Hoping for settlement between Saudi and Iran

December 27, 2016, 9:44 pm

≫ Next: Former Director, wife and former Ministry Adviser charged!

≪ Previous: Malaysia's parting Christmas gift for Palestinian

Thirty two men, mostly Saudi Arabia’s Shiite minority were arrested in 2013 and tried in Riyadh in February for spying on behalf of Iran.

In early December, the court sentenced 15 men to death, 15 others received prison terms of six months to 25 years, and two were acquitted. Two were foreigners; one Iranian received a prison term and one Afghan was acquitted. [Read NYT here]

There were war of words as a result of the death incidents in Mina involving Iranians in during the Haj season of 2015. Each calling the other kafir.

By January, Saudi broke off diplomatic relation with Iran on January 4th following the ramshaking of their diplomatic missions in Tehran and Mashhad by protestors. This year Iran stopped sending pilgrims for Haj.

Bilal Y Saab wrote in Newsweek on October 18th [read here] predicting an Iran-Saudi conflict as inevitable. Averting war is a priority for the next US President.

Both countries have been embarking in proxy conflicts in Syria, Yemen, Lebanon, and Iraq, as well as Central Asia and Pakistan.

NY Times dated November 19 [read here] quoted F. Gregory Gause III, an international relations scholar at Texas A & M University saying proxy conflict killed 5 million in Central Africa but in the Middle East, it just started.

According to Robert Swift in The Media Line [read here], Iran looks dominant in the proxy war. There are suggestions for US to lean over to Iran [read here].

The Saudi have been wanting for a US presence in the region and acknowledged its leadership over the smaller Arab countries. While, Iran is not comfortable with their continued presence.

The direction of US policy on the Iran-Saudi conflict is uncertain and will await Trump to resume office on January 20th.

Trump's statement during campaign have caused concern in Iran. Relationship between US and Saudi are cooler and have been based more on common interest than common values. [Read Fair Observor newsletter here]

The common view is the hostilities between the two countries is rooted in the differences between the sunni and syiah.

There are views that felt it started with the Iranian Revolution of 1979. Iran accused Saudi as representing US interest rather than Islam. While Saudi were concerned with Iran exporting its syiah ideology beyond the Persian Gulf [read Wikipedia here].

However, Ibrahim Fraihat of Foreign Affairs [read here] view it is the Arab Spring of 2011 that changed the power structure of the Middle East. Both countries were asserting their dominance in the region.

In his article dated May 30th, Ibrahim wrote:

Beyond avoiding war, Saudi Arabia and Iran have every reason to try to get along. Indeed, their futures are inextricably linked. They are the two strongest powers within the Muslim world, and both have a hand in shaping the trajectory of the Middle East.

Neither can succeed unilaterally—they both need one another to accomplish their goals, whether they like it or not. This is due to the high level of interdependence between the two neighbors, especially in the areas of the security of the Gulf and the economic interdependence in the region.

Both countries do say that they want to avoid conflict with one another and that they prefer to have good, neighborly relations. In January, Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Crown Prince and Minister of Defense, Muhammad bin Salman, said that anyone pushing for war between Iran and Saudi Arabia “is not in their right mind. Because a war between Saudi Arabia and Iran is the beginning of a major catastrophe in the region…. For sure we will not allow any such thing.”

Speaking about Iranian–Saudi relations in February, Iran’s foreign minister, Javad Zarif, advocated for changing “our paradigm” and assured his Saudi “brothers” that Iran is “prepared to work with Saudi Arabia.”

The following month, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said, “If Iran changes its way and its policies, nothing would prevent turning a page and building the best relationship based on good neighborliness, with no meddling in the affairs of others.”

With both countries harboring deep mistrust of the other, direct dialogue is necessary to provide opportunities for the parties to better understand each other and begin to reduce their mutual suspicions. To be sure, that is easier said than done.

With Russia making their presence in Syria, it is to the American interest that war do not break out between the two. But can it be averted?

Lets wish the catastrophe is averted and both countries could see each other over a negotiating table in 2017.

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Former Director, wife and former Ministry Adviser charged!

December 28, 2016, 10:21 pm

≫ Next: What moved the superpowers to vote against Israel?

≪ Previous: Hoping for settlement between Saudi and Iran

Tun Daim recently complained the Sabah Water Department case took too long to charge.

D-Day has arrive. Two senior officers and wife charged today:

KOTA KINABALU: A former Sabah Water Department director and his wife and a State Finance Ministry technical and engineering advisor pleaded not guilty here today to a total of 37 counts of misappropriating infrastructure funds amounting to RM61.48 million in cash and bank savings as well as unlawfully possessing luxury products.

The 54-year-old former director Ag Mohd Tahir Mohd Talib pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court to 12 counts of misappropriating infrastructure funds amounting to RM56.9 million and unlawfully possessing various branded wrist watches and vehicles.

He also pleaded not guilty with his wife, Fauziah Piut, 51, to two counts of unlawfully possessing jewellery, while Fauziah was charged with 19 more offences of unlawfully possessing jewellery and luxury bags as well as a total of RM2.2 million in various bank accounts.

The technical and engineering advisor, Lim Lam Peng, 62, suspended from his post, claimed trial to three counts of possessing a total of RM2.38 million in cash and unlawfully possessing a vehicle. — Bernama

Lim Lam Peng was previously a former Deputy Director.

Other suspect missing is the Teo Chee Keong, the former Deputy Director to Ag Mohd Tahir and successor to Lim Lam Peng, Some 14 officers also arrested for investigation. Officers being investigated were suspended.

Read also NST and The Star report here and here, respectively. For a background of story, read in Wikipedia here.

The arrest was made in late October and charged before year end. Two months is quite fast, when considering investigation reportedly involved 12 tonnes of document. It is heard 60-70 investigators are involved.

Believed more to be charged to come but focus should be to await the "ultimate" hand behind. It is an open secret to Sabahans.

In the meantime, read our past posting below on the arrest earlier:

Why Shafie and PPBM implicate Anifah Aman? (Part 1)
Why Shafie and PPBM implicate Anifah Aman? (Part 2)
Finger pointing could not deflect KKLW under Shafie
Sabah Watergate: Latest arrest is former Deputy Director Sabah Water
Shafie building up his political script

Are the charged officers and wife willing to be fall guy for a politician?

Just like defending Tun Dr Mahathir for his past sins and current flop. an advise to heed is: it is not worthy! It is seldom appreciated.

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What moved the superpowers to vote against Israel?

December 30, 2016, 1:11 am

≫ Next: Is a golf corruption investigation coming soon?

≪ Previous: Former Director, wife and former Ministry Adviser charged!

The United Nation Securities Council resolution on the settlement issue has implication on the two-state solution and ending the occupation which Israel had gave agreed but showed no commitment to follow.

In his official statement, Prime Minister Netanyahu said: “Israel rejects this shameful anti-Israel resolution at the UN and will not abide by its terms.”

Though denied by Israeli Foreign Ministry officials, The Independent of UK reported [read here] Israel temporarily limit working ties with 12 of the 14 members UNSC. Ambassadors were summoned to the foreign Ministry in Jerusalem last Sunday.

Israel's reaction shows how significant the resolution is. They are willing to be isolated by the world.

Few are aware how Malaysia and other members that initiated this resolution effectively convince the pro-Israeli superpowers ad other members of the UNSC.

The Vox.com highlighted the essence of the resolution:

The resolution demands that Israel “immediately and completely cease all settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem,” and declares that the establishment of settlements by Israel has “no legal validity and constitutes a flagrant violation under international law.”

This is far stronger language than the United States has ever officially used to describe Israeli settlement activity before. Although the standard US position has for three decades been that such settlements, which are built on land intended to be part of a future Palestinian state, are “obstacles to peace,” the United States has always stopped short of describing them as “illegal” under international law.

The resolution condemns "all measures aimed at altering the demographic composition, character and status of the Palestinian Territory occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem."

It lists among those measures "the construction and expansion of settlements, transfer of Israeli settlers, confiscation of land, demolition of homes and displacement of Palestinian civilians, in violation of international humanitarian law and relevant resolutions."

The text also calls on all member states “to distinguish, in their relevant dealings, between the territory of the State of Israel and the territories occupied since 1967” — language that, as the Times of Israel’s Eric Cortellessa explains, “Israel fears will lead to a surge in boycott and sanctions efforts.”

The humanitarian side or seldom described as human rights may have been the convincing argument that moved many western countries to support or the least was to abstain from the resolution.

There must be awareness among Malaysians that universally acceptable issues like human rights, children, environment, sustainable development, and others are matters close to the heart of the world today. The common factors help bring support to our cause.

It was sufficient enough for John Kerry to say:

“Regrettably, some seem to believe that the US friendship means the US must accept any policy, regardless of our own interests, our own positions, our own words, our own principles,” Kerry said, adding, “Friends need to tell each other the hard truths, and friendships require mutual respect.”

The whole analysis in Vox.com here.

CNN analysis last Tuesday explained the implication:

What the UNSC resolution means for the US and Israel

By Oren Liebermann, CNN
Updated 1946 GMT (0346 HKT) December 27, 2016

Jerusalem (CNN) The United Nations Security Council on Friday passed a resolution condemning Israel's settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. The United States abstained on the resolution, allowing it to pass, rather than vetoing it -- as it usually does with resolutions it sees as overly critical of Israel.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu summoned the US ambassador and launched a scathing attack Sunday on the Obama administration.

Here are nine questions about the vote at the UN.

1. What are the immediate effects of the UNSC resolution?

The resolution may have no immediate practical effects on Israel, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, or the peace process. That's because the resolution is non-binding, effectively creating guidelines and recommendations. The resolution would require follow-up action at the United Nations for it to have an immediate effect.

Israel is concerned about exactly that type of action. Specifically, Israel is worried about a resolution that would set conditions for negotiations. Such a resolution would issue parameters for some of the most sensitive issues in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, including borders, the status of Jerusalem as a contested capital, Palestinian refugees, and a time-limit for negotiations.

An international peace conference in Paris scheduled for January 15 could be the forum for discussing such a resolution. That would give the international community time to introduce the resolution at the United Nations Security Council before the end of President Barack Obama's time in office. Israel has vowed not to attend the conference. The Palestinians say they will attend.

2. What are the long-term effects?

The biggest blow is to Israel's settlement enterprise in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. This resolution has left little room for negotiation about the legality of the settlements, stating that Israel's settlements have "no legal validity and constitutes a flagrant violation under international law."

RELATED: US abstains as UN demands end to Israeli settlements

When it comes to borders, the resolution does leave an opening for negotiations, saying there will be no changes to the June 4, 1967 "other than those agreed by the parties through negotiations."

The resolution also calls on countries to recognize a difference between Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories when dealing with Israel. That could lead to sanctions against products from Israeli settlements in the West Bank.
Palestinian leaders say they will wait to see if Israel abides by the resolution. If not, they can pursue cases against Israeli leaders at the International Criminal Court (ICC) under the Geneva Convention. The ICC is already conducting an ongoing investigation into Israeli actions in the Palestinian territories.

3. Will President-elect Donald Trump be able to repeal the resolution?

Theoretically, yes, the incoming administration could repeal this resolution. Trump would have to introduce a new resolution that revokes this one entirely. Then he would need at least nine countries to vote for it and ensure that none of the Security Council's other permanent members -- Russia, UK, France, and China -- vetoed it.

Realistically, that is incredibly unlikely to happen. There is a broad international consensus that settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem are illegal and that they constitute an obstacle to peace. It is extremely unlikely that Trump would be able to find eight other nations on the Security Council willing to support revoking the new resolution. Even if he did, a permanent member veto is likely.

4. Will the US and Israel take diplomatic action against the UN?

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-South Carolina, has threatened to cut US money to the United Nations over this resolution. The US currently provides 22% of the UN's budget.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced that Israel will cut funding to five different UN organizations, totaling nearly $8 million. Netanyahu said Israel would reevaluate its relationships with UN representatives in Israel.

5. What about Israel's diplomatic actions against the countries that voted for this resolution? What are the effects of those?

On Christmas Day, one day after the Security Council vote, Israel summoned the ambassadors of the United States and 10 of the countries that voted for the resolution to express his disappointment about the vote. Netanyahu followed that up by limiting working ties and high-level visits with the embassies of those countries who voted for the resolution and instructing his ministers to limit travel to those countries.

More than anything else, the intent of these diplomatic steps was to make a statement about how angry Netanyahu was about the vote. The decision to suspend working ties with embassies, even if there is no date for resuming those ties, is largely symbolic and has little practical effect on the relations between the nations. It does not affect trade, security cooperation, or other aspects of the relations.

Notably, Netanyahu did not suspend working ties with the American embassy, even though most of his anger was directly at President Barack Obama.

6. Is this the first UNSC resolution regarding settlements?

No, but it is the first resolution directly addressing Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since 1980. Resolution 465, passed on March 1, 1980, condemned "the decision of the Government of Israel to officially support Israeli settlement in the Palestinian and other Arab territories occupied since 1967."

Other Security Council resolutions relating to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict have been passed, but none addressed settlements.

7. Is this the first time an American president has taken action on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in his final days in office?

No. In fact, it's not all that uncommon. In 1988, Ronald Reagan began dialogue with the PLO before the end of his second term. In 2000, Bill Clinton laid out his vision for peace, now known as the "Clinton Parameters." And in 2008, George W. Bush's envoy voted in favor of Security Council resolution 1850, which called for a renewal of the peace process.

8. Is this the first time an American president has declined to use his veto at the Security Council?

No, other presidents have either declined to use their veto power or voted in favor of Security Council resolutions related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. But it is the first time President Barack Obama has declined to use his veto. Obama has exercised the veto power of the United States at the Security Council on every other resolution relating to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

RELATED: Israel summons US ambassador as Netanyahu lashes out at Obama

Most notably, he vetoed a 2011 Security Council resolution that was critical of settlements. At the time, US Ambassador to the UN Susan Rice said, "We reject in the strongest terms the legitimacy of continued Israeli settlement activity." But, she added, "This draft resolution risks hardening the positions of both sides. It could encourage the parties to stay out of negotiations."

In abstaining from this vote and allowing the resolution to pass, current US Ambassador to the UN Samantha Power said, "It is precisely our commitment to Israel's security that makes the United States believe that we cannot stand in the way of this resolution as we seek to preserve a chance of attaining our longstanding objective: two states living side-by-side in peace and security."

9. So why all the Israeli criticism pointed at President Barack Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry?

Because this is the first Security Council resolution in more than 35 years to deal with Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. The resolution lays out guidelines for dealing with the settlements, which is something no US President has done at the Security Council since 1980.

No Trump ccan stop.

Tomorrow will be Malaysia's last day on the UNSC. We got voted in by gaining the acceptance and votes of 183 out 191 member-countries of the United Nation.

After two years, Malaysia gained international recognition and respect for much of the work done. In turn, the friendship developed will benefit the country in many ways.

As written before in previous postings, more is gained through diplomacy than some big "old" foul mouth. What has decades of bad mouth helped the Palestinians?I n fact, old foul mouth is now in-cohoot with Soros.

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Is a golf corruption investigation coming soon?

January 1, 2017, 5:45 pm

≫ Next: Felda: "Not again ... please"

≪ Previous: What moved the superpowers to vote against Israel?

Have you ever heard a Malay cynical meaning for the acronym G.O.L.F.?

It means Golongan Orang Lemah Fikiran or group of people with weakness in thinking. It was making fun on the tendency of golfers to be lost in their conversation on golf with other golfers in the presence of the incomprehensible non-golfers.

However, this joke on the supposedly social elite is no more funny. The weakness being made fun off is no more of their social misfit but it has turned serious to become a moral weakness.

The game of golf is a social sports. It is useful for widening social network or diplomacy as Dato Najib did in a round of golf with US President Obama over Christmas vacation couple of years ago.

Golf, especially those sponsored overseas golf trip, have become the avenue to lobby for contracts and conduit for corruption!

In an interview with Mingguan Malaysia [read here], MACC Commissioner, Dato Dzulkifli Ahmad touched on this issue. There are many golf courses in the country thus why the need to make trips abroad?

It is an open secret that government officers or politicians get entertained for couple rounds of golf and woman abroad by businessmen.

Golf seemed to be a harmless sport but the seduction of golf by its own (without the woman) is known among contractors.

One story told by a former office-bearer of Persatuan Kontraktor Bumiputera of how a pious former boss of Pusat Khidmat Kontraktor (PKK) started out clean but his passion for the sports was the opening "corrupt" contractors were looking for.

From initially getting free balls, he begin to indulge in innocent bets. It did not take long that he acquired the bad habit to seek contractors to sponsor overseas golfing trip. Within 6 months, it was all downhill as he begin to indulge in woman and corruption.

In the Utusan today, MACC Deputy Commissioner (Operation), Datuk Azam Baki begn to speak of this problem which means it has reached epidemic preportion.

Presiden, the Association of Former MACC Officers, Datuk Razak Idris said 99% of government officers making overseas golf trips did not seek permission from their superior for such trips. It is part of the standing order for government officers to do so for any overseas trips.

With the coverage given to the golf issue and encouraging support expressed by Majlis Perundingan Melayu and CUEPECS, could it be a prelude to another major corruption investigation on overseas golf by civil servants?

It is high time. Long overdue.

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Felda: "Not again ... please"

January 3, 2017, 9:59 pm

≫ Next: "Ananda" again? Market rigging this time?

≪ Previous: Is a golf corruption investigation coming soon?

Prior to 13th General Election, Felda was a major political issue and the listing of FGV was negatively potrayed by opposition.

The 14th General Election is coming soon. Initially, it was predicted to be early 2017, then October 2017 and lately, there are some predicting it to be 2018.

Felda will always be a political issue because there are 57 Parliamentary seats with Felda in the constituencies. Plus state assembly seats, it could be as many as 100 seats.

The likely issue this time is Felda (through Felda Investment Company (FIC)) purchase of PT Eagle High Plantation Tbk (EHP) in Indonesia.

FGV had aborted the offer to buy 37% of EHP.

The deal was also heard rejected by FIC and passed over to Felda, the statutory body before it was finally passed back to FIC.

FIC recently announced to buy the same block at US$505.4 million, which is lower than the first offer to FGV at US$680 million and subsequent offer at 15% discount lower.

This deal was made controversial because CIMB, this time by the Chairman Dato Nazir Abdul Razak, kept calling the offer price as too high a premium.

Opposition politicians are riding on their call.

The not so knowledgeable and purely political rhetorics Dato Ezam Md Nor is hoping Felda can be an issue for him to relaunched his failed political career.

When politicians join in the act, the actual investment and corporate governance issues will be lost.

The usual shallow brickbat will gain the headline.

When Felda issue for GE 14 is played out, past issues surrounding the listing of FGV in 2012 will be revived.

Kinibiz did a 4-part series in March 2013, during the heat of campaign - Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, and Part 4. How much predicted turned out true?

Back then, the video below was distributed to settlers to explain the issue:

It is good to recall back the explanations and remind those involved with Felda of the promises they made to settlers and other stakeholders of the globalisation plan to list FGV.

By 2015, FGV was seen by settlers and market as not meeting its expectation [read The Star May 2015 here].

The biggest oil palm company in the world was removed from the Bursa Malaysia's FTSE index list in early June,

With negative sentiment against FGV revived, the mid-June 2015 announcement to buy the EHP stake can only be expected not to be well received.

The concern on accepting the EHP was the overvaluation and debt level of FGV and EHP. It was also spin as a bailout for Peter Sondakh [read LSS here].

By July 2015, it was called off.

There was attempt to revise the price but by October 2015, new CEO Dato Zakaria Arshad made it clear FGV will not be on an acquisition trail but to focus on its core business [read The Edge here].

The operation rationalisation strategy was laid out recently on January 2, 2017 [read NST here].

However, Felda Group have not forgotten EHP. Non-listed FIC announced they have agreed to buy the EHP stake offered on Christmas Eve [read here].

Felda defended the back-door purchase [read FAQ here]. It is a similar argument to Dato Emir Mavani defense of FGV purchase at a higher price before he was replaced [hear the Bloomberg interview here].

One concern with the FIC purchase is it seemed to have deviated from the original purpose of its establishment. It is basically the re-establishment a second Felda Holding that was listed as FGV.

Taken from their website here:

FIC is responsible to undertake business activities, which are non-plantation related and at present, it is principally involved in the areas of property development; hospitality; and other strategic investments. The main objective of FIC is to focus on strategic businesses via acquisitions or collaborations that may benefit the company and its stakeholders in the long run.

Perhaps EHP could be considered a strategic investment. But where do FIC derived its funding to undertake past and the current M&A exercises?

It is the insatiable appetite for M&A by FGV that broke the camel's back for EPF. They announced selling off all their holding in FGV on December 22nd. [Read NST and The Star here and here]

Be it FGV or Felda or FGV or Koperasi Felda, all are intertwined to each other. One bad news will affect others.

Unless settlers matters urgently addressed, fragile sentiment heard at the ground among second, and third generation settlers could worsen.

Those are voters. A sigh can be heard from afar, "Not again ... please."

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"Ananda" again? Market rigging this time?

January 5, 2017, 4:44 pm

≫ Next: MACC: Prawn behind stone unturned?

≪ Previous: Felda: "Not again ... please"

By chance, this blog have been picking on Tatparanandam Ananda Krishnan.

The earliest remembered must be a legitimate issue on Astro in early 2014 here. By February 2017, the exclusivity given to Mahathir's crony or sometimes believed to be proxy should end.

But it is 20 year too late. They are too entrenched and can afford to be arrogant.

By chance, this blogger stumbled on a LSS's FB posting on Usaha Tegas on a could be scam to develop the Turf Club along Jalan Ampang into KLCC.

It was reproduced in this August 2016 posting here to ponder on what motivated Mahathir's to attack on Dato Najib.

The belief that Ananda is Mahathir's proxy is strengthened by the recent revelation here from Tun Daim's lead on a lease and "lesap" scam of Ananda to get prime land for cheap at Bukit Kiara.

"I am just doing my job", he told Sydney Morning Herald in 2011 here.

There is a warrant of arrest against Ananda in India [read here and here] which the authorities there bungled on the procedure. There is the suspicion it is beyond the issue of business but security.

This posing is about another scam that tantamount to illegally and outrightly intended to rig the stock market through a press statement by another Ananda.

This time it involves his nephew, Robbie Hari Krishnan Tatparanandam.

Yes, it is not Ananda himself but since it is known that his only son is more reclusive than he is, Robbie could be his heir apparent.

Ven Ajahn Siripanyo is a monk. He was reported saying he is not interested to join his father's business. Maybe he realised his wealth is not vegetarian.

Both of Ananda's two daughters too are not interested in taking over his business.

Another Ananda's market rigging?

Young Robbie called for a press conference recently and told the press that his company, Ace Market-listed MQ Technology Berhad (MQtech) is in talk to venture into gambling venture in Cambodia.

He later denied [read CalvinAyre.com here], but on he allegedly leaked it to The Star in this December 10th report here, and the press conference was reported crystal clear in a news flash on December 13th [read here] and a full report on December 14th, below:

Wednesday, 14 December 2016

MQTech discussing casino plans with NagaCorp

by Afiq Isa

KUALA LUMPUR: Ace Market-listed MQ Technology Bhd (MQTech) is in talks with gaming giant NagaCorp Ltd over plans to build a casino in its new integrated resort and entertainment project in Cambodia.

MQTech executive director Robbie Hari Krishnan Tatparanandam told a press conference here that the project was estimated to cost US$51.1mil (RM225.86mil).

“We are talking to NagaCorp regarding this and we are working with them. This project will be the very first integrated theme park resort and casino project in Cambodia,” he said.

NagaCorp Ltd, which is the largest casino operator in Cambodia, was awarded a 41-year monopoly to operate casinos within a 200-km radius from the Pnomh Penh city centre. MQTech’s proposed project site is about 103km from the capital.

Krishnan was appointed to MQTech’s board of directors last week.

It is undeniable. Read on here.

Market operators is known to leak info for business reporter to write and not to mention, spread rumours through known "speaker kampong" of Bursa Malaysia to boost positive sentiment and get followers for them to rig the share prices of a particular stock.

But, never ever have it done through a formal press conference with audio and video tapes all over.

There was an enquiry made by Bursa on December 14th itself. Look up it Bursa's website under disclosure. The company denied but suddenly, as posted by i3 investor.com website on December 14th:

The Executive Director of MQ Technology Bhd, Teh Eng Huat, has also resigned suddenly. Teh Eng Huat was among the few shareholders subscribed to MQ Technology Bhd Right Issues recently, with well undersubscription, resulted in majority close to 75% of the MQTech shares held under less than 5 persons name, potentially breached mandatory general offer, or take over code.

MQ Technology Bhd plunge 31%, warrant crash 58.33% in a single day. Bursa Malaysia have not issue any Unusual Market Activity (UMA).

It looks to be a classic pump and dump securities fraud for Teh Eng Huat to sell his shares.

It is confirmed in their December 16th posting here that Teh sold his shares. And young Robbie is part of this securities fraud.

An open letter to The Star was published by i3 investor.com the next day [read here] to accuse The Star as an accomplice. The letter was never published by The Star [see here]. Both The Star and Bursa was seen to be unusually quiet [read here] to the obvious

The Cambodian authorities denied any such application and it is a hoax [read here and here].

Apparently, Cambodian government is planning to double gaming tax from an effective 2% to 4-5% [read here]. And, one of Nagacorp shareholders is selling out [read here]. Nagacorp is faced with a surprise back taxes upon an audit [read here].

Nagacorp have been talking for a while of various expansion plans and bid for new casino licences. So it looks like the false and positive misleading news to pump and dump could be well planned to involve Nagacorp too.

The noise made apparently did not instill fear in Teh Eng Huat as he sold more shares on Christmas Eve on December 23rd. Another substantial shareholder, Goh Boon Soo @ Goh Yang Eng was in on it too! [read i3 investor.com here].

This is a major fraud worthy to be dubbed as fraudster of the year by i3 investor.com here.

SC quiet accomplice?

And yakety yak ... SC can only say warn MQ Tech and not hesitate to take action. So mellow and scripted reporting by accomplice The Star [read here]! It is the same reporting by MMO here so it is SC saying so.

It comes back to our July 2016 posting here which made the allegation that even Dato Ranjit Singh too seemed as incompetent as the Malaysian version of crooked Hillary, Tan Sri Zarinah Anwar. Now she is appointed on the Board of PNB... sigh.

SC failed to play their role as watchdog in the 1MDB debacle. They are as much a possible accomplice to Jho Loh as BSI, Falcon and probably Goldman Sachs that underwent and is underging due process in the Singapore court.

Ananda's nephew should be investigated because he was the one who spoke about the Nagacorp acquisition. He just joined the Board and yet he spoke, which could implicate Ananda. He happen to be a gambling operator in Malaysia.

What loan?

Since 1MDB is mentioned, his uncle is also a scam artist in the 1MDB debacle and went around telling everyone 1MDB owned him RM2 billion.

The fact is 1MDB wanted Powertek for RM6.5 billion but he demanded and insisted on RM8.5 billion despite banks are only willing to finance for RM6.5 billion. The wunderboy con artist Jho Loh was, he agreed to the price and designed a scheme.

For the RM2 billion, Ananda was given the right to subscribe in the shares of Edra in the event the RM2 billion was not paid. Ananda met the bank to help convince them to lend 1MDB and placed RM1 billion deposit to the Bank as commitment.

Come 2015, Mahathir made it such that 1MDB could not get listing and the money to Ananda defaulted. The far from smart and unschooled Keling-Keling cyber trooperss of Mahathir simplified it as loan to Ananda for RM2 billion.

When the time came to honour his commitment to subscribe the Edra shares, since 1MDB did not pay him on time, Ananda did not honour his end of the bargain.

Do not be fooled by his involvement in Bob Geldof's LIVE Aids concert in the mid-80s and other philantrophic works. What you see in Ananda is not what you get. Even his children do want to be involved with his business.

There is more to come. Watch this blog.

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MACC: Prawn behind stone unturned?

January 7, 2017, 7:02 pm

≫ Next: Why too long to charge this "orang UMNO"?

≪ Previous: "Ananda" again? Market rigging this time?

NST's article on Friday is truly puzzling.

It is not Farrah Naz Karim's column expressing frustration to see organisations signing Integrity Pledge as initiated by Tan Sri Abu Kassim ended up embroiled in one corruption scandal after another. She suggested an annual asset profiling and polygraph test on those in critical position [read her here].

It is the editor's column entitled "MACC must leave no stone unturned" that is troubling. It's a common phrase and not the first time MACC is the subject. TI Malaysia used that phrase on the PKFZ scandal in 2009. Dato Dr Jeffrey Kitingan on fake native cert in Sabah happening since the 1980s.

That happened in a past administration but in 2012, The Star used the same phrase to refer to dishonest civil servants in government agencies behind the illegal forest clearing that resulted in a catastrophic landslide in Cameron Highland. It is such calls by the media that MACC is acting on.

NST cannot be naive enough to not understand that no politicians can commit corruption without colluding civil servants, particularly top men and women. Till there is fear in the heart of the civil servants, corruption by politicians and their cronies cannot be addressed.

To demand more aggressive action by MACC, surely NST is aware MACC's Director of Investigation, Dato Azam Baki said in the past that Dato Najib was questioned in the SRC investigation.

Hopefully, it is co-incidental that there are recent reports by FMT and Malaysiakini on alleged un-civil servant-like comment by retiring Dato Bahri to lead back to the SRC case.

If Bahri acted in such a manner, one can only be reminded of his similar outburst in the past which was suspiciously scripted and orchestrated by his then superior [read Bigdog's February 2016 posting here].

Dato Dzulkifli's predecessor is still on MACC's payroll. He is seconded to a temporary teaching assignment in Shah Alam and would be assuming a position abroad.

It is unfathomable that he should be part of any attempt for a comeback or bizarre conspiracy theory he is hands in glove with his former detractors.

Let bygones be bygones because the institution is more important than an individual [read past postings here and here]. The concern is not about 1MDB or SRC, which is taking its due course.

NST's editorial will give the wrong impression to the public. As it is, opposition and colluding former officials successfully painted an image MACC and it's predecessor, the ACA are wrongly used to cover-up executive abuses.

In this age of transparency, openness and free media, MACC should not be abused for political agenda, be it against the opposition or a certain past leader and his band or competing groups within the ruling party.

Pardon the cliche but without fear or favour.

Unprecedented

To imply the current leadership in MACC lacked courage, it is an unrealistic and could lead to a suspicion there is a sinister political motive behind it.

Courage is something not in short supply under the current leadership and team at MACC.

Has there ever in the history of fighting corruption in Malaysia of a KSU or Ministry Secretary General taken in for investigation and house raided?

Former MACC Commissioner, Tan Sri Abu Kassim gave the impression he dare not mess with the PTD Mafia in a briefing he once held for media.

And never before a former army top brass cum former ambassador being held and charged.

Back in Mahathir's days, Sabah Watergate would have been a cover-up instead of a being charged to divert political fallout against the ruling party.

No Tan Sri, Dato Seri or ordinary Datok is spared. So there is ruthless efficiency in their effort. What is then the real beef and who is not happy?

To claim MACC is not taking on the politicians, it is surprising. What happenned in the past and what is happening today?

NST should be the last to not know the corruption trial against Penang Chief Minister, Lim Guan Eng is due to commence in March and his legal team is struggling with a delay tactic to call the MACC Act unconstitutional.

Maybe charging another Chief Minister should convince NST that MACC do take on politicians. Just that another Chief Minister would surely be from a BN-ruled state.

The current Chief Commissioner is barely five months in his job. So far, every warnings of his are followed through. Believe he knows what he is doing and he has a strategy to combat corruption.

Great coach like Jose Mourinho need time to even turn a great team with tradition to be cup winners.

Dzulkifle is on a 5-year term so support him and not kacau by trying to tell him what to do when most hardly knows head or tail of law enforcement and only have expected outcome.

The fight against corruption is a long term struggle. It is claimed corruption is no more under the table but above the table these days.

It must have started from sometime in the past. Combating it cannot happen overnight.

Civil servants are implementor of policies and should defend good governance. As the saying goes, politicians come and go, civil servants are here to stay.

Politicians are easy meat to go after. Addressing corruption in the civil service is fundamental and strategic.

Instead of putting unnecessary "political" undue pressure, NST should be championing the cause of MACC and other enforcement agencies that are operating under slashed budget and in dire need for more capable investigators.

MACC had their budget cut twice for 2016 and 2017 from RM294 million to RM251 million and finally to RM216 million [read FMT here]. It is fair on Lim Kit Siang to accuse government has no commitment to fight corruption and plug various other leakages in the system.

The bulk of budget is staff renumeration, thus it leaves little room to cover cost of investigation. An investigation on Sabah Watergate could be more than RM1 million, not surprising to run up to RM1.5 million. The 3-month "Jalan Pinhorn" investigation should easily cost more than RM300,000.

Politicising

So when a youth wing of an NGO demanded MACC undertake their own prosecution, hope he could do a donation drive to help.

For Amanah's Dr Dzulkifli to make a similar call for the independence of MACC's independence [read FMT here], it is a genuine concern but hardly a solution.

It only create another powerful little Napolean because the power would still be in the hands of the few. When judgement is required, it is inevitable.

Better suggestion is an American style taskforce involving the District Attorney and investigators together. But that require a major overhaul in the system. Since turned into a Commission in 2009, MACC is still a work-in-progress.

Be it NGOs (quite a number are political NGOs) or politicians, discourse or demands relating to corruption or corruption prevention in Malaysia is seldom politically motivated.

When politics is involved, outrightly or subtly, there will always be inconsistencies and hypocrasies. To fight corruption, it is best be left outside the political sphere. Public must abhor politicising corruption.

Off course, public must come out and support MACC with information and leads, especially any wrongdoing within their own organisation first.

The one reason Hong Kong's ICAC is successful is because they impress on the public that the few known termites in the organisation they are working will flourish to destroy their rice bowl.

If civil servants understand, it means their Department or Agency could be closed up and they be out of job. There is already call to slash the number of civil servants.

↧

Why too long to charge this "orang UMNO"?

January 8, 2017, 10:05 pm

≫ Next: Isn't it a beautiful day?

≪ Previous: MACC: Prawn behind stone unturned?

The previous posting is written out of a deep appreciation for what MACC is trying to do and doing it under the most difficult condition.

In the past and some will still insist the present, charging politicians can be tricky. They do not have the implementing power but merely policy maker and monitoring role.

It is made more difficult because politicians have supporters and they put unnecessary pressure on MACC.

When it comes down to the crunch, public do not defend or support MACC. The case of Teoh Beng Hock and Lim Guan Eng comes to mind.

There are also cases involving UMNO leaders that made UMNO supporters behave like DAP supporterss.

Public could easily bought into the emotional game and whack MACC without think of the greater good. To some extend it made them cautious.

Since NST challenged MACC to be courageous against politicians, they are charging today the former CEO of Tekun cum an "orang UMNO" today.

Rocky Bru alerted in his blog yesterday here to an NST link here.

In the extract below, one can see the amount is small but the act is despicable and inhuman:

According to an MACC source, the 62-year-old suspect, with a ‘Datuk’ title, was arrested at his home in Bukit Bandaraya, Shah Alam, at 5.15pm yesterday, after returning from an umrah trip.

He is suspected of having accepted the bribe in exchange for speeding up the claims payment process of a debt collector company, amounting to RM360,009.08, on Jan 15, 2015.

The suspect was arrested at the Shah Alam Club while receiving the money from the owner of the debt collector company.

The MACC source said the suspect, who held the two positions from 2008 to 2014, had appointed a company allegedly to collect bad debts from a borrower who had two years’ worth of arrears.

The bribe comprised 10 per cent of the proceeds of Tekun Nasional Bad Debts for Nov 2014.

He was caught in the act at Kelab Shah Alam Selangor in January 2015. [Read this news in a forum website here.]

It happenned during the leadership of Tan Sri Abu Kassim and Attorney General then was Tan Sri Gani Patail. Why does it take so long to charge a case that should be easy and done with?

MACC may not have the benefit of knowing this guy as this blogger do. But they do not need to second guess themselves.

Dato Haji Abdul Rahim Hassan was charged on November 27th 2015 for two counts of corruption to approve RM100,000 loan to his son-in-law [Read Utusan Malaysia and mStar here and here].

How could the court allowed him to leave the country to perform umrah?

Rahim send bouncer and allegedly took a cut for those few thousand ringgit default but gave his family member one lakh!

Off course, Rahim is innocent until proven guilty but he is no angel. No CEO of the year award or great resume can change that fact.

Fake friendliness

This blogger's encounter was in a previous employment of Rahim to assist young entrepreneur. They were bullied in their dealing with elderly top officials in a government agency.

After several meetings, it was obvious Rahim had the intention to manouvre out the entrepreneur. The suspicion he was trying to give it his "cronies".

When asked why is he manipulative and smooth talk, the young entreprenuer found out he is an UMNO member from Penang.

In one of the UMNO general assembly, he was present as delegate and he pretended not to know. When approached, the arrogant bastard was not interested to courteously acknowledge.

At another occasion, we bumped into each other in the present of a host who gave us some slack. He put on a fake civility.

One can size him up as arrogant and opportunistic. And, arrogance hides in security and guilt.

True enough, he had made several stupid public statement and con job with a known Prof Dr conman.

His "endeavours" in Tekun had long been known.

It was former Chairman Dato Hamidah Osman that exposed his wrongdoings in Tekun. However, she ended up being replaced.

Tekun was then under Ministry of Agriculture and the Minister was Dato Ismail Sabri. Her replacement could likely be due to Ismail wanting to put his own trusted people.

However, Ismail ended up being accused of protecting and even for the sacking of Hamidah from UMNO.

Ismail is also in hot seat because Dato Ariff Rahman is his KSU and he brought him from a TKSU at MOA to KKLW to be KSU.

Those in the know will not blame Ismail for Sabah Watergate. However, he should show seriousness to address the poor monitoring and control within his Minstry.

Hamidah is now PPBM's protem Vice President. Tekun could be one of many to break the camel's back to make her willing to work together with former foes - Ngeh, Ngah and Nizar. [Read past posting here].

To conclude this analysis, Rahim seemed to be a protective species. Question is who is protecting him and helping to cover him up? Why is he so important to be covered up?

It only proves current team at MACC have no fear or favour.

Interesting that Awang Selamat in his Mingguan Malaysia column yesterday mentioned below:

Awang tertanya-tanya siapakah lagi orang kenamaan yang terpalit rasuah akan ditahan. Khabarnya, sudah ada yang panas dan mahu mencari talian hayat atau bantuan daripada pihak atasan. Kita tunggu dan lihat, siapa lagi 'jerung' yang mahu menutup muka ketika direman.

Most are taken by the story on cute golf caddies and ratusan juta deals on golf course abroad now facing business slowdown. Maybe Utusan knows something big is coming up from this golf expose.

This blog mentioned in the previous posting of another Chief Minister being apprehended with no any other intention than to prove a point:

To claim MACC is not taking on the politicians, it is a surprise. What happened in the past and what is happening today?

NST should be the last to not know the corruption trial against Penang Chief Minister, Lim Guan Eng is due to commence in March and his legal team is struggling with a delay tactic to call the MACC Act unconstitutional.

Maybe charging another Chief Minister should convince NST that MACC do take on politicians. Just that another Chief Minister would surely be from a BN-ruled state.

If does happen and it involves a BN-ruled state, it would be good. Then some opposition leaders can be apprehended too.

With general election coming near, many yokos are going around claiming they are helping to raise campaign fund to boost the chances of their tender. And the hotshots are putting together big corporate deals with federal or state government for big payouts!

At least, BN agree to a law on political funding. Opposition is against it and making up excuses.

↧

Isn't it a beautiful day?

January 9, 2017, 5:31 pm

≫ Next: Does Idris Haron's arrogance stem from insecurity or guilt?

≪ Previous: Why too long to charge this "orang UMNO"?

Our friend G send us the above this morning. The day before was:

Usually, we would reply, Ameen. And one morning he send us, below:

Cuba hayati petikan ucapan Allahyarham Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat. Buat teman2 @ sahabat semua

Sedap kata-katanya :

"Apabila anda tua, rebut setiap peluang untuk bersama rakan-rakan lama, kawan sekolah dan rakan sekerja kerana peluang itu akan berkurangan dari semasa ke semasa. Air yang mengalir ke hilir tidak balik ke hulu. Begitulah dengan kehidupan. Sahabat adalah umpama bintang. Walau berjuta batu jauh dari bumi tetap bercahaya. Meskipun kadang-kadang menghilang, dia tetap ada. Dia tidak mungkin dimiliki, tapi tidak dapat dilupakan kerana sahabat yang baik sentiasa ada dalam hati dan dalam kenangan.”

Walaupun byk kali baca tapi kata2 ini amat memberi kesan...😊😊

Our reply was: "Sahabat tak ada obligation macam family. Yet meaningful."

Because of many reasons, we replied today: "Isn't it a beautiful day?"

1 for Malaysia

Overnight, Faiz Sabri won FIFA's Puskas Award for the best goal for the year in Zurich at 2:50 AM this morning. It is not photoshop work by some cybertroopers because it is for real:

He beat:

It means we have earn ourself a bragging right:

Tahniahhhhh👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Christiano Ronaldo: Congratulations Faiz.
Lionel Messi: Congratulations Faiz
Faiz Suberi: Thanks You errr can i ask both of you?
Ronaldo & Messi: Yes what is it bro?
Faiz Suberi: Both of you can kick like me????hahahahaha
Ronaldo & Messi: Perghhh Berlagakkk kerekkk ko eaaa (terus cakap melayu) kuang ajo ko faiz
Ronaldo & Messi: Tapi Gaji kita Beso
Faiz Suberi: Tapi still tk boleh sepak mcm aku kan.hahahahahahahah😂😂😂😂😂

And, all us Malaysian, including yours truly for several times for both voting process, and all appreciative fans all over the world have successfully placed a Malaysians among the luminary of football greats:

THE BEST FIFA FOOTBALL AWARDS 2016 WINNERS

FIFA FIFAPro World 11: Manuel Neuer, Dani Alves, Gerard Pique, Sergio Ramos, Marcelo, Luka Modric, Toni Kroos, Andres Iniesta, Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Cristiano Ronaldo

FIFA Fan Award 2016: Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool supporters

The Best FIFA Women's Coach: Silvia Neid

FIFA Fair Play Award 2016: Atletico Nacional

The Best FIFA Men's Coach: Claudio Ranieri

Outstanding Career Award: Falcao

FIFA Puskás Award: Mohd Faiz Subri

The Best FIFA Women's Player: Carli Lloyd

The Best FIFA Men's Player: Cristiano Ronaldo

It is globally accepted as an incredible goal:

Only issue called by fans, why didn't he wear a baju Melayu and speak in Malay? Well ... it does not matter to us.

Gawd ... what a coincident?

That is the frontpage today, but the news is not available yet online. Go buy it a copy at the newstand. Its cheaper than breakfast for crying out loud.

It made our day because NST redeem themselves from the earlier editorial error. Boy are we proud. The tough stand up fighting back.

Coincidentally, yesterday's posting here mentioned of a Chief Minister should be detained. Questioning is fine. Lim Guan Eng also went through the same procedure. Probably statement was taken first. The interview to follow.

The satirical blogger, Husin Lempoyang seemed to sense something but he is not telling yet [read here].

In the meantime, NST reported an assistant land officer in Johor was detained on suspicion of bribe. It burns us of something like this happening in our home state.

Since it is a beautiful day, we are not going to be angry. Congratulations NST and MACC. We will just say Bangang to anyone policising corruption:

What a Bangang psyop ...

We are fair in our assessment. Wonder who put up these Bangang posters:

Eli Wong is right on this.

We grumbled when she introduced no plastic bag Saturday in Selangor and charge shoppers for it. But now, we have changed our habit to ready a shopping bag in the car.

At least, there is some use for those corporate goodies bags the Mrs been piling and hoarding in the kitchen cabinet. She have been resisting us from throwing it away.

Stop this Bangang psyop and save the environment. Issues like this does not gain votes. It is only temporary inconvenience. Keep up with the times dude ...

Had we still have her number in the smartphone, we would have text to congratulate for her effort. Now work on a bio-gradeable alternative for the plastic garbage bag. Heard it could be made out of starch.

By the way, where were you when all those other environment mishaps happening?

Heck! It is a beautiful day. Lets not spoilt it with anything serious. It is great day to pay the bills, pick the laptop sent for servicing, clear some errand, have a nice lunch, a back massage with our regular blind masseur, and tea with a friend.

↧

Does Idris Haron's arrogance stem from insecurity or guilt?

January 10, 2017, 6:46 pm

≫ Next: Muga roh mu dicucuri Allah

≪ Previous: Isn't it a beautiful day?

Arrogance could indicate insecurity or guilt. Insecure people put up psychological defense like arrogance to hide their shortcoming.

A quote from a Christian shareslide described:

Guilty is an arrogant pre-occupation wth self which ignores the fallibility and deprevity of other men. It often stems from a sense of superiority over others in belief that one will not falter as others do.

One UMNO veteran in Malacca said Dato Idris Haron was advised and cautioned by his political mentors and veterans on certain of his actions and behaviours.

But he arrogantly shrugged them off by saying, "I know what I am doing".

It is as arrogant as his statement when asked by reporters on the environment issues relating with the Kuala Linggi International Port [read here].

He is not guilty of any act of corruption. Yesterday's appearance of MACC officers at his office was not to investigate him as he explained and was reported by NST here.

MACC too explained they were there to record his statement. [Read NST here].

It is the same procedure done by MACC to record initially statement from Lim Guan Eng and also Dato Najib Tun Abdul Razak.

If there are compelling evidences and leads, then there will be "follow-ups", including the "follow-up" Guan Eng is due to do in March.

There are those that have been detained for investigation that have to do monthly visit "follow-up" to MACC.

The concern is why is Idris arrogant with both MACC and NST as reported yesterday here.

Apparently, the appointment with MACC is supposed to be 2 PM but he made them wait.

NST reported MACC was through with him and left the office at 6 PM with boxes of documents. Sources from Malacca claimed MACC left at 8 PM!

Idris was aware of NST enquiry as told by his press secretary at 9 PM. He made them wait too and only responded at midnight!

If "I know what I am doing", one do not need to rehearse so long to give a reply.

Idris has to be more respectful of people. If his predecessor, Tan Sri Ali Rustam could be seen willing to wait with other VIPs to receive his arrival, that should have been taken as a lesson in humility.

And there is the much talked about Mercedes Benz S400.

Too many complains by Malaccans of his arrogance.

It is natural for people to compare him with the people friendly Ali but he cannot be oblivion to peoples' expectation and act "suka hati dia".

Ali is transparent in his ways but Idris is inviting suspicion by keeping himself within a small group of inner circle.

He is inviting people to speculate that he is keeping things including government contracts within a small group of people.

Idris may not be aware but people on the ground are saying any dealing with state governments that requires CM's concurrence must go through or involve such characters as Yusof Soros or Rosli Botak.

All government contracts has its toll gate and collectors, not sure what it means.

Apparently, Yusof Soros and JKR Director were detained by MACC for investigation. Thus far, the JKR Director is charged twice for corruption and money laundering. He can't account his wealth kept at home.

The Kopitiams in Malacca have been filled with conversations by businessmen, contractors, consultants, surveyors and all those related to land reclamation works of contracts being given to certain sets of personalities and resold back for commission to certain taukeh-taukeh cina.

Anything untowards happening in Malaysia including our nephews still born Mancun cats can be blamed to Najib. Same goes with happenings in Malacca.

Idris should realise whatever his boys do, he will be under scrutiny and get blamed.

Early in his CM-ship, there were rumours circulating to accuse his boys as being behind illegal online gambling outlets in Alor Gajah.

Instead of clarifying the situation, he gave a stern statement and intend to make a police report or was it to sue the source of the rumour.

There maybe nothing there but such reaction is not seen favourably. It did not stem the rumour and in fact, it had proliferated into his boys controlling all online gambling in the state.

People in Malacca are claiming he is the most unfriendly CM.

They complain he is late for functions and hardly give time to talk to either public or even the political leaders.

Ali allowed his official residence to be open daily till late in the night for activities involving the public. Idris did not allow but that is his right.

It only made the public conjure up the perception Idris only keep himself within his close coterie of people.

Idris must learn to listen and do lots of muhassabah or self reflection. He must change.

It is commonly told by Malaccan that "orang Melaka" wants him investigated for corruption and insist Najib select a new CM.

Get anyone - even if the suitable person is a newbie with no position in any UMNO Division, as long as it is no more Idris.

That shows how furious people are with you, Idris!

↧

Muga roh mu dicucuri Allah

January 11, 2017, 2:52 am

≫ Next: Look friend ...Former allies can think for themselves

≪ Previous: Does Idris Haron's arrogance stem from insecurity or guilt?

Takziah kepada ahli-ahli keluarga dan keseluruhan rakyat Sarawak.

Muga Allah rahmati dan cucuri roh Allahyarham untuk diletakkan bersama roh para syuhada.

Amin.

↧

Look friend ...Former allies can think for themselves

January 12, 2017, 11:33 pm

≫ Next: Mahathir stuck in the past and present

≪ Previous: Muga roh mu dicucuri Allah

FMT news reported Dato Seri Mukhriz Mahathir hitting out at former allies criticisng his father, Tun Dr Mahathir.

He claimed these former allies are people his father helped. Basically, he expect them to be indebted and remain blindly loyal to his father as any feudel lord expect. Such expectation is a major turn-off.

Since Mukhriz claimed they received beyond chicken feed or dedak, but like chicken and the chicken coop too, they should not criticise his father for doing 17 U-turns, sleeping with the enemy - DAP, and betraying UMNO to be in-cohoot with people his father himself used to deem as foreign "enemy of the state".

It is understandable that fillial son like Mukhriz has to defend the father. The family honour is at stake and his political future is on the line. More so, the "exclusive" nature of his fiber optic cable contract tantamount to monopoly.

Mukhriz hits out at Dr M’s critics, especially former allies

FMT Reporters | January 12, 2017

The PPBM deputy president says the party's ratings go up every time his father is attacked.

PETALING JAYA: Mukhriz Mahathir is infuriated by those who condemn his father, Dr Mahathir Mohamad, over various issues, especially individuals the former prime minister had helped in the past.

The Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) deputy president said in a report by Sinar Harian, that many of Mahathir’s critics were friends of his during his 22-year reign as the country’s number one.

However, Mukhriz, in the interview, did not name any of these individuals.

Mukhriz, who was removed as the Kedah menteri besar last year, said while the family had grown accustomed to criticisms by Mahathir’s previous allies, such comments were unwarranted.

“It’s frustrating as we know these people, who were once our friends. I can even tell you how Mahathir helped some of these individuals.

“If it weren’t for him, these people would not be where they are today,” he told the Malay daily.

Mukhriz, however, said research had shown that PPBM’s ratings would surge every time people “attacked” his father.

This is why the party, he explained, did not respond to such criticisms.

“Let them say what they want to say. They don’t know the Malay sentiment. I am also surprised that Umno does not understand the Malay psyche.”

Mukhriz said the public would sympathise with those who were humiliated.

He went on to say that the people were still behind Mahathir, based on how they warmed up to his father when he went out to the malls, which was why he was confident of their support.

“This is more important,” Sinar Harian quoted Mukhriz as saying.

If he thinks criticising his father will make PPBM popular, why must he be worried? He should have ket quiet and let the former allies continue and gain more rating and votes for PPBM.

Not all former allies are indebted to his father. Some did it for the bigger cause without any renumeration and monthly RM10k salary from a gambling company.

Some former allies are independent minded and can think for themselves. To question why we blindly support without asking questions in the past but now asking lots of questions, it is an insult to any thinking allies.

We were not blind loyalist and could be bought with laptop and presents. Former allies can see his father has insincere intention.

In the past, his father knew Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim was as he allegedly described as immoral from way back in 1994 but brought him down on sodomy and corruption issues in 2000s because he attempted to overthrow him.

This time his father could not explain himself convincingly. He is not willing to share his proofs. And he expect us to just follow?

Twice he pushed Tan Sri Muhyiddin's name as possible Prime Minister to replace Dato Najib but it was merely to end his chance. He wanted to only cross the bridge when he reach it from the beginning. It allow him to manouvre.

Why no firm denial that his father and Kit Siang allegedly agreed to put Mukhriz up as the eventual Prime Minister?

His father knows Mukhriz is a weak leader and yet has intention to prop him up. Allies are expected to support wholeheartedly. This sort of blind loyalty cannot be entertained.

Others can compromise to now claim Mahathir and Dato Seri Wan Azizah are political icon when we damn know the claimant father will not agree with anything to do with Anwar. The father wants nothing to do with Muhyiddin too thus not a member of PPBM.

Some former allies are not hypocrit. There is a level to tolerance. Keyword is tolerance and not blindly accepting.

Mukhriz can today stage a protest by rubber tappers to protest against government for the fall in rubber prices. [read Utara News here]. It can only be Mukhriz behind it when this statement appeared in February 2016 on his blog here.

His had big ideas like building a Rubber City but he is uninterested to solve the low rubber prices for smallholders.

It is not like there is no self sustainable and financially viable proposal that came his way. It went direct to him and through a certain MP but he is not bothered and his people are so bloody arrogant to listen.

While Mukhrz does not care, not bothered and only wants to return to Kuala Lumpur by Firefly at the end of the day.

Upon knowing the problem in 2014, he was merely giving bureaucratic statement. He does not wish to make any initiative but was only dependent on budget from federal government. Too personally rich and comfortable to take extra effort for the rakyat.

When he could not get that extra budget, he could think of giving rubber tappers only food provision. That does not need a graduate from Boston University with transfer credit from Sophia University.

He spoke of long term solution but what did he do? He has no idea yet where to put the Rubber City!

Today he wants to be the champion for rubber tappers. In 2014, his dedak eater was esctatic when fewer turn up at the rubber tapper protest and it was diverted by a majlis selawat Mukhriz organised.

My friend (you still is a friend though you do not heed advise and caution) ... former allies cannot stand that hypocrasy.

↧

Mahathir stuck in the past and present

January 15, 2017, 10:54 pm

≫ Next: Tony Pua suing PM using Google definition for misfeasance

≪ Previous: Look friend ...Former allies can think for themselves

Prior to the GE 13, DAP and PAS was working hard to instigate local Pengerang folks against the proposed Pengerang Petronas Refinery and Petrochemical Integrated Development (RAPID).

PAS worked on the Malay kampong folks. While, DAP instigate the Chinese in the pekan area.

Apparently, DAP received help from Singaporean volunteers. One can understand Singapore seeing RAPID as competition. From Pengerang, Singapore is only few hundred metres away and ships can be seen from end to end. [Read past posting here.]

DAP extended their role to send lobbyist to Taiwan. They created a fictitous environmental issue and went public to pressure a Taiwanese investors till they pulled out from an announced pan to to set up petrochemical plant.

By right, local Pengerang folks should do a class action against DAP.

The extend Tun Dr Mahathir is ranting against China investors is practically emulating what DAP did at RAPID.

Initially, he created a political lie to make the allegation that 700,000 Chinese from China will be voting in the next GE 14. He is emulating a similar Anwar Ibrahim lie during GE 13 claiming 40,000 Bangla Deshi voted in the last GE13.

Mahathir's propagandist team must be running out of ideas that they have to copy Anwar Ibrahim. Already they failed to do their economic fear factor because they are intellectually and academically inadequate.

The burden to do the economic fear factor is left to Mahathir himself.

The 700,000 Chinese allegation has been debunked. Today, his highness the Sultan of Johor rebuffed him on that point again and his inference to the Forest City project in Iskandar, Johor [read here].

Tuanku Ibrahim asked Mahathir whether property buyers on the reclaimed land Forest City project could "just take their apartments back home or carry off an inch of the reclaimed land"?

In addition, Tuanku challenged Mahathir to bring in investors from Arab countries, Australia or the United States to Johor instead of his racist inclined China bashing [read here].

Tan Sri Muhyiddin recently joined the foray in support of Mahathir in an interview with Sin Chew Daily to accuse China investors are denying the people's ricebowl.

Dato Mustapha rebutted it to highlight that the largest investor in the country is not China but US, Japan and Germany.

If China wish to invest, the argument by the Sultan is why should we stop them? Is it because they are Chinese by race?

Raja Petra argued the racism against China's Chinese is coming from none other than the local Chinese themselves [read here]. There could be some truth as it could be a response to China's Chinese negative view of overseas Chinese, particularly Singaporeans.

That clears up the wrong impression the Chinese Ambassador is defending local Chinese against the Red March sometime last year. It is only China Chinese.

The China bashing statement by Muhyiddin was rebutted by Chinese Embassy as an attempt to instigate hatred against China [read statement in full here].

Muhyiddin is the most unsuitable person to champion these line because he himself is saddle with the same negative perception for selling land away to Singaporeans.

Among the questionable land deals involving more than 50,000 hectare land for water catchment near Sungai Lingu, Mount Austin, Kemayan City, Daiman Berhad, and many more.

The joke in JB back then was he cried when passing by the Mahmoodiah royal cemetary because it cannot be put up for sale.

The instruction to give away the 50,000 hectare land came from Mahathir himself.

Dato Ibrahim Ali and Tamrin Tun Ghaffar used to hit at Muhyiddin in their political campaign with opposition.

Muhyiddin himself was seeking China's investment in a trip in 2012.

Despite the response from China Embassy, Mahathir insist in playing the "jual negara" (selling the country) line for his politics with China as his target.

He ignored his past position to support China [read MD here].

It only strengthened the suspicion he is now hand in glove with US operatives and George Soros.

This "jual negara" line has long been used by Dato Najib's political detractors. It is heard this line was also used by some departed family member against him.

Mahathir seized on this through a posting he made on FDI early this month [read here].

His argument was rebutted by LSS who argued that Mahathir is harping on an old manufacturing FDI model that require foreign labour to sustain.

For political expediency, he intentionally forget he planned for the shift away from low cost and labour intensive manufacturing for services in mid-90s [read in here].

The mentioned sectors were financial, property, and transportation.

Dato Seri Salleh Said Keruak rebutted Mahathir to describe him as inconsistent and living in the past. He is no more Prime Minister for more than 14 years [read here and here].

Mahathir is insistent based on the definition of FDI as:

Investment made by a company or individual in one country in business interests in another country, in the form of either establishing business operations or acquiring business assets in the other country, such as ownership or controlling interest in a foreign company.

It is well and good but FDI is not only the avenue for investment.

Since Malaysia is a major player in Islamic finance, which is the service sector Mahathir wanted to move to, he did not highlight investment in the form of portfolio, capital market and properties.

Much of the properties investment ties together with REIT.

Since Mahathir is only playing politics, he should explain Raja Petra inquiries as to whether it was any different when he "sold the country" to Taiwanese, Koreans and Japanese in the past. [read here]

Mahathir is not someone who will apologise despite a U-turn in his position to call BR1M as corruption. He will not admit defeat too.

When he is still adamant with the FDI and China bashing in his PPBM launching speech, he must be thinking of sabotaging more than a petrochemical plant.

Yet his speech is filled with his old school nationalism lines of patriotism [read here].

No one working with Soros can be considered patriotic.

Much of China investment or Mahathir insist as borrowing are in public infrastructure. Ownership of ports or highways is still the government. What is the worrry?

Apparently an Engineer turned socio-economist activist argued Sri Lanka had to secede territory for failing to pay China. Malaysia is not of the same level as Sri Lanka in economic management, economic performance and experience in financial knowledge.

This bloke need to figure out what does he want? He is against TPPA and now against China. Better stick to engineering than trade and foreign policies.

Nevertheless, caution as expressed by Tan Sri Ramon Navaratnam and FMT columnist Dennis Ignatius are appreciated. The snapshot view is useful.

However, the long term view with continuous changing snapshots and geo-global politics, social, and economic landscape is more important.

As it is, the future is more important that the past and present. .

↧

Tony Pua suing PM using Google definition for misfeasance

January 17, 2017, 7:02 pm

≫ Next: Another old guard pass away ... Al Fatihah

≪ Previous: Mahathir stuck in the past and present

Googling misfeasance will immediately come up with the explanation that it is an early 17th century old French word for mesfaisancea. The simple meaning is transgression, especially the wrongful exercise of lawful authority.

Wikipedia explained misfeasance in public office as:

Misfeasance in public office is a cause of action in the civil courts of England and Wales and certain Commonwealth countries. It is an action against the holder of a public office, alleging in essence that the office-holder has misused or abused their power.

For lengthy explanation on this tort, read here. To understand tort, read here.

DAP lawmaker Tony Pua has filed a misfeasance in public office suit against Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak yesterday. [Read Mkini here].

His intention seemed out of concern but it is intended to be a politically deceptive move to fool the Malaysian public. How irresponsible can an opposition leader be to misled his followers and in the process converting them into foolish zoombies.

1MDB attack is losing steam and opposition have diverted to economic fear factor strategy. This look to be a desperate attempt to recycle lately.

One prominent lawyers WA us the following:

The suit is based on the assumption Najib Razak is a public officer.

One element of the tort of misfeasance of public office is it must be shown that Najib Razak is a public officer. He is not.

The Interpretation Act 1948 & 1967 defines public office as “an office in any of the public services”.

Section 132(3)(c) of the Federal Constitution states that the public services does not include the office of any member of the administration in the Federation or a State.

A member of the administration under Article 160 of the Federal Constitution means “a person holding office as Minister”.

Najib Razak is a minister but ministers are not considered a public officer. Therefore, the suit will fail.

Not only are they working hard to recycle and revive the 1MDB issue, they are reenacting the same old Tamil drama:

Yang Berbahagia U-Turn Tun Dr Mahathir's lawyer, Hanif Khatri challenged the Attorney General, Tan Sri Apandi to resign and seek apology from the people.

If he does not intend to, then he should reopen investigation on the RM2.6 billion that went into Dato Najib's personal bank account [Read Malaysia Dateline.com here].

Why?

Hanif argued judgement by the Singapore court against Manager of Falcon Private Bank Switzerland's Singaporer branch, Jens Fred Sturzenegger warrants so.

It was mentioned in court that Taek Jho Loh is Tan Kim Loong who operated Tanore Finance account at Falcon. The case fact is the Manager is in collusion to allow a fictitous name operate an account.

Hanif is basically calling Tan Sri Abu Kassim and MACC as lying. Apa ini? Kawan sudah tembak sama kawan ka? Aiyeah ...

The same legal source said to bring him over for a slap in the face. Maybe it is not a good idea.

With these people of the little continent, a light touch on the cheeks will be exaggerated by the studio audio as a major slap and the reaction dramatic!

In the meanwhile, Hanif's client and the real drama king, Matthias Chang have been alerting his send list that Obama, Clinton and CIA will attempt an assassination attempt on Donald Trump before his inuaguration to allow Obama a third term.

Many more conspiracy theory here.

No smiling please, he is as serious as Tony Pua and Hanif Khatri. Why is Dato Khairuddin Abu Hasan relatively quiet lately?

↧

Another old guard pass away ... Al Fatihah

January 18, 2017, 4:36 pm

≫ Next: Addressing cancer before it spread

≪ Previous: Tony Pua suing PM using Google definition for misfeasance

Former Minister of Public Enterprise and Agriculture, Dato Manan Osman (81) passed away yesterday evening 7:10 PM at Gleaneagle Hospital.

The body of the Allahyarham Manan was taken home to his eldest son home in Sri Hartamas. It will be taken to Masjid Bukit Damansara at 8:30 AM this morning for obligatory religious rituals. The planned burial is scheduled before zohor.

Born in 1935, Allahyarham studied at the illustrious Malay College Kuala Kangsar. He studied law and his early career was in the legal service before joining the Terengganu state government and eventually politics. [read here]

Allahyarham was a Member of Parliament for Kuala Terengganu from 1978 to 1994. [read Wikipedia here].

He was the Public Enterprise Minister in Tun Hussein Onn cabinet and continued in Tun Dr Mahathir's cabinet till UMNO split into Team A and Team B in the late 1980s.

When UMNO was declared illegal and a new UMNO was established, the Team B faction was not invited in. Led by Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, Team B formed the Parti Melayu Semangat 46 in 1988.

Allahyarham was serving as Minister of Agriculture in Manathir's cabinet but as a matter of principle, he rejected the Cabinet Minister offer from Mahathir after Team B lost in the party election in 1987. It was said he told Mahathir it does not feel as good to be in his cabinet.

Allahyarham was among the few cabinet members that joined Ku Li:

After losing his Kuala Terengganu seat to BN in 1990, Allahyarham was not as active in politics. Together wwith Ku Li, he rejoined UMNO in 1996.

Eventually, he faded away and retired but remain close friend with Ku Li. He can be often seen with Ku Li for Friday prayers together at the Masjid in Kg Pandan.

Yours truly last saw of Manan at a breaking fast in one private surau in Bukit Mas, Taman Melawati few years ago. He was praying on a chair next to the host.

Another ole guard has left us but the nation's politic is still stuck in old quarrels based on old ideas and beliefs. It is time they let go.

Muga Allah cucuri roh mu dan diletakkan bersama golongan yang beriman. Al Fatihah ....

↧

Addressing cancer before it spread

January 18, 2017, 11:00 pm

≫ Next: Whistleblower won precedent-setting lawsuit

≪ Previous: Another old guard pass away ... Al Fatihah

There was a tip-off that acting CEO of a Felda owned PLC was arrested at his home in Tropicana Indah this morning.

The Star has the news out already and reported it has to do with corrupt practices and abuse of power related to e-passport of an African country. The sting operation was dubbed Ops Guinea. [Read here]

It only leads to only one company and that is Iris Corporation Berhad. In 2014, Iris was awarded RM793.2 million contract from the Republic of Guinea.

The acting CEO, Dato Hamdan Mohd Hassan was then the CEO IRIS Trusted Identification Division. [read IRIS here]

Founder and former Managing Director of IRIS, Dato Tan Say Jim was reported to have disposed off 56 million of IRIS shares on Christmas and ceased to be a substantial shareholder.

His shareholding dwindeled to 3.91% and leaves Felda as the largest shareholder with 21.33%. [Read Edge here]

Following the sale, Tan could not be contacted by media.

He may have resigned from the position as Managing Director cum CEO. Hamdan.may have assumed the position of acting CEO.

Tan is often dubbed as the Idea Man and was the entrepreneurial driving force behind IRIS.

In 2015, he was bestowed the Entrepreneur of the Year award and Master Entrepreneur of the Year by Ernst & Young [read BfM here].

At the end of 2013, PNS sold their shares in the company and it was taken up by Felda [FMT here].

Strong technically and solid shareholder backing. IRIS is ready to go bigger.

However, they lost the contract to supply their designed and patented passport chip to the government.

Tan has been relentless in working hard to regain shareholders confidence in IRIS. [read Focus here].

The competitor is a rather hardball player [read here]. But, IRIS has an ongoing legal dispute over copyright [read past posting here].

The performance of IRIS is unlikely to be the reason Tan sold his shares.

As an accountant, a man of integrity and patriotic, the sales is not him bailing out on shareholders. Market condition may have forced him.

Tan is the sort of person that would reported any foul play happening in the company he built. Losing out to competitor is something else but corruption and power abuse in the company is a cancer he will not allow to spread.

This morning arrest would be speculated to relate to Tan Sri Shahrir assuming the Chairmanship of Felda.

He announced Felda's sale of Maybank and overseas assets acquired under the helm of Tan Sri Isa Samad to stabilise cashflow [read The Mole here].

Yesterday, he requested all members of the Board of Felda Investment Corporation to relinquish their position to enable him to restructure the FGV replacement as holding company of Felda.

Shahrir is on a no nonsence mode and he is not entertaining of political opportunism of childish prank from NOW or dumb statement from ANAK.

In the meanwhile, more expose on the recently arrested KSU Dato Ariff Abdul Rahman [read RPK here and here]

The latest MACC raid on a Ministry with regard to corruption related to quota for rice subsidy may have something to do with him [read FMT here].

A press conference yesterday revealed power abuse by the kaki wayang former Director of MACC, Dato Bahri Mohammad Zain [read FMT here].

Careful of crooks pretending to be righteous. It is usually a cover up of the past.

↧

Whistleblower won precedent-setting lawsuit

January 20, 2017, 9:17 pm

≫ Next: Jack Ma to Trump: How to make America great again

≪ Previous: Addressing cancer before it spread

Dr Syed Omar Syed Agil, former CEO of Institiut Professional Baitulmal at Kampng Pandang, Kuala Lumpur won his lawsuit against his employer to cancel a bid of internal investigation against him and contesting his suspension [read FMT Jan 4th here].

This is a precedent setting case to protect whistleblower under the Sections 10(1), (3) and (7) of the Whistleblower Protection Act 2010.

In a court appearance in March 2016, The Star reported IPB Chairman, Datuk Ismail Ibrahim admitted in the High Court to have directed an officer to initiate probe into CEO misconduct but claimed did not decide to conduct investigations [read here].

The new report:

Friday, 20 January 2017 | MYT 3:50 PM

Ex-CEO wins suit against former employer in whistleblower case

by M. Mageswari

KUALA LUMPUR: A former chief executive officer won his lawsuit against his former employer in a whistleblower case.

Dr Syed Omar Syed Agil (pic), 56, succeeded in his bid to get the High Court to order his former employer to take measures to cancel a notice of internal investigations against him over his disclosure to the authorities of alleged improper conduct at his workplace.

He had sought protection as a whistleblower for allegedly exposing the financial improprieties of his colleagues.

High Court judge Justice John Louis O'Hara ruled Friday that Dr Syed Omar's former employer had failed to prove that the action taken against him was not in reprisal for his disclosure to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission and police of the alleged improper conduct.

He said Sections 10(1), (3) and (7) of the Whistleblower Protection Act 2010 show that the defendant has to prove that detrimental action taken against the plaintiff is not in reprisal for his disclosure.

"The court rules that the defendant has failed to do so and as such the court rules in favour of the plaintiff," he said.

Justice O'Hara allowed Dr Syed Omar's bid for an order that his former employer, Institut Profesional Baitulmal Sdn Bhd (IPB), take immediate measures to cancel the internal investigations notice dated Oct 6, 2015 against him.

He also struck out Dr Syed Omar's application for IPB to restore him to his position as chief executive officer after he withdrew this part from his lawsuit.

Justice O'Hara ordered the company, named as sole defendant, to pay RM18,750 in costs to the plaintiff.

Dr Syed Omar was appointed CEO of IPB on Sept 1, 2014 but he was suspended on Oct 7, 2015. His contract ended in August last year.

His lawyer Aston Paiva said this is the first such case to seek relief under the Act through the court process.

In immediate response, Dr Syed Omar said: "It is a victory for whistleblowers. Now, I think nobody should be afraid to come out and expose any wrongdoing or malpractice or financial irregularities."

In his originating summons filed in December 2015, Dr Syed Omar sought for an injunction to restrain IPB from continuing an internal investigation against him and suspending him on grounds that he is a whistleblower.

Talk of problems within IPB had been the talk among students for quiet a while. There were complains large number of student were indiscriminately barred from receiving their allowance [read this 2011 student blog here].

In early October 2015, Sepang MP, Hanipa Maidin of PAS now PAN, raised issue of building CF and it was Utusan Malaysia that carried his statement [read here]. However, it was Utusan that published an explosive issue on IPB alleging students had to tie their stomach in hunger and poor living condition.

It was duly responded by IPB [read here].

On October 19, a Pemuda UMNO exco raised issue on problems of student repaying scholarship from MAIWP and student housing [read Utusan Malaysia here]. Subsequently, Rafizi jump in the fry [read portal news here].

Read more in MMKTT here.

It must have been the involvement of Rafizi or the talk Syed Omar was going to talk to opposition that made certain bloggers took the side of MAIWP. The presence of a lawyer in Anwar Ibrahim's defense team, Ameer Hamzah may have convinced them the claim of innocence by religious authorities officials.

At the time the case of filed in court, there was a planned attack on religious institutions. A blogger unschooled in finance revealed through an new anonymous blog a letter from BNM to Tabung Haji without giving much deliberation.

Dato Abdul Kadir Jasin may have collaborated as he "kompang" a term used by BNM which had no technical relevence for Tabung Haji.

Rafizi through his unregistered NGO, N.O.W. was prying on Yayasan Pembangunan Ekonomi Islam Malaysia (YPEIM) and doing slander on Minister in PM Department in charge of religious matter, Dato Dr Jamil Khir.

For the bloggers that defended MAIWP, it turned out to be wrong. It is an example of the problem with looking at issues from a political spectacle and void of substantive facts. Insist insider and informer reveal information or let them defend themselves!

Justice has prevailed and it is for the common good of all. IPB must buck up or the Board of Directors and Management should ship out. This decision is important in protecting whistleblowers and convince whistleblowers that the law protect them.

It is important to note that it does not protect politically motivated trumpet blowers and slanderers of unverified information. It serves to protect the right of the accused. Rafizi tried to use it as defense against allegation of infringing on BAFIA but failed. He is appealing against a judgement to send him to prison for 18 months.

As mentioned in this blog before, ICAC in Hong Kong is effective because whistleblowers cooperate to report wrongdoing in their organisation before it becomes cancer that affect their ricebowl. Leak it, leak it good!

(But to the right channel)

↧

Jack Ma to Trump: How to make America great again

January 21, 2017, 10:15 pm

≫ Next: Rohingya: UN picking up on Malaysian leadership

≪ Previous: Whistleblower won precedent-setting lawsuit

"From this day forward, it’s going to be only America first. America first," Donald Trump said in his Presidential inaugration speech.

"Every decision on trade, on taxes, on immigration, on foreign affairs, will be made to benefit American workers and American families."

"We will no longer accept politicians who are all talk and no action, constantly complaining but never doing anything about it," Trump said.

Certain political pundit saw Trump's speech as similar to his political campaign, still without substantive plan. He is beginning to talk like a politician.

In the eyes of Jack Ma, Trump is not making the critical decision to "make America great again", the campaign line he used.

In his inaugration speech, Trump did made the first Presidential decision is to pull out of the 12-nation TPP [read The Star here]. Malaysia expected Trump's decision. Without TPP, it will pursue government-to-government FTAs or various RTAs in existence.

Trump did say he will renegotiate the trade agreements that did not favour the US and the American workers.

But Trump did not have the political will to address the elephant in the room. To know the critical factor Jack Ma suggested Trump do, hear this session at the World Economic Forum:

Politifact.com highlighted Trump expressed concern on the trillions of money spent on war overseas. However, he intend to rebuild the military [read here].

CNN's Fareed Zakaria agreed with Jack Ma. Fareed Zakaria's article in the New Straits Times yesterday:

Embrace globalisation

By Fareed Zakaria - 21 January 2017 @ 10:44 AM

The World Economic Forum this year feels like an exercise in ritual self-flagellation, which — as with the old Christian practice of fasting and whipping one’s own body — is supposed to purify the sinful nature of man. The sin, of course, is globalisation, which everyone now seems to agree has been lopsided, inequitable and dangerous. In fact, most of the flaws attributed to globalisation are actually mistakes in national policy that can be corrected.

It took a Chinese billionaire to speak frankly on this topic. Jack Ma, the founder of the e-commerce giant Alibaba, estimated that over the last three decades, the United States government spent US$14.2 trillion (RM63 trillion) fighting 13 wars. That money could easily have been invested in America, building infrastructure and creating jobs.

“You’re supposed to spend money on your own people,” he said. “It’s not (that) the other countries steal jobs from you guys — it is your strategy.” He pointed out that globalisation produced massive profits for the American economy, but much of that money ended up on Wall Street. “And what happened? Year 2008. The financial crisis wiped out US$19.2 trillion (in the) USA alone. What if the money [was] spent on the Midwest of the US developing the industry there?”

You don’t have to accept Ma’s specifics and statistics to recognise the validity of his general point. Globalisation created huge opportunities for growth, many of which were taken by US companies. The global economy today is still pervasively dominated by large American firms; 134 of Fortune Global 500 are American. And, if you look at cutting-edge industries, the vast majority are American. These companies have benefited enormously by having global supply chains that can source goods and services around the world, either to lower labour costs or to be close to the markets in which they sell. Since 95 per cent of the world’s potential consumers live outside the US, finding ways to sell to them will have to be a core strategy for growth, even for a country with a large domestic economy like America.

Obviously, globalisation has large effects on national economies and societies, and it produces some significant problems. What complex phenomenon does not? But, it also generates opportunities, innovation and wealth for nations that they can then use to address these problems through good national strategies. The solutions are easy to state in theory — education, skills-based training and retraining, infrastructure. But, they are extremely expensive and hard to execute well.

It is much easier to rail against foreigners and promise to fight them with tariffs and fines. But, the cost of addressing these problems at the global level is massive. The Economist reports, in a survey on globalisation, that in 2009 the Obama administration punished China with a tariff on their tyres. Two years later, the cost to American consumers was US$1.1 billion, or US$900,000 for every job “saved”.

The impact of such tariffs is usually felt disproportionately by the poor and middle class because they spend a larger share of their income on imported goods like food and clothing. That same Economist survey points to a study that calculated that, across 40 countries, if transnational trade ended, the wealthiest consumers would lose 28 per cent of their purchasing power, but the poorest one-tenth would lose a staggering 63 per cent.

Perhaps most important, the key driver that is depressing wages and eliminating jobs in the industrialised world is technology, not globalisation. For example, between 1990 and 2014, US automotive production increased by 19 per cent, but with 240,000 fewer workers.

Even when manufacturing comes back to the US, it is high-end manufacturing. It’s not just new Intel plants that have few workers anymore. Adidas has set up a new shoe factory in Germany that is run almost entirely by robots. It will open a similar one in Atlanta later this year. And, the few workers in these factories tend to be highly skilled technicians and software engineers. You can’t turn off technological revolutions. Nor can you stop China from growing. Tariffs on China will simply mean that production will come from some Third World country.

The best approach to the world we are living in is not denial but empowerment. Countries should recognise that the global economy and the technological revolution require large, sustained national efforts to equip workers with the skills, capital and infrastructure they need to succeed. Nations should embrace an open world, but only as long as they are properly armed to compete in it. And that requires smart, effective — and very expensive — national policies, not some grand reversal of globalisation.

Fareed Zakaria is an American journalist and author. He is the host of CNN’s ‘Fareed Zakaria GPS’ and writes a weekly column for ‘The Washington Post’

Recommended by Jack Ma is to hear China President Xia Jin Peng himself:

Those in pursuit of a military war or political war or trade war should reconsider and not lose sight of the bigger picture and larger benefit [read Rocky Bru here and his links].

This Friday, President Xi is due to deliver his important Chinese New Years message.

Check it out.

↧

Rohingya: UN picking up on Malaysian leadership

January 23, 2017, 6:55 pm

≫ Next: To eradicate corruption, Malaysia need to drop more on TI's CPI

≪ Previous: Jack Ma to Trump: How to make America great again

There were many sceptics of Malaysia effort to champion the Rohingya.

Naturally, they presumed it was politically motivated since the joint UMNO-PAS assembly at Lake Titiwangsa was organised after UMNO's General Assembly at end of 2016.

Media such as FMT and Malaysiakini published sceptical views taking the inconsistency angle and are quick to report on Myanmar responses like this one here.

There are those claiming Malaysia had to tone down its aggressive stance after the OIC meeting recently. Malaysia offered Rohinga RM10 million fund to help rehabilitate Rakhine state. There was offering of friendship from Dato Najib [read here].

Lo and behold! The effort of Dato Najib, Dato Anifah and Wisma Putera has not gone to waste. This news in Bangkok Post, below:

UN rights envoy: Myanmar losing credibility

21 Jan 2017 at 15:35

WRITER: KYODO NEWS

Yanghee Lee, the UN Human Rights Special Rapporteur to Myanmar, holds a media briefing in Yangon at the end of her latest 12-day visit to the country. (AP Photo)

YANGON: The UN Human Rights envoy to Myanmar, Yanghee Lee, says the country's government will lose credibility if it continues to defend the reported human rights abuses against Rohingya Muslims.

Speaking at a news briefing held in Yangon at the end of her 12-day visit to the country, Lee said the Myanmar government led by Nobel peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi would "appear less and less credible" if it continues being defensive in response to allegations of persistently reported serious human rights violations.

Lee arrived in Myanmar on Jan 8 to assess the recent developments in the human rights situation in the country, especially in conflict-riddled Rakhine State. Human rights abuses by security forces were reported there as the military conducts "clearance operations" following coordinated attacks by hundreds of Muslims in the area on border guard outposts that left nine police officers dead.

It was the fifth visit by the 60-year-old South Korean university professor since she became "special rapporteur on the human rights situation in Myanmar" in 2014.

Lee toured Maungdaw in northern Rakhine state for four days, visiting the villages and sites of attacks and human rights abuses and meeting representatives of the Muslim community who calls themselves Rohingya as well as government officials and senior police officials to gather facts for her report, to be submitted to the UN Human Rights Council in March 2017.

After returning from the tour, Lee met privately with Suu Kyi in the capital Nay Pyi Daw on Wednesday to discuss the security situation in northern Rakhine, which has been under lockdown since the October attacks.

Widespread reports of security forces committing atrocities against Rohingya Muslims have emerged as the military conducts operations in the area following the attacks, raiding Muslim villages to search for the culprits and recover lost arms.

But the government has been persistently denying virtually all the reports as fabricated news, while preventing the media and international observers from accessing the area.

Lee said the government's current response to all of these problems seems to be to defend, dismiss and deny, which is not only counterproductive but also drains away optimism in the country.

"But I do believe it is not too late to reverse this trend, and during my visit, I also met many people who are doing their best in very difficult situations. I met groups working tirelessly to bring communities together," Lee added.

Reading her statement to the meia on Friday, Lee condemned the deadly Oct 9 attacks on the border guard posts, but said the persistent ill-treatment of the population in the area should be considered.

"I must remind again that these attacks took place in the context of decades of systematic and institutionalised discrimination against the Rohingya population," she said.

Lee said that the government should ensure justice, accountability and the rule of law, to improve the situation in Rakhine state.

Lee said she found during her visit that the optimism of the people in Myanmar was fading slowly, a year after the historic landslide election win by Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy that has since formed the current government.

"It pains me to see when talking to the ordinary people during this visit their feelings of optimism and hope slowly fading just after one year when the whole country was elated with the outcome of the last general elections," she said.

The envoy, however, expressed optimism, saying government officials are committed to improve the situation.

"From my meetings and conversations with the state counsellor and various officials, I can see their genuine commitment and dedication in improving the lives of all in Myanmar," she sai.

"Somehow, this commitment has yet to translate into real actions that are felt on the ground.

"I encourage the government to appeal to communities in the country to be more open and have understanding of each other, to respect each other, instead of scapegoating others for the sake of advancing their own self-interests."

While Rakhine State has long been affected by conflicts between ethnic Buddhists and the growing population of minority Muslims there, the latest round of violence in October further escalated the existing tension between the two sides.

The military "clearance operations" caused tens of thousands of people to flee their homes. Nearly 100 people, including 17 security officers, have been killed since the Oct 9 attacks.

The United Nations has said around 65,000 Rohingya Muslim villagers from northern Rakhine have fled across the border into Bangladesh over the past three months.

During her trip, Lee also visited the country's northern Kachin State and met with villagers at camps displaced by the ongoing civil war between the military and ethnic Kachin rebels.

Lee said the conditions in Kachin and the northern borders were also deteriorating, saying the situation is now "worse than any point in the past three years".

"The situation is now such that even in Myitkyina, the capital of the state and home to over 300,000 people, residents are afraid and now stay home after dark," she said.

--------------------

If Myamnar continue to be in-denial [read Bung Nagara here], more drastic steps will be taken by both United Nations and ASEAN. Really drastic......

ASEAN Summit will be held at Davao City, Phillipines and Trump is invited. Not much time left for Myanmar to dilly daly.

↧

To eradicate corruption, Malaysia need to drop more on TI's CPI

January 25, 2017, 1:07 am

≫ Next: Nor Badli charged for CBT, TH to respond to "sotong"

≪ Previous: Rohingya: UN picking up on Malaysian leadership

Transparency International announced it's annual Corruption Perception Index (CPI) for 2016. Malaysia dropped from 54 out of 168 countries for 2015 to 55 out of 176 countries for 2017 [read here].

TI-Malaysia president Datuk Akhbar Satar described the one-point drop as "not much". He said MACC under the new leadership has proven itself to be more effective within a short time of 8 months [read The Star here].

Since CPI is merely a perception index and not a true measure of the level of corruption, then Malaysia is better off dropping further in the ranking of this irrelevant index.

It is not just being cynical or doing a reverse psychology. There are justifications for the better good.

With a higher CPI ranking under Tan Sri Abu Kassim Mohamed, where raids, arrest and charges throughout 2010 to 2016 is infrequent, than lower CPI ranking under Dato Dzulkifli Ahmad, it is seriously flawed.

If that is the case, a lower ranking is preferred because there will be more earnestness on the part of MACC to go after the corrupted - both the takers and givers of bribes.

And, the likelihood of any cover-up is less likely and corruption prevention agency is more concern to do enforcement than bothering about public image and correspondingly, rankings.

Akhbar was a former MACC staff who left to take the academic route. He is clearly short sighted or perhaps, has ulterior motive and playing to the public gallery to suggest MACC should "pay attention" to corrupt politicians.

Politicians cannot commit corruption unless civil servants, particularly senior civil servants, abetted and collude.

For too long a time, there is a perception that top civil servants are untouchable or PTD could exert peer pressure on MACC from investigating top civil servants.

Pursuing politicians alone will never eradicate corruption for the simple reason that it is civil servants that is empowered at the operational level.

Often the time, politicians are forced to "pick the cards they are dealt with".

After there is a certain fear among civil servants to compromise to corruption, then MACC should pursue the politicians all the way back to BMF days in 1983.

Maybe there is truth that those leaving their career to take the academic route are either not impressive or failed in their career.

The problem with measuring corruption based on perception index is that it could be easily misinterpreted.

For instance, having frequent raids and prosecution means the hands of the law is at work to pursue the corrupt.

It could be misinterpreted as more rampant corruption now than before. The converse is a possibility because in the past, enforcement officers could be looking the other way.

The analysis by Akhbar gives the impression that ranking is dependent on MACC activities. If more politicians raided, will perception ranking be any better?

Attitude towards corruption

CPI is also flawed because the sample of perception covers certain segments of public.

In the recent issue raised on corruption activities rampant at golf courses, a recent feedback received is that top civil servants do not take kindly such statements. It stifles the "British tradition" of the civil service.

Among the complaints heard is that MACC had gone overboard for singling out golf as the platform of corrupt activities. They argued other forms of recreation could also be conduit or platform for corruption.

If these complainants had participated in TI's survey and brought the ranking down, then it is good.

The counter argument is best told to this blogger as to have came from a judge and the name shall remain undisclosed. There is a Malay saying, "siapa makan cili dia terasa pedas" (those who ate chillies, taste the heat).

MACC is wrong when NST reported recently that China's Communist Party had done a crackdown on corruption related to golf.

Since 2011, half or 683 golf courses are directed to be closed down. The party issued a ban on its party members to join golf clubs in 2015 [read here].

There are also comments passed by politicians that the frequent raids on corruption is not good for government.

The converse is actually true. So how could we improve corruption if politicians take a solely political angle to something good.

By the way, that view did not come from a ruling party politician but a politician from a former ruling party turned opposition.

It proves they are more concern with perception than seriously eradicating corruption. And contrary to common belief, opposition do not have political will to improve government efficiency.

To analyse TI's CPI in a less cynical manner, CPI is not only measuring MACC but the whole country and public attitude towards corruption.

It is common to hear people complain about corruption but they are generally reluctant to report or even divulge information or leak documents to media.

Despite assurance their identity will be kept hidden, they usually refuse to do so and cited worry for their ricebowl.

They fail to realise that their ricebowl is filled with haram rice!

The public talk and complain of corruption but are not doing anything about it. They go about to mind their own business.

From the perspective of service provider or authorities, there is insufficient political will to improve on their procedures, achieve greater efficiency, and lessen constraints to consumers or users. Too much red tapes gives a perception of corruption.

That is certainly beyond the authorities of MACC. It is also beyond the purview of the top bosses in government. It is the problem with operational level officers.

Inefficiency as a way to take bribes could happen more frequently in the private sector. The recent declassification of BMF papers by CIA highlighted the fact that unjustified loans can be obtained by bribing the Bank's top gun.

Should it really matter to have the perception index down rather than actual measure of corruption, everyone should be playing their role.

Yesterday, MACC raided on Felda to remand and investigate five current and former Felda officials on allegation of corruption. It involved former director-general, ex-deputy director-general (strategic resources), the former operations officer in charge of its sturgeon farming project in Taman Negara, the current head of its London Properties and an assistant administration officer. [Read here]

An Australian firm revealed a Felda subsidiary paid for the employment costs and living expenses of its former deputy director-general's daughter in Australia [read here].

Overhead sources claim MACC will do something on a Tabung Haji subsidiary.

If all these actions will result in lower CPI ranking, so be it. But to make stupid claims like Rafizi had done for political mileage, it is not good [read MMO here].

A wrong decision is a wrong decision. What is important is to have more right decisions than wrong ones. And to learn from the wrong move to not repeat again. To lose RM64 million, it is not embezzlement or corruption.

Out of investment portfolio of RM64 billion, the loss to Tabung Haji is a pittance 0.1% and could be more than compensated for!

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