It's It Too Late?

Source: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/6/10/nation/21503751&sec=nation

Cost-cutting to save RM2bil

PUTRAJAYA: The entertainment allowances of ministers and deputy ministers will be slashed and their paid holidays will now be limited to local and Asean destinations.

These as well as several other steps, including a freeze on new government posts and assets purchase, would save the Government RM2bil.

The slashing of allowances and limitation on paid holidays take effect on July 1. Even the Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister will not be spared this new ruling.

The Prime Minister currently enjoys a monthly entertainment allowance of RM18,865 while his deputy gets RM15,015. Other ministers and deputy ministers are given RM12,320 and RM6,000 respectively.

For the paid holidays, Cabinet members will not be allowed to claim for more than a week’s holiday.

Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said these measures “will not be the first or the last; many other announcements will be made by the Government”.

“The savings will be channelled to subsidies for low-income groups,” he said after chairing the first National Inflation Council meeting at his office here yesterday.

“We are sensitive to the hardship faced by the people as a result of the recent increase in fuel prices.

Everybody will have to be thrifty in these difficult times, including the Government.”

Besides the freeze on new government posts and the purchase of assets like cars, furniture and computers, other measures to be taken are limiting the number of workshops, seminars and conferences held at hotels and postponing all renovation works for government offices.

The Government will also cut down on the number of functions like the opening of offices, prize-presentations as well as disallow attire specifically made for an event.

“There is no point for a special outfit because it’s wasteful.

“In line with this, a 10% cut will be imposed on expenses within departments.

Much of the cut will involve promotional and campaign activities.”

The measures became effective yesterday in a circular issued by the Treasury to all agencies and departments.

The freeze on new posts, however, does not cover critical sectors like education, health and enforcement, and those dealing with the delivery of public services and capable of increasing the country’s revenue.

Restructuring of agencies and departments will also be put on hold, except if this is to reduce the number of workers or which does not involve the creation of new posts.

Official overseas trips will be limited to important international or inter-governmental meetings, with not more than three officers sent, and even then only those directly involved.

My 2 cents worth: In view of the recent fuel price hike, our government has announced that they will cut down spending from elsewhere, example their Minister and Deputy Minister monthly entertainment allowance, the free traveling for Minister and Deputy Minister, purchase of others assets, and blah blah blah ...

The government claimed that this move will help the government to save RM2 bil and it will be channel to subsidies for low-income groups as Pak Lah claimed that the government is sensitive toward the hardship of this group of people after the fuel price hike.

It is funny that only now the government realize that there are alot of area that the government can cut cost and save on the money.

電油齊漲掀千重浪

Photo source from China press

Source: http://www.chinapress.com.my/content_new.asp?dt=2008-06-06&sec=mas&art=0606m01a20.txt

(吉隆坡5日訊）油價及電費猛漲掀起骨牌效應，交通領域業者紛紛高喊調高車資，與此同時，馬股今日開市后也全線暴跌，盤中跌幅超過3%或38.75點！

受影響的各行各業對昨天的燃油價格漲幅大表震驚，一些長途巴士公司更在即日起調整車資達40%。

一些州屬的羅厘公會也宣佈，即日所有的運輸費會調高35至60%不等，學巴公會也允許會員增收10至50令吉的車資。

綜指全線暴跌

這股漲風掀起的千重浪也延伸至馬股，導致今日投資意願大受打擊，導致綜指今日全線暴跌。
市場擔憂，汽油及電費調高后將拖累消費意願，影響國內經濟成長，繼而大量拋售持有股項，導致綜指跌跌不休，狂瀉近40點。

在特定藍籌股領跌下，綜指今早急挫19.08點，以1234.04點報開，爾后跌勢凶猛，大演滑鐵盧。

其中，種植股吉隆坡甲洞（KLK）和峇都加灣（BKAWAN）淪為馬股下跌股榜成員。

在中午12時14分時，綜指狂挫38.75點，報1214.37點；並在休市時以1215.31點掛休，跌37.81點，半日成交量達3億1733萬股。閉市時，綜指報1223.56點，重挫29.56點，成交量6.3億股。

My 2 cents worth: With the announcement of the fuel price hike, have a look at what are the things that is going up.

1) Electric tarrif - 18% increase

2)Transportation cost - 35% to 60% increase

3) Travel busses prices - 40% increase

4) School bus fees - RM10 to Rm50 increase in monthly fee

5) Inflation - 5% increase

The best part is, there are more to come in this few days.

TNB: Power rates to be linked to fuel prices

Source: http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/83982

National power supplier Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) said electricity tariffs will be linked to fuel prices and it will be reviewed whenever the government does the same for gas prices.

	Tariffs hike effective July 1
	TNB to hold talks with IPPs

My 2 cents worth: See what I mean by fuel price is the root of all commodities prices. TNB is the first to announce their price increase right immediately after the government announced the hike in fuel price. This will be follow by many. Let's open our eyes wide wide and see.

Fuel hike comes as a 'killer tsunami'

We show BN the Politic Tsunami, they show is the Fuel Killer Tsunami. See what the people has to say on the fuel price hike. Video by MalaysiaKini.

KUALA LUMPUR: Petrol stations nationwide never had it so good.

Source: http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Thursday/Frontpage/20080605080949/Article/index_html

There was a mad rush at almost all kiosks as motorists tried to beat the midnight deadline when the new petrol and diesel prices came into effect.

No untoward incidents were reported but voices were raised at several petrol stations in the Klang Valley which suffered temporary power outage due to the heavy thunderstorm yesterday evening.

There were complaints that several petrol station operators had closed for the day after the new prices were announced.

Retired teacher Kaniappan Kaniah was one of the irate motorists who complained that a “rosak” sign was placed on all 10 pumps at a petrol station in Shah Alam last night.
Kaniappan, 62, was on the way to teach a self-defence class in the city and had to fill petrol as his tank was nearly empty.

The retiree from Shah Alam claimed that the petrol station had, during the previous petrol price revision, put the “rosak” sign a few hours before the new petrol price took effect.

“I am quite sure that after midnight, the ‘rosak’ sign will be gone,” he said yesterday.

He left this particular petrol station and went to other kiosks nearby only to find them packed with vehicles.

Fed up, Kaniappan went back home and phoned his student to pick him up.

In Johor Baru, it was no different from anywhere else in Malaysia as motorists made a beeline for petrol stations to fill up yesterday before the fuel price increase.

But if people thought the vehicles would include Singapore-registered ones, they were proven wrong.

Checks showed most of the cars at petrol stations bore Malaysian registration plates.

The rush was such that some petrol station owners went to the extent of rationing the amount of petrol for each vehicle to ensure that everybody got their fair share.

Mohd Khairul Mohd Duan, who operates a Petronas station in Bandar Baru Uda, said Singaporeans would not be too affected by the hike.

“Singaporeans won’t mind paying the higher price. I’ve spoken to them and they tell me that even if fuel prices reach market level, they don’t mind paying because it’s still cheap for them.

“But how are Malaysians going to survive?”

Khairul said station operators like him “gain nothing” from the price increase.

“The result of this is that I now have to spend more than before to buy fuel, which I do at least 25 times a month.”

My 2 cents worth: Firstly, by announcing the fuel hike was bad enough, but announcing it at the late afternoon and with effect on 12am that night was an idiot thing for our government to do.

The announcement by the government in late evening has lead to a massive mad rush to all petrol station in the country during off office rush hour. In Kuala Lumpur, with the late evening heavy rain, flash flood appear everywhere and all cars rushing to petrol station and this has cause massive jams in town.

This is, again, a bad move by our government which lead to unnecessary jams and mad rush of all motorist to petrol station. I dont understand why cant the government either announce it earlier or to give few days notice for all the people so that they do not have to rush to petrol station to fill up the tank to beat the 12am time line?

Government commented that our fuel price is the lowest in the region and with the price of the fuel in the world market going up, the government is unable to pay the increasing subsidy of fuel for our people. With the removal of fuel subsidy, the government can now use the saving for other subsidies as follow:

Where the RM13.7b savings will go

- RM7.5 billion goes back as subsidies for petrol, diesel and gas

- RM4 billion for food security

- RM1.5 billion for cooking oil subsidies

- RM400 million for standardising price of rice in Sabah and Sarawak

- RM200 million for flour subsidy

- RM100 million for bread subsidy

The government even dare to ask the people to understand their decision and do not take the anger to the street. The government, too, advice the people to change their lifestyle to reduce on their expenses and wastage.

I am just wondering who is the genius person who advice the government that this is a good move. Didnt they study economics? Didnt they realise that the fuel price is the root of the increasing of other commodities?

When fuel price up, transportation fee goes up. When transportation fee goes up, it will lead to other products, such as food to goes up as well. If our government is saying by removing the fuel subsidy away and they can now use the money to subsidies for food, what's the logic behind it? You save money on removing fuel subsidy, feul goes up and lead to food price up, you use the money you save to subsidies food, wont that be LPPL (Lan Pah Pak Lan)?

To change our lifestyle by reducing unnecessary expenses and wastage? How else can we change Mr Pak Lah? An average wage earner has a fix amount of money to use a month, after minusing the necessary expenses likes the house installment, car installment, bills and etc., whatever left may be use for some little entertainment, for example, going to movie, having a cup of coffee with friends and so on. This will help us to relax in this madness environment.

So now with this fuel hike, monthly expenses will now go up, what other way can we cut down. I would love Mr. Pak Lah to tell us. Is the government asking us to cut down on our personal entertainments and cutting down our family days by bringing our kids for fast food on weekend?

I read somewhere this morning about some comments on the fuel hike and I agreed with this person. He commented that people in other countries, such as Singapore and Thailand can survive with high fuel price because their government provide them with good public transportation. For example, Singapore's MRT is so well connected that one do not need to drive on his or her day-to-day activities.

Look at our country, LRT is only limited to those who stay near the routes, Wangsa Maju and Ampang for LRT, Kelana Jaya and Wangsa Maju for Putra. Town center by the Monorial.

Then what about those people stay in Subang, Damansara, Shah Alam, Kajang, Puchong and so on. These people have no choice but to drive to work. So these people will be the most affected by the fuel hike.

Lastly, I have great respect to the current central government, especially Pak Lah. Hold on, the reason I respect him is because after the March 8 Political Tsunami, the government already knows that the public is unhappy and yet he dare to announce the fuel hike just 3 months after the election. For that, he has my salute.

Fuel up again

Source: http://sg.biz.yahoo.com/080603/1/4gwdm.html

Malaysian pump prices at market rates by August: minister

Malaysia will abandon fuel price controls by August and raise pump prices to market levels under a revamped subsidy system to be unveiled on Wednesday, a minister said.

"The prime minister will announce on Wednesday an indication of where we are going in terms of a fuel subsidy system," Domestic Trade Minister Shahrir Samad told AFP.

"We have worked out the details of the subsidy plan and after the inflation committee meets today (Tuesday), it will have to be approved by cabinet," he said.

Malaysia is moving to cut the spiralling bill for its extensive petrol, diesel and gas subsidies, which is expected to cost 56 billion ringgit (17.4 billion dollars) this year.

Currently petrol sells for about 1.92 ringgit (60 cents) a litre, among the cheapest in the region.

Shahrir said the details and implementation method of the new subsidy scheme would be thrashed out by August, when the full plan is scheduled to be in place.

"What we are targeting for when the full plans are announced is that the price at the pumps throughout the country will be at market prices, so until the full plan is delivered, we will not be able to do this," he said.

Shahrir said the new subsidies would be a needs-based system, rather than the current arrangement which lowers the cost of petrol for all users no matter what their income.

He told state news agency Bernama that the government was considering mechanisms including offering cash payments or setting quotas.

The government is initially targeting Singaporeans and Thais who make day-trips across the border to fill their tanks with fuel that is substantially cheaper here.

On Monday, it shut off petrol sales to Thais on its northern border and will also ban sales of petrol to visiting Singaporeans in the southern state of Johor from June 9 as an interim measure ahead of the new subsidy mechanism.

The government is braced for a public backlash over any further fuel price hikes, in a country where public transport is poor and many people are dependent on their cars.

The ruling coalition suffered its worst ever results in March 8 elections, losing five states and a third of parliamentary seats in a setback partly credited to anger over high prices of food and fuel.

My 2 cents worth: Sigh!!! petrol price raise again? Price for everything also will follow, up and up. Who will suffer? The people. We pay tax to the government and they use the money to subsidies for the petrol, which mean we indirectly already paying for the petrol money. Now that they are announcing that the petrol price will follow the market rate, which means the people will have to pay more.

Even though they government is working out the details of a new subsidy plan, still there's no guarantee everyone will benefits from it. Everybody will take the opportunity to raise their price, blaming it on the fuel hike.

The government always said that our fuel is the lowest in the region, for example when comparing to Singapore. Thus the people should not complaint. However, they fail to note that Singaporeans are earning far more than us in Malaysia. For example, a sales executive in Singapore earn more than a sales executive in Malaysia, thus, when face with higher living expenses, to them is not a problem. Therefore, how can you compare a apple to orange?

No matter what we all say, the fuel price is definitely going up.

Your story, my story ... who should we be believe?

First Article:

Source: http://www.chinapress.com.my/content_new.asp?dt=2008-06-03&sec=malaysia&art=0603m99a30.txt

郭素沁：克連沙嘉出示信函 - 大道局暗示可設路障

（巴生2日訊）雪州高級行政議員郭素沁揭露，承建蕉賴加影大道的克連沙嘉公司，向雪州政府出示一封大馬大道局的信函，並指信函內容暗示該公司可在皇冠城大道設路障。

她指出，在最近州行政議會中，當局邀請克連沙嘉大道公司代表出席開會，以瞭解皇冠城封路的詳情。

雪政府堅持開路

她昨晚出席巴生健身社6週年紀念暨籌募四川賑災基金晚宴上，如是指出。出席者包括雪州行政議員歐陽捍華及劉天球等。

“雪州大臣丹斯里卡立在會上不斷詢問大道公司代表，是誰批准大道公司設路墩，對方才取出大道局的信函，並表示信中暗示大道公司可設路墩。”

她說，民聯政府每週州行政議會上都有討論皇冠城封路事件，她嘲諷前州政府，在兩年時間都無法處理的問題，但民聯政府在執政不足100天就已解決。

“大臣以雪州柏朗桑集團在大道公司中有20%的股份，要求召開股東大會，要股東決定是否開路，而雪州政府強硬的態度，使中央政府的態度放軟，贊成開路。”

On the other hand ....

Second Article:

Source: http://www.chinapress.com.my/content_new.asp?dt=2008-06-03&sec=malaysia&art=0603m99a31.txt

再那阿比丁否認出示大道局信函

（吉隆坡2日訊）克連沙嘉執行董事再那阿比丁否認，曾向雪州政府出示大馬大道局信函，暗示該公司可在蕉賴皇冠城主要大道設路障。

《中國報》針對雪州高級行政議員郭素沁于昨晚的揭露，電訪再那阿比丁。

再那阿比丁堅稱自己對以上事件毫不知情，也不了解有關信函的詳情。

他也聲稱自己對大馬大道局是否曾發出信函，表示不知情。

另外，大馬大道局職員說負責人不在，本報無法求證。

記者聯絡大馬大道局中馬區分局，惟職員指負責人兼主任不在，隨后轉聯絡給該分局主任蘇萊雅，惟對方指此事交由總部監督及協調組主任蘇海米負責。

但當記者多次撥電欲聯絡蘇海米時，其下屬均指他在開會，不方便回電。

本報惟有轉聯絡大馬大道局總監拿督莫哈末拉查利，聯絡多次，其秘書都指對方在開會。

后來本報再度聯絡他秘書時，對方指他已外出並將到外國2星期，無法回應記者的提問。

她也指出，公司另一名副總監今日恰好休假，要求記者明日再撥電詢問。

My 2 cents worth: I am lazy to do the full translation but the content of both article are something like this:

First article - Teressa Kok said that in the Selangor Exco meeting, they invited a representative from Grand Saga to attend. The Selangor Mentari Besar, Tan Sri Khalid asked the representative from Grand Saga who had approved the barricade to be placed up. the representative mentioned that there's a letter from Lembaga Lebuhraya Malaysia (LLM) hinting that Grand Saga is allowed to re-build the barricade.

Teressa Kok then went on to tease the previous Selangor Government was unable to resolve this issue after two years but the PR Lead Selangor government just solved it withing 100 days of administration.

Second article - Grand Saga Executive Director, Zainal Abidin did not admit that they have presented the PR Lead Selangor government a letter from LLM, hinting Grand Saga is allowed to re-build the barricade.

Chinapress also tried to contact various officer at LLM to comment on this but were unable to reach any of them, either they are in meeting or they went oversea or they are on leave.

So now there are two version of stories, which version should we believe? You choose your own version of story.

Gangster Style by Malaysia FRU

This is another movie featuring our gangster FRU beating the hell out of Chang. Looking at the video make me sick and shameful.




Here is a footage freezed form the video. Can can see clearly the guy, should be a plain cloth police kicking the car door. I think before the guy was a police, he was drop out of a football team. See how good is the kick.

魏家祥：平息民怨 內政部應介入徹查

Source: http://www.chinapress.com.my/content_new.asp?dt=2008-06-01&sec=malaysia&art=0601m99a24.txt

My Translation: MCA national youth secretary Wee Ka Siong request the Ministry of Home Affair to further investigate the BMC issue, to put justice to those who take law into their own hand, whether it's the thugs, residents or the police, to prevent the people further upset.

He said, there are alot of witnesses on the BMC issue, therefore it should be solve according to the proper matter, should not only listen to one sided story. The only way to do this is to have Ministry of Home Affair to interfear, and the head of police to take action.

He further claimed that if proven that member of police was involved in beating the residents, they should receive proper punishment, let the people see this to reduce the upset among the people.

He further said that since the cabinet has announced that the access road to be remained open untill the court comes out with a decision, this is a good news to everyone. However, behind the happiness, there are 4 people that might be sue for attempt murder. He feel that this cant be accepted by those residents who were present at that night of the incidents and it does not make sense to them.

Wee Ka Siong said that he has officially contacted the Deputy Home Affair Minister, Datuk Chor. MCA National Youth feel regret on the beating of residents and feel that those who involved should get receive proper justice. He further said that while pending the court case among the highway concession and the developer, the government should look into the whole matter.

He stated that no matter what, the people should not bear the consiquences .

He said that, before this, the residents have to go a longer route, which will incur additional usage of petrol, and therefore indirectly incur additional subsidy from the government.

On the other hand, Wee Ka Siong felt very supprise to heard certain police officer claimed that " dont expect the police to jump down from the flyover" He said, police is always in the front line, and they are professional, if there's any incident, not only have have to jump down from flyover, if needed, they have to even climb the mountain of knife.

（馬六甲31日訊）馬青總秘書魏家祥要求內政部徹查皇冠城封路事件，以將那些把法律操縱在自己手中的人士，不管是暴徒、居民或是執法者繩之于法，不能讓民怨繼續沸騰。

他說，皇冠城事件的發生有很多目擊證人，整件事應該依法處理，不能聽取片面之詞，所以唯一的方法就是內政部介入徹查，及全國總警長採取有效行動對付。

“如果證實警務人員涉及毆打，那是罪加一等，應當被繩之于法，讓大家看到立竿見影的效果，平息民怨。 ”

挽回公信力

魏家祥今早在馬六甲革成華小禮堂，為《中國報》聯合馬六甲年少情主辦，豐隆保險贊助的“第7屆撒種─全甲小學生寫作康樂營”主持開幕后，于記者會上如是指出。

他說，內閣已對皇冠城事件做出決定，不再封路至法庭裁判為止，目前皆大歡喜，但在歡喜的背后，那幾名被毆的年輕人還要被控，他認為這對在場的民眾是不能接受的，也令人費解。

他說，警方要挽回公信力，就一定要徹查。

他也正式聯絡內政部副部長拿督曹智雄作出反映，馬青譴責傷人者，並認為傷人者應被繩之于法。
他認為，在等待法庭判決時，政府應從法、理、情的觀點著手處理上述事件，以務實角度做估算，包括大道公司本身的法律根據、當年批准大道公司合約情況如何、發展商申請道路有哪些承諾、不收大道收費，是否由政府承擔等等。

他說，無論如何，今天不該是居民來承擔。

他指出，目前居民每天繞道走，增加用油量，這無形中也加重政府的負擔。

此外，魏家祥對有些警官說“難道要從天橋跳下來”的言論感到震驚。他說，警方是站在最前線，也是專業的，如果有騷亂，不要說是從天橋跳下來，即使是刀山，也都要爬上去。

My 2 cents worth: See what I mean by "it's time to get famous", after so many hu ha, water cannon, tear gas, beating by thugs, now only the people from our famous chinese community representative stand out to make comment on everything. Before this, none of them even make a whisper about this matter.

Sipadan Island

Photo source:www.touchdownluxuryyachts.com/sipadan/index.htm

SIPADAN ... HERE I COME IN 24 DAYS AND COUNTING!!!! WOOHOO!!!!!

Where are you thugs?

My 2 cents worth: Since 27 May 2008 after the incidents where the thugs went crazy beating the residents of BMC at the barricade area, I have been reading the newspaper daily to see any arrest of those thugs who were involved in the beating.

However, to my surprise non of the newspaper mention anything on any arrest. there are so many pictures captured on that day by the press photographer, by independent bloggers, by residents and even captured on video, identifying those who were involved but till date, no arrest was made.

If my memory did not fail me, I remember reading that the police mentioned that they are investigating this matter and will definitely arrest those who are involved. But after 6 days, still no news of anyone getting arrest.

It is either our police is incapable of doing their job or they dare not make any arrest, worrying that the thugs will disclose who are their boss who paid them money for the attack.

Police or Gangster

Are the the police that suppose to protect the people, maintain law and order or are they gangster? you judge it yourself.

Mr. Sam talking rubbish

After watching this, how i am glad Mr. Sam is no longer in the cabinet. Listen to what c*ck he has to say on the BMC access road issue when previously he was still the minister.

Najib - Gov did not bow to pressure on BMC Access Road

Source: http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Sunday/National/2255522/Article/index_html

PETALING JAYA: The Barisan Nasional government supports the move to open the access road connecting Bandar Mahkota Cheras to the Cheras-Kajang Highway for the benefit of the people.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said the decision was not to bow to pressure or to please the Pakatan Rakyat-led state government in Selangor.

"We want what's good for the people," he said at a parade held in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of the Royal Malaysian Air Force in Subang yesterday.

However, he said, the government will not back the people if they break the law.

On Friday, the cabinet had decided to allow the access road to be opened, pending a court decision.
Controversy arose when the highway toll concession holder, Grand Saga Sdn Bhd, sealed off the access road.

Grand Saga had built a wall in January 2006 to prevent toll-free traffic from Bandar Mahkota Cheras accessing the Bandar Tun Hussein Onn junction that connects the Cheras-Kajang Highway.

This resulted in a spate of confrontations between the residents and a group believed to be employed by Grand Saga to prevent the removal of the wall. ........

My 2 cents worth: our Deputy Prime Minister once again stress that the announcement of the BMC access road was not due to pressure from the PR government but the BN government did it for the good of the people. Hurray .... the BN wants what's good for the peole ... what a BULL. I am so sick of listening all this idiot, no brainier comments from these so-called leader of Malaysia. Again, they always thought we are 5th grade student, blindly believe what they say.

Deputy Speaker Rejects Special Motion

Further to my earlier post on the dewan Deputy Speaker Datuk Wan Junaidi Tuanku rejected a special motion raised by the Serdang MP Teo Nie Chin to discuss on the BMC barricade issue, here's the full video of it. Have a pleasant viewing.