Lynas review ignores public health

Kuantan MP Fuziah Salleh said today suggestions by the panel reviewing the controversial RM700 million rare earth plant here must be rejected as the team does not address the issue of public health. “They admitted a gap in their scope as there is no public health expert on the panel. Their suggestions cannot be enforced.…

Putrajaya not property of any political party

Putrajaya is no private property of any political party, but a public asset that belongs to all Malaysians. So no one is entitled to talk about defending Putrajaya, unless the country is facing an invasion by a foreign power. In fact, Umno is only a guest tenant to Putrajaya, invited by the people to administer…

Privatising profits and socialising losses

The DAP has condemned the federal government’s decision to acquire the downgraded bonds issued by Selangor water concessionaires at a price 73.2 percent higher than the market value, calling it “outrageous and an abuse of taxpayers’ monies”. “It is inexplicable that the government has decided to settle the outstanding bonds of these privatised water companies…

When belts cannot be tightened anymore

I chatted with an old patient of mine after a consultation yesterday. He was probably suffering from the side effect of stress and not enough rest. I enquired about his job and he told me that he is working two jobs now; a daytime office job and part- time taxi driving at night. He had…

Cabinet dithers over English

The Najib administration has not decided on switching back to English for Science and Mathematics (PPSMI) because several Cabinet ministers feel any change would be another embarrassing flip-flop. The Malaysian Insider understands the Cabinet has discussed the issue but ministers are still divided, leaving Datuk Seri Najib Razak to ask the Education Ministry to work…

Tunku on Science and Mathematics in English

Another matter which is causing me concern is the need to provide our people with the right type of education, bearing in mind that the official language of this new nation is Bahasa Malaysia. At this stage of our development we cannot afford to do away with the core of higher education; to which every…

Chua Soi Lek supports RM19bil subsidy for IPPs?

It looks like MCA president Chua Soi Lek has decided to play the role of the contrarian. Amid growing calls for Prime Minister Najib Razak to slash the subsidies granted to huge power producer firms controlled by tycoons such Francis Yeoh, Ananda Krishnan and Syed Mokhtar Albukhary, he has opted to stand on their side.…

MMA concerned about Lynas plant

The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) stepped into the controversy today over Australian miner Lynas’ rare earth plant near Kuantan, expressing “grave concern” that waste products could wreak harm on those living nearby. The association, representing the country’s 13,000 doctors, stressed that the possible health risks presented by radiation from “extremely toxic” thorium outweighed the economic…

An Australian speaks up against Lynas

BN govt bailout for Selangor privatised water companies

It has been reported in the media that the BN Federal Government has decided to bail out the debts of the Selangor privatised water companies to the tune of RM6.5 billion. This move has in effect killed any remaining possibility of the Selangor state government striking a deal with these companies to restructure and take…