Monday, February 27, 2012

Mitsubishi Quietly Cleans Up Its Former Refinery

Lai Kwan prepares to bathe her son, Cheah Kok Leong, who was born with severe mental disabilities. She believes that his condition is related to the radioactive exposure she received while working at the Mitsubishi Chemical’s refinery in Bukit Merah.


By KEITH BRADSHER (The New York Times)

BUKIT MERAH, Malaysia — Hidden here in the jungles of north-central Malaysia, in a broad valley fringed with cave-pocked limestone cliffs topped with acacia and durian trees, lies the site of the largest radiation cleanup yet in the rare earth industry.

Residents blamed a rare earth refinery for birth defects and eight leukemia cases within five years in a community of 11,000 — after many years with no leukemia cases. Seven of the leukemia victims have since died.

The Bukit Merah case is little known even elsewhere in Malaysia, and virtually unknown in the West, because Mitsubishi Chemical quietly agreed to fix the problem even without a legal order to do so. Local protesters had contacted Japanese environmentalists and politicians, who in turn helped persuade the image-conscious company to close the refinery in 1992 and subsequently spend an estimated $100 million to clean up the site.

Image-burnishing was important because the company is part of the Mitsubishi Group of Companies, which has long made Malaysia the cornerstone of its southeast Asian operations. The group has dominant positions in manufacturing a range of products, including air-conditioners and cars.

Mitsubishi Chemical also reached an out-of-court settlement with residents here by agreeing to donate $164,000 to the community’s schools, while denying any responsibility for illnesses.

Osamu Shimizu, the director of Asian Rare Earth, the Mitsubishi Chemical subsidiary that owns the mine, declined to discuss details of the factory’s operation before it closed in 1992. But he said that the company was committed to a safe and complete cleanup.

Workers in protective gear have already removed 11,000 truckloads of radioactively contaminated material, hauling away every trace of the old refinery and even tainted soil from beneath it, down to the bedrock as much as 25 feet below, said Anthony Goh, the consultant overseeing the project for one of Mitsubishi’s contractors, GeoSyntec, an Atlanta-based firm.

To dispose of the radioactive material, engineers have cut the top off a hill three miles away in a forest reserve, buried the material inside the hill’s core and then entombed it under more than 20 feet of clay and granite.

The toughest part of the Bukit Merah cleanup will come this summer, when robots and workers in protective gear are to start trying to move more than 80,000 steel barrels of radioactive waste from a concrete bunker. They will mix it with cement and gypsum, and then permanently store it in the hilltop repository.

The refinery processed slag from old tin mines — material rich in rare earth ore. The company and Malaysian regulators said that it was statistically possible that the leukemia cases were a coincidence because tin mining towns tend to have above-average levels of background radiation. But an academic study of another tin mining town suggested that communities of Bukit Merah’s size should only have one leukemia case every 30 years.

Lai Kwan, aged 69, still recalls how she cheerfully moved in the 1980s from a sawmill job to a better-paying position in the refinery that involved proximity to radioactive materials. She remembers that while pregnant, she was told to take an unpaid day off only on days when the factory bosses said that a particularly dangerous consignment of ore had arrived.

She has spent the last 29 years washing, dressing, feeding and otherwise taking care of her son from that pregnancy, who was born with severe mental and physical disabilities. She and other local residents blame the refinery for the problems, although birth defects can have many causes.

“We saw it as a chance to get better pay,” Ms. Lai recalled. “We didn’t know what they were producing.”

Saturday, February 25, 2012

Postal voters in DUN Kuala Kubu Baru – Wong Koon Mun has problems in understanding simple news article


MCA ADUN for Kuala Kubu Baru, Wong Koon Mun used to misunderstand my statement and it is most unfortunate that he repeated the same mistake two days ago when he openly criticised me for trying to stop spouses of postal voters from becoming postal voters on polling day.

He further criticised me that my statement is against the spirit of democracy as my suggestion discourages spouses of postal voters from casting their votes on polling day as “they have to travel all the way back to their hometowns to vote”.

I believe Wong Koon Mun has problems in understanding simple news article that I seriously believe that he should take up a tuition course by the Selangor State Government under the Program Tuisyen Rakyat Selangor (PTRS) in order for him to understand what I said exactly on 20th February 2012.

I challenge him to show evidence that I said specifically that I suggested that spouses of postal voters, mainly army personnel and police officers, should not be enlisted as postal voters but “they have to travel all the way back to their hometowns to vote”.

What I said very clearly on that day, was that spouses of postal voters should just cast their votes on the same polling day in a normal polling station, just like any other voters instead of allowing them to vote in army camps a few days earlier than normal polling day. The reason I gave was that spouses of postal voters do not have any official duties to be carried out on the polling day. Thus it is unnecessary for the EC to enlist them as postal voters.

Although there are provisions for postal voters’ spouses to choose to become postal voters, such provision should be reviewed based on the reasons stated above, that the merit of postal voting system is to allow army personnel, police officers and any other civil servants with duty on polling days to cast their votes on the polling day. What duties do spouses of postal voters have on polling day to the extent that they have to become postal voters and that they cannot vote in the nearest polling station to their camps? Why such double standards when many East Malaysians working in Peninsula (or vice versa) or Malaysians working or studying overseas are not enlisted as postal voters? Is this democracy?

Wong Koon Mun further challenged me that I should lodge complaints with EC instead of seeking public and media’s attention by publicising the matter. I would like to clarify categorically that before I had the press conference on 20th February, Hulu Selangor DAP Parliamentary Liaison Committee Chairman, Mr Ch’ng Boon Lai, had already lodged 33 complaints with EC. Therefore, I do not understand why Wong Koon Mun put up such meaningless challenge on me.

I also said that conventionally, postal voters tend to support Barisan Nasional more than the oppositions. I firmly stand by my statement unless Wong Koon Mun can produce evidence to show otherwise.

Friday, February 24, 2012

No assessment hike in Selangor since 2008, MCA’s Jessie Ooi should apologize for misleading remark

Ever since PR took over the administration of Selangor in 2008, the state government never raised a single sen in assessment rate in all the twelve local councils in Selangor, which is why the allegation made by BN Selayang coordinator Jessie Ooi that Selangor has raised the assessment rate is clearly misleading and incorrect.

Tow days ago, BN Selayang coordinator Jessie Ooi was trying desperately to explain her way out. Not only did she deny that she criticised the alleged increment in assessment rate in Penang during a debate between Lim Guan Eng and Chua Soi Lek, she pointed her finger at Selangor now, saying that when she mentioned about the increment in assessment rate, she was actually referring to Selangor and not Penang.

She became emotional during the debate and with a harsh tone questioned Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng in the following manner:

"CM Lim, I am half a Penangite. Just now you said that you want to reduce the burden on the rakyat; and secondly, you said you all earned a lot of money. Now I am telling you, that you have misled the rakyat! This is because assessment rates have increased, prices of commodities have also increased!"

It is obvious that what Jessie Ooi said was that the assessment rate has "increased", but yesterday Jessie Ooi turned around and said that she was actually referring to Selangor instead of Penang. Netizens from Penang have since produced cogent evidence to refute the allegations made by Jessie Ooi.

As a result, and only after a few days have passed, that Jessie Ooi came up with the explanation that she was referring to Selangor and not Penang. I would like to ask Jessie Ooi, if indeed she was not referring to Penang, why did she even need to take 72 hours to clarify the said matter?

Jessie Ooi released a press statement 72 hours later and this is what she said in the press statement:

"Actually I was referring to Selangor PR Government’s unfulfilled election promise that if they were elected they would lower the Selangor’s assessment rate during the election in year 2008. This is an issue about the rakyat being dissatisfied with the Selangor PR Government. News report saying that I was referring to the Penang assessment rate is therefore incorrect."

Secondly, if indeed she was criticising Selangor, that Selangor PR Government failed to lower the assessment rate as promised, why, then, did she say that the assessment rate has "increased" instead of "not lowered"? Clearly "increased" and "not lowered" are two totally different and unrelated matters.

Thirdly, why did she put the blame on media for misreporting? Almost every single media, be it the newspapers, the internet or electronic media, have accurately reported her remarks at that point in time. Just because she has expressed it wrongly, she should not have blamed everything on the media; instead, she should apologise to the public immediately instead.

In fact, for almost four years since PR took over the administration of Selangor, it has never raised a single sen in assessment rate. Some local council have not revised their assessment rate for more than ten years, an example being the Kajang Municipal Council (Majlis Perbandaran Kajang or MPKj), which never raised its assessment rate since the year of 1985.

Ironically, some district council like Petaling Jaya City Council (Majlis Bandaraya Petaling Jaya or MBPJ) has raised its assessment rate from 8% to 8.8% during the era of BN as Selangor government, despite fierce opposition from rakyat.

In contrast with the current situation after PR took over the administration of Selangor, MBPJ in 2009 actually lowered the assessment rates for high rise apartments and condominiums by 2%. This year itself MBPJ has also passed a policy, whereby property converted into energy efficient building will be entitled for rebate in assessments.

My statements above are backed by sufficient evidence to refute the criticism directed by Jessie Ooi towards the Selangor PR Government. However, I am wondering if Jessie Ooi could produce any evidence to support her claim that the Selangor Government has increased the assessment rate. If not, I strongly advise Jessie Ooi to issue a public apology for her misleading and incorrect remark.

Thursday, February 23, 2012

Rosmah Mansor attended Perkasa dinner, what say you MCA?

The fact that the Prime Minister’s wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor recently attended a dinner held by Pertubuhan Pribumi Perkasa Malaysia (PERKASA) shows that the Barisan Nasional (BN) Government is secretly supporting PERKASA. What is most unfortunate is the fact that to date the MCA is still unwilling to openly severe its ties with PERKASA.

PERKASA has always been an extreme and racist organization since its very inception. They often hide under the guise of Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) when in fact they are nothing more than UMNO’s peripheral organization. The fact that the Prime Minister’s wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor attended PERKASA’s fund raising dinner shows that the Prime Minister Najib and his administration secretly endorsing extremism and racism. The notion of 1Malaysia as promoted by the Prime Minister is just a sham.

Unfortunately to date MCA is still unwilling to stay clear of PERKASA by prohibiting its members to participate in activities held by the same. Is this not equivalent to MCA supporting PERKASA inflicting harm upon the Chinese community with its extremist actions and speeches? MCA and its President Dr. Chua Soi Lek in particular owe the Chinese community a reasonable explanation with regards to the conduct of the Prime Minister’s wife in attending PERKASA’s dinner.

PERKASA has on more than one occasion made extreme and racist remarks hurting the non-Bumiputera community. PERKASA’s President Ibrahim Ali even gave out white Ang Pows to Chinese old folks during the last Chinese New Year with the intention of challenging the Chinese taboo. Not only did MCA not criticise such conduct by Ibrahim Ali, its President Dr. Chua Soi Lek even stood up for the same saying that he did not do it on purpose. However, the fact remains that Dr Collin Tiew, the MCA member who recently resigned from all party positions did inform Ibrahim Ali that giving white ang pow is inappropriate and yet he chose to ignore this.

This goes to show that Ibrahim Ali’s action was indeed intentional and yet Dr. Chua Soi Lek of MCA keeps condoning PERKASA’s extremist conduct. What is the reason behind this? Is it because MCA itself supports PERKASA’s extremist approach, so much so that it felt reluctant to prohibit its members from associating with PERKASA or even to sever its ties with the same? What, we may ask, is the relationship between MCA and PERKASA?

To add insult to injury, MCA Kampung Tunku Liaison Office Kelvin Chong Seng Foo once demonstrated with PERKASA’s ex-youth leader Arman Abu Hanifah in the protestation against one of the State Government’s proposed development in Sungai Way Free Trade Zone (FTZ). MCA’s leaders, be it state level or otherwise, also participated in demonstrations held by PERKASA, one of it being the Anti-Pakatan Selangor Protest held on 3rd of December 2010.

Enough is enough. Although MCA has in the past openly criticised PERKASA, MCA and Dr. Chua Soi Lek have never officially reprimanded PERKASA’s conduct and remarks. It has also failed to prohibit its members from continuing to participate in activities held by PERKASA. This begs the question of whether MCA and PERKASA are indeed secretly colluding with each other.

MCA President Dr. Chua Soi Lek has criticised DAP during the last debate with DAP leader Lim Guan Eng, that the DAP is attempting to use Chinese control Chinese and establish a two-race political system, but what we can see is that the Prime Minister Najib remain silent for Perkasa, whilst at the same time talk about so called moderate governance during festival at Fo Guang Shan.

This is showed that BN and Najib is the ultimate supporter of Perkasa, talking about moderate way in front of Malaysian Chinese, then secretly endorsing and even supporting Perkasa’s extremist agenda, this is what we called a two-race political system. MCA is just a servant of UMNO. UMNO is using MCA to govern the Malaysia based on different races, this is the real Chinese control Chinese, thus the real two-race political system.

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

雪州民联政府没调涨门牌税,黄糩璊须针对其误导性言论道歉


雪州民联政府自2008年上台执政迄今尚未调涨州内12个县市议会的门牌税,因此国阵士拉央国会协调官黄糩璊昨天指责雪州门牌税上涨同样是不确实的指责。

国阵士拉央国会协调官黄糩璊昨天大耍太极。除了否认指责槟城门牌税上涨,她反而把矛头指向雪州,指她在双雄辩论会当天指责门牌税上涨的州属就是雪兰莪州,非槟城州。

她当时声嘶力竭及激动地质问林冠英:“林首长,我是半个槟城人。你刚才讲说,你要减轻人民的负担;第二, 你们赚了很多钱。我要告诉你,你误导人民!因为门牌税
“起价” ,所有的东西都起价!”

明显地,黄糩璊当时所讲的是门牌税“起价”,可是昨天黄糩璊却反口说她指责的州属不是槟城,而是雪州。来自槟城的网友们在网路上拿出真凭实据反驳黄糩璊的谎言,结果经过数日之后,黄糩璊才解释说原来她所指的并非槟城,而是雪兰莪州。我要质问黄糩璊,既然她所指的并非槟城,为何她要在72个小时之后才来解释?

黄糩璊在事发72个小时之后发文告说:“其实我当时所指的是雪州民联政府曾在2008年大选时承诺执政后将降低雪州门牌税等等,但后来并没有兑现承诺。这是雪州民联引起人民不满的课题。新闻报道指我说的是槟城门牌税,是不正确的。”

第二,如果她所指责的是雪州,即雪州没有兑现承诺降低门牌税,为何她的双雄辩论会上提出的却是门牌税 “起价” ?要知道门牌税起价或降低本来就是风马牛不相及的事情。第三,为何要把责任全数推在媒体的身上?几乎每一家媒体,不管是印刷媒体、网路媒体还是电子媒体都准确报道她当时所发表的言论。因为她本身当时的口误,她不应该罪怪媒体工作者,反之她应该在第一时间之内作出公开道歉。

其实,雪州民联政府从2008年执政迄今将近4年不曾调涨州内12个县市议会的门牌税。一些地方议会已经超过10年没有调整门牌税。例如加影市议会自1985年以来就不曾调涨门牌税。一些县市议会如八打灵再也市政厅在2006年,即国阵政府执政时期在一片反对浪潮之下调涨门牌税,即从8巴仙调涨至8.8巴仙(上涨10巴仙)。反观在民联执政之后,该地方议会于2009年把高楼组屋和公寓的门牌税下调2巴仙。今年,该市议会也通过一项政策,即任何把房屋改为节能建筑物的业主可享有门牌税折扣。

以上我说的一切有足够的证据来证明,不知黄糩璊是否能够拿出证据指出到底雪州政府合适宣布调涨县市议会的门牌税?如果没有的话,我奉劝黄糩璊立即针对其误导性言论而作出公开道歉。

‘Extra postal votes could affect Pakatan’, Army wives should vote via the normal process, says DAP assemblyman


TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2012 - 17:46
by Andrew Sagayam (Malay Mail)

NEW NAMES: Lau shows the 400 listed postal voters at the Selangor State Assembly Shah Alam Annex — Pic: Shahir Omar

SHAH ALAM: The extra 400 postal votes in the Kuala Kubu Baru state seat, now held by Barisan Nasional, could affect Pakatan Rakyat’s chances in the next general election.

DAP Selangor organising secretary and Kampung Tunku assemblyman Lau Weng San, who is looking after the constituency, said 33 of the 400 new postal voters were spouses of army staff.

“We have filed an official complaint as the wives of soldiers are not on duty like their husbands and can cast their votes via the normal process,” he said.

In the 2008 general election, the BN won the seat with a 448-vote majority.

“This will definitely affect Pakatan’s chances of winning the seat as we fair badly when it comes to postal votes,” Lau said at a press conference at the Selangor State Secretariat here yesterday.

“In the past, the state seat had been won and lost by a majority of between 400 and 1,700 votes.”

He added that the new postal voters were from the 4th Royal Signals Regiment camp.

Lau said that the complaint regarding the wives of the soldiers had been submitted to the Election Commission (EC) on Feb 10.

“The EC officer who recorded the complaint assured us that the matter would be investigated,” he said.

He also cautioned voters to check their records and voting status to make sure they would be casting their votes at the right places.

“Be careful, we cannot deny anyone’s right to vote but we have to check if it is valid,” he said.

“In the 10th Sarawak election, last year, I had the opportunity to look at the list of army personnel who were voting ... all of them had the Defence Ministry in Jalan Padang Tembak, KL, as their address, which was peculiar.”

DAP’s Kuala Kubu Baru coordinator for new villages Chng Boon Lai and Hulu Selangor councillor Law Suet Peng were present at the press conference.

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Thank you card from voter in Kampung Tunku


首相夫人罗斯马出席土权晚宴,马华怎么说?

首相夫人罗斯马出席土权晚宴,显示国阵政府和巫统暗地里支持土权组织。令人遗憾的是,马华至今依然助纣为虐,不敢公开斩断和土权暧昧关系。

土权组织从成立至今都是一个极端主义和种族主义的组织。他们利用非政府组织假面具来掩饰,事实上土权是巫统的外围组织。首相夫人罗斯马出席土权筹款晚宴,证明了首相纳吉以及他所领导的国阵政府支持极端主义和种族主义。纳吉所提倡的“一个马来西亚”是虚伪的。

令人遗憾的是,马华至今还不敢与土著权威组织切割,禁止党员出席土权的活动。这是不是表示马华支持土权以极端行为和言论伤害华社?马华尤其是总会长蔡细历更应该对首相夫人的举动向华社做出解释及合理的交代。

土权一次又一次发表种族主义和极端主义言论伤害我国非马来族群。土权主席伊布拉欣阿里更在刚结束的农历新年期间故意冒犯华人禁忌派发“白包”给老人家,马华不但没有谴责土权污辱华社的行为,其总会长蔡细历更为伊布拉欣阿里的所作所为辩护,指他们派“白包”不是故意的。但事实上刚辞去所有党职党员张秋明当时曾告知伊布拉欣阿里派“白包”是不恰当的,但是伊布拉欣阿里没有理会。

这证明伊布拉欣的行为是故意的。而马华蔡细历却一再纵容土权的极端行为。难道马华支持土权的极端言论,所以才不禁止自己的党员出席团权的活动,不敢与土权断绝关系?到底,马华和土权组织又有什么暧昧关系?

更甚的是,马华甘榜东姑州议席协调员张胜富也曾经和土权组织前青年团团长阿曼一起拉布条抗议州政府在双溪威自由贸易区的一项发展项目。马华地方和州级领袖也曾经参与土权组织所主导的示威游行活动,其中一项便是2010年12月3日的反对雪州政府的抗议游行活动。

是可忍,孰不可忍。虽然马华领袖过去曾经公开谴责土权,但是蔡细历和马华公会始终没有针对土权组织的言论和行径作出正式的谴责,以及下令禁止党员参与和出席他们的活动,难道马华和土权组织暗地里勾结?

马华总会长蔡细历在刚过去与行动党秘书长林冠英的辩论会里抨击行动党以华制华建立两种族制,但是我们可以看到首相纳吉出席东禅寺元宵节庆典时向华社和佛教徒大谈中庸之道后还是继续纵容土权组织,甚至让其夫人出席土权晚宴。

这表示纳吉和国阵支持土著权威组织,在华社面前讲中庸,然后在华社背后支持土权,这才是两种族制。马华只不过是巫统在两种族制的一颗棋子而已。巫统利用马华将马来西亚个族群分而治之,这才是真正的以华制华,这才是两种族制。

Thursday, February 16, 2012

蒲种华小校地问题显示魏家祥的无能和高翔威的无知


本人谴责马青雪州团长高祥威博士针对有关育智华小和公教中学校地事件上对雪州行政议员郭素沁作出不实指责,因为高祥威的指责是毫无根据及不负责任的。

针对高祥威博士在他的文告中指责雪州民联政府只发出支持信而非校地批准信,我相信高祥威已被教育部副部长兼马青总团长魏家祥误导。

事实上,雪州政府已经批准校地给上述两间学校。可是教育部却拒绝该校的建校申请。雪州行政议员郭素沁曾经针对此事做出多次澄清,并且曾经就此事提供书面证据。

这其中包括州行政议会文件-Kertas MMK. No. 46/40/2011;一封雪州政府于2011年9月30日通知教育部有关州政府决定批准校地的信;教育部于2011年11月25日做出书面回复拒绝该校的建立分校的申请。

根据1996年教育法令,州政府必须得到教育部的建校批准后才可以提供校地。因此,州政府有必要通知教育部有关批准校地的决定以获得教育部的建校批准。令人遗憾的是,虽然州政府已经通知教育部小弟已经批准了,但是教育部却以现有学校保留地只能兴建国中和国小的倒退政策而拒绝雪州民联政府的好意。魏家祥身为教育部副部长却无法扭转教育部的倒退政策,这是他的无能。而高祥威作出雪州政府没有批准校地,这显示他的无知。

有鉴于此,我呼吁高祥威和魏家祥以及马华公会应该将他们的注意力专注在如何得到教育部的建校批准。而不是不断浪费时间攻击行政议员郭素沁和雪州政府,他们应该停止忽视人民的需要。尤其是那些急需新校舍的学子。

马华是否默许土权组织的极端言论和行径?


马华党员参与土权组织派白包活动已经超过两个星期,目前我们尚未看到马华禁止党员出席和参与土权组织所主办的活动,证明马华害怕及默许土权组织的种族主义和极端主义言论及行为。

土权一次又一次发表种族主义和极端主义言论伤害我国非马来族群。土权主席伊布拉欣阿里更在刚结束的农历新年期间故意冒犯华人禁忌派发“白包”给老人家,马华不但没有谴责土权污辱华社的行为,其总会长蔡细历更为伊布拉欣阿里的所作所为辩护,指他们派“白包”不是故意的。但事实上刚辞去所有党职党员张秋明当时曾告知伊布拉欣阿里派“白包”是不恰当的,但是伊布拉欣阿里没有理会。

这证明伊布拉欣的行为是故意的。而马华蔡细历却一再纵容土权的极端行为。难道马华支持土权的极端言论,所以才不禁止自己的党员出席团权的活动,不敢与土权断绝关系?到底,马华和土权组织又有什么暧昧关系?

更甚的是,马华甘榜东姑州议席协调员张胜富也曾经和土权组织前青年团团长阿曼一起拉布条抗议州政府在双溪威自由贸易区的一项发展项目。马华地方和州级领袖也曾经参与土权组织所主导的示威游行活动,其中一项便是2010年12月3日的反对雪州政府的抗议游行活动。

是可忍,孰不可忍。虽然马华领袖过去曾经公开谴责土权,但是蔡细历和马华公会始终没有针对土权组织的言论和行径作出正式的谴责,以及下令禁止党员参与和出席他们的活动,难道马华和土权组织暗地里勾结?

如今行动党已经已经禁止党员出席土权的活动。行动党拒绝任何种族主义和极端主义。就如秘书长林冠英在他的文告中讲的,所有思想正常的马来西亚人,包括全体非马来人族群,都与这个种族主义及极端主义组织毫无关系。因此,本人呼吁马华应该停止为土权的极端行为辩护,并截铁斩钉禁止党员出席土权的活动。

Wednesday, February 08, 2012

MCA’s Dr. Kow Cheong Wei is as delusional as his party youth leader Wee Ka Siong on the Chinese school land issue

MCA Youth Selangor state chairman Dr. Kow Cheong Wei is helplessly lost when it comes to the issue of the state’s school land allocated to Chinese schools SJKC Yak Chee and SMJK Katholik. His senseless attack on Selangor Senior State Exco Teresa Kok is an act of an irresponsible politician.

In a statement released today, Dr. Kow has rudely labelled Teresa Kok things she is not. He appears to be utterly misled by his party youth chief Wee Ka Siong in believing that the Selangor state government has not allocated land for the schools. Dr. Kow also accused the PR-led state government of only providing a support letter to the ministry for the schools’ building and not the land approval. This is misleading.

The fact is that the Selangor state government has approved the allocation of the school land but the Education Ministry (MOE), where Wee is deputy minister, has rejected the schools’ wishes to build its branches on the allocated land. Teresa Kok, and other members of the Selangor state government, has clarified this matter on numerous occasions while providing written evidence on the matter.

The evidence includes the state EXCO paper on the decision - Kertas MMK. No. 46/40/2011; a letter dated 30 September 2011 from the state government to the MOE informing them the decision of the approved land; and the MOE’s written reply on 25 November 2011 rejecting the request to allow the schools to build their branch structures on the school reserved land.

The Education Act 1996 requires the state government to get approval from the MOE for the building of school structures before the state government provides land titles to the schools. Therefore, it was necessary for the state government to write to the ministry to inform them of the Exco decision to allocate the land and to get the ministry’s approval for the schools to be built. This also means that the MOE is the one who is preventing the schools from going ahead with its plans to build the branches.

This shows that Dr. Kow’s assertions in his statement that the state government has not approved the land are basically incoherent ramblings of an insignificant MCA lackey.

Therefore, I strongly urge the clueless Dr. Kow, the incompetent Wee and the irrelevant MCA to stop its abusive attacks on Teresa Kok and the Selangor government. They need to focus their attention and energies in lobbying the education ministry to approve the schools’ request to build its structure on the land allocated to them by the state.

Stop wasting Teresa’s and the state’s precious time and stop neglecting the real needs of the rakyat. This is crucial especially as these school students need school buildings to accommodate their academic needs immediately.