In the face of petrol price, grocery and food price increase, the Urban Poor are facing the hardest pinch in just surviving the basic necessities which include lower income group, people with big family and people directly affected with those industry that the product price had increased. Unlike their rural counterparts, the urban poor have less alternatives to survive. Therefore I would like to suggest that a subsidy card be introduce to the group of people mention above to lighten their burdens in life. In Philippines for example, the Social Welfare Department began distributing the rice passes, or “family access cards,” which will entitle families with a monthly income of less than 5,000 pesos (about $120) to buy government-subsidized rice.
How we do define a great Civilization? The two most important indicators generally accepted by historians are Big Cities and an elaborated Writing System. It was only recently that Malaysia has large and sophisticated cities with the modernization of Kuala Lumpur, and recently the building of the impressive Putrajaya. However as usual Malaysian government always focus on hardware and neglected the software. We build big cities but we forgotten one very important aspect of building a great nation. A unique and efficient writing system. It is timely we invent our own writing system including our own unique keyboard.
Great news as the new LRT line is set to be in operation by 2012. I imagine how I would be able to commute between my office in Bangsar from TTDI. As the train runs on electricity, and knowing that it will pass through one of the most densely populated area in Klang Valley, substantial reduction in carbon emission from private transportation can be expected.
I don't know whether the authority realise this or not but we could actually trade carbon savings from this project in the carbon exchange. We estimate how many vehicles we expect to be taken off the road and measure the tonnage of carbon emission savings per year. We can sell carbon credits to heavily industrialised countries who would want to offset their carbon surplus.
I believe that if the government is to continue their policy of reserving tenders for Bumiputra contractors, this should be limited to smaller PKK classes of D, E and F only. There should strictly be open tender for PKK Class A, B and C projects. Under the Class D,E,F 'restricted open tender' should be held among Bumiputra contractors.
As we know parliament is a very important institution whereby laws, legislations and acts are being passed which will affect the livehood of us the lay men and citizens. Just imagine the implication of a legislation that does not favour us and caused us great suffering being passed!! Unfortunately, it is everyboday's dream to have a say in the running of the country but without any opportunities to do so.
Therefore we should have a system where there will be 14 normal lay man (aka The One Session MP) from all the 13 states of Malaysia plus Federal Territory to participate and debate in the parliament proceeding to represent the view of ordinary people to "lobby" other member of Parliaments before they vote for the new legislation.
Every year, charity home always have financial problems in maintaining their center. In view of that as the saying "When the captain anchor the mast correctly the ship will head the right direction" so it won't be a pinch at all if every 5% of Cabinet Minister salary be deducted automatically every month to be set aside for charity homes of their choice. The charity organizations then become the "adopted home" of the respective Ministers. Rest assured once every political leader showed a good example, the rich citizens will more willing to contribute adopt charity homes. This idea is to support the Negara Kebajikan concept.
There is a talk by the Pakatan Rakyat on implementing the Open Tender system to ensure cost-effective running of the government. In Penang, for any projects exceeding RM50,000, an open tender will be carried out. The question remains here is whether the contracts will be awarded to those with the lowest price. If not, then there could be a discrepancy here, which may lead to abuses. One way to reduce this problem is to introduce a fixed-price open tender process. If prices are fixed, then the selection committee will simply focus on the features, or the value-adding services.
I earnestly do not want to see PR unravel and BN getting the upper hand again the next General Election. For this reason, I am coming up with a suggestion. Turn PR into a real political party with its own symbol for the next General Election (and hope BN will not put obstacles in its path). Call it a different name if they want. A constitution should be drawn up clearly stating exactly what this PR or replacement stand for. DAP, PKR, PAS or any other political parties which subscribe to what is stated in the constitution become component members.
The price of food all over the world has increased and experts anticipate a further rise in the near future. This is a global problem and not a uniquely Malaysian problem. While the average wage earning Malaysian complains about the price increase, he is likely to be able to afford three square meals a day. The same cannot be said for the unemployed, the sick, the aged and children whose parents do not earn enough to provide for bare necessities.
Traveling along towns and residential areas in Malaysia, one cannot help but notice vacant plots of land. In addition there is land surrounding churches, temples, mosques, universities and schools that can be put into good use.
In April 2008, the rising food prices have prompted UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to issue a warning that UNCTAD "could not have come at a more crucial time." Price increments can now be felt in Malaysia and many parts of the world. It is a matter of time whereby we find food prices unbearable and will take a proactive role in producing food. One of the likely scenario is the urban community who is currently fond of planting flowers will now plant vegetables instead. If world food price increment can't be contained by 2010, we expect to see the rise of Do-it-yourslef Hydroponics Mini Farms as a new lifestyle amongst Urban Communities.
In order for the goverment to help the lower and lower middle class to survise as cost of living is increasing,one of the reasonable way is to remodified our Malaysia tax system.Firstly,those individual with income less than RM1000 or those family with more than 4 children and the combined income of husband and wife is less than RM3000 (needy) should be exempted from road tax. To be able to implement on ground level,salary slip should be produce as a prove to qualify for it or JPJ can can link to Jabatan Hasil Dalam Negeri to check the record of their income tax to prove it.
In the face of petrol price, grocery and food price increase, the Urban Poor are facing the hardest pinch in just surviving the basic necessities which include lower income group, people with big family and people directly affected with those industry that the product price had increased. Unlike their rural counterparts, the urban poor have less alternatives to survive. Therefore I would like to suggest that a subsidy card be introduce to the group of people mention above to lighten their burdens in life. In Philippines for example, the Social Welfare Department began distributing the rice passes, or “family access cards,” which will entitle families with a monthly income of less than 5,000 pesos (about $120) to buy government-subsidized rice. 
How we do define a great Civilization? The two most important indicators generally accepted by historians are Big Cities and an elaborated Writing System. It was only recently that Malaysia has large and sophisticated cities with the modernization of Kuala Lumpur, and recently the building of the impressive Putrajaya. However as usual Malaysian government always focus on hardware and neglected the software. We build big cities but we forgotten one very important aspect of building a great nation. A unique and efficient writing system. It is timely we invent our own writing system including our own unique keyboard.
Great news as the new LRT line is set to be in operation by 2012. I imagine how I would be able to commute between my office in Bangsar from TTDI. As the train runs on electricity, and knowing that it will pass through one of the most densely populated area in Klang Valley, substantial reduction in carbon emission from private transportation can be expected.
I believe that if the government is to continue their policy of reserving tenders for Bumiputra contractors, this should be limited to smaller PKK classes of D, E and F only. There should strictly be open tender for PKK Class A, B and C projects. Under the Class D,E,F 'restricted open tender' should be held among Bumiputra contractors.
As we know parliament is a very important institution whereby laws, legislations and acts are being passed which will affect the livehood of us the lay men and citizens. Just imagine the implication of a legislation that does not favour us and caused us great suffering being passed!! Unfortunately, it is everyboday's dream to have a say in the running of the country but without any opportunities to do so.
There is a talk by the Pakatan Rakyat on implementing the Open Tender system to ensure cost-effective running of the government. In Penang, for any projects exceeding RM50,000, an open tender will be carried out. The question remains here is whether the contracts will be awarded to those with the lowest price. If not, then there could be a discrepancy here, which may lead to abuses. One way to reduce this problem is to introduce a fixed-price open tender process. If prices are fixed, then the selection committee will simply focus on the features, or the value-adding services. 
I earnestly do not want to see PR unravel and BN getting the upper hand again the next General Election. For this reason, I am coming up with a suggestion. Turn PR into a real political party with its own symbol for the next General Election (and hope BN will not put obstacles in its path). Call it a different name if they want. A constitution should be drawn up clearly stating exactly what this PR or replacement stand for. DAP, PKR, PAS or any other political parties which subscribe to what is stated in the constitution become component members. 
The price of food all over the world has increased and experts anticipate a further rise in the near future. This is a global problem and not a uniquely Malaysian problem. While the average wage earning Malaysian complains about the price increase, he is likely to be able to afford three square meals a day. The same cannot be said for the unemployed, the sick, the aged and children whose parents do not earn enough to provide for bare necessities.
In April 2008, the rising food prices have prompted UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to issue a warning that UNCTAD "could not have come at a more crucial time." Price increments can now be felt in Malaysia and many parts of the world. It is a matter of time whereby we find food prices unbearable and will take a proactive role in producing food. One of the likely scenario is the urban community who is currently fond of planting flowers will now plant vegetables instead. If world food price increment can't be contained by 2010, we expect to see the rise of Do-it-yourslef Hydroponics Mini Farms as a new lifestyle amongst Urban Communities.
In order for the goverment to help the lower and lower middle class to survise as cost of living is increasing,one of the reasonable way is to remodified our Malaysia tax system.Firstly,those individual with income less than RM1000 or those family with more than 4 children and the combined income of husband and wife is less than RM3000 (needy) should be exempted from road tax. To be able to implement on ground level,salary slip should be produce as a prove to qualify for it or JPJ can can link to Jabatan Hasil Dalam Negeri to check the record of their income tax to prove it.