Gov’t a monster at times, a mouse at others
‘Peter Chin’s statement that ‘the government has got no power to reveal IPP contracts’ sounds like the lamest excuse given by any politician.’
Minister: Gov’t has no power to reveal IPP contracts
Susah Kes: Funny. For a government that places people under the Internal Security Act, uses police or judiciary powers to suit its whims and fancies, has no qualms about hijacking state governments, has enough thick skin to try and bribe voters, and is not shy in booting Anwar Ibrahim out of his position as DPM in an atrocious manner, Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Peter Chin’s statement that the “government has got no power to reveal IPP contracts” sounds like the lamest excuse given this year by any politician.
Read the rest of this entry »
DAP: IPP deals bleed consumers, fuel tariff hikes
Malaysiakini
May 31, 11
The DAP has hit out at the federal government for raising the electricity tariff but without first restructuring the lucrative independent power producers (IPP) sector.
Currently, IPPs are charging Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) high prices despite facing relatively low production costs, DAP publicity chief Tony Pua said in a statement today.
“And the key reason for this is the unfair power purchase agreements (PPA) which result in ridiculously high levels of electricity reserve margins.
“According to TNB, our reserve margin was 54.6 percent in 2008 and 52.6 percent in 2010, which is double that of Thailand and Java, Indonesia, at 25.4 percent and 26 percent respectively.
“The net effect is TNB is forced to purchase electricity it does not need from the IPPs, resulting in inflated costs for TNB and correspondingly inflated profits for the IPPs,” Pua (right) said. Read the rest of this entry »
Maybe the ‘mamak’ leaders can help Indians?
Mohd Ariff Sabri Aziz | May 31, 2011
Free Malaysia Today
Its perhaps time for Malaysian Indians to emulate their Chinese brethrens and dump MIC.
COMMENT
The Malaysian Indians should emulate their spirited Chinese brothers. Once a leading member of the Chinese business community declared that the Chinese don’t need Chinese politicians and ministers to represent them.
That statement sapped the smugness off the MCA. Really, Indians too don’t need to be representation by the MIC.
Maybe they can do so through Nor Mohamad Yakob, Naina Merican, Azeez Rahim, Zambry Kadir?
They too can also talk direct to Malay leaders the way the Chinese do.
Just see how Tony Fernandes (AirAsia) does it and Ananda Krishna (Measat) seems to know how to do it. So to does Ravi Menon (Ara Corporation), Arumugam and G.Gnalingam (Westport). Even the one time driver Kenneth Eswaran (Maicci president) knows how too.
They ALL know how to talk to Malay leaders. So, forget MIC and forget its president G Palanivel. Read the rest of this entry »
More Malays in Australia now, says academic
Posted by Kit in Brain drain, nation building on Wednesday, 1 June 2011, 7:51 am
The Malaysian Insider
May 31, 2011
MELBOURNE, May 31 — Thousands of Malays have migrated to Australia, citing career and business opportunities as reasons for their decision, said a Malaysian academic.
Universiti Utara Malaysia’s Dr Ahmad Zaharuddin Sani said in the in the state of Victoria alone there were about 5,000 Malays, three-fourths of them either permanent residents or Australian citizens, according to a Bernama Online report today.
He said they were both professionals — doctors and engineers — and support staff.
The fellow at University of Melbourne’s Asia Institute said most of them arrived after 1981 under family, skilled workers or business provisions for migration.
The increase coincided with Australian policy changes allowing overseas students to apply for stay extensions. Ahmad Zaharuddin explained this led to many students staying on indefinitely. Read the rest of this entry »
Kalau ada ‘fulus’ apa pun boleh lulus
Posted by Kit in 1Malaysia, Corruption, Mahathir, Najib Razak on Wednesday, 1 June 2011, 7:41 am
— Aspan Alias
The Malaysian Insider
May 29, 2011
29 MEI — Ramai juga yang tidak selesa dengan komen saya dalam banyak isu yang berkaitan dengan ‘intution’ saya yang tidak begitu sedap dalam menghadapi pilihanraya yang akan datang. Kadangkala saya berfikir juga kenapa saya perlu sibuk untuk menulis tentang isu-isu itu kerana ianya hanya memungkinkan saya di rembat dengan hebatnya oleh pihak yang tidak gemar dengan pandangan saya.
Kadangkala ada juga penyesalan kerana saya terlibat mengambil tahu tentang politik ini. Walaupun tidak bergiat secara fisikal lagi benak saya tetap berfikir tentang politik ini. Saya tetap juga memberikan pandangan secara terbuka kerana saya tidak pernah berusaha untuk menaiki tangga kejayaan politik dan saya tidak pernah menyesal dengan keadaan itu.
Oleh itu saya tetap dengan pendirian untuk bercakap dan menulis ketika ada ruang untuk berbuat demikian kerana saya tidak dapat mengelak dari melihat dan mendengar apa yang berlaku di sekeliling saya. Saya bukan seorang ‘social climber’ dan apa yang saya perkatakan itu adalah pemikiran yang sejati tanpa dikotori oleh kepentingan peribadi. Justru saya tidak ada perasaan gentar dan takut untuk memberikan buah fikiran dan pandangan saya secara terbuka. Read the rest of this entry »
Why I left Malaysia
Posted by Kit in Brain drain, nation building on Wednesday, 1 June 2011, 7:13 am
PJ
The Malaysian Insider
May 30, 2011
MAY 30 — Some time in the middle of 2006, I walked out of the Majlis Perbandaran Seremban after another meeting with its pengarah. After two years of countless correspondences and meetings, I officially gave up on them picking up my household rubbish in a proper and timely manner. They were not capable of undertaking even these simple tasks. It was a lost cause.
That was the turning point of my life in Malaysia, and it left me exhausted. It put everything into perspective for me. Once again, the bureaucratic system in Malaysia failed me. Once again, it deprived me of a simple need in my life. A need I was already entitled to as a Malaysian.
I never asked for much, and regarded myself as a good example of a first-generation Malaysian. Read the rest of this entry »
We are in this together
Posted by Kit in Brain drain, Education, nation building on Wednesday, 1 June 2011, 12:44 am
Y. Khairil
The Malaysian Insider
May 31, 2011
MAY 31 — I am a not-so-young Malaysian male of the majority type. You know, the type who people always accuse of being pampered by the government, being coaxed with many affirmative-action niceties and other stuff.
I have lived here all my life and, contrary to the standard image of the constitutionally-protected people, do not have the opportunity nor the money to even step out of my state border, let alone the national border.
I went from primary to tertiary education in government institutions, since it was the only viable choice for my poor family. Until a few years ago, I worked as a lowly factory operator earning just slightly above the officially recognised poverty-level income, although you and I know that “official” things are rarely dependable and practical.
No other employers would take me for some unknown reason, despite my degrees and several language proficiencies. I think I might have been deemed too rebellious for Malay firms or the civil service, and I’m definitely not “leng zai” enough to be courted by Chinese firms. I spent four to five hours of my life daily wasting away in morning and evening rush traffic. What a great life. Read the rest of this entry »
I believe in us
Posted by Kit in Brain drain, nation building on Wednesday, 1 June 2011, 12:30 am
Phua Kai Lit
The Malaysian Insider
May 31, 2011
MAY 31 — I had the opportunity to work and settle down in two rich foreign countries. Why did I return to Malaysia (in 1996, with a PhD and years of work experience in hand) and stayed?
Growing up in Kuantan (now in grave danger of being turned into a dumping ground for toxic waste material) and Malaysia during the 1960s and 1970s instilled in me a deep love for this country and appreciation of its mix of peoples and cultures — best exemplified by our wonderful food and our delightful dialect of English called “Manglish.”
Living in two foreign countries for almost 20 years (the years of study and work drifted by quickly — the thought of emigrating never even crossed my mind right from the beginning when I first went overseas for my higher education on a generous scholarship from a foreign university) made me realise that one can never feel truly “at home” in a foreign country even if one has lived in that foreign country for years and years. Read the rest of this entry »
Malaysia needs a second chance
Posted by Kit in Brain drain, nation building on Wednesday, 1 June 2011, 12:23 am
Lee Choon Kit
The Malaysian Insider
May 31, 2011
MAY 31 — We give people who have wronged us in the past second chances, in hopes that he or she can learn from whatever mistakes they have made. Malaysia needs a second chance from the people. In retrospect, the country has not wronged any of its people. It is after all built on the thoughts and foundation of equality.
I am not trying to antagonise any of the people who left Malaysia behind for the pursuit of affluence and happiness. I am no better myself, as I am pursuing my Bachelor of Arts in Australia; a degree of which can be obtained in Malaysia just as easily.
In my short four months here in Australia, I had an epiphany (or so I thought). I am contributing to the Australian society and my dear Malaysia is left out cold in the curb. I signed a petition for gay rights in Australia but I never did so in Malaysia. I pay tens of thousands of Australian dollars to the university every semester and the lecturers aren’t any better than the ones we have in Malaysia (arguably worse perhaps). Read the rest of this entry »
Negara Ku no more
Posted by Kit in 1Malaysia, Brain drain, nation building on Tuesday, 31 May 2011, 9:56 am
By CeeKay
May 30, 2011 | The Malaysian Insider
MAY 30 — I was born in 1958, a year after Merdeka. My dad came from China and my mom was born in Kota Bahru, Perak. I have known Malaysia to be my one and only home and I am proud to say that I am a Malaysian anywhere I go despite all the shortcomings of this nation.
I grew up in a kampung near Alor Star where there were fewer than 10 Chinese families but we were treated well by our Malay neighbours. We celebrated Chinese New Year and Hari Raya together, visiting each others’ homes, with no fear of whether the food was halal or against our religion?
Konfrontasi bought the villagers together and I can remember my Dad and my brothers helping out doing guard duties together with our Malay neighbours. May 13 came and went without any incident and, in fact, the Chinese families were escorted out to town by our Malay neighbours. Some of my best friends were from this kampung; we swam in the stream and played in the padi fields. These are fond memories. Read the rest of this entry »
Why I returned
Posted by Kit in 1Malaysia, Brain drain, nation building on Tuesday, 31 May 2011, 9:51 am
By Walter
May 30, 2011 | The Malaysian Insider
MAY 30 — I left Malaysia in 1988 not long after the upheavals in the Malaysian political scene, which included Operation Lalang and the sacking of the Lord President.
I spent a total of 16 years away — in Singapore, the Middle East, France and the US — as an expatriate, and experienced living abroad. During the period, I had many opportunities to become a permanent resident elsewhere but home is where the heart is… and my heart was not in any of those places. Once our youngest child left for university in 2004, I chose to return to Malaysia. Why? Read the rest of this entry »
Khazanah MD ‘frustrated’ in regulated industries, reports FT
Posted by Kit in Economics, Finance, Good Governance on Tuesday, 31 May 2011, 9:41 am
By Yow Hong ChiehMay 30, 2011 | The Malaysia Insider
KUALA LUMPUR, May 30 — Khazanah Nasional Bhd managing director Tan Sri Azman Mokhtar has admitted to being disappointed by his inability to trim fat from the portfolio he inherited in 2004 due to political interference, the Financial Times reported yesterday.
“We have had our frustrations, and there have been areas, mostly in the regulated sectors such as electricity, automobiles and aviation, where value has stagnated or even declined,” Azman (picture) told the international financial daily.
The Financial Times said that despite scoring a “crushing victory” in a US$3.6 billion (RM10.8 billion) takeover battle with India’s Fortis for Singapore healthcare group Parkway Holdings, Khazanah was still struggling to turn around companies in its legacy portfolio, which includes national carmaker Proton and Malaysia Airlines.
“Big questions remain about Khazanah’s ability to deal equally decisively with the rest of its portfolio, not least because of government opposition to radical surgery on any of its significant companies,” the report said. Read the rest of this entry »
Makers of men, creators of leaders
Posted by Kit in Articles, nation building on Tuesday, 31 May 2011, 8:36 am
Kalimullah Hassan
The Malaysian Insider
May 29, 2011
MAY 29 — In the movie “Scent of a Woman”, actor Al Pacino plays the character of the blind retired US Army Lt Col Frank Slade who befriends young Charlie Simms. Charlie, despite his disadvantaged background, is a student at an elite school — Baird — which has produced some of America’s great business and political leaders, thinkers and scholars.
Charlie witnesses an act of vandalism, a schoolboy prank, by three of his schoolmates, all of whom are from old money and privileged backgrounds. The school, supposedly standing by its tradition of integrity and propriety, demands that Charlie Simms tells on his friends and even entices him with a scholarship to Harvard if he does. This was the moral dilemma he faced — sell his soul and be rewarded, or, keep his integrity and be punished.
Charlie kept his silence and refused to blow the whistle on his friends. His friends, on the other hand, kept their silence to save their skins even though it meant that Charlie would be punished.
At the disciplinary hearing, before the whole school, the three pranksters had their well-known fathers and family present to support them but Charlie was alone as his parents could not afford the trip to Baird from Oregon.
I have always cherished the scene in the movie when the blind Lt Col Slade turns up at the hearing just as the disciplinary board was about to pass judgment on Charlie. The headmaster had just finished chastising Charlie, saying he had no choice but to expel him because Charlie was “not worthy of being a Baird man.”
That’s when Frank Slade stands up and says, “Mr. Simms doesn’t want it. He doesn’t need to be labelled…” still worthy of being a Baird man.” What the hell is that? What is your motto here? Boys, inform on your classmates, save your hide; anything short of that, we’re gonna burn you at the stake?
“Well, gentlemen, when the s*** hits the fan, some guys run and some guys stay. Here’s Charlie facing the fire, and there’s George (one of the perpetrators) hiding in big daddy’s pocket. And what are you (the school) doing? You’re going to reward George … and destroy Charlie? Read the rest of this entry »
Umno — self-induced rigor mortis
Posted by Kit in Mahathir, Najib Razak, UMNO on Tuesday, 31 May 2011, 8:17 am
Sakmongkol AK47
The Malaysian Insider
May 30, 2011
MAY 30 — I have written so many essays critical of Umno in the past.
Friends asked me why am I still in Umno? How can I write many nasty things about Umno and seemed to get away with it — why haven’t I been hauled up by the Umno disciplinary committee or something and not ticked off? Isn’t there anything good that Umno has done.
Let’s clear one thing first. This is the source of many of Umno’s problems. Some people assigned to themselves the right to determine who should or shouldn’t be in Umno. They then judge others in terms of their thinking and criteria. Pak Lah or any others can’t measure up to Mahathir in many aspects. But they are not necessarily inferior to Mahathir. They are different. They must be judged on objective terms, not the subjective standards of one Mahathir.
Najib doesn’t seem to do things anything right according to Mahathir. The old man is so stressed up and suffers physical debilitations. Read the rest of this entry »
A ‘snap poll’ in Malaysia? Political surprise, journalistic cliché
Clive Kessler
The Malaysian Insider
May 30, 2011
MAY 30 — Once again there is talk of an early or imminent election in Malaysia.
No surprise, nothing unusual in that.
And once again the commentators are considering the likelihood of a “snap poll.”
Again, no surprise, nothing unusual in that. Just silly.
The expression “snap poll” a cliché.
And, as ever, hasty recourse to the irresistibly available cliché is a sure sign that clear, fresh and direct thinking about the matter at hand has been avoided, short-circuited. That an “end-run” (to use a cliché!) had been made around the moment of analysis, the need for thought.
What is, or was, a snap poll? The term was coined to denote an election that is called suddenly, at an unexpected moment, to take advantage of the element of surprise.
The snap poll is to political life, to electoral politics, what Pearl Harbor was to naval warfare. Suddenly, early one morning, unannounced, out of a clear blue sky… Read the rest of this entry »
Economists see higher inflation from energy hikes
By Lee Wei Lian
The Malaysian Insider
May 30, 2011
Power tariffs will be increased by 7.12 per cent on average come June 1. — Reuters picKUALA LUMPUR, May 30 — Economists expect today’s price hikes in electricity and natural gas to be passed through to inflation-weary consumers, possibly pushing up the monthly consumer price index (CPI) by as much four per cent in the next few months from 3.2 per cent in April.
This follows the announcement from Putrajaya today that the electric tariff will be raised by 2.3 sen per kilowatt hour (kWh) or an average of 7.12 per cent while the price of natural gas charged by Petronas for power generation will go up by RM3.00 per mmBtu each six months until it reached market levels.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if the monthly inflation rate from June through to the third quarter approaches four per cent,” said Maybank Investment Bank chief economist Suhaimi Illias. “People also forget that effective next month, the diesel super subsidy will also be removed which will impact the cost of logistics.”
He added that there could be a risk to consumer spending from higher inflation but said that the country’s economic growth should remain intact. Read the rest of this entry »
Because this is home
Posted by Kit in Brain drain, nation building on Monday, 30 May 2011, 6:25 pm
by Malaysian at home
The Malaysian Insider
May 30, 2011
MAY 30 — As a fresh graduate from a local university two years ago, I could have taken the easiest route and become an “instant expat” in a First World country. Singapore was just a Causeway away, after all, and the Malaysians who migrated there, my many relatives included, often came back with wonderful stories of success and the wealth that came with it.
It is a land of opportunity, they say, and if you want your talents appreciated (and be really rich), come here!
So I decided I would give it a shot, applying for a few jobs in Singapore before finally being called up for my first interview. And what I encountered shocked me. The interviewers were rude and chauvinistic, chiding me for my lack of Mandarin skills and openly dismissing my qualifications. The last straw for me came when I filled in my salary expectations. Read the rest of this entry »
Power rates up 7%, gas price to be floated
Kuek Ser Kuang Keng | May 30, 11
Malaysiakini
The federal government has raised electricity tariff by an average of 7.12 percent beginning June 1 as part of its subsidy reduction exercise.
The average rise is 2.23cent/kW unit, from the current average rate of 31.31 to 33.54cent/kW unit.
Natural gas prices are also set to rise by RM3 per mmBtu every six months until it reaches market levels by 2016, when its price would be fully floated.
Domestic users who use less than 300kW unit per month will not be subjected to this new electricity pricing scheme, which is multi-tiered according to usage. Read the rest of this entry »
Tambatuon Saga: A Village fights for its life
By Dr Edwin Bosi
Rombituon in the local Dusun dialect means stars. When the early settlers came down into this valley they saw thousands of twinkling stars as darkness set. Then they realize there were so many people settling down the plain as many as the stars that appeared before them. The people were enchanted with its beauty, decided to call it home and called it Tambatuon. The origin of Tambatuon went way back few hundred years ago, the people originating from Nunuk Ragang and Bundu Tuhan in the Ranau highlands. They believe Tambatuon has seen 17 generations of which only eight can be traced for now. The Dusuns predominates although other races such as the Chinese, Murut Lundayeh, Iban and Dusun-Timorese have made this village more plural.
The water in the river was pleasantly cooling, clean, crystal clear and refreshing. Fish was abundance. The river is lined with beautiful pebbles and boulders, the sound of rapids so pleasant never failing to draw the freshness and cooling breeze accompanied by nature’s forest aroma. As the eyes follow the meandering river one can see a commanding hill called Saduk Saduk (Nungkok) and well beyond it is the majestic Mount Kinabalu, the second highest mountain in South East Asia. For a moment one then realizes that the water before them has started up on the peak of Mt Kinabalu. Read the rest of this entry »
