Sinar Harian

PETALING JAYA – PKR meminta penjelasan daripada Kerajaan Negeri Terengganu, Petronas dan Kerajaan Persekutuan berhubung terma penyelesaian di luar mahkamah mengenai jumlah bayaran royalti minyak dan gas di negeri itu.

Setiausaha Agungnya, Saifuddin Nasution Ismail berkata, pada 12 Mac lalu, Kerajaan Negeri telah menggugurkan tindakan undang-undang terhadap Petronas dan Kerajaan Pusat sedangkan ia dimulakan oleh Kerajaan Negeri pada Mac 2001.

Menurutnya, tindakan undang-undang tersebut telah dimulakan oleh Kerajaan Negeri ekoran keengganan Petronas dan Kerajaan Pusat meneruskan bayaran royalti sepertimana Perjanjian 1975.

“PKR mahu penjelasan jumlah bayaran sebenar akan diperolehi Kerajaan Negeri hasil penyelesaian tersebut memandangkan perbezaan harga minyak dunia antara AS$20 hingga AS$100 setong sepanjang tempoh tersebut.

“PKR juga mahukan penjelasan mengenai akaun mana wang ini dimasukkan sama ada kumpulan wang disatukan Kerajaan Negeri atau digunakan terus untuk membiayai projek-projek seperti Piala Monsun, Masjid Kristal dan lain-lain,” katanya pada satu sidang media, semalam.

Sinar Harian

BANKRAP adalah satu modal baru Umno-BN untuk menakutkan rakyat supaya jangan pilih Pakatan Rakyat. Sebelumnya mereka menggunakan isu agama, bangsa dan raja. Oleh kerana ketiga-tiga isu ini sudah menjadi basi dan tidak laku kerana Umno mempunyai rekod yang buruk terhadap tiga perkara yang diperkatakan. Maka Umno mengalih pemikiran rakyat dengan menakutkan isu bankrap jika Pakatan Rakyat memerintah. Semua tawaran Pakatan Rakyat akan dilabelkan bankrap dengan harapan rakyat tidak beralih sokongan dan meninggalkan Umno.

Apabila Pakatan Rakyat menjanjikan untuk menghapuskan PTPTN, hapuskan tol, gaji minimum RM1,100.00, menurun harga minyak, mengekalkan subsidi. Maka terdapat suara-suara sumbang mengatakan negara akan bankrap, termasuklah dari kalangan pensyarah. Apa yang pelik semua yang dilakukan oleh kerajaan BN tidak berani ditegur walaupun memudaratkan ekonomi negara dan membankrapkan negara walaupun mengenepikan prinsip ketelusan.

Sebenarnya taktik pemimpin BN bermodalkan bankrap supaya rakyat lupa bahawa negara akan menjadi bankrap, kerana rekod pemerintahan Umno seperti barah di peringkat empat. Apa tidaknya, hutang negara 53 peratus, paras bahaya ialah 55 peratus. Hutang negara melonjak dari RM146 bilion pada tahun 2002, RM242 bilion (2006) dan RM456.1 bilion pada penghujung 2011. Wang Felda susut daripada RM4.08 bilion (2004) kepada RM1.35 bilion (2009). Saham Bumiputera RM52 bilion lesap, Stadium Terengganu berharga RM292 juta runtuh, walaupun hanya setahun dibina, upah Apco Yahudi Israel RM77 juta setahun, RM589 juta hutang bekas Pengerusi Eksekutif MAS Tan Sri Tajudin Ramli dihapus kira, projek NFC RM250 juta, Laporan Ketua Audit Negara 2008 menyatakan berlaku ketirisan RM28 bilion, laporan Ketua Audit Negara 2006 melaporkan Kementerian Pertahanan membayar kepada kontraktor sebanyak RM943.46 juta (hampir RM1 bilion) tanpa ada baucar.

Ini bukti bahawa negara akan bankrap jika BN terus berkuasa. Sedangkan tawaran PR untuk membantu rakyat dengan kita memerangi rasuah, perbelanjaan berhemah insya-Allah negara selamat, rakyat mendapat rahmat.

Idris Ahmad, Ahli Jawatankuasa Pas Pusat

Harakah

KUALA LUMPUR: Setiausaha Politik Presiden PAS, Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar (gambar) menyelar laporan The Star dan beberapa media perdana hari ini yang cuba menggambarkan Datuk Seri Tuan Guru Abdul Hadi Awang seolah-olah tidak bersetuju dengan pemansuhan Perbadanan Tabung Pendidikan Tinggi Nasional PTPTN.

Menurutnya, akhbar itu juga dalam laporannya cuba menunjukkan kononnya presiden PAS menyanggah cadangan Ketua Pembangkang Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim untuk memansuhkan PTPTN jika Pakatan Rakyat meguasai Putrajaya.

“Ini adalah menunjukkan niat jahat untuk melaga-lagakan pimpinan tertinggi Pakatan Rakyat semata-mata. Media arus perdana ini dengan jeleknya telah sengaja memutar belitkan maksud ulasan Presiden PAS seperti mana menjadi amalan kebiasaan mereka.

“Ingin dipertegaskan bahawa isu penghapusan PTPTN telah dibincang dengan mendalam dan Datuk Seri Tuan Guru Abdul Hadi Awang juga turut memberikan pandangan yang menjadi pendirian bersama pimpinan Pakatan Rakyat dalam isu ini,” kata Samsuri.

The Star dalam laporannya yang bertajuk ‘PTPTN must stay for now’ yang memetik sumber Sinar Harian melaporkan kononnya Abdul Hadi tidak menyokong penghapusan PTPTN dan memberikan pandangan yang bercanggah dari Anwar dalam isu PTPTN.

Sedangkan kenyataan asal Abdul Hadi yang dipetik akhbar berbahasa Melayu itu langsung tidak menunjukkan sebarang percanggahan dengan kenyataan Ketua Umum PKR itu seperti dilapor The Star.

“Apa yang dipertegaskan oleh Presiden PAS ialah bahawa PTPTN akan dihapuskan. Manakala penghapusan PTPTN pula akan dilaksanakan dengan prosesnya.

“Proses yang dimaksudkan oleh Presiden PAS di sini ialah penghapusan PTPTN sepatutnya tidak membimbangkan mana-mana pihak, kerana ianya akan dilaksanakan dengan penuh prinsip keadilan dan tidak membebankan rakyat, di mana orang miskin akan dibela tanpa mengira kaum mereka dan orang yang kaya mestilah memainkan tanggungjawab membantu mengikut kemampuan mereka dalam sebuah negara,” kata Samsuri lagi.

Menurut laporan Sinar Harian semalam, Abdul Hadi juga turut mendakwa kerajaan pimpinan Barisan Nasional (BN) berbohong kepada rakyat apabila menyatakan negara akan jatuh bankrap sekiranya dana pendidikan itu dihapuskan.

“Pendidikan percuma itu konsep negara berkebajikan yang PAS kemukakan. Masalah dana perlu ditangani dengan bijak, kita nak laksanakan konsep (negara berkebajikan) tapi terpaksa memikul bebanan kesalahan BN.

“Bankrap itu tidak betul, bohong, ia disebabkan salah urus. Banyak negara seperti Britain, Sweeden, Norway dan Jerman beri pendidikan percuma. Apa yang berlaku adalah kerana duit negara bocor sebab rasuah, penyelewengan,” katanya.

Speech by Anwar Ibrahim at the Economist’s CEO Lunch meet, APRIL 19, 2012 at the KL Hilton

In a collection of Greek and Latin proverbs compiled by the Renaissance humanist and philosopher Erasmus, known as Adagia, we are told: Multa cadunt inter calicem supremaque labra.

Not to worry, because for the life of me, I too haven’t the foggiest idea what it means.

But after doing some checking, this is just the Latin version of an old English proverb many of us are familiar with. It goes like this: “There’s many a slip between the cup and the lip”. In other words, even when the outcome of an event looks certain, things can and do go wrong.

That proverb could also be a convenient excuse when we don’t fulfill our promises, especially if we have made grand pronouncements about great changes to come. Well, I think you know where I’m heading here but just to add on to the drama, let me throw in another quote. For this, T.S. Eliot is the master:

Between the idea
And the reality
Between the motion
And the act
Falls the Shadow…

Now, this is no ordinary shadow but a long drawn veil of different shades of darkness.

But seriously, I am saying this because today more than ever before we are living in a world dominated by sense perception. A world where sound bites, boiler plate pronouncements and state-of-the-art mass media image-building take the place of sincere and straightforward expressions of truth.

In this regard, we have been treated to a barrage of promising reforms, which look very good on paper and even more impressive through media campaigns which cost millions of ringgit of the tax payers’ money. And this is money spent without any regard to accountability.

Indeed when it comes to promises, we have an embarrassment of riches. Firstly there is the overkill of sound bites such as the NEM, the GTP, the ETP, and the list goes on. They may all sound different but as you know, they are essentially cosmetic variations of the same stale approach to economic management.

But first let us look at the political and legal reforms which have been touted to have ushered in a new era of freedom and democracy for the nation.

To begin with, as you know the ISA is supposed to have been abolished just over the weekend. But even before we could give it a decent burial, the powers that be have already resurrected it from the grave. They’ve given it a different name of course, but we know that a bad law by any other name will still smell as bad.

Much has already been said by all concerned parties about the erosion of our fundamental rights and freedom, and that this new law is akin to taking away the powers of the police from their right pocket only to put it back into their left pocket. Suffice it to add that with the passing of this new repressive law, the stench of oppression still permeates the air and the Sword of Damocles still hangs over our heads.

Let me now share some thoughts with you on our social and economic policy road map which is encapsulated in the Pakatan Rakyat’s Orange Book. Firstly, this policy is founded on a new social contract between the government and the people. In the event of a transition to power, we pledge to introduce sweeping reforms.

We want to establish a real democracy to reflect and empower the supremacy of the people. We want to build a dynamic and sustainable economy to provide prosperity to all. The drivers for growth will be essentially led by the private sector. But this will not be crony capitalism driven by a philosophy of greed. It will be free market capitalism with a humane face. This is not an ideal in the clouds but a reality that can be achieved because we will be guided by the principles of social justice.

We will continue the practice of transparent and responsible government as currently done by Pakatan Rakyat states. We will free the nation’s institutions from the undue influence of politics and restore them to their past glory. The Judiciary has been savaged by the UMNO/BN Executive. We pledge to stop the political meddling in judicial proceedings and restore its independence and competency.

Other national institutions of government must be reformed: the Election Commission, the MACC, the AG’s Chambers and the Police – these are essential institutions to ensure the rule of law. They work for the people, not the political masters. They must be transparent and accountable. (more…)

Malaysiakini

Ketua pembangkang Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim menegaskan bahawa golongan kaya perlu membayar semula pinjaman melalui Perbadanan Tabung Pendidikan Tinggi Nasional (PTPTN) walau Pakatan Rakyat komited untuk memansuhkan bayaran itu.

Anwar berkata, Pakatan akan berusaha untuk menyediakan rangka kerja untuk memberi pendidikan percuma dan memansuhkan pinjaman semula itu.

Namun langkah itu lebih banyak melibatkan golongan miskin dan juga yang berpendapatan sederhana yang tidak mampu membiaya pendidikan selain melalui pinjaman, katanya.

Katanya lagi, peluang pendidikan bukanlah satu masalah kepada golongan kaya dan maha kaya, katanya lagi,

“Saya dengar, anak lelaki bos AirAsia (Tan Sri) Tony Fernandes pun memohon (pinjaman PTPTN), ini tak munasabah,” katanya dengan berjenaka dalam satu sidang media selepas mempengerusikan mesyuarat majlis pimpinan Pakatan Rakyat hari ini.

Malaysia Chronicle

Today, the raging debate is about PTPTN loans. Buried within this concern that has gone viral and public today is a long and festering issue of making education into a business to profiteer from. The trophy of course goes to Tun Dr Mahathir although he has recently and as usual, blamed Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim entirely.

When the Pakatan Leader announced that the Opposition political party will do away with education loans and ensure everyone had free access to higher education, the avalanche of BN machinery has come cascading.

Senior BN personalities have immediately dismissed the notion of free education. Their arguments ranged from maintaining that the nation would be bankrupted to one of one of putting the blame entirely on the head of DSAI. How pathetic.

But history is recorded. Let us take a trip down memory lane.

This is what Tunku said

In 1958 the late YTM Tunku Abdul Rahman Al-Haj declared, “Here I would like to emphasize that there is one thing the Government will not consider in terms of lack of money, and that is the question of education. In this case, the Government is giving special consideration in order to honor its education policy. The future of the country depends a great deal on the students of today.”

We did not have petro-dollars then; we did not have the highly profitable palm oil either. We were a poor, fourth-world nation that had just earned its independence after having lost so much wealth to feed and comfort the colonial powers. But Bapa Malaysia had that courage, determination and wisdom to recognize that education was the cornerstone for the future of the nation. He made it very clear that the Government must shoulder this responsibility fully.

And YTM Tunku encapsulated the role and responsibility very clearly – one that does not let money to be the impediment of education. If the money had to be found, it better be found so that every one can have free education.

And what Hussein Onn said

If that is not enough, let us hear out another Visionary Leader, the late YAB Dato’ Hussein Onn who held in 1979, “It has always been the Government’s desire to widen the opportunities and access to higher education for all. Tertiary education should not be confined only to those who can afford or those who come from higher income groups. But, it should be available to everyone who qualifies.”

Again, a right thinking Government ensured that there are no financial impediments to further education.

Then came Mahathirism

But look at what Mahathirism has yoked the rakyat with. Through all kinds of unprecedented privatization policies, crutches, favoritism, Ali Baba schemes, and what have you, the visions of our past Leaders were systematically dismantled and abandoned by the doctor who helmed the nation for 22 years.

And today when the students, unable to continue any longer with the burden of PTPTN loan schemes – given the spiraling cost of living and shrinking purse strings, raise the alarm what do we get in rebuttal?

> blaming the Opposition leader;

> challenging the opposition held States to go it alone;

> attempting to justify by stating that the Government already subsidizes the cost of education;

> taking high handed action against protestors; threatening that the country would sink into bankruptcy if education was free;

> accusing those in support of free education of becoming victims of populist ideologies – all of these despite having created for the select and privileged few a handful of billionaires;

> extravagant lifestyles for BN leaders and their families;

> recording eyebrow-raising profits year in, year out for some select companies;

> and what have you.

Just shut up and study!

One cannot question the wheeler-dealer mega million businesses inked under cloak and cover of the Official Secrets Act (OSA); arresting and shutting down people in the know who question such deals with the infamous Internal Security Act (ISA) and beating up people with scare tactics and chemical laced water cannons if they protest in public.

“Your job students is to shut up and study, otherwise we will throw you out” has been the all too often threat billowed down the necks of students who moaned and groand under the trying conditions.

Too busy with bailouts for cronies

It is not a problem to pump billions of ringgit into loss making Government ventures; it is also okay to rescue sons and daughters and proxies when they hit troubled financial waters, thereby costing the nation’s coffers millions of ringgit.

So Mahathir set in motion an idea that was contrary to what YAB Dato’ Hussein Onn and YTM Tunku Abdul Rahman Al-Haj had about education. For the Tun and BN, education cannot be free. If you want we will lend you some money but you better pay up or else we will come after you like a blood hound.

Today when it comes to education, all the way from pre-school to the graduate corridors it is money making. From school bags to pencils, from text books to workbooks, from sports to extra-curriculum activities, from projects to examinations – it is money. Even to get to do your mandatory internship, you have to fork out your own money because the pittance paid by some organizations cannot even buy you one lunch every day.

No money, no talk.

And on top of that you have to borrow from your own Government and earn your guts out to make good all payments.

So, in a nutshell is it not a case of bonded slavery in disguise? The ordinary rakyat must slog all the way to his or her tombstone making others richer. If you happen to get rich through the long corridors of education, sheer hard work, and some luck, you must also keep paying the rent-seekers to keep moving on, right?

When do we say enough is enough? When do we say the buck stops right here? When do wake up and see the whole truth? And how?

It is only when we are all agreed on the answers to these questions can we start back from where our founding fathers YAB Dato’ Hussein Onn and YTM Tunku Abdul Rahman Al-Haj left us.

Otherwise, we are headed in one direction – all the way downhill for a crash landing. But by then the pilots would have fled to their havens under the pretext of giving others a chance to lead, you know.

From Asia 360 News

How does a Muslim village boy who faithfully attends Quran classes and goes home to the works of Lao Tzu and Confucius, grow up to view the world — and his country? The scope of Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s worldview is matched by the breadth of his political ambitions. Having risen from the ashes, the leader of Malaysia’s opposition is raring to prove his mettle at the upcoming elections.

Asia360 News editor-in-chief Goh Chien Yen caught up with Anwar Ibrahim in an exclusive interview at the Houses of Parliament, to discuss how exactly the firebrand politician plans to do that.

Asia360 News: There is a lot of talk about the general elections being round the corner. Some predict that they could be held as early as June this year. When do you think it will be?

Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim: I don’t know. I’m not particularly good at speculating. But the incessant attacks in the UMNO media on the opposition and their rosy coverage of [Malaysian Prime Minister] Najib’s movements, which you see virtually every day, is a sure sign of the imminent elections.

Q: Is the timing good for UMNO to call for an election soon?

AI: I don’t think the timing is actually good for UMNO. You see, they have downplayed UMNO as a party. They are projecting Najib, to show that he’s trying to do his level best. Relying solely on him, however, is to acknowledge the fact that there are strong sentiments against UMNO and the Barisan Nasional coalition. The other component parties that used to play a major role — MCA (Malaysian Chinese Association) and the MIC (Malaysian Indian Congress) particularly — are completely sidelined. I don’t believe they’re that confident.

Q: And the timing is good for the opposition, for Pakatan Rakyat? What’s your plan for the upcoming election in order to boost your chances of getting into the government?

AI: Well, we’re working very hard under the circumstances. We have at least been able to present ourselves as a formidable force, a team, and I think that has helped. Unlike Najib, they’re projecting him, but we always appear — the three party leaders [of the opposition coalition] — together. Then, there’s a clear common platform from Buku Jingga, the Orange Book, and on some issues we presented at the recent Pakatan Rakyat Convention. The good thing is that we’ve been working very hard on those issues. We presented the case not only as an alternative government, but with clear policies laid out.

Q: So what are some of these clear policies from an economic standpoint? The Malaysian economy seems to be doing quite well, registering about 5% growth for 2011 despite the global slowdown. What can you do differently or do better on the economic front?

AI: We are of course for market economics and market reforms, but to us, governance is central. Price hikes here are mainly due to monopoly. Rice and sugar are the monopoly of a few select companies controlled by family members of cronies. We believe that if things are done in a transparent manner and proper procurement policies, tender process, then we can minimally reduce some of these problems.

And this figure, the 5% growth, does not really resonate with the masses. Unlike our neighbouring countries, we’re a net exporter of petroleum; the revenue rests comfortably with this huge income resource.

I don’t think we have much of an issue with infrastructure, or economic growth. People tend to compare us with mostly developing economies. But I would always say that we should be compared with Singapore, Taiwan and South Korea, and not Myanmar and Bangladesh. But what is more important in terms of economic policies is that we have the capacity to move forward at a faster pace and to improve, radically shift and substantially improve the quality of education.

Q: So these are what you see as the immediate challenges if you were to get into power. What would your priorities be in your first 100 days in office?

AI: We need to make sure and be clear that it is not a race-based politics, number one. Number two, the issue of governance. If an observer looks at the growth figures, they know what is lost to corruption.

Q: If the opposition comes into power, Malaysia will be faced with an unprecedented situation of UMNO not being in government. How would others such as the judiciary, military and the monarchy react to this new political state of affairs?

AI: This issue is probably relevant much earlier. In 1969, it was a race question. The opposition was seen to be an attack on the Malays. It is not necessarily right; I’m talking about perceptions here. By 2008, we [the opposition] controlled five states — this is not a concern anymore. We are talking about an UMNO-dominated government versus the opposition, which is also Malay-led, so you can’t use this race card. Also now that we have been in government at the state level for some years, our interactions with the military, the police, has been deeper, and also with the sultans.

Q: So you think Malaysia is ready to move further away from race-based politics that have dominated the political scene for so long?

AI: If you look at the 2000 elections, it’s clearly a departure. It’s been quite clear since 2007. Some critics painted the picture that that if we do take over, it will be like a stooge to the Chinese. It has been used by Mahathir [the former prime minister] against me and it was used by Najib against me. He had publicly said that I will be a stooge of the Chinese, particularly the DAP (Democratic Action Party). My style has never been to be apologetic. Why can’t I be used by the Chinese and the Malays and the Indians, for the good of this country? Instead of just denying, “No, I will not.” Although this has been a major campaign in rural areas about the insecurity of the Malays, I think it’s over. People finally want to know about the future, their welfare. You go to the Penang Malays, it’s not whether a Chinese is chief minister, it is about their housing, about access to credit, which are their concerns. So we’ll have to address these issues.

Q: What are the challenges for Malaysia as it modernises while remaining faithful to its religious and cultural heritage? Do you see a balance that could be struck or will it always be a source of tension?

AI: We have been able to navigate this successfully, maintaining our posture as a tolerant, moderate, Muslim society. The so-called contentious religious issues were not raised by religious scholars but were purely a political ploy. After all, this race card, religion card are all inculcating a climate of fear. What they want to hear is what you have to offer in terms of concrete policies. If and when we do take over, then the constitutional guarantees and framework will be made on the issues of language and religion, which I think is clearly acceptable to Muslims and non-Muslims in this country. But, having said that, I wouldn’t want to discredit the fact that it would still continue. Look at the UMNO media; it’s a daily dosage of Christians versus Malays, so they may attempt to send this message through their incessant propaganda efforts to the rural heartlands.

Q: You’ve been scandalised, beaten, stripped of your title and thrown into jail. What keeps you going?

AI: I’m just plain crazy!

Q: Where do you draw your inspiration?

AI: I’m not crazy; I was just quoting Mandela. After I was released, he invited me, Azizan and the children to visit him. So we went to Johannesburg, because he wasn’t doing too well. He was very apologetic, he said, “Anwar, I’m sorry we’re not able to do much.” I said, “Look, you did your best.” He had immense influence and he was successful in even getting me out of the country for treatment in Johannesburg. He said: “People like us, people say we’re mad, we’re crazy.” Then I intercepted and said to him, “Mad, for sure we are not, but crazy, yes.” But I don’t know. I’m grateful for my parents, they were quite idealistic, my late mum and my father.

Others have asked me how I see Mahathir now, and I spent the first 20 minutes talking about the nice time I had with him. They said, “No, please be serious.” I said, “I am!” That’s a wonderful thing to have. Of course I get angry, I counter his arguments, rebut very strongly, in some ways despise his hypocrisy, the gross injustice, but I wouldn’t deny the positive contributions he made. But the destruction of the institutions of government, that’s unforgivable. Personally, I’m okay, I moved on, but the judiciary, media, the police force, parliament, were all relegated to becoming inconsequential.

Q: Speaking of your relationship with Mahathir, do you have any regrets in the sense that perhaps things could have been done differently? After all, you were the heir-apparent. You were the deputy prime minister, slated to become the next leader.

AI: Oh, I thought about that a lot. You have to remember, I was in prison, so what do you do? Meditate, read and think. And sing, I sing quite a bit too. You do, you reflect, but then it was mutual, he was kind to me and I was exceedingly kind and loyal to him. It was a very difficult period but I don’t think I had much option towards the end. In fact, I’ve always said to my more critical friends that I have absolved myself. After all, we were part of the government. Some of the decisions were bitter, but we needed to draw the line. Things like bailouts, things like the corruption reports against ministers, already on your table, and for you to say “not to do anything”… you have to bring it up! But people say you could have compromised, some friends did say that. But then you would have transgressed the boundary. If or when you do take over, how do you then rationalise with the public what you’ve done? If it’s done by the prime minister, well there’s not much I can do. But if it is condoned by you, you have a problem. So, do I regret it? No. Was it difficult? Yes. Do I think I had other options? No, except to resign early, to die a fighter.

Q: You’re also a man of ideas. It was about 17 years ago when you wrote the book “Asian Renaissance”. A lot has happened since. Asia is on the rise. Do you think what you described as renaissance is happening now? And where do you see Malaysia in this emerging Asia?

AI: That book became quite contentious because people close to Mahathir thought we were clearly parting ways. Secondly, the central idea of economics empowerment is critical, but not everything, that’s why I talked about renaissance, cultural empowerment, I talked about freedom, and justice. And I think there was a flaw in the thinking at that time of these economic gurus: prescriptions by the World Bank, the IMF about the East Asian economic miracle, and so forth. They didn’t talk about disparity, the marginalised, the poor, whether the judiciary is independent or not, or if the media’s free. To them ‘the miracle’ was in terms of a limited notion of economics and power. I hold very dearly the thesis I presented in that book. That’s why I used the term ‘renaissance’.

Q: Do you think this is happening now? There have been some changes. Indonesia has changed and is now a proud democracy. Malaysia has made progress too, slightly more liberal and democratic these days.

AI: I don’t think they’re that liberal — they are forced to be. Look at the parliament proceedings today — a mockery, a joke. But it’s a challenge. Once you are transformed into a relatively vibrant democracy, then you actually allow for space. And that latitude is essential for the mushrooming of ideas. That, to me, is very critical when you talk in terms of economics or cultural empowerment.

That is happening more successfully in Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand because they are more democratic. Although I wouldn’t want to deny the fact that Indonesia, too, is facing a major problem due to endemic corruption and marginalisation. If the issue of governance is not resolved, people have this suspicion, then whatever policies, however rational or good, will always be suspect. Is it to enrich your cronies or is it really something really essential to the masses? Trust is important.

Q: What would you consider your greatest political achievement to date?

AI: I’ve not achieved much. For now, I’m cementing the three parties together. Fortunately, the leaders of the three parties are like-minded and willing to collaborate for a common agenda. But there is still a long way to go. So we shall see. People say that success means you assume office. It’s not true. Success is when you’re able to deliver. It’s not when you attain the position. That’s I think the wisdom of having been there and being downtrodden. And I think that keeps your sanity and humility. I think that’s important. People think being prime minister is the end, but I don’t think so. I think you should be evaluated and judged. And when you’re able to honour your commitments after you assume office, and remain true to your ideas, that, to me, is a far greater challenge than articulating this ideal in the absence of authority or power. When you’re there, you deal with the realpolitik, with the power play, with the big forces, with the tycoons. If they give you a 10 million dollar ring, what do you do?

Q: There’s a strong moral conviction behind your political action. What keeps you true? What keeps you walking the straight and narrow and not, like you said, being wavered by the 10 million dollar ring or turning your eye away from what you think is not right?

AI: I’m a man of faith; I’m a practicing Muslim. At the same time, I grew up well thanks to my parents. My mother is not English-educated but she’s an avid reader. She virtually read all novels in Malay or in Bahasa Indonesia in those days, the entire collection of Balai Pustaka books. And my dad, we always had these small compendiums of books, from Gandhi to Lao Tzu to Confucius, and it’s interesting. For a Muslim family in a village, with a small library at home, we have that. So you familiarise yourself. I go to Quran class, and following the Nabi (prophet), as an intellectual, you don’t view religion purely from a dogmatic sense but you engage.

Roger Garaudy was a great philosopher, who started off being a Christian in France, then later on became a Muslim. It’s very interesting what he said, unlike a new convert. He said, “I’m blessed, I grew up a Christian, and that’s where I learnt compassion and tolerance. Then I became a Communist, and I had strong empathy and love for the poor and downtrodden. Then I became a Muslim and then I became more universal.” So just because he is a Muslim, the past is no longer relevant? No, the past is what is him. Exactly what Amartya Sen had said. In his book “Identity and Violence”, he said, “I’m an Indian, I memorised Sanskrit at the age of nine and I think it was a great thing, I’m a Hindu and I think we have a great civilisation, but because I’m in India, I think that Muslim moguls have done wonderfully well. But later I became a professor in Cambridge, in Harvard. I think it’s a great institution and I love being here in America and despite the fact that I grew up in Santiniketan, I am a great admirer of Shakespeare. So who am I?” And that is beautiful. I use that a lot. And when you read it and understand it and you see these people talking about Malay supremacy, oh my god, they know nothing. CY & FE

Angkatan Muda KEADILAN (AMK) merujuk kepada kenyataan YABhg. Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, bekas Perdana Menteri yang dilaporkan oleh agensi berita BERNAMA semalam yang mendakwa bahawa Perbadanan Tabung Pendidikan Tinggi Nasional (PTPTN) diwujudkan ketika YB Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim memegang jawatan Timbalan Perdana Menteri.

Berdasarkan fakta, kenyataan YABhg. Tun Dr. Mahathir itu adalah tepat namun demikian adalah mustahil bagi beliau untuk menafikan kenyataan bahawa ketika PTPTN ditubuhkan, beliau sendiri memegang jawatan Perdana Menteri dan YAB Dato’ Seri Mohd Najib Tun Razak (kini Perdana Menteri) pula merupakan Menteri Pendidikan yang bertanggungjawab membentangkan Rang Undang-Undang Perbadanan Tabung Pendidikan Tinggi Nasional 1997 di Dewan Rakyat pada ketika itu.

Jika merujuk kepada handsard Parlimen Kesembilan, Penggal Ketiga, Mesyuarat Pertama (Jilid III, Bil. 26) bertarikh 13 Mei 1997 [dilampirkan], Rang Undang-Undang Perbadanan Tabung Pendidikan Tinggi Nasional 1997 telah dibentangkan untuk bacaan kali kedua dan ketiga oleh YAB Dato’ Seri Mohd Najib (ketika itu Menteri Pendidikan) pada jam 9.06 malam.

Rang undang-undang ini kemudiannya telah diluluskan dan dimaktubkan menjadi Akta Perbadanan Tabung Pendidikan Tinggi Nasional 1997 dan seterusnya PTPTN telah ditubuhkan di bawah akta ini yang mula berkuatkuasa pada 1 Julai 1997.

Justeru, kenyataan YABhg. Tun Dr. Mahathir yang dilaporkan oleh media semalam tidak akan sekali-kali menafikan fakta bahawa inisiatif penubuhan PTPTN adalah dilaksanakan di bawah pentadbiran beliau yang ketika itu merupakan Perdana Menteri dan juga YAB Dato’ Seri Mohd Najib Tun Razak yang ketika itu menjawat Menteri Pendidikan dan merupakan menteri yang bertanggungjawab membentangkan Rang Undang-Undang Perbadanan Tabung Pendidikan Tinggi Nasional pada 1997.

NAJWAN HALIMI
Timbalan Ketua Penerangan
Angkatan Muda KEADILAN

Malaysia Chronicle

My dear Tun Dr Mahathir

I’m at a loss as to whether you are hallucinating or failing to see the reality.

Your views on Penang and Selangor are misconceived and misplaced. You come across as a dishonest politician determined to score political points and mislead Malaysian voters. You do no credit to yourself nor do you live up to your reputation as an elder statesman (Bernama, 29 January 2012).

Your statement, “They have already been given a lot of chances. A lot of unhappy things have happened in Penang, the same (is happening) in Selangor,” does not make any sense at all. “They have been given a lot of chances”, you unreasonably claim.

Pakatan only came to power on March 8, 2008. They have been in office only for four short years. What chances were given to them and who gave them those chances? What are you talking about? What miracles were you expecting them to perform in this short period of time?

Compare their short term of office to the Barisan Nasional’s nearly 55 years of tenure – truthfully and honestly. We can justifiably throw back at the BN the very words you had uttered: “They (BN) have already been given a lot of chances. A lot of unhappy things have happened in Penang, the same (is happening) in Selangor.” This is indeed a valid observation requiring an honest answer from you, dear Tun.

More than half a century

Indeed, 55 years is a very long time. It is more than half a century. The BN have been given all the chances it wanted and needed. But what have the BN achieved during their long tenure in office except undermining our unity and keeping the people apart? Our unity has been destroyed by senseless and thoughtless policies and statements without a care for the welfare of the majority of Malaysians who are peace-loving and poor.

Yes, Tun, if anybody had been given too much chance it is the BN. Indeed, what more can the BN do which they had failed to do during these 55 years? What miracles can the BN now perform to transform this country into a haven for all citizens and provide them with a dignified livelihood?

What do you actually mean by claiming, “They have been given the chance. What’s there left to try. If we allow the situation to deteriorate badly, it will be difficult to repair.”

Your rambling statement, “If we allow the situation to deteriorate badly, it will be difficult to repair” comes across as ridiculous and garrulous. What has the Pakatan done that has brought about the deterioration? What is that they are doing that would render the problem beyond repair? Please be specific and enumerate the wrongdoings of the Pakatan.

Don’t make statements you can’t back up

Tun, you should not make sweeping claims that are without merit. Many Malaysians are truly disappointed and disillusioned with you and justifiably feel that you have out-lived your usefulness as a political leader. You had your time and you did things the way you wanted to. That period is over and done with. There is nothing more for you to do.

Both Penang and Selangor have attracted the biggest FDI totalling more than RM15bn, which is unmatched by the BN-controlled states. Doesn’t this indicate positively that the Pakatan-controlled states are performing very much better in spite of their short term of tenure and lack of administrative experience and expertise? Honestly, dear Tun, doesn’t that deserve some praise?

You kept everything under wraps and resorted to the Official Secrets Act (OSA) to deny citizens their right to be informed. A lot of scandals and corruption prevailed because they are kept from the purview of public scrutiny and guarded as state secrets.

The Pakatan-controlled states in Selangor and Penang, on the other hand, have promulgated a Freedom of Information Act in order to be transparent and accountable. Tun, isn’t this something that has to be complimented?

Cronies and corruption

Under your tenure for 22 years, many crony politicians became wealthy beyond imagination and without being accountable for their wealth. Elected representatives and cabinet ministers declared their assets only to you and, according to certain well-informed circles, you had used this information to secure their unquestioning loyalty. That was how you had your way – it was your way and no other way!

We are reminded of the episode concerning the removal of Osman Aroff, the then Menteri Besar of Kedah, who had enjoyed the support of the majority of assembly members in Kedah. These assembly members went to see you, dear Tun, to plead for the retention of their MB. You, reportedly saw them individually and after that they all returned to Kedah abandoning Osman Aroff. Rumour had it then that you had a file on each of them and that forced them to fall in line behind you.

Dear Tun, Pakatan-controlled states of Selangor and Penang did something that you wouldn’t dare dream of doing. All their Exco members declared their assets publically. This is something that civil society of Malaysia has been campaigning for, for a very long time, claiming that this would curb corruption and check abuse of governance.

But you would not be persuaded. You wanted to be the sole privy to the corruption and abuse so that you would have absolute control over politicians holding public positions.

Many Malaysians, in the past, have worked loyally and faithfully and had contributed to the progress of this country. These old timers who retired many years ago are forced to struggle to live a hard life with their meagre pensions in these times of hardships. Their counterparts of modern times, on the other hand, draw reasonable pensions to lead a decent life. The hardships suffered by these senior citizens have not been addressed. Their contributions were not even acknowledged.

But the Pakatan government in Penang has been giving out RM100 once a year for the last three years to express their appreciation to these senior citizens. Admittedly, this isn’t very much but the very thought of appreciation really warms the hearts of these people. With the vast resources available to the BN, they are placed in a far better situation to do more to help these unfortunate people. But why, dear Tun, did the BN government not bother doing this? They could have shown a generous face and given more to these people with all the wealth at their disposal. But they did nothing!

Corruption has become so rampant that so much of our wealth is either lost or stolen to the detriment of the nation. Contracts given to crony companies with inflated costs have drained our wealth. Highway toll agreements, the Tajuddin-Malaysia Airlines out-of-court settlement, the rescue of Bank Rakyat and Bank Bumiputra, the reckless forex fiasco in the UK, the bungling Maminco tin-buying spree, to name a few – they have all resulted in the loss of billions of ringgit that could have alleviated the plight of the poor. These are, unfortunately, dear Tun, your legacies that brought terrible hardships for the homeless and the helpless.

Uplifting the people

You wouldn’t have open tenders for projects that would have saved billions of ringgit and secured the services of contractors with ability and proven expertise. That would have prevented some contractors from running away without completing their projects and ensured that buildings wouldn’t collapse because of poor workmanship and inferior materials. But repeated episodes of cheating contractors and uncompleted projects did not seem to disturb the conscience of those in charge. It was business as usual and billions of ringgit were regularly squandered without a care in the world.

On the other hand, now we have open tenders in the Pakatan states and Class F contractors are very happy and contented with this arrangement. According to these contractors, under the previous BN government, one had to have connections to get a contract and one had to give inducements to be considered favourably. Otherwise, getting contracts would have been impossible. But now, with open tenders, the deserving have been rewarded with contracts and they have delivered the completed projects on time. Isn’t this something that has to be appreciated, dear Tun?

Malaysian workers have been struggling for years for a minimum wage policy. The Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) has been championing this issue for decades. But it was opposed vehemently by the Malaysian Employers Federation, which wanted to reap hefty profits from the sweat of the workers. And the Malaysian government did not have the political will to implement the minimum wage policy. Thus we lost our local skilled workers and builders who left the country to work elsewhere. But the exploitation continues to this day with the employment of foreign workers.

Isn’t it praiseworthy that the Pakatan government in Selangor has implemented a minimum wage policy for all its employees in GLCs as from January this year? They are paid a minimum salary of RM1,500. Shouldn’t the employees enjoy the fruit of their labour, dear Tun?

Farmers in the new villages of Perak who have been tilling the land and growing vegetables and fruit for the country for generations were exploited and kept in a state of uncertainty as to their livelihood as they did not own the land. Every election this became a moot point for the farmers. Whether their TOL would be extended or cancelled was a worrying experience for these farmers. And when the BN wins the election in Perak, the TOL of these farmers would be renewed. The message was very clear. Vote for the BN or your TOL would not be renewed. They were beholden to the BN for the extension of their TOL.

The Pakatan government gave them the land titles and their dignity and freed them from their unnecessary anxiety. The rational was these farmers have been on the land for generations and have been serving the nation with their produce and they deserved the land titles. Isn’t this something wonderful that deserves to be congratulated, dear Tun?

Every voter who dies in Penang and Selangor is given RM1,000 and RM2,500 respectively for funeral expenses. This assistance is greatly appreciated, especially by the poor. For the first time a voter receives something very specific and substantial when he or she dies. This had never happened under BN rule. They bribe the living for their vote and forget them when they are dead. Under the Pakatan rule they take care of the living and the dead! Don’t they deserve a pat on their back, dear Tun?

All this caring and giving must make a great impact on the people. If given more time there will be other good policies that will benefit the people and perhaps make it difficult for the BN to make any headway in the future. Is that what is worrying you, dear Tun? Is this what you meant when you sounded the warning to the BN, “If we allow the situation to deteriorate, it will be difficult to repair”?

You have correctly foreseen the inevitable doom for the BN. You have realised that it will be difficult to undo the good deeds of the Pakatan. In comparison, the BN will be cast in poor light and cursed for neglecting the majority of the deserving Malaysians who are poor. You are seeing what is impending and you have the right to fear the inevitable, dear Tun!

By P Ramakrishnan Former president of Aliran

KEADILAN memandang serius kenyataan PM Najib bahawasanya kesemua 112,634 peneroka di 317 tanah rancangan FELDA dan 22,468 pekerja FELDA akan mendapat durian runtuh terbesar yang mereka tidak pernah impikan sehingga mereka akan “tersandar, rebah dalam kejutan” hasil tawaran awam permulaan atau “initial public offering” (IPO) FELDA Global Venture Holdings (FGVH) yang dijangka selesai penyenaraiannya di Bursa Malaysia pada lewat Mei atau awal Jun 2012.

2. Dengan “gula-gula” pilihanraya semanis ini, kami menjangkakan para peneroka dan pekerja FELDA akan menerima saham FGVH secara percuma di samping sejumlah wang tunai sagu hati insentif penyenaraian tersebut.

3. Malangnya, jangkaan tersebut ternyata meleset kerana menurut sumber yang boleh dipercayai, para peneroka dan pekerja FELDA tidak akan menerima saham percuma atau wang tunai insentif penyenaraian.

4. Sebaliknya, KEADILAN difahamkan bahawa:

4.1  Para peneroka dan pekerja FELDA diwajibkan membuat pinjaman dengan beberapa bank terpilih untuk membeli saham FGVH meskipun segelintir daripada mereka mungkin mempunyai simpanan untuk membiayai permohonan membeli saham IPO tersebut

4.2 Walaupun margin pinjaman adalah 100%, tempoh pinjaman adalah untuk 6 bulan sahaja yakni para peneroka dan pekerja terpaksa membayar balik keseluruhan pinjaman dengan simpanan sendiri semasa menerima borang merah jambu/biru ATAUPUN menggunakan hasil jualan saham FGVH di pasaran terbuka nanti untuk membiayai pembayaran balik pinjaman sebelum atau pada tamat tempoh 6 bulan

4.3 Walaupun “stamping fee” diketepikan, para peneroka dan pekerja FELDA masih perlu membayar kepada bank fi dan caj sebanyak RM200 apabila pinjaman dengan rasminya dikeluarkan atau RM100 sebagai rebat jika pinjaman dilunaskan awal semasa borang merah jambu (bagi pekerja) atau biru (bagi peneroka) diterima

4.4 Kadar faedah “daily rest” pada paras 5% setahun yakni lebih 2.5 kali ganda kadar faedah pinjaman mudah bagi National Feedlot Centre (NFC) pada paras 2%

5. Jelas sekali apa yang disifatkan oleh PM Najib sebagai “lonjakan berganda” ini sebenarnya lebih cenderung ke arah membuka peluang niaga baharu dan memberi kesempatan kepada institusi kewangan terbabit mendapat hasil atas titik-peluh dan keringat peneroka dan pekerja FELDA, terutamanya 5 bank pelaburan yang dilantik menyelenggara kesemua perkara berkaitan penyenaraian, 7 bank yang dipilih untuk memberi pinjaman membiayai pembelian saham, dan beberapa syarikat pembrokeran saham yang dilantik untuk menjalankan urusniaga jual-beli saham di pasaran terbuka. Yang paling ketara adalah bil yuran dan caj tinggi yang perlu ditanggung oleh FGVH atas khidmat nasihat dan pengurusan gerak-kerja penyenaraian oleh 2 bank pelaburan domestik dan 3 asing iaitu Maybank Investment, CIMB Investment, Morgan Stanley, JP Morgan dan Deutsche Bank ke atas FGVH.

6. Malah, pendekatan sebegini juga akan menyebabkan kecairan pada pegangan ekuiti Bumiputera dalam FGVH seusai peneroka dan pekerja FELDA menjual saham mereka di pasaran terbuka untuk melunaskan hutang kepada bank. Walaupun KPF dijangka akan kekal sebagai pemegang saham terbesar di samping Permodalan Nasional Berhad (PNB), Tabung Haji dan Kumpulan Wang Simpanan Pekerja (KWSP) manakala syarikat asing hanya ditawarkan sebahagian kecil saham dalam IPO FGVH, tiada apa yang menghalang mana-mana pelabur (Bumiputera dan bukan Bumiputera) dari membeli saham FGVH di pasaran terbuka.

7. Lebih malang adalah nasib anak peneroka daripada generasi kedua dan ketiga setelah harapan mereka untuk menjadi peneroka baharu dengan mengusahakan tanah ladang kelapa sawit seluas 360,067 hektar tanpa peneroka milik FELDA Plantations Sdn Bhd berkecai kerana telah dicagar kepada FGVH selama 99 tahun bagi tujuan penyenaraian.

8. KEADILAN menggesa agar PM Najib menghentikan “umpan undi” atau “rasuah politik” seumpama ini dengan serta-merta, dan menerangkan kepada umum perangkap yang tersirat di sebalik ‘durian runtuh’ ini. PM wajib menjawab kepada setiap satu mekanisme di atas bagi meleraikan kebimbangan ramai, lantas benar-benar memberi fokus yang sewajarnya atas hak dan kepentingan mereka yang kurang bernasib baik!

Nurul Izzah Anwar
Ahli Parlimen Lembah Pantai, merangkap
Naib Presiden KEADILAN

Malaysiakini

Pakatan Rakyat will draw up an education reform proposal outlining steps to provide all-inclusive free education up to university level in the event the coming general election puts the coalition in charge of Putrajaya.

Opposition Leader and MP for Permatang Pauh Anwar Ibrahim delivered the pledge at a forum on free education last night when fielding a question from an undergraduate who expressed fear that abolishing the National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) would prevent students from getting a living allowance.

Anwar said going by the real definition of “free education”, the government should bear the cost of the living allowances of students.

“If additional allowances are needed under certain circumstances, we can provide these in the form of a loan,” he said.

Apart from this, Pakatan’s education reform would also address issues such as abolishing the PTPTN, campus autonomy, bolstering teaching staff and revving up the number of public universities.

Anwar said he would task government-linked companies (GLCs) to build new public universities to ensure enough places for higher education for all Malaysians.

Describing the wide-ranging reforms as a move to “democratise access to education”, he repeated Pakatan’s stance that this could only be done by utilising revenues from state-owned oil company Petronas, curbing corruption and reducing gas subsidies to Tenaga Nasional Bhd and the independent power producers (IPP).

Nizar: Scrap wasteful national service

The three-hour forum themed ‘Free Education, PTPTN Abolition: Is it a Dream?’ was also attended by ousted Perak menteri besar Nizar Jamaluddin, Solidariti Mahasiswa Malaysia chairperson Mohd Safwan Anang, Malaysia Bangkit president Mohd Syahid Mohd Zain and Gamis president Akram Taib Azamuddin.

Nizar drew a round of applause when he said in his speech that the National Service Training Programme (PLKN) and National Civics Bureau (Biro Tata Negara), should both be abolished and their expenses be directed to education.

“Every year, we spend RM650 million for the national service scheme and RM500 million for BTN, but these programmes do not contribute any significant value to the country.

“We should save this money for education instead,” Nizar said.

He described PTPTN as a form of suppression of students from speaking up against the authorities and said it also produced ignorant students.

Safwan, a Universiti Malaya student leader, lamented that the campus student body elections, which had been slated for March, have since been put off to September.

“I believe the government has postponed the student elections until the general election is over because it fears that the BN will be rejected by the youngsters.

“We won in many campuses in 2008 and as a result, the political tsunami took place and the BN lost its two-thirds majority in Parliament,” said Safwan.