Sabah and Sarawak reject RUU 355 Hudud! What about Umno?

Sabah and Sarawak reject RUU 355 Hudud! What about Umno?

With the Umno-led Barisan Nasional (BN) federal government seemingly “supporting” PAS president Hadi Awang’s Private Member’s RUU 355 Hudud Bill to be debated, what was really in the mind of Umno president Najib Razak’s mind?

What was Prime Minister Najib really up to and his real reason for courting with Hadi and his bill?

Now that Sabah (at least a former Umno vice-president and minister Shafie Updal) and Sarawak MPs have taken a clear stand to reject RUU 355, will Najib still want to be seen siding with Hadi?

And Tourism and Culture Minister Nazri Aziz has taken to task the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) for the “hotdog” issue.

“Please don’t make us look so stupid and backward or even talk about changing the name. Even in Malay we call it a hotdog. We don’t call it ‘anjing panas’,” Nazri said.

Also, Second Finance Minister Johari Abdul Ghani has brushed off rumours that the Government would increase the Goods and Services Tax (GST) by 2% in Budget 2017 that is to be tabled on Friday (Oct 21, 2016).

But the prices of several categories of cooking oil will increase next month, the Malayan Edible Oil Manufacturers’ Association was reported by Oriental Daily as saying.

The association said price increases were due to the federal government’s impending removal of cooking oil subsidies.

The increase in cooking oil prices is set to trigger another round of inflation as it will have a domino effect on the prices of all food and sundry essentials.

The Opposition Pakatan Harapan today (Oct 19, 2016) unveiled its alternative Budget 2017, proposing a RM10 billion operation expenditure allocation reduction to the Prime Minister’s Department.

The reduction can then be used to abolish the unpopular GST.

Pakatan also pledged to allocate 60% of the annual federal development budget for the five poorest states in the country — Sabah, Kelantan, Sarawak, Kedah and Terengganu.

Here are the details of the above issues:

"NAJIB-HADI’S HUDUD BILL POISED FOR COLLAPSE: I WON’T VOTE FOR IT – SHAFIE SHOWS THE WAY FOR SABAH MPs

Politics | October 19, 2016 by | 0 Comments


KUALA LUMPUR – Former Umno man Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal says that he will not vote for PAS’ hudud Bill if it is tabled this Parliament meeting.

The Parti Warisan Sabah founder told reporters that his stand is the same as that of Sarawak.

“Well we have to address the means and the requirements of the people in Sabah.

“I won’t be voting for it. That’s very clear, the same as Sarawak,” he said.

Shafie was referring to the Private Members’ Bill tabled by PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang in May Bill to amend the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act.

However, he opted to postpone the debate on his Bill when it was successfully tabled at the last meeting on May 26 after two failed attempts since June last year.

Abdul Hadi has repeatedly said that the amendments were not to introduce hudud law, but merely to increase the Syariah Courts’ powers in imposing stiffer penalties for offences, except the death penalty.

As of Wednesday the Abdul Hadi’s Bill was listed as item number seven on the Parliament order paper.
ANN/Malaysia Chronicle"

"Stop making us look stupid, says Nazri on ‘hotdog’ issue

Nawar Firdaws

October 19, 2016

Tourism and Culture Minister Nazri Aziz says "ignoramuses" in authority are to blame for the controversy over the use of the word “hotdog."


KUALA LUMPUR: An Umno minister today blamed “ignoramuses” in authority for the controversy over the use of the word “hotdog”, adding that these people were not living in the real world.

Tourism and Culture Minister Nazri Aziz added that there was no way that his Muslim faith would be affected by consuming a hotdog.

“In fact, I think I want to eat a hotdog now,” he told reporters at the Parliament lobby, adding that as a Muslim he was not offended by the name.

The Padang Rengas MP was responding to news reports that popular pretzel chain Auntie Anne’s was denied halal certification by the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) for several reasons, including having the name “Pretzel Dog” as one of its food items.

Nazri went on to state that “hotdog” was always known as a western snack and an English term.

“Please don’t make us look so stupid and backward or even talk about changing the name. Even in Malay we call it a hotdog. We don’t call it ‘anjing panas’,” Nazri said.

“Anjing panas” is a literal translation of hotdog.

On Monday, Auntie Anne’s Quality Assurance and Halal Executive Farhatul Kamilah Mohamed Sazali said the company had submitted several options for a food product name and was awaiting a decision from Jakim’s panel.

She said that the “Pretzel Dog” name had to be changed to a more appropriate name, based on Jakim’s guidelines. It was later reported that Jakim had asked Auntie Anne’s to change the name of its “Pretzel Dog” to “Pretzel Sausage” in order to qualify for halal certification.

A quick check on the website of fast-food restaurant chain A&W shows the Jakim guidelines in effect, with A&W having replaced its iconic “Coney Dog” with “Chicken Coney” and “Beef Coney”, while its famous Root Beer is now simply known as RB. It is not known exactly when these changes took place.

Meanwhile, PAS lawmaker Nik Mohamad Abduh Nik Aziz said in this case the halal aspect should focus on the snack itself and not its name.

The Pasir MAS MP also said the name would not confuse Muslims as many people were already aware about the snack.
“I think I will go and have one at the shop later. - FMT"

"RUMOURS SWIRL OF GST HIKE AHEAD OF NAJIB’S 2017 BUDGET DESPITE DENIAL

Politics | October 19, 2016 by | 0 Comments


KUALA LUMPUR – The Government has no intention of increasing the existing goods and services tax (GST) rate of 6% in the 2017 Budget which will tabled by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak on Friday.

Second Finance Minister Datuk Johari Abdul Ghani brushed off rumours that the Government would increase the GST by 2%.

“No such thing (hike),” he commented after opening the Seventh Muslim World Biz Exhibition and Conference 2016 here on Wednesday.

GST was implemented in Malaysia on April 1, 2015.

He reiterated that the current rate was the lowest in Asean.

On the possibility of adding more items to the list of zero-rated and exempted items, Johari also said the Government would not make any change to the current list for now despite requests by non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

He said a study by the authorities revealed that around 80%-90% of the requested items (to be added to the list of zero rated and exempted items) were mostly used by industries.

He explained that the request to include more items in these categories only focused on consumer goods which industries could claim back via a tax refund.

Touching on the upcoming Budget, Johari said it would continue to focus on four core aspects namely cost of living, education, healthcare and housing.

“We have to ensure that every ringgit spent by the government benefits the people and that there is no leakage and wastage of funds,” he said.

Johari was also confident the Government would be able to achieve a balanced budget by 2020 despite the unforeseen global economic headwinds.– Bernama/Malaysia Chronicle"

"SHOCKING DECEIT: NAJIB TO CUT COOKING OIL SUBSIDY, PRICES TO HIKE NEXT MONTH – ASSCOCIATION

Politics | October 19, 2016 by | 0 Comments


Prices of several categories of cooking oil will increase next month, said the Malayan Edible Oil Manufacturers’ Association.

This was according to a report by Oriental Daily, which stated that this was the result of the impending removal of cooking oil subsidies.

Affected cooking oil categories include the 500g, 1kg, 2kg, 3kg and 5kg mixed oil products as well as the 500g, 1kg, 2kg and 3kg pure palm oil products.

The 5kg bottled pure palm oil will continue to be subsidised until next year, according to the report.

The report states that a one kilogram bag of cooking oil is expected to rise from RM2.50 to RM2.90 by next month, while a 5kg bottle of pure palm oil will increase from RM13.35 to RM15.25 by January 2017.

Further details are expected to be announced during Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s Budget 2017 speech this Friday.

The Oriental Daily report also claims that many food traders are stocking up on cooking oil ahead of Budget 2017.

Putrajaya has embarked on an aggressive “subsidy rationalisation plan” since Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak took reigns in early 2009.

Following this, Putrajaya had reduced subsidies for oil, highway toll charges and completely removed sugar subsidies.

News emerged last year that Putrajaya was looking to defund the Plantation Industries and Commodities Ministry’s RM950 million cooking oil price stabilisation scheme.MKINI/Malaysia Chronicle"

"GOOD NEWS FOR M’SIANS: ZERO GST IN PAKATAN’S 2017 BUDGET, SHORTFALL TO BE MADE UP BY CHOPPING PM’S DEPT’S ALLOCATION BY RM10BIL

Politics | October 19, 2016 by | 0 Comments


KUALA LUMPUR — In its alternative Budget 2017 unveiled today, the Pakatan Harapan proposed a RM10 billion operation expenditure allocation reduction to the Prime Minister’s Department.

The Opposition front said that even though its projected budget would rake in less revenue due to its zero-rate policy on the Goods and Services Tax (GST), the lower operating expenditure would result in a smaller budget deficit.

It added that the savings would come from cutting the PM Department’s budget from RM20.31 billion in the 2016 budget to RM10.31 billion as well as by combating corruption and wastages.

“Overall savings from corruption and wastage is estimated at 20 per cent of all expenditure items,” Pakatan said in the alternative budget document presented to reporters at Parliament.

It said that based on the latest Auditor-General’s report, corruption and wastage factors at between 20 to 25 per cent.

“A concerted fight against corruption wastage coupled with the full implementation of an anti-bribery system will immediately yield the 20 per cent savings in one fiscal year,” it said.

The Opposition’s alternative budget projects a revenue of RM 204.41 billion against an expenditure of RM 238.23 billion, with a deficit of RM 33.82 billion.

The development expenditure is projected at RM 49.11 billion.— Bernama/Malaysia Chronicle"

"WOULD ‘SAPU ALL’ NAJIB REGIME DO THIS? IN ALTERNATIVE BUDGET, PAKATAN TO GIVE 60% OF DEVELOPMENT ALLOCATIONS TO POOREST STATES SABAH, KELANTAN, S’WAK, KEDAH & T’GANU

Politics | October 19, 2016 by | 0 Comments


KUALA LUMPUR — Pakatan Harapan today pledged under its alternative budget to allocate 60 per cent of the annual federal development budget for the five poorest states in the country — Sabah, Kelantan, Sarawak, Kedah and Terengganu.

In the alternative budget unveiled today, it also said that Sabah and Sarawak will get half of the allocated 60 per cent of the development budget.

“With an average development budget of RM50 billion a year for Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak will receive half of the 60 per cent allocation,” according to the budget document.

“This yields RM 15 billion worth of development projects for Sabah and Sarawak annually under our budget proposal,” it added.

It also said that both Sabah and Sarawak will get a Public Services Commission that will be allowed to prioritise the hiring of locals to the civil services sector based on merits.

“In other words, if there are two equally capable candidates, one from the Peninsula and one from Borneo, the Commission is free to prioritise the latter,” it said.

The biggest federal opposition coalition also said that it would push for an average 10 per cent increase in foreign worker levy every year to “increase the cost of importing foreign workers.”

The coalition is also proposing setting up a fund of RM500 million as an incentive to local companies to make technological upgrades that would reduce dependency on foreign workers.

It also said that the existing 150,000 refugees in Malaysia should be allowed to work to reduce demand for foreign workers.

Putrajaya will unveil the 2017 federal budget this Friday.MALAY MAIL"