Tuesday 16 April 2019

OWNER OR REPRESENTATIVE SMASHES OWN 'LUXURY' APARTMENT IN PROTEST

This video of an owner or owner's representation trashes own 'luxury' apartment in the 'Golden Triangle' of Kuala Lumpur in protest against property developer Tropicana.

The Luxurious Tropicana The Residences Gets Trashed!

Tropicana snubs man who thrashed luxury unit with sledgehammer (VIDEO)

Published 1 hour ago on 15 April 2019

By Jerry Choong

KUALA LUMPUR, April 15 — Tropicana Corporation Berhad has refused to negotiate with a man who thrashed one of its luxury serviced residences with purported defects.

The property developer said the man featured in a viral video damaging a unit at Tropicana's The Residences development situated in the vicinity of Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC) — which he claimed contained marble flooring defects and was not luxurious enough — had demanded monetary compensation.

"The Representative emphasised and threatened that he would make it his life mission to damage Tropicana's reputation if the Group does not accede to his demands," Tropicana said in a statement, referring to the man.

"Today, Tropicana is in this situation as the Group refused to negotiate with such an individual, who clearly has malicious intent towards the Group. This is clearly a premeditated attempt to extort financial gains from the Group."

The property developer said it stood by its consultants and staff, whom it described as having shown professionalism in handling the matter

Adding the untoward incident has deeply affected the Tropicana team, the company apologised to anyone affected by it.

"The Group hopes that these unreasonable actions do not repeat as it completely undermines the whole building industry as well as the laws and regulations that govern housing development in Malaysia," said Tropicana.

A video that has gone viral features a middle-aged man ranting angrily about the quality of the purchased unit at The Residences, which he said cost RM2 million. It is believed to have been recorded by one of the people present with him.

Among other things, he accused the developer of using cheap furniture and materials to construct and to pass off the unit as a luxury condominium. He also complained about the lack of a curtain rod, sliding doors that were difficult to open, and small dressing tables.

Aside from taking a sledgehammer to smash a table and the unit's flooring, the man also used a red aerosol paint can to spray markings on the furniture, floor, and curtains. It is not currently known who the individual is.

Referring to the incident which took place last Wednesday, Tropicana said the man featured in the video was not actually the unit owner, but supposedly her representative.

"The actual owner took vacant possession officially of her unit at The Residences on March 23, and was satisfied except with the potential marble flooring defect.

"She subsequently lodged a defect report with Tropicana solely on marble flooring on April 1, which we were ready to rectify based on our Standard Operating Procedure, and in accordance with the terms of agreement with the owner," Tropicana said.

But the representative intervened and demanded specific members of Tropicana staff, main contractor and consultants present themselves for a meeting in the unit, the day the incident took place, according to Tropicana.

"However before the consultants were able to explain the typical natural characteristics of the marble flooring, the representative deviated from the defects reported by the owner and started becoming aggressive.

"The representative berated everyone and out of fear for their safety, the consultants decided to leave the unit. The internal staff of Tropicana also intended to leave however the Representative threatened to cause more damage," Tropicana said, adding that despite being traumatised, Tropicana staff remained within the unit out of safety concerns for its residents.

Tropicana added that by bringing a sledgehammer into the unit prior to the meeting, the representative clearly had a premeditated action in mind without intending to resolve the matter at hand.


Yours trully

Politischeiss

Wednesday 10 April 2019

SO WHAT'S YOUR PROPOSED SOLUTION TO PROBLEMS OF MALAYSIA'S RICE PRODUCING INDUSTRY, KRI ???

Results of a study released by the Khazanah Research Institute (KRI) highlighted problems with Malaysia's rice producing industry, The Malay Mail of 10 April 2019 reported.

However, going by The Malay Mail's report, the KRI offers no clear and concise solutions.

"Poor policies are also behind what KRI called a "midstream squeeze", in which rice millers are forced to buy low quality grains at a premium and sold at a controlled price despite a steadily increasing production cost."

"The think tank said protectionist policies aimed at safeguarding farmers and consumers neglect the difficulties faced by midstream players.

"Dealt with a thin profit margin, the study said most millers either diversify or resort to "malpractices", which deepens the distrust between them and farmers that KRI said worsened after the government standardised the RM1,200 Guaranteed Minimum Price per tonne nationwide."

"There are also numerous cases where millers were forced to close shop."

"This is what we call a midstream squeeze: they are forced to buy low quality grains from farmers and then they have to sell it at a controlled price," Serena said, adding that millers need urgent federal support.

"In Kelantan, only one miller is still operating while the rest couldn't operate anymore."

"Malaysia is predicted to remain a net rice importer for the next 20 years despite decades of production-oriented policies, KRI noted."
UNQUOTE

Going by the excerpt from the article above, it would appear that the KRI is implying that Malaysia remove all price controls on rice to allow rice millers to earn a higher profit margin, which in turn implies higher prices of rice to consumers.

I'm sure consumers, especially the those in the B40 lower income group who are already struggling with having to cope with the high cost of goods and high cost of living will love that.

OK! I have a suggestion - where agriculturally possible, convert some land used to grow oil palm for rice growing, whether by small holders or industrial scale rice farms using industrial scale farming methods and farm equipment. Also, such farms can include in-house rice milling facilities as well.

The Malay Mail article follows bewlow:-



Rice industry in dire straits despite billions in federal aid, says KRI study

Published 50 minutes ago on 10 April 2019

By Syed Jaymal Zahiid

KUALA LUMPUR, April 10 — The country's rice industry remains severely deficient despite having received billions worth of federal subsidies, incentives and other forms of assistance, said a new study on food security by Khazanah Research Institute (KRI) released today.

The think tank in its 'Status of Paddy and Rice Industry' report found the rice trade is beset with structural weaknesses, even if production has increased over the last 30 years to allow Malaysia to meet its safe self-sufficiency target (SSL) of 60 to 70 per cent.

If left unaddressed, KRI said any supply shock risk hurting the most vulnerable groups such as the poor, rural residents or migrant workers, the most dependent on rice as a food source.

"Households in the below 40 per cent group, rural areas and non-citizens spend a higher proportion of their monthly F&B expenditure on rice, compared to their respective counterparts," it said in a fact sheet.

"For some consumers such as undocumented workers, their consumption is invisible and are therefore easily left behind making these communities more vulnerable."

The study identified four key weaknesses that needed urgent remedies.

At the policy level, it found the government's definition of food security too narrow and heavily-production driven with rice SSL used as a proxy for food security.

KRI said this definition only covers availability and exclude nutritional importance of other food, which pushes farmers to focus only on meeting production targets, neglect quality and resort to unsustainable methods like the overuse of dangerous but cheap pesticides.

Dr Sarena Che Omar, lead author of the report, said the government must expand and incorporate food quality factors in a broader definition of food security.

"We need to emphasise on nutritional values... it's important because we need to design the right policies," she said during her presentation of the report here.

Malaysia ranks among nations with the highest obesity rate, according to the World Health Organisation in 2018.

Poor policies are also behind what KRI called a "midstream squeeze", in which rice millers are forced to buy low quality grains at a premium and sold at a controlled price despite a steadily increasing production cost.

The think tank said protectionist policies aimed at safeguarding farmers and consumers neglect the difficulties faced by midstream players.

Dealt with a thin profit margin, the study said most millers either diversify or resort to "malpractices", which deepens the distrust between them and farmers that KRI said worsened after the government standardised the RM1,200 Guaranteed Minimum Price per tonne nationwide.

There are also numerous cases where millers were forced to close shop.

"This is what we call a midstream squeeze: they are forced to buy low quality grains from farmers and then they have to sell it at a controlled price," Serena said, adding that millers need urgent federal support.

"In Kelantan, only one miller is still operating while the rest couldn't operate anymore."

Malaysia is predicted to remain a net rice importer for the next 20 years despite decades of production-oriented policies, KRI noted.

Some economists have called on the government to return its focus on agriculture for food security reasons.

Consumption goods imports totalled RM2 billion last year, down from RM6.5 billion the year before with food and beverages posting a RM440 million drop or 44 per cent year-on-year, official data showed.


Yours trully

Politischeiss

Monday 8 April 2019

I'M SURE MALAYSIAN WILL "LOVE" HAVING TO PAY A DEPARTURE LEVY

Already burdened with cost of living which remains high or has risen since the 14th General Elections on 9 May 2019, I'm pretty sure that Malaysians who travel out of Malaysia by air will be 'delighted' to have to pay a RM20 departure levy when flying to an ASEAN country and RM40 when flying elsewhere, when the proposed Departure Levy Act is passed.

I suppose our 'New Malaysia' government will argue that if one can afford to fly, even on a budget airline, one can afford to pay a departure levy, so this proposed departure levy looks unlikely to affect most Malaysians in the B40 (lowest 40% of household income earners) who mostly travel by bus, train, car, boat, motorcycle, bicycle or walk across borders to Singapore, Thailand or Indonesia.

Let's wait and see what the public reaction to this will be.

The Star's article follows below:-



Malaysians leaving the country will have to pay when Departure Levy Bill is passed

Monday, 8 Apr 2019

6:58 PM MYT

Monday, 8 Apr 2019

6:58 PM MYT


KUALA LUMPUR: Anyone flying out the country will have to pay a fee when the Departure Levy Bill 2019 is passed in Parliament.


The Bill tabled by Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Amiruddin Hamzah (pic) for its first reading on Monday (April 8) seeks the implementation of a new levy on any person leaving Malaysia.


However, the amount of the proposed levy was not mentioned in the Bill.


In Budget 2019, the government had proposed a departure levy of RM20 for Asean countries and RM40 for non-Asean countries.


The Bill also proposes hefty punishments for those who avoid paying the levy.


Any registered person who makes an incorrect return or information can face a fine not exceeding RM500,000, a three-year jail term or both, upon sentencing.


According to the Bill, a registered person means any operator or agent of foreign operators.


The Bill also states that anyone with the intent to evade or assist another to avoid the departure levy will also be liable to a fine not exceeding RM1mil, a five-year jail sentence or both upon sentencing.


The proposed Act also states that any person who in any way assaults, obstructs, hinders, threatens or molests a Customs officer in the discharge of his function or fails to give reasonable assistance to any Customs offer will also be liable to a maximum three-year jail term, a fine not exceeding RM500,000 or both if found guilty.   


https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2019/04/08/malaysians-leaving-the-country-will-have-to-pay-when-departure-levy-bill-is-passed/


Yours trully



Politischeiss

http://politischeiss.blogspot.com/


Wednesday 3 April 2019

SO THE LONG-AWAITED TRAIL HAS BEGUN, SO LET'S GET ON WITH OTHER MATTERS.

So the long awaited trial of former prime minister Dato' Seri Najib Tun Razak began today.

Let the prosecution handle this issue which has been the subject of endless, tiresome, circular talk amongst Malaysians over dinner, tea, beers and on social media for several years now.

Meanwhile, we have bigger issues at hand, such as the economy, high cost of living, unemployment, low wages and salaries, poor enforcement of public safety and environmental protection regulations and other issues which affect us directly to bother about, which our "Malaysia Baru" government needs to address.



Meanwhile, Malaysians can follow live updates of the trial's proceedings by The Star over here:-

Yours trully

Politischeiss