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Let us together make use of this Ramadan month with racing to practice charity, istiqamah in pursuit of maghfirah and increase alms. May all our charity be accepted by Allah swt. Marhaban Ya Ramadan. Amirudin Shari Menteri Besar

May this Ramadan PH: First Year at bring all of you peace, progress, positivity and good health. the Helm

Ramadan Kareem

MB Supports Semarak Ramadan Programmes Page 2

Preparations for KL 2040 n 9 May 2018, the surprising victory by (PH) in Master Plan Ongoing ’s 14th General Elections broke the previous government’s Page 12 O61-year hold on the governance of the nation—a phenomenon that reformed coalitional politics, and had the new administration putting forward Economists: Unfair to Judge PH a restructured agenda. Story continues on Page 4 Based on 1 Year Performance Page 14 Waste Management: Coping with A Slippery Slope World Bank-Led s we approach the fasting month Financialization for Muslims, every Malaysian Page 15 Ais sure to be excitedly looking forward to the bazaars that will be popping up across the nation in conjunction with the festive season. Story continues on Page 13 02 NEWS May 2019 | Selangor Journal

Ihya Ramadan Malaysia Healthy for Media Freedom Brings Cheer to MB Supports Residents Semarak Ramadan

The Dato’ Menteri Besar of Selangor, Programmes Amirudin Shari, took the chance to visit residents at five houses in the Sungai Tua state constituency as part of the Ziarah Kasih Ihya Rama- dan 2019 on 28 April. Amirudin said the programme, which had become a tradition, was meant as a visit to the residents in the area, especially those who were sick. alaysia made history injustice,” he said in a statement. How- when it reached its high- ever, he said, freedom of the media also est-ever placing in terms came with the responsibility to provide of media freedom, based real facts, especially in the era of misin- on a report by ‘Reporters formation and non-factual views. he Selangor state government The programme, Without Borders’. “Leaders and journalists have a com- is committed to supporting the which had become a MIn the report, Malaysia had leaped 22 mon responsibility to defend and cham- Menyemarak Ramadan Negeri tradition, was meant spots on the list and placed at number pion the freedom of every journalist in TSelangor programmes that are being 123, the highest among all Southeast Malaysia, in line with the principles of organized by multiple agencies as a visit to the Asian countries, and the highest in the our democracy,” he said. Dato’ Menteri Besar, Amirudin residents in the area, nation’s history. The United Nations General Assembly Shari, said that the programmes are especially those who Dato’ Menteri Besar, Amirudin Shari, declared 3 May as World Media Free- an informal way of having a smart attributes this accomplishment to Ma- dom Day to raise awareness on the im- partnership when organizing the were sick. laysia’s ability to cultivate a healthy are- portance of press freedom. event. – Selangor Menteri Besar, na that allows for media freedom. In addition, the United Nations re- “In conjunction with this month Amirudin Shari “This is a very important achieve- minded the government of its duty to of Ramadan, various programmes ment and should be a guide for all, be- respect and support freedom of speech, have been drafted by relevant gov- cause without the media working inde- as set out under Article 19 of the Univer- ernment agencies or non-govern- pendently, democracy can only create sal Declaration of Human Rights. mental organizations (NGOs) who have agreed to take part in making The MB also made contributions this a success.” to the residents in the form of basic “The State Government is very necessities, such as kitchen utensils, committed and supports this ongo- adult diapers and small amounts of Leadership and Civil Servants Must ing effort,” he said. cash. At the same time, Amirudin The MB added that he was also Work in Synergy said religious institutions such as taking the opportunity to visit mosques and surau need to be active friends and supporters in the area he synergy between leaders and is important so implementation can be by organizing various activities to who had helped him in the past but civil servants is important in real- done well,” said Amirudin. attract the attention of Muslims.“We had since fallen sick and were no izing the aim of making Selangor “We have placed our trust in our civ- need to attract all the people so that longer able to live a normal life. Ta major state in Southeast Asia by 2025. il servants … In the past, planning was the people would be able to make “I hope that these contributions Selangor Menteri Besar, Amirudin given to consultants or outsiders but the mosque the focus and the centre will lessen the burden they face, es- Shari, said the involvement of civil ser- now we provide [such] opportunities to of the community.” pecially since the month of Rama- vants is very important in creating and our civil servants,” he said. He added that this would culti- dan is approaching” he added. carrying out policies that are proposed He said this when delivering a wel- vate better individual attitudes. Amirudin also performed the asar by leaders. The implementation of poli- come speech in conjunction with the “Use [such activities] as a begin- prayers at the An Nur mosque in cies requires civil servants and leaders to inaugural dialogue in which ning, use it to attract them and show Kampung Wira Damai in work hand in hand. featured former International Trade and the integrity of Islam as a strong re- prior to travelling by motorcycle to “Our experience of ruling Selangor Industry Minister, Datuk Seri Mustapa ligion, to unify the society and not the five households to personally de- for 10 years has taught us that mutual Mohamed, more commonly known as separate from different beliefs,” he liver the contributions. respect and maintaining professionalism ‘Tok Pa’. said.

ADVISOR Editorial Advisory Board, CCSB

GROUP EDITOR Honesty is the Fathi Aris Omar Editorial cornerstone of all Team MANAGING EDITOR success, without which Ameena Siddiqi confidence and ability Aras 2, Carlton Holiday Hotel & Suite, WRITERS to perform shall cease No 1, Persiaran Akuatik 13/43 Batrisyia Jay to exist. Seksyen 13, 40100, Shah Alam, Selangor Muhaimin Merican

Tel 03-5523 4856 DESIGNER Mary Kay Ash Fax 03-5523 5856 Naqiuddin Muaz Email [email protected] May 2019 | Selangor Journal 03 Ramadan NEWS Kareem Selangor Welcomes Government Tun M Reflects on PH’s First Anniversary Funds for State Schools — The first year “In Cameron Highlands, for exam- of the Pakatan Harapan (PH) govern- ple, they sell vegetables at 50 sen per ment has been dedicated to consolida- kilo but (because of middlemen) in the Mosque in Gombak on 5 May after the tion, rehabilitation and resetting the market, it becomes RM7 per kilo,” he opening ceremony of the district-level nation amid the mess created by 1Ma- said. Menyemarak Ramadan Bersama Masjid laysia Development Bhd (1MDB), says He also said PH is focused on seeing dan Surau Programme, a programme Tun Dr . wages go up, which will dampen the aimed at enlivening the month of Rama- The Prime Minister said as the gov- effect of higher prices of goods. dan through encouraging the public to ernment struggled to make real sense According to Tun M, the PH govern- go to mosques and surau (small prayer of the scandal it discovered, the dam- ment is also conscious that the country houses). age was more extensive than expected cannot develop, if it does not grow the At the same time, Amirudin said that and along the way, as it uncovered that economy. the allocation managed to help repair the other pillars of the country’s econ- “Therefore, we are committed to en- schools around the Valley that had omy were compromised as badly, if not suring our policies are investor-friend- GOMBAK — Selangor welcomes the al- been damaged by pest attacks. worse. ly to both foreign and domestic inves- location of RM 3.43 million given by the “To sum it up, it had been a year tors. This government will strive to Federal Government to build infrastruc- The schools are affected due to of consolidation, rehabilitation and continue our engagement with multi- ture for 10 schools in the state. the fact that the oil palm areas resetting our nation,” he said at the nationals like you,” he said. Selangor Menteri Besar, Amirudin are not properly maintained— American Malaysian Chamber of Com- “As we take your viewpoints into Shari, said the allocation coincided with causing the number of termites to merce’s (Amcham) Annual General consideration, in turn, you will con- the role and responsibility played by the increase. Meeting here on Wednesday, 18 April. tinue to view Malaysia as a favoured, government to rehabilitate the infra- – Selangor Menteri Besar, “I believe we have turned the corner strategic and profitable investment structure in these 10 schools. Amirudin Shari and we look forward to finally sitting destination for US businesses now He said that Selangor is the state with down and pursuing our plans, instead and in years to come,” said the Prime the most affected and damaged schools Earlier, Minister of Economic Affairs, of merely being tied down cleaning up Minister.Mahathir repeated his earlier due to termite attacks and soil structure, Dato’ Seri , said in everything,” he said. statement that there is no need for a as many schools are located adjacent to a statement that a total of RM 3.43 mil- Not all of the prices of goods have Cabinet reshuffle, adding that entirely oil palm plantations. lion had been allocated by the federal gone up since PH took control of Pu- new politicians are not needed to re- “The schools are affected due to the government through the Special Project trajaya, said Tun M, who added that place them. fact that the oil palm areas are not prop- Allocation to repair schools affected by some liked to “pinpoint to these things” At least his Cabinet has “one year’s erly maintained—causing the number of pests in the . without being fair to PH. experience now”, he stated. termites to increase.” Among the affected schools that are While explaining how the govern- “If Cabinet members are replaced by “The actual amount of the allocation to receive the aid are Sekolah Menengah ment is making efforts to lower and people with no experience at all, then is so big that it has reached RM 7 mil- Kebangsaan (SMK) Sungai Pusu, Gom- stabilize the price of goods, Tun M puts they will have to start from scratch, lion to repair schools affected by these bak, and SMK Hulu Kelang in Selangor, the blame on middlemen for the situa- and it will be hard to ensure that they pests,” said Amirudin. as well as SMK Bukit Indah, Ampang, tion. He gave an example of vegetables can do better than those who they re- He said this at the Al-Amaniah Kuala Lumpur. being sold. placed,” he said. 04 FEATURE May 2019 | Selangor Journal

PH: First Year at the Helm

The coalition, with Tun Dr Mahathir Even so, Merdeka Centre revealed Mohamad at the helm, swore to eradi- that the respondents’ understanding and cate the corruption associated with the patience with PH over the coalition’s previous government, as well as to con- governance of Malaysia is on a positive trol the rising cost of living, among oth- note as two in three respondents said er things—an act that is at the top of the that it is necessary for the new govern- public’s interest. ment to be given more time to perform Upon their victory, PH assured the and deliver their promises, proving that nation that they would bring economic the public remains understanding of the By relief, restore investor confidence and issues faced by the government and is Batrisyia Jay also control public debt. It is no secret willing to grant them time to take nec- that the government had inherited a essary measures. financial swamp amidst various other firm and that the nation is still produc- constraints. Be that as it may, PH pro- PH Not to Be Blamed ing a trade surplus. He also pointed ceeded on mega projects, such as the Consequently, on 2 May, various econ- out that it is vital to keep in mind that ECRL (East Coast Rail Link) while also omists pointed out that it is unfair to PH had to cope with ‘legacy’ issues left reorganizing responsibilities and juris- judge the current administration based behind by the previous government— dictions found in the country. on the poor short-term economic out- some of which had been accumulating Besides reforming the Election Com- look in almost a year since PH came into for decades. mission (EC) and correcting systemic power. Most are of the opinion that the “I would say the economic problem flaws and favouritisms that stained the current economic slump the country is is overwhelming but not because of PH. nation’s democracy for past decades, PH facing cannot be solely attributed to the This is because the problem has accu- SELANGOR JOURNAL also selected new leaders to the Elec- current administration, as it is appar- mulated for many years, even under Tun toral Commission, as well as taking the ent that there are many other intricate Mahathir’s first administration,” he said. Continued from cover page... necessary measures to make public in- factors that have contributed to the na- Meanwhile, Universiti Kebangsaan stitutions, as well as parliament, more tion’s current economic outlook. Malaysia (UKM) Vice Chancellor, Tan independent and liable. According to Malaysian Institute of Sri Noor Azlan Ghazali, who is an econ- Economic Research executive director, omist, stated that PH has had to face Economic Uncertainty Datuk Zakariah Abdul Rashid, the pub- many economic challenges head-on and Nevertheless, independent pollster lic should not criticize the government’s applauded its move to rationalize sever- Merdeka Centre reported that public ap- performance based on the current eco- al subsidy programmes in Malaysia. proval for the new government has gone nomic outlook, as down to 39 per cent. The poll revealed it also depends on that Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir global and regional Mohamad’s personal popularity sits at changes. 46 per cent, a clear indication that his Speaking at the influence still outweighs that of the co- ‘GE14 And the Year Malaysia’s economic fundamentals alition. Since: Analyses and remain firm and that the nation is In August 2018, the poll recorded Perspectives’ forum 71 per cent approval from the public. at the Internation- still producing a trade surplus. He Merdeka Centre concluded that the de- al Islamic Universi- also pointed out that it is vital to terioration in public support for the ad- ty Malaysia (IIUM) ministration is due, among others, to on 2 May, Zakari- keep in mind that PH had to cope the public’s perception of the decline in ah pointed out that with ‘legacy’ issues left behind by the the country’s economic performance and some situations were previous government—some of which concerns over Malay rights and privileg- beyond the control of es, as well as fair treatment of other rac- the government. One had been accumulating for decades. es in Malaysia. One thing that is certain example he cited was is that the deterioration of the nation’s the price of crude oil. - Datuk Zakariah Abdul Rashid, Malaysian Institute of economy is amongst the topmost con- Zakariah was re- Economic Research executive director cerns for the public, with a focus on in- ported as saying that flationary pressures and rising costs that Malaysia’s economic the country is currently experiencing. fundamentals remain May 2019 | Selangor Journal 05 Ramadan FEATURE Kareem Progressing with Time Voices of The Public On 9 May, PH celebrates its first year in power, and it is undeniable that the new government has ful- As it is the one-year anniversary of the current administra- filled nearly a third of its economic tion, the team decided to venture out and find out the public’s promises so far. To commemorate thoughts on how the nation has been progressing since the PH’s achievements, we have listed historic victory. Here is what they had to say: some of the accomplishments that have been effectively carried out by the administration to date:

I think education system in Malaysia can be im- provised. Besides that, i hope the new government knows how to prioritize pressing matters that the nation is currently facing. However, i do think they need a little more time to find ways to execute their plans for the future.

Alvera Raymond Kisil, 31, School Teacher I believe that the resuscitation of the Bandar Malaysia is one of PH’s initiatives that will improve the nation’s economy the most. Upon their victory on 9 May 2018, PH acted swiftly to implement its The Prime Minister’s Office, said in a statement signature promises, including the (NST, 190419), “The project is expected to gener- abolition of GST. ate tremendous impact on urban development for Malaysia, drawing foreign direct investments and generating an expected gross development value (GDV) of RM140 billion.”

“It will draw major international financial insti- tutions, multi-national corporations (MNCs) and Fortune 500 Companies to locate their regional headquarters in Bandar Malaysia.” Majority of the public are starting to lose trust in the new administration. However, I think that Bandar Malaysia is a hub for tourism, trade, it’s necessary for us to be more charitable in giving culture, and innovation. It is Malaysia’s local trans- them time to fix most of the issues faced by our portation node, connecting and bringing together PH allocated significant capital in country. I feel that one year is still a short amount next-generation infrastructure and passenger facil- order to support small and medi- of time to remedy the nation’s problems and I do ities. With the reinstatement of Bandar Malaysia, um-sized enterprises (SMEs), as believe that the government is doing their best in our transportation infrastructure will be taken up a well as to encourage technologi- creating a better future for us . level as there will also be a chance to reinstate the cal adoption. High-Speed Rail (HSR) Project that connects Singa- Vignesh Raj, 24, pore and Kuala Lumpur. University Student Transport infrastructure is one of the most important factors for a country’s development progress. It has been proven in so many instances how transport infrastructure has added speed and In all honesty, I don’t see much difference in our efficiency to a country’s progress. Good physical economy with PH as the new administrator. But I connectivity in the urban and rural areas is essen- am willing to give them more time as I believe that tial for economic growth. governing a country with problems and debts such as ours is no easy feat. I’ll be hoping for the best from PH. Afnan ‘Aqif Bin Mohd Pidaus, 27, Research Associate PH significantly improved the transparency of the nation’s bud- Norah Ali, 29, get as well as the government’s Sales Executive overall financial position.

PH has succeeded in mapping out a fool-proof plan to tackle and abolish corruption in the country. This includes important reforms of the public procurement system. 06 ECONOMY May 2019 | Selangor Journal

Malaysia Manufacturing PMI Increases

KUALA LUMPUR — The country’s Nikkei Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) noticeably increased to reach a seven-month high in Malaysian Palm Oil April amidst a return to growth for export orders. Price Unsteady The Nikkei Malaysia Manu- facturing PMI increased in April to its highest recording of 49.4 KUALA LUMPUR — Malaysian palm oil futures inverted compared to 47.2 in March, to earlier gains to close one per cent down on 3 May, which fell return to its long-run average. on bearish production outlooks to chart the biggest weekly The increase is a major in- drop since early November. dication of Malaysia’s GDP The benchmark palm oil contract for July delivery on the growth accelerating to just over Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Exchange finished 1.1 per cent five per cent, according to his- down at RM 2,010 ($485.39) a tonne for its sixth decline torical comparisons. in as many sessions. On 2 May, IHS Markit— Previously, palm oil had lost as much as 1.3 per cent to which compiles the data—stat- RM 2,006—its weakest since 11 December. ed that the key to the upturn For the week, palm oil had lost 5.1 per cent for a second in the PMI was a renewed im- straight weekly decline. provement in foreign demand Malaysia is the world’s second-largest palm oil produc- in April, which had deterio- my improved considerably as “The survey also brought er after Indonesia, and production rose to 1.67 million rated business trends in prior it was fuelled by the first -im signs that firms have an- im tonnes in March—up 8.3 per cent from February, according months, adding that new ex- provement in export demand proved appetite to expand ca- to the latest government data. port orders had risen for the since last November. pacity, taking on staff in greater Prices for palm oil fell three per cent on Thursday due to first time in five months. “The headline PMI showed numbers as business confidence weakness in soy-oil prices on the Chicago Board of Trade Higher workloads from over- its largest monthly rise for near- in the outlook jumped to its and soft demand sentiment. seas sources were credited to ly one and a half years, suggest- highest for over five years, add- On the first week of May, it was reported that Malaysia business wins in Europe, the US ing manufacturing should help ing to hopes that the slowdown would defer export duties on crude palm oil for the rest of and countries in Asia such as drive faster economic growth has bottomed out,” he added. the year to boost exports and expand in new markets. and Japan. to just over five per cent at the “Much will, of course, de- However, given that duty has been at zero per cent since Chris Williamson, IHS Markit start of the second quarter, with pend on the external environ- September, traders say this may have little effect. chief business economist said the trade drag easing compared ment, and a sustained upswing April saw the picture of Ma- to prior months,” said William- will be contingent on improv- laysia’s manufacturing econo- son. ing global trade flows.” Reclaiming Asian Tiger Status credit rating,” explained Lim. KUALA LUMPUR — Finance Minister “So, this is a test that Malaysia passed Lim Guan Eng is assured that Malaysia in terms of managing the economy and is on the right track to strengthen its the fiscal position,” he said. economy and fiscal status by 2021, thus Lim then stated that Malaysia’s econ- leading the way to regaining its position omy was still developing progressively as an Asian Tiger. with strong economic fundamentals, The government intends to reduce alongside savings from renegotiations the country’s current debt and liabilities undertaken for infrastructure projects. of RM 1.087 trillion or 80.3 per cent of The savings were used to rescue the GDP to 65 per cent in the course of Tabung Haji and Felda, which need- this period through the renegotiation of historic victory in the 14th General Elec- Pakatan Harapan government had be- ed an injection of RM 17.8 billion and mega-projects such as the mass rapid tion on 9 May of last year. gun the process of repaying tax refund RM 6.23 billion, respectively. transit system. Meanwhile, Lim also addressed the arrears of RM 37 billion left by the pre- “It also left Malaysia pressured, as Previously, soon after his appoint- importance of transparency being im- vious government. originally we thought the savings could ment as the nation’s finance minister, plemented by the government, partic- The process began in January this be used to repay the 1MDB debts and Lim had announced that government ularly in addressing scandals such as year and will be completed by the com- such. But it seems now, we have to still debt and liabilities had exceeded RM 1 those involving 1Malaysia Development ing October. find our own sources to repay it,” said trillion, a figure that fired market anx- Bhd. (1MDB), Tabung Haji and Felda, The Finance Minister then pointed Lim. iety and raised the prospect of a cred- while at the same time combating the out that inflation is being well-managed, The Finance Minister noted that the it-rating downgrade. corrupt practices by the previous admin- having been recorded at 0.4 per cent in revival of the Bandar Malaysia and East This figure included federal gov- istration. February, and international rating agen- Coast Rail Link (ECRL) projects were at ernment debt of RM 686.8 billion or Lim stated that the government esti- cies had also maintained their A3 rat- the preliminary stages, and the ministry 50.8 per cent of GDP and government mated about RM 805 million in savings ings for Malaysia. was awaiting complete reports related guarantees of RM 199.1 billion or 14.6 had been made through the renegotia- In 2018, Malaysia’s foreign direct in- to both. per cent of GDP. tion of infrastructure projects, while a vestments (FDIs) also increased, while “We look at [the revival of the proj- “After a six/seven-month effort by the projection of RM 4 billion likely raised exports and the current account have ects as being of] national interest. Var- government, the debts and liabilities from the Sales and Services Tax (SST) is also been in positive territory. ious aspects were considered, including were reduced to RM 1.07 billion, or a to be allocated for critical ministries and The country had recorded a the ECRL deal involving an agreement reduction of RM 17 million,” said Lim. for the rakyat. 48 per cent increase in approved FDIs between the government and China, “But, from the aspect of a percentage “Seen from the point of performance, across all sectors at RM 80.5 billion last which is Malaysia’s largest trading part- to the GDP, it was [a reduction] by 5.5 although we faced much pressure from year. ner,” said Lim. per cent from 80.3 per cent to 74.8 per the aspect of finance, Malaysia has not “Although we faced financial prob- He further explained that had the cent,” he added. become bankrupt, as we feared, when lems following the 1MDB scandal, the ECRL been discontinued, Malaysia Lim said this in a selected media in- the Goods and Services Tax (GST) was confidence of foreign investors or for- would have had to pay compensation terview ahead of the first-year anniver- abolished,” said Lim. eign funds remained strong and they that would have reached billions of sary of the Pakatan Harapan coalition’s In other developments, Lim said the also maintained the level of Malaysia’s ringgit. May 2019 | Selangor Journal 07 Ramadan WOMEN Kareem

“They are hardworking and as charge should consider giving they are able to do repetitive long-term measures, as not all work without complaint, they individuals with special needs hardly take leave off work,” receive proper care, especially said Fahda while adding that if the guardian or caretaker has productivity is always high passed on. “We need to set up amongst individuals with spe- hostels that allow adults with cial needs. disabilities to live together, in- “They are always very honest dependently,” added Fahda. By and give their best in whatev- With this in mind, the state Batrisyia Jay er they do. Yet, here in Malay- government has launched many sia, we are happier employing initiatives to support the special cheap foreign labour. We forget needs community in the state. to tap into an existing market of “The state offers the Bantuan Prioritizing the Special the most hard-working commu- ANIS (Anak Istimewa Selangor, nity—the special needs com- or Selangor Special Children) munity.” initiative, which is a one-off as- sistance for the funding of pur- Needs Community Trained Educators are chase of medical or therapeutic Vital equipment, or for medical or Fahda stated that is important therapy fees, up to a maximum ness concerning for the government to educate of RM 5,000,” explained Fahda. o commemorate Au- the needs of per- Fahda Nur teachers on how to deal with tism Month, Selan- sons with disabil- Ahmad Kamar, and care for special needs pu- gor Journal talked ities, or OKU, in Chairperson of pils in the country. “For some Apart from Bantuan about the impor- Selangor. How- Majlis Tindakan reason, the number of children ANIS, the state tance of getting to ever, the Majlis OKU Selan- born with special needs is on government has come know more about Autism Spec- OKU Kebangsaan gor (Selangor the rise. We must therefore be up with these initiatives trum Disorder (ASD) in our is quite differ- Council of Action ready to provide them with the to further lend a helping T for the Disabled, Woman’s Section last month. ent as it focuses best education possible,” noted hand to the community: For this issue, we decided to more on a coun- MTOS) Fahda. shed more light on the special cil consisting of “I applaud the federal gov- needs community in Selangor. secretary-generals from differ- types of disabilities that exist ernment for introducing the With that in mind, Selangor ent ministries—thus making it around them. Fahda explained ‘zero-reject’ policy. However, Journal interviewed Fahda Nur more administrative in nature. that most of these individuals we must make sure that it also Ahmad Kamar, Chairperson of “MTOS is akin to having ‘coun- are able and competent, yet so- should translate into ‘zero-ne- Majlis Tindakan OKU Selangor cil members’ consisting of ac- ciety tends to misjudge them, glect’ policy. Just because we CIKGU ANIS (Selangor Council of Action for tivists so that the government hence resulting in such individ- do not reject, it does not guar- free training of kindergar- the Disabled, MTOS) to gain will receive proper feedback. uals being able to gain access to antee that we do not neglect. ten teachers to encourage more insight into this commu- MTOS hopes to support the education, healthcare and em- We must have enough qualified ordinary kindergartens nity that is often overlooked by state government by suggesting ployment in the country. teachers, staff and equipment to accept children with the public. programmes and activities that “For instance, a special needs when they enter school,” Fahda special needs. A mother of three, Fahda Nur, would address the needs of the child with learning disabilities added. “All teachers need to be who is also a lawyer, is current- OKU community in the state,” —despite her ability to read and trained, and once trained they ly the Managing Partner of her added Fahda. write—may not necessarily be will be able to handle [special very own law firm called Fahda allowed to join mainstream ed- needs pupils], especially if they Nur&Yusmadi. At the start of Malaysians Need to be ucation. This is due to teachers have behavioural issues.” this year, Fahda was elected as More Exposed lacking the [recquired] knowl- Fahda also feels that thera- the Chairperson of MTOS for a “Malaysians are caring in gen- edge and skills, with many of pists—such as physiotherapists Bantuan Sihat Selangor term of two years, making her eral. However, the stigma, fear them fearing having to teach a and occupational therapists— assistance from the state the perfect candidate to high- and prejudice that surround the special child,” noted Fahda. should not just be placed in government to resolve light the importance of being special needs community re- “I have met many myself. hospitals but also in every certain medical issues, aware of and supporting the mains at large,” said Fahda. She They tend to fear the child and school with special needs chil- such as cataracts, dialysis, special needs community in Se- stated that there seems to be a hence the rejection. Only those dren. “We always talk about purchase of prosthetic langor. general perception that a spe- with an open mind and big having more doctors but we limbs and hearing aids. cial needs child is helpless and heart are receptive to special forget about the allied health A Council of Advocates requires full-time care. Accord- children,” she added. practitioners and special educa- “Majlis Tindakan OKU Selan- ing to Fahda, this is far from tion teachers. We need to have gor (MTOS) was set up in 2018 the truth as many are smart, More Employment Op- them ready in schools [to teach Fahda has no doubt that Se- and it was announced by the able and capable of living inde- portunities Needed special needs pupils].” Fahda’s langor excels at providing the current EXCO for Health, Wel- pendently. Thus, to realize this, According to Fahda, those with view is that it is important to support needed by the special fare, Women and Family Em- society must trust them and physical disabilities tend to only educate, not medicate special needs’ community in the state. powerment, Y.B. Dr Siti Mari- give full support, said Fahda. have mobility issues, yet they needs children. However, she wishes that a one- ah Mahmud,” said Fahda. She “They may need a bit more still find it hard to be employed. stop centre for special needs explained that the council acts time to accomplish tasks, so “It all boils down to perception Selangor Cares for the children and adults will be built as an official body under the we have to be understanding. and society’s willingness to ac- Community in the future, beginning with EXCO’s office, with the prima- With just a little care and com- commodate them. Our target is Although Selangor is a pioneer the state of Selangor. “This cen- ry role of giving views, advice, passion, they will thrive,” said a mere one per cent, yet we are state when it comes to special tre is needed not only for them suggestions as well as to orga- Fahda. nowhere near this target,” Fah- needs awareness, Fahda feels to have therapy, but also to be nize initiatives on policy, pro- She added, “Disability is just da stated. that there is still room for im- trained with skills for indepen- grammes, activities and issues a label. It does not represent In Malaysia, the special provement. “We still have not dent living, and even to learn relating to the disabled commu- the true ability of a person, es- needs community with learning built our one-stop community how to socialize with one an- nity in Selangor. pecially the strength, tenacity disabilities are mostly able-bod- centres all around Selangor, other,” said Fahda. Modelled upon the Majlis OKU and determination that many ied and capable of working, yet and we need to have proper She concluded that society Kebangsaan (National Council of them possess.” employers are reluctant to hire government-run centres that must learn to allow the dis- for Persons with Disabilities), Despite numerous cam- them. As such, Fahda feels that offer affordable therapy, edu- abled community to be a part under the Disabled Persons Act paigns, Fahda feels that the our nation should learn from cation programmes and lessons of our everyday community and 2008, the council aims to bring country still lacks awareness Australia, where there are fac- for independent living to this to embrace them wholeheart- together activists and stake- and understanding, as many tories employing people with community,” said Fahda. edly in order for them learn and holders that advocate aware- do not understand the different autism and Down syndrome. Fahda added that those in grow, regardless of age. 08 FEATURE May 2019 | Selangor Journal

Historical Significance Gombak is a district that has a rich his- torical past. The earliest recorded history of a town in Gombak dates to the 1800s when is recorded that it was a settlement for immigrants from Minangkabau. The Minang language, which is the language spoken by the Minang people, is still alive and widely spoken by pockets of Minang people living in present-day Gombak. Old mosques in the Gombak area, such as the Masjid Lama Batu 6 Gombak, are still standing to this day. However, other parts of the Gom- bak district, such as Rawang and , had more prominent historical significance. Established in the early 19th century, Rawang actually attracted miners to create a township there due to its potential as a tin-mining site.

The earliest recorded history of a town in Gombak dates to the 1800s when Gombak - is recorded that it was a settlement for immigrants from the Pulse of Selangor Minangkabau. The Minang language, By Other localities that are situated in which is the language Muhaimin Merican include Batu Arang, spoken by the Minang , Rawang, Bandar , Gombak Town, , and people, is still alive nce a part of Kuala Lum- Hulu Kelang. and widely spoken pur before Kuala Lumpur Gombak borders Kuala Lumpur to the by pockets of Minang was made a Federal Terri- southeast and the to tory on 1 February 1974, the east. Gombak and some other dis- people living in the district of Gombak is a tricts in Selangor, are situated within present-day Gombak. district that has something to offer for the Klang Valley, in which Kuala Lumpur Oeveryone. is also located. From the urban housing develop- Gombak ments in to the qui- An Opulent District Selangor et countryside of Kuang, to the bustling The Gombak district is life of Kepong and Ampang, the Gom- one of the richest dis- Rawang’s bak district is probably the one with the tricts in Selangor. In tin mines The Gombak district is the third- most diverse landscape among the nine 2016, the Selayang ceased smallest district in Selangor. districts of Selangor. sub-district itself made a operation However, even though it is a small The Gombak district is the third-small- total of RM 164,600,000. in 1959 district, it has a population of est district in Selangor. However, even From this amount, a to- 683,000 based on a 2010 census. though it is a small district, it has a pop- tal of RM 105,941,880 The population is expected to grow ulation of 683,000 based on a 2010 cen- was made from taxes, to 942,600 people by 2020, based sus. The population is expected to grow while RM 43,080,190 First residential house to have on predicted population growth. to 942,600 people by 2020, based on was made from non-tax electricity in the country The Gombak district is populated predicted population growth. The Gom- revenue. The sub-dis- by 167,530 households, with each bak district is populated by 167,530 trict also spent a total having an average of four people households, with each having an aver- of RM 164,600,000 for per household. age of four people per household. that year, with a total of Since 1997, the district capital of RM 88,963,350 spent on Gombak has been Bandar Baru Se- supplies and services for layang. Prior to that, Rawang was the the people under the ju- district capital for over 20 years, from risdiction of the Selayang 1974 to 1997. In terms of local gover- Municipal Council. nance, the Gombak district is uniquely In addition, the Se- different from other districts in Selan- layang Municipal Council gor, in that the district is split into two declared a total of RM 100,563,693.45 In 1894, the first electric generator in local administrations. The in tax assessment from all three sub the then-Malaya was built in Rawang in Municipal Council administers the Am- districts under it, as well as from spe- order to support the tin-mining industry pang area, while the Selayang Munici- cial properties. The Municipal Coun- there. This made Rawang the first town pal Council administers the other parts cil also declared a total of 193,506 in to have electricity. Rawang was also the of the district. units of holdings it had from the three first town to have street lights, and the Gombak is made up of 5 different sub districts under its administration. Rawang train station, which still stands mukim or sub districts, namely Am- The holdings were parts of enterprises, to this day, was the first train station in pang, Batu, Setapak, Hulu Kelang and businesses and homes as well as special the region to be equipped with electric- Rawang. properties. ity. May 2019 | Selangor Journal 09 Ramadan FEATURE Kareem To find out what the Gombak district Gombak: A Little had to offer, we talked to residents in the district regarding what they found Something For Everybody so special about the district which is home to 700,000 people. This is what If you are looking to visit a place where you could find im- some residents from different parts of portant historical and geographical landmarks, the Gombak the Gombak District had to say: district is definitely a place you would have to visit. Templer Park

Templer Park, one of Malaysia’s oldest forest re- I have lived in since serves, can also be found in the Gombak district. The 1995. I can see the town and district is forest reserve is 1,214 ha in size and it was named in definitely heading into a more modern honour of Sir Gerald Templer, a British High Commis- era as we even see apartments rising sioner in Malaya. It was gazetted as a forest reserve on in areas where there were no such 8 September 1954. developments 5 to 10 years back. Templer Park houses several rare species of flora and – Muhammad Aqeeb, 24, fauna within its centuries-old lush, green jungle. One Sungai Buloh resident. Batu Caves of the rarest species that can be found there is the Asian Serow, which is an endangered species. Visitors of Tem- The district is home to one Malaysia’s most famous pler Park can also view the trees in the park that are My favourite thing about the district landmarks, the Batu Caves. Rising almost 100 me- estimated to be hundreds of years old. is when hundreds and thousands tres above the ground, the Batu Caves house a tem- of worshippers gather at the Batu ple complex which consists of three main caves and a Caves for the annual Thaipusam few smaller ones. The biggest, referred to as Cathedral parade. The whole scene feels surreal Cave or Temple Cave, has a very high ceiling and fea- and so beautiful. It really depicts tures ornate Hindu shrines. To reach it, visitors must the multicultural aspect of Malaysia climb a steep flight of 272 steps. perfectly. Since 1892, the Batu Caves have been the site for the – Thasha Nair, 26, Rawang resident. annual Thaipusam festival. Tourists from all over the world visit the caves during the festival to take part in Forest Research Institute the pilgrimage which is a part of the festival. Malaysia (FRIM) The Gombak district really has something for everyone. From quiet The Forest Research Institute of Malaysia is a villages and lush green forest to large world-renowned centre for tropical forestry research, highways and bustling modern towns. It with over 100 years of experience in forestry and forest really stands out in that aspect. products research. Also called FRIM, it is located in Ke- – Puteri Balqis, 31, Ampang resident. pong, a residential and commercial area that is only a 20-minute drive from Kuala Lumpur city centre. The institute grounds are a poplar attraction among My family has lived in the Gombak locals. Jogging, hiking, and cycling are the most pop- district since the 1980s and it is really ular activities here. There are also bicycles for rent at an eye opening experience to see it reasonable rates with which to explore the institute grow. The population here has grown grounds. tremendously too. I hope it will Zoo Negara continue to grow and maybe we can become a city in the future. The Gombak district also houses the national zoo of – Kim Leng, 52, Kepong resident. Malaysia, Zoo Negara. Established in 1963, Zoo Nega- ra features about 400 species of Malaysian and exotic mammals, reptiles and birds. I never knew how historical our Zoo Negara is situated only 12 km from the centre district was until I read that Rawang of Kuala Lumpur. Its aquarium, named after the first was the first town to have electricity in Prime Minister of Malaysia, Tunku Abdul Rahman, is a Malaysia! very popular attraction. Tunku Abdul Rahman Aquar- – Diana Seow, 23, ium displays over 80 species of aquatic animals, both Universities in Gombak Sungai Buloh resident. marine and freshwater, including invertebrates. Gombak is certainly a university district, with sev- eral such institutions of higher learning in the district. I travelled from Terengganu to study Perhaps most well-known is the main campus of In- in IIUM here. I must say the cultural ternational Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), with clash in this district brings out the best its Middle-Eastern inspired architecture. The campus, in terms of food. You can find food for which occupies a 2.8 sq. km. site, is traversed by Sungai everyone here. Cincin and is a mini-city in itself, with branches of sev- – Mohd. Nazrin, 19, eral banks, a post office and various eateries at several IIUM Gombak student. locations on the campus offering food from different parts of the Islamic world. An interesting feature is per- Orang Asli Museum haps the women’s-only swimming pool at the Female Gombak is located in a strategic place. Sports Complex, which is open to the public for a small You can travel anywhere in Selangor This small but interesting museum is located at fee. from here. the 24th kilometre on Jalan Gombak, and showcas- – Thenesh Kumar, 35, es the history and traditions of the indigenous Orang Selayang Resident. Asli people that still call this district their home. The Old and New museum was officially opened on 29 September, 1987, Over the years, the Gombak district has progressed to keep up by Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, and has a dis- with the nation’s capital, Kuala Lumpur. However, although The most beautiful part about the play of dioramas and short video documentary clips of the district has stepped into the 21st century with its high-rise district definitely has to be the part Orang Asli rituals. Visitors can gain much information condominiums, high-tech hospitals and various educational of the newly-constructed Rawang about the various Orang Asli tribes, and the museum institutions, the district has managed to maintain a small part Bypass, where you pass through the also showcases the traditional tools, utensils and crafts of its traditional roots and rich historical heritage. elevated forest at 60 metres in the air, produced by the Orang Asli. The museum also high- Gombak and it small towns hold a special historical signifi- and it gives the impression of driving lights the contributions of the Orang Asli to the effort cance in our country’s history. As Malaysians, it is our respon- through mist. Everyone should give that in combating the communist insurgency in Malaysia. sibility to ensure that even as we progress into a more modern a try. world, we do not leave behind our heritage and history. – Atiqah Haris, 27, Selayang Resident. 10 NEWS May 2019 | Selangor Journal

SELANGOR QUICK TAKES

SELANGOR JOURNAL

10 Schools in KL, Selangor Get RM 3.43 m Allocation for Infrastructure

Ten schools in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor have been 67% of Selangor allocated RM 3.43 million for various infrastructure projects. Civil Servants are The Economic Affairs Ministry MB visits Taman Keramat Permai Flats satisfied with Their in a statement said the assistance was channelled via for inspection Leaders the Special Project Allocation to build better facilities and Dato’ Menteri Besar, Amirudin Shari visited more than 200 residents of Block A total of 67 per cent of civil to meet the needs of students F at Taman Keramat Permai Flat after they were ordered to vacate the building servants are satisfied with their and teachers. and moved to a temporary evacuation centre at Keramat AU2 multipurpose relationship with the political hall after cracks found in the structure of the building were reported to be leadership since the Pakatan worsening. The residents were finally are allowed to return home on May 4. Harapan government became in Two consultants appointed by the Selangor State Development Corporation charge of the administration of (PKNS) have confirmed the building was safe for occupation. Selangor 10 years ago.

120 Families Need to Receive MBSA’s Ramadan Donation

The Shah Alam City Council Selangor shuts (MBSA) has added 120 families to receive its Ramadan donations down illegal waste in conjunction with the Ziarah centres Ramadan program. MBSA, through the Shah Alam Resident Representative Council, identified The state has shut down more than five persons from each zone based 90 illegal plastic waste centres in on certain criteria, among them the state up until 22 April 2019. underprivileged single mothers, In addition to the 90 that was shut the under-educated, senior citizens down, 7 of the cases have had and members of the special-needs action taken against them. community. May 2019 | Selangor Journal 11 Ramadan NEWS Kareem

NATIONAL NEWS QUICK TAKES

SELANGOR JOURNAL

Abdul Hamid Officially takes over as IGP

Datuk Seri has officially taken over as the new Inspector-General of police. This follows the handing- over ceremony between Abdul Hamid and outgoing IGP Tan Health Ministry Launches New Five-Year Sri at the Police Training Centre. Abdul Anti-Smoking Campaign Hamid, who was director of the Special Branch, handed over the The Health Ministry has launched a five-year ‘Speak Out’ campaign to reins of his previous department empower people to encourage smokers to quit smoking. Its minister, Datuk to Datuk Ramli Hassan, who will Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad, urged the people to support the ‘Speak Out: Express assume the duty in an acting Your Right, Protect Your Lungs’ campaign to make it a success. He said the capacity. campaign was launched in conjunction with the coming Ramadan with the theme ‘No Tobacco and Fresh Breath Beginning Ramadan’ for its national-level celebration, as the Ramadan month was the best time for people to change.

Buffer Zone Imposed to Protect Mulu National Park

A 1 km buffer zone will be Malaysia Appoints designated along the common border between Mulu National New Chief Justice Park and a provisional lease (PL) area issued to a plantation The appointment of Datuk company. Urban Planning, Land Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat as the Administration and Environment new Chief Justice is yet another Assistant Minister Datuk Len Talif milestone in the judiciary, as she Salleh said this was a part of is the first woman to take on the measures taken to safeguard the role. Tengku Maimun move from integrity of the national park’s the High Court to the Federal boundaries, and to prevent any Court after 12 years, before being encroachment or disturbances. now made Chief Justice. 12 PROPERTY May 2019 | Selangor Journal

Preparations for KL 2040 EMHub—A Boost Master Plan Ongoing to Selangor’s Aspirations

KUALA LUMPUR - In prepa- Kuala Lumpur 2020 Master said Khalid. ration for the Kuala Lumpur Plan no longer applies,” said “I was told to gazette the lat- 2040 Master Plan, which is pro- Federal Territories Minister, est plan and the addendum jected to be gazetted by the end Khalid Abdul Samad. contains changes from 2015 to of 2020, six pre-consultation Khalid stated that the plan is 2018,” he said. sessions have been conducted quite flexible and deemed it to The plan was gazetted on 30 with all parties. be “a living document, as there October last year. These include the Kuala Lum- will be changes along the way”. Meanwhile, an objection to the pur City Hall (DBKL) adviso- The move to gazette the final- gazetted plan was filed in court ry board, professional bodies, ized version as at 2015—with on 8 February, claiming that it youth organisations, govern- the addition of the Kuala Lum- is flawed and that the 2012 or ment agencies, NGOs as well as pur City Plan (KLCP) 2020— 2008 plan should be gazetted Kuala Lumpur MPs. was not a political decision but instead. “We plan to gazette the new is based on professional views “Since this is a legal case, I will KL Master Plan by late 2020, and advice from sources inter- let the court decide,” added because after that, the current nally and externally of DBKL, Khalid.

KOTA DAMANSARA - Lo- A six-storey ramp-up facili- cated on a 3.8 ha site in Kota ty located in Persiaran Surian, More TOD Projects for Selangor Damansara, Malaysia’s first EMHub will be developed at a e-commerce hub (EMHub) cost of RM 600 million. could potentially turn Selan- This is a flagship project n a bid to increase the use of connectivity, while simultane- houses are located in trans- gor into a global trading hub by SCland Development Sdn. public transport, more tran- ously looking into revitalizing portation hubs, MBI Selangor and smart city. Bhd.,a subsidiary of Alcom sit-oriented developments economic development around and RAC will ensure that pric- Selangor Menteri Besar, Group Bhd. I(TODs) will come up on land railway stations. es agree with the state govern- Amirudin Shari, said e-com- According to SCland man- owned by Railway Assets Corp. He said this after the signing ment’s policy for an affordable merce is moving in a big way aging director, Datuk Tony (RAC) in Selangor. of a memorandum of under- house to cost RM 250,000 and Selangor is encouraging Lim, the EMHub will offer a According to Selangor Men- standing between MBI Selan- and the federal government’s corporations to have more set- one-stop solution complete teri Besar, Amirudin Shari, the gor and RAC early this month. policy, which sets the prices ups in the state. with office suites, showroom focus for the TOD is to build af- The signing was witnessed by of such properties at below Aside from the infrastruc- and distribution centre facili- fordable houses. Transport Minister Anthony RM 300,000. ture and e-fulfilment capa- ties, and retail space. It was reported that the TOD Loke. RAC has the skill to under- bilities provided, Selangor It also offers multiple-sized developments would begin in take TOD developments, hav- Information Technology and meeting rooms, a rooftop Bangi and . ing completed one with SP Se- E-Commerce Council will fa- function hall, as well as recre- Initial developments will tia Bhd. around the Abdullah cilitate and simplify a digital ational and lifestyle facilities. also come up in Shah Alam, the development would Hukum light rail transit station economy ecosystem which According to Lim, EMHub where RAC owns 5.3 ha of land make a provision in KL Eco City. The corporation consist of a payment gateway, comprises two blocks—Hub 1 located between for desirable and has also started a TOD venture logistics services or online and Hub 2—which will be ful- Jaya and the Batu Tiga railway affordable housing with MKH Bhd. for 2, a marketplaces, as well as tal- ly completed by 2022. More station. and good connectivity, new township located in the vi- ent development capabilities than 50 per cent of the units Tasked to manage, adminis- while simultaneously cinity of Kajang. such as e-commerce classes, in Hub 1 have been sold, said ter and maintain assets related Meanwhile, Loke stated that accelerator programmes and Lim. to the railway infrastructure looking into the existence of affordable co-working spaces. “This is proof that there and ancillary facilities in Malay- revitalizing economic homes in transportation hubs “The EMHub provides facil- is strong demand for e-com- sia, RAC owns about 1,461 ha development around will impact the trend of public ities to the sellers to have their merce facilities,” he said. of railway land in Selangor. railway stations. transport utilization. warehouse, showroom and The 234 retail and office Nationwide, it owns – Selangor Menteri Besar, According to Loke, the exist- offices under one roof while units range between 2,196 15,378 ha of land along the Amirudin Shari ing rail services on RAC land, operating their business on- and 4,014 sq. ft. and are KTM railways and in prime ar- which would make way for line. We hope it will encour- priced from RM 850,000 to eas. To date, around 80 per cent TODs, would drive population age more opportunities and RM 3 million. of the land has been used to The partnership is in support and economic growth in the advancement in a conducive Lim also added that Hub 2 build 1,650 km of tracks from of the federal government’s areas. digital economy ecosystem,” will open to the market soon. Padang Besar to Johor Bahru, goal to realize Selangor’s vision “Railways are the most effec- said Amirudin. Datuk Seri Subahan Kamal, and from Tumpat to Gemas, to be a Smart State by 2025. tive (mode of transportation) He said this at the EMHub Alcom chairman, said the EM- with a total of 170 stations, 16 The government aims to ac- and frequently used by people ground-breaking ceremony Hub is a fitting space for start- depots and warehouses. complish this by connecting in- living in cities. More affordable here last week. ups or brick-and-mortar small Menteri Besar Selangor Inc. tegrated public transportation homes available nearby railway Datuk Teng Chang Khim, and medium enterprises ven- (MBI Selangor) and RAC are with affordable homes. stations will increase the rider- Senior executive councillor turing into e-commerce. drafting a development plan “We are constantly challeng- ship. In addition to the rail sec- and chairman of the Standing “Supported by high-speed to transform land belonging to ing ourselves to resolve the tor, public transport services, Committees for Investment, fibre optic broadband, 24/7 RAC land in Selangor, with the rakyat’s issues. This effort will such as taxis, e-hailing services Industry and Commerce, security, uninterrupted power aim of promoting sustainable also work towards revitalizing and buses, will also have an (Small and Medium Enterpris- supply and more, we have our and liveable communities. economic development around impact on the increase in the es) said the state government e-commerce players’ needs According to Amirudin, the railway stations and their sur- number of users, when these is committed to turning Se- covered in every aspect,” he development would make a rounding communities,” said railway stations are used as langor into a regional e-com- added. provision for desirable and Amirudin. stops for them to pick up and merce hub. affordable housing and good Although the affordable drop off passengers,” he said. May 2019 | Selangor Journal 13 Ramadan FEATURE Kareem

Waste Management: A Slippery Slope

By order to create more landfills to fill with mate change is caused by the emission Another tricky problem arising from Muhaimin Merican our solid waste. of greenhouse gases (GHG), which are the issue of improper waste disposal is When it comes to food waste, Ma- produced not only through the manu- that the government seeks to tackle the laysians waste food equal to an amount facturing of products but also through emergence of illegal factories. These that could feed 12 million people every waste generation. High levels of GHG factories merely burn the solid waste in- single day. This amount of food could emissions will affect our planet and its stead of properly disposing of it. Since Continued from cover page... feed members of our society who are atmosphere. January, a total of 148 plastic recycling struggling to put a meal on their table Another way that our mismanage- plants nationwide, which included ille- hese Ramadan bazaars are every day. ment of waste disposal affects the en- gal ones as well as those who failed to food Meccas, at which you vironment is through the dumping of comply with the Environmental Quality will find such diverse offer- Waste Management waste, solid or chemical, into our be- Act 1974, were shut down by the Minis- ings as selections of delecta- You would think a nation that produc- loved rivers. Common among factories try of the Environment. ble kuih, mixed rice, drinks es such a large amount of waste would and a fast and convenient way of get- The Selangor state government has and other delicious local delicacies. have a high standard of waste manage- ting rid of waste, dumping waste into taken extensive steps over the years to TLooking at these mouth-watering offer- ment but, unfortunately, the waste man- rivers has a long-lasting impact on the deal with waste management. One of ings may make us forget that most of agement system in Malaysia continues environment and on humans as well. the steps taken was the appointment this food will be thrown away at the end to be rather poor. The mismanagement Recently, residents of Pasir Gudang in of KDEB Waste Management in 2016 of the day if it is not sold. of disposal of waste products contrib- Johor were heavily affected when the to manage waste in Selangor. KDEB In addition, you will see hundreds of utes greatly to the waste problem in Kim Kim River was heavily polluted with employs a smart waste management customers at these bazaars carrying co- Malaysia, beginning with the outdated chemical waste as a result of improper system that utilizes technology such as lourful plastic bags filled with the vari- and weak documentation of waste to the toxic waste dumping. the AVLS system, CCTVs, Centralised ous food and drink items they managed inefficient storage and collection system Command Centres, the i-Clean Selangor to snag during their stroll down the commonly employed. It all plays a part, A Timely Intervention application, high-tech compactors, and neighbourhood bazaar. Does it not make and we must put an end to it to achieve However, timely government interven- road sweepers to manage waste. you wonder where all the waste from a healthier Malaysia in the future. tion is on its way to stop this. One major In addition, the Selangor state gov- this goes? Like all plastic waste in Ma- Beginning in 2018, it was reported step was taken back in October 2018, ernment has also banned the use of laysia, it will end up in a landfill where that foreign countries had been dump- when the Malaysian government decid- plastic bags completely since 2017. In it is most likely to remain for hundreds ing their plastic waste in Malaysia. This ed to end the issuance of licences for 2010, the state government began im- of years. began when China issued a ban on the importing plastic waste into the country plementing a ‘No-Plastic Bag Day’ every import of solid waste in order to curb in order to reduce the amount of solid Saturday but has since extended this to Waste in Malaysia: Red Flags the amount of waste the nation had waste here. a complete ban on plastic bags in the The amount of waste in Malaysia has been taking in to be processed, which According to the Minister of Energy, state in an effort to reduce plastic waste. reached a staggering amount. For ex- was estimated to amount to half of the Science, Technology, Environment and ample, we produce a staggering 38,000 world’s overall waste before the ban was Climate Change, Yeo Bee Yin, plastic What Do We Do Now? tonnes of solid waste every single day. instated. After theimplementation of the waste is now being brought in illegally All things considered, we do not have Solid waste is the useless and unwanted ban by the Chinese government, many into Malaysia from developed countries much time to fix our waste management products that are disposed of in a solid nations, such as Australia and Hong such as the United Kingdom, Australia, issue. Although our government is work- state. Kong, scrambled to find other coun- the United States and Germany. This has ing hard to find a solution for our waste If that is not a reason to be worried, tries to process their waste, and Malay- caused the government to clamp down problem, will there be enough time for this number is expected to rise to 40,000 sia soon became the dump site for the hard on companies that are importing us to fix the problem before we begin to tonnes by 2030. This is caused by ad- waste of developed nations. solid waste into the country. drown in trash like Hong Kong? vancements made by our society, and According to Yeo, Malaysia is a sig- While there is a lucrative business in population growth. Out of the 38,000 Waste: Human problem or natory of the Basel Convention, which managing waste from other countries, tonnes produced, only 24 per cent are Environmental problem? requires foreign nations to reclaim we should focus on our own domestic recycled while the remaining 76 per Although we view waste and its improp- their solid waste. The Basel Convention waste first. The first step is the separa- cent end up in landfills where they rot er management as a human problem, it touches on cross-border control of the tion of plastic waste before we send our or wait to be burned. One of the three actually has a great impact on our en- disposal of toxic and dangerous materi- waste for disposal. If we do this, it will major environmental issues in Malaysia, vironment. One of the major effects of al. The Malaysian government seeks to be a huge step forward in changing our solid waste plays a big role in harming our waste disposal pattern is that it can work closely under the Basel Conven- nation and its waste habit. our natural environment as solid waste heavily impact climate change. tion in order to compel the countries of It may be a long journey but every disposal slowly encroaches into forested How does improper waste disposal origin to take back their waste and bear journey must begin somewhere. For the and green areas, which are cleared in affect climate change? It is because cli- the cost of import themselves. sake of our future, it must begin now. 14 BUSINESS May 2019 | Selangor Journal

Leaders Should Fix Economy not Debate on National Debt Amount

ormer Minister of Inter- national Trade and In- dustry, Datuk Seri Mus- tapa Mohamed, said the issue on the actual amount of Fthe national debt that has been disputed in the Dewan Rakyat frequently has to be addressed and resolved soon, instead of just being debated continuous- l y. Mustapa, who chairs the par- liament’s Special Select Com- mittee on the Budget, said that the committee has suggested tabling a report in parliament for the controversy to be con- cluded. “The committee has dis- cussed two matters, and one of daily in an interview that was tatives from the opposition, is Economists: Unfair to it is the national debt, specifi- published today. one of Pakatan Harapan’s re- cally on the actual amount of The committee is to engage form efforts to enable members Judge PH Based on 1 the debt.” with corporate figures and of parliament to play an active “In the Dewan Rakyat, this economists to get their views role in formulating the coun- Year Performance issue is much debated, often- on efforts to strengthen Malay- try’s policies and monitor their times there is a dispute as to sia’s economy. The committee implementation. whether the amount is over will meet with stakeholders “Before this, many of the KUALA LUMPUR - It is unfair to judge the Pakatan Harapan RM 1 trillion or otherwise.” and relevant parties to get their policies were formulated by the administration on the economic state of the country, say several “This debate has no end, it input for Budget 2020 in order Cabinet and the federal govern- economists. is unproductive and will affect to place the nation on a solid ment but now the MPs are giv- They added that the current economic status of the country our focus to tackle other eco- foundation. en a role to provide input to the since the current administration took over is complicated, as nomic challenges in an increas- He added that the commit- government and contribute to there are many factors that contribute to the national economic ingly complex and challenging tee, which is made up of seven the country,” said Mustapa. outlook. environment,” he told a Malay members, including represen- “You can’t really judge whether the government has per- formed well post-G14 based on the economic outlook, as it de- pends on global and regional changes,” said Malaysian Institute of Economic Research executive director Datuk Zakariah Abdul Rashid. “For example, Malaysia cannot influence the price of crude oil or control the trade war between China and the US,” he said Zakariah also said the country’s economic fundamentals re- main stable and that Malaysia was still producing a trade sur- plus. He added that the current government also had to work to deal with issues that had been left by the previous government. “I would say the economic problem is overwhelming but not because of PH. This is because the problem has accumulated for many, many years”

I would say the economic Malaysia Benefits from China’s Capital problem is overwhelming but not Investment of USD 43.8 billion because of PH. This is because the problem has accumulated for alaysia has been a its borders. many, many years major beneficiary Commenting on the impact - Malaysian Institute of Economic Research executive of Chinese cap- of BRI in Malaysia, Allan Sim, Following director, Datuk Zakariah Abdul Rashid. ital with invest- executive director of capital the change of ment totalling USD 43.8 billion markets at Knight Frank Malay- government in M(RM 181 billion) over the past sia said Prime Minister Tun Dr 10 years, according to Knight Mahathir’s recent visit to China May 2018, a Frank’s ‘New Frontiers: Pros- has spurred the confidence of number of Chinese Another economist, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Vice pects for Real Estate Along the Chinese investors to return to investments and Chancellor, Tan Sri Noor Azlan Ghazali, said PH had to contend Belt and Road Initiative’ report Malaysia. projects, especially with many economic challenges but applauded its move to ra- released recently. Following the change of gov- tionalize several subsidy programmes. Knight Frank said the report ernment in May 2018, a num- mega infrastructure “I like the idea of the government continuing the rational- was aimed at helping investors ber of Chinese investments and projects, had been ization of subsidies. This is to ensure that the people who are and occupiers understand po- projects, especially mega infra- deferred. supposed to receive such help will [continue to] be able to do tential opportunities that Chi- structure projects, had been de- so,’’ he said, stating further that such moves would deter benefit na’s Belt and Road Initiative ferred. cheats. (BRI) could generate beyond May 2019 | Selangor Journal 15 Ramadan BUSINESS Kareem

Coping with

World Bank-Led Ensuring Transparent Govern- ment Guarantees and Subsidies The MFD approach seeks to commit fis- cal resources to ‘de-risking’ securities Financialization and other financial instruments to at- tract foreign institutional investments. It is thus re-orienting governments to By Addressing Systemic Risks effectively guarantee profits for private Jomo Kwame Sundaram, In fact, many concerned economists be- investors from financing development Anis Chowdhury lieve that monetary and fiscal policies projects, effectively reducing public fi- cannot adequately address such sys- To minimize abuses nancial resources available for develop- he World Bank has success- temic fragilities but may inadvertently ment projects. fully promoted its ‘Maximiz- exacerbate them, for example, raising and to protect the To minimize abuses and to protect the ing Finance for Development’ interest rates may attract more capital public interest, MDBs should instead en- (MFD) strategy by embracing inflows, instead of just stemming out- public interest, MDBs sure the transparency and accountabili- the United Nations’ Sustain- flows. should instead ensure ty of the framework by making clear the able Development Goals, internationally After effectively eschewing capital the transparency likely fiscal and other costs, including Tendorsed in September 2015. controls for decades despite its Article VI opportunity costs of de-risking projects. It has also secured support from the provisions, recent IMF advice has been and accountability Public interest agencies, civil society G20 of the 20 biggest economies, and inherently contractionary by raising in- organizations and the media should effectively pre-empted alternative ap- terest rates and tightening fiscal policy of the framework help governments closely monitor such proaches at the third UN Financing for instead of judiciously using ‘smart’ cap- costs and make the public fully aware of Development summit in Addis Ababa in ital controls. by making clear the costs and risks involved. mid-2015. Development-oriented governments the likely fiscal and As the ‘main show in town’, develop- must include those familiar with chang- *** ing countries will need to address the ing securities and derivatives markets, other costs, including MFD’s implications by responding pro- who will have to work with central opportunity costs of Excerpt: actively and collectively to address the banks on regulating cross-border flows new challenges this strategy poses. and managing systemic vulnerabilities. de-risking projects. Visit this story at It is difficult for development-orient- Managing New Macro-Financial ed governments to be pragmatic and ag- ipsnews.net/2019/04/coping- Challenges ile when they are subject to the dictates world-bank-led-financialization As the MFD agenda privileges foreign in- of private finance, especially when these vestors and portfolio inflows, multilater- appear to be rule-based, anonymous al development banks (MDBs) should be and foreign. Thus, a significant share of the mon- obliged to clearly show how developing Financial systems are increasingly be- ey flowing into global shadow banking countries will benefit. ing reorganized around securities mar- (institutional investors, asset managers) Greater vulnerability and other ad- kets dominated by transnational institu- comes from developing countries. Such verse implications as a result of being tional investors who have transformed capital outflows are typically due to tax more closely integrated into fickle glob- financial incentives and banking busi- arbitrage and avoidance practices by al financial markets, which detract from ness models. transnational corporations and wealthy the ostensible advantages of such inte- Many banks have reorganized them- individuals. gration, are now widely acknowledged. selves around securities and derivative There is also considerable capital The IMF and other international fi- markets where short-term profit oppor- flight by those who have accumulated nancial institutions (IFIs) should also tunities are significantly higher than wealth by corrupt and other dubious Jomo Kwame Sundaram, a former eco- advise on the efficacy of various policy traditional alternatives requiring costly means. The illicit sources of such riches nomics professor and United Nations As- instruments, such as macroprudential nurturing of long-term, ‘information-in- encourage storing such wealth abroad. sistant Secretary-General, was a member measures, including capital controls, to tensive’ relations. Effective cooperation to check and of the new Malaysian Government’s Coun- ensure central bank control of domestic return such ill-gotten gains—often sy- cil of Eminent Persons. credit conditions. Stopping Capital Outflows from phoned out using illicit means, such Although portfolio flows are general- Developing Countries as trade mispricing and other forms of ly recognized as pro-cyclical, IFIs reluc- International financial liberalization has money laundering—can go a long way. tantly recommend capital controls, and enabled further capital outflows from Equitable international tax coopera- even then only after governments have most developing countries, depriving tion would increase financial resources exhausted all other monetary and fiscal them of much-needed resources to de- available all round, especially to devel- policy options. velop their economies. oping-country governments. After experiencing repeated boom- The economic fiction that open capi- Instead, the IMF and others should bust cycles in capital flows, many tal accounts would result in needed net enable developing-country authorities emerging markets have learnt that they financial flows from ‘capital-rich’ devel- to effectively implement policies to more must manage such flows if they are to oped economies in the North to ‘cap- successfully mobilize domestic financial Anis Chowdhury reap some benefit from financial global- ital-poor’ developing countries in the resources for investment in developing ization while trying to minimize risks. South has been disproved. economies. SELANGOR JOURNAL 16 May 2019 | Selangor Journal AR UND TOWN May 2019

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