Helen Ang's CCR

... says an Anonymous, aka "Creepy Christian Reader"

Why? Find out h e r e.

So Helen is probably one of the most dangerous blogger in Malaysia today, if you go by the comments made by Anon aka CCR in my comment box for 1MDB and the devils that cloud our judgement. 

p.s. In the same posting, I quote Syed Akbar Ali's article on the Alexa ranking for Malaysian blogs (which has since been taken down by the author, pls see Google ref here): 

Fact is, it's RPK who has that "pole position" ahead of both Dr M and Najib Razak, says Malaysia Today in Rocky's Bru's take on the Alexa ranking. Wallahualam.

1MDB and the devils that clout our judgement

“It is the only place where Muslims are stripped off their riches, positions and titles and there are no devils to clout their judgement as well. I want both of them to stop (quarelling) because there is no winner in this argument. At the end of the day “yang menang menjadi arang, yang kalah menjadi abu”". - Umno leader suggests Mecca as the venue for a truce The Mole, 11/6/2015

SARUNI JUDI of Kapar was suggesting that Najib Razak and Mahathir Mohamad meet in Makkah to sort out their mess. Good luck, Datuk, but I don't think Dr Mahathir wants to know. In fact, he has just stepped up his attack on the PM with The 1MDB Story. This latest posting traces the history of the 1MDB to its TIA days when the Sultan of Terengganu was the King. Very little in terms of new materials, mainly rehash of old questions and assumptions on the affairs of 1MDB. Still, it serves to keep the pressure on the PM-1MDB and ensures there is always ammo for the pro-Tun "camp". 

Clearly, Dr M is not in no mood for reconciliation or compromise. He is not even interested anymore in Najib's answers to his questions, as Salleh Syed Keruak points out, Dr M just wants Najib to resign or be removed as PM [Why "Ambush" PM when asnwers not wanted, Syed asks Dr M]. Since his posting titled simply 1MDB (13/3/15) Dr M has published more than 20 articles critical of 1MDB and the PM. Half of those articles were posted in the last 30 days. 

No wonder that Dr M's blog is back to the top of Alexa ranking for Malaysian socio-political blogs (h e r e). 

"Politically the PM and his fewer and fewer hangers on are losing out.

People read Tun Dr Mahathir's Blog  etc to find out the truth of what is going on.

The same people read the pro PM blogs to keep in touch with all the crap they are saying." - OutSyed The Box

I can understand why Syed Akbar Ali is crowing (his blog is ranked No 2 behind Dr M's and ahead of Najib Razak's blog at No 3). 

Source: OutSyed The Box

But the fact that some of Najib's "hangers on" are even at the top bracket of the Alexa ranking suggests also another important point: that blog readers ie Malaysians are taking the trouble to read Najib's defence, his side of the story. They are not as gullible as they used to be. They might even be wiser now.

In view of this, Najib's advisors may want to encourage the PM to consider using his blog to respond directly and swiftly (preferably within 60 minutes) to chedet.cc each and every time Dr Mahathir publishes a new posting. Don't mind the attack blogs, such as OutSyed The Box, Kadir Jasin and Zam (all of whom are highly ranked in Alexa now), just take on the Old Man, one on one online. Respond to every line, if you have to.

This way, I believe Najib can help contain the main "spat" to just between him and his ex-Boss, minus the "devils to clout their judgement". The NGOs and others who want answers can get all of that from the PM's blog, direct and without spin. 

The rest of us can sit back and read and learn and, hopefully, be able to decide for ourselves, aided by findings of the Auditor-General and the bipartisan PAC, on what's fact and what's fallacy.

Why the hell is PM still talking about 1MDB?

I read Najib Razak's latest blog posting and couldn't help slapping my forehead in disbelief: the Prime Minister still thinks he should engage the NGOs and explain to them the state of affairs in 1MDB, even after the #nothing2hide fiasco. He should not. 

Because: 

1. The Cabinet has made the decision to appoint YB Ahmad Husni Hanadziah, the Second Finance Minister, as government spokesman for 1MDB. Najib should be fair to Husni and let the man do his job. Plus, Arul Kanda is finally getting the hang of talking back to his critics; Najib shouldn't overshadow the 1MDB president/group exec director  [see his latest h e r e].

2. The Auditor-General has completed its probe into the accounts of 1MDB and the PAC have started theirs [PAC not satisfied with Deloitte's]. Najib may be construed as truing to "influence" the AG and the PAC if he continues to talk about the merits of 1MDB while the probe is ongoing 

3. As PM, he has other important things to attend to.

Important things like the 11th Malaysia Plan. In fact, this is so important to the nation. It is final 5-year economic plan before 2020, the year Malaysia is supposed to join the league of developed nations. The PM should already be embarking on a road tour to start telling people what the Plan entails and what the Rakyat's roles are if he seriously needs everybody's buy in.  Before that, pls make the necessary adjustments after getting feedback from others who know better than the government. I recommend the PM starts with RMK-11: Merancang Untuk Gagal (Planning to fail) by Hidup Tuah, a vocal former government economist still sympathetic towards Najib's cause.

And other things like our as-good-as-dead stock market. Why does it remain so boring? Perhaps we need a more exciting individual to lead Bursa? What's happening to the fiery Securities Commission? Why are investors said to be packing their bags to go? How can the government help boost the share prices of FGV and the sales of Proton cars and make sure that those who lost jobs due to the misadventures at MAS get re-employed? What's happening to our beloved ringgit?

Why all this negativity despite our strong economic fundamentals?

Eg our trade:

 

Our unemployment rate:

Our CPI:

Clearly, the statistics suggest that our economy isn't doing as badly some people have made it out to be. Why do people fall for it then? A pal who returned home recently from years of high flying abroad blames it on perception and public relations. "This Administration doesn't seem to know how to communicate effectively." 

Another corporate leader said to me over Cuban cigars the other evening: "These are signs that people are losing confidence in Najib's leadership".  

Maybe they are right, maybe they are wrong but PM Najib has to go out there as well as down to the ground to tell investors and the ordinary Joe that he's got things under control. People need to see him and hear him. He needs to restore or boost people's confidence.

And he can't possibly do that if he allows himself to continue to be distracted by the 1MDB issue, by talk about Jho Lo and Berkin handbags, by the spectre of Dr Mahathir.

p.s. I agree with the view that there's a lot of "negativity" out there because of "perception issues". But as far as the Ringgit is concerned, I will blame George Soros or/and currency speculators like him. That's what we agreed upon in 97/98. We have to be consistent, at least, even if we think it's too fantastic to consider that Soros could be working together with Tong Kooi Ong against the Malaysian currency h e r e.

Truce? Anti-Najib faction says no way

The Mole has the strory, Anti-Najib bloggers shoot down truce idea 1/6/2015

Former Cabinet Minister Zam, now a leading anti-Najib blogger, says "a majority of the people have already developed a negative perception of Najib due to the allegations against 1MDB". Dr Mahathir Mohamad, therefore, is unlikely to cease his attacks against the Prime Minister. Translate: Zam and friends will continue the offensive until Najib Razak steps down or is ousted.  

Who replaces Najib is a secondary question. 

DPM Muhyddin Yasin is still the choice replacement, going by Syed Akbar Ali's wish and hope, which represents the general aspirations of the anti-Najib movement:

Outside The Box h e r e

But Abang Din came back in silence last night. He's waiting for the right time, they say. But one observer says the DPM has more sense than some people accord him. "Beliau pun kenal batu api ..." 

The Malaysian Insider's story h e r e

50 or thousands, the thing is, The SIEGE shall continue. Most people are tired of it already but they don't have a say. 

Today's Cabinet meeting is most interesting. It will decide if spat turns into full-blown war within UMNO or if common sense would prevail. Whatever happens, I expect PM Najib Razak to make it clear that he will be firm and resolute in dealing with the 1MDB issue, the incessant attacks by his ex boss, and the elements that aim to break up his party and the BN's hold in the next general elections.