challenge that our country must face carefully. It is increasingly believed that inequality is an impediment to economic growth. Recent empirical reports for example have pointed out that widening income disparity directly correlates to slower job creation and shortened spells of economic expansion, thus affecting growth over time. In fact, some have even suggested that inequality may have a stronger effect on growth compared to other factors such as foreign investment, market accessibility, and the strength of political institutions. This is because inequality is a fundamental fracture in a society. When the gap is wide enough, it will lead to reduced educational and economic opportunities for a large segment of the population. When social mobility is inhibited, it will be virtually impossible for a country to achieve sustained momentum, and in our case, to leapfrog out of the "middle-income trap" that we are stuck in. In addition, growing inequality may even result in political instability, as we have seen in the Middle East. In the cases of Tunisia, Egypt, Libya and Syria, the uncontainable levels of income inequality have resulted in a tipping point which sparked the revolutionary Arab Spring. While inequality is seen to be an obstacle to sustained economic growth, studies have shown that the presence of equality can actually produce more efficient outcomes. For example, equality of opportunity in health and education will directly protect and enhance the pool of available human capital, strengthening its operational capacity and thus enabling value-added economic growth. Meanwhile, gender equality opens up a demographic dividend by providing female workers to make up for the shortfall caused by an aging population. Penang is adopting initiatives towards gender equality by providing equal opportunity to women especially appointment to top positions. Penang is also providing child care centres to enable young or middle-aged working mothers a career. Hence, the objective is clear – inequality is an evil that must be mitigated, lest we fall into the vicious cycle described by Joseph Stiglitz, who said that "increasing inequality means a weaker economy, which means increasing inequality, which means a weaker economy." Monopolies increase inefficiency Another problem with widening levels of inequality is the fact that it is often a symptom of a larger systemic problem called state monopoly capitalism. Professor Sachs terms it "corporatocracy". Whatever you call it, it refers to the control of economic and political systems by big businesses or corporate interests, in most cases in collusion with the state. Such a scenario is a breeding ground for inequality. This can be seen in Wall Street where affluent bankers who failed get bailed out with taxpayer money because they are "too big to fail" whilst ordinary folks lose their house and jobs. In Malaysia huge billion ringgit loans to cronies get written off such as Perwaja Terengganu Sdn Bhd's RM1,626 million from the Federal government whilst the ordinary people have to pay to the last cent or go bankrupt. The prevailing rent-seeking structure has produced a monopolistic system that benefits a select group of cronies benefiting from directly negotiated contracts and sweetheart deals. Take the independent power producers (IPPs). In the 1990s, five companies with no experience in the power sector were given contracts to sell power to the government. The arrangement was simple: the projects would be fuelled by gas subsidised by Petronas, financed by bonds acquired by the EPF and guaranteed profits through a long-term compulsory power purchase agreement with electricity provider TNB. In the end, we ended up with a power surplus because TNB is forced to purchase expensive electricity that it didn't need from the IPPs, whose profits are financed by gas subsidies amounting to tens of billions of ringgit. It is the same story with the highway toll concessionaires who are given contracts through direct negotiations and not through open competitive tenders – in effect a sweetheart deal. Just imagine that PLUS, the operator of the North-South Expressway, which cost RM6 billion to build in the 1980s, has as of December 2010 already recouped RM24 billion in toll collections and government compensation. Yet they were recently granted a concession extension until 2038! And then we have the latest Automated Enforcement System (AES) 1Malaysia cameras, a lucrative contract which effectively commercialises traffic summons and enriches the concession holders by paying them on a commission basis based on the number of traffic summons issued. In other words, the more summons issued the more profits earned, turning traffic summons into an insidious cash cow instead of a deterrent for traffic offences. In all the above examples, it is clear who benefits and who loses out. The system is structured to favour a select group of crony capitalists, while the people at large have to bear the burden of inefficiency. Hence, this contributes to a further widening income gap in Malaysia. The five elements of a successful economy Whether it is in Malaysia, the Middle East, United States or Europe, the fundamentals of a successful economy are the same. I would like to posit that there are five fundamental characteristics of an economy that works: First, it must be socially inclusive. As Gandhi once said, a nation's greatness is measured by how it treats its poor, imprisoned and weak. Hence, it is incumbent upon any government to ensure the wellbeing of the urban poor and other socially-marginalised groups. In this, the Millennium Development Goals provide a good guide. Second, it must be sustainable. Natural resources are finite and increasingly costlier. With half the world's population now living in urban centres and developmental needs ever-increasing, it is crucial to ensure that all future development is sustainable. This will require the active engagement and commitment of all stakeholders, from the public sector to the private individual. Third, there must be economic solidarity. Inequality of opportunity must be addressed, not only for moral reasons but also because greater equality will result in better economic outcomes. If we are able to address issues such as the cost of education, healthcare and access to infrastructure, we will be able to raise disposable income and lower the opportunity bar, which will then empower the people and produce a better, smarter and more entrepreneurial workforce. Fourth, monopolies must be broken. A major distortion on the economy is the scourge of rent-seeking crony capitalists that result in gross inefficiencies that are eventually transferred onto the ordinary person. Markets must be allowed to operate efficiently. Lastly, there must be clean governance. We must be free from the biggest bane of all – corruption. What is required is institutional stability, administrative integrity and a competitive environment based on the rule of law. When I first became Chief Minister, my first line of action was to introduce a new guiding principle – Competency, Accountability and Transparency. Based on these core principles, we became the first state in Malaysia to introduce open competitive tenders for all public procurements and supplies. By implementing open competitive tenders, we effectively eliminated the opportunity for corruption. We have also taken an unprecedented step in disclosing government contracts with the private sector. In addition, we have passed the Freedom of Information Enactment which allows disclosure of government contracts for public scrutiny. And to top it off, we have also become the first state in Malaysia to have the entire state executive council (EXCO) including the Chief Minister make a full public declaration of assets. These are some of the measures that we have implemented in order to introduce a new culture of clean, transparent and accountable governance. And we have seen the results. In the last few years, not only has Penang topped the investment charts in the last two years with 28 per cent of total national foreign direct investment (FDI), we face a worker shortage instead of unemployment, has a vibrant manufacturing hub and an exciting tourist destination, a UNESCO World Heritage City due to our multi-cultural harmony and is now the most livable city in Malaysia. Our anti-corruption efforts have not only garnered accolades from the Auditor-General's annual reports for our record budget surpluses annually and successful debt reduction by 95%, Penang is also the only state government in Malaysia to be praised by global anti-corruption watchdog Transparency International. However the most important policy tool is getting our education right. Despite education being a Federal matter, the state government has adopted a 3-prong approach by giving money to schools from kindergarten level, attracted a top foreign university with curriculum run by the No.1 women college in USA Smith College and setting up a Learning Centre to provide remedial tuition for weak or poor students. There is huge potential for the rest of the country if we get our policies right. We must be policy-based not a police-state. What is required is a vigilant government that is committed towards ensuring the five elements of social inclusivity, sustainability, economic solidarity, anti-monopoly and clean governance. And most important there must be freedom from fear to set free the forces of creativity and innovation. Thank you. LIM GUAN ENG —-Mandarin Version— 槟州首席部长林冠英于2012年10月20日，在槟城研究院主办的亚洲讲堂之四――由杰佛里•萨克斯教授主讲，发表演讲，重点如下： 我们必须创造机会平等、通路平等、服务获取平等、资源获取平等的社会。如果富有的银行家失败后能获得政府出手拯救，而老百姓却必须失去房屋和工作；而如果朋党的数亿债务可以一笔勾销，而老百姓却必须偿还每一分每一毫，这种平等是失败的。 2008年美国房屋、金融领域面对危机，随着我们看到一些巨大的金融机构获得政府出手拯救。今天，上述危机已经让多个国家接踵面对经济及金融混乱。欧洲面对债务危机，而依赖出口的亚洲也因经济持续萎缩，也饱受困扰。 槟城因在电子电气业上名显依赖出口，让我们承担是国际经济变动的风险。2009年，我们的国民生产总值因传统西方出口市场萎缩而下跌。但是，我们在2010年不只恢复元气，而且还达到10%的增长率。我们也获得史上最多的外来投资额达122亿令吉。2011年我们所获投资额为91亿令吉。过去两年，我们成为全国首屈一指的投资首选地。 马来西亚希望在2020年成为高收入经济体。政府订下的目标是人均年收入1万5000美元。 但是，如果人民当中还有很多人活在贫困不堪的生活中，我们成为高收入国也是没有意义的。 正是这种精神促成了2000年联合国千禧年宣言，8大"千禧年发展目标"分别是：消灭极端贫穷和饥饿；普及初等教育；促进性别平等并提高女性权利；降低儿童死亡率；改善产妇保健；与艾滋病、疟疾等疾病作斗争；确保环境的可持续能力；全球合作促进发展。 我们在2008年执政后，首先消除贫困。执政第一年，我们确保州内每个家庭能够每月至少获得500令吉的收入。我们的数据已经更新，目前槟州每户家庭每月至少600令吉收入。我们希望到了2015年，我们能够达到我们本身的迷你千禧年目标，全面消除贫穷，确保每户家庭的最低收入高过全国的贫穷钱（每月720令吉收入）。 我们也提供经济设备及社会机会给人们。我们推行以民为本的社会福利计划，以确保社会低下层得到照顾，我们提供援助金给乐龄人士、单亲妈妈、残障人士、学童及新生儿。此外，我们也提供免费巴士及洗肾服务来减轻乡区人民的负担。 在促进性别平等及提高女性权利方面，槟州也率先在地方政府推介"性别回应预算"。我们也委任女性担任政府要职，包括马来半岛第一个女性市政局主席－现在槟岛及威省市政局主席皆为女性。 过去几来，我们列性别主流化为主要议程，分配资源给两个州政府成立的托儿所、妇女援助中心，以及成立槟州妇女发展机构（PWDC）。 垄断导致低效率 另一个造成不平等加剧的情况是更大的制度问题，叫做国家垄断资本主义。即教授所称的"金权政体"（corporatocracy）。 无论你叫什么，它指的大商人或大企业利益所控制的经济与政治制度，通常与国家合谋。这种情况是不平等的温床。在华尔街，有钱的银行家获得政府以纳税人的钱出手拯救，因为他们"规模太大不能倒"，而普通老百姓就可以失去房子和工作。 在马来西亚，朋党的上亿令吉贷款可以注销，例如：柏华惹私人有限公司所欠的16亿2600万令吉可以不用还，但是老百姓每分每毫都要还，否则就要破产。普遍盛行的寻租结构也产生了垄断的局面，它让特定的朋党从直接洽谈、私下达成协议中谋利。 以独立发电厂为例。1990年，五家在发电业没有经验的公司获得售电给政府的合约。当时的安排很简单：有关工程将获得国油的天然气津贴、由公积金局收购其金融债券，并通过与国能签署长期的强制性购电合约，确保它"包赚钱"，结果，我们出现剩余的电源，因为国能被迫以昂贵的价格，向独立发电厂购买不需要的电源，这些独立发电厂已经从天然气补贴中赚了数十亿令吉。 同样的道理，南北大道特许经营权在直接洽谈（而非公开招标）后颁发。想像南北大道特许经营公司，在1980年花费60亿令吉兴建，到了2010年12月已经从过路费收回及政府赔偿赚回240亿令吉。他们最近还获得延长合约至2038年！ 还有我们最近的自动执法系统的一个马来西亚电眼计划。它的"包赚钱"合约让交通传票商业化，也让特许经营公司根据罚单的数年量分阶段抽佣。换句话说，他们发越多传票，就会赚越多钱，变相地将交通传票变成生财工具，而不是用来警告违例人士。 很明显示地，谁从中受得好处、谁受害？上述制度是被设计来让特定的朋党资本主义赚钱，广大民众则必须承担低效率的后果。因此，我国的收入差距越来越大。 我在此想为有效的经济订下五大基本特征： |
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Comments for Wee Choo Keong |
| Posted: 21 Oct 2012 01:30 AM PDT Agreed Palani. Beware this shorty, despite his soft spoken nature, is full of FRAUD, SCAM, LIES, DECEIT and UNETHICAL BEHAVIOR sama macam his mentor Tasik Gelugor. Man, I am so pissed &^%#$&@!!! |
| Posted: 20 Oct 2012 11:54 PM PDT Al Ishal Ishak must be the planted guy in MAS. But he has left. How about another botak. DOes MAS want to wait until he screwed MAS big time then only take action. Wake up AJ. |
| Posted: 20 Oct 2012 11:35 PM PDT RM600k is a bullshit. Taan Sri Md Nor and AJ should be shot for providing such answer to Parliament. They should be sacked. |
| Posted: 20 Oct 2012 10:14 PM PDT AES is just a front for a few to make money. They are connected to the Sleepy Head and the 4th Floor boys. The government must stop this contract awarded to these two companies since 2006. The Sleepy Head was the cause of all problems in the country. Najib must be brave enough to start it like what he did to the MAS AirAsia share suap. |
| Posted: 20 Oct 2012 08:03 PM PDT The Principle is wrong. Privatization of government projects was meant only for those that had high infrastructure cost. In the case of AES the start up cost is low in the contexet of the wealth of the State. The monies collected from this should by right go into the Consolidared Fund and used by the state for social dvelopment project. In the event this is implemented all government functions will be up for privatization. Even the preparation of Cabinet Papers need not be spared. I am afraid that the MPs elected by the people have failed in their incumbent duty to protect the citizens of this nation. |
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| Posted: 21 Oct 2012 03:32 AM PDT |
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| Bancian, 93 peratus setuju, AES hanya untungkan syarikat yang dilantik kerajaan Posted: 20 Oct 2012 09:00 PM PDT BERDASARKAN undian atas talian (online) yang dijalankan oleh portal Sinar Harian, setakat artikel ini ditulis, 93 peratus bersetuju bahawa AES hanya menguntungkan dua syarikat yang dilantik kerajaan (sebut syarikat kroni BN). Bancian di halaman rasmi akhbar Sinar Harian itu membayangkan bahawa 1190 orang daripada 1279 bersetuju bahawa perlaksanaan sistem Saman Rakyat 1 Malaysia, SR1M yang mengenakan saman secara automatik itu hanya menguntungkan syarikat kroni.  Kalau Rejim Barisan Nasional benar-benar mendahulukan rakyat, tentu mereka akan bertindak untuk membatalkan sistem automatik merabakkan duit rakyat ini. Lihat sahajalah komen-komen ramai yang menghentam perlaksanaan sistem ini. Cakap berdegar-degar konon Barisan Nasional mendengar rintihan rakyat, mendahulukan rakyat, mengikuti denyut nadi rakyat, tapi bila majoriti rakyat merungut dengan sistem ini mereka buat pekak mereka jadi bisu dan tuli. Jangan lupa, kamu jadi kerajaan kerana undi rakyat. Undi rakyat juga yang akan menjatuhkan kamu kelak. Suara rakyat suara keramat! Read more: http://milosuam.blogspot.com/2012/10/bancian-93-peratus-setuju-aes-hanya.html#ixzz29pVCNLwH  |
| 10 peratus jahat, 90 peratus dizalimi Posted: 20 Oct 2012 03:57 PM PDT |
| 'R' dilancar di Sabah, tuntut royalti 20% Posted: 20 Oct 2012 09:05 AM PDT  KOTA KINABALU: NGO Gabungan Profesional Menuntut Royalti, Pendaratan Minyak dan Gas atau lebih dikenali sebagai 'R' di lancarkan di peringkat negeri Sabah hari ini. Majlis bersejarah itu disempurnakan Pengerusi Jawatan Kuasa Tuntutan Royalti Petroleum Kelantan, Datuk Husam Musa sempena Konvensyen Politik Baharu Sabah di Star City Convention Center di sini. Turut serta pada majlis pelancaran itu, Bekas Timbalan Menteri Pembangunan Luar Bandar, Datuk Yahya Lampong, Naib Pengerusi R Malaysia Abu Samah Hassan, Setiausaha R Malaysia Hishamuddin Ghazali serta Pengerusi R Sabah Nemrone Loveh.  R Sabah merupakan sebahagian daripada lebih 80 NGO yang menyokong perjuangan menuntut royalti termasuk di Kelantan, Terengganu, Sarawak dan lapan buah negeri lain di seluruh Malaysia.Sementara itu, Nemrone dalam kenyataan medianya berkata, tujuan penubuhan R Sabah adalah bagi menuntut bayaran royalti Sabah ditingkatkan dari 5 peratus kepada 20 peratus. Katanya, jumlah 5 peratus yang dibayar oleh Petronas tidak mencukupi malah rakyat Sabah tidak merasai hasil minyak tersebut. Perkara itu juga ujarnya disahkan oleh Jabatan Perangkaan Malaysia yang menunjukkan Sabah negeri paling miskin di Malaysia. "Dengan tambahan peratusan bayaran royalti, ia akan menjadikan jumlah itu RM3.2 bilion. "Maka gaji boleh ditingkatkan, pembangunan dapat dilakukan, peluang kerja makin banyak dan boleh memajukan infrastruktur di seluruh Sabah," katanya. Beberapa lagi isu yang akan diperjuangkan R Sabah termasuklah; - Penyerahan Blok L dan M milik Malaysia kepada Brunei yang didakwa dibuat secara tidak mengikut peruntukan Undang-undang. - Malaysia didakwa kerugian RM320 Billion daripada tindakan tersebut. - Isu pendaratan gas di Beuford dan duti eksais.  |
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| Piala Malaysia: Presiden PAS ucap tahniah Posted: 21 Oct 2012 12:43 AM PDT 5 Zulhijjah 1433H. [MOD] - KUALA LUMPUR: Presiden PAS, Datuk Seri Tuan Guru Abdul Hadi Awang mengucapkan tahniah kepada pasukan Kelantan di atas kejayaan menjadi juara Piala Malaysia malam tadi. "Kejayaan ini diharap menjadi pemangkin ke arah meningkatkan prestasi bola sepak negara ke peringkat antabangsa di masa akan datang," ujarnya dalam satu kenyataan. Beliau yang juga Ahli Parlimen Marang turut mengucapkan tahniah kepada pasukan Angkatan Tentera Malaysia yang menjadi naib johan dan diharapkan prestasi akan terus meningkat di masa hadapan. Sementara itu, Menteri Besar Kelantan Tuan Guru Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat merakamkan ucapan tahniah kepada pasukan The Red Warriors yang telah berjaya membawa pulang Piala Malaysia buat kali kedua kepada negeri itu. Katanya, rakyat Kelantan berbangga dengan kemenangan ini dan meminta para penyokong meraikan kemenangan ini dengan seadanya. Bagaimanapun beliau mengingatkan kepada penyokong bola sepak Kelantan agar berhati-hati di jalan raya untuk pulang ke kampung halaman masing-masing. "Untuk pasukan ATM, tahniah kerana berjuang hingga ke tiupan wisel terakhir," katanya di laman facebooknya sebaik sahaja wisel penamat dibunyikan malam tadi, Hari ini, Kelantan mengumumkan cuti peristiwa dan ini adalah kali kedua dalam tahun ini selepas Kelantan berjaya memasuki akhir Piala FA yang bertemu dengan Sime Darby pada 20 Mei lalu. Kelantan akhirnya membuktikan kehebatan sebagai gergasi Pantai Timur apabila mencatat kejuaraan 'treble' musim ini dengan merangkul Piala Malaysia 2012 setelah menewaskan ATM 3-2 di Stadium Shah Alam. Sebelum ini, Kelantan menjuarai Liga Super dan Piala FA. Pada Piala Malaysia 2010, Kelantan berjaya menumpaskan Negeri Sembilan 2-1 di Stadium Bukit Jalil.  |
| Kelantan julang Piala M'sia, lengkapkan trebel Posted: 21 Oct 2012 12:25 AM PDT 5 Zulhijjah 1433H. [MOD] - Kelantan melakar kejayaan cemerlang apabila menjulang Piala Malaysia 2012 setelah menumpaskan Angkatan Tentera Malaysia (ATM) 3-2 pada perlawanan akhir di Stadium Shah Alam, malam ini. Indra Putra Mahayuddin muncul wira pasukan 'The Red Warriors' apabila menjaringkan gol kemenangan pada masa tambahan selepas kedua-dua pasukan terikat 2-2 dalam perlawanan sepenuh masa 90 minit. Kemenangan bersejarah itu sekali gus melengkapkan kejuaraan trebel buat pasukan Kelantan selepas muncul juara Piala FA dan Liga Super musim ini, iaitu sesuatu yang kali terakhir dilakukan Kedah selama dua musim berturut-turut pada 2007 dan 2008. Pencapaian anak buah Bojan Hodak mendakap piala keagungan bola sepak tanah air itu kali ini adalah yang kedua selepas kali pertama memenanginya pada 2010 apabila menumpaskan Negeri Sembilan 2-1 di Stadium Nasional Bukit Jalil. Walaupun turun tanpa penyerang import dari Lubnan, Mohamed Ghaddar di jentera serangan, ia tidak sedikit pun menjejaskan asakan pasukan dari Pantai Timur itu bagi menyekat ATM daripada melakar sejarah menjulang piala berprestij itu buat pertama kali. Barisan pemain ATM, yang digelar skuad 'The Gladiators' ternyata gagal menyekat kemaraan pasukan Kelantan sekali gus melepaskan peluang menebus kehampaan mereka di pentas final sulung 46 tahun lepas apabila tumpas 0-1 kepada Selangor. - Bernama  |
| Musa nafi panggil sidang media kes Altantuya di Bangkok Posted: 20 Oct 2012 11:38 PM PDT 5 Zulhijjah 1433H. [MOD] - Malaysiakini/- Bekas ketua polis negara Tan Sri Musa Hassan menafikan dakwaan bahawa beliau akan mengadakan sidang akhbar di Bangkok pada hari Isini, seperti yang dimuatkan di laman Kelab Koresponden Asing Thailand (FCCT). Menurut FCCT, Musa kononnnya akan mendedahkan butiran baru mengenai kes pembunuhan Altantuya Shaariibuu. "Saya tida tahu apa-apa mengenai perkara ini. Saya tidak membuat apa-apa rancangan seperti itu," kata Musa ketikha dihubungi Malaysiakini. Semalam, Malaysiakini dimaklumkan mengenai satu notis yang dimuatkan oleh FCCT kepada anggotanya, bahawa sidang media Musa akan diadakan di ibu pejabat kelab tersebut. Notis itu menyebut, sidang media berkenaan akan diadakan pada tengahari waktu Malaysia pada 22 Oktober. Jemputan itu bertajuk "Pendedahan baru dalam kes pembunuhan Altantuya" dan mengandungi notis bahawa acara berkenaan tidak ditaja oleh FCCT.  |
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