Najib has announced a RM100 million government allocation in the form of ASM trust fund shares to assist the urban poor. The government is reportedly now compiling data on the urban poor and hardcore poor to determine who is eligible to receive the aid.
Several questions spring to mind:
Could this be classified as CSI – Corporate Social Irresponsibility?
You be the judge.
Efforts to send food aid to Penan natives in Central Sarawak are now stalled after a timber giant dismantled an iron bridge that provided critical access to 3,000 people living deep in remote areas. Full report here.
Whichever way you look at it, Idris Jala’s appointment as “KPI” minister must be bad news for the other “KPI” minister, Koh Tsu Koon. A friend sent me a text message, with a pointed observation: “looks like ktk is surplus to requirements”, never mind that Idris is supposed to “report” to Tsu Koon on “KPI” issues.
The news comes as the Kg Buah Pala villagers stand on the brink of losing their village. No thanks to Mr KPI for allowing the land to be sold under his watch – and then remaining largely silent about what actually transpired back then while the villagers agonise ahead of demolition day.
So now we have two “KPI” ministers as the Cabinet bloats up again. “Performance now”, huh?
Perhaps one of the first “KPIs” Idris should look at is the 30 per cent target. (No, I’m not referring to the NEP.) To find out which 30 per cent I mean, read this piece I wrote after the Permatang Pasir by-election. Perhaps our country wouldn’t be in such a mess if this particular group achieves parity.
Yasmin, dressed in white, appears like an angel towards the end of this clip as she sits down to commune in silent reverie with the boy whose house has been demolished…
Suspend Ong’s authority until the truth is established, urge Perak MCA reps at a press conference this morning – Photos by Kinta Kid
Representatives of half a dozen Perak MCA divisions today signed a memo addressed to Ng Cheng Keat, the chair of MCA’s disciplinary committee, calling for a probe into the alleged RM10million donation to party president Ong Tee Keat.
The memo calls on the committee to “to grant an order with immediate effect to cease and suspend (Ong’s) authority” until the truth is established and his name is cleared.
Riot police line up against a wall of Pas supporters along a street in Permatang Pasir – Photo courtesy of Wartawan Rasmi Laman Reformasi
A crowd of about 3,000 attended the final ceramah at the Permatang Pasir Pas markas last night – Photos by Anil
As at 11.00am, 39 per cent of registered voters have cast their ballots.
Live coverage in Malay from Permatang Pasir here.
Live coverage in English begins on this website at 4.00pm.
Massive crawl in P Pasir as polling closes. Lots of people on both sides of this rural road.
Logged and cleared for a plantation near Lapok, Sarawak – Photo courtesy of AFP.
More pictures and AFP report here.
Sarawak Rural Development Minister James Masing reportedly admitted some logging companies had behaved badly and “caused extensive damage” but said the Penan were “good storytellers” and their claims should be treated with caution.
The Penan themselves are now experiencing food shortages. Food shortages in Malaysia? Hungry children queuing for food handouts? Who would have thought we would see this day in Malaysia. A Catholic Church in Miri is now providing relief for the Penan in the remote Kapit Division.
Malaysia’s top political cartoonist Zunar (real name Zulkiflee Anwar Ulhaque) and his team are launching a fortnightly political humour magazine, Gedung Katun (Cartoon Warehouse), filled with Malaysian parody and satire.
The ‘alternative cartoon magazine’ will probably have to compete head-on with the popular Gila-Gila publication in the comic magazine market – with one main difference: Gedung Katun’s caricatures will focus on political topics and raise awareness of current issues.
Chief editor Zunar spearheads a team comprising chief cartoonist Jonos (Nur Azlin Ngah), editor and illustrator Ronasina (Affendi), and cartoonists Enot and Haili.