Second Finance Minister Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop II

I love this guy. What concern, what magnanimous thoughts, lover of Indian youths, friendly, approachable etc etc but, the people lost RM 80,000. Don’t worry he can be contacted at 03-88824155 or you can e-mail him mk2@treasury.gov.my. He is there to help. Thanks Nor.

Indians promised jobs in Government

Link:

Indians promised jobs in Government

By DERRICK VINESH

derrickvinesh@thestar.com.my

BUTTERWORTH: Second Finance Minister Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop has promised to get Indian youths jobs in the Government if their applications are rejected without reason.

“I will help you get the jobs,” he told a dialogue with eight Indian-based non-governmental organisations (NGOs) here.

He said Indian youths could voice their grouses to him and he would ensure that they would not be overlooked when vacancies are filled.

Friendly atmosphere: Nor Mohamed (second from right) talking with representatives of Indian NGOs after a closed-door meeting in Seberang Jaya, Butterworth, on Friday.

“If there are vacancies at any department, and if they feel they are qualified and have been rejected without valid reasons, I will help them get the jobs.

“We want to ensure youths of all races are given equal opportunities to work in the government sector,” he said.

He said the departments and agencies included the Penang Port Commission and district offices.

The lack of job opportunities for Indian youths in certain departments was among issues discussed at the two-hour closed-door meeting.

Nor Mohamed Yakcop said other issues raised were the lack of skills training for Indian youths as well as lack of funds for small-scale Indian businessmen.

“The Government has and will extend opportunities for Indian youths to get places in institutions such as Giat Mara,” he said.

He noted that the Government had recently set up a RM10mil fund to be given out as loans to small-scale entrepreneurs from all races.

Nor Mohamed also contributed RM80,000 to eight Indian NGOs in Seberang Prai.

Technorati Tags: Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop

Profile Second Finance Minister Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop

This is what the Second Finance Minister said. The country lost billions of money spending on Education and Health. I don’t understand. People pay various taxes to the Government and with this money the various facilities are provided.
Is he suggesting that the people pay the actual cost for education and health, and maybe he will stop collecting taxes – I don’t know. Anyway follow this link to Malaysia Today and know more about our second Finance Minister. http://www.malaysia-today.net/2008/content/view/2417/1/

clipped from www.nst.com.my He said of the RM29 billion spent on education, returns for the government were a mere RM91 million. Funds spent on caring for the health of the people he said totalled some RM9 billion, while the returns were RM181 million. “The amount of money channelled to the people is sometimes not visible but this goes to show that for a long time, the government had been focusing on the welfare of the people and has their best interest in mind.

Voting for the opposition: Just do it

I think all voters must read this and clear their doubts as to which candidate to vote. It is very painful when you are suppressed for 26 years – 22 under Mahathir and 4 under Badawi. Must we suffer for eternity and wait for change when it will not come, except to vote wisely. Please read and vote intelligently.

Voting for the opposition: Just do it – Link:

Voting for the opposition: Just do it

Madhatter | Feb 6, 08 3:15pm

The government brags about getting its mandate from the people at the ballot box. And every five years, it seems that the people give it to them. In 2004, the people gave the incumbent government a whopping 91 percent of the parliamentary seats, though it only garnered 60 percent of the popular vote.

When you consider the gerrymandering and possible inclusion of ‘phantom’ voters, the truth may be stranger than fiction.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi made one promise after another which he must have known he would not able to keep. The media were fed spin by his spin-meisters and he told us things that we needed badly to hear. Twenty two years of iron rule by his predecessor had prepared the people – who were desperate – for a more moderate hand in governance. The incumbent filled the shoes.

But time, being the best test of a person’s ability and sincerity, has borne out the fears of the discerning: It was all another charade. The incumbent never intended to change anything for the better and we have seen intolerance of dissent and the shocking use of the police on democratic activities, often with brutal and excessive force.

Soon, general elections will be upon us and the government will once more resort to the same old tricks (perhaps with new twists) to try to hoodwink the public.

It will also try to cause consternation and indignation by doing certain selective things to unite the Malay and Muslim voters around them by creating controversies. Without Malay support the corrupt politicians are sunk. So they use the system of patronage and trickle the rewards down the food chain.

But Malaysians have to ask: Is this morally right? Is this in the long- term interest of the country?

With its iron grip on the media, the ruling party has endless means of getting its propaganda across to the segments of the population that are gullible or greedy. The government knows how to soothe the public’s nerves and win over their hearts to win their votes. But are Malaysians such fools and easily bought?

More and more are not because they know that, in the end, all the pork-barreling and economic handouts and mega projects will be paid by the taxpayers and all Malaysians for many generations to come.

It costs to protest but it costs more not to. There comes a time when the people must say enough is enough. They must send a clear and strong message to the government that they want change. The people must use their power at the ballot box and vote the government into the wilderness so that it can learn a big lesson.

The fear that the country will not be properly governed is unfounded. Systems already in place simply cannot crumble overnight. The private sector can survive without the government’s interference. Life can go on and there is the hope of better governance and an honest attempt to stop corruption.

Even former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohammed has finally come to his senses and thinks like a concerned citizen. But there is a question mark over his sincerity. Leopards don’t change their spots and there is nothing to show he has changed his despite his changed tune. He is still taking care of a numero uno – himself.

But, nevertheless, it does not invalidate the people’s genuine and consistent cry for transparency and accountability. The question is: will it be a hard search using Dr M’s criteria? In a system of political patronage and collective responsibility, we are not voting just for individuals. We are voting for parties.

The truth is ‘clean, honest and straight’ politicians are as rare as a hen’s teeth. And they don’t survive in the system. Dr M himself has said that ‘cleansing’ cannot come from within the party, as ‘everything now is being controlled and any contrary views will not be heard.’ So the right thing to do is to cleanse out the corrupt parties and their corrupting influence.

With successive governments, and as more and more Malaysians (especially better educated Malays) see through the duplicity of those who control the government in their name, they will stand alongside other non-Malays, as Anwar Ibrahim and PAS have done.

There is one way forward and it can’t be with a government controlled entirely by the BN, which has failed to deliver the things that matter to the people. It is only through the ingenuity and resourcefulness of the people themselves – especially those who don’t get any help from the government (ie, the Chinese, Indians, non-Umno Malays, etc.) – that the country will progress.

The people only need the courage to vote out the government and then they will see some major changes. We saw the Hindraf rally, and now the government is forming various committees to appease the Indians. Imagine what will be done when the silent disgruntled majority shows its same displeasure at the ballot box. You’ll never know if you don’t do it.

Here are seven tips to vote in a good government:

• Vote for opposition candidates, but not those who advocate extreme ideologies. We need to change the government at some stage and if more opposition politicians are elected they will get more experience.
• Don’t be sucked in by the promises. They will be broken.
• Don’t get sucked in by the politicians who suddenly turn around and give in to your requests. This is their way of doing things – by bribery. But once they are in power, you will have to pay.
• Vote on principles for the benefit of the nation and your children’s future. You may be young, you may be old, but you can’t support politicians who have proven they are not working for anyone but themselves.
• Ask your friends and others to vote for the politicians who have not been given the chance to see what they can do for you. We have seen what those politicians who had the chance can’t do for the nation. It is time to give others a go. Kick out those who have become arrogant.
• If you will only vote for the opposition once in your life, do it now.
• And, yes, don’t forget the usual tricks. They will do things they should not, ie, arresting people and charging them, and then people will protest. Then, they will try to get the credit by being the good guy and helping the aggrieved by releasing them.

I belong to no political party and believe all politicians have the ability to be deceitful and self- serving, whether in government or the opposition. But, as the saying goes, ‘absolute power corrupts absolutely’. It is in the public interest to not let anyone become absolutely powerful for so long and the best safeguard for the nation is a change of government from time to time.

We see our King changed every five years with no problems. Why can’t we do the same with our government? If we did, we might have more politicians who are able to do the job and not just the same old people who cling to power and give us corruption and higher food prices.

As the Nike ad says: Just do it. Vote out the rotten government. You can’t do worse.

Technorati Tags: Election,People Power,Change,Vote wisely

UMNO & Extreme Remarks

This is from the Sin Chew newspaper interview with Prime Minister Badawi.
People who made extreme remarks cannot be candidates. If you still select them, then, you are putting the wrong horse in the race. A lame horse can never pass the winning post ahead of other horses. It will limp past the post as the last horse. I hope you understand this Prime Minister.
Secondly, the Prime Minister wants to win the elections in style, and you are not starting off well by choosing lame horses. Will the people forget so easily that these are lame horses.
In the same breath you talk about serving the people, the community, and treating people fairly Don’t bother, these lame horses won’t win.
Hisham should answer why he unsheathed the kris, and if he cannot answer what past good record you are talking about. How long will it take for him to show the kris to Ong and Samy. Once bitten twice shy it is said. He is forced to help settle issues of Chinese primary schools because of elections. Do you think the people are not aware of it. Hisham, although another lame horse, will win because you would give him a safe seat. But please do not forget you will have to tolerate this lame horse for another five years, and he has to live with the guilt of his action. His name as one who brandishes a keris will be there forever.

clipped from groups.yahoo.com Abdullah did not give any positive answer on the question if those who have made extreme remarks would be removed in the coming general elections. However, he stressed that “we want to ensure all the candidates are serving the people and the community. We want them to treat all the people fairly. All developments are to benefit the people of all ethnic. The candidates should comply with these conditions.” Abdullah has also commented on the action the UMNO Youth chairman Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein unsheathing the keris at the UMNO General Assembly, which was criticised as anti-Chinese. “Let’s look at the past record of Hishammuddin. What he has done? You can ask Dato’ Seri Ong Ka Ting, Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu and other leaders. Hishammuddin has done his part very well. He is concerned and has settled all the issues of Chinese primary schools.

Changing the face of Batu Caves

V.Jagarasah, a state assemblyman, is in the news now. Let me itemize the goodies he has got:

RM50 million facelift and major development, including RM20 million for Hindu Cultural Centre and RM 27 million for a recreational centre, RM 2 million for flood mitigation. with another RM 1 million, for extras I guess.

He has taken pains to clarify that that the RM50 million is not an election goody but an ongoing progress work done to uplift the welfare of the public. He is all excited about the mega project, the RM27 million one, but I think the people there won’t be excited as this mega project is still under consideration by the Mentri Besar. But it is good he is excited as he was then three years ago when allocation of RM20 million was made for the Hindu Cultural Centre. The Mentri Besar lost his head because he had not received any feedback, and whether V.Jagarasah went missing at the point of time, I don’t know. It is only known R.Nadarajah the President of Batu Caves temple came into the picture. R.Nadarajah loves drama and sensation and in replying to the Menteri Besar, said he had handed over the proposal for Hindu Cultural Centre to him on Jan 4 this year. You can read this here. The Menteri Besar shot back, what plans he said, Nadarajah only handed over a landscape proposal. Please read this here. Nadarajah falls sick and that is the end of the matter.

So the Hindu Cultural Centre is still on. V.Jagarasah says he has identified the place, but as a mystery, he loves mysteries, conveniently failed to mention whether the Mentri Besar has agreed to the place. The Mentri Besar, now, trusts Jegarasah more than R.Nadarajah, but the people must wait.

V.Jegarasah knows that HCC is an old story and the Mega project is still on the drawing board. But still V.Jegarasah, with a calmness of a politician maintains work will start soon on these and they are not promises of erection goodies. Shame on him. Komala the other MIC representative in the state is reported by many sources as good as gone. V.Jegarasah has nothing to offer, and so is there any conclusive future for him. Wish you the best is all that I can say.

Changing the face of Batu Caves

K Kabilan | Feb 6, 08 10:39am

The Batu Caves state constituency is about to undergo a massive facelift with several major development projects costing almost RM50 million being earmarked for the area.

Two of the projects will have a direct bearing on the hilltop Murugan Hindu temple, where the annual Thaipusam festival is held, attracting about a million people over three days.

According to Batu Caves state assemblyperson V Jagarasah, the main project of interest to Indian Malaysians will be the establishment of a Hindu Cultural Centre.

“The state government has allocated RM20 million. I have already identified the place for the project and work will start soon on it,” he told Malaysiakini when met recently.

The project has long been mired in controversy because of the delay in implementation.

Selangor Menteri Besar Dr Mohd Khir Toyo (right in photo) had previously confirmed that his government had allocated the funds and was waiting for the community to identify the location.

Earlier, the Batu Caves temple committee, headed by R Nadarajah (left in photo), had indicated that the cultural centre would be built on a site near the temple. The committee had been tasked with identifying a suitable location.

However, it is learnt that the site identified has been taken up for another project. Informed sources said the state government is not keen to locate the cultural centre within the temple compound, as is being proposed by Nadarajah.

Jagarasah said he had since been asked by the state government to identify the site and to ensure that work starts as soon as possible.

Recreational and tourism park

A two-term state assemblyperson for the constituency, Jagarasah is more excited over a mega-project which he said will “change the face of Batu Caves”.

He said there are plans to convert 9ha of land into a “world-class recreation and tourism centre”.

The RM27 million project will be a joint-venture between the Selayang Municipal Council and a private developer, and will take shape on a site close to the Batu Caves temple compound.

“The working paper is with the menteri besar. The project will see a one-stop centre for people to enjoy recreational activities. It will also supplement the Batu Caves temple as a tourist attraction,” he said.

He said that the proposed recreational centre and the Hindu Cultural Centre will be connected to the Batu Caves temple to make the area a complete tourism destination.

“This will spur economic growth in the area. The people of Batu Caves will definitely benefit from these two big projects,” he said.

Jagarasah also said RM2 million has been allocated to upgrade the Batu Caves riverbank, to make it easier and more comfortable for devotees to complete their ritual ablutions before carrying kavadi for Thaipusam.

“At present the riverbank is a mess. We want to install proper facilities and (improve the) landscape, so that the place will look presentable,” he said.

Jagarasah said that the riverbank project will start any time now and will be ready in time for Thaipusam next year.

‘Not election goodies’

Asked if the Hindu Cultural Centre and the riverbank projects are being rushed in time for the general election to capture Indian votes, Jagarasah denied this and said he is not worried about any loss of support.

“However, I think I still have support here. The voters know that I am here 24 hours for them. I stay in this locality.

“We have many other smaller projects for Batu Caves as well and these are not being done just because of the general election.”

Interviews with residents confirmed that Jagarasah is someone who gets things done for his constituents. They said he has relocated almost 600 squatters to low-cost flats in a neighbouring constituency.

Asked about this, Jagarasah said he was not worried about losing the 600 votes as he is more “interested in uplifting the living standards of squatters”.

Residents also credit the MIC central working committee member with doing a lot to solve problems with flooding.

Responding, Jagarasah he obtained RM11 million from the state government for flood mitigation projects and is awaiting a RM17 million grant from the federal government for additional mitigation works.

“Don’t get me wrong. These projects are not being done with the elections in mind. I just want my constituency to be developed,” he said, pointing out that he is not even sure if MIC president S Samy Vellu will retain him to defend the seat.

“I hope to continue to serve as the state representative here. I want to finish what I have started but (my candidacy) is entirely up to MIC president.”

Tough fight?

MIC leaders contacted were tightlipped about Jagarasah’s political future.

In the last election, he defeated PKR’s Kamarul Baharin Abas with a majority of 1,781 votes. In 1999, he beat PKR’s Razali Ismail by 449 votes.

If chosen, he is expected to face a PKR candidate again, but this time possibly someone of Indian origin to capitalise on the community’s seething resentment of the government. Indian Malaysians make up about 24 percent of some 26,000 voters in the constituency.

A potential PKR candidate, who did not want to be named due to party restrictions, claimed that Jagarasah has failed to develop the area over two terms and should not be voted in again.

“Never mind whatever he says, these projects look like election goodies to me. We are sure we can win the Batu Caves seat this time around,” he said.

Changing the face of Batu Caves

Technorati Tags: Election,Goodies,MIC,Jegarasah,R.Nadarajah,Batu Caves,temple

Islam Hadhari

Do you realise that both the mayor and his spokesman have no clue as to why Jawi scripts appear on the signboards. Arabs and Islam Hadhari have no bearing on the issue. Both these guys are emulating what the Prime Minister and his Government do. A good thing the reply was not the people in Taman Seputeh are given free Jawi lessons and the Mayor will nod his head and say yes.
Islam Hadhari is being ridiculed and does the Mayor understand this. What religion suggests signboards must come in a certain language. Poor Islam Hadhari.

clipped from www.malaysiakini.com On Islamic authorities getting out of handConcerned Citizen: DBKL has recently replaced all street sign in Taman Seputeh. Now the street names also appear in Jawi script apparently to attract Arab tourists. When the mayor was informed that Arab tourists never come to Taman Seputeh, his spokesmen replied that having street names in Jawi was in line with Islam Hadhari. I hope that he is not pulling a fast one on us residents of Taman Seputeh. I appeal to the PM to make a clarification. In the event what DBKL says is true then other residents in housing estates in Kuala Lumpur should also enjoy what residents of Taman Seputeh enjoy.

Don’t lose voice in Cabinet, Chinese advised

A desperate Prime Minister pleads with the Chinese to vote MCA and Gerakan and fears the Chinese voice will not be heard in the cabinet and other decision bodies if the Chinese disown the two parties. One of the reason why Chinese and others are against the coalition parties is that these non-Malay leaders are dumb and do not use the power given to them by the people. They prefer to listen to UMNO and carry out their duties as “your faithful servant”. In fact as the Prime Minister worries Malaysia is ruled by a single party and the others just bow down to the wishes of UMNO. How many times have the non-Malay leaders protested when decisions are made by the Government that does not reflect multi racialism.

The opposition parties will at least make some noise when unjust actions take place and the people are aware and take note of the superiority shown by UMNO. Democracy means Government decisions are transparent, and thanks to the Opposition a lot of unfair actions by the Government is made known. A secular country becomes a Muslim country and this too is against the constitution. What part was played by the non-Malay leaders. Are they stupid not to understand the implications. Even as the election nears has any MCA, or Gerakan leader said something. Can the MCA and Gerakan examine their conscience and actions and truly say we are there to protect the Chinese. I doubt it.

Yes UMNO will support MCA and Gerakan as long as it benefits the ruling party. MCA and Gerakan are there to make up the numbers and to create a picture the ruling Government is multi racial. To be honest the worst enemies of the Chinese are the leaders of MCA and Gerakan, and the reason why UMNO lords over everything is because of the weakness of the non-Malay leaders. Whether they are in or out of the Government makes very little difference. In one word they are a burden and nothing else.

Cultural heritage remains as it is and no regulation or rule is going to change it. Chinese use chop sticks, must there be a rule to classify this as a cultural heritage. Deputy minister Datuk Wong Kam Hoong is trying to reengineer heritage followed by the Chinese. Assuming the Arts, Cultural and Heritage Ministry feels char kuay teow does not meet the requirements to be made into a cultural heritage will it be over night banned from being sold. Come-lah Wong I am sure you have other important things to do.

Don’t lose voice in Cabinet, Chinese advised

THE Chinese will lose the opportunity to participate in the decision-making process at the Cabinet level if they fail to support the MCA and Gerakan in the elections ahead.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said that if the MCA and Gerakan were to lose seats, Barisan Nasional would end up as a one-race party ruling a multiracial country.

In an exclusive interview with Sin Chew Daily on Feb 2 and reported on Tuesday, Abdullah said he would be sad to see a weaker Chinese voice in the Cabinet, Parliament, state assembly and other bodies involved in decision making.

As a Prime Minister, Barisan Nasional chairman and Umno president, Abdullah said he wanted to see Barisan as a ruling party for all races.

Abdullah said he was sure that the Malays would continue to support MCA and Gerakan.

Asked to predict the performance of MCA and Gerakan in the coming elections, Abdullah said: “To support or not, I leave it to the non-Malays to decide whether to elect representatives who can reflect their voice in the Cabinet,” he said.

Abdullah stressed that Umno wanted a strong MCA and Gerakan.

Yee Sang heritage
China Press reported that the Arts, Cultural and Heritage Ministry has proposed to list yee sang tossing as a cultural heritage, quoting its deputy minister Datuk Wong Kam Hoong.

Last year, a total of 50 items were listed as a cultural heritage. This included the Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall building and high pole lion dance performance.

Apart from tossing yee sang, Wong also said he proposed to list Hainanese chicken rice, char kuay teow, yong tau foo, prawn mee, the 24 segment drums and giant drums as cultural heritage items as well.

Don’t lose voice in Cabinet, Chinese advised

Technorati Tags: MCA,Gerakan,UMNO,politics,election,cultural,heritage