Highlights included new policies to address the cost of living in difficult times while maintaining a fiscally responsible approach to managing the economy.

“This budget will be about the government delivering on our promise to ensure social justice while keeping our country on the strong economic course that will deliver long-term prosperity for all.

“This is truly a transformational budget for all Malaysians, and one that will keep us firmly on the path towards becoming a fully developed high-income nation,” Najib said in a statement issued by his office on Thursday ahead of the Budget announcement.

“In line with the guiding principles of 1Malaysia — People First, Performance Now — I’m totally focused on maintaining economic growth and cutting the deficit, but will never do so at the expense of ordinary citizens,” he added.
How has the ordinary man on the streets been touched by this budget? Is there any relief?

What do you think? Join in the discussion below!

In the 2008 general elections, Barisan Nasional (BN) was returned with 140 seats while the opposition Pakatan Rakyat coalition wrested 82 seats, thus denying the BN its two-thirds majority required to pass amendments. This was the first major setback of the BN since the 1969 general elections.

Times are changing. Malaysians are more discerning and demanding than yesteryears. Promises have been made by both coalitions; some kept…others yet to materialize for whatever reasons. Bearing in mind the circumstances in your area, has your representative been efficient and effective? What has not been done yet in your constituency?

What do you think? Join in the discussion below!

What do you think? Join in the discussion below!

The hunt came to an abrupt end with one kill. The hunters had to stop because of the high costs involved to cull these reptilians.

Nature lovers are appalled by this move and some believe a better and more humane way could be found to allow co-existence of crocs and men.

What do you think? Join in the discussion below!

Since the beginning of July, the eyes of many including authorities have looked on “Yellow” in a different light. Yellow being linked to the Bersih 2.0 Rally.

Yellow symbolizes wisdom. People of high intellect favour yellow. Sunday’s colour is of yellow-gold shade! The sun is represented by yellow.

Yellow is the traditional colour of our royals, the Agong and Sultans… it is on our national flag and many state flags.

On the other end of the spectrum, yellow is traditionally associated with jaundice and cowardice. Yellow is also associated with the word “Caution” and is the second light on a traffic light pole. The colour is also associated with resistance.

Imagine if the discrimination against yellow continues… (Following are some contributions from our readers…)

• No signboards with the colour yellow (http://www.theborneopost.com/2011/07/12/row-over-sapp-yellow-signboard/),No school buses
• Traffic lights only red and green?
• No bananas…
• No more yellow cards in football?
• DiGi’s Yellow man has to dress in White??
• Oil & Gas personnel in yellow coveralls…
• Yellow lines on road verges are illegal?
• Imagine Malaysia without yellow!
• Maybank will have to change colour…
• What about Sunkist?
• All the warning signs with yellow paint?
• Yellow Pages??
• White gold will gain popularity…
• Will our Royals give up their yellow paraphernalia?

Just as “Yellow” has become a ‘dirty’ colour… so has “Bersih”… how will history record us? Why are ‘words’ or ‘colours’ becoming victims of consequences?

What do you think? Join in the discussion below!

Being governed under the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, Astro has to comply with regards to facilities, services, applications and contents requirements. Pricing does not appear to be part of this requirement; hence it appears that Astro need not seek MCMC’s approval to revise prices. The Act is designed in such a way to allow market forces to determine pricing.

Rice, flour, milk, clothing, shelter even vehicle… these are basic necessities to life. For the sake of argument, one can say radio and television may be included as important… so we have RTM Radio and Television, even TV3 and NTV7 are available free with good aerial receivers. Astro on the other hand is a Pay TV provider and is commercially driven with investors to account to.

We viewers want better programmes, live sports, live coverage of world events etc… broadcasting rights costs have gone up and Astro provides the coverage… where do they get the money…? So if Astro want to revise their price packages… let them… According to the recent newsletter, the Family package of 38 channels still comes at RM37.95 while there are savings with other packages; those who take the sports package will have to fork out a little more…

Look at how much Astro has given back to the society… scholarships, opportunities… Astro has even given many Malaysians regardless of background a venue to develop their talents… Astro is pretty much Malaysian as Malaysian can get…The point here is… ‘Yes’… Astro makes money but they do give back to the society through many CSR projects

As always, customers have a choice. There is always free TV… If we want something better, we pay for it. It would be so pleasing if we didn’t lose the signal every time it rains…

What do you think? Join in the discussion below!

Bersih’s first rally was held in 2007, where up to 65,000 people were reported to be involved. The rally was said to have played a major role in bringing record gains for the opposition electoral pact in the 2008 general election.

Bersih 2.0 chairman Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan’s insistence that the rally would take place despite warnings by Deputy Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Khalid Abu Bakar that the illegal protesters would be arrested and the protest rally to counter Bersih’s march by Pertubuhan Pribumi Perkasa Malaysia (Perkasa) on the same date has got Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Richard Riot Jaem worried.

Bersih 2.0 is expected to be made up of more than 60 non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

“Bersih, which is expected to gather some 200,000 demonstrators, would be marching from the Masjid Negara to Istana Negara.

“On the other side, Perkasa with its 100,000 expected protesters of Bersih’s rally would be marching to Istana Negara as well.

“If this planned procession happens, I worry that the demonstration would turn ugly with fighting,” Riot said.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar has issued a second reminder to members of the public not to take part in illegal street demonstrations planned for July 9.

“The demonstrations can cause tension among the people. As such, as responsible Malaysians, do not make a choice that can aggravate the situation,” he said.

Home Ministry secretary-general Tan Sri Mahmood Adam said detaining those involved in the proposed illegal rally might not be the best solution, as to him, it would be better for the government to inform the people about the consequences when taking part in such rally.

What do you think? Join in the discussion below!

As the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) ordered all Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to block a number of file-sharing websites, Malaysians expressed their unhappiness and scorn for the move.

This reopened the intellectual property piracy issue that pre-dates the Internet, and only escalated with the easy availability of high-speed broadband access.

According to an MCMC spokesperson, the blocking of file-sharing websites was done on the request of the Domestic Trade, Co-operatives and Consumerism Ministry with the belief that they were breaching Section 41 of the Copyright Act 1987.

Local computer and Internet users were unanimous over how futile that move was, especially when most people already know how to access blocked websites.

A number of them pointed out that the true victims of this move would be people who have legitimate content and reasons for using that site.

There are software and game companies that utilise file-sharing sites to distribute their products.
Some use these sites to distribute large PDFs that do not fit in most e-mails.

Some people use file-sharing sites simply because it is easier to upload something once and share it with multiple friends over a span of time.

What do you think? Join in the discussion below!

Recently, in our own homeland, the controversial Obedient Wives Club (OWC) put Malaysia in the global spotlight with this message: Obey, serve and entertain your husband – to reduce social ills committed by husbands. OWC will even provide tips on ways to keep their husbands contented.

Both men and women have spoken against this message and yet there are some who privately welcome it.

Should women be submissive? What do you think? Join in the discussion below!

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has likened fuel subsidies to “opium” for the Malaysian economy and must be reduced gradually to bring the country’s budget deficit under control.

Malaysians had indeed been “addicted” to cheap commodity prices when people around the globe were paying much higher prices, and Malaysians must learn to break free from this “addiction for subsidies” for the country to grow. It will be painful and people will fume and protest but as with Singapore, Hong Kong and even Indonesia, steps have to be taken and soon.

Even Idris Jala had recently made the shocking statement about Malaysia going bankrupt in another decade if subsidies were not cut back.

What do you think? Join in the discussion below!

“So hopefully, I am wrong. I will be so happy to be proven wrong,” he said.

Masing said he was not worried about his opinion being misinterpreted by certain quarters.

Meanwhile Sarawak Teachers’ Union (STU) calls on political leaders to check their facts on education matters with Ministry of Education (MOE) before releasing them in future, to avoid causing alarm and confusion among the public.

Its president William Ghani Bina, who made the call, refuted the allegation by Masing- claiming a ‘purported’ move by MOE to transfer 80,000 from peninsula to the state next year.

He described the information as incorrect and expressed puzzle over the figure stated.

“This is not true at all. This year we have 41,000 teachers in the state. And all these jobs had been filled up. How is it possible to take in 80,000 teachers next year?” Ghani questioned the allegation when contacted.

What do you think? Join in the discussion below!

He said the price revision to be conducted by the ministry and other agencies such as the finance ministry and the Performance Management & Delivery Unit (Pemandu) would determine whether prices would be maintained or increased, depending on the government’s subsidies.

“Last year, the government’s subsidy for petroleum products was RM8 billion when world fuel prices shot up, and we don’t see signs that it will drop. If this continues, the government will bear RM18 billion in subsidies this year, an increase of RM10 billion,” he said.

He said, should subsidies be reduced, the RM10 billion could be used to build more schools, village roads, housing projects and educational aid. — Bernama

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