倪可敏揭吡州公账会陷​入冬眠成立至今不曾开​会 吁州政府交代糊塗账

(怡保13日讯)

行动党甲巴央区州议员倪可敏今日揭露，505大选后成立的吡州公共账目委员会如今巳陷入冬眠状态，成立至今不曾开会。

倪可敏今日指出，由巫统州议员拿督莫哈末达米兹担任主席的公账会至今不曾召开过一次会议，他身为吡州公账会成员，政府的糊塗账要查也审查无门。

倪可敏指出，虽然总稽查师报告揭露吡州政府机构出现许多弊端，可是由于公账会成立至今不曾开会，因此委员会无法传召政府官员给予解释，公账会惨沦为〝无牙老虎〞。

倪可敏指出，反观由民联执政的雪州，该州公账会每个月皆召开会议审查政府公账，这使到雪州财政负责任、透明化，儲备金更从6亿剧增至31亿，这显示民联比国阵在管理公共财富方面更优秀。

也是太平区国会议员的倪可敏今日召开发布会指出，总稽查师报告揭发吡州內出现浪費人民血汗钱的〝病态工程、面子工程、白象工程及豆腐渣工程〞、州政府子公司欠债逾亿、州政府伐木子公司亏损等种种弊端，可是州政府在州议会沒有发表白皮书、公账会至今不曾开会，纳稅人的知情权根本没有受到维护。

拉律山鬱金香花园荒废沦为仙人掌花园

倪可敏说，根总稽查师报告，原本轰轰烈了的太平拉律山鬱金香花园由于管理不当，如今巳荒废沦为仙人掌花园，园內的鬱金香花朵消失无踪、貨不对办，当局更让耗资数百万的山上渡假屋荒废养蚊子，〝白象工程〞情况令人蒙羞。

5千600万在巴西沙列兴建〝面子工程〞

倪可敏指出，总稽查师报告也揭露吡州政府耗费5千600万在巴西沙列兴建前大臣丹斯里南利历史博物馆及渡假村，可是由于管理不当如今却几乎沦为废墟，领导人好大喜功的〝面子工程〞最终由人民買单、失职官员却无须负责，情况与国阵以民为先的口号完全背道而驰。

                                                500万公园大厦建到一半倒塌

倪可敏表示，总稽查师报告也揭发州政府耗费500万在宜力兴建吡州公园机构大厦，可是建到一半却轰然倒塌，〝豆腐渣工程〞让人民赔了夫人又折兵，这种偷工減料的情形年复一年不断重演，这是当局严重的失职。

倪可敏表示，总稽查师报告也揭发州政府把没有防火认证的美丹务边艺术品销售中心硬生生改成长途巴士车站，不合规格的〝病态工程〞由人民去承受，这些都是要不得的施政，因此他呼吁州务大臣拿督斯里赞比利在11月25日开始的州议会发表白皮书给予纳稅人一个全面交代。

(图) :  倪可敏揭吡州公账会陷入冬眠成立至今不曾开会，要州政府交代糊塗账。

Social democracy needs rejuvenation

By Liew Chin Tong and Ooi Kee Beng

 The world, in particular Asia, is in dire need of a coherent left-of-centre discourse.

The recently concluded elections in Australia and Germany, just like those held in Japan, Korea, Taiwan and Malaysia in the past year or so, produced, domestic peculiarities aside, strikingly similar recipes for right-wing parties. First, hijack the populist pronouncements of their nominally left-leaning opponents, and second, couple these with the drumming up of the nationalist fervour that often favours parties on the right, especially in times of crisis or insecurity.

Even in Germany, Angela Merkel’s Christian Democrats moved strategically leftward to accommodate the growing public malcontent towards capital and in so doing, she stole the thunder from the Social Democratic Party. 

At the risk of generalizing to the extent of ignoring local conditions, it is still worth asking why left-leaning parties, which supposedly represent the less-well-to-do, are failing to win elections in times of global economic hardship. 

Perhaps the challenge lies in the fact that there is no vibrant left-of-centre social democratic discourse around today.

In Asia, most social democratic parties were lumped together with the communists, which in itself is ironic since the two were usually hostile towards each other. They were then wiped out together, often violently and brutallyat the height of the Cold War. To this date, anything that is left-leaningis treated suspiciously in many Asian societies—Taiwan, Korea, Malaysia, the Philippines and Indonesia included.

In the European context, the most effective rivals of the communists were in fact the social democrats, not the right-wing parties. The social democratic movements allowed for peaceful victories after accepting the parliamentary process.

But since Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan shifted the centre rightward, neoliberals have been defining the macro-economic agenda through tax cuts, the creation of tax havens,and privatisation of government functions,hence diminished the ability of the state to redistribute wealth and opportunities.

The New Labourconstructed by Tony Blair takes its lineage from Australia’s Labor governments of Bob Hawke and Paul Keating (1983-1996). All hitherto social democratic parties converged with the right, accepting “economic rationalism” or neoliberal ideals as gospel truth.

With the collapse of the Soviet Union and its satellites – dramatically remembered through thetearing down of the Berlin Wall – there is no more ideological challenger to neoliberalism, a situation Francis Fukuyama euphorically called “the end of history”.

Secure jobs, decent wages and social welfare quickly turned into old ideas standing in the way of the coming of the Brave New World. “Globalisation” often means that more workers all over the world are moving in all directions to look for jobs, resulting in a race to the bottom for wage levels, while capital fleesfrom high-tax states in search of “tax holidays” or even tax havens.

Essentially, the economic programmes of the mainstream parties representing the left and the right no longer differ in substantive matters or even in their manifest values.

And so, during bad economic times, when left parties tend to do well, all that the right simply needs to do is copy the nicer sounding policies of its opponents to boost voter support.

Why the right is able to do this so easily and so successfully, is that there is hardly a coherent left-of-centre discourse around today that offers a somewhat comprehensive understanding of the socio-economic problems of our times and that at the same time provides solutions based on that analysis.

With the fall of Communism, the idea that wealth and opportunities generated by society needs to be redistributed throughout society by the state is forgotten. With that amnesia comes the tremendous widening of the income gap experienced throughout world since 1990.

Not only does this threaten the political stability of most countries, the excessive accumulation of wealth in the hands of the increasingly small class of the super-rich almost sucks consumption capacity away from society at large as aggregate demand falls.

In many ways, therefore, we are back in the days of the early 20^th century when social instability threatened to destroy capitalism. What saved it then were the reformist movements that we came to know as social democratic parties.

However, because Communism is not knocking at the door, the need for social democratic policies is not properly felt, and governments crave for endless increments in their GDP in the blind hope that wealth will distribute itself naturally. The increasing income gap tells us one definite thing—whether or not wealth trickles down, it is certainly not doing it faster than wealth being accumulated into the investment accounts of the increasingly smaller group of fantastically wealthy families and individuals.

In the days when the Left effectively faced the Right in parliament, the differing values were simplified as that between Justice and Freedom. With the fall of the Berlin Wall, freedom for the few has taken over, and notions of justice have disappeared from everyday thinking.

It is time, for the sake of the social sustainability of economic growth and political stability throughout the world that justice and freedom needs a new balance.Social democracy needs rejuvenation.

And, in Asia, the opponents of right-wing ideologies cannot just rely on piecemeal populist ideas to win. They need a coherent centre-left policy platform that balances justice and freedom—and seeks to integrate them in practice..

Liew Chin Tong is a Malaysian Federal Member of Parliament; Dr. Ooi Kee Beng is the Deputy Director of the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, Singapore.

The article was first published in Socdem Asia Quarterly, October 2013, pg 11-12.

Terdapat Peningkatan Bantuan JKM Untuk OKU Semenanjung Tetapi Penurunan Mendadak Untuk OKU Peribumi Sabah & Sarawak

Kenyataan Media YB V.Sivakumar Ahli Parlimen Batu Gajah pada 12 November 2013 di Parlimen

Menjawab soalan lisan Ahli Parlimen Batu Gajah V.Sivakumar , Menteri Pembangunan Wanita, Keluarga dan Masyarakat telah memberikan statistik bilangan Orang Kurang Upaya (OKU) yang menerima bantuan Jabatan Kebajikan Masyarakat (JKM) bagi tahun 2011, 2012 dan sehingga bulan Mei 2013.

Bagi tahun 2011 seramai 54,690 OKU berbangsa Melayu menerima bantuan JKM diikuti oleh Kaum Cina seramai 17, 249 dan kaum India seramai 10,023 orang.  OKU dari Peribumi Semenanjung yang menerima bantuan JKM ialah 162 orang. Manakala OKU dari kalangan Peribumi Sabah dan Sarawak yang menerima bantuan JKM adalah 1608 orang dan 2649 masing-masing. Sejumlah 88,814 OKU telah menerima bantuan daripada JKM bagi tahun 2011.

Bagi tahun 2012 pula seramai 62, 680 OKU berbangsa Melayu telah menerima bantuan daripada JKM.  OKU kaum Cina yang menerima bantuan JKM bagi tahun yang sama ialah 21,850 orang. Angka ini diikuti oleh OKU kaum India iaitu 12,933 oarang.  Ada sedikit peningkatan dalam bilangan OKU Peribumi Semenanjung yang menerima bantuan JKM iaitu dari 162 orang bagi tahun 2011 kepada 180 orang bagi tahun 2012.

Walau bagaimanapun terdapat penurunan yang mendadak dalam bilangan OKU yang menerima bantuan JKM bagi Peribumi Sabah. Pada tahun 2011 seramai 1608 OKU Peribumi Sabah menerima bantuan JKM, tetapi jumlah itu tiba-tiba dikurangkan kepada 27 orang OKU sahaja bagi tahun 2012.  Bagaimanakah  penurunan yang  menjunam seperti ini boleh berlaku? Apa sudah terjadi kepada 1581 OKU Peribumi Sabah yang menerima bantuan pada tahun 2011 yang tidak diberikan bantuan itu bagi tahun 2012. Kerajaan perlu memberi satu penjelasan yang rasional berkaitan dengan penurunan yang amat ketara ini.

 Bagi Peribumi Sarawak pula terdapat peningkatan bantuan kepada OKU sebanyak 211 orang yang menjumlahkan kepada 644 orang bagi tahun 2012. Jumlah OKU yang menerima bantuan JKM pada keseluruhannya ialah 101,198 orang bagi tahun 2012.

Bagi tahun 2013, maklumat hanya diberikan sehingga bulan Mei.  Perangkaan  menunjukkan bahawa seramai  64, 916 OKU Kaum Melayu iaitu 64.64% mendapat bantuan daripada JKM bagi tahun tersebut. OKU Kaum Cina seramai 21, 733 (21.64%) dan kaum India seramai 13,312 (13.25%) juga  telah menerima bantuan JKM. OKU Peribumi Semenajung pula seramai  170 orang menerima bantuan JKM.

OKU Peribumi Sabah yang menerima bantuan JKM ialah 28 orang sahaja. Statistik juga menunjukkkan angka yang ganjil bagi OKU Peribumi Sarawak yang menerima bantuan JKM  hanya seramai 8 orang sahaja iaitu 0.01%.  Tetapi tahun-tahun sebelum itu,  iatu bagi tahun 2011 seramai 2649 OKU dan tahun 2012 seramai 2884 OKU Peribumi Sawarak telah diberi bantuan JKM.  Pada keseluruhannya bagi tahun 2013 (sehingga bulan Mei) seramai 100,434 OKU telah menerima bantuan JKM.

Daripada maklumat-maklumat yang diberikan didapati terdapat ketidak seimbangan dalam bantuan JKM bagi golongan OKU diantara Semenanjung Malaysia dan Malaysia Timur. Menteri Pembangunan Wanita, Keluarga dan Masyarakat harus memberi penjelasan berhubungan dengan ketidak seimbangan ini supaya golongan OKU di Sabah dan Sarawak tidak tertindas kerana sebab-sebab tertentu

Dato' Seri Najib Razak should stop embarrassing Malaysians with the pretence of a global "moderate" statesman whose acts to the contrary domestically exposed his hypocrisy

Media statement by Tony Pua, DAP National Publicity Secretary and Member of Parliament for Petaling Jaya Utara on Monday 4th November 2013 in Kuala Lumpur

I have watched the cringe-worthy 12-minute interview with Dato' Seri Najib Razak hosted by Christiane Amanpour on CNN last week and read various exclusive interviews given to international news agencies.  

 At the CNN interview, the Prime Minister's facial expression tells the world how uncomfortable he was in answering the questions thrown at him which exposes the facade of a global "moderate" statesman with one which panders to the forces of extremism and religious conservatism to "ensure peace and harmony".

Dato' Seri Najib Razak began the interview preaching "moderation" as the panacea to global conflicts, particularly of  the religious nature.  At the U.N. General Assembly in New York last month, he said that the greatest threat to Muslims now “comes not from the outside world, but from within.”

He said "It’s very alarming to see what’s happening in the Muslim world... And it’s about time we come to our senses and realize that moderation is the only path that will ensure peace and stability for the Muslim world, and for the wider world."

However, once Amanpour directs the spotlight to Malaysia's increasing religious conservatism and extremism, the Prime Minister sang a different tune.  “My priority is to ensure peace and harmony in Malaysia. That is uppermost in my mind,” Dato' Seri Najib said.

What the Prime Minister is telling the world is that while it is hunky-dory to make the glamourous pitch for "moderation" at international platforms, "moderation" takes a back seat to "peace and harmony" by all means domestically.

"Peace and harmony" in the above context, is merely euphemism for pandering to religious far right and restricting the rights of the minority.  As an example, the Prime Minister told Reuters that "the curb against the Catholic weekly, Herald, using the word Allah was necessary to protect public security and national harmony, going as far to describe the Herald as a publication with wide circulation... People must understand that there are sensitivities in Malaysia, but what is important is public security and national harmony."

By "wide circulation", he meant a distribution of only 14,000 issues in churches in a country of 30 million people.  Instead of justifying his "peace and harmony" priority, his defense only proved the persecution of minorities in Malaysia.

The Prime Minister has obviously chosen not to preach "moderation" to the religious far right in Malaysia, for such "moderation" is perhaps only applicable to other countries. Instead, the Prime Minister admitted to the international audience that he is more than willing to sacrifice "moderation" to keep the reactionary forces happy, trample on the rights of the minority and to maintain his Government's definition of "peace and harmony".

Dato' Seri Najib is even willing to defend the untenable and paradoxical position of the "Allah" ruling, claiming that it is only applicable to parts of Malaysia making a mockery to the claims of exclusivity to the term "Allah" to Muslims.  "With respect to the court ruling it only applies to the Herald paper, which has got wide circulation, and doesn't apply to the situation in Sabah and Sarawak," he said.

If Dato' Seri Najib Razak cannot even successfully practise what he preaches at home, then he certainly does not have any locus standi to be a statesman for "moderation" at international forums.  His pretentious call for the "Global Movement of Moderates" only leads to being easily exposed as a hypocrite at the global arena and become an embarrassment to the country.

Tony Pua

Only Elite 2% have Access to English Medium Education

Media Statement by Ko Chung Sen, MP of Kampar in Kuala Lumpur on 07^th November, 2013

 

 

In my question dated 24^th September 2013. I asked the Minister of Education to comment on the progress of introducing the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) in all 45 Mara Junior Science Colleges (MRSM) nationwide. Why is it that the daily secondary schools cannot offer the same program?

In his reply to me, the minister did not provide any answers to the questions concerned.

However, as reported in the news in July this year. The newly opened RM 80million MARA Junior Science College (MRSM) in Parit was the first in Perak and the third in the country to offer IGCSE. All the MARA Junior Science Colleges will implement a dual-certificate system – Sijil Pelajaran Malasia (SPM) and ICGSE by 2016. The first one implemented was in Pekan, Pahang in 2011.

 

We must ask why the MRSM colleges decided to implement the dual certificate system. Both the ICGSE and SPM teach similar subjects in science and mathematics except the language of instruction. Obviously, the MRSM colleges feel that SPM alone is not sufficient to prepare the students for the higher education and critical courses which are mainly conducted in English.  The IGCSE is a world recognized examination. It is offered in many international schools in Malaysia for those who can afford the school fees up to sixty thousand ringgits a year. The students in MARA Junior Science Colleges now also have access to it thanks to our government. They can now continue their studies overseas earlier and easier with no transitional period required. 

 

Currently there are 49 MRSM offering 9000 places in the country. This compared to the total of 462,940 pupils who sat for the Penilaian Menengah Rendah (PMR) this year. That is less than 2% of the total student population. There were 44,000 applications for the 9,000 MRSM places this year alone.  This is not enough even with the four new MRSM and the additional 1,000 places by 2014.

 

Obviously, a very small fortunate and privileged 2% of all students will have access to English medium education and a better future. Many of those accepted are from rich and powerful families, the elites of the society. How about the other 98% of the students? It is unfair to deny them the same opportunities. The fact is, for our nation to achieve developed nation status,  we must all advance as a whole. To have a world class economy, we will benefit from being fluent in English both in daily conversation as well as in technical terminologies. 

 

If the ICGSE is good enough for MARA Junior Science Colleges, it must also be good for the rest of the country. It will be ideal if the dual certificate system can be offered as an option to the students in the government schools. Our SPM alone is not sufficient to produce enough human capital to meet the demand from multi-national companies, either local or overseas.

 

The PPSMI (Pengajaran dan Pembelajaran Sains dan Matematik Dalam Bahasa Inggeris ) was launched in 2003. It was meant to enhance the standard of English as well as the science and mathematics. However, it failed to achieve its objectives and was abolished in 2012. In fact, the performance of our children suffered in Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) and Programme for International Students Assessment (PISA). The main reason was that the standard of English of both the students and the teachers were not good enough. As we know, 70% of the 60,000 English teachers in Malaysia failed the Cambridge Placement Test as reported in June this year.

The dual certificate system as practiced in the Mara Junior Science Colleges is difficult to implement because of a few reasons. First it needs a very large extra budget and financing. Second, the extra demand of ICGSE on the students’ time can be overwhelming when they already have to cope with the SPM.  The second option appeared less costly and more manageable from the student point of view.

 

The English medium schools were the norm before they were abolished in 1970-1982. Those were the glory days when the high standard of English in Malaysia was the envy of other nations. We very much respect Bahasa Malaysia as the official language which will always be important and compulsory. The English medium schools provide another choice for the other 98% of the Malaysians just like the Sekolah-sekolah Agama, International Schools and Independent Schools. Indeed, the country will be stronger in meeting the challenges of today’s global economy. I hereby urge the government to bring back the English medium schools in a few selected government schools, to improve the performance of our school children in the international assessments and the ranking of our universities, so we may truly become a developed nation.

Why did Norazita die?

By Liew Chin Tong

The murder robbery of Norazita Abu Talib shocked the nation. She was brutally shot in the face by a security guard who was said to possess a fake identity card.  The senseless death of the Ambank officer late last month has opened yet another can of worms pertaining to our worsening crime situation.  

Why did Norazita have to die like that? Let me be blunt here; yes, we can blame UMNO leadership - for refusing to reform the police and for allowing cronies to run security firms.

There’s no need to cringe or get upset. Please bear with me. The facts are all there.

Criminals everywhere, yet they are looking for Communists

While the crime rate is high and the situation is said to be worsening – murder, rape and other violent crimes - the UMNO-led Barisan Nasional government is still obsessed with the Communists!

Our police are still operating in the Cold War mode as if the Communists are still lurking around the corner, notwithstanding the fact that Chin Peng is long gone and that the Haatyai Peace Treaty between the Malaysian Government and the Communist Party of Malaya was signed in December 1989. That was 24 years ago.

Yet Budget 2014 still allocates money to hunt for communists. (risikan keselamatan  - “menjamin keselamatan negara melalui aktiviti risikan  keselamatan secara sulit dan terbuka keatas ancaman komunis, anasir-anasir subversif dan pelampau, perisikan, pengintipan dalam negeri dan ancaman luar negara. – page 644).

As I said before, the crime rate is high. Never mind the police and the government statistics that suggest otherwise.  Fear of crime drives demand for private security protection. In Kuala Lumpur, we can see the mushrooming boom-gates and guardhouses in middle class housing estates in recent years.

Hence, I’m dumbfounded to read Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s Parliamentary reply to Er Teck Hwa, MP for Bakri, that the crime rate has fallen by half between 2008 and 2013. Is he actually referring to Malaysia?  

While there are enough police personnel per capita (approximately 110,000 police to 28 million people), only a fraction is involved in direct crime fighting. Omnipresence of the police and quality investigation are two most important factors, yet half of the police personnel are in management, logistics (12 percent), special branch (5 percent), riot police (3 percent), and the communist-fighting paramilitary unit General Operation Force (15 percent)!

No reforms, more crimes, more overworked crime fighters

As a result, police patrols are not adequate enough. Crime investigators are overstretched and overworked. Only less than 10 percent of the police force are in the crime investigation department, with only about 2,000 are ranked inspectors and above with full authority to investigate. The heavy workload forces many to sleep on old sofas in ill-equipped police stations. My sympathy is with them.

The things you learn from CSI – whether in the TV series or in real life in some other developed and recently-developed countries - won’t apply here for obvious reasons. Science and intelligence-based investigations are a rarity in Malaysia. Confession-based investigation is still the order of the day.

Former Prime Minster Tun Abdullah Badawi announced the formation of a royal commission headed by former Chief Justice TunDzaiddin in December 2003 and a comprehensive 600-page report was submitted in May 2005. I guess the thick book is gathering dust right now.

And here comes the private security firms

With high crime incidences and the refusal of the BN government to shift police priority from fighting communists to crime busting, it’s no surprise that there is a huge ready market for private security protection.

At a glance there’s nothing wrong with it. Private security firms must be highly controlled and firmly regulated. Once upon a time, it was extremely difficult for anyone to obtain a license to operate a private security firm.  

In October 2011, the Home Ministry informed me in a Parliamentary reply that there were 584 security firms registered with the government. Two years later, the number jumped to 751. 

The 2011 parliamentary reply claimed that there were 160,000 Malaysian security guards and another 1,049 Nepali former soldiers. 

Now The Star reported (on 6th November 2013) that there are 400,000 security guards, of whom 150,000 are illegal foreign workers!  

According to the Parliamentary reply: "lesen 2 (a) (syarikat kawalan keselamatan) adalah mengikut syarat-syarat seperti berikut:

a) Salah seorang pemegang saham terdiri daripada sekurang-kurangnya bekas pegawai tinggi Polis DiRaja Malaysia atau Angkatan Tentera DiRaja Malaysia yang berpangkat sekurang-kurangnya SAC II ATAU Kolonel yang memegang 30% ekuiti saham syarikat; ATAU

b) Salah seorang terdiri daripada sekurang-kurangnya bekas pegawai awam dalam kumpulan Pengurusan dan Professional yang pernah berkhidmat dalam sektor keselamatan selama sekurang-kurangnya lima (5) tahun yang berpangkat sekurang-kurangnya Gred 52 atau yang mempunyai sijil kursus keselamatan atau yang setaraf dengannya memegang 30% ekuiti saham syarikat.

c) Hendaklah ditubuhkan syarikat Sdn Bhd.

d) Mempunyai modal berbayar RM300,000.    

e) Pegangan saham syarikat dimiliki oleh Bumiputra sebanyak 70%.

It seems that it’s not that difficult to set up a private security service firm in Malaysia.

Private security firms - why we can blame UMNO leadership

The root of the problem lies in UMNO-led privatisation - three phases of Build-Operate-Transfer of infrastructures – which was the main model in the 1980s, exemplified by the North South Highway. In the 1990s, utilities were privatised in a big way such as to independent power producers. Post-2000, UMNO was increasingly relying on its licensing power to placate an ever expanding lobby for contracts, permits, licenses and favours.

There can only be a certain amount of construction contracts to be dished out. But licenses and permits are more elastic. For instance, millions of foreign workers were and are still being brought into the labour force, resulting in a race to the bottom of wages for low end workers, many of whom are Malays.

In the private security sector, licenses used to be given only to very senior retired police chiefs or generals. But in recent years, UMNO politicians and their proxies received most of the new licenses.

For quick money, the UMNO-linked licensees are prepared to do anything. And there is practically no scrutiny. So, thanks to them, we become a nation of mercenaries in the form of foreign guards.

Sdr Karpal's statement on recent controvers​ial concerning PAS

MEDIA STATEME by Karpal Sing, DAP National Chairman and MP for Bukit Gelugor on 8 November 2013 in Kuala Lumpur:

 

 I am somewhat appalled at the way I have been attacked by certain political vultures, so-called academicians and commentators over my statement on Tuesday that political parties and professional bodies set up along racial lines  should open their doors to all races or be deregistered, in particular, my alleged statement that I had called upon Pas to be deregistered. It was certainly an unkind cut for Utusan Malaysia to have made this vile allegation.

Terence  Netto has fallen hook, line and sinker for the spin obviously by Utusan Malaysia that I had called upon Pas to be deregistered culminating in his public statement amounting to abuse that I was a bull in a china shop and that I was immaturing with age, apart from other unsavory remarks. I am surprised how Terence Netto could have grown so old and learned so little. Not to be outsmarted, certain Pas officials have also descended to  the pit of infamy in their criticism of me over the alleged remark against Pas. Of course, there are others, including a professor, who have likewise shown equal immaturity by shooting from the hip without verifying  the facts or in the first place confirming that I had made the alleged statement against Pas.

True, I had called for the deregistration of the Muslim Lawyers Association for its condemnation of the Bar Council nay, criminal intimidation, against that council for having supported the Catholic weekly Herald over the use of word Allah. The president of the Muslim Lawyers Association threatened further action against the council. I stand firmly over my call for the deregistration of the Muslim Lawyers Association which was formed in 1988 at the height of the Tun Salleh Abas dismissal obviously with full support from Dr. Mahathir Mohamad who was then the prime minister which led members from that association to assemble and demonstrate quite violently in front of the Bar Council office near the Masjid Jamek station.

True, I had stated that raced-based political parties and professional bodies should open their doors to other races which unfortunately included Pas but I was quick to add that Pas acknowledged the necessity of multiracialism by having a non-Muslims supporter’s wing. 

I did not ask for the deregistration of Pas at the press conference. 

This has obviously escaped the notice and attention of Terence Netto and others of his ilk. Whether it is out of design or otherwise is a matter for the conscience of these personalities.

Can Pas deny it established the non-Muslims Pas Supporters Congress [DHPP] prior to the 2004 general –elections?

Can Pas deny it agreed on non-Muslims candidates to be fielded in the 2013 general-elections?

Can Pas deny its vice-president, Salahuddin Ayub, is on record to have publicly said on 13.10.2013, when asked whether full membership would be accorded to non-Muslims following the huge support it received from the DHPP in the general-elections, he said, 

‘For now, we have the Pas supporters wing [DHPP] for non-Muslims. It is a good way for us to position ourselves among non-Muslims. Moving forward, our challenge is to keep ourselves relevant among all Malaysians. Our challenge now is to maintain the support we received from non-Muslims and increase the support from Muslims?’

Can Pas deny in the 2008 general elections, it fielded a candidate from the Indian community, R. Kumutha, to contest the Tiram state seat in the Johor Bharu parliamentary constituency?

Can Pas deny on 6.11.2013, the DHPP, through its secretary, K. Deepakaran, in his speech debating the presidential address at Pas’s Muktamar in Pengkalan Chepa urged party members not to view the DHPP with suspicion but instead treat the non-Muslims in Pas as part of its  machinery adding,

 ‘We are sincere in giving our support to an Islamic party in Malaysia which is Pas. I have always said DHPP is the army for the Islamic struggle because Pas is for all’.

 He also emphasized,

‘Pas was only for Muslims but now Pas is open to all those who want to be part of the struggle for Islam’.   

At the press conference on Tuesday, I emphasize once again, I did not ask for Pas to be deregistered but in fact threw it a life –line by publicly stating that Pas realized the necessity of multiracialism by having the DHPP unlike UMNO, MCA and MIC which were unadulterated racist parties which required to be deregistered. I did not bring Pas into the net I had cast against political parties and professional bodies set up along racial lines. I have stated the truth. Demands for an apology by so-called Pas leaders will not be met.  That much, I assure them

Pas should show its sincerity by opening its doors to the DHPP as full-fledged members in the party. Far from being deregistered, such a move will bring it into the fold of multiracial political parties in the country.  

Dated 8th November, 2013

Teks Perbahasan Bajet 2014 YB V.Sivakuma​r MPBG

Terima kasih saya ucapkan kepada Datuk Yang Dipertua kerana memberi peluang kepada saya mengambil bahagian dalam perbahasan Belanjawan 2014.

Salam Sejahtera dan Salam Ubah.

Belanjawan 2014 adalah satu belanjawan pasca pilihanraya yang pasti akan membebankan rakyat jelata. Cukai baru GST diperkenalkan dan subsidi gula pula dihapuskan. Ini sudah tentu akan membawa implikasi kewangan yang drastik kepada rakyat.

Sebuah kerajaan kebajikan sudah pasti tidak akan membebankan rakyat dengan cukai yang berlebihan dan pada masa yang sama akan memberi subsidi pada kadar yang berpatutan untuk membantu rakyat terutamanya golongan miskin.

Tetapi, kerajaan BN telah mengkhianati rakyat dengan meningkatkan cukai dalam bentuk GST dan mengurangkan subsidi gula pada 26 Oktober 2013 dan RON 95 pada 3 September 2013 sebaik sahaja memenangi PRU-13 dengan pelbagai tipu muslihat.

Penghapusan subsidi ini akan mengurangkan pendapatan boleh guna oleh setiap isirumah. Ini adalah kerana tidak ada peningkatan dalam pendapatan, pada masa yang sama terdapat tanggung baru iaitu GST.

Pada hemat saya, tindakan kerajaan memperkenalkan GST dan mengurangkan subsidi gula dan petrol adalah bertujuan memindahkan tanggungan atau liabiliti kerajaan kepada rakyat.

Penghapusan cukai jualan dan perkhidmatan yang diganti oleh GST akan membawa perolehan tambahan kepada kerajaan sebanyak RM11bilion. Jumlah wang yang begitu besar itu datangnya dari mana kalau bukan daripada rakyat, termasuk rakyat miskin dan miskin tegar.

Wang inilah akan bakal digunakan oleh kerajaan untuk membayar faedah/bunga/riba hutang luar negara.

Untuk makluman Ahli-ahli Yang Berhormat, mengikut kajian yang dibuat oleh Penang Institute, mendapati golongan yang berpendapatan sederhana iaitu RM30ribu hingga RM150ribu setahun adalah golongan yang paling terjejas akibat daripada cukai regresif GST. Kajian juga menunjukkan bahawa golongan kaya-raya adalah kelompok yang kurang merasai kepahitan GST.

Saya amat tertarik dengan ucapan Bagan Serai yang memberi penjelasan tentang bahaya gula dan penyakit kencing manis. Penjelasan beliau dari aspek perubatan mungkin boleh diterima. Tetapi, dari segi logiknya, dari segi rasionalnya, adakah penghapusan subsidi gula sebanyak 34sen itu akan mengurangkan kadar pesakit diabetis di Malaysia?

Tidak ada korelasi yang nyata di antara peningkatan harga gula sebanyak 34sen itu akan mengakibatkan pengurangan permintaan isirumah untuk gula. Gula bukanlah barangan biasa yang terikat dengan teori permintaan, malah ia harus dianggap sebagai bahan mesti. Permintaan untuk gula adalah tidak anjal. Walaupun ada peningkatan harga tetapi, permintaan akan kekal pada kuantiti yang sama ataupun sedikit perubahan yang tidak signifikan.

Oleh yang demikian, adalah tidak jitu dari segi pengiraan ekonomi untuk memberi alasan kesihatan bagi menghapuskan subsidi gula. Pandangan kesihatan adalah satu helah kerajaan untuk mengalih pandangan rakyat mengenai isu pengurangan subsidi gula yang sebenarnya bertujuan menyelesaikan masalah keparahan defisit fiskal kerajaan.

Saya tidak sehaluan dengan Bagan Serai dan Pekan yang cuba menutup kebenaran ini.

Saya juga amat kecewa di atas pengumuman Menteri Kewangan untuk menghapuskan subsidi gula sebanyak 34sen dengan serta-merta tanpa mengambil kira sensitiviti dan keprihatinan terhadap masyarakat India yang telah menyambut perayaan Deepavali seminggu sejurus pembentangan bajet 2014.

Dalam ucapan belanjawan ada disebut bahawa Perdana Menteri telah melancarkan Dasar Transformasi Negara pada tahun 2010 sebagai pemangkin untuk mencapai Wawasan 2020.

Bolehkah Negara mencapai Wawasan 2020?

Setiap tahun sebanyak 17 kali berturut-turut kerajaan BN telah membentangkan bajet defisit dalam Dewan yang mulia ini. Apakah gunanya mengisytiharkan Negara kita sebagai sebuah Negara yang berpendapatan tinggi tetapi hutang Negara juga telah turut melonjak tinggi bagaikan telur di hujung tanduk.

Saya amat pasti dan berani mencabar kerajaan BN tidak akan berjaya membentangkan bajet imbang atau bajet lebihan dalam 7 tahun akan datang kecuali jikalau Pakatan Rakyat berjaya melangkah masuk Putrajaya dalam PRU-14 nanti.

Saya khuatir rakyat akan dihampakan oleh Kerajaan BN dengan omong-omong kosong Wawasan 2020.

Saya amat tertarik dengan Agenda Pemerkasaan Ekonomi Bumiputra. Tetapi adakah sejumlah wang yang diperuntukkan  itu akan sampai kepada sasaran atau terus diselewengkan seperti biasa dan hanya memperkasakan UMNO-PUTERA dan kroni-kroninya? Banyak program ekonomi yang diperkenalkan oleh kerajaan gagal kerana peruntukkan tidak sampai ke peringkat akar-umbi.

Dalam teks ucapan Belanjawan 2014, Menteri Kewangan menyatakan bahawa setiap kaum dan suku tidak kira peratusannya adalah mustahak dan penting untuk kejayaan Negara. Saya 100% bersetuju dengan kenyataan tersebut.

Tetapi dalam bajet yang sama kelihatan kekontangan dari segi peruntukan bagi masyarakat Cina. Pada masa yang sama hanya nampak RM100 juta diperuntukkan untuk kaum India yang berjumlah 2 juta orang iaitu 7.2% daripada jumlah rakyat Malaysia.

Pada hemat saya jumlah yang diperuntukkan ini adalah terlalu kecil untuk pembangunan ekonomi masyarakat India yang sebahagian besarnya hidup dalam kemiskinan dan serba kesederhanaan. Kerajaan sentiasa menganak-tirikan masyarakat India yang keringat dan darahnya menjadi baja kepada pertumbuhan ekonomi Negara sejak sebelum Merdeka lagi.

Masyarakat India juga berbakti kepada Negara ini dan tidak pernah berganjak seinci pun kesetiaan dan kesayangan kepada tanah air ini. Tetapi, kerajaan BN hanya memberi peruntukkan RM100 juta diiringi dengan satu ungkapan sinis ‘nandri’ oleh Perdana Menteri. Saya fikir ini adalah satu sindiran atau gurauan semata-mata. Kalau nak buat biarlah ikhlas, jangan mencurah garam dalam laut. Tiada siapa yang akan mendapat faedah.

Kalau RM30bilion boleh diperuntukkan untuk Agenda Memperkasakan Ekonomi Bumiputra, apakah salahnya jika kerajaan juga melancarkan Agenda Memperkasakan Ekonomi Kaum India dengan peruntukkan sejumlah lebih kurang RM2bilion yang sejajar dengan kadar populasi kaum India 7.2%?

Saya pasti pihak MIC ataupun pemimpin-pemimpin India lain dalam komponen BN tidak berani untuk mendesak kerajaan berbuat sedemikian.

Di mana perginya pejuang kaum India, seorang wira yang kononnya mewakili HINDRAF, dan pernah membuat 8 tuntutan? Kerajaan BN bersetuju dan berjanji menunaikan 8 tuntutan tersebut. Apakah sudah jadi dengan MOU yang ditandatangani oleh HINDRAF dan BN pada 18 April 2013 iaitu sebelum PRU-13?

Apakah pencapaian HINDRAF setakat ini? Berapakah tuntutan yang telah ditunaikan oleh kerajaan BN kecuali P. Waythamoorthy telah diberikan jawatan Senator dan dilantik sebagai Timbalan Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri?

Sebenarnya, beliau adalah seorang pemimpin yang telah mengotori perjuangan murni kerana kepentingan politiknya. Kononnya, masyarakat India akan nampak perubahan dalam 100 hari selepas Pilihanraya Umum ke-13. Apakah perubahan yang telah dibuat olehnya? Saya tidak nampak apa-apa perubahan pun setakat ini walaupun tempoh 100 hari sudah pun dilepasi.

1. tiada peningkatan dalam pengambilan kakitangan berbangsa India dalam sektor perkhidmatan awam
2. tiada perubahan dari segi biasiswa yang ditawarkan oleh kerajaan di dalam dan luar negeri

3. tiada perubahan dari segi peluang perniagaan dan kontrak kerajaan
4. tiada perubahan dari segi kenaikan pangkat dalam sektor awam
5. tiada perubahan dari segi perolehan pinjaman bank atau bantuan kewangan lain untuk perniagaan
6. tiada perubahan dalam pengambilan pelajar untuk program matrikulasi
7. tiada perubahan dari segi ekuiti
8. tiada perubahan dalam bilangan banduan berbangsa India dalam tahanan
9. tiada perubahan dari segi masalah sosio-ekonomi yang dihadapi oleh masyarakat India
10. tiada perubahan dari segi bilangan sekolah Tamil atau peruntukan pembangunan yang ditawarkan
11. tiada perubahan dari segi memperkasakan seni, budaya, bahasa dan sebagainya

Semuanya sama! Kecuali beliau disedekahkan jawatan Timbalan Menteri!

Kerajaan Pulau Pinang sanggup memberi 2 ekar tanah untuk membina sebuah Sekolah Menengah Tamil di kawasan Seberang Perai. Kerajaan Negeri Pulau Pinang yang prihatin mengambil inisiatif untuk memberi tanah di negeri itu, tetapi Kerajaan Persekutuan pula mengabaikan tawaran tersebut. Adakah sesiapa di antara Ahli Yang Berhormat BN yang berani menyahut cabaran saya untuk mendesak Kerajaan Persekutuan membina Sekolah Menengah Tamil yang pertama di Negara kita, di Pulau Pinang?

Kerajaan berbangga dengan rizab antarabangsa yang bernilai RM444.9bilion. Tetapi kerajaan juga harus sedar bahawa hutang luar Negara sebanyak RM531.6bilion boleh menelan keseluruhan nilai rizab antarabangsa kita. Angka ini tidak perlulah dibanggakan. Secara analogi, ini seperti seorang budak ada RM10 dikoceknya tetapi juga berhutang kepada kawannya RM15. Bolehkah budak itu berdiri megah dengan berkata hari ini saya berasa senang kerana ada RM10 dalam kocek padahal hutangnya lebih?

Pendapatan per kapita tahun 2014 pula, dijangka akan mencecah RM34,126. Indikator ekonomi ini tidak memberi satu gambaran yang sebenar mengenai kekukuhan Negara. Adalah kurang bijak untuk menjadikan indikator ini sebagai satu kayu pengukur bagi menilai prestasi ekonomi Negara kita.

(Dengan izin), it is a mean value, it does not reflect income distribution. A small-wealthy class (macam UMNO-PUTERA) can increase per capita income far above that of the majority of the population.

Kenyataan ini mencerminkan pengagihan pendapatan negara kita yang sebenar. Yang kaya menjadi semakin kaya, yang miskin menjadi semakin miskin. Jurang pendapatan di antara yang kaya dan miskin semakin melebar.

Dalam keadaan itu, jumlah pendapatan per kapita RM34,126 hanya satu angka bayangan yang tidak memberi apa-apa makna kepada kedudukan ekonomi sebilangan besar rakyat Negara kita.

Kerajaan mensasarkan 5000 usahawan muda dilatih setiap tahun di bawah 1MeT. Walaupun saya tidak begitu cenderung menyokong program itu, tetapi saya ingin menasihatkan kerajaan supaya peluang diberikan kepada semua golongan muda warga Malaysia yang layak tanpa mengira agama, bangsa, gender dan fahaman politik. Ini adalah kerana program 1Met bersama-sama dengan Magic akan menelan belanja lebih daripada RM50juta.

Amat memeranjatkan kita dengan kenyataan yang dibuat oleh Merrill Lynch dari Bank of America iaitu hutang Malaysia telah meningkat kepada 53.8% pada penggal pertama 2013 dan seterusnya meningkat kepada 54.6% daripada KDNK pada penggal kedua 2013. Ia juga berpendapat bahawa kemungkinan besar Malaysia akan mencecah silingnya iaitu 55% daripada KDNK. Agensi penilaian Global Fitch Ratings juga telah membuat laporan yang lebih kurang sama, malah memberi status ‘negatif’ kepada kedudukan kewangan Negara. Kini, kerajaan cuba memperbaiki kesilapan lampau setelah nasi sudah menjadi bubur.

Saya juga tidak faham apakah rasional untuk kerajaan memperuntukkan RM50juta untuk golongan siswazah menceburi bidang keusahawanan sejurus selepas menamatkan pengajian. Ada baik dan ada buruknya dalam program seperti ini.

Tetapi, kita haruslah berwaspada kerana golongan ini tidak mempunyai pengalaman dan mungkin juga tidak terlatih dalam bidang perniagaan.

Dana pinjaman mudah sehingga RM500ribu diberi dengan kadar faedah 4%. Jika siswazah yang meminjam itu tersalah-urus dana atau perniagaannya tercicir dari landasan, maka beliau mungkin akan menjadi bankrap dan sukar untuk melepaskan diri daripada cengkaman kredit yang akan menghantuinya sepanjang hayat.

Saya tidak bersetuju dengan kenyataan Menteri Kewangan bahawa kadar inflasi kini adalah pada tahap yang rendah iaitu di paras 2% dan ini adalah masa yang terbaik untuk melaksanakan GST. Tiada sesiapa pun akan mempercayai bahawa kadar inflasi Negara adalah 2%.

Saya tidak tahu apakah kaedah atau methodology yang digunakan oleh kerajaan untuk menetapkan kadar inflasi Negara adalah 2%. Satu kenyataan yang cukup ganjil dan tiada asas ekonomi.

Kalau inflasi Negara hanya 2% cubitan itu tidak akan dirasai oleh rakyat jelata. Pada masa ini, rakyat merasakan kesakitan yang parah akibat inflasi yang semakin membengkak. Apatah lagi selepas GST dilaksanakan dan subsidi terus dikurangkan oleh kerajaan.

Pada tahun 2012 dan 2013, sebanyak RM1bilion setiap tahun diberikan untuk Tabung Khas Pembinaan, Penambahbaikan dan Penyelengaraan Sekolah. Bagi tahun 2014 pula, RM450juta ditambahkan dalam tabung ini. Saya mohon kepada Menteri Pendidikan untuk mendedah senarai nama sekolah-sekolah yang dibaikpulih bangunan, penyelenggaraan, pembelian peralatan dan pembinaan blok tambahan dengan peruntukan bagi tahun 2012 dan 2013. Saya juga mohon supaya Menteri Pendidikan mengumumkan senarai sekolah-sekolah yang akan mendapatkan peruntukan daripada tabung ini bersama-sama projek dan kos yang terlibat bagi tahun 2014. Ini adalah penting untuk menjamin transparensi dalam menguruskan dana yang begitu besar oleh Kementerian Pendidikan.

Bagi bidang sukan, Belanjawan 2012 memperuntukkan RM179juta, pada tahun 2013 pula sebanyak RM738juta diperuntukkan manakala bagi tahun hadapan peruntukkan ini telah diturunkan kepada RM239juta. Apakah rasional Kerajaan BN menurunkan peruntukkan sukan dengan drastik sedangkan prestasi sukan negara masih di tahap tidak memuaskan. Belanjawan sukan 2013 melonjak tinggi adakah kerana ia adalah tahun pilihanraya dan bertujuan untuk memancing undi golongan muda? Adalah amat sedih melihatkan sukan juga telah dipolitikkan oleh kerajaan BN.

Berhubung dengan kawasan parlimen saya, Batu Gajah, masalah banjir sering berlaku di beberapa tempat seperti Taman Tien Shen, Siputeh, Kg Baru Nalla dan juga beberapa kawasan kediaman di Pusing. Walaupun perkara ini telah dibawa kepada perhatian JPS dan pihak-pihak berkuasa tempatan yang lain, tiada tindakan yang diambil untuk menyelesaikan masalah ini. Alasan yang diberikan ialah tidak ada peruntukkan kerajaan untuk membaikpulih atau naik taraf sungai-sungai yang terlibat seperti Sg Resam, Sg Selinsing dan Sg Menderus. Harap Kerajaan Persekutuan dapat menyalurkan peruntukan yang sewajarnya untuk mengatasi masalah banjir dan keluhan rakyat Batu Gajah.

Hospital Batu Gajah juga menghadapi masalah kekurangan doktor dan jururawat yang sangat serius. Harap Menteri Kesihatan akan memberi perhatian dalam isu ini. Saya sendiri telah melihat bahawa tidak ada seorang pun doktor di dalam wad pesakit pada waktu malam walaupun dalam keadaan kecemasan. Alasan yang diberi adalah tidak munasabah dan merunsingkan. Masalah ini perlu diselesaikan dengan segera.

Saya tidak boleh menyokong bajet ini kerana saya pasti kerajaan akan membentangkan satu lagi rang pembekalan tambahan pada tahun hadapan seperti tahun-tahun sebelum ini. Oleh itu, Belanjawan 2014 ini bukanlah sesuatu yang muktamad malah boleh dianggap sebagai belanjawan olok-olok sahaja.

Sepanjang pentadbiran kerajaan di bawah Yang Berhormat Pekan, pengurusan kewangan Negara menyaksikan pembentangan dan belanjawan tambahan secara konsisten berikutan setiap pembentangan asal Negara. Dalam konteks kewangan berada dalam defisit fiskal pembentangan perbekalan tambahan akan menonjolkan suatu sikap tadbir urus kewangan Negara yang tidak berhemat. Berikut adalah statistik belanjawan asal dan perbekalan tambahan dari tahun 2009-2013 :

TAHUN	BELANJAWAN ASAL (BILION)	PERBEKALAN TAMBAHAN 1	PERBEKALAN TAMBAHAN 2
2009	207.8	10 bilion	11.3 bilion
2010	191.4	12 bilion	15.2 bilion
2011	213.9	13.1 bilion	10.2 bilion
2012	232.8	15.2 bilion	12.7 bilion
2013	251.6	15 bilion

Sebagai akhir kata, saya juga ingin merakamkan dalam Dewan yang Mulia ini desakan saya dan rakan-rakan seperjuangan saya supaya Perdana Menteri tidak menghadiri mesyuarat CHOGM yang bakal diadakan pada pertengahan bulan November tahun ini di Colombo, Sri Lanka iaitu sebuah Negara yang tidak menghormati hak asasi manusia dan membunuh ribuan orang awam, wanita, kanak-kanak termasuk orang Muslim, secara kejam tanpa keperimanusiaan.

Sekian, terima kasih.