Subsidy cuts focus of today’s Cabinet meeting
Posted by Kit in Economics, Najib Razak on Wednesday, 25 May 2011, 12:40 pm
The Malaysian Insider | May 25, 2011
KUALA LUMPUR, May 25 — Subsidy cuts will top the agenda when Datuk Seri Najib Razak chairs the weekly Cabinet meeting today, with many speculating it will lead to hike for RON95 petrol and electricity rates.
Cabinet sources say the government has to trim the runaway subsidy bill which could balloon to RM21 billion if nothing is done.
Read the rest of this entry »
No Umno leader dare censure Ibrahim the clown
Malaysiakini | May 25, 11
‘Mr Minister, you totally missed the point. Irrespective of whether that person is a clown or idiot, he is an MP and should have known better.’
Minister says society can handle Ibrahim Ali
Cannon: Perkasa incited hatred and ‘jihad’ against innocent Christians who have nothing to do with Umno’s gutter politics. PM Najib Razak invited the Christian representatives to meet up with him ostensibly to clear the air, only to have him stab them in the back after the meeting.
Read the rest of this entry »
10 Days in May (31)
Tweets @limkitsiang:-
Who is Msia’s No1 Hack Journalist? Utusan editor w unrepentant remorseless irresponsible seditious treasonous “ChristianMsia” bogey on 6May
Utusan professsionalism credibility integrity never sunk so low in its 72-yr history which had produced journalistic greats like SaidZahari
Read the rest of this entry »
Economists sceptical of Lynas plant multiplier effect
Posted by Kit in environment on Wednesday, 25 May 2011, 11:01 am
By Yow Hong Chieh | May 25, 2011
The Malaysian Insider
KUALA LUMPUR, May 25 — Economists doubt Lynas Corp’s claim that its Kuantan rare earth plant will have a tenfold multiplier effect as its regional economy impact is limited.
Pahang welcomes the RM700 million refinery which the Australian mining giant said earlier this month will create an annual RM4 billion multiplier effect and turn the Gebeng industrial zone into the centre of a “rare earth ecosystem”.
Read the rest of this entry »
“The Great Pretender” Onslaught To Win Big In The 13th General Election (13th GE )
Richard Loh | May 24, 2011
“You had to pretend conformity while privately pursuing high and dangerous nonconformism” (Anthony Burgess)
‘Pretend’: To feign an action or character, give a false appearance of; feign, represent fictitiously, make believe, take upon oneself; venture.
And the person who pretends is called the ‘pretender’.
Read the rest of this entry »
Why I work and stay overseas
Posted by Kit in 1Malaysia, Brain drain, nation building on Wednesday, 25 May 2011, 7:11 am
— Alex Yap
The Malaysian Insider
May 24, 2011
MAY 24 — Rather than harping on race issue, I am writing as a Malaysian not as a Chinese Malaysian. My point is to get the new graduates in Malaysia to see the bigger picture, and hopefully my article can help them get a direction in their career.
I am now working overseas in China (not because I am Chinese but because China has lots of jobs now due to the booming market). Read the rest of this entry »
First love, long lost
Posted by Kit in 1Malaysia, Brain drain, nation building on Wednesday, 25 May 2011, 6:57 am
by AC
The Malaysian Insider
May 24, 2011
MAY 24 — I have long stopped feeling any loyalty or affection to Malaysia, my old homeland that I left some 15 years ago for the United States. Like anyone’s first love, I do feel some affection and nostalgia towards my old homeland but like any old flame, what little affection or loyalty I have has long faded.
I came to the US like so many others via a twinning programme with a US university.
I meandered along in secondary school, earning decent but never outstanding scores. This I mostly blame on my utter apathy and lack of interest in learning Bahasa Malaysia (or is it Bahasa Melayu again?). As a teen I found absolutely no use for the language beyond using it to communicate with some of my neighbours and friends.
It was impractical and its terrible mess of borrowed words for science subjects was a constant joke. My English was also pretty bad. I used a whole host of bad grammar and local Manglish terms. When I got into a private twinning programme, I finally got to learn in English, the language of trade, finance and science. Read the rest of this entry »
PPSMI options
Page
The Malaysian Insider
May 24, 2011
MAY 24 — “We will consider the Prime Minister’s views and what can be done to fulfil the wish of certain groups.” — Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, April 4, 2011
“We have not made any commitment on this yet and we need to assess the feelings of parents. We want to see if it is possible to have some flexibility on this.” — Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib Tun Razak, April 7, 2011
“The teaching and learning of Science and Mathematics can be carried out bilingually according to the capabilities of the teachers or students.” — Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, April 24, 2011
Prior to the Sarawak state election over a month ago, Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Najib Razak made an encouraging announcement, on the possibility of using two mediums of instruction for the teaching of Science and Mathematics in schools. Parents are eagerly looking forward to a meaningful dialogue with the Ministry of Education. However, there has been no subsequent follow-up since then, leaving many of us in the dark. Read the rest of this entry »
Mubarak charged over protester killings
Posted by Kit in Middle East/Africa on Wednesday, 25 May 2011, 6:34 am
By Heba Saleh in Cairo
Financial Times
May 24 2011
Egypt’s state prosecutor has charged Hosni Mubarak, the former president, and his two sons, Alaa and Gamal, over the killing demonstrators during the protests that toppled him and abuse of authority for personal gain.
The decision, which should lead to a criminal court trial, confounds predictions by some analysts and diplomats that the ruling supreme military council would try to shield the ousted president from public humiliation.
Assuming the trial goes ahead, Mr Mubarak will be the first Arab leader to have been deposed by his people in a popular uprising and held to account for abuse during his rule. Read the rest of this entry »
Can They Win, One Tweet at a Time?
By Michael Scherer
Time
Monday, May. 30, 2011
When Barack Obama traveled to Texas this month to talk immigration, David Plouffe, his top message guru, decided to stay home and watch Twitter instead. While Obama spoke, Plouffe sat before two flat-screen televisions in the White House complex. One showed live footage of Obama in El Paso. The other flickered with a lightning-quick vertical ticker tape of people tweeting with the #immigration hashtag, reacting line by line to the President in real time. “I find it useful,” Plouffe says, “to see what’s penetrating.”
When Obama went off script to joke that Republicans would soon demand a border moat filled with alligators, a blur of Twitter messages showed people sending the quote to friends and followers, signaling a messaging victory of sorts. “It’s kind of the next evolution,” Plouffe explains. “Remember back in 2008, you’d have the presidential debate, and then most of the networks would have some sort of dial going up and down. That seems very Jurassic Park–like compared to this.” (Read Joel Stein’s essay: “Following the Leader.”) Read the rest of this entry »
Top 7 Reasons NOT To Vote BN Come GE13
Posted by Kit in 1Malaysia, Brain drain, PKFZ, UMNO on Tuesday, 24 May 2011, 10:20 pm
by Damien Murphy Denis
May 24, 2011
Reading the latest happenings about our country is a pain for many of us. Seeing the kind of filth BN politicians churning day in and day out makes you think that Malaysia is in a state of anarchy.
Would anyone disagree? Politically, economically and socially our nation is sinking lower and it seems we are reaching the point of no return.
We were considered to be a model country at one time but today we are on the way to become the “Next Sick Man of Asia” or the next Somalia.
Can we re-claim our country from these corrupt and good for nothing BN politicians? I say we have too. And we need too. Read the rest of this entry »
Change has to come from us
Posted by Kit in Brain drain, nation building on Tuesday, 24 May 2011, 9:06 pm
A True Blue Malaysian
The Malaysian Insider
May 24, 2011
MAY 24 — I am a Malaysian through and through. I am 45 years old and from a minority group. I work overseas for an MNC which has a hub in KL. I have been posted in the UK for the last three years with a year more to go.
I love Malaysia because it is my homeland no matter what the likes of Ibrahim Ali and Utusan Malaysia say. I guess I am a nostalgic person, too deeply-rooted. I have travelled a bit for my work in the last five years — Singapore, Indonesia, Italy, Dubai and the UK — but when the plane touches down at KLIA, I feel a sense of relief at being back home.
Believe me, some of my Malay colleagues even told me straight to the face that they would rather stay in the UK permanently if the opportunity arose. Most of them have families and their children go to school here.
I admit the education system and almost everything here is better but things will get better at home, I hope! One thing I have always admired about the Malays is their proverb: “Anak dirumah ditinggal, kera dihutan disusu.” For me, the “anak” is Malaysia; the “kera” is the foreign country. It’s we as citizens who have the “susu” and must nurture our country! Read the rest of this entry »
Transparency of IPP contracts ‘long overdue’
Posted by Kit in Energy, Good Governance, Public policy on Tuesday, 24 May 2011, 7:56 pm
Kuek Ser Kuang Keng | May 24, 11
Malaysiakini
Calls to reveal ‘secret contracts’ with independent power producers (IPPs) have regained momentum with the announcement by Idris Jala that the government is reviewing gas subsidies provided to this sector.
Idris, a Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, told Malaysiakini last week that some of the contracts are expiring and that the subsidies offered will come up for review.
“It’s being renegotiated. The negotiations are going on and we’ve concluded some of them. In due course, we’ll be making an announcement,” Idris had said.
However, one reason for lopsided contracts signed in the early 1990s with first-generation IPPs was the lack of transparency and scrutiny.
It now appears that the mistake may be repeated, as information has not been disclosed on the review of existing contracts or the negotiation of new contracts.
“All contracts relating to subsidies and the public interest, especially in the areas of public utilities, must be made public,” said Klang MP Charles Santiago of the DAP.
He suggested that Parliament should be given a say in the negotiation process with IPPs. Read the rest of this entry »
Time to Curb Malaysia’s Racial Attack Dogs
Posted by Kit in nation building on Tuesday, 24 May 2011, 6:43 pm
By Salim Osman – The Jakarta Globe | May 23, 2011
As racial tensions rise in Malaysia, one organization causing ripples in the country is Pertubuhan Pribumi Perkasa Malaysia (Perkasa).
The group pushed the political temperature to a new high when its president, Ibrahim Ali, on May 14 threatened to wage a crusade against Christians if they turned Malaysia into a Christian state, as claimed by Utusan Malaysia newspaper in a report on an alleged Christian conspiracy.
Read the rest of this entry »
Muhyiddin ingatkan orang Melayu jangan terpedaya helah DAP
Muhyiddin Tells Malays Not Be Hoodwinked by DAP
Bernama
MUAR, 24 MAY, 2011: Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin today reminded the Malays not to fall for the tricks of the DAP which is said to be planning to field Malay candidates in the next general election (GE).
Muhyiddin, who is also Umno deputy president, said it was just an attempt by the DAP to hoodwink the Malays when in reality it was a chauvinistic party which had never cared about the wellbeing of the Malays.
Read the rest of this entry »
Istimewa sangatkah Roketkini?
Oleh Aspan Alias | 24 May 2011
Roketkini
24 MEI – Saya mengucapkan selamat maju jaya kepada Roketkini yang sedang melangkah setapak lagi dalam usaha membetulkan persepsi yang sebenarnya tentang DAP sebuah parti halal yang dibenarkan menjalankan kegiatan mengikut undang-undang negara kita. Roketkini akan berusaha untuk memberikan gambaran sebenar tentang DAP dan tidak payah mendengar pandangan dari pihak lain.
Read the rest of this entry »
10 days in May (30)
Posted by Kit in Teoh Beng Hock on Tuesday, 24 May 2011, 6:36 pm
Tweets @limkitsiang:-
TBH RCI – Is AbuKassim conscious MACC in dock/on trial n public judgment on MACC definitive final unless RCI rpt satisfactory acceptable?
Has AbuKassim conducted thorough inquiry Y MACC officers involved in elaborate conspiracy coverup lies in “blackblog” inquest RCI TBH death?
Which officers conducted such MACC inquiry? Is AbuKassim prepared 2make public the inquiry findings? If not, Y not? Will AbuK testify @RCI?
Read the rest of this entry »
Why I chose Australia
Posted by Kit in Brain drain on Tuesday, 24 May 2011, 5:19 pm
By Alan Roy | May 24, 2011
The Malaysian Insider
MAY 24 — Twenty-two years ago, I set out for Australia with my wife and three young kids in tow, braving an unknown future but confident that life would be fine in my adopted country.
Equal opportunity and anti-discrimination laws protect every new immigrant. Social security and educational benefits help the disadvantaged. You turn on the tap, the water runs. You flip the switch, the power comes on. Above all, good governance, honesty, courtesy and civic-mindedness are striking qualities that contribute to the enviable Australian quality of life.
Read the rest of this entry »
Across the Causeway, pump prices dip
The Malaysian Insider | May 24, 2011
SINGAPORE, May 24 — Pump prices for petrol and diesel fell for the second time in as many weeks as simmering worries about the global economy weighed on oil prices.
US oil giant Caltex made the first move when it lowered pump prices by three cents a litre across the board at 6pm yesterday, the Straits Times daily reported today.
The island republic’s Singapore Petroleum Co (SPC) matched the reduction at 7pm, followed by Anglo-Dutch giant Shell at 9pm.
Read the rest of this entry »
Zunar gets ‘courage in editorial cartooning’ award
Malaysiakini | May 24, 11
Cartoonist Zulkiflee SM Anwar Ulhaque, popularly known as Zunar, will receive an international award for his work, featuring unyielding criticism of political follies in Malaysia.
The US-based Cartoonists Rights Network International (CRNI) has chosen Zunar as this year’s recipient of its Award for Courage in Editorial Cartooning at its annual gala event on July 7 in St Petersburg, Florida.
Read the rest of this entry »
