OutSyed The Box |
- States looking to new tolls to pay for highways
- An Apology To Datuk Bandar, An Appeal To PM
- Kerja Sia-Sia
| States looking to new tolls to pay for highways Posted: 24 May 2012 12:00 AM PDT
WASHINGTON (AP) — Driving onto an Interstate highway? Crossing a bridge on the way into work? Taking a tunnel under a river or bay? Get ready to pay. With Congress unwilling to contemplate an increase in the federal gas tax, motorists are likely to be paying ever more tolls as the government searches for ways to repair and expand the nation's congested highways. Tolling is less efficient and sometimes can seem less fair than the main alternative, gasoline taxes. It can increase traffic on side roads as motorists seek to evade paying. Some tolling authorities — often quasi-governmental agencies operating outside the public eye — have been plagued by mismanagement. And some public-private partnerships to build toll roads have drowned in debt because of too-rosy revenue predictions. Tolls are hardly a perfect solution. But to many states and communities, they're the best option available. "It's very hard in this environment for states to add capacity without charging a toll because they can't afford to do it," said Joshua Schank, president of the Eno Center for Transportation, a Washington think tank. "They're barely able to maintain what they've got, and there is an urgent need for capacity." In addition to the tolls allowed on Interstates in 15 states, mostly in the Northeast and Midwest, the U.S. has agreed to pilot toll projects on Interstate 95 in Virginia and North Carolina and on Interstate 70 in Missouri. It's been nearly two decades since Congress last increased the federal gas and diesel taxes that have historically paid for highways. Federal and state fuel tax revenues peaked in 2007 at $72.4 billion, then dropped to $68.6 billion in 2010, the most recent year for which data are available. Fifteen states, mostly in the Northeast and Midwest, that had turnpikes before the 1956 advent of theInterstate system have grandfathered permission to collect tolls on 2,900 miles of the 47,000-mile system. States want Congress to increase their ability to charge tolls and to allow them to use the money for a variety of transportation needs — not just upkeep of the roads where tolls are collected, said Eugene Conti, North Carolina's transportation secretary, at a Senate hearing last month. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey recently raised cash fares on six Interstate bridges and tunnels to $12 for cars. By 2015, it will cost a five-axle truck paying cash $105 to cross between New York and New Jersey, three times as much as for any other bridge or tunnel in the country, according to the American Trucking Association. Bill Baroni, the authority's deputy executive director, told a Senate hearing the fare hikes are necessary to make up for years of neglect and mismanagement. Jones, of the tolling industry association, predicted that as traffic congestion worsens, people "are going to demand, 'We need better roads, we need more efficiency,' and they are going to ask for tolling and direct user fees to build the transportation that they need."  |
| An Apology To Datuk Bandar, An Appeal To PM Posted: 23 May 2012 11:42 PM PDT The Bersih hooligans knew exactly why they wanted to run riot in Dataran Merdeka. They wanted to cause the maximum disruption to Kuala Lumpur. It was a show of hooliganism - a show of force. They will never gather peacefully in a stadium or in some far away place where their presence will not cause as much disruption. As far as they are concerned the Court Order prohibiting their gathering at the Dataran Merdeka is worth rubbish. They do not care about the Law. While they expect others to obey the Law, they somehow consider themselves above the Law. They can do anything they want. Well, when you think it is a good thing to disobey the Law, then you better watch out. There are burger sellers, army veterans and pasar malam traders who might just decide to follow your own example. To the Bersih hooligans here is a question : If you think it is a good thing to disobey a Court Order, then why become Lawyers? If you think it is a good thing to disobey a Court Order, then why shouldnt others also follow your example? Ang why put the Bapa Rasuah Malaysia, Pencipta Politik Wang and Tokoh Liwat Negara at the head of your gay parade? Are you all born stupid or you learnt to be stupid at law school? Anyway, the Prime Minister and the Gomen understood the chaos and the disruption the Bersih hooligans would cause to the peaceful functioning of the city. That is why the Gomen offered the stadiums (Cheras, Merdeka Stadium and Bukit Jalil) for them to gather. The UMNO 66th Anniversary celebration at Bukit Jalil was a huge success for the organisers. Over 100,000 people gathered and the event went through without a hitch. There was minimum disruption. They obtained Police Permits, no one complained and everything was done in an orderly fashion. If the UMNO guys can do things in an orderly and civilsed manner, then why cant the Bersih hooligans follow suit? However I think the PM too is missing the point when it comes to causing disruptions and traffic jams in Kuala Lumpur. I am talking about National Events, Public Events and other events that are still being held in Dataran Merdeka. The recent Citrawarna is one very bad example. For three days, the Dataran Merdeka and the surrounding roads were closed for the Citrawarna. OIt causes major trafic jams and disruptions and all the businesses (except warong jual air minuman and jual burger) suffered poor business. I received calls from my friends in Kuala Lumpur asking if I could help do anything. All our businesses were affected. People just did not go out shopping or on other business, they avoided the city centre because of the massive jams and road closures for the Citrawarna. This is no more the 1960s or 1970s. KL is a very busy and congested city. The city centre is simply not the place to hold any kind of events - especially National Events. There were plenty of Mat Rempits around during the Citrawarna. The MInistry of Tourism cronies made a ton of money from organising the event (thats why they organise these events - do read on). There were a handful of Mat Salleh tourists taking pictures. Other than that, the entire city of 3.0 million people suffered trafic jams, lost productivity. To me the Citrawarna and the Bersih resulted in disruption to the public, burning fuel and wasting time in traffic jams, lost productivity and lost business. Since the PM understood very well that the Bersih hooligans running riot in Dataran Merdeka caused so much disruption to the public, I hope he will understand the same disruptions will be cause by any closure of the Dataran Merdeka. Hence I would like to appeal to the Prime Minister to make sure that the Dataran Merdeka is not used for any events at all - even National Events like the Merdeka Parade. KL has become a crowded and congested city. The City Centre especially the Dataran Merdeka, is just not the place for any type of public event anymore. Please go to Bukit Jalil (where actually I live), Putrajaya or some stadium where there are few or no shops, shopping complexes and other businesses to disrupt. I would also like to apologise to the Datuk Bandar of Kuala Lumpur Tan Sri Ahmad Fuad Ismail who is frequently placed in a very difficult position. My own investigations have revealed that frequently the Datuk Bandar is ignored or pushed aside by the various Ministers who have their own agendas. Hence bicycle races are held in the City Centre because some politician or Minister has links to the organisers behind the bicycle race.  Even Jalan Bukit Bintang was closed for some tourism event because the Minister of Tourism Ng Yen Yen had serious cable to the people behind the event. I think it was a YTL cable. In such cases the Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur is often over ruled. Other Ministers also close one eye or turn a blind eye when their friends and cronies seek to organise all sorts of events in the city centre. Here is how it works folks : the crony organises an event. He or she gets plenty of "sponsorship money" from here, there and everywhere. Gomen money, private sponsorship money etc. They also earn money from renting "warong" space, ad space etc. There is usually 'satu untuk kau, dua untuk aku' that takes place all the time. There is big money involved. Bicycle races can net hundreds of thousands of Ringgit. I am sure the organisers / contractors made millions from the Citrawarna event as well. Hence the roads get closed. The money is already made up front. Whether the roads are closed, whether a city of 3.0 million suffers traffic jams and lost business, the fact that mostly Mat Rempits attend these events (did any of you hang out at Dataran Merdeka for the Citrawarna or the bicycle races?) they dont care. Duit sudah masuk. It is you and me who suffer. As for you Bersih monkeys who think you can do a better job - please eat sh*t and die first. Talk is each massage parlour, pusat langsingkan badan, foot massage, manicure, pedicure parlour in Selangor costs at least RM20,000 - RM30,000 in "start up costs". Cheques and credit cards are not accepted. Cash only - please bring the cash in a bag. Anyway, I hope the PM will take cognisance of all this as well. Please allow the Datuk Bandar to do his job without interference. They know better what to do.  |
| Posted: 23 May 2012 07:15 PM PDT Malay Mail : Final Decision lies with Selangor Sultan - 22nd May 2012 Shiite Muslims forced to remove banner, fined RM250 The Selangor Islamic Affairs Department (Jais) has again taken action against a group of Shiite Muslims as they were celebrating the anniversary of the birth of the Prophet's daughter.  The fine was for the "offence of setting up a tent in a public place". Jais assistant director of investigationsShahrom Maarof (left in photo), who led the joint operation, allowed the ceremony to continue after the organisers had complied with his instructions. "The ceremony may continue, just that the banner needs to be removed because we don't want others to see this as promoting Shia beliefs. "Don't put any sign that carries the meaning (anniversary celebration of) the birth of Fatimah Az-Zahrah. These things would rouse questions on what the ceremony is about," he was heard saying during a discussion with an organising committee member, Mohd Nassir Sahar (right in photo). Met by reporters later, Mohd Nassir said he welcomed the enforcers to the event. Regardless, he said, he will continue to clear the sect's name despite several rounds of action taken against them over allegations that they were heretics. "The arrests in the past had given Shiites a bad name. But now, we want to clear it. We have sent letters to Jais and the Selangor Islamic Council (Mais) to review the enactments and fatwas that say Shiite is a cult. "We will constantly follow up and compile documents. We have also sent letters to the UN and the Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC) to convince the government that we are not heretics," he added. Also met is the chairperson of the Shitte group Hauzah Ar Ridha, Mohd Kamilzuhairi Abd Aziz, who described Jais' and MPS' presence as "cordial". Mohd Kamilzuhairi was among four individuals arrested by Jais in May last year over accusations that he was proselytising the Shiite faith at a lunch reception in Taman Sri Gombak, and in December 2010 for his involvement in the sect. When contacted, he said the former case has since been "silenced" while the latter case is still in court. Selangor has a fatwa that says Shiite teachings deviate from Sunni beliefs, and its enforcement is done through the Selangor Syariah Crimes Enactment 1995. THE AMMAN MESSAGE The Amman Message was delivered in Amman as a Ramadan sermon by Chief Justice Sheikh Iz-al-Din al-Tamimi in the presence of King Abdullah II and a number of Muslim scholars.[3] According to a report issued by the International Crisis Group, "The sermon stressed the need to re-emphasise Islam's core values of compassion, mutual respect, tolerance, acceptance and freedom of religion."[1] The next year, in July 2005, an Islamic convention brought together 200 Muslim scholars from over 50 countries who issued a three-point declaration (later known as 'Three Points of the Amman Message').[2] This declaration focused on:[4] The recognition of eight legal schools of thought (madhāhib) and the varying strains of Islamic theology viz.[5]
Explaining why the message was issued, King Abdullah stated: "[W]e felt that the Islamic message of tolerance was being subjected to a fierce and unjust attack from some in the West who do not understand Islam's essence, and others who claim to be associated with Islam and hide behind Islam to commit irresponsible deeds."  |
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