Another Brick in the Wall

This was an ad found in Malaysiakini in one of the reports they are trying hard to intensify the current problems related to Aabar BVI.

Though DAP Sarawak is working hard to give the impression that they are an independent thinking entity within DAP thus not an extension of a Peninsular party, it would be the political campaign they have to take.

They are not likely to lead the next government in Sarawak, especially with the intensive dispute for seats with ambitous but unable to deliver PKR. The more realistic target would be to help central DAP to topple BN using the 1MDB issue that is currently tarnishing Dato Najib.

From conversations in Kuching and Miri yesterday, 1MDB is of no consequence to the voters. In fact, Sarawak rural voters and certain circle of business people benefited directly or indirectly from 1MDB's CSR and investment.

Aabar BVI

In the latest development on Aabar BVI, Arul Kanda appeared on Bloomberg TV the day before:

It is was the interview Arul described as the unexpected IPIC move as a tricky curve ball thrown from a baseball pitcher. He said there is "more than meets the eye with IPIC".

For one, the royal family in Qatar is directly involved in administration and business so their decision making practises are individually driven. The current issue is basically a contractual dispute and Arul gave assurance there is no default and bailout.

Arul claimed Ringgit and 1MDB bonds rise from his assurance. Malaysia Reserve reported yesterday the several basis points market credit reassessment of 1MDB bonds as merely knee jerk reaction that has no long term impact.

Such consoling words may not likely be well received by Sarawak Report, WSJ and oppositions whose determine to maintain pressure on Najib.

If 1MDB does not really sink in with general Sarawak voters, GST is hardly an issue that affected voters sentiment against the ruling party in Sarawak.

It seemed strange but it does not quite sink in as it does with common folks in Peninsular Malaysia. A friend whose been working in Miri said, shopkeepers and dhoby operators are cooperative and do not attempt to evade GST by non-issuance of receipts.

It is believed to be a direct impact of the commonly seen Kedai 1Malaysia, Fair Price Shops, RTC and other social programs of the federal government that is beginning to reach the people in Sarawak.

The rural voters concerns seemed more concern with local issues like NCR land, basic amenities, and the competition for the limited Minor Rural Project (MRP) fund. At times, common folks seek personal relief from the MRP fund.

Chinese voters return?

CM, Tan Sri Adenan Satem was reported yesterday expressing confidence of taking over two black status state assembly seats of Piasau and Pujut in the urban Miri area from opposition.

In the last election, SUPP was hit badly in Miri that they lost all the urban seats and former President George Ting lost.

Thus far confirmed, Pujut looks set for a takeover. Piasau not sure yet. Senardin near impossible. There is a feel good wind for Adenan among the Chinese common folks in Miri.

It is tough on our part to acknowledge the latest Merdeka Report. If MSM is comfortable to publish, there could be some truth:

However, it is still to early to claim Lim Guan Eng's political rally in Sarawak is not attracting much crowd.

DAP is known for their capability to build up a wave of support as polling day nears and create an avalanche sentiment.

The real political influence and power behind the throne remains with the super rich tycoons.

In Miri, their big with huge acreage compound homes can be seen lining along the beach road on the way to Bintulu.

Adenan assured the Big Six timber concessions to remain under BN. A subtle reminder to the SUPP funders to work harder and stop quarelling for the time being?

Seat allocation disputes

On the BN side, there are dissatisfaction similar to the dispute between DAP and PKR.

DAP has done work to penetrate the rural areas thus believe that they could perform far better than PKR's past disaster in the last state election.

Furthermore, PKR Sarawak lack the fund and organisation to make in-road. They are in-denial to the reality that PKR Sarawak practically do not exist any more.

The problem with the BN side relates more to the long internal issue of SUPP that ended with the influential Foochow clan leaving the now Fukien and Kek controlled SUPP to join a new party, UPP.

As one Chinese political operator described, the root cause goes back to the 5,000 year old rivalry in China.

Though Adenan has decided on direct BN candidates as the solution after SUPP are unable to come to a soluton for the election, disgruntled voices could still be heard from SUPP.

When the dispute became untenable resulting in the break-up, it was SPDP that was first shaken as then President Tan Sri William Mawan and other MPs and State Assemblymen resigned to form BN supporter Teras.

There were also exodus from PRS.

Already, PRS President Tan Sri James Masing has expressed willingness to support Adenan's direct candidate solution. Dato Seri Tiong King Sing, the current SPDP Persident have warmed up to the solution too.

However, that could be mere lip service as grouses can still be heard at the ground level. A top SPDP official quit the party to run as independent in Mulu.

For instance in Bekanu, 45 miles away from Miri, where we were last night, SPDP is not happy with the BN direct candidate. Two independents expressed interest to run in Bekenu and Lambir, another Miri seat.

Larry Sng's resignation from father, Dato Sng Chee Wa's party could be along the same theme. Maybe returning back to Sarawak BN as direct candidate?

Dato Sng is the tycoon funding Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim's blitzkrieg atrack on late Tun Ghaffar and man behind SWP and a pan Borneo party initiative with Dato Jeffrey Kitingan.

Son, Larry was a former state assemblyman and worked for Pehin Sri Taib Mahmud in his last years as CM.

1MDB is no issue too

Bekenu is a small fishing village but is being referred to as a town after new shophouses built.

Apart from the traditional activity of fishing, the is oil palm cultivation and it can be visibly seen along the main road.

There are several plantations in the area. Most of the local issue here relates to NCR and the dispute oftenly involves plantation companies.

The Ibans, and other natives lay claim to land given by state to plantation companies. The issue is legal in nature and in some cases, judgements favoured the plantation companies.

However, the natives are insistent that it is theirs thus it takes a political dimension. Most opposition politicians cum lawyers like Baru Bian strives on NCR land issue.

At the same time and it was a campaign issue in the last general election, Baru Bian represented Rimbunan Hijau to forcibly encroach into land grant issued to other Sarawakians.

The local native of Bekenu or the Sibuti district is the Melanau and Kedayans. The Kedayans refer to themselves as Brunei Malays. The whole of Sarawak.was originally part of the kingdom of Brunei.

Historically, as written in Borneo Post here, the Iban were invited to the Sibuti district by the White Rajah, James Brooke to cultivate rice for the area.

"Today, the Kedayans, Malays, Melanaus, Chinese and Ibans live harmoniously in their settlements where, as a shopkeeper notes, everybody knows everybody."

The weather was extremely hot yesterday. It was hazy from open burning.

There is hardly much rainfall in the area for the last six months. If there is any rain, it is short lived. The area relies on river water for agricultural irrigation.

Less rain, have oil?

Did an evening walk workout along Kucing's riverside.

Stumbled into a vacant boat for evening riverside tour.

It was a certainly beautiful walk ... and ride.

Hope to resume posting soon. Many interesting experience to share. Malas mode masa jalan-jalan.

They serve laksa for breakfast in Sarawak, Laksa Sarawak that is. It is not unusual for noodle to be served for breakfast. But for laksa, this is the first time.

In Johor, mee rebus is served for breakfast with few sticks of sate in Johor. Interestingly, it is noticed mee jawa is served for breakfast with few sticks of satay in Sarawak.

There are javanese in Sarawak but not sure there are Johorean javanese. Nevertheless, there are substantial number of Sarawakians, including Iban working in Pasir Gudang, Johor Baru.

What better place to go for Laksa Sarawak in Kuching than to Mom's Laksa. The establishment owned by a Haji Tahir is rated by local as the best laksa in town and it is supposedly very popular.

A local brought us to the shop in Satok, Kuching. Mom's have three branches and the first branch is at Kampong Kitak.

No wonder the locals loved it. There is a distinct mildness in the gravy. Sufficiently spiced but none of the distinct dried udang kering one are used to. Maybe there is more fresh prawn. That is something Laksa Sarawak served in Semenanjung could not afford to sell.

Just guessing, do not really know the recipe.

If mee rebus or laksa Johor has curry-like spice in the paste to make gravy, the intelligent guess is laksa Sarawak would use local ingredients like the Sarawak reknown black pepper in the gravy.

We requested half the usual portion of noodle and replaced by more vegetable, taugeh that is.

And, complimented with teh O kosong and suppliments. Trying to stay true to the weight loss program and salvage some fitness for this aging body. Tough to do on the road and roughing it out.

Anyway, here is a tip. In Sarawak, do not make the mistake of ordering ais kosong. They'll just serve ice without water. Air sejuk would do.

There was a Federal court judgement today on the divorce case between MUI boss, Tan Sri Khoo Kay Peng and his estranged wife and former Miss Malaysia, Puan Sri Pauline Chai Siew Phin.

Puan Sri already lost at the Court of Appeal in June last year. The Federal court ruling will mean the trial for their divorce case will be held in Kuala Lumpur.

This blog have been following the case since 2014 to seek answer to an age old corporate mystery as to another shareholder of MUI Group. It has no more political relevance since a recent about turn but the curiosity remains.

Few months back, there was also a court order in the UK to settle. There is also a concurrent suit on his same divorce case running there.

So, will it be in UK ...?

It was reported two months ago:

Friday 12 February 2016 15.25 GMT
Last modified on Friday 12 February 2016 15.49 GMT

Court orders Laura Ashley boss to settle 'titanic' divorce case

Khoo Kay Peng ordered to make offer to Pauline Chai to end legal battle that has already cost £6.1m

Khoo Kay Peng, non-executive chairman of Laura Ashley, leaves the high court in London. Photograph: Stefan Rousseau/PA

Owen Bowcott Legal affairs correspondent

The chairman of the Laura Ashley fashion business, Dr Khoo Kay Peng, has been ordered by the high court to offer his estranged wife settlement of their divorce after running up legal bills of £6.1m.

The 21-day ultimatum delivered by Mr Justice Bodey was said by Pauline Chai’s lawyers to be the first time an English family court had used its powers to force a claimant to “lay out his stall”.

The protracted separation, which at one stage was also running in competing hearings in Malaysia, is believed to be one of the most expensive divorce cases ever to come before the UK courts.

Khoo, 77, the non-executive chairman of Laura Ashley Holdings, is alleged by Chai, 69, to be worth more than £440m and to earn £5.4m a year.

She is the mother of the couple’s five grownup children and says she is entitled to half his fortune. Khoo disputes her claim and maintains he holds assets worth £66m. The couple were married for 43 years.

The gulf between the parties means there will have to be costly investigations to establish the true extent of his wealth – unless they reach agreement.

Pauline Chai, estranged wife of Khoo Kay Peng, leaves court. Photograph: Stefan Rousseau/PA

Costs began to escalate when Dr Khoo fought and lost a bid to have the divorce decided in the Malaysian courts. He accused his wife of “forum shopping”, preferring to negotiate a settlement in London where ex-wives of the wealthy have traditionally been successful in securing larger payouts.
Advertisement

Chai, who was Miss Malaysia 1969, won the argument that London was the appropriate location. She argued that the family moved to a £30m mansion in Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, before they separated. The house became her main home, where she stored her collection of a thousand pairs of shoes in bedrooms, a corridor and the basement.

Ordering “open offers of settlement” to be made by both sides, the judge said at a case management hearing: “I am striving to exercise some control over this titanic case. Otherwise the case will inevitably proceed on its expensive way to the detriment of the parties and the court’s resources.

“The actual resolution of the finances of this couple, who have more money between them than they could spend in their lifetimes, has unfortunately taken a second seat. The legal costs bill is going on for £6m at a stage where the case has barely reached the first fence.”

Georgina Hamblin of Vardags, the law firm acting on behalf of Chai, described the order as the first of its kind in the English court. She said: “It is a monumental development in family law and the strongest possible message to this husband finally to settle this case.

“The wife has been waiting three years for the husband finally to put his cards on the table and make her a fair offer. An English court has never gone this far before and in forcing an open offer sends the strongest possible message that it will not put up with time and cost wasters.”

The couple married in December 1970 and separated on Valentine’s Day 2013. A decree nisi was pronounced in January this year and is due to be made absolute later this month.

The couple bought their first property in England – Wentworth Park – in 1995, and then five years later acquired the 1,000-acre Rossway Park estate at Berkhamstead.

The judge was told Khoo has indirect interests in a variety of businesses through two holding companies in Malaysia as well as substantial holdings in Laura Ashley and Corus Hotels.

The pair are in dispute over the extent to which Khoo built up his assets during the marriage and how much his wife should benefit from them.

Toby Hales, a partner in the family team at the law firm Seddons, commented: “For many years, judges in the family court have remonstrated against divorcing couples and their lawyers for the inordinate costs involved in litigation.

“Although some are claiming that the order by Mr Justice Bodey is ground-breaking, the reality is that the current state of the law and court procedure are likely to undermine his arguably good intentions.

“This is a brave but ultimately futile attempt to bring two people to their senses who are clearly quite content to litigate each other to death. The key question is what the court’s penalty will be if Dr Khoo does not comply.”

Desmond O’Donnell, a family specialist at Thomson Snell & Passmore LLP, said: “The judge’s order is unprecedented and no doubt reflects his frustration with the parties’ apparent inability to reach a settlement, after years of litigation.

“The emotional cost, and more particularly in this case the financial cost, must have been a significant part of the judge’s thinking and the order which he made.”

The Guardian

In KL today, The Star reported below:

Thursday, 28 April 2016 | MYT 5:53 PM

Tycoon’s divorce proceedings against former beauty queen can proceed in Malaysia

PUTRAJAYA: Business tycoon Tan Sri Khoo Kay Peng can proceed with his divorce petition against his wife, former Miss Malaysia Puan Sri Pauline Chai Siew Phin, in Malaysian courts.

This follows the decision of the Federal Court's three-man bench on Thursday, led by Justice Tan Sri Suriyadi Halim Omar to deny Chai leave to appeal against a Court of Appeal ruling.

On June 19, last year, the Court of Appeal ruled that the Malaysian courts had jurisdiction to hear Khoo’s divorce petition.

The Court of Appeal had also decided that Chai, 69, did not have the right to choose her choice of domicile as the common law rule stating that a wife’s domicile must follow that of her husband, was constitutional and applicable in Malaysia.

Suriyadi, who presided on the panel with justices Tan Sri Ahmad Maarop and Datuk Zainun Ali unanimously dismissed Chai’s application for leave to appeal and ordered her to pay RM20,000 in costs.

Chai, a former Miss Malaysia/International 1969, wanted the British courts to decide on the divorce proceedings as she claimed she had not resided in Malaysia since 1980 and was currently living in England while Khoo, 77, wanted their divorce case to be heard by the Malaysian courts.

The couple was married in 1970 and have five grown-up children.

Khoo is chairman of international investment holdings company, Malayan United Industries Bhd and owns 44% of UK fashion and furnishings retailer Laura Ashley Holdings.

On Nov 28 2014, the High Court in Kuala Lumpur ruled it had jurisdiction to hear Khoo’s divorce petition and this decision was upheld by the Court of Appeal.

Meanwhile, Chai had filed the divorce petition in a London court on Feb 14, 2013, seeking £500mil (RM2.75bil) settlement. It was reported that Chai would get a smaller portion in matrimonial property if the case was decided according to Malaysian law.

Chai’s counsel, Datuk Seri Gopal Sri Ram, earlier submitted there were three legal questions relating to the issue of common law rule on wife’s domicile which the Federal Court should decide as it would be to public advantage.

He argued that his client’s legal bid was not academic as the validity of the domicile rule would determine if Malaysian courts had jurisdiction over her.

Khoo’s lawyer, Datuk Dr Cyrus Das said Chai’s application for leave to appeal was academic because she obtained a decree nisi from the London court on Jan 7, this year.

He said the legal questions posed by her counsel for the Federal Court to determine were no longer relevant to her since she had elected to get her relief from the London court.

Outside the court, Das told reporters that following the Federal Court’s decision, the Court of Appeal judgement stood and his client would be allowed to proceed with his petition in Malaysia, which was filed in December 2014.

Meanwhile, Chai’s lawyer, New Sin Yew, told reporters that at the same time, financial proceedings were currently ongoing in the London court for the purpose of division of matrimonial assets. – Bernama

Now for the trial ....

Been more than 2 weeks in Sarawak.

Today, we are flying from Sibu to Kuching to join the missus due to arrive tomorrow. She has been asking about Mom's Laksa. So we shall.

And, a Melanau has got his wife to prepare a Mukah Uma he claimed as the authentic one. Also looking forward for seafood at Top Spot.

Since arriving Miri on April 20th, we have been traveling extensively and passed through places like Bekenu, Merudi, Senardin, Pujut, Piassu, Lambir, Telang Usan and Niah. Except for Pujut, all the seats were won by BN.

A local political commentator expected Pujut to be won but Piassu lost to DAP. Talk is there was a corporate game from one of the Big 6 that reverse the forecast.

We weren't remotely involve. Hardly posted anything about politics throughout the campaign. Not making the same mistake as before to dabble in area we do not have enough feel

The traveling did help us to have a better feel on the pulse of Sarawak heartland. Still, it is still only a glimpse of the bigger picture.

Visited Iban longhouses. Heard the grouses of kampong people. Emphatise with the difficulty of the rakyat in the interior.

The challenges they faced with the transition of moving to a modern economy and encroachment into their traditional living.

Then we flew to Kuching. After a break and watching the election development, we flew to Bintulu. The Kuching break were bit too long. Delayed by cancelled plans to go to Kapit and Mukah.

If Miri is the oil town, Bintulu is energy town. One can find the Malaysia LNG plant, and various high technology industries at Samalaju Industrial Park.

Samalaju is an essential element of SCORE which is an economic sector developed from the renewable energy from the dams of Bakun and Murum. A local employee in one of the factory in Samalaju claimed the electricity generated in Bakun is in sufficient for the need of Samalaju.

We made a long 189 km trip up to the two dams and stayed overnight at a small settlement or pekan of Belaga as they categorised it.

Strange bureaucrasy denied us the chance to stay overnight at Bakun Resort. No walk-in registration. Only office hour booking allowed.

During the trip, we managed to visit a Kedayan community in Kampong Kuala Nyalau and a Kenyah longhouse near Sungai Asap.

We accidently bump into a Kenyah BN Coordinator for a rumah panjang kampong by a roadside coffee shot in a friendly and heated political discussion. He invited us to see his kampong and a new settlement he is working on.

Interestingly, he was almost on the money on his election prediction. The former PKR supporter predicted Belaga, Samarlaju and Murum to be won by BN.

He was spot-on on Murum. If not for the feel good Adenan fever, the BN Iban candidate could have won by whiskers. He knows all the three candidates intimately and acknowledged all as good people,
Kemena, the area our hotel in Bintulu was named after was also won by BN too.

After Bintulu, we cancelled our flight back to Kuching and instead took a bus to Sibu.

Have been to Sibu in the past for family visit and 2010 by-election. It was the Sibu by-election that DAP begin their good run till the general election of 2013.

Quite a shock that they emulated the same big finale in 2010 and this time around, the crowd at a parking lot facing RH and Wisma Sanyan across the main road.

DAP ceramah was only in Chinese so we left for the Malay kampang at the end of Jalan Kg Dato to hear BN candidate for Nangka gave his fiery finale speech.

Malaysiakini was trying to spin and label Dr Anuar as racist firebrand.

Oh please ... DAP and Baru Bian can be open about their Chinese and Christian interest but no such spin coming on ,hem.

Anuar won handsomely with more than 7,000 majority.

Despite the bang by DAP, BN did well to win few Sibu constituencies, Bawang Assan and Dudong. DAP won at Bukit Assek and Pelawan.

In the outer areas, there were friends involved in the campaign at Meradong, Pakan, Meluan and few other areas. Adenan Fever was really a confidence booster. Except for Ba' kelalan, we won all.

Ba's Kelalan was partly mistake and oversight on our side that allowed Baru Bian's win. Anyway, we still need a good opposition.

Saw someone commented that DAP failed to make entry into the interiors and with Dayak voters. It is quite right. Generally the sentiment we gauge was Dayak perceived the Chinese as economic oppressors and DAP gets the brunt of their dissatisfaction.

DAP's Manifesto does not help dispel the Chinese chauvanism stigma. It was clearly and subtly self serving.

Their reduction by 5 seats is being analysed. Chong Chen Jen attribute it to lower voter turnout. Partly true since there are protest vote or no show. Several theories abound. Some say it is atttiude and non-delivery. The impetus to such reaction is the comfort Chinese have with Adenan.

DAP knew they were losing as Lim Kit Siang was quoted saying Adenan will be re-elected. So their strategy was to focus on GE14 to play national issue. Dato Najib should be concerned with the possibility of voting BN for the state but DAP for Parliament.

There could be backlash to Semenanjung-style negative politics of DAP. Adenan Satem NTL policy on Semenanjong radicals could have been accepted by certain segment of Chinese. Candidates like DAP's Batu Kitang are just too abrasive.

Looks like another attempt for the Telok Intan formula failed again. The DAP Malay candidate was trying too hard to show himself as DAP more than any DAP politician need to.

Be it Malay or Iban, lets not be deceived by DAP.

PKR's Batu Lintang application of diplomacy to win the heart of voters was useful. He acknowledged Adenan' leadership and plead on voters to vote him for a check and balance news

There was positive response to the new SUPP. They reinvented themselves and found relevance by voicing Sarawak rights. They are attracting the Sarawak for Sarawakians supporters. Autonomy is on the card to be delivered. Najib must deliver it to get the support for GE14
SUPP President Datuk Dr Sim won a hard fought 4-way battle. The split votes helped. He really worked hard. Humble, approachable and spoke in Malay.

Remembered visiting his modest family home in 2012 next to Kuching's Spring shopping complex. He was still fresh and newbie in his political approach then. The famous cardiologist and Senator has come a long way. Seemed destined for higher position.

How someone's fate in politics could turn in 5 years.

Implosion and conflict are every where in the rough and tumble of national politics which should be more accurately described as Semenanjong politics.

To many, the Sarawak state election are disjointed with happenings in national or Semenanjong politics. It is a whole different political terrain, demography and generally, the whole make-up. This is where we do not concur.

Though seemed disjointed, there were events in the past in Sarawak that sparked series of events in Semenanjong.

There have been turn of event that stated in Sarawak that became national. Many had forgotten that it was DAP Sarawak that first cut ties with PAS that later culminated into dissolving of Pakatan Rakyat and PAS went alone.

What happened with DAP and PKR in Sarawak could explode into a bigger implosion within the parties and start a bitter war between them. The by-elections that arise from the helicopter mishap at Batang Lupar could be provide a glimpse into the true intention of PAS.

There is also something learned and need be shared from the travel through Sarawak. Unfortunately, we may not be in the position to do so. It have been quite a pain in the arse to even do this short posting to end the over 2 weeks of no posting and a month of May of inactivity.

Could not confirmed it. And will only get it examined today, X-Ray and MRI, all that.

We have been having problems with sitting. Could not sit for long before pain start to spread from the buttock to the upper part of our thigh. when there is pain in any part of the body, it will trigger pain from muscle tightness at other parts too.

If sitting is a discomfort, lying down can be equally uncomfortable too. So the suspicion is we are having tailbone problem.

This will be really unfortunate because for three months we have been on a diet and exercise regime to be physically prepared for the Sarawak travel.

It was bearing results.

Despite not able to be at full throttle, we were able to lose some 25 lbs ~ 11 kg, feeling physically better and stronger, and getting accustomed to a more healthier food in-take.

In fact, we may need some wardrobe change since our clothes are slipping off the body.

That opportunity was used to relieve us of a nagging backpain. It is not slip disc because it was solved long time ago and MRI confirmed it did not recur. As muscles begin to relax, we could isolate the problems to address and the back pain was receding.

All except two muscles - QL and psoas; two difficult muscles to address. Yet we were making progress on the two muscles through specific exercises. Only left is some residual pain.

It turned out the residual pain has something to do with the area around the tailbone. By isolating and trying to address it, only made it worse.

We only had a light preliminary massage prior to leaving for Sarawak. But, after Sarawak, the pain became worse. However, the blame cannot be on the rough travel because it happened before. The discomfort from sitting too long was felt before but not obvious enough.

Furthermore, we are not about to be discourage from our next plan to go to the Mulu National Park.

The pain and discomfort can be unbearable at times. Can't sit for too long. Neither can stand for long. Worse, can't lie down for too long. Getting good sleep has become a problem. It is frustrating and literally quite a pain in the arse.

Frustrating because there are lots of things to write about but could not write them down. The many happenings only indicate a trend we have been waiting to happen. Something major is about to happen but we can't sit long enough to write and break it.

It is frustrating also because this happened after much effort to be lighter, healthier and stronger. Was hoping to really celebrate and embody this year's Ramadhan.

It is such illness that could send someone into retirement. Ah well ... life goes on and we shall endure and strive through it. That is what aging is all about.

At worse, it is just death.

The all spectacled Lim family

Thank gawd it is only a bruise. The Orthopaedic suggested rest and gave voltaren gel for heeling.

Still no honeymoon. Need to get the pain away. So unnatural to sit on a cushion. And, this relatively short posting is about honeymoon.

It was 2009. DAP tookover Penang in 2008. Thanks to Pak Lah. Or these days, it is also said as thanks to Tun Mahathir.

Pak Lah had vacated the premiership and we were beginning to be comfortable socialising within the UMNO circle again. In one event, we came across a Gerakan leader. No more now but there was something he said that rings a bell today.

The Gerakan leader studied in the US. We had a common friend from the student activism days abroad. That became the opening line to start a conversation. When we raised about Penang, he stopped it and invited us over to his office for a chat. He introduced his assistance, Johan.

However, we never managed to get the appointment to see him.

His assistance was giving one lame excuse after another. He kept delaying it for after one scheduled political event after another or postphoned due to certain development till he was no more a leader in Gerakan.

Basically, he was not interested to meet and we knew it but we still persisted to call. Since then, at any occasion where the Gerakan leader is around, we would stalk him.

Till one occasion, we approached him to tell him of the death of our common friend. Then we asked him point blank why is he evasive. That was when he said nothing could be done on Lim Guan Eng till his honeymoon is over.

True enough.

There are piles of materials on the wrongdoings of Guan Eng and DAP government in Penang but any expose done had no impact on him. Issues raised against him or his family hardly raised an eyelid. It just shows when you are on top, you can do no wrong.

Guan Eng became so arrogant that he could literally do anything. Institute any policy he wish. Make any decisions. He could even threaten any attempt by the press to question him.

Generally, the Chinese reporters were both protective and scared of hm. Nevertheless, there are attempts to put him in a spot.

But, he was so cocksure of his political support that he could just brush aside the issues raised by ridiculing the particular press, usually Utusan Malaysia or turn it around with a shallow accusation as UMNO was behind.

Remembered attending the debate between Guan Eng and Dato Dr Chua Soi Lek. Soi Lek got him cornered and gave DAP a damaging Developer Action Party label. Guan Eng could get away with a childish response and just tell Soi Lek shame on you.

The DAP CEC fiasco were serious offenses made and yet he could get away with the members just an excuse of computer error. If only they had the intelligence or balls, ROS could close up on DAP. That was why PAS offered DAP to run under PAS ticket in the event it happens.

The attack on Guan Eng has been on-going since 2008. The Lim family has been implicated too. It could never stick.

Some how or rather, there seem to be reaction lately. The discerning eyes could sense it at the last Permatang Pauh by-election. There was indication that the honeymoon maybe ending and their invincibility to public opinion wearing off.

Notice that Guan Eng's election promise of 2008 on the Sungai Nyior toll is making a comeback. More issues will be expected to get recycled.

Seeing what is happening on the allegations of questionable purchase of Guan Eng's Jalan Pinhorn house, the follow-up issue raised by Dato Rahman Dahlan on the fee for the tunnel and highway project, and the land reclamation objected by both DAP, PKR and UMNO state assemblymen at the recent Penang state assembly, the honeymoon days could be over.

The days of newly wed is over and no more holding hands. Lovey dovey sentiment of Guan Eng with the public is lost. The burden of marriage will soon be felt. What happened at Chew Jetty in the last Chinese New Year celebration?

Guan Eng could get away with all the past acusation because those days, there are Anwar Ibrahim, PKR and PAS to support and deflect any attack from BN side. They were there to even support the destruction of some 30 original Malay kampongs and removal of Malay-run warong and gerai.

Since PKR YB Norlela of Penanti started crying in the state assembly on the plight of the Malays as a result of Guan Eng's "ethnical cleansing" policies on the Malays and Indians and denial of state budget for Penang rural constituency, issues seldom raised by UMNO and brushed off as racist have been gaining attention.

It is partly due to Azmin's invisible hands as he had been most vocal on the removal of PKR councillors in the various local councils. The confirmation is when PKR state exco member, Dr Afif Baharuddin was being asked to resign.

He is an Azmin man.

In the past, it would not have happened. This time around, there is attention when DAP assemblyman for Tanjung Bungah raised the issue of limiting the term for Chief Minister.

That is indicative that the honeymoon could be over for Guan Eng. He may want to continue as Chief Minister and judging from the current going, he may well could defend it since both Gerakan and MCA are not ready up to take up and work on the opportunity presented.

That is beside the point. The point is it is no more easy life for Guan Eng from either outside DAP and Pakatan Rakyat/Harapan or inside.

Recently a DAP state assemblyman in Selangor had his party membership suspended for offenses the late Teoh Beng Hock revealed to MACC and later was found dead from falling off the 14th floor of Masalam building in Shah Alam.

The reaction to the suspension is not positive for DAP. Critics are asking why not Guan Eng?

Guess it is the same as UMNO raising issue on opposition and critics raised about Najib. The different is any BN PM get criticised and slandered all time. For Guan Eng, it is the end of a honeymoon.

What a pity that UMNO did not take up on this issue. Maybe they are not ready to defend MACC yet. By right, they should support MACC because they have come through to investigate Lim Guan Eng. Talk is MACC may not go for the technical of 165 of the Penal Code for fear of doing another fix-up as what Tan Sri Gan Patail may have done on Dato Dr Khir Toyo.

The perception on Guan Eng must be bad that when DAP and PKR were exchanging spat on the candidacy for the 11 state assembly seats for the Sarawak state election, all fingers pointed the blame to the arrogance and stubborness of Guan Eng.

Although DAP were blaming Azmin and PKR, it was the Chairman of Sarawak DAP, Chong Chen Jen all along. He is not in the same camp as Guan Eng and is more assertive of Sarawak DAP position. Local DAP Sarawak members and leaders dare not talk up to Chong.

Otherwise, Lim Kit Siang would not be making postings on his blog about the mistake of DAP at the Sarawak by-election. He is covering for Guan Eng and blaming it on Chong. Buying time on the eventuality perhaps.

With honeymoon over for Guan Eng, could it be the beginning of the end of the Lim dynasty?

* Edited 25/5 9:30 AM

Lim Kit Siang's posting on the latest development on BSI was about noose tightening. It is not any noose but global noose involving the 1MDB scandal.

Since some commentator desperately wanted our take on the latest development on BSI Singapore, here is a quickie. In half hour got to rush for treatment in Taman Maluri. Want to stick to the plan to write today on the two upcoming by-elections.

Back to Kit Siang's posting.

According to the posting here, there are three developments happening that will hang Dato Najib and the government.

There have been so many developments on 1MDB or SRC or related to 1MDB but at times not directly but it is still does no affirm anything substantive. Only bad management or administration.

If one goes through the process of elimination on the possibilities, it's hard to accept that Najib pulled the trigger and gun is still smoking. What ever argument presented is merely politically motivated. Does not stand the legal test.

It's needs a lengthy explanation to convince but why bother. The three developments according to Kit Siang's webmaster are:

• The withdrawal of the BSI Bank’s status as a merchant bank in the city state by the Monetary Authority of Singapore for “serious breaches of anti-money laundering requirements, poor management oversight of the bank’s operations and gross misconduct by some of the bank’s staff” and the reference of six members of the BSI Bank’s senior management and staff to the public prosecutor – after investigations into the 1MDB scandal in Singapore.

• Commencement of criminal proceedings by Switzerland’s Office of the Attorney General (OAG) against BSI SA Bank for allegedly failing to prevent offences linked to 1MDB, including offences of money laundering and bribery of foreign public officials. Swiss authorities believe at least RM4 billion in Malaysian state fund had been misappropriated as part of their investigations into 1MDB scandal.

• Resignation with immediate effect of Swiss Bank BSI’s Group CEO Stefano Coduri following the announcement by the Money Authority of Singapore on the closure of its Singapore branch and criminal proceedings by the Swiss OAG in connection with their 1MDB investigations.

The closing up of BSI in Singapore is serious. According to Bloomberg report found on The Edge website here, it is linked to 1MDB:

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) said it is withdrawing BSI Bank Ltd’s licence for breaches of money laundering rules as the Swiss attorney general said he is taking legal action based on information from criminal probes into 1Malaysia Development Bhd, or 1MDB. EFG International AG is proceeding with the purchase of BSI from Brazil’s Grupo BTG Pactual SA at an undisclosed reduced price.

The actions are part of the global money laundering and embezzlement investigations surrounding 1MDB ....

The last sentence puts it as surrounding 1MDB.

Thus far many other foreign investigations including the ones Dato Khairuddin and Matthias did only photo op in front of various foreign enforcement agencies, are investigating issues outside 1MDB but related to 1MDB..

Hmmm ... will that pull the noose on Najib?

Never mind we are patient enough to wait. And we can analyse the information below received on our Whatss App:

Keeping a record of he two persons currently charged with various offences related to BSI and 1MDB relationship.

Person One: Yeo Jiawei (ex BSI Bank) with 9 charges to date.

1st Charge (April 22): Buying a property using illegally acquired funds where he received SGD200k in a Bank of China account which represented “benefits from cheating.”.

2nd Charge (April 28): Cheating BSI by concealing that he would receive some US$1.6 million per year. This sum, according to the charge sheet, was a portion of the annual management fee paid by 1MDB's wholly owned Brazen Sky Ltd to Bridge Partners Investment Management (Cayman) Ltd.

3rd Charge (April 28): Attempting to pervert the course of justice by asking a Mr Goh Sze-Wei Samuel to say the USD1.6m money was his investment.

4th Charge (May 5): Cheating BSI by hiding the fact that he would receive a portion of the fees paid to Pacific Harbor Holdings via Bridgerock Investment, a company that Yeo owns.

5th Charge (May 5): Preventing the course of justice intentionally by asking Kevin Swampillai to lie to the police about a sum of money which had been transferred by Samuel Goh Sze-Wei to Bridgerock Investment Inc and GTB Investment.

6th Charge (May 5): transferring $500,000 from a Malayan Banking Berhad account in the name of Bridgerock Investment Inc to an Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation (OCBC) account. The court documents have declared that this amount "represents his benefits from criminal conduct".

7th Charge (May 12 ): forgery by fraudulently signing a reference letter to the EMEA head of anti-money laundering and sanctions compliance of Citigroup to dupe them into thinking the letter was signed by the authority of BSI Bank to facilitate a transfer of US$11.95 million (S$16.3 million) from SRC International (Malaysia) to Affinity Equity International Partners.

8th Charge (May 24): Cheating BSI by concealing a portion of the fees he received from Pacific Harbor Holdings (PHH)

9th Charge (May 24): Cheating BSI by concealing a portion of the fees he received from Devonshire Capital Management (DCM).
--
Person two: Kelvin Ang from NRA Capital with 1 charge:

1st Charge (Apr 20) for corruptly giving a gratification sum of S$3,000 some time between 2013 and 2014 to research analyst Lee Chee Waiy to expedite preparation of a favourable valuation report to be issued by his equity research firm.
---
Separately, the Singapore branch of BSI was asked to shut down due to multiple and repeated breaches - totaling 41 counts over the year.

A MAS audit in 2011 found policy and process lapses and weak enforcement of control functions.

A 2014 MAS Audit also found serious shortcomings in its due diligence checks on assets underlying the investment funds structured for its customers.

While a 2015 audit found multiple breaches of anti-money laundering regulations and pervasive pattern of non-compliance.

So far, none of the charges - whether here or in Switzerland are direct to 1MDB officials which is why 1MDB said today they have not been contacted by any investigators from Singapore and Switzerland.

Switzerland has also been investigating a former 1MDB official (which does not seem to be related to any high level persons in 1MDB past or present), two former officials of Abu Dhabi Govt and the BSI bank officials for non-compliance.

Maybe it is useful as information from the other side of the coin which is not politically sensationalise.

Every other foreign media report loves to put the phrase "linked to 1MDB" even though it does not involve 1MDB but something happening outside 1MDB and still not established it involves management or leadership of 1MDB.

OK we got to go.

Off course, expect the issue of 1MDB's Brazen Sky account at BSI be raised. It is the fund unit meant for the IPIC debt for asset swap that BNM insisted it be returned to Malaysia but resisted by 1MDB to the point of willing to pay administrative penalty.

Those following are already assuming there is a fraud involving payment to the presumably fake IPIC BVI subsidiary account. And, the swap deal will not happen.

That's what we said, do the process of elimination first before presuming anything.

The above picture is the two feuding Division Head of UMNO Sungai Besar, Dato Mohd Jamal Yunos and his Deputy, Dato Ramli Nordin together during a recent visit by DPM Dato Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Election Director for the Sungai Besar by-election, Dato Noh Omar.

The Utusan report on Tuesday using the picture was calling for unity. Supposedly both the feuding parties in Sungai Besar could discard their differences to work together and defend UMNO's incumbency at Sungai Besar.

Zahid was also reported saying BN to defend Sungai Besar as underdog but do a Telok Intan upset. The similarity between Telok Intan and Sungai Besar will be internal quarrel within the opposing party, or in this case, opposition parties.

The difference is DAP lost Telok Intan because headquarter insist in putting a candidate not accepted by grassroot. BN may have candidacy issue. If Dato Jamal run or Noh Omar is in his usual self to strengthen his power base than winning elections, no Telok Intan will happen.

The picture and the media report of the visit on Tuesday indicate there is also an internal issue within Sungai Besar. However, it is not only UMNO or BN that will or want to run but have no confidence of winning. All the interested opposition parties have similar issue.

In the few conversations we had with our sources, that seemed to be the case. PKR or Amanah or PAS or DAP may not say so in public but they are saying they can't win in private.

PKR

Sundaily is helping to promote PKR to run for the Sungai Besar seat and pressure PAS and Amanah to quit.

The fact that Azmin has to negotiate with PAS behind DAP's back only indicate he is not confident of PKR to win a three corner fight. The consensus thinking is BN will win handsomely in a three corner fight. Question is who among PAS or PAN or PKR will budge.

What is also said in private is PKR too is not confident to win a straight fight. Scott Ng in FMT expressed the view that PKR may not win because of internal strife within.

Anwar's recent statement at the court to confirm his letter to warn against playing to Tun Dr Mahathir's tune will start the war between Wan Azizah and Azmin. Wan Azizah side may want to see PKR lose for the sake of shaming Azmin.

Only sure where Rafizi is heading. There is already talk that he could lose his Sec Gen post. He is beginning to be a liability with his inclination to twist, turn and slander.

The PKR-PAS negotiation not only put into question PAS's true intention in their so-called cooperation with UMNO but also put into question PKR's commitment to PH.

Azmin already expressed the view to wants PAS into PH but Wan Azizah opposed it openly. Naturally, Azmin is indebted to PAS for helping put him as MB. He also acknowledged that PKR need PAS for numbers and machinery for effective political campaign.

PAS

PAS have clearly stated their stance to run in both Sg Besar and Kuala Kangsar where they have been traditionally running. This have been repeated several times.

Now PKR member Tan Sri Muhammad Taib already asked to allow PAS to run and let it be a straight fight against BN. It was the same stance Tun M made last week or the week before. When he sensed that PAN and DAP are opposed to allow PAS to run and PKR too are interested, he slammed the opposition for their endless quarrel.

The common view is PAS will not get the Chinese votes. They also knew it thus the view BN will have an easy win over them. PAS's insist in running in their traditional area. So the insinuation by Tun M that PAS is giving an easy win to UMNO.

Dato Nik Amar pretend not to understand as he argued in kampong comprehensible language that since they are running, it will not be giving an easy win.

PAS cannot not run. It will be a dead giveaway that PAS is in collusion with Azmin. Pro-opposition commentators are already concerned with PKR's dangerous flirtation with PAS. There is no such thing as being half pregnant with PAS.

Dato Ibrahim Ali share the same view with Tun M and suggested PAS only run in Kuala Kangsar. Despite denying Perkasa will follow Tun M in his by-elections campaign, the common inclination between Ibrahim with Tun M and Azmin is glaring.

Ibrahim could be leading the way for PAS in the same manner Sun and Mat Taib is doing. After all, it is believed Ibrahim the politician is cosying up with PAS for another chance for them to give way for him to run at Pasir Mas in the next general election.

Amanah

In anticipation that the negotiation between PKR and PAS will breakdown, Amanah has already announced they will run in both Kuala Kangsar and Sungai Besar.

The impression is Amanah will be there wherever there PAS is running. It happened at Betong Maru, Sarawak so they have to be consistent enemy of PAS.

Amanah have to maintain the perception that they are a strong ally of DAP and are ideologically at loggerhead with PAS. However, there is a sceptical view claiming Amanah is just a political party for the losers in the last PAS party election to have some role.

Their role is speculated to maintain "PAS" relationship with DAP without PAS having to bear the burden of being associated to DAP. In turn, PAS will build up relationship with UMNO and use the "perpaduan ummah" platform to win over UMNO supporters to PAS.

The hypothesis claimed that PAS will pretend to be at loggerhead with Amanah. To maintain that script, PAS claimed Amanah is running at Sungai Besar just to destroy PAS and not to destroy UMNO. Same pro-UG attack.

It is mere theory but currently, Amanah may have a chance in the event there is a three corner fight against PAS and UMNO. They could get DAP support to woe the Chinese voters. Fairly logical but can it be done with Mat Sabu as candidate?

Ibrahim Ali, Mat Sabu old friend from ITM days, laughed off Amanah's chances. Amanah knew it that with only one or two branches in Sungai Besar, Mat Sabu will only be an entertainer at Sungai Besar.

In Sungai Besar, the Javanese is an important factor. Mat Sabu talks in northern accent. The vote kampong folks only buy local produce.

DAP

DAP is not running in Sungai Besar. It is a Malay majority or more precisely Jawa majority area. However, one of the state assembly seat, Sekincan belongs to DAP. He can speak Javanese and have some influence.

The state assemblyman is Ng Suee Lin. The person that made an issue of former MB and assemblyman for Sungai Panjang, Dato Dr Khir Toyo's house in Shah Alam. It was Khairy's boys that started it but Ng "finished" the job for them.

Our source with contact in DAP claimed they have no confidence in Pakatan Harapan to win. Is it because they have made up their mind to avenge what happen in Sarawak in the event of PKR is the candidate?

DAP could be taking a back seat after Sarawak and current onslaught against Lim Guan Eng. However, they remain vocal against PAS and Azmin's initiative for backdoor negotiation with PAS.

The negotiation with PAS have revived DAP's call for the three PAS exco to resign for not giving way to PH. DAP knows PAS machinery is dependent on the Selangor state government appointments. So Azmin may have lied in his denial of the threat to PAS.

By the look of it, DAP could only give their support to Amanah.

Chinese did deliver some votes for BN in the last general election. If the promises were delivered, BN could still pick up some Chinese votes. However, there is the possibility that Chinese voters would just stay away then take any chances to commit with any one in this time of uncertainty.

Pro-Tun

Pro-Tun knows they cannot win if they were to put up any candidate. They do not have time to get a candidate and put a machinery together. It means they also believe they could not win.

They did try to approach someone. Just because he had to face imprisonment and now parole is up, it does not mean he should be like the pro-Tun to stand against BN. That someone supporters are supporters of Najib. Running and losing will destroy any slim chance of a comeback or to absolve him from the prison sentence.

Mat Ghip mana suggested this? Should have done some homework.

The role of the pro-Tun now is only to "kacau daun". Tun M have already call on his supporters to make sure BN loses. He asked the voters not to vote for BN. Politically, Tun M needs a BN lost to negate the momentum built from the BN Sarawak landslide win.

Pro-Tun may have bought into some armchair political analyst at some ivory tower saying the two by-elections are BN's true test of strength. Indicator maybe, but true test not quite so. If opposition loses, they could kiss their dream of power goodbye.

To some UMNO supporters, Tun M is acting as the new opposition head. It means Tun M have no loyalty to the party.

He was never concerned for the party but only to his selfish agenda or cronies. Repeated many times and in many different forms, he wants Najib to follow everything he said. Loyalty was the theme is the recent 70 years anniversary celebration of UMNO.

Nothing like a good Sungai Besar kampong lunch for Thursday. Sungai Besar by-election should be a fun one to watch from afar.

Since the March 2016 posting [read here], we felt a sense of regret for the outburst. As recent as last night over dinner out of town, a close confidante was berating about how wrong we were for getting too personal.

"Orang lain lantaklah but you cannot be that because you ...." Blah blah blah as he continues.

We begin to make amends for that posting in April as we plead that we not burn the mosquito net. In Tuesday's posting on the Lims, we wrote:

"What a pity that UMNO did not take up on this issue. Maybe they are not ready to defend MACC yet. By right, they should support MACC because they have come through to investigate Lim Guan Eng."

We still want to believe in the system and see corruption erdicated.

And the last thing should happen is to see the system screwed up because of politics (in the general sense of the word), slanderous perception game, and personal issues.

Monday's newspapers frontpaged MACC's visit of Guan Eng's home on Sunday.

MACC has come through to the public request or some shall we be more precise to say, pro-UMNO supporters' demand that Guan Eng be investigated.

Subsequently, MACC announced in a press statement that it has completed investigation on alleged impropriety in Guan Eng's purchase of his Jalan Pinhorn home. [One can find it here.] The reason for the statement is probably hinted in MACC's latest statement on openness and transparency here.

However, the last three sentence-paragraph ignited an uproar by certain segment of the public. An old blog from the days of toppling Pak Lah, Master Dedah took offense and accused MACC of undermining AG. [Read it here].

This anonymous blog begin posting on the Jalan Pinhorn-Taman Manggis issue in April. But turned into an MACC-watcher when they wrongly accused a Penang MACC officer trying to do a cover-up for Guan Eng. MACC have explained where it is wrong.

Master Dedah's latest posting in their defense of AG and attack on MACC was so elaborate that it could be misconstrued as them trying to pressure MACC Commissioner, Tan Sri Abu Kassim to resign.

It is quite typical of Malaysians in Malaysia of politicised issue simplified by a certain party as Dato Najib or his boys are behind. Consequently, Najib will be conveniently blamed.

As Ramadhan draws near, we want to be healthy and in a peaceful state of mind. Making mountains out of mole hills is not a step in the right direction. We are taking a hands off on this. Do not want to get carried away and offend people unnecessarily.

The three sentences have it's implications and opens up to a lot of possibilities. Cracking our head over it is something we are not going to do. Prefer to see issues within the scope of the issues.

One will be limited or constrained by publicly available information. As that confidante advised, "There is a lot that you might not know."

That is also true.

It is improper to drive to any form of conclusion before the process of eliminating possibilities have been done. Malaysians have tendencies to wrongly conclude or accuse just from one or two incidences. There are usually many missing links in their views.

So peace ...

Some of the badly intended posters to ridicule Rosmah

When Dato Najib tookover the premiership and the PM's wife was seeking for a cause celebre, we were encouraged that she took up the cause of early education.

Coming from family of cikgus, we have heard their complains of parental neglect for children education all our live. One area low to middle class Malay family seldom took it easy on is pre-school.

Pre-school education is important for children and Malay parents have been taking it lightly. Off course, not to the extreme of enrolling 3 year children for tuition classes. Child development should allow a child to be a child and have the experience of growing up as a child.

Our mother had all her life been a teacher and she could spot a child with the potential to succeed in education from day one they are enrolled in standard one. That is how important pre-school child development is. Off course, potential is one thing but realising it is another.

Thus for Permata, in which part of it is dedicated to nurture potentially gifted children.

Diamond

Because Rosmah is involved as a patron, not in any executive role, the Permata program became a magnet for political attack. To get at the PM, pick on the wife. The old Mafia had a code not to touch the family in any inter-family war but Malaysian politics have no honour.

Sometimes we wonder why the program was called Permata or precious stones. Not so many years ago, she was embroiled in a controversy. Some joker within the Custom's Department spotted a package addressed to Rosmah at the PM's private residence in which was written:

Without giving a second thought, the snitch within Custom's presumed Rosmah had bought a RM4 million "permata" and leaked it to CheguBard.

He is the vagrant that is hitting at Tun Dr Mahathir for alleged fake signatures of the Deklarasi Rakyat put together by former pro-BN facebooker, Ratu Naga. Rumour of her is she is allegedly a cyber blackmailer.

Quite unfortunate that these are the kind of people in Tun M's team these days. How sad and pathetic. Hope our pro-Tun friends not get personal. It is only politics. Tun M treats everything as the impersonal politics. Chegu Bard hits at anything and anyone linked to Azmin. The pregnant Ratu Naga is just collateral damage.

Back to the diamond story. Chegu Bard was merely manipulating on the ignorance of Malaysians to the practise of private viewing and private sales in the high end diamond market practise. Rocky's old posting of 2011 has Apanama defending Rosmah and come complete with video statement from Jacob and Company.

Despite denial by a pentaksub and a vehement ANC, there are still dumb dumb out there still picking up on this issue as a psychological warfare attack on Rosmah.

Permata Negara

Because Rosmah is involved, Permata has seldom been wrongly accused. They accused Permata of monopolising government allocated budget for welfare when the allocations announced annually is meant for all and Permata's budget is quite normal in sum.

Permata was also criticised for focusing on only gifted children when all along program for kanak-kanak pintar is only one of many. They had program for the masses.

We are quite aware because our cousin is one of the trainer. She has a doctorate in children development from a UK university.

Despite all the cheap politics hurled at Rosmah, we are just glad that she ignored the shallow minded noises and persevere. The Star yesterday reported Permata given internationally acknowledgement for her work.

Friday, 27 May 2016

Permata to receive global award for its achievements

Rosmah greets Permata arts students in Istanbul after receiving the award. - Bernama

ISTANBUL: Permata, the brainchild of Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor (pic), is getting a 3G Children Welfare Award in recognition of its achievements.

The Prime Minister’s wife, as patron and staunch advocator for children’s welfare since the implementation of the programme in 2007, will receive the award on Permata's behalf during the first Global Good Governance Awards (3G Awards) 2016 ceremony at Hyatt Regency Hotel here.

Cambridge IF Analytica executive chairman Prof Humayon Dar said Permata, which focuses on efforts in promoting talents and other leadership qualities in children, attracted a large number of global polls, defeating other nominees in the same category.

He said the award was in recognition of the excellent work Permata had been doing for the past few years, and would highlight its success at the international level.

“There are few examples for this kind of success, and I must congratulate the Malaysian Government and Permata for taking up this important issue.

“We would like other countries to look at the success stories of Permata and emulate this model.

“I think this is a good service to humanity, coming from Malaysia to showcase how talent can be nurtured from an early age,” said Prof Humayon....

Read further the Bernama report in The Star.

Permata Negara was truly the diamond in the rough that have begin to shine. It is not about trying to bodek her or PM or trying to extract favour or dedak. We believed in the cause all our life.

Some political numbnuts out there will dispute the award. Maybe because it came from an Arab country and thus linked it as Arab business partners of 1MDB. And maybe dispute it because it is Rosmah. Let the numbnuts stay as numbnuts forever because we need to progress and move forward.

Rosmah puts it in the right perspective when she was reported by The Star saying, "I think this is something or a phenomena where this award can inspire us to work harder and think of a new sector or programme for children in Malaysia."

Hopefully she explore to take up on the plight of the Orang Asli in Semenanjong and other minority Bumiputeras.

Redha

A scene in the movie Redha

Sometimes back we put postings on the film Redha on autism and the Autism Awareness Week events. By now, the public should be aware that autism is another of one of many cause celebere of Permata.

Here is another piece of good news. We were told of this last weekend that the Redha team had just returned from Cannes Film Festival.

In case, there are still numbnuts at it cooking up cheap potshots at Rosmah, they should at least about the reason behind the making of Redha. Sundaily titled their review as Giving voice to autism. While, The Star highlighted about the plight of parents with austistc kids. It is true and we have had the experience of seeing friends' being in denial of their children's disabilities.

To address the problem is disabilities, it needs early detection and that is what is being advocated by Redha. By not being in denial, everyone - doctor, teachers and parents (at least the non-denial other half) can help children with autism or other disabilities.

With the effort of Permata, there is greater awareness towards the need to help children with learning disabilities so that these diamonds in the rough could play a role in society and perhaps glitter as achievers. By the way, a reknown artist had expressed intention to take up our Little Najib under his wing.

It seemed some filmmakers have problems appreciating the need to send some of our films to Cannes. It reminded us of film director, U Wei's comment as told by his friend about popularity and indirectly commercial success. Taik attracts the most flies but is still shit.

To be commercially successful internationally, do we want our filmmaker make movies on internationally popular same sex sexualism or anti-Islam themes?

Just because some of the film was no box office success in Malaysia, it should not negate the need try send this film abroad. One small time filmmaker we have regular neighbourhood teh tarik with could pick-up n his US-educated daughter's tip and foresee the need to pursue the market abroad.

So people ... there is such a thing as "private viewing" that make allow for diamonds in the rough to glitter.

Received several Whass App messages informing the passing away of Ghani Karim, the ex-guitarist for the 80s to early 90s band, Freedom. Berita Haria has this report here.

Ghani made his mark as guitarist for the JB originate rock band in the early 70s, Heavy Machine before joining Freedom:

NST Oct 23rd 1986

Freedom found in singer from Kuantan, Seha the ingredient for commercial success.

NST Sept 5 1987

Heavy Machine was never a commercial success but it had a somewhat cult following in JB as THE rock band in the 1970s. Growing up in JB, Heavy Machine was the talk of teenager, hippies and followers of what was described than as underground music genre in JB then.

Every other Johoreans whose into the rock music scene back then swore that they were the nearest best thing to Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Grand Fund Railroad, etc.

Due to it's proximity to Singapore, JB was quite up to date then with the latest music from the West. If memory has not failed us, Heavy Machine was known to have participated in a Woodstock-like rock festival in JB back then.

There was this urban legend that JB boys had traveled and buskered in Europe to be later identified and performed live as sessionist for reknown rock bands in the West. Whether it is true or not, only Kluang boy Dato Shake made it in France. He was no rocker.

That is the very reason that most of the popular rock band during the 80s to 90s Malay rock era including Search and many others came from JB.

So it was a shock to us to see Heavy Machine performing the theme song from SWAT on RTM TV in late 70s. It was a heresy and commercial cop out. Now that we are elderly, we understand the need to make a living

The passing of Ghani Karim is a reminder that father time has caught up on our generation. An icon during our growing up days has passed. It is time to move on and pass the torch to the next generation.

Thank you, Ghani Karim for giving color to our life and music for our young rebelion soul. And, later music to a young working adult seeking relief from stress.

Al Fatihah, may Allah bless you.

Still far from the non-conventional Donald Trump campaign

Dunno what made us use that as a title.

Perhaps, it was a video sent by a friend on a Mek Kelate talking openly of her sexuality. What was meant is less suicidal or brutal political campaign can be just as focused and effective.

Saw few pro-BN commentators so vehemently against the selection of Datin Mastura as BN candidate because she is in mourning or according to Islamic hukum Iddah, she could not go out of the house, attend any form of festivities and various other restriction. This Iddah restriction is strictly on the wives, but not on husband in the case for death of the wife.

The rather petty religious restriction became an issue since it is a non-conventional political practise in UMNO and conservative interpretation of Quran that has evolved into traditional practise of Islam and culture in Nusantara Melayu.

The issue attracted The Star to highlight the unorthodox campaign tactic by UMNO. Now, UMNO can say they are also giving PAS a walkover thus disputing Tun M claim that PAS giving UMNO a walkover:

Tuesday, 31 May 2016

Unorthodox tactic for BN Kuala Kangsar campaign

TOKYO: Barisan Nasional will adopt the “campaigning without the candidate” strategy for the Kuala Kangsar by-election, as Datin Mastura Mohd Yazid is observing iddah (the waiting period following the death of a Muslim woman’s husband).

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the strategy took into consideration the fatwa or edict that was a requirement according to Islamic law.

“We have consulted several Muslim scholars including those who are members of the National Fatwa Council, besides discussing with Perak Mufti (Tan Sri Harussani Zakaria) to clear the air among differing views on the matter,” he told the Malaysian media here.

Dr Ahmad Zahid said several methods had been sought to introduce Mastura to the voters, including broadcasting recordings of her speech at all district polling centres and targeted locations, besides non-verbal communication.

“Rest assured that we have well thought out this strategy to ensure that due respect is given to Islamic law and hope that the voters, comprising almost 60% Muslims, will understand the needs of the situation,” he said.

The Deputy Prime Minister said the campaign strategy was also made known to the non-Muslim Barisan component leaders to enable them to explain to the voters.

On the acceptance of Mastura by the voters, Dr Ahmad Zahid said the Barisan candidate had her own advantage as she had great experience in national politics.

“She mixed around with the electorate when her late husband (Datuk Wan Mohammad Khairil Anuar Wan Ahmad) was the Bukit Chandan assemblyman and later the Kuala Kangsar MP in 2013.

“I am confident she will be well-received compared to other candidates,” he said.

Dr Ahmad Zahid stressed that the current controversy over the Private Member’s Bill to amend the Syariah Court Bill (Criminal Jurisdiction) in Kelantan would not affect the support of non-Muslims.

“Before a Bill can be approved and enforced, it must go through seven stages, which includes getting the approval of the Parliament, Senate and the Conference of Rulers.

“All the processes would take a long time. I hope non-Muslims will not worry too much over the Bill,” he said.

In Kuala Kangsar, the Election Commission called upon all parties to “campaign like gentlemen”, reminding them to be respectful towards one another as it was the month of Ramadan.

Its secretary Datuk Abdul Ghani Salleh also warned campaigners, especially outsiders, against resorting to acts that could provoke the locals.

“This seat is vacant because of a tragic event, so please be mindful. Respect the families and the residents here.

“My advice is to not touch on sensitive issues and don’t slander others,” he said.

Voters can check their respective polling centres at www.spr.gov.my, contact 03-8892 7000 or 05-249 4113, or text SPRsemak to 15888.

Good advise though from Election Commission.

If anyone not notice yet, the general public is suffering from political fatigue. Not sure whether it is applicable in Malaya, but the recent Sarawak state election could be sending out signal that the public had enough with politics of hatred and slandering.

Other than the RBA or pro-Tun (including Ratu Naga) or other aggresive cyber groups, the majority of millennial voters are tired of politics selak kain (exposing personal issues). Not to be left unnoticed, the cyber political landscape or more accurately, battlefield have changed. We are not telling but observe it.

For the two by-elections in Malay majority areas, it will be conducted in the month of Ramadhan. Those involved with Kuala Besut by-election should remember how costly disaster it was for the then PAS VP, Dato Husam Musa-led PAS election machinery for sticking to aggressive campaign.

Vehemently disagree

The anonymous but interestingly revealing blog, Gelagat Anwar felt that it is a poor start to a psychological warfare campaign. This is a political campaign ma ...not psychological war for the hearts or mind.

OK fine, any political campaign will involve some level of psychological warfare.

Blogger Jas Salleh was even more critical as he called the political strategist rude and idiot (biadap dan bebal). He is entitled to his opinion and anger.

One pro-Tun blogger called on BN to withdraw. He claimed the choice of candidate shows BN lack any candidates.

Excuse the fella because his posting is representative of the koman (simpleton) grassroot UMNO thinking and seldom borders on shallow logic. However, he was made popular by pro-opposition news portal and believed to be paid by a soon to be former UMNO leader.

Picking up on the sentiment or common (or koman) opinion amongst UMNO grassroot, former UMNO leader, Dato Hamidah Osman felt it was a joke to put a candidate that cannot go around campaigning.

The former Wanita Information Chief and now supporter of an new emerging political faction of Tun M-Azmin seemed stuck in conventional thinking. Actually she is not. She is aware how influential and respectable the late Dato Wan Khairil, thus it is useful to the hard working and helpful widow.

Only reason that was speculated by this blog here is she is considering of taking her chances to run. Hope she does not because it will be the end to the end of her political career. Fight only the right battle, Midah.

Non-issue

It is not a joke for no show by candidates at elections. Manoharan ran for DAP while in prison. A former ADUN for Perupok, Bachok was hospitalise during the 2004 general election. In fact, UMNO used to claim to be able to win by just pasting UMNO posters and putting on songkok and selendang.

There have been many occasion of widows running for election at husband's former seat. In Sarawak recently, Irene Chang and Datin Janet Lau ran at their late husbands' seat at Bukit Assek and Pelawan, Sibu, respectively. PBS's, Dato Linda Tsen ran in Batu Sapi after death of husband in 2010.

And not to forget Datin Wan Azizah in Permatang Pauh and Langkah Kajang move to replace Anwar though he is still alive and well in Sg Buloh.

The difference is Mastura is under Iddah. but in actual fact, it is a non issue.

Iddah does not mean, the should be imprisoned in the house throughout 4 months and 10 days. Otherwise, who is to buy food at the market or send schooling kids to school or lessons and tuitions? More important, the wife has to still go to work to get money to keep the family going.

It reminded us when arwah father (May Allah bless his soul) passed away in 1984. Some smart alec sekolah ugama teacher (may Allah bless her too) tried to be smarter than the Mufti that interpreted the hukum Iddah to us.

Mourning in Islam is not as what was practised in the past. It may have it's own reason and wisdom but different times may warrant different practise. Actually, if one consider Mastura as continuing the good work of the husband or seeking employment from the voting public, personally, we see nothing wrong with her campaigning.

Anyway since it is politics, quite often it is not about right or wrong but what is perceived is being right and wrong. It needs some pandering to popular thinking or the loudest of thoughts. Still need to stick to conventional expectation of voters, specifically the conservative elders.

It's fine, it's political reality but there is always many ways to skin a cat.

Using videos and social media is one way.

If Ahmad Maslan is smart, which we reckon he should since he is a Deputy Minister of Finance and for many years the Information Chief of UMNO, he should explore to rent transponder from KL and use technology to the hilt.

Still finding it strange that it is "orang UMNO" that is making so much noise on the Iddah issue and not PAS. It is really misplaced political correctness.

Sometimes non-conventional ways can bomb out as happened to Sarah Palin. But still, aren't they bored of the same missionary position?

"Force is all conquering, but it's victories is short-lived." - Abraham Lincoln

This quote reminded us of 2013 in the height of the kalimah Allah issue [read Bigdog on Archbiship Murphy Pakiam Christmas remark here].

There was a case in court that reached to the Federal Court for a decision on whether the Roman Catholic Church could use Allah in their Malay language publication for God. For Sabah and Sarawak, Malay language is used for church service. Just like in Indonesia, Allah was the term used for God.

The Muslim in Semananjong were suspicious as they see it as an insidious intention to convert Muslim which is deemed as unconstitutional to preach to Muslims.

The first envoy from Vatican City, Apostolic Nuncio Marino had infuriated Muslim NGOs like Perkasa and Jati in July. [read back Bigdogdotcom here and here]

Wisma Putera issued a statement to express displeasure to foreign interference but diplomats do not straight away condemn or criticise the other party. Subsequently, the envoy was called to Wisma Putera and he apologised for his ignorance. [Read Bigdog here].

Not many realised, the acknowledgement of the Vatican City envoy on the danger for being confrontational in a sensitive multi-religous society open the way for a peaceful resolution. Suddenly everything quiet down.

Such is the power of diplomacy. Another quote below:

“Be a craftsman in speech that thou mayest be strong, for the strength of one is the tongue, and speech is mightier than all fighting.” - Ptanhotep

He is not Pocahonta in another language but an ancient Egyptian civil administrator that lived around late 25 BC to early 24 BC.

In September 2015 last year, the Chinese Ambassador was misquoted by certain pro-opposition news portal that reported China will act should anything happen to Chinese. There were plans by Perhimpunan Merah to stage demonstration at Petaling Street.

Viral also were translated documents claiming China has a policy to protect Chinese abroad. However, all along Chinese is meant as China citizens. A blonde Russian living in the Chinese side of the border is also Chinese.

Dato Nazri Aziz must be well aware of the few issues of Chinese flexing their millitary muscle. Their navy encroached our water in the South China Sea. The 9 dash line border dispute (Bigdog has a long series of postings on this. Search Paracels) and construction of an artificial island on a reef in the Spratly Islands.

Nazri criticised new Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dato Reezal Merican for making a statement that Wisma Putera will be calling on the Chinese Ambassador. He had the impression Reezal was trying to hog the limelight.

He may have known that Dato Hamzah Zainuddin was acting Minister in absence of Dato Anifah Aman. As to give face to the fresh new Deputy Minister, Anifah issued a statement in defense of Reezal.

Killing two birds with one stone, he also expressed disappointment for interference in the foreign affair by other Ministers. Note the diplomatic language to express disappointment instead of lambasting anyone and no names mentioned.

There is a lot on foreign policies, on-going negotiations, unwritten mutual understanding and diplomacy strategy not known to the public at large and even those in government. So comments by others on foreign affair can put the country in "a very slippery slope".

Maybe a little bit of humour could convey the importance of letting professional diplomat do their work. In the episode, "A victory for democrasy" in the classic British sitcom, Yes Prime Minister, it was mentioned twice:

James Hacker: Foreign affairs are a complicated business, aren't they?
Sir Humphrey Appleby: Yes, indeed, Prime Minister. That's why we leave it to the Foreign Office.

and

James Hacker: Foreign affairs are a complicated business.
Sir Humphrey Appleby: That's why we leave it to the Foreign Office.

One humouros part:

Sir Humphrey Appleby: Diplomacy is about surviving until the next century - politics is about surviving until Friday afternoon.

For more humour, watch the whole episode here.

In the latest episode, the incoming president of the Philippines Rodrigo Duterte gave a statement at a press conference in Davos City that his administration is making a fresh claim on Sabah and ministration recognises Sabah as Sulu sultanate territory that is being claimed by the Kiram clan. [Read on in MMO here].

Naturally, Sabahan will not agree. Speaking in the capacity as Chief Minister, Dato Musa Aman merely brushed it off as "irrelevant." Dato Najib asked Duterte to focus on more productive peace effort in Southern Phillipines. [Read FMT and The Diplomat].

The language used is not confrontational or insult. So did the one by PBS Pemuda Tanjung Batu Chief.

So to make a statement "Sabah is not to be his political football to be kicked around" is inappropriate. This is not political exchanges with DAP on alleged corruptions involving the purchase of a house of construction of highway or undersea tunnel.

Though it sounded to be more a personal opinion expressed on Twitter, a statement by a full Minister can be easily misconstrued as official government position.

Foreign affair expert, Dr Paridah Samad felt Duterte's statement is "a personal issue" so it is unnecessary to start a diplomatic row with Phillipines. It is better to allow the diplomatic channel to work their magic.

We need cooperation with Phillipines to deal with more pressing and priority matter of mutual benefit. Better to be friends with our neighbour in the light of heighten tension in the South China Sea. Furthermore, we need a peaceful sea lane for the new Look Easy Policy 2.0.

A friend sent the above quote.

It made us think and ponder. It is not something new and we have said the exact words without realising that it was said earlier by Paule Coelbe. Most likely, we heard it from someone else.

There is a twist to the above quotation.

Fanatics, those filled with prejudice and those that tend to presume things tend to be so. But those really with the right attitude to "agree to disagree" are those that are:

Usually, we hear what that needs to hear but we will stick to a position based on a certain premise. The Arabic word is Itiqamah. It is based on a certain guiding moral principle or public interest.

So far, we have been mostly right. Sometimes we could be wrong ...

Off course, they will be those that laugh off at flaws and mistakes. But then again, sometimes it is too early to conclude it as flaws and mistakes. They may have laughed it off too early.

You see, someone said:

And, the last best laugh could be the longest:

But then, why do we need to laugh and spew insult. Sometimes those thinking they are laughing last:

Talking about last, many especially woman in arguing with the man partner tend to:

... without realising that:

The more intelligent, rational thinking and knowledgeable tend to:

If there is really the need ...

Enough of explaining to the those that do not want to hear. It is fulfilling the ego to the be the one to laugh last and say the last word but it is far beyond us already.

At the end, what matter is inner peace. Peace with oneself, others and God. Given the circumstances, strongly believe the path taken remain the right one. The wrong is still wrong and the right is still right. We are at peace.

Those righteous ones out there, are you so sure? Are you at peace with yourself?

The Malays have a saying ... tepuk dada tanya selera. May your true conscience be your guide. You must be sure of yourself before you can have a conscience.

Wishing all Muslim the most spiritual and fulfilling Ramadhan.

In the posting loaded with quotations, an anonymous commentator quoted the just resigned chief Editor of NST, Mustapha Kamil or Mus to his colleague. That attracted a response containing wild allegations from a commentator by the nic Jalan Tangsi.

It was too speculative. Nevertheless, Mus's resignation is strange. Many have spoken to us with similar suspicion. His action is giving the wrong ideas of himself.

Not that resigning from a Chief Editor post is strange. Really no big deal as it is common for people to quit when for whatever reason, cannot stand being in the job or moving on for greener pasture or stop doing the same job.

Some of those that parted ways unceremoniously do bitch about their former boss, former colleagues or former employer. No big deal too.

But seldom do they go to the point of writing an open letter for leaving a salaried job. At his position, it is customary to take instruction from someone above, decision making has to go through many layers and "you can't always get whatcha want" as the various interests including company's need to be measured and balanced.

The fourth estate is not perfect but why the open letter?

Even in Wall Street Journal, no one should expect to do anything as he or she likes. Quoting WSJ because Mus sort of claimed he cannot stomach defending 1MDB since WSJ was nominated for Pulitzer Prize.

By the way, WSJ did not win the Pulitzer this year.

Maybe they did not win because it is still speculative and the subject of their investigation has yet to be affirmed by court case or event as happen to Pulitzer Prize winning story on Watergate Scandal by Woodward and Bernstein.

It is not convincing work. Tend to resemble the spinning of Clare Rewcastle Brown. A lot is based on unnamed sources.

Good thing WSJ did not win.

It would have been embarassing to win and found another gaping hole in their investigation.

Rocky Bru pointed out that the error is substantive that the Singapore authority issued a one para statement. Many more wrong info may have been allowed to pass. Some may argue the way they want to hear as this is the only wrong info by WSJ.

Not quiet. Truly professional international investigation agencies of repute will not divulge or leak any information out. They will not comment anything. The only info the public should get is in court when there are charges made.

So all the while WSJ may have got away with their so-called source from inside foreign investigators.

Since the court will be the only outlet for details to be divulged, that was very reason Wisma Putera was enraged and send out a strong disapproval when the Swiss AOG office first issued a statement.

The investigation was yet to be completed and no approach was made to 1MDB or local authorities. Not mentioned were blatant conflict of interests by the AOG.

The ANC and 1MDB detractors were reckless in their presumption and failed to read the many fine prints in WSJ and SR reports.

They never questioned when it is written that sources from investigators were not specifically mentioned as in which agency. They presumed that "linked to 1MDB" is 1MDB or PM Dato Najib when it is only a spin method to implicate without getting sued.

Hate to invoke their almost predictable rage so will not mentioned that local authorities and PAC could not pinpoint conclusively (yet, for safe measure) that Najib is a party to all these alleged wrongdoing that is being investigated.

But, the Swiss, and Singaporean have not found anything to fault Najib.

All these authorities, including FBI are concerned with offense done within their country or alleged acts reported to have adverse effect on their financial market, real estate market or economy at large.

Was the charges on BSI or eventually Goldman Sach official implicate Najib or the "operators" wrongdoings?

Saudi have stated clearly on a government official basis that the money that was sent to Najib's account were donation. If the Saudi lied to save Najib, what for?

It is not impossible for them to donate such amount. So prove it.

Proofs require something definitive. No has proven conclusively with evidence that Good Star Ltd belongs to Jho Loh at the time of transfer. As pointed out by PAC Chairman, even the BNM report is not conclusive.

Suppose it is a cover-up, please prove it. The burden of proof is on Tun M, Tony Pua and all the other accusers.

Tun M should use DAP's campaign platform at Sungai Besar and Kuala Kangsar by-elections to divulge the RM42 billion lost money. Stop asking questions and ask so and so agency to investigate till it comes out in their favour.

The whole story on 1MDB resembles the opposition's pre-GE 12 style of media propaganda. Break a news on Malaysiakini or The Malaysian Insider or The Edge, then other media quote the story from them.

These days the story on 1MDB or anything "linked to 1MDB" by media will quote the WSJ story.

At one time, WSJ would quote their source as the website Sarawak Report. Their role were elevated to be the story rather than the messenger or in other word, become the viral center when SR website was blocked by MCMC.

Many of happenings and events about to happen involving 1MDB and linked to 1MDB (including possibly more information on fund flow soon) have it's reasons and explanations, thus the reason there is no patience to wait for the due process of law and need to bring Najib down by political means including using lies and shallow propaganda.

As we posted earlier, no point explaining when many people out there are presumptive and reckless in their assessment. We will wait when the time is right to give the explanation. Our assurance it is not a last word or last laugh.

Our only concern will be for Mus. The calls we get suspiciously presumed he was renumerated to pull off such a stunt. His future endeavour and lifestyle will be under scrutiny.

We tend to think that he was talked into by a former NST colleague or his mentor but off course, due respect, he has his own mind. Even if it was out of his conscience, should have given it some time.

Interestingly, the last commentator asked commentator Jalan Tangsi for proof before making any accusation. The commentator sounded like a typical ANC or 1MDB detractor. Funny that they are interested in proofs.

Thought facts does not matter but only headline matters.

This is a familiar tune from our childhood when spending Ramadhan with arwah grandfather in Kampong. There was no TV or electricity back then. Surau was a bit of a distance. So the radio was the official timer for breaking fast.

We would gather around the radio to wait for Maghrib azan. The moment the instrumental version of this song is played before azan we would alert everyone, "Dah nak bang, yahi". Yahi is grandfather in Javanese.

The song title is Al Bint El Chalabiya (or Barefoot Girl). It is usually heard being played by RTM in the evening.

The version we heard then was from a British Orchestra led by Rob Goodwin.

Listen at 26:34. Familiar?

All through the years it was thought to be truly Arabic. Ron Goodwin was a popular composer and musician in Britain back in the 1950s. More on him in Wikipedia here.

Attending breaking fast at Utusan Malaysia. So, Selamat Berbuka.

Update 1:10 AM

Gift received. Ahha ... dedak!

Though not as expensive as the Magdhul dates from Seri Perdana in 2001 and certainly meet the low standard of categorisation of dedak by childish and shallow detractors, a thoughtful gift is always appreciated.

Orang memberi kita merasa.

There are those that cannot agree to disagree, in-denial of their inability to articulate and present their case convincingly, and lastly has ill intention written all over thus resort to the gutter politics of labeling and name calling anyone that do not succumb to their wishes.

They cannot accept others are not clouded by the adulation to a person as they are or do not subscribe to blind loyalty as they do, and more objective, rational and informed in their judgement.

Their overly critical and excessively cynical ways are regressive. PM was in the same tone tonight as he view media being a burden and stifle nation building if they adopt a "bad news sell" mentality.

Only the ill-mannered and uncultured demean others for not agreeing, not convince with their sweeping allegations, then went around to spread judgemental remarks.

It is only indicative of desperation, insecurity and inadequate self. To gain ground for their losing concern, they corruptly resort to lies, spin and shallow propaganda. So it is important that the media save the situation by helping to develop a thinking public.

Give the cheap labeling of dedak and yes, it is a far cry from the expensive Magdhul dates but at least, it is sincere appreciation. They can smile and smirk but things uttered is out of anger and vengeance.

Guess some immigrant still do not understand the refine Malay and Asian cultural gestures of appreciating and reciprocating the help of others. They became jealous and insecure when there are those more concern and generous with the welfare of others.

When you were giving away your own "dedak", we are aware your circle was devouring the chicken, and stealing the coop. And, we have to endure your concession agreements.

It's been long since we posted something that one Manager in Utusan Malaysia complained for lack of update lately. "Puasa ...", we replied. So here is a posting ... an opinionated and fairly lengthy one. Quite sure it can be read to pass the time in this fasting month.

As someone who believes in BN as the better choice of political party to lead government, we sincerely hope BN can win both the challenging Sungai Besar and Kuala Kangsar by-elections. Can hear the boo from some obselete corner but hear us out first.

There are many reasons why BN is still a better choice and should win both the by-elections. One not so inspiring reason would be BN as the lesser of the two evils. An opposition lawyer once told us and we quote, "BN can be bad but they (opposition) are worse."

However, the reason to see BN win both by-elections is motivated more by some positive development in it's campaign. Credit also due to PAS for undertaking a similar approach though they got sucked in by their animosity towards off-shoot PAN ... opps sorry, Amanah.

"Imposter" view

"Imposter" claiming to be ABITW

Someone told us of some joker claiming to be yours truly talking on the same platform with esteemed award winning journalists at some forum at the Institute of Integrity Malaysia. [Read about this "imposter" in Malaysia Aktif here].

The news report is bit cliche and tame but heard the discussion and subsequent Q&A was lively with Tan Sri Johan Jaafar talking much about media as the 4th estate to precede the view media need to be responsible and react fast to counter rumours.

Sources told us that this "imposter" gave a loaded answer to a concern by reporter on the various constraints in their pursuit for truth. He said, "Jika mahu berjuang (or fight for a cause), satu kaki di dalam penjara. Otherwise, stick to reporting entertainment story."

That is one similarity in view we have with the "imposter".

After 30 years of taking orders, it is ridiculous to suddenly have bout of conscience and put out an open letter. If other media are giving more coverage to the views of the opposition, there is nothing wrong in the current perspective of giving the government side to balance information given to the public.

So what is the motivation? Takut DAP sumbat masuk penjara bila berkuasa kot?

What we were told and it was an interesting view by the "imposter" is that he felt there is political fatigue among the public. The overload of information from the post-Mahathir freedom and internet will run it's course.

Interestingly the "imposter" viewed the public attitude has shifted. The public's reaction to the new found freedom were like kids obsessed with a new toy. They will eventually return to their old favourite toys after the thrill is gone.

There is disgust among the public for "politik selak kain" (air dirty laundry in public).

Being presidential

He felt the public will begin to respond to a more mature politics and political campaign. That is what BN and PAS is doing in Sungai Besar and Kuala Kangsar.

No more the quarrelsome exchanges, personal attack, delving into irrelevant subjects, etc. Maybe it is time for rational and intelligent discourse on ideology, ideas, policy, track records, etc.

The public should say enough is enough with hostile politics. Those still resorting to dirty politics and cheap tricks will do so at their own peril. The indicator was the recent Sarawak state election when the political provocateurs and agitator were not allowed in.

Even in the US, there is such a creature by the name Donald Trump or George W Bush in the past. But the mature politics should be the theme and guide. Whoever she is, the next US President should be elected from a campaign based on issues and not dangerous rhetorics.

There is no need for hostility in politics. Off course, politics is a quest for power and much is at stake. To gain votes, there is no need to put up provocative billboards to invoke anger. The same message could be conveyed and articulated in a more rationale and sombre manner but remain firm.

There is always the power of humour to do put downs except that those being putdown will not find it funny.

Wonder whether Malaysians can put up with such openness without getting emotional.

Trump have been getting advisers to correct his previous compulsion to shoot his mouth and utter the most politically incorrect words. If he remain so, he will be the candidate with the most incoherent policy preposition ever got elected as US President.

Despite saying all the wrong things, Trump did manage to get himself away from the pack to win the Republican primaries, but his odds to be President kept going up. So much for positive politics.

Hillary has begin to attack Trump. [See You Tube here]

Will the US have it's first woman President. That is a long journey from the 1840s, more than 110 years since the demand for woman suffrage in the US.

Nevertheless, slowly but surely, Malaysian will yearn to have more democratic practises after access to foreign news coverage from Astro and watching the US election process.

Interestingly before Ramadhan, we had tea with a PKR friend and blogger. He said he have not been following Malaysian politics much and spend more time following the US presidential election. More democratic.

It was something we were already exposed to in the late 70s.

Millennials

If the older generation are still in denial, still thinking cheap stunt like Rafizi's private jet issue and politics of personal vengeance to keep bringing down those he does not agree or like, they will be surprised.

In past postings, we have been critical of Gen Y or millennial generation. Unfortunately, what we were critical of then were the selfishness of latter days yuppies.

The millennials are being stereotyped as lazy, self centered, lack dedication, low on discipline and generally, poor work ethics. There is the complain that they are demanding, selfish, and realistic.

However, many failed to realised that globally, this generation is faced with problem of unemployment, rising cost of living and education, etc.

Millennials do not conform to the typical consumer behaviour of the past. They think differently and have value system far different then the previous generation. They do not "simply follow the way the world is at the time".

The Millennial need to be understood:

If you think this trend only apply to American or British, you are wrong. In a discussion two months ago with an MP and few young people, we were introduced to the mind of the millennials and their value system.

The millennials are not interested with current practise of local politics and more so, politics of hatred or blame game. They want to see politics that offer solution, opportunity and in the most and simplest description, fulus untuk makan.

The proposed plan for them and the country is more important than what latest dirt Rafizi can successfully spin.

If people think millennials are only interested with themselves, the young boys described to us the meaning of terms like indie, loser, and hipster. Indie is not a new musical pop group but independent in a similar but different concept of freedom to the hippie of the 70s.

Hippie were anti-establishment and critical of corporate America but entrepreneurship to the millennials, is the way to an indie way of life. They aspire to be the next Mark Zuckerburg or local Mudah.com.

Loser to a millennials has different interpretation. If one did good in career or business, but hardly has concern for community or environment or the least, their family and friends, they are considered losers.

Syed Saddiq may being seen as vocal young voice but some millennial see him as a glory seeker i.e. loser. [Read 10 traits of loser here]

Talk of being a hipster, the young kids found the 60-something MP as hipster for driving his own car without personal driver. And he liked a certain 50-something dressed in jeans and black Harley shirt.

In one morning, BFM was talking about young voters in Asean constitute 65% of voters. While it is only more than 50% in Malaysia, it could rise to 65%. Young voters equate with the millennials and an immediate political force locally and globally.

The young voters want to hear solution and not just rhetoric. They want to hear plans that change their life and help them attain their aspirations. And they are not interested with the past and what was done but the future and what can be done.

It all points to the necessity to practise clean, positive and rational politics. It will be costly if DAP and PKR refuse to adapt.

Hopefully the positive campaign strategy advocated by Dato Zahid Hamidi will work. If the reading is right, the more politically mature public should vote for Budiman and Datin Mas. They are the better choices to be voted in and have concrete plans. Bodoh whoever try to sabotage.

Nevertheless, this new politics set by UMNO and PAS is the positive direction towards a more mature, less adversarial politics.

This is the real new politics. Not the one promoted by Dato Saifuddin Abdullah. The locally schooled former Deputy Minister was out of touch and talking of old ideas.

It is far from the strongman politics or the idea of beneficial dictator much revered by the proTun. It is not so much Zahid. That is just another DAP game to whack the second man game which was played in the past on Najib.

What will be the fate of more mature and rational politics today? As we see, it boils down to transport machinery of political parties.

Sorry but we do not quite agree with the view of Ilham Centre that undecided is plus or minus 25% and is the decider. Sample size of the survey is too small and insufficient weightage.

University professors too have been appearing like mushroom after a rainfall to give political analysis. Money must be good in political analysis. Unfortunately, they know shit about the critical political operations.

After all the ceramah, door to door visiting, distribution of pamphlets, viral videos and images, and hanging of flags, posters and banners, the final delivery of votes relies on transport.

A mature and rationale politics should not rely on transport provided by political parties to ferry voters to the polling station. Voters should go to the poll by their own sense of duty as citizen.

But that is not the case in Malaysia. Without transport to ferry voters, especially in the rural and remote areas, the needed votes may not be obtained.

If there is a traffic jam or rain in the evening, some voters may not come out to vote.

Transport can be the modus operandi to sabotage campaign internally. The one with the list of white voters may decide not to share with the transport people.

The Wanita JR supposed to identify the homes of white voters and do that last minute whispering may decide not to go togther with the drivers.

The four term former state assemblyman for Manong, Dato Ramli Zahari's invisible hands could be at work.

In Sungai Besar, it is heard the meeting between top Division official and the transport team was done at 4 AM in the early hours of the morning.

Wonder whether there were sufficient transport in the early hours of the polls.

Opposing parties whose got their white voters out may jam the pekan or kampong road to prevent the other side supporters from going to the poll.

We have not even talked about how underworld are used to coerce voters to come out and monitor their trip to the polls.

Anyway these are the tamarind and salt of third world politics. It is quite a lot to expect the operational side of politics mature.

Somehow they still think spending wasteful money to have banners, flags and posters at every inch will make voters decide in their favour.

It is as though educated voters really gives a damn to all these psychologically play to influence their choice.

Just having a good rational debate and discourse should be a start. [Read previous posting here]. Yhe rest should follow suit.

Off course, the contesting political parties should not pamper the voters too much. It needs political will on their side to stick to the principle of democrasy. More so during times of low turnout like today.

Blog Snapshot published EC official turnout for 12:00 PM at 45% and 46% for Sungai Besar and Kuala Kangsar, respectively.

Unofficially, it is 53% and 54% for 1:00 PM Sungai Besar and uala Kangsar, respectively.

"Slow ...", the blogger commented.

Maybe it is puasa month.

People tend to wake up late on weekend after sleeping late into the night and disrupted by early morning sahur.

A quick drive around Manong, Kuala Kangsar saw a disheartened campaigners by the road since voters could hardly be seen trickling into the polling centres.

This was the area Tun Dr Mahathir appeared yesterday.

The poor turnout had been expected. On Tuesday, Tony Pua was reported by The Star to predict law turnout will determine the outcome.

Though he was talking about returning voters living outside Sungai Besar and Kuala Kangsar, he may have sensed that Chinese turnout in Sungai Besar might low.

One reason is that it makes no differentce as to who will win. There is no change in government.

Maybe Chinese are reviewing their position on DAP in view of unfavourable news emanating on Lim Guan Eng in Penang.

They are not ready to vote BN so would rather hold back their card first. If this is the reason, it is a continuation of a trend from Sarawak.

Tony Pua was trying to do a reverse psychology.

Talking about psychology and rational and mature politics, certain parties are still at it with their cheap last minute slander game and destroy their own billboard to gain sympathy.

Rafizi accused Kuala Kangsar candidate of receiving RM500,000 donation when the bank-in slip revealed was for Datin Masura Yazid's legal practise.

Like we said earlier, in small steps. Some people just can't changed. It is like a reported incident of a PAS campaign worker whacking the head of a BN campaign worker over putting up flags.

By the look of it, the turnout would be below 80% or at best 70%. The result could be a toss up between the one with the working machinery, either UMNO or PAS.

Will Sarawak Chinese care about 1MDB or CM?

Sunset at Kuching's riverside

This is one "sedap" laksa breakfast

Will it be in KL ...

More than 2 weeks in Sarawak

Pain in the arse

Honeymoon over for the Lims

BSI noose tightening already?

Where everybody thinks they can't win

Hands off

Rosmah's diamond in the rough

Al Fatihah ... the passing of an era

Sometimes non-missionary is more tight and smooth

Slippery slope ahead: Diplomats only to speak

Of explaining, last words and last laugh, finally inner peace

Ramadhan Kareem

So much for Pulitzer nomination

MUSICAL INTERLUDE: Barefoot girl

All indications for a more mature and rational politics to come

It all boils down to transport