Khamis, 20 Oktober 2011

BLOG - BLOG PARTI DAP

BLOG - BLOG PARTI DAP


Lim Kit Siang

Posted: 19 Oct 2011 11:30 PM PDT

Lim Kit Siang


Malaysia Losses From Racial Law Exposed

Posted: 19 Oct 2011 10:16 PM PDT

By Chong Pooi Koon | Oct 20, 2011 Bloomberg Lim Guan Eng turned Malaysia's second-smallest state into the nation's biggest economic success after he bumped into two National Instruments Corp. (NATI) executives at the local airport in 2008. Elected in March that year as Penang's first chief minister from an opposition party in 36 years, [...]

Wake up, Malaysians

Posted: 19 Oct 2011 05:36 PM PDT

— Ali Kadir The Malaysian Insider Oct 19, 2011 OCT 19 — I find it incredulous that so much angst and disbelief has been exhibited by Opposition politicians, pundits and readers of news portals, including The Malaysian Insider, over the lies that Lim Guan Eng's son had behaved inappropriately towards a girl in his school [...]

Ladies & Gentlemen, we have safely landed…

Posted: 19 Oct 2011 03:50 AM PDT

By Art Harun Ding dong…a very good evening Ladies and Gentlemen, we have safely landed at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport. Welcome to Malaysia. The local time is 5.35pm. The weather is slightly cloudy with the usual monsoon rain expected in about 30 minutes time and the current temperature is 34 degrees Celcius. For those [...]

Allegations against Guan Eng’s son ‘completely untrue,’ says school principal

Posted: 19 Oct 2011 03:07 AM PDT

By Shazwan Mustafa Kamal | October 19, 2011 (updated) The Malaysian Insider KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 19 – The principal of SMK Heng Ee in George Town today moved to put an end to accusations that Lim Guan Eng's son had sexually harassed a female student of the school, calling it "completely untrue." Goon Boon Poh [...]

Khairy, Oh why Khairy?

Posted: 19 Oct 2011 12:10 AM PDT

By Douglas Tan | October 19, 2011 Free Malaysia Today LETTER In less than 140 characters, Khairy Jamaluddin may have just destroyed his and Umno's chances of swaying fence sitters and Malay moderates from supporting Barisan Nasional at the next General Election. He has committed the cardinal sin of politics by picking on not his [...]

Charles Santiago

Posted: 19 Oct 2011 11:03 PM PDT

Charles Santiago


MP raises fears on EU-Malaysia FTA

Posted: 19 Oct 2011 09:57 AM PDT

K. Pathmavathi

An opposition parliamentarian has cautioned the government against endorsing the free trade agreement (FTA) with the European Union (EU), saying the deal will make local companies vulnerable.

Charles Santiago (DAP-Klang) said the EU was forcing Malaysia to agree to a “state-investor dispute settlement mechanism”, that would ensure the interests of investors in the country are protected.

mtuc syabas pc 091007 charles santiagoThe EU-Malaysia FTA negotiations have been going on in Kuala Lumpur since yesterday to outline “specific terms” of the agreement.

“One of the most worrying 'specific terms’ is the investment chapter of the FTA that the EU wants Malaysia to adopt. Specifically, the investment chapter contains provisions that allow investors to sue governments directly,” Santiago said.

According to him, the investment protection chapter allows investors to circumvent domestic laws and get disputes referred to international arbitration.

“Most importantly, the state-investor dispute mechanism allows investors to sue governments before international arbitration panels.”

Governments put at mercy of arbitration panels

Santiago said many countries that signed such FTAs have fallen into the trap.

“More than 300 cases have been referred to international arbitration since the 1990s. Most of these cases have resulted in governments paying out millions to investors,” he said.

The tricky mechanism, he explained, puts governments at the mercy of international arbitration panels if it was perceived that state policies jeopardised the profits of investing companies.

“Here in Parliament, we are making laws in the best interests of the nation. But these laws can be overturned by an international arbitration panel if judged as detrimental to investors,” Santiago stressed.

tobacco cigarette warning label in australia 041206Citing an example, he said in February last year tobacco giant Philip Morris filed a request to the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes for arbitration in a dispute with Uruguay.

Philip Morris argued that recent tobacco regulations enacted by Uruguay violated several provisions of the Switzerland-Uruguay bilateral investment treaty.

The tobacco company was challenging new provisions under Uruguay’s tobacco regulations, the most prominent being a requirement that cigarette packets include “pictograms” of graphic images of the health consequences of smoking.

“Clearly, Philip Morris is critical of the health policy of the Uruguayan government as it will impact on its profits,” said Santiago.

Such investor protection would have an impact on the sovereignty of the country and “limit the
state’s ability to regulate and develop polices in the best interests of its citizens”, he said.

The MP added that Malaysia should take heed from countries such as Australia in opposing “greater rights for foreign companies”.

Australia, in its trade policy, specifies that the government will not grant or support greater legal rights for foreign businesses or agree to any provision that constrains the government’s ability to make laws on “social, environmental and economic matters”.

Santiago urged Malaysia to take a similar position “to protect our regulatory space and sovereignty” and reject any form of pressure from the EU.


FTA will make foreigners overly powerful

Posted: 19 Oct 2011 12:57 AM PDT

Source :- Free Malaysia Today

Patrick Lee  October 19, 2011

Foreign investors can bypass local laws and punish the government if the latter stops them from making profits under a FTA, says DAP’s Charles Santiago.

KUALA LUMPUR: Local companies may be able to hold the government to ransom if Malaysia signs a Free Trade Agreement with the European Union (EU).

Klang MP (DAP) Charles Santiago said that the EU was forcing Malaysia to accept a "state-investor dispute mechanism", which he said would protect foreign investors' interests here.

Coming back as foreign investors, local companies, he warned, would be able to bypass local law and take the government to an international court if the former was challenged.

"Under the liberalisation of 17 sub-sectors, chances are Malaysian companies are going to go overseas and register in other countries, and come back as a foreign company," said Santiago.

He said that foreign companies would be even able to use foreign law to punish the Malaysian government.

"If a foreign company is unhappy with the Malaysian government on healthcare for example, they can bypass the Malaysian system and go to an international arbitration panel," he said.

Santiago then cited cigarette company, Philip Morris, as an example.

He said that on Feb 19, 2010, the Swiss-based Philip Morris filed an arbitration request against Uruguay with the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID).

Malaysia's sovereignity affected

At the time, the company allegedly argued that Uruguayan tobacco regulations violated several provisions of the Switzerland-Uruguay bilateral investment treaty (BIT).

These regulations included the placing of gruesome pictures over the consequences of smoking, and health warning labels on cigarette packs.

"They used the Swiss law to go after Uruguay," Santiago said, adding that more than 300 cases have been referred to international arbitration since the 1990s.

Governments in turn, he added, have had to pay millions to foreign investors as a result.

Malaysia's sovereignity, Santiago said, would be affected and that Parliament would have no power over the matter.

He said that the government should follow Australia's example and oppose greater rights for foreign companies, as well as the inclusion of the state-investor dispute mechanism.

Asked why the Malaysian government would agree to such an idea, Santiago said: "I don't know. You have to ask them."

He claimed that Malaysia was currently in its fifth round of FTA negotiations with the EU in KL today, but was unable to disclose the location of these talks.


புக்கிட் ஜாலில் முன்னாள் தோட்ட தொழிலாளர்களின் பிரச்சனையை தீர்ப்பீர் – நாடாளுமன்றத்தில் சார்ல்ஸ்

Posted: 18 Oct 2011 11:47 PM PDT

மூலம் :- மலேசிய நண்பன்


Sumbangan kepada Fakir Miskin Sempena Sambutan Hari Deepavali மக்கள் நல நிகழ்வு – வசதியற்றவர்களுக்கு தீபாவளி அன்பளிப்பு

Posted: 18 Oct 2011 11:13 PM PDT

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Blog@Wengsan...博客@永山

Posted: 19 Oct 2011 09:36 PM PDT

Blog@Wengsan...博客@永山


迟至今日抨雪议员调薪,国阵才是讲一套做一套

Posted: 19 Oct 2011 10:25 AM PDT

View issues with Tan Seng Giaw

Posted: 19 Oct 2011 03:31 PM PDT

View issues with Tan Seng Giaw


Fair criteria for STPM holders to further their studies

Posted: 18 Oct 2011 11:21 PM PDT

DAP National Deputy Chairman and MP for Kepong Dr Tan Seng Giaw calls on the Higher Education Ministry to come out with fair criteria for students who have passed Higher School Certificate, Matriculation and Asasi to further their studies.

Countries with similar types of examinations such as Australia, the United Kingdom and New Zealand have their system for Sixth Form holders to further their studies. Some end up in universities and some in colleges.

On 19.10.2010, Dr Tan comments on the media report that 12,000 STPM/Matriculation/Asasi holders who have not managed a place in the 20 public universities.

It is a good thing to see that thousands of Malaysian youths sit for the equivalent of Sixth Form examinations. We hope that the Education Ministry ensures that STPM, Matriculation and Asasi have equivalent Sixth Form standard. Although these examinations do not necessarily reflect the true ability of every student, candidates who take these examinations believe in education.

According to the Higher Education Ministry, 64,703 candidates with passes in STPM/Matriculation/Asasi applied for degree courses in 20 public universities; 53,216 had minimum qualifications and 41,267 had been offered places in these universities. 12,000 have not been successful.

Some suggest that 12,000 unsuccessful candidates are enrolled in private institutions. Private universities have their own criteria.

We hope that STPM (HSC), Matriculation and Asasi have equivalent standard. We know that not all who possess Sixth Form certificates will get into institutions to which they have applied. Each institution has its own criteeria. Hence, the Higher Education Ministry must come out with fair and just criteria for university intake. There must be adequate public and private institutions to cater for the need.

Tan Seng Giaw

MY VOICE FOR NATION

Posted: 19 Oct 2011 01:19 PM PDT

MY VOICE FOR NATION


No parliament sitting on Deepavali eve | Free Malaysia Today

Posted: 18 Oct 2011 11:02 PM PDT

PAS opts out of Himpun to keep it apolitical

Posted: 18 Oct 2011 06:52 PM PDT

SUARA PERAK

Posted: 19 Oct 2011 11:25 AM PDT

SUARA PERAK


Media View : Free Legal Advise at DUN Tronoh Service Centre (Makkal Osai 18 Oct 11)

Posted: 19 Oct 2011 09:05 AM PDT

Media Post : People's Voice Made It Happen for SRJK (T) Gunung Rapat

Posted: 19 Oct 2011 08:42 AM PDT

Philosophy Politics Economics

Posted: 19 Oct 2011 09:01 AM PDT

Philosophy Politics Economics


Why No Open Tenders for IPPs?

Posted: 18 Oct 2011 05:08 PM PDT

I raised the question in Parliament to the Minister of Energy, Green Technology and Water to explain the reason why the latest 1,000MW coal-fired power plant project was awarded in June 2011 without any open tender. I also asked for the key terms and conditions of the Independent Power Producer (IPP) concession agreement, such as the price of electricity, capacity charges etc., to be disclosed in Parliament.

In the Minister's reply to me yesterday, it was disclosed that a closed tender was called for the award of the project because the project needs to be completed within a short period of time. Hence only 2 companies were called to take part in the "closed tender" – Jimah Energy Ventures and Tanjung Bin Power, a subsidiary of Malakoff Bhd. The new power plant is required to commence operations in 2016.

I fail to understand how a project which is only expected to commence operations in 2016, 5 years from now is so "urgent" that only 2 companies were called in a limited tender exercise. Having had more than a decade of experience with IPPs, as well as more than half-a-dozen of qualified IPPs in the country, there is little excuse for the Ministry to avoid an open and competitive tender.

What is perhaps more shocking was the Minister's reply that the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) has not been finalized and hence, the expected tariff rate for electricity generated to be sold to Tenaga Nasional Bhd as well as the period of concession have not been finalized. He added that the terms will only be finalized at the end of the year.

It defies belief that the Government has taken the decision to award an IPP concession without even first finalizing key terms such as tariff rates and the length of concession.

It is hence not surprising that Malaysian electricity prices remains relatively high despite the amount of subsidies the Government has allocated to the industry. The subsidies have obviously not reached the man-on-the-street, but have instead been siphoned off as super-profits for these IPPs.

For example, despite the subsidies for natural gas supplied to IPPs being much higher in Malaysia compared to Thailand, consumers and businesses in the latter pay a lower electricity tariff than in Malaysia. Natural gas is supplied to Malaysian IPPs at RM13.70 mmBtu while it is 68.6% higher in Thailand at RM23.10 mmBtu. Despite that, a consumer using 500kW of electricity a month in Thailand pays only RM129.50, or 21.4% cheaper than Malaysians at RM157.20.

The underlying reason for the lower tariff rates in Thailand is because Thailand runs an extremely competitive IPP market where the Government awards IPP concessions after a prequalification exercise, based strictly on price.

If the Government is sincere about prices low in Malaysia to relieve the burdens of the rakyat, then the manner in which privatization projects and concessions are awarded in such an opaque and anti-competitive manner must be immediately "transformed", or the rakyat will continue to suffer from unreasonably higher cost of living.

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