Penang SDO officer Nik Ali calls Penang CM 'biadap'......

While the embattled state development officer (SDO) Nik Ali Mat Yunos was fuming at a press conference held by Umno over Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng's unflattering remarks about him, the latter was finding more fault with him. Lim, who visited the Penang Botanical Gardens yesterday, where two controversial arches remain an eyesore, charged that Nik Ali, who is a federal government appointee, was "openly and blatantly" sabotaging the state government.

"He is like a little Napoleon in the civil service who gets high pay and does nothing for the people, but instead causes losses to them," Lim told reporters during his visit.

Lim wants Nik Ali to come clean about the RM150,000 plus losses over the planned demolition of the two twin arches recently built for an expansion project under the Tourism Ministry. He holds Nik Ali responsible as he was the "controlling officer in charge of overseeing the project". The arches, one of which is tilting, have been criticised by Penangites and tourists who said these have no cultural or aesthetic value. Following an overwhelming outcry in a poll conducted by the Tourism Ministry, minister Ng Yen Yen ordered that these should be demolished.

Lim has taken offence with Nik Ali for refusing to explain who - which department, state or federal government - was responsible for the staggering losses.

"If he is willing to tell us that, we will not pursue the matter. Every sen counts, because it is a question of public trust," Lim added.

RM5 million ultimatum

Lim has also seen red over a letter sent by the SDO's office dated Oct 13, 2009 to the Drainage and Irrigation Department, giving a "RM5 million ultimatum" to the state.

The letter states that the state would have to settle "pending issues" on the Botanic Gardens' facade and pavilion development, failing which, federal funding of RM5 million for the project would be withdrawn.

"This is an example of how the SDO's office is trying to rush development projects through without due consultation and feedback," said Lim. Since then, Lim is alleged to have taken Nik Ali to task over several issues including the official opening of the Penang Hill Railway, where the latter was accused of not providing a seat for the CM.

Recently, Lim slammed Nik Ali for allegedly causing a rift between him and Pulau Betong assemblyperson Muhamad Faris Saad, who raised the issue of sand theft at a plot in Kampung Kenanga which had been earmarked for a government polytechnic college. The SDO has responded angrily by calling Lim 'biadap' (rude), saying the latter has no locus standi to evaluate his work.

Kit Siang wants cabinet to act against Federal officer to act,read here.

source:malaysiakini

Typical civil servant who thinks he's above CM. Dare this Nik guy call a BN MB a biadap?

Pak Jib, tell your civil servant not to be too 'kurang ajar'.....

cheers.

Ron95 - No sale to foreigners, but.........

Petrol station owners who sell RON95 petrol to foreign cars may have their permits withdrawn, once the ruling comes into force effective Aug 1. Minister of Domestic trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said local petrol station owners must be more responsible once the ruling comes into force.

"Monitoring the new ruling will be easier than limiting foreigners from buying only 20 liters of petrol since we only need to see what petrol they are filling up," he told reporters after meeting associations of producers and traders from throughout the country here today.

Ismail Sabri said the ministry would monitor such activities with the help of other agencies like police, Rela and anti-smuggling units. He added that since foreigners can buy RON97 petrol, the questions of complaints from foreigners should not arise.

The price of RON97 petrol in Malaysia is still cheaper than RON95 petrol in Thailand.

"The new ruling is to ensure that subsidy for petrol is only enjoyed by Malaysians and not foreigners," he said.

Ismail Sabri had earlier announced that the new ruling which bars foreigners from buying RON95 petrol in Malaysia.

source:malaysian digest

Whether the Ministry of Domestic Trade,Cooperatives and Consumerism got the balls to take action against these petrol station owners is left to be seen. Almost 99% of the petrol station owners are either their cronies or diehard UMNO members.

Can you really stop a foreign owned car from filling Ron 95 by just looking at its number plates? What if he pays a local to buy Ron95 in 50 liter drums and who is going monitor this operation? The Police,the Ministry's enforcement officer,Rela and anti smuggling units, but will they be around daily?

Can you thrust the Bangla pump attendants.......

cheers.

Price hike reasons laughable says opposition Senators.......

Opposition senators found the reasons for the recent price hike in essential goods "laughable".

"What ever we may call it, the fact is, prices have gone up," said PKR Senator Syed Husin Ali.

One of the reasons cited for the cut in sugar price subsidy - health concerns - was mocked by him.

"Meat can cause high blood pressure, eggs and butter can cause an increase in cholesterol levels - so is the government going to increase the price for these things on grounds of health concerns?" he asked.

He pointed out that the withdrawal in subsidies, especially for essential goods such as petrol and sugar, only burdened the underprivileged. Yet the independent power producers, get a subsidy of RM19 billion.

"The rich are benefiting but the poor have to suffer," he told reporters at the Senate lobby today, demanding better justification for the recent price hikes.

The argument that the prices of essential items in other countries are higher is also nonsensical, said Syed Husin, who is also the PKR deputy president.

"There are countries where their rice is cheaper than ours, there are countries where the price of meat is cheaper than ours, and there are countries where their fruits are cheaper than ours," he exclaimed.

Government waste

Last week, the government had increased the prices of three types of fossil fuels, sugar and cooking gas. Also at the press conference were senators Tunku Abdul Aziz Ibrahim (DAP), S Ramakrishnan (DAP) and Mustafa Kamal Mohd Yusoff (PKR). Ramakrishnan said the government should avoid wastage which is rampant, and stop white elephant projects rather than increasing consumer good prices.

"Besides the subsidy for the IPPs, Approved Permits (APs) are still been given to cronies.

"The government can get a lot of revenue from the APs but they are given out for free," he said.

source:malaysiakini

cheers.

Sand industry: Do not bow down to UMNO.........

A body representing sand entrepreneurs, contractors and buyers in Selangor has today urged the Selangor Pakatan government not to bow down to pressure from the state BN who are targeting the dissolution of the state-owned sand mining company Kumpulan Semesta Sdn Bhd (KSSB).

The group's chairman, Raja Kamarudin Raja Abd Wahid,fears that if KSSB is dissolved, the licences which they have received from the company will also be revoked.

“We will be suffering huge losses as a result of this. Will Umno/BN (the opposition in Selangor) pay for the losses?” he said when handing over a memorandum to Selangor Pakatan exco member for modern agriculture, natural resources and entrepreneur development Yaakob Sapari.

“What is even more frightening is that the opposition has also called for Selangor not to issue any more sand dredging permits on state land,” he said.

Raja Kamarudin, along with 50 supporters, handed over the memorandum to Yaakob at the lobby of the Selangor state secretariat office in Shah Alam today.

Umno left only 'holes'

He also asked for more permits to be issued to mine sand on private land.

“Most of the private land in Selangor have been sapu (hoarded) by the BN and Umno cronies.

“What is left for the Pakatan administration are holes in the ground excavated by the BN and Umno when they were in power,” said Raja Kamarudin.

After accepting the memorandum, Yaakob gave an assurance that the Selangor Pakatan government will not bow down to pressure. He said the state government will maintain KSSB to ensure that revenue from sand mining in the state goes back to the government, and that competitiveness and opportunities for contractors continue to exist.

“In the past, there was only one company (allowed to mine sand in the state). Now there are 18 companies which have entered (the business) through open tender with KSSB,” he said.

Yaakob said the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission has, since detaining one of the company's assistants, not found any evidence of wrongdoing by KSSB. He also reminded sand operators to abide by the specifications of their licences and stay within the law.

source:malaysiakini

cheers.

Melayu umumnya tak sebodoh Melayu UMNO........

'Melayu liberal', 'Melayu alat' cabaran baru Umno baca di sini.

Sebenarnya tak ada Melayu Liberal atau Melayu Alat. Full Stop.

Yang ada hanyalah Melayu UMNO,Melayu PAS dan Melayu PKR. Setahu aku Melayu PAS dan PKR ini lebih cerdik daripada Melayu UMNO.

Semua orang tahu bahawa Melayu UMNO adalah jenis penyamun,kaki anggok,kaki bodek,yes man dan lagak macam lembu pawah. Apakah tidaknya asyik dok ikut saja apa pemimpin depa cakap. Melayu UMNO ini jenis tak kisah apa pemimpin depa buat. Sama ada pemimpin agong depa balun,curi atau sapu berbilion-bilion atas nama konsultasi dsbnya, mereka tak ambil tahu.

Kini, pemimpin2 ini nak terapkan fahaman yang sama ke atas rakyat,terutama orang2 Melayu,kononnya kenaikkan harga barang baru2 ini bukan sebenar kenaikkan harga,tapi hanyalah pelarasan harga semata-mata. Kemundian minta akhbar2 jangan hebohkan pasal kenaikkan harga barang!

Ingat rakyat ini bermentaliti macam orang Melayu UMNO kah? Ikut saja apa pemimpin depa cakap? Sorrylah.....gunalah istilah apa sekali pun dan jangan mai dok temberang sini. Kalau harga gula dulu RM1.65 dan kini 1.90, itu kenaikkan harga namanya!!!

Jadi, yang bodoh tu bukan orang Melayu tapi Melayu UMNO.........




cheers.

Bila PAS minta mufti Perak jadi orang tengah.....

PAS hari ini menafikan pihaknya pernah menghantar wakil untuk bertemu dengan Mufti Perak Tan Sri Harussani Zakaria agar mengaturkan perbincangan bersama Umno bagi membincangkan usaha menyatupadukan orang Islam dan Melayu.

“Tidak, PAS tidak pernah menghantar wakil untuk bertemu dengan Tan Sri Harussani sama ada rasmi ataupun tidak rasmi... saya menghadiri banyak mesyuarat peringkat pusat, setahu saya tiada perbincangan untuk menghantar wakil jumpa beliau,” kata Ketua Penerangan PAS pusat Idris Ahmad.

Idris yang dihubungi The Malaysian Insider memberitahu, Harussani kemungkinan bercakap berdasarkan perbualan tidak formal dengan beberapa pemimpin PAS tetapi ia tidak direstui oleh parti itu.

“Tak tahulah beliau bercakap di atas kapal terbang, kedai kopi atau semasa kenduri kahwin atau di tepi jalan, tetapi secara rasmi atau formal, memang tiada langsung.

“Bagi PAS, perkara berbincang dengan Umno sudah tutup, tak berbangkit lagi,” tambah beliau.

Malah kata Idris, sesi pemukiman PAS di Port Dickson baru-baru ini juga tidak menyentuh soal perbincangan dengan Umno untuk membincangkan soal perpaduan Melayu dan umat Islam. Sehubungan itu Idris meminta Harussani memfokus isu-isu lain yang berkaitan dengan beliau, bukannya menjadi “orang tengah” sebagaimana dilaporkan.

“Apa sebab hendak menjadi orang tengah, Umno hanya memikirkan mengenai PAS bila berada dalam keadaan sukar.

“Ada banyak perkara besar, isu-isu yang perlu dibincangkan dan diatasi oleh mufti... Tan Sri Harussani harus menyelesaikan masalah besar yang lain, tak perlu jadi orang tengah bagi Umno-PAS,” katanya.

“Ketika ditanya sama ada ada pemimpin yang mengusahakan pertemuan antara Umno-PAS dengan meminta Harussani sebagai orang tengah, Idris berkata:

“Kita tidak tahu siapa mereka... tapi PAS tidak meminta mereka adakan perbincangan. Kalau ada pun mereka tidak memaklumkan kepimpinan pusat.”

Semalam, Harussan mendedahkan bahawa beliau mahu terus menyatupadukan orang Islam dan Melayu di negara ini walaupun terdapat pihak yang tidak menyenangi usaha murni beliau ini.

Namun beliau berkata beliau tidak pernah berputus asa demi mengekalkan kebaikan dan perpaduan umat Islam di negara ini, khususnya antara parti Umno dan PAS.

source:malaysian insider

Aku rasa biarlah kerja-kerja politik diurus oleh orang politik saja.

Tuan mufti patut fokus kepada kerja2nya saja tak payahlah sibuk2 pasal politik.

Kenapa tuan mufti tak jemput PKR bersama, bukankah PKR juga majoriti ahli adalah orang2 Melayu?

Awat, tuan mufti ingat UMNO tu baik sangatkah, bila dalam kegawatan baru nak merangkak kat PAS, cakap pasal perpaduan itu dan ini. Tapi soal bayaran royalti kepada gomen Kelantan, UMNO buat tak peduli saja.......

cheers.

'Upward price adjustment' aka 'Price hike: call a spade a spade'.......

The Perak Consumers Association (PCA) has criticised the government for insulting the intelligence of consumers by playing with words to mislead them on the price increase of essential goods.

“We are not living in the dark ages. (It's no longer so easy) to take consumers for a ride with such coinage of words,” said an angry PCA president Abdul Rahman Said Ali.

“Muzzling the media from reporting the truth will not prevent people from learning the facts or gaining such knowledge, as modern communications is so advanced,” he said.


He was referring to media reports on the price hikes, watered down by saying Premier Najib Abdul Razak had “made a bold decision” in reducing the subsidies for fuel, gas and sugar. The vocal consumerist argued that Najib should instead be bold to speak the truth and prepare to face possible backlash from consumers, rather than trying to pull the wool over their eyes.

“Removal of subsidies is not a policy (solution), but it is mere housekeeping,” he said, implying that tightening the consumers' belts to cover the government's overspending does not solve the nation's budget woes.

He argues that any implementation of the subsidy squeeze must be accompanied by financial concessions that benefit the consumer. For example, Rahman wants the government to reduce toll charges across the board, to lift the quota embargo on rice imports as the price of rice is much cheaper overseas, and reduce the high taxes on imported cars to encourage an competitive, open market to bring down car prices.

Rahman also demanded that the government itself embark on an austerity drive to ensure that public funds are economically spent. This means cutting mega projects that do not benefit the public, cutting wastage in government spending and clamping down on corruption that drains the nation's coffers. He pointed out that this included unnecessary and lavish expenditure, such as providing free meals at government meetings. He added that the continuing procurement policy of government tenders, which is closed or through negotiations rather than open, is a sore point.

Rahman commented that the price hike may seem small, but even a five sen increase in essentials will have a spiralling effect, such as on transport costs and related goods and services. He is sceptical that the government will be effective in preventing such spill-over effects on the cost of living, other than to pay lip service in meaningless warnings to perpetrators who take advantage of price increases, or make excuses such as lack of manpower to enforce rulings to keep costs down.

Meanwhile, the anti-fuel hike protest movement (Protes) will launch their campaign against the govermenment's move to raise petrol, diesel, sugar and liquified petroleum gas this July 28.The launch will take place at the Kuala Lumpur-Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall, Protes coordinator Dr Hatta Ramli told a press conference today after a meeting with other Protes leaders on the matter.

source:malaysiakini

A comment from Beetle, who has this to say..........

Last night the BN government held a grand dinner in a five star hotel for 2,800 Bakisa members in Kota Kinabalu and the PM and his"first lady" was the guest of honour. At an average of RM100 per head a total of RM280,000 was spend for food not inclusive of other expenses.How do the government expect the rakyat to support the subsidies cut when they themselves are so extravagantly spending the rakyat's money. Is this the BN's motto "Do what I tell you to do and not what I do". You can spin and lie but the rakyat will have eyes to see for themselves whether you are sincere.

Potong subsidi tak cukup elak pembaziran,baca di sini.


cheers.

PM's Office to editors: Taboo to say 'price hike'........

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak yesterday attempted to preempt a public backlash over the '5-in-1 price hike' by discouraging the press from using specific words in their reports. During a special briefing at the Prime Minister's Office in Putrajaya afternoon yesterday, editors were told not to use the words "price hike" or its Malay equivalent "harga barang naik".

Instead, they were told to use the words "upward price adjustment" or "subsidy rationalisation". The briefing was conducted by Najib's (left) media advisors and several participants told Malaysiakini that it was a friendly atmosphere.

"They politely appealed for our cooperation, but the subtle spin was too obvious to ignore," said one participant.

The media advisors encouraged the press to explain the "rationality" of the subsidy cuts in their news reports and also prominently highlight the fact that Malaysia's fuel and sugar prices were still the lowest in the region.

Furthermore, the press were advised not to conduct street polls and some participants claim that there was obvious hints opinions should only be sought from pro-government NGOs and consumer groups.

Don't say 'government savings'

Interestingly, sources said that the media advisors also requested that the press not use the word "government savings" in their reports.

"The officials said that this will prompt the public to ask where the savings had gone into. The emphasis is to highlight reduction of expenditure rather than savings," said a source.

In 2005, the Abdullah Ahmad Badawi administration had claimed that subsidy cuts for water, energy and fuel would help the government "save" RM4.6 billion. Abdullah pledged that the "savings" would be spent on improving public transport, but critics have pointed out that there was no evidence of such. One media advisor even went to the extent of suggesting that the press play up Najib "boldness" in undertaking subsidy cuts.

Meticulous PR strategy

Unlike previous years, the government appeared to have meticulously planned its propaganda efforts to reduce public outcry over the simultaneous price hikes in fuel, sugar and gas. Yesterday, Najib's 12-point announcement stressed that the price hikes were necessary to curb a burgeoning government deficit, root out smuggling and, creatively, stating that the move would help reduce sugar consumption to help keep Malaysians healthy. He said that the money saved from government subsidies would be spent on ensuring better healthcare and education, which are still heavily subsidised.

This was followed by a statement from government think-tank Performance Management and Delivery Unit (Pemandu) which claimed that Malaysia's favourite beverage - teh tarik - should only cost 1.25 sen more. Even though the editors were briefed at 4pm, they were urged to embargo the news - including on its online versions - until the premier issued his statement at 8pm.



Newspapers play along

A cursory glance at all the newspaper front pages today indicated that most media organisations heeded the premier's requests. Utusan Malaysia headlined 'Subsidi diselaras' while Berita Harian went with 'Harga baru'. Sinar Harian went as far as burying the news in page 4.

The six peninsula Chinese dailies, which are traditionally more independent, only one used the words "price hike" on its front page. The other five preferred to call it "new prices".

Umno-owned English daily NST carried the news on its front page with a sub-heading which reads "but they are still among lowest in the region".

MCA-owned English daily The Star carried the sub-heading "Gov't bold move will have minimal impact on people, says PM".

Tamil dailies Makkal Osai and Tamil Nesan (the latter owned by MIC) did not carry any news about the price hikes.

Editor diarah elakkan perkataan 'barang naik', baca di sini.

source:malaysiakini

Hari ini kedai mamak, tempat aku minum teh dah sound, tak lama lagi harga teh tarik akan naik daripada RM1.10 kepada RM1.30...up 20sen!!!

“Upward price adjustment”(pelarasan harga) atau “Subsidy rationalization”(rasionalisasi subsidi), semuanya membawa erti harga barang naik!!!!!

Dulu harga gula RM1.65 tapi sekarang harganya RM1.90. Tanyalah Ali,Ah Chong dan Samy, mereka tak akan menjawab,"oh! itu pelarasan harga” atau “rasionalisasi subsidi".

Sebaliknya mereka akan menjawab............

"HARGA BARANG NAIK!!!"

ikhlas daripada PM Najib & kerajaan.......

cheers.