Archive for category Budget Debate
Pakatan Rakyat Budget 2012 (Part 1 of 10)
Posted by Kit in Budget Debate, Economics, Pakatan Rakyat on Tuesday, 4 October 2011
Snapshots
1. Kesejahteraan Untuk Semua
Belanjawan Kesejahteraan 2012 is a continuation of the collective effort by Pakatan Rakyat to chart a new future for Malaysia, following the releases of the Common Policy Platform in December 2009 and the Buku Jingga in December 2010.
Kesejahteraan Untuk Semua can be only achieved with political will to effect genuine and comprehensive institutional reforms guided by the principles of transparency and good governance.
Malaysia’s diversity is our strength. Our economic growth depends on the solidarity of all people regardless of gender, ethnicity or religion. Only through a budget which is gender responsive, and one that empowers ordinary Malaysians to live a dignified life full of opportunities , will we unleash the full potential of our people.
Recognizing the inflationary pressures on the Malaysian public, Belanjawan Kesejahteraan 2012 creates growth for all through providing policies and frameworks aimed towards uplifting the 60 percent of Malaysian households earning less than RM3,000 monthly.
Introduction of minimum wage, reduction of unskilled foreign workers, upgrading of skills and productivity will massively benefit the Malaysian workforce. In particular, special attention is given to improve women’s participation in the workforce. Wage, skills and productivity will improve in tandem.
Improvements to public transport, housing and healthcare will contribute to increasing disposable income of the people. Higher disposable income will enhance domestic consumption, which is increasingly more important in the volatile global environment.
Monopolies and oligopolies will be broken up, enhancing competition while helping Malaysian businesses to reduce costs. A competitive environment will mitigate inflationary pressures and generate more choices for the people. Read the rest of this entry »
Building projects unsustainable in long run, say analysts
Posted by Kit in Budget Debate, Economics, Finance, Najib Razak on Monday, 25 October 2010
By Boo Su-Lyn
The Malaysian Insider
October 25, 2010
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 25 — Putrajaya’s focus on mega construction projects instead of key reforms in its economic plans — symbolised by the 100-storey Warisan Merdeka tower — will hamper the country’s goal of becoming a high-income nation, analysts have said.
They have stressed that economic and institutional reforms to increase market efficiency and human capital development were the crucial elements to lift Malaysia out of its middle-income trap.
“It is not sustainable as we will have first-class infrastructure and facility and third-world work ethics and mentality,” RAM Holdings group chief economist Dr Yeah Kim Leng told The Malaysian Insider.
“The soft part of the development, which is the human capital, will have to take centre stage for the high-income transformation drive to be successful,” he added.
Yeah noted that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s reform commitments in his New Economic Model (NEM) have been eclipsed by the mega construction projects announced in Budget 2011 and the Economic Transformation Programme (ETP). Read the rest of this entry »
Najib’s 2011 Budget is not a child of New Economic Model but bears all the marks of old discredited policies
Posted by Kit in 1Malaysia, Budget Debate, Mahathir, Najib Razak, public service on Sunday, 17 October 2010
Despite all its bombast and pyrotechnics, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s 2011 budget is not a child of the New Economic Model but bears all the marks of old discredited policies which have landed Malaysia in the middle-income trap for more than a decade, setting the country towards a failed and bankrupt nation come 2019.
Former Prime Minister Tun Mahathir’s obsession with mega projects like the proposed RM5 billion 100-storey Warisan Merdeka tower is back with a vengeance.
If Najib is seriously committed to a New Economic Model, based on economic, social and government transformation, wouldn’t it be more appropriate for Malaysia to achieve targets as being ranked among the first twenty if not first ten of the least corrupt nations in the annual Transparency International Corruption Perception Index or having at least 10 universities which are ranked among the Top 100 Universities in the world?
In fact, it must be asked whether Najib is secretly trying to out-Mahathir Mahathir not only to build a tower higher than Mahathir’s Petronas Twin Towers, but which could be acclaimed as the tallest in the world – however brief the claim? Read the rest of this entry »
Video : Umno fighting for its life
Posted by Kit in Budget Debate, Parliament, UMNO on Thursday, 15 April 2010
Broadband Penetration vs Broadband Quality vs HSBB
Posted by Kit in Budget Debate, IT, Parliament on Friday, 30 October 2009
The Finance Minister said in the budget speech that the Government will expedite the implementation of HSBB at a total cost of RM11.3 billion, of which RM2.4 billion is from the Government and RM8.9 billion from Telekom Malaysia, and that a speed of 10Mbps will be provided in selected areas in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor by end-March 2010 while these services will be extended to other selected areas nationwide between 2010 and 2012.
He also said that Malaysia’s broadband penetration is currently at 25%, a rate that is far lower compared to Korea, Singapore, Japan and United States.
There is a contradiction here.
In simple terms, administration is spending RM2.4 billion to encourage Telekom Malaysia to spend RM8.9 billion for selected areas in KL and Selangor to be further extended to other selected areas nationwide.
The government policy in subsidizing HSBB is creating broadband desert in the rural area as its fiscal policy continues to favour the urban and high-income rakyat as shown by its tax cut for the top-earners.
Read the rest of this entry »
Super cover-up of RM12.5 billion PKFZ scandal?
Posted by Kit in Budget Debate, Judiciary, Parliament, PKFZ on Friday, 30 October 2009
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RM12.5 billion Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) scandal.
The Cabinet decision last month to set up a super task force, headed by Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Sidek Hassan, to take over all investigations into the PKFZ scandal is not a demonstration of political will to get to the bottom of the “mother of all scandals” but the opposite.
I see it as a major step backwards in public accountability and good governance, as it smacks of being a super “cover up” task force for the PKFZ scandal.
What is needed is a Royal Commission of Inquiry to conduct a comprehensive and no-holds-barred investigation into the “mother of all scandals” including relevant Ministerial and Cabinet aspects of the scandal instead of trying to sweep the whole issue back under the carpet.
In the first place, is Mohd Sidek the most appropriate person to head the super task force on the PKFZ scandal?
Malaysia’s losing battle for international competitiveness
Posted by Kit in Budget Debate, Corruption, Crime, Parliament, Teoh Beng Hock on Friday, 30 October 2009
What is the credibility of Najib talking about a total innovation of the Malaysian economy and nation when Malaysia is facing a losing battle in international competitiveness because of continuing loss of confidence in key national institutions whether judiciary, the civil service, the police, the MACC or the Election Commission?
This is the reason for the two recent adverse global rankings for Malaysia, falling three places from 21st to 24th ranking in the World Economic Forum (WEF)’s Global Competitiveness Report (GCR) 2009-2010 and a drop of two places in the World Bank’s Doing Business 2010: Reforming Through Difficult Times from 21st to 23rd placing.
The first seven months’ of Najib’s premiership have not seen any restoration of public confidence in the key national institutions but the reverse whether in the strategic areas to fight corruption and ensure integrity; keep crime low to protect the safety of citizens, tourists and investors; or to uphold the administration of justice.
Read the rest of this entry »
A Malaysian Civil Service totally against 1Malaysia concept
Posted by Kit in Budget Debate, Education, nation building, Parliament, public service on Friday, 30 October 2009
To many Malaysians, the deplorable cowhead protests incited by UMNO in Shah Alam section 23 three days before National Day over the relocation of a Hindu temple was strong evidence of the lack of seriousness and commitment of the Najib administration to the “1Malaysia concept” – which put Malaysia in the dock of world opinion with adverse international media reports scaring off intending investors with the spectre that Malaysia is on the verge of greater racial and religious polarisation and intolerance.
The announcement in the budget of the award of national scholarships to 30 crème de la crème students strictly on merit for educational studies in world renowned universities is not proof of 1Malaysia – but the very reverse, of the discriminatory and divisive nature of Barisan Nasional government policies in the name of NEP when they should be based on meritocracy coupled with socio-economic need and justice.
National scholarships to 30 crème de la crème students for world renowed universities is a paltry and most ridiculous figure 52 years after Merdeka.
Read the rest of this entry »
Does 2010 Budget pass as a 1Malaysia Budget?
Posted by Kit in Budget Debate, nation building, Parliament on Friday, 30 October 2009
Or does Najib think that Umno/BN victory in the Bagan Pinang by-election could be used as proof of popular support for his 1Malaysia slogan?
Then, what about Umno/BN defeats in the Bukit Gantang, Bukit Selambau and Permatang Pasir by-elections, if we do not to mention Penanti by-election, where 1Malaysia theme could not ensure victory? Is this to be taken as three by-election defeats as against one victory for Najib’s 1 Malaysia since he became Prime Minister in April?
It is not wise to turn 1Malaysia into a political party issue.
I had publicly called on Najib to officially withdraw the 1Malaysia slogan from the BN Bagan Pinang by-election campaign.
Firstly, what 1Malaysia could the BN talk about when there is even no 1Umno, 1MCA, 1MIC or 1BN?
Read the rest of this entry »
1Malaysia kills – “1Malaysia 2Perak 3Katak”
Posted by Kit in Budget Debate, Najib Razak, Parliament, Perak on Friday, 30 October 2009
Najib will be finishing his seventh month as Prime Minister which he started off with the slogan “1Malaysia. People First. Performance Now”.
Does Najib’s 2010 Budget pass as a 1Malaysia Budget?
Two events have cast their shadows over the 2010 Budget and the 1Malaysia slogan – first, the drowning of 11 year-old Dina Devi Nathan from SJK (T) Mambang Di Awan and we have just received reports confirming the death of the other two eleven-year-olds Devadharshini Mageswaran from SJK (T) Mambang Di Awan and Divya Shree Vasudevan from SJK (T) Gopeng when the suspension bridge of the Education Ministry’s 1Malaysia motivation camp at SK Kuala Dipang collapsed on Monday night, sending some 30 pupils crossing the bridge into the Kampar River.
Like other DAP MPs including the MP for Bagan, Lim Guan Eng, MP for Beruas Ngeh Koo Ham, MP for Ipoh Barat, Kulasegaran who visited the tragic Kuala Dipang site on Tuesday, I was shocked and outraged at the utter recklessness, negligence, irresponsibility and complete disregard for the lives and safety of schoolchildren on the part of the authorities, particularly the education department and the contractor concerned, in allowing the suspension bridge to be built without adequate foundation or safety features causing its collapse in two weeks and claiming the lives of three children.
Read the rest of this entry »
End NEP which has trapped Malaysia in middle-income group instead of becoming a high-income economy
Posted by Kit in Budget Debate, Economics, NEP, Parliament on Friday, 30 October 2009
In his first budget, the 2010 budget, presented to Parliament last Friday, the Prime Minister and Finance Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak claimed that he is laying the foundation for the development of a new economic model to become a high-income economy.
He stressed that the new economic model must be based on innovation, creativity and high-value added activities so that Malaysian can remain relevant in a competitive global economy.
Najib announced that his government “will transform Malaysia through a comprehensive innovation process, comprising innovation in public and private sector governance, societal innovation, urban innovation, rural innovation, corporate innovation, industrial innovation, education innovation, healthcare innovation, transport innovation, social safety net innovation and branding innovation.”
Read the rest of this entry »
RPK’s son beaten in prison?
Posted by Kit in Budget Debate, Raja Petra Kamaruddin on Thursday, 29 October 2009
The crisis of confidence in the key institutions in the country is also highlighted by Raja Petra Kamaruddin’s two days ago, viz:
“To those who walk in the corridors of power, I wish to inform you that I know you are beating up my son in the Sungai Buloh Prison. Every day he is being subjected to beatings to force him to withdraw his not guilty plea and to plead guilty to the various charges he is facing.
“I also know he is being subjected to these daily beatings to force him to withdraw his not guilty plea and instead plead guilty because there is no evidence against him and the charges are merely trumped-up charges.
“Furthermore, I know he is being threatened with six additional charges to the ones he is already facing and he is being beaten up to force him to plead guilty to these charges as well.
Read the rest of this entry »
Merakyatkan Ekonomi Malaysia – Pembinaan kapasiti (Bahagian 4)
Posted by Kit in Budget Debate, Lim Guan Eng, Parliament on Monday, 26 October 2009
Ucapan Belanjawan Setiausaha-Agung DAP Dan Ahli Parlimen Kawasan Bagan Lim Guan Eng Di Dewan Rakyat Pada 26.10.2009 (Bahagian 4)
Teras III: Pembinaan kapasiti
Akhir sekali, DAP sangat menitik-beratkan pembangunan dan usaha menggalakkan bakat-bakat tempatan untuk membantu negara mencapai status negara maju. Sebagai tambahan, bagi meningkatkan daya tarikan Malaysia sebagai destinasi pelaburan global, beberapa rangkaian pendekatan akan diambil dalam sektor pendidikan, penjagaan kesihatan, pengangkuran, kewangan, teknologi, keselamatan, tenaga dan alam sekitar untuk meningkatkan daya saing di peringkat serantau dan global.
Kelemahan daya saing negara kini sangat ketara. Sikap kerajaan yang terus mendabik dada dengan kejayaan lalu akan menyebabkan kerosakan yang teruk kepada ekonomi dan daya saing negara. Walau bagaimanapun, jika kita menerapkan unsur-unsur ketahanan dan peningkatan daya tahan, kerja keras dan inovasi, Malaysia akan mendapat kedudukan lebih baik untuk merebut peluang pertumbuhan ekonomi dunia. DAP mahu membangkitkan semula semangat daya saing kepada ekonomi negara menerusi penerapan daya juang lebih tinggi, lebih bertanggungjawab dan peningkatan tahap ketelusan.
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Merakyatkan Ekonomi Malaysia – Penstrukturan dan pengagihan semula (Bahagian 3)
Posted by Kit in Budget Debate, Lim Guan Eng, Parliament on Monday, 26 October 2009
Ucapan Belanjawan Setiausaha-Agung DAP Dan Ahli Parlimen Kawasan Bagan Lim Guan Eng Di Dewan Rakyat Pada 26.10.2009 (Bahagian 3)
Teras II: Penstrukturan dan pengagihan semula
Amalan dasar yang lemah dan hilang hala tuju serta salah guna kuasa oleh kerajaan semasa telah menyebabkan berlakunya agihan tidak betul dalam sumber negara yang terhad dengan menumpukan kepada pemberian manfaat kepada mereka yang mempunyai hubungan serta kaitan politik, sementara kebanyakan rakyat yang lebih memerlukan terus diketepikan. Dasar Ekonomi Baru (DEB) yang berdekad lamanya diamalkan dengan tumpuan pengagihan ekonomi berdasarkan kaum sambil megenepikan aspek keperluan dan merit, telah menyebabkan kelemahan struktur utama dalam sistem ekonomi negara sehingga menghukum kebajikan rakyat dan kecekapan sistem ekonomi. Di sebalik itu, agihan tidak betul ini telah menjana kekayaan beberapa individu yang berjaya mengeksploitasi DEB. Justeru, suatu usaha perlu dilakukan untuk menstruktur dan mengagih semula ekonomi bagi memastikan pembangunan lebih seimbang antara golongan miskin dan kaya, selain menambah kecekapan dan keberkesanan ekonomi dan daya saing.
Dalam sebahagian daripada teras penstrukturan dan agihan semula, kami mahu usaha dilakukan ke arah pelaksanaan sistem kebajikan yang berkesan untuk memastikan rakyat yang lahir dalam keadaan miskin tidak terus terperangkap dalam kitaran tersebut. Kebajikan harus diberikan mengikut keperluan dan bukannya berdasarkan kaum seperti yang dizahirkan dalam DEB. Rakyat yang mempunyai kekuatan Read the rest of this entry »
Merakyatkan Ekonomi Malaysia – Penyahpusatan fiska (Bahagian 2)
Posted by Kit in Budget Debate, Lim Guan Eng, Parliament on Monday, 26 October 2009
Ucapan Belanjawan Setiausaha-Agung DAP Dan Ahli Parlimen Kawasan Bagan Lim Guan Eng Di Dewan Rakyat Pada 26.10.2009 (Bahagian 2)
Tema bajet alternatif kami iaitu Merakyatkan Ekonomi Malaysia bukan sahaja untuk memenuhi keperluan politik untuk demokrasi yang lebih besar malah mahu menjamin perbelanjaan kerajaan mampu dinikmati oleh rakyat yang membayar cukai sambil mengekang dasar kerajaan yang memihak kepada mereka yang mempunyai kepentingan politik sahaja sedangkan rakyat biasa berhak menerima bahagian masing-masing sejajar dengan sumbangan mereka dalam ekonomi dan keperluan kewangan rakyat.
Kami percaya dengan merakyatkan ekonomi Malaysia, kami mampu bukan sahaja membawa Malaysia ke tahap yang lebih baik malah menetapkan dasar dan institusi yang boleh menjamin hak ekonomi rakyat negara ini walaupun siapa juga kerajaan yang memerintah. Dengan Merakyatkan ekonomi Malaysia, kami menggalakkan pencapaian matlamat membina kerajaan yang Cekap, Amanah serta Telus (CAT).
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Malaysia Hanya Berjaya Menjadi Ekonomi Berpendapatan Tinggi Dengan Mendemokrasikan Ekonomi, Reformasikan Perkhidmatan Awam Dan Membebaskan Daya Kreativiti Dan Innovasi Sumber Manusia (Bahagian 1)
Posted by Kit in Budget Debate, Lim Guan Eng, Parliament on Monday, 26 October 2009
Ucapan Belanjawan Setiausaha-Agung DAP Dan Ahli Parlimen Kawasan Bagan Lim Guan Eng Di Dewan Rakyat Pada 26.10.2009 (Bahagian 1)
Malaysia hanya boleh berjaya menjadi ekonomi berpendapatan tinggi dengan mendemokrasikan ekonomi, reformasikan perkhidmatan awam dan membebaskan daya kreativiti dan innovasi sumber manusia. Syor-syor mendemokrasikan ekonomi telahpun dibukukan awal bulan ini oleh DAP dalam Belanjawan Alternatif DAP yang menggariskan strategi untuk menjana transformasi kepada ekonomi berpendapatan tinggi.
Refomasi perkhidmatan awam adalah perlu dengan ratio 4.68% anggota perkhidmatan awam dengan penduduk paling tinggi berbanding dengan Jepun 3.23%, Thailand 2%, Korea Selatan 1.85%, Filipina 1.8% dan Indonesia 1.8%. Emolumen sebanyak RM38 bilion pada tahun ini telah meningkat kepada RM42 bilion tahun depan ataupun meningkat 23.7% kepada 30.5% perbelanjaan mengurus. Sekiranya pencen ditambah adalah RM46 bilion pada tahun ini telahpun meningkat kepada RM53 bilion ataupun meningkat daripda 28.8% kepada 38.3% keseluruhan perbelanjaan mengurus.
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End the 50-year New Economic Policy if Najib wants to lay claim to innovation or shift to a new economic model as the NEP had stunted Malaysia’s economic growth and prevented the nation from becoming a high-income country
Posted by Kit in Budget Debate, Economics, Education on Sunday, 25 October 2009
In his first budget, the 2010 budget, presented to Parliament on Friday, the Prime Minister and Finance Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak claimed that he is laying the foundation for the development of a new economic model to become a high-income economy.
He stressed that the new economic model must be based on innovation, creativity and high-value added activities so that Malaysian can remain relevant in a competitive global economy.
Najib announced that his government “will transform Malaysia through a comprehensive innovation process, comprising innovation in public and private sector governance, societal innovation, urban innovation, rural innovation, corporate innovation, industrial innovation, education innovation, healthcare innovation, transport innovation, social safety net innovation and branding innovation.”
So far, Najib’s most successful innovation in his First Two Hundred Days is “branding innovation”, as never before has a Prime Minister’s slogan, “1Malaysia”, been promoted so blatantly, not only during by-elections but there is even a 1Malaysia Toilet in Terengganu, Read the rest of this entry »
MCA leaders as great a focus as Najib in the 2010 Budget presentation in Parliament
Posted by Kit in Budget Debate, MCA, Najib Razak on Saturday, 24 October 2009
MCA leaders were as great a focus as the Prime Minister and Finance Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak in yesterday’s 2010 Budget presentation in Parliament – the visibly uncomfortable MCA President Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat and the forlorn MCA Deputy President Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai.
This was a departure from the Budget Day in Parliament in previous years when the budget for the new year had no competitors for attention and would be the cynosure of all eyes and ears.
This distraction is highly pertinent to the relevance of theme of Najib’s first Budget, viz: “2010 Budget – 1Malaysia, Together We Prosper”.
The question that immediately comes to mind is how there can be a 1Malaysia Budget when it is founded on such shaky foundations like “1MCA”, with all top MCA leaders totally discredited after treating the MCA Central Committee members, over 2,300 MCA delegates, the Chinese community and the Malaysian people as “suckers”.
Read the rest of this entry »
Malaysian Economic Democratisation – Extract 6
Posted by Kit in Budget Debate, DAP, Economics, Finance on Thursday, 8 October 2009
(Extracts from DAP Alternative Budget 2010 launched on 7th October 2009)
9. Thrust II: Rakyat First – Restructuring and Reallocation
9.3 Unfair Public Contracts
The Malaysian economic landscape is littered with many one-sided contracts and concessions under which private entrepreneurs reap supernormal profits while the government or government-linked companies continue to bear considerable business risk. Major privatisation exercises were conducted and concessions granted in manners that were not open, accountable and transparent through public tenders.
An Unfair Public Contracts Act will be enacted and an independent public commission to be known as the Public Contracts Commission will be formed to review such lopsided concessions that are deemed to be against the public interest.
Constitutional and corporate lawyer Tommy Thomas if of the view that such an act will be constitutional as it will be similar in nature to the Land Acquisition Act 1960 which allows the government to take over any private land for public purpose, provided adequate compensation is paid.
Such legislation is not unique to Malaysia. Eminent domain (United of States of America), compulsory purchase (United Kingdom, New Zealand, Ireland), resumption/compulsory acquisition (Australia) and expropriation (South Africa and Canada’s common law system) are examples of the inherent power of the state to seize or expropriate private property without the owners’s consent provided, of course, Read the rest of this entry »
Malaysian Economic Democratisation – Extract 5
(Extracts from DAP Alternative Budget 2010 launched on 7th October 2009)
9. Thrust II: Rakyat First – Restructuring and Reallocation
9.2 Managing Oil Wealth
Over-reliance on Oil and Gas
Malaysia is blessed with abundant natural resources. In particular, we are thankful that the country is rich in oil and gas, which created Malaysia’s sole representative in the Fortune 500, Petroliam Nasional Berhad (PETRONAS). Since the incorporation of PETRONAS Group 35 years ago, the Group has paid RM471 billion to the Government, in addition to bearing a cumulative gas subsidy of RM97 billion.
In the most recent financial year ending March 2009, PETRONAS achieved profit before tax of RM89.1 billion amidst the challenging economic backdrop. Of greatest importance was the fact that PETRONAS contributed RM61.6 billion to our national coffers in taxes, royalties, dividends and export duties last year. Contribution from PETRONAS Group alone was budgeted to make up some 46% of the Federal Government revenue for 2008. This represents a steep increase from approximately 20% in 2004. The heavier reliance on oil and gas industry for Malaysia over the years signals an alarming trend.
Despite the fact that the total Malaysia hydrocarbon reserves has increased marginally from 20.13 billion barrels of oil equivalent (boe) at January 2008 to 20.18 billion boe at January 2009, and the reserves replacement ratio (RRR) has improved from 0.9 times to 1.1 times during the same period, our reserves will inevitably run dry at some point. During an interview with Bernama in June 2008, the president and chief executive officer of PETRONAS Group, Tan Sri Hassan Marican said that “we will continue to produce for another 20 years or so.” In more immediate terms, “Malaysia will become a net importer when its domestic consumption, growing at six percent per annum, is expected to overtake national production in 2011.”
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