MCA welcomes MACC, urges duties to be performed without fear or favour

MCA welcomes the official launching of the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC) which replaces the Anti Corruption Agency (ACA) by the Prime Minister YAB Dato’ Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. MCA Spokesperson Sdr Lee Wei Kiat said that “the call by the Prime Minister that the MACC be professional and fair is necessary to uphold truth and justice in its dealings.”

“MCA further urges the officers from MACC to perform their duties without fear or favour. As an independent body with prosecution powers, MACC must not succumb to any form of pressure or threats be it political, economical or social.”

As MCA fully supports an independent body to conduct investigations to tackle problems arising from graft, Wei Kiat added that “irrespective of whoever is involved in bribery be they politicians, civil servants, personnel from GLCs, multinational companies, or anybody from the private sector; or in any form whether cash, contracts or reciprocal favours and regardless of issue, action must be taken as corruption cannot be condoned. As long as the law is broken, despite the amount or returns whether enormous or little, practitioners of corruption must be hauled up.”

Wei Kiat who also heads MCA’s Information and Communication Bureau recalled that “in the last general elections which saw an unprecedented seismic shift of voting patterns, one of the causes for voter dissatisfaction was allegations of corruption and insufficient action being seen to be taken to address combating corrupt practices. The formation of the MACC is the right step forward in our government’s urgent efforts to restore public confidence.”

Multi-racial panel appointed

“On another note, MCA is pleased to read that the full list of 42 MACC appointees covering 5 panels and boards comprise of retired judges and civil servants, academicians and researchers, media fraternity, lawyers and NGOs. This reflects that the Prime Minister has selected eminent persons who, while carrying with them experience and wisdom are able to relate to the voices and issues from the ground.”

“More importantly, besides appointing multi-racial panelists, MCA is further gratified to observe that the Special Committee on Corruption consists of members from both sides of the political divide, thus ensuring the MACC’s independence and removal of any allegations of political partisanship, selective implementation or racial bias.”

马华促反贪委会毫无恐惧和偏私的执行任务

马华中央党部发言人李伟杰促请大马反贪污委会的官员毫无恐惧和偏私的执行任务。反贪委会作为一个拥有检控权的独立机构，绝对不能屈服于任何形式的威胁或压力。

马华对反贪委员会的正式推介表示欢迎，也认同首相阿都拉的呼吁，即反贪委会必须专业及公正，运作时必须贯彻真理与公义。

李伟杰补充，无论涉及贿赂的是什么人，包括政治人物、公务员、官联公司或跨国公司的人员、或任何私人企业的人士等；以及无论任何形式的贿赂，包括现金、合约或任何相关利益，反贪委会都必须采取行动，因为贪腐是不能被原谅的。只要是犯法，无论涉及数额的巨细，贪污者都必须被对付。

也是马华新闻局主任的李伟杰重申，去年大选的选民投票倾向出现空前转变，其中一个造成选民不满的因素就是关于贪污的指控，以及取缔贪污的行动是被视为不足够的。反贪委会的设立是政府为了重建公众信心的正确步骤。

马华也对反贪委会下5个机构的42名受委成员名单表示欢迎，有关名单包括退休法官和公务员、学者、媒体人士、律师及非政府组织人士。有关的委任说明首相选择了拥有经验及智慧的杰出人士，以及注重来自基层的声音和意愿。

最重要的是，除了委任来自各种族的人士，马华也对贪污事务特别委员会由朝野人士所组成表示满意，这将确保反贪委会的独立性，并能免于党派偏见、选择性执法或种族偏见等指责。

慎防有心人士冒用新闻局名义发表文告

马华新闻局指出，网络上一些有心人士，在缺乏管制的网络论坛上，冒用中央党部发言人兼新闻局主任李伟杰的个人名义，针对“黄洁冰事件”发出具有争议的误导性言论。

马华新闻局在此作出郑重声明，任何以中央党部发言人或新闻局名义所发表的言论，只会通过具有真实签名的书面形式，传真至国内主要的平面媒体和电子媒体。任何人若欲求证马华中央党部发言人所发表的文告，可致电马华新闻局（03-21618044）。

马华新闻局强调，李伟杰针对“黄洁冰事件”未发表过任何言论。任何网络读者、部落客在网络上读到有关李伟杰针对黄洁冰事件的言论，均为凭空捏造、子虚乌有之作。

马华新闻局也谴责有些不良居心者，通过缺乏管制的网络，冒用马华领袖的个人名义发表似是而非的不负责任言论，以打击马华的声望，满足其不可告人的政治议程。

马华新闻局指出，所谓“谣言止于智者”，因此广大读者在阅读任何网络上的讯息时，应具备分辨是非真假的基本判断能力，并小心求证资料来源和真实度，不要人云亦云、散播不实谣言，以免引起不必要的误会和困扰。

电费应调低至2008年7月之前的水平

马华中央党部发言人李伟杰表示，马华慎重的看待电费2.54%至5%的下调幅度，此次调整行动将让每个人民享有稍微更低的生活成本，但马华同时也促请政府以更大的幅度把电费降低至去年7月调高之前的水平。

也是马华新闻局主任的李伟杰补充，当国际原油价格于去年中攀升到每桶120美元时，电费于同年7月被调高24%。基于原油价格已经从去年的每桶150美元高峰下跌超过70%至昨日的每桶37美元，我们强烈吁请能源、水务及通讯部把电费下调至去年7月之前的水平。

马华同时也重申，政府有必要建立一套自动浮动的机制，让能源价格追随国际市场的需求而变动。经济领域必须自由化，因此能源价格应该能够根据国际走势而调整。

燃料价格的自动浮动机制将使生产商、零售商、货品及服务供应商获得最理想价格，家庭用户也肯定能从更低廉的电费所带来的更低水平生活费而得益。中低收入阶层必须获得优先关注是马华一直以来的立场，因此政府必须公开及透明的监控有关机制。

同样的，马华也促请生产商、零售商、服务供应商，基于生产、营运及维修成本将取得平衡，我们希望消费者也能从货价的下调中得益。我们促请商家们不要把电费的调低视为获取更大利润的机会，而是降低货价以利惠消费者，尤其是在近期国际经济不景气的情况下，消费者盼望拥有存款的保障及更佳的消费能力。由于市场需求已经滑落，降价也将刺激消费能力及经济的成长。

Government should further reduce the price of natural gas, electricity tariffs and petrol to alleviate the burden faced by the people

MCA Spokesperson Sdr Lee Wei Kiat today welcomes the announcement made by the government that electricity tariffs for households and industries will be reduced between 7% and 10% from March 1. Wei Kiat added that with the current economic slowdown, the government should reduce the electricity tariffs to alleviate the hardship faced by the people.

Sdr Lee Wei Kiat who is also the MCA Information and Communication Bureau chairman expresses that MCA will without fail continue to look after the welfare of the people and is aware that the hike in electricity tariffs last year had put much burden on the people and various industries.

“With the effort of MCA Cabinet Ministers in voicing out the concerns of the people in the Cabinet meetings, the government has made a sound decision that reflects they understand the current hardship faced by the people,” emphasized him.

Wei Kiat further points out that with the current economic challenges faced by the country, various industries will face the same difficulties. He expresses that the government should further review the proposal to reduce the electricity tariffs to alleviate the burden faced by the people and various industries.

He reiterates that with the reduction in electricity tariffs and move by the government to also giving rebates to industries which consume a lot of electricity, their operational cost will be greatly reduced. Thus, Wei Kiat urges the industries to cooperate and complement with the government’s effort in reducing the prices of their goods to alleviate the burden of consumers in view of rising prices.

“Politicians must put the interest of the people as the number one priority and MCA’s stand all this while is any decisions by the government should take into considerations the interest of the people. We would like to urge the government to consider further reducing the price of natural gas, electricity tariffs and petrol whereby the people heavily relies on as a source of fuel to further reduce the burden of the middle and lower class groups,” Wei Kiat said.

政府应进一步降低电费

马华中央党部发言人李伟杰欢迎政府宣布所有家用和工业的电费即将降价7至10%的决定，并敦促政府在目前经济放缓的时刻，能进一步降低电费，减轻人民及商家的负担。

也是马华新闻局主任的李伟杰指出，马华时时刻刻关心民意，充分了解电费在去年高涨后，为广大人民及商家带来极大压力。因此经过马华部长及其他同僚在内阁会议极力陈情、反映民意之下，而使到内阁作出体恤人民，降低电费的决定。

他进一步指出，“在目前经济不景的时刻，各行各业皆受影响，政府有必要进一步探讨再度调低电费的可能性，以让人民及商家减轻负担。”

李伟杰指出，随着电费价格的调低，加上政府给予大量用电的工业回扣，相关商家的营运成本必然也随之下降。基于此，他呼吁商家配合政府的努力，降低物价，减轻人民在经济不景的负担。

李伟杰强调，从政者必须以人民的福祉为最大考量，马华公会一贯的立场是政府的任何决定，必须以广大人民的利益为依归。因此他也促请政府考虑降低天然气、电费、汽油等人民赖以为生的燃料价格，以进一步减轻广大中下层群众及商家的负担，造福人民。