Chua Soi Lek should have the courage to admit his and MCA’s mistakes and to apologise to the Chinese community for going against the community’s wishes in the “528” takeover of Nanyang Siang Pau and China Press in 2001

May 28, 2001 was a black day for the Malaysian Chinese community and a blow to press freedom when MCA went ahead to acquire Nanyang Siang Pau and China Press Daily despite strong protest from the Chinese community.

The takeover was made through MCA’s Huaren Management for RM230 million.

Although MCA had then defended the takeover as a business deal, the argument was not convincing at all.

But yet MCA which claims to represent the interest of the Chinese community went ahead with the arrogant proposal.

Last week, MCA disposed off the remaining 3.6% shares and MCA‘s Youth Chief Datuk Wee Ka Siong had apologized for the Party’s takeover of the two dailies.

However, MCA president Dato Chua Soi Lek refused to tender an apology. He was reported to say yesterday that the issue of an apology did not arise and it could not rectify anything.

Chua has also stressed that MCA will not sell off other media organisations owned by the party through Huaren, including the Star English daily and several radio stations despite calls by media watchdogs for the Chinese-based party to totally withdraw from the media industry.

He said , "In a democratic country, every NGO is entitled to express their view and the same also applies to political parties. However, this does not mean that when some people express their view, other people have to agree."

Chua’s argument for not tendering an apology for the “ 528 takeover ”is not acceptable. Neither is his justification for MCA not to withdraw totally from the media industry.

Firstly, as one of the leaders who strongly supported the “528 takeover” of Nanyang Siang Pau and China Press and as the present MCA president, Chua Soi Lek should have the courage to admit his and MCA’s mistakes and apologise to the Chinese community for going against the community’s wishes.

He should in fact also apologise to the top managers and editors of the two newspapers who had to leave immediately as a result of the takeover deal.

Secondly, MCA should uphold the principle that in a vibrant democracy, free, independent and professional media are important and hence there must be no political party ownership of the media industry.

The question therefore is not that MCA has to listen to every NGO’s view, but a question whether it is committed to what should be the right practice in a democracy.

M. Kula Segaran
012-5034346

BN Perak Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Zambry Bin Abdul Kadir, the court appointed Menteri Besar must explain why the sudden drop of RM247.5 Million in State reserve in less than 2 months or did he lied to the Perak State Assembly?

Media Statement

BN Perak Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Zambry Bin Abdul Kadir, the court appointed Menteri Besar must explain why the sudden drop of RM247.5 Million in State reserve in less than 2 months or did he lied to the Perak State Assembly?


On 3/8/2010, Dato’ Seri Zambry Bin Abdul Kadir stated in the Perak State Assembly that the State has RM847.5 Million (according to book value) in reserve or RM928.36 Million if based on current market value.

The New Sunday Times in its 26/9/2010 edition quoted the Perak State current reserve stands only at RM600 Millions. Why a sudden drop of RM247.5 Millions in less than 2 months?

At the 3/8/2010 State Assembly sitting, Dato’ Zamry boasted an increase in revenue of RM117.26 Milliion for the period of January to July 2010. What has happened to this additional amount? The state reserve should have increased in view of this additional income.

Dato’ Zambry has nothing to boast concerning this additional RM117.26 million as I was given to understand this amount comes mainly from land premium payments. I was not given the opportunity to verify this from the State Government as Dato’ Seri Zambry has insisted that the State Assembly can only sit for one day so that the elected representatives do not have the opportunity to question the state government on numerous issues. Income from land premiums only mean that the BN government has been approving many pieces of land to cronies at prices much below the market value. The increase in income was not due to good governance, competence, thriftiness or creation of wealth through effective development programmes.


The New Sunday Times report further quoted the State Financial Officer Datuk Jamalludin Al Amini Ahmad as saying that the State Treasury is recommending a RM50.0 Million deficit budget for 2011. Why further deficit when there is so much additional income?

Under the Pakatan Rakyat 10 months’ rule, we increased the revenue by RM103 Million or about 17% of the state revenue without increasing any form of taxes despite giving water, study grants and other assistance to the poor. We also collected only nominal premium and quit rent for conversion of agricultural land to building category for non profit organizations like the schools, religious organization and dialysis centres which amount to millions of ringgit.

Dato’ Zambry and the BN State Government have a duty to answer the people with regard to the abovesaid matters.

The people demands transparency and accountability from BN Perak Government but many people reminded me not to expect too much from robbers.

Dated this 28th day of September, 2010.


DATO’ NGEH KOO HAM
DAP Perak Chairman
MP for Beruas & State Assemblyman for Sitiawan

Nga Kor Ming : The RM1.4 trillion ETP is pie in the Sky

( Ipoh 23-9-2010)

The recent RM1.4 trillion Economic Transformation Plan(ETP) unveiled by Prime Minister, Dato Seri Najib bin Tun Razak is merely a pie in the sky as doubt gathered the ability of the Government to attract such huge investment in the next 9 years.

DAP Perak State Secretary, Nga Kor Ming said, the ambitious but ambiguous plan unveiled by the Government is a series of Public Relation exercise aimed at wooing support in the coming General Election.

He stated that with the current national debt stood at nearly RM400 billions and a 15 consecutive years of deficit budget, it is highly doubtful how the Government could raise the fund to finance all the huge and gigantic projects earmarked by PEMANDU.

According to the figure from United Nation, Malaysia’s FDI had dropped 81% in 2009 to a mediocre RM4.4 billion. Neverthless, if the Government were to materialized the target set by ETP, an annual FDI amounting to RM84 billion will be needed. In other words, our country’s FDI will need to be increased by 2,000% on an annual basis if based on year 2009 figure.

Nga who is also Member of Parliament from Taiping said, ETP’s success relied heavily on 60% from the foreign private investment, 32% from domestic private investment and the remaining 8% will be from government’s expenditure.

In other words, the plan will need RM840 billion foreign private investment and such amount is as good as pie in the sky judging from the BN Government’s poor governance in the past. “BN is painting rainbow to the people but indeed what received is peanut.” He chided.

Nga also reminded Malaysian that past record can be used as a benchmark. In early 1990s, Malaysia’s FDI consist of about 40% of the total investment in the ASEAN region, which is second in term of ranking after Singapore. However in 2009,

Malaysia’s position had dropped to number six(6) with the total investment stood at a poor 3.9% from the total FDI flew into South East Asia.

He urged the government to adopt practical reform such as doing away with racial discrimination policy to attract human capital & avoid increasing brain drain crisis currently facing by the country. “ According to World Bank statistics, the number of Malaysian migrated to a third country had increased by 150 folds from 9,765 to 1.48 millions since independence to 2007. The figure is alarming but the Government had decided to adopt an ostrich mentality by sweeping the problem under the carpet.” Nga said.

•  Nga Kor Ming

•  Media Statement dated 23/9/2010

Overwhelming public support to my proposal of one candidate for one seat

My proposal that DAP Perak should cease fielding a candidate in two seats in the next general election has evoked much interest and overwhelming public support.

Over the last two days, I have received much public feedback.

All those who have expressed support for my proposal agreed with my two main points which are firstly, Perak DAP has many capable and dedicated leaders and members , hence they should be given the chance to contest in the general election and secondly, it is too taxing for an elected representative to serve two seats.

Another important factor which was raised is the fact that even a profoundly popular political legend like Sdr Kit Siang did not have to contest two seats in Perak.

This goes to show that the conditions in Perak are now suitable for the DAP to cease fielding one candidate in two seats.

One public has in fact pointed out the continued fielding of one candidate in two seats by Perak DAP will be viewed negatively by the voters.

Actually, I have been receiving much feedback over the last one year over this practice. The feedback has further strengthened my belief that the time has come for Perak DAP to cease such practice.

Let me clarify that my proposal was only confined to Perak DAP. I am of course aware of the reasons why there has been such a practice in other states.

That is why I will still support such practice being continued in Sarawak , Selangor, and Negeri Sembilan due to the requirement of political need and strategy. I will even give support if there is a proposal that such practice be adopted in Johor in the next general election.

I have been given to understand that Malacca DAP has long ceased such practice and any proposal to re implement such practice will not go down well within and outside the Party.

I also wish to state my agreement with DAP National Chairman Sdr Karpal Singh that the Penang Chief Minister Sdr Lim Guan Eng should contest two seats so that he will be able to fight for Penang state's interest in the Parliament.

Of course, such practice will automatically cease when Pakatan Rakyat has won Federal power .


M. Kula Segaran
012-5034346

Towards A 2-Party State System and Justice4All

By Patrick Teoh

M Kulasegaran : The conversion of PTPTN loan to scholarship policy should also apply to those who have graduated in with first class honours 2006 to 2009.

Wednesday, September 08, 2010. Ipoh, Perak.

The conversion of PTPTN loan to scholarship policy should also apply to those who have graduated in with first class honours 2006 to 2009.

In October last year, Prime Minister had announced in his maiden budget speech that beginning 2010, all university students taking the National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) loan would be able to covert the said loan to full scholarships, should they graduate with first-class honours.

This new policy was much welcomed as it means that those who have excelled in their studies will be rewarded.

Recently, Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said that according to PTPTN, about 2,000 students qualified for scholarships worth RM73mil.

"As of June 24, only 1,200 first class honours students from 18 IPT had applied for scholarships worth RM26mil."

The conversion of PTPTN loan to full scholarship for graduates with first class honours is actually not a new policy. It was in practice until it was scrapped in 2005.

As a result of the scrapping, those who have graduated with first class honours in 2006 to 2009 have missed out the benefit of converting their loans to scholarships.

Prime Minister’s reintroduction of the policy has brought joy to many but has also been seen as being unfair to those who have graduated in 2006 to 2009.

It is laudable that the Prime Minister has this year taken extra efforts to reward those who have excelled in their studies, including giving out incentives to those who are not from the government schools.

But why has the government forgotten about these top graduates of 2006 to 2009 who could have had their PTPTN loans converted to full scholarship if not because of the government’s unwise decision to scrape the policy?

I don’t know the number of first class honours graduates for the period who were entitled for the loan conversion benefit, but it can be safely said that the figure will be around 2000 per year.

This is surely within the financial means of the government and there is no reason why the conversion of PTPTN loan to full scholarship policy cannot be applied to those who have graduated with first class honours in 2006 to 2009.


M. Kula Segaran
012-5034346

M. Kula - The government must, through severe punishment against the two school heads, send the right and strong message that enough is enough and there must be no racist educator.

The government must, through severe punishment against the two school heads, send the right and strong message that enough is enough and there must be no racist educator.

It has been reported that the Education Ministry has through a recent circular, warned principals and teachers that action would be taken against those who made such remarks.

Media report says that in the circular dated Aug 26, Ministry director-general Tan Sri Alimuddin Mohd Dom said he viewed seriously the allegations against a small group of people for making racist remarks in school.

Such circular is timely and welcomed.

Educators are highly respected by the society and they play a very important role in shaping the students’ behavior, character and thinking.

There must therefore be no place for racist principals and teachers in our schools.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Datuk Nazri has said it well when he recently said that the question is not whether racist educators is a minority, but there must not be even one such educator.

Since the Prime Minister Dato Sri Najib has also recently declared that there must be zero tolerance for racism, he should be aware that the public are still waiting to see what actions will be taken against the school heads of SMK Tunku Abdual Rahman Putra and SMK Bukit Selambau for making racist remarks against the students.

I have no doubt that if a public survey is carried out, majority of Malaysians will say that enough is enough and it is time for tough action.

The traditional practice of transferring problem school teachers and principal to another school will no longer be accepted as sufficient punishment. In fact, this is seen as merely transferring the problem.

The long delay in taking action against the school heads has invited question as to why the government is dragging its feet .

The earlier failure of top government leaders to immediately slam the racist remarks incidents has also meant a missed opportunity to send out the message that the government does not tolerate racist educators.

The government must, through severe punishment against the two school heads, send the right and strong message that enough is enough and there must be no racist educator

M. Kula Segaran
012-5034346