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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.