Towards a first class state assembly

The Speech of ADUN DAP of Kampung Tunku Lau Weng San when discussing the Royal Address Motion upholding My Majesty the Sultan of Selangor on 21st March 2012 in Shah Alam:

Towards a first class state assembly

Kampung Tunku would like to take part in the debate on Royal Address Motion upholding Love of His Royal Highness The Sultan of Selangor and I would like to honor the highest to the Sultan of Selangor for His Majesty said has touched many areas of the Selangor State Government administration should be given a serious attention by the Executive.

Out of 20 pages of Selangor Sultan speech yesterday, at least 20 percent of the content touched on the role of the State Assembly as the best medium to solve the matters and issues affecting the people of Selangor.

Even the Majesty also remind all the Honourable Members to discuss the issues involving residents of Selangor with intellectual and not emotionally. The Tuanku advice is very sound and timely and it must be accompanied by empowerment of the Selangor State Assembly as a credible legislative institution.

I together with Kajang State Assemblyman are elected to represent the Selangor State Assembly to attend Westminster Seminar -61 relating to Practice and Procedure of Parliament from 5th to 9th March 2012. We both have been exposed to the various reforms, and it is being held in Westminster.

Among the issues discussed on how the UK parliament works, the existing UK legislative process and reforms that were implemented, the role played by Members Assembly, private bills of Members, Leader of Opposition, Leader of the House, WIP part and working relationship between them, free from any influenced from the Executive, Select Committee, administration and financial management of Assembly, the responsibility of prime minister via Prime minister Question Time, the role of speaker, the role played by Rights and Privileges Committee and its mode of operation. Other than that, UK Parliament has also set up E-Petition at its official website to enable people to raise the issues that they would like to convey to the Members of Parliament.

The discussion on these matters has opened up our minds about the vital role of the House. It also reminds us of the importance of the House to be one which is modern, professional, systematic, efficient and free because the existence of these qualities would enable the House to play its role effectively and become the best medium for its members to exercise their functions as elected representatives.

A requirement that has to be followed before Selangor State Assembly could completely change into first class House is the existence of a system service under the Speaker of Assembly which is independent from Executives and free from any political influences

During the seminar, I was amazed by the statement given by Mr. Robert Rogers, Secretary for House of Commons of UK Parliament, that he was proud the whole Parliament services does not fall under the Executive body and they are not part of the civil services

This statement reminds me of an important facts where the true liberty of State Assembly is not considered to have been accomplished unless it has a service team which is free from any influences by public services. This is because each function that has to be performed, in the context of UK Parliament, it has to be carried out by a professional and independent team under the direction of the Speaker to take the view and needs of each member of State Assembly. UK Parliament free from any form of influences which allows it to monitor and review the overall administration without any restrictions and excessive bureaucracy.

Such a free Assembly should be supported by the independent service and this is the essence of RUU Selangor State Assembly or short form “Selesa”. To welcome the advice of the Majesty, the Selangor State Assembly should be the best medium to resolve the issues and the people, therefore Kampung Tunku recommend the Enactment Selesa should be created in the near future.

Last year, the Deputy Speaker of Parliament, The Honourable Dato’ Wan Junaidi also supports to restore Parliamentary Service Act 1963 which was repealed in 1992. The Act provides a services system which is free from any influences from Executive body, the Public Service department has to determine the rights and powers of the Assembly in the course of daily work and financial management of the House.

Thus, for those who remember that this law as something new, then the Parliamentary Services Act 1963 showed the contrary. If the Selangor State Assembly’s proposal to enact Selesa Enactment was supported by Parliament Malaysia, therefore Kampung Tunku did not see any reason not to enact Selesa.

Economic Development and efficiency of local authorities and government departments

His Majesty’s speech also touched on the issue of economic development whereby the GDP for the Selangor State in the year of 2011 was 5.9% and this figure is expected to drop to 5.3%, being in line with the economic circumstances of the world and Malaysia, which are moderate

The Selangor State continues to contribute towards the development of Malaysia’s economy, in which the Selangor State contributed 22% with a total investment record of RM8.74 billion in 2011, together with 263 projects being implemented and as much as 263 job opportunities being created in the process.

These figures are indeed a major leap as compared with the year of 2010 in which the total investment in the Selangor State was only recorded at RM6.53 billion. That notwithstanding, there are still many shortcomings which the government agencies, in particular the Land and District Office and Local Councils, need to work on.

His Majesty the Sultan of the Selangor also urged that we should practice transparency and also to simplify the procedure as well as to speed up the process involved.

Kampung Tunku agrees absolutely with this advice and all parties involved should work together in reducing red tape and bureaucracy so as to attract more investors to invest in the State of Selangor.

For the aforementioned purposes, Kampung Tunku would like to discuss a little about the performance of OSC at LOCAL COUNCILSs of Klang Valley. Kampung Tunku is of the opinion that there are still a few problems which need to be overcome to improve the performance of OSC. This problem is none other than the problem with OSC’s effectiveness in assisting the development of the economy.

Kampung Tunku realised that applicants have filed complaints saying that their applications have been rejected because they have failed to adhere to the conditions required by local councils. This problem surfaced because it is always the case that the documents and plans submitted do not meet the local councils’ requirements. Surprisingly, is the fact that such technical requirements are not clearly stated in local councils’ checklist.

This is because such technical requirements consist of fine technical aspects, leading to the eventual rejection of those applications when in fact such technical requirements could have been made clear to the relevant negotiators or applicants from the very beginning.

For example, Kampung Tunku discovered that one application for Planning Approval handled by MPSJ was rejected by its Building Control Department on the following grounds:
1. To provide for tap/water pipe for every toilet.
2. To submit the plan for the project notice board complete with motto, approved file number and the Majlis’ motto.
3. To check the size of the plan used. Not suitable.
4. Please use water color to make the plan tidier.
5. The design for the Surau is inappropriate. Please discuss.

As the saying goes “The evils lie in the details”; as can be seen, the grounds relied upon to reject the application were ambiguous and subjective, so much so that even things such as the materials used to produce the plan are also under scrutiny. Apart from that, requirements such as the design of the surau is very difficult to define and overtly subjective.

Besides the departments within the local councils, the performance and response of other departments such as JPS and the Fire Department et cetera should also be improved although chances are these departments are not under the jurisdiction of the State Government.

Although the EXCO member has stated previously that those approvals from external departments would be exempted if the representatives of these departments have been absent from 3 OSC meetings consecutively, there is a totally different story at the grassroots level. I am worried that this direction has yet to be communicated to the officers of local councils and thus they are still asking the applicants to obtain approvals from those external departments first before they would give their full approval for their projects.

This also happened because the officers of local councils still insist on strict compliance with all the technical requirements to prevent any unwanted event from happening.

This problem is also aggravated due to the role of OSC, which has yet to function as a truly "One-Stop Centre”. This is because applicants still have to engage runners to submit documents to other departments even though the initial concept of the OSC is to process all the documents at one fixed place and time to save time and to reduce red tape.

Foreign Investment needs to focus more on green & advanced technology which can generate higher income.

Kampung Tunku also interested with Selangor government's explanation regarding Selangor Automobile Belt. Indeed, automobile industry is an industry which can elevate Selangor position as a more advanced state, equal with other advanced countries.

Government must pay serious attention and encourage high return investment. For example, green industries such as solar powered industry, recycling industry, water and air purification, water wastage treatment, biodiesel industry, environment recovery industry, solid waste management, energy storage, alternative energy sources such as solar energy and so on.

Recently, biodiesel was launched in Selangor and the Klang Valley. This product has become an alternative fuel to conventional fossil fuels. Therefore, the state government of Selangor should attract more investment to carry out research on second-generation biodiesel production which does not need to rely on palm oil.

An important condition for high-quality investors to invest in the Selangor is the existence of high quality talents (talent pools) available to provide support services to these industries such as engineering specialists, logistics, service and research

Without these talents and manpower, it is very difficult for Selangor and Malaysia to attract high quality investment because industries with high added value, which listed above, are dependent on highly skilled experts.

Kampung Tunku was very happy with media reports recently that Phison of Taiwan, a company founded by a Selangor man from Sekinchan, Mr Pua Khien Seng in 2000, will invest RM3 million in Malaysia. What is not so encouraging is this company's investment destination is in Penang and the northern peninsula and not in Selangor, even though the founder is from Selangor.

This news proves a fact that Selangor also must compete with other states in attracting high quality investment to the country. Selangor Government can not underestimate the other competitors and have to check what the weaknesses which are still there that high tech investors are willing to invest millions in other states.

If the above shortcomings can be overcomed, then Kampung Tunku is very confident that there is chance to attract high quality investors to invest in Selangor. In fact, Selangor can multiply this figure.

Reshuffle of State government revenue system to reduce the administration cost.

In the previous Assembly meeting, Kampung Tunku had raised the issue of profit margin which previously raised by YAB Menteri Besar, where the YAB Menteri Besar had stated that the margin need to be lowered from 30% to around 7% in order to reduce the State government administration cost.

Kampung Tunku would like to ask the State government what are the steps taken to achieve this target?

Does the Selangor State government set a list of price gap for infrastructure project and acquisition to avoid excessive price was paid to the supplier or contractor?

Does the government also reshuffle the "cut off" system which was first used by the government departments in year 2004, considering the fact that practice of "cut off" system does have the exceptions, namely when the number of tenders received and can be counted after the "freak" price issued less than ten.

It must be noted that the tenderers who offer a lower price than the "cut off" price can also be considered if they have an excellent track record, which has the experience to perform the same work ahead of the schedule. Acquiring a certain factors that can be guaranteed them to do the work with lower price and quality work and time is at the satisfactory level.

Grant "Selangorku" – set up the school bus subsidy for poor students in traditional village

Selangor State government has approved a grant "Selangorku" of RM 300 million which consist of 17 sectors that required serious attention from the government.

The Grant which is so large in size will be administrated by the Menteri Besar Corporation or Mentri Besar Incorporated (MBI) proved the solid financial strength of subsidiaries under the Selangor State government. One good thing is that the allocation of this RM 300 million will be revealed to the public without the need of going through the normal bureaucracy process

Kampung Tunku welcomed the Selangor State government policy and Kampung Tunku urged the government to give special attention to the development of rural area. Through the grant of "Selangorku", about RM 10 million will be allocated for urban life expectancy programme and targeted to rural area residents.

Not long ago, a poor Selangor people who lived in rural area facing the transportation problem when the public bus company CityLiner ceased the bus services in few village area.

One of the affected area is Teluk Gong whereby the children to the families of poor fisherman and farmer are unable to attend school due to the cessation of CityLiner bus services. I understand that the students need bus services to go and back from their school, where most of them were located at Pandamaran Jaya area.

By looking at the problem faced by the people at Teluk Gong area and at the same time, Selangor State government also launched the grant of "Selangorku" which allocated RM 10 million to improve the living standard of rural area folks, hence Kampung Tunku suggest to the government to implement a school bus scheme similar to subsidized bus scheme for plantation workers’ children.

The important thing is, the welfare of poor students from rural area should not neglected just because the federal government’s failure to manage properly the public transport system. It is necessary to implement this kind of school bus scheme at different rural areas scattered around Selangor because Kampung Tunku believed the same problem also occurred in other rural areas.

Environmental Protection – Defending Bukit Gasing from being intruded

His Majesty’s Speech also touched on the issue of environmental protection. Kampung Tunku would like to raise a significant environmental issue, the issue of hillside development which is under the administration of City Hall (DBKL)

The residents of Bukit Gasing, Petaling Jaya has organized a protest against the decision not long ago to City Hall to approve a development project in Bukit Gasing which is located in the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur.

Residents protested although some part of Bukit Gasing which is located next to Selangor state has been gazetted as green areas, the next development will also affect the ecology and stability of the soil around the hill.

Regards to ADUN Bukit Gasing, YB Edward Lee is the man who helped a lot the residents of Bukit Gasing to reject the development project approved by City Hall DBKL, but until now it is still a dead end.

What the people of Bukit Gasing regret is the attitude of KL Mayor, who is under the control of BN government, who does not want to compromise and continue to grant approvals to the project regardless of hugh objections from the residents. That is the attitude of so-called which promise to advance the people but in fact they are more advance their own interests.

As citizen of Petaling Jaya, Kampung Tunku request intervention from the Selangor government to assist Bukit Gasing people to solve the problem.

Crisis of water industry restructuring in Selangor

In the last assembly, many parties have the speculation that Selangor will face water crisis in 2014. This statement is also supported by Ministry of Energy, Water and Green Technology last year. Then during the last session, this statement was reported with the argument that all water treatment in Selangor were operating at the maximum level to produce 4,326 million litre of water a day to accommodate 4,197 million litre of water a day, where the margin of the water storage of 129 million litre of water a day is told not sufficient to face any water crisis.

It was a last year story. What else happened recently? Lately, Syabas again repeat its obsolete story that in this year 2012, Selangor would face water crisis. After that, few weeks ago, Syabas announced that the water supply will be cut off for 36 hours to carry out maintainance works on water treatment.

Eventually, Syabas indirectly admitted that the cause of low water margin is due to Syabas water treatment capacity is not properly maintained.

Even so, during the period of disconnection of water supply, many places in Klang Valley still have the sufficient water supply. Does it mean the water crisis touted by certain parties merely a fiction to frighten Selangor people?

However, Kampung Tunku feel relieved because Selangor government under Chief Minister met with the water management experts and legal experts from United Kingdoms to find a way out to solve the water crisis in Selangor.

For the Selangor people’s interest, I would like to request Chief Minister to explain to this Honourable House the findings of experts from UK so that the issues can be solved quickly.

Government Land Ownership Scheme for Private Residential Buildings with premium RM1000

Selangor government made a history by offering Government Land Ownership scheme for private Residential buildings to the people only RM1000 premium. This is one of the administrative reforms that we feel proud of.

This policy is a good policy and Kampung Tunku would like to ask government to see whether this policy may be extended to owners for industrial and commercial land in the new village areas as an additional effort to whiten the illegal factories.

Kampung Tunku recently visited to Kampung Baru Sungai Buluh. There are complaints from the landowner of the factory that they have financial constraints to extend the lease on their land. This happends beacause they have to pay higher premiums before they are allowed to extend their lease. At the same time, they have failed to get the bank loan to pay for the premium because the remaining leases period of less than 20 years.

This problem could be solved if the Government Land Ownership Scheme for Private Residential Buildings can also be used for industrial land where the government may charge a nominal premium of RM100,000 to enable them to extend the lease period and apply a loan from bank to pay the balance in installments.

Defamation against KSSB

Yesterday, we learned that the outcome of the sand during Barisan National is low because the state government at that time did not see the sand industry is an important source of wealth for the state.

This statement seems to say that Barisan Nasional government can not managed the source of wealth in Selangor until the industry may only contribute the royalty of not more than RM4 million every year to Selangor government. Now with clean and trustworthy of Pakatan Rakyat government, royalties paid out from the sand industry has now reached RM16 million a year. It should be noted that the profits of the sand industry has yet to reach the optimum level. It means this royalty still have potential for further improvements.

Selangor government under Pakatan Rakyat has established Kumpulan Semesta Sendirian Berhad (KSSB) to control the sand production from Selangor in a prudent and environmental friendly manner.

KSSB not only contributes royalties to the Selangor government. As a subsidiary of the Selangor Government, KSSB have to pay the dividends of profit to the Selangor government. KSSB also have to contribute to Merakyatkan Ekonomi Selangor (MES) programme and grant Selangorku. In short, the return of KSSB is the benefit for Selangor government and the benefit of Selangor government is the luck for the people.

Kampung Tunku was agreed with a suggestion from the Honourable Seri Muda yesterday that members of the State Assembly from Barisan National to be appointed for the Board of KSSB to enable them to understand how KSSB operates and avid to make any wild accussations towards KSSB. It is about time for the parties who had the political motive to stop any baseless accusation to KSSB. If they have proof, step forward to make allegations with evidence.

Honourable Member from Kuang also accused Selangor government did not buid any roads for the past four years. Kamoung Tunku conclude that the argument is not true and deflect the House because the answer is written in a question that I raised in year 2011 showed that the government spent RM630 milion to carry out the projects such as build a new roads, upgrading the old road, improving the hills slopes, repair bridges, widening the roads and other infrastructure works since year 2008 to 2010.

Once again, Kampung Tunku would like to draw Kuang attention to The Majesty speech in order all of us to discuss intelectually based on facts.

Yesterday, there was an uproar in the House because ADUN from Seri Muda exposed a scandal involving to our opposition leader and I quote a newspaper report which read as follows:

Winding up session for Selangor budget in year 2012 uproar due to the exposure to the Chief Minister on various abuse of power by Barisan Nasional Selangor involved the loss of million ringgit which also involved the opposition leader, Datuk Satim Diman

Besides Satim, Abdul Khalid also disclosed the acquisiston of land by former Chief Minister Selangor, the wife of Minister of Agriculture and Agro industry and local political leaders in order to own few lots of land in elite area.

In the winding up session, Khalid revealed the opposition leader; Satim Diman made a series of transaction related to the sale of land in Science Park 2 during BN administration

The particular land is state owned land that was given to the Selangor Agricultural Development Corporation (PKPS) for the science education.

According to Khalid (Chief Minister), the provision of land however sold by Satim in a cheap price to Nikmat Inai Sdn Bhd, where Satim is one of the shareholder and member of the Board of Directors.

Pending payment of purchase to PKPS, under his political power, the land was sold to Selangor State Development Corporation (PKNS) at a double price

Satim Diman has successfully become a middle person to take the profit on the Bumiputera policy, said Khalid

This is how Barisan Nasional wasted money and natural resources of Selangor government. Compare to this scandal and cash reserves which increasing since year 2008, there is a certain significant difference. It is not wrong if anyone sayd Malaysia will bankrupt if BN is given a mandate to administer any of government in Malaysia.

Enough for people to suffer under the Barisan Nasional government, various scandals, corruption, cronyism, and mismanagement has always occurred under Barisan Nasional era. Until the 13th general election, Kampung Tunku believed Selangor people will not fooled by BN and with the grace of God, the arrival of 13th general election, BN’s life will cease at the same time.

Lau Weng San

劉永山：退回申請文件理由模糊‧市會一站式中心待改進

摘自《星洲日报》

雪隆 2012-03-22 12:47

（雪蘭莪‧沙亞南21日訊）甘榜東姑區州議員劉永山指出，雪州各縣市議會的“一站式中心”（One-Stop Centre）仍有改進空間，尤其在退回申請文件或圖測時，沒有列明原因，僅告知不符合地方政府所定下的條件。

他說，這個部門的效率，與州經濟發展息息相關，倘若這項技術問題沒有給予關注和解決，將影響經濟發展。

他指出，通常該部給予的理由非常模糊；他舉例，祈禱室的設計不適合，所謂的“不適合”是非常模糊的說法。

劉永山是在辯論蘇丹御詞時，發表上述談話。他指出，一站式中心其實只是掛名的部門，所有申請者還是得花錢聘請“跑腿”到其他部門處理文件。

促雪政府插手武吉加星發展爭議

另外，他也促請雪州政府插手協助解決武吉加星居民反對吉隆坡市政局欲發展部份武吉加星地段。

他說，有關發展將影響武吉加星的地理環境，以及土地的穩定；州政府必須協助人民解決有關問題。（星洲日報／大都會）

双溪威草场被剥夺属无稽之谈 刘永山驳斥：面积更大

摘自《光华日报》

二零一二年三月十九日 下午五时三十六分

（莎阿南19日讯）民主行动党甘榜东姑州议员刘永山反驳“双溪威SS 9A/1路草场将被剥夺”一事，属无稽之谈，反指该草场经过规划后，将比原有面积来得大。

他今日出席雪州议会开幕仪式后，针对马华雪州公共投诉及服务中心副主任张胜富的昨日指民联政府剥夺有关草场一事，召开记者会作出澄清。

他说，发展商大班公司（Taipan Focus Sdn. Bhd.）原先打算在第二期计划兴建的组屋经已移除，同时已将保留的0.22英亩神庙保留地（0.22英亩）移至该处，这将使得草场面积比原先的来得大。

他强调，上述发展批准是前朝州政府所承诺的决定，雪州民联政府是基于履行合约精神按章行事，否则州政府就必须作出赔偿。

“张胜富的指责无疑是在搬石头砸自己的脚，有关草场将被剥夺的说法根本不成立。”

马华雪州公共投诉及服务中心主任拿督汤木昨日表示，有关发展商并没有在两年内发展上述草场，故发展令理应经已失效，必须重新提出申请。

他重申，前朝政府之所以批准上述计划，是因为该发展商成功处理了双溪威的非法木屋问题，惟州政府并没有将有关土地以7500万令吉的价格（2007年估价），出售予该发展商。

“合约上阐明，发展商拥有20年的土地经营权，20年后则必须将管理权归还给八打灵市议会。”

惟汤木也承认，前朝州政府的确做了错误的决定，而执政的民联政府理应保留有关草场。

对此，刘永山认为，汤木理应质问时任甘榜东姑州议员兼八打灵市议员黄世豪批准上述发展计划的理由，而不是质问现任政府。

他透露，发展商的计划分三期进行，首期计划就是在双溪威新村唯一的绿肺上进行兴建3层楼中央公市，而当中也会保留0.22英亩地段作为神庙保留地，以及建造一个篮球场及儿童游乐场。“我挑战汤木出示当年（2007年）批准的发展令，他的数据是错误的。”

至于困扰当地已久的塞车问题，刘永山也认为，汤木应要求黄世豪作出交代，而不是一昧要雪州政府给予解释。

Ke Arah Dewan Negeri Kelas Pertama

Ucapan ADUN DAP bagi kawasan Kampung Tunku Lau Weng San semasa membahas Usul Menjunjung Kasih Titah Ucapan Duli Yang Maha Mulia Sultan Selangor pada 21 Mac 2012 di Shah Alam:

Ke Arah Dewan Negeri Kelas Pertama

Kampung Tunku ingin mengambil bahagian dalam perbahasan Usul Menjunjung Kasih Titah Ucapan Duli Yang Maha Mulia Sultan Selangor dan saya ingin merakamkan penghormatan setinggi-tingginya kepada Tuanku Sultan Selangor kerana titah ucapan Tuanku telah menyentuh pelbagai bidang pentadbiran kerajaan negeri Selangor yang perlu diberi perhatian serious oleh Eksekutif.

Daripada 20 muka surat titah ucapan Tuanku Sultan Selangor semalam, sekurang-kurangnya 20 peratus daripada isi kandungan Tuanku menyentuh tentang peranan Dewan Negeri Selangor sebagai medan terbaik untuk menyelesaikan pebagai perkara dan isu yang melibatkan rakyat Selangor.

Malahan Tuanku juga meningatkan semua Ahli-ahli Yang Berhormat sekalian agar membahas segala isu yang mellibatkan rakyat Selangor dengan intelektual dan bukannya beremosi. Nasihat Tuanku ini adalah amat bernas dan tepat pada masanya dan ianya perlu disusuli dengan pemerkasaan Dewan Negeri Selangor sebagai satu institusi perundangan yang berwibawa.

Saya bersama-sama dengan Ahli Dewan Negeri Kajang telah dipilih untuk mewakilli Dewan Negeri Selangor untuk menghadiri Seminar Westminster Ke-61 berkaitan Praktis dan Prosidur Parlimen dari 5 hingga 9 Mac 2012. Kami berdua telah didedahkan kepada pelbagai pelbagai agenda reform dan pembaharuan yang sedang rancak berlangsung di Westminster. Antara isu-isu yang dibincang ialah cara Parlimen UK berfungsi, proses perundangan yang sedia ada di UK serta reform yang telah dilaksanakan, peranan yang dimainkan oleh Ahli Dewan, rang undang-undang persendirian Ahli Dewan, Ketua Pembangkang, Leaders of the House, wip parti masing-masing dan hubungan kerja sesama mereka, kebebasan Dewan daripada sebarang pengaruh Eksekutif, perjalanan Jawatankuasa Pilihan atau Select Committee, pentadbiran dan pengurusan kewangan Dewan, siaran langsung Dewan, tanggungjawab Menteri Besar atau Perdana Menteri terhadap Dewan melalui Prime Minister Question Time, peranan Speaker, peranan yang dimainkan oleh Jawatankuasa Hak dan Kebebasan serta cara perjalanannya dan lain-lain. Selain daripada itu, Parlimen UK juga telah mengadakan satu ruangan e-petisyen di laman web rasminya untuk membolehkan orang ramai membangkitkan isu-isu yang mereka ingin sampaikan kepada Ahli-ahli Parlimen.

Perbincangan-perbincangan terhadap perkara-perkara ini telah membuka minda kami tentang peranan penting yang perlu dimainkan oleh Dewan. Ianya juga mengingatkan kami betapa pentingnya Dewan ini diuruskan dengan moden, profesional, sistematik, cekap dan bebas kerana hanya dengan adanya kualiti-kualiti ini, barulah sesebuah Dewan itu dapat memainkan peranannya sebagai medan terbaik bagi ahli-ahlinya menjalankan fungsinya sebagai wakil rakyat.

Satu prasyarat yang perlu dipatuhi sebelum Dewan Negeri Selangor dapat bertukar sepenuhnya kepada sebuah Dewan kelas pertama ialah wujudnya satu sistem perkhidmatan Dewan di bawah Speaker yang bukan sahaja bebas daripada pengaruh Eksekutif, malahan juga bebas daripada pengaruh politik.

Semasa seminar ini berjalan, saya terkagum dengan kenyataan Encik Robert Rogers, Setiausaha House of Commons Parlimen UK, bahawa beliau bangga bahawa seluruh perkhidmatan Parlimen tidak diletak di bawah Eksekutif dan mereka bukan sebahagian daripada perkhidmatan awam (we are not part of the civil service and we are proud of that).

Kenyataan ini mengingatkan saya terhadap satu fakta penting, iaitu kebebasan Dewan tidak dianggap sebagai telah dicapai melainkan Dewan mempunyai satu pasukan perkhidmatan yang bebas daripada pengaruh perkhidmatan awam. Ini adalah kerana setiap satu fungsi yang perlu dijalankan, dalam konteks Parlimen UK, perlu dilaksanakan oleh satu pasukan pentadbiran yang bebas dan profesional di bawah arahan Speaker dengan mengambil pandangan dan keperluan setiap Ahli Dewan. Parlimen UK yang bebas daripada apa-apa bentuk pengaruh membolehkan ia memantau dan menyemak pentadbiran dengan menyeluruh tanpa sebarang sekatan dan birokrasi yang melampau.

Dewan yang bebas dalam bentuk sebegini perlu disokong oleh sebuah perkhidmatan dewan yang bebas dan ini merupakan intipati RUU Perkhidmatan Dewan Negeri Selangor atau nama singkatannya “Selesa”. Bagi menyambut baik nasihat Tuanku bahawa Dewan Negeri Selangor perlu dijadikan sebagai medan terbaik untuk menyelesaikan isu dan perkara rakyat, maka Kampung Tunku mengesyorkan supaya Enakmen Selesa ini perlu diwujudkan dalam masa terdekat yang paling mungkin.

Pada tahun lepas, Timbalan Speaker Dewan Rakyat, YB Dato’ Wan Junaidi juga menyokong usaha untuk memulihkan Akta Perkhidmatan Parlimen 1963 yang telah dimansuhkan pada tahun 1992. Akta ini memperuntukkan satu sistem perkhidmatan Dewan yang bebas daripada pengaruh Eksekutif, iaitu Jabatan Perkhidmatan Awam di samping menentukan hak dan kuasa Dewan dalam urusan perjalanan kerja-kerja harian dan pengurusan kewangan Dewan.

Oleh itu, bagi mereka yang ingat bahawa undang-undang ini sebagai sesuatu yang baru, maka Akta Perkhidmatan Parlimen 1963 ini pula membuktikan yang sebaliknya. Jika cadangan Dewan Negeri Selangor pada satu masa dahulu untuk mengadakan enakmen Selesa disokong oleh rakan-rakan sejawatan dari Parlimen Malaysia, maka Kampung Tunku tidak nampak apa-apa sebab untuk tidak menggubal Enakmen Selesa ini.

Pembangunan ekonomi dan kecekapan PBT dan jabatan-jabatan kerajaan

Titah Ucapan Tuanku juga menyentuh tentang pembangunan ekonomi di mana Keluaran Dalam Negara Kasar (KDNK) untuk negeri Selangor pada tahun 2011 ialah 5.9% dan angka ini dijangka akan merosot ke 5.3% sehaluan dengan persekitaran ekonomi dunia dan Malaysia yang sederhana.

Negeri Selangor terus menyumbang kepada pembangunan ekonomi negara Malaysia di mana Selangor menyumbang kepada 22% dengan jumlah pelaburan pada tahun 2011 mencatat RM 8.74 bilion dengan 263 projek dilaksanakan dan sebanyak 263 peluang pekerjaan dibekalkan.

Sememangnya angka-angka ini merupakan satu lonjakan berbanding tahun 2010 di mana jumlah pelaburan yang masuk ke Selangor pada tahun 2010 hanya setakat RM 6.53 bilion sahaja. Walaupun begitu, terdapat banyak kelemahan yang perlu diatasi oleh agensi-agensi kerajaan khususnya Pejabat Tanah dan Daerah (PTD) dan Pihak Berkuasa Tempatan (PBT).

Baginda Sultan Selangor juga menggesa agar syarat dan prosidur harus dipermudah, proses dipercepat dan ketelusan diamalkan.

Kampung Tunku amat bersetuju dengan nasihat ini dan semua pihak yang terlibat harus bekerja keras untuk mengurangkan red tape dan birokrasi bagi menarik lebih ramai pelabur untuk melabur di Selangor.

Untuk itu, Kampung Tunku ingin menyentuh sedikit tentang prestasi Pusat Sehenti (atau One-Stop Centre, OSC) di PBT-PBT di Lembah Klang. Kampung Tunku berasa masih terdapat beberapa masalah yang perlu diatasi untuk mempertingkatkan prestasi OSC. Masalah ini tidak lain tidak bukan berkaitan dengan keberkesanan OSC dalam membantu pembangunan ekonomi.

Kampung Tunku mendapati bahawa masih terdapat aduan daripada pemohon-pemohon bahawa kertas permohonan mereka ditolak kerana dikatakan tidak memenuhi syarat-syarat yang diperlukan oleh PBT. Masalah ini berlaku kerana selalu dikatakan bahawa dokumen-dokumen dan pelan-pelan yang dikemukakan oleh pemohon tidak mematuhi keperluan PBT. Apa yang memeranjatkan ialah selalunya keperluan-keperluan teknikal ini selalunya tidak dinyatakan dengan jelas dalam senarai semakan PBT.

Ini adalah kerana keperluan-keperluan teknikal ini merangkumi aspek-aspek teknikal yang agak terperinci, maka seringkali permohonan-permohonan ini ditolak sedangkan ianya boleh diselaras dan dimaklumkan terlebih awal kepada juru perunding atau pemohon berkenaan.

Contohnya, dalam satu permohonan Kebenaran Merancang yang diuruskan oleh Majlis Perbandaran Subang Jaya (MPSJ), Kampung Tunku telah mendapati Jabatan Bangunan PBT berkenaan menolak pelan bangunan permohonan itu atas alasan-alasan seperti berikut:
1. Adakan pili/paip air untuk setiap tandas.
2. Kemukakan pelan papantanda projek yang lengkap dengan moto, no. fail kelulusan bangunan dan moto Majlis.
3. Semak untuk saiz pelan yang digunakan. Tidak sesuai. Sila gunakan cat air untuk menampakkan pelan lebih kemas.
4. Sila gunakan cat air untuk menampakkan pelan lebih kemas.
5. Rekabentuk surau tidak sesuai. Sila berbincang.

Seperti pepatah Inggeris “the evils lie in the details”. Sepintas lalu, alasan-alasan yang digunakan untuk menolak permohonan seperti di atas adalah sangat kabur dan subjektif sehingga bahan yang digunakan untuk menghasilkan pelan juga dikawal. Sementara itu, syarat-syarat seperti “rekabentuk surau tidak sesuai” adalah amat susah ditakrif dan terlalu subjektif.

Selain daripada jabatan-jabatan dalaman PBT, prestasi dan respons jabatan-jabatan yang lain seperti Jabatan Pengairan dan Saliran (JPS), Jabatan Bomba dan Penyelamat (Bomba) dan sebagainya juga perlu dipertingkatkan walaupun kemungkinan besar jabatan-jabatan ini tidak di bawah kerajaan negeri.

Walaupun ahli EXCO pernah berhujah bahawa kelulusan jabatan-jabatan eksternal akan dikecualikan jika wakil jabatan-jabatan ini tidak hadir mesyuarat OSC tiga kali berturut-turut, tetapi lain pula ceritanya di peringkat akar umbi. Saya khuatir arahan ini masih belum disampaikan kepada pegawai-pegawai di PBT dan mereka masih meminta pemohon-pemohon untuk mendapatkan kelulusan daripada jabatan-jabatan luaran ini sebelum mengeluarkan kelulusan sepenuhnya terhadap projek mereka.

Ini juga berlaku kerana pegawai-pegawai PBT masih menetapkan supaya semua keperluan teknikal jabatan-jabatan eksternal ini dipatuhi sepenuhnya sebelum apa-apa perkara yang tidak diingini berlaku.

Masalah ini diperitkan lagi dengan peranan OSC yang masih belum berfungsi sebagai sebuah agensi yang betul-betul “sehenti”. Ini adalah kerana pemohon-pemohon masih perlu mengupah “runner” untuk menghantar dokumen-dokumen kepada jabatan-jabatan yang lain walaupun konsep asal OSC ini adalah untuk memproses semua dokumen pada satu tempat dan masa yang tetap demi menjimatkan masa dan mengurangkan red-tape.

Pelaburan asing perlu fokus kepada teknologi canggih dan hijau yang boleh menjana perdapatan yang lebih tinggi

Kampung Tunku juga tertarik dengan penjelasan kerajaan Selangor berkenaan dengan Selangor Automobile Belt. Sememangnya industri automobil merupakan satu industri yang mampu melonjak kedudukan negeri Selangor sebagai sebuah negeri yang lebih maju, berdiri sama tinggi dan duduk sama rendah dengan negara-negara maju yang lain.

Pelaburan yang mempunyai nilai tambah yang tinggi harus diberi galakan dan perhatian serious oleh kerajaan. Contohnya, industri-industri hijau seperti industri berasaskan tenaga solar, industri pengitaran semula, penulenan air dan udara, rawatan air sisa, industri biodiesel, industri pemulihan alam sekitar, pengurusan sisa pepejal, penyimpanan tenaga, sumber-sumber tenaga alternatif seperti tenaga solar dan sebagainya.

Baru-baru ini, biodiesel telah dilancarkan di negeri Selangor dan Lembah Klang. Produk ini telah menjadi bahan api alternatif kepada bahan api fosil konvensyenal. Justeru itu, kerajaan Selangor harus menarik lebih banyak pelaburan untuk menjalankan kajian terhadap penghasilan biodiesel generasi kedua yang tidak perlu bergantung kepada minyak kelapa sawit.

Satu syarat yang penting untuk pelabur-pelabur berkualiti tinggi melabur di Selangor ialah wujudnya bakat-bakat (talent pools) berkualiti tinggi yang sedia ada untuk memberi perkhidmatan sokongan kepada industri-industri ini seperti pakar-pakar kejuruteraan, logistik, perkhidmatan dan penyelidikan.

Tanpa bakat-bakat dan tenaga manusia yang akhir ini, adalah amat susah Selangor dan Malaysia menarik pelaburan berkualiti tinggi kerana industri-industri yang mempunyai nilai tambah yang tinggi, seperti yang disenarai di atas, amat bergantung kepada pakar-pakar berkemahiran tinggi.

Kampung Tunku amat gembira dengan laporan media baru-baru ini bahawa syarikat Phison dari Taiwan, iaitu sebuah syarikat yang ditubuhkan oleh anak Selangor dari Sekinchan, Encik Pua Khein Seng pada tahun 2000, akan melabur RM3 juta di Malaysia. Apa yang tidak begitu menceriakan ialah destinasi pelaburan syarikat ini ialah di Pulau Pinang dan utara semenanjung dan bukannya di Selangor walaupun pengasasnya seorang anak Selangor.

Berita ini membuktikan satu fakta, bahawa Selangor juga perlu bersaing dengan negeri-negeri yang lain dalam menarik pelaburan berkualiti tinggi ke dalam negeri ini. Kerajaan Selangor tidak boleh memandang rendah pesaing-pesaing yang lain dan perlu sentiasa menyemak apakah kelemahan-kelemahan yang masih ada sehingga pelabur-pelabur yang berteknologi tinggi sanggup melaburkan wang berjuta-juta di negeri yang lain.

Sekiranya kelemahan-kelemahan di atas dapat diatasi, maka Kampung Tunku amat yakin Selangor masih sempat untuk menarik pelabur-pelabur berkualiti tinggi ini untuk melabur di Selangor. Malahan Selangor dapat melibatgandakan perangkaan ini.

Rombakan terhadap sistem perolehan kerajaan negeri untuk mengurangkan kos pentadbiran rentier class

Dalam sidang Dewan yang lepas, Kampung Tunku telah membangkitkan isu margin keuntungan kontraktor yang dibangkitkan oleh YAB Menteri Besar, di mana YAB Menteri Besar telah mengatakan bahawa margin ini perlu diturunkan daripada 30% ke sekitar 7% untuk mengurangkan kos pentadbiran kerajaan negeri.

Kampung Tunku ingin bertanya kepada kerajaan apakah langkah-langkah yang telah diambil untuk mencapai matlamat ini?

Adakah kerajaan Selangor akan menetapkan satu senarai jurang harga untuk projek-projek infrastuktur dan perolehan supaya tidak membayar harga yang terlampau tinggi kepada pembekal atau kontraktor ?

Adakah kerajaanjuga akan merombak semula sistem “cut-off” yang mula digunakan oleh jabatan-jabatan kerajaan pada tahun 2004 memandangkan penggunaan sistem “cut-off” ini memang ada pengecualiannya, iaitu apabila bilangan tender yang diterima dan boleh dikira setelah harga “freak” dikeluarkan kurang daripada sepuluh.

Harus diingatkan bahawa pentender-pentender yang menawarkan harga yang lebih rendah daripada harga “cut-off” juga boleh dipertimbangkan jikalau beliau mempunyai rekod prestasi yang cemerlang iaitu mempunyai pengalaman untuk melaksanakan kerja yang sama lebih awal daripada jadual yang telah ditetapkan, mempunyai faktor-faktor tertentu yang boleh menjamin pentender melakukan kerja dengan harga yang lebih rendah dan kualiti kerja terdahulu dan semasa sentiasa pada tahap yang memuaskan.

Geran “Selangorku” – wujudkan subsidi bas sekolah untuk pelajar-pelajar miskin di kampung-kampung tradisi

Kerajaan Selangor telah meluluskan geran “Selangorku” berjumlah RM 300 juta yang merangkumi 17 sektor yang perlu dipandang serious oleh kerajaan.

Geran yang begitu besar dari segi saiz akan diuruskan oleh Permerbadanan Menteri Besar atau Mentri Besar Incorporated (MBI), sekaligus membuktikan bahawa tahap kewangan anak-anak syarikat kerajaan Selangor adalah kukuh. Satu perkara yang baik ialah peruntukan RM 300 juta ini akan diturunkan kepada rakyat tanpa melalui proses birokrasi biasa.

Kampung Tunku amat mengalu-alukan dasar kerajaan Selangor ini dan Kampung Tunku menggesa kerajaan untuk memberi perhatian khusus terhadap pembangunan luar Bandar. Melalui geran Selangorku ini, sebanyak RM 10juta akan diperuntukan untuk program-program jangkaan kehidupan bandar dan disasarkan untuk penduduk-penduduk luar bandar.

Tidak lama yang lalu, rakyat Selangor miskin yang hidup di kawasan luar bandar menghadapi masalah pengangkutan apabila syarikat bas awam swasta CityLiner menghentikan perkhidmatan bas di beberapa kawasan kampong.

Salah satu kawasan yang terjejas ialah kawasan Teluk Gong di mana anak-anak kepada keluarga-keluarga nelayan dan petani yang miskin tidak dapat hadir ke sekolah kerana berhentinya perkhidmatan bas CityLiner. Saya difahamkan bahawa pelajar-pelajar sekolah ini amat memerlukan perkhidmatan bas untuk pergi dan balik dari sekolah mereka yang kebanyakkanya berada di kawasan Pandamaran Jaya.

Memandangkan rakyat di kawasan Teluk Gong menghadapi masalah ini dan pada masa yang sama, kerajaan Selangor melancarkan geran “Selangorku” yang memperuntukan RM 10juta untuk meningkatkan taraf kehidupan penduduk-penduduk luar bandar, maka Kampung Tunku bercadang kepada kerajaan untuk mewujudkan satu skim bas sekolah yang mirip kepada subsidi tampang bas anak-anak pekerja ladang.

Apa yang penting, janganlah kebajikan pelajar-pelajar miskin di kawasan kampung dilalaikan hanya kerana system pengurusan pengangkutan awam kerajaan pusat yang gagal. Skim bas sekolah ini wajar diadakan di kawasan-kawasan luar bandar yang lain di Selangor ini kerana Kampung Tunku percaya bahawa masalah yang sama juga berlaku di kampung-kampung tradisi yang lain.

Pemuliharaan alam sekitar - mempertahankan Bukit Gasing daripada pencerobohan syarikat kroni

Titah ucapan Tuanku juga menyentuh pemuliharaan alam sekitar. Kampung Tunku ingin membangkitkan satu isu alam sekitar yang penting, iaitu isu pembangunan lereng bukit di sebelah Bukit Gasing yang terletak di bawah pentadbiran Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur (DBKL).

Penduduk-penduduk di kawasan Bukit Gasing, Petaling Jaya telah mengadakan satu protes tidak lama dahulu membantah keputusan DBKL untuk meluluskan satu projek pembangunan di kawasan Bukit Gasing yang terletak di Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur.

Penduduk-penduduk membantah kerana walaupun bahagian Bukit Gasing yang terletak di sebelah negeri Selangor telah diwartakan sebagai kawasan hijau, pembangunan di sebelah satu lagi juga akan menjejaskan ekologi dan kestabilan tanah seluruh bukit tersebut.

Mending ADUN Bukit Gasing, YB Edward Lee merupakan tokoh yang banyak membantu penduduk-penduduk di kawasan Bukit Gasing untuk membantah projek pembangunan yang diluluskan oleh DBKL tetapi sehingga sekarang ianya masih menemui jalan buntu.

Apa yang menyesalkan penduduk-penduduk Bukit Gasing ialah sikap Datuk Bandar DBKL di bawah pentadbiran kerajaan BN pusat yang tidak ingin bertolak ansur dan hendak meneruskan projek ini tanpa menghirau bantahan mengunung tinggi daripada penduduk. Begitulah sikap Barisan Nasional yang kononnya ingin mendahulukan rakyat tetapi sebenarnya mereka lebih mendahulukan kepentingan kroni.

Sebagai warga Petaling Jaya, Kampung Tunku meminta campur tangan daripada Kerajaan Selangor untuk membantu rakyat Bukit Gasing untuk menyelesaikan masalah ini.

Kemelut penstrukturan semula industri air di Selangor

Dalam sidang Dewan yang lepas, banyak pihak telah melakukan spekulasi bahawa Selangor bakal menghadapi krisis air pada tahun 2014. Kenyataan ini juga disokong oleh Kementerian Tenaga, Air dan Teknologi Hijau setahun yang lalu. Lalu semasa sidang Dewan yang lepas, kenyataan ini digempar-gempuhkan dengan hujah bahawa semua loji rawatan air di Selangor telah beroperasi pada tahap maksimum untuk menghasilkan 4,326 juta liter air sehari bagi menampung keperluan sebanyak 4,197 juta liter air sehari, di mana margin simpanan air sebanyak 129 juta liter air sehari dikatakan sebagai tidak mencukupi untuk menghadapi sebarang krisis air.

Ini ialah ceritanya pada tahun lepas. Apa pula berlaku baru-baru ini? Kebelakangan ini, Syabas pula mengulangi cerita lapuknya bahawa tahun ini, iaitu tahun 2012, Selangor akan menghadapi krisis air. Selepas itu, Syabas pada beberapa minggu yang lalu mengumumkan bahawa bekalan air akan diputuskan selama 36 jam untuk menjalankan kerja-kerja penyelenggaraan di beberapa loji rawatan air.

Syabas kepada Syabas kerana akhirnya mereka mengakui secara tidak langsung bahawa punca margin simpanan air yang rendah adalah disebabkan oleh kapasiti loji rawatan air Syabas yang tidak diselenggara dengan baik.

Biarpun begitu, sepanjang tempoh pemutusan bekalan air tersebut, banyak tempat di Lembah Klang masih mempunyai bekalan air yang mencukupi. Adakah ini bermakna krisis air yang diwar-warkan oleh pihak-pihak tertentu hanya cerita rekaan semata-mata untuk menakutkan rakyat Selangor?

Apapun begitu, Kampung Tunku berasa lega kerana akhirnya kerajaan Selangor di bawah YAB Menteri Besar teleh berjumpa dengan pakar-pakar pengurusan air dan pakar-pakar perundangan dari United Kingdoms (UK) bagi mencari jalan keluar bagi menyelesaikan kemelut industri air di Selangor.

Untuk kepentingan rakyat Selangor, saya meminta YAB Menteri Besar untuk menerangkan kepada Dewan yang Mulia ini apakah hasil-hasil penemuan dengan pakar-pakar dari UK ini supaya isu ini dapat diselesaikan dengan cepat.

Skim Pemilikan Tanah Kerajaan Untuk Bangunan Kediaman Persendirian dengan premium RM1000

Kerajaan Selangor mencatat sejarah di Malaysia dengan menawarkan Skim Pemilikan Tanah Kerajaan Untuk Bangunan Kediaman Persendirian kepada rakyat hanya dengan premium RM1000. Ini merupakan salah satu pembaharuan pentadbiran tanah yang boleh dibangga-banggakan oleh seluruh rakyat.

Barisan Nasional khususnya MCA cuba mengelirukan rakyat bahawa skim ini sedikitpun tidak menguntungkan rakyat. Alasan yang diberi ialah rakyat tidak memiliki tanah kerana premium masih tidak dibayar sepenuhnya menurut Seksyen 76(c) Kanun Tanah Negara.

Kampung Tunku mendapati alasan di atas adalah tidak benar. Seksyen 76(c) Kanun Tanah Negara langsung tidak menyentuh tentang pemberikan hakmilik penuh tanah. Sebenarnya, seksyen 76(c) berbunyi “Pemberimilikan tanah Kerajaan di bawah Akta ini hendaklah terdiri daripada pelupusannya oleh Pihak Berkuasa Negeri - (c) sebagai balasan pembayaran premium, melainkan Pihak Berkuasa Negeri fikirkan sesuai untuk melepaskan daripadanya dalam mana-mana kes tertentu;”

Oleh itu, adalah jelas bahawa Kanun Tanah Negara langsung tidak menyekat dasar kerajaan ini. Malahan Seksyen 76(c) Kanun Tanah Negara menyatakan bahawa kerajaan berhak untuk melepaskan daripadanya bayaran premium ini dalam kes-kes tertentu. Jelas MCA cuba memutarpelitkan fakta bagi tujuan politik.

Dasar ini adalah dasar yang baik dan Kampung Tunku ingin bertanya kepada kerajaan untuk meninjau sama ada mungkin dasar ini dilanjutkan kepada pemilik-pemilik tanah industri dan komersial di kawasan-kawasan kampung baru sebagai satu usaha berterusan untuk memutihkan kilang-kilang haram di kampung-kampung baru.

Kampung Tunku baru-baru ini telah melawat ke Kampung Baru Sungai Buluh. Terdapat rungutan daripada pemilik-pemilik tanah perkilangan bahawa mereka menghadapi kekangan kewangan untuk melanjutkan tempoh pajakan tanah mereka. Ini berlaku kerana mereka perlu membayar premium yang tinggi sebelum mereka dibenarkan untuk melanjutkan tempoh pajakan tanah mereka. Pada masa yang sama, mereka pula gagal mendapat pinjaman bank untuk membayar premium kerana tempoh pajakan kurang daripada 20 tahun.

Masalah ini mungkin boleh diselesaikan jika Skim Pemilikan Tanah Kerajaan Untuk Bangunan Kediaman Persendirian juga boleh digunakan untuk tanah-tanah perindustrian di mana kerajaan boleh mengenakan caj premium nominal sebanyak RM100,000 supaya mereka boleh memanjangkan tempoh pajakan mereka dan memohon pinjaman daripada bank untuk menbayar bakinya secara ansuran.

Fitnah terhadap KSSB

Semalam kita difahamkan bahawa hasil pasir semasa zaman Barisan Nasional adalah rendah kerana kerajaan negeri pada masa itu tidak melihat industri pasir ini satu sumber kekayaan yang penting bagi kerajaan negeri.

Kenyataan ini seolah-olah bermaksud kerajaan Barisan Nasional tidak pandai mengurus sumber kekayaan di Selangor sehingga industri yang lumayan ini hanya menyumbang royalti tidak lebih daripada RM 4juta setiap tahun kepada kerajaan Selangor. Kini dengan kerajaan Pakatan Rakyat yang bersih dan beramanah, royalti yang dibayar daripada industri pasir kini sudah mencecah RM 16juta setahun. Harus diingat bahawa keuntungan pasir ini masih belum berada pada tahap optimum. Ini bermakna bayaran royalti ini masih mempunyai ruang untuk dipertingkatkan lagi.

Kerajaan Selangor di bawah Pakatan Rakyat telah menubuhkan Kumpulan Semesta Sendirian Berhad (KSSB) untuk mengawal pengeluaran pasir daripada bumi Selangor dengan cara yang berhemah dan mesra alam sekitar.

KSSB menyumbang kepada kerajaan Selangor bukan setakat bayaran royalti sahaja. Sebagai sebuah anak syarikat kerajaan Selangor, KSSB perlu membayar dividen keuntungan kepada kerajaan Selangor. KSSB juga perlu menyumbang kepada program Merakyatkan Ekonomi Selangor (MES) dan geran Selangorku. Pendek kata, keuntungan KSSB itu keuntungan kerajaan Selangor dan keuntungan kerajaan Selangor ialah keuntungan rakyat.

Kampung Tunku amat bersetuju dengan cadangan Yang Berhormat dari Seri Muda semalam agar Ahli-ahli Dewan Negeri dari Barisan Nasional dilantik menjadi ahli lembaga pengarah KSSB supaya mereka memahami cara beroperasi KSSB dan tidak membuat tuduhan liar terhadap KSSB. Sudah sampai masanya untuk pihak-pihak yang mempunyai motif politik untuk menghentikan fitnah mereka yang tidak berasas terhadap KSSB. Jika mereka mempunyai bukti, tepuk dada tanya selera, tampillah ke hadapan dan membuat tuduhan dengan buktinya.

Ahli Yang Berhormat dari Kuang menuduh pula kerajaan Selangor tidak membina apa-apa jalan sepanjang empat tahun memerintah Selangor. Kampung Tunku berpendapat hujah ini tidak benar dan memesong Dewan kerana jawapan bertulis dalam satu soalan yang saya bangkitkan pada tahun 2011 menunjukkan bahawa kerajaan membelanjakan RM 630juta untuk menjalankan projek-projek membina jalan baru, menaik taraf jalan lama, memperbaiki cerun-cerun bukit, membaik pulih jambatan-jambatan, melebarkan jalan-jalan utama dan kerja-kerja infrastruktur yang lain dari tahun 2008 hingga 2010.

Sekali lagi, Kampung Tunku ingin menarik perhatian Kuang terhadap titah ucapan Tuanku agar kita semua berbahas dengan intelektual dengan berpandukan fakta.

Semalam Dewan ini gempar kerana Ahli Dewan dari Seri Muda membangkitkan satu skandal yang berkaitan dengan Ketua Pembangkang kita dan saya memetik satu laporan akhbar yang berbunyi seperti berikut:

‘Sesi penggulungan Belanjawan Selangor 2012 gempar berikutan pendedahan Menteri Besar berhubung pelbagai salah guna kuasa Barisan Nasional Selangor membabitkan kehilangan jutaan ringgit yang turut melibatkan Ketua Pembangkang, Datuk Satim Diman.

Selain Satim, Abdul Khalid juga mendedahkan usaha pengambilan tanah oleh bekas menteri Besar Selangor, isteri Menteri Pertanian dan Industri Asas Tani serta pemimpin politik setempat bagi mendapat beberapa lot tanah dikawasan elit.

Dalam sesi penggulungan itu, Khalid mendedahkan Ketua Pembangkang, Satim Diman telah membuat beberapa transaksi berhubung penjualan tanah di Science Park 2 semasa pentadbiran BN dulu.

Tanah tersebut merupakan tanah milik kerajaan negeri yang telah diberikan kepada Perbadanan Kemajuan Pertanian Selangor (PKPS) untuk tujuan pembangunan pendidikan sains.

Menurut Khalid (Menteri Besar), pemberian tanah tersebut bagaimanapun dijual oleh Satim dengan harga murah kepada Nikmat Inai Sdn Bhd, di mana Satim adalah salah seorang pemegang saham dan Ahli Lembaga Pengarah.

"Belum selesai syarikat Satim membayar belian kepada PKPS, atas kuasa politik yang beliau pegang, tanah itu dijual kepada Perbadanan Kemajuan Negeri Selangor (PKNS) dengan harga berlipat kali ganda.

"Inilah berjayanya Satim Diman menjadi orang tengah untuk mengaut untung atas angin atas dasar Bumiputera,"jelas Khalid.’

Begitu cara Barisan Nasional membuang wang dan sumber semulajadi kerajaan Selangor. Bandingkan skandal ini dengan simpanan tunai kerajaan Selangor yang semakin bertambah sejak tahun 2008, sudah pasti perbezaannya amat ketara. Tidak salah kalau ada orang yang mengatakan bahawa Malaysia akan bankrap jikalau BN terus diberi mandat untuk mentadbir mana-mana kerajaan di Malaysia.

Sudah cukup rakyat hidup meranah di bawah pentadbiran Barisan Nasional. Pelbagai skandal, korupsi, kronisme, salah urus telah berlaku di bawah zaman Barisan Nasional. Sampai pilihanraya umum ke-13, Kampung Tunku yakin rakyat Selangor tidak akan tertipu dengan tipu helah BN dan dengan izin tuhan, sampainya PRU ke-13, riwayat hidup BN akan tamat pada masa itu juga.

Lau Weng San

‘Sg Way football field not sold’, Assemblyman says pitch will be upgraded with car park beneath it

TUESDAY, MARCH 20, 2012 - 12:57
by Ram Anand, Meena Lakshana (Malay Mail)

KAMPUNG TUNKU assemblyman Lau Weng San has denied MCA claims that the state government has sold a football field in Sungei Way to developer Taipan Fokus Sdn Bhd.

The DAP official said the agreement between the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) and the developer was that of a cross-subsidy, which meant the land remained under the council’s care.

LAU: Reaffirming the council’s hold on the land — Pic: Shahir Omar

“It is an agreement whereby the council will technically lease the land for development. After 20 years, the developer needs to return the developed land to the council,” he said.

‘When the land is returned to the council, its value is estimated to be at RM12.5 million.”

Lau also denied MCA allegations that the field would be demolished to make way for shop lots, effectively closing down the only football field left in the area.

“If anything, the field will be upgraded. There will be a 300-lot car park built under it, and on top of it, there will be a field,” he said.

“The temple near the field will also be relocated, meaning the field will be bigger.”

Lau showed the building plans to reporters after the state assembly concluded its meeting in Shah Alam yesterday.

On Sunday, MCA complaints bureau deputy chief Kelvin Chong led a protest by about 150 people against the state government for not consulting the local community before deciding on plans for the land.

Lau said Chong should redirect his opposition on the development to MCA’s former Kampung Tunku assemblyman Datuk Dr Wong Sai Hou instead.

“This project was approved in 2007. Dr Wong was assemblyman and an MBPJ councillor when the deal was struck. If he (Chong) is against it, he should refer to his own party member, not me,” he said.

He also accused Chong and his MCA colleagues of speaking out in public without “checking their facts”.

“Chong said the development order (DO) for the project had lapsed. Although the government agreed in principle with the developer to have this arrangement, it is the developer’s prerogative to submit a DO application to the local council,” said Lau.

“A developer only submits a DO when he is ready to develop the place. They have other projects to look after as well. If anything, Chong should show the DO which he claimed to have been issued with in 2007.”

17 army wives pulled from electoral roll

FRIDAY, MARCH 16, 2012 - 12:03
by Ram Anand (Malay Mail)

PETALING JAYA: A series of objections raised by DAP with the Election Commission (EC) over wives of army personnel being registered as postal voters has resulted in 17 out of the 33 objected names being removed from the postal electoral roll.

After a hearing at the Kuala Kubu Baru District Office recently, Kampung Tunku assemblyman Lau Weng San (pic) revealed an appeal would be filed by the DAP on the 16 other names.

"Our objections were effective because only 20 of the 33 wives of army personnel showed up for the hearing, which meant the rest were immediately removed from the electoral roll.

"Four among them who attended were found to have contradicting signatures to the ones that appeared in their application forms," he told a press conference at the DAP Selangor headquarters here yesterday.

Lau was responding to allegations by MCA Kuala Kubu Baru assemblyman Wong Kun Moon on his blog earlier this week that Pakatan Rakyat was wasting the people's resources and time by raising such objections.

He also criticised Wong's statement that the remaining 16 army personnel's wives should demand RM150 each in compensation from Pakatan Rakyat because of the inconvenience the hearing had caused them.

"It is given in the law that we are allowed to appeal. The registrar at the hearing had confirmed this. We will have an appeal heard by an adjudicating officer appointed by the EC. So, we are entitled to not pay them on the spot," Lau said.

According to EC regulations, each person against whom an objection is raised is entitled for not more than RM200 in compensation each, paid for by the complainant, if the registrar ruled out the objection.

DAP Hulu Selangor Parliament Liaison Committee (PLC) chief Ch'ng Boon Lai said the party did pay RM50 to each of those who attended the hearing that day.

逾半数遭投诉军妻选民被除名，雪州行动党反呛黄冠文乱开骂

《独立新闻在线》作者／陈慧思 Mar 15, 2012 01:42:38 pm

【本刊陈慧思撰述/摄影】雪州民主行动党就新古毛州选区内33个宗军人配偶登记成为邮寄选民的个案向选委会提出上诉，遭马华公会新古毛区州议员黄冠文揶揄“浪费时间和金钱”、“未熟读法律”。然而，选委会上周召开的听证会证实，超过半数的个案（17宗）确实存在问题，雪州行动党反呛黄冠文未熟读法律胡乱指责。

民主行动党雪州秘书刘永山二月间揭露新古毛州议席新增400多张新邮寄选票，今天再召开记者会，反驳黄冠文的指控。

他指出，选委会在上周四（3月8日）在乌雪土地局举行听证会，传召被投诉的33名军人配偶出席，然而，其中13人缺席，另有4人的签名跟登记表格上的签名有别，而遭选委会裁定从新古毛州选区登记选民列表中除名，这证明雪州行动党并非无的放矢。

他说：“在33名被投诉者当中，有17名被推翻，这说明一半以上的（邮寄）选民有问题，如果这33名已是如此，其他会是怎样？我不敢想象。”

问及是否知道13名军人配偶的缺席原因，他不愿猜测，说：“她们是否幽灵选民，就任由大家想象。”

黄冠文前日在其部落格贴文指出，根据《1958年选举法令》以及《2002年选举（注册成为选民）条规》，军人家眷可登记成为邮寄选民，雪州行动党上诉之前应该先研读法律，莫浪费人民时间和金钱。

刘永山驳斥道，雪州行动党是根据《2002年选举（注册成为选民）条规》就上述33宗个案向选委会提出上诉，乃依据法律赋予她们的权利就有问题的个案提出上诉，是“合情合法合理”的，该先研读法律的是黄冠文。

刘永山今天是在乌鲁雪兰莪县署的新村事务协调员庄文来、乌雪区县议员杨赞喜、民主行动党乌雪联委会政治教育局主任王添福的陪同下，在雪州行动党总部召开记者会发布上述消息。其中庄文来和杨赞喜皆以上诉人的身份出席选委会的听证会。

黄冠文率众到听证会

庄文来讲述听证会当天的情况时指出，他们询问其中一名军人配偶朵林（Dorren Patai）申请表格是否由她自行填写、签名是否她自行签署，她都耗时许久方回答，过后他要求她在白纸上签名，结果发现她的签名和表格上的签名有别。选委会官员因而宣布她在新古毛州选举登记选民列表中除名。

他指出，因签名有别而遭选委会宣布除名的个案共有四宗。

他说，33宗个案当中，有数人是新选民、数人首度申请成为邮寄选民，数人已是邮寄选民但原先在别的投票站投票。

另外，杨赞喜（右图右）指出，听证会当天黄冠文带同村长及一群人到土地局，抢走其中一人的表格并包围他，要求他们补贴登记没有问题的军人配偶每人马币150元，以致惊动警察到现场维持秩序。她当场斥责黄冠文，这是否一名州议员应有的态度。

庄文来和杨赞喜称，黄冠文当天极力游说出席的军人配偶要求该党立即赔偿他们的损失。

黄冠文过后亦在其部落格贴文指出：“根据选委会的消息，如果民联上诉失败，他们必须支付150元赔偿金给出席这次乌雪选委会听证会的军警家眷。由于今天民联并没有准备现金，以便能够即时支付150元的赔偿金，导致出席听证会的人士不满。出席这次听证会的军警家眷坚持民联必须在今天之内付清所有的赔偿金。”

刘永山驳斥黄冠文上述说法。他表示，依据《2002年选举条规》第18条款，若上诉者没有提出合理理由，选委会注册官（Registrar）可以判上诉者向被投诉者赔偿最高马币200元的罚款，然而此案尚未结案，上诉者和被投诉者皆可在十天内提出上诉，因此赔偿问题理应在结案时提出。

他说，他们认定这批邮寄选民在技术上确有问题，因而听证会当天并没有备好赔偿的现金，但他们还是补贴所有出席听证会的军人配偶（共20人）每人马币50元的车马费。

因此他说：“我不明白为何黄冠文要针对带不够钱而大做文章。”

他证实，该党将在近期内就另外16宗个案提出上诉。

刘永山在2月20日揭露，去年第四季新古毛（Kuala Kubu Bharu）州选区登记选民列表发现，在超过500张新选票中邮寄选民至少有400名，占了80%。他考量到之前选举的成绩，认为民联将因为邮寄选票大增，导致在新古毛选区的胜算大打折扣。【点击：新古毛州选区增400邮寄选票 刘永山指占据八成新登记者】

上一届全国大选民主行动党以400多票败阵，而乌鲁雪兰莪（Hulu Selangor）国会议席补选期间的新古毛地区，民联候选人则以1700多票胜出。

Drains a priority for new SS3 contractors

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 14, 2012 - 21:33
by Andrea Mathew (Malay Mail)

NEGLIGENCE: Lau (right) stands before a clogged drain in SS3 yesterday — Pic: Arif Kartono

PETALING JAYA: A newly-appointed cleaning contractor in SS3 has been given three months to prove its worth or risk being suspended if they fail to perform.

Kampung Tunku state assemblyman Lau Weng San said the new contractor, Alor Enterprise, had big shoes to fill as some of the drains here had not been cleaned for the past 10 years.

Lau blamed the previous waste management firm Alam Flora Sdn Bhd for failing to carry out the task effectively in previous years.

“Some of the drains had not been cleaned for five to 10 years, especially those located near restaurants. But restaurant operators have also been negligent as they dispose waste from their trade into the drains,” Lau said.

“Since the appointment of new cleaning contractors from March 1, we will be closely monitoring their performance and have found clogged drains to be an issue which requires immediate attention."

Lau said covered drains with no manholes were also a hindrance to cleaners as they cannot gain access to the drains.

Petaling Jaya City Council public relations officer Zainun Zakaria confirmed the contractors had been given a three-month period to perform failing which they risk being terminated.

He said Alor Enterprise would be responsible for cleaning the drains twice a week.

Noh Omar dan Wong Koon Mun harus kemukakan bukti jikalau mereka benar-benar ingin menghentikan penyelewengan pasir di Selangor

Noh Omar dan Wong Koon Mun harus kemukakan bukti jikalau mereka benar-benar ingin menghentikan penyelewengan pasir di Selangor dan bukan sewenang-wenangnya membuat tuduhan liar bahawa pencurian pasir serious di Selangor.

Malahan Noh Omar juga pernah berkata bahawa mereka mempunyai bukti untuk membuktikan tuduhan mereka. Jikalau begitu, mengapa sehingga sekarang Noh Omar tidak mampu menunjukkan apa-apa bukti walau sehelai muka surat pun?

Kegagalan Noh Omar berbuat demikian amat menyangsikan kita semua sehingga tertimbul satu persoalan, iaitu adakah Noh Omar benar-benar mempunyai bukti yang kukuh ataupun ianya hanya tuduhan-tuduhan kosong untuk menjatuhkan Pakatan Rakyat di Selangor?

Ataupun ianya hanya sandiwara murahan rekaan Noh Omar yang bercita-cita untuk menjadi Menteri Besar? Kalau Noh Omar mempunyai bukti, maka beliau harus mengemukakan kepada Selcat ataupun membuat laporan kepada polis atau Suruhanjaya Pencegah Rasuah Malaysia (SPRM) bagi membendung gejala ini. Sebagai menteri, beliau harus sedar bahawa adalah menjadi satu kesalahan bagi mana-mana individu untuk tidak melaporkan satu perbuatan rasuah yang diketahuinya kepada SPRM untuk siasatan lanjutan.

Noh Omar juga mengkritik Selcat sebagai “mahkamah kangaroo” dan kenyataan ini disokong Wong Koon Mun, seorang lagi ADUN MCA untuk kawasan Kuala Kubu Baru.

Harus diingatkan bahawa Selcat memang bukan sebuah mahkamah kerana ianya merupakan sebuah Jawatankuasa Pilihan (Select Committee) yang ditubuhkan oleh Dewan Negeri Selangor bagi menyiasat sebarang tindakan salahlaku oleh pihak kerajaan. Dalam perkataan lain, peranan yang dimainkan oleh Selcat ialah untuk menyemak dan mengimbang (check and balance) pihak pentadbiran.

Sebagai sebuah jawatankuasa pilihan, Selcat tidak ada kuasa untuk menghukum mana-mana individu tetapi mempunyai kuasa untuk memanggil mana-mana saksi bagi memberi keterangan secara terbuka melalui pendengaran awam bagi mana-mana isu yang berkepentingan awam.

Pemberian keterangan secara terbuka ini membantu dalam mempertingkatkan tahap ketelusan dalam pentadbiran awam kerana saksi-saksi yang dipanggil akan terletak di bawah pemantauan awam (public scrutiny). Konsep jawatankuasa pilihan ini merupakan satu pembaharuan dalam menjalankan fungsi-fungsi parlimen di kebanyakan Negara Komanwel dan ianya dipelopori oleh Parlimen Britain sehingga Perdana Menteri Britain pun boleh dipanggil untuk memberi keterangan di hadapan jawatankuasa pilihan (sila rujuk http://news.bbc.co.uk/democracylive/hi/house_of_commons/newsid_9702000/9702537.stm)

Justeru itu, kenyataan Noh Omar dan Wong Koon Mun ini sebenarnya satu kenyataan yang menghina Dewan dan kedua-duanya boleh didakwa dan dihukum di bawah Enakmen Penghinaan Dewan Negeri Selangor. Malahan kenyataan ini amat memalukan Malaysia di persada antarabangsa kerana terdapat menteri cabinet di Malaysia yang berani mencabar keutuhan Dewan.

Saya menggesa Noh Omar dan Wong Koon Mun untuk segera menarik balik semua tuduhan yang tidak berasas dan memohon maaf kepada Dewan secara terbuka. Pada masa yang sama, eloklah untuk mereka menyerah sebarang bukti dalam pegangan mereka kepada Selcat jikalau mereka benar-benar ikhlas.

Berani kerana benar!

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.”

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.

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.

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.

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.

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。

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。

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.