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Hi Jeff,

Is one of the difficulty for new Penang state government is to find funds for development ?

Why not form a "Penang Development Berhad" which call for capital from public ? If the investment can make profit and give benefit to people, many will support. (Pleas learn from Netherland, the 1st country who issue shares and made their country a strong sea empire in 14th century. I dont mind pay more toll to use bridge if I know it gives profit to "Penang Development BErhad" but I will not single cent extra if it is to feed umnoputra.

Jeff,

We understand that it is tough to read through every SMSes, but hope you are still reachable and approachable after becoming a MP. Penang fellow need you! 8-)

Bob

How about include an Open source style research ? e.g. using Wiki perhaps.

The wiki style research can later compare or as complement to the research assistant results.

I'm very happy to know that Dr. Woo is now a member of the state government think-tank. It's a good start! I'm sure that there are many local/overseas Penangites willing to contribute back to our beloved state!

This is sunday nite and so it's just lite and breezy...

With over 80 MPs in the Opposition, it makes both economic and operational sense to centralize MP-supporting research into a full-fledged unit providing feeder and interactive services to the governments in all six states.

The unit can also assist in marketing communications for Pakatan Rakyat and play a strategic message-formulating role to win voters and recruits in Sabah and Sarawak before the next elections.

While the research function can be sharpened by specific projects, the unit can also think for the Pakatan on such matters as the future of Malaysia, roles of citizens, technology, ideology, economic and industry trends which impinge on this country, literature searches on inter-communal and legal issues and their solutions across the globe, and even how to internetwork more efficiently in a bloggized future which will take the meaning of a borderless world to a new dimension.

Certainly, matters such as fighting corruption, increasing transparency, cleaning up governance and defining excellence can also be researched.

Researchers are a special breed; they thrive on detail, direction, information, ideas, analysis and action.

All these are strengthened by interchanges with others. Thus by setting up a cross-MP unit, the researchers get the critical mass to build identity, focus, corporate agenda, shared resources, operational network and interface which in turn help them in their own career building - contacts, knowledge, teamwork, publication, recognition and social accomplishment. And if you think really big, a successful research unit can stand on its own right, join forces with similar units in other countries, and attract supporters and experts to come root and roost.

Suffice to say at this juncture, a strong research unit can provide brainstorming and coordinating value for any Opposition movement, something which barisan nasional had scoffed at until recently when they tepidly created some research posts for parliament.

However, since the scope is wide, reinventing the wheel is some risk, for the roads have already been paved before.

Penang has SERI, presumably an independent think-tank. Anwar may still have his islamic think-tank, last a shoplot in Bangsar. Sprinkled across the landscape you have a few others of indeterminable activity and allegiance. The common factor is this: none is well-off. You certainly won't find one that's public-listed and impactful, like http://tinyurl.com/3vga6u

But having said that, it is easy to read the present horse race - it is harder for barisan nasional to transform itself by changing the mindset of its members than for Pakatan Rakyat to create transformations by just exposing past wrongs of BN. In addition, PR has rakyat-propelled momentum at the moment.

But one will be naive to think that edge won't be bevelled off soon enough if PR doesn't capitalize quickly on what it has won, for the thing about BN is this: what it can't win back, it may just cordon sanitaire. See the DBKL action on hawkers in opposition territory and the empty words said by the FT minister at the first teh-tarik meeting? And also how quickly BN has created a second front in opposition states by creating a separate layer to channel federal funds - by federalising the village heads under mat tyson and by a new mechanism proposed by the min.of housing?

There are also many other things pressing to be done, answers to be extracted, governance to be beefed up. Take toyo's explanation on the selangor land scams. He said it happened during the computerisation of records (remember my 'interface' theory?)and the errant staff have been fired. When millions have changed hands, anyone wouldn't mind being 'fired', especially in a country where even illegals from indonesia can change identity before the next return boat ride. What about getting the money back and plugging the loopholes? He never answered that after launching eco-village.

In the same vein on what should be done by striking the iron while it's hot, investigative journalists should also research what's going on in RIMV. You get summons for traffic offenses in cities where you've never been before, and when you check, the records miraculously are cleaned again, that is until the time when you want to renew your road tax.

And btw (lite and breezy), all these years we've been paying summons to various city-halls across the country; take this - lawyers say they do not have any jurisdiction to impose summons or get RIMV to disbar road tax issuance for any parking offense. So, there you go, the rakyat have been quietly paying millions - all without legal basis it seems.

Take these little things, and add the Petronas, IPP and MCMC issues, and the plate will already be full for the research unit, that is, if headway can be made to get internal data from those said bodies to reinforce the grilling to be made in parliament.

Which comes to the next matter. The research function of the Opposition can fulfill one role that BN will never want fulfilled - the whistleblower program. How can BN allow whistlers from itself to blow itself up? The Opposition can create the national whistleblower program - fight for that in parliament, and be seen to serve the rakyat where it counts.

Something to think about, considering another recent statement made somewhere that even in umno circles the sum of RM54 Billion has been mentioned as having been siphoned off to buy banks overseas.

If true, that's a helluva lot of state funds, rakyat money. In fact, half of the GDP of Malaysia at that time, if it is to be believed.

Research it. Finder keeps ten percent. And that would be a real incentive to kickstart your whistleblower program.

Jeff

I read that the PAS MP for Shah Alam, Khalid Abdul Samad worked in Petronas before. He might give you some tips and names for the Petronas exercise.

He is the younger brother of Datuk Shahrir.. that will be fun to see the two brothers eye-ball to eye-ball in Parliament.

He caught the news for being one of the first Muslim MPs in a catholic church.
http://malaysianunplug.blogspot.com/2008/04/pas-mp-shah-alam-khalid-abdul-samad_06.html

PS: What's going on with the Indian MPs in DAP...they are kicking such a fuss in the Opposition Coalition...impatient and making all the wrong noises....and giving Guan Eng a plateful lately and headaches for Nizar in Perak. Looks like they really miss MIC's brand of politics.

About the phasing out of the phone number, we all know why . I notice it become a trend for all elected Pakatan Rakyat representative.

Overwhelmed by contractor trying to connect a new link. ;)

jeff, petronas being top fortune 500 co, info is scatchy but can be found in petronas.com.my, they published summarised financials snapshot, not detail notes. those IPPs... well well, u need to befriend some bankers who are not afraid of OSA. good luck

Jeff,

Aiyo, why so difficult. Just ask the Petronas Adviser. Afterall, he was also in-charged when most of those sweet-heart contracts were signed.

I have one big billions Ringgit puzzle to solve here.

Recently, a company call Maser International joining with another company Velchip. For a RM44 bils project.
I something fishy

Jeff, pls also investigate the chip making factory in Sarawak (Dr M's brain child), that i understand sucks billions (literally billions) of taxpayers money!

And see how MAS/Penerbangan is now manged, see whether there is anymore leakages, they need to convince taxpayers that our money is not slurged again!

You can read Petronas' released financial highlights for 2007 here.
http://www.petronas.com.my/internet/corp/centralrep2.nsf/f0d5fd0d9c25fbdd48256ae90025ee04/2b3caac313db597148256be60015256c/$FILE/Financial_highlights_FY2007.pdf

JEFF OOI says: This is not what I am looking for.

Friendly Malaysian campaign.

Do something nice to a person of another race everyday. The world is watching :)

Subject: Malaysiakini article - Chettiar community in Penang to lose control over Thaipusam?

Dear Mr Jeff Ooi

I wish to congratulate you, and your team, on the very diplomatic, professional and honest way in which you are running Penang and wish and pray that your endeavours will progress and culminate in great success, to such a measure that the UMNO will never ever heard of again in Penang. I pray that the good Lord Murugan will shower His choicest blessings upon you.

I presume you are aware of the news that appeared in Malaysiakini regarding the forthcoming Thaipusam festival and the attempt by the Penang Hindu Endowment Board to 'hijack' the festival's running from the Chettiars who have been running it for the last century and a half.

I am writing this note to yout as a devout Hindu who is heart broken and devastated to read of the attempt at poorly veiled political meddling in an honest Hindu practice. I am also writing to you as a professional of some standing, practicing in Penang for the past 20 odd years.

I was devastated to read the article in Malaysiakini, which I have no reason to believe to be dubious or untruthful, regarding the possibility of the Thaipusam celebrations being politicised. The Hindu Endowment Board of Penang, of which I was an appointed commissioner many years ago and which organisation I left, after being dissatisfied with the way the state government was trying to control Hindu religious practice, making it an inefficient political tool. I will not say anything more on that organisation as I do not have anything kind to say.

The Hindu Endowment Board was probably set up in those dark days to ensure that those temples that did not come under the purview of the Chettiars would and could get themselves into some sort of order so that the properties bequeathed to them did not 'disappear'. If I may, I would like to quote what Tun Tan Siew Sin said in the late 50's when some non-chettiar communities approached him for finance for their religious activities : "Emulate the Chettiars - do they ever come to the government, hat in hand, for support? Never! They have learnt to organise themselves and run their temples and festivities, without a single complaint of money or property being misappropriated or have they ever asked for the government to intervene in anything - so why can't you?".

I am a very firm and devout believer the the Lord Murugan of Waterfall temple and have been ever since I was a child growing up in Malacca and eventually attended Malacca High School. I used to come to Penang for many of my school holidays and am now settled here. I believe that the Lor Murugan has brought me and guided me here to serve the people of Penang. I also firmly believe in the principle that one should not try to fix what is not broken.

The Thaipusam festival has been running since 1852, according to the article at least, and the only form of support that the State Government has given, right from those days, was NOT TO INTERFERE! If I may point out, during the period, following the 1969 riots, the Thaipusam festival procession still took place and not a single mishap occurred. If the organisation was inefficient or deficient, can it possibly succeed and continue to run for over a century and a half? If the Chettiars can efficiently oganise and run a celebration of this magnitude, gradually getting larger by the years, why must the Endowment Board meddle in this? Is there some ulterior motive? Why does the Board want to control this? The Chettiars are too efficient to need help in running this. If the government so desires, the Chettiars can quite likely run the Endowment Board more efficiently in a more Hindu like fashion just like a religious body ought to be run.

I am personally praying to this Lord Murugan that he bless you and your teams with all the moral strength and courage to bring Penang to greater heights. I really hope that none of your friends or protractors or worse still the detractors in Pakatan Rakyat, politicise this temple matter or the Thaipusam event.

Thaipusam is happening, annually, almost without fail except during the war years - not being run during the Japanese Occupation - for fear that the Japanese would take away the jewels and valuables - with the blessing of Lord Murugan and all the Hindus are merely doing their part/work to receive His blessings with no personal gain.

There are many other venues where Pakatan Rakyat members, whatever their denomination be, can gain visibility and display their powers and prove their competency and experience but they really must not touch upon religious practices and to me it is a wonder why they would want to take on something that is working well and would want to mess it up. If the PR factions that are creating this trouble wish to have a say and wish to 'advise', the Chettiar community might be willing to listen and might even consider their 'advise' but will certainly not be compelled to act upon that advice as it might be detrimental to the Hindu religious practice. While it is true that the UMNO government has systematically tried to minimise the practice of any religion other than Islam, I don't see any reason why the Penang State Government must fall head long into the same rut? Usually anything that runs well is meddled with and taken over by the UMNO led Barisan almost always has been an economic disaster. Leave it to the community to be run efficiently.

Surely any sane thinking person can see that what is not broken does not need to be fixed? Live and let live please! We want the Thaipusam to remain a cultural attraction in the Malaysian Calendar and please let the Chettiars continue to run it. Please stop the nonsense from the Endowment Board. Tell the Hindu Endowment board to first clean up their own act. As it stands, the Endowment board, through the good offfices of the committee of the Hill top temple, let out to rent the various booths along the road and collect the fees for those stalls. The Chettiars of the Waterfall temple who actually pay for and run the whole Thaipusam festival DO NOT actively solicit any funds at all. If the devotees put some money into the coffers it is received with gratitude. That is it. The whole Thaipusam is run based on funds generated by the Management committee from within the Chettiar Community. The Hindu Endowment board has never had any jurisdiction over this and please do not let their inefficient hands touch this as there is real danger that the grand festival will be reduced to a fiasco.

Please be so kind as to instruct the Hindu Endowment Board members to mind their own business and run the temples under their jurisdiction and tell them not to mess up something that is running well. We don't want red tape and bureaucracy to wind down something wonderful and cherishable and great that had been running for over one and a half centuries, without any Government intereference. You must admit that the Thaipusam festival is a great attraction for people to come to Penang/ Please tell these meddlers off. Please do not allow politics to interfere in religious practice. It is not right.

We will continue to pray for your success in all your efforts in making Penang a great place to live and prosper in.

palani