If they can't see it clearly now, they deserve to fall [up-dated]

MUSICAL INTERLUDE WITH JIMMY CLIFF

This is Sunday and it is time to take it easy. Some serious matters need to be said and we are not going to allow our BP goes off the scale. It is not good to keep things bottled up inside.

Accompanied by an early reggae star, Jimmy Cliff, here is our Sunday musing.

Our earlier plan was to layoff the UMNO election and just observe from afar to hope for some resemblance of change in attitude in UMNO. However, the entry of certain people got us suck into the excitement.

It is not we never tried to stay away. After a whole day ferrying an underdog candidate around as self-appointed media officer, we couldn't take the physical requirement and quit a post we never had by midnight.  

Today and after my Christian friends have returned from church, we will say our final words to join the rakyat to watch the alif mim nun wa ... sarkas by the side.

Body language tells a different story

Dato' Hishamuddin is stretching himself as much as possible to get support from Wanita that he gatecrashed a Wanita do in Kluang Johor with incumbent Ketua Wanita UMNO, Dato Shahrizat Jalil.

The Utusan Malaysia here reported a glowing story on Hishamuddin's support from Johor. That is not the story and it is expected of Johor UMNO to give and Hishamuddin to get support from UMNO leadership of Johor.

They wouldn't exactly shame themselves and their "local" boy made good. But there was more than what was said.

Blocks, threats, sabotages... how to move forward?

This is not because candidate no 60. Tun Faisal Ismail bin Abdul Aziz did us a favour before, thus it is time to return it back. Hardly so, because it is not about defending Tun Faisal's right to run but also of many others.

For some strange reasons, many have been denied to exercise their rights to run in UMNO's election by the power establishment using questionable technicalities, threats and sabotages.Thought that PM wanted to have the minimal requirement as possible so that the requirement to run for office is not  stringent and hindrance for new leadership talent.

UMNO need fresh new talents to rejuvenate the party, but the old and tainted ones just refuse to go away.

Another typical leak at Treasury

Last week, UMNO President Dato Najib Tun Abdul Razak announced plans for economic empowerment of Bumiputera. [Read again here]

Every other person was complaining of nothing new. One of our concern was no serious effort to address past problems of leakage, inefficiency and sabotage on past empowerment programs. Leakage and inefficiency tend to be blame on government machinery.

Najib's intention to improve delivery is understood and appreciated. Only problem is the PEMANDU outfit. The other choice to PEMANDU is to leave it to the civil servant to independently run government machinery.

True, we have been a strong advocate to abolish PEMANDU and return the role to EPU, but it is not a blanket endorsement for all because had there not been for privatisation, JKR would still not complete the North-South Expressway yet.

The case we like to bring up is a case of leakage involving a recent tender for a Ubiquitous System for Jabatan Kastam dan Eksais Diraja (Customs). The underlying problem is clear and it is ubiquitously morally wrong.

MACC should be alerted because it has corruption, kickbacks, collusion and abuse of power written all over.

Unnecessarily desperate incumbent...

... or incumbents?

On TV3 evening news yesterday, UMNO President, Dato Najib was quoted expressing concern for money politics and abuse of power. But, with the electoral college system of voting, that call could fall on deaf ears.

The delegates at Cawangan have long heard rumours of Division delegates returning home with money in their suitcase after a party contest. The casual talk at coffeeshop and coffeehouse is that it  is time for them to taste the Government program to "merakyatkan ekonomi."

A trickle down effect they say. But, for 60-70 thousand? Too much isn't it to suggest buying votes.

From the many chats last night we had, they claimed that is not Najib's biggest worry. Sometimes we wonder how do they know but they said Najib is more worried that cousin brother, whose been there for him, might not make it.

Akram wants Pemuda to continue carry the "obor"

Few months back and in the midst of much speculation as in whose who will be running in the next UMNO election, we bumped into Firmansyah Muhammad or commonly known as Dax within the Khairy circle at Bangsar.

He was invited to join us temporarily for a drink before running off to get dinner for the family. It must have been the time we posted the article "This rubbish about no contest" in June 2013. At times, we the so-called pro Mahathir bloggers does not blindly follow the boss.

Anyway, over latte and capacino, we shared with Dax our reservation to this orchestrated attempt to not have the position of President and Deputy President be contested or challenged.

Changing times

By the time we reached home to Kuala Lumpur from Alor Setar, the whole world probably know by now that Dato Mukhriz Mahathir has announced his intention to run for UMNO Vice President.

In fact, while the event to introduce the candidates from Kedah for national level UMNO position was ongoing, our Blackberry was constantly receiving messages from SMS, BBM, email and Whasapp anticipating Mukhriz to announce his intention to run.

Similar to the discussion on Twitter, blogs and Facebook, everyone seem to be in unison to say that two VPs are shakeable and it will be a one two and three for so, so and so.

All we can say is Mukhriz has a chance like everybody else.

Fickle fingers of fate

This was the picture of the three contestants for Ketua Pemuda UMNO post during the debate on the night of February 17th, 2009.

By virtue of the 66 Divisional nominations received, Dato Mukhriz Mahathir was seen as the favourite over then Deputy Pemuda UMNO Chief, Khairy Jamaluddin (47 nominations) and Dato Seri Dr Khir Toyo (43 nominations).

However, casting was made and after what Tun described recently as a long 7 hours to count 700 votes, Khairy came out the winner at 304 votes with Khir Toyo at 254 votes and Mukhriz at 232 votes.

By the fickle fingers of fate, Khairy remained on as Member of Parliament for Rembau and was not appointed into any position except later as Chairman of PUNB. Khir Toyo became a victim of the heated contest.

Only Mukhriz secured a position after the contest as Deputy Minister for International Trade and Industry.

Debunking Jeffrey's 20-points agreement

Today is September 16th, 2013 and it's Malaysia Day. It is the celebration to commemurate the 50th anniversary of the formation of Malaysia.

For decades, Malaysia Day was not given significance but it changed during Tun Abdullah's administration. On September 16th, 1963, Malaysia was declared, which is a federation of Malaya (or Persekutuan Tanah Melayu), Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore (later kicked out).

Some months back during the Lahad Datu incursion by Suluk from Phillipines, this blogger met a Sabahan politician and expressed our disappointment with the in-denial attitude of Sabah academicians to believe the myth of the 20-points agreement. [Read on the 20-point agreement here.]

The politician agreed and felt someone should "debunked" this myth which was started by Dato Dr Jeffrey Kitingan, once and for all. And, he agreed with us that Sabah have been "crying wolf" for too many times that it has become self defeating.

With the hope that Sabah stop the endless blaming to look inside to SWOT themselves and move on, we attempt to layout our few months of information gathering on this auspicious Malaysia day.

Ucapan PM di UiTM pagi tadi

MAJLIS PEMERKASAAN EKONOMI BUMIPUTERA OLEH YAB DATO’ SRI MOHD NAJIB BIN TUN HAJI ABDUL RAZAK, PERDANA MENTERI MALAYSIA PADA 14 SEPTEMBER 2013 (SABTU), JAM 10.00 PAGI, BERTEMPAT DI DEWAN AGONG TUANKU CANSELOR, UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA, SHAH ALAM, SELANGOR. --------------------------------------------------------------------

Alhamdulillah, syukur ke hadrat Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala kerana dengan izin-Nya jua kita dapat berkumpul pada pagi ini, di Dewan Agong Tuanku Canselor, Kampus Induk Universiti Teknologi MARA, sebuah institusi simbol serta perlambangan kepada perjuangan Melayu dan Bumiputera yang tiada pernah hentinya.

2.    Terlebih dahulu, saya, bagi pihak Kerajaan, merakamkan setinggi-tinggi penghargaan kepada rakyat Malaysia, terutamanya masyarakat Melayu dan Bumiputera yang telah menunjang, mandat serta kepercayaan kepada Barisan Nasional pada Pilihanraya Umum Ke-13... untuk terus menerajui kepimpinan negara. Apa yang lebih mengharukan adalah, UMNO sebagai parti tonggak kepada Barisan Nasional, telah berjaya menambah kerusi Parlimennya daripada 79 kepada 88.

Najib's Bumiputera challenge [Up-dated]

For the past few years and on many occasions, Najib had given assurance that he will not foresake the Malays and Bumiputera. This time assurances and promises are not sufficient and they want more than that.

Bumiputera will not hear of excuses to do things quietly.

Not even an article from Beruang Biru to ask "Apa lagi rakyat mahu? can help relieve the demand for remedial action. Definitely not with a spin by listing all that PM has umum, lancar, perkenal, ilham and rasmi. To debunk, ask: has it delivered?

There is an SMS circulating:

Dijemput datang beramai-ramai ke Majlis Pemerkasaan Ekonomi Bumiputera pada Sabtu, 14 Sept 2013 di DATC UITM Shah Alam. 830 pagi - Forum: Tan Sri Dr Wan Zahid & Prof Dato' Dr Noor Azlan Ghazali. 1030 pagi - Pengumuman khas Agenda Ekonomi Bumiputera oleh YAB Perdana Menteri. Terbuka kpd orang ramai. Menteri kabinet & pemimpin Bumiputera akan hadir. Mari bersatu & tunjukkan sokongan kpd Agenda Bumiputera. Sila forward SMS ini kpd kawan-kawan.

Yesterday, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department in charge of EPU, Dato Abdul Wahid Omar gave a broad outline of the area to be covered. [Read Utusan Malaysia here.]

But this morning at 10 AM, it is the deadline for all related agencies to submit their immediate plan of action to EPU.

Since it looks like a rush job, we'll pass up on the event. At 8:00 AM, it is too early for bloggers. Secondly, there is more fun and satisfaction to hear great jazz performances at the KL International Jazz Festival 2013 by Lee Ritenour, Ezra Brown, Rudresh Mahanthappa, etc.

Answer this, PEMANDU

PEMANDU is so used to shocking the nation with their claims, statistics and projection to sell their wares. When being shocked, it took them weeks,  if not months, to respond. [Read Rocky Bru here and Kuala Lumpur Post here dated July 5th, 2012]

Idris Jala's reply for PEMANDU is merely a standard denial. It dismisses allegations and claim this and that without highlighting where the allegations are wrong. Basically, it has no news worthy substance.

It is his defense of Farah Intan, his claims are questionable.

Taxing the rich more

Former Director General of the Department of Statistics, economic planner and activist, Senator Dato Akbar Ali called for widening the net on tax collection on groups still running away from taxes. To quote from his blog Darah Tuah here, he suggested: 

1.8 Memperluaskan jaringan kutipan cukai ke atas kumpulan yang masih berjaya melarikan diri dari dicukai.

Given the much talk on crime and gang war, one such group is the criminals and their black economy. They do not pay tax. However, chasing after criminals is not the scope of our tax collectors.

Nevertheless, the government should look at another area to raise tax and that is the insuficiently taxed rich. While the wage earner have to pay tax, Malaysia has been too friendly with the asset rich wealthier class. Our stock market capital gain is non taxable, property gain tax too weak, inheritance tax abolished, and basically, their wealth is not sufficiently taxed.  

There should be so form of Robin Hood Tax. [Read about this movement in the UK here]. Will MNC and big business friendly PEMANDU ever recommend such a proposal?

TPPA: Restoring trust in Government

If yesterday's interlude and comment here, which Touch&Go on TPPA, was critical, today's posting is highlighting that there are some hint of progress from the government side.

Before, the MITI and government were defensively abiding to "directive" to keep details of the negotiation confidential. They realised that the public today are vocal; have their own mind and wants to know. MITI Open Day was exemplary in responding to such needs.

If only it is not held too early in the morning.

Dato Mustapha Mohamed met some of us and gave his "will not sell the country" commitment. He also refuted JJ got anything to do with TPPA. The negotiation started in 2010 and JJ was only made Ambassador a year after Najib became PM in 2009. Not enough time.

Tok Pa's commitment and statement from Deputy Minister, Dato Ir Hamim Samuri [read here] that Malaysia will not sign TPPA in October does not mean trust have been fully restored [Read back TPPA: Problem of trust and delusion].

There will be those that believed when push come to shove, Tok Pa will be back as a "Saya yang menurut perintah" government servant. But, a New York Times editorial dated September 1st made us believe ... not this time.

MUSICAL INTERLUDE & COMMENT: Shot yourself on the foot again

Don't get us wrong.

Despite it is politically not good timing, the subsidy rationalisation was necessary. This is talking strictly on the issue of subsidy and nothing else.

If there are effort to take the trouble to explain things, people will not be so angry.

Problem is there is this tendency to do things without considering the ramification and not bothered to put in place a course of actions to mitigate the expected outcry.

The bigger issue behind the petrol hike

Petrol Ron 95 and diesel was raised by 20 sen yesterday.

Naturally, everyone is up in arms and complaining. The opposition will use this opportunity to the hilt. Remember we told you blah blah blah UMNO UMNO UMNO ...

On the other side, the government through the media - mainstream and alternative -  will try to "explain" their action.

Both way, it is recycled materials.  Boring .....

"Antara dua darjat"

The beautiful Faezah Elai did well to potray Toh Puan Rahah, the mother to the current Prime Minister, Dato Najib Tun Abdul Razak and as the pillar of strength in Tun Abdul Razak's life and family in the movie Tanda Putera.

After the family's outing to see Tanda Putera on Saturday, Faezah's Elai's beauty must have made Toh Puan Rahah the family conversation over the weekend.

It's a family tale recently revived that our late father's elder brother, Mohd Amin was besotted with Toh Puan Rahah that he wanted to seek her hand in marriage.

During our visit of a sickly aunt in Klang, our uncle told us that late Amin knew her from Toh Puan Rahah's brother.