Asset declarations: Still waiting for the right “forms”?
On 17 June, the Penang Chief Minister was asked why the Penang state exco members had not yet declared their assets. He said they were waiting for the right forms from KL to ensure “uniformity” and “maintain good federal relations”.
I said back then that there was no need to wait for KL. The BN federal government is not interested in a public declaration of assets. The PR governments are supposed to show us they are different.
Oil, steel prices plunge – but second bridge still RM4.6b?
The crude oil price has dipped below US$50/barrel. Similarly the prices of other commodities have plunged. Steel prices, for instance, have crashed from $1,200/ton in June to below $300 – and it is likely to fall even further with demand from China expected to weaken.
Now the question is how low can these commodity prices go?
The speculative boom run in commodity prices began in 2001-2002, when oil broke the $30 barrier.
Certain analysts are now suggesting that we are now only half way down the road back to that trough. So commodity prices still have room to fall further and they could continue sliding until the end of 2009. But it is hard to say if oil will approach the $30 region given that it is getting harder and more expensive to find new global oil reserves.
Anyway, I heard on the radio that the government is intending to further cut oil prices.
The more immediate issues are:
So where is Bala?
In the light of Razak Baginda’s press statement, this appears to be his version of the current state of play (if I read what he is saying correctly):
Baginda is not involved.
Najib and Rosmah had never met Altantuya.
It had nothing to do with an arms deal. Baginda only met Altantuya later.
Bloggers have been spreading lies.
Two men are now in court in the Altantuya case; so he can’t say much in the interests of “legal ethics”.
That leaves at least two simple but unanswered questions:
They all knew… so why did they approve?
They knew that an application had been submitted to Unesco a few years ago for George Town to be listed as a World Heritage site. An updated dossier was submitted on 23 August 2007. At the very least, they knew the area is an historical site.
So why did they, how could the previous administration (three approvals) and the current adminstration (one approval) approve high-rise buildings in the heritage zone? That’s why I found it hard to celebrate the World Heritage listing.
In the heritage core zone (guidelines: max 5-storey/18-metre height restriction; tighter restrictions in certain areas):
- AGB Sdn Bhd’s RM500 million “The Pier at Weld Quay” project including the 13-storey, 51-metre high, 100-room Rice Miller boutique hotel at Weld Quay: 100,000 sq feet commercial plaza, 160,000 sq feet retail podium, 23 small office-house-office (Soho) townhouses and 105 condominiums;
- Boustead’s RM100 million 12-storey, 51-metre high, Royale Bintang Hotel (4-star, 295-room) project behind the post office in Downing Street;
- Low Yat Group’s 23-storey, 84-metre high project along Millionaire’s Row (Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah);
- E&O Hotel’s 17-storey, 84-metre high extension.
Praying in hope for an end to ISA
Collective prayer: Justice and love will prevail over the ISA
About a hundred people turned up for the Mass to pray for ISA detainees this evening at the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Pulau Tikus, Penang. It is the latest in a series of Wednesday ISA services that is likely to continue until the ISA is repealed.
Parish priest Fr Marshall Fernandez pointed out that prayer is a powerful means of advancing the kingdom of love and justice and peace. It was also important to have hope, he said.
Toll concessionaires should cut toll rates
So all the toll concessionaires except for one are ready to reveal their toll concession agreements.
While almost everyone is blaming the hawkers and roti-canai vendors for not lowering their prices, the big guys escape public scrutiny and pressure to cut their toll rates.
When the BN messed up the Esplanade…
The PR Penang state government has probably learned a few hard lessons from the “Kings of Tennis” flop. At the very least, they will now learn to thoroughly scrutinise proposals from women and men in business suits who claim their ventures will be free i.e. at no cost to the state government.
I was just as interested to see the concerned reaction by the BN folks towards the damage to the Esplanade.
Human rights youth camp in Penang
Human Rights Camp 2008
Calling all youths out there!!
Amnesty International Malaysia will be organising a 3-day human rights youth camp for the first time in Penang on 29 Nov – 1 Dec.
Come and learn about fundamental human rights, the Malaysian human rights realities. There will be a movie, games, exposure trips to see and speak to human rights victims and how they stand up for their rights, discussions, sharing session by human rights activist and many more!!
Fees: RM 30 (inclusive of meals, accommodation and transportation for the exposure trip in Penang only)
Venue: Yayasan Aman, Permatang Pauh, Penang.
Hurry, register quickly as we have limited places!!
For more information please call Yohen at 03-7955 2680 or email yohendra@aimalaysia.org
PROGRAMME
What should the petrol price be?
Okay, you tell me what the local petrol price should be now, bearing in mind that they have removed subsidies completely now.
Of course, we also need to factor in the need to conserve scarce fossil fuels.
I think RM1.80 without any subsidy would be a more acceptable price now, taking into account the need to bring down food prices and stimulate the local economy while trying to encourage fossil fuel oil conservation and prevent wastage at the same time.
Thanks to Ong Eu Soon for compiling this chart:
| Petrol price | Global crude | |
| RM/litre | US$/barrel | |
| 01/10/00 | 1.20 | 35 |
| 20/10/01 | 1.30 | 20 |
| 01/05/02 | 1.32 | 26 |
| 31/10/02 | 1.33 | 28 |
| 01/03/03 | 1.35 | 31 |
| 01/05/04 | 1.37 | 38 |
| 01/10/04 | 1.42 | 47 |
| 05/05/05 | 1.52 | 48 |
| 30/07/05 | 1.62 | 57 |
| 26/02/06 | 1.92 | 63 |
| 05/06/08 | 2.70 | 120 |
| 17/11/08 | 2.00 | 55 |
No surprise that MPSP is nearly broke
So there are questions being asked about what happened to the RM225 million in reserves held by the Seberang Prai Municipal Council (MPSP). Today, the MPSP is nearly broke as Penang Gerakan chief Teng Hock Nan and Lim Guan Eng engage in a battle of words over the media.
But it’s not a big mystery really how the MPSP blew its reserves.
Some RM65 million was splurged on a new MPSP office building in Bandar Perda near Bukit Mertajam. On whose instruction? Then, there are all the expenses related to the new (white elephant?) Batu Kawan Stadium and a sports complex near Bukit Mertajam.
Apart from this, the BN-administered MPSP indulged in all kinds of “beautification projects” costing hundreds of thousands of ringgit while the basics such as proper drains for the whole town were neglected.
Another Mass in Penang for ISA detainees
Another Mass will be held for ISA detainees at 8.00pm today at the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Pulau Tikus, Penang.
RPK has his statement recorded
RPK is hauled up again for questioning today Photo by Rakyat@work
Time to slash the petrol price
I think it’s about time we slashed the petrol price, don’t you think?
When the price of petrol was increased from RM1.92 to RM2.70 – a hike of 41 per cent – on 5 June, the price of Nymex Light Sweet Crude was around US$125 per barrel (on 4-5 June).
The current oil price is around US$56/barrel, which is less than half of what it was at the time.
And yet, after three four reductions, our petrol price is still RM2.30 2.15 – nowhere near the RM1.92/litre of 5 June, when the price was US$125.
Even if we take the price of RM2.70 at 5 June, a 50 per cent reduction in line with global prices would be RM1.35/litre – certainly not more than RM1.90. It’s time for a sharp drop in pump prices.
But the most we can expect from this government is a 15-sen reduction to RM2.15 2.00/litre, which will not have much impact on overall domestic demand/consumer spending unlike the sharp rise earlier. Neither will it be able to reverse the rise in food prices as a result of the sharp hike earlier.
Images from the PJ vigil last night
Videos courtesy of Sivin Kit, who was at the vigil last night. He says, “After reading the rules for the gathering, I realised by lighting the candle I was in fact breaking the rule as I spoke. But then I did come later, so I missed the briefing! haha”
Standing up to be counted Photo by Rakyat@work
Restrictive conditions of the police permit Photo by Rakyat@work
LIVE: Restrictive permit fails to spoil “best vigil so far”
Updates from ‘citizen journalists’ reporting ‘live’ from outside the MBPJ building in PJ:
2316: “Hahaha… the conditions seem to be like saying you can have a birthday party but no cake and no birthday song.” – kimsng via comments
2225: “What a beautiful day in PJ… We proved to them we are peace-loving anak Bangsa Malaysia.” – Dave via text
2130: Mission accomplished… for tonight at least. The day draws to a close – taking us another step closer to the day when the ISA is finally repealed. Oh, what a joyous day that will be!
2121: The last speaker Edward Ling, 26, has given an outstanding speech. “Everything has to do with politics including daily stuff like the price of petrol,” he says. “They are applying scare tactics – don’t talk politics; don’t light candles. It’s a mockery.”
The crowd of about 300 have just sung the national anthem and are now dispersing.
“The mood is patriotic.” – Participant via text, who is relieved the event has ended without any incident.
2110: Haris is speaking now.
2109: Despite the restrictions, “this is the best vigil so far,” says my contact. More than 200 people are now gathered in front of the MBPJ building, where the lighting is good and there’s plenty of space. “There is a fantastic line-up of speakers who are giving good testimony.” Among them is Din Merican.
The best part has been the sharing given by some of the ordinary people including senior citizens. One senior citizen encourages those gathered to continue doing what they are doing. He equates their struggle to that of Gandhi’s, Martin Luther King’s and other peacemakers’.
Some of those present have candles and are wearing Abolish ISA T-shirts, but a few men believed to be plainclothes security personnel are taking pictures of them, and one by one, the candles are put away…
But so many people have come up to speak and share their testimony and there is a look of happiness on their faces. Someone suggests that every Selangor state government office should have a “No to ISA” sign prominently displayed.
2104: “We are gonna have fun,” says my contact at the scene.
2100: No sign of a police presence.
2055: Teresa has just completed her speech.
2042: Among them is MP Teresa Kok.
2031: The crowd swells to 150 now.
“No kidding, wearing some T-shirts and lighting up the good old white candles have become a threat to security?” – Blog reader via comments
“Torchlights, bolehkah?” – splim via comments
Freedom Run pictures; Paula’s harrowing experience
Running towards freedom from the ISA
Reaching Tengku Kelana Pictures courtesy of a blog-reader
These are images of the ongoing two-day 350km Freedom Run from Klang to Kamunting, which began yesterday and ends this evening.
Meanwhile, Paula Khoo, blogger and emcee for last night’s Abolish ISA vigil in Penang, was released at 1.10am from the Patani Road police station. She will have to report back to police on 28 Nov to find out if she is going to be charged. Blogger Lucia Lai has the update on Paula’s release here.
Read Paula’s account below of her harrowing experience in police custody:
Police detain singer-guitarist Paula at Penang vigil
She’s actually arrested. But probably (to be) released soon.2258: Bukit Bendera MP Liew Chin Tong has been allowed into the police station. He tells me over the phone he understands that she has not been formally arrested but they are questioning her at the moment. 2154: Four or five activists and friends, along with several journalists, are now outside the police station. They have not been allowed to enter the compound. 2133: Singer-guitarist Paula Khoo was detained by police as the Abolish ISA vigil in Penang drew to a close after 8.30 pm, just about 30 minutes after it had begun. Ironically, Paula, who was the emcee for the night, was detained minutes after leading the crowd in a rendition of “Sing a song of freedom”. As the event was winding down, police including about a dozen light strike force personnel arrived. An officer using a loud hailer gave the crowd ten minutes to disperse as the riot police stood in a row behind him. The crowd gradually dispersed, but unknown to many of them, Paula was quietly led to a police van and taken to the Patani Road police station.
Kee Thuan Chye speaks about “fairly current” events
A relaxed-looking Kee Thuan Chye talks about his latest book ‘March 8: The day Malaysia woke up’, unfulfilled promises, renewed fears of a crackdown, and the political transition. He says Malaysians need to be more politically conscious and let the powers-that-be know that they can’t ride roughshod over the people.
Abolish ISA “freedom run” in progress
Candlelight vigil at the Esplanade, Penang at 8.00pm today, organised by the Penang Anti-ISA Network.
An Anti-ISA freedom run from the Pandamaran new village in Selangor to the Kamunting Detention Centre in Perak was flagged off at 8.15am today. The 350-km two-day run, organised by the DAP, is taking the following route:
An Anti-ISA freedom run from the Pandamaran new village in Selangor to the Kamunting Detention Centre in Perak was flagged off at 8.15am today. The 350-km two-day run, organised by the DAP, is taking the following route:
Saturday, 15 Nov 08 (Selangor) 0800 – Flag off at DAP Pandamaran Service Centre (near the market). Route towards Bt Tinggi/Bayu Perdana traffic light (YB Charles Santiago Service Centre). Towards Jalan Kim Chuan and onwards to YB M. Manoharan’s service centre (near Hin Hua school). Simpang Tujuh roundabout and towards Jalan Tengku Kelana (Indian Street). 0845 – Cross the Klang bridge and towards Gold Coast hotel, Pin Hua school. Pin Hua school to CIMB bank and Jalan Meru, pass High School to (YB Teng Chang Khim’s service centre). 0900 – Jalan Kapar, batu 2 setengah. Straight to Kapar town. 1000 – Kapar town. Proceed to Jeram. 1200 – Kuala Selangor. 1330 – Tg Karang. 1430 – Sekinchan. 1630 – Sg Besar. 1800 – Sabak Bernam. Run stops for the night.