http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/83660

Indah Water, please clean up this shit!

Tarani Palani | May 29, 08 5:57pm

Residents of Taman Bayu Perdana in Klang, some 35km from Kuala Lumpur, have been living with the unpleasant stench of faeces for the past three weeks. MCPX The cables of the Indah Water Consortium (IWK) plant were reported stolen thus rendering it ineffective in processing sewerage waste of the neighbourhood. The inactive plant has resulted in rising faeces from drains in the housing estate. The situation has gotten to the stage where the faeces are now spilling over to the pavements. Resident representative of Sri Angkasa, Mohemmad Ishak Hassan, said he lodged a complaint to IWK around mid-May during the early stages of the problem. “But we saw no improvement in the situation.” “In three weeks, the situation has worsened and now the drains are clogged and the faeces are overflowing onto the pavement. It is especially unbearable in the mornings,” he lamented. “Because of the lack of response from WIK, we took the matter to the Kota Alam Shah state assemblyperson M Ganesan yesterday.” Mohemmad said. Ganesan was at the site this morning for an inspection. Over 300 affected According to Mohemmad, around 300 residents from Sri Angkasa Bayu Perdana, Sri Bayu Perdana, Primabayu and Nestabayu are affected by the inactive plant. When contacted, IWK Communication Department head Amin Abdullah explained that the delay in fixing the problem was caused by a metal theft where power supply and control panels were also stolen.” he said “A police report has been launched and the waiting period is what has prolonged IWK’s response.” He said “pumps have been repaired this morning and they are running but it will take two weeks for a fully functional plant.” Amin added that this is not the first time such theft has occurred and IWK will be hiring security guards in the future as a preventive measure.

 Title Translation : Review UEC Entry Qualification to Local University

5月14日，巴生区国会议员查尔斯.圣地亚哥在国会辩论最高元首施政御词时，询问为何本地大学不接受独中统考文凭成为录取资格。

高教部长卡立诺丁在隔天回答，他给予的理由是，独中的课程纲要和评估制度与国家教育制度不同。

需要强调的是，独中统考文凭被澳洲、新加坡、香港、中国和台湾多所著名大学接受为录取资格。这些大学包括：墨尔本大学（27）、悉尼大学（31）、新加坡国立大学（33）、北京大学（36）、香港中文大学（38）、清华大学（40）、南洋理工大学（69）、台湾大学（102）。挂号中的数字显示该大学在2007年泰晤士世界大学的排名，没有一所马来西亚大学进入200间最佳大学名单。

我认为（一）每个大马人都有就读本地大学的权利，不管来自什么族群和文化背景，只要符合学术资格；（二）马来西亚教育制度必须反映我国的多元文化传统；（三）评估及认证同等的非国家教育制度是政府的责任。

根据马来西亚资格局（之前称为学术鉴定局-LAN）所制定的马来西亚资格架构（Malaysia Qualification Framework），大学基础课程的要求如下：

“马来西亚资格架构鉴定文凭的水平，使学生的能力得以比较和标准化。普遍上，这些资格将颁给具有以下能力的学生：

（一）具备延续中学学习领域的知识和理解能力，如高级课本指示

（二）运用知识和理解能力，以分辨和使用数据的方法处理扎实和复杂的问题

（三）能够和同学和老师沟通、表达理解内容和技巧

（四）证明追求高等教育的能力 ”

（附录一，页8）

就我看来，高教部应该以上述标准来评估独中统考的资格。对于非国民学校学生，高教部可以施加额外的语言条件，以确保独中生申请者具备“证明追求高等教育的能力”，而非完全拒绝该文凭。

高教部和独中必须进行对话以确定不同的策略，推动接受独中统考为本地大学录取资格的工作。

公平和非政治化的录取条件确保教育制度的绩效以及社会经济平等。这个措施将停止人才外流和外汇流失。

我呼吁内阁和高教部长以国家利益为考量，检讨拒绝独中统考为本地大学录取资格的决定。

您诚挚的，

查尔斯.圣地亚哥

28^th May 2008

On 14 May 2008 Klang Parliamentarian Charles Santiago in his speech questioned why Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) was not accepted as entry qualifications to local universities.

On 15 May the Minister of Higher Education Khaled Nordin reasoned that UECs - syllabus and assessment system of Chinese Secondary Independent School – were not in conformity with national education system.

It has to be stressed that the UECs are accepted entry qualifications in top universities in Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong, China and Taiwan. These universities include: University of Melbourne (27), University of Sydney (31), National University of Singapore (33), Peking University (36), Chinese University of Hong Kong (38), Tsinghua University (40), Nanyang Technological University (69), National Taiwan University (102). The number in bracket indicates the university ranking in Times World University Ranking 2007, none of Malaysia universities listed in the top 200 universities.

I believe that (1) every Malaysian has a right to education in local universities, regardless of race and cultural background as long as students fulfill academic requirements; (2) Malaysia’s multi culture tradition must be reflected in our education system; (3) it is the government responsibility to evaluate and ensure accreditation and equivalence of non-national education systems

According to Malaysia Qualification Framework (MQF) drafted by Malaysia Qualification Agency (MQA – Previously known as National Accreditation Agency – LAN), the requirements of university foundation course are as below :

“MQF determines standards for these certificates to ensure comparability and standardization of student abilities. Generally, these are conferred on students who are able to:

i)                    Show knowledge and comprehension in the field of study that is continued from secondary school as indicated in advanced text books;

ii)                  Use knowledge and comprehension to identify and use data in respond to concrete and complex problems;

iii)                Communicate and clarify understanding and skills to peers and supervisors; and

iv)                Demonstrate skills for purposes of pursuing higher education “

 (appendix 1, Page

In my view, the Ministry of Higher Education should apply the above criteria to access UECs qualifications. The Minister could impose additional language requirement for non-national school students, in order to ensure applicants “Demonstrate skills for purposes of pursuing higher education”

The Ministry and Independent schools must dialogue in order to identify the various strategies with the view of accepting UECs as entry requirement to local universities. 

A fair and non-politicized entry requirement ensures meritocracy in the education system and ensures social-economic equality. It will stop the brain drain and money leaving the country.

I urge the Cabinet and Minister of Higher Education to review the decision on UEC entry qualification to local universities in the best interest of the nation.

Thank you.

Yours sincerely,

Charles Santiago

http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/83432

FTA with US: No compromises at all

Syed Jaymal Zahiid | May 26, 08 3:49pm

There is nothing to be worried over the proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Malaysia and the United States of America, assured the government today.

Minister of International Trade and Industry Muhyiddin Yassin said this to a query by Opposition Leader Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail (PKR - Permatang Pauh).

He said that the government has considered every aspect of the agreement and found it to be beneficial to the country.

And to a supplementary question from Khairy Jamaluddin (BN - Rembau), Muhyiddin added that the government would not allow the FTA agreement to affect the livelihood of Malaysian farmers and fishermen.

“In the FTA agreement negotiations (between us and the US), we have maintained our stance that the agricultural sector is a sector that we cannot compromise,” answered the minister.

Khairy had asked if Malaysia’s products would be given equal access to the American market under the FTA.

The first-time MP wanted to know if the FTA agreement would affect the agricultural sector because of the Northern Americans ability to sell its agricultural products at a very low price.

The US government, said Khairy, had been heavily subsidising its agricultural sector and therefore can afford to sell its agricultural products 25 percent lower than that of Malaysia’s.

Remaining competitive

On the original question, Wan Azizah wanted to know the implication of the agreement as well as the country’s ability to compete with other nations that have signed FTAs with the US.

“At the moment, only one nation has signed the FTA with the US and that is Singapore. However the FTA between those countries has little effect on Malaysia,” said the minister.

The Pagoh MP said that Malaysia was Asean’s second biggest trading nation and was also the US’ 13^th biggest imports source.

However, Muhyiddin conceded that Singapore was still ahead of Malaysia when it came to attracting investments from the Northern Americans.

“According to the (American) Congressional Research Service report, in 2006, Singapore is the third largest investment hub for Asia Pacific. The amount (of investment) received by that country increased from US$40.9 billion in 2001 to US$ 60.4 billion in 2006,” he said.

But Malaysia, said the minister, was constantly monitoring the progress of Singapore and other countries pertaining to free trade matters and will always strategise accordingly in order to keep the country constantly competitive with its neighbours.

Difficulties in getting investment

Wan Azizah in her question also purported that the rise of unemployment could possibly be caused by the absence of new foreign investments into the country.

To this Muhyiddin admitted that the competition was increasing given the economic growth of once backwards nations like China, India and even Vietnam.

He also said that attracting investments was not as easy any more.

“Our region is becoming more competitive economically and it is becoming extremely vibrant when it comes to (other country’s) measures to attract foreign investment,” said Muhyiddin.

“But let me assure you that the government has done all that it can to ensure that we won’t meet future predicaments in attracting foreign investments,” added the minister.

As an example, the minister said that although last year saw Malaysia’s manufacturing products and services trade with the US decreased, the country’s product exports have significantly increased in the Asean market.

As for unemployment, Muhyiddin said that the investments that Malaysia was seeking for was no longer the type of investments that required the country to import foreign labourers to the extent of neglecting domestic employment.

“What we need instead is to develop high technology industries along with the initiative to train local workers so that they can compliment the growing need for skilled workers,” he said.

The minister also reckoned that the unemployment issues in this country can be caused by “mismatching” where the education provided to the locals do not fit the requirements of the market.

Deal under fire

The US-Malaysian FTA has been severely criticised by anti-free trade groups and NGOs in this country as a gateway for a new form of colonialism dubbed economic imperialism.

Many quarters have tried to stop the government from pursuing the US-Malaysian FTA negotiations.

The Malaysian government however believed that FTA agreement will not affect the country’s economics, instead it will enhance it.

Further talks on the deal will resume in July.

Source : Hansard 2008 05 21

Tuan Charles Santiago [Klang]: Terima kasih Tuan Yang di-Pertua, Yang Berhormat Menteri. Dasar negara kita ialah untuk membebaskan Aung San Suu Kyi dan juga untuk mengembalikan demokrasi di Myanmar, tetapi kita dapati beberapa GLCs negara kita yang melabur di sana dan juga dengan itu menyokong rejim di sana. Ini saya nampak ada satu percanggahan, satu contradiction. Mohon penjelasan.

Datuk Abdul Rahim bin Bakri: Tuan Yang di-Pertua, berkaitan dengan soal pelaburan syarikat-syarikat ataupun GLC rakyat Malaysia yang mengadakan pelaburannya di Myanmar, saya fikir tidak ada banyak kaitannya dengan soal menyokong rejim di situ, kerana seperti mana yang saya jelaskan tadi bahawa sebagai sebuah negara yang berjiran dan menjadi anggota ASEAN, kita akan mewujudkan satu gagasan untuk mewujudkan ASEAN Free Trade Area, di mana perhubungan ekonomi adalah merupakan satu matlamat ataupun objektif yang ingin dicapai di dalam gagasan ASEAN ini. Saya fikir perkara itu haruslah dilihat daripada sudut yang berbeza bahawa kita tidak boleh mengambil tindakan.

Sebab itu kita menghalang ataupun kita tidak mahu sekiranya ada tindakan-tindakan untuk mengenakan sekatan ekonomi kepada Myanmar, kerana perkara ini akan menyebabkan mereka, rakyatnya akan menghadapi lebih banyak masalah dan sudah tentu akan meminggirkan negara tersebut dan ini akan menyebabkan mereka akan melaksanakan dasar-dasar tutup pintu yang saya nyatakan sebelum ini, dan ini tidak akan memberikan apa-apa faedah kepada usaha untuk mendemokrasikan ataupun membawa perubahan-perubahan politik di dalam negara tersebut. Tuan Yang di-Pertua…

(more…)

Source : Hansard 2008 05 21

Minimum wage debate from page 154 to 167

Tuan Yang di-Pertua: Penghabisan,penghabisan. Dia kata penghabisan.

Dr. Haji Mohd. Puad Zarkashi [Batu Pahat]: Bagi Yang Berhormat Klang.

Tuan M. Kula Segaran [Ipoh Barat]: Saya selalu ada bangkit perkara dengan izin, why don’t we have weekly wages kenapa kita ada monthly wages. Soalan yang tepat straight forward tolong beri jawapan, terima kasih.

Datuk Dr. S. Subramaniam: Masa seorang pekerja mencari kerja Tuan Yang di-Pertua ada dia buat kerja lepas itu dibayar secara harian. Ada yang dibayar secara minggu ada yang dibayar secara bulanan. Ini sudah ditetapkan masa you masuk satu kerja ini sudah ditetapkan gaji akan dibayar secara minggu. So di dalam kerja-kerja di mana gaji dibayar secara minggu mereka dibayar secara minggu.

So 52 minggu di beri 52 minggu ada yang pada masa sekarang contoh di dalam sektor awam masa kita mula kerja sahaja bayaran dia pada hari asas kepada tiap-tiap bulan sekali. Oleh itu gaji dibayar sebagai tiap-tiap bulan. So isu ini tidak dipertikaikan semasa pekerja itu dah masuk kerja sudah tahu ini bayaran harian kah, bayaran mingguan kah atau bayaran bulanan. So mengapa itu menjadikan ini satu isu pada masa sekarang.

(more…)

Source : Malaysiakini

End miseries of refugees

S Pathmawathy | May 22, 08 7:03pm

Opposition parliamentarians and the Migration Working Group have urged the government to put an end to the miseries and distraught faced by refugees seeking asylum in the country.

“Malaysia is in violation of international laws although it has not acceded to international conventions if asylum seekers are not properly treated in the country,” said Women’s Aid Organisation (WAO) director Ivy Josiah representing the Migration Working Group.

“As Malaysia has not yet enacted domestic laws that recognise, protect and assist asylum seekers, refugees and stateless persons, they are treated as non-documented migrants, and are subject to arrest, prolong detention under difficult condition, whipping, imprisonment, and deportation to the Malaysia-Thai border,” said the Migration Working Group in a statement.

(more…)

Charles’s pain not in vain

R. Anbu

Charles Santiago with his wife K. Pathma near the Klang Municipal Council building.

KLANG MP Charles Santiago was literally a lame horse during the general election on March 8. He could hardly walk during the campaigning period, having sprained his leg.

The 48-year-old social activist said that just before he was to hit the campaign trail, he sprained his leg at home.

“It was so bad that I could hardly walk or sit for long. But I ignored the pain, travelling from one place to another to meet people.”

Charles’ pain was not in vain, as he stunned MCA stalwart Datuk Ch’ng Toh Eng, the then Selangor MCA chairman, with a resounding 17,701-vote majority.

Charles said he now has to seek treatment from a sinseh as earlier visits to doctors did not improve his condition.

He admitted he was in two minds whether to contest the Klang Parliamentary seat, which was then a Barisan Nasional stronghold.

Charles, 48, then consulted his father.

“My father told me to do it and treat it as a call for national service. He also said I had nothing to lose,” said Charles who hails from Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur.

Charles said his wife supported his decision, but she said the family would miss him as being a politician, he would spend most of his time serving the people.

Charles, who contested on a DAP ticket, admitted he did not know many people in Klang at that time. But fortunately for him, the family of the late R. Ramesan, who was a DAP state assemblyman, offered their house in Klang as an operation centre.

He said because he was with several international bodies, many foreign journalists followed him during the campaigning period.

“During one occasion, I was at a wet market and the foreign media brought their camera crew. Many people thought there was a film shoot and I was the actor,” he said,

Charles, who is also a director of the Monitoring Sustainability of Globalisation and a coordinator of Coalition Against Water Privatisation, said voters have high expectations of their elected representatives.

“They expect changes to be done immediately. They do not know that changes take place gradually. I even have people coming to see me asking for my help to buy them things as they could not afford them. Some came to see me, hoping that I could solve their family problems,” he said.

Charles said his priority was to tackle the rising crime rate in Klang and he had met with the Klang district police chief over the issue.

“We have agreed to work closely on the matter and that’s a good start.”

He said to better serve his constituents, he would set up community centres but with a difference.

“It will not be the usual centre. We will have training programmes for women, children and youths,” he said.

“It’s similar to what is being done in some European countries. We have to empower the people and take them to a different dimension in politics.”

Q&A

Q: Tell us a brief background of yourself?

A: I was born and raised in Bangsar. My father worked for Tenaga Nasional Bhd.

Q: What about your education?

A: I have a masters in economics and a degree in liberal arts from the United States..

Q: What about working experience?

A: I worked for some time in the United States with a consultancy firm which dealt in economic issues.

I later joined the United Nations Centre for Transnational Corporation and Foreign Direct Investment in New York as a researcher.

I returned to Malaysia in 1995 and joined Stamford College as a coordinator and set up the college’s Centre on Economic and Social Research.

I left in 2001 to set up my own think-tank research centre on economic bilateral agreements and free trade agreements, among others.

Q: Who is your mentor?

A: My father. He is a wise man.

Q: What is your favourite food?

A: Nasi lemak.

Q: What is your favourite drink?

A: Cappuccino.

Q: What kind of sports do you enjoy?

A: Football and tennis.

Q: Who are your favourite musicians or singers?

A: Kenny G, Kitaro, Yaani and Sudirman.

Q: Who is your favourite actor?

A: P. Ramlee.

Q: Do you blog?

A: Yes. You can visit myblog at votecharles.wordpress.com.

Attention to all Klang road users, please take note.

Source : Hansard 14 May 2008

Page 48

Timbalan Yang di-Pertua [Datuk Dr. Haji Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar]: Yang Berhormat Klang. Tiga minit sahaja, Yang Berhormat Klang. Cepat-cepat sikit. Kena cepat. 12.52 tgh.

Tuan Charles Santiago [Klang]: Terima kasih Tuan Yang di-Pertua. Izinkan saya menjunjung kasih Titah Seri Paduka Baginda Yang di-Pertuan Agong serta membahaskan Titah Baginda.

Tuan Yang di-Pertua, sekolah menengah persendirian Cina telah wujud lama sebagai sekolah swasta, tetapi sijil UEC ataupun Unified Examination Certification masih tidak diakui oleh Kerajaan Malaysia. Jadi pelajar yang memegang sijil tidak layak memohon masuk ke universiti tempatan. Untuk makluman Ahli Yang Berhormat, Tuan Yang di-Pertua, sijil ini telah diakui dan diterima sebagai syarat kemasukan beratus-ratus institusi tinggi di negara maju seperti Amerika Syarikat, United Kingdom, Japan, Germany, New Zealand, Australia dan lainlain.

Jika kerajaan boleh terima sijil A Levels, mengapakah sijil UEC yang bertaraf tinggi ditolak? Hak pelajar yang memegang UEC dicabuli. Pemegang UEC sekolah persendirian terpaksa melanjutkan pelajaran di luar negara. Ini telah menyebabkan beribu-ribu graduan tidak pulang ke Malaysia, dan tidak dapat menunaikan tanggungjawab sebagai citizen negara ini, dengan izin, dan juga menyumbang kepada pembangunan negara. Malah ini merupakan loss of human resources untuk negara kita.

Satu lagi perkara yang saya ingin sampaikan ialah kegiatan perniagaan di sekolah rendah jenis kebangsaan Cina. Saya menerima beberapa aduan bahawa didapati pihak pengurusan sekolah menjual buku-buku latihan kepada murid-murid untuk mendapat kickback yang tinggi. Tindakan ini bukan sahaja boleh melibatkan salah guna kuasa pihak pengurusan, tetapi juga membebankan murid-murid dengan kerja latihan yang keterlaluan. Saya berharap Menteri Pelajaran boleh menyiasat kes ini.

Tuan Yang di-Pertua, Ahli-ahli Yang Berhormat, baru-baru ini NTV7 pada 3 Mei 2008 telah menyiarkan program yang bertema pelarian, refugee dengan izin, untuk dijual. Program ini memaklumkan pelarian Burma ataupun Myanmar yang ditangkap oleh pegawai imigresen Malaysia semasa dihantar ke sempadan Malaysia-Thailand. Pegawai imigresen negara kita menjual pelarian tersebut kepada trafficker dengan harga RM300.

Trafficker seterusnyamemaksa pelarian membayar lebih kurang RM1,900 supaya boleh pulang semula ke Malaysia. Kalau tidak dapat mengutip wang tersebut, mereka akan dipukul, dijual kepadarumah pelacuran atau nelayan ikan sebagai buruh. Pelarian Burma lari ke Malaysia kerana penindasan politik di negara asal.

Timbalan Yang di-Pertua [Datuk Dr. Haji Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar]: Terima kasih Yang Berhormat. Sila duduk Yang Berhormat. Yang Berhormat Sik.