Ogos 1: Kebebasan perlu keikhlasan dan tanggungjawab

Asas idealisma saya yang terbentuk semasa muda tidak memsetujui ISA. Masih harapan saya agar kita tidak perlu lagi undang-undang seperti ISA, AUKU, Percetakkan, dan lain-lain. Apa saja kesalahan harus dihakimkan dan melalui proses undang-undang.

Sedihnya idealisma itu sering jauh dari realiti. Apabila keselamatan negara terancam, hak persendirian mahu atau tidak harus diketepikan untuk kepentingan ramai.

Bila saya melihat keadaan sekarang yang tidak teratur, huruhara dan penuh kepalsuan, ia agak menyedihkan. Kita belum merasa kebebasan hakiki tetapi kita tidak boleh bersabar dan bertanggungjawab untuk tidak menyalahgunakan kebebasan tersebut.

Esok akan ada perarakan demonstrasi antara GMI vs MAGARAN. Dari apa yang saya tahu Istana tidak akan menerima sebarang memorandum. Memorandum Pemuda Gerakan hari ini telah ditolak. Namun saya perlu membuat pilihan antara dua kumpulan ini.

Walaupun agak lari dengan inspirasi diri, saya memilih untuk mengikuti kumpulan MAGARAN yang pro-ISA. Kumpulan MAGARAN berarak atas agenda lain yang sangat releven pada saya. Intipati tujuan GMI bukan kerana ISA tetapi atas kepentingan politik kepartian.

Artikel MyKMU berikut begitu jelas maksud tersirat GMI:

Demonstrasi GMI Ogos 1hb: Petunjuk Pakatan Rakyat desperado

Pada hari Sabtu, Ogos 1hb, 2009, Pakatan Rakyat sudah merancangkan satu demonstrasi besar-besaran di bawah nama Gerakan Menentang ISA (GMI). Tujuannya mungkin kelihatan seakan-akan jelas untuk menuntut pembubaran undang-undang ISA tetapi ianya bukan demikian.

Sebagaimana demonstrasi Bersih pada tahun 2007, tujuan yang dimumkan adalah berlainan dari apa yang tersirat. Semasa itu kononnya untuk menuntut pilihanraya yang lebih bersih, tetapi apa yang difahami tujuan pergerakan itu bermacam-macam.

Ada menganggap tunjuk perasaan itu sebagai gelombang kuning untuk sebahagian rakyat menyuarakan rasa tidak puashati rakyat kepada DYMM SPB Yang Dipertuan Agung. Ada yang tidak berpuashati dengan pentadbiran bekas Perdana Menteri Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Perjuangan Bersih hanya menumpang sentimen semasa. Manakala, Anwar Ibrahim yang tidak terlibat langsung hanya mencuri perhatian dengan datang diusung motor pada saat terakhir.

Berbalik kepada gerakan GMI, pelbagai tindakan seperti demonstrasi, penyerahan memorandum, kenyataan akhbar, forum, dan pelbagai lagi telah dibuat. Kali terakhir ada demonstrasi, jumlah yang hadhir amat sedikit. Perhatian media, baik dari arus perdana atau alternatif, agak terhad dan tidak menarik perhatian.

Demonstrasi GMI telah dirancangkan lama tetapi demonstrasi Gerakan Menentang PPSMI telah diberi lalaun dahulu. Sebelum dapat mereka jalankan, kerajaan telah membuat beberapa langkah positif berkenaan ISA.

Anih untuk pihak GMI ingin teruskan dengan tindakan Perdana Menteri Dato Seri Najib Tun Abdul Razak melepaskan banyak tahanan ISA di Kemunting hingga jumlah kini tinggal sangat sedikit. Bertambah pelik lagi Parlimen telah membahaskan mengenai isu ISA dan ura-ura kuat akan diadakan suatu rombakan pada Akta tersebut.

Malah, Dato Ibrahim Ali – Presiden Perkasa yang merepakan antara mereka yang mengepalai gerakan tunjuk perasaan pro-ISA yang diadakan pada hari yang sama - ada mengesyorkan kuasa menentukan tahanan ISA dipindahkan dari Menteri kepada suatu Jawatankuasa tertentu perihal ISA.

Ini hanya menunjukkan ada pihak-pihak tertentu ingin menggunakan demonstrasi ini untuk tujuan politik parti dan bukan sebenarnya untuk menentang ISA. Yang boleh menimbulkan tandatanya adalah kenapa Mat Sabu yang selama ini mengepalai GMI kini mengundur diri?

Pihak Pakatan Rakyat sudah berada dalam keadaan desperado. Mereka menjangka Ketua Umum Anwar Ibrahim akan kalah dalam kes liwatnya. Tanpa Anwar, mereka boleh rasai bahawa kepaduan Pakatan Rakyat akan terjejas.

Sesuatu perlu dilakukan untuk mengekalkan perpaduan antara mereka. Masanya pun agak tepat kerana pelbagai isu terkini yang boleh diekspolitasi dan beberapa isu memerlukan tenaga baru.

Pastinya ada pihak akan mengeksploitasikan sentimen kematian Teoh Beng Hock dan pada masa yang sama cuba menutup kelemahan kerajaan Pakatan Rakyat Selangor yang mula goncang. Kematian Teoh mempunyai hubungkait dengan siasatan rasuah ke atas beberapa exco dan penglibatan kongsi gelap.

Kepimpinan kerajaan negeri di bawah Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim sangat lemah. Kebolehan pentadbiran korporat yang konservatif telah diguna dan dia begitu takut untuk membuat sebarang keputusan. Kenyataan-kenyataan Khalid kelihatan seolah-olah dia tidak memahami dengan dalam pelbagai isu-isu sesama.

Keretakan pentadbiran DAP di Pulau Pinang pun sudah mula kelihatan. Isu Kampung Buah Pala memberi petunjuk Ketua Menteri Lim Guan Eng bukanlah Khalifah Omar Abdul Aziz tetapi tidak berupaya menyelesaikan masaalah yang memuaskan kedua-dua pihak.

Dia sudah di bawah telunjuk ahli perniagaan Cina tertentu. Sudah timbul syak dikalangan orang ramai akan hubungan kroni antara Lim dengan kumpulan Low Yatt.

Sementara itu, kempen membubar DUN Perak pun sudah reda dan rakyat Perak pun sudah naik menyampah dengan gelagat Nizar. Di Kelantan, sudah ada petunjuk rakyat sudah muak dengan pentadbiran negeri yang tidak henti-henti berceramah dan menyalahkan orang lain tetapi tidak mentadbir dengan baik. .

Demonstrasi GMI ini perlu dilakukan secara besar dan ganas kerana mereka sudah mula desperado. Sesuatu perlu dilakukan untuk mengekalkan kehangatan suasana politik hingga ke pilihanraya akan datang. Jika tidak, mereka sudah mula melihat kehilangan kuasa.

Click Here to Read More..

Kenapa keputusan Najib untuk tidak pilih Azalina itu sangat tepat?

Satu-satu orang yang saya sokong sepenuhnya keputusan Dato Seri Najib Tun Abdul Razak untuk tidak memilih sebagai Menteri adalah wakil Rakyat Pengerang, Datuk Azalina Othman Said.

Dia adalah satu-satunya pemimpin muda yang berpotensi dan dibuka laluan untuknya naik tetapi telah lari jauh menyimpang dari segi sifat keperibadian, semangat perjuangan dan kesetiakawanan UMNO.

Masaalah Azalina bukan kerana naluri semulajadinya tetapi dia tidak mahu mengikuti sifat kepimpinan yang siddeq, amanah, tabligh dan fatanah.

Azalina telah menganiayakan bekas Ketua Pengarah Tourism Malaysia, Dato Mirza Mohd Taiyab untuk fix satu pertuduhan rasuah kononnya melibatkan rawatan gigi berjumlah RM13,860. Saya telah menulis beberapa artikel tentang perkara ini. Kini adalah pendedahan terbaru dari e-mel lama yang baru dihantar seorang rakan.

Pertama kali saya menulis adalah pada September 4hb, 2008 semasa kes itu timbul. Saya dedahkan apa disebalik pertuduhan itu. Doktor gigi yang terbabit adalah Dr Kamsiah dan kini isteri baru kepada Din Merican, seorang penasikat di pejabat Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Antara pendedahan saya, kes itu ada kaitan dengan penentangan Mirza pada ide untuk melantik Dato Michelle Yeoh sebagai Duta Pelancongan Malaysia. Kemudiannya terdedah maklumat tersebut di Parlimen pada tahun ini tetapi cuma kekasih Michelle, Dato Jean Todt yang dilantik. Boleh di baca dalam tulisan saya bertarikh June 25hb 2009.

Semasa itu saya difahami kes Mirza telah diubah pertuduhan. Baru-baru ini, Mahkamah Sesi Kuala Lumpur telah melepaskan pertuduhan terhadapnya. Alhamdulillah, dia dilepaskan. Ini memang satu kezaliman Azalina terhadap seorang insan hanya untuk kepentingan dan ketamakan dirinya. Dalam beberapa hari lepas, saya percaya orang-orangnya telah menganiayakan seorang rakan saya.

Sesebuah Kementeriaan boleh berjalan dengan lancar jika pihak pengerusan itu bersih, cekap dan amanah. Selalu menjadi masaalah apabila Pak Menteri tidak sedia mendengar nasihat, dan tidak menghargai kepakaran pengurusan Kementeriaan serta cuba memandai di luar kemampuannya sendiri. Apatah lagi jika memandai untuk melakukan penyelewengan.

Seorang rakan telah menghantar satu tulisan mengenai Azalina melalui e-mail dan setelah saya selidik, saya tahu siapa penulisnya. Dari apa yang ditulis, Azalina tidak layak untuk kekal sebagai seorang pemimpin lagi. Jika ia terus kekal, satu hari dia akan muncul naik semula. Masaalahnya jika ia muncul balik, ia akan menyusahkan UMNO sahaja.

Pihak pengurusan UMNO tidak boleh berkompromi dengan rasuah dalam parti, kerajaan, korporat dan kehidupan harian rakyat. Selagi tiada kepala yang dipancung kerana rasuah dalam UMNO, rakyat susah untuk diyakinkan. Sebagai sumbangan perlu kepada UMNO walaupun boleh dijadikan peluru kepada pembangkang, saya dedahkan pertuduhan terhadap Azalina dalam e-mel itu tanpa perkara peribadinya.

Seperti biasa, jika Azalina ada memberi respons saya akan siarkan di sini. Namun jika SPRM terbaca tulisan ini, maka Azalina perlu jawab dengan SPRM jugalah. Sebagai peguam dia harus faham bahawa the law is supreme and it has to be allowed to take its course.

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

Kepada Rakyat Malaysia....

Datuk Azalina Othman Said merupakan Menteri Pelancongan Malaysia kini. Beliau juga pernah menjadi Menteri Belia dan Sukan. Datuk Azalina telah dilahirkan di Johor Bahru pada 31 Disember 1963. Beliau mendapat pendidikan di Universiti Malaya dan dianugerahkan Ijazah Sarjana Muda Undang-Undang (Kepujian) pada tahun 1988. Kemudian beliau melanjutkan pengajian di London School of Economics and Political Science, United Kingdom dan dianugerahkan Ijazah Sarjana Undang-Undang pada tahun 1990.

Beliau memulakan kerjaya sebagai Pembantu Undang-Undang di Messr Raja Darryl & Loh (1988-1989, 1991-1994). Setelah menimba pengalaman, beliau menjadi rakan kongsi di syarikat guaman Azalina Chan & Chia (1994-2001) dan kemudiannya Messrs Skine (2001-2002). Pada tahun 2002 sehingga kini, beliau menjadi rakan kongsi di Messrs Zaid Ibrahim & Co. dan kemudiannya Zaid Ibrahim & Co. LLP, Singapore mulai tahun 2003. Beliau pernah menjadi pengacara dalam rancangan Dateline Malaysia di NTV7.

Pada Pilihan Raya Umum ke-11 dan ke-12, beliau telah menang tanpa bertanding di kerusi Parlimen Pengerang. Para peneroka di parlimen Azalina amat kecewa kerana calon PAS telah berjaya dibeli oleh Azalina. Amat goyah calon PAS itu. Atau adakah calon PAS itu sekadar dummy?

1. Azalina sebenarnya tak buat kerja membela rakyat tapi sibuk kaut duit rakyat buat harta sendiri. Buktinya, Azalina telah menganjurkan pesta sempena sambutan hari jadi anak angkatnya, Azareena yg ke-6 pada 17 Mei 2008 di rumah mewah milik xxxx, Puan Sri Sharifah Sabrina Syed Akil semasa rakyat sedang bergelut dengan masalah banjir besar di Johor. Isu ini sangat jelas dan telah buat Tengku Mahkota Johor amat marah. Tengku sendiri tahu dengan isu ini.

2. Semasa menjadi Menteri Belia dan Sukan, Azalina telah melenyapkan jumlah wang yang besar atas alasan membina stadium bolasepak di UK. Projek yang bernilai RM 70 juta itu, akhirnya tidak menjadi kenyataan tetapi berjuta wang rakyat Malaysia telah diselewengkan. Dia merupakan pengkhianat rakyat Malaysia tetapi kita sering menyalahkan mereka yang berpangkat rendah sedangkan ternyata kesalahan itu sepatutnya terletak di bahu Azalina yang terbukti tidak kompeten sebagai seorang Menteri.

3. Manakala kontrak di bawah Majlis Sukan Negara Malaysia (MSN) yang dikenali sebagai "SISTEM PERLAKSANAAN LOGISTIK DAN PERMARKAHAN BERSEPADU UNTUK MAJLIS SUKAN NEGARA MALAYSIA (untuk Sukan SUKMA)" pula tidak dilakukan oleh syarikat yang mendapatkan tender tender tersebut secara yang sah tetapi sebenarnya telah diberikan kepada individu iaitu seorang staf MSN bernama OMAR. Syarikat yang memenangi tawaran tender hanya akan datang untuk mesyuarat sebagai memenuhi syarat. Kos projek hanyalah RM 6 bil tetapi dinaikkan kepada RM 11 bil! Sebagai tanda penghargaan, Azalina sepatutnya diberi ‘hadiah’ sebanyak RM 2 juta. Tapi pada kebiasaannya, bila ianya melibatkan menteri semuanya lepas. Yang kena adalah orang bawahan saja. (Projek tersebut juga gagal dan mendapat publisiti dalam akhbar harian). Azalina mengamuk kerana kegagalan projek ini (malah KSU & TKSU tahu akan kejadian ini) dan bila syarikat yang mendapat tender tidak membayar Azalina, sebuah syarikat lain dipaksa membayar Azalina wang ini apabila mendapat kontrak "PROJEK UNTUK MEMBEKAL, MENGHANTAR, MEMASANG, MENGUJI DAN MENTAULIAH KOMPUTER DAN PERALATAN ICT BAGI IBU PEJABAT KEMENTERIAN BELIA DAN SUKAN (KBS) DAN PEJABAT-PEJABAT CAWANGAN KBS DI SELURUH MALAYSIA. NO TENDER: KBS.S.4-14/39(T.20.2006)". Kos projek dalam lingkungan RM 13 juta.

Objektif untuk menyeleweng wang tidak berhenti di Kementerian Belia dan Sukan saja, malah berterusan apabila Azalina dilantik menjadi Menteri Pelancongan Malaysia.

4. Pelancongan adalah agenda nasional dan kejayaan sektor ini memerlukan dedikasi sepenuhnya seorang menteri. Campurtangan politik hanya memenuhi agenda persendirian (personal agenda). Bila Azalina menjadi Menteri Pelancongan, dia bertekad intuk membawa 20 pekerja persendirian yang dibayar gaji oleh Kementerian Pelancongan. Peraturan Khidmat Sivil (Civil Service rule) hanya sebenarnya hanya membenarkan seseorang Menteri mempunyai 4 pekerja persendirian. Azalina meminta kroninya menubuhkan sebuah syarikat dan syarikat ini diberi kontrak mengendalikan slot pengiklanan Kementerian Pelancongan di saluran TV RTM. Wang yang dibayar kepada syarikat kroni ini digunakan sebagai gaji pekerja persendirian yang dibawa oleh Azalina. Beginilah cara seorang Menteri yang ‘bertanggungjawab’ menjalankan amanat rakyat yang diamanahkan kepadanya.

5. Ayah Azalina pula meminta anaknya memberikan kontrak untuk membuka gerai Tourism Malaysia (Malaysia Tourism Kiosk) di Beijing semasa sukan olimpik. Kontrak itu bernilai RM 10 juta. Ini tidak menjadi kenyataan bila terdapat banyak bantahan daripada staf-staf Kementerian.

6. Laman web Kementerian Pelancongan bernilai RM36 juta!!! Dalam pembentangan kertas kerja Azalina bagi kelulusan kabinet, dia menyatakan RM 36 juta tesebut mampu mempertingkatkan sektor pelancongan di Malaysia dalam masa 3 tahun. Maknanya, kira-kira RM 1 juta diperlukan sebulan hanya semata-mata untuk kerja penyelenggaraan laman web ini?? Sama ada Azalina bodoh ataupun dia beranggapan rakyat Malaysia semuanya yang bodoh??!

7. Pada 25 Oktober 2008, Menteri Pelancongan xxxxxx telah membawa sekumpulan pengikutnya ke Paris menaiki pesawat serba baru, Boeing 777-300ER. Mereka mengambil perjalanan jauh ke Paris dari Singapura (penerbangan SQ334 SIN-Paris) dan membazirkan lebih banyak wang untuk penerbangan tersebut daripada mengambil penerbangan terus dari KL ke Paris. Ini kerana pesawat MAS tidak mempunyai tempat duduk Kelas 1 yang mewah. Untuk makluman semua, tambang tempat duduk kelas 1 adalah dalam lingkungan RM 25,000 seorang! Beginilah cara seorang Menteri yang dipilih oleh rakyat membuang duit rakyat untuk kepentingan diri sendiri.

8. Malah semasa Azalina menjadi Ketua Puteri UMNO, dia telah menyalahgunakan wang tabungan Puteri Umno untuk membeli kereta mewah bernilai RM300,000 untuk xxxnya, Sharifah Sabrina yang merupakan isteri kepada Dato’ Seri Syed Johan Syed Nasir (jutawan ternama dan pemilik Hard Rock Café). Untuk makluman semua, Azalina xxxxx xxxx xxxxxx xxxx xxxx (xxxxxxx).

9. Azalina pernah ada xxxx dengan Erma Fatima, Elly Zalilah Yusof (bekas pembantu Azalina) dan banyak lagi. Pernah terjadi satu peristiwa di mana Azalina ditendang hingga jatuh ke dalam longkang di depan sebuah hotel terkemuka xxx xxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxxxx xxxxxx. Erma Fatima kemudiannya mambawa Azalina ke hotel OneWorld untuk merawat muka Azalina yang cedera. Cerita ini boleh disahkan oleh Erma Fatima. Sungguh memalukan bukan? Beginikan kelakuan seorang menteri di kabinet Malaysia?

10. Azalina juga pernah tinggal sebilik dengan xxxx lamanya, Sabrina semasa lawatan rasminya sebagai Menteri Pelancongan baru ke Russia pada 17-19 Julai 2008. Peristiwa ini diketahui oleh semua para pegawai dan peserta rombongan tersebut. Sebagai seorang yang terhormat dan seorang yang dikenali ramai selain jawatannya sebagai seorang menteri, Azalina sepatutnya menjaga etika kerja dan peradabannya. Apa yang berlaku dalam kehidupan peribadinya, sepatutnya dijaga dan ditutup dari perhatian ramai, apalagi memandangkan dia seorang wanita beragama Islam xxxx xxxxxxxx xxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxxx xxxx xxx. Bukankah lebih baik jika dia xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxx xxxxxxx xxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxx xxxxxx xxxxxxxxx?

11. Setiap kali Azalina pergi ke luar negara untuk tujuan rasmi, pasti ramai para pegawai yang dipertanggungjawabkan mengatur segala urusan perjalanannya akan merungut sakit hati dan pening kepala. Bukan sahaja dia cukup terkenal dengan sikap ”fickle-minded”nya yang suka mengubah-ubah aturcara perjalanan dan program-program yang telah dirancang berkali-kali sehingga ke saat terakhir lalu menyusah dan menyukarkan tugasan mereka untuk membuat perancangan baru (Azalina dikatakan pernah merajuk tidak mahu pergi ke satu majlis rasmi yang telah diuruskan oleh pegawai bertugas semasa lawatan ke Russia tersebut, hanya kerana permintaannya untuk pergi ke suatu tempat lain untuk tujuan peribadi tidak dilayani dan dipenuhi oleh pegawai tersebut) dia juga suka mengajukan permintaan yang mengarut-ngarut seperti meminta pegawai Tourism Malaysia yang bertugas di negara tertentu menyiapkan sajian nasi lemak sambal sotong kegemaran beliau untuk dimakan bersama ”rakan-rakannya” yang menyertai rombongan lawatan walaupun jika beliau dalam transit untuk waktu yang amat pendek sebelum meneruskan perjalanan seterusnya. Maka terkejar-kejarlah pegawai-pegawai luar negara tersebut termasuk dari Pejabat Kedutaan Malaysia yang berdekatan untuk membuat persediaan terutamanya untuk ”memujuk” pihak pengurusan keselamatan lapangan terbang tempatan memberi kelepasan khas untuk membawa masuk makanan tersebut ke dalam bilik menunggu VIP. Bukan setakat makan di bilik itu sahaja, pegawai khas Azalina akan memesan ”bekalan” untuk dibawa naik ke pesawat untuk dimakan kemudian oleh beliau. Bukankah itu telah melanggar protokol dan eraturan keselamatan dan kesihatan penerbangan antarabangsa? Pernahkan Azalina terfikir akibatnya jika bekalan makanan yang dibawa masuk ke pesawat telah dicemari oleh bakteria merbahaya yang boleh memudaratkan kesihatan penumpang-penumpang lain? Agaknya pihak MAS amat ”masak” dengan perbuatan Azalina yang hanya mementingkan diri sendiri dan tekak beliau tanpa memikirkan hal orang lain...

Tidak cukup dengan hal-hal dan projek jutaan ringgit yang menguntungkan Azalina dan kroni-kroninya selama ini, kini timbul pula cerita usaha beliau untuk mengekalkan ”kepentingannya” di Kementerian Pelancongan dalam mengaut seberapa banyak keuntungan yang boleh sebelum beliau ”dilenyapkan” dari senarai kabinet baru apabila peralihan kuasa di antara Pak Lah dan Datuk Seri Najib terlaksana selepas persidangan UMNO pada bulan Mac ini. Menurut pegawai-pegawai di Kementerian, satu ”arahan khas” telah dikeluarkan oleh pejabatnya agar semua projek-projeknya diberikan kelulusan dan dilaksanakan dengan SEGERA.

12. Cerita baru kali ini adalah berkaitan dengan ketelusan dalam perlantikan Agensi Pengiklanan untuk Tourism Malaysia. Terdapat 9 buah syarikat pengiklanan yang telah ditawarkan 8 kontrak pada 14 Januari 2007 (salah-satu syarikat tersebut telah memenangi dua kontrak) untuk mempromosikan Malaysia sebagai destinasi pelancongan kepada pasaran tempatan and luar negara selama 3 tahun sehingga 31 Disember 2010. Untuk makluman semua, semua syarikat pengiklanan berjaya telah melalui proses tender terbuka yang berakhir pada 20 September 2007 iaitu semasa Dato Seri Tengku Adnan menjadi Menteri Pelancongannya. Sudah pasti, Azalina tidak berapa gembira dengan keputusan tersebut bila beliau “menaiki takhta” Kementerian Pelancongan pada bulan April 2008 kerana segala urusan perlantikan dan kontrak telah dilaksanakan hanya beberapa bulan sebelum beliau masuk ke Kementerian tersebut. Sudah pasti rasa tidak puashatinya meluap-luap dan tidak berakhir di situ sahaja. Malah berbagai-bagai strategi diatur untuk memastikan hanya ”mereka-mereka yang tertentu” terus berurusan dengan Kementerian terutamanya yang memberi kepentingan kepadanya. Untuk memberi tekanan kepada agensi-agensi bukan pilihannya, dalam bulan Ogos tahun lepas, Azalina telah memanggil kesemua pengarah bahagian yang terlibat secara langsung dengan perlaksanaan kempen pengiklanan di pasaran tertentu untuk mengambil sebahagian peruntukan yang telah diberikan kepada setiap agensi untuk pembelian pengiklanan online atau internet di MSN dan Yahoo! melalui satu lagi kroninya iaitu Yellow Brick Road. Jumlah yang telah dijanjikan kepada pemiliknya iaitu Pete Yoong adalah RM 12 juta. Masalahnya, segala peruntukan tahunan setiap agensi telah digunakan malah pelan kempen media mereka telah diluluskan seawal April dan Mei 2008 dan sedang dalam proses perlaksanaan kempen pada ketika itu. Adalah tidak adil bagi agensi-agensi yang terpaksa menyalurkan sejumlah wang yang besar dengan membatalkan komitmen pembelian pengiklanan dengan syarikat media lain yang telahpun dipersetujui seawal tahun. Ini semua hanya untuk memenuhi kehendak Azalina yang melampau itu. Mana-mana agensi yang tidak menuruti perintahnya dilihat sebagai ”dalang”.

13. Dalam pada itu, tidak cukup dengan pertukaran pegawai-pegawai kanan di Tourism Malaysia, Azalina juga telah melaksanakan pengstukturan organisasi yang besar di mana beberapa bahagian digabungkan menjadi satu dan hanya pengarah-pengarah yang beliau pastikan boleh mengikut telunjuk dan perintahnya di kekalkan. Ini dilakukan oleh beliau pada 3 Oktober 2008 tatkala hampir ¾ dari wargakerja Tourism Malaysia sedang bercuti panjang sempena sambutan Hari Raya Aidilfitri. Berlakulah keadaang kelam-kabut dan kacau-bilau dalam segala urusan pentadbiran di Tourism Malaysia apabila kebanyakan staf-staf Tourism Malaysia mula pulang ke tempat kerja setelah lama bercuti. Mereka tidak tahu di bahagian mana tugasan baru mereka sedangkan banyak kerja dan projek-projek sedang berjalan lancar sebelum cuti yang hanya menunggu perlaksaan selepas mereka pulang bekerja.

Inilah cara Azalina untuk memastikan perancangan perlaksanaan pentadbiran ”kuku besi”nya terlaksana. Mana projek atau program yang beliau tidak suka kerana tidak menguntungkannya termasuk para pegawai kanan yang dilihatkan tidak boleh ”bekerjasama” dengannya dapat ”dilenyapkan” dengan begitu sahaja (terdapat ramai para pegawai yang sering bertelagah atau mempersoalkan tindakan beliau dan sengaja memperlambatkan proses kelulusan ditukar ke pejabat Tourism Malaysia negeri sebagai langkah menyekat dan menghukum mereka).

14. Berbalik kepada kes agensi pengiklanan yang terlantik tersebut, Azalina bertekad untuk menamatkan kontrak 7 daripada 9 agensi pengiklanan dan hanya mengekalkan 2 sahaja yang terbukti mampu menjaga kepentigan Azalina. Kedua-dua agensi ini adalah milik kroni Azalina. SEN Media Sdn Bhd yang telah pun dilantik untuk mengendalikan pasaran Asia Timur dan Barat dan Afrika yang kontrak 3 tahunnya bernilai hampir RM 78 juta kini ”diberi” tugas mengendalikan pasan seluruh Asia termasuk pasaran tempatan dan Kempen Acara-acara Khas yang sebelum ini dipertanggungjawabkan kepada 4 agensi yang lain! Manakala ISC-TBWA yang sebelum ini hanya menjaga pasaran Eropah, telah dijanjikan kesemua pasaran negara-negara ”orang putih” iaitu pasaran Amerika dan Oceania termasuk Kempen MICE yang sepatutnya dikendalikan kempennya oleh 3 lagi agensi pengiklanan yang berjaya dalam tender 2007 tersebut. Pada 9 Februari 2009, kedua-dua agensi kesayangan Azalina telah ”dijemput” oleh beliau untuk mengadakan pembentangan cadangan kempen pengiklanan mereka bagi tahun 2009 di Berjaya Hotel & Resort Langkawi untuk membincangkan pelan mereka. SEN Media telah mengemukan cadangan dan meminta peruntukan sebanyak RM 75 juta manakala ISC-TBWA meminta RM 35 juta untuk tujuan perlaksanaan kempen pengiklanan mereka. Sedangkan 7 agensi-agensi pengiklanan yang dilantik seolah-olah telah dianaktirikan dan dipulau. Sejak awal tahun ini, mereka tidak lagi diberi apa-apa tugasan oleh Tourism Malaysia selaku klien mereka. Segala kertas cadangan yang dikemukakan untuk perhatian klien ditolak atau tiada langsung ”feedback” diberi. Sikap hanya berdiam diri pihak pengurusan Tourism Malaysia juga dilihat sebagai tidak professional langsung walhal sebelum ini, mereka sering bertemu untuk membincangkan ide-ide atau perlaksanaan kempen media dan kreatif tahunan yang baru yang sepatutnya sedang ligat berjalan pada ketika ini seperti tahun-tahun sebelumnya.

15. Lebih menggemparkan lagi, pemilik SEN Media, Ruzi Sekh Ahamad dikatakan orang yang telah membayar calon PAS di kawasan Pengerang (patutlah Azalina menang tanpa bertanding untuk 2 penggal berturut-turut) sedangkan SEN Media hanya merupakan agensi media dan kurang pengalaman dalam bidang pengiklanan untuk menguruskan pasaran seluruh Asia iaitu satu tanggungjawab yang amat penting dan berat. Keberkesanan kempen pengiklanan yang hendak dilaksanakan bagi suatu pasaran bergantung kepada pengalaman mendalam sesebuah agensi dalam selok-belok bidang pengiklanan dan kefahaman sesebuah negara yang cukup dalam memastikan hanya strategi pemasaran dan promosi terbaik dipilih. Ini memandangkan keadaan kegawatan ekonomi masa kini yang sudah pasti akan menjejaskan kemajuan sektor pelancongan Malaysia yang juga merupakan tunggak utama dalam peransangan ekonomi negara. Jikalau pengalaman dan kemampuan sesebuah agensi pengiklanan bukan lagi menjadi kayu pengukur, apakah kriteria untuk pemilihan mereka kalau bukan rasuah?!

16. Adakah tindakan Azalina ini dengan memberi layanan istimewa kepada Ruzi, selain dari ”membalas budi” kerana memastikan kemenangan dalam pilihanraya umum yang lalu adalah sebahagian daripada perancangan jangkamasa panjang untuk kerjaya politiknya yang dirasai oleh orang ramai sebagai ”telur di hujung tanduk”? Ini kerana Ruzi, yang juga dikatakan mempunyai ”hubungan amat baik” dengan bakal Perdana Menteri kita, Datuk Seri Najib mungkin telah menjanjikan kedudukan yang selesa dalam senarai kabinet baru Perdana Menteri ke-6 Malaysia buat Cik Azalina walaupun isteri YAB, Datin Seri Rosmah amat membenci beliau?

17. Selain dari itu, Azalina juga telah memberi layanan istimewa kepada seorang lagi kroninya iaitu Datuk Vincent Lee yang merupakan pengerusi 4As dan pemilik bersama agensi pengiklanan Naga DDB (salah-satu bekas agensi pengiklanan Tourism Malaysia yang kalah dalam tender 2007) dan juga DDB International yang kini dikenali dengan nama baru Milk+Co yang mengendalikan pasaran MICE. Dato Vincent sebenarnya juga mempunyai sebuah lagi agensi pengiklanan yang bertaraf bumiputra (bagaimana ini terjadi memandangkan dia berbangsa Cina sukar dijelaskan) bernama Virtual Independence (VI). VI juga merupakan bekas agensi pengiklanan Tourism Malaysia mengendalikan pasaran Asia tetapi telah terkeluar dari senarai semasa proses tender tahun 2005 dulu lagi. Tiada lagi yang ”impossible” di dunia Malaysia ini. VI yang merupakan sebuah agensi pengiklanan telah memenangi tawaran sebagai satu-satunya agensi perhubungan awam (public relations) bagi peringkat global untuk Kementerian Pelancongan melalui Tourism Malaysia tanpa melalui proses tender seperti yang diperlukan bernilai jutaan ringgit.

18. Ini adalah habuan bagi Datuk Vincent yang telah diarahkan oleh Azalina untuk merasuah Nadeswaran (penulis ruang Citizen Nades dalam akhbar The Sun). Harga yang ditetapkan untuk Nadeswaran ialah RM 10 juta. Sebagai balasan, Dato Vincent diberi kontrak pengurusan PR global oleh Kementerian Pelancongan. Walau bagaimanapun, Nadeswaran dikatakan telah menolak tawaran tersebut. Patutlah Datuk Vincent langsung tidak buat bising tentang tindakan klien untuk menamatkan perkhidmatan kontraknya untuk pasaran MICE mahupun membantu nasib ahli-ahli 4As yang lain sedangkan beliau merupakan pengerusinya!

19. Begitu juga dengan proses penawaran kontrak Pasaran Global di mana proses tender secara terbuka nan telus (kononnya). Ianya hanya wayang semata-matanya! Kontraknya sebenarnya telahpun dijanjikan kepada agensi Kingfisher, salah-seorang lagi kroni Azalina yang setia dan sering dilihat mengikuti rombongan beliau ke luar negara. Agensi ini rupa-rupanya telah berganding bahu dengan sebuah syarikat produksi milik kawan baik Azalina iaitu Filmpoint Sdn Bhd. Filmpoint telah bekerjasama dengan Azalina sejak beliau menjadi Menteri Belia dan Sukan melalui projek Rakan Mudanya. Malah, sebaik sahaja Azalina dimahkotakan oleh Pak Lah sebagai Menteri Pelancongan baru, beliau telah memaksa ISC-TBWA untuk melantik Filmpoint sebagai syarikat produksi untuk pembikinan iklan TV bagi peringkat global bernilai RM 4 juta.

Ternyata sikap berani lagi dahsyat Azalina patut diberi tepukan gemeruh. Sebagai seorang peguam yang terbukti hebat, beliau juga bijak mengatur segala tindak-tanduknya. Walaupun ura-ura keinginan Azalina melalui Tourism Malaysia untuk menamatkan perkhidmatan 7 agensi-agensi yang malang itu dan secara langsung pemansuhkan kontrak mereka telah kedengaran sebelum cuti Tahun Baru Cina, namun sehingga ini surat penamatan kontrak belum lagi dikeluarkan. Ini menyulitkan lagi keadaan bagi mereka yang mungkin mahu melapor kepada pihak tertentu atau merujuk kepada penasihat undang-undang mereka untuk tindakan selanjutnya ke atas klien mereka. Sedangkan 2 agensi kroninya telah mula menjalankan tugasan-tugasan mereka dalam melaksanakan kempen masing-masing seperti biasa. Cepat kerja dilaksanakan, cepatlah inbois-inbois dihantar kepada klien untuk pembayaran, lagi cepatlah imbuhan diterima oleh Azalina dan kuncu-kuncunya!

Apakah nasib pekerja-pekerja agensi-agensi yang 7 itu? Hanya Tuhan yang tahu. Kebanyakan mereka ini hanya bergantung kepada kontrak Tourism Malaysia sebagai satu-satunya klien mereka. Dalam masa kegawatan ekonomi nasib mereka tidak menentu. Azalina memang tidak berhati perut, asalkan matlamat dia tercapai. Apatah lagi, bagi setiap projek yang dikemukan dan diluluskan Azalina akan menerima 30% daripada keuntungan sepertimana yang bakil diterima dari SEN Media dan ISC-TBWA. Dia untung manakala yang lain merana. Inilah Menteri Pelancoangan Malaysia.

Inilah karenah Menteri Pelancongan Malaysia, seorang menteri xxxxxx yang menduduki kabinet Malaysia. Sungguh memalukan. Segala bukti akan kelakuan Azalina ada dalam bentuk gambar, perbualan (audio dan video), pengakuan staf-staf Kementerian Belia dan Sukan, dan Kementerian Pelancongan. Semua bukti-bukti ini akan di sebarkan untuk perhatian umum dalam masa yang singkat.

MALAYSIA BOLEH, AZALINA LAGI BOLEH!!!

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

Saya hanya tertanya apa pula kompensasi kepada mangsa kezaliman Azalina, seperti Dato Mirza dan peniaga-peniaga yang diputuskan kontrak sesuaka hatinya? Tidakkah negara kerugian apabila seorang yang berkebolehan terpinggir kerana dianiayakan begitu sahaja? Berapa banyak orang berkebolehan di Malaysia dan anatara bangsa kita yang terpinggir dan teraniaya kerana kelakuan sedemikian? Akhirnya besar kerugian keapda negara akibat rasuah dan salahguna kuasa.

Terima kasih Dato Najib kerana tidak mengambilnya sebagai Menteri.

Click Here to Read More..

LKS's Ipperwash Inquiry argument crash further

The Royal Commision Inquiry argument by never practising lawyer, Lim Kit Siang was flatly rebutted by the Attorney General Chamber. The public inquest will began today and 77, including 24 from MACC will be called up.

Read yesterday's Malay Mail below:

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

Ipperwash Inquiry unsuitable says AG

AG: Better to have Royal Commission of Inquiry into Teoh’s death

Ayu Musa Kamal
Malay Mail, Tuesday, July 28th 2009

THE reference to the Ipperwash Inquiry by DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang is not a suitable comparison to the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) in Malaysia, concerning the investigation of the cause of death.

Attorney -General's Chambers, Head of the Prosecution Unit, Tun Abd Majid Tun Hamzah, when contacted yesterday, said under the Inquiries Act Canada, the Governor in Council can cause an inquiry into and concerning any matter connected with the good of the government or the conduct of any part of public business.

"It gives a wide scope for the body to inquire, as opposed to Section 2 of our Commissions of Enquiry Act 1950," said Tun Majid. "So the legal sanction is obviously poles apart," he added.

He also said that, according to the mandate in the Ipperwash Inquiry, it was clearly stated that the Commission shall perform its duties without expressing any conclusion or recommendation regarding the civil or criminal liability of any person or organisation.

"The Commission, in the conduct of its inquiry shall ensure that it does not interfere with any ongoing legal proceedings relating to these matters. However, under our Criminal Procedure Code, the magistrate can inquire when, where, how and after what manner the deceased came by his death and also whether any person is criminally concerned in the cause of death.

The magistrate can say that the death is caused by x (if known) or by a person unknown. But he cannot say whether any offence has been committed," Tun Majid said.

He added that Malaysia's RCI under the Commission of Enquiry Act cannot inquire into the death of a person as section 2 says, conduct of government officers and department or public welfare.

"Definition of welfare does not include death," he added. On Monday, Lim Kit Siang was quoted as saying that, there has not been a precedent in Malaysia for an RCI to investigate the cause of a person's death.

But he pointed out that it had been done in other countries, including Commonwealth countries.

Lim wrote in his blog that there were Commonwealth precedents of public inquiries into extraordinary deaths and cited the 2004 case of the Ipperwash Inquiry that was established by the provisional government of Ontario under the Public Inquiries Act to inquire into the death of Dudley George, who was shot in 1995 during a protest by First Nations representatives at Ipperwash Provincial Park.

The inquiry was mandated to make recommendations to prevent violence in similar circumstances in the future.

He said, recommendations made by the RCI should be implemented by the present government, failing which it will be considered an act of disrespect to the King. Lim, who questioned the independence, integrity as well as professionalism of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Agency (MACC), thinks that an investigation should be done so that it will not be used to prosecute the Opposition.

Last week on Friday, Attorney- General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail said it was only proper for a court of law to deal with Teoh Beng Hock's cause of death, which was why, he said, the government ordered an inquest to establish the cause of death.

The statement said the RCI is rightly and lawfully formed for the purpose of inquiring into the procedural aspects of the MACC in carrying out investigations.

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

Read the information from the Attorney General office here that explain the definition, merits and technicality of a public inquest.

For face saving, give LKS a final say and then just ignore him.

With more revelations here and here from the mysterious blog t4tbh yesterday, slowly but surely LKS and DAP is losing the plot.

They desperately need to put up a "police brutality" accusation act for August 1st. Interesting and worrisome August 1st. All these happening in Shaaban just before Ramadhan.

Click Here to Read More..

LKS concede no precedence for RCI to investigate death

himLim Kit Siang persistent insistent for a Royal Commission on Inquiry met a wall in his argument as he concede that there is no precedence for Royal Commission for cases of death.

Purely putting up rhetorical argument, Lim failed to put a stronger justification against Public Inquest in which a Coroner's inquest is set for July 29th, 2009.

Lim: No precedence for Royal Commission but it has been done

By Pearl Lee
Malay Mail, Monday, July 27th, 2009

DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang conceded yesterday that there is no precedence of a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) in Malaysia investigating the cause of a death.

“But it’s been done in other Commonwealth countries,” he told Malay Mail.

On Friday, Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail said it was only proper for a court of law to deal with Teoh Beng Hock’s cause of death. Which was why, Gani said, the government ordered an inquest to establish the cause of Teoh’s death.
Though Lim agreed that there has not been a precedent in Malaysia for an RCI to investigate the cause of a person’s death, he said it had been done in other countries, including Commonwealth countries. The inquest starts on July 29.

In his blog posting, Lim wrote that there were Commonwealth precedents of public inquiries into extraordinary deaths and cited the 2004 case of the Ipperwash Inquiry that was established by the Government of Ontario under the Public Inquiries Act to inquire and report on events surrounding the death of Dudley George, who was shot in 1995 during a protest by First Nations representatives at Ipperwash Provincial Park.

The inquiry was also mandated to make recommendations to prevent violence in similar circumstances in the future.

Any recommendation made by a RCI should be implemented by the government of the day, failing which it will be considered an act of disrespect to the King, Lim said.

“Whether or not the government of the day honours recommendations made by the RCI should not arise. If it fails to do so it will amount to an act of gross disrespect to the King,” he said.

“The King’s government should not do so. “If it fails to honour (the recommendations), the government should resign in view of the principle of parliamentary democracy.” Lim said this when asked to comment on instances where recommendations made by RCIs were not adhered to.

“Of course there are a lot of problems in RCIs based on previous cases but we must get to the root of the problem,” he said.

Lim said his rationale of having an RCI to investigate not only the interrogation methods employed by the Malaysian Anti Corruption Agency (MACC) during questioning but also the causes of Teoh Beng Hock’s death and the independence, integrity and professionalism of the agency in performing its investigations.

“The independence, integrity as well as professionalism of the MACC should be investigated to ensure it does not act as a catch stone of Umno and Barisan Nasional, which continued to prosecute the opposition,” he said.

Referring to Gani’s statement that Lim said that a court of law should deal with the cause of Teoh’s death, Lim said RCIs should deal with major infractions and institutional wrongs.

“People should not be afraid of RCIs. It is a very common practice in other countries and should be held as long as there is ample reason to ensure that there is accountability, independence and integrity by government agencies,” Lim said.

During his phone interview, Lim dismissed allegations that he had ill advised the family of Teoh to make calls for an RCI to find out Teoh’s cause of death.

RCI should not be reduced to undertaking the operational police for it will only result operational chaos and justice is not served. It should be meant for significant issues.

By RCI used to investigate Teoh Beng Hock's case, it further lowered it's siginificant into a political battlefield. As it is, there is a section of the public also demanding an RCI for the death of a University student that was left unattended.

Click Here to Read More..

Penerangan mengenai Inkuiri kematian Teoh Beng Hock

Berikut ialah terjemahan penuh kenyataan media Peguam Negara Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail berkenaan inkuiri berhubung kematian Teoh Beng Hock mengikut Kanun Acara Jenayah (CPC) bertajuk "Inkuiri Kematian Mengikut CPC berhubung kematian Teoh Beng Hock":

Tujuan inkuiri diadakan mengikut Kanun Acara Jenayah ialah untuk menyiasat bila, di mana, dan cara si mati menemui kematiannya dan juga sama ada mana-mana orang terlibat secara jenayah yang menyebabkan kematian itu. Ini telah dijelaskan dalam keputusan kes Re Loh Kah Kheng (1990) 2 MLJ 126 Dzaiddin J (bekas Ketua Hakim Negara pada ketika itu),

"Adalah mesti diingat bahawa fungsi seorang majistret mengendalikan satu inkuiri mengikut Bab XXXII CPC ialah untuk menyiasat, bila, di mana, bagaimana dan selepas dalam cara si mati menemui kematiannya dan juga sama ada mana-mana orang secara jenayah terlibat dalam menyebabkan kematian itu (s 337).

Definisi "Punca kematian" di bawah s 328 ialah untuk memasukkan dengan jelas bukan sahaja punca kematian seperti ditentukan oleh pemeriksaan atau pemeriksaan bedah siasat tubuh di mati, tetapi juga semua perkara yang perlu untuk membolehkan pendapat dibentuk mengenai cara si mati menemui kematiannya dan juga sama ada kematiannya berpunca akibat daripada mana-mana cara, atau telah dipercepatkan oleh sebarang tindakan tidak mengikut undang-undang atau berlaku akibat perbuatan orang lain.

Oleh yang demikian, majistret akan mengadakan inkuiri dengan memeriksa saksi-saksi yang telah bersumpah dan pada masa yang sama lazimnya mematuhi peraturan biasa mengenai keterangan, beliau mungkin menerima mana-mana keterangan yang beliau fikir sesuai, terutamanya keterangan dengar cakap. Tugasnya ialah untuk menentukan punca kematian dan beliau tidak terikat untuk mematuhi prosedur undang-undang mahkamah yang biasa."

Di bawah Seksyen 333 Kanun Acara Jenayah, seorang Majistret boleh mengenepikan inkuiri jika beliau berpuas hati dengan punca kematian tetapi dalam semua kes lain adalah mandatori bagi Majistret untuk mengadakan inkuiri; lebih-lebih lagi dalam kes-kes sebegini yang melibatkan kematian mengejut. Mengadakan inkuiri serupa oleh Suruhanjaya Diraja akan mewujudkan pertindihan.

Dalam kes Teoh Beng Hock, saya telah mengambil tindakan di bawah seksyen 339 (1) Kanun Acara Jenayah untuk mengarahkan Majistret mengadakan inkuiri bagi mengetahui punca dan keadaan yang ada kaitan dengan kematian Teoh Beng Hock dan Majistret wajib mengadakan inkuiri itu. Oleh itu, adalah jelas bahawa ia cara yang memadai dan venue yang sesuai yang disediakan oleh undang-undang bagi kes-kes sebegini.

Selain itu, Kerajaan telah memutuskan untuk menubuhkan Suruhanjaya Siasatan Diraja. Fungsi Suruhanjaya Diraja ini tidak harus dikelirukan dengan inkuiri di bawah Kanun Acara Jenayah. Seksyen 2 Akta Suruhanjaya Siasatan 1950, jelas merujuk kepada siasatan terhadap tatalaku dan pengurusan pegawai-pegawai dan jabatan-jabatan kerajaan atau bagi kebajikan awam.

Definisi kebajikan dalam The New Shorter Oxford English Dictionary ialah "kegembiraan, kesejahteraan, kesihatan baik atau kekayaan seseorang, masyarakat dll; kejayaan kemajuan, kemakmuran.". Oleh itu, ia tidak boleh diperluaskan untuk meliputi inkuiri bagi kematian sebegini, di mana inkuiri oleh Majistret di bawah Kanun Acara Jenayah adalah lebih sesuai dan disokong oleh undang-undang.

Setakat ini, misalnya Suruhanjaya Siasatan Diraja telah ditubuhkan, antara lain, berhubung tragedi-tragedi di Terminal Feri Pulau Pinang dan Bright Sparklers Fireworks. Rekod menunjukkan terma rujukan bagi kedua-dua tragedi meliputi perkara-perkara berkaitan dengan pentadbiran, pengurusan dan pematuhan terhadap prosedur dan standard keselamatan. Tragedi dan bencana itu telah menyebabkan banyak nyawa terkorban akibat kecuaian dan tidak mematuhi prosedur operasi oleh pihak berkuasa relevan. Tiada yang menyentuh mengenai punca kematian bagi satu orang.

Oleh yang demikian, dengan Kanun Acara Jenayah sebagai undang-undang yang spesifik yang mempunyai peruntukan bagi diadakan inkuiri kematian, dengan itu adalah sewajarnya bagi Mahkamah menentukan punca kematian dan perkara-perkara yang berkaitan dengannya.

Penubuhan Suruhanjaya Diraja adalah cara yang betul dan mengikut undang-undang bagi tujuan menyiasat aspek prosedur Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia dalam menjalankan penyiasatan.

Apa yang penting ialah kita mesti mematuhi Undang-undang negara. Demi keadilan, perlu diselesaikan bagi kepentingan bersama di pihak kerajaan dan awam. Inkuiri di bawah Kanun Acara Jenayah dibenarkan oleh undang-undang dan siasatan di bawah Akta Suruhanjaya Siasatan 1950 adalah mekanisme untuk mengetahui kebenaran secara adil dan saksama. Ia juga akan menyelesaikan sepenuhnya semua kebimbangan di pihak kerajaan dan orang ramai.

Masa terakhir kerajaan melayani tuntutan DAP untuk mengadakan Suruhanjaya Diraja adalah untuk kes Lingham dan kes ketok ketampi.

Prosiding kes Lingham menjadi cacamarba dan ada antara hasil siasatan Suruhanjaya berupa pertuduhan yang diluar term of reference dan menimbulkan persoalan.

Sebelum itu Suruhanjaya mengenai kes ketuk ketampi yang ditimbulkan oleh Theresa Kok terhadap seorang yang dikatakan rakyat Cina tetapi seorang Melayu bukan saja satu salah tuduhan oleh DAP malah memalukan negara yang perlu meminta maaf kepada China.

Nampaknya setiap kali kerajaan melayani tuntutan DAP ianya berakhir dengan martabat Suruhanjaya direndahkan dengan salah tuduh dan pertuduhan yang tidak boleh dibuktikan.

Biar Inkuiri diteruskan dan jika masih ada kecacatan, barulah ditubuhkan Suruhanjaya Diraja. Dari pengalaman yang lepas, Suruhanjaya Diraja telah dipolitikkan dan tidak harus dibiarkan demikian.

Malah apa perlu hanya kes Teoh Beng Hock saja? Bukankah ada lagi kes-kes lain yang lebih memerlukan siasatan sedemikian?

Polis pun sudah bersedia mendedahkan hasil siasatan. Adakah cover-up mana-mana? Kalau semuanya sudah telus dan tiada lagi persoalan, jangan pula pembangkang mereka-reka tuduhan dan fitnah.

Click Here to Read More..

There is a new watch, it's called IRDA-Watch

My posting on June 19th, 2009 call for bloggers or usage of blog for shareholders activism. It is time for more blogs like Sime Darby Watch.

My reasoning was simple. Two days earlier on June 17th, I dispell the finding of Tranparency International regarding perception on corruption towards politicians and civil servants. What is important is not perception but actual corruption. Perception can be prejudicial. The truth to the matter is the most corrupt is the corporate sector, particularly the GLCs.

One response to my call came to fruitation immediately. Someone took up the challenge to set-up a blog called MAS Liberators. I was alerted yesterday of a new blog Eye on Iskandar with the url irdawatch.blogspot.com.

Sincerely, I hope these new corporate watch blogs are updated regularly, informative and written with the public and readers interest in mind.

MAS Liberator could sure help to avoid self indulgence to dwell on boring theoretical issues of genenal management practises and pursue more siginificant and critical issues palatable to the public.

They spoiled their reputation when in their second posting, the blogger was awkwardly hoping for an appointment with Tengku Azmil. They missed the opportunity to discuss few explosive issues on fuel hedging and route cancellations.

Consider these as friendly advise.

All the best MAS Liberator. Welcome on board Eye on Iskandar.

Click Here to Read More..

Selective persecution accusation rebutted, Kit Siang look silly

The death of Teoh Boon Hock has life threatening implication for DAP.

For the past four decades, they have been making wild accusation on Barisan Nasional one after another. If Teoh' death expose serious wrong doing in DAP, it will look bad on DAP.

They only tasted power for only a year and yet are already abusing power and indulging in corruption. The voters will not only not trust to give power at the Federal level, but will end up losing more already secured seats.

Thus, the finding of the death of Teoh can have serious ramification on DAP.

Desperation can be seen in all DAP's actions and reactions. They attempted to accuse MACC for selective persecution but was easily rebuted by facts and figures from MACC. Malay Mail reported the rebuttal.

More lies of Lim Kit Siang will be unravelled.

Without awaiting police investigation, they claimed that Teoh is murdered by MACC. That is illogical when considering that he is a witness and cooperative during interrogation.

Realising that allegation could be dispelled easily, they openly refused to accept any police findings to say it is a suicide. Why?

Suicide would look badly on them. It is not logical for Teoh who is due to register his marriage to his two month pregnant fiance would want to commit suicide. If he did die of suicide, the reason for suicide would be damaging for DAP.

Pressure is on DAP with accusation of underworld relation. The public and blogs are suspecting Ronnie Liu and to a lesser extent Ean Yong Hian Wah and Tan Boon Hwa as having underworld ties and as likely suspect in the event it is murder.

To relieve pressure, Lim Kit Siang demanded for a Royal Commision of Inquiry and he got it. That came unexpectedly and he had to find excuses to further demonise the Government. He now insist Tunku Aziz to head the RCI.

With Tunku Aziz no more non partisan and DAP cannot be trusted to be rationale on this issue, that will not happen. A truly independent members of the RCI is better.

Lim Kit Siang also made an accusation that MACC are doing selective persecution. He was rebuted by Rocky's paper Malay Mail. This was published yesterday:

What selective persecution, Lim? More BN politicians than Pakatan hauled up by MACC

More BN politicians hauled up by MACC compared with Pakatan counterparts

By Najmuddin Najib
Malay Mail, Wednesday, July 22nd, 2009

THIS year alone, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission questioned more than 20 Barisan Nasional politicians and less than five of their Pakatan Rakyat counterparts over allegations of abuse of power and money politics.

Of the 20 from the BN camp, five are high-profile politicians. MACC has also charged several BN politicians, including first-term Lenggeng assemblyman Mustafa Salim, 50, who faced three charges of corruption
in May.

In January this year, Beruas Umno vice-chairman Azman Noh was charged at the Ipoh Sessions Court for offering bribes to ensure that he was voted in as the division's vice-chief.

In March, MACC had charged Federal Territory Umno Youth chief Datuk Mohamad Norza Zakaria, who pleaded not guilty to two corruption charges involving alleged vote-buying during the run-up to the Umno general election.

BN politicians questioned by MACC this year include former Tourism and Sports Minister and ex-Puteri Umno head Datuk Seri Azalina Othman and former Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo. It was also learnt that one BN politician hauled in by MACC was questioned by officers from 8pm to 6am.

These are the statistics that Malay Mail had obtained based on our research into MACC's list of activities for this year.

No politicians from Pakatan Rakyat have been charged yet.

It is also learnt these findings are being compiled by MACC in their bid to refute allegations that it practised selective persecution of certain political parties.

On the day of the death of Teoh Beng Hock, former aide of Selangor exco member Ean Yong Hing Wah, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng launched a stinging rebuke of MACC, calling for the agency to stop its "political persecution" of Pakatan Rakyat, especially DAP leaders and members.

His father, DAP national chairman Lim Kit Siang, during Teoh's funeral in Alor Gajah, called on Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, to "stop the MACC war against Pakatan Rakyat and direct it to return to its original purpose of declaring war against corruption".

Click Here to Read More..

Kematian Beng Hock alihkan pandangan dari rumah Khalid dipersoalkan

Oleh Selangor Daily Dotcom

Menteri Besar, Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim merasa rimas apabila ADUN Sekincan menimbulkan isu mengenai rumah Dato Seri Dr Khir Toyo. Dia tahu akhirnya orang akan menimbulkan persoalan mengenai rumahnya.

Orang biasa mungkin boleh dijawab dengan alasan dia dahulu orang korporat dan kononnya dia mampu. Bolehkah alasan itu digunakan? Itukah sebenarnya?

Saya pernah memasuki rumah Khalid semasa ianya dalam pembinaan pada akhir tahun 90an. Pada mulanya, saya terdorong atas perasaan ingin tahu rumah yang dikatakan kepunyaan seorang ahli korporat Cina. Rumah yang terletak atas bukit di Damansara itu kelihatan dari bawah seolah-olah rumah rekabentuk Siam.

Kami meminta izin dari Pengurus Tapak untuk tengok sedikit-sedikit. Dia agak keberatan tetapi kami nyatakan kami dari industri pembinaan dan minat ingin melihat rekabentuk rumah. Sedikit pun kami tidak bertanya siapa tuan punya rumah itu tetapi hanya berbincang mengenai reka bentuk dan pembinaan rumah.

Sempat juga kami bertanya harga pembinaan. Kami diberitahu harga RM6 juta buat setakat itu kerana ada lagi tambahan, ubah suai dan ini tidak termasuk hiasan dalaman.

Katanya, semua sekali termasuk harga tanah sudah mencapai RM16 juta beberapa tahun lepas.

Rumah itu banyak menggunakan kayu dan menjadikannya mahal kerana banyak kos ukiran dan menggunakan cara pertukangan rumah lama kurang menggunakan paku.

Semasa melihat-lihat pelan, kami ternampak sebuah lukisan logo besar dalam tulisan Jawi yang akan diukir ke atas kayu. Tertulis nama Khalid Ibrahim. Tahulah kami tumah itu kepunyaan Khalid.

Anwar membuat kenyataan mempertahankan Khalid supaya rumahnya tidak dipersoalkan.

Mungkin Anwar boleh menjawab dimana Khalid dapat duit sebanyak itu untuk membina rumah sedeikian rupa? Berapakah gaji Khalid semasa memegang jawatan Pengurus dan naik hingga menjadi CEO PNB untuk dapat menyimpan duit untuk membina mahligat dan membeli saham Guthrie?

Kita tahu bahawa Khalid berhutang untuk mengambil peruntukkan saham Guthrie sebanyak 5% dan jumpah tawaran sebanyak 15%. Malah baru-baru ini, Khalid disaman Bank Islam kerana tidak dapat membayar hutang sebanyak RM66.6 juta. Dengan demikian, Khalid berhutang puluhan juta semasa memegang jawatan Executive Chairman Guthrie.

Jadi bagaimana Khalid biayai pembinaan rumah itu?

Tunai atau hutang? Jika tunai, dimana dia dapat duit tunai sedemikian banyak jika dia masih berhutang dnegan Bank lagi? Kalau hutang, bolehkah dia bersikap telus dan tunjukkan dokumen-dokumen sebagaimana Dr Khir sedia lakukan?

Untung Khalid diselamatkan oleh kontroversi berkenaan kematian Teoh Beng Hock yang sengaja ditimbulkan oleh DAP. Padan Khalid bersungguh-sungguh dalam demonstrasi di depan Plaza Masalam. Selagi ini berterusan, hilanglah cerita rumah Khalid.

Click Here to Read More..

Tahlil invite from Captain Yusof's family

Dear All,

On behalf of my family, thank you for your kind words and wishes. We’re not sure how to contact all his friends, so hope this will reach some, if not most.

There will be a Tahlil tonight after Isyak prayers at Surau An Nai’mah next to our residence at Tiara Kelana Condo in SS 7 Kelana Jaya. It would mean a lot to us if you could attend.

Thank you.

Aisyah Yusof (Captain’s daughter)

P/S I have another appointment but will try to join later. Otherwise, I will be happy to attend on other nights.

Click Here to Read More..

No Blogging Today: Mark of Respect for Beng Hock

Pix taken from Zorro here

As said by Zorro, give truth a chance.

Let cool heads prevail. No politicking please.

Click Here to Read More..

Al Fatihah To Capt Ahmad Yusof

Al Fatihah

I was alerted by Syed Akbar's SMS this morning informing our fellow blogger, Capt Ahmad Yusof of Ancient Mariner had passed away this morning.

Upon checking with Tony Yew, who lives near his place, he confirmed it from the guard of his Kondo Tiara Kelana, Jalan SS 7/19 PJ. The body was brought to a Mosque and I am frantically trying to locate the Mosque.

His mother had just passed away last Tuesday. The last time I spoke to him was when he called back at night to express thank for my SMS condolence.

Tony called later to inform the body was already bath and prayed at the Kelana Jaya Mosque and it is already on its way to Seremban for burial.

I am truly shocked and surprised. We regularly meet for MRT and often discuss various current issues. He is truly a respectable elder person we enjoy having around.

Inna lillahi wainna hi rojiun.
God Giveth and God Taketh Away.

Bon Voyage My Captain.

Click Here to Read More..

Only gay and lesbian believe Anwar did not politicise Teoh's death

mStar reported Anwar's claim that he did not politicse the sudden death of Political Secretary Teoh Beng Hock. That is a definately a lie.

Anwar would not only politicise it, but goes further to blame it personally on Najib and Rosmah. Of late, even old man Lim Kit Sang have picked up that habit to blame everything on Najib and Rosmah.

It is just impossible for Anwar not to politicise thing. He would politicise to blame Najib and Rosmah if Sukma Darmawan had food poisoning from eating Mi Bakso bought from the roadside hawkers in Jakarta.

If he slipped in his bathroom, he would accuse Najib and Rosmah sent UTK to covertly oil the floor to have him fall and die. He would claim of arsenic sprinkling found on the wet floor. If the fall didn't kill him, the contact with arsenic would recede further his already receding hairline.

Only his die hard fan and friends would believe he did not politicise Teoh's death. Knowing gay and lesbian are protective of those with common sexuality as them, his diehard fan must be gay and lesbian.

Few of his close friends and confidantes are those from MCKK. They are defensive of their collegian, as they call themselves. And, these days MCKK is also known as MC Gay Gay.

Another of his important network of friends is ABIM. Does it mean Alliance Brotherhood in Motion?

Let's read the mStar's report first.

'Saya tidak politikkan kematian Teoh' - Anwar

mStar, 18 Julai 2009

PETALING JAYA: Ketua Umum Pakatan Rakyat, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim menafikan beliau sengaja mempolitikkan kematian setiausaha politik Exco Kerajaan Negeri Selangor, Teoh Beng Hock, yang dipercayai terjatuh dari Plaza Masalam, Shah Alam selepas memberi keterangan kepada Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia (SPRM) kelmarin.

Anwar berkata, beliau sebaliknya hanya menunaikan tanggungjawab beliau kepada keluarga mangsa dan kerajaan negeri Selangor yang mahu menuntut penjelasan berhubung kematian mengejut Teoh.

"(Isu) orang dah mati pun kita tak boleh bangkitkan. Dia mati di bawah badan pengawasan dan ini adalah salah di mana-mana negara besar pun.

"Sebab itu saya jumpa pegawai SPRM, kenapa nak politikkan pula?" katanya dalam satu majlis anjuran Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) di sini, hari ini.

Mayat Teoh ditemui di koridor tingkat lima bangunan Plaza Masalam, dipercayai akibat terjatuh dari bangunan itu, kira-kira pukul 1.30 tengah hari kelmarin.

Rabu lalu Teoh memberi keterangan di SPRM berhubung dakwaan penyalahgunaan dana rakyat di Selangor.

Anwar berkata, tidak ada mana-mana pihak yang mengatakan beliau mempolitikkan isu itu kecuali Umno.

"Jangan cuba nak ugut kerana kita tetap akan bangkitkan isu Beng Hock kerana ini satu lagi bukti jenayah yang dilakukan oleh badan penguat kuasa yang dijalankan mengikut arahan Umno dan Barisan Nasional," katanya.

Seriously, let's recall how Anwar build up the submarine story from the 2007 Ijok by election from mere commission taking to later developed into accusing involvement of Najib and Rosmah in the murder of Mongolian Altantunya.

From the first SMS this blogger received a preposterous claim that Najib impregnated her in his visit to Cherboug, France in June 2006, it has develop into a gruesome story of Najib impregnated Altantunya and Rosmah directed the bombing of the body of the Mongolian 'model' and claimed interpretor.

He politicise it in collaboration with my friend, Raja Petra. [Yes, we are competitor now, but you are not enemy, Pet.] Both Anwar and RPK claim to have evidences but till today, no evidence have been leaked.

RPK should be able to release those information and proof cause he is safe and far away from the Indian and Pacific Ocean. He could leak some documents on Malaysia Today to save Sirul and Azrilah from the gallow. Or he could release it somewhere else and link it to MT. That way it is not him. But off course, he is much smarter than me in this game.

If my claim that Anwar's diehard are gay and lesbian, is stuntman Tian Chua and pee-in-pants Shamsul Iskandar Akin gay? Hmmm ... Lim Kit Siang?

Click Here to Read More..

Finger pointing at MACC on suspicion, hearsay and politics ...

... but without absolutely any conclusive proof for now.

The detractors of MACC and critics of the Federal Government kept pointing their finger at MACC, but what is their proof? Their reaction to sceptics like me is like the cartoon above.

It's miraculous that a murder or suicide or murder that look like suicide but suspiciously professional organised crime work can identify the guilty party within hours after it happened.

A father made the accusation, the son made a press statement to accuse and idiots getting emotionally worked up without any justifiable basis are accusing along in virgils, yesterday's demonstration and tomorrow's public rally.

They can doubt MACC's statement to claim Teoh Beng Hock was released at 3:45 am but stayed on to sleep till last seen at 6:00 am. But what proof do they have to doubt that? Is there conclusive proof to back their gut feel that young anxious Teoh who is supposed to register his marriage yesterday, would return home immediately?

It is possible and highly probable but is it a sure thing? Is there totally no possibility at all that what was said is true?

As far as the MACC is concerned, they have proof on their side. They have Klang Councillor, Tan Boon Hwa who complained about MACC interrogation method but confirmed seeing Teoh in the pantry at 6:00 am looking hunched and tired.

MACC have got papers and document to back their claim and said it on record that Teoh was released at 3:45 am. It is fine to doubt the claim but what proof to back Teoh was still under custody say after 6:00 am, or perhaps 7:00 am. That's the time the "sudeen death", the current police categorisation, happened.

Is it MACC practise to place a person under custody at the waiting room or free to move about to the pantry? What more when MACC made a statement that Teoh Beng Hock was not a suspect, cooperative and not adverserial during the "interview"?

As far as I see, all claim and statement, except wild accusation, by all is to be taken in good faith until proof is available to refute such.

Andrew Ong of Malaysiakini, not NST or Utusan, reported Shukri Abdul, MACC Investigation Division Director said verbatim the following:

"The man was asked to come to Selangor MACC last night at 5 pm for his statement to be recorded and this procedure was completed at 3.45am."

"We recorded his statements until (all questions) were completed. He was released at 3.45am. We have to complete (recording) his statements. He promised to return today."

"He said once he obtained the documents he would come back to us."

"He said he wanted to rest."

"At 6am, he was seen here. Our officers were working non-stop last night. Some were sleeping in their respective rooms. We allowed him to sleep on a couch in a office."

"He was cooperative."

The Sun, not The Star, written by Maria J.Dass reported with Tan in his press conference and snippets relating to Teoh Beng Hock are below:

At a press conference today, Tan told reporters he last saw Teoh at 6am in the pantry when he went for a toilet break during the interrogation ...

If the detrators of MACC claim they practise unacceptable interrogation method and down to violent ways, can we assume they know the law and how to cover their tracks. The question is are they that stupid to murder someone and place the dead body at near the building of their MACC office?

Logically, the last thing they would want to do is to be trailed back to them. I do not have the proof but can I claim that someone wants to frame and create public anger towards MACC?

Elementary my dear Watson?

More fundamental in any crime, there must be proof to back that MACC wants this young man dead. The proof must fulfill the criteria "beyond reasonable doubt" or it is just coffeeshop talk cock.

If MACC claim Teoh was cooperative, not adversarial and not suspect, is there any motive for MACC to kill him? In fact, if Teoh had been cooperative, not adversarial and not suspect, there is motive for those, under investigation and are suspect, to exterminate him?

However I have no proof.

But do you have proof to back your accusation? If you don't, shut the f**k up and stop being emotionally stupid. That my dear Watson is elementary!

Click Here to Read More..

Case of Teoh Beng Hock for Sherlock Wannabees

In my morning posting, someone called me ass****.

They are so unhappy that I do not support their accusation on MACC?

They may have been upset that I caution against irresponsibly making this issue political and racially slanted?

I was accused for spinning. Where was the spin? Is raising caution a spin?

I ask further, the murder just happened and Pakatan Rakyat can judge it was SPRM? Why the diversion and association to PKFZ and Dr Khir Toyo?

By the way, Sherlock Holmes never said Elementary My Dear Watson. In fact he is just a myth from a book written by Sir Arthur Canon Doyle. That means solving this crime would not be that simple.

Can the opposition supporters be mature? Aiyeahh ... how to trust them to administer this country? They are predictably irrational, emotional and full of bull.

The victim came to MACC for interrogation at 5:00 pm the day before. He was released at early morning 3:30 am yesterday but claim to have slept over at the waiting room till 6:00 am. The body was found at around 1:30 pm yesterday. The story was doubted here.

There are evidence of torn trousers on the body and some history of MACC abuse. That's it all you have now, Sherlock wannabees.

It is definately not made simple with Pakatan Rakyat trying to play the blame game and political psyop. They forgot they do not have credential to call others of commiting crime.

Their leader is an undisputable ex-convict found guilty of abusing power to instruct police to "gempaq" Umi Hafilda and Azizan Abu Bakar to "turnover" their sworn statement.

Good thing he is on the other side now. Go ahead and sue me for RM100 million, Anwar!

Since Sherlock is a mere imaginary figure return by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, all you Sherlock wannabees must fit the evidences with few senarios. Here are few interesting senarios:

a) It is a murder to shut up a snitch here
b) It is a suicide to save the boss and fear of lifelong shame here
c) It is an accidental death under MACC custody here

But to pin a suspect in court, we need hard motive and evidences "beyond reasonable doubt". The "burden of proof" is on all you Sherlock wannabees. Unless you have it, don't f**king accuse anyone.

You too, Anwar!

Or maybe you should just worry about your own ass. The prosecuting team got forensic proof and you only get the slides, dude. They have got CCTV and some 30 witnesses. You only claim to have 5 witness. I hope your witness understand perjury.

Elementary, My Dear Watson?

Click Here to Read More..

Be firm against anyone turning Teo Beng Hock death into May 11, 12 1969 procession

My sincere condolence to the family of the late Teo Beng Hock (Pix from SK here)

Since Sunday, I have not done any blogging. My limbs are still not capable of sustaining much sitting and typing. But the strange death of Teo Beng Hock is too overwhelming an incident for me to just sit and watch.

I am posting this blog while enduring the lingering pain, but it helps release gian with an overdue blogging fix. To my readers, particularly those working at Mercu UEM, I have not forgotten my commitment to write an article or two on the current state of UEM Group. And there are still issues to be written on UEM Land/IRDA, Pantai, MAS, Khazanah, UniKL, etc.

The manner DAP is drumming up angry emotion amongst the public, particularly within the Chinese community by making wild accusations towards MACC and Police will blow the incident out of proportion.

Upon knowing of the incident, Lim Kit Siang and his DAP cohort had immediately lay blame on MACC to equate it with Kugan's death-in-custody case. He belittled the MACC raids few days ago, accused MACC as outside the law and made fun of MACC statements in his Twitter message. Quickly DAP conducted a vigil outside MACC office last night.

Few days back Malaysia Today highlighted a Suara Keadilan article by a Chinese writer calling MACC raid on Selangor Excos and ADUNs offices as racially motivated move. Such claim only raise my temperature and bring trobbing of the veins in my limbs.

Why no such issue when MB Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim's office was raided several times? Is the writer and DAP implying only Malays (I donlt care what political party they are) corrupt and Chinese not? Answer me, which race is THE player in big time crime, underworld and vice activites?

My hunch says that the death of Teo Beng Hock could turn into a racial incident that could build up into the preportion of May 13, 1969, if sensible head do not prevail and authorities are not firm.

The Chinese community should remain calm and not be emotionally swayed by the politicians' instigations. DAP and PKR troublemakers are relentlessly trying to steer public attention away from their own problems.

There is more than meet the eyes.

To recall back to that sad past, the incident that spark the May 13, 1969 incident was the Malay bashing procession on May 11 and 12th, 1969. The root cause leads back to the the days Singapore was in Malaysia and PAP and Labour Party racial instigation behind many racial riots throughout the country.

The Malay could not hold their patiance any longer to the rude insult hurled at them during the procession. In addition, the years of relentless demands by the Chinese awakened the Malays to their own socio-economic situation and a pent up anger was also bulding up.

The Malays retaliated on the evening of May 13, 1969 on hearing rumours of Malay death at incident in some part of Kuala Lumpur.

I hate to say it in the open. The elements, but not necessarily all the elements, leading to May 13 1969 are there. Verbal racial exchanges are common. Other than Hindraf, there are already few unreported racial skirmishes. One stupid incident could make the situation into a racial flare up and it will spread like a forest fire, believe me.

The public and parties must be judicious and rational in their response and reaction. It is not time for politicking.

Everyone is curious and concern about this death but the simplistic and immediate manner by DAP leaders to lay blame on MACC is suspect and irresponsible. All one need to do is to trace back to the events leading to MACC raids and today's death.

It started out with Azmin Ali calling for a revamping of the Selangor state Government. DAP's response to Azmin's genuinely sincere call was defensive.

At about the same time, Wee Choo Keong exposed in his blog of a certain Selangor exco member's link with triads. "Senior Exco" Theresa Kok responded by calling Wee, a shit stirrer. Wee answered back by quoting a Malay proverb "Siapa Makan Cili dia rasa pedas".

Realising the poor response by Theresa, Ronnie Liu challenged and Azmin requested Wee to expose the said Exco member. Wee will do so at the right time.

Wednesday, it was reported that offices of two Selangor Exco members and several ADUNs were raided by MACC. One of them is DAP exco Ean Yong Hian Wah whose political secretary is the decease Teo Beng Hock.


And yesterday, Teo was found dead and reported to have jumped out of the 20th Floor of Plaza Masalam, where lies the MACC office.

To response to DAP's accussation, I find it hard to believe an MACC official would resort to throwing someone out the window to extract information in interrogation. It will only look bad on MACC if anyone was brutally hurt or died under their watch. They are not dealing with hard core criminals but white collar crimes.

The death of Kugan, the manner the activist and lawyers manipulated his remain, and turn the criminal's death into a spectacle to smear the good name of the Police force is still fresh on everyone's mind.

It is unMalay and disrespectful to talk negatively of a person who just died but public interest must supercede cultural ritual.

So I'll not talk of the ritual and practices within the culture of organised crime which I have extensive reading on the subject of Mafia, Yakuza, Triads, etc. Nor will I share my socio-cultural analysis of DAP.

Do allow me just to pose the question: What transpired in the MACC office between Teo and the MACC officers? Is Teo linked to all said in the past one week in Selangor?

That will be all.

Urghhh ... sakit betul. I got to put my wrist into a bucket of ice water and pop an Arcoxia painkiller pill.

Click Here to Read More..

Musical Interlude: Dead Shrimp Blues

My Blues this morning ain't about dead shrimp or someone fishin in ma pond. Its about delicious dead shrimps I ate yesterday.

The pain and sickness ain't a problem. The thang is it's a wee bit troublesome to prepare stuff for an important meeting with a YAB with my right wrist swelling.

It's real shit damn!

Click Here to Read More..

PPSMI: Dr Mahathir's poll gets more votes

At the time of writing this morning, the poll on Tun Dr Mahathir's blog stands at almost 54,000 votes and 85% said No to the reversion to BM for Maths and Science.

Be heard and go to his blog to express your position here.

One nervous young official at the DPM's office was frantically calling few bloggers to seek for support. When these bloggers refused, they were labelled as taksub pemimpin and assummed are void of intellect to have any basis to support PPSMI.

He goes to the point of claiming a non support for the reversion to pre-PPSMI policy means anti-Government. Nasty words was expressed of certain respectable person in his SMS and it is now spreading like fire.

For not a distance moment, he can be seen at every other function attended by the person he demonise. Wa ... bila santan diambil, serpah dibuang or some Malay idiom like that.

That is a truly childish and immature words and act. Do grow up. Learn to respect an individual's stance on a specific issue. He better behave appropriately and stop being nasty.

Taking a position on PPSMI has got nothing to do with support or non support of Government. These people are UMNO activist and loyal BN voters. They are anti-Government?

My PAS blogger friend, Bakaq the Penarik Beca support PPSMI? PAS and PKR are behind Gerakan Menentang PPSMI. Is he anti-PAS or Pakatan Rakyat? This would be a convenient case for the young official to label him as anti Government. Do you call him pro-Government when PPSMI was a Government policy?

My good friend and late night kawan sembang is in Tan Sri Muhyiddin's inner circle. He has Muhyiddin's ear and he agree with PPSMI. Does that make him disloyal to his boss or friend, Muhyddin?

I bet with everything I've got that my good friend and fellow Johorean is still an UMNO man. I believe he will not mind maintain "the Museum", if UMNO lose next election. I said IF!

Wake up and learn boy!

Keep discussion of issues as issues. It should not be taken out of context and politicise. Let PKR and PAS do that. Unfortunately, this issue which is educational but is being turned political.

Simply because the pejuang bahasa immerse themselves in politics by leveraging on PAS and PKR. With UMNO taking a populist direction with liberal policy announcement shoved to the Malay throats to appease the vocal non Malay voters, PPSMI issue could be dumped to balance and revive the Malay voters.

My stance is somewhere caught from pragmatism and nationalism. I have no problem taking any side on the issue. The question is what do we want? What do the nation need? I want to know what the people and nation want.

One Tan Sri I met recently said, for selfish reason, he wanted PPSMI. But he is willing to secede to the new Government position for national integration sake. It means he will make his own effort for his children and now grandchildren to achieve English proficiency.

I am in a similar position with Tan Sri. To some extent, I hate to deal with this issue. It's damn if I do and damn if I don't.

I have personally heard Tun Dr Mahathir arguing the issue with his strong grasp of logic. And I've heard Prof Awang Sariyan speaking convincingly. I was trying to seek a private time with him but he already left for Beijing.

I went to English stream school and benefited from it. To be like a pejuang bahasa, it is just not me. I will not repeat my earlier point of arguments on PPSMI (read here), which is more disappointment with the pejuang bahasa.

The problem with pejuang bahasa is that they are too romantic and lost in their dream world of sajak and syair. Perhaps I should awake them.

They argued that Bahasa Melayu should be the National Language and it is the language of communication of the region. What comes with their position on PPSMI is the vernacular schools reverting to vernacular language?

Then the issue is why not Maths and Science in Iban, Kadazan, Senoi, Bajau, etc. These languages are indigenous languages of Malaysia and not Chinese and Tamil.

We should ask the pejuang bahasa what have they done to strengthen the language in technical subject like Maths and Sciences? It's minimal and behind. I don't see them capable of being effective in advancing Bahasa Melayu in academic subjets because they are not science or whatever technical subject students and right brain minded. Most are pathetically slow moving pencil pushers orang gomen.

They argued that students performance are affected by PPSMI. The feedback from some teachers are that the same children have problems in all subjects. THey felt it is not the problem with PPSMI but the children.

I can understand why Muhyiddin is rolling it out in 2012. We have time to revise it and cool the political heat. Hopefully sensible head would prevail. It seems the GMP is planning a major demonstration on August 1st to call for immediate change. This will not make the issue find a resolution.

Let say I support reverting back to Malay, how is the program to enhance English? If I understand it correctly, the English they taught is similar to thew Communication English 122 paper I used to sit. How about enhancing English 121 again? Where will English be applied to enhance proficiency?

I was a science student and have a science degree. Although most students struggle with Maths and Sciences, it was quite a breeze for me.

But later in life, I wished I had the oppurtunity in school to learn Shakespeare and Malay Hikayat like Merong Mahawangsa. Malaysians should have a balance educational experiance.

Not only, we have a real grasp of language in English and Bahasa Melayu by learning these classics, we will have scientist and managers with soul and poets with heads.

To end it, why not have a people's referendum on this issue? I know it is crazy. Perhaps, we can see if this nation has a soul and/or a head?

Click Here to Read More..

UEM Group in the news yesterday

UEM Group mulls jobs in Vietnam, Cambodia

By Mustapha Kamil and Shahriman Johari
Business Times, Friday, July 10, 2009

UEM Group Bhd has been offered huge projects in Vietnam and is also mulling whether to accept a contract to build a bridge in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

The projects in Vietnam are worth a "few billion US dollars", chairman Tan Sri Dr Ahmad Tajuddin Ali said in an interview in Kuala Lumpur recently.

They are in Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City, and work includes building an airport and a port.

"It's so big that we may have to rope in other Malaysian contractors," Tajuddin said.

The bridge project in Cambodia is worth about US$100 million (RM356 million) and UEM is in the final stages of evaluating the job.

Vietnam has been a favourite destination for Malaysian builders, with companies like SP Setia Bhd and Gamuda Bhd already having a presence as they seek to grow profits amid a slowing home market.

UEM Group has ventured abroad through its construction arm UEM Builders Bhd, mainly to countries like India and Qatar.

Tajuddin also said that UEM was confident of defending itself against a legal suit from the Qatar Public Works Organisation.

"We have received from the Qatari authorities the certificate of completion for the entire Salwa Road project. We have also got the extension of time for the job to January 31 2009," he said.

Because of this, UEM Group will not make provisions for the suit. At the same time, it also has a RM1 billion claim for work already done for the same project.

It is understood that the Qatar Public Works Organisation is seeking damages, reportedly about 878.3 million Qatari riyal (RM880 million), against design consulting engineer Parsons International Ltd, UEM and Qatar Insurance Co over work on the Salwa International Road.

UEM has been named as the second defendant in the suit, Tajuddin said.

Note: I knew it. I can feel it. Just as anticipated yesterday, I couldn't been able to sit down to write about the meeting. My appointment yesterday took me all the way till 11:00 pm and its a similar schedule today.

I am rushing to put up this posting as I try to avail myself somewhere for an early morning event. After that, the Friday prayers. A rush to Putrajaya for a late afternoon do. Then, back to the venue of the morning event.

Much regret.

In the meanwhile, read the above news clipping from Business Times yesterday. Tan Sri mentioned similar things to "A Voice" that morning. That must be the reason he looked calm and confident. When asked, "How big is your problem?", his answer was, "No. We do not have any problem."

I will share with you'll Monday la. Enjoy your SFA or at least, pretend to enjoy it. Have a good weekend.

Click Here to Read More..

"A Voice" met the UEM Chairman

Two commentators asked about a rumour that there was a meeting arranged between myself and UEM Group Chairman Tan Sri Tajuddin Ali.

If I've got my little birds, someone else would have their PIs. If it is a PI and they can afford it, use it as long it has positive intention. But not to victimise staff.

Yes, someone close to "A Voice" did met up Tan Sri Tajuddin yesterday morning in PJ. Someone really close. He could be A Voice or he probably is not.

Tan Sri was wearing a red T Shirt and so was "A Voice". Rocky Bru was there. They had breakfast and spoke on many issues. The conversation was open, frank and friendly.

They touched on a wide range of issues - about the UEM Group, the delisting excercise, new CEO, off course the Qatar deal, and personal stuff. It so happen Tan Sri's wife was from an area "A Voice" grew up in JB.

It is seldom that "A Voice" is willing to meet his subject matter. "A Voice" is not a journalist but merely "A Brick in the Wall" expressing his personal concerns. "A Voice" is not obliged to self restrain and sometimes intensive checking in journalism. It is journalist self restraint that there is now the unreasonable expectation on bloggers to be the "Woodward and Bernstein".

In this case, "A Voice" was willing to meet the man simply because this Tajuddin he has much admiration. Furthermore, his reaction to the expose by "A Voice" has been open. Thats good. He has nothing to hide. Off course, he could do more in engaging the new media but he has his reasons.

"A Voice" trust his integrity to keep his anonymous identity under wrap. "A Voice" doesn't not need the personal fame but merely wants the privacy to blog in peace without being frequently stopped by pretty young things for autographs.

It would have been timely to write about it this morning but I am on kind of a tight schedule today. "A Voice" do cari makan and as normal human, has his commitments. And some blogger claim some politicians keep me on their payroll?

Having met the man, "A Voice" can't simply whack. Probably, that meeting blunted my sharp keybords. On the other hand, I can't requote whatever was said in its entirety. Someone is likely to accuse me of being bought over an omelette, sausages, tomato mushroom and croissant. Man, am I cheap?

Frankly, "A Voice" need to gather his thoughts first. The conversation was going on so smooth that "A Voice" didn't want to disrupt Tan Sri's flow. We were on eye to eye contact. Perhaps "A Voice" must be thinking he is a hotshot like Rocky Bru who could rewrite a whole quote from memory only.

Arrogance may have creep up his head. "A Voice" was having breakfast with a Tan Sri. Pakai selekeh-selekh pun ada Tan Sri nak jumpa.

Do allow me to gather my thoughts and check out some facts. Remember that I have not wrote anything on UEM since June 22nd. I need to sieve through the 125 comments on my June 22nd posting and the postings before.

Omigod ... you people can really bash each other up. Frankly, a lot of the issues raised is too personal in nature and some are out of my scope. But it is indicative of pent up frustation and poor staff morale. And, I raised this issue with Tan Sri.

Dato Izzadin needs to learn up interpersonal skill and public relation fast. None of that apple stuff, ok Zadin? You don't need Cik Zaherah's acknowledgement. We are in adult world.

It is indicative SFA, or WTF it is, didn't really work. Little bird said one can really have a good time at SFA, really really good time.

Apart from sieving the comments, bear in mind that UEM have a legal case in Qatar. Tan Sri said he had nothing to hide and left it to my good judgement. Shoot, now I am responsible to make good judgement. Frankly, I can't divulge all that was said that could affect the gameplan for the case.

My assurance is I didn't take in everything Tan Sri said "hook, line and sinker." Kita pun ada kaki yang high level. Tan Sri was not in thick of the action of the Qatar deal. He joined in 2007.

But one thing I agree with him. He wouldn't have join UEM in 2007 just to soil his good reputation.

The writeup should be up tomorrow, if I do not get called up on last minute somewhere. In the meanwhile, I repost a commentators who divulge management's knowledge of the Qatar problem back in 2006. That was before Tan Sri joined.

There are other gloomy pieces of information and dicument/(s) but I will limit at that. After that gloomy senario, then come my more positive posting of the meeting.

I am sure the few of you guys must be sharpening your knives. Tan Sri felt or probably was briefed that the resentment towards management is not widespread but limited to a few.

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

PREDICTED LOSSES FOR UEMWORLD (UEMW) FOR 2QFY2006

Preamble

During the month of April 2006, Dato’ Ahmad Pardas Senin (DAPS) had pledged to the business community that “UEM World to turn around” (Star Business Section 18 April 2006). He added that “no provisioning would be made this year” suggesting that the projects in Qatar and India by UEM Builders will cease reporting losses for the year 2006. He went on to add that “If we do not meet the KPIs, someone else would be presenting this corporate briefing next year.’’ Well, that someone else should start warming DAPS seat as the report below describes the imminent losses that UEMWorld and UEM Builders will face.

Tracing the financial reports over the past 3 years, it appears that UEM Builders have been making provision for its operational losses in Qatar and India to a tune of RM400 million. UEMW books reported a provisioning of loss of RM103million last year and DAPS promised that there will be no more. Was he misleading the business community with his ignorance of the issues that his management team have been trying to advise him? The context of this report was based on information from concerned staff from all quarters in the UEM Group.

1 - Salwa Road Project

Salwa Road project was procured through a competitive bidding in 2002 but the project was only awarded in Nov 2003 (Gulf Times). The tender was won on a fair basis and the tender price submitted by other bidders from Europe, Korea and China was close.

Unfortunately, when UEM commenced operations, it coincided with the sudden expansion of construction projects in Qatar who will be hosting the Asian Games 2006. The Middle East region was also booming with the increase in oil prices that pushed other material prices in the region upwards. The boom in China and the “sponge effect” also contributed to the spiraling prices to essential materials such as steel, copper, aluminium, etc.

Basically, UEM was caught at the wrong time and at the wrong place. Not wanting to abandon the project as it was seen to be a “National service” to complete the project at whatever cost, the Board of UEM/UEMW/UEMB did not heed the advice of the management to terminate the contract and stop the potential financial bleeding that was to come. The Boards looked for a scape goat to cover its tracks and the former MD of UEM Builders Dato’ Mohd Nor Idrus was given the privilege under the pretext of early retirement. DAPS again let his cannon loose by informing the world through ITP, an international and market leader publisher in the Middle East on technology, business, consumer and construction matters. He blames the overseas losses in Qatar on “its previous sporadic opportunistic strategy” (ITP Construction 3 May 2006).

In other words, he had faulted Dato’ Wahid Omar his predecessor for the “sporadic strategy” thus further rubbing salt into the wound. But what was eye catching was that DAPS had reported a QR514million loss (equivalent to RM503 million). This is in contradiction to that was reported in the annual audited reports described earlier. Did DAPS knew something about the actual losses and had withheld information from his Board and the business community?

2 - Current State of Affairs

The authorities in Qatar have been blamed for contributing to the increasing losses faced by UEM. It was informed that UEM had told the authorities that they have incurred cost of QR688 million against revenue of QR288 million. This is against a backdrop of 55% physical progress. A deficit of QR400 million has been bandied around but the Qataris are holding firm to state that they will not entertain the claims from UEM as per the provisions of the contract.

Whilst it can be arguable that UEM may have some cause for claims, traditionally, any disputes will have to be channeled through the litigation route via the Courts of Qatar. The process is long, tedious and may cause UEM to spend more money for hiring international Arabic lawyers, translators eventually. Notwithstanding this, the litigation route would spell an end to further forays into Qatar by the UEM Group as the Arabs are known to expel companies that take them to court! DAPS in his press statement (Sun 26 May 2006) confirmed that UEM will take legal action to recover additional costs it incurred. The Qataris are aware of UEM’s intention and is now positioning themselves for a battle. Was it a wise move to tell the whole world your intention especially to your enemy who is now preparing his counter strategy?

3 - The Loss – What next?

So what is the loss that will be suffered by UEM in Qatar eventually? There is a strong possibility that the losses will eventually be in the region of RM500 mil as quoted by DAPS. The costing personnel and auditors are now coming up with projections to this estimate. So how is DAPS going to treat the provisioning of further losses to a tune of about RM500 million when he promised the business community and the financial world that there will be no provisioning in 2006? Was the road show with the media and finance analyst in April 2006 to hood winking everyone to spice up the shares of UEMW and UEM Builders? It was rumored that prior to this event, the image and performance of DAPS was not impressive and there was a need for him to show to his Masters at Putrajaya that he had the magic wand to turn around UEM. So did he do it to save his own skin?

It is always said that “desperate man will do desperate things”. If the additional provision of losses is inevitable in the coming financial reporting, it would not be surprising that some form of fudge actions will be put in place to cover up the entire affair to save embarrassment and of course his position as MD. What are his options? For one, he may look to his faithful friend at UEM Builders to fudge the figures to hide the losses. Second, if this is not possible as the cash flow will eventually rear its ugly head, DAPS may try to pass on the losses into UEM Bhd books since it is not a public listed entity. Is this morally correct as whoever is carrying the can, it involves tax-payers money! This is a more likely scenario but this option will need the blessings from Khazanah. Tough call ahead by Datuk Azman Mokhtar who selected DAPS as the man to turn around UEM but instead will discover that he will be “turned around” by DAPS.

The third option would involve a Government to Government settlement that is indirectly a bail-out for UEM. For this to happen, it is almost certain the Government of Qatar will ask for favors in the international agenda e.g. trade agreements, geo-political issues such as OIC chairmanship support, etc. All these at the expense of the Government of Malaysia. At least, some compensation can be received to minimize the bleeding suffered by UEM. Having said this, the loose cannon speech by DAPS stating that legal pursuit will be activated has not helped this option to be materialized.

Summary

Whatever it may be, DAPS will need to reprimanded for the way he has handled the business community by misleading everyone from day one. The Masters at Putrajaya must be alerted so that something can be put right before it is too late.

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

PREDICTED LOSSES FOR UEMWORLD (UEMW) FOR 4QFY2006

Latest news from Qatar is that the losses by UEM continue to mount and things are not getting prettier by the day. Despite declaring a provisional loss of about RM 200 million in 2005 and Mr Ahmad Pardas Senin (MD of UEMWorld) committing to no further provisions of losses will be made in 2006, the attempts to hide the truth is becoming more and more difficult by the day. 2006 is coming to an end and what has been achieved in terms of progress is just over 60% progress. The main line expressway was rushed to be completed in time for the Doha Asian Games. The "so called completed expressway" was a actually a cover up as the final pavement layers were not carried in accordance to specifications and design in most areas. This is now obvious as reported in the Gulf Times(refer to news article in Appendix 1). And if one were to travel along Salwa Road, one would observe the pavement layer in several areas to be cracking after opening to traffic less than 2 months ago. At this point in time the damage is still being investigated but the cost of repairs would probably be in the region of QR 200 million at the expense of UEM.

The attempt to cover up the cost overrun incurred by UEM is becoming more and more obvious. Staff involved in the project has been told that all documents regarding budgetary cost plans and claims related to the project is off limits and there is a clamp down on circulation of these documents. Even the contracts claims staff have no access to these documents, suggesting that the cost overrun has now ballooned to more than QR 800 million in losses. It was also reported that UEM has not been paid for 4 consecutive bills totaling QR80 million as the Client Ashgal is now going to impose Penalties. Our source in Ashgal has informed us that UEM has been issued an Extension of Time of about 40 days from the original completion period of April 2006 and UEM is now incurring Penalty cost at a tune of QR 315,000 per day starting from June 2006 to the anticipated completion date. Even if UEM is terminated in February 2007, the penalty will aggregate to a sum of QR 94,500,000 for 10 months. Please note that there is no ceiling in the Contract and the exchange rate for QR and RM is almost 1:1!

So what is the cost overrun anticipated by UEM which the company is so tight-lipped about? 2 scenarios exist:

Scenario 1: If UEM is terminated by Ashgal, the direct impact is encashment of performance bonds (QR 44mil), the loss of working capital borrowed (QR400mil), the loss of 4 months of unpaid claims & retention sum (QR 120mil), the loss of plant & equipment (QR 50mil), rectification cost of defects (QR 200mil), penalties (QR 94.5mil) & Ashgal’s back charges to complete the remaining work (QR 400 mil). All this comes to a staggering total of QR 1310 mil.

Scenario 2: If UEM continues with the project and are unsuccessful with the claims, the cost overrun is anticipated to be construction cost (QR 500 mil), Penalties (QR 113 mil for 12 months), defect rectification (QR 200 mil) totaling QR 813 mil.

Notwithstanding the high probable imposition of Penalties, Ashgal is now mooting to terminate the contract due to the insipid performance displayed by UEM over the last 1 year. With many experienced staff being removed and or leaving the project and frequent changes to the top hierarchy chain of command, major confusion exist at the site level of who is really in charge of the project and the staff are generally demotivated and lost in the woods.

Should UEM be terminated or even strive to finish the project, the consequential losses to UEM will be definitely exceed QR 800 million and will be the final blow adding more woes of the GLC in making a comeback trail.

Click Here to Read More..

Khazanah to hit or be hit by the M&A trail?

The frontpage of last Thursday's The Star Business Section placed Azman Mokhtar's quote at the top page. Thinking of the failure and questionable deals by Khazanah companies abroad, the prospect of Khazanah's plan to go on the Merger & Acquisition trail is shuddering.

Khazanah was originally formed in late 90s/early 2000s as a holding company to place all of Governmnet's strategic investments into one. When it was formed, the idea was to consolidate the Government's strategic assets and increase ability to invest for the nation's economic future in building capacity and capability in new technologies and economic sectors.

To-date, that objective have not been for all intended purposes met. In fact, that's a common recurring problem in this country. Institutions are established for a specific long term purpose. Change in national leadership and some smart alec will propose an idea to change the objective and the original purpose is ignored. Problems remain unsolved to eternity.

During Tun Abdullah's administration and Tan Sri Nor Mohamad Yakcop leadership of GLC, Khazanah was turned into a portfolio manager of Government's asset. Instead of acting as true managers able to turnaround companies and enhance companies, they were merely financial man taking shortcuts through corporate restructuring after corporate restructuring and financial asset shuffling.

That made billions for the Merchant and Investment Bankers but it did not translate into enhancing the brick and mortar of businesses. All these had minimal direct impact towards the creation of real goods and services that could help increase economic activities domestically, create export income, and create jobs and oppurtunities for Malaysian entrepreneurs, if not Bumis.

It's too far fetch to expect them to carry the Malay Agenda. These accountant trained CEOs understanding of Malay Agenda is only limited to scholarships and jobs for Malays. The term Malays is very much interchangable with Bumiputeras.

Talking about jobs and unemployment, Khazanah companies were the biggest contributor of unemployment. Their idea of corporate turnaround is merely finanical. By retrenching staff of GLCs in the hundreds of thousands, they show cost and overhead is down. As far as revenue building, don't ask. ACCA, ICMA and MACPA taught them that only via low cost could more profit be achieved. There is no such thing as production and marketing in business (sarcasm).

With the current economic situation, is another round expected from this lazy buggers?

Such thinking comes along with the introduction of the magic KPI culture. Quarterly results in the US pleases market players but puts companies into myopic short-term outlook driven by short-term profits. Long term investment slacks and innovation put aside. Institutions became gamblers and players in financial markets and esoteric investment products.

The heavy emphasis on KPI as part of its restructuring plan introduced into GLCs by Ethos Consulting basically retune workers, officers and managers, not only short term outlook but, into turf mindset.

Other than the introduction of KPI, the first phase of GLC transformation was about assessing performance, reforming the Board, restructuring and leadership change. That is suppose to last between 2004 to 2007. The second phase (middle 2005-2006) was manualisation and tehre are some 10 manuals in all types of colurs. The third phase (2007-2010) was about achieving significant results.

Only at the fourth phase will it be about benefiting the nation. It must be too grandiose and alien for a Government corporation to put the people and nation ahead of everything else.

There were four claiemd mandates placed upon them. The fourth mandate, after restructuring, GLC transformation, and corridor development, is new investment. Khazanah announced it will be selling off assets not related to it's businesses. This substantiate the earlier claim that Khazanah is a mere portfolio manager and not subscribing to the idea and spirit of it's formation.

Question is to whom will these assets sold off to? Now that Najib had made his liberalisation announcement, the concern is will it mean strategic assets falling to foreigners' hands? The former Tingkat 4 are experts and will always lend their experise and network in this area. Tingkat 4's Ganen Savaranan is still working with Khazanah and have an important position and role.

The fact that M&A is announced as the way forward shows the myopic, generic and predictable thinking of Khazanah management. M&A should not be the only way for new investments or creation of new businesses. But it is the easy and lazy way for corporate and finance man to expand or create new businesses and/or investments.

The predictable and comfortable choices for these corporate and financial men are usually limited to financial assets - property, development, land sales, banks, share equity, bonds, and stuff like that.

M&A serve their purpose to short circuit time and achieve perception of results fast but comes with its own set of problems. Ask ourselves the extent of socio-economic benefit to the people and nation in M&A excercises? Compare that to organic generation and growth. Organic approach supported by R&D help to build capability and capacity in knowledge, experiance and expertise.

Where is the balance and right approach? It depends on the objective and strategy. Does Khazanah have a clear objective and strategy? To date, it is not clear and operationable. It sounds like consultants talking nothing.

Returning again to Khazanah's original purpose of inception, will these investments they intend to be on the M&A trail bring about that much needed expertise for capability and capacity expansion for the future? Will Khazanah invest into the much needed innovation and R&D? Does transforming SME into giants too leceh for Khazanah? Are they merely talking rhetorics about building global brand? What happen to UEM The Nation Builder?

But off course, buy buy buy and we have things instantly. But is it enhancing value or tambah nilai as Tun Lah used to talk about? Or an expensive and lazy way to fulfill KPI?

What if the M&A target is abroad? This is where more shuddering.

Khazanah have failed miserably in it's overseas foray. Ganen is now very quiet waiting out for public to forget his failures and newspaper and blogs stopped talking about him.

Under his responsibility, Ganen was buying overpriced assets and at wrong timings. Bank Indonesia Internasional buyout by Maybank is a glaring example. Then, the cases of Telekom investment in Singtel subsidiary and in return a major block of Telekom shares are given to Temasik. There are than the increasing list of losing concern contracts abroad like in the case of UEM in Qatar, and India. With some research, the list of investment failures could be really long.

The thing is Khazanah have been very generic in it's transformation and there is no substantial value enhancement except the corporate game under the disguise of "enhancing shareholders value".

Imagine the hundreds of millions spend for endless new names, imaging and corporate branding such as Axiata for this purpose. Why must a Malaysian company not have something Malaysian as brand like Singtel, Indotel, etc.?

Have they been turning around companies as they claim. UEM is deep in a shit of mess but hiden from the public eyes. Till today, they don't know how to turnaround MAS other than cut routes to give to Airasia, retrench staff, replace with young Ernst & Young Chinese staff without inkling of Airline business, and sell assets to pass off as operational profit.

On the Malay Agenda, Khazanah's role have been mere tokenism and copycating efforts already done by Government but with a little different branding.

Former MARA Directors like Abdul Wahab Alwi, Mohamad Gani etc can come out with better programs than Khazanah's Oxbridge and Ivy Leaguers. There is nothing extraordinary and no profound significant effort. Purely polemics.

They are now creating a PTD exclusivity culture in Khazanah to turn a set of people as CEOs to be circulated at the top management of all Khazanah and GLCs. A dismissed CEO will be the coach. Imagine staff and management morale in the Companies?

Having read all these, can you blame me for shuddering?

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

Khazanah hits the M&A trail

By DANNY YAP
The Star Online, July 2, 2009

KUALA LUMPUR: Khazanah Nasional Bhd is in the offensive mood for potential mergers and acquisitions (M&As) now that the global economy is on a better footing, says managing director Tan Sri Azman Mokhtar.

For the first-half year, Azman said Khazanah had to be defensive, which reflected its crisis-management stance then, to ensure that government-linked companies (GLCs) could weather the economic crisis.

“It appears that the worst is over for the global economy. Khazanah is now more on the offence for business opportunities that may entail M&A activities,” he said yesterday.

He was speaking at a media briefing after delivering his speech on Graduating To A Higher Class – Catalyzing A New Domestic Economy at Invest Malaysia 2009.

Asked if any M&As were pending, Azman declined to comment, except to say that the company was more open to M&A activities under the current economic climate.

“We are always in talks with various parties,” he said, adding that in any M&A activity, it would like to have the majority stake and management control of local companies, although that could be different with foreign companies.

Azman also said Khazanah would accelerate the trend of divesting through trade sales and reduce its stakes in large listed GLCs, subject to value, over the next two to three years.

“In the last five years, Khazanah has made divestments totalling RM12.6bil, locking in gains of RM3.6bil over 20 transactions,” he noted.

The Government’s investment arm had been gradually selling down stakes, especially through the issuance of exchangeable bonds and sukuk over the years, and might use the same instruments for future divestments, he said.

“We like exchangeable bonds and sukuk mostly because these instruments allow us to build value and get premium. However, one caveat is that it depends on the stage of the market and the value in the company.

Azman cited some of the successful sales – Bintulu Port, Port of Tanjung Pelepas, RHB Bank, Tradewinds Hotel and Time DotCom – which had resulted in a more efficient ownership structures that allowed new owners to gain more scale or enter into new and better alliances.

However, he said, Khazanah would retain investments in strategic assets in specific sectors such as power.

Meanwhile, Bernama quoted Azman as saying that investments totalling a staggering RM11.4bil had been executed in Iskandar Malaysia. The amount is 26.7% of the RM42.7bil investment committed since the inception of Iskandar Malaysia in November 2007.

It said Khazanah was also investing about RM90 mil in Small Bone Innovations, Inc, a leading US-based specialised orthopedics company.

* Edited and Updated 6:25 PM

Click Here to Read More..

Musical Interlude: Independence Day ... Ma B'day

Since the release of Bruce Sprinsteen's 1980 album, one song I kept playing on the night of July 4th (US time) would be Independence Day. My favourite on that album is album title, The River (Go hear here).

The night of July 4th is the early morning of July 5th in Malaysia. One morning several decades back, a child was born in a kampung in Johor. The mother returned to her mother's home to deliver her first baby and it was her mother's first grandchild.

That child was me. I was born just before subuh at around the time this posting is uploaded. The azan greeted my arrival.

Why do I associate my Birthday with Springsteen's Independence Day?

One reason would be my birthday coincide with the night they celebrate Independence Day firework by the Charles River in Boston or at Times Square New York. I happen to have celebrated Birthday at both these places.

Secondly, the song title gives a patriotic sound to my Birthday.

Thirdly and last, it is a soulful song about the coming of age a young man whose time has come to leave the nest. It has a rebelious ring to it.

At one stage in my life, I had suppressed my desire to be more expressive and forthright. It is this song that keep reminding to be my own.

Listen to the You Tube and the lyrics are below:

Well Papa go to bed now it's getting late
Nothing we can say is gonna change anything now
I'll be leaving in the morning from St. Mary's gate
We wouldn't change this thing even if we could somehow

`Cause the darkness of this house has got the best of us
There's a darkness in this town that's got us too
But they can't touch me now and you can't touch me now
They ain't gonna do to me what I watched them do to you

So say goodbye it's Independence day
Its Independence Day all down the line
Just say goodbye it's Independence Day
It's Independence Day this time

Now I don't know what it always was with us
We chose the words and yeah we drew the lines
There was just no way this house could hold the two of us
I guess that we were just too much of the same kind

Well say goodbye it's Independence Day
All boys must run away come Independence Day
So say goodbye it's Independence Day
All men must make their way come Independence Day

Now the rooms are all empty down at frankies joint
And the highway she's deserted down to breakers point
There's a lot of people leaving town now
Leaving their friends their homes
At night they walk that dark and dusty highway all alone

Well papa go to bed now it's getting late
Nothing we can say can change anything now
Because there's just different people coming down here now
And they see things in different ways
And soon everything weve known will just be swept away

So say goodbye it's Independence Day
Papa now I know the things you wanted that you could not say
But wont you just say goodbye it's Independence Day
I swear I never meant to take those things away

Click Here to Read More..

Ish Ish Ish ... You shouldn't call KJ corrupt, Karpal :)

Karpal-Khairy name-calling in Parliament

Karpal being wheeled out of the Dewan Rakyat chamber after being ejected by the speaker

By Deborah Loh, The Nutgraph

KUALA LUMPUR, 2 July 2009: Pakatan Rakyat (PR) parliamentarians staged a walkout in support of Karpal Singh who was ejected from the Dewan Rakyat today following an exchange of words with Umno Member of Parliament (MP) Khairy Jamaluddin.

Karpal, the DAP chairperson, and Khairy, who is Umno Youth chief, locked horns over the fracas with four Selangor Umno Youth leaders who on 26 Feb 2009 harassed and obstructed Karpal from entering Parliament.

Karpal, the MP for Bukit Gelugor, was told to leave the house by Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia after he retorted that Khairy was "unworthy" of accusing him because Khairy was "a person guilty of corruption".

Plenty of name-calling was exchanged between the PR and Barisan Nasional (BN) MPs as they debated a motion to adopt the punishments recommended by a select parliamentary committee set up to probe the February incident.

The proposed punishment for the four Youth leaders was a RM1,000 fine each, which they paid in Parliament today. The four leaders who were fined were Serdang Umno Youth head Ungku Mat Salleh, Petaling Jaya Utara Youth chief Latt Shahrizan Abdullah, Gombak Youth chief Megat Zulkarnain Omar Din, and Shah Alam Youth chief Azhari Shaari.

The committee had also called for eight PR MPs to be admonished by the speaker for refusing to attend the inquiry either as witnesses or as committee members. They are Karpal himself, Fong Po Kuan, Lim Lip Eng, N Gobalakrishnan, Fong Kui Lun, Lim Kit Siang, Datuk Kamarudin Jaffar, and R Sivarasa.

The motion was passed by BN MPs after Lim (Ipoh Timur-DAP) led the remaining PR legislators out of the House when Karpal left.

Karpal stood his ground for a while after Pandikar ordered him out, demanding higher fines and stiffer punishment for the Umno Youth leaders, including arrests and court action.

Fong (Batu Gajah-DAP) said Pandikar should not chair the session to debate the motion due to a conflict of interest, as he had also chaired the select committee that investigated the incident.

Datuk Razali Ibrahim Khairy (Rembau-BN) tried to rebut Karpal by saying that the Umno Youth leaders had already apologised to Parliament for their actions.

Khairy added that none of them had touched Karpal's body and that the four had only wanted Karpal to account for his allegation that Umno Youth had sent him live bullets and for his use of the word "celaka" on the youth wing. Karpal had made this accusation in the Dewan Rakyat on 25 Feb.

Karpal started it

In the Parliament lobby, Khairy told reporters after the motion was passed that Karpal was "a big fat liar" who "did not dare" to repeat his allegation about the live bullets outside of the House.

"He knows that he can say it inside the Dewan because of parliamentary immunity. I have challenged him to repeat it outside but he will not.

"He is the root cause of why the incident happened, his lack of respect for Parliament, for the rulers, for Pemuda Umno, and his tendency to keep on lying. Today is proof that he is an MP who lies through his teeth," Khairy said.

Khairy said the payment of the RM1,000 fine and the Youth leaders' apology to Parliament showed that they had taken responsibility for their actions, whereas no action was taken against Karpal for his "foul mouth".

"We should have more strenuous punishment for MPs who flout rules and who disrespect the House. He should apologise to us as what he said was unprovoked," said Khairy.

Karpal told reporters earlier after leaving the Dewan Rakyat that the four Youth leaders should have come inside the House to make their apology.

Click Here to Read More..

Anwar playing sympathy to shore up crumbling support

Anwar's Wednesday nite rally at Kelana Jaya only gathered 4,000 attendents

AFP report and a Cyber1trooper's blog posting dated yesterday saw a different tone from the strong denial, divertionary tactic, and conspiracy story one is accustomed from Anwar and his supporters. The AFP reported Anwar surrendering to the fact that he will go back in. Cyber1trooper reported PKR strategist, Saifuddin Nasution and Nurul Izzah expressing the same tune.

There was supposed to be a hearing of the defense application to request the original evidences yesterday. However, the mainstream only reported on their appeal to revert the case back to the Session Court.

The change of tone is likely to mean copies of evidences already provided to Anwar are convincing and the defense is without a reply. The request for original documents only serve to buy time. Anwar is changing the tone of his propaganda to play victim.

His aggresive approach is not working. His conspiracy game is not working and is well pre-empted with information by such blogs. Last Wednesday nite rally is a clear indication that support for Anwar is fizzling out. The 100,000 drummed out only had some 4,000 appearances.

Crumbling Surrounding

Pakatan Rakyat is crumbling with factions within PAS has expressed dissatisfaction with the Anwar and DAP-determined agenda of Pakatan Rakyat. Another faction are seeking for PAS dominance in Pakatan Rakyat. There is another faction believe in ummah unity.

In fighting and frustation is emerging everywhere in PKR.

DAP's mentality is still not out of their opposition shell, despite taking charge of Penang and at one time Perak. Their chauvanistic and repressive tendencies is rearing it's ugly head in Perak, Selangor, Penang and latest Kedah.

In the meanwhile, Ketua Pemuda PAS and Naib Ketua Pemuda UMNO has already agreed to meet for a debate. It would serve to move the two group closer.

A significant number within PAS leadership believe Anwar is guilty on the latest sodomy charges. With Anwar's political career look set to end, win or lose, PAS is looking beyond the Manek Urai by-election. Do not discount that the latest PAS theatric is to only win Manek Urai.

Everything around Anwar is beginning to crumble. He is left but without any choice but play sympathy to sustain support for his fight.

Will his team and new entrants like Zaid Ibrahim able to carry the mantle of his fight?

Things will unfold soon. But is UMNO ready with a truly creative and convincing change agenda able to negotiate and balance the competing interest?

In the meanwhile, read the AFP report below:

Anwar prepares for the worst

AFP, July 1, 2009

Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim, who faces trial this month on sodomy charges, said his Pakatan Rakyat alliance would survive even if he is convicted and jailed. Anwar has rejected the allegations levelled by a 23-year-old former aide as a conspiracy to derail his plan to topple the government.

He was found guilty of separate sodomy and corruption charges a decade ago in a case widely seen as politically motivated. In 2004 the sodomy conviction was overturned, allowing Anwar to go free after six years in jail.

“There is no question of the Pakatan Rakyat continuing, surviving. It will continue to defend the rights of the people and challenge the government, gaining strength from any conviction made against me,” Anwar told AFP.

“In fact I think a conviction against me will enrage a lot of people,” he said after a political rally late Tuesday.

“I am ready for all eventualities and prepared to face attacks – expect the best and prepare for the worst.”

Anwar addressed a crowd of 4,000 supporters in a stadium in Kelana Jaya in a two-hour rally organised by his opposition alliance to show their solidarity for him.

He could go back to jail

Anwar’s PKR party has joined forces with the conservative Islamic party PAS and the Chinese-based Democratic Action Party in an alliance which gained unprecedented ground against the ruling coalition in national polls a year ago.

After seizing control of a third of seats in parliament, it is now vowing to unseat the Barisan Nasional coalition – which has ruled Malaysia for half a century – in the next general elections. However, Anwar’s political success story has faced a formidable challenge with fresh sodomy allegations that could see him jailed for 20 years.

The sex act, even between consenting adults, is illegal in predominantly Muslim Malaysia. Anwar’s trial will begin on July 8 and he has already said he fears he will not get fair treatment. - AFP

Click Here to Read More..

Strategy is of utmost importance for online presence

Know your enemy and yourself and in 100 battles you will never be in peril. - Sun Tzu

This simple message seemed not to be getting through.

Before sending the troop to battle, a clear instruction on the objective of the mission, outline objective of the operation and each role need to be spelled out.

And, before one can actually do that, one must make an assessment of ones asset, capability, etc. Plan the mission around the availabile resources.

Its no point providing all the resources without a strategy to make the troop into a cohesive and working force. Giving only materials and asset is not sufficient for the troop and in fact secondary.

For an inkling of what needs to be done, read how PAS prepares it self below:

Bantu Pakatan Rakyat, PAS akan bertemu blogger

Mohd Sabri Said
Harakah Ahad, Jun 28, 09

PULAU PINANG, 28 Jun (Hrkh) - PAS Pulau Pinang akan mengadakan pertemuan dengan semua blogger yang pro Kerajaan Pakatan Rakyat di negeri ini tidak lagi untuk menyampaikan misi terbaru sesuai dengan perkembangan hari ini. Iklan

Ketua Penerangan PAS Negeri, Zulkiply Ishak berkata, pertemuan itu membawa banyak erti kepada PAS kerana peranan blogger tidak dinafikan membantu mengembangkan pengaruh Pakatan Rakyat dalam masa yang singkat.

"Melalui pertemuan itu nanti kita akan menerangkan misi dan visi terbaru PAS Negeri bagi diketengahkan dalam blog mereka. Kita juga berharap rakyat akan menerima corak dan persembahan PAS selari dengan perkembangan masa kini, " ujarnya.

Beliau yang juga bekas Setiausaha PAS Kawasan Kepala Batas menambah, apa pun tempat dan waktu akan diberitahu kelak kerana buat masa ini Penerangan PAS Negeri sedang merancang mengadakan pertemuan dengan Ketua-ketua Lajnah Penerangan PAS seluruh negeri untuk memperjelaskan misi dan visi terbaru itu.

Beliau berharap semua blogger di Pulau Pinang dapat bekerjasama dengan PAS untuk membuktikan PAS sebenarnya boleh merealisasikan perjuangan di negeri ini hasil kemenangan bersama parti gabungan Pakatan Rakyat.

Menyedari hakikat itulah sambungnya, PAS memerlukan blogger yang pro Kerajaan Pakatan Rakyat untuk meningkatkan peranan yang selama ini agak malap padahal semua tahu PAS lahir di Pulau Pinang.

"Tempat lahir PAS mestilah kuat bukan macam sekarang tidak menyengat. Oleh itu, satu pembaharuan mesti dilakukan demi perjuangan kita masa depan, " terangnya.

Menurut Zulkiply lagi, selepas ini beliau yakin PAS di Pulau Pinang dapat nafas baru dan beliau juga berharap semua lajnah lain melonjakkan produktivi dan kreativiti supaya perkembangan dan imej PAS dapat dibawa dengan baik. - mks. _

It takes former soldiers and strategic minds with familiarity and understanding of the battlefield and terrain to put a stratagy together.

** More on The Art of War, browse from here onward.

Click Here to Read More..