"Noose" tightening around Guan Eng's neck

On a recent weekend trip to Penang, we got invited for seafood dinner at Pantai Acheh, near Nibung Tebal, Penang.

He was the same Chinese businessman that gave us the family background of Jho Low and the information he borrowed money from his father's friends to impress people of positions, influence, and celebrities to develop his business interest.

This time around the conversation was about former Chief Minister of Penang and now Minister of Finance. He knew us as a blogger from KL. Dare not tell we are Johorean, and more so, same hometown as Lim Guan Eng's, Batu Pahat.

The last thing we should do is to tell that,  turn him into a fire breathing dragon, and ruin dinner. Johorean are proud and friendly people, but Guan Eng and his Johorean Chinese cronies gave Johoreans a bad name in Penang.

It was a wonderful dinner, but the outcome of the conversation should be worrying for the Batu Pahat-an, who made Penang his home base and bought a bungalow at Jalan Pinhorn albeit with no swimming pool.

Mahathir's manouver for Najib not to attend coronation

Daulat Tuanku!

Despite hue and cry over resistance by a Chinese printing company to give workers off day, all plans for the official installation of the new Seri Paduka Baginda Yang DiPertuan Agong went according to schedule and ran smoothly.

All the seatings were in place last night according to Tuanku Abdullah wishes to be done in accordance with gazetted protocol.

The front row should be meant for Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir and wife, seated next is the Deputy Prime Minister and husband, Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim and followed by former Prime Minister Dato Seri Najib and wife, Datin Seri Rosmah.

Sources claimed there was a bit of commotion when a member of the royal family checked at night to find someone pulled a fast one to place Najib's seat in the back row.

Anwar's blur and will repeat past mistakes

... Anwar was speaking about nation-building and gave an academic approach to the issue including stressing that all races must live as one happy family.‬ Anwar did not however explain how that can be done. - Raja Petra

The Star headlined Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim's talk at Parliament as his plan to "accelerate need based policy".

The reports by NST and Malaysiakini headlined as need based NEP and affirmative action to address inequality. CNA was more direct to mention moving away from policies favouring Bumiputera.

The policy discourse in Malaysia had always been need based versus NEP or affirmative action. Unless the term need based affirmative action exist, Anwar seemed clueless and trying to please all.

Anwar is at the same juncture he was 13 years ago, when he was at a lost. He may repeat to take the same mistaken path and suffer disappointment.

FRIDAY REFLECTION: Defending syariah court means preserving spirituality for all Malaysians

"...the Bible tells us that we're created in the image of God. And instead of believing that, we've decided to create God in our image. So now we can all make up our own god. Since there isn't any real God, we make up our own god. And so, our gods are the gods we feel comfortable with." - Dr David Paul Jeremiah

The link to the above video was sent by a Catholic friend.

The opening part of video at 2:35 mentioned people stopped believing God created us and now they are their own god.

It strikes the right chord against those with preferential version of God as only compassionate, but ignore tenet of Islam on belief in the hereafter, and existence of heaven and hell. Some liberal Islam blogger believe we die as any plant and animal to be reduced to compose heap..

It maybe inappropriate to some Muslims to use a Pastor's lecture to justify the cause of religion over secularism. More so, on a Friday.

However, though Senior Pastor Dr David Paul Jeremiah is promoting his evangelical cause and few Christian doctrines such as original sin are not concurrent with Islam, there is universality in the message he brought.

It is not about looking at differences but a common message.

"Surat layang" on Telenor-Axiata merger (Part 2)

In case blog readers forgot, Part 1 can be found HERE dated July 2.

Since then, there was a blog called Selamatkan Celcom. It is remenisance of the days of insider blogs like Sime Darby Insider and another on Islandar Johor.

The allegations on Sime Darby had some truth and eventually, it came out in the open when Sime reported a collossol loss in the billions and heads roll. Same with Iskandar, the exposed executives eventually removed and even charged in court leading to a new management team.

A reminder to Telekom and Axiata. The management are under fire and implosion from within is the most dangerous. It may not be completely true but denial or force may not be sufficient to silence the attack.

Another episode of the surat layang reached yours truly. It is a follow up on the earlier surat layang.

Can drones uplift Azmin's political career?

Ah huh, my turn to snoop on him and his guavas

The boo Dato Seri Azmin Ali got from selected settlers attending Settlers Day at Felda Selancar 3, Rompin was not the first.

It is not a one-off dissatisfaction, but is already a widespread opposition against the Felda settlers' land amalgation plan.

With the open quarrel and exposure made between and his rival, Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim, it needs a miracle for Azmin to recover politically.

Azmin mentioned at the thanksgiving gathering sunday of his expressed wish to help his alif ba ta (abbreviation for religion, race and nation).

It is not for certain, but he may have a fighting chance to recover through the support of the rural farming community.

Mahathir's moral suicide to defend Azmin

Tun Dr Mahathir should have gone let it be by speaking words of wisdom, but he had to be there in the hour of darkness for Dato Seri Azmin Ali and police chief, Dato Hamid Bador.

For though they may be parted, there is still a chance that they will see. It could have been the answer to have Mahathir standing right in front of me, but he should have let it be.

Mahathir's blog posting today was intended to relieve pressure off Hamid for his original but unidentified position. More so, his subsequent comments on time wasting and distrustful civil servants are seen as self defeating.

But, Mahathir's intention to defend Azmin is too glaring that it is suicidal.

Anwar has no number, but does Mahathir have?

Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim has a bad habit of being over confident.

He is a goal poacher like the legendary Gerd Nuller, Eric Van Nistelroy and many others. But, he is no Mark Hughes or Brian Robson or other scoring midfielder who could carry the ball for the last 10 yards to score.

This blog did wrote he was ready to bring his more than 112 signed SDs of support to the Agong and doubted Tun Dr Mahathir had 126 SDs.

However, it is not expected of him to lose the ball in the last 10 yards or wrongly counted 50 fake SDs on the way to istana.

Maybe it was expected. But did he?

SUNDAY MUSING: Facial recognition, Sophia and Drone Technology

For the past few days, the media social been thriving on the latest of the never ending political saga of Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim's aspiration to be the 8th Prime Minister.

He seemed to be moving for the kill to destroy the next possible competitor in his way. The video of Dato Seri Azmin Ali allegedly having gay sex in a hotel in Sandakan had him in a corner.

The latest development made Anwar pulled the brakes. His boys are still giving excuse he has the numbers and its only giving Tun Dr Mahathir breathing space.

The political saga will not end and it is not impossible there is nothing to it all, but mere diversion to a big robbery in the making.

AG gave wrong opinion to save Guan Eng for "rompak GST" remark

That was the commotion yesterday when Dewan Rakyat Speaker, Dato Mohd Ariff bin Mohd Yusof made a decision to not send Minister of Finance, Lim Guan Eng to the Select Committee for disciplinary action.

Pasir Salak MP, Dato Tajuddin Abdul Rahman was reprimanded for calling Deputy Speaker "pondan" and remarks against a Minister in Parliament.

Guan Eng's "rompak" statement, not only was in contravention of Parliamentary code of conduct, but had a far more reaching impact on the economy and country.

The PAC, with the majority members from PH, concluded in their report that the RM19.4 billion of GST refund is not missing.

Nazri-Najib spat: Freedom of speech and Freedom in politics

Sure, freedom of speech, but are we ready and able to tolerate, if not accept, statement to refer to the President as Hitler or in our case, on the Prime Minister or one's Party President?

The initial impression of Dato Nazri's opposition to the appointment of Dato Najib as BN's official Adviser was him containing any criticism against Dato Zahid's decision and his good friend from Pemuda days, Dato Najib.

It made Khairy's opposition limited to his "I am not comfortable where I am" quote. When Nazri speak, others move aside. None could match Nazri in being frank thus will not get their desired media coverage.

However, this may not be the Nazri that is loyal to the President and known in the past for his role as designated barking dog. This is a macho Nazri speaking on his personal capacity and known in limited circle as not having tolerance of man under queen control or weak leadership. He has more than a wife and even his latest addition has controversy of her own, but he is very much in control. 

Nazri's spat against Najib's appointment is a common example of Malaysians attitude towards freedom of speech.

Felda land amalamation is suspiciously a mega land grab

The government may want to engage directly with the settlers to get their support — convince them that the merger exercise would, in the long run, benefit them. They have nothing to lose. - Salleh Buang

The Sunday Times yesterday published an article by their columnist on legal matter, Salleh Buang entitled Merging Felda plots the key.

There was hardly any arguments to convince the public that amalgamation of smallholders land to be managed but that became the title.

In fact, the above quote was the key takeaway of Salleh's article. He was dwelling on the legal ownership of settlers' over the land and hardly expressed his agreement.

One can assume that Dato Abdul Kadir Jasin loyalist and NST acting CEO, Mustapha Kamil Mohd Janor has started the public relation exercise for Felda amalgamation after the disastrous launch on Hari Peneroka past week.

Mukhriz, Muhyiddin in Mahathir, Anwar proxy war

The interviews of Dato Mukhriz with Nikkei Asia Review and Dato Husam Musa with Sinar Harian opened a new front for the silent war between Tun Dr Mahathir vs Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim for the coveted position of the Prime Minister of Malaysia.

Dato Seri Azmin's ambition could be considered to have found a conclusive ending.

It could be the ploy of Anwar's camp to take the succession narrative from himself to the choice of the next Deputy Prime Minister.

Rezeki oleh Hamka

Hamka berkata ...

Rezeki tu bukan bermakna kamu dapat apa kamu nak. Tapi bila kamu terima apa yang Tuhan anugerahkan.

Kamu belajar tentang sirah. Tahu Mariam tak berkahwin tapi dapat anak. Itulah rezeki dia.

Kamu tengok pula sirah Aishah. Kahwin tapi tak dapat anak. Itu pun rezeki dia.

Allah hantar Musa kerumah Firaun sebagai anak angkat untuk membawanya ke syurga. Tetapi tetap juga Firaun menjadi manusia paling celaka yang memilih neraka.

Happy Birthday Tun, but spare her soul

It's Tun Dr Mahathir's 94th birthday today. Believe in 2 days, it will be Tun Siti Hasmah's.

Do not know exactly cause have not being invited for any of their birthday bash for few years. Not sore cause it is a conscious decision.

Till today, our position have not been proven wrong in any fair and untampered court of law. While, the court of public opinion is increasingly becoming agreeable to what we view of them.

As told to a friend of more than 40 years, we had the foresight to anticipate the present disaster for the wrongful decision the majority had made.

Nevertheless, at such a very late age and still holding on to the highest executive position, it is a feat no mortals other than Mahathir could have thrived.

Certainly he must for the gruelling task in hand to clean up the mess of his own doing.

Move to remove Muhyiddin from PPBM

Quite sure, the public must be puzzled with the move by Tun Dr Mahathir to call for Malay unity and called upon all Malay parties to join PPBM.

Many Malays including among the intelligentsia Melayu failed to realise that Malay unity is a myth that is not achievable. It is political cliche seldom used by Mahathir to draw support. In the practical sense, majority of Malay is united under UMNO-PAS cooperation. Mahathir is just drawing on straws in desperation.

Yesterday after the PH Presidential Council meeting, Mahathir said not to form new Malay parties but join existing ones. Why is he focused on Dato Ibrahim Ali's Putra and Dato Ezam Md Noor's Negara?

He went on further to say PH cannot accept new component parties. UMNO and PAS members can join PPBM or Amanah, instead. Is he kidding to wish PAS would join PAN?

It does not make sense.

Can Mahathir possibly have 126 MPs with Felda settlers leaving as he delivers his speech?

Vehicles were going in and out of Mahathir's home till 3 AM

Saturday night's posting claiming Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim got the numbers and could request an audience with the Seri Paduka Baginda Yang DiPertuan Agong caught the attention of social media and blogosphere for a usually quiet weekend.

It had Malaysia Today, Third Force, Malaysia Chronicle and PH blogs reposted the article. The hits was in the 5 figures. In times blogs are not attracting as much readers as FB or other social media platforms, so the claim, it is not bad.

It certainly gave Anwar supporters a hard-on. That should worry both females and males.

However, the bigger worry was the posting could hardened the arteries of Tun Dr Mahathir. The old man had long resigned to the fact that his time should have come during his second heart surgery at IJN. It is his rich children, proxies and cronies that are now worried.

Sources close to a security personnel were saying vehicles were coming in and out of Mahathir's home in Seri Kembangan, near Palace of the Golden Horses till the wee hours of 3 AM last night.

Anwar ready to meet Agong with enough MP support

Anwar met the Agong in May 2018, then Acting Sultan of Pahang  

UMNO Veteran Club Secretary General, Datuk Mustapha Yaakub posted in his Facebook yesterday evening. He heard Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim is short by 4 seats and sufficient to pressure Tun Dr Mahathir to resign in the current Parliamentary session.

In another posting, he wrote without referring to anyone, though he hated a person for destroying the Malays, he wish he die in Iman and Allah forgive his sins.

This morning a source close to Dato Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi confidently claim he is short by 3 seats. When asked if Zahid signed any Statutory Declaration to support as claimed by most political columnist, he gave an emphatic, NO!

Except perhaps Dato Nazri Aziz, he affirmed UMNO is neither supporting Anwar nor Mahathir and will remain steadfast with the opposition coalition of BN and ummah unity with PAS. 

This evening an important source of information claimed Anwar has the number and is ready to meet the Seri Paduka Baginda Yang DiPertuan Agong with the Statutory Declarations of MPs already signed.

When asked in jest will it be on September 16th, the source said this is for real. It is only a matter of when he will seek the audience with Agong?

So everyone read Zahid wrongly?

Lowering voting age, MP asset declaration, and IPCMC

Rummaging through the unread yesterday's The Star newspaper this morning, three news item on the current Parliament seating caught our attention - tabling to lower voting age bill, MP asset declaration motion, and draft bill for IPCMC in final stages.

Despite claim it is infested by DAP inflitrators, The Star remain a BN-owned newspaper.

There was a cross deal in the market on Media Prima and it turned out UMNO sold their minority stake to Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar. It is a confusing situation. Is SM is still with Tun Dr Mahathir as his NGO office at Yayasan Bokhari is still in operation and seldom used for press conference? Or he still maintain relation with UMNO?

Media Prima is controlled by a fund managed by Morgan Stanley. It is speculated the fund is Tun Daim's.

Back to the subject in hand ...

Tun Dr Mahathir met "Tun" Lim Kit Siang for 45 minutes

The above picture was viralled by Raja Petra and reached one Whass App (WA) group.

For the benefit of the Malaysian cabinet, it is a social media platform, where a group of people could share with each other information in the form of text, image, video and url links.

It is useful for discussion with and getting feedback from other cabinet members before making any surprise and stupid statements to media or on social media that is in conflict with the policies of government and PH manifesto.

If Tun Dr Mahathir kept viraling pictures of his meetings with Lim Kit Siang and reach WA Groups, it means the path of the nation is determined by them too.

Kit Siang should also be made Adviser to the Government or Senior Minister together with Mahathir to legitimise for them veto powers for life and they could dictate and direct the nation without the need to be in Parliament or Cabinet.

He already is not a Minister in cabinet.

"Surat layang" on Telenor-Axiata merger

Khazanah Nasional is likely to convene its Board meeting today or anytime soon.

Three new members, including a Professor from China and a Malaysian involved in establishing China's US$500 billion Tencent will be introduced. Its the company Wee Choo Keong used to shoot Dato Siew Ka Wei with corruption allegation but no charges by MACC yet.

Nevertheless, it is making sense of the China link buy that pushed prices of Khazanah related counters last month or two.

There is a long list of decisions allegedly accused as "jual negara" deals to be made. One particular deal is Tan Sri Jamaluddin Ibrahim's wet dream for Axiata-Telenor merger.

Politically speaking: The return of Zahid and Mat Hasan

The rumour of Dato Ahmad Zahid Hamidi returning from gardening leave to resume the UMNO Presidency have been going around for few months.

It was long anticipated that there was sufficient time for politician-led MACC to slap him with additional 33 more charges related to alleged corruption involving RM42.76 million from Ultra Kirana Sdn Bhd in relation to the Overseas Visa System and One Stop Centre in China.

When he was charged last week, a friend texted to comment Zahid is gone. But when he made the long expected surprise yesterday, the impulsive comment from most non-politician observers is to question UMNO for accepting a tarnished Zahid back.

Is Zahid gone or back?