Shadow Policy Committee

We are now seeing the army doing their part to only assist the police force to maintain order and to enforce the movement control order nationwide in order to curb the spread of the coronavirus. What we had observed till today is the movement control order had since been successful despite some hiccups in certain areas which ought to be strictly enforced. However, asides being only involved in security related enforcement and patrolling activities, the army ought to do more in order to ease the burden of the relevant government agencies in getting their activities or efforts mobilised effectively. First, how about involving the Army’s Medical Corps? The medical corps of the not only the army but the navy and the air force as well ought to be mobilised to assist their civilian counterparts who are now experiencing shortage of medical staffs. Asides, it has been reported that many hospital and medical staffs are also infected with the virus while providing their service in hospitals, ...

We are disappointed with the way the domestic trade & consumer affairs minister in the Perikatan Nasional government in dealing with the matter on the supply of face mask to the public. Instead of assisting our people to lessen their burden, the minister has allowed the manufacturers to increase the price from a mere 80 cents to RM2.00 now which came into effect immediately after the minister’s authorisation. We are all watching in grave disappointment the way the minister handles such which allows the manufacturer to take advantage on the recent spike on the face mask usage. Instead of allowing the price to be increased, why didn’t the ministry consider other options that will give the manufacturer an advantage without having have to burden our people? The people is having enough with the current movement control order which was imposed by the government following the widespread of the disease of which the government had lost control on. Why didn’t the ministry propose a tax in...

By Clara Chooi A PAS MP filed an emergency motion notice to Parliament today, calling for the immediate release of Sungai Siput MP Dr Michael Jeyakumar, currently under remand for allegedly “waging war against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong”. Dr Hatta Ramli (PAS-Kuala Krai) confirmed with The Malaysian Insider this afternoon that notice had been given to the office of Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia this morning. “We, Pakatan Rakyat (PR) MPs, stand behind a man who was chosen by the people. He fights not only for the rights of those in Sungai Siput but for the entire country. “You (the police) have [prevented] an MP [from] serving his duties in the House. In any democratic country, no parliamentarian should be mishandled like this. We are very unhappy and we want justice,” he told a joint press conference earlier today with other Pakatan Rakyat (PR) MPs. He said the Speaker will decide on the motion by Wednesday. During the press conference, PR lawmakers expressed their dis...

By Clara Chooi A DAP MP urged the government today to set up a Parliamentary Select Committee on Free Trade Agreements (FTA) to allow legislators to scrutinise FTA negotiations. Klang MP Charles Santiago mooted the proposal today and pointed out that at present, the Malaysian Parliament was a mere “rubber stamp” as it would be forced to accept all negotiations without any checks and balances. “Parliament has no avenue to discuss, debate or comment on FTAs which have critical significance [for] sovereignty, development and public policy... issues that have major ramifications to the lives of Malaysians,” Charles said in a press conference in Parliament today. The trained economist claimed that at present, FTA negotiations were conducted in a “non-transparent” manner and without an avenue to discuss on the agreements in Parliament, national laws would eventually be amended to reflect the commitments made at the negotiations. “Parliament will have no choice but to accept the decisions. It...

The DAP claimed today of links between MCA’s bid for Tanjong Plc’s gaming business and its previous pro-sports betting licence position. MCA was supportive of tycoon Tan Sri Vincent Tan’s Ascot Sports’ attempt to get a sports betting licence earlier this year. DAP MP Anthony Loke demanded that MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek clarify the news report carried by The Malaysian Insider this morning. “Did they (MCA) support sports betting in the past because they were planning or hoping to buy into the gaming business? Was that why the MCA supported the government’s intent to legalise sports betting? Come clean on this. “MCA president Chua Soi Lek must confirm this news report. What moral authority does the MCA have left, with taking over a gaming business?” said Loke. The MCA is said to be in the mix to buy Tanjong Plc’s gaming business, valued at about RM2.5 billion, along with the Cheng family, Filipino tycoon Roberto ‘Bobby’ Ongpin Jr and some international private equity firms....

Support for the Penang state government's appreciation for the elderly programme in the form of financial aid has been expressed by about seventy senior citizens in Seberang Prai. Urging chief minister Lim Guan Eng to continue with the programme, which recently received bad publicity from UMNO-owned press amid the party's allegation that the money was derived from gambling revenues, the group expressed dismay that state Opposition Leader Azhar Ibrahim had called Penangites to return the money as a sign of protest over its alleged non-halal origin. In the past few weeks, UMNO has been organising several made-for-media protests, gathering elderly individuals to announcing that they were returning the RM100 'compassionate allowance' received from the Penang state government. Permatang Pasir state representative Saleh Man, however, reminded Penangites not to be influenced by "evil lies" from the state opposition, saying it had "run out of political capital...

The anti GST campaign is now on. Let us all support this noble drive in order to protect our people's welfare and rights. Do not let the combination of BN-Umno violate our basic human rights. Fight the GST! Protect our families and children!

Penang police have given assurances that the safety of places of religious worship in Penang are secure and under control. Penang state government is deeply concerned about press reports that places of religious worship in Penang has been targeted by terrorist militants with links to Al Qaeda and Jemaah Islamiah (JI). As Penang possesses the largest number of temples in Malaysia, it was reported in English papers that some of the prominent ones such as the internationally renowned Kek Lok Si Temple in Ayer Itam has been targeted by militants led by Indonesian Muslim cleric Abu Bakar Bashir. I had spoken to Penang CPO Dato Wira Ayub Yaakob and he said that there have been increased surveillance and patrols by the police in places of religious worship since reports surfaced last week, particularly around Kek Lok Si, Guan Yin Temple. More police personnel had also been sent to Penang, including a helicopter patrolling Penang. The helicopter will be on air until August 14 to ensure heighte...

The Penang state government will call for an all party meeting to mobilize and unite support amongst all penangites against the proposed RM9.40 toll rate for both the Penang first and second bridge. I'm surprised at Gerakan’s opposition to the increase in toll rate to RM9.40 by 2013 for both bridges when the Cabinet, including Gerakan president Tan Sri Dr. Koh Tsu Koon, has already approved the toll increase. Does it mean that Barisan National component party do not know what they are doing in Cabinet or the tail does not know what the head is doing. Or is this another example of double faced politics. However the Penang State Government welcomes all political parties and organizations who oppose the Penang bridges toll increase. We are willing to invite the Barisan National component parties to this anti RM9.40 Penang Bridge Toll Rate Meeting even though they may have supported this in Cabinet. The Penang State Government opposes the RM9.40 toll rate because of the lack of transpa...

Penang is waiting to see if Selangor is successful in enacting the Freedom of Information Act (FOI) as its own state legal adviser has hampered it, saying it is “unconstitutional”. Penang Chief Minister and DAP Secretary-General Lim Guan Eng (picture) today repeated his call for freedom of information to mark World Press Freedom Day tomorrow. “In Penang, the state legal adviser has objected to the Penang state government’s intention to enact a FOI on the grounds that it is unconstitutional,” he said in a statement. He said the legal adviser’s opinion is that information is under the federal list of the federal Constitution and not within the jurisdiction of the state government. “The state government is closely following the efforts by the Selangor state government to enact the FOI and should this be successful will then enact a similar law in the Penang State Assembly,” he said. Lim lamented that DAP as well as other interested parties had long called for the abolis...

Penang state government leaders, CM Guan Eng, Boon Poh (Exco) and Abdul Malek (Exco) together with some of the some of the senior citizens who received their cash awards today at Maybank, Jln Ong Yi How Branch in Butterworth. CM Guan Eng, State Exco members Boon Poh and Abdul Malek having chats with some senior citizens at the Maybank, Jln Ong Yi How Branch in Butterworth. The Penang state government's Senior Citizens Appreciation Programme was kick started yesterday with senior citizens came in thousands to selected Maybank branches in Penang and Seberang Perai to collect their cash appreciation award. Penang Chief Minister and DAP Secretary-General Lim Guan Eng today thank members of DAP, PKR and PAS for their tireless effort in getting majority of the senior citizens in the state to register for the appreciation award. And today, Guan Eng who is also the Member of Parliament for Bagan dropped by at some of the Maybank branches located in Seberang Perai, mainly the Sungai Dua, Jl...

DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng wants the government to investigate why RM52 billion worth of shares in public listed companies allocated for Bumiputeras under affirmative action policies were no longer in their hands. He told reporters in Parliament today that the fact that the shares were no longer in the hands of Bumiputeras was an act of betrayal. The Penang Chief Minister suggested a Royal Commission be set up to investigate such leakages. He said that out of RM54 billion in shares allocated for Bumiputeras, only RM2 billion were still in their hands. “According to a Bernama report, the Prime Minister had been quoted as saying that of the RM54 billion in shares allocated, only RM2 billion worth of shares were left in the hands of Bumiputeras,” said Lim. “There is a leakage of RM52 billion which is not in the hands of the Bumiputeras. This is a betrayal. The government has to arrest and take action against the people who have hijacked the money,” he added. When asked by a report...

The Penang state government has set up a legal advisory committee with former Bar Council president Yeo Yang Poh as the chairman to look into the legal aspects of carrying out local government elections. Chief Minister and DAP Secretary-General Lim Guan Eng said Yeo, who is also the deputy chairman of the Penang Pardons Board, will work with a legal team to pave the way to bring back the polls and decide on the state government's next course of action. "The committee will look at the various legal points raised in the 10-page reply from the EC on why the local government election cannot be held. "The EC had also pointed out in the reply that the state government should have raised the matter with the local government council chaired by the deputy prime minister as it was the right avenue to decide on this matter. "The state government via the state local government exco chairman Chow Kon Yeow had twice written to the local government committee, on July 1...

The Penang state government and Gerakan continued bickering over the decision to turn down a US$3bil (RM10.1bil) investment deal because the state government could not guarantee 1,000 electric and electronic (E&E) engineers required by the company. In a statement yesterday, Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng’s special investment officer Jeffrey Chew lashed out at Gerakan for using hit-and-run tactics and practising a “promise first hope later” attitude. "The Penang state government is not as irresponsible as Gerakan in making empty promises that would jeopardise our credibility,” he said, adding that the state government could incur loses as much as US$3bil to compensate the investors should it be unable to fulfill its own guarantees. Chew said this in response to criticism from Penang Gerakan chief Datuk Dr Teng Hock Nan who said the state could not afford to turn away investors. Chew said the Malaysian Employers Federation, among other bodies, had detailed the shortage of E...

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has recommended that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) or the police to investigate former Transport Minister Tan Sri Chan Kong Choy and former Port Klang Authority (PKA) general manager Datin Paduka OC Phang for criminal breach of trust over the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) project. The committee, which is investigating the scandal-ridden PKFZ, has found both Chan and Phang to have breached Section 14 (1) of the Financial Procedure Act 1957 by issuing three letters of support and three letters of undertaking without the approval of the Finance Ministry. PAC said the Attorney-General revealed that the three letters of support issued by Chan and three undertaking letters issued by Phang had implicitly placed responsibility on the Government to ensure there is allocation for PKA to fulfil its obligation under the development agreement. “Hence, thorough investigation by the MACC or police on these matters were required as the letters were i...

By: Jeffrey Chew, Special Assistant to the Chief Minister of Penang WITH reference to “Judge CM Lim on his record” (April 13), I wish to reiterate that the writer is continuing his barrage of critical comments based on baseless observations. Although he is entitled to his comments, I believe he should focus on what is best for Penang. After all, asking the present government to give credit to the past government clearly shows that he has a short-term memory that it was the rakyat that was instrumental in bringing progress to the state and not solely residual efforts from the past government. Therefore, I hope the writer will take this important note to heart and allow the present government to govern and create a good environment for progress to happen. The writer’s comments are fast portraying himself as an apologist for BN. After all, he seems to know so much but yet he continues to shy away from giving constructive comments to further improve. Hence, his choice of writing to the pre...

Several Penang-based Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) are against the police's move to raid residential houses for pirated discs. Penang Consumer Protection Association (PCPA) president K.Koris Atan said the move was "not feasible and ridiculous", adding that it was just a rumour being circulated by the public."What if the consumer themselves burn a copy of movie or songs for their own consumption and keep the discs, is that wrong? The police have to use their own discretion in this matter," he said.Koris said the police had more urgent matters to attend to, like maintaining peace and public order, than to go after individuals with pirated discs. "The police and the Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry should go after the big fish instead, like those involved with illegally manufacturing such discs," he added. Penang CPO Datuk Wira Ayub Yaakob said the police may check homes and set up roadblocks in the states to search for pirated discs or video a...

Penang has declared the State Assembly building a smoke-free zone in a move to discourage the smoking habit among elected representatives and the public. “Smoking is the first step toward drugs and glue-sniffing and with Penang recording 6,119 drug addicts last year, which is the highest in the country, we need to make a strong stand,” state Health, Welfare, Caring Society and Environment Committee chairman Phee Boon Poh said yesterday. He said the people should respect the Federal Government’s decision to gazette all government offices, including hospitals, police stations and fire departments, as smoke-free zones. “Smokers who need to light up can smoke outside the gate but those who discard cigarette butts on the pavement can be fined RM500 for littering,” he added. Penang is believed to be the first to declare a State Assembly building a no-smoking zone without a designated smoking area. Enforcement officers from the Penang Municipal Council and the state Health Department will con...

Flash floods following four hours of continuous rain forced 14 families in Kampung Mengkuang Titi, Bukit Mertajam to be evacuated to a temporary relief centre. Heavy rains from 3am Wednesday caused the nearby Sungai Kulim to burst its banks, sending the 70-odd residents scurrying to salvage their belongings. Resident Zakaria Ahmad, 32, said he jumped out of bed and started moving some of his electrical appliances to higher ground. ‘‘Two hours of continuous rain is all it takes for floods to hit our houses, which are near a monsoon drain,” he said at his home. Another resident Mariam Awang, 65, said flash floods have been a problem here for 30 years. ‘‘I am getting tired of cleaning my house after it floods. I hope the authorities would upgrade the drainage system in the area,’’ she said. Flash floods also hit Taman Bunga Raya, Siram Road, Sin Tatt Garden, Taman Meranti, Taman Ceri, Kampung Paya, Taman Teratai and Taman Aman in Butterworth. State Health, Welfare and Caring Society Commi...

The Penang state government has asked the Rural and Regional Development Ministry to explain what has happened to its reported RM1.1 million allocation meant for 22 hardcore poor families in the state. State health, welfare, caring society and environment committee chairman Phee Boon Poh said he has sent a letter to the ministry’s adviser, Datuk Zainal Abidin Osman, to seek clarification after Zainal announced the allocation in February.Phee said the state was reviewing the list every three months and needs to have the names of the 22 getting aid from the ministry. He also asked why only 22 families were getting federal aid, noting that it also meant that each family would receive RM50,000 on average if RM1.1 million was to be divided by 22.“What is the rationale to only reach out to 22 families and not all the 728 needy families?” he asked at a press conference where Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng was also present. Phee said information on the beneficiaries would help the state governmen...