The government should act against Ahmad Ismail and not on the reporter who was merely carrying out her duties assigned to her. Arresting Tan under the ISA is tantamount to taking action against the person carrying the message and not against the messenger himself. The people have registered their disgust at this recent arrest and I personally share their feelings. Ahmad Ismail should not be allowed to escape with just a three-year suspension from UMNO for making sensitive remarks while Tan has been "victimised" This goes against the tenets of democracy as espoused by the Barisan Nasional in the 8 March General Election and not consistent with the spirit of the Barisan Nasional coalition.
Similarly, the government should not detain YB Teresa Kok and Raja Petra. If the government feels strongly that they have broken any laws, then charge them under the relevant laws.
( Mand version click "more" )
果敢地对付滋事者！
政府应该采取行动对付阿末伊斯迈，而不是对付只是执行被指派任务的记者。当局在内安法令下逮捕陈云清，等于是采取行动对付传达信息的人， 而不是对付发出信息的人。人们对最近的逮捕行动感到厌恶和反感，而我本人也有这个感受。阿末伊斯迈由于发表敏感的言论而受到的惩罚，不应该只限于被中止巫统党员籍三年，而陈云清则成为了牺牲者。这是违反国民阵线于3月8日大选时维护的民主原则，而且也不符合国阵联合政府的精神。
同样的，政府也不应该逮捕郭素沁和拉惹布特拉。如果政府强烈认为，他们触犯了法例，那么，就应该援引相关的法令提控他们。
逮捕星洲日报的记者
我万分不同意，而且非常反感政府援引内安法令逮捕星洲日报的记者陈云清。身为一名记者，陈云清只不过执行指派给她的任务。此外，她所写的新闻稿，在刊登以前已经被编辑审阅过。
援引内安法令逮捕陈云清，不但违反了言论自由的本质，而且也让民众觉得，政府封锁资讯，进而引起人民的不满，可能还会导致谣言满天飞。这也将造成人民从阅读传统的主流媒体，转为浏览部落格和互联网，而有些部落格和互联网，则可能被某些集团所利用。如果政府认为，陈清云触犯了任何法例，当局应该援引相关的法令提控她。
More...
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Arrest of Sin Chew Daily News Reporter
I strongly disagree and am utterly disgusted with the government’s use of the Internal Security Act on Sin Chew Daily News reporter Tan Hoon Cheng. As a reporter, Tan was only carrying out her duties as assigned to her. Her story had gone through the due editorial process before it was printed.
Detaining Tan under the ISA would go against the grains of freedom of the press and give the public the perception that the government was keeping information from them, thus further stroke discontent among the people and may spin off rumours arising from the issue. It will also turn the people further away from the mainstream media as a source of information and encourage them to turn to blogs and Internet which may be exploited by certain quarters. If the government feels that Tan had broken any laws, she should instead be charged in court under the those laws.
More...
Detaining Tan under the ISA would go against the grains of freedom of the press and give the public the perception that the government was keeping information from them, thus further stroke discontent among the people and may spin off rumours arising from the issue. It will also turn the people further away from the mainstream media as a source of information and encourage them to turn to blogs and Internet which may be exploited by certain quarters. If the government feels that Tan had broken any laws, she should instead be charged in court under the those laws.
More...
Monday, September 8, 2008
2009 Budget: Bolder Measures Needed!
While the proposals of Budget 2009 seek to address the concerns of the people and help them to cope following the increase in fuel prices and goods and services, it lacks punch and most of the measures just trickles at the margin. For example, the reduction of the income tax from 28 percent to 27 percent works out to just RM150 a month. I feel that bolder measures at the micro and macro levels are needed to boost the economy and to pass the benefits of this growth to the people. In the medium term, more incentives are needed to encourage local investors as well as foreign direct investments. These measures should reflect the challenges of an increasingly open and competitive global economy.
At the macro level, the government should remove any hindrances or constraints to economic growth and investments – both domestic and foreign. The Deputy Prime Minister, YAB Dato Sri Najib Tun Razak mentioned at the Mid Term Review of the Ninth Malaysia Plan, that the guidelines under the Foreign Investment Committee needed to be reviewed to encourage investments, but the Budget fails to highlight this important aspect. The government should give serious thoughts to removing any hindrances to investments, especially when we are facing fierce competition from China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand and Indonesia. Such hindrances and obstacles are also not consistent with globalization. The requirements for listing on the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange, Bursa Malaysia, also needs a relook. Companies are now free to list on regional bourses like Singapore and Hong Kong. If the government does not remove restrictions such as the 30 percent requirement on equity ownership, more and more companies will seek to list in these bourses. The local bourse used to be a major stock exchange in Asia after Tokyo and Hong Kong. Now, it has been overtaken by Singapore, Korea and China and Jakarta and Bangkok are fast catching up. Budget 2009 also does not have any comprehensive proposals to help the small and medium enterprises which are the most affected by rising materials and operations costs. What is needed to push the SMEs to the next level are advisory centres or incubators to help them. The government should not just pump in the funds per se but should assist the SMEs in areas such as upgrading of technology, human resource development and marketing. Killing the goose that lays the eggs! The windfall tax on oil palm estates needs a relook. The windfall tax was introduced about 10 years ago when the breakeven was RM600 per tonne. But this has increased to about RM1300 per tonne. If the government wants to maintain the windfall tax, they should consider moving the level to RM2500-RM2700 per tonne. On Human Resources, as a former Minister of Human Resources, I feel that the requirement of having to report ethnicity make-up in the workforce (as proposed in the Mid Term Review of the Ninth Malaysia Plan) is a step backwards. This will indeed be a constraint to companies, including multi-national corporations in Malaysia, to employ the best talents and will deter Malaysians from improving themselves to compete on a level playing field. At the people level, the people are still feeling the effects of the rise in prices following the increase in fuel prices. While the government has lowered fuel prices a little, the people are still affected by the increase in prices of commodities and goods and services following the initial increase in fuel prices. Now, the government should look into measures to pass down the reduction in fuel prices to the people. More important is the lack of emphasis on a Social Safety Net. One way is to set up a fund to help the unemployed by providing them with financial assistance over a period of 6 months until they get another job. The government can kick-start the Fund by providing an initial grant of RM200-RM300 million and contributions from both the employers and employees can sustain the Fund. The measures proposed to upgrade private transportation are not comprehensive enough. Assistance should not be confined to Rapid KL or Rapid Penang, but should be more nationwide as an efficient national private transportation system is important. The government should look into problems faced by commuters, including a more efficient feeder service, enough car parks at LRT/commuter stations, besides ensuring comfort and punctuality of services. I am sure that if such facilities are in place, more people will be encouraged to use these services. Toll charges should be reduced by half for all and not just for buses. The government should seek to renegotiate the compensation with Highway Concessionaires as revenue has increased with the increase in traffic volume from the time their compensation were first negotiated. Similarly, the estates should also pay their workers higher wages and provide better welfare services. This way, they will also encourage more Malaysians to work as estate workers and not have to rely on foreign workers. ends
More...
At the macro level, the government should remove any hindrances or constraints to economic growth and investments – both domestic and foreign. The Deputy Prime Minister, YAB Dato Sri Najib Tun Razak mentioned at the Mid Term Review of the Ninth Malaysia Plan, that the guidelines under the Foreign Investment Committee needed to be reviewed to encourage investments, but the Budget fails to highlight this important aspect. The government should give serious thoughts to removing any hindrances to investments, especially when we are facing fierce competition from China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand and Indonesia. Such hindrances and obstacles are also not consistent with globalization. The requirements for listing on the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange, Bursa Malaysia, also needs a relook. Companies are now free to list on regional bourses like Singapore and Hong Kong. If the government does not remove restrictions such as the 30 percent requirement on equity ownership, more and more companies will seek to list in these bourses. The local bourse used to be a major stock exchange in Asia after Tokyo and Hong Kong. Now, it has been overtaken by Singapore, Korea and China and Jakarta and Bangkok are fast catching up. Budget 2009 also does not have any comprehensive proposals to help the small and medium enterprises which are the most affected by rising materials and operations costs. What is needed to push the SMEs to the next level are advisory centres or incubators to help them. The government should not just pump in the funds per se but should assist the SMEs in areas such as upgrading of technology, human resource development and marketing. Killing the goose that lays the eggs! The windfall tax on oil palm estates needs a relook. The windfall tax was introduced about 10 years ago when the breakeven was RM600 per tonne. But this has increased to about RM1300 per tonne. If the government wants to maintain the windfall tax, they should consider moving the level to RM2500-RM2700 per tonne. On Human Resources, as a former Minister of Human Resources, I feel that the requirement of having to report ethnicity make-up in the workforce (as proposed in the Mid Term Review of the Ninth Malaysia Plan) is a step backwards. This will indeed be a constraint to companies, including multi-national corporations in Malaysia, to employ the best talents and will deter Malaysians from improving themselves to compete on a level playing field. At the people level, the people are still feeling the effects of the rise in prices following the increase in fuel prices. While the government has lowered fuel prices a little, the people are still affected by the increase in prices of commodities and goods and services following the initial increase in fuel prices. Now, the government should look into measures to pass down the reduction in fuel prices to the people. More important is the lack of emphasis on a Social Safety Net. One way is to set up a fund to help the unemployed by providing them with financial assistance over a period of 6 months until they get another job. The government can kick-start the Fund by providing an initial grant of RM200-RM300 million and contributions from both the employers and employees can sustain the Fund. The measures proposed to upgrade private transportation are not comprehensive enough. Assistance should not be confined to Rapid KL or Rapid Penang, but should be more nationwide as an efficient national private transportation system is important. The government should look into problems faced by commuters, including a more efficient feeder service, enough car parks at LRT/commuter stations, besides ensuring comfort and punctuality of services. I am sure that if such facilities are in place, more people will be encouraged to use these services. Toll charges should be reduced by half for all and not just for buses. The government should seek to renegotiate the compensation with Highway Concessionaires as revenue has increased with the increase in traffic volume from the time their compensation were first negotiated. Similarly, the estates should also pay their workers higher wages and provide better welfare services. This way, they will also encourage more Malaysians to work as estate workers and not have to rely on foreign workers. ends
More...
Monday, September 1, 2008
It's seditious!
Bukit Bendera division chief, Datuk Ahmad Ismail should be charged with sedition for calling the non-Malays "pendatang". What he said was racist. The citizenship of the non-Malays should not be questioned just as some religious issues should not be called into dispute. We are celebrating the 51st year of independence and such statements or comments by an UMNO leader is very damaging to the unity of Malaysians.
It is not enough for Ahmad to just apologize and action should be taken against him to reflect on the severity of his comments. What he said should be viewed seriously as it borders on non-respect to the non-Malays. What is more disturbing is that such remarks from UMNO leaders and members were occuring too often. The remarks had offended the Chinese and also MCA grassroots. I will forward the issue at the next MCA central committee meeting.
More...
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Protest over Bar Council Forum Regrettable
I regret the protest by a group of Malaysians, including PKR members, over the protest which caused the abrupt end of the Bar Council's forum on conversion to Islam. This include the support extended by a PKR MP to the protestors. I wish to point out that in the last General Election, the Pakatan Rakyat candidates were in the forefront in calling for respect for all religions and open debate. The Bar Council forum is an open debate which calls for various groups to engage in peaceful discussions to seek a solution to an issue which is important to Malaysians. The Pakatan Rakyat not only did not register their support for the Forum, but played a great part in protesting it.
Hidden text
More...
Hidden text
More...
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
My question in Parliament on Monday 7 July 2008 was whether the Ministry of International Trade and Industry plans to abolish the Approved Permit (AP) for the import of cars as the use of the AP is not constistent with the requirements of the World Trade Organization (WTO). The Ministry’s reply to my question was that the WTO allows countries to impose control on trade based on requirements or specific interest. The Ministry went on to say that under the National Automotive Policy, the current AP System was still used to monitor and to gather data on the import of vehicles. I feel that the domestic automotive market should not be protected and that the government should allow the free flow of vehicles into the country. This will result in a wider choice of models for consumers and in the long run, will make the local automotive market more competitive. The continued use of APs will jeopardize the welfare and interests of consumers which will result in increased prices of vehicles.
Hidden text
More...
Hidden text
More...
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Mid Term Review, Ninth Malaysia Plan
Speech at the Dewan Rakyat
Thank you, Mr Speaker for giving me this opportunity to present my views on the Mid Term Review of the Ninth Malaysia Plan, which was presented by the Prime Minister, YAB Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi last Thursday. The review no doubt, comes at a very important and challenging time of all of us – both the government and people. The government is trying to cope with the high price of fuel and the rakyat has yet to come to grip with the full impact of the increase in fuel prices on their everyday lives. As I am speaking now, the ordinary people are still trying to cope with adjustments as a result of higher prices – ranging from food to transportation and others.
First, I would like to congratulate the Prime Minister, YAB Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on several bold initiatives. The government’s commitment in allocating an extra RM30 billion for development is commendable. I also applaud the government’s commitment in alleviating poverty and for placing emphasis on people-centric projects. On this note, it is also heartening to note that the government has also decided to shelf several projects considered not essential at this point of time. This clearly reflects the government’s concern for the welfare of the rakyat.
Mr Speaker,
In the context of globalization, for the Malaysian economy to remain competitive and efficient, the economy should be free of protection or assistance. In this context, I fully support the government’s move to systematically and gradually reduce the fuel subsidy. However, it is also important for the government to ensure that the necessary assistance be given to the poor. The government must therefore, work out a mechanism to ensure that whatever subsidies are channeled to the targeted groups such as taxis, small and medium scale transport operators and poor individual motorists and motorcyclists and that the subsidies are not abused.
The government should also consider a more flexible wage system. It cannot be denied that the huge number of foreign workers has pushed down wages for Malaysians and had thrown many locals out of jobs. In this context, I urge the government to seriously consider steps to curtail the relatively easy entrance of foreign workers into the country. In line with this, the government should do away with outsourcing companies and allow those companies which are really in need of foreign workers to apply directly to the Home Ministry with justification. At the same time, the government should also set up a permanent Wage Council which can advise employers and the different sectors with respect to the appropriate wage levels.
Mr Speaker,
The government’s continued commitment to alleviate poverty, especially in reducing the overall poverty to 2.8 percent by the end of the Ninth Plan period in 2010 and to wipe out abject poverty should be applauded. The government should be commended for successfully reducing the incidence of overall poverty from 5.7 percent in 2004 to 3.6 percent in 2007.
Having said that, I feel that initiatives to address socio-economic inequalities should not take an ethnic approach. In this context, I urge the government to review its overall emphasis and address socio-economic inequalities where it really exists. Socio-economic inequalities transcend racial lines. The government should therefore reduce its emphasis on programmes based on ethnic groups and instead shift its emphasis on target groups – rural poor, pockets of urban poor - the majority of them being the Malays and other Bumiputera groups in Sabah and Sarawak.
In this respect, Mr Speaker, I disagree with three aspects of the Mid Term Review report.
First, creating new requirements for the non-financial assets such as ownership of commercial and residential buildings to evaluate ethnic participation. Commercial properties were developed decades ago as a result of economic needs. Take for example, Kuala Lumpur’s Federal Hotel, which was build during the time of Tengku Abdul Rahman in time for the celebration of the country’s independence. Emphasis on ethnic origin would be unfair to these past entrepreneurs and retard enterprise. Second, requiring Private Limited Companies, or PLCs, to disclose information on their human resource profile will be a step backwards for the country to be a global player. This will discourage the companies to employ the best talents, which is important to the companies concerned, if they want to compete with the best in the region and globally. Instead, these companies should be encouraged to attract the best manpower, regardless of race, if they are to become world-class companies. It should also be noted that these PLCs are also free to enlist in other bourses like the Stock Exchange of Singapore and the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. Stringent requirements may push them to seek alternative listing in these regional bourses. My third point, Mr Speaker, is the government’s move to review traditional instruments such as the Foreign Investment Committee Guidelines, public procurement procedures and the Industrial Coordination Act. In the context of globalization, any further tightening of government procedures will grossly retard economic enterprises and affect the country’s overall growth strategy. Instead of making guidelines more restrictive, the government should liberalize the economy to enable Malaysians of all ethnic groups to flourish and be more creative and innovative. In this spirit of encouraging and nurturing entrepreneurship amongst young Malaysians, the government’s provision to graduates with creative and innovative ideas to commercialize their ideas should not be limited only to Bumiputeras. The country should encourage all aspiring graduates to commercialize their ideas as in a global playing field, we want to benefit from the best ideas and creations of young Malaysians. At the end of the day, they will bring untold benefits to the nation. Mr Speaker,The government’s overall objectives as outlined by the ten main initiatives reflect the government’s noble and sincere moves to ensure the continued well being of the people at an economically challenging time. As the Prime Minister duly reminded us, the second phase of the Plan would be a more challenging one and we can all expect to see a new set of challenges. This will require the resolve and commitment of not only the government but the people to tackle. The government and the people cannot be different from their objectives – ie. to see the country’s continued resistance to new global and regional challenges and to ensure the country’s continued growth. Thus, the rakyat would like to see the government putting into action, what has been outlined in the Mid Term Review. The key word here is implementing effectively, this blueprint! At the end of the day, what the rakyat needs is for their bread and butter issues to be looked into. For the business sector, that they be allowed to flourish as entrepreneurs with the least bureaucratic restraints so that their spirit of entrepreneurship would not be curtailed and their enthusiasm dampened and that they can truly stand out tall among their regional and global counterparts. Young Malaysians should be encouraged to unleash their fullest potential, talents, creativity and innovations to make Malaysia proud in the eyes of the world. Thank you, Mr Speaker.
More...
Thank you, Mr Speaker for giving me this opportunity to present my views on the Mid Term Review of the Ninth Malaysia Plan, which was presented by the Prime Minister, YAB Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi last Thursday. The review no doubt, comes at a very important and challenging time of all of us – both the government and people. The government is trying to cope with the high price of fuel and the rakyat has yet to come to grip with the full impact of the increase in fuel prices on their everyday lives. As I am speaking now, the ordinary people are still trying to cope with adjustments as a result of higher prices – ranging from food to transportation and others.
First, I would like to congratulate the Prime Minister, YAB Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on several bold initiatives. The government’s commitment in allocating an extra RM30 billion for development is commendable. I also applaud the government’s commitment in alleviating poverty and for placing emphasis on people-centric projects. On this note, it is also heartening to note that the government has also decided to shelf several projects considered not essential at this point of time. This clearly reflects the government’s concern for the welfare of the rakyat.
Mr Speaker,
In the context of globalization, for the Malaysian economy to remain competitive and efficient, the economy should be free of protection or assistance. In this context, I fully support the government’s move to systematically and gradually reduce the fuel subsidy. However, it is also important for the government to ensure that the necessary assistance be given to the poor. The government must therefore, work out a mechanism to ensure that whatever subsidies are channeled to the targeted groups such as taxis, small and medium scale transport operators and poor individual motorists and motorcyclists and that the subsidies are not abused.
The government should also consider a more flexible wage system. It cannot be denied that the huge number of foreign workers has pushed down wages for Malaysians and had thrown many locals out of jobs. In this context, I urge the government to seriously consider steps to curtail the relatively easy entrance of foreign workers into the country. In line with this, the government should do away with outsourcing companies and allow those companies which are really in need of foreign workers to apply directly to the Home Ministry with justification. At the same time, the government should also set up a permanent Wage Council which can advise employers and the different sectors with respect to the appropriate wage levels.
Mr Speaker,
The government’s continued commitment to alleviate poverty, especially in reducing the overall poverty to 2.8 percent by the end of the Ninth Plan period in 2010 and to wipe out abject poverty should be applauded. The government should be commended for successfully reducing the incidence of overall poverty from 5.7 percent in 2004 to 3.6 percent in 2007.
Having said that, I feel that initiatives to address socio-economic inequalities should not take an ethnic approach. In this context, I urge the government to review its overall emphasis and address socio-economic inequalities where it really exists. Socio-economic inequalities transcend racial lines. The government should therefore reduce its emphasis on programmes based on ethnic groups and instead shift its emphasis on target groups – rural poor, pockets of urban poor - the majority of them being the Malays and other Bumiputera groups in Sabah and Sarawak.
In this respect, Mr Speaker, I disagree with three aspects of the Mid Term Review report.
First, creating new requirements for the non-financial assets such as ownership of commercial and residential buildings to evaluate ethnic participation. Commercial properties were developed decades ago as a result of economic needs. Take for example, Kuala Lumpur’s Federal Hotel, which was build during the time of Tengku Abdul Rahman in time for the celebration of the country’s independence. Emphasis on ethnic origin would be unfair to these past entrepreneurs and retard enterprise. Second, requiring Private Limited Companies, or PLCs, to disclose information on their human resource profile will be a step backwards for the country to be a global player. This will discourage the companies to employ the best talents, which is important to the companies concerned, if they want to compete with the best in the region and globally. Instead, these companies should be encouraged to attract the best manpower, regardless of race, if they are to become world-class companies. It should also be noted that these PLCs are also free to enlist in other bourses like the Stock Exchange of Singapore and the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. Stringent requirements may push them to seek alternative listing in these regional bourses. My third point, Mr Speaker, is the government’s move to review traditional instruments such as the Foreign Investment Committee Guidelines, public procurement procedures and the Industrial Coordination Act. In the context of globalization, any further tightening of government procedures will grossly retard economic enterprises and affect the country’s overall growth strategy. Instead of making guidelines more restrictive, the government should liberalize the economy to enable Malaysians of all ethnic groups to flourish and be more creative and innovative. In this spirit of encouraging and nurturing entrepreneurship amongst young Malaysians, the government’s provision to graduates with creative and innovative ideas to commercialize their ideas should not be limited only to Bumiputeras. The country should encourage all aspiring graduates to commercialize their ideas as in a global playing field, we want to benefit from the best ideas and creations of young Malaysians. At the end of the day, they will bring untold benefits to the nation. Mr Speaker,The government’s overall objectives as outlined by the ten main initiatives reflect the government’s noble and sincere moves to ensure the continued well being of the people at an economically challenging time. As the Prime Minister duly reminded us, the second phase of the Plan would be a more challenging one and we can all expect to see a new set of challenges. This will require the resolve and commitment of not only the government but the people to tackle. The government and the people cannot be different from their objectives – ie. to see the country’s continued resistance to new global and regional challenges and to ensure the country’s continued growth. Thus, the rakyat would like to see the government putting into action, what has been outlined in the Mid Term Review. The key word here is implementing effectively, this blueprint! At the end of the day, what the rakyat needs is for their bread and butter issues to be looked into. For the business sector, that they be allowed to flourish as entrepreneurs with the least bureaucratic restraints so that their spirit of entrepreneurship would not be curtailed and their enthusiasm dampened and that they can truly stand out tall among their regional and global counterparts. Young Malaysians should be encouraged to unleash their fullest potential, talents, creativity and innovations to make Malaysia proud in the eyes of the world. Thank you, Mr Speaker.
More...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
