Posts Tagged ‘Penang’

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what about council to help other communities?

May 4th, 2010
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So, when would there be a council to help the Indian contractors? This is the question that will arise when you decide to pander to one community. I think there’s just too many Class F contractors in relation to the amount of contracts. The government can’t be expected to be spoon feeding them any more as the number of contractors increase but number of contracts does not grow in tandem, and not to mention about quality of work provided.  People like “them” need to realise that the pie is getting smaller but population getting bigger. You can’t take from others just because want to fulfill your quotas.

What to do, the constitution is conveniently used to muzzle people from voicing out, so cannot say much on this.

The Penang government today announced the establishment of a consultative council for the 1,316 Class F Bumiputera contractors in the state.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the council would help in terms of business opportunities, guidance, capital aid, business ethics and network formation.

This was the way for the government to resolve their problems and enhance their capability in terms of work standards and competitiveness, he told reporters here.

Lim said the council would establish a sub-centre where these contractors could take advantage of advisory service, training, seminars and briefings on tender information and e-procurement.

“We will look at the progress in the performance of these contractors and will ensure that work for these contractors is awarded throughout the year,” he said.

Lim said the council would hold meetings and discussions from time to time.

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Penang open tender system a farce?

May 4th, 2010
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So says the opposition leader Azhar Ibrahim. According to him, there were negotiations involved with the chosen tenderer. Price is not the only criteria, and I guess choosing the 5th least expensive bid can be validated is the value of service is “value for money”. No point choosing the cheapest if the service/product is below acceptable levels. Also, it depends on other criteria set in the evaluation procedure, such as company background, experience in similar projects, employee experience, certifications obtained etc. Anyway, Lim Guan Eng is expected to clarify about the accusation during his speech later.

Same goes for the award of contract to a company whom parent company is claimed to be in the red, to manage the BJCC. Yeah, its the parent company, but I still think its not a good idea as it gives the wrong impression.

Penang Opposition Leader Azhar Ibrahim has slammed the state government for misleading the public about its open-tender system, which at times turn into negotiated tenders.

While debating the governor’s speech during the state assembly sitting today, Azhar (BN-Penaga) claimed that prices tendered by contractors bidding for projects were altered after several negotiations had taken place with officials. 

Citing an example, Azhar claimed that a company that was provided the fifth least expensive bid was chosen after negotiations, instead of the cheapest bidder. 

“Negotiations, negotiations, negotiations… what kind of open-tender system is this? They (the state) only say it is an open-tender system, but during the selection process, it becomes a closed tender,” he said.

In 2008, Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the open-tender system applies to projects exceeding RM50,000, while for projects between RM20,000 and RM50,000, a balloting system will be introduced.

BJCC management

Azhar also touched on the controversy surrounding the state decision to award troubled Japanese company Taiyo Resort (KL) Bhd the contract to run the Bukit Jambul Country Club (BJCC).

He said that checks have revealed that the company was in the red last year. 

“So what happened to all the negotiations? This company’s financial situation seems to be very bad and yet it was chosen by the state to run BJCC,” he said in his speech. 

The matter had been raised yesterday by Gerakan political caucus secretary Mark Ooi, who pointed out that the parent company Taiyo Resort Development (M) Sdn Bhd is in financial difficulties. 

Ooi said that financial documents showed that the company’s current liabilities amounted to RM114,227,770 while losses after tax amounted to RM19,587,956.

The selection of a company to run the BJCC has been clouded with controversy for months, sparked by Bayan Baru MP Zahrain Hashim’s insistence that the contract be given to another company. 

Zahrain made the recommendation when he was chairperson of Island Golf Properties Bhd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Penang Development Corporation, the state investment arm.

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next Penang CM no more Chinese?

April 29th, 2010
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I think Lim Guan Eng and Gerakan would be very worried with this news :-)

THE Chinese no longer make up the majority in Penang, having been overtaken by the Malay community, reported Nanyang Siang Pau.

The daily quoted Penang Statistics Department director Wan Mohamad Noor Wan Mahmood as saying that there were 18,000 more Malays this year compared to the number of Chinese.

The population in the state is expected to reach 1.6 million, he added.

“There are around 650,000 Chinese in Penang, making up about 43% of the total population in 2005. This is expected to drop to 40.9% this year.

“For the Malays, their numbers will increase to over 670,000, up from 41.3% of the total population to 42%,” he said.

The daily said the change in the racial make-up would translate in a drop in the number of Chinese voters in the state.

“There are 40 state seats in Penang, 16 of which are in mixed race constituencies, 14 in Chinese majority areas and 10 in Malay areas.

“This shows that no single political party can rely on one particular race to gain power in the state.

“Thus, Chinese-based parties like the DAP, which lack a symbolic Malay leader, will face a disadvantage in the next general election,” it said.

The daily also speculated that the new statistics might result in another round of controversy surrounding the post of Chief Minister, which is currently held by DAP’s Lim Guan Eng.

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Terminating tender without reason clause

March 1st, 2010
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While it may be seen as something which is common or acceptable, the clause (number nine) in PDC’s tender application forms which says contract can be terminated at any time without any reason given upon the order of the Chief Minister or PDC chairman is not appropriate for the CAT policy of the Penang state government. You must walk your talk. At least the reason must be provided, and the contractor must have an avenue to appeal or state his case. Then only fair, right?

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has come under fire for having the power to terminate any contract awarded by the Penang Development Corporation (PDC) at any time without giving any reason.

Umno Youth information chief Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican said the insertion of this clause in the PDC’s tender application forms recently was a “psychological threat” to contractors bidding for projects.

He said clause nine in PDC’s Tender Form A stated that contractors could have their contracts terminated at any time without any reason given upon the order of the Chief Minister or PDC chairman.

“How could anyone have the absolute power to overrule the decision made by the state Tender Board?

“This move is not in line with the Treasury’s tender procedures as observed by the Federal Gove rnment,” he told reporters at the Kepala Batas parliamentary-level Juara Rakyat programme launch in Dewan Bakar Kapor here yesterday.

Lim is PDC chairman as well as chairman of the state Tender Board.

Reezal said four contractors had highlighted the problem to him last week.

He said Lim should explain the reasons for introducing the clause and not brush it aside.

Earlier, state opposition leader Datuk Azhar Ibrahim, lashed out at Lim, saying that he hardly showed his face in Kepala Batas but expected the people to continue supporting him like he was their saviour.

When contacted, Penang Malay Contractors Association chairman Datuk Mohamed Fadzill Hassan said he has not received any complaint from his 500-odd members about the clause.

I don’t know anything about this. If there is indeed such a clause, it is not fair because Lim cannot terminate contracts just like that without giving reasons.

“Where is the transparency? The affected party can take him to court,” he said.

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Armed with sticks?

February 8th, 2010
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If the below news is correct, the it casts a very negative view of the police. How can they allow people carrying sticks into the building? Imagine if something happened and people got hurt? The police acted unnecessarily tough during harmless protests like November 25 or PJ candle light vigils, but didn’t do anything to stop protestors from moving from approved location to elsewhere, possibly armed with sticks? If act like this, how to earn respect from public la? Common people like me also will have a negative impression.

Jelutong MP Jeff Ooi, who was also present together with Komtar assemblyman Ng Wei Aik, claimed the police had not acted against the protesters who moved from the mosque to Komtar.

Ng said police should also investigate why a group of protesters had gone into the state administrative office in Komtar armed with sticks but were not stopped by police that day.

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