As the world panic over 2019-nCov, Economic Minister could "horse" around

It is the in the same vein as Tun Dr Mahathir's earlier in-denial statement of the Wuhan Coronavirus virus epidemic to allow tourist from China in.

Economic Minister, Datok Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali was equally in-denial yesterday to say the economic implication is too early to tell.

There was also the reaction of Tourism Minister, Dato Mohamaddin Katapi to directive by Putrajaya mosque to disallow non-Muslim tourist visit.

MUSICAL INTERLUDE: Morning Sprite by Chick Corea

Sprite is commonly associated with a refreshing soft drink brand. However, its actual meaning is elf or fairy. So, the title of this Chick Corea Akoustic Band jazz number is about morning fairy.

It was the song played on the headphone for this morning's 20 minute walk. The years have passed and the beginning of Chinese zodiac year of the rat is as good a time for rat-born to restart exercise routine.

Today is the third day in a row and still purely stretching exercises. Physically, it is fairly relieving and has a somewhat refreshing feel. However, its still far from a painfree life.

The morning fairy actually came from within to finally say enough with the pain and just do it.

Greeting the rainstorm of the White Metal Rat

Wishing Happy New Year to all my Chinese friends.

At the moment, they must be busy preparing for their family gathering dinner this evening to celebrate the coming of the year of the white metal rat.

Taken from the website, www.chinesefortunecalender.com, the Chinese believe that the year would be as follows:

According to the Chinese Horoscope theory, Male Metal is connected to the steel, weapon or strong wind. Rat contains Female Water, which is connected to rain, dew, placid water, lake or ocean.

2020 Male Metal Rat is a ship in the ocean against the strong wind. Male Metal and Rat together is a sign of rainstorm.

The media have been reporting or more precisely, stirring up deteriorating race relation albeit between Malay and Chinese in Malaysia.

When Sitham use afterthought as argument, its a lost cause

A renown lawyer whispered, "When prosecution is left to use afterthought as argument, it is indicative they are dumbfounded without any arguments to resist any application filed".

That was exactly the argument out-sourced and hired DPP for SRC case, Dato V Sithambaram used on Monday, 20 Jan 2020 to oppose Dato Najib's application to have a handwriting expert analyse the signature in the various documents, used as evidence.

Couldn't understand why Sitham tried hard to resist a request already made by defense at the time prosecution was presenting their case. There was endless streams of doubts raised by defense during cross examination.

Today, court decided to allowed for the documents to be analysed by the Australian experts brought by defense.

Justice Dato Nazlan Ghazlan claimed he allowed it for the sake of justice [read FMT here].

What coercion to amend an allowable unfinalised audit report?

The trial on the alleged tampering of 1MDB audit report resumed this week.

If one follows the mainstream media headlines and perhaps, content of the court coverage, one gets the impression that all the civil servants appearing as witness ganged up to blame Dato Najib.

There is a similar line to say he forced them to change the draft audit report because he was unhappy with certain mentioned opinion.

However, the  acknowledgement of one former, Director for National Audit Department (NAD), Saadatul Napisah Bashir Ahmad that the report is a draft and could be amended should throw the case out.

Despite any issue with the subsequent events, the power and discretion remained with the Auditor General, Tan Sri Ambrin Buang. He agreed to amend.

Kimanis by-election: Anifah vs Shafie, PSS vs RM

The syariah lawyer and BN candidate, Dato Mohamed Alamain must have been annoyed with the perception going around that his candidacy is of no significance.

In response he said he is not new in politics, came up from the grassroot, and mentioned grassroot is still with BN despite the previous MP left BN.

It is rather insensitive of him to utter such words because Dato Anifah Aman is helping his campaign. But, it is all water under the bridge. Small matter that could be resolved. The issue of Pas Sementara Sabah (PSS) is more than some young politician's mistake.

Apparently, Warisan candidate and former UMNO assemblyman, Dato Karim Bujang made the claim Anifah is nothing and not to be worried over. Karim said he is longer in politics than Anifah.

Sabah Chief Minister, Dato Shafie Apdal too said he is unafraid of Anifah.

Never challenge Anifah. It inspires him.

MACC's Watergate scandal

Datin Seri Rosmah is supposed to appear in court this morning, but was postphoned to 3 PM today.

MACC held a press conference, in which the trailer released yesterday mentioned of explosive audio revelation. True to the suspicion, the audio implicated Rosmah and the court collaborated to conveniently postphone her court appearance.

In the press conference, MACC Chief Commissioner, Latheefa Koya revealed publicly 9 sets of audio clipping of telephone conversations.

It involved former Prime Minister, Dato Najib Tun Razak, former MACC Chief Commissioner, Tan Sri Dzulkifli Ahmad, head of state of UAE, Dato Azeez Raheem, Rosmah and few others [see here].

Gloomy Malaysia: No peace and joy for 2020

With the government on a senseless spree of national asset sales, endless foreign borrowings and yet debt kept raising, larger budget passed in Parliament with revenue uncertain, and cutbacks made at will without pondering of larger impact on the economy, growth and peoples' welfare, indications were already bad for quite sometime.

Global economy began to expect a looming recessionary trend. Its obvious PH government does not seemed to know what to do, pressed the panic button, and kept politicising it by blaming 1MDB, Najib's policies, and BN 60 years failure, claimed just former-ed MOE Maszlee Malek.

Economic confidence were slipping in April 2019 and PH were slipping in youth support. By May 2019, Malaysia only realised global funds by-passed the country. More troubles ahead.

If not for the political drama of power transition diverting public attention from the impending economic hardship like what Hindustanis 2 hour movies used to be for the Indian masses, Malaysians would have panicked in 2018.

The latest survey from Merdeka Centre, if they can be trusted and its truly an independent survey not to please the paymaster, Malaysians have began to realise.

Maszlee sacked for Mahathir to re-outsmart Zahid

In the posting, "Rejoining UMNO means Zahid outsmarted Mahathir", the blog Permadu Malaysia predicted Tun Dr Mahathir to rejoin UMNO to deny Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim from being #PM8.

It will enable him to stay on till APEC 2020 or the problems of the country resolved as he piled up more problems. Physically, it is not logical for him to stay on any longer. He is staying on till it is feasible to pass over power to someone he trust.

Expectedly many are unconvinced Dato Ahmad Zahid Hamidi outsmarted Mahathir, but rejoining UMNO means he unwittingly submitted to Zahid's wish. That could put Zahid in trouble since one plan of Mahathir upon returning from Okinawa, Japan is to see Dato Najib and Zahid in.

The existing cases of Najib does not indicate he will be send to the slammer in the near future of January and February before March parliament seating and May 2020, the month PH Council fixed as the date Mahathir to relinquish his position.

The  judicial application to the Federal Court to reopen investigation on the murder of Altantuya is not due till March. Even if Najib can be fixed up on trumped up claims, it is not so soon.