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admin — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 05:48:11 GMT

PETALINGJAYA BLOG

Budget Parliament

admin — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 15:24:37 GMT

THE Cabinet has agreed for a mini-budget to be tabled at the next parliament sitting, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said today.

"We are in the process of discussing with parliament as to the procedures and the best timing to present the mini-budget in the Dewan Rakyat," he told reporters.

"A meeting will be held in parliament on Tuesday to decide on the best time and procedures for the mini-budget," said Najib, who is also Finance Minister.

Asked on the size of the package, he said: "I will not want to say the amount at this stage but it will be bigger than the last stimulus package."

"Because this is in the form of a mini-budget, it will encompass fiscal monetary and other measures that the government can introduce," he said.

Asked whether it would include further lowering of the Overnight Policy Rate (OPR), he said: "We are in constant discussions with Bank Negara for the appropriate measures to take. It will depend on the central bank's inputs to the government." and#8212; Bernama

Mini Budget

helang — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 06:43:59 GMT

Monday March 9, 2009

What we can learn from the initiatives of other countries, particularly tax measures

By PETER WEE

THE mini budget to be announced tomorrow comes at a time of difficult world economic conditions. Prospects for 2009 remain uncertain. Across the region, countries like China, Taiwan, Japan and Singapore face declining industrial production and exports. The offshoot is that jobs are at risk.

There are record job losses in the United States and rising unemployment rates in Europe, Japan and China. Governments around the world have taken unprecedented steps to stimulate their economies and recapitalise ailing financial institutions.

Closer to home, Malaysia’s economic statistics for the last quarter indicate declines in key areas such as exports, industrial production and manufacturing sales. It is reported that the mini budget will seek to facilitate commerce and preserve jobs with measures aimed at spending to spur economic growth, toeing a Keynesian line of thinking.

A number of other countries have also recently announced measures, hoping to spur their respective economies. Some commentators see tax measures playing a strategic role in averting a prolonged economic malaise.

This article will briefly examine some of the more recent key tax measures embraced by other countries with an attempt to map some of the initiatives of selected countries to the main challenges facing our nation. Perhaps we can gain some insights as to which levers of economic measures the government can pull to speed up our slowing economic train.

Saving jobs and re-skilling

Singapore recently introduced a “job credit” scheme that seeks to preserve jobs as much as possible in the downturn. The government will provide every employer with a cash grant to reduce their cost of employing Singaporean workers. Yes, it will cost the government money – about S$4.5bil.

This grant scheme is a temporary measure to help companies through the economic downturn and the government has chosen this path over the granting of corporate tax rebates. The thinking is that businesses should not cut jobs to save costs but reduce costs to save jobs. A cash top-up for low-income workers has also been introduced by the Singapore government.

To encourage re-skilling, measures have been taken to step up training across all levels of the workforce in Singapore by doubling the number of courses run by certain government institutions and increasing course subsidies.

In Malaysia, tax incentives could be extended to encourage the employment of retrenched workers in general, say, by way of double deduction on their salaries, for a certain time period or on the cost of retraining of workers. Germany introduced such a measure for certain sectors of employment.

Enhancing cashflow

During a recession, businesses are likely to make losses. Britain, which has carry-back of tax losses, has enhanced this facility by increasing the number of carry-back years but with a cap on the quantum of carry-back.

Some may say, a penny not paid in taxes, is a penny saved. A perennial favourite and easiest to implement (but at a cost to government coffers) is the reduction of taxes. A myriad of measures have been taken by other countries. Not only has the corporate tax rate in Singapore been reduced, a one-off income-tax rebate has also been introduced for resident individuals in the island state.

Similar tax reduction initiatives have been introduced in other countries.

Britain has deferred the initially planned increase in corporate tax rate while Germany has reduced its income tax rate. To improve the cashflow of corporations, acceleration of allowances is also a popular tax measure.

The reduction in the corporate tax rate may provide a further incentive for both local and foreign businesses to strengthen their operations and make strategic investments for the future.

An interesting observation that has emerged in this crisis is a “partnership” between the government and private businesses. In Britain, the tax authorities have allowed businesses in temporary financial difficulties to pay their tax bills on a timetable they can afford. This leniency is also seen in Singapore where taxpayers who have lost their jobs are allowed to re-work their tax instalment plans.

It is encouraging to observe that the Malaysian tax authorities are also looking to assist businessmen facing financial burden by allowing staggered income tax payments. One would hope this facility is extended to other taxes such as indirect taxes.

Positioning for the future

The Singapore government has simplified its tax framework, making it easier for companies to restructure and rationalise. This can be construed as a strategic tax measure for the longer term to strengthen businesses.

Each country will have its own strengths and industries which it wants to promote, maintain or enhance. This can be done through tax incentives.

For example, Australia is encouraging businesses to undertake research and development (R&D) activities and to innovate by giving tax incentives for their chosen areas of focus.

Countries, like companies, hope to be able to maintain superior performances once the clouds of crisis blow over, and as such need to build on their fundamentals now and for the future.

What can we surmise from these brief observations?

Ensuring employment and re-employment of the rakyat would be one of the more important areas of our government’s imperatives. Besides giving grants to businesses, giving tax incentives, say, by way of enhanced deductions, can serve as impetus for companies to keep in check the unemployment levels.

Enhancing cashflow and investments could be achieved through a reduction in tax rates, and introduction of carry-back of tax losses, as some countries have done. To lessen the tax burden, a more flexible approach by the tax authorities towards tax payment is necessary.

Lastly, even during tough economic times, certain countries still encourage businesses to innovate and invest for the future. The role of the government in assisting tax payers is key to ensuring businesses remain resilient in this storm and emerge stronger. The demand of having to manage government finances while promoting economic activity is not an easy task, and will require a fine balancing act. The announcement tomorrow carries much hope for all.

● Peter Wee is executive director, PricewaterhouseCoopers Taxation Services Sdn Bhd.

Utusan 09/03/2009

admin — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 16:01:46 GMT

Selesaikan segera isu PPSMI

Oleh WAN NAJIB WAN DAUD
najib.daud@utusan.com.my

PETALING JAYA 7 Mac - Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi mahu isu Pengajaran dan Pembelajaran Sains dan Matematik dalam Bahasa Inggeris (PPSMI) diselesaikan segera bagi mengelakkan tercetusnya isu lebih besar pada masa depan.

Perdana Menteri berkata, ini kerana terdapat desakan kuat terutama daripada orang Melayu mengenai isu tersebut dan satu keputusan segera mengenainya perlu dilakukan.

"Saya mahu isu ini diselesaikan segera dan jika dilengah-lengahkan, pelbagai tekanan dan tindakan akan dilakukan oleh pertubuhan bukan kerajaan (NGO) menyebabkan ia jadi lebih besar," tegasnya.

Beliau berkata demikian kepada pemberita selepas melancarkan buku Dragon Fire Hammer , tulisan Adam Umemoto yang berusia 14 tahun di sini hari ini.

Perdana Menteri diminta mengulas kontroversi PPSMI yang semakin memuncak apabila 5,000 orang berhimpun dan berarak membantah pelaksanaannya dari Masjid Negara ke Istana Negara, petang ini bagi menyerah memorandum kepada pihak istana.

Perarakan yang tidak mendapat permit dan kebenaran itu bertukar menjadi kecoh apabila arahan polis supaya mereka bersurai tidak diendahkan ada segelintir peserta yang bertindak diluar batasan termasuk melakukan provokasi terhadap anggota pasukan keselamatan.

Sehubungan itu Pasukan Simpanan Persekutuan (FRU) terpaksa menggunakan meriam air untuk menyuraikan mereka.

Perarakan tersebut menyebabkan kesesakan teruk di sepanjang Jalan Mahameru kerana laluan terpaksa ditutup dari kedua-dua arah.

Dalam hubungan ini Abdullah berkata, Kementerian Pelajaran telah mengadakan beberapa perjumpaan dengan NGO terbabit bagi membincangkan perkara itu.

Namun kata beliau, kementerian tersebut masih belum bersedia untuk mengumumkan bentuk keputusan yang telah diambil.

Katanya, kementerian berkenaan boleh menjadikan keputusan peperiksaan lalu untuk dijadikan asas bagi menentukan pelaksanaan PPSMI itu.

"Dengan cara itu saya berharap ia akan menjadi satu keputusan yang adil kepada semua kaum dan bagi mengukuhkan kepentingan pendidikan masa depan,'' katanya.

Petaling Jaya Guide

petalingjaya — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 03:42:16 GMT

Shopping and business

Petaling Jaya, due to its logistic location with Kuala Lumpur hosts many business centres in the city. This includes the sub areas like Damansara Utama, Damansara Jaya, Bandar Utama, Kelana Jaya, Sungei Way and such which all have their own set of companies and corporations. In terms of shopping, there are various malls where to allow shoppers to indulge. This includes One Utama, Atria Shopping Centre, Ikana Shopping Centre and The Curve all of which are always filled with people day in day out.

Transportation

There are many ways by which you can come to Petaling Jaya. While there are public buses, taxis aviaialbel everywhere, Petaling Jaya is well connected by the Light Railway Transti (LRT) under the Kelana Jaya Line which comes from KL Sentral and other parts of the capital. There are many stops here like the Taman Bahagia, Kelana Jaya and Asia Jaya stops all of which provides you with shuttle bus services that will take you further out to nearby areas. Petalingjaya.com.my provides you with a comprehensive guide to the various transports modes available here.

Business directory.

Petalingjaya.com.my has a business directory that lists out all the business outlets that you look for. This directory is categorized and segmented to all types of businesses available in the city like entertainment, book shops, workshops, convenient stores, video shops, cafes and such. You should browse this section if you are looking for a specific product or service as they are also organized by location as well. Business owners who would like to have their businesses listed here can send us a request and we will profile your business and post them in the appropriate categories.

Latest developments

Petalingjaya.com.my also provides you with the latest news and developments taking place in the township. This includes upcoming construction project, residential areas or even shopping malls. Keep yourself updated with what is going on in Petaling Jaya here and submit a query if you have any.

Property and Real Estate

For property investors or those who are looking to buy property in Petaling Jaya, this section in petalingjaya.com.my provides you with an indepth look into all the different sections in the township and what you can expect in all the areas. In addition to that, you can also read up on upcoming residential areas being developed and their expected completion. This section also provides information on commercial properties as well.

Hotel Reservation

petalingjaya — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 09:20:50 GMT

Hotel Reservations - AsiaRooms.com provides a wide range of 60,000 hotels around the world, hotel information & 45,000 hotel reviews. Online Reservations.

WELCOME TO PETALINGJAYA WEBSITE

admin — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 06:23:31 GMT

Petalingjaya.ucoz.com

Petalingjaya.uzoc.com is an online portal catered to the people of Petaling Jaya, a township in Selangor which, over the years have grown to become one of the most developed and most potential towns in Malaysia. Petaling Jaya is nationally popular as one of the best commercial cities in Malaysia of which its property here are considered to be one of the most valuable. It is home to many upscale residential areas while some international companies have also made this city its base for many years and many more to come.

Developed in the early 1950s to overcome the problem of overpopulation due to the rapid development of Kuala Lumpur, Petaling Jaya is divided into many sections of which one of the main sections perhaps would be SS2 (or section 2). Its earliest settlement here is what we know today as ‘PJ Old Town’ which has since witnessed a spread of Petaling Jaya all the way to the borders of Sungai Way and Shah Alam, another township by itself.

References and historical background.

The history of Petaling Jaya can be dated back to the 1950s when the then British High commissioner of Malaya and the Petaling District Council chairman Sir Gerald Templer used the town as a satellite town to fend off the communists then. It still keeps the first shopping mall here, the Jaya Shopping centre in Section 14, which until last year started some new renovations and restructuring of the building. The township comes under the management o The Petaling Jaya Municipal Council and was granted a city status in 2006. One of its main landmarks here perhaps would be the arch that boundaries Kuala Lumpur and Selangor known as the Kota Darul Ehsan. This section outlines among many other resources an in-depth historical look into Petaling Jaya and its developments ever since.

This section also provides you with the information on the governing and management bodies of Petaling Jaya. This includes a profile of the Municipal Council and the political parties that are representing the various constituencies making up Petaling Jaya.