PR proposes AP bidding system, phase-out by 2015...

PKR today unveiled the second part of its proposed automotive policy by presenting a three-year phase-out of the “inequitable” approved permits (AP) system to import cars by 2015.

According to its director of strategy Rafizi Ramli (right), the plan will generate RM2.8 billion in government revenue to cushion the initial impact of a reduction in excise and vehicle sales tax, estimated to be about RM8 billion a year.

In the three years, PKR proposes that APs be sold through a three-tier open bidding system, with the opening bids for energy-efficient cars starting at RM10,000, ordinary cars at RM20,000 and RM30,000 for high-powered cars.

“We believe that the average price for each AP can reach RM40,000 each year. At an estimated 70,000 APs per year, this will generate revenue of RM2.8 billion a year,” he said. 

He said that the gradual implementation was proposed to avoid shocks to the economy, and to allow the economy to grow following the cut in excise tax.

Encouraging competition

He added that the bid system is unlikely to bump up car prices, as the actual price of the APs in the informal market today is already at an estimated RM30,000 to RM40,000 and this is already translated in the prices. 

“Like any other thing, it is best to leave the car prices to the market. If (dealers) have to bid (for the right) to bring in cars then they have to play around with their own margins.

“Now the buffer for margins is way to big and the profit is at the expense of the people. If you implement this, dealers have to compete among themselves and it will move towards market pricing of cars,” he said.

He added that the present system breeds “cartels” who are colluding to set the prices of APs and the bidding system allows more players to enter and the competition would in turn control end prices.  

Also at the press conference was PKR's Pantai Jerejak Adun Sim Tze Tsin, who pointed out that most APs are hoarded by a handful of people.

“In 2004, 50 percent of  the 66,227 APs given out were given to three corporate figures or companies. In 2005, 68,300 APs were given out and 41 percent went to the same people - the late SM Nasimuddin Amin (of Naza Group), Syed Azman Ibrahim and Mohd Haniff Abdul Aziz,” he said. 

“This is the injustice of the system. It only enriches corporate figures with close connections with power.”

'Gov't will recover tax revenue'

The duo added that the mooted automotive policy favours direct taxation and private sector driven economy, which they said will be accelerated when the RM8 billion is returned to the economy.
They added that the tax revenue loss will be recovered “to a certain extent” even in the absence of the goods and services tax. 

“The RM8 bil will go to the people, who go to restaurants, contribute to small businesses, who in turn pay more in corporate taxes. Small business owners also pay personal income tax.

“Government should be less involved in economic activity and the engine of growth should the private sector... instead of the government taxing our money and giving it to government-linked economy to drive the economy,” Sim said.

Rafizi claimed that the Malaysian economy is growing at this pace today largely due to government pump priming and that the private sector has not recovered since the 1998 Asian financial crisis.

“What is happening now is that GLCs and moving outside and repatriating their profits back to Malaysia,” he said. 

“The Malaysian market is slow and this deprives the government of direct taxes which is a lot higher than expected GST revenue.”- malaysiakini

 

Excise duty for cars to be scrapped gradually...

PKR's proposal to scrap the excise duty on cars will be done gradually, so as to soften the blow on the second hand car market, the party has explained.

"The scrapping of the excise duty must be gradual, so that the value of existing second hand cars will go down in stages. It must be balanced out," PKR director of strategy Rafizi Ramli clarified on Twitter today.

He said a drop in car prices would not lead to an influx of cars on the roads and cause massive traffic jams.

Car prices, Rafizi explained, do not fluctuate easily as cars are not everyday goods and changes in prices would not have immediate impact on the numbers of cars purchased.
'Not everyday goods'

"It is a vehicle, not everyday goods. If people have more money, they are likely to upgrade to a better car, rather than buy more cars," he said, noting that car sales slumped in 2006 and 2007 despite a drop in prices 2006.

To upgrade, users would need to sell off their cars and in the event that there is a drop in the value of second hand cars, users would more likely wait until the value of their cars matched the outstanding loan.

Later, speaking to reporters at the PKR headquarters in Tropicana, Petaling Jaya, Rafizi said the nuts and bolts of PKR's proposed automotive policy would be detailed next Thursday by its de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim.

"He will announce the whole mechanism. We will present the policy concept and answer questions on the value of second hand cars, car volumes on the street, car loans and so on," he said.- malaysiakini

PKR cadang hapus beri AP, perkenal bidaan...

Pakatan Rakyat (PR) bercadang untuk melaksanakan penjualan Permit Import (AP) secara bidaan umum  bagi mendapatkan sumber pendapatan daripada permit berkenaan  selepas melaksanakan cadangan pemansuhan duti eksais kereta sekiranya mereka berjaya menawan Putrajaya dalam pilihan raya umum akan datang.

Pengarah Strategi PKR, Rafizi Ramli berkata, dalam tempoh antara tiga tahun bermula 2013 sehingga sebelum AP dimansuhkan pada 2015, PR telah mengemukakan cadangan yang bakal menyaksikan negara menjana pendapatan sehingga RM2.8 bilion setahun daripada bidaan umum AP tersebut.

“AP di bawah Umno - Barisan Nasional (BN) hanya menguntungkan sesetengah pihak yang rapat dengan mereka.

“Sebab itu PKR mencadangkan supaya kerajaan akan datang, tidak kira BN atau Pakatan, supaya menghapuskan AP menjelang 2015 supaya tidak melanggar WTO (Perjanjian Perdagangan Antarabangsa) dan AFTA (Kawasan Perdagangan Bebas Asean),” katanya ketika sidang media di Ibu Pejabat PKR di sini.

Melalui mekanisme yang dicadangkannya, Rafizi menjelaskan, AP yang akan dijual itu akan dibezakan mengikut kategori kereta dan penggunaan bahan api bagi membolehkan lebih banyak kereta jenis sedemikian diperkenalkan.

“Harga bidaan umum ini bermula pada kadar RM10,000 untuk kereta biasa, RM20,000 kenderaan biasa, dan RM30,000 untuk kenderaan berkuasa tinggi dan menggunakan lebih bahan api.

Harga terkini AP yang dijual kepada pengusaha kereta adalah berjumlah RM10,000, dengan sebanyak 66,608 AP dikeluarkan pada 2011.

“Kami percaya, purata AP yang dikeluarkan bakal mencecah RM40,000 apabila penjualan AP dibuka kepada bidaan,” katanya dan menambah,”dengan anggaran 70,000 AP dikeluarkan setiap tahun, hasil berjumlah RM2.8 bilion akan dapat diterima kerajaan.”

“Harga bidaan umum ini bermula pada kadar RM10,000 untuk kereta jimat bahan api, RM20,000 kenderaan biasa, dan RM30,000 untuk kenderaan berkuasa tinggi dan menggunakan lebih bahan api.

“Melalui kaedah ini, pengedar kereta akan bersaing sesama mereka untuk mendapatkan AP. Sekarang ini hanya ada sekitar dua, tiga syarikat sahaja yang mempunyai AP.

“Kami mahu tukar sistem AP sedia ada,” katanya lagi.

“Pendapatan tambahan daripada hasil AP yang dirombak dianggarkan akan memastikan perbendaharaan negara kekal mendapat di antara RM 2 bilion hingga RM 3 bilion setahun bagi mengimbangi penurunan kutipan duti eksais,” katanya lagi.

Rafizi juga turut menjelaskan, walaupun AP ditentukan oleh proses bidaan untuk mendapat hasil terbaik kepada negara, penghapusan duti eksais secara berperingkat juga bermakna harga kereta secara purata akan tetap turun.

Rafizi juga sebelum itu berkata, melalui pemansuhan duti eksais kereta, sejumlah RM8 bilion cukai yang sekarang ini dikenakan kepada rakyat akan dipulangkan kepada rakyat.

“RM 8 bilion itu lebih baik berada dalam poket rakyat ... ia dalam ekosistem kita.

“Gabungan kedua-dua langkah ini akan memastikan pendapatan negara tidak terjejas mendadak hasil pemansuhan duti eksais secara berperingkat,” tambahnya lagi.- malaysian insider

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Pegawai polis yang balun pekerja2 hotel hadapi 6 tuduhan di tiga mahkamah...

Seorang anggota polis hari ini mengaku tidak bersalah di Mahkamah Majistret berbeza, di Seremban atas enam tuduhan memukul, mengugut dan memecah cermin kereta dalam kejadian berasingan pada 17 Julai lalu.
  
Tertuduh, Insp Mohd Azuan Yasin, 32, membuat pengakuan tidak bersalah terhadap kesemua pertuduhan yang dibacakan terhadapnya di hadapan Majistret Mohamad Izwan Mohamed Noh, Haslina Basarudin dan S.Megaswary.

Di hadapan Mohamad Izwan dan Haslina, Mohd Azuan dituduh dengan sengaja mendatangkan kecederaan masing-masing terhadap Mohamaed Nadzeem Zainal Larifin, 25, dan Koh Wen Gio, 32, dengan menggunakan objek keras berwarna hitam menyerupai senjata pistol kira-kira pukul 2.50 pagi di lobi Hotel S2 di Seremban pada 17 Julai lepas.
  
Bagi kesalahan ini, dia boleh dihukum mengikut Seksyen 324 Kanun Keseksaan yang membawa hukuman penjara tiga tahun, denda dan sebatan, mana-mana dua daripada hukuman tersebut.
  
Mohd Azuan turut dituduh di hadapan kedua-dua majistret itu melakukan kesalahan dengan menakutkan secara jenayah ke atas kedua-dua mangsa dengan cara menggunakan senjata menyerupai pistol berwarna hitam di lokasi, masa dan tarikh yang sama yang mana sabit kesalahan boleh dihukum mengikut Seksyen 506 Kanun Keseksaan yang membawa hukuman penjara sehingga tujuh tahun atau denda atau kedua-duanya sekali.
  

 

Satu lagi tuduhan di hadapan Mohamad Izwan, tertuduh didakwa memecah cemin pintu hadapan kereta nombor pendaftaran MBB 1531 milik Tan Chee Luan, 25, yang menyebabkan kerugian RM150 dalam satu kejadian kira-kira pukul 5.45 pagi di sebuah kedai kopitiam di Temiang di Seremban pada tarikh yang sama.
  
Bagi pertuduhan ini, dia didakwa mengikut Seksyen 427 Kanun Keseksaan dan boleh dihukum di bawah seksyen sama yang membawa hukuman penjara tidak lebih dua tahun atau denda atau kedua-duanya sekali.
  
Di hadapan Majistret S.Megaswary, tertuduh dituduh memecah pintu kereta belakang sebelah kiri, nombor pendaftaran NBV 8822 milik Tan Chee Hold, 32, yang menyebabkan kerugian RM180 dalam kejadian kira-kira pukul 5.45 pagi di kedai kopitiam dekat Temiang di Seremban pada tarikh sama dan didakwa di bawah Seksyen 427 Kanun Keseksaan dan boleh dihukum di bawah seksyen yang sama.

Tertuduh dibenarkan diikat jamin RM4,500 untuk kesemua pertuduhan dengan seorang penjamin bagi setiap pertuduhan dan kesemua kesnya akan disebut semula pada 13 September depan.
  
Bagi semua kes, tertuduh diwakli peguam bela Hanif Hassan manakala pendakwaan dilakukan oleh Timbalan Pendakwa Raya Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin.

Dalam pada itu, Mohamad Izwan dan Haslina turut mengarahkan agar rakaman kamera litar tertutup (CCTV) yang tersebar luas di dalam laman sesawang www.youtube.com bertajuk "Polis Memukul Pekerja Hotel di Seremban" berdurasi selama 3 minit 41 saat dikeluar serta merta dari laman berkenaan dan melarang sebarang penyebaran rakaman itu dalam apa jua bentuk saluran bagi mengelak prejudis kepada tertuduh yang minta dibicara.-malaysiakini

 

 Cop in Seremban hotel rampage claims trial...

A policeman pleaded not guilty to six charges in the magistrate's court in Seremban today before three different magistrates.

In the court before magistrate Mohamad Izwan Mohamed Noh, Inspector Mohd Azuan Yasin, 32, was charged with two counts for voluntarily causing grievous hurt and committing criminal intimidation on one Mohamaed Nadzeem Zainal Larifin, 25, with a black object which looked like a pistol at about 2.50am at the lobby of Hotel S2 here last July 17.

He was also charged with committing the similar offences on one Koh Wen Gio, 32, also using a similar black object, at the same place and time before magistrate Haslina Basarudin.

Mohd Azuan was also charged before Mohamad Izwan with committing mischief by smashing the windscreen of car belonging to one Tan Chee Luan, 25, at a coffee shop in Temiang at about 5.45am on the same day.

He was also brought before magistrate S Megaswary and was charged with another count of committing mischief by ripping the door of a car belonging to one Tan Chee Hold at the same time and place.
 
Mohd Azuan was allowed bail of RM4,500 for all the charges, with one surety for each charge, and all the cases were fixed for mention on Sept 13.

Mohamad Izwan and Haslina also ordered the footage of a recording from a closed circuit television camera (CCTV) which had been posted on www.youtube.com with the title "Polis Memukul Pekerja Hotel di Seremban" (Police Beat Hotel Worker in Seremban) to be removed from the website immediately to avoid prejudice against the accused.

Deputy public prosecutor Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin prosecuted in all the cases, while Mohd Azuan was represented by lawyer Hanif Hassan.- malaysiakini

 

sumber gambar

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Najib likely to delay polls coz 'fixed deposit' states not safe anymore...

The drawn-out exit of two Sabah Barisan Nasional (BN) leaders over the weekend is likely to delay a general election from a firm September date to the end of the year as the ruling coalition works to retain its “fixed deposit” in the Borneo states, say sources.

BN sources in Sabah and Kuala Lumpur say the pledge by Tuaran MP Datuk Seri Wilfred Bumburing and Beaufort MP Datuk Seri Lajim Ukin to support Pakatan Rakyat (PR) is among reasons that Datuk Seri Najib Razak is re-looking dates for a snap poll after Budget Day on September 28 for his personal mandate, some three years and three months after taking power in April 2009.

“It is not likely in September now although Umno and its partners are ready for the polls,” a BN source from Kuala Lumpur told The Malaysian Insider.

Sources had earlier told The Malaysian Insider that a snap poll was likely to happen in September if Najib carries through a plan to dissolve Parliament in August, nine months before the BN mandate expires in April 2013. There have been a few dates bandied about in the past year although the country’s sixth prime minister has expressed confidence of sweeping the majority of all state and federal seats.

Before the latest defection, BN controlled 22 out of the 25 federal seats in Sabah and one in the Federal Territory of Labuan. In Election 2008, BN lost its customary two-thirds parliamentary majority largely due to significant losses in the peninsula, where it won just 85 seats while the opposition swept 80 seats.

BN’s saving grace was in Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan where the pact trounced the opposition and made a near-clean sweep, winning 55 parliamentary seats to the opposition’s two. But after the weekend, BN now controls 136 federal seats while PR has 76 seats, SAPP two and eight independents in the 222-seat Dewan Rakyat.

A Sabah BN source also said a September date is unlikely due to the latest developments in the state, as the ruling coalition will have to ensure there are no serious ramifications from the walkout by the two senior Sabah MPs. Lajim is a deputy minister and Umno supreme council member while Bumburing is the United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (UPKO) deputy president.

“They both don’t have much influence outside their areas but it could spread and prove to be a factor if polls are held soon. Then again, it can fester and still be a problem later on,” he added.

There has been speculation since June that Bumburing and Lajim would quit BN and support PR but it did not happen until the past weekend. “It is a mystery why BN didn’t take action earlier against both of them,” the Sabah BN source said.

Najib has said over the weekend that he will take action today over Lajim’s move to drop all party posts. The prime minister has been focusing on Sabah lately and even announced a much-wanted royal commission of inquiry (RCI) into the state’s illegals problem although no terms of reference or composition for the panel have been set yet.

Political analysts say BN has always treated Sabah and Sarawak as a sure-fire vote bank as it battles to regain the dominant Malay vote in the peninsula. “The loss of the Malay vote can be countered with votes from Sabah and Sarawak but now, no one is sure anymore if there is a fixed deposit,” a political analyst told The Malaysian Insider on condition of anonymity.

UiTM Sabah lecturer Arnold Puyok said last week his research showed that the BN could lose more up to 14 seats it now holds in the state, adding the Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan and Pensiangan seats are being considered “easy wins” for the opposition. “I don’t think the ‘fixed deposit’ will remain,” he was reported as saying.

Najib’s government has seen a slide in approval ratings with only 42 per cent giving a nod to his administration in a June survey carried out by the Merdeka Center for Opinion Research in Peninsular Malaysia, dropping by six percentage points from a month earlier.

But the prime minister remains popular, with a 64 per cent approval rating in June, down from 65 per cent in May. His predecessor, Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, went into Election 2008 with a 71 per cent approval rating but lost the customary two-thirds parliamentary majority and four states.

Najib is seen as the country’s most hardworking politician with numerous visits to various districts including the latest round under the Jelajah Janji Ditepati (Promises Fulfilled Tour) and cash handouts and pledges to help various demographics.

“Umno needs to make sure both Sabah and Sarawak remain a fixed deposit and provide the bulk of seats because the Malay vote is split in the peninsula,” the source added, referring to Umno’s share of only 79 seats in Election 2008.- malaysian insider

 PRU bakal tangguh akibat tindakan dua pemimpin BN keluar parti, kata sumber...

Tindakan dua pemimpin Barisan Nasional (BN) Sabah keluar parti hujung minggu lalu akan menyebabkan tarikh pilihan raya umum (PRU) sekali lagi ditangguh dari September ke hujung tahun oleh kerana BN perlu memastikan negeri Borneo tersebut terus menjadi ‘simpanan tetap’ kepada BN, kata sumber.

Sumber BN dari Sabah dan Kuala Lumpur mengatakan selepas ahli parlimen Tuaran, Datuk Seri Wilfred Bumburing (kanan) dan ahli parlimen Beaufort, Datuk Seri Lajim Ukin keluar menyokong Pakatan Rakyat (PR) adalah diantara sebab Datuk Seri Najib Razak terpaksa melihat semula tarikh baru pilihan raya mengejut selepas dari pembentangan belanjawan pada 28 April untuk mandat peribadi beliau, tiga tahun tiga bulan selepas ambil alih kuasa pada April 2009.

 “Ia tidak mungkin pada bulan September sekarang walaupun Umno dan rakan-rakan sudah bersedia untuk pilihan raya, “kata seorang sumber BN dari Kuala Lumpur kepada The Malaysian Insider.

“Umno perlu memastikan, Sabah dan Sarawak kekal menjadi simpanan tetap dan memberikan banyak kerusi oleh kerana di Semenanjung, undi Melayu berpecah,” tambah sumber tersebut dengan menambah Umno hanya mendapat 79 kerusi dalam pilihan raya 2008.

Sumber ini yang memberitahu The Malaysian Insider bahawa pilihan raya mengejut akan berlaku pada bulan September jika Najib meneruskan rancangan untuk membubarkan parlimen pada bulan Ogos, sembilan bulan sebelum mandat BN tamat pada April 2013. Terdapat berberapa tarikh yang menjadi buah mulut dalam tahun lalu walaupun perdana menteri keenam Malaysia itu telah menyatakan keyakinannya untuk mendapat majoriti kerusi Dun dan Parlimen.

Sebelum dua pemimpin BN Sabah ini belot, BN mengawal 22 daripada 25 kerusi parlimen di Sabah dan satu di Wilayah Persekutuan Labuan. Dalam pilihan raya 2008, BN hilang penguasaan tradisi dua pertiga di parlimenoleh kerana kekalahan teruk di semenanjung di mana BN menang 85 kerusi manakala pembangkang mendapat 80 kerusi.

Penyelamat BN adalah Sabah, Sarawak dan Labuan dimana gabungan tersebut menang besar apabila mendapat 55 kerusi manakala pembangkang mendapat dua kerusi. Namun selepas hujung minggu ini, BN kini mengawal 136 kerusi, PR 76 kerusi, SAPP dua dan lapan calon bebas dari 222 kerusi Dewan Rakyat.

Menurut sumber BN Sabah lagi, kemungkinan besar tarikh pilihan raya umum tidak lagi September memandangkan perkembangan terbaru di negeri tersebut, tampuk pemerintah perlu memastikan tiada kesan serius menerusi tindakan keluar parti oleh dua MP veteran itu. Lajim ialah timbalan menteri dan ahli majlis tertinggi Umno manakala Bumburing ialah timbalan presiden Pertubuhan Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut (Upko).

“Mereka berdua tidak ada pengaruh yang kuat di luar kawasan mereka namun keadaan ini boleh merebak dan akan menjadi satu faktor sekiranya pilihan raya diadakan dalam jangkamasa terdekat ini. Lagipun, keadaan ini boleh membarah dan tetap akan menjadi satu masalah nanti,” katanya lagi.

Telah wujudnya spekulasi sejak bulan Jun yang Bumburing dan Lajim akan keluar dari BN and menyokong PR tetapi ia tidak berlaku sehinggalah minggu lepas. “Ini merupakan satu misteri kenapa BN tidak mengambil tindakan awal terhadap mereka berdua,” kata sumber BN Sabah lagi.

Najib telah berkata minggu lagi yang beliau akan mengambil tindakan terhadap Lajim yang melepaskan semua jawatan parti pada hari Isnin. Perdana menteri sebelum ini telah memberi tumpuan pada Sabah dan telah mengumumkan penubuhan Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) yang telah dinanti-nantikan untuk menyelesaikan masalah pendatang tanpa izin walaupun masih belum mempunyai terma dan komposisi untuk panel masih belum diketahui.

Menurut seorang penganalisis, BN selama ini melayan Sabah dan Sarawak sebagai tempat yang pasti menang dalam perlawanan untuk mendapatkan undi Melayu di semenanjung. “Kehilangan undi Melayu boleh ditampung dengan undi dari Sabah dan Sarawak, tetapi kini tidak ada sesiapa yang boleh menjamin apakah masih terdapat simpanan tetap,” kata seorang penganalisis politik yang tidak mahu namanya diketahui kepada The Malaysian Insider.

Pensyarah UiTM Sabah, Arnold Puyok memberitahu pada minggu lalu bahawa kajiannya menunjukkan BN boleh kalah 14 kerusi yang mereka pegang di negeri tersebut, termasuk Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan dan Pensiangan yang dikategorikan sebagai kerusi mudah menang bagi parti pembangkang.

Kerajaan Najib mendapat 42 peratus sokongan terhadap prestasi memberikan tamparan kepada kerajaannya dalam survey yang dijalankan oleh Merdeka Center di semenanjung, menurun enam peratus dari bulan sebelumnya.

Akan tetapi, perdana menteri kekal popular dengan sokongan sebanyak 64 peratus pada bulan Jun, menurun satu peratus berbanding Mei. Penyandang jawatannya, Tun Abdullah Badawi memasuki pilihan raya 2008 dalam keadaan mendapt 71 peratus sokongan tetapi hilang penguasaan majoriti dua pertiga di parlimen.

Najib dilihat sebagai ahli politik paling berkerja keras dengan pelbagai lawatan ke tempat berbeza termasuk yang terbaru, program ‘Jelajah Janji Ditepati dan pemberian tunai dan janji untuk membantu rakyat dari demografi berbeza.-malaysian insider

cheers.

Datuk Seri Wilfred Bumburing keluar BN, sokong Pakatan...

MP Tuaran Datuk Seri Wilfred Bumburing hari ini mengumumkan keputusannya untuk meletak jawatan daripada parti Upko dan  seterusnya menyokong Pakatan Rakyat.

Katanya, beliau telah berbincang dengan beberapa orang anggota jawatankuasa tertinggi dan ketua bahagian Upko dan akan meninggalkan BN.

Beliau berkata demikian di majlis pelancaran Angkatan Perubahan Sabah (APS) di Tuaran.

"Saya masih setia kepada Upko tetapi meletak jawatan dari BN," katanya.

Bumburing sebelum ini meletak jawatan sebagai pengerusi BN kawasan tersebut tanpa mengemukakan apa-apa sebab.

Beliau hari ini berkata kekecewaannya ke atas janji BN yang tidak ditepati dan peningkatan jumlah imigran tanpa dokumen serta royalti petroleum menyebabkan beliau bertindak demikian.- malaysiakini

Penarikan diri Lajim,tabung simpanan tetap BN di Sabah telah retak

Tanda2 Kiamat Untuk UMNO/BN Sabah Makin Jelas...

Pemimpin Umno tidak lagi boleh 'berdendang perantau' mempersendakan Pakatan Rakyat amnya dan Anwar Ibrahim khususnya yang dianggap sebagai bermimpi di siang hari untuk mengambil alih pemerintahan negara. Beberapa perkembangan terbaru menunjukkan sokongan rakyat kepada PR semakin hangat dan menyakinkan. Saham Pakatan Rakyat tampaknya lebih berpotensi dari saham FGVH.

Kalau beberapa minggu lalu Pas menjadi perhatian dan kebimbangan Umno dengan penyertaan beberapa orang pegawai tinggi kerajaan, pegawai tinggi polis dan artis, kini perkembangan dan kebangkiktan politik di Sabah pula mengambil temnpat untuk menganggu emosi UBN.

Penyertaan bekas pegawai tinggi kerajaan ke dalam Pas memberi nilai tambah kepada parti berkenaan dan secara tidak langsung menyuntik semangat dan keyakinan umum kepada PR. Penyertaan di atas kesedaran sendiri itu kerana bosan dengan corak dan stail pemerintah BN menunjukkan makin ramai orang cerdik hilang keyakinan kepada kerajaan UBN.

Perhijrahan atau bangkangan secara fizikal para pegawai kerajaan itu juga menunjukkan transformasi politik dan pentadbiran ditawarkan Ha Najib Razak tidak memberi apa-apa bekas. Ia tidak 'bersera' ke hati. Mereka menyedari bahawa segala perubahan dan janji-janji itu adalah retorik semata-mata. Ketidakpedulian kepada anjakan Najib itu menggambarkan perdana menteri itu tidak ada wibawa dan kredibilitinya lemah.

Kini di Sabah pula berlaku tindakan yang dianggap sebagai drastik dan dramatik. Dua orang pemimpin utama negeri itu yang lebih merupakan pembela rakyat, Lajim Ukin dan Wilfred Bumburing telah melakukan “hara kiri” dalam politik apabila mereka mengumumkan meletak jawatan dalam parti dan keluar dari BN.

Paling merujakan tindakan mereka ini bukan bersendirian tetapi disambut ribuan rakyat. Rakyat Sabah bangkit bersama mereka. Sebelum ini bekas timbalan menteri kabinet BN, Kalakau Untul juga telah keluar meninggalkan parti dan menyertai PKR.

Tindakan mereka itu benar-benar menjadikan Najib bukan saja terkejut tetapi terlupa waktu berbuka puasa dan sahur. Rambutnya juga yang sudah tipis menjadi bertambah menipis menyebabkan daerah kebotakannya semakin meluas. Najib tidak terfikir bahawa akhirnya kedua tokoh rakyat yang berpengaruh itu mengambil keputusan. 

Mungkin selama ini Najib dan pemimpin UBN lain menganggap mereka hanya mengugut dan bermain dengan kata-kata. Shafei Afdal yang sebelum ini menganggap keluar parti adalah perkara biasa juga mungkin, sudah menjadi loyak dan mumai dengan apa yang berlaku. Pengistyharan rasmi penubuhan Pakatan Perubahan Sabah (PPS) yang dikepalai mereka boleh memabukkan Shafei.
 
Usaha Najib disaat akhir untuk menyelamatkan BN Sabah dari gara-gara goyangan mereka karam tidak berjaya. Sebelum ini katanya Najib terpaksa membatal beberapa majlis di Kuala Lumpur dan terbang malam ke Sabah bagai menyelesaikan kemelut dan ugutan, namun tidak berjaya. Najib pulang ke Kuala Lumpur dengan tangan kosong.

Apa yang berlaku itu bukan salah siapa melainkan salah Najib juga sebagai perdana menteri. Sudah lama mereka berkokok menimbulkan rasa kurang senang baik secara lisan maupun menerusi parlimen tetapi tidak dipedulikan. Najib membiarkan mereka dan menganggap suara mereka hanya suara peribadi dan bukan suara rakyat.

Najib juga mungkin berfikir mereka berdua dan sekalian rakyat boleh dibeli dengan wang ringgit. Cara Najib berpolitik dengan mengumpankan wang ternyata sudah tersilap.

Bekas ketua penerangan Umno Malaysia Hussein Ahmad penah menyebut kepada saya cara Najib berpolitik tidak ubah seperti pemelihara harimau yang suka memberi harimau daging di mana akhirnya pemelihara itu akan dibaham harimau apabila suatu hari dia gagal menyediakan daging nuntuk harimau. “Politik Najib amat bahaya,” tegas Hussein.

Najib begitu angkuh dengan kekuasaan dan politik tabur janji dan wang. Sudah ratusan billion yang beliau taburkan kepada rakyat. Najib mengira semua rakyat boleh dibeli dan wang adalah kuasa mutlak. Sebenarnya fatwa dan petua itu silap sama sekali kerana bukan semua orang akan lalai dan ralik dengan wang.

Sejujurnya juganya Najib tidak ada cara lain untuk menawan rakyat melainkan dengan memberi wang seberapa sen kepada rakyat. Najib tidak ada modal dan aset peribadi. Dia menyedari akan kelemahannya serta kemampuannya sebagai pemimpin. Najib tidak mempunyai kekuatan diri sebagai pemimpin baik idea, wawasan dan juga  track rekod sebagai pemimpin. Sebagai orang yang tidak pernah diuji dan melalui liku perjuangan panjang Najib kering dengan pengalaman dan sejarah.

Apabila sudah sampai satu tahap di mana ketidakadilan berleluasa, kekejaman berlaku dalam apa juga sudut, penipuan di mana-mana rakyat tidak akan pedulikan lagi kepada wang dan kebendaan. Naluri manusia tidak kira siapa mahukan kepada keadilan dan kebenaran, benci kepada kemungkaran berterusan. Manusia yang sihat boleh ditipu sebanyak dua kali bukan untuk ketiga dan seterusnya melainkan yang otaknya bertompok dengan doktri Umno ala-ala Ahmad Maslan.

Apa lagi bagi orang seperti Wilfred dan Lajim atau Kalakau itu, bagi mereka wang tidak memberi apa-apa makna lagi. Mereka sudah mempunyai wang. Sebagai orang yang ada ehsan dan sisa perjuangan rakyat mereka akan melihat kepada nasib rakyat. Apa yang dilakukan saya melihat kerana mereka ingin membela nasib rakyat negeri mereka yang tidak dipedulikan oleh Kuala Lumpur. Mereka juga sudah mulai sedar dari diperbodohkan oleh pemimpin UBN Semenanjung.

Manusia boleh bersabar, setahun, 10 tahun 20 tahun tetapi tidak selama-lamanya. Dalam kes ini rasa sabar mereka itu sudah pun mencair maka tindakan itu diambil.

Sesungguhnya apa yang berlaku di Sabah membahayakan UBN. Jika dilihat kepada sejarah masa lalu, tidak syak lagi dalam pilihan raya kali ini dunia akan menyaksikan sekali lagi kerajaan Sabah akan bertukar tangan. Kali ini Pakatan Rakyat nampak seperti mendapat keuntungan itu.

Tawarikh telah dicatat di Sabah apabila berlaku perpecahan di dalam parti atau ada pemimpin meninggalkan parti, maka kerajaan yang wujud sebelum itu akan tumbang dan kerajaan baru akan naik.

Dalam tahun 1967 kerajaan Sabah ketika itu tumbang apabila beberapa pemimpin Pertubuhan Pasokmongun Kadazandusun Murut Bersatu (UPKO) keluar parti dan bergabung dengan Usno pimpinan Tun Datu Mustapa Harun.

Manakala pada tahun 1976 kerajaan BN Sabah pula tumbang apabila Salleh Sulung dan Haris Salleh meninggalkan parti dan menubuhkan parti Berjaya. Berjaya berjaya memerintah Sabah.

Nasib dialami Usno ikut sama dirasai Berjaya selepas itu apabila Pairin Ketingan dan Mark Koding keluar meninggakan parti dan menubuh parti baru PBS berfeudamental Kristian tahun 1985 berjaya menmgambil alih kerajaan. Bagaimana pun kerajaan BN yang dirampas PBS itu terselamat apabila BN bertindak ‘merampas’ kuasa seperti mana berlaku ke atas kerajaan Pakatan Rakyat di Perak.

Berdasarkan sejarah dan pengalaman serta hukum karma itu sudah pasti apabila ada tiga pahlawan rakyat Sabah bergabung untuk memberi sokongan kepada Pakatan Rakyat, kejadian sama akan berulang di mana kerajaan UBN Sabah akan tumbang dan tergolek jatuh dari gunung Kota Kinabalu dalam pilihan raya ke-13 ini.

Sesiapa pun jika membelakangkan rakyat akhirnya akan dibalas rakyat. Kuasa rakyat adalah kuasa mutlak yang boleh mengugagat mana-mana kerajaan kandatipun sekuat Mahathir maupun Firaun.- Mohd.Sayuti Omar@msomelayu.blogspot

 Tuaran MP quits BN, pledges support to Pakatan...

Tuaran MP Wilfred Mojilip Bumburing today announced his decision to leave BN by quitting the United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (Upko), promising to lend support to Pakatan Rakyat.

“I have discussed this with several of Upko’s supreme council members and division leaders. We are leaving BN,” said the Upko deputy president at the launch of Angkatan Perubahan Sabah (APS) in Tuaran.

"I am still faithful to Upko, but I am resigning from Barisan Nasional," he told supporters at function in Tuaran this afternoon.

Last week, Bumburing (right) quit as the constituency's BN chairperson without citing any specific reasons.

Today, he revealed that frustration with BN’s broken promises, especially in dealing with the escalating number of undocumented immigrants in the state and the petroleum royalties issue had sparked his move.

The announcement was made on the platform of a newly formed political entity Angkatan Perubahan Sabah (APS). 

It was attended by PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim and several Pakatan Rakyat leaders from Peninsula Malaysia.  

A similar gathering will held in Beaufort tonight, where the MP for the constituency Lajim Ukin and Anwar are expected to address supporters.

Lajim (right) is expected to announce the formation of Pakatan Perubahan Sabah (PPS) which, together with APS, will make up the Sabah Reform Front (SRF). 

 Dare to Umno 

Yesterday, Lajim had quit all his positions in Umno and dared the party to sack him. Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak is expected to remove him as a deputy minister tomorrow. 

 "This is the mother of all problems in Sabah... the flooding of illegal immigrants," Bumburing said in a delayed video broadcast on the UStream TV Merdeka Rakyat website.

"When Sabah agreed to join Malaya to form Malaysia in 1963, the federal government promised to protect Sabah," he said adding that Sabah's population then was about 600,000.

In 2010, the population census showed that there are now more than 3.5 million people in Sabah, or a 390 percent increase in just about half a century, said Bumburing in accusing the federal government of handing out citizenships arbitrarily.

"When Dr Mahathir (Mohamad) became the prime minister the problems with immigrants were left unheeded.

"We accept that there is no one country without a migrant population. But I must stress here that we don't have a problem with those who have moved here decades ago and followed the right procedure to obtain their citizenships.

"We are worried about those who came yesterday and managed to get their identification cards today," he said.

Despite countless appeals and memorandums, Bumburing said Putrajaya has kept a pin-drop silence on the issue.

"Waiting for BN to form the royal commission of inquiry to probe the immigrant problem is not going to work anymore. Three times Najib (left) has visited Sabah since he made the announcement that a RCI will be formed, but until today we have yet to see it happen," he added.
 
It is folly to wait for BN to act on Sabah's grouses, warned Bumburing, calling on those present to vote for the opposition in the upcoming polls, speculated to be held as soon as September.

Among others issues highlighted were the lack of action taken in upholding native customary rights (NCR) and oil royalty privileges.

On the matter of APS, Bumburing explained that it would be a non-political entity, to create a platform to network among politicians, aligned to BN's rival Pakatan Rakyat.

The former Sabah deputy chief minister also announced that he, together with several others, will embark on a state-wide tour to promote the opposition's agenda.

"I know how hard it is for Bumburing to exit Upko. He is loyal to the party," said Anwar, in welcoming the move.

In the 2008 general election, Bumburing defeated PKR's Ansari Abdullah with a 6,622-vote majority against his nearest rival, who garnered 11,023 votes.

Parliamentary constituencies in Sabah and Sarawak make up 57 seats of the 222 federal parliamentary seats, where BN won 55 seats against Pakatan MPs Hiew King Cheu (DAP-Kota Kinabalu) and Chong Chieng Jen (DAP-Bandar Kuching).

BN lost three more constituencies when Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) left the ruling coalition with two of its MPs backing the opposition, while DAP's Wong Ho Leng won Sibu in a by-election, which fell vacant after the death of Robert Lau Hoi Chew.- malaysiakini

 

Ribuan mendengar ucapan William Bumbering dan Anwar Ibrahim di pelancaran Angkatan Perubahan Sabah.

cheers.

Uncle Seekers bertambah laser... & Lajim Ukim letak jawatan UMNO...

Minta maaplah banyak-banyak sebab tiada sebarang kabaran dari aku sendiri. Untuk pengetahuan korang semua selepas saja aku dibebaskan pada 14-7-2012, peguam aku terus bawa lari aku keluar dari wilayah JOHOR. Pemandu peribadi yang bawa kereta jenama 3 bintang tu lari macam pelesit! Sekejap-kejap peguam aku Tanya pemandunya sama ada orang follow tak?

Aku plak dok layan ipad dia sampailah Kuala Lumpur. Macam-macam berita dalam akhbar tentang penahanan aku tapi yang paling besh sekali pelbagai komen nakal dari pelbagai forum.

Sejak dari dulu lagi aku berpegang kata-kata Imam Ali.“Manusia sentiasa bermusuh dengan perkara yang mereka tidak tahu”. Untuk mereka yang bersifat begitu, don’t worry, aku sentiasa memafkan anda semua.


Baca seterusnya di sini

Lajim Ukin letak jawatan Umno-BN...

Ahli Majlis Tertinggi Umno, Datuk Lajim Ukin hari ini mengumumkan perletakan semua jawatannya dalam parti serta dalam Barisan Nasional (BN) berkuat kuasa serta-merta, untuk bekerjasama dengan barisan pembangkang Pakatan Rakyat (PR) di Sabah.

Walau bagaimanapun, Lajim (gambar) yang juga ketua Umno bahagian Beaufort dan pengerusi Barisan Nasional (BN) Beaufort berkata beliau menyerahkan kepada kepimpinan Umno untuk memutuskan samada untuk mengekalkan atau tidak jawatannya sebagai timbalan perumahan dan kerajaan tempatan, lapor akhbar bahasa Inggeris The Star.

Perkembangan ini dilihat sebagai satu tamparan hebat kepada pentadbiran Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Razak menjelang pilihan raya umum ke-13 (PRU13) yang akan berlangsung tidak lama lagi.

“Bagi jawatan Timbalan Menteri, saya serahkan kepada Perdana Menteri (Datuk Seri Najib Razak) untuk menentukkan kedudukan saya kerana itu budi bicara beliau.

“Bagi menentukan keahlian saya dalam Umno, saya menyerahkan kepada Majlis Tertinggi Umno untuk mengambil tindakan... kalau mereka rasa saya menyalahi peraturan parti mereka boleh pecat saya,” katanya dipetik Bernama.

Beliau mengumumkan keputusannya itu ketika berucap dalam majlis berbuka puasa di kediamannya di Likas Jaya, dekat Kota Kinabalu petang tadi, mengikut laporan Bernama.

Lajim turut mengumumkan pertubuhan gerakan baru Pakatan Perubahan Sabah (PPS) di majlis yang sama, yang telah dikaitkan akan berkerjasama dengan PR demi kepentingan negeri Sabah.
Ahli Parlimen Beaufort memberitahu wartawan PPS mempunyai senarai perwakilan seramai 17 orang, bagi setiap kawasan parlimen di Sabah.

Bulan lalu, Lajim mengumumkan peletakan jawatannya sebagai Ketua Cawangan Umno Kerambai Kebatu.- malaysian insider

Sah Lajim Ukin tinggal UMNO

Lajim quits Umno posts, says will work with Pakatan...

Umno supreme council member Datuk Lajim Ukin announced today he is quitting all party positions to work with the opposition Pakatan Rakyat (PR) pact in Sabah’s interest, in the run-up to key national polls.

The Sabah lawmaker said he would leave it to the ruling party to decide on his Umno membership and his position as deputy minister of housing and local government.

Lajim was also reported as saying he was not joining the federal opposition as a party member despite widespread rumours that he would be defecting to PKR.

“As for my post as deputy minister, that will be decided by Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Najib Razak) at his discretion. 

“Meanwhile, the Umno supreme council will determine my membership in Umno... if they feel I have violated the party’s regulations then they can dismiss me,” 

Lajim (picture) was quoted by state news agency Bernama as telling reporters during the breaking of fast at his home in Likas Jaya, near Kota Kinabalu this evening.

The news agency also reported him publicly declaring the setting up of a new movement called the Pakatan Perubahan Sabah (PPS), or the Sabah Reform Front, at the same event, saying the group has a line-up of 17 representatives — one for each parliamentary constituency — in the state.

Apart from sitting on the Umno supreme council, Lajim was Beaufort Umno division chief and Beaufort Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman. He said he was resigning with immediate effect. 

The Beaufort MP had last month told reporters the rumour had likely spread because “I speak like I am in opposition” but that he has made “no decision to leave and no offer has been made.”

“This is just speculation because I speak like I am in opposition. But it is not because I am against the government but I want improvements to my constituency. We have faced problems like flooding for over 15 years.

“But nothing is impossible in politics. If the public wants me to go, I will go, if they want me to stay, I will stay,” he had said then.

Lajim also said that because of his independent stance, “the speculation could have started internally with the intention to sideline me from BN.”

He had come under fire from Sabah BN secretary Datuk Rahman Dahlan last week for his vocal internal criticism of the coalition.

“There is no room in Barisan and Umno for prima donnas,” Rahman was quoted as saying by The Star on July 20.

“No one is indispensable. People, including prime ministers, have come and gone,” the Kota Belud MP was quoted further.

Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who earlier today confirmed he was visiting the ruling BN coalition’s eastern stronghold tomorrow for a mystery function, has deepened speculation of a major political shift in Sabah.

Anwar’s chief of staff, Ibrahim Yaacob, confirmed to The Malaysian Insider the PKR adviser would be in Beaufort, Lajim’s parliamentary seat, but kept a tight lip on the nature of the function.

“He has just arrived from Medina this morning and will be in Beaufort tomorrow, but what programmes he will be attending we don’t know,” Ibrahim said when contacted today.

Anwar has also been mum on the invitation.

Yesterday, Sabah PKR chief Ahmad Tamrin Jaini was reported by news portal Malaysiakini as saying the party had been invited to attend the launch of the Sabah Reform Front (SRF), which was organised by Lajim and Tuaran MP Datuk Seri Wilfred Mojilip Bumburing.

Lajim had quit his post as Kerambai Kebatu Umno branch chief last month but maintained that he was not leaving the party to join the opposition, while Bumburing, who is also deputy president of the United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (UPKO), quit his BN division chief post last week. The latter has been coy of his chances of crossing over to PKR.

In Sabah, the deep-seated issue of illegal immigrants will likely be used as a key campaign issue in the coming polls, with the Najib administration holding the trump card for having finally agreed to investigate the issue by forming a royal commission of inquiry.

Federal seats in east Malaysia’s Sabah and Sarawak are expected to be PR’s focal point come the elections as both states, including the federal territory of Labuan, make up a whopping 57 seats, or 25 per cent of the 222 parliamentary seats available.

In Election 2008, BN retained power over the Putrajaya administrative capital largely due to wins in east Malaysia and Labuan, where it made a near-clean sweep, winning 55 seats against PR’s two.

But the ruling pact lost its customary two-thirds parliamentary majority after only securing a five-seat margin ahead of PR in the peninsula, winning in just 85 constituencies while PR secured 80 seats.- malaysian insider

Survey aside, Kedah MB nominee is PM's prerogative...

The survey showing Mukhriz Mahathir as the favourite candidate for Kedah menteri besar was a good sign in BN’s bid to wrest the state from PAS control, said Kedah opposition leader Mahdzir Khalid.

“The components and ingredients of the survey are based on facts, involving all aspects and demographics of society,” said Mahdzir, who is also former Kedah menteri besar, in a SMS to Malaysiakini yesterday.

However he reminded that it was up to the PM to select the Kedah MB should BN win the state.

“BN needs to keep working hard; it cannot be complacent. The appointment of the MB’s post is the sole right of the PM. Before we talk about posts, a win must be the priority of BN leaders at all levels,” he said.

Mahdzir (right) was referring to a Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) survey across 36 state seats in the northern state that reportedly showed overwhelming support for Mukhriz, the son of former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad, for the MB’s post.

The survey predictably got the thumbs up of BN politicians but the disdain of incumbent PAS Menteri Besar Azizan Abdul Razak, who rubbished the survey.

Azizan slammed the academic who conducted the study for behaving more like “BN low-ranking leaders” than scholars who should be studying more pressing issues such as electoral fraud.

‘Don’t count chickens...’

Jerlun Umno division chief Abu Hassan Sharif and Sungai Petani Umno division head Firdaus Zakaria concurred with Mukhriz that the real focus should be on winning the state before discussing the candidate for MB.

However, they stressed that grassroots leaders should give their full cooperation to Mukhriz or Kedah Umno liaison chief Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah should either of them be chosen for the post.

According to the UUM study, Ahmad Bashah is the second most popular Umno candidate for the post of Kedah MB, followed by state Umno information chief and a minister in PM's Department Mohd Jamil Khir Baharom. Mahdzir himself is in fourth place.

When contacted, Abu Hassan said he hoped Kedah leaders would agree with the top leadership’s decision on the matter and avoid “infighting and thus destroying each other”.
          
“What is important is that we govern the state and give the best service we can to the people. This is our goal. We must cooperate to garner (the people’s) support,” he told Malaysiakini.

Meanwhile, Firdaus said the Mukhriz-Ahmad Bashah pair was a “good team” to lead Kedah, pointing out that Jamil and Mahdzir were more “capable and suitable” to be placed in Parliament or federal government.

Pokok Sena Umno division chief Ahmad Lebai repeatedly stressed that BN candidates had to win their seats first, before they can even aspire to be menteri besar.

“Focus on the election first. Let the MB candidates be determined later by the leadership,” he said.- malaysiakini



cheers.

Gomen lebih utamakan menjaga gaji,RM400,000 sebulan,CEO Syabas daripada selesaikan masalah air rakyat Selangor...

Kerajaan Pusat boleh mengeluarkan tender projek Loji Rawatan Air Langat 2 tetapi kelulusan mengenai pelaksaannya hanya boleh diberikan oleh Kerajaan Selangor.

 Menteri Besar, Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim berkata, Kerajaan Negeri juga tidak akan terlibat dengan proses tender tersebut kerana beranggapan ia tidak relevan dengan masalah air yang didakwa wujud di Selangor.

Setakat ini, menurutnya, Kerajaan Negeri hanya bersetuju dan ingin berbincang dengan Kerajaan Pusat mengenai proses penstrukturan semula air di negeri itu.

Katanya, pihak tenaga kerja profesional dilantik bagi membuat kajian dan menyiapkan laporan mengenai isu air tersebut dan dakwaan Menteri Kementerian Tenaga, Teknologi Hijau dan Air (KeTTHA), Datuk Seri Peter Chin Kah Fui yang mengatakan laporan Kerajaan Negeri tidak betul tidak boleh diterima.

“Jika laporan itu tidak betul, mari kita jumpa dan berbincang. Mengapa gunakan media untuk bertanya? Ia bukan laporan yang saya buat tetapi laporan disiapkan oleh pihak professional yang dilantik Kerajaan Negeri bagi mengenal pasti berkaitan isu masalah air ini.

“Jika anda fikir ia tidak betul, bukan Peter Chin yang patut buat kenyataan tetapi itu tanggungjawab Pengerusi Eksekutif Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor(Syabas). Ini kerana beliau dibayar melebihi harga pihak profesional. Peter Chin patut menilai perkara ini kerana pembayaran diluluskan lebih RM400,000 sebulan untuknya. Mengapa beliau tidak berbincang dengan kita (Kerajaan Negeri)? soalnya.

Abdul Khalid berkata demikian dalam sidang media selepas majlis penyampaian surat kelulusan pemberimilikan tanah kerajaan dan notis 5A di Kampung Sungai Sireh Tambahan di sini hari ini.

Menteri Besar selanjutnya berkata, Peter Chin tidak memikirkan tentang perihal rakyat Selangor dan mempersoalkan apa dilakukan menteri itu terhadap rakyat Sarawak.

Beliau berkata, Peter Chin seharusnya memberikan teguran terhadap Pengerusi Eksekutif Syabas berhubung perkara itu.

“Kita akan ingatkan dia kerana perkara ini sangat penting kepada kita. Jika anda fikirkan tentang rakyat maka rakyat akan fikir tentang diri kita tetapi jika anda fikir RM400,000 (gaji bulanan Pengerusi Eksekutif Syabas) adalah lebih penting maka tidak akan memikirkan tentang anda,” katanya lagi.

Dalam laporan media semalam, Kerajaan Pusat akan melaksanakan projek Loji Rawatan Air Langat 2 secara tender terbuka kepada semua syarikat yang berkelayakan.-selangorku

Selangor Water Issue...

From what I understand (will be improved time to time as understanding increases):

Selangor government says:
 
1.there’s enough raw water as the dams are full (and its raining nearly everyday for last 2 weeks or so)

2.SYABAS is not able to deliver water properly due to loss of water (non-revenue)
 

3.will take over SYABAS management to improve its services
 

4.treated water is enough but SYABAS incompetent to deliver the water5.Langat2 WTP is waste of money and that better water management is the way to go

5.it has not gazetted the increased water tariff as per concession agreement with SYABAS (which means no price hike)

6.says SYABAS has no authority to ration water as that comes under state.

SYABAS says:

1.there’s enough raw water but not enough TREATED water. 

2.Treated water means already processed by Water Treatment Plants (WTP) to ensure the water is safe for consumption. 

3.The raw water from sources (dams) is channelled to WTP and then channelled to homes/industries.
 

4.its not in charge of water treatment as that falls under state government duties (providing sufficient infrastructure to process raw water fit for consumption). Its job is to channel the treated water to homes/industries. It just pays money to WTP for the treated water.

5.its has informed state government since 2010 about possible shortage of treated water but

6.that state government had not allowed the construction of Langat2 WTP

7.the state government had barred SYABAS from making capital expenditure which resulted in SYABAS unable to undertake work to reduce non-revenue water

8.has applied to SPAN (National Water Commission) to ration water

Notes:

1.state government has 30% stakehold in SYABAS.
 

2.daily water needs in Klang Valley (plus Putrajaya) is about 4,364 million litres per day (MLD) and the treatment plants’ capacity is 4,371 (MLD)
 

3.Langat2 expected to supply 1,8900 MLD if constructed and can supply until 2025 before shortage happens again
 

4.So, what’s the conclusion? Even if allow for new WTP (Langat2) to be built, it will take at least 4 years.-poobalan.com

Khalid tells DPM,Let's meet to resolve water stalemate...

 Selangor Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim today said he was prepared to meet with Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin to resolve the stalemate on the water issue in the state.

This, he said, includes accepting the proposed RM8.65 billion Langat 2 water treatment facility on condition that the federal government give its nod for the state’s long-stalled water restructuring exercise.

“If you agree to the restructuring, we incorporate Langat 2 into the restructuring. Then let’s also get a team to work out the reduction of non-revenue water and look for other sources of water,” he told Malaysiakini in an interview today.


Khalid explained that the restructuring was essential to stave off a 75 percent hike in water tariff which is compulsory under the existing agreement with Syabas but is currently being blocked by the state government.
 
Syabas had since taken the case to court, demanding compensation from the state government for preventing the hike which amounts to a staggering RM1.2 billion up to 2010.

“I met Muhyiddin on Friday and he told me he is willing to sit down and talk to me with reference that the people’s interests will be taken care of. I said okay, let’s go ahead. I am waiting for that,” said Khalid.
 
Khalid said his office will send a letter to Muhyiddin, who chairs the special cabinet committee overseeing the Selangor issue, by Tuesday for a meeting.

‘No land for Langat 2 until restructuring done’

On Monday, Muhyiddin had announced that an open tender for the Langat 2 water treatment plant will be called with or without the state government’s consent.

Asked If the Selangor will approve the land for the project, Khalid replied: “Not yet, not until they resolve (the water restructuring first).

“They can do a tender, they can do publicity, we shouldn’t stop them from doing that. But those they can do, they do, those I can do, I do,” he said.

Khalid added that a resolution through the special cabinet committee would be preferable but if all options are exhausted Selangor will take the federal government to court for a judicial review over its decision to block the restructuring exercise.

The water restructuring exercise which is required under the Water Services Act 2006 has already been carried out in Perak, Malacca, Negri Sembilan, Johor and Perlis, but for some reason, Khalid said, was being blocked by the federal government in Selangor.

The exercise will essentially see all water services in the state taken over from the private sector and consolidated under a special purpose vehicle. The infrastructure will subsequently be handed over to the federal government but will be managed by the state government.

When consolidated under a single entity under the state government, Khalid said this would improve efficiency and also solve other water concerns in the state.- malaysiakini

Syabas procured pipes from Indonesian companies that belonged to the Syabas's CEO,Rozali Ismail.

Air percuma bukti S'gor urus air dengan baik

Program pemberian air percuma yang membolehkan rakyat menikmati 20 meter padu pertama secara percuma setiap bulan adalah bukti keupayaan pengurusan Kerajaan Negeri dan kesungguhan untuk memastikan industri air di Malaysia diuruskan dengan menjadikan kebajikan rakyat menjadi keutamaan, kata Menteri Besar,  Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim. 

"Secara purata, keluarga yang mendiami rumah bertanah di Selangor menikmati penjimatan RM1,200 setahun sejak program ini diperkenalkan pada Jun 2008.

"Manakala keluarga yang tinggal di rumah bertingkat  pula menikmati penjimatan secara purata  hampir RM900 setahun dalam tempoh itu," katanya dalam satu kenyataan hari ini.

Kerajaan negeri, tambahnya, telah membekukan cadangan untuk menaikkan tarif air oleh Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (SYABAS) sebanyak dua kali iaitu untuk 2009 dan 2012.

"Kerajaan Selangor telah membelanjakan RM550 juta setakat ini untuk Program Pemberian Air Percuma. Namun begitu, kerajaan negeri masih berupaya meningkatkan rezab negeri kepada RM2.1 billion pada 2012 berbanding hanya RM400 juta pada 2008," kata menteri besar.

Ini, tegas Abdul Khalid, adalah hasil dasar kewangan mesra rakyat yang mematuhi prinsip-prinsip integriti dan tadbir urus yang baik.

"Kerajaan Pakatan Rakyat Negeri Selangor membuat banyak usaha untuk memastikan rakyat berhak untuk berkongsi keuntungan, aset dan sumber negeri," tambahnya.- malaysiakini


Isu air: Rakyat Selangor mesti bersatu

Fakta Sebenar Isu Air Di Selangor

cheers.

MB Azizan kata,tahap pemikiran profesor tak jauh bezanya dengan pemimpin peringkat bawahan UMNO...

Menteri Besar Kedah Datuk Seri Azizan Abdul Razak percaya bahawa kajian yang menyatakan bahawa anak bekas perdana menteri Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir adalah calon MB popular bakal memporak-perandakan BN.

Akhbar Sinar Harian hari ini memetik Azizan sebagai berkata, keputusan kajian Universiti Utara Malaysia tersebut sebaliknya bakal memberi kelebihan kepada PAS.

"Pemimpin BN asyik berkhayal siapa layak jadi menteri besar jika layak berkuasa. Selepas itu kem masing-masing mula mencantas pemimpin lain yang disenaraikan lebih awal.

"Ini satu kelebihan bagi PAS Kedah," katanya mengulas kajian yang dibentangkan dalam satu program Majlis Profesor Negara pada Rabu lalu.

Laporan tersebut menyebut bahawa Mukhriz merupakan calon menteri besar paling popular sekiranya BN berjaya merampas kembali pentadbiran Kedah.

Kajian itu membandingkan peluang Mukhriz dan tiga lagi pemimpin Umno Kedah – ketua perhubungannya Datuk Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah, ketua penerangan Datuk Seri Mohd Jamil Khir Baharom dan ketua pembangkang DUN Kedah, Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid.

Azizan juga kecewa dengan peranan Majlis Profesor Negara (MPN) yang menganjurkan program perbincangan bagi kajian terbabit.

Beliau berkata, golongan pengkaji berkenaan "seolah-olah telah diperalat pihak tertentu bagi membangkitkan isu ini demi kepentingan kumpulan tertentu".

"Saya kecewa kerana tahap pemikiran golongan profesor tidak jauh bezanya dengan pemimpin peringkat bawahan BN yang memfokuskann isu remeh seperti calon MB.

"Ini suatu yang malang kerana golongan cerdik pandai sepatutnya mengkaji isu yang lebih serius," katanya lagi dalam laporan itu.

Laporan yang dibentangkan oleh Prof Madya Dr Rohana Yusof dari UUM juga menyatakan bahawa BN lebih berpeluang untuk merampas Kedah dari tangan PAS dalam pilihan raya umum akan datang.

Kajian itu juga menunjukkan bahawa 52 peratus daripada responden menyatakan ketidakpuasan hati mereka terhadap pentadbiran PAS negeri, manakala 59 peratus daripadanya berpendapat bahawa janji pilihan raya PAS masih belum dipenuhi.

Seramai 54 peratus lagi tidak mahu kerajaan pimpinan PAS dipilih semula, manakala 47 peratus menyatakan bahawa masa depan orang Melayu lebih baik di bawah pentadbiran BN.

Azizan menganggap kajian yang menyatakan majoriti rakyat Kedah memilih BN itu sebagai kajian yang dibuat secara rawak.

Kedah, yang merupakan kubu kuat Umno sebelum ini jatuh ke tangan Pakatan Rakyat dalam pilihan raya umum 2008.- malaysiakini

 Kedah MB rubbishes academician's study...

Kedah Menteri Besar Azizan Abdul Razak has rubbished the study by an academician that shows BN has a better chance of recapturing Kedah from PAS in the next general election.

Azizan questioned the role of the National Council of Professors in focussing on “lame issues” that favour the BN and said it should be free of political interference.

The study on Kedahans’ political preference was done by Associate professor Rohana Yusof from Universiti Utara Malaysia, who presented the result at a forum organised by the National Council of Professors on Wednesday.

Azizan said the council should devote its attention to intellectual studies such as a cleaner election, the issue of phantom voters or how to develop the state.

“I’m disappointed because the level of thought of these professors is not much different from BN low-ranking leaders who focus on lame issues such as the menteri besar candidates,” he was quoted as saying by Malay daily Sinar Harian.
“This is something unfortunate because the intellectual group should study issues that are more serious.”

Azizan was among Pakatan Rakyat leaders quoted by the daily as questioning the study, while state opposition leaders lauded the findings as accurate.

Rohana had reportedly said that the findings were based a survey between November 2011 until February 2012 involving 10,800 Kedahans, or 300 people picked at random from each polling district. 

She found that 54 percent of the respondents felt that the PAS-led government should not be maintained, and that there was overwhelming support for Jerlun MP Mukhriz Mahathir to be Azizan’s successor.

However, a separate and smaller study also presented at the roundtable by Associate Professor Fuad Mohd Jali from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia found that 50.7 percent of Kedahans would still vote for PAS. - malaysiakini 

 

cheers.

BN MPs invite Anwar to launch of Sabah Reform Front...

Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim has been invited to attend the launch of the Sabah Reform Front in the east Malaysian state this weekend by two serving BN parliamentarians Lajim Ukin (Beaufort) and Wilfred Bumburing (Tuaran).

Sabah PKR liaison chief Ahmad Tamrin Jaini, when contacted by Malaysiakini today, confirmed that Anwar would be in Sabah this weekend on its invitation.

“He has been given the honour of being at the launch of the Sabah Reform Front,” Ahmad Tamrin said, relating that Anwar was invited by the MPs to two events, one in Tuaran and the other in Beaufort.

He said these are not PKR events but functions organised by Lajim and Bumburing (right).

Ahmad Tamrin explained that he was not able to comment on this before as it was just speculation. However, he received the formal invitations from both MPs today.

“This is a great development for PKR. It shows the two MPs may be willing to leave BN and work together with Pakatan to overthrow BN in Sabah,” Ahmad Tamrin speculated.

Asked if the BN parliamentarians would announce their move to leave BN or join Pakatan during the events, the Sabah PKR liaison chief said, "You will have to wait and see."

However, Lakim Ujin when contacted would only say, "It is not confirmed yet", before the call was cut off. Further efforts to contact him until press time have been unsuccessful.

'Disillusioned with the BN'

Speculation has been raging that Bumburing and Lajim have become disillusioned with the BN and may jump ship to throw their support behind the opposition.

Lajim has resigned as Kerambai Kebatu Umno chief and did not defend his post as chairperson of the Beaufort Umno division.

Further fuelling speculation of his intention to leave Umno was his meeting with PAS spiritual leader Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat in Kota Baru earlier this week.

Bumburing resigned as Tuaran BN chairperson days ago and is a member of the political grouping Amanah, which comprises disgruntled current and former BN leaders.

He has said he would be making an important announcement that will impact his political future at an event in Tuaran this weekend.

These developments tally with the analysis by Sabah UiTM political scientist Arnold Puyok, who said at a recent forum on Sabah and Sarawak politics that Pakatan, having been unsuccessful in trying to work with the Sabah faction led by Jeffrey Kitingan, needed another group to assist it on the ground in the Land Below The Wind.

Puyok said the earlier alliance failed because Jeffrey saw Pakatan as unable or unwilling to help him pursue his Borneo agenda, while Anwar considered Jeffrey a dangerous man because if the alliance wins, Pakatan would have to help Jeffrey with his regional agenda.

The analyst predicts that the general election in Sabah will see three-way contests among BN, Jeffrey's United Borneo Front and Pakatan, which will be supported by the new SRF that likely to be led by Bumburing.- malaysiakini 

 

A single spark in SABAH could start a prairie fire...

Although it is now the holly fasting month of Ramadan, the political arena of Sabah is not calm at all. Instead, it is brewing a tide of resignations.

United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (Upko) deputy president and Tuaran MP Datuk Wilfred Bumburing, as well as Umno supreme council member and Beaufort representative Datuk Lajim Ukin are expected to announce this Sunday their withdrawal from the BN.

It is also said that they would join the Pakatan Rakyat.

They are holding high party positions and Lajim is even the Deputy Housing and Local Government Minister. There must be reasons for them to "sacrifice" the established interests and join the alternative coalition.

It is heard that Lajim has not been getting well with state Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman, while Wilfred is dissatisfied with the BN. Wilfred advocates that Upko should leave the BN, but leaving the Sabah BN is very likely to lose the opportunity of being fielded in the next general election.

They have a certain level of influence in their respective constituencies. However, it is still not enough to shake the BN.

Previous failures

In fact, DAP Parliamentary Leader Lim Kit Siang had made a prophecy on December 24, 2011 that a huge political change would emerge in Sabah within 24 to 72 hours.

On April 20 this year, Pakatan Rakyat leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahims also pointed out that a major event would take place in Sabah within one or two weeks, in which a number of leaders would come forward to help the Pakatan Rakyat make its way towards Putrajaya.

However, their prophecies were not fulfilled at that time. Some even ridiculed them.

At the end of last year, it was rumoured that Upko president Tan Sri Bernard Dompok had met the alternative coalition, but it was later denied by Bernard himself.

In addition, a rumour was triggered after Wilfred gave up to be reelected as the BN Tuaran chairman, but joined the Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah-led NGO Angkatan Amanah Merdeka (Amanah).

Musa Aman brickwall

Why no action has been taken so far by BN's central leaders, after the Pakatan Rakyat spread the news? Could it be because they take it as another false alarm like the September 16 regime change claim?

It is speculated that the BN might have taken action spending months to negotiate. However, the negotiation failed due to Musa Aman's tough stand.

Lajim disclosed an inside story that he had met the Prime Minister for four times since December 20 last year. He had also told the Deputy Prime Minister and senior ministers in the Cabinet about the changes needed by Sabah Umno and BN. However, his view was not taken seriously.

It showed that Musa Aman is an assertive leader. Among Musa, Lajim and Wilfred, the BN chose the former. Musa, after all, receives greater support in Sabah compared to the other two.

Don't underestimate: A single spark could start a prairie fire

At this very sensitive moment, deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin's visit to Sabah this Saturday might be related to the matter. However, based on the Sabah's interest-first political characteristic, a day trip might not be able to change anything.

It is expected that the Sunday's tide of resignation would not set a great blow to the BN. However, if the Pakatan Rakyat make use of the BN's infighting to strengthen the alternative coalition's force or form a new front, the alternative coalition might be able to win six to eight parliamentary seats in the coming general election.

It is estimated that if the Pakatan Rakyat is able to make a breakthrough in the four "fixed deposit" states of the BN, namely Sabah, Sarawak, Johor and Pahang, and increase its number of seats from the existing five to 32, it would then have the opportunity to take over the federal government.

Therefore, do not underestimate a single spark, as it could start a prairie fire. It is another political drama for the people of Sabah and the real fun is yet to come!-Sin Chew Daily

MP BN jemput Anwar ke pelancaran SRF...

Ketua perhubungan PKR Sabah Ahmad Tamrin Jaini mengesahkan bahawa ketua pembangkang Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim dijemput untuk menghadiri pelancaran satu pergerakan politik baru oleh dua orang MP BN Datuk Seri Lajim Ukin (Beaufort) dan Datuk Seri Wilfred Bumburing (Tuaran).

Pergerakan tersebut dikenali dengan nama Angkatan Perubahan Sabah (Sabah Reform Front - SRF).

Tamrin ketika dihubungi Malaysiakini mengesahkan bahawa Anwar akan berada di Sabah pada hujung minggu ini atas jemputan tersebut.

Jelasnya acara tersebut bukan program anjuran PKR mahupun Pakatan Rakyat tetapi dianjurkan oleh dua MP berkenaan.

"Dia telah diberikan penghormatan untuk bersama di dalam pelancaran Angkatan Perubahan Sabah," katanya yang menambah, salah satu program itu akan diadakan di Tuaran dan satu lagi di Beaufort.

Ahmad Tamrin menjelaskan bahawa beliau tidak dapat memberikan komen sebelum ini kerana perkara itu masih merupakan spekulasi.

Bagaimanapun, beliau telah menerima jemputan rasmi daripada kedua-dua MP BN tersebut hari ini, katanya.

"Ini adalah perkembangan yang baik untuk Pakatan. Ini menunjukkan mereka sedia untuk meninggalkan BN dan bekerjasama bersama Pakatan untuk menjatuhkan BN di Sabah," katanya.- malaysiakini





 
cheers.