Digest on Malaysian News

National Service Training Department has deferred the traumatised Jane Lim from attending NS training following her brother’s recent death.

We hope Dr Tiki Lafe, the chairman of National Service Training Council has a kind heart and can do all in his power and influence to grant the wish of Jane's family to exempt her for NS Training.

NS Dept doing its best to exempt Jane from training
By ALLISON LAI

MALACCA: The National Service Training Department will do its best to exempt traumatised Jane Lim from attending NS training following her brother’s recent death.

National Service Training Council chairman Datuk Dr Tiki Lafe confirmed he had taken the first step by signing a letter to allow her training to be deferred.

“We understand the word deferment does not sound nice to the parents because they may think Jane needs to go for training in future.

“But don’t worry, we know what to do. Leave the matter to me and the department,” he told reporters after visiting a Trainees’ Health Management seminar for NS health officers in Ayer Keroh yesterday.

Dr Tiki said the department was not cruel so as to force trainees undergo training, adding that he had put himself in the parents’ shoes.

“If there are any chances, or some loopholes that we can use, we will excuse all these children on compassionate ground,” he said, adding that the department had received about 4,000 deferment applications.

Dr Tiki said he would like to exempt Jane if he could, but, there were rules and regulations.

“The moment we do not observe the rules, then everybody will start asking (for exemption) and the whole training programme will turn upside down,” he said.

Jane is seeking exemption from NS duty after her parents Lim Geok Kim and Meng Yeok said they would not let their only surviving child to attend training.

Their 20-year-old son Ricky passed away on Sept 15 – nine days after completing his three-month NS stint at the Lagenda Gunung Ledang Asahan camp.

On another matter, Dr Tiki said two camps out of the 87 camps nationwide were closed owing to landslide and location problem.

One is in Balik Pulau in Penang and the other in Sipitang, Sabah.

The rest of the 85 camps are ready for the next batch of trainees beginning on Dec 27.

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Shah Alam High Court has decided the fate of the three accused implicated in the murder of Mongolian Altantuya Shaariibuu. Abdul Razak Baginda is freed but the outcome is expected as most have suspected that there are unseen hands involved in the decision making.

The court however ordered Azilah and Sirul to enter their defence to a charge of murder in the Altantuya Shaariibuu case.

From TheStar

Altantuya case: Razak acquitted
By CHELSEA L.Y. NG and NURBAITI HAMDAN

SHAH ALAM: Political analyst Abdul Razak Baginda walked out a free man from the High Court here after two years of standing trial for abetment in the murder of Mongolian Altantuya Shaariibuu.

The first thing he did after the judge pronounced his freedom was to hug his daughter Rowena and wife Mazlinda Makhzan.

Justice Mohd Zaki Md Yasin ruled that the exculpatory statements in a tell-all affidavit made by Razak at the outset of the trial had cleared him of the abetment charge.

“In the absence of the rebuttal evidence against them, coupled with the fact that there is no legal onus for him to rebut any statutory presumptions, there is clearly no reason for the statements to be ignored and rejected.

“I agree with the counsel that the exculpatory parts which are corroborated in material particulars (by four witnesses) and other surrounding circumstances have clearly negated and nullified the act of abetment as alleged against the accused,’’ Zaki said while reading out his ruling.

The four witnesses were Razak’s private eye P. Balasubramaniam, Altantuya’s cousin Burmaa Oyunchimeg, an old flame of principal accused C/Insp Azilah Hadri, who is a Special Action Squad (UTK) operative - L/Kpl Rohaniza Roslan and Razak’s secretary Siti Aishah Mohd Azlan.

At the start of the trial, Abdul Razak filed an affidavit saying he had an affair with Altantuya after meeting her in 2004.

The tell-all affidavit said they had trysts in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Singapore and France, but broke up in 2005.

The judge’s ruling on Friday came after he had perused about 6,000 pages of notes of proceedings and written submissions.

Justice Zaki said once the essential elements of abetment of the murder was not proven on a prima facie basis, “any other inferences and doubts that may have arisen must be resolved, as is trite, in favour of the accused (Razak)”.

“It is not for the court to call for the defence merely to clear or clarify such doubts. I find there is no prima facie case for him to answer his charge. He is therefore acquitted and discharged forthwith,’’ he said.

The trial began in November 2006, during which 84 prosecution witnesses testified.

Also in the dock for the murder charge is another UTK operative Kpl Sirul Azhar Umar, 37.

Both C/Insp Azilah and Kpl Sirul Azhar were ordered to enter their defence on Friday against the charge of murdering Altantuya near Shah Alam, Selangor, between 10pm on Oct 19, 2006 and 1am the following day.

They chose to testify under oath. Trial has been set for Nov 10 onwards

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Judge Datuk Mohd Zaki Md Yasin of the Shah Alam High Court will decide today if three individuals have to enter their defence (prima facie) on a charge of murdering Mongolian national Altantuya Shaariibuu, who was allegedly shot before her naked body was blown up with explosives two years ago. Prosection closed the case five weeks ago. The court proceeding has gone on for almost two year.

The three accused individuals are Chief Inspector Azilah Hadri, Corporal Sirul Azhar Umar (both members of the Special Action Unit/Unit Tindakan Khas (UTK) and a renowned political analyst and strategist Abdul Razak Abdullah Baginda.

The high profile case has generated a big following especially when there were rumours of a public figure linked to the murder, revelations of intimate involvement of one of the accused with the victim and some shady business dealings.

If the three accused are discharged, the court would do great criminal injustice to Altantuya Shaariibuu and her family as well as the Malaysian public.

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Is is real that the Immigration Department is treating the ethnic minorities from East Malaysia as non-bumiputra ?

Mahmood Adam, Immigration director-general stated that the department managed to attract about 30% non-bumiputra personnel in its latest recruitment drive. Those 30% are the non-Malays, such as the Chinese, Indian AND ethnic minorities from Sabah and Sarawak like the Iban, Bidayuh, Penan, Orang Ulu, Bajau, Kadazandusun, Murut, etc.

First, the ethnic minitories as far as Sarawak is concerned, is the pre-bumi of Sarawak. They settled in Sarawak even before the arrival of the Malays. As for Sabah, the ethnic group settled in Sabah even before the arrival of the Malays from the Brunei Sultanate (or the arrival of UMNO Malays from Semanjung).

Point 12 (of the Malaysia Formation Agreement)- The native of Sabah have equal rights as those of Malays in Malaya. Thus native of Sabah is not second class Bumiputra or Bumiputra Lain Lain.


However, going forward, we now should be treating each other as Malaysian and not bumiputra or non-bumiputra. Afterall, every rakyat is expected to contribute to the nation building regardless if you are Malay or non-Malay.

From The Star

Immigration finally gets non-bumis to join up
By SIM LEOI LEOI

PUTRAJAYA: The Immigration Depart­ment scored a first recently when it attracted about 30% non-bumiputra personnel in its latest recruitment drive.

“This is the first time that any government agency has managed to attract such a big number of non-Malays,” said department director-general Datuk Mahmood Adam.

He said that of the 940 new personnel recruited, slightly more than 30% comprised Chinese, Indians and ethnic minorities from Sabah and Sarawak.

“The new personnel will be stationed along the east coast of the peninsula, Kedah, Sabah and Sarawak. In the beginning, many of them will be sent to work at the Immigration depots to get experience before being assigned to various duties.

“I am proud we have managed to attract such a huge number of non-Malays,” Mahmood told reporters after presenting the appointment letters to the personnel at the department headquarters here yesterday.

Earlier, when addressing the new recruits, Mahmood said they should preserve the image and reputation of their “parents and family members” by not indulging in corrupt practices.

The new intake would boost the numbers at the department to 11,000 personnel, which would help to enhance enforcement and control the 22 million tourists and 2.4 million foreign workers in the country.

“At present, the lack of personnel is making our work difficult. We have 240,000 people entering through Johor alone and we have over 200 entry points in the country.

“We have asked the Public Service Department for 3,000 new enforcement personnel,” he said.

On the lowering of passport fees, Mahmood said the department had completed its study on the matter and submitted it to the Government for consideration.

“The Government will decide by the year’s end. We have identified the security features we can reduce from 35 currently to five – those which are redundant, overlapping or superseded by newer technology.

“So, hopefully, by doing away with such features, we can bring down the cost of passports without jeopardising security standards,” he said.

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Falsehood being practiced as Islamic in Malaysia is among a few interesting keywords extracted from a Letter to MalaysiaKini (full letter can be read below).

Among other things, the letter also highlight the following questions:
* In Malaysia, it is a fallacy that Malays equal Islam as what is being practiced by some Malays is not what is propagated by the Prophet (pbuh) or according to the Quran.

* A Malay-Muslim in Malaysia can say anything and everything about the non-Muslim and it is totally acceptable but not so for non-Muslims as they can't even hold a forum to discuss about conversion to Islam as it is presumed a crime against Islam.

From MalaysiaKini: Non-Muslims against discrimination, not Islam

Muhammad Abdullah | Oct 7, 08 4:42pm

It's funny now when I recollect my experience as a new convert to Islam. I was told by the ustaz whom performed the ceremony:‘Do not follow the Malays but follow the Quran'. I did not understand then what it meant and I brushed aside his advice at that time in ignorance.

After looking at the events that are unfolding in Malaysia, I am beginning to understand what the ustaz meant. In Malaysia, it is a fallacy that Malays equal Islam as what is being practiced by the Malays is not what is propagated by the Prophet (pbuh) or according to the Quran. I am not saying that there aren't any following the teachings, as I know many who do.

The more I read the Quran, the more I understand how it is being practiced here. Raja Petra Kamaruddin wrote: 'My god is different from your god' in ‘Malaysia Today' on how he viewed Islam as being practiced by some in Malaysia.

I am in the position to understand better how the non-Muslims are feeling about the Malays and Islam at large as far as Malaysia is concerned. They are not against Islam but they are against discrimination and falsehood being practiced as Islamic in Malaysia.

A Malay-Muslim in Malaysia can say anything and everything about the non-Muslim and it is totally acceptable but not so for non-Muslims as they can't even hold a forum to discuss about conversion to Islam as it is presumed a crime against Islam.

They feel that the non-Muslims are challenging Islam or even more so the Malays. If this isn't double standards than what is? If you are a Malay-Muslim, you have every right to voice your opinions but you won't allow non-Muslims to even hold a forum to discuss about their issues or problems.

Islam is a peaceful religion but are we are showing the non-Muslims and the whole world how ‘peaceful' we are in our conduct?

I bet many Malay-Muslims will never understand the predicament of the non-Muslims in this country because they have never been on the other side neither are they willing to sit down at the same table to discuss matters.

I grew up in a Malay kampung when I was young and I was treated with more respect by the Malay folk even when I was practicing a different faith then. They would come over to my house during the festive seasons to enjoy the feast and they were very much Muslims.

But that has changed now as it is considered to be un-Islamic to visit the house of a non-believer! How sad that some religious bigots have influenced the minds of the Malays over the years.

Non-Muslims will always be skeptical about Islam and Muslims in this country as long as the Malays behave opposite to what is taught by the Quran. It hurts me more to see how the Holy Book has been distorted by some and misunderstood by many.

May I quote Surah Al-Nahl, Ayat 125: ‘Invite (all) to the Way of the Lord with wisdom and beautiful discourse; and argue with them in ways that are best and most gracious: for the Lord knoweth best, who have strayed from His Path, and who receive guidance.'

To be respected, respect others first and try to understand before being understood. I truly wish the Muslims in Malaysia would take stock of our deeds as we are answerable during Judgment Day. Whatever we do, Allah knows it all.

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River transportation in Sarawak has always played a big role in moving the rakyat from places to places and road transportation is equally important. Sadly for the case of Sarawak, roads are greatly inadequate and in most cases, roads are not upgraded despite the growing presence of the community in that place.

The same fate fell on Lundu-Biawak, west of Sarawak whereby the roads by built in 1972 but 36 years have past and the roads is still gravel-surfaced. During the 36 years period, West Malaysian have enjoyed 10 stars roads and highways but the poor community in Lundu-Biawak could only content with bumpy, rocky and dusty gravel roads.

The state government meanwhile keep pouring promises to improve the roads but with one condition, to make the Lundu district more secured first with the establishment of an army camp. Lundu is very close to the Sarawak-Indonesia border so the government think that a threat or risk is there but at the same the government think the community lives in Lundu is not worth protecting (read: cheap). Or could this excuse is just another ploy by the BN for not "investing" in a Dayak-based district. Giving the absence of an army camp in Lundu as an excuse is Catch 22. No army camp, no better roads. Save money for the development of Malay-based district. Pretty obvious.

The Member of Parliament representing the Lundu district is also not from Lundu or staying in Lundu, so again, he don't feel the suffering of the community there. What the community should do next is to lobby for an MP from their own district. Better still if they can get Taib Mahmud to represent their constituency.

Related posts:
* Bario highlands dilemma
* What's is wrong with roads in Malacca

From Selako Bato: Lundu-Biawak Road: Nothing much changed since 1972.

Lundu-Biawak Road has been in existence since the year 1972. It was built by the Engineering Corps of the Malaysian Armed Forces. The main purpose of the road (at that time) was to allow for easy movement of troops to fight the communist guerrillas and to make it easy for (Malaysian) folks living along that area to go to Lundu town to buy their daily necessities.

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The RM2.3 billion Eurocopters sale contract must be probe by Public Accounts Committee (PAC), suggests Lim Kit Siang, MP of Ipoh Timur and supremo of DAP.

The simple logic behind it is that, if PAC did not investigate the billion Ringgit deal with an excuse that the government has canceled the deal, it will look like another scandalous mega-project being swept under the BN's corruption carpet.

To date, Azmi Khalid the chairman of PAC has yet to submit an adequate response to the status of the inquiries on the investigations into the RM4.6 billion Port Klang Free Zone and the Middle Ring Road II.

Related posts:
* RM88 Million dumped into the swamp

From MalaysiaInsider: DAP insists PAC continue probing Eurocopter deal

By Shannon Teoh

PETALING JAYA, Oct 27 - Despite the government shelving the Eurocopter deal, DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang today insisted that the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) should continue investigating the proposed RM2.3 billion defence contract for procurement irregularities.

The Malaysian Insider reported yesterday that Malaysia will cancel buying 12 Eurocopter EC725 military helicopters due to the bleak world economic outlook. The PAC announced last week it will meet over the deal when parliament reconvenes this Wednesday.

"Even if the helicopter deal is cancelled, PAC is duty-bound to investigate into the highly dubious and controversial procurement process as it runs counter to all principles of accountability, transparency, integrity and good governance," said Lim, who is DAP parliamentary leader, in a statement today.
The veteran opposition leader said the PAC investigations should be "to identify, if there exist, irregularities or oversights and should such faults be discovered, to recommend the adherence of standard procedures or benchmarking for future tender exercise".

National news agency Bernama reported yesterday evening that "in the wake of the global economic crisis, the government will have to discuss further whether to go ahead with the purchase of new helicopters to replace the ageing Nuris in the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF)".

The Defence Ministry had earlier announced it would sign a letter of intent for the dozen military helicopters, to be used for combat and also search and rescue missions apart from troop transport, to replace the Nuris that have been in service since 1968. The RMAF has about 30 Nuris left after suffering 18 crashes that killed 95 servicemen since the aircraft entered service.

Lim said any eventual PAC report should provide answers to several questions, including the reasons for the bid price ballooning from 233,345,390 euros or RM1.1 billion to RM2.3 billion. "Has the other half, RM1.2 billion, allocated to middlemen for maintenance service over the next 40 years?" he asked.

He also questioned the rationale for Malaysia paying over twice the price for the EC725 helicopters as compared to Brazil, which is reportedly getting 50 EC725 helicopters at RM84 million per aircraft compared to the RM193 million price tag for the RM2.3 billion Eurocopter deal.

"Shouldn't Malaysia be getting over 100 EC725 helicopters at the Brazilian price instead of just 12?"

The Ipoh Timur MP also added that the Eurocopter inquiry was a test of the PAC's "performance, efficacy and usefulness."

"On record, has PAC done anything to prevent consummation of scandal tainted mega-deals or has its investigations so far brought anyone especially the big-wigs to account?"

He cited the investigations into the RM4.6 billion Port Klang Free Zone and the Middle Ring Road II as examples and called on PAC chairman Datuk Azmi Khalid to give an adeqaute response to the status of these inquiries.


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There is a rife speculation that the Eurocopters helicopters deal might be canceled by the government after a series of pressure from the opposition groups in addition to the falling global economy. Malaysia is not spare in the current economic downturn (even though the government has lied though its teeth saying that our economy is okay).

Police reports have been made by certain quarters who suspected that the RM2.3 Billion Eurocopters deals are not procured properly and the hasty decision by the government to award the helicopters. Now, the government admitted that there might not be enough money (...to squander?) for the new helicopters. Or another way to look at it is: the deal have been so highly scrutinized that it's not worth the abundance of 'commission' money - the premiership is far more important.

What the government should be looking for is a troop-carrier helicopter capable of transporting troops and for search and rescue mission, not combat helicopters. After all, there is a very remote possibility of Malaysia attacking Thailand, Singapore or Indonesia with attack helicopters.

From The MalaysianInsider: Malaysia ditches Eurocopters on gloomy economic outlook

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 26 - Malaysia will ditch the RM2.3 billion Eurocopter defence deal as it battens down to face the global economic storm, sources said today.

Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Datuk Seri NajibAbdul Razak decided to cut out the EC725 military helicopter contract over the weekend when the government reviewed its expenses in light of falling revenues from crude oil and palm oil and slowing economic growth for the next few years.

"The Eurocopter deal is off due to the bleak economic times ahead," a source told The Malaysian Insider.Opposition leaders and critics had savaged the purchase of the dozen EC725 helicopters, saying its RM193 million price tag per aircraft was more than double of Brazil's contract for 50 EC725 helicopters, which came tom RM84 million per aircraft. The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) said it will investigate the deal.

Prime Minister and Defence Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had earlier said he will investigate claims of irregularities over the purchase of military helicopters after company representing a rival military chopper, the Kazan MI-172, said it offered to sell a dozen helicopters at RM898 million, RM1.5 billion less than the Eurocopter deal.

But the Kazan MI-172 is expected to be phased out of production soon although it shares similarities with the current Nuri helicopter fleet, particularly its rear ramp door that is used for troop and material transport.

Opposition parties had also lodged reports with the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) asking for investigations as the tender was allegedly awarded before evaluations were completed and two days before Najib swapped the defence portfolio with Abdullah.

The government earlier through a Cabinet meeting on July 18, 2007 had made the decision to acquire new helicopters to replace the Nuri aircraft following a series of crashes for the ageing transport' helicopters in the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF).

The Nuri or Sikorsky S-61A-4 came into Malaysian service in 1968. The medium transport aircraft has suffered 18 crashes and killed 95 servicemen and is due to be phased out in 2012. There reportedly only 31 left in RMAF service.

However, sources said the Nuris would have been pressed into service with the Army Air Wing if the EC725s arrived on time. The Eurocopter EC725 or Cougar is a medium lift helicopter that is used for combat search and rescue missions.

The Cougar, which can carry up to 29 soldiers, beat out the Sikorsky H-92, the AgustaWestland EH-101 Merlin, the Boeing CH-47F and the Russian MI-172 in an open international tender issued at the Langkawi International Maritime and Air Show in December 2007.

Sources said Eurocopter won the deal as it also proposed to invest RM250 million to upgrade Malaysia's maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) capacity in its Subang facility as part of its tender.It has already invested about RM45 million in Malaysia and had plans to spend anotherRM20 million this year to expand its Subang facility as well as MRO facilities in Kuching and Kota Kinabalu.

Apart from the Nuris, the RMAF operates the A109 light utility helicopters and Super Pumas for VIP service.

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While it is a noble intention for the government to send patients (including children) to overseas countries (especially India) for medical help, a few questions popped up:
* Malaysia is promoting the country as a medical tourism destination. How successful is this programme ?

* Medical treatment at local private hospitals are expensive. Why is the government not controlling the medical cost ? I'm sure those private hospitals are making huge profits every year.

* Why treatment cannot be scheduled at government hospital ? If there is limited places, what is the government doing about it to upgrade the facility ?

The government has budgeted a mind-boggling RM2.3 Billion to buy new helicopters but at the same time, children are sent to India for medical treatment because they cannot afford the treatment in Malaysia. Poo-dah.

Related posts:
* Insufficient dialysis treatment in Malaysia
* Shortage of nurses in Malaysia hospitals
* Heath Ministry short of funds for Cardiac Centre
* Sarawak General Hospital badly overcrowded, Part 2
* Sarawak General Hospital badly overcrowded

From TheStar

Children doing well after heart operation in India

KUALA LUMPUR: The 17 children who were sent to the Narayana Hrudayalaya Hospital in Bangalore for heart surgery under a special programme have recovered, said Health Minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai.

“We are very happy that all the children went through a safe operation and are doing very well,” Liow told reporters after opening Wisma LKL yesterday.

Liow said the programme, which saw the children being brought to India for affordable treatment for heart disease, would be continued in future.

The children, aged between nine months and 13 years, were sent to India when their families could not afford to seek medical help in local private hospitals or could not schedule treatment in government hospitals due to limited places.

For their referral treatment back in Malaysia, Liow said the children would be sent to hospitals close to their homes.

He said the costs of sending the children to the hospital in India was “affordable”, where each surgery was about RM10,000 while another RM4,900 was for accommodation and processing of visas.

On another matter, Liow said the ministry was currently working with Universiti Putra Malaysia in a research to investigate the migration of the chemical melamine from plastic containers to food.

“We will announce the types of plastics which may leach melamine once the results of the research are concluded,” he said.

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Lim Kit Siang, MP of Ipoh Timur call upon the government to suspend the Eurocopter deal until after the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has completed their investigation. The RM2.3 billion Eurocopter deal is among one of the highest government contract alleged to be irregular.

PAC has set a two-day hearing from Oct 29 to 30 and most are doubtful that the two days is sufficient for PAC to absorb all the information to make a proper decision on their finding.

From TheStar

Copter deal should wait for Parliament clearance

PETALING JAYA: The Govern­ment should not approve the purchase of helicopters from Euro­copter if the deal is not approved after the investigation by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) and Parliament, Ipoh Timur MP Lim Kit Siang said.

He said the RM2.3bil deal should be suspended as it would be contempt of Parliament for the Defence Ministry to proceed without waiting for the outcome of the investigation.

“It is no exaggeration to say that this will be the most important investigation in PAC history as a major government contract will hinge on the report of the PAC,” he said in a statement yesterday.

Lim said it would also be nonsense for the PAC to depend solely on the technical and expert advice of ministry and Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) officials.

“PAC must have independent and professional advice from people knowledgeable and have working experience in the aviation industry.”

Lim said the PAC should also call up representatives from the seven tender bidders.

He also said he was doubtful that a two-day hearing - on Oct 29 and 30 - was enough, considering the amount of data the PAC would have to scrutinise.


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Due to the waning price of global fuel price, the government indicated that the local fuel price might be reduced as well.

However, 99.9% of Malaysian agreed that price of essential items did not reflect the decline in oil price. Najib said the prices of certain goods and products would be reduced in a day or two.

Related posts:
* Oil price down, everything else still up

From The Star

Najib: Local fuel price to be lowered

PEKAN: The Cabinet has give the go-ahead to reduce the pump price of fuel soon in view of the continuing decline in global oil prices, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said.

”We promised that if the global oil price goes down, the domestic fuel price will reflect the actual price market.

”So, just give the Government some time to make the decision. The Cabinet has already given the mandate to the economy council exco chaired by the Prime Minister to make the decision,” he told reporters at his residence on Saturday after presenting gifts to 180 recipients who would be performing the haj in Mecca.

Najib, who is also Finance Minister and Pekan MP, was asked to comment about the oil price which had continued to fall and registered about US$62 per barrel on Friday.

On when the new price would be announced, Najib said the people would not have to wait that long.

”It can be within a week, depending on when the meeting will be held,” he added.

To another question related to the price of essential items which did not reflect the decline in oil price, Najib said the prices of certain goods and products would be reduced in a day or two.

He added that several hypermarket owners had agreed to work together with the Government on this matter.

On whether the global recession would hit Malaysia, Najib replied: ”Can you wait for Nov 4? I will come up with a complete response.”

On Nov 4, Najib is expected to list measures to buffer the country from the impact of the current global financial crisis during his winding up speech in Parliament.

When asked about the global crude palm oil slipping to RM1,500 per tonne recently, Najib said the income of Felda land scheme settlers would definitely be lower.

However, they had earlier enjoyed very high incomes, generating between RM3,000 and RM4,000 monthly, he said, adding, he hoped that they had set aside some of the cash as savings.

He also said the RM144.44mil productivity incentive bonus that they would get in December would help to weather the hard times and that they would receive between RM700 and RM2,000 each. ”We have also given the assurance that their income will not be lower than RM1,000.

”We will also encourage them to venture into non-farming activities such as business, handicrafts and growing vegetables so that they will not be financially only dependent on palm oil or rubber trees,” he said.

As for smallholders, Najib said the Government would have to look into ways to help stabilise the price.

This matter was expected to be discussed by the Cabinet Committee on palm oil soon and might eventually involve other countries, he added.

Meanwhile, in Johor Baru Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs minister Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad said the expected reduction of petrol prices at the end of the month would not be more than 15sen.

"We do not want a big reduction in petrol prices resulting in huge losses suffered by petrol station operators nationwide. "That is why we are reducing it gradually but sooner or later we will reach a reasonable price for the consumers," he told pressmen after launching the Financial Awareness Week or dubbed the M2K fair on Saturday.

He explained that it was the government's intention to reduce petrol prices as soon as possible but such a move must be done gradually and accordingly so that everybody reaped the benefits.

"We must take into account the consequences of a huge reduction that could have a negative impact on the operators. "The present method in reducing the petrol prices gradually will not disrupt the country's oil industry," he said.

He also said there was no reason for transport cost for bus or lorry companies to increase as diesel was sold to the companies at a subsidised price of RM1.43.

In fact, 70% of diesel sale was sold at the subsidised price.

Express, school and intercity buses as well as lorry companies were presently reaping benefits of the subsidised price, he said.

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The community in the Bario highlands in the far corner of Sarawak is in a real dilemma as there is an ongoing hot debate whether roads should be built to connect the Bario highlands to the outside world.

For ages, the community of Bario are deprive of modern amenities, higher prices of fuel, higher price of fertilizers, food and other daily necessities and construction materials as the supply of those item are like gold. Items are flown in by flight and that make the items very expensive. The alternative transportation out of Bario is via timber tracks built by those giant timber companies and over the years, those tracks have joined and extended further to reach Bario.

To the settlers of Bario, the timber tracks are their highway. Dirt highway. Now they want the timber company Samling to built a proper roads linking Miri to Bario so that the usual timber track journey of 13 hours can be reduced as well as to make it safer. Samling might just agreed to this as they can extract timbers along the way (or making the road construction as an excuse to cut down timbers or cutting down trees in lieu of payment in kind).

Bario settlers are not overly concerned about the environmental impact as since the time of Ling Liong Sik (former Minister of Transport) and Samy Vellu (former Minister of Works) in addition to Alfred Jabu, tonnes of promises were made but there is still no proper roads to Bario. Yes, the government under Barisan Nasional did not keep their promises to their voters in Bario.

Environmental watchdog group Borneo Resources Institute says the 300km-long road, which will lead to Miri City, will permanently damage the environment and result in more forests being logged. There also great concerns that the road is an excuse for opening the whole of the Bario highlands for timber extraction.

On the other hand, Ba’Kelalan assemblyman Nelson Balang Rining, in welcoming the construction of the road, says “it will open up the entire Bario highlands for socio-economic development for more than 5,000 highlanders”. It will facilitate easier transportation of fuel and food into the remote highland settlements.

Related posts:
* Longhouse dwellers in Sungai Asap deprived of good road
* What's is wrong with roads in Malacca

From The Star

Logging road in Bario stirs debate

MIRI: The construction of a logging road into the Bario highlands in northern Sarawak has stirred debate over its benefits.

Environmental watchdog group Borneo Resources Institute says the 300km-long road, which will lead to Miri City, will permanently damage the environment and result in more forests being logged.

“This will spell the end of the pristine nature of Bario. We were caught off-guard by news that the road has already been built all the way to the top of the Bario highlands.

“The Bario highlands is a fragile and ecologically-important region,” says institute coordinator for Sarawak, Raymond Abin.

He said he learnt that the road was constructed by a timber company and asked whether this meant that the firm had been given the right to harvest the timber.

“We are worried that the road is an excuse for opening the whole of the Bario highlands for timber extraction,” he told The Star.

Ba’Kelalan assemblyman Nelson Balang Rining, in welcoming the construction of the road, says “it will open up the entire Bario highlands for socio-economic development for more than 5,000 highlanders”.

“The road will be an important link for the people of the highlands to the outside world. It will open up accessibility to settlements which were once only linked by flights.

“It will facilitate easier transportation of fuel and food into the remote highland settlements,” he said, adding that the journey from Miri to Bario via the logging road would take at least 13 hours.

The Bario highlands is similar in geography to Genting High-lands. Populated by the Lun Ba-wang and Kelabit minority ethnic groups, Bario is well-known for its fragrant rice and tourism spots.

Balang said the road was being built by Samling Corporation.

“It is the people’s wish to see the road eventually being upgraded. I hope the government can ‘adopt’ the road and improve on it,” he said.

To a question, Balang said the road did not infringe into any national park or forest reserve.

Abin said his institute wanted the state government to disclose if logging concessions had been given out in the Bario highlands and if any environmental impact assessment had been carried out before the construction of the road.

----------------------------------------------------------
From The Star

‘Bario communities wanted the logging road’
By STEPHEN THEN

MIRI: The Sarawak government had to allow a logging road built all the way into the remote Bario highlands to ensure villagers had access to goods and fuel at lower prices and to prevent future shortages of necessities.

Ba'Kelalan state assemblyman Nelson Balang Rining said on Thursday that the road was constructed after the highland communities had discussed the matter. "The people of Bario discussed this issue at length. They decided that the logging road had to be built. This logging road built by Samling Corporation has connected Bario all the way to Miri. "It will facilitate smoother transport of large amount of food, goods and fuel from Miri to Bario. This will help to ensure enough supply of these neccessities in the highlands. "An ample supply of these goods will help to bring down the price of these commodities in the highlands.

“At present, suppliers have to pay huge overhead costs just to transport these items to Bario by flights and by land from other smaller towns. "That is why the prices of fuel, food and other daily necessities and construction materials in Bario are five times more expensive than in urban areas of Sarawak.

"This logging road will eventually help to reduce the prices and ensure constant stable supply at all times," he told The Star.

Balang was responding to the concerns expressed by environmental-watchdog group Borneo Resources Institute concerning the 300km-long logging road that had been built right to the summit of the 1,600 metres high mountain.

Institute coordinator for Sarawak, Raymond Abin, had said the construction of this road might result in more highland forests being logged.

The clearing of the Bario forests would irreparably damage the ecosystem and alter the weather pattern, Abin had said. The institute had also questioned why the construction of the Miri-Bario logging road had not been made public before building began and why an environmental-impact assessment study was not done beforehand. Balang responded on Wednesday that as far as he knew, the logging road built by Samling Corporation did not to be gazetted publicly.

"There is no need for any public announcement of the project because it is built by a private company. It is Samling's right to construct the road following the request from the people of Bario," he said.

Asked if the construction of the logging road into the highlands required an EIA, Balang said that he was not sure about this matter. On concerns that the interior's ecology and weather system would be damaged permanently, he said his main concern now was to help alleviate the hardship suffered by his constituents as much as possible.


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On Oct 20, 2008, Najib Razak, Deputy Prime Minister announced that the government will provide RM5 billion in additional funds to double the size of Valuecap Sdn Bhd to RM10 billion and to invest in undervalued stocks and protect investments in government-owned companies (or government linked companies - GLC).

First, the RM5 billion funds from the government is actually loaned from EPF (where your retirement savings and my retirement savings are kept). EPF has the cash and if those GLC stock are attractive then why not EPF make direct investment. Why have to lend the money to Valuecap so that Valuecap can invest in those GLC ? Maybe those GLC are sick and losing money and EPF knew that it is not going to be a profitable investment. However, lending RM5 billion to Valuecap would have government guarantee.

If those GLC are not making lost, why bother about buying their shares. After all, if they can sustain their business, they don't need capital injection. The only time there is a need for capital injection (or investment of fund) is when a company need cash for big expansion or need it badly for operating capital (e.g. a losing company running out of cash).

Some one from the Finance Ministry or Bank Negara or Khazanah Nasional should advice the Cabinet to close down those GLC companies that are no longer viable. Instead, Najib is like main saham and trying to keep a terminally ill company living.

So is RM5 billion duit rakyat a bailout package for sick GLC or a gambling token for Valuecap to make profit for those undervalue stock ? Or some cronies have big shares in those GLC and the moment money are throw in their counter, the share prices will shoot up and those cronies will cash out their shares and make more money. Or has some one has convience the government to manipulate the market price of those share to make a quick profit. Main saham ler tu.

About Valuecap Sdn Bhd

ValueCap Sdn Bhd is like an investment arm of Khazanah Nasional. Valuecap has no website so the following info was extracted from Khazanah Nasional website. Established in 2002, Valuecap is a fund management company which was created to invest specifically in the Malaysia equities market. Owned jointly by Khazanah, PNB and KWAP, Valuecap’s key mandate is to undertake investments in equities listed on Bursa Malaysia on a portfolio basis, based on superior fundamental investment research.

Further reading:
* Shock and awe of Barisan Nasional typical economy
* Is this RM5 billion for main saham really necesary?
* Why Big E? Why?

From Bernama

Government Provides RM5 Billion In Additional Funds To Invest In Undervalued Stocks

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 20 (Bernama) -- The government will provide RM5 billion in additional funds to double the size of Valuecap Sdn Bhd to RM10 billion and to invest in undervalued stocks and protect investments in government-owned companies, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said Monday.

The government set up Valuecap, in January 2003.

Speaking to reporters after opening the Khazanah Megatrends Forum, Najib said that the government will leave it to the Valuecap on how to distribute the fund.

"It is up for them to decide (distribute the fund). They will look at the position assets that are undervalued today," he said.

Najib, who is also Finance Minister, said the government will also liberalise the service sector in response to manage the global financial crisis.

He said the specific sector will be detailed out and this will be based on the International Trade and Industry Ministry's proposal to the Cabinet soon.

The government hopes through liberalisation, it can attract more investments and generate more employment within the country, he said.

He said the Foreign Investment Committee (FIC) guidelines will also be reviewed to make it more attractive for foreign investors particularly in the property and commercial sectors.

Under the liberalisation, Najib said some of the investments and purchases might not have to get FIC approval.

"These are the elements of the stabilisation plan and we will do it in stages."

"I'm talking about the financial stability as mentioned by Bank Negara on the guarantee (for bank deposits) to ensure there is no credit squeeze and lending continue to be high in Malaysia, particularly to small-and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)," he said.

Najib said these measures would also ensure government expenditures will continue to be at the present level.

"We are mindful that we have to take steps to ensure long-term competitiveness while we manage the short-term crisis," he added.

-- BERNAMA
-----------------------------------------
From Bernama

Additional RM5 Bln Fund For Valuecap Is Sufficient, Says Nor Mohamed

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 21 (Bernama) -- The additional RM5 billion fund to be provided by the government to double the size of Valuecap Sdn Bhd is sufficient, says Second Finance Minister Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop.

He said the amount was decent money to buy undervalued stocks.

Valuecap is a fund management company which was created to invest specifically in the Malaysian equity market and is jointly owned by Khazanah, PNB and Retirement Fund (Incorporated).

"The RM5 billion is reasonable sum which is an addition to RM5 billion that Valuecap already has," he told reporters on the sidelines of the Retirement Fund (Incorporated)'s Hari Raya open house here, Tuesday.

He said there will be no more additional funds provided by the government at the present.

Nor Mohamed also stressed that Malaysia will not be going into recession this year and next year as the country had resilient banking and financial systems.

He also said there was plenty of liquidity in the market and many companies had strong fundamentals and good earnings.

"We will not enter into recession in 2008. We don't believe that we will have recession in 2009," he stressed.

-- BERNAMA
------------------------------------------
From TheStar

‘EPF will profit from loan to Valuecap’

KUALA LUMPUR: The Employees Provident Fund (EPF) will make a profit from the RM5bil that it will lend to the government investment agency, Valuecap Sdn Bhd, to support the local stock market, said Second Finance Minister Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop.

He said this was based on the past performance of Valuecap which has grown its portfolio from RM5bil initially to RM8bil now.

“I believe that they (Valuecap) will do well and EPF will certainly get its returns.

“Valuecap has done well. It has a good infrastructure, good staff who know better about the market and have a knowledge of what is happening (in the global market),” he told reporters after giving closing remarks at the Khazanah Megatrends Forum 2008, here yesterday.

He said this in response to Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s press conference yesterday that the Government would borrow RM5bil from the EPF to double the size of Valuecap to RM10bil.

Established in 2003, Valuecap is a fund management firm created to invest specifically in the Malaysian equity market and is jointly owned by Khazanah, PNB and Retirement Fund (Incorporated). - Bernama

--------------------------------------------



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I just posted a news excerpt on RM0.9 Million PJ Mayor's house and another news is circulating in the Malaysian blogosphere that Abdul Hakim Borhan, the Mayor of Kuala Lumpur city (DBKL) is a frequent flyer (frequent traveler).

There is no big deal about being a frequent traveler, except that Abdul Hakim Borhan excursion was paid with duit rakyat (i.e Malaysian taxpayers money) and the amount is a staggering RM1.5 million spent in 20 months.

His overseas trips include places such as Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, Shanghai, Beijing, Perth, Stockholm, Helsinki, London, Dubai and Istanbul, besides travelling to South Korea and Japan.

Further reading (from other blogs):
* PakatanRakyat WP KL: Study trips to Germany and Canada under fire - The Star

From TheNutGraph: KL mayor a frequent traveller
21 Oct 08 : 8.57PM

By Elizabeth Looi
elizabethlooi@thenutgraph.com

KUALA LUMPUR, 21 Oct 2008: Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) Mayor Datuk Abdul Hakim Borhan spent close to RM1.5million for 11 official trips overseas in 20 months, the Federal Territories Ministry revealed.

In a written reply to Tan Kok Wai (DAP-Cheras), Minister Datuk Seri Zulhasnan Rafique said Abdul Hakim made seven trips last year and four trips this year, which cost a total of RM1.46 million.

The most expensive trip was an 11-day excursion for five participants from 29 May to 8 June this year to Canada, the United Kingdom and Germany, which cost a whopping RM370,315 with RM19,873.50 for allowance.

The trip was to accompany Zulhasnan to study and compare the mechanism of the federal state entities and federal territories as well as local government's law management and administration structure in other countries.

Abdul Hakim also went to Shanghai and Beijing with his officers this year and spent a total of RM62,904.04 with RM8,621.21 claimed for allowance.

Last year, Abdul Hakim and his officers visited Perth, Stockholm, Helsinki, London, Dubai and Istanbul, besides travelling to South Korea and Japan. The total cost to taxpayers, including allowances, was almost RM989,000.

Met at the lobby later, Tan said the expenses were "ridiculously high".

"No wonder he is nicknamed the 'frequent traveller' in DBKL," quipped the MP.

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The Paya Indah Wetlands finally opened its gates to the public on Oct 20, 2008 – over two years late. Actually it a reopening but PERHILITAN called it "Soft Launching".

According to Sun2Surf website, RM88 Million was dumped into this wetlands project. Initially RM68 million poured into the project but the government pumped in an additional RM20 million to salvage the venture which was doomed from the start.

With the alleged total investment of RM88 million and RM10 entrance fee, Paya Indah Wetlands need to have 8 million visitors to break even. Let us say that there are 500 daily visitors on average visiting PIW, it would roughly takes 160,000 days (or 5,333 months or 444 years!) to recoup the cost.

It is really dumping millions into the swamp.

Related posts:
* Shock and awe of Barisan Nasional typical economy

From TheSun

Flawed from the start
by Terence Fernandez

YESTERDAY, we opened another monument to mismanagement and overspending. The Paya Indah Wetlands finally opened its gates to the public – over two years late. After pouring RM68 million into the project, the government pumped in an additional RM20 million to salvage the venture which was doomed from the start.

It is going to take decades to recoup our losses. The RM10 entrance fee will only go so far in getting back the people’s money which was spent on the project – another mega brainchild of the former regime, with Malaysian Wetlands Foundation CEO Muralee Menon as the runner.

To date, no one has been made to answer for the million-ringgit fiasco. Muralee was even appointed to the Sports Advisory Panel.

An expose by this paper’s special reporting team over a year back revealed serious flaws and breaches of financial standards and accepted norms in transparency and accountability, where the CEO was allowed to be the sole signatory to cheques of over RM80,000. There were also cases of changing horses mid-stream, where consultants and contractors were hired and fired as often as one changes his briefs.

An RM800,000 restaurant is another testimony to the extravagances with people’s money.

So, while we can thump our chests and say we have yet another "world-class tourist attraction", we must not be blind-sided by the fact that a lot of money has been poured into a failed project. Yes. It is a failed project if close to RM100 million can be spent on a scheme that could have been realised for less than RM10 million.

And while taxpayers lost out, there are several individuals who have laughed all the way to the bank, thanks to the folly of some who got their positions not on merit but by having the right connections.

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The Major of Petaling Jaya (PJ) City Council is one lucky fellow as he got to have his own official resident. And the council has allocated RM0.9 million to rebuilt the Mayor official resident. Look like the PJ Mayor social status is second to the state Chief Minister or Menteri Besar.

Instead of using the RM0.9 million, wouldn't it make more sense if the council just buy at new house. Sell the old land and buy new house and the council may probably make profit. That would relief the financial burden to the council coffer.

In addition, PJ Mayor is probably the only Mayor in Malaysia to have his own official resident as other cities Mayor has no such privilege.

From TheStar

RM900,000 for PJ mayor’s house

A TOTAL of RM900,000 has been allocated for building the official residence of the Petaling Jaya mayor in the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) 2009 budget.

The figure raised a few eyebrows during last month’s budget briefing with representatives from residents’ associations (RA) and Rukun Tetangga (RT) because RM871,900 was budgeted for the same purpose in 2008.

According to MBPJ public relations director Haniza Abdul Hamid, the budget for last year was not used because of amendments to the building plans.

“The house is the official quarters for the mayor. We had to tear down the existing house because of bad termite problems,” Haniza said.

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Prasun K Sengupta wrote to MalaysiaKini and explained in detailed the reasoning of why the Royal Malaysian Air Force’s (RMAF) choose Eurocopter EC-725 Cougar helicopters in replacement for the current fleet of aging Sikorsky S-61A-4 helicopters (the Nuri).

Some of Prasun's explanation did make sense to counter the allegation of the Eurocopter procurement scandal (including the involvement of Kamaludin Abdullah in the deal) and Prasun's points are way better that those press statement given by Najib or even the Prime Minister himself. Before this Mindef's explanation is lame and generate more questions.

From MalaysiaKini: Copter deal: Conspiracy theorists fail to convince
Prasun K Sengupta | Oct 20, 08 4:07pm

This has reference to the on-going ‘controversy’ regarding Mindef’s selection of the Eads/ Eurocopter-built EC-725 Cougar Mk2+ medium-lift air-mobility helicopter as the eventual replacement for the Royal Malaysian Air Force’s (RMAF) existing Sikorsky S-61A-4 helicopters.

While allegations are abounding regarding Mindef’s competitive selection process, the following issues - especially those not yet raised by some of the bidders that have lost out to the EC-725 – have to be looked upon objectively:

1. The Mi-17V-5 was first brought to Malaysia by Russia’s Rosoboronexport State Corp during the Lima 2001 exhibition and was extensively flight-tested after the exhibition by the RMAF. The HH-92 Superhawk’s prototype from Sikorsky was demonstrated to a visiting RMAF team in the US more than a year ago, and this included flight-testing as well.

The EC-725, too, was flight-tested and evaluated by the RMAF when the helicopter was brought to Malaysia during the Lima 2007 exhibition in Langkawi early last December. Therefore, for some to claim that the RMAF and the Mindef tender evaluation board did away with the practice of flight-testing the principal contenders of the contract is fallacious and wrong.

2. The Mi-17 will begin being phased out of service over the next five years by the Russian military end-users. That is why a competition is now underway within Russia between Kamov OKB (offering the Ka-92) and Mil Design Bureau (offering the Mi-38) for supplying the next-generation medium-lift helicopter to fulfill domestic Russian requirements.

If the RMAF were to select either the Mi-17V-5 or Mi-172KF, while its initial procurement costs would be much lower, their through-life product support costs would be three times more than the figures quoted for helicopters like the EC-725, AgustaWestland’s AW101 and Sikorsky's HH-92 Superhawk.

This is because the RMAF will find it cost-prohibitive to maintain the airworthiness and serviceability of the Mi-17 once Russia stops producing spares for this helicopter over the next 10 years.

3. For the RMAF tender competition, there were two offers of the Mi-17: the Mi-17V-5 from Russia’s Rosoboronexport State Corp, and the Mi-172KF being offered by Mentari Services Sdn Bhd.

Interestingly, if either of the two parties were to win the contract, then they both would be sourcing the Mi-17s from the same OEM, ie, Kazan Helicopter Plant, based in Russia’s Tatarstan republic.

And when it comes to military procurement from abroad, the customer (Mindef, in this case) universally requires guaranteed through-life product support from the OEM. Consequently, if Mindef were to select the Mi-17 then the following questions would have required convincing answers:

a. While the Russian government would have given product support guarantees through its official weapons import/export agency Rosoboronexport for the Mi-17V-5, would the same guarantees be extended for the offer for the Mi-172KF?

b. If not, then who would guarantee through-life product support for the Mi-172KF? Mentari? Or its principal - the Canada-based Kelowna Flightcraft Ltd - or the helicopter manufacturer - Kazan Helicopter Plant - from whom Kelowna was offering to source the Mi-172KF airframes?

Who would assume product liabilities in the event of a Mi-172KF accident-related board of inquiry establishing that the accident/crash was due to technical error? What if Rosoboronexport State Corp prevented Kazan Helicopter Plant from cooperating with the RMAF during such accident/crash investigations?

c. Did the Russian government, through Rosoboronexport, authorise either Kazan Helicopter Plant or Kelowna Flightcraft Ltd to supply the fully militarised (ie, weapons-equipped) Mi-172KF to Malaysia?

This question needs to be answered in detail because as per present Russian government guidelines, only Rosoboronexport State Corp is authorised to export Russian-origin weapon systems directly to foreign military customers after inking government-to-government contracts.

d. How many Mi-172KFs have been sold to date by the joint industrial venture between Kazan Helicopter Plant and Kelowna Flightcraft Ltd to military customers (not for VIP transportation, but for undertaking air-mobility operations under combat conditions) worldwide?

Which authority has issued the Milspec-compliant certificate of airworthiness of the Mi-172KF’s military variant? Will the Mi-172KF have additional built-in performance growth features, such as the incorporation of fly-by-wire flight control systems and in-flight refuelling systems, which will most likely have to be mandatory on-board systems especially since the helicopter would be required by the RMAF to remain operationally viable for the next 40 years?

Regrettably, the ‘naysayers’ and conspiracy theorists alleging irregularities in the EC-725’s selection process have yet to give rational and convincing clarifications regarding the four above-mentioned points.

4) Today, it only makes sense for countries like China and India to continue buying Mi-17s in large numbers because only these two countries have had more than 30 years of experience operating the Mi-8Ts and Mi-17s and have therefore established the huge domestic MRO (maintenance, repair and overhaul) infrastructure required to maintain and operate such helicopters.

This is not the case with Malaysia, which requires either the helicopter OEM to set up extensive, brand-new MRO infrastructure to support a new helicopter-type, or upgrade existing MRO infrastructure at tremendous cost to service the new helicopter acquisitions.

5. As a consequence of the above, only Eurocopter (an Eads subsidiary) can be said to have comprehensively complied with the RMAF's helicopter-related MRO demands (which played a pivotal role in tilting the balance in favour of the EC-725’s competitive bid) since only Eurocopter has to date made unilateral and substantial investments in its own sprawling helicopter MRO facility in Subang (which Sikorsky, AgustaWestland and the Russians are not known to have done thus far) since 1998.

Such facilities, which will undoubtedly expand their capabilities as the EC-725s are inducted progressively, will enable the RMAF to fully localise the EC-725’s serviceability requirements, and ensure high availability and levels for its initial EC-725 fleet, which will undoubtedly be subject to intensive usage in the early years due to the demands of both operational conversion flying training as well as operational flying.

One must also bear in mind that such MRO facilities will be fully authorised and certified by the OEM (Eurocopter) and as such will not be exposed to the third-party MRO liabilities of the type that has plagued the RMAF's dwindling S-61A-4 'Nuri' helicopter fleet.

No one thus far, including Mentari or AgustaWestland or Sikorsky, has officially bothered to explain how much the through-life product support costs of the Mi-172KF or AW101 or HH-92 Superhawk would be if these entities were to establish in-country dedicated MRO facilities.

Only if such expenditure figures are forthcoming from them would one be able to make accurate cost comparisons with the Eurocopter/EC-725 tender bid. Until then it remains a case of simplistic comparison of apples with oranges.

6. As a result of the above, when viewed from a techno-economic matrix, it was Eurocopter that ‘almost fully’ complied with the ASQRs of the RMAF while at the same time offering guaranteed through-life product support for the EC-725. The EC-725 of the type selected for the RMAF is presently operational with the armed forces of France and Saudi Arabia and has already been combat-proven in Afghanistan.

The AW101 comes in a close second as a combat-proven helicopter (which was recently selected by India for VVIP transportation), but the problem here was that the RMAF would have had to allocate substantial scare financial resources for setting up dedicated MRO facilities from scratch to support the AW101 fleet.

Sikorsky’s HH-92 Superhawk is estimated to have come in with the third-best offer but militarily this helicopter is still an untested product since it has yet to be ordered in bulk by any armed forces worldwide.

In conclusion, it would do well to the ‘naysayers’ to view the entire issue through the prism of objectivity prior to making ill-informed conclusions based merely on speculative accusations of some ‘sore losers’.

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This post is about HINDRAF snippets ranging from why Hindraf was banned or reason why it should not be banned, is Hindraf an illegal entity, causes of Hindraf, and responses to the Hindraf ban.

Instead of heeding Hindraf pleas and engaging in civilized dialogues to understand and solve their problems, the government and even the MIC reacted with hostility. Hindraf was considered an extremist group trying to create chaos and racial riots in the country. It was accused of having links with foreign terrorist groups and therefore castigated.

Instead of looking at the merits of their grouses, show understanding, knowledge, wisdom and patience in dealing with Hindraf, they were seen as threats to national security. How can a minority group that comprise about 8% of the population with no economic or political clout be a significant threat to the security of the nation?

It is deeply regrettable that the Hindu Rights Actions Force (Hindraf) has been declared illegal by the government. Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar has been misled into believing that Hindraf is an extremist religious organisation and its actions if left unchecked would pose a threat to public order, the security and sovereignty of the country as well as the prevailing racial harmony.

Hindraf is more of a movement than an organisation or a political party.

It has no symbol, no membership, no organisational chart and no ideology. It has no expressed agenda beyond helping Indians. It has no constitution nor an order of battle.

And yet it has made its presence felt in the country with its numerous demonstrations, candlelight vigils across the country and in gatecrashing Prime Minister Datuk Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's office and functions on numerous occasions.

Related posts:
* HINDRAF And Syed Hamid At Loggerheads
* HINDRAF outcasts Samy Vellu

Responses from the Internet communities

Banning Hindraf is the most farcical thing done by home minister in recent times. First of all, Hindraf is not a registered body in Malaysia so banning a non-registered body is technically incorrect.

Hindraf is neither a party nor an organisation - it is the true spirit of freedom and self-realisation.

On the one hand BN/ Umno claims it can revamp and represent the voice of all Malaysians from all ethnic groups and then a ban is slammed on Hindraf.

The Umno-led government never learned their lesson after the March election. It is sad to notice that they are not showing any signs of repentance. They are popular in scoring their own goals.

The more the BN government oppresses this organisation and its leaders, the more they will lose their popularity and not only from amongst the Indians but among others too.

Cakap tidak serupa bikin

Gerakan deputy president Chang Ko Youn says he opposes the government on Hindraf but his party is not do anything about their objection.

How is that Samy Vellu still doesn't get the message that BN and Umno do not need MIC or Indian support anymore? Suhakam has rightly said that the banning of Hindraf will further isolate the Indian community from the so-called racial unity program.

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An opposition party (Sabah DAP) alleged that the Health Ministry never bothered to check the particular chemical content in the food coming into the country until the melamine issue exploded in China.

In fact, Malaysian are doubtful if the Health Ministry has an effective food screening measures. Most of the times, the ministry will rely on information from their counters in Singapore, Hong Kong and Philippines. They are always 10 steps behind.

Personally, I am disappointed with the Health Ministry for allowing a 1 parts per million (ppm) melamine even in baby food ! How much is 1ppm ? Negligible ? Then why not just make is ZERO (0) ppm. No melamine. Banned melamine in food.

From Daily Express News

DAP ticks off Ministry over food screening

Kota Kinabalu: Sabah DAP has taken the Health Ministry to task for "failing to come up with effective food screening measures."

MP Dr Hiew King Cheu said the Ministry had all along knew that it was unable to cope with the thousands of food coming into the country but "never bothered to boost its capability."

"In the past, the Ministry never bothered to check the particular chemical content in the food coming into the country until the melamine issue exploded in China," he said here, Saturday.

Now, the Ministry announced that its laboratory is able to screen only up to four products daily but it should be the responsibility of the Ministry to seek outside help, including privatising the food screening process, if it could not cope.

"At the present pace, how long will it take to screen the content of thousands of food coming into the country, 10 years? By the time people are already consuming poison," he said.

"Even I take the Khong Guan biscuits," he said, referring to the locally produced biscuits, some of it were recently found to contain a high amount of melamine.

At the same time, he said the Ministry should also consider requiring food producers to list out the contents and acquire accreditation certificates to state if it is free from harmful chemical.

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September 16 (or 916) is most significant date in the history of Malaysia and must be remembered and appreciated always by us and the future generations because on this auspicious date Sabah and Sarawak successfully formed the Federation of Malaysia together with Malaya.

"So it is an important date not only for the people in Sabah and Sarawak but also in Peninsular Malaysia," Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said when launching the inaugural Malaysia Day celebration at Padang Merdeka, Kota Kinabalu on Saturday night. The celebration graced by Head of State Tun Ahmadshah Abdullah was jointly-organised by the Ministry of Unity, Culture, Art and Heritage and the State Government.

Abdullah said the celebration was postponed to Oct. 18 this year since Sept. 16 falls during the fasting month. "God willing, the celebration would (again) be held on Sept. 16 next year," he said.

The Prime Minister said the post-independence generation must never forget the sacrifice of the past leaders in achieving the independence for the country.

Related posts:
* Singapore History - In and Out of Malaysia
* Lest We Forget - It’s September 16

Suggested reading:
* 42 Commando RM - Sarawak July - October 1963

From Daily Express News

16 Sept important: PM

Kota Kinabalu: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said the Federal Government recognises September 16 as an important and auspicious date that must be remembered by all Malaysians.

He said Sept. 16 is not merely the day to close the Merdeka month but much more than that, it marked the day the Federation of Malaysia was formed.

"So it is an important date not only for the people in Sabah and Sarawak but also in Peninsular Malaysia," he said when launching the inaugural Malaysia Day celebration at Padang Merdeka on Saturday night. The celebration graced by Head of State Tun Ahmadshah Abdullah was jointly-organised by the Ministry of Unity, Culture, Art and Heritage and the State Government.

Abdullah said the celebration was postponed to Oct. 18 this year since Sept.

16 falls during the fasting month. "God willing, the celebration would (again) be held on Sept. 16 next year," he said.

The Prime Minister said the post-independence generation must never forget the sacrifice of the past leaders in achieving the independence for the country.

"Tengku Abdul Rahman Al Haj, Tun Mustapha and many more we must appreciate their contribution," he said. Malaysia also managed to wade through the challenges such as communism and Indonesian confrontation early in its years as an independent country.

"We are not a race that never been tested before. We have been tested in many ways including our economy but it has been proven that we have the capability to overcome all these problems," he said.

The theme, "Unity, The Thrust to Success" is appropriate, he said, adding, however that such a strong unity is not that easy to achieve, especially in a multi-racial country like Malaysia.

But, the tolerance and understanding spirit of all the people who rejected all negative values that could lead to split had further strengthened the bond of unity, he said. "We want to live together in peace and harmony."

Meanwhile, Minister of Unity, Culture, Art and Heritage, Datuk Abdul Shafie Apdal said Padang Merdeka was chosen as it is closely related with the formation of Federation of Malaysia.

He said it was imperative to preserve the unity and consensus spirit, as it is the thrust to the country's harmony in order to face future challenges.

"In order to mould a united race it must be based on patriotism and utmost loyalty to the country," he said, adding that it was important for all not to take actions into their own hand that it would hurt the sensitivities of others.

Also on hand were foreign envoys who took time off from the Sabah International Expo (SIE) 2008 to attend the Malaysia Day celebration, ministers and elected representatives.

The people were treated to cultural show and performance of local artistes like Stacy AF, Jacyln Victor, Rem, Din Bisa, Ikhwal and others.

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From Daily Express News

CM: Day M'sia formed must be remembered

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman said the Malaysia Day celebration should be maintained as among ways to remember and appreciate the formation of the Federation of Malaysia.

"The State Government and all Sabahans hope that the name Malaysia Day celebration like what we are celebrating tonight be maintained to commemorate the formation of our beloved sovereign country," he said.

He said the formation of Malaysia on Sept 16, 1963 was a historic moment that brought significant meaning to the people of Malaysia, especially in Sabah.

"It is most significant and must be remembered and appreciated always by us and the future generations because on this auspicious date Sabah and Sarawak successfully formed the Federation of Malaysia together with Malaya," he said at the Malaysia Day celebration in conjunction with 51st National Day at Padang Merdeka here.

Towards this end, he called on the multi-racial and ethnic people in Sabah to further strengthen the unity spirit and harmony among themselves.

"I believe that strong unity of the Sabah people will contribute further and be more meaningful to the overall unity of the nation," he said.

Musa said the fact that the formation of Malaysia had brought about benefit to the people in the country through stable politics, social prosperity and economic progress.

The continuous good relations between the State and Federal governments is not only translated through the distribution of big allocations but also as the catalyst to stimulate more effective development to the whole State, he said.

In this context, the State Government also emphasised on the holistic approach in the planning and implementation of development agenda for the people's prosperity.

According to Musa, Sabah is the best model in terms of unity, religious tolerance and harmony among the various ethnic in the country.

"What is interesting is that we never make race, ethnicity and religion separate us. Instead, we respect each other and muster this ethnic diversity as the main thrust of our strength and success in line with the concept of unity in diversity," he said.



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