Najib, berani lu mali dengaq ucapan gua (di Dewan Rakyat) pada Isnin 1 Okt.2012, jam 11.30 pagi? - Anwar...

Ketua Pembangkang, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim mencabar Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Razak berdebat mengenai Belanjawan 2013 yang dibentang hari ini.

“Kalau kamu sanggup untuk kritik, maka kamu perlu sanggup untuk berdebat. Tapi (kalau) kamu tak sanggup untuk respons cabaran. 

Kamu (Najib) tidak datang ucapan saya (di Dewan Rakyat) pada Isnin jam 11.30 pagi, tapi saya sanggup duduk dengar kritikan.

“Separuh dari ucapan (penggulungan) Najib kritik Pakatan Rakyat. Ayuh kita berdebat, Pakatan Rakyat lawan Barisan Nasional. Kamu kata kamu demokrat bukan,” kata Anwar kepada pemberita di Lobby Parliament.

Dalam pada itu, jelas Anwar, belanjawan kali ini tidak meletakkan keutamaan kepada rakyat terbanyak melainkan insentif kepada kroni dan golongan atasan.

“Insentif untuk Tun Razak Exchange (TRX), itu insentif kewangan untuk orang kaya. Tak disentuh tentang IPP (Penjana Tenaga Bebas). Harga gula disentuh, tetapi monopoli gula tak disentuh.

“Perubahan struktur tidak dilakukan.. ini masalah besar. PTPTN diminta untuk bayar balik, tetapi hutang (kroni) berbilion tak disentuh. Tidak ada tindakan dan cadangan (dalam Belanjawan),” tegasnya.

Sementara itu, katanya, tidak ada yang baru dalam belanjawan dibentangkan untuk manfaat golongan berpendapatan sederhana dan pertengahan seperti Skim Rumah Pertamaku.-keadilandaily

Najib Cabut Lari Bila Ajak Debat...

Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Razak sekali lagi menolak cabaran debat dilontarkan Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim selepas pembentangan bajet 2013 dibuatnya di Parlimen Jumaat lalu.

Anwar yang juga Ketua Pembangkang mengulangi cabarannya itu selepas Menteri Kewangan itu menggunakan sebahagian masa dalam tempoh pembentangan bajet tersebut bagi menyerang dirinya dan pemimpin Pakatan Rakyat(PR).

“Saya secara bergurau berkata kepada Najib dalam masa lebih kurang setengah jam saudara menyerang saya. Apa kata kalau kita debat Najib dengan tajuk belanjawan? Dia sambil ketawa pegang beg terus blah (berlalu).

“Pimpinan ini dia mesti berani pertahankan hujahnya. Itu prinsipnya. Jadi kalau kita gunakan media untuk meuar-uarkan jadi alat propaganda dan tidak boleh diulas itu jadi masalah,” katanya ketika berucap dalam majlis Makan Malam Perdana Bersama Pimpinan PR di Stadium Malawati di sini malam Jumaat lalu.

Beliau berkata, selaku Ketua Pembangkang dia akan mengulas secara panjang lebar mengenai bajet 2013 yang dibentangkan Najib dalam sidang dewan pada Isnin ini serta berharap Perdana Menteri menghadirinya.

“Saya masih ingat semasa saya jadi Menteri Kewangan, saya tidak pernah tidak hadir ulasan awal Ketua Pembangkang walaupun pedih telinga (mendengar). Masa itu YB Lim Kit Siang jadi Ketua Pembangkang.

“Bukan senang nak dengar tetapi saya fikir oleh kerana dia dengar ucapan kita selaku Menteri Kewangan maka wajarlah untuk menghormati sistem demokrasi dan memuliakan Parlimen,” lata bekas Timbalan Perdana Menteri itu.- selangorku

Bajet 2013, bajet ‘bunga telor’

 Anwar 'invites' Najib to his parliament rebuttal...

Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim has "invited" Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to be present in Parliament on Monday to listen to his address on the latest budget.

"Because I have heard Najib's (budget) speech, and I have requested him to listen to my speech on Monday 11.30 am commenting on the budget.

"As the finance minister, I hope he will accept my invitation. If he doesn't want to debate it, doesn't matter," said Anwar (left) at the Pakatan Rakyat dinner at the Stadium Melawati Shah Alam last night.

"Let's wait and see if he dares to come or not," he said.

Anwar added that he is prepared to allow Najib, who is Pekan MP, to comment and intervene in his parliamentary speech.

The prime minister may not attend all parliamentary sessions. Anwar, who is Permatang Pauh MP, however said he, as former finance minister, has never missed attending an opposition leader's rebuttal speech.

"When I was finance minister, I had never absented myself from a rebuttal speech by the opposition leader. I feel that by listening to his/her speech, we are showing for the democratic system," he said.

"I advise Najib to be present on Monday, and I will give him room to comment and rebut fully during that time," he added.
 
Turning back to world

Commenting on the PM's budget speech yesterday, Anwar said this was the first time that a budget presentation has failed to touch on the international economic scenario, that is an essentially tied to the country's economy.

"Najib's budget is the first time it has been presented without giving the international economic scenario. This is relevant because Malaysia is a trading nation and it cannot run away from external issues.

"(Yesterday's) budget did not make any reference. We will address this on Monday," he said.

Instead, he said, the budget speech was spent attacking Pakatan from the outset.

"From start to finish, the budget speech attacked Pakatan Rakyat and myself. I was thinking to myself, when would we swap places?" he said, to thunderous applause from the participants of the fundraising event that drew about 2,500.

Najib's Budget 2013 speech has been roundly criticised not just for delivering what is said to be a vote-canvassing exercise lacking in real structural solutions for the country's economy, but for being more of a campaign speech.

The PM's presentation was peppered with attacks on the opposition coalition, firing salvo after salvo in his closing remarks and making repeated pleas for the BN to be returned in the polls so it may deliver "six more budgets".- malaysiakini

 2013 Budget: A quick look at reactions...

Prime minister Najib Razak yesterday tabled his last budget before the next general election. Other than comments from Barisan Nasional leaders and MPs, here is a quick compilation of reactions from PR and civil society leaders.
A budget is not mere numbers and figures amounting to billions for projects. More importantly is the fact that its implementation and results have never reached the masses. Mega projects are used to generate profits for UMNO cronies... The people must realise that billions of ringgit has vanished into thin air due to leakages. - Abdul Hadi Awang, PAS president

The announcements of handouts to general Malaysians is just a small dosage for the elections… but the basic structural problem of the country, where the rich cronies and their family members amass millions of dollars of profits through improper means ? that is left intact. - Anwar Ibrahim

Najib made history turning his 2013 Budget into a blatant unashamed desperate electioneering speech - debasing the budget and Prime Minister's office! -
Lim Kit Siang, DAP advisor

I can't tell whether the budget tabled by Najib is a good and responsible budget in the interest of the country and future generation, because even (former prime minister) Dr Mahathir Mohamad has called it a vote-buying budget. But even if Najib did manage to prepare a good budget, it is of no use if the Auditor-General has revealed that RM28 billion is lost every year due to administration weaknesses. - Mohamad Sabu, PAS deputy president

This is a farewell budget from Najib as prime minister and Finance minister. Even if BN wins with all these tricks, it could be much smaller than its 2008 performance. As a result, Najib will be thrown out just like Pak Lah was thrown out by UMNO.- Mahfuz Omar

I am taken aback by the allocation for women... this is what happens when a man leads the Women [Family and Community Development] ministry. He cannot relate to women's development. - Siti Zailah Mohd Yusoff, PAS Muslimat leader

This surely is an 'election budget' not just because of 'sweet goodies' to the entire segments of voters but because Najib is not focussed on solving structural economic problems like monopolistic and rentier-system... but also because (he provides) 'panadol-like' economic solutions.- Dr.Dzulkefly Ahmad, PAS Research Centre
The one-off payments for those above 21 such as rebate for smartphone purchase, RM100 for school students, RM250 book vouchers for tertiary students, these are all the government's election target. They don't solve the problem of financial burden. There is nothing new in this budget. - Dr.Mujahid Yusof Rawa, Parit Buntar MP

The people wonder what are the government's policies on eradicating poverty and to defend the people. Rising living costs were not touched, as well as high toll charges and car prices.-
Kamaruddin Jaffar, Tumpat MP

We have to really monitor the budget to make sure that it hits the estimates, or else we have to be prepared for a mini budget after the election to adjust for shortages. -
Ramon Navaratnam, economist

It is the first time since Independence in 1957 that the BN government is giving out one-time and various forms of cash handouts in its Budget. This is clearly an election Budget to buy your votes in the next general election so that they remain in power for another five years to plunder ...Take it and say goodbye to BN. - Chua Jui Meng, Johor PKR chairman

The marked decline in revenue growth will have a very significant impact on the government's ability to impact growth in the Malaysian economy through fiscal means. The fact that we have not been able to reduce our budget deficit below four percent over the past few years reflects the years of wasted opportunities, where we have failed to curb our expenditure through reduced wastage, abuses and corruption. - Tony Pua, Petaling Jaya Selatan MP

The issue of subsidies has not been carefully handled... the truth is that livings costs remain high in such matters as health, education and transport. We are also disappointed that there was no hikes in taxes on alcohol and cigarettes. The government has dismissed real issues on rising medical, socialm cultural and environmental costs thanks to lobbying by the alcohol and tobacco industries. - Mohd Azmi Abdul Hamid, TERAS

The government did address key issues such as transportation in major cities. But it's surprising that Johor Baru was not mentioned for this, given its size. Maybe the BN feels it's a safe area - or it is a strategy to make people vote for them.  - Ibrahim Suffian, Merdeka Centre

Sabah and Sarawak continued to be sidelined. There is nothing mentioned other than to open paddy fields in Kota Belud and Batang Lupar. Despite the known fact that Sabah is a 'fixed deposit' for Barisan Nasional, there is no project specifically for Sabahans - Lajim Ukin, Beaufort MP

The BN government is scraping the bottom of the barrel. It tries to use cash handouts to influence the voters, but I feel it might backfire as people will realise that it was given purely for the elections and this may even make people more anti-establishment. - Lim Teck Ghee, Centre for Policy Initiatives

A ‘too sweet’ election budget, irresistible to the rakyat and fiscally-strained to the treasury as reflected in its 8.1% increase of overall allocation for the year 2013. Applaud the commitment to narrow the fiscal deficit towards 4.0% of GDP, though 3.5% deficit is still attainable upon more prudent government spending with no leakages...A budget with so much promises, but shall not be compensated with a vote. After all, it is our money. - Syahir Sulaiman, head of Policy Study, PAS Youth - harakahdaily

cheers

Surat 'cinta' Anwar pada Azizah dilelong...

Lelongan barangan kenangan pemimpin Pakatan Rakyat berjaya mengumpul RM182,000 untuk tabung pilihan raya ke 13 Pakatan Rakyat.

Majlis lelongan itu dibuat dalam majlis makan malam perdana Pakatan Rakyat yang diadakan malam ini.

2, 250 orang menyertai majlis yang dianjurkan oleh Pakatan Rakyat di Stadium Melawati dekat sini.

Majlis itu disertai oleh hampir kesemua pemimpin kanan PAS, PKR dan DAP serta para penyokong Pakatan dan dermawan di samping pemimpin pro Pakatan dari Sabah dan Sarawak.

(Datuk Lajim membeli surat cinta dari penjara dengan harga RM50,000)

Antara yang hadir adalah Ketua Pembangkang Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Presiden PAS Datuk Seri Tuan Guru Abdul Hadi Awang dan Setiausaha Agung DAP Lim Guan Eng.

Harga lelongan tertinggi dibayar kepada surat cinta Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim kepada isterinya, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah yang ditulis beliau dari penjara. Ia dibayar dengan RM50,000 oleh Datuk Seri Panglima Lajim Ukin yang membeli surat itu.

(Sri Jalaraman membeli gambar dan terendak Ustaz Hadi dengan harga RM17,000)

Ia diikuti oleh kartun yang dilukis secara 'live' oleh Kartunis Zunar yang bertajuk 'Kuasa Rakyat' yang dibeli dengan harga RM32,000.

Pen yang digunakan Lim Guan Eng ketika dalam penjara dibeli dengan harga RM23,000 oleh Exco Selangor, Ronie Liu.

Gambar santai Presiden PAS, Datuk Seri Tuan Guru Abdul Awang serta terendak nelayannya dibeli dengan harga RM17,000.

Ia dibeli oleh Ketua Pemuda DHPP Selangor, Sri Jalaraman. Jalaraman ketika ditemui berkata, beliau membelinya kerana penghormatan beliau kepada Presiden PAS itu.

(Kartun Zunar telah berjaya dillelong dengan harga RM32,000 untuk tabung pilihan raya Pakatan Rakyat)

Selain itu, barangan dan gambar milik Datuk Fadzil Nor, bekas Presiden PAS berjaya dilelong dengan harga RM11,000, gambar asal graduasi Dr Syed Husin Ali (RM15,000), teddy bear Exco Selangor, Teresa Kok (RM10,000), gambar dan tongkat Tuan Guru Datuk Nik Aziz (RM12,000) dan poster filem Karpal Singh (RM12,000).

Di samping kutipan melalui lelongan itu, majlis itu berjaya mengutip lebih RM22,000 melalui jualan meja,

Sebanyak 255 meja berjaya dijual dalam majlis makan malam ini di mana setiap meja dijual dengan harga RM1,000.

Di samping itu, sebanyak RM20,000 berjaya dikutip dalam bentuk derma yang disumbangkan oleh peserta majlis makan malam ini.

"Ini bermakna, lebih RM200,000 kita berjaya kutip malam ini," kata pengarah majlis ini, Dr Hatta Ramli kepada Harakahdaily.

Surat 'cinta' Anwar pada Azizah dilelong RM50,000

 

 Wan Azizah auctions hubby's love letter...

In a bid to sweeten the deal for their supporters and coax them into parting with more hard-earned cash to steam Pakatan's push for Putrajaya in the imminent General Election, senior coalition leaders each gave up a "prized possession" in an auction at the coalition's fundraising do last night.

A walking stick once owned by PAS spiritual advisor Nik Aziz and PKR veteran Syed Husin Ali's graduation photos were among items that made it to the auction block.

While DAP national chairperson Karpal Singh contributed the "Singh is King" film made for his last birthday celebrations and from PAS president Hadi Awang, a photo-portrait of himself.

Though the term "prized possession" took on a more personal meaning with DAP's Seputeh MP Teresa Kok who auctioned off her sleeping partner she shared the bed with for years, a fluffy white teddy bear.

While things took on a more lovey-dovey bent as DAP general-secretary's Lim Guan Eng's pen was auctioned off.

The writing implement he used to write love letters to his wife and corresponding with other family members while "on holiday" in Kajang prison went for RM23,000.

Love from prison on sale

Not to be outdone, PKR president Wan Azizah Wan Ismail also put up for bidding something close to her heart, a love letter from her husband and PKR de-facto leader Anwar Ibrahim to her from the time he was in prison.

Wan Azizah visibly emotional, read out the letter (left) in English which details some of the ordeal her husband, and by extension herself and her family had to bear when he was "a guest" of the government in prison.

All this to the background of soft, emotional music.

The letter fetched RM50,000 for the Pakatan election war chest.

Political cartoonist Zunar's also auctioned off an on the spot painting of what he described will happen when Pakatan takes over Putrajaya.

His drawing showed how when Anwar comes into Putrajaya, three persons will be headed for jail, "a big nosed man", "a big-haired person" and "a big liar".

The caricature fetched RM30,000.

Altogether the opposition coalition raised RM182,000 from the auction alone.- malaysiakini

 Pakatan Rakyat holds maiden fundraising dinner...

With the general elections effectively only six months away as the mandate for Malaysia's sitting 12th Parliament expires next April, the opposition Pakatan Rakyat rolled out the tin cups last night in a gala dinner to pool funds for their election war chest at Stadium Malawati.

About 255 tables of varying prices were laid at the indoor stadium in Shah Alam for the opposition coalition's maiden political fundraising do, as announced by organising committee head PAS' Dr Mohd Hatta Ramli at a press conference last week.

Attendees were feted with a sumptuous spread, a cultural performance and video montage to officially launch the coalition's election fund with the hat then passed around the entire hall.

Senior Pakatan leaders there led by example by depositing their own contributions into the election kitty.

Hatta had said that they were expecting to raise just under a million Ringgit from the event, which includes the tables sold, loose contributions as well as an auction featuring personal mementos of senior Pakatan leaders.

The roughly 2,500 audience in the hall who paid to be there at the dinner and sundry supporters in the upper gallery who came to observe were also treated to speeches by DAP general-secretary Lim Guan Eng, PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang and de-facto PKR leader Anwar Ibrahim.

Mainly the trio criticised the recently announced federal budget read out by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak in the Dewan Rakyat just hours before, exhorting their supporters to support them in their fight to takeover Putrajaya, which they claim will ensure a better future for Malaysians.

Those who attended also included the who's who of the Opposition line-up.-malaysiakini

cheers.

Reaksi Pembangkang terhadap Bajet 2013...

 

Pembangkang hari ini menyambut sinis pembentangan Bajet 2013 yang dibentangkan oleh Menteri Kewangan Datuk Seri Najib Razak hari ini.

Berikut petikan beberapa pemimpin utama pembangkang berhubung pembentangan sebentar tadi:

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, ketua pembangkang

Belanjawan biasanya memberikan unjuran berdasarkan senario antarabangsa dan keupayaan domestik.

Kedua-dua ini nampak tak disentuh sangat tapi nampak beberapa gimik politik yang agak keterlaluan.

Tentunya ada beberapa isu kita boleh jawab umpamanya disentuh tentang perumahan yang besar tetapi tidak pernah dicapai seperti kita harapkan."

Lim Guan Eng, ketua menteri Pulau Pinang

Jelas bajet ini bajet pilihan raya kerana ia tidak mengambil kira keadaan fiskal atau keadaan kewangan negara.

Kalau kita lihat belanja tahun lepas ia telah lebih belanja RM20 bilion.... Kalau kita lihat. Hutang naik 456 bilion tahun lepas kepada 502 bilion untuk akhir tahun ini.

Jadi jelas ia bajet pilihan raya untuk beli undi tapi kita harap bukan sekadar beli undi tapi menjadikan kroni-kroni kaya sahaja.

Kita lihat di sini yang dapat manfaat kroni-kroni dengan projek yang dijanjikan. Kita lihat kalau tahun depan Pakatan menang ini mungkin akan buat kita lebih susah lagi.


Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim, menteri besar Selangor

Ia (belanjawan) masih berkisar soal isu makro dan bukan isu-isu berkaitan rakyat.

Salahuddin Ayub, naib presiden PAS

Asas kekuatan ekonomi tidak disentuh secara kukuh dalam bajet kali ini. Banyak fokus yang menjurus kepada pemberian undi. Kena kembali kepada asas dan pecahkan sistem monopoli.

"Bajet yang sangat jelas menjurus kepada pemberian undi yang tidak dapat dielakkan ekoran terlalu banyak pengumuman pemberian tunai.

"Bajet Pakatan lebih bersifat fundamental dan punya objektif yang kukuh untuk menyelesaikan masalah rakyat jika memilih Pakatan.

Datuk Mahfuz Omar, naib presiden PAS

Ini bajet panik kerajaan kerana ia berasaskan pemberian yang diumumkan dan di akhirnya memang menyeru harapan rakyat supaya bagi peluang kepada Umno-BN sekali lagi.

Kerajaan panik dengan gelombang kebangkitan rakyat. Bajet yang tidak mengetengahkan reformasi kepada struktur ekonomi.

Ada lagi unsur ketirisan dan nak kayakan kroni bukan untuk rakyat.

Dengan hutang negara telah mencecah RM476billion hutang negara, kerajaan masih tidak mengemukakan langkah untuk membawa pulang semula RM1.08 trilion ke dalam negara.

Anthony Loke, ketua Pemuda DAP

Ia untuk membeli pengundi dari pelbagai sektor. Gula-gula paling jelas ialah rebat pembelian telefon pintar RM200. Ia jelas mensasarkan pengundi pertama kali. Begitu juga dengan baucar dan sebagainya.

Penjawat awam dengan bonus sebulan setengah... Ini pertama kali bonus untuk penjawat awam naik kepada sebulan setengah.

Tujuannya untuk mendapatkan sokongan kelompok ini dalam pilihan raya.

Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad (PAS-Kuala Selangor)

Jelas bahawa bajet PM seolah-olah tidak mengambil latar belakang fizikal dan hanya disusun untuk mendapatkan undi.

Ini kita sudah jangkakan. Perbelanjaan sepatutnya bertanggungjawab dan ini berlaku sebaliknya.

Segala pemberian one-off bermakna Najib hanya mahukan undi untuk pilihan raya umum.

Ringkasnya, walaupun bajet PM dan belanjawan Pakatan bersifat popular dan populis - opular untuk memenuhi kesejahteraan rakyat - populis hanya memberikan beban pada rakyat.


Liew Chin Tong (DAP-Bukit Bendera)

Belanjawan ini tiada idea baru dan hanya mengulangi dasar memberikan wang di sana sini serta membeli undi.

Kenapa saya kata tiada idea? Ia seperti memberitahu pelajar "saya beri kamu wang untuk tuisyen" daripada memperbaiki kualiti pendidikan.- malaysiakini

Intipati belanjawan gula-gula 'Santa Klaus'

Anwar cabar Najib hadir sesi bahas bajet Isnin ini...

 Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim mencabar Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak mendengar perbahasannya berhubung Bajet 2013 yang dibentangkan beliau, Isnin ini.

Anwar selaku Ketua Pembangkang akan membahaskan cadangan Bajet 2013 Isnin ini.

"Saya cabar najib untuk turut hadir dan mendengar perbahasan Isnin ini.

"Jika selama ini Barisan Nasional (BN) hanya tahu mengkritik apa yang pembangkang lakukan, beliau (Najib) mesti berani juga untuk hadir Isnin ini," tegas beliau ketika ditemui pemberita selepas pembentangan Bajet 2013.- sinar harian

SATU BILION DUIT BUJET UNTUK PERMATA ROSMAH
Bajet Terakhir UMNO BN: Bajet Panik Untuk Hadapi PRU13

 

Anwar: Budget fails to address cronyism, monopolies...

The Budget 2013 offers “small doses” of election goodies and fails to address basic structural problems such as cronyism and monopolies, said Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim.

In an immediate reaction to Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s budget speech this evening, Anwar said the budget contained elements of gimmick that was “over the top”.

However, said the Permatang Pauh MP, it is a budget that is not based on domestic capabilities and international scenarios, joining the chorus of doubt on the freshly-unveiled budget’s ability to tackle the country’s economic situation.

Here is what Anwar and other MPs have to say about today’s revelations:

Anwar Ibrahim, Opposition Leader

It fails to address the international economic scenario, which is traditionally addressed in the national budget. Secondly, there is the unrealistic position in reference to the domestic capacity
as alluded by Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng (in his comments, see below).

Both of these elements are not touched upon but instead we have a few political gimmicks that are over the top.

The announcement for the public in general seems attractive, with small doses for the elections.

But basic structural problems in this country where the rich cronies and their family members amass billions of ringgit of profit through improper means and fraudulent process is kept unchecked. That includes the monopolies, the independent power producers (IPP) and also the other related agencies.

We have seen massive announcements ... but (Najib) has failed - he has no courage to address the issues ...

Najib’s reference to Pakatan Rakyat’s stand on) PTPTN is an irresponsible statement... we defend our stand on this and on several others - Najib did not take into consideration the economic situation and the ballooning budget deficit (that Pakatan aims to tackle to afford its promises).

There are conflicting figures that we will review tonight (at the Pakatan dinner) and at the event on Monday.
Najib dares to attack the opposition but does not dare to debate. I was prepared to sit down and listen to his criticisms, but I want him to attend my speech on Monday 11.30am. He calls himself a democrat, so let's see.

Abdul Khalid Ibrahim, Bandar Tun Razak MP

BN's budget is very Putrajaya-centric, where the bulk of the allocation is spent to maintain ongoing government activities, programmes and policies. Consequently, only a small portion trickles down to benefit the rakyat.

Pakatan's budget prioritises the rakyat. We want to unwind the very activities that BN is maintaining.

We are talking about unwinding the approved permits (AP) policy, unwinding the privatisation of government-linked companies (GLCs) and unwinding 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB).

The federal government is responsible to ensure that the rentier class does not bleed the resources of the people.
They must stop giving such a high profit margin to contractors as this will only encourage them to lobby for a business contract at a high cost.

Abdul Hadi Awang, Marang MP

The budget appears to be just numbers and billions of ringgit for projects, and not about fixing fundamentals and its implementations to benefit the masses.

The large-scale projects, meanwhile, are used to siphon profits for the Umnoputeras. After decades of this sort of budget, the rakyat needs to understand that it is about billions of the nation’s wealth down the drain.

Lim Guan Eng, Bagan MP

This is clearly an election budget that does not take into account the fiscal and financial position of the country.

Last year the government overspent by RM20 billion.

The budget will also benefit cronies through projects, so this will be problematic if Pakatan takes over next year.

But I am certain Pakatan, under Anwar's leadership, will be able to fulfill the Buku Jingga promises without pawning things out to cronies.

Noh Omar, Agriculture Minister

It is a good budget. This is the first time the government has introduced insurance for padi farming. If the farmers’ crops are ruined by floods or disease, they will have insurance.

Liew Chin Tong, Bukit Bendera MP

There are no new policy ideas in this budget. It repeats existing policies and gives money here and there to buy votes.

I hope Malaysians know this is their own money. It may help Najib's personal popularity (especially) among the poorer households, but people have been talking about it for a whole year already.

We are proposing fundamental re-thinking of (tackling) monopoly as a way to improve income, so we can give more cash to the hands of ordinary Malaysians.

Giving money to Rela and residents’ associations for crime prevention is like giving money to students for private tuition instead of improving education quality.

It is the same in the police budget, which allocates RM1.7 billion for internal security but RM530 million for the Criminal Investigation Department.

Nasharuddin Mat Isa, Bachok MP

Looking at the incentives offered, it is quite impressive but I question... whether it can be implemented or not, because we are almost reaching the maximum (term) of our session.

There are a few incentives that benefit the people, like the RM250 book vouchers for university students, whom we know really need assistance.

Both Pakatan and the government have offered quite impressive budgets for the rakyat so it is up to the rakyat to decide.

(The speech attacking the opposition) is something we have never seen in a budget presentation, but we understand that the election is close, so each side will use every opportunity to showcase their agenda, and the PM will have an advantage in this front.

Anthony Loke, Rasah MP

(The budget) is to buy off many sectors of voters.
One very clear goodie to first-time voters is the RM200 to buy smartphones - it is a very clear target at first-time voters, and the book vouchers and so on.

And also (to woo) civil servants with the one and a half month bonus. This is the first time ever the bonus for civil servants has increased to one and a half months. The timing is to win their support in the election.

In the budget, there are not much changes to the direction of the economy.

Salahuddin Ayub, Kubang Kerian MP

Pakatan's commitments are more fundamental, for example free education, and the abolition of the National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) through a staggered plan over the next 15 years.

This, and the move to improve the incomes of various states through oil royalty payments is more important. This area was touched on too lightly by the Budget 2013, through the reduction in liquefied natural gas prices.

That is not a holistic approach, when our objective is to solve the problems faced by the people and this requires true commitment. - malaysiakini

2013 Budget at a glance

 

cheers.

Guan Eng's 'racist' remark used as part of STPM trial answers...

Johor DAP claims the schemed answer to a question in the state-wide STPM trial examination describes Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng's warning to schools in Penang not to subscribe to Malay mainstream newspapers as “racist and impeding integration among races”.

The party also cried foul over another examination question that listed “joining the opposition” as one of the choices to the question, “Which of the following will cause a person's citizenship to be stripped?”

State DAP youth chief Tan Hong Pin said the alleged answer scheme and questions were sent to him by an Internet user through email.

The essay question related to Lim required students to discuss, “The process of integration among races can be achieved through national education system, but various challenges have to be overcome to realise this objective”.

 
According to the alleged answer scheme shown by Tan, one of the answers to this question was: “The warning of Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng to 84 Chinese primary schools in the state to stop subscribing to Malay language mainstream newspapers is a racist action that impedes integration among races”.

“Does it mean that if the students do not answer this point, they would not be able to score? I hope the Johor Education Department can give a fair explanation. It should not become the tool of (any) political party,” Tan told Malaysiakini today.

The second question was a multiple-choice question which listed four answer choices – compromising to the enemy, joining the opposition, counterfeiting money and cannot speak Malay.

Although the correct answers were 'compromising to the enemy' and 'counterfeiting money', Tan said the choice of “joining the opposition” may mislead the students that it is wrong to join the opposition.

‘Teacher had no intention to malign opposition’

It is said both questions appeared in General Studies subject trial examination paper taken by all STPM students in Johor.

Tan said the party will study the examination paper in detail and lodge a police report.

According to Sin Chew Daily, Johor Education Department deputy director Md Hasidin Zaini said his department will investigate the complaint.

“I just found out about this matter from you, so please give me some time to understand the situation. 

However, I believe whether it is the question or the answer, the teacher who prepared the paper has no intention to malign the opposition,” he was quoted as saying.

This allegation came in the wake of criticism levelled against questions featured in the SPM trial examination papers at two Johor schools pertaining to the Bersih 3.0 rally.

A photograph of a question, part of the Moral Studies paper from SMK Aminuddin Baki in Johor Baru, first began circulating on Facebook.

The question “Is it appropriate for a citizen to participate in an illegal assembly?” was accompanied by two photographs of incidents during the April 28 rally, while the answer given by the student - “tidak wajar (not appropriate)” - was ticked as correct.

The school has since claimed it had no intention to politicise the matter but was trying to emphasise good values. 

Even so, a photograph of yet another Moral Studies paper, purportedly by SMK Seri Jementah in Segamat, surfaced on online forum JBTalks, featuring a similar question on Bersih, but accompanied by a different photograph.

Deputy Education Minister Puad Zarkashi has said the question on the Bersih 3.0 rally was 'not a problem' as it did not pertain to any race, religious sensitivity or maligned any individual. - malaysiakini

 Sekolah tak berniat politikkan isu BERSIH 3.0...

Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Aminuddin Baki, Johor Baharu yang mengeluarkan soalan percubaan Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) berkaitan perhimpunan BERSIH 3.0 menjelaskan pihaknya tidak berniat untuk mempolitikkan isu itu.

"Kita tidak berniat untuk mempolitikkan (perkara ini). Kita tidak berpihak kepada mana-mana parti politik.

"Kita hanya menekankan nilai-nilai murni, tentang kerosakan yang berlaku (semasa perhimpunan)," kata Wan Hajasham Harun kepada Malaysiakini ketika diminta menjelaskan kontroversi sekitar soalan untuk kertas Pendidikan Moral tahun ini.
 
Kertas soalan yang bersebar di laman sosial Facebook itu memuatkan dua gambar semasa berlakunya perhimpunan BERSIH pada 28 April lalu.

Dengan merujuk kepada gambar yang diberi, soalan itu bertulis ''Adakah wajar atau tidak bagi seseorang warganegara itu untuk menyertai perhimpunan haram?''.

Sementara itu, ditanya sama ada pihaknya akan memohon maaf berhubung kejadian itu, Wan Hajasham berkata:

"Saya akan respons kepada pejabat pelajaran daerah dan kementerian sekiranya perkara itu dibangkitkan," katanya sambil menambah perkara itu tidak berbangkit setakat ini.

Timbalan Menteri Pelajaran Datuk Dr Puad Zarkashi semalam menjelaskan, kementeriannya tidak mendapat sebarang aduan mengenai perkara itu dan menyerahkan kepada pihak sekolah untuk bertanggungjawab.

Beliau bagaimanapun berpendapat, jika perkara itu berlaku, soalan itu tiada masalah selagi tidak melibatkan sensitiviti kaum, agama atau menghina mana-mana individu.

SMK Jementah: Kami akan semak
 
Sementara itu, sebuah lagi sekolah yang menghadapi tuduhan sama Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Jementah di Segamat pula menjelaskan sedang menyemak dakwaan itu dengan guru terlibat.

"Saya tak sangka... betulkah sekolah ini? Nanti saya akan periksa dengan cikgu (pendidikan) moral," katanya.

"Tapi memang tidak ada bawa politik atau perkauman dalam sekolah. Kita untuk moral, pelajar-pelajar belajar nilai moral, tak sentuh parti mana-mana," kata pengetuanya Janisah Haron.- malaysiakini

 

 

 Bersih question based on Edu Dept guideline'...  

The principal of SMK Seri Jementah in Segamat, has clarified that a question on the Bersih 3.0 protest in its Moral Studies SPM trial examination paper was based on a guideline provided by the Johor Education Department.

"The Jadual Spesifikasi Item (JSI) (Item Specification Table) said that question six should be about the Bersih illegal assembly so we followed what was given," principal Janisah Sainon said.

Janisah also confirmed that the examination paper (right) had originated from the school, after Malaysiakini sent her a photograph of the question paper.

"Yes, it is from our school but there is no right or wrong in this, she (the Moral Studies teacher) was only following the JSI.

"Now that this has become an issue, I also feel guilty, but we were only following instructions," she said.

Janisah said some schools had only presented the question on illegal assembly in text format but her school had included a picture of the Bersih rally to make it clearer for students.

Earlier during the day, Janisah had said she was surprised that netizens had fingered her school over the exam paper.

"I just got to know this. I'm not sure if there is such a thing.

"I didn't expect this... Are you sure it's this school? I will have to check with my moral (studies) teacher," Janisah had said.

Even so, she had stressed that politics has never been part of the school's Moral Studies.

‘No politics in classes’

"We don't bring politics or race into our school. For Moral classes, students are only taught good values. We don't touch on any political party," she said.

Another school to have featured a similar question on the April 28 rally, SMK Aminuddin Baki, had defended its exam paper, stating that there was no intention to politicise the matter.

A call was placed to the Johor Education Department but its director, who is on hajj, was unavailable for comment.

Malaysiakini is awaiting reply from the department's deputy director Md Hasidin Zaini.

In another development, Johor DAP has cried foul after the STPM General Studies trial examination paper in the state described Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng’s remark for Chinese schools not to subscribe to Malay language mainstream newspapers as racist in its answer scheme. 

According to Sin Chew Daily, Md Hasidin had said he would investigate the matter.- malaysiakini

Pikiaq2 mailah...

Breaking News...

Budget 2013 - Rosmah Pun Dapat Peruntukan RM20.5 Juta

 

cheers.