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More worries about liberalisation of services

Anil Netto
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It is disconcerting to see neoliberals in both Pakatan and the BN whole-heartedly welcoming Najib’s liberalisation of services. The DAP, MCA and Gerakan want liberalisation to be extended to other sectors; the MCA even mentioned national security and defence.

No one is saying there shouldn’t be competition in certain sectors. But we are proceeding with liberalisation when some of the regulatory mechanisms are not in place. For instance, health care regulatory mechanisms to cover areas such as laboratory services that were promised a long time ago are not in place.

What has happened to one of the biggest issues of them all – health care financing? The Coalition against Health Care Privatisation had demanded universal health care accessibility and greater allocations for the public health care system. If at all an insurance scheme was implemented, the coalition wanted it to be a universal national health insurance scheme.

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Perak Speaker wants all media to report on 7 May

Anil Netto
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Yesterday a media notice sent out by the Perak Information Department indicated that only 13 media groups – all of them mainstream media – would be allowed to cover the controversial Perak State Assembly proceedings on 7-13 May.

The 13 mainstream media outfits are RTM, Bernama TV, TV3, The Star, New Straits Times, Berita Harian, Utusan Malaysia, China Press, Sin Chew Daily, Nanyang Siang Pau, Tamil Namban, Tamil Nesan and Bernama. They are expected to provide pro-BN coverage.

The Assembly proceedings on 7 May will be closely followed by Malaysians – given the constitutional crisis in the state and the BN attempt to replace the Speaker, who is from the DAP.  Even the seating arrangements in the Assembly could be disputed.

Today, Perak Speaker V Sivakumar said he would meet with the State Secretary to seek clarification on the media restrictions.

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Najib goes on a different sort of walkabout

Anil Netto
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Najib with Muhyiddin Yassin, Musa Hitam and Mohamed Al-Amin Abdul Majid, the Small and Medium Industries Development Corp (Smidec) chairman, unwinding at the golf-course on Valentine’s Day.

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Save the workers, not the cronies

Anil Netto
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Some 500 workers gathered this morning to observe Labour Day at Dataran Seremban.

This year’s theme is ‘Economic crisis: Save the workers, not the cronies’.

Civil society and workers groups are demanding:

  • a retrenchment fund with an initial contribution of RM0.5 billion from the government,
  • a stimulus package that really provides jobs for unemployed Malaysians,
  • discussions with banks to reschedule and reduce monthly housing loan replayments for low-income workers,
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The forgotten children in Malaysia

Anil Netto
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The plight of refugee children in Malaysia is a sad one. They are among the forgotten children in our land.

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“We’re sorry Pakatan has to deal with BN’s mess, but…”

Anil Netto
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Tanjung Bunga Residents Association chairman George Aeria reflects after handing in a residents’ memo calling for a ban on property development on steep hill-slopes in Penang:

With the submission of the memorandum to our state government (via YB Phee), the TBRA and the Chee Seng Gardens Action Committee have decided to give our new and better state government (from the last one-lah) a two-month period to see concrete action. In fact, in my discussion with YB Phee on the day of submission, he did indicate that he might come back to us earlier. We are pleased with his statement and his care for the environment of Penang.

To put on record, the TBRA and Chee Seng Garden Action Committee is VERY aware that this whole mess is caused by the past government under the unresponsive Gerakan-Koh Tsu Koon and Umno government with all their irresponsible approvals. He lost badly and even had to get out of Tanjung Bunga to contest on the mainland because he knew the groundswell against him and he would have lost.

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This is what a ‘walkabout in KL’ looks like

Anil Netto
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Mingling with the masses. Sipping a refreshing drink with your buddies at a local stall (but not finishing it despite all that stirring; too sweet?). Finding out how ordinary Malaysians live.

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LIVE: No ‘kejutan besar’… Mansor Othman it is

Anil Netto
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Photo credit: Romerz (More pictures here)

2213: The worst kept secret is officially revealed: Mansor Othman has been chosen as the PKR candidate for the Penanti by-election on 31 May.

2207: The candidate is expected to be announced anytime now.

2148: Anwar is now addressing the crowd. The other speakers are Wan Azizah, Guan Eng, Zahrain, Fairus, and Balik Pulau MP Yusmadi.

2144: Manikumar, the victorious PKR candidate in the Bukit Selambau by-election, has just walked in.

2136: Former Penang Deputy Chief Minister Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin has made a surprise appearance with Anwar at a ceramah in Penanti that is now in progress, says my contact at the scene.

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Ban steep hill-slope projects, urge Tg Bunga residents

Anil Netto
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Tanjung Bunga Residents Association chairman George Aeria hands over the residents’ memo to the Penang state exco member for the environment, Phee Boon Poh – Photo by TBRA

At 3.15pm today, sirens blared and then two thunderous blasts followed by a smaller one unnerved residents of the Coastal Towers apartment blocks in Tanjong Bunga. At the nearby Straits Regency apartments, windows vibrated – even above the 10th floor

It is not surprising that residents groups from Tanjung Bunga, Penang, have joined forces to call for a ban on current and future projects on steep hill-slopes. Yesterday morning, representatives from these groups handed over a memorandum, signed by 1,558 residents, urging the Penang state government to do something.

They are not interested in stop-work orders; they want a permanent ban.

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Abad Naluri’s deposits seized; now what, PDC?

Anil Netto
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11

After the PGCC fiasco, the end of Abad Naluri’s interest in the Turf Club land (and its plans for a new racecourse in Batu Kawan) draws closer. The Turf Club has seized RM4.5 million in deposits from Abad Naluri after the company failed to start work on a new race course.

This from the NST:

“Abad Naluri has until March 30, 2011, to complete the RM375 million PIEC project,” Ong said after the club’s annual general meeting yesterday.

The company entered into a RM488-million agreement to build an ultramodern racecourse in Batu Kawan in exchange for the club land and to pay the difference of RM103 million to the club. The developer paid the club RM10 million after signing the original agreement.

It had proposed to redevelop the club land into the Penang Global City Centre (PGCC), a project that has since been scrapped.

The two parties signed a supplemental agreement on April 1 last year on a timeframe for the developer to complete construction of PIEC.

It is good to see the Penang Turf Club taking the right steps to enforce the conditions in its agreements with Abad Naluri.

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