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“Foreign instigators” behind Penan blockades?

Anil Netto
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The Borneo Post triumphantly declares:

Foreign hands in blockades

Foreigners caught on camera mingling with and instigating Penans at Long Nen and Long Bangan blockades

MIRI: It’s confirmed! Foreigners are behind many of the blockades set up by Penans in timber camps in the state.

It has long been suspected that many foreign environmentalists and socalled conservationists had been instigating and encouraging the natives to erect blockades and disrupt logging activities, though they had always denied their involvement.

But yesterday four foreigners, including two women, were seen among protesters manning blockades in Ulu Baram.

But wait, Mark Bujang, the executive director of a leading Sarawak NGO, Brimas, points out these were not instigators but AFP journalists carrying out interviews.

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New pro-Pakatan tabloid hits the streets

Anil Netto
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A new pro-Pakatan Malay-language newspaper hit the streets last night.

Konsep Era Pakatan, to be published fortnightly, features news from the perspective of all three PR parties: PKR, Pas and DAP. The paper, however, is not an official Pakatan publication.

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Desperate Buah Pala villagers turn to Umno

Anil Netto
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108

In their last-ditch bid to save their village, Kg Buah Pala villagers have now turned to Umno.

Gelugor Umno division chairman Omar Faudzar has reportedly agreed to hold talks with the developer (Nusmetro) and the landowner (the Koperasi) on Tuesday.

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Misguided obsession with university rankings

Anil Netto
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In this day and age when everyone is obsessed with climbing up rankings – in everything from global tennis to human development status – it is no surprise that universities and colleges have jumped into the fray.

Some interesting articles about US college rankings — by US News and World Report — can be found in Inside Higher Ed such as the one here.

Another article ‘Using Foucault to Deconstruct Rankings’ suggests that rankings could be forcing deans to focus on the wrong things. Universities may be rejecting good ideas on improving the quality of education in favour of other activities that could bump up their rankings.

This is referred to as “gaming” the rankings system.

What has this got to do with Malaysia?

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Perak PR leaders pile pressure on Ganesan, BN

Anil Netto
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perakpakatanleaders
Perak Pakatan leaders question Ganesan’s legitimacy – Photo by Kinta Kid

Perak Pakatan leaders have further questioned Ganesan’s legitimacy as Speaker, piling pressure on the BN.

They claim that even if Ganesan was rightfully elected – “which he was not” – as Speaker on 7 May, “his failure to cease practice as a lawyer would have disqualified him”.

The Pakatan leaders cite Article XXX VIA (5) of the Perak Constitution which states that a Speaker would be disqualified if after three months from his date of appointment, he remains as a member of any board of directors or management or if he works for or engages in the affairs of any organisation (except for welfare or charitable organisations).

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Federal Court disappointment for villagers

Anil Netto
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1210: Kg Buah Pala residents have failed to obtain leave to appeal against a Court of Appeal order for them to vacate the land. The Federal Court struck off their second application for leave this morning.

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Selangor govt caves in to developers’ pressure?

Anil Netto
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The Star today carries a report suggesting that the Selangor government could be buckling under developers’ pressure to allow projects on steep hill-slopes.

Selangor is reported to be drafting new “new development guidelines” for Class 3 (25-35 degrees) and Class 4 (above 35 degrees) slopes.

The state had earlier taken a commendable position by imposing an outright ban on steep hill-slope development.  Its ban on steep hill-slope projects was one of the few issues that had set the Pakatan government apart from the BN government. Residents in Tanjung Bunga in Penang had been encouraged by Selangor’s previous principled ban on hill-slope projects.

Alas, no longer, it would seem. Compared to an outright ban, “guidelines” are pretty worthless. It’s a pity that the Selangor government appears to be caving in to the powerful developers’ lobby.

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Beng Hock inquest: A flashback

Anil Netto
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Here’s a flashback that might be of interest (in case you missed it): check out this Malaysian Insider report on 5 August here.

Ask BN for everything, Anwar urges voters

Anil Netto
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Photos by Anil

Last night, I thought I would go and check out the scene in Permatang Pasir at random. It didn’t take me long to stumble upon a crowd along Jalan Kubang Semang, near the Permatang Pauh old town centre. Traffic police were doing a good job making sure the crowd did not spill on to the road.

As I approached the ceramah venue, I heard a familiar voice – Anwar’s. He was urging the voters of Permatang Pasir to ask BN leaders to do as much as possible for the area.

“As the MP for Permatang Pauh (in which the state seat of Permatang Pasir lies), I urge all of you to ask the BN leaders for whatever you need, whether road repairs or improvements to the mosques or whatever. Take whatever is given, but you know how to vote,” he said to chuckles from the crowd.

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IMF’s call for GST is part of neo-liberal agenda

Anil Netto
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The IMF’s call for Malaysia to expedite a goods and services tax (GST) and slash subsidies is part of its larger – and now widely discredited – neo-liberal agenda. The IMF itself is struggling for relevance now as many developing countries especially in Latin America have shunned its advice after seeing the damage done to the national economies of that continent.

The neo-liberal agenda, part of the “Washington Concensus”, is to cut taxes for the rich and the corporations, slash subsidies on social spending, and promote privatisation of essential services or “user-pay” models that benefit large corporations, including MNCs.

The GST is a regressive tax that will hurt the poor, who are now outside the income tax bracket. If a tax on spending is introduced, the poor will bear a disproportionately higher tax burden (in terms of their spending compared to their income) than the rich.

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