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27 May 2011

Nazri a half-past-six minister



Perkasa has called Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz a “half-past-six” leader in a public spat over the Malay rights group’s call for a “crusade” against Christians.

The NGO said this in retaliation after the minister in the Prime Minister’s Department’s referred to Perkasa president Datuk Ibrahim Ali as a “clown.”

“What is the point of listening to a half-past-six minister like Nazri (picture). He thinks Malays will support his statement and it will benefit Umno.

“We are not surprised because he is someone who is willing to attack those who have served the country like (former Prime Minister) Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad,” said secretary-general Syed Hassan Syed Ali in a statement last night.

Nazri had called Ibrahim a clown when defending the government’s decision not to take action against the Pasir Mas MP’s threat to wage a “crusade” against Christians.

“You cannot even say that Ibrahim’s words have caused the Malays to rise against the Christians. Now, people just laugh at Ibrahim and call him a clown,” the Padang Rengas MP said.

Ibrahim threatened Christians nationwide during a rally in Gombak two weeks ago with a crusade or holy war should they proceed with their purported agenda to usurp Islam.

He was referring to the recent row over a controversial newspaper report in Utusan Malaysia entitled “Kristian Agam Rasmi?” (Christianity the official religion?) which alleged that the DAP was conspiring with church leaders to take over Putrajaya, abolish Islam as the religion of the federation and install a Christian prime minister.

The report was based entirely on unsubstantiated blog posts by two pro-Umno bloggers, one of whom is currently under investigation by police. The second blogger has since deleted the entire contents of his blog.

Christian leaders and DAP members have denied the reports and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak was forced to clear the air with Christian leaders.

Utusan Malaysia’s Christian conspiracy report is now under police investigation.



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“What is the point of listening to a half-past-six minister like Nazri picture He thinks Malays will support his statement and it will benefit Umno."

The proverbial pot calling the kettle black. Likewise, does Perkasa thinks they have the support of all the Malays?

a clown calling a senior minister half past six. Exactly kutty's words if you can recall. Nothing original eh?

A clown and a ring master working for the same circus...hahahaha

Zahid mulls longer NS courses




The National Service training length may be extended after Defence Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi today complained the existing three-month course was insufficient to instil trainees with “a sense of patriotism”.

The minister said the issue will be raised when the National Service Training Council next meets.

Today, Ahmad Zahid also aid the National Service Training Department will soon add a module to educate participants on the importance of voting once they become eligible to do so at the age of 21.

“We'll invite the Election Commission to brief the trainees on their voting rights when they become eligible,” he was quoted as saying by Bernama Online.

He also dismissed criticism of the programme as, among others, being ineffectual and a serious drain on national coffers at a time when the government is struggling to keep a rein on a growing financial deficit.

A number of trainee deaths within the programme have also led parents to question the measures put in place to ensure the safety of the students.

The programme, introduced in 2003, randomly selects 18-year-olds to participate in a three-month long course ostensibly to impart a sense of patriotism and unity in participants. Participation is mandatory upon selection.

The National Service is estimated to cost around RM560 million for 2011.




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After all the millions spent, NS is still a rest & recreation concept. Nothing comes out of in comparison with the NS concept of our little neighbour where the youths becomes Army reserves.

It`s nothing got to do with training length will instil the 'sense of patriotism',its just our dear government want/like to hv 'quotas' in everything fr education to economic,now this program also about 'quotas',just puzzle..

What is Najib doing about fuel subsidies?



High fuel prices contributed to the Election 2008 backlash that forced Abdullah’s eventual exit

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak could face questions over his commitment to economic reform after his government dodged a cut in fuel subsidies, threatening to put finances in peril and test the patience of investors seeking change.

The decision yesterday to avoid a subsidy cut is likely to be regarded as the latest in a series of U-turns by Najib’s two-year old government which has tried to woo investment by pledging to overhaul the economy while trying to keep voters happy.

The government had warned that high energy prices would force a review of subsidies but shied away from making cuts, saying it would hold fuel prices steady for now because of the needs of the people.

A deputy minister was quoted today as saying Malaysia would review fuel prices if the price of oil hit US$110 – US$120 (RM330 – RM360) per barrel.

Following are some questions and answers on the economic and political implications of a rollback in subsidies, which are expected to double to almost US$6.9 billion this year because of high energy prices.

Q: How serious is Najib about cutting subsidies?

Najib appears wary of the backlash that will follow further price hikes.
A: In a recent speech, Najib likened Malaysia’s fuel subsidies to “opium” but he appears wary of upsetting voters with steep price increases. The next general election is due by mid-2013.

Since taking office in 2009 he has raised the price of the widely used RON95 gasoline blend incrementally from RM1.75 per litre to RM1.90.

That is still below the RM2.10 target that a government body tasked with studying subsidies had recommended he achieve this year.

He has also twice delayed the implementation of a goods and services tax (GST) and softened his stance on the overhaul of a controversial affirmative action policy favouring the Malays.

Analysts say Najib may be willing to initiate these changes but only after he secures a strong mandate at the next general election.

Q: How long can the government hold off on subsidy cuts?

A: Najib needs to cut subsidies and widen the tax base to continue trimming the government’s fiscal deficit which hit a 20-year high of seven per cent of gross domestic product in 2009. The deficit was at 5.6 per cent in 2010 and is officially targeted to be 5.4 per cent this year.

Najib said this month that fuel subsidies in 2011, which make up the bulk of the total subsidy bill, have been revised upwards from RM11 billion to RM18 billion ringgit due to high global crude prices.

The additional RM7 billion spending would push up the budget deficit to 6.3 per cent of GDP in 2011 unless subsidies are cut, Bank of America Merrill Lynch said in a research note on May 20.

Global crude oil prices are set to rise to a possible high of US$140 by the end of 2012 as inventories and OPEC spare capacity run out, according to Goldman Sachs.

But some analysts say Malaysia may have some room to delay price increases as it is a net oil exporter and would gain from strong crude markets.

Increasing tax revenues and the recent divestment of state holdings in government-linked firms could provide the government with some room to undertake only a modest fuel price rise, said Bank of America Merrill Lynch.




Abdullah was forced to make way for Najib.


Q: What is at stake?

A: : Najib’s predecessor, Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, saw his approval rating plummet from a high of 91 per cent to less than 50 per cent after doubling the price of gasoline from RM1.35 in 2003 to RM2.70 in 2008, according to independent opinion polling outfit the Merdeka Center.

Abdullah later cut prices seven times but voter anger over rising prices and his lacklustre administration led to record losses for the government in a 2008 general election and forced him into early retirement the following year.

Najib has been more cautious, preceding each of his three fuel price increases with measures to mitigate the impact on the poor such as higher salaries for low-ranking civil servants.

The opposition, which made major inroads in the Sarawak election last month, has pledged to reduce fuel prices if it wins the next general election.

The opposition has also criticised the government for failing to adopt a tougher stance on independent power producers whom they say should bear the brunt of any subsidy cut.

Independent power producers received RM19 billion worth of subsidised gas from national oil firm Petronas in 2009, according to media reports.

Q: What are Najib’s options?

A: His first option is to bite the bullet and raise gasoline retail prices along with electricity tariffs. The impact on food and transport could push inflation beyond an official target of 2.5-3.5 per cent this year.

But the government could try to cushion the blow for low income groups. Possible measures include rebates, increasing a cost of living allowances in the public sector and raising civil servants’ salaries.

Najib can expect a political backlash in such a scenario, which could dissuade him from holding snap general elections.

A second option is to make smaller gasoline price increases of between 5 to 10 sen along with an electricity tariff increase focused mainly on industrial users.

Najib would still need to manage voter unhappiness in this situation, which could influence the timing of the next general election. But he could still call for snap polls, as he banks on growing support from majority Malays and healthy economic growth.

A third option would be to hold off on any subsidy cuts until after the next general election. Such a move could indicate that national polls are imminent although there has been no indication of that. — Reuters



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Hard times, very difficult times await Malaysians if BN wins handsomely come PRU 13! Many are already up to their nose and with spiralling costs of food and now impending increase in the price of fuel, electricity and GST, can Malaysians survive? Can they leave comfortably? While prices in of fuel in Singapore dips, Singapore depends totally on imports of its fuel, Malaysians are looking at an impending increase in the price of fuel.

Of course the arguments that the prices of fuel is significantly higher compared to Malaysia, can we compare the incomes of Singaporeans and Malaysians. Singaporeans earn 7 times more than Malaysians, but, is the price of fuel 7 times more expensive than Malaysia?

The key question is, will there be a middle class if the BN continues to rule? Can those working in the cities survive? If those working in the cities cannot survive, they will not be able to remit monies back to the rural folks, and this is going to have a devastating effect on the country as a whole. Can an average family earning RM5,000 a month, put decent food on their family table after the fuel increase, which will inevitably spur another round of price increases on all groceries? Will they be able to meet their monthly committments, like housing instalments, car instalments, credit cards repayments and what not?

Malaysians, brace yourself for a horrible time of pain financially if BN wins handsomely come PRU 13! We would like to ask the Government of Najib Tun Razak, what happened to the USD1.25 billion project to make Malaysia self sufficient in food started two years ago? While we are sure the USD1.25 billion is gone for good, where is the results? Costs of food continues to spiral! A few billions squandered here and a few billions there, no wonder the Rakyat had to bear the brunt of the bad Governance of BN.

Malaysians, do you think it is time for change? Save Malaysia! Vote Pakatan Rakyat!

25 May 2011

Subsidy cuts focus of today’s Cabinet robbers and pirates meeting



Subsidy cuts will top the agenda when Datuk Seri Najib Razak chairs the weekly Cabinet meeting today, with many speculating it will lead to hike for RON95 petrol and electricity rates.

Cabinet sources say the government has to trim the runaway subsidy bill which could balloon to RM21 billion if nothing is done.

On the table is the scheduled plan to cut subsidies for RON95 petrol and gas for independent power producers while increasing electricity tariffs in a growing economy.

Labs run by Performance and Management Delivery Unit (Pemandu) last year proposed 15 sen hikes every six month for RON95 petrol but the government decided to stick to 10 sen, ensuring a slow rise in the fuel’s prices.

“What has happened is that the high RON97 prices has pushed more people to use RON95, increasing the subsidy bill further,” a Cabinet source told The Malaysian Insider.

RON95 petrol is now RM1.90 a litre while the premium RON97 fuel is floated at market price of RM2.90 a litre, making it a great saving for motorists but a bigger share of the national budget.

The Malaysian Insider understands it is the same for electricity tariffs which should have been increased months ago but postponed to ensure the economy keeps growing at a quicker pace.

Pemandu’s proposal last year was to initially cut gas subsidy by RM4.65 per mmbtu and then set a corresponding 2.4 sen per kWh increase in tariffs in July 2010, followed by a 1.6 sen per kWh increase every six months.

But the gas subsidy and electricity tariffs have remained the same due to long-term deals between Tenaga Nasional Berhad, Petronas and the IPPs.

“Cutting the subsidy won’t bring down electricity rates because Tenaga is already paying too much,” the Cabinet source said.

Bloomberg quoted Manokaran Mottain, senior economist at AmResearch Sdn Bhd, today as saying price hikes are inevitable.

“The government is in a difficult position,” said Manokaran, who expects the government to raise the price of RON95 petrol by as much as 20 sen a litre after the subsidy review.

“If the government does not do anything now, it has no other choice but the fiscal deficit will be widening,” he added.

Inflation rose to a two-year high of 3.2 percent in April after the government cut subsidies on fuel and sugar in December, boosting retail prices. The central bank raised interest rates for the first time since July this month.

The Consumer Sentiment Index moderated to 108.2 in the first quarter from 117.2 in the fourth quarter of 2010, partly due to accelerating inflation, the Malaysian Institute of Economic Research said April 14.




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Zero tolerance for corruption,,open tenders for all govt contracts(a friend of mine often brags that he nets 50% of the contract price for govt contracts after paying off the cables and payments to sub contractors,,eg 20Million commission for crooked bridge;general with bagful of $$ and jewelry etc etc),,shrink the civil service by 50%(increase pay by 25%),,down-size EPU and PM department,,withdraw pensions(all go under EPF scheme),,no more subsidies to IPPs and Toll operators,,withdraw APs,etc,etc., Implement all the above policies,within one year ALL financial woes will disappear.

Anwar counter-sues Ministers squid in sex video row



Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has accused Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein of slander and filed a counter-claim today against the latter’s defamation suit against him.

The home minister had earlier claimed Anwar defamed him and sought a High Court order demanding the opposition leader apologise for linking him to the release of a now infamous sex video.

Hishammuddin’s suit refers to Anwar’s press conference outside the Dangi Wangi police station on March 22, where he accused the minister as well as Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak of complicity with the screening of the video.

Both Najib and Hishamuddin deny police and the home ministry being involved.

Anwar (picture) is now seeking unspecified damages from Hishammuddin for the latter’s allegedly libellous initial defamation suit.

He is also asking for costs, interest and other relief deemed fit by the court.

“That’s right, I filed the counter-claim today. The case is up for case management in early June,” Anwar told The Malaysian Insider when contacted.

On March 21, a mysterious “Datuk T” had screened a video purportedly showing Anwar having sex with an unidentified woman.

Former Malacca Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Rahim Thamby Chik, businessman Datuk Shazryl Eskay Abdullah and Perkasa treasurer-general Datuk Shuib Lazim then claimed responsibility for the video, saying they screened the video to show “a man who wants to be prime minister is not qualified.”



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sue them..strongly support you, Anwar

24 May 2011

Across the Causeway, pump prices dip




Pump prices for petrol and diesel fell for the second time in as many weeks as simmering worries about the global economy weighed on oil prices.

US oil giant Caltex made the first move when it lowered pump prices by three cents a litre across the board at 6pm yesterday, the Straits Times daily reported today.

The island republic’s Singapore Petroleum Co (SPC) matched the reduction at 7pm, followed by Anglo-Dutch giant Shell at 9pm.

Esso — the largest retailer here — was the last to react, lowering prices at 10 this morning.

After the adjustment, 95 and 92-octane petrols at SPC and Caltex are S$2.04 (RM4.90) and S$1.99 a litre respectively. SPC’s 98 is S$2.09 while Caltex’s 98 — which it pegs against Shells’ V-Power — is S$2.175 a litre.

Straits Times said Shell fuels remained the costliest. Its 95 and 98-octane petrols are S$2.045 and S$2.095 a litre respectively, while its V-Power is S$2.304. It does not sell 92-octane.

Diesel at SPC and Caltex is S$1.60 a litre, while the fuel at Shell is S$1.603 a litre.

All rates are before station discounts, the paper said.

Crude oil ended lower yesterday as weaker economic data emerged from China and the European debt crisis received renewed attention.

Light, sweet crude for July delivery closed US$2.40 lower — at US$97.70 a barrel — on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Brent crude ended US$2.46 lower at US$109.93 a barrel, but crept up to US$110.69 a barrel in early trading today.



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Singaporeans are rich. Whatever price the oil companies set, Singaporeans won't be bothered not like Malaysians who will be hurt no matter what the price is simply because the Malaysian government will give from one hand and take back from the other.Singaporeans have the money, lots of money.

Looks like other part of world are reducing and yet we are increasing.... why this can happenn in other country but not Malaysia. Is petrol subsidies required? or any other subsidies required? Yes and No I guess. Economic distribution model in Malaysia seems to have skewed and no longer in balance. Transformation are not effective as no effect is seen. We did the money go? Taxation money is down somewhere but no where to be found. Basic good governance was not adhere to. Somehow money was siphon out out country... Economic drought is really putting the rakyat in a lot of pain

23 May 2011

Scholarships a Malay special right, says dick head Perkasa



Malay bastard  rights group Perkasa today dove into the controversy surrounding the unfair distribution of government scholarships, charging that Malay students were the ones who were losing out when it came to receiving scholarships.

Perkasa information chief Ruslan Kassim claimed many Malay students were being “unfairly” treated by the Public Services Department (PSD) as they failed to obtain financial aid despite being qualified.

The federal constitution, according to Ruslan, ensured that Malays were prioritised when it came to receiving scholarships, adding that no one else could question that “fact.”

“Scholarships are the special rights of Malays under Article 153... The government and PSD must first make sure the rights of Bumiputeras are prioritised, a violation of the constitution in any form is a crime,” Ruslan said in a statement today.

Under Article 153, the special position of the Malays is to be safeguarded through the reservation of, among others, scholarships.

The Perkasa leader also berated the MIC for complaining that qualified Indian students were not given proper financial aid to further their studies, saying that “many more” Malay students were overlooked by the PSD.

“Perkasa can also claim that PSD has been unfair to Malays and Bumiputeras for denying their rights not only for scholarships, but also diplomas... if MIC, MCA wants to make noise about scholarships, Perkasa will remind them that Bumiputeras have yet to receive scholarships,” he said.

Ruslan said that MIC should be “grateful” that Indian students were getting local scholarships, and added that the PSD should abolish overseas scholarships.

“Make overseas scholarships only for post-graduate studies... this can save the outflow of money overseas and give due recognition to local public and private universities in the country,” Ruslan explained.

Deputy Education Minister Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong revealed last week that 363 straight A+ students failed to secure the scholarships this year although Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak had agreed that all students scoring 8A+ and above will receive PSD scholarships after a similar brouhaha last year.

The MCA Youth chief said government officers who disobeyed Cabinet directives were one of the main reasons why top deserving students failed to get scholarships.

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has reportedly ordered the PSD to investigate complaints that some SPM top scorers were not offered scholarships. He had, however, stressed that his ministry was not to blame as its list of scholarship candidates had already been forwarded.

The DAP has urged the Cabinet to strip the PSD of its scholarship award role and instead transfer it to Talent Corporation, the agency set up to address the country’s brain-drain problem.



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Don't be surprised that 'Najib' will again listen to Perkasa and tell us that the Malays should rightfully come first. PRU13 coming up so he and his BN gang must ensure that they convince their voting base they will uphold that Ketuanan thing.

But talking to more sensible and fair-minded Malays, I get a sense that they too are embarassed by the idiotic things Perkasa brings up. So there may be Malays who won't give BN their vote either because they can see that BN is dragging the company down a drain by failing to be fair and being weak because it is so scared of losing votes.

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