LONE

Sunday, July 31, 2005

Nicol David::Malaysian Open 2005 Champion

The very hot and in-form 21-year-old Nicol David, seeded third in the 4-star tournament, took 52 minutes to beat Vanessa Atkinson, the second seed, in rubber games 3-9, 9-3, 1-9, 9-1, 9-4.
This win makes her the first Malaysian ever to win the Championship which first started in 1975.
Vanessa, who won three tournaments in Malaysia last year --the Kuala Lumpur Open, the Malaysian Open and the World Open -- was in commanding mood as she took the first and third games to lead Nicol two games to one. However, Nicol, whose victory was her fourth in the Tour this season and seventh overall in her career since turning pro in 2000, fought back gallantly to win the remaining two games to lift the title.

| ¶ 7/31/2005 09:50:00 AM

Saturday, July 30, 2005

Fuel Prices Up Again

For the second time in two months, there will be increases in the prices of petroleum products. The last price increase was in May.
Tomorrow, the retail price for LPG, petrol and diesel will go up by 5, 10 and 20 sen per litre respectively.

The Prime Minister's Office, in a press statement tonight, said the increase was part of government efforts to tackle the impact of the increase in the crude oil price in the world market and to check the increase in subsidy which the government had to bear. Many had expected with the de-pegging of the ringgit to the USD, any increase in petroleum products would be later.

With the latest increase, the retail price for premium petrol (RON97) in Peninsular Malaysia is now RM1.62 per litre, petrol (RON 92) RM1.58 per litre, diesel RM1.281 per litre and LPG RM1.45 per kilogram.

In Sabah and Sarawak, the new retail price for RON 97 is RM1.60 and RM1.61 per litre respectively, RON 92 RM1.58 in both states, while diesel is RM1.284 and RM1.278 per litre respectively while LPG is RM1.53 per kilogram in both states.

| ¶ 7/30/2005 11:14:00 PM

Three Men Playing Golf

Just came across this and i thought i'll share ::

Three men were playing golf. The course was a wicked dogleg with a large water hazard.

The first man stepped up to the tee and hit a sharp slice into the water hazard. He walked up to the water; it parted and he lofted his ball within one foot of the hole.

The next man steped up and hit the ball. Sure enough, he sliced it so that it landed on top of the water. He walked across the surface of the water and he hit the ball within six inches of the hole.

The third man stepped up, hit the ball, and sliced it. The ball was just about to land in the water when a trout jumped out of the water and grabbed it in his mouth. An eagle swooped down, scooped up the fish, and flew off. As the eagle banked over the green, lightning struck it, it dropped the fish, the fish dropped the ball, and it landed in the hole for a hole-in-one.

Guess who were the three golfers. For the answer, go here.

| ¶ 7/30/2005 10:13:00 PM

Words, Only Words

Bernnama had this report on the GLC [Gomen linked Corp] and Pak Lah ::

KUALA LUMPUR, July 29 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi wants government-linked companies (GLC) to continue giving opportunities to Bumiputera companies in implementing certain projects for them.
He said the GLCs should not take over any project from the Bumiputera companies by setting up its own subsidiary when that particular project was seen to be making much profit.
"I want the GLCs to pay serious attention to this matter. We have genuine Bumiputera companies which have succeeded in implementing projects assigned to them by the GLCs," he told reporters after launching the GLC Transformation Programme, here Friday.
Abdullah said it was important for the Bumiputera companies to be given an opportunity to raise their capacity and gain more experience.
"The GLC should not set up a subsidiary to take over any project (undertaken by the Bumiputera company) when it is seen to be making good profit.
"No....don't do it because the takeover will result in the Bumiputera company being victimised," he said.
Abdullah said the Bumiputera company concerned should continue to be given the opportunity by the GLC because it had put up much capital and trained its workers, and it was not proper that their contract was suddenly terminated.

The STAR said ::

A transformation manual has been launched for government-linked companies (GLCs) to help them shift to a higher gear and become global champions and best in the class companies.

The 10 initiatives outlined in the transformation manual are ::

Enhancing board effectiveness,
Strengthening directors capabilities;
Enhancing Government-linked investment companies' (GLIC) monitoring and management functions;
Improving regulatory environment;
Clarifying social obligations;
Reviewing and revamping procurement;
Optimising capital management practices;
Managing and developing leaders and other human capital;
Intensifying performance management practices; and
Enhancing operational improvement.

GLCs make up some 30% of the market capitalisation of Bursa Malaysia.
There are over 100 GLCs in the country, among which are TNB, TM, MRCB, Employees Provident Fund, Lembaga Urusan Tabung Haji, Khazanah Nasional, Permodalan Nasional Bhd and Proton Holdings Bhd.
It looks like there will be some placement of restrictions on GLCs like the above mentioned regarding GLCs having to pay serious attention to ensure that genuine Bumiputra comapanies are given opportunities to raise their capacity and gain more experience and there should be no victimising takeovers. As usual, the PM worries about "leakages" and the need to staunch them. With the launch of the Transgormation Manual for GLCs, he should have also in place a monitoring body to ensure that the initiatives are properly and well carried out and any misdirection or shortfalls such be adequately and expeditiously found and rectified.

| ¶ 7/30/2005 12:22:00 PM

Nicol beat Rachael?

Confusion reigns on the Malaysian Squash web site after Nicol David beat Rachael Grinham in the semi-finals of the CIMB Malaysian Women's Open 2005. Nicol took 66 minues to beat Rachael :: 6-9, 9-6, 3-9, 9-3, 9-7.

click to enlarge
Nicol will meet Vanessa Atkinson tomorrow in the finals. Vanessa made it into the finals after beating Rachael's sister, Natalie, 1-9, 3-9, 9-7, 9-2, 9-7 in the other semi-finals played today.

Well done, Nicol.

| ¶ 7/30/2005 12:11:00 AM

Friday, July 29, 2005

Those APs Again

Apart from "Open APs" and "Franchise APs" holders, the names of whom have been revealed recently in the complete 2004 and 2005 lists, there are others also entitled to APs. So apart from the AP Kings and other car dealers and non-dealers, the following are entitled to "individual APs" ::

Members of Parliament

Malaysians working or studying abroad,

Diplomatic staff,

Participants of the Human Resource Ministrys brain-gain programme,

Participants of the Malaysia My Second Home programme,

The Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultans, state governors, the Prime Minister and

Members of the Royal Australian Air Force.

Now can anyone explain the last category of those entitled.
According to Deputy Dewan Rakyat Speaker Datuk Lim Si Cheng, the AP entitlement for MPs is a privilege and not a right and the MP would have to apply through the International Trade and Industry Ministry. Asked about talk that some MPs were selling their APs, Lim said he was not aware of it. He added :: "Better check with the ministry as it has the list."
According to the report in the STAR, its source from Parliament House said the privilege did not come under the Members of Parliament (Remuneration) Act and does not come under Parliaments purview, it was rather a private arrangement between MPs and the minister concerned.
For completeness sake and total transparency and as the AP list is truly not complete, can Pak Lah direct his minister concerned to also release the lists of all individuals given APs and the number of APs they have been given over the years eversince APs have been dished out by the MITI. Now are there any other category of individuals who can make "private arrangements" for AP entitlement either as a privilege or a right?

| ¶ 7/29/2005 11:22:00 PM

The Jimmy Chua-Khairy Xchange

Saw the Jimmy Chua-Khairy Xchange on TV3 just now. Though TV3 claimed the Exchange was LIVE, it wasn't. As far as i am concerned Jimmy Chua scored big and Khairy appeared a bit wet behind the ears. Though claiming that he and United Malay National Org Youth were not talking of the Malay Agenda in the middle of the programme, he continued saying so right to the very end. Chua wanted him and the Youth not to be fixated on the 30% figure and pointed out that during the years between 1983 and 2003, some 20 years, the gomen had poured overtly billions and thousands of contracts the bumi/malay way but their percentage of the national equity remained at 18.7%! This was his reply to KJ's assertion that the objective of raising bumi equity was put on the "backburner", as a result of which "overt" actions are required to put the NEP back on track.
What appeared to concern Chua a great deal was why there has been no change, "not even an inch", in that 20 year period. He got KJ to agree that there was "leakages" and "wanton wastage" and poor distribution. They both agreed that these negative stuff and abuses must be staunched.
When Chua pointed out that 80% of Malays are now "middle-classed", KJ replied that "middle-classed" could mean from lower middle-classed onwards. Now where would KJ put himself? KJ agreed that the numbers of tertiary educated Malays, professionals, bussinessmen and women have increased vastly and there have been increased in he standards of living and of roads and sanitation and so on and so forth.
After getting KJ to agree that the way forward was a National Malaysian Agenda rather than a Malay or New National Agenda; Chua said that if such is the case then all must be involved, Malays, Indians, Chinese, and all from Sabah and Sarawak. A national consultative committee must be formed to look into the abuses and leakages of the past and monitor the implementation of the National Malaysian Agenda.
Globalisation was, oh so briefly, mentioned and the associated free flow of human resources.
Chua also pointed out that instead of just "Towering Malays" or "Glocal Malays", we should be thinking of "Towering Malaysians" and "Glocal Malaysians". It was quite a stroke of genius, when he managed to get the last words in before the programme wrapped up. Chua mentioned the emerging economies of China, India and other Asean countries, he pointed ut to Khairy instead of eyeing the Malaysian 30%, t would be better to work out how to get the China's 3%!

If i was an MCA member, i would give my vote to Chua for MCA president.

| ¶ 7/29/2005 11:20:00 PM

Thursday, July 28, 2005

Words, Only Words::"Branded Malaysian Worker"

Once again Malaysian name calling is in the news. Remember "Towering Malays/Malaysians", 'Glocal Malays/Malaysians", now we must have "Branded Malaysian Worker".
BERNAMA reports :: At the Workers Day 2005 gathering, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said Malaysian workers should develop "a brand of excellence" so that the quality of goods and services they produce is recognised around the world.
Elaborating, Pak :Lah said ::

"We want our workers to become a brand for Malaysia. The moment we say 'Malaysian worker', everyone will know that their products are of good quality and the services they provide are the best."

Melati Mohd Ariff in the BERNAMA report asked these questions ::

Would this be seen as a tall order? Do our workers have the right qualities and skills, to spearhead this change?

For the answers and comments by others, check out the full article here. Based on the latest "IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook 2005" which showed Malaysia in the 28th position as compared to number 16th in 2004, in looks like we have gone back to the position we were in 5 years ago. The latest ranking also showed that Thailand has beaten us for the first time, she is in the 27th position. We certainly have plenty of work to do before we can start branding anyone.

| ¶ 7/28/2005 07:27:00 PM

Wednesday, July 27, 2005

Sabah & Sarawak Want In::Do It Right the 2nd Time Around

During the recent UMNO general assembly there was much talk of the Malay agenda, the reintroduction of the NEP (for many the NEP is still around through various reincarnations) and over the few days the final mutation was called the New National Agenda [NNA]. i am sure, all of us would recall that the NEP had two objectives ::
1. Poverty eradication regardless of race
2. Restructuring Malaysian society to eliminate the identification of race with economic function
But the UMNO members appeared only to have the Malays in mind when they were demanding the return of the NEP.

Now Upko Deputy President Datuk Wilfred Bumburing has this to say regarding UMNO's clarion call ::

"The fate of Bumiputera entrepreneurs in Sabah and Sarawak must be clearly defined and outlined so that they would not be left out as was the case during the previous implementation of the NEP."
"Previously, when the NEP was introduced, it only benefited the Malays and if the same happens when it is brought back, then I don't see any rationale behind the move."

As for the issue of the Approved Permits [APs], Datuk Wilfred had this to say ::

"I noted that no delegate from Sabah stood up to speak about any member of the Bumiputera business minority in Sabah having benefited from the APs. So, if there's a policy or guideline to obtain APs, we would like to be included as well."

As UMNO President Pak Lah said that what has not be resolved for the Malays had to to resolved when he was commenting on the call by UMNO youth for the revival of the NEP. But as the Prime Minister, having said that he is PM for all Malaysians, he must realised, that what has not been resolved with regards to poverty eradication regardless of race and restructuring of Malaysian society must be resolved too. So in any revival of the NEP, he must ensure that things are properly carried out this time around.
Surely he must know by now what had gone wrong with the implementation of the NEP in the past. If he doesn't then it is about time he finds out. Already, there are calls by the Gerakan president, the MCA presidential challenger and also by a Umno veteran Tan Sri Megat Junid Megat Ayob to find out why the failure of the Malays (shouldn't we be saying Bumiputras) to achieve 30 per cent share of the economy despite 30 years of affirmative action under the NEP.

Many if not all Malaysians agree with the need for the NEP when it was first introduced in 1970 but many see the need for proper and better implementation and monitoring of implemention and achievements of the policy. It is in a way good that the recent UMNO general assembly has brought out this issue into the open. But obviously there was little need for keris brandishing and other histrionics. All concerned may want to sit down calmly and discuss proper ways, mindful of the wrongs and failure of the past, of implementing the NEP to ensure that its objectives are achieved and at the same time ensure better interethnic relations. If Pak Lah can do better this time around, he may yet get to be remembered as a great reformer. There may yet be a "silver lining to the present dark clouds".

| ¶ 7/27/2005 11:27:00 PM

Tuesday, July 26, 2005

The AP Saga continues::The Tun's Statement

1. I want to make this explanation because newspapers and TV cannot possibly report all the facts to the public.

2. The question of Proton is not a question of differences in statements made by individuals or a quarrel between a minister and a retiree. It is about a national industry. At a time when many car companies have gone bankrupt and closed shop, such as Austin, Morris, MG-Rover and other huge companies like General Motors and Chrysler, Proton is still alive and healthy. It has more than RM2bil in cash and does not depend on the Government or banks for the more than the RM2bil it paid for its new Tanjung Malim plant. Surely this success has at least a little to do with efficient management, especially considering the impact of so many foreign cars being imported at such low prices.

3. APs (Approved Permit) were first introduced in 1970, before the existence of Proton. At that time, not many Malays could enter the automotive business because the agents for Kah Motors (Honda), UMW (Toyota) and Cycle and Carriage (Mercedes) and others comprised non-bumiputras. They refused to give bumiputra businessmen a chance.

4. Cars assembled in the country or imported by agents, dealers or official importers could not be imported by anyone else without paying a commission to the official agent.

5. Therefore, APs were given to import recon cars. Although many bumiputras sold their APs, there were some who succeeded in this business. Among them is Tan Sri Nasimuddin S.M Amin. Without APs and Proton, there would not have been any bumiputra automotive businessmen. When Proton started many bumiputras successfully become Proton agents to sell their cars.

6. Proton production has successfully reduced the import of foreign cars by non-bumiputra agents. Of course if there was higher demand for Proton cars, there would be even more bumiputra agents and the cars would be selling like hotcakes.

7. On the other hand, if so many APs are given to a small number of bumiputras, and they make no preparations whatsoever to do business, then of course the number of bumiputra automotive businessmen will not increase and Proton sales by Proton agents, who are mostly bumiputra, too will not sell so well.

8. It is clear that the giving of APs had only benefited a handful of bumiputras, caused losses to Proton agents, especially the bumiputras, and reduced the opportunity of other bumiputras to become Proton car dealers. It is not true that giving out so many APs had increased the number of bumiputras in the car business, especially when only two or three people who have no showrooms have received thousands of APs.

9. In the past, open APs enabled the holder to import many car brands. When the franchise APs were introduced, the franchise holder could only import a particular car brand. Those who in the past could bring in those cars through the open APs now can no longer import those cars. The ones who got the franchise APs are not automotive businessmen but former ministry officials.

They got thousands of APs although they do not have the facilities to assemble or sell these cars. They only surrendered this (for a price) to others who had the capability to assemble and sell those cars.

10. The question of the quality of Proton does not arise because Proton has succeeded in penetrating sophisticated markets like the United Kingdom and Australia. Even so new models might still have some flaws. But even thousands of known car brands have been withdrawn. This includes Mitsubishi, Chevrolet, Ford and other brands.

11. This explanation is done for the sake for the country’s dignity and interest and a national industry that has been a success. I do not hold any interest in Proton. As Proton adviser, I do not get paid even a sen. If my son received some APs (95APs) to bring in Porsche, this fulfilled the criteria. To sell 50 of those cars is not easy. Please do not drag my family into this when doing something that should not be done.

12. I have to reveal in full because of the national interest of the industry, not because I did not get APs as alleged by a writer in an English newspaper.

13. I received the explanation letter from the International Trade and Industry Minister. I find that the contents of the letter and the annexes did not substantiate the claims made by the Minister.

i)Approval for Naza Ria to become a national car,

ii) The number of APs which were issued between 2004-2005,

iii) The basis and conditions for the issuing of APs,

iv) The types of APs issued,

v) The names of those (whether company or individuals) who received APs and the number of APs which they received.

14. In the Umno General Assembly, the Minister made several false claims. She also, during a television interview, alleged that I had forgotten this and that. Although I am already 80 years old, I am still not yet senile.

15. Initially, after replying to the Minister’s letter with a copy sent to the Cabinet, I had not intended to make any more statements. It was up to the Cabinet to decide what was the truth and what was not.

However, because the Minister did not make statements which were true to the Umno delegates and the public, I feel compelled to give an explanation.

16. When I was Prime Minister, there was no decision by the government to not make public the name of AP holders. Maybe the present government had made this decision (not to make public). The question is whether this decision was made before or after the Minister made the statement that it was the government’s policy not to reveal the names of AP holders.

17. I was once Trade and Industry Minister. The Minister explained that there were many who were given APs without fulfilling the conditions when she took over the minister, and that her move to cancel the APs which were issued to them showed the how stern she was. Who was the Trade and Industry Minister before the current Minister? If one did not mentioned it, one may think it was me. Giving of APs to former government officers

18. Although there is no official prohibition against government officers who had just retired (optional) from being given opportunities from the government. However, there are questions why these former officers who did not fulfil conditions were given thousands of APs.

19. We know many automotive businessmen, including members of the Malay Car Importers and Dealers Association of Malaysia (Pekema), had applied for APs but were not given any. They also were not told about the franchise AP category which would have enabled them to be given many APs. There was no widespread awareness on franchise APs among car businessmen. This category was suddenly introduced and only certain people received many APs in this category. And AP holders who had earlier imported franchise brands were no longer allowed to import those brands.

20. I am not envious of rich Malays but their wealth must be obtained through correct means. I have often told off those who sold their APs to become rich quickly. It is obvious that the sale of APs is widespread now. It is the responsibility of the Minister to monitor the situation to ensure that foul play did not occur.

21. A detailed explanation on the correspondence among the various parties will follow to avoid any dispute.

Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad

English translation, courtesy of the Star
The ori BM versi can be found here
The BERNAMA versi is here.

It looks like the AP saga is far from over. The Tun is obviously not satisfied with what the MINIster and the gomen have to say so far. He wants more, for to him, it is not just the APs but also the issue of a national industry. He has reportedly said that the MINIster has misled delegates and made false allegations at the recently-concluded UMNO General Assembly over the controversy surrounding the issuance of APs. The Tun is also very interested to know whether the decision (not to release the names of AP holders) was made before or after the MINIster announced that the gomen's policy was not to release the names of AP holders. The Tun said that there was never any decision by the gomen during his tenure as prime minister not to release the list of names of AP recipients to the public. Tun Mahathir has also join in the chorus by the public for the gomen to release the complete list of approved permits (APs) for imported cars and not just the list for 2005. Quite uncharacteristically, he said that "people should know the whole truth and nothing but the truth". Now will the one who ask us to "work with me, not for me" and "tell me the truth", tell us "the whole truth and nothing but the truth" when he comes back from South Africa.

Take note of point number 21 of the Tun's statement, the AP saga has yet to end, he will be releasing "A detailed explanation on the correspondence among the various parties will follow to avoid any dispute" and also to show that he has not gone "nyanyok".

Check out what other bloggers have to say regarding the ongoing AP saga here and here and here.

| ¶ 7/26/2005 10:03:00 PM

Reactions to Maha Going

The market place seems to be happy to see Mahaleel go, Proton has gone up 75 sen.
Mahaleel's departure was welcomed by some analysts as they say it could pave the way for German auto maker Volkswagen AG to take a stake in Proton. It appears that the Tun and Mahaleel were against selling a major stake of Proton to VW. According to a Dow Jones report, >Macquarie Securities senior analyst Edward Ong said Mahaleel's departure was "highly positive" for Proton.
As for the new CEO, the Proton chairman says that he is expected to do the following :: "Proton needs to sell more cars, it needs to increase its export market, it needs to increase brand awareness in other countries and it needs to expand its product range."
STAR's Wong Sulong in his comments entitled :: Mahaleel's Fatal Error :: had this to say regarding Proton's future after Mahaleel ::

In all likelihood, and in the course of time, the Government will want to consolidate the local carmakers and assemblers to give Malaysia the economies of scale required to maintain a national car manufacturing capacity that is globally competitive.
Under this scenario, Proton is likely to merge with one or a number of local car manufacturers and assemblers.
The Government will probably want to bring in a big foreign car manufacturer as a partner as well.

It looks like Proton, its investors and local car users are in a a more exciting time ahead. Will a change of CEO lead to better quality Protons? Will Proton see more of its car exported?
On his return from holidays, the Tun provided a spin to his favoured CEO being shown the door. At a press conference, he, more or less, said that Mahaleel left Proton because he was offered an "inferior position". Malaysiakini in its report said that the Tun said Tengku Mahaleel did not agree with the terms of the new two-year contract offered by Proton as he felt the terms were inferior to his previous ones. When asked whether Mahaleel had failed Proto, the Tun said ::

"Under him, Proton has been profitable with an accumulated cash of over RM4 billion and had even used RM1.8 billion to build the Tanjung Malim plant without outside borrowing and without asking the government for help. "I don't know whether that is considered as failure."

Was the Tun being cynical when he added :: "I am quite sure that Proton will do better with the new management," The Tun is obviously ever loyal and kind to the very end.

| ¶ 7/26/2005 03:09:00 PM

Maha Gets the Boot

Proton Holdings Bhd's CEO, Tengku Tan Sri Mahaleel Tengku Ariff, who recently controversially claimed that the gomen was not doing enough for Proton has been given the boot by the Board of the national carmaker. His contract which will expire on 30th Sept will not be renewed. This has been reported by the SUN.
At a hurriedly convened press conference, Proton chairman Datuk Mohamed Azlan Hashim announced ::

"Under the terms of the current arrangements, the current group CEO will therefore be retiring with effect from the end of September. Meanwhile, with effect from tomorrow (July 26), he will be on leave till the end of his tenure of Sept 30."

Asked if the board was unhappy with Mahaleel's performance, he replied: "No, not the case at all, it's just a case of not renewing his contract."
On whether Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad would stay on as special adviser, he said "there is no doubt about it". As to Mahaleel's replacement, who could be a sole candidate or a group of candidates, the chairman said ::

"It can be from within, it can be from outside. It can be Malaysian, it can be non-Malaysian, it can be female, male; it doesn't matter. What's important is to clearly understand what are the requirements for the company and, thereafter, to meet those requirements."

Now that his favourite for the Proton CEO job is being given the boot, the question is whether the Tun would want to stay on as Proton Advisor?
BERNAMA also has a report on the removal, here.

| ¶ 7/26/2005 12:00:00 AM

Sunday, July 24, 2005

The NEP, The NDP, The NNP or NNA

With a significant gomen regime change after the riots of May 1969, the new regime responded by bringing forth the New Economic Policy [NEP]. This NEP had two prongs ::
1. Poverty eradication regardless of race
2. Restructuring Malaysian society to eliminate the identification of race with economic function
The ultimate objective was to create the conditions for national unity by reducing interethnic resentment due to socioeconomic disparities.
When the NEP was first introduced, we are told that Malays were only earning 44 sen for each ringgit earned by the non-Malays. The economic equity held by Bumiputeras/Malays then was only 1.5% to 2% of the total. The NEP was envisage to run its course for a period of 20 years till 1990. Those who formulated the NEP thought that by then the Bumiputras/Malays would possess 30% of economic equity. Thus, most if not all Malaysians could identified with the noble aims of the NEP. Didn't the first prong clearly stated that poverty eradication would be regardless of race and certainly there was a need to correct the economic imbalance.
The first prong of the NEP moved on well and it was reported in 1990 that the poverty rate had been brought down from 49% in 1970 to about 16%-17% in 1990. But as for the second prong, the Bumiputras/Malays economic equity was raised only to 18% or 19% in 1990 and in the 15 years after that, we are now told that there has been little change! Of course there was the economic downturns in the 1980's as well as the recent one in the late 1990's. What happened? There has been no regime change during the period when the Tun was in-charge till his stepping down in October 2003. With the spectacular achievements of increasing the equity from 1.5% to 18% or so in a period of 20 years ie 1970 to 1990; many would have thought that the 30% equity would have been achieveable in the 15 years after 1990. It is quite pointless pointing fingers at anyone for the lack of monitoring or the lack of damage control or the lack of implementing corrective measures during those intervening 15 years. But one of the BN component party chief has urged the gomen "To Study Causes Of Malay Economic Failure". We are now told that the average monthly income for a Malay is only RM2,870; for an Indian, over RM3,000 and for a Chinese RM4,270! How can this be so, many may now think. In 1990, the NEP was transformed into the NDP or the National Development Policy but the objectives remained. It looks like the NEP will undergo another reincarnation of sorts and soon we will be seeing the NNA or New National Agenda [more of this later].
The recently concluded UMNO General Assembly, apart from the sobbing session by a senior minister and numerous calls for thousands apologies to the Tun, has also revealed some of the reasons for the present state of affairs. Najib pointed out that one of the major problems in developing Malay entrepreneurs since the 1970s had been their attitude of wanting to get rich quickly but refusing to work for it. He termed this the "Ali Baba" attitude. He called for an attitudinal change and for the creation of "Glocal Malays". Najib said the five elements or actions to be implemented in churning out "Glocal Malays" were ::
a. acquiring knowledge and education,
b. generating the economy through development,
c. a deep appreciation of the religion,
c.strengthening resilience through cultural transformation, and
e. to consolidate the "Glocal Malay" politics based on idealism of the party [UMNO].
This proposal of his received the strong support of the Youth, Wanita and Puteri wings which in unison vowed to step up efforts to achieve the objective. Pak Lah also spoke about this "Ali Baba" attitude and said that the gomen, while encouraging the Malays to embrace meritocracy, would continue to give them certain opportunities which they must not waste and that the leakage/kebocoran had to be stopped. He said ::

"It is not just about getting it and then the next day selling it or letting it be handled by somebody else. That is what I call leakage."

Pak Lah has high hopes for "Glocal Malays" and that "crutches" won't be needed in the future, for he continued to say ::

"We want to give them a chance to do something to prove that they are able to make good."
"That doesn't arise at all. Once we carry out the proposals that have been made, I believe that we won't be needing any more crutches."

Pak Lah was equally optimistic that in the re-introduction of the NEP in the country's future development agenda [now being talked of as the NNA-New National Agenda], the gomen will never resort, as was in the past, to any kind of action that took away what belonged to others. This is easier said than done as things are not the same as it was before in the 1970's. Then with the economic boom with double digit growth that the country then enjoyed, creating a bigger economic cake was possible. Now there is also globalisation to contend with and the challenge for the economic pie could easily come from outside and not just be within.
The AP controversy has also shown up as another reason for the lack of progress in the past 15 years. The uneven distribution of wealth creation opportunities have created "Melayu Baru" entreprenuers like those who have been labelled "AP Kings" who are said to be able to compete with and even break some monopolies. These new millionaires or even billionaires are said to have homes like these, they have certainly arrive. But if you should have travelled to areas of Malaysia where the padi-planters and fishermen are to be found, one would have to admit that little has changed since the 70's. No wonder there has been mentioned of uneven playing fields when these two groups have to compete. Others may chose to see the uneven playing field as somewhere else. With this uneven distribution and uneven concentration, it is also obvious that the "critical mass" mentioned which is needed to propel the Bumiputras/Malays forward is difficult to attain. The call for sacrificing the “sacred cow” for the greater good is heartening.
Call it whatever you may but certainly "money politics", "political corruption", "plain corruption" or whatever; this is another reason for the stagnation. It is remarkable that there are so many voices calling for the fight against this menace and then there are the vows made to see it completely eradicated.
It is obvious that those at the General Assembly have a good idea of what has gone wrong along the way. And it is good to note that they have come out with plans to put things back on track. There were calls for drastic improvements in capabilities and for competitiveness to compete in a more challenging environment or to be braver, stronger and smarter and not be rent seekers. But as many would agreed attitudinal changes are most difficult to achieve. Pak Lah, in his winding up speech on the last day of the General Assembly, wants the Malays to give their best in whatever field they indulge in if they were to emerge as a race with integrity. He said ::

"If (they are) fishermen, become the best (fishermen). If they are teachers, then become the best and if they are in the corporate sector, be the best corporate figures."

All Malaysians should join in to wish them well and achieve all that has been mentioned over the past many days. In the days to come it won't be about we competing with each other but the competition will be coming from the rest of the world. For already the challenge from China, India and even Thailand have relegated us to a lower rung down the ladder of competitiveness. Who was it who said :: "Many hands make light work"? We should not waste any more time in getting to do what has to be done, done. Let's get on with the NNA as 2020 is only another 15 years away.

For those who want to know what others have to say about the NEP-NNA, check out this links::

| ¶ 7/24/2005 08:59:00 PM

Saturday, July 23, 2005

Words, Only Words

We had Melayu Baru,
Then Towering Malays,
Then Glocal Malays.

We had the NEP,
Then the NDP,
Then the NCP/NNA/NEP2.

We had the quota system,
Then the meritocracy system,
Then the discrimination system,
Then the ........

| ¶ 7/23/2005 11:39:00 AM

Thursday, July 21, 2005

New Bomb Blasts in London

Bombers have again targeted London's transport system - with up to four explosions reported, say Sky News.
A Victoria Line train passenger said he spoke to an Italian man who witnessed an explosion just after the train arrived at the platform."He told me he had seen a man carrying a rucksack which suddenly exploded. It was a minor explosion but enough to blow open his rucksack. Everyone rushed from the carriage. People evacuated very quickly. There was no panic."

There is also a report that there has also been an incident on a bus in Hackney, East London.

The British Prime Minister is expected to make a statement at 3.15pm, London time.

| ¶ 7/21/2005 10:07:00 PM

Be A Virgin, Get A Free Tertiary Education

A Ugandan MP [Member of Parliament] has pledged to reward girls from Kayunga district for their chastity by paying their university fees if they are virgins when they leave school reported Reuters.
MP Sulaiman Madada said any girl in his district who wanted to take part in the scheme aimed at promoting girls' education would be given a gynecological examination by health workers to check they were virgins. His district has one of the Uganda's worst AIDS rates, with more than 80 percent of families losing at least one member to the disease.
Uganda used to have an HIV infection rates as high as 30% but a government education campaign has pushed down infection rates to around 6%. MP Sulaiman offer is another attempt to bring the rates further down. But will it be effective as he has not made a similar offer to boys in the Kayunga district. But then, again it maybe because he has yet to find a reasonable method of determining a boy's virginity. Now will hymenoplasty become popular in Kayunga in the not distant future.

| ¶ 7/21/2005 09:36:00 PM

The Peg, The Peg

It is official, the USD-Malaysian Ringgit peg has been removed. The peg has been scrapped with immediate effect. A managed float against a basket of currencies will be used instead.

The central bank's governor, Tan Sri Zeti Akhtar Aziz, says the managed float would be "positive to the economy". So there is no reason to worry, right?

BNM now says :: "Changes in the international and regional financial and economic environment have made it important for Malaysia to have a stable exchange rate against its major trading partners, in particular the regional countries."

Obviously, China has also removed its Yuan-USD peg. China has been reported as having revalue the Yuan by 2.1%. The yuan's value from now on would be linked to a basket of currencies of China's main trading partners. Beijing has finally given in to pressure from the US to abandon the Yuan's peg of 8.28 per dollar. The US has asked for a 10% revaluation but for now the new rate will be 8.11 per USD.

Will de-pegging now removed what has been referred to as our "economic paralysis" or have we waited too long and missed the "window period"? Earlier in the year the Tun called for de-pegging, the peg was a measure taken by him on 1st Sept 1998. Even his nemesis, one Anwar, also called for the removal of the peg in May 2005. Last month MIER suggested that there was no need for Malaysia to wait for China to de-peg first.

| ¶ 7/21/2005 08:16:00 PM

AP BushBeating

Of late there has been so much furore about the APs and the Protons and the Rafidah-Mahathir public blowup. All these have even resulted in bringing tears to the eyes of Malaysia's "Iron Lady". But is everyone talking about the same thing. Now even with the release of the AP holder list and the fact that there are 2 kinds of APs, what else do we really know. All the hot airs going around have been mere speculations. All the talk talk about the AP Kings and the uneven distributions and the amount of money made each AP is again mere speculation, is each AP really worth RM30,000 to RM40,00 to the holder. Are all APs freely tradeable? Are APs really meant for Bumis only with the sole aim of promoting and providing opportunities for Bumiputera entrepreneurs in the automotive sector? Or as Rafidah pointed out, 30% are for Non-Bumis? Already there are some questioning why there are no Indian Malaysians among the AP holders.

Even the reason why Pak Lah has released the list which is just for the year 2005 is uncertain. Is the reason for the release to correct public perception and just that alone? Or is the reason to stop the public as well as the media from further questioning the AP issue? Or are there other motives? After the release of the AP list, already there are those saying "Pak Lah, the whole country (is) behind you" and even the Opposition leader calls it "Pak Lah's most significant and important action in his 21 months of premiership to walk the talk of a clean, transparent and incorruptible administration."

What do we really want to know about the APs and how they are dished out? For me, i would be interested to have the answers to the following ::

What were the original aims and objectives of having APs? Have there been changes since? If yes, the reasons why.
Apart from open APs and franchise APs, are there more different types of APs? Are all forms of APs tradeable?
What are the criteria for selection of AP holders? Why are some given open APs and others franchise APs and some given both?
Once the holders are provided with the APs, how are they meant to be utilised?
How are the proper utilisation of these APs by their holders monitored? Or there is no monitoring, once given?
Has there been instances of misuse and abuse of the APs by their holders?
Have these APs achieved the aims and objectives they were meant for?
The full list of AP holders since 1970, if not possible the full list since 1987.
How do these APs affect the performance and the future of Proton?
Will removal or proper distribution of these APs result in Proton becoming a better national car?
Will the resignation of the MINIster concerned help the present mess?

Unless the MITI, the Minister concerned and the government choose to be truly transparent and accountable over the entire AP issue, we will be talking, speculating and rumour mongering till the "fat lady decides to sing"! People, don't you see the need for us to have a "Malaysian Freedom of Information" act?

| ¶ 7/21/2005 04:28:00 PM

Wednesday, July 20, 2005

APologise, APologise, APologise

First it was Zam who wanted Mak Cik Pida to apologise to the Tun for her "rather discourteous" statement on the AP issue. He wanted Rafidah to apologise before the 56th Umno general assembly. She was defiant and said she could never be rude to the Tun, her "father figure". She even dissolved into tears and said that claims that she was rude, hurts. She also said she would not resign.
The calls for her to apologise are getting more and stronger ::

"I feel it is appropriate that she (Rafidah) apologise. Although Tun (Dr Mahathir) is no longer in the party or in the government, he is one whom we should not forget because of his struggles and contribution to the party, said the movement's [Puteri UMNO] Assistant Secretary, Bibi Sharliza Mohd Khalid.
"That letter is rather formal, just like a government letter... there must be a way. Just like we treat our father, you can't apologise to your father in a letter," said Suraya Yaacob who is Kedah state assemblyman for Sungai Tiang and Puteri UMNO's Assistant Treasurer.
"Just as in a family, apologising does not mean that she (Rafidah) is guilty, but more of respect to your elder member. It is like a child asking an apology from the father, even though the child has not done anything wrong," said Puteri Umno executive councillor for Jelutong Division Che Puteh Abu Bakar.

A dissenter was Kelana Jaya Puteri Umno division chief Norhazlin Ahmad, she believes the issue is already resolved when Rafidah sent her letter to explain the issue to Dr Mahathir.
Zam has also reiterated his call for Rafidah to apologise to the Tun. While he has nothing against Rafidah, Zam said he was concerned with her disrespectful reply to Mahathir on the AP issue. Zam also mentioned that he was approached by several people at the KLCC and Ampang Park on Tuesday, including non-Malays, who supported him in making the call to Rafidah.
The AP issue also featued prominently during the UMNO Youth assembly. UMNO youth information chief Datuk Azimi Daim wants the gomen to give serious attention to the AP issue as it was burdening consumers. He cited his own experience when purchasing a RM160,000 car. A Perlis delegate Ismail Hashim said that he was shocked to learn from the newspapers that a few individuals had been awarded so many APs. Instead of just the 4 AP Kings being given all those APs, if they had been given to 25 Umno Youth members, he said there would have been many more young Malay corporate figures.
Meanwhile Mak Cik Pida is adamant that she is not quitting. The STAR reported that she almost lost her cool when the question was posed to her after she delivered her keynote address at the Wanita assembly. The report also quoted her as saying that she had had a good night’s sleep despite the crying session on national TV on Tuesday. On going home after the tearful event, she cried twice more; once when her husband asked about her day and next when the daughter called up, anxious to know what had happened. Despite all these she is definitely not resigning.

| ¶ 7/20/2005 11:28:00 PM

The Test of Truly Great Leaders

These are the things UMNO deputy President, Najib, had to tell UMNO leaders regarding the test of truly great leaders ::

The test of truly great leaders would come after they no longer wielded power.
If these leaders ruled by fear, the loyalty of their followers would be transient while those who were respected would earn the everlasting loyalty of their followers.
Truly greaty leaders when they have a little power, they should use it to serve the people and help those facing hardship and in need of theri service.
Truly great leaders should serve the people cheerfully and fairly without favouring anyone.
Truly great leaders would concern themselves with all problems and going to the ground to meet the people.
Truly great leaders should serve to the best of their abilities and fight the cause with sincerity.
Truly great leaders, God willing, if not in this world, they will receive their reward in the hereafter.
Truly great UMNO leaders, in carrying the torch of UMNO's cause, must subordinate themselves to the party because the party was of greater importance to any individual.
Truly great leaders must "walk the talk"

One wonders when he was saying all these stuff, who did he have in mind.

| ¶ 7/20/2005 09:36:00 AM

Tuesday, July 19, 2005

MITI denies Wrong Doing, Syed Azman Reveals Himself and We Have All Been Wrong

According to an AP [Associated Press] report, Malaysia's trade minister has denied any wrongdoing in issuing tens of thousands of special permits to import cars, and tearfully rejected speculation that the controversy has strained her ties with former leader Mahathir Mohamad. Minister of International Trade and Industry, Rafidah Aziz, was shown in tears on the 8pm TV7 news. The MINIster denied that there was any patronage involved in approval of the permits. She said she wasn't part of the committee that approved the permits. The committee comprised senior officials from MITI who "followed all policies very clearly, very transparently and very objectively; for some odd reason she even mentioned that there was a Chinese in the committee! According to the AP report she said ::

"I have nothing to do with any holder (of the permits), I have no relations, direct or indirect with any holders."

According to a Malaysiakini report the MINIster said that the AP scheme will continue as "at the moment this is the most workable system." Others like the Malaysian Society for Transparency and Integrity has called for a more transparent system and want the present system to be suspended while an independent inquiry is conducted to check out where the present system has gone worng. BN Backbenchers Club chairman Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad has also called for an explanation of the criteria used for deciding on how many of APs are to be given and to whom they are given. Meanwhile MIER Executive Director Dr Mohamed Ariff urged policy-makers to re-examine the criteria for their award to ensure that there was no abuse of the system and also called for a monitoring system to ensure those given APs use them for what they were meant to be.

In a twist to Tuesday's news reports, one of the so-called AP Kings, has come out to explain himself after three major newspapers published the photograph of someone else and claiming it to be his. According to a BERNAMA report, Datuk Seri Syed Azman Syed Ibrahim said that those thousands of APs mentioned were given to his company, Weststar Motorsport Sdn Bhd, and they are franchise APs and not open APs. He further said that without the AP system his company could have sold much more Honda and Chevrolet cars in Malaysia itself with its very aggressive and attractive marketing strategies done in partnership with DRB-Hicom. If that is the case why accept those damn APs? Syed Azman further clarified that he entered the auto business in 1994 after serving the army as an intelligence officer for 13 years and was never with MITI! As for the other 2 partners in Weststar, Mohd Haniff was a Miti officer who joined the company after his retirement from government service and Datuk Azzuddin Ahmad is a retired lieutenant general who was the former director of Military Intelligence. For more on Datuk Seri Syed Azman, his partners and Weststar, read the BERNAMA report in full.

And now for the blockbuster twist of all. The Opposition leader has just discovered that we have all got the figures wrong, the 67,158 APs released by the Prime Minister’s Offfice was for one year only ie 2005 only and not for the years 1970 to 2005 ie a period of 35 years!!! In the words of Lim Kit Siang, "I am utterly flabbergasted by the mind-boggling realisation that the 67,158 APs released by the Prime Minister’s Office yesterday was for 2005 and not for the past 35 years as I and many were under the impression – which means that the four AP Kings stand to make some RM850 million this year, at the average worth of RM30,000 per AP." The Opposition leader now wants Pak Lah to to make public the full list of the AP holders and the total number of APs issued to each for every year going back to 1970!!! Will we see a total of 2.5 million APs having been issued during those 35 years!!! Or could the Opposition leader be wrong!!! Check out the figure here and here.

| ¶ 7/19/2005 10:13:00 PM

Launch of PanduCermat.org.my

The Transport Ministry has officially launched the PanduCermat.org.my website and are inviting those with cameras or handphone cameras to help nab traffic offenders.

Photos of traffic offenders can be uploaded to the Hall of Shame page of the website. Photos of exemplary road users can be uploaded to the Hall of Merit page.

But before one can upload photos, one has to register and then login. Both of these can be done in a couple of seconds.

The website also provides road safety issues, road safety information and tips. For the kiddies there are road safety related games.

| ¶ 7/19/2005 09:14:00 PM

Monday, July 18, 2005

Names of AP Recipients Revealed

The PM's office has revealed the names of AP recipients. Check this out to see whether one's name is there.

According to the list provided, 4 people, Tan Sri Nasimuddin SM Amin [ Naza Konsortium Sdn Bhd], Datuk Syed Azman Syed Ibrahim [formerly of MITI], Datuk Mohd Haniff Abdul Aziz [formerly of MITI] and Datuk Azzuddin Ahmad have been given more than 25,000 Approved Permits (APs) to import cars into the country since 1997. Nasimuddin, alone, received 9,412 APs mainly under Naza Kia Sdn Bhd, while the other 3 received a total of 16,214 APs under several companies.
Since early 1970, a total of 67,158 APs have been issued till this year.
Now we are made aware that there are two types of APs, the open AP and the franchise AP. The former allows the the permit holders to import new and used cars from any sources but the issuance of such APs was terminated in 1988. Since then only franchise APs are issued and these are issued to companies, which have exclusive agency agreements direct with foreign car manufacturers.

We are also told that Nasimuddin's name first appeared on the list in 1988 when he was given 3,112 APs under the name of Naza Konsortium Sdn Bhd. In 1997 alone, he was given a total of 8,925 in three blocks. Thus he would have received a total of 12,037 APs. The earlier mentioned figure was 9,412 (see above) just don't compute! Thus of the total of 67,158 APs issued so far, Nasimuddin appears to have received the lion share of some 17.9%! The other 2 formerly of MITI may have started late, having first received APs in 2002, but they appeared to have made up for the late start by accumulating 15,448 to date. In 2002, they received 2 blocks of APs of 7,603 and 5669; this year they received another 2 blocks of 1280 and 896. Of the total issued, the duo has received a whopping 23%!

Looks like Mak Cik Pida and her MITI have lots to explained but when asked today regarding her letter to the Tun, she said ::

"For me... (the matter) has been settled, as the explanation given is clear, concise and complete. I hope with the explanation, the matter would not arise again."

Have we truly heard the last of the AP Saga?

UPDATE

BERNAMA has an updated report and the TOP 10 AP RECIPIENTS for 2005 are ::

1. Datuk Seri Syed Azman Syed Ibrahim, Datuk Mohd Haniff Abd Aziz, Datuk Azzuddin Ahmad (15,759 APs).

2. Tan Sri Nasimuddin SM Amin (12,524)

3. Berjaya Group Berhad, Sime Darby Berhad and Tan Sri Vincent Tan (8,573)

4. Datuk Ayob Saad, Datuk Dr Soh Thiam Hong and Soh Ah Gong (2,496)

5. DRB-Hicom Berhad (2,148)

6. Tunku Datuk Zainol Tengku Izham and Ramzia Arshad (2,025)

7. Zahari Jaffar, Muhammad Fadhil Ahmad (1,807)

8. Datuk Ilyas Mohamed and Zahran Ahmad (1,237)

9. Zahari Jaffar, Muhammad Fadhil Ahmad and Razak Al-Malique Hussain (1,080)

10. Muhammad Faizal Zainol, Zatizam Ghazali and Faridah Ghazali (1,026)

i was under the impression that the AP, issued by the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI), was introduced in 1970 with the objective of promoting and providing opportunities for Bumiputera entrepreneurs in the automotive sector. One wonders how did names like Tan Sri Vincent Tan, Datuk Dr Soh Thiam Hong and Soh Ah Gong made it to the top 10 list! And the total number of APs given to the top 10 amounted to 47,649. So the Tun wasn't wrong when he questioned how 20 companies were given the bulk of more than 50,000 APs. Bear in mind that the gomen's objective was to assist as many Bumiputera businessmen as possible and the APs were meant to be spreaded out as much as possible to achieve this end.

Correction
Many may have thought that 67,158 was the total number of APs issued for the period 1970 to 2005 but it is actually for this year alone ie 2005. What is the actual figure for the 35 year period that the APs have been in existence is not known.

| ¶ 7/18/2005 09:20:00 PM

Words, Only Words

Suspended=Digantungkan
Suicide Bomber=Penyerang Bom Berani Mati
Suicidal Bomb Attack=Serangan Bom Berani Mati
Losing Millionaire Gambler=Pejudi Jutawan Berani Kalah?
Does demonstrate my poor grasp of BM. Can someone or Dewan Bahasa & Pustaka help or provide better word equivalent?

| ¶ 7/18/2005 09:33:00 AM

Gambler's Luck or Skill

Casino gambling never been much in the news but it has been in the local news big time with the shocking relevation of the gambling debts of our former Sabah Big MINIster. The Sunday STAR had a series of articles on gambling and casinos and how Osu frittered away those millions.
The STAR also mentioned of at least 10 other Malaysian high rollers, ranging from wives of prominent businessmen to Datuks who owe casinos in Britain and Australia between RM250,000 and millions of ringgit! It even named Datin Arina Abdullah, the former wife of a member of the royalty as the other gambler who was given two weeks to set aside an order granted by the Penang High Court to recover the English casino debts from her. We wonder who are the others. These gamblers and their debts would probably just be regarded as private matters and probably you won't find them officially discussed during the forth coming UMNO assemblies.
All these have been talks of loosing gamblers, let's talk about a winner. And the winner is Australian Joe Hachem, the new world champion of no-limit hold'em poker. A few years ago, a rare blood disorder robbed the former chiropractor of the dexterity needed to manipulate bones and muscles. Three years ago he became a professional poker player. Yesterday, after almost 14 hours and a AUD$40 million final bet, he crushed the last of 5619 competitors at Las Vegas' Binion's casino and became the new world champion. Our local losers might want some winnning tips from Joe. The hand that won Joe Hachem the championship ::

| ¶ 7/18/2005 12:50:00 AM

Sunday, July 17, 2005

Plain Talk

In his Plain Talk column today, Brendan P, asked 2 questions of Malaysians in the light of the 7/7 London blasts. Glancing through the article, a couple of things caught my eye.
The 1st question was ::
How would Malaysians have reacted if terror visited us just like it did Londoners?
Here mention is made of a survey conducted by the Daily Telegraph which showed that 90 per cent of those surveyed took pride in the way ordinary Londoners responded to the bombings and that only 1% the respondents intended to change the way they lived. The respondents couldn't have been more wrong, if only had they known then what the British gomen has in store for them. They need only to read this article :: Nothing can ever be the same again in the Observer. As for Malaysians, would we have responded like Londoners with the unity of purpose in the case of such terror? It is anybody's guess, but i am sure Malaysian heroes will rise to the occasion and respond appropriately. Can our gomen take any pro-active measures to ensure such? Brendan P thinks so, he mentioned that only this very week Pak Lah has implored parents and teachers to ensure that children of different races eat, live and play together. Can our children of different races really eat, live and play together? Will their parents really allow and encourage them to do so even they want to? Can we really have real unity when we have among our MPs, some who will resort to calling others to leave the country whenever there is a disagreement?

The 2nd question was ::
How would the emergency services in this country have dealt with a bombing incident in the main artery of Kuala Lumpur?
We don't have to go pretty far back in time to know how well prepared our emergency services are in the face of disasters. Remember the 12/26 Tsunami and the aftermath, i don't think things have changed much. At the recent session with local councils, civil defence, public transport operators, and port authority officials, the PDRM was pleasantly surprised that the public transport operators did not have a standard operating procedure for their employees to follow in a disaster. i wonder if the polis themselves have a rapid response procedure in such a scenario. And has our emergency services got in place procedures for rapid evacuation of occupants of highrise buildings for in case of any terror attacks those twin towers are very likely targets. Incidentally has there been any response by the authorities to the concerns expressed and problems faced by wheelchair-confined Peter Tan and those mobility-challenged?

| ¶ 7/17/2005 08:25:00 PM

AP Abuse

According to the NST, some companies with Approved Permits (APs) to import performance-enhanced luxury cars are blatantly flouting conditions of their permits. The cars they are to import are specially tuned-up so that their performance are better than the standard ones.
But these companies according to the NST report, bring in cars which have only cosmetic changes, fitted with body kits with no modifications made to the engine, transmission, suspension, brakes, meters, exhaust and radiator. Further more the value of these cosmetically-enhanced cars are underdeclared resulting in lower custom duties and import taxes. The companies are allowed to rebrand these cars also. These "tuned-up" cars can therefore be cheaper than standard models brought in by the original franchise holders.
The NST further reported that some gomen officials said that late 2004, following discussions on the National Automotive Policy [NAP], Pak Lah expressed strong views that the AP policy should be reviewed. The revamped NAP has been presented to the Cabinet some two weeks ago and is awaiting finetuning before it is announced to the automotive industry and the public. Will the AP approving policy, which has probably resulted in many instant millionaires, be also reviewed and become more transparent and less abused? Lets wait for Mak Cik Pida to come back from her European holiday. Incidentally the one responsible for bringing the AP saga into the limelight is also away on a European holiday, his destination being Italy.

| ¶ 7/17/2005 06:33:00 PM

Meritocracy, not Victimisation

Pak Lah has this to say on the meritocracy sysetm ::

"I don't agree if meritocracy is equated with victimisation of the Malays. It's not Umno's intention to victimise the Malays. We are Malays. Umno is Malay. I'm also Malay, why should we victimise our own race."

Stressing that the government would continue with the meritocracy policy, he said he did not believe that the Malays were so weak that they could not succeed and that the Malays should not be afraid of it.

| ¶ 7/17/2005 06:01:00 PM

PLKN Woes::2nd Edition

The first edition of the PLKN resulted in plenty of woes and complaints from participants, parents and non-BN politicians. Soon after it was over the gomen and the one in-charge of the PLKN promised that there will be changes after feedback was obtained. Soon after, the programme was proclaimed a huge success in achieving its aim of promoting national integration and unity. The papers brought out stories of those who praised the programme and spoke of how much they have learned of the other ethnic groups in the country, a couple even found love while undergoing training.
For the 2nd edition, the DPM promised that all the rough edges have been smoothened out and that it will be better than before. Parents, participants and even the opposition had little to say about the PLKN this time around at the start of this year. So all was quiet on the PLKN front. Then May came and with it the court case of PLKN shirker, Ahmad Hafizal Ahmad Fauzi 18 of Kampung Titi Serong Perlis, he was found guilty. His sentence a fine of RM600 or two weeks jail. After spending a day in the polis lockup, he was freed after some kind soul paid his fine. The people were up in arms claiming that his sentence was excessive. The PLKN suffered a blackeye.
June came and the PLKN again was in the spotlight, this time probably for the wrong reason. PLKN trainee Noraini Abu Bakar claimed that she had suffered a skin condition after PLKN training. She painted the PLKN as pretty heartless in not allowing to leave camp despite her condition. A Royal person, no-less than the Pahang Sultan, came out to offer help. She was finally seen and diagnosed by a gomen dermatologist as having SLE--systemic lupus erythromatosis. The general conclusion was that she probably had the condition even prior to her PLKN training.
Group 3 of the 2nd edition reported for training recently and more embarassment greeted them and the programme. At one camp, Kem Karisma [appropriate name], contractors and suppliers gathered to demand payment for their part in the construction of the kem, this was reported by the NST. Then over 40 Perak school bus operators who provided transport services to PLKN trainees in six camps between last December and March this year claimed that they were owed RM30,000. The main sub-contractor of this PLKN transport services, based in Manjung claimed that he has yet to receive payment from the main contractor. In the meanwhile the bus operators are left in the lurch and have to fork out their own money to pay for the fuel, drivers’ wages and maintenance of their buses. Probably we will be hearing soon enough that the main contractor has yet to receive money from the main main contractor.
July also saw a father claiming that his ex-PLKN trainee daughter, Nurul Ashikin, died due to causes linked to her PLKN training. BERNAMA reported her as having had leukaemia.
The latest batch [Group 3] of PLKN trainees also saw the biggest number of shirkers. About 16,000 out of 29,569 selected participants have gone AWOL. The usual warnings of the penalities for not reporting for training is being given. But the PLKN deputy director Omar Abdul Rahman said the situation was not a cause for alarm as it did not mean the absentees were refusing to attend the programme. [See the spin coming] He added the PLKN had expected a large number of deferment applications because a large number of trainees were preparing to join universities, matriculation courses or Form Six. One can only wonder why these deferments have not been earlier settled. The PLKN department should have been very much aware of this. Lots of those selected are said to have not received their letters as the company in charge of delivery, Percetakan Nasional Malaysia Bhd, had insisted on using registered mail accompanied by a completed form for every trainee.
It is quite obvious that the PLKN department has not ironed out many of the problems faced by the programme. And some of the promises given by the DPM are empty ones. The notion that the trainees and parents are all for PLKN training has been put to rest as shown by the more than 50% abstentees from Group 3. There are obviously also abstentees from Groups 1 & 2, but who's telling. The authorities should also take it upon themselves to screen the trainees once they are selected instead of the present circumstances where the onus is on the selected to go for medical screening. This would save the PLKN from embarrassing situations like this lady with SLE and the other with leukaemia.
If the programme is to continue, as surely it will, at least till the 12th general election; more need to be done to ensure its smooth running or the taxpayers' RM500 to 800 million `spent annually on it would be wasted. That money could be better spent on other more worthwhile endeavours and programmes.

| ¶ 7/17/2005 03:42:00 PM

Saturday, July 16, 2005

"Excellent Personalities of Youths"

Tomorrow's Debat Perdana wil discuss the above topic.
Moderator :: Datuk Johan Jaaffar
Panel Members ::

Royal Prof Ungku Aziz, former VC, Universiti Malaya
Dr Tan Seng Giaw, DAP deputy chairman
Datin Paduka Sharifah Mazlina Syed Abdul Kadir, lecturer from UiTM Faculty of Sports Science and Recreation
S. Murugesan, MIC Youth Secretary

The Debat will be live on RTM TV1 at 900pm

| ¶ 7/16/2005 02:59:00 PM

Wednesday, July 13, 2005

London Blasts::Suicide Bombers involved?

It is appearing that last Thursday London bomb blasts may have been the results of suicide bombers. BBC reports that British polis investigating the London bombs are now focusing on finding those who masterminded the suspected suicide attacks that have killed at least 52. Tthree British men of Pakistani descent are said to have died carrying out the first attacks of their kind in the UK. What happened to the 4th man who might have been involved in the Picadilly Line train is uncertain.
If what the British polis believed is true then Britain has had her first suicide bombers and already the fear that there may be a second suicide bombing squad ready to strike is there.

| ¶ 7/13/2005 02:48:00 PM

Monday, July 11, 2005

Words of Wisdom from the PM

"Kalau kain itu carik, terkoyak sedikit masih dapat dijahit semula dan boleh dipakai. Tetapi jika sudah terkoyak rabak, tidak boleh dipakai langsung."
(A slightly torn cloth can still be sewn and worn, but a badly torn cloth is irreparable and has to be replaced with a new one.)

Pak Lah said these words at the monthly gathering of the Prime Minister's Department. He was referring to the need for gomen agencies entrusted with projects to monitor them and ensuring that they are completed successfully. He said monitoring must be a long term and continuous process to ensure problems were immediately resolved, although he acknowledged that making adjustments was time-consuming.

Knowing that the maintenance culture of this nation is also weak, he should have also continued and reminded that the process of monitoring and maintenance should be continued even after a project has been completed. If only our previous helmsmen had such thinking and had these words of wisdom to guide them, many of the policies and projects of the gomen would have been fruitful or even more successful. Instead we have what we are facing now. Failing national car project, misused of APs, failing Malay IPTS, falling flyovers, non-achievement of economic targets, the rentier/broker economy, unemployable graduates etc etc.

| ¶ 7/11/2005 04:52:00 PM

Meritocracy=Discrimination+Oppression Bhg2

The MB of Johore said that the meritocracy system implemented for student entry into public universities created problems and could be considered as a system associated with discrimination against and oppression of Malay students of IPTs. He said the system did not provide for a level playing field and instead had deprived thousands of Malay students in the rural areas who lacked access to quality education.
Taking note of this, Pak Lah said that anyone who felt so could forward their views to the Minister of Higher Education for discussion. He added that whatever system implemented was meant to benefit the students. Being a PM for all, surely he must have meant all students. He went on to say :: "There is no intention to oppress or discriminate against anyone."
As we are on the subject of education, there is this recent matter concerning the failure of many Malay-managed IPTS. This matter has been discussed at the recent Malay Private Higher Education Convention. The chairman of the Congress, Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, called on the government to support Malay IPTS as they had the right to be assisted just like the other IPTS. He said ::

"I believe the government doesn't have to give anything that is extraordinary to the Malay IPTS. The Malay IPTS only want the government to provide funding for students in the form of loans."

As for the reasons for the failure of Malay IPTS, the news reports are not clear as what was found during the congress but the Congress had the folowing resolutions to pass on to the MINIstry of Higher Education and the gomen ::

at least RM300 million to Mara for sponsoring 30,000 students studying in Malay private institutions of higher learning (IPTS).
PTPTN aka National Higher Education Fund Corporation to sponsor diploma students at the rate of RM9,000 a year for non-technical courses and RM10,000 for technical.
The gomen to expand the PTPTN fund by issuing Education Bonds which could be sold to financial institutions.
The gomen to adopt commercial banking systems to provide loans directly to students with the government absorbing the difference in interest rates.
The gomen to provide soft loans or grants for infrastructure development at Malay IPTS as had been given to several non-Malay ones.
The gomen to send a portion of first degree programme students and all diploma programme students to be given to IPTS, and that Malay IPTS be given all students sponsored by the Public Service Department, Mara and other government agencies, at the certificate, foundation, and A levels or their equivalent.
The gomen to ensure that gomen owned institutions or Mara and its subsidiaries do not compete with or discriminate against Malay IPTS.
Minister concerned not to change policies too often as this would result in the discrimination of Malay IPTS
Minister concerned to formulate an integrated policy to assure the future of Malay IPTS.

It appears that the purpose of the Congress was not to find ways and means of self-help by the IPTS to survive but rather an exercise to get more handouts from the gomen to ensure their survival. If that is the case, the Malay IPTS will be at the tender mercies of gomen for their future existence. The gomen certainly has much to do to get the Malay IPTS to stand on their own feet.

| ¶ 7/11/2005 02:37:00 PM

Sunday, July 10, 2005

Why The Malays are Lagging::DPM

The Deputy Prime Minister today admonished a group of Malays for derailing the economic progress of the community, according to an NST report. According to the DPM, the Malays would have achieved their economic targets long ago if not for this rentier or broker class. He said ::

"Once they get them [kontract & lesen], they do not operate them themselves. They want quick money and so they rent it out."

When launching the entrepreneurship programme, Gerak Ushawan, in early May this year, the DPM encouraged the bumis to emulate the Chinese entrepreneurs who set long-term goals and combined them with 'elbow grease' to sustain their businesses over generations.

The DPM now says :: "We have to be more careful in giving out contracts from now." Such things are always better late than never. So it looks like the DPM may have realise the state of affairs and is heading in the right direction. But what he had to say next means we should not expect quick actions as the DPM added :: "It has to be done gradually." Isn't he aware that implementing positive appropriate actions have been delayed for too long with the resultant derailment of the economic progress. Further delay can only be to the further detriment of the community. But then again politicians of ours have too many agendas and survival of self is of the utmost importance of all.

| ¶ 7/10/2005 10:19:00 PM

The Tun Is 80

His official birthday when he was PM may have been on Dec 20th but his actual birthday is on July 10th. The Tun was born on July 10th, 1925, but his date of birth in official records is Dec 20th, 1925, because his father wanted to register him for school early. This makes the Tun 80 year old today. For his birthday he is said to have jetted to Italy for a holiday. May be the ruckus he has created over Proton and the APs are better left behind on his birthday. But for Pak Lah the AP issue has been closed. As for the Opposition leader, the Proton and APs controversies will only be settled when he and the 26 million Malaysians get satisfactory explanations. He may have to wait till when "the fat lady sings".
Has he read Mak Cik Pida's letter in reply to his queries on the APs and the import prices of foreign cars? Has Mak Cik Pida provided a full list of all those given APs? Incidentally she is also on vacation, destination Italy too? She was non-commital when asked by reporters whether she would be meeting the Tun during her holidays.
Will we be as usual left in the dark as far as the future of Proton and the full list of those given APs are concerned. Hopefully the opposition will continue to probe deeper and apply pressure for the MITI minister to come clean when she returns from her vacation. These issues should not like many others be left hanging.
Anyway before i forget "Happy Birthday Tun".

| ¶ 7/10/2005 09:33:00 PM

Meritocracy=Discrimination+Oppression.

To the Johor UMNO Liaison Committee the above is true of the 'meritocracy system' introduced by the gomen for tertiary education. Why this is so? It is because it has resulted in a fall in the achievement of Malay students! The Chairperson of the Johor Umno Liaison Committee said the meritocracy system had adversly affected tens of thousands of Bumiputera students in the rural areas who had been denied quality education in view of the "uneven competitive field".

The Johore Chairperson is not the only one with this view of the 'meritocracy system'. What has been pointed out by many in UMNO is that there has been a fall in the number of Malay students in medicine, engineering, pharmacy, dentistry and other so-called critical fields. There appears to a desire to go back to the 55:45 Bumi:Non-Bumi quota system of old. This appears to go directly against what the Education minister had recently affirmed that the 'meritocracy system' would remain. Voices were raised before the announcement of the recent IPTA intakes. Which will prevailed in the end? Pak Lah is in an unenviable position and has a decision to make.

| ¶ 7/10/2005 12:59:00 AM

Saturday, July 09, 2005

Still Hope for 2nd Bridge

Samy appears to be keeping Koh Tsu Koon's hope of a 2nd bridge alive. When launching MIC's EduAid education programme, Samy said that the widening of the Penang Bridge scheduled to start in September will not affect traffic flow on the bridge. The additional lane on each side of the bridge will have its own foundation and while being constructed will not infringe on the existing bridge. Any inconvenience will occur when work is carried out to join the new lanes to the existing bridge as the present side walls will have to come down. As the widening construction is expected to finish in March 2008, this will probably occur in late 2007.
BERNAMA reported that Samy added that the widen bridge will only be able to cater for increasing traffic volume till 2010. In view of this, the planning for the 2nd bridge from Batu Maung on Penang island to Batu Kawan on the mainland will continue. Samy added that companies had been appointed to carry out soil and hydrography tests for the proposed project as well as to draw up a design.
Looks like Samy and Koh can plan ahead and use this 2nd bridge as election campaign ammunition when the 12th comes around. i can see Koh including this in his manifesto for Penang then.

| ¶ 7/09/2005 10:23:00 PM

Friday, July 08, 2005

Hunt for London Bombers::Malaysia Offers Help

Today it is clear that the mysterious explosions in London were due to 4 bombs going off. The bomb blasts killed at least 37 people and injured some 700. Tday London is almost back to normal, the Tube service is near normal excepting for the Circle and Hammersmith and City lines reported the BBC.
As for the perpetrators of the bomb blasts, British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said the attacks bore all the hallmarks of the al-Qaeda network. An unknown group, the Secret Organisation Group of al-Qaeda of Jihad Organisation in Europe, laimed on a website that it was responsible for attacks in London. It said that said the attacks were revenge for the "massacres" Britain was committing in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Meanwhile, BBC said dozens of secret service staff at MI5 headquarters are working flat out to find out who was really responsible for the four blasts which terrorised London.
Malaysia has also offered help to hunt for the London bombers. When offering Britain help and cooperation, our DPM had this to say ::

"Sometimes, investigations into terrorist activities require the cooperation of other nations given the global dimension for gathering information on their plans and actions."

Probably, Blair will take up this offer and replied that the Malaysian help and cooperation would be greatly appreciated in Britain's time of need. He added that he was confident that Britain would not bow to those responsible for the attacks, adding that these acts of terrorism were also aimed at creating fear among the people.
The latest BERNAMA reported that some foreign news wires were saying that the death toll has gone up to 52 from the earlier Scotland Yard reported death toll of 37.

| ¶ 7/08/2005 04:52:00 PM

Thursday, July 07, 2005

Mysterious Explosions in London

BBC reported that several people have been injured after explosions blamed on a power surge led to the whole London Underground network being closed down. A bus was ripped apart in an explosion in central London, in Tavistock Square in front of the BMA building, an eyewitness told news agency PA, and there were reports of at least one fatality.
The National Grid, which supplies power to the Underground, said there had been no problems with its system which could have contributed to the incidents.
There were reports of a bomb at Liverpool Street station where everyone was told to get off and evacuate the station. At the King's Cross tube station, everyone was also told to evacuate.
An eyewithness commented :: "People didn't really know what was going on, they were just huffing and puffing and saying how annoying it was."
"People don't seem to be panicked, but there's so many police and ambulances coming into the areas. People are just concerned, and some are just annoyed at the delay."
BBC is presently carrying live reports on the incidents and these can be followed on Astro. Fatalities have been reported in the Tavistock Square bus explosion.
Reports from eyewithnesses in London can be found here
Follow London Blasts Timeline, here Get Sky News latest reports on the London blasts, here.

Purported Al-Qaida letter claims responsibility for London bombings, check out Spiegel Online article.

| ¶ 7/07/2005 06:00:00 PM

Peaceful Taiping::Think Again

Talk about Taiping and those around you will mention pensioners' paradise and many will like to tell you it means "everlasting Peace". But with recent events, the Peace of Taiping has been shattered. In 2002, a livestock specialist Justin Camoens was murdered; in April 2004, a cockle breeder in Kuala Sepetang was shot and in May 2004, a pet shop owner in Jalan Medan Bersatu was slashed to death and his 13 prized arowanas were stolen.
The latest happening to shatter the Peace of Taiping was the double murder of a retired couple living in Taman Tasik Indah. The couple was recommended to retire in Taiping by the wife's brother and moved to stay in Taiping late last year. The couple was killed during a robbery which happened on the night of July 5th.
Residents of Taman Tasik Indah considered their Taman very secured as they had a regular night patrol by privately-hired security guards. But this was not good enough on the night of June 5th. Taiping polis believed that more than one intruder broke into the house. One of them was apprehended as the said house was surrounded by neighbours till the polis came. One just cannot be too careful when hoe security is concerned. The authorities could also beef up security by more polis patrols and having better street lightings. At one time, it was easy to request from Tenaga Nasional an eztra street lamp outside one's house for a small monthly payment but for some reason or other this has been stopped.
Apart from what the authorities can do for you to protect one's property and oneself from harm, there is plenty one can do for oneself and the family. Check this and this out for property protection and protection of household members. Measures could include simple things like lockig up all doors and windows at night or when away to having a window which allows one a view of any person at the entrance or door or not staying out late at night till the wee hours of the morning. One can never be too careful when the safety of the family members and property is at stake and one never knows when disaster will srtike.

| ¶ 7/07/2005 11:44:00 AM

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