Gerakan: PAS, DAP made comebacks, so will we

Despite the gloomy prospects of Gerakan in Penang, its president Koh Tsu Koon said the party will soldier and like PAS, will eventually make a comeback.

"Every party suffers some defeats. PAS was out of (the Kelantan) government for three terms from 1978 to 1990, but they came back.

"So we suffer our defeat. We respect the mandate of the people but we come back and we offer ourselves. It is up to everyone of us to really show that we are committed and are with the people," he told a press conference after the opening of the 41st Gerakan National Delegates Conference (NDC) in Kuala Lumpur this morning.

Koh said that DAP too was only reduced to one seat in 1995, 1999 and 2004.

"So if at that time DAP was only down to one seat, we didn't tell them that they were out, we respect them. We respect the judgement of the people," he said.

He added that Gerakan had no problem in closing ranks ahead of the next general election which is due in less than a year.

'Talk of warlords exaggerated'

Responding to Gerakan Youth chief Lim Si Pin's remark that the party's youth wing was being prevented to take up positions in the party which was dominated by "warlords", Koh said it was merely a "small storm in a small teacup".

"The term 'warlord' has been exaggerated, this only happens in one or two places... but not at the central level," he said.

He further pointed out that most of the present Gerakan top leadership including himself were former youth members.

Koh said that Lim was perhaps frustrated that the Youth wing's nominated candidate to speak at the NDC was not given priority.

"It so happened that the (nominated) person is not a central delegate and according to our party constitution, central delegates must be given priority," he said.

"It is not a major problem, it shows how democratic we are as we don't go and manage and control what people say. They say it, and then we reply," he said.

Koh reiterated that the party was supportive of its youth and well as women members.

"We always take note of the fact of that young people are very vocal and more aggressive, so we take that into account.

"I'm sure if the youth members at the grassroots work very hard, they will be elected. I am sure the vast majority of veterans will continue to make way for younger people to come up," he added.

Himpunan in Pengerang to protest oil refinery

Protesters are now gathering in fishing village of Pengerang in Johor for the 'Himpunan Hijau Lestari Pengerang' (Pengerang Sustainable Green Rally) against a nearby oil refinery project.

Local residents, led by the ad-hoc Pengerang NGOs Coalition, had complained that they were not consulted and they feared that the massive project would adversely impact the environment, their health and their livelihood.

The RM60 billion Petronas Refinery and Petrochemical Integrated Development (Rapid) project would eventually occupy 9,000 hectares of land, affecting at least 15 villages in the area at the southern tip of Johor.

However, local MP Azalina Othman haddenied that consultations were not held.

The protest today, scheduled to kick off at 10am, is partly aimed to refute claims that the majority of locals are in favour of the project.

They would first gather at two designated locations about one kilometre away from the venue, before marching to Dataran Sungai Rengit in Pengerang.

Both the protest's campaign material and a stainless steel sculpture at the square feature depictions of lobsters, in honour of Pengerang's most famous produce.

In addition to the ‘Angry Lobster', a dugong has been added as a mascot after the carcass of one was washed ashore late last month.

LIVE REPORTS 

7.40am: The sun is out in Pengerang, and in the town area near the rally point, Dataran Pengerang, many people are spotted donning the trademark Himpunan Hijau green shirts.

A group of PAS unit amal (security unit) members is walking along the beach towards the town.

It's reported that there are roadblocks set up along the highways leading to Pengerang. The main road in front of Dataran has been sealed off by police. A few FRU (riot police) trucks are seen moving through the area.

7.50am: More than 120 people led by Kuala Lumpur Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall CEO Tang Ah Chai arrive in three buses and they are joined by another bus from Bukit Koman Ban Cyanide Committee.

Bukit Koman Ban Cyanide Committee chairperson Wong Kim Hoong toldMalaysiakini that another bus from Raub has been stopped from using the highway by Transport Department officials during its six-hour journey from Pahang.

"This forced them to use the old route to Pengerang," said Wong.

According to Johor Dapsy chief Tan Hong Pin, the Ulu Tiram toll plaza at Desaru Highway has been blocked by the police.

8am: Protestors, perhaps in their hundreds, are still having breakfast in eateries throughout the small town surrounding Dataran Sungai Rengit.

About 30 are seen are in the immediate vicinity of the square patronising stalls selling protest paraphernalia, posing for portraits or simply enjoy the salty ocean breeze.

Meanwhile, police appeared to have assembled for a briefing at the local police station, about 100 metres from the venue.

8.45am: The crowd around Dataran Sungai Rengit has now swelled to about 300, most of them seeking shelter under the trees or at shoplots from the hot sun and cloudless skies. 

9.05am: Organisers ask those under 15 years old to leave the protest venue before the rally starts at 10am, in accordance to the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012.

The announcement, which is made through the public address system, also asks those wearing masks to remove them.

9.30am: The crowd at Bao An Temple has grown to about 500 people.

Armed with banners denouncing the oil refinery project, many are busy taking photos.

A group of them from Pagoh shouts "Down with Muhyiddin” in Chinese, referring to Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, who is also the MP for Pagoh.

Another group from Segamat chants: "We are with you, Pengerang”.

9.55am: About 1,500-strong crowd begins marching from Bao An Temple to the rally venue, about 1km away.

Shouting slogans such as "Hidup, Hidup, Rakyat", "Tolak, Tolak Rapid", "Tolak Tolak BN", they head towards Dataran Sg Rengit in Pengerang.

Many of them are opposition supporters from all over the country. About 40 PAS unit amal members are helping to direct traffic and provide security.

10am: The Himpunan Hijau Lestari Pengerang kicks off with a prayer in Dataran Sg Rengit despite that those marching from Bao An Temple have yet to arrive.

Meanwhile,Malaysiakini citizen journalist Azizan Yunos claims that his car, a blue Perodua Kancil, was splashed with acid this morning.

"I don't know why I'm targeted," he says.

He was in Pengerang since 3pm yesterday with several others to do a video on Lim Hwee Seng, a former teacher in Pengerang who is revisiting the area.

The car Lim used was park in front of Azizan's car at the time and was not spared in the attack.

The incident occurred at 5.15am today in Teluk Ramunia where to group was staying, about five minutes' drive away from the protest venue.

10.15am: Representatives from various NGOs are invited to take the stage briefly, one after another, while photographers on the ground complained of the lack of time to take their photos.

10.20am: With the arrival of the marchers, the number of protesters has been boosted to about 3,000.

Jawatankuasa Bertindak Pengerang Prihatin (Prihatin) president Ishak Surin addresses the crowd.

After ending his speech with chants of "Defend cultural heritage" in both Bahasa Malaysia and Chinese, an empty chair reserved for local MP Azalina Othman was moved aside to make room for more arriving VIPs.

10.30am: Speaking in Bahasa, Bersih steering committee member Wong Chin Huat says the people will rise up.

"We are here because we love Malaysia, we don't want our lands become the rubbish bins of Australia and Taiwan.

"Instead, we will throw them to rubbish bin of history if they gadai(pawn away) our rights and lands," he says.

10.45am: Holding several pages of documents, Anak chairperson Mazlan Aliman (below) lists out the purported reasons why Pengerang has been chosen for the Rapid project, each one triggering a round of boos from the crowd.

Among them include Azalina supposedly informing Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak that there would be no opposition to the project, and that the Johor government had been offered a 10 percent stake in the project as an "inducement" to facilitate the land acquisitions.

10.50am: Himpunan Hijau Bukit Koman chairman Wong Kim Hoong takes to the stage and blames the premier for failing to fulfill his promises and slogans.

"Our PM said 1Msia and people first, but this slogan has humiliated all of us as we cannot live happily and peacefully.

"For the sake of a small group of people, the government has pawned the lives of the rest.

"We have to stand together and use our votes to reject all these hazardous projects come the next general elections."

11.10am: Himpunan Hijau Kuantan committee member Clement Gan urges for sustainable development, saying that neighbouring countries should be concerned about the environmental damage here, as it may affect them.

"When I saw lobsters here, I felt pity because they would become toxic, and if they swam to Kuantan, they would become radioactive," he adds.

It's now the turn for politicians to give their speeches. DAP state chief Dr Boo Cheng Hau urges the people to "green" the whole of Johor and Malaysia in order to save the nation and its land.

"This is for our children in the coming generations," says the Sekudai state assemblyman.

11.20am: PAS Johor commissioner Mahfodz Mohamed also sticks to the theme of sustainable development, saying the party opposes development that only benefits cronies.

"If we defeat BN, God willing, we shall defend the rights of the people of Pengerang," he says.

Johor PKR chief Chua Jui Meng hits out at Pengerang MP Azalina Othman for failing to take care of the people here. "Where is Azalina? Is she staying in the hotel now?"

He says when Pakatan takes over, it will stop all hazardous projects and safeguard the lives of the people. 

Solidariti Hijau chairperson Khairuddin Abdul Rahim says his side has mobilised about 100 people to attend the rally today.

He says this shows the solidarity of the Johor people against environmental hazardous projects.

"Let's together help the Pengerang community and return the green environment to the people," he says.

11.25am: Chua, claiming to represent his party's de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim, also promises that the Rapid project would be scraped if Pakatan takes over the federal government.

"We (PKR) already represent the people here. Our lawyers have already petitioned against the project in the courts," he adds.

11.30am PAS veep Salahuddin Ayub says next week, Parliament will debate the budget. "We from PAS, PKR and DAP will make your struggles the topic of our speech.

This is because your MP is not fighting for you. She has challenged us to a debate, yet she is not present today.

11.35am - Himpunan Hijau chairperson Wong Tuck says although the fight against the government had been hard, it must go on.

"The government has given up on us, we (the people) must give up on them," he said to loud cheers.

11.40am: Pengerang NGO coalition chief cum Pengerang green rally chairperson Anis Afida Mohd Azli takes to the stage as the final speaker and urges protestors not to fear any threats or allegations, because they have the support of Malaysians across the nation.

She thanks all the protesters from all over the country for turning out in support of the Pengerang community.

However she declares the struggle is not over yet and and they will continue to fight for the people.

"We can only save our country by our votes," she says, adding that the coalition will submit a memorandum to Johor Mentri Besar office on 8 October.

She was also disappointed with Azalina's absence today though the organiser had invited her to come.

"I went to Parliament on the budget day and invited her to attend the rally, but where is she?"

11.45am - Emcee Hishamuddin Rais leads protestors in singing 'Suara Rakyat' and to recite the Earth Charter, the latter of which is printed on the back of the protestors' green T-shirts as well as in chants the slogan, "stop rapid".

He then announces that the rally has ended, and urged protestors to pick up the garbage as they leave.

VIDEO l 2.01 mins

Kit Siang: PM's budget tirade belies his fears

That Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's budget announcement on Friday  turned into an electioneering speech highlighted his underlying fears, says DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang.

"It is evident that the 2013 Budget hides a very unconfident Najib who is haunted and hounded by the phobia that his fourth budget speech as finance minister may be the last Umno and BN budget in Parliament.

"...Najib devoted more than 10 percent of his budget speech in a blatant electioneering appeal for continued support for Umno and BN while launching a most improper attack on Pakatan Rakyat," he said.

Lim (left) questioned whether as premier, Najib had reflected "class" and "standard" by dedicated the last 14 paragraphs of his speech to glorify Umno and BN while condemning Pakatan.

Chest thumping

He also took a dig at the premier who during the budget speech quoted Plato's words -"The measure of a man is what he does with power" - in urging support for BN.

"Despite all the chest-thumping and braggadocio of supreme confidence that Malaysia will witness six more budgets to be tabled by the Umno/BN government...

"Najib has continued to play the role of Shakespeare's Hamlet, agonising over whether 'to dissolve or not to dissolve,Parliament' since last year," he said.

Lim also blasted Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin for denying that the budget was not an election budget despite the slew of goodies that were announced.

"The Umno and BN government leaders suffer from the dual terminal ailments of a denial complex and an unprecedented credibility gap.

Umno and BN leaders continue to suffer from the false sense that they could transform Malaysian politics into a world of make-believe and get ordinary Malaysians to believe (them)..." he said.

PM Najib: Buku Jingga not worth the paper it's printed on

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak said Pakatan Rakyat's manifesto - the Buku Jingga - do not contain doable policies, unlike BN's policies which are proven.

"Buku Jingga is not worth the paper it is written on," he said, in the same self-assured tone as his Budget 2013 speech, when officiating the 44th Gerakan national delegates conference today in Kuala Lumpur.

Najib said that Pakatan's plans to abolish the Higher Education Loan Fund (PTPTN) would cost tax payers up to RM50 billion by 2020 and it was not feasible.

He also rubbished Pakatan's plans to abolish tolled highways because it would cause the entire share market to collapse.

"The toll concessionaires are all listed companies. (Abolishing tolls would cause) the entire Bursa Malaysia will collapse. The entire (share) market will collapse," he exclaimed.

In contrast, Najib said that his policies, including the second phase of Bantuan Rakyat 1Malaysia (BR1M 2.0) cash handouts, were not populist.

"We did BR1M 2.0. They can do Bersih 2.0. Nevermind. You do Bersih 2.0, we do BR1M 2.0. You storm the barricades, overturn police cars, we help the rakyat," he said.

‘Not vote-buying'
He said that unlike subsidies for other essential goods, BR1M targets only households with income of less than RM3,000 and it will not be applicable to the rich.

Najib said that similar schemes have appeared in other countries such as Indonesia and in Singapore, citing the Singaporean government's one-off payments to Central Provident Fund (CPF) last year before the May election.

Similarly, he said that RM250 book vouchers for Form Six and university students were not populist because it was not cash handouts because it was meant specifically for books to help students.

"And I resisted giving it before the (campus) elections. Some said that I should announce it before the campus elections because our votes will increase.

"I said ‘No! Only after the budget'. This is because we want to win based on our support. Thankfully, pro-aspirasi, who supports the government, won in 18 out of 20 campuses without having to buy votes," he said.

Apart of promising unrealistic plans for the country, Najib said Pakatan had not even fulfilled the prerequisites for an viable government in waiting.

 Separate entities 

Firstly, Najib said Pakatan does not even have a common symbol nor have they registered as a coalition, thus they will contest the polls as separate entities with separate manifestos.

In contrast, he said BN will contest under one banner and all candidates will be loyal to BN's cause.

"The opposition will to go the polls with different faces. For some, their image is the moon. For others, it is the image of the rocket, as though the rocket will take them to the moon.

"Then, there is the eye (laughs). A very funny looking eye," he said, clearly enjoying his early morning banter.

With different logos, Najib said Pakatan's policies clashes as well and that the component parties can not even agree on how to administer the country - whether hudud law would be implemented or not.

"You don't have a common position and policy on how the country is to be administered. You don't have the credibility to run the country," he said.

And finally, Najib said that the government-in-waiting must first form a shadow cabinet, which Pakatan did not. He speculated that Pakatan have thus far refused to do so because it is "scared".

"Don't talk about forming the government. Form a shadow cabinet first," he said.

The Motorola affair

Meanwhile, Najib also had words of encouragement for Gerakan, who are on a quest to reclaim Penang.

Najib said that Penang's success was BN's doing and that DAP's contribution had been marginal at best.

He said that the many international companies that had set up factories in Penang were part of BN's doing, including Motorola's "expansion".

"Koh (as then chief minister) wanted special consideration for Motorola. You can ask Motorola. They expanded because BN did it for them," he said.

It was strange for Najib to bring up the topic because the Motorola controversy was among the key issues in BN's disastrous Penang campaign for the 2008 general election.

Motorola had threatened to pull its entire operation from Penang, forcing Koh to write a top secret letter to then premier Abdullah Ahmad Badawi (left), urging him to intervene to avert "three dire consequences".

Eventually, the federal government agreed to a RM1 billion project for Motorola, in exchange for RM350 million to be invested by the company over the next five years.

The contents of the letter was exposed in an exclusive report byMalaysiakini six days before the polls.

During the campaign, the opposition pact had used the correspondence to accuse Penang of losing is lustre under BN and used it as a major campaign issue.

Come polling day, Gerakan not only lost control of the Penang government, it lost every state and Parliamentary seat it contested in.

Bajet Terbaeek sejak Nabi Adam( 2)

Please be patient. There will an essay on this 2013 budget in the English language. Right now I am tackling the Bahasa Melayu readers.

Kita tidak sedar, kerajaan Najib menyusun kehidupan negara keliling hutang. We structure the life of the country around debt. Even when the economy is good, we still borrow instead if using increased revenues when the economy was good to pay off our obligations. When we do that, it means, debt is structural.

Walaupun ekonomi bagus, Najib tetap juga berhutang dan tidak menggunakan pertambahan pendapatan ketika ekonomi baik untuk mengurangkan hutang. Ertinya, kerajaan Najib membudayakan hutang dalam kehidupan negara. Bila ekonomi teruk, kita berhutang. Bila ekonomi dah baik pun kita berhutang. Ini dinamakan hutang kita dah jadi hutang structural. Dah jadi darah daging. Ini wasathiyah Najib.

Maka PM Najib pun tak kira lah. Asyik berhutang dan terus meyakinkan kita , ekonomi akan pulih dan kita akan bayar. Bayar dengan apa? Hasil kutipan cukai tidak berkembang. Hasil menyewa harta benda rakyat tidak boleh diperlakukan sewenang wenang nya. Kalau boleh, Malaysia dikasi sewa kepada Singapura. Hasil dari keuntungan minyak Petronas pun akan mengurang. Jadi nak bayar dengan apa? Lama kelamaan, base cukai akan dikembangkan- Najib akan kenakan GST kepada kita semua. Kalau tak, nak dapat mana duit nak bayar hutang?

Memanglah meminjam bukan lah perkara yang seburuk yang disangka. Hutang kerajaan Singapura misalnya pun amat besar. Semua orang berhutang. Tapi ada beza nya. Kemampuan bayar semula kita lain. Hutang mesti dikaitkan dengan prestasi negara dari sudut pendapatan hasil atau revenue. Kemampuan membayar tentulah dicerminkan oleh surut atau naik pendapatan.

Berapa anggaran revenue negara?  Kerajaan Najib anggarkan revenue naik dari RM 207.2 billion kepada RM 208.6 billion untuk tahun 2013. Ini peningkatan sebanyak 0.7%.  punya lah cakap besar. Ekonomi lestari itu dan ini. transformasi dah berjaya. Dah mendatangkan buah.  Najib tidak juga beritahu kita, inilah peningkatan yang paling perlahan dalam sejarah ekonomi kita sejak tahun 1999.

Kerajaan wasathiyah dan Optimus Prime Transformer Najib menanggung hutang yang kian meningkat kerana hendak membiayai pelbagai macam fikiran mabuk dia. Hutang kerajaan meningkat dari RM363 billion dalam 2009 dan RM456 billion in 2011. Untuk tahun 2012, hutang kerajaan pusat yang dianggarkan ialah ialah RM502 billion. Ertinya, sejak 8 tahun yang lalu, hutang kerajaan pusat meningkat ke tahap 107.4%.

Kerajaan Najib sibuk bila kerajaan Kelantan atau Selangor atau Kedah atau Pulau Pinang berhutang. Tapi bila kerajaan PM sendiri berhutang dia orang semua buat donno sahaja. Mereka akan kata kerajaan berhutang sebab nak tolong rakyat dan membangunkan negara. Soalan: bukan itu juga boleh dijadikan alasan mengapa negeri PR pun turut berhutang? Kelantan tidak ada hutang dengan kerajaan Federal. Selangor tidak ada. Penang hanya sedikit sahaja tinggal. Kedah tidak berhutang.

Yang bahaya nya, ialah hutang kerajaan kita sekarang ialah hutang structural. Hutang structural berbeza dengan hutang cyclical yang turun naik disebabkan pendapatan ada turun dan naik. Hutang structural ialah hutang yang ujud walaupun pada masa masa ekonomi baik.

Dalam keadaan ekonomi kuat, kerajaan terus berhutang. Bila pendapatan kita lebih dari perbelanjaan, kita terus juga bergantung kepada hutang. Ertinya, hutang structural berlaku walaupun ekonomi bagus. Kerajaan terus belanja melebihi pendapatan nya.  Ini berbeza dengan hutang cyclical. Hutang cylical berlaku bila ekonomi lemah kerana kutipan cukai jatuh misalnya. Bila ekonomi mengembang, kita kutip cukai dan bayar hutang sementara yang kita telah ambil. Ini cara berhemah dan wasathiyah. Ini tidak- bila hutang sudah menjadi sebahagian dari budaya berkerajaan, PM Najib pengurus ekonomi KITA,  tidak mahu bayar hutang bila ekonomi bertambah baik. Walupun ada lebihan atau surplus, mereka terus hutang lagi.

kita menyusun kehidupan negara keliling hutang- dengan cara melengkapi hidup kita dengan menghias negara kita dengan projek yang menyebabkan kita berhutang.  Kita nak river of life sedangkan rakyat Melayu di kampong dan desa masih memerlukan kemudahan asas. Kita nak bina MRT yang kos nya sudah pun lebih dari RM50 Billion untuk keselesaan penduduk bandar. Penduduk kampong yang rata2 nya orang Melayu bagaimana?

Kita tidak memerlukan sebuah kerajaan yang berhutang. Kita ada pilihan untuk menyertai budaya berhutang ini atau tidak. Keputusan untuk mengarah halatuju hidup kita memerlukan hanya satu cara sahaja- menolak kerajaan PM Najib. Ia boleh di lakukan.

Bagaimana kita nak betulkan keadaan? Dengan dasar ekonomi yang betul yang memerlukan dasar yang nyata dan direct. Hutang structural hanya boleh di tangani dnegan cara mengurangkan perbelanjaan, menaikkan cukai atau melebarkan base bayaran cukai. Kita kena buat. Kurangkan belanja keatas kos operasi yang tidak perlu. Menyerapkan anggota rela, kemas, jasa semua meningkatkan kos operasi. Mengapa kita perlu ejen2 UMNO ni? Kita boleh potong paling kurang 70% dari kelompok ini dan mengurangkan perbelanjaan operasi. We don’t need 10 people to look after one cow.

Potong juga belanja keatas projek2 mewah. Program dibawah Permata berlian, emas, perak atau zamrud tu semua tidak berguna. Setelah belanja banyak, apa results nya yang kita dapat?

Najib tak beritahu kita. Memang cara dia deceive rakyat. Hutang yang kian meningkat dan bayaran yang kita kena buat tentulah akan menyekat perbelanjaan mengurus dan membangun pada masa hadapan. Tambah lagi, kadar pertubuhan dalam revenue atau hasil yang dah mula perlahan. Kita takde duit dah. Dalam tahun 2003, kita bayar 10.5 billion hutang kerajaan. Dalam tahun 2008, kita bayar RM 12.8 billion. Dari tahun 2008 sampai ke 2013 nanti, kadar servis hutang kerajaan meningkat 73%.

Hutang kerajaan kita sudah sampai 53.7%. hanya 1.3% dari had 55% yang dibenarkan. Tapi angka ini pun tak betul. Najib sembunyi lagi. Sebab dia tak beritahu, angka ini kurang tepat sebab hutang kerajaan yang tak lansung pun menggunung. Bagaimana? Dia tidak beritahu kita bahawa kerajaan ada contingent liabilities yang bernilai RM117 billion setakat December 2011. Dan contigent liabilities ini akibat beri gerenti hutang kroni2 akan makin menggunung dalam tahun 2013 kerana perbelanjaan keatas projek MRT yang setakat ini berkos RM53 billion. Kita tak campur lagi jaminan kerajaan kepada projek2 mega yang lain.

Yang bahaya nya, ialah perbelanjaan2 ini semua belanja off-balance sheet  dan tidak dikira sebagai hutang rasmi. Tapi semua nya di biayai oleh kerajaan dengan hutang.

Kalau kita tak tolak kerajaan Najib, Najib akan bawak kita kearah negara Eropah yang bangkrap. Spanyol ada nisbah hutang/GDP sebanyak 68.5%. macam kita lah ada nisbah hutang-GDP hanya 53%. Tapi Spanyol sebab ada pelbagai contingent liabilities dan menebus hutang syarikat2 kroni, nisbah sebenar hutang/GDP menyebakan ekonomi tersebut hancur lebur. Kita mesi tolak program ekonomi Najib sebab dia akan membawa kehancuran kepada ekonomi kita.

Read PART 1 - http://malaysiansmustknowthetruth.blogspot.com/2012/09/bajet-2013-ini-bajet-terbaeek-sejak.html

Posted by sakmongkol AK47

'Umno and BN have never had SPLITS' - Isa denies Perlis next state to FALL to PR

Perlis was the only northern state to survive the political tsunami of 2008. Perlis Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Md Isa Sabu believe that the opposition does not stand a chance of wresting the state from Barisan Nasional in the next general election.

Question: How have the state government and the people of Perlis benefited under your administration for the past five years?

Answer: It is our responsibility as the state government under the Barisan Nasional-led government to look into issues affecting the people. The issues we think are important at this moment relate to the temporary occupation licence (TOL) and land titles. To date, we have issued 9,032 TOL and 4,058 land titles. The number will surely increase.

We have also increased the literacy rate in the state, especially among school-going children. Last year, for Years Two and Three, we achieved 88.86 per cent and 96.57 per cent literacy rate respectively. This year, the percentage has increased to 90 per cent and 99.21 per cent for Year One and Year Two respectively. Besides that, school examinations have also shown better results.

The state has also seen a number of investors showing interest. Some have already set foot in Perlis, such as KPJ Healthcare Bhd, which is working with Yayasan Islam Perlis. Lhoist, a Belgium-based company specialising in the dolomite industry, has also shown interest.

We also have UDA Holdings Bhd, which has started work on a shopping complex. It is working with the Perlis Economic Development Corporation. Proven Properties has also started "varsity city" development work in Sungai Chuchoh near Titi Tinggi.

We are gearing towards making Perlis a developed state by 2015 and gaining city status (for Kangar) by 2030.

With regard to turning Perlis into a developed state by 2015, we have achieved 35 indicators out of 53. We are confident of achieving our target in 2015.

In the past few years, we have also seen the tourism sector booming. Up to last month, we recorded 2.32 million visitors to Perlis and we have projected the number to increase to 3.2 million. Last year, we only had about 1.7 million tourists.

With that, certain projects are being carried out, such as upgrading the Kuala Perlis jetty, which is one of the main gateways to Langkawi. We are also beautifying stretches of Sungai Perlis and Kuala Sungai Baru.

Upgrading works at the bridge in Gua Kelam, which was partly destroyed during the recent floods, are ongoing. Work to beautify the Tasik Melati recreational centre has been recently completed.

(We are also) upgrading homestays. Massive work is being carried out to change the landscape of the state. With allocations from the Federal Government, the state government spent about RM19.6 million.

More people in Perlis are getting electricity and treated water.

I am also happy that the percentage of hardcore poor and the poor is lower now. We recorded above six per cent some years ago but the rate has been reduced to 4.2 per cent.

The Welfare Department had given out aid amounting to RM74.84 million to more than 400,000 people in the state in the past five years. There are a lot more and the list will keep on growing.

Question: What do you think would be your greatest achievement?

Answer: For me, it is the more than 13,000 TOL and land titles that we have given out. This has solved many household problems. Previously, land titles were shared between family members and this had caused difficulties in obtaining bank loans.

With separate titles, bank loans are much easier to obtain and there have been fewer quarrels between family members over land issues. However, that is not the end. We are still working on many more titles.

The other achievement would be when flood mitigation projects, with the western bypass and the upgrading works on the Timah Tasoh dam, are completed. That would save the state from major floods.

The Federal Government had allocated some RM560 million for the flood mitigation projects but the state needs some RM500 million to construct the Eastern Bypass.

Question: There have been rumours that you may not be retained as the menteri besar (after the next general election). What is your take on that? Is there someone else who you think can take over your position in the state to ensure continued development?

Answer: The main issue here is we want BN to lead the state. Whether I am menteri besar or not, that is not an issue at all. The Umno leadership knows better.

We leave that matter to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak. If you ask me who can lead the state, I will say there are many who are capable.

Question: Recently, there were statements by the opposition, especially Pas, that it would wrest Perlis from BN in the next general election. What is your comment?

Answer: Perlis has been led by BN for years. It has proven to be a BN stronghold. In fact, Perlis was the only northern state that survived the political tsunami in the 2008 general election.

Pakatan Rakyat obviously has the chance and right to contest but unfortunately, that is all it can do -- contest. Victory is surely with BN.

Question: Pas recently claimed that Perlis Umno is in shambles and has split into four factions. Your reaction?

Answer: We understand our own party and BN more than Pas does. What I can say is that Umno and BN have never had splits. There may have been a few differences in opinion. That's normal.

As I said, we were the only northern state that survived the political tsunami in 2008. We know our family better than Pas does.

Question: There have also been rumours that the factions took place because of your poor relationship with former menteri besar Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim.

Answer: I just don't understand how people came to such a conclusion. If we were in each other's bad books, how could we be together? We are together. We even go for some party meetings together. This is mere perception of those who are against Umno and BN. Our relationship has been good and it will always remain that way.

Question: Perlis Pas commissioner Hashim Jasin has also spoken about the "phenomenal" changes in the state's Chinese support for BN, claiming that about 80 per cent of the Chinese community in Perlis would vote for the opposition. What is your comment on that?

Answer: I agree with what Pas has said about the emergence of a "phenomenal" change. But this time, there will be more Chinese support for BN. We (state government) have conducted many activities and the support of the Chinese community for BN has been tremendous.

The Chinese community in Perlis, even in Sanglang or Simpang Empat, which are said to be Pas strongholds, know their success was not due to Pas or Pakatan Rakyat but because of BN and Umno. The people in Perlis, including the Chinese, are not people who are easily confused. They base (their decisions) on facts and results and not on empty promises.

Question: Do you think BN will win back Sanglang and Simpang Empat from Pas in the next general election?

Answer: I am confident we will win Sanglang and Simpang Empat. The people are back with BN. The people have shown that they support us, immaterial of whether they are Chinese or Malay. The support is great. This is an indicator that the people are back with Umno and BN. The people of Perlis know that BN is the party for all.

Question: After the 2008 general election, when you became the menteri besar, there were many who were against your appointment. Many have even labelled you a weak leader. What is your comment on that?

Answer: This is politics. Not everyone will agree on the MB candidate. I did not dream of becoming an MB but since I am here and as long as I am the menteri besar, I will give my best. Many had even said that I was chucked out by the party in the 2004 general election, but the truth was I had requested not to be named then due to health reasons. After the short break, I felt better and here I am.

These are all perceptions and allegations. Anyone can be the MB and there will still be some who will be against him. You cannot please everyone. What is important is that the job needs to be carried out in the people's interests.

Question: What is your message to the public on the next general election?

Answer: Do not fall into the trap of sweet but empty promises made by the opposition. We have lived in a harmonious multiracial state gained through the support of the people for BN. There will be more to come if the BN government continues leading the state.

NST

ALL SET FOR GE13 - BATTLE OF THE TITANS after Budget 2013, BN's last bullet flops

Barisan Nasional’s election-orientated budget 2013 is disappointing because it concentrates on raining one-off cash on the electorate to ease their pain, while forgetting to address the ills that necessitate such profuse dosage of pain-relievers in the first place.

If the people are affluent and contented, do they need to be showered with such pacifiers; or alternatively, would the feeding of such sweeteners sway their decision on whom they are going to vote for?

Obviously there are vast masses of disgruntled electorate who are not happy with the current living conditions.

They are unhappy because they find it increasingly difficult to make ends meet; and they are also worried about the worsening safety of their environment.

The common people are simply overwhelmed by a cost of living that forever is speeding far ahead of their slow moving income increment.

Needless to say, our economy is in trouble.

What’s wrong with our economy?

ECONOMIC DISEASE

Malaysia is plagued by economic malaise, which in turn is caused by a draught of private investment – Malaysia’s peculiar economic disease that first surfaced in the Asian financial crisis in the late nineties. Since that watershed event, its private investment as a percentage of gross domestic product (GDP), as repeatedly reminded by the World Bank, has been staying at the doldrums, hovering around 10%, which is among the lowest in the region. Investors, both foreign and domestic, have fled the country, as exemplified by Malaysia having a net FDI (foreign direct investment) outflow for many years, a unique dubious distinction among developing countries. Such apparent loss of economic competitiveness is described by economists as the middle income trap, from which Malaysia does not seem to be able to extricate itself from.

A main culprit of this predicament is of course the notorious and obsolete NEP (New Economic Policy) – an affirmative action policy that has been morphed into a monstrosity of racism and corruption, which has been conveniently used by the ruling elite to corruptly amass personal fortunes at the expense of the people and the country. Spinning from that central policy is the phenomenon of GLC (government linked corporation), an ever sprawling network of state-controlled enterprises that has grown to dominate the nation’s economy. GLC, with its overbearing and negative influence over the economy, is of course also a retarder to the spontaneous flowering of entrepreneurship in the country, as it practices the philosophy of the NEP.

Compounding the economic misery of Malaysia is the hegemony of Umno – the ruling power that has wielded almost unlimited political power, perpetuated through its racial-divide-and-rule policy. As the famous saying goes “absolute power corrupts absolutely”, Umno has become openly corrupted with impunity.

UMNO HEGEMONY WREAKS ECONOMIC HAVOC

And the toxic cocktail of Umno’s corrupt hegemony, NEP and GLC has played havoc to the Malaysian economy.

Skeptics of my view may ask: if Umno’s economic management of the country has been so bad, why is it that Malaysia’s economy is still standing strong? My simple answer is: if it has not been for Petronas and the associated petroleum income, which contributes almost half of the government’s operating expenses, this country would have gone bust ages ago.

In fact, the country’s economy has been so badly run by Prime Minister Najib Razak, who seems to be perpetually operating in an electioneering mode, and squandering public funds to curry favours from the electorate incessantly without commensurate economic returns that public debts have escalated exponentially, climbing a whopping 71% from RM266 billion in 2007 to RM456 billion in 2011. This debt figure, which is close to the statutory limit of 55% of GDP, does not include hidden liability of RM117 billion (12% of GDP) in the form of guarantees issued against commercial loans to government agencies and GLCs.

While all this frightening debt-incurring is going on, there is no sign that the economy has started to stir from its slumber.

Against this darkening economic backdrop, what tiding has the Prime Minister brought with his budget 2013 proposal to deal with the underlying causes of our economic ills? Nothing. To be frank, he looks more like Santa Claus bringing a bagful of Christmas gifts, which will of course bring momentary joy. But the awful truth is that we are sick, and what we need is medical treatment that will restore health, not gifts that will cheers us just for a while.

PAKATAN TACKLES ROOT CAUSES

In this connection, the Pakatan Rakyat shadow budget is immensely superior, in that it boldly introduces measures to tackle the root causes, in addition to bringing welfare relief for the needy.

It proposes to replace the NEP with an affirmative policy that is need based.

Corollary to that, Pakatan will dismantle the unwieldy economic creatures that have blossomed under BN’s crony-capitalism, namely the current monopolies, oligopolies and cartels that have enjoyed the regime’s favours and protection; and Pakatan will free the economy to open and fair competition.

To enforce that policy, Pakatan will set up an Anti-Trust Commission to punish offenders and break up recalcitrant outfits.

It will also review numerous lopsided concessions improperly awarded to cronies by the current regime at the expense of public interests. This will be done through the establishment of a Public Contracts Commission under the proposed enactment of Unfair Public Contracts Act.

At the moment, Malaysia’s economy is heavily distorted by GLCs, monopolies, oligopolies, cartels and concessionaires, whose tentacles have stretched far and wide to affect almost every aspect of a citizen’s livelihood. As these bodies normally enjoy undue advantages and special privileges from the ruling power, they don’t operate on optimum efficiency while enjoying undeserved profits; and naturally consumers and national economy have become their victims.

The removal of these parasitic elements and privileged groups in our economy will at once lower the price of goods and services, while it will also open up a competitive field where pent-up entrepreneur energy inherent in our people will be released.

Pakatan also proposes to re-instate open and competitive tenders for public procurement in replacement of BN’s long-established murky award of contracts, which has been the mother of all corruption. Billions after billions have been leaked through such corrupt practices that have prevailed not only among the ruling political elite, but also in every strata and segment of Malaysia’s public services and GLCs.

By plugging such leakages through open tenders, tens of billions of ringgit of public funds so saved would be sufficient to finance most of the welfare services proposed by Pakatan to help the needy.

WILL TRANSFORM ECONOMIC LANDSCAPE

Indeed, these simultaneous measures will see the transformation of Malaysia’s economic landscape.

The elimination of corruption and cronyism, with the corollary induction of accountability and transparency, coupled with the opening up of the economy for fair competition will surely restore investors’ confidence and re-hoist the Malaysian flag in the radar screens of international investors.

Many Malaysians may still remember the boom days of the nineties up to the Asian financial crisis. Those good days were brought about by robust influx of FDI and local investment. During those days, private investment to GDP ratios were fluctuating close to 30%, reaching a peak of 37% , which was the highest in the region then, according to the inaugural issue of ‘Malaysian Economic Monitor’ released by the World Bank .

The same scenario can return if we have a competent political leadership to make sweeping changes in tune with current time to replace defunct policies. Prosperity is certainly not beyond our reach because Malaysia has the good fortune of having abundance of natural endowment and human resources, the latter of course still have to be upgraded through a more enlightened educational policy.

We must realize that it is only through sustained economic prosperity – brought about by genuine entrepreneurship and high productivity – that our people will find true relief to their current economic hardship. As such heightened economic activities will boost citizens’s income , in addition to topping the public coffers.

And for that to happen, the people must first install a good political leadership to whelm the country.

Kim Quek is the author of banned book The March to Putrajaya