Who is Najib kidding with minimal impact price hikes?

When one is earning RM3,000 a month, with no extra mouths to feed and cloth, single and live at home with parents with no housing and car loans to cover, a 20 sen increase in your favourite 'teh tarik' or Milo is quite insignificant.

Now substitute this with a 'real life scenario' of 'married with kids' to feed and cloth, insurance, car, housing and credit card loans to cover, you'll feel the pinch.

This is the type of scenario that DAP is spewing about.

The average household income in Malaysia in 2007 was slightly over RM3,500 a month. The take-home pay after mandatory deductions in such a scenario would in all probability be about RM3,100.

Now minus a car, housing and creditcard loan, this individual is poor by urban standards and a 55% hike in a consumer item will definetly hurt the household budget!

Which incidently is exactly what has happened since January 2010, according to DAP's national publicity chief Tony Pua.

The cost of white sugar, which is a core consumer item on every household list, has gone up 55%.

In July, the government launched a surprise “5-in-1” price hike programme, raising the prices of RON95 and RON97 petrol, diesel, white sugar and liquified petroluem gas (LPG) including cooking gas cyclinders as much as 15.2%.

"Then on Dec 3, 2010, less than 5 months later, they had another series of hikes.

"This time the price of RON95 went up five sen to RM1.90 per litre, diesel by five sen per litre to RM1.80 and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) by five sen to RM1.90 per kg. Sugar was now RM2.10 per kg.

"In fact for white sugar, inclusive of a 20 sen hike in January on top of the 25 sen and 20 sen hike in July and December, prices have increased by more than 55% this year alone," said Pua.

Failed maths

He said the Kuala Lumpur & Selangor Coffee Shop Association's recent announcement debunked Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak's claim in July that the price increases will have “minimal impact” on households in Malaysia.

The association had announced a proposed 20 sen increase in beverage prices.

"In July, Pemandu said the new teh tarik price, having taken into impact the subsidy reduction of fuel and upward price adjustment would be around RM1.0155. They advertised this in full page advertisements across all major mainstream newspapers.

"But in reality the 'teh tarik' and 'kopi susu' price was RM1.20. Now with the 20 cent increase these beverages will go up even higher," he said.

According to Pua something is seriously wrong with the method used in calculating matters involving our economy and our leadership's understanding of simple arithmetics.

"Someone in Pemandu has failed their mathematics. Firstly, there is a clear contradiction in “teh tarik” prices between the fact sheet issued in July which was only RM1.00 as compared to the new base price of RM1.20 in the December fact sheet.

"The government must explain the “mysterious” 20% increase in the base price between July and December, " he said.

He also accused Barisan Nasional and Pemandu of "living in a parallel imaginary universe" of price hikes involving increases of 1.55 sen or even 1 sen.

"I had issued a statement in July arguing that Pemandu should be “commended” for the audacity to publish such numbers which are at best applicable only in a fictitious and theoretical universe, and at worse, showing the complete lack of understanding of real world market dynamics on the price of goods and services.

"And to prove my point, it was reported yesterday in all major Chinese newspapers that the Kuala Lumpur & Selangor Coffee Shop Association has announced the proposal to increase all beverage prices by 20 sen starting Jan 1, 2011.

"Kopi susu and the milk prices will be increased from RM1.20 to RM1.40 translating to a massive 16.7% increase in prices!" said Pua.

Stop spewing hypothetics

He said even the price of everyone's coffeeshop favourite “herbal tea” will be increased from RM1.10 to RM1.30 which is an 18% price hike.

"And Pemandu has the audacity to claim that “herbal tea” prices will only increase from RM1.00 to RM1.012 or just a 1.2% increase

"In fact, out of the 70 everyday food and drink items listed on the Subsidy Rationalisation fact sheet, no item is expected to increase by more than 1.9% after the most recent round of price hikes!

"What is perhaps most embarrassing is for the Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Deputy Minister Tan Lian Hoe to argue that a 10 sen increase in beverage prices “will be more reasonable”.

"A 10 sen increase will still result in a 8.3% increase for the price of “teh tarik” and “kopi susu”, 10 times higher than the 0.83% increase claimed by Pemandu.

"The government should stop spewing these ridiculous and out-of-these-world hypothetical data which demonstrate at best its sheer incompetence and irrelevance," Pua said - FMT.

Kit Siang: Muhyiddin's statement over 1Malaysia logo ban 'ridiculous'

DAP national advisor Lim Kit Siang said Friday it was "downright ridiculous" for Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin to assert that the Selangor state government's move to ban the 1Malaysia logo was due to its fear over the concept.

The Ipoh Timur MP also urged the Selangor state executive council to review its decision to ban the 1Malaysia logo from advertisement billboards, in order to prove that Muhyiddin was wrong in his claims that the Opposition is afraid of the concept created by Najib's administration.

It was reported Wednesday that the Selangor state government has banned advertisements on billboards that feature the 1Malaysia logo, which it claimed was a Barisan Nasional (BN) political symbol and therefore, contravenes local by-laws using political symbols in billboard advertisements.

Muhyiddin had responded to the 1Malaysia logo ban which was made known by Selangor exco member Ronnie Liu, saying that: "“They (Selangor government) are afraid of the 1Malaysia logo which has become iconic to the people. The 1Malaysia vision has noble intentions, one of which is to unite the people regardless of their political leanings.”

However, Lim said in his statement Friday that: "Muhyiddin’s statement is downright ridiculous as he himself has declared that he does not fully endorse the 1Malaysia concept, whose official objective is the creation of a Malaysian nation where every Malaysian perceives himself or herself as Malaysian first and race, religion, geography and socio-economic grouping second."

He pointed out that in March this year, Muhyiddin had declared himself "Malay first and Malaysian second" when Lim challenged all Ministers in Parliament to demonstrate their commitment to the 1Malaysia concept by identifying themselves as Malaysian first and race, religion or region second.

Lim also cited other examples which he claimed Muhyiddin had spoken totally inimical to the 1Malaysia concept, including the DPM's defensive stance over the National Civic Bureau (BTN) which has been criticized for being racist.

Lim also said: "His (Muhyiddin's) attempt to mitigate the Nasir Safar outrage claiming that it could have been 'a slip of the tongue' when Najib’s senior political aide labelled Indians and Chinese in Malaysia as 'pendatang', alleging that the Chinese came as beggars and the Chinese women as 'prostitutes.'"

"His (Muhyiddin) hamfisted attempt to aid and abet the inflammatory and incendiary campaign by Umno-controlled media like Utusan Malaysia, Berita Harian, government television and radio stations, playing the race and religious cards to viciously and falsely paint Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng and Pakatan Rakyat Penang State Government as “anti-Malay” and “anti-Islam,” he added.

"This is why Muhyiddin’s claim that Pakatan Rakyat is “running scared” of the 1Malaysia concept is so ridiculous, when the concept does not even get his full support," Lim said.

Saying that the number of "reckless rhetoric of racist extremism and religious bigotry which attack the very basis of the 1Malaysia slogan" has increased recently, Lim said the concept itself was an example of Najib's administration failure to "walk the talk".

"The 1Malaysia slogan is in fact the best example of the wide and increasing gulf between words and deeds of the Najib administration – its utter failure to walk the talk of the Najib signature policies whether 1Malaysia, Government Transformation Programme, New Economic Model or Economic Transformation Programme," the DAP veteran said - MM.

Radio 988's sackings: Why the rush?

YF: Everyone knows that it is a common practise to send a warning letter first before issuing the letter of termination. Instead, we see a rushed sacking without even giving the employees sufficient notice to inform them what they did wrong and what correction or remedial punishment is needed. Why the rush? Why the drastic act?

And where is this so-called Malay rights activist group Perkasa? A Malay is being persecuted here, so why the silence? Unless, of course, Perkasa is nothing but an Umno tool and are bed buddies with the likes of Dr Chua Soi Lek.

Amaso: Why didn't StarFM challenge Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission's (MCMC) findings in court? Why did it simply accepted MCMC's findings and sacked the duo?

Alexander Yuan: Jamaluddin Ibrahim, start your own independent radio services. I bet there will be even more listeners than Radio MCA (988)!

CarL: The thing about Malaysia now is the increasing number of would-be martyrs. For crying out loud, this guy is only a DJ, and he is lapping it up like he was placed under the Internal Security Act (ISA) or something. It certainly won't do his job prospects much good.

Louis: Jamaluddin and the Radio 988 CEO should know better. The BN leadership only want you to sing song of praises for them, never mind that they are rotten to the core. Exposing their weakness is a sin nowadays, and can lead even whistleblowers to be sent behind bars. Both of them must thank their lucky stars that they were given the sack only.

Wira: Who is the licensee? Is Jamaluddin the license holder of 988 or its presenter? The company should hold itself responsible and accountable for the content since the morning programme had been running for many months with no caution nor warning from the station owners.

It is even more ridiculous to suggest that the morning programme presentation breaches condition 10.3, that is, on the moral and cultural values of the community aspirations of the nation. I suggest the duo get for themselves a good solicitor like Gorbind Singh Deo and sue their employer.

Koh Stanley Columnist: What is the big deal about the programme's content going against cultural and moral sensitivities vis-a-vis community's aspirations when a political leader with a DVD sex scandal can become a president of the party that owns the radio.

Malaysiakini

MIC rebel against Samy

Aiyoyo Samy, only now did the MIC leaders and members realized that their party president Datuk Seri S.Samy Vellu who was defeated in the last general election was a mere Umno tool.

Only now did the MIC leaders and member realized that Samy Vellu had all these years made use of the party for his political and self interest.

We really feel sorry for the conditions in the MIC. After decades and years of Samy's firm grip over the party organization and after Samy's fist had firmly control the party, only did the members today realized his dictatorship is going to destroy the party.

You know why, this is because one after another party leader who went against Samy the president got the sack immediately after they made their statement publicly calling him to leave the party presidency soonest.

Well, they didn't realize that Samy as the party president got the dictatorial presidential powers to outdo the central committee and sack anyone at his own discretion. What a disgusting chapter in the party.

MIC now exist only in name. It no longer enjoy the support from the Indian community like what it has been 50 years ago. MIC today only exist just because of Umno. Umno wanted to make use of MIC in order to dress the Barisan Naisonal (BN) coalition as a multiracial organization but in actual fact it is not.

In the BN coalition, Umno calls all the shots. Its coalition partners, MCA, MIC, Gerakan, PPP, PBS, LDP, PRS, SPDP, Upko, PBB and SUPP are mere puppets in the Umno dominated coalition. Umno dictates and make all the decisions for and on behalf of the coalition.

Only now did the MIC leaders and members realized how irrelevant their party is with Samy Vellu at helm. An when the rebellion began to spread to the entire party machinery, the Samy Vellu faction started to point their fingers at their political master Umno who in turn called them "biadap".

What had Samy Vellu's MIC done for the Malaysian Indian community? Nothing, nothing at all. The majority in the community is getting poorer and frustrated, while those rich MIC leaders had established themselves far away from the community and made themselves "Bangsawan India".

Will MIC ever survive the current leadership crisis this time?

MIC's Mugilan top Umno choice for Hulu Selangor by election

MIC Youth deputy leader V. Mugilan is the top Umno choice as Barisan Nasional candidate for Hulu Selangor over his political mentor and party deputy president Datuk G. Palanivel.

Besides, Mugilan's faction in the MIC is also said to be working hand in hand with Umno in order to get the latter's assistance in lobbying at the top BN leadership level, thus sidelining the MIC deputy president Palanivel.

It looks like Palanivel himself often seen as a Samy Vellu shadow had been irrelevant within MIC itself. However, Palanivel is not giving up so easily. His faction who is closely aligned with Samy is quick to sought the party central committee's help to pressure the BN top leaders to move Mugilan aside to pave way for the MIC deputy president.

The factional lobbying ad infighting in the MIC between the pro-Umno and the pro-Samy ones are intensifying as the nomination day approaches.

What is Najib's choice now? An MIC top leader or its youth leader? What if Najib selects the MIC youth leader, thus, hurting the MIC leadership and what if Najib selects the MIC top leader instead and its youth leader decides to rebel in the party? And then Samy takes this opportunity to sack him?

Ahmad "Kerbau" Ismail's return imminent, suicide bombers killed dozens of people

All 36 committee members of the Bukit Bendera Umno division have resigned in a move to force the re-election of the divisional committee, in particular to return Ahmad Ismail as its division chairperson after his less than 3 years suspension was lifted by the party supreme council.

Ahmad Ismail better known as Ahmad Kerbau was suspended for three years from the party membership before that for uttering racist remarks during the Permatang Pauh Parliamentary by-elections by calling the Malaysian Chinese community as "kaum pendatang" and "penduduk sementara". His suspension however, was lifted by the party leadership less than three years because of his "good behaviour".

During the press conference called by the Bukit Bendera Umno division yesterday, Ahmad also insisted that in order for him to patch up with Gerakan, its party president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon must "kow tow" to him and apologize in public before he could forgive the later.

Meanwhile, two female muslim separatist suicide bombers had blown themselves up in the middle of the crowded and packed yesterday metro trains in central Moscow which killed about 37 people on board while about 60 over commuters were badly injured.

It is feared that more of those who were badly injured may die because the explosive and bombs exploded were filled with bolts and iron rods.

Zambry claimed Umno can win 34 seats in next polls but they dare not walk the talk

The leader of the Perak rebel state government Dr Zambry Abd Kadir claimed that Perak Umno could win about 34 seats in the next election but he insisted that he will not call for snap polls in order to prove his claim right.

Zambry instead called on the 28 Pakatan state assemblymen to quit en bloc to prove they have the people's support.

Come on Zambry, your party launched a coup to toppled a legitimate state government elected by the people and installed your rebel state government into force without the people's mandate.

If you claim you can win 34 state seats, then you should initiate to dissolve the state legislative assembly in order to prove your claim is accurate. Do not push the ball to Pakatan Rakyat. They are the victim of your political game.

And if you still refuse to dissolve the state legislative assembly to pave way for a snap poll, then you are already a political coward. You dare not face the people directly.

Now even Sikh temple was attacked

After series of churches being attacked with fire bombs nationwide by some unknown terrorist, the Sikh temple is not spared neither.

The temple was attacked like that for some very unreasonable cause. For what? Can the Muslim NGOs now extend their volunteer security patrol at all Sikh temples, then later to all Chinese and Hindu temples around the clock?

This is due to the fact that the police force were unable to guarantee any security to all places of worship. In this case, the police also cannot guarantee the safety and security of our nation, because of their "manpower shortage".

Or because they are busy protecting and enhancing the interest of Umno and its leaders. Can Umno and the BN explain to the people?

Pakatan wants Umno to take responsibility for church attacks by the terrorists

PKR Supreme Council Member Datuk Zaid Ibrahim today condemned Umno and urged the government to take full responsibility for the church attacks.

"It has to take full responsibility for the worsening of relations between people of different faiths in this country in its handling of the use of the word Allah. "The irresponsible conduct of fanning the emotions by Umno leaders has brought about this dangerous situation. What we see today confirms that this country is being governed not by engagement consultation, sophistication or persuasion but by brute and mob force,” he said in a press statement.

Early this morning, a Protestant church was torched while homemade explosives were thrown at a Catholic church next to the Assunta Hospital. "The Umno-led government has the penchant to use force or flexing of authority in dealing with delicate issues. Take the case of the ban imposed on the Herald. They could easily have engaged in consultation with the church in Sabah and Sarawak. They should try to understand why the need to use the word Allah without any preconceived notions or prejudice. After all, they have been using the word Allah for many years before BN government acted to ban the Herald.

"They could easily have also engaged in discussions with the various Muslim groups about their legitimate concerns on whether the church are surreptitiously converting Muslims and explore ways to address these concerns in spirit of dialogue and peaceful deliberations,” he said.
He explained that there are already laws against converting Muslims but Umno instead chose to politicise the sensitive issue.

"There is already a law against converting Muslims anyway. They could have done a lot more. But because of their lack of maturity and sophistication banning is the obvious choice.

"Umno want instant popularity, so fanning the emotions of Muslims becomes legitimate... and when the court ruled otherwise they then fan the Muslims to oppose the ruling. The people of this country will not escape the scourge of Umno-led rule until they decide once and for all to dislodge this government in the next available opportunity.”

PAS has also reminded and warned its members not to engage in any demonstrations organised in the Kampung Baru Mosque, Shah Alam Mosque and the National Mosque after Friday prayers.

The protest is being orchestrated by several Muslim NGOs in retaliation against the High Court's ruling on Dec 31 allowing the Catholic Church to use the word "Allah" in its weekly publication the Herald.

PAS vice-president Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man had said that the demonstration on the use of the word “Allah” is Umno’s position and not the party’s. "We call on all members of PAS in order not to be dragged in the same demonstration sponsored by Umno," he told party’s newspaper.

PAS backs the use of the word Allah by Catholics because it is consistent with the Federal Constitution and the fundemental Islamic principles.

Prime Minister and Umno president Datuk Seri Najib Razak has also defended his government’s decision to allow angry Muslim groups to hold a nationwide protest against the “Allah” ruling, saying they have every right to do so.

So, if that is the case, we urge Datuk Najib to explain the terrorist attacks on the four churches initiated by Umno supporters and pro-Umno NGOs. But we doubt you will be able to do that.

Umno had encourage such terror and now when it happened, they wanted to deny it. We are not going to believe you anymore.

By the way, ISA and the Sedition Act are only apply to Pakatan Rakyat.

TI: Anti-corruption efforts wanting

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and other "reforms" introduced by the government has so far been ineffective in fighting corruption in the country.

Transparency International president Datuk Paul Low said today they have not produced "the desired results" and so the public perception of corruption remains unchanged.

"Malaysians are fed-up with the status quo and the unbearable effects of corruption in the country," he told a press conference after presenting the country report in the Global Corruption Report (GCR) 2009, which focused mainly on corruption in the private sector. Also present was TI executive director Mark Chay.

Low said indicative of this is the Global Corruption Barometer 2009 survey released in May which showed that 70% Malaysians believe the Malaysian government is ineffective in fighting corruption.

In contrast, although Indonesia’s has a far worse position in the corruption perception index than Malaysia, the survey found that 76% of its people believe the Indonesian government is effective in fighting corruption.

"Before the MACC was established last December, the public perceived the then Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) was not independent from the executive branch of the government. "The ACA was perceived to be selective in its investigations and prosecutions, in that they catch only the small fry and leave the big fish -- and it was politically motivated," he said. “With the MACC now, although there are commissioners from outside in its new structure, it is really difficult to say if it is any different from the old ACA and MACC has yet to prove this statement otherwise,” he said.

Low pointed out that the controversial death of political aide Teoh Beng Hock in July, in itself raises questions on the MACC's professionalism and hints of abuses of powers in the way it conducts investigations.

Likewise, the GCR pointed out that the implementation of the watered down Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) to a Special Complaints Commission (SCC), strongly indicates the government’s inability to regulate the gatekeepers.

Low said the public needs to be confident of a clean police force which is free from external influences and that investigations are conducted fairly into all reports lodged to the police.

The GCR report noted that inaction in the light of serious corruption allegations and inability to catch the ‘big fish’, has gravely undermined public confidence in the authorities. “Public confidence will be further undermined if these issues are not addressed quickly and effectively,” said Low, pointing out that issues pertaining to alleged tampering in the appointment of judges as highlighted in the V.K. Lingam case, has been left unresolved since 2007.

Low stressed that the inter-relationship and participation between the government, civil service and private sector, in effect, negates the concept of check and balance. “A common thread running through politics, the civil service and private sector is the revolving door, through which individuals move from government to business or business to politics and back again,” the report highlighted.

Low said while it is good in the context of solving economic problems and dealing with investments, “political patronage or funding and money politics are big issues in the economics.” "Until drastic action is taken to separate the cozy relationship between government, business and politics, the anti-corruption effort will remain no more than a token gesture,” he stressed.Among others, the GCR said the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) case - which it described as one of the biggest scandals of the year - involving politicians, government officials and businessmen, substantiates the weak oversight of public-private relationships. “The complexity of the relationships between politics and private sectors mean that corruption may take place with impunity.

Therefore, the practice of revolving and rotating doors and active government participation in the economy creates an appearance of impropriety…and increases corruption risks,” said the report.However, Low was happy to note that there has been commendable efforts in making public the details of the scandal. “Never in the Malaysian history has there been such a disclosure before,” he said.

Meanwhile, the GCR commended the Penang state government for introducing several measures to improve the regulatory environment with regard to government procurement, referred to as a CAT -- Competent, Accountable and Transparent - government.“It is the first state government to implement the open tender system for government procurement and contracts,” it noted.

As to the question of whether corruption is a way of life in Malaysia, Low said: “Yes, when the society believes that nothing can be done to fight it; when elected representatives and their close supporters believe that they are there to make money for themselves; when institutions and enforcement agencies are ineffective and independence are compromised; and yes, when dishonesty, corruption and self-indulgence becomes values that are tolerated.” - The Sundaily

BN will never change

Let us look at the recently concluded party elections in the MIC where all those men who were aligned to Samy Vellu won and grabbed all the important positions in the central committee and the disciplinary board as well.

The reformers led by Datuk S.Sothinathan were blantantly rejected by the assembly of conservative delegates. After his defeat, no one knows where is Sothi's direction or what will be his next course of action.

For Datuk S.Subramaniam who is vying for a comeback but failed to garner enough votes to take down Samy's Datuk G.Palanivel for the deputy presidency, he will still be on the run in the party.

This time Samy had enough with his former deputy and vowed revenge against him for not staying out of the party elections.

The situation is clear, Samy Vellu had a firm grip over MIC for decades and he still wants to hold on it. Perhaps, he is vying for the party life presidency now.

In this case, MIC cannot reform and rejuvenate and you had seen the leaders of the rest of the BN component parties.

Umno is still with their racist tags and jargons of the 50s after 52 years running this country, PPP president Datuk M.Kayveas purged his reformist rising star Datuk T.Murugiah, Gerakan president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon suspending his outspoken party vice president Huan Cheng Guan for 3 years, while MCA president Datuk Ong Tee Keat ousting his deputy Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek by sacking him from the party.

The rest, Sarawak's Pesaka Bumiputra Bersatu (PBB) president Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud is going to stay on as chief minister as long as he lives, Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP) president Tan Sri Dr George Chan is not making way for the young ones in his party and so does the rest in the BN fold.

The question is can BN component parties really reform while all those old and conservative leaders continue to cling on to their positions? Can these BN component parties reform while their outspoken leaders and reformist are purged and kicked out of the party and their positions taken away to prevent them an active role from within?

Certainly there will be no change at all if all these defiant conservative leaders stay on to their respective party positions. It shows that all these BN component parties cannot accept changes and reform despite knowing that they had been rejected and turned irrelevant after the 8 March general elections last year.

Therefore, for change to materialise in BN, no way! If you want real change and reform, leave the corrupt coalition and join Pakatan Rakyat. We are the real reformists.

BN versus BN

With both MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat and Sarawak People’s Democratic Party (SPDP) treasurer-general Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing who is also the BN Backbenchers Club president openly at loggerheads now over the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) irregularities, it is Barisan Nasional versus BN now.

The MCA president who is also transport minister lodged a police report recently against Tiong over the latter’s allegation that he had given RM10 million to Tee Keat to support MCA’s divisional spending.

According to Tiong he had donated RM10 million to the MCA president last year after he was requested to do so by Tee Keat. The money was also alleged to have been paid in cash in three stages during a meeting between the two men at Petaling Jaya and Kuala Lumpur respectively.
Both Tiong and Tee Keat are now exposing one another about their previous ties, relationship, friendship and their deals as well.

When Tee Keat pledged to tell all about the PKFZ scandal which caused the massive losses in billions of Ringgit, the core player of the project Kuala Dimensi Sdn Bhd (KDSB) of which Tiong is also the chief executive officer was frequently mentioned as part of the scandal.

Tiong who is the CEO of KDSB is definitely very hot up against Tee Keat by now for making KDSB a scapegoat to this scandal. Due to this, Tiong decided to expose and tell all about his deals with MCA previously which may in turn affect the credibility of Tee Keat as both MCA president and transport minister.

Apart from the RM10 million claim that help to strengthen MCA, Tiong’s deputy CEO in KDSB had also claimed that Tee Keat had also used his personal air transport several times to travel to certain locations.

In this case, will the MACC be interested in having this case probed and bring those who are responsible to justice? Maybe MACC is only interested in cases that involve only a few hundred Ringgit and cases that are fabricated against opposition party leaders and members.

Even though the PKFZ scandal cost the BN federal government about RM12 billion in losses, it is merely a BN case and the MACC would not take its initiative to intensify its investigation on those wrongdoers and prefer to investigate non-existence cases involving opposition parties.

In this event, the MACC cannot even demonstrate its effectiveness and professionalism as claimed by MACC officials all this while. It only serves the purpose and interest of their political master, Umno.

And since this scandal involves corruptions practically, why didn’t the Port Klang Authority (PKA) lodge their report with MACC against KDSB but instead did its report at the police commercial crime investigation department?

Well, even the PKA did not trust the MACC now as they knew that organization is merely an Umno’s political tool. That is why PKA preferred the police commercial crimes investigation department to investigate the case.

In conclusion, both Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat and Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing should resign from their positions respectively as these two men’s reputation has been tarnished politically and ethically by their own doings.

But we could see these two men are not brave enough to face the facts. Can they face the people and the voters then?

Dartuk Rais internet filter plan

We wish to express our grave disappointment over the BN federal government’s plan to filter control the flow of blogging and internet news portals. These actions are greatly undemocratic and dictatorial in human rights aspect.

What the information, cultural and heritage minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim planned to do for the BN clearly shows that the BN-Umno coalition had totally conceived defeat. They wanted their mainstream media to continue monopolize the information flow to the public. They wanted all information to the public to be censored to ensure BN and Umno continue to stay in power for as long as they want.

Besides, the BN also intend to filter the internet in order to severe the communications between the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) and the people as a whole. The problem they should think is, are they able to do that?

The BN-Umno coalition government did not want the truth to be channeled to the people. They knew that it was because of our bloggers who spread to the public the truth about BN and Umno’s wrongdoings, corruptions and power abuse, they lost badly in the last general elections.

We also welcome a BN component party member, Gerakan who openly protest plans to censor the internet and hope they will not go backward just because of Umno’s pressure. Gerakan had earlier stated its intention to join the Anti ISA rally on 1 August but pulled out in the last minute due to pressure from their BN dominant party Umno who voiced their dissatisfaction over Gerakan’s non-BN move.

Look, even in the BN fold there are no practical democracy at all. All BN component parties do not even have they rights to express their opinions or voice their criticisms over certain issues of public importance. They are required to respect and support whatever decisions made and determined by the dominant force of the coalition, Umno without any questions or say in opinions.

Settle Maika missing funds first, MIC told

The MIC president S.Samy Vellu and his son, Maika Holdings Bhd chief executive officer S.V.Pari have yet to give their explanations to Indian community who are also investors and shareholders over the mishandling of Maika’s investments and its funds.

The Indian community had been waiting for generations for Maika to answer their questions which were left unanswered for decades.

Samy Vellu and son, you had taken away all the hard earned money of the Indian community and did not return them despite many such requests to do so. If there are any MIC leaders ho had question the Maika missing funds, you just shut them off or sack them from the party in order to cover up the theft.

You told the party members and the Indian community that you are in firm control and no one can challenge or question you authority. Now you had lost your ministerial position and the Sungai Siput parliamentary seat and you still want to cling on to the party president’s position. Shame on you!

The position of party president does not belong to you. If you want to continue hanging on to the position, then amend the party constitution by creating a new position of party life president so that you can lead the party until you pass away one day.

Samy Vellu and MIC ought to settle the Maika Holdings case first. Do not interfere in the Kampung Buah Pala matter as you are not fit to do so. You are no longer the legitimate representative of the Indian community and so does the MIC of yours.

The Malaysian Indian community of today still lacks behind in all fields and sectors just because MIC only cares for the elite Indian leaders and its top business associates. MIC failed to assist and address the poor and needy ones and for decades they had suffered so much until they could not bare it anymore and thus, the crime rate increased.

Then Umno and the police force put all the blame on the community, got Kugan killed while in detention, got Sujatha poisoned maybe because she had some information leading to Maika’s case and so on.

Do not blame anyone else but MIC who had created a group of political warlords amongst their elites to take control of the equities of the Indian community but not benefiting the others who are not part of them.

Therefore, Samy Vellu and MIC cannot speak on behalf of the Indian community anymore as all of you are not fit to do so. You and the MIC only represent the “golongan bangsawan India”.

If you claim that you represent the Indian community, then why are there so many Indian based parties today? Why did the Indian Progressive Front (IPF), Malaysian United Indian Party (MUIP), Makkal Sakti Party (MSP), Human Rights Party (HRP), Malaysian Indian Democratic Action Force (Mindraf), Kongres India Muslim Malaysia (Kimma) and the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) emerge in the middle of the community? Are you able to explain all these in detail? We are certain that you cannot.

Just leave the affairs of the Indian community to PKR, DAP, the PAS Indian Supporters Club and the Sri Murugan Center to deal with, and stop claiming that you are legally representing the Malaysian Indians. You are not at all.

MIC is only for the elites and not for the ordinary folks like us. Do not interfere in the Kampung Buah Pala matter anymore. Stay away and do not create anymore trouble.

Report lodged against Guan Eng at MACC Penang

We heard in disgust that the Penang Gerakan youth led by its state vice-chairman H’ng Khoon Leng had lodged a report at MACC against our Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng when he had refused H’ng’s demand to reveal issues related to his rented house after he moved out of Seri Mutiara which has been infested by termites.

Guan Eng was right that these Gerakan youth leaders are acting like kindergarten kids. In fact, we would say these Gerakan youth leaders are mere hypocrites. They claimed that they are here to fight corruptions, to uphold justice and to be a constructive opposition in the state.

The Penang Gerakan youth leaders are making a fool of themselves about this matter. Have they looked at their own political master clearly so far? Umno leaders had stolen and played with our people’s billions of Ringgit in public funds, staying and enjoying their lifestyles in costly bungalows and mansions built with their ill-gotten money.

Are these Gerakan youth leaders so blind until they could not see all these power abuses within the BN coalition? Or they are merely keeping quiet about Umno’s misdeeds and wrong in order to protect their money and wealth too? There is also another reason, Gerakan is afraid of Umno’s ketuananhood and supremacy.

Whenever they are any expose which are affecting Umno, Gerakan would be called in to act as an agent to divert our people’s attention on Umno’s crimes and power abuses by making a hell of fuss and noise in the Penang state government and our Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.

Because Gerakan is still performing its slavery dutifully for Umno and helping them to advance its supremacy, Gerakan will be dead for good in Penang. Gerakan and BN will never ever again be able to return to power in Penang.

Gerakan will become like PPP soon, a mosquito party still day dreaming of regaining Penang in the next general elections.

Kg Buah Pala : Tsu Koon should come out to resolve the crisis

Come on, Dr Koh Tsu Koon, it doesn't mean when you are now a minister in the federal government, you need not care about your homestate anymore.

We all know what you had done, and we are sure that you also know. So why hide in Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya and refuse to come out like a man to help to resolve all the mess created by your previous state government?

Tsu Koon, you should not put the blame on the pesent state government and manipulate this issue into a racial one. You are not being transparent on your past doings.

1Malaysia, a BN political ploy

1Malaysia, 1Malaysia is mentioned everywhere now. The federal government under the BN-Umno is now working round the clock every second to ensure that our people are one hundred percent brainwashed into adopting this idea which is seen as a mere political ploy by Umno to cover up their defeat, weaknesses and their racist chauvinistic political strategies.

Just right behind 1Malaysia campaign, BN-Umno is organising a major offensive in Pakatan rule states by clearly encouraging 2Kelantan, 2Kedah, 2 Penang and 2 Selangor policies. Their 2Perak offensive has been successful where the Pakatan state government was overthrown by an Umno-sponsored coup d'etat on early February this year.

Let us look at their 2Kelantan, 2Kedah, 2 Penang and 2 Selangor policies right now. In order to rival the Pakatan state governments, the BN established a Federal Development Department (Jabatan Pembangunan Persekutuan) in each of these states with a state director taking charge of each of the states. A kindly of "de-facto state government" if you study the BN's intention carefully.

Then down below, the BN also established rival entities to challenge the state appointed offices like the Penghulu which are state appointed, is rival by a Penghulu Persekutuan. That means each of these areas are now having two Penghulus, one is a state while the other is a federal appointed.

Then we go down to Village Security and Development Committees (JKKK) which is also under the states' jurisdiction are now being rivaled by BN's federal appointed Federal Village Security and Development Committees (JKKKP). That means all those kampungs and pekans in the Pakatan rule states now have two kinds of JKKKs administering the respective areas.

What is the BN-Umno trying to prove actually? Wasting public funds and monies to by creating all these additional positions and paying them with allowances just like that? Does the Federal Development Department (Jabatan Pembangunan Persekutuan), Penghulu Persekutuan and the JKKKP really have any legal statures to rival the states and areas?

This is a very big No! The establishment of Federal Development Department (Jabatan Pembangunan Persekutuan), Penghulu Persekutuan and the JKKKP are totally against the state constitutions because these positions are de-facto ones and they did not have any legal means to establish at all. These entities are just like the current Perak rebel state government established by Umno in aftermath of their coup d'etat.

Therefore, BN's 1Malaysia is only a ploy to distract our people from their real plans behind which is aimed to split our people, to create disunity, disharmony and to confuse the entire nation.

BN and Umno are the ones who are anti-establishments.

Written Judgment missing

The Appeal Court had on 22 May gave a verbal judgment confirming that Perak rebel leader Dr Zambry Abd Kadir was the rightful menteri besar of Perak thus, overruled an earlier decision made by the High Court declaring that Datuk Seri Mohd Nizar Jamaluddin was the lawful menteri besar of the Perak.

Well, the situation now is getting tense, Datuk Nizar wanted to file an appeal against the Appeal Court's decision but the Appeal Court judges had yet to finalise their written judgment which they made on 22 May verbally. Why are these judges delaying their judgments in writting? Did they really know how to write their judgment?

Or is this a sabotage effort from someone at the top instructing those judges to delay the written judgment so Datuk Nizar would not be able to file a proper and detail appeal against the judgment?

The Appeal Court had earlier promised that they will provide the written judgment within seven days from the date of the judgment day, that is 22 May but to-date nothing has been issued to Datuk Nizar so far.

And now Datuk Nizar is faced with the ending of the 30 day deadline to file an appeal to the Federal Court just because of the purposely delayed written judgment from the Appeal Court.

This is a very clear act of attempt to sabotage Datuk Nizar's effort to file an appeal against the Appeal Court's decision.

PAS wants DAP, PKR in unity talks

Malaysiakini reports that PAS told Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak that it will hold unity talks with Umno only if PKR and DAP are included in the talks.

The statement was released by PAS Secretary-General Datuk Mustafa Ali today.

We view Mustafa's state as PAS' positive move to ensure the spirit of comradeship within the Pakatan Rakyat coalition is maintained and whenever any issues or matters in relation with a component party with another outside the coalition must be brought up and consulted amongst component parties.

A good start for the new PAS secretary-general for his move to ensure the unity in Pakatan Rakyat is preserved.

However, PAS must be very careful that any talks of "unity" offered by the BN-Umno coalition must be carefully reviewed and studied. It may be a trap set by them in order to break up the Pakatan Rakyat's coalition.

Hidden crisis in the BN fold

As we all know, whenever Pakatan Rakyat component parties are practicing their democracy from within and expressing their different thoughts and views respectively in public, the Barisan Nasional (BN) particularly Umno is quick to take advantage on the situation by saying that the opposition alliance is in brink of collapsing.

Why did they do that? Because they wanted to divert the people’s attention from their massive internal bickering in both BN and Umno itself. Umno’s factional infighting intensified with most of its reform minded leaders were either being sidelined or sacked from the party. Of course we all remember that Datuk Zaid Ibrahim was sacked from the party for his outspoken and reformist views.

MCA’s team A led by Datuk Ong Tee Keat (party president) is giving no way to the party’s team B which is led by Dr Chua Soi Lek (deputy president). Efforts by both factions to outdo each other are beginning to hurt the party very much from within. Both factions are also uploading their canons to be fired at each other whenever there are opportunities to do so.

MIC’s supreme leader, Datuk Samy Vellu had successfully kicked out his potential challenger Datuk M.Muthupalianappan in the recent party elections, while PPP’s Datuk M.Kayveas kicked out his suspected presidential rival Datuk T.Murugiah, accusing him of money politics.

Gerakan’s outspoken party vice president Huan Cheng Guan is on his way for expulsion after being issued a show-cause letter for his lashing on the party’s central leadership. Looks like party president Dr Koh Tsu Koon is not going to give way and he is now working towards a collective decision from the party central committee to have Huan expelled from the party.

It seems that most of the BN component parties are facing the similar problems. All potential rivals or reform minded leaders from within are systematically curbed or eliminated to prevent any challenges to the present conservative leaderships in those component parties.

It is a clear fact that BN is operating like a secret society, where its component parties are trying to cover up their own weaknesses or divert the people’s attention to other politicized issues. It is a waste that all those young leaders in the BN are not groomed and appreciated at all. They were merely tools being used by their party elders to seek support from the young voters.

Most of the leaders of these BN component parties are resisting every effort to reform and change of which will definitely see their powers and stature being affected. And if these happens, those party elders are set to lose all their positions and powers they had long enjoyed for decades.

Then when the press or newspapers are trying to check for information regards on their internal feuds, they are quick to maintain that their respective parties are still united and strong as before. They are covering their open secrets which are already known by the people, hoping to avoid any embarrassment or being scrutinized by the people or voters.