Lim Guan Eng's Benevolent Fund

Hantu Laut

Penang state government is giving 'ang pows' to senior citizens.Whether wealthy geriatrics would also get the payment I am not sure.Maybe, Lim can enlighten us.

Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng called it Senior Citizen Appreciation programme.I call it vote buying. Buying political favour using state funds.

It should be called Lim Guan Eng's Benevolent Fund because a personal letter from him will be enclosed with every cash voucher send to the recipient.Lim will be the first Santa Claus chief minister in Malaysia.

Read the letter below and make your own assessment if it is not long term plan to buy political favour.In other words a well thought out political corruptions.

Dear Sir/ Mdm,

Penang Senior Citizens Appreciation Program of RM100 Annually

As a people-centric government, the Penang Pakatan Rakyat (PR) State government continually endeavours to listen to the people, do the people’s work and give hope to all. A people-centric government can be achieved through 3Es-to enable, empower and enrich the people.

• Enable the people with the skills, knowledge and education to provide equal opportunity for all to create wealth.
• Empower the people with fundamental rights, basic freedom and responsibilities with full observance for the rule of law.
• Enrich the people by sharing wealth and economic benefits to persue socio-economic justice.

For the first time in Penang’s history, senior citizens above 60 years old residing in Penang shall receive RM100 annually. This is a symbolic gift from the Penang PR State government to all senior citizens for their contributions and efforts that have allowed Penang to enjoy its success today whether in the field of socio-economy or unity in diversity amongst our plural society.

The Penang PR state government can afford to do so as we have been rigorously adopting a prudent budget, strict savings and good governance based on CAT- Competency, Accountability and Transparency. CAT governance has gained recognition from international bodies such as Transparency International that praised a state government in Malaysia for the first time ever. The 2008 Auditor-General’s report also praised the success of the Penang PR State Government in turning around a projected 2008 Budget deficit of RM35 million to a record surplus of RM88 million and a projected 2009 Budget deficit of RM40 million to a surplus of RM77 million.

We regret that our political opponents have tried to sabotage this RM 100 cash appreciation program by describing giving money to senior citizens as an act of bribery and corruption. However we shall continue with this program and are prepared to face any investigation or action by the Malaysia Anti-Corruption Agency(MACC).

The RM100 cash appreciation to the senior citizens continues the Penang PR government’s tradition of giving to the people such as the RM100 water rebates to the nearly 170,000 low-income families in 2008-2009. Lest you think that you will be forgotten when you grow old- Remember that so long as Penang PR government exists, you will always be in our heart!

God Bless You!

Yours faithfully,

Lim Guan Eng ,Penang Chief Minister

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This brought me back to the reign of Tun Mustapha Harun in Sabah in the sixties and seventies when every Sabahan get paid annual dividend.

Even back then Mustapha's lack of education did not stupefy him to blatantly use state funds to buy favour.He was much smarter. He set up a foundation to do business to pay every eligible Sabahan.

The scheme in Sabah at that time was more sophisticated.Every eligible Sabahan was made shareholder of the Sabah Foundation. Operating under a group of companies its main revenue came from forestry business.Dividends were paid out of the profits made by these companies.If profits were low no dividend would be paid.Unfortunately, the scheme was abolished by the succeeding government.

If Lim is really concerned about the welfare of senior citizens than he should give them a monthly payment and only to those who are poor and have no sustainable income.

Why should he wants to enclose a personal letter from himself? As it is state money any officer in the State Treasury can sign the letter.

It's pure and simple, he wants them to know he is the giver.The benevolent Lim Guan Eng.He would become a cult figure like the late Mustapha Harun, very popular with the populace particularly the older generation.Those days Mustapha could stand in an elections in any areas (except Kadazan and Chinese areas) in Sabah and win overwhelmingly.

In his letter he also mentioned due to prudent financial planning the state has surplus budgets two years running. Too much surplus budget means the government is not doing enough for the people and has not been spending enough for the benefits of the people.There must have been less development projects in Penang since Pakatan took over.

The US government budget deficit ran into trillion of dollars yet it is still one of the richest country in the world.

The capitalist system and free market economy will not survive without spending of both public and private sectors.The eventual result of continual less spending and high surpluses would be negative economic growth and a decaying economy.You have a healthy looking balance sheet at the expense of growth.

Government, as long as it is not overgeared, can borrow to finance development projects for the people, there is nothing wrong with it.It is only wrong if it has to borrow to finance its recurring expenditure.

That's Pakatan Rakyat for you.Only two years in office already doing better than the BN as far as corruptions are concerned.

Of course, Pakatan supporters would say it is not corruptions.I think it is good money going to waste.These days how far can you stretch RM100 over a year.

If it is not vote buying than what is it? The worst thing it is geared for the Malay community because being the biggest population in the country there are more poor Malays than poor Chinese or Indians.

Lim Guan Eng has worked out that votes may not come free in the next elections.

SESB Boss Should Go

Published on: Sunday, March 14, 2010

Kota Kinabalu: State Resource Development and Information Technology Minister, Datuk Dr Yee Moh Chai, Saturday supported the call for Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB) Managing Director, Baharin Din, to step down for failing to address power woes in the State.

He said the Barisan Nasional (BN) Government had already been governing for more than 10 years but still the SESB cannot find the ways to solve the problem.

He said it was totally unacceptable for SESB to use second hand mobile generator sets to generate power in the State, especially in the East Coast.

Dr Yee said the action was tantamount to SESB not being sincere in solving the problem.

He added that SESB should have made all the planning well ahead and not wait for certain problems to crop up before swinging into action.

"In fact, the present action of using second hand generator sets was still causing power shortage and hindering development, especially the Sabah Development Corridor.

"SESB should not simply sweep the matter under the carpet and if you can't do it then you should step down," he said.

Meanwhile, former Tawau MP Datuk Geoffrey Yee demanded that SESB disclose the true status of the used mobile generator sets to reduce the power interruptions in the East Coast of Sabah.

"We are all aware that used or old cars would not function well which is the same analogy that can be used for using second-hand or used mobile generators set, which are not economical.

"This is because we have to spend more on servicing or maintenance cost to ensure the sets are functioning," he told a press conference.

Geoffrey, who fully supports Kalabakan MP Datuk Ghapur Salleh's call for Baharin to resign, also asked the uitility agency to organise a dialogue session with elected people reps in Sabah to explain the real situation.

He said it is embarrassing to note that maybe the SESB officers did not understand a statement by the Prime Minister who promised to tackle the problematic supply of electricity here by installing new mobile generators sets in Tawau and Sandakan.

The Prime Minister made the statement during his visit here during the fasting month, last year.

"What the people want is 100 per cent service without power interruptions as had been said by Datuk Seri Najib and not the enhancement of 81.6 per cent for Sandakan and 87.34 per cent in Tawau as claimed by SESB after the installation of 'second hand' mobile gensets.

"It would not be fair for Sabahans who are paying for the service as others in the country but receiving different treatment when given the second hand gensets.

"This is really very disappointing as we are receiving second class service from third class officers," he said, adding the matter has to be explained to public as it has been prevailing for years.

Geoffrey also questioned Baharin's logic that buying or booking new generator sets would need a long time due to certain procedures to be followed.

He stressed that if those certain procedures are the excuse, then the prevailing matter would not be resolved.

"For sure, the people do not want second class equipment and third class officers because those officers would not know how to solve a problem."

Daily Express

The Singer Not The Song

Hantu Laut

Much ado over nothing.

When I read Pasquale's comment of Malaysiakini tasking of Rosmah's and her son's rendition of Chinese songs as enticing the Chinese votes, I almost tip over in laughter.

Does Rosmah think the Chinese are the most stupid people and can be bought over for a song? Well, the people at Malaysiakini think so.

It shows that Malaysiakini is running out of spins.It dwells on triviality.

It's no big deal.So what if Rosmah sang Chinese songs? Most people who love music would have liked some songs in languages they don't understand.Music is universal and transcends all boundaries.You don't need to understand the language to enjoy music.

It 's no more the days of Romeo and Juliet where the paramour entice his lover with music and songs.If Rosmah managed to bring the Chinese back to the fold,which is unlikely, it's her not the song.

Just for entertainment, I present the Rolling Stones' " The Singer Not The Song"



,and a movie by the same name "The Singer Not The Song" starring Dirk Bogarde and John Mills.It's a mixture of gay and heterosexual love.The movie is not exactly box office catergory. It's the actor not the movie.



It's Rosmah not the song.

SESB's Craps:'USED' Is Better Than 'OLD'

Hantu Laut

Not 'old' but 'used'? SESB trying to justify its purchase of second-hand generators for Sabah.

This chap from Tenaga thinks Sabahan are fools when the actual fool is himself.

In the case of Sabah it means from the frying pan into the fire.

Those second-hand generators purchased by SESB that the idiotic SESB Managing Director prefers the use of the term 'used' instead of 'old' is a complete hogwash, trying to bullshit Sabahans that 'used' is better than 'old'.

When people sell their old equipments it can only mean those equipments have exhausted their economic life.It means high maintenance cost, regular breakdown and expensive downtime.Otherwise, why would they sell? Bloody joker!Even a child knows that.

The 'old" equipment become 'used' equipment in the hands of the new owner, usually someone who has less money and can't afford to buy new equipment.So, does it matter whether you use 'old' or 'used'?

Tenaga has lots of money but it seems Sabah doesn't deserve to get better generators and better power supply.Priority, it seems is always given to the West.Sabah is a dumping ground for old things.

Below is SESB's Managing Director Baharin Din's feeble ground after being attacked by the MP for Marotai Ghafur Salleh asking him to resign or be fired for the perennial power shortages in Sabah.

I fully support Ghafur's stand on his removal.If you can't get the job done you should have the sense of shame to resign or be sacked. You have failed as CEO of the company, meaning you can't even convince your own board to do the right thing.

In most countries power companies make tons of money.In Sabah the power company has become a four-letter word.... completely fucked-up.

His incompetent statement below.

Kota Kinabalu: The mobile electricity generator sets supplied to Sabah's east coast, whether they are second-hand or new, have helped boost electricity supply there and significantly reduced the frequency of disruptions.

Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB) Managing Director, Baharin Din, said the 32 generator sets (40 megawatts) - 17 in Tawau and 15 in Sandakan - had operated well so far.

"They have reduced power disruptions in Sandakan by 81.6 per cent and in Tawau by 87.34 per cent last month.

"So it's not a matter of whether they are new or old. As long as they are functioning and provide what they are contracted for, it should not be an issue.

"Also, the sets referred to were not old but used," he told a media briefing after a ceremony to sign a memorandum of understanding with Dewan Bandaraya Kota Kinabalu to promote energy efficiency, Thursday.

Baharin was commenting on recent reports the Kalabakan Member of Parliament, Datuk Abdul Ghapur Salleh, had claimed that Sabahans were being treated poorly when some of the mobile generators used to boost power output in Tawau, were found to be second-hand.

DAP had also claimed that the generators in Sandakan were second-hand ones. However, Baharin said if SESB were to follow normal procedures of obtaining new sets, it would take years.

"Following the scenario and the need to deliver the supply due to critical electricity situation in the east coast last year, the best option was to sign an agreement with Sime Darby Industrial Sdn Bhd (SDI), which is one of the country's biggest mobile genset suppliers," he said.

He said SESB's board of directors, to protect its interest, has also signed guaranteed buy-back and customer service agreements with SDI.

Baharin said under the deal, SDI would buy back the sets when the electricity supply situation has been resolved and the reserve margin improved, taking into account independent power producer (IPP), Ranhill Powertron 2's stations which were expected to be operational in stages this year.

"The first IPP unit of 65 MW will be launched this Saturday, while the second 65 MW unit in June and the third 60 MW sometime in October," he said.

Ghafur blasted SESB here.

Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Datuk Peter Chin Kui Fah said he would resign his ministerial post if the shortage of power in Sabah is not resolved by the end of the year.Likewise, he said the SESB's MD Baharin Din should also resign if the company failed to reach the target by then.

Nice to hear such bravado.Sabahans should jot this down in their diaries and make sure these two gentlemen resign should they failed in their promises.If they don't, than we should ask the prime minister and the whole cabinet to step down.

SESB blamed the lack of power due illegal connections and power theft.This is just poor excuse to cover their own incompetency.How much power can those miserable immigrants steal? Most squatters colony used low wattage appliances and light bulbs.

SESB should have dedicated inspection schedule of squatter colonies to regularly check on illegal re-connection.

They closed their eyes and ears to much bigger thievery, legal domestic users and factories who fixed their meters reputedly with the help of SESB staff.Factories are heavy consumers of energy and I wouldn't be surprised if some fix their meters to cheat SESB.

SESB should go state-wide to check on all meters suspected of stealing power and impose hefty fines on those caught doing it.

Sabahans have enough of those empty promises.If Tenaga can't handle the power woes in Sabah than they should ask the government to give it to other people who are competent and have the experience to run power company efficiently..