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
Sunday 24 August 2014
Thursday 21 August 2014
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
Sunday 17 August 2014
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
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
Friday 1 August 2014
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
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
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