TPP will be another bad pac

By Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad

UNEQUAL PARTNERS: The Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement will allow big economies to plunder smaller ones

  THE secretary-general of the International Trade and Industry Ministry avers that trade negotiations must be done in secret, I suppose by the officers concerned. There should apparently be no public debate,  even within the government.

I don't think it is such a good practice, if indeed that is the practice. Let us see the record of trade and other agreements negotiated by the Malaysian government. They do not seem to favour Malaysia much. In fact they seem to result in Malaysia accepting unfavourable terms.

First, let us look at the water agreement with Singapore. Malaysia agreed to sell raw water at 3 sen per 1,000 gallons (4,546 litres). In return Malaysia can buy 12 per cent or less of the treated water for 50 sen. If the rates are to be revised both countries must agree.

If Malaysia raises the rate to 6 sen per 1,000 gallons (i.e. 100 per cent) then Singapore can raise by the same factor to RM1 per 1,000 gallons of treated water. This is not going to benefit Malaysia. And so we never tried to renegotiate the prices.

The first agreement lapsed in 2011 and we did not renegotiate at all. The next agreement will lapse in 2060. So we will be getting 3 sen per 1,000 gallons of raw water when the cost of living has probably gone up many-many times.

To avoid Singapore revising the price of water if we raise the price of raw water, Johor was given enough money to build its own treatment plant. Not having to depend on supply from Singapore, we could raise the price of raw water without Singapore raising the price of treated water.

I am told that Johor still needs to buy treated water from Singapore. I really do not know why. So, the price has not been renegotiated and I suppose will not be renegotiated until 2060.

Today, the Singapore dollar is 21/2 times the value of the Malaysian ringgit. At the time of the agreement it was one to one. Are we receiving payment in Singapore dollars or Malaysian ringgit? Or is this a secret also?

Frankly I don't think we thought very carefully when we negotiated. Incidentally, Johor sells water at 30 sen per 1,000 gallons to Malacca, i.e. 1,000 per cent higher than to Singapore.

There are many agreements entered into by Malaysia that are unfavourable to us.

For example, the Afta, the Asean Free Trade Area. We agreed that cars with 40 per cent local content qualify as national cars and allowed tax-free entry into Asean markets. Forty per cent local content is easily achieved by non-Asean cars produced in Asean countries.

This means Japanese, Korean, Chinese and European cars can get Asean countries' national status merely by being assembled in Asean countries with batteries, tyres and a few other components.

We produce the Proton in Malaysia with 90 per cent local content. Naturally, our costs are higher and cannot compete with non-Asean cars assembled in Asean countries. While these cars flood the Malaysian market, hardly any Proton is seen in Asean countries.

The negotiators may think they negotiated a good deal but I just don't think so. We are simply opening our markets to countries with closed markets.

But to make matters worse, while Proton must comply with Malaysian safety and other standards, imported cars are given exemptions from most of these.

If Proton wishes to export to the countries of the manufacturers, it must comply with all their standards. So far, we cannot export to Japan, Korea and Europe.

This is how good the agreements which we have entered into upon closer examination.

 Now, we are negotiating the American-conceived TPP, Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement.  This is another attempt by America to let their huge corporations penetrate the markets of the small countries, in particular, government procurement.

When the GATT (General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade) failed they invented WTO (World Trade Organisation) for the same purpose. That also failed. They then invented Apec (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation). Still, they could not achieve their objective. They introduced bilateral free trade agreements.

Then, they promoted a globalised world, a world without borders in which their money can go anywhere, destroy economies and then pull out. In case we have forgotten, they did this in 1997/98.

Still, they cannot get at government procurement. And now they invented TPP, a partnership of unequals, of the strong to take advantage of the weak.

This is going to be legally binding. If we breach the agreement, their corporations can sue the government for billions. I have my doubts about our ability to convince the international arbitrators or courts. We cannot even convince the World Court over Pulau Batu Puteh.

They will have the best lawyers, lots of them. We will exhaust all our funds to pay our less experienced lawyers. At the end, we will lose and pay indemnities and fees running into billions. And we will continue to pay until we comply. And when we comply we will lose more money.

We have a domestic problem, which we must solve. They don't care. Anyone who talks about the New Economic Policy is labelled racist by our officials.

When the currency rogues attacked us the purpose was to gain control over our economy. We resisted because we were still free then. But after we sign the TPP we will be bound hand and foot. No more capital controls. We will be colonised again. President Sukarno was right about neo-colonialism.

I know MITI is set to agree to the TPP. It will not entertain any counter arguments. It wants to do this secretly. We don't punish people who make agreements detrimental to the interest of this country. So what is there to lose?

This is my country as much as it is the country of the officials and politicians. If people secretly do harm to my country I have a right to complain. We talk a lot about transparency. Let us see transparency regarding the TPP negotiations. The October ultimatum should be ignored. And let China be included.

Tarikh lihat anak bulan Ramadan 8 Julai ini

KUALA LUMPUR - Tarikh melihat anak bulan Ramadan bagi menetapkan tarikh permulaan puasa ialah pada petang Isnin, 8 Julai bersamaan 29 Syaaban 1434 Hijrah, menurut kenyataan Pejabat Penyimpan Mohor Besar Raja-Raja hari ini.

    

Menurut kenyataan itu, Majlis Raja-Raja telah mempersetujui bahawa cara menetapkan tarikh itu adalah berdasarkan rukyah dan hisab.

    

"Penyimpan Mohor Besar Raja-Raja Malaysia akan mengisytiharkan pada malam itu juga tarikh permulaan puasa yang ditetapkan, melalui radio dan televisyen," kata kenyataan itu.

    

Jawatankuasa yang bertanggungjawab akan melihat anak bulan di lokasi berikut:

    

    - Pontian Kecil, Johor;

    - Kompleks Falak Al-Khawarizmi, Kampung Balik Batu, Tanjung Bidara, Melaka;

    - Telok Kemang, Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan;

    - Bukit Melawati, Kuala Selangor, Selangor;

    - Bukit Jugra, Banting, Kuala Langat, Selangor;

    - Balai Cerap Selangor, Sabak Bernam, Selangor;

   

    Lokasi lain ialah:

    - Pantai Pasir Panjang, Mukim Pengkalan Baru, Daerah Manjong, Perak;

    - Pusat Falak Sheikh Tahir, Pantai Aceh, Pulau Pinang;

    - Kampung Pulau Sayak, Kuala Muda, Kedah;

    - Pemandangan Indah, Pulau Langkawi, Kedah;

    - Menara Alor Setar, Alor Setar, Kedah;

    - Bukit Besar, Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu;

    - Bukit Geliga, Kemaman, Terengganu;

    - Pulau Perhentian, Besut, Terengganu;

    - Balai Cerap KUSZA, Mukim Merang, Setiu, Terengganu;

    - Bukit Peraksi, Pasir Putih, Kelantan;

    - Bukit Kampong Tembeling, Mukim Manjur, Daerah Olak Jeram, Kuala Krai,

Kelantan;

      

    - Menara Bangunan SEDC, Jalan Tengku Putra Semerak, Kota Baharu, Kelantan;

    - Tanjung Lubang, Miri, Sarawak;

    - Teluk Bandung, Kuching, Sarawak;

    - Tanjung Batu, Bintulu, Sarawak;

    - Balai Cerap Al-Biruni, Tanjung Dumpil, Putatan, Sabah;

    - Bukit Tanjong Batu, Nenasi, Pahang;

    - Gunung Berincang, Cameron Highlands, Pahang;

    - Bukit Pelindong, Kuantan, Pahang;

    - Tingkat 13, Menara Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Kampus Antarabangsa Labuan;

    - Menara Kuala Lumpur;

    - Pusat Konvensyen Antarabangsa Putrajaya; dan

    - Kuala Sungai Baru, Simpang Empat, Perlis.

    - Bernama

Tak sabar menunggu kehadiran Ramadhan, mari sama-sama tingkatkan amalan ibadah.

TNB laksana FCPT, perkemas tarif elektrik

KUALA LUMPUR - Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) akan melaksanakan mekanisme Pelepasan Kos Bahan Api (FCPT) pada tahun depan sebagai proses penetapan tarif elektrif lebih cekap kepada pengguna.
   
Timbalan Menteri Tenaga, Teknologi Hijau dan Air Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid berkata mekanisme TNB itu merupakan antara komponen dalam program penetapan kadar tarif elektrik Kawal Selia Berdasarkan Insentif (IBR).
   
"Suruhanjaya Tenaga sedang dalam usaha melaksanakan IBR dan antara komponen yang akan dilaksanakan ialah mekanisme FCPT.
   
"Di bawah mekanisme ini, sebarang perubahan bahan api yang berlaku akan disalurkan terus kepada pengguna berdasarkan sebarang penetapan tarif yang ditetapkan kerajaan," katanya ketika menjawab soalan Liang Teck Meng (BN-Simpang Renggam) pada persidangan Dewan Rakyat di sini hari ini.
   
Liang ingin tahu bilakah mekanisme FCPT akan dilaksanakan TNB dalam usaha mencerminkan keadaan kos sebenar bahan api.

Mahdzir berkata dengan pelaksanaan FCPT, pengguna turut diberikan insentif sekiranya tenaga digunakan secara berhemah dan penalti dikenakan sekiranya prestasi penggunaan tenaga tidak memuaskan seperti pembaziran.
   
Bagaimanapun, katanya program itu dilaksana berdasarkan prestasi ekonomi negara yang pada masa sama turut mengambil kira bebanan kos hidup pengguna.
   
Menjawab soalan tambahan Liang mengenai subsidi bahan api yang diberikan kerajaan bagi mengurangkan beban pengguna, Mahdzir berkata kerajaan memberi subsidi ke atas pengguna domestik yang menggunakan tenaga elektrik 200 kilowatt ke bawah sebulan iaitu bernilai 21.8 sen per kilo watt/sejam, sejak 1997.
   
Selain itu, katanya kerajaan juga telah memberikan subsidi kepada pengguna yang bil elektrik di bawah RM20 dengan mereka tidak perlu membayar bil tersebut. - Bernama

Terima Kasih TNB..:)

EXTEND PROPOSED TOBACCO DISPLAY BAN TO OTHER STORES

KUALA LUMPUR: Support for the proposed ban on the display of cigarettes in petrol stations' convenience stores is gaining momentum with some calling for it to be extended to restaurants and retail outlets.

Malaysian Council for Tobacco Control (MCTC) was among the first to react to the call by Petroleum Dealers Association of Malaysia president Datuk Hashim Othman for the ban at some 3,500 petrol stations nationwide.

MCTC treasury-general Muhammad Shaani Abdullah said the proposed ban should be extended to other premises.

"According to the World Health Organisation, the display of cigarettes is considered a form of promotion or advertisement of the product."

Shaani stressed that under the WHO's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, under which Malaysia had committed to implement national tobacco control policies, it was an obligation for the country to comply with the provision of the treaty.

Shaani, who is also the Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations deputy president, said one of the reasons why children picked the habit was because cigarettes were being displayed for sale in almost every shop.

Kalau nak meluntur buluh, biar dari rebung,kalau dah jadi rebung memang payah nak dilentur lagi..

Jadikan Mesir sebagai iktibar untuk Malaysia

Presiden Mesir Dr Mohamed Morsi disifatkan sebagai satu pengajaran kepada masyarakat dan kerajaan Malaysia, kata Menteri Pertahanan Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein.

Beliau berkata detik hitam itu tercetus daripada sentimen kebencian dan perpecahan yang dibawa oleh kumpulan tertentu yang hanya mahu semata-mata untuk mengubah kepimpinan negara.

Katanya perubahan itulah telah menyebabkan ketegangan berlarutan sehingga ekonomi merundum dan rakyat terbunuh.

"Saya bersyukur kerana kerana atas kebijaksaan dan kepimpinan kita, serta kewarasan masyarakat dari pelbagai kaum dan agama di negara ini, kita tidak berdepan masalah seperti di Mesir," katanya pada sidang media di lobi Parlimen di sini, hari ini.

Hishammuddin berkata demikian ketika diminta mengulas mengenai rampasan kuasa oleh tentera Mesir terhadap presidennya semalam.

Jangan benarkan anasir luar dan jahat cuba menganggu gugat negara kita yang tercinta.Untuk mendapat kemerdekaan bukan mudah, tapi untuk menghancurkan hanya boleh berlaku sekelip mata sahaja.Sama-sama kita kekal keamanan yang ada.

Tubuh Suruhanjaya Diraja siasat Red Bean Army

Gabungan badan bukan kerajaan (NGO) Islam-Melayu sekali lagi mendesak kerajaan supaya menyegerakan penubuhan Suruhanjaya Siasatan Diraja mengenai Red Bean Army bagi mengenal pasti pihak yang bertanggungjawab terhadap usaha menjatuhkan kerajaan.
   
Ketua Sekretariat Publisitinya Dzulkarnian Taib berkata tindakan Penasihat DAP Lim Kit Siang yang membantah penubuhan suruhanjaya itu hanya menguatkan lagi persepsi rakyat bahawa parti pembangkang itu sememangnya mempunyai kaitan dengan pasukan tentera siber itu.
   
Red Bean Army merujuk kepada kumpulan tentera siber yang memanipulasi fakta sarat dengan fitnah terhadap kerajaan.
   
Dzulkarnain berkata NGO itu melihat gerakan anti-nasional yang dijalankanoleh kumpulan Red Bean Army sejak beberapa tahun sebelum pilihan raya umum ke-13 telah mencapai tahap yang mengancam keselamatan negara serta menggugat kestabilan politik.
   
"Adakah cadangan siasatan terhadap kaitan DAP dengan Red Bean Army sebenarnya telah menyentuh perasaan parti itu sehingga meminta Perdana Menteri campur tangan untuk menghalang cadangan kami diterima pihak kerajaan?," katanya.
   
Beliau berkata DAP seharusnya menyokong sebarang usaha daripada NGO yang mahu melihat keamanan, perpaduan dan kemakmuran negara dikekalkan serta diperkukuhkan.  - Bernama

EC to use better ink in Kuala Besut

IMPROVEMENTS: Commission to address shortfalls over use of indelible ink during GE13

 ALOR STAR: A BETTER indelible ink would be used during the Kuala Besut by-election  in Terengganu, said Election Commission (EC) chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof.

He said improvements would be made after identifying the ink's weaknesses during the recent 13th General Election.

"The GE13 was the first time we used indelible ink and there were some weaknesses.

"Among them was that the ink was easy to remove, slow to dry and could stain the ballot papers.

"The EC will get a better indelible ink for the Kuala Besut by-election, expected to be held this month, or any future election," Aziz said after attending an appreciation dinner for election workers here on Wednesday.

He said despite criticisms from the opposition, EC would continue to use indelible ink as it was stated in the election regulations.

"The use of indelible ink is stipulated in the election regulations. It is a must for EC to mark voters before they could cast their votes."

When asked if the ink to be used in the Kuala Besut would be the same colour as the one used during the GE13, Aziz declined to comment.

"This is to avoid any group from replicating the ink and using it to mar the by-election."

Communication and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek said he would discuss with EC to allow RTM to cover the by-election process, including placing its cameras in the vote-counting room.

"If there is a so-called 'blackout' during the vote-counting process, the people will be able to view it live," he said after opening a media seminar on the 13th General Election in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

The Kuala Besut state seat is vacant following the death of its assemblyman Dr A. Rahman Mokhtar on June 26.