DAPHNE IKING EXPLAINS THE DASH AND KiDEX ISSUES

I'm back after a long hiatus.

Some recipients of my No2KiDEX postings have asked me what KiDEX is all about.

In the You Tube video below, independent journalist/producer, Daphne Iking interviews representatives of two groups, one opposed to construction of the Damansara Shah Alam Highway (DASH) in the Damansara Perdana area, and a representative of the Say No To KiDEX group in Section 14, Petaling Jaya, complete with graphics.

DAPHNE TRAFFIC EPISODE 4

Blogger IT.Scheiss has included a similar video of Selve Sugumaran of the Say No To KiDEX group, scolding the representative from the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ), on his blog on the public meeting with the KiDEX company on 16th May, 2014.

16th MAY 2014 PUBLIC MEETING

Daphne has been producing a series of such episodes on the traffic situation in the Klang Valley.

Thank you Daphne, we sorely need a convenient, comfortable and efficient public transport system like in the developed countries, so that we can reduce our reliance on cars, the horrendous traffic jams, stress, tension, road rage, pollution and so forth, and save money as well.

We need practical solutions to the problems of modern life, not pie in the sky measures, such as banning cars and reverting to bicycles and bullock carts, which will never be accepted by most people.

Here are her earlier episodes.

EPISODE 1

EPISODE 2

EPISODE 3


She also has a blog over here

ELEANOR BLOG

Following below are some posters opposing KiDEX which explain what the construction of KiDEX will do to the Petaling Jaya skyline. The scenes shown in these posters are of Jalan Semangat, which runs past Section 14, Petaling Jaya, as it is now, and an artist's impression of how it will look once KiDEX is built. (Click on image to enlarge)

Here is the SAY NO TO KIDEX Facebook page.

My own No2KIDEX blog is independent of the Say No To KiDEX group, though I am involved with the group and yesterday morning (Sarurday 22nd of November, 2014), we had a dialogue with Bukit Gasing State Assemblyman, The Honourable Rajiv Rishyakaran over coffee, where we discussed several of our concerns over matters such a rubbish collection, KiDEX, the Petaling Jaya North Sewer project, the One Way Loop and so forth in Petaling Jaya.

Thank you Rajiv for meeting us over our concerns, and for conscienciously performing your duty to your constituents who elected you.

Yours truly

No2KIDEX

PUBLIC MEETING TO PRESENT RESIDENT'S OBJECTIONS TO PJ LOCAL PLANS 1 (RTPJ1) 5 SEPTEMBER

There will be a public meeting to present the draft of proposals of Petaling Jaya residents against certain of the Petaling Jaya City Council's amendments at the Section 4, Petaling Jaya Rukun Tetanga community centre (off Jalan Pencala) tonight, 2 September, 2014 from 8.00pm.

These objections must be submitted to the Petaling Jaya City Council by Friday 5th September, 2014

Mr. Mak Khuin Weng provides further details on his Facebook page as below.

Be there

No2KIDEX
===================

https://www.facebook.com/MakKhuinWeng

Dear all, this is a draft objection I prepared for RTPJ1. Please go through it and use it as an attachment to the objection form that you can download from mbpj.gov.my if you wish. Please feel free to amend or pick and choose the items you wish to object to.

Note: there are specific applications to convert houses for limited commercial use that I have not included here. (I will work on RTPJ2 later)

------------------------------------------

I am protesting the Petaling Jaya City Council’s proposed amendments for the following reasons:

1. Section 12 (8) states the following: In formulating its proposals in a draft local plan, the local planning authority shall secure that the proposals conform generally to the structure plan for the State as it stands for the time being(...) and shall have regard to any information and other consideration that appear to it to be relevant(...)

2. The Legal Unit of the Federal Town and Country Planning Department further explains the purpose of the Local Plan as follows:
• to implement the Structure Plan strategy in detail;
• to explain clearly the control measures and policies for town planning;
• able to explain to the public planning issues in detail; and
• allow property owners, developers and other interested parties to know how their land is involved in upcoming development planning.

3. This means that the proposed amendments to the local plan and even the local plan itself must conform to the Selangor State Structure Plan (Selangor SSP), which was gazetted on 14 June 2007.

4. A Structure Plan is described as follows under the Town and Country Planning Act:

The draft structure plan for the State shall be a written statement—
(a) formulating the policy and general proposals of the State Authority in respect of the development and use of land in that State, including measures for the improvement of the physical living environment, the improvement of communications, the management of traffic, the improvement of socio-economic well-being and the promotion of economic growth, and for facilitating sustainable development;

(b) stating the relationship of those proposals to general proposals for the development and use of land in the neighbouring areas that may be expected to affect that area;

With the Selangor State Structure Plan going into detail for all these items, it is incumbent on MBPJ to ensure that any proposal to create or amend a local plan explain in detail what the proposals are, how they would affect the people in terms of raising their income levels and how the citizen’s quality of life would be improved.

5. Despite this strict requirement, the items proposed for amendment have a very general description and fails to provide detailed information on how their land and lives would be impacted by the proposed changes.

6. Moreover, there are a number of proposals that give both MBPJ and the Selangor Exco powers to amend the local plan as and when they like without the need to consult with residents further. In particular, the proposed amendment in the form of Schedule 8.0 is TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE. The passage reads as follows:

To ensure development in Petaling Jaya is sustainable... guidelines and implementation standards that are used will follow the latest policies approved by the State Government and ratified by the MBPJ Full Board from time to time. As such, these items need not be included in the gazette of the RTPJ1 Draft Plan (2nd amendment).

7. Other objectionable proposed amendments are as follows:

Specific objection: Guidelines and Implementation Standards will be determined by the MBPJ Full Board Meeting from time to time. These items need not be included in the gazette of the RTPJ1 Draft Plan (2nd amendment).

The wording above is provided for the following schedule proposals:
• Schedule 7.1
• Schedule 7.2
• Schedule 7.3.1
• Schedule 7.4
• Schedule 7.6 items 1 through 6
• Schedule 7.10
• Schedule 7.11
• Schedule 7.14
• Schedule 7.17
• Schedule 7.20
• Schedule 7.21

These proposals are NOT ACCEPTABLE.

Specific objection: Schedule 7.3.2

The proposed changes to allow Lot PT4 and Lot 2 into commercial lots are NOT ACCEPTABLE. Having such a high-density development in the area would impact the traffic flow in the area.

Specific objection: Schedule 7.6, item 7

The proposed addition of item 7 under Schedule 7.6 is NOT ACCEPTABLE. Despite the proposal having several stated objectives, the objectives are not listed as mandatory to fulfil. Instead, there is a point scoring chart that allows developers to build up to a plot ratio of 1:6, some of which are not even related to traffic improvements. Providing free wi-fi and water coolers while ensuring the building has green technology allows an increase of plot ratio should NOT be part of ANY consideration for increasing plot ratio, which would in turn increase population density and traffic impact in the area.

This proposal also fails to mention Policy FZ20 C4 and FZ20 C5 of the Selangor State Structure Plan. Both policies should be inserted into the RPTJ1, which is as follows:

FZ20 C4: To ensure that new developments shall consider the following sustainable construction aspects:
i. Preservation of heritage buildings;
ii. The capacity of surrounding infrastructure and facilities;
iii. Propose development in harmony with surrounding land use;
iv. Propose development that is able to improve accessibility level;
v. Propose developments that do not cause pollution and congestion problems; and
vi. The use of environmentally friendly and sustainable technology.

FZ20 C5: For developments that could not be developed in existing development areas without compromising the sustainability of the area, they should be moved to other areas.

Specific objection: Schdeule 7.15 item 25
The proposed change for AA 278 / 58, Seksyen 8, PJ from housing and government land to high-density residential housing (120 per acre) is NOT ACCEPTABLE. Having such a high-density development in the area would impact the traffic flow in the area.

Specific objection: Schedule 8.0
The proposed change on Schedule 8.0 is NOT ACCEPTABLE

GREAT! BUT WHY ONLY NOW?

It's great that at last the Pakatan Rakyat (People's Pact), which currently is the Selangor State Government, have come out with a statement of policies to address local issues Selangor residents are concerned about.

However, why only now, on the eve of the audience of Selangor's embattled Chief Minister Tan Sri Khalid with HRH the Sultan of Selangor, at which Tan Sri Khalid may either tender his resignation, call for a dissolution of the State Assembly and fresh state elections or call for an emergency meeting of the State Assembly which will move a motion of no-confidence against him?

As stated before, dissolution of the State Assembly state elections to elect a new State Assembly would be the best outcome, since it gives Selangor voters a chance to have their say on who rules over us until the next general elections in 2018.

We most probably will still have a Pakatan Rakyat state government, perhaps with s smaller majority and some new faces, but at the end of the day, it will be a fresh start of Selangor after the water crisis, KiDEX, rise in dengue cases, rubbish collection problems, Iban Bibble issue, pot holed roads and so forth.

Then again, whether they live up to their promises is another question, which is left to be seen.

Below is a report by The Malaysian Insider on Pakatan Rakyat's promise.

Read on.

No2KIDEX
http://no2kidex.blogspot.com

Pakatan to focus on housing, water and transport despite Selangor MB impasse BY SHERIDAN MAHAVERA

Published: 25 August 2014


Selangor might be a wealthy state but there are still problems with basic services, such as rubbish collection. – The Malaysian Insider pic, August 25, 2014.Water, housing and public transport are among the top issues that PKR will focus on once the party regains the top post in the Selangor administration from Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim, who is the menteri besar without any majority support. 

While it is not known how long Khalid wants to keep the post or call snap polls, PKR has decided its agenda includes a relook at all mega projects in the state which have a big foot print on existing communities, such as the six new tolled highway projects that crisscross the Klang Valley.  

At the same time, there will be an easing on public spending so that the state’s huge reserves are efficiently and transparently spent on basic services, such as road repair and rubbish collection.

PKR deputy president Azmin Ali revealed the plans to The Malaysian Insider as the party prepares to possibly take back the helm of the country’s richest state as soon as next week.

Pakatan Rakyat (PR) has submitted the name of PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail to the Selangor palace to replace Khalid, who was sacked by the party.

Azmin has been a staunch critic of Khalid’s administration. PKR ally PAS wants him as a candidate to replace Khalid but Azmin has quashed this, said saying that he backs Dr Wan Azizah.  

In the case of the new six highways, it also represents a new approach that the party wants to take when it comes to dealing with possible public protest towards state policy. 

Khalid’s administration was criticised by some Selangor residents and PR’s own lawmakers for its handling of the highway projects.

They accused the administration of ignoring PR's pledge to be more responsive to public feedback before implementing projects. 

Another PKR leader Rafizi Ramli, who is Pandan MP, said the new administration should consider scrapping one of the six highways, the Kinrara-Damansara Expressway (Kidex), since the coalition’s Selangor lawmakers opposed it.

“The new menteri besar should decide collectively with Pakatan Rakyat what position we will take on the project and apply it to the other projects as well,” said Rafizi, who is a PKR vice-president.

The federal government-approved RM2.42 billion Kidex project has attracted stiff protests from Petaling Jaya residents, a majority of whom voted for the PR in the last general election.  

The company involved wants to build a massive elevated highway that will cut through some of the city’s oldest neighbourhoods.

The public fallout over the project was one of the reasons PKR decided to expel Khalid – once one of their most popular leaders – after deciding the administration did not justify it adequately.

Azmin, who leads Selangor PR lawmakers in the assembly, said a pressing problem was Selangor’s water supply and the state’s water-restructuring deal with the federal government.  

“The restructuring agreements will have to be looked at but the most pertinent is that we must find a holistic solution to solve our shortage whether it is raw water or treated water.

“This is so that projects are not postponed because of inadequate supply,” Azmin said when met after the 10th PKR Congress in Shah Alam.  

Khalid’s administration has signed an agreement with the federal government to take back parts of the water industry from three private companies.

The deal states that management of treatment plants and the distribution system will be handled by a state government-owned company.

In return, the state will allow the Barisan Nasional (BN) federal government to go ahead with the RM 3.8 billion Langat 2 water treatment and transfer project.

Khalid has said that the state’s privatised water industry was the reason there were shortages in treated water supply. Water cuts were especially bad this year because of a pro-longed drought.      

Azmin added that the new administration would also need to work with federal agencies to build more affordable homes and deal with the Klang Valley’s traffic problems.

“Currently we are subsidising about RM 80,000 for each unit of affordable housing we build and it’s a burden for us.

“We need to work with PR1MA (1Malaysia Public Housing Scheme) to help us build more. Selangor has the land but we need help with investment into these schemes.”

Azmin said discussions would also have to be started with the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAN) on designing a public transport master plan for Selangor.

When it comes to Kidex and the five other highway projects, Azmin said the new administration would have to consult the public first before giving any approvals.

“Pakatan Rakyat’s stand is to consult the public first before any policies are done. Unfortunately, this was not done.  

“In this case, the public should be consulted much earlier before the project was approved.”

Besides Kidex, three other highways, SUKE, EKVE and DASH, have been opposed by communities lying along their respective alignments.

Azmin did not discount the possibility that these projects would be cancelled.

“If we study the reports and find that the projects have problems, we would have to review them or possibly scrap them.”  

The state’s RM3 billion reserves would also be spent efficiently and transparently on repairing and upgrading public amenities throughout Selangor.

Another criticism of Khalid was that his administration was too tight-fisted in giving out development funds to the local authorities and elected representatives.

“Keeping reserves is important but spending them for the public is also important. We will follow rules and financial procedures when spending the money,” said Azmin.

“Because we cannot have RM3 billion in reserves but pot holes not patched and rubbish not being picked up.” – August 25, 2014.

http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/pakatan-government-to-focus-on-housing-water-and-transport-despite-selangor

IN MEMORY OF THE LIVES ON MH17

TODAY WE SADLY COMMEMORATE YOUR TRAGIC LOSS AND MOURN TOGETHER WITH YOUR GRIEVING FAMILIES, WHICHEVER LAND THEY MAY BE.

WE WILL CONTINUE TO SEEK JUSTICE FOR YOU.

MAY YOUR SOULS REST IN PEACE

REBOOT SELANGOR!

Ctrl + Alt + Del ! Reebot Selangor !

So OK! PAS Central Working Committee decided Sunday to go with PKR and DAP against Khalid, who will most probably have to step down as Menteri Besar of Selangor (Chief Minister).

However, what does all these mean for issues which concern Selangor residents, such as the water problems, KIDEX, dengue, Iban Bible issue and other issues which directly affect us in different ways to a lesser or greater extent?

Whoever, becomes the next MB of Selangor, whether Wan Azizah, Azmin or perhaps someone else, what will their action be on these issues?

Quite frankly, it would be preferable that fresh state elections be called to elect a new Selangor State Assembly. At least, it will be a fresh start – a reboot of sorts.

This is the best public opinion survey to gauge actual public support for the different parties and state assembly persons.

Whether that new assembly would address these issues in Selangor residents' interest and to our satisfaction is left to be seen, but at least it will be a fresh start for Selangor after this mess. 

No2KIDEX
http://no2kidex.blogspot.com

Highway authority finally grants Kidex opponents access to detailed impact study

Highway authority finally grants Kidex opponents access to detailed
impact study

By Shazwan Mustafa KamalAugust 1, 2014

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 1 — The Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM) has finally
granted opponents of the Kinrara-Damansara Expressway (Kidex) access to
detailed traffic and environmental impact assessment reports, after
pressure group Say No to Kidex (SNTK)'s meet with the Works Ministry
over a month ago.

The lobby group, which has repeatedly demanded public access to impact
studies commissioned by highway developer Kidex Sdn Bhd, said it
received a letter on Wednesday from the federal highway authority
informing them of the matter.

Malay Mail Online understands that representatives of SNTK have been
told to collect a copy of the documents from the Petaling Jaya City
Council (MBPJ) tomorrow morning.

"Basically, it is four documents: the traffic impact assessment (TIA),
additional TIA, preliminary environmental impact assessment (PEIA) and
an "early plan" layout of the Kidex alignment route," SNTK committee
member Mak Khuin Weng told Malay Mail Online when contacted.

Mak said that this was stated in an official letter from the LLM to
SNTK, following a meeting with Works Minister Datuk Fadhillah Yusof in
June.

"We are not happy because LLM took their own sweet time to furnish these
documents, and we hope that there will be no issue with MBPJ tomorrow,"
Mak added.

SNTK will hold a press conference tomorrow at 10am to explain the latest
developments on the Kidex highway, as well as to highlight the group's
progress on talks with the Works Ministry.

The impact assessments on traffic and the environment are among the
crucial documents needed for the local authority to approve an amendment
to Petaling Jaya's local city plan to incorporate the highway.

Last month, the MBPJ revealed that the Kidex project had been rejected
on three occasions as the developer had failed to provide sufficient
details, including its final Traffic Impact Assessment (TIA) report.

Under Section 18 of the Town Country and Planning Act (TCPA),
construction cannot start unless the highway fits with MBPJ's plans.

Kidex is currently not incorporated into the council's blueprint for
Petaling Jaya city.

Despite the growing opposition, mounting evidence in the form of replies
in Parliament and the state legislative assembly indicate that the
project is set to proceed.

Among the areas that could be affected by the project are Tropicana
Mall, SS2 Mall, Rothman's traffic lights, Section 14, Amcorp Mall,
Hilton Petaling Jaya, Tun Hussein Onn Eye Hospital, Jalan Templer
roundabout, Taman Datuk Harun, Taman Medan Baru and Bandar Kinrara.

Construction of the multi-billion-ringgit highway could begin as soon as
next year and be completed by 2018.

http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/highway-authority-finally-grants-kidex-opponents-access-to-detailed-impact

SELAMAT HARI RAYA AID IL FITR MAAF ZAHIR BATIN

TO ALL MY MUSLIM FRIENDS ON THIS LIST

SELAMAT HARI RAYA AID IL FITR

MAAF ZAHIR BATIN

TO EVERYONE, HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

SAFE JOURNEYS HOME AND BACK

HERE IS A BLEND OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY WITH A HUMAN TOUCH

WHAT DOES ALL THIS MEAN FOR SELANGOR'S WATER WOES, ETC?

On 22 July, 2014, Parti Keadilan (PKR or People's Justice Party) officially announced that it had decided to put forward Datuk Seri  Dr. Wan Azizah as its preferred candidate for Selangor State Menteri Besar (Chief Minister) to replace the current Chief Minister, Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim, also the party's member.READ HERE

As PKR is a member of the Pakatan Rakyat (People's Pact) coalition, together with the Democratic Action Party (DAP) and the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS), which together govern Selangor State, the next step was for Pakatan Rakyat Leadership Council to agree to move a no-confidence motion against Khalid in the Selangor State Assembly.   PAS President, Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang does not agree personally and supports Khalid, but said that decision is still up to his party.

“That is my stand and I hope all PAS leaders are with me,” he said, adding that the decision was made after considering the views of PAS members. Hadi said a majority of the PAS grassroots agreed that Khalid should remain as Menteri Besar. However, this would depend on the Sultan of Selangor, he told reporters when met at his house in Rusila on Friday." READ HERE

Today, the Malay Mail Online reported:- "All three Pakatan Rakyat (PR) parties have already agreed to nominate Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail to replace Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim as the new Selangor mentri besar, PKR said today." MORE HERE

This all began with PKR's political gambit known as the "Kajang move", earlier this year. The game originally was to get opposition leader, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim into the Selangor Chief Minister's seat. The sitting PKR State Assemblyman for Kajang resigned his seat to make way for Anwar. This triggered a by-election where Anwar would contest for the safe seat but this was thwarted by the Appeals Court's ruling on the evening of 7th March, 2014, that overturned the earlier court decision to acquit Anwar of the sodomy charge against him, thus finding Anwar guilty and sentenced him to jail, which immediately disqualified Anwar from contesting Kajang.

So instead, PKR put forward Dr. Wan Azizah, Anwar's wife as candidate and she won the Kajang state seat, and the rest followed to oust Khalid.

However, Khalid can throw a spanner into their works by going before the Sultan of Selangor, tender his resignation as Chief Minister and request that His Royal Highness dissolve the Selangor State Assembly and call for fresh state elections. Universiti Malaya's Centre for Democracy and Elections polls show that support for Pakatan Rakyat in Selangor has dropped 15% to 35% today, compared to a year ago when support was 50%, READ HERE   but it's still likely that Pakatan Rakyat will still win a snap elections if it's held now, though not with the over two-thirds majority it currently has in the Selangor State Assembly.

But what does all this mean for us?

Politicking aside, what does this mean for us suffering Selangorians, in terms of the current water woes with the unusually prolonged dry spell with no rain for days or even weeks due to the El Nino effect and the current South West Monsoon, the Kinrara-Damansara Expressway (KIDEX) issue and the issue of Selangor State Religious Department's (JAIS') refusal to return the Iban language Bibles containing the word "Allah" for God, which the department seized from the offices of the Bible Society of Malaysia in Damansara Kim, a housing estate in Selangor just across the border from Malaysia's capital Kuala Lumpur, which is a Federal Territory.

However, the water problems are of greatest concern to residents of Selangor and Kuala Lumpur, since it adversely affects everyone, irrespective of ethnicity or faith, as well as businesses and industries which rely on water. It especially affects people and businesses in the Klang Valley, an urban conurbation which includes Kuala Lumpur all the way to Port Klang on the coast of the Straits of Malacca.

The handling and management of Selangor's water resources, including dams, pumping stations, treatment plants and the distribution network was assigned to four private concessionaires by the Selangor State Government when the state was under the Barisan Nasional (National Front) coalition and after Paktan Rakyat won Selangor in March 2008, it's been moving to bring back management of all its water resources under Selangor State's control, which is fine in principal. So far, Chief Minister Khalid has signed agreements with three of the concessionaires and also has agreed to construction of the Langat 2 plant which will treat water from Pahang State on the east coast, channelled through a tunnel under the mountain range between the two states.

The sticking point is with the last of the four concessionaires which wants to be paid RM2.5 billion for its part of the system, whilst Khalid is willing to pay just one tenth of that - i.e. RM250 million. However, PKR de-facto leader Anwar Ibrahim agrees that Selangor pay the RM2.5 billion, hence the Kajang move and the bid to oust Khalid, especially since the water problem is a major reason for the loss of support in Selangor for its Pakatan State Government.

Blogger Raja (Prince) Petra Kamaruddin  wrote in his blog post Selangor’s Watergate about to explode :-

"Anwar brought Wan Azmi (who owns 30% of SPLASH, one of the concessionaires) to meet Khalid to try to resolve this matter. Anwar supports the RM2.5 billion claim but Khalid is stubbornly sticking to the figure of RM250 million. And this is why Anwar is mad as hell and wants Khalid out. And this is also why Rafizi said today that once Dr Wan Azizah takes over as Menteri Besar they are going to review the water agreements."

Raja Petra also alleged possible corruption on the part of PKR.

"The billion-ringgit question is if they review the water agreements once Dr Wan Azizah takes over how much from that extra RM2.25 billion is going to end up as ‘under-the-table’ money and who are going to be the recipients of these kickbacks?"

To that, Wan Azmi hit back in a letter to Raja Petra:-

"As a shareholder of Splash I was appalled to receive from KDEB an offer representing only 10% of the audited nav of the Company. As the MB Khalid Ibrahim was not prepared to see me, I approached Anwar Ibrahim, who after all is Economic Advisor to Selangor to set up a meeting for me so that I could hear some intelligent explanation why SPLASH was offered such a derisory offer. Khalid did not like that, but if he had bothered to meet me or answered the many letters I wrote, Anwar Ibrahim need not have to be involved. Flattering as it may be, saying that I may have the power and influence to unseat MBs is one spin too far."

"SPLASH has an audited net asset value of RM2.5 billion plus another 16 years of unexpired concession life. That unexpired term in net present value terms is worth another RM1.4 billion. Through KDEB, Khalid offered to buy SPLASH for RM250 million. That’s a ninety per cent discount on NAV, never mind against full concession valuation. SPLASH happens to be a well-run, efficient and profitable company, not a consignment of rotting fish to deserve such derisory offer."   MORE HERE

Now who is Raja Petra Kamaruddin? Well, Raja Petra is a member of the Selangor royal family. His paternal grandmother, Tengku Badariah is an elder sister of Sultan Hishamuddin Alam Shah, the eight Sultan of Selangor, Whilst his father, Raja Tun Uda is a direct descendant of Sultan Salahuddin Shah, the first Sultan of Selangor (reign 1745 - 1778). His mother is Welsh, hence his Caucasian look.

Raya Petra is an opposition political activist who advocates for transparency, accountability and justice in government. At one time he also was a leading member of PKR and despite his royal status, he was detained twice under the Internal Security Act (now repealed), which allows for detention without trial, lost a suit for libel and was ordered to pay RM7 million to Universiti Utara Malaysia and its Vice-Chancellor.

On 17 July, 2008, Raja Petra was charged with three counts of criminal intimidation over his statutory declaration on the murder of Mongolian translator Altantuya Shaariibuu. He is alleged to have defamed Deputy Prime Minister's wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor by making a libellous statement in the declaration which he affirmed on 18 June when he knew that it would tarnish her good name. He also faced similar charges against Kolonel Norhayati Hassan and her husband Acting Kolonel Abdul Aziz Buyong. On 6 May 2008, he was charged with sedition for allegedly implying that the Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak was involved in the sensational killing of Altantuya,

Raja Petra went into self-imposed exile in Manchester, England where he continues to post on his blog Malaysia Today.

He later  distanced himself from the statutory declaration in an interview with TV3, saying his accusations linking Najib and Rosmah to the murder was repeating information passed onto him by opposition figures, rather than information he knew to be true himself. He stated that he did not genuinely believe that Rosmah was at the murder scene.

Raja Petra has since left the PKR over disagreement with its leadership and has moved to a more independent third position between Pakatan and Barisan Nasional.

For those who are unfamiliar, Malaysia is unique amongst the world's remaining monarchies in that it does not have a hereditary monarch. Instead nine of its 13 states each have their own respective monarchs. most of whom are called Sultan, whilst the ruler of Perlis is called Raja and of Negeri Sembilan is called Yang di-Pertuan Besar. In some states, succession is directly in line from the last ruler who had passed away, whilst in some others it's more complicated - i.e. either by rotation between royal families, or in Negeri Sembilan, where the Yang di-Pertuan Besar (something like "Supreme Chieftain)  must be a direct descendant of Raja Radin, who is elected by a council of four Negeri Sembilan chieftains. The nine rulers of each state take turns to be Supreme Head (Agong) of the Federation for a five year term, subject to election amongst themselves. The other four states - i.e. Penang, Malacca, Sabah & Sarawak have no royalty but instead have a governor.

Anyway, rather interestingly, all these squabbles and faction fights are mostly going on between current PKR members and between former members and PKR.


Right or wrong strategy?

So, is Khalid wrong to offer only RM250 million, instead of RM2.5 billion as demanded by Wan Azmi and is Anwar right?

Under the right political conditions, there should be no issue even if the Selangor State Government seizes the concessionaires assets without any compensation.

However, right now, Pakatan Rakyat rules Selangor, whilst Barisan Nasional rules the Malaysian Federation. Water is an essential resource for all and in Malaysia, land and water matters come under the jurisdiction of the states, so until Pakatan Rakyat can win the Federal Government, it will have to do what best it can about the water problems within the scope of its jurisdiction and powers as Selangor State government WITHOUT inconveniencing us Selangorians. So it MUST NOT let the problem drag on without resolution, whilst the people of Selangor suffer.

Of course, if Pakatan Rakyat were to become the Federal government, then they can take a firmer and more extensive action, but the way Khalid is handling the situation right now, resolution of the water crisis could be further delayed and cause further distress to us Selangor residents.

Also what does PKR mean when the say that with Khalid out of the way, they will "review the water agreements"?

Will that put everything back to square one and they have to start negotiations with the four concessionaires all over again and thus further drag on the water problems?

The ball is in the Selangor State Government's court.

Make the wrong decision and we suffering Selangorians suffer more water rationing and whatever comes, and you lose Selangor in the next elections, well that's your problem and don't come crying with those lame excuses like "the elections were rigged", "40,000 Bangladesh nationals voted", "the indelible ink was not quite indelible", black shirted protest rallies, BERSIH 4.0, 5.0, 6.0, 7.0, 8.0, 9.0, 10.0 ---- BERSIH nnn.0, etc. etc. etc. etc.........

REMEMBER. SELANGOR RESIDENTS ARE NOT A FOOTBALL TO BE KICKED AROUND IN A POLITICAL GAME WITH THE BARISAN NASIONAL AND THE WATER CONCESSIONAIRES.

Signed

Yours trully

No2KIDEX
(Click on the above to view this blog)

Note: This is a personal blog which supports but otherwise has no connection to the Say No To KIDEX (SNTK) concerned residents' group in Section 14, which opposes the KIDEX elevated highway through our home town, Petaling Jaya. They have their own Facebook page. Click here

AMBIVALENT SELANGOR VOTERS CAUSE PAKATAN RAKYAT TO SHIT IN PANTS.

The right word to use is "ambivalent".

No. It does not surprise me that Selangor voters have become ambivalent with regards the Pakatan Rakyat (People's Pack) coalition which governs Selangor State and the Barisan Nasional (Nation Front) which governs the Malaysian Federation.

I voted Pakatan + Pakatan in 2008 and when Pakatan won Selangor, I hoped that the Selangor State Government would put a stop to the monstrous building projects but just look at the number of tall buildings which have come up and are being built on Jalan Utara. Ask Pakatan and they will say they cannot do anything because those buildings were approved by the former Barisan Nasional State Government of Selangor but hey! It's been six years you've been in power.

Thus, After having been strongly anti-Barisan Nasional since young, and strongly pro-opposition, after six years of Pakatan Rakyat rule in Selangor State, I've become ambivalent as well and voted independent + independent for Federal and State in the 2013 General Elections.
Both independent candidates lost miserably, so I guess than makes me a loser but I couldn't care less, since I'm ambivalent.

Thanks to The Malaysian Insider for publishing this article which reveals that the Pakatan Rakyat is shitting in their pants because Selangor voters have become ambivalent.

Oh! By the way, now that one of the Pakatan Rakyat coalition partner, Parti Keadilan Rakyat has decided that Anwar Ibrahim's wife Dr. Wan Azizah be Selangor Chief Minister replace Khalid, the sparks are sure to soon fly if Khalid makes a stand to remain  or the Sultan of Selangor exercises his royal prerogative and says NO! to Dr. Wan Azizah becoming Chief Minister.

Whatever, whatever happens, I couldn't care less and will watch the FUN because I'm ambivalent.

However, I wonder whether at the end of the day, will we still have KIDEX, will we have water cuts again? will JAIS return the Malay language Bibles to the Bible Society of Malaysia? will we still have crazy building spree?, will still have houses cracking up due to construction of the Petaling Jaya North Sewer? will parking in the Petaling Jaya Shitty Shentre still be a nightmare? Will the horrendous traffic jams end? Will we still have potholed roads? will -- etc, etc, etc?

At least, I'm not ambivalent about such things.

Signed

Yours most truly

No2KIDEX


Pakatan lawmakers admit plunge in support in Selangor ‘worse than expected’


By EILEEN NG AND ZULKIFLI SULONG

Published: 21 July 2014

Alarm bells have sounded for Pakatan Rakyat (PR) leaders following a recent survey which revealed plunging public support for the coalition in Selangor, with some conceding that the outcome was worse than expected.

While acknowledging that the pact expected support to go down, Selangor DAP chief Tony Pua nevertheless said he did not expect the results to be so critical.

PKR secretary-general Datuk Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, meanwhile, urged the opposition pact not to be in denial anymore but to accept the results of the survey which was conducted by Universiti Malaya's Centre for Democracy and Elections (UMcedel).

"I am very concerned, the results were worse than I thought. We know support had decreased but what concerns me is the extent of the drop, which reflects the direness of the situation," he told The Malaysian Insider.

In the survey conducted from May 10-19, it was revealed that support for PR in Selangor had plunged by 15%, from 50% a year ago to 35%.

But ominously for Barisan Nasional, voters disappointed with in-fighting in PR have not returned to the ruling federal government. Support for the coalition was at 15% last year and this year, it rose by 10% to a dismal 25%.

The survey also revealed that the percentage of those unsure about both coalitions and refused to answer the question in the survey stood at 40%.

Pua said he had expected a drop of between 5% and 10% and that the 15% decrease in public support is "very serious".

Although the UMCedel survey did not attribute the reasons for the decreased support, it is understood that several contentious issues could have contributed to it.

This included the seizure of the Bahasa Malaysia and Iban-language Bibles by the state's religious department earlier this year, management of the state's water resources, approval for the controversial Kidex highway and political turmoil over Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim's tenure in office.

Khalid has apparently lost the support of his PKR party and allies a year into his second term and is under mounting pressure from the PR leadership to resign over his handling of Selangor affairs.

However, the MB has defiantly said he would only quit after his term expires, despite pressure from fellow party members. PKR de facto chief Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said over the weekend that his party has chosen a successor to replace Khalid.

As such, Pua, a two-term Petaling Jaya Utara MP, said there is a need to take the survey results very seriously.

"It is important for Pakatan to take the study seriously and embark on necessary steps to regain the confidence of the people," Pua said, adding that the leadership is aware of this matter and are looking at ways to regain the trust of the people.

Saifuddin concurred, calling on all parties not to be in denial but to accept the results of the UMcedel survey.

"We should not be in denial as our reputation is at stake. Besides, UMcedel has its own reputation to look after in their research," he told The Malaysian Insider today.

"To me, the Pakatan leadership, especially in Selangor, has to be open and admit there is a problem and we ought to solve this together."

He said the survey showed that PR still commanded the support from the majority of the people in Selangor but it will continue to deteriorate if the problems that have cropped up in the state are not immediately resolved.

"We cannot let this polemic go on and the solution must be given immediately."

He is sure that the consensus between parties in the PR coalition – PKR, PAS and DAP – was the key to resolve the problem. – July 21, 2014.

A 10-YEAR PETALING JAYA MASTER URBAN TRANSPORTATION AND TRAFFIC PLAN

David Foo of Section 12 KIDEX opponents posted me this statement by five Councillors on the Petaling Jaya City Council.

This media statement was taken from Ir. Lee Suet Sen's Facebook page.

Their media statement follows.

Yours truly

Signed

No2KIDEX
========================

Ir Lee Suet Sen with Jeyaseelen Anthony and 3 others 4 hrs · Kuala Lumpur ·


Media Statement by Ir Lee Suet Sen, Mr Tang Fuie Koh, Ms. Cynthia Gabriel , Mr Jeyaseelan and Mr Halimey, Councillors of Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) on Tuesday, July 15 2014

A 10-YEAR PETALING JAYA MASTER URBAN TRANSPORTATION AND TRAFFIC PLAN

Petaling Jaya is experiencing one of its most robust, challenging and demanding times. Urban development, modernisation and a steady rise in population growth into the city, have left this once satellite city, with new and unprecedented challenges - keeping the city sustainable while meeting growing development and infrastructure needs.

As traffic congestion becomes a daily bane of PJ residents, the PJ City Council, is glad to announce the setting up of a Technical Committee to intricately study and layout a Master Urban Transportation and Traffic Plan. It is an initiatve which is timely and most relevant for urban planners.

The 1st meeting of this committee was convened on7 July, 2014. The committee comprises of 6 Councillors, Ir Lee Suet Sen (Chairman of Committee), Mr Tang FK, Haji Ghazalie, Ms. Cynthia Gabriel, Mr Jeyaseelan and Mr Halimey. Internal Dept that involved are Engineering and City Planning dept. External agencies which are on board are Suruhanjaya Pengangkutan Awam Darat (SPAD), Lembaga Lebuhraya Malaysia (LLM), Syarikat Prasarana Negara Berhad, Ministry of Transportation Malaysia (MOT), Jabatan Kerja Raya Negeri Selangor (JKR), Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur (DBKL), Majlis Bandaraya Shah Alam (MBSA), Majlis Perbandaran Subang Jaya (MPSJ), Institute Engineers of Malaysia (IEM), Malaysian Institute of Planners (MIP) and Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS). The Consultant appointed by MBPJ is Professor Ir. Dr. Mohamed Rehan bin Karim of University of Malaya (UM).

With such a vast and wide ranging composition, this committee is entrusted to study and work out a Master Traffic/ Urban Transportation Blue Print for the next 10 years in view of rapid urbanization is happening in PJ.

The objective of the plan is to solve the current traffic congestion in PJ through integration of efficient public transportation with existing highways.

The scope of study is summarized below:
1) System, hierarchy and capacity of roads.

2) Public Transport System

3) Traffic Management system

4) Parking system

5) Non-motorized transportation system (Bicycle, Pedestrian etc.)


All the above studies will be based on Land usage according to the local plans of Rancangan Tempatan Petaling Jaya (RTPJ1 and 2) and Rancangan Kawasan Khas (RKK 13). It will determine the traffic needs for current developments and future developments. It also will include the detail study of traffic intergration for Transit Oriented Development (TOD) in PJ.

Currently, PJ have 5 main highways criss crossing it. ie Federal Highway, Damansara – Puchong Highway (LDP), New Klang Valley Expressway (NKVE), New Pantai Expressway (NPE) and SPRINT Highway. All highways and local main roads at area of PJS1, Kelana Jaya, SS2, SS3, Damansara Utama, Kota Damansara, Mutiara Damansara and Sri Damansara have reached Level of Service (LOS) of F during Peak hour time.

There are enhancements being taken place to improve the conditions but it is still insufficient for the next 10 years when we want to make PJ a more sustainable and livable city. Thus, this exercise have been embarked to improve the quality of traffic condition in PJ.

We write this statement with the intention to also welcome opinions and suggestions from PJ Residents as this is a Master Plan for everybody. Ultimately, we will aim to work along the concept of “Moving People and not Moving Vehicles” and improve the usage of Public Transportaton (Buses, taxi, MRT, LRT, BRT etc) to minimum of 35% in next 10 years (while currently, the usage is less than 20% nationwide).

Joint Statement by
Committee members of PJ Master Traffic and Urban Transportation Plan:
Ir Lee Suet Sen (Chairman)
Mr Tang Fuie Koh
Ms Cynthia Gabriel
Mr Jeyaseelan a/l T Anthony
Mr Halimey bin Abu Bakar

WILL WE STILL HAVE KIDEX AFTER KHALID?

The British TV series Yes, Minister and later Yes, Prime Minister was a satire which made fun of the operations of government.

"Yes Minister is a satirical British sitcom written by Antony Jay and Jonathan Lynn that was first transmitted by BBC Television between 1980 and 1984, split over three seven-episode series. The sequel, Yes, Prime Minister, ran from 1986 to 1988. In total there were 38 episodes, of which all but one lasted half an hour. Several episodes were adapted for BBC Radio, and a stage play was produced in 2010, the latter leading to a new television series on UKTV Gold in 2013."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yes_Minister

However, in Malaysia we have daily entertainment in real life, so who needs to watch such sitcoms as Yes, Minister or Yes, Prime Minister.

Still, an enterprising movie producer could have actors re-enact the real-life political goings on in a semi-fictional setting with names and identities change and I'm sure it will be an international hit which will bring Malaysia much recognition and revenue. Perhaps it could be called Legislature Idol.

More seriously though, whether or not his own party members manage to oust Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim as Selangor State Chief Minister using the water crisis, seized Bibles and KIDEX (Kinrara-Damansara Expressway) issues as reasons, whether for the Selangor residents' sake or to serve their own agenda, I wonder if they succeed, what will the Selangor State Government under whoever replaces Khalid do about Selangor's water problems, the Bibles, KIDEX, AND ALSO the problems caused by construction of the Petaling Jaya North Sewer.

Anyway, right now, Parti Keadilan Rakyat (People's Justice Party) is too embroiled in its own infighting to attend to anything else, whilst its Democratic Action Party (DAP) and Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) coalition allies are in a quandry as how to help resolve the infighting within PKR which can result in the coalition losing in the next general elections, which however is quite a few years off.

However, if its rival Barisan Nasional (National Front) coalition takes Selangor back in the next general elections, they will quite probably bulldoze KIDEX through. though as a sweetener, they most probably will resolve the water crisis and perhaps the the Bible issue too (i.e. return the seized Malay language Bibles which use the word "Allah" for God to the Bible Society of Malaysia).

Also, PKR Strategy Director Rafizi Ramli who promised the Say No To KIDEX group that he was against KIDEX and support our case, now looks like he will soon be sidelined within his party.

"PETALING JAYA: PKR’s whistleblower and chief strategist Rafizi Ramli is not likely to make it to the inner circle of the party."

Read more here.

There's also speculation that Khalid may jump ship and join UMNO (United Malays National Organisation), the largest member of the 13-party Barisan Nasional coalition which controls the Federal Government.

All, this is Yes, Prime Minister unfolding before our very eyes in real-time.

So, those opposed to KIDEX are caught between a rock and a hard place.

Whatever happens or whoever wins, we must continue to push for its cancellation.

Below is a Free Malaysia Today article on the current mess within the PKR.

Yours trully

Signed

No2KIDEX
==========================

The Selangor riddle
Roslan Bistamam July 12, 2014

Rumours swirl and confusion reigns, but Anwar is still silent on where he stands regarding Khalid.

This week has been a week of confusion for Selangor, brought on by the many rumours surrounding Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim’s future. Were the rumours “unfounded” in the sense that they were spontaneous by-products of various interpretations of current events, or were they, as Khalid’s people would say, engineered in an exercise of disinformation?

Last weekend there was talk of the national PAS leadership’s meeting with the PAS Selangor leaders to discuss Khalid’s position. Officials did not deny that the meeting took place but said the purpose was to discuss “all sorts” of things.

Then an announcement was made confirming that the position of the Menteri Besar was, in fact, discussed but no consensus was reached. It was further announced that all views would be taken into consideration before a decision on the matter would be made.

Those in the know said the reason no consensus was reached was that PAS was split into three groups—one that wanted Khalid’s removal, another that did not and a third that would agree to Khalid’s removal only if a PAS man replaced him.

Members of the media then rushed to the Sultan of Selangor’s palace to await Khalid’s arrival for an audience he was supposed to have with the Sultan. It was rumoured he would be tendering his resignation that day and that PAS’s Iskandar Samad would also turn up to be sworn in as the new Menteri Besar.

Both stories were denied and neither of it happened. In fact, Khalid was at the time chairing a meeting and Iskandar said he was not taking over as Menteri Besar.

Then a meeting of state legislators was called, apparently by Azmin Ali, and all but two of the PAS assembly persons boycotted it. Then it was announced that PAS did not actually boycott the meeting. The party’s representatives just did not see why they needed to turn up since it was Azmin who called for the meeting, something he had never done before.

Yesterday, Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak praised Khalid for his “cooperation” with the federal government. Is this the kiss of death? Now PKR can say that it is confirmed that Khalid is working for Barisan Nasional and not for Pakatan Rakyat and that would explain his decisions regarding the water and toll highway issues.

The PKR party election is in an absolute mess. But that is only because the tussle between the Khalid faction and the Azmin faction has been “taken to the ground”. The party election is a war between these two factions and it is a violent war, with fisticuffs, bloodshed and broken heads.

It has come to the stage where it is impossible for the two factions to coexist in PKR. One has to go if there ever is going to be peace in the party again. And if this is not settled by the winner taking all and the loser losing all, the next general election will see them battling and sabotaging each other, to the detriment of Pakatan Rakyat and at the risk of losing Selangor to Barisan Nasional.

PAS and DAP knows this. And that is why they want this war resolved. But they do not know how to help bring about a resolution other than by supporting the Azmin faction in kicking out Khalid.

But will that solve the problem? Probably not, if they cannot get the Sultan to agree to the “peace formula”. If the Sultan rejects the formula, then Pakatan Rakyat would just be creating a second crisis rather than solving the first crisis. And then it would be lumbered with two problems to solve.

Most important of all, though, is Anwar’s silence on the matter. Is it to be interpreted as approval? After all, as they say, silence can mean consent. Is Anwar actually the hidden hand behind all this turmoil? Those in Khalid’s camp say that is exactly the case.

Roslan Bistamam is a FMT columnist

REVERSAL OF THE SCOURGE OF PRIVATISATION SINCE THATCHER & REAGAN

The global scourge of von- Hayekist, Chicago School, neo-liberal privatisation of key public utilities and state-owned enterprises which began with British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and soon after by U.S. President Ronald Reagan is being increasingly challenged, as countries around the world realise that it's not working out as privatised enterprises put profits before the interests of the people.

This was followed by a series of "de-regulation" or "liberalisation" of telecommunications network operators, electricity, water, airlines, schools and universities and other state-owned entities which pleased the capitalists no end, since they saw profits, profits and more profits, whilst spin doctors convinced consumers that it was "good" for them, gave them "freedom of choice", etc., etc..

Following Margaret Thatcher's visit to Malaysia in the mid 1980s, Malaysian Prime Minister Dr. Mahathir began a spate of privatisation of public utilities and resources, and today one of the results of that is the proposed Kinrara-Damansara Expressway (KIDEX) which will be built and operated by a private concessionnaire, which has the right to collect tolls from its users. Besides that, KIDEX will also result in the demolition of hundreds of homes, the reduction of school playing fields, spoil Petaling Jaya's skyline, add to noise and exhaust fume pollution.

Chic, arty-farty, yuppie, Bangsar-wallah, Neo-Liberal types hailed privatisation and freedom of choice, like diabetic children suddenly told that they can eat all the sweets they want, but like the long-term consequences for these diabetic children, privatisation has been found to have resulted in the deterioration of public services.

I compared the bus service of Greater Manchester in the U.K., which was run by a city-owned corporation back in the 1970s when I was a student there wit what I experienced of it when I visited in the late 1990s, when Manchester's bus service was operated by several private companies. In the 1970s, bus drivers could tell you which buses to take to get to your destination and you could travel anywhere in Manchester on the buses on a single bus pass. However with the privatised system, I could only use the bus pass I had bought on routes in South Manchester, and the bus drivers could not tell me what buses to take.

State ownership of public services isn't socialism of course, nay, under a capitalist state, it's state capitalism but that's still better than privatised entities.

If you want to see what real socialism is like, watch this video. It's in Spanish or Portuguese with English subtitles.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJZl1bO8JQY

I watched it last night at a screening at the Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall in commemoration of the 203rd Independence Day of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, hosted by the Embassy of Venezuela.

BTW. I heard from reliable sources that Hugo Chavez, much maligned by U.S. imperialism and Neo-Liberals, was a staunch Roman Catholic who believes in social justice and he has done much to empower his people to lift themselves out of poverty and deprivation.

U.S. imperialism, the CIA, National Endowment for Democracy and Soros financed NGOs will continue to attempt to destabilise Venezuela's road to socialism through their proxy NGOs but the majority of Venezuelans will not allow it, and to prevent a recurrence of the CIA-backed military coup in Chile in 1973, which brought down the democratically elected socialist government of Salvador Allende and assassinated him (in the name of "democracy"), Venezuela has cleverly guarded against that by winning over the rank and file of its military and by creating an armed people's militia which will defend the revolution against the elites backed by U.S. imperialism.

They will ensure that what happened in Chile will not happen in Venezuela

Meanwhile, below is an article in The Guardian by Seamus Milne which details the turn-back against privatisation in Britain and denounces New Labour for its half-hearted attempts at re-nationalisation of key public facilities.

Read on and enjoy the video above.

Yours Truly

Signed

IT.Scheiss
http://itsheiss.blogspot.com

=======================================

The tide is turning against the scam that is privatisation

The international revival of public ownership is anathema to our City-led elite. But it's vital to genuine economic recovery

Seumas Milne The Guardian, Wednesday 9 July 2014 20.37 BST

Privatisation isn't working. We were promised a shareholding democracy, competition, falling costs and better services. A generation on, most people's experience has been the opposite. From energy to water, rail to public services, the reality has been private monopolies, perverse subsidies, exorbitant prices, woeful under-investment, profiteering and corporate capture.

Private cartels run rings round the regulators. Consumers and politicians are bamboozled by commercial secrecy and contractual complexity. Workforces have their pay and conditions slashed. Control of essential services has not only passed to corporate giants based overseas, but those companies are themselves often state-owned – they're just owned by another state.

Report after report has shown privatised services to be more expensive and inefficient than their publicly owned counterparts. It's scarcely surprising that a large majority of the public, who have never supported a single privatisation, neither trust the privateers nor want them running their services.

But regardless of the evidence, the caravan goes on. David Cameron's government is now driving privatisation into the heart of education and health, outsourcing the probation service and selling off a chunk of Royal Mail at more than £1bn below its market price, with the government's own City advisers cashing in their chips in short order.

No amount of disastrous failures or fraudulent wrongdoing, it seems, debars companies such as G4S, Atos and Serco from lucrative new contracts in what is already an £80bn business – and one with an increasingly powerful grip on Westminster and Whitehall.

You might think this would be an open goal for the opposition – and no case more so than the scam for siphoning off public money that is Britain's privatised rail system. Rail has been the ultimate dysfunctional selloff. Shoehorning private markets into a natural monopoly has delivered fragmentation, rock-bottom investment, annual costs of £1.2bn, the most expensive train fares in Europe, and more than double the level of state subsidy than under British Rail.

The East Coast mainline, by contrast, has provided a far better service under public ownership and delivered £800m to the exchequer (not unlike the publicly owned Scottish Water). So naturally the coalition is going to sell it off, while Labour is in a tailspin over whether to back the highly popular demand for renationalisation.

Ed Balls, now keeper of the flickering New Labour flame, insists public ownership would be "ideological". The rail profiteers and corporate barons, alarmed by Ed Miliband's plans to freeze privatised energy prices, agree. So Labour is toying with a halfway house, where franchises continue but the public sector is allowed to bid to run them as well as the privateers.

That sounds like an expensive dog's breakfast. Rail renationalisation has the advantage of being not just popular but entirely free – as each franchise can be brought back under public control as it expires. To resist it in those circumstances can only be about the power of corporate lobbies or market ideology.

But the need to break with 30 years of cash-backed dogma against public ownership goes well beyond rail. The privatised industries haven't only failed to deliver efficiency, value for money, accountability or secure jobs. They have also sucked wealth, rentier-style, out of sitting-duck monopolies, concentrated economic decision-making in fewer and fewer hands, deepened inequality and failed to deliver the investment essential to sustainable growth.

At a time when the entire corporate sector is sitting on an uninvested cash mountain and productivity is actually falling as a result, the lack of a publicly owned economic motor to drive recovery is dire. In the case of energy, the privatised system is failing to deliver the most basic goal of investing – to keep the lights on.

The alternative of tougher regulation, seen as the acceptable political alternative, means trying to do by remote control what's far better done directly and won't fix the problem on its own. Experience has shown that you can't control what you don't own.

As the Glasgow academic Andrew Cumbers argues in a paper for the thinktank Class, it's only by huge incentives and perverse subsidies – such as those paid to Danish and Swedish state-owned companies to meet renewable targets – that the government is able to coax the privatised monoliths to do what the public sector could have done itself far more cheaply.

The case for new forms of public ownership in the banking sector and utilities – energy, water, transport and communications infrastructure – is compelling. A core of socially owned and democratically controlled enterprises could set the pace of investment, reconstruction and the shift to a greener economy.

It's a policy that has support from the majority of the public but is regarded as beyond the pale by the business-as-usual elite. It would be prohibitively expensive, they claim, and a throwback to a better yesterday. In reality, there need be no net cost to the public purse. Even if full market compensation is paid, that would be in the form of a government bonds-for-shares swap. Interest would have to be paid on the bonds of course, but it could be funded with a slice of these companies' profits.

But Britain's City-focused governing class has also failed to notice what's happening in the rest of the world. From Latin America and the United States to western Europe, in both the global south and north, privatised public services, utilities and resources are being steadily brought back into public ownership. In the past decade, 86 cities have taken water back into social ownership. In Germany alone, more than 100 energy concessions have been returned to public ownership since the 2007-8 crisis.

Even as austerity is being used to try to breathe new life into privatisation, the tide has started to flow in the other direction. The new wave of public ownership is taking innovative, sometimes hybrid, forms, and overcoming weaknesses that hobbled earlier nationalised industries.

But in Britain the power of City and corporate vested interests engorged on the profits of privatisation is a powerful obstacle to this essential shift. Pressure for a genuinely mixed economy – something previously regarded as the commonsense mainstream – is bound to grow as the costs and failures of unbridled capitalism mount. Rail can only be the first step.

Mangkubumi's violation or operating hours

My neighbour Wai who lives on Jalan 14/15 near to the construction of the PJ North Sewer pit, copied me this this e-mail which he sent last night to Rajiv Rishyakaran, Selangor State Assemblyman for Bukit Gasing and told me I could put it on my blog, so here it is.

Hi ,

I've just sent a mail to Rajiv about last night incident. Don't know if you had any 'brushes' with Mangkubumi before but thought I would share with you. Who knows, perhaps you may like to write something about it in your blog. :)

Wai

----------------------------------------

Subject: Mangkubumi's violation
Date: Tue, 8 Jul 2014 16:40:35 +0800

Dear Rajiv,

I would like to bring to your attention that Mangkubumi, the contractor tasked with the sewerage pipe replacement (package D47) has violated their working hour permit.

Last night, they carried out work on the pit at the junction of road 14/36 and 14/15 until 11 p.m.! Giant machines spewing black diesel smoke and sound of engine and metal dominated an otherwise lovely peaceful evening.

My numerous calls and SMS to the Liason Officer, Clifford Yap and Assistant Project Manager, Yap Yoon Zheng also went unanswered at all; they do not even have the courtesy to return my calls and SMS even up till now.

I also made 2 calls to the SEA Park police station, one at 8.30 p.m. and another at 10.40 p.m. but all I got was a standard answer "we'll have a patrol car over to check it" but I did not notice any patrol car that showed up. The fact remains that the work did not stop until 11 p.m. when they were finally done and started packing up.

I managed to speak to the supervisor called Ryan about 8.15 p.m. and reminded him of the working hour restriction. He was apologetic and assured me that it was a "one-off" thing. However, there had been conveniently just too many a "one-off" recently and I don't think this excuse is valid anymore. As long as no action is taken or the rule being enforced, they will always think that they can get away with it - untouched.

Apparently, they were laying cement last night. However, it is highly unusual, and not to mention dodgy, to lay cement at night. Friends who are in this industry shared with me previously that cement-laying is a critical milestone or activity in a project. More often than not, if cement-laying is done at night, it is usually to cover defects (the grade of material used, number of steel rods used versus design requirements, etc.) and/or to avoid inspection by consultants and engineers as well. Once the cement is laid and hardened, it is very rare that the cement be ordered to be cracked open and removed just to allow inspection as cement-laying is quite expensive (running into tens of thousands, if I remember correctly). I am not saying nor suggesting that it is the case here with Mangkubumi or the pit at the junction of road 14/36 and 14/15 but ask any industry players, they will most likely tell you that it is unusual.

Who else can I turn to when contractors think that they are above the rule, police missing the 'heart' to serve us and MBPJ that pays lip service only? Moving forward, I do not know what you would like to do regarding this issue but I sincerely hope that you can make a difference.

Regards,

Wai
======================================


Yours trully

No2KIDEX

PJ NORTH SEWER CONSTRUCTION CAUSES CRACKS IN HOUSES ON LORONG 14/15A, SECTION 14, PETALING JAYA

So as not to have off-topic posts on this No2KIDEX blog, this post has been moved to the

SELANGOR SCHEISS

blog.

THIS WILL BE A FORTNIGHT OF "FUN" FOR KUALA LUMPUR FOLK

When I first read about this yesterday, the thought crossed my mind that this is how Malaysia will become a "developed nation" by the year 2020 with a knowledge-based economy and a "high-income" nation with a gross national (GNI) income per capita of RM48,000 per annum (average I presume).

Today, The Star reports.

KUALA LUMPUR: People living and working at the busy Golden Triangle here experienced a triple whammy after part of a road adjacent to the construction of an underground tunnel collapsed at the junction of Jalan Imbi and Jalan Pudu.

Motorists were caught in a massive traffic snarl while the monorail service from the Imbi and Hang Tuah stations was suspended indefinitely for safety precautions.

To make things worse, there was an unscheduled water disruption in the area due to a burst pipe apparently caused by the sinkholes near the upcoming Pudu Underpass project by Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL).

Earlier yesterday, two sinkholes were separately formed at about 10.30am and 12.20pm following the collapse of part of the road.


The condition worsened as a further cave-in caused the two sinkholes to merge into a huge indentation hours later.

Commuters of the LRT Ampang line were forced to exit at the Imbi monorail station and proceed to the Hang Tuah LRT and monorail interchange.

A statement issued by Syabas said that several areas, including Jalan San Peng, Jalan Bukit Bintang, Jalan Pudu, Jalan Alor, Jalan Loke Yew, Jalan Mesui, Jalan Hang Tuah, Jalan Imbi and Jalan Davis, were suffering from low water pressure.

“DBKL (Kuala Lumpur City Hall) has appointed a contractor to repair the pipe so that water supply can resume in the areas,” it said.

Meanwhile, Rapid Rail Sdn Bhd CEO Khairani Mohamed said the Kuala Lumpur Fire and Rescue Department had advised them to temporarily halt their monorail service to avoid further impact to the soil erosion.

“The monorail structures are still intact and our contractors have placed devices on the monorail piers near the worksite to monitor the situation,” he said in a statement.

However, Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, in a statement issued at 6.30pm, said that a broken water pipe had caused water to seep into the area and weaken the soil structure, resulting in the initial 6m sinkhole.

He expected remedial work to take about two weeks to complete.

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Here are some links from yesterday and it's regional news, if not world news.


http://www.thesundaily.my/news/1099959

http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2014/07/02/bomba-dont-mock-tape-use/

http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2014/07/02/Underground-tunnel-collapses/

http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2014/07/02/Collapse-Imbi-Pudu-closed-two-weeks/

http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2014/04/24/Road-closure-between-Chulan-Square-and-Menara-Worldwide-closed/

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/world/undeground-tunnel/1230150.html

http://mob.com.my/news/community/july-2014/sinkholes-on-jalan-pudu?feed=MOBlatest10blogs


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With a major intersection of two major roads in Kuala Lumpur blocked for an estimated two weeks, it sure will be "fun" for motorists and monorail commuters in Kuala Lumpur.

That sinkhole is pretty close to the pillar supporting the monorail track and if the track collapsed as well, boy! it will be even more "fun" for Kuala Lumpur folk.

And what if part of the Berjaya Times Square shopping mall and office complex nearby collapsed as well or if it cracks?

Perhaps they should leave the sinkhole as it is, since it would be a great tourist attraction.

Today, The Star also reports:-

"KUALA LUMPUR: Soup kitchens will no longer be allowed to operate within a 2km radius of Lot 10, which covers a large portion of the city centre, effective immediately, said Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor."

Lot 10 referred to is a luxury shopping mall in the centre of Bukit Bintang (Star Hill), a major tourist and entertainment area in the heart of Kuala Lumpur called the "Golden Triangle". Bukit Bintang is also reputed to be Kuala Lumpur's red light district.

I wonder whether this is a warning to the Minister from the divine above.

BTW. I only visit the Bukit Bintang area to shop for computer accessories in Low Yat Plaza, a mall dedicated to selling PCs and mobile phones. Earlier I used to hang out at Imbi Plaza which was THE mall for PCs and computer accessories, until Low Yat Plaza was built. Otherwise, Bukit Bintang is a cesspit as far as I'm concerned.

Meanwhile, my friend and neighbour Sheikh complains about the construction of a sewer outside his house by contractor Mangkabumi and the noise and diesel fumes from the huge machines being used which is disturbing their sleep and affecting those sensitive to fumes.

I understand that this sewer is based upon a technology employed in Taiwan and will channel waste water and sewerage (excreta and urine) to a treatment centre where it will be converted by a process into drinkable water.

I wouldn't be surprised if some entrepreneurial type bottles the output of this plant as drinking water branded as Scheiss Water.

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Meanwhile, below is a slide from the presentation made by Malaysia's Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak when announcing Malaysia's Economic Transformation Programme (ETP) on 25 October, 2010.

Whilst I don't doubt the RM48,000 GNI per capita (RM4,000), with the current inflation rate in the Klang Valley which is estimated to be around 5 to 6%, what will be the purchasing power of RM4,000 per month in 2020?

Also, I believe GNI per capita is an average figure and quite often averages lie, since where there is a huge income disparity, the majority of the earning population would be earning less than the average. According to Department of Statistics figures, the median income by 2020 will be RM36,000 per annum or RM3,000 per month per capita and in statistics, the median is a more representative figure. Well how far will RM3,000 go in the Klang Valley today, let alone in 2020?

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Blogger IT.Scheiss wrote an analysis of this, "Malaysia: A "High Income" nation for whom by the Year 2020?", over here.

However, IT.Scheiss should have factored in the effects of inflation into his analysis. Based upon extrapolation of increases in GNI per capita before the Economic Transformation Programme was announced, by employing compound annual growth rate (CAGR) calculations, IT.Scheiss worked out that the GNI per capita figure in 2020 would be around RM48,000 per annum anyway, even without the Economic Transformation Programme. It may surprise many but according to World Bank, United Nations and others' figures on GNI per capita in other countries, it's increasing steadily in most countries, which really means that the the purchasing power of money in our pocket is shrinking due to inflation.

That's why you can never take just one metric quoted by these agencies seriously. I'd be more interested in a figure which represents the real purchasing power of income relative to a given year, say 1971 when President Nixon took the U.S. Dollar off the gold standard.

That was the beginning of the descent of the U.S. economy "into the scheisshaus" as IT.Scheiss would say, where just two years prior, the U.S. had landed astronauts on the moon and teenagers at the time, myself included, were looking forward to travelling through outer space in spaceships, not sitting on our backside behind a computer screen whilst "travelling" through Cyberspace.

Hooray! It's just started to rain, so hopefully Selangor Chief Minister Khalid won't have an excuse to re-introduce water rationing and blame it on El Nino.

Whilst there is talk that he could be ousted as Chief Minister by a Pakatan Rakyat (People's Pact) assembly (his own party and its allies) in August or September, I wonder whether whoever replaces him will try to put a stop to KIDEX (Kinrara-Damansara Expressway), or will it just be a case of old wine in a new bottle.

Bah! It has stopped raining.


No2KIDEX