Thursday, November 30, 2006
Social activist Bishan Singh dies
Thursday November 30, 2006
KUANTAN: Social activist and environmentalist Bishan Singh Ram Singh passed away yesterday after a short illness. He was 62.
His wife Mary Wai, 66, and children Sunitha, 35, and Jeevan Ram, 33, were by his side when he breathed his last at 6.43am at the Tengku Ampuan Afzan Hospital.
His death was listed as due to “pulmonary embolism”.
Bishan Singh had undergone a series of medical check-ups since October. His condition worsened over the last two weeks.
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Bishan Singh: His death was listed as due to ‘pulmonary embolism’ |
To Bishan Singh, Tasik Chini – the country's second largest freshwater lake – was special in so many ways.
He had been in love with the lake since his secondary school days and wanted it to be revived.
Bishan Singh spearheaded a campaign to save the lake and received strong support from the private sector.
“My father has no regrets. He has chosen his path in life and did what he loved best,” said Sunitha.
“Just look around the house compound. He planted his own vegetables as well as tended to the garden,” she added.
Bishan Singh was president of Fomca and the Pahang Consumers Association and was a former Kuantan councillor.
He held the presidency of Sustainable Development Network and was a board member of the Pesticide Action Network, Asia Pacific.
He had offered his services in consultancy for more than 20 years in 22 countries.
His efforts did not go unnoticed and he was the first recipient of the Consumer Advocate Award, and most recently was named the recipient of Langkawi Award by the King.
Born on May 31, 1944, in Nibong Tebal, Penang, Bishan Singh had a Masters in Development Management from the Asian Institute of Management, Manila.
Fomca secretary-general Muhammad Sha'ani Abdullah described his demise as a “great loss to the nation and NGO community”.
Bishan Singh will be cremated at Bukit Ubi crematorium today.
The public can pay their last respects at his residence in A617 Taman Koperasi, Lorong Selamat 24, Kuantan, before 11am.
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
Konsesi tol 'berat sebelah', bebankan rakyat
28-11-2006 10:48:30 PM
KUALA LUMPUR: Gabungan Persatuan Pengguna Malaysia (Fomca) hari ini mendesak kerajaan mengkaji semula perjanjian konsesi tol yang disifatkannya sebagai berat sebelah dan membebankan rakyat.
Setiausaha Agungnya Mohd Shaani Abdullah berkata jika kerajaan melalui Tenaga Nasional Bhd boleh mengkaji semula kontrak dengan pengeluar tenaga bebas (IPP), perkara yang sama boleh dilakukan bagi perjanjian konsesi tol.
"Kalau dengan IPP boleh runding semula (kontrak) kenapa tidak dengan syarikat konsesi tol," katanya ketika dihubungi Bernama.
Beliau mengulas kenyataan Menteri Kerja Raya Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu semalam yang berkata lima syarikat konsesi tol di Lembah Klang dibenarkan menaikkan kadar tol masing-masing bermula 1 Jan ini.
Lima syarikat konsesi itu ialah Lebuhraya Damansara-Puchong (LDP), Lebuhraya Koridor Guthrie (GCE), Lebuhraya Shah Alam, Lebuhraya Kuala Lumpur-Karak dan Lebuhraya Grand Saga Cheras.
Menurut Samy Vellu kenaikan kadar tol di lima lebuhraya itu bertujuan mengurangkan beban subsidi RM2 bilion yang ditanggung kerajaan.
Mohd Shaani berkata tindakan mengkaji semula perjanjian konsesi tol itu sememangnya wajar kerana syarikat terbabit sudah mengaut untung tinggi hasil daripada peningkatan lalu lintas yang mengatasi ramalan awal.
Beliau menambah faktor keuntungan tinggi dan peningkatan lalu lintas itu sepatutnya dijadikan alasan oleh kerajaan untuk mengkaji semula konsesi tol atau sekurang-kurangnya mendapatkan diskaun daripada syarikat konsesi.
"Kalau Menteri (Samy Vellu) kata kenaikan itu tidak dapat dielakkan, Fomca ingin bertanya kenapa semasa membuat perjanjian tidak difikirkan perkara ini terlebih dahulu," katanya.
Konsesi tol 'berat sebelah', bebankan rakyat
mSTAR on-line
28-11-2006 10:48:30 PM
KUALA LUMPUR: Gabungan Persatuan Pengguna Malaysia (Fomca) hari ini mendesak kerajaan mengkaji semula perjanjian konsesi tol yang disifatkannya sebagai berat sebelah dan membebankan rakyat.
Setiausaha Agungnya Mohd Shaani Abdullah berkata jika kerajaan melalui Tenaga Nasional Bhd boleh mengkaji semula kontrak dengan pengeluar tenaga bebas (IPP), perkara yang sama boleh dilakukan bagi perjanjian konsesi tol.
"Kalau dengan IPP boleh runding semula (kontrak) kenapa tidak dengan syarikat konsesi tol," katanya ketika dihubungi Bernama.
Beliau mengulas kenyataan Menteri Kerja Raya Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu semalam yang berkata lima syarikat konsesi tol di Lembah Klang dibenarkan menaikkan kadar tol masing-masing bermula 1 Jan ini.
Lima syarikat konsesi itu ialah Lebuhraya Damansara-Puchong (LDP), Lebuhraya Koridor Guthrie (GCE), Lebuhraya Shah Alam, Lebuhraya Kuala Lumpur-Karak dan Lebuhraya Grand Saga Cheras.
Menurut Samy Vellu kenaikan kadar tol di lima lebuhraya itu bertujuan mengurangkan beban subsidi RM2 bilion yang ditanggung kerajaan.
Mohd Shaani berkata tindakan mengkaji semula perjanjian konsesi tol itu sememangnya wajar kerana syarikat terbabit sudah mengaut untung tinggi hasil daripada peningkatan lalu lintas yang mengatasi ramalan awal.
Beliau menambah faktor keuntungan tinggi dan peningkatan lalu lintas itu sepatutnya dijadikan alasan oleh kerajaan untuk mengkaji semula konsesi tol atau sekurang-kurangnya mendapatkan diskaun daripada syarikat konsesi.
"Kalau Menteri (Samy Vellu) kata kenaikan itu tidak dapat dielakkan, Fomca ingin bertanya kenapa semasa membuat perjanjian tidak difikirkan perkara ini terlebih dahulu," katanya.
Fomca Urges Govt To Review Toll Concession Agreement
By Mohsin Taib
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 28 (Bernama) -- The Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (Fomca) has urged the government to review the agreements on toll concessions describing them as "one sided" and a burden to the people.
Secretary General Mohd Shaani Abdullah said since the government through Tenaga Nasional Bhd could review the contract with the independent power producers (IPPs), the same thing should be done to the toll concession agreements.
"If the contract with IPPs can be reviewed, why can't it be done to the companies awarded the toll concessions," he told Bernama here Tuesday.
Mohd Shaani was commenting on a statement by Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu on Monday that the five concession companies in the Klang Valley have been allowed to increase toll charges starting Jan 1.
The five concessionaires are those operating the Damansara-Puchong Highway (LDP), Guthrie Corridor Expressway (GCE), Shah Alam Highway (KESAS), Kuala Lumpur-Karak Highway and the Grand Saga Cheras Highway.
Samy Vellu said the increase was aimed at removing some of the RM2 billion subsidy borne by the government.
Mohd Shaani said the concession agreements should be reviewed as the companies had collected huge profits due to the high volume of traffic that way surpassed earlier projections.
He added the huge profits and high traffic volume were good reasons for the government to call for a review or at least ask for discounts from the companies.
"The Minister said the toll increase cannot be avoided. Fomca wants to know why wasn't this thought of before signing the agreements," he added.
-- BERNAMA
Fomca Desak Kerajaan Kaji Semula Perjanjian Konsesi Tol
Setiausaha Agungnya Mohd Shaani Abdullah berkata jika kerajaan melalui Tenaga Nasional Bhd boleh mengkaji semula kontrak dengan pengeluar tenaga bebas (IPP), perkara yang sama boleh dilakukan bagi perjanjian konsesi tol.
"Kalau dengan IPP boleh runding semula (kontrak) kenapa tidak dengan syarikat konsesi tol," katanya ketika dihubungi Bernama.
Beliau mengulas kenyataan Menteri Kerja Raya Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu semalam yang berkata lima syarikat konsesi tol di Lembah Klang dibenarkan menaikkan kadar tol masing-masing bermula 1 Jan ini.
Lima syarikat konsesi itu ialah Lebuhraya Damansara-Puchong (LDP), Lebuhraya Koridor Guthrie (GCE), Lebuhraya Shah Alam, Lebuhraya Kuala Lumpur-Karak dan Lebuhraya Grand Saga Cheras.
Menurut Samy Vellu kenaikan kadar tol di lima lebuhraya itu bertujuan mengurangkan beban subsidi RM2 bilion yang ditanggung kerajaan.
Mohd Shaani berkata tindakan mengkaji semula perjanjian konsesi tol itu sememangnya wajar kerana syarikat terbabit sudah mengaut untung tinggi hasil daripada peningkatan lalu lintas yang mengatasi ramalan awal.
Beliau menambah faktor keuntungan tinggi dan peningkatan lalu lintas itu sepatutnya dijadikan alasan oleh kerajaan untuk mengkaji semula konsesi tol atau sekurang-kurangnya mendapatkan diskaun daripada syarikat konsesi.
"Kalau Menteri (Samy Vellu) kata kenaikan itu tidak dapat dielakkan, Fomca ingin bertanya kenapa semasa membuat perjanjian tidak difikirkan perkara ini terlebih dahulu," katanya.
-- BERNAMA
