Foul!

The Selangor government announced in May it had reserves touching RM2.8 billion. During the tabling of the 2014 Budget at the Selangor state assembly last month, Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim revealed the state government had allocated RM2.28 billion. Effective tomorrow, Khalid, elected representatives, executive council members, Speaker and deputy Speaker will receive massive pay hikes. Khalid’s pay will increase by 106 per cent, from the present RM14,175 to RM29,250 while the salaries of the exco members will shoot up to 231 per cent (from RM6,109 to RM20,250). One would think Selangor has got it right with plenty of cash to splurge. Wrong! This is a state, that despite the billions in its coffers, had failed to address simple issues like the pot-hole ridden roads in Hulu Langat, faulty street lights in Ampang to failing to maintain hockey stadiums in Pandamaran and Petaling Jaya. The pitches of both stadiums were pathetic. In fact, the Pandaraman hockey stadium was ...

The case of seven Kuala Lumpur Premier League players allegedly involved in match-fixing failed to conclude today and hearing will resume on Jan 3 and 7, 2014. Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) Disciplinary Committee chairman Datuk Taufek Razak said it needed more time to hear defence arguments of each player before making a decision, apart from many questions and answers raised. He said in the four-hour session today at Wisma FAM, the committee could only interview two players, goalkeeper Azizon Abdul Kadir and Benedict Martin.  Read more here . HD says: Let's wait and see...

Below are several paragraphs taken from Mailsport editor Tony Mariadass' column Level Field published in the paper today: Another seven (KLFA) players are expected to be hauled up today and could well face similar action. (bans or suspensions)  What’s puzzling is that KLFA let the sponsor have a say in the hiring of the coach and players and even in managing the team when it is clearly stated by FAM that the team must be managed by the association. So, KLFA knew something was amiss, but did nothing about it, including curtailing the powers of the sponsor. To call KLFA poor would be a misstatement. KLFA manages the stadium and only pays booking fees to City Hall. Maintenance of the stadium is shouldered by City Hall. KLFA also get financial aid from City Hall. It is also learnt that the developer had given KLFA a condominium, but whether there are any returns from the property is unclear. Then, there is revenue from billboards also acquired during Elyas’ tenure, and surely ...

Haresh Says, as published in The Malay Mail today. SIN taxes to fund education? Why not? The idea, that 20 per cent of sin taxes be channelled to Chinese schools, was mooted during the MCA general assembly over the weekend.  This was following grouses by the community who believed funds from the government to vernacular schools were still lacking. The proposal will be deliberated by the new MCA leadership as MCA president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said the matter would be discussed at the next central committee meeting. Chinese education groups, known for their vocal stand on many issues, have welcomed the suggestion. However, they have their doubts if the government would agree to such a notion. They are simply being realistic. United Chinese School Committees Association (Dong Zong) vice-president Chow Siew Hon had told The Malay Mail yesterday: “I think the government should fairly distribute the funds based on number of students in each school.” I am amon...