Anwar's Court Case

It's heating up in Malaysia now with Anwar's sodomy case being on trial. I don't know who to believe as clearly both of them (Anwar and his ex-aide) are giving completely opposite statements so obviously one of them is lying. Whatever it is, I hope the truth with prevail. Ameen.

p/s: I'm not a fan of Anwar but if he is really innocent, I do pray his name will be cleared off after this trial. But if he's not, may Allah guide him towards the right direction. Wallahualam.

Enough politics

I've never had that much interest in it anyway. Was only heated up when I read those articles since I've been following the crude oil prices. Hence the entry. Read another article about a minister slamming bloggers for making political entries. Am sure she's referring to the left-wingers, but to be fair, I don't one to be one-sided. So enough politics here... We can talk economics if we want to. Heh. That would benefit me a lot. But the last one was such a hot entry, huh? haha. Well, that entry is not closed if anyone of you wants to add, elaborate or argue with any of the comments there. Irna... I don't have any energy to type about it anymore. I've been typing very long comments on that. So if you are lazy to read the newpapers "clippings", do read the comments. It would help to summarize the whole argument.

Had some ideas on what to write yesterday but forgot already now. Maybe I'll continue writing later.

What the hell!

I thought of writing a proper entry on how excited I am to be voting for the first time. I was planning to say that our vote is P&C so I am not going to reveal which party I am going to vote for. I was also planning to say that unlike US voters who choose their candidate based on their current policy stance, I am not that much influenced by all that coz it all looks like gibberish to me. All I care about is a peaceful, prosperous and comfortable community to live in. Then I came across these articles. What the hell... Now I AM INFLUENCED by what policy they are making. If you don't know how to run a country, then don't run for candidacy. Or at the very least, don't make such ridiculous promise just for the sake of winning a seat without thinking of the consequences to the country. Yes, the promise seems very attractive. Petrol subsidy is essential for the people of the nation BUT it's ALL about balance. You can't expect to tackle one issue without sacrificing another in the economy. Are they trying to push us back to being a socialise economy? Yeah, that sounds like fun. Lets go back to using coupons to get food in the country. Ration it and divide equally regardless of taste, need or effort put in. This statement came in light just a day after I read about Melaka government trying to offer jobs to poor people but they refuse to work as they would prefer to receive benefits instead. (Of course, I haven't factored in those who are REALLY incapable. Hopefully the statistics would already have.) And I dislike beggers!!! Go find a job! A cleaner, a nanny, clerk... Whatever... If you are capable enough to walk around asking for money, you are capable enough to at least swipe the floor or probably be a translator for the blind or something. At least, now you know who I will NOT be voting for. Hmmph!!!

Copied from www.utusan.com.my

Syor Pas tak masuk akal
KUALA LUMPUR 19 Feb. – Cadangan Pas menubuhkan negara kebajikan disifatkan sebagai tidak masuk akal dalam keadaan dunia menghadapi kenaikan harga minyak mentah mencecah AS$100 dolar (RM320) setong.

Justeru, banyak pihak berpendapat, konsep itu hanya janji manis parti pembangkang untuk menawan hati pengundi yang akhirnya menyebabkan rakyat hidup melarat dan tertekan.

Presiden Persekutuan Syarikat-Syarikat Tersenarai Awam, Datuk Seri Megat Najmuddin Megat Khas berkata, Pas perlu lebih realistik dengan konsep negara kebajikan kerana bukan mudah menyalurkan begitu banyak subsidi kepada rakyat ketika harga minyak mentah di pasaran dunia semakin melambung.

Menurut beliau, kerajaan sudah pun membelanjakan RM40 bilion setahun untuk pemberian pelbagai bentuk subsidi termasuk petrol dan gas sedangkan peruntukan itu boleh digunakan untuk melaksanakan pelbagai bentuk pembangunan.

Katanya, subsidi itu yang berjumlah RM200 bilion untuk tempoh lima tahun menyamai keseluruhan peruntukan pembangunan Rancangan Malaysia Kesembilan (RMK-9).

“Pas tidak akan mampu memberi begitu banyak subsidi secara berterusan tanpa meningkatkan pendapatan negara. Adakah ini bermakna cukai akan ditingkatkan?’’ kata Megat Najmuddin ketika dihubungi Utusan Malaysia di sini hari ini.

Beliau mengulas rancangan Pas untuk melancarkan manifesto rasmi bertajuk Negara Berkebajikan pada Khamis ini.

Setiausaha Agung Pas, Datuk Kamaruddin Jaafar berkata, manifesto setebal lebih 20 muka surat itu mengandungi tawaran-tawaran munasabah mengandungi penyelesaian kepada kegawatan ekonomi kepada rakyat Malaysia tidak kira jantina, kaum dan agama.

Sementara itu, Penasihat Jawatankuasa Bertindak Pelaksanaan Negara (NITF), Datuk Zainal Aznam Yusoff berkata, tindakan mewujudkan ‘negara kebajikan’ akan menjadikan rakyat semakin malas dan tidak berani menghadapi risiko.

‘‘Adakah ini bermaksud Pas akan membiayai perbelanjaan rakyat seumur hidup sehingga mereka tidak perlu mengeluarkan wang satu sen pun?’’ tanya beliau.

Menurutnya, pemberian subsidi tidak boleh diteruskan selama-lamanya kerana ia akan menjejaskan pembangunan negara.

Pakar ekonomi dan perbankan Islam, Datuk Dr. Nik Norzrul Thani Nik Hassan Thani pula berkata, hasrat Pas menubuhkan ‘negara kebajikan’ dikhuatiri melumpuhkan daya saing negara.

Beliau berpendapat, rakyat akan disogok dengan pelbagai bentuk elaun dan subsidi sehingga menyebabkan mereka hilang motivasi diri serta semangat keusahawanan.

Menurutnya, Nabi Muhammad s.a.w sendiri seorang tokoh perniagaan yang giat mengembangkan ekonomi umat Islam, bukan bersandarkan kepada kebajikan semata-mata.

‘‘Jangan sampai dikongkong oleh pemerintah sehingga daya saing kita semakin lumpuh,’’ ujarnya.

Copied from www.thestar.com.my

Shafie hits out at ‘quack’ solutions
KUALA LUMPUR: The opposition’s simple solution to complex world economic trends is irresponsible and akin to the “economics of Donald Duck,” said Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Shafie Apdal.
Shafie chided the opposition for promising to reduce the price of petrol and diesel and to become more charitable if elected.
“The only way they can achieve this is by increasing the level of subsidy which was RM43bil last year,” he said yesterday.
“This is possible but totally unrealistic and extremely damaging as it will lead to higher inflation, loss of businesses and lower standard of living.
“The government has no intention of allowing the country to become a comic-strip economy.”
Shafie said this in his speech at the launch of the Credit Counselling and Debt Management Agency's (AKPK's) newly upgraded website. His speech was read out by the ministry’s deputy secretary-general (domestic trade) Dr Muzahet Masruri.
Shafie said steps such as careful enforcement of price controls were being taken to reduce financial pressures on the people and to minimise effects of rising global prices.
He commended Bank Negara and AKPK for their work in helping Malaysians in debt, which often occurred due to lack of knowledge in managing their finances.
“More than 26,000 people have received counselling and some 9,000 individuals have been helped under AKPK’s free debt management programme since it was set up in 2006.
“As of September last year, total household debt was about RM351bil with non-performing loans of about 7% (RM24.57bil.) Of this, credit card debt amounted to RM21.6bil,” he said, adding that those referred to AKPK were mostly in their 30s and 40s. Other debt include personal, housing and car loan.
AKPK chief executive officer Mohamed Akwal Sultan said their website www.akpk.org.my provided online advice within 24 hours to help individuals be more prudent with their finances.