The Fools Behind Malaysia Airlines' Downfall

Most of you have probably heard of how Khazanah Nasional has taken Malaysia Airlines private.

They're calling it an overhaul, but you and I know that it's essentially a bailout - using taxpayer funds.

As usual.

I have stated in the past, that a major aspect of Malaysia Airlines loss is due to crony involvement.

The cronyism was well on its way even back in the 1990s, when the Loony Tun and his prodigy Daim Zainuddin were piloting this country into destruction.

For the full story, read this piece: Here Are Insider Reasons Why Malaysia Airlines Bailout Will Not Work.

It's mind-blowing.

The Complacency Factor

One thing I have learned in life is to take everything with a pinch of salt.

I analyse every piece of news that lands on my lap and even mull over the motive behind it.

Naturally, that was what I did when I came across this article from Bloomberg View that questions if Malaysia is Asia's Weakest Link.

For those of you in the know, Michael Bloomberg was a former mayor of New York City who in an attempt to reduce crime in the city, instated rather racist laws like "stop and search" in which black young men were targeted by the police.

I lost my respect for him then. He later attempted to control the in-flow of guns into the city by regulating them, but that earned him the wrath of the National Rifle Association of America (who are a bunch of nutcases themselves).

Anyway, by that time, it was too late, as both the right wing and left wing hated him in possibly equal measures.

Bill de Blasio appears to have done a much better job so far, but I digress.

Back to the article: Oxford Economics apparently ranks Malaysia the "riskiest country in Asia of those we consider," more so than India, Indonesia and even coup-happy Thailand.

Why, you ask.

Malaysia wasn't included in Morgan Stanley's "fragile five" list of shaky emerging economies last year, as were India and Indonesia.

But Fowler scratches at a number of Malaysian vulnerabilities that deserve more attention: external debt levels that in recent years have risen to close to 40 percent of gross domestic product; a higher public debt ratio than India; the biggest short-term capital flows among the 13 major emerging markets Oxford tracks, including Indonesia; and a shrinking current-account surplus.

I really do take many "financial services" corporations very lightly. After all, they are the ones who predict the strength of economies with grave seriousness - until they are proven to be completely wrong!

They then lose huge sums of money and promptly run to their governments for a bail-out of which the tax-payer bears the cost.

Anyway, the article does have some valid points, which is why I brought it up in the first place:

What really concerns Oxford, and myself, is the complacency factor in Putrajaya. Malaysia is effectively a one-party state, having effectively been ruled by the same party for six decades.

Its 40-year-old, pro-Malay affirmative-action program chips away at the country's competitiveness more and more each passing year.

The scheme, which disenfranchises Malaysia's Chinese and Indian minorities, is a productivity and innovation killer. It also has a corrupting influence on the political and business culture.

"A climate of entitlement amongst the Malay community limits entrepreneurialism and vested interests within the United Malays National Organization still resist change," Fowler argues.

Read the rest of the article on the web.

Pork And Chinese

In a move that is so lacking in originality, raw meat was again found outside a mosque in Cherok Tok Kun, Machang Bubok, Penang.

It has been sent to a fancy animal DNA testing facility in Sepang, but no prizes for guessing that the meat is pork.

The troublemakers are claiming that it was the Chinese who have thrown it into the mosque.

I beg to differ in opinion.

If there was any pork to be found, the Chinese would have cooked and eaten it.

Act Of God

I'd really like to quote a Bible verse that condemns UMNO's cheating and lying ways; maybe even invoke the wrath of God upon them.

But in the absence of miracles in this day and age, and a personal lack of prophetic abilities, I shall contend with a smug smirk at the damage on the UMNO building in Penang which occurred as a result of a freak storm.

I must say that I am impressed by the efficiency with which the Chief Minister has got his act together to deal with it.

I am particularly surprised that he has even taken it upon himself to sort out the UMNO building which belongs to his enemies.

It takes a big man to do that, and the people of Penang ought to be proud of him.

Malaysian Government Pays To Defame

Josh Treviño is an American conservative political commentator who lost his column in the Guardian newspaper after allegations that his journalism wasn't exactly above board and that he was under the payroll of the Malaysian government to defame Anwar Ibrahim.

Since then, Josh Treviño has denied being a journalist, claiming instead that he was a PR man who "ran a loose operation" -- basically in having other writers also muddy the waters when it came to issues concerning Malaysian Opposition.

He rejected accusations that his actions had broken any rules of journalism. “I’m not a journalist and never was,” Treviño wrote. “That’s a pretty key distinction. What most PR does is comment/opinion.”

Fair enough. It happens all over the world, especially in the United States of America, which is where he hails from. In fact, a lot of American foreign policy came to pass based on pressure from lobbyists (often lawyers or PR specialists who are paid to promote a particular cause).

Many Malaysians complain about the USA being very "pro-Israel". What they do not realize is that American policies have been affected in the very same way that Malaysian policies are made and the way the world views Malaysia -- via paid influence and propaganda.

Lesson to be learned: People in glass houses should not throw stones.

Especially that the RM1.2 million (or US$389,724.70) that was paid to Josh Treviño probably came from the tax payer as UMNO regularly uses national coffers as its personal piggy bank. Lucius Goon points this out as well.

However, it is apparent that Treviño was treading the fine line between PR and journalism in his shady of definitions of what exactly he does. Huffington Post, following in the Guardian's footsteps, albeit much later, has since removed most of his postings, "after it was revealed that the author violated HuffPost’s blogger guidelines by not disclosing a financial conflict of interest"

Ah yes. I would imagine that US$389,724.70 is a significant financial conflict of interest.

This amount was paid to him, presumably via FBC Media, APCO Worldwide and David All Group (which I've personally not heard or blogged of prior to this mention) from the Malaysian government and the Prime Minister’s Office.

At this point, I'm wondering how much these PR companies have been paid by UMNO. It would certainly be a darn sight more.

I can't say I'm a huge fan of Anwar Ibrahim. But it does irritate me when money is used for no good purpose other than to defame a person.

Related:
1. Paid to blog: Josh Trevino’s MR26,300 a month - Uppercaise
2. Shilling for Malaysia Is Pretty Nice Work If You Can Get It - New York Magazine
3. Friends of Malaysia - The Maddow Blog (MSNBC)

The Stripper

Okay, I concede that the title was a cheap stunt to lure readers!!

But you must admit, that under the circumstances, Old Nyanyuk does deserve the title of "The Stripper".

Awhile ago, Old Nyanyuk along with the Indian Muslim organisation called Kimma made an appeal for BERSIH co-chairman Ambiga Sreenevasan to be stripped of her datukship.

Now, I personally don't think much of datukships -- anymore than I do knightships or OBEs or MBEs (if you're British). They are meant to be an honour, but if the body or person who bestowed it upon you is not honourable, it means nothing at all.

However, citizenship is a completely different thing altogether. No one really has the right to strip anyone of their citizenship, certainly not an unelected government who unlawfully sits in office by having cheated and rigged elections for decades.

This line of thinking obviously does not sit well with Old Nyanyuk, as he believes that voters should give two-thirds majority to the BN government so that they can amend the constitution to enable them to strip Ambiga of her citizenship.

BERSIH has come back with a disappointingly weak response, saying merely that Dr M must apologise to Ambiga, Bar Council.

But then again, perhaps they are a lot more professional than to suggest in turn that Old Nyanyuk be stripped of his citizenship for treason in randomly giving out citizenships to foreigners in exchange for votes to keep his party in power.

I digress. Ambiga has done the nation justice by trying to set straight what is crooked and corrupt.

Any person capable of logical thought would see that in a democracy, calling for free and fair elections is a very noble and responsible gesture.

I am personally in favour of free and fair elections, and am in sound mind to recognise that Malaysia does not have free and fair elections hence the constant need to demand them especially by taking to the streets.

The last time I checked, BERSIH 3.0 attracted a crowd of 200,000 to the streets. This, in spite of knowing that they could be arrested and charged under draconian laws.

Would Old Nyanyuk and the BN government like to strip those 200,000 people of their citizenship too?

She Got Pwned!!

Folks, it's always nice to learn a new word.

And today, the word is: Pwn

From About.com, "Pwned" means "to be controlled against your will", or "to be defeated by a superior power".

This is precisely what has happened to Suara Wanita 1Malaysia (SW1M) president Sharifah Zohra Jabeen, who absolutely had her blinking ar$e handed to her on a plate when she attempted to intimidate UUM law student KS Bawani into silence.

Now I have had the dubious experience of attending a Malaysian university. The amount of propaganda that is fed to students is staggering. It takes a lot of willpower to withstand the smarmy facilitators and their blithering opinions.

It possibly takes a lot more willpower to get up and take the bull by the horns.

I'll admit this -- I was a coward. I grinned and bore it with fortitude but also with a sense of humour (what depths one can sink to in efforts to defend one's cowardice).

But KS Bawani does not shrink from her adversaries. The youtube video that went viral is proof of that.

And since then, Sharifah Zohra Jabeen Syed Shah Miskin (she's not worth the paper on the birth certificate that it takes to write her name) has made numerous attempts to engineer a comeback and restore some semblance of dignity.

But her efforts are in vain.

Her arrogance and overbearing attitude were out in the open for everyone to see.

She may allege that KS Bawani flipped her off -- showed her the middle finger -- before walking out of the forum. The whole thing was captured on video. It's going to require a bit of photo-shopping (ala the Anwar Ibrahim video) before Sharifah Zohra Jabeen can show her "proof".

From FMT: Sharifah is a liar, says Bawani

“I categorically deny ever making such a gesture. Sharifah is a liar. Her statement has tarnished my name in the public. Her allegation is false and defamatory,” Bawani told FMT today.

She lodged a report against Sharifah at Kajang district police headquarters yesterday.

“Sharifah also told FMT that SW1M would be uploading a full version of the video which would reveal that I showed the middle finger. I’m waiting to see it. I want the police to investigate and get to the bottom of her preposterous claim,” she added.

Sharifah, in an exclusive interview with FMT on Feb 1, made the claim for the first time since she was lambasted for her treatment of Bawani at the forum, a video clip of which was first uploaded three weeks ago on YouTube, titled “Forum Suara Mahasiswa Part 4″.

After a storm of protests from netizens, Sharifah issued a statement saying she forgave Bawani and stressed that she was neither contemptuous of university students nor against their right to exercise free speech. She then apologised to UUM, but not to Bawani.

Very few people are convinced that Sharifah Zohra Jabeen has been wronged.

Most see her as the attacker and the villain.

I personally see her as a bully who always got her way.




Maybe Ms Listen ought to take a bit of her own advice and perhaps ... listen?

After that, perhaps ... shut up?

The Murder of Altantuya

Written by John Berthelsen
THURSDAY, 18 OCTOBER 2012

Six years on, troubling questions remain about the Mongolian beauty's death, and who ordered it

It will be six years tomorrow since bodyguards for now-Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak dragged the Mongolian translator and party girl Altantuya Shaariibuu out of a car in a patch of jungle near the Kuala Lumpur suburb of Shah Alam.

As she begged for her life and apparently that of her unborn child, they knocked her unconscious, then shot her twice in the head.

That was Oct. 19, 2006. According to court testimony, Chief Inspector Azilah Hadri and Corporal Sirul Azhar Umar, members of the elite Unit Tindakan Khas, both assigned to Najib’s office, then wrapped Altantuya’s body in C4 plastic explosives and blew her up, possibly to mangle her remains so badly that the fetus would be destroyed.

Sirul Azhar was interrogated by police shortly after the murder was discovered. He was informed that anything he said could be held against him, in accordance with the law. In his cautioned statement, as his confession was called in Malaysia, he told authorities he and Azilah had been offered RM100,000 to kill the woman and her two companions, who were causing highly public embarrassment for Abdul Razak Baginda, Najib’s best friend. The 28-year-old Mongolian woman, in a letter found after her death, wrote that she was sorry she had been blackmailing Razak Baginda.

If French police records are to be believed, Razak Baginda was allegedly central to a massive bribery case in which a total of nearly €150 million in payments were steered to two Razak Baginda companies, Perimekar Sdn Bhd and Terasasi Hong Kong Ltd.

As Asia Sentinel reported earlier this year, records seized by the French police show that former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad and the French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe were aware of the transactions. Memos obtained by Asia Sentinel show the French expected at least part of the money to be steered to the United Malays National Organization, Malaysia’s biggest ethnic political party.

Read the rest here:The Murder of Altantuya Shaariibuu

Jailing The Whistleblowers

When the going gets tough, UMNO jails the whistleblowers

Suaram, the human rights NGO that hired French lawyers to investigate bribes and kickbacks surrounding Malaysia’s controversial purchase of French submarines, will be charged for violations of the country’s Companies Act sometime during the next two weeks, Domestic Trade and Consumerism Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said Saturday, according to the state-owned Bernama news service.

Some 66 Malaysia-based NGOs are expected to give a press conference tomorrow at 11 am expressing their support for Suaram, an acronym for Suara Rakyat Malaysia, or Voice of the Malaysian People.

Suaram in 2009 asked a French investigative law firm headed by William Bourdon in 2009 to look into what appeared to be huge bribes and kickbacks paid to Malaysian politicians by the French state-owned defense company DCN and its subsidiaries for the 2002 purchase of two submarines and the lease of a third.

The probe resulted in a raid on DCN’s headquarters and other company offices that exposed nearly 150 million euros in questionable funds paid to a close friend of then-defense minister Najib Tun Razak, now Malaysia’s prime minister. The documents indicated that the bribes had been paid with the full knowledge of Alain Juppe, the French foreign minister, Mahathir Mohamad, then the prime minister of Malaysia, and Najib, who had negotiated the purchase. The evidence detailed a host of other sleazy dealings.

Some 133 documents listing the alleged criminal dealings were obtained independently by Asia Sentinel and posted here on June 25 on the Internet. Two Asia Sentinel stories detailed the allegations against French and Malaysian officials.

Suaram, accused of being “Anwar’s NGO” because of the presence of opposition members of its board of directors, has come under unprecedented attack by pro-government bloggers, party-owned newspaper and UMNO lawmakers who questioned its status as an NGO rather than a company and accused it of receiving foreign funds.

“Yes, they are going to try to charge us,” Suaram Director Cynthia Gabriel said in a telephone interview Sunday. We have no details yet, the first charge will probably be in a couple of days, we will see what happens.”

Gabriel said the first charge apparently involves allegations of money-laundering, although she said the NGO had voluntarily opened its books to investigators and that she felt there had been no wrongdoing.

Malaysia’s government-owned newspapers have blared headlines that Suaram received funds from the German government, and indicated that that the German ambassador would be called in and asked for an explanation.

The Chinese probably hold the record for jailing those who point out corruption, violation of environmental laws and other shortcomings. But Malaysia could be catching up. The Barisan Nasional has a considerable history of going after whistle-blowers who expose wrongdoing by government officials, and particularly of leaders of the United Malays National Organization.

Read the rest HERE

Jangan Ketawa -- Moon And Pee

Apparently UMNO has taken great offence at the demonstrators' acts of stepping on the Prime Minister's face and mooning him and his wife.

Great offence to the extent of publishing the photos on Facebook!

KUALA LUMPUR: Police through Facebook has highlighted 11 photographs which were recorded at the "Janji Bersih" gathering at Dataran Merdeka on Aug 30.

City CID chief Datuk Ku Chin Wah said members of the public who recognised any individual in the photographs were asked to come forward to provide the information.

He said they could do so to any police officer, police station or the Royal Malaysian Police hotline at 03-20319999 or KL Police's Hotline at 03-21159999.

"They can also directly contact ASP Azmi Abd Azizi at 019-2602344," he said.

Several participants of the gathering were seen trampling on pictures of national leaders, bringing a new flag to replace the Malaysian flag and showing their buttocks in public.

There is even a police hotline for it!!!!!!

Can you believe it, ladies and gentlemen, when Malaysian children were kidnapped and murdered, there were no hotlines. But for those who show disdain for a nefarious government, a dedicated hotline!!

What a brilliant government.

The same government that has the loyal support of this bunch below:

Yes, just in case you have any doubt whatsoever, they are peeing on the image of the opposition leaders.

But hey, since those leaders belong to the wrong party, no action shall be taken against them, no hotline dedicated for people to snitch on them and get them arrested.

Ah well. Malaysia boleh.

I am posting this picture in my blog because when I was young, my parents always told me that Malaysia is a morally upright country, far more than the evil west.

I just want to tell them that they don't have to go abroad to see people of low morals.

BAFIA or MAFIA?

Rafizi (right) has spearheaded PKR’s offensive against dubious financial dealings linked to BN. — File pic

SHAH ALAM, Aug 1 ― PKR strategy chief Rafizi Ramli was charged today with violating the Banking and Financial Institutions Act (BAFIA) in exposing confidential banking details related of National Feedlot Corporation Sdn Bhd (NFCorp).

I will concede that no one likes having their private matters being made public.

Certainly not people who have made a lot of money.

And more so, people who have made that money from dubious and/or corrupt practices.

NFCorp, and by extension, UMNO is livid that its reputation has been tarnished yet again.

I don't know why UMNO should be upset really. They don't have much of a reputation for being anything other than corrupt and greedy thieves.

Finding a legitimate issue to smear their name is no challenging feat at all.

Unlike the case of Teoh Beng Hock, who I personally believe had not committed any dubious practice at all and had to be fatally threatened in wild attempts to get him to confess to something he had not remotely done.

They dropped the poor fellow and wondered how to explain away a dead body at Plaza Masalam, that of a man who was due to be married that very day.

Incidentally, no one has been charged for his murder, which is far more grave an issue than exposing confidential banking details of corrupt companies.

How about Altantuya? Who has been held responsible for her death? Surely not a couple of commandos who did not know her from Adam (or Eve)?

Why were we told by the Foreign Minister that the Scorpene scandal was not a serious issue?

That is the worst case scenario when it comes to exposing confidential details, because it gives away sensitive defence information, which could amount to treason!!

Read what other Malaysians have to say to this, by the way.

And yet Rafizi Ramli is being put on the stand for something so minor.

The UMNO government acts more recklessly than even the Mafia!!

Detecting Communists And Terrorists Among The Opposition Party

My friend Helen Ang tends to give the Pakatan Rakyat coalition a very hard time.

She has ridiculed them for being what she terms the Malaysian Firsters, which refers to those who declare themselves as being Malaysian first, rather than race, religion, gender or any other label.

I would personally regard myself as a Malaysian first. But that is my own inclination and since I don't run for public office, I don't get the stick on my back.

It also helps that I don't need to go all out to woo segments of the population for votes.

Pakatan Rakyat has at times appeared to be insincere, but for the most part, if I was completely honest, I would say they have done a splendid job in the administration of the states that they won over during the last elections.

Bear in mind, that they have managed without adequate funds and support from the federal government.

This federal government is comprised of the same bunch of minions who claim that Pakatan Rakyat has been infiltrated by Islamic terrorists and Chinese communists.

Now that ranks high up there as one of the most ludicrous claims that the UMNO government has mustered. As always, they accomplish new levels of gutter low.

I personally find it quite amusing that terrorists these days (according to the esteemed Malaysian Special Branch) have purportedly seen the error of their ways, put down their weapons, resisted violence and embraced democracy by resorting to elections!!!!

There is some gravity in this, however. What is dangerous is this scenario:

With the resurrection of the Islamist terrorist and communist bogeys infiltrating the Pakatan Rakyat parties, is the stage being set for a special operation against the Pakatan Rakyat parties to remove the democratic and legitimate threat posed by Pakatan Rakyat to continued Umno/BN hold on federal power in the 13th general election?

Is the UMNO government trying to win international approval in putting away their competition?

After all, they have discovered that putting away Anwar Ibrahim for the 23rd time (I've lost count) over sexual allegations has not been sufficiently effective.

Nor is trying to cause riots at initially peaceful and orderly street demonstrations attended by 250,000 disgruntled Malaysian citizens.

The UMNO government obviously need something more potent.

So what gives? Is the Malaysian public suitably gullible enough to swallow this hook, line and sinker?

Or will this end up backfiring against the UMNO government in a divine sense of retribution?

Tussle Between Government & People

Each new struggle for the same basic demands comes along with its own experiences. For the most part, Malaysian activists have grown and improved.

Of course, to assume that the goverment hasn't learnt anything at all would be to underestimate the enemy.

They have learned, which is why they appear -- at least on the surface -- to allow the demonstration to go on.

But make no mistake. They will make every attempt to thwart it from the sidelines.

After all, the solution for doing away with this demonstration is ludicrously simple. All the Malaysian government has to do is to enforce some of the responsible practices recommended by BERSIH.

But to do that could mean losing the elections. Losing power of the nation. Losing something that never belonged to them in the first place.

They cannot survive without their privileges. Won't do.

So the show must go on until those who want it more eventually succeed. I hope victory is in the hands of those who deserve it: the people.

18 Months

It's a long time.

9 months is the period of gestation for the average human baby. 18 months is double that.

18 months is the age at which a child, from birth, has learned to roll, sit, crawl, walk, run, eat solids and maybe even talk.

A lot of learning can happen in that span of time, be it for a baby or a university student.

Adam Adli is having 18 months of his formal education put on a hold by the authorities for disapproving of the Prime Minister.

For purely political reasons, a young man is being punished.

Because at the end of the day, the university authorities are at the behest of UMNO and are at its beck and call.

Politics and democracy gone very wrong in Malaysia.

Related: Opinion: Let them sing their songs of change

Washington Post On Anwar And Democracy In Malaysia

An editorial opinion by the Washington Post on Anwar Ibrahim's ludicrous case.

ON MONDAY a struggle over human rights and democracy will come to a head in an important Muslim country.

The site is not Egypt or Turkey but Malaysia, a country of 28 million that, as it has prospered economically, has grown an opposition movement that is pressing an authoritarian regime to share power.

The opposition’s leader is Anwar Ibrahim, whose multiethnic alliance shocked the ruling party in several state elections in 2008 and who has a chance to oust Prime Minister Najib Razak in national elections expected in the next few months, if the vote is free and fair.

All that explains why on Monday Mr. Anwar will find himself not on the campaign trail but in a courtroom, where he is likely to be given a lengthy prison sentence. The charge is homosexual sodomy, which Malaysia shamefully still treats as a crime.

Read the rest online: A ‘test’ of democracy Malaysia might fail

Send Them Off The Pitch!

5000 Perverts Ready To Be Deployed

Be afraid, Malaysia. Be very afraid.

History often repeats itself.

Check out another youth squad a few years ago.

The Gall Of UMNO

Click on image to enlarge

The irony of those who try to portray themselves as being Islamic -- in fact more Islamic than PAS!

UMNO has shown its true colours by seeking the help of astrologers to know if this would be their good year in going for elections.

The verdict? The political elite will be favoured, say the astrologers.

Certainly something the politicians want to hear.

As for me, I have no intention of making any predictions. Time will tell.

Read the whole story here.

Using Religious Mambo-Jumbo

I always find it amusing when politicians use religious rhetoric to get their propaganda across to the uneducated fanatics.

Najib is certainly not unique in his approach to Pekida.

But I thought this editorial was spot-on in its analysis of Najib: The pact with the devil

It's a little old, but still worthy of a reread.

Brave Young Man

Why the hell should he apologise for his actions when there is a legitimate reason behind it?

The 22-year-old Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) student, Adam Adli Abdul Halim, who lowered a flag depicting Najib Abdul Razak at the Umno headquarters at the Putra World Trade Centre, said he would not apologise to the prime minister for his actions.

Telling Sinar Harian in an exclusive interview today, Adam said his actions were to drive a point that the present situation in the country was getting worse and hoped his actions would create awareness.

“I will never apologise (to the prime minister). Since the thing had happened till today, now I am asked to apologise. I will never do that. How about my friends and the struggle? ” he asked.

“I do not want my friends to be demoralised if I apologise. It is not that I will never apologise at all, as maybe someday I may have to say sorry to some people for my actions,” he said when asked whether he will apologise to the prime minister.

I'm glad this young man knows to stand his ground.

I can imagine all those fools urging him to apologise are saying what a rude (biadap) thing it is to lower the flag and how Najib's feelings would be hurt.

If you ask me, Najib should apologise.

Profusely.

He should apologise for letting this nation get to such a sorry state.

He should apologise for all the taxpayer money he has used indiscriminately.

He should apologise for the stupid things he has done, like the Scorpene deals and Altantuya.

But I don't hear a word out of him.