tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88806426730871612902024-03-18T15:28:59.487+08:00CRANKSHAFTCranksterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17466770053258278747noreply@blogger.comBlogger1231125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8880642673087161290.post-42663104953340129252019-10-11T11:30:00.000+08:002019-10-21T21:58:23.153+08:00Birth Pains Of A CivilisationA friend sent me a very interesting article: <a href="https://www.blogger.com/%E2%80%9Chttp://asianstraightshooter.com/2019/08/the-fall-of-the-great-wall/%E2%80%9D">The Fall of the Great Wall</a> - self-evidently about the recent Chinese woes.<br />
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I must say that I enjoyed reading it with select phrases having me double over in laughter!<br />
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The Chinese, like much of the world, are a highly diverse bunch. Some are loyal to The Party and some wish to maintain their independence. Rightly so, though not all of their approaches are necessarily wise.<br />
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I have seen the signs where the HKers have been imploring Trump to come and liberate them from the Chinese - and cringed. Most Sinophiles look upon these youngsters and curse them for their approach. However, while some of them (against better judgment) may have had positive opinions of Trump, I think it is mainly a way for them to kick the Communist Party and Uncle Xi where it hurts the most.<br />
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It’s worked - for now at least! So I am actually cheering for them. I see this as being similar to the Industrial Revolution in the West, where lower-class European people (and most popularly, the British) were sent to work in mines and sweatshops. They eventually protested, formed unions, created Human Rights acts, insisted on the right to vote (firstly for the common man, and then to include women), fought for equality and made their countries so liveable and equitable, that for at least six decades now, Asian people view living in Europe (and by extension America, Canada and Australia) as a symbol of success. Heck, they even see white models in Asian commercials and think that the product must be superior to others because of that white connection!!<br />
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So it’s hard to remember that life was all about slavery and class back in the 17th and 18th century Britain, Spain, Netherlands, Portugal, France, Germany, Belgium etc. Do you think young sailors really wanted to leave their wives and girlfriends and/or children to go off spice-hunting in uncharted waters? Do you think miners really enjoyed not seeing any sunshine for years of their lives? Many of them even died of hazardous material-related diseases. But what is never spoken or mentioned today is that the average Briton enjoys this level of success because of the suffering of his ancestors.<br />
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And so it will be with China. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3VKG-m19QxiioxZ0A-dtzVqmr30z1eHOS91DIW-_h1MPt4cvlLQEJqIeUKyHp20gWahziu5hSlf69OhsRUnyHUECLhnD3v3lOhJowOQeikaOWcdgYwvwPIJUwyHIwK-FeSjI18QBgtbGo/s1600/China.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="276" data-original-width="491" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3VKG-m19QxiioxZ0A-dtzVqmr30z1eHOS91DIW-_h1MPt4cvlLQEJqIeUKyHp20gWahziu5hSlf69OhsRUnyHUECLhnD3v3lOhJowOQeikaOWcdgYwvwPIJUwyHIwK-FeSjI18QBgtbGo/s640/China.jpeg" width="550" /></a></div><br />
China, the great behemoth that exploits its people, subdues its dissenters, and imprisons opposition. It will one day be whipped into shape by its people; the very people who finally have had enough, who finally rise up to say No More. Those 450mil who live in abject poverty will aspire for a brighter future, and indeed, their children will see social mobility.<br />
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The writer of the article does seem to pay a lot of attention to the loud-mouth Americans - I don’t know why. The fact that they have elected someone so devoid of common sense, self-esteem and leadership ability should suggest that they are floundering, mired deep in the quicksand of a declining civilisation. Unfortunately, Britain appears to be following suit as well.<br />
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I am torn over the notions of equality and freedom. Milton Friedman, who said, “The society that puts equality before freedom will end up with neither. The society that puts freedom before equality will end up with a great measure of both,” has young non-Western go-getters in mind, because if it wasn’t for the freedom of meritocracy to import smart young people to enhance the nation’s intellectual firepower, they would be obliged to treat every Western person as equal and pay everyone the same despite different levels of effort and capability. And there would be no reason for Britain, Australia, Canada or America to take in talented people. That sort of approach never served any nation well, as Communism may have taught us, though it is evident that Capitalism (in America) or Classism (in Russia, think Leo Tolstoy etc) are no better.<br />
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The problem with this freedom is that it also enables oligarchs to abuse the system and enrich themselves further. Oligarchs frequently buy their politicians and have them make laws in their favour. Remember, America is all about freedom and liberty as long as things go their way. Hence, their meddling in other nations’ politics, be it South American countries, or Iran (back in the 1960s to 1970s), or Vietnam (in the 1970s) or Iraq (in 2007), or even Cambodia (Pol Pot means Political Potential; it’s not his real name). If America saw every other nation on the planet as being equal to them, perhaps they would be disinclined to meddle in their private affairs.<br />
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For the same reason, I am against the One Belt Initiative, because it is a speciously benign initiative, when in reality, it’s a plan for China to effectively colonise foreign countries. The author thinks that America would shy away from a military war because it would have the presence of mind to know that it was mutually assured destruction. I, personally, have my reservations.<br />
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I can think of another western but Asian civilisation: sometime in 600BC, the Persians went to war with the Greeks because the Greeks were refusing to kow tow to Persia. It took 3 wars, but the Greek civilisation emerged and became the cornerstone of modern philosophy. The Romans followed this trend, though it was a long time before the rest of Europe roused itself and decided to stand up. So I can’t say that western rule is an aberration to historical norms. China and India are big nations because people flocked to live in the then prosperous regions of the world.<br />
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I will also have to respectfully disagree with the disturbances in Tibet, Xinjiang, Taiwan and Hong Kong being described as “problematic” for China, as they are but the birthing pains of a juggernaut. And if these issues remain unresolved, China will never become a legitimate civilisation that will earn the respect of the world.<br />
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China may have all the technology and wealth at its disposal but unless it resolves its human rights, no one will want to be a part of it. Don’t believe me? Look at Saudi Arabia and the wealthy Middle East.Cranksterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17466770053258278747noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8880642673087161290.post-84251912338995376142019-08-23T12:11:00.000+08:002019-08-28T22:23:15.560+08:00Poverty In MalaysiaMalaysia’s official poverty rate dropped from 49% in 1970 to just 0.4% in 2016.<br />
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You and I know that's bunk.<br />
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You know what the poverty threshold is? RM980 per month per household of 4.<br />
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In no alternate universe is that a reasonable baseline.<br />
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Obviously, the <a href="https://www.theedgemarkets.com/article/malaysias-poverty-levels-far-higher-reported-un-expert-says">UN human rights dogsbody disputes this</a>. For the first time in a long while, I will say, rightly so. Even if it comes from an organisation that is widely deemed as a toothless tiger.<br />
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OutSyed The Box puts <a href="http://syedsoutsidethebox.blogspot.com/2019/08/kerajaan-ph-membohongi-rakyat-pakar.html">his views</a> forward here. He has some very good points, mind you.<br />
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On a more serious note, Dr Jeyakumar Devaraj of PPSM addressed this topic even back in June: <a href="https://www.newmandala.org/what-will-it-take-to-address-poverty-in-malaysia/">What will it take to address poverty in Malaysia?</a><br />
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One of the most interesting questions he pulls up is this: Why does the Bumiputra community still make up some 80% of the bottom 40% of the population (the B40) when they only constitute about 65% of the population?<br />
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Read the piece by Dr Jeyakumar yourself.<br />
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Interestingly, the United Nations Year of Reconciliation 2009 encouraged exploration on the <a href="https://crankshafted.blogspot.com/2009/12/free-and-equal-forum-by-sabm.html">topic of urban poverty</a>. It looks like after 10 years, nothing much has changed. That is a depressing thought.<br />
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It's going to be the hallowed 2020 next year - year of fully developed nation status. Are we even ready for that?Cranksterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17466770053258278747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8880642673087161290.post-16880743754365043952019-08-16T12:27:00.000+08:002019-08-17T23:35:48.022+08:00 History Doesn’t Repeat Itself, But It RhymesIt’s rather startling to note that only today, two hundred years ago, a massacre happened in a field of protestors, in a town close to Manchester, in Northern England. <br />
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The protestors had intended to demonstrate peacefully; they were decently attired and not geared up for battle.<br />
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It was, after all, a call for democracy: to allow men of all social classes to vote, instead of the existing, exclusive rights afforded to the upper class, landed gentry back in 1819. <br />
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Obviously, it would be another century before women were allowed to vote, but alas, civilisations only take baby steps towards progress.<br />
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The government of the day, peopled by those who had much to lose, set the cavalry on the 60,000 protestors, resulting in 650 people injured and 18 dead. <br />
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It’s a moment of shame for the British, particularly as men of all social classes had sacrificed their lives and fought in the Battle of Waterloo just four years earlier, only to be told that their voices were not important enough to be heard at the ballot box.<br />
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This event does not take up much space in the history books; the subsequent governments preferred that British schoolchildren learn about foreign conquests and victories, like Colonialism. This has clearly led to the inflated opinions of the have-nots, those who believe they are greater than they really are, many of whom sincerely believe that Brexit would teach the EU a lesson and “take back control”. <br />
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This massacre, ironically called Peterloo, did however, lead to the birth of the Manchester Guardian. For back then, just as things have been in Malaysia in the past, the newspapers colluded with the government to generate propaganda that vilified the protestors: painting them out to be trouble-makers, and blaming them for the bloodshed.<br />
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The Manchester Guardian had aims to set the story straight, as it was founded by an outraged witness to the scene of the massacre. The Guardian exists even today, balancing the nonsense spewed by the tabloids with “the other side of the story”. It does seem to serve the more educated of society in these times, while the Sun and Daily Mail dole out the lies to the working classes, who obediently and compliantly lap it up. <br />
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How things have changed.<br />
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And what is astounding is that they have changed aplenty, and yet they haven’t. Across the world, China grapples with such a similar situation to that which befell the UK just 200 years ago.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk8md3oLkxAG1-1AyhYSrTsIiet1aHCJfQIhL-JcWRNO7_KkQCgTDSOAjGtxXoTBLNRSM4Tlpx6mymRyIhPaBLu9bzDJMnvepLGxymngK1WRf_-QqVWXHtbRUxO0UKxgKzNXNGYZUuF44t/s1600/skjjwwer88wkksbckuhbd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk8md3oLkxAG1-1AyhYSrTsIiet1aHCJfQIhL-JcWRNO7_KkQCgTDSOAjGtxXoTBLNRSM4Tlpx6mymRyIhPaBLu9bzDJMnvepLGxymngK1WRf_-QqVWXHtbRUxO0UKxgKzNXNGYZUuF44t/s400/skjjwwer88wkksbckuhbd.jpg" width="400" height="267" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="1066" /></a></div><br />
Good ole China is seeing birthing pains with its civilisation. Mind you, it has already steamed ahead with its industrial revolution. Indeed, despite the global warnings of China’s slowing GDP, China has plenty of scope yet to develop and it certainly will chug along at full speed. <br />
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Its attempts to control its massive population, is another kettle of fish, though. <br />
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The real measure of its progress to become a true super-power of the world is in its political and social sphere. It’s not in the cities that it builds, but in the communities that it fosters. Physical development is much easier than mental and emotional development.<br />
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China’s communist party is the equivalent of Britain’s landed gentry. Hong Kong is the equivalent of Britain’s scene of the massacre: St Peter’s Field, near Manchester.<br />
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And in Hong Kong, the seeds of discontent will flow to disable the monopoly of China’s mainstream media. News outlets are sprouting, the product of indignant protestors and malcontents who do not believe their government represents them in any way.<br />
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China, after all, is one of the few countries in the world that does not allow its citizens to access Facebook. Weibo, its Chinese counterpart, is heavily monitored by the authorities. I suspect comments unfriendly to the Communist Party are quietly logged and the "errant" user put on a watchlist. <br />
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Chinese cell phone users (and unsuspecting tourists) are watched by the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jul/02/how-chinese-spy-app-allows-officials-to-harvest-personal-data">government surveillance app</a>.<br />
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China makes a lot of effort to stifle an uprising, and it does have the technological means at its disposal to do so. This is a battle of wits and stamina; it’s man vs machine.<br />
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Offline, China has been developing programs to enable authorities to restrict travel access to dissidents and vocal opponents of the Communist Party. It watches your <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-china-is-watching-its-citizens-in-a-modern-surveillance-state-2018-4">shopping habits</a>, even your <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/notable-quotable-china-watches-citizens-sort-their-recycling-11565301602">waste disposal habits</a>. It uses your biometric data to identify you and boy, does it have an <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2018/02/china-surveillance/552203/">extensive database</a>.<br />
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More recently (and this is one of the issues that sparked the protests in Hong Kong), it tried to put forward a bill to repatriate Hong Kong citizens who disagree with it to the mainland - presumably, for punishment. <br />
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It’s draconian and narrow-minded, the sort of rhetoric you would expect from a tin-pot dictatorship, not a budding economic super-power.<br />
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China may lead the world in its technological advancements, but in terms of social advancements, it is barely taking baby steps, if not crawling on fours.<br />
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But the moment will come when China comes to grips with being a proper nation with rules and regulations that the rest of the world will admire and long to join.<br />
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The journey may be full of pain, angst and strife, but the moment will come.<br />
Cranksterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17466770053258278747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8880642673087161290.post-65937758558085693022019-08-09T11:16:00.000+08:002019-08-23T23:31:22.197+08:00Zakir Naik And Rabble RousingIt’s amazing what people are capable of when they think they have the support of the majority. <br />
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In the US (and many other parts of the western world), white supremacists have been gunning down non-white people because the websites they frequent and the channels they subscribe to, mirror their point of view.<br />
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So the bubble that they inhabit makes them assume that a huge number of people share their views. To be fair, it’s not just the nutcases, but also the liberals that fall into this trap.<br />
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But I digress. <br />
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Zakir Naik was thrilled to discover that he had quite a following in Malaysia. In India, he was wanted by the government for having rather extreme views, espousing terrorism and also for money laundering.<br />
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I dislike phrases like “extreme views”, because in different circles, extreme views can mean different things. Back in the 60s, an extreme view would be for a black person to see himself as being equal to a white one and to expect to be treated equally.<br />
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Religion in India is a delicate situation. The Hindu majority does not always treat its Muslim minority well. I did not understand that 10 years ago, but upon closer observation of Indian politics, I am beginning to see the cracks that can ruin a nation.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdnllDSgYfct10jtCzzTySxSKkzfHGcqSc4VLTd8rMQ8Lc3JWnblwgAz-rc2vVcZpO9MgiNIlxUL9Yi9BaLONMGZk2SFQGVouVwL7VNOJcRcBnz0SV14JIpOaVhX0nVpwOjY_1NE4VLl6y/s1600/zn.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdnllDSgYfct10jtCzzTySxSKkzfHGcqSc4VLTd8rMQ8Lc3JWnblwgAz-rc2vVcZpO9MgiNIlxUL9Yi9BaLONMGZk2SFQGVouVwL7VNOJcRcBnz0SV14JIpOaVhX0nVpwOjY_1NE4VLl6y/s320/zn.jpeg" width="293" height="320" data-original-width="234" data-original-height="256" /></a></div>Zakir Naik brings those very structural defects with him as he spreads his notoriously sectarian views. <br />
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To make matters worse, he has an extremely tenuous grasp of Malaysian history, and seems to be under the impression that most Chinese who currently live in Malaysia came as immigrants, and are therefore “guests”.<br />
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No doubt this will create some tension, and the usual suspects would wade in to put in their two sen worth.<br />
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This is after he had claimed that Malaysian Indians (most of whom were born in Malaysia and have never even stepped foot in India) swear allegiance to the Indian Prime Minister instead of their own Malaysian one.<br />
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Clearly that one is a figment of his twisted imagination, but his words are aimed at the stupid people of this world, a great number of which, live in Malaysia.<br />
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It is interesting what use this moron is to the world of politics as I suspect he is being used for something, but at this point, I cannot see what it is.<br />
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<b><u>Additional Reading</u>:</b><br />
1. <a href="http://www.financetwitter.com/2019/08/congrats-mahathir-zakir-gets-more-radical-tells-seven-million-ethnic-chinese-to-go-back-to-china.html">Congrats Mahathir – Zakir Gets More Radical, Tells 7 Million Ethnic Chinese To Go Back To China</a><br />
2. <a href="http://www.financetwitter.com/2019/08/mahathir-fishing-trip-is-over-zakir-naik-the-foolish-bait-is-waiting-to-be-deported.html">Mahathir’s Fishing Trip Is Over – Zakir Naik The Foolish Bait Is Waiting To Be Deported</a>Cranksterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17466770053258278747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8880642673087161290.post-69003316172971806232019-06-22T23:57:00.000+08:002019-06-22T23:57:22.702+08:00Latheefa Koya Gets GoingFreshly appointed to the role as MACC chief commissioner and Latheefa Koya is away, firing on all cylinders!<br />
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I usually hate the word Civil Forfeiture, as it has had very poor results in the US, due to very corrupt police forces, but in the case of Najib Razak, a clear money trail means that we can go about recovering the money that has been lost.<br />
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Read the rest here: <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/06/malaysia-seeks-65m-stolen-state-fund-1mdb-190621051244280.html">Malaysia seeks $65m stolen from state fund 1MDB</a><br />
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Ever since I remember, good ole Latheefa has been a thorn in PKR's side, criticising the party for both poor decisions and frequently inaction.<br />
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She was never going to win a popularity contest, because Ms Congeniality she is not!<br />
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However, she is extremely competent, and I am very pleased to see the wheels in motion.Cranksterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17466770053258278747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8880642673087161290.post-9644328259403069322019-02-27T19:49:00.001+08:002019-02-27T19:49:40.586+08:00Sending A MessageIt became a catchphrase, except that coming from you-know-you, it was difficult to take seriously.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQqEPS9IdO3l2YSDfgkQSp0hsQVcQvj_WQCfwvRuEtpDOdoweK-N8wcWVX_KTpV0sduANnT1rNki0ZCai2Px00eGXR3lP4elOIDD39YhuRE4aNS8qS_8ovRt2lbg1aOWF_zCBqBy1Nedyk/s1600/maluapa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQqEPS9IdO3l2YSDfgkQSp0hsQVcQvj_WQCfwvRuEtpDOdoweK-N8wcWVX_KTpV0sduANnT1rNki0ZCai2Px00eGXR3lP4elOIDD39YhuRE4aNS8qS_8ovRt2lbg1aOWF_zCBqBy1Nedyk/s400/maluapa.jpg" width="281" height="400" data-original-width="759" data-original-height="1080" /></a></div><br />
In context, he was riding a motorcycle, and casually wondering what there was to be ashamed of riding a motorcycle. Most people see that as an attempt to appeal to the <i>Mat Rempit</i>. It may or may not be the case.<br />
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However, if one has stolen a motorcycle, there is plenty to be ashamed of. <br />
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And if one has stolen far more then that, then it's best to just hang one's head in shame and have some self-awareness, for the love of God.<br />
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Keep the mouth shut, too.Cranksterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17466770053258278747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8880642673087161290.post-8012793389298644232019-02-22T12:27:00.000+08:002019-02-27T19:56:04.799+08:00Start-Up of the Day: Hello Gold<a href="https://www.hellogold.com/about-us/">Hello Gold</a> markets itself as a medium for the man on the street to start saving by buying gold.<br />
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It is, indeed, accessible if you have a smart phone and you download the app and load some money in it.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRf7oTSvhM-knCS0LwCRtnM0IilqWD3diIKbB2kpxRInKPfJs86ktFUHsR0GwQai3_7JIbYNPhxtwDoVLICX_ojCNA9lPZMm0Z-tsFDu04dIMySEtrnz5GR2MXziDFscQsMFJEwe76jF-B/s1600/hellogold.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRf7oTSvhM-knCS0LwCRtnM0IilqWD3diIKbB2kpxRInKPfJs86ktFUHsR0GwQai3_7JIbYNPhxtwDoVLICX_ojCNA9lPZMm0Z-tsFDu04dIMySEtrnz5GR2MXziDFscQsMFJEwe76jF-B/s400/hellogold.jpeg" width="400" height="144" data-original-width="501" data-original-height="180" /></a></div><br />
I am not convinced it is a great method for saving money as gold prices can fluctuate rather erratically.<br />
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But I do personally invest in gold, and do so because of the current economic climate. <br />
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I expect gold prices to reduce in the foreseeable future and so, haven't been buying gold in any huge quantities, but I buy when the demand is low because that is when the prices are also low.<br />
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That being said, there are fees involved, such as buying and selling fees and even an administrative fee, so go into it with eyes wide open.<br />
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This company buys the gold on my behalf and stores it physically so that one day, should I wish to sell it off or have it delivered to my house (for a fee), that option is possible. <br />
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These guys have recently even ventured to Africa, where most of the gold is mined from.<br />
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I think gold might become an important asset in the foreseeable future, and so it makes the list of my start-ups of the day.<br />
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Talented Malaysians of the day: Robin Lee and Ridwan Abdullah.Cranksterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17466770053258278747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8880642673087161290.post-79064129061156014532019-02-19T07:15:00.000+08:002019-02-19T07:15:07.760+08:00Other Malaysian Start-Ups<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2_bpgKe6vJKNDvsJ25EwFy-HDb1dx2KJu-Q-nFKgr9RPXdfYuuFgbl5eucLJEOPr1pdyT4OqCypIJgeXXD0j27utagYhpUAzLEzy6N5Bf-LyfN0PkRL5ZejIEvOeV9nZROjt9BSMBUBRf/s1600/Vulnerable.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2_bpgKe6vJKNDvsJ25EwFy-HDb1dx2KJu-Q-nFKgr9RPXdfYuuFgbl5eucLJEOPr1pdyT4OqCypIJgeXXD0j27utagYhpUAzLEzy6N5Bf-LyfN0PkRL5ZejIEvOeV9nZROjt9BSMBUBRf/s200/Vulnerable.JPG" width="152" height="200" data-original-width="776" data-original-height="1024" /></a></div>I thought I would avoid reinventing the wheel by just pointing you to articles that other people have already written about start-ups in Malaysia.<br />
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So here goes:<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.techinasia.com/ten-malaysian-startups-eye-2018">The next big thing: 10 Malaysian startups to watch in 2018</a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.thestar.com.my/tech/tech-news/2018/02/26/spotlight-on-five-innovative-startups-in-malaysia/">Spotlighting five innovative startups in Malaysia</a>Cranksterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17466770053258278747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8880642673087161290.post-76403605644113684022019-02-15T12:14:00.000+08:002019-02-15T12:14:12.147+08:00Start-Up of the Day: Fresh At HeartNow if I had failed to introduce a start-up that involved food, many Malaysians would have been unable to forgive me.<br />
<br />
I stumbled across this by accident, as I don't exactly buy my food online. I have bought many things online, but never perishables. I can't remember if I have ever even ordered pizza online.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://fishclub.com.my/fish-club-story/">The Fish Club</a> consist of a bunch of guys who grew up in a little fishing village in Pontian, Johor. I always thought that it was on the east coast but it turns out that it's actually west of the PLUS (north-south) highway.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7N2JIz2YSiGAWVkYsyEbqQ_hduyzVQs0jFL78cDiXKB7hs8E4OPRHjmKR4qHXjWkS1_3YbiEYQlhSxpuv-vMCwKKp6ggkXajK18INWwkoBorAFb20ZJoIKxY2UZGpijoC6ejhZBSod8PJ/s1600/fishclub.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7N2JIz2YSiGAWVkYsyEbqQ_hduyzVQs0jFL78cDiXKB7hs8E4OPRHjmKR4qHXjWkS1_3YbiEYQlhSxpuv-vMCwKKp6ggkXajK18INWwkoBorAFb20ZJoIKxY2UZGpijoC6ejhZBSod8PJ/s400/fishclub.jpeg" width="400" height="176" data-original-width="973" data-original-height="427" /></a></div><br />
Apparently Pontian is noted for its variety of seafood which is sold at a reasonable price. This is where these guys come in. Being locals, they are able to source fresh seafood and distribute it to their customers.<br />
<br />
If you live around Johor or Singapore, you get your orders quicker. If you are located in Kuala Lumpur or Penang, you need to let them know in advance as they send their deliveries in bulk to keep the costs down.<br />
<br />
I discovered that they have rather sophisticated methods for freezing their fish so that it doesn't lose its flavour or texture while still retaining the freshness. <br />
<br />
So you could buy in bulk (RM200 gives you free delivery) and stick them in the freezer, and you're good to go for the next month or two.<br />
<br />
Their customers certainly approve because most of them return to buy again from them and give them very high approval ratings on Facebook.<br />
<br />
Their combo deal appeals to me not only because it's cheap, but because I think they package the fish that was caught but didn't get sold immediately. <br />
<br />
In this day and age, we cannot afford to waste food. <br />
<br />
Perhaps this is what I find appealing about this set-up - that it is designed not to waste as much as if you were to go to a fish market and buy whatever was available. <br />
<br />
By the end of the day, the fish starts to look rather past its best and you just wouldn't buy it. So much wastage happens in wholesale markets.<br />
<br />
I confess that the packaging is plastic and styrofoam, that is perhaps harmful to the environment, but no different from what you would get at the supermarkets.<br />
<br />
Certainly good value for money.<br />
<br />
Talented Malaysians of the day: Eddie Goh and Joel ChongCranksterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17466770053258278747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8880642673087161290.post-45603555550915388992019-02-08T23:24:00.000+08:002019-02-08T23:24:08.150+08:00Start-Up of the Day: SpeedRentSocial media has been busy the past few months with news of racial discrimination when it comes to renting a house.<br />
<br />
From <a href="https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2018/12/31/no-room-in-penang-man-turned-down-by-landlords-for-not-being-chinese/">Divyang Hong</a> in Penang to this anonymous <a href="https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2019/01/24/sorry-you-look-indian-malay-couple-told-in-hunt-for-home/">Indian/Malay-looking couple</a> in Taman OUG, KL, people are turned down for not being of the right skin colour.<br />
<br />
The excuse is that non-Chinese do not pay their rent on time, or even at all. There is no statistical backing for that, only anecdotes.<br />
<br />
Upon further investigation though, it is observed that the laws in Malaysia are somewhat in favour of the tenant and it is difficult for the landlord to take action against errant tenants, whatever the colour of their skin.<br />
<br />
This is where <a href="https://speedrent.com/">SpeedRent</a> comes in. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrZmfhIqey6x23e8QxF5wCKSyy6t-osUhZ2fgus9cdsxPG31uVglgOtjRNa0-6sF3iVn_vA91aStGg9wGjF59eF3IavChebwC2b4u9YfxD121ADZVUoVfeVbJNFfDsNKpf-w4_oMr5Dbpx/s1600/speedrent.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrZmfhIqey6x23e8QxF5wCKSyy6t-osUhZ2fgus9cdsxPG31uVglgOtjRNa0-6sF3iVn_vA91aStGg9wGjF59eF3IavChebwC2b4u9YfxD121ADZVUoVfeVbJNFfDsNKpf-w4_oMr5Dbpx/s400/speedrent.jpeg" width="400" height="156" data-original-width="833" data-original-height="325" /></a></div><br />
They offer a tenancy package that includes the agreement (which can be signed online) and an insurance policy for up to RM26,000 so that landlords are protected against the bad eggs who either damage property or don't pay their rent.<br />
<br />
They claim to battle against discriminatory limitations and seek to "prove that good conduct is not just skin deep". SpeedRent, they further claim, is a champion of equality for all, beyond physical boundaries.<br />
<br />
Well, good for them.<br />
<br />
Given the social situation in Malaysia, this is a start-up that is exceptionally pertinent. <br />
<br />
Whenever I have lived abroad and tried to rent an apartment, I have always been screened for previous conduct and credit record.<br />
<br />
This way, there is no legitimate grounds by which anyone could deny me tenancy based on race, religion, gender or even sexual orientation (not that I have ever been asked).<br />
<br />
It is surprising that Malaysia has not adopted a similar system.<br />
<br />
Until now, I suppose.<br />
<br />
This start-up is one of my favourites so far.<br />
<br />
Talented Malaysian of the day: Wong Whei MengCranksterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17466770053258278747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8880642673087161290.post-58597104491431630342019-02-04T08:00:00.000+08:002019-02-04T08:00:14.566+08:00Start-Up of the Day: AtapIf you have recently bought a house, you would know how houses in Malaysia are fitted with the most atrocious and hideous joinery. <br />
<br />
The taps, sinks, door handles, and even the doors themselves look more suited to a slum instead of the few hundred thousand (or even a million) that you parted with to own the roof over your head.<br />
<br />
It is expected that you are going to renovate the house at some point, either before you move in - or a few years after owning the property when you have got your finances back together and no credit collection person is stalking you.<br />
<br />
The problem is you don't always know how much an interior decorator is going to cost you. You don't even know what their portfolio looks like until you either meet them or browse their website.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://atap.co/malaysia/en">Atap</a> hosts a collection of professionals on their website.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8LGQua1nOZZjv5JAojWtcRxhQMBVjgMoVuIWemmp5bbVDjSzhhyphenhyphenndGF1JH2uDXo_OJ8knomlCVSg_eiNV-41JRDshAg45VfOip7oHOss030OjDrjQn_h3qVMmDindGes4NyIaqVpFNQ-L/s1600/atap.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8LGQua1nOZZjv5JAojWtcRxhQMBVjgMoVuIWemmp5bbVDjSzhhyphenhyphenndGF1JH2uDXo_OJ8knomlCVSg_eiNV-41JRDshAg45VfOip7oHOss030OjDrjQn_h3qVMmDindGes4NyIaqVpFNQ-L/s400/atap.jpeg" width="400" height="204" data-original-width="921" data-original-height="470" /></a></div><br />
You start out by telling them what your property type is. The size that you want renovated. The location. Obviously your budget. And the type of decor or design style you would like, be it rustic, retro, contemporary or minimalist. There are at least 12 to choose from. <br />
<br />
Give them your floor plan and your contact details, and someone gets in touch with you.<br />
<br />
Just like that.<br />
<br />
You also get to browse through previous projects and get ideas on what you wish your house to look like.<br />
<br />
I confess it's a bit like looking through an Ikea catalogue, but for more sophisticated stuff and actual services.<br />
<br />
Atap is owned by Mocento Sdn Bhd, which is based in Kuala Lumpur.Cranksterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17466770053258278747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8880642673087161290.post-17617878725330831992019-02-01T12:02:00.000+08:002019-02-01T12:02:10.264+08:00Start-Up of the Day: ParkitA while back, I was in San Antonio, Texas, when I realised how exorbitant parking could be. Fortunately, <i>Lonely Planet</i> suggested the use of an app that enabled a price comparison of all the parking rates in the city.<br />
<br />
At the hotel, the significant other and I selected the top 5 cheapest places before setting off to find them.<br />
<br />
It wasn't perfect - some of the parking lots hadn't been updated unfortunately, and some were just full, but we got ourselves a parking space for the day at very competitive pricing.<br />
<br />
That's what Kuala Lumpur needs, I told myself.<br />
<br />
Now <a href="https://www.parkitmy.com/#homepage">ParkIt</a> isn't quite a price comparison site, but it definitely connects people who need parking space to the people who have them.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoSQ0HI3Zl6YlXq-lI2ZABsCA8QlNfxaZkrZtpbN5aFtRCe2aDqmflvpcrKtGs-FnodeYXTQR4YFjjLKjD5XNLHrsOw1srsMXIWHuuJWyns8Bht7P8a7aWBpn4mgMThMs0CcpKHrRrWJ7N/s1600/parkit.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="318" data-original-width="670" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoSQ0HI3Zl6YlXq-lI2ZABsCA8QlNfxaZkrZtpbN5aFtRCe2aDqmflvpcrKtGs-FnodeYXTQR4YFjjLKjD5XNLHrsOw1srsMXIWHuuJWyns8Bht7P8a7aWBpn4mgMThMs0CcpKHrRrWJ7N/s400/parkit.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Based on the requirements that you have entered on your listing, the website matches you with people in your location, who want to lease your car parking space for as long as you want them to. It can be for a week or a month.<br />
<br />
You may think that your management is strict about who enters your apartment building. <br />
<br />
However, the legal position is that under the Strata Title Act, once an owner buys a unit, the parking spot belongs to the owner as an accessory of the parcel and it is within their discretion to do whatever necessary with it, including renting it out.<br />
<br />
Assumption: If you live in Cheras and work in Kota Damansara, meaning that you leave your house at 7AM and don't get home until 6PM, someone who works in the office block across the road from your apartment, could rent your parking space while you're gone.<br />
<br />
I don't know if this works as a space share, but perhaps a deal could be worked out.<br />
<br />
Now I am not a fan of cars anymore; I used to be, until I discovered how polluting they are to the environment. <br />
<br />
But I am less keen on the thought of someone circling the parking lots of KL trying to find a place to park his or her car. I have personally experienced the stress and wouldn't wish it on anyone.<br />
<br />
Obviously the best option is to take public transportation, but that isn't always available to everyone.<br />
<br />
Besides, instead of parking being the sole domain and monopoly of lot owners, the average person can now monetise that available parking space.<br />
<br />
Talented Malaysian of the day: <a href="https://www.edgeprop.my/content/1316083/share-your-car-park-space-and-make-some-money">Kyan Liew</a>Cranksterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17466770053258278747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8880642673087161290.post-1390955425235358542019-01-30T18:29:00.000+08:002019-01-31T12:01:23.087+08:00Malaysian Start-UpsBack in February and March of 2008, I did a series of blogposts about <a href="https://crankshafted.blogspot.com/search/label/Blogger%20MP">bloggers who were running for election</a>. <br />
<br />
I wasn't the only blogger participating, but our collective efforts, from blogging to campaigning, certainly cranked up the political machinery.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2_bpgKe6vJKNDvsJ25EwFy-HDb1dx2KJu-Q-nFKgr9RPXdfYuuFgbl5eucLJEOPr1pdyT4OqCypIJgeXXD0j27utagYhpUAzLEzy6N5Bf-LyfN0PkRL5ZejIEvOeV9nZROjt9BSMBUBRf/s1600/Vulnerable.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2_bpgKe6vJKNDvsJ25EwFy-HDb1dx2KJu-Q-nFKgr9RPXdfYuuFgbl5eucLJEOPr1pdyT4OqCypIJgeXXD0j27utagYhpUAzLEzy6N5Bf-LyfN0PkRL5ZejIEvOeV9nZROjt9BSMBUBRf/s200/Vulnerable.JPG" width="152" height="200" data-original-width="776" data-original-height="1024" /></a></div>That was a whole 11 years ago, and needless to say, things have changed since.<br />
<br />
This year, I am going to do a new series on Malaysian start-ups - I will not be paid a single sen, but I think the rest of you folks need to get to know our fellow Malaysians better.<br />
<br />
I was reading a fair bit about business opportunities in Malaysia when I came across this piece by a seed stage venture capital firm called 500 Startups. <br />
<br />
They are currently on their second fund called <a href="https://500.co/500-startups-durians-ii/">Durian II</a> and boast of having invested in 119 start-ups in South East Asia.<br />
<br />
This what they say of this region:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>Beyond spending money well, there’s something people tend to forget. Southeast Asia’s new generation of founders hail from a variety of backgrounds: existing industry experts, foreigners, and local talent coming home from experiences overseas. Binding the social fabric between them is crucial for a self-generating ecosystem.</blockquote><br />
This talent is not going far if the masses aren't recognising and supporting it. It's interesting to note how we have evolved:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>Southeast Asia’s GDP is way ahead of its venture capital availability relative to India, China, and the U.S. The top 10 cities in Southeast Asia have almost double the Facebook users of the top 10 cities in the U.S. Startups here can be built more cheaply, and reach more customers faster than many developing nations. Taking a walk in any Southeast Asian city, one will see the spending power of Southeast Asia’s middle class at work. Because most startups here target this segment of consumers, investing in startups here has less to do with national data, and more to do in the story of the booming urban population of its cities.</blockquote><br />
We may have turds like Najib who give us a bad name, but it appears that the rest of us South East Asians are more educated and have a lot more disposal income than the previous generations. Some of us even come with a conscience. We may as well do useful things with those advantages.<br />
<br />
A lot of the start-ups deal with connecting people, correcting social difficulties, and providing good quality to its users.<br />
<br />
This won't be the only thing I am going to blog about, but I think you'd enjoy it.<br />
<br />
Oh, and if you do know of a really good start-up that deserves a shout-out, drop me a comment.Cranksterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17466770053258278747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8880642673087161290.post-3931379833075487882019-01-25T13:32:00.001+08:002019-01-30T18:39:12.516+08:00Change In 2019<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIS6PdH0OC223FWIHvGDYrQ4VLvW8YbFtuZRvodVgbBtgnnXye-CcA4_MJWkrpu49HBU8ZPJydfuq_BBzAwN63N5v3FA3t9uCNEHzlfm-bXhuUZA6c56VcWDqXgroUhK-RNqfDdUVuaiWH/s1600/Idyllic.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="810" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIS6PdH0OC223FWIHvGDYrQ4VLvW8YbFtuZRvodVgbBtgnnXye-CcA4_MJWkrpu49HBU8ZPJydfuq_BBzAwN63N5v3FA3t9uCNEHzlfm-bXhuUZA6c56VcWDqXgroUhK-RNqfDdUVuaiWH/s200/Idyllic.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>It's well into 2019 now; some things have changed and some haven't.<br />
<br />
We have very recently had a new Agong installed, the one from Pahang replacing the one from Kelantan, who was the subject of some salacious gossip as photos abounded of his wedding but no one in authority would confirm it.<br />
<br />
Malaysia is also trying to <a href="https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/461396">change the world's perception</a> of it as being corrupt. <br />
<br />
After having lived abroad for years on end, I have come to recognise that just about every country on this planet, no matter how well they cultivate their reputation for integrity, has some form of systemic corruption.<br />
<br />
But it would really help, if Malaysia did not take kick-backs from defence projects, if the cops did not take 'duit kopi' from the people they pulled over for speeding, and if the people in positions of authority like judges and law enforcement did not align themselves with political parties.<br />
<br />
Of course, it would be much easier to convince the world of our integrity if we had never had the 1MDB scandal in the first place.<br />
<br />
On another note, Malaysia appears to be looking into some form of collaboration with Qatar for its third national car. <br />
<br />
Most Malaysians think that this is an exercise is flogging a dead horse and really have no desire to see yet another failed project with protectionist tariffs which needlessly hike up car prices.<br />
<br />
I <a href="https://crankshafted.blogspot.com/2018/07/tun-dah-merajuk.html">blogged about it back in July last year</a>, and my opinion of the situation hasn't changed since.<br />
<br />
Another protectionist policy that is being reviewed is the <a href="https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2019/01/453719/govt-review-wage-threshold-expats-malaysia">expatriate wage threshold</a> where the number of foreigners earning between RM3000 to RM5000 are going to be reduced, as this range is deemed to be for locals.<br />
<br />
I am, of course, puzzled, as to why highly-paid jobs are reserved for the foreigners. Of course, there is a bit of backpedalling and some waffling too.<br />
<br />
<blockquote>Meanwhile, Kulasegaran said that last year, a total of 480 Malaysian professionals returned to Malaysia last year under the Returning Expert Programme (REP), which he attributed to the change in government.<br />
<br />
He said applications for REP - facilitates the return of Malaysian professionals from abroad to overcome the shortage of professional and technical talent - saw a 20 per cent increase in 2018.<br />
<br />
“There are about one million Malaysians living abroad and we are working on ways to encourage them to come back home,” he added.<br />
<br />
Factors that encouraged Malaysians to stay or work abroad, he said, were exposure, connections and a substantially better income.<br />
<br />
“According to the World Bank, many Malaysians living abroad are highly skilled. About 150,000 Malaysians who are living in European, the United States and Canada (OECD) countries completed their higher education studies.</blockquote><br />
The downside of living in the country in which one was born, especially Malaysia, is that people take you for granted. <br />
<br />
I have lost count of the number of disappointed Malaysians who came back from abroad only to be taken lightly by Malaysian employers. These were people who were highly respected abroad, and their skills and opinions highly sought after.<br />
<br />
It's not just government policies that are important, but a change to the biased and discriminatory mindset of Malaysians as well.<br />
<br />
This new government may have some plans for change, but most Malaysians are neither holding our collective breaths, nor are we putting our lives on the line. If change does come, it will not merely be for the good of the select few, but for the many.<br />
<br />
Those who are serious about improving their country from top down will see the gravity of the situation and make those much-needed changes. If they are serious about improving.Cranksterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17466770053258278747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8880642673087161290.post-63286395866231505272018-12-31T08:30:00.000+08:002018-12-31T10:28:12.162+08:00Ways To Misunderstand ICERDSo it turns out that there is this <a href="https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2018/12/26/un-man-dumbfounded-by-malaysias-resistance-to-icerd/">Turkish UN representative</a> who is flabbergasted that Malaysia chose to abstain from ratifying ICERD. <br />
<br />
Gün Kut questioned how ICERD could become extremely politicised in Malaysia when it is for the protection of individuals against racial discrimination.<br />
<br />
"Racism and racial discrimination is everywhere, so no state, country or government can claim there is no discrimination," he rightly explains. Interestingly, there is plenty of racism in Malaysia, but not even propagated by the Malays, who are the majority race in Malaysia.<br />
<br />
Frequently, there are ads in the newspaper saying, "Chinese preferred" and "Indian only".<br />
<br />
Gün said Malaysia now found itself facing more pressure than ever because it seemed as if it did not accept non-discrimination.<br />
<br />
A lot of the people opposed to ICERD claimed that it violates the position of the Malay sultans and that of Islam. Again, I don't know where that fits in with discrimination or where they got that idea in the first place.<br />
<br />
Initially, I thought they were trying to protect their privileges like their allocation for property purchase. But it turns out that <a href="http://www.focusmalaysia.my/Property/conundrum-over-unsold-bumiputera-units">they aren't even buying them</a> in the first place.<br />
<br />
Their allocation rather substantial, as the requirement in the state is for 40% of all property units to be set aside for <i>Bumiputera</i> (which also include Eurasians, and east Malaysian ethnic minorities). Properties reserved for <i>Bumiputera</i> are also given a 15% discount for units worth RM1 mil and above.<br />
<br />
And yet:<br />
<blockquote>According to the National Property Information Centre’s (Napic) Property Overhang Report for the second quarter 2018, there were 40% more unsold new residential units during the first half of 2017 than in the first half of 2016.<br />
<br />
The number increased to 29,227 units, valued at RM17.24bil as of June 30, 2018. A year ago, it was 20,876 units, valued at RM12.26 bil.<br />
</blockquote><br />
The other privileges are like the <i>Amanah Saham</i> savings etc, but even those never get filled. As of today, <i>Amanah Saham 1Malaysia</i> (AS 1M) for example is "Fully Subscribed for Non-Bumi" but not for <i>Bumiputera</i>.<br />
<br />
I don't think the Malays actually understand what ICERD is all about, but they fear losing privilege and being sidelined. Those are legitimate concerns, regardless of where in the world one lives.<br />
<br />
The non-Malays are not happy either, because they realise that they are not being recognised for their efforts in nation-building and they aren't being treated fairly. Especially when they wish to buy homes or invest their money but aren't being allowed to do so because of quotas.<br />
<br />
Again, not all Malays are the perpetrators, and not all non-Malays are victims. The world isn't a fair place and people's rights frequently get trampled upon.<br />
<br />
Both sides have legitimate grouses, but they are never addressed because Malaysians believe that confrontation will lead to conflict and they fear another May 13.Cranksterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17466770053258278747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8880642673087161290.post-34400604132089327432018-12-21T18:27:00.000+08:002018-12-29T13:01:34.176+08:00What We Knew Then And NowIt's curiously funny when you go back in time and read about things that are crystal clear today, but were murky and uncorroborated back then.<br />
<br />
Kee Thuan Chye's opinion piece about Arul Kanda is seemingly prescient for back in 2016: <a href="https://www.malaysiakini.com/columns/339323">Will it be checkmate for Arul Kanda?</a> <br />
<br />
An excerpt here:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>What was it that Arul allegedly lied about?<br />
<br />
In February 2015, he said in an interview with the Singapore Business Times that 1MDB had redeemed US$1.103 billion from its offshore account in the Cayman Islands and parked it in a Singapore-based branch of Swiss bank BSI Bank.<br />
<br />
“The cash is in our accounts … I can assure you … I have seen the statements,” he attested. Note his confident tone.<br />
<br />
But it turned out there was no cash. In May, the Government admitted that the redeemed US$1.103 billion was actually in the form of “units”.<br />
<br />
In June, 1MDB laughably sought to get Arul off the hook by stating that he “never said he ‘saw the cash’” and that he was “on the record as saying he had ‘seen the statements’.”<br />
<br />
That was stupid. Anybody could see that Arul and 1MDB were trying to twist words. After all, he also was on record saying “the cash is in our accounts”, so how could he wriggle out of that?<br />
<br />
Anyway, in October, Sarawak Report published on its website minutes of a 1MDB board meeting that took place in January 2015 at which Arul gave “detailed assurances to board members that there was indeed cash in the so-called Brazen Sky company account at BSI Bank”.<br />
<br />
This cash-but-no-cash episode is very telling of what Arul’s mission amounts to. Even more telling is the refusal of 1MDB under Arul’s watch to provide details of the company’s foreign banking transactions to the PAC and the Auditor-General. Such information is crucial in determining, for example, whether a US$700 million transfer made by 1MDB to an account belonging to Good Star Ltd was legitimate.<br />
<br />
More significant than that are the billions of dollars of unexplained payments – totalling at least US$3.51 billion – made to Aabar Investments PJS Limited registered in the British Virgin Islands.<br />
<br />
According to the PAC report, 1MDB has not clarified whether this company was linked to the Abu Dhabi-registered Aabar Investments PJS that is a subsidiary of International Petroleum Investment Corp (IPIC), which actually declared to the London Stock Exchange this month that the Virgin Islands Aabar “was not an entity” within IPIC or Aabar Investments PJS.<br />
<br />
If the Virgin Islands Aabar is not a company that 1MDB had legitimate business dealings with, then it is incumbent on Arul to provide the essential information to set the record straight.<br />
<br />
Why hasn’t he done it? Why did he not furnish the PAC with the required foreign banking information? What is he trying to hide?</blockquote><br />
We now know what he was trying to hide.<br />
<br />
Today we have made the connection to Goldman Sachs, and the ridiculously poor business practices they had with dubiously corrupted leaders in Asia.<br />
<br />
Most recently, Malaysia is seeking US$7.5bil in reparations from Goldman Sachs Group Inc. I hardly think this is enough considering we were defrauded since 2013 and the funds, well-invested, would have greatly enriched our nation.<br />
<br />
It annoys me that a greedy fool like Najib was allowed to remain in position for so long before finally getting removed. Even today, he still has ardent supporters who claim that he is being framed "for political reasons".<br />
<br />
It also makes sense that Attorney General Tommy Thomas, when confronted about reports of him filing a suit in New York claiming US$5.1 billion from Goldman, said that <a href="https://crankshafted.blogspot.com/2018/12/goldman-sachs-and-1mdb.html">those reports were “premature”</a>; simply because it wasn't the full sum that they were claiming at all.<br />
<br />
I don't agree with everything that Pakatan Harapan stands for, but when it comes to the 1MDB case, I am glad that they are on the ball.<br />
<br />
<b>Related</b>: <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2018/dec/21/malaysia-seeks-75bn-damages-from-goldman-over-1mdb-scandal">Malaysia seeks $7.5bn damages from Goldman over 1MDB scandal</a>Cranksterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17466770053258278747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8880642673087161290.post-37480134920600277132018-12-18T07:00:00.000+08:002018-12-18T09:44:42.948+08:00Goldman Sachs' Criminal ChargesGoldman Sachs gets massively sucker-punched (though I suspect they were actually bracing themselves for it) as they get <a href="http://www.theedgemarkets.com/article/malaysia-files-criminal-charges-against-goldman-sachs-over-1mdb">criminal charges filed against them</a>.<br />
<br />
It wasn't just Goldman Sachs International (UK) that took the hit, Goldman Sachs (Singapore) Pte and Goldman Sachs (Asia) LLC were also charged with omission of material information and the publishing of untrue statement in the offering circulars for the bonds.<br />
<br />
Individuals charged were: Jho Low, ex-1MDB general counsel Jasmine Loo Ai Swan and former Goldman executive Timothy Leissner.<br />
<br />
It's amazing. Timothy Leissner has already pleaded guilty in the US to charges of misappropriating 1MDB money and bribing officials in Malaysia and Abu Dhabi and is awaiting sentencing. <br />
<br />
Finance Twitter doesn't seem to think that any of the Goldman Sachs bankers would actually go to jail. <a href="http://www.financetwitter.com/2018/11/sorry-folks-none-of-goldman-sachs-bankers-will-go-to-jail-they-are-untouchable-white-collar-crooks.html">I think it has a point</a>. <br />
<br />
The US has cultivated a reputation for saying one thing and doing another. Barack Obama has, in the past, criticised bankers for their part in the recession - and then gone on to appoint them to his administration!<br />
<br />
Trump, at least, is not a hypocrite. His administration is full of ex-bankers who have done nothing for the country but enriched themselves. In other words, a mirror of Trump himself. <br />
<br />
Given that Trump has made a business of bankrupting himself to avoid paying his debts, and is not above paying bribes (and not just to strippers that he has had affairs with) to get his way, I cannot believe that his administration would take this seriously.<br />
<br />
Still, I don't think Leissner was expecting another load of bricks to be thrown in his direction. I look forward to discovering what his sentence would be.<br />
<br />
Roger Ng (Leissner's deputy) is fighting extradition to the US to face the same charges as Leissner, and will be charged later this week. It's not looking pretty for him either. As Finance Twitter says, he is not a US citizen and he is likely to be thrown to the dogs.<br />
<br />
These are criminal charges. I expect that a civil suit would follow, where I hope that <a href="https://crankshafted.blogspot.com/2018/12/goldman-sachs-and-1mdb.html">the $5.1bil rumoured</a> to affect Goldman Sachs would be claimed.<br />
<br />
We do have Goldman Sachs to thank, though. Because I personally believe that if this fiasco had never happened, BN/UMNO would still be ruling the country today.<br />
<br />
NOTHING could be worse than that.<br />
<br />
<b>Related</b>: <a href="http://www.sarawakreport.org/2018/12/wall-street-bankers-need-to-understand-what-corruption-does-to-the-people-of-our-planet/">Wall Street Bankers Need To Understand What Corruption Does To The People Of Our Planet</a>Cranksterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17466770053258278747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8880642673087161290.post-37649270964050566862018-12-15T16:48:00.000+08:002018-12-15T16:48:24.812+08:00Environmental Issues In 2018<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWFLyHyONsxkp6fV88lBnleldYyupuKRn7S9tfOeVN2vX6sMfcz0jpnAxuaXIlDbMh3MGDDdohlB8bu8wTrwF6k363xFA_4rdeqzsCvRGYX2Imw8U889QPHAPj0r2ZGZ2eHbaWLkv8z6jr/s1600/petronas+towers+150.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWFLyHyONsxkp6fV88lBnleldYyupuKRn7S9tfOeVN2vX6sMfcz0jpnAxuaXIlDbMh3MGDDdohlB8bu8wTrwF6k363xFA_4rdeqzsCvRGYX2Imw8U889QPHAPj0r2ZGZ2eHbaWLkv8z6jr/s200/petronas+towers+150.jpg" width="120" height="200" data-original-width="150" data-original-height="250" /></a></div>If you live in Greater KL / Klang Valley, you would know that we have had our share of flash floods. This is frequently due to plastic and other rubbish clogging our sewers and inhibiting smooth flow of water.<br />
<br />
We have ignored it for long enough.<br />
<br />
In fact, it seemed like the previous administration under Najib Razak did nothing about it. There are bicycle lanes in the city, but that seems to be the extent of their "green' credentials.<br />
<br />
The Pakatan Harapan administration has made rather unpopular rulings with regard to single-use plastics, and hopefully, this will reduce both production and usage.<br />
<br />
Not everything is bad news these days; Malaysia is being recognised for its efforts in cleaning up the world in <a href="https://www.eco-business.com/news/7-countries-that-shook-up-our-planet-in-2018/">7 countries that shook up our planet in 2018</a>:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>In September, Malaysia announced that it aims to eliminate single-use plastic by 2030, making it the first country in Southeast Asia to take bold action against plastic pollution. Its weapons in the plastic battle include a nationwide charge on plastic bags and a market for environmentally-friendly alternatives. A month later, the country moved to restrict imports of plastic that had led to the rise of illegal recycling plants across the region after China’s waste ban in January.<br />
<br />
The new government also has the region cheering for its appointment of Yeo Bee Yin, Malaysia’s newly minted Minister of Energy, Green Technology, Science, Climate Change and Environment. A few months into office, she exercised her power to bust the country’s long dependency on fossil fuels, cancelling four independent energy contracts this year that would have otherwise gone to coal companies. The country’s youngest female minister in cabinet is also ready to take legal arms against Australian company Lynas for their accumulation of radioactive waste within their Malaysian operations. </blockquote><br />
I am glad we have reduced our dependence on coal. It's dirty fuel, and the pollution from emissions has to go somewhere. <br />
<br />
The difficulty of being an oil-producing country is that we probably use a fair amount of it ourselves. That would be step two in improving the environment, reducing its use if not eliminating it altogether.<br />
<br />
Most readers know what I think of Lynas. <a href="https://crankshafted.blogspot.com/2018/09/die-lynas-but-dont-rest-in-peace.html">It needs to go</a>.<br />
<br />
But things are looking up. We can preserve this planet.Cranksterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17466770053258278747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8880642673087161290.post-71501758329196257572018-12-08T17:29:00.000+08:002018-12-15T16:17:42.218+08:00Anti-ICERD RallyNo, I haven't gone down to ground zero to cover it. <br />
<br />
It's probably the first rally that I haven't attended despite being in KL - for obvious reasons. Haha.<br />
<br />
I am, though, unpleasantly surprised to note that the participants number 30,000 approximately (<b>Update</b>: Turns out it was closer to 80,000 people). That's a huge number of unhappy customers, much bigger than I was expecting, if I was completely honest.<br />
<br />
It's about 0.1% of the Malaysian population.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisYdrKUe771xocsnU4nAJcInBiJWV3vWbAPO9alUi7DJ_7ubNA6NA-LKsgT-UdaUvoQn25KHRLzuQ7hnvd545PtWSsMdBntmv43TsUqKAaj3DJS_qn5uuVueG_5FuO6zao4qWUf7bdliK_/s1600/IMG-20181208.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisYdrKUe771xocsnU4nAJcInBiJWV3vWbAPO9alUi7DJ_7ubNA6NA-LKsgT-UdaUvoQn25KHRLzuQ7hnvd545PtWSsMdBntmv43TsUqKAaj3DJS_qn5uuVueG_5FuO6zao4qWUf7bdliK_/s400/IMG-20181208.jpg" width="400" height="225" data-original-width="1080" data-original-height="607" /></a></div><br />
It's a big number of people who are that insecure about their future. <br />
<br />
I am not sure which part of their Bumiputera privilege is what they're fighting for.<br />
<br />
<b>Property ownership</b> - reduced price and allocated percentage; despite that, most property developers have disclosed that this allocation never gets fully utilised by the Bumiputera. There is, after all, a financial limit to the number of houses you can buy, even if you are one of those professional property buyers with 20 loans in your name.<br />
<br />
<b>University placement</b> - those who have the brains pass their exams and graduate and those who don't, they just pick up an unfulfilled student loan debt and a low self-esteem.<br />
<br />
<b>Jobs</b> - if they're good, the headhunters lure them abroad, if they're not, they just work for a lousy salary. Often some of these members of the workforce belong to the group that really should not have graduated university. In which case, they live in a lot of fear as they do not want to be identified as under-performers in the job scene. Frequently, they work for civil service.<br />
<br />
As always, I have never believed in placating people by giving them something they don't deserve. That's how America became so ... <i>lembap</i>. <br />
<br />
Not the booming tech sectors that are frequently populated by migrants, mind you, but the sectors soon to be taken over by robots. Also, industrial workers, shop assistants etc. Basically the people who are expecting Trump to improve their lives.<br />
<br />
I have met loads of Malays (who are Bumiputera) who are willing to work hard, given sufficient mentoring and encouragement.<br />
<br />
I really hope they don't feel compelled to join a rally that does nothing to improve their quality of life.<br />
<br />
<b>Related:</b> <a href="http://maddruid.com/?p=16607">The anti-ICERD protest is a chance to show this government is different from the past administration</a>Cranksterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17466770053258278747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8880642673087161290.post-35380005538471109632018-12-07T13:51:00.000+08:002018-12-18T09:34:48.215+08:00Goldman Sachs And 1MDBIt is difficult to have any sympathy for a financial company like Goldman Sachs as they frequently screw up and get bailed by their governments/banks, but this time it looks like Goldman Sachs has bitten off more than it can chew.<br />
<br />
Aseef Shameen rightly sets the tone on Goldman's impending doom in the Edge Singapore piece, <a href="https://www.theedgesingapore.com/goldman-sachs-1mdb-cover-bigger-scandal">Goldman Sachs' 1MDB cover-up is bigger than the scandal</a>:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>Malaysia wants all of the US$600 million in fees 1MDB paid to Goldman and restitution of a big chunk of the US$3.5 billion it lost. Attorney General Tommy Thomas said recently that reports of him filing a suit in New York claiming US$5.1 billion from Goldman were “premature”.</blockquote><br />
Of course, it may be premature to be discussing this as investigations are still underway but one does suspect that this <i>Pakatan Harapan</i> government had this task in mind when it appointed Tommy Thomas to the role of AG. Tommy Thomas works extremely quietly and efficiently. Given his very <a href="http://www.financetwitter.com/2018/10/mahathir-hired-the-right-man-after-equanimity-a-g-thomas-to-recover-rm24-17-billion-in-1mdb-ipic-payments.html">recent track record</a> with securing the yacht Equanimity and his progress with Abu Dhabi's IPIC, this man will save Malaysia millions, if not a billion.<br />
<br />
You may be wondering how Goldman has a hand in this 1MDB scandal. This is why it's in trouble:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>It raised US$6.5 billion for 1MDB. The DOJ alleges that over <b>US$3.5 billion was misappropriated from those funds by Jho Low</b>, a close confidant of Najib. In pleading guilty to money laundering and bribery charges, Leissner blamed the 1MDB shenanigans on Goldman’s “culture” of <b>working around internal legal and compliance controls, as it was highly focused on consummating deals</b>. Jho Low has been charged in absentia with money laundering and violation of bribery laws by the DOJ. He remains on the run and is reportedly in hiding in China.</blockquote><br />
A lot of people are dying to get their hands on the <a href="https://crankshafted.blogspot.com/2018/09/billion-dollar-whale.html">Whale</a>. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWFLyHyONsxkp6fV88lBnleldYyupuKRn7S9tfOeVN2vX6sMfcz0jpnAxuaXIlDbMh3MGDDdohlB8bu8wTrwF6k363xFA_4rdeqzsCvRGYX2Imw8U889QPHAPj0r2ZGZ2eHbaWLkv8z6jr/s1600/petronas+towers+150.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWFLyHyONsxkp6fV88lBnleldYyupuKRn7S9tfOeVN2vX6sMfcz0jpnAxuaXIlDbMh3MGDDdohlB8bu8wTrwF6k363xFA_4rdeqzsCvRGYX2Imw8U889QPHAPj0r2ZGZ2eHbaWLkv8z6jr/s200/petronas+towers+150.jpg" width="120" height="200" data-original-width="150" data-original-height="250" /></a></div>Given the excesses detailed in the book and judging by the calls to BFM over the issue, Malaysians are livid.<br />
<br />
Predictably, Goldman Sachs have denied knowing Jho Low. <br />
<br />
They're not the only ones. <br />
<br />
Najib Razak now claims that he was cheated by Jho Low, and more ludicrously, claimed he was not aware that anything was wrong because he was not told about it. <br />
<br />
Tong Kooi Ong of the Edge Media spills the beans and sets the story straight on what really happened in <a href="http://www.theedgemarkets.com/article/1mdb-update-you-didnt-know-jho-low-cheated-us-i-showed-you-evidence-and-you-showed-me-door">You didn’t know Jho Low cheated us? I showed you evidence and you showed me the door</a>:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>He put the blame solely on Goldman Sachs and 1MDB’s lawyers and auditors for allowing wrongdoings to take place.<br />
<br />
“They should have informed me if something was not right,” Najib said. “They clearly failed in carrying out their responsibilities.”</blockquote><br />
While Najib plays the victim for the peanut gallery, it's rather intriguing how he appears to have such a close relationship with Jho Low.<br />
<br />
Tong Kooi Ong describes it:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>I then proceeded to tell Najib that Jho Low must be held accountable and be prosecuted. This upset him. He immediately stood up, walked to the door and asked me to leave.<br />
<br />
I was taken aback that he was so sensitive about Jho Low.<br />
<br />
While The Edge’s reporting was focused on 1MDB and Jho Low, [Paul] Stadlen [(Najib's media adviser)] made it very clear that any attack on Jho Low was an attack on Najib, and that he was conveying this message from his boss.</blockquote><br />
If you choose to read just one article this coming week, I urge you to make it Tong Kooi Ong's expose. If this piece does not go viral, Malaysians are not worth their salt.<br />
<br />
Najib wants you think that he was cheated and that he is innocent, but nothing could be further from the truth.<br />
<br />
Do not be fooled.Cranksterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17466770053258278747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8880642673087161290.post-77635769028345461822018-12-04T15:01:00.001+08:002019-01-26T16:05:18.272+08:00GM Lay-Offs Extremely DepressingI don't know if these are the stirrings of a tide that is to turn against Trump. It probably may not though, as his steadfast supporters haven't exactly been those who take thoughtful deliberation over emotion.<br />
<br />
General Motors make a lot of cars, albeit not always well. They own a lot of brands. They diversify their operations and they certainly diversify their product.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc-JRTUoKivFpMh439R_1qe9MTk3aAIKO_BKtCLsCOWWRWNNMoXDtcjRRCGMdFReO_BvPNL4m5EzMDEbZVDaQGmCdCZmiPCd4z7NT68yaYvKol8hsoIpwe0YHzXwyCDSemu3ppYWLIUpj2/s1600/gm.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc-JRTUoKivFpMh439R_1qe9MTk3aAIKO_BKtCLsCOWWRWNNMoXDtcjRRCGMdFReO_BvPNL4m5EzMDEbZVDaQGmCdCZmiPCd4z7NT68yaYvKol8hsoIpwe0YHzXwyCDSemu3ppYWLIUpj2/s400/gm.jpeg" width="400" height="143" data-original-width="574" data-original-height="205" /></a></div><br />
Most of their American operations is based in the midwest, specifically in Michigan and Ohio. If you have ever lived in the US or met any midwesterners, you would know that these places are called the rust belt, i.e. there used to be quite a bit of industrial activity in the past, but that has largely waned - mostly because the jobs went east.<br />
<br />
As <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/dec/03/general-motors-trump-jobs-shareholders">Robert Reich writes in the Guardian</a>:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>Last week GM announced it would cut about 14,000 jobs in the politically vital swing states of Michigan and Ohio.<br />
<br />
This doesn’t quite square with the giant $1.5tn tax cut Trump and the Republicans in Congress enacted last December. Its official rationale was to help big corporations make more investments in America and thereby create more jobs. Trump then told Ohio residents “don’t sell your homes”, because lost auto-making jobs “are all coming back”.<br />
<br />
GM got a nice windfall from the tax cut. The company has already saved more than $150m this year, according to GM’s latest financial report. But many of those Ohio residents probably should have sold their homes.</blockquote><br />
What did GM do with the money that they got from the tax cut and the wages they do not have to pay anymore? <b>They bought back their own shares</b>!! - this is frequently done to boost the share price.<br />
<br />
Reich continues:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>In 2010, when GM emerged from the bailout and went public again, it boasted to Wall Street that it was making 43% of its cars in places where labor cost less than $15 an hour, while in North America it could now pay “lower-tiered” wages and benefits for new employees.<br />
<br />
So this year, when the costs of producing many of its cars in Ohio and Detroit got too high (due in part to Trump’s tariffs on foreign steel), GM simply decided to shift more production to Mexico in order to boost profits.<br />
<br />
In light of GM’s decision, Trump is also demanding the company close one of its plants in China. But this raises a second reality of shareholder-first global capitalism that has apparently been lost on Trump: GM doesn’t make many cars in China for export to the United States. Almost all of the cars it makes in China are for sale there.<br />
<br />
In fact, GM is now making and selling more cars in China than it does in the United States. “China is playing a key role in the company’s strategy,” says GM’s CEO, Mary Barra.<br />
<br />
Even as Trump has escalated his trade war with China, GM has invested in state-of-the-art electrification, autonomous vehicles and ride-sharing technologies there.</blockquote><br />
I don't know what to say. America is shooting itself in the foot on a rather consistent basis.<br />
<br />
There's a part of me that agrees with Robert Reich. The emphasis on keeping shareholders happy while depressing workers' wages is wrong.<br />
<br />
But I lived and worked in the US as an engineer for 5 years. During that time, I was always looking to prove my worth (yes, I know, typical Malaysian inferiority complex) and add value to whatever I was doing. <br />
<br />
The unfortunate part was that my American co-workers were less keen on going the extra mile. It was always assumed that they were entitled to the job they had and the key thing was to keep to themselves what they knew, lest someone steal their job from them.<br />
<br />
The problem with that is, this sort of defensiveness suppresses innovation. It only encourages complacency. Americans think that their nation is (and to be fair, it once was) successful because they are an inherently successful race of people. <br />
<br />
It may not be quite so obvious to the average joe, but if you think carefully, this is White Supremacy 101. This is also something that Malaysians are frankly unable to understand and digest because they have been shafted over by Malaysian politicians too many times. <br />
<br />
From the Malaysian perspective (and understandably so), the brown guy is every bit as bad as the white one. No Malaysian really thinks that Malaysians are exceptional to other races, regardless of what our slogans may regurgitate.<br />
<br />
But bear with me when I say that American Exceptionalism is actually a novel and unassailable way of expressing white supremacy - which is why when Trump dog-whistled, they came running.<br />
<br />
This is why they are comfortable sharing technology with the Chinese, because deep in their hearts, they cannot come to believe that the Chinese would have equivalent ability to take over the industry, learn their skill better than themselves and one day have economic and socio-political dominion in the world.<br />
<br />
I don't know why Chinese people like American cars. I have never owned one - preferring Japanese cars myself, having owned two of them in my lifetime.<br />
<br />
Perhaps it's because Chinese have been deprived of Western culture having lived under the heavy-handed rule of Communism for so long. Maybe American cars, which in my personal opinion, are neither aesthetically appealing nor exceptional in performance, are a symbol of freedom to the Chinese.<br />
<br />
One day the Chinese will acquire a sense of entitlement and superiority, just like the Americans today. It's the circle of life, after all.<br />
<br />
But for now, they are slowly but surely plodding ahead, and the Americans, once the people who were gung-ho to achieve anything, are blissfully oblivious.<br />
<b><br />
Update:</b> <a href="https://youtu.be/3FMu_jNOUwY">Trump’s Broken Promise to General Motors</a> | The Daily ShowCranksterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17466770053258278747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8880642673087161290.post-24112040426238188842018-11-30T11:59:00.000+08:002018-11-30T11:59:04.971+08:00Changing The WorldPerhaps changing the world is too tall an order; let's start with the country.<br />
<br />
Of course, if you read Haris Ibrahim, he recommended <a href="https://harismibrahim.wordpress.com/2018/04/11/change-gomen-first-then-we-the-rakyat-reform-our-country/">starting with the government</a>.<br />
<br />
That has been achieved. May 2018 proved historic for us in so many ways.<br />
<br />
Malaysia is home to a very large middle class population, and a fairly sizeable upper class one. You and I probably have very little connection with the poorer members of society, and thus have no idea of the obstacles they face.<br />
<br />
For one, I had no idea the <a href="https://harismibrahim.wordpress.com/2018/09/13/how-long-more-do-we-exploit-human-lives-for-profit/">minimum wage was RM1050</a>.<br />
<br />
The minimum wage has not increased because to quote the official line, "it will be problematic for industries, and affect the competitiveness of the nation".<br />
<br />
Let's break that down.<br />
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The poor are being targeted because everyone knows that they do not have options like the rest of us, and therefore, will always remain in this country and work for whatever we offer them.<br />
<br />
Now, you may say that the economy must be protected at all costs. Even Donald Trump ran his campaign on promises to make America great again. Most people believe that he meant economically powerful.<br />
<br />
Obviously, that is why he is bringing fossil fuels (not just oil but coal too!!) back, and enforcing tariffs on China because he correctly perceives them to be of great competition.<br />
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He will eventually run the country to the ground, but that is another subject altogether.<br />
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America is a case study on what not to do. They spent most of a century oppressing their poor, even though ALL Americans started out with humble beginnings. Europeans didn't migrate to America because they were wealthy.<br />
<br />
Quite the contrary. They migrated because they were either oppressed in their home country or experienced famine. They just discovered opportunities in America and it made them wealthy.<br />
<br />
Anyway, the reason I am bringing this up, is because I firmly believe that we as a nation, will not be successful unless we raise the lowest of our members.<br />
<br />
Currently we are taking advantage of their helplessness instead of empowering them to go on and provide more value. There's a nasty word for it: EXPLOIT.<br />
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Malaysians are happy to migrate to foreign countries (or greener pastures) because they pay better, or are more stable economically, socially and politically. Ironically, these countries pay a high minimum wage, but you don't see Malaysians objecting to it.<br />
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Why not, instead of migrating, adopt the principles of these stable nations, and improve the nation we live in and make it better?<br />
<br />
Just a thought.<br />
<br />
<b>Related:</b><br />
<a href="https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2018/10/21/activist-group-calls-for-anti-poverty-law/">Activist group calls for anti-poverty law</a>Cranksterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17466770053258278747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8880642673087161290.post-83399657572068274602018-09-28T14:57:00.000+08:002018-12-02T19:15:42.780+08:00Billion Dollar WhaleThe book has become a bestseller amongst Malaysians and even the rest of the world.<br />
<br />
BFM went stark, raving crazy and <a href="https://www.bfm.my/bg-tom-wright-dives-deep-with-billion-dollar-whale.html">had one of the authors on</a> while spending <a href="https://www.bfm.my/ent-bb-24-09-2018-billion-dollar-whale.html">other moments</a> <a href="https://www.bfm.my/billion-dollar-whale.html">just gushing</a> about it. Yes, perhaps in this time and age (censorless!) people just want to <a href="https://www.bfm.my/six-am-stretch-who-would-you-cast-in-a-billion-dollar-whale-movie.html">get it out</a> <a href="https://www.bfm.my/the-billion-dollar-wails.html">of their system</a>.<br />
<br />
Unauthorised, pirated PDF copies of the book also went viral, which was ironic, because the book is about the kleptomanic tendencies of an insecure, but very privileged fat boy.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgINChqhnihP88QpYZoOD1dCv8ubrZXzAbJjzFRhm8BW7wp7m-lcJkJQuGBgEJ1aCDOs_DzfFuSfiMnfWuUJKKwclCFde4dMOT_ouiFJYgEyozAwujNUj3ptQNTkYEFzxMsQgCCxYSx_KCk/s1600/crb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgINChqhnihP88QpYZoOD1dCv8ubrZXzAbJjzFRhm8BW7wp7m-lcJkJQuGBgEJ1aCDOs_DzfFuSfiMnfWuUJKKwclCFde4dMOT_ouiFJYgEyozAwujNUj3ptQNTkYEFzxMsQgCCxYSx_KCk/s200/crb.jpg"></a></div>Of course, the authors of the book were no choir boys either; they were <a href="http://www.theedgemarkets.com/article/sarawak-report-billion-dollar-whale-author-should-reveal-source">supposed to credit their sources</a>, but very conveniently avoided doing so.<br />
<br />
<blockquote>Rewcastle-Brown said that Tom Wright said: “Let’s leave out Sarawak Report, you are talking to the big boys now,” when speaking to the intermediary between the source and WSJ writers.</blockquote><br />
Very naughty. In the interviews, one could get a sense of raw ambition and desire to achieve fame through this book.<br />
<br />
You can get it straight from the horse's mouth <a href="http://www.sarawakreport.org/2018/09/time-for-the-wall-street-journal-to-speak-the-truth-about-their-source/">HERE</a>.Cranksterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17466770053258278747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8880642673087161290.post-76721234818480292442018-09-24T11:04:00.000+08:002018-12-08T16:34:29.814+08:00Predicting Financial CrashesEveryone enjoys a good, "I told you so" moment. Not least of all, American media.<br />
<br />
Newsweek has come up with an extremely ominous sounding article predicting that <a href="https://www.newsweek.com/stock-market-1134867">THERE COULD BE A FINANCIAL CRASH BEFORE END OF TRUMP'S FIRST TERM</a>.<br />
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Even Goldman Sachs (of 1MDB money-laundering complicity) has weighed in on the situation, predicting that this year's U.S. fiscal outlook would be "not good". Well.<br />
<br />
Makes you want to sell up all your earthly possessions and go live in a bunker, doesn't it?<br />
<br />
The US of A is a land of hype, and has been for the last 50 years since things got going for them, so they struggle with communicating issues in moderation, and they frequently live in a polarised state.<br />
<br />
If you've observed them (and not just during election season), you would observe that the Democrats and Republicans even struggle to see eye to eye on almost anything!<br />
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<b>Two things though: student debt and household debt.</b> <br />
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Those have skyrocketed from the good ole 60s. Most households today in 2018 do not have any savings set aside for a rainy day, given that a significant portion even live on minimum credit card payment. <br />
<br />
This household debt is even higher than the 2008 subprime mortgage lending crisis; that's how serious it is!<br />
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Now you may say that this is also common in Malaysia, and I would agree, because another thing we have in common with the US is a massive deficit that will take ages to settle, thanks to the monumental 1MDB fiasco.<br />
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The difference is, the new Malaysian government actually appears to be alarmed by this and is taking cautious measures to combat this. The US government on the other hand, is blissfully talking about building a wall, hitting China with tariffs and developing a ridiculous program called Space Force (which given their deficit is just ...)!<br />
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I don't see how the US is going to repay its debts. US economic commentator Peter Schiff says, "The U.S. government is going to be given a choice between defaulting on the debt, or else massive runaway inflation."<br />
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It is no longer the most technologically advanced nation; it has been overtaken by China. The US, sadly, has been paralysed by complacency and a sense of entitlement.<br />
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Its saving grace? Migrants. Thousands from all over the world. But now that Trump makes them feel unwelcome, they will probably up and leave at some point. <br />
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They are held back from returning to their native countries because of religious and socio-economic politics (Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan) and lack of progress on the ground (India). Most Chinese migrants have beef with China, as do the Japanese with Japan.<br />
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It's a bit arrogant to start predicting when it would happen. Brexit has artificially boosted the US economy because investors have lost confidence in the UK and even EU. So the US unwittingly became a safe haven.<br />
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What the investors don't see is China happily wooing the very countries that America, in its infinite wisdom, has snubbed. These include African, Latin American countries and the Caribbean, not to mention the neglected cities of America - like Flint and Detroit. <br />
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The US isn't the fortress of economic superiority as it once was. It is no longer the country that was brought to its knees as it staggered through the 1920s Depression - and still emerged triumphant.<br />
<br />
Nothing could be more ironic when seen through hindsight.<br />
<br />
The financial crash will happen, but I wouldn't bother predicting when.<br />
<br />
<b>Related:</b> <a href="https://www.sovereignman.com/trends/total-student-debt-in-america-now-exceeds-cost-of-iraq-war-23031/">Total student debt in America now exceeds cost of Iraq War</a>Cranksterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17466770053258278747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8880642673087161290.post-19597097501011270612018-09-20T18:06:00.000+08:002018-12-02T18:41:23.973+08:00Die Lynas, But Don't Bother To Rest In PeaceSometimes when time just flies past, it's hard to remember that the Bentong MP, Wong Tack, started out as an activist against Lynas, back in 2012 and even before that.<br />
<br />
First they <a href="https://crankshafted.blogspot.com/2012/09/block-kuantan-port-dammit.html">threatened to block Kuantan Port</a>, then they <a href="https://crankshafted.blogspot.com/2014/01/himpunan-hijau-is-focused.html">protested a celebration of Australia Day</a>.<br />
<br />
If you're going to ask why all that was necessary, you have your answer <a href="https://crankshafted.blogspot.com/2012/02/lynas-introspect-of-why.html">HERE</a>; brilliantly compiled by Walla.<br />
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All that protesting appears to be fruitful as Lynas could possibly be closed down.<br />
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The Australian Commissioner to Malaysia calls this closure a 'tragedy'. I know there are a lot of Malaysians who have migrated to Australia for a better life and now call Australia home, but seriously, Australia can go to hell.<br />
<br />
Wong Tack does tell them so himself, though in not so many words. "The further threat by the High Commissioner that the closure of Lynas will result in a pullout of Australian investments in Malaysia is an insult to the intelligence and dignity of the Malaysian people."<br />
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Does Australia think they are so important to Malaysia? Seriously? Most of the time I don't even remember that Australia exists; they are <b>that</b> insignificant.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/30/business/global/30rare.html?ref=global" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2011/06/30/business/RARE/RARE-articleLarge.jpg" width="400"></a></div><br />
Lynas appears to be a welfare queen, on top of that:<br />
<br />
a) They were given tax breaks for 12 years by the previoius regime<br />
b) They have no plans to remove their radioactive waste out of Malaysia<br />
c) They have not even paid up their security deposit of USD50mil.<br />
<br />
This shows what levels of greed people can stoop to, firstly the previous Malaysian regime who approved everything without considering the needs of its own citizens, the Australian politicians and then finally corporate Australia for whom Malaysian lives do not matter.<br />
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Piss off Lynas, and take Australia with you.Cranksterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17466770053258278747noreply@blogger.com0