by Dr. Chen Man Hin

AS AN OIL PRODUCER, MALAYSIA MUST USE ITS OIL INCOME TO BOOST THE ECONOMY AND RELIEVE THE SUFFERING OF THE PEOPLE. THE CABINET MUST BRING DOWN PUMP PRICES IMMEDIATELY.

The cabinet should not dither any more on the critical issue of bringing down pump prices. It must NOW act to bring down the price of pump oil immediately.

The economy has slowed down considerably since the price of pump oil was increased by 42% from RM 1.98 to RM2.70 per litre. All sectors of the economy have been affected, The manufacturing industries, transportation, tourism, hotels, restaurants, shops and even markets have been affected bady because of the high increase of oil by government.

The construction industry is badly hit because of the rapid and huge price increases for steel, concrete and other building materials. Many contractors have surrended back their contracts to govenment and developers.

Housing developers report a drop in sales of 30% to 50%. House buyers are worried that developers may not be able to complete their houses.

Consumers are also suffering because prices of food have gone up.

The general population is being hit by a double whammy of high prices and reduced income, arising from the sudden hike of oil prices. Inflation has shot up to 8%, and this has reduced the purchasing power of a family’s income

The cabinet cannot delay any longer. The price of fuel and pump oil must come down to the former levels, immediately.

If the economy continue to slow with inflation of 8%, serious damage to the economy will occur and there will be a negative effect on the 9th Malaysia Plan with disastrous long term implications.

The country can afford to reduce pump prices. Malaysia is a net exporter of oil. the income from Petronas should be used to boost the economy and make life easier for the people.

Further more, international oil pundits say that present oil prices are ‘abnormal’ and are anticipating oil price to drop to US$78 per barrel.

The cabinet must act now and act fast. It has already made a serious mistake by raising pump price by 42% causing severe problems of inflation, slower economy and untold misery for the people. ACT NOW.

Fauwaz Abdul Aziz
Malaysiakini

Penang deputy chief minister P Ramasamy has rebutted claims that the Pakatan Rakyat state government has been indifferent to the plight of the Indian community.

He emphasised that while it is unfair to expect drastic improvements to the lot of ethnic Indians less than five months after the March 8 election, Penang itself has seen several notable achievements to prove its detractors wrong.

Within his own parliamentary constituency of Batu Kawan, Ramasamy said Indians were appointed to head five village security and development committees (JKKK).

“This had never happened under the Barisan Nasional in Penang. In the last (Gerakan-led) state government, only one Indian had been appointed to head a JKKK,” he said when contacted.

The DAP-led Penang government has also ensured Indian representation in the state executive council as well as city and municipal councils, said Ramasamy, who is also Perai state assembly representative.

He also cited the awarding of land to two Tamil schools, two Hindu temples and groups of goat and cattle breeders.

A state-level committee was also set up to look into the plight of Tamil schools, while youth groups have been established to alleviate the problems faced by the Indian poor, he added.

The former academician-turned DAP politician was responding to criticisms against the Pakatan state governments this week from Indian-based groups, who alleged the DAP-PAS-PKR coalition had failed to fulfill promises made in the March election campaign.

“Pakatan Rakyat ruling parties, be it DAP in Penang, PAS in Kedah and Perak and PKR in Selangor, seemed to have made empty electoral promises to the Indians,” said Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) national coordinator TS Thanenthiran.

[Read full article...]

The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: PKR’s Pakatan Rakyat allies have voiced their full backing for Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to contest in Permatang Pauh.

Penang Chief Minister and DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said the party supported Anwar 100%.

“I have said it before – anytime, anywhere, we will support him if he contests. So, if he has decided on Permatang Pauh, we will go to Permatang Pauh,” said Lim.

DAP chairman Karpal Singh, who is also Bukit Gelugor MP, said it was the right move as Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail was holding the seat in trust for her husband.

“This was Anwar’s seat from the beginning since he started politics. It is just right he should now take over from his wife who was saddled with so many problems after his imprisonment,” he said.

DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang said Anwar had his full support to return to Parliament after an absence of a decade.

PAS vice-president Datuk Husam Musa said Anwar’s re-entry into Parliament was needed considering the state of the economy.

The party’s secretary-general Datuk Kamaruddin Jaafar described Dr Wan Azizah’s resignation as an ultimate sacrifice not just for her husband but also the country.

“We salute her for that. We owe her a lot as she is not only PKR president but also the first woman Opposition leader.”

Selangor Mentri Besar and PKR supreme council member Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim challenged the party’s former Youth chief Ezam Mohd Nor to stand against Anwar.

“We hope Umno will let Ezam take on Anwar in the by-election. Let him come and contest if he dares because this is what the PKR wants,” he said.

An excerpt of a news item in Malaysiakini:

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi today ruled out imposing emergency rule if street protests broke out in the event that opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim was arrested.”I don’t think we are going down that road; definitely not,” Abdullah told Associated Press in an interview today.

“Why should (protests) get out of hand? That would be very unbecoming of the party that intends to be the government of Malaysia - to take laws into their own hands and demonstrate as they wish.”There are fears that Anwar could be arrested in the coming days as the police wrapped up their investigation into a former aide’s allegation that he was sodomised by Anwar.

He said he is not remarrying, but yet he did remarry several months later.

He said Parliament will not be dissolved the next day, but yet the next day, he announced the dissolution of the Parliament.

He said there will not be emergency rule, …