Say Again, Who Are The Traitors?!

Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak said those who avoid paying tax can be regarded as having betrayed the country. This, he said, was because the responsibility to pay tax was one of the pillars of patriotism. “The definition of patriotism in our country is that we must discharge our responsibility to the country for the good of the people and the nation."

Read more here:

http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2013/11/24/najib-tax-evaders-are-traitors/

Datuk Seri Rosmah Mansor was invited to the women's summit in Qatar in her personal capacity and it was not an invitation to the government, said Pengerang MP Datuk Seri Azalina Othman. "The invitation was not on a government-to-government basis but on a personal basis," Azalina said in Parliament today during the debate on Budget 2014.Azalina had also accompanied Rosmah on that trip. She also revealed in Parliament that it was Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin who chaired the Cabinet meeting that approved the use of the government jet for the trip, and not Rosmah's husband, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim had said the Cabinet had given its approval for Rosmah to use the government jet for the trip, causing opposition lawmakers to accuse the Cabinet of acting irresponsibly and in an undignified manner...

This did not stop Datuk Seri Noh Omar (BN-Tanjung Karang) who jumped to Rosmah's defence, saying that Malaysians should be proud that she was given such recognition by the Qatar government, as not all the wives of leaders in the region were given such an honour. "I don't understand why can't anyone appreciate this. This is always the case with the opposition. Those who make the country proud are treated as enemies, while those who bring down the name of the country are treated as heroes," he said.

Later at the Parliament lobby, Datuk Seri Jamaluddin Jarjis (BN-Rompin) said through the invitation, Rosmah had upheld the good name of Malaysia. "It not as though she went on her own, we should be proud that she was given the honour to speak at the forum," he said...

Rosmah was in Qatar last week to deliver a keynote address at the 4th Qatar International Business Women Forum in Doha, organised by the Qatari Businesswomen Association and the Interactive Business Network. Accompanying her were Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, who is special adviser to the prime minister on women entrepreneurs and professionals; Datin Seri Siti Rubiah Datuk Abdul Samad, wife of Foreign Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman; Datin Seri Khamarzan Ahmad Meah, wife of International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed; and Datin Seri Che Kamariah Zakaria, wife of Second Education Minister Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh.

Read more here:

http://malaysia-chronicle.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=190111:confirmed-hen-pecked-cabinet-let-rosmah-gang-use-govt-jet-for-personal-trip&Itemid=2#axzz2lFjkbgWP

Former tourism minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen racked up a RM2.71 million bill for overseas trips between 2010 and January this year, at a time when Putrajaya was telling Malaysians to tighten their belts and adjust their lifestyles because of rising living costs...

In a parliamentary written reply to Lim Guan Eng (DAP - Bagan), Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz said in 2010 Dr Ng and her delegations spent RM1.28 million on overseas trips in January, April, May, June, August, September and October that year.

In 2011, Dr Ng and her accompanying delegations ran up a bill of RM814,142 on trips in May, July, August and November. Last year, RM588,547 was spent on trips in January, March, May, July and November. Her last trip was made in January this year when she and her delegation spent RM35,400.

Dr Ng was appointed tourism minister from April 2009 until the 13th General Election where she was not fielded. She was not appointed back to the Cabinet but her successor Nazri appointed her as the Malaysian Tourism Promotion Board chair.

Read more here:

http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/as-country-tightened-its-belt-yen-yen-spent-almost-rm3-million-on-trips-fro

Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chairman Nur Jazlan Mohamed said he found no element of discrepancy or wrongdoing in the RM1.6 million expenditure made by former Youth and Sports Minister Ahmad Shabery Cheek on the K-Pop concert held last year. After a two-hour hearing with Shabery today, Nur Jazlan said at a press conference, that he found the expenditure to be ‘value for money’, eventhough the upfront payment made to the three Korean groups by the Ministry was against government procedures...

The K-Pop concert controversy  first surfaced in the 2012 Auditor-General’s Report, stating that Malaysian taxpayers’ money was used to pay for the concert and was not sponsored. The concert was held during the Youth Day 2012 in Putrajaya and included performances by three South Korean groups – U-Kiss, Teen-Top and Dal Shabet.

Current Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin claimed that the government was forced to foot the bill because there was a last minute pull-out by several sponsors. His predecessor Ahmad Shabery, had earlier said that the ministry had received RM20 million from domestic and foreign corporate sponsors for the event.

Read more here:

http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2013/11/21/pac-clears-shabery-cheek-of-k-pop-fiasco/

Speaking at the parliament’s lobby, Kulai MP Teo Nie Ching today slammed the Johor state government for charging a high water tariff on its own people although the state received RM430,000 monthly from Malacca and Singapore respectively.

“Johor should be considered as lucky as we can make profit from selling raw water to Malacca and Singapore. Johor government is selling raw water to Malacca for the price of RM0.30 per 1,000 gallons and RM0.03 per 1,000 gallons to Singapore.

The fact is Johor is making profit from selling untreated water and Johoreans are paying higher water tariff than the Malaysians in Malacca,” she said in a statement. She then added that the charges were far above the national average of RM0.66/m3; making them pay an extra of 159% for consuming water."

Read more here:

http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2013/11/27/expensive-water-in-johor/

Himpunan Blackout Johor Bahru: Change of Venue

Himpunan Blackout 505 coming to JB!

#GE13 More clarity needed on Public Order Act: Voices

From Edwin Dai. Published by Singapore Law Watch on 8 May 2013.

Last month, it was reported that six Malaysians were investigated by the police for holding a public assembly without a permit and were warned that “foreigners should refrain from importing their domestic political activities into Singapore” (“Police investigating voting drive”, April 16).

On May 2, only days before the Malaysian general election, Mr Abdul Ghani Othman, who was contesting the parliamentary seat of Gelang Patah, travelled to Singapore, and his trip received much media coverage.

It is in the interest of the public for the police to clarify the ambit of the Public Order Act.

The definition of “assembly” under the Public Order Act, Section 2(1), refers to a gathering or meeting of persons for the purpose (or one of the purposes) of demonstrating support for or opposition to the views or actions of any person, group of persons or any government; publicising a cause or campaign; or marking or commemorating any event. It also includes a demonstration by a person alone for any such purposes.

There appears to be inconsistency in the way the two situations were handled. A plea for Malaysians to perform a national duty was deemed to constitute an illegal assembly.

On the other hand, a trip by a (now former) Barisan Nasional (BN) Member of Parliament to Singapore, where he aired his thoughts on the coming election, was given media coverage. The purpose of his visit may be reasonably construed by some as an attempt to canvass support for BN from Malaysians residing in Singapore.

There is a need for the authorities to clarify the Public Order Act and its enforcement. Specifically, it is unclear whether Mr Abdul Ghani’s visit flouted the Public Order Act or, at the very least, was in direct opposition to the police’s position on “foreigners” and their “domestic political activities”.

Link: 

http://www.singaporelawwatch.sg/slw/headlinesnews/24653-more-clarity-needed-on-public-order-act-voices.html#.UY_EWOhxnEw.facebook

Ex-Umno man defends DAP against May 13 charge

Ex-Umno strongman Mohd Tamrin Abdul Ghafar has become an unexpected ally in Pakatan Rakyat’s bid to counter the claim that DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang was behind the May 13 riots in 1969.

The former Batu Berendam MP, who is also the second son of former deputy premier Abdul Ghafar Baba, has claimed that the incident was the outcome of a “mini coup” orchestrated by Umno leaders including Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

“What (then home minister Muhammad) Ghazali (Shafie, left) told (PKR de facto leader) Anwar (Ibrahim) and me, when we were in Umno Youth, was that the incident was a mini coup planned by Umno men, and that Mahathir was involved,” Tamrin said during two Pakatan ceramahs in Gelang Patah last night.

“(First prime minister) Tunku (Abdul Rahman) wrote in his column 'As I See It' in The Star two years before he passed away, that the incident was a deliberate seizure of power by Umno leaders who then blamed it on DAP and the Chinese.”

Lim Kit Siang is running in Gelang Patah, against incumbent Johor Menteri Besar Abdul Ghani Othman, in the hope of extending Pakatan’s 2008 ‘political tsunami’ to Johor.

Tamrin’s disclosure supports the argument of academician Kua Kia Soong that the racial clash in 1969 was the result of a coup d'état by then deputy premier Abdul Razak Hussein against the Tunku, and that Mahathir supported it.

Tamrin recalled that the Tunku had expelled Mahathir from Umno after the latter wrote an open letter calling for the Tunku's resignation after the riots.

“After the Tunku stepped down and Razak took over the premiership, he took Mahathir back into Umno and appointed him as education minister.

“This shows that Razak was grateful to Mahathir (for pressuring the Tunku to step down),” he explained, adding that Kit Siang was not in Kuala Lumpur during the clashes.

He said the continued reference to the incident by Umno, in order to frighten Malay voters, indicates that the BN is desperate.

With anti-establishment sentiment growing rapidly among Chinese Johoreans to Pakatan’s apparent advantage, Umno has flashed the race card to consolidate its support among the Malay electorate in Johor.

Its campaigners have been found distributing publicity material to Malay voters accusing DAP and Kit Siang of causing the May 13 riots.

To counter the charge, Pakatan has brought in several former Umno leaders including ex-law minister Zaid Ibrahim and former Selangor menteri besar Muhammad Muhammad Taib to defend DAP and Kit Siang.

Read more here: http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/228497

Forum: From Johor to Putrajaya

Dato' Ambiga Sreenevasan, a prominent human rights lawyer, former president of the Malaysian Bar Council and current co-chairperson of Bersih 2.0 Steering Committee will be in Johor Bahru to speak in a forum entitled - From Johor to Putrajaya. 

The other panelists for this forum are all the Pakatan Rakyat parliamentary candidates for the JB area seats like Lim Kit Siang (Gelang Patah), Salahuddin Ayub (Pulai), Tan Sri Hashim Hussein (JB), Steven Choong (Tebrau) and Dr. Ahmad Faidhi Saidi (P. Gudang). 

Apart from hearing from Ambiga about her take on the coming General Election, you would also be able to hear from the candidates and ask them questions.  

This forum is organised by Tuntutan Rakyat Johor (TRJ) a coalition of 21 Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO) and our purpose is to help those who are undecided as to how they want to vote to vote wisely.  As such, please bring along such a friend, let them hear from the candidates and ask them questions themselves.

Details of the event:

Date : 14th April 2013 (Sunday)

Time : 5pm sharp till 7pm.

Venue: Wisma PKK, Persisiran Danga 1, Tmn Sutera Utama, Skudai, Johor. (Near to SJKC Kuo Kuang 2 and Sri Omega International School)

Cost : Free admission but a freewill donation will be collected to help defray expenses.

The Marginalised And The Elite

By Alyaa Azhar. Published by Free Malaysia Today on 2 January 2013.

Three members of a family in Pengerang, Johor, unable to cope with the loss of their home, committed suicide by inhaling charcoal smoke in an enclosed room yesterday. The family had received a notice informing them their home was being acquired for the controversial RM60 billion Petronas’s Refinery and Petrochemicals Development project.

They were told that they would receive only RM20,000 in compensation as the land on which their house was on was owned by another. Gabungan NGO Pengerang, a grassroots group opposing the oil plant, said the man sought help from the ruling political party, and had informed the party he wished to commit suicide.

The group’s treasurer, Chua Peng Sin, said the man, by name of Pang, suffered financial difficulties as he was earning a living helping out at a restaurant. He was forced to quit his job to care for his wife, who had suffered a stroke, and their child, who was diagnosed to be mentally disabled.

Read more here:
http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2013/01/02/family-in-pengerang-commits-suicide/

By G Vinod. Published by Free Malaysia Today on 2 January 2013.

PKR director of strategy Rafizi Ramli claimed that Deepak bought 19 types of jewellery, worth about RM13 million for the prime minister's wife. Rafizi also produced several documents, including invoices and bank payment records made to two luxury jewellery companies based in Hong Kong – Dehres Limited and Firestone Corporation Limited.

The payments for the jewellery were made by two companies linked to Deepak – Carpet Raya Sdn Bhd and Carpet Plus Sdn Bhd. Rafizi urged the authorities to investigate, alleging that the matter was nothing short of a corrupt act. He said that it would not be difficult for an agency like the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to investigate as each luxury jewellery is unique, with its own reference code. 

“For example, Deepak’s company made payment for the purchase of a diamond ring, code DR 2763, worth US$1.5 million. “So we have its code and the MACC could easily trace this matter if it hauls up Deepak for an investigation,” Rafizi said, adding that it would be difficult for anyone to forge a bank record.

Read more here: 

http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2013/01/02/deepak-purchased-gems-worth-millions-for-rosmah/

Clearing the confusion on the use of Allah in Bahasa Bibles

From Dr SK Teoh. Published by Free Malaysia Today on 31 December 2012.

Many Muslims and even some Christians have misunderstood the use of “Allah” in Bahasa Bibles.  To clarify some of the confusion:

• The BM Bible or the Alkitab is not translated from the English Bible but from the original languages, i.e.  Hebrew and Greek.
• The Hebrew word for God is El or Elohim (similar root as Ilah in Arabic) and YHWH or Yahweh for LORD. The Greek words are Theo for God and Kurios for Lord.
• Biblical translators all over the world have used the local language terms for Elohim and Yahweh e.g. God and LORD in English; Dios and Senor in Spanish, Shangti and Zhu in Chinese
• For 15 centuries, Arabic Bibles have used Allah for God and Rab for Lord (predate Islam)
• The first Malay translation of the Bible was made in 1612, and Allah was used for God and Tuhan for Lord in this and all the subsequent translations till today.
• Malay-speaking (and Iban) Christians have used the term Allah for more than 100 years in Malaya and the Borneo states in worship, prayers and reading their holy scriptures.
• Twenty million Christians in Indonesia have used Allah for years without any misunderstanding or objection.
• English Bibles nor Bibles of other languages obviously do not use the Bahasa terms.
• Forbidding the use of the term “Allah” by Christians not only infringes their rights to practise their faith but also leads to confusion. For example, is the “Tuhan” in Negara-Ku and Rukun Negara not the “Muslim God” or can Christians sing the Selangor Anthem where “Allah” is used?
• Theological  meanings between Christianity and Islam  will always be different whether the term used is “Allah” or “Tuhan” or “God”.

Link:
http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/opinion/2012/12/31/clearing-the-confusion-on-the-use-of-allah-in-bahasa-bibles/

Johor State Anthem: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johor_State_Anthem

Allah peliharakan Sultan
'Nugrahkan dia segala kehormatan
Sihat dan ria, kekal dan makmur
Luaskan kuasa, menaungkan kami
Rakyat dipimpini berzaman lagi
Dengan Merdeka bersatu hati
Allah berkati Johor
Allah selamatkan Sultan

Related report: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/embrace-islam-if-you-want-to-use-allah-harussani-tells-non-muslims/

Perak Mufti Tan Sri Harussani Zakaria today told non-Muslims who insist on using the word “Allah” to refer to their Gods to convert to Islam if they refused to accept that the word belongs only to Muslims.

Orang Asli Seletar Johor tuntut hak tanah ― Gabungan Penduduk Orang Asli Kg Bakar Batu dan Kg Sg Temun

Diterbit oleh The Malaysian Insider pada 27 Disember 2012.

Pada hari ini, 188 orang penduduk Kampung Sungai Temun dan Kampung Bakar Batu, Johor Bahru, yang berketurunan Orang Asli Seletar (Orang Laut), telah memfailkan kes saman pemula di Makhamah Tinggi Johor Bahru secara tindakan berkelompok terhadap Lembaga Pembangunan Wilayah Iskandar (IRDA), Pengarah Tanah dan Galian (PTG) Johor, Kerajaan Negeri Johor dan 10 pihak yang lain.

Pihak Orang Asli diwakili oleh Salim bin Palon (Batin Kg. Sg. Temun), Mat bin Inder (wakil Kg. Bakar Batu) dan Edy bin Salim (wakil Kg. Sg. Temun). Kami diwakili oleh peguam K. Mohan (K. Mohan & Co) yang bertindak untuk kami secara pro bono.

Untuk makluman, masyarakat Orang Asli Seletar telah menyuarakan masalah kami melalui pelbagai saluran pada tahun yang lepas. Antara lain, kami menghantar memorandum kepada Menteri Besar pada 15 Disember 2011

1. Apabila perkuburan kami ditolak pada 19 Januari 2012, kami telah membuat laporan polis dan kemudian berdialog dengan pihak berkuasa termasuk Jabatan Kemajuan Orang Asli (JAKOA) pada 27 Januari 2012.
2. Usaha kami telah membawa EXCO Kerajaan Negeri Johor, YB Asiah Ariff untuk melawat kampung kami beberapa kali dan pada 1 November 2012, beliau telah mengatakan bahawa perkampungan kami akan dikekalkan.
3. Lebih awal pada bulan Febuari 2012, YB Asiah juga memaklumkan bahawa Kerajaan Johor sedang mengenalpasti tanah di kawasan Selat Johor untuk tujuan pewartaan sebagai rizab tanah Orang Asli untuk kami.
4. Walau bagaimanapun, tanah dan wilayah adat yang kami diami secara turun-temurun telah dan masih diceroboh oleh ramai pihak yang tidak bertanggungjawab. Setelah sekian lama aduan kami dibuat kepada pihak kerajaan, janji-janji yang ditawarkan oleh pihak berkuasa secara mulut masih belum menjadi kenyataan dalam bentuk hitam putih.

Pada masa yang sama, adalah sangat ketara bahawa bahawa kawasan hutan bakau di sekitar muara Sg Skudai dan Sg Danga di mana kami diami dan mencari makan telah musnah akibat kerja-kerja pembinaan yang kononnya dibuat demi pembangunan. Tetapi siapa yang merasai buah hasil pembangunan ini?

Kami tidak tahu. Apa yang kami pasti, hidup masyarakat Orang Asli di sini semakin terancam kerana dengan hilangnya hutan bakau dan tercemarnya sungai dan laut, punca mata pencarian kami semakin berkurangan. Malah, tanah di atas berdirinya kampung halaman kami telah ditukar menjadi hak milik pihak-pihak ketiga yang tanpa pengetahuan kami.

Tujuan kami mengambil cara undang-undang adalah supaya ketidak adilan yang menimpa masyarakat kami dapat diperbetulkan. Sebagai orang asal di negeri ini, kami ingin terus hidup dan maju di atas tanah dan laut yang kami warisi dari nenek moyang kami.

Link: 

http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/rencana/article/orang-asli-seletar-johor-tuntut-hak-tanah-gabungan-penduduk-orang-asli-kg-bakar-batu-dan-kg-sg-temun/

Berita lain: http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/217515

Seorang ADUN BN negeri menafikan dakwaan PKR  bahawa parti pemerintah dan Jabatan Kemajuan Orang Asli (JAKOA) mengadakan "sesi latihan" untuk membimbing pengundi Orang Asli di Tapah, Perak untuk mengundi BN.

ADUN Ayer Kuning yang juga pengerusi BN Tapah, Samsudin Abu Hassan memberitahu akhbar Sinar Harian bahawa program itu, yang dianjur bahagiannya, adalah untuk mendidik pengundi Orang Asli cara yang betul untuk mengundi.

Beliau menjelaskan ia diadakan selepas mereka mendapati bilangan undi rosak di kalangan pengundi Orang Asli dalam pilihan raya umum lepas adalah tinggi. Samsudin berkata, pihaknya tidak pernah memaksa sesiapa untuk mengundi BN kerana ia hak pengundi untuk mengundi sesiapa yang mereka mahu.

Sebaliknya, tegas beliau, pihaknya hanya mendidik mereka cara untuk memangkah dan mengundi dengan betul. Katanya, terpulang kepada PKR jika mereka juga mahu berbuat demikian. Samsudin juga mengakui 5kg beras telah diberikan kepada setiap pengundi Orang Asli, tetapi menegaskan bahawa ia bukan bertujuan untuk memancing undi.

Asia Petroleum Hub managing contractor ZAQ files suit

Published by The StarOnline on 3 August 2012.

ZAQ Construction Sdn Bhd, the managing contractor in the Asia Petroleum Hub (APH) project in Johor, has filed a suit against several parties including CIMB and Muhibbah Engineering (M) Bhd over a restructuring scheme.

Muhibbah said on Monday ZAQ had filed the suit against CIMB, APH, Lim San Peen (the receiver & manager appointed by CIMB over APH) and Muhibbah.

"ZAQ is alleging Muhibbah's involvement in the restructuring scheme proposed by the receiver & manager in January 2012 vis-vis the APH project, and thereby indicating its support for such proposed scheme," it said.

Muhibbah said the proposed restructuring scheme was subsequently called off by the receiver after CIMB withdrew its support in end June 2012. ZAQ is seeking, amongst others, damages against all the defendants, including Muhibbah for such involvement and indicated support.

"Muhibbah is of the view that the claim brought by ZAQ is frivolous and the Company will defend the case," it said. APH is the developer of a petroleum storage/blending/distribution terminal under construction. The project is located on a 100-acre reclaimed island at Tanjung Bin, about 15 minutes from Iskandar, Johor.

The project was planned for multiple product tanks of a total capacity of 924,000 cu m with inter-tank connectivity for blending options and space for dedicated multiple users. CIMB Bank Bhd pulled out from a debt restructuring for APH, delaying the latter's payment for construction works done by Muhibbah.

To recap, Muhibbah was awarded an RM820mil contract for marine piling and jetty works of APH's oil storage and bunkering facility on a reclaimed island off Tanjung Bin, Johor. StarBiz has earlier reported that Muhibbah had completed RM630mil worth of works and had yet to receive payment for RM371mil.

In February, CIMB came into the picture for a restructuring exercise. It was rumoured that Muhibbah and CIMB could end up as shareholders in APH through a debt-equity swap.

CIMB owned 75% of the unsecured and secured debt of APH each. However, it was reported that not all the APH creditors agreed to convert their debt to equity, which may stall the restructuring of APH because the scheme would need 75% creditors' support to be carried out.

Link: http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2012/9/3/business/20120903183037&sec=business

Related report:

http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/contractor-sues-troubled-johor-oil-terminal-after-rescue-bid-fails/

APH was placed under receivership in January and CIMB had appointed PricewaterhouseCoopers to oversee the restructuring. APH had awarded Muhibbah the contracts for marine piling and jetty work worth RM820 million.

It also reportedly owes CIMB some RM840 million, which was part of a RM1.4-billion bridging loan facility provided to the project back in 2006.

As part of the earlier proposed settlement, the current shareholders of APH — KIC Oil & Gas (90 per cent stake) and Umno-linked Trek Perintis (10 per cent) — had agreed to surrender their equity holdings, although it was not clear if they received financial compensation.

MRCB seeks EDL compensation

Published by Business Times on 1 September 2012. By Sharen Kaur.

http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/20120831225435/Article/index_html

Malaysian Resources Corp Bhd (MRCB) hopes the government will take over the 8.1km Eastern Dispersal Link (EDL) in Johor and its debt as soon as possible, as the highway is eating into the group's profitability.

"We will also be seeking compensation from the government. In the meantime, we will focus on existing projects and other ventures," a company official told Business Times. However, he declined to say how much MRCB will be seeking from the government.

MRCB, a property and infrastructure developer, reported a 71.32 per cent fall in net profit to RM5.2 million in the second quarter ended June 30 2012, from RM17.98 million in the previous corresponding period. 

This is attributed to non-recognition of revenue from the EDL due to non-tolling issues. The EDL, which opened on April 1, became a hot topic after it was announced that road users to and from Singapore face a RM15.30 toll.

The RM1.4 billion expressway links the Customs Immigration and Quarantine Complex (CIQ) and the North-South Expressway via the Pandan Interchange in Johor Baru. MRCB was awarded the project under a 30-year concession. 

The concession agreement stated clearly that toll collection will be at the CIQ and start in May, which will then allow MRCB to meet its debt repayment obligations.

As at December 31 2011, MRCB had senior and junior sukuk amounting to RM1.06 billion, which were secured by the EDL project and repayable in a series of yearly redemption commencing in 2018.

MRCB is required to service the finance costs - to the tune of RM7 million a month - despite no toll charges for the EDL. It is learnt that MRCB has accumulated some RM40 million start-up losses for the EDL when it opened in April.

At the company's shareholders meeting in April, MRCB chairman Tan Sri Azlan Zainol expressed hope that the government will consider buying the EDL at market value.

"We hope that there will be a win-win situation for the government, the people and MRCB shareholders. We do not know the market value but the total project cost was RM1.4 billion," Azlan said. MRCB has been negotiating with the government since May for some form of compensation to cushion the operating costs as well as the possibility of agreeing in-principle to take over the expressway.

On Thursday, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop said the government will acquire the EDL from MRCB to settle issues related to policy and toll charges. He said the cost and terms are expected to be known before the end of the year

Related reports:

http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/Shahrir-says-vindicated-by-planned-EDL-buyout/

The federal government said on Thursday that it will buy out the EDL in Johor Baru from concession holder Malaysian Resources Corporation Berhad (MRCB) in an apparent move to prevent a potential six-fold toll increase for round trips to Singapore from becoming election fodder for Pakatan Rakyat PR in the Umno bastion... While the details of the takeover were not announced the deal is widely expected to cost the government RM1 billion and could potentially push the country’s public debt levels closer to the legal ceiling of 55 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP). The country’s debt currently stands at about 53 per cent of GDP... The tolls concessions many of which have been criticised as being sweetheart deals came back to haunt the Barisan Nasional however as bitter opposition to toll rate increases helped contribute to record losses during Election 2008.

http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/putrajaya-urged-not-to-shell-out-for-loss-of-future-profits-in-edl-takeover/
By paying MRCB anything more than RM1.3 billion, it will show that BN is abusing its powers to profit its crony companies and is failing in its fiduciary duty to protect and defend the interest of ordinary Malaysian taxpayers. — DAP MP Tony Pua

Johor Orang Asli to get Compensation over Eviction

Published by The Malaysian Insider on 7 August 2012.

The Johor government will compensate the Orang Asli of Orang Selat descent over eviction from their land in Stulang Laut and demolition of their chapel nine years ago.

This follows the withdrawal of an appeal by the Johor Land and Mines Department represented by state legal adviser Datuk Abdul Rahman Putra against the decision of the Johor Baru High Court which had in 2010 awarded compensation to 50 Orang Asli which was to be assessed by the High Court.

The High Court had ruled that the eviction of Khalip Bachik Kelah Lah and 49 others from their land by the authorities was unlawful and the demolition of the chapel was an act of trespass. 

A three-member Court of Appeal panel led by Datuk Seri Abu Samah Nordin struck out the appeal and awarded RM5,000 in costs to the Orang Asli. Justices Datuk Clement Allan Skinner and Datuk Aziah Ali were the other two judges presiding on the panel.

Steven Thiru representing the Orang Asli said that following the withdrawal of the appeal the High Court’s decision stood. He said the next move was to go back to the High Court for assessment of damages to determine the amount of compensation.

Khalip and others are of Orang Asli Laut descent and members of the Orang Asli Christian congregation. They were originally residents of Kampung Orang Asli Stulang Laut. They received a directive from the Johor Baru City Council in 1993 to relocate to Kampung Orang Asli Kuala Masai on the grounds that the site they occupied was earmarked for development. 

Khalip and Kelah claimed that the Orang Asli Affairs Department (JHEOA) director-general had given them an assurance that they could build a place of worship at the new settlement and had done so upon relocation in 2003.

In 2005, 10 days before Christmas the chapel was demolished when the community was busy making preparations for the celebration.

In their civil suit filed in December 2008 the Orang Asli had named as defendants the state Land and Mines Department director Johor Baru City Council and JHEOA. However the city council and JHEOA chose not to participate in the proceedings in the High Court. The city council did not file affidavits in defence despite reminders and then failed to enter an appearance when the hearing dates were fixed. On September 22, 2010 the Johor Baru High Court ruled in favour of the Orang Asli and ordered the state Land and Mines Department director and city council to pay compensation to the Orang Asli.

Read more here: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/johor-orang-asli-to-get-compensation-over-eviction/

Trouble In Iskandar

From The Malaysian Insider.

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 20 — All is not well in Iskandar Malaysia, the country's showpiece economic corridor project.

Two chief executive officers of the Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA) have not lasted two years on the job and there are now rumblings over the slow pace of progress from Middle East investors.

Apart from that, the relationship between some of the main players — the Johor Civil Service (JCS), Khazanah Nasional, Iskandar Investment Board (IIB) — leaves much to be desired.

Unwilling for the situation to unravel further, Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman is signalling his intention to Putrajaya for the state government to take more control of the mammoth project billed as Malaysia's Shenzen to the developed Singapore across the Johor Straits.

He wants IRDA to come directly under the purview of the state government, and rely less on instructions from Khazanah Nasional, the federal sovereign wealth fund tasked with developing the economic zone named after the state Ruler.

The IRDA board is now jointly chaired by the Prime Minister and the MB but The Malaysian Insiderunderstands that the Johor MB could be assigned full chairmanship, giving him control of the regional authority.

Ghani has already started exerting his authority, much to the chagrin of the top brass in Khazanah Nasional. Late last month, he demanded the resignation of the incumbent CEO Harun Johari.

Officials at Khazanah Nasional wanted Harun to be given six more months on the job but last week, the IRDA board quickly accepted Harun's resignation. He will leave in January 2010 for IRDA to have another fresh start.

Harun, an ex-Shell stalwart, was hand-picked by Khazanah Nasional for the top position. He quickly brought in several of his former Shell colleagues to fill senior executive positions, and the organisation ballooned to over 150 staff under his charge.

His critics charged that he lacked charisma but his supporters argued that he is a process-driven individual who was effective behind the scenes. Harun replaced Datuk Ikmal Hijaz, the former Pos Malaysia CEO.

The latter was also hand-picked by Khazanah Nasional to drive IRDA and make it a world-class, one-stop centre for investors.

After being appointed, Ikmal also surrounded himself with several former colleagues from Pos Malaysia or the now defunct Renong Group, in which he oversaw the construction of the Gelang Patah crossing and massive land acquisition in Nusajaya.

The Malaysian Insider has learnt the new CEO of IRDA is Ismail Ibrahim. He is currently director of the National Physical Planning Division under the Urban and Rural Planning Department.

The Muar-born career public servant, who is a British-trained town planner, was among the pioneers assembled by Khazanah Nasional back in 2006 to draw up the Comprehensive Development Plan for the south Johor Economic Region (now known as Iskandar).

He later served as senior vice-president (Planning & Compliance) and became Johor's Federal Commissioner, but quit suddenly to return to the Housing and Local Government Ministry.

Ghani has already told Ismail that he expects an overhaul of the top management of IRDA, wanting him to rid the authority of deadwood.

At least four senior personnel are expected to be removed.

The JCS — a body whose support is necessary if any project is to take off in the southern state — has welcomed the appointment of Ismail.

Relations between the JCS and Khazanah Nasional have been uneasy since the inception of the project in 2006, with Johor civil servants complaining of being sidelined from the decision-making process. They have resented the fact that important decisions regarding Iskandar were being made in Kuala Lumpur.

The shortcomings in IRDA, and to a lesser extend IIB, come at a time when several of the Middle East investors are exhibiting signs of restlessness at the pace of the project.

Government officials told The Malaysian Insider that Khazanah Nasional was forced to buy back some land in Node 1 of Iskandar which it sold to a consortium of Middle East investors. This happened after some disagreement over responsibilities and obligations.