To raise or not to raise, that is the question

The Star Online carried a feature; Time for minimum wage above RM2,000 and More poor kids in KL go hungry as food soars, on the calls by a PH MP and Youth group last year for the minimum wage of RM2,000. [The articles will be reproduced at the end of this posting].

The complain on the low salary and wages especially for the lower income have been getting much louder as government announced the withdrawal of fuel subsidy will commenced soon. 

Economics Minister Rafizi Ramli announced progressive wage plan for private sector salary revision last year, but the pilot program will only take off in June. It leads to the question of should the fuel subsidy be withdrawn after salary adjustment made first or as the case will be, withdraw followed by the adjustment. 

God knows when the full implementation of progressive wage, if it ever is to be implemented. For the private sector, salary adjustment will inextricably be linked to productivity and company's financial performance. 

In the meanwhile, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim have committed to comment in last year's budget presentation that the civil service is long overdue for a salary revision. On labour day, he announced a 13% and some say up to 15% salary revision. 

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Proofs MATCVS lied and made fraudulent claims

In "MATVS made fraudulent claim", this blog reproduced their claim as reported by Star Online. 

Their claims are false and fraudulent! Consequently, Prof Raja Amin responded to request them to show proof of their claims. 

It has come to our attention that the existence of correspondances from RCS Ed and UK's GMC as proofs to confirm Raja Amin's claims. Even the questions raised by yours truly is affirmed as true. The snippets of the correspondances are shared. 

Firstly, Prof Raja Amin response to MATVCS in Codeblue below:

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Down to voters' turnout at KKB

Picking up where we left off on the Kuala Kubu Bharu by-election a week and a half ago after a week of campaigning, thus far, our take then has not been too far off. 

The result has no implication to the status of the present state or federal governments, but a loss to the incumbent PH will be a setback to the Unity Government (UG) in facing upcoming elections, and add worries for the general election in years to come. 

KKB is the first test case for a mixed constituency which is the mainstay of PH and an area PN need to penetrate to be a serious contender. 

It would be of interest to observe how UG manouvre to clawback the lost Malay ground from its lowest ebb. The usual political process seemed extraordinarily challenging under the current economic and geopolitical environment.

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Dear Dr Rafidah Abdullah CC: Putrajaya Police Officer

In reference to this blog's April 23rd posting, "MATCVS made fraudulent claim", it has apparently  attracted a reaction from your goodself.

The article was about the claim made by the medical NGO, MATCVS which have been extensively referred in previous postings on the Parallel Pathway Program of the Ministry of Health as reported by the Star.

In passing, your name was mentioned in relation to the onslaught against the Malaysian Medical Council (MMC) and let me requote below with the word "could" emboldened:

Perhaps because one member of MMC, namely nephrologist at Hospital Putrajaya whose undivided loyalty to the illegal Parallel Pathway program, could unethically blast her fellow council member publicly in which she is bound by law to secrecy and ethical practise to respect the collective agreement of the council. 

Usually wayward member of any such Board can be suspended and believe MMC should rightly do so. 

There is no slander or fitnah, because according to the Oxford Dictionary found online, "could" is a verb and past for can to mean 1. used to indicate possibility or 2. used in making suggestion or polite request in which the meaning is the former than the latter and mere possibility. 

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Jasmine Loo: Prosecution's questionable key witness

Former 1MDB lawyer Jasmine Loo was first charged in absentia in December 2018 when she was accused of laundering US$5 million and US$999,975, being proceeds of unlawful activity received into the account of River Dee International SA (BVI) in Falcon Private Bank AG in Zurich, but to date the charges have yet to be pursued, giving rise to speculations about a possible deal with the authorities

KUALA LUMPUR — 1MDB former general counsel, Jasmine Loo Ai Swan, has yet to be charged for crimes committed under Section 179© of the Capital Markets and Services Act, giving rise to the speculation that she may have struck a deal with the prosecution to give evidence against former Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

Jasmine Loo however reiterated today that she had not agreed to take the stand as a witness against Datuk Seri Najib Razak in exchange for ongoing criminal charges against her to be discontinued.

Loo, who is the 50th prosecution witness, said this under cross-examination in the High Court by Najib’s defence lawyer Tania Scivetti during Najib’s trial for misappropriation of RM2.27 billion in 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) funds.

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Spirit of Rukun Negara and perceived polarisation

Reviving the spirit of Rukun Negara

Star Online, Monday, 29 Apr 2024

A SEJAHTERA Malaysia forum on social harmony and national unity is being held today in Kuala Lumpur and I have been asked to speak about “Understanding the Rukun Negara”.

Given the recent acrimony and lawlessness about the “socks issue”, I believe it is pertinent for all of us to remind ourselves of our Rukun Negara.

This blueprint for national unity was drafted in 1970 after the race riots on May 13, 1969.

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"Rabble rouser" without a cause

Few days ago, UMNO President and Deputy Prime Minister, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said something that may have annoyed certain UMNO supporters. 

At a party Hari Raya event in Hulu Selangor near the upcoming Kuala Kubu Baru by-election to be held, Zahid said UMNO should accept the reality it is no more dominant and should learn to adapt. 

It is similar to the reality Malay right wing have difficulty accepting that the Malay's majority is not overwhelming at 58% of the population and in 6 states, Malays are either minority or marginal majority. 

With Malay politically segmented along different political ideologies, parties and special interest, the Malay narratives once championed by a dominant UMNO is not politically viable with the current demography.    

This relates to the attempt by UMNO Youth Chief, Dr Akmal Salleh to regain the rural Malay support lost to Perikatan using the recent KKMart boycott affair as his cause celebre and claimed it as his Islamic calling. 

It may seemed he personally benefitted politically with overwhelming praises from similar thinking Malays for voicing something they wanted to hear, but is it sustainable?

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