Mahathir's perennial water problem with Singapore

MM Online - Dr M wants to hike price of water to Singapore by 10 times:

The fundamental disagreement is this: About 4 years ago the Sing said Malaysia should have revised the price in 1987 and not later or lose that right.

OTOH, Mahathir had then asserted that the agreement says Malaysia can revise the price after 25 years of the agreement (signed in 1962) which was 1987 but the agreement doesn't say it must be done there and then in 1987, meaning the revision could be done much later, after 1987.

However, Singapore argued that its investment in the Linggiu Dam in Johor had been based on Malaysia not taking up its rights to revise the water price in 1987 or Sing would then not have invested in the dam.

Hmmm, maybe the Malaysian side had wanted Sing to invest in the dam so had kept quiet about the price revision, and subsequent to that, said: oops-a-daisy, we forgot about it, we actually wanted a price revision - wakakaka.

Linggui Reservoir 

Now, deciding who's right will have to be the province of contractual lawyers, that is, assuming the current new Malaysian government wants to take up the issue. Perhaps with AG Tommy Thomas providing legal advice it may, wakakaka.

Just as a matter of interest, Clause 17 of the 1961 Agreement and Clause 14 of the 1962 Agreement state clearly: "The provisions of paragraphs (i) and (ii) of the foregoing clause of these presents shall be subject to review after the expiry of 25 years from the date of these presents ..." 

Does twenty-five years after 1961 and 1962 respectively means any time after 1986 and 1987 respectively or immediately following these two dates, and not too subsequent to the two dates?

I am afraid, as mentioned, we have to let the lawyers look into the agreements, wakakaka.

But I'm also afraid Mahathir has a history of trying to get the better of Singapore [apart from the water price eg. crooked bridge, HSR, man-made island next to Middle Rocks, etc] and only succeeded on one score, that of the KTM land where his refusal previously to do anything with it, and to leave the land in developmental fallow frustrated land-hungry Sing (and very likely to his immense satisfaction].

But even that schadenfreude pleasure has been buggered by Najib who as PM approved cooperative development of the KTM land with Sing in 2010, no doubt to "retiree" Mahathir's immense chagrin, wakakaka. Another reason for Maddy to HATE Najib.

Anwar Ibrahim faces political oblivion

FMT - Analyst sees open war between PKR factions (extracts):

PETALING JAYA: A political analyst has warned of an “open war” in PKR between a faction loyal to incumbent deputy president Mohamed Azmin Ali and one that supports his challenger, Rafizi Ramli, following allegations of interference in the upcoming party election.

Kamarul Zaman Yusoff told FMT that he perceived recent remarks by Kapar MP Abdullah Sani and Ijok assemblyman Idris Ahmad, both of the Rafizi camp, as virtual declarations of war.

Abdullah and Idris, alluding to claims that Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad would like to see Azmin’s faction strengthened and incoming party president Anwar Ibrahim’s influence weakened, alleged that Daim Zainuddin, a staunch Mahathir ally, was interfering in the PKR election.

Abdullah named Daim as among those keen to stop Anwar from becoming prime minister as promised under a deal reached by the Pakatan Harapan (PH) leadership prior to the May general election. He said it would be difficult for Anwar to take over from Mahathir if Azmin retained the deputy president’s post.

Idris meanwhile alleged that Mahathir and Daim had sponsored some PKR leaders to destroy the party from within.

Kamarul said Abdullah and Idris were examples of Anwar allies who had been sidelined by the Mahathir administration.

“They may be just mid-level leaders, but what they say carries weight because they are elected representatives and are contesting for important posts in the party,” he said.

“This isn’t good for PH. There has been speculation of a rift between Mahathir and Anwar and of attempts to stop Anwar from becoming prime minister. So when a PKR leader speaks like this, it seems to validate the speculation.”

He said damage to PH could be avoided if Rafizi or Anwar were to tell their supporters to tone down their criticism of Mahathir in public.

He also noted that Rafizi himself had avoided using the kind of rhetoric employed by Abdullah and Idris.

He said it was possible that Azmin’s chances would be affected if he didn’t counter the allegations but it was also possible that he would gain from PKR members’ perception of Rafizi’s camp as having resorted to unsavoury tactics.

Anwar is of course aware of the Machiavellian moves to get rid of him, but he treads softly as Maddy is now in power and even has yet to reach his peak. The guppies adore and adulate him as a new Tokong Besar.

Anwar's already tenuous position in Pakatan politics will be worsened if Azmin becomes deputy PKR president.

There is a belief among his once-allies that he as PM and leader of Pakatan will NOT be able to repeat Pakatan's success in GE15, so they have opted for a continuation of Maddy-ism, and not just during this term, but even audaciously expecting Maddy to lead them in 2023 (and with fantasies of modern medical science, they hope even until 2028).

What this in practical terms means exactly what Maddy himself has alluded to, to wit, "If the people still wants me, I stay on (as PM)", implying Anwar won't be PM in two years (and more) as promised.

Lagi suatu janji Pakatan di-capati-kan.

There is an additional factor that many have forgotten, that Mahathir hates Anwar with an unrelenting fury. It's not so much about Anwar's sexual proclivity but that Anwar and cohorts had moved against Maddy in 1997. Mahathir has an elephant memory and an unforgiving Ophiophagus Hannah nature against that 1997 treachery.

But the even far worse scenario I foresee will be Azmin Ali roping his PKR into an alliance with Pribumi, possibly with Amanah and PAS and the remnants of UMNO to emerge as the Greater Pribumi, and with balls-carrying DAP in its new MCA-MIC-rised position.

And Anwar knows that he may yet see a 3rd stint in prison if he bucks the Proton-Equanimity sampan.

The abandonment of Anwar Ibrahim

FMT - Analyst sees open war between PKR factions (extracts):

James Chin of the University of Tasmania told FMT he believed there was some truth to Abdullah’s claim*.

* Kapar MP Abdullah Sani and Ijok assemblyman Idris Ahmad, both of the Rafizi camp, had alluded to claims that Mahathir would like to see Azmin’s faction strengthened and incoming party president Anwar Ibrahim’s influence weakened, and also alleged that Daim Zainuddin, a staunch Mahathir ally, was interfering in the PKR election.

He said it was no secret that “some people” wanted to stop Anwar from becoming prime minister.

“I think those trying to stop Anwar are doing so because they want Mahathir to lead PH into the next general election. They know they can win again if Mahathir is at the helm.”

He claimed that many people were uncomfortable with having Anwar as prime minister. “It’s important to remember that the opposition tried to win general elections under Anwar but got nowhere until Mahathir took over,” he said.

Has the DAP top leadership been party to this Mahathir conspiracy?

Is Anwar abandoned by so-called old friends, exchanged for a rotten new "lamp"?

Poisonous Rengas was planted during 4th Reich

poisonous Rengas - poisonous Malaysian politics
poisonous corruption - poisonous racial relationship 

From Malaysiakini (extracts):

by Kim Quek

sacked Lord President of Judiciary + 5 judges 

incarcerated 106 people without trial 

Amidst widespread public unease on creeping return of Mahathirism, former Pandan MP and PKR leader Rafizi Ramli’s call for relentless public scrutiny of the new regime is timely.

Time of euphoria of electoral victory is over. Time of pre-election BN/Umno bashing is also over. What we must ponder seriously now is: are we heading in the right direction?

Have we done the right thing to speedily reform the hideous system left over by the Umno-led regime? What have we done to remove economic bottlenecks to restore investors’ confidence and reboot the economy?

Has the new regime made an impact on our economy yet? If not, why? Why has the entire cabinet remained mute when Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad repeatedly indulges on impulsive decision-making over major issues apparently without serious deliberation and consultation with the cabinet?

Such as his abrupt announcement on premature immediate zero-rating of GST, abrupt cancellation of KL-Singapore High-Speed Rail project, starting a new national car project, ....... procrastinating over the repeal of the unconstitutional National Security Council Act, etc.

act dunno - keep playing your Sudoku 

It was the previous autocratic rule of Mahathir that built the abominable system that allowed the Najib autocracy to flower and almost sank the nation. Do we want any more of such autocracy?

It is at times like this when the collective leadership of Pakatan Harapan seems to have submerged and the regime becoming apparently directionless that we need leaders with Rafizi’s integrity and calibre to stand up and speak the truth fearlessly.

It is also hoped that the public will remain vigilant and critical whenever criticism is called for to ensure that the powers-that-be that they have elected will serve the purpose for which they have voted them for.

replaces Koh Tsu Koon as Raja Bodek
now quiet as a mouse regarding Mahathir's scandals 

Mahfuz Omar should not overtaxed himself with LGBT issues

FMT - Mahfuz: Let’s help LGBTs return to their ‘original identity’:

ALOR SETAR: Mahfuz Omar says help should be offered to lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgenders (LGBT) to get them to revert to their “original identities” instead of merely trying to get their rights recognised.

The deputy human resources minister said rather than criticising the LGBT community by saying that they were a threat to society, the focus should be on approaching and educating them to return to their “original nature and true character”.

“If a man is indeed a man, adopt the nature of Rahmatan Lil ‘Alamin (A mercy to all creations) and approach him (LGBT) gently, because Islam truly respects every human being,” he said after opening the Students’ Excellence Day at Sekolah Kebangsaan Convent here today.

Prior to this, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Mujahid Yusof Rawa stated that LGBT in Malaysia were entitled to enjoy the same rights as citizens and they should not be discriminated against in any form including at work.

Note in particular the last paragraph which tells us that "Prior to this, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Mujahid Yusof Rawa stated that LGBT in Malaysia were entitled to enjoy the same rights as citizens  ........"

Why has Mahfuz changed his tune and tone?

Either he has been under enormous pressure from the ultra clerics and conservative Muslim groups, or he's a bloody hypocrite.

But I like Mahfuz (and a few other Amanah people), thus I am quite sure he's NOT a hypocrite. That means he has been under pressure from the ultra Muslim groups.

Five days ago, his Amanah colleague Mujahid Yusof Rawa ordered the removal of portraits of Nisha Ayub and Pang Khee Teik from George Town Festival exhibit as he did not want the two to promote Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) activities, which he said was not in line with the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government’s policy.

That's bullshit because I am sure the government did not have such a policy - no government is idiotic enough to promote LGBT activities, though a fair democratic government would not stop, persecute nor harass the LGBT community.

But what astounds me has been Mahfuz's use of the words "... help should be offered to lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgenders (LGBT) to get them to revert to their “original identities” instead of merely trying to get their rights recognised."

There are two issues I have here, anemly:

(a) "... instead of merely trying to get their rights recognised ..." - there should be no "instead". The rights of LBGT should be fundamental and non-negotiable, full stop. 

(b) "... to get them to revert to their “original identities”  ..."  WTF does Mujahid mean?

If Mahfuz believes in Allah swt as I am certain he does, then he should accept that every creation of Allah swt is 'original' and can only be created, programmed and possesses characteristics given by Allah swt.

Last month I posted The true Beloved of God in which I penned (extracts):

... ironically, one of the best known story of homosexuality was that of King David (Dawid) himself and his lover, Jonathan (Yehonatan) the son of King Saul.

Dawid & Yehonatan 

18 And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.

2 And Saul took him that day, and would let him go no more home to his father's house.

3 Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.4 And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and his garments, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle.

- 1 Samuel 18:1-4 (KJV)

What an irony that King David himself, hero of the Israelites and even modern day Jews, and Beloved of God, was himself a homosexual or more probably, a bisexual (semua pun 'makan' kaukau).

Should the clerics of the Abrahamic religions then continue to condemn the LGBT community even until today when their greatest religious warrior was a LGBT?

If the LGBT community are so evil as per the claimed assertion of religions (by only clerics, and not god himself), then doesn't that prove god has failed in preventing their existence and in many cases, quite brilliant talents?

Well, god has not failed but certainly it disproves the bullshit of clerics who have been having a hard time for millenniums trying to spin away King David's evil, homosexuality, treachery to his nation, adultery, murders, etc etc etc. And David was/is claimed as the so-called Beloved of God.

It's actually the LGBT community who are the Beloved of God, for they have been His creation (if not, whose then?).

See also MM Online - LGBT rights not connected to religion, says DAP MP:

Anti-Anwar Allegations

From FMT (extracts):

 

A PPBM leader today warned PKR leaders against issuing statements condemning other component parties in Pakatan Harapan (PH), two days after the Kapar MP accused Daim Zainuddin of conspiring to scuttle the plan to make Anwar Ibrahim the next prime minister.

PPBM Supreme Council member Wan Saiful Wan Jan said senior PKR leaders must speak up against colleagues who showed no decorum in accusing certain quarters of blocking Anwar from replacing Dr Mahathir Mohamad, as agreed under a deal by the PH leadership prior to the May 9 polls.

“The wild allegations and lies may be a culture for some but not in PPBM, where we have been taught by Mahathir to respect the camaraderie in PH,” said Wan Saiful.

fCk PKR, I can make anyone a minister even though he's not nominated by his party

I can interfere with any party's affairs

“Don’t drag others into the problems of disunity in your own party.”

On Saturday, PKR’s Abdullah Sani told supporters of Rafizi Ramli, who is vying for the post of deputy president in the upcoming PKR polls, that Daim was among the individuals who are out to stop Anwar from becoming the prime minister.

DPM Wan Azizah, jangan buat ta'tahu, jangan lari dari tanggungjawap mentri

MM Online - Lawyer group: Why send Kelantan child bride to Thailand?:

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 13 — A lawyers’ group questioned why a 11-year-old Thai-born child bride was sent back to Thailand after her controversial marriage to a 41-year-old Kelantan Muslim man, asking if this indicated Malaysia’s inability to protect her.

Lawyers for Liberty’s executive director Latheefa Koya said the child’s removal from Malaysia also risks affecting investigations on the “husband” who reportedly took the girl as his third wife.

“Why is the child, being the key prosecution witness, suddenly whisked off to Thailand? Will this not jeopardise the ongoing investigations and any potential prosecution?

“Surely, the authorities here have the resources and capability to protect and counsel the child victim; whilst the criminal law takes its course against the suspect.

“Is the transfer to Thailand an indication that the DPM and the Women’s Ministry is not able to protect the child here in Malaysia?” she said in a statement today, referring to Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail who is both deputy prime minister and minister of women, family and community development.

Latheefa noted the deputy prime minister said earlier this month that police investigations would be concluded immediately to enable prosecution against the Kelantan man, but highlighted that there has still been no arrest or prosecution against him while the child was “stealthily sent off to Thailand”.

“Even the news of the child’s removal was not released by the DPM or her ministry, but by the Thai governor of the province where the child is located now,” Latheefa said.

Latheefa continued to push for action against the Kelantan man whom she alleged committed offences of child grooming under the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017, noting that he admitted to “lusting after the child since she was seven.”

Claiming that this was an “open-and-shut case”, Latheefa said the man still gave media interviews and remained unpunished.

“He remains a threat not just to this child, but other vulnerable children from poor families as well. The failure to take decisive action is a signal to other potential paedophiles that they can safely operate in Malaysia,” she said.

Latheefa claimed that the act of sending off the child to Thailand is allegedly an attempt to “close the case” and get rid of the problem, but stressed that this move would not be in the public interest or in the child’s interest.

“It must be emphasised here that the crime against this child happened on Malaysian soil; and hence investigation and prosecution must take place through our criminal justice system. We have jurisdiction, and cannot just push the problem to Thailand.

“In stark contrast to the feet-dragging and confused statements coming from the Women’s Ministry, the Thais have swiftly set up an interdisciplinary team to care for the child and barred the ‘husband’ paedophile any access to the child. The efficient Thai response puts us to shame,” she said.

“It is hard to avoid the conclusion that there is no political will on the part of the minister to protect this child and bring the wrongdoer to justice,” she added.

kenapa takut pula Datin, bukan kah Datin DPM?

Good public transport system vital

From Sun Daily:


Public transport, please

by Hafidz Baharom

MANY Malaysians have expressed reservations about the Third National Car project and have urged the government to focus on improving public transport, connectivity and ensuring smooth traffic flow.

Rafizi Ramli and lawmaker Nurul Izzah Anwar have both spoken out on the need to reconsider the car project.

Discussions have touched on past promises to remove excise duty, reduce costs and the idea to include Indonesia to build an "Asean" car.

For me, it's a question of cost and resources. First, what will such a project cost this government and the government-linked corporations?

If the new national car is to be established right after or during the abolishment of toll charges in stages, where does the government see the potential income to make up for lost revenue and kickstart the project?

Second, the cost to consumers. The average urban household has an estimated RM6,000 monthly from salaries to spend on everything from groceries, their homes, and hopefully their insurance plans and savings.

Do we want to add on the need for a car, petrol, car insurance, maintenance and toll charges to the mix, or can we add it to whatever savings they have at the end of the month?

Now, let us move on to resources part of the discussion – it will be a petrol, diesel or gas-driven car. We are a net importer of petrol; thus putting the government at risk of increased spending on the finite resource due to subsidies, which is again another expense on the government on top of wanting to build the car.

In fact, how much has the government spent on maintaining petrol prices for the past three months?

If we are going into electric vehicles, feel free to get in touch with the need to buy into rare earth to develop the batteries.

Another limited resource we need to talk about is land. Do we want to pave more land for roads, highways and parking lots? We do not have enough parking space in towns and cities.

It has been observed that building more roads eventually causes more traffic congestion.

More traffic jams lead to more carbon emissions; and more roads and parking lots means lowering the means to balancing those emissions if we do not replant trees and create new green areas to replace the cleared land.

Of course, a lot of time is wasted in traffic jams and contributes to various costs.

To those romanticising about Proton, I have to say it was not always a success. The carmaker took a dip when it took the front of a Wira, glued it to a hatchback and called it a "new model" targeting the dusty dunes of Australia.

Proton was also reported to have had problems with its parts suppliers, leading to what some believe was a reduction in quality which affected its sales. Remember the "failing power windows" claim.

Deputy International Trade and Industry Minister Ong Kian Ming is correct in saying we need a new National Automotive Policy that looks beyond electric and energy-efficient vehicles.

There is a need to define an energy-efficient vehicle in terms of kilometres per litre of petrol with a traffic light system. This was proposed ages ago by the UK Nudge Unit (Behavioural Insights Team) to the United States, but it didn't fully take.

Ong also points out the need to venture into electronics, the internet of things and adopt a more holistic approach.

If we are to continue building cars, the technology will have to include cameras on all sides to help drivers park safely, side sensors, automatic anti-collision braking sensors and even Bluetooth to connect devices to a computerised console.

Some models even come with built-in vacuum cleaners.

It's time to look beyond the national car and focus on improving public transport and how to fill up trains. Federal Territories Minister Khalid Samad said ridership on public transport was only 20%.

This is good because it would mean endless potential in pushing people to use trains and trains with a RM100 public transport monthly pass proposed by Transport Minister Anthony Loke, rather than getting them to buy a car.

Hafidz Baharom is a public relations practitioner. Comments: letters@thesundaily.com

The Godfather story & Anwar Ibrahim

FMT via M2T:

Azmin And Dr Mahathir In Cahoots Against Anwar?

A PKR insider insists that the party is split into two factions, one loyal to party supremo Anwar Ibrahim and the other to deputy president Mohamed Azmin Ali.

The source, who identifies with the pro-Anwar camp, told FMT most members who joined PKR in its early years were wary of Azmin because of his close relationship with Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

He alleged that Mahathir was keen to see Azmin defeat Anwar in the PKR presidential contest, saying this had been made obvious by the former’s recent appointment as a director of Khazanah Nasional Berhad.

He cited the appointment, as well as Mahathir’s earlier decision to give Azmin the economic affairs ministerial portfolio, as evidence of the closeness between the two.

He claimed that they had always been close, but this was not clear to most party members before Pakatan Harapan came to power.

“Azmin is referred to as Mahathir’s adopted son and one can see that his style of leadership and his ideas are similar to Mahathir’s,” he added.

He said the pro-Anwar camp saw Azmin as someone more interested in consolidating his power than dedicating himself to the party’s struggle of reforming the country’s political system.

He claimed that the PKR central leadership prior to the 2014 party election was dominated by people who were “in Azmin’s pocket”.

That was why, he said, party president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail’s decisions seldom received the majority support of the leadership of the time.

He also claimed that it was Sabah PKR Youth chief Raymond Ahuar who ensured a win for Nik Nazmi Ahmad as youth leader in 2014 by shifting his support from Azmin to Wan Azizah.

He spoke of an incident that year when Azmin and his supporters, including women’s chief Zuraida Kamaruddin, descended on Pensiangan in Sabah to persuade Ahuar to support them.

Ahuar avoided meeting them by going to the neighbouring town of Tenom, he said. “They looked for him high and low but couldn’t find him. He is now the most hated man by those in Azmin’s camp.”

He also said “staunch party members” were disturbed by Mahathir’s preferences in his choice of PKR leaders for Cabinet positions.

“He only selected one proposed name, Saifuddin Nasution, as a minister although Wan Azizah sent in 11 names. Azmin and Zuraida were appointed ministers without the knowledge of the party.”

Will Guan Eng also announce cancelling SST?

MM Online - GST gone and Malaysia still not bankrupt, Guan Eng tells Najib:

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 12 — The Pakatan Harapan (PH) government has made good on its electoral promise to repeal the goods and services tax (GST) without bankrupting the country, Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng said today.

Lim was responding to his predecessor and former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s doomsday prediction that dropping the 6 per cent GST would harm the country’s financial position.

“The new Malaysia Baru government had delivered on our promise to abolish the GST.

“Warnings by the previous government that Malaysia would go bankrupt without the GST did not materialise,” he said in a statement.

He added that the PH administration even went one step better by providing cash aid to the bottom 40 per cent of wage earners nationwide who need it under its renamed and streamlined programme called Bantuan Saraan Hidup (BSH).

KT note: I wonder how he (even) went one step better, when he is just renaming the BR1M? Yes, I'm getting that Pinocchio feeling.

The Bagan MP pointed out to Najib that the new administration will even pay out an estimated RM1.6 billion under the BSH programme to 4.1 million people in its targeted group from August 15, a whole week before Hari Raya Korban which is celebrated by Muslims worldwide.

Malaysia’s largest demographic group is Malay and Muslim, many of whom fall within the B40 financial bracket.

Lim further pointed out that the new government under Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad was helping the B40 group by fixing RON95 grade petrol and diesel prices at RM2.20 and RM2.28 per litre respectively, instead of following the weekly float system undertaken by the Najib administration.

He said the fuel subsidy, to go on till year end, costs the government roughly RM3 billion.

“Najib is therefore wrong to say that the GST is good or that the new government is not focused on assisting the B40 group,” Lim said.

“Najib should not take out his frustrations at BN’s general election defeat to Pakatan and his loss of the Premiership to Tun Dr Mahathir, but concede that the people rejected his leadership, the GST and were fed up of the huge corruption in the RM50 billion 1MDB scandal,” he added.

Isn't it just wonderful?

And our dearest Guan Eng has magnificently and mafulat-ishly managed to insert in his spill at least TWO mentions of his Towkay, to wit:

(a) Lim further pointed out that the new government under Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad ........ and

(b) “Najib should not take out his frustrations at BN’s general election defeat to Pakatan and his loss of the Premiership to Tun Dr Mahathir.

I'm bloody impressed by Guan Eng's lapdog observance and discipline.

In fact, I'm so impressed by the new Finance Minister's management of our new government's running of the country without any GST revenue, that everything is super honky dory, I would NOT at all be surprised if he announces that even the SST will be abolished, which means none of our goods sold or purchased will be taxed. Fantastic.

For years and years, older Penangites bemoaned the loss of their island's free port status in 1969 and dreamt of regaining that status back, but alas it was not to be.

But with the establishment of the new Pakatan Harapan government on 10 May 2018, the powers that be has not only gotten rid of the GST but with Finance Minister Guan Eng's boast to Najib a la "Nayh Nayh, anything you can do we can do better, even without GST" I am expecting Guan Eng to now boast to us the logical, that since he has been managing without the GST, he will continue to do so even without the SST.

Penangites and indeed the rest of Malaysians may now possibly see the establishment of a totally tax free Malaysia.

Next, we hope to see the abolishment of income tax a la Brunei. Yes, it's bad enough Brunei's military is stronger than ours (as per the gospel by Mat Sabu), but we cannot accept that its income tax system (zero rated) should be better than ours.

Wakakaka.

Salary increase 4 civil servants dicapati-ed

kuda2 berjumlah 40 ekor 

It is not the right time to raise the salaries of civil servants as the country is still in debt, said Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

He said that while the cabinet has decided to increase the wages gradually, Putrajaya currently cannot afford to do so.

kuda2 sangat suka lobak 

“The government of the day is not having an easy time to raise funds. We need to pay debts. It is not the right time for us to give higher pay for civil servants,” Dr Mahathir told a press conference in Bersatu headquarters late on Friday.

keep in cold storage & recycle for GE15

However, if Malaysians increase their productivity, there could also be higher chances in getting higher salaries, said Dr Mahathir.

One consistent fact stands out like the proverbial - Mahathir has never approved of nor condoned such a silly thing as minimum wage. He reckoned and still does that such a minimum wage system would/will scare away investors.