Briefing: SYABAS stealing billions of public money

How SYABAS is stealing billions of our money from under our noses

Here’s a basic simple write-up. If you can afford the time, do swing by a briefing:

Date : Saturday, 20th November 2010
Time : 2.30pm – 5.00pm
Venue : Bilik Gerakan, 1st Floor, MBPJ Headquarters, Jalan Yong Shook Lin

In 1997, the Barisan Nasional state and federal governments began privatising the water industry in Selangor. Then Menteri Besar Muhammad Taib chose the treasurer from his Umno division, Tan Sri Rozali Ismail to be the main beneficiary of this privatisation exercise.

By 2010, the amounts of losses generated by leakage and corruption in the private water companies have now run into the hundreds of millions. Amongst the many questionable financial practices found in the private water companies are:

1. An audit report on Syabas showed more than 72% of contracts, worth RM 600 million in total, was awarded to companies chosen through direct negotiation not by open tender process. Also, RM 325 million was found to be ‘missing’ in discrepancies between Syabas’ public accounts and the records of contracts awarded from 2005 to 2007.

3. In June 2005, Syabas contravened the terms of their concession when they imported RM 375 million worth of pipes from an Indonesian company instead of sourcing them locally. The Indonesian company was owned by Tan Sri Rozali Ismail, the CEO of Syabas.

4. Tan Sri Rozali Ismail’s salary is RM 5.1 million a year or RM 425,000 a month.

5. The four water companies have a combined debt of RM 6.4 billion. The federal government has given Syabas a soft loan of RM 320 million. The total interest on this 20 year loan is RM 250 million, and Syabas will not be required to pay a single sen of this amount. Instead, this cost will be fully borne by Malaysian taxpayers.

In light of this appalling financial mismanagement, the Selangor state government has prevented Syabas from raising water tariffs by 37%, and is now endeavouring to reacquire all water concessions from the private water companies. Their goal is to eliminate the element ofprivatised profit and socialised losses, stop the corruption and leakage, and ensure quality delivery of water at affordable rates. This move requires public and support and pressure to succeed.

Daylight robbery at The Curve Mutiara Damansara

The security CCTV footage shown in the video below shows how blatant robbers in Malaysia have become with the robbery taking place in full daylight and I assume in a busy environment as it took place in The Curve, Mutiara Damansara, Petaling Jaya:

Talk: Transforming Society by Li-ann Thio

Transforming Society Seminar Speaker: Dr. Li-ann Thio

Topic: "Contending for Righteousness in an age of lawlessness"

Date: 31 July 2010 Saturday
Venue: Level 1, Luther Center (see location map)
Jalan Utara
Petaling Jaya
Time: 9am - 12 noon
Fee: RM40 inclusive of refreshment

Dr. Li-ann Thio is a Singaporean law professor at the National University of Singapore. She was educated at the University of Oxford, Harvard Law School and the University of Cambridge. She teaches and has published widely in the fields of public international law, human rights law, constitutional and administrative law. Formerly Chief Editor, Singapore Journal of International and Comparative Law (2000-2003), she is currently General Editor, Asian Yearbook of International Law, on the editorial board of the International Journal of Constitutional Law, Journal of East Asia and International Law, National Taiwan University Law Review and on the Advisory Board of the New ZealandYearbook of Internatioanl Law, Australian Journal of Asian law and International Law & Human Rights Discourse. She has taught courses at the law faculties of Hong Kong University and the University of Melbourne. A leading Singapore constitutional scholar, she co-authored Constitutional Law in Malaysia and Singapore (Butterworths, 1997) and co-edited Evolution of a Revolution: 40 years of the Singapore Constitution (Routledge-Cavendish, 2009), both with Kevin YL Tan. She was an expert witness before the Australian Federal Court and academic freedom consultant to the University of Warwick (2005). She was twice ranked an NUS Excellent Teacher and received the NUS Young Researcher Award in 2004. From Jan 2007 - July 2009, Professor Thio was a Nominated Member of Parliament (Eleventh Session).

Location map: Luther Center, Jalan Utara, Section 52, Petaling Jaya

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Forum: No to more taxes

Announcement: There will be a forum entitled "No to more taxes" at Jaya One Crystal Crown Hotel, Petaling Jaya.

Date: Wednesday, 17 March, 2010
Location: Crystal Crown Hotel,
12 Lorong Utara A,
Seksyen 52,
Petaling Jaya,
Selangor 46200‎
Tel: 03-7958 4422‎

Speakers:
Tan Sri Khalid
Lim Guan Eng
Tony Pua
Dr. Dzul
Rafizi Ramli

Call 016-2208 867 for further details

Location map, Crystal Crown Hotel, Lorong Utara, Petaling Jaya

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Date: 17 March, 2010
Time: 8pm
Location: PJ Live Arts Centre, Jaya 1, Seksyen 13, Petaling Jaya.
Speakers: Tony Pua, Dr. Dzul, Charles Santiago

Location Map, Jaya One, Section 13, Petaling Jaya

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Ceramah at SS2 Petaling Jaya re PJ Utara Constituency

I will be attending this ceramah tonight:

Date: 25 February 2008 (Monday)
Time: 8.00 pm
Place: MJ Cafe (Next to Hong Leong Bank)
Address: Road SS2/63

If I am not wrong, this is opposite the Bata shop and along the same row as Eu Yan San Chinese herbal medicine shop and former Thomas and Guys Hairdresser Saloon, but at the opposite end. It is also near the Police Station and the BP Station (may have changed name).

Speakers list:
- Lim Kit Siang
- Tony Pua
- Dr Cheah Wing Yin
- Lau Weng San
- Haris Ibrahim

I already have made up my mind how to vote, vote against Barisan which have abused their two third majority in Parliament (click BACK button to get back to this page) and will be there mainly to listen to Haris Ibrahim, Human Rights lawyer and creator of People's Parliament (Get to know your MP).

* Note: There is a pasar malam in the same area so either park in the SS2 housing area and walk over, or in the big open-air carpark right next to the ceramah venue.