Perak Speaker V Sivakumar calls for an emergency sitting of the state assembly Photo by KK
The emergency sitting is to vote on two motions: to affirm support for Nizar as the MB and to seek a dissolution of the state assembly, paving the way for fresh polls.
Perak Speaker calls for emergency sitting on 3 March
Perak Speaker V Sivakumar calls for an emergency sitting of the state assembly Photo by KK
The emergency sitting is to vote on two motions: to affirm support for Nizar as the MB and to seek a dissolution of the state assembly, paving the way for fresh polls.
Nationalise the Malaysian highways
So the government has put off the highway toll hike to the end of the year.
But before you rejoice, think about this: the government will have to pay RM287m in compensation to the concessionaires:
- Plus – RM195m
- Sprint – RM36m
- Akleh – RM27m
- Besraya – RM9m
- NPE – RM20m
Inflation lower but food prices remain high
Source: Statistics Department, Malaysia
Inflation may have dropped to 3.9 per cent in January 2009 in line with the fall in consumer demand and the end of the commodity price bubble. But even though the agriculture commodity bubble has burst, food prices remain high with the consumer price index showing a 9.8 per cent rise in January for food. (The food and non-alcoholic beverages component contributes over 80 per cent of the 3.9 per cent rise in the CPI index.) Imagine, the index for rice, bread and other cereals has shot up by 18 per cent.
Disgraceful scenes in Parliament lobby
The ruckus in the Parliament lobby where a group of angry Umno Youth supporters confronted Karpal this afternoon was disgraceful.
DAP MP for Segambut Lim Lip Eng alleged that he was assaulted and hit a number of times on the face and his body.
This incident reveals a breach of parliamentary security. Why did DAP MPs have to come to Karpal’s rescue? What happened to the security personnel on duty?
Singapore sinks deeper into recession
The Singapore economy shrank 4.2 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2008 despite posting an annual growth of 1.1 per cent for last year.
For 2009, the Ministry of Trade and Industry is maintaining its forecast of minus 2-5 per cent, though others think it could be more than minus 5 per cent if the global economy worsens.
The IMF is projecting a global recovery next year – but that looks more than a little optimistic, perhaps wishful thinking. Truth be told, no one knows for sure how long this worldwide depression will last – certainly not the so-called economists who never saw all this coming 18 months ago. Any recovery is unlikely to be quick as the biggest consumers in the world by far are in the United States – and we all know they are in deep trouble.
Snapshots from Bukit Gantang
A small white elephant in Bukit Gantang? – Photos by Jong
You have seen them dotted all over the country. Small projects which never really take off after construction. The amounts involved may be small – but they all add up. Who really benefits from all these small white elephants?
MACC grills Perak Speaker for three hours
First, they put the pressure on Selangor MB Khalid.
Now, it’s the turn of Perak Speaker V Sivakumar to feel the heat. He was questioned by the MACC for three hours last night for alleged abuse of power probably in relation to the suspensions of BN state assembly members.
Meanwhile, Nazri informed Parliament yesterday that the ACA had opened four investigation papers into the Lingamtape affair. Three of these were sent to the Attorney General, who classified two under “no further action” while the remaining one was still awaiting further investigation. The fourth paper is still with the ACA.
In case you missed theSun report, here it is:
Growing old with Streamyx
It’s not just the economy that has slowed down. The local broadband service is now crawling at a snail’s pace.
For almost a week, we have been hearing complaints from many Streamyx users. Now we know why, or at least this is the official reason: cable/circuit problem with the US.
But why are local websites also slow? And why did it take TM so long to announce this? Have Singapore and other Asean countries encountered similar slowdowns?
Says blog reader syauki_x in Indonesia:
I’m writing this from Bandung, Indonesia… I didn’t even know there was such a thing as cable/circuit problem with the US, until I read your entry… The net connection here is just as normal as it gets… Buck up, TM!No one talks about the MSC anymore. Meanwhile, we will all grow old waiting for pages to download.
Blogger Jed Yoong investigated for sedition
First it was bloggers Raja Petra and Sheih Kickdefella investigated for sedition.
Now it’s the turn of Jed Yoong, who was hauled up and questioned. Four police personnel also arrived at her house and confiscated her laptop, its power cable, a desktop CPU, a router and a modem, according to Jed in her blog. She was told she was being investigated for sedition.
Jed argued that her blog was not particularly influential, compared to the mainstream media. “I strongly feel it is ludicrous and absurd to say that I can even influence anyone what more incite racial hatred or any sort of hatred towards anyone,” she wrote in her blog. “If anyone is hateful, they will be so without reading my blog.’
S’gor MB probes Saudi apartments purchase in 2007
Selangor Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim has hit back with queries over the purchase of a dozen apartments in Saudi Arabia in 2007 by a wholly owned Selangor government subsidiary, Permodalan Negeri Selangor Berhad (PNSB).
These must be some apartments: they cost about RM2 million each.
In a press release issued by his office tonight, he put the spotlight on a puzzling set of transactions. This is an excerpt from the press statement:
According to the PNSB Directors Circular Resolution dated 14 September 2007, PNSB had approved for the purchase of five units of properties amounting to RM8,352,427.66.
Govt approves 45 private hospitals, undermines GHs
Just when you thought the BN federal government would put a cap on the number of private hospitals, it does the reverse. It approves licences for 45 new private hospitals.
Mind you, this will worsen the brain drain from general hospitals and lengthen their waiting lists. The irony is that these licences have been approved at the onset of an economic recession, when thousands of Malaysians will think twice about being treated at private hospitals – simply because they can no longer afford them – and instead turn to general hospitals.
Malaysia’s foreign reserves fall by US$34 billion
Malaysia’s foreign reserves plunge (US$ billion) Source: Bank Negara
Over the last eight months, the country’s foreign reserves have dropped by US$34 billion. They have dipped from a high of US$125.8 billion on 30 June 2008 to US$91.6 billion as at 13 February 2009.
Total gross international reserves:
2008
31 Mar US$120.3 billion
30 June US$125.8 billion
30 Sept US$109.7 billion
31 Dec US$91.3 billion
2009
13 Feb US$91.6 billion
Sarawak: “Don’t be fooled by crowd numbers, Anwar”
A by-election will soon be called in Sarawak after the death of the BN state assembly member for Batang Ai, Dublin Unting. In the 2006 state elections, Unting defeated a Snap candidate, Nicholas Bawin Anggat, who has since joined PKR, by an 806-vote majority.
PKR must have received a boost from the reported 4,000 crowd that turned up in Bintulu to listen to Anwar. While the crowd size may have appeared encouraging to many, a former resident of Bintulu cautions Pakatan and Anwar not to get too carried away. They still have much work to do:
I read the report that Anwar Ibrahim drew a large crowd in Bintulu. That is good. But please realise that a large turnout does not mean support for Anwar in Sarawak’s case. All the same, I believe many in Bintulu are not happy with the government as they have (one of) the highest assessment rates in Malaysia. I was posted there for four years (1997 – 2000). Many people would come to town if there is an event, and so when Anwar was coming, they all came down in droves using kereta sapu. Even if there is a circus clown coming, the crowd would be the same.
Images from the Federal Court today
The Federal Court reserves judgment on RPK’s application to have Justice Augustine Paul recused from hearing the government’s appeal against RPK’s release from ISA detention – Photos by Rakyat@work
Perak women express solidarity with Elizabeth Wong
Over the weekend, various groups have been expressing support for Elizabeth Wong after her painful ordeal. This is one such message from the Perak Women for Women group:
To our dearest sister and friend, Elizabeth Our reason for writing is for several reasons. First and foremost to say thank you. Thank you for being YOU. Thank you for having the courage to follow your purpose. Thank you for making us proud of our gifts of womanhood. We all know about the painful ordeal you are going through. We deeply feel the pain and agony you are feeling. The fact that you’ve been through all that and have not let it get in your way is such an inspiration to all of us! Bravo to you!
Review judgment reserved; RPK remains free
Updates from Rakyat@work at the Federal Court:
1118: Judgment of the review of RPK’s applications has been reserved and will be delivered at a future date. RPK is free – for now.
1052: The first step is won; the court has agreed to hear the review of RPK’s applications. At the moment, the court is hearing the appeal to have Augustine Paul recused.
The man who gave Indonesia its name rests in Penang
Here’s something that could be a drawcard for visitors to Penang. Few Malaysians are aware that the man who gave Indonesia its name lies buried in Malaysia – in Penang to be specific.
James Richardson Logan, the man who coined the name ‘Indonesia’ in the 19th century, lies buried in the Protestant cemetery in Penang – Photos by Anil Netto
The Logan Memorial
I did not realise it myself until Indonesia’s blogger of the year 2007, Andreas Harsono, alerted me to it.
Logan was born in Berwickshire, Scotland, in 1819 and studied law in Edinburgh. Arriving in Malaya when he was just 20, he was later viewed by segments of the non-European local communities as a champion of their rights. He was editor of the Penang Gazette and the 27-volume Journal of the Indian Archipelago and Eastern Asia, which were also called Logan’s Journals. The Logan Memorial (pic above) describes him as “an erudite and skillful lawyer, an eminent scientific ethnologist and he has founded a literature for these settlements…” He died of malaria in 1869 – a passing the Memorial describes as a “public calamity”.
The following is an excerpt from The Idea of Indonesia, Cambridge University Press 9780521876483 – The Idea of Indonesia – A History – by R. E. Elson:
James Richardson Logan, the man who coined the name ‘Indonesia’ in the 19th century, lies buried in the Protestant cemetery in Penang – Photos by Anil Netto
The Logan Memorial
I did not realise it myself until Indonesia’s blogger of the year 2007, Andreas Harsono, alerted me to it.
Logan was born in Berwickshire, Scotland, in 1819 and studied law in Edinburgh. Arriving in Malaya when he was just 20, he was later viewed by segments of the non-European local communities as a champion of their rights. He was editor of the Penang Gazette and the 27-volume Journal of the Indian Archipelago and Eastern Asia, which were also called Logan’s Journals. The Logan Memorial (pic above) describes him as “an erudite and skillful lawyer, an eminent scientific ethnologist and he has founded a literature for these settlements…” He died of malaria in 1869 – a passing the Memorial describes as a “public calamity”.
The following is an excerpt from The Idea of Indonesia, Cambridge University Press 9780521876483 – The Idea of Indonesia – A History – by R. E. Elson:
Building bridges to create a socially just economy
The global economy is in terrible shape and it is obvious that our export-oriented economy will not be spared a mauling.
As Malaysians, we should be rallying together and cooperating to protect the local economy while all around us the system of global capitalism, neoliberalism and financial liberalisation is brought to its knees.
We need to find new ways of building a more sustainable, resilient and socially just domestic economy, which also protects the environment and respects indigenous cultures and livelihoods.
But the official criteria used to determine whether a listed company is ‘bumiputera controlled’ will make it difficult for meaningful business cooperation and partnerships to emerge. According to the Foreign Investment Committee’s 27 Feb 2007 guidelines, to be regarded as bumiputera-controlled, a listed company has to satisfy all the following criteria:RPK not landing up in Kamunting on Monday
In a surprising development, RPK announces that he will not be landing up in Kamunting on Monday. This might mean that he could still be free to campaign in the by-elections in April – a prospect Najib will not relish:
… lo and behold, my lawyers just called to say that my appeal against the three-member Federal Court’s decision to reject my four applications is going to be reviewed by another quorum of judges. I suppose that would mean the Federal Court will not be able to send me back to Kamunting on Monday after all — at least not until after the judicial review, and only if the second quorum of judges upholds the Federal Court’s decision. If the judicial review is of the opinion that the Federal Court had erred, or was indeed biased, then back to the drawing board we go. I will then be able to get a second bite of the cherry.
Water concessionaires reject S’gor govt’s offer
With the federal National Water Services Commission (Span) intervening and with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission targeting Selangor MB Khalid Ibrahim, is it any surprise then that the private water concessionaires have rejected the Selangor government’s offer for the takeover of water assets?
The interventions of these two federal-level commissions came just before the expiry of the Selangor government’s 20 Feb deadline for the offer to be accepted by the water concessionaires.
Abbas and Splash have now turned down the offer. Puncak Niaga too. From the point of view of these concessionaires, why accept the Selangor government’s offer when they know that its position has been weakened by the actions of federal bodies – and when they know there could be a more attractive offer elsewhere?