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Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe to poobalan.com by Email Citizen Journalist Arvind Raj interviewed few folks of Kg Buah Pala to find out what’s happening:
So, would their hope of getting/buying the land that belongs to Federal Government will become a reality?
| Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe to poobalan.com by Email Those who are familiar with India will know about ration cards (or ration stamps). Its a method whereby folks can buy essential items at controlled prices.
The MHS (Penang Branch) is proposing a similar system in Malaysia.
Maybe in Malaysia, can implement using our MyKads. Set up “ration offices” or counters” at strategic location or make use of the existing shops by equipping them with MyKad readers.
The Penang branch of the Malaysian Hindu Sangam (MHS) wants the government to issue ration cards for essential commodities for the hardcore poor to help them cope with the rapidly rising cost of living.
Association deputy chairperson cum its social and welfare sub-committee chairperson P Murugiah told Malaysiakini that prices of essential foods items like rice, cooking oil , sugar and milk have jumped a mind-boggling 200 percent compared to 10 years ago.
He cited cases of mothers who, unable to breastfeed their new-born babies, opt for water mixed with sugar or condensed milk; young children dropping out of schools to work to help the family and those unable to settle their electricity and water bills, turning to oil lamps.
The hardcore poor survive on only one meal a day and that too non-nutritious food of either roti canai or nasi lemak.
He claimed that a some single mothers have been driven by financial desperation to vice to support their children .
He quoted the prices of some food like cheap fish which used to be between 30 sen to 50 sen per 600 gms about 10 years ago, now go for RM2 per 600 gms, ikan billis price has soared 300 percent, a loaf of bread once RM1, is now RM3 , eggs that cost 10 sen each now go for between 25-30 sen.
Murugiah (left) said the government should consider emulating measures taken by India to alleviate the plight of the poorest through ration cards.
The BPL or below the poverty line ration card is issued to the head of an Indian family whose total earnings is below Rs10,000 per annum (RM700) while those categorised above the poverty line (APL) with a total family income of more than Rs10,000 are each issued a white ration card annually.
A ration card is a very useful document as it helps save money by aiding in the procurement of essential commodities at subsidised rates.
According to Murugiah, the hardcore poor in India are entitled to free essential items every month.
On the government’s plan to phase out all subsidies because of depleting public funds, Murugiah criticised Putrayaja for wasting public funds on mega projects that brought little benefit to the public, especially those in the lower income group.
“The government’s top priority should be to ensure a social safety net for its citizens rather than building public monuments which are a waste of tax-payers’ money.
On its part the Penang MHS, through public donations, is providing monthly food rations to poor families comprising 32 Malays, 22 Indians and 10 Chinese.
| Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe to poobalan.com by Email 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.
| Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe to poobalan.com by Email 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.
| Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe to poobalan.com by Email 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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