Sime Darby’s decision to call off its takeover of the government-owned National Heart Institute (IJN) is a stunning victory for People Power.
The rakyat have spoken. Ordinary people, through their vocal opposition to the proposal, have defeated a plan put forward by the largest oil palm plantation firm in the world, which is also one of Malaysia’s most powerful conglomerates.
In a poll on this blog of over 800 respondents, 96 per cent of you were against the takeover, reflecting widespread public opposition to the move.
Sime Darby said its decision was based on the public sentiment and feedback received. In other words, it was forced to back off. If it hadn’t, the takeover plan would have been a major issue in the Kuala Trengganu parliamentary by-election.
This episode shows that the rakyat will not take kindly to any corporation out to make a quick profit by trying to undermine or take over a public institution that is providing an essential service at an affordable price.
It also shows that the rakyat can make a difference when they stand united on an issue of public interest.
Related posts:
- Major blow for Patrick Lim, Equine, as People Power stalls PGCC project
- Beware those who want to hijack Malaysia’s People Power movement
- Public briefing: Selangor’s takeover of water
- Corporate takeover of agriculture gathers pace
- “No matter the regime’s physical power, in the end they can’t stop the people”
If not for the KT by-election, IJN would have been taken over. How nice if there is a parliamentary by-election every month.
…don’t be too happy ….I am sure there are somthing coming up soon knowing how this crony relationship in the gome function
1 down, 1 more to go!
That LCCT Labu Airport must not take off. It will be an utter waste of scarce resources and KLIA & Air Asia will lose an excellent opportunity to enjoy from economies of scale. The Govt did not spend $8 billion on KLIA to then go ahead and create wasteful competition.
A little bird tells me that a certain Sil is behind this move to not only entrench his position in NS but be the beneficiary of directly negotiated non-tendered out $ billion contracts.
This Govt also does not seem to have considered the implications of a private company being involved in national security (which may involve terrorist watch)and immigration matters – a sure sign that plans have been hastily made so that there will be a lopsided benefit to croneys and the taxpayer will be once again lumbered with soft loans, guaranteed buy-backs and bilout contingencies!!
http://donplaypuks.blogspot.com
Well put, Anil. I just read Zaid’s speech in Singapore. There’s one man we should thank for getting the ball rolling. For me, Badawi’s legacy is already set in place.
For all his perceived commissions and omissions (some might prefer the latter), Abdullah was never short on one thing: a heart.
I dont think the IJN thing is settled.
Anil, do wait and see once najib is the PM.
The sime darby worm ( or something as sinister to sime darby) will crawls out again.
Now, take a look at the new LCCT ,do we really need another new LCCT?
Remember, that the new LCCT is NOT in the plan.
We must ensure that the rakyat’s money is not pour into it.
Who ever wants to built it will have to use their own funds.
No worries, they got another game:
The new KLIA-East may sound like a private venture between SD & Air Asia. Well, the corporate guys will put it through “PFI” flavor. This term is overly used to disguise using public money being channeled into private companies supposedly invested for long term public / govt facilities.
One look..and it seems good for the NS state govt and SD, as it should be paid by Air Asia.
Let us look into Air Asia (AA) main shareholders: Tony + Tony&gang company + K (hey! he is in here too…!) + EPF!!
http://simedarbywatch.blogspot.com/2009/01/brunsfield-ecm-libra-so-what-else-is.html
Coret!Coret!Coret! The BN gomen REFUSES to acknowledge the peoples’ power. Another thrashing in next GE will not make them willing to learn and the best send them into oblivion.
ANWARS SPEECH BY CALLING UMNO IS LIKE ISRAEL IS SO WRONG, ANWAR MUST NOT POKE FUN BY MAKING SUCH A STATEMENT, LOOK AT WHATS HAPPENING THERE, AND HERE ANWAR IS HAPPILY RELATING UMNO TO ISRAEL, THE PEOPLE THERE ARE SUFFERING SO PLEASE DONT MAKE THEM PART OF YOUR SPEECH WHEN HITTING AT OTHERS, ITS INSULTING, AND NOW ANWAR AGREES ON PAS HUDUD LAWS FOR MUSLIMS, DOESNT THIS SOUND AS IF HE AGREES WITH THE YOGA BAN, I FEEL SAD FOR MY MUSLIM FRIENDS, AS WE ALL AGREE THAT EVERY RELIGION TEACHES US TO DO GOOD, BUT ITS JUST THAT CERTAIN PEOPLE CAUSE PROBLEMS, AND POLITICIANS LOVE POLITICISING RELIGION..
The privatisation stopped is due to rakyat’s power.
Also, because of the current KT elections , UMNO does not want this to be made an issue as depriving the poor of medical facilities.
The people in Israel are suffering there and yes this was pointed out by DSAI . This is what the BN govt is akin to doing to the folks in Terengganu .
Privatisation will benefit Sime Darby and a few cronies.
IJN is safe
The predator walks away
It doesn’t want to take up the stake
Too much resistance
It makes pr work a nightmare
No doubt it says
In the end profit motives will drive it in
The people, rich and poor, will have to pay
If it runs like a company
Now the chapter has closed
Let’s hope there is no other to stalk it
IJN let it runs for the people
Let it be always
In the first place BN government shouldn’t allow
Even the slightest hint to entertain the request
Yet the government did then aborted it
When they find they have a buy election in KT
Finally the BN government turned around
Delayed the project of selling
Now IJN is safe
The company doesn’t want to marry
Too much dowry by the people
It is better to go elsewhere
I agree with also anak malaysia and Sang Seong. We have to be grateful for the former KT MP for this. Just you wait until 18 January when crony business will be back as the order of the day.
We should not forget that in Malaysia, the whole democratic process is a mere sideshow to the real power appointment process which is still on-going: the UMNO elections.
This matters way more than all the irrelevant crap dished out by Dalbinder Singh Gill.
Dear Anil
Yes. Stopped by People Power.
But there’s definitely more than meets the eye here:
From the last recession of the late 1990s, we learned that business is bad for private medical centres during such times i.e. there is a shift in demand to cheaper public hospitals. So, why would
Sime Darby want to expand capacity as a much worse
recession/tsunami is starting to hit our shores?
I do not beleieve that the takeover has been aborted; it is
temporarily held as the timing is not suitable for them.
It is a matter of time that the deal with definitely go through.
As you know, today the most LUCRATUVE ‘Business’ is health
business. If the members of Parliament have the guts
they must introduce that the all the PRIVATE Health CARE
CENTRES should be nationalised and be available to the
ordinary citizens. I am sure you are aware that the the charge
in the Health CARE centres is expensive ORDINARY CITIZENS
RAKYAT BIASA cannot enter the hospitals. Minimum one needs
$800-1,000. Being a heart-patient, I have been paying this
sum for the past 20 years. Luckily my children are able to
pay. The rumour is that the dictator doctor is behind the
move.
Regards
Hamid Ibrahim
Kuala Lumpur
9th Jan 2009.