Siapa Eric Paulsen?

Eric Paulsen,pengarah eksekutif dan pengasas NGO Lawyers for Liberty

NAMA Eric Paulsen mula disebut sejak beberapa hari lalu susulan kenyataannya yang menuduh Jabatan Kemajuan Islam Malaysia (Jakim) menggalakkan ekstremisme atau fahaman pelampau pada setiap Jumaat.

Siapa beliau? Beliau adalah seorang peguam, yang juga pengarah eksekutif dan pengasas bersama pertubuhan bukan kerajaan, Lawyers for Liberty (LFL).
Paulsen dilihat kerap bercakap mengenai pelbagai perkara mengenai Islam di akaun Twitternya, terutama mengenai hukum hudud.

Antara status terkini di Twitter beliau mengenai Islam ialah:

1) "Golongan ulama adalah seperti raja/Tuhan, tidak boleh dikritik."- 6 Januari 2015

2) "Hmm apabila agamawan palsu samakan doa dengan cara dapat kontrak besar kroni. Syirik besar ini." - 31 Disember 2014

3) "Lagi agamawan menjaja agama" (merujuk kepada Malam Cinta Rasul 2015 di Dataran Merdeka) - 29 Disember 2014

4) "Ada majlis di tempat terbuka (dan) nampak nak hujan. Jadi penganjur doa agar tak hujan. Tak lama pun hujan. Jadi penganjur kata rahmat Tuhan. Kisah benar." - 27 Disember 2014

5) "Cara Pas Kelantan cakap macam tak ada benda lain dalam dunia/akhirat kecuali hudud. Isu-isu kebajikan, ekonomi, sosial dan keselamatan masyarakat?" - 24 Disember 2014

6) "Taliban menggila. Inilah akibatnya bila terlalu taksub dengan hukum (dan) haram tanpa tahu nilai agama, keadilan, belas kasihan (dan) penyayang." - 17 Disember 2014

7) "Tak faham obsesi Pas dengan hudud. Ia tak berperlembagaan, zalim (dan) tak sesuai dengan zaman moden." - 14 Disember 2014

LFL yang diasaskan beliau pula adalah pertubuhan hak asasi manusia dan undang-undang yang bermatlamat mencabar keputusan dan tindakan tidak berperlembagaan yang dilakukan kerajaan dan pihak berkuasa lain.

Berdasarkan laman web National Endowment for Democracy (NED), LFL mendapat dana sebanyak AS$45,000 (RM160,000) setiap tahun dari 2011 hingga 2013.

NED adalah sebuah yayasan bukan berasaskan keuntungan bermatlamat mengembangkan dan mengukuhkan institusi demokrasi di seluruh dunia.

Mendapat dana daripada Kongres AS, NED menyokong lebih 1,000 projek kumpulan bukan kerajaan di lebih 90 negara.

Menurut laman web NED, sejak penubuhannya pada 1983, NED mengetuai perjuangan demokrasi di dunia dan kedudukannya sebagai badan bukan kerajaan memberikan yayasan itu fleksibiliti untuk bertindak segera apabila ada peluang perubahan politik di mana-mana negara.

(Sumber - http://www.sinarharian.com.my/nasional/siapa-eric-paulsen-1.349951)

Pakar ekonomi minta Putrajaya hapuskan agenda Bumiputera

Pakar ekonomi Tan Sri Dr Kamal Salih bercakap mengenai agenda Melayu ketika ditemubual di Kuala Lumpur, baru-baru ini. – Gambar The Malaysian Insider oleh Seth Kamal, 2 Januari, 2015.

Agenda Bumiputera menjadi tulang belakang pelan ekonomi kerajaan Barisan Nasional (BN) sejak 1969, dasar pro-Melayu dipertahankan sejak berdekad kerana kemunduran ekonomi disebabkan amalan pecah dan perintah sejak zaman penjajah British.

Bagaimanapun, pakar ekonomi Tan Sri Dr Kamal Salih berkata, kini masanya Putrajaya menunda agenda Bumiputera dan fokus kepada usaha melaksanakan polisi negara yang mementingkan semua rakyat tanpa mengira kaum.

"Putrajaya perlu usaha ke arah agenda nasional dan membentuk polisi negara yang lebih inklusif. Jika dilakukan dengan baik dan mengelakkan kesukaran lampau, jadi saya rasa negara boleh mencapai target ekonomi tanpa ada 'agenda Bumiputera'.

"Jika ketidaksamaan dan jurang antara kaya dengan miskin cuba dikurangkan, majoriti Bumiputera juga akan mendapat manfaat.

"Jadi kenapa perlu menjadi perkauman bila kita boleh capai matlamat yang sama," kata Kamal yang juga profesor Pengajian Ekonomi dan Pembangunan di Universiti Malaya kepada The Malaysian Insider dalam satu temubual di Kuala Lumpur, baru-baru ini.

November lalu, akhbar News Straits Times melaporkan kerajaan membelanjakan RM46.5 bilion sebagai suntikan untuk ekonomi Bumiputera melalui 23 program sejak September tahun lalu.

Ketua Eksekutif Unit Peneraju Agenda Bumiputera (Teraju) Husni Salleh, yang juga setiausaha Majlis Ekonomi Bumiputera (MEB) berkata semua 23 kementerian, ketua setiausaha dan syarikat berkait kerajaan (GLC) kini mempunyai idikator pencapaian tentang Bumiputera yang dipantau sendiri Perdana menteri Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

Semasa perhimpunan agung Umno tahun lepas, Timbalan Presiden Umno Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin mencadangkan Polisi Ekonomi Negara (NEP) yang baru ditubuhkan untuk mengubah agenda ekonomi Bumiputera kepada agenda kebangsaan.

Bagaimanapun Kamal berkata, ketidaksamaan antara kaum lebih penting, dan kemiskinan tidak lagi boleh dibezakan mengikut kaum.

"Perbezaan etnik bukan lagi asas untuk ketidakadilan. Kini ia ditafsirkan dengan pendapatan dan ketidakseimbangan antara kaya dan miskin, beza antara CEO dengan pekerja biasa. Maka semua perkara perlu diubah," katanya.

Ini dibuktikan dalam Laporan Pembangunan Manusia 2013 yang ditulis Kamal dengan Dr Muhammad Abdul Khalid serta Dr Lee Hwok Aun.

Antara penemuan laporan adalah sejak 1970, ketidakadilan mengikut kumpulan etnik semakin menurun dan menyumbang hanya 4% kepada keseluruhan ketidakseimbangan di Malaysia pada 2009.

Dalam soal kemiskinan relatif, Malayu mencatatkan jumlah 19.1%. diikuti Cina dengan jumlah 17.9% pada 2012.

Mengenepikan soal kaum, pekerja biasa perlu bekerja sehingga 98 tahun untuk memperoleh pendapatan sama dengan purata seorang CEO pada 2011, menurut laporan yang ditugas dan diterbitkan Program Pembangunan Pertubuhan Bangsa-Bangsa Bersatu (UNDP).

Secara kasar satu daripada dua Melayu, bukan Melayu Bumiputera, Cina dan India juga tiada aset kewangan cairan segera, menjadikan mereka mudah terjejas jika mengalami masalah kewangan.

Pada masa sama, agenda Bumiputera NEP yang menimbulkan cemburu di kalangan bukan Melayu dan tidak mencapai target penglibatan 30% Bumiputera, kata Kamal.

"Ketika Melayu sering mendapat manfaat NEP, atau dasar yang dirangka atas nama Melayu, dalam jangka panjang akan menimbulkan kemarahan bukan Melayu walaupun pada mulanya mereka bersetuju, dan masalah itu tidak selesai.

"Melayu juga cemburu apabila semua duit diberikan kepada kumpulan kecil. Jadi kedua-dua Melayu dan bukan Melayu tidak senang hati," katanya.

Kamal berkata, tindakan tegas mengenai dasar perlu kekal, tetapi mereka perlu sasarkannya kepada kumpulan yang memerlukan berbanding seluruh kaum Melayu.

"Beberapa tindakan tegas mengenai dasar perlu dibuat secara orientasi, ada dasar yang perlu fokus kepada kawasan luar bandar. Dasar sepatutnya disasarkan kepada populasi tertentu, kumpulan sosial dan kawasan."

Beliau memberi contoh Bumiputera miskin di Sabah dan Sarawak, atau di seluruh Kelantan.

UNDP mencatatkan isi rumah paling kaya adalah Kuala Lumpur, berpendapatan 2.7 kali ganda berbanding Kelantan yang paling mundur dengan beza jumlah RM5,418.

Rakyat yang tinggal di kawasan bandar memiliki 55% kekayaan per kapita berbanding penduduk luar bandar, katanya.

"Kerajaan hari ini tidak lagi boleh mendiskriminasi penduduk luar bandar atau negeri ditadbir pembangkang.

"Kita perlu semak semula mekanisme peruntukan, jika tidak negeri yang kurang membangun akan ketinggalan," katanya.  

Katanya, kerajaan perlu bertindak adil berdasarkan merit, jika tidak ia akan melemahkan semangat Malaysia daripada kerja keras dan berdikari.

"Cara penambahbaikan hidup rakyat melalui peruntukan secara terus kadang kala bukan saja membentuk satu kebergantungan malah peluang amalan korup apabila mereka yang mempunyai kuasa dan hubungan mendapat lebih keistimewaan," katanya.

Kenyataan Kamal itu mungkin bercanggah dengan kumpulan pembela hak Melayu yang percaya kerajaan perlu terus memberi layanan istimewa kepada Bumiputera dengan memetik Perkara 153 Perlembagaan Persekutuan.

Dalam desakannya supaya dasar Bumiputera dipertingkatkan, kumpulan ini sering mencanangkan Melayu sedang terancam di negara sendiri dan perlu dilindungi kerajaan.

"Melayu berada dalam keadaan terancam ini satu kenyataan yang negatif.

"Anda tidak boleh rasa terancam di tempat yang anda sendiri adalah komuniti terbesar, dan mempunyai institusi serta Perlembagaan yang melindungi kepentingan anda," katanya. – 2 Januari, 2015

- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/bahasa/article/pakar-ekonomi-minta-putrajaya-hapuskan-agenda-bumiputer

New Year Message - Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah

Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, Member of Parliament Gua Musang

It  has been a sad and horrible 2014 for all Malaysians. The news, of economic trends, man-made (the two MH and the latest Air Asia airplane crashes, and the Cameron Highlands landslides) and natural disasters (the floods), and of political and ethnic relations setbacks, all made last year our annus horribalis. Little wonder Malaysia, long tiring of being bogged down by negativities, is overdue for some positive and lifting news in 2015.

Doubtless we have made great strides since Independence. Our people are invariably better fed, more educated and on the whole more prosperous. But we are seemingly not that happy, much less satisfied. Relative to our potential as a people, goaded on by our very own diversity, many think we can do more towards a new vision of development. And in comparison with our neighbors, we are some years behind some of them. As we enter the New Year, we are reminded of how far we have deviated from the original path of economic, political and social development set by our founding fathers six decades ago. Some of the more serious developments, such as the increasing polarization in race relations, the narrowing of perspectives on religion and religious practices long accepted, the many intractable and new imbalances and inequalities in our economy, and a politics that clouds the vision of a maturing democratic system, seem to have set everything back by a few decades.

We have to find solutions to our current economic troubles, whether these involve the negative impact of falling oil prices on government finances, or the rising cost of living and household indebtedness, or the profound social consequences of corruption, or inequalities in income and wealth in terms of access to proper housing, high-paying jobs, or helplessness of new poverty. We need to improve the quality of our health and education system and make better use of the public dollar. We need to stabilize our political system by reaffirming the Federal Constitution, reform of how politics is funded, and clean up our electoral and party system so as to establish more consistent and fairer electoral outcomes in order to protect our emerging democracy. We need also to secure our borders, and guarantee the safety of our citizens at home, at work or on the streets. To achieve a new deal for our nation and its people, we also need our systems of law and governance to be put right.

With a determined leadership, I think these negative trends can and must be reversed. Let us reset the economics, unchain the politics and release the common energy locked in our collective hearts diminished by everything that tries to differentiate us. Let us put all things right, and do the right thing by us, everyone of us: Malays, Chinese, Indians, Dayaks, Muruts, Kadazan Dusun, Bidayuh, Orang Asal, Penan, all. And let us not leave anyone behind. Let us not envy the successful, but honour them; let us not let down the downtrodden, but lift them; and let us not succumb to disappointment, but give them hope.

I call on all Malaysians, of every colour, creed and religion, to caste aside our differences and come together as one true Malaysian people. Let us all pray to God for guidance and deliverance.

I would like to wish everyone, young and old, a Happy and Prosperous New Year.

Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah

Member of Parliament Gua Musang

Kuala Lumpur, January 1st 2015.

China Steps In as World's New Bank by William Pesek

Thanks to China, Christine Lagarde of the International Monetary Fund, Jim Yong Kim of the World Bank and Takehiko Nakao of the Asian Development Bank may no longer have much meaningful work to do.

Beijing's move to bail out Russia, on top of its recent aid for Venezuela and Argentina, signals the death of the post-war Bretton Woods world. It’s also marks the beginning of the end for America's linchpin role in the global economy and Japan's influence in Asia.

What is China's new Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank if not an ADB killer? If Japan, ADB's main benefactor, won't share the presidency with Asian peers, Beijing will just use its deep pockets to overpower it. Lagarde's and Kim’s shops also are looking at a future in which crisis-wracked governments call Beijing before Washington. 

China stepping up its role as lender of last resort upends an economic development game that's been decades in the making. The IMF, World Bank and ADB are bloated, change-adverse institutions.  When Ukraine received a $17 billion IMF-led bailout this year it was about shoring up a geopolitically important economy, not geopolitical blackmail.

Chinese President Xi Jinping's government doesn't care about upgrading economies, the health of tax regimes or central bank reserves. It cares about loyalty. The quid pro quo: For our generous assistance we expect your full support on everything from Taiwan to territorial disputes to deadening the West’s pesky focus on human rights.

This may sound hyperbolic; Russia, Argentina and Venezuela are already at odds with the U.S. and its allies. But what about Europe? In 2011 and 2012, it looked to Beijing to save euro bond markets through massive purchases. Expect more of this dynamic in 2015 should fresh turmoil hit the euro zone, at which time Beijing will expect European leaders to pull their diplomatic punches. What happens if the Federal Reserve’s tapering slams economies from India to Indonesia and governments look to China for help? Why would Cambodia, Laos or Vietnam bother with the IMF’s conditions when China writes big checks with few strings attached?

Beijing’s $24 billion currency swap program to help Russia is a sign of things to come. Russia, it's often said, is too nuclear to fail. As Moscow weathers the worst crisis since the 1998 default, it’s tempting to view China as a good global citizen. But Beijing is just enabling President Vladimir Putin, who’s now under zero pressure to diversify his economy away from oil. The same goes for China’s $2.3 billion currency swap with Argentina and its $4 billion loan to Venezuela. In the Chinese century, bad behavior has its rewards.

If ever there were a time for President Barack Obama to accelerate his "pivot" to Asia it's now. There's plenty to worry about as China tosses money at rogue governments like Sudan and Zimbabwe. But there’s also lots at stake for Asia's budding democracies. The so-called Washington consensus on economic policies isn't perfect, but is Beijing's model of autocratic state capitalism with scant press freedom really a better option? With China becoming Asia's sugar daddy, the temptation in, say, Myanmar might be to avoid the difficult process of creating credible institutions to oversee the economy.

There could be a silver lining to China lavishing its nearly $4 trillion of currency reserves on crisis-plagued nations: It might force the IMF, World Bank and ADB to raise their games. Competition, as Lagarde, Kim and Nakao would agree, is a good thing. But more likely, China's largess will encourage bad policy habits and impede development in ways that leave the global economy worse off.

To contact the author on this story:
William Pesek at wpesek@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor on this story:
Mary Duenwald at mduenwald@bloomberg.net

(Sources - http://www.bloombergview.com/articles/2014-12-25/china-steps-in-as-worlds-new-bank)

William Pesek: Widodo rocks the boat in Indonesia - The president's response to the AirAsia disaster has been impressive

Indonesian President Joko Widodo updates media Tuesday on the crash of AirAsia Flight 8501.

In his run for president this year, Joko Widodo pledged greater openness and accountability in Indonesia. As his administration faces its first international crisis, the mysterious crash of an AirAsia jet, he’s proving to be a man of his word.

You can tell a lot about a nation from its response to great tragedy, whether it’s Japan’s 2011 Fukushima crisis, Malaysia’s lost Boeing 777 in March or South Korea’s deadly ferry accident in April. Mr. Widodo has performed admirably.

Since news broke Sunday that an Airbus A320 flying from Indonesia to Singapore had vanished with 162 people on board, Mr. Widodo has coordinated rescue efforts, demanded a review of air-safety regulations and called for timelier weather information. His government is giving steady updates, and Mr. Widodo has sought help from neighboring countries as well as China and the United States.

In contrast, last spring, Malaysia was widely criticized for the secrecy and paranoia that surrounded its search for a Malaysia Airlines flight that disappeared with 239 people aboard. Welcoming U.S. and Chinese military ships into Indonesia’s orbit speaks to Mr. Widodo’s confidence.

Mr. Widodo is the fifth president since dictator Suharto was ousted in 1998 but the first political outsider to run Southeast Asia’s biggest economy. Because he’s not a member of a dynastic family or the military, he isn’t beholden to vested interests looking to siphon the benefits of Indonesia’s 5 percent growth. That gives him latitude to dismantle the kleptocracy that Suharto built.

As governor of Jakarta, Mr. Widodo brought a surprising level of transparency. He moved budget-procurement and tax-collection processes online. He’s now working to make national government services electronic to reduce opportunities for graft and improve efficiency. Opening the process of granting licenses for infrastructure, mines and plantations alone would do much to clean up the political and business climate.

Indonesia’s aviation industry also has long cried out for greater oversight. It’s notorious for its regulatory laxity, a product of cronyism and institutional neglect.

The daylight Mr. Widodo wants to shine on the government is needed to ensure that scarce revenues are spent on education, health care and poverty programs.

The way Mr. Widodo has responded to Flight QZ8501 gives reason to hope that Indonesia will be prepared for whatever comes its way.

William Pesek is a columnist for Bloomberg View.

(Sources - http://www.post-gazette.com)

Perak Sultan: All New Year celebrations cancelled.

Sultan Nazrin Shah (left) talking to flood evacuees at Kg Teluk Batu evacuation centre in Lenggong, Perak Thursday.

KUALA KANGSAR: Sultan Dr Nazrin Shah has instructed all state department and agencies to cancel all forms of New Year celebrations following the worsening flood situation in Perak.

He said the celebrations included concerts and New Year's Eve countdown.

He said the Sultan Azlan Shah Foundation will donate two pairs of school uniforms and shoes to children affected by the floods.

He also urged Muslims to hold solat hajat (special prayers) on Friday.

The Sultan and his consort, Raja Permaisuri Tuanku Zara Salim, Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir visited flood victims in Lenggong, Gerik.

At 9am Thursday, some 90,250 people have been evacuated in five states with Kelantan having the highest number at 32,343, followed by Terengganu (28,991), Pahang (24,316), Perak (4,335) and Perlis (265).

In Kuala Terengganu, the state government has also ordered the cancellation of scheduled entertainment programmes and New Year eve festivities because of the floods ravaging the state.

Deputy state secretary (management) Samiun Salleh said the state government was focused on handling the floods.

“As such, the Government has ordered the cancellation of all scheduled entertainment programmes and New Year eve festivities,” he said in a statement, Thursday.

Samiun, who is also acting mayor of Kuala Terengganu, said entertainment programmes at this time would only touch on the sensitivities of the people.

(Sources - http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2014/12/25/east-coast-floods-perak-cancels-new-year-celebrations/)

KENYATAAN AKHBAR KEMENTERIAN PENDIDIKAN MALAYSIA PENTAKSIRAN TINGKATAN 3 TAHUN 2014

Pihak Kementerian Pendidikan Malaysia (KPM) mengucapkan terima kasih kepada ibu bapa dan masyarakat umum yang telah memberikan pelbagai respon mengenai keputusan Pentaksiran Tingkatan 3 (PT3) yang diumumkan pada 22 Disember 2014.

Sehubungan itu, KPM ingin menjelaskan sekali lagi bahawa keputusan melaksanakan PT3 untuk menggantikan Penilaian Menengah Rendah (PMR) dibuat setelah mendapat pandangan rakyat daripada pelbagai peringkat yang pada ketika itu rata-rata mahukan sistem pendidikan negara tidak terlalu bertumpu dan mementingkan peperiksaan semata-mata yang mengekang percambahan berfikir. Sebaliknya negara kita mesti melahirkan pelajar berkualiti yang mempunyai kemahiran berfikir yang lebih kritis, kreatif dan mendorong pelajar untuk berfikir di luar kotak.

Justeru itu, setelah meneliti dan membuat kajian terperinci, PT3 yang mengantikan PMR telah diperkenalkan pada tahun ini, ditambah baik dengan memberikan lebih penekanan kepada soalan-soalan yang memerlukan pemikiran aras tinggi.

Oleh itu, KPM ingin menekankan bahwa keputusan PT3 pada tahun ini tidak boleh dibandingkan dengan keputusan PMR yang dijalankan sebelum ini kerana format dan instrumen yang digunakan adalah berbeza.

Struktur soalan PT3 berbentuk subjektif (respon terbuka) berbeza dengan soalan PMR yang berbentuk objektif (aneka pilihan). Struktur soalan baharu ini memerlukan pelajar untuk menguasai kemahiran berfikir secara kritis dan benar-benar memahami sukatan pelajaran apabila menjawab soalan peperiksaan berbanding soalan objektif yang hanya memerlukan pelajar menghafal sukatan pelajaran untuk memperoleh keputusan cemerlang.

Nisbah aras kesukaran soalan juga adalah berbeza, iaitu PT3 : 3:4:3 (rendah : sederhana : sukar), manakala PMR : 5:3:2 (rendah : sederhana : sukar). Kaedah pengredan juga berbeza iaitu pengredan PT3 ditetapkan berdasarkan penetapan standard (kriteria tertentu mengikut mata pelajaran) dan pengredan PMR adalah berdasarkan penentuan standard (gred ditetapkan mengikut prestasi keseluruhan calon).

Murid-murid Tingkatan 3 yang menduduki PT3 mulai tahun ini telah ditaksir melalui empat komponen Pentaksiran Berasaskan Sekolah (PBS) iaitu Pentaksiran Sekolah (PS), Pentaksiran Aktiviti Jasmani Sukan dan Kokurikulum (PAJSK), Pentaksiran Psikometrik (PPsi) dan Pentaksiran Tingkatan 3 (PT3).

PT3 merupakan pentaksiran sumatif yang setara di Tingkatan 3 bagi menilai pencapaian akademik calon dari aspek pengetahuan, kemahiran dan nilai secara menyeluruh di peringkat menengah rendah. Melalui PT3, calon ditaksir untuk melihat penguasaan dan keupayaan intelek mereka di akhir sesuatu program pembelajaran. Pelaksanaan PT3 mengambil kira instrumen dan panduan penskoran setara yang disediakan oleh Lembaga Peperiksaan (LP) manakala pentadbiran dan penskoran oleh guru di sekolah masing-masing dibuat mengikut garis panduan yang telah ditetapkan oleh LP.

PT3 bukan menjadikan murid sebagai bahan ujikaji dan juga bukan disediakan dalam masa yang singkat. Soalan PT3 adalah berdasarkan kurikulum sedia ada yang telah digunapakai untuk PMR. Format soalan PT3 juga adalah selari dengan format instrumen Pentaksiran Sekolah (PS). PS yang dilaksanakan mulai Tingkatan Satu menggalakkan guru mentaksir murid dengan menggunakan pelbagai instrumen seperti lisan, ujian bertulis, kajian lapangan , kuiz, kajian di makmal sains dan senarai semak. Ini bermakna murid telah didedahkan dengan pelbagai format instrumen ujian sejak tahun 2012.

Keputusan PT3 juga tidak menjejaskan kemasukan murid ke Sekolah Berasrama Penuh dan ke aliran sains atau sastera. Pemilihan ke aliran tersebut dibuat bukan sahaja berdasarkan keputusan PT3, tetapi juga mengambilkira pelaporan keempat-empat komponen PBS.

Pihak KPM ingin menegaskan bahawa soalan Kemahiran Berfikir Aras Tinggi (KBAT) yang dinyatakan sebagai penyebab kemerosotan pencapaian murid adalah tidak benar, kerana soalan KBAT menggalakkan calon berfikir secara kreatif dan kritis .

Selain itu, LP amat mementingkan kesahan dan kebolehpercayaan skor. Untuk memastikan ketekalan pemeriksaan oleh guru, LP telah menyediakan panduan penskoran yang setara, melatih guru-guru untuk memeriksa skrip jawapan calon, serta melantik pentaksir luar yang berkecuali untuk menjalankan moderasi pemeriksaan dan verifikasi skor calon.

KPM juga ingin menjelaskan makluman mengenai empat komponen PBS telah disampaikan kepada Persatuan Ibu Bapa dan Guru-guru (PIBG) dan pihak sekolah sejak tahun 2012 lagi. Manakala makluman mengenai PBS dan PT3 sekali lagi telah disampaikan kepada PIBG dan pihak sekolah melalui program turun padang Outreach PBS Public Engagement PIBG.

KPM juga telah membuat siri Program Outreach PBS dan Public Engagement PIBG untuk menerangkan tentang empat komponen PBS kepada ibu bapa dan pentadbir sekolah sejak bulan Februari tahun lepas lagi manakala Public Engagement PIBG yang menerangkan mengenai Pentaksiran Tingkatan 3 (Format instrumen, pentadbiran, penjaminan kualiti) dan empat bentuk pelaporan PBS yang akan diterima oleh calon telah dijalankan pada April hingga Jun 2014.

Di samping itu, KPM juga telah melaksanakan hebahan dan memberi kefahaman tentang PT3 kepada pelbagai pihak melalui pelan komunikasi iaitu penerangan tentang PBS kepada masyarakat umum melalui media elektronik seperti radio, televisyen dan portal LP.

Program bual bicara di radio dan televisyen utama telah membincangkan PBS dan PT3 dalam Bahasa Melayu, Bahasa Inggeris, Bahasa Cina dan Bahasa Tamil bagi memberi kefahaman kepada pelbagai pihak berkepentingan. Begitu juga dengan iklan PT3 dalam empat bahasa telah disiarkan dalam radio juga media massa lain. Penerangan bagi memberi kefahaman tentang PT3 kepada masyarakat umum juga dibuat melalui media cetak. Artikel dan maklumat tentang PT3 telah disiarkan dalam akhbar Bahasa Melayu, Bahasa Inggeris, Bahasa Cina dan Bahasa Tamil.

KPM sentiasa menerima pandangan dan maklumbalas daripada semua pihak untuk meningkatkan kualiti pendidikan secara amnya dan pentaksiran secara khususnya.

Sehubungan itu, KPM akan terus meneliti dan mengambil langkah-langkah wajar utuk memperbaiki sebarang kelemahan dengan mengambil kira pandangan dan input daripada semua pihak demi memastikan pelajar-pelajar mendapat pendidikan yang terbaik.

KETUA PENGARAH PELAJARAN MALAYSIA

24 DISEMBER 2014

Head of 1MDB sets the record straight - Statement by Tan Sri Datuk Seri Lodin Wok Kamaruddin Chairman of the Board of Directors, 1MDB

1MDB Board of Directors believe that public scrutiny of 1MDB is a good thing, and will only serve to strengthen the company and its governance.

Statement by Tan Sri Datuk Seri Lodin Wok Kamaruddin

Chairman of the Board of Directors, 1MDB

AS the chairman of the Board of Directors of 1MDB, I have viewed with surprise recent statements, both in the media and by certain individuals, suggesting that the company has failed to respond to various questions that have been directed at it over the past months.

As a Board of Directors, we welcome debate, and as a company that is wholly owned by the Ministry of Finance — and by extension the people — we believe that public scrutiny of 1MDB is a good thing, and will only serve to strengthen the company and its governance.

In the interest of increasing the company’s transparency, I have held meetings with members of the media where I listened to and responded to their concerns.

Furthermore, the company has taken various other measures such as issuing multiple statements responding to allegations directed at the company, publishing a detailed document answering frequently asked questions, and releasing a public statement outlining key highlights from 1MDB’s last financial results – the first time 1MDB has done so since the company’s inception in 2009.

All of this information is freely available on 1MDB’s website, and we believe that these actions reflect our efforts to engage in a more open and constructive dialogue than has perhaps been the case in the past.

Despite this, issues that have previously been raised and subsequently addressed by the company continue to be regurgitated by certain individuals.

In the interests of providing clarity, we would once again like to respond to the various concerns.

1MDB’s funding and debt levels

Contrary to claims, 1MDB is not a sovereign wealth fund, but rather a strategic development company. In practice, this translates into a company that is independently run and funded, but one whose investment decisions are driven by the interests of the national economy.

Whilst a sovereign wealth fund and a strategic development company may not sound very different, there is an important distinction between the two: whereas a sovereign wealth fund is directly funded by the government and invests on its behalf, 1MDB raises and invest its own capital.

In fact, in terms of actual funding, the company has only ever received RM1 million in equity, which was provided by the Ministry of Finance at the time of its inception.

Given that 1MDB does not receiving any funding from the government, it is therefore simply not true to claim that the company is investing or worse, wasting, the state’s – or the people’s – money.

As 1MDB funds its own operations, it should not be surprising that, from time to time, the company raises capital on the international debt markets in order to finance some of its projects. However, all of this debt is backed by solid assets.

At present, this includes the 15 power and desalination plants in five countries that comprise our energy business, as well as our extensive property portfolio which includes 70 acres of prime real estate currently being developed as TRX —Kuala Lumpur’s first dedicated financial district, 495 acres of land on the site of the old airport in Sultan Besi earmarked for Bandar Malaysia — a mixed-use urban development, and 234 acres of land in the centre of Air Itam, Penang.

The total value of the company’s assets (RM51.4 billion as at the financial year end of March 2014) comfortably exceeds the value of its total debts (RM41.9 billion for the same period).

This means that the company has net assets of close to RM10 billion, representing the value it has created since its inception five years ago.

Furthermore, this does not take into account the expected benefit to be realised from the initial public offering of the group’s energy portfolio, which will help deleverage the group and contribute towards reducing its debt profile.

Finance costs & interest rates paid by 1MDB

Like any business, 1MDB attempts to secure the lowest rate of interest and finance costs when taking out a loan or conducting a bond issue. However, in certain instances, these interest rates and finance costs have been towards the higher end of the market rate.

It has to be understood that, when it comes to raising debt on the financial markets, there is no one size fits all solution.

A number of factors determine the finance costs and the interest rate applied to a loan or bond issuance. These include the length of maturity, whether the loans are underwritten or guaranteed, macro-economic factors, and many more.

To take one example, we are aware that concerns have been raised about the 5.75% interest rate assigned to a RM5.0 billion Islamic bond that was issued by 1MDB in 2009. As a comparison, it has been noted that another government-linked company, Petronas ,paid an interest rate of 3.60% on a bond at the same time.

This is an unfair comparison that does not take into account a number of important factors.

To highlight just one: when subscribing to a bond, lenders take on a certain degree of risk and the longer the tenure, the higher the risk for the bondholder. Therefore, bonds that have a longer maturity period typically have a higher interest rate.

To the best of our knowledge, the only Petronas-related bond issued in 2009 that carried a coupon rate of 3.6% was for a RM100 million bond with the tenure of only 3 years, whereas the 1MDB bond had a tenure of 30 years.

As such, given the significant difference between the maturity periods, it should not be surprising that the bond issued by 1MDB had a higher interest rate.

More broadly, it is important to note that the bond issued by 1MDB in 2009 was the first Malaysian bond with a 30-year tenure, and the first Islamic bond to be issued with a maturity period of that length.

Given the economic climate at the time, the fact that 1MDB successfully managed to raise this amount of capital reflects the support, goodwill and confidence placed in the company.

Funds regulated by the Cayman Monetary Authority

There has also been substantial debate about funds invested by the company regulated by the Cayman Monetary Authority.

However, anyone familiar with the financial world should be able to confirm that there is nothing unusual about companies of this size investing their funds in the Cayman Islands, which is one of the largest registered fund jurisdictions internationally, with the Cayman Monetary Authority recognised as one of the leading fund regulators in the world.

Thousands of international blue-chip companies have funds regulated by the Cayman Monetary Authority, including over 200 Malaysian companies, many of which are household names.

To provide some background with respect to 1MDB’s investment: In 2009, 1MDB and a Saudi Arabian company entered into a joint venture to facilitate long-term economic cooperation between Malaysia and Saudi Arabia.

As part of this, a joint-venture fund was set up to undertake investments on projects which would generate financial and strategic benefits to both countries.

However, due to various factors, both parties eventually decided not to proceed with these plans.

As a consequence, 1MDB’s investment in the company was converted into a fixed income instrument in the form of Murahaba notes, essentially a loan, with an annual interest rate of 8.75%.

This loan was paid back in full, for US$2.318 billion with a profit of US$488 million, in 2013.

Repatriating these funds to Malaysia would have exposed them to fluctuations on the foreign exchange market, as being witnessed at the moment.

In order to ensure that 1MDB maintained a strong liquidity position with a truly diversified global portfolio, these funds were invested in a 1MDB subsidiary that was registered in the Cayman Islands.

However, the company has already redeemed a significant portion, US$1.4 billion, of the fund and expects to redeem the remaining amount in the coming months.

Overpaying for power assets

In line with the government’s strategic aim of ensuring Malaysia’s energy security, 1MDB has acquired a number of energy assets since 2012.

These acquisitions have allowed the company to diversify its fuel mix and country risks, as well as benefit from healthy cash flows and the expertise of their excellent management teams.

The claims relating to the amounts 1MDB paid for its energy assets revolve around values that were attributed to the assets at the time they were acquired and on the basis of certain assumptions made by external parties.

However, the company takes a long-term view and consider broader synergies for the group, as well as the social and economic impact on the country, when we evaluate assets and forecast economic returns.

As such, it is the management team’s strong belief that the value paid for these assets, which may have involved a premium in certain instances — as is common when acquiring another business, is commensurate with their existing and future potential.

It is also important to note that since acquiring its first energy assets in 2012, 1MDB has built this into the second largest independent power producer in Malaysia, with a strong presence in international markets within three years.

In total, 1MDB’s energy business has consolidated 5594MW of net capacity, comprising both gas and coal fired plants.

This portfolio provides the business with healthy cash flows and enables 1MDB to participate in bids for coal and gas fired plants, the two primary fuel source for power generation assets in the markets that the company operates in, allowing it to create further value and drive future growth.

As such, the economic benefit gained from these assets means that the company has recuperated any excess value it may have paid at the time of the acquisitions.

Overpaying for land

Any decision the company makes to invest in real estate is reached following an extensive period of due diligence, which includes the appointment of independent appraisers to determine the value of the land at the time of the acquisition, whilst also taking into account the value the company can add to it.

All of 1MDB’s investments are undertaken in line with the best interests of the business, and with a view to stimulating economic growth and prosperity in Malaysia.

We understand that there has been some speculation about the value paid by 1MDB for a land parcel in Penang.

This land is located in the centre of the town of Air Itam, a much sought after area where property prices have seen a substantial increase in recent years.

This is reflected in the prices that other developers have paid to acquire land in neighbouring areas which, at over RM200 per sq ft, is substantially higher than what 1MDB paid.

In fact, in one instance dating back to 2013, approximately 9.8 hectares in Air Itam were purchased for RM267.4 million, about RM251 per sq ft, for a mixed-use development. In another, approximately RM251 per sq ft was paid for a mixed development project near the Kek Lok Si Temple.

Given the general difficulty companies face in finding sizeable plots of land in prime areas of Penang, that are suitable for carrying out large-tier development projects, the amount paid by 1MDB for this land was not only commensurate with its value but highly attractive.

Preferential treatment on power contracts

Any award takes a number of factors into consideration: the technical standards of the bid, the track record of the company, the bidding price, the urgency of the project and the whole systems cost of the bid to name a few. The projects that 1MDB have been awarded, in Malaysia and abroad, have been on this basis.

Earlier this year, a joint consortium consisting of 1MDB and Mitsui & Co, Japan’s second-largest general trading company, participated in an open and competitive tender exercise for a 2,000MW coal-fired power plant known as Project 3B.

Following due consideration of the various bids, the Energy Commission announced that the joint 1MDB-Mitsui consortium had been chosen as the preferred bidder.

Subsequently, there have been suggestions that 1MDB received preferential treatment, and the basis of these claims is that the company’s bid was not the lowest offered.

This rationale is flawed as it fails to take into account the fact that any award is based on a number of considerations, not just the tariff.

Whilst there was a bid that was slightly lower than the one presented by 1MDB, the fact is that 1MDB’s was the lowest compliant bid, with a proposed levelised tariff of 25.33 sen/kWh.

There was a bid that was fractionally lower, of 25.12 sen/kWh, but this proposal did not comply with a number of requirements set out by the Energy Commission, key amongst which was their lack of experience operating a coal plant.

As the Energy Commission announced in a public statement, the 1MDB-Mitsui Consortium won the bidding exercise “in a fair and square manner with a well-proven technology that would enhance security of supply expected of a 2000MW coal-fired power plant operating in a grid system of our size”.

It is also important to note that there are other tenders that 1MDB has participated in where the contract has been awarded to other parties.

For example; despite 1MDB offering the lowest bid for a gas-fired plant in Prai, another company was deemed as offering a better over-all package and awarded the contract on that basis.

Statement by Tan Sri Datuk Seri Lodin Wok Kamaruddin,

Chairman of the Board of Directors, 1MDB

Melihat belang sebenar DAP oleh BUDIMAN MOHD. ZOHDI | 22 Disember 2014

Budiman Mohd Zohdi Setiausaha BN Selangor.

MESYUARAT Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) Selangor yang berlangsung pada 24 November hingga 4 Disember lalu dilihat telah membuka mata banyak pihak mengenai perjalanan politik serta pentadbiran di negeri itu.

Daripada pembentangan Bajet Selangor 2015, memperlihatkan kerajaan negeri memperuntukkan sejumlah wang yang agak besar iaitu sebanyak RM2.42 bilion untuk tujuan perbelanjaan mengurus dan pembangunan berbanding pada tahun sebelumnya sebanyak RM1.85 bilion.

Bajet Selangor untuk tahun 2015 secara faktanya menunjukkan nilai defisit yang tinggi sebanyak RM450 juta yang mana ia seakan-akan sudah menjadi ‘legasi’ pakatan rakyat sejak mereka mula merangka bajet negeri sejak tahun 2009 lagi.

Ini kerana, dalam Bajet Selangor 2009, ia dicatatkan mengalami defisit sebanyak RM120 juta diikuti RM194 juta (2010); RM210 juta (2011); RM167.1 juta (2012) dan RM761.4 juta pada tahun 2013.

Setiap tahun kerajaan negeri membentangkan bajet dan memberikan alasan bajet negeri adalah bajet berimbang, namun setiap tahunlah juga dalam tempoh itu kerajaan negeri mengemukakan permohonan di Mesyuarat DUN Negeri untuk kelulusan peruntukan tambahan.

Bagaimana pula dengan Bajet Selangor 2015 ini? Apakah benar-benar tiada permohonan peruntukan tambahan sebagaimana yang diucapkan oleh Menteri Besar?

Kita agak skeptikal dalam soal ini lebih-lebih lagi dengan peruntukan pembangunan yang melibatkan 46.81 peratus iaitu RM1.13 bilion daripada keseluruhan bajet negeri tahun depan.

Kita tidak menolak usaha kerajaan negeri untuk melaksanakan pembangunan di Selangor dengan memperuntukkan jumlah yang besar untuk tujuan itu, cumanya kita tidak mahu peruntukan RM1.13 bilion itu dijadikan alasan untuk menaikkan kos kerja-kerja pembangunan sedangkan kerja-kerja yang dilaksanakan tidak setimpal.

Malah, Menteri Besar, Mohamed Azmin Ali sendiri menerusi laporan sebuah portal berita pada 15 November lalu pernah menyebut bahawa kerajaan negeri tidak akan menggunapakai amalan sebelum ini (ketika Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim sebagai Menteri Besar) yang mengambil kontraktor paling murah untuk menjalankan kerja-kerja kutipan sampah di Selangor.

Sebaliknya, Menteri Besar ketika ini sedia membayar lebih bagi mendapatkan kontraktor berwibawa untuk tujuan tersebut.

Sungguhpun apa yang dinyatakan oleh Mohamed Azmin itu tidak menyalahi peraturan kewangan, namun kita khuatir dengan peruntukan pembangunan yang besar ditambah dengan amalan sedia membayar lebih kepada kontraktor, ia sudah tentunya menimbulkan banyak persoalan khususnya cara pelantikan kontraktor yang dibuat supaya ia benar-benar berwibawa sebagaimana yang dinyatakan oleh Menteri Besar itu.

Menteri Besar perlu memberikan penjelasan mengenai perkara ini termasuklah mekanisme yang diguna pakai kerajaan negeri dalam pelantikan kontraktor-kontraktor yang terlibat untuk kerja-kerja pembangunan di Selangor selain bebas daripada amalan pemberian kepada syarikat-syarikat kroni yang mempunyai kaitan kepentingan politik.

Selain Bajet 2015, mesyuarat DUN Selangor baru-baru ini turut menyaksikan ‘belang sebenar’ DAP yang secara terang-terangan menuntut satu lagi jawatan Timbalan Speaker DUN dilantik dari kalangan ADUN (Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri) mereka.

Seolah-olah berselindung di sebalik nama demokratik, tindakan DAP itu dilihat tidak menghormati undian pemilihan jawatan itu yang dibuat pada 24 November lalu dalam mesyuarat DUN yang menyaksikan ADUN Bangi daripada Pas, Mohd. Shafie Ngah mendapat 28 pencalonan sekali gus melayakkan memegang jawatan itu manakala DAP menerusi wakilnya, ADUN Sekinchan, Ng Suee Lim hanya menerima 14 pencalonan.

Namun, DAP seakan-akan bersikap ‘talam dua muka’ di sebalik ‘tahaluf siyasi’ parti itu dengan Pas yang mana mereka bukan sahaja tidak berpuas hati dengan keputusan tersebut, bahkan parti itu dilihat seolah-olah menunjukkan sifat tamak yang melampau susulan tindakan Ng Suee Lim yang juga Timbalan Setiausaha DAP Selangor mengeluarkan kenyataan pada 2 Disember lalu yang menuntut supaya kerajaan negeri mewujudkan jawatan Timbalan Speaker DUN II.

Sudahlah jawatan Speaker DUN itu diwakili oleh DAP yang diisi oleh ADUN Subang Jaya, Hannah Yeoh, jawatan Timbalan Speaker pun mereka mahukan juga.

Kasihan kepada Pas, sudah dapat jawatan, rakan sebantal pula tidak puas hati.

Apakah sikap DAP dalam isu jawatan Timbalan Speaker DUN itu disebabkan parti itu mahu membalas dendam kepada Pas yang tidak menuruti DAP dan PKR dalam kemelut Menteri Besar Selangor sebelum ini?

Apakah juga perlakuan DAP itu sebagai tindak balas terhadap Pas susulan pendirian Setiausaha Agungnya, Lim Guan Eng yang dilaporkan sering menyerang Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang sebelum ini terutama berkaitan isu ketidakhadiran Presiden Pas itu dalam mesyuarat majlis pimpinan pakatan?

Selain isu jawatan Timbalan Speaker DUN Selangor, DAP juga dilihat seperti cuba menggunakan mesyuarat DUN untuk meraih kepentingan politik dengan mengusulkan gesaan supaya Kerajaan Persekutuan memansuhkan Akta Hasutan 1948.

Malah, ADUN Kampung Tunku daripada DAP, Lau Weng San yang mencadangkan usul tersebut ketika mesyuarat DUN jelas melabelkan akta tersebut sebagai zalim.

Namun, tindakan DAP membangkitkan usul tersebut dengan memberikan pelbagai alasan supaya akta itu dimansuhkan bukan sahaja tidak berasas sama sekali, bahkan ia seolah-olah menggambarkan betapa ceteknya pengetahuan mereka mengenai soal perundangan serta bidang kuasa pentadbiran di negara ini.

Ini kerana, sebarang perbahasan atau pindaan melibatkan akta Hasutan 1948 perlulah dibuat melalui Dewan Rakyat, kerana akta itu adalah di bawah kuasa Kerajaan Persekutuan bukannya kerajaan negeri atau DUN Selangor.

Jadi apakah niat sebenar DAP ini, apakah mereka cuba gunakan platform DUN Selangor untuk memberi fakta yang tidak tepat mengenai pelaksanaan akta itu?

Apakah mereka cuba menggunakan kekebalan DUN untuk menimbulkan persepsi negatif rakyat terhadap akta itu?

Jika DAP sering menjadikan negara jiran kita, Singapura sebagai ‘kiblat’ mereka apabila sering cadangkan kerajaan Malaysia mencontohi itu dan ini yang dilakukan oleh republik itu, mengapa pula mereka tidak mempersoalkan Akta Hasutan yang masih lagi digunapakai oleh negara berkenaan?

Mengapa DAP perlu takut dengan Akta Hasutan 1948 ini, apakah kerana parti itu sememangnya berniat mahu melanggar undang-undang?

Apakah juga kerana DAP mengamalkan pendekatan menghasut sebagai strategi politik atau kempen mereka?

Ini yang perlu diperjelaskan. Sekiranya DAP mematuhi undang-undang, menghormati sensitiviti rakyat dan Perlembagaan Persekutuan, maka sepatutnya mereka tidak perlu bimbang atau gusar dengan pengekalan akta ini.

PENULIS ialah Setiausaha ADUN BN 
Selangor.

- See more at: http://www.utusan.com.my