Shadow Policy Committee

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...

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 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...

Penang should be granted equal treatment in preferential airport charges and benefits as enjoyed by the Malacca Airport, said Chief Minister and DAP Secretary-General Lim Guan Eng. "Penang as a Unesco World Heritage Site just like Malacca should also be given such incentives,” he said during the Penang Development Corporation and InvestPenang appreciation dinner at Bukit Jambul Country Club yesterday. Malacca Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam had earlier said he received a letter from Transport Minister Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat for the Malacca Airport to enjoy benefits under the Government’s incentive schemes to promote tourism in Malaysia. This includes a RM25 incentive for each incoming passenger for the first 12 months for new airlines flying to new routes or increasing flight frequency. Another benefit is the RM10 to RM15 incentive for each incoming passenger after the period, depending on the performances of the air carriers. Also included is a deferment of landing cha...

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...

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...

Penang has become the first state in the country to eradicate hardcore poverty by arranging financial aid and economic activities for all 726 households registered under the hardcore poor category. Chief Minister and DAP Secretary-General Lim Guan Eng said the initiative was successful partly because of the support of the private sector and social groups who chipped in to aggressively alleviate the hardships of the poor. "Even though it is difficult, including facing bankruptcy, I am more willing to have the state becoming bankrupt to help the poor and be burdened than to be bankrupted by corruption," he said today. The implementation mechanism, overseen by the Welfare Department, consists mainly of funding affected families to ensure their incomes are topped up such that they get at least RM500 every month. The department even helped some individuals set up bank accounts to receive the funds. Lim said checking the state's poverty rate was one of the first things that he ...

Penang Government’s move to reward senior citizens aged 60 and above for their contributions to the state will help those affected by the economic slowdown. Penang Senior Citizens Association president Lawrence Cheah said senior citizens appreciated the gesture. “The senior citizens have, and are still contributing to the state, and they deserve such a reward from the state government. “The timing is appropriate as well, with the economic slowdown affecting so many people including the senior citizens,’’ he said yesterday. Chief Minister and DAP Secretary-General Lim Guan Eng had announced during Pakatan Rakyat’s first anniversary gathering at the Esplanade on Saturday night that all assemblymen and MPs had been instructed to reach out to senior citizens in their respective constituencies. They will collect data on the senior citizens and define the form of contributions. During the same event, Penang Health, Welfare and Caring Society Committee chairman Phee Boon Poh said that to be e...

Red tape and bureaucratic procedures have prevented the state government from opening a trust fund to help wipe out hardcore poverty in Penang, said Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng. He said although it had been over a month since state Health, Welfare and Caring Society Committee chairman Phee Boon Poh discussed with state officials, a bank account for the fund has yet to be opened. “The account is vital so that the corporate sector and public can obtain tax exemption on their contributions to the fund. “Unfortunately, this delay has hampered efforts to wipe out hardcore poverty in Penang by our original March 8 deadline,” he told reporters after opening the Bagan constituency free medical camp in Lucky Garden, Raja Uda, here yesterday. Penang has 904 hardcore poor families with a monthly income of RM400 or less, Lim who is also the Bagan MP said, noting that the state wanted to raise their monthly income to RM500.

Penang has proposed that the federal government provide a retrenchment scheme of RM800 monthly for each of the 100,000 workers who will lose their job in April. Chief Minister and DAP Secretary-General Lim Guan Eng said the retrenched workers should be given the aid until the economy recovers and when they gain employment. "This is necessary as the workers are retrenched not because of indiscipline but due to the economic downturn. The government must use a global approach to address this problem," he told a press conference at his office today. Lim who is also Bagan MP was commenting a Manpower Department statement that some 100,000 workers are expected to be retrenched by April due to the global economic downturn. If implemented, the proposal would only cost the government RM488 million for six months or RM960 million for one year. He also proposed that the government provide a RM12 billion economic stimulus package as the RM7 billion under the first package was inadequate ...

The Penang government has applied for a RM500mil allocation from the Federal Government for various programmes, including the retraining of workers and providing business opportunities for the people, over the next two years, Chief Minister and DAP Secretary-General Lim Guan Eng said on Tuesday. He said Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak had agreed to channel the financial aid to the state government but had not stated the amount to be given. “I met with Datuk Seri Najib and he has agreed to provide the aid but he did not state the amount,” he told reporters here. Lim said the application for financial assistance was made as part of the state government’s preparations to face the consequences of the current global economic downturn on workers in the state. He said the state government had reactivated the special committee on employment and retraining of workers to handle the negative impact of the global economic downturn on workers. “In the state gov...