2014 water crisis warning

STAR, 14 January 2012

PETALING JAYA: Selangor may experience a water crisis before 2014 if the state government keeps delaying construction of the Langat 2 water treatment plant, warned the Association of Water and Energy Research Malaysia (Awer).

Its president S. Piarapakaran said a study it conducted concluded that 2014 would be a “suitable candidate” for a water crisis to occur in Selangor if the demand for water increased between 2% and 2.5%.

“If the annual demand increase is higher (than that), the crisis might hit the Klang Valley earlier,” he said in a statement yesterday.

He said the average increase of treated water production annually from 2007 to 2010 was 2.14%.

According to the Malaysia Water Industry Guide 2011, Selangor (including Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya), produced 3,889mld, 3,926 and 4,063 million litres of water per day in 2008, 2009 and 2010 respectively.

To prevent such a crisis, Piarapakaran urged the state and Federal governments to set aside their differences and work together to prevent such a crisis, including ensuring water concessionaires were regulated and fully-licensed under the Water Services Industry Act (WSIA) 2006.

Pointing out that the water services industry restructuring process had been “hibernating” since 2008, he stressed that the Pahang-Selangor Raw Water Transfer project and Langat 2 water treatment plant must go forward.

“Delay in building the Langat 2 treatment plant will escalate the cost, which will be passed on through the tariff eventually,” he said, adding that water should not be politicised.

Piarapakaran said the Langat 2 treatment plant was much more cost-effective and reliable compared with the Selangor government's suggestion of constructing more groundwater extraction plants.

“Groundwater extractions also come with many other environmental impacts such as hydraulic cracks and instability of ecosystem,” he said, adding that it might not successfully work during a water crisis either.

Put phone tax on hold, telcos told

STAR, 11 September 2011

PUTRAJAYA: The Information, Communications and Culture Ministry has “blocked” plans by the telcos to impose a 6% service tax on prepaid mobile phone services.

“I have intimated to the telcos to stop the implementation of the service charge at this untimely hour,” said minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim.

“I will raise the issue with the Cabinet on Wednesday,” he said yesterday.

“My ministry does not support the move.”

Dr Rais said the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has also been directed to study the mobile operators' licensing regulations on service tax.

“We will see what the regulations state,” he added.

Dr Rais advised the telcos to think about their subscribers, saying that some of the firms had been reaping profits of between RM800mil and RM1.2bil annually.

“They have been earning attractive profits, notwithstanding paying the levy on behalf of subscribers since 1998,” he said.

Meanwhile, Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob also planned to bring the issue up at the Cabinet meeting.

He said there had been numerous calls for the telcos to upgrade their services “which had not been taken seriously”.

“Yet, they now want to impose service tax on customers,” he said.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak had on Friday said the plan to impose the service tax from Thursday was not approved by the Finance Ministry, adding that the people were already being burdened by the rising cost of living

Move by telcos to impose 6% tax on prepaid lines comes under fire

STAR, 10 September 2011

KUALA LUMPUR: Calling it difficult to accept, the Prime Minister has joined in the chorus of people against the move by telcos to impose 6% service tax on prepaid mobile phone users.

Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the move comes at a time when the Government was trying to ease the burden of the rakyat’s who are already hit by the rise in living costs.

He added the move was not approved by the Finance Ministry as the decision to impose taxes was taken by the telcos themselves.

“I have received many reactions and feedback from the people,” he told reporters yesterday after launching Maybank’s new corporate logo.

“The move to impose the service tax on consumers is very unpopular and difficult to accept.”

MCA Youth chief Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong said the service tax was a huge burden to the people.He added mobile phones were an essential item to consumers and played a major role in the daily life with most of the prepaid users coming from the lower-income group.

It was reported that from Sept 15 onwards, prepaid users and those purchasing starter kits would need to pay an extra 6% as telcos agreed they would no longer absorb the service tax, which was introduced in 1998.
Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin described the decision as “unreasonable”.

“Boss @NajibRazak, the decision to impose tax on prepaid users is unreasonable and it would burden the rakyat. I oppose it. Please review it,” he tweeted.

PKR vice-president Tian Chua said the Government must intervene immediately to help low-income earners.
He also noted that prepaid plans were unfair to users by design as users paid for their usage up front.

Consumer groups were also up in arms over the increase, which they have lambasted as unfair.

Consumers Association of Penang president S.M. Mohamed Idris called on the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission to stall the move.

He added mobile phone prepaid users faced the brunt of unfair terms and conditions imposed on them, especially when the balance in their account was forfeited when they did not reload within the validity period.

He suggested that a prepaid number should have lifetime validity and be activated at the customers convenience.

Muslim Consumers Association Malaysia activist Datuk Nadzim Johan said the increase was unfair and ill-timed when consumers were tightening their belts over the increasing cost of other essential goods.

Fomca secretary-general Muhammad Sha’ani Abdullah said the telcos were already pocketing extra from their customers with their “call block” formula.

“If a telco charges RM0.30 per minute with 30 seconds per block, this means that you pay RM0.15 whether you use the phone for only 10 seconds or 30 seconds,” he said.

“This means the telcos are already making money from the unused seconds. Consumers have already been over-paying for years.”

Regulatory body needed for airline industry, says Fernandes

STAR, Tuesday January 25, 2011

PETALING JAYA: It is time to set up an independent regulatory body to guide the airline industry’s development, said AirAsia Bhd group chief executive officer Datuk Seri Tony Fernandes.

He said a body akin to the Malaysia Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) was needed to help the airline industry grow.

“An independent regulator is needed to decide on what is best for the Malaysian airline industry,” Fernandes said when contacted in Bhutan.

He said the body should also decide on standards for best practices in the industry to ensure that Malaysia remained competitive as a hub for the region.

Fernandes added that the regulator should comprise aviation experts and captains of the tourism and banking industries.

On the new KLIA2 to be completed in October 2012, Fernandes said AirAsia would move in only when the terminal is deemed “operationally safe.”

He also urged Malaysia Airports Berhad (MAB) to maintain aiport taxes for low-cost carriers at RM6 and RM25 for domestic and international passengers respectively.

Transport Minister Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha, at a press conference earlier, said the present LCCT was running at over-capacity, having handled 15.3 million passengers last year.

“They (low-cost carriers) have to move. The current LCCT was only a temporary LCCT.

“We also need it as a cargo terminal. KLIA2 will be a much nicer terminal than the current LCCT,” Kong said after witnessing the transfer of a new flight inspection system (FIS) from local contractor Systematic
Aviation Services Sdn Bhd to the Department of Civil Aviation yesterday.

PPC Also Interested In Ferry Services

June 17, 2009

PENANG, June 17 (Bernama) -- The Penang Port Commission (PPC) is interested in taking over the mainland-island ferry service operations from Penang Port Sdn Bhd (PPSB).

PPC chairman Tan Cheng Liang said the commission was preparing a working paper to be handed over to the Transport Ministry in 2-3 weeks.

"Anyone can take over the operations if they are capable and we are also interested as we are familiar with ferry activities.

"We have told the Transport Ministry and they have asked for a working paper for further action," he said at a news conference here Wednesday.

Tan said as the licensor for port activities in Penang, the PPC knew the ins and outs of ferry service operations.

PPSB had indicated handing over operations to the federal government as it could not bear the losses that have continued to rise over the last 10 years.

The Penang state government had also expressed interest but according to Tan till now a working paper had not been forwarded.

Restructuring water service

New Straits Times, 31 March 2009

By : Hamidah Atan

PUTRAJAYA: The Federal Government will not discriminate against the opposition-ruled Selangor government in restructuring its water service.

Energy, Water and Communications Minister Datuk Shaziman Abu Mansor said the restructuring model had been well received by the Negri Sembilan and Malacca state governments.

"It must be emphasised that the Selangor restructuring model is the same one used to restructure the Johor water service, which was implemented successfully.

"It must also be emphasised that the Federal Government will not adopt an approach that is discriminatory in nature against Selangor, even though it is under the administration of the opposition."
The ministry had produced booklets to explain to the public the restructuring of the Selangor water service.

Shaziman said the Federal Government would assist Selangor in the restructuring process but with conditions.

Water company Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (Syabas), owned by the state government through a 30 per cent equity ownership, is licensed under the 2006 Water Service Industry Act (Act 655).

Three concession water treatment companies -- Puncak Niaga Sdn Bhd (PNSB), Konsortium Abass Sdn Bhd (Abass) and Syarikat Pengeluaran Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (Splash) -- are allowed to continue their operations until their concessionary period expire.

"For Syabas, the proposed service licence allows them to implement water service operations and maintenance of assets. This licence needs to be renewed every three year, depending on the level of compliance," Shaziman said.

A condition was that there should not be any hike in water tariff this year.

He said the ministry's primary concern was to ensure a continuous supply of water and keeping the tariffs low.

Any more delays in water restructuring in Selangor would result in cash flow problems and financial defaults among the concessionaires, which would eventually put the state's water supply at risk, he said.

The ministry had allowed the Selangor government deadline extensions to buy over the water companies on its own four times between Sept 19 last year and Feb 14.



The state eventually offered to pay RM5.7 billion for all the water assets but the companies rejected it, mainly because the offer was too low.

Private docs: Proper regulatory set up needed

STAR, March 30, 2009

PETALING JAYA: A national doctors’ medical association is concerned that Malaysia is rushing to liberalise its healthcare services without a proper regulatory framework, which will affect the overall healthcare system.

The Federation of Private Medical Practioner’s Association of Malaysia (FPMPAM) believes that although the basic aspects of globalisation are inherently good and in some ways inevitable, the Malaysian healthcare services sector is unprepared for this.

FPMPAM’s president Dr. Steven Chow said that ASEAN needs to harmonise healthcare standards (such as in the EU) before opening up market access. However, this should only be done gradually.

“Currently, there is no suitable and regulatory framework to prevent the exploitation of the national healthcare market by foreign businesses,” he said.

“In this vulnerable regulatory environment, we can expect more resources to be poured into the more lucrative aspects of healthcare.

“This will jeopardise the standard of healthcare in areas such as rural and preventative care,” he added.

Dr. Chow said that without proper safeguards, the move would exacerbate Malaysia’s healthcare woes as market forces and business sense was unlikely to encourage foreigners to start their business in small towns, where the problem of shortage and poor access to healthcare services was more apparent.

“But most importantly, we cannot rush this process, especially if it is for the sake of boosting medical tourism. Healthcare is not another business commodity,” he said.

“We need to ensure that this move will benefit the people of Malaysia and not just business,” said Chow.

“There are too many unanswered questions on the macro and micro levels,” he said.

“Right now, patients are still not aware of the proper channels to go should they be shortchanged by a foreign doctor.”

Another concern raised was about how to ensure that these doctors maintained the standard as services in delivery and in other crucial areas such as local socio-cultural norms and doctor-patient communication.

Surcharge put off to March 1

STAR, 6 January 2009

MALACCA: Some 8,000 members with the Federation of Malaysian Schoolbus Operators Association have put off a 30% surcharge yesterday to March 1.

This is to relieve the financial burden of parents due to the start of the new school term and with Chinese New Year just around the corner.

Federation chairman Chee Ah Tey said members expected a firm answer from the Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board (CVLB) on its memorandum submitted last September.

“The CVLB must give us an answer before March 1 on whether to allow us to impose the surcharge or increase diesel subsidy for schoolbus operators,” he told a press conference here yesterday.

In September, the federation’s request for higher subsidised diesel was turned down by the board.

There are some 15,000 schoolbus operators nationwide with an estimated 8,000 registered with the federation.

Two days ago, Chee was quoted as saying that schoolbus operators nationwide would impose a surcharge at the start of the new school term.

On Sunday, CVLB director-general Datuk Markiman Kobiran warned that the board would carry out joint operations with the Road Transport Department and take stern action against errant schoolbus operators who impose the surcharge unilaterally.

Crackdown on rear seat belt offenders

New Straits Times, 1 January 2009

KUALA LUMPUR: Back-seat passengers must from now buckle up or will be issued with a compound fine of RM300.

A spokesman of the Road Transport Department said enforcement officers would start a nationwide crackdown on those who violated the rear seat belt ruling, which took effect from 12.01am today.

Under the latest ruling, offenders above the age of 17 will be individually fined.

On the other hand, if rear-seat passengers under the age of 17 are not buckled up, the car driver will be fined for the offence.

Rear-seat passengers who do not wear seat belts will be fined except for:
- vehicles registered before Jan 1, 1995;

- vehicles registered after Jan 1, 1995 but without anchorage points;

- commercial vehicles, including taxis and rental cars;

- vehicles with more than eight passengers (not including the driver);

- goods vehicles with a maximum load limit of 3.5 tonnes; and,

- the fourth rear-seat passenger in a car with three seat belts at the rear.

From July, the RM300 compound fine will be increased to a maximum fine of RM2,000, or up to a year's jail.

The new rules are contained in the amendments to the Motor Vehicles (Safety Seat Belt) Rules 1977, under the Road Transport Act 1987.

Ahead of the midnight deadline last night, the RTD mounted a nationwide operation to nab errant motorists in conjunction with the countdown to the new year.

A total of 500 officers were posted at roadblocks nationwide under Ops Ambang Tahun Baru 2009, which started at 10pm. They also inspected vehicles for illegal high intensity discharge (HID) lights and other offences.

In the Klang Valley, two major roadblocks were placed at the Jalan Duta-Kuala Lumpur and Batu 3 toll plazas on the Federal Highway.

Perak gives out first batch of permanent land titles

STAR, 31 December 2008

IPOH: The Pakatan Rakyat-led Perak government has given out 11 permanent land titles to residents of new villages in the state despite the objections of the Federal Government.

State senior executive councillor Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham said the first batch of applicants received their land titles from Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin at a ceremony in Gerik on Tuesday.

They were from Kampung Baru Kuala Rui.

The 11 are the first batch of 47,000 lot owners in 134 new villages and 102,000 lot owners in 349 planned villages eligible for automatic conversion of their titles from leasehold to freehold.

Ngeh told reporters here on Wednesday that the conversion of land titles had been carried out legally, and noted that the state’s panel of at least 10 lawyers had vetted the entire process.

“Everything we have done is legal and, with due respect, we would like to note that the Deputy Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak) had erred in his legal opinion,” he added.

Ngeh revealed that titles to 10 other plots of 1.6ha under a cluster-farming scheme in Tanjung Rimbun had been given out to Malay farmers.

“Again, the state government would like to stress that it does not practise racial policies. Everything it does is for the rakyat (people),” he said.

Ngeh added that 320 plots covering 598.8ha would be given out under the scheme.

Later, at a function to present aid to 400 poor and orphaned children, Nizar said as far as the state was concerned, it had not broken any laws in giving out the titles.

Najib: National Land Council to decide on State’s move to award freehold titles

New Straits Times, 24 December 2008

PUTRAJAYA: The Perak government will have to put on hold its intention to award freehold land titles to those residing in settlements and new villages.

This is because states which want to do so will have to get the approval of the National Land Council to ensure there is uniformity in procedure and policies.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said Perak had during the council’s meeting yesterday, voiced its intention to award freehold land titles to those living in settlements and new villages.

However, the decision would have to be deferred until the council has held an in-depth discussion on the matter.

“We have a policy where states cannot make unilateral decision on issuing freehold land titles. Such titles are usually given to land that is to be used by the Federal Government, for public use and under special circumstances.

“The National Land Council will convene a special meeting soon to enable the state to present its working paper and for us to discuss their proposal.

“Until the council makes a decision, Perak cannot award the land titles to the people concerned,” he told reporters after chairing the National Land Council meeting at the Implementation and Coordination Unit here yesterday. It is learnt that the state’s intention would involve around 2,800ha of land.

Najib also said the e-tanah pilot project, currently being tested in Penang would be extended to Malacca and Negri Sembilan next year.

“If the project proves successful and beneficial, we will extend it nationwide.”

The e-tanah is an electronic land transaction system that promises a more modernised land office administration.

Penang ferry must buck up

New Straits Times, 2008/12/22

GEORGE TOWN: Penang Port Sdn Bhd (PPSB), which operates the ferry service, has been instructed to adhere to the standing operating procedure and keep six ferries running daily from 7am to 11pm and beyond if necessary.

Penang Port Commission (PPC) board chairman Tan Cheng Liang said she had informed the ferry service's operations manager of the board's decision.

"We have eight ferries, one will be in the dock for servicing and the other on standby.

"The PPC board has instructed PPSB to operate all the six ferries and if after 11pm there is still a long queue they should continue operating until the congestion is cleared.

"We have received countless complaints about the PPSB ferry service, especially during school holidays, weekends and public holidays," she said during a RM50,000 cheque presentation by the state MCA to the Methodist Boys' School at the school's premises here.
The funds are for the school to construct a three-storey building for Form Six students.

Tan said it was PPSB's social obligation to provide the service, even though the company was operating at a loss of about RM13 million annually.

She also urged PPSB staff to help control traffic at Pengkalan Weld, where motorists often jumped queue.

"The holding area at the Raja Tun Uda ferry terminal on the island has been reduced to half due to the Rapid Penang buses being parked there.

"The understanding for loaning the holding area to RapidPenang was that it was to be temporary but the buses have been there for two years now.

"Unless the holding problem is solved, we will continue to face traffic congestion at the ferry terminal area," said Tan, who is also a member of the MCA central working committee.

Tan said commuters who were facing problems or wanted to lodge complaints should call the PPSB hotlines at 04-2102363 (Penang Island) or 04-3102377 (Butterworth) or email the board at penangport.gov.my.