Can the elasticity for chicken supply and demand be modified?

Taken from Tik Tok 

According to the economic definition: 

"The price elasticity of demand is the percentage change in the quantity demanded of a good or service divided by the percentage change in the price. The price elasticity of supply is the percentage change in quantity supplied divided by the percentage change in price."

Economic Minister, Rafizi Ramli denied asking people to stop buying chicken but diverting the subject to the elasticity of supply and demand for chicken is the same thing. 

Rubber chickens are elastic but not the live ones. Basic food items are usually inelastic. The supply and demand is not sensitive to prices to a certain extent. 

The days yours truly was growing up, fish was the cheapest and most easily available source of protein. Chicken was considered a luxury consumed during kenduri, weddings and Hari Raya festivities. 

It has since replaced fish.

(Whoever wins) it will not be easy

Nungsari Radhi / The Edge Malaysia

November 21, 2022 11:30 am +08

When this essay is published, it would be the eve of voting day for the 15th general election. While we are uncertain at this point as to who the winners will be, one thing is for sure: governing Malaysia in the coming five years will not be easy. How the government performs will be crucial in determining whether we continue on this gradual downward slide or make the turn for the better.

A crisis, any crisis, is part of a journey, whether for an individual or a nation. That is quite normal. It is how we handle a crisis that is crucial in determining whether the path onwards is better or worse. Whether we are made better or worse by the crisis. 

That experience has been somewhat worrying for the Malaysian economy. We have recovered from economic crises before, but lost some vigour afterwards. This was quite clear after the 1997/98 Asian financial crisis where growth rates since then have never come up to where they were before the crisis. It was as if the wind was taken out of our sails.

Thanks Fahmi for lifting ban

The World Cup is over. The vote of confidence for new government was formally passed uninamously passed yesterday. And this blog is long overdue for an update. 

Despite being blocked by MCMC since May over a posting already taken down, it is still updated for readers abroad and with Internet able to by-pass the block. Usually it would be updating the mirror blog, Thick as a Brick than replicated on this blog.  

To this blogger's surprise, the blog could be easily read by the public at this Starbuck cafe. If so, thank you Fahmi Fadzil for lifting the 7-month ban.  

Balancing for a Government

There is a lot to write on the 15th general election (GE15) but nothing was extraordinary worthy to write of. Its the same ole same ole. 

Coincidently, Dr Nungsari told BFM radio yesterday that all parties were offering goodies than mentioning the elephant in the room of an impending recession and tight fiscal situation. A similar view expressed in the earlier posting. 

The resolution to the no clear majority by any political block is interesting. Despite its disappointing showing, BN could not sit out of government to be opposition and was dragged in to the role of kingmaker. 

Without their 30 seats, no side has the majority to form a government. Its in a bargaining position that PH is willing to have UMNO lead the coalition government in the states of Perak and Pahang. How will Agong resolve it for the federal government?

GE15 campaign lacking depth that Zahid be made into an issue

PKR have been campaigning that it is Anwar’s turn to be Prime Minister (PM). They have been peddling his once dubbed the best Finance Minister.  Yet creating the fear that a vote for BN is vote for Zahid as PM.  

  

So shallow is the narrative of the campaign that it imply Barisan Nasional (BN) Vice President, Dato Seri Ismail Sabri’s leadership has put the nation in the right track in addressing the post-pandemic economic crisis worsened by the war in Europe. 

BN should be given a new mandate to continue the effort with a full-fledge team of more experienced and competent Ministers from BN and their former coalition members. The Perikatan Nasional (PN) misfits have proven to be inadequate, incompetent, and just filling up the number, thus rightfuly replaced. 

Surely Tan Sri Muhyiddin would disagree as he uttered the word “gagal” (fail) towards Ismail. The political animal Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim would naturally concur. And, so would Tun Dr Mahathir despite his party or coalition is brushed off by all as insignificant. 

Why then is the obsession by all parties in their GE15 campaign to deviate from the real concern besieging this nation for a concerted effort to slander UMNO President, Dato Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi?   

PH's shifting cultivation strategy

This evening BN will be announcing their much awaited candidate list. 

It is known that BN is on a rejuvenation mode to put up 70% new and young faces, the proven formula for their success at the Melaka and Johor by-election.  

Few renown veterans have been dropped. The surprised, unhappy reactions and opposition is only expected. Usually it will last for few days before campaign resume as usual. 

The strategy behind the candidate list for DAP, Amanah and particularly PKR is most interesting. 

It is a massive make or break exercise to emulate Lim Kit Siang's proven, for lack of a better term, "shifting cultivation" strategy. 

Seremban to Ipoh: Coming out of the block

The break taken since August is long enough. It's time to come out of the block and start churning for the General Election. 

It is not for lack of material to write or the absence of angle to approach the subject. There have been several attempts but lacked the motivation to get over the part writer's block and part exhaustion. 

Taking a writing break was needed for the mind to rest and re-energise. It was the Saturday class of '73 to '77 reunion in Seremban for a trip down the memory lane of adolescence that revive the youthful enthusiasm in us. 

Too bad there was an important meeting the next morning to be followed by an important trip to Ipoh. We would have stayed through the weekend. 

Nevertheless it was sufficient to get us back in the mood again.     

Of broken chain of evidence and judicial process in doubt

The prosecution witness for Najib's first day court appearance for the 1MDB-Tanore case since started his sentence on Wednesday was Siti Zauyah Mohd Desa, the Deputy Secretary-General. 

She admitted not knowing the accuracy and authenticity of her statement as it was prepared. Its typical heresay rampantly used as evidence by the prosecution in the SRC case and believed it was used by Nazlan in his judgement together with his presumptions like no thank you note. Commonly allowed to be  heard in court are claims as such as "I assumed the order was from Najib", "XXX told me that Najib said this", etc.

Ironically, the Federal Court accepted the argument new evidence to be forwarded by Najib as heresay or after thought without flicking their ear flab to give a listen.

There is a mountain of doubts of minute details. For one, why is only Najib is being charged when tthose clearly revealed to be implicated are not charged or even protected by the Federal Court.

That is the optic seen by the non-prejudicial and off course, the pro-Najib side. The judicial discrepancy is too apparent to any casual observer that a social media commentator described as Constitutional crisis.

Travesty of Justice: First time in history

Lim Sian See

22 Ogos jam 9:26 PG

Twelve incredible "first time in history" events in the SRC trial.

1. First time ever in history of Malaysia that a former PM is charged for corruption.

This is not surprising as this is the core campaign platform of PH to win power in GE14. For good measure, Najib was charged by the PH and PN governments with 5 separate criminal corruption cases (SRC 1, SRC 2, 1MDB-Tanore, 1MDB-IPIC, 1MDB audit) and also 5 separate civil cases (forfeiture of RM114m, forfeiture of goods, RM1.7b tax claim/bankruptcy, SRC civil damages claim of RM5.8 billion and 1MDB civil damages claim of RM35.8 billion).

In fact, given the 9 other cases that are running concurrently and to allow for multiple delays in two years of Covid, the very complicated SRC trial has actually moved very fast - much faster than Anwar's much simpler Sodomy II trial which took 6 years.

Romen Bose on SRC Federal Court appeal

The weekend before the Federal Court final appeal began, Romen Bose; the former AFP reporter, former PMO and writer of the book Final Reckoning, he posted a status on his Facebook entitled: "Is this really justice?" 

Last night, he updated with "The Silence is Defeaning."

For many years, he saw from inside the Prime Minister's Office the events, including the deceipts and betrayals, leading to the fall of the BN government in his book.

We are now witnessing the long anticipated endgame to imprison Najib Tun Razak, which would indirectly shame and the great legacy of his father Tun Abdul Razak bin Dato Hussein.

Al Fatihah. May Allah guide us all back to the straight and rightful path.

Najib imprisonment the edge Mahathir need to win GE - Indian portal

Depriving Najib Razak of fair trial may have ramifications for Malaysia 

With the general elections imminent, Mahathir Mohamad and his compatriots firmly believe that Najib’s incarceration would give them the political edge that they desperately need 

Anand Murgun, Firstpost  

August 20, 2022 19:46:42 IST 

For nine years prior to this watershed moment, Malaysia, under the administration of Najib Razak, witnessed some of the most progressive reforms since independence. The abolishment of the draconian Internal Security Act was at the forefront of these reforms. Malaysia further restructured it fiscal base by introducing the GST. The nation experienced steady, uninterrupted GDP growth and witnessed the longest bull-run in its stock exchange driven by strong foreign direct investments (FDI) and domestic direct investments (DDI).

Privasia's fishy Hospital Information System contract

Launch of IJN's hospital information system 

Actually, the fishy happening at Ministry of Health (MOH) does not involve only the Hospital Information System (HIS). 

There were too many fishy happenings since PH tookover. They bull over plan to introduce health reform but none took off except changing vendors from Bumiputera with pro-PH non-Bumiputera. 

Fast forward, then the fishy vaccine supply. The procurement became subject of speculation due the non-disclosure clause in the supply agreement. Maybe not so and its more logical to suspect the supply chain put together by Zaki Zahid. Its the one public was not scrutinising. 

Then came MySejahtera. The speculated cost of RM388 million claimed as too pricey and long term maintainance run into billion. There is the worry that rampant private data leakages could happen and confidential data commercialised. Shareholding of companies involved suspected to be linked to Khairy and Muhyiddin.

The recent generational endgame (GEG) policy on cigarette hit a snag and passing of the law postphoned. It was uncovered circulating on social media that the hurry to pass was to rush the App development to Khairy's circle of friends. 

The latest fishy happening involved Privasia and the HIS.

What happened to the great Civil Service?

On June 14th, Tun Arshad Ayub passed away. Yours truly was able to attend and participate in the jenazah prayers ritual to bid farewell to this great man.

The Star reported it as the passing of an education icon. While NST honoured him as a revered educationist. Looking at his resume at ITM (later upgraded to UiTM), UM, Inti College and likely other educational institutions, he more than deserve such accolades. 

Arshad's tenure as ITM's first Director (1965- 75) was short. Despite being strict and unorthodox in his approach, students endeared themselves to him and appreciated his intention. They protested when he was transferred out by then Education Minister, Dr Mahathir to Bank Negara following the Baling protest of 1974. It was intended to curb student activism and pave the way for the introduction of AUKU. 

Arshad was a member of the Malaysian Civil Service (MCS). He had a poor start in his first initial attempt for university education. Despite not academically up to the mark by the standard of universities today - not hold a doctoral degree, the administrator left an indelible mark on the life of students and the educational institutions he served. 

Civil servant such as Arshad implimented the task laid upon them despite the insurmountable limitations at the time. On a smaller scale, the first Principal of the expansive 50-year old MRSM system, Dato Dr Jamaluddin Abdul Hamid is no lesser but another version of Arshad. 

LCS: Navy vs Navy? Politician vs Politician?

"What matter is the the country loses. The navy, ATM loses. Today we're sending our young sailors facing potential adversary at sea - who are just waiting for orders from their government to push the button; naked and defenseless."

This is a quote from one Navy officer. His concern is genuine and agreeable. We emphatise.

Who then to blame?  

Nazlan and Azimah as last beacon of hope?

N Shanmugam must be kidding. 

The Edge contributing editor wrote a piece in this week's edition entitled: "Alternative view: The judiciary is our last beacon of hope". High Court Judges, Dato Azimah Omar and (now Court of Appeal), Dato Nazlan Ghazali highlighted as exemplaries.

This morning a politician forwarded the link to yours truly. Seeing the faces, it is obvious he is not quite up-to-date on the development in the court. And, it reflects badly on his intellectual ability to understand happenings beyond the convenient political headlines and simplistic soundbytes. 

Alas, he will be returning into Tun Dr Mahathir's fold thus compromising himself in his late age to be willing complicit to corruption, abuse of power and inhuman cruelty (zulm). May Allah save his soul from the sin of destruction for succumbing to political expediency. 

The hand behind the Judges this politician seemed proud of is destroying the Malaysian legal system with India-adopted basic structure doctrine, which is a manipulation of the law for personal agenda and against his raison d'etre.

[Paste the link https://anotherbrickinwall.blogspot.com/2022/05/foresaking-malaysia-for-indian.html on the proxy site here].  

The Judges highlighted are conflicted and conduct ethically questionable. The judiciary Shanmugam put his hope have been a basket case for decades.

SRC case: Justice hurried is justice buried

That is the title to an article by G Mahendran, a Bar Council legal practitioner in The Sun in 2009 as taken from Bar Council website here.  

Dato Najib's appointed a new legal team on July 25th for his SRC appeal at the Federal Court. MMO reported the next day that Zaid Ibrahim will lead the new team to replace Shafee Abdullah. Another key member is renown criminal lawyer, Hisyam Teh Poh Teik.  

The immediate reaction next day are prejudicial vews accusing the move as delay tactic. Few months ago, someone close to Najib said Najib had no such plan and is sticking to Shafee. 

Najib explained the change was to give a fresh perspective to the case. The interpretation is Shafee and his team may have started on the wrong foot. Cool heads maybe needed to lower the temperature and to focus on the legal court over court of public opinion. 

Zaid Ibrahim was reported by FMT on July 26th to seek postphonement. Hearing date was earlier set for August 15 to 26th. Only fair to allow the new team to prepare for the case. He mentioned seeking for case management date on July 29th. Presumably application was submitted. 

Alas without allowing for the new team to present the request to the court, NST reported on July 29th around 5 PM of Federal Court rejection and was told no adjournment will be allowed. Presumably the letter was issued a day earlier and received by the lawyers next day on July 29th. 

Was the letter suspiciously leaked by some court official to the press? 

Tommy Thomas admit mistake in letter

Tommy Thomas finally came out from silence to explain himself. Several mainstream media and news portal published Tommy's attempt to explan. (See The Edge here)

The opposition led by PKR's Rafizi created a media blitz to blame Dato Najib for stopping payment to the Suluk using weak legitimacy reasons. Prior and after the Lahad Datu incursion, PKR leaders were accused of covertly collaborating and supporting Suluk claim. PH has interest to redirect blame.      

While Najib, in one of his endless FB status on the Suluk issue, highlighted his main blame to the letter issued by Tommy to the Sulu party that ended being repeatedly used 10 times at the Madrid arbitration to justify their claim and ultimately a US$14.92 billion claim on Petronas. 

Shafie Apdal is vociferously demanding a debate in Parliament but as Chief Minister, he was accused by Anifah Aman for sending unprepared state legal officer to Madrid to participate and gave legitimacy to the arbitration. 

Wisma Putra's position had all along ignored any attempt by the Suluk for engagement on any claim on Sabah. They took the Phillipines' official position that the Suluk has no sovereign right and the locus standi to do so.

Talk in Sabah is that Tan Sri Richard Malanjum had a role in advising Shafie.  

Serbadk's Nusantara mystery

This blog was alerted by Nuclearbursaman's posting, "Serba Dinamik: There is more than the eye can see". 

Though aware of the Edge's report 3 days ago of "Creditors vote in favour of Serba Dinamik's scheme of arrangement", too overwhelmed by other prevailing issues and focused on research for articles on food security on rice and BNM's monetary policy reactions to the prevailing economic condition to ponder. 

Cannot helped to be overwhelmed by NBM's comment: 

ITS one thing massaging your accounts to pull the wool over the public eye, but it's a whole new different ball game trying to fool suspicious hard nose bankers the second time around.

Its mysterious enough for "Misteri Nusantara", a Malay TV program once shown on RTM thus worthy of a snapshot comment. 

Sad to have ended this way for Green Packet's CC Puan

From the end of 2020 till early January 2021, this blog ABITW was aggresively campaigning for Khazanah Nasional to sell Silterra to DNex. Initially, the challenge was to get the foreign bidders out of the way. 

Having succeeded, the next challenge was to take on the local competitor as in outsmart CC Puan and Green Packet's aggressive bid. CC Puan was truly a worthy competitor so to speak with their creative packaging of proposal, focused lobbying and public relation exercise. 

Green Packet was aggressively pursued to convince the public (if not the decisionmakers) that DNex was the more genuine, technically and financially sound company for consideration. 

Since then CC Puan have not been on the radar till a friend alerted of a Sabahkini article here on the bankruptcy of CC Puan. He quipped, "Sampai muflis bro kerjakan dia. Haha.. " 

More forward thinking approach to food security

Singapore's CNA reported last week that the first shipment of chicken from Indonesia is due to arrive in August [read here], The Indonesian government is urging their companies to use the entry into Singapore to pursue the export market [read The Star here].  

In another report today, the Indonesian plan to set-up chicken farm on Pulau Bentan for the Singapore market [read here]. The Malaysian government particularly Jihad Inflasi taskfore is still blur.

The Vibe gave a different perspective in handling food shortage; more positive, business friendly, and dynamc approach to food security, Reproduced below:   

Food security crisis: opportunities in adversity - Salahuddin Hisham

Do those in charge have foresight to see and exploit these chances?

Salahuddin Hisham
The Vibe

Updated 8 hours ago · Published on 25 Jul 2022 10:43AM · 0 Comments

THERE is a Chinese saying, “A crisis is an opportunity riding a dangerous wind”. Despite the current bleak outlook of the global economy and food shortage crisis, all is not lost.

Toxic Rafizi doing Mahathir's bidding with Suluk stunt

RAFIZI PROLONGING MAHATHIR'S NAJIB NAJIB NAJIB ... CHANT ON BEHALF OF DAIM 

Rafizi is creating a political illusion because Atoq fear Najib will be acquited due to Nazlan Ghazali debacle and embarassingly faulty judgement of Nazlan and COA. 

The optic surrounding the SRC case too overwhelming. If the put side to ignore the revealed e-mail and leaked MACC IP of Nazlan, judges in Malaysia will be looked upon as pariah. 

A mistrial will invite unprecedented public outcry and scrutiny, and internationally, put into question the integrity of the whole system of law enforcement and justice albeit downgrade Bar Council to level of garbage collecting Town Council.

Is PM holding back UMNO's ROS approval letter?

According to a high position holder in UMNO, July 16th is the deadline given for ROS to make a decision to approve the amendment to the party's constitution and postphone party election after GE15  made at the recent EGM. 

Legally, UMNO has complied with the spirit and words of the party's constitution. The official said UMNO have fully complied with the ROS requirements. 

It is believed a retired ROS official assisted  to checklist the documentations. A staff from PWTC have been going back and forth daily to liaise with ROS and meeting up with their every request. 

Feedback has been positive. Unless the conspiracy circulating in PASleak alleged report turned out true, ROS has approved. Lawyer and former officer to a previous Pahang MB, Shamsuddin Nawawi claimed the same in his FB yesterday morning. According to news portal MalaysiaPost, Ismail Sabri have been notified. 

Sources believed the approval letter was prepared and signed by the authorised ROS official, but awaiting approval from a superior before being handed to UMNO headquarter.

ROS approval

Despite the common believe within UMNO, it is unlikely of Hamzah Zainuddin to intervene and reject. It could perpetually block his option to return to UMNO. More importantly, the seconder of the motion to amend the constitution is no less than the PM himself. 

Rejecting it will put both PM and Putrajaya Camp in a bad light. It will obliterate any chance for Ismail Sabri to secure from infuriated grassroot members' vote should he attempt to run for UMNO Presidency before GE15. Asyraf Wajidi has indirectly pointed this out by his awkward intended statement that PM is above ROS official. 

Utusan Malaysia reported no announcement of the approval from ROS as at Friday July 16th. Pro-Anwar Facebooker, Shahbudin Hussin made the conclusion no letter means it was rejected, no early GE15 and party election soon. 

Former reporter and Muhyiddin supporting Facebooker Azizi Safar have been pre-empting UMNO election will be immediate with justification approval for MCA amendment took effect at subsequent term.   

If the ROS letter did not reach PWTC by Monday morning, UMNO will apply a Mandamus writ to the court, similar to the application made by MUDA to secure their party approval. 

This will certainly put a bad light on ROS to be ordered by the court to do their work. It could be the precedent for more Mandamus application on other pen pushing Government Departments. 

However, the comment from FB and writers known as Ismail Sabri's cybertroopers have been mixed. One preempted with ROS approval as proof of Ismail's loyalty to UMNO. 

Tajuddin stunt no impact

On the other hand, they seemed to chorus Nazri Aziz's campaign for Ismail's Presidency with the tired line of Zahid Hamidi agreed for Anwar to be Prime Ministership. 

Anwar repeated at his PKR party convention that he received UMNO support but churned out a new narrative that he refused to be working with corruption. Rafizi Ramli refused to buy that and explicitly rejected any idea of large canopy. 

Tajuddin Rahman was a signatory and active participant but has distanced himself. His expose proves he failed to understand the ploy of his own initiative. The power to appoint PM lies with Agong. 

And, it is speculated he may have invoke dismay and caused postphonement of his conferment as Ambassador.

Nevertheless, the Tajuddin stunt did not create quite the reaction of UMNO grassroot. 

Memorandum of Agreement 

However the revelation by Raja Petra last week did.

He disclosed the front and back of a written agreement or legally worded as Memorandum of Agreement between Ismail Sabri and Muhyiddin.

A reporter hinted and few other talked about it, but generally, no one knew of it. It surprised all levels of the UMNO echelon

The agreement was prepared by Takiyuddin Hasan but even Haji Hadi Awang and PAS leaders were not aware. It was witnessed by the other members of the Publika gang, namely sacked UMNO Secretary General, Annuar Musa and Hamzah Zainuddin.  

The agreement is in contravention with the declaration made by Ismail to Agong and Dewan Rakyat that the support he received in order to be appointed PM in August last year came with no condition. 

He could be the first PM to be reprimanded by the Parliamentary Select Committee. And his relation with Agong may not be the same from hereon. 

The agreement issue started when PPBM insisted on Zuraidah Kamaruddin, who left PPBM for PB, be removed and her to be replaced with other PPBM leader. Ismail was reluctant to make a decision as it means he could lose his majority in Parliament should Zuraidah withdraw support. 

Subsequently, Muhyiddin pushed the issue to demand PPBM to be appointed DPM as per an agreement. Wan Saiful then revealed Annuar Musa knows of the agreement and a supporter of Annuar posted on his FB as why not as long it is not Azmin. 

It eventually led to the alarming revelation by Raja Petra. Cybertroopers seen as defenders of Ismail and carrying Annuar's narrative blamed Lokman Nor Adam as collaborator. It is all to see that RPK's narrative lately have been favouring Ismail Sabri since his expose of Mohamad Hasan over an investigation nearing two decade ago and long cleared.

Zahid issued a face saving conciliatory statement to claim he knows of the agreement and understand the situation. It was immediately exploited by FBer Azizi to spin to the effect he was a party to it. It is possible that Zahid know but believed Ismail only revealed after the event. 

Undermined the party

Though FBer aligned to Muhyiddin argued that the agreement is between Ismail as PM and Muhyiddin as PPBM President, it was a term to dictate the limitation of Ismail's power as PM and he carries the optic of a BN PM. His action undermines the party.

More so, UMNO has repeatedly and consistently call for returning mandate to the people to stabilise and provide direction for Government administration, whether GE15 favours BN or PH. His constantly delay cool the momentum for BN after the landslide in Melaka and Johor coupled with GPS whitewash of PH in Sarawak. 

Rumours heard that certain Camp Putrajaya members approached Zahid to seek assurance for the candidacy of few hardcores strongly rumoured to be dropped for GE15. No decision was heard to come from Zahid but he reprimanded the messenger for damaging UMNO and allowing enemy to split the party. Will it mean Zahid will be more firm in his actions from now on? 

Whether the incident is related to the delay, it could not be ascertained but sources within PWTC claimed there was a recent private meeting between Zahid and Ismail. 

Ismail was enquired of the ROS approval. He said ROS has not answered but was immediately brushed off by Zahid. The former Home Minister responded to informed Ismail ROS has approved and prepared the letter. It is awaiting for his clearance. To hide his embarassment, Ismail covered his line to ask Zahid what he should do. 

For a PM who barged into Abu Dhabi despite the host reluctance to accept the visit and two diplomats was blamed and dismissed for poor reception by the host, it is certainly a strange question. 

As usual, one can expect a tumoultous political week ahead with the information from sources, rumours and FB opinions will be confirmed. Muhyiddin seemed resigned to leave it to PM to decide on DPM before he reveals another UMNO splitting conniving move.

Poultry farmer fear bankruptcy over cabinet's unclear decision yesterday

Rational measures on chicken price better than unsustainable populist moves - The Mole

The way forward is for market player and government to collaborate on a price control mechanism and at the same time, allow industry to adjust itself. The chicken price could be floated with commitment from industry to off load their chicken stockpile to cap price at below RM10.50 per kilo. This way subsidy could be minimised.

The Mole

June 28, 2022  

The technical committee to address food security issues met on Tuesday to discuss the new chicken price ceiling for July to September.

It was jointly chaired by Agriculture and Food Industry (MAFI) Minister Datuk Dr Ronald Kiandee, Domestic Trade and Consumers Affair Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta aas well as Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Md Zuki Ali.

The recommendation will be brought forward to the Cabinet and an announcement is due after their weekly meeting Wednesday.

After last week’s flipped announcement by Alexander Nanta to float the price of chicken, the Cabinet flopped back three days later with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob himself announcing the cancellation. All eyes await the Cabinet’s decision tomorrow.

Another proof Muhyiddin interfered in court matter

At the rate Bar Council is clueless to rile up support to defend Justice Nazlan Ghazali for his bias judgement in the SRC case, the possibility of Dato Najib getting a mistrial is as good as sealed. It will prove that Mahathir, yet again, interfered and manipulated the judiciary. 

It is pointless to repeat the list of issues mentioned too support the view as it has been repeatedly discussed at length. The integrity of judiciary is tarnished whether judgement on Najib remain or mistrial declared. 

Better for Federal Court to acquit and face up temporarily to public critics, but its not as badly damaged that investors lose trust with the Malaysian judicial system.  

Meanwhile, Muhyiddin repeatedly said he does not interfere in the judicial affair and allow 1MDB cases takes its own course. Unfortunately it was never believable because of his vindictive and manipulative politics. 

More so, his own lawyer, Rosli Dahlan was instrumental in the long list of civil suit made by SRC and 1MDB. Initially a long list was named as defendants, but eventually the list was shortened including withdrawing known accomplices of Jo Low that it was too obvious it was targetted at Najib. 

Ledger-gate: Is the real swindler NOT charged?

The ledger-gate case involving Zahid Hamidi and Ultra Kirana Sdn Bhd (UKSB) reminded police officer, Joeking Saiful (his FB nicname) as resembling the movie The Untouchable. 

The infamous Chicago mobster Al Capone was imprisoned due to record evidence of his illegal transactions and the bookkeeper verified 

The books of UKSB had long been a subject of conversation within the political circle. There were many speculations then as to why the company in which known "political Treasurer" for Khairy, Wan Quoris @ Wan Badak is a Director, implicated Zahid. 

For one, it is known that the company was awarded the contract to handle the overseas visa during Hishamuddin's tenure as Home Minister. And, the rumour mill had long been talking of people linked to Hishamuddin and Khairy been receiving political contribution from Wan Badak. 

So when the 15th witness, Henry Lee Viu Khium testified in court that Zahid been receiving "political contribution" of few hundred thousand Singapore dollar cash monthly and totaled over the years to be more than S$13.5 million, it is taken with a pinch of salt. 

U turns making Friday's protest a Walk of Contradiction

Bar Council will be holding a Walk of Justice this Friday, June 17.  That was the decision of its recently held EGM. 

It was intended to protest MACC investigation of Justice Nazlan Ghazali under the pretext of interference on judiciary. However, the outcome of the EGM did not turned out the way Ambiga claimed it to be. 

Former Bar Committee member, Lukman Sheriff revealed there was no resolution passed to that effect. Resolution on the non-constitutionality of the investigation was rejected. There was allegation made against MACC for revealing name of judges but it did not occur. The Bar was desperately grasping for an issue to fault and did a volte-face (U-turn).      

It explained for Dato Mah Weng Kwai's own volte-face two days before MACC announced completed investigation. He called for investigation on Nazlan be made known despite being vocal to protest the  investigation of Nazlan and call on lawyers to support the protest.

Mah is not the only one. Current President Karen Cheah lashed out at critics for not demanding Nazlan to recuse, but yet volte-face on the cause for the protest. 

Survey on MySejahtera found 21% feel data unsafe

Survey: Only 21% Feel Their MySejahtera Data Safe

By Alifah Zainuddin | 18 May 2022

KUALA LUMPUR, May 18 – A survey by CodeBlue on MySejahtera found that the majority of respondents at 62 per cent do not believe their personal data is safe and protected on the Covid-19 app.

Just one of five respondents, or 21 per cent, feels that their MySejahtera data — which includes information on visits to public premises, coronavirus vaccination certification, and personal details like name, identity card number, phone number or email address, and date of birth — is safe, while 17 per cent are unsure.

Out of the 806 total responses gathered from the three-week online poll, which ran from April 25 until May 16, slightly more than half distrust MySejahtera at 52 per cent, compared to 27 per cent who trust the ubiquitous app and 21 per cent who expressed ambivalence.

About 30 per cent (238 respondents) say MySejahtera cannot be trusted at all versus 12 per cent (99 respondents) who think MySejahtera can be trusted a lot.

Building the nation to be robbed: Celcom should leave U Mobile cartel

Historically, Celcom was a victim of Mahathir's under-handed manouvre to hijack the effort by its early founder, Tajudin Ramli in developing the cellular phone industry. 

It was done for the benefit of Maxis. The documents does not show but the hunch indicate Mahathir has interest. 

More so, presence of son Mokhzani as current Chairman makes the suspicion stronger. The current resistance to DNB-led by Vincent Tan's U Mobile could only be expected. 

Picking up from Izzadin's mysterious resignation, the lines are now clearly drawn with Ralph Marshall's latest appointment at A Capital Berhad. The U Mobile cartel have gone hawking their five justifications for public support to their proclaimed war with DNB.      

The puzzle remain as to why after being vicimised by Maxis for years, Celcom is willing to be in bed with Maxis and Vincent Tan-led Mahathir's telco grouping. 

Building the nation only to be robbed: The telco experience

Connectivity is an essential ingredient in nation building today and its importance is not over rated. Federal government has a favour to return to an East Malaysian state. Instead of asking for more and better roads, electricity and other amenities, the state requested for a telco license. 

Unfortunately, nation building in the area of telecommunication have been marred by robbers. In other words, nation builders were building the nation only to be robbed. 

When the first telco license was issued to Telekom Malaysia under the late Rashdan Baba, he did not know what to do. Tajuddin Ramli offered to buy the license and Celcom started on its national building mission for national connectivity. 

Off course, some segment of the public will not subscribe to that storyline due to past association of Tajuddin with Daim. Nevertheless that version of the story came from former Celcom employees who are PAS and PKR members. If it is time for Allah to dispensed justice, there could be a development in the near future to exonerate the 70 something Malay industrialist.    

When the market realised the mobile segment of telecommunication was a high growth sector and was outstripping land line telephony, someone up above got greedy and new telcos such as Maxis were issued licenses. 

Being late entry into the industry, Mahathir's administration gave them concessions such as no obligation to expand service beyond the lucrative urban market.  

Warm, Warm Chicken shit ...

Prime Minister Dato Seri Ismail Sabri is regurgitating his past narrative at the Ministry of Agriculture to wage a holy war (jihad) against middle men in the current calling to fight chicken cartel. 

Middle men is a perennial problem to the Malay economy, but this is merely a political diversion propaganda and it could not be stomach. Simply because it is untrue. If ill-informed cybertrooper wish to label this blogger the heavenly defenders of cartels, so be it. 

Ismail personally made a populist decision to suppress chicken prices despite rising cost and against informed advise from the agriculture and consumer Ministries. Now he is referring the large chicken rearing companies as cartel? 

Does he has a back-up plan? Thousands of smaller chicken farms closed shop when he fixed wholesale chicken at RM6.80 in January at the time it is RM8.60 in Bangkok and feed cost rose by 40% from about RM80 to RM120 per bag within the 90-day chicken growing cycle. 

That disparity in prices still remain. As a result, there is practically only 5 companies left rearing chicken. Market talk is one is going to close shop, one considering to close shop, one taking up offer from Singapore to operate their farm in Bentan, and one could be a fall guy in an international relation problem. 

It is actually more profitable for all five to close shop because they will be most welcome by any country in the region, except Malaysia to open up their operation. Ismail and his propagandist should stop their nonsense before there will be no more chicken farm around.  

If Nazlan couldn't explained for money in account ...

On May 21st recently, MACC announced they have submitted their Investigation Paper on Justice Dato Nazlan Ghazali to the Attorney General. 

Two days earlier, one of the recently vocal five former Bar Council Presidents defending Nazlan, namely Dato Mah Weng Kwai demanded MACC to reveal their investigation. 

It is a strange request. 

As a former Court of Appeal judge and protege to Dato Eusoff Chin of the infamous VK Lingam tape judicial scandal, Mah knows well that MACC could not reveal their investigation to the public. It is only for the purview of the Attorney General. 

Unlike after GE14, there is more confidence that MACC's IP represent the investigation body's own probe. 

MACC today is not led by a PH-appointed politician. Dato Seri Gopal Sri Ram does not have an office there as rumoured when PH new government was then in a hurry to pin charges against Najib and Rosmah.  

Mah's request indicate he is aware the investigation Bar tried to obstruct went ahead despite Ambiga-led public pressure to protect uncle Sri Ram from having his cover blown. 

And, Mah's flip flop could also indicate he sensed there is justified concern against Nazlan.  

Foresaking Malaysia for Indian constitution

The posting "Judges encroaching power of Parliament endanger public" received unexpected response from a former Chief Justice. 

He questioned who is encroaching on whose jurisdiction. 

A member of the bench called to share the concerns of judges in the High and Appellate Courts with the direction Tengku Maimoon and her friends are taking. 

One of her friend is lobbying a female member of a royal family to be appointed President of the Court of Appeal.

Meanwhile, a former Deputy Public Prosecutor explained the basic structure introduced by Dato Gopal Sri Ram and attempted adoption by Tengku Maimoon, and her clique of Federal Court judges are emulating the Indian Constitution.

What is the ulterior motive of  Tengku Maimoon to pepper the interpretation of Malaysian Constitution with Indian indigenous spices?

So far PRSIS tablet re-tender turned out true

The gossip on PRSIS re-tender for tablets turned out partly true. At least, the tender was cancelled. There is a re-tender to be announced soon.

The rest written in the posting "KSU to be removed for Keluarga Malaysia's Tablet supply?" of this blocked blog have to wait. 

Apparently there have been denial claiming what was written not true. There is hardly any accusation but merely hoping what happenned in the past will not repeat itself. 

No denial required.

Even if public cannot easily accessed and need to go through proxy websites to read this blog, the right to reply will be respected. 

22 million M'sians' personal data sold online!

Personal data and eKYC photos of Malaysians allegedly obtained from JPN and SPR are being sold online 

BY Alexander Wong 

17 May 2022 7:56 pm 

There appears to be a potential data breach at two Malaysian government agencies as an online individual claims to be selling personal data of over 22 million Malaysians on an online forum. The seller claims to be the same party behind last year’s sale of personal data belonging to 4 million Malaysians. 

SKMM blocking Another Brick blog?

On Sunday evening, this blog was uploading the article entitled "Judges encroaching power of Parliament will endanger public".

Its on a legal subject which was a non-lawyer layman commentary refering to FMT reports and the FB of Lukman Alias.  The reports and FB postings are not censured and still available.

After posting it, suddenly realised could not open the blog. It too long to respond and registered similar message to opening porn sites or Hussein Hamid or Edisi Siasat blog.

Upon consulting few IT savvy whizz kids, they suspected SKMM block this blog by making it difficult to access. 

Judges encroaching power of Parliament will endanger public

Nazlan Ghazali, the Court of Appeal judge that presided over the SRC case, was one of two High Court judges that acquited and discharged two suspected supporters of terrorist group LTTE in February 2020. There were public outcry over the decision in which prosecution was instructed by then Attorney General, Tommy Thomas to withdrew the case. 

Circulating on social media is an alleged letter from Tun Dr Mahathir instructing then Home Minister, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to do so. It created the perception Nazlan is at Mahathir's beck and call. 

Fast forward to March 23rd 2022, opposition voted against renewal of security law, SOSMA. Late arrivals and absentee by the government side caused the renewal rejected. Here on, suspects that could threaten national security cannot be held for investigation for 28 days without charge.  

Since abolishment of ISA, the latest decision by Federal Court could visibly worsen security and public safety situation in the country. 

While Ismail is abroad, noose tightening on KSN?

My broker is not EF Hutton, but to pun their TV commercial decades ago, they said PM Datuk Ismail Sabri met senior officials of major American corporation in Washington yesterday. 

It is perhaps news to them but it is still seen as usual courtesy visit by a new PM. And, its actually news should Azmin's claim of possible FDI turned out true. Be sure to not put wool over public's eyes to claim reinvestment as FDI. 

So was the stopover in London. Why then are 6 full Minister accompanying PM? 

Is something going to happen in Kuala Lumpur and Ismail is taking a leaf from Mahathir's old playbook for PM to leave the country while it is unfolding?  

Is MySejahtera worth RM338 million?

Last week, blogger Nuclearbursaman criticised Ministry of Health's Director General, Tan Sri Noor Hisham Abdullah for being the mouthpiece of MySejahtera.

The Vibe reported Noor Hisham promoting the use MySejahtera for infectous diseases other than Covid 19 such as rabies, dengue and chicken pox. This is in addition to Khairy Jamaluddin's statement that MySejahtera could be applied for non-communicable disease.

Critics of MySejahtera is particularly up-set with Khairy for snubbing PAC's request to delay the MySejahtera contract till inquiry is completed. 

When taking into account the risk MySejahtera data has actually leaked, continuing it openned MOH or MySJ or the maintainance company to the risk of being reprimanded for breaching the Private Data Protection Act (PDPA) OR civil lawsuit by users.

Is it worth for government to spend the money?  

The old fox haunted by sins of judicial past

When Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim reacted to Raja Petra's expose on Justice Dato' Nazlan Ghazali's wrongdoing and MACC statement claiming they are authorised to investigate corruption allegations against judges, Tun Dr Mahathir was not chorusing with the rest. 

He was not attacking MACC as meddling into judicial affair or questioning their authority to investigate or latest narrative of judicial intimidation. Neither did he attempt to deny Nazlan is conflicted nor vouch for his innocence. 

Instead Mahathir strangely went into another of his typical tantrum towards Dato Seri Najib on twitter. 

Selamat Hari Raya 2022

Maaf zahir dan batin.

Has the MySejahtera data leaked?

That was Minister of Health, Khairy Jamaluddin in Parliament at the end of March explaining MySejahtera data belongs to the government and KPI Soft or now known as Entomo, the system developer is primarily doing system maintainance. 

He went on to ensure the personal data is safe and National Security Council has signed an agreement with KPI Soft for non-disclosure agreement (NDA).

At around early April, this blogger was introduced to a young man looking for assistance to sell a data base. If memory did not fail us, the data size is close to 50 Gigabyte. However, to do the search on the data, it required a good system and the best laptop still endure few hours of wait. 

He demonstrated its ability to get some names of some known person. The data disclosed was basic but more detail could be available. At 50 sen per individual person of information, the data for 40 million population should cost at least RM20 million. 

However, that is all to it. The young man did not gave us much to work on except spurts of saliva. 

It was left in the back burner and even misplaced his contact number till a Facebooker recently raised the issue here that Khairy's career will end should MySejahtera data leak. 

There can be many other possibilities, but did the young man have access to leaked MySejahtera data?

A source claimed MySejahtera data is stored on China-owned Ali Baba system. 

Leslie Lau's vicious half truth on French court "inquiry" of Thales

It is an open secret that Malay Mail Online's Managing Editor, Leslie Lau is Lim Guan Eng's adviser and DAP media strategist. 

He is the former editor of The Malaysian Insider before splitting ways to join Dato Siew Ka Wai at Malay Mail. During Tun Abdullah Badawi administration, he was with then NSTP GEIC's Dato Kalimullah as hatchet man and spin master. He has not stopped being so at Malay Mail. 

In his latest report, he intentionally employed the half truth propaganda strategy to seize on the public ignorance of French court system in his desk's reporting of court enquiry on the Malaysian submarine purchase from DCN (now Thales) in 2002. 

Malay Mail Online report claimed that sources close to the inquiry told AFP that Thales is being charged by the  French court for complicity to a bribe in the sales of the Scorpene submarine to Malaysia. 

He then went on to implicate Dato Najib as Defense Minister and Dato Dr Abdul Razak Baginda as his associate who was doing millitary consultancy work.