Category: Development EN

The Malaysian Government last week has been negotiating free trade agreements  (FTAs) with the United States of America (via the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement or TPP) and with the European Union (EU). These negotiations were taking place, simultaneously in Auckland, New Zealand (from Dec 6 to 10) and in Brussels, Belgium (Dec 6 to 9). The Consumers Association of Penang is deeply...

The Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) is outraged to learn that the Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Minister Datuk Seri Noh Omar had declared that the fish farm project in Bukit Merah will remain as the site has been gazetted. Datuk Seri Noh Omar was commenting on CAP’s call that the Ministry cancels the arowana breeding project that would adversely affect paddy growing area in the...

The Consumers' Association of Penang (CAP) is shocked to learn about a massive Arowana fish breeding project near Bukit Merah Lake in Kerian District of Perak that is taking away hundreds of acres of rice-growing land and the water supply to 200,000 consumers in several areas. The project has been undertaken in a highly suspicious manner and we call on the Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-based...

We reproduce a feature on CAP’s President in the Star on 30 October 2010. Consumers Association of Penang president S.M. Mohamed Idris fields the 10 questions posed to him by the Star readers.   Would you agree that many times, your concrete suggestions for the betterment of Malaysian Society is taken as criticisms of and by the people in power? Kumar, Rawang Politicians and bureaucrats...

CAP is against any water supply subsidies that are being given to consumers in Penang and Malaysia if we are to become a water-efficient nation.  We are appalled to learn that the domestic water subsidy in Penang had reached the level of RM41 million last year. Without appreciating the true value of water, consumers will not use water wisely. Cheap water is not the solution.  If water is too...

The difference between what the rich and the poor earn (the income disparity gap) remains wide and needs the government’s urgent attention. In a fair and just society, economic growth should benefit everyone.  Unfortunately this is not happening in Malaysia in spite of years of economic growth. We have now an aristocracy of wealth where a small group of Malaysians are very rich (22...

Since the US invasion of Afghanistan in 2001, 28,778 people died. Within the same duration in Malaysia 62,323 people lost their lives on our roads. With so many deaths and serious injuries we may liken this situation to a war. In many instances, whole families have been wiped out and yet most of us have remained largely insensitive, ignoring the sufferings of others. What are the agencies and...