The Minister in Prime Minister’s Department, Dato’ Seri Abdul Wahid Omar explained that “the government feels it should not continue to pay very high compensation to highway concession companies to keep toll rates from rising”.
He said the government had to pay RM510 million in compensation for the January to October period this year following the decision to postpone toll rate increase which should have been implemented in January.
“As such the Federal Government allowed concession companies to raise toll rates," he said.
The Minister himself admitted that the toll compensation paid by the Government is “very high”. Hence Dato’ Seri Wahid believes that this “very high” compensation should instead be shouldered by the man on the street. It does not matter that they are now already suffering from the compounded effects of the Goods & Services Tax (GST), the staggering ringgit depreciation and the significantly slowing economy.
Therefore the “very high compensation” argument is an extremely poor but oft-used excuse to subject ordinary Malaysians to higher toll rates.
And yet, Dato’ Seri Wahid had the cheek to say that the increase only covered highways in the urban areas with a maximum rate increase of RM1. And increase of “just” RM1 on the Damansara Sprint Highway meant a 100% increase in toll rate from RM1 to RM2! That effective means a doubling of revenue for the toll concessionaires!
Showing posts with label Travel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Travel. Show all posts
Friday, October 16, 2015
Tuesday, October 13, 2015
The rakyat pays for the massive toll hikes as a result of BN's failed privatisation policies and broken promises
As if the rakyat isn’t sufficiently burdened by the newly introduced Goods and Services Tax (GST), the massive depreciation of the Ringgit which resulted in a corresponding increase in the cost of basic imported goods and a stuttering economy resulting from a confidence crisis triggered by the monstrous 1MDB scandal, the Government has approved toll rate hikes for 15 highways across the country.
The new rates will involve the Kajang Ring Road (SILK), SMART Highway, Highway Maju Expressway (MEX), Duta-Ulu Kelang Expressway (DUKE), KL-Kuala Selangor Expressway (LATAR), New Pantai Expressway (NPE), Sungai Besi Expressway (BESRAYA), Ampang Kuala Lumpur Elevated Highway (AKLEH), Guthrie Corridor Expressway (GCE), Kemuning-Shah Alam Expressway (LKSA) and Kuala Lumpur-Karak Highway (KLK), Damansara-Puchong Highway (LDP), Kajang–Seremban Highway (LEKAS), Senai–Desaru Expressway, SPRINT Highway and the Grand Saga Highway.
The rate increases are exorbitant and will cause a massive dent to the Malaysian road users. The users of Sprint Damansara Highway is faced with a 100% increase from RM1.00 to RM2.00. The Kajang commuters using the SILK highway will be confronted with a 80% hike from RM1.00 to RM1.80. The Maju Expressway which connects the Sg Besi Highway with Putrajaya will see a 75% hike from RM2.00 to RM3.50. Both the Ampang Elevated Highway and Kerinchi Link will also see 66.7% increase in toll rates.
Come Thursday, 15 October, Malaysian motorist will feel like they been run over by a speeding monster truck. The toll rates have been approved despite the fact that nearly all of these highways have been recording lucrative profits over the past few years. The increase in toll rates merely allow the crony toll concessionaires to reap astronomical profits at the expense of the man-on-the-street, with the consent of the Government.
The new rates will involve the Kajang Ring Road (SILK), SMART Highway, Highway Maju Expressway (MEX), Duta-Ulu Kelang Expressway (DUKE), KL-Kuala Selangor Expressway (LATAR), New Pantai Expressway (NPE), Sungai Besi Expressway (BESRAYA), Ampang Kuala Lumpur Elevated Highway (AKLEH), Guthrie Corridor Expressway (GCE), Kemuning-Shah Alam Expressway (LKSA) and Kuala Lumpur-Karak Highway (KLK), Damansara-Puchong Highway (LDP), Kajang–Seremban Highway (LEKAS), Senai–Desaru Expressway, SPRINT Highway and the Grand Saga Highway.
The rate increases are exorbitant and will cause a massive dent to the Malaysian road users. The users of Sprint Damansara Highway is faced with a 100% increase from RM1.00 to RM2.00. The Kajang commuters using the SILK highway will be confronted with a 80% hike from RM1.00 to RM1.80. The Maju Expressway which connects the Sg Besi Highway with Putrajaya will see a 75% hike from RM2.00 to RM3.50. Both the Ampang Elevated Highway and Kerinchi Link will also see 66.7% increase in toll rates.
Come Thursday, 15 October, Malaysian motorist will feel like they been run over by a speeding monster truck. The toll rates have been approved despite the fact that nearly all of these highways have been recording lucrative profits over the past few years. The increase in toll rates merely allow the crony toll concessionaires to reap astronomical profits at the expense of the man-on-the-street, with the consent of the Government.
Friday, May 20, 2011
Visiting Taiwan
I'll be visiting Taiwan from the 24-27 May and will be meeting up with the Malaysian students, business and expatriates community there. Together with me, Teo Nie Ching (MP for Serdang), Ng Wei Aik (ADUN Komtar) and Violet Yong (ADUN Pending) will be organising an public forum in Taipei.
All Malaysians and Malaysians-at-heart are cordially invited to attend and participate in the public forum and dialogue on "Malaysia: The Politics & Economics of Change".
The details of the event are as follows:
Please RSVP at our Facebook event page.
There will be a cover charge of NT500 to help defray the cost of the event. As seats will be limited, we look forward to your confirmation by May 22, 2011. We eagerly await your participation.
馬來西亞民主行動黨誠意邀請所有在台的馬來西亞人，參與即將來臨的公共論壇──改變大馬政治與經濟。
民主行動黨四名國、州議員將現身台北，期望與旅居台灣的馬來西亞國民互動、交換意見。這四名議員包括民主行動黨全國宣傳秘書潘儉偉（八打靈再也北區國會議員）、全國副宣傳秘書張念群（沙登國會議員）、青年團副團長楊薇誨（砂拉越朋嶺區州議員）以及社青團宣傳秘書黃偉益（檳城光大區州議員）。
現場將會準備簡單的茶點，地點就在台北市松江路69巷5號的蛙咖啡，由於現場座位有限，希望有興趣參與的朋友們能在5月22日前報名，以方便訂餐與座位安排。這是一場收費講座，我們將向每一位入場者酌收新台幣500元費用。
All Malaysians and Malaysians-at-heart are cordially invited to attend and participate in the public forum and dialogue on "Malaysia: The Politics & Economics of Change".
The details of the event are as follows:
Malaysia: The Politics and Economics of Change
25th May 2011 (Wednesday) 7.30pm
Frog Cafe （No.5, Lane. 69, Songjiang Road., Taipei City)
Finger food and light refreshments will be served
Please RSVP at our Facebook event page.
There will be a cover charge of NT500 to help defray the cost of the event. As seats will be limited, we look forward to your confirmation by May 22, 2011. We eagerly await your participation.
馬來西亞民主行動黨誠意邀請所有在台的馬來西亞人，參與即將來臨的公共論壇──改變大馬政治與經濟。
民主行動黨四名國、州議員將現身台北，期望與旅居台灣的馬來西亞國民互動、交換意見。這四名議員包括民主行動黨全國宣傳秘書潘儉偉（八打靈再也北區國會議員）、全國副宣傳秘書張念群（沙登國會議員）、青年團副團長楊薇誨（砂拉越朋嶺區州議員）以及社青團宣傳秘書黃偉益（檳城光大區州議員）。
現場將會準備簡單的茶點，地點就在台北市松江路69巷5號的蛙咖啡，由於現場座位有限，希望有興趣參與的朋友們能在5月22日前報名，以方便訂餐與座位安排。這是一場收費講座，我們將向每一位入場者酌收新台幣500元費用。
Thursday, October 07, 2010
Trip to Melbourne
You might have watched the video excerpt of my little speech at the University of Melbourne forum organised by the Malaysia Australia Students Council Association (MASCA) of Victoria. Here's someone else who blogged on the event. ;-)
Are we there yet?
C K Chin
I attended the Malaysian Aspiration Programme (MAP) organised by MASCA Victoria yesterday. The fact that Tony Pua was among the speakers (the other two being Tunku Zain Al’Abidin Muhriz, prince of Negeri Sembilan, and Assoc. Prof Abdul Razak Ahmad, a professor from UM) gave me the motivation to attend the event.
So it was important Tony Pua did not disappoint. I can see why this Oxford PPE-ist is making such rapid progress in his political career. He was earnest in his arguments and backed them all up with simple logic and mathematics. I was really impressed with the way he summoned the audience to read up about the newly-proposed ETP. He criticised it (he is from the opposition), but showed great bi-partisanship to acknowledge the idea, if not the feasibility, of the ETP. Questions to him were returned with answers that were critical, structured, and most of the time with humour and wit - a reflection of his PPE education.
The prince, Tunku Zain, was for me, a surprise bonus to the forum. I am not surprised by his privileged education background (Alice Smith, Marlborough College, LSE), but more so with his achievements at such a young age. He worked in the House of Lords in the UK, in the UN in New York, and is now the chairman of IDEAS, a think tank in Malaysia. Again, he demonstrated what a difference education can make of a person. He spoke with a confidence and a sense of credibility that we lack as youths. He criticised the government over issues regarding concerts and alcohol. It is encouraging to see this influential Malay youth talking with common sense.
The same cannot be said of Assoc Prof Abdul Razak though. Although he attempts to distance himself with the old-thinkers, his examples of himself being supportive of change were poor and acted more as excuses rather than reasons. Although he was in general denouncing the NEP policies, he still maintained that a compromise should be struck between Malays and non-Malays. Why can’t we just have an NEP that helps the poor, no matter what race? This may not be his fault. This just shows the difficulty of taking the issue of race out of the equation. However, I acknowledge his intentions of having change in Malaysia, and his rejections of the old ways.
All in all, the event was a good injection of encouragement and inspiration. If the speakers represent the general makeup of our society, we may not be far from a true 1Malaysia. Yet, the general trait of the three speakers - an accountable politician, an inspiring youth leader and a pragmatic educator - is that they are all extremely well-educated, a fact that cannot be applied to the general public of Malaysia. Therefore, education plays an important role, if not the key role, of us reaching our goal to be a successful nation.
Finally, the conversation between an immigrant from Malaysia who currently lives here and Tony Pua struck me most.
“I have been here for 24 years. Back in Malaysia, there is no acknowledgment of my value to the country. Now that I am settled here, the government is asking me to go back. Shouldn’t we be asking what the country can do for us, rather than what we can do for the country?”
In which Tony replied, “I see Malaysia as my home. So when it has termites, or when its roof is leaking, or when it is in need of repainting, I make sure I’m the one who gets rid of the termites, that I repair the leak, that i coat the place with new paint.”
I cannot agree more.
Are we there yet?
C K Chin
I attended the Malaysian Aspiration Programme (MAP) organised by MASCA Victoria yesterday. The fact that Tony Pua was among the speakers (the other two being Tunku Zain Al’Abidin Muhriz, prince of Negeri Sembilan, and Assoc. Prof Abdul Razak Ahmad, a professor from UM) gave me the motivation to attend the event.
So it was important Tony Pua did not disappoint. I can see why this Oxford PPE-ist is making such rapid progress in his political career. He was earnest in his arguments and backed them all up with simple logic and mathematics. I was really impressed with the way he summoned the audience to read up about the newly-proposed ETP. He criticised it (he is from the opposition), but showed great bi-partisanship to acknowledge the idea, if not the feasibility, of the ETP. Questions to him were returned with answers that were critical, structured, and most of the time with humour and wit - a reflection of his PPE education.
The prince, Tunku Zain, was for me, a surprise bonus to the forum. I am not surprised by his privileged education background (Alice Smith, Marlborough College, LSE), but more so with his achievements at such a young age. He worked in the House of Lords in the UK, in the UN in New York, and is now the chairman of IDEAS, a think tank in Malaysia. Again, he demonstrated what a difference education can make of a person. He spoke with a confidence and a sense of credibility that we lack as youths. He criticised the government over issues regarding concerts and alcohol. It is encouraging to see this influential Malay youth talking with common sense.
The same cannot be said of Assoc Prof Abdul Razak though. Although he attempts to distance himself with the old-thinkers, his examples of himself being supportive of change were poor and acted more as excuses rather than reasons. Although he was in general denouncing the NEP policies, he still maintained that a compromise should be struck between Malays and non-Malays. Why can’t we just have an NEP that helps the poor, no matter what race? This may not be his fault. This just shows the difficulty of taking the issue of race out of the equation. However, I acknowledge his intentions of having change in Malaysia, and his rejections of the old ways.
All in all, the event was a good injection of encouragement and inspiration. If the speakers represent the general makeup of our society, we may not be far from a true 1Malaysia. Yet, the general trait of the three speakers - an accountable politician, an inspiring youth leader and a pragmatic educator - is that they are all extremely well-educated, a fact that cannot be applied to the general public of Malaysia. Therefore, education plays an important role, if not the key role, of us reaching our goal to be a successful nation.
Finally, the conversation between an immigrant from Malaysia who currently lives here and Tony Pua struck me most.
“I have been here for 24 years. Back in Malaysia, there is no acknowledgment of my value to the country. Now that I am settled here, the government is asking me to go back. Shouldn’t we be asking what the country can do for us, rather than what we can do for the country?”
In which Tony replied, “I see Malaysia as my home. So when it has termites, or when its roof is leaking, or when it is in need of repainting, I make sure I’m the one who gets rid of the termites, that I repair the leak, that i coat the place with new paint.”
I cannot agree more.
Tuesday, October 05, 2010
Trip to Sydney
Malaysia ’s future comes to Sydney
LETTERS/SURAT
Monday, 04 October 2010 admin-s
By William de Cruz
They came to sell the future, a ‘new’ country. And by the time Malaysian Opposition MPs Tony Pua and Jeff Ooi left the Delima dinner on 23 September 2010 in Sydney, they surely knew the movement for change had also captured the New South Wales capital city in its wake.
For the likes of SABM (Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia) and the “diaspora” (thanks, Jeff) of Malaysia's ever-growing Opposition, Sydney is a bit late coming to the party. That’s partly because Adelaide and Penang are sister cities, and the former has attracted a strong presence from leaders of the Democratic Action Party, which has Penang as its base and peninsular stronghold. Melbourne was an earlier start, and stranger things have happened.
Nevertheless, Malaysians (PRs in Australia who still hold Malaysian passports), former kampungites who are now Aussie citizens, well wishers and supporters - 75 in all - had gathered to welcome the MPs, add a new twist to “Malaysia boleh” and send them back to the zeitgeist, hopefully heartened that help is also to be found in Australia.
The audience heard how corruption has festered and flourished for so long that an overseas unwillingness to participate in the Malaysian economy has led to foreign direct investment crashing by 81 per cent in 2009, sandwiching the nation between Laos (just behind) and the Philippines in the FDI rankings.
We don't know to laugh or cry because Mahathir Mohamed's New Economic Policy has been replaced by Najib Razak's New Economic Model; Penang will not be part of a High-Speed Broadband network worth tens of billions; challenging the Constitution is threatening the rights of Malays.
We are told of the failures and fantasies of a former minister of education who has launched a MR500 billion-plus program to stimulate the economy and transform Malaysia - in some countries it would be referred to as nothing short of pork-barrelling.
We suspended disbelief to know UMNO Youth and an increasingly Malay-supremacist Perkasa are using police reports to stymie the Opposition, so if Pua talks about the need to “suspend unnecessary subsidies”, he is instead accused of working to “deny Bumiputera rights”.
And we nodded our heads (side-ways) to be reminded of how the Malaysian media continues to hold the truth a distant second to political expediency.
The murder only got a passing mention - such is the litany of malfeasance.
Tony Fernandez should be grateful for the several plugs his low-cost carrier was given at Delima, with Ooi regularly reminding his fellow Malaysians that they only need jump on an AirAsia flight to return home and vote at the next elections to fully claim their role in change.
But Pua and Ooi also heard about tapping the fountain of votes that must be in the hands of Malaysians who left a beloved homeland, tired and beaten by a system of economic, cultural and religious apartheid. These migrants live without the auspices of a High Commission or Consulate that will encourage the postal vote. In fact, the last time this writer asked, the HC in Canberra very helpfully replied: “Balik undi, lah!”
Pua told us of his own brush with a “postal vote” - a bullet in an envelope mailed to his Petaling Jaya Utara office.
Ooi spoke of a shadow cabinet, which is also to say there is every confidence now that the next election may cost the ruling coalition much more than that two-thirds majority.
There was talk of a future with Nurul.
The new guard is already on the ground running, and Pua and Ooi are among the leaders of the pack - young, unbeaten, determined, engaging, frank and with faith enough to know that you can move that mount, you just have to learn to live with kicking around a few stones for a while.
Before the night moved into full swing, co-organiser John Khoo told us exactly how much was raised per dinner seat. He didn’t look very pleased - more had been collected from 55 diners at an earlier SABM fund-raiser this year. An empty wine chiller was immediately passed around and more moolah rolled in.
Amid the addresses by Pua and Ooi as well as a testy but invigorating Q&A session, raffles and an auction were conducted to raise more cash.
But money was not the measure of success that night, when an informal coalition of people with a connection to Malaysia brought the MPs to a bunch of people hungry for hope.
The DAP duo reached into the pockets of patriots, which is not about supporting any particular government, and there were rich pickings.
It was not the money, but a future was bought.
Later, Khoo was happy to confess: “I am an Australian citizen, but Malaysia will always be my country of birth, and I want to be part of the history that will bring change to Malaysia .”
It used to be said that if change were to come to pass in Malaysia, then it would have to come at the hands of the Malay race which hold the power as the MCA and MIC support an artifice of racial harmony and integration.
That night in Sydney, there was an assurance that change today is firmly in the hands of all Malaysians.
More than 50 years since, ‘merdeka’ may be just around the corner.
LETTERS/SURAT
Monday, 04 October 2010 admin-s
By William de Cruz
They came to sell the future, a ‘new’ country. And by the time Malaysian Opposition MPs Tony Pua and Jeff Ooi left the Delima dinner on 23 September 2010 in Sydney, they surely knew the movement for change had also captured the New South Wales capital city in its wake.
For the likes of SABM (Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia) and the “diaspora” (thanks, Jeff) of Malaysia's ever-growing Opposition, Sydney is a bit late coming to the party. That’s partly because Adelaide and Penang are sister cities, and the former has attracted a strong presence from leaders of the Democratic Action Party, which has Penang as its base and peninsular stronghold. Melbourne was an earlier start, and stranger things have happened.
Nevertheless, Malaysians (PRs in Australia who still hold Malaysian passports), former kampungites who are now Aussie citizens, well wishers and supporters - 75 in all - had gathered to welcome the MPs, add a new twist to “Malaysia boleh” and send them back to the zeitgeist, hopefully heartened that help is also to be found in Australia.
The audience heard how corruption has festered and flourished for so long that an overseas unwillingness to participate in the Malaysian economy has led to foreign direct investment crashing by 81 per cent in 2009, sandwiching the nation between Laos (just behind) and the Philippines in the FDI rankings.
We don't know to laugh or cry because Mahathir Mohamed's New Economic Policy has been replaced by Najib Razak's New Economic Model; Penang will not be part of a High-Speed Broadband network worth tens of billions; challenging the Constitution is threatening the rights of Malays.
We are told of the failures and fantasies of a former minister of education who has launched a MR500 billion-plus program to stimulate the economy and transform Malaysia - in some countries it would be referred to as nothing short of pork-barrelling.
We suspended disbelief to know UMNO Youth and an increasingly Malay-supremacist Perkasa are using police reports to stymie the Opposition, so if Pua talks about the need to “suspend unnecessary subsidies”, he is instead accused of working to “deny Bumiputera rights”.
And we nodded our heads (side-ways) to be reminded of how the Malaysian media continues to hold the truth a distant second to political expediency.
The murder only got a passing mention - such is the litany of malfeasance.
Tony Fernandez should be grateful for the several plugs his low-cost carrier was given at Delima, with Ooi regularly reminding his fellow Malaysians that they only need jump on an AirAsia flight to return home and vote at the next elections to fully claim their role in change.
But Pua and Ooi also heard about tapping the fountain of votes that must be in the hands of Malaysians who left a beloved homeland, tired and beaten by a system of economic, cultural and religious apartheid. These migrants live without the auspices of a High Commission or Consulate that will encourage the postal vote. In fact, the last time this writer asked, the HC in Canberra very helpfully replied: “Balik undi, lah!”
Pua told us of his own brush with a “postal vote” - a bullet in an envelope mailed to his Petaling Jaya Utara office.
Ooi spoke of a shadow cabinet, which is also to say there is every confidence now that the next election may cost the ruling coalition much more than that two-thirds majority.
There was talk of a future with Nurul.
The new guard is already on the ground running, and Pua and Ooi are among the leaders of the pack - young, unbeaten, determined, engaging, frank and with faith enough to know that you can move that mount, you just have to learn to live with kicking around a few stones for a while.
Before the night moved into full swing, co-organiser John Khoo told us exactly how much was raised per dinner seat. He didn’t look very pleased - more had been collected from 55 diners at an earlier SABM fund-raiser this year. An empty wine chiller was immediately passed around and more moolah rolled in.
Amid the addresses by Pua and Ooi as well as a testy but invigorating Q&A session, raffles and an auction were conducted to raise more cash.
But money was not the measure of success that night, when an informal coalition of people with a connection to Malaysia brought the MPs to a bunch of people hungry for hope.
The DAP duo reached into the pockets of patriots, which is not about supporting any particular government, and there were rich pickings.
It was not the money, but a future was bought.
Later, Khoo was happy to confess: “I am an Australian citizen, but Malaysia will always be my country of birth, and I want to be part of the history that will bring change to Malaysia .”
It used to be said that if change were to come to pass in Malaysia, then it would have to come at the hands of the Malay race which hold the power as the MCA and MIC support an artifice of racial harmony and integration.
That night in Sydney, there was an assurance that change today is firmly in the hands of all Malaysians.
More than 50 years since, ‘merdeka’ may be just around the corner.
Trip to Adelaide
Pictures courtesy of Jonah Sia
I spoke to some 50-60 Malaysians in Adelaide when I was there on the 19th September and Hussein Hamid has written a report on his blog post. It was my first stop in Australia, a good meeting, a good start to link up to Malaysians down under ;-)
Tony Pua in Adelaide Hussein Hamid
Why is it that that which is supposes to unite us ends up dividing us? I was at a meet on Sunday where Tony Pua, Member of Parliament for Petaling Jaya Utara, was in Adelaide to meet with Malaysian. Any Malaysians! Not only Chinese, not only DAP members not only Pakatan Rakyat supporters …it was just “Tea with Tony Pua @ Adelaide” …no Yang Berhormat…just Tony Pua.
First roadblock: One smart aleck asked me why should the meet be at a place call The Chapel? No need to guess what race the smart aleck was - is not a Chapel “A building used by Christians, members of other religions, and sometimes interfaith communities, as a place of fellowship and worship” …Jesus Christ I thought to myself, it is just a place to meet with Tony! I do not even know if Tony is a Christian and I do not care! Suffice to say that I know that guy will not be turning up at the meet.
It was a good crowd. Standing room only and I was the only traitor…errr I mean Malay around. I came late but my white hair and age persuaded someone to give up his seat for me. Thankfully I sat down. Tony was already in full flight and as he talked my eyes swept across the sixty odd crowds. Chinese, Chinese, Chinese…about two Mat Salleh and I think one Indian. Some came with their family and a number of students too were present. A good crowd eager to listen to what this messenger from KL has got to tell them of home.
As Tony talked a few words caught my ears…APC (Armoured Personal Carriers) that cost over Ringgit 30 million each, FDI, that Petronas provided our nation with about 40% of its income, 1 Malaysia, Muhyiddin and his “I am a Malay first” comment…all the usual suspect.
It was not a taklimat (an information presentation – very formal – for those that do not understand Malay!)…he was talking to us and telling us what could be better for our country, how it could be better and it had better be better or we would be in trouble! I thought it ended too soon after he took questions from the crowd but then we continued talking with him and with each other over tea.
What should have been an opportunity for Malaysian to meet with each other and to listen to someone from Malaysia talk about things in KL became for some Malaysian, another reason to shun the Chinese and the DAP for being a racist “for chinese only” political organization. No Malays came to listen, to question or debate with Tony on what he had to say and on what they perceive DAP was or was not doing. Why?
Why is it that that which is supposes to unite us end up dividing us? The reality is that the same thing will most probably be happening in Melbourne and Sydney where Tony is next due to visit. I hope some one there will tell me that this is not so.
I think this young articulate politician is our future. He was not embarrass to tell us that in DAP and Pakatan Rakyat there is a lack of good capable people to strengthen the organization and to help them to govern in the states they control.
After listening to him I understood why Pakatan Rakyat did not have a shadow cabinet – because there is no provision in our constitution to recognize a shadow cabinet what more to provide money for its working. And of course as Tony pointed out Pakatan Rakyat simply do not have the resources to look into this effectively for now. Such refreshing admission from him augers well for the future of our country when Pakatan Rakyat is call into service. Even now, as he emphasized, the royalties earned from sand in Selangor alone has increased to RM$15 million from the RM$4 million during the time of Khir Toyo of the Palatial Palace fame!
All too soon it ended. In my over thirty years in Australia I must confess that this is the first time I have attended any meet, get together or functions with any other Malaysians. Methinks I will be going to another one when Lim Guan Eng comes over at the end of this month!
Thank you Tony for taking the trouble to meet with us and to my new Malaysian Chinese Friends…thank you for making me feel welcome at a “racist DAP get together held in a Chapel!”
One regret. I would have taken more images of the meet but refrained from doing so lest Tony or anyone else thinks I am from the Special Branch!
Friday, September 10, 2010
Howdy Australia!
I will be making a trip to Adelaide, Sydney and Melbourne later this month September and will be meeting up with Malaysians there. For those keen on meeting up, the following are the schedule details:
1. ADELAIDE
Afternoon Tea @ Lincoln College
Date: 19 Sept 2010 (Sunday)
Time: 3.00pm
Venue: The Chapel, Lincoln College, Brougham Place, North Adelaide
Contact: tonypua@yahoo.com
Facebook Event: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=149597108405516&ref=mf
There's no cover charge for Tea, but voluntary donations are welcome to cover the cost of the event. Any excess proceeds will go towards DAP for its activities.
2. SYDNEY
An Evening with Tony Pua & Jeff Ooi @ Delima
Date: 23 Sept 2010 (Thursday)
Time: 7.00pm
Venue: Delima Restaurant, Shop 69, Level 5, One Dixon Shopping Centre
Contact: 92677045 (Dennis/Delima) or migsyd@yahoo.com
Tickets: AUD$45 per person (AUD$35 for students) for a 7-course dinner
Facebook Event: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=107459695981224&index=1
Limited seats available, please book to confirm. This event is organised by the Malaysia Interest Group Sydney (MIGSYD). Any excess proceeds will go towards DAP for its activities.
3. MELBOURNE
1. Dinner with Tony Pua @ Kedai Satay
Date: 24 Sept 2010 (Fri)
Time: 7pm
Venue: Kedai Satay (Upper Floor), 186 King's St
Contact: tonypua@yahoo.com, david.teoh@gmail.com
2. Malaysian Aspiration Programme (MAP) Forum
Date: 25 Sept 2010 (Sat)
Time: 12pm - 3pm
Venue: Elizabeth Murdoch Theatre, University of Melbourne
Contact: http://map.mascavictoria.com/
This event is open to students and public, organised by the Malaysian Students' Council of Australia (Victoria). Admission is free. It will feature other prominent speakers from Malaysia - Dr Awang Adek Hussin (Deputy Minister of Finance), Tunku Zain Al-’Abidin Tuanku Muhriz (President, Inst for Democracy & Economic Affairs) and Assoc Prof Abdul Razak Ahmad (Research Fellow, University of Leeds)
Please forward the above details to all Malaysians and Malaysians-at-heart who are interested to meet up in Australia, and email me for any additional details required. I look forward to meeting and catching up with all of you! ;-)
1. ADELAIDE
Afternoon Tea @ Lincoln College
Date: 19 Sept 2010 (Sunday)
Time: 3.00pm
Venue: The Chapel, Lincoln College, Brougham Place, North Adelaide
Contact: tonypua@yahoo.com
Facebook Event: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=149597108405516&ref=mf
There's no cover charge for Tea, but voluntary donations are welcome to cover the cost of the event. Any excess proceeds will go towards DAP for its activities.
2. SYDNEY
An Evening with Tony Pua & Jeff Ooi @ Delima
Date: 23 Sept 2010 (Thursday)
Time: 7.00pm
Venue: Delima Restaurant, Shop 69, Level 5, One Dixon Shopping Centre
Contact: 92677045 (Dennis/Delima) or migsyd@yahoo.com
Tickets: AUD$45 per person (AUD$35 for students) for a 7-course dinner
Facebook Event: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=107459695981224&index=1
Limited seats available, please book to confirm. This event is organised by the Malaysia Interest Group Sydney (MIGSYD). Any excess proceeds will go towards DAP for its activities.
3. MELBOURNE
1. Dinner with Tony Pua @ Kedai Satay
Date: 24 Sept 2010 (Fri)
Time: 7pm
Venue: Kedai Satay (Upper Floor), 186 King's St
Contact: tonypua@yahoo.com, david.teoh@gmail.com
2. Malaysian Aspiration Programme (MAP) Forum
Date: 25 Sept 2010 (Sat)
Time: 12pm - 3pm
Venue: Elizabeth Murdoch Theatre, University of Melbourne
Contact: http://map.mascavictoria.com/
This event is open to students and public, organised by the Malaysian Students' Council of Australia (Victoria). Admission is free. It will feature other prominent speakers from Malaysia - Dr Awang Adek Hussin (Deputy Minister of Finance), Tunku Zain Al-’Abidin Tuanku Muhriz (President, Inst for Democracy & Economic Affairs) and Assoc Prof Abdul Razak Ahmad (Research Fellow, University of Leeds)
Please forward the above details to all Malaysians and Malaysians-at-heart who are interested to meet up in Australia, and email me for any additional details required. I look forward to meeting and catching up with all of you! ;-)
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Trip To Australia
Hi all, I'm in the midst of planning a trip to Australia, more specifically the cities of Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney for about 8-9 days starting 18 September.
If there are Malaysians, university students or working professionals who would like to help organise a gathering/forum cum a mini-fundraiser in these cities, please do contact me so that I can make the necessary arrangements. I can be reached at tonypua@gmail.com.
It will be my first trip to these cities. See you at the Land Down Under! ;-)
If there are Malaysians, university students or working professionals who would like to help organise a gathering/forum cum a mini-fundraiser in these cities, please do contact me so that I can make the necessary arrangements. I can be reached at tonypua@gmail.com.
It will be my first trip to these cities. See you at the Land Down Under! ;-)
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
London Bridge is Falling Down...
I promised my daughter I'd bring back the London Bridge for her... hmmm...
Anyways, I'm flying tomorrow morning to London and will be taking the Sunday midnight flight back, i.e., arriving back in KL on Monday night, 16th March. For those who needs to reach me, send me an SMS or email.
And for those in southern England who'd like to meet up but hasn't already emailed me, do so soon and I'll see how the schedule can still fit. ;-)
Pussy cat, pussy cat,
Where have you been?
I've been to London
To visit the Queen
Pussy cat, pussy cat,
What did you there?
I frightened the little mouse
Under the (her?) chair
Anyways, I'm flying tomorrow morning to London and will be taking the Sunday midnight flight back, i.e., arriving back in KL on Monday night, 16th March. For those who needs to reach me, send me an SMS or email.
And for those in southern England who'd like to meet up but hasn't already emailed me, do so soon and I'll see how the schedule can still fit. ;-)
Pussy cat, pussy cat,
Where have you been?
I've been to London
To visit the Queen
Pussy cat, pussy cat,
What did you there?
I frightened the little mouse
Under the (her?) chair
Monday, March 02, 2009
London Trip
I'll be making a trip to London, UK for a conference in about 2 weeks for a few days. For those Malaysians in UK who'd like to catch up (if time and venue permits), please email me directly at tonypua(at)yahoo(dot)com.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Love Affair With Air Asia
There's enough vitriol spewed over the last few weeks in Malaysian politics to make one nauseous. Well, it's a Sunday, so I thought I should have a change in pace and blog about my love affair, well, one with Air Asia. (So don't expect to find me caught on camera a la CSL ;-))I wrote an article a few weeks back which was published in The NutGraph (which they re-titled "Loving Air Asia")
I have the greatest admiration for Datuk Seri Tony Fernandes, and I'm not abashed to loudly proclaim the fact that I'm a fan of Air Asia, and what it has done not only for travel in Malaysia, but for the entire region. A former colleague of mine once told me, if there's anyone who deserved his datukship, its Tony Fernandes.Now, I know there are many out there who have negative sentiments against Air Asia, some of whom are my Pakatan Rakyat fellow Members of Parliament, especially over the recent issue of the still-born Labu "KLIA East" airport. But if you read my story, you'd know that my "love affair" is personal. I further believe that since I don't hold back much when "whacking" things I find distasteful (e.g., Barisan Nasional), I should also do the same for things which I really like, even if its against the grain. You can read the full story at The NutGraph here.
Air Asia's mantra of “Now Everyone Can Fly” has really taken millions places, many of whom have never flown before. The airline is of course not without criticism, one of the most ticklish was the perversion of its motto to “Now Everyone Can Wait” for the frequency of flight delays, particularly in its early years. I've often been a victim of Air Asia delays myself, but it's a price and risk I'm willing to pay, in exchange for the affordability it affords me in travelling. After all, I've also suffered delays on trips with either the Malaysian Airline System (MAS) or the world renown Singapore Airlines (SIA).
I do have a part II to the above story, focusing a little more on the KLIA-East but given all the other urgent and critical things happening around us today, you may still have to wait a little before the second part sees the light of day ;-)
I'm also a big big fan of Tony Fernandes as a real entrepreneur, and I'll put him right up there with the best in the region. In fact, anyone with real ambitions to become an entrepreneur in Malaysia (I for one, had only half-ambitions, prefering early retirement ;-)), should emulate his "gung-ho" spirit. Unlike many of our country's pseudo-pretend-entrepreneurs who rely on government concession and oblique guarantees to become multi-millionaires, Tony made it big with no government guaranteed passenger traffic, protected air routes, monopoly license or government underwritten loans.
His "politics" could of course do with some improvements (speaking at Shahrizat's campaign trail(?!) Faint!) but everyone makes an honest mistake now and then ;-) After all, I was sympathetic to Pak Lah at the start of his reign, and Jeff Ooi, my fellow compatriot today, even campaigned in 2004 for BN!
For everyone's information, I don't own any shares in Air Asia although I watch over its performance. I have Tony Fernandes' handphone number, but we're not drinking buddies. I don't fly free on Air Asia although they sponsored a ticket each to Macau and Bali for my Charity Golf Tournament in October last year (Tony, I'm sure you can do better than that!!) And Tony is certainly no crony of Tony's for there's nothing I can offer except to buy air tickets at bargain basement prices. ;-)
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Tokyo - A Livable Metropolis?
Tokyo skyscrapers
As blogged earlier, I've just gotten back from Tokyo early this morning. As most of the time, I was stuck in the hotel attending the conference, I didn't manage to do too much sight-seeing, but I did manage to squeeze some time out to do some (will post pictures later - pics posted here from public sources).
One thing however struck me really hard during my brief visit was how remarkably "livable" the metropolis was (for those who experienced otherwise, do share your views here). Lets get some facts out of the way:
Over eight million people live within Tokyo's 23 wards. During the daytime, the population swells by over 2.5 million as workers and students commute from adjacent areas. This effect is even more pronounced in the three central wards of Chiyoda, Chūō, and Minato, whose collective population is less than 300,000 at night, but over two million during the day. The entire prefecture has 12,790,000 residents in October 2007 (8,657,000 in 23 wards), with an increase of over 3 million in the day. (source: Wikipedia)The population density for Tokyo is 5,796 persons per km². This doesn't take into account an additional 2-3 million workers who commute from outside Tokyo into the city. In addition, this number does not take into account the fact that officially, several outlying islands are official part of Tokyo "land area" as well, which means that the density is likely significantly higher. This compares also against 6,489 persons per km² in Singapore.
Now, given such immense density and skyscrapers within the inner city, one would certainly have expected a certain level of traffic congestion, and probably a significant number of highways criss-crossing the city.
More Tokyo skyscrapers
But no! Right in the city centre, during peak hours, I hardly see many cars on the road. All cars which stopped at traffic lights will get to clear them in one go, and the lights actually switches pretty fast to cater to pedestrians. Where did all the traffic go? And trust me, their skyscrapers are just humongous!
And in the Tokyo suburbs (e.g., Seputeh or Petaling Jaya), most amazingly, the roads are tiny, often barely enough for 1 vehicle to pass through in their residential roads. Yet at the same time, the city generously allocates and cordon off a sizeable portion of the road for pedestrians and cyclists' use. Throughout my stay there, I've never seen these residential roads streaming with motor vehicles.
Yet in Petaling Jaya, many neighbourhood residential roads are becoming main access roads, while access roads have become thoroughfares, and highways such as LDP become massive car parks, especially during peak perids. And we don't have the population, its density and the skyscrapers to match cities like Tokyo or Singapore.
Very simply, the solution is really in creating and building an efficient public transportation system. And this unfortunately, is rather non-existent in Petaling Jaya. If you need to get from Taman Mayang to SS2, there is no option except taking a taxi or your own private vehicle.
In Tokyo, I've never had to wait longer than 5 minutes for any train, even during off-peak hours (didn't get a chance to try their bus system, especially since I'd seriously lack the language skills!)
Hence, if businessmen, developers, some politicians and civil servants are to argue that we need to develop Petaling Jaya further to boost our economy, raise income and wealth levels, I do not totally disagree. In fact, I would agree also with the fact that Petaling Jaya still have plenty of room to "develop" further, especially when contrasted against cities of the developed world.
However, as highlighted in my earlier post yesterday, all new (yet to be approved) major developments must cease so that the city and the state can catch its breath and take stock of the cost of unplanned development, without the necessary mobility infrastructure in place. And as long as the various federal ministries in charge of public transportation do not get their act together and drastically reform and improve the current system, then development will unfortunately have to be limited to the low-rise horizontal sort, instead of the more profitable vertical sort.
And in the Tokyo suburbs (e.g., Seputeh or Petaling Jaya), most amazingly, the roads are tiny, often barely enough for 1 vehicle to pass through in their residential roads. Yet at the same time, the city generously allocates and cordon off a sizeable portion of the road for pedestrians and cyclists' use. Throughout my stay there, I've never seen these residential roads streaming with motor vehicles.
Yet in Petaling Jaya, many neighbourhood residential roads are becoming main access roads, while access roads have become thoroughfares, and highways such as LDP become massive car parks, especially during peak perids. And we don't have the population, its density and the skyscrapers to match cities like Tokyo or Singapore.
Very simply, the solution is really in creating and building an efficient public transportation system. And this unfortunately, is rather non-existent in Petaling Jaya. If you need to get from Taman Mayang to SS2, there is no option except taking a taxi or your own private vehicle.
In Tokyo, I've never had to wait longer than 5 minutes for any train, even during off-peak hours (didn't get a chance to try their bus system, especially since I'd seriously lack the language skills!)
Hence, if businessmen, developers, some politicians and civil servants are to argue that we need to develop Petaling Jaya further to boost our economy, raise income and wealth levels, I do not totally disagree. In fact, I would agree also with the fact that Petaling Jaya still have plenty of room to "develop" further, especially when contrasted against cities of the developed world.
However, as highlighted in my earlier post yesterday, all new (yet to be approved) major developments must cease so that the city and the state can catch its breath and take stock of the cost of unplanned development, without the necessary mobility infrastructure in place. And as long as the various federal ministries in charge of public transportation do not get their act together and drastically reform and improve the current system, then development will unfortunately have to be limited to the low-rise horizontal sort, instead of the more profitable vertical sort.
The Paradigm - Where did the hills come from?
Looking for example, at the "visual illustration" of The Paradigm mega-development project next to Lebuhraya Damansara-Puchong (LDP), you would notice how it gives a false sense of space and tranquility with all four corners of its surroundings lined with open spaces and pretty trees. There are even trees-covered hills at a not too far distance away (no idea which part of PJ is that! ;-)).
The buildings are in no doubt top class buildings from a reputable developer listed on Bursa Malaysia. I'm not questioning their quality. I'm just asking, whether we, the city, is ready to cope with such projects cropping up all over the town. Or should it continue to be build first, cope later, like the policies of the previous government.
The trip to Tokyo, sponsored by the Asia Society, certainly opened my eyes a fair bit on how "good" things can still be, despite humongous developments. It's much better than even the state of affairs in enviable cities such as Hong Kong and Singapore.
Footnote: I've received a fair bit of response from volunteers who are willing to help me with the petition in PJ. I'm still looking for more, so email me if you are keen to help turn PJ into a more livable city.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Asia 21 Society Conference in Tokyo
I'm now in Tokyo for a 3 day conference - Asia 21 Young Leaders Initiative Summit - and should be back in Parliament on Monday morning. For those who are trying to reach me - my Malaysian number is incapacitated as I do not own a 3G phone (other systems don't work here, unfortunately).
For any urgent matters, please email me (I still get to check periodically) or call/sms the Damansara Service Centre Hotline 016-2208867.
For any urgent matters, please email me (I still get to check periodically) or call/sms the Damansara Service Centre Hotline 016-2208867.
Saturday, October 04, 2008
Sightings in Beijing (I)
The imposing presence of this ancient incense-burning pot@ Hongluo Temple in the outskirts of Beijing
Guarding the Supreme Harmony Gate (Taihemen) @ the Forbidden City
While these pair guards the Heavenly Purity Gate (Chaoqingmen) @ the Forbidden City
Let's learn the pose in preparation for 916... oh, are we too late? ;-)
The imposing 15th century Arrow Gates of Qianmen of the Ming Dynasty inner city wallsoverlooking the newly renovated heritage street along Qianmen Dalu
The Temple of Heaven Park was a hive of exercise and activities in the morning
Early morning Chinese Chess @ the Temple of Heaven
Musical basking galore all over the Temple of Heaven park
The Red Gates with Lion knobs stands betweenall who enters and exits in Imperial China
The Olympic Badminton Drum outside the Temple of Heaven
年年有余 - As literal as you can get ;-)Friday, April 11, 2008
Siem Reap
After a hectic 6 months of election preparatory work and election campaign, I've finally found some time to take the family out for a short holiday (before Parliament starts) at Siem Reap, Cambodia, the access to the world renown, Angkor Wat. This place has certainly changed a great deal from when I was last here with Ting Fong, back in 2001. ;-)
Will blog more soon after I return ;-)
(Can't get my phone to work the entire day... my SIM card is having roaming issues... Ting Fong is pretty happy about it...)
Friday, August 10, 2007
Hanoi Scenes (I)
Ah, it was in March when I had a short holiday with the family in Hanoi, but heh, heh, I've just only "processed" the pictures we took ;) So here's a selected first set of photos of the scenery in and about Hanoi. The next set will have more pics of me and the family. Enjoy ;)
Legend has it that in the mid-15th century, Heaven gave Emperor Ly Thai To
a magical sword which he used to drive the Chinese out of Vietnam
Thap Rua (Tortoise Tower) in Ho Koan Kiem (Lake of the Restored Sword)
where a tortoise restored the sword to its divine owners
Hanoi Old Quarter, or 36 Pho Puong (36 Streets), with over a thousand years of history
remains one of Vietnam's most lively and unusual places, where you can buy anything
from a gravestone to silk pyjamas
Ho Chi Minh Residence
The neo-Gothic St Joseph's Cathedral (1886)
takes you back to medieval Europe
Buddhist devotees praying at a quaint little temple sandwiched
by a little path between 2 shops along P Nha To. Blink and you'd miss it.
The busy and crowded streets of Hanoi Old Quarter
A dragon-guarded incense holder at the Temple of Literature
The renown Halong Bay was just a tad too far to travel for a short trip to Hanoi,
especially with a 2-year old, so we settled for a day trip to Tam Hoc.
While Halong Bay has huge rock formations jutting out of the sea,
Tam Coc has them jutting out of the rice paddies.
The best way to see Tam Coc is by row-boat on the Ngo Dong River.
It was a great day for 3 hours of boating as well!
Tam Coc means "3 Caves". The boats actually rows
through the caves, the longest being 127m.
Village houses by the river
Children playing by the river. Tam Hoc is a village near the
town of Ninh Binh, 2 hours south-west of Hanoi.
Legend has it that in the mid-15th century, Heaven gave Emperor Ly Thai To a magical sword which he used to drive the Chinese out of Vietnam
Thap Rua (Tortoise Tower) in Ho Koan Kiem (Lake of the Restored Sword) where a tortoise restored the sword to its divine owners
Hanoi Old Quarter, or 36 Pho Puong (36 Streets), with over a thousand years of historyremains one of Vietnam's most lively and unusual places, where you can buy anything
from a gravestone to silk pyjamas
Ho Chi Minh Residence
The neo-Gothic St Joseph's Cathedral (1886)takes you back to medieval Europe
Buddhist devotees praying at a quaint little temple sandwichedby a little path between 2 shops along P Nha To. Blink and you'd miss it.
The busy and crowded streets of Hanoi Old Quarter
A dragon-guarded incense holder at the Temple of Literature
The renown Halong Bay was just a tad too far to travel for a short trip to Hanoi, especially with a 2-year old, so we settled for a day trip to Tam Hoc.
While Halong Bay has huge rock formations jutting out of the sea, Tam Coc has them jutting out of the rice paddies.
The best way to see Tam Coc is by row-boat on the Ngo Dong River.
It was a great day for 3 hours of boating as well!
Tam Coc means "3 Caves". The boats actually rowsthrough the caves, the longest being 127m.
Village houses by the river
Children playing by the river. Tam Hoc is a village near thetown of Ninh Binh, 2 hours south-west of Hanoi.
Thursday, March 01, 2007
Hanoi, Here We Come!
Okay, I must really apologise to loyal readers out there for I really have been slacking in blogging for the past month or so. But its certainly not because I've lost interest in blogging. However, as you can tell from the recent announcements, I have been extremely tied up with various activities from attending press conferences, to preparing statements to giving interviews, to attending to the various needs of the political party I have just joined ;).Last weeked was also a period of attending various open houses, as well as holding two of my own. What's more, I'm in the midst of renovating my community service centre, the counselling centre as well as a tuition centre, which is scheduled to be launched on the 18th March - all are welcome, and more details will follow. So for a first time in a fairly long time, I'm consistently lacking my much needed beauty sleep! ;)
Well, I'm at the KL LCCT at the moment awaiting my first visit to Hanoi, courtesy of super cheap tickets from Air Asia. Hopefully I'll get to catch my breath there during this short trip, and return recharged for more excitement next week.
There's really plenty plenty to blog about, and I'll certainly try to catch up on them if I can get proper access in Vietnam, and if the missus allow me the indulgence! ;) Will see if I get to shoot some photos worth putting up here as well.
Ciao! ;)
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