Threading the 1MDB issue carefully

Rocky Bru's here seemed bored with the same old annual routine of tabling the budget in Parliament.

After all, it's sole purpose is merely to get Parliament approval for the government to operate next year. If there is enough fund, things will procede as planned. Otherwise, it is postphoned.

In the latest October 25th 2016 statistics here, public sector via government services constitute only a small fraction of GDP, mere 8.2%.

It's GDP contribution is not significant to attentively follow the speech. Off late, there is always a political wayang in the midst of the speech.

As usually happen, budget debate lack any substance. No different this year as Dato Salleh Said Keruak felt "...opposition missed the forest for the trees".

Because civil servants turned a blind eye

When told of the mishap at the Tunku Aminah Hospital in Johor Baru, a family member responded to say some idiot will blame it on some politicians.

So happen few other fires broke out in Johor including another one at the same hospital. There was a viral message that blamed Dato Najib for bringing bad luck. Typical of Malaysians to be quick with their blame. Usually they do not bother to find out the line of responsibility to direct the right blame.

Because of that, the real culprit could lie low and get away. Crime and corruption are at large. It gets so large and beyond control of law enforcement to handle. Pity on MACC, now that they have to operate on a twice slashed budget. An incentive plan should be considered to motivate them.

Ultimately, the people have to bear with it. In the light of the new regulation to limit subsidised cooking oil to only 1 kg package, an uproar is only expected and the usual blame will be leveled at Ministers.

Naturally, Najib will be blame for satu lagi barang naik harga.

Common decency and civility

But we need to get better at finding ways to disagree on matters of policy while agreeing on questions of decency and civility. How we talk to each other, treat each other, respect each other. - Hillary Clinton

There is a political tradition in America, where both presidential candidates share a stage together for the last time before the election. It is at the white-tie only Al Smith Dinner to raise fund for charity and hosted by the Archbishop of New York. 

It is a lighted-hearted event, where both candidates would traditionally give humorous roast speeches to poke fun at themselves and their opponents. This year it featured Hillary and Trump.

With Trump being Trump, he did took it a bit far.

Some say, Hillary had her unsavory moments too and had acknowledged and apologised for it. Nevertheless, her final words are profound and worthy for us, Malaysians to ponder, reflect and emulate. 

Fact check political narrative in economic discussion

Never bothered to listen to the budget speech. More keen on the broad area of past performance, forecast, challenges, strategy and focus.

Rather wait out for the next morning paper for the details. 

The budget to be tabled by Dato Najib in Parliament this evening is important. It will be the first budget after the loss of oil revenue. Meeting public expectation, or more accurately, to meet the expectation of a public so used to government subsidy will be a challenge.

One can expect much hue and cry, especially from among the Bumiputera community experiencing the transition or government buzzword, transformation from dependent on NEP to be more independent, competitive and merit, from highly subsidised economy to a more efficient and focused subsidy system, and towards high income economy.

Keling call meant for conniving Mamak Geng Loceng

Believe PM did not direct that statement to this blog's labeling of Mamak Geng Loceng as Keling.

It is was never meant for honest and trustworthy Indians. Why should it be directed at Indians in which some are our best friends?

Siapa pula pergi bawa mulut ke PM? Thought only Mamak Geng Loceng talk loudly but have no fact and proof.

Sabah Watergate: Latest arrest is former Deputy Director Sabah Water

MACC announced the fifth arrest of their investigation on the now mentioned as RM190 million Sabah Water Department (SWD) corruption case.

The fact seemed to lead to federal Ministries management of water projects for the rural area. but the latest suspect arrested is the Sabah Finance Ministry Technical and Engineering Advisor.

In case Dato Shafie Apdal people wish to divert and project the case to Chief Minister, Dato Musa Aman, this arrest has to do more with his position as Deputy Director of SWD which he retired from last year. More in The Star here.

All it takes a few bad apple to give a bad perception of state government. For any party, be it politician or businessmen or retired civil servants, to be accused of corruption, there must be collaborating in service civil servant/(s). How much further up and to the past will MACC pursue?

The news report mentioned suspect's age as 62. It raises the suspicion that the person is Lam Lim Beng. He was 58 when Sabahkini exposed him in their posting in 2011 here.

Finger pointing could not deflect KKLW under Shafie

According to a concerned insider, the abuse and corruption of funds allocated to KKLW for the rural area to build homes for the poor, and bring basic necessities of water, electricity, and road including solar energy for the interior is still at large.

The current Minister, Dato Ismail Sabri has assigned his power under the Akta Perolehan 1949 (Semakan 1973) (see above) to the Chief Secretary (KSU) and his Deputy (TKSU). The current KSU for KKLW is Dato Arif Abdul Rahman. He was the former State Financial Officer of Selangor that gave problems to Yayasan Basmi Kemiskinan many years back.

The modus operandi could involved collaboration with a Minister's officer that was once accused of selling away a by-election to PKR. However, it is new KKLW Minister, Ismail Sabri that is often mentioned in rumours and assigned blame. 

When Shafie Apdal was Minister for KKLW, he assigned the power to sign Letter of Award to KSU and TKSU but maintain control by insisting any LOA must get his clearance.

Why Shafie and PPBM implicate Anifah Aman? (Part 2)

When news of the RM114 million seizure from the homes of Sabah Water Department (SWD) Director and his Deputy broke last Wednesday, question was asked as to why would someone keep so much money in the house.

One insider close to the case confided that it is a career-first to see more than RM40 million cash kept at home.

Another involved former Political Secretary to Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop but the amount pales in comparison.

The Star here reported the seizure include RM53.7 mil (RM45 mil from director's home and RM7.5 mil from deputy's), 127 land titles, luxury cars, watches, handbags, and jeweleries. Also being pursued are funds stashed abroad.

A friend first impression of the news, "This is surely a political slush fund. It is must be someone with a penchant for luxury and glamorous woman."

Why Shafie and PPBM implicate Anifah Aman? (Part 1)

President, Tan Sri Muhyiddin did the right move to appoint his people to important positions in PPBM; namely Dr Shahruddin Md Salleh, his former political secretary as Secretary General and former Maybank GM, Johorean Dato Salleh Bajuri as Treasurer.

Was telling a friend involved in PPBM few days ago that Tun Dr Mahathir could be the raft for Muhyiddin people to float on but his people are short in many departments.

That is what you get for atracting langau from among golongan kecewa. When he was PM, Mahathir had good people around him but his current set are of low calibre.

Their political narrative are poor on facts, shallow propaganda, and pure wayang. Imagine, public image of PPBM are Khairuddin and Anina

The latest effort to implicate Dato Anifah Aman into the Sabah Water scandal is another fine example.

It was started by a pro-Shafie Apdal blog and the mastermind behind this attempt was exposed by another Sabah blog, Anti Fitnah Sabah as Shafie's Strategic Communication Director, Ismail Bungsy.  

Crossing the line

It is interesting that Rocky Bru here believed Bigdog had "crossed the line". A chance encounter Friday night will highlight further what it means.

Last Sunday, Bigdog had called upon Mukhriz to take a leave from his position as ANSARA President. [Read The Star here.] Too long for Mukhriz to not do much after coming out victorious from a leadership challenge many years ago.

MyKMU posting here justified the inconsistency in Mukhriz's suggestion to limit PM tenure but reluctant to give room for younger blood after more than 22 years. Though Secretary General gave a statement but Mukhriz speech had "crossed the line". 

Helen Ang here did touched on the visible reasons why Mahathir "crossed the line" to justify Mahathir loyalist bloggers for leaving the man. There is more than only the two. Many do not trust  the real motive of Mahathir's current fight.

Right "mindset" for leadership and nation building

The above picture reminded us of last Monday's political debate between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton.

Trump campaign was negative and filled with salesman-styled propaganda and psyops. While, Hillary had relatively more substance and more right side mindset.

After all, the American media agreed she is the most ready candidate for the job of an American President.

Whether we agree to both or either one or neither, Trump had ideas only and no plans, but Hillary had ideas, strategy and plan laid out for scrutiny.

And some will agree and some will disagree, but it is obvious Trump versus Hillary has resemblance to Mahathir versus Najib, respectively.

Not that it matters for Hillary to win. Since Malaysians generally want Hillary to win, it is strange that some want Trump to win in Malaysia.