Where were you, YB? — Lim Mun Fah |
- Where were you, YB? — Lim Mun Fah
- #KucingHappy is back again! (VIDEO)
- Asia MSCI index retreats, Tokyo’s Nikkei breaches 20,000
- Smartwatch! Apple expects strong demand in debut
- Reuters Video: LinkedIn buys online training platform for US$1.5 billion
| Where were you, YB? — Lim Mun Fah Posted: 09 Apr 2015 06:36 PM PDT
On October 3, 2013, Dewan Rakyat initiated the "stop the clock" mechanism to pass the third reading of the Prevention of Crime Act 2013 (Amendment and Extension) at 12.53am. On April 7, 2015, the same "stop the clock" mechanism was initiated again, this time passing the third reading of Pota 2015 at 2.25am. In the 2013 sitting, the third reading of the Prevention of Crime Act 2013 (Amendment and Extension) was adopted with 115 votes for and 66 votes again. A total of 18 BN and 23 Pakatan reps were absent or abstained from voting. Two years later, there were 79 votes for and 60 votes again the Pota. As many as 55 BN reps (41 per cent) and 26 Pakatan reps (30 per cent) were absent. These two are highly controversial bills in that the authorities are given the power to detain an individual before any trial. Both the acts have caused widespread controversies among the people, and have sparked vigorous debates in the Parliament, both ending up with the same fate: the initiation of "stop the clock" mechanism and the bills adopted in the wee hours of the morning thanks to lower MP turnout. Let's put aside whether the Pota will eventually be abused by the government, there is no question about the importance and far fetching influences of this act. Unfortunately, when such a critical act was to go into voting, there were as many as 81 MPs (36 per cent of total) absenting themselves from the sitting. Those MPs who used to claim they worked for the people and who urged all eligible voters to come out and vote during elections as every vote should count, these people owe Malaysians an explanation: Where were you during such critical moment? Why suddenly the votes in your hands no longer seem to matter? Those taking PTO (paid time off) should ask themselves: Do you think your conscience is clear seeing your fellow comrades debating aggressively in the Dewan Rakyat? Those who give up their right should ask whether they have done the right thing to reciprocate the voters who have placed so much hope on you. Both the disappearing BN and Pakatan reps should explain or express themselves where they stand on the Pota issue. Please, tell it to the world what your absence or abstention means. Do you agree or not agree, or do you just hide your heads into the sand like an ostrich? At least you should tell us why you were not there. We need to know whether it was due to any major reasons that have caused both the PKR parliamentary whip Datuk Johari Abdul and PAS chief whip Datuk Mahfuz Omar to leave earlier. Meanwhile, DAP's MP for Bagan Lim Guan Eng and MP for Kluang Liew Chin Tong must also convince their supporters which between a conference in Australia and the parliamentary debate is more important. If it is said that BN had planned to employ the old tricks to get the bill passed, how about Pakatan? Why hasn't the opposition pact learned a lesson but has let us down once again? Whatever their reasons could be, it is simply unacceptable that as many as 41 per cent of BN and 30 per cent of Pakatan reps chose to stay away from the Dewan Rakyat sitting when such a critical bill was to be voted. All that I want to do is to remind these YBs that you do not have to inspect the monsoon drains or check on every yard of our roads, but one thing you must do it well is to speak up when you really need to, don't chicken out when you've got to be tough, and never do a disappearing act when you are required to cast your vote. Those who cannot even fulfill this simplest requirement better be prepared to get kicked out. — Sin Chiew Daily * This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail Online.  |
| #KucingHappy is back again! (VIDEO) Posted: 09 Apr 2015 06:34 PM PDT KUALA LUMPUR, April 10 — The witty Kucing Happy is back again with more goodies and funny quips. Watch as he doles out words of wisdom to fans.
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| Asia MSCI index retreats, Tokyo’s Nikkei breaches 20,000 Posted: 09 Apr 2015 06:25 PM PDT
The MSCI Asia Pacific Index fell 0.3 per cent by 9.35am in Tokyo, dropping for the first time in seven days and still headed for a 2.4 per cent gain this week. Japan's Nikkei 225 Stock Average retreated after earlier breaching 20,000 points for the first time since 2000, while Korean shares jumped. Standard & Poor's 500 Index futures lost 0.1 per cent. The Aussie rose a fourth day. US oil headed for a fourth weekly gain. After driving gains of more than 85 per cent in Shanghai shares over the past year, mainland Chinese investors are turning to Hong Kong, buying as many equities through a five- month-old exchange link as regulators will allow this week. The Hang Seng Index and Hang Seng China Enterprises gauge have surged more than six per cent over the past two days. China is due to report on consumer and producer prices today. "This phenomenon of a large amount of money pushing into a space in the market in such a short period of time is exaggerating moves," Tim Schroeders, a portfolio manager who helps oversee about US$1 billion (RM3.63b) in equities at Pengana Capital Ltd. in Melbourne, said by phone. "It looks highly speculative and prone to a correction at some stage. There seems to be a lot of speculation fueling fund flows in terms of policy stimulus from China which may or may not happen." — Bloomberg |
| Smartwatch! Apple expects strong demand in debut Posted: 09 Apr 2015 06:19 PM PDT
The Apple Watch, which also marks the Cupertino, California company's debut in a fledgling wearable technology market, will be available for pre-order online and to try out in stores — but not take home. On April 24, consumers will be able to buy it online or by reservation at retail locations including high-end fashion boutiques in Paris, London and Tokyo. Based on recent customer interest at its stores, Apple expects demand for the watch, which allows users to check email, listen to music and make phone calls when paired with an iPhone, to exceed availability at launch, it said on Thursday. Reviewers this week praised the watch, which also helps users monitor their health and exercise, as "beautiful" and "stylish" but gave it poor marks for relatively low battery life and slow-loading apps. For women, the various sizes and wrist bands make this smartwatch more pleasing than earlier versions from Samsung Electronics and others, said Kantar World Panel market analyst Carolina Milanesi, who has been wearing the watch for a few days. "Is it for everybody? No, but I don't think any wearables are yet," she said. Still, Apple's watch is widely expected to outsell those by Samsung, Sony and Fitbit, that have attracted modest interest from consumers. It will likely account for 55 per cent of global smartwatch shipments this year, according to Societe Generale. The Apple Watch sport starts at US$349 (RM1,270) and the standard version of the watch starts at US$549. High-end "Edition" watches with 18-karat gold alloys are priced from US$10,000 and go as high as US$17,000. Underscoring its strategy to market the watch as a fashion accessory, Apple is selling it through a handful of high-end stores including Selfridges in London, Galeries Lafayette in Paris and Tokyo's Isetan department store. JMP analyst Alex Gauna said he and others on Wall Street would be at stores this weekend to gauge consumers' reactions to the watches. Sales estimates for 2015 vary widely. Piper Jaffray predicts 8 million units will be sold and Global Securities Research forecasts 40 million. By comparison, Apple sold nearly 200 million iPhones last year. Apple shares closed 0.76 per cent higher at US$126.56 yesterday. — Reuters |
| Reuters Video: LinkedIn buys online training platform for US$1.5 billion Posted: 09 Apr 2015 06:07 PM PDT Duration: 1:38, Published 10 Apr 2015 LinkedIn purchases online training platform, Lynda.com, for US$1.5 billion. Its price surprises a prominent analyst. Shartia Brantley reports. — Reuters |
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