On the day Malaysians celebrated 55th Independence with joy and fireworks bang, across the border was something alarming. Golok Police Chief announced 30 live bombs were found.
In three provinces in the South where many Thai Muslims reside, persons believed to be members of separatists movements burned the Thai flag and hoisted Malaysia’s Jalur Gemilang instead. This is baffling to many because these separatist never wanted or struggled to be part of Malaysia. Their struggle is along about their own separate state or independent from Thailand.
Spokesman for Thai Government regional security agency Col. Pramote Prom-in told reporters the insurgents were trying to damage relations between Thailand and Malaysia. However it would not have any impact, since “Thailand and Malaysia have had a good relationship all along”.
Two months ago, Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim was exactly in the same area. Could this be part of his network’s effort to create discomfort between Malaysia-Thailand good relationship?
Thai Premier Yingluck Shinawatra and PM Dato’ Sri Mohd. Najib Tun Razak in Perdana Putra
Newly elected Thai Premier Yingluck Shinawatra has enjoyed cordial and very close working relationship with Malaysian counterpart Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Mohd. Najib Tun Razak. This is something that Anwar Ibrahim is not comfortable, especially when he was close to Thaksin Shinawatra. Anwar Ibrahim has been known to have used his ‘international connection’ for his politics. Just like Indonesian-staged opposition feeling towards Malaysia and staged demonstrations and attacks against Malaysian Embassy in Jakarta.
It is no surprise that Anwar Ibrahim’s hands are in this new development around Sg Golok area. After all, he is Malaysia’s Supremo Drama King.
In 1951, UMNO started its active campaign to fight for Independence. During the first general elections to elect the consultative council to Federation of Malaya in 1955, UMNO partnered with MCA and MIC and as Alliance Party, swept 51 out of 52 seats contested. With that mandate, UMNO President Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra was appointed Chief Minister of Malaya and formed a team to negotiate for Independence.
The wisdom and capability of Tunku won the trust and agreement of HRH Malay Rulers in a ‘Social Contract’ to opt for a Constitutional Monarchy democratic system and enshrined specific Malay and Rulers’ rights and Islam as the religion of the Federation in the Federal Constitution. In return, the Non Malays were accorded with the rights as citizens where in the 1948 treaty, the ‘subjects of HRHs’ were only for the Malays.
Whitehall gave Malayans their sovereign nation on 31 August 1957. The Federal Government consists of His Majesty Seri Paduka Baginda Yang DiPertuan Agong elected and rotated between the nine HRHs every five years and a Parliament consisting of the Dewan Rakyat and Dewan Negara, where a Prime Minister of the majority mandate sits as the Executive. The civil service, armed forces and judiciary is also styled after the Commonwealth system.
At the stroke of midnight on 31 August 1957 at the Selangor Club Padang, ‘God Save The Queen’ was played on Malayan soil for the last time and the Union Jack was officially reeled down the flag pole. Moments later, hoisted up came the new Malayan flag and the shouts of ‘Merdeka’, three times by the cheering crowds of Malayans. The next morning, at the newly built Merdeka Stadium an official handing over of the interments of independence from Queen Elizabeth Ii’s special envoy, Duke of Glouscester to Prime Minister of Federation of Malaysia Tunku Abdul Rahman.
“Merdeka! Merdeka! Merdeka! Merdeka! Merdeka! Merdeka! Merdeka!”, was Tunku’s immortal proclamation. The Negaraku was played for the first time as the Malayan flag was hoisted up. A new sovereign nation was born.
Tunku promised peace. Tunku promised harmony. Tunku promised progress. Tunku promised development. Tunku promised transformation. Tunku promised Federation of Malaya would be a better nation for all, with better opportunities and economic development programs for the rakyat.
Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra’s legacy lives on. After 55 years from what and where Tunku started, struggled, nurtured and left behind, the nation is brought to much different level. Malaysia has progressed and transformed so far ahead. Tunku’s promises were kept. His work was continued and carried on by streams of Alliance Party and later, Barisan Nasional leader.
The economy grew by 4000%. Malaysia today is the 17th largest world trading nation and foreign reserve of RM 430 billion, which could sustain ten and a half months of imports. The market capitalization of the listed companies stand at over RM 1.3 trillion. The assets of Malaysian banks are aggregated at over RM 1.4 trillion.
Malaysia aspires to be a developed and industrial nation status, high value economy and a high income workforce. The nation’s transformation process is still at play.
Janji DiTepati. Selamat Menyambut Kemerdekaan for the 55th time.
The hauntings by the ‘Phantoms of Pengerang’is going another gear up, after they managed to file a court injunction to stop RAPIDon 23 August. Several lawyers linked to Opposition have been detected consulting the minority of the Pengerang folks.
The issue at hand is not so complicated. Johor State Government is supposed to facilitate the relocation of some kampungs and provide those affected with compensation, inline with provisions in the National Land Code. Included in the exercise are four schools and some cemeteries. This exercise is nothing extraordinary.
The first tranche of the process of relocation is scheduled to start on 3 September. 646 household will be involved in this exercise. The authorities will go to the ground, brief them, do the paperwork and the consultation (with the Land Office term as ‘Hearing’) will commence to determine the value of each land owners property and what is on the property. They would be offered cash for the land, structure or even plants, upon the valuation is completed. After all documentation is completed, the disbursement is expected to be quick.
On top of that, they would also be offered two acres each of agriculture land, a six thousand square feet housing plot at a nominal fee and subsidized construction cost for their new modern home. Infrastructure, would be thrown in pro-bono by the State Government.
New settlements already been identified for the relocation of these kampungs and even the cemeteries.
However, in the anticipation and some quarters taking the advantage of full information yet to be released to the affected parties, they misled and even instigated the Pengerang folks with the streams of hyped up, manipulated facts or fabrication. The intention is simple. Create the hype for the feeling of uneasiness, doubt, distrust and if they can, anguish.
In short, it is another Opposition charged exercise to politicize and demonize any Government project.
Even if it is be which will bring in RM 60 billion in Petronas investments, create 40,000 new jobs and is actually 32% of Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Mohd. Najib Tun Razak’s Economic Transformation Plan (ETP) to propel Malaysia into achieving Vision 2020 and a high value economy nation. This does not include a planned USD 21 billion investments from 20 different petrrochemical industry players which will bring about the added value chain for the downstream products.
RAPID in Pengerang is set to be on the world map when it comes to the most modern petrochemical industry district. By 2020, GNI from RAPID is calculated at RM 17.7 billion.
A coalition of NGOs calling themselves Kumpulan Pahlawan HIjau is expected to organize a ‘Himpunan Anti RAPID’ on 29 September in Pengerang. The usual suspects are expected to be there, if not as frontliners. Its a same drama with a slightly different screenplay twist. It has a very glaring Opposition signature on it.
In one of the desperate effort to be popular amongst the voters especially the young and now restless lot in the last round before the 13GE, Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim threw the notion if they win, no import taxes and AP’s for cars. Cars would be cheaper and more affordable to many more Malaysians.
The retail prices of cars keep rising. Its due to steady rising cost of imported cars and shrinking of value of exchange rates. In the quick snapshot, that notion makes a lot of sense for individuals especially the young people. They are more vibrant, energetic and dynamic in their everyday lifestyle. Disparaged by the hassle of public transportation and the peer pressure of an upcoming lifestyle of a metropolitan dweller, wheels are one of the deemed essential in maintaining their ‘reputation’.
Anwar maximized the popular notion in the last salvo of making his politics still relevant, especially when a lot of him and his fraudulent political antics are being uncovered and exposed straight in his face.
However, the more growing concern for the more matured and strategic-minded Malaysians should be the notion of ‘cheaper homes’ versus ‘cheaper cars’.
Over 2,000 new residential property launches in Klang Valley and Penang
Everywhere in Malaysia, retail price of new homes and value of existing properties have been on the upbeat trend. The average house price increase for 2011 is recorded at 6.1% per annum. A survey conducted shown that 62% of respondent believe that house price index would increase within the next six months of 2012. Around metropolitan and suburban of cities such as Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Johor Bahru and Seremban, the steady increase of value of new and existing properties does not commensurate the increase in average household income.
Around many new property developments launched within Petaling Jaya or Johor Bahru for example, retail price of a new two story linked house is doubled within seven or eight years ago. It is an across the board phenomena. Even true for matured neighbourhoods. Yours Truly bought into a 25 years old township ten years ago, which was ten times what the retail price was when it was first occupied in 1977. Today, the same property is being valued for a ‘forced sale’ rate by the bank at more than double to what Yours Truly paid in 2002.
A typical campaign for a newly launched two story house outside Kajang
After reaching a certain level in their professional career or narrowing within any organizational pyramid structure, it is unlikely for many to be earning three times as a full time employee compared to what they earned ten years ago. The Valuation and Property Services Department (JPPH) found at the end of 2011, the average house price now is calculated at RM 220,000.00.
That is about 11 times more than the GDP per capita which is RM 20, 552.00 and almost 5 times average salary for a Malaysian worker, which is at RM 48,000.00 per annum. For someone or a couple to buy a RM 220,000.00 property, the average mortgage is RM 1,800.00 per month or RM 21,600.00. That is 45% of an average Malaysian gross salary.
In simple terms, an average worker in Malaysia cannot afford to buy a home. Especially if they are cari makan in one the metropolitan cities. As Malaysians, they are trapped in the middle class dilemma. They cannot benefit from government subsidized low and lower middle cost housing projects. However, they cannot afford the houses in the open market.
Typical yet to be occupied house for sale
No doubt part of Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Mohd. Najib Tun Razak administration’s Economic Transformation Plan is to provide affordable homes. Hence, schemes are being introduced such as under Syarikat Perumahan Negara Bhd (SPNB) and Perumahan 1 Malaysia Sdn Bhd (PR1MA) to look into ways to address the demand for affordable homes. However, this effort is inadequate.
Some State Government Economic Development Corporations (SEDC) get lands from the State Government and develop for massive affordable housing schemes, which include homes for the under privileged and poor. It is effective in some states but in some states where land is very valuable such as DAP controlled Penang and PKR controlled Selangor, this effort is no longer active and they are more interested to pander to lucrative property development proposals. State Government Agencies in these states are more interested to privatise or hive off lands to private property developers for lucrative and high end luxury projects.
Average of 60% price increase index on building materials, across the board
However, the most important factor in determining the value of any property development project or proposal is the land. Unchecked, land could be a commodity that is being abused especially by market speculators.
The disparity of housing prices in very stiff and unadaptive to the market demands. IT is simply because, they are interested to sell and fair value
Opposition such as Anwar Ibrahim and his band-of-economists should make this ‘home ownership in-affordability’ as agenda. It is more meaningful than trying to canvass for votes from younger or first time Malaysian voters. Especially in Selangor, the average house price increase index is the highest in the country, standing at 8.9%.
They should combat all elements that make homeownership an expensive feat. Particularly, in Selangor where the house speculators market is very rampant. This is the single most destructive element in why houses are getting more and more expensive through a short space of time.
Transactions for home ownership for Malaysia is estimated in the neighbourhood of 350,000. This strongly suggest that home speculators market is very much strong. As Gordon Gekko described it in the second Wall Street, “Speculators are mother of all evil!”.
RPGT from 2011 onwards
Opposition should be constructive in demanding Federal Government on initiatives. In the last Bajet 2012 presented on 7 October 2011, Real Property Gains Tax (RPGT) was increased. However, it is hardly an effective tool in combatting the house speculator practices. If Selangor Pakatan Rakyat Government could make those who benefitted the Bumiputra discount to pay back the difference when they dispose their property in Selangor, then they should demand for stiffer RPGT rates should be introduced for the first five years of home ownership.
As a measure against property speculators especially the much needed homes for all walks of the society across the board, RPGT should be capped up to 50% in the five years of disposal of the asset. Especially for second, third and so forth homes where the family unit already occupying a particular home and the disposal is not about the family upgrading to a better dwelling.
They should also demand that any second onwards of properties acquired which mortgage have not been settled to only be allowed a maximum of 60% housing loan. It automatically means that the second or more home buyers would have to fork the initial 40% in cash. Any properties that is acquired before the property developer surrendered to the buyer should be disallowed for any sub-sales or transfer to third party.
Housing price index according to categories
Affordable house ownership is something young Malaysians need to be aspired and look forward to, more than a cheaper car. Anwar as the ‘One Ringgit Economic Adviser’ for Selangor should be sincere to tell the newly graduates and young people in the workforce that unlike cars which depreciate through time, property gains value.
Unless the Opposition under former Finance Minister (1991-1998) is insincere in their champion for the plight of average Malaysians under the ‘Buku Jingga’. Then again, when Anwar Ibrahim was the Finance Minister, negligently allowed with knowledge that the property market was at its epitome of speculative boom to a point of seriously affecting the banking industry. Some of these bankers and property developers were his cronies.
Needless to say, Opposition must do ‘constructive politicking’ to ensure that the Malaysian consumers all own affordable homes.
They say, “Offense is the best defense”. This is probably true for DAP Chairman Karpal Singh. He is now taken Pakatan Rakyat to a serious political fix when the issue of ‘Hudud’ was raised, to determine PAS’s resolved in their fundamental struggle within the unholy-marriage-of-(in)convenience-between-backstabbing-strange-bedfellows.
So the deflection is centered on his sedition case, where he uttered that HRH Paduka Seri Sultan Perak was acting beyond his ultra vires powers and dismissed the DAP-Puupet MB Perak Nizar “Brother Yong” Jamaluddin and his Exco as the Perak State Government in February 2009 and instead appointed Dato’ Seri Dr Zambry A Kadir as the 10th MB Perak. Karpal was charged and High Court acquited him without being called to defend himself. However, the Public Prosecutor appealed and Court of Appeal ruled that High Court should call Karpal to defend himself.
Published: Thursday August 2, 2012 MYT 8:54:00 PM
Karpal Singh’s review application in sedition case rejected
PUTRAJAYA: The Federal Court has dismissed lawyer Karpal Singh’s review application seeking a fresh hearing by the Appeals Court of the prosecution’s appeal in his sedition case. A five-member panel chaired by Federal Court judge Datuk Hashim Yusoff said there was no basis to say that there was coram failure.
Karpal had wanted the court to review a decision of the Appeals Court which had also rejected his review application to set aside the decision of another Appeals Court panel which ordered him to enter his defence on a sedition charge.
In his review application, Karpal cited coram failure because one of the three judges, Justice Datuk Clement Allan Skinner, was allegedly not proficient in Bahasa Malaysia and hence could not be in a position to understand the 105-page judgment written in Bahasa Malaysia by Justice Datuk Ahmad Maarop who had led that Appeals Court panel. Federal Court judges Tan Sri Abdull Hamid Embong, Datin Paduka Zaleha Zahari, Datuk Zainun Ali and Datuk Jeffrey Tan Kok Wha were the other judges presiding on the panel. On June 11, 2010, Karpal was discharged and acquitted by the High Court at the end of the prosecution’s case on a charge of uttering seditious words against the Sultan of Perak at his legal firm in Jalan Pudu Lama, Kuala Lumpur, between noon and 12.30 pm on Feb 6, 2009. Karpal, 71, was alleged to have said that the sultan’s removal of Datuk Seri Mohamad Nizar Jamaluddin as the Perak menteri besar and Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir‘s appointment to the position could be questioned in a court of law.
On Jan 20 this year, the Appeals Court panel comprising Justices Datuk Ahmad Maarop, Datuk Seri Mohamed Apandi Ali and Skinner allowed the prosecution’s appeal to set aside Karpal’s acquittal and ordered him (Karpal Singh) to enter his defence.
Karpal subsequently filed a review at the Appeals Court against the Jan 20 decision but he was unsuccessful as the Appeals Court’s three-member panel chaired by Court of Appeal President Tan Sri Raus Md Shariff dismissed his review application on April 5 this year.
In the proceedings today, Karpal submitted that Raus, in presiding his (Karpal’s) review application at the Appeals Court, had said Justice Skinner may not be fluent in Bahasa Malaysia but it did not mean he could not understand Bahasa Malaysia. He said a judge must be fluent in a language and it was not enough for a judge to just be able to understand a language. Karpal said judges from East Malaysia usually do not understand Bahasa Malaysia properly, especially the older ones, and added that Skinner, who was born in Myanmar, was a Sabahan.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Noorin Badarudin argued that there cannot be a miscarriage of justice when allegations were made purely on conjecture and unsubstantiated believe of a party to a proceeding.
She said there must be cogent evidence to say that Skinner was incapacitated, which was tantamount to coram failure.
“He (Karpal Singh) believes Justice Skinner is not fluent in Bahasa Malaysia. He believes Justice Skinner could not understand the 105-page judgement,” she said.
She said she was conducting the appeal where Justice Skinner was one of the judges, and added that the judge (Justice Skinner) was very interactive in the appeal proceeding.
Noorin said Karpal failed to satisfy the court that the order of the Appeals Court (in ordering him to enter his defence) was a nullity, and added that that panel was properly constituted. – Bernama
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In simple terms, Karpal Singh is in a fix. The trial in High Court should continue where it was left when the Judge acquitted Karpal. To stretch the game further, the Gelugor MP and veteran Opposition wanted to drag Fourth Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and four others into his court room drama as a witnesses for his case, when he is called to defend himself.
03 August 2012 | last updated at 05:05PM
Karpal applies to call Tun M and four others as defence witnesses.
KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court will hear on Aug 24 the relevancy of lawyer Karpal Singh’s application to call five witnesses, including former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, in a bid to strike out the sedition charge against him.
Deputy public prosecutor Noorin Badaruddin gave notice to judge Datuk Azman Abdullah that the prosecution would raise an objection to Karpal’s application to subpoena the five.
Karpal later told reporters that apart from Dr Mahathir, he needed to call former Arau MP Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim, ex-Pendang MP Datuk Osman Abdul, current Pasir Mas MP Datuk Ibrahim Ali and former attorney-general Tan Sri Abu Talib Othman to strengthen his case on why the sedition charge should be thrown out.
Dr Mahathir had on January 18, 1993, moved a motion to amend the Federal Constitution to remove the immunity of Rulers and establish a Special Court to try monarchs in their personal capacity for criminal and civil wrong.
Karpal said Shahidan, Osman and Ibrahim were among the MPs then who had participated in the debate.
The speeches of Dr Mahathir and the three MPs were recorded in the Parliament hansard and Karpal in his striking out application claimed the four had committed sedition when debating the amendment.
He also questioned why the then A-G (Abu Talib) did not institute criminal action against them as MPs and senators do not enjoy immunity for uttering seditious words in Parliament.
Karpal, who is Bukit Gelugor MP, said what the four had said in Parliament was far worse than what he had uttered about the Sultan of Perak at the height of the constitutional crisis in the state in February, 2009, the subject matter of the charge he is facing.
The veteran lawyer has been ordered to enter his defence on that charge.
In May, Karpal applied to strike out the charge on grounds that it violated his constitutional right to equal protection of the law.
Yesterday, lawyer Ramkarpal Singh, who is in Karpal’s legal team, read out excerpts of the hansard on what was uttered by Dr Mahathir and the three MPs then.
Deputy public prosecutor Azlina Rasid, who is assisting Noorin, submitted that the public prosecutor, who is also A-G, has been given wide discretion under Article 145(3) to institute or stop any criminal action before a civil court.
“The A-G is not bound by Article 8 (equality before the law) in exercising his discretion,” she said.
Azlina said the public prosecutor exercised his discretion when he charged Karpal based on evidence before him and in the interest of the public.
She said the circumstances leading to Dr Mahathir and the three MPs who made statements were not similar to what Karpal did at his legal firm.
“Karpal invited media personnel and distributed a press statement at the height of an uncertain political climate in Perak,” she said.
She also said the charge could not be revoked at this juncture as Karpal had been ordered to enter his defence.
“This application (to strike out the charge) must be dismissed as it is an abuse of court process,” she said.
Karpal rebutted that a constitutional point could be raised at any stage of the trial.
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Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad challenge Karpal to reproduced his statement in Parliament. Karpal Singh responded with a statement, which was published in Malaysiakini five hours ago.
Here’s what Dr M said about the rulers in ’93
It would have been better for Mahathir to have agreed to be subpoenaed as a witness in my trial. The court would be a better forum to expose Mahathir.However, as I have been challenged, I am prepared to pick up the cudgel.In tabling the Constitutional (Amendment) Bill, 1993 to set up the Special Court to take away the immunity from legal process of the King and the Rulers, Mahathir, uttered the following, among the many other, seditious remarks during a time when he had no Parliamentary immunity from being charged in court for making those remarks:
‘Jika Malaysia ingin menjadi sebuah negara yang mengamalkan Demokrasi Berparlimen dan Raja Berperlembagaan, kekebalan yang diberikan kepada Raja-Raja perlulah dihapuskan. [Tepuk]’ [Hansard 18 January, 1993, page 16]
‘Sebenarnya ketiga-tiga Perdana Menteri dahulu, sebagai Penasihat kepada Raja-Raja, telahpun menegur Raja-Raja berkali-kali semasa mereka berkhidmat. Saya tahu teguran ini dibuat kerana perkara ini telah dilaporkan dalam Mesyuarat Jemaah Menteri dan juga Majlis Tertinggi UMNO berkali-kali.Allahyarham Tun Hussein Onn semasa menjadi Perdana Menteri pernah dalam ucapan bertulis di suatu Mesyuarat Majlis Raja-Raja, yang dihadiri hanya oleh Duli-Duli Yang Maha Mulia atau wakil-wakil mereka sahaja, menegur dengan kerasnya perbuatan Raja-Raja yang tidak harus dilakukan.Tetapi teguran ini tidak berkesan. Pekara-perkara yang disentuh terus dilakukan juga, bahkan ditingkatkan. Apa yang tidak pernah dibuat di zaman British dan pada tahun-tahun awalan Malaysia merdeka, dilakukan dengan semakin ketara da meluas.’ [Hansard, 18 January, 1993, page 19]…‘Kerajaan memang mendengar dan menyedari akan pandangan dan kemarahan sebilangan rakyat yang mengetahui perbuatan Raja. Demikianlah kemarahan mereka sehingga ada, terutama di kalangan generasi muda, yang menganggap Sistem Beraja sudah ketinggalan zaman.Tetapi oleh kerana Akta Hasutan dan larangan terhadap mengkritik Raja, Raja tidak mendengar dan tidak percaya kepada Penasihat mereka apabila maklumat disampaikan berkenaan kegelisahan rakyat. Raja dan keluarga Diraja nampaknya berpendapat bahawa semua ini adalah ciptaan Penasihat-penasihat Raja untuk menakutkan Baginda atau untuk merebut hak Raja.Dalam keadaan ini, Raja bukan sahaja akan meneruskan amalan-amalan yang tidak disenangi atau disukai oleh rakyat tetapi juga akan melakukan perkara-perkara yang lebih dibenci oleh rakyat. Jika trend ini tidak disekat, perasaan rakyat terhadap Raja tentu akan meluap dan menjadi begitu buruk sehingga pada suatu masa nanti rakyat mungkin tidak lagi dapat membendung perasaan mereka. Perasaan yang diluahkan dalam surat-surat kepada akhbar sebenarnya sudah lama wujud.Dengan izin, Tuan Yang di-Pertua, saya ingin membaca petikan daripada satu rencana yang dihantarkan kepada akhbarThe Straits Times pada 1946 oleh seorang tokoh Melayu yang terkemuka, apabila British mencadangkan penubuhan Malayan Union. Tokoh ini kemudian memegang jawatan yang tinggi dalam Kerajaan. Rencana in tidak disiarkan oleh akhbarStraits Times tetapi ia disampaikan kepada saya baru-baru ini oleh penulis.Penulis ini menyatakan, dengan izin “All intelligent Malay leaders ought now seriously to give most profound and careful thought to the question whether the time has not arrived when the Malay Royalty ( I mean the Sultan and Raja) should gracefully withdraw themselves altogether”Jika pandangan seperti ini sudah ada pada tahun 1946, apakah ia tidak mungkin wujud semula pada tahun 1993 [Tepuk] jika Raja-Raja tidak dihalang daripada melakukan perbuatan-perbuatan yang tidak diingini?” [Hansard, 18 January, 1993, page 20-22]…‘Sebelum ini terdapat banyak insiden dimana Raja menganiaya rakyat, Raja menyalahi undang-undang civil dan criminal, Raja menyalahgunakan wang serta harta Kerajaan dan Negara, Raja menekan dan menganiaya pegawai-pegawai’ [Hansard, 18 January, 1993, page 26]
These are among the passages in Mahathir’s speech as reflected in the Hansard. The passages exude serious and often explosive instances of sedition to which the Attorney-General has chosen to give a blind eye.I challenge Mahathir to come to court voluntarily at my trial and testify and justify what he uttered in Parliament on 18 January, 1993. I hope he will not run away from this challenge.
The thing is that, the amendments to the Federal Constitution in 1993 were about making HRH Rulers be responsible of the own actions and ventures as in their capacity as private individuals, instead in their position as Constitutional Rulers. All these complaints against any HRH Rulers in their personal capacity should be brought forth to a Special Court, whose members are to be determined by the Rulers Council.
HRH Rulers are still immune if they are acting in their capacity as Constitutional Ruler.
This court room drama is clearly Karpal’s attempt to deflect from the fix that he is in; he was found guilty of issuing seditious statement against HRH Paduka Seri Sultan Perak on 6 February 2009 and he brought Pakatan Rakyat into a political limbo, with his strong opposition against Hudud.
This is what Karpal’s statement in negating PAS Secretary General Mustapha Ali’s statement
KUALA LUMPUR: DAP national chairman Karpal Singh yesterday slammed Pas for failing to be “realistic” in its pursuit to implement hudud in the country.
Karpal Singh says the hudud issue requires an immediate solution by Pakatan Rakyat parties
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Calling it “a matter of regret”, Karpal criticised Pas secretary-general Datuk Mustafa Ali, who was reported as saying that Pas would not drop the idea of implementing hudud even if it may not be part of the opposition’s Buku Jingga (Orange Book).
“Hudud is an issue which requires an immediate solution by the component parties of Pakatan Rakyat. Agreeing to disagree, whatever that means, is no solution,” said Karpal in a statement yesterday.
He also explained that hudud could not be implemented in a secular state like Malaysia, which was decided as far back as 1988 when a five-man bench, headed by the then lord president Tun Mohamed Salleh Abas, ruled that the country was governed by secular law which meant Malaysia was a secular state.
Karpal also pointed out that Pas president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang himself went on record last year in saying that the Quran did not provide for an Islamic state but for a welfare state.
“This pronouncement by Hadi should have put to rest Pas’ long-term objective to turn Malaysia into an Islamic state.”
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And again, he reiterated his consistent stance against Hudud and the Islamic State.
DEBATE: DAP, Pas again at loggerheads over hudud implementation
GEORGE TOWN: HUDUD will not be good for the public and it may encourage more crime, DAP national chairman Karpal Singh said yesterday.
He said would-be criminals would not be afraid of hudud, knowing that it would be impossible to prove a case against them in court.
Hudud, he said would require proof beyond a shadow of a doubt.
“In a rape case, for instance, you must provide four eyewitnesses. It will be impossible to secure four people who saw the act.
“If hudud is applied, nobody will be convicted. It will be practically impossible to prove a case in court.”
Karpal, who is also Bukit Gelugor member of parliament, said he was not against hudud itself but was opposed to it being enforced in the country, calling it impractical.
He said there was no need to hold a dialogue with Pas to discuss hudud because it would not help the issue.
“I am not rejecting the invitation to talk but I am saying that it is not necessary.”
The hudud issue became a hot topic again recently after former Pas deputy president Nasharudin Mat Isa claimed that Karpal was anti-Islamic because of his open and vocal objections against the Islamic law.
Karpal has decided to take legal action against Nasharudin for defamation.
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PAS is obviously reactive to this latest statement by DAP Chairman, which is still consistent to his “Over my dead body” statement. It was met by stern warning by PAS Youth Kelantan strongman and son to PAS spiritual leader Nik Abduh Nik Aziz
PAS Youth: Anti-hudud Karpal will cost us Malay votes
3:54PM Aug 22, 2012
DAP national chairperson Karpal Singh’s ongoing criticism of proposed implementation of the hudud will cause PAS to lose Malay votes in the next general election, warned deputy PAS Youth chief Nik Mohamad Abduh Nik Abdul Aziz.
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Even though Karpal said he apologized for his 1990 “Over my dead body” statement, many still would not able to forget that serious insult.
Karpal admitted that he uttered “Islamic state over my dead body” during the 1990 general election campaign, but had withdrawn the statement and apologised for it in 1999, when DAP was together with PAS and Semangat 46 in Barisan Alternatif.
“The Barisan Nasional propaganda machinery had taken my statement completely out of context. I made it in the context of the constitutional provisions. Muslims in the country were hurt by my statement.
“I had withdrawn the statement and apologised if I had hurt the feelings of Muslims. However, my stand and that of DAP against the setting up of an Islamic state persisted,” he said.
Karpal Singh is definitely in hot-soup. And he will drag the Pakatan Rakyat into the broth that will definitely spoil all these minority-imposing-their-agenda-against-the-will-of-the-majority cooks.
The ‘Phantoms of Pengerang’ already started their hauntings. It was said that four persons obtained a court injunction from Johor Bahru High Court yesterday to stop the RAPID project.
Four gentlemen namely Chong Chun Yet, Hong Thian Hwa, Chong Ah Sin and Lim Kui Hak ages between 27 and 53 years old named Johor State Government, Kota Tinggi Land Adminstrator and Johor State Economic Planning Unit as defendants in a summon to stop the RAPID project. Their complain is about the relocation of Chinese cemeteries in five kampungs all over Pengerang, which is part of Kota Tinggi district.
This is a precursor of ‘throwing spanner to works’ pertaining to the land acquisition exercise in Pengerang, which is scheduled to roll from 3 September. Any action taken by the Johor State Government against this court injunction which include to rectify the summon is expected to be made into a political issue, particularly by Chinese Chauvinist party DAP.
This is not the first time cemeteries were affected and had to be relocated. There is a beautiful Chinese cemetery created in the middle of Kluang town, as a result of grave relocation exercise. So was in Medini, near Kota Iskandar. However, this is the first time it is being opposed so close to a general elections.
The relocation of 8 kampungs around Pengerang for the RAPID project involves also 4 schools. Johor State Government already allocated a parcel of 2,000 acres for each families affected as part of the compensation scheme. This is on top of the acquisition of the residents’ land parcels, which undergone stringent valuation processs as per provided by the National land Code. A 6,000 sq ft plot for a replacement home is allocated for each family and what ever the value of their home being acquired under the exercise, would be off set for the construction of the new modern home. Johor State Government will also provide the necessary infrastructure for the new township.
Johor State Government via State Economic Planning Unit considered all the affected Pengerang residents’ plight before coming up with a comprehensive master plan for the relocation exercise. The delay with all of these hauntings would set the development of RAPID back. Petronas is expected to begin operation from 2017, where there are actively discussing with 20 different corporations which will bring the right value for RAPIID’s downstream derivative activities and commercialization programs.
32% of Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Mohd Najib Tun Razak’s economic transformation plan (ETP) announced is centered around RAPID and Pengerang. Failure to develop all these planned projects would simply set the ETP program backwards. The plan for a higher value economy and a working population with higher income would definitely be impaired. Part of the realization of a developed nation status ‘Vision 2020’ would also be affected.
The Johor State Government will ensure all the residents whose properties would be acquired by the Petronas Refinery and Petrochemical Integrated Development (RAPID) project as per launched by Sultan of Johor in May, would be compensated accordingly inline with Land Code provisions. MB Johor Dato’ Abdul Ghani Othman assured this at his Open House in Muar yesterday.
Johor gov’t to meet with Pengerang residents on Rapid
Bernama • Ogos 21, 12 10:37PTG
The Johor Government will hold a meeting with about 2,000 residents in Pengerang, whose land was acquired for the construction of a Petronas Refinery and Petrochemical Integrated Development (Rapid) complex.
Menteri Besar Abdul Ghani Othman said, during the meeting to be held early next month, the government would brief the residents on the relevant National Land Code provisions.
“They will have an opportunity to hear evaluations from the side of the authorities, which they have a right to,” he told reporters at his Aidilfitri open house at Sungai Mati, Ledang today.
The event was attended by about 20,000 guests, including MCA president Dr Chua Soi Lek, and state assemblymen.
According to Abdul Ghani, the residents had positively acknowledged the RM60 billion project that would be fully operational in 2017.
Meanwhile, the menteri besar urged Muslims in the state to maintain the Aidilfitri open house culture to prove that unity and harmony existed among the various communities.
– Bernama
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We at BigDogDotCom was made to understand that each landowners would received cash for their land plus a 6,000 sq ft plot for a new home, two acres plot for agriculture and subsidised constructions for the new modern home.
Full infrastructure for a new settlement would also be provided.
The 2,400 hectares RAPID project valued at RM 60 billion is expected to create 40,000 new jobs and the total development in Pengerang area would be another 8,800 hectares in development plan, which will spread in 30 years. Foreign direct investments related to the petrochemical industry have been lined up for final approval. RAPID is designed to ensure the value of the area be harnessed and optimized, inline with Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Mohd. Najib Tun Razak’s economic transformation program to bring Malaysia into a higher economy nation.
Johor State Government also will ensure that all necessary environmental issues be carefully looked at and planned before work starts. Special provisions are being planned for fishermen in the affected area and plans include large fresh water fish projects. More importantly, all State Government agencies should be comprehensively detailed in their engagement with issues pertaining to RAPID.
Opposition-proned activists guised as ‘environmentalists’ already detected lurking in the area and talking to the locals. It has been made to understand that another ‘Lynas scare’ and spook the locals to ‘revolt’ against this ambitious plan for the redevelopment of Pengerang, is already on the play. Especially in the run up of the upcoming 13 general elections and Johor is a BN ‘fixed deposit’. The same people who are behind the ‘Lynas scare’ in Kuantan, should be dubbed as ‘Phantoms of Lynas’, is expected to play very active roles in sabotaging RAPID and instigating the rakyat all over Pengerang.
HRH Sultan Johor and PM Dato’ Seri Najib Razak, being briefed on the RAPID Project after the launch on 13 May 2012
“If you reject progress, you would be left behind. Its like living in a cave. Don’t refuse development plans which the Government is planning and bringing forth to you”.
It is expected the details of compensation for the affected residents would be formally announced soon. Pengerang residents should reject these ‘Phantoms’ which agenda is actually counter productive to the strategic interests of the area and really affected parties.
The ‘Lynas scare’ experience should be a really bitter lesson which the Johor State Government and all corresponding agencies and GLCs involved with the RAPID project should really pay attention towards. Lynas is no where near as strategic as compared to RAPID. Scientifically, the ‘Phantoms of Lynas’ never could prove that the project is harmful for the people nor the environment. However, the succesful sabotage campaign mounted by the ‘Phantoms of Lynas’ managed to turn the project into a political sting for some of the voters and a battle cry for the Opposition’s campaign.
Part of the issue at hand is about a cemetery in the affected area, which is planned to be moved a new site.
Muslim graves to be relocated for Pengerang project
August 21, 2012
JOHOR BARU, Aug 21 — Muslim graves would be relocated to make way for the construction of the RM60 billion Refinery and Petrochemical Integrated Complex (RAPID) project in Pengerang.
A statement issued by the office of Mentri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman here today said the new site of the graves has been identified.
“Although the new site has been identified, the relocation has not commenced and we’re still in discussions with the local Muslim community,” it added.
The RAPID project by national oil and gas corporation Petronas is part of the government’s Economic Transformation Programme (ETP).
It is expected to draw a follow-up investment of RM100 billion into the country’s oil and gas industry.
Today’s statement was to clarify the one issued by the Mentri Besar’s Office yesterday.
Yesterday, the mentri besar had said there has been no relocation of Muslim graves to make way for the project.
“There has been no relocation of Muslim graves. As for Chinese cemeteries, the state government is working closely with Chinese associations to find an amicable solution to the relocation of graves,” Ghani said. — Bernama
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There are problems foreseen for the Johor State Government in dealing with the Chinese cemetery issue. It has been said that a court injection is in the process of being obtained to stop the Chinese graves from being relocated. Opposition particularly PKR and DAP is bent on making this a political issue for the RAPID project.
Johor has been one of a major target for DAP to instigate the Chinese for not supporting and backing BN in this upcoming 13 GE. The Chinese Chauvinists have been fanning Chinese racial issues such as the demand for an independent Chinese school in Segamat as a run up of political rundown against BN, particularly MCA in Johor. 10 Chinese majority DUN seats are in the target sightings of DAP for this campaign.
Soon, we shall see the hauntings by these ‘Phantoms of Pengerang’.
An active commenter describe one time an ambitious politician, whose political stardom almost got everyone bought into his act and nearly made it to the top. God’s willing, then Prime Minister finally saw what the Police was trying to tell since 1993.
This ‘Devil-Incarnate’ and disciple of lucifer is unequivocally definable by these specific descriptive characteristics:
1. Pathological liar
2. Compulsive sex maniac
3. Habitual sex deviant
4. Incorrigibly corrupt and abuse power
5. Vindictive
6. Wife-beater
7. Drama king extraordinaire
8. Grandmaster of manipulator
9. Incurrably insincere
10. Supportive of ‘Kalimah Allah’ for use in Christianity practices
11. Darling of the Neo Con Jews
12. Apostle of mobstreet-politics-leading-to-anarchy
13. Staunch supporter of LGBT
NO need to further deliberate how dangerous this ‘Devil-incarnate’ is to the nation and fate of Malaysians.
This short analysis as a comment is very accurate to describe the ‘Devil-Incarnate’.
That is notwithstanding in the admission of former Deputy Secretary for Muslim Affairs in Fidel Ramos’s administration Umar Camlian in his own words about this ‘Devil-Incarnate’ at Kuala Lumpur, just a few weeks after the latter’s sacking from Federal Government, party and arrest then under ISA.
“We watched him as a a fiery youth leader who talked about Islam in the 70s. We want to be friends with an activist like that since we were also fighting (Ferdinand Marco’s dictatorship) tyranny. And we did. He came over to Mindanao many times and injecting motivational words in the form of fiery speeches to our MILF fighters. Then in 1982, our ‘champ’ was chosen by a Government which had been very supportive for our cause for years, to come into public service and power. We are happy”.
“However as this man climbs up the ladder within the echelon of power, we see very little of him. Then to a point, we sees none of him. He has risen to a position of strategic influence and a member of decision making inner circle. However, we were made to understand that he is often ‘seen’ around Manila, but never bother to be in touch with us”.
By that time, former the Phillipines Armed Forces Supremo Gen. Fidel Ramos succeeded Mrs Cory Aquino as President. Ramos, decided to engage the Mindanao Muslims and they started seriously talk. Then, they had a treaty, ended the bloody feud and Ramos was open enough to bring in several Mindanao Muslim leaders as part of his Cabinet team, including ambassadors representing the Phillipines amongst the OIC countries.
One of them is HE Alvaro Alvarez, who was the Phillipines Ambassador to Tunisia when Camlian told this story about the ‘Devil-Incarnate’.
The ‘Darling of the Neo Con Jews” being ushered to inspect a military parade on his honour and escorted by then Defense Secretary Cohen in The Pentagon
“Even though we laid down arms, but we never disbanded our ‘intelligence’ network. So every time when the Devil-Incarnate was in town, we got him followed. We took very close observation of whom he is with. One of the most usual ‘company’ whenever he is Manila is one of Marcos’s ‘Black Ops’ general, who was then one of the President’s closest ‘cold war warrior’ aide by the name of ‘Gomes’. We followed his everywhere”.
“One time, Gomes brought the Devil-Incarnate to a paramilitary training camp in the provincial home of the late Benigno “Ninoy” Acquino. We saw how this ‘Devil-Incarnate’ see for himself how persons believed to be Sabahan secessionists being trained by ‘Black Ops’ agents for paramilitary training. We are now dead sure that he is part of ‘Devil’s Own’ network to take over the control of this region”.
Today, this ‘Devil-Incarnate’ is a tool of the Neo Con Jewish agenda to overpower and re-colonialise all the Muslim controlled countries just like Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt and now in the process, Syria. He is working out an ‘Arab-Spring’ styled Neo Con Jewish sponsored mobstreet-turned-chaos dubbed as ‘Malaysian Spring’ as a tool for the agenda of minority overpowering the majority.
For the sake of God al Mighty and Muhammad the Rasulullah, this ‘Devil-Incarnate’ must be stopped, at all cost.
We commented about Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim’s drama to pan-handling for sympathy votes, which is actually should be seen as an act of political desparation. Considering the state and scandals that Pakatan Rakyat is in, Anwar has no choice but to change hia tactics in the run up to the upcoming 13 GE.
An interesting article uploaded from Malaysiakini by Terrence Netto:
Anwar to quit after GE13: A psychological ploy
Terence Netto • Ogos 20, 12 10:25PG
COMMENT Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim has reiterated his intention to quit should Pakatan Rakyat not win the 13th general election.
A few weeks ago, he aired for the first time his intention to retreat to academia should Pakatan not win GE13. The other day, he again voiced his intention to quit if Pakatan fails to gain Putrajaya at the elections.
Implausible the first time he gave vent to it, the repetition of intention to quit, upon failure to oust BN, has not rendered it less so.
In fact, after the second instance of its airing, it is easier to visualise how this quit charade of Anwar’s would pan out.
Should Pakatan not win the general election, a wearied Anwar would follow through on his quit intention, probably offering the rationale that his withdrawal would provide second string leaders in his party, PKR, especially, a chance to step up to the plate.
Anwar would then go off to recharge his batteries at some fairly prestigious university where he would teach a course on Third World development strategies besides making a stab at writing his memoirs.
A few years down the road, the second stringers, after doing a fairly good job of manning the opposition fort, would clamour for Anwar’s return to the arena in preparation for the 14th general election on the grounds that the man is indispensable to the opposition’s cause.
In deference to the ‘people’s will’, Anwar would return to attempt another sortie for the top prize – that of being prime minister of Malaysia, something he has had his mind focused on from the time he was in his teens.
Spurious stratagem
The 65-year-old Anwar’s reiteration that he would quit should Pakatan not win the next GE is a psychological ploy to jolt voters to back the coalition he leads to victory or risk losing him to academic life.
It is a spurious stratagem that Anwar should not want to deploy because it trivialises the reformasi agenda by unduly personalising it and renders the serious business of credibly supplanting Umno-BN at the helm of government dependent on individual volition and temperament rather than collective will and struggle.
No doubt, Anwar is bone-weary and mentally fatigued from the brutal demands of an intensive five-year campaign to unseat Umno-BN.
In the last six months, he has aged more rapidly than in the previous four years.
It was always going to be a Herculean task to weld an opposition coalition of ideologically disparate partners together and get them to wage a battle of attrition against Umno-BN.
In the process, he has had to weather relentless threats and attacks to his personal liberty and probity by the Umno apparatus of state power. Those attacks have not stopped; indeed they are intensifying.
That the Pakatan coalition is intact and that Anwar is still free and fighting are by themselves stupendous achievements.
Now, all that stands between Pakatan and Putrajaya are Malaysian society’s vast inertia and a general but definitely receding disinclination to want change as radical as the substitution of a 55-year-old government with a newfangled coalition that has shown in Kelantan, Penang, Selangor, and, if only briefly, in Perak, that it can compose itself frugally, rule benignly, allocate equitably and govern rationally.
Tactical maneuvering
Pakatan are just one crossed marking on a ballot paper away from owning residency rights to Putrajaya, given that the public’s inertia and distaste for radical change are now less deep seated than it was.
If Pakatan’s residency rights to Putrajaya aren’t conferred on them at the GE13, would it be difficult to envision that the electorate would not then have allowed Pakatan to run BN so close that the consequent fallout on a narrowly returned ruling coalition would be so fissiparous that it would disintegrate?
In these straits, it’s not hard to visualise a scenario where crossovers would occur from BN to Pakatan, not a good way to make a government but then nobody seriously disputes the pragmatic truth that political goals are only achievable upon the acquisition of power.
Hence Anwar’s repetition of his intention to quit should Pakatan not make it to Putrajaya after GE13 is a decision that smacks more of tactical maneuvering than it is a reflection of considered judgment.
Except for PAS spiritual leader Nik Aiz Nik Mat – who has publicly aired his demurral over it – nobody among the Pakatan leadership cohort has seen it fit to remark substantively on the announcement.
Perhaps they are adept at recognising a psychological ploy when they see one, particularly when deployed by one from their side of the political divide.
TERENCE NETTO has been a journalist for close on four decades. He likes the occupation because it puts him in contact with the eminent without being under the necessity to admire them. It is the ideal occupation for a temperament that finds power fascinating and its exercise abhorrent.
Its time to celebrate. For the past 29 days, Muslims in Malaysia submitted to God’s will to restraint from all of the limitations of fasting in the month of Ramadhan. As a reward, God decreed that first day of Syawal is a day to rejoice on the ‘winning’ against man’s worse enemy; their own lust.
Its time when Muslims feast and host gatherings, where families and closest friends come together. They beg for each other’s forgiveness and wish them well. For the younger Muslims, they are often rewarded with a small token for the celebration, usually in the form of cash.
In our recent experience with the prosetlyzed Muslims and some of them were actually baptized, we can’t help to admit that there are large number of Malays who are now Christians. It could be something common in Indonesia where 2 million Malays are being baptized as Christians annually. However, not in Malaysia. At least not yet this severe. In fact, the Churches are ensuring that Malay who have embraced Christianity remain to cover themselves and practice their religious rituals as if they are still Muslim.
In our observation, many of them members of the society who are downtrodden. They are in dire need of something and the society failed them, for one reason or another. For that, the churches stepped in and provided for the void that society failed to do for these people. And the churches provision is very handsome and generous. More importantly, with their resources they could go the distant.
We at BigDogDotCom would like Malaysian Muslims to reflect on themselves and their contribution to their surrounding. If as fardhu kifayah every single Malaysian Muslim do their bit no matter how small, the situation would have been different for these downtrodden brothers and sisters. The Malaysian Muslims must have the awareness and drive to pay tithe and give alms.
Of course, those who are entrusted to manage all these must diligently do their job. Failure will simply result the collection of tithe, alms and charities not properly channeled to those who are the right target groups.
The motto for the Federation of Malaysia is ‘Bersekutu bertambah mutu‘ (Unity os strength). The Malaysian Muslims must be united as a society, regardless of the political aspiration or parochial practices. Being fragmented as per present day, members within the society are sustainable to challenges that they are unable to endure. History have proven that when the Malays were united, they are a force to be reckoned with. For a society with very little economic or political power post World War II, the strength that arisen from the Malay unity failed Whitehall’s plan for the formal colonialisation via Malayan Union in 1946.
It is something the Malays, as mainstay of majority Muslims in Malaysia should really reflect, ponder and come to terms with.
In the time being, we all should also remember the members of essential services who are unable to be with loved ones, family, friends or enjoying the long weekend or school holidays. Particular the Police, Armed Forces, Firefighters, health services provider, utilities provider and border controls.
Our choice for Hari Raya Aidil Fitri entertainment is by a Singaporean crooner Halil Chik.
Karpal Singh says the hudud issue requires an immediate solution by Pakatan Rakyat parties
The Johor State Government will ensure all the residents whose properties would be acquired by the Petronas Refinery and Petrochemical Integrated Development (RAPID) project as per launched by Sultan of Johor in May, would be compensated accordingly inline with Land Code provisions. MB Johor Dato’ Abdul Ghani Othman assured this at his Open House in Muar yesterday.
The "thirteen million plus Ringgit" guy rambles.... 
Hauntings in Pengerang
RAPID @ Pengerang
The hauntings by the ‘Phantoms of Pengerang’ is going another gear up, after they managed to file a court injunction to stop RAPID on 23 August. Several lawyers linked to Opposition have been detected consulting the minority of the Pengerang folks.
The issue at hand is not so complicated. Johor State Government is supposed to facilitate the relocation of some kampungs and provide those affected with compensation, inline with provisions in the National Land Code. Included in the exercise are four schools and some cemeteries. This exercise is nothing extraordinary.
The first tranche of the process of relocation is scheduled to start on 3 September. 646 household will be involved in this exercise. The authorities will go to the ground, brief them, do the paperwork and the consultation (with the Land Office term as ‘Hearing’) will commence to determine the value of each land owners property and what is on the property. They would be offered cash for the land, structure or even plants, upon the valuation is completed. After all documentation is completed, the disbursement is expected to be quick.
On top of that, they would also be offered two acres each of agriculture land, a six thousand square feet housing plot at a nominal fee and subsidized construction cost for their new modern home. Infrastructure, would be thrown in pro-bono by the State Government.
New settlements already been identified for the relocation of these kampungs and even the cemeteries.
However, in the anticipation and some quarters taking the advantage of full information yet to be released to the affected parties, they misled and even instigated the Pengerang folks with the streams of hyped up, manipulated facts or fabrication. The intention is simple. Create the hype for the feeling of uneasiness, doubt, distrust and if they can, anguish.
In short, it is another Opposition charged exercise to politicize and demonize any Government project.
Even if it is be which will bring in RM 60 billion in Petronas investments, create 40,000 new jobs and is actually 32% of Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Mohd. Najib Tun Razak’s Economic Transformation Plan (ETP) to propel Malaysia into achieving Vision 2020 and a high value economy nation. This does not include a planned USD 21 billion investments from 20 different petrrochemical industry players which will bring about the added value chain for the downstream products.
RAPID in Pengerang is set to be on the world map when it comes to the most modern petrochemical industry district. By 2020, GNI from RAPID is calculated at RM 17.7 billion.
A coalition of NGOs calling themselves Kumpulan Pahlawan HIjau is expected to organize a ‘Himpunan Anti RAPID’ on 29 September in Pengerang. The usual suspects are expected to be there, if not as frontliners. Its a same drama with a slightly different screenplay twist. It has a very glaring Opposition signature on it.
- Economic analysis and commentary
on August 29, 2012 at 13:20 Comments (6)