Dari Borneo ke Minang

Work Commitments...

2009-07-23T13:20:00.006+08:00

I would have loved to write more over the past few weeks. Unfortunately relentless workloads have kept me at bay as far as blogging is concerned. I have not had time to even browse through some of my favourite blogs what more to post my own "stories".

My workloads are not getting any lesser but would actually gather more momentum over the next few months.

Hopefully by year end, I would be able to write more, especially when I make my annual trip back to Borneo...

p/s: I shall attempt to make mental notes on the happenings (especially those related to FELDA and PETRONAS) for future postings.

I am sorry but...

2009-06-30T11:39:00.009+08:00

I am sorry, sad, disgusted and angry.

Why? FELDA is doomed!

Imagine an organisation that paid its debts ahead of time and then was able to build a reserve of approximately RM3 billion now has to sought to bank borrowings to do replanting...!

Whispers heard indicated that FELDA is talking to RHB Bank to take a loan of RM2 billion for replanting! This was unheard off during the good old days before Yusof Noor and Bakke Salleh!

So what has these two goons done to FELDA?

Plunder and rape it real good that it has to borrow...

Now it would be good reason to go for listing since all reserves have been siphoned out?

What bullshit (pardon for using the word!) is Najib talking about listing and need to go abroad?

The investment in US has gone BAD... Words around said that it is REAL BAD that employees there are deserting the company! How much was paid for the company? RM300 million or was it US$300 million?

It has been going abroad and it has been making money. The only thing it was not doing was succumbing to politicians whims and fancies...!!!! It was quietly doing business of making money without the interference of the likes of Yusof Noor and Bakke Salleh...

Now there are even whispers that Bakke Salleh is designated to take over from Hassan Merican (Pak Hassan) of Petronas. Previous whisper was that Bakke Salleh would take over from Rodzi in Amanah Raya. I suppose Amanah Raya is not as big a gold mine as Petronas.

After successfully raping FELDA dry, Bakke now must move to bigger pots and Petronas would be the biggest of them all. I am sorry Pak Hassan! You may still be in Petronas but only as a Non-Executive Chairman. You would cry your heart out if and when Bakke comes in to take your place... I am sorry!

If Najib wants to survive beyond his First Term as PM, then he should act quickly. Otherwise he would be in the annals of history as the FIRST Prime Minister of Malaysia and FIRST UMNO President to be the head of opposition!

FELDA Group of Companies are 51% owned by over 140,000 settlers/members of Koperasi Permodalan FELDA Berhad. Why the need for listing?

Najib, please rethink of the advises you get. Especially from the likes of Yusof Noor and Bakke Salleh.

It has been often repeated that Bakke Salleh is close to Rosmah. If that is true, would Rosmah then be the real Prime Minister of Malaysia?

I am just too disgusted, angry and sad that I am lost for words...

I am sorry for all the hard and diligent work of pre-Yusof Noor tenure as Chairman of FELDA...!!! All your hard work has gone into the trash!

Grounds for dissent in a KL coffee party - The Malaysian Insider

2009-06-10T09:50:00.004+08:00

I am in serious need of assistance... I cannot comprehend certain things.

Possibly due to lack of intelligence...

Is it an offence to wear black?

If I happened to wear a black t-shirt and was at the vicinity, would I be arrested? What would the arrest be based on? Public disturbance? Obstructing justice?

Is it against the law to wear black? If it is, kindly enlighten me. I would need to discard the black shirts that I have.

How about black pants? Black short? Black briefs? Black singlets?

Maybe the logical explanation lies in the impending El Nino???

Black tend to absorb heat.

Given the expected rise in temperature (by as much as 3 Celsius!), wearing black would make a person susceptible to heat-stroke?

So the authorities are mindful of the bad health effects on humans and being caring, they would arrest those wearing black...?

For the life of me, I cannot fathom any other logical reasons. Those brilliant fellows from Oxbridge or some Ivy League, please enlighten me! Please, pretty pretty please!!!

The Unsettling Case of NEC Chairman - A Kadir Jasin

2009-06-03T16:13:00.003+08:00

My comments on A Kadir Jasin's "The Unsettling Case of NEC Chairman".

________________________

Sdr. A Kadir Jasin,

During pre-Pak Lah times, Maybank was known as an "institutionalised" bank. Decisions were not too speedy but usually well thought off. There were exceptions to the norm but these cases were small and few in numbers.

This is one bank that was known to be "difficult" when it comes to debt restructuring because the interests of its stakeholders were held high.

This stance appear to have changed when Pak Lah became the PM, especially so towards the end of his premiership. I wonder why?

I am not defending Amirsham but I seriously think there were external interference in their investment decisions culminating to "overpriced" venture into Indonesia and few other countries.

During the times of Dr. M, I don't think the interferences were as great compared to Pak Lah's time.

I could be totally wrong but I have a weird feeling that Amirsham was arm-twisted to pushing through those overpriced investments.

To "silence" him, he was appointed as Minister and to make sure those investments went through as planned, Wahid was made CEO of Maybank. [Despite such accolades heaped towards Wahid, I seriously don't think he did such a great job in UEM or Telekom.]

This practice of "wracking" a fully functional and profitable organisation is not confined to just Maybank. Look at FELDA and now, Petronas (as mentioned in your previous write-up)!

We have institutions that have served a large number of people being wracked for the benefit of a few...!!! This practice should be stopped!

Back to Najib's NEC.

I concur with you that Najib appears to suffer from "hangat-hangat tahi ayam" in his actions. A series of high profile walkabouts were published and then “silence is golden”. Does it mean that now the press are “not allowed” to cover those walkabouts?

Najib’s KPI does not look good at this point in time. More and more of his decisions are being questioned. Emphasis and focus are not on the economy or the global crisis. I am not too sure what the focus is on right now! Maybe milking whatever is left... ???

In June/July 2008, I commented that Malaysia’s economic outlook appears bleak at best. Back then export orders were being slashed by as much as 80%. Yet Nor Mohamed Yakcop, the then FM2 and Najib, as FM1, were adamant that Malaysia would not be affected by the global crisis.

There is nothing wrong in admitting the “difficult”business environment arising from the crisis in the US, Europe and Japan. Yes our export to the US is lesser now compared to 1 to 2 decades ago. But if our other export markets are also affected by US crisis, how could we escape!

Now Najib admits that the scenario is far worse that anticipated. Admitting alone would not solve the problem.

Speedy actions must follow.

Coordinated efforts must be enforced throughout the whole government machinery. Sense of urgency must be instilled throughout the whole set up.

I agree with Pak Belalang, the rumblings about “buying of new fighter jets” and training of volunteers in mosques are distressing. Why are we focusing “helping” out other nations’ industries/companies?

Without external interferences, Amirsham did reasonably well as a CEO/President of a bank. But that does not mean he would be a good Chief for NEC. NEC needs someone with far greater foresight, far greater resolve to move plans into actions. One who knows when to speak, when to be silent. One that understands how the whole government machinery works and how to make them tick! The person need not be an economics major or graduate but one who thinks on his/her feet... And this person need not be a graduate from Oxbridge or some fancy Ivy League!

Do we have such a person? I think we do. Najib must decide without fear or favour and must thoroughly think before deciding.

Najib must focus on the economy and Rosmah should refrain from being too visible, forceful and domineering. If Najib is not able to focus on the economy then his days as a PM would not be long. Instead he would go down into annals of Malaysia as the first UMNO President that became the Head of Opposition in Parliament...

First step, appoint a credible Head of NEC.

Second, stop messing with FELDA!

Third, refrain from messing with Petronas.

Forth, remove deadwoods from the government machinery.

While doing all these steps, FOCUS ON THE ECONOMY... !!! Speedy decisions are required...!!! Satisfying UMNO warlords would not ensure Najib's survival beyond the next GE!

Sekian.

On dissent, is Najib worse than Dr M? - Leslie Lau

2009-06-01T11:32:00.008+08:00

THE MALAYSIAN INSIDER - Article by Leslie Lau

_________________________________

MAY 31 – Is the current government worse than the Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad administration in its response to dissent?

Consider the use, or rather abuse, of the police force to serve and protect the reputation of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

Take into account how the police have used vague and controversial laws like sedition to arrest and charge nearly anyone who is unhappy, dissatisfied or critical of Najib.

Bear in mind the DAP’s Lim Kit Siang was questioned by police yesterday for criminal defamation and sedition. And what did he say in his alleged crime which warrants an investigation? Well, he blamed Najib for the constitutional crisis in Perak.

Hark back, too, on the recent by-election campaign in Bukit Gantang, which straddled the period in which power was transferred over officially by Tun Abdullah Badawi.

Remember how it was decreed then by the authorities that the name of Altantuya Shaariibuu should not be mentioned by politicians while on the stump.

Step back and one could only come to one conclusion – that decision was to stop the further sullying of Najib’s reputation.

Be aware also of how the police came down hard on a campaign to mock Najib’s 1Malaysia slogan by having the Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan literally declare black t-shirts illegal.

Contemplate too how Najib has played out the Perak crisis. While it started in February before he took over as PM, many Malaysians will remember how the three Pakatan Rakyat (PR) defectors were taken to Putrajaya to meet Najib, not Abdullah.

Considering that, it would not be completely unfair to blame him, among others, for the constitutional crisis that is Perak.

Bear in mind too that today is just Day 59 of the Najib era.

Consider then, that Dr Mahathir never ever presided over controversial and alleged disregard for the constitution by the judiciary until his seventh year in office after winning two general elections by crushing majorities.

Take into account, also, the fact that Dr Mahathir had also presided over mass arrests through the use of the Internal Security Act (ISA), but the fact remains that even then it could have been reasonably argued that there were serious racial and political tensions which merited the use of draconian preventive detention.

Be aware, too, of how Dr Mahathir was a man known for common sense who never went as far as to ban black t-shirts or prohibit the mention of certain names, which he would certainly have considered unnecessary.

Take heed of the fact that Dr Mahathir was always a fighter, that he would often take on critics head-on and argue his way to win the votes. It was not always about how he crushed dissent because Dr Mahathir recognised the importance of also winning the hearts and minds of voters.

Be mindful that Dr Mahathir, while loathe by many is probably equally loved by many too, just as he is respected and feared.

And he did not achieve all of that by having a police force that banned t-shirts of an unfavourable colour and prohibited names from being mentioned.

Consider too that Dr Mahathir was in power for 22 years.

It may be unfair to compare a man who has been in power for 22 years against one who has only been at the reins for 59 days.

But, so far, it is clear that Najib’s administration has not heralded the return of Mahathirism. So far, it is worse.

___________________________

Comment:

Despite not agreeing to some of the mega-projects introduced by Dr. M, I have to admit that I admire him. Admire him for his thoughts, logic, hard working ethics etc. but not for the excessiveness.

In fact, I would have agreed to his ALL mega-projects if they were NOT over-priced!

Regardless of what Anwar Ibrahim or others say of Dr. M, this man can think. Whether we agree to his methods is a different issue altogether.

If the people care to think of Wawasan 2020 carefully, the "racial" issues being faced now would not have any merit for mention in both main stream media as well as alternatives!

It is unfortunate that Najib is saddled with huge amount of baggage. The closest, have been said, is his other significant half.

When Pak Lah was sworn in as PM, some people were quoted as saying "KJ would be the main cause of Pak Lah's downfall...". Reflecting on these words made one wonder "Would Rosmah would be main cause of Najib's downfall?".

I don't know but it would be HIGHLY ADVISABLE for Rosmah to lay low from being reported too much in mainstream medias! Dah meluat tengok...!

If I can feel "meluat", so could others...

Malaysia's economy contracts 6.2% - The Star Online, 28 May 2009

2009-05-28T08:30:00.003+08:00

Well...

The number is out....

What can I say?

I need to check who won the bet? I certainly did not.

-3.73% is quite way off -6.2%...

If 2Q2009 is expected to be quite similar to 1Q2009 results then Malaysia is technically in recession!

Recovery in 3Q and 4Q2009 must be huge to offset 1Q and 2Q2009 to ensure positive GDP growth for 2009. Would this be possible given the uncertainty in too many fronts?

Kewibawaan Petronas Wajib Dipertahankan - A Kadir Jasin

2009-05-27T17:36:00.003+08:00

Komen saya terhadap tulisan A Kadir Jasin bertarikh 27 May 2009.

____________________________

Sdr. A Kadir Jasin,

Jikalau Petronas "jatuh" ke tangan individu-individu tertentu yang kontraversial maka "The Beginning of an Ending has set in...".

Saya dah lihat macamana FELDA telah diporak-perandakan setelah R M Alias bersara dalam tahun 2001.

Saya tidak pasti samada kemunculan golongan tertentu (termasok ahli politik) dalam organisasi strategic pernah membawa tuah.

Yang saya lihat, kemasukkan "tokoh-tokoh" tertentu (terutama sekali ahli politik) selalu membawa padah.

Segala usaha serta pengorbanan tenaga kerja Petronas selama ini akan menjadi sia-sia.

Sejak Petroleum Development Act 1974 diwartakan, Petronas telah dikendali dan diurus olih golongan profesional dan berwibawa. Golongan yang tidak mudah tunduk dengan telujuk para politikus serta suku-sakat mereka.

Jika golongan profesional dan berwibawa ini di ganti dengan golongan berkepentingan, maka jahanamlah Petronas sepertimana yang dialami olih FELDA pada masakini!

Sekian.

Spending is ALWAYS easier than Saving

2009-05-25T11:02:00.010+08:00

To build up an organisation from zero takes courage, determination, integrity and foresight.

Not many people could actually claim to have such resolute during these "modern" days. Now people are generally more susceptible to temptations that tend to make objective judgement difficult.

To repay debts is a huge challenge. Repayment of debts ahead of time is often unheard off, especially among government agencies.

It takes an equally huge challenge for organisation to build its reserve. But it takes less than a blink of an eye for the reserves to be depleted.

This is exactly what is happening to FELDA now!

Since taking over Chairmanship of FELDA in 2001 from R M Alias, Yusof Noor has proven without doubt that "Spending is ALWAYS easier than Saving..." and integrity, credibility and foresight are not prerequisite to being a good spender!

FELDA - Part 3 (The Beginning of an Ending...) would showcase the need to have people with integrity, credibility, and foresight to lead/head an organisation!

Perak - The "Confusion" Continues...

2009-05-23T16:56:00.005+08:00

The Appeal Court decided the "rightful" Menteri Besar of Perak is Zambry.

While I respect the learned Judges' decision, this "confusion" would continue. For all intent and purposes, the decision should be made by the State Assembly or the people of Perak.

A State Assembly sitting should be called and the motion of no-confidence against Nizar should be tabled. The Speaker (from Pakatan) should allow this motion to be tabled accordingly.

If that does not break the impasse then a fresh election should be called. This way the people of Perak would be the decision makers. We should try to avoid putting this very heavy responsibility on the shoulder of a very few people as discontentment would persist.

My five-sen worth of thoughts...

First Quarter 2009 GDP Numbers

2009-05-22T16:45:00.000+08:00

Next week Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) is expected to announce the country's first quarter (1Q2009) GDP numbers.

A number of predictions have been made, ranging from -1% to -4.9%.

I have had the honour to "bet" (albeit with no cash or "in-kind" at stake) with the Economists in the organization that I work for. The only "reward" for correctly predicting the 1Q2009 GDP results is the right to say "I told you so!".

I am not an economist and the only economics subject I took was "ECONS 101". Nonetheless that would not prevent me from making my prediction.

My prediction is based on whatever indicators my colleague would rattle to me whenever I asked for statistics on industrial production, manufacturing, demand, exports, etc.

Basically my prediction is based on "gut-feel". No complex computation or model used, just the old, pure "gut-feel"!

I predict that the 1Q2009 GDP would be -3.73% compared to theirs that ranged from -2% to -4%.

We will wait till the official announcement by BNM next week, on 27 May 2009 I was told.

Whoever predicted correctly or is closest to the announced number would have the right to say "I told you so!"

Let the "best predictor" wins...

Singapore economy contracts less than expected in Q1

2009-05-22T16:30:00.004+08:00

SINGAPORE: Singapore said yesterday its export-driven economy contracted a better-than-expected 10.1 per cent year on year in the first quarter but warned it saw no clear signs of a quick recovery.

The trade ministry maintained its forecast for the economy to shrink between 9 and 6 per cent for the whole of 2009 as the city-state grapples with its worst recession since independence 44 years ago.

Despite the steep drop, it was better than the 11.5 per cent fall earlier tipped by the government.

In the three months to March gross domestic product (GDP) fell 14.6 per cent compared with the previous quarter on a seasonally adjusted basis.

However, this was also smaller than the government estimate of a 19.7 per cent drop and better than the 16.4 per cent decline recorded in the December quarter, the trade ministry said.

Analysts and the government said GDP may have hit bottom, but recovery may take a while.

Singapore's fortunes remain dependent on the health of the world's major economies, which buy much of its exports, including microchips and pharmaceuticals.

The economy fell into recession late last year as the global economic downturn accelerated but still managed to grow 1.1 per cent over the 12 months.

"The reason we have a forecast range of minus 6 to minus 9 per cent (GDP decline) is because we really don't know," Ravi Menon, second permanent secretary at the trade ministry, said at a briefing.

"What we are a little surer of is that we have probably seen the bottom.

But what we do not know is whether we are going to stay at the bottom for a little bit longer or whether we are going to start having a decisive rebound." Menon said there was no need for another stimulus "at this point in time" after a US$20.5 billion (US$1 = RM3.53) package unveiled by the government in January.

"The situation has not worsened since the last reading," he said, adding that "things are not likely to get worse from this point on." The key manufacturing sector contracted by 26.6 per cent from the previous quarter's shrinkage of 21.3 per cent as the global downturn hurt demand for exports.

Services, another pillar of the economy, contracted 10.3 per cent quarter-on-quarter as tourism-related arrivals tumbled, but the decline was less than the 15 per cent fall in the three months, the ministry said.

"Despite the ugly data, the good news is that first quarter 2009 could mark the very deep bottom of this economic cycle," said economist Song Seng Wun of CIMB-GK.

"Year-on-year GDP contractions should narrow even if we do not see sequential improvements in the next few quarters, as year-ago bases are less challenging." - AFP

____________________________

Comment:

The Public Relation strategies employed by Malaysia and Singapore appear to be very contrasting.

It does appear that politicians in Singapore have a tendency to err on the conservative side. With that strategy, I suspect that they would not be ridiculed too much when the official results are announced. After all, it is better than "we" predicted!

In Malaysia, it is quite a direct opposite. Politicians here in Malaysia have a tendency to paint a rosier picture. However when the official results are published a lot of explanations are required.

Interesting...? I think so.

THINK DEEP AND HARD ABOUT THIS, BN & PR!!!! - Zorro Unmasked

2009-05-21T13:36:00.002+08:00

Taken (without permission) from Zorro Unmasked...

Iktibar Daripada Cerita Presiden Obama

2009-05-17T21:32:00.008+08:00

Komen saya terhadap komen Sdr. Roti Planta di blog A Kadir Jasin...

___________________________________

Sdr. A Kadir Jasin,

Mohon permisi untuk menjawab sikit komen Sdr. Roti Planta.

Memang benar ada dikalangan pelajar yang "dipinggir" olih JPA ditaja olih badan-badan koperat tertentu. Memang benar keputusan mereka tidak berapa "cemerlang".

Tetapi diantara kes-kes yang saya ketahui terdiri dari pelajar straight "A's". Mereka ini bukan semuanya dari bangsa Cina. Malah ada juga orang Melayu dan India yang dapat tajaan dari kerajaan Singapura.

Jika diteliti dari sudut keputusan mereka yang saya perkatakan adalah terdiri dari golongan pelajar cemerlang tetapi tidak mendapat biasiswa JPA.

Adakah ini ada kaitan dengan status ibubapa mereka yang bukan orang berada?

Contoh 1:

Abang saya pernah bercerita mengenai rakan sebilik dia semasa dikolej. Rakan tersebut adalah anak salah seorang Tan Sri dan juga Ketua Setiausaha (Secretary General) di kementerian tertentu.

Anak Tan Sri ini mendapat biasiswa JPA, diberi elaun RM500 sebulan dan sebuah kereta olih bapanya.

Walaupun dari segi keputusan rakan abang saya ini tidaklah secemerlang berbanding dengan abang saya. Namun beliau mendapat biasiswa JPA dan abang saya tidak. Abang saya dibiayai olih pinjaman yang diberi olih yayasan tertentu.

Selepas tamat universiti, rakan sebilik abang saya ini telah melanjutkan pelajaran ke peringkat Ijazah Serjana.

Selepas tamat rakan ini tidak mahu kembali ke Malaysia untuk berkhidmat di sini.

Selepas tamat abang saya pulak terus berkhidmat dengan kerajaan. Beliau juga dapat melanjutkan pelajaran ke peringkat Serjana dan Doktor Falsafah.

Sekarang abang saya adalah ketua jabatan disalahsatu Fakulti di IPTA.

Rakan sebilik anak Tan Sri itu pulak masih berkerja diluar negara.

Contoh 2:

Ada dikalangan kawan-kawan isteri saya telah diberi biasiswa olih kerajaan Singapura selepas mendapat keputusan cemerlang di peringkat SPM. Selepas menamatkan khusus peringkat Ijazah mereka terus bekerja di Singapura.

Contoh 3:

Baru-baru ni (dalam setahun dua yang lalu) anak buah rakan sepejabat saya telah mendapat biasiswa dari kerajaan Singapura kerana keputusan cemerlang di peringkat SPM.

Budak ini telah memohon biasiswa JPA tetapi gagal walaupun mendapat straight A's.

Ada lagi beberapa contoh yang lain yang pernah dicerita kepada saya. Diantara persoalan saya:

(1) Kenapa mereka ini tidak mendapat biasiswa JPA walaupun keputusan mereka cemerlang?

(2) Apakah kriteria untuk mendapat biasiswa JPA?

(3) Adakah status ibubapa diambilkira?

(4) Kenapa kerajaan asyik merungut pasal "brain-drain" bila ada dikalangan yang setia bekerja disini amat berkeliber?

Banyak persoalan yang timbul dan tidak terjawab...

Yang pasti, seperti kata Sdr. AKJ, ramai pulak isteri Menteri yang diberi anugerah walaupun sumbangan mereka tidaklah sepertimana yang diperkatakan.

Malaysia, oh Malaysia, apo dah jadi?

Sekian.

Khairy ticks off PKR leaders on ‘hotel democracy’

2009-05-16T14:03:00.007+08:00

BUKIT MERTAJAM: Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin has chided PKR leaders for treating democracy like a hotel where they can check in and out whenever they wished.

He said the resignation of Penanti assemblyman Mohamad Fairus Khairudin was proof that PKR did not uphold democracy and respect the wishes of the people who voted him in.

“You must honour your pledge to be their representative and not resign as and when you like. This is not a hotel where you can check in and check out anytime you feel like doing so.

“This involves the trust and expectations of the people who supported you,” he said after a meet-the-people session at the Guar Perahu mosque near here yesterday.

Khairy said his movement has started its meet-the-people programmes which would be continued even if by-elections are held in the areas.

“By-elections are not the main reason for Umno to be close to the people. We will be with them rain or shine,” he added.

Khairy said the wing had expressed its views on whether Barisan Nasional should contest in the Penanti by-election but declined to elaborate, adding that the wing would gather information and present them to the party leadership before a decision is made on Monday.

Khairy also urged opposition parties not to be engrossed in politicking as it was detrimental to the country which was facing an economic slowdown.

He expressed the hope that the Perak Mentri Besar issue would be resolved either through the courts or the state assembly and that the majority support in the assembly should be respected.

________________________

Comment:

I seriously think this young punk feels that the public has forgotten his corrupt ways in winning the UMNO Youth Chief post. I for one would not forget who he is and what he represent!

He is really desperate to "promote" himself after laying low for way too long! He seems to be a person that badly need a "fix" or else he would suffer from withdrawal syndrome, just like smokers that have not had their cigarette for a few hours!

Who is he to "tick" off anyone? He has lost that "moral ground" to tick anyone and anything.

If Najib and Co do not fix this guy fast enough, the chances are he would be the real thorn in UMNO's recovery...

The longer Najib & Co wait, the worst would be the repercussion for Najib as well as UMNO. There is no two way about it!

Iktibar Daripada Cerita Presiden Obama - A Kadir Jasin

2009-05-16T13:55:00.006+08:00

Komen saya terhadap posting Sdr. A Kadir Jasin yang bertarikh 16 Mei 2009.

_____________________________________

Sdr. A Kadir Jasin,

Di Malaysia sekarang ni kalau kita baling batu kearah sekelompok manusia, kebarangkalian batu tersebut mengena seorang "Datuk" amatlah tinggi!

Selain anugerah kebesaran, perkara ini berlarutan sehingga ke penganugerahan biasiswa!

Pemberian biasiswa di Malaysia lebih kepada "technical know who" dan bukan "technical know how" sperti juga pemberian kontrak-kontrak lumayan.

Pada penghematan saya yang agak sempit, keutamaan diberi kepada anak-anak pembesar UMNO, MCA, MIC, dan pegawai-pegawai tinggi kerajaan. Olih kerana itu terdapat ramai pelajar cemerlang yang "lari" ke negara lain.

Disebabkan olih sifat serta kelakuan sesetengah insan berpangkat di Malaysia ini, negara yang paling beruntung adalah Singapura.

Setiap tahun para pegawai Singapura akan menjelajah ke seluruh semenanjung Tanah Melayu untuk mencari serta menawarkan biasiswa kepada pelajar kita yang cemerlang tetapi diketepikan olih pihak berkenaan.

Dan setiap tahun bila Parlimen kita bersidang, Menteri Sumber Manusia akan memberi alasan-alasan kenapa kita mengalami "brain drain".

Menteri berkenaan juga akan mengariskan langkah-langkah bagi mengurangkan masaalah brain-drain ini. Diantara langkah-langkah yang pernah disebut adalah menawarkan pakej-pakej menarik untuk para intelek ini.

Bolihkah kita buat kesimpulan bahawa kerajaan Malaysia telah gagal dalam mengekang "kehilangan tenaga intelek" ini kerana:

(1) ketamakkan dalam memberi biasiswa kepada yang layak dan memerlukan?;

(2) sifat mementingkan diri yang agak keterlaluan dikalangan pembesar-pembesar dan pegawai-pegawai tertinggi kerajaan serta parti politik?

Bolihkah kita kata bahawa negara akan terus menderita "kehilangan tenaga intelek" akibat

(1) dari sifat-sifat tamak para pemimpin-pemimpin serta anak-bini dan menantu?

(2) dari ketidakikhlasan para pemimpin negara dalam menjalankan amanah, amanat serta mandat dari rakyat?

(3) dari kekurangan daya pemikiran yang tajam dikalangan pemimpin-pemimpin negara?

Sekian.

For MekYam

2009-05-15T22:54:00.004+08:00

Salam MekYam,

I was browsing through my older postings and I notice a comment from you on the FELDA story. I have since written more stories on FELDA.

For your information, I have changed my blog from "Quick Draw Botak" to "Dari Borneo ke Minang".

More "stories" about FELDA have been published...

Happy Reading...

Khairy Jamaluddin - Is Najib easing media censorship on him?

2009-05-15T15:51:00.004+08:00

After some quiet months since the UMNO General Assembly, suddenly KJ is quoted in NST slamming Anwar Ibrahim. Twice in fact!

Is the media censorship on him easing?

Is Najib relenting to KJ?

Is KJ beginning to "promote" himself again after remaining docile/laying low since his infamous UMNO Youth Chief win?

Does KJ really think everyone has forgotten how he won the UMNO Youth Chief post?

Does KJ think he won the UMNO election fair and square?

Interesting...

KJ slams Anwar for Perak fresh polls dare

2009-05-15T15:45:00.009+08:00

NST online - 14 May 2009

SEREMBAN, Thurs:

Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin yesterday hit out at opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for daring Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to call for elections in Perak.

Khairy said the Barisan Nasional was not afraid of state elections as alleged by Anwar and was ready for anything.

“We have nothing to be afraid of and are ready to face the people,” he said.

He also called the Parti Keadilan Rakyat leader a hypocrite for courting defections last year but favouring elections when they occurred against the Pakatan Rakyat.

“When things work in their favour, they are quiet but when we managed to obtain a stay of execution, they claim there’s a conspiracy.
“Ultimately, it is a question of principles, consistency and standards, which is something they (the opposition) don’t stand for,” he said after attending an Umno Youth meeting at the state Umno building near here today.

Khairy said the political situation in Perak could only be solved through two processes, legal or legislative.

“Let the legal process be completed first before proceeding with the legislative process,” he said, adding that Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir was the rightful Perak menteri besar as BN had the majority of state seats.

He said the BN would work hard to win over the people of Perak.

____________________________________

Comment:

I would love to use profanities to describe how I view this person. However I would not do it simply because I would not stoop too low to his level of dignity, integrity, credibility etc...

Khairy: Anwar a hypocrite

2009-05-15T15:41:00.008+08:00

NST online - 14 May 2009

SEREMBAN: Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin yesterday hit out at opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for daring Barisan Nasional chairman Datuk Seri Najib Razak to call for elections in Perak.

Khairy said Barisan Nasional was not afraid of state elections as alleged by Anwar.

"We have nothing to be afraid of and are ready to face the people."

He also called the Parti Keadilan Rakyat leader a hypocrite for courting defections last year but favouring elections when they occurred against the Pakatan Rakyat.

"When things work in their favour, they are quiet but when we managed to obtain a stay of execution, they claim there's a conspiracy.
"Ultimately, it is a question of principles, consistency and standards, which is something they (the opposition) don't stand for," he said after attending an Umno Youth meeting at the state Umno building near here yesterday.

Khairy said the political situation in Perak could only be solved through two processes -- legal or legislative.

"Let the legal process be completed first before proceeding with the legislative process," he said, adding that Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir was the rightful Perak menteri besar as BN had the majority of state seats.

________________________________________

Comment:

One hypocrite talking bad about another...

These two jokers are some of the biggest hypocrites today...

The Beauty of Mathematics...

2009-05-13T13:16:00.000+08:00

When I was in school, the only subject that I could really excel in was Mathematics. Physics was a distant second! [Kindly note that here "excel" is relative to the other subjects that I took.]

To me, mathematics was easy or "kacang putih" as some would put it.

Why is mathematics easy?

It is easy because there is a definite answer to almost every problem, save of course when we talk about infinity and complex numbers. But, in every day life, how many things involve infinity and complex numbers?

Over time, I find that mathematics is very useful in testing logic dished out by people, especially politician. Every equation must be equal, otherwise we cannot terms it as "equation". The left side must be equal to the right.

As I have written previously, the logic behind what is affordable to a person could be quantified if we know (for a fact) his/her sources of income. No amount of convincing would be sufficient to defy the logic of mathematics.

Using mathematics we would be able to reasonably determine whether a salaried person is living within their means. This is especially so if the person holds public office.

If what is earned legally does not equate to ones lifestyle, then some facts must be missing.

For example, if I am earning RM5,000 a month or RM60,000 a year, I certainly would not be able to afford a RM1 million car or house. My monthly salary would definitely not be sufficient to pay my monthly installment.

Unless, of course, I come from a rich and well-to-do family that has a foundation to its name. The other possibility is the accumulation of wealth through marriage i.e. I married a rich spouse. Or I may have won a huge jackpot lottery or I have a "side" business. Then in these cases, my monthly salary are meant just for pocket money...

There are, I think, a few more possibilities of getting and/or being rich but nevertheless not too many.

It would be a totally different scenario if I am into business (legitimate or otherwise). Then how much I could make would be very much dependent on how hard I work and, of course, a little luck.

This is the beauty of mathematics. Mathematics is based on logic. Logic that could be comprehended by humans, like you and I.

If we were to go by this "comprehending" logic, could we conclude that politicians (at least the ones living the lifestyle of the super rich and famous) are not human?

Bakke Salleh Contract Extended...?

2009-05-12T21:56:00.000+08:00

There are whispers that Bakke Salleh's contract as Group Managing Director of FELDA Holdings Berhad (FHB) has been extended by another two years.

It is interesting to note the following:

(1) Who extended his contract?

(2) Is the extension valid?

As far as Directorship in companies are concern, the tenure as Director could only be extended by the majority shareholder(s) at an Annual General Meeting (AGM) or Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM).

If the majority shareholder(s) does/did not consent to the extension, the Director concern is retired and be out of the Board.

The first question that come to mind is "was there an AGM or EGM?".

If there was no AGM or EGM then how was Bakke Salleh's contract extended?

Some quarters would insinuate that Rosmah extended Bakke's contract. There are no hard evidence to point towards that direction though it would be good if it could be proven to be true.

If there was an AGM or EGM, why did KPF allow such extension?

If KPF did object to the extension then Bakke's extension would be invalid.

If KPF did not object to the extension then KPF has failed to perform its fiduciary duty to its members. Those responsible should be removed from KPF's Board and/or as representative in FHB's Board.

With Bakke's extension, one thing is quite certain - he would continue milking the FELDA Group of Companies and possibly FELDA, the government agency itself.

There is however a faint ray of hope if a new Chairman (to replace Yusof Noor) with high integrity and credibility is chosen to helm FELDA, the agency.

Unfortunately, until that happens, the whole Group (companies as well as agency) would continue to be milked by unscrupulous people, Bakke included.

Many years ago, I have cautioned those with knowledge that the beginning to an end of FELDA (agency and companies) starts the moment Yusof Noor is appointed as Chairman.

Yusof Noor is/was a politician and as (ex-)politician he has too many quarters to satisfy. FELDA is being used to satisfy those undeserving quarters.

So far I don't think I have been wrong in my assessment...

To R M Alias and others who build FELDA over the years, your hard work and prudence is going to be a waste by politicians and unscrupulous people like Bakke Salleh. I am sorry...!!!

Muhyiddin says he can't predict what will happen in Perak - The Malaysian Insider

2009-05-12T13:11:00.000+08:00

My comments on The Malaysian Insider's article "Muhyiddin says he can't predict what will happen in Perak" - Tuesday, 12 May 2009

________________________________

Perak - Dissolve the State Assembly

When there is a political deadlock, the rakyat must be given a chance to decide who should represent their interests.

Since the High Court has made a ruling, the ruling must be uphold.

And whoever has been declared the rightful MB must seek consent to dissolve the State Assembly.

The ruler, in this case the Sultan of Perak, must seriously consider allowing the people to decide who should administer the State.

If appeal and counter-appeal are allowed to proceed, no one party would be satisfied. In the end, the rakyat suffers.

So it is only logical to go back to the voters, the rakyat, to choose who they want.

This process is a waste of public funds but, unfortunately, it has to be done.

Neither party would want to give in to the other.

So let the rakyat decide. All parties then must abide by the rakyat's decision.

Common sense must prevail...!!!

Komen Terhadap Cadangan Pak Belalang diblog A Kadir Jasin

2009-05-12T08:50:00.000+08:00

PakBelalang telah membuat cadangan diblog A Kadir Jasin pada artikel "Sepanjang Jalan Perjalanan" bertarikh 08 Mei 2009.

Saya telah memberi sedikit komen yang tidak diminta mengenai cadangan PakBelalang.

_________________________________

PakBelalang telah menulis:

SHAH ALAM, May 11 (Bernama) -- Umno will harness the power of the new media to attract the young towards the party but not in the way the opposition has been using them to undermine leaders of other parties.

comment:

UMNO kalau nak pikat anak-anak muda Melayu berjinak dengan parti UMNO senang saja.

Tiap-tiap cawangan mesti disediakan UMNO Social Club House untuk anak-anak muda. Adakan berbagai aktiviti social yang boleh menyatu-padukan masyarakat pemuda dicawangan-cawangan. Tak payah cerita pasal politik sangat. Make it a very informal interaction among themselves and give them free hand to organise whatever activities they want to initiate. Ketua Bahagian and Ketua Cawangan mestilah proaktif, dan beri sokongan dan guidance untuk mereka.

Kalau facilities di Club House itu canggih dengan segala kelengkapan seperti internet, gym dll. lagi kuat tarikan anak-anak muda bersama UMNO.

12:23 AM

_________________________________

Sdr. A Kadir Jasin,

Mohon permisi untok komen sikit mengenai cadangan PakBelalang.

Cadangan PakBelalang memang menarik dan berkemungkinan berjaya menarik golongan muda. Cuma kalau dibuka kepada semua golongan mesyarakat termasuk kaum lain, saya rasa bolih "kill two birds with one stone".

Akan tetapi cadangan ini mungkin susah untok dilaksanakan kerana kebanyakkan para pemimpin UMNO disetiap peringkat amat pentingkan diri sendiri.

Maka agak susah untuk mereka membuka kemudahan kepada mesyarakat umum jika tiada "pulangan yang memuaskan" untuk diri sendiri.

Kebanyakkan pemimpin UMNO sekarang amat "shortsighted". Bukan seperti pemimpin UMNO dulu kala.

Yang utama adalah kekayaan dan kesenangan diri sendiri dan bukan mesyarakat.

Jika sesuatu cadangan itu bernas tetapi tidak memberi pulangan yang memuaskan dalam masa terdekat maka cadangan tersebut tidak baik.

UMNO sekarang memilih untok "berkasta". Golongan elit yang kaya raya dan golongan miskin, papa kedana.

Golongan miskin menjadi hamba kepada golongan kaya untuk "suap pagi makan pagi, suap petang makan petang".

Semua ini dengan alasan budi yang ditaburkan olih para pemimpin terdahulu.

Sekian.

Perak...

2009-05-11T21:02:00.000+08:00

The High Court declared Nizar as the rightful MB of Perak.

What next?

The only certainty is "more resources would be wasted..."

Simple Mathematics - Part 2 of 2

2009-05-11T14:47:00.001+08:00

We all know that the current MB of Selangor (Khalid Ibrahim from PKR) declared his monthly salary as RM50,000+. This figure is inclusive of entertainment allowance etc.

Assuming Khalid's gross monthly salary (everything included) is RM55,000.

For simplicity sake, let us assume that EPF deduction is 11% and tax/zakat deduction is 27%.

On a RM55,000 salary, RM6,050 per month would be deducted as EPF contribution.

Applying a 27% deduction for taxes/zakat on the balance RM48,950 would mean a take-home pay of RM35,733.50.

Assuming that all Khalid and his family needs are taken care off by the State Government, he could theoretically save RM35,733.50 per month.

This effectively means Khalid would not have any pocket money, his wife would not be given any cash for whatever she needs or wants to buy. His children would also not be given any pocket money. All household expenses would be borne by the State Government. His personal cars would not be refuelled and remained parked at home.

Assuming Khalid wants to build a RM14 million home when he retires from politics, he would need to save RM35,733.50 per month for 391.79 months! That would roughly be 32.65 years!

If Khalid is shrewed enough, he would invest to get dividend income. Assuming this is done, Khalid would still need more than 25 years to amass such amount. When the time do come, the RM14 million home now would probably cost RM35 million then (32 years from now!).

So by simple logic (though flawed), there is no way politicians to amass such wealth unless:

(1) their monthly salary is, say, at least RM200,000 and they are entitled to huge yearly bonuses;

(2) they are involved in business; or

(3) they abuse their power and positions!

We know for a fact that:

(1) the Government does not pay RM200,000 per month to a Menteri Besar (MB);

(2) politicians holding public office (MBs included) are not allowed to be involved in business; and

(3) the only way to amass such wealth is through abuse of power and position!

Unless of course there are exceptions to the rule when certain personalities or positions are involved, it is quite difficult to comprehend answers from these politicians.

The only other exception is if the person is already a multi-millionaire well before entering politics. Then there are valid grounds to think otherwise.

But then again, we the rakyat, the voters are fools... Are we not?

Simple Mathematics - Part 1 of 2

2009-05-11T13:49:00.000+08:00

A lot of times politicians think the public/rakyat are stupid. Real stupid!

One such politician is the ex-MB of Selangor who happens to be dentist by training.

Let us look at simple mathematics.

If a person earns RM50,000 per month, the yearly salary would be RM600,000.

This is a gross figure. We have not deducted EPF contribution, taxes/zakat and the likes. If we were to minus all the deductions then the "take home" pay would be much less.

It has been alleged that an ex-MB of Selangor from UMNO has built a home costing RM14 million some where in Shah Alam.

Assuming that his take-home pay is RM50,000 per month and this figure is taken after deducting all his expenses, it would take him 280 months (23.3 years) to save up to RM14 million. For simplicity sake, let us assume that there are no interests or dividends earned from the savings.

If such savings were indeed possible, then this dentist would have been making such savings since he was 21 years old.

But when he was 21 years old, he was still a dentistry student in University of Malaya!

So how is it possible for this dentist to amass such wealth through his monthly salary if he is not involved in business?

If he is (or was) involved in business, was it allowed? What business was it?

Or was he involved in abuse of power during his tenure as MB of Selangor?

A lot of insinuations and allegations can be made. It is the duty of the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC) to initiate an investigation into these insinuations and allegations on the ex-MB of Selangor.

If Najib is serious into wanting to regain public trust towards UMNO/BN, he should seriously consider requesting MACC to investigate.

The History Guide... What is history?

2009-05-11T09:28:00.000+08:00

What follows are a series of quotations about history and the historian's craft. They have been culled from a variety of sources and they appear here in totally random order. Their purpose is to incite, energize and stimulate your historical imagination.

* * *

"'History,' Stephen said, 'is a nightmare from which I am trying to awake.'" James Joyce

"Since history has no properly scientific value, its only purpose is educative. And if historians neglect to educate the public, if they fail to interest it intelligently in the past, then all their historical learning is valueless except in so far as it educates themselves." G. M. Trevelyan.

"To each eye, perhaps, the outlines of a great civilization present a different picture. In the wide ocean upon which we venture, the possible ways and directions are many; and the same studies which have served for my work might easily, in other hands, not only receive a wholly different treatment and application, but lead to essentially different conclusions." Jacob Burckhardt

"History is the witness that testifies to the passing of time; it illuminates reality, vitalizes memory, provides guidance in daily life, and brings us tidings of antiquity." Cicero

"The past is useless. That explains why it is past." Wright Morris

"Faithfulness to the truth of history involves far more than a research, however patient and scrupulous, into special facts. Such facts may be detailed with the most minute exactness, and yet the narrative, taken as a whole, may be unmeaning or untrue. The narrator must seek to imbue himself with the life and spirit of the time. He must study events in their bearings near and remote; in the character, habits, and manners of those who took part in them. He must himself be, as it were, a sharer or a spectator of the action he describes." Francis Parkman

"History . . . is indeed little more than the register of the crimes, follies, and misfortunes of mankind." Edward Gibbon

"There is properly no history; only biography." Ralph Waldo Emerson

"The study of history is the best medicine for a sick mind; for in history you have a record of the infinite variety of human experience plainly set out for all to see; and in that record you can find yourself and your country both examples and warnings; fine things to take as models, base things rotten through and through, to avoid." Livy

"What experience and history teach is this-that people and governments never have learned anything from history, or acted on principles deduced from it." G. W. F. Hegel

"Everything must be recaptured and relocated in the general framework of history, so that despite the difficulties, the fundamental paradoxes and contradictions, we may respect the unity of history which is also the unity of life." Fernand Braudel

"The function off the historian is neither to love the past nor to emancipate himself from the past, but to master and understand it as the key to the understanding of the present." E. H. Carr

"If you do not like the past, change it." William L. Burton

"History does nothing, possesses no enormous wealth, fights no battles. It is rather man, the real, living man, who does everything, possesses, fights. It is notHistory, as if she were a person apart, who uses men as a means to work out her purposes, but history itself is nothing but the activity of men pursuing their purposes." Karl Marx

"An historian should yield himself to his subject, become immersed in the place and period of his choice, standing apart from it now and then for a fresh view."Samuel Eliot Morison

"History is for human self-knowledge. Knowing yourself means knowing, first, what it is to be a person; secondly, knowing what it is to be the kind of person you are; and thirdly, knowing what it is to be the person you are and nobody else is. Knowing yourself means knowing what you can do; and since nobody knows what they can do until they try, the only clue to what man can do is what man has done. The value of history, then, is that it teaches us what man has done and thus what man is." R. G. Collingwood

"History is more or less bunk." Henry Ford

"That historians should give their own country a break, I grant you; but not so as to state things contrary to fact. For there are plenty of mistakes made by writers out of ignorance, and which any man finds it difficult to avoid. But if we knowingly write what is false, whether for the sake of our country or our friends or just to be pleasant, what difference is there between us and hack writers? Readers should be very attentive to and critical of historians, and they in turn should be constantly on their guard." Polybius

"You have reckoned that history ought to judge the past and to instruct the contemporary world as to the future. The present attempt does not yield to that high office. It will merely tell how it really was." Leopold von Ranke

"Time in its irresistible and ceaseless flow carries along on its flood all created things and drowns them in the depths of obscurity. . . . But the tale of history forms a very strong bulwark against the stream of time, and checks in some measure its irresistible flow, so that, of all things done in it, as many as history has taken over it secures and binds together, and does not allow them to slip away into the abyss of oblivion." Anna Comnena

"Only a good-for-nothing is not interested in his past." Sigmund Freud

"Every past is worth condemning." Friedrich Nietzsche

"The historian does simply not come in to replenish the gaps of memory. He constantly challenges even those memories that have survived intact." Yosef Hayim Yerushalmi

"Each age tries to form its own conception of the past. Each age writes the history of the past anew with reference to the conditions uppermost in its own time."Frederick Jackson Turner

| The History Guide | Feedback |

Last Revised -- May 13, 2004

Source: http://www.historyguide.org/history.html

FELDA's Investment In US...

2009-05-10T21:25:00.000+08:00

Some time back, FELDA was asked to make a strategic investment in a company in the US. The investment was supposed to be beneficial to FELDA's presence in the global market. And the cost was RM300 million...! Or was it US$300 million...?

[NOTE: KPF was asked to take-up certain equity stake in the company but it "refused". KPF was heavily criticised by a number of people from FELDA Holdings Berhad (including Bakke Salleh). Ethos Consulting, too, criticised KPF for their reluctance...!]

There were reservations on this particular investment in the US by some prominent people. The logic was not convincing, to say the least. It has been quite some time since the investment was made. According to some stories that have since emerged, the investment has gone sour. Not bad yet but nevertheless sour...

What happened? What happened to the reservations voiced by R M Alias to some (key) ex-FELDA staff? Was due diligence done? If it was undertaken, what was the result? Was it in favour of such investment?

There are quite a number of questions that remained unanswered. One fact is clear - FELDA overpaid for this particular investment in the US.

Paying for over-priced investment seems to be a culture among Malaysian government-related agencies or companies.

Over paying is bad enough but making bad investment is worse and government-related agencies or companies seem to be making such decisions by the dozens these days...

New Chairman of FELDA

2009-05-10T21:23:00.001+08:00

Whispers from the grapevine...

New FELDA Chairman is an ex-Minister....

Let's hope that it is not Jamaluddin Jarjis (JJ)!

Let's hope that JJ is made Ambassador to the US as reported in The Malaysian Insider...

Perak dan Kelantan: Sekadar Ingatan - A Kadir Jasin

2009-05-08T08:46:00.000+08:00

My request to A Kadir Jasin on the Perak "crisis"...

_________________________________

Sdr. A Kadir Jasin, I am really baffled to say the least...!!! Why is BN so desperate to takeover Perak from PR? Till today, I have yet to comprehend the official as well as unofficial reasons for this desperate act. Sdr. AKJ, your enlightenment on this is very much appreciated. Sekian.

_______________________________

I really cannot comprehend this desparate act by BN in Perak.

With the support of 3 renegade "wakil rakyat", the BN has simple majority in the DUN. Why can't they go for a vote of no confidence. If the majority agrees to the motion then MB Nizar would become ex-MB. Then again, if the motion is allowed by the Speaker. Here the Speaker must be objective and allow such motion be put to a vote.

Is BN afraid that they would not get to table the motion of no confidence? Maybe. But that cannot justify whatever they are doing now...

The whole circus is a waste of resources - time and money. Consider the number of man-hours wasted and multiple this with the average costs for each man-hour. The number can be staggering. If this wasted man-hour costs is put to economical use the benefits to the people is huge. Think about it.

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

Reply from A Kadir Jasin:

Sdr The Botak Man,
I won't harzard an answer.
But Si Kitols are everywhere.
They can be in the political parties. They can also be in the Palaces.
Si Kitols play one against another for their personal benefit.
Some Si Kitols survive well and long. They love being seen with powerful people.
Thank you.

https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=22873867&postID=831813133423486232

Why FELDA is important to me?

2009-05-06T13:24:00.000+08:00

I have been commenting about some of the happenings in FELDA. The question that comes to mind is "WHY?".

The answer is simple. What FELDA does affects me!

I am one of the more than 140,000 members of KPF. KPF has substantial investments in FELDA Group of Companies. What FELDA does affects FELDA Group of Companies which in turn affects KPF and ultimately me, the member!

What little investments I have in KPF comes from my hard-earned salaries. So it is important to me to keep track of whatever little savings I have in KPF...

Plain and simple...

Federal Land Development Authority - FELDA

2009-05-04T11:01:00.001+08:00

Whispers from the grapevine said that Yusof Noor's tenure as Chairman of FELDA would not be extended.

The same whispers also said that a candidate for Chairmanship is Jamaluddin Jarjis or fondly known as JJ.

My take:

If JJ is appointed as Chairman of FELDA, then it is like jumping from a frying pan into the hot burning flame.

Between the devil (JJ) and deep blue sea (Yusof Noor), I would rather chose the deep blue sea. At least I have some hope of surviving...

Once sold to the devil there would be no redemption...

FELDA HOLDINGS BERHAD - The milking by Bakke Salleh

2009-05-04T10:20:00.001+08:00

When Yusof Noor became the Chairman of FELDA, the government agency, he introduced a lot of changes. A lot of these were in FELDA Group of Companies. He condone interference of politician with personal agenda of draining these cash rich organisations.

Bakke Salleh was made the Group Managing Director of FELDA Holdings Berhad (FHB) not long after Yusof Noor became Chairman. It is not proven whether he was brought in by Yusof Noor or he was parachuted in by Najib/Rosmah. There were many insinuations pointing to many directions.

According to some, prior to joining FHB Bakke Salleh was in Bank Islam Malaysia Berhad (BIMB). It has been reported that his stint in BIMB was not spectacular. In fact, some even termed it as a failure...

When Bakke joined FHB, he brought in his honchos, giving them generous salaries. Some say these ranges from RM30,000 to RM50,000 before benefits. These salaries were easily two to three times the salary earned by the previous Group MD. In all likelihood, Bakke's salary should be in the range of RM50,000 if his honchos were paid RM30,000...

The latest talk around town is that Bakke is rewarding himself and his honchos with 10 months' bonuses! Of course, not directly. It was done "above board" though the Remuneration Committee...

[Bakke appointed Ethos Consulting (directly or indirectly) to draft strategies for FELDA Group of Companies at a cost of RM1.2 million without any visible and quantifiable results. It was whispered that the strategies were "shot" down (rejected) by the shareholders. I am not surprise at all after browsing the RM1.2 million "strategic" folder...]

From a strictly commercial perspective, it is fine to award such high bonuses if performance has been rather spectacular... However there is no noticeable and spectacular performance from FELDA Group of Companies... Have you noticed anything spectacular...???

The majority shareholder of FHB, the Koperasi Permodalan Felda Berhad (KPF), should exert their rights to right the wrongs being done in FHB now...

Being a shareholder, KPF has fiduciary duty to remove those rotten apples (including Bakke) from FHB. If KPF fails to do that then KPF has failed their members...

[Now Bakke has one foot in Amanah Raya Berhad (ARB) and has been appointed as Chairman of its Investment Committee. The good works of Ahmad Rodzi Pawanteh would be wasted... I am sorry Rodzi, you efforts would come to a nought and you don't even have a say in it...]

Insinuation, Allegation, Charged & Guilty

2009-05-04T09:28:00.000+08:00

There are two word that came to mind when I saw the picture of the corrupt UMNO Youth leader in TheStar today (04 April 2009), insinuation and allegation.

According to thefreedictionary.com, insinuation is "an indirect or devious hint or suggestion". The same online dictionary defined allegation as "a formal accusation against somebody (often in a court of law)".

There have been countless insinuations of politicians being corrupt. Whether they are from the ruling party or from the opposition, the insinuations are many. However, not many of these insinuations are translated into "allegations". And even a smaller number are actually charged and found guilty by the court of law or some form of tribunal.

Before the 2009 UMNO Election, there have been numerous insinuation that Khairy Jamaluddin Abu Bakar or more famously known as "KJ" is a corrupt UMNO member and leader. Most of these insinuations were never translated into allegations. They remained as "talks", nothing more nothing less.

The UMNO Election 2009 was the turning point where some of the insinuations were translated into allegations. KJ was "tried" by UMNO Disciplinary Committee and was found guilty of corrupt practices.

Effectively some insinuations were escalated into allegations that were further escalated into "charges" and finally given a guilty verdict by the very tribunal of his own party, UMNO.

I cannot fathom, for the life of me, a guilty person be allowed to contest in an election. No disqualification, just a warning letter is sufficient? By doing that UMNO has shot itself in the foot and the wounds and scar will never be healed at least until KJ is booted out of UMNO.

Najib has to bear in mind that all his efforts (including but not limited to his 1Malaysia concept) would come to a nought if KJ remains with UMNO. UMNO/BN may still win the next general election but with lower majority. Maybe a 55% seat in Parliament, at best.

Najib must realise this and act accordingly if he hopes to revive support for UMNO/BN and not be placed in history as the first Malaysian PM to be seated on the "opposition side".

I felt deep disgust, anger and sadness whenever I see or hear of KJ. To me he is a living symbol of the corrupt, found guilty by his own party, that should charged in court. His right to be a "wakil rakyat" should be stripped and the Rembau seat be made vacant.

Hopefully he would be remembered as a CORRUPT LEGEND for eternity...

A symbol of the DOUBLE STANDARDS prevalent in Malaysian politics, a symbol of UMNO's holier than thou attitude...

A symbol of UMNO's arrogance and high handedness and all the negativeness...

For as long as KJ remains an UMNO Leader, UMNO IS A CORRUPT PARTY...

UMNO, you have lost your right to champion the causes of your race, religion and country by condoning CORRUPT PRACTICES OF YOUR OWN LEADERS...

"Salam perjuangan OrangBaruLahir"

2009-04-28T16:07:00.001+08:00

Sdr. A Kadir Jasin,

Minta permisi untuk merujuk kepada komen Sdr./Sdri. "Salam perjuangan OrangBaruLahir".

Saya rasa saya paham akan kemarahan yang dirasai olih Sdr./Sdri.

Saya pun marah. Lebih-lebih lagi kerana bangsa Melayu (nampaknya) amat sukar untuk bersatu, untuk berusaha memajukan diri sendiri serta bangsa sendiri. Yang kaya mudah lupa diri, yang miskin menjadi lebih miskin.

Yang amat saya marah sekarang adalah dengan kedaifan orang Islam yang kebanyakkannya orang Melayu.

Dimana perginya potongan zakat setiap bulan?

Setiap tahun kutipan zakat makin bertambah-tambah tetapi orang Islam yang hidup papa-kedana juga bertambah. Apa dah jadi?

Zakat adalah rukun Islam dan ia bukanlah untuk pamerkan statistik kutipan yang bertambah.

Zakat adalah untuk menolong umat supaya tiada yang papa-kedana, supaya tiada yang hidup melarat. Kemiskinan bolih membawa banyak bencana kepada mesyarakat.

This is why zakat is one of the pillars (rukun) of Islam.

Sekian.

DEADLINE 30 April 2009 - Tax Filing...

2009-04-28T11:28:00.000+08:00

Phew...

I finally completed my tax e-filing. How convenient! One would just need to have access to the Internet... How times have passed and technology has progressed!

But hold on! Now I shall be watching the government even more closely. After all it is the taxpayers' hard earned money they are handling. No misuse would be tolerated!

When I first pay tax eons ago, it was just RM28 for a whole year's income. Then I didn't really care what the government does as my "cash" contribution was meagre...!

NOW...??? I am paying taxes through my noses! That is why I care what they use my money for...

Sadly to say, the zakat I pay does not reach the deserving ones... For that, I shall demand explanations from those concern. If they think they can escape my queries behind some legal jargon then I shall demand an explanation from them in the afterlife...

So people from PPZ, please beware... I shall demand the explanations...

Buang DEB Apa Gantinya? - A Kadir Jasin

2009-04-27T23:29:00.000+08:00

My comments on A Kadir Jasin's "Buang DEB Apa Gantinya?"

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

Sdr. A Kadir Jasin,

Saya bukan doktor tetapi ramai jugak kawan rapat jadi doktor.

Kawan-kawan saya selalu ingatkan saya supaya jangan terlampau sangat bergantung dengan "anti-biotic" dari klinik bila jatuh sakit. Alasan yang diberi "terlalu lama dan kerap mengambil anti-biotic akan menyebabkan badan kita kurang daya tahan".

Tetapi saya selalu tanya balik "apa itu terlalu lama dan kerap". Jawapan mereka mudah. Ia bergantung kepada tahap kesihatan seseorang bila jatuh sakit. Ia juga bergantung kepada "mental strength" dan banyak lagi faktor-faktor yang perlu diambilkira.

Jika kita perhalusi persamaan antara "anti-biotic" dan "DEB", maka kita mungkin "conclude" bahawa terlampau bergantung dengan mana-mana satu bolih membawa padah.

Akan tetapi, tahap penerimaan atau tahap keperluan seseorang individu itu amat berbeda. Jadi amatlah susah untuk "prescribe the correct dossage of either antibiotic or DEB/NEP".

So where does it lead us?

We cannot forever be reliant on DEB/NEP but when should it be stopped?

Should we have a gradual decrease in dossage? Over how long?

Sudden stop in antibiotic before full recovery could also be detrimental to a person's health. So should we have a program to reduce dependency on DEB/NEP so as not to endanger the Bumiputras?

I really don't know.

Sekian.

p/s:

Bumiputras enjoyed DEB/NEP during the initial years. Unfortunately the DEB/NEP subsequently benefited mostly UMNO-putras and, of course, MCA-putras and MIC-putras. That was the time when the whole intentions and aspirations of NEP were ignored to benefit a selected few...

Unsolicited Views For The PM - A Kadir Jasin

2009-04-27T09:14:00.000+08:00

My comments on A Kadir Jasin's article entitled "Unsolicited Views For The PM" published/dated SATURDAY, APRIL 25, 2009

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

Sdr. A Kadir Jasin,

Betulkah Khazanah perlu 6 bulan untuk buta KPI menteri-menteri?

Kalau 6 bulan, saya pun bolih buat KPI yang canggih.

Kalau 6 bulan, let us not stop at KPI. Go into Balance Scorecard...!!! More encompassing, I think. Set up the appropriate matrix and then measure accordingly. Linear measurement would not be appropriate when expectations are broad and diverse. So why not try Balance Scorecard! Or have I misunderstood this Balance Scorecard thing? If I am wrong, do correct me please!

Saya bukannya pakar dalam KPI maupun Balance Scorecard.

Tetapi kalau ada 6 bulan, saya pun bolih jadi "quasi-pakar"! Hehehe...

Tak perlu Khazanah/Azman Mokhtar/Ethos/Omar Mustapha dan individu-individu yang terpelajar serta bijak-pandai untuk buat KPI menteri-menteri.

Sekian.

p/s: I cannot wait 6 months to know what Ministers' KPI are. If that happens, it would be Najib's first failure... Sorry cannot compromise on timing. In six months time, I would evaluate the PM/Cabinet/BN with or without the official KPI. I would use my own KPI if there is no official ones...

Listing on The Stock Exchange

2009-04-24T11:02:00.000+08:00

The stock market/exchange around the world has been hit badly during the current global economic crisis. From US to Europe to Asia, the listed stocks/shares have been devalued greatly. Some reports quoted losses of up to 80% in value.

During the course of my work, I have met with numerous companies that wanted to be listed. Most of the time, I have been very candid with my opinion on listing on a stock exchange.

In reality, there are only two valid reasons for wanting to go listing.

(1) The company needs additional capital to expand its business; and/or

(2) The initial shareholders want to cash out!

The other reasons normally quoted actually means little. There are actually no real advantage to be quoted on a stock exchange. In fact, if we were to be really candid and honest with ourselves, there could be more disadvantages to be listed.

I have had meetings shareholders who are adamant not to go listing. One of the most often quoted question that I would get is "why should I share the company's profits with someone else?".

There are quite a number of private companies that have remained so even though their revenue and profits are huge. Huge in comparison to some of the BIG CORPORATIONs listed on the stock exchange.

So really there are not many reasons (other than the ones I mentioned above) why companies should go for listing.

Islam Hadhari

2009-04-24T10:36:00.000+08:00

Islam is a way of life, a civilisation. It maps out the entire life of a Muslim, right from birth to death.

Everything is explained in great detail from relationship between humans to between human and the environment to between human and god. If Islam is so complete and encompassing what is Islam Hadhari then?

Despite efforts made by the previous administration to promote and explain the concept of Islam Hadhari, I still cannot fathom what it is.

Could my lack of understanding be due to my lack of intellectual? Because I was never educated in Oxford or Cambridge or some Ivy League? Maybe...

Malay dilemma is electrifying - By Dina Zaman

2009-04-23T10:06:00.000+08:00

TheStar, 23 April 2009, page N43

An interesting article...

My thoughts:

(1) Money does seem to be a big problem among Malays despite the NEP etc.

The intentions of the NEP are noble. But its implementation really fell short off expectations. I seriously think the NEP benefits were monopolised by UMNO-putras and not Bumiputras in general. Of course, the MCA-putras and MIC-putras benefited too.

(2) Non-Malays do appear to be more united in resolving their own problems.

Non-Malays have their various associations and organisations that focused on helping their own race. Unfortunately, the Malays are not as united and are more bent on destroying one another. It is very difficult to find a Malay association or organisation that focuses on helping out their own race.

In addition, non-Malays use their places of worship as the centre for helping the less fortunate. The same cannot be said of the Malays. Masjids and suraus are only places of worship and would normally be deserted at most times except, maybe, during the five prayer times. Even then it would be only for Muslims to come and pray, nothing more nothing less. The libraries (if any) would be locked. No activities at all. Maybe the libraries are meant to be preserved and not be used...!!!

It is really an embarrassment that the mosques and suraus are really underutilised. In addition to a place of worship, it should be a place where the pursuit of worldly and heavenly knowledge are encouraged. Instead these places are deserted and void of meaningful activities.

I have always thought that Islam, being a way of life a civilisation, is a religion that promotes the pursuit of knowledge, both worldly and heavenly... What happened?

Interesting? I think so...

My Understanding of the Contract between the Rakyat and their Wakil...

2009-04-17T21:27:00.000+08:00

I want my voted "Wakil" to serve the Rakyat and not the other way!

Why should we elect our "Wakil" and be fearful of them? Respect them, YES i.e.only after they proved themselves worthy of our respect!

Why should we allow our "Wakil" to misuse our hard earned tax/zakat money to enrich a few?

When a person offers him/herself as candidate in an election, there is an offer. So when the Rakyat votes a candidate, they accept his/her offer to serve.

I am not a lawyer but I think, technically, there is a contract by the voted candidate to serve the Rakyat that voted him/her in. If those voted candidates fail to perform their promise, they are in breach with the contract of duty to the rakyat.

What happens then? Do we go to court and sue those who fail to fulfil their promise to serve us? Or do we, in the meantime, bite our tongue and wait till the next election to boot them out?

What do you think?

Satu Malaysia Tidak Nafi Rancangan Afirmatif:PM - A Kadir Jasin

2009-04-17T20:27:00.000+08:00

Komen saya terhadap tulisan Sdr. A Kadir Jasin...

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

Sdr. A Kadir Jasin,

Ada dua perkara yang hendak saya utarakan disini.

(1) KPI

Khazanah Nasional Berhad telah diarah untuk meneliti serta mengubal KPI bagi jemaah Menteri.

Saya tertarik dengan arahan Najib kepada Azman Mokhtar. Quote "Saya telah berjumpa Ketua Eksekutifnya, Tan Sri Azman Mokhtar untuk menempatkan bilangan tenaga yang mencukupi untuk melaksanakan penggubalan KPI ini dalam tempoh tersebut."

Bila Najib katakan "menempatkan bilangan tenaga yang mencukupi...", adakah beliau memberi kebenaran untuk Azman untuk "engage" Ethos Consulting/Omar Mustapha untuk membantu?

Jika ia, would Khazanah be fronting Ethos? Kalau tidak silap, fi/fee Ethos sangatlah mahal. Interesting...

(2) Banyak perkara telah diperkatakan mengenai hak-hak istimewa Bumiputera.

Kalau Sdr. Kadir bolih, tolong perjelaskan sedikit sebanyak tentang hak-hak sebagai rakyat termasuklah hak-hak kaum Bumiputera yang termaktub dalam perlembagaan negara.

Saya kurang arif tentang perkara berkaitan perlembagaan ini. Bagi saya, sebagai seorang rakyat, kita mesti akur terhadap perlembagaan negara. Tetapi saya kurang pengetahuan tentang perlembagaan yang saya patut akur itu.

Sekian.

You Are Being Lied to About Pirates - By Johann Hari

2009-04-16T14:06:00.000+08:00

April 12, 2009 "Huffington Post" --- Who imagined that in 2009, the world's governments would be declaring a new War on Pirates? As you read this, the British Royal Navy - backed by the ships of more than two dozen nations, from the US to China - is sailing into Somalian waters to take on men we still picture as parrot-on-the-shoulder pantomime villains. They will soon be fighting Somalian ships and even chasing the pirates onto land, into one of the most broken countries on earth. But behind the arrr-me-hearties oddness of this tale, there is an untold scandal. The people our governments are labeling as "one of the great menace of our times" have an extraordinary story to tell -- and some justice on their side.

Pirates have never been quite who we think they are. In the "golden age of piracy" - from 1650 to 1730 - the idea of the pirate as the senseless, savage thief that lingers today was created by the British government in a great propaganda-heave. Many ordinary people believed it was false: pirates were often rescued from the gallows by supportive crowds. Why? What did they see that we can't? In his book Villains of All nations, the historian Marcus Rediker pores through the evidence to find out. If you became a merchant or navy sailor then - plucked from the docks of London's East End, young and hungry - you ended up in a floating wooden Hell. You worked all hours on a cramped, half-starved ship, and if you slacked off for a second, the all-powerful captain would whip you with the Cat O' Nine Tails. If you slacked consistently, you could be thrown overboard. And at the end of months or years of this, you were often cheated of your wages.

Pirates were the first people to rebel against this world. They mutinied against their tyrannical captains - and created a different way of working on the seas. Once they had a ship, the pirates elected their captains, and made all their decisions collectively. They shared their bounty out in what Rediker calls "one of the most egalitarian plans for the disposition of resources to be found anywhere in the eighteenth century." They even took in escaped African slaves and lived with them as equals. The pirates showed "quite clearly - and subversively - that ships did not have to be run in the brutal and oppressive ways of the merchant service and the Royal navy." This is why they were popular, despite being unproductive thieves.

The words of one pirate from that lost age - a young British man called William Scott - should echo into this new age of piracy. Just before he was hanged in Charleston, South Carolina, he said: "What I did was to keep me from perishing. I was forced to go a-pirating to live." In 1991, the government of Somalia - in the Horn of Africa - collapsed. Its nine million people have been teetering on starvation ever since - and many of the ugliest forces in the Western world have seen this as a great opportunity to steal the country's food supply and dump our nuclear waste in their seas.

Yes: nuclear waste. As soon as the government was gone, mysterious European ships started appearing off the coast of Somalia, dumping vast barrels into the ocean. The coastal population began to sicken. At first they suffered strange rashes, nausea and malformed babies. Then, after the 2005 tsunami, hundreds of the dumped and leaking barrels washed up on shore. People began to suffer from radiation sickness, and more than 300 died. Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah, the UN envoy to Somalia, tells me: "Somebody is dumping nuclear material here. There is also lead, and heavy metals such as cadmium and mercury - you name it." Much of it can be traced back to European hospitals and factories, who seem to be passing it on to the Italian mafia to "dispose" of cheaply. When I asked Ould-Abdallah what European governments were doing about it, he said with a sigh: "Nothing. There has been no clean-up, no compensation, and no prevention."

At the same time, other European ships have been looting Somalia's seas of their greatest resource: seafood. We have destroyed our own fish-stocks by over-exploitation - and now we have moved on to theirs. More than $300m worth of tuna, shrimp, lobster and other sea-life is being stolen every year by vast trawlers illegally sailing into Somalia's unprotected seas. The local fishermen have suddenly lost their livelihoods, and they are starving. Mohammed Hussein, a fisherman in the town of Marka 100km south of Mogadishu, told Reuters: "If nothing is done, there soon won't be much fish left in our coastal waters."

This is the context in which the men we are calling "pirates" have emerged. Everyone agrees they were ordinary Somalian fishermen who at first took speedboats to try to dissuade the dumpers and trawlers, or at least wage a 'tax' on them. They call themselves the Volunteer Coastguard of Somalia - and it's not hard to see why. In a surreal telephone interview, one of the pirate leaders, Sugule Ali, said their motive was "to stop illegal fishing and dumping in our waters... We don't consider ourselves sea bandits. We consider sea bandits [to be] those who illegally fish and dump in our seas and dump waste in our seas and carry weapons in our seas." William Scott would understand those words.

No, this doesn't make hostage-taking justifiable, and yes, some are clearly just gangsters - especially those who have held up World Food Programme supplies. But the "pirates" have the overwhelming support of the local population for a reason. The independent Somalian news-site WardherNews conducted the best research we have into what ordinary Somalis are thinking - and it found 70 percent "strongly supported the piracy as a form of national defence of the country's territorial waters." During the revolutionary war in America, George Washington and America's founding fathers paid pirates to protect America's territorial waters, because they had no navy or coastguard of their own. Most Americans supported them. Is this so different?

Did we expect starving Somalians to stand passively on their beaches, paddling in our nuclear waste, and watch us snatch their fish to eat in restaurants in London and Paris and Rome? We didn't act on those crimes - but when some of the fishermen responded by disrupting the transit-corridor for 20 percent of the world's oil supply, we begin to shriek about "evil." If we really want to deal with piracy, we need to stop its root cause - our crimes - before we send in the gun-boats to root out Somalia's criminals.

The story of the 2009 war on piracy was best summarised by another pirate, who lived and died in the fourth century BC. He was captured and brought to Alexander the Great, who demanded to know "what he meant by keeping possession of the sea." The pirate smiled, and responded: "What you mean by seizing the whole earth; but because I do it with a petty ship, I am called a robber, while you, who do it with a great fleet, are called emperor." Once again, our great imperial fleets sail in today - but who is the robber?

POSTSCRIPT: Some commenters seem bemused by the fact that both toxic dumping and the theft of fish are happening in the same place - wouldn't this make the fish contaminated? In fact, Somalia's coastline is vast, stretching to 3300km. Imagine how easy it would be - without any coastguard or army - to steal fish from Florida and dump nuclear waste on California, and you get the idea. These events are happening in different places - but with the same horrible effect: death for the locals, and stirred-up piracy. There's no contradiction.

Johann Hari is a writer for the Independent newspaper

The Disadvantaged Majority

2009-04-16T13:09:00.000+08:00

In a multi-ethnic country like Malaysia, the most disadvantaged ethnic group is the Malays. It is really sad for the majority to be disadvantaged in their own country of birth!

Why?

To answer the question, let us look at the three main ethnic groups in Malaysia:

(1) Malay

Generally the Malays communicate in two languages - Bahasa Melayu and English.

(2) Chinese

Generally the Chinese communicate in three languages - Chinese language (through different dialects), Bahasa Melayu and English.

(3) Indians

Generally the Indians communicate in three languages - Indian language (whether Tamil, Hindi or whatever dialects), Bahasa Melayu and English.

In the real world, different languages are used by different ethnic groups to communicate. A Malay would most likely to communicate with another Malays in either Bahasa Melayu or English or a combination of both. Similarly, a Chinese-Chinese communication would be in Chinese language or English or combination of both. The same applies to Indians.

When a Malay communicates to another Malay, the Chinese and Indians would be able to understand. However the same cannot be said when there is communications between Chinese and Chinese or Indian and Indian.

This is the reality. The Malays are the disadvantaged in their own country! They communicate, everyone else understand but when other ethnic groups communicate the Malays generally do not understand!

As an ethnic group, it is important for the Malays to preserve their language. But this must not be done at the expense of learning other languages! Otherwise the Malays would remained to be the disadvantaged majority in their own country...

Proton - Paying a price for its arrogance?

2009-04-15T13:10:00.000+08:00

In Malaysia, Proton and Perodua produce the cheapest cars. For simplicity sake, I shall omit the other "national" cars.

Compared to other makes like Toyota, Nissan, Honda etc., is Proton really competitive in their pricing?

Would Proton be able to sell their cars if the high tariffs on non-national cars are removed?

I don't think so. In fact, I think Proton is a very high cost producer of substandard quality cars. Unfortunately for Proton, their problem does not stop there. Arrogance seems to be another aspect they have excelled in.

Now let us have a look at Perodua. Like Proton, Perodua is also a high cost producer of cars in Malaysia. But fortunately for Perodua, it has been able to maintain certain minimum standards and is not trapped by "arrogance attitude".

So between these two national car producers, I would vote for Perodua any time! In fact, my first vehicle was a Perodua! No regrets and complains for eight faithful years!

After more than 20 years, Proton is now paying a heavy price for its arrogance (customer is always WRONG!) and substandard culture. On the other hand, Perodua has been able to avoid this pitfall and are doing reasonably well.

What do you think?

Time for new biz model - Nor Mohamed

2009-04-14T08:16:00.000+08:00

"... As a small country that is dependent on the export market, we can't escape the crisis." - Nor Mohamed Yakcop, TheStar 14 April 2009, pg.N14.

Interesting...

Only a few months ago this very person said we are not affected by the global economic crisis!

Why the change of stance? Just woke up from a deep slumber?

Jemaah Menteri: Kita Akan KPIkan PM - A Kadir Jasin

2009-04-10T08:46:00.000+08:00

My comments on A Kadir Jasin's weblog posting...

_________________________________

Sdr. A Kadir Jasin,

Jawatan Menteri Kewangan II masih ujud jika laporan akhbar diguna sebagai sandaran.

Akan tetapi saya tidak begitu kenal dengan Sdr. Ahmad Husni Hanadziah selaku MKII. Jadi saya tidak akan membuat penilaian sekarang seperti yang Sdr. tulis. Ya, saya setuju dengan cadangan untuk menilai prestasi Najib serta ahli kabinet dalam masa 6 bulan ini.

Jika prestasi mana-mana Menteri tidak memuaskan, Najib mestilah memberi "nasihat" kepada Menteri yang berkenaan. Jika selepas 6 bulan dari "nasihat" prestasi masih kurang memberangsangkan, Menteri berkenaan mesti digugurkan.

Kaedah ini mesti diteruskan dari sekarang dan mesti diintegrasikan ke dalam Standard Operating Policies and Procedures (SOPP) untuk kabinet.

Jika Najib selaku PM benar-benar "walk the talk" UMNO/BN mungkin selamat di PRU13. Jika tidak, beliau akan melakar sejarah sebagai PM pertama yang menjadi pembangkang.

There is no two ways about it!

Sekian.

Najib's New Cabinet Lineup...

2009-04-09T16:54:00.001+08:00

The PM has just announced his cabinet lineup.

Frankly I would have expected Najib to be more bold in trimming the size. My initial assessment - quite disappointing!

The PR buildup towards a leaner cabinet did not materialise. Cursory observations:

(1) Yes it is smaller but only marginally.

(2) Yes, the elected guilty youth leader was not appointed.

(3) Yes, some suspect characters were not appointed but unfortunately the vindictive one is still in the cabinet...

I can't quite rationalise Muhyiddin's appointment as Education Minister! Yes, it is an important ministry and a senior one but still... The question remains "WHY?".

Status Quo Di Bukit dan Sungai - A Kadir Jasin

2009-04-08T15:54:00.000+08:00

Below is my comment to A Kadir Jasin's article Status Quo Di Bukit dan Sungai

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

Sdr. A Kadir Jasin,

I am still very angry and annoyed with UMNO/BN leaders and members. I was hoping that UMNO/BN would lose all three by-elections but I guess I am quite happy that they lost in two.

I would love to give Najib a chance but only 6 months! The first test would be his cabinet formation.

Why am I so angry that every single problem (whether real or perceived) I lay my blame on UMNO/BN?

Why am I brainwashing my children's minds to hating UMNO/BN?

It is because:

(1) UMNO/BN members have got little or no conscience!
- They have no qualm in voting for corrupted members to lead them!

(2) UMNO/BN members think too highly of themselves!
- Mere mortals (the rakyat) are judged based on different standards. The rakyat are stupid fools...

(3) UMNO/BN members take almost everything and gives very little back!
- Projects are awarded at huge mark-ups (exorbitantly inflated) using tax payers money!

(4) Wifes of UMNO/BN leaders and members act and behave like leaches!
- They expect to be treated like the rakyat owe them a living and we must accord them demigod status!

(5) UMNO/BN-link companies expect people to work for them without compensations!
- Service providers should feel honoured to be given a chance to work for them! No compensation required.

During the course of my work, I have worked for UMNO/BN-linked companies. Linked either through the party or individuals (members).

These companies expect services to be provided for free! We can invoice them but don't hold ones breath for payment!

Man-hours and man-days spent means nothing to these jokers! To them, we should be proud to be given a chance to serve an UMNO member!

Contracts signed mean nothing as their attitude is "sue me if you dare"!

Why do I say these things? It is because they:

(1) Could afford to change expensive cars like changing shirts;
(2) Could afford live lavishly building bungalows fit for Kings;
(3) Could afford to "sponsor" decision-makers to give "special considerations" to their proposals even though they are not qualified or have no capacity to undertake certain jobs; and
(4) Could afford to pay only those that has direct link to decision-makers.

At the end of the day, I am "screwed" when:
(1) taxes that I pay are misused; and
(2) services provided are not compensated as per agreement/contract.

I would like to refer to TheStar 08 April 2009 (front-page):

"Maybe the people are still undecided, so we will have to work harder to convince them"
- UMNO Deputy President, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin

For Sdr. Muhyiddin, the people have decided, not undecided. UMNO/BN needs drastic transformation. Don't engage Etos to do the post-mortem on your defeat! They would provide you with answers that you want to hear, not the whole truth!

Sekian.

Najib has 6 months to prove himself...

2009-04-06T13:18:00.000+08:00

Najib has been sworn-in as Malaysia's 6th Prime Minister.

No his family is not and should not be called First Family. In the US, the First Family refers to the President's family. In Malaysia, why should we call the PM's family as First Family? Shouldn't we call the King's family as First Family?

No this posting has got nothing to do with who should be called First Family. It is about Najib, Malaysia's 6th Prime Minister.

Najib has requested Malaysian to give him a chance to prove his capabilities as a PM that deserves respect and support. I think he ought to be given a chance to prove what he is capable of.

First we should provide him some space to appoint his cabinet. If his cabinet consist of any of the following people (not an exhaustive list), then Najib has failed in his first test!

(1) Khairy Jamaluddin - the guilty of money politic, Head of Umno Youth

(2) Jamaluddin Jarjis - the ex-Minister that almost never keep his word of showing up unless you have strong political connection

(3) Azalina Othman - the integrity-suspect Minister currently being investigated by MACC

(4) Nor Mohamed Yaacop - the vindictive 2nd Finance Minister who never remembers whatever help you have given him but remembers the slightest "offense" that you have said.

The above list is not exhaustive though I wished it was. Nonetheless if any of the above personality makes it to Najib's cabinet, it deserves to be called "kitchen cabinet" similar to Pak Lah's and Najib has failed in his first test as PM.

This first test is crucial as a wrong (and unclean) choice would make it difficult for me (as a SINGLE VOTER) to evaluate Najib's leadership positively for the next 6 months...

But then, I am nothing but a SINGLE LONE VOTER...

Antara Saf Berintegriti Dengan Yang Membawa Mati - A Kadir Jasin

2009-03-26T13:49:00.000+08:00

My response to A Kadir Jasin's article entitled "Antara Saf Berintegriti Dengan Yang Membawa Mati"

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

Sdr. A Kadir Jasin,

Saya tidak terkejut tetapi amat kecewa dengan pemilihan Ketua Pemuda baru.

Persoalan saya:
(1) Adakah para perwakilan (khasnya Pemuda) tidak sedar akan sentimen negatif terhadap Ketua Pemuda yang baru mereka pilih?
(2) Adakah poket sendiri lebih penting dari UMNO?
(3) Adakah rasuah amalan hidup mereka?

Banyak lagi persoalan yang berkaitan bolih diketengahkan. Tetapi yang penting adalah mesaj yang diberi olih Pemuda UMNO kepada dunia luar dengan pemilihan ketua baru mereka.

"Kami sokong pesalah politik wang asalkan kocek kami berisi..."

Yang memilukan ialah pemuda-pemuda inilah barisan pemimpin dikemudian hari.

Hanya ada satu cara untuk membendung perkara ini dari menjadi lebih parah!

Tolak UMNO...!

Rakyat mesti tolak UMNO jika para perwakilan Pemuda UMNO sendiri tidak bermaruah dengan memilih pesalah politik wang...!!!

Mana keinsafan UMNO? Mana...?

Sekian.

Mini Budget: Stimulating the Rakyat

2009-03-21T13:56:00.000+08:00

My comment to A Kadir Jasin's "Mini Budget: Stimulating the Rakyat".

_____________________________

Sdr. A Kadir Jasin,

I don't understand the politicians and their statements. I am not a graduate from Oxbridge or some Ivy League from Mars nor Venus. Maybe that's the reason for my severe lack of understanding...

Banks are not lending! Worse... credit lines, trade lines etc are being scaled back. In some instances, cancelled! How are we to do business?

Demand from our export markets are down. Some as much as 80%. Cancelling of orders started as early as June/July 2008...

Don't tell me the government doesn't know anything about all these!!! Even if the demand from some of our export markets are holding up (just about), these buyers' credit/trade lines, LCs etc. are either being reduced drastically or cancelled altogether!

Would you sell your product to some overseas buyer without LC or other form of banking instrument to ensure payment?

Where does it lead us? I don't know...

Our domestic market is too small to cushion the impact of reduction in exports... More manufacturers cum exporters are starting to default in their loan obligations. NPLs would increase...

Would the government consider CDRC2? Whispers from the grapevine gave some hints to that effect!

I don't know... Like you, I am also no longer in the information loop!

I would accept another "Tour-Of-Duty" similar to the 1997/98 crisis... but unfortunately I am not from Oxbridge so I may not be recall for another tour/active duty.

I may not be from Oxbridge but I certainly am not a MORON...nor do I sleep on my job and neither do I flip-flop!!!

Sekian.
Dari Borneo ke Minang

p/s: It is embarrassing for a PM to not understand whether an issue has been resolved or otherwise... especially if it involves a territorial dispute with a neighbouring country!

_____________________________________

Sdr. A Kadir Jasin dan para pengomen lain,

Given the failure of conventional financial system, I think the government should focus on moving towards and giving more prominence to Islamic financial system globally.

Based on the little that I know, this will rid elements of gambling from the existing system plus some other undesirable elements that point towards an unjust system.

This is a golden opportunity to promote Islamic financial system as a credible alternative to the existing conventional one at a global stage.

What do you think?

Sekian.
Dari Borneo ke Minang

The Botak Man Responses to Jed Yoong’s Blog Posting Over Time – Compiled by DISQUS

2009-02-12T10:40:00.000+08:00

3 months ago

In KJ, Jangan Main Dgn Api, Nanti Letup, Tak Boleh Kawal… on JED YOONG 熊玉鳳 جيد يوڠ

Biarlah dia main api! Hopefully it will "meletup" in his own face... What do you expect off a person fighting for his political survival. Anything to cling on... only to realize his folly when it is too late!

1 reply

jedyoong Hi Man Botak,

Good day to you.

"What do you expect off a person fighting for his political survival.

Anything to cling on only to realize his folly when it is too late!"

Yeah, what will Barisan do in order to stay in power?

Will they be as desperate as Harun Idris on May 13, 1969?

Now it's Ipoh.

It's so sad. In my view, this death of a PAS MP is such an omen for Barisan yet they will not heed the signs.

天命呀! 天有眼阿!

6 months ago

In PERWAJA STEEL: Anwar Running Out Of Issues? On JED YOONG 熊玉鳳 جيد يوڠ

Jed,

Agree - Anwar would not be able to run a toothpick company! Seriously what has the guy got to show? He was never in any employment prior to joining UMNO. Please do correct me if I am wrong. He was living on words and more words. However after all said and done, I have to salute him for being able to convince almost everyone (Dr. M included) of his "brilliance"! He knows not much but his mind is sharp enough to "catch" ideas and words spoken and twist them to his advantage! Other than that, it's just an empty drum!

I know of a person who has crossed path with Anwar Ibrahim. Quote "Anwar always bring a book with him to "show" that he is a well read person. He would cite verses of the Quran to back his argument but unfortunately some of citations were totally out of context and I seldom see him for our Subuh prayers together (berjemaah) during retreat. He is asleep until after Subuh prayer window is over. But he will criticise those who do not perform prayers together (berjemaah)! Of all politicians, he is perhaps the most hypocrite of them all. Wonder what Dr.M sees in this man!" [Note: At that time Anwar Ibrahim was still in the government.]

Sekian.

6 months ago

In RM42.4Bil Lost To Defend RM, Valuecap RM5bil, RM7bil Stimulus, Dr M’s ‘Mega Projects’, Etc on JED YOONG 熊玉鳳 جيد يوڠ

Jed,

Thanks for the response.

I think "Professionally" they squabble because they have to "defend" and develop their country. Despite all the public squabbling, LKY had his best surgeons on 24-hour standby when Dr.M had his first "heart-attack" some time ago.

I do not know much about Norway's history but I suppose the country had to undergo several evolution over its long history to what we have today. I do not know whether we could ever evolved into some thing similar after all the plundering over the past 5 decades by our "own" people and by the colonial masters before that.

Btw, regardless of whether we are a fan of Dr.M or not, we can agree that his intelligence is far superior than the current bunch of clowns we have now. Oh, one more thing he works hard! Ever been to his office while he was the PM? His table is full of files and he reads them!

Met him a few weeks ago at a wedding reception in Hotel Singahsana PJ. He looks quite frail but otherwise ok. I suppose age is catching up after all the workaholic years.

Cheers.

6 months ago

In RM42.4Bil Lost To Defend RM, Valuecap RM5bil, RM7bil Stimulus, Dr M’s ‘Mega Projects’, Etc on JED YOONG 熊玉鳳 جيد يوڠ

Jed,

(1) Crooked Bridge

When the interest of our small (but rich) neighbour of paramount importance, we have to cancel the crooked bridge. Their economic well being is more critical compared to the rakyat's. You have to understand this logic. After all Dr. M did not graduate from Oxford or Cambridge or Harvard. What does he know? We do not want to offend our small but rich neighbour, do we? :cry:

(2) Double Tracking

Again the concern here is our neighbour down south. If we continue with the project, we won't have much left to contribute to our small but rich neighbour down south. We dont want to be accused of being a bully, do we? :wink:

(3) RM7 billion stimulus

As we go higher in the hierachy, it would definitely going to cost more to get stimulated. Small time money cant even tingle the senses. :wink: Generally plans by the government are good. However over the years it could be noted that implementations are always crap! :cry: So where does that lead us?

The RM5 billion for Valuecap is just for my pocket! I introduced the RM7 billion to pacify the rakyat only. What? Do you seriously think I give a damn about the rakyat? They are only useful for me once every 4-5 years! :wink:

Sekian.

6 months ago

In Joining A Triad (2) on JED YOONG 熊玉鳳 جيد يوڠ

Jed,

Over time, triads change their ways and style. They also moved to legit businesses. So now everything is legit... No more "against the law". Maybe it would be a good idea to join some of the more organised triads... I think they can provide better "protection". hahahaha...

6 months ago

In Barisan Politics, Kick The Guy When He Is Down on JED YOONG 熊玉鳳 جيد يوڠ

Jed,

This is the reality of life! Generally we do not have the guts to speak without fear or favour. The implications could be damaging to ones family and relatives. Those with guts tend to standout in a crowd.

When the "power" guy is out, most of us would be out with our guns blazing. In a way, I pity Pak Lah. However I cannot say the same about KJ. I think the guy deserve to be imprisoned for life some where in Siberia.

The day he clinched enough nomination to contest for UMNO Youth Head marks a gloomy future for Malaysia!

6 months ago

In Sacrificing The Reporter, When The Editor Clears The Story on JED YOONG 熊玉鳳 جيد يوڠ

Jed,

If what is said/quoted is brilliant, then I did say it and you quoted me right. However if it is not, then it never came from me!

Typical of politicians...

6 months ago

In EPF Piggy Bank, A Malaysian Super-Sub-Sub-Prime Crisis In The Making? On JED YOONG 熊玉鳳 جيد يوڠ

RM5 billion could go a long way in reviving an economy if managed prudently. Putting into Valuecap is certainly not one of the options. After all the shit, who are they (Najib included) trying to kid?

Not surprised if Valuecap would start (may have started) investing in AirAsia and all those counters related to Shit-In-Law! I do agree with MCA on using ISA on SIL! But of course that would never happened.

What the FISH do all those BAR-STEWARD care for the rakyat? Nothing!

7 months ago

In Another Annoying PKR Supporter on JED YOONG 熊玉鳳 جيد يوڠ

Jed,

Bravo to you! I salute you!

I think it has been mentioned before but nonetheless I shall say it again here...

"PKR fellows are controlled by DISCARDS FROM UMNO...!!!" Just because they lost out and got discarded they want to preach against the very thing they are doing... nepotism, croniysm,.. what ever "ism" and of course "CORRUPTION!"

I am with you on the GOD stuff! Ideology can be changed! And Anwar is probably the biggest culprit! BUT HE TRUE AND LOYAL TO US of AMERICA and cowboy BUSH! Maybe he should just migrate to (hail the GREAT NATION!) US of AMERICA!!!!

That Anwar/PKR stinks and he/they is/are BAD NEWS to Malaysia...

7 months ago

In UMNO Kelantan + Penang Back Pak Lah’s ‘Transition’ Plan on JED YOONG 熊玉鳳 جيد يوڠ

Hi Jed & Hi Piggy,

Annuar Musa will NOT hide his face! He would conveniently switch camps and/or insist that he was misquoted by the press and of course by the recorder/video etc. etc. Hahahaha

Know how stupid their statements & denials can be... Even my less than 5-yr old son can talk a million more sense then them (PAK LAH, NAJIB & ANWAR included)!

Sekian.

7 months ago

In Yet ANOTHER Deadline on JED YOONG 熊玉鳳 جيد يوڠ

Zahar,

I like the way you called Brother Anwar yang pembohong tapi tak gila!

7 months ago

In History, PKMM, UMNO, Myths on JED YOONG 熊玉鳳 جيد يوڠ

Jed,

ALL politicians are essentially the same. They alway amplify whatever little they do and while hiding the mego boo-boos they make.

Wanna change? Sure! But we must be brave enuf to admit the shortcomings and not flipping and floppings.

7 months ago

In So What If Anwar Is Pro-US? On JED YOONG 熊玉鳳 جيد يوڠ

Jed,

Anwar is not really pro-US or pro-democracy. He is just a greedy buger! Greedy for power and money!

I am afraid he would be a boneka-PM if he was to become one. Checkout stories relate by MCOBA schoolmates and retired teachers. You may unearth a lot of stuff about the man and his obsessions!

How about a teh tarik at mamak stall?

7 months ago

In Menjaga Maruah Negara on JED YOONG 熊玉鳳 جيد يوڠ

Jed,

I should meet up with you at some mamak stall after the fasting month. It would be interesting to talk to you about politics.

What say you?

Man Botak @ Botak Chin

7 months ago

In… on JED YOONG 熊玉鳳 جيد يوڠ

Jed,

I am getting so sick! So sick of Pak Lah, Najib and, not to forget, Anwar.

I don't what made you think Anwar was good for Malaysia. I think he is up to no good. He was, has been and will always be.

Heard a lot about Pak Lah and his kerajaan tiga beranak. Heard a lot about Najib and his women as well as Rosmah and the contracts etc.

But have not heard anything so "bad" about Anwar! Other than the instant mee brand "Sodo".

Met up with your friends from the press few months ago i.e. after 12th GE, and was told of wife battery, womenising etc. etc. of the "reformed" Anwar. Any tinge of truth? Maybe, I dont know.

But from MCOBA fellows and "old-retired" teachers, YES. Common comment is "He is slick and he could convince that rain would not fall even on a raining day itself!" My response was "No shit?!" The reply was "NO SHIT! We have seen it too many times!"

I wonder whether the proverb on Leapord never losing it spot or whatever applies here.

Jed - Don't get too stressed out by this people or else sleep becomes an exclusive right of only a few.

8 months ago

In Hmmmmm. What Did Anwar Do For The Malays? On JED YOONG 熊玉鳳 جيد يوڠ

International Islamic University was NEVER Anwar's brain-child. He stake a claim to it but no one bothered to dispute it. IIU was Dr. M's idea from the very beginning.

p/s: I envy you guys ability to keep updating your blog. Work commitments have virtually "prevented" me from updating mine.

FELDA - Part Two

2008-07-28T05:00:00.000+08:00

In the first part, An Introduction, I wrote a really summarised history of Felda. I skipped quite a fair bit of details as I do not have the liberty of time to write a better piece. Nonetheless, in this Part Two, I would tempt to recall what has been said to me by friends and acquaintances.

Someone once said that Felda's reserved has dwindled to about RM1.5 billion from RM3 billion since Yusof Noor took over chairmanship from R M Alias a few years ago. I do not have any evidence to confirm or deny this statement. However, if we were to use simplified logic (maybe flawed), there are grounds to believe that this could be true. Since Yusof Noor took over, the following has been planned, of which some has been implemented:

(1) Felda sponsored Car Rally championship

(2) Felda United, the football club was formed

(3) More than RM100 million loan has been extended to Pahang state

(4) Investment of over RM300 million in a plant located in US

(5) Construction of a hotel resort worth about RM50 million

(6) Felda University has been approved but yet to be implemented

(7) Goodies handed out to settlers during the run-up to the 12th General Election

There are many other plans being put into place with some implemented. For now, let us examine each of the above and objectively determine the logic of each of them.

(1) Car Rally Championship
What has Felda got to do with a rally championship? For all intends and purposes, I do not understand the rationale for sponsoring this event. Officially excuse used is "Felda needs to establish a brand name". Establishing a brand name, yes but not through sponsorship of a rally championship! Felda is not in the business of producing auto parts and rally championship is way off its business activities!

(2) Felda United
Creating a football club to compete in the Malaysian league is a waste of time and money! Malaysian football scene is nothing more than a farce and sponsors are probably "arm-twisted" to sponsor the whole league. With very low turnout at stadiums and low viewership on television, there is simply no desired impact for sponsors. Such waste of time and resources, typical of Najib and Yusof Noor!

If the argument is to employ settlers sons to play for the club, then it would be another "bullshit" to put it mildly. Who actually gains? My guess is as good as yours!

(3) Loan to Pahang State
This piece of disturbing news came from the grapevine. According to unconfirmed sources, Felda extended more than RM100 million to Pahang State in the form of loan/advance. I do not have the details but I was told that the decision has been rectified during Felda Board of Directors meeting.

My take? Yusof Noor's tenure as Chairman of Felda depended very much on Najib. To applease Najib, Yusof Noor had to "provide support" to the ailing Pahang State coffers. It has been said that the loan/advance assisted in extending Yusof Noor's Chairmanship.

It bugs me to see a federal agency "providing support" to a state government when it is none of their business to do so!

(4) Investment in US
I was told that Najib insisted that Felda takes over a plant in US. Location? Some "ulu" place that is accessible only by train and road. Reason? I do not know but the official one given is nothing more than a crap!

The investment cost Felda more than RM300 million (of was it US$300 million). When an acquaintance mentioned this to me, my first reaction is "Shit!" Another waste of fund. Apparently now the plant is not really generating the money it was suppose to. Surprise? Not at all. In the first place, I think Felda overpaid for the investment. Second - it was purely an exercise to siphon money from Felda.

(5) Hotel cum Resort
Another scam to siphon money! If my memory serves me right, the hotel cum resort cost more than RM50 million. Location? You guess it right - Yusof Noor's home state! Rationale? Figure it out...

(6) Felda University
Yusof Noor also wants Felda to set up a university at an estimated costs of more than RM300 million. Why? Beats the hell out of me...

(7) Run-up to the 12th General Election
Prior to the 12th GE, Najib was busy handing out goodies by the dozens to settlers in and around Pekan. He learnt his lessons well. During 1999 GE (if I am not mistaken), Najib almost lost and only won on recount. The settlers actually shied away from him and refused to vote him in. Najib only won on recount then. During the 12th GE, he was not about to make the same mistake and there was a real danger that he could lose. So he made sure goodies were handed out by the dozens to settlers, just to make sure the votes goes to him. His strategy worked extremely well and he was voted with higher majority when other BN candidates won with fewer votes!

The above would suffice for now.

Part 3 would focus on Felda Group of Companies and the new management!

Why Proton is (almost) never an option when it comes to buying cars?

2008-07-25T15:55:00.000+08:00

Recent newspapers coverage on the high maintenance costs of Proton cars, particularly Perdana V6 is not surprising. As expected, the response from Proton is one that reflects its continuous self-denial and arrogance.

I never owned a Proton nor have I ever visited a Proton showroom. But I am now driving the 1st generation Proton Saga. Battered with rust here and there, this Proton Saga proved to be reliable and relatively trouble free. I have never brought this Proton to an authorised service outlet because their prices are simply exorbitant! To me, the China-man having his makeshift workshop under the big tree is just as good, if not better in terms of diagnostics and pricing.

I refuse to buy Proton is stemmed from the fact that too many negative stories have emerged and reported. Despite all those, Proton and their dealers have continued to be arrogant! To be precise, BODOH-SOMBONG! I used to owned a Perodua vehicle. Contrasting from Proton, Perodua is more customer oriented. Customer complains, especially under warranty, have been tended to without much fuss and sour-looking expressions. In addition, Perodua has never been arrogant - "if you do not want to buy it is okay because there are a thousand others waiting in line..." This line of arrogant statement by Proton and their dealers has become "hard-wired" into my brain cells that I simply refuse to even visit their showrooms.

Can I be accused of being unpatriotic? Certainly! They can accuse me of anything they want but my conscience is very clear. Even if I buy a non-national car, I am subsidising the national car, Proton and Perodua! So for as long as I remain as a citizen of Malaysia and whatever non-national car I buy, I am subsidising Proton and Perodua. Subsidising Perodua is not an issue. It's just subsidising Proton that bugs me because they are a bunch of arrogant people!

Proton should change their tagline or motto to "Customers owe Proton a living and Proton don't depend on Customers"!

Consumed by Anger and Disgust

2008-07-15T01:00:00.000+08:00

Today's, 14 July 2008, trip to work was horrible to say the least. Driving through traffic jams caused by roadblocks is not fun! In the process, unnecessary jams caused by roadblocks only add anger and disgust to the government, and not to mention, costs more as fuel consumption increases during traffic jams.

I used to take public transport to work. It is convenient and economical way to travel, especially to work. Due to the constant lobbying and bickering among different political personalities, maintenance of public transportation system (particularly, KTM Komuter) has reduced to zilch! Because of poor maintenance, breakdowns of train sets are very common. I have no choice but switch back to driving! Very unpleasant but I need to earn a living and giving daily excuses of train breakdown does not reflect well on me as an employee.

I have been made to understand that the government has allocated more than RM100 million to overhaul the Komuter sets but work has been rather slow to start due to bickering among contractors linked to different politicians!!!! Instead of doing overhauling work for the betterment of the Komuter trains, these people bicker for a bigger slice of the budget.

Who suffers? The PEOPLE!

And the PM has guts to say the government is people-centric! He and his HP6 cabinet sure have the guts to lie through their stinking teeth!

I HAVE HAD ENOUGH OF THESE NONSENSE!!!

Extracted Comments From M Bakri Musa Blog

2008-07-10T09:07:00.000+08:00

The following are ad verbatim comments posted by "Iskandar" on the article by Farish A. Noor titled PAS: Don’t Fall For UMNO’s Trap! dated 4 July 2008.

NOTE: No permission has been requested to republish the comments and reference.

iskandar Says: July 7th, 2008 at 8:25 pm

Rakyat masih tertunggu-tunggu dan tertanya-tanya apa sudah jadi dengan lapuran siasatan BPR tentang pengakuan bersumpah bekas Penolong Gabenor Bank Negara, Datuk Abdul Murad Khalid berhubung dakwaan bahawa Anwar Ibrahim mengawal berpuluh akaun induk berjumlah berbilion ringgit semasa menjadi Menteri Kewangan. Jika dilihat kepada isi pengakuan bersumpah itu, ianya bukanlah mudah untuk direka-reka.

Didalam akuannya, Abdul Murad turut menyatakan nama beberapa individu yang mempunyai kaitan dengan urusan dana berkenaan. Sebagaimana yang dinyatakan didalam akuan bersumpahnya, beliau menyelesaikan masalah individu tertentu setelah mendapat arahan Anwar menggunakan dana berkenaan. Risiko pendedahan Abdul Murad adalah besar jika beliau sendiri mereka-reka dakwaan berkenaan. Dakwaan Abdul Murad mungkin boleh dianggap berasas manakala penafian individu terbabit pula tidak boleh diketepikan begitu saja. Hanya penyiasatan rapi sahaja yang dapat menentukan segala-galanya.

Begitu juga, disebabkan kedudukan Abdul Murad di Bank Negara Malaysia sebelum ini begitu penting dan beratnya dakwaan yang dibuatnya itu, BPR tidak boleh menunggu masa yang terlalu lama untuk menjalankan siasatan. Tambahan pula, maklumat yang diberikannya itu adalah dalam bentuk akuan bersumpah. Sebagaimana dijelaskan oleh Ketua Pengarah BPR pada masa itu, Datuk Ahmad Zaki Husin, hampir setiap perenggan dalam akuan bersumpah itu adalah maklumat mengenai rasuah. Dalam sesuatu akuan bersumpah, setiap dakwaan perlu dibuat dengan rasa penuh tanggungjawab. Oleh itu, pengakuannya itu perlu ditangani segera.
Berhubung dakwaan Abdul Murad itu, BPR sudah pun membuat laporan polis dan dengan ini, siasatan dianggap sudah bermula. Abdul Murad pastinya orang pertama yang akan mempertahankan pengakuannya. Pengakuannya akan lebih jelas jika beliau dapat mengemukakan bukti, umpamanya segala dokumen berhubung urusan dengan bank terbabit. Mereka yang disabitkan dengan tuduhan itu juga seharusnya memberi kerjasama untuk memudahkan tugas BPR.

Satu perkara yang agak jelas Abdul Murad dan Anwar mempunyai hubungan yang rapat, sekurang-kurangnya ketika Anwar menjadi Menteri Kewangan yang sering berurusan dengan Bank Negara di mana Abdul Murad bertugas. Abdul Murad sudah pun menyatakan beliau diperalatkan. Apa pun, rakyat seharusnya menunggu keputusan siasatan tanpa perlu membuat andaian sendiri.

Yang menjadi persoalan sekarang mengapa kes ini sepi membisu. Mengapa tiada kedengaran susulan cerita mengenainya. Adakah kes ini sudah ditutup atau masih lagi didalam siasatan polis dan BPR? Rakyat ingin mengetahui tentang hasil siasatan kes tersebut. Anwar Ibrahim memang bijak dalam mencari kesalahan orang lain tetapi pada masa yang sama beliau sendiri yang melakukannya. Adakah Anwar Ibrahim terlalu suci dan bersih dan tiada cacat dan cela. Adakah satu lagi Suruhanjaya perlu ditubuhkan untuk menyiasat kes Anwar Ibrahim ini? Rakyat mahu jawapannya.

Federal Land Development Authority - An Introduction

2008-07-08T09:39:00.000+08:00

Federal Land Development Authority or Felda as it is popularly known now was (officially) the brainchild of Malaysia's 2nd. Prime Minister, Tun Abdul Razak. Throughout the years, many people have been involved in developing Felda until it achieved great success. There were failures along the way but overall it was a huge success. Millions have benefited from Felda and their schemes either directly or indirectly.

The early days of Felda was difficult. Fundings were from the Government as well as through borrowings from World Bank and Japan, to name a few. The pioneers of Felda presevered and by 1989, Felda succeeded in redeeming ALL their loans and became selfsustaining. Since then ALL Felda expenses were funded through internally generated funds. The last non-politician chairman of Felda was R M Alias, a very strict no-nonsense disciplinarian. Under his stewardship, Felda managed to build a reserve of approximately RM3 billion. (RM3 billion then was equivalent to approximately US$1.2 billion). Despite such successes, Felda's employees (including top brass) remained very down to earth and publicity shy bunch of people.

Some of the keys to Felda's success was their ability to avoid shout for accolades, praises and wastages. Official vehicles were used until they were no longer economical to maintain. This culture were in sharp contrast to those practised by other government agencies.

The current chairman, Yusof Noor, is a politician and with his entry marked the decline of Felda's stature as a well-organised, well-managed and well-run government agency. This has been further aggravated when the PM assigned his deputy, Najib, as the minister-in-charged.

To Be Continued...