Category: Daily Whatevers

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Withering Heights 

There was a time when Anwar Ibrahim and ADIL (later KEADILAN, and then Parti Keadilan Rakyat) enjoyed the massive support of the rakyat no matter the program. That was the time when those who hated his guts such as the DAP and PAS treated him and his party as a political mules. The jockeys rode to victory in many places in 2008 while PKR only got the MB seat in Selangor by virtue of PKR being able to provide a Malay candidate as the MB.

As time goes by, the rakyat can finally see that other than Rafizi, Wan Azizah, N Surendran, Nurul Izzah and Tian Chua, PKR has nonother candidates qualified to become anything, and that PKR is nothing but a vehicle to promote Anwar Ibrahim as the next Prime Minister, and stops at only that.

The above is evident in the latest cow-dung shat by PKR in the case of the Tian Chua-arranged meeting between Nurul Izzah and Jacel Kiram, discarding the sensitivities causedby the Lahad Datu intrusion.

  
So how much support does PKR and its loose coalition have nowadays?

  
The above Pakatan-organised (PKR) forum was held in Opposition-held Shah Alam, its own safe seat. Using the favourite opposition-leaning media’s words, “tens of thousands” attended. Here is a photo of the forum.

   
My guess is we will have a new Menteri Besar in Selangor – a DAP stooge.  DAP as usual will have the most seats in Selangor and Mat Sabu-led Amananah will contest. Pseudo-religious voters will support Mat Sabu and his massacre of cartoons and among these DAP-friendly candidates, one will become the Menteri Besar-designate.
DAP will eventually have its way in Selangor.

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Paradise Won

A flight of B-52 bombers from the USAF flew around Second Thomas Shoal and Mischief Reef in the Spratlys and were quickly challenged by Chinese Air Traffic Controller during the weekend of the 8th and 9th November 2015.

US PACAF released the transcript of the exchange between the bombers and the Chinese ATC and was reproduced by Alert 5 and are as follows:

Chinese ATC: “You have violated my reef. Change your course to avoid misjudgement.”

Chinese ATC: “You have violated the security of my reef. Change course to avoid misjudgment.”

Reply from the B-52: “I’m a United States military aircraft conducting lawful activities in international waters, and exercising these rights as guaranteed by international law. In exercising these rights as guaranteed by international law, I am operating with due regard to the right and duties of all states.”

China has been making de facto claims on the Spratlys by doing reclamation works on reefs that include the construction of airfields and enforcing its “Nine-Dash Line” policy all the way into Malaysian Exclusive Economic Zone. Being the sole regional Big Brother China has been flexing its muscle against its smaller neighbours economically and militarily. China’s runway at Fiery Cross reef has a runway that could land a H-6G bomber that could operate 5,700 kilometres from a home base, not to mention Shenyang J-11 fighters that could operate within a radius of 1,400 kilometres. Malaysia is now within a 45-minute strike distance.

As if that is not enough, the threat if asymmetric warfare from Sulu in the southern Philippines is also a clear and present danger. On the 15th November 2015, the Abu Sayyaf was reported to have met with elements from the IS to conduct terrorist attacks in Malaysia. The Abu Sayyaf is also notorious fir the kidnappings of westerners and Malaysians alike.

 

RMAF assets involved in Ex Paradise 2/15 – photo by Marhalim Abas
 
With the above in mind, the Royal Malaysian Air Force conducted and concluded Exercise Paradise 2/15 from the 9th until the 20th November 2015. With the objective to test its combat readiness and capabilities in the Second Air Region, the RMAF deployed assets such as the F/A-18D Hornet, Su-30MKM Flanker, BAe Hawk, 108/208, C-130H-30 transport aircraft, KC-130 tankers, CN-235 transport aircraft, helos such as the Sikorsky S61A4 Nuri and the Eurocopter EC725 and also involved the RMAF Special Forces regiment. The Malaysian Army’s 10th Brigade (Para) provided a team of air despatchers.

 

A RMAF F/A-18D Hornet from No.18 Squadron – pic by Capt Rahmat
 
Up until the 18th November 2015, a total of 198 air sorties had been flown. During the Field Training Exercise (FTX) RMAF assets successfully conducted Air to Ground firing exercises as well as Air Drop operations and insertion of special forces elements to support ground operations.

During the War Exercise (WAREX), the assets were then combined for Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR), High-Value Air Asset Protection (HVAAP), Combined Air Operations (COMAO), Mixed Fighter Force Operation (MFFO) and Large Force Employment (LFE).

According to Exercise Chairman, Major General Dato’ Mohd Shabre bin Haji Hussein RMAF, the exercise achieved more than 90 percent of its objectives in accordance with the Scenarios of Exercise (SOE) and was a success.

The media was also invited to witness the exercise in a bid by the Ministry of Defence as well as the RMAF in educating the media, and in turn the public, on the capabilities of the RMAF and the importance of public support towards the Malaysian Armed Forces in general.

Members of media had the privilege to take part in a Aircraft Force Down exercise involving fighter and transport assets.

 

Members of the media experiencing aircraft force down procedures in a side-exercise – photo by Fadzli Hafiz
 
In an observation by this writer, the Ministry of Defence has to seriously look at beefing up the assets of both the Royal Malaysian Air Force as well as the Royal Malaysian Navy. The Chinese government gets away with murder in the South China Sea simply because Malaysia lacks effective deterrence. The RMAF for example should be equipped with AWACS aircraft as well as the still-elusive MRCA.

 

A KC-130 tanker leading a formation of F/A-18Ds, Su-30MKMs and Bae Hawks – photo by MINDEF
 
This writer opines that in line with the principles of force projection, MRCAs should also be based in Labuan in sufficient numbers to deter the advance of PLAAF and PLAN assets, while the Hawks concentrate especially in providing air support for the ESSZONE by having forward operating bases in Tawau and Lahad Datu or Sandakan. Without strong deterrence, Malaysia will never be able to have diplomatic bargainjng power against any larger forces in the region.

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Allah Nak Letak Di Mana?

Sebelum saya meneruskan penulisan saya ini saya ingin mengajak anda menonton klip video ini:

Ahli Parlimen DAP dari Kuching enggan berucap dalam Bahasa Malaysia
Ahli Parlimen tersebut telah membaca Artikel 161(1) Perlembagaan Persekutuan yang berbunyi:

Tiada Akta Parlimen yang menamatkan atau menyekat penggunaan bahasa Inggeris bagi apa-apa maksid yang disebut dalam Fasal (2) hingga (5) Artikel 152 boleh mula berkuatkuasa berkenaan dengan penggunaan bahasa Inggeris dalam Fasal (2) Perkara ini sehingga sepuluh tahun selepas Hari Malaysia.

Malangnya, dalam video yang kita saksikan sebentar tadi, Ahli Parlimen DAP tersebut tidak menyebut mengenai had sepuluh tahun selepas Hari Malaysia, iaitu pada 16 haribulan September 1973. Sebaliknya, bekiau berkeras menyatakan bahawa ianya menjadi hak beliau sebagai orang Sarawak untuk terus menggunakan bahasa Inggeris di dalam sidang Parlimen.

Setelah Hari Malaysia 1973, iaitu tamatnya perlindungan hak sepuluh tahun berbahasa Inggeris, Akta Bahasa Kebangsaan 1963/67 (semakan 1971) secara automatik berkuatkuasa di seluruh Persekutuan Malaysia. Ini bermakna bahasa penghantar rasmi bagi Sabah dan Sarawak juga adalah Bahasa Malaysia. Walau bagaimanapun, Seksyen 5 Akta tersebut memberi kelonggaran untuk seseorang Ahli Parlimen mahupun Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri dari Sabah dan Sarawak untuk berucap dalam bahasa Inggeris di dalam majlis Parlimen tetapi dengan izin Speaker Dewan. Ianya bukan lagi suatu hak mutlak. Sekiranya tidak diizinkan oleh Speaker Dewan maka setiap Ahli Parlimen mahupun Dewan Undangan Negeri hendaklah menggunakan Bahasa Kebangsaan. Malah Akta tersebut dipinda semula pada tahun 1983 dan diperluaskan lagi.

Saya berasa hairan akan kedegilan pihak DAP yang terus menggunakan bahasa Inggeris sedangkan tidak berapa lama dahulu mereka memperjuangkan penggunaan Bahasa Kebangsaan dalam Kitab Injil malah tetap dengan pendirian mereka bahawa penggunaan kalimah Allah dalam kitab Injil adalah sebahagian dari ajaran Kristian yang tidak boleh diabaikan.

Oleh kerana mereka kini berkeras ingin gunakan bahasa Inggeris di dalam Parlimen, adakah ini juga bermaksud kalimah Allah tiada lagi kepentingan dalam perjuangan DAP?

  

Ini bukan kali pertama Ahli Parlimen Kuching daripada parti DAP ini mempersenda dan mempertikai apa yang termaktub dalam perlembagaan dan bersuara bagai menanam kebencian terhadap Malaysia.

Pada 17 September tahun lalu, Chong menganggap lagu kebangsaan Negaraku sebagai memalukan dan mengarut sebelum meminta maaf.

  

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When M&Ms Aren’t Nice

  
M&Ms are nice. They melt in your mouth, not in your hands. Easy to swallow. Not so the M&M that are being referred to in this latest article posted by Sin Chew .

Muhyiddin isn’t new in the arena of backstabbing. He was rescued by Mahathir in 1995 after he fell out of favour with the then-Sultan of Johor when he was the Menteri Besar of Johor. Mahathir had him switch posts with Ghani Othman who was then the Minister for Culture, Youth and Sports.

He quickly aligned himself with Anwar Ibrahim whose meteoric rise to the Deputy Premier’s post was orchestrated by none other than Mahathir himself. So confident was Muhyiddin then that he announced to several reporters that “when Anwar becomes the PM, I will be his deputy.”

When Anwar fell out of favour with Mahathir, Muhyiddin immediately abandons Anwar and pledged allegiance to Mahathir while another close ally of Anwar then, Zahid Hamidi, languished in a cell of the Kamunting detention center under the ISA courtesy of Mahathir.

Therefore, it is no surprise that when he saw the chance to oust Najib as Mahathir stepped up his attacks, Muhyiddin backstabbed Najib. He went around claiming ignorance of the 1MDB issue when he, as the DPM, had sat in the briefings by Arul Kanda.

In a recent exposé by Tawfik Ismail of the G25 movement Muhyiddin and Mahathir had approached the group for support to oust Najib. Tawfik had also told Muhyiddin bluntly that the latter has so many skeletons in the closet to be the Prime Minister of choice. Apparently those in the 20s too young to remember anything can read about some of Muhyiddin’s sins here.

The Master of Backstabbing however isn’t Muhyiddin. He should remember, he is not the second person who thinks that the MM thing stands for Mahathir-Muhyiddin. Mahathir’s one-time deputy, Musa Hitam found that out the hard way.

Mahathir and Musa was thought to have forged a concrete partnership that made UMNO formidable. MM, people thought meant Mahathir-Musa. Both once were presented with a motorcycle each bearing the plate number MM1 and MM2 respectively. But a journalist once asked Mahathir what MM meant and he replied, “Mahathir Mohamad.”

Anwar too was almost certain of becoming the PM. Before he became DPM, Anwar used to go horseback riding with Mahathir,something the elder politician still does even when he is abroad in Argentina. When Anwar ousted Ghafar Baba, Mahathir said to his younger apprentice, “No more horseback riding, Anwar. It would be a security risk for us to be together.” Of course, in private Mahathir said something to the effect that “we might have a Brutus in the party.”

Mahathir ousted Musa, blocked Razaleigh, did nothing to help Ghafar Baba, ousted Anwar, and finally ousted Abdullah Badawi as the Prime Minister, reportedly with the help of Muhyiddin. Abdullah was too nice a man. Now he tries to get rid of Najib come what may.

  
Mahathir would oust anyone who disagrees with him as the puppet-master. Muhyiddin would likely face the same fate if he had become the PM. And when he doesn’t get things to go his way, he plucks stories from the sky and feeds them to thr masses, creating panic and distrust of the Najib administration. The universe, he thinks, must revolve around him. 

3,228 years ago, someone with that similar thinking, that the world revolves around him, ruled Egypt with an iron fist, and lived as long as Mahathir is now.

And for someone who “gate-crashed” the “Nothing To Hide” program a few months ago because he was interested to speak out on behalf of the “oppressed” rakyat, I find it amusing that Mahathir did not take the opportunity to question Arul Kanda at this morning’s event where Arul explained and took questions on the 1MDB issue.

It is true then that he never had any evidence on 1MDB. And he is only interested in hoodwinking the rakyat to serve his interests, and those of his cronies.

And where was Muhyiddin?

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Zombies On My Timeline

After two days, I still see people share this:

  
I am not defending the minister but I would like these people to not behave like zombies, inattentive to their surroundings.

  
Don’t be like this man who blabs aimlessly and as admitted, without a scintilla of evidence to back his claims, yet zombies still believe him:

  
Let me point you to a video of the press conference and see for yourself if the minister had asked you zombies to wake up early if you don’t want to pay tolls – clique ici please.

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Friday Fools

The recent hike in toll prices have riled users up, including those who have no qualms about spending RM13.80 on a packet of Dunhill cigarettes daily; queued 30 hours for an iPhone 6s rose/gold version; and spend a ridiculous amount of money for Starbucks’s Macchiato Frap.

And they blame Najib for the increase on toll rates.

Virtually all the concessions agreement were signed during Mahathir’s time, and for some like the Maju Expressway, built by Abu Sahid, a good friend of Muhyiddin and crony of Mahathir, and the Senai Desaru Highway built by Ranhill’s Hamdan Mihamad were built in 2004. Both had their concession agreement signed before Mahathir stepped down. The Senai Desaru Highway had its Development Order signed in the late 1990s.

PLUS’s North South highway was built initialy by the government via Lembaga Lebuhraya Malaysia. Planned during Tun Hussein Onn’s time in 1977, it began construction in 1980, a year before Mahathir became the PM.

Between 1980 and 1985, the LLM built 366km or 41% of the proposed 823km of the highway at a cost of RM3.2 billion borne by the government.

  
In 1986, the whole project was transferred  to UMNO-crony, Halim Saad’s UEM, despite being the most expensive bidder and having had no experience whatsoever in constructing highways.

  
In the end the highway was delivered two years late and the government then had to finance half of the RM3.5 billion budget.

Yes, our money for half of that RM3.5 billion budget. In fact, it was RM1.65 billion.

If you think that that was a bad deal, try swallowing this: we also now have to pay 30 years of toll, and also pay 10% of the bill every three years if tolls are not allowed to be increased. This is reminiscent of the rip-off IPP deal that Mahathir gave YTL that agreement has ended and not renewed by the Najib administration.

In 2011, Najib’s administration took over PLUS from private hands, restructured the deal and avoided future toll hikes. The government owns 51% of PLUS while 49% is owned by the EPF.

All the concession agreements are now no longer being subjected to the Official Secrets Act. I am sure there is a link somewhere where we can view these agreements and the terms given to the concessionaires. However, MEX has this far declined to open up its concession agreement and we must all call for the agreement to be made public as it affects us all.

This brings me to remember what Miss Lim Sian See wrote a few months ago:

Dear Siti Nurhaliza (always wanted to write to her), the PEMUDA UMNO, Pakatan leaders, Tan Sri Muhyiddin, Khairy Jamaluddin dan yang lain lan penyokong Tun Dr M,


If I may seek your passion again, sirs and madams,


The last few days, you people have demanded to seek the truth about the Tabung Haji land purchase from 1MDB as you say it is shameful, putting Haji money at risk, against Agama, etc – with a vengeance and with a vigor thus far unseen.


Now, Malaysia Insider (not always correct nor 100% truthful, I must admit) has bongkar certain Lembaga Tabung Haji deals that seems to be clear bail-outs of the Maju group that has actually caused losses of depositor money. http://tinyurl.com/lmuaz45


These are the allegations by Malaysia Insider (citing Wall Street Journal) regarding Tun M’s govt bailing out private companies using Tabung Haji Money.


1) 1996,- LTH invested RM67m with Maju Holdings project in Johor – only for the project to immediately run into trouble: 


Total loss to Tabung Haji: RM67m


2) 1998 – LTH paid RM436.38 million to Maju Group for two then uncomplete properties valued at RM267.92 million. 


Total loss to Tabung Haji: RM168.46m

Other allegations include: 
-The chairman of Tabung Haji then was Tun M’s brother in law, the late Tan Sri Ahmad Razali Mohamed Ali – a clear case of nepotism.

– Immediate upfront payment RM220 million for a building yet to start construction even though Treasury guidelines only allow maximum of RM5 million – which was 15% value of the construction work.

—-

Let me highlight the differences between the deals then and now for you:


1) MAJU HOLDINGS deals of he 1990s – Tabung Haji paid RM504 million to a PRIVATE INDIVIDUAL COMPANY for assets professionally valued at RM267.92m – causing REAL LOSSES to TH of RM235.5m


2) 1MDB TRX deal of the 2015 – Tabung Haji paid RM188.5 million to a 100% GOVT-OWNED COMPANY for assets professionally valued at RM195 million (and secured further with another asset worth RM370m) . But will soon sell off at a PROFIT to TH for a few million.


See the difference?


Tun M time: 

One is LOSSES to TH and payment by TH to a private company- money never to be recovered for assets worth less than half of what was paid.


Najib time:

One is PROFIT to TH and payment by TH to a 100% GOVT company – money – money that will immediately be recovered within a week for assets worth more than was paid.

`

I am just asking you all to be fair and use the same enthusiasm, venom and vigor to seek the kebenaran on the Tun M era deals.


You have asked MACC, AG, PDRM to investigate 1MDB and TH and Najib. 


Just to be fair, can you please also ask MACC, AG (actually already investigated and found wrong-doing), PDRM to investigate Maju and TH and Tun M?


And if Tun M is guilty as accused (or refuses to answer) then please condemn him as much as you have condemned others and please never again side with him.


Also find out who is responsible but make sure you ask about the case where Tabung Haji lost money and not the one where it made money.


Please be fair and act fairly – or be considered hypocrite.


Have no fear.

I rest my case.

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MH17

  
It stares at you. It is dead, has been so for the past 15 months, victim of a struggle it never was a part of. Yet you cannot avoid the stare and today we know why.

A couple of hours after the MH17 went down, I was asked to appear on a TV channel to try and make sense of what was happening. I finally left the studio at 6.30am saying that a BUK system had downed the aircraft.

We know now that it’s true. The 9M-MRD was downed by a proximity-fused BUK. Conspiracy theorists were quick to jump the gun saying a Su-25 Frogfoot did it using its cannons while others posted a video of a plane going down somewhere in India and passed that off as the MH17.

There were no bombs on board, no were there bullet holes on any part of the fuselage. In fact Malaysia Airlines too cannot be faulted for flying in that area because 61 carriers flew there, with 160 aircraft flying there on that fateful day itself until the airspace was declared off-limits.

When the announcement was made by the Dutch Safety Board, everyone thought it would be the day we would know who the perpetrators are. When no such detail was given, families were left disappointed. Some journalists and even a cabinet minister asked on social media why have the perpetrators been allowed to go scot-free?

This is the Dutch Safety Board. It operates in accordance with Annex 13 of the ICAO guidelines as follows:

  
The investigation team was only to find out hownthe plane was brought down and if there were weaknesses in the system that could have prevented the incident from happening – and learn lessons to prevent recurrence. To find the perpetrators is the job of another investigation team that looks at the criminal aspects of the MH17 incident.

We all want to know who made 9M-MRD stare at us like in the photo above. But that is not for us to know tonight. That will come at a time I hope that is not too far in the future.

I am glad that the cockpit crew did not know what happened to them. It was swift. It was in the microseconds. I am not too happy that some had a minute or slightly more to digest what was happening. I don’t even want to imagine those last moments.

And we wouldn’t have known anything much had we not been able to retrieve the black boxes as well as most of the bodies of the victims if not for these two men who worked in an unorthodox manner to secure them.

While everyone else was figuring on how to get to Donetsk, these mostly-forgotten two paved the way for our team to get there.

  

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Read So Your Worries Don’t Take Its Toll

   
 
FAQ ISU KENAIKAN KADAR TOL   
SOALAN : MENGAPAKAH PENGUMUMAN KENAIKAN KADAR TOL DIBUAT OLEH SYARIKAT KONSESI?   

Pengumuman mengenai kadar tol yang baru di 18 lebuh raya tol bermula 15 Oktober 2015 telah dibuat sendiri oleh syarikat-syarikat konsesi lebuh raya yang berkaitan memandangkan mereka mempunyai tanggungjawab untuk menguruskan lebuh raya masing-masing untuk satu tempoh masa berdasarkan Perjanjian Konsesi yang ditandatangani.     

  
SOALAN : ADAKAH MELALUI PERJANJIAN KONSESI (CA) SESUATU KADAR TOL PERLU DINAIKKAN?   

Didalam Perjanjian Konsesi yang ditandatangani, ada beberapa komponen seperti jadual kadar tol sepanjang tempoh konsesi di mana penentuan kadar tol dan tempoh kenaikan kadar tol adalah mengambil kira kos operasi, penyenggaraan, unjuran trafik dan kos pembiayaan kewangan (loan repayment).  Atas faktor-faktor inilah, tempoh kenaikan kadar tol perlu dikaji secara puratanya di antara 3 hingga 5 tahun.   Oleh yang demikian, kenaikan kadar tol adalah diperlukan oleh syarikat-syarikat konsesi yang terlibat untuk membolehkan mereka menampung kos-kos operasi dan penyenggaraan di lebuh raya masing-masing demi memastikan keselamatan dan keselesaan pemanduan yang optimum.  

  
 SOALAN : APAKAH PERKARA YANG DIAMBIL KIRA KERAJAAN DALAM MEMBUAT KEPUTUSAN KADAR KENAIKAN TOL PADA TAHUN 2015?  

 Bagi tahun 2015, kenaikan kadar tol telah dikaji dengan teliti dengan mengambil kira beberapa parameter. Antara parameter yang telah digunakan adalah penstrukturan semula dasar subsidi nasional di mana kenaikan kadar tol ini dapat menjimatkan perbelanjaan Kerajaan yang dianggarkan sebanyak RM580 juta yang seterusnya boleh digunakan untuk tujuan pembangunan lain yang lebih memerlukan. 
SOALAN : APAKAH KESAN KENAIKAN TOL KEPADA KEWANGAN KERAJAAN ?   

Kenaikan kadar tol mulai 15 Oktober 2015 seperti yang diumumkan oleh syarikat-syarikat konsesi lebuh raya perlu dilihat dari segi penjimatan kepada kewangan negara. Setiap tahun, Kerajaan perlu membayar pampasan penangguhan kenaikan kadar tol kepada syarikat-syarikat konsesi lebuh raya sekiranya kadar tol tidak dinaikkan. Dalam hal ini, Kerajaan perlu membayar pampasan yang dianggarkan sebanyak RM580 juta kepada syarikat-syarikat konsesi lebuh raya sekiranya kadar tol tidak dinaikkan pada tahun 2015. Penjimatan sebanyak RM580 juta ini boleh digunakan untuk membiayai perkara-perkara seperti berikut:   penurapan semula 380km jalan-jalan sediada; pembinaan sebanyak 380 buah jejantas baru; pembinaan 19 jambatan baru; dan pembinaan 58 sekolah rendah yang baru.   Kenaikan kadar tol adalah salah satu langkah awal yang perlu diambil oleh Kerajaan untuk mengawal bilangan kenderaan yang masuk ke Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur. Sekiranya langkah ini tidak dilaksanakan, ianya dikhuatiri akan menyebabkan kesesakan yang agak kritikal di Kuala Lumpur.   

  
SOALAN : APAKAH KEBAIKAN PENJIMATAN PERBELANJAAN KERAJAAN HASIL DARIPADA KENAIKAN KADAR TOL?   

Melalui penstrukturan semula dasar subsidi ini, Kerajaan dapat menumpukan perhatian dalam membangunkan ekonomi negara yang pada akhirnya akan memanfaatkan rakyat sekalian.   
SOALAN : APAKAH TINDAKAN MITIGASI OLEH KERAJAAN DALAM MENGURANGKAN KESAN KENAIKAN TOL KEPADA RAKYAT DI BANDAR ? DAN APAKAH SOLUSI UNTUK RAKYAT YANG MEMBAYAR TOL NAMUN MASIH TERPERANGKAP DENGAN KESESAKAN JALANRAYA?   

Pemantapan sistem pengangkutan awam darat adalah antara usaha Kerajaan untuk mengurangkan kesan kenaikan tol ini dengan menggalakkan pengguna beralih kepada penggunaan pengangkutan awam.  Ini kerana kadar tol untuk bas tidak akan dinaikkan dan akan kekal seperti mana sekarang.   Rakyat mampu memperolehi penjimatan untuk urusan seharian mereka apabila mereka tidak perlu mengeluarkan perbelanjaan tambahan untuk tol, kos bahanapi serta mampu meminimakan risiko kemungkinan berlakunya kemalangan akibat sikap pemandu di jalanraya.   Suruhanjaya Pengangkutan Awam Darat (SPAD) melalui Government Trasnformation Programme : NKRA Urban Public Transport mempunyai perancangan jangka panjang dalam meningkatkan sistem pengangkutan awam darat. Tiga (3) bentuk approach telah dikenal pasti iaitu:     pembangunan sistem rel (MRT, LRT & monorel); pembangunan hub pengangkutan awam darat (hub utara di Gombak, hub selatan di Bandar Tasik Selatan dan hub utara di Sungai Buloh); dan pembangunan sistem pengangkutan awam seperti teksi dan GoKL.   Usaha ini mampu mengurangkan kesesakan di bandar besar seperti Kuala Lumpur.   Pembinaan Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) juga adalah salah satu aspek yang dikenal pasti untuk mengurangkan kesesakan di kawasan-kawasan yang mempunyai tahap kepadatan penduduk yang tinggi. Fasa pertama yang menghubungkan kawasan Subang, USJ dan Sunway telah siap dan buat masa ini, ridership BRT di kawasan tersebut sedang meningkat.   Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur (DBKL) telah membina dua (2) kawasan park-ride di Stesen LRT Sungai Besi dan Bandar Salak Selatan bagi kemudahan pengguna-pengguna LRT yang ingin ke bandaraya Kuala Lumpur. Satu lagi kemudahan park-ride sedang dibina oleh DBKL berdekatan dengan Taman Segar, Cheras untuk kegunaan para pengguna MRT.   Oleh yang demikian, Kerajaan berharap agar usaha penambahbaikan  sistem pengangkutan awam darat ini mampu menyediakan prasarana yang boleh membantu mengurangkan beban perbelanjaan dan kos sara hidup atau sebagai alternatif kenaikan kadar tol di lebuh raya-lebuh raya.     

  
SOALAN : APAKAH USAHA KERAJAAN MENGURANGKAN BEBAN KEWANGAN PENGGUNA LEBUH RAYA?   

Kerajaan pada dasarnya prihatin terhadap peningkatan kos sara hidup rakyat. Oleh yang demikian, beberapa pendekatan telah diperkenalkan oleh Kerajaan untuk mengurangkan kos sara hidup rakyat yang berkaitan dengan kadar tol. Antara pendekatan yang telah diambil oleh Kerajaan adalah seperti berikut: Penutupan Awal dan Pemansuhan Kutipan Tol   Sejak 1993, Kerajaan telah melaksanakan penutupan serta pemansuhan kutipan tol di lapan (8) lokasi seperti berikut :   11 Januari 1993 – penutupan Plaza Tol Slim River, Lebuhraya Utara-Selatan (PLUS) 1 Mac 2004 – Pemansuhan kutipan tol di Plaza Tol Senai, Lebuhraya Utara-Selatan (PLUS); 18 Mac 2004 – Penutupan awal plaza tol di Jalan Pahang, Lebuhraya Hubungan Timur Barat (Metramac) (Tarikh sebenar penutupan mengikut perjanjian konsesi adalah  pada 31 Mac 2004); 14 Februari 2009 – Pemansuhan kutipan tol di Plaza Tol PJS2 (arah Kuala Lumpur), Lebuhraya Baru Pantai (NPE); 24 Februari 2009 – Pemansuhan kutipan tol Plaza Tol Salak Jaya di Lebuhraya Sungai Besi (BESRAYA);   21 Disember 2009 – Penutupan awal Plaza Tol Teluk Kapas, Lebuhraya Pintas Selat Klang Utara (NNKSB) (Tarikh sebenar penutupan mengikut perjanjian konsesi adalah pada 29 Disember 2009); 16 Mei 2011- Pemansuhan kutipan tol di Lebuhraya Hubungan Timur Barat (Metramac); dan 2 Mac 2012 – Pemansuhan kutipan tol di laluan ke Kuala Lumpur, Plaza Tol Batu 9 dan laluan Ke Kajang, Plaza Tol Batu 11, Lebuhraya Cheras – Kajang (GRANDSAGA).      Pengurangan Kadar Tol   Sehingga kini, pengurangan kadar tol telah dilaksanakan di tiga lebuh raya, seperti berikut:   1 September 2007 – Pengurangan kadar tol di Plaza Tol Sungai Nyior, Lebuhraya Butterworth Outer Ring Road (BORR), dari RM0.90 ke RM0.50 sejak tahun 2007; 18 Februari 2011 – Pengurangan kadar tol di Plaza Tol PJS2 (arah Subang), Lebuhraya Baru Pantai (NPE) bagi kenderaan Kelas 1 dari RM1.60 ke RM1.00 sejak tahun 2011; dan 15 Januari 2013 – Pengurangan kadar tol di Lebuhraya Shah Alam (KESAS) bagi kenderaan Kelas 1 dari RM2.20 ke RM2.00 bagi tempoh 2013 hingga 2015.    Penstrukturan Semula Kenaikan Kadar Tol   Kerajaan juga pada masa yang sama telah melaksanakan penstrukturan semula kenaikan kadar tol di lebuh raya-lebuh raya di bawah kendalian syarikat Plus Expressways Berhad (PEB) dan Kumpulan MTD. Penstrukturan ini dilaksanakan melalui tiada kenaikan tol bagi lebuh raya-lebuh raya di bawah kendalian PEB untuk tempoh dari 2011 hingga 2015. Manakala, bagi lebuh raya-lebuh raya di bawah kendalian Kumpulan MTD pula, tiada kenaikan tol dari tempoh 2011 hingga 2014.   Lebuh raya-lebuh raya di bawah kendalian PEB yang terlibat adalah seperti berikut:   Lebuhraya Utara-Selatan (PLUS); Lebuhraya Utara-Selatan Hubungan Tengah (ELITE); Lebuhraya Laluan Kedua Malaysia

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Good People Die Young 

“Good guys die young”

Or so the saying goes.

In the times of ancient Egypt, most famous Pharoahs died young. Tutankhamun was 18, Siptah was 16, Seti I was 40, Smenkkhare was 21, Akhenaten was in his early 30s, Hatshepsut was 50, Amenhotep III was in his mid 30s while Thurmose III was 54.

The most vile of them all, Ramses II, lived until the age of 91. He is the most remembered Pharoah, the most powerful, built most monuments and lived longer than other pharoahs.

  
Mahathir is 90. He too built monuments: PLUS highway, the white elephant called Dayabumi, KLIA, KLCC to name a few. Lives longer than all his predecessors. He was most powerful during his time, a habit so hard to break.

Four months ago, he feared for his legacies. Today, he states his fear by saying what others had said about his obsession for overbuilding legacies such as the Dayabumi, the KLCC and the KLIA. He has stated his objection to the KL118 Tower, formerly known as Menara Warisan Merdeka.

Bekas perdana menteri Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad memberi amaran Malaysia akan berhadapan dengan situasi bekalan hartanah berlebihan ekoran pembinaan menara 100 tingkat – Warisan Merdeka di ibu negara.


Sehubungan itu, Dr Mahathir (gambar) berkata negara mesti belajar daripada krisis kredit dialami Dubai ekoran bekalan hartanah berlebihan.


“Mereka boleh membina tetapi kemudian, bukannya sekarang,” kata Dr Mahathir pada syarahan mengimbas kembali Wawasan 2020 di sini hari ini.

It seems that his concern is baseless except if you look at it from his angle. The KL118 Tower will tower over the Perronas Twin Towers it seems.

  
No wonder the old fart is crying a river over a dying legacy.

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Truth Prevails

For almost a year now Malaysians and non-Malaysians alike have been fed with the story that both Prime Minister Najib Razak and 1MDB have been doing a mega con job that puts Malaysia at peril.

Exorbitant figures were given and accusations kept flying around that have caused a deficit in trust among Malaysians and eroded the confidence of foreign investors. These figures as well as the goalpost (if there was any) keeps changing every time there is a rebuttal by both Najib and the 1MDB.

Notwithstanding the explanations given Mahathir kept up his attacks on Najib by sending his paid lieutenants to lodge police reports all over the world, colluded with the opposition, created a false perception that Najib would be a wanted man if he travelled overseas, while Mahathir himself met up with Tony Pua of the DAP at the Fullerton and also Sarawak Report’s Claire Rewcastle Brown to open up new battle fronts against Najib.

Even the New York Times, an associate of Syed Mokhtar’s Malaysian Reserve, ran an article in Bahasa Malaysia connecting Jho Low to Najib’s stepson and eventually, Voila! Najib himself! The millions of Malay Americans in the US must have benefitted from that article!

Three days ago the Attorney-General has cleared the 1MDB from any wrongdoing. Although the Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) has twice recommended for officers of the 1MDB to be charged based on the Exchange Control Act, 1953 which really is about online form-filling and is subjective to BNM’s interpretation of whether the information given is complete or not. In BNM’s words, the charge was that the approvals obtained for the 2013 fund transfers were based on inaccurate or without complete disclosure of material information relevant to BNM’s assessment  of 1MDB’s application.

There was no mention of malicious fraud in the declarations at all; neither was there any mention if missing billions nor of money being laundered.

BNM never made any recommendation based on either the Anti Money Laundering Act,2001, or the Anti Money Laundering and Anti Terrorism Financing Act, 2014 which can only mean one thing – after investigating the transactions made by the 1MDB, there is no basis found for it to be charged under either Act.

This goes to show that Mr Botox, Mr Multi-Religious Hunger Striker who are Mahathir’s paid lieutenants, his well-paid bloggers, the Bruno Manser Fund (Sarawak Report) have all been malicious in trying to destroy the reputation of one man even at the expense of ruining this country by undermining its finances and economy. This tantamounts to terrorism –  acts of persons acting on behalf of, or in connection with, any organisation or individuals which carries out activities directed towards the overthrowing or influencing, by force or violence, of the Yang DiPertuan Agong’s government or any other government de jure or de facto.

Now that his lieutenants have been arrested Mahathir paints the “pariah nation” image onto Malaysia, saying that there is no freedom of speech here despite having said so many malicious things for the longest time.

Lest we forget it was Mahathir himself who, during his 22-year rule by fear, jailed hundreds wrhout trial, orchestrated the removal of two deputy prime ministers, fired a deputy prime minister, fired four ministers, shut down newspapers such as The Star, Watan and the Sin Chew Jit Poh for speaking against him.

And what did the Chief Pariah say last night about his next step against Najib and the 1MDB in spite of all the “all clear” given?

 

 
Anything goes for him as long as Najib goes – even if Malaysia goes as well. Even without hard evidence.