Monday, August 30, 2010

31 Ogos 2010

Salam Merdeka ke 53.
Dah tak ada ancaman Kominis, penjajah dah pun diusir. Negara kita punya bersama, tapi perangai buruk lama masih tak hilang ....
PUTRAJAYA 30 Ogos – Pihak berkuasa harus mengambil tindakan tegas terhadap sebarang perbuatan yang boleh mencetuskan sentimen perkauman agar ia tidak menimbulkan natijah yang buruk, kata Timbalan Perdana Menteri, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
Tindakan seumpama itu, tegasnya, harus dilaksanakan secara berterusan walaupun mungkin ia sudah diambil sebelum ini.
"Kita tidak mahu rakyat berasa tidak selamat.. jika perbuatan ini dibiarkan berleluasa, maka ia akan mencetuskan ketidakseimbangan dalam masyarakat,” katanya kepada pemberita selepas mempengerusikan mesyuarat Majlis Sumber Air Negara (MSAN) Kelima di sini hari ini.
Beliau berkata demikian ketika diminta mengulas video klip terbaru yang menyentuh isu perkauman oleh Namewee atau nama sebenarnya Wee Meng Chee. - Utusan Malaysia, Isu Perkauman: Pihak Berkuasa Perlu Ambil Tindakan Tegas. Read also PM: Don't let racial issues destroy what has been built
Nak tegas macamana? ISA tak mahu, polis ditalu.
Bila agaknya negara kita ni akan betul2 aman dan damai, tiada syak dan rasa cemburu?

EPF's "spending spree"?

The Independent calls it a "spending spree" but according to the EPF it's not as lavish as it sounds and explains where OUR savings totaling some RM5 billion will go H E R E.

Tg Pagar: Did a certain someone lose the plot?



Daim to the rescue? Apart from Dr Mahathir  Mohamad, former Finance Minister Daim Zainuddin is the only person this

side of the Causeway who knows the inside-out of the Tanjung Pagar 1990 deal with Singapore. Daim was the go-between between Dr M, who was then our PM, and Lee Kuan Yew, hiscounterpart from the republic.
The basic agreements struck by Najib Razak and Lee Hsien Loong were, in fact, the basic agreements already reached by the two governments in the 1990 deal. So if it's true that Daim has been roped in to resolve some sticky issues with Uncle Harry, as what Syed Akbar Ali wrote in his latest posting h e r e, that's not bad news. At least we're assured that Malaysia won't be a pushover in this case. If you're old enough to remember CLOB, you'd know that Daim is capable of playing hard ball though in this case there may not be any need to as he and the older Lee from Singapore are known to be fast friends.

But if Daim is back, it could mean that Nor Mohamed Yakcop is losing his plot.

Sunday, August 29, 2010

Will the REAL Anak Bangsa Malaysia stand up, please?!

So, Whats up Malaysia Demi Negara's first posting in over 5 months take a dig at politicians from both Pakatan Rakyat and Barisan Nasional, and even those who don't belong to either. Yep, our politics sucks big time. But DN says we can't blame snoozing politicians all the time ...

What kind of Rakyat have we become? How come we have allowed our destiny and our childrens’ future be charted by a bunch of bungling fools, perverts, tricksters and outright crooks? How did we as a nation ended up with a syiok sendiri jargon-laden PM and a sleazy opposition leader who wants to be the PM at all costs plus sleepy mullahs and assorted rabid racists hellbent on imposing social chaos and anarchy on a land they know they cannot own.
And so he's calling for the people to take matters in their hands. In a peaceful manner, of course.
Folks, we need a revolution. No, not of the French or Russian or Romanian kinds, but a revolution within our inner selves, and collectively as a society, as members of the real Anak Bangsa Malaysia .... Should we just stand aside and watch our curiously spineless government bent over backwards to accommodate these subversives in its futile hope of garnering votes in the next GE? Is this what its all about? Votes? Do Malaysia have the luxury of trading anarchy for votes?
No, we don't have that luxury. Let DN know how we can go about and make our force our politicians to serve us and not themselves, H E R E. 

Saturday, August 28, 2010

Defending NEP, Questioning Meritocracy

A definitive piece. This blogger irregularly because he believes in a very, very well-researched posting that makes each one worth the wait. Questioning the NEP? not only re-educates the like  P. Gunasegaran and Nazir Razak on how this country owes much of its successes to the NEP but at the same time points out the not-so-obvious flaws in the pro-meritocracy arguments of the Art Haruns (re Eh, Tun Dah Lupa?) among us.

Jebat Must Die does not ridicule them or insult any of them or us, he's just reminding us that the NEP was put there to create a level-playing field for a lop-sided multiracial country that was at the edge of chaos and racial strife. And that it hasn't exhausted its usefulness.

Friday, August 27, 2010

In GLC Malaysia, not all is Gloom

Shazalli's 17 quarters. A proof that a GLC can be more dynamic
than the competition, but you need a cool head that can drum up the right numbers.

Digits that caught my eye from Celcom's press statement today : 10.6 million Malaysians subscribing to Celcom alone, with robust growth observed in prepaid, especially in the Youth segment. Without doubt the mobile phone is going to become a very, very crucial means for reaching out to young voters in PRU13.

Malaysia-Indonesia and the dude formerly known as Black in Korea

My latest column in The Malay Mail [The bullying must stop] deals with Malaysia-Indonesia ties in the context of the faeces attack on our embassy in Jakarta. Again, must commend Foreign Minister Anifah Aman for his tough stand. I wish more of our politicians will speak out. Anwar Ibrahim, the Opposition leader, for example. He hasn't come out to condemn the latest anti-Malaysia demonstration. Anwar has close ties with various groups in Indonesia, so perhaps he does not wish to jeopardize the good relationship. Understood.
In any case, it's Anifah vs Anwar on Oct 19, a RM100 million suit taken by Anwar after Anifah's revelation of an offer of a Deputy Prime Minister post if he would cross over for Anwar's 16 Sept 2008 dream.

The blogosphere touches on the Malaysia-Indonesia ties extensively, but Amin Iskandar's simple posting ["Sebenarnya, Malaysia dan Indonesia berkongsi banyak persamaan baik dari segi sejarah mahupun budaya. Malahan, bahasanya juga lebih-kurang sama".] sums things up. You may remember Amin as the Black in Korea blogger. Check our his blog, now in Bahasa Malaysia, here.

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

The Malay Voter: What he thinks of politicians, of BN and PR, and of PRU13, etc

A blogger's survey. Nobisha's on-line survey involves 1,383 Malay respondents, interesting since a lot of surveys are happy with a smaller sample size. Some 70 per cent of Nobisha's respondents are below 40, eight out of 10 are male and more than half have obtained degrees.

The findings are even more interesting.

Do these Malay voters think their MPs, both from Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat, are doing their job?
YES             23.8%
UNSURE     24.6%
NO               51.6%

Have UMNO's reforms improved the party?
YES             35.9%
UNSURE     20.4%
NO               43.7%

Has PR fulfilled their expectations?
YES              24%
UNSURE      27.9%
NO                48.1%
Who do they think will form the next government after PRU13, BN or PR?
 Find out H E R E. 

In Malaysia, the first missile is fired from its submarine

Potent fire power. Photographs the papers would kill for. A major scoop from the Big Dog. 
[oops, NST published the story and 2 of the pics on Aug 21, see here. Sorry Dog]

Proof that the submarine does not just dive ...


Remember, one submarine equals the strength of 10 war ships.
Get the action H E R E.

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

The bastardization of the American Dream

Ah, bukan saja NEP atau DEB yang sudah menjadi bangsat. The bastardization of the American Dream (Time.com, 17 Aug 2008)) tells of how the American Dream, which was all about the pursuit of happiness in a life in an America full of equal opportunities for everyone, has been reduced to the pursuit of home ownership.

PARTI Pribumi Perkasa Negara?

3rd force come PRU13? The thought came to mind today. With nearly 200,000 members, Perkasa is becoming a force to be reckoned with. It's big, its bold, and to some, it's bad.

Contrary to claims that Umno=Perkasa, the fact is Perkasa will  actually work against Umno's interest if it becomes a political party. Many of Perkasa's members are members of Umno and quite a number are clever Malays, mostly urban, who don't wish to join Umno (and who certainly don't trust Anwar Ibrahim and the PKR/PAS that he lead). Many joined the NGO during Tun Dol's time because Tun Dol's UMNO was incompetent and impotent. The fact that Dr Mahathir Mohamad has associated himself with Perkasa is a big draw for many, especially the young Malays.

I'd rather Perkasa remain as a pressure group but in politically super-charged Malaysia, I can't rule out Perkasa entering the fray and growing into a  significant force in the next general election. Perkasa is unpopular with some groups of people only because it is extremely popular with other groups of people, as the size - and quality - of its membership would testify. It will split the Malays further but perhaps that's just what the Malays need  - they need to be fragmented before they realise the need to stick together for their survival.

Lots of ifs and maybes at this point of time.  But what's clear is even a minnow (compared with Perkasa) like People's Parliament, originally set up to help Netizens get to know their MPs and other noble goals, are rolling their sleeves to pursue their real political ambitions. Read Pakatan Rakyat and Barisan Rakyat must join forces: Kuburkan BN!

Such dreams. But I was thinking today that If Perkasa becomes a political party and somehow joins PKR, DAP and PAS in Pakatan Rakyat, then that possibility - the end of BN - will become so, very real.
Najib Razak's Umno/BN have some serious re-strategizing to do even as the people in Perkasa decides on their next BIG move.

Monday, August 23, 2010

Sin Chew and Nut Graph

"... the Malays can still get plugged to the world so long as they are willing to deliver themselves out of the "kampung mentality" cocoon." - Tay Tian Yan, Sin Chew journalist and author
Read the editorial by the Sin Chew's No 2 editorial boss h e r e.
Isn't this as racist as some politicians calling other races "pendatangs" and recalling that some of them had come here as prostitutes and beggars?
And you still think Utusan Malaysia is the racist paper?

There is a reason why we journalists take extra care when we discuss matters such as race. Excerpts from a fellow journo on my earlier posting here:

3. Let me remind Tay just in case he has forgotten or does not know that it was the kampung people who rose to support Malay nationalism that freed this land from the shackle of colonialism and, gave Tay's forefathers the MALAYAN CITIZENSHIP!

4. That was at the time when Tay's forefathers were either fighting for the Kuomintang or the Chinese Communist Party.

5. Tay's "kampung mentality" sounded familiar. The Chinese and Indian rioters in Kuala Lumpur on May 13, 1969 shouted to the Malays to "balik kampung."

In Slanted and Misleading reporting par excellence, the Nutty View, Shamsul Yunos is also on attack mode against fellow journalists at Nut Graph for resorting to "lowdown reporting" to get funding.

Sunday, August 22, 2010

Nazir Razak ideal candidate for Finance Minister?

Sin Chew for Nazir. Tay Tian Yan, Sin Chew's No 2, conveyed this bold suggestion in his commentary entitled Nazir Razak on 18th August, just days after the son of a PM and brother of the PM created hell with his "NEP bastardization"* statement. "Some say if he were not Najib's brother, he couldn't have achieved this much today. But some also say if he were not Najib's brother, he could have achieved even more. I have an inclination towards the second saying," Tay starts his column.

I was one of those who gave Nazir hell because I believe he was being reckless and allowed himself to be misinterpreted [read NEP: Misunderstood, misimplemented (but not bastardized) for an example on how not to overcook your eggs] but I can't argue with Tay about Nazir's credentials. "Nazir's achievements had nothing much to do with his family, upbringing or his bumiputra status, but his own wisdom and input. His progressive psyche testifies that the Malays can still get plugged to the world so long as they are willing to deliver themselves out of the "kampung mentality" cocoon," Tay continues.
"Some say he makes the most ideal candidate for the finance minister, but the prime minister has been reluctant to bring his younger brother into the government or politics.
"Having said that, there are voices calling for Nazir to play a bigger role so that he can change the largely conservative mindset of the Malays and help steer the nation towards greater progress."
As for whether he's the ideal candidate to be Najib's Finance Minister ... mmm, I don't know if it's a good idea to follow Singapore the Dynasty, the Lims of the DAP and keluarga Anwar in PKR won't have any objection, I'm sure.

*Strangely, the Malays have become very successful bankers - Aug 16

Malaysia like Zimbabwe, who's stupid idea was that?

Malaysia: World's 37th best, No 4 in Asia. It's Newsweek ranking the Best 100 Countries on earth based on quality of life, health, the economy, and fight against corruption. It's not something I'd usually like to shout about, but some people have been yelling in my face too often that Malaysia is not a good country, and they (they're Malaysians, sadly) want to compare us with Zimbabwe. Well, now they know our station in life, which is quite high up according to Newsweek. Zimbabwe, for their info, is not even on the list.


Read Jai's quick take here, the Newsweek's article here.

Friday, August 20, 2010

No to billion-ringgit coal-fired power plant in Lahad Datu, Sabah

Flawed EIA report? It looks like it will be NO GO for the controversial plan to build a RM300MW coal-fired plant in Sabah. Since the project was initiated during the Abdullah Ahmad Badawi regime, the people in Sabah and environmental NGOs have joined hands to oppose it. Last month, Najib Razak said the Government will seek the people's views listen to the people before deciding on the project.


Following the Prime Minister's assurance, the relevant authorities have revisited all aspects of the proposed project, including the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report.

The latest? I hear that the ministry in charge of the environment in Sabah has submitted a report to express its grave reservations about the coal-fired plant. The report has even questioned the accuracy of a detailed EIA carried out by the Department of Environment in supporting the construction of the plant.

If you haven't been following the Lahad Datu coal-plant issue and why our Sabahan bros and sis feel so strongly about it, read:
1. 30 reasons why not ...
2. TNB awards Rm1.1 billion ...
3. Respect DOE decision ...
4. Lahad Datu Energy, prove to us you care ...
5. Open Letter to the PM ...

Sub that couldn't dive: Police report lodged against MP and reporter from the Malay Mail

The Paper That Cares broke the story about our first submarine being unable to dive due to a technical defect in February this year. The report by Marhalim Abas was confirmed by the Navy after the flaw was fixed. On July 8, Marhalim wrote again about the same submarine having problems with diving. This was refuted by Mindef on July 11, which The Malay Mail published without hesitation (see story below). Now, more than a month later, Mindef has lodged a police report against Marhalim over his July 8 story.

Once again, the reporter ends up as collateral in the games some politicians like to play. Read here.

Navy denies sub has problems diving

Sunday, July 11th, 2010 18:57:00
PETALING JAYA: The Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) has refuted claims the country's first submarine KD Tunku Abdul Rahman (KD TAR) has problems diving.
In a letter dated July 8, RMN Admiral (Laksmana Madya) Datuk Mohammed Noordin Ali denied The Malay Mail's report on Friday 'No dive for sub.. yet again'.
Noordin wrote: "The facts in the article was not true and it did not mention the true status of the submarine at current time. As a submarine operating nation, the security and strategic asset capability of the country should always be a priority.
"The RMN is also concerned by the publication of information on national assets in regard its strategic asset readiness as there are parties who can manipulate the issue and use it for their own interests. Generally, no country will publicise theit strategic asset readiness to the public."
Noordin also wrote: "We appreciate and value The Malay Mail's interest in publicising all matters regarding the RMN as the exposure will bring the duties of the navy closer to the people and at the same time boosting the image of the RMN and the Malaysian military in general."

Getting past the "R" word

As against such hypocrisy and double standards, MCA president Datuk Seri Chua Soi Lek's approach comes across as honest. Faced with a lot of flak for the party's demands for the Chinese community last weekend, he said: “The MCA is sensitive to its role in Barisan Nasional, but as a Chinese-based party, it has its role to play to continue to be relevant." - Getting past the R word, The Malay Mail, 19/8/10

Laura Schlessinger (pic) is in the US and Siti Inshah in Malaysia but both found themselves at the wrong end of the racial stick last week - Dr Laura for saying the N (for nigger) word and Siti Inshah for the P (for Pendatang) word. My latest column in the Malay Mail tackles this issue and why hypocrisy and double standards are actually more dangerous to our unity than Siti Inshah, Namewee, Perkasa or Hindraf.

Read my article H E R E.

As for the kind of flak CSL has been getting, read this journo's piece on MCA-DAP Bersatu: Batalkan kerakyatan jus soli.

Thursday, August 19, 2010

The roaring GDP, a soaring Ringgit

All politics and no play ... Why don't we talk about the 8.9 percent expansion in our GDP during the 2nd quarter? A little slower than the first quarter's 10.1 per cent, but charging ahead nonetheless. In a nutshell, our  Manufacturing sector grew by 15.9 per cent, Services 7.3 per cent, Construction 4.1 per cent, and Agri 2.4 per cent.

Malaysia's GDP is expected to expand by more than 6 per cent this year compared with Indonesia 6 per cent, Thailand 7 per cent, India 9.1 per cent, and Singapore 13-15 per cent.

I like Op Ed's simple analysis best, read here. And his little prayer for political maturity:
Harapan besar saya ialah apabila pembangkang menilai angka-angka ekonomi Malaysia ini, mereka tidak akan terus mengecam dan memaki hamun. Sekali-kali, jadilah pembangkang yang memberi harapan kepada rakyat.

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

TBH: Porntip now says death was NOT 80 per cent murder but rules out suicide

No consensus. Two forensic experts have ruled our murder before this. So how did the poor guy fall to his death?

On Feb 19, 2010, Malaysia's pathologist Dr Shahidan Mohd Noor, who conducted a second autopsy on TBH last Nov after Thai pathologist Dr Khunying Porntip Rojanasunan said that there was an 80% chance that TBH's death was homicide, quashed that theory.


On April 26, 2010, UK renowned pathologist Prof Vanezis also ruled out murder, and said TBH was conscious when he fell to his death.


This morning, Dr Porntip, who is the pathologist engaged by the Selangor government on behalf of the family of TBH, told the inquest that Teoh's death was not suicide.

Dr Pornthip said she can no longer maintain the 80 per cent homicide percentage she had claimed before, but maintained from findings that Teoh's death was not suicide. Read The Malay Mail's report.

Dr Porntip had based that fantastic 80 percent theory on photographs or the first autopsy. Any fool could have guessed that there was no way she could maintain that 80 per cent homicide theory.

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

TBH: Dr Pornthip testifies tomorrow

The long-overdue return of Dr Death. The inquest into the death of Teoh Beng Hock has been delayed for several months because of the Selangor government's expert witness, Dr Pornthip. She had claimed that there was a threat on her life and at one point wanted to testify using teleconferencing. I hope she shows up tomorrow.  (updates: Pornthip arrives, originally supposed to testify late last year, h e r e).

But will she stick to her controversial "80% homicide" theory that had caused the 2nd autopsy to be conducted? Well, for the sake of her credibility she will have to.

According to the Unspinners, however the report she had done based on the 2nd autopsy made no mention at all about her 80% theory. The Unspinners claim to have the report - they even published some pictures that look like a report - but at this point of time we can't treat this claim seriously. Or can we? Check for yourselves here. WARNING: The posting may contain pictures not suitable for all audiences.

21st century Malay sarcasm at its best

Apart from their laziness and their love for the keris and the tongkat, the Malays are well-known for their sarcasm. Sindir, perli (or perliaq, the Kedahan Malay would have uttered it if there had been such a word in their dictionary), kias, olok, jolok, ajuk and ejek are some of the words that describe this art. The Malays would even go to the extent of pukol anak sindir menantu

Anwar Ibrahim once considered himself like an anak to Mahathir. This, of course, was when the throne was in sight. These days, the two would sindir-menyindir, no love lost between them. 

Read the Old Man's post here for the best of the best of Malay sarcasm.

Why SIA is worth S$18.7 b and MAS is worth RM7.2 b

Gaji Buta & Durian Runtuh. Malaysia Airlines bled more than half a billion ringgit in just 3 months, its latest quarterly results show, here. The carrier claims slightly more than 50 per cent of the losses was because it hedged its fuel needs wrongly. Well, to err is human ....
But what about the balance of the losses? Where did they come from? Are there people in MAS taking home GAJI BUTA? Compare these two stories: Chew Choong Seng, the CEO of SIA, is taking a pay cut, here, while Tengku Azmil Zahruddin bin Raja Abdul Aziz is given an option of buying 11.88 million shares in MAS!
Our national carrier has too many retirees on the board headed by Munir Majid. Take a look at Munir's deputy chairman N. Sadasivan, who also happens to be a former chairman of the now infamous Kenmark Holdings. Look at the list of companies he is in, here, and you'll wonder where he'd get the time to focus on MAS or any of them, for that matter.
Gaji buta for some, durian runtuh for others. Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, the MAS advisor, should start cracking on the lop-sided monopoly contracts which are against MAS' greater interest. He can start with the LSG Sky Chefs-Brahim's Sdn Bhd catering contract with the national carrier. In three months, the Sdn Bhd did slightly more than RM50 million worth of business with MAS. 
Oh, by the way, the Brahim in the Sdn Bhd is Ibrahim Badawi, brother of the MAS adviser.

Monday, August 16, 2010

"Strangely, Malays have become very successful bankers"

Updated to include Dear Jay love letters at the end of this article

Two NEP beneficiaries, two different tales. Nazir Razak's point about a "bastardized" NEP has sparked quite a debate in
cyberspace over the weekend. Nazir, or Jay to friends, is the big boss of CIMB (the 2nd largest bank in Malaysia), son of our second Prime Minister, and the brother of the current PM, so his views count. Unfortunately, despite whatever good intent Nazir had, his statement is being used against him, against the NEP, and will be used against his brother, Najib Razak.

I can agree with Nazir to a certain extent, but when was the road to success ever straight? The NEP has been manipulated by greed in men and women to make themselves richer or more powerful. But after all is said and done, the policy helped keep us a peaceful nation and a prosperous one.

As I wrote in my tweeter yesterday, Nazir himself is the proud product of the NEP. Without the environment that the NEP had created for the likes of him to excel, would Nazir have the opportunity to run a major bank and is today one of the youngest chief executives of a regional bank? I believe he is where he is today also because the NEP made it possible for him to become a successful banker and NOT jut because he is an extremely clever chap, the son of a PM and the brother of the Prime Minister.

The excitement over a "bastardized" NEP led me to Dr Mahathir Mohamad's posting in 2008 entitled Cronyism and the NEP. In para 26, it's almost as the former PM had Nazir in mind when writing:
21. Under the NEP more schools were built in the rural areas and primary education was free. Secondary education was easily available and a lot of scholarships were given for the universtities in the country and abroad.

22. Residential colleges enabled the students to study under better condition than found in their inadequately lighted village houses. They were given better food in these hostels. Junior science colleges modelled after the English Boarding Schools provide ideal environment for selected students to study and play.
 

23. The results of all these efforts is very satisfying. Thousands of Malay boys and girls from poor village families gained access to better education and eventually obtained university degrees in various professions and fields of knowledge.

24. Many went on to study for post-graduate degrees and doctorates. They now work as professors in universities, as specialists in various fields of medicine, as scientists, engineers, architects, veterinarians, agriculturists etc. They have not been left behind by the advances in new knowledge such as information technology, telecommunications and space science.

25. They have also gone into management, obtaining MBAs from well known universities such as Harvard and Philadelphia. Armed with these qualifications they have been employed as management executives at all levels. Some actually head multinational companies.

26. In the education field the NEP has been very successful. It has helped to correct the imbalances not only in the professions but also in business. Strangely Malays have become very successful bankers.

27. The educational successes of the NEP have been largely ignored and not even recognised as a part of the poverty eradication and the removal of the identification of race with economic function objectives of the NEP. But in fact they are.

28. So think again whether the NEP simply enrich the cronies of the PM and Government.

29. Think of what would be the situation in Malaysia today without the NEP.

30. If there is still doubt then do a survey of all the contracts and scholarships given by the private sector and work out how much they have contributed toward eliminating disparities between races, and who would be the poor in this country. 
Read the entire Cronyism and the NEP. 

And then, there's the account by Liew Kee Sin, the chief of SP Setia, the developer of Putrajaya, the country's largest property project.

KUALA LUMPUR, 14 Ogos — Pemaju hartanah utama Tan Sri Liew Kee Sin mempersoalkan kewajaran rungutan masyarakat Cina bahawa mereka tidak dilayan adil oleh kerajaan, sambil menekankan kaum itu telah menikmati kedudukan baik di sebalik persekitaran dasar pro-Bumiputera.

Liew (gambar), yang syarikatnya SP Setia Bhd merupakan pemaju Putrajaya — projek pembangunan terbesar di Malaysia berkata, terdapat lebih banyak firma dikawal kaum Cina berbanding syarikat-syarikat milik Bumiputera di Bursa Malaysia.

“Secara statistik, majalah Forbes menunjukkan masyarakat Cina-Malaysia telah boleh berjaya sepanjang 30 tahun lalu,” kata beliau Presiden dan Ketua Eksekutif SP Setia ini.
Read the Unspinners' spin on Anggapan Cina mereka terpinggir itu meleset. Liew said on the contrary other races, especially the Chinese, have benefited tremendously from NEP.

In cyberspace, Liew has been getting a lot of flak for this statement from the same people who now hail Nazir as their new hero.

Updated:

Nazir "anak bangsawan" should stop talking cock, by A Voice
Orang Cina kini mahu pulak celah peha Melayu by Hidup Tuah!
Which eco-system did Nazir Razak come from? by Big Dog

As far as I know, these are all pro-Umno bloggers who are pro-Najib Razak. Mmm ...

Sunday, August 15, 2010

Another rogue councillor in Selangor?

Councillor in gang fight. Bernama has the story here, pic is of Mr Sooriya Narayanan, one of the suspects picked up by police in relations to a fight in Ampang that left a man seriously injured.

Syed Akbar Ali, who does not live in Selangor like me, says Selangor is really going to the dogs and is blaming the Pakatan government. Syed has warned the authorities about the proliferation of massage parlors in Selangor and is now predicting that ..."We are going to see more "pergaduhan samseng", turf wars and gang fights.The "OMG the real culprit" has walked away with a "reprimand". He will be issuing even more massage parlour licenses now. He will be even more careful. Harder to catch."

The Bernama story:

The Malay Mail Care Fund

The Paper That Cares. We are launching the new The Malay Mail Care Fund later this week to continue with The Malay Mail's work with people who can't afford the urgent medical attention they need. Our primary focus will be children from poor families in the Klang Valley, but there isn't a speed limit to caring. So far, the corporate support we've been getting for the launch has been overwhelming.

The original Malay Mail Charity Fund was set up in 1991.
More details soon.

Friday, August 13, 2010

The making of an Islamic state in Malaysia?

Updated, Sat 14 Aug 2010
But is it legal?
Answer: It is not legal for any state government to issue currency. That right is solely the Bank Negara's. Click here for details.


Original posting
""Islamic" currency. Has Kelantan usurped Bank Negara and the Finance Ministry? Is it en route to becoming a breakaway state?
What's to stop Kedah, another state under PAS, from following suit? What's to stop the other state governments from harboring their own similar ambition? If we can have an Islamic state within Malaysia, maybe we can have a republic state, too?

Malaysian State Introduces Islamic Currency
2010-08-13 06:16:53.141 GMT

     Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (AP) -- A Malaysian state is
allowing people to use gold and silver coins at stores and
restaurants to revive a practice from early Islamic societies,
an official said Friday.
     The gold dinar and silver dirham coins provide an
alternative to Malaysia's currency, the ringgit, in
northeastern Kelantan state, which is governed by the
Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party, a conservative opposition group
that promotes religious policies in its rule.
     The gold dinar was the official currency of Muslim
societies for centuries. The value of the coins used in
Kelantan can fluctuate according to market prices, but
officials say it remains a better alternative to currency
affected by the U.S. dollar and other foreign currency.
     Kelantan authorities also say the use of such coins is
encouraged in the Quran.
     State officials have produced coins worth about $630,000
for use at about 1,000 outlets in Kelantan's capital, said Nik
Mahani Mohamad, executive director of Kelantan Golden Trade,
which mints the coins.
     "It's a great, great moment for Muslims," Nik Mahani said.
"We are providing an alternative means for the people to trade
with."
     The coins came into circulation Thursday and can be
purchased at various locations in Kelantan. Their worth is
currently about $180 per dinar and $4 per dirham.
     The state government also plans to give employees the
option of receiving part of their salary in this currency, as
well as introduce gold bars for large investments. Muslim alms
can also be paid with the coins.
     The Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party has governed Kelantan since
1990. Some of its policies over the years include banning
gambling, nightclubs and rock concerts, and requiring Muslim
female state employees to wear headscarves at work.

-0- Aug/13/2010 06:16 GMT

Thursday, August 12, 2010

When politics and law collide

My latest column in The Malay Mail, Doing the right thing for TBH, touches briefly on the conflict of interest between politics and the legal profession. I will hope to revisit this matter in the future as I believe there is a case for a separation of lawyers and politics. 
Check out what happened to Abdul Malek Hussin earlier today, here.
  

Did the Cabinet decide on undergrad politics?

UPDATED, 5.45pm 12/8
Aah, the Cabinet did discuss undergrads' involvement in politics yesterday, and it was very clear that while undergrads may take active part in politics (which is already provided for under the Act), they should not hold any position in a political party.

Original article:-
NOTE TO EDITORS: AUGUST 11, 2010 [received 6:54:20pm yesterday]
The Office of the Higher Education Minister has requested the media not to publish the news about Cabinet prohibiting undergraduates from involvement in politics.
The news that Bernama sent out earlier yesterday:-
CABINET PROHIBITS UNDERGRADUATES FROM INVOLVEMENT IN POLITICS
Putrajaya, Aug 11 (Bernama) - The Cabinet today decided not to allow undergraduates to be involved in political parties, said Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin.
However, he said the decision did not prevent the undergraduates from keeping abreast with political developments in the country.
"This is because Section 15 of the Universities and University Colleges Act (UUCA) 1971 is sufficient where an undergraduate can be involved in political activities after obtaining permission from the Vice-Chancellor," he said in a statement to Bernama, here today.
Yesterday, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the government would uphold the restriction on students of public institutions of higher learning to be involved in politics despite the call to allow university students to be involved actively in political parties.
Muhyiddin said the amendments to the UUCA earlier were sufficient as it gave more freedom to undergraduates to voice their opinions in campus.
- BERNAMA

So what's the story, Khalid? Did the Cabinet make that decision, or not? If it did, why was the media not allowed to carry the news? And did you know that Khairy Jamaluddin, the Umno Youth chief, had already shot his response to the Cabinet decision to Malaysiakini, which reads like this:
11/8: Khairy Jamaludddin describes the cabinet decision not to allow student involvement in party politics as 'gutless' and 'outdated'./MKINI

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Ramadan's back!

Selamat menjalankan ibadah puasa kepada saudara-saudari se-Islam, se-Malaysia & sedunia. Moga sukses jua.
pic of MacRitchie sunset in Singapore by Lely

TBH: Why the A-G was not holding back evidence

The Document believed to be a Suicide Note. I am guessing it's a suicide note, or a document that could be deemed as a suicide note, because the papers and the portals are all hinting that it is, but I'm not Gobind Singh and I'm not Tan Hock Chuan so I won't know for sure. 

What I know is this "mystery" document must be very compelling. Gobind, who is also MP for Puchong (DAP), who is still suspended from Parliament for a case of verbal diarrhea, stormed out  of Coroner Azmil Muntapha Abas's chamber after a meeting with the MACC lawyers over this note yesterday and needed an hour to cool down. 

After which he called on the A-G to step down for withholding evidence. 

And reminded the A-G that "we would not bow to any sort of pressure" and that "if necessary we will file an application to ask the AG to explain his conduct".

But was the A-G holding back evidence?

The answer is NO.

The lawyers I spoke to said to me that this is because the inquest into TBH's death is STILL on-going. 

"You can't be accused of withholding or holding back evidence when a hearing is still on-going. It's very basic, Gobind knows that, too," one lawyer told me.

If the inquest is already over and someone were to leak out The Mystery Note (someone always does these days), then Gobind can happily accuse the AG of withholding evidence. And the AG will definitely fry for it.

BUT not while the inquest is still on-going.

If Gobind thinks that the AG should be called to "explain his conduct", then by all means file the application. But there is now new evidence that the Inquest must first admit in order to help us find out the truth. We don't even know if the document is authentic or if the handwriting was TBH's. 

For most of us, we don't even know if it's even a suicide note in the first place. 


Read also:
1. Where did Gobind learn law? by Big Dog
2. You have to ask the AG on that - Selangor CPO by A Voice

After the Raja Permaisuri Agong, they now snub a Sultan!

Updated: Chua claims banner is the work of Umno, from Free Malaysia Today

Original article
Revenge of an axed-Dato. Jimmy Chua may still be very sore about losing his Johor datukship. We can understand that. But using Sultan Ibrahim's portrait on his banner to campaign for himself, knowing very well he's not in the good books of the Sultan, is deceiving and insulting. And we can't understand that.
The Sultan is not amused. Read here.
For context on the Royal snub involving the Raja Permaisuri Agong, read yesterday's report by The Malay Mail on how Selangorians want their MB to apologize for the fiasco.

This Anifah Aman, ain't bad at all ...

Most of our ministers won't even think of engaging protesters. But Anifah Aman, the Foreign Minister, walked straight up to the protesters and had a chat with them, and not about the weather. Now, I'm sure we all can respect that.
 
pic of Anifah Aman making a point with The Bodyguard (dark glasses, of course), Joseph Benedict, and Yolanda Augustine. 


Foreign Minister squares off with anti-ISA protesters in London.

by The Malay Mail correspondent in the UK
London: Twenty people turned up in front of the Malaysian High Commission in Belgrave Square last Sunday evening for an anti-ISA protest. One of them was one of Raja Petra Kamaruddin's bodyguards, known as Ben Singh. All holding placards bearing the messages 'Stop Detention without trial', '50 years is long enough', 'No to torture' and 'ISA haram di sisi agama Islam'. One demonstrator dressed in a detainee’s uniform, stood on a crate and wrapped a black plastic across his mouth and neck. Most were wearing t-shirts and cargo trousers on that balmy summer evening. A few were holding candles and there was a big yellow banner with Abolish ISA on it.

Ben Singh, who shot to prominence as RPK's bodyguard during a recent public appearance here by the ex-ISA detainee, and one Augustine Yolanda, led the chants "Down, down the ISA", "No detention without trial", "Release all detainees now", and "Mansuhkan ISA".

A police car parked nearby with 2 police officers watching the proceeding. The chanting could be heard around the Square but being Sunday evening, hardly anyone was in the embassies or offices nearby. Only a few cars and taxis passed the street. Even the police car drove off after a while.
 
Across the road, Malaysian officials and visitors to the Malaysian High Commission stopped to watch them before entering the building to attend a talk by the Foreign Minister,
Datuk Seri Anifah Aman.  The Minister arrived and along with the High Commission’s officials, met up with the demonstrators. 

 
Yolanda greeted the Minister.


Yolanda: "We are still very concerned about the way Malaysia still refuses to repeal the ISA despite having said that in April 2009. Datuk Seri Najib said that this is something that he will look into seriously. Since then Malaysia has been elected to the UN Human Rights council, many comments were made about the Human Rights in Malaysia but until now we have not seen anything move forward." 

Datuk Seri Anifah Aman: "We are now talking to all the stake holders. We do not want to rush things. If we rush things after the bill has been passed in the parliament, there will be some parties who are dissatisfied with them. Although we can't fully satisfy the people, hopefully it would be acceptable."
 
Yolanda: "Why last Sunday were the police so fast to crack down on the candle light vigil by peaceful protesters in Malaysia. That is something we don't understand. Nothing of concerned but police arrested 38 people."

 
Datuk Seri Anifah: " I cannot give you the answer to that because I was away."

 
Yolanda: " I think the government need to take responsibility for this. Also the fact that communist insurgency was actually finished and it is way too long for us to keep seeing the ISA being used. "

 
Datuk Seri Anifah: " Yes, at the end of the day ... the ISA now is fully for terrorism." 

 
The Bodyguard: "For 50 years people are being detained. Are you telling me that every body was a threat to national security?"

 
Datuk Seri Anifah: "You cannot generalize. Maybe not everybody (is a terrorist) but there will be somebody. We have just deported 10 foreigners who were there (in Malaysia) ... their actions could have jeopardized the (country’s) security."

 
The Bodyguard: "Why do you detain people who criticize the government such as Raja Petra. Because he is exposing excesses of the government, the looting that's going on? That's one way to silence him?"

 
Datuk Seri Anifah: "You mentioned looting. You are passing a judgment. We do have a judiciary."

 
The Bodyguard: "I didn't pass any judgment."


Joseph Benedict: "In the future we want an abolishment to ISA, right now at least an amendment."
 
Datuk Seri Anifah: "You do not know the consequences, how serious it is - terrorism. In our country, these people came and recruit the students from universities, Nordin Mat Top and Azahari, because we are not able to apprehend them, they have caused a lot of deaths.”


Joseph: “ But based on human rights we need to stop torture. We will continue and will keep pressuring you and the Malaysian government.”

 
Datuk Seri Anifah: “ Please do that. It is within your rights. I am equally concerned. I am no difference from you.”

 
Datuk Seri Anifah, when asked again on why Malaysians couldn’t hold the candlelight vigil on August 1: "There were people, not from the protest groups, who wanted to make use of the gathering for their own purposes. The police were compelled to prohibit them from going through this vigil because there was information that something untoward may happen.” 

 
Another protester Andrew Yong said Malaysia to allow freedom of speech, assembly and peaceful protest if it was to be prevented from spiraling towards a police state, like that of Zimbabwe.

 
Datuk Seri Anifah: “That’s what I am angry about. You are comparing Malaysia with Zimbabwe. Why not compare us with America or Britain?"

 
The 20 minute open engagement ended with handshakes. Datuk Seri Anifah was in the UK and Europe for a 10 day working visit. Last week he met with the UK Foreign Secretary William Hague, to discuss bilateral relations. 

Friday, August 06, 2010

Anwar's Sodomy Trial: Western journo cautions peers against double standards

THE MOST DANGEROUS MAN IN OUR COUNTRY TODAY by Eric Woon

Original posting by Rocky's Bru
" ... why is the reporting on Anwar's trial in Malaysia so different? Why is it so frequently assumed that the putative victim in this case is merely a political tool, instead of a person with a right to his day in court? Why this apparent double standard."What Anwar's Trial Really Means by John Trevino, Huffington Post
The influential Huffington Post has published an article - more a lecture, actually - on the double standard practised by the Western media with regards to the on-going sodomy trial involving Anwar Ibrahim and his former aide, Saiful Azhar.
"Though Anwar Ibrahim is on trial for violation of Malaysian anti-sodomy law, this is effectively ancillary to his alleged crime: a sexual assault upon one Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan. Saiful has told police and prosecutors that the opposition leader, for whom he then worked, coerced him into a sexual encounter in early 2008. It is this nonconsensual activity, not sodomy per se, that is now at the heart of the trial of Anwar Ibrahim".
Mentioned by Trevino in his article are Al Gore and Paul Wolfowitz, two Americans who are being extensively cited this week for their support of Anwar. [Read Anwarites, Now and Forever and  Gore,Wolfowitz sokong Anwar dalam WSJ]

Trevino's advice to his peers:
In the trial of Anwar Ibrahim, the most one may hope for is that the truth will emerge in its course. Western media, reporting on it from afar, would do well to treat it not as a replay of 1998's script, but as they would a similar proceeding in the West: and not fall for the agenda of any of its parties.
 Read on at Barking Magpie's What Anwar's Trial Really Means - By an American Observer

Insider's trading

Sime Darby's RM1 B tab, Malaysian Insider's blunder and Pakatan Rakyat's blooper. An early morning Malaysian Insider report that Sime Darby would  suffer its biggest-ever loss (of RM 2.5 billion) has punched a RM1 billion hole in Sime's market capitalisation, as outraged Pakatan politicians blindly bayed for blood (read here).

The MI report would have a good April fool pun, but April's long gone. Sime Darby's infamous 'on the ball' board fiddled while shareholders were being burned throughout the day. Sime could have sought a suspension from the market regulator but, instead, it stood still and watched the carnage.

Sime Darby did, eventually and after the market had closed, issue a statement that it would be posting a profit and NOT a loss as reported by the MI. But by then these bloopers had caused RM1 billion of Sime's capitalisation to be wiped out in just one day. It also allowed some very rich people, who scooped up the shares on the cheap yesterday, to become richer.

Monday, August 02, 2010

FDI: When big is not always better

Updated: FAQ on Malaysia's current FDI, and Shamsul Yunus' FDI: Does Size Matter?

Original Article:-
"A STIR of sorts has been caused by the story that foreign direct investment (FDI) into the country for 2009 fell 81% to US$1.4bil from US$7.3bil. But really it should not. If we want higher value-added, then labour-intensive industries are not our target. This is the area which many foreign investors like because they can get tremendous cost savings by using cheap labour in places like China, Vietnam etc.If greater value-added is what we are after  athen increasingly more investments have to be made in the services area – think tourism or education for instance. That does not necessarily need foreign investment – we can use local money ...." 10 ways of doing without FDI by P. Gunasegaran, The Star, 1 Aug 10

Before you decide to migrate to Vietnam, the Philippines or Indonesia because they have bigger FDIs than us, please read Guna's piece. 

It's an easy-to-understand article as to why we should not be too excited about their bigger size. Tony Pua would have been spot on if this had happened 10 years ago. But we have passed that early stage of development, believe it or not. We are not in the same class as Vietnam, Indonesia and the Philippines. Low value-added and labour-intensive investments go to them. We've said we wanted the high-value added, high-wage, and hi-tech investments.

p.s Most of us remember Guna for the famous 22 Questions that he shot at Dr Mahathir when Abdullah Badawi was riding high as PM. And how RPK laid down his life and reputation to defend The Old Man in RPK answers Guna's 22 questions

Sunday, August 01, 2010

Closing one eye on Corruption in DAP

updated, Monday: Who is the REAL CUPRIT who is freed? By Shamsul Yunos
News/Anal blackout by pro-Pakatan bloggers/media. I surfed Anwar Ibrahim and Lim Kit Siang and blogs inspired or sponsored by them here and here, among others, but I find very little or no news on the sacking of Tee Boon Hock, the DAP councilor, for allegedly using YB Ronnie Liu's official letterhead to get projects for cronies. Certainly no righteous analysis, no holy editorializing, no campaigning, no attempts even to deny any link between this scandal and the tragic death of Teoh Beng Hock. Maybe they live in another world where the color of the sky is orange.

Maybe they haven't heard?

Ah, well, actually that's the difference I've long noticed between them and the so-called Umno bloggers like Big Dog, Syed Akbar Ali, Bujai and A Voice who'd lynch their own leaders for alleged corruption just as they would crucify the Opposition leaders for the same sin.
 p.s. Or maybe they fear what is happening to Teng Chang Khim may happen to them?