Coalition Against Water Privatisation concerned over delay in written judgement

Published : October 04, 2012      Source : The Edge

KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 4): Efforts of water consumers to challenge a Court of Appeal order preventing public access to a confidential audit report and a water concession agreement have stalled as the applicants have yet to obtain the written judgement.

The Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) and 13 water consumers said that Justice Datin Paduka Zaleha Zahari and Justice Datuk Seri Abu Samah Nordin have yet to provide their written judgement in the appeal where the duo ruled that the respondents have no legal right of access to the audit report and water concession agreement involving the federal government, Selangor government and Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (Syabas) in 2011.

AEPF-7 Opening Speech of Charles Santiago

Published : October 13, 2008       Source : Asia-Europe People's Forum

OPENING SPEECH OF CHARLES SANTIAGO
Member of Parliament, Democratic Action Party. Malaysia
Monitoring Sustainability of Globalisation (MSN, Malaysia)

Beijing, China

Chairperson
His Excellency Yang Jiechi, Foreign Minister of China
Honorable Heidi Hautala, Member of Parliament, Finland
Members of the IOC and NOC
Friends

I bring you greetings of peace and solidarity from the civil society in Malaysia.

It is ten years since many of us met in London in one of the earliest Asia Europe People’s Forums. Our solemn mood then was shaped very much by the fall-out of what was called the Asian economic crisis. In that context, one economy after another – Thailand, Indonesia, South Korea, the Philippines – went belly-up. And the once-praised developmental model fell into disrepute.

MP: Seek underground water instead of building dams

by  Chan Kok Leong     Published 15 Apr 2008      Source : Malaysiakini

Klang parliamentarian Charles Santiago questioned the rational behind the Selangor government's decision to continue with the Pahang-Selangor dam project.
Noting that the project would bring more harmful effects than benefits, the DAP politician said that Selangor should re-consider and look at other options.

"Instead of building a dam in Pahang, which will cause many environmental and ecological detriments, the Selangor state government should explore other options.

"And while there is no guarantee (as rainfall may reduce drastically due to global warming and climate change) that a dam in Pahang will provide a steady flow of raw water to Selangor, the effects of a permanent dam are irreversible," said the 48-year-old political scientist when contacted today.

Civil society enters election fray

by Baradan Kuppusamy     Published 15 Feb 2008    Source : Malaysiakini

Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi had parliament dissolved Wednesday, paving the way for snap elections that political analysts say will see the opposition gain ground thanks to voter discontent over rising prices, crime and ethnic tension.

The government held over 90 percent of seats in the just dissolved 222-member parliament.
While the ruling 14-party Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition government led by Abdullah is in no danger of losing power, the results are expected to reflect unhappiness over a multiplicity of issues by sensitised voters.

Abdullah's popularity had soared to over 90 percent in 2004, the year he won his first mandate on a populist platform of curbing corruption and ensuring government transparency and accountability. But that popularity has taken a beating in recent months.
According to recent opinion polls, his popularity has slid down to about 60 percent, low by Malaysian standards, analysts said.

Researcher: Indian M'sians dominate lowest-paid jobs

by Syed Jaymal Zahiid     Published 6 Dec 2007     Source : Malaysiakini

The Indian community in this country is ailing and no argument by any Barisan Nasional (BN) leader can rebut this fact, according to one researcher.

Monitoring Sustainability of Globalisation director and researcher Charles Santiago said the recent remark by a deputy minister that the Indians were doing better than the Malays, gave the wrong impression.

Deputy Rural and Regional Development Minister Zainal Abidin Osman told the Dewan Rakyat that the household income for Indians in 2004 was RM3,456, while it was RM2,711 for the 'Malays' and RM4,437 for the Chinese.

'Two wrongs don't make Asean charter right'

by  Fauwaz Abdul Aziz     Published 21 Nov 2007    Source : Malaysiakini

The signing of the Asean charter by military-ruled Burma and Thailand makes a mockery of the charter's goal of promoting rule of law, good governance, democracy and constitutional government, said an activist.

Monitoring the Sustainability of Globalisation (MSN) director Charles Santiago described the governments of the two countries as "unlawful" until duly elected by the people.

"What is the 'bigger picture' if this very charter they are talking about has been signed by countries whose legal standing as members of Asean are under question?" he asked, referring to a statement by Malaysian premier Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

2008 Budget not for all

by Bede Hong     Published 7 Sep 2007     Source : Malaysiakini

The 2008 Budget, while helpful to the rural poor and civil servants, was silent on a variety of other issues, including economic competitiveness and workers rights.

MTUC president Syed Shahir Syed Muhamud, Monitoring Sustainability of Globalisation director Charles Santiago and academician Khoo Kay Peng felt there was little initiative to improve Malaysia's competitiveness.

"I don't see the Budget is doing enough for the private sector," said Khoo in a panel discussion organised by malaysiakini today. Also on the panel were Syed Shahir and Santiago.