No price reduction for petrol despite world oil price falling

Is this the same PM the nation elected 3 years ago?
Is this the voice of a "caring" government?

NST 27 March 2007:-:
"PETROL and diesel prices will not go down although the price of crude oil has fallen.

Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said the price of crude oil was still unstable and unpredictable.

'Because of that, the government does not plan to reduce our petrol and diesel prices,' the prime minister, who is also finance minister, said.

All sums received by the government from Petronas is put into a combined provident fund and used by the government in the nation’s management and development expenses in the annual budget for the benefit of the public."

Read more of this "sad" story

Penang now famous for its rubbish

Another proud achievement for the Gerakan party. For how long can we tolerate them?

New Straits Times - Malaysia News Online:
"NST 26 March 2007:- Penang’s level of cleanliness has earned the wrath of key tourism players from Germany."

The Berlin-based tourism players voiced their displeasure about the state’s filthiness, particularly along the famous Batu Ferringhi beachfront, during the recently completed 2007 edition of the International Tourism Bourse (ITB), the world’s largest travel fair, held from March 5 to 11.

This is not the first time Penang received such negative remarks and there is fear among the travel trade industry here that the state would risk losing visitors from Germany if authorities do not take the comments seriously.



Read more of this "sad" article

Federal Govt Finally Helping To Save Penang

With the election looming nearer, BN is now sending their Top Guns to minimize the damage done by CM Koh Tsu Khoon. First they came to check our rivers and declared that Sg Pinang is now "beyond salvage" and now they are trying to salvage Penang's bus system - no thanks to the inefficient Gerakan state leaders whom have been inept at solving those problems but very good at spending.

Now they are suddenly "all ears" and finally listening to the grouses of the public and especially from "Cepat" whose complaints until recently have fallen on "deaf ears".

From The Star - 19 March 2007:

"PENANG will set up a public transportation advisory panel soon to assess and gather feedback on RapidPenang and the proposed monorail system.

Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon said the panel would comprise representatives from non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and the state government.

The state would provide concessions to senior citizens, students and the disabled, he told reporters after attending a meeting with Second Finance Minister Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop here yesterday."

Read more


Second Finance Minister Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop was also at hand in Butterworth to salvage another blemish in Gerakan's leadership i.e. the Butterworth bus terminal which was destroyed by fire 6 years ago and left to rot by the present state govt.

From The Star - 19 March 2007:-

“We have also discussed with Penang Port Sdn Bhd (PPSB) as part of the land (where the terminal is to be built) belongs to the company. It has agreed to our plans,” he told reporters after meeting with Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon and PPSB managing director Datuk Ahmad Ibnijhajar.

Nor Mohamed said the project would be carried out in three or four phases, with the first phase to be completed in two years.

He said details of the project would be announced later.

Read more

Malaysians Feeling Good Now?

How can we feel good when:

(1) Our bloggers are being persecuted
(2) Our PM is being called a liar by our Ex-PM
(3) Our ministers and state councilors are being accused of corruption
(4) Our ACA Chief is being accused of corruption
(5) Our police officers are known to be most corrupt

I am sure all of you can add more to the above list of Malaysian achievements since Pak Lah took over from Dr M.

I can't believe how any one can possibly feel good about the above and if our PM can there must be something very wrong about our country or is it just him?

I can just imagine a very twisted Pak Lah doing the twist and singing "I feel good..." every time someone in his cabinet is accused of wrongdoing. Is he still the same Pak Lah you guys (not me) voted in 3 years ago??


From The Star, 13 March 2007 -
Earlier, in his briefing to the press, Abdullah said the economy was doing well, remained strong and resilient with many domestic sectors growing, and that there was a general “feel good” atmosphere.

However, when asked if such conditions were an indication that the polls would be called, Abdullah said:

“The feel-good factor is better now than before, but when (it is time to call an) election, it should be an even better feeling.”

MCA President Worried Party Will Not Be Relevant Anymore

How can they be relevant when they are still harping on communal issues when it is now the 21st century (hello...?) and it is now a border less world.

The same goes to UMNO and MIC. Are they still relevant or are they just fighting for their piece of pie which is getting smaller each day?

From The Star, 12 March 2007 -

MCA leaders and members have been urged to adopt the “automatic renewal system” to ensure that the party would be more effective, innovative and attractive.

“The people's expectation of the party is higher nowadays and it is facing more complicated challenges. In order for the party to stay close to the community, we should continue the renewal progress so that MCA will always be relevant to the community,” he said in his speech at the party's 58th anniversary at Wisma MCA here yesterday.

Read more

Malaysians fooled by their PM again?

Don't tell me you bought shares on the 21st Feb 2007 right after the KLSE reopened after the CNY break?

Don't tell me you did it because our PM and Bursa's CEO Yusli mentioned that all Malaysians should support the market?

If you did you would have fallen into a similar trapped laid by our previous PM in 1997 just before the Asian markets spectacular collapse!

Anyway, you should not blame either of them as both of them have no inkling as to how markets would behave.

From The Sun 02 March 2007 -
BUKIT MERTAJAM (March 2, 2007): DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng says the prime minister should reprimand Bursa Malaysia CEO Datuk Yusli Mohamed Yusoff and demand an apology for his insensitive remarks that steep losses of RM80 billion in market capitalisation of the bourse the past three days is a "healthy correction" for the market.

"For Yusli to say the drop in market capitalisation is a healthy correction' is irresponsible and scant cold comfort to retail investors who has suffered RM80 billion paper losses following the drop in Kuala Lumpur Composite Index (KLCI) of 92 points over the last three days.

"What does Yusli mean by healthy correction'? Does he mean that the KLCI is too high at 1,280 points, which directly contradicts (prime minister Datuk Seri) Abdullah (Ahmad Badawi)'s previous assertion that the KLCI should breach 1,350 points? If so then Yusli should indicate what is the lower healthy level for KLCI?"

Lim said Abdullah must bear full responsibility for stockmarket investors who lost money after entering the market on the fourth day of Chinese New Year following his advice that the KLCI might breach 1,350 points.

"With the first indication in history by a Malaysian prime minister that the KLCI might breach 1,350 points, Abdullah's comments on Chinese New Year kicked off a buying frenzy on Feb 21 with the KLCI rising by 16 points to 1,278 points on a total volume of 4.7 billion shares. 4.8 billion shares were traded the following day and 3.2 billion shares on Feb 23.

"Normally trading during Chinese New Year is slow but with volume of 12.8 billion shares on the first three days of trading of Chinese New Year showed the significant impact of Abdullah's comments," he added.

Lim said the prime minister would lose all credibility and may even face legal suits from investors claiming losses from the premier if the KLCI did not hit 1,350 points.

"Many investors tell me that they would not have entered the stock market on the fourth day of Chinese New Year were it not for the prime minister's stock tip which appears to guarantee quick profits," said Lim at the opening of the Bukit Mertajam DAP office today.

Gerakan Chief Admits Failure To Govern Penang?

Is Dr Lim Keng Yaik now admitting that Gerakan has failed to properly administrate the Penang state becuase it "was not easy to manage Penang..." ?

Maybe the old man now realises his folly for letting the incapable Dr Koh Tsu Khoon to helm the state and is now admitting that he has not done a good job to manage Penang. The hounds of the Opposition are now at the gates of Penang and he should be worried.

He is now advising his own members during their Chinese New Year annual dinner to "be smart when choosing your leaders"

From The Star 4 March 2007 -
"Dr Lim said it was not easy to manage Penang and its economy, more so with increasing competition in the region."

Read more

Only In Malaysia A Suspected Criminal Can Be The ACA Chief!

It is now clear to all Malaysians why the Malaysian Anti-Corruption-Agency is so ineffective. They are being led by someone whom has run foul of the law before and one wonders how many of his staff are also involved in unlawful activities.

Malaysians are also bewildered how their beloved PM can be duped into hiring the present ACA Director General whom is now being investigated for corrupt practices. What a blow for Abdullah's so called "clean government". It gives new meaning to his so oft used clarion call: "Work with me, don't work for me".


From The Star, 04 March 2007 -
KUALA LUMPUR: Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan said the action by former Sabah Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) director Mohamad Ramli Manan to openly allege that ACA director-general Datuk Seri Zulkipli Mat Noor was involved in corruption and abuse of power to the media was “not right.”

“My advice to him is come forward and cooperate with the police. I am not saying that his action was wrong as he is free to voice out but it is just not right,” he said.

Ramli, 56, who retired from the ACA last Dec 8, claimed that other than Zulkipli, he had also lodged reports of corrupt practices of several senior ACA officers.

He added that the report against Zulkipli was made in July 2006 under Section 107 of the Criminal Procedure Code that should lead to a police investigation.

Ramli said the reports of corruption and abuse of power against senior officers were made under the Corruption Prevention Act 1997 between 2003 and 2004.

Read Marina's "feelings" about this

Mahathir vs Abdullah

"Mahathir vs Abdullah" book from Kinibooks:

This book is a compilation of articles that try to cut through the sandiwara (playacting) of the vicious war of words, and see what really drove TDM to launch such a merciless attack on his handpicked successor, as well as analyze the factors influencing each turn this scandal-ridden battle took.

It also includes letters from Malaysiakini readers - representing a truly wide spectrum of opinion, critical thought, and passionate support for both parties. The book features a number of high-profile contributors, including Anwar Ibrahim, Lim Guan Eng, P. Gunasegaram, Tian Chua, Collin Abraham, M Bakri Musa, Steven Gan, P Ramasamy, James Wong, Kim Quek, Charles Hector, Khoo Kay Peng, and many more.

This is a highly entertaining book if you have been following the spat between the 2 elephants. You can get this book from Kinibooks.com

Government taken to task on listings

Government taken to task on listings:
"The Government lacks enthusiasm and commitment in getting George Town and Malacca classified as Unesco world heritage sites, said the Penang Heritage Trust (PHT).

PHT chairman Dr Choong Sim Poey claimed that efforts taken by the Government did not seem to be compatible with that of other countries seeking the same listing.

He said PHT was also disappointed that the relevant Ministry did not involve people at the ground level when it prepared the dossier to seek listing. "

RapidPenang promises to end woes to busing system

From The Star 1 March 2007

THESE are interesting times for public transport in Penang. Last year the state government tried to introduce a new bus routing system that ultimately failed. Then it decided that it would take over the bus services.

The CVLB would not allow this, and a compromise was reached, whereby the state government would be free to operate its own bus service.

Recently, it announced plans to buy new buses for the service. It was also announced that Rapid (the company that operates the RapidKL bus and LRT service) would operate the new service, to be called RapidPenang.