KeADILan stand on Hudud & Qisas

It is clear that DAP is against Hudud & Qisas implementation, while PAS is for its implementation.

What is still unclear is Keadilan real stand!!! Anwar Ibrahim is totally silent on this. It is not a surprise, as he is a “playsafe” supreme leader – always avoiding controversy issues.

Anwar was on the forefront on the IJN issue which is a safe issue to fight for; when there is a controversy issue he is usually missing in action.

Lim Guan Eng said that he will contact Anwar Ibrahim on this hudud implementation issue. EXPECT NO REPLY or some mumbo-jumbo statements.

Selangor MB Khalid Ibrahim in trying to explain KeAdilan stand was actually beating around the bush or obscuring the answer. It was mere political expediency to minimize the harm done by Husam Musa statement.

(PAS vice-president Datuk Husam Musa’s had made a statement that Pakatan Rakyat would have introduced hudud laws if they had formed the Government on Sept 16, 2008.)

The questions is - Do Keadilan support Hudud and Qisas – YES or NO?

Eventually Pakatan Rakyat hopes that this issue will be "sweep under the carpet".

P.S. Gerakan stand is clear NO HUDUD, the status quo shall not be changed.

Electrified Double-Tracking Project (TransASIAN railway)

The EDTP is an project for the rakyat, it is a project for the future. Lim Guan Eng should prevent further delay!!!

The following are parts of a press comference held today:-

1. PGRM State Youth view with great concern the public rows over the Electrified Double-Tracking Project (EDTP) between Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng and Gamuda Bhd.

2. At a Transparency International talk in Kuala Lumpur on 11th September 2008, titled Reinventing Penang State Administration; and at 4th Asia Economic Summit in Hong Kong on 9th December 2008; Lim Guan Eng talk about the mechanism of a public-private partnership or PPP model of a win-win formula.

3. Yet, The Penang State Government took a reactive stand on the land acquisition problems for EDTP and an offensive stand against Gamuda. This is against what he had proposed himself in term of a mechanism of public-private partnership (PPP).

4. Such public rows do not augur well for Penang especially after the Kings of Tennis debacle. The debacle had scared away Events Management companies from bringing major events to Penang. Now, these public rows, if not nip in the bud, may scare away major corporations. Lim Guan Eng enjoy claiming credit to getting this and that investment, yet, he is clearly scaring away investors.

5. Threatening, boycotting and also accusing a private company as “not reliable” or playing the fool with Penang State Govt will not resolve the problem.

6. Lim Guan Eng said that he will only want to deal with reliable investment partners. What is the definition for a reliable investment partners? Is it company that keep quiet when there is clearly a problem or a company that will kowtow to him?

7. Lim Guan Eng said compensation by Gamuda is not enough, and had requested for higher compensation in August 2008. According to him, there was no reply from Gamuda. Hence, the state government did not do the gazetting. What did the government do for the past five months? Waiting for the problem to resolve itself! Be Proactive!!!

8. Lim Guan Eng should understand that whether the compensation is reasonable or not reasonable is not determine by the government or Gamuda. It’s the valuation and the legal processes that will determine the amount of compensation.

9. If the state government will not gazette the land involved, it is near impossible to do the actual and best valuation? Therefore there will be no end.

10. Where is the PPP mechanism? The public rows with Gamuda can be resolved through proper negotiation, valuation and legal processes with all concern parties. The Penang State government should establish a new timeline with Gamuda to enable the original completion target date of January 2013 to be met.

11. It may help, if Lim Guan Eng can go to Perak,Kedah or Perlis to study why there are no major problems there for the land acquisition.

12. The EDTP is a important social and economic catalyst for the future of Penang, Malaysia, Indo China and China. The Chief Minister, Lim Guan Eng must realize this, and not sacrifice the future social and economic benefits of the rakyat for his own political agenda or ego, or Lim Guan Eng may have good intention, but this row will cause the Rakyat and those directly affected to suffer due to the uncertainty and the delay.


Brief Benefits Of The EDTP
1. This project is part of the TransAsian rail link from Beijing/Kunming to Singapore and with it completion will bring a host of social and economic benefit to the people in the whole region.
2. Upon completion of this EDTP, major stations on the railway line will received the benefits generated – social, business, tourism,cargo.
3. Upon completion of this EDTP,the improvement in speed, reliability and flexibility of railway transport will boost tremendously freight and passenger traffic. For example a Pen-KL trip will take only 3 hours.
4. Locally, the EDTP will elevate the constant traffic jams at the vicinity of railways gates.
5. The EDTP can be the backbone for future commuter services in the northern area, similar to the Klang Valley commuter services.
6. The EDTP will also increase the safety and security of the railway reserve area and prevent mishaps. Over-reliance on road transport is unsustainable, especially during congestion on expressways and festive seasons.

7. The EDTP will eventually be environmental friendly.

NO to IJN Privatization

The proposal to privatize the National Heart Institute (Institut Jantung Negara – IJN) to Sime Darby group should not be approved.

The National Heart Institute is the best in this region and had enabled the poor to affordable world class heart treatment.

Over-commercialization of the health service/sector is not beneficial to the rakyat.

The healthcare sector had become a lucrative industry; it is difficult to imagine that Sime Darby can ensure the “CURRENT” treatment rates are maintained.

Even if, Sime Darby commits to maintain a ‘regulated treatment rate” it will be still much more expensive and I suspect in the future they will push up the rate. The commitment will most probably be hollow promises or with "escape clauses".

The non-commercialization nature of IJN had enable the specialists and doctors to focus on enhancing the skills and to be the best in their profession; however, a ‘profit-oriented” healthcare organization will eventually dilute and disperse these; instead the focus will be more on $$$ and to be the best in term of $$$ for Sime Darby.

It is natural for Sime Darby, as a business entity, to target IJN for privatization; the government should put the welfare of the people ahead of privatization or commercialization.

Read also Leave IJN Alone by Marina Mahathir.

18-12-2008, The Edge Daily
Sime Darby confirms interest in IJN
by Lim Shie-Lynn


KUALA LUMPUR: Sime Darby Bhd has confirmed its interest to buy a stake in IJN Holdings Sdn Bhd, which operates the National Heart Institute, or Institut Jantung Negara (IJN).

In response to a query by Bursa Malaysia yesterday, Sime Darby said: “The company has written to the government expressing an interest in acquiring a stake in IJN Holdings. The company is awaiting an official response from the government.”

Sime Darby also said its proposed investment would be subject to due diligence and approvals from the relevant authorities.

The Edge Financial Daily reported yesterday that the Ministry of Finance (MoF), which owns IJN via its 99.99% stake in IJN Holdings, had submitted a proposal to the cabinet for the privatisation of the hospital. However, that has been met with objections from the Ministry of Health.

Met at Parliament yesterday, Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Kong Cho Ha declined to comment on the proposed IJN sale. Sources confirmed there had been talks between MoF and government-linked companies on the proposed divestment.

“No decision has been made yet,” a source said. It is understood that if Sime Darby takes over the hospital, the government will ensure that its treatment charges are regulated.

“As Sime may get to set up a private wing in the soon-to-be completed new wing in IJN, that private wing could be the cash-generating segment for IJN and Sime,” a source said.

Sime Darby has been eyeing IJN as the latter had gained recognition as the leading heart centre in the region with the number of referrals for complicated and demanding cases on the rise, sources said.

“The other part of the IJN appeal is the consistent number of patients it received because all cardio patients from government hospitals in the country are referred to IJN. As such, IJN has a captive market which has kept its bottom line high,” one of the sources said.

Nevertheless, an industry source said IJN’s monopoly over the government cardio patients referrals would gradually cease as there were plans to set up hospitals with heart centres in the country.

“There would be fewer government patients sent to IJN. The cardio patients would be sent to these hospitals instead. The Serdang Hospital and Kuching Hospital are ready to receive cardio referrals.

“There are plans for more peripheral hospitals and heart centres in Alor Star, Johor Bahru, Kuantan and Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Sabah,” the source said.

Still, Sime Darby would be able to leverage on IJN’s reputation as the leading centre for cardiac care in the region, OSK Research said in a note.

“If IJN’s privatisation were to take place, Sime Darby will be able to leverage on IJN’s strong brand and reputation, which will make it easier for Sime Darby to further grow its healthcare business.

“Sime Darby’s interest in taking over IJN is in line with the group’s mission to strengthen its private healthcare business through its newly established division, Sime Darby Healthcare.

“This jives with our view that there are enormous opportunities in Malaysia’s private healthcare sector, driven by strong demand due to the country’s growing ageing population, longer life expectancy and rising affluence,” it said. Since IJN’s establishment, it has treated over a million patients.

Sime closed 20 sen higher at RM5.50 yesterday.

New Penang Bridge Traffic Dispersion System

The DAP government had failed again.

The implementation failure of the new Penang Bridge Traffic dispersion system shows that the present DAP government do not analyse problem(s) in depth.

It is also surprising that no one advise LGE that his suggestion to have traffic policemen and other staff manning the flow of vehicles coming from more than 10 toll booths into the 2 lanes bridge will definitely failed.

LGE's idea worsen the situation - he was suggesting the creation of a new bottleneck immediately after the toll booths.

The previous BN and this DAP government both failed to understand the problem. Both failed to understand bottlenecks and the principle to solve them.

The design of the second bridge reflect this lack of understanding too!

They should read a novel by Eliyahu M. Goldratt, & Jeff Cox titled The Goal: A Process of Ongoing Improvement, easier than reading a Management Science or Operation Research book.

I-Dance, PENANG STATE STREET DANCE COMPETITION

The I-Dance Competition is going to be held for the second time this year after the success of the Penang Street Dance Competition in 2007. In 2007, the competition did not attract any major controversy. Even the "So You Think You Can Dance' nation-wide competition do not have such a controversy, Muhamad Haslam "Alam" the winner, is now a youth celebrity and a role model.

However, this year Penang PAS youth, DAP partner in Pakatan Rakyat are against it. The situation worsen until Penang Pas Commisioner have to step in, yet PAS Youth is still adamant against it.

What is worrisome, is that to please PAS, the competition Rule 12 state that, “only same gender teams are allowed for Muslim participants. Non-muslim participants are also encouraged to have same gender teams.”

I am not a Muslim, whether the same gender teams for Muslim participants rule is suitable or not is for the Muslims to decide.

But, adding a statement that, “Non-muslim participants are also encouraged to have same gender teams” indicated the pressure PAS is putting on the DAP-led Penang state government.....



Star online,Thursday December 11, 2008
Street dancing contest to go on
By K.KASTURI DEWI

GEORGE TOWN: The I-Dance street dancing competition will go on but Muslim male and female participants are not allowed to mingle with each other. State Youth and Sports, Women, Family and Community Development Committee chairman Lydia Ong Kok Fooi said yesterday she had agreed to the condition imposed by state PAS leaders after meeting them on Saturday.

“Our committee managed to convince the PAS leaders that the event is a healthy pastime to combat social ills and their fears that it would promote social problems among youngsters were baseless,” she said during a press conference at her office.

Ong said she also explained to them that the event was held at a public place and under the supervision of teachers, parents and dance instructors.

“Public decency is assured and we also highlighted the event’s objectives, such as introducing street dance to youths in Penang as a healthy pastime and to counter negative vices such as loafing, vandalism and illegal racing (mat rempit). It also helps to curb drug and alcohol abuse,’’ she added.

Ong was commenting on the protest by the state PAS Youth which wanted the competition to be cancelled.

Its chief Mohamed Hafiz Mohamed Nordin had urged Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng to scrap the event in line with the latter’s administrative slogan of amar ma’ruf mahi mungkar (enjoining good and preventing wrongdoing).

Ong also said the event organisers would meet with the Consumers’ Association of Penang next week to explain that the event was a non-profit youth project and a non-commercial activity for school children.

The event, supported by the state youth and sports committee, will see the preliminary round held at the New World Park from 7pm to 10pm on Dec 20. The finals will be held at the Queensbay Mall on Dec 27 and a dance jamboree will be held at the New World Park on Dec 28.

Fort Cornwallis aka Fort Construction

The beauty and charm of Penang is not lost in the happy and smiling faces of these UK tourists.


Unfortunately...............

The ongoing renovation (see pix below) to further enhance the heritage area surrounding Fort Cornwalis was budgeted in 2007.

This renovation should have started earlier, instead starting it at the year end when it is the PEAK holiday season created an eyesore for the tourists and a drop of income for the hawkers at the nearby hawker centre.

The timing is way off, it shows a lack of implementation planning by the DAP state government and of course the MPPP.

The renovation and construction damaged the view of Esplanade and Fort Corwallis, instead of good lasting impression, most tourists will go home with poor memory of the Esplanade.

P.S. The hawker centre there have many good food stalls. My favorite stall is the Rojak - try it.

Coward, Eunuch or Puppet

Cannon without any balls - Meriam tanpa bebola

When the Gerakan led government created the Deputy Chief Minister position for the Malay community, DAP leaders took out their spears, arrows and guns to oppose it.

Gerakan do not believe in criticizing for the sake of opposing. Therefore, when DAP created the Deputy Chief Minister II for the Indian community, Gerakan discussed it within the party and decided not to oppose the creation of this new post as it may be beneficial to the Indian community.

Lim Guan Eng choose to maintain DCM 1 which they oppose and in addition, created DCM II.

It is Lim Guan Eng responsibilities to ensure that the persons entrusted to these Deputy Chief Minister positions perform to expectation. If not, Lim Guan Eng had failed in his duties.

Instead Lim Guan Eng had look down on his own appointments. For examples, in a recent trip to Taiwan, he assigned two DAP Executive Councilors(Phee Boon Poh & Chow Kon Yeow) to look after Perai and Penang island respectively in the event of a flooding crisis. He conveniently had forgotten his own Deputy Chief Ministers. Deputy Chief Ministers are senior positions, unless for Lim Guan Eng it is interpreted as a mere showcase.

In his many trips abroad - the latest Xiamen, his Deputy Chief Minister 1 was left out in the cold by Lim Guan Eng when he should had taken on additional responsibilities.

Pushing the issue on the possible replacement of Deputy Chief Minister I to PKR highlight the weakness of Penang state government that is led by Lim Guan Eng.

Is this the signs of a coward, a eunuch or a puppet? I apologize to the readers if this question and the above picture seem harsh, yet the purpose is to jolt Lim Guan Eng from his honeymoon or slumber – if not, Penangnites will suffer under his weak leadership.

‘Special position’ instead of ‘Ketuanan’

The Star, Monday December 1, 2008
Koh: Say ‘special position’ instead of ‘ketuanan’


GEORGE TOWN: Use the term “special position” instead of ketuanan Melayu (Malay supremacy), Gerakan president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon urged.

“The term ketuanan Melayu would give rise to a tuan and hamba (master and underling) situation so let’s use the proper term as provided for in the Federal Constitution.

“Article 153 safeguards the special position of the Malays and natives, the Rulers and Islam, as well as protects the legitimate interests of non-Malays,” he said after opening the party’s life member council meeting yesterday.

“We must understand the Federal Constitution, parliamentary democracy system and constitutional monarchy in totality. The needs of rakyat Malaysia must come first, especially in light of global challenges.”........


NST, 2008/12/01
Koh: Malay supremacy not in Constitution

GEORGE TOWN: The constitutional reference to the kedudukan istimewa (special position) of the Malays must be respected in the same way as the rights and interests of other races, Gerakan president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon said yesterday.

He said the question of ketuanan Melayu (Malay supremacy) did not arise as it was not contained in the Federal Constitution.

Dr Koh said the right term to be used in relation to the special position of the Malays was kedudukan istimewa as contained in Article 153 and not ketuanan Melayu.

He said this when asked to comment on MCA deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek's remark that the concept of Malay supremacy was no longer relevant.

Koh said ketuanan Melayu carried the connotation of a tuan (master) and hamba (slave) relationship.

"Article 153 of the Federal Constitution talks about the special position of the Malays, as well as the valid rights and interests of other races," he said, adding that it must be read in totality.


Utusan, 1/12/08
Tsu Koon: PULAU PINANG

30 Nov. – Istilah ketuanan Melayu di negara ini tidak sesuai digunakan kerana ia menggambarkan seolah-olah seperti hubungan ‘tuan dengan hamba’, kata Presiden Gerakan, Tan Sri Dr. Koh Tsu Koon.

Dalam senario politik tanah air ujarnya, istilah tersebut boleh menimbulkan pelbagai tafsiran kepada semua pihak.

‘‘Kita perlu merujuk kepada Perlembagaan Malaysia di bawah Artikel 153 mengenai kedudukan istimewa orang Melayu serta kaum bumiputera Sabah dan Sarawak.

‘‘Ia turut menyatakan sekali hak-hak kepentingan sah kaum-kaum lain mengikut peruntukan perkara ini,” katanya.

Beliau berkata demikian pada sidang akhbar selepas merasmikan Mesyuarat Majlis Ahli Seumur Hidup Gerakan di sini hari ini. Ia dipengerusikan oleh Penasihat Gerakan, Tun Dr. Lim Keng Yaik.

Beliau mengulas kenyataan Timbalan Presiden MCA, Datuk Seri Dr. Chua Soi Lek yang mendakwa ketuanan Melayu tidak relevan lagi hari ini serta disokong oleh Ketua Wanita MCA, Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun, kelmarin.

Sementara itu, Tsu Koon meminta semua pihak menjadikan Perlembagaan negara sebagai asas rujukan kerana segala perkara berkaitan dengan rakyat dan negara terkandung di dalamnya.

Katanya, kaum lain di negara ini sememangnya menghormati dan tidak menyangkal apa-apa yang terkandung dalam Perlembagaan negara itu.

‘‘Kita ikut apa yang terkandung di dalam Perlembagaan dan menerimanya sebagai dokumen rasmi yang diterima oleh semua pihak.

‘‘Sehubungan itu, lebih baik kita jangan guna perkataan ‘ketuanan Melayu’ kerana dikhuatiri ia mampu mencetuskan pertikaian. Tak perlulah kita gaduh-gaduh,” jelasnya.

Pada sidang akhbar yang sama, beliau menyuarakan pendapat agar isu tersebut tidak lagi digembar-gemburkan dan memberi tumpuan sepenuhnya kepada perkara lain terutamanya mengenai krisis ekonomi.

Beliau turut mengajak rakyat merujuk kepada Perlembagaan negara kerana di dalamnya terkandung semangat prinsip Rukun Negara dan peristilahan Perlembagaan yang tidak perlu dipertikaikan lagi.

‘‘Saya merayu kepada semua agar tidak mempertikaikan lagi mengenai perkara ini dan menumpukan sepenuhnya kepada isu-isu lain seperti bagaimana untuk memantapkan ekonomi negara.

‘‘Apa-apa pun, jika timbul sebarang permasalahan, kita rujuk sahaja kepada Rukun Negara serta Perlembagaan,” tambahnya.Istilah ketuanan Melayu tak sesuai