Can we see a debate between Najib and Anwar over 2013 Budget?

Anwar wants BN vs Pakatan budget debate with Najib

By Clara Chooi

September 28, 2012

Anwar (centre) challenged Najib to debate the Budget.—Picture by Choo Choy May

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 28 ― Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today renewed his debate challenge on Datuk Seri Najib Razak, this time suggesting to take on the country’s number one by pitting Barisan Nasional’s (BN) Budget 2013 to Pakatan Rakyat’s (PR) alternative.

The opposition leader pointed out to how Najib had laced his Budget speech this evening with direct insults against PR and told the prime minister that if he was prepared to attack the opposition, he should do so in a debate.

“Debate me. If you are prepared to attack the opposition and the opposition leader, why can you not engage in a debate?

“Confine it to economic policies... or the Budget. I am now reiterating my earlier proposal that we debate ― that I debate Najib on the national Budget... PR versus BN’s Budget,” he told reporters after Najib tabled the government’s Budget 2013 in Parliament this evening.

Anwar had earlier described BN’s Budget handouts as mere “titbits” fed to the poor and middle income earners, pointing out that the move would do nothing to narrow the country’s income gap.

The prime minister hopeful said the fresh round of cash handouts in Budget 2013 to middle- and lower-income Malaysians was proof that the government was merely concerned with its chances at the ballot boxes in the coming months.

“The announcements of handouts to general Malaysians is just a small dosage for the elections... but the basic structural problem of the country, where the rich cronies and their family members amass millions of dollars of profits through improper means ― that is left intact,” Anwar said.

In his Budget 2013 speech, Najib took an indirect swipe at Anwar when he pointed out that among the leaders of the federal opposition were “those who were trusted as leaders to manage the nation’s wealth.”

Anwar was finance minister under the Mahathir administration.

“We recognise that the BN government is not without fault, but what differentiates us from the other is that they do not have the courage to accept mistakes. On the other hand, they make excuses and find fault in others.

“Ultimately, parties that offer an alternative must be evaluated on their merit,” Najib had said in his speech.

“The rakyat know them well. Among them, there are those who were trusted as leaders to manage the nation’s wealth.

“If today they make promises, the rakyat must ask why is this leadership, while in power, did not take any action.

“When they had the opportunity; and did not implement what they promises, what guarantee is there that they will fulfil promises when they are in power?” he asked.

Najib pointed out that it was during the Asian financial crisis in the late 1990s when the country was “almost destroyed”.

Source: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/anwar-wants-bn-vs-pakatan-budget-debate-with-najib/

GST a ploy to hide economic ills, says Pakatan Rakyat

By Lee Wei Lian

September 27, 2012

Idris said GST will help boost state revenue. — File pictures

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 27 — Putrajaya’s desire to implement the goods and services tax (GST) in the future is an easy way get more money and divert attention away from economic problems such as inefficiency and corruption, says Pakatan Rakyat (PR)

While the Barisan Nasional (BN) government is not expected to introduce the GST till after the general election, Minister in Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Idris Jala was quoted in the Wall Street Journal yesterday that he expects the proposed GST to help boost state revenue and help put an end to the federal budget deficit by 2020.

PKR’s strategy chief Rafizi Ramli said Malaysia did not meet the conditions for the introduction of GST and it was being used as a “shortcut” to reduce the budget deficit instead of addressing fundamental flaws in the country’s economy.

“GST is a red herring to cover those economic weaknesses,” Rafizi told The Malaysian Insider.

He noted that if the ruling coalition instead stamped out rent-seeking activities, corruption and cronyism it would boost economic growth which would in turn boost government income.

Rafizi also noted that in other countries, GST was used as a substitute tax, meaning that income tax would be cut if the consumption tax was implemented which amounts to the net effect of the new tax being neutral.

He pointed out however that if it was implemented in Malaysia, the net effect would be an additional tax burden on large numbers of Malaysians whose earnings currently fall below the taxable income threshold.

Rafizi said GST would be an additional tax burden on large numbers of Malaysians.

Rafizi said that based on PKR’s means testing, which involved evaluating the size of the economy, government revenue and people’s income levels, Malaysia was a poor candidate for GST at the moment.

“There are pre-requisites for GST, you can’t implement as you wish,” he said.

DAP publicity secretary Tony Pua said that while GST was supposed to broaden the tax base as only an estimated 10 per cent of Malaysians currently pay income tax, the question that needed to be asked was why were so many Malaysians earning so little as to fall below the taxable threshold.

He said that even if 10 per cent out of the people who are not currently paying tax are tax dodgers, GST still would not make sense as it meant that many more low-income Malaysians would be burdened.

“If they can’t earn enough, why should they be burdened with additional taxes,” he said. “People’s incomes have not increased significantly.”

Pua also said that there was little risk of a sense of entitlement developing among those who do not currently pay income tax.

He also questioned what the government would do with extra income earned from GST.

Pua said BN should look at cutting expenditure, getting value for money, open tenders and abolishing corruption as ways to save money rather than imposing more taxes.

“Has the government exhausted all the means?” he asked. “If they have not there is no need to impose new taxes.”

He said that getting more funds from taxes will not solve the problem of the deficit if leakages are not plugged.

The DAP lawmaker also warned that once GST was in place, rises in the tax were almost inevitable.

He said that GST was a “lazy” approach to solving the country’s revenue issues and PR’s approach was to cut wasteful expenditure and leakages as well as increase revenue through non-tax avenues.

Pua wanted to know what the government would do with extra income earned from GST.

These include land sales through open bidding and increased revenues from government-linked companies (GLCs).

“We believe we can balance the federal budget without GST,” he said.

Malaysia has been running a budget deficit since 1998 and stated its intention to implement GST several times since approving the law in 2009 but has always postponed the new tax, which has some 3,000 exemptions.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said in September last year that GST would be introduced “probably after the next general election.”

He said then that GST needed to be properly explained to the people and that there was a growing acceptance that the broad-based consumption tax was the way forward for Malaysia.

Many economists have said that Malaysia has some of the weakest financials in Asia and needs to shore up its revenue base and one of the ways was via the GST.

The Najib administration has aimed to bring the deficit down to 4.7 per cent this year from 5.4 per cent last year.

The government said that it expects to collect revenue of more than RM200 billion this year, exceeding its initial target of RM187 billion thanks largely to enhanced tax collection.

Operating expenditure however was also revised upwards and was reflected in a RM13.8 billion supplementary budget tabled in June and RM2.2 billion worth of civil servant bonuses in August.

Source: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/gst-a-ploy-to-hide-economic-ills-says-pakatan/

民联预算案：汽车国產税降20%，废一马公司所有计划

 2012-09-27 09:17

• 
  民联领袖公佈民联替代財政预算案，左起雪州大臣卡立、伊斯兰党副主席沙拉胡丁、安华、行动党国会领袖林吉祥和伊斯兰党副主席马夫兹。（图：星洲日报）

（吉隆坡26日讯）民联议员今日在国会率先公佈的“民联財政预算案＂，並且强调一旦执政，將立即废除“一个大马发展有限公司＂的所有计划。

提供全民免费教育

民联財政预算案建议提昇国民福利金至每月550令吉、汽车国產税下降20%、发放20%石油税给產油州政府、提供全民免费教育和把最低工资调整到1千100令吉。

国会反对党领袖拿督斯里安华在国会率领全体民联高层领袖和议员召开新闻发佈会，公佈2013年民联財政预算案，並强调民联预算案主要著重於3大宗旨，即：提昇可支配收入，缓解经济困难；建立企业阶层，促进良性竞爭；以及打造一个有尊严与骄傲的公正社会。

女性奉献金每年发600

安华说，明年度民联財政预算案的主题是《人民经济，国家庇佑》，整份预算案国家赤字的开销总值高达2千340亿令吉，而国家赤字则降低至3.5%，行动开销达1千850亿令吉，行政开销则是490亿令吉。

他说，民联预算案有几项新建议，包括设立全国女性奉献金（Caruman Wanita Nasional）、兴建泛婆罗洲高速大道（P a nBorneo Highway），以及提供农业和郊区小园主全面性的安全网机制，通过福利局发放一次性500令吉的援助金给受橡胶和原產品价格影响的小园主。

“有了全国女性奉献金后，政府届时將每年发放600令吉奉献金给女性，以便她们能与丈夫的存款匹配；这也是提供给女性的第一项全国性社会安全计划，目的是加强国內女性的经济和社交力。＂

改善警队薪酬

他说，泛婆罗洲高速大道则是砂拉越古晋衔接沙巴亚庇，旨在改善东马的內陆交通系统和基设，也是砂沙州人民急需的一条大道。

在打击罪案方面，安华表示，警方公佈的数据受到爭议和引起混淆，因为人民普遍上认为国內的罪案率有增无减。

“民联建议警方应该更专业执行打击罪案的任务，所以警方的薪金应该调整15%，这將花费7亿5千400万令吉的开销，改善警察部队的薪酬待遇才能有效杜绝贪污，警方前线人员工作认真有效减少罪案率。＂

民联：若执行橙皮书建议
家庭可支配收入会提昇

2013年民联財政预算案指出，只要执行该预算案以及在橙皮书所提出的建议，可提昇每个典型家庭可支配的收入。

该预算案也以例子举例，每月提昇的可支配收入將高达930令吉。

该预算案指出，典型的家庭是指一家五口，先生是一名教师（只有先生工作）、拥有一辆汽车和一间价值25万令吉的房屋、还在偿还高等教育基金、住在巴生河流域以及每年有四次会回到位於亚罗士打的家乡。

40%家庭
每日可消费数额少过50

2013年民联財政预算案指出，40%的大马家庭以每日低於50令吉或每月1千500令吉维持生计。

该预算案说，80%的家庭平均收入是每月2千500令吉，因此预计平均4人的家庭需要每月2千令吉或每日68令吉以达到舒適的生活。

该预算案指出，民联的重点是在提昇大马打工族可支配的收入。

该预算案说，民联推出3个提高可支配收入的方案，其中包括减少生活成本、减少垄断和关联公司的股份和通过劳力市场的改革提昇工资（包括实施1千100令吉的最低薪金）。

该预算案指出，民联有信心每个家庭每月最少4千令吉的家庭收入能在民联政府执政的首5年达到。

强调重振警力
“调薪15%不监视反对党＂

安华表示，民联財政预算案强调有效重振警力，除了调整警员和警官薪酬15%，也希望警方能真正执行专业的职务，同时不能监视反对党的活动。

他揶揄国阵说：“所以一旦民联执政中央，国阵和巫统不必担心被监视，因为警方的人手始终还是不足。＂此外，他说，民联也认为应仿效雪州民联政府的撙节措施。

“我们也要废除国阵政府通过垄断石油、糖、米和大道特许经营权的治理方式，以招標和透明作业方式，从中减低政府工程的成本。＂民联財政预算案也建议废除高等教育基金（PTPTN），全面提供免费高等教育给在公立大专就读的国人，以履行政府的责任。

私立大专学生则將接受政府提供的津贴，以减少学生的负担。

须缩紧借贷条例

2013年民联財政预算案指出，要控制房价的高涨，必须进一步干预及缩紧国阵政府现有的借贷条例。为人民提供居所是中央政府的责任，不能完全交由私人发展商去负责。

为了协助贫困的社群，预算案建议在各州兴建廉价屋和出租给月入少过1千500令吉的贫穷人士，同时以低廉的租金出租。

安华：根据经济架构估算
民联可把赤字减至3.5%

安华指出，民联的財政预算案估计可把国家赤字减低到3.5%，主要根据国家在2013年的经济架构和所预算的收入来估算，即国家收益达1千970亿令吉、国家经济成长5.2%，以及通膨率3.0%。

安华被询及如果民联执政，若根据预算案所减低的赤字目標，会否把节省下的金钱注入其他国家开销，他表示民联执政时才会考虑，毕竟这只是一个预算案，民联预算可从减少资源的浪费中节省开支。

“我们的预算也不能太过强调激烈的改变，因为那將不会对政府其他计划带来影响，如教育、大眾健康、乡区发展等，还有半岛內陆地区如彭亨、登嘉楼和吉兰丹州的发展，这些都需要考量。＂他指出，比起国阵的財政预算案，民联预算出比较符合现实状况的通膨率，即3%，至少比国阵预算的1.6%来得实际。

“这些数据骗不了人，你去一趟超市就知道政府所提供的数据，有的並不符合现实。＂询及民联的预算案没有提到减少政府津贴，安华说，合理化津贴固然必要，但站在管理经济的角度，並不一定要先从惩罚穷人开始，政府必须强调外资，杜绝政府部门的贪污和朋党之间的滥权，等到人民收入提昇后，才来谈减低津贴。

公眾若要瞭解民联財政预算，即日起可上网瀏览或下载，网址是http://www.keadilanrakyat.org，http://www.dapmalaysia.org，http://www.pas.org.my。

来源：http://www.sinchew.com.my/node/262483?tid=1

Vote for Pakatan Rakyat, your pockets will have surpluses

Anwar vows to put more cash in Malaysians’ pockets

UPDATED @ 04:56:51 PM 26-09-2012

By Lisa J Ariffin

September 26, 2012

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 26 ― Pakatan Rakyat (PR) has promised to raise the disposable income of Malaysians in an alternative set of Budget proposals announced today, just two days before the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) unveils the government’s official proposals for spending and taxes.

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, the de facto leader of the PR pact, said disposable income would rise through measures such as cheaper car prices, abolishment of tolls and waiver of student loans, as the opposition sought to pre-empt Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s Budget announcement on Friday.

Anwar (picture) said a PR government would be able to pay for the proposed measures not through raising taxes but by plugging leakages that arise as a result of inefficiencies and corruption.

“We will make the policies under the PR government more transparent to avoid leakages and waste through corruption,” he said today while unveiling PR’s alternative budget 2013 here.

“We will also make the process in procuring government contracts more transparent and have open tenders to end the monopoly by families of ministers,” he added, taking a swipe at his BN colleagues.

Anwar also said PR’s budget would present a more “realistic” picture of Malaysia’s economic situation next year, forecasting the size of the Malaysian economy at RM1,064 billion with an economic growth rate of 5.2 per cent, inflation rate of three per cent and a budget deficit ease of 3.5 per cent.

“BN has never fulfilled any of their economic forecast. They have never been honest about their figures,” he said, pointing out that Putrajaya had failed to register the targeted growth of six per cent for eight consecutive quarters from Q3 2010 onwards.

“PR will be honest about the figures and in turn, present a more realistic forecast on the direction of the economy,” he added.

Prime Minister Najib is also expected to unveil a voter-pleasing budget on Friday, placing the priority on winning a tough election above addressing the country’s rising debt burden.

Economists say Najib will likely delay much-needed reforms to broaden Malaysia’s tax base and reduce its dependence on oil revenues to at least next year, while announcing measures to help poorer families struggling with rising living costs.

Both Anwar and Najib are using populist approaches to court votes in what is expected to be the most keenly-contested elections in the country’s recent history, and both will avoid promising any tough measures for reforms.

Najib must call an election by next April and has already announced a series of handouts this year, including RM2.6 billion ringgit in cash payments to poor families, to shore up support for BN.

Source: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/anwar-vows-to-put-more-cash-in-malaysians-pockets/

US multinational fined RM80m for bribery in Malaysia and other countries

By Lee Wei Lian

September 25, 2012

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 25 — US multinational Tyco has agreed to pay US$26 million (RM80 million) to settle charges by the US government that it engaged in corrupt practices in more than a dozen countries in Asia and the Middle East, including Malaysia.

According to documents from the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Tyco is alleged to have bribed officials, including an employee of a Malaysian government-controlled entity, in order to win lucrative contracts.

The SEC said in a media statement yesterday that the global manufacturer allegedly perpetuated schemes that typically involved payments of fake “commissions” or the use of third-party agents to funnel money improperly to obtain the contracts.

It also said that Tyco, whose place of incorporation was shifted to Switzerland in 2008, agreed to pay more than US$26 million to settle the SEC’s charges.

Other countries that Tyco was alleged to have engaged in bribery include China, India, Thailand, Croatia, Serbia, Saudi Arabia, Libya, Syria, the UAE, Mauritania, Congo, Niger, Madagascar, Turkey, Poland and Egypt.

The SEC’s charges against Tyco claim that the latter made payments to approximately 26 employees of customers in Malaysia, including an employee of a government-controlled entity.

It also claimed that Tyco’s Malaysian subsidiary inaccurately described these expenses as “commissions” and failed to maintain policies sufficient to prohibit such payments, resulting in Tyco’ s books and records being misstated.

Tyco is a leading provider of electronic security products and services, fire protection and detection products and services, and valves and controls. 

A Tyco spokesman was quoted by UK’s Financial Times yesterday as saying: “We’re committed to maintaining our rigorous compliance programmes across all of our business activities.”

Malaysia, which is attempting to stamp out corruption, has made international news over several other cases related to graft by multinationals in the country including one involving Australian banknote company Securency and French telecommunications giant Alcatel.

The headlines could reinforce perception that Malaysia has a reputation where bribes are paid to public officials.

Corruption was identified by the World Economic Forum this year as one of the top five problems facing businesses in Malaysia.

Malaysia also slipped four spots to 60th in Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index last year.

The Najib administration has made corruption one of the National Key Result Areas of its Government Transformation Programme to reform the government and make it more efficient and transparent.

Alcatel admitted in 2010 that it had bribed Malaysian government officials some time between 2004 and 2006 to win a US$85 million contract.

Earlier this month, it was reported that Australian central bank officials were told in 2007 that Securency had engineered a scheme to hide a RM492,000 payment to a Malaysian arms dealer in order to secure contracts from the Abdullah administration despite an earlier denial.

The arms dealer — Abdul Kayum Syed Ahmad — was charged here last year with two counts of giving RM50,000 bribes in 2004 and 2005 to former Bank Negara assistant governor Datuk Mohamad Daud Dol Moin in order to procure a contract to print the RM5 polymer bank notes by Reserve Bank subsidiary Note Printing Australia Ltd.

Abdul Kayum has pleaded not guilty.

Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has also denied allegations that the Australian banknote firms attempted to bribe him for a RM100 million Malaysian currency contract during his tenure as prime minister.

Source: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/us-multinational-fined-rm80m-for-bribery-in-malaysia-and-other-countries/

2012年9月国会，大马总稽查司报告拖延，为何？

纳兹里：比预算案迟一两週提呈‧总稽查司报告准备就绪

• 国內
 

 2012-09-24 18:41

（吉隆坡24日讯）首相署部长拿督斯里纳兹里表示，2011年总稽查司报告已经准备就绪，但不会於本週五（24日）与2013年財政预算案同时间提呈国会，以让国会议员有足够的时间跟进这两份报告。

纳兹里在国会走廊对记者说，以往政府都是在同一天提呈这两份报告，但去年开始便分开提呈，而今年也不例外；两份报告提呈的时间將会相差一至两个星期。

“总稽查司报告已经准备就绪，但不会（和財政预算案）一起提呈，因为稽查报告比財政预算案更多新闻。＂“两份报告提呈的时间將会相差一至两个星期。＂他说，他们希望国会议员先討论財政预算案，因为总稽查司报告会吸引更多的“注意力＂。

2013年財政预算案將会在本週五（28日）提呈国会，这也意味著总稽查司报告將会在10月7至14日之间提呈国会。

来源：http://www.sinchew.com.my/node/262162?tid=1

预算案与总稽查司报告没同时提呈‧安华：疑有隱议程

• 国內
 

 2012-09-24 18:39

（吉隆坡24日讯）反对党议员今日对总稽查司报告没有与財政预算案同时提呈国会表示不满。国会反对党领袖拿督斯里安华说，將財政预算案和总稽查司报告分开提呈是不恰当的，当中似乎有隱藏议程。

安华今日在国会走廊针对首相署部长拿督斯里纳兹里指政府不会在週五提呈財政预算案的同一天提呈总稽查司报告，表示不满。

他认为这样的安排是要转移对政府表现的视线，並指两分报告应该同时提呈国会。

公正党鹅嘜区国会议员阿兹敏也说，他对这样的安排感到惊讶，当中似乎有“隱藏的议程＂，包括尝试掩盖政府的弱点和滥权。

他说，国会议员是以总稽查司报告的內容作为辩论的基础。

“我们不要用没有根据的指责来辩论，这个报告（总稽查司报告）会显示出政府是否有根据程序和正確的方式，还是当中有涉及滥权。＂他表示，既然政府推行政府转型计划，就应该要有开放的作风，而不是用藉口来掩盖政府部门在过去一年的弱点。

来源：http://www.sinchew.com.my/node/262161?tid=1

Kit Siang urges Suhakam to intervene in harassment of Suaram

By Lisa J. Ariffin

September 23, 2012

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 23 — Lim Kit Siang today called upon the Malaysian Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) to invoke its powers to protect Suaram from what he described as “continued government harassment and infringement of human rights” over its funding sources.

The DAP parliamentary leader (picture) today called upon Suhakam to intervene in Putrajaya’s continued harassment of Suaram’s parent company, Suara Inisiatif Sdn. Bhd “as they (Suaram) had been continually persecuted by the government and its agencies since July 2012”.

Human rights group Suaram is currently in the limelight due to its part in an ongoing French inquiry probing possible corruption in Malaysia’s multi-billion ringgit purchase of two Scorpene submarines, which has been linked to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and the murder of Mongolian model Altantuyaa Shaariibuu.

Lim explained that Suaram has since asked Suhakam to take a stand on Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s “overreaching powers in interrupting and influencing investigations by the Companies Commission of Malaysia (CCM) and to acknowledge the normalcy of foreign funding to organisations in Malaysia”.

He urged Suhakam to act under Section 4(1) (4) of the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia Act 1999 which vested it with functions “to inquire into complaints regarding infringements of human rights” and Section 4(2)(3) empowering it “to study and verify any infringement of human rights”.

Lim also called upon prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to end the harassment of “other independent-minded human rights NGOs and news portals”.

“This is totally inimical to word and spirit of his (Najib’s) ‘political transformation’ and pledge to make Malaysia’s the ‘world’s best democracy’,” he said today in a press statement.

“(It is) also totally alien to the ‘new politics’ recently advocated by deputy higher education minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah which envisaged a positive partnership of government with business and civil society to create a new governance framework,” he added.

Earlier this month, the CCM raided the office of Suara Inisiatif. Ismail Sabri was quoted as saying the accounts of Suara Inisitatif were “highly suspicious”.

Suaram, established since 1989, has been investigated by the CCM since early 2012 for being registered as a company instead of a society, a practice among NGOs whose applications under the Societies Act 1966 were rejected by the government.

The NGO has come under pressure since it started scrutinising the purchase of Scorpene submarines by the Defence Ministry.

When asked by reporters to comment on its foreign funding, Suaram director Dr Kua Kia Soong said many NGOs used the funds for programmes without intervention or advice from such parties.

Kua was referring to allegations by Malay dailies that Suaram took aid from the George Soros Foundation, which made them an agent of the billionaire currency speculator.

Source: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/kit-siang-urges-suhakam-to-intervene-in-harassment-of-suaram/

Zahid Hamidi must be fired!

Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad is a member of the PAS central working committee and MP of Kuala Selangor.

September 23, 2012

SEPT 23 ― Will the public take it lying down, now that the Defence Minister, DS Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, has conveniently shifted all blame to the suppliers?

While his pretentious response about not knowing whether the allegation of the Johor Sultan was indeed true was deplorable enough, his admission of the fact that the supplier would be taken to court for misleading them in term of bloated prices is even more shocking. Was he asleep on the job?

Is he now admitting the fact that he had totally relied on this one supplier for all information regarding the Rapid Intervention Vehicle (RIV), including its price tag?

Was it again a case of procurement not done through an open tender i.e. it escaped comparison of prices and specifications?

Is he also admitting the fact that the ‘supposedly sophisticated and elaborate’ procurement process (given during our meeting with him in his ministry) has failed to detect this vast difference in the price, assuming that the Johor Sultan was correct at making an ‘apple to apple’ comparison?

On the contrary, the public could still recall that on September 8, Sultan Ibrahim Ismail, who presented a unit of RIV to the Special Forces Regiment, expressed his disappointment that military equipment was lacking in quality yet purchased at exorbitant prices. His claim that his RIF was superior and yet he bought it for RM540,000 cheaper than the price paid by the ministry. So it’s not even an ‘apple to apple’ comparison.

Unusually high prices paid for military equipment had led Pakatan Rakyat to call for the setting up of a Parliament Oversight Committee to review and monitor defence expenditure on numerous occasions in recent past.

Pakatan Rakyat represented by three members of parliament from DAP, PAS and PKR, in January this year met with the Defence minister with a suggestion that a parliamentary oversight committee be formed to provide check and balance to the country’s defence expenditure. The meeting was also attended by its chief secretary Ismail Ahmad, army generals as well as Barisan Nasional MPs.

In recent months, Pakatan Rakyat has also questioned the inflated costs of several new arms deals proposed by current Defence Minister Zahid Hamidi, which includes the purchase of 30 Eurofighter, Typhoon jets and 6 naval patrol boats. 

Earlier, Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim’s PKR had expressed concern at another RM2 billion directly-negotiated government procurement contract Network Centric Operations with Sapura Secured Technologies Sdn Bhd, on the basis that it can potentially waste millions of ringgit more of taxpayers’ money. 

The controversial deals linked to Najib include the 2 Scorpene and one Agosta submarines purchase in 2002 worth RM7billion, 18 Sukhoi jetfighters in 2003 worth RM3.5billion, the 12 Eurocopters EC275 helicopters in 2008 worth RM2.3billion, the ongoing RM52billion MRT system for the Klang Valley, 38 units of EMU costing half a billion RM extra and a multi-billion ringgit slush fund within the 1MDB project are some obvious ones. The list of much-to-be-desired mega procurements in mega projects is indeed a very long one.

The government has yet to date, provide for specific details of equipment and services which makes the difference between the acquisition cost of RM7.55 billion relative to the base system of only RM1.7 billion in the case of the controversial procurement of the littoral combat ships (LCS – Frigate Class).

Even WikiLeaks has reported a diplomatic cable between the US Embassy in Malaysia and the United States that alleges corruption in Malaysia’s defence procurement in which Umno politicians, agents, civil servants and military officials routinely receive 30 per cent “commission” on deals. That’s a very serious allegation worthy of the nation’s attention.

Although national security is a serious issue, Malaysians are beginning to insist that the defense ministry be transparent and accountable on procurements that run into billions of ringgit. Pakatan is not going to be listening to ‘sweet talk’ of ministers anymore if it doesn’t end in serious action in term of improving good governance ― transparency and accountability.

Najib’s commitment of effecting both ‘Political and Economic Reforms’, presumably in turn of governance as well, is fast turning into a farce, a mockery of sort. His commitment to an ‘open-tender’ process, without its attending transparency,  with respect to the award of mega-project namely the LRT and MRT (and now the IPPs by the Energy Commission), has left many in the lurk of what had truly transpired and how transparency has been severely compromised and subverted. The mention of George Kent has now become a ‘bad word’, well, almost. 

On the verge of a critical General Election, the irresponsible action of a minister like Zahid Hamidi is fast turning to be construed as an act of subversion to his boss. His ignorance very baffling and appalling at best and his pretension is very hypocritical indeed. He needs no reminder that the bulk stops at him. 

He must be fired before his boss gets to be ousted by the electorates!

* Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad, Executive Director of PAS Research Centre and MP for Kuala Selangor.

Source: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/opinion/article/zahid-hamidi-must-be-fired/

Putrajaya’s SUARAM probe sparks civil society activism

By Ida Lim

September 23, 2012

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 23 ― Outrage at Putrajaya’s clampdown on Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM) appears to have given a major boost to civil society activism here, likely affecting the Najib government’s bid for votes from middle Malaysia ahead of an election expected soon. 

The human rights watchdog has been instrumental in the French probe on Malaysia’s multibillion ringgit purchase of two Scorpene submarines, a high-profile scandal that many believe will unearth incriminating evidence against top government officials here. 

Global rights group Amnesty International had yesterday raised suspicion over the timing of the government’s sudden interest in SUARAM’s operations and funding sources, saying the probe was opened only four weeks after the organisation revealed documents showing a close associate to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak had allegedly sold Malaysian naval secrets to the French. 

A new citizen group has now sprouted, joining the burgeoning of other civil society movements nationwide in a campaign to help SUARAM keep the Scorpene scandal in the limelight. 

Calling themselves the “Scorpene Never Dies” Action Team, the group of youths and “concerned citizens” has demanded that the Najib administration stop its “politically-motivated” investigation against SUARAM. 

Team coordinator Ng Yap Hwa said this was a poignant moment for Malaysians as their failure to band together to protect SUARAM would only encourage the government to continue to quell public dissent. 

“We feel we need to stand by Suaram in this critical time. 

“If we as citizens don’t rally behind a human rights defender, the government could easily clamp down... no more people can stand by us in the future,” he said. 

The team is organising a one-hour candlelight vigil next Tuesday at the historic Merdeka Square in the city centre here where several other protests fuelled by civil society activism have taken place recently. 

The team has also urged Malaysians nationwide to hold simultaneous events next week to record their disdain for the alleged harassment against SUARAM. 

Ng said that if members of the public keep silent now, “we will be the next (victim)” one day. 

He said that to “defend Suaram and to stand by Suaram” is for everyone’s benefit. 

Ng added that the team would not be applying for a police permit for its 8pm event at the historic Merdeka square, as it was every individual’s “constitutional right” to have a peaceful assembly. 

“Let us spread the Scorpene submarines issue far and wide to express our solidarity with the human rights defender, thereby warning the government that even if it could keep down SUARAM, the Scorpene submarines issue would never die and we would carry on the struggle to uncover the truth of the Scorpenes scandal and uphold justice for Altantuya,” the group said in a statement. 

SUARAM recently came under close scrutiny of the Companies Commission of Malaysia (CCM) due to its foreign funding sources and the government agency said earlier this week that it plans to charge the activist group for its “misleading accounts”. 

The human rights NGO has been actively pursuing the Scorpene scandal in the French courts, determined to expose the government of alleged corruption in the purchase multibillion submarines in 2009 and possibly reopen the murder case of Mongolian model Altantuyaa Shaariibuu, which is said to be linked to the deal. 

In April this year, the Tribunal de Grand Instance in Paris began its inquiry into Suaram’s claim that the French naval firm DCNS had paid some RM452 million as a bribe to Malaysian officials to obtain a contract for two submarines. Suaram had filed the complaint with the French courts in 2009. 

At a May 30 press conference in Bangkok, SUARAM’s French lawyer Joseph Breham had revealed that a highly-document government document on the Malaysian navy’s evaluation of the Scorpene submarines it planned to buy was sold by Terasasi (Hong Kong) Ltd to DCNS for RM142 million. 

Abdul Razak Baginda, a former think-tank head who was at the centre of the 2006 investigation into Altantuya’s murder, is listed as a director of Terasasi with his father, Abdul Malim Baginda. Abdul Razak is said to be a close associate to Najib. 

“It was a secret document by the Malaysian navy, an evaluation for the order of the submarines, which is a highly confidential report,” Breham had said at the conference. 

A total of 138 local non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and 56 regional NGOs recently pledged their support for SUARAM, calling for a stop to the “harassment” while the group has also launched its own “Stand up for SUARAM” campaign to garner public support. 

Dataran Merdeka has this year seen two rallies by civil society - the April 28 sit-in protest for elections reform by the Bersih 2.0 movement and the Janji Demokrasi pre-Independence Day rally. 

Unhappiness over environmental issues such as the Lynas rare earth plant in Kuantan has also prompted rallies. 

Najib recently wrote to young voters in Selangor, asking them to consider if a “confrontational” approach would be the best way to solve problems and push for reforms. 

His administration had passed the Peaceful Assembly Act earlier this year, a legislation which is said to allow freedom of assembly in accordance with “international norms”. 

Barisan Nasional (BN) insiders have said that several recent surveys show that the coalition needs to work harder to get a convincing victory in the coming polls especially with some 2.2 million voters casting ballots for the first time. The next general election is only due after April 2013 when BN’s mandate expires. 

It is understood that the compilation of surveys had revealed that BN could win up to 146 parliamentary seats with at least 80 sure wins, more than the 140 won in Election 2008. 

Najib’s approval rating from the Chinese and Indian communities had slipped after the government’s highly-criticised clampdown on the April 28 Bersih 3.0 rally although the latest survey by pollster Merdeka Center showed the leader’s percentage points climb to 69 per cent, largely due to a surge of support from poorer Malaysians.

Source: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/putrajayas-suaram-probe-sparks-civil-society-activism/

蒙太奇

一泳 2012年9月22日 下午2点56分

摄影界有一种手法叫蒙太奇，英文Photomontage的译音。简单来说即是把不同的图像合并在一张照片里，从而产生了一张新作品。

譬如说摄影师拍摄了一张风光照片，看起来都不错，可惜差了蓝天白云。于是他利用之前拍摄的蓝天白云照片合并，创造了一张美丽的作品。

这种手法曾经风靡一时，历史可以追溯到18世纪中期。在电脑还没发明的那个时代，而摄影处于萌芽时代，要使用这种手法简直是难上加难。除了要有卓越的摄影技术以外，还要讲些运气，毕竟另一张照片的光线构图未必与第一张兼容。成功创作一张蒙太奇作品，已经是大师级人马。

Jerry Uelsmann是其中佼佼者，天马行空的创作令人产生无限遐想。

二十世纪有了电脑的辅助，这种手法已经相当普及，但构图光线等都还得注意。一般拍摄时，摄影师都很细心留意物体的接口，颜色、光线、背景等。如能办到，摄影师已经是大学程度。

以目前数码摄影的普及化，再加上强大的电脑软件，要达到蒙太奇的效果可谓轻而易举，摄影师稍用心做，已经是中学程度。

如果刚拿起数码相机，而得到好此道的摄影师指点，作品只要不太留意就几可乱真。初学者不怪，那是小学程度。

许多摄影爱好者，见了大师级人马的蒙太奇作品，买了数码相机马上就要模仿，搞得不伦不类，虽勇气可嘉，但只能算是幼稚园程度。

日前某大传媒公司刊登了一张图片，背景显示许多人物很明显的被蒙太奇过。手法粗制滥造，蒙太奇幼稚园班程度亦能认出。

令人啧啧称奇的是，它竟然可以出现在这个大传媒公司的报纸，而传媒公司似乎懵然不知，接着后知后觉。

“蒙太奇”的名字取得真好，肇事者竟然“懵”然不知，人们感到“太奇”。

真乃“懵太奇”也！

来源：http://www.malaysiakini.com/letters/209606

监督人民之声报章媒体，人权委会：不开听证会

2012-09-22 11:00

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  娜莉妮（前左3）代表人民之声呈交备忘录给人权委员会成员莫哈末沙尼（右2）；前排左起为辛蒂婭和麦莎拉；右是迪瓦拉贾。（图：星洲日报）

（吉隆坡21日讯）针对政府及政府机构近期对人民之声（SUARAM）所作的指责，人权委员会（Suhakam）委员莫哈末沙尼表示，他们会监督人民之声及报章媒体，不过不会召开听证会调查此事。

人民之声执行董事娜莉妮、秘书处成员辛蒂婭、麦莎拉和迪瓦拉贾及非政府组织等人，今日向人权委员会呈交备忘录，要求对方监督及促请政府停止对人民之声的骚扰。

备忘录中共提出14项请求，其中包括承认政府及相关机构针对人民之声的行动，做出不当的骚扰；针对人民之声事件引起侵犯基本自由和公民自由採取坚定立场；促请政府即刻停止一切形式的骚扰；谴责对人民之声的骚扰和侵犯；劝请政府扮演好联合国人权理事会的角色；谴责政府曲解民间社团；针对部长越权插手及影响公司委员会调查及组织接受海外资金课题表明立场等。

人权委员会莫哈末沙尼表示，我国並没有法律阐明，非政府组织不能接受来自海外的资金援助。

询及政府以人民之声不是合法非政府组织，不能接受海外资助的说法，莫哈末沙尼则认为，人民之声以SuaraInisiatif公司名字註册，与其名为SUARAM的非政府组织两者间並没產生任何衝突。

邀涉及机构会商

此外，莫哈末沙尼说，人权委员会將邀请涉及此事的相关机构进行会面，並从中瞭解有关事件，然后会將报告呈给政府。

他说，他们会继续监督此事的发展及媒体的报导，並会询问媒体为何会含有“误导性＂的成份，如似组织接受海外资金就是犯罪一般。

不过，他说，人权委员会並没有打算针对此事召开听证会。

来源：http://www.sinchew.com.my/node/261900?tid=1