Tourism Ministry Goes Overboard

R. Nadeswaran and Terence Fernandezaa of theSun should be commended for exposing the 'excess baggage' in the Ministry of Tourism. The report 'Over the Limit...' (13 Oct 2008) is reproduced below:

PETALING JAYA: The tourism minister’s office has excess baggage. It’s over-staffed and the appointment of some 20 staff contravenes the Public Services Department (PSD)’s regulations limiting the appointments to only eight. It is also in defiance of a Treasury circular on cost-cutting and austerity.

The minister’s office has three special officers, five political officers, one research officer, six Information technology (IT) officers and five support staff

The PSD allows a minister to have only one special officer, one senior private secretary or administrative and diplomatic officer, one private secretary or assistant administrative officer, one press secretary or information officer, three administrative assistants one general office assistant

These details are contained in documents sighted by theSun which also highlight other discrepancies, such as:

· the appointments were backdated to circumvent circulars from the PSD and the Treasury;

· applicants being paid much more than they asked for;

· multiple payment of salaries from different companies; and

· absence of proper selection process as the posts were not advertised.

The correspondence between the ministry’s officers and minister’s private secretaries to heads of subsidiary companies of the Malaysian Tourism Promotion Board expose a series of breaches of government rules and regulations.

In a letter dated April 23,the ministry’s deputy secretary-general Datuk Ab Ghaffar A. Tambi wrote to the then director-general of Tourism Malaysia Datuk Mirza Mohammad Taiyab, directing him to make arrangements to pay the salaries of 20 staff who on paper are attached to the minister’s office – ranging from special officers to administrative assistants. But subsequent letters are telling indeed with the appointments being back-dated.

As only the PSD can approve new appointments, the guidelines were circumvented by getting Tourism Malaysia subsidiary Pempena Sdn Bhd and its affiliates Malaysian Travel Business Sdn Bhd and SD Corp Communications Sdn Bhd to pay their salaries.

PSD Director-General Tan Sri Ismail Adam had on April 30 issued a circular emphasizing the restriction of appointments in the offices of ministers and deputy ministers. Each designation is spelt out with a proper salary structure. Ministers can have eight and their deputies, four. The circular was effective March 19 – a week after the new members of Cabinet took office.

Subsequently, on May 2, the Treasury issued a circular freezing new appointments as part of the government’s cost-cutting measures. But documents show that some appointments in the minister’s office were made after that date and backdated to April 1.

· On June 11, the minister's senior private secretary Mohd Daud Mohd Arif requested the chairman of Malaysian Travel Business Datuk Abdullah Ahmad to employ three persons as ‘administrative assistants’ with salaries ranging from RM2,100 to RM3,000. Abdullah was asked to back-date their appointments to April 1.

· On May 12, the minister’s private secretary, Suziyana Natasya Abdullah, wrote to Pempena human resource officer Mariam Amy, attaching a list of 16 names and 17 Pempena employment application forms for ‘immediate action’.

The appointments of several of these officers do not reflect details in their application forms. For example, David Chiam Joy Woon ‘applied’ for a job as pegawai khas (special officer) and put his expected salary as RM6,000. However, in documents related to payment of his salary, he is being paid RM10,000 – RM5,000 as executive director of SD Corp and another RM5,000 as a board member Malaysia My Destination (MYD) Sdn Bhd. He is also a board member of other affiliates and subsidaries, including Malaysian Travel Business and Awana London, Awana Beijing.

Similarly, former Malay Mail sports reporter Tony Mariadass applied for a job as a ‘research officer’ with an expected salary of RM8,000. He is listed so in the list of officers in the minister’s office, but has since been ‘appointed’ general manager of Shopping Malaysia Secretariat (SSM) at a salary of RM10,700. Co-incidentally, both he and Chiam had previously worked for the same minister in the Youth and Sports Ministry.

Mohd Radzi Ramli applied for the post of pegawai politik (political secretary) with an expected salary of RM4,405 but also holds the post of senior executive (government liaison) at SSM, with a pay of RM3,000.

For the record, it now costs at least RM23,000 a month in salaries to four people, to run the SSM, not taking into account EPF payments; medical bills and other perks that come with the jobs.

Other appointments on the list of 16 whose names do not appear in the forms include Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun, who is executive director of Pempena. She is paid RM10,000 and is provided with a car and driver.

Dr M: Financial Turmoil Ahead

Did you read former PM Dr Mahathir's post on Financial Turmoil? He gives some interesting insights into what's in store. If you are holding plenty of US dollars, he suggests you get rid of them.

More Outcries Against Use of ISA

Since the recent ISA arrests last Friday, the incident continues to hog the limelight in the local media. More parties have come out to voice their views against the use of ISA on those detained. Even BN ministers have made their stand.

(The Star) Muslim NGO: Use of ISA is ‘un-Islamic’

(The Star) BN members lash out at the arrests

(The Star) Don’t use ISA, says Zaid and (NST) Zaid hits out at use of ISA

(The Star) Hishammuddin: ISA use not justified against reporter

(The Star) Suhakam: Reporter’s arrest an abuse of ISA

Meanwhile, the Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism has appealed to the PM to release the ISA detainees.

And Law Minister Zaid Ibrahim was reported to have tendered his resignation to the PM . Read here and here.

Was Sin Chew Journalist Reporting A Fact?

Reading from the press reports on the turn of event surrounding the report filed by Sin Chew Daily reporter Tan Hoon Cheng, one will probably conclude that she was doing her job - reporting what Bukit Bendera UMNO chief Ahmad Ismail had said at a talk in the run-up to the Permatang Pauh by-election. That is the only logical conclusion since the police had released her from detention under the ISA albeit that it was done for her safety. Not forgetting that Deputy PM Najib Abdul Razak had aplogized on behalf Ahmad Ismail for his "Chinese are squatters" remarks, and that Ahmad was subsequently suspended by the UMNO Supreme Council over the incident.

See FREED: Tan detained because life was 'under threat' (NST) and also MCA’s Fong: Home Minister’s explanation ‘unacceptable’.

In another development, de facto Law Minister Zaid Ibrahim gives his views on the proper use of the ISA 'Wrong use of ISA: De facto law minister', saying it "should only be used against terrorists or those trying to topple the government by force". But Minister in the PM Dept Ahmad Zahid begs to differ, saying the detentions were justified. See also Invoking ISA is not the solution, says Koh (NST).

Meanwhile, DAP Adviser Lim Kit Siang told reporters that Seputeh MP Teresa Kok had been warned of her Internal Security Act detention, but she refused to go into hiding. See Teresa was warned of impending detention (NST).

12 Sept 2008 Another Dark Day

Look at the following headlines in today's newspapers...I am saddened with the developments:

(NST) Police detain Teresa Kok, Sin Chew reporter under ISA

(The Star) Raja Petra, Teresa Kok and Sin Chew reporter arrested under ISA

(NST) Teresa Kok held over 'azan' issue

(The Star) Why Raja Petra, Tan and Kok were detained

(The Star) Raja Petra anticipated his arrest, says wife

(The Star) Show-cause letters for dailies

 

As the following news quoting the MCA, it is rather perplexing: MCA shocked by arrest of reporter and not perpetrator. Why indeed?

And the NUJ says 'Detention of journalist an act to intimidate media'.

The event naturally was reported in BBC Asia 'Blogger's detention sparks fears'.

 

Meanwhile, we read the following news breaks:

(NST) Sin Chew journalist released and (The Star) Sin Chew reporter released

(The Star) NUJ saddened, disappointed by arrest and calls for an EGM on 20 Sept to discuss the 'serious national crisis'. And MCA says it's against the use of ISA on journos.

PAS says more will be detained in 'Arrests are an attempt to cover up real issue'.

Home Minister says: 'Order to arrest did not come from me' but declares 'No more arrests'. Seems rather odd that the police had detained the Sin Chew journalist under the ISA to ensure her safety.

I must agree with the DAP's call to 'Let the courts decide' and Transparency International: Try RPK and Teresa Kok under court of law, not ISA.

Our Wushu Exponents Get Olympic Medals

The following is extracted from 'Wushu exponents wrap up campaign with credible show' (The Star Online, 24/08/08). See also 'Wushu: Another silver for Malaysia' (NST Online, 23/08/08):

MALAYSIA wrapped up their campaign in the Wushu Tournament Beijing 2008 with two silvers and a bronze in the taolu (barehands and weapons) categories at the Olympic Sports Centre Gymnasium yesterday.

Chai Fong Ying handed Malaysia the first silver in the women’s taijiquan and taijijian combined events in the morning before Lim Yew Fai grabbed the second in the men’s jiangshu (sword) and qiangshu (spear) combined events in the evening.

The 22-year-old Fong Ying, who is also the Doha Asian Games gold medallist, was trailing Japan’s Miyaoka Ai in third spot by a marginal difference of 0.2 after the taijiquan discipline on Friday. But she put up a better performance in the taijijian (taijisword) discipline to earn 9.70 for a combined total of 19.34 points. She received the silver medal from action movie star Jet Li.

Yew Fai finished just 0.1 point ahead of Vietnam’s Nguyen Huy Thanh with his total of 19.32. Chai Fong Wei delivered a bronze in the women’s gunshu and daoshu combined events with 19.16 for Malaysia’s fifth medal of the world meet.

Note: There was not much fanfare or publicity given to the success of our wushu team. The medals are not counted in the Olympic tally. I wonder whether they will receive the cash rewards (like Lee Chong Wei) and the Datukship.

Pak Lah Should Do It More Often

If it is not a political gimmick - given the upcoming Permatang Pauh by-election - then PM Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's decision to take time off to take rides on the Komuter and the LRT last week probably indicates that he is not particularly happy with the performance of the Transport Ministry. Badawi didn't say it but if the public transport service is in top shape, he need not have to personally see the state of affairs.

Beside the Komuter and LRT services, there are obviously other public services and amenities that need his attention. The lay people will be observing whether the PM will come down from his Putrajaya tower office more often and not during run-ups to by-elections.

Read 'Rail bad! LRT, Komuter not meeting expectations' and 'Mobility woes within the city' (NST Online) and 'PM unhappy with city rail services' (The Star Online).

Pak Lah Does It Again

Our PM had earlier said that there would be a (downward) revision to the pump price of fuel in September, and that an announcement would be made on 31 August. Then on 22 Aug - 10 days earlier than expected - he announced a reduction in fuel prices. This is, of course, not the first time that the PM did something contrary to what he said. But being the PM, he has the prerogative to speak and act in a manner he deems fit.

As expected, the government refuted claims that the earlier-than-expected move was linked to the Permatang Pauh by-election. More need not be said and you be the judge.

Interestingly, the price reduction coincided with the Statistics Department announcing that our country's inflation rate for July 2008 had risen to 8.5% from a year ago, and up 1.1% from June. As a consumer, what's more important is whether cost of living will come down in tandem with petrol price reduction. It is a long shot to see a decline in food prices and other consumer items.

Read 'Cut comes 10 days early' and 'DAP questions timing of petrol price reduction' (The Star).

Time to Rethink on NS Programme?

As crude oil prices go up, as our nation's oil reserves deplete, as fuel, power and food prices go up, as the people combat the rising cost of living, as...the list goes on and on. Aptly, the country will need to review its priority and channel precious resources to areas of greater need.

One thing that comes to mind immediately is the so-called National Service programme. It really falls into the MEGA category, considering that the government, via the Defence Ministry, has so far spent a staggering RM2.37 billion since the programme's launch in 2004 to 2007, covering 339,186 NS trainees. OMG, this works out to RM6.9 million per trainee. News reports say that the 2008 NS allocation amounts to RM500 million.

Yet, despite the wish of many Malaysians to scrap the NS programme, NS Training Council chairman Lee Lam Thye said on 6 June that the NSTC would propose to DPM/Defence Minister Najib Razak to increase the number of trainees from the present 110,000 to 140,000 in 2009. (Some 490,000 born in 1991 will be eligible for NS training in 2009.) Of course, Najib would have to ask the government for an extra budget allocation to accommodate the increase in trainees.

By its own account, the government's decision to introduce the NS scheme is an admission of the country's education system's (from primary to tertiary levels) failure to promote national unity. One really wonders how this 3-month scheme can realistically achieve what the 6-year primary and 5-year secondary education failed to deliver. Furthermore, the NS training only targets less than 30% of the Form 5 student population.

The money allocated to the NS scheme could well be used for more fruitful and worthwhile cause. For example, use the fund to give out more scholarships. Of course, the NS trainers and other service providers contracted by the Defence Ministery - and perhaps some NS trainees - will not be too happy.

Read also Steve Oh's letter on 'NS a reflection of education system's failure' in MalaysiaKini (3/6/08).

NS Training - Cons Outweigh Pros?

Did you read yesterday's The Star on 'A trainee's account on the NS programme' (7/6/08)?

While the government is strongly sticking to its story that the National Service programme is achieving its objectives, here's one trainee who thinks otherwise. Here are some excerpts:

...First of all, I would disagree if anyone were to ask me whether it was a waste of time spending three months completing my service stint. However, I do not think that I have greatly benefited from the programme either.

...However, it has failed to achieve its main objective – to instil patriotism and promote racial unity.

It is a frail attempt to inculcate these virtues in a short period of three months. I would not deny that to some, it may have succeeded, but to most of us, it has failed.

...Furthermore, I was saddened because inter-racial friendship merely existed superficially for most of the trainees.

He/she also commented on the firearms training:

I seriously hope that the government would review the firearms training. I think that it is only a gimmick to please teenagers such as me. It merely provides few minutes' surge of adrenalin at the cost of hard-earned taxpayer’s money.

Walk Your Thoughts, Mr Ministers

There have been calls for our elected leaders to walk their thoughts just as they have asked the people to change their lifestyles and spending patterns in the wake of rising fuel prices and electricity tariffs. I fully sokong (support) the call that the government should display exemplary leadership by eliminating unnecessary and wasteful expenditures. Most Malaysians would want to see the government adopt a more prudent (and even frugal) financial management style. Please, no more extravagant projects and (mega)events that see little or no ROI.

For a start, how about cutting down on your travel in those fuel-guzzling (and expensive) Mercedes, BMWs, SUVs and MPVs? Use them only for official or state functions. For daily travel, make do with our national cars, like the Proton Perdana or the Executive Waja.

Come to think of it, these elected Yang Berhormats are supposed to stand for office with the noble aim of serving the rakyat. I'm sure the rakyat do not want to see precious resources being splurged on luxury cars.

Also, given the country's current financial position, people will not take it light if it sends another angkasawan to space. We don't need to spend another RM39 million on such space programme unless it can be proven that it can bring economic benefits.

And yes, there should be report cards on those so-called rombongan lawatan sambil belajar. In fact, those in the rombongan should even be given KPIs to prepare action plans.

While on the subject of 'serving', read IR Aziz's letter 'Time for politicians to move on and serve' in The Star (6/6/08).

Is Our CPI a True Indicator?

Conversations with senior economists indicate that actual CPI is higher than the official figure. Read The Star reader Anwarudin's views on this...

 Inflation figure must reflect the actual CPI

WITHIN a month, world food price (especially rice) has increased sharply. In Kuala Lumpur alone, most of the restaurants and food stalls raised the price of rice from RM1 to RM1.20 or even RM1.40.

Now do the mathematics. Do you think this is merely 3% inflation as reported by Bank Negara?

Let’s be more practical when it comes to determining purchasing power and inflation. The impact of coming out with a low inflation number eventually jeopardizes our life.

Most companies use this number to adjust their staff’s annual increments although some have their numbers based on personal and company performances.

Thus, Malaysian workers will get increments of between 2% and 2.5%.

Bank Negara’s inflation rate only measures basic foodstuffs that are subjected to price control and fails to reflect the true situation. The real inflation reported by many groups of public interest is as high as 20% according to the “real” CPI (Consumer Purchase Index), also referred to as cost-of-living index.

We can maintain our lifestyle if we get an increment that equals real inflation, i.e. 20%, which means to say that we will be able to convert our whole income into a quantifiable amount of goods and services that we could obtain in the previous year.

I hope those involved in monitoring inflation will visit shops patronized by average Malaysian consumers and share our pain.

ANWARUDIN

(Source: Views, The Star, 5 June 2008)

Price Hike: Double Whammy

Needless to say, we can expect a domino effect from the hike in prices of petrol (up 78 cents to RM2.70 per litre) and diesel (up RM1 to RM2.58 per litre). Prices would be adjusted monthly based on global oil prices.

Lorry transport companies up north have already responded to the fuel price hike by announcing a 34% increase in transportation charges. The burden will ultimately be passed on to consumers at the end of the chain, e.g. in the form of higher prices for food and consumer goods.

For the time being, bus operators will not be able to increase prices as they need government approval to do so.

Meanwhile, FOMCA warns of the government to be prepared for the aftermath.

As if the higher fuel prices were not enough to dampen sentiments, electricity tariffs will be revised upwards to the tune of 26% beginning from 1 July.

If it's of any consolation, owners of private vehicles with engine capacities of 2000cc and below would be given an annual RM625 rebate, while owners of motorcycles of 150cc and below will get RM150. Despite the rebates, chances are that we will need to dig deeper into our pockets to pay for our monthly fuel charges; unless you have options for moving around.

Silent Enemies Within Our Midst

It's common knowledge that many foreign workers who came to our country are disease carriers. But the front page New Sunday Times report (25/5/08) gives an astounding insight to the seriousness of the situation. Some 42,000 foreign workers who entered Malaysia in 2007 are hosts to diseases like HIV, TB, hepatitis B, etc. OMG, look at the following Health Ministry statistics:

> 16,697 had tuberculosis

> 10,953 had hepatitis B

> 2,2824 had syphilis

> 683 had HIV/AIDS

> 147 had psychiatric problems

In addition, 2,329 were pregnant. What's worrying is that they all were given a clean bill of health by the authorities in their home countries. Their conditions were detected through medical screening conducted within a month upon arriving in Malaysia. But apparently, some Fomema panel doctors are certifying foreign workers as fit without even examining them.

A classic case of greed and unethical practice that puts our country and the citizens at high risk.

When is a Suggestion a Directive?

If you were in Election Commission Chairman Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman's shoes, would you act against a cabinet's 'suggestion'? He is afterall a makan gaji servant of the government.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had refuted Rashid's claim that the cabinet had rejected the use of indelible ink on the day Parliament was dissolved. "It was not a directive. The cabinet only gave its views to the EC, and the EC was the one which made the final decision," Abdullah said. (See NST, 18/5/08)

Ah so, the cabinet had conveyed a suggestion (meaning a hint, or an idea or response so induced) to Rashid. So, what did the cabinet expect Rashid to do? Brush it aside?

That aside, what has happened to the 48,000 bottles of ink that the EC imported at a cost of RM2.4 million?

Is It Right for Judges to Lobby?

"By charging me in court, I will have the opportunity to explain many things that the judges did, including lobbying.

I hope the investigation will not end with no case. In that case, I will have no opportunity to explain what had happened.

I want to tell about the judges who had come to me to lobby. ..."

- Dr Mahathir Mohamad -

That says a lot about our judiciary, although I'm confident that there are many among them who walk the right path as expected of them being officers of the Court. The public, of course, will be looking forward to know who are the judges who'd lobbied to Dr M when he was our PM.

Meanwhile, arising from the findings and recommendations of the Royal Commission of Inquiry on the VK Lingam video clips, there are calls for a review of the court cases heard by the two former Chief Justices who were named in the conspiracy to manipulate the appointment of judges. Aggrieved parties who feel there were biasness in the decisions handed down by the court can file for a judicial review to reopen old cases.

High Noon Starring Dr M and Pak Lah

Just days after ex-PM Dr Mahathir Mohamad held a private meeting with DPM Najib Tun Razak, Dr M, in his 'characteristically dramatic style' (as BBC describes it), showed his ace card by announcing his resignation from UMNO yesterday. The press sees this as Dr M's final push to force PM Abdullah Ahamad Badawi to step down as PM and UMNO president.

In his blog, Dr M said his wife, Dr Siti Hasmah, has also quit the party. The former PM also urged other UMNO members and elected representatives to quit en masse.

But what is Dr M's real game plan? Being the crafty and shrewd tactician that he is, Dr M will certainly have other ace cards up his sleeves to further tighten the screw on Pak Lah. He doesn't leave things to chances. No one gambles to lose, right? In any battle, the general must control the situation to steer the outcome to his ultimate victory. Failure is not a choice.

On the other hand, the plot looks rather straightforward. Things may not be as simple as it shown to be. Is it a sandiwara (stage show) aimed at re-taking the seats from the Pakatan Rakyat coalition?

Let's wait for Act 1 Scene 2.

For the press reports, read here, here, here and here.

How Dare You Investigate the PM?

Did our PM openly oppose the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on HM's decision to appoint Ahmad Said as Terengganu's mentri besar (chief minister) instead of former mentri besar Idris Jusoh?

The Pakatan Rakyat Youth wing certainly thinks so. On 15/5/08 they lodged a police report against the PM for allegedly undermining and questioning the King's power in his capacity as the Sultan of Terengganu.

The police report, lodged at KL's Dang Wangi district police headquarters, was based on a March 24 news report which quoted the PM as saying the Sultan's decision to pick his candidate for the MB post was 'unconstitutional and invalid'.

The PR Youth apparently wants the police to investigate Abdullah in the same degree as it is investigating DAP's Karpal Singh for sedition in allegedly questioning the Sultan of Perak's order to reinstate Perak's Religious Dept head, who was transferred out by the new Pakatan Rakyat coalition state government.

How will the police deal with this? Let's wait and see.

What's the Petronas Link in Putrajaya?

I was flipping through yesterday's newspapers when I caught sight of a headline in The Star (16/5/08) 'Govt pays Putrajaya Holdings RM1bil a year for office space'. It's a 10-paragraph report on the PM's written reply to a question on the construction cost of the federal adminsitration capital in Putrajaya.

The PM revealed that it cost RM11.8bil to develop the government offices and staff quarters, the Putrajaya International Convention Centre, the PM's official residence and those for the DPM, other ministers and judges, as well as public infrastructure.

The build-lease-transfer contract was awarded Putrajaya Holdings, using its own private financing for the project. In return, the government leases the buildings for a 25-year concession period at a fixed monthly rate of RM2.50 per square foot. The buildings will then be transferred to the government at the end of the concession period. The company received RM929.7mil in 2007.

Fine. So far so good. Wrong!

DAP's Liew Chin Tong later revealed that Petronas has a 64.4% stake in the so-called private sector company, Putrajaya Holdings Sdn Bhd.

Well, that's very creative of the government in using the private sector to undertake mega-projects.

2.37 = 339,186 - 16

"The death cases only involved a very small percentage of the 339,186 NS trainees."

That came from DPM Najib Tun Razak, when he gave a hand at the Dewan Rakyat on Thursday to defend the National Service programme.

There had been 16 deaths since the programme started in 2004 till 2007. Najib pointed out that of the 16 cases, 11 died in the camps and the other 5 during breaks. Further, of the 11 who died, seven were due to diseases and four died in accidents. Is he saying that the NS training was not the cause of their deaths?

Now, read deeper into Najib's statement. What is he trying to tell the parents? That the 16 deaths are okay? That it is no big deal? That the 16 innocent kids - all in their teens - were expendable?

A staggering RM2.37 billion had been spent on the NS programme during the 2004-2007 period. What's the cost per trainee?

The cost will surely shoot up, given that there are plans to outsource the medical screening of enlisted NS trainees to private doctors. Some doctors will soon be laughing their way to the bank.

Spending Money - RM2.4 Billion - is Easy

The Dewan Rakyat was told today that a total of RM2.37 billion had been spent on the National Service programme since its launch in 2004 up till 2007. A sum of RM608.6mil was spent in 2004, RM604.8mil in 2005, RM588.2mil in 2006 and RM565mil in 2007.

As can be expected, the government will always have the final say in claiming that the NS objectives have been met. “As of now, the government is very satisfied with its achievements and it has met the objectives set,” said Deputy Defence Minister Abu Seman Yusop. As with any claims or information originating from the government, one has to exercise discretion as to whether to accept the statement 100 per cent.

Now we understand why some people are very adamant that the NS be continued despite the unnecessary tragic deaths of NS trainees over the years. RM2.4 billion is a damn good reason.

Beggars Can't Be Choosers, Right?

Most people in Malaysia know all along that MCA. Gerakan and MIC are subservient in the UMNO-led coalition. And so it came as no surprise when ex-Gerakan president Lim Keng Yaik open his mouth, saying he likened the 3 component parties to 'beggars' in the Barisan Nasional coalition.

Since no one from the 3 parties has come out to refute or challenge his words, silence means Mr Lim's views stand correct.

In an interview with the Sin Chew Daily, he cited the lack of equitability, that although the Constitution guarantees the special rights of Malays, it also safeguards the rights of other races.

He pointed out that 39 years after the 1969 racial riots, "the people have seen through the domination of a race-based party". (Actually, Mr Lim, many folks have been aware of this scenario since much earlier, and I'm surprised that you only realize this of late. after this year's March 8 tsunami.)

It looks like the Sabah BN component politicians are now wiser, pressing for BN top leaders in KL to resolve the Sabah issues by this August.

Sabah Progressive Party president Yong Teck Lee was quoted as saying: "...because if we do not do something, Sabah will be returned to its subservient role after August...as December is the UMNO general election."

What Can You Do with RM3.5m a Month?

Plenty, of course. Providing better health care for the poor and needy. Enhancing the facilities of our schools. There are so many worthwhile and worthy things that can be achieved with RM3.5 million...a month.

But our elected government thought it wise to use that amount to maintain the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra (MPO). Still, the government can argue that it's the national oil company, Petronas, that is footing the RM3.5 million monthly bill. Fine, but then the revenue from the oil fields belong to the people of Malaysia.

Get a load of the following: Foreign musicians are paid a monthly wage of between RM16,000 and RM28,000. The conductor gets RM130,000 and his assistant RM50,000 a month. Plus 2-month annual leave. OMG. What other perks do they get?

Personally, I have no objection to the existence of the MPO. It's an ideal set-up to nurture of our musicians. But spending RM3.5m is going overboard. Another example of Malaysia Boleh. Besides, how many percent of our population has ever set foot inside the Dewan Filharmonik PETRONAS?

What Happened on 13 May 1969?

Tuesday, 13 May 1969 - When the race riots erupted in Kuala Lumpur, I was then staying in Ipoh when my family home was located. Can't recall what I was doing then; except that on the following Wednesday morning I remember getting ready to go to school when a Pejabat Penerangan van came to the neighbourhood to announce that there was a curfew.

Little is mentioned of this dark episode in our history text books.What happened on '513' had happened. It's a chapter of the Malaysian history. The events cannot be erased.

While in the past, there were limited sources of information about May 13, the arrival of blogsphere provided a welcome change. We don't have to depend on the mainstream media for news, which more often than not, are skewed to what the government wants the people to read. Now everyone can be a history writer in their own way.

Welcome to the world of blogging. Still, one has to exercise a bit of judgement to sift out the truth from the false. Enough said, here are some links to sites containing postings on May 13:

• Wikipedia/May 13 Incident
• Malaysian Unplugged Uncensored
• Susan Loone's Blog
• The Malaysian Bar
• In Remembrance of May 13
  
• The Star - Truth and Reconcilliation
  

How the OSA Protect Whistleblowers?

Pardon me for my shallow understanding of our Official Secrets Act 1972. From my layperson perspective, the OSA makes it an offence to possess or disseminate information classified as an official secret. A broadly-worded law, the OSA carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment for the actions associated with the wrongful collection, possession or communication of official information. Any public officer can declare any material an official secret - a certification which cannot be questioned by anyone including the courts.

I am puzzled when Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Nazri Aziz told Parliament last Thursday (8/5/08) that the Government had no plans to enact a Freedom of Information Act or other laws to protect whistleblowers because the OSA is sufficient.

I'm not sure if the other Minister in the PM's Department, Mohd Zaid Ibrahim, the de facto law minister, was in the august house when Nazri made the statement. If Zaid was there, and he didn't make any clarification, then I stand to be corrected for my ignorance.

Does any reader know which section of the Act provides for the protection of whistleblowers? For example, how does the law (or authority) protect a person who spills the beans on someone who commits an act of money laundering or corruption?

Paying the Price. Why?

IN EARLY April I had got wind of the impending price increase of rice. The rice retailer whom I regularly patronized had then informed of a shortage in supply. True enough, 2 weeks later, the retail price of the rice I usually buy had gone up by 50 cents to RM5 per kilo. Two weeks ago, it ballooned to RM5.50. The retailer believes the price will increase further.

Let’s move on to the main gist. We all know that rice is the staple food for our country’s 27 million people. Malaysia presently produces 65 to 70% of its rice needs.

Agriculture and Agro-Based Minister Mustapa Mohamed has called on the people to reduce rice consumption to address the global increase in prices and acute shortage of staple foods. "Each adult Malaysian consumes a per capita average of 77 kg of rice per annum. So there is room for a reduction by substituting it with a greater intake of vegetables and an emphasis on a health-conscious diet," he said.

Easier said than done! This is especially true for those in the lower income bracket. Granted it is healthy to consume more greenies, vegetables are not an ideal substitute. A better game plan is needed.

The next point is I am disappointed that our elected government had not anticipated the imminent global shortage of food commodities. If it did, the relevant ministries had obviously not acted in a proactive and efficient manner to counter it. Indeed, it’d not have been caught with its pants down where our country’s rice stockpile is concerned. If it had read the signals, steps would have been taken to steadily increase the stockpile to a higher level, and thus avoided having to hastily import 500,000 tonnes from Thailand to ensure a sufficient stockpile.

A Bernama report (21/4/08) says that Malaysia imports about 480,000 tonnes of rice annually from Thailand. Vietnam is the other country which exports a large amount of rice to Malaysia.

According to The Star (25/4/08), Malaysia imports 650,000 to 700,000 tonnes of rice yearly to satisfy annual needs of more than 2 million tonnes. The same report says rice prices in Thailand surged to US$1,000 a tonne the previous day, nearly three times higher than at the start of 2008.

The New Straits Times (9/5/08) gives a different figure of our rice import, saying that Bernas, Malaysia's sole rice importer, bought 831,000 tonnes from overseas suppliers in 2006, more than half of it from Thailand.

Let’s put the figures aside. On 19 April 2008, Prime Minister Abdullah Badawai announced a RM4 billion allocation to increase food production, including a plan to grow padi on a massive scale in Sarawak amid fears of shortages caused by the global food crisis. The funds allocated for the plan would also be used to build food stockpiles and increase cultivation of fruits and vegetables.

The PM said the government would ensure the country was self-sufficient in rice. This talk about about self-sufficiency in rice is not a new thing. Back in January 2004, Felcra chairman Hamzah Zainuddin expressed that Malaysia would be able to achieve self-sufficiency in rice production by 2007 “provided farmers incorporate the latest farming technologies in padi cultivation”. To meet the 2007 target, farmers must double the production of the crop from the current national average of 4.5 tonnes per hectare per season. Each season lasts 6 months.

Rice is now a highly priced commodity as precious as crude oil.

Preface - The Beginning

I’m a Malaysian; a person in the street. Like many other fellow Malaysians, I am concerned about events unfolding in my country in particular as well as global happenings that impact life in Malaysia. While in the past – before the dawn of the blog nation and the rise of the netizen community – ordinary folks like me have limited avenue to share or voice our thoughts. Now that we have the opportunity, we should rise forth and voice our opinions, with the aspiration to create a better and just society. To me, as an individual, it’s a small step in contributing to the collective voice.