xBlog ☪ Sociopolitics

1Care or just “I don’t care”

Ted Torrence — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 05:00:47 PST

Malaysian Healthcare system, despite some inadequacies, has been functioning well in comparison to countries of similar living standards. In fact, the facilities of some of our hospitals rival that of the advanced nations.

In certain aspects, our system is even better than many of the advanced nations. Malaysians can have immediate access to medical care and treatment whenever they feel unwell, unlike in some of the developed countries, where it may take a few days or even weeks to seek an appointment to see a doctor.

Government healthcare cost has been on the rise. Part of this I blame it on ~~piratetisation~~ privatisation as well as leakages and wastage in funding hardwares as well as softwares. Billions have been spent on building new hospitals and medical equipment as well as the software system for the opeartion of such hospitals. But as in other aspects of Malaysian life, leakages and wastage could have amounted to 20-30% of overall spending.

Because of the increasing cost of the healthcare system, government is considering instituting a Health financing system, formerly call the National Health Financing scheme ( i have written a paper on this topic in 2006 – search under the masthead of this blog or see the link at the end of this post). This has now been conveniently renamed 1Care.

Very little is known about this 1Care. As in the Malaysian tradition with regards to policy matters, there is hardly any (or shall we say absolutely no) consultation with the end-users , the Rakyat and the consumer groups. Although the ministry is said to be working with the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA), even doctors know very little about this scheme.

What little info that is available hints at a system that will drastically alter our lifestyle. Unlike now, we cannot no longer choose our own doctors. Apparently under this 1Care system, each individual will be assigned to a doctor, presumably someone who is operating nearby. How this allocation will be done and what criteria will be used are unknown as yet.

Patients assigned to that particular doctor will have a limit as to how many times he or she can consult that particular doctor in a year. Those with chronic diseases like asthma, hypertension and diabetes will not be able to see their doctor as often as now, compromising their health.

All doctors will have to be in this scheme, and would be allocated patients. Doctors are not allowed to dispense medicine. As a compensation, their consultation fee is set to go up , as high as RM60 per visit. This contrasts with the present system where for a fees of around RM30 – 40, you can consult a doctor and be treated with medications for common ailments.

So who is to fund for this incredible scheme? The end users of course since there is no such thing as a free lunch in this world. From what is known, everyone will have to be in this scheme, and each house hold is supposed to fork out 9 to 10% of their income to a National Health Financial Agency.

For those who are young, hale and hearty, they have to fork out the same amount, which will probably be deducted from their pay as in EPF scheme. Like all other insurance scheme, this actually works on the concept of the more healthy subsidising the less.

But for the less healthy, dont be too happy yet. Apart from the limit on the number of times they can visit their assigned doctors, they also have to spend extra time and transport cost to get their medical supply from a pharmacy after seeing their doctors. There will also be certain diseases which will be excluded from this scheme, and out of pocket payments (OOP) will have to be made for these dieseases.

Because the doctors are now being paid a higher consultation fees and because extra costs are incurred for medicines to be dispensed by pahramcy, the total healthare costs will shoot up, as in the experience of many countries which have implemented health financing scheme.

The money eventually comes from the people. When the healthcare cost goes up, the NHFA is going to ask for more money and that will translate to more deduction from the rakyat.

What is ironical is that the present system is efficient and cost effective. Malaysians in fact spend much less on heathcare than their counter parts not only in developed countries but developing nations as well.

The above table ( charted by me using WHO statistics) shows the percentage of Total Health expenditure of malaysia in 2002 and 2003 compared with many other countries.

Even countries with comparables GDPs in international dollars such as Mexica and Brazil spent much more on health care than Malaysia. Developing countries with lower GDPs such as China and India also spent higher proportion of their GDPs on the health of their citizens.

Malaysia government has a duty to take care of its citizens' health care. As it is, it is spending much less than the WHO reeommendation of 7% of GDP on health care. Our government spends around 6-7% of government budget on health, which is much less than our GDP.

The old saying that "do not try to fix anything that ain't broken" is apt in this case.

I have written a paper on National Health financial scheme in 2006. In it I have extracted many statistics against implementation of such a shceme and posted them in table forms. This paper was also published in FOMCA's publication last year, after obtaining my consent via email. For those who want to know why I oppose such a scheme, and the rationale behind my opposition to such scheme, please read the paper "Malaysian Healthcare- a critical look at National Health Financial Scheme" in this blog:

http://hsudarren.files.wordpress.com/2006/10/malaysian-healthcare-a-critical-look.pdf

Read More @ Source

More » Barisan Nasional (BN) | Pakatan Rakyat (PR) | Sociopolitics Plus | 大马社会政治

Courtesy of Bonology.com ® Politically Incorrect Buzz & Buzz

Dissecting Mahathir’s Grand Design

Ted Torrence — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 01:00:14 PST

February 3, 2012

Dissecting Mahathir's Grand Design

by Liew Chin Tong@www.liewchintong.com

Not many of us remembered that Barisan Nasional survived and thrived electorally for an extended period from 1991 to 2005 as a result of Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad's grand compromise in the form of Vision 2020.

Coercive tools and undemocratic means like security power to arrest legitimate political opponents without trial, legal and financial controls over mass media, and a distorted electoral system, have helped BN to remain in power, becoming the current longest serving elected government in the world.

The Alliance formula and the beginning of "Malay First" hegemony

BN's predecessor the Alliance's formula was to win half of the votes of all ethnic groups. Being the sole coalition with multi-ethnic representation at all levels, the strategy paid off well in 1959 and 1964.

But the Alliance also pursued a small-government-do-very-little approach, resulting in rising inequality. It eventually resulted in an increased support for the opposition among members of all ethnic groups, including Malays, in 1969.

Contrary to the popular belief that only Chinese supported the opposition in the 1969 election, the Malays played their part too. Dr. Mahathir lost his Kota Setar Selatan seat as well as the defeats of other UMNO bigwigs demonstrated that there were substantial Malay swing against the Alliance.

Post-1969, Tun Razak's formula strived to achieve a 70 percent Malay electoral support for BN. Non-Malay support was considered non-essential in such formula. All policies under the new arrangement, symbolised by the New Economic Policy, were geared towards that goal.

The "Malay first" strategy served UMNO well until the 1990 general election when the Malay votes were split after the formation of Semangat 46, led by Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah and other former senior UMNO leaders.

The Semangat 46-led opposition front almost won the day when BN managed to survive through a very cunning last-three-day manipulation of Tengku Razaleigh's photo image with Kadazan headgear which resembled a Christian cross, suggesting to the Malay constituents that the opposition was about to sell out on Malay rights and dignities to foreign powers.

However, Malay votes for BN have not returned to the NEP-era level since then. Indeed, Malay votes for BN have further declined in every election since 1990, with the exception of the 2004 election, the first in the post-Mahathir era. (In 2004, Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi won due to his promises of reforms.)

BN won the 1995 election with the all-time high of 65 percent popular votes despite suffering a mild decline in Malay support and continued to survive the 1999 election despite more than half of the Malays voting against BN; a reaction against the sacking and subsequent jailing of Anwar Ibrahim. How did Dr Mahathir and Barisan Nasional survive since the 1990 election?

Vision 2020 and "Bangsa Malaysia"

Barely four months after the October 1990 election, Dr Mahathir unveiled his Vision 2020 and the concept of "Bangsa Malaysia" in February 1991 which set the tone for the next fourteen years until July 2005.

The strategy was to supplement the declining Malay base of UMNO with new-found Chinese middle class support by staring down the Malay right and cooling off racial temperatures. The major bones of contention among ethnic Chinese against UMNO between 1970 and 1990 were the lack of economic opportunities and cultural rights.

In the early 1990s, however, the economy was growing rapidly and life was good. Instead of curbing the cultural desire of ethnic Chinese, all rights were allowed as long as the price was paid.

For instance, higher education opportunities for ordinary ethnic Chinese were extremely lacking in the 1970s and 1980s. But in the 1990s when one was willing to pay for private education, hundreds of colleges were jostling for students.

Another example is Chinese language television broadcast time. In the 1970s and 1980s, not more than two hours of airtime were allocated for Chinese language broadcast on television. In the 1990s, if you could pay for satellite television, endless programmes await to tame the noisy middle class.

If you do not belong to the burgeoning middle class, or could not afford to pay for your children's private education, or to pay for satellite television, don't blame the government. It is your problem – either you are not lucky or you don't work hard enough. After all, BN strategists were fully aware that the poorer components of both Malay and Chinese electorates would vote for PAS and DAP, respectively, anyway.

Imagined enemies and the short tenure of Abdullah Badawi

During the 1970s and 1980s, a month would not pass without seeing some racial fanfare being played out in the media. But in the 1990s, whenever Dr Mahathir needed a whipping boy to consolidate his standing among the Malay base, it was always a choice among the British "colonisers", the American "oppressors", the Jewish "conspirators", or the "arrogant" and "uncouth" Australians.

And, if Dr Mahathir needed an ethnic Chinese-looking enemy, the "surrogate" Chinese across the Causeway was there for him to attack. Images of UMNO Youth demonstrating in Johor Bahru against Singapore from this side of the Tebrau Straits vividly summed up the politics of the time perfectly – that UMNO did not have to change its methods, just look beyond our shores to see the "enemy".

In 2004, Abdullah Badawi inherited Dr. Mahathir's framework with an even more "Malaysian" or wasatiyyah (moderate) message. In his first National Day Address in August 2004, Abdullah said, "Kita semua adalah sama, kita semua rakyat Malaysia. Tidak ada individu di negara ini yang diiktiraf 'lebih Malaysia' dari individu lain." (We are all the same, we are all Malaysians. No individual in this country is more Malaysian than others)

But something changed in 2005. The grand bargain ended abruptly in the last week of July of that year.

Read More @ Source

More » Barisan Nasional (BN) | Pakatan Rakyat (PR) | Sociopolitics Plus | 大马社会政治

Courtesy of Bonology.com ® Politically Incorrect Buzz & Buzz

Selangor Times Feb 3

Ted Torrence — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 01:30:15 PST

» Full screen view

View this document on Scribd

» Selangor Times web site

Filed under: Journalism, Media Read More @ Source

More » Barisan Nasional (BN) | Pakatan Rakyat (PR) | Sociopolitics Plus | 大马社会政治

Courtesy of Bonology.com ® Politically Incorrect Buzz & Buzz

Pemberi rasuah sama berat tanggungjawab dengan penerima

Ted Torrence — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:00:15 PST

Azmi Anuar

Seorang awam telah menceritakan pengalamannya berhadapan dengan dilema sama ada hendak memberi rasuah atau tidak kerana kesalahan yang dilakukannya.

Dalam surat kepada pengarang sebuah akhbar Inggeris tempatan, pembaca tersebut mengisahkan bagaimana dia diberi pilihan sama ada membayar denda sebanyak RM300 atau mendapat pelepasan serta merta dengan menghulur imbuhan sebanyak RM50 untuk pihak berkuasa yang menahannya.

Setelah bergelut beberapa ketika dengan naluri hati dan apa yang terlintas di benak kepalanya, dia memberitahu pihak berkuasa tadi bahawa dia sanggup dikenakan hukuman. Samanlah dia!

Pegawai itu terkejut dan bertanya sekali lagi. Jawapannya tetap sama dan diberi dengan senyuman, "Tulislah saman itu. Saya bersalah". Pegawai itu juga kaget sebentar dan kemudian dengan tenang memulangkan kad pengenalan dan lesen memandu si pesalah, menasihatinya supaya lebih berhati-hati pada masa hadapan dan menambah tidak ada saman yang akan dikeluarkan dan pemandu itu bebas beredar dari situ.

RM50 sebagai imbuhan bolehlah dianggap rasuah kecil tetapi apakah jumlah maksimum supaya layak dikategorikan ke dalam kumpulan ini atau perlukah formula lain untuk menakrif apakah rasuah kecil. Walhal mengikut penguatkuasa tersebut saman sebenar ialah RM300 dan imbuhan yang diminta adalah seperenam jumlah tersebut.

Bagaimana pula kalau pegawai tadi meminta separuh atau lebih daripada jumlah saman yang sebenar. Pasti berlaku tawar-menawar di antara pesalah dan pegawai yang berkuatkuasa. Memang apa yang diminta menjadi subjektif kerana RM50 pada sesetengah orang tidak bermakna apa-apa tetapi ada yang menganggap jumlah itu boleh menyara seisi keluarganya untuk sehari dua.

Kesalahan trafik yang tidak melibatkan orang lain mungkin boleh dimaafkan tetapi jika kelalaian si pemandu membawa musibah, siapakah yang akan dipertanggungjawabkan?

Apa guna undang-undang jika tidak dipatuhi?

Kadang-kadang kelalaian tersebut berpunca daripada jentera kenderaan yang tidak menepati piawaian, tidak diselenggara dengan baik atau sikap pemandu yang lebih suka mengambil jalan pintas untuk tiba ke destinasinya dengan lebih cepat.

Jika salah satu kesalahan itu tidak dihukum mengikut undang-undang yang sedia ada, apalah gunanya undang-undang yang meliputi kesalahan-kesalahan tersebut. Apabila seorang pegawai penguatkuasa menahan seseorang pemandu kerana kesalahan trafik, tentulah kesalahan yang dilakukan boleh membahayakan si pemandu atau pengguna jalan raya yang lain.

Mungkin ada kesalahan yang kelihatan begitu remeh pada pandangan ramai, seperti lampu brek yang tidak menyala. Ia masih satu kesalahan dan boleh membahayakan, mungkin tidak ketika itu tetapi jika tidak ditegur, akan diabaikan begitu sahaja.

Teguran boleh diambilpakai sebagai langkah pertama yang mesti diutamakan oleh semua pegawai penguatkuasa jika kesalahan yang dilakukan merupakan jenayah-jenayah kecil dan dendanya pun tidaklah sehingga beribu-ribu ringgit.

Kalau tidak ada denda untuk kesalahan lampu brek yang tidak menyala misalnya, tentulah tidak ada peluang untuk pegawai yang berkuasa meminta imbuhan sebagai pelepasan daripada didenda. Selain daripada teguran untuk pesalah-pesalah sebegini, mereka harus dibimbing dan digalakkan mematuhi undang-undang yang sedia ada kerana apa yang termaktub itu untuk manfaat semua.

Pesalah itu juga boleh menjadi orang perantara di antara pihak berkuasa dan masyarakat. Mereka boleh menjadi jurucakap tentang bagaimana teguran pertama telah menginsafkan diri dan menjadi titik tolak perubahan dalam cara mereka menghayati undang-undang. Senario utopia!

Rasuah dikira kos penyelenggaraan 'bisnes'

Pucuk pangkal perkara terletak pada kedua-dua pihak yang terlibat. Ada juga pihak yang sengaja cuba melakukan sesuatu tanpa menghiraukan undang-undang yang sedia ada. Mungkin kesalahan yang dilakukannya bukanlah jenayah berat mengikut takrifnya sendiri. Dia hanya cuba menyenangkan hidupnya dan secara tidak langsung menyenangkan hidup orang lain juga.

Contohnya, proses mengubahsuai rumah kediaman memerlukan kelulusan pihak berkuasa tempatan yang tertakluk kepada undang-undang seperti menetapkan jarak minimum di antara dinding rumah ke pagar.

Kalau pemilik kediaman degil dan tidak mengikut garis panduan yang ditetapkan, pasti dia akan didenda oleh pihak yang berkuasa. Sesetengah pihak sanggup memberi imbuhan dari ratusan hingga ribuan ringgit supaya dia tidak dikenakan hukuman.

Alasannya, imbuhan yang diberi telah diambilkira sebagai kos keseluruhan pengubahsuaian rumah.

Dia juga sanggup memberi imbuhan sebanyak itu setiap kali pihak yang berkuasa bertukar dan ada muka baru pula yang mesti dilayan. Pihak yang mempunyai pandangan sebegini menyatakan adalah lebih mudah memberi imbuhan seperti itu daripada melalui kerenah birokrasi semata-mata untuk mendapatkan kelulusan berkaitan perkara yang begitu remeh.

Remeh di mata mereka yang menghulur imbuhan itu tetapi satu petanda bahawa perkara sedemikian boleh menjadi lubuk emas bagi yang sehaluan.

Mencedok pengalaman Hong Kong menangani rasuah

Mengambil contoh pengalaman Hong Kong ketika menubuhkan Suruhanjaya Bebas Menentang Rasuah (ICAC).

Apabila diperhatikan, laman web ICAC sahajapun sudah mengagumkan berbanding organisasi seumpamanya di Malaysia, SPRM. Menurut laman webnya, ICAC berusaha membanteras gejala rasuah melalui pelaksanaan undang-undang, pendidikan dan pencegahan yang berkesan.

Rekod keberkesanan ICAC sejak mula ditubuhkan pada tahun 1974 memang membanggakan. Pada awal penubuhannya, banyak pertelagahan berlaku di antara pegawai penyiasat dan pegawai polis yang disyaki terlibat dalam gejala rasuah sehinggalah pengumuman tentang pengampunan separa untuk kes-kes rasuah kecil yang berlaku sebelum 1977. Lama-kelamaan ICAC diyakini mampu menjalankan tugas yang diamanahkan.

Pada awal penubuhannya di tahun-tahun 1970an, lapan daripada 10 aduan tentang rasuah berkaitan dengan kakitangan awam. Pada masa ini hanya tiga sahaja daripada 10 aduan melibatkan kakitangan awam manakala kes-kes yang melibatkan sektor swasta pula semakin bertambah.

ICAC telah meningkatkan usaha membantu sektor swasta mengurangkan risiko rasuah melalui kawalan sistem dan latihan kakitangan. Walaupun Hong Kong belum boleh dikatakan bersih sepenuhnya daripada gejala rasuah, sekurang-kurangnya negara itu boleh berbangga tersenarai dalam kumpulan teratas negara-negara yang mempunyai kawalan terbaik menangani rasuah (kedudukan ke-12 daripada 213 negara dan daerah) menurut Penunjuk Urus Tadbir 2011 yang dikeluarkan oleh Bank Dunia dan Brookings Institution.

Siakap sinohong, gelama ikan duri

Berbalik kepada soal RM50 yang dituntut supaya pemandu boleh dilepaskan daripada kesalahan trafik atau ratusan ringgit yang disogok supaya pihak berkuasa akan menutup sebelah mata kepada kerja-kerja mengubahsuai rumah kediaman tanpa kelulusan, adakah kecil rasuah itu?

Parameter, metodologi, takrif dan pelbagai aspek lain tentang rasuah kecil mesti dipertimbangkan sebelum sesuatu yang konkrit terjana.

Bekas presiden Majlis Peguam S. Ambiga pernah mencadangkan supaya pembangkang mengemukakan rancangan pengampunan kepada pelaku rasuah jika berjaya membentuk kerajaan pada piliharanraya akan datang.

Katanya, Pakatan mesti menghukum perasuah besar dan memaafkan perasuah kecil supaya pembangkang boleh melangkah ke depan tanpa halangan. Ambiga mengemukakan cadangan itu dengan mengambil contoh pengalaman Hong Kong ketika menubuhkan ICAC.

Pemansuhan rasuah kecil tidak semestinya sesuatu yang tidak masuk akal dan perlu dibakulsampahkan, tetapi memerlukan anjakan pradigma daripada semua pihak supaya hasilnya boleh membantu dalam usaha berterusan membanteras jenayah rasuah.

Read More @ Source

More » Barisan Nasional (BN) | Pakatan Rakyat (PR) | Sociopolitics Plus | 大马社会政治

Courtesy of Bonology.com ® Politically Incorrect Buzz & Buzz

1Care or just “I don’t care”

Ted Torrence — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:00:18 PST

In certain aspects, our system is even better than many of the advanced nations. Malaysians can have immediate access to medical care and treatment whenever they feel unwell, unlike in some of the developed countries, where it may takles a few days or even weeks to seek an appointment to see a doctor.

Government healthcare cost has been on the rise. Part of this I blame it on privatisation as well as leakages and wastage in funding hardwares as well as softwares. Billions have been spent on building new hospitals and medical equipment as well as the software system for the opeartion of such hospitals. But as in other aspects of Malaysian life, leakages and wastage could have amounted to 20-30% of overall spending.

Very little is known about this 1Care. There is hardly any consultation with the endusers , which is the Rakyat and the consumer groups. Although the ministry is said to be working with the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA), even doctors know very little about this scheme.

Patients assigned to that doctors will have a limit as to how many he or she can consult that particular doctor in a year. Those with chronic diseases like asthma, hypertension and diabetes will not be able to see their doctor as often as now, compromising their health.

All doctors will have to be in this scheme, and would be allocated patients. Doctors are not allowed to dispense medicine. But their consultation fee is set to go up , as high as RM60 pervisit. This contrasts with the present system where for a fees of around RM30 – 40, you can consult a doctor and be treated with medications for common ailments.

But for the less healthy, dont be too happy yet. Apart from the limit on the number of times they can visit their assigned doctors, they also have to spend extra time and transport cost to get their medical supply from a pharmacy after seeing their doctors. Because the doctors are now being paid a higher consultation fees and because etra costs are incurred for medicines to eb dispensed by pahramcy, the total healthare costs will shoot up, as in the experience of many countries which have implemented health financing scheme.

The money eventually comes from the people. When the healthcare cost goes up, the NHFA is going to ask for more money and that will translate to more deduction from the rakyat.

The above shows the percentage of Total Health expenditure of malaysia in 2002 and 2003 compared with many other countries.

Malaysia government has a duty to take care of its citizens health care. As it is, it is spending much less than the WHO reeommendation of 7% of GDP on health care. Our government spends around 6-7% of government budget, which is much less than our GDP.

The old saying that "do not try to fix anything that ain't broken" is apt in this case.

I have written a paper on National Health financial scheme in 2006. In it I have extracted many statistics and posted ithem in table forms. This paper was also published this year in FOMCA's publication in last year, after obtaining my consent via email. For those who want to know why I oppose such a scheme, and the rationale behind my opposition to such scheme, please read the paper "Malaysian Healthcare- a critical look at National Health Financial Scheme" in this blog:

http://hsudarren.files.wordpress.com/2006/10/malaysian-healthcare-a-critical-look.pdf

Like this:

Be the first to like this post.

Read More @ Source

More » Barisan Nasional (BN) | Pakatan Rakyat (PR) | Sociopolitics Plus | 大马社会政治

Courtesy of Bonology.com ® Politically Incorrect Buzz & Buzz

Selangor Times Feb 3

Ted Torrence — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 22:00:17 PST

» Full screen view

View this document on Scribd

» Selangor Times web site

Like this:

Be the first to like this post.

Read More @ Source

More » Barisan Nasional (BN) | Pakatan Rakyat (PR) | Sociopolitics Plus | 大马社会政治

Courtesy of Bonology.com ® Politically Incorrect Buzz & Buzz

PKR to 'greet' Shahrizat's return with more expose

Ted Torrence — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 20:30:09 PST

Embattled cabinet minister Shahrizat Jalil, who has been away on leave, is set to be 'greeted' with more expose on misappropriation allegations involving her family, said PKR.

According to party chief of strategy Rafizi Ramli, the party will make more revelations on property bought by the women, family and community development minister's family next Wednesday.

However, it is not immediately clear if the purchases are linked to the National Feedlot Corporation (NFC), the family-owned company at the heart of the scandal.

"Shahrizat (left) is returning this week so maybe we'll greet her with something...We are pursuing more properties which could have been bought by the family. We should be able to nail one next week," he toldMalaysiakini.

PKR had previously revealedthat the family owns a luxury condominium worth about RM10 million in Singapore, but was unable to present evidence that NFC funds went towards the purcha! se.

The family has remained silent on the matter but earlier had admitted that they had used part of the RM250 million government soft loan to buy two luxury condominium units in Kuala Lumpur under NFC's name.

NFC preparing media blitz?

In a dialogue with NGOs last week, CEO Wan Shahinur Izmir Salleh reiterated that the One Menerung, Bangsar units was investment bought at a time when the feedlot project was temporary halted for a viability study.

In an interview yesterday, Rafizi said that " more" of such exposes are in the pipeline because the anonymous tip-offs "keep coming".

He added the stream of information from anonymous sources also come at a time when NFC appears to be "doing things behind the scenes".

Having somewhat written off the opposition supporters, Rafizi said, NFC is likely to be cleaning up its backyard in preparation for an media offensive.

"They are concerned about their own supporters, so I think theywould want to make sure everything in order so they can start a new media campaign.

"To say, 'look, these are all lies and that in terms of company structure they are all accountable to government, these are not private companies etc'. It's not like they're lying idle," said the chartered accountant by training.

NFC had recently engaged a public relations company to handle its media relations and have held at least two dialogue sessions with Malay-centric NGO to explain their side of the story.

The NGOs, however, claim that the sessions were on their own initiative.

Malaysiakin's three-part interview with Rafizi will be published next week.

Read More @ Source

More » Barisan Nasional (BN) | Pakatan Rakyat (PR) | Sociopolitics Plus | 大马社会政治

Courtesy of Bonology.com ® Politically Incorrect Buzz & Buzz

HOT : MARAH BETUL ANWAR BILA BACA EMAIL INI...

Empayar Pemuda — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 18:39:00 PST

Memetik kata-kata berbelit-belit Si Raja Putar, Brader Anwar Bin Ibrahim.”… kemahuan dan hak rakyat Palestin mesti dibela. Saya juga tegaskan, wajar sekali hak rakyat Israel dihormati. Keselamatan Israel harus dilindungi dan dihormati…”.

Soalan saya pada Anwar, sejak bila keselamatan regim zionis Israel kafir harbi laknatullah yang menceroboh secara rakus dan tidak bertamadun bumi Palestin, tanpa rasa berdosa membunuh dan menzalimi rakyat Palestin yang majoritinya beragama Islam secara terancang dan berterusan, patut dihormati, patut dilindungi?

Hanya akal fikiran luar tabiee sahaja yang bersetuju supaya hak Israel, regim boneka Yahudi Amerika laknatullah ini untuk menyerang, mengebom dan memusnahkan bumi Palestin harus dihormati! Pemikiran jenis inilah yang kini menjadi parasit dalam Pakatan Pembangkang.

Membudayakan perangai kurang ajar, samseng dan tidak menghormati kedaulatan sebuah negara merdeka dan bermaruah seperti Palestin, sebaliknya bersekongkol dengan keganasan bermaharajalela Israel menghalau rakyat Palestin.

Amat meloyakan perkataan keselamatan Israel patut diberi hak dan dihormati, keluar dari mulut Penasihat RM1 Kerajaan Selangor DAP, dengan MB boneka PKR, tanpa mendapat tentangan dari Pas yang kini hanya mampu mengangguk kepala, ibarat lembu dicucuk hidung!

Wahai Brader Anwar Bin Ibrahim, keselamatan hak dan keistimewaan apakah yang harus diberi pada Israel?

Adakah hak supaya diberi kebebasan menggila tanpa batasan untuk meneruskan pembunuhan dan kezaliman terhadap rakyat Palestin di bumi mereka sendiri!

Inilah kenyataan paling menjijikkan keluar dari seorang “pelakon” hebat abad ini. Kenyataan berbelit-belit seorang “pakar dua alam”. Pada Brader Anwar Bin Ibrahim beliau akan lakukan apa sahaja bagi memujuk dan melunakkan hati sahabat-sahabat yahudi zionisnya.

Dunia tahu betapa mesra dan akrabnya ‘ tukang karut ‘ ketua Pakatan Pembangkang ini dengan sahabat intimnya, Paul Wolfowitz. Dia adalah Zionis Yahudi yang menjadi perancang pencerobohan dan serangan terhadap negara Islam Iraq dan Afghanistan! Tangannya yang dijabat erat Anwar, bermandikan darah jutaan umat Islam yang mati dalam serangan ganas lagi zalim tentera Amerika laknatullah. Wolfowitz juga melantik Anwar sebagai Pengerusi badan International Foundation For the Future (IFFF), dan pensyarah di John Hopkins University.

Lihat juga kawan-kawan yang didakap erat Anwar. Martin Indyk, seorang Yahudi yang juga bekas Duta Amerika ke Israel. James Wolfensohn, bekas Presiden Bank Dunia yang juga seorang penganut Yahudi tegar. Juga Al Gore, bekas Naib Presiden Amerika.

Senarai sahabat-sahabat regim zionis yahudi laknatullah berpanjangan … William Cohen, bekas Setiausaha (Menteri) Pertahanan Amerika, yang juga pakar strategis dan pemusnah kekuatan negara-negara islam Islam. Menghalalkan pembunuhan kejam jutaan anak-anak kecil, wanita dan orang-orang tua Islam dalam serangan yang dirancang. Hospital, sekolah dan tempat-tempat awam dibom.

Michael Danby, seorang keturunan Yahudi yang menjadi Ahli Parlimen di Australia, menjadi penyokong kuat kumpulan seks bebas Gay & Lesbian di Australia dan mengetuai kumpulan beberapa Ahli Parlimen Australia yang mendesak Malaysia menggugurkan tuduhan liwat Anwar terhadap stafnya Saiful. Pada mereka meliwat bukan dosa, apatah lagi satu kesalahan!

Sedarlah, kerajaan Malaysia di bawah pemerintahan BN yang terasnya UMNO secara konsisten, tegas, berani , berterus terang dan tanpa berselindung tidak pernah sekali pun mengiktiraf rejim zionis Israel, malah langsung tidak ada sebarang hubungan diplomatik dengan negara haram Israel.

Pendirian tegas ini diterjemahkan di Perhimpunan Bangsa-Bangsa Bersatu, di hadapan rejim boneka Yahudi Amerika Syarikat, termasuk di hadapan zionis Israel sendiri. Malaysia tidak malu berkata sedemikian. Pendirian Malaysia tidak berbelit-belit. Pendirian Malaysia terang, jelas dan nyata.

Saya ingin bertanya pada juak-juak Pakatan Pembangkang yang menyokong ajaran Pak Syeikh mereka ini. Jika satu kuasa luar menceroboh bumi Malaysia tercinta ini, adakah kita mahu mengiktiraf kuasa luar itu. Memberi kuasa luar itu penghormatan, hak keselamatan dan keistimewa !

Cukup-cukuplah. Jangan terpedaya dengan kaedah matlamat menghalalkan cara yang menjadi anutan Anwar. Kalau sudah tahu Brader Anwar Bin Ibrahim membawa pandangan songsang dan jalan luar tabiee. Tinggalkan dia. Baliklah ke pangkal jalan.

Keluarlah dari bulatan yang berputar-putar. Masuk dan berada bersama jamaah di jalan dan saf barisan yang lurus.UMNO Online

Chua: Voting DAP will only help PAS

ivy — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 17:36:49 PST

IPOH: The DAP has been misleading the Chinese into believing that a vote for the party would help realise their hopes of getting fair treatment and a top Chinese leader.

MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek said many Chinese voters still did not understand that a vote for the DAP was actually a vote for the PKR and PAS, and not to realise their hope.

In fact, he said, a vote for the DAP would help PAS realise its objective of forming an Islamic state and implement its brand of hudud.

Citing Perak as an example, Dr Chua said that DAP won 18 state seats against the six won by PAS and seven by PKR, but the (then) Mentri Besar was Datuk Seri Mohamad Nizar Jamaluddin from PAS.

Apart from that, Dr Chua said DAP did not fulfil its promises to its Chinese supporters after the last elections.

For instance, he said, Pakatan-ruled states like Penang, Selangor, Kedah and Kelantan did not give any land for Chinese schools.

In Selangor, only two out of some 1,500 who were awarded scholarships by the state government were Chinese in 2010, he added.

Besides, many of the elected representatives from the Opposition were also missing in action after the elections, Dr Chua said, adding that MCA leaders ended up having to help the people.

“I have received many complaints from the people on such elected representatives,” Dr Chua said during a Chinese New Year dinner in Bercham here yesterday.

Meanwhile, when asked to comment on Perak DAP chairman Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham‘s police report against him yesterday, saying he had accused the DAP of wanting to form a “Chinese state government in Perak”, Dr Chua said it was the DAP’s right to lodge the report.

“In a democracy, the people have the right to bring matters up for discussion. It is up to the rakyat to discuss and decide,” he said.

Dr Chua cautioned the people of DAP’s approach to fish for votes by using Penang where the chief minister is from DAP .

“This is perception by association,” he said, adding that the reality was that the DAP was helping to strengthen PAS, pointing out that Perak and Kedah were good examples after the last elections.

“The Chinese must be very clear that the DAP, PKR and PAS are partners but contest under their own party ticket during the general elections,” Dr Chua pointed out.

-The STAR-

Helah Bersih mahukan "indellible ink"

The Unspinners — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 17:14:00 PST

Video ini dipetik dari blog Papagomo yang menunjukkan indellible ink yang akan digunakan untuk pilihanraya boleh dihilangkan:
Dengan boleh ink itu dihilangkan, apa yang akan terjadi? Adakah ia memudahkan penipuan undi dengan IS tipu untuk tokok tambah undi?

Itu hanya pemikiran mereka yang tidak faham prosedur pilihanraya. Masakan ianya boleh dilakukan dengan adanya pemerhati undi dan mengira dari kedua-dua pihak.

Apakah sebenarnya akan digunakan isu indellible ink ini?

Jawabnya adalah untuk menggantung kerajaan yang terpilih. Eh ... bagaiman aitu?

Senang saja. Sebaik saja Pakatanm Rakyat kalah dna kalau jumlah kerusi sedikit saja kurang, indellible ink adalah senjata mereka untuk membuat petisyen demio petisyen hingga jumlah kerusi BN tidak cukup untuk menubuhkan kerajaan.

Ada teori kata, masa itulah kuasa ketiga yang akan lompat dari dalam dua-dua belah pihak keluar dan menjadi king maker. Walluhu alam.

Petisyen adalah mengenai indellible ink dan ianya bagi mempersoalkan mana-mana kemenangan yang sikit-sikit saja majoriti.

Apa lagi akan berlaku kalau tidak keadaan tidak stabil dalam negara. Masa cantiklah rakan-rakan mereka dari luar negara cucuk lagi rkyat dinafikan kerajaan dan timbul Tahrir Square.

Kelembutan SPR akan menimbulkan masaalah kemudian hari nanti. Percayalah ... kalau tidak indellible ink, adalah akan dijadikan isu.

Gridlock all the way home

(author unknown) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 17:48:39 PST

The major festival periods next year fall on extended weekends and this can only mean more vehicles on the road and more headaches for us.

LONG weekends are fun, more so if it is accompanied by festivities like the recent Chinese New Year. Those going back to their home towns started emptying out the city from Jan 20 .

It was those travelling the next day who suffered the longest delays. There were reports of 15-hour journeys from Kuala Lumpur to Penang.

The entire highway system in the country seemed to have ground to a standstill on that Saturday afternoon.

It was as if the whole country decided to take to the road simultaneously.

The expressway concessionaires and the highway authorities had issued advisories, but these were summarily ignored.

Malaysians are like that. They do not take advice easily; they, it would seem, do not like to be told what to do.

For example, PLUS advised highway users from the Klang Valley heading north to Kedah, Perlis and Penang or south to Johor Baru via Skudai, Senai Utara, Ayer Hitam, Yong Peng and Tangkak on to start their journey before noon.

Those heading to Kuala Kangsar, Changkat Jering and Taiping in Perak and those going to Ayer Keroh (Malacca) should begin their journey between noon and 3pm.

Those heading to Ipoh, Simpang Pulai and Gopeng in Perak, as well as Tampin and Alor Gajah (Malacca) were advised begin their journey between 3pm and 6pm, while those heading to Tapah, Bidor, Sungkai, Slim River and Tanjung Malim in Perak and to Senawang, Port Dickson and Seremban in Negri Sembilan should begin their journey after 6pm.

There was an advisory from the Highway Authority of Malaysia for even and odd numbered cars to begin their journey at different times.

But did anyone listen? Apparently not.

On that Saturday, things got so bad that some R&R areas had to be shut because motorists were stopping their cars by the side of the expressways as car parks were full in the R&R areas.

Motorists parking at the entry and exit of the R&R areas were cited to be among the many causes of traffic snarls on the expressways.

Taken as a whole, those who chose to travel at the last minute had a better time.

A neighbour, who chose to leave Subang Jaya for Teluk Intan in Perak on Sunday evening, only experinced slight traffic and reached his destination in three hours.

It was estimated that more than two million vehicles were on the roads throughout Malaysia during the Chinese New Year period, an increase of about 20% from last year.

The same number, if not more, can be expected this weekend as the Birthday of Prophet Muhammad falls on Sunday, Chap Goh Mei on Monday and Thaipusam on Tuesday.

This means that all three main communities in the peninsula will be on the road again, as it is going to be another long weekend.

I expect the traffic to be heavier this weekend than during the Chinese New Year period, but because the celebrations are spread out, I don’t think the roads would be as congested as they were last weekend.

The authorities should be aware that this year’s festive travel nightmares are only a dry run for 2013.

All three major festivals next year – Chinese New Year, Hari Raya Aidil Fitri and Deepavali – will see extended weekends.

Chinese New Year falls on a Feb 10, a Sunday.

With the replacement public holiday, the festive occasion will extend till Tuesday, meaning that the exodus will begin on Friday.

The roads on that Friday evening and the whole of Saturday will once again resemble a huge parking lot.

The school authorities will have to be careful when planning school holidays as too short a break will result in everyone rushing back to the Klang Valley on the same day, turning the return leg into yet another nightmare.

Aidil Fitri is expected to fall on Aug 8, a Thursday, which means that everyone will be off work until Monday.

Again if the school break is not carefully planned, the balik kampung trip will be horrendous both ways.

Deepavali falls on a Sunday (Nov 3), which means Monday will also a public holiday, and the bonus is Maal Hijrah (the Muslim new year) falls on Tuesday (Nov 5) , making it yet another long weekend.

Malaysians will surely hit the roads during this period.

The road and school authorities have to get their act together and start planning now.

For next year, the school authorities must make known their holiday time-table in addition to the school terms.

If you’re already having a headache, do spare a thought for China.

Chinese transport officials expect 3.2 billion trips – from intercity flights and trains to local bus rides in villages – in the six weeks around the Chinese New Year holiday.

This will involve some 900,000 large- and mid-sized buses transporting 80 million people a day, and 14,000 flights and nearly 700 trains.

In Southern China, traffic police dispatched cars and helicopters to escort tens of thousands of migrants riding motorcycles home.

About 230 million people are travelling this holiday, making it the world’s biggest annual human migration.

> Executive editor Wong Sai Wan stayed back in the city and enjoyed the quiet and empty streets for the whole Chinese New Year period to welcome the Year of the Dragon.

What lies ahead for social media

(author unknown) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 17:48:39 PST

It is going to be a tempestuous year with more developments in the social media scene, and a digital war may erupt between Internet users, companies and governments.

MALAYSIA’S social media sphere hit a milestone last year. Facebook users reached 12 million in Malaysia as at December and Twitter users reached about 470,000 as at October.

Defamation actions and criminal charges against people for alleged misuse of social media have also become normal. There have been interesting developments in the social media and Internet legal scene.

Last year saw an increase in the use of social media by the legal profession to market their services. Some lawyers, law firms and courts have their own Twitter accounts.

Former Bar Council president Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan (@Ambiga_S) has over 6,000 followers, international law firm Allen & Overy (@AllenOvery) has more than 6,600 followers and the US Supreme Court (@USSupremeCourt) has 23,000 followers and counting.

With such extensive use by legal practitioners, the Law Society of England and Wales issued a practice note for the use of social media by lawyers.

Back home, Cybersecurity Malaysia introduced a new Internet guideline called Best Practice on Social Networking Sites (SNS).

The guideline is used as acceptable practices in usage of SNS with heightened ethics as well as in protecting the security of users and privacy needs. It is very useful for companies as guidance when drafting their social media policies.

Interestingly, the High Court of Malaya recognised that misappropriation of a domain name by a former employee is actionable under conversion of and trespass to property and breach of fiduciary duty in the 2008 case of Ogawa World Bhd & Anor v Ch’ng Wai Loong.

Normally, misappropriated Top Level domain names are recoverable through the WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Centre.

In Canada, the Supreme Court of Canada in Crookes v Newton (2011) delivered an important decision on the status of hyperlinks.

The Court held that creating hyperlinks to allegedly defamatory articles does not amount to a publication of defamatory information.

In India, the owners of a hotel sued Google over the auto-complete function on its search engine for defamation. When users typed the hotel’s name into Google, the word “receivership” is a suggested search term. However, the suit was later withdrawn.

“Who owns your followers?” was an issue to be determined when mobile phone website PhoneDog sued a former employee, writer Noah Kravitz, over the 17,000 Twitter followers that he had built up on a Twitter account called @PhoneDog_Noah.

Noah filed a motion to dismiss PhoneDog’s case but the US District Court ruled that PhoneDog could proceed with the lawsuit.

Many commentators are of the opinion that PhoneDog should have established a social media policy to determine the issue of ownership of the Twitter account when the account was created.

In a similar case, Eagle v Edcomm, Inc, et al., the Eastern District Court of Pennsylvania held that a former employee’s LinkedIn account belonged to the employer, even though the LinkedIn account contained the name, professional history and accomplishments of the employee.

Facebook had a busy year in 2011. Friendster repositioned itself as a social gaming site and discontinued its user social network accounts, leaving Facebook with one less competitor. However, Google introduced a new social networking site, Google Plus.

Facebook was subjected to a thorough and detailed audit by the Office of Irish Data Protection Commissioner, which gave a dozen recommendations for how Facebook can improve privacy protection and data-handling practices. The audit report is available online in the interest of transparency.

Last year also saw the battle for Facebook page www.facebook.com/Merck. Merck KGaA, a German drug maker, suddenly lost its Facebook page to US rival Merck & Co.

Merck KGaA initiated an action against Facebook for details on how the page was lost. Facebook subsequently apologised to Merck KGaA for the mix-up.

We all know that it is very difficult to remove information published online. Some argue that confidential information posted online will lose its quality of confidence.

However, in AMP v Persons Unknown (2011), the UK High Court granted a superinjunction to restrain the further publication of stolen intimate pictures of a woman which were leaked online.

Arguably, this case implicitly determined the position of confidential information which has been leaked online.

On the criminal front, a US Federal Judge in USA v William Lawrence Cassidy dismissed a criminal case against Cassidy for “tweet stalking” a religious leader on Twitter.

Cassidy allegedly posted 8,000 tweets, almost all of them about the leader and her religious group, which caused the leader to claim that she had suffered “substantial emotional distress”.

The Judge held that although the tweets were uncomfortable, Cassidy’s right to tweet was protected under the US Constitution.

This year will see more developments in the social media legal scene. We may also see more Internet censorship and crackdowns on websites for sharing files – just like what happened to MegaUpload.

As a result, a digital war may erupt between Internet users and companies and governments. It is going to be a tempestuous year ahead.

> The writer is a young lawyer. Putik Lada, or pepper buds in Malay, captures the spirit and intention of this column – a platform for young lawyers to articulate their views and aspirations about the law, justice and a civil society. For more information about the young lawyers, visit www.malaysianbar.org.my.

MCA Youth: PAS and DAP responsible for Ibrahim’s arrogance

ivy — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 17:32:48 PST

PETALING JAYA: MCA Youth has called on PAS and DAP to apologise to the Chinese community for being responsible for Perkasa president Datuk Ibrahim Ali‘s arrogance.

MCA Youth secretary-general Datuk Chai Kim Sen said it was PAS that allowed Ibrahim to contest the Pasir Mas parliamentary seat in 2008 and thus had allowed him to continue making insulting statements against the Chinese community.

“Therefore, it is PAS and its comrade-in-arms DAP that should apologise,” he said in a statement yesterday.

Chai said the DAP should apologise for misleading the public and blaming the MCA for many issues, including its involvement with the “white packet” issue.

Meanwhile, Sri Desa MCA branch chairman Collin Tiew tendered his resignation from all party posts, including as Seputeh division committee member.

Tiew said he attended Perkasa’s Chinese New Year gathering in his capacity as chairman of a welfare association and not as a party member.

He said he brought about 50 old folk to the gathering, which he thought was a typical Chinese New Year function.

Tiew, who helped to translate Ibrahim’s speech for the Chinese audience during the event, said he was initially unaware that Perkasa was the organiser.

“I was invited by the locals. I trusted them and did not question further,” he said yesterday.

He said Ibrahim was unfit to be an elected representative because he was not sensitive towards the Chinese community.

-The STAR-

PANAS : SALAHUDIN AYUBI SINDIR NIK AZIZ BAIK PUNYA...

Empayar Pemuda — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 16:55:05 PST

"Saya rasa manifestasi daripada ucapan beliau itu menggambarkan tentang jiwa besar dia sebagai seorang pemimpin, yang saya yakin dan percaya bahawa beliau ingin melihat kelangsungan perjuangan dan ucapan itu menggambarkan beliau telah menjadikan... bahawa jawatan dan kedudukan dalam parti bukan segala-galanya, bukan sesuatu yang saya anggap presiden ingin mengajar ataupun mendidik kita bahawa perjuangan dapat mencapai matlamat menduduki jawatan atau memenangi atau bertanding dalam mana-mana pilihan raya," katanya. SH

EP rasa Salahudin dan seluruh kepimpinan PAS faham kenapa Hadi Awang keluarkan kenyataan di media perdana untuk berundur tanpa merujuk atau berbincang didalam mesyuarat PAS terlebih dahulu. Sebenarnya Hadi Awang tidak bermaksud untuk mengundur diri tetapi hanya mahu menyampaikan masej ini kepada orang-orang yang tertentu dalam PAS.

Mesej yang dihantar oleh Hadi Awang ini sebenarnya ditujukan khas buat Mursyidul Am yang disayangi supaya sedar yang ramai lagi di luar sana boleh memimpin PAS tetapi sebaliknya bagi Nik Aziz. Rakyat dan PAS masih perlukan khidmatnya sebagai Mursyidul Am, sekiranya Nik Aziz tiada, PAS akan hancur...

Walaupun semua orang tahu tahap kesihatan Nik Aziz yang kian merosot dan sudah tidak mampu lagi untuk memimpin PAS, senang cerita rumah dah kata pergi dan kubur dah kata mari...Nik Aziz masih berdegil mahu mengekalkan kerusi yang beliau wakili di Pulau Melaka dan cukup takut untuk melepaskan jawatan sebagai Menteri Besar Kelantan..

Sebab itu Nik Aziz boleh mengeluarkan kenyataan maut ini konon-kononnya mahu memujuk Hadi Awang tetapi sebenarnya dia ingin mempertahankan dirinya daripada melepaskan jawatannya..

“Penjawat awam ada had masa untuk bersara tapi pimpinan parti tiada had masa, boleh berkhidmat sampai mati,” – Nik Aziz

Rombongan Mencari DANA PRU di Turkey

pisau — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 16:49:00 PST

Kita ucap tahniah kepada Anwar yang sudahpun berangkat ke Turki malam semalam (bukan lari dan mencari suaka politik!); tetapi lebih kepada usaha saat akhir untuk mendapatkan bantuan dana PRU yang akan datang daripada beberapa pihak di Turki. Kalau mengikut jadual yang ditunjukkan oleh Saifuddin kepada beberapa petugas Ibupejabat PKR malam semalam sewaktu di KLIA; kita nampak memang lawatan ini mempunyai tujuan yang sangat khusus.

Anwar dijadualkan bertemu beberapa pemain korporat di Turki dalam beberapa hari ini. Dengan berbekalkan beberapa info terkini mengenai tanah, kawasan, tawaran istimewa, kelebihan yang dimiliki oleh Selangor dan Pulau Pinang kepada usahawan Turki; Anwar juga akan berbincang mengenai kemungkinan Turki membantu PKR daripada sudut lain. Ada juga usaha untuk mewujudkan kerjasama politik jangka panjang antara AK Party dan Parti Keadilan daripada sudut pertukaran ‘kakitangan’ dan kepimpinan yang akan berlangsung untuk masa yang terdekat.

Beberapa orang kalangan pemimpin muda PKR akan dihantar ke Turki untuk belajar kaedah kempen dan modus operandi pilihanraya yang dibuat oleh AK Party. Anwar memang mahukan DASAR PANDANG KE TURKI sebagai agenda baru yang bakal dilaksanakan oleh PKR.

Yang kelakar, semalam sempat Azmin Ali menunjukkan ‘metal detector’ yang diberikan oleh seorang rakan Amerika kepada mereka. Tak mahu masalah di Patpong dan Bangkok berulang, nampaknya Saifuddin dan Azmin mengambil langkah yang sangat hati-hati. No more problems, tegas Azmin. Semua kakitangan yang ada di sekeliling tergelak. Boleh jadi bahan gurauan nampaknya Anwar sekarang ini.

Anwar juga akan bertemu beberapa tokoh politik. Ahmet Davotoglu memang menjadi pengikut setia Anwar sejak zaman di UIAM lagi.

Anwar juga akan bertemu dengan beberapa ‘market analyst’ di Turkey – bagi mencari kelemahan pembelian ACIBADEM oleh Khazanah baru-baru ini. Anwar sengaja ingin mencari kalau-kalau ada kelemahan yang dibuat oleh Khazanah dalam dealing tersebut.

Antara wakil-wakil syarikat yang akan bertemu Anwar: Enka Insaat (Construction) dan Akbank (Perbankan). Menarik juga permainan Anwar ini.

Kalau menurut anggaran awal Ibupejabat PKR; dana awal sebanyak RM55 juta akan dapat banyak membantu usaha kemenangan pilihanraya. Kalau Anwar berjaya, nilai Anwar di kalangan Pakatan Rakyat akan meningkat berkali ganda. Salah satu BUKTI bahawa Anwar dapat memimpin dengan baik adalah kemampuan mencari sumber kewangan. Kalau mengikut list panjang usahawan Turki yang bakal Anwar temui – komitmen RM15 juta sekurang-kurangnya memang boleh diusahakan.

Yang pelik, ada ‘bullet point’ – ‘American friends’ di dalam jadual Anwar. Siapa dia ‘American friends’ ini? Di mana mereka berjumpa? Atas sebab apa?

Sebelum meninggalkan rakan-rakan di KLIA – Azmin sempat bergurau, ‘this is last we’re going as opposition….next time, we are part of PM’s Office’. Terburai gelak-Gelagat Anwar

Gerakan Dan PKR Bersatu

YB Raz — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 16:22:10 PST

Parti GERAKAN membantah cadangan Suruhanjaya Pilihan Raya (SPR) menghalang rakyat Malaysia yang tinggal di luar negara dan tidak membayar cukai daripada mengundi pada pilihan raya umum.

Timbalan Presidennya, Datuk Chang Ko Youn, berkata cadangan itu akan menyekat demokrasi dan tidak menggalakkan warga Malaysia yang menetap di luar negara daripada menyertai proses pilihan raya.

"Perlembagaan Persekutuan memperuntukan setiap rakyat Malaysia yang mencapai umur 21 tahun layak menjadi pengundi dan oleh itu adalah tidak adil untuk mendiskriminasikan hak mengundi berdasarkan status membayar cukai.

"SPR perlu faham bahawa hak mengundi adalah sebahagian daripada hak kewarganegaraan dan ia tidak terikat dengan isu membayar cukai," katanya dalam kenyataan di sini, hari ini. Chang berkata, semua warga Malaysia yang menetap di luar negara perlu dibenarkan mengundi tanpa mengambil kira sama ada mereka membayar cukai atau sebaliknya.

"Ini akan membolehkan rakyat Malaysia di luar negara menyertai pilihan raya bagi memastikan mereka terus terbabit dalam hal ehwal negara," jelasnya.

Chang berkata, beliau juga tidak bersetuju dengan keperluan mengadakan ujian mudah dikenakan kepada rakyat Malaysia di luar negara bagi membuktikan hubungan mereka terhadap negara sebelum dibenarkan mengundi.

"Selagi mereka warga Malaysia, mereka perlu dibenarkan mengundi. Saya tidak nampak keperluan untuk mencontohi sistem di Amerika Syarikat atau Taiwan. Kita adalah negara berdaulat dan berdemokrasi...kita perlu menentukan peraturan sendiri," katanya.

Semalam, Pengerusi SPR, Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof dilaporkan sebagai berkata, pihaknya sedang menentukan kriteria yang perlu diikuti untuk rakyat Malaysia yang bekerja dan menentap di luar negara sebelum dibenarkan mengundi.

Sementara itu, Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) berkata, cadangan SPR itu adalah langkah kebelakang yang cukup ketara kepada demokrasi negara.

Ahli Majlis Kepimpinan Pusat PKR, Elizabeth Wong berkata, dengan menafikan hak perlembagaan rakyat Malaysia untuk mengundi menunjukkan bahawa SPR mempunyai pandangan kabur mengenai proses demokratik.

"Walaupun cadangan untuk membataskan kepada rakyat Malaysia di luar negara ketika ini, namum ia memcerminkan sikap SPR dalam soal pengundian -- iaitu keistimewaan dan bukan sebagai hak.

"Ini menandakan trend bahaya dalam politik Malaysia. Di sebalik memperkasakan demokrasi dengan menjadikan lebih ramai rakyat sebagai sebahagian daripada proses dan mengembangkan pangkalan pengundi, SPR cuba berundur dan membawa kita ke zaman di mana hak mengundi hanya terbatas kepada kumpulan elit saja," katanya dalam kenyataan. - BERNAMA

Rakyat Malaysia yang berada diluar negara kebanyakkannya adalah masyarakat cina. Kononnya mereka merasa tidak selesa di Malaysia ataupun telah mengaut kekayaan negara selepas tu duduk diluar negara.

Dan orang cina sebenarnya amat bersatu didalam isu kepentingan mereka. Tak kiralah MCA, Gerakan mahupun DAP, mereka akan bersatu sekiranya kepentingan mereka diusik. Tetapi malangnya orang melayu ni pula jenis bangsa bebal dan sengal. Suka sangat bergaduh sesama sendiri tetapi pengecut dan dayus bila berdepan dengan bangsa lain.

Apabila Gerakan dan PKR senada mengenai SPR menghalang penduduk Malaysia luar negara untuk mengundi, orang melayu seharusnya berfikir dan berhati hati. Seperti yang aku cakapkan tadi, orang cina Malaysia banyak diluar negara. Sendirilah fikir apa akan jadi nanti sekiranya orang melayu terus berpecah.

Terima Kasih Kerana Sudi Membaca

CIBAI PUNYA MALAYSIAKINI, SAJA NAK CETUSKAN API PERKAUMAN!

House PK — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 10:58:00 PST

Apa lagi Malaysiakini cibai ni? Apa lagi depa tak puas hati pasal isu "angpow putih" ni? Ayo, betul la cakap GAP, lu hari-hari terima surat pun putih maa cibai.

Apasal benda kecik ni pun mau bising? Tarak kerja lain ka? Itu pun depa dah kasi duit. Bukan nak bersyukur, bikin isu pulak. Mulanua aku malas nak campur tapi bila dah lebey ni aku nak masuk gak la.

Orang-orang Cina ni pun satu, takkan la dengan sengaja itu Perkasa mau kasi sama lu itu "angpau putih" maa, mereka sudah silap la, wa pun tak tau Cina pantang sama angpow putih maa...

Sudah-sudahla, toksah bikin isu la, wa tau lu orang suka sama DAP, takpa lu orang suka lu orang angkat sama DAP, tapi jangan kasi bikin kecoh la, ini negara kita aman damai.

So tak yah bikin kacau ok!

Gong xi fa cai!

Sent by Maxis from my BlackBerry® smartphone

We ran out of red ang pow packets, says Malaysian MP - AsiaOne

nospam@nospam.com (anonimous) — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 19:01:46 PST

KUALA LUMPUR - Perkasa had no intention of offending the Chinese when it distributed white ang pow packets during its Chinese New Year gathering last Sunday.

"It was an oversight, it won't happen again," said its president, Datuk Ibrahim Ali.

He said he was unaware of the uproar it would cause and surprised that nobody pointed it out to him on that day.

"If someone had told us about it, we would have rectified it immediately," he said yesterday.

Perkasa, he said, expected only 200 people to turn up for its open house and was caught by surprise when some 700 people showed up.

"We ran out of red packets, and had to use white instead. It was not done on purpose, we never intended to insult or upset our guests, especially the Chinese community."

The Pasir Mas member of parliament said he had used red packets at the Chinese New Year open house at his constituency, which saw some 1,000 guests.

But, this was not reported by the media, he pointed out, instead "the blunder" went viral on the net.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, on his Chinese language Facebook site, posted that Perkasa's white packet faux pas was a learning experience in race relations. He also said it could have been avoided with a better understanding of Chinese culture and taboos.

In the ancient Chinese concept of colour, white represents multiple things (PureInsight.org). In the theory of the "Five Elements", white corresponds to gold, which shows that the ancient Chinese people felt that white symbolised brightness, and represented purity and fullness, while red symbolised good fortune and joy.

Meanwhile, MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek said as the matter could not be undone, Perkasa should apologise for the slip-up.

"Nobody is perfect. I'm sure with the Chinese New Year spirit, the Chinese will be able to forgive."

Chua slams Selangor govt - New Straits Times

nospam@nospam.com (anonimous) — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 17:14:24 PST

| Last updated at 01:14AM

By LUM CHEE HONG
KAJANG
news@nst.com.my | 0 comments

State leaders failed to give land for schools

MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek says opposition parties did not keep their promises

THE opposition has always made promises, but has never kept any of them, MCA president Datuk Seri Chua Soi Lek said yesterday.

   He said it was typical of them, just like their promise to build schools, but they never took shape.
   Citing an example, he said there was need for two new Chinese schools in Kajang in view of the growing population,
   "We waited and waited in vain for land to site the new schools. But the Selangor state government did nothing.
   "In the end, we had to meet with the deputy minister of education who allocated us two plots of reserve land meant for national schools at Sungai Long and Sungai Kajang Utama," he told reporters after attending Selangor Barisan Nasional and MCA Chinese New Year open house on Tuesday.
    In Kuala Lumpur, MCA Youth chief Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong called on youth chiefs to stop sabotaging each other and to close ranks.
"They must solve whatever problems they have quickly and put the party's struggle first.
   "Division leaders should also listen to the voices of the youths ... they maybe aggressive, but they have ideas and we can use them for reference," he told reporters after chairing the MCA Youth central committee meeting.
   On the dumping of a severed pig's head at a mosque in Rawang recenty, he said police should come down hard on the persons responsible.
   He said such people were insensitive to the country's diverse culture and traditions and did not deserve to live here.
   "There should be no compromise. The police must act."

   Wee also announced Tan Hing Teik's appointment as the new Penang Youth chief to replace Eng Hiap Boon, who quit the party recently.

Pedestrians risking life and limb

Stolen drain covers endangering lives

Selangor at it again

Anwar’s Support Israel Video Making Its Rounds

pisau — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 13:42:00 PST

AIDCNews – 02/02/12 – The 7 minutes 48 seconds video recording of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s speech, which many say is in support of an ‘Israeli State’ has begun to make its rounds.

“I represent the view…‘two states solution’ for the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, “said Anwar at the Woodrow Wilson International Centre (WWIC), Washington DC on June 24, 2010.

Anwar said this when answering a question posed by Stanley Kober, a former Research Fellow in Foreign Policy Studies at Cato Institute, Washington, who asked him to explain why he voted the way he did on the flotilla incident, as well as why this issue was so important that the Malaysian parliament wanted to vote on it and would want to make its opinion.

It could be that, according to the participant in question, Anwar as the leader of Malaysia’s opposition pact should be opposing the motion to criticise Israel in the Malaysian parliament, and that if, he too, supported it, it only showed that he was also ‘anti-Semitic.’

In reply, Anwar said he was suspicious and rejected the motion to criticise Israel – a motion that was suggested by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Tun Razak because, according to him the act of bringing up an anti-Israeli motion was tantamount to a policy of ‘racism.’

He said Najib, who brought that motion, had criticised what was considered as brutal action on the part of the Zionist state of Israel. He went on to say that he and his cohorts (actually) in the opposition were sceptical in support of the resolution.

However, he cautioned that many among his group realised that there was no need to adopt an anti-Jew or anti-Semitic stance, as this would be tantamount to being racists.

To support his answer, and to prove that he rejected the anti-Israeli motion, Anwar claimed that he represented those who supported the ‘two states solution’ idea in putting an end to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

In the video, Anwar also criticised the laws practised in Malaysia, which he considered as undemocratic…laws such as the whipping sentence imposed on former part time model, Kartika Sari Dewi Sukarno for consuming alcohol, as well as the ban on the use of the word Allah among Christians.-AIDC

xBlog ☪ Sociopolitics

1Care or just “I don’t care”

Dissecting Mahathir’s Grand Design

Selangor Times Feb 3

» Full screen view

» Selangor Times web site

Pemberi rasuah sama berat tanggungjawab dengan penerima

1Care or just “I don’t care”

Like this:

Selangor Times Feb 3

» Full screen view

» Selangor Times web site

Share this:

Like this:

PKR to 'greet' Shahrizat's return with more expose

HOT : MARAH BETUL ANWAR BILA BACA EMAIL INI...

Chua: Voting DAP will only help PAS

Helah Bersih mahukan "indellible ink"

Gridlock all the way home

What lies ahead for social media

MCA Youth: PAS and DAP responsible for Ibrahim’s arrogance

PANAS : SALAHUDIN AYUBI SINDIR NIK AZIZ BAIK PUNYA...

Rombongan Mencari DANA PRU di Turkey

Gerakan Dan PKR Bersatu

CIBAI PUNYA MALAYSIAKINI, SAJA NAK CETUSKAN API PERKAUMAN!

We ran out of red ang pow packets, says Malaysian MP - AsiaOne

Chua slams Selangor govt - New Straits Times

State leaders failed to give land for schools

Anwar’s Support Israel Video Making Its Rounds