Where is Batu Sapi?

P185 Batu Sapi constituency is adjacent to Sandakan bordering Libaran and the (in)famous Kinabatangan.  For the first time, I noticed how gigantic the Kinabatangan parliamentary constituency is, an estimate will be that it's nearly the size of Johor!

Oh, and one more little factoid, Sepilok is in Batu Sapi constituency, so we can visit the orang utans ;-)

And another little piece of trivia - "Sapi" means "cow" in Indonesian, and Batu Sapi means, literally, just that - "cow rock". And it looks like this:

Ah, at least we now know where the place got its name ;-)

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1MDB Accounts Should Be Made Public

The Prime Minister should stop the teasing with the claim of a RM425million profit for 1MDB Fund. Instead if it has done so well, the Government should flaunt it.

The Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak announced that he was extremely pleased that 1MDB RM5 billion fund has returned a net profit of RM425 million for its first financial year ending March 2010.

While we are pleased to that the fund has managed to generate a “return” of 8.5%, the “profit” only gives us a piece of the puzzle. Any accountant worth his salt will tell you that evaluating the performance of a company based purely on a “profit” figure without footnotes, details and context is as good buying a pretty looking car, without evaluating its engines.

For the past 2 consecutive parliamentary sessions in March and June this year, I have submitted questions to the Prime Minister to obtain an update on the investments and performance of 1MDB, including its financial performance such as assets, liabilities etc.

“Tony Pua meminta Perdana Menteri menyatakan prestasi dan kedudukan syarikat 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) sejak ianya ditubuh, termasuklah pelaburan yang telah dibuat, dan nilai 'current assets', 'return on equity' dan 'total assets'.”

 However, in both circumstances, my question wasn't given a proper answer on the pretext that 1MDB has only been set up and the performance and financial data are not ready.

I have once again submitted a similar question on 1MDB for the current session commencing next week and the Prime Minister has no excuse but to release the full details of the investment performance of 1MDB since he has willingly teased us with the profit made by the fund.

For example, Malaysians will be interested to know if the profits of 1MDB is derived from its various investments made to date, or is it purely a profit arising from the injection of assets into 1MDB by the Government. For example, it has been reported in The Star on May 19th that the Government will be transferring the prized land in Sungai Besi, currently the base for the Royal Malaysian Air Force to 1MDB and that this will “basically be a left hand, right hand transfer”.

This means that 1MDB would have gotten this piece of land for “free” from the Government. The question then is, did 1MDB regard the receipt of this piece of land in its accounts as “earnings”, and if so, how much is this piece of land valued at? Hypothetically, if it was valued at RM1 billion, then without this “grant” from the Government, 1MDB would have then made a loss of RM575 million and not a profit.

There is no way for us to know if the above or other hypothetical scenarios are accurate or otherwise, unless the Prime Minister walks the talk about the results “underscoring 1MDB's corporate governance” and make public the full accounts of 1MDB. If Najib is indeed pleased with 1MDB's performance, then there should be absolutely nothing to hide.

In fact, the Prime Minister should not have to wait for the turn for my question to be raised, which could be more than a month away, but immediately make available the full accounts and annual report of 1MDB to be downloaded from the 1MDB website, or at the very least, be available on our respective seats in Parliament when the new session starts on Monday.

As the English idiom goes, “if you've got it, flaunt it”. Don't just tease us with a RM425 million profit, show us the real thing.

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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.

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Will ETP Bring Transformation?

The “New Economic Model” and “Economic Transformation Programme” will fail if Government assets and projects continue to be awarded without open competitive tenders

In the midst of strong “New Economic Model (NEM)” and “Economic Transformation Programme (ETP)” rhetoric by the Government, there is a worrying trend that mega-projects under the guise of “private finance initiatives” or “public-private partnerships” as well as privatisation of government assets will be awarded directly without any form of open or competitive tenders.

The Deputy Prime Minister admitted that the Cabinet is mulling over the RM50 billion proposal by a little-known company, Asas Serba whose only claim to fame is its connection to Tan Sri Halim Saad, a well-known proxy for those in power when he led the now defunct Renong Bhd. The proposal was to take over all highway concessions in Malaysia. It should have been rejected outright for it was proposed completely without basis, merit and it was completely unsolicited.

More recently, MMC Berhad, owned by another beneficiary of many privatisation projects in Malaysia in the 1990s, Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar Al-Bukhary has confirmed that it has submitted a bid to acquire UEM Group Bhd from Khazanah Nasional for the amount of RM15.6 billion. UEM have substantial stakes in 8 public listed companies, and is prized for its 38.5% ownership of PLUS Expressways Bhd, 28.7% of Time dotCom Bhd, 32.0% of Faber Group Bhd and 77.1% of UEM Land Bhd. It also owns the Penang Bridge Sdn Bhd as well as Cement Industries Malaysia Bhd. As at the end of 2009, the net assets of UEM Group Bhd amounted to RM12.3 billion.

At the same time, the government is weighing the award of Malaysia's largest infrastructure project to date, that is the Greater KL Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) system which is expected to cost up to RM46 billion with a Gamuda Bhd and MMC Bhd joint venture being touted as the “winners” of the project. In fact Gamuda has already told equity analysts that it is 80% certain of being awarded the bulk of the project, and this would be because they are the only commercial party who have been in consultation with the Government as well as Pemandu to develop the entire plan for the project. Similarly, YTL Corporation Bhd is expected to “win” the project to develop the high-speed train service between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore due to its involvement with Pemandu at the “laboratory” stage of the ETP.

These developments are of great concern because they have failed to demonstrate that the government is committed to competition and transparency in order to achieve the highest quality outcome at the lowest possible cost to the government. Should the Government decide to “dispose” of UEM Group Bhd, then bids must be solicited from all investors to ensure that the Government receives the highest possible value for its assets. At the same time, are Gamuda, MMC and YTL the only parties who are able to deliver MRTs or high-speed trains in this country?

The Prime Minister had in his speech espousing the NEM had emphasized that “competition should be promoted to allow dynamic and efficient markets”. He had admitted that it “is imperative to set the economy right – to remove distortions, barriers and impediments that hinder our economy from progressing up the value chain and to promote healthy competition. Implementing these policies is a pre-condition to successfully tapping new sources of growth.”

Hence should the Government decides to proceed with any of the above projects or privatisation of assets without any form of open competition, it will not only reflect the fact that the NEM is nothing but rhetoric, and it has no sincerity in wanting to promote “dynamic and efficient markets” or isn't serious about “tapping new sources of growth”.

What's more, Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak had emphasized that “we can no longer tolerate practices that support the behavior of rent-seeking and patronage”, calling for “inclusiveness, where all Malaysians contribute and benefit from economic growth”. The direct and opaque award of these contracts to these connected parties flies in the face of the Prime Minister's call for “inclusiveness” and to eradicate “rent-seeking and patronage”.

Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak must ensure and reiterate in the upcoming 2011 Budget announcement that all government projects, large and small as well as all government owned assets which are to be privatised will be tendered openly and competitively instead of being awarded on a directly negotiated basis which will only perpetuate the “behaviour of rent-seeking and patronage” in his government ending all hopes of a successful economic transformation through the much-touted NEM.

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Students Free To "Talk Politics"?

Well, one would wish.

The Higher Education Minister is being extremely economical with the truth on claiming that students are “not completely barred from politics”

Bernama has reported the Higher Education Minister, Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin's comment in Penang that “students of higher learning institutions are not completely barred from politics... He said they could hear ceramah (political talks) or talk about politics but were not allowed to be actively involved in political campaigning.”

Khaled's explanation on the scope of the University and University Colleges Act (UUCA) is economical with the truth at best and at worst, a gross misrepresentation of the Act which was amended in 2009 under his leadership. More importantly, what he has said is certainly not practised by the Malaysian universities in letter or in spirit.

The Amended UUCA 2009 clearly forbids students and academics from making comments and statements deemed to support or sympathize with any political parties, hence they are certainly not allowed to “talk about politics” as claimed by the Minister. The Act's Clause 15(5) clearly states that

“Tiada seorang pun pelajar Universiti dan tiada pertubuhan, badan atau kumpulan pelajar Universiti yang ditubuhkan oleh, di bawah atau mengikut Perlembagaan, boleh menyatakan atau melakukan apa-apa jua yang boleh semunasabahnya ditafsirkan sebagai menyatakan sokongan kepada atau simpati dengan atau bangkangan terhadap— (a) mana-mana parti politik, sama ada di dalam atau di luar Malaysia”

In fact, the only time when students and academics are allowed to discuss “politics” is strictly limited to academic seminars or symposiums as defined under Clause 15(6), and even then only if these events are organised by those approved by the Minister.

Despite the above, the Malaysian universities have been practising censorship and restricting the rights of the Malaysian students at a level beyond what is even prescribed in the Amended UUCA 2009, with the tacit approval from the Ministry of Higher Education. The examples are too many:

1. In April this year, 4 students who were studying political science (for goodness' sake!) were “caught” by Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) authorities, who clearly had nothing better to do, in Hulu Selangor despite their being there to observe the political process in the by-elections and are charged for “allegedly showing support, sympathy or opposition towards political parties in Malaysia”.

2. In October 2009, 6 Universiti Malaya (UM) students were charged for inviting opposition politicians to be judges in a debate competition, in particular Teresa Kok, MP for Seputeh. This was despite the fact that no political speeches were being made and Barisan Nasional politicians – Wong Nai Chee, former MCA MP for Kota Melaka, was also taking part as a judge.

3. More recently, I've had two invitations to speak, one in Universiti Malaya and another in Multimedia University which was subsequently withdrawn, after being rejected by the University authorities despite the fact that BN politicians were invited at the same time and that I wasn't there conduct political campaigns.

Hence the Higher Education Minister needs to be more truthful with his claims that students are “free” to listen to ceramahs and talk politics when in actual fact, these activities are either forbidden in the Amended UUCA he had initiated or banned altogether by the universities in total abuse or disregard to the Act.

The Minister should stop pretending that what is limited by the UUCA is limited to just joining political parties or “actively campaign” when in reality the Act prevents any mature association or enlightened discussion on politics in Malaysia, unless when it favours the ruling Barisan Nasional.

We call upon the Higher Education Minister to honestly and sincerely work towards greater academic freedom by abolishing, or at the very least completely revamping the University and University Colleges Act to make it relevant for Malaysians today, and ensure that creativity, critical thinking and analytical skills deemed largely missing from our university graduates can be given room to be cultivated.

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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.

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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!

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UMNO Elected Reps Pay Check Also From "Dubious Sources"

All Umno Elected Representatives nationwide should immediately return all their salaries to the Government as they come from non-halal sources

The recent controversy created by Umno politicians over the welfare funds given to old folks and the poor in Pulau Pinang, that it was derived from non-halal sources such as gambling, shows that they are willing to be the biggest hypocrites in order to maintain their grip on power.

Firstly, the state government has clearly denied that such funds were used for distribution to Muslims, which means that these Umno politicians are lying through their teeth to gain political mileage.

Secondly and more importantly, their attempt to distinguish halal and non-halal revenue for Penang smacks of ultimate hypocrisy as the Federal Government headed by Umno, the Finance Minister who is also Umno President, Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak are the parties responsible for legalised gambling in this country. Furthermore, had it not been for the opposition by Pakatan Rakyat, Najib would not have withdrawn the sports betting license awarded to Tan Sri Vincent Tan.

What's more, the Finance Ministry has responded in Parliament to MP for Rasah, Anthony Loke on 9 Jun 2010 that the Government does not in any way differentiate the tax it receives from different revenue sources, be they from halal or non-halal activities.

"Untuk makluman Yang Berhormat, buat masa ini, hasil daripada aktiviti perjudian adalah dikategorikan sebagai hasil cukai kepada Kerajaan... Bagi semua hasil daripada bayaran cukai ia akan dimasukkan ke dalam Akaun Hasil Disatukan sama seperti semua hasil Kerajaan yang lain dan digunakan untuk tujuan belanja mengurus dan pembangunan negara."

This means that all tax revenue collected are deposited into a single Consolidated Fund.

Hence, by virtue of the same argument Umno is using in Penang, all Umno elected representatives should immediately return all their parliamentary and state assembly allowances to the Government as the revenue source is even more dubious than in Penang!

Penang state opposition leader, Datuk Azahar obviously could tell the difference when he claimed that "Umno assemblymen need not return their allowances as the state government’s income was from tax revenue." He's obviously ignorant of the fact, intentionally or otherwise, that taxes are paid to the federal government which are then redistributed back to the respective states as grants and loans.

The irresponsible actions of these Umno leaders who have raised these religious issues to create fear in the hearts of Muslims purely for political expediency has only resulted in another own goal for themselves making them look completely stupid and foolish. It is Umno who approves all gambling licenses in the country, and it is the Umno Federal Government who uses tax revenue, regardless of source, to pay for all government expenses, including allowances of elected representatives and salaries of Ministers and civil servants.

These Umno leaders should not only return their allowances back to the Government, they should also demand that for future infrastructure projects such as highways built by the Federal Government, there should be lanes designated for Muslims and non-Muslims based on the proportionate breakdown of source of revenue used to build the roads.

All right thinking Malaysians should of course reject these ridiculous thoughts by Umno leaders to ensure that Malaysia don't become even more divided than it already is today.

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ETP: Success or Failure Depends on Najib

ETP projects all in Idris’ ‘dream’, say analysts and politicians
By Shazwan Mustafa Kamal and Boo-Su Lyn October 01, 2010

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 1— Datuk Seri Idris Jala’s insistence that the Economic Transformation Programme’s (ETP) mega projects will spur growth towards Vision 2020 has not completely convinced analysts and politicians.

They are doubtful as to whether the government’s ETP, which promises a heavy commitment from the private sector, would be able to transform Malaysia towards a high-income economy by the year 2020.

[...]

Surprisingly, DAP national publicity secretary Tony Pua praised Idris over his role in the ETP, saying the Cabinet minister had done his job.

“He is not your typical BN man where you are just looking at largesse,” Pua told The Malaysian Insider.

“Idris Jala has done his part, which was to find areas for Malaysia to grow. Now, it’s for the prime minister to commit to the necessary reforms to take the country forward and to achieve the goals stated in the ETP,” Pua said.

The Petaling Jaya Utara MP dismissed the need for the government to fill in the details of the ETP, but stressed instead that its main role was to explain why the private sector should invest in the planned projects.

“The ETP is not going to be detailed because we are not going to be a government-driven economy. The underlying question that needs to be addressed is really why should people invest,” said Pua.

He pointed out that Datuk Seri Najib Razak had to convince the private sector by addressing concerns on a lack of institutional reforms, perceived unfair treatment based on affirmative action policies, and a civil bloated service.

Pua, however, expressed doubt about Najib’s support of Idris’ various economic proposals such as the earlier Government Transformation Programme.

“From what I can tell he is not getting full support from the prime minister. The problem isn’t so much what the Idris team is doing, but the Cabinet as a whole led by the prime minister that is unwilling to take the proposals full-blown,” he said.

Currently in Malaysia, only 28 per cent of the total workforce is employed in the high-skill job bracket, reflecting the low level of educational attainment among a large segment of the workforce.

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Dr M's "Spend, Spend, Spend" Policy Will Bankrupt Us

Dr M’s wealth prescription will bankrupt Malaysia, say analysts, politicians
By Boo Su-Lyn October 01, 2010

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 1 — Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s prescription of growth and wealth to avoid race relations problems plaguing Malaysia will bankrupt the nation if followed by Datuk Seri Najib Razak, analysts and Pakatan Rakyat (PR) leaders said.

They pointed out that the former premier’s own advice had failed during his administration which showed a trend of declining race relations amid ballooning government expenditure.

“Najib will be crazy to follow Dr Mahathir’s prescription for it’ll only bankrupt the country and worsen race relations, especially when the root causes of deteriorating race relations are not first addressed,” DAP national publicity secretary Tony Pua told The Malaysian Insider.

“Race relations were getting worse by the day between 2005 and 2009 despite record government expenditure and budget, and a record-breaking number of projects,” he said.

Dr Mahathir said on Wednesday he had formulated the Bangsa Malaysia concept under his Vision 2020 plan based on the premise that thriving economic growth would ease race relations.

Pua, however, pointed out that after Dr Mahathir’s administration, the government budget had expanded from RM128 billion in 2004 to a hefty RM200 billion last year.

“Yet race relations had been increasingly worse in those past five years compared to the years before,” said the Petaling Jaya Utara MP, citing incidents of Umno leaders waving the keris, a traditional Malay dagger, during annual general meetings.

In 2005, then-Umno Youth chief Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein sparked an uproar when he wielded the keris at the party annual general meeting, which was criticised as a symbol of Malay supremacy.

Recently, there has been a spike in racial tension, such as the incident of two school principals accused of uttering racial slurs, the furore surrounding a Chinese MP’s visit to a surau, and a National Civics Bureau (BTN) senior official who allegedly referred to the Chinese and Indian communities as “si mata sepet” and “si botol” at a closed-door Puteri Umno function on Monday.

[...]

Pua dismissed the former Umno president’s spending strategy to ease racial tension as “unsustainable” and irresponsible.

“Looking forward, it’s unsustainable. The country does not have the money to keep spending the way Dr Mahathir wants us to spend,” he said, pointing out that the national debt had increased from 40 per cent of the GDP to 52 per cent today at RM363 billion.

“We cannot keep spending irresponsibly,” stressed Pua.

The lawmaker pointed out that the abuse of affirmative action policies was the underlying factor of race relations problems, but not a stagnant economy as claimed by Dr Mahathir.

“It is NEP (New Economic Policy) abuses — the ‘bastardisation’ as described by Nazir Razak — where they benefited a minority few,” said Pua, referring to CIMB group CEO Datuk Seri Nazir Razak who is Najib’s younger brother.

Recently, Nazir had lambasted the policy for being “bastardised” over the decades since its inception in 1971 for deviating from its goal of eradicating poverty.

For the full article, click here.

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UMNO's DAP "Anti-Islam" Tirade Continues

DAP to take legal action against Umno over ceramah
By Asrul Hadi Abdullah Sani September 30, 2010

PETALING JAYA, Sept 30 — The DAP said today that it will take legal action against Umno over the Malay ruling party’s plan to hold a ceramah tomorrow in Terengganu on the DAP being anti-Islam.

Petaling Jaya Utara DAP MP Tony Pua said the ceramah was part of Umno’s strategy to frighten the Malay community into voting for Barisan Nasional.

“There will be a ceramah headlined ‘DAP anti-Islam’ by Umno Besut. Umno wants to use this to frightened Malays in supporting Barisan Nasional. It is malicious and we will get our legal bureau to take all the necessary actions against Umno for holding this event with such a defamatory headline,” he said.

Pua (picture) called on Umno president Datuk Seri Najib Razak to cancel the ceramah after the prime minister’s recent call for a need to marginalise extremists at the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

Kelantan opposition leader Datuk Md Alwi Che Ahmad is slated as one of the speakers at the ceramah in Besut.

The DAP has already lodged a police report in Kuala Terengganu and will lodged another report in Besut this evening.

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ETP: GLCs To Invest Beyond Their Market Capitalisation?

Video by Lutfi Hakim & Arthur Lam

I was invited by the Malaysia Australia Students' Council Association (Victoria) to take part in their Malaysia Aspiration Programme forum entitled "Economic Challenges Towards 2020" on the 25 September 2010.

I gave my views on the ambitious Economic Transformation Programme (ETP) on what it hopes to achieve and where it might just fall short. I thought the Education Attache from the Malaysian High Commission was a little nervous with my presence at a students' forum, but I stuck to policy issues and I think they breathed a collective sigh of relieve at the end of the session ;-)

The above video clip captured a part of my short speech (we were given 10 minutes) and a segment of the very long (2 hours I think) Q&A session ;-)

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Parliamentary Questions 2010 (III)

The final session of Parliament is coming up, with the most important item on the agenda being the Budget for 2011 of course. The 15 questions I'll post to the Government has been submitted more than a week ago, and I'll try to update as they get responded to.

The following are the list of 10 oral and 5 written questions.

Soalan Lisan

1. Tony Pua meminta Perdana Menteri menyatakan butir-butir projek kad pintar untuk mengawal pembelian petrol mengikut keupayaan yang telah dihentikan, termasuk nama pembekal, kos yang terlibat, skop projek dan sebab-sebab terperinci projek dibatalkan.

2. Tony Pua meminta Menteri Pengangkutan menyatakan perkembangan terkini mengenai penyelenggaraan sistem LRT aliran Kelana Jaya dan Sri Petaling, terutamanya penilaian bantahan yang telah diterima, tahap pencapaian berbanding dengan pelan di mana sistem LRT akan dikomisyen pada awal tahun 2013.

3. Tony Pua meminta Menteri Pertahanan menyatakan sebab Kementeri menempah melalui surat niat kepada Deftech Sdn Bhd 257 buah kereta perisai bernilai RM8 bilion, ataupun RM31 juta sebuah walaupun harga pasaran kereta perisai terkemuka di dunia tidak melebihi RM10 juta.

4. Tony Pua meminta Menteri Pertanian dan Industri Asas Tani menyatakan

(i) kedudukan terperinci projek pelabuhan tuna di Batu Maung, termasuk pelaburan yang telah dibuat oleh kerajaan dan langkah-langkah seterusnya

(ii) sama ada surat sokongan yang dikeluarkan kepada Malaysia International Tuna Port (MITP) untuk mendapat pinjaman RM240 juta adalah sah dan diluluskan oleh Menteri

5. Tony Pua meminta Perdana Menteri menyatakan sama ada tafsiran 1Malaysia dalam Pelan Transformasi Kerajaan yang mengharap supaya rakyat Malaysia menganggap sendiri sebagai "Malaysian first" dan kaum, agama, kelas dan kawasan kemudian akan dikekalkan dan apakah langkah yang akan diambil supaya semua termasuk menteri-menteri memahami tafsiran ini.

6. Tony Pua meminta Perdana Menteri menyatakan kedudukan projek MRT Lembah Klang terkini, jadual perlaksanaan, jangkaan kos, agensi yang bertanggungjawab dan sama ada kerja-kerja pembinaan akan ditender secara terbuka supaya mutu tertinggi dapat dicapai dengan harga yang terendah, dan daya persaingan kontraktor dapat dipertingkatkan.

7. Tony Pua meminta Menteri Kewangan menyatakan

(i) Kedudukan terkini kesemua pelaburan yang telah dibuat oleh dana 1MDB termasuk nilai dan jangkaan pulangan setiap projek

(ii) Sama ada 1MDB bertujuan untuk menambahkan pinjaman bon dalam jangka masa 1 tahun yang akan datang dan apakah jumlah dan kegunaannya

8. Tony Pua meminta Perdana Menteri menyatakan dasar-dasar afirmatif bumiputera semasa yang akan dirombak semula supaya ia menjadi lebih "market-friendly and merit-based" dan menuju kepada golongan bumiputera berpendapatan 40% yang terendah.

9. Tony Pua meminta Menteri Penerangan, Komunikasi dan Kebudayaan menyatakan

(i) sama ada KPI kementerian 50% "broadband penetration" akan dicapai pada Disember 2010

(ii) pihak yang bertanggungjawab untuk menjamin pencapaian KPI dan jika tidak dicapai, apakah langkah-langkah seterusnya yang akan diambil

10. Tony Pua meminta Menteri Perdagangan Antarabangsa dan Industri menyatakan perkembangan terkini mengenai projek pembinaan pusat konvensyen dan pameran Matrade termasuk skop kerja yang telah siap, jadual pembinaan dan sama ada pembayaran berbentuk tanah telah diserahkan kepada pihak pemaju.

Soalan Bertulis

11. Tony Pua meminta Perdana Menteri menyatakan untuk biasiswa Mara ke luar negeri peringkat sarjana muda sejak tahun 2000

(a) gred pencapaian peperiksaan terendah yang diterima setiap tahun

(b) jumlah pelajar yang ditawarkan setiap tahun mengikut universiti yang dihantar

12. Tony Pua meminta Menteri Perdagangan Antarabangsa dan Industri menyatakan sejak tahun 1996

(i) Jumlah pelaburan asing yang telah diluluskan oleh kerajaam berbanding dengan jumlah yang telah dilaburkan setiap tahun

(ii) 10 projek pelaburan asing bernilai tertinggi yang telah diluluskan tetapi belum lagi dilaburkan atau telah dibatalkan setiap tahun

13. Tony Pua meminta Menteri Kewangan menyatakan senarai syarikat-syarikat yang telah menerima jaminan pinjaman daripada Danajamin, termasuk jumlah dan tujuan jaminan untuk setiap syarikat

14. Tony Pua meminta Menteri Kewangan menyatakan secara terperinci peratusan pemilikan saham syarikat-syarikat Indeks Komposit Kuala Lumpur oleh KWSP, KWAP, Tabung Haji, Khazanah Nasional, ASN, ASB, ASM dan lain-lain institusi atau dana yang dikuasai oleh kerajaan

15. Tony Pua meminta Menteri Pengajian Tinggi menyatakan jumlah penuntut sarjana muda yang diterima oleh setiap IPTA mengikut bidang pengajian pada tahun 2010

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NEM Is Seditious?

The Royal Malaysian Police should spend its precious time investigating criminal cases, especially those involving serious crimes, instead of wasting man-hours on trivial or non-issues

I have been invited to give a statement at the Shah Alam Police Headquarters today at 1pm with regards to one of the suggestions I made during the Selangor Budget 2011 dialogue on 26 July 2010 where I called for a review of the current bumiputra housing discount policy.

I have suggested that discounts for luxury homes valued at RM500,000 and above, and commercial properties valued more than RM2 million be discontinued. Under the current policy, the rich benefit much more than the poor as a house valued at RM2 million will receive RM140,000 discount while a medium cost flat worth RM100,000 will only get RM100,000. I have proposed instead for the discounts to be channelled towards helping the poor, particularly the bumiputra poor.

I was informed that the investigating officer that I'm now being investigated under Section 4(1) of the Sedition Act.

I understand that the Menteri Besar of Selangor, Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim will also have his statement taken as he had commented on the same issue to the press in the subsequent days.

The whole idea of being investigated for Sedition for the policy proposals which I have raised is just completely frivolous and ludicrous.

Firstly, the policy suggestion is completely in line with the Prime Minister's call for reform in the countries' race-based affirmative action policy under the "New Economic Model (NEM)". This reforms include his often quoted remarks that the affirmative action policies will be "market-friendly and merit-based" and focused on the lowest 40% of income earners, the unlike in the past.

My policy suggestion is fully in-line with the Prime Minister's "NEM" where the removal of the discounts will make it more "market-friendly" for property developers and prevent abuses by middlemen who profit from re-selling the discounted properties to non-bumiputras.

In addition, it is also "merit-based" as the poor will receive the necessary assistance through the discount while the already wealthy will no longer be given such disproportionate assistance. Based on my suggestion, the policy will definitely be focused to benefit the bottom 40% of income earners.

How in the world is my suggestion seditious is really beyond me. If my policy suggestion is seditious, then sure the NEM is the same and perhaps the police should also bring in the Prime Minister for investigation on possible sedition in his "market-friendly and merit-based" affirmative action policy statements.

The fact that the event had taken place at the end of July and the investigation is now only taking place 2 months later with the installation of the new Inspector-General of Police, Tan Sri Ismail Omar shows that the new regime is becoming a bigger cats paw of the Umno and Barisan Nasional to intimidate members of the opposition and to frighten the rakyat into supporting the ruling parties.

I empathize with the officers who are investigating my case as well as the other cases involving my colleagues such as Teo Nie Ching and Ean Yong Hian Wah for they are being forced to carry out the investigations despite the obvious frivolousness of the cases.

I have cooperated fully with the investigating officer but I call upon the the new IGP to stop making a complete mockery of the police force by spending time investigating "non-issues" and start focusing its under-staffed criminal investigation department on the various serious crimes affecting the country today.

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Umno To Start Halal-Currency System?

Umno continues to heighten irresponsible and incendiary race and religious rhetoric will drive Malaysia towards becoming a nation of extreme contradictions with the latest accusation that the Penang Government funds its programmes using funds from non-halal sources

Umno has continued its relentless attacks on the DAP, particularly the Penang state government with the latest being that the state government funded its welfare initiatives with funds contributed by non-halal entities such as the Penang Turf Club, and by extension, the Muslims in the state are benefiting from “unclean” money.

While the Penang Government has disclosed the fact that the accusation is completely and utter baseless when it was shown that such contributions are only channelled towards the eradiction of non-Muslim hardcore poor, the more critical point is perhaps “so what if it is?”

Umno leaders have shown utmost hypocrisy when even the Finance Ministry, who is led by the Prime Minister himself, have replied in Parliament that the Federal Government does not separate it source of revenue from halal and non-halal sources in its consolidated funds. This means that the revenue from gaming sources such as Tanjung PLC and Berjaya Sports Toto as well as alcoholic beverage companies such as Guiness Anchor Bhd (GAB) and Carlsberg are used for the benefit of all Malaysians, regardless of race, religion or region. And that is absolutely how it should be.

What is more worry however is the tendency of the desperate Umno leaders who wants to cling on to power at all cost will start calling for ludicrous ideas to be implemented by preying on the fears and insecurity of the wider public.

By calling for a separation of funds from halal and non-halal sources, Umno politicians are opening a whole new Pandora box which will lead ultimately to Malaysia becoming a global basket case. Is the Penang opposition leader, Azahar Ibrahim arguing for a case whereby Muslim companies, individuals and organisations cannot trade with say, alcoholic beverage companies like GAB even for the purchase of stationery or furniture because GAB derives its revenue and profits from non-halal sources? Or worse, is Umno arguing for the farcical case where Ah Chong the butcher, or Muthu who works for Berjaya Sports Toto, cannot purchase nasi lemak from Pak Ali because the latter should not “benefit” from such sources of income?

Will Najib put out a new proposal during the announcement of the 2011 Budget calling for a duel currency system where the halal Ringgit is used for transactions which are halal while the non-halal Ringgit is used for transactions which involves non-halal items or services, and hence preventing Muslims from sourcing any of the revenue or benefiting in any way, from sources of funds which has at one time or another “passed through” non-halal transactions?

Najib has called for “moderation” at the United Nations and his call must be supported. However, Najib must first reign in his party of hare-brained extremists who are using all means, including racially and religiously extreme views to politically assasinate DAP and Pakatan Rakyat who are clearly winning over the rakyat with its inclusive, moderate and progressive policies.

The relentless race and religious attacks by Umno must cease immediately to create the conducive environment for “moderation”, to defeat “extremism” and to bring Malaysia back into the forefront of the international investment map.

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