Nazir lebih tahu mengapa FDI penting untuk Najib.

Saya ditanya oleh pihak media mengapalah FDI begitu penting sangat untuk Malaysia dalam situasi kini, sejurus selepas penglibatan saya dalam Forum Ekonomi Negeri Selangor sempena Majlis Dialog Bejt 2011. Saya cuba rumuskan di sini jawapan tersebut untuk pengetahuan umum.

 Benar, mengikut Laporan Pelaburan Dunia (WIR, 2009), yang diterbitkan baru baru ini oleh Perdagangan dan Pelaburan Pertubuhan Bangsa-bangsa Bersatu (UNCTAD) telah mengesahkan bahawa pelaburan asing langsung (FDI) Malaysia merosot 81 peratus kepada US$1.38 bilion (RM4.43 bilion) pada 2009 daripada US$7.32 bilion (RM23.47 bilion) pada 2008.

 Meskipun negara-negara ASEAN juga mengalami penurunan kemasukan FDI, ternyata tidaklah separah Malaysia. Thailand mendapat pelaburan sebanyak US$4.44 atau RM14.24 bilion sementara Indonesia sebanyak  US$2.60 billion  atau RM8.32 billion sekaligus meletakkan Malasyia, antara negara tercorot sebagai negara pilihan pelaburan pelabur asing langsung bersama dengan Cambodia, Brunei dan Timor-Leste. Vietnam juga mendahului kita sekarang ini.

Battle Over Selangor’s Water Continues Unabated.

  Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad, Member of the Selangor Water Panel.

The raging battle over control of water in Selangor is expected to continue unabated. Its skirmishes have become a regular feature in the mainstream media throughout 2009 with the various contending parties taking potshots at each other. Needless to say the scenes invariably involved the contending parties ie the Selangor State Government, the Federal Government and the water concession companies, in a quest to reach an arguably tough solution for a ‘consolidation’ exercise.

In the latest round of conflict, the Deputy Prime Minister has unwittingly decided to join the fray. His accusation of the state government’s provision of free water hence their inability to allow for an increase in water tariffs to concessionaire was perceived by many as lending support to the latter.

His untimely intrusion of providing a flawed rationale of free water and water tariff withholding by the Selangor State Government smack of protecting Umno’s favourite water crony concessionaires, Puncak Niaga and Syabas. Notwithstanding is the fact that the Energy, Water and Green Technology Ministry and the federal government have earlier succeeded in their application for a stay of execution of a High Court order to make public a water concession agreement and its audit report of Syabas and the Ministry.

Above all, it was his attempt at doing an ‘Idris Jala-Alarmist’s approach that really caught on the raw nerve of the Menteri Besar of Selangor. The DPM has accused the State Government of not cooperating with the Federal Government and consequently places the consumers in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya into jeopardy of water rationing by 2012 as Selangor will face a water shortage then.

Pakatan Rakyat leaders have accused the Federal government of having political motive behind the water supply issue in Selangor. Klang Member of Parliament Charles Santiago has openly said the government was unhappy that Selangor had not committed to implement the Langat 2 Water Treatment Plant for the Pahang-Selangor raw water transfer project.

The project which was launched in April 2010 was initiated under the 9th Malaysia Plan with an estimated cost of RM8.9 billion. It includes building two dams and a 44.6km-long 5.2m-diameter raw water transfer tunnel to transport water from Pahang to Selangor and Kuala Lumpur. It is said to be supplying 1,867 million cubic metres of water to Selangor daily.

BERSIH 2.0 – Pendakwaan Terhadap Pembangkang Jejaskan Kestabilan Politik & Ekonomi

Gabungan Pilihan Raya Bersih dan Adil (BERSIH 2.0) menegaskan bahawa amaran
bahawa serangan sistematik Kerajaan terhadap pihak Pembangkang dan suara penentangan
secara umum mengganggu demokrasi, kestabilan politik dan ekonomi Negara.

BERSIH 2.0 ingin menegaskan bahawa serangan baru-baru ini terhadap media
pembangkang dan dan pendakwaan (berpilih) terhadap beberapa individu di dalam pembangkang
yang didakwa menyalahguna kemudahan kerajaan sejak 2008 tidak selaras dengan pilihan
raya bebas dan adil.

Sekiranya warganegara merasakan bahawa demokrasi pelbagai-parti yang mula
menarik perhatian ramai selepas pilihan raya 2008 mula merosot, Negara akan
menjadi huru-hara, menggusarkan keyakinan pelabur dan memberi kesan buruk kepada
pertumbuhan ekonomi.

BERSIH 2.0: Persecution of Opposition hurts political stability & economy

The Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections 2.0 (BERSIH 2.0) warns that the
Government’s systematic attacks on the Opposition and political dissidents in
general are hurting democracy, political stability and economy.

BERSIH 2,0 stresses that the recent attacks on the opposition press and the
persecution since 2008 of opposition figures by abusing state apparatus are not
conducive to free and fair elections.

If the citizens feel that the budding multiparty democracy after the 2008
elections is now being uprooted, the country will sink into chaos, hurting
investor confidence and economic growth.

Will PAC stop this deal before we are again shortchanged?

Former Minister of Transport in a response in his blog ongteekeat.net was amazed by the conspicuous absence of the following key points in the procurement that was overlooked during my debate (Kuala Selangor) in the 10-MP. For the information of all, I will reproduce here what he said was missing in my debate..

a)    The 2008 KTM tender of 8 sets of 3-car EMU trains was cancelled and not awarded, in the light of new demands and needs highlighted by the National Key Result Area (NKRA) for Urban Public Transportation that surpassed those contained in the tender;
 
b)    The quantity under the procurement is for 38 sets X 6 car, as compared to the original tender for 8 sets X 3 car. Any price comparison must always be based on the technical specifications or we run the risk of comparing apples with oranges;
 
c)    The direct negotiation for the procurement was not directed and endorsed by the Ministry of Transport, but by the Ministry of Finance..

For his information all 3 points were refuted and in fact in my article written and published by Harakah, I elaborated my case why the Government should’nt issue the Letter of Award (LOA) and in fact should blacklist railway manufacturer Zhuzhou Electric Locomotive Co Ltd of China. A thorough perusal of both specifications revealed that the only difference in the specification was of CCTV and slide presentation panel for the new 38 EMU 6-car.

Malaysian Civil Society’s Memorandum on Electoral Reforms

 (As one of the founding members of BERSIH1.0, it gives me great satisfaction to see that BERSIH2.0 is striving for greater electoral reforms. It is our conviction that this nation could only propel to greater height and achieve its fully developed status when its democracy is fully functional, its citizenry informed, its critical democratic institution on its feet, its leakages stopped,  its wealth of national resources sustainably mobilised and its human capital nurtured and leveraged. Let us all persevere and relentlessly work for REFORM).
                                                           

Malaysian Civil Society’s Memorandum on Electoral Reforms
in Malaysia 2010
Presented to the Election Commission
Initiated by the Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections 2.0 (BERSIH 2.0)
 
We the undersigned civil society groups hold that the only formula for stability, progress and prosperity in Malaysia is a vigorous and healthy multiparty democracy.
 
Following the 2008 elections, Malaysia is experiencing a changing style of government, from an authoritarian to a more democratic one. While the public have benefitted from the competition between the BN and PR which brought about some administrative reforms and more inclusive policies, it is still worrying that some quarters may resort to desperate means to influence the election, including the abuse of state apparatus or to change the election outcomes through defection and the deliberate denial of fresh elections when the old mandate is in question.
 
Come the next general elections, should some political parties refuse to accept “democracy as the only game in town” and attempt to compete for power by rigging elections or rejecting election outcomes, Malaysia may sink into political turmoil. 
 
The role of the Election Commission (EC) in ensuring political stability and democratisation is therefore paramount.  Article 114(2) of the Federal Constitution stipulates the expectation of the EC to “[enjoy] public confidence”. This means the Election Commission should conduct elections with integrity and impartiality to ensure universal suffrage, a level playing field for all political parties and candidates, informed choices and facilitation of informed choices and inclusive representation. Bersih 2.0 believes that within the existing provisions of the law, the EC can conduct this important democratic exercise according to the international best-practice standards.
 
The EC can and must protect multiparty democracy by ensuring clean and fair elections, in their administration and enforcement of relevant laws and also through advocacy of necessary changes to the Constitution, laws and by-laws.
 
Driven by a common desire for a better tomorrow for Malaysia, we urge the EC bring about the following reforms. We hope the EC will engage us and the larger public for consultation and deliberation. We also call upon the Malaysian public to familiarise themselves with their rights as voters and to advance the reform agenda through their own available channels.
 

Betul ke banding Epal & Oren Mantan Menteri Pengangkutan?

Mantan Menteri Pengangkutan YB DS Ong Tee Keat mengulas dalam blog beliau bahawa perbahasan dalam parlimen tentang pembelian 38 EMU 6 koc lebih banyak menaburkan tohmahan dan tidak punya asas serta hujjah yang kukuh. Beliau lantas menyimpulkan bahawa dakwaan yang dibuat pihak-pihak yang berhujjah ketika perbahasan itu tanpa menyebutkan mana-mana MP adalah seumpama membuat perbandingan buah epal dan oren, tak sama tegas beliau.

MP Kuala Selangor adalah antara yang berhujjah hari tersebut, menyanjungi inisiatif Mantan Menteri ini dan ingin mendapat ulasan ini seterusnya supaya benar-benar dapat dikenalpasti siapa yang tidak punya hujjah yang kukuh. 

Pembaca di minta merujuk kepada blog ongteekeat.net. Apa yang kemukakan sebagai perkara penting yang disebutkan sebagai tidak diambil kira dalam penghujjahan MP tidak benar sama-sekali kerana Kuala Selangor telah menyebut kesemuanya termasuk perkara yang saya lanjutkan dalam penulisan saya yang diterbitkan oleh Harakah. Sila YB rujuk Hansard parlimen ntuk pengesahan.

Beliau  menyebutkan dalam blognya bahawa “I’m amazed by the conspicuous absence of the following key points in the procurement:
 
a)    The 2008 KTM tender of 8 sets of 3-car EMU trains was cancelled and not awarded, in the light of new demands and needs highlighted by the National Key Result Area (NKRA) for Urban Public Transportation that surpassed those contained in the tender;
 
b)    The quantity under the procurement is for 38 sets X 6 car, as compared to the original tender for 8 sets X 3 car. Any price comparison must always be based on the technical specifications or we run the risk of comparing apples with oranges;
 
c)    The direct negotiation for the procurement was not directed and endorsed by the Ministry of Transport, but by the Ministry of Finance.

Dengan ini saya berasa bertanggungjawab kepada rakyat untuk sekali lagi menegaskan beberapa perkara yang didakwa oleh mantan menteri ini. Sebutan beliau tentang MOF lebih mencurigakan kami apakah mereka telah disilapnasihat oleh MOT atau sebaliknya mereka juga mahukan satu yang lebih mahal dengan sebab yang hanya diketahui oleh MOF sendiri.. aneh dan sukar nak difahami..mungkin ‘more than meet the eyes’ dgn izin.

YB terus bela nasib rakyat

Dipetik dari SinarHarian edisi 01.07.2010, Khamis

KAMPUNG BUKIT KERAYONG – Ahli Parlimen Kuala Selangor, Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad akan berusaha bagi membantu rakyat melalui perantaraan dengan agensi kerajaan berkaitan yang ada antaranya permasalahan dan prasarana belia akan cuba mendapatkan peruntukan dari mana-mana pihak yang sedia membantu.
Beliau berkata, sebagai pemimpin, keutamaan permasalahan yang berlaku terutama sekali masyarakat perlu mengambil berat dan berusaha untuk menyelesaikannya.

“Sebab itu, program kemasyarakatan yang diadakan di kampung memberikan peluang kepada penduduk untuk berjumpa dengan pemimpin itu dan mengeratkan lagi hubungan silaturahim,” katanya pada Program Sehari Bersama Rakyat yang diadakan di Kampung Bukit Kerayong.

Now ‘overpriced’ trains at RM500 mil?

//

Hazlan Zakaria
Jun 30, 10
3:09pm

PAS parliamentarian Dzulkefly Ahmad has questioned the huge jump in the cost of 38 electric trains for KTM, following the government’s decision to enter into a directly-negotiated purchase.

This could see RM500 million in public funds being wasted, the Kuala Selangor MP told a press conference at the Parliament lobby today.

What is bizarre, he said, is that the supplier had quoted a lower price when participating in an earlier open tender for similar trains.

In 2008, KTM had called an open tender for supply of eight three-carriage Electric Multiple Units (EMU), and this was awarded to railway manufacturer Zhuzhou Electric Locomotive Co Ltd of China.

However, Dzulkefly claimed the government then cancelled the contract and entered into direct negotiations with the company, to take advantage of economies of scale and obtain a lower price by purchasing in bulk.

“It is a tragedy for the public that the new offer price is markedly higher than what was agreed to by the Finance Ministry in January, when finalising the (open) tender process for supply of similar trains,” noted Dzulkefly.

“The people will surely want to know why, after direct negotiations, Zhuzhou has offered a very high price, roughly RM48 million for each of the six-carriage EMUs, which would total RM1.8 billion for the 38 units.”

He claimed that Zhuzhou’s bid during the open tender was RM15 million per unit for a three-carriage EMU and RM30 million for a six-carriage Electric Train Set.

“Why are we paying more for the six-carriage EMUs through direct negotations, compared to the lower price (submitted during the open) tender?”

Apakah K’jaan akan kerugian RM500 juta dalam pembelian 38 EMU 6 gerabak?

Mengapa Kementerian Pengangkutan membeli 38 tren elektrik enam gerabak gandaan elektrik (EMU) dari syarikat Zhu Zhou Electric Locomotive Co. Ltd (China) dengan harga RM1.824 bilion secara runding langsung atau RM500 juta lebih mahal dari asal tender sebelumnya.

 Jawapan Timbalan Menteri Pengangkutan (MOT) kepada soalan tambahan YB Tumpat tentang ‘refurbishment’ atau menaiktaraf koc lama Eletric Multiple Unit (EMU) milik KTMB tidak dijawab oleh Timbalan Menteri. Menariknya, Timbalan Menteri terus menerangkan tentang pembelian 38 EMU 6 gerabak dari sebuah consortium katanya dari negara China (tidak disebut namanya) dengan harga RM1.8 bilion.

 Saya gagal untuk mendapatkan soalan tambahan kedua dari Speaker, setelah YB Parit Sulong diberikan laluan tersebut. Saya ingin mempertikaikan jawapan kementerian, sekaligus mendedahkan bagaimana dengan pembelian rundingan langsung ini, kerajaan akan membayar pembelian ini dengan bayaran sehingga RM500 juta lebih tinggi dari sepatutnya.