PEJUANG MENGGESA KERAJAAN MEMPERUNTUKKAN GERAN KEPADA PENIAGA KECIL DIBAWAH AMANAH IKHTIAR MALAYSIA

 KENYATAAN MEDIA

BIRO EKONOMI PUSAT PARTI PEJUANG TANAHAIR

PEJUANG MENGGESA KERAJAAN MEMPERUNTUKKAN GERAN KEPADA PENIAGA KECIL DIBAWAH AMANAH IKHTIAR MALAYSIA.

1. Parti Pejuang menggesa kerajaan untuk memperuntukkan sejumlah wang dari dana COVID-19 sebagai geran untuk membantu peniaga-peniaga kecil yang meminjam dari Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia (AIM). Kami juga menggesa kerajaan untuk memberi laporan terkini tunggakan-tunggakan pembayaran oleh peminjam pinjaman AIM.

2. Lebih RM800 juta telah diperuntukkan oleh kerajaan kepada AIM semenjak ditubuhkan; untuk tujuan memberi pinjaman kredit-mikro kepada golongan miskin untuk mereka memulakan perniagaan kecil.

3. Merujuk kepada kenyataan Pengerusi AIM, Datuk Shabudin Yahya pada 24 September 2021 di Berita Harian, kesan pandemik daripada sudut bayar balik pinjaman memang ketara. Kami amat prihatin dan risau terhadap masa depan 378,507 peminjam kredit mikro di bawah Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia (AIM) yang tidak dapat beroperasi semasa Perintah Kawalan Pergerakan (PKP) dan PKPD sepanjang pandemik.

PEJUANG MENGECAM KERAJAAN MELULUSKAN KENAIKAN HARGA DAN PENAMATAN BEBERAPA PERKHIDMATAN POS MALAYSIA

 KENYATAAN MEDIA

BIRO EKONOMI PUSAT PARTI PEJUANG TANAHAIR

PEJUANG MENGECAM KERAJAAN MELULUSKAN KENAIKAN HARGA DAN PENAMATAN BEBERAPA PERKHIDMATAN POS MALAYSIA

1. Parti Pejuang menggesa kerajaan untuk mengawal perkhidmatan-perkhidmatan dan harga-harga yang di kenakan oleh POS Malaysia Berhad. Walaupun POS Malaysia telah diswastakan dan telah menjadi milikan swasta, tetapi ianya terletak di bawah kawal selia Kementerian Komunikasi dan Multimedia Malaysia.

2. Sebagai Kementerian yang mengawal selia tarif dan perkhidmatan POS Malaysia, sekurang-kurangnya kerajaan patut memberi penjelasan yang munasabah terhadap kenaikan harga dan penamatan perkhidmatan bungkusan udara ke/dari Sabah dan Sarawak.

3. Jadual tarif baru juga tidak dimaklumkan dan dipamerkan di mana-mana pejabat pos dan/atau laman web. Laman web dan aplikasi mudah alih POS Malaysia hanya membuka ruang untuk mendapatkan sebut harga tanpa memaklumkan sebarang maklumat kenaikan harga atau jadual tarif yang baru.

PEJUANG MEMPERTIKAIKAN JUMLAH HUTANG PENEROKA FELDA – PENEROKA MISKIN MENJADI FAKIR DIBAWAH PENGURUSAN FELDA?

 

KENYATAAN MEDIA
BIRO EKONOMI PUSAT PARTI PEJUANG TANAHAIR

PEJUANG MEMPERTIKAIKAN JUMLAH HUTANG PENEROKA FELDA – PENEROKA MISKIN MENJADI FAKIR DIBAWAH PENGURUSAN FELDA?

1. Peneroka Felda yang ditawarkan pelarasan hutang harus berhati-hati dalam menandatangani perjanjian 6-muka surat itu dengan tempoh persetujuan yang amat singkat. Peneroka sekarang dikategorikan sebagai golongan fakir di bawah pengurusan FELDA dan menandatangani perjanjian itu tidak akan mengubah nasib mereka.

2. Kami amat risau dan bimbang bagaimana peneroka-peneroka boleh mempunyai hutang terkumpul berjumlah RM10.375 bilion. Kami berpendapat, jumlah ini amat besar dan punca hutang terkumpul ini harus dikaji dan diteliti.

3. Melupuskan sebahagian dari hutang peneroka tanpa menyelesaikan punca masalah akan menimbulkan masalah yang sama pada masa depan dan peneroka-peneroka akan kembali dalam keadaan terdesak menanggung beban hutang yang tidak sepatutnya berlaku.

SATU LANGKAH DRASTIK DIPERLUKAN UNTUK MEMULIHKAN EKONOMI

KENYATAAN MEDIA
BIRO EKONOMI PUSAT PARTI PEJUANG TANAHAIR

SATU LANGKAH DRASTIK DIPERLUKAN UNTUK MEMULIHKAN EKONOMI

1. Setelah menyertai dan menganjur berbagai sesi dialog mingguan bersama industri, wakil-wakil dari berbagai dewan perniagaan dan usahawan-usahawan, Biro Ekonomi Pusat Parti PEJUANG Tanahair menggesa kerajaan untuk mempertimbangkan beberapa insentif drastik untuk memastikan peniaga-peniaga mikro, kecil dan sederhana dapat terus berdaya tahan dalam mengharungi pandemik COVID-19.

2. Setelah dikaji, pakej stimulus PEMULIH, walaupun dialu-alukan tetapi tidak memberi kesan untuk peniaga mikro, kecil dan sederhana untuk berdaya tahan sepanjang tempoh pandemik.

3. Adalah amat mengecewakan jumlah keseluruhan suntikan langsung fiskal stimulus kerajaan semenjak negara dilanda pandemik, hanyalah RM84 bilion atau 6% dari KDNK negara. Pakej stimulus PEMULIH hanya memperuntukkan RM10 bilion suntikan fiskal langsung.

4. Di negara-negara yang berjaya memulihkan ekonomi dari wabak covid-19 seperti Jerman, 60% dari KDNK dibelanjakan secara suntikan fiskal langsung untuk tujuan memulihkan ekonomi. Singapura pula membelanja 20% dari KDNK untuk stimulus pemulihan.

PEJUANG: Luluskan Kemudahan Moratorium Menyeluruh dan Moratorium Sewa dengan Segera

KENYATAAN MEDIA BERSAMA 

SETIAUSAHA AGUNG & KETUA BIRO EKONOMI PUSAT

PEJUANG MENGGESA KERAJAAN UNTUK MELULUSKAN KEMUDAHAN MORATORIUM MENYELURUH DAN MORATORIUM SEWA DENGAN SEGERA.

1. Moratorium menyeluruh mesti diluluskan dengan segera dan dilanjutkan sehingga imuniti berkelompok dicapai sebelum lebih banyak perniagaan terpaksa ditutup, lebih ramai rakyat dibangkrapkan dan dalam situasi terdesak, ramai yang membunuh diri.

2. Ramai rakyat dan perniagaan dinafikan Moratorium bersasar kerana mereka perlu memohon dengan menyediakan berbagai maklumat, dokumen dan bukti.

3. Kami memandang serius kenyataan Presiden Persatuan Peruncit Bumiputera, Datuk Ameer Ali Mydin melaporkan Majoriti peniaga-peniaga sektor peruncitan di negara ini terutama peniaga Melayu sudah ‘hampir mati’ selepas kerajaan melaksanakan pelaksanaan Perintah Kawalan Pergerakan (PKP) 3.0

4. Kami mengambil maklum dan menyokong penuh permintaan Gabungan 140 NGO-NGO, Dewan-Dewan Perniagaan supaya Moratorium ini ditawarkan secara automatic untuk semua fasiliti bank (individu dan syarikat termasuk kad kredit, overdraf, pinjaman kereta, pinjaman rumah dan lain-lain), fasiliti Kredit dan ‘Leasing’ atau pajakan.

Bantuan perlu disediakan sebelum capaian imuniti kelompok (Herd Immunity)

 KENYATAAN NEDIA

1. Kami merujuk kepada Pelan Pemulihan Negara yang telah dibentangkan oleh Perdana Menteri sebentar tadi.

2. Tiada peruntukan atau perancangan yang disediakan kepada setiap sektor yang masih ditutup atau memerlukan masa untuk dibuka mengikut fasa-fasa yang dicadangkan. Kemungkinan besar sektor tersebut akan gulung tikar sebelum negara masuk ke fasa seterusnya.

3. Sehingga imuniti kelompok (herd immunity) dicapai atau sehingga sektor-sektor dibuka, Moratorium menyeluruh atau blanket moratorium perlu disediakan. Moratorium ini tidak memerlukan peruntukan bajet tambahan dari kerajaan dan patut disegerakan.

4. Bantuan juga perlu disediakan kepada peniaga kecil dan PKS yang tidak dapat beroperasi sehingga nilai ambang dicapai untuk maju ke fasa-fasa seterusnya.

KERJASAMA ANTARA GERAKAN EKONOMI MALAYSIA & MARDI CORPORATION DALAM USAHA MERUBAH LANSKAP PERTANIAN MALAYSIA

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
GERAKAN EKONOMI MALAYSIA - GEM
KENYATAAN AKHBAR

KERJASAMA ANTARA GERAKAN EKONOMI MALAYSIA & MARDI CORPORATION DALAM USAHA MERUBAH LANSKAP PERTANIAN MALAYSIA

1.    Gerakan Ekonomi Malaysia (GEM) mengorak langkahnya dalam memanfaatkan pengetahuan, kepakaran dan keupayaan  MARDI Corporation, sebuah anak syarikat milik penuh Institut Penyelidikan & Pembangunan Pertanian Malaysia (MARDI), dalam usaha memberikan nafas baharu sektor pertanian negara.

2.    Sehubungan dengan itu, GEM dan MARDI Corporation telah menandatangani satu Memorandum Persefahaman untuk menetapkan terma dan syarat untuk penubuhan ladang pertanian campuran pada 26 Mac 2021 dengan disaksikan mantan Perdana Menteri, YB Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

3.    Berkonsepkan penggabungan tanah-tanah pertanian yang menggunakan pertanian campuran berskala besar, usaha ini akan dilakukan dengan nasihat dan kerjasama dari MARDI. MARDI Corporation bakal menawarkan nasihat kepada GEM mengenai konsep, mekanisme dan unjuran pendapatan serta benih yang terbaik untuk memastikan hasil pulangan pertanian secara optimum. Sementara itu, GEM pula akan memberi tumpuan dalam mengenal pasti kawasan-kawasan tanah yang sesuai, perancangan korporat dan pengaturan pembiayaan untuk tujuan tersebut.

Gerakan Ekonomi Malaysia (GEM) aims to leverage on the knowledge, expertise and past successes of MARDI Corporation, the wholly-owned subsidiary of the Malaysia Agricultural Research & Development Institute (MARDI), in the effort of revamping the nation’s agriculture sector.

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
GERAKAN EKONOMI MALAYSIA - GEM
PRESS RELEASE

Gerakan Ekonomi Malaysia (GEM) aims to leverage on the knowledge, expertise and past successes of MARDI Corporation, the wholly-owned subsidiary of the Malaysia Agricultural Research & Development Institute (MARDI), in the effort of revamping the nation’s agriculture sector.

1.    On March 26, GEM and MARDI Corporation signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish the terms and conditions in establishing mix-farming estate(s) for production of crops. The ceremony was witnessed by former Prime Minister YB Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

2.    The concept, which involves the amalgamation of agriculture land to be utilized for mixed farming on a big scale will be carried out with the support from MARDI in the areas of production of mix farming crops. 

3.    MARDI Corporation will advise on the concept, mechanism and forecast revenue of the best mix crops and seeds to ensure the best return.

4.    GEM on the other hand would focus on identifying the suitable land areas and financing arrangements for the said purpose.

5.    During the signing ceremony, Armin Baniaz Pahamin, GEM President amplified GEM’s intention to professionally operate and adopt the latest technology through a Cooperative to optimize crops production and to pilot test the concept on at least 1,000 acres of land.

MARDI Corporation signs MOU with Gerakan Ekonomi Malaysia to revolutionise the agriculture industry

GERAKAN EKONOMI MALAYSIA - GEM

PRESS RELEASE

 

Gerakan Ekonomi Malaysia (GEM) aims to leverage on the knowledge, expertise and past successes of MARDI Corporation, the wholly-owned subsidiary of the Malaysia Agricultural Research & Development Institute (MARDI), in the effort of revamping the nation’s agriculture sector. 

 

1.     On March 26, GEM and MARDI Corporation signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish the terms and conditions in establishing mix-farming estate(s) for production of crops. The ceremony was witnessed by former Prime Minister YB Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

 

2.     The concept, which involves the amalgamation of agriculture land to be utilized for mixed farming on a big scale will be carried out with the support from MARDI in the areas of production of mix farming crops.  

 

3.     MARDI Corporation will advise on the concept, mechanism and forecast revenue of the best mix crops and seeds to ensure the best return. 

 

4.     GEM on the other hand would focus on identifying the suitable land areas and financing arrangements for the said purpose.

KERAJAAN PERLU MENJELASKAN TUDUHAN-TUDUHAN RASUAH YANG DIKENAKAN TERHADAP AUGUSTUS RALPH MARSHALL

 

KENYATAAN MEDIA

BIRO EKONOMI PARTI PEJUANG TANAHAIR

4 MAC 2021

KERAJAAN PERLU MENJELASKAN TUDUHAN-TUDUHAN RASUAH YANG DIKENAKAN TERHADAP AUGUSTUS RALPH MARSHALL

1. Pada 1 Mac 2020, Kementerian Kewangan telah mengumumkan pelantikan Ahli Lembaga Pengarah dan Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif yang akan menerajui syarikat tujuan khas, Digital National Berhad (DNB) bagi melaksanakan infrastruktur dan jaringan teknologi 5G di seluruh negara.

2. Di dalam pengumuman tersebut, Kementerian Kewangan telah melantik Augustus Ralph Marshall sebagai Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif DNB yang akan menerima peruntukkan sebanyak RM15 bilion daripada kerajaan.

3. Pada 29 Mac 2012, Jakarta Post memaparkan permintaan dari Kepolisian Negara Repulik Indonesia untuk Interpol mengeluarkan notis merah penangkapan Augustus Ralph Marshall di atas penggunaan dana secara haram membabitkan sebuah syarikat di Indonesia. Meskipun kes tersebut telah diselesaikan, namun butir-butir samada kes ini telah diselesaikan melalui keputusan mahkamah atau luar mahkamah masih tidak diketahui.

4. Pada 24 September 2016, Bloomberg juga menerbitkan berita bahawa Mahkamah India telah mengeluarkan waran tangkap untuk Augustus Ralph Marshall berhubung kes rasuah membabitkan lesen telefon.

THE GOVERNMENT’S RM15 BILLION SPV TO BUILD THE NATION’S 5G INFRASTRUCTURE SUSCEPTIBLE TO ABUSE AND CORRUPTION

 

MEDIA STATEMENT

THE GOVERNMENT’S RM15 BILLION SPV TO BUILD THE NATION’S 5G INFRASTRUCTURE SUSCEPTIBLE TO ABUSE AND CORRUPTION

28th FEBRUARY 2021

1. Recently, the government announced the MyDIGITAL initiative that seeks to achieve a slew of targets in 3 phases until 2030.

2. While we commend the government’s efforts to expedite 5G in order to strengthen the country digital economy and improve the competitive edge of local startups and relevant industries, there is great concern surrounding the RM15b plan to build a 5G infrastructure nationwide within 10 years and to deploy it through a government-owned special purpose vehicle (SPV) instead of through an open tender process. Furthermore, this entity will be allocated with 5G spectrums to own and manage all 5G-related infrastructure.

3. Not to mention, such high expenditure will only yield 4.6% increase of the digital economy’s contribution to the GDP which currently stands at 18% (RM270 billion) whereas the size of the global digital economy has already reached more than USD12 trillion according to some estimates.

4. The government’s plan to develop a 5G infrastructure amounting to RM15 Billion through a government owned Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) without an open tender is worrying and has raised many concerns. The same SPV is then also given the responsibility to own, deploy and manage the 5G infrastructure.

KENYATAAN MEDIA

PELAN SPV MILIK KERAJAAN UNTUK MEMBANGUNKAN INFRASTRUKTUR 5G BERJUMLAH RM15 BILION AKAN TERDEDAH KEPADA SALAHGUNA KUASA DAN RASUAH

28HB FEBRUARI 2021

1. Baru-baru ini, kerajaan Perikatan Nasional pimpinan Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin telah mengumumkan inisiatif MyDIGITAL yang bertujuan untuk mencapai beberapa sasaran berteraskan tiga (3) fasa sehingga 2030.

2. Kami mengalu-alukan cadangan membina infrastruktur 5G di seluruh negara untuk membangunkan ekonomi digital dan menjadikan Malaysia salah satu negara termaju dari segi infrastruktur digital. Ini juga boleh membantu syarikat-syarikat teknologi ‘Start-up’ dan ekosistem telekomunikasi untuk lebih berdaya saing.

3. Tetapi dengan perbelanjaan yang cukup besar untuk peningkatan hanya 4.6% dalam jangka masa 5 tahun amat membimbangkan sedangkan sumbangan ekonomi digital telah pun mencapai 18% KDNK (RM270 bilion) dan saiz digital ekonomi global kini berjumlah USD12 trilion.

4. Rancangan kerajaan untuk membina infrastruktur 5G berjumlah RM15 bilion di seluruh negara melalui sebuah entiti khusus ataupun ‘Special Purpose Vehicle’ (SPV) milik kerajaan Malaysia dan bukan melalui proses tender terbuka amat membimbangkan dan mencurigakan. Malah, entiti ini seterusnya akan diberikan spektrum yang bersesuaian untuk memiliki, melaksana dan menguruskan infrastruktur 5G.

KEADAAN EKONOMI TAK TERKAWAL DAN BANYAK PERNIAGAAN AKAN LINGKUP

ENGISH (Versi Bahasa dibawah)

PRESS RELEASE

GERAKAN EKONOMI MALAYSIA (PPM-013-10-01022021)

1. We laud and welcome prominent economist, Prof. Dr. Jomo Kwame Sundaram call for government to adopt a ‘Look East’ policy in its battle against Covid-19.

2. We are wasting resources in the wrong approach against the Covid-19 and it is at the cost of a prolonged economic downturn. 

3. The budget allocated for 2021 was for post-recovery stage 5; ‘Revitalise’ of the Strategy 6R approach namely Resolve, Resilience, Restart, Recovery, Revitalise and Reform. We are far from Recovery.

4. This resulted in significantly less budgetary resources available to overcome the pandemic and as a result, the spread of Covid-19 cannot be contained. 

5. Even with the State of Emergency declared, funds are not being effectively used to contain the pandemic.  

6. A mass testing and a complete isolation of those tested positive even without symptoms must be implemented to reduce the numbers of daily cases and death. 

7. With all positive cases isolated, the State of Emergency and Movement Control Order can be lifted so the economy, businesses and government offices can return to normalcy. Our economy can then recover.

ADALAH SATU JENAYAH UNTUK KERAJAAN MELULUSKAN CADANGAN YANG MERUGIKAN RAKYAT.

ADALAH MENJADI SATU JENAYAH UNTUK KERAJAAN MELULUSKAN CADANGAN PENGGABUNGAN UEM SUNRISE DENGAN ECO WORLD YANG MEMANG AKAN MERUGIKAN RAKYAT. 

Kita sedia maklum cadangan penggabungan UEM Sunrise dan ECO World telah mula digerakkan semasa Tun Dr Mahathir menjadi Perdana Menteri ke 7 lagi tetapi cadangan itu ditolak oleh Tun Dr Mahathir dan kerajaan Pakatan Harapan. Usaha penggabungan kedua-dua buah syarikat ini telah dicadangkan sekali lagi kepada kerajaan Perikatan Nasional pada hari ini.

 

Kalau cadangan ini telah ditolak di zaman pemerintahan Perdana Menteri ke 7 semasa situasi kewangan negara yang tidak memberangsangkan, cadangan ini seharusnya juga perlu ditolak dengan lebih keras pada waktu ini dalam kemerosotan ekonomi yang lebih tenat disebabkan wabak Covid-19 dan ketidakstabilan serta ketidaktentuan nilai hartanah. Sektor hartanah merupakan salah satu sektor yang paling teruk terjejas disebabkan gejala wabak pandemik Covid-19.

 

Cadangan penggabungan ini yang pernah dikaitkan dengan tuduhan kronisme terhadap pentadbiran Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad. Dengan cadangan untuk meneruskan penggabungan ini, telah terbukti bahawa tuduhan tersebut adalah tidak benar dan ianya merupakan satu inisiatif berterusan pihak Khazanah sendiri yang kini disokong oleh pentadbiran Perikatan Nasional.

 

Adalah tidak wajar untuk kerajaan Perikatan Nasional meluluskan penggabungan UEM Sunrise dan ECO World untuk menjadi syarikat gergasi kedua terbesar (dari segi pegangan saiz tanah) tanpa mempunyai pegangan majoriti dan hanya akan memiliki 48% pegangan saham dalam UEM Sunrise; turun dari 66%.

 

Keutamaan kerajaan sepatutnya diberi untuk menjamin pekerjaan seperti pekerja di syarikat penerbangan MAS, Airasia dan lain-lain yang lebih terjejas dengan keadaan semasa bukan untuk menjamin pemegang saham pemaju perumahan mewah yang dibelenggu pinjaman berbilion disebabkan lebihan hartanah yang tak terjual. Lebih RM200 juta wang rakyat dibelanjakan untuk pembatalan projek perumahan PR1M dan tindakan itu seolah-olah wang rakyat cukup senang dibelanjakan.

 

Pada waktu ini, nilai hartanah yang semakin merosot dan dijangka akan lebih merundum, jumlah rumah dan hartanah mewah yang tak terjual semakin terkumpul serta peratusan pembeli dan syarikat korporat yang terjejas akibat wabak Covid-19  semakin membengkak. Ketika mana Menteri Perumahan dan Kerajaan Tempatan, YB Hjh Zuraida Kamaruddin menegaskan pemaju rumah mewah tidak akan dibantu kerajaan dan akan dikenakan cukai pengosongan ‘Vacancy Tax’ pada masa hadapan, Khazanah menghulurkan bantuan kepada ECO World yang mempunyai lebihan rumah dan hartanah tak terjual yang tinggi, pinjaman yang tinggi bersamaan RM3.6 billion dan aliran tunai yang rendah RM30juta.

 

Pada masa yang sama, UEM Sunrise pula mempunyai aliran tunai yang tinggi bersamaan dengan RM700juta dan jumlah pinjaman yang rendah. Status kewangan dan aset UEM Sunrise yang lebih kukuh ini dilihat seolah-olah digunakan untuk menutup beban hutang pinjaman syarikat ECO World dan juga hartanahnya yang tidak terjual.

 

Kesan pada sektor perumahan juga akan lebih dirasai pada awal tahun 2021 iaitu beberapa bulan selepas berakhirnya moratorium pinjaman dan apabila peratusan NPL dalam laporan CCRIS dan CTOS mula dikemaskini.

 

Cadangan penggabungan itu juga meletakkan nilai UEM Sunrise pada nilai RM1.8 billion tetapi nilai itu tidak mengambil kira nilai pasaran semasa iaitu penilaian RM60/kaki persegi untuk 5,000 ekar tanah di Iskandar berbanding dengan nilai dibeli hanya RM10/kaki persegi pada tahun 1995. Jika diambil kira, nilai saham UEM Sunrise sepatutnya mencecah lebih RM10 billion. Ini memberi keuntungan yang lebih memihak kepada pemegang saham ECO World yang akan memegang saham 24% UEM Sunrise selepas penggabungan.

 

Pemegang Saham ECO World juga akan mendapat manfaat dari akses dan jaminan wang rakyat melalui Khazanah dan dapat berlindung disebalik jaminan-kegagalan dari kerajaan. Semua GLC seperti syarikat penerbangan nasional, MAS yang gagal dibawah pentadbiran lembaga pengarah yang dilantik oleh Khazanah tidak pernah dihadapkan ke mahkamah tetapi disuntik lagi dengan berbilion duit rakyat sebagai “recovery plan”.

 

Keputusan UEM mengambil alih Sunrise pada suatu ketika dahulu pun merupakan satu keputusan yang tidak tepat. Kini, UEM kembali membuat satu lagi keputusan yang bakal membahayakan dana pembayar cukai.

 

Pembaziran dan keputusan yang membabitkan kehilangan atau kerugian besar wang rakyat patut diklasifikasikan sebagai satu jenayah.

 

ARMIN BANIAZ PAHAMIN

Ahli Jawatankuasa Pusat Penaja Parti Pejuang Tanahair (Pejuang)

 

www.arminbaniaz.com

BANK NEGARA GUIDELINE: PEDA PRESS RELEASE

PROTON DEALERS PRESS RELEASE

Kuala Lumpur. "Proton Edar Dealers Association Malaysia (PEDA) extend our network's support to DRB-HICOM  and congratulate the conglomerate for winning the bid to acquire Khazanah Nasional's 42.7% stake in PROTON Holdings", said President Armin Baniaz Pahamin

The dealer's network look forward to working closer with the new owner and understand the need for PROTON to have fresh capital injection to be competitive especially nearing the liberalization of auto market. Unlike our rival, whose vehicle make and model has achieved its economics of scale in its homeland abroad before being introduced in Malaysia, PROTON's bread-winner is in our homeland Malaysia. PROTON's volume with its own-born model in Malaysia's small population could not attained a sizable economies of scale.

1. DRB_HICOM as a new owner with a stronger cashflow would enable PROTON to introduce newer models more regularly and to be more aggressive in export. PROTON current financial capability can only allow one model to be introduced annually and once introduced, the model stayed in the market longer than that of the competitor to re-gained its return on investment.

BFM 89.9 THE BUSINESS STATION, EVENING EDITION WITH CAROLINE OH, UMA, ARMIN BANIAZ PAHAMIN & JOHN CHUAH

BFM 89.9 The business Station extend an invitation for me to be LIVE on EVENING EDITION on 22 July 2011. I quickly accepted the offer and invited John Chuah as one of CHIEF'S ORIGINAL BOOTCAMP 's longest recruit as a testimony.

BFM 89.9 is located 10 minutes away from my house at 5.01 Wisma BU8, 11, Lebuh Bandar Utama, 47800 Petaling Jaya. Both John Chuah and me arrived at Wisma BU8 at 6pm for the 6:30pm LIVE @ Evening Edition.

Typical of us at COBC, while waiting, we camwhore abit...

Bernama News TV Interview

On Monday morning, I received a call from Laili Rahman, Broadcast journalist from Bernama News TV for an interview on my capacity as the Deputy President of the Proton Edar Dealers Association Malaysia to be aired this Saturday 21 June 2008 on Bernama News TV channel 502 Astro. I was asked to comment on the possible effect on Proton car sales due to the increase in petrol price. The interview was set on Tuesday and we had the interview yesterday but I am sure some of what was said will be censored.

The morning did not start too well with lots of screaming on my end when my Fasfik sales performance did not meet my half month target. I sat with all my Head of Departments and brainstormed on various measures to overcome the shortfall in our sales performance. I only had 30 minutes before the scheduled interview with Bernama and in temperament quickly conclude the brainstorming discussion when Laily arrived. I greeted the charming reporter and began our conversation with what other industry feels with all the price increase. Almost all industry extended a very negative view. The followings are the excerpts from the interview.

Laily Rahman: How do you see the sales performance of Proton's car after the announcement of new fuel prices?

Armin Baniaz: The fuel price increase will not have a major direct impact on Proton car sales as Proton is a people’s car. The bulk of Proton model variances ranges from 1.1, 1.3 to 1.6 cylinder capacity and are economical to use. The petrol price increase may instead improve the sales of Proton cars when the public then realise it is more economical to use Proton cars. For example, Proton Savvy was recorded in the Malaysia Book of Record for the best fuel consumption with 24km per litre.


Laily Rahman: You mentioned that it will not have a direct impact, is there an indirect impact?

Armin Baniaz: Yes indeed. The fuel price increase may affect the existing hire purchase loan repayment due to having less disposable income. The majority of proton customers are from the middle to lower income group and they usually (before the petrol price increase) do not have any extra disposable income. With the increase in the petrol price as well as the price of other essential commodities such as price of chicken, electric bills etc, they may realise then realise that they cannot afford to repay the car monthly repayment. This will increase the Bank’s Non-Performing Loan (NPL) and Banks may be more stringent with hire purchase loan approval that will eventually affect the sales of Proton cars.

With the increased in price of fuel, and the price of some essential expenditures such as electricity, water, even chicken etc.., the lower income earner that comprised of a large majority of the population who also purchased a car under hire-purchase loan usually can only meets end without any further savings or other disposable income. Any increase in essential expenditures, will be the opportunity cost to their current expenditure such as the monthly car repayment.

Laily Rahman: Will the petrol price increase effect the operation of Proton Dealers too?

Armin Baniaz: It should affect both Proton as well as the dealers, the cost of operation will be increased (especially the movement and the logistics of our stocks are cars). Currently, although Proton sales have picked up, but the dealers network is still far from profitable (due to the over-congestion of the dealers appointment). Proton dealers cost of operation is much lower than that of Proton’s own-branch. I can safely assume the dealer’s cost of operation is only approximately 30% of the Proton own-branches. Proton’s own-branches in the aggregate are selling less than double what the dealers are selling, hence there is no way Proton’s own branch are making profit (given the same profit margin as the dealers). It makes more sense for Proton to close some of their branches (rather than subsidising the lost incurred by their own branch) and convert their Platinum branches into a WARRANTY AND AFTER SALES CENTRE to further enhance and signal better confident in their cars to the customer.

For proton to cost-down operation and close their branches. All resources should be channel towards enforcing the neglected Proton IP rights and moulding every dealers towards similar goal without any biaseness to their own branch. The Dealers invested their money and is more sales, customer and profit oriented (being business owner). Nonetheless, the cost of maintaining the sales network will then be borne by the dealers.

Since the inception of Proton back in the 1980s, dealers margin were kept low to ensure long term survivability. However, the Government then under Tun Dr Mahathir, requested other sectors to assist the national carmaker but extending (similar to the developed nation) a ‘Hire-Purchase commission’. Hire purchase commission is a payment to proton dealers for marketing the packages offered by Banks and financial institutions. The hire-purchase commission accounted to 2/3 of our total margin. Profit margin per car was only 1/3. This Hire-Purchase Commission that was first extended ONLY to Proton dealers were open to all car dealers of other makes in the early 1990s and that was when I believe the benefits were abused. In the early 2000, the Central Bank revoked the hire purchase commission but later regulate and impose a ceiling. Proton dealers profit margin per car was never revised (when the hire purchase commission was revoke) though it was earlier kept low with the support of the hire-purchase commission. Todate, there were negligible revision of our profit margin though our rental has increased more than 60% since we commence operation and had spend almost RM1million in total for three times compliance to Proton Corporate Image since 1996.

With the increase in the operating cost such as Petrol, electricity etc… the dealers will incur more losses. All the increase in the operating cost are absorbed by the dealers.

Laily Rahman: Have PEDA written to the Authorities since this is of national interest?

Armin Baniaz: Yes we have. We have written twice to the Governor Bank Negara for the hire purchase commission with a detailed independant study by Ernst & Young benchmarking the dealer's responsibilties pertaining our roles as the agent to the bank and our remuneratoin (hire-purchase comminssion). The Benchmarking was done against developed and neighbouring countries like Singapore, Thailand, United Kingdom, Australia and japan. We have also written to the Prime Minister?

Laily Rahman: What was their response?

Armin Baniaz: there were no response whatsoever from either the Central Bank Negara Governor (or its officials) or the Prime Minister (or its office) and we will write again soon.

Laily Rahman: Do you have any forecast for the next 6 months.

Armin Baniaz: I do not have the overall forecast. Proton would be in a better position to forecast. However, currently most of the model variances are on waiting list!
But overall we expect a total of a minimum 13,000 deliveries per month or an equivalent to approximately 30 cars per dealer that is still not our break-even sales.


Laily Rahman: Do you have any suggestions to ensure sales remain good?

Yes, since automotive is neither the buyers market nor a sellers market but instead BANKER’S LED market, the government (ministry of finance/ bank Negara) should stimulate the automotive sector by allowing the public to restructure their hire purchase refinancing to ensure that the public disposable income that is now affected by the petrol price increase (as well as all other essential expenditure price increase) can afford to pay the monthly repayment. When the public can afford to pay the monthly payment for their cars (given the increase in price for essential expenditure), the bank’s NPL will be reduced and Proton customer risk profile will be adjusted.

PEDA understand that Proton’s customer were categorised as high risk due to fraud loan, big loan default rate or high NPL. But the major cause of the loan default rate, as well as the NPL was the syndication by unscrupulous brokers and sales man. There were previously no measures or supervision of the sales personnel appoinments. PEDA together with Proton had taken the necessary (via centralised registration of all salesman) step to eradicate this practice but if we want to wait for proton customer risk profile to be re-adjusted by the market then we will have to wait for another year or even a few years.

WITH GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE, THE CUSTOMER RISK PROFILE CAN BE ADJUSTED NOW TO ENSURE THE CUSTOMER CAN STILL BUY PROTON CARS AND PERHAPS EXTENDING THE LOAN REPAYMENT FROM THE CURRENT 9 YEARS TO 12 YEARS TO REDUCE THE HIRE PURCHASE LOAN REPAYMENT AND MAKE IT MORE AFFORDABLE TO THE PUBLIC.

Having taken the necessary step to register all salesman in the network, the bank can rest assure fraud, default rate and NPL rate will be drastically reduced if not eradicated.
If the bank can adjust the customer risk profile now, than our sales can increased by at least 30% (via reducing the current 60% rejection rate due to customers with high risk profile and affordability if loan period is extended)

When PEDA did the ‘gulur tikar’ statement last year or two, our predicament was on the same basis. Yes the uncertainty pertaining to the foreign partner (eg Volkswagen) affected our sales because the pubic were waiting for the newer model line-up expected from the joint venture. BUT the main caused of the decline in sales were due to the Bank’s stringency (Customer RISK PROFILE) and the bank’s valuation of the second hand car in anticipation of the new ‘foreign model’.
SECONDLY, because of historical syndicate to falsify customers documents and the HIGH NPL, Proton customer’s risk profile are higher than other model makes. This will happen again NOW when customer simply cannot afford to pay their hire-purchase loan repayment due to less disposable income as a result from most essential expenditure price increase.


Laili Rahman: Have you heard any complaints/comments from customers regarding new fuel prices? What do you do to explain to them.

Armin Baniza: yes everyday… though the price increase is inevitable and beyond our control (as a citizen), we can mitigate the price increase through changing our driving behaviour, proper car maintenance as this will promote better fuel saving as well as restructuring our finances. For example, refinancing the car or change car to a more fuel saving car.. such as Proton Savvy// 24km per litre- recorded in the Malaysia Book of record. This is important as not only the fuel price is increased but everything from electric, water, chicken etc…. a short term measure is to ensure we can maintain our monthly disposable income.

Laili Rahman: Thank you Armin.