Market rally taking attention away from politics

The picture above came from NST but despite touching on investors confidence, strong corporate earnings and economic background, and foreign fund inflow, their report headline was rather hesitant and subdued yesterday: Malaysian stock market remains attractive to foreign investors

Malaysia Digest hit a better note with the headline: Malaysia Stocks At An All-Time High Ahead Of Elections. They highlighted on the big fuzz over the US threat of a trade war against China, extract below:

Economic growth of 5.9 per cent last year, which was the fastest pace since 2014, was also achieved through the strengthening of private and government investments.

“We’ve got an election coming up and actually the economic data for Malaysia has been quite good recently. Things like exports have been strong and relatively insulated from a potential trade war.

“Five years ago it was like a dirty word but now there’s more investor interest,” Jim McCafferty, head of Asia excluding Japan equity research at Nomura Holdings Inc. said in an interview in Hong Kong.

Bloomberg, whose been hinting of foreign investor interest on April 10th, is now practically screaming rally: Malaysia Stocks Hit Record as Foreigners Buy Ahead of Elections.

Before any shallow pro-Tun claim Bloomberg taking dedak, some are already making claims it is on on expectation of the return of Mahathir and his bevy of big wig market riggers. Then it is not dedak but carrot.

Underground talk is saying his backers of gambling taukehs are trying to sway Chinese voters using illegal gambling. Quite sure, no names need mentioning as it is as easy as ABC to figure it out.

With Equinimity seizure invalid, what now, Tun M?

That's the only possible reaction from pentaksub and PH's cybertrooper.

Yesterday, Singapore's Straits Times here reported that US and Indonesian police seizure of the superyatch Equinimity is illegal.

Taking an extract from Malaysia Today here:

Indonesia Court Rules Yacht Seizure In 1MDB Case Invalid...."Indonesian court on Tuesday (April 17) ruled that the seizure of a luxury yacht linked to a US investigation into scandal-ridden state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) was invalid and without legal basis....citing an on-going investigation, said Mr Low never worked for 1MDB and he did not make any business decision for the company(1MDB)

Allow some bragging rights for this blog. We wrote in early March: Equinimity seizure is still far from anything significant.

Was Equinimity the 1MDB bomb Tun Dr Mahathir wanted to explode for this general election?

Was the Loaf into tax evasion or money laundering for politics?

The Loaf announced it closed down last week.

Fearing his detractors would say he could not run even a kedai roti to succesed, let alone his endless list of past failed ventures that accumulated to hundreds of billions at today's value, Tun Dr Mahathir's first reaction was to deny it was his.

A lie like that could never go far. Not with much fanfare to launch Mahathir's Japanese bread venture. There are just too many news reports of the bread outlet that was first launched at Telaga Harbour Langkawi.

There is always Mahathir at every other launch of new outlets. And, it is impossible to deny the ROC documents below:

Macho-talking DAP chickening out in Johor?

It was a party pooper when Hannah Yeoh and Wong Tuan Tat was announced to run in Segambut and Bentong, respectively. Then Dyana Sofea commented on the challenge of running again against Dato Mah Siew Kong in Telok Intan.

In Johor: PH on-slaught or DAP slaugher house?, this blog was sure Hannah Yeoh will get sent off to some difficult seat and Tony Pua to Bentong to MCA President Liew. It didn't happen because both turned around and kow tow to suck Terowong Tokong knee caps.

While Dyana's comment only indicate the loud talking Foochow, Nga Kor Meng chicken out from confronting Mah. It is possible nice guy Mah and Liew are not as easy a meat as DAP thought.

Apparently, DAP seemed to have chicken out from Johor, wrote Joceline Tan below:

Only a Penasihat could mess up fixed deposit Sabah!

UMNO Secretary General, Dato Tengku Adnan Mansor had just issued a stern warning that reminded members to abide to the party's code of ethics. Those not selected as candidates should support the selected candidate and not sabotage the party.

This warning came about following announcement that the selected candidate for a Federal Territory seat is from MCA. Based on past track record, he has a better chance than an UMNO Division Head, who lost by more than 5,000 votes in GE13.

He is unlikely to turn around that deficit and let alone to turn it into a majority. However, he insisted to be selected. Just because he served the Prime Minister before, he should not be given special path and self interest should not be above the party interest.

Winning the general election should not be diverted by other factors of lesser priorities. And, words going around that there was intensive lobbying to change well selected candidates.

In Sabah, BN is making progress in areas not rated white and manage to turn the likes of Semporna and Kota Kinabalu into a 50:50 situation, at least almost.

Sabah has 26 Parliamentary seats (including Labuan) and is expected to win 23. If PM is persuaded to consider less relevant factors, it may cost BN several precious seats already in the bag.

TMJ's generosity returned by Prebet Adam's family

The Aeon Tebrau City was reported to be in a state of shambles after his Highness Crown Prince of Johor made an unexpected appearance to announce offering to pay up to RM3,000 per customer and RM1million to all shoppers present.

What motivated his highness to impulsively be generous is not sure. Only few days ago, he defended himself on FB for his statement that was intended for Tun Dr Mahathir. His highness denied he was not on anyone side but merely giving his personal opinion and advise for the betterment of Johor.

Thus one could assume that the impulsive generosity came out of  his highness's sincere concern for the betterment of Johor, even though it is for those who happen to be present at Aeon Tebrau City when he made that surprise.

Thought that was the only surprise for yesterday, but no ... his highness generous gesture was returned with appreciation by the family of Private Adam mentioned in his highness statement for clearing their family's name.

More analysts bullish for a BN win

Continuing this morning posting HERE on bullish prediction on the stock market following an expected BN win, Oxxford Economics also predicted a comfortable BN win. Read HERE.

Earlier CIMB expected a BN win and viewed it as positive for the market. Read HERE.

Malaysia Digest HERE  reviewed Bloomberg news as Najib is bad news for Mahathir.

In case, pro-PH supporters are calling all these as fake news, HSBC too is predicting a BN win.

Stock market to rise on expectation of a BN win

Except for the tired but unproven perception play on Dato Najib's guilt in the 1MDB affair and twisted propaganda pandering on emotion than sound economic argument on the economic transformation, the ingredients are there for a BN win.

The manifesto is solid manifesto with the fundamental sound and at the same time, major voter segments covered.

PH manifesto was duplicating BN's already done effort, lack of specifics and impossible to execute with the pledge to remove GST. Within 17 days, Tun Dr Mahathir already U-turn on some of the pledges and back to his old outdated thought.

Unless BN shoot their own feet as it could usually happen, the political ingredients are there - fundamentally and operationally for BN.

By May 13, let it be for soul purification

When Dato Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi mentioned of election could be during Ramadhan, it was not a bad idea.

Ramadhan is the month of glory and spiritual elevation. Muslim abstain from eating and drinking from daybreak to sunset.

It is the month to surrenders one self wholly to Allah, observing the same abstention throughout the whole month in his thoughts, his speech, his behavior, his every act.

And the non-Muslims will indirectly observe the same by respecting the abstaining Muslims.

As witnessed during the by-election at Kuala Besut, Kuala Kangsar and Sungai Besar, election campaign was exemplary. The big crowd that came to hear Mahathir at Kuala Kangsar did not vote Amanah.

Election campaign time was limited so campaigners used the oppurtunity to sensibly deliver their campaign message without the nasty words and behaviour.

Be fair to Rosmah

Its tiring to hear the same old wild accusation being thrown at Prime Minister's wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor.

If they have anything against her, they should get their facts right.

For instance, how could the PM's wife be so powerful?

She is not the one with authority or position, thus if she actually could direct people, then those with the authority by virtue of their position are plain dumb to take her orders.

If the decision made was wrong, the one with responsibility and fiduciary duty will be accountable. And if force upon and fearing it would be detrimental to the nation, they should have refuse as a matter of principle or resign in protest.

It is plain coward to blame others for their own weakness and childish to bitch behind someone's back

Rosmah contributed to Najib's premiership but it should best not be discussed. But the slander and negative perception against her have been unfair.

Dumb DAP just kissed Johor goodbye

The big event last night was the launch of the BN Manifesto dubbed by Dato Salleh Said Keruak as the best manifesto in history.

Despite a pathetic PH manifesto, in which Tun Dr Mahatahir acknowledged could not fulfill within 17 days after launch and he U-turned several items on their manifesto, one could only expect Lim Kit Siang to fulfill his duty as the ever defiant and subversive opposition leader to oppose for the sake of opposing.

Not to mention, the cynics and nitpickers among opposition's fanatics are spewing rude and vulgar comments on the social media. Nothing unusual of the current phenomenon and its declining  effectiveness as BN's firepower flex their muscle to meet the call of duty of a general election.

Before commenting on the manifesto, the biggest political bomb last night was the remark by his highness the Tengku Mahkota of Johor.

Bigdog gave the manifesto launch a miss and posted Titah Tuanku: Make changes from within.

Johor: PH on-slaught or DAP slaughter house?

Tun Dr Mahathir continued his wave creation with the third mega-ceramah in Pasir Gudang.

It was in Pasir Gudang in 2015 that he was challenged at a Saturday UMNO-linked NGO ceramah to show-up at the Bersih rally gathering in Kuala Lumpur.

To the surprise of his officer, he did appeared upon touchdown at Subang in his private jet that late afternoon and the next day Sunday. That ended any remaining affection yours truly had left for Mahathir after more than 12-year involvement.

Since end of 2014, he and his inner circle had been behaving suspiciously; an officer suspected of regularly meeting Xavier Justo in Thailand and Mahathir secretly met Dato Seri Azmin Ali in London.

They thought it did not go unnoticed.

Feedback received from Pasir Gudang locals claimed majority of the attendee are outsiders from Tebrau, Kota Tinggi, etc. Chinese presence were significant.

Nevertheless, the number of 3,000 that subsequently increase to 4,000 upon arrival of Mahathir could make any armchair supporters ecstatic.

Opposition supporters were psyched into thinking Johor could fall and UMNO’s white area is only 8. Atually, it is the converse. Identified black area for BN is 7 or 8, including 50:50 Indian-seat Segamat.

DAP gave up after failing in all their three Tanjung projects before the unexpected Chinese tsunami of 2008. Can they do on Johor by their 2nd attempt?

What happens in Vegas, (should) stays in Vegas

The late Hugh Hefner said in a playboy "documentary" video, "What happens here, stays here." It was his warning to keep mouths shut on the wild happenings in The Grotto at the Playboy Mansion.

In 2002, the Las Vegas Conventions and Visitors Authority started using the same tagline and it helped the Las Vegas brand become the second-most recognized brand in the US, after Google.

Surely, this posting is not about branding or marketing but a certain happening at Kelab De Vegas in Jalan Imbi, Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur. What should stay in Vegas, did not remain within Vegas but got known by law enforcement officials.

In a joint operation involving, police, MACC and perhaps other agencies on April 2nd, there was a raid at the karaoke. It became a big story not because an UMNO Ketua Bahagian was caught for something. After all, PAS campaign poster claimed UMNO politicians has biggest number of corruption investigations, fast following DAP and PKR in second and third and PAS zero.

The general election made it a big story that drew international media attention. Read here.

Malay tsunami is die-hard's handjob imagination

The above crowd at a PPBM ceramah in Jerai was bandied around by supporters and Tun Dr Mahathir's fanatic die-hards as 30,000.

Sure ... but why the low and close-up shot. Our credible and reliable source there at Jerai estimated it at just 3,000. It really is ... Read our 2012 posting on estimating crowd numbers here.

Having done work in Jerai before, we know the local could not be that much. The popular Azhar Idrus (refuse to call him Ustaz) could only attract 1,000 during the Sg Limau by-election. It has to be  outsiders brought in from all over Kedah and Penang.

Our source spotted supporters from as far as Taiping. A matter of observing the vehicle license plates.

So our friend, Akramsyah Sanusi should not be too hopeful his Aceh folks in Jerai will come through for him. His relative and UMNO Permanent Chairman, Tan Sri Badruddin is with UMNO. Even a DAP wakil rakyat disgusted with Lim Guan Eng has openly express high regards for Dato Seri Jamil Khir.

These die-hards think Mahathir is a big deal in Kedah. They have no idea what the Kedah Civil Service think of him and his former MB son.

If not 165, is 114-124 safe?

It is bewildering that our former associates in political blogging could consider as psywar strategy to spread message based purely on presumptions.

They presumed all rakyat is angry, life is difficult down there, Najib a thief, country going bankrupt and highly in debt, GST to pay 1MDB debt and the list goes on and on.

Strangely, when they could not defend with facts, figure or even a credible story (despite being former journalist, they may not necessarily be able to), they turn irrational, get angry, curse and swear.

They then continue to churn the same style of fake news again and again. Sadly, former GEICs on the other side are not setting good examples.

Some PPBM MPKT member including former Minister could not even articulate themselves without resorting to bad choices of vocabulory and displaying desperate childish antics.

For MPKT members with hardly LCE certificates and there are few, their way of maintaining their righteousness is the scripted “Wait till election, then you know".

Yeah ... sure. Unless voters are swayed purely on emotion and act without any senses, then they may have a fighting chance.

Typical pre-election gitters

"I don't know and I'm not sure, that's an honest answer for you. I don't decide whether I become candidate or not."

The above quote taken from The Star here is Foreign Affairs Minister and MP for Kimanis, Sabah, Dato Anifah Aman claming unsure to defend the seat he won in the last three General Election at an increasing majority.

Unless he volunteered to withdraw, no sensible political observer would believe the younger brother to Sabah Chief Minister, Tan Sri Musa Aman not be selected.

Though a leader with political influence and strength of his own in Sabah, independent of his brother, Anifah is acknowledging the power to determine candidate to represent the party for the general election lies with the leadership.

Devious fake claim of BN losing Sabah

Five years ago, Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim went around psyching the Semenanjong as though BN lost Sabah. The video of Anwar doing it through a song can be found here.

Not only Sabah was not lost 5 years ago, Anwar lost PKR in Sabah as 18 divisions "closed" and left in skeletal existence. This blog alerted readers before it happened.

PKR has absolutely no strength in Sabah. Same with Warisan.

A party with link to Tun Dr Mahathir will not go far. At best, we are predicting only 3 parliament seats for Warisan. Most possible only 1.

But there are those that have been making prediction as though Warisan is relevent and seeking special budget to counter a so-called Sabah for Sabahan political cry.

Election is a game of numbers

General election is definitely around the corner. One can see flags, banners, and posters being put up. Yesterday, PH put in 1MDB pamphlets in our mailbox.

For past few weeks, we have been getting angry messages from friends or maybe now are friends turned political rival spewing threats and nasty words in their casual political campaigning.

One thing noticeable is their winning tone as though momentum is on their side and they are championing the right issue.

If they are so confident and right, why are they not cool when BNM forex loss, Penang tunnel, Ijok land scam, and the long list of misdeeds of opposition-led state governments were raised.

The immaturity in the manner they debate lies in denial of their own misdeeds. It is unlike inside BN side that could explain with some level of legitimacy any allegations and slanders hurled at government.

Being in-denial and not honestly taking stock of their strength and weakness is a sure fire way to lose.

With Sabah safe in the bank, can Mahathir topple Najib?

Once, Dato Seri Azmin Ali tried to create an issue out of his short conversation with Dato Seri Anifah Aman at the airport by putting up a twitter posting to speculate him of being tired and leaving Dato Najib.

Back in 2009, Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim created a political game as though he had enough MPs from BN to jump ship to the then Pakatan Rakyat. If Pak Lah had not resign, Anifah and the Sabah MPs would have jump out of UMNO and BN. Dato Raimi Unggi confirmed in 2014 (Read report here).

Contrary to the rumour, they are  not likely to join Anwar. That's water under the bridge. Not something worthy pondering and talking over.

Is Anifah's latest statement indicate him leaving UMNO and BN?

It would have caused premature ejaculation among PPBM and Pakatan Harapan. Forget Pakatan Harapan, it is actually Pakatan DAP. DAP has the solid seats and will come out with majority number of seats. PKR, PPBM and especially PAN cannot make any major decision without getting DAP's consent.

Daily Express reported:

No soul left in DAP

Mahathir destroyed DAP and lost its soul

By Tan Sia Chin

I had been a loyal DAP life member and believed in their strugle since my youth day. Back in my university days in University Malaya, our student movement with reformasi days was about removing the corruption and nepotism if Mahathir Mohamad.

I brave thru ceramah with my umbrela during the rain to listen to Anwar Ibrahim speaking out against the government of the day led by Mahathir and his cronies. Tales of how he enrich his sons and Daim is still fresh in my mind.

At the stage with Anwar was Lim Kit Siang and Lim Guan Eng telling their tales of ISA brutality and their time in prison during the days of Operasi Lalang. Hearing this make me cried and wonder what kind of ditactorship our country went through under the rule of Mahathir.

Fast track 19 years later, my heart bled seeing the situation today. Enemis coming together sitting under the same roof calling for a change for the country. It is a commendable effort and I was like this is the way to go. Uniting for the common caused.

But looking deeper events after events, my heart goes into despair. The last straw came when Mahathir latest party called out for donation to his party to fund them for election.

Equinimity seizure is still far from anything significant

It is long anticipated that as we near the general election, Tun Dr Mahathir will revive the 1MDB issue. Raja Petra gave his conspiracy theory on how it will happen here.  And another low down from him here.

The serious doubt is on whether Attorney General, Tan Sri Appendi Ali would do such a thing. It would destroy his credibility.

Sacrificing oneself for Mahathir will not be beneficial. As happened many times, Mahathir does not appreciate such sacrifice for him. He used people and throw them away when they are no more useful. Remember how he treated Dato Hamidah Osman and even the late Tan Sri Mohamed Rahmat.

We expect Mahathir would reveal documents irrespective of it being (true or fake) as evidence to prove his accusation that Dato Najib is guilty in the 1MDB debacle.

However, none yet.

Then suddenly, the news Indonesian authorities seized on a yatch named Equinimity claimed to be that of Jho Loh.

Mahathir even wrote a special blog posting. Was it the awaited bomb?

TI Malaysia unashamedly defend CPI's lack of objectivety

The message in our past posting here on TI Malaysia's recent rating for a lower Corruption Perception Index (CPI) for Malaysia that investigation only increase perception of corruption.

Thus the way to lower corruption measure is to allow corruption to flourish and cover-up any possibility of being caught.

The CPI is seriously flawed as a measure of corruption. It runs counter to the unprecedented effort to combat corruption by imtensive investigation by MACC.

TI Malaysia's explanation was political. Dato Dr Akhtar highlighted certain corruption cases that could conveniently be linked to the federal government but not mention bigger cases that are linked to opposition-led states and a certain former Prime Minister.

As Deputy President of Parti Cina Malaysia, Datok Huan Cheng Guan highlighted, its the opposition side that is swarmed with bigger corruption cases.

The quantum of forex trading losses of BNM linked to the former PM but may not be entirely from trading is RM31.5 billion.

State of the economy, personal opinion and playing god

The luxury yatch allegedly belonging to Jho Loh and allegedly bought from ill-gotten gain from the IPIC deal was seized off the Indonesian shore by authorities at request of FBI.

Good that there is finally a development.

Indonesian claimed the seizure does not involved Malaysians. It means the Malaysian authority including 1MDB is not pursuing the allegedly stolen asset. From their official position, their money is accounted for and nothing was stolen.

Suddenly, social media revealed that the yatch is owned by a China fashion billionaire, Do Won Chang. So what will happen? Will there be embarassed red-faced officials, whose been covorting with international media, particularly WSJ as DOJ unofficial spokesman, with these allegations on Jho Loh?

Make no bone that since 2015, this blog is still blaming Jho Loh for the 1MDB debacle or whatever wrongdoings will eventually be proven. But we are still grasping to put our finger on what Jho Loh actually did wrong and where is the right place to deal with his wrongdoing?

The point here is about getting the facts, evidence and then come to a truthful conclusive ending. Otherwise, it is sheer wasteful rhetoric.

TI-Malaysia's latest CPI telling MACC not to investigate corruption

Tranparency International Malaysia announced their latest Corruption Perception Index for 2017.

Despite relentless efforts by MACC to uncover and investigate corruption, power abuse and corruption related money laundering activities, their latest report puts Malaysia 7 points lower than the previous year and rank the country at 72 among 180 countries.

Without any misgiving and reservation, TI-Malaysia President Dr Akhtar Satar said the latest finding should serve as a wake-up call to the government and that recent developments including mentioning the old and buried issue of NFC pushed the country’s ranking further away from the targeted of 30. [Read FMT here].

By mentioning NFC in which Rafizi Ramli's recent appeal for prison sentencing was rejected, it proves that TI's perception based corruption index is seriously faulty. The message from TI-Malaysia finding is that perception on corruption worsen when MACC uncover and investigate high profile corruption cases.

Datok Paul Low proves the point [Read FMT here]. TI-Malaysia index implies that the countries better perceived in term of corruption are those that cover-up big corruption cases and anti-graft agency should do nothing.

Money for Candidacy, Campaign Donation and Political Funding

No wind, yet the tree shake.

Two weeks ago, The Mole reported PPBM Information Chief, Dato Kamaruddin Md Nor denied rumours it is selling their candidacy.

The denial can only be expected as it is a preposterous suggestion for any decent political party to sell their candidacy to the highest bidder. It is in contravention to the party struggle, whatever it is and against the principle of representative democrasy.

Nevertheless, politicians are pragmatic people and the pursuit of power is not entirely rationale.

Mahathir: A mere show which regressed the opposition

Good that Tun Dr Mahathir jumped to the other side. This time around BN is not burdened to defend his past failed policies.

It is also good that he is now leading the opposition. They will now have to defend him in which they seemed reluctant. For every defense they put up for Mahathir, there is always there past position and comment to haunt them back.

It is god-sent that his past could now be scrutinised and compared to the present government of Dato Najib. All along the only political point of Mahathir is only 1MDB to justify his hatred and revenge of Najib for not taking his orders.s

Rise in prices is another favourite point of his but he overdone the issue in the manner of 1MDB's RM42 billion lesap to claim Malaysia is moving towards bankruptcy. The price rise happened during any PM's era, the important part is to contain it within the current constraint of government. That Najib did.

Now that Mahathir is on the other side, one can see the opposition is equally but more corrupt than the allegation they made of BN. To add further, their administration is not as they claim to have the best interest of the rakyat. Mahathir's only concern are his, familiy's and cronies'interest over the rakyat. 

With old and out of time Mahathir on their side, they are regressing.

Forex investigation: Police should probe BNM sales of MAS

Upon reading the news report below, we double checked with a high level police officer on the seriousness of police to investigate the BNM forex loss:

BNM forex scandal: 27 people summoned so far
https://www.nst.com.my/news/crime-courts/2018/02/335529/bnm-forex-scandal-27-people-summoned-so-far#cxrecs_s

The answer was an affirmative: Yes, bro.

As a former currency dealer and in another career in financial market, suffered from BNM forex loss from massive and reckless position-taking, which led to the 1997 financial crisis, we were elated to hear police is getting down to the bottom of it.

It was obvious from the the RCI proceedings that all those called in collaborated to not speak up and intentionally pretend to #taktau. Also, it proves government is serious and not merely pursuing the RCI for political mileage.

From the report, police is also investigating the sales of TNB, Telekom, MISC and MAS shares done discreetly in 1993 and 1994 to absorb the loss and revive the financial status of BNM.

Of all these, MAS is of special interest.

Najib vs Mahathir is not a Coke vs Pepsi comparison

Zikri Kamarulzaman of Malaysiakini wrote: Dr M or Najib for PM, like choosing Coke or Pepsi. It was basically about there is no difference between BN or PH.

Tun Dr Mahathir's reply was ".. not really" but he merely went philosophical without give a substantive reply. Seemed he lost for words to answer.

Dato Salleh Said Keruak criticised the poser itself. He revived an old argument among the opposition  that they should not be BN 2.0 but different and supposedly better. Salleh went on to say their voters and supporters are viewing PH as no better than the criticism they levied on BN. 

Sebastian Loh agreed with Mahathir. It is not really because an honest and logical assessment of Najib and Mahathir will point to Najib as the better choice:

The difference between Najib and Mahathir

by: Sebastian Loh
The Malaysia Impact

It’s tempting to see Najib and Mahathir as a tired choice between Coke and Pepsi.

Lots of decent, thoughtful folk argue there’s no difference between the two men – they’re both irredeemably repulsive. I respectfully disagree. You’ll forgive me for repeating that annoying cliche: It’s an imperfect world, but there is, as they say, a lesser evil.

The key is view Najib’s and Mahathir’s legacies proportionately.

THHE: Old Profesori's conspiracy exposes "client" scam

Lembaga Urusan Tabung Haji (LUTH) had just announced their annual Hibah and Hibah Haji of 4.75% and 1.75%, respectively. Given the market condition and written off loses for TH Heavy Engineering (THHE), it is considered commendable.

Some yoko and instant financial experts on social media questioned the calculation methodology without understanding the original purpose of the establishment of LUTH. [This was explained well by The Mole here.]

Some old fart Hindu made the preposterous claim that LUTH was operating as the ole Pak Man Telo ponzzi scheme. Not this old fart, though his politically sly writing these days could only indicate he does not understand much.

While, this old Profesori seemed to know much on an alleged scam involving THHE. However, he made a cardinal mistake in his investigative report for not sufficiently knowing the man behind the company before defending the so-called "victim".

It is the same as knowing the background of the Profesori to help predict where he is coming from and where he would take the story to.

Hope he heed LUTH vociferous denial in 2016 to attempts to link the financial performance of THHE to them. It is neither a subsidiary nor a GLC. Get that straight. 

The "victim" could at times be a "predator" himself in the corporate dealmaking. Johoreans has much to tell. And Din Merican should know Yinson and their political link before writing.

He could be shooting his own feet.

In the eye of the Wall Street storm, the air is still calm here

Bursa Malaysia ended higher yesterday in line with regional recovery to buck the drop on Wall Street on Wednesday.  The Malaysian Reserve reported it touched a 10-year high.

This blog did gave the hint that Bursa been under-performing but to go this high yesterday is a different story all together.

Naturally, there are those follow-the-crowd cautious dealers still holding on to the believe that when Wall Street sneezes, the world catch a cold. It may not be limited to the lower level. The higher executives too have the tendency to fear being proven wrong and is risk averse to express their own gut feel.

It is interesting though to hear there are research houses bold enough to view the global equity sell-off as temporary and no apparent risk to global economic growth. The operative word is apparent but they are not alone.

The Wall Street analysts that made the market correction call few days before last Tuesday's said it would only be only 5%. February is no witching hour like the thin trading condition of the 4th quarter.

However, who would be macho enough to put money where their mouth is? Analysts could only talk cock, but when Wall Street fell by more than 1,000 again last night and Australia caught cold this morning, would dare they put their money where their mouth is?

Expecting a nervous Friday and nervous weekend.

Malay resentment against Najib due to Mahathir's "dedak"?

One could blame the dissatisfaction by segment of the Malays on incitation and fake news propaganda by opposition.

It could happen as a source claimed Tun Dr Mahathir had employed retired Special Branch officers to do covert whispering campaign against the government in Kedah. There is no way to check. How do these SBs look like?

One can only visibly be sure the slight problem Dato Najib is facing with certain segment of Malay voters got nothing to do with Mahathir, but sentiments attributing to rising prices of good.

One could blame it on the poor implementation of GST by Royal Customs, but we are not about to repeat and just say, "I told you so!" It was in the postings on early critics of Pemandu.

However, there have been a change of mind after several personal engagements with Dato Idris Jala. It was his mid-term report on NTP at the new BNM wing that convinced us that it was a bitter pill that had to be swallowed. .

Fake news is one, but which is the segment of Malays and why are they negative on government?

Biggest 1-day Dow drop in history, Oppo to blame Najib

The hope of a Chinese New Year run-up and followed through into a pre-GE rally as corporate confidence for a BN win could be temporarily dashed by a large single day fall on Wall Street.

A call from a stock market investor told us Bursa Malaysia was then down by 55 points.

Can expect the earlier confident forcasters will turn cautious and take a wait and see stance. If market make a downturn, these are the procastinators.

They way we see Bursa has not started its rally. It means this is an oppurunity to shake off weakholders. The rally can begin from the bottom.

In the meanwhile, the bottom fell off Wall Street. CNN report:

Warisan lost it

One would have expected a former Federal Minister and resigned Vice President of UMNO be on top of his game in a political campaign.

Unfortunately, Dato Shafie Apdal fell short of expectation. He lost his hold on matters close to the heart of the people of Sabah for decades.

President Dutarte announced a committee to review their Federal Constitution to include Sabah as the 13th state but no response was forthcoming from Shafie or his fellow party members.

Dato Anifah Aman challenged opposition leaders and even their bloggers to attend an event to debate the Malaysia Agreement 1963 but none turned up.

It is a disappointment of Sabah opposition, particularly the likes of Warisan whose been going about the state repeating a slogan similar an old PBS slogan of "Sabah for Sabahans".

It should be opportunity for them to seize on to show their Sabah political character and state their positions on Sabah sovereignty, and rights under MA 63.

Now ready for #takmautua

While opposition is scrambling and whacking to supress the #undirosak movement against Tun Dr Mahathir, there is another movement against the ole i.e. Lim Kit Siang.

The video below:

This could start a #takmautua movement and Mahathir could not escape this protest too ...

Sri Ram's gross ommision of the Constitution

It was February 22nd 2017 that the two former fellow Federal Court judges met in court.

The government side was appealing against Court of Appeal decision to set aside a provision in the Sedition Act 1948 in the sedition case against PKR assemblyman Mat Shuhaimi. .

Tan Sri Apendi Ali described the encounter then as an "abang dan kawan" affair. There was no objection from lawyer to Mat Shuhaimi, Dato Gopal Sri Ram to the appeal. Yes, the person defending this sedition case is the same judge, who sent Lim Guan Eng to jail on press and publication act .*

In the latest development, Federal Court ordered the trial of Mat Shuhaimi to proceed. However, the decision will have implication to other pending sedition cases.

In the meanwhile, Sri Ram is still going about town arguing the government cannot enforce the sedition law because it is a law put together by "penjajah" and not passed by Parliament.
   
That is a gross ommission of the constitution and pushing his luck for the client.

#UndiRosak is opposition protest against Mahathir

The first glance of #UndiRosak campaign was comments on Nurul Izzah's Facebook calling on to boycott the election.

It was strange and odd that Tun Dr Mahathir has to react and accuse UMNO as behind the #UndiRosak movement. It only gave credibility to the call.

That movement seemed to be a genuine concern among the youth and even seasoned voters, whose growing cynical, angry, disillusioned and angry with PH they voted and gave power to in few states in GE 2013.

Jason Kay wrote in The Malay Mail Online here claiming #UndiRosak is a fantastic way to democratically hold politicians in Malaysia to account for their promises, and their performance.

The Malaysia Impact wrote of its impact to Pakatan Harapan:

Piggy subject of cost of living, property prices and tax

Blogger turned Facebooker Azmi Ibrahim was making fun of Tun Dr Mahathir's remarks:

It attracted reacted with social media raising on his and the family's questionable Islam liberal leaning. The statement meant differently but still could be debated along the argument of hypocrasy.

Lets not go to length of their religion since this posting is about the piggy issue of higher cost of living.

The Mole columnist on political economy wrote on the subject: Strumming the right chord on cost of living. He also touched on the study by Isham Jalil, the Special Officer in PMO.

Isham found that property prices was a major contributing factor for piggy populated Selangor and Penang throughout the 2009-13 study. [Read HERE.] Its not entirely GST la Munge Laye.

BNSC Eric See-To commented HERE on the matter raised by EPF Chief Economist and HERE on Penang. So the blogger Hisham left ISIS, the think tank institute not the terrorist jihadists, for EPF.

Late LKY's insight into DAP's anti-Islam psyche

In their effort to get Malay votes swing to Pakatan Harapan from among UMNO and PAS members, DAP sprucing up their image.

One can hear them claim to deny being anti-Malay, anti-Islam. However, their words and actions as opposition at federal government and government at state level potrayed resentment to anything Malay and Islam.

For instance, Selangor Speaker, Hannah Yeoh disallowed discussions on Islamic matter discussed at the last state assembly seating.

There are many more examples. In fact, liberal Malays opposing syariah laws have close relation and collaboration with DAP leaders.

Mahathir's Malayness questioned

An elderly former civil servant was subtly campaigning for Tun Dr Mahathir to his elderly friend using the "Apa nak jadi pada Melayu?" rhetorics.

To non-Malays, they usually viewed such discussions as racist, selfish, and self serving. And to some Malays, such discussions on Malay sounded out-dated, tired and regressive. They prefer uplifting the Malays to be economically independent over reliance on special privileges, handouts and subsidies.

The younger generation wants a fairer and less wasteful way to help the needy Malays and Malaysians at large.

The elderly friend listened attentively without intruding the former civil servant till he finished his repertoire. Then he asked a loaded question with myriad of answers, "Siapa Melayu ni?  

That threw the civil servant off. There was a long silence.

PH struggle to defend Mahathir

The silence from his new found friends in the opposition is deafening as Tun Dr Mahathir had to face a barrage of attack and criticism for his past record.

Despite overwhelming presence of opposition in the social media, even the voice of PPBM President, Tan Sri Muhyiddin could not be heard. Though he may have been accused of stabbing his boss Dato Najib in the back, he remained a team player.

It is the media that is not picking up his overly cautious and calculated words. Mahathir is a bigger news item. His private grumbling over the poor return on political investment on the hundrerds of million spent could be heard.

Now that Mahathir was officially proposed as PH's proposed Prime Minister, it has attracted heavy criticism.

US-backed BERSIH behind corruption misinformation

Suddenly, Tun Dr Mahathir is raising issue on the uncanny situation of 900 "Fatimah bin Ismail" born of the same day in the electoral roll. Its obviously an exageration like RM42 billion "lesap".

One can presume the idea for such allegation may have come from former EC Chairman and PPBM VP, Tan Sri Abdul Rashid Abd Rahman. It could be his righing Modus Operandi then for Mahathir.

No such thing happened ever since BERSIH scrutinised EC for the past two GEs. Now they are trying to abuse the court to deny the requirement by law for redelienation.

Sensing the US-backed BERSIH is in their elements. Believe an Iran-styled color revolution to protest rising prices is in the making.

The Embassy along Jalan Tun Razak Embassy could yet again be assisting to viral misinformation in their perception game. One detected is an image and video on corruption.

Obstacles to Mahathir's revenge to regain power

Asia Times wrote:

Mahathir’s last gasp for power and retribution

Nonagenarian ex-premier's old strongman ways are alienating those he needs to galvanize ahead of fast-approaching elections in Malaysia

By DAVID HUTT, @davidhuttjourno

JANUARY 13, 2018 11:37 AM (UTC+8) 1832
Asia Times

On December 30, Malaysia’s longest ever serving prime minister Mahathir Mohamad, who now finds himself leader of the same opposition politicians he used to harangue and imprison, stood on stage to offer an apology.

“Like other human beings, I’m not alone in saying or doing wrong. Not just today, but for as long as I’ve been in politics,” said the 92- year-old, who, weeks later, would be named the prime ministerial candidate for the opposition Pakatan Harapan coalition.

A Malaysian guide to licking your own spit

By Lukman Sheriff

1. Condemn corruption til high heaven, then support whom you allege as the most corrupt person for decades as a national leader for the sake of power

2. Condemn our country as basket case for practicing nepotism and cronyism, then support the person you yourself condemned for years as the father of nepotism and cronyism as your leader for the sake of power

3. Condemn Malaysia as authoritarian state limiting various rights of freedom, then support whom you condemned for decades as a dictator for the sake of power.