Hantu Laut
Nothing could be more shameless than what's happening to the health care in Sabah.The health care system is as sick as a dog and not because of lack of money but because some scumbags are trying to make money out of this malady at the expense of the health of the people of Sabah.
The apathy of the Federal government and the Ministry of Health toward this critical issue is most distasteful and a shame to the Federal leaders who still have not learned their lessons from the 8 March 2008 Elections.Making all kind of promises during elections time and conveniently forget to carry out those promises when they have won.Irionically, they have forgotten, if not for Sabah and Sarawak it would have been Anwar Ibrahim sitting in Puterajaya today, not Badawi or Najib. There are just too much and endless politiking to prioritise their own interests and leave the people at the mercy of the elements.Do they deserve our support in future elections? I leave it to Sabahans to decide when the time comes.A good deed deserves another and they have done nothing of that sort.As the Malays would say "Tak kenang budi" or "hutang emas boleh dibayar, hutang budi dibawah mati".
When the tower block of the QEH (Queen Elizabeth Hospital) was declared structurally unsafe a year ago the state capital lost hundreds of hospital beds, displaced the operating theatre, ICU, surgical department and other crucial sections of the hospital, throwing the health and medical care into utter chaos for those living in and around Kota Kinabalu.Patients have to be sent as far as Sandakan and Tawau because of inadequate beds causing logistic and nonsensical problems for patients,relatives,families and doctors.The bills for all this stupidity is staggering.
Adding insult to injury was the Deputy Minister of Health Abdul Latif Ahmad who came to Sabah and insulted the people of Sabah by saying no budget was made for the new hospital at Kinarut. This is the kind of minister this country has, think Sabahans are stupid and do not know what's going on behind the scene.
How could this liar say they have no budget to build a new hospital when it's common knowledge here that the Ministry of Health is negotiating to buy the SMC (Sabah Medical Centre), a private hospital for a whopping RM460 million. This hospital was built and completed about three years ago for less than RM200 million and with finishes that leaves much to be desired. One have to visit the hospital to see how bad the quality of the building is.
I have first hand knowledge of this hospital because my mother was admitted to this hospital for almost one month the first time and about 2 weeks the second time. It costs me a bomb. The private rooms are the standard of 2 star hotel but charging 5 star price.
This is not the first time this private company is in the business of selling hospitals to the Federal government.The old SMC at Likas was also sold to the Federal government at a pumped up price a few years ago.
Although it's a federal matters the chief minister should have a say in any project involving the state and people of Sabah. The present Chief Minister Musa Aman should not sit on his laurel but must insist on a new hospital to be built on the land provided by the state government.
In fact, as a temporary measure, the government can employ a quick-built system if there are sufficient land space provided by the state.This pre-fabricated structure and panels can be made locally or brought in from China where it is probably cheaper to make.The other alternative is to buy a building and convert it into a hospital. These are the faster and cheaper alternatives.
The most puzzling question is why the Federal government do not utilise about 30 acres of land which came with the old SMC which logically should be the first choice for new extension to accommodate the various departments that have been displaced by the closure of the QEH tower block.In fact, with proper design even the land around the present QEH is sufficient to build new hospital.All the low-rise buildings such as the TB ward, the nurses quarters,the stupid car-park, etc should be removed and to put up multi-storey buildings.
A hospital need not be a one-stop centre where every department is housed under one roof. It would be an ideal situation but not necessary.They can be in different cluster and in different locations.
Paying RM460 million can certainly build a bigger and more magnificent hospital than buying the grossly overpriced SMC and isn't it strange they have the money to buy SMC but have no money to build a new hospital.
Maybe, the MACC should do some investigative work on this case.
Friday, March 6, 2009
Thursday, March 5, 2009
The Tweedle-dum And Tweedle-dee
Hantu Laut
PKR's Fauzi Muda says he is prepared to reveal all evidence regarding his allegation of being offered RM50 million by Najib for him to organise defections of Perak's Pakatan assemblymen.Maybe, he should and let the public decide whether he is what he says he is.....of unquestionable integrity.
Only they seem to have the affinity to attract such offers , none of DAP or PAS elected members have been approached, or at least they have not said so.
Would you believe that PKR elected representatives are of the highest calibre and impeccable integrity that even RM50 million wouldn't buy their souls, if not their sins. It certainly have bought the sins of the two scumbags that left the party to be independents and supported the BN. Many of them have lamented the turpitude of the BN government and the icing on the cake of their unconquerable and unquestionable integrity.
Sometimes, facial expression and body language are instant give-aways. Some lie to try fortify their lack of self-esteem and some to seek self-glorification while some are just pathological liars.
I will not rule out the fact that there may be some offers made by the BN to entice those scumbags to shift royalty to their side but I also believe there are just too many embellishments to the story to make the scumbags look good and Najib looks bad. What different would Najib be to Anwar, who glorified and gave standing ovation to the jumping of the UMNO's scumbag to PKR, that, unfortunately, was a flash in the pan. Anwar's bid to takeover the government through unscrupulous means of crossovers of BN lawmakers were no lesser evil.The only difference is, he didn't succeed. If he had, and should Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi called for dissolution of Parliament and the king agreed, I bet my bottom dollar Anwar, Pakatan and its supporters would be screaming for blood and would accuse the Agong and show the same disrespect as they did to the Sultan of Perak.
There are more scumbags,villains and liars in PKR than in the other Pakatan's coalition partners.
The Tweedel-dum and Tweedle-dee, two of a kind, who look the same and say the same things.
PKR's Fauzi Muda says he is prepared to reveal all evidence regarding his allegation of being offered RM50 million by Najib for him to organise defections of Perak's Pakatan assemblymen.Maybe, he should and let the public decide whether he is what he says he is.....of unquestionable integrity.
Only they seem to have the affinity to attract such offers , none of DAP or PAS elected members have been approached, or at least they have not said so.
Would you believe that PKR elected representatives are of the highest calibre and impeccable integrity that even RM50 million wouldn't buy their souls, if not their sins. It certainly have bought the sins of the two scumbags that left the party to be independents and supported the BN. Many of them have lamented the turpitude of the BN government and the icing on the cake of their unconquerable and unquestionable integrity.
Sometimes, facial expression and body language are instant give-aways. Some lie to try fortify their lack of self-esteem and some to seek self-glorification while some are just pathological liars.
I will not rule out the fact that there may be some offers made by the BN to entice those scumbags to shift royalty to their side but I also believe there are just too many embellishments to the story to make the scumbags look good and Najib looks bad. What different would Najib be to Anwar, who glorified and gave standing ovation to the jumping of the UMNO's scumbag to PKR, that, unfortunately, was a flash in the pan. Anwar's bid to takeover the government through unscrupulous means of crossovers of BN lawmakers were no lesser evil.The only difference is, he didn't succeed. If he had, and should Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi called for dissolution of Parliament and the king agreed, I bet my bottom dollar Anwar, Pakatan and its supporters would be screaming for blood and would accuse the Agong and show the same disrespect as they did to the Sultan of Perak.
There are more scumbags,villains and liars in PKR than in the other Pakatan's coalition partners.
The Tweedel-dum and Tweedle-dee, two of a kind, who look the same and say the same things.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Economic Malaise: Will The Government 'Broke The Buck' ?
Hantu Laut
Reported in The Strait Times
They are going to announce the second stimulus package on 10 March 2009.Will have to wait and see what kind of package they have in store to rescue the economy.
Anything less than RM30 billion (inclusive the RM7 billion) may not do a good job. The problem is the government do not have the money and would not get enough money from its normal sources of revenue to finance its main budget, let alone finance the stimulus package.Its budget deficit is expected to grow to unhealthy level if the stimulus package could not revive the economy by the 2nd half of 2009. The longer the delay to implement the stimulus package the longer the sickness would stay.The country may be looking at unpleasant negative growth.
Unpleasant, as it may be, the government needs to borrow to finance the budget and the stimulus package. It has a number of options that it can take for its deficit financing.
1.Issuance of Treasury Bonds for domestic and international markets.....unlikely. Response from the international financial community may not be strong enough, which can downgrade the credit rating of the nation.
2.Foreign borrowing in foreign currency..... unlikely.Can become very expensive in the long run.
3.Liquidation of government assets..... not efficient in a downturn and possible diminution in value of assets.
4.Borrow from pension funds and government-controlled trust funds......very likely.The most efficient, cheapest, easiest and quickest way to raise the funds. Most likely candidates would be EPF and savings in ASN and ASB.
When the government announces the stimulus package it would be imperative and responsible on the part of the Prime Minister to tell Malaysians where the money is coming from.
Should the government decides to use money from EPF, the Board of EPF should not agree to a term loan between EPF and the government but demand for the issuance of medium term bonds with reasonable rate of interest.A term loan can be renegotiated and the terms and conditions can be varied from time to time by the lender (EPF) which is controlled by the government but government bonds must be paid in full upon maturity.
EPF funds were already badly managed giving poor return for many years and investments in low-yield government bonds or low interest loans are going to worsen the earnings of the fund.
Reported in The Strait Times
MARCH 4 – The Malaysian ringgit could breach the psychological 3.80 to the greenback mark in the not too distant future, nudged by a deepening global recession and resultant flight to quality, plus a widening budget deficit.
Previously, few would have entertained the notion of the local unit tumbling back to 3.80 – the level at which it was fixed in 1998 during the Asian financial crisis before the peg was dismantled in 2005 – but it appears a distinct possibility now.
On the back of weakening exports and a growing budget shortfall, the ringgit climbed to within a 3.62/63 band a month ago.
Yesterday, it opened at 3.727/731 from Monday's close of 3.726/730. Full story here...
Read the one below:
Reduced corporate profits or losses would mean less income taxes going into government coffers, which among other things, would affect the government budget.New sources of funding would have to be found to finance the budget.Unless there is sudden upswing to the current gloomy global conditions the general economy will face serious contraction in the next few months which would affect the value of the ringgit.The ringgit may be traded at 3.80 to 4.00 range by 1st Quarter 2009 if no viable solution is found to stimulate growth. Read the full story here...
Read this one:
KUALA LUMPUR: The property market in Kuala Lumpur could depreciate as much as 10% to 15% going forward, while the prices of high-end condominiums in the Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC) area may fall up to 30% in the next two to three months, said property consultant Rahim & Co. Full story here...
Now read this one:
Presently, there is notable forced sale and marginal decline in the prices of medium and lower scale properties in cities like Kuala Lumpur and Johor Baru.If the economic crisis deepen the next few months and continues into the middle of 2009 the prices of properties for all sectors would take a tumble.Upscale properties would fall between 20 t0 40% mainly in big urban areas.Full story here...
The Straits Times was right only few had the notion how bad things can get when the domino hits us. I was one of the crazy prophets of doom that have had all my forecasts and predictions hitting bulls eye.
They are going to announce the second stimulus package on 10 March 2009.Will have to wait and see what kind of package they have in store to rescue the economy.
Anything less than RM30 billion (inclusive the RM7 billion) may not do a good job. The problem is the government do not have the money and would not get enough money from its normal sources of revenue to finance its main budget, let alone finance the stimulus package.Its budget deficit is expected to grow to unhealthy level if the stimulus package could not revive the economy by the 2nd half of 2009. The longer the delay to implement the stimulus package the longer the sickness would stay.The country may be looking at unpleasant negative growth.
Unpleasant, as it may be, the government needs to borrow to finance the budget and the stimulus package. It has a number of options that it can take for its deficit financing.
1.Issuance of Treasury Bonds for domestic and international markets.....unlikely. Response from the international financial community may not be strong enough, which can downgrade the credit rating of the nation.
2.Foreign borrowing in foreign currency..... unlikely.Can become very expensive in the long run.
3.Liquidation of government assets..... not efficient in a downturn and possible diminution in value of assets.
4.Borrow from pension funds and government-controlled trust funds......very likely.The most efficient, cheapest, easiest and quickest way to raise the funds. Most likely candidates would be EPF and savings in ASN and ASB.
When the government announces the stimulus package it would be imperative and responsible on the part of the Prime Minister to tell Malaysians where the money is coming from.
Should the government decides to use money from EPF, the Board of EPF should not agree to a term loan between EPF and the government but demand for the issuance of medium term bonds with reasonable rate of interest.A term loan can be renegotiated and the terms and conditions can be varied from time to time by the lender (EPF) which is controlled by the government but government bonds must be paid in full upon maturity.
EPF funds were already badly managed giving poor return for many years and investments in low-yield government bonds or low interest loans are going to worsen the earnings of the fund.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Perak On A Roller-Coaster: Bar Council Sucks
Hantu Laut
It will be roller-coaster week for Perak and the drama will continue even after the court have made a decision. Pakatan and its belligerent Speaker will not give up.
If the court do decide in favour of the Sultan's decision and for the BN they will say the judiciary is corrupt and under the control of the executive.The President of the Bar Council Amiga Sreenvasan has imputed that the court would not be fair.
It has now become an interpretation of the law, more on racial sentiments, rather than the letter of the law. The worst culprit is the Bar Council.
Bar Council's vice president Raguneth Kesavan criticised statements made by the Perak police chief promising to take action against anyone who gathers in front of the state assembly building or taking part in an illegal assembly.
This half-past six lawyer said “The police as an enforcement agency must be seen to be neutral. Right now, they are perceived to be anti-Pakatan,”
What exactly is he doing by opening his big mouth? Isn't there a law against illegal assembly? Is he encouraging people to go against the law.Weren't he and his President Amiga Sreenevasan showing bias, anti-government and pro-Pakatan.As professionals why don't they wait for the court to decide the case, be independent like they wanted the police and the judiciary to be, before trying to show their expertise and misled the uninitiated. Looks like the pot calling the kettle black.
Of course the Bar Council can speak out, but in this case , they have shown extreme bias and questioned and interfered with the Sultan of Perak constitutional rights.They all know the Sultan needs not accede to Nizar's request for dissolution as the Sultan deemed he has lost the majority confidence of the assembly yet they insisted it be so.
As a lawyer friend once told me "Free advice is no advice".Unsolicited and free would be of worst value.
This irresponsible lawyer and President of the Bar Council said:
“We are very surprised the police is ignoring the Speaker,”
Perak state assembly members held an emergency sitting at a vacant lot about 200m from the state secretariat building on Tuesday morning. -Picture by SAIFUL BAHRI/The Star ">
It will be roller-coaster week for Perak and the drama will continue even after the court have made a decision. Pakatan and its belligerent Speaker will not give up.
If the court do decide in favour of the Sultan's decision and for the BN they will say the judiciary is corrupt and under the control of the executive.The President of the Bar Council Amiga Sreenvasan has imputed that the court would not be fair.
It has now become an interpretation of the law, more on racial sentiments, rather than the letter of the law. The worst culprit is the Bar Council.
Bar Council's vice president Raguneth Kesavan criticised statements made by the Perak police chief promising to take action against anyone who gathers in front of the state assembly building or taking part in an illegal assembly.
This half-past six lawyer said “The police as an enforcement agency must be seen to be neutral. Right now, they are perceived to be anti-Pakatan,”
What exactly is he doing by opening his big mouth? Isn't there a law against illegal assembly? Is he encouraging people to go against the law.Weren't he and his President Amiga Sreenevasan showing bias, anti-government and pro-Pakatan.As professionals why don't they wait for the court to decide the case, be independent like they wanted the police and the judiciary to be, before trying to show their expertise and misled the uninitiated. Looks like the pot calling the kettle black.
Of course the Bar Council can speak out, but in this case , they have shown extreme bias and questioned and interfered with the Sultan of Perak constitutional rights.They all know the Sultan needs not accede to Nizar's request for dissolution as the Sultan deemed he has lost the majority confidence of the assembly yet they insisted it be so.
As a lawyer friend once told me "Free advice is no advice".Unsolicited and free would be of worst value.
This irresponsible lawyer and President of the Bar Council said:
“We are very surprised the police is ignoring the Speaker,”
“Our institutions, that is the courts, the police, et cetera, are being tested and we can judge for ourselves whether they are acting independently or not,”
"There are serious doubts as to whether the police is acting independently,”
She observed that what is going on in the state “shows a total breakdown in relation to the structures and sanctity of the legislature”.
“It shows a violation of the role of the Speaker and an intrusion into the processes of the legislative assembly,”
Firstly, I would like to ask this learned person Amiga whether the law against illegal assembly (protests and demonstrations) has been repelled, suspended or abolished ?
From whom does she expects the police to take order from, the law, the government, Pakatan or the Bar Council?
Secondly, did the Speaker of the Perak Assembly acted in good faith and with impartiality when he suspended the new MB for 18 months and the new Exco members for 12 months and on what ground were they suspended when all the appointments were made by the Sultan? Isn't the Speaker going against the constitutional rights of the Sultan and try to shame him publicly by resorting to foul play to rebel against the Sultan's decision and reinstalled an illegal government?
Maybe, this Amiga person forgot that only majority of the legislature can form the executive, which is exactly what the belligerent speaker is trying to do. Using unscrupulous means to retain power.
If Speakers of state assemblies have the power to decide who the MB should be than all the sultans in Malaysia would become redundant.
BREAKING NEWS
PERAK'S VAGABOND ASSEMBLY
The belligerent Speaker of the Perak assembly has adopted the Indian's fish head curry Penang's style.He convened his assembly under a tree and the assembly have passed a vote of confidence in illegal Menteri Besar Nizar Jamaluddin and seeking dissolution of the assembly.There was no mention how many marionettes attended the wayang kulit.
Pakatan is rearing for a fight and a showdown.We can't see or hear the puppeteer.
Perak state assembly members held an emergency sitting at a vacant lot about 200m from the state secretariat building on Tuesday morning. -Picture by SAIFUL BAHRI/The Star "> Perak state assembly members passing a motion during the emergency sitting held at a vacant lot about 200m from the state secretariat building on Tuesday morning.
How do you dissolve the assembly if the Sultan doesn't agree.You mean in Pakatan-ruled states the speaker can dissolve the assembly?
NIZAR THE COURT JESTER ?
Ousted Menteri Besar Nizar Jamaluddin is going to the royal court at the palace to entertain the Sultan with his request for dissolution of the Perak State Assembly. The whole idea is to play up the people's emotion and embarrass the Sultan.He knew he would never be allowed into the palace and this is exactly what he and Pakatan wanted and has planned all along.To make the Sultan look bad in the eyes of the people and to rile them up.
Is Perak dicing with emergency rule ?
ASSEMBLY ILLEGAL
Another setback for Nizar and Pakatan.The Ipoh High Court today declared the emergency sitting of the Perak state assembly illegal.It says the speaker has no power to call for sitting of the assembly only the Sultan is authorised to do so under Article 36(1) of the Perak Constitution.
Although, they know they have a weak case and are banging their heads against a brick wall Pakatan will continue to twist and turn the interpretations of the State Constitution to fool the people.They are more interested in the court of public opinion rather than the court of law. The charade will continue.
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