Posts Tagged ‘Perak’

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Referendum the way forward?

November 22nd, 2008
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I have not heard the word referendum and Malaysia in the same breath so far. Is it the first time in the last 30 years? Hope someone can clarify.

Anyway, Perak will be holding a refererendum to decide if Jalan Silibin be renamed to Jalan Patto. I hope the referendum is conducted so that we can see what the Ipoh people think. Don’t cancel it due to some reason or another.

Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin announced that a referendum would be held on whether the road should keep its name or be changed to honour P. Patto, the late DAP stalwart.

Nizar said the referendum would be organised by state executive councillor A. Sivanesan, and the state government would abide by the people’s decision.

“The state government will abide by the people’s stand.

“The referendum will gather everyone’s views rather than a small segment of city dwellers.”

Numerous groups have protested against the move, forcing the state government to hold the referendum.

Several state DAP leaders, including Sivanesan, had remained steadfast in their campaign to rename Jalan Silibin, despite increasing dissent from businesses and residents.

Ipoh Barat member of parliament M. Kulasegaran said a survey conducted by DAP members revealed that 70 of the 100 respondents had agreed to the proposal.

The DAP vice-chairman and local councillor added that many residents were agreeable to the renaming of the road when he met them personally.

Speaking to reporters at the Parliament lobby, in Kuala Lumpur, yesterday, Kulasegaran along with DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang, said the road had no historical significance.

They said it would be fitting to rename the road after Patto as he was a former MP of the area.

Kulasegaran said DAP had not made a final decision on the issue and was still gathering feedback.

He said DAP would organise a public consultation session through the Ipoh City Council next month.

What do you think? Are referendums good? Should the public be exposed to all possible data/information before referendums so that they can make a better decision?

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Silibin versus Patto

November 16th, 2008
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First, let’s look at two different statistics:

NST:

He pointed out yesterday that during a month-long survey conducted by the state DAP, only 12 out of 100 respondents living in Jalan Silibin had voiced their reservations over the renaming of the road.

He said 55 residents and business operators had supported the renaming while 37 others were neutral in the matter.

55+37+12 = 114. This is more than 100 possibly because the combination of residents and business owners, but still need to clarify why 114 responses exist.

The Star:

He said of the 74 respondents interviewed, 55 supported the idea while 12 disagreed and seven were neutral.

“We made sure we got the views of a multiracial group of people so that all races were represented,” he said.

55 + 12 + 7= 74. Perfect fit.

But how can the Star and NST report two different set of numbers? Who to believe?

Let’s see both side of the arguments:

For change
– honor the late Patto
– the late Patto served Silibin area before
– The hassle for residents is minimal. (well, then perhaps the state government can cover the cost of the changes – MyKad, business cards, letterheads etc.).
– Jalan Silibin is not that well known, unlike Jalan Alor which is world famous
– No record of the history or origin of the name “Silibin” – claims Kulasegaran.
– 70% of residents affects agree to the change

Against change
– Its a hassle and unnecessary expense
– Will affect businesses
– Can rename a monument or park, or name a road in new housing area.
– Silibin has lots of historical significance.

A group of businessmen even sent a petition to Perak Menteri Besar protesting the proposed change.

I think there should be a study on the historical significance or origin of “Silibin”. It should be having some history behind it. Secondly, since 30 percent are opposing, perhaps the state government can hold a public forum to get more responses (being a transparent state, its should do so). The state can also identity other sites/roads that can be named after the late Patto. Being a caring government, it can reimburse the affected businesses and residents if the name is changed.

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Perak EXCO doesn’t know MIDA!

November 13th, 2008
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I nearly fell of my chair when I read the following:

State Industry Development and Information Committee chairman Tai Sing Ng (PKR-Kuala Sepetang) bore the brunt of it when he was ticked off by Datuk Ramly Zahari (BN-Manong) for not knowing what was Mida (Malaysian Industrial Develop­ment Authority) as it was under Tai’s portfolio.

Ramly asked a supplementary question on whether all foreign direct investments (FDI) into Perak was approved by Mida.

Seeing Tai’s puzzled look, Ramly asked Tai whether he knew what Mida was.

When Tai said he did not know, Ramly said: “Don’t know? Sorry.”

How in the world can an EXCO don’t know what is MIDA? Students learn in school itself. Worse still, this guy is the EXCO in charge of Industry Development in Perak. Like this means can close shop soon!

I label this under Crime!

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Vice and gambling increasing in Perak?

November 11th, 2008
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Let’s look at the figures given by Perak police chief Deputy Comm Datuk Zulkifli Abdullah:

  • 18% rise in arrests made on foreigners engaged in vice activities across the state this year. A total of 987 foreigners, mostly from China, some from Indonesia, Vietnam and other countries, were arrested in 305 raids conducted from January to October this year. The figures did not include the recent arrests of 36 foreign women found hiding in a special room at an entertainment outlet in Ipoh during a raid on Nov 9. This is an 18% increase on the same period last year.
  • From January to September this year, police confiscated 1,385 computers used for gambling in 125 raids in cybercafes in Perak. This is a 75% rise from the same period last year.

The police are now asking the state government to :

  • either stop issuing entertainment licences to errant operators or tighten the rules in a move to combat prostitution.
  • to make it mandatory for karaoke operators to use glass windows in each of their karaoke rooms at their outlets.

Perak Education, Local Government, Housing and Public Transport Committee chairman Nga Kor Ming replies:

“If they have the evidence of operators infringing the law, the state government will give its full cooperation to the police to act against the errant operators,”

“We want to uphold the law and the matter must also be handled with the full compliance of the law,”

Looks like Pakatan Rakyat is having a problem containing such criminal activities. Or is it possible that the police have a freer hand in taking action, thus able to make more arrests and raids? Whatever it is, the numbers are not a good sign. The statistics should also be compared with other states to see if such trend exists or only unique to Perak. I can imagine that more developed states like Penang, Selangor and Johor having higher statistics.

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Nationwide campaign against HINDRAF ban at Ipoh Little India

October 19th, 2008
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The controversial Deepavali celebrations at Ipoh Little India was launched on Friday by Lim Kit Siang. At the same time, a nationwide campaign calling for the ban on the Hindraf movement to be lifted.

Lim Kit
Siang urged traders and patrons of
Little India to mark this year’s Deepavali celebrations with a
unified voice condemning the ban.

But there’s no mention on who organised the campaign. DAP? Pakatan Rakyat? Perak state?

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