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Thursday, January 28, 2010

Do not let our racial harmony be hijacked by a few

Racial harmony in this country is often very fragile. The use of the word “Allah” among non-muslim is enough to provoke the whole nation to be held to ransom by a small group of irresponsible people. In this unfortunate episode, we are happy to note that it is leaders from all political divides who are quick to react, to ensure that the insensible act of a few would not provoke religious and racial conflict. It goes to show that our leaders have the nation at heart. Leaders are willing to put their political differences for the greater good of the nation. We should not let the nation be hijacked by a small group of people who like to see the nation in fire.

I still believe that the setting up of an interfaith council is crucial. While we do not like sensitive issue to be resolved in a high profile manner, there is a necessity for leaders of the various religious faith and political leaders of all political affliations to sit down to resolve sensitive religious issues. Burying our head like the proverbial ostrich will let a small group of religion extremist run wild.

The interfaith council should also be set up at the state level. In state with the Sultan as a head of the religious council, the enactment of Muslim enactment and non Musilim enactment comes under the jurisdiction of the respective state. Hence, the state interfaith council have an important role to play. It should also serves as a platform for all religious leaders to discuss including places of worship of non Muslim . It cannot be denied that, often non Muslim faces a lot of problems in getting approval for new places of worship, for the renovation or extension of its existing places of worship. The district and the state security officials often are not helpful, and do not understand the needs of the non Muslim.

Recently, I led a group of 12 MCA wakil rakyat to meet up with the Mentri Besar of Johor. I must thank him for his understanding in granting approval in principle for the conversion of 12 pieces of land that is owned either by the private sector or government land for places of worship for the non Musllim. Often, intervention by the Mentri Besar is required in the various state in order to get approval for places of worship by the non Muslim. Hence, there is a need to have a system in place that is transparent and fair for the non Muslim when they apply for the conversion of land to become places of worship. I even suggested to the Mentri Besar that Johor should lead the way by setting up a state interfaith council, and he promised to look into this suggestion seriously.

Malaysian of all races and religious faith should pursued the middle path. We need to accept that we need each other for nation building. We are all the loser in this religious conflict if we allow a few with their narrow agenda to dictate the majority who are still love the nation.

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

大马人口老化需要扩展征税范围

蔡智勇提出七大实行消费税理由

From Malaysiakini.com

王德齐 | 1月19日 上午 11点50分

随着政府在去年年底提呈备受争议的消费税(GST)法案,马华拉美士国会议员蔡智勇昨日也针对这项新税制提出一份全面的研究报告,探讨实行消费税的利与弊,并提出数项建议来减缓其冲击。

也是马华消费税特别小组主任的蔡智勇,在这份报告中提出7大理由,来解释政府为什么需要实行消费税来取代现有的征税制度,包括所得税、销售税,以及服务税。

其中一项理由是,传统所得税制度只是牵涉15%工作人口,随着大马人口将逐渐老化,工作人口将会缩小。因此,我国需要改变税制,通过消费管道征税,来扩展征税人口。

消费税是依据消费数额而征税,消费越多就征税越多,相反传统的所得税制度,赚钱越多就征税越多。

消费税或引发一次过通膨

不过,这份研究报告也分析,推行消费税对个人和商业带来的冲击和问题,包括一次过通货膨胀、人民感到混淆、加重贫穷人民的负担,政府朝令夕改,以及附加收入会否获得善用。

蔡智勇更提出一系列对策,来改善政府实行消费税的方式。

《当今大马》将在第二篇报道中,详细报导这份报告所点出的冲击和问题,以及政府应该如何解决。

鼓励人们工作和企业发展


蔡智勇在报告中指出,除了需要实行消费税来创造替代收入来源,其他的可能理由包括:

(一)大马目前的生育率是2.2,因此乐龄人口将会增加。预料2030年,超过60岁的人口将总人口12%,使现今比率的一倍。因此,现有15%缴税工作人口将会减少,并让更小撮人承担更大的负担。消费税是一个大范围的征税,根据消费把税务均分到更大批人口手上。

(二)消费税将维护人们工作的动力,并鼓励企业发展,因为它不是累进税(progressive tax),税率不会根据收入水平而增加,反而维持一样。

(三)消费税是出产和派发过程中征收,因此纳入了自行监督机制,将能够有效协助当局,并且加强逃税的困难。这将会减少少报税而造成的收入损失。

有效从黑市经济征收税务

(四)预料大马实行的消费税制度不会有层叠效应(cascading effect),因为征收的税务是依据产品的最终价值,而非根据产量,以及它所经过的运输管道。此外,产品需要缴付的消费税也会受到原料的消费税抵消,因此不会出现税上加税的问题。

(五)预料消费税将提供更稳定的收入,因为消费和收入相比,较小受到经济循环的影响。

(六)消费税将能有效从“黑市经济”征收税务,因为涉及人士依然会消费,并通过消费税来间接缴税。涉及人士会较喜欢购买征收消费税的奢侈品。

(七)政府将在2010年减少营运开销13%。这显示政府清楚,我国赤字因为刺激配套而增加。惠誉评级公司已经降低令吉的评级,一旦令吉贬值将可能引发进口通膨,国际货币基金认为有必要尽快实行消费税。

各国在反对下仍继续实行

政府是在2009年12月16日提呈消费税法案一读,并表明他们将征收4%的税率。至于一些必需品则不会征税,以避免引发通膨。

世界上目前共有143个国家已经实行消费税,只有三个东南亚国家尚未实现,包括大马、汶莱和缅甸。

蔡智勇也表示,尽管消费税受到反对,但是大多数国家还是因为数个理由而实行消费税,而其实行期限也有所不同,各国是依据本地需要来定制不同的模式。

Monday, January 18, 2010

成立跨宗教和种族理事会,各造领袖应冷静讨论

副首相丹斯里慕尤丁指需要成立跨宗教和种族理事会来探讨我国的宗教课题,包括最近发生的阿拉字眼事件

我认同有关决定。我想,政府迫切需要成立一个跨宗教和种族理事会,以寻求永续性的方案解决由宗教和种族课题所引起的争议。

该理事会成员应该全面概括朝野政党及各宗教组织的领袖,因为唯有通过各造开诚交流和讨论,才能达致共识,合力解决问题。

除此以外,上述理事会也应该在各州成立,协调中央和州县的敏感课题。这是因为除了沙巴和砂勞越,宗教课题是由各州州统治者管辖,而各州的宗教政策或各有异。

我认为,州跨宗教理事会也应该讨论非回教徒的膜拜场所课题,因为非回教徒要进行修建膜拜场所时,往往面对许多限制和问题。

众所周知,在多元种族和宗教的大马,宗教绝对是一项敏感的课题。我们虽不鼓励人民公开辩论,但不代表国家领袖不能坐下冷静讨论。

我国过去所发生的种种宗教和种族相关课题,足以显示我国社会对各宗教的理解和有待加强。“阿拉”事件若处理不当,对国民团结与和谐负面影响深远,到时所有人都是输家。

我们也了解,人民要生活在一个和平及安稳的国家,人民更不希望阿拉字眼事件让种族关系趋紧。因此,各政党和宗教领袖应该坐下,冷静对话并寻策化解纷争。


Friday, January 8, 2010

文告:朝野领袖须停止互相指责

(吉隆坡8日讯)由于攻击教堂暴力事件持续升温,国阵总协调拿督斯里蔡细历医生吁请各造特别是朝野政党领袖需冷静发言,以免间接加深人民不满和不安的情绪。

他说,纵火和破坏教堂事件已引起共愤,在这紧张的时刻,各造发言人特别是朝野的政党领袖,必须冷静和停止互相指责。否则,事情将演变成政治课题。

他说,更重要的是,各领袖应携手制止事件进一步恶化,及揪出滋事者处之严法。

蔡细历也是马华署理总会长。他今天陪同副首相丹斯里慕尤丁巡视Bukit Tangga华小后,发表文告指出,马华非常关注这项课题,也严厉谴责这些极端的滋事份子。

他说,马华副总会长拿督斯里黄燕燕及宗教局主任拿督斯里陈财和今早到事发的教堂视察后,向总会长和他建议借出三春礼堂供教友祈祷。

蔡细历强调,“人民可以表达不满,但绝不被容许通过暴力行为宣泄不满,甚至伤害他人。”

他认为,阿拉字眼的争议是一项敏感的宗教课题 ,希望各造能冷静等待法庭的判决。

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

文告:周五晤副首相解决培智华小问题

(吉隆坡6日讯)马华署理总会长拿督斯里蔡细历医生将在本周五会晤副首相兼教育部长丹斯里慕尤丁,以解决培智华小延误搬迁和开课的问题。

他指出,总会长拿督斯里翁诗杰和他本人,在上个月杪获知有关问题后,已第一时间致电教长。当时已赴往麦加朝圣的慕尤丁,表示回国后将马上处理。

他说,培智华小延误入校是由于技术上出现问题。他将在本周五会见副首相,讨论和解决有关问题。










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拿督斯里蔡细历医生

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