2015: A Challenging year

This year is the year of the Goat, a symbol of meek and timid animal. It is often associated with harmony, peace and tranquility. However, what we have observed of late is a series of unexpected events and tragedies with casualties. Hence, 2015 looks like a year that will not be lacking of surprises with financial instability and even the possibility of economic turmoil.

The dramatic drop in oil prices from US$115 to less than US$60 a barrel will be the biggest financial challenge that the Malaysian Government has to confront. Oil accounts for one third of the government coffers. The dramatic drop of revenue and the decrease in dividend from Petronas will be a major negative impact on the Government’s revenue. While the Government may save from oil subsidies, this will not be enough to cover the shortfall from the oil revenue. Hence, will the 2015 development budget be reduced or we may have to trim the expenditure budget. Trimming the development budget will affect growth and reducing the operating expenditure will be a tough call as it is not easy to trim the fat of the Government’s machinery.

China, Europe and Japan slowdown will negatively impact our trade and export. Commodity and oil palm prices will drop because of lack of demand. Depreciation of the Malaysian Ringgit against the US currency will benefit some export sectors that receive their payment in US currency. However, some of the import goods may become more expensive.

While the GST is supported by the majority of rakyat and is a positive development in financial taxation system, it will however lead to increase of inflation of 1-2 percent. Technical glitches will appear in the early stages and it is our fervent hope that our government agencies, especially customs will really exercise caution in their hand holding exercise during the early stages of GST implementation. 

The politics of race and religion will continue to rear its ugly head. While the voice of moderation is heard loud and clear, political leadership and management are urgently required to manage these voices of moderation against the minority of extremists. We should not let the minority of extremists hold us to ransom. Hopefully sanity, rationality and moderation will prevail.

PAS will not give up on its implementation of Hudud. Rakyat will be waiting to witness how DAP and PKR will implement its agreed to disagree with PAS on Hudud.

任马登董事立场即转 陈德波前言不对后语

1.11.14《文告》

马华前总会长丹斯里蔡细历医生今日讥讽马登控股股东利益捍卫小组召集人拿督陈德波，在出任马登董事后就前言不对后语，甚至推翻过去自己所讲的话。

他指出，陈德波从去年4月到9月期间，身为该小组的召集人，就不断的公开放话指马登拥有2千700亩的土地，每亩可卖8万至10万令吉，因此马登的股价应该是介于1令吉80仙到2令吉，换眼之马登的资产应该超过2亿令吉。

蔡细历今日发表文告说：“既然陈德波说马登的资产应该有2亿令吉，为什么现在又撤回清盘的动议？难道他受委为马登董事后，似乎就忘了自己曾经说过什么吗？”

 “陈德波也曾强调马登应该发30%股息给所有的股东，我希望他没把讲过的话忘了一干二净。他现在已是马登董事，是更有责任去实践他所做过的承诺。”

此外，蔡细历也说，陈德波也必须向马登的小股东道歉，因为陈德波曾误导他们，指说马登的股价值1令吉80 仙到2令吉，让这些小股东相信并还在等待这样的股价。

“陈德波所讲过的话，也都记录在柔佛州马华联委会会议中，各报章也同样详载有关的新闻。”

蔡细历指出，陈德波的立场转变，唯一的结论是他之前针对马登课题所讲过的一切，都具有其政治因素和目的，或者存有个人利益关系，再不然就是胡说八道误导他人。现在身为董事后，就要设法收回之前的言论和做过的事。

“我奉劝陈德波，身为马华的资深领袖，就不应该信口开河，更不该胡言乱语而误导群众和混淆视听。”

也是马华巴力士隆区会主席的陈德波于去年9月8日召开记者会说，该小组拟议8名股东成为马登董事成员，并强调派代表进入董事局是和要与现有董事合作处理资产问题，并通过公道、公平与公正的方式，最终拍卖资产，然后分回给所有的小股东。

不过，他在昨日宣布撤回之前所提出的清盘马登的动议。

Chinese Mother Tongue Education

I observe that in the recent UMNO divisional AGM, many divisions have passed on a resolution calling for the Government to either abolish SRJK (C) or to stop the construction of new SRJK (C) schools. This is an old issue often used by politicians from both political divide to make them look great and good.

In the MCA AGM, Education, especially in mother tongue education is a sure hot topic. Politicians must not forget that freedom of education and the right to study mother tongue education is enshrined in the Constitution. Blaming Chinese education for disunity sounds like a desperate politician unable to understand the underlying cause of disunity in a multi racial country.

Opposition like any opposition party of the world is there to discredit the Government. Unfortunately UMNO politicians seem to take the bait, like hook line and sinker. Mother tongue education will not be an issue and the opposition will have no opportunity to exploit it if the Government gives adequate, equal and fair treatment to the Chinese education without neglecting Bahasa Melayu. It is only the naive that believes a singular education system will create unity in Malaysia.

I thought Malaysians are always proud of our strength in diversity. 57 years after independence, we seem to lay the blame on diversity and a bilingual education system as a root to our disunity among the ethnic groups. 15% of the Chinese school enrolment comes from Non-Chinese and the percentage is increasing everywhere. Are you saying parents are not sensitive to their children’s needs? A parent is most concerned about their children’s education irrespective of their social status. They want the best for their children.

There are many examples in the world that in a mono ethnic country with same religion and mother tongue but they are the most disunited people. In these countries, opposition do not come from a single ethnic group; there are deeper issues involved in disunity, on which I do not wish to go into detail.

So, hopefully some UMNO divisional leaders will wake up, this issue will not bring any benefit, both to the party and in the General Election. It is the intolerance and refusal to accept the different stream of education that causes us more ethnic tension. If some UMNO leaders does not wake up to today’s political reality in Malaysia, UMNO and BN will miss the train and start the blame game. Progressive and competitive nation should encourage its citizen to be multilingual but unfortunately, some politicians just ignored the elephant

in the room. They choose to get the 5 minutes publicity.

_______________________________________________________________

我发现在最近召开的巫统区部大会上，许多的巫统区部通过议决，促请政府废除华小或停止兴建新的华小。这其实是朝野政客惯用的老调，他们无非是要借此来逞英雄。

在马华全国代表大会，教育课题特别是谈到母语教育，始终是一项热门的辩题。从政者必须谨记，享有自由教育和学习母语教育的权力，是我国联邦宪法赋予和保障的。归咎于华文教育导致人民不团结，显然的失意政客根本不了解，在多元种族的国度里，到底什么才是造成不团结的原因。

我国的反对党，就和全世界的反对党一样，目的就是要抹黑政府。不幸的是，巫统的政客似乎竟然也采取这种伎俩。如果政府是公平、合理和适度的对待华小，而同时又没有忽略国语，那么母语教育将不会成为课题，反对党也就没有机会加以利用渲染。只有天真无知的人士，才会认为单一语文教育才会促进全民团结。

我想全体马来西亚人都会对我们拥有的多元特色感到骄傲。独立57年以来，我们好像一直把多元和多语教育制度，看成是造成不同族群无法团结的根源。目前华小有15%的学生是非华裔，而且这个比率还往上升。难道你认为父母对子女的需求不甚在意吗？任何的家长，不管他们是怎样的社会背景，都是非常关注子女的教育，他们要给孩子最好的一切。

世界上有一些国家，虽然它们是单一种族，而且是相同宗教信仰和同样的母语，可是他们却是最不团结的民族。在这些国家里，反对党并不是来自某个单一的族群。实际上国民不团结有许许多多的远因近由，不过我不愿在这里详谈。

所以我希望一些巫统的区部领袖能觉悟，这样的课题对党和大选，都不会带来任何的好处。其实就是因为无法容忍和拒绝接受不同源流的教育体系，才导致族群之间的关系紧张。如果一些巫统领袖还不能认清今时今日大马的政治现实状况，那么巫统和国阵将会丧失时机，最后落得互相指责的地步。

一个进步和更具竞争力的国家，是应该鼓励她的子民掌握多种语言，遗憾的是许多政客却不愿面对和接受事实，而只是选择沉醉在短暂的自我宣传。