RM2.3 million spent on Minister's office in Parliament

After the March 8 general election, the government has decided to allocate an office space in the Parliament House to all Cabinet Ministers who are based in Putrajaya. The reason is because they have to spend more time in Parliament now with 82 opposition members compared to previously when Ministers were hardly seen in Parliament to answer questions.

Their offices were ready before the beginning of the first Parliament session in late April. Guess how much taxpayers's monies were spent for them?

The answer to my parliamentary question is RM2.3 million!

The breakdown as follows:

1) Kerja-kerja awalan - RM300,000
2) Kerja-kerja meroboh- RM25,000
3) Kerja-kerja baru dan pengubahsuaian - RM670,609
4) Kerja-kerja perabot - RM594,200
5) Kerja-kerja Pendawaian telefon, smatv dan audio
5.1 Kerja-kerja telefon - RM186,875
5.2 Kerja-kerja ICT - RM51,500
5.3 Kerja-kerja SMATV - RM20,126
6) Kerja-kerja Elektrik - RM90,975
6a) Kerja-kerja elektrik di bilik cendaramata - RM10,470
7) Kerja-kerja mekanikal
7.1 Kerja-kerja penghawa dingin - RM35,520
7.2 Kerja mekanikal di bilik pantry lama - RM3,425
8) Peralatan pejabat - RM311,300

GRAND TOTAL - RM2,300,000.00 (DUA JUTA TIGA RATUS RIBU RINGGIT SAHAJA)

Tender: Rundingan terus (reka & bina) meaning no open tender...direct negotiation.

The contractor who got this job:

ISBUL HOLDINGS SDN BHD
Tingkat 13, Plaza Masalam
No 2, Jalan Tengku Ampuan Zabedah
E9/E, Section 9, Shah Alam, Selangor
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NS folks have paid RM3 billion to PLUS!

I called another press conference today near the Seremban tol plaza regarding the issue of KL-Seremban highway. I asked a Parliamentary question on 25 June to the Works Minister to state the total amount collected by PLUS at the Seremban tol plaza since its started operation. The answer that i received is a whopping RM2.987 billion! Yes..almost 3B collected at the Seremban tol plaza alone from those who took the Seremban exit both from north and south bound.

And the worst is the consession period is extended till 2038, another 30 years! However, the minister said that the government is re-evaluating the agreement including the money collected so far, tol rate, the consession period and the maintainance for the highway. After the studies is completed, the government will re-negotiate with PLUS and a final decision will be made by the Cabinet. The new Minister, Datuk Mohd Zain has promised in Parliament that the studies will be completed in 3 months. I will never forget his promise!

Now, we have to really keep up the pressure to press the government to abolish the toll collection for KL-Seremban portion. PLUS have collected much more what they have expected and it is time the road be made toll-free for all Malaysians. RM3 billion is equaivalent to 15 years of revenue for NS state government! Being a toll operator in Malaysia is better than a state government!

I have found this info of "Hari ini Dalam Sejarah" in the internet, have a good refresh.

PEMBUKAAN PLAZA TOL LEBUHRAYA KUALA LUMPUR- SEREMBAN



Tarikh Siaran: 16.06.2004

Tarikh Peristiwa: 16.06.1982


Pada hari ini 16.06.1982 kedua-dua Plaza Tol Lebuhraya Seremban-Kuala Lumpur telah dibuka dengan rasminya oleh Datuk S. Samy Vellu Menteri Kerjaraya dan Kemudahan dan memulakan kutipannya.

Menteri Kerja Raya itu sendiri memulakan proses pengutipan tol tersebut dengan membayar tiket tol yang pertama pada jam 8.30 pagi di Plaza tol pertama dekat Kuala Lumpur. Menurut beliau sejumlah 20,000 buah kenderaan dijangka akan melalui kedua-dua buah plaza tol sepanjang lebuhraya Kuala Lumpur-Seremban.

Kerajaan menjangkakan akan dapat mengutip sekurang-kurangnya RM 12 juta setahun dari kedua plaza tol tersebut dan kira-kira RM 2.5 juta diperlukan untuk kerja-kerja penyelenggaraanya. Baki kutipan tersebut akan digunakan untuk membayar balik pinjaman dari Bank Dunia.

Menteri Kerja Raya juga mengingatkan para pengguna jalanraya tersebut supaya membayar tol atau menghadapi tindakan denda RM 1,000 atau penjara enam bulan atau kedua-duanya sekali sekiranya melanggar arahan membayar tol. Bagaimanapun para pengguna yang ingin mengelakkan bayaran tol boleh menggunakan jalanraya lama melalui Kajang dan Semenyih untuk ke Seremban dan sebaliknya.

Dengan pembukaan rasmi plaza tol di lebuhraya Seremban-Kuala Lumpur pada hari ini dalam tahun 1982 memulakan babak baru dalam penggunaan jalan-jalan bertaraf lebuhraya di negara ini.
Skrip: Diolah semula oleh ROSELINE MAPONG SABAI

Sumber: Skrip HIDS . Read more!

My debate on JPA scholarships

Read more!

Who is lying? MB of NS or CVLB?

Monday June 23, 2008
CVLB refutes MB’s claims


The Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board (CVLB) has never received any application from the Negri Sembilan Foundation (YNS) for taxi permits.

CVLB was responding to an article which appeared in StarMetro on June 20 which quoted Negri Sembilan Mentri Besar Datuk Mohamad Hasan as saying that he was upset that CVLB has rejected YNS’ application for 500 taxi permits.


The YNS had in April submitted the request for the permits to be rented out cheaply to the poor people who are now paying high rentals of up to RM80 daily to taxi companies, cooperatives and individual licence holders.

“We wanted to rent the permits out for between RM10 and RM15 so that those in the low-income group could earn money as taxi drivers,” Mohamad said.

CVLB, in a statement said, “The statements were inaccurate and contradictory.

“It is necessary to explain that CVLB has been invited by the state economic planning unit (UPEN) and Negri Sembilan state secretariat (SUK) to give a briefing regarding the methods, rules and law related to taxi permits on May 13.”

The briefing, chaired by state housing and local government, new villages and public transportation committee chairman Siow Chen Pin, was also attended by UPEN, Road Transport Department (JPJ), Seremban Municipal Council and YNS.

“It has been a normal practice for CVLB to give priority to government agencies or government-linked companies, or the state foundation if there is a need to obtain commercial vehicle licences for any kind of vehicles.

“Contrary to what Mohamad claimed, CVLB did not receive any official application from YNS for taxi licence until today.

“Mohamad's statements are inaccurate and this has affected the credibility of CVLB. Mohamad should contact CVLB to solve this problem because the suggestion from YNS should be presented to CVLB to be discussed in our board meeting.

“For CVLB, this is a small issue and can be resolved at officer’s level, as what we had done with the Terengganu state government,” it said . Read more!

Motion on Fuel Hike in Parliament

Parliament is debating the motion proposed by the Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs on the recent fuel price hike. The motion is to seek support from Members of Parliament on the recent move the by the government to increase the prices of petrol by 40% and diesel by 62%.

Needless to say, all Opposition MPs will vote against this motion at the end of the debate which will take place later in the evening. It will be interesting to see whether there will be any BN MPs will vote against the motion especially the 2 MPs from SAPP. However, both the MPs from SAPP is currenntly "missing in action". Read more!

Your feedback very much appreciated

Dear folks,

I have started to update this blog more regularly in the last 2 months but still not "discipline" enough to do a posting every day. Will try :)Anyway, a big thank you to everyone who have visited this blog especially those who have post your comments. I really appreciate your feedback.

I wish to listen to more feedbacks and comments from you especially those from Seremban. As your MP and ADUN, i hope this can be turned into a community-based blog where information and issues related to society and our own backyard can flow and be debated freely. Hope this little effort can contribute to the emergence of a more informed-society. Wish to see Seremban folks to be more active in public discourse.

Regards, loke :) Read more!

Do you know how much the Menteri Besar earns monthly?

I called a press conference in Seremban this afternoon to call on the Negeri Sembilan state government to cut down on allowances for the Menteri Besar and EXCO members as a sign of sharing the burden with the people after the huge increase in fuel prices. The PM and Cabinet Ministers had cut 10% of the their entertainment allowances and cap their yearly holiday to ASEAN destinations. This of course not sufficient given the lavish spending by those in power all this while. However, i want to focus on NS state government in this statement.

I call on the MB to cut at least 50% of his and other EXCO's entertainment allowance and freeze all overseas paid holidays immediately. Do you know how much the MB of Negeri Sembilan earns every month and other perks given to him? Let me just give you a breakdown of his perks:

MB's allowance : RM14,175.15
ADUN's allowance: RM 4112.80
Entertainment : RM5,500
Chairman of EXCO: RM4,400

Fixed allowance every month : RM28,187.95

Other perks:

Appointment allowance : RM10,000 （one-off)
Official residence
Furniture allowance : RM5,000 (yearly)
Household staff : real expenses or RM3000 monthly
Free water and electricity
Free telephine services in official residence
2 official car
Driver's expenses all paid for

On top of that, the MB can enjoy a yearly paid holiday:

2 first class air ticket (no limitation to which destination)
(a first class ticket using MAS for KL-LONDON-KL cost RM30,400)
Economy class ticket for 1 officer and 3 children
Living allowance while overseas RM500 daily
Meal allowance RM300 daily or real expenses
Hotel (no limit, according to receipt)
Winter clothing RM3000 (once every 3 years)

For an EXCO, the monthly fixed allowance are around RM15,222. The exco member also enjoy a free holiday once in a term. The maximum is equal to 2 first class ticket for KL-LONDON-KL or RM30,000 cash.

Do you agree that the MB and the EXCO member should at least slash some the allowances by half to demonstrate "leadership by example"? If even the Ministers have to limit their holidays in ASEAN, why can't the MB? Isn't the slogan "Cuti-cuti Malaysia" sounds familiar to you? . Read more!

Ridiculous increase!

Media Statement by DAP Socialist Youth National Secretary and MP for Rasah Loke Siew Fook on Thursday, June 5, 2008 in Petaling Jaya.

Barisan Nasional government inconsiderate in the 40% hike of petrol prices and might even caused social instability

DAPSY strongly protests against the decision of the Barisan Nasional federal government to increase the prices of petrol by 78 sen and RM1 for diesel. The increase is amounting to 40% and 60% hike respectively. This is the single largest increase of petrol prices in the history of the country. There is not a single Prime Minister of Malaysia before Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has ever raised the petrol prices so drastically and unexpectedly. Although the increase was expected in some form, but the drastic move by the government will cause a lot of hardships to the people and might even lead to social instability with the potential of escalating crime triggered by the economic hardships.


The rebates of RM625 to car owners with engine capacity below 2000cc is not of much help and certainly unable to cushion the deep impact to the pockets of ordinary folks. Take for example, a normal expense of RM300 monthly for fuel will now caused RM420 which amounted to an increase of RM120. The RM625 annual rebate will only be able to offset the increase for 5 months. This is provided the usage is as low as RM300 a month. For those who have higher consumption, the rebate is of little help.

DAPSY slams the action of the government in particular the Prime Minister for misleading the people as far as the timing of the decision is concerned. This is the second time Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has not been frank in his pronouncement of major decision involving the public. The people had been misled once during the dissolution of the last Parliament. His credibility and trustworthiness of his words are at stake as Malaysians have been told to expect an increase only by August this year and not so sudden and unexpected. Everyone was caught by surprise and the panic and chaotic situation across the country yesterday can be avoided if the government is more considerate.

DAPSY urges the public to voice up their dissatisfaction against the government decision through peaceful means and continue to pressure the government to distribute the profits from Petronas to the rakyat especially those from the lower income groups. We will continue to speak up for the people both inside and outside of Parliament to ensure the government heeds the call of the Malaysian public to distribute fairly the Petronas funds which belongs to all Malaysians. If Pak Lah is so incompetent in managing the economy and the well being of all Malaysians, there is nothing more honor for him to do besides stepping down as the Prime Minister of the country. Read more!

RM168 million to build a toll plaza?

New toll plaza for Seremban

THE government will build a new toll plaza in Seremban to ease the traffic congestion into town and the surrounding areas.
The total cost for land acquisition and the construction of the toll plaza and an access road is RM168mil.

Rasah MP Anthony Loke Siew Fook said, however, that the project should be the responsibility of the highway concessionaire, instead of the government using public funds for it.

Peak-hour jams: Cars which exit the highway have to turn left into the road leading to Seremban 2 to make a U-turn to get to town. This stretch experiences massive traffic jam during peak hours.
“I was shocked when told by the Works Ministry that it will cost the government RM168mil to build the new toll plaza. The amount is almost as much as the state’s annual income of RM180mil,” he said.

Loke said this when visiting the existing toll plaza yesterday, accompanied by Senawang assemblyman P. Gunasekaren, Mambau assemblyman Wong May May, Bukit Kepayang assemblyman Cha Kee Chin and Temiang assemblyman Ng Chin Tsai.
According to Loke, Works Minister Datuk Mohd Zin Mohamad told him about the project and its cost in a written reply to a question he posed in Parliament last week.

Zin had said in his reply that the allocation would be sought during the mid-term review of the 9th Malaysia Plan.
Loke, who is also the Lobak assemblyman, said it was absurd to ask taxpayers to pay for the construction of a new toll plaza and then to pay again for driving on the highway.
“It is like going to the coffee shop and paying for your drink and then made to contribute towards the shop's rental or renovation. How can taxpayers' money be used to fund the building of infrastructure for a private company?” he asked.

Loke wondered whether such provisions were stated in the agreement signed between the concessionaire and government.
Cause of congestion: There are only two north-bound lanes at the Seremban toll plaza, and motorists do not even have the SmartTag privilege although thousands of motorists commute to Kuala Lumpur from here daily.

“It is illogical to have the agreement classified. If the government declassifies it, the people will know if such provisions were in the agreement,” he said.

Loke said that since Projek Lebuhraya Utara Selatan Bhd (Plus) had registered massive profits by operating the highway, it was only proper for it to pay for the construction of the new toll plaza.
He said the government should discuss the matter with the concessionaire before proceeding with the project.
“No one seems to know who should foot the bill for the project because the agreement is classified. We hope someone can enlighten the public on it,” he said.
Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan had said during an earlier interview that the existing toll plaza would not be closed after the new one was built.
Hasan said this was to allow for a smoother traffic flow as the new link would also eventually be connected to the Seremban Outer Ring Road.
Loke said, however, that the existing toll plaza had to be closed as it was the main cause of the massive traffic congestion into the new townships of Seremban 2 and Rasah Kemayan.
“The present toll plaza has to be closed as the road cannot accommodate the traffic volume. I hope the authorities would consider this as there is only one road leading into the Seremban 2 and Rasah Kemayan townships,” he said.
Several residents said they agreed with Loke that the toll plaza should be relocated.
Bank officer Gurbachan Singh, 42, said several accidents had been reported near the existing toll plaza as motorists coming from Seremban 2 had to cut across a busy stretch to enter the highway.
“A few people have died because of this. There is no traffic light to allow motorists heading north to turn safely to the toll plaza,” he said.
Motorist Syed Idris Syed Ibrahim said it was ridiculous that there were only two toll booths for traffic heading north and south.
“We don't even have a SmartTag lane here. This is rather strange,” he said.
Loke also proposed that the government abolish toll collection for the Seremban-Kuala Lumpur stretch.
“This stretch was the first to be built and it has been in use for more than 30 years. I think the road users have paid more than enough in the form of toll and it is time the stretch be made toll-free,” he said.

Read more!

Beware of the agenda of the ultra racist

Media statement by DAP Socialist Youth National Secretary and MP for Rasah Loke Siew Fook on Tuesday, 3 June 2008 in Petaling Jaya.

All scholarships should be given based on meritocracy and quota mentality must be discarded to achieve academic excellence in Malaysia

DAPSY slams the attitude of UMNO Youth, Gabungan Pelajar Melayu Semenanjung and Malay Unity Action Front for protesting against the move by the government to award 45% of Public Service Department (PSD) scholarships to non-bumiputera students. While the move by the government to increase PSD scholarships to deserving students irrespective of race and religion is most welcomed, it is regrettable to hear those retrogressive voices from a segment of the ultra racist group against it. Again, the racial card is being played to defeat the goals of meritocracy in education in Malaysia.

DAPSY urges the government to stand firm on this agenda as it is a step in the right direction to give a sense of hope to all Malaysian students who excel in their studies. DAPSY believes that scholarships must given based on meritocracy and deserving students whether they are Bumi or non-Bumi must not be denied any opportunities to further their studies. Over the years, we have fought for more fairness in the distribution of scholarships as this is one major factor that caused the problem of brain drain in the country.

Read more!

Parliamentary Questions for June sitting

SOALAN-SOALAN LISAN

1) Tuan Loke Siew Fook (Rasah) minta PERDANA MENTERI menyatakan samada Kerajaan Persekutuan bercadang untuk mengkaji semula dan meningkatkan kadar “Pemberian Mengikut Bilangan Orang” kepada Negeri-negeri Persekutuan seperti yang termaktub dalam Perkara 109 Perlembagaan Persekutuan. (24 Jun 2008)

2) Tuan Loke Siew Fook (Rasah) minta MENTERI KERJA RAYA menyatakan jumlah kutipan tol yang telah dikutip oleh konsesi lebuhraya dalam semua laluan di antara Lebuhraya Kuala Lumpur dan Seremban secara terperinci sehingga terkini dan bilakah kutipan tol di antara Kuala Lumpur dan Seremban dapat dimansuhkan. (25 Jun 2008)

3) Tuan Loke Siew Fook (Rasah) minta MENTERI BELIA DAN SUKAN menyatakan secara terperinci semua kos perbelanjaan mengikut item-item secara spesifik yang telah dibelanjakan dalam cadangan pembangunan “High Performance Training Center” di Brickendonbury, London yang telah dibatalkan baru-baru ini. (26 Jun 2008)

4) Tuan Loke Siew Fook (Rasah) minta PERDANA MENTERI menyatakan secara terperinci semua kos perbelanjaan mengikut item-item secara spesifik yang telah dibelanjakan dalam projek pengubahsuaian pejabat-pejabat untuk Menteri Kabinet di Bangunan Parlimen selepas Pilihanraya Umum ke-12 dan siapakah kontraktor yang dilantik serta jenis tender yang digunapakai. (30 Jun 2008)

5) Tuan Loke Siew Fook (Rasah) minta MENTERI PELAJARAN menyatakan cadangan Kementerian untuk membina baru atau pemindahan Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Cina dan Tamil di Negeri Sembilan untuk 3 tahun yang akan datang serta butir-butir sekolah yang terlibat dan bilakah ia dapat dilaksanakan. (1 Julai 2008)

6) Tuan Loke Siew Fook (Rasah) minta MENTERI PENGANGKUTAN menyatakan apakah dasar baru Kementerian dan langkah-langkah spesifik yang diambil untuk menambahbaik sistem pengangkutan darat awam di seluruh negara dan khasnya cara menyelesaikan masalah kesesakan lalulintas di Kuala Lumpur. (2 Julai 2008)

7) Tuan Loke Siew Fook (Rasah) minta MENTERI KEWANGAN menyatakan secara terperinci semua aset dan tanggungan yang dimiliki oleh Syarikat Prasarana Negara Berhad dan berapakah hutang yang masih ditanggung dalam pembentukan Rapid KL dan pengambilalihan 2 laluan LRT di Kuala Lumpur. (3 Julai 2008)

8) Tuan Loke Siew Fook (Rasah) minta MENTERI PERUMAHAN DAN KERAJAAN TEMPATAN menyatakan butir-butir peruntukan pembangunan secara terperinci yang telah dan akan disalurkan kepada setiap Pihak Berkuasa Tempatan (PBT) di Negeri Sembilan untuk tahun 2008 dan langkah Kementerian untuk membantu PBT meningkatkan pendapatan mereka. (8 Julai 2008)

9) Tuan Loke Siew Fook (Rasah) minta PERDANA MENTERI menyatakan secara terperinci jumlah yang telah dibelanjakan mengikut item-item spesifik dan senarai penerimanya untuk Peruntukan Pembangunan Parlimen bagi kawasan RASAH pada bulan Januari dan Februari 2008 sebelum Parlimen ke-11 dibubarkan. (9 Julai 2008)

10) Tuan Loke Siew Fook (Rasah) minta MENTERI KESIHATAN menyatakan samada Kementerian bercadang untuk melaksanakan sistem “Dispensing Separation” untuk ubat-ubatan terkawal dan sekiranya ada, bagaimanakah ia akan dilaksanakan untuk memastikan setiap lapisan masyarakat tidak terjejas. (14 Julai 2008)

SOALAN-SOALAN BERTULIS

1) Tuan Loke Siew Fook (Rasah) minta PERDANA MENTERI menyatakan senarai penuh semua pemohon yang berjaya memperolehi biasiswa Jabatan Perkhidmatan Awam (JPA) untuk tahun 2008 mengikut nama, keputusan peperiksaan, nama universiti, nilai biasiswa dan jumlah markah yang diperolehi dalam permohonan tersebut.

2) Tuan Loke Siew Fook (Rasah) minta MENTERI KERJA RAYA menyatakan senarai Jalan Persekutuan dan Jalan Negeri yang diselenggarakan oleh Jabatan Kerja Raya dalam kawasan Parlimen RASAH dan apakah jalan yang akan dinaiktaraf dalam perancangan JKR setakat ini.

3) Tuan Loke Siew Fook (Rasah) minta MENTERI PELAJARAN menyatakan secara terperinci pecahan butir-butir dan amaun peruntukan pembangunan bagi tahun 2008 untuk setiap Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Cina dan Tamil di seluruh Negeri Sembilan.

4) Tuan Loke Siew Fook (Rasah) minta PERDANA MENTERI menyatakan secara terperinci senarai penuh peruntukan kerajaan yang boleh dipohon oleh persatuan-persatuan masyarakat dan pertubuhan-pertubuhan bukan kerajaan mengikut Kementerian masing-masing

5) Tuan Loke Siew Fook (Rasah) minta PERDANA MENTERI menyatakan sepuluh projek pembangunan yang nilainya paling tinggi yang sedang atau akan dilaksanakan oleh Kerajaan Persekutuan di Negeri Sembilan.

Read more!