Pakatan MPs to attend swearing in

Publication: NST

Date of publication: Jun 20, 2013

Section heading: Main Section

Page number: 012

Byline / Author: By Rahmah Ghazali

PETALING JAYA: Despite their protests against the electoral results, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said all 89 Pakatan members of parliament would attend the swearing-in ceremony at Dewan Rakyat on Monday.

The opposition leader told a press conference at the PKR headquarters here yesterday that they had agreed to boycott only the parliamentary briefing. On June 11, 88 out of 89 Pakatan MPs boycotted the briefing session by Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia. Bakri MP Er Teck Hwa was the only opposition member who turned up.

We have nominated a speaker for the house, so we can't boycott (the swearing-in ceremony), he said, adding that they had submitted former federal court judge Datuk Abdul Kadir Sulaiman as their candidate.

Anwar, who is also PKR de-facto leader, said the opposition needed to be consulted over the appointment of the speaker.

We want a man or a woman of integrity and who's independent. Therefore, we have submitted Kadir Sulaiman as our choice of speaker.

I believe in the spirit of parliamentary democracy. We need to be consulted and they cannot just run over people who are impartial, said Anwar.

Earlier, the Permatang Pauh MP cast doubt on Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's newly-formed fiscal policy committee to improve the country's economic sustainability.

I cautiously take note of the announcement by Najib of the formation of a committee that will focus on reducing the national budgetary deficit to three per cent by 2015.

He said this could be achieved through strict economic governance and transparent government procurements without the need to introduce new tax policies such as the Goods and Services Tax (GST).

Anwar said GST could be introduced only if the average income of Malaysians had risen significantly.

He also offered Pakatan's assistance to the police to improve public perception of the force.

I will table to the Pakatan leadership that a committee of Pakatan and Barisan Nasional representatives be formed to work with the inspector-general of police to address concerns about their safety.

State Govt agrees to GST implementation

Posted on June 20, 2013, Thursday

THE State Government has agreed to the implementation of the proposed Goods and Services Tax (GST) at seven per cent if all potential implications are taken into account seriously.

Assistant Finance Minister Datuk Ramlee Marahaban said this in reply to a question from Likas assemblyman Junz Wong at the State Legislative Assembly sitting yesterday.

Wong had asked if the State Government agreed to the proposed GST which would be implemented this year.

“The Federal Government announced recently that the proposed GST would not be implemented in the near future as the government is still studying the implications and also whether it is appropriate to impose seven per cent.

“The government also has explained that discussions are still being conducted with relevant parties, including the private sector and members of the public.

“I believe the proposed GST is not only seen as an additional income but will also add value to the well-being of the people in a holistic manner,” said Ramlee.

He added that the State Government had expressed a number of opinions in several forums related to the GST.

Ramlee said the State Government had written responses and proposals to the tax review panel unit under the Finance Ministry to ensure that it is in the best interest of the people.

The Bugaya assemblyman also said the State Government was confident that the Federal Government would be taking into account all aspects of the proposed GST before implementing it.

“The Federal Government has been organizing a series of roadshows from time to time to give more education on GST, while the State Government will work closely with the tax review panel unit and to organize briefing to explain about GST.

“I believe this kind of approach will be continued according to the needs, before GST is implemented,” he added.

Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2013/06/20/state-govt-agrees-to-gst-implementation/#ixzz2dPhPTWtT

Apa faedah Perjanjian Perkongsian Trans-Pasifik kepada usahawan Melayu!

Oleh Dr. Sufian Jusoh 
sufianjusoh@gmail.com
PENULIS ialah Perunding Perbadanan Harta Intelek Malaysia berkaitan Penilaian Harta Intelek.

Terdapat beberapa perkara yang perlu dijelaskan kepada masyarakat umum tentang Perjanjian Perdagangan Bebas (FTA) yang antara lainnya, Perjanjian Perkongsian Trans-Pasifik (TPP) supaya masyarakat dapat memahami sama ada terdapat faedah dan pengajaran yang boleh diperolehi. Apa itu FTA; apakah FTA yang telah ditandatangani dan sedang dirundingkan oleh Malaysia; apa itu TPP; dan peluang serta kesan FTA kepada Malaysia terutamanya kepada usahawan Melayu dan Bumiputera.

Perjanjian Perdagangan Bebas (FTA)

FTA merupakan satu perjanjian perdagangan di antara dua buah negara atau beberapa negara yang berkaitan dengan perdagangan. FTA wujud apabila negara-negara terbabit membuat perjanjian bagi pengurangan 'tariff' atau dirujuk sebagai duti import terhadap barang dari negara yang menjadi ahli kepada perjanjian terbabit.

FTA juga selalunya melibatkan pengurangan kuota import dan memberi beberapa kelebihan kepada barangan yang diimport dan memenuhi syarat-syarat FTA yang berkaitan. Bentuk perjanjian FTA ini telah melalui beberapa generasi.

Generasi pertama FTA biasanya cuma merujuk kepada perdagangan barangan dua hala atau serantau, manakala generasi terbaru FTA melibatkan isu-isu lain yang berkaitan seperti import dan eksport perkhidmatan, hal-hal berkaitan harta intelek, pergerakan sementara tenaga kerja terutamanya berkaitan dengan tenaga pakar, pengurusan kanan dan lembaga pengarah, dan yang terbaharu adalah hubung kait di antara perdagangan barangan dan perkhidmatan dengan pelaburan.

Terdapat juga beberapa FTA yang mempunyai peruntukan bukan tariff seperti standard dan peraturan berkaitan dengan keselamatan makanan, perdagangan elektronik dan juga kontrak bekalan kerajaan (government procurement atau GPA).

Semua FTA yang ditandatangani oleh ahli Pertubuhan Perdagangan Dunia (WTO) hendaklah didaftarkan dan perlu memenuhi syarat-syarat yang telah ditetapkan oleh WTO.

FTA yang telah ditandatangani dan sedang dirundingkan oleh Malaysia

TPP bukanlah satu-satunya FTA yang sedang dirundingkan dan akan ditandatangani oleh Malaysia. Perlu diingatkan bahawa Malaysia adalah ahli kepada beberapa pertubuhan yang menganjurkan perdagangan bebas sama ada secara pelbagai hala atau serantau seperti WTO dan ASEAN.

WTO adalah suatu pertubuhan perdagangan bebas terpenting di dunia dan Malaysia adalah ahli asal sejak penubuhan WTO pada tahun 1995. Selain itu, Malaysia juga adalah pendokong kuat perjanjian-perjanjian di bawah ASEAN yang membentuk sebahagian daripada Komuniti Ekonomi ASEAN (AEC) iaitu Perjanjian ASEAN Berkaitan Perdagangan Barangan (ATIGA), Rangka Perjanjian ASEAN Berkaitan Perkhidmatan (AFAS) dan Perjanjian Komprehensif Pelaburan ASEAN (ACIA).

Selain daripada itu, Malaysia juga merupakan sebahagian daripada APEC yang antara lain, menganjurkan kerjasama perdagangan di antara negara-negara anggota.

Antara lain, Malaysia juga telah menandatangani FTA dengan Jepun, Pakistan, India, Chile, New Zealand, Australia dan melalui ASEAN telah menandatangani FTA dengan Australia, New Zealand, Korea, China, India dan Jepun. Malaysia juga sedang berunding untuk mengadakan FTA dengan Kesatuan Eropah dan Turki.

Apakah TPP?

TPP bukanlah suatu FTA yang baru. TPP dalam bentuk yang dirundingkan sekarang adalah satu kelangsungan daripada rundingan TPP yang bermula dari tahun 2005, yang ditandatangani oleh Brunei Darussalam, Chile, New Zealand dan Singapura. Negara-negara asal perjanjian itu pada ketika itu, telah bersetuju untuk mengembangkan ruang lingkup perjanjian dan juga 'keahlian' kepada beberapa negara jemputan seperti Australia, Malaysia, Peru, Vietnam, Amerika Syarikat (AS), Mexico dan Kanada.

Terdapat banyak negara yang berminat untuk menyertai rundingan TPP tersebut. Yang menariknya, Jepun telah mengadakan satu pilihan raya untuk menentukan mandat negara tersebut untuk menyertai perjanjian ini dan khabarnya Jepun akan menyertai rundingan TPP ini pada bulan Julai nanti yang akan berunding di Kuala Lumpur.

Perjanjian ini merupakan satu rundingan yang melibatkan pelbagai negara dan bukan merupakan perundingan di antara Malaysia dan AS semata-mata. Rundingan tersebut melibatkan negara-negara yang telah pun mempunyai FTA sesama mereka.

Sebagai contoh, Malaysia telah pun mempunyai FTA dengan Chile, New Zealand, Jepun dan Australia. Manakala Malaysia sebagai salah satu daripada negara ASEAN juga mempunyai perjanjian perdagangan dengan Brunei, Vietnam dan Singapura.

Malaysia dan AS telah cuba berunding untuk mengadakan satu FTA tetapi telah terbantut kerana beberapa isu sensitif yang tidak dapat diselesaikan pada ketika itu, seperti isu harta intelek dan juga kontrak bekalan kerajaan atau GPA.

Secara keseluruhan, TPP sebagai sebuah perjanjian dijangka mencakupi pelbagai isu, seperti perdagangan barangan, perdagangan perkhidmatan, alam sekitar serta kelestarian sejagat, GPA, harta intelek, pelaburan dan bantuan teknikal.

Negara-negara yang menyertai rundingan TPP diberi kebebasan untuk menyenaraikan peraturan dan polisi yang tidak boleh dipatuhi sebagai sebahagian daripada perjanjian. Perlu juga diingat bahawa rundingan masih lagi berjalan dan apa yang nyata, kita perlu yakin bahawa pegawai Malaysia yang menyertai rundingan ini adalah berpengalaman, terlatih dan memahami isu yang berkaitan dengan kepentingan Malaysia.

Peluang dan Kesan FTA dan TPP kepada Usahawan Melayu/Bumiputera

Terdapat beberapa isu yang telah diperkatakan oleh pihak berkenaan dengan kesan FTA dan TPP kepada usahawan Melayu dan Bumiputera di Malaysia. Kebanyakan kenyataan berhubung dengan perkara ini dibuat berdasarkan kepada persepsi semata-mata, tanpa bersandarkan kepada fakta ilmiah dan realiti. Beberapa isu berkaitan akan dibincangkan di bawah.

a. Hakcipta

Antara isu berkaitan harta intelek yang dirundingkan di bawah mandat TPP ialah berkaitan dengan tempoh masa hakcipta dan paten. Terdapat cadangan dari beberapa negara yang menyertai rundingan TPP tersebut untuk melanjutkan tempoh hak cipta 70 tahun selepas kematian pemegang hak cipta tersebut.

Sekiranya kita hanya melihat kepada sebelah pihak, semestinya kita akan berpandangan bahawa hak cipta tidak sepatutnya dilanjutkan tempoh perlindungannya kepada satu tempoh yang lama sehingga 70 tahun selepas kematian pemegang hak cipta asal tersebut.

Ini kerana kadar import harta intelek Malaysia adalah diperkatakan akan melebihi dari kadar harta intelek yang dijana di dalam negara atau yang dieksport keluar.

Bagaimanapun, adalah dasar kerajaan untuk menggalakkan perkembangan industri berasaskan pengetahuan dan inovasi seperti industri kreatif, perisian, penulisan buku dan lain-lain aktiviti yang berkaitan. Hak cipta merupakan sebahagian daripada usaha untuk memberi pengiktirafan kepada bakat di dalam negara.

Justeru, usahawan Melayu dan Bumiputera yang bergiat dalam industri kreatif dan yang berkaitan dengannya, perlu diberi pengiktirafan sewajarnya seperti diberi tempoh hak cipta yang lebih panjang. Sekiranya tempoh masa lebih panjang diberikan di bawah TPP, usahawan Melayu dan Bumiputera akan mendapat perlindungan harta intelek bukan sahaja di Malaysia tetapi juga untuk tempoh masa yang sama, di negara-negara anggota TPP juga.

Pengiktirafan dalam bentuk hak cipta yang lebih lama akan memastikan cerdik pandai Melayu akan kekal bergiat cergas di Malaysia dan tidak perlu berhijrah ke luar negara semata-mata untuk mengembangkan bakat mereka.

Bersambung Esok

Artikel Penuh: http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/Rencana/20130621/re_02/Apa-faedah-Perjanjian-Perkongsian-Trans-Pasifik-kepada-usahawan-Melayu#ixzz2Wo36ZVLN
© Utusan Melayu (M) Bhd 

Anwar kecam polisi ekonomi Malaysia

OLEH MD IZWAN
JUNE 19, 2013

Ketua Pembangkang Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim mengecam polisi ekonomi Malaysia dengan menyelar penubuhan Jawatankuasa Dasar Fiskal yang diumum Datuk Seri Najib Razak semalam sebagai satu lagi usaha untuk menekan rakyat.

Najib semalam mengumumkan penubuhan jawatankuasa tersebut untuk memastikan pengurusan fiskal negara yang lebih baik dan bagi mencapai kadar fiskal tiga peratus Keluaran Dalam Negara Kasar (KDNK).

"Saya mengambil pendirian berhati-hati dengan pengumuman Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Razak yang menubuhkan Jawatankuasa Dasar Fiskal semalam.

"Kerajaan BN mestilah tidak mengheret orang ramai untuk melindungi ketakupayaan menguruskan ekonomi dan kegagalan polisinya," kata Anwar dalam satu sidang media di ibu pejabat PKR, Tropicana hari ini.

Anwar kemudiaan menyatakan kebimbangan ke atas jawatankuasa yang diumum memandangkan kerajaan masih lagi mengambil sikap berahsia dalam perkara melibatkan Cukai Barangan Dan Perkhidmatan (GST) dan Perjanjian Perkongsian Trans-Pasifik (TPPA).

"Malangnya Datuk Seri Najib terus untuk mentadbir dengan diselebungi rahsia, terdapat kebimbangan besar terhadap cara Kabinetnya mengendalikan TPPA dan GST.

"Ini kerana pentadbirannya enggan untuk menjadi telus dan inklusif semasa berbincang," kata Anwar.

Beliau turut membidas kerajaan kerana bersikap tidak adil dalam menangani isu TPPA dan GST, sebaliknya menggesa kerajaan untuk mengurangkan pembaziran dalam pentadbiran terlebih dahulu sebelum mahu melaksanakan kedua-dua polisi yang akan membebankan rakyat tersebut.

"Usaha untuk mengurangkan belanjawan defisit tersebut dengan mudah dapat dicapai menerusi pengurusan ekonomi yang ketat dan perolehan kerajaan yang telus tanpa pengenalan sebarang cukai baru atau memotong perbelanjaan utama kerajaan yang memberikan kesan langsung kepada kehidupan orang ramai," tegas Anwar lagi.

Anwar kemudiaan mengulangi pendirian GST hanya boleh diperkenalkan sekiranya pendapatan rakyat meningkat disamping menggesa Putrajaya mendedahkan semua butiran melibatkan TPPA.

Gabenor Bank Negara Malaysia Tan Sri Dr Zeti Akhtar Aziz dilapor berkata kepada agensi berita nasional Bernama pada Rabu lalu permintaan domestik yang kukuh akan terus menjadi “pemacu utama pertumbuhan”, disokong oleh perkembangan sektor swasta yang berterusan dan disokong oleh sektor awam.

Pakar ekonomi Datuk Dr Mohamed Ariff Abdul Kareem, yang merupakan bekas pengarah eksekutif Institut Penyelidikan Ekonomi Malaysia (MIER), berkata bulan lepas pertumbuhan ekonomi negara dijangka sederhana kepada 5 peratus tahun ini daripada 5.6 peratus tahun lepas, disebabkan oleh faktor luaran seperti krisis zon di Eropah.

Pertumbuhan ekonomi di rantau Asia-Pasifik dijangka melonjak kepada enam peratus tahun ini, daripada 5.6 peratus pada 2012, ia lebih perlahan daripada kadar pertumbuhan purata sebanyak 8 peratus sebelum krisis kewangan global yang melanda pada tahun 2008, kata Pertubuhan Ekonomi Bangsa-bangsa Bersatu Ekonomi dan Suruhanjaya Sosial bagi Asia dan Pasifik bulan lepas.

Hutang negara juga mencecah kepada 53 peratus KDNK — menghampiri siling 55 peratus — naik daripada 43 peratus pada tahun 2008.

Hutang isi rumah Malaysia telah semakin meningkat daripada 75.8 peratus pada tahun 2010 kepada 76.6 peratus pada tahun 2011, dan kepada 80.5 peratus pada tahun lepas, yang menyebabkan amaran untuk berwaspada daripada penganalisis kewangan di rantau ini. - 19 Jun, 2013.

[PRESS STATEMENT] On The Economy (TPPA, GST and Budget Deficit) And Crime

PRESS RELEASE

19 JUNE 2013

I cautiously take note of the announcement by Dato’ Seri Najib Tun Razak of the formation of a committee that will focus on reducing the national budgetary deficit to 3% by 2015. An economic undertaking of that feat could have easily been achieved through strict economic governance and transparent government procurement without the need for any new taxes or cutting of essential government expenditures with direct impact on the people’s livelihood.

Unfortunately, Dato’ Seri Najib continues to govern behind a veil of secrecy. There is a growing concern over his cabinet’s conduct on the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) negotiations precisely because of his administration’s refusal to be transparent and inclusive during the negotiations. In fact, much of the financial burden that adds up to the ballooning national budgetary deficit also originates from his unsound vote-buying schemes that cost the public billions of ringgit in the last general election.

The BN government must not drag the public to cover for its economic incompetence and policy shortfalls. Any attempts to introduce a new Goods and Services Tax (GST) albeit in stages to reduce the budgetary deficit will be resisted much in the same force that the people had resisted electoral fraud. I maintain that GST can only be introduced if the average level of income of common Malaysians have risen significantly over a period of 5 years, in comparison to the low 2.6% average wage growth achieved in between 2000 and 2010.

Dato’ Seri Najib’s does not have the full legitimacy in terms of popular votes, and he has not been able to deliver the most basic of his economic promises since being sworn in recently. The fact that his administration struggles to reduce car prices as promised in his manifesto exemplified the incompetence and hopelessness of his administration.

Dato’ Seri Najib has also failed to deliver on his promise to provide affordable and livable housing for the people. We shall track the BN government’s performance on public housing closely and will consider it a failure if he cannot bring down the average prices of mid-range housing by at least 10% in the next one year.

Crime

The public is alarmingly concerned with the escalating crime rate especially violent crimes. It is not in our place as public officials to blame the concern on misperception as safety and fear are all a question of perception. Clearly, there is a serious credibility issue engulfing our police force that continuously dilutes the public’s confidence in its ability to provide safety.

Pakatan Rakyat can contribute constructively to allay the public concern. I offer Pakatan Rakyat’s full assistance to the police force to work together in engaging the public to bridge the growing gap between credibility and perception with the real and honest work that the police has been putting. I will table to the Pakatan Rakyat leadership that a committee made up of Pakatan Rakyat and Barisan Nasional representatives is formed immediately to work with the IGP and his officers to address the concerns over safety.

Finally I urge Dato’ Seri Najib to meet the 3 demands put forth by the people’s movement and allow for the peaceful gathering in Padang Merbok on 22 June to proceed smoothly.

ANWAR IBRAHIM

GST sistem yang lebih adil

FARAH ZAMIRA FARUSH KHAN
20 Jun 2013

Harga barangan makanan asas tidak akan naik selepas GST diperkenalkan kerana produk ini tidak dikenakan cukai.

SISTEM Cukai Barangan Dan Perkhidmatan (GST) lebih adil kepada orang ramai berbanding struktur cukai yang diguna pakai pada masa ini, selain dapat mengurangkan ketirisan dalam kutipan cukai negara.

Pengarah Eksekutif Kanan PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Malaysia, Wan Heng Choon berkata, GST membenarkan orang ramai menentukan sendiri jumlah cukai yang ingin dibayar melalui corak perbelanjaan mereka.

“Anda sendiri pilih apa yang anda mahu bayar berdasarkan perbelanjaan harian, berbanding dengan cukai pendapatan di mana duit anda diambil sebelum anda membelanjakannya.

“GST ini boleh dikira memberikan semula kebebasan memilih (untuk membayar cukai) kepada pengguna,” katanya semasa bengkel penjelasan GST bagi media di Kuala Lumpur, baru-baru ini.

GST, apabila dilaksanakan, akan menggantikan sistem cukai yang diguna pakai kini, iaitu cukai jualan dan perkhidmatan (SST) yang dikenakan ke atas barangan dan perkhidmatan tertentu pada kadar lima hingga 10 peratus.

Menurut Heng Choon, kerajaan dijangka menurunkan cukai pendapatan dan korporat selepas GST dilaksanakan namun kadar penurunan belum diketahui.

Kelmarin, bekas Perdana Menteri, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad dilaporkan berkata, GST harus dilakukan secara berperingkat.

“Semuanya harus dilakukan secara perlahan-perlahan, bukan jumlah sepenuhnya sekali gus, bagi faedah rakyat,” katanya kepada pemberita pada Forum CEO Yayasan Kepimpinan Perdana 2013.

Makanan asas tidak patut naik harga

Heng Choon berkata, semua makanan asas telah ditetapkan tiada cukai, jadi GST tidak akan memberi kesan kepada barangan ini.

“Pilihan lain, sama ada anda ingin makan di restoran yang mengenakan cukai atau di restoran biasa, itu adalah pilihan sendiri. Anda boleh menentukan jenis perkhidmatan yang ingin digunakan,” katanya.

Menurutnya, hanya perniagaan dengan perolehan RM500,000 dan ke atas setahun yang perlu berdaftar untuk GST.

“Jadi, restoran biasa atau kedai runcit yang tidak mencapai tahap itu tidak dikenakan cukai ini,” katanya.

Sementara itu, Pengarah Eksekutif PwC, R S Raja Kumaran berkata, kesan GST kepada orang ramai dijangka tidak begitu ketara.

“Jika dilihat, perbelanjaan terbesar bagi seseorang adalah makanan asas, iaitu 60 peratus daripada pendapatan.

“Barangan ini tidak dikenakan cukai jadi kesannya kepada individu tidak ketara. Perkhidmatan kesihatan, perumahan, pengangkutan awam dan pendidikan juga dikecualikan daripada cukai," katanya.

Menyentuh isu pengurangan atau penghapusan subsidi yang mungkin akan dilaksanakan tidak lama lagi selepas GST diperkenal, Raja Kumaran berkata, subsidi tidak lagi berfungsi sebagai sistem yang adil.

“Semua orang kaya dan miskin beli beras atau isi petrol pada harga sama. Lebih baik subsidi dihapuskan dan berikan rebat tunai kepada kumpulan sasaran sahaja,” katanya.

Bantu kurangkan ketirisan

Menurut Heng Choon, terdapat juga isu tidak adil dalam pembayaran cukai pendapatan apabila hanya 1.9 juta daripada 12 juta rakyat Malaysia yang bekerja perlu membayar cukai.

“Banyak negara bertukar daripada mengenakan cukai ke atas pendapatan kepada GST untuk menghapuskan diskriminasi ini.

“Jika rakyat mahu terus menerima perkhidmatan disediakan kerajaan, ia perlu dibiayai oleh satu sumber,” katanya.

Selain itu, beliau berkata, GST juga boleh memastikan pemborong dan peruncit tidak hanya mengambil keuntungan atas angin apabila cukai perlu dibayar bagi setiap peringkat rantaian pembekalan produk.

“Negara seperti Vietnam dan Laos juga laksanakan GST. Jika Malaysia mahu terus progresif, GST adalah satu daripada penyelesaiannya," katanya.

GST atau cukai nilai tambah (VAT) telah digunakan di lebih 140 negara dan di Asean, hanya Malaysia, Brunei dan Myanmar yang belum menggunakan sistem ini.

Jelaskan kepada rakyat

Heng Choon menegaskan, sehingga kini, terdapat pelbagai salah faham mengenai GST dan isu ini perlu dilihat dari sudut lebih objektif.

“Kepada yang berkata GST akan membebankan orang miskin, adakah mereka buat kajian terhadap corak perbelanjaan golongan ini?

Masa sesuai untuk laksana GST - pakar ekonomi

ARKIB : 19/06/2013

KUALA LUMPUR, 18 Jun - Kini masa yang sesuai bagi kerajaan melaksanakan Cukai Barangan dan Perkhidmatan (GST) sebagai sebahagian daripada langkah meningkatkan hasil.

Ketua Ahli Ekonomi Malaysian Rating Corp. Bhd. Nor Zahidi Alias berkata semasa kerajaan dilihat akan melaksanakan GST, beliau mencadangkan agar diadakan langkah-langkah tertentu untuk melindungi golongan berpendapatan rendah daripada kesannya.

"Secara keseluruhannya, mempunyai GST adalah baik. Saya berpendapat kerja-kerja perhubungan awam mengenai GST perlu ditingkatkan lagi dan kita tidak boleh terlalu idealistik dengan menyatakan ia tidak akan menyebabkan inflasi.

"Saya percaya bahawa walaupun terdapat kenaikan dalam harga, ia tidak akan banyak walaupun kita melaksanakan GST," katanya kepada pemberita di luar acara Forum CEO Yayasan Kepimpinan Perdana 2013 di sini hari ini.

Nor Zahidi berkata, inflasi mungkin berlaku dalam fasa awal pelaksanaan GST. - BERNAMA

Artikel Penuh: http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/Ekonomi/20130619/ek_04/Masa-sesuai-untuk-laksana-GST----pakar-ekonomi#ixzz2Wd7ZWov9
© Utusan Melayu (M) Bhd 

Don't force GST on the people to fund your Maharaja lifestyle - Anwar warns Najib

Wednesday, 19 June 2013 11:39

Written by Wong Choon Mei, Malaysia Chronicle

UPDATED VIDEO INSERTED Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim warned Prime Minister Najib Razak not to introduce a new Goods and Service Tax (GST) to reduce the budgetary deficit after the latter announced the formation of a special committee to look into ways to reduce the shortfall - at a record high - to 3% bt 2015.

"Unfortunately, Dato Seri Najib continues to govern behind a veil of secrecy," Anwar told a press conference on Wednesday.

"The BN government must not drag the public to cover for its economic incompetence and policy shortfalls. Any attempts to introduce a new GST albeit in stages to reduce the deficit will be resisted in the same force that the people had resisted electoral fraud."

Anwar was referring to the Black 505 rallies, a people's movement spearheaded by the Pakatan Rakyat to protest vote rigging and fraud in the May 5 general election. The hugely successful rallies have drawn more than half a million Malaysians to assemble to demand the resignation of the Election Commission leadership.

Just PM's Office alone - RM4 BILLION a year?

The 64-year-old Anwar also chided Najib for his 'free-spending' ways, challenging the latter, who is also the Finance Minister, to refute the Opposition's estimate that just the prime minister's office alone spent at least RM4 billion a year on "huge entourages and thousands of personnel".

"The minister concerned has alluded to the fact that they need RM27 billion in extra revenue or the deficit problem will remain. Our position differs completely with the BN's. Our position is consistent in that you must start with transparent policies, which means you save billions, stop excessive spending, reduce the exorbitant excessive expenditure of the Prime Minister's Office, the huge entourage, thousands of personnel and that would already be in the billions," said Anwar.

"In fact, our initial estimate is that at least RM4bil alone (in budget allocation) is for the Prime Minister's Maharaja-type of expenditure. And I would challenge him to refute this, which is unprecedented throughout all my experience as Finance Minister and the history of this country."

PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution was also present at the press conference.

Hardship to the people as wage growth has been weak

According to Anwar, GST could only be introduced if the average level of income of "common Malaysians" have risen significantly over a period of 5 years, otherwise it would bring hardship to the working classes. He pointed to the fact that the current wage reality in Malaysia was that only a "low 2.6% average wage growth" had been achieved between 2000 and 2010.

"In 10 years, the wage increase was only 2.6%. Given that scenario, it is unacceptable to imagine the government would introduce additional taxes, GST for example. So what we are saying is stop the wastage first. We are talking about RM20 to 30 billion of commissions and bribery, extraneous spending. Look at the Auditor-General's report, this must be addressed first.

"Dato Seri Najib does not have the full legitimacy in terms of popular votes, and he has not been able to deliver the most basic of his economic promises since being sworn in recently. That fact that his administration struggles to reduce car prices as promised in his manifesto exemplified he incompetence and hopelessness of his administration."

Anwar also took Najib to task for failing to keep pre-election promises of cheaper cars and affordable homes. He warned that the Pakatan Rakyat would be monitoring runaway property prices closely and would expect to see prices come down by at least 10%.

"We shall track the BN government's performance on public housing closely and will consider it a failure if he cannot bring down the average prices of mid-range housing by at least 10% in the next one year," said Anwar.

Malaysia Chronicle

Full article: http://www.malaysia-chronicle.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=116131:do#ixzz2dEMt5mWx 

2014 Budget to be tabled on Oct 25

Published: Tuesday June 18, 2013 MYT 2:20:00 PM
Updated: Tuesday June 18, 2013 MYT 7:32:26 PM

Najib talking to a participant at the Budget Consultation session

PUTRAJAYA: The 2014 Budget will be tabled in Parliament on Oct 25,Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said.

Najib also announced the setting up of a Fiscal Policy Committee aimed at reducing fiscal deficit, strengthening public finances and ensuring nation's long-term fiscal sustainability.

Speaking at the 2014 Budget Consultation sessions, Najib, who is also Finance Minister, said he would chair the committee which would include selected Cabinet ministers and heads of departments.

On the consultations, Najib said 96 memorandums were submitted covering a wide spectrum of macro, sectoral and social issues to theMinistry of Finance (MOF) for consideration.

"I believe that among the 96 memorandums, part of it which we feel are in line with the government's objectives would be considered," he said.

"It focuses on two elements invigorating the economy and ensuring the well-being of the people in an inclusive manner," he said.

Najib said the theme for this year's consultation is "Fulfilling Promises, Accelerating Transformation."

"This year's budget is of great significiance to the government that has been given a new mandate to fulfill the aspirations of the rakyat," he said.

* is there any chance for the GST implementation date to be announced in this 2014 Budget speech? let's pray, wait & see... :)

Dr M: GST perlu dilaksana berperingkat

18 Jun 2013

Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad

KUALA LUMPUR - Cukai Barangan dan Perkhidmatan (GST), jika dilaksanakan, haruslah dilakukan secara berperingkat, kata bekas perdana menteri Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, hari ini.

"Semuanya harus dilakukan secara berperingkat, perlahan-perlahan, bukan jumlah sepenuhnya sekali gus, bagi faedah rakyat," kata beliau kepada pemberita pada Forum CEO Yayasan Kepimpinan Perdana 2013.

Pakar-pakar ekonomi berpendapat, sekarang adalah masa yang sesuai untuk melaksanakan GST sebagai sebahagian daripada usaha menambah pendapatan kerajaan.

Ketua Pakar Ekonomi Malaysian Rating Corp Bhd, Nor Zahidi Alias, sebelum ini berkata, ketika kerajaan dilihat akan mempercepatkan pelaksanaan GST, langkah-langkah sampingan harus diambil untuk melindungi golongan berpendapatan rendah daripada kesannya.

"Keseluruhannya, pelaksanaan GST itu baik. Saya rasa kerja-kerja perhubungan awam perlu dilakukan lebih sedikit tentang GST ini dan kita tidak harus bersikap terlalu idealistik dengan berkata ia tidak akan menyebabkan inflasi. Ia akan menyebabkan inflasi," tegas Nor Zahidi.

Mengenai sasaran kerajaan untuk mengurangkan lagi defisit fiskal dalam Bajet 2014, Dr Mahathir berkata ia adalah langkah yang baik dan ia menunjukkan bahawa kerajaan sedang bergerak positif ke hadapan.

Sebelum itu, Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak mengumumkan bahawa Bajet 2014 akan dibentangkan di Parlimen pada 25 Oktober.

Najib juga mengumumkan penubuhan Jawatankuasa Dasar Fiskal yang bertujuan mengurangkan defisit fiskal, memperkukuhkan kewangan awam dan memastikan kelestarian fiskal negara bagi jangka panjang.

Najib, yang juga Menteri Kewangan, berkata beliau akan mempengerusikan jawatankuasa itu, yang akan merangkumi menteri-menteri Kabinet yang terpilih dan ketua-ketua jabatan.

"Jawatankuasa ini akan dipertanggungjawabkan kepada pejabat dasar fiskal di Perbendaharaan. Ini bertujuan menegaskan kesungguhan dalam menguruskan kedudukan fiskal kita dan mengurangkan defisit fiskal kita," kata beliau dalam ucapan pembukaannya pada sesi Konsultasi Bajet 2014. - Bernama

Pakar: GST sudah sesuai dilaksana

18 Jun 2013

KUALA LUMPUR - Kini masa yang sesuai bagi kerajaan melaksanakan Cukai Barangan dan Perkhidmatan (GST) sebagai sebahagian daripada langkah meningkatkan hasil.

   

Ketua Ahli Ekonomi Malaysian Rating Corp Bhd Nor Zahidi Alias berkata semasa kerajaan dilihat akan melaksanakan GST, beliau mencadangkan agar diadakan langkah-langkah tertentu untuk melindungi golongan berpendapatan rendah daripada kesannya.

  

"Secara keseluruhannya, mempunyai GST adalah baik. Saya berpendapat kerja-kerja perhubungan awam mengenai GST perlu ditingkatkan lagi dan kita tidak boleh terlalu idealistik dengan menyatakan ia tidak akan menyebabkan inflasi. Ia akan menyebabkannya.

   

"Saya percaya bahawa walaupun terdapat kenaikan dalam harga, ia tidak akan banyak walaupun kita melaksanakan GST," katanya kepada pemberita di luar acara Forum CEO Yayasan Kepimpinan Perdana 2013 di sini hari ini.

   

Nor Zahidi berkata inflasi mungkin berlaku dalam fasa awal pelaksanaan GST.

   

"Saya rasa itulah sebabnya kerajaan dalam beberapa tahun kebelakangan ini mengadakan Akta Anti-Pencatutan bagi memastikan jika kita memperkenalkan GST, peniaga-peniaga tidak mengambil kesempatan dengan menaikkan harga yang mereka tidak perlu berbuat demikian," katanya.

   

Pada Mei, Menteri Kewangan Kedua Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah berkata kerajaan tidak akan melaksanakan GST dalam tempoh terdekat kerana masih menjalankan kajian mengenai implikasinya.

   

Pengarah Eksekutif Kanan PricewaterhouseCoopers Taxation Services Sdn Bhd Jennifer Chang berkata semua negara di Asia telah melaksanakan GST kecuali Malaysia dan Myanmar.

   

"Mengapa kita tidak melaksanakan GST? Saya berpendapat ia cukai yang disalah faham. Pada tahap tertentu, ia adalah cara yang paling berkesan untuk mengutip cukai kerana lebih banyak anda berbelanja, lebih banyak cukai yang anda bayar, " kata beliau.  - Bernama

Malaysia in the Emerging Markets Protests Narrative — Lee Ee May

JUNE 18, 2013

The last three weeks saw large scale protests in three forefront countries of the emerging markets. 

The first protest, started in Turkey, was sparked when the Erdogan government decided to demolish Gezi Park, one of the last remaining green spaces in Istanbul to make way for a new shopping centre. 

Across the Atlantic in South America, 200 thousands Brazilian came out during the opening night of the FIFA Confederations Cup to protest the high cost of the World Cup, which they claim should be earmarked for public welfare instead. The protests, sparked by a hike in bus fare, are the largest seen in Brazil in 20 years. 

Closer to home in neighbouring Indonesia, crowds protested the rise in fuel price. Indonesian opposition politicians suggested that if the government could instead work on improving cost recovery in the oil and gas sector, this hike could be avoided. These protests in three of the forefront emerging markets show an underlying trend, not to unfamiliar with what we see back home- that there is a growing public angry discontent of citizens against governments misuse of public funds, corruption and disregard for public welfare. 

In Malaysia, we will be seeing the Black 505 rally on Saturday to protest electoral fraud. But along with protesters in the other emerging markets, the core of Malaysian urban public discontent rests along the very same lines - corruption and misuse of public funds as well as disregard of human rights and freedom of expression. 

While we do not have a World Cup or Olympics to fund, Malaysians are indeed upset with he continued bloated costs in public infrastructure as can be seen in the cases of the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) system, Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) and KLIA2. 

While we do not have a Gezi Park, our very own Bukit Kiara, one of the last green lungs around KL area is being cleared to make way for development. And while our oil price isn't being increased, we understand that the government is looking into invoking a Goods & Services Tax (GST), inherently reducing the money in our pockets. 

As can be seen in these emerging markets, the protests serve as a wakeup call for present-day governments to buck up. And, as with the growing trend of more widespread and immediate information, the public are now more aware of what they deserve and what their governments fail to deliver. 

With similar ring across these emerging market protests, the public demands better management of public assets and more welfare. They assert that they will no longer tolerate misappropriation of public money in favour of enriching party-linked circles. They demand a government that listens to the people and that does not act for its own self-interest. 

The Barisan Nasional government will do well to learn, observe and realise from this growing protest trend in emerging markets that the same discontent lie within their own people. And like the governments of these other countries, the consequences for them are the same - act according to the will of the people or face their wrath.

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insider.

GST should be implemented in stages, says Mahathir

JUNE 19, 2013

The Goods and Services Tax (GST), if implemented, should be done in stages, former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

"Everything should be done in stages, slowly, not the full amount at the same time, for the benefit of the people," he told reporters at the Perdana Leadership Foundation CEO Forum 2013.

Economists have opined that now is the right time to implement the GST as part of efforts to bolster government revenue.

"Overall, having the GST is good. I think public relations work has to be done a little bit more on GST and the fact that we shouldn't be so idealistic by saying it won't cause inflation. It will," Nor Zahidi said. - Bernama, June 19, 2013.Malaysian Rating Corp Bhd (MRCB) chief economist Nor Zahidi Alias had said while the government is seen to be stepping up implementation of the GST, he suggested that complementary measures be taken to protect low-income earners from its impact.

Time to look at GST, says tax expert

Anisah Shukry | June 18, 2013

The government has failed to implement the GST earlier because it feared losing the polls, says Jennifer Chang, senior executive of PricewaterhouseCoopers Tax Services.

KUALA LUMPUR: The goods and services taxes has been “misunderstood” by the public, a tax expert said today, stressing that there was a need to relook the controversial system now that polls were over.

“All countries in Asia have implemented the GST except Myanmar and Malaysia. This is not a good comparison for us to make,” said Jennifer Chang, senior executive of PricewaterhouseCoopers Tax Services at the Perdana Leadership Foundation CEO Forum 2013.

Chang said the GST was the only way in which the government could ensure all its citizens paid taxes evenly.

“Only one million out of 29 million Malaysians pay taxes now. All those people driving the big, beautiful cars – some of them are probably evading taxes, and the GST is the most efficient way of collecting the taxes from them.”

But she said the government had failed to “market” the GST effectively enough to the people, and this was why it had dragged its feet in the implementation.

“The problem of not implementing it faster was because of the general election. In Australia, after the government implemented the GST, they lost the election,” she said, to laughs from the audience.

But now that the polls were over, the time was ripe to talk about the GST seriously, she said.

“GST has been misunderstood by the public, and we need to properly market these taxes so that the public understand what it is all about,” said Chang.

She rubbished the misconception that the price of goods would increase dramatically in the wake of the GST, saying that common goods such as milk would be exempted from the tax.

“This tax exemption will ensure it doesn’t hurt the common person so much,” she said.

GST: Malaysia mesti berstatus ‘berpendapatan tinggi’

Surat Pembaca No. 357

Mohamad Iqbal, UIAM,

Ibnu Khaldun dalam Mukaddimah telah menyebut berkenaan dengan pengenalan cukai terhadap barang-barang di kota yang dikenakan oleh pemerintah sebagai sumber pendapatan dalam negara. Dengan mengaitkan pernyataan ini, sesungguhnya terdapat persamaan peristiwa yang ditulis oleh ilmuwan terkemuka ini yang berlaku secara lumrahnya dalam sejarah peradaban dengan konteks semasa hari ini.

Usaha kerajaan untuk memperkenalkan Good and Service Tax (GST) atau Value Added Tax (VAT) merupakan salah satu usaha untuk menjana pendapatan negara dengan lebih teratur dan efektif. Konsep ini telah diperkenalkan oleh Dr Wilhem von Siemens, seorang ahli industri Jerman pada tahun 1918. Perancis merupakan negara yang pertama melaksanakan GST pada tahun 1954. Sehingga kini, sebanyak 146 negara telah melaksanakan GST.

Selain itu, semua negara di Asean telah melaksanakan GST kecuali Malaysia, Brunei, dan Myanmar . Menariknya, Indonesia dan Filipina lebih awal memperkenalkan GST pada tahun 80-an, lebih awal berbanding Singapura pada tahun 1994. Pengenalan GST melalui pengurusan yang baik akan memberi impak yang besar kepada pendapatan negara melalui peningkatan kadar pematuhan cukai. Namun, dalam konteks semasa, apakah GST relevan untuk dilaksanakan sekarang? Menjawab persoalan ini, terdapat tiga pernyataan masalah yang harus diteliti.

Pertama, adakah ekonomi Malaysia dan pengguna bersedia untuk menerima pelaksanaan GST? Kedua, bilakah masa yang sesuai untuk kerajaan melaksanakan GST? Ketiga, adakah GST akan menyebabkan kenaikan harga barang dan inflasi: antara persepsi dan realiti. Ketiga-tiga permasalahan ini harus diperhalusi dalam usaha untuk mengimplimentasikan GST secara menyeluruh, malah kajian yang mendalam dan terperinci harus dilakukan supaya pelaksanaannya mencapai objektif yang disasarkan.

Merujuk kepada permasalahan yang pertama, adakah ekonomi Malaysia dan pengguna bersedia untuk menerima pelaksanaan GST, Emran dan Stiglitz (2005) mencadangkan bahawa menggantikan VAT bagi cukai yang lebih luas mungkin untuk mengurangkan dan bukannya memperbaiki kebajikan  kerana negara-negara membangun seperti Malaysia mempunyai sektor tidak formal yang besar. Mereka juga berhujah bahawa masalah utama dengan kesusasteraan yang menyokong penggunaan VAT di negara-negara membangun adalah  ia mengabaikan bahawa negara-negara ini mempunyai sektor tidak formal yang besar.

Manakala permasalahan kedua pula menyentuh mengenai masa yang sesuai untuk kerajaan melaksanakan GST, perkara asas yang perlu diselesaikan terlebih dahulu termasuklah penyediaan suatu sistem yang terancang serta reformasi sikap dalam pengurusan ekonomi dan politik dalam usaha untuk mengurangkan kadar penyelewengan dan rasuah dalam negara yang akan membawa kepada kegagalan pelaksanaan. Begitu juga, dalam tempoh sekarang, tahap ketersampaian maklumat yang lemah menyebabkan kegagalan masyarakat untuk memahami GST secara komprehensif membawa kepada kegagalan pelaksanaan kerana ketidakfahaman.

Maklumat Cukai Barang dan Perkhidmatan (GST)

Misplaced enthusiasm with Bursa’s FBM-KLCI performance — Dzulkefly Ahmad

JUNE 15, 2013

JUNE 15 —We believe that the statement of PM Najib Razak that the FBMKLCI (capitalization-weighted stock market index) rally due to BN electoral results is at best an inaccurate exaggeration.

The FBMKLCI gained by six per cent year-to-date is mostly due to regional foreign funds which incidentally is already a regional trend and not a specific trend in Malaysia.

Secondly, it must be also noted that investors are piling back into the long-underperforming stock market as Bursa has stubbornly underperformed since March 2009.

More substantively, we could see that even after the gain post GE, of the relative underperformance. Despite BN winning the election, Bursa is still trailing behind regional peers such as Indonesia, Thailand, Phillipines and Singapore who have all gaines more than 10 per cent year to-date.

The irony about post GE rally is that most domestic funds are still cashed up and do not lend support to the local market. In fact domestic funds which are so-called Government-Linked-Investment companies (GLIC) have been net sellers of domestic equities in recent months ie January to May. Only retailers and foreign investors are net buyers who buy underperforming stocks.

Further, we also noted that the rally was led by lower liners such as FBMMidCap and FBMSmallCap who outperform FBMLargeCap such as Sime, CIMB, Gamuda and MRCB.

If the global economy continues to deteriorate over the next few months it is likely that the larger-cap sector would underperform relative to the small caps because of the flight of quality due to deteriorating economy reflected by the 4.1 per cent lowest GDP growth in th 1Q 2013 since 4Q2009.

To easily prove that this rally remains unconvincing is to look at Ringgit which continues to deteriorate I down 6.8% in just one month while Bursa gains a meagre 6% within five months. It is worth noting that the exchange rate better reflects long term confidence on the economic power ( Purchasing Power Parity and genuine FDI) than Bursa FBMKLCI which is based on fluid short term sentiments (ie hot money and potential leakages).

PM Najib doesn’t need to be told that in the final analysis, it is currency and purchasing power that determine the rakyat well-being.

Furthermore, as at 2012, Malaysian personal disposable income is still unable to catch up with the inflation rate. The looming hike in inflation from 1.8 per cent to 2.8-3 per cent in 2014 compounded by ‘subsidy rationalisation’ and the impending GST are surely cause for concern. Much as he wants to show that he is upbeat with the Bursa current performance, Najib couldn’t and shouldn’t be oblivious of the bad prognosis and the precarious situation ahead.

He must remain focused on concrete structural economic reforms and address serious systemic leakages and abuses while enhancing transparency and accountability in his "perceived' corrupt-prone Administration.

* Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad is the Executive Director, PAS Research Centre.

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insider.

Time to lead, Mr PM

JUNE 15, 2013

COMMENT, June 15 – The time for feeling sorry, betrayed and wallowing in self-pity is over. With a new mandate from the Malaysian electorate and a 44-seat advantage over Pakatan Rakyat (PR) in Parliament, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak should be energised, selling his vision of the future to Malaysians daily and getting on with the job of governing this diverse nation.

After all, isn’t this what he has craved for since taking over from Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in April 2009: his own mandate? Instead, six weeks after the polls, visitors to Putrajaya still paint a picture of a leadership still wondering why the sought-after two-thirds majority was not attained; of a leadership still talking about betrayal by Chinese voters and of a leadership mulling what was not achieved instead what has been gained. 

Of course, it is wonderful to own a two-thirds majority in Parliament. 

Besides bragging rights, allowing for Constitutional amendments in the House, winning two-thirds of the 222 parliamentary seats would have made Najib invincible in Umno.

But let us face the reality here: This is not the Malaysia of the Mahathir era. This is a country where every election will be contested, where the Opposition is packed with solid and charismatic politicians, where a more educated electorate is demanding something more than the Barisan Nasional (BN) formula of developmental politics and where the monopoly of information and news no longer lies with the Government. 

Going forward, it is likely that a two-thirds control of parliament will be as at the rare as a gold medal for Malaysia Olympics. In this environment, having a majority of any sort will have to do. Najib and his Cabinet have to understand this fact soon. Because what Malaysians have been treated to post-election is more of the same: strident right-wing rhetoric from Utusan Malaysia, Perkasa and talk about punishing groups of Malaysians who presumably did not vote for the BN. 

Completely absent from any discussion has been the concept of 1Malaysia, reconciliation, a plan to rationalise subsidies, the future of GST, a detailed plan to handle prickly race relations. 

It is a known fact that within Umno, there is a push to bury the 1Malaysia concept, with many arguing that since many non-Malays did not vote for BN, it is time for Najib to forge ahead with policies which have a strong pro-Bumiputera bias. 

There is also a growing consensus within the government that it will be politically challenging to introduce the GST now. And that it will be financially taxing to continue BR1M, the direct dispensation of cash to millions of Malaysians in the run-up to the polls. 

We would like to hear what the Najib administration has to say on 1Malaysia, on the future economic direction of the country, on fighting crime. 

Malaysians want to see the winners at the polls govern. We dare say even Umno wants to see strong leadership. 

In the absence of exuding power and control, there will endless speculation over disgruntled Umno leaders “testing the PM’s resolve", meeting Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah and “shopping around for options’’. Already, there is some suggestion that there are some Umno politicians who won parliamentary seats, but were not rewarded with government positions, are agitating.

And then there is Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad offering his thoughts on the need for a contest for the top position in Umno. 

The fact is that Umno respects power and strong leaders. If Najib shows strength and leadership and governs Malaysia without fear, and at the same time marshals a team of influential Umno types around him, he can go into any contest for the president’s position with confidence. 

As the incumbent party president and the sitting PM, he has powers at his disposal to stay on and fight off any challenge, and govern the country effectively. 

But every day spent thinking about what may have been is a complete waste of a mandate.