FREE MARCH 2018 selangorjournal.my f facebook.com/selangorjournal/ “Every single sen of the state fund belongs to the people. The money must be translated into developmental programmes for the good of “ the people of this state. #HereWeAre #undirosak Uphold Rule Health Exquisite Of Law Protection For Staycation Civil Servants FEATURE 15 FEATURE 11 NEWS 3 LIFE STYLE 6 LIFE STYLE 8 BUSINESS Economic Debt Repayments Powerhouse on The Rise Can We Afford elangor Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali’s recent visit Them? to Japan in January 2018 saw the signing of two business collaborations worth more than RM 1.26 billion. This sizeable investment from a foreign country further The ECRL is one of several Federal projects that is cements Selangor’s role in driving the Malaysian S expected to burden the rakyat further. economy. In 2016, Selangor contributed 22.7% Story continues on page 4 of the nation’s GDP amounting to RM251.6 billion. According to the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA), for the period between January to September 2017, Selangor raked in investments worth RM3.049 billion through 132 manufacturing projects while creating 5,494 job opportunities. This collaboration is another testament of Selangor being the most preferred investment destination for Japanese corporations. It also reflects foreign investors’ confidence in the strong fundamentals and administration of Selangor which is based on a policy of good governance, transparency and accountability to fight corruption. One of the practices of good governance in the state is the practice of open tenders. This process upholds transparency and accountability standards that are pegged against international best practices to ensure there are no elements of corruption and the misuse of power. Since 2014 till 21 February 2018, this practice has recorded a savings of RM615.1 million. In the past Malaysia had a “look East” policy but lately it appears that “the East” is looking towards Selangor for consultancy and business opportunities. Countries like Japan and Taiwan are looking at Selangor as a regional partner in many areas but at the forefront is Selangor’s expertise in the halal industry that is creating various opportunities for collaboration. Story continues on page 5 02 NEWS March 2018 | Selangor Journal he US$ 250 million allege the large, modern vessel Malaysia’s New Straits Times it luxury super-yacht named Equanimity had been was “disappointing that, rather Equanimity, is said to attempting to evade them in than reflecting on the deeply Equanimity be the 54th biggest Southeast Asian waters by dis- flawed and politically moti- yacht in the world. abling its automated identifica- vated allegations, the DOJ is At 90 metres, it has a swim- tion system to avoid question- continuing with its pattern of Tming pool on deck, a helipad, ing over a $US4.5 billion fraud global overreach — all based on in Troubled movie theatre, spa and sauna case. entirely unsupported claims of — and cabins for 28 crew and The US Justice Department wrongdoing”. 18 guests. claims the Equanimity is owned Mr Low’s whereabouts are The FBI had tipped off In- by 36-year-old Malaysian finan- unknown. Over the past 180 Waters donesia that the massive yacht cier Jho Low, who is believed to days, the Equanimity is believed was in its waters somewhere have been part of the scheme to to have sailed from Malaysia near Bali, Indonesian police siphon billions out of a Malay- and Singapore to Bali, then to traced the yacht to the island sian investment fund between Papua and back. However, there of Lombok, then seized it as 2009 and 2015. On Thursday, were several points where its it sailed into Bali. FBI officials a spokesman for Jho Low told movements were unclear. Ijok Truth Revealed NEWS Selangor Journal | March 2018 | 03 SPAN Urged To Review SPLASH Concession ne of my constit- Syabas nor Air Selangor were the dams. uents said that responsible for the mess. After repairing the fourth people don’t re- Syarikat Pengeluaran Air pump, the surge vessel system member what the Sungai Selangor Sdn Bhd exploded during the process Selangor state (SPLASH) was awarded a 30- of reactivation, injuring five government has done for them year concession by the previous workers. Oin the last five years, but they Barisan Nasional-led Selangor It is clear that the plant was will certainly remember the state government in January poorly maintained and as a re- last seven days. 2000 to build, operate and sult placed thousands of house- And the last one week hap- maintain the water plant. holds without water, distress Syarikat Pengeluaran pens to be just before the next This means that SPLASH is and not to mention the extra “Air Sungai Selangor general election, described as the concessionaire and suppli- expenses incurred by that peo- Sdn Bhd (SPLASH) one that would be the most er of treated water to SYABAS, ple to buy food and water. fiercely fought in the country. and therefore responsible for As such, the National Water was awarded a 30- The seven days were ex- the water disruption. Services Commission ( SPAN) year concession cruciatingly painful for some SPLASH has not just failed needs to investigate as to why 500,000 people in Selangor to provide regular updates on the three water pumps were not by the previous tion to ask is whether SPLASH’s who were stranded without the status of repair works but repaired for more than a year, Barisan Nasional- concession agreement should water due to a surge vessel sys- also didn’t have proper contin- the causes of the explosion, led Selangor state be terminated given the poor tem burst in a water treatment gency plan to handle an emer- if procedures were followed, maintenance and staggering plant. gency. whether systems were main- government in debts. They were furious with the Apparently, three of the wa- tained properly and if SPLASH January 2000 to People in Selangor cannot state government and frustrat- ter pumps were not repaired or should compensate consumers. be left highly vulnerable again ed with having to deal with maintained since 2016. The water concessionaire is build, operate and “ because of SPLASH’s poor per- overflowing toilets and inabili- And the fourth pump was also facing financial problems maintain the formance. ty to even buy drinking water, recognised as faulty by Air given that their debts with water plant. as they were selling out fast. Selangor because of consum- Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) Their anger is justified. But er complaints and a loss of 30 run into millions of ringgit. Charles Santiago neither the state government, MLD (million litres a day) from As such, the crucial ques- Member of Parliament Klang Ijok Land Uphold Rule of Law Finally Settled ormer MP Mohamed he said. Tawfik Ismail has re- He added that allowing the minded all members Bill to be listed in the Order Paper n 2000, the former BN to the developer. It would of parliament to up- “opens the door to further ero- government of Selangor then be developed for the hold the rule of law sion” of the Federal Constitution. persuaded the settlers in benefit of the Selangor as PAS’ Private Member’s Bill, The Private Members Bill Ijok to sell their land to people. or RUU355, is listed in the par- to amend the Syariah Courts Mujur Zaman, LBCN and F (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act liamentary order paper despite Liputan Canggih – at that time a court order prohibiting it 1965 — also known as RUU355 crony companies of UMNO/BN Cost from being tabled. — was listed on Tuesday and I Wednesday as the fourth item – in exchange for compensation RM In an open letter to all and houses worth RM180,000 MPs, Mohamed Tawfik quot- on the list, behind three gov- each. This was a deal that was 500,000 ed Article 38 of the Federal elected MP must swear to pre- ernment Bills, for second read- never fulfilled by UMNO and over Constitution, which states that serve, protect and defend the ing and debate. its corporate cronies. 980 Parliament must obtain the Federal Constitution. However, it remains unclear The Selangor government settlers Conference of Rulers’ consent “As the next general elec- if RUU355 will see the light of under Khalid Ibrahim acquired The handing over of before listing any matters of re- tion is imminent, members the day. 1,000 acres of Alam Perdana in RM180,000 compen- ligion in the Order Paper. from both sides of the House Last March, Tawfik filed an 2010, using the Land Acquisi- sation and houses now He said listing RUU355 in must stand united and obey the application seeking to declare tion Act 1960. However, it was worth around RM500,000 theOrder Paper is in defiance very laws you passed, demon- the Private Member’s Bill, bet- blocked by a court stay order to each one of over 980 of the judgement from the High strate your sworn commitment ter known as RUU355, as un- from doing the same on the re- settlers and their heirs Court and in blatant contraven- to the nation that gave you the constitutional and that it flout- maining 2,200 acres of Alam after an 18 year struggle tion of the Constitution. sacred duty to defend, uphold ed Parliament procedures. Mutiara and Alam Utama. This was a good deed facili- He added that the move also and protect their constitutional The Bill seeks to amend the private land is the subject of tated by the present Se- contradicted Dewan Rakyat rights, and demand the Private Syariah Courts (Criminal Juris- the RM1.18 billion deal.