Showing posts with label Barisan Nasional. Show all posts

An Umno Youth leader today called for a probe to determine if the pathologist who conducted the first post-mortem on deceased police detainee Kugan Ananthan had made a false report to help certain individuals.

Should this be the case, Umno Youth exco Ahmad Ikmal Ismail said an investigation must be carried out.

And if found guilty, he added that appropriate action must be taken against the doctor.

Ahmad Ikmal was questioning the startling differences in the findings of the two post-mortem reports, the second by a pathologist commissioned by the deceased's family.

The report of the first post-mortem, conducted by a forensics pathologist from the Serdang Hospital, stated that Kugan died of fluid accumulation in his lungs.

However, the second report from a Univeristi Malaya Medical Centre pathologist stated that the 22-year-old car theft suspect died as a result of being severely beaten during his incarceration.

It also stated that Kugan had been burnt, starved and that no examination below the heart area of Kugan's body was conducted during the first post-mortem.

The family's lawyer N Surendran had said this was puzzling as it is compulsory for any pathologist to conduct a complete check-up.

Meanwhile, Ahmad Ikmal said he was happy to note that both Inspector-General of Police Musa Hassan and his deputy Ismail Omar had announced that necessary action will be taken after receiving instructions from Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail

"I am also happy that the deputy IGP said the police will not side or cover up any of the policemen involved in the alleged beatings," he added in a statement.

Form ad-hoc committee

The Umno Youth leader also called on the police to form an ad-hoc committee to launch a thorough investigation into the case.

"What circumstances led to the beatings? Where was it done? Why was it so easy for the interrogators to beat the deceased over the several days he was in the lock-up?" he asked.

Ahmad Ikmal also called for appropriate action to be taken against the alleged perpetrators in the case.

"While we appreciate the serious nature, heavy duties and responsibilities of the police, these few errant policemen must not be allowed to continue in their wrong ways.

"Because of the actions of these few errant cops, the initial investigations of the alleged criminal involvement of Kugan with the stealing of luxury cars have been derailed," he said.

"We must not allow these few bad apples to spoil the trust and confidence enjoyed by the police," he added.

Kugan had died on Jan 20, five days after he was arrested, at the Taipan police station in Subang Jaya.

Following the emergence of a video clip taken at the Serdang Hospital mortuary which revealed severe lacerations on the deceased’s body and enormous public pressure, the attorney-general reclassified the case as murder.

Subsequently, 11 policemen were reassigned to desk duty pending investigations.

Serdang Hospital director: Weak evidence

Yesterday, Serdang Hospital director Dr Mohd Norzi Ghazali said a mob of about 50 people had barged into the mortuary and tampered with Kugan's body before any post-mortem was carried out.

According to the New Straits Times, the director said his medical officers were afraid and sought cover for two hours in a connecting room of the mortuary.

A report on the incident stated that Kugan's fully-clothed body was in a body bag, which had been torn open by the mob.

The medical officers also reported that they were shocked to see a pool of the deceased's blood on the floor of the mortuary.

The report said this indicated that wounds on the body could have been inflicted after his death.

Meanwhile, Nordin said both post-mortems were "weak evidence" in the case as they were conducted after the body had been tampered with.

On the claim that Kugan was starved during his detention, the director said a person's stomach would be cleared of traces of food about four hours after his or her last meal.

THE Barisan Nasional must have sighed a big relief after successfully seeing through a government motion in the Dewan Rakyat on Tuesday by a convincing vote of 129 against 78. But what we were not able to know was how the two MPs from the delinquent Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) would have voted because they were not in the house.

It is also highly unlikely that the proposed motion of no confidence being planned by the SAPP against Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi will get to be accepted although who will actually try and table it is anyone's guess.

What appears to be happening is a hide-and-seek by SAPP orchestrated by its president Yong Teck Lee. In confirming that they had been called home Yong also claimed that MPs Eric Majimbun and Dr. Chua Soon Bui had been threatened via sms and through others means. But any problem relating to the purported threats seems to be confined to Sabah so it didn't quite make sense for the two to be going back to the lion's den.

The overal picture is very unclear. Majimbun has gone on record with the press to say that while he too no longer had confidence in Pak Lah's leadership he would not support a motion on this in Parliament. Which clouds the issue further but as I've always said, with politicians you'll never know.

The Barisan management committee chaired by DPM Najib Razak also met yesterday and had decided on the recommended action against SAPP but the final decision rests with the coalition's supreme council. In this respect Pak Lah must again show the tough side of his character, that he has it in him to do what it takes not matter how risky and how unpopular. Leadership is presicely what the issue is all about so there is only one way to go for Pak lah.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who came under pressure today following Sabah Progressive Party's decision to move for a motion of no confidence against him on Monday, received some good news from several BN coalition partners today.

The coalition's second biggest partner MCA, third most senior partner MIC as well as Gerakan today threw their weight behind the embattled premier.

Their support came at a time when several Pakatan leaders were lauding Sapp's brave decision to put the premier, also the BN chairperson, under severe pressure.

MCA was the first to give a lift to Abdullah by stating that it would stand steadfastly with Abdullah and the BN coalition.

"The Malaysian economy is suffering from escalating inflationary pressures, rising food and fuel prices now. The country and the people of Malaysia are going through very challenging times. What the country needs now is political and economic stability," said MCA president Ong Ka Ting in a statement.

"It would be best that all of us, both the BN and the Pakatan, to accept the results of the 12th general election.

"Our priority should be to continue to work hard to fulfil our election pledges, restore confidence and stability for the nation," he added. MCA has 15 members of Parliament.

Will not let PM down

Meanwhile MIC, which suffered a hammering blow in the general election, said that it would remain loyal with BN and continue to support the prime minister.

"We will continue working with all BN component parties that support and remain loyal to Abdullah," said MIC president S Samy Vellu.

"As for the three MIC members of Parliament, I've instructed them to support the prime minister especially in Parliament. This is the first time we have a BN component party not supporting the prime minister.

"We will not let the prime minister down because he was elected by the people," he added.

And Gerakan, another party which also suffered humiliating defeat in the general election, similarly said that it would not support Sapp's motion in Parliament. Gerakan has two members of Parliament.

Gerakan acting president Dr Koh Tsu Koon said that it was important to sustain solidarity and stability in the face of severe challenges from the global fuel, food crisis and economic uncertainties.

"Gerakan feels that such a drastic political move will only add to the uncertainty, disrupting efforts in reforms," he said in a statement.

Give him more time

He also added that Sapp president Yong Teck Lee was not giving Abdullah enough time and chance to make changes, overcome problems and address the issues concerned.

"These issues should have been deliberated more thoroughly and sentiments expressed more clearly within the BN Supreme Council and through other existing channels of communication.

"Forcing a vote of confidence in this manner is not positive and constructive. Gerakan therefore will not support such a move," he said.

Sabah Chief Minister Musa Aman also expressed disappointment over the move by Sapp in making the unprecedented move to call for a motion of no-confidence.

"I'm not sure what Sapp's real motive is in making such a move," he said in a statement.

"As a BN component party president, Yong's act was uncalled for and unprecedented in the spirit of camaraderie adopted by BN all this while," said Musa who is also the Sabah BN chairperson.

In an immediate reaction, Abdullah said: "I have not been able to satisfy his (Yong's) personal greed."

According to Bernama, the embattled prime minister did not elaborate on the matter.

Shahrir: Others won't follow

Meanwhile, Rahmah Ghazali reports, Umno Supreme Council member Shahrir Abdul Samad expressed his confidence that other BN coalition partners would not be following Sapp's lead in going against the prime minister.

He also doesn't think that the BN component parties would be leaving the coalition to join Pakatan Rakyat.

"I don't think that Sapp will able to precipitate other BN members to leave the party because they do not have the leadership or consistency in their issue," Shahrir said.

He also said that Abdullah was holding up well n the face of severe pressure being piled upon him by various quarters.

"He is still making his decisions (to stay as PM) and exercising his responsibilities as one... I think the prime minister is holding it up quite well," Shahrir added.

Shahrir, who is also the Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs, was speaking in a press conference at his ministry in Putrajaya today.

He also said that Sapp seemed to be uncertain as to what it actually wanted - if they actually wanted to leave BN for Pakatan or if they just wanted the motion of no confidence.

"If they want to support the vote of no confidence, then they should say so. If they want to leave BN, then they would have to say so. So which is it?" Shahrir asked.

After the press conference, Shahrir also rubbished Pakatan's claim that it could form the new federal government by Sept 16.

"There is not even a shadow cabinet (formed by Pakatan) like the ones in the UK and Australia. This is a two-system party, where there's a federal cabinet and a shadow cabinet, led by the oppositions," he said.

The Sanglang state seat in Perlis, which was won by Umno, has been declared vacant by the Election Court in Kangar, paving way for a possible by-election.
MCPX
Justice Zainal Adzam Abdul Ghani today ruled that Barisan Nasional's victory in Sanglang in the March 8 general election was invalid.

He however disagreed to allow an application by the losing candidate, Hashim Jasin (right) from PAS - who had held the seat for two terms - be automatically installed as the winner.

Umno's candidate Abdullah Hassan won the seat with a majority of 149 votes, bagging 3,384 votes as opposed to Hashim's 3,235.

Hashim, who is Perlis PAS commissioner, claimed that he should have won Sanglang based on initial Election Commission records.

He said that he should be declared the winner as the vote tallied from all counting centres showed that he had polled 3,333 votes against Abdullah's 3,286 and had thus won by a 47-vote majority.

Apart from Abdullah, Hashim also named returning officer Muhamad Daud Abdull Hamid and the Election Commission as defendants.

Hashim was the incumbent of this state seat which he first won in 1999 but failed to retain in March this year. In 2004, he managed to retain the seat with a razor-thin 45 votes.

The defendants can appeal against the decision to the Federal Court.

In the last polls, BN won 14 out of 15 state seats and all three parliamentary seats. It lost the neighbouring Simpang Empat state seat to PAS.

KUALA LUMPUR: Barisan Nasional component parties should continue to stay united and not be swayed by rumours, said MCA secretary-general Datuk Seri Ong Ka Chuan.

He said Barisan needed solid support from all the component parties, especially in these times.

Ong was responding to remarks by PKR adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim that several MCA MPs would join PKR soon and that the MCA would likely be the first to leave the coalition.

Ong reiterated that MCA Members of Parliament were loyal to the party and Barisan.

“MCA MPs are elected to serve the people. There is no question of them quitting to join the Pakatan Rakyat,” Ong, who is Housing and Local Government Minister, said after opening the 4th International Fire Protection Expo and Forum at the KL Convention Centre here yesterday.

He said the component parties had decided to set up four divisions to look into improving Barisan Nasional and to ensure it remained relevant.

The divisions would look into strengthening the Barisan leadership at all levels, improving the present mechanism, improving the racial composition of civil servants and its relationship with the media.

On housing, Ong said his ministry would obtain feedback on how higher petrol prices have affected the housing industry by this week.

He said he had discussed the matter with building material suppliers, the Real Estate and Housing Developers Association of Malaysia and Master Builders Association of Malaysia (MBAM) last week.

He said the ministry would study the proposals and suggestions from the industry on how to lessen the burden over the escalating cost of building materials.

He was commenting on a statement by MBAM president Patrick Wong that house prices needed to be raised by 30% due to the hike in building materials and petrol prices.

Ong admitted that the escalating building material cost would definitely burden the people, especially those from the lower income group.

“We are looking at restructuring taxes for certain construction materials such as tiles and toilet equipment,” he said.

KOTA KINABALU: A senior Sabah Progressive Party leader has dismissed reports that the party is on the verge of leaving the Barisan Nasional.

SAPP deputy president Datuk Raymond Tan Shu Kiah said the party had no intention of ditching the coalition which it joined in 1994.

"No, it (leaving the BN) is absolutely not true," he told reporters here.

He said the speculation could have come about because of the party's vocal stance on various issues affecting the state.

"Despite the speculation, we will continue to be vocal when it comes to matters concerning the state and its people," said Tan, who is the deputy chief minister representing the Chinese.





Tan said the federal government had taken steps to address some of the issues raised by the party.

Talk about SAPP leaving the BN began circulating following a recent statement by its president, Datuk Seri Yong Teck Lee, that the party would review its position in the BN if no action was taken on the issues it had raised.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman said he had spoken to Yong, who did not mention anything about SAPP quitting the BN.

"There is no reason for any of the component parties in Sabah to leave the coalition," he said.

Musa, who is state BN and Umno chief, considered the reports as just speculation. Yong could not be contacted.

Several SAPP supreme council members gave differing statements, with some saying that the possibility of the party pulling out of the BN could not be ruled out. Others said there was no truth to it.

"Anything is possible. Let us just wait and see," said a supreme council member.

Another supreme council member said the party was monitoring developments in Umno before making any decision.

PETALING JAYA: MCA Members of Parliament were elected to serve the people and they will continue to do so, said party secretary-general Datuk Seri Ong Ka Chuan.

He said there was no question of them quitting to join the Pakatan Rakyat opposition alliance.

Ong, who is the Housing and Local Government Minister, said MCA MPs understood their responsibility as the people’s representatives and had signed a declaration of loyalty to the party.

“They have principles and are loyal to the party as well as to the Barisan Nasional. Anwar Ibrahim has used a dirty trick to drive a wedge between the Barisan component parties,” he said in a statement.

Ong, who is the Tanjung Malim MP, was responding to remarks by the PKR adviser that several MCA MPs would join PKR soon and that MCA would likely be the first to leave Barisan.

The party, which contested 40 parliamentary seats in the general election, has 15 MPs.

MCA Youth chief Datuk Liow Tiong Lai said he was confident that MPs would not be easily swayed.

“The MCA will always be with the Barisan Nasional as the party is one of the founders of the Alliance coalition,” he said.

Liow, who is the Bentong MP and Health Minister, described Anwar’s move as “trying to create instability to gain political mileage for himself”.

MCA Publicity Bureau chief Datuk Fu Ah Kiow hit out at Anwar, saying his remarks were nothing more than a cheap stunt to generate publicity for himself.

“Obviously Anwar is up to no good. This is part of his strategy to make his comeback with the whole purpose of chasing after the Prime Minister’s post,” he said in a statement.

Acknowledging that Barisan had gone through trials and tribulations, Fu said the ruling coalition had always stuck together “through thick and thin”.

On Sunday, Anwar said in Penang that MCA should top the list when he was asked which party he thought would leave Barisan.

“MCA is supposed to represent the Chinese community in Malaysia but the party has failed to do so.

“Therefore, it is time for it to review why Barisan has failed in addressing the interests of all communities in the country and in managing the country's economy,” he said after opening Pantai Jerejak assemblyman Sim Tze Tzin's service centre in Bukit Jambul.

MUAR: Former MCA vice-president Datuk Chua Jui Meng has managed to wrest the MCA Sungai Abong Tengah branch chairman’s post from incumbent chairman Yap Mia Lee.

Chua, who is also the Bakri division chairman, received 96 votes, while Yap, who is the division secretary managed only 53 votes, with one spoilt vote.

Chua said he had created history in the division for contesting for a branch chairman’s post as he had been the division chairman since it was formed 22 years ago.

IPOH: Local authorities have been directed to switch off lights and air-conditioners during lunch hour to save cost.

Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Ong Ka Chuan, who disclosed this yesterday, said the directive was made by the Chief Secretary to the Government.


»The MCA will forever be relevant to the people. Don’t listen to naysayers« DATUK SERI ONG KA CHUAN
“Local councils have also been told to postpone or cut down on beautification projects which do not benefit the people,” he said, adding that streetlamps should only be lit between certain hours.

Speaking after a working visit to Sungkai, Ong assured the people that projects such as flood mitigation works would continue.

“Hopefully through cost-cutting measures, we can brave the difficult period together,” he said.

He added that there would also be no foreign trips for ministry officers.

On another matter, Ong said the ministry was looking into the feasibility of a further reduction in stamp duty before proposing it to the Cabinet.

In the last Budget, he said, stamp duty was cut by 50% for houses below RM250,000.

“It still depends on the Government’s financial status as funds are still needed,” he told reporters yesterday.

Earlier in his speech to Sungkai MCA branch members, Ong, who is the party secretary-general, urged members not to give up hope although the party performed badly in the recent general election.

“The MCA will forever be relevant to the people. Do not listen to the naysayers,” he advised.

Ong also announced a RM60,000 allocation for Sungkai New Village and SJK(C) Khai Meng.

PUTRAJAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has reiterated that he will defend his Umno presidency in the party elections in December.

Even though he has announced his plans for his deputy Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to take over, he has not decided precisely on the date of handover.

“Anytime doesn’t mean two or three months,” he said at a media briefing yesterday to media leaders attending the World Economic Forum in Kuala Lumpur.

Abdullah denied that political uncertainty had negatively impacted foreign investments and he had, in fact, received many enquiries from the Middle East.

On the economy, he said a growth of 5.5% was achievable and that some mega projects could be adjusted while those people-centric projects with immediate impact would be implemented under the Ninth Malaysia Plan.

“This will be after the midterm review when we will also introduce new area soft development,” he said, referring to the corridor developments especially in Sabah and Sarawak.

On the criticism that some of the reform measures were still weak steps, he said:

“Reform has to be gradual. I will continue my work and it is not my attitude that just because you do not support me, I say forget it.”

His priorities would be to strengthen the Anti-Corruption Agency, judiciary and police force while ensuring quality opportunities in the development corridors to address the issue of an equitable income distribution.

On the proposal to repeal the Internal Security Act, he said there could be some aspects to be reviewed and amendments.

He would not be “completely doing away with preventive detention” although ensuring justice was equally important.

“I am a true party (Umno) man” and not the son who destroys the party that his father has helped to set up in a move to gain control of it, said Umno Deputy President Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

The eldest son of Malaysia’s second prime minister Tun Abdul Razak Hussein said he “believed the transfer of power (in Umno) should be done in the traditional, conventional way rather than by creating factions”. He said this during a question-and-answer session after delivering a talk on

“Malaysia in the Face of New Gobal Challenges” at Chatham House, the home of the Royal Institute of International Affairs, yesterday.

The talk was jointly organised by the institute and the Asean-United Kingdom Business Forum (AUBF).

Najib, who is the Malaysian deputy prime minister, said this when asked by a participant why he had not taken over the leadership of the country after the poor performance of the Barisan Nasional (BN) and Umno in the recent general election.

The BN had failed to recapture Kelantan from PAS and lost Kedah, Penang, Perak and Selangor to the Pakatan Rakyat opposition alliance in the general election on March 8. It also failed to garner a two-third majority in Parliament.

Najib said people could give their views and that it was not a question of having courage or being a coward, but “it is just (that) as a person you have core values”. “And I believe what is important (is that) whatever position you take, it must be a core value personal to you.

“I come from a family where my father helped build the party, and I am not the son to destroy the party. I want to continue to build the party further,” he said.

Najib said Umno was now at its lowest point and “if you create a serious fight for the leadership, Umno will be further weakened and not be able to face the challenges of (the next) general election”.

“What is there in inheriting a position when you lose in the general election. I don’t want to lead the party to defeat,” he said.

Earlier, in his speech, Najib touched on the need to revitalise bilateral relations between Malaysia and Britain, saying that it was now “in a state of benign neglect”. Najib said he hoped to see a British prime minister lead a strong delegation to Malaysia. The last visit by a British prime minister was in 1993 when Prime Minister Sir John Major visited the country.

“There is a need for a strong signal from time to time. It is important. We do need to underscore the relations at the highest level,” he said.

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.

KUALA LUMPUR, June 8 (Bernama) – Sarawakians are hoping for some pleasant surprises from Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi when he makes a one-day visit to the Land of the Hornbill on Tuesday.

They hope the “Gawai goodies” are similar to those announced by the Prime Minister for the Sabahans during the Kaamatan festival last week.
Member of Parliament for Santubong Datuk Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, who is also

Dewan Rakyat Deputy Speaker, said: “We are expecting nothing less that what Sabah gets.
“It is only natural that we are hoping to get about the same. We are not going to ask what he is going to give but what he is going to offer to Sarawak,” he said.
His colleague from Bintulu and also Barisan Nasional Backbencher Club chairman Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing said he hoped Abdullah would address the lack for funds for infrastructure projects in rural areas.

He said although there no such a demand, the Sarawakians were hoping the Federal Government would understand their need for rural development.

Datuk Billy Abit Joo of Hulu Rejang shared Tiong’s sentiments and said the policy makers should not perceive that the rural folks in Sarawak were okay with their situation though they were not making demands.
“The development for rural areas is for basic human needs. They need every assistance from the Federal Government to build clinics and other basic infrastructure.
“In Sarawak, we don’t talk so much about position. Sarawakians are too polite sometimes, hoping that people will understand their needs,” he said. Last week,

Abdullah unveiled several measures to be taken by the Federal Government to address some of the major problems faced by Sabah.

They include the setting up of Sabah State Development Office in place of the Sabah Federal Development Department, a RM1 billon special allocation for rural development and the formation of a Cabinet committee chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to overcome Sabahs long standing illegal immigrant and refugee problem.

Sarawakians also hope Abdullah would address the high cost of transportation especially following the fuel price increase on Wednesday despite Sarawak being one of the major oil producing states with large oil fields.

Although they understand that the global oil price is beyond the government’s control, many feel a bigger subsidy should be extended to the Sarawakians.
Among other things, Sarawak is expected to benefit from a Federal Government plan to introduce standard prices for nine control items namely sugar, petrol, diesel, steel, cement, wheat flour, condensed milk, chicken and cooking oil.

Meanwhile during the visit, the Prime Minister is expected to announce the appointment a Sarawakian senior government official as the new Federal Sarawak Financial Officer.

Ahead of Abdullah’s visit, some community leaders interviewed by local dailies voiced their dissatifaction and even questioned, for example, why the state did not get better deal in oil royalty.

“They (Federal Government) should give us more than five per cent. It’s very hard to understand why they won’t increase this sum to allow our State Government to push other industries like agriculture,” said one of them named Kapitan Chan.
“Has the Federal Government ever wondered why people in rural areas need four-wheel-drive vehicles?” said Wee Hong Seng, Sarawak Tourism Federation president.
“It’s not that these rural folk are rich. It’s a necessity given the terrible road infrastructure. So now these people will be penalised further,” he added.
The State Government is expected to raise the issue of high transportation cost in sending fuel and food to smaller towns and remote areas in Sarawak during Abdullah’s visit.

Sarawak is heavily dependant on road and riverine transport to carry food and other essentials to its population while rural schools, longhouses and villages rely heavily on fuel for their power generators as they are not connected to the state power grid.

This is common in rural areas such as Medamit in Ulu Limbang to Baram, Bario, Ba’ Kelalan, Marudi, Bintulu, Sibu, Kapit and Julau.

“The Federal Government needs to be advised properly on the matter. The interior people must be assisted.
“Federal officers must look at Kapit, Song and Bario and work out plans how to help these people,” said John Sikie, State Assemblyman for Kakus.

Traders will start to hike the price of rice, fish, vegetables, flour, bread, food and everything else that you can think of.

I am left wondering why the Government felt it necessary to implement such a dramatic increase in the price of petrol. Why couldn't they move prices up by 20 sen and do it again next year and so on. They could even do it every three months and within a year they would still have increased it by 80 sen.

Those who make RM10, 000 a month or more may think that the 78sen increase is manageable but what about those who make RM2, 500 per month or less. How would they manage?

I understand that the fuel subsidy now stands at RM53 billion and will probably increase but this is one mega project that the people fully support, the one huge expenditure that no one will begrudge the Government.

We are still a net exporter of oil so the Government can continue to afford the subsidy because our oil income is also ballooning.

Whatever the Government saves in terms of subsidy, the people will have to pay from our own pocket and we, the people are not seeing our income expanding in line with oil prices, Are we?

Oil income increases so subsidy increases. That seems like a workable solution at least in the short to medium term.

Compare that with fuel prices increasing by 40.625 per cent, a burden that the people have to bear on the same measly pay packet.

Where is the logic in that?

A family with total household income of RM3, 000 or less is going to be so badly hit that any advice for a change of lifestyle is not going to be even remotely funny; it is salt rubbing into their wound.

Don't tell us to use public transportation because the Government has neglected it into a ramshackle system

Don't tell us to change our lifestyle when all most people can manage is scrape through every month

Don't tell us that the Government cannot afford it because we can afford it even less

A friend asked me; Why can't they increase sin tax by a huge amount to pay for the subsidies?

What burden would it impose on the people if cigarettes cost RM12 per packet, beer at RM12 per can, movie tickets at RM12 per entry, Jack Daniels at RM450 per bottle?

The rich will absorb the extra increase in fuel prices in their stride but the majority of Malaysians will suffer.

I thought that Government is for the benefit of the people and not its benefit. What we would like to know now is this. What is the Government going to do with all that saved subsidy? Pay for mega projects that the people do not want? Another Monsoon Cup? What else?

From now on we the people will have to be more critical of Government spending.

Corruption that bleeds the nation of billions every year cannot be tolerated anymore. Useless projects and wasteful publicity campaigns must be a thing of the past

In fact it is the Government that must change its lifestyle so that it can afford to serve the people better

ALOR STAR: Being anet oil exporter, Malaysia should not have overly reacted to the artificially inflated global fuel price, Jerlun MP Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir said.

Instead of restructuring the country’s subsidy package according to the volatile global market price, the authorities concerned should have formulated strategies to cushion the impact, he said.

He described the petrol price increase by 78 sen per litre and diesel by RM1 per litre as too drastic.

“The rakyat is already burdened by the rising cost of living. We cannot justify the increase by saying that our fuel price is still lower than Singapore.

“We cannot compare with Singapore, as their per capita income is three times higher than us,” he said, adding that the people were not prepared for the additional burden.

He appealed to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to look into the possibility of imposing the fuel increase on staggered basis.

“If Pak Lah is not up to it, please make way for someone who is willing to do it (impose measures that would ease public burden),” he said.

Abdullah had not taken into consideration the feelings of the rakyat when he made such a drastic decision, which had a spiralling effect on consumer goods and food.

“Although we read in papers that the economy is thriving, men on the street are not feeling it. They also do not have the means to absorb the sudden increase in fuel price,” he said.

He called on the authorities to formulate workable solution to avert a crisis.

“We can look into unconventional methods to address the problem. For example, during the Asian financial crisis, Malaysia pegged the ringgit to shield currency onslaught.

“During that time, we were criticised for ignoring the principles of economy. But such unconventional measure proved to have worked in our favour,” he said.

Mukhriz also criticised an article that highlighted Singaporeans expressing relief that the Malaysian government would not imposed a ban on sales of fuel to foreign-registered vehicles at petrol stations located within 50km from the border.

“It sounds ironic, as if we are doing this for the Singaporeans, not for us (locals),” he said.

MALACCA: Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam has described the fuel price increase and subsidy scheme as appropriate policy to ensure that the subsidy goes to the needy, reports Jason Gerald.

"Although those who do not deserve the subsidy would have to pay more, the poor will still receive a cash rebate

"This will ease the burden of those in the lower-income group."

He urged the people to change their lifestyle, stressing that the fuel price increase was inevitable, given rising global prices.

Mohd Ali suggested that Malaysians use public transport or carpool.

"Now is the time for Malaysians to rally around and help the government overcome the global oil crisis.

"We have to acknowledge the fact that the prices of petrol and diesel in Malaysia are still the lowest in the region."

In Kota Baru, a Pas government spokesman said they were supporting the price increase and subsidy scheme as the poor would still be assisted.

In Ipoh, Brenda Lim and Veena Babulal report that state Local Government and Public Transport Committee chairman Nga Kor Ming has described the subsidy scheme a failure.

"It has failed to address the crux of the issue, as a major portion of fuel subsidies is enjoyed by independent power producers."

He called on the government to reveal the contracts signed with IPPs.

Ipoh City Watch president Chan Kok Sun said money saved from reducing fuel subsidies should be used to improve the public transport system and subsidise transportation companies.

Chan said Malaysians would use public transport if the system was efficient and dependable.

On the proposal for higher power tariffs, he said Tenaga Nasional Bhd's monopoly in the peninsula should be abolished.

In George Town, Deputy Chief Minister II Dr P. Ramasamy criticised the cash-back system for motorcyclists and owners of small cars, Phuah Ken Lin and Adie Suri Zulkefli report.

He said the rich could abuse the system by buying smaller cars and using motorcycles.

He also questioned the rationale behind the imminent increase in electricity tariff.

Ramasamy said he was concerned that the power tariff increase would have a domino effect on prices of goods and services.

"I do not think that it is a wise move to raise the tariff now in view of rising food prices."

State Umno liaison committee deputy chairman Datuk Seri Abdul Rashid Abdullah said the people should accept the fact that the government had been subsidising fuel prices for a long time and could no longer do so.

"The government has listened to suggestions that those who can afford luxury or bigger vehicles must pay more at the pump."

On the electricity tariffs, Abdul Rashid said the government should not be made to absorb the escalating cost of producing electricity.

In Shah Alam, Neville Spykerman reports that Menteri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim was concerned about the implementation of the subsidy scheme.

Khalid said although the cash-back system was good in theory, owners of small cars may not necessarily be driving them.

He, however, welcomed the move not to increase the price of LPG cooking gas or compressed natural gas.

In Kota Kinabalu, Consumer Association of Sabah and Labuan (CASH) president Datuk Patrick Sindu urged the people to make changes to their lifestyle.

Sindu, who is attending a food security conference in Rome, said rising prices of fuel, food and other items was a global problem and Malaysians could not be insulated forever, Jaswinder Kaur reports.

Sindu said the decision not to increase the price of cooking gas was probably to "pacify" the people.

Voluntary price watch group Rakan Pengguna Sabah (Sabah Consumer Friend) chairperson Datuk Amisah Yassin said she hoped traders would not raise prices of goods and services.

"We welcome any move taken by the government to assist the lower-income group but if traders take advantage of the situation, we are back to square one."

Amisah urged consumers and Rakan Pengguna members to write to the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry to complain about traders who charged unreasonable rates for goods and services.

The government's move to

MCPXincrease oil prices from RM1.92 to RM2.70 per litre is "economically insufficient and socially unjust,"said Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng today.

In a statement, he said the increase does not deal with the basic problems of increasing productivity and energy conservation.

"It also does not deal with ensuring that fuel subsidies fulfill the intended objectives of the poor instead of benefitting the rich," he added.

The chief minister, who is currently on an official trip to Korea, expressed concern with the move and urged Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to ask himself if the sharp spike in fuel prices would help reduce the financial burden of the poor.

On the contrary, he said the increase would punish the poor if "rich companies continue to enjoy fuel subsidies especially the independent power producers."

The price hike took effect from today.

Koh's three measures

Meanwhile former Penang chief minister Dr Koh Tsu Koon suggested three measures to cushion the impact of fuel prices on the common people by improving and reducing the cost of public transportation.

Firstly he suggested that the government abolished road tax and issued more licences for taxis, school buses and factory buses.

"Second, increase the number of buses for Rapid Penang, Rapid KL and provide soft loans to private bus companies for the purchase of more buses," he said in a statement today.

He said that through these two measures, it would be possible to increase supply, cushion cost and encourage a switch to public transportation.

Finally, he said, the government should encourage people to convert to use gas for their vehicles, instead of petrol or diesel.

Koh said that as an incentive, the road tax for private vehicle owners who choose to convert to compressed natural gas (CNG) or liquified petroleum gas (LPG) should be given road tax reduction for three years.

He also said that for this to take effect, the government must ensure that the supply of CNG and LPG in all petrol stations in increased and break the monopoly by Petronas.

"Similarly, all taxis and buses should be given grants and zero-interest loans to convert to CNG and LPG," he said, adding that these measures must be implemented immediately and efficiently.

Keep the promise

In a related development, the Federation of Malaysian Consumers Association (Fomca) has urged the government to mend fences with the public following the sharp spike in oil prices.

In a statement, Fomca secretary-general Muhammad Sha’ani Abdullah pointed out that the government should keep its promise to alleviate the financial burden faced by the public especially the low and middle-income earners.

On the rise in electricity tariffs which will take effect from July 1, he said this should be streamlined with telecommunications, water, road tax, public transportation, health, education and housing costs "so that it will benefit the low and middle-income earners".

Fomca also called on government-linked companies (GLCs) to review the rates for low-income consumers.

"They should be charged a low rate and the ones with higher income should be charged a bit extra," he said, adding that the rate should be based on per-second usage while monthly rental should be scraped.

The 20 percent electricity tariff rise will affect about 41 percent of the households in the country.

Meanwhile, Fomca also said the government should urge banks to prioritise loan payment or switch it to term-loan especially for credit cards and over-drafts.

The consumer association also wants the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) to provide housing loans with low interest rates or no interest at all for low income earners through the Malaysian Building Society Berhad and Syarikat Perumahan Negara Berhad.