Ngeh Koo Ham : Call on Dato’ Mah Hang Soon Perak BN government Exco member in charge of local governments to solve the public transport woes in Manjung and other districts.

Call on Dato’ Mah Hang Soon Perak BN government Exco member in charge of local governments to solve the public transport woes in Manjung and other districts. PR is willing to offer its services for the sake of the people to solve the public transport woes though the state power has been taken from them.

One of the top priorities when PR Perak became the state government in March 2008 was to solve the woes of public transportation in Perak. There were no flight services to Perak and bus services were poor or non-existent in many areas.

BN Perak Government had been debating for years whether to extend the Sultan Azlan Shah Airport and whether to build the Ipoh Central Public Transportation Hub in Perak. Meanwhile, the people of Perak were without flight services and public bus transport were poor or non-existent in many areas.

PR Perak Government sprang into action and concluded a deal with Firefly to fly between Ipoh, Singapore and Subang. Firefly is now flying regularly 2 flights a day in and out of Ipoh.

PR Perak government also gathered all the bus operators in Kinta Valley to form a company called The Combined Bus Services Sdn Bhd, which then concluded a deal with the Perak State Government to build the Ipoh Central Public Transportation Hub in Meru Raya. 250 new buses would replace the old buses and they will be plying Kinta Valley and to other parts of Perak and Malaysia within 2 years from the date of the Agreement.

PR Perak government was also finalizing an Agreement with a developer to develop Manjung Central public Transportation Hub in Seri Manjung in the Manjung District but the same was abruptly terminated with the grab of power which occurred on 6th February 2009.

More than 2 years have lapsed but we see very slow progress of Ipoh Central Public Transportation Hub taking shape. Old buses in Ipoh have yet to be replaced.

Last year, the BN Government announced a subsidy of RM70,000.00 per month for a bus company to operate in Manjung District and it was to commence operation the beginning of this year but nothing has materialized. The poor especially those who are sick continue to suffer. They could not go to the hospital with the cheaper mode of public bus transport. Many have to pay as much as RM30 per trip to the Manjung Hospital using taxis.

If BN Government does not know how to solve the public transport problem, the Pakatan Rakyat is willing to offer its services for the sake of the people though the state power has been taken away from us.

31st May 2011
Ngeh Koo Ham
DAP Perak Chairman
Member of Parliament for Beruas
State Assemblyman for Sitiawan

Ngeh Koo Ham : Perak Eco Industrial Hub is another “pie in the sky” announcement by BN perak Government

Media Statement

Perak Eco Industrial Hub is another “pie in the sky” announcement by BN perak Government. Dato’ Seri Zambry bin Abdul Kadir should prove himself by solving the simplest of the state problems like public transportation in his own house district of Manjung and issuing titles for renewal of expired leases within 1 month as was done by the PR Perak State Government.

______________________________________________________________________________

The announcement by Dato’ Seri Dr. Zambry bin Abdul Kadir, BN Menteri Besar of Perak that an Eco Industrial Hub will be set up in Perak is another BN Perak Government’s “pie in the sky” announcement.

BN Perak Government is well known for making “pie in the sky” announcements of mega projects that never materialize. Amongst them, multi-million and multi-billion ringgits projects such as the Aluminium Plant, Gulf Petroleum Project, International Halal Meat Hub, Aerospace Tourism from the Ipoh Sultan Azlan Shah Airport, building luxury homes in Tronoh where residents own personal planes, producing ethanol from mangrove palms (Nipah) and the seaweed project. The list can go on.

BN Perak Government tries to give the impression that it has brought much development to Perak to deceive the people when in fact it has failed to do so. An inquiry from an interested investor is announced as if the project is taking off in Perak.

The PR Perak Government announced a project only after the details have been worked out and the project is ready to be launched.

BN Perak Government under Dato’ Seri Zambry cannot even solve the simple transport problem of his home district of Manjung.

The BN Government has announced last year that the public bus service will start operating at the beginning of this year but we see nothing out of the announcement though we are entering the month of June.

PR Perak Government has cut down unnecessary procedures and was able to issue new titles for renewal of expired land leases within 1 month after an application is made. I have received numerous complaints that such titles could not be issued even though 2 years have lapsed under BN rule.

I call on Dato’ Seri Zambry to actually serve the people rather than making rosy announcements to deceive the people . I hope the people can see clearly that the BN grab of power in Perak is for power and not to serve the people.


Dated 30th May 2011
Ngeh Koo Ham
Assemblyman for Sitiawan
DAP Perak Chairman

JPA scholarships—Merit category should be based purely on academic result

Media statement by M.Kula segaran MP Ipoh Barat and DAP Vice Chairman in Ipoh on 25/5/11

JPA scholarships—Merit category should be based purely on academic result Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Nazri said SPM students who scored 9As and above must meet the Jabatan Perkhidmatan Awam's strict guidelines which include passing the interview and special test, and having a good set of curriculum activities, as there were just 1,500 overseas scholarships available.

He also said that of the 1,500 scholarships, 300 (20%) were allocated under the merit category, 900 (60%) under the racial composition category, 150 spots (10%) under the Sabah and Sarawak bumiputera category and 150 (10%) under the socially disadvantaged category.

It is revealed in today's media that for merit category, an applicant is evaluated according to the following criteria:-

1.       Academic result (85%)

2.       Co curriculum activities (10 %)

3.       Interview performance (5%)

For the racial composition category, the following criteria are used:-

1.       Academic result (75%)

2.       Co curriculum Activities (10%)

3.       Family background (10%)

4.       Interview performance (5 %)

The major differences between the two categories are therefore the different percentages given to the academic result and the family background being the additional factor for the racial composition category.

Public perception has always been that for the merit category, the award of overseas degree scholarships is based purely on academic result.

The announcement has come as a surprise to many. In previous years, there have been complaints by top scorers that despite their impressive co curriculum record and interview performance, they have also not been selected.

Cabinet intervention by way of increasing the number of scholarship places has always been the necessary solution.

This year, the same complaints have surfaced.

Many top scorers have complained that they have not been selected for the overseas degree scholarships.

The basic question is –why can't academic result be the sole criterion of selecting the applicants for the merit category?

Using academic result as the sole criterion will mean comparing the marks obtained by the students for the subjects used as assessment for scholarship selection.

Surely JPA can easily obtain the students' detailed results from the Ministry of Education.

I also wish to reiterate my call that the JPA must be transparent in the award of scholarships.

JPA should, firstly, publish how scores are awarded for all thefactors, viz academic result, co curriculum activates, interview performance and economic background.

Secondly, it should publish the names of all successful scholarship recipients, with details like results and scores obtained by them, type and place of academic programmes approved by JPA to them.

Thanks.


M.Kulasegaran
MP, Ipoh Barat

http://ipohbaratvoice.blogspot.com
http://twitter.com/mkula

M.Kulasegaran, JPA must be transparent in the awarding of scholarships.

Media Statement by M Kula Segaran, DAP National Vice Chairman and MP
for Ipoh Barat in Ipoh on Tuesday, May 24, 2011

JPA must be transparent in the awarding of scholarships.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk  Nazri said that the government had allocated 1,500 overseas scholarships to top students but stressed that of the total; only 300 were given based entirely on merit to students scoring straight 9A+.

The remaining 1,200 overseas grants, he said, were distributed according to those qualified within four categories — Sabah Bumiputeras (five per cent), Sarawak Bumiputeras (five per cent),
social composition or the population's racial composition (60 per cent) and socially handicapped (10 per cent).

He explained that currently over 360 students fell within the merit category which offers only 300 awards, resulting in over 60 failing to obtain the overseas scholarships.

"This means they may or may not qualify for remaining 1,200 grants. It depends on how they fare in the interviews.

The first question that DAP wants JPA (Jabatan Perkhidmatan Awam) to answer is how were the 300 recipients selected from 360 who qualified when the only criterion used was academic result?

All 360 students have scored straight A+, so how did JPA decide? How much weightage is given to interview, even to the extent that who have scored all A+ could lose out when competing for the remaining 1200 places?

Second question is why can't the Cabinet increase an additional 60 scholarships so that those straight A+ students will not have to compete for the remaining 1200 places?

Public complaints of unfairness against JPA have become an annual phenomenon. It is unsatisfactory for the government to merely cite keen competition for limited places or performance in interviews as reasons why qualified students are unsuccessful in obtaining JPA scholarships.

A few days ago , Deputy Education Minister Datuk Wee Ka Siong revealed that government officers who failed to follow Cabinet directives is one of the main reasons why top students failed to get the JPA scholarship awards.

He said that many students who deserved the scholarships did not get the grants, but those who did not deserve them had successfully obtained the financial assistance.

He even described the situation – where qualified students were unsuccessful in their scholarship applications – was the worst this year in all the years when he handled appeals.

It was also reported in the media that a student, Chai Sheng Min from SMK St Joseph in Kuching, had obtained 10A+ in the SPM examination but only got a scholarship to study engineering at Universiti Teknologi Petronas. He said his friends who got 4A+ and 5A+ were awarded
scholarships to do Pure Science in the United States .

It is time that the JPA must be transparent in the award of scholarships. It should, firstly, publish how scores are awarded for all the factors, viz academic result, co curriculum activates, interview
performance and economic background.

Secondly, it should publish the names of all successful scholarship recipients, with details like results and scores obtained by them, type and place of academic programmes approved by JPA to them.

Thanks.


M.Kulasegaran
MP, Ipoh Barat
http://ipohbaratvoice.blogspot.com
http://twitter.com/mkula

M.Kulasegaran, DAP will continue the demand on the withdrwal of INTERLOK

Speech by M Kula Segaran, DAP National Vice Chairman and MP for Ipoh Barat at the Indian ceramah held in Malacca on Friday, May 20, 2011

DAP will continue to demand that the Interlok novel which has hurt the Malaysian community's feelings to be withdrawn as a school text.

Prime Minister Dato Sri Najib launched the 1 Malaysia concept and slogan more than a year ago.

This concept is basically about ensuring fairness for all and forging the people's unity.

While BN has been successful in publicising this slogan, 1 Malaysia slogan still rings hollow because the BN government cannot walk the talk.

Unfair policies which have been in place for decades still remain unchanged despite BN having suffered its worst electoral defeat in the 2008 general election.
A good example is the continued lack of fair treatment to Tamil schools.

1 Malaysia concept stresses on unity but can Najib proudly say that the nation's ethnic relation is at its best of times since we achieved Independence from the British?

The truth is that the nation's ethnic relation is at one of its lowest ebbs today.

The BN government must take the rap for such a situation.

The BN government talked about zero tolerance against racism yet when school principals uttered derogatory racial slurs against Chinese and (Indian students, they got away with lenient penalty.

Utusan Malaysia has been indulging in irresponsible reporting which can cause racial misunderstanding, tension and hatred in the nation and yet no action has been taken against it.

Recently, Perkasa chief made the seditious speech about launching a crusade, yet the Home Minister has chosen inaction as the answer.

BN government cannot get its priorities right. It lacks the will to do what is right.

Worse, it is not prepared to listen to legitimate voices of the people.

This is why till today the BN government has still not decided to withdraw the offensive Interlock novel from the schools in spite of the fact that the novel's contents have especially hurt the Indian community and will sow the seeds of racial misunderstanding among the young.

If the government is serious about 1 Malaysia concept and the civil servants have understood this concept, the novel would not have been introduced as a school text in the first place.

It is ridiculous and irresponsible even for the Education Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin to say that the Interlock issue is over when the truth is otherwise.

May be the Indian voter support for BN in the recent Tenang and Merlimau by elections have made Muhyiddin to think that Interlok is no longer an important issue to the Indian community.

Perhaps the MIC has convinced the BN leaders that the Interlok issue will not hurt BN in the next general election.

DAP will continue to demand that the Interlok novel which has hurt the Indian community's feelings and that of the Malay and Chinese to be withdrawn as a school text.

If the BN government is not willing to do what is right but continue to ignore the calls and feelings of the Indian community, then the Indian voters must once again teach the BN a lesson in the coming general election, just like what they did to BN in the 2008 general election.

Thanks.


M.Kulasegaran
MP, Ipoh Barat
http://ipohbaratvoice.blogspot.com
http://twitter.com/mkula

M.Kulasegaran, "Government must carry out a full probe into the JPA scholarship scandal."

Press statement by M Kula Segaran, DAP National Vice Chairman and MP for Ipoh Barat in Ipoh on Wednesday, May 19, 2011

"Government must carry out a full probe into the JPA scholarship scandal."

The month of May is described as the JPA scholarship complaints and appeal season.

This is the time when JPA releases the results of scholarship applications and where there will be public complaints of unfair decisions made by JPA.

Despite government assurances that the scholarships would be awarded fairly, there have been allegations of unfair practices by JPA in the past every year, so much so that this annual phenomenon has been described as the complaint and appeal season.

The major past complaint was that some better qualified students were not awarded overseas scholarships.

The usual explanations given by JPA were that there was keen competition and some students had been unsuccessful due to their interview performance.

But such explanations were never well accepted by the public and the prime minister or Cabinet always had to intervene and solve the complaints by approving more scholarship places.

This year, the situation is more serious and scandalous.

Deputy Education Minister Datuk Wee Ka Siong has revealed that government officers who failed to follow Cabinet directives is one of the main reasons why top students failed to get the JPA scholarship awards.

He said that many students who deserved the scholarships did not get the grants, but those who did not deserve them had successfully obtained the financial assistance.

He even described the situation – where qualified students were unsuccessful in their scholarship applications – was the worst this year in all the years when he handled appeals.

Media report also quoted him saying as follows:-

Dr Wee said students who scored full A+ in the SPM examination were not given priority during the selection process, and were only offered open scholarships for government matriculation programmes or vacancies at local universities.

"However, students who obtained poorer results were awarded scholarships to study at universities overseas," he said.

A student, Chai Sheng Min from SMK St Joseph in Kuching, was present at the press conference held by Wee.

Chia obtained 10A+ in the SPM examination and he said he only got a scholarship to study engineering at Universiti Teknologi Petronas while his friends who got 4A+ and 5A+ were awarded scholarships to do Pure Science in the United States .

When the deputy prime  minister announced recently that unlike last year where only 9 A+ students were qualified for JPA scholarships, students with 8+ are also qualified for this year's JPA scholarships, everyone has  understood that the minimum qualifying result is 8A+.

Why then could students with 4 A + and 5 A+ be awarded overseas scholarships? Worse, when better qualified ones were not awarded.

Is this not ridiculous, unfair, unjust and scandalous?

Why are there such unfair and unjust decisions in the award of JPA scholarships?

Why have the officers failed to follow the criteria set by the government? Is it sabotage? Practice of favoritism or corruption?

DAP demands that the government carry out a full probe into the JPA scholarship scandal.

Thanks.


M.Kulasegaran

Ipoh Barat, MP


http://ipohbaratvoice.blogspot.com
http://twitter.com/mkula

M.Kulasegaran, Don't leave out Tamil Schools in nations progress. A Blueprint needed for Tamil schools

Media statement by M.Kula Segaran DAP National Vice Chairman and MP for Ipoh Barat in Ipoh on May 17, 2011

Don't leave out Tamil Schools in nations progress. Blue print is needed for Tamil schools and the DAP is willing to have heart to heart talk with MIC.
________________________________
There are 523 Tamil schools in the country. In Perak alone there are 134. From our studies, it has come to our knowledge that 80 of the schools have less than 100 student enrollments. The remaining 54 can be considered safe as they each have over hundred students.

We are most concerned with the 80 schools as many are on danger list as their enrollment is small.

We need a blue print to chart very clear policies on the Tamil schools. Presently the Federal and state Government are implementing and announcing policies on an ad hoc basis. As an example, the Perak State MIC Chairman Dato Veersangim has now announced that 4 areas have been identified where Tamil schools will be relocated to. These are i) Jelapang ii) Langkap iii) Taman Gaya iv) Tun Sambathan Sg. Siput.

From our investigations, we cannot ascertain where these 4 Tamil schools would be relocated to.

Can Veerasingam be more specific and reveal where actually are the lands already been identified and whether are the land measuring at least 5 acres as required by the Federal Education guidelines on
building schools.

We are concerned that this announcement could just be an election gimmick and for mere publicity.

Many times previously statements have been made by MIC leaders on Tamil schools but at the end of the day, new schools have not been built.

Here are some examples.

In 2008, then MIC President said a new school would be built although there is no land available to build a school.

In Merllimau, Malacca, for over 20 years at every election, promise of relocating the Tamil school has been made.

Tamil schools are squatting on shop houses at Lukut since 2003.

At Ladang Brausnton, Jeram Kuala Selangor, a Tamil school is in a cinema.

In Kajang there is only 1 school for about 1800 students in about ½ acre land, whereas in Bandar Mahkota Cheras, there 3 parcels of land measuring about 5 acres of land kept vacant and this land belongs to the Education Ministry. Why can't this land be given to Tamil schools?

Though the nation has achieved Merdeka for so many decades, many Tamil schools still don't have direct electricity and water supply.

In Perak there are over 17,000 students studying in Tamil schools, 9000 in National schools and over 1500 in Chinese schools.

So over 60 % of Indians send their children to Tamil schools. This trend is also nationwide.

Over 70% of the Perak Tamil schools are located in the former estates where the enrolment is low. In most of these areas the Indians have moved to urban schools but there aren't enough Tamil schools in the urban areas. Clearly there is a miss match in the need of Tamil schools.

We urge the authorities to have a new mind set on Tamil school problem and address them in a holistic approach.

As a start, we ask MIC leadership to open their mind and meet the top leaders of DAP to discuss the Tamil schools issue and to work out a "win win "proposal for the community, which shall then presented as blueprint for Tamil schools to the federal government.

Thanks


M.Kulasegaran
http://ipohbaratvoice.blogspot.com
http://twitter.com/dapsugu

M Kula Segaran, Possible parliamentary censure motions against two Ministers

Media Statement by M Kula Segaran, DAP National Vice Chairman and MP for Ipoh Barat, in Ipoh on May 12, 2011

Possible parliamentary censure motions against Datuk Hishammuddin Hussien and Datuk Seri Rais Yatim.
________________________________

It is quite a surprise that two Penang Umno assemblymen have said that they do not believe last Saturday's front page report in Utusan Malaysia that DAP and a group of Christian pastors were plotting to establish the country as a Christian state.

Hilmi Yahya (BN-Teluk Bahang) and Muhammad Farid Saad (BN-Pulau Betong) have said so at the Penang State Assembly meeting.

I have expressed surprise because it not easy for any Umno politician to say they disbelieve the Utusan Malaysia report for two reasons.

Firstly, the top Umno leadership has not categorically and immediately distanced itself from the report.

Secondly, a couple of government leaders have chosen to believe the report without having it investigated and verified first.

Home Minister Datuk Hishammuddin Hussien and the Information, Communications and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Rais Yatim had chosen to accept without question the Utusan Malaysia report  and had  even warned Malaysians  to not question Islam's position as the official religion of Malaysia.

These are two government leaders in charge of ministries which should immediately investigate the malicious and baseless report, yet instead of giving immediate orders to investigate the report and calling for calm among the people, they have chosen to play politics.

Being seasoned politicians, they know too well how dangerous the Utusan Malaysia report is as it can incite resentment and threaten religious harmony and racial peace in the country.

There is therefore no justification for them to accept without question the Utusan report which has been labeled as a dangerous lie by DAP Secretary General, Sir Lim Guan Eng.

In fact, I believe that any rational politician who is prepared to give an honest answer will say they do not believe the Utusan Malaysia report.

Datuk Hishammuddin and Datuk Rais should apologise for their accepting without question the Utusan Malaysia report, failing which censure motions will be moved against them in the Budget parliamentary session.

Thanks


M.Kulasegaran
Ipoh Barat, MP
http://ipohbaratvoice.blogspot.com
http://twitter.com/mkula

Press Stmt by M.Kulasegaran on "Fully support Penang government’s move to bar displaying the Interlok"

Media Statement by M Kula Segaran, DAP National Vice Chairman and MP for Ipoh Barat in Ipoh on Monday, May 9, 2011
_____________________________________________________________________________
Fully support Penang government's move to bar displaying the Interlok novel in Penang public libraries

Penang Deputy Chief Minister II Dr P. Ramasamy revealed in the Penang State Assembly meeting last week that the Penang state government had made a decision to bar displaying the Interlok novel in Pennag public libraries.

He added that the state government was of the opinion that certain contents of the book were racially offensive despite the Education Ministry having made several amendments to remove the alleged offensive contents.

I welcome and fully support such a decision by the state government. It is plain obvious that the book is unsuitable as school text, yet the Ministry has refused to withdraw it from the schools.

Whether the state government's move is a protest against the Ministry's stubbornness or is aimed at preventing more students from being poisoned by the offensive contents of the novel, it is a necessary and correct decision.

The move is also within the right of the state government.

There is no necessity for any quarter to try making this into a racial issue.

Perkasa's comment that the move to bar public display of the novel  is an insult to the Malays shows not only the failure of Perkasa to understand why the book is still offensive to the Indian and Chinese community, it also shows Perkasa's habit of  exploiting and racialsing issues.

The public calls for the withdrawal of the novel from schools is due to the fact that the novel still contains racially offensive contents and is therefore totally unsuitable and unacceptable to be used as  a school text.

It is not because the novel is a Malay book.

Hence, it is totally irresponsible for Perkasa to make this into a racial issue.

DAP will not allow our young to be poisoned by the inaccuracies and distortion of the novel.

We insist that the only solution to the controversy is the novel's withdrawal from the schools.

Thanks.



M.Kulasegaran
Ipoh Barat MP
http://ipohbaratvoice.blogspot.com
http://twitter.com/mkula

M.Kula Segaran "Ipoh structural plan suggestion and inputs from the public is just a publicity exercise?"

Media Statement by M.Kula Segaran DAP National Vice Chairman and MP for Ipoh Barat in Ipoh on May 6, 2011
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Ipoh structural plan suggestion and inputs from the public is just a publicity exercise?"

Today, DAP comrades, Sdr. Wasoo, Muthu, Tan and Susan together with my press secretary P.Sugumaran appeared with me and presented views on the Ipoh Structural Plan hearing.

Ipoh City Council (MBI) has set out the proposed Structural Plan for comments and inputs.

MBI first exhibited its findings in early August last year and then had it extended for another month. MBI should have extended it for at least 6 months.

We felt there was lack of participation from the public. The lack of interest from the public is nothing surprising.

It took over 5 years for the MBI to prepare the draft Structural Plan. Experts and people involved in the day to day work at MBI were roped in to work out the Draft plan. Why then a short period of only 30 days was given to the public for inputs although it was extended for another 30days?

Inner City Housing.

Waller Court and Sg.Pari flats were built some 50 years ago. Both these flats are not well maintained and they are in dilapidated situation.

The occupancy rate at the flats is less than 50%. Although hundreds of homeless people and many of them from the lower income group have applied to rent the flats, yet many are waiting in the queue for years.

Ipoh City is very quiet in the night. This quietness is because many of those staying in the flats are no more there. Many commute to the City center in the morning for work and to schools. There is substantial congestion in the city.

There is a need to the inner city vibrant in the night, what is needed is to upgrade all the flats. Unless this is done, the shortage of housing in the inner city housing will continue.

In fact new flats need to be built to accommodate the ever increasing demand for affordable housing.

Light Rail Transport System

Ipoh has always been known as a City with little or no traffic jam. Traffic flow used to smooth even at the busiest of times. But in the last few years this has changed. Ipoh City has over 700, 000 people residing an area covering 637kmsq.

The need to set up an underground rail system is long overdue. Many cities of Ipoh size have trains of this nature.

Car Parks at Old Town

Old town business has been affected very badly as there is an acute lack of parking bays. Over the years, little attention and effort has been put by the local authorities to set up new additional parking bays.

Worst still in 2004, over 60 existing parking bays were removed (near the water front project) and a mamak shop was allowed to operate there. Underground parking and/ or multi storey car park should therefore be constructed.

At the hearing of the above views, I asked the State Financial Officer as to when we would be told of the outcome of our suggestions. We were shocked when told whatever views we gave were only for internal consumption and they are not obliged to revert back to us.

Irrespective whether views submitted are accepted or rejected, the relevant authorities must inform and justify their decisions to those who have made submissions, otherwise this whole exercise of soliciting public suggestions and inputs could well be just a publicity exercise with no consideration for public accountability.

Thanks.


M.Kulasegaran

http://ipohbaratvoice.blogspot.com
http://twitter.com/mkula

M.Kulasegaran, DAP is prepared to launch a protest campaign against rare earth plant

 

Media Statement by M Kula Segaran, DAP National Vice Chairman and MP for Ipoh Barat at Bukit Merah on 29th April 2011

Unless the BN State Government makes it clear and firm that there will not be any rare earth plant in the state, DAP is prepared to launch a protest campaign to compel the government to declare such a policy.

Following public disclosure that CVM Minerals Limited had entered into an MoU with the PKNP to explore and mine rare earths in Bukit Merah, we have seen different reactions from the government leaders.

Mentri Besar Datuk Zambry said that he was left in the dark over the agreement. Perak Health, Local Government and Environment Committee Chairman Datuk Mah Han Soon said that as far as he was concerned, it was just a MoU (memorandum of understanding) between the state investment arm and a private firm, and no permit had been issued to start any ground work.

But he added:

"Even if the project was given approval, there would not be any construction of a rare earth processing plant".

Perak g executive councilor Hamidah Osman said that the Perak government would not allow a second rare earth plant to be built in Bukit Merah.

She said the MOU was merely a "low-level" agreement and CVM Minerals would not get authorisation for any rare earth project under any circumstances.

DAP is shocked that PKNP  could sign such an agreement given allegation that the people are still suffering health problems due to the first rare earth plant built in Bukit Merah some 20 years ago.

How could the Mentri Besar who also chairs PKNP be totally in the dark about such an agreement?

How many more low level agreement are there that he is not aware of?

I can't help but wonder why Datuk Zambry did not give a categorical and immediate assurance that there will be no rare earth plant in Perak when informed of the MoU.

Why should it be Hamidah who declared that the government would not issue any permit?

Why Mah Hang Soon should qualify his statement by saying that "even if the project was given approval……….?
Is there some confusion among the government leaders or is there more than that meets the eyes?

The first rare earth plant should serve as a good lesson for Perak and the government must never repeat the mistake and allow the set up of another rare earth plant

It was recently confirmed that 80,000  two hundred litre drums containing radio active waste are currently being kept at the dump located in the Kledang Range behind Papan town. The site is 3km from Bukit Merah and Papan and about 15km from Ipoh . And the waste is thorium hydroxide. Cancer-causing radon is released during decay.

Hence, not only the Perak state government must declare a no more rare earth plant policy for the state, Perakians must also make their stand and voices loud and clear that they reject the set up of any rare earth plant.

Unless the state government makes it clear and firm that there will not be any rare earth plant in the state, DAP is prepared to launch a protest campaign to compel the government to declare such a policy.

DAP and Pakatan Rakyat assure Perakians that under the Pakatan Rakyat policy and government, no rare earth plant will ever be allowed.


Thanks.

M.Kulasegaran
MP Ipoh Barat

http://ipohbaratvoice.blogspot.com
http://twitter.com/mkula