Wednesday, February 28, 2007

公布议员选区拨款才是打造健康政治文化的开始

如果马华总会长拿督斯里黄家定要党领袖和党员群则群力为马华公会打造健康政治文化,那么他个人应指示所有马华的议员向马华副总会长拿督翁诗杰看齐,主动公布每年200万令吉的国阵选区拨款如何使用,以示他致力于健康政治。

目前,翁诗杰已经成为雪州马华(可能也是全马国阵国会议员中)第一名公布选区拨款计划的国会议员。在这之前,梳邦再也区州议员李华民也通过他的个人网站发布2006年的选区拨款分配表,并列出拨款对象、用途和数额。翁诗杰是在2006年9月初旬曾经宣布将会通过他的个人网站公布这200万令吉拨款的下落。

雪州行动党当时除了欢迎翁诗杰的这项做法,也呼吁雪州所有国阵国会议员做同样的公布,以示透明。既然这200万令吉国阵国会议员选区拨款是出自人民的口袋,那么也理所当然的花在人民的身上。

根据社青团团长倪可敏在的计算:每名国阵国会议员每年获得200万令吉的拨款,根据2004年大选后的成绩,国阵拥有198个国会议员,总拨款相等于 3亿9千600万令吉;全国452个国阵州议员,每个州议员的选区拨款从5万令吉至30万令吉不等;再加上上议员的拨款,每年的选区拨款总数不下于5亿令吉,等于每一届政府在5年任期内,就掌有约25亿令吉的选区拨款分配权。

这是一个天文数字,也是人民的钱,公布拨款让人民知道拨款的下落,这绝对是人民的权利。


马青副总团长兼马青联邦直辖区州分团秘书周连琼针对这课题所发表的言论是极之不负责任的。他尝试以“老板不公开工人薪水”的谬论来掩盖拨款透明化的必要性。

在接受《当今大马》的访问时,他说:“这就好象老板发薪水给工人,勤劳的工人比较多,懒惰的比较少,老板公开所有人的薪水将导致工人们不满”。

周连琼或许不曾听过“人民才是老板”的概念。工人受聘于老板,老板决定工人的薪水。工人在受聘之前将会与老板针对薪金的问题和老板讨价还价,最后谈妥的薪金是劳资双方都能够接受的水平。

但是,周连琼的说法如同颠倒“人民才是老板”的概念,既国阵议员才是老板,而把票投给国阵候选人的人民本来是老板,有权利指导他们所缴纳的税款花在什么地方,却反而成为工人。周连琼如此谬论,不仅仅黄家定应该出面指正,甚至是周连琼的顶头上司陈才和(周连琼是联邦直辖区敦拉萨镇国会议员拿督陈才和的选区助理)也应该

除了人民强烈要求执政当局把拨款透明化,国阵内部也因为不透明处理拨款而大动干戈,引发争端。最近,沙巴马鲁都国会选区之巫统与团结党两个青年团针对国会议员特别拨款课题互相开炮。

巫统马鲁都区部在2月18日举行的会员大会,决定拒领50万令吉国会议员特别拨款。该区部形容有关拨款是“微不足取”之数目。

沙巴团结党马东贡区部则对巫统该区部的上述作法感到遗憾。该区青年团团长马榴马沙英说∶“他们理应感恩,因为他们在马鲁都区没有代议士,却被分发国会议员特别基金拨款。”

他说,在其他巫统控制的选区,其他国阵成员党并没有获得国会议员的特别基金拨款。“他们理应仿效马鲁都团结党国会议员,至今仍分派给其他国阵成员党。”

如果要一劳永逸解决这个问题,那么国阵应该以公平透明的方式处理拨款。公平的意义就是这些拨款既然来自人民,那么就应该不分朝野,公平分配给所有国州议员。透明的意义就是所有获得拨款的国州议员应该定期通过可行的方式,如通过传媒或网站把拨款的列项公布。

如果马华连公布拨款也做不到,甚至是畏首畏尾,那么我们奉劝马华公会以后不好再提‘打造健康政治文化’等等华丽的口号,免得日后惹人诟病。

Tuesday, February 27, 2007

OPPOSE TOLL HIKES GUARANTEEING HUGE PROFITS FOR TOLL COMPANIES


DAP opposes toll hikes of 20-60% on the five Klang Valley highways as an unfair economic burden on ordinary Malaysians.

The construction cost for the highways of which the toll rates are revised in January 2007, was RM4.13 billion. However, the government has already agreed to pay RM4.86 billion in compensation to the highway companies.

That is RM739 million or almost 18% more than the actual cost of constructing the highway! Why guarantee these highway companies such phenomenal profits even before their concession period ends in the next 20-30 years? This RM 739 million profit does not include the hundreds of millions of ringgit paid by you annually at toll booths.

It is cheaper and more beneficial to Malaysians if the Government buys over the highways instead of raising the toll rate and paying unnecessary compensation.

What is more, the government classifies the highway contracts under the Official Secrets Act (OSA). OSA is supposed to protect national interests and our country's security but is now abused to protect the interests of private companies. The public has the right to know why we are paying high toll rates to guarantee the huge profits of the highway companies.

We must oppose BN's highway robbery … that's why we need a stronger DAP.

去双溪威派传单


八打灵再也火箭行动队一行人在2007年2月24日前往八打灵再也双溪威菜市场派发反对大道无理提高过路费传单。以下是我们的传单内容:

反对大道涨价造福收费公司

民主行动党反对政府调高巴生谷5条大道收费介于20%至60%,让平民百姓必须承受不公的经济负担。

这些从2007年1月开始调高收费的大道建筑成本为41亿3千万令吉。然而,政府历年所作的赔偿额,却高达48亿6千万令吉。

这笔赔偿金比实际的建筑成本超出7亿3千900万令吉,或相等于超出约18%。为何政府要在收费合约期限还有20至30年之际,让这些大道公司享受巨额的利润? 这笔利润还不包括您每年向收费站缴付的数亿令吉。

如果政府愿意购回这些大道经营权,而不是调高收费及给予不必要的赔偿,这肯定
更加划算及对全民有利。

更糟糕的是,政府将所有收费合约列为官方机密。官方机密法令是要维护国家利益
与安全,如今却滥用来保护私人公司的利益。公众有权知道他们为何要缴付更高额
的过路费,进而让大道公司获取巨额利润。

我们必须反对国阵的大盗……这就是我们需要民主行动党更强大的原因。


Tuesday, February 20, 2007

Bloggers as election candidates?


This is a story on the possibility of several famous bloggers who may participate in the coming general elections.

The featured in the latest Special Weekly, a weekly Chinese feature magazine published by Life Publisher (a subsidiary of Nanyang Press Holding).

For those who have not read or who have never read the magizine, maybe you can grab your copy today for more insiders' views on current political affairs in Malaysia.

Of course, you must be able to read Chinese first.

Monday, February 19, 2007

From cyber world to arena of politics

Another article on our new comrade, Sdr Tony Pua, in The Star yesterday.

From cyber world to arena of politics

By JOCELINE TAN

Self-made millionaire Tony Pua is cute, likeable and was only 28 when he hit the headlines as a trailblazer and success story in the new economy. Now, seven years later, he is putting it all aside for politics – more specifically, opposition politics.

TONY Pua literally sprinted out of the lift with his notebook computer and a newspaper tucked under his arm. The self-made Internet millionaire looked incredibly boyish for a 35-year-old and has all the exuberance reminiscent of those advertisements for energy drinks.

“Not so young anymore, actually,” he said, dipping his head to show the shock of greying hair around his crown.

The road to success has apparently not been without sleepless nights and tonnes of worrying.

Pua is a well-known name in the e-commerce business where he has earned a dizzying string of inscriptions – dotcom success story, pioneer in e-business consulting and, perhaps the most satisfying of all, youngest founder-CEO to have listed a company in the Singapore Stock Exchange.

Making a stand: Tony Pua, Oxford graduate and boy wonder of e-business is throwing it all aside for opposition politics.
The Oxford University graduate is the founder of Cyber Village Sdn Bhd and until recently its CEO. Pua has sold his stake in the company and, after settling debts and commitments, is still left with a tidy sum of a couple of million ringgit.

But it is the reason for his divestment that has drawn the limelight onto Pua again.

The Netpreneur is leaving the business world for the arena of politics – opposition politics to be exact, and with the DAP.

“I'm going in with my eyes wide open,” he said.

The decision surprised some of his friends and even a number of business partners and associates. There is no shortage of businessmen in politics but the reality is that very few truly successful ones go into opposition politics.

It does make him rather an exception.

So what did it take to persuade this Oxford graduate and Internet whiz kid to put it all aside for the hurly burly of opposition politics?

Pua has actually been inspired by the national leadership transition in 2003.

“There was a real hope for change in the air and I saw a determined group whom I believed wanted to make things better,” he said.

Like many people then, he was swept along by the euphoria of the 2004 general election and felt more hopeful for the future than he had ever been in his life. He even began to entertain the idea of being part of the change from within.

But, as they say, that is the trouble when expectations are way too high.

Pua said that disappointment crept in with the post-election Cabinet formation. But, he said, it was the Cabinet reshuffle of February 2006 with its overwhelming number of faces from the previous administration that truly dampened his hopes.

“I felt it would not be worth my while to change things from within. I hope there'll be people who are pro-establishment and who will continue to work from within but it's not going to be me.

“When things are not right, it's important to add a voice to sum up the issues and for constructive discussion so that people will know what's happening and push for remedy.

“I'm very realistic, I'm not talking about changing the system; if one can prevent the system from getting worse, that itself would be an achievement,” he said.

Strong views

Pua had humble beginnings, which makes his success story even more poignant. The eldest of four siblings, he grew up on the outskirts of Batu Pahat where his father, a body-builder who happens to be a former Mr Asia and a two-time Mr Malaysia, ran a small poultry farm.

His father would drive him to school and Pua sometimes helped deliver eggs to the shops in town.

Pua left home when he was 13 to do his secondary schooling in Singapore on an Asean scholarship from the Singapore government. From there, it was on to Oxford where he read PPE (philosophy, politics and economics) at Keble College, Oxford University, on a Malaysian Tobacco Corporation scholarship.

He did well in his studies but he was too involved in extracurricular activities to be a straight A's student. He played a variety of games, enjoyed art and joined a string of societies from history and geography to the choir.

Even now, he is the sort of guy who reads fiction (Harry Potter books, Stephen King, Jeffrey Archer, Wilbur Smith), plays computer games to relax and has bought Victoria Secrets lingerie online for his wife.

Friends from his Oxford days remember his “rather socialist” views.

“He had strong political views. He was critical of the NEP and we were at opposite ends of the political spectrum,” said Omar Mustapha, a contemporary of Pua's at Oxford.

But Pua's sentiments were not unusual for many Chinese of his generation; the product of the sweat and tears of families who had to fall back on a combination of ingenuity and life savings to educate their children.

His own education experience has spawned an interest in education issues, hence the rather serious and intellectual blog (educationmalaysia) he has with his friend Ong Kian Ming.

Pua likes to say that his lawyer wife, who has a small practice specialising in intellectual property law, knew from day one that he would be going down the political road eventually.

Getting him has been a real coup for the DAP and a great deal of the courtship, it seemed, was done by DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng.

Pua made his first speaking appearance at a DAP forum about three months ago.

“I told Guan Eng, this (is the) kind of guy we should quickly recruit and groom,” said Selangor DAP politician Ronnie Liu. “Of course, Guan Eng was way ahead of me.”

Pua is clearly on the DAP line-up for the general election. Party people are also impressed that he has been willing to let go of a successful enterprise in the name of politics.

“When I heard he had sold his company, I thought it was a big sacrifice given that it will not be easy to go back to business after opposition politics. That's what I call biting the bullet,” said Liu.

Still, it is hard to see someone like Pua take to life as an opposition politician. Demonstrating at toll booths? Being handcuffed and taken to the lock-up?

“If one has to be taken to the lock-up, it should be for a worthwhile cause. You won't find me standing in front of an FRU truck, asking to be arrested. But if the cause is that of speaking the truth and if the authorities have to use harsh measures, I will have to face the consequences,” Pua said.

Even as early as 1999, when he had just started making the news as a boy wonder in the then new economy, his CV had listed his aspiration as: To contribute back to society.

Politics, he said, is one way of doing just that.

More money to come - election is near

BN continues to hand out taxpayers' money to the rural area as part of their effort to strengthen their ground in their traditional strongholds - Johore.

Billions and millions of ringgit are handed out and announcements are made for the past few days. By the time it trickles out to the hand of the rural public, it will be time for election.

Be prepared.

RM1.14b taja 2,600 pelajar
Oleh Mohd Roji Abdullah

Kerajaan mahu mantapkan pembangunan modal insan bagi bidang kritikal

BATU PAHAT: Jabatan Perkhidmatan Awam (JPA) memperuntukkan RM1.14 bilion sebagai biasiswa kepada 2,600 pelajar tajaannya untuk mengikuti pengajian di universiti dalam dan luar negara tahun ini.

Daripada jumlah itu, sebanyak RM920 juta diperuntukkan kepada 1,800 pelajar yang akan mengikuti pengajian di luar negara manakala RM221 juta lagi diperuntukkan kepada 8,000 pelajar dalam negara.

Timbalan Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri, Senator Datuk Abdul Raman Suliman, berkata JPA menambah 300 lagi tempat untuk pelajar tajaan JPA yang mengikuti Program Ijazah Luar Negara (PILN) 2007 menjadikannya seramai 1,800 orang berbanding 1,500 orang tahun lalu.

Bagi pelajar yang mengikuti pengajian di institusi pengajian tinggi awam (IPTA) tempatan pula, sebanyak 3,000 lagi biasiswa ditawarkan menjadikan jumlah keseluruhan 8,000 berbanding 5,000 sebelum ini.

"Pertambahan jumlah biasiswa itu sejajar dengan hasrat kerajaan untuk memantapkan pembangunan modal insan dan kita memberi keutamaan kepada bidang kritikal seperti kejuruteraan dan perubatan.

"Permohonan untuk mendapatkan biasiswa itu terbuka kepada pelajar yang menduduki Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) 2006 yang keputusannya dijangka diumumkan 12 Mac ini," katanya.

Beliau berkata demikian kepada pemberita selepas menghadiri Program Anugerah Pelajar Cemerlang parlimen Parit Sulong 2006, di Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Datuk Sulaiman, di sini, semalam. Hadir sama, Ahli Parlimen Parit Sulong, Syed Hood Syed Edros.

Abdul Raman berkata, iklan tawaran biasiswa JPA itu akan disiarkan menerusi laman web, www.jpa.gov.my dan akhbar tempatan selama empat hari pada 4, 5, 11 dan 13 Mac ini.

"Calon juga boleh merujuk laman web berkenaan untuk mengetahui butiran tawaran serta syarat kelayakan mengikuti PILN 2007," katanya.

Beliau berkata, pertimbangan khas turut diberikan kepada calon SPM yang berasal daripada keluarga berpendapatan rendah yang memperoleh keputusan cemerlang pada ujian itu.

"Calon yang mendapat keputusan 10A1 daripada keluarga berpendapatan tidak melebihi RM1,500 sebulan akan ditawarkan biasiswa JPA secara automatik,” katanya.

"Bagaimanapun, mereka masih perlu mematuhi peraturan dan kriteria PILN dan melalui proses temuduga seperti calon lain," katanya.

Tambahan RM52.2j bantu mangsa banjir di Johor

BATU PAHAT: Datuk Seri Najib Razak yang melakukan kunjungan kali ketujuh ke Johor sejak negeri itu dilanda dua gelombang banjir akhir Disember tahun lalu dan awal tahun ini, mengumumkan bantuan kewangan tambahan RM52.2 juta kepada mangsa banjir di negeri ini.

Timbalan Perdana Menteri berkata, bantuan itu bagi membolehkan keluarga mangsa memperbaiki rumah rosak akibat bencana itu. Mangsa yang rumahnya dinaiki air lebih 1.5 meter menerima RM1,100, manakala kurang 1.5 meter menerima RM700.

Setakat ini, kerajaan membelanjakan RM130 juta bagi pemberian wang ihsan memulihkan kehidupan mangsa banjir di seluruh negara.

Beliau berkata, ia peruntukan terbesar pernah dikeluarkan kepada mangsa bencana alam berbanding kejadian banjir sebelum ini.

Najib yang juga Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Bencana Negara berkata, daripada RM130 juta pelbagai bantuan wang ihsan kepada mangsa banjir, sebanyak RM100 juta diperuntukkan bagi 68,334 mangsa banjir di seluruh Johor.

Sebelum ini, beliau berkata, kerajaan sudah mengagihkan wang ihsan RM200 sebanyak dua kali kepada keluarga mangsa banjir, diikuti RM500 bagi peralatan rumah rosak dan RM100 bagi murid sekolah rendah dan RM200 kepada pelajar sekolah menengah.

“Bagi wang ihsan rumah rosak, kita menerima cadangan kerajaan Johor supaya bayaran dibuat secara purata memandangkan ia membabitkan jumlah mangsa ramai dan meliputi kawasan yang luas.

“Saya harap tidak ada lagi selepas ini... jangan bunyi lagi dan ini dikira penutup pemberian daripada kerajaan,” katanya berucap pada Majlis Penyampaian Wang Ihsan Bantuan Tambahan kepada 84 mangsa banjir bagi 10 mukim di daerah ini, di Institut Perguruan Tun Hussein Onn, di sini, petang semalam.

Hadir sama ialah Menteri Besar, Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman, Ahli Parlimen Sri Gading, Datuk Mohamad Aziz, Setiausaha Kerajaan Negeri, Datuk Abdul Latif Yusof dan exco kerajaan negeri.

Najib berkata, daripada RM52.2 juta wang ihsan untuk rumah rosak, kerajaan menyediakan RM12.138 juta kepada 11,035 keluarga mangsa banjir di Johor yang rumah mereka dinaiki air lebih 1.5 meter manakala RM40.109 juta kepada 57,299 keluarga yang rumah mereka dinaiki air kurang 1.5 meter.

Katanya, pemberian wang ihsan bagi rumah rosak bagi daerah lain akan diagihkan dalam tempoh terdekat ini.

Beliau berkata, daerah Segamat mencatatkan jumlah mangsa banjir teramai menerima wang ihsan RM1,100 bagi rumah mereka yang dinaiki air lebih 1.5 meter iaitu 4,045 keluarga mangsa.

Dalam perkembangan berkaitan, beliau berkata, Syarikat Perumahan Negara Berhad (SPNB) mengenal pasti 94 rumah rosak teruk dalam kejadian banjir dua kali di Johor baru-baru ini sebelum membina rumah mangsa banjir yang musnah teruk.

Selain itu, katanya, kerajaan Johor juga sedang mengenal pasti lokasi kawasan perkampungan di tepi tanah rizab sungai yang akan dipindahkan ke tempat lebih selamat.

Sunday, February 18, 2007

从李天祥自杀谈起……

最近在吉隆坡发生了一宗自杀案件,一名39岁的博士生李天祥因为按乃不了生活压力而选择亲手杀害亲生儿女,然后再服毒自杀。李天祥在遗书中道出他虽硕士毕业,但从2002年开始失业至今,让他倍感压力,经常“生闷气”,而且也对人间感到失望。他说不希望儿女步上他的后尘,所以才选择走向绝路。

根据报章报道,李天祥失业期间曾经投身地产业、保险业等行业,但都不成功。多年来,他们一家人都是依靠李天祥的妻子梅慧娴兼职保险经纪,以及李天祥的岳父间中帮补一点家用,来维持多年的生活。

生活压力而自杀

李天祥自杀案是不到半年内所发生的第二宗父母亲手杀死儿女后自杀的案件。去年12月上旬在吉隆坡沙叻秀,欠下非法高利贷的余永昌夫妇在毒死3儿后再自杀。

报道指出李天祥失业4年,因压抑不了生活压力而自杀?为何硕士毕业的李天祥会失业长达四年之久?如果经济真如首相和贸工部长拉菲达所公布的数据般好,如果股市真的吸引那么多资金,李天祥以他的硕士资格难道早不到一份能够养家活口的工吗?

我在《南洋网》的旧闻搜寻引擎输入“自杀”一词,选择搜寻2006年12月1日至31日的新闻,竟然发现在短短一个月之内便有至少10则自杀或尝试自杀的案件。

因此李天祥的自杀并不是一般的自杀,更不是单独的个案,他的自杀除了是社会问题,也是经济问题,更是政治问题。

贸工部长拉菲达在2007年2月13日公布表示马来西亚成功在2006年招徕1077项制造业项目,投资总数额高达460亿令吉。其中202亿令吉是外来直接投资,另外258亿令吉是本地投资,同时也制造9万个就业机会。

应慎视拉菲达数据

政府最近公布多项利好消息,以上就是其中一项利好消息。在经济和市场表现一片低迷下,政府所颁布的种种利好消息似有粉饰太平的感觉。其实,马来西亚股票交易所猛攀1200点的高峰并不是循序渐进的演进,而是在一个多月前开始‘大跃进’,而且大跃进的大多是蓝筹股,也就是与政府关系密切的公司。

今年年初联合国贸易与发展研讨会(UN Conference of Trade and Development - UNCTAD)所发表的数据显示马来西亚去年的外来直接投资总额是39亿美元(大约130亿令吉)这个数据和拉菲达所公布的202亿令吉显然相差一大载。拉菲达的数据确实值得我们慎视。

马来西亚在2005年只吸引40亿令吉的外来直接投资。显然在2006年,马来西亚的表现比2005年稍微逊色。无论如何,马来西亚所吸引的外来直接投资在2005年和2006年分别被印尼(53亿美元)以及泰国(79亿令吉)超越。这点令我们相当担忧的。

十年内遭新国远抛后头

与马来西亚一水之隔的新加坡则分别在2005年和2006年吸引201亿美元和319亿美元的外来直接投资,比马来西亚分别高出5倍和8倍以上。在1996年,流入马来西亚的外来直接投资高达73亿美元,仅比新加坡的96.8亿美元落后24亿美元。马来西亚更因此被誉为是本区域最有能力和新加坡平起平坐的经济体,但是10年之间,马来西亚的整体竞争能力下滑,导致我们现在必须和以前比我们落后的国家如印尼、泰国甚至越南等国相比,同时却遭新加坡远远抛在后头。我们难道不能对这种趋势感到担忧吗?我们还能对这种趋势感到‘欣慰高兴’吗?

我们需要的不只是政治人物的口号,也不再是报章媒体的粉饰太平,而是政治人物的改革决心,以及报章传媒的专业良知。如果政治人物不愿大刀阔斧,终日陶醉在自我设计的假象之中,如果保障传媒噤若寒蝉、可以压制来自民间的不满。马来西亚将会在不知不觉之中慢慢消失在投资者的世界地图。

我国需要一项全面的防范罪案大蓝图

我国的治安敲起了警钟。坊间许多来自各宗教、文化、语言以及教育背景人士都对我国的治安败坏越趋担心。人们已经不敢单独在大城市的街道上步行,尤其是单身步行的女性。即使是男士们也随时面对暴力行劫的风险。

年仅21岁的拉曼学院生利建业就是最好的证明。国会下议院副议长拿督林时清在八打灵再也的住宅也遭匪徒抢劫,损失数万令吉。国会反对党领袖林吉祥、首相署部长拿督斯里纳兹里、外交部长拿督斯里赛哈密、首相署部长拿督斯里诺华威阿芬迪、灵北区国会议员周美芬、前甘榜冬姑区州议员邱成福等等达官显要都曾经成为匪徒下手的目标。

所有人无可幸免

罪案频频发生,前槟城总警察长拿督马骐骝此次在八打灵再也加星路的独立式洋房遇劫丧命,其实早已不是希奇新闻,但是此案能够引起民间如此大的反弹及民怨,乃是因为马骐骝虽曾经贵为一州之总警长,也曾经是国会议员,其住宅防卫深严,竟也遭于如此下场。

由此可见,治安不靖的受害者已经不限于一般的公众人士,甚至政府高官,甚至是警察本身也可能成为匪徒下手的目标。我国正副首相甚至是最高元首也难保有一天会遭匪徒下手。

此时此刻,匪徒随时比来外侵略者更加能够危害我国国民的安全。虽然警方高层和政府高官曾表示,打击罪犯也必须依赖公众人士的合作,但是要根治治安不靖的严峻问题,国人最终能冀望的还是警方,因为警方是我国能够合法使用武力的保安机构。这点是毋庸置疑的。如果欠缺警方的参与甚至是没有警方的参与,任何防范和打击罪犯的努力将付诸东流。

目前全国各大城镇都热衷于搞警民对话,我跟人相当质疑警民对话的有效性。对,警民对话或许提供一个直接平台,让公众人士针对地方上的治安问题和警区警官交流,但是它是否能起立竿见影的效用呢?从我个人观察,其答案是否定的。更令人心痛的是,类似活动已经沦为在朝政治人物每年的例常选区活动,贬为政治人物的宣传工具。当大家一窝蜂搞警民对话,甚至乘机主办各类软性活动,如儿童天色比赛,这对促进打击罪犯方面能扮演怎样的带动角色?

警民对话没有后续行动

另外一个主要的失败原因就是没有后续行动。警民对话往往成为人民向警方宣泄不满的地方,简单来说成为人民的泄气筒。

当警民对话沦为人民宣泄不满的场合时,民间纵然有许多良好的建议,但往往碍于缺乏永续性的后续行动,例如监督政府和警察在地方上的治安工作、监督建议的实行等等,警民对话的实际效用已经大打折扣。再加上地方上的人民国州议员往往也把这些活动当成宣传活动,没有在后续监督工作下足功夫,导致警民对话的成效往往是事倍功半。

罪案恶化影响经济,经济恶化影响罪案

治安也往往和经济盛衰有关,经济表现下滑、外资裹足不前、国民低就业率、通膨居高不下、消费能力削减,这些都是导致治安不靖的要素。许冠杰的一首歌《钱》里面就有这样的歌词:“有咩也令你心花怒放……钱……使么衰到通街偷抢偏当”恰好能够形容这种情况。

另外,治安败坏也肯定影响国内的投资气候。试想,有谁愿意把钱投资在一个没有安全保障的地方?别的不谈,就先谈最近半年发生在国内各大机场的货舱失窃案。如果马来西亚政府管理的机场货舱也那么容易遭歹徒破门行窃,外来投资者又如何放心把他们的货物屯放在大马?

毋用否认,防范罪案固然也是全体国民的重要责任之一,但当国内的犯罪率飙升45.1%,即从2003年的15万6315宗罪案上升至去年的22万6836宗,我们不得不承认,如果要有效打击罪案,警方扮演的角色是最大的。没有警方积极的打击罪案,民间的种种努力只是杯水车薪、不能根治问题。

可以肯定的是,警方人力不足是问题的关键要素,要根治问题,我们无可避免地必须从警方的人力管理下手。这其实并不是新鲜议题,只是政府是否愿意把从事非打击罪案工作的警员(尤其是负责监督在野党活动的政治部人员)调回罪案调查组,从事警察部队的天职?

既然打击罪案不再是单方面的责任,也必须先从警方内部的整顿开始做起。我国何妨不拟定一项长远的罪案防范大蓝图,以整治国内的治安问题。这项大蓝图必须最终必须拆散到各地方,并且由各地的地方政府负责监督执行。虽然各阶层人士(包括朝野政党、居民协会、睦邻原则计划、社团商团、包括警方和市政局执法组在内的执法单位以及其他政府机构如自愿警卫队等等)在防范罪案方面投入大量的人力、物力和财力,但是如果这些努力没有获得良好的协调,它们最终将付诸东流,无法在打击罪案方面做出最大的贡献。

有了一套完整的防范罪案大蓝图,然后在执行方面交给地方上的人民去执行,譬如有地方上的人民,朝野政党人士等等监督蓝图的执行,并对地方上的罪案状况(Crime profile)进行研究,这将会达到事半功倍的效应。

Saturday, February 17, 2007

Meet my new comrade - Sdr Tony Pua

Tony Pua - Meet DAP's new star
Soon Li Tsin
Feb 17, 07 4:56pm

Mention Tony Pua and rest assured there will be different reactions.

The 34-year-old former CEO of a public-listed IT company, has sold all his shares in January making his switch to politics irreversible.

He has now picked up a new portfolio as the economic advisor to DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng.

Hailing from Batu Pahat, Johor, Pua received scholarships to pursue his 'O' and 'A'-Levels in Raffles Institution and Raffles Junior College respectively in Singapore.

He later pursued a degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics under a scholarship in Keble College, Oxford University.

Upon returning to Malaysia, he secured a position with a global consulting firm for two years before setting up his own company.

In his second interview with malaysiakini, Pua talks about his affinity for politics, his new position as economic advisor and being compared to fellow Oxford-graduate and Umno Youth deputy chief Khairy Jamaluddin.

Malaysiakini: There seems to be this excitement that has been generated over your decision to join DAP. Do you know why it is so?

Pua: The reason why people have been excited could be because I am an Oxford graduate, I’m a CEO of a public-listed company and that I’m willing to put away all that to join politics. I’m sure this has happened before ... joining established parties is not rare, what’s rare is joining the opposition.

What is the position that you have with the party?

I’m the economic advisor to secretary-general Lim Guan Eng and I’m also the executive editor of the party’s English newsletter, Rocket.

What were your reasons for entering politics and joining DAP?

I’ve always been interested in politics and I’ve always been sympathetic to DAP. Whether joining DAP would best further the cause of Malaysians from my part and I think you’ve read before that there was a time I had given serious thought about joining maybe a think-tank of the government because I saw hope in the reform pledges that (Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi) made so I thought there would be hope for Malaysians.

But that quickly fizzled out and that made my decision to join DAP an easy choice. The key (determining factor) was the timing [...] waiting for the right successor (for my company) and when I had no interest in the company aside from a sentimental one and it (the company) could still continue to grow.

I believe that it is now more or less taken care of.

How did you decide on DAP instead of other parties?

The timing was also expedited by the fact that some of the leaders have been chasing me since late 2005. I had my blog so (DAP leader Lim) Kit Siang was one of those that’s very keen on education policy. That was one way that we got to know each other. And I was introduced to (Lim) Guan Eng through a mutual friend and that’s how we sort of moved from there.

What are your plans for the party?

The key things to do is to strengthen the party particularly in the short term before the general elections, help with various aspects of it such as organisation, planning and publicity and as what my new title would say, policies specifically related to the economy as well.

Will you be running in the next general elections?

I’ll leave that to the party to decide (smiles)

The comparison between you and Abdullah’s son-in-law Khairy Jamaluddin is unavoidable and has been made by certain quarters. What is your take on this?

I would be flattered to be compared with the PM’s son-in-law and from what I read he is one of the most powerful persons in Malaysia and I would most certainly be flattered if I was compared side by side with him.

I am just a political rookie and I’ve not been in politics before (laughs). I think the fact that we graduated form the same institution shouldn’t be relevant because what matters is the principle that we believe in and whether we use whatever we have learnt from school, whatever training we’ve received for the betterment of Malaysians in general.

That should be the yardstick that I would like to be measured in, not so much where I graduated.

Laws and orders are breaking in this country

I have just received an SMS news from Nanyang Siang Pau.

A businessman in Muar was beaten to faint by four robbers. Besides losing about RM10,000 to the robbers, he was put in his own cars by the robbers and cooking gas was injected into his car, trying to create a false impression that the businessman was trying to commit suicide. The businessman was lucky to wake up in time and was able to make a police report.

Sigh....laws and orders are breaking down in this Country.

双溪育收费站展延收费——别高兴得太早

报章并没有报道政府是否有向大道公司赔偿。这份文告是三美从伦敦发过来的。

我相信政府必须向大道公司做出赔偿,既然已经签署合约,那么开始收费的确实日起和所征收的过路费是不能随便更改,除非要求做出更改的一方(也就是政府)愿意作出赔偿。

而在北海外环大道中,要求展延(甚至取消)收费的是槟城州政府,不是联邦公共工程部,因此我怀疑,除非槟城州政府愿意作出赔偿,要不然公共工程部不会冒贸然作出如此重大的决定。

当然,如果这时真的,吃亏的最终还是槟州子民。

双溪育收费站展延收费
民众收“大红包”叫好
updated:2007-02-17 09:59:00 MYT

(槟城/北海/大山脚讯)槟威及吉南居民在农历新年前夕收“大红包”,备受争议的北海外环公路双溪育收费站,无限期展延收费日期!

备受这个收费商影响的居民,听到2月20日不需要付过路费的好消息,无不欢呼叫好。

槟州首席部长丹斯里许子根的政治秘书黄瑞欣说,建在北海居林高速大道的双溪育收费站何时开始收费,将另行通知。

不过,北海外环公路的另2个收费站,即北赖路收费站及 眼亚占收费站,从2月20日起收费。

多天抗议终可过好年!

黄瑞欣说,许首长最近接获不满双溪育收费站设立的居民组织和委员会呈上的备忘录后,就与第二财长、当时身在海外的工程部长(拿督斯里三美威鲁)、金融机构及北海外环公路承建公司负责洽谈,最终达致了这项协议。

“许首长也将特别就此事致函第二财长及工程部长,告知整个事件的详细进展。”

双溪育收费站原定2月20日(即年初三)正式收费,民间组织、当地居民及各地方领袖基於有关道路经已免费使用了近10年,加上与北海外环公路公司“无关”,在近几个星期来强烈反对双溪育收费站的设立。

随著州政府捎来的这项好消息,威省区居民终於在多天的抗议后,可以过个好年!

待工程部考量定夺

较早时,马来西亚大道局总监拿督莫哈末诺耶谷说,北海外环公路的双溪育收费站的任何方案,有待工程部考量定夺与公布。

他说,大道局在收到的当地居民和组织所签署的反对意愿书,已转呈给工程部长。

莫哈末诺耶谷周五(16日)在北海居林高速大道高巴三万收费站,为“2007华人农历新年道路安全及紧急救援运动”主持开幕后,受询时这麽说。

他强调,北海居林大道公司管辖的道路,只到诗布朗再也交通圈和陆路交通局前面的道路,而到北海的该段路,交由北海外环公路公司管理。

对於槟州政府已拟定的“除收费站风波”4方案,莫哈末诺耶谷表示不甚了解。

他补充,北海外环公路的三个收费站,管理公司拥有30至35年的收费特许期限。

另一方面,莫哈末诺耶谷说,南北大道扩建为三条车道的工程,会陆续展开,首阶段经在中马区的路段进行。

拟定4交替路方案

槟州政府周二公布拟定避过北海双溪育收费站的4个交替路方案,首个诗布朗再也飞禽公园交替道路方案,将会在3个月内落实。

北海双溪育免缴路费交替路4方案∶

方案(1)

耗资200万令吉兴建一条长达300公尺的交替路,即从飞禽公园经过金沙花园衔接珍菲市路,让诗不朗再也的居民可通往 眼及北海。预料将在3个月内完工,目前土地已交给州政府及发展商。

方案(2)

双溪育、西南路及 东埔路进行提升工程,加宽长达6公里的道路,以容纳更多的交通流量。工程料将在2至3个月内完成。

方案(3)

建一座横跨北赖河的新桥,以衔接庶拉瓦路与 眼花园,以方便两地居民往来。基於建桥的工程需进行研究及设计,因此料将耗时较久。已获得州行政议会及水力灌溉局的批准。

方案(4)

在北海居林高速大道路段(也是东西大道路段)的双溪育收费站旁,开辟一条侧路,让那些欲通往 眼的车主无需经过双溪育收费站。基於大道旁的道路为大马大道局所拥有,因此料将耗时略久。

威省市民松了一口气

惹民怨、引争议的双溪育收费站宣布无长期展延后,让威省市民松了一口气,纷纷赞好,也有人形容它是送给人民的最佳新年礼物。

不过,尽管当局已宣布该收费商将无限期延展,但大部份受访的民众都希望政府最终能取消双溪育收费站的过路费,让得以继续享用这条存在已久的免费大道。

北赖市民许海明∶盼取消双溪育收费站

政府在农历新年前夕,突然宣布双溪育收费站无限期展延收费,确定是一项大好消息,不过我们还是希望中央政府、州政府及大马大道局最终能达协议,并一致决定将有关收费站取消。

其实,设有双溪育收费站的大道已经存在了逾10年,它在过去也为北海、居林 及大山脚等地的居林提供了许多的方便,如果双溪育收费站最终被全面取消,将证明政府确实照顾了民众利益,并为民众提供良好的交通系统便利。

双溪浮油区州议员彭文宝∶确定交替路才可收费

感谢州政府在农历新年来临前夕,捎来这项好消息。

不过,我与民众还是一样希望中央政府、州政府及大马大道局能坐下来商讨有关收费站的问题后,最终再次向人民宣布将双溪收费站全面取消的佳音。

无论如何,我坚持的立场还是一样,那就是政府必须在确定北海及北赖的交替路足够后,才可以向民众徵收过路费。

威省市政员黄向同∶勿带给民众沉重负担

其实,在目前经济不景气之际,政府原本已存在的大道设立收费站,确定将带给民众沉重的负担,尤其是在目前交替路还不足够的时候,双溪育收费站却要徵收过路费,确实不应该,也不合理。

我每天几乎使用诗不朗再也路段四五次,在这之前,我也一直为双溪育收费站即将收费而感到失望及担心,如今当局突然宣布这项好消息,让我时松了一口气。 (星洲日报/大北马
·2007.02.16)

Friday, February 16, 2007

MP Allocation - BN MP back up the wrong tree

It's not how you announce it, but the sincerity and the political will to announce it.

Several BN MPs are shying away from announcing how they spend their RM2million constituency development allocation, which Opposition MPs are denied of it, citing reasons as poor internet connection and penetration in their respective constituencies etc.

I believe the argument is not about where you announce it. You of course can announce it on the internet, the best place for people to check on the details anytime and anywhere during the era of ICT, but I would agree that if they do not have a website, they can always call for a press conference and just announce the list.

After all, it is not a matter of how they want to do it, but it is a matter of whether they have the political will to do it.

RM2m allocation: TI tells MPs to bare it all
Soon Li Tsin
Feb 16, 07 5:13pm

There is no reason why parliamentarians cannot disclose the allocation for their respective constituencies on the Internet, said Transparency International (TI) Malaysia president Ramon Navaratnam.

“There is no excuse for hiding information from constituents. If you deny people information, people would wonder where the money is going to," said the head of the anti-corruption body when contacted today

“The rakyat can legitimately ask where the money has gone. Has it gone back to the rakyat or into somebody else’s pockets?”

Ramon was responding to excuses given by some MPs who refused to follow MCA vice-president Ong Tee Keat’s move to disclose information on the RM2 million allocation for his Selangor's Pandan constituency on his personal website.

Several MPs who spoke to malaysiakini cited lack of resources, poor Internet penetration and the unnecessary need to disclose such information as among the reasons for not doing so.

In such cases, Ramon said MPs can use newspapers and other means to announce as to how they were spending the money.

“I’m sure the press would be more than happy to publish (the information). They can also put up a sign on their branches or distribute leaflets, all of which are inexpensive measures,” he added.

BN MPs receive RM2 million for their respective constituencies. The ruling party controls 198 out of the 219 parliamentary seats and the total allocation amounts to RM396 million.

However, constituencies held by the opposition do not get the annual allocation.

Unfair practice

Commenting on this, Ramon said it is unfair for the funds to be only allocated to government MPs.

“It’s unfortunate that public finds are channelled through the government. Taxpayers expect their funds distributed regardless of any political leaning.

“I wish his (Ong’s) example showing such transparency, integrity and accountability is shared by all MPs and that they too would reveal how the money is spent,” he added.

The MCA vice-president’s move had ignited a heated debate and even drew flak from his own party.

On Jan 23, the MCA central committee decided that its elected representatives - for both state and parliament - should not reveal their constituency allocations on the internet.

The party leaders are concerned that such revelations could be "sensitive", especially in allocations for religious and education purposes.

Apart from Ong, MCA Subang Jaya state assemblyperson Lee Hwa Beng has also been revealing the information on his personal website for several years.

Despite the controversy, Ong maintained that he did the right thing and has not removed the details from his website.

Ramon supported Ong on this and urged other BN representatives to follow suit.

“I strongly commend him for being absolutely transparent for publishing what he’s given out. I hope the government quotes his example to be followed by others in the interest of transparency,” he said.

He also reminded MPs that it is in their interest to assure voters have confidence in them.

“If voters have doubts, they won’t give the same support to the same party come election time. So it’s in the interest of the MPs to divulge all information or suffer lack of confidence on the part of the constituents,” he said.

Thursday, February 15, 2007

李天祥的自杀是政治问题

博士失业4年,所以自杀?

为何他会失业长达四年之久?

如果经济真的那么好,如果股市真的那么妙,李天祥以他的硕士资格难道早不到一份养家活口的工吗?

李天祥自杀并不是一般的自杀,他的自杀除了是社会问题,也是经济问题,更是政治问题。

博士杀儿女后服毒死
遗书∶失业4年倍感压力
不想儿女步后尘
updated:2007-02-15 19:00:04 MYT

(吉隆坡讯)杀死儿女再服毒自杀的39岁博士生李天祥,留下一份4页长的遗书,其中一页是注明给两名儿女的。警方因此推测,李天祥原本并不打算杀害亲生儿女,只是忽然面对太多压力,在冲动之下狠下毒手杀死他们,自己再服毒自尽。

李天祥的4封英文遗书分别注明给妻子、儿女、父母和其他朋友。

他在遗书中道出他虽硕士毕业,但从2002年开始失业至今,让他倍感压力。他说不希望儿女步上他的后尘,所以才选择走向绝路。

遗书中也道出他很爱妻子,也疼爱儿女,但是他却选择了自杀,所以他必须向所有爱护他的人道歉。

吉隆坡刑事调查主任阿末依布拉欣受询时说,男死者在遗书内容中透露,他在2002年开始失业,自此就变得闷闷不乐,经常“生闷气”,而且也对人间感到失望。

但是,李天祥并没有在遗书透露他到底面对甚麽问题,及不希望儿女步他甚麽后尘。他仅仅表示,这是家庭悲剧。

警援引谋杀突然死亡处理

警方将分别援引刑事发典302(谋杀)条文和突然死亡条文,处理这个案件。

冼都警区主任古玛兰表示,被杀害的两名小孩,警方会援引谋杀条文,至於李天祥的自杀案,警方将暂时以突然死亡处理。

古玛兰说,警方目前还在调查案件案件的来龙去脉,调查报告也还没有完毕,暂不方便透露太多案情。

妻子从母亲家里拿伙食

李天祥的妻子梅慧娴,每天傍晚都会到母亲家里拿一些伙食,让他们一家大小享用。

消息说,在外当兼职保险经纪的梅慧娴,无法每天回家煮饭,因此他们一家四口的晚餐,大多数都是为从她母亲家拿回来的。

李天祥的岳母也同样在彩虹花园,距离他们公寓不超过5分钟车程。

妻子兼职帮补家用

李天祥失业期间曾经投身地产业、保险业等行业,但都不成功。

多年来,他们一家人都是依靠著梅慧娴兼职保险经纪,以及李天祥的岳父间中帮补一点家用,来维持多年的生活。

消息说,案发的公寓单位并不是在李天祥的名下注册,反而是在他岳父的名下注册。

消息表示,李天祥可能认为自己身为一个男人,竟然要靠外家和妻子,觉得“生无可恋”,在多重压力之下选择结束自己和儿女的性命。

服毒前撕掉罐子标签

李天祥在服下漂白剂、清洁剂等化学物品前,撕下了所有罐子上的标签,让警方对他的行为如丈八金刚,摸不著头脑。

市警刑事调查主任阿莫依布拉欣说,警方抵达现场后,除了发现遗书和盛装著“毒药”的桶子外,就只有厕所内的漂白剂和清洁剂的罐子。

“但是,警方发现这些罐子外面的标签贴纸,全部都已被男死者撕开了。”他表示,警方根本不知道他撕开贴纸的目的。

患有轻微精神病

根据警方调查,初步证实李天祥患有轻微的精神病症。此外,警方也在他身上找到一张精神病患的医药片。

市警刑事调查主任阿莫依布拉欣透露,警方已向死者家庭的数名亲属录取了初步口供,而李天祥的妻子供称,她丈夫的确患有轻微的精神病症。

剖验报告∶2小死者遭勒死

剖验报告证实,两名小死者是遭勒死的。

3名死者的遗体是送进吉隆坡中央医院。周四早上10点,院方开始为3具尸体剖验,下午3点半剖验报告出炉。男死者李天祥的剖验报告指他灌毒死。

新闻背景
博士杀儿女后服毒死

李天祥得了硕士后,曾在纽西兰攻读博士学位,但却在考试中不及格,结明心情变得越来越沮丧,最后回来大马。

在多重压力之下,他最终忍受不住,於周三晚上在吉隆坡怡保威拉安沙娜公寓的住所与妻子梅慧娴发生口角后自杀,并在自杀前杀害自己的亲生儿女,酿成3尸命案。 (光明日报·2007.02.15)

Wednesday, February 14, 2007

Toll Hike - Cabinet today must decide to reveal toll contracts

I had yesterday received a formal letter from Datuk Seri Samy Vellu, the Works Minister in regard to an Online Petition submitted by me to the Minister on 18th January 2007 to protest against the unfair toll hike for five major expressways in Klang Valley with effective from 1st January 2007 (The petition is signed by 16,455 people).

Samy Vellu in his letter briefly explained that the government has to abide by certain obligations as outlined under the contracts and that the toll hike is unavoidable.

DAP Selangor believes that the Minister’s reply has in no way help to clear the air on why the government can sign such lopsided and unfair agreements with private companies, more so when the government is also reluctant to reveal the content of the agreement publicly and that the Minister had earlier warned four Opposition leaders, namely Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim and Tian Chua of PKR, Ronnie Liu of DAP and Dr. Hatta Ramli (PAS) to “pay the price” and be jailed for at least a year under the OSA for revealing that the government had guaranteed profits to Litrak in the Lebuhraya Damansara-Puchong (LDP) concession agreement.

Yesterday, Samy Vellu was full of the “milk of human kindness” when he said he would seek the Cabinet's approval to declassify the toll concession agreements when only ten days ago, he was so “bloodthirsty” in demanding that actions to be taken against the four.

Is Samy Vellu the advocate for a regime of openness, accountability, transparency and freedom of information, or he is a defender for the cult of government secrecy, where the OSA is used to shield and protect corruption and abuses of power?

We would like to remind Samy Vellu that he shall not apply double-standards where Cabinet Ministers want whistleblowers to be prosecuted and jailed for revealing information about the lopsided contents in the concession agreements to protect the interests of 26 million Malaysians, while they are blissfully unconcerned about the disclosure of information from the concession agreements to equity analysts, rating agencies, bondholders and the investing public to flog the shares, bonds and loans of concession companies?

On September 22 last year in Parliament, Samy Vellu revealed that the government had RM38.5 billion in compensation to the 20 highway concession companies. The first toll collection began at the Shapadu highway in Klang in 1984 followed by the North-South Expressway in 1988.Of the total RM38.5 billion, the government paid RM1.76 billion in cash while the remainder was in tax exemption and extending the concession period.

Clearly the RM38.5 billion in compensation to the 20 highway companies does not include the toll collected from motorists using the highways. In that, the RM38.5 billion compensation paid by the government alone is enough to pay for the construction cost without including the tens of billions ringgit more collected from motorists.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has disappointed Malaysians by failing to fulfill his promise to be transparent and accountable in justifying why the government paid compensation of RM4,864 million or RM739 million more than the construction cost of RM4,125 million for the 5 Klang Valley highways. Again the RM4,864 million in compensation paid does not include the toll collected directly from the public by the highway companies, which would be extra profits earned by them.

There is no economic rationale or financial sense for the government to refuse to buy over the highways when buying it over is cheaper and more cost-effective. Why let the 5 highway companies make RM739 million mid-way through their concession period ending between 2024-2035? By allowing the 5 Klang Valley highway companies to impose a 20-60% toll rate hike on 1 January 2006 despite already getting back their investment cost, the government is “abetting” these companies to reap huge profits at public’s expense.

There is mounting public anger over the toll hikes seen as “highway robbery in broad daylight that sells out” the rights of motorists, consumers and ordinary Malaysians to big corporations. Privatization should result in efficiency gains as well as reduction of costs to government. However this has not happened in the privatization of our highways where the costs to the government continues to escalate until it exceeds the construction costs.

The government should during the Wednesday Cabinet Meeting today comes out with a clear and complete explanation in explaining all sorts of accusations and questions thrown to the government on this matter to uphold accountability and transparency as pledged by the BN government during the previous general election.

大道起价—内阁需今天需决定公开合约

我昨天收到工程部长拿督斯里三美威鲁的一封公函。这封公函是部长针对我在2007年1月18日连同雪州行动党主席欧阳捍华以及副主席陈福财前往部长办公室所提交的一份网络抗议联署声明(联署签名的驾车人士迄今已经达致16,455名),以抗议政府决定在2007年1月1日开始,调高巴生谷河流域5条高速公路的过路费。

三美在他这封志期2007年2月9日的公函中简略地指出,政府必须准遵守相关合约下的种种规定,因此这5条高速公路的过路费的上涨是无可避免的。

雪州行动党认为部长的答复并没有解决当下驾车人士所面对的问题,即为何政府会和私营公司签下如此不公平的私营化合约,以及为何政府不仅迟迟没有公开和私营大道公司所签署的私营化合约,同时三美也在更早之前以坚决的语气,在官方机密法令下采取行动对付揭发白沙罗—蒲种高速公路私营化合约的四名反对党人士(回教党的哈达南里医生、公正党的蔡添强、丹斯里卡里依布拉欣以及民主行动党的刘天球)?

三美威鲁前天突然大发慈悲的说,他准备寻求内阁批准,将大道合约内容解禁;但在仅仅10天前,他却要4名反对党领袖付出代价。

究竟三美威鲁是倡议开明、负责任、透明化及资讯自由风气的拥护者;或是维护政府机密,企图透过官方机密法令来保护贪污及滥权的捍卫者?

迄今,我们尚未知晓到底三美会否在内阁争取把所有大道的合约列为非官方机密,进而公开合约的内容。今天的内阁会议相信自有分晓。

我们要提醒三美的是,他不能持有双重标准,即一方面要将揭发具有偏差内容合约者被起诉及被判坐牢,声称要保护2600万国人的利益;另一方面却视若无睹地将同样的合约内容透露予资产分析员、评估机构、债券持有人及投资人士,以炒高有关特许公司的股票、债券及凭单。

三美於去年9月在国会揭露,政府至今已赔偿20间大道公司385亿令吉。国内首条收费大道是坐落在雪州巴生的Shapadu大道,它於1984年开始收费,接着是1988年通车的南北大道。在这385亿令吉赔款当中,其中有17.6亿令吉是现款,其馀的是税务豁免。

国人必需知道的是,这385亿令吉赔款尚未包括20家大道公司所鸠收的过路费。如果这笔过路费也一并加入,那么其总数将会是一个天文数字。其实,政府所付出的385亿令吉赔偿金其实已经足以支付大道建筑成本,而且这还未把数以百亿令吉计过路费计算在内。

首相拿督斯里阿都拉无法透明与负责任地交待,即为何政府付出的48.64亿令吉赔偿金会比巴生谷5条大道的41.25亿令吉建筑成本高出7.79亿令吉。这点已经让人民大为失望。更何况的是,48.64亿令吉的赔偿金尚不包括有关大道公司向公众直接鸠收的过路费,它是有关公司赚取的额外利润。

这种形同“光天化日之下在大道抢劫”做法已引起公愤,因为政府把使用者、消费人及百姓的利益出卖给大财团。私营化本来应带来经济效益及降低政府的财政负担。然而,在大道私营化上,政府却必须不断地付出比兴建成本更高的代价。

针对对政府最近接二连三针对私营大道过路费高涨一事所面对的种种指责和质问,我们强烈呼吁政府在今天的周三内阁会议作出一项完整详细的交代。

Friday, February 09, 2007

Meet the Mayor...

I went to MBPJ today, trying to meet the Mayor (Each Friday is "Meet The Taxpayers" Day for Mayor).

The officer who received us is the Deputy Secretary of the City Hall, Hj. Ahmat.

We discussed a lot of issues in PJ, including the high crime rate, the abandoned SS1 community hall and the issue of eyesore in Jalan SS9A/4.

As for the latter two issues, Ahmat said that he will report to the Mayor, as for the abandoned SS1 Community Hall, Ahmat implied that the City Hall may choose to demolish the structure as it will be too costful for the City Hall to continue the project.

Below is my letter:

9th February 2007

Y. Bhg. Tuan Haji Mohamad Roslan Bin Sakiman,
Datuk Bandar,
Majlis Bandaraya Petaling Jaya,
46400, Petaling Jaya, Selangor.

Y. Bhg. Datuk Bandar,

A comprehensive Crime Prevention Action Plan for PJ must be in place to prevent PJ from becoming a criminal city

In view of the increasingly serious crime rate in Petaling Jaya, we would like to suggest to MBPJ as a local government to spearhead the drafting of a comprehensive Crime Prevention Action Plan for Petaling Jaya is urgently needed to prevent PJ from becoming a criminal city.

It was revealed by the Police on 28th January 2007 claimed that crime index in Petaling Jaya rose 22.6%, an alarming rate which not only surpassed Selangor’s 14.3% but also national average of 15.7% last year.

The increment of crime index by 22.6% last year as compared to 2005, a percentage even higher than the state and national level clearly shows that PJ is heading to be a city of crime.

There have been efforts from various parties and stakeholders in PJ, i.e. political parties, residents associations, rukun tetangga, business communities, enforcement units like Police Force, City Hall and other government agencies like RELA to fight crime but these efforts, if left uncoordinated, will not be optimized to fight crime in PJ.

The 22.6% increase in crime index in PJ is an alarming signal that it shows that police efforts to fight crime have not achieved any success. Several dialogues between the police and the residents held by local elected representatives have not been very effective in reducing crime rate in the local level. In fact, the situation has been worsening for the past two to three years.


Inspector-General of Police, Tan Sri Musa Hassan had even made a commitment to the public to fight crime especially the 3 priority areas of snatch thefts, armed robberies and drug trafficking. He had even attended a dialogue with PJ residents last year but unfortunately nothing effective took place after the dialogue to enhance social security in PJ.

However, the ratio of 1 policeman for every 5,500 citizens in PJ is a ratio too high from international standard of 1 to 250 citizens.

Therefore, a Crime Prevention Committee of Petaling Jaya must be formed with the initiatives from various government authorities i.e. Petaling Jaya City Hall, which would be the best body to serve as a coordination unit among various stake holders in running the Committee and drafting of the Crime Prevention Plan.

This committee shall work as a working committee whose membership encompasses various stakeholders in PJ to formulate a long-term crime prevention action plan.

The Future of “SS1 Community Hall”

The issue was brought up in 2003 when the construction of a Community Hall in SS1 came to an abrupt end when the then Petaling Jaya Municipal Council (MPPJ) spent about RM4 million to construct the structure on a piece of land which is not owned by the Council.

It has been three years already since the sudden stop of the construction works and we would like to ask if the City Hall plans to move forward to acquire the land under Ninth Malaysia Plan.

Checks were carried out and the Land Office confirmed that the land belongs to SPPK. So, RM4 million of the people's money has gone down the drain, and word has it that the council is now trying to include an allocation of RM8 million in the Ninth Malaysia Plan to acquire the land.

We hope that the Mayor can enlighten us on the future of this structure as we do not wish to see another eyesore as such to be erected in PJ while the community hall, if completed, will be a good venue to serve the benefit of the people.

Thank you.

Yours sincerely,

Lau Weng San
DAP Selangor Secretary

会见市长……

我今天上午前往市政厅,尝试会见市长(每周五是八打灵再也市政厅市长会客日)。

前来接见我们的是市政厅副秘书阿末赛义。

期间我们针对许多关系八打灵再也民生问题,尤其是居高不下的罪案率、SS1搁置的民众会堂以及双溪威火界限事件向阿末赛义作简单汇报。

对于罪案率和火界限的问题,阿末赛义答应将禀告市长。至于SS1搁置的民众会堂,他说市政厅可能给予经费高昂的问题而选择不继续这项计划。市政厅也可能主动拆除这座废楼,以免成为瘾君子追龙的温床。

以下是我提交给市长的公函:

2007年2月9日 八打灵再也市政厅市长,
Haji Mohamad Roslan Bin Sakiman先生


尊贵的市长先生,


建议拟定全面的防范犯罪行动计划,避免灵市成为罪犯之城

鉴于八打灵再也越趋严重的罪案率,我们谨此呼吁八打灵再也市政厅拟定一个全面的防范犯罪行动计划,避免灵市成为罪犯之城。


八打灵再也警方是在1月28日表示,灵市在2006年的罪案率飙升22.6%,增长幅度非常惊人,甚至超过雪州14.3%和全国15.7%的犯罪率增长!如果有关方面没有拟定一项全面的防范犯罪行动计划,灵市将逐渐成为一个犯罪之都。


虽然灵市各阶层人士(包括朝野政党、居民协会、睦邻原则计划、社团商团、包括警方和市政局执法组在内的执法单位以及其他政府机构如自愿警卫队等等)在防范罪案方面投入大量的人力、物力和财力,但是如果这些努力没有获得良好的协调,它们最终将付诸东流,无法在打击罪案方面做出最大的贡献。


其实,八打灵再也居高不下的罪案率显示警方最近的种种努力并没有达致重大的功效。过去一年由当地人民代议士所举办的数项警民对话也无法降低地方上的罪案率。更严重的是,地方上的治安在过去两三年似有恶化的迹象。


虽然全国总警长慕沙虽然曾经向公众承诺,要打击攖夺、持械抢劫及贩毒3大领域的罪案,而且在去年也曾经亲临八打灵再也再也出席一场警民对话,但是对话过后警方依然无法增加人手,加强八打灵再也的治安。

其实,如果以8000名警员来对比2600万人民,其警民比例是1对3250,这个比例比起国际警民比例,即1对250来的低。在八打灵再也,其情况更为严重,因为八打灵再也的警民比例是1对5500人,除了比国际警民标准比例低之外,也比起全国的警民比列还要低。


有鉴于此,各政府机构如灵市市政厅应该采取主动成立八打灵再也防范罪案委员会,并且让灵市各阶层人士成为这个委员会的成员,共同拟定八打灵再也防范罪案行动计划。



“SS1民众大会堂”的前途

这项课题发生在2003年。当时的八打灵再也市政厅决定要在SS1的一片空地上兴建一间民众会堂,以充作人民的休闲和活动用途。

当时市政厅耗费400万令吉兴建这件民众会堂。
可惜的是,市政厅过后发现有关土地并不属于政府地,而是由一间成为SPPK的私人公司所拥有。结果市政厅被迫停工,当时更传出新闻指市政厅打算在第九大马计划下申请拨款购买这片土地。

当时这片土地的市价大约是800万令吉。我们希望市长办公室能够解释市政厅会否拨款购买这片土地,然后完成尚未完成的工作,因为这个废置的建筑物已经成为瘾君子‘追龙’的温床,影响当地的治安。


谢谢。


雪州行动党秘书


刘永山 谨启

Thursday, February 08, 2007

市政厅当初不应该草率铲除火线界的民宅,留下一片废墟,破坏双溪威新村的容貌。


如果市政厅没有办法清楚双溪威火线界的废墟,那么市政厅根本不应该在2006年便铲除这一带的民宅,反之市政厅应该网开一面,允许受影响的村民继续在该地居住。

双溪威火线界位于繁忙的联邦大道旁,被梳邦与八打灵商业中心及工业区包围。火线界在1974年由当时的房屋及地方政府部长丹斯里曾永森协助下成立,至今拥有超过30年历史。

该地段之所以称为火线界,主要由于早年该地段本为电源转驳站,到处布满电缆,直到电缆被电源公司拆除后,土地才移交给雪州政府管理。

州政府后来把有关土地让双溪威村民建立141间住屋,范围内拥有相当完善的房屋规划和基本设施,但由于土地属于州政府所有,因此居民多年来不获申请地契。

火线界居民在4年前,即2003年开始正式着手申请地契,申请过程中却传来该区人民代议士指火线界将被挪为另外的发展用途,呼吁居民尽快办理申请廉价屋的手续,引起居民恐慌。

灵北区国会议员周美芬曾经在2003年7月29日的《南洋商报》承诺“双溪威火线界的地契申请工作已进入尾声,她已把相关计划书呈交雪兰莪州政府,目前只等待雪州政府的批准。”

可悲的是,周美芬完全无法履行她在2004年大选前所许下的承诺。州政府后来决定重新发展该地,导致原本居住在该地的141户人家被迫迁移他处,市政厅也着手在2005年铲除该地的民宅。

遗憾的是,市政厅和州政府并没有处理该地的废墟,导致这片土地成为蚊虫孳生地温床,一些不负责任的认识更把该地变成他们的垃圾场。最令人担忧的是,有关地段距离双溪威华小仅有不到一公里的距离。

如果市政厅和州政府当初并没有打算清理该地,我们不明白为何州政府和市政厅不允许原本居住在这片土地的141户人家继续居住下去。

更甚的是,市政厅在去年9月才着手建议在八打灵再也地方发展大蓝图上把该片土地的通途从‘高压电缆保留地’转换为房屋地。目前,雪州城乡规划局还在研究有关建议。这是不是说明州政府和市政厅点到工作秩序,即先动工才规划?

为何市政厅不能等到所有规划工作完成之后,才来作出相关的拆除工作?如果该地最后将成为房屋地,为何原本居住在该地的141户人家不获得地契?如果市政厅要铲除该地,为何市政厅没有考虑到新村整洁的问题,即市政厅必须尽快清除流泻来的废墟?有鉴于火界限的废墟非常碍眼,并且非常靠近民宅和学校,为何市政厅现在有无打算委任承包商清除当地的废墟,还是市政厅计划把有关工作交由发展商去处理?

我们已经在昨日致函给市长,并且打算在明天上午的市长会客日直接向市长反映民情,并尽量从市长办公室得到一个明确的答案。

双溪威火线界居民二度开会 受委代表允诺解决难题

双溪威火线界居民二度开会 受委代表允诺解决难题
2004/09/17 17:25:25
●南洋商报

八打灵再也17日讯- 因申请地契事宜闹得沸沸扬扬的双溪威火线界居民二度召开集体会议,要求人民代议士出面协助解决问题,尽管居民邀请出席的马华八打灵再也南区国会议员拿督林祥才未刻出席,但受委列席的代表即场承诺与居民会面,协助居民解决难题。

居住在双溪威火线界木屋区超过30年的居民由于近年传出火线界将被雪兰莪州政府作为其他发展用途,引起居民恐慌,纷纷要求人民代议士代为处理申请地契,惟居民的申请手续进行至尾声时,却传来有人从中作梗的消息,矛头直指火线界所属国会议员和州议员。

超过50名火线界居民出席星期四在马华双溪威支会会所召开的会议,受邀出席的林祥才因有要事在身,因此委派代表潘秀成出席会议。

申请地契出现问题

双溪威火线界木屋区委员会主席林沾荣在会议上指出,居民多年来尝试申请地契,但没有采取积极和实际的行动跟进地契申请程序,直至3年前才组织木屋区委员会申请地契,同时获得马华、民政党、雪州行政议员等多名人民代议士协助处理申请程序,过程一直相当顺利。

林沾荣说,双溪威火线界原本属于八打灵再也北区,但在今年大选的新选区划分后,变成八打灵再也南区,导致申请地契方面出现问题。

据了解,林沾荣等人从某方面获得消息,指该区国会议员和州议员在一场会议中反对发出地契给火线界居民,让居民感到愤怒,纷纷表示对该区人民代议士感到失望,但林沾荣在接受记者访问时坚决不愿透露消息来源。

林沾荣指出,由于林祥才作为该区的人民代议士,因此希望林祥才能够出面为居民解决问题,一圆居民希望获得地契,不要拆屋的最大心愿。

潘秀成较后向出席者指出,今次主要为搜集双溪威火线界居民申请地契的详细资料,由于他本身也是透过报章才获悉居民的问题,因此仍无法针对事件发表意见。

潘秀成说,火线界的地契问题向来由八打灵再也北区国会议员周美芬协助处理,林祥才尚未完全接手,因此他需收集详细资料,同时会向雪州政府了解州政府是否已针对火线界地段的发展和地契申请问题,作出任何决定。

潘秀成指出,居民所谓人民代议士或雪州大臣“原则上”同意的言论,不能作为批准地契的标准,希望居民不要被人混淆视线,误以为地契一定会获得批准。

无论如何,潘秀成承诺会在了解情况后,在近期内安排居民与林祥才举行对话会,协助居民解决所面对的问题。

双溪威火线界历史

双溪威火线界历史
2004/09/17 17:25:25
●南洋商报

双溪威火线界位于繁忙的联邦大道旁,被梳邦与八打灵商业中心及工业区包围。

火线界在1974年由当时的房屋及地方政府部长丹斯里曾永森协助下成立,至今拥有超过30年历史。

该地段之所以称为火线界,主要由于早年该地段本为电源转驳站,到处布满电缆,直到电缆被电源公司拆除后,土地才移交给雪州政府管理。

州政府后来把有关土地让双溪威村民建立141间住屋,范围内拥有相当完善的房屋规划和基本设施,但由于土地属于州政府所有,因此居民多年来不获申请地契。

火线界居民在3年前正式着手申请地契,申请过程中却传来该区人民代议士指火线界将被挪为另外的发展用途,呼吁居民尽快办理申请廉价屋的手续,引起居民恐慌。

尔后,此事再经不少人民代议士出面调解,今年传出有人从中作梗,导致居民无法获得地契的消息,但消息来源不可考。

尽管如此,雪州政府至今仍未就双溪威火线界地段的发展计划或地契申请发表任何正式谈话。

双溪威火界线木屋区申请地契无下文

双溪威火界线木屋区申请地契无下文(http://archive.nanyang.com/index.php?ch=12&pg=49&ac=405929)
2004/09/10 18:28:08
●南洋商报

双溪威10日讯-双溪威火界线木屋区申请地契约3年仍然无法获得批准,该委员会要求八打灵再也南区国会议员拿督林祥才出席会议,共同商讨申请事宜。

双溪威火界线木屋区申请地契委员会将于下个星期四(9月16日),晚上8时,在马华双溪威支会召开会议,邀请林祥才出席,讨论申请地契事项。

委员会主席林沾荣指出,当地居民于3年前集体申请地契,一切主要的图测、表格、文件已经准备妥善,原本过程极其顺利,可是之后却听说有发展商看中这块地段,所以批准地契工作停滞不前。

温和方式争取

他说,这数年来,委员会一直努力争取,也获得房屋及地方政府部长拿督斯里黄家定、雪兰莪州务大臣拿督斯里基尔、雪州行政议员拿督庄祷融、拿督邓诗汉、拿督林传盛、八打灵再也北区国会议员周美芬等人的协助,以为申请过程顺利,可是最近却听说出了问题。

他说,无论如何,委员会将继续努力,如果以温和的方式争取,一直无法成功申请,不排除以更加激烈的方式,或向反贪污局投报。

林沾荣星期四晚在一项记者招待会上,发表上述谈话。

双溪威火线界木屋区分布在SS9A/4A、SS9A/4、SS9A/18和SS9A/18A,141户家庭,有30多年历史,当年是房屋部长丹斯里曾永森申请有关地段,当时是属于电火局地段,之后移交给雪州政府成为州政府地。

林沾荣指出,当地虽然称为木屋区,其实都是砖瓦屋,排列整齐,各个单位面积同样,有卫生厕所、柏油路、沟渠、垃圾收集服务等,居民多年来缴交门牌税给八打灵再也市议会,也交地税给八打灵县土地局。

他说,当地141户还包括群乐俱乐部和双溪威青年俱乐部、一间九皇爷神庙,居民约2千人。

双溪威火线界地契申请进尾声

双溪威火线界地契申请进尾声(http://archive.nanyang.com/index.php?ch=12&pg=48&ac=278333&uc=1)
2003/07/29 18:12:29
●南洋商报

〔八打灵再也29日讯〕八打灵再也北区国会议员周美芬指出,双溪威火线界的地契申请工作已进入尾声,她已把相关计划书呈交雪兰莪州政府,目前只等待雪州政府的批准。

她说,马华有信心透过各州议员解决这个问题,而她如受影响的居民一样,希望雪州政府尽快颁发地契给居民。

她是于本月27日,在双溪威群乐俱乐部33周年庆典晚宴上,给该区火线界居民稍来这项好消息。

“我也曾与甘榜东姑区州议员黄世豪讨论过,觉得双溪威巴刹须要维修,而今天我要再向大家宣布一项好消息,政府已同意拨出6万零吉作为双溪威巴刹的提升工程费用。”

她说,政府曾在去年拨出10万零吉维修双溪威巴刹,但经过1年时间的洗理,巴刹又开始呈献残旧的现象。

“我曾与巴刹小贩谈过,大家都觉得须要维修巴刹,所以我就向国会争取拨款,而据我了解,相关当局很快便会派出工程师前来了解巴刹的情形。”

议员大派拨款

在宣布这项6万零吉的拨款后,周美芬意犹未尽,再向双溪威市民宣布两项好消息,即政府拨出4万零吉提升该区的基本设施及她拨出国会议员拨款3千零吉,充当该俱乐部的慈善基金。

周美芬一次过给双溪威市民稍来4大好消息,台下的嘉宾当然是以如雷掌声来回报,但是此刻,这名国会议员却给大家来个当头棒喝,提醒众嘉宾不要从此抱着“请国州议员出席就有钱拿”的观念不放。

除了周美芬,与会的百乐镇州议员林春景及黄世豪也分别宣布拨出州议员拨款3千零吉,给双溪威群乐俱乐部充当慈善基金。

林春景也是该俱乐部的法律顾问,他致词时表示,教育是华裔同胞未来的立足点,他呼吁大家继续努力,关注孩子的教育。

此外,他也赞扬双溪威俱乐部醒狮团的表现,尤其是在我国著名醒狮教练萧斐弘的带领下,呈献出不凡的气势。

“俱乐部醒狮团成立23年,而如今,醒狮也被我国政府认可,而且在全世界流行,我希望大家可以再接再厉,把我国的醒狮艺术水平提升至更高的境界。”

该俱乐部主席冯天来致词时说,他们可以在这33年来不断成长是因为有一班合作且思想成熟的理事。

他希望众理事可以继续秉持这种团结的精神,为俱乐部贡献,带领俱乐部朝更宏观的方向发展。

Wednesday, February 07, 2007

承认中国北大清大中文系——马华不应混淆华社视听

雪州民主行动党呼吁马华公会在争取承认中国北大清大中文系方面不应以模棱两可的言论混淆华社视听,图谋廉价宣传。

黄家定今天说内阁已经‘在原则上同意承认中国北京大学及清华大学的中文系文凭’,但是任何政府在教育文凭上的承认,只有承认或不承认。承认就是承认,不承认就是不承认,没有所谓的承认一半或者是条件性的承认。所谓的‘原则上承认’根本是完全不存在的。

如果是‘原则上的承认’,这表示政府还没有正式承认这两所历史悠久大学的中文系。反之,如果政府机构—包括高教部学术鉴定局和公共服务局等等—还没有对这两所大学中文系做出详细的学术性研究,这意味着马来西亚政府还没有正式承认这两所大学的中文系学位。

如果内阁作出‘原则上的承认’之后,发现其中一些细则并未符合有关方面的标准,又或者出现一些官员进行种种刁难,以致后来的‘全面和正式的承认’未能如愿实现,马华公会如何面对华社?

如果马华公会认同踏实从政的理念,那么马华公会应该在内阁内外积极争取内阁以堂堂正正的方式全面和正式的承认这两所中国大学的中文系文凭,而不是以诸如‘原则上承认’等说词来敷衍华社,更不应该以如此模棱两可的言论混淆来华社视听,图谋廉价宣传。

Not transparent, nonnegotiable, unfriendly and unserious attitude – Disappointing attitudes of the government

We would like to register our grave disappointment with the government’s not transparent, nonnegotiable, unfriendly and unserious attitude in dealing with various issues arising from unfair highway toll hike.

First, the government is not transparent with the public when signing highway privatization concessionaire agreement with private companies, causing not only the bleeding of motorists’ pockets but also government coffer.

On September 22 last year in Parliament, Datuk Samy revealed that the government had RM38.5 billion in compensation to the 20 highway concession companies. The first toll collection began at the Shapadu highway in Klang in 1984 followed by the North-South Expressway in 1988.Of the total RM38.5 billion, the government paid RM1.76 billion in cash while the remainder was in tax exemption and extending the concession period.

Clearly the RM38.5 billion in compensation to the 20 highway companies does not include the toll collected from motorists using the highways. The Police has recently initiated investigation under 1972 Official Secret Act (OSA) to investigate four prominent Opposition leaders namely Ronnie Liu Tian Khiew (DAP), Tian Chua (PKR), Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim (PKR) and Dr Hatta Ramli (PAS).

Hiding behind the OSA can not cover up the fact that the RM38.5 billion compensation paid by the government alone is enough to pay for the construction cost without including the tens of billions ringgit more collected from motorists.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has disappointed Malaysians by failing to fulfill his promise to be transparent and accountable in justifying why the government paid compensation of RM4,864 million or RM739 million more than the construction cost of RM4,125 million for the 5 Klang Valley highways. Again the RM4,864 million in compensation paid does not include the toll collected directly from the public by the highway companies, which would be extra profits earned by them.

There is no economic rationale or financial sense for the government to refuse to buy over the highways when buying it over is cheaper and more cost-effective. Why let the 5 highway companies make RM739 million mid-way through their concession period ending between 2024-2035? By allowing the 5 Klang Valley highway companies to impose a 20-60% toll rate hike on 1 January 2006 despite already getting back their investment cost, the government is “abetting” these companies to reap huge profits at public’s expense.

There is mounting public anger over the toll hikes seen as “highway robbery in broad daylight that sells out” the rights of motorists, consumers and ordinary Malaysians to big corporations. Privatisation should result in efficiency gains as well as reduction of costs to government. However this has not happened in the privatization of our highways where the costs to the government continues to escalate until it exceeds the construction costs.

Second, the government ignores the constitutional right of the people to hold legitimate political activities including peaceful gathering to express disagreement against unfair, unjustified and not transparent highway privatization concessionaire agreement.

We witnessed more police brutalities and human right violations on 4th February 2007 – when 15 people were arrested in front of Puchong’s IOI shopping mall in the fourth peaceful demonstration against the unfair toll hikes.

Police brutalities and trampling on human rights started two weeks ago at the previous peaceful protest against the toll hikes at the Cheras-Kajang Highway Batu 11 toll booth where 21 people were arrested.

As the first two anti-toll hike protests at Subang’s Sunway City on Jan 7 and Gombak’s KL-Karak toll booth on Jan 14 had been conducted peacefully without any incidents, it would appear that the Police and the Abdullah administration have taken a policy decision to disregard human rights and given the greenlight for police violence and brutality to clamp down on the peaceful protests against the unfair toll hikes, organized by various organizations including PROTES and Opposition parties. This is more prevalent when there was an incident on the Jan 21 demonstration when an untagged and unidentified plaincloth policeman beaten demonstrators.

We felt gravely disappointed with such unfriendly and nonnegotiable attitude of the police which ignores the basic constitutional right of the people to hold peaceful gathering.

Third, if the government and the police have no intention to prosecute demonstrators, they shall not arrest them in the first place.

11 demonstrators participated in a peaceful demonstration in Cheras 11th Mile were summoned to attend the Kajang Magistrate Court on 5th February 2007. What is disappointing is that they were then told that the Mogistrate and the Prosecuting Officer are not notified and ready for the prosecution.

Selangor DAP Chairperson Ean Yong Hian Wah expressed his disappointment when he was notified that the Magistrate was on sick leave on that day. Their representing lawyer, Mr. Lim Lip Eng, who is also the Selangor DAP Publicity Secretary also criticized the Kajang Police Station for failure in submitting the investigation paper on time to the Magistrate.

He said that the eleven attended the Magistrate with the intention to cooperate with the Police and the court in the prosecution.

What we would like to ask is that, if the police have not finished their investigation, shall they be issued any summon to attend the court, more so when it is believed that there is no sincere intention from the police to prosecute them? Does this prove that the police does not mean business when they arrested the 21 persons high-handedly to prevent them from carrying out legitimate political activities.

Does this also mean that the Police should not clamp down on the peaceful protests against the unfair toll hikes, organized by various organizations including PROTES and Opposition parties, as the Police have no intention to prosecute them?

If that is the case, then we urge the police of not to interfere such peaceful gatherings organized by the people more.

不透明、不妥协、不友善、不认真-政府态度令人失望

我们对政府最近接二连三针对私营大道过路费高涨一事所采取的不透明、不妥协、不友善、甚至不认真的态度感到非常遗憾。

第一、政府在毫无透明度的状况之下和私营大道公司签署大道私营化合约。这除了平白牺牲驾车人士的利益,也导致政府每年耗费数以亿计的公款赔偿大道公司。

三美於去年9月在国会揭露,政府至今已赔偿20间大道公司385亿令吉。国内首条收费大道是坐落在雪州巴生的Shapadu大道,它於1984年开始收费,接着是1988年通车的南北大道。在这385亿令吉赔款当中,其中有17.6亿令吉是现款,其馀的是税务豁免。

国人必需知道的是,这385亿令吉赔款尚未包括20家大道公司所鸠收的过路费。如果这笔过路费也一并加入,那么其总数将会是一个天文数字。目前,警方已经援引《1972年官方机密法令》开始对揭发白蒲大道特许经营权合约的四名在野党领袖,即刘天球(民主行动党)、蔡添强(人民公正党)、丹斯里卡里•伊不拉欣(人民公正党)以及哈达•南利医生(回教党)展开相关的调查。

虽然政府可以躲在官方机密法令背后,却无法阻止这项事实曝光,即政府所付出的385亿令吉赔偿金其实已经足以支付大道建筑成本,而且这还未把数以百亿令吉计过路费计算在内。

首相拿督斯里阿都拉无法透明与负责任地交待,为何政府付出的48.64亿令吉赔偿金会比巴生谷5条大道的41.25亿令吉建筑成本高出7.79亿令吉。这点已经让人民大为失望。更何况的是,48.64亿令吉的赔偿金尚不包括有关大道公司向公众直接鸠收的过路费,它是有关公司赚取的额外利润。

这种形同“光天化日之下在大道抢劫”做法已引起公愤,因为政府把使用者、消费人及百姓的利益出卖给大财团。私营化本来应带来经济效益及降低政府的财政负担。然而,在大道私营化上,政府却必须不断地付出比兴建成本更高的代价。

第二、政府无视人民通过正常、合法以及合理的管道针对不公正、不透明以及不合理的私营化合约所展开的抗议集会。

反对过路费不合理上涨联盟在1月21日以及上周末所举办的两场和平集会皆遭警方的暴力干扰。其中1月21日在蕉赖11英里举办的和平集会中更发生没有佩戴证件的警员殴打参与集会的人士。

在上周末于蒲种IOI广场举办的和平集会中,警方也以粗暴拉扯的方式骚扰攻击集会参与者,其中遭暴力逮捕的不乏许多毫无攻击能力的年轻女性。

我们对警方在最近的两场示威活动中所表现的不妥协、不友善以及忽视集会自由等基本人权的态度而感到非常失望。

第三、政府和警方如果没有意愿控告参与示威的人士,那么警方就不应该逮捕这群人士。

11名参与1月21日在蕉赖11英里及蕉赖皇冠镇主要通道和平请愿行动的数名行动党党员在2月5日受传召出庭,以协助警方的调查工作。遗憾的是,他们竟然在法庭吃闭门羹。

雪州行动党主席欧阳捍华说,11名被传召出庭的人士在抵达布城司法宫加影推事庭之后,才知道加影警察局并没有完成调查报告,再加上推事因病告假,查案官也没有出席,以致他们白跑一趟。

11名人士的代表律师林立迎(也是雪州行动党宣传秘书)表示主控官并不了解此案的进展,加影警察局也表示调查报告还没有完成,令人大感失望。

如果警方没有完成调查报告,甚至是没有意愿要把这群人士控上法庭,那么警方从一开始便没有必要逮捕这群人士。这是否显示警方的逮捕行为只是纯粹要恐吓参与示威的人士,从而阻止合法政治活动的进行?

在未来的日子里,如果还有类似的活动,这是不是说警方不应该再逮捕参与和平集会的人士,因为警方根本没有意愿把他们控上法庭?

我们呼吁警方不应再干扰和平集会的进行。这项集会只是公众人士行使宪赋权利以进行合法政治活动。

Monday, February 05, 2007

Photos at Anti Toll Hike Protest, IOI Mall, Puchong 4/2/2007










COME ON LAH! RELAKS LAH!


I don't want to provocate anybody whenever I participate in any demonstration, not even anyone of the police officers, but unfortunately it was them who always be the first to act provocatively on the people.

I use to tell them :"Relaks lah!". And this is the same I told them when I attended another anti toll hike demonstation in front of Puchong IOI Mall on 4th February 2007 4pm.

Why not the police to be "relaks lah" in facing the people? There are many bad guys in the streets nowadays and who know there could be another goldsmith or bank robbed in Subang Jaya area (two goldsmiths were robbed in fact yesterday in Subang Parade, which fall under the supervision of Subang Jaya Police District - and Puchong is also under this Police District). There were easily over 500 police officers on that day and one good question that we shall ask is that:

If your house is broken in, will you be able to have the police to arrive in time?

That's why I say, COME ON LAH! RELAKS LAH! WE AREN'T GANSGTERS LAH! YOU GO AND CATCH THOSE GANGSTERS AROUND AND DON'T KACAU US LAH!

Sunday, February 04, 2007

雪州民主行动党发动反收费站涨价运动


雪州民主行动党发动反收费站涨价运动

自今年一月起,雪隆区的五条主要收费大道开始涨价,其涨幅从20巴仙至60巴仙不等。

白蒲大道的收费是其中涨幅最高的大道,从原本的1零吉,涨至1零吉60仙,高达60巴仙。

吉隆坡-加叻大道的鹅麦收费站,从原本的5零吉,涨至6零吉,而文冬收费站则是涨50仙,至3零吉。

其他涨价的大道包括沙亚南大道,蕉赖-加影大道及牙直利大道。

大道

之前
RM

之后
RM

涨幅
RM

巴仙率

Lebuhraya Damansara-Puchong (LDP)

1.00

1.60

0.60

60%

Lebuhraya Cheras-Kajang: Batu 11

0.60

0.90

0.30

50%

Lebuhraya Shah Alam

1.50

2.20

0.70

47%

Lebuhraya Cheras-Kajang: Batu 9

0.70

1.00

0.30

43%

Lebuhraya Koridor Guthrie:

1.00

1.40

0.40

40%

Lebuhraya KL-Karak-Gombak:

4.00

5.00

1.00

25%

Lebuhraya KL-Karak-Bentong:

2.50

3.00

0.50

20%

反对大道涨价-政府只造福收费站公司

1. 此项运动的主要目的:

a. 让人民了解收费站涨价的真相。

b. 向政府反映百姓对大道涨价的不满。

c. 抗议政府滥用官方机密法令。

2. 我们的传单将以4种语言发出,包刮马来文、华文、淡米尔文及英文。传单强调两项重点:

a. 政府对大道公司的赔偿比大道实际的建筑费高达18巴仙,即超出7亿3900万零吉。

b. 政府将大道和约内容归类为官方机密法令是没有必要和不切实际的。

3. 我们将会在雪州境内分发传单,尤其是那些受影响的地区。

4. 21名于一月廿一日在蕉赖11里收费站示威被逮捕的人士,将在明天早上8.30am前往布特拉再也地方法院报到。

5. 此外,雪州民主行动党领袖也将于明日陪同刘天球同志前往武吉阿曼警察总部报到,协助警方以官方机密法令调查公布大道和约内容的事件。

欧阳捍华

雪州民主行动党主席